He moved aft, and spent the rest of his watch signing imaginary pledges not to take another drop of anything stronger than lemonade.
In the meantime a scene unusual at that hour was being enacted on the forward part of the berth deck.
Over in one corner a cadet was cleaning his face of red paint and oakum whiskers. He was in a rage, and shook his fist at Clif and his crowd.
“Oh, but this is funny,” cried Clif. “It’s worth a year’s pay to see Crane do the circus act. Isn’t he a beauty in his war paint?”
“Him what you call one chromo,” giggled the Japanese youth. “I glad I woke all the fellows to see the sport. Hurray!”
“How did you get away from that mixup on the quarter-deck, Clif?” queried Toggles. “When I reached the main deck ladder you had disappeared over the side. How was it?”
“Easy enough, chum. When I saw how scared the lieutenant was a bright idea struck me. I crawled through the nearest port to the starboard main chains and swung down against the ship’s side. I saw the officer look over, then, when he turned away, I reached the gangway and slipped forward. Now let us turn in and give Crane a rest.”
“What’s that? Thought? How dare you think? Shade of Farragut! What’s the service coming to? A confounded measly plebe--a worm of a function--thinking! It’s dreadful to contemplate.”
“You didn’t mean? Why didn’t you mean? Say, is it possible you say things without meaning them? Then you don’t tell the truth. Ergo--you can’t be trusted. A pretty naval officer you will make. I’ll just mark you down for report to the commanding officer.”
And Cadet Corporal Sharpe made an elaborate flourish of his pencil as he pretended to enter the item in his notebook.
Standing before him in evident fear and trembling was Nanny. Clif was also present.
“Did you ever hear the beat of that, Trolley?” whispered Clif. “It’s simply outrageous, the way Sharpe is carrying on. What does he take us for, a lot of dummies? I think we’ll have to give him and the rest another lesson in manners.”
“I think so very much, Clif,” replied Trolley, in the same tone. “He what you call one dead-sure crank, eh? He bluffer from--from----”
“Yes, him from Blufftown, eh? Him get a curve off him.”
There was a smile at this attempt of the Japanese youth to use American slang--a smile that was observed and sternly checked by the corporal.