Ikey, starting from the order window with a tray load of food, nearly dropped the whole thing on the floor in trying to salute.
"Ensign MacMasters!" hissed Torry for the benefit of the boys near, who did not know the officer.
And over Ensign MacMasters' shoulder glowed the moon-like face of Seven Knott.
"Keep your seats, men," said the ensign quietly, returning the salute in general. "You have half an hour to finish before we march to the dock. I take it you are all assigned to my present command?"
He nodded to Seven Knott. Then he took a chair at an empty table and ordered coffee, while the boatswain's mate went around among the other tables making a list of the men's names and their former billets.
Under the eyes of a commissioned officer the boys behaved with much more decorum; but it was still a jolly party that finally lined up on the sidewalk outside Yancey's, prepared to march to the dock.
Ensign MacMasters sought out Whistler Morgan to speak to personally:
"I shall expect you to keep the younger boys straight, Morgan. We're going to be in crowded quarters aboard the patrol boat. Mr. Junior Lieutenant Perkins has come back to his command and we are only guests aboard," and Ensign MacMasters laughed.
"We are about to have a taste of rough weather outside, too, I fancy. But our instructions are to make the port where the _Kennebunk_ lies before the morning tide."
"Has the submarine patrol boat, Eight-hundred-eighty-eight, come into the harbor, sir?"
"I have just been relieved of her command. I am assigned to take you chaps on her to the battleship. I understand that we shall have a three months' cruise in the _Kennebunk_ before we are returned to the _Colodia_," said the ensign.
Whistler's eyes sparkled. "Then some of us will have a chance of handling the big guns, sir?"
"That is the object, I believe. That, and the fact that the full complement of the battleship's crew cannot be at once made up. There will be changes made in the crew of the _Colodia_ when she returns from her European cruise. If you youngsters do well on the _Kennebunk_ some of you may soon be gunners' mates. The present cruise of the _Kennebunk_ is mainly for practice work."
"Oh, sir! won't we see any active service in her?" cried Whistler.