In the
meantime, dress-suit cases had been procured from a store near by.
"All right and proper," nodded Ensign McGrath. "And--I'm not throwing
bouquets, gentlemen, but you really look as though you had been born
for the uniforms. Now, only one thing is missing--the swords."
"Are we to wear swords?" asked Jack, his face flushing with pleasure.
"Under certain conditions, on duty, naval officers wear swords. You
will need them as parts of your equipments."
The dealer brought these side-arms at once. The naval sword is a
handsome one, vastly more natty than the infantry side-arm of a junior
officer.
What a thrill each submarine boy felt as he was shown how to adjust his
sword to the belt!
"They're really nonsensical jewelry in these civilized days," declared
Ensign McGrath, dryly. "But the regulations call for swords at some
times. Now, gentlemen, you will need to get your uniforms off as
quickly as you can, and the tailor's helpers will pack them in your suit
cases. You travel in citizen's clothes, and don your uniforms as soon
as you get aboard the gunboat."
Ten minutes later each proud submarine boy picked up his suit case and
sword, the latter, in each instance, being inside of a chamois-skin
carrying case.
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