Part 15 (2/2)

”How did you get that black eye?” he asked of Hank.

”Why, sir,” was the grinning answer, ”one of the fifteen-inch rifles recoiled and struck me.”

”Very good!” was the grim and understanding comment. ”And you, Arden-how about your scratches?”

”The-er-the goat mascot, sir.”

”I see. A new fact in natural history-a goat with claws.”

Of course, fighting was forbidden, but it went on just the same, and it was winked at to a certain extent when not too flagrant. So the incident was closed, as far as the s.h.i.+p authorities were concerned.

A few days later Ned was able to report again for his duties, and after that Hank was transferred to another division, berthing in another part of the s.h.i.+p.

”Well, I'm glad he's gone,” Ned remarked. So were many others, for the red-haired recruit was not generally liked.

When the _Georgetown_ had been at sea about a week, it was announced one morning directly after sick-call that great gun drill would be held.

”And it's with projectiles, too!” cried Ned. ”Cracky, but I'm glad.

You're in the forward turret with me, Frank.”

”Yes, and I hope our ear drums don't crack. They make an awful racket, those fifteen-inch rifles.”

Preparations for the drill went on. It had been gone through with many times before, though not always with charges of powder and projectiles, so the men knew the routine.

Frank had been detailed on this occasion as gun-pointer, which meant that he was to fire the gun when it was sighted at the target. Ned was helping with the ammunition and powder, which came up into the turret on a hoist, or elevator, from the magazine below.

”Are you all ready?” asked the officer in charge of the forward turret.

”All ready,” was the answer.

”Watch yourselves, then. Try to make a record,” he added.

”Aye, aye, sir!” answered Frank, who stood at the telescope sight, ready to look for the big canvas target which would soon be towed into range.

CHAPTER XIV-A BRAVE ACT

Target practice with our big guns aboard a battles.h.i.+p is rather an important occasion, as it is not often done. It is too expensive to fire away hundreds of pounds of powder and projectiles, the cost of which runs into the thousands. But it must be done occasionally.

When it is done, in order to get as nearly as possible to actual war conditions, it is customary to have the unexpected happen. That is to say, the target, which is a big square of canvas on a float, is towed by some other s.h.i.+p, and where or when it is to appear is not known to the men who work the guns. This is to make them quick and resourceful.

”Watch out now, men,” advised the officer. ”Arden, keep your wits about you. Remember there is quite a swell on to-day, and allow accordingly when you point the gun.”

It might be stated here that the big guns are moved and controlled by machinery, but the machinery is under the fingers of the pointer and his a.s.sistants. By a simple movement of a lever the gun can be s.h.i.+fted up or down or from side to side. And probably all know that elevation is one of the most important matters in firing.

If a gun is taken, or for that matter a bean-shooter, and some projectile is fired or blown through the air, it will be noticed that it goes in a straight line for only a short distance. Then it begins to curve down and fall. This is due to loss of energy, and to the attraction of gravitation.

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