So it is no wonder our heroes were filled with astonishment and amazement as they gazed about them, once they were on board the craft that was to be their floating home for some time.
“Attention there now!” called a sharp voice, and an officer formed the new recruits in line, and marched them to the quarters where they were to stow their bags and sling their hammocks. Frank, Ned and the others had brought with them their belongings from Norfolk, and these were soon stowed away, in proper ship-shape fashion.
Here was where the long and careful training showed. In spite of the fact that it was their first appearance on the _Georgetown_, the recruits knew just what to do, and where to put their things.
Of course, ships differ, and some are more comfortable as living places than others, but the same general arrangement prevails on all of the United States battleships.
“When do we sail?” asked Frank of a sailor who had said he had been on the _Georgetown_ since she had been put in commission.
“In a few days now. We’re just waiting for the old man.”
“The captain,” the sailor explained. “He’s away on shore leave. His daughter got married, I believe, and he’s at the festivities. We’ll get out of here in about a week. Put in to be painted, you know.”
Frank and Ned had read that fact before coming up from Norfolk, and certainly the battleship was spick and span, and as shiny as the sailors could make her, every bit of brass, copper and nickel gleaming in the sun.
Our lads had hammocks next to one another, but it was not with much delight that they noticed that the red-haired bully, Hank Dell, was assigned to the same mess as themselves, his hammock adjoining Ned’s.
“But we won’t bother him if he doesn’t bother us,” Frank said to his brother.
There was not so much to be done aboard the _Georgetown_ while she was in the navy yard as there would be once she was afloat, though there is always a certain amount of routine labor to be performed on a ship when she is in commission and subject to orders at a moment’s notice. In consequence, many of the sailors had been allowed shore leave, and after the first two days, during which they were made to do considerable work to make them familiar with the different parts of the craft, Frank and Ned were allowed a day off.