Good
morning, gentlemen."
Then, indeed, things moved fast. At the desk of the chief clerk of
the Navy Department the three budding naval officers stood with their
right hands raised while the official at the other side of the desk
administered to them the oath binding them to loyalty to the government
and to obedience to all lawful orders of their superiors.
"And now, gentlemen," continued the chief clerk, "I will send for
Ensign McGrath, who is on duty here, and present you to him. He will
go with you to the tailor's, and will see that you are properly rushed
to the train that you are to take. Remember, you are not to pay for
your uniforms or equipment. The bill will be sent here."
Ensign McGrath looked sleepy, but proved to be a hustler. One of the
Department's autos was out in the grounds, and into this McGrath
bundled the three submarine boys. Five minutes later they were in the
tailoring establishment, where a good many ready-made uniforms were
kept for sale.
What a whirl it was. Yet, in twenty minutes, each submarine boy found
himself in the duty uniform of a United States junior naval officer,
each uniform adorned with the insignia of the wearer's rank.
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