"Which officer is to command it?"
"Mr. Hastings. Mr. Somers will take the port watch."
"Very good, sir. And I would suggest, sir, that Mr. Drake is an
excellent pilot between here and the sea."
"Then direct Mr. Drake to take the bridge with the watch officer."
"Very good, sir."
"And, as soon as we are under way, Mr. Fullerton, come to my cabin and
we will figure out our course more in detail."
"Very good, sir."
It was Ensign Fullerton, who, acting as executive officer, transmitted
the needed orders to Hal, Eph and Midshipman Drake.
The three young officers now removed their swords, sending them by a
marine orderly to their respective cabins. Hal took command from the
bridge, subject to Fullerton's directions, while Jack, as commanding
officer, also took his station there briefly. Eph, being free to do as
he pleased for the time, went to his cabin to try to figure out
whether he were dreaming.
Quickly the "Sudbury" left her anchorage, proceeding downstream. As soon
as the start had been fairly made Ensign Fullerton reported at the
cabin of the young commanding officer. They worked out on the chart the
probable positions that the suspected schooner would take that afternoon.
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