Part 26 (1/2)
Sam uttered a short, nervous laugh.
”Is that all?”
”You will find it is quite enough. At a quarter to one you will report forward of the after twelve-inch-gun turret and there await me. I shall bring other prisoners there for trial. We will join you there.”
”Very well,” answered Sam. He did not yet realize the seriousness of the courteously executed order. However, he looked up Dan as soon thereafter as possible, relating to him what had occurred.
”Why, Sam, you are under arrest!” exclaimed Dan.
”Under arrest?”
”Of course you are.”
”But I thought they locked people up after they arrested them.”
”It isn't always necessary on s.h.i.+pboard. You couldn't get away if you wanted to.”
”That's so. I hadn't thought of it in that light before. Under arrest? I wonder what will happen to me next? First, I get seasick, get knocked out, then get arrested for being punched. This is a funny business. And the worst of it is that I can't change my mind for four years.” Sam grinned a mirthless grin. ”Hard luck, isn't it, Dan?”
”No; it is a good thing. All this will make a man of you-of both of us.”
The lads went about their duties soon after that. At noon Sam hurried through his dinner, after which he slicked himself up as best he could and went to the after gun turret, where he awaited the master-at-arms, as he had been ordered to do. The latter arrived a moment later, bringing with him two other prisoners and Bill Kester. The latter was accompanied by the surgeon. Kester's face-that is his nose-was patched up with numerous strips of adhesive plaster.
The men were conducted half way down the deck, where stood the captain, the executive officer of the s.h.i.+p and the captain's yeoman, the latter with his record book in hand, eyeing them carefully.
”Sam Hickey, step forward,” called the yeoman.
The lad took his place in front of the captain, who, at the moment, was studying the record sheet giving Sam's history.
”Where is the man who makes this charge?” demanded the captain.
Kester was thrust forward by the master-at-arms.
”State your case,” commanded the captain.
”I was standing on the gun deck, facing forward, sir, when this man Hickey comes along and hits me with the deck swab.”
”He hit you with the deck swab?”
”With the handle, sir.”
”Where did he hit you?”
”On the gun deck, sir, aft the eight-inch gun.”
”I should say by your appearance that you had been hit on the nose instead of on the gun deck,” replied the captain, without the suspicion of a smile on his face.
”Yes, sir, he hit me on the nose, sir.”
”How could he do that when your back was turned toward him?” demanded the captain sharply.