"To begin with, the sailors in the early days were a mighty tough lot of customers, picked up from nearly every nation under the sun. They were employed to work the ship; whereas the marines were organized to do the fighting and were picked men. Because of the mixed and unruly element in the crew the sailors often became mutinous. In those days all weapons, and firearms particularly, were stored in the after part of the ship where the officers had their quarters and having this advantage, they were able to keep the crews under subjection. But there were only a few officers as compared to the crew, consequently the trustworthy marines were given that part of the ship to berth in between the officers and the sailors, who generally were berthed in the forecastle. I don’t know just when this was made the fashion, but I do know that it has been handed down to the present day and you will always find marines in a compartment next the ward-room. Now do you see what I mean?" "I understand what you have said, Dick, but what has it to do with the new battleships?" "Why, I was wondering if another old Navy custom is going out of vogue, that’s all. For in these new ships the officers are going to change places with the crew--their living space is going to be the forecastle instead of the stern. Question: What will they do with the marines?" "When did you say that custom started, Dick?" "Oh, I don’t know, Hank; way back in the days of bi-remes and tri-remes, I guess." "Then all I have to say is that it’s high time a change was made; allow the officers a chance to take care of themselves--we marines have nursed them altogether too long," said Henry, and they were yet laughing at the remark when Police Sergeant Bruckner came along the deck seeking them. "The ’Top’[#] says you boys should go with me to the storeroom and draw rifles, so come right along and get ’em." [#] "Top"--Top sergeant--first sergeant, or also applied to the highest ranking sergeant at a post. "Get rifles?" questioned Dick. "What are we going to do with rifles, I’d like to know?" "Ask the Top; don’t bother me with your questions;" and Bruckner led the way below. "They’re brand new shooting irons, and you will have some job getting off the cosmoline, so I adwise you to get busy before you report to the First Sergeant," cautioned Bruckner, whose German origin accounted for the manner in which he pronounced his letter "V" on occasions. He had come to the United States as a lad of fifteen years and after ten years spoke, with this exception, almost like a native-born citizen. Six of these ten years he had spent in the Marines. After noting the number of each rifle in order to enter them on the public property card of the musics, they all repaired to the upper deck and the work of cleaning the new rifles was soon under way.