At noon Rexdale dined in solemn and solitary state in his after cabin. The rest of the officers messed together in the ward-room, below decks, and doubtless Dave would have been glad to join them; but discipline required that the commanding officer, however familiarly he might address an old acquaintance in private, should hold aloof at mealtimes. He was waited upon by two small Japanese men, or boys, who had easily obtained the situation when the vessel went into commission at the Charlestown Navy Yard, where she had remained for some months, docked for overhauling and thorough repairs. The two cabin stewards were gentle and pleasant in their manners, conversant with all their duties, and spoke English fluently. Their names were on the ship's papers as Oto and Oshima. "Oto," said Rexdale, when the dinner was finished, "call the orderly." "Yes, sir." The marine was pacing the deck outside the cabin-door. On receiving the summons he entered and saluted stiffly. "Orderly, ask Mr. Staples to step this way, if he has finished his dinner." Another salute, and the man turned on his heels and marched out. "Mr. Staples," said the commander, as the former came in, "at four bells we will have 'man overboard' drill. We shall anchor to-night about ten miles off Nantucket. I shall come on the bridge and con the ship myself when we sight the Shovelful Lightship, and I shall be glad to have you with me, passing the Shoal. The next time we go over this course I shall let you take the ship through the passage yourself." "Very well, sir." And the executive, being in sight of the waiters and the orderly, as well as the surgeon, who just then passed through the cabin, saluted formally and retired. On deck, forward and in the waist of the ship, the men were busy at various tasks, burnishing brass-work, making fast the lashings of the guns, overhauling rigging and such naval apparatus as the warrant officers knew would be needed on this short cruise. But few of the crew--over a hundred in all--were below, although only the watch were actually on duty. In passing one of the seamen, who was polishing the rail, Oshima, on his way to the galley, accidentally hit the man with his elbow. "Clear out, will you?" said the seaman with an oath. At the same time he gave the little Jap a shove that sent him reeling. "Oh, take a fellow of your size, Sam!" cried one of the watch standing near. "He ran into me! I'll take him and you, too, if you say much," retorted the first speaker morosely. Two or three of the men paused on hearing the angry words. The little stewards were favourites on board, although the enlisted men looked down on their calling. Oshima's dark eyes had flashed at the rough push and the sneering reply of the sailor. He brushed his neat jacket where the former's hand had touched it. Then he said quietly, "You can strike, Sam Bolles, as an ass can kick. But you could not throw me to the deck."