Part 4 (2/2)
”Will you kindly tell me where that is, sir?”
”Follow this walk. The detention barracks is the third building on your left.”
”Whom shall we ask for, sir?”
”Inquire for Chief Quartermaster Broder, if you do not see him at once.
He will probably see you first, however. You had better make haste, for the men are about ready for breakfast there.”
”Yes, sir; thank you, sir,” answered Dan, saluting and moving on.
”My, he's so full of dignity it's a wonder he doesn't explode,”
commented Sam, after they had gone on a few steps.
”He has a right to be dignified,” replied Dan.
”How so?”
”He is a captain in the United States Navy. I would rather be that than President of the United States.”
”Does he earn as much money as the president does?”
”Oh, no; not by a great many thousand dollars.”
”Then me for the presidency,” concluded the irrepressible Sam.
”There's the barracks.”
A few minutes later the lads presented themselves at the door of the detention barracks. They were met by an officer wearing the insignia of a chief quartermaster.
”Are you Mr. Broder, sir?” asked Dan.
”Yes; who are you?”
”My name is Dan Davis. My companion is Sam Hickey. We enlisted in New York yesterday. We have come to report for instruction.”
”Where are your papers?”
The lad presented them.
After reading the papers, the quartermaster turned on his heel.
”Come with me,” he said.
The boys were conducted to a bathroom, where they were directed to disrobe and take a shower bath. After the bath, they were once more examined by a surgeon, who p.r.o.nounced them to be in splendid physical condition.
Sam's face wore a smile. It was all highly amusing to him, but when the quartermaster finally conducted them to another room, where several uniforms were laid out on a table, the boy began to feel a keener interest.
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