Once more the threading of the metal labyrinth began, and the boys felt almost ready to drop as they were ushered into another cabin, where sat a man not unlike the master-at-arms in appearance, but who wore spectacles perched on his nose. He took the boys' papers without a word and filed them away in a pigeonhole. He then produced two varnished ditty boxes, with their keys, which he handed to the boys. "These are your ditty boxes," he remarked, handing over the caskets, which were about a foot and a half square, neatly varnished and finished, and each of which bore a number. "You are to keep your valuables, stationery and knicknacks of any kind in these," he said. "Be careful of them and look after them well." "What about our money, sir?" asked Ned. "You can place that in the ship's savings bank if you wish. It gives four per cent. Or, if you prefer, you can deposit it with the ship's paymaster, and draw on it as you require. If you are transferred to another ship, it will be transferred for you." "I think the savings bank would be best," said Ned, looking at Herc. "Same here," replied the farmboy; "gran'pa used to say, 'put your money in hogs,' but I guess we couldn't do that aboard ship, so it's the savings banks for me, too." "Very well; you may leave your money with me and I will give you a passbook. You see, we do these things much as they are done ashore." "I see," nodded Ned as he took his passbook, and Herc did the same, "what do we do now, sir?" "You will now be conducted to the boatswain's mate, who is a sort of foster-parent to young recruits, and from him you will get the numbers of your hammocks and be assigned to a place at mess. He will also outline your duties to you. "Messenger!" "Sir!" Once more the messenger came to salute, and stiffened in the attitude of attention, and the boys did the same. "Conduct these recruits to the chief boatswain's mate." "Yes, sir." "Off again," whispered Herc, as the messenger once more darted off with the boys in tow. CHAPTER X. NED HOLDS HIS COUNSEL. The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met. They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment. This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite." "Hum, recruits," he said as he looked the two boys over. "He certainly is giving us a sizing-up," whispered Herc. The ears of the boatswain's mate were sharper than the boys had imagined. "Yes, I _am_ sizing you up," he said with emphasis. "I'm thinking that you look like pretty good material." "We mean to do our best, sir," rejoined Ned. "That's right. That sort of ambition will carry you far. But are you not the two boys who fell overboard a short time ago?"