His pendulum of life, the heart, swung with the regularity of clockwork, and not a flaw was found in his teeth, which were white, even and firm.
A frown passed over the brow of Scott Clemmons as he noted the fact that Mark Merrill had stood the test better than he had, proud as he was of his fine form and handsome face.
“It is seldom, if ever, I meet a youth of your perfection of physique, Mr. Merrill,” said Surgeon Du Bose, in a complimentary way, and Scott Clemmons turned his head away to hide his plainly visible chagrin at the praise bestowed upon the young sailor.
Assured that they had passed the physical ordeal the two youths went to face the examining committee, who were to decide as to what they did or did not know.
“Here he will fail,” muttered Scott Clemmons, with malign hope that such would be the case.
Quickly they were put to the test, and when the hours of alternate hope and despair were over each knew that the other had passed, and Scott Clemmons fairly ground his teeth with rage, as he heard Lieutenant Briggs, one of the examiners, say in reference to Mark Merrill’s very fine penmanship:
“I saw you run your schooner in, Mr. Merrill, and you handle a pen as well as you do the tiller. I congratulate you that no barrier is now between you and your cadetship.”
“Curse him!” muttered Scott Clemmons. “He passed better than I did; but he shall yet be dismissed in disgrace--I swear it!”
Having passed both his physical examination and the one to discover how far he had progressed in “book learning,” Mark Merrill felt happy at the thought that there was no other barrier between him and his cadetship.
He had been asked by one of the committee where he had attended school, for he was well up in all questions asked, wrote an excellent hand, and answered with a knowledge evidently not acquired for the occasion.
His reply had been a simple one, and truthful:
“My mother taught me all I know of books, sir, for I never went to school.”
Reporting to the quartermaster of the post, Mark found there the kit which Commodore Lucien had gotten for him, and he discovered that it left no needs to be filled.
His room was a pleasant one, and by a rare stroke of good fortune he was given a first-rate fellow to be his companion to share it. He had dreaded that, as Scott Clemmons was also from Maine and known to be an acquaintance, the two might be roomed together.
