"
"I'm glad of that," admitted Lieutenant Benson, frankly. "It will
lessen the danger of my making a fool of myself during my first and last
naval command."
"Not your last command, I hope," remarked the ensign.
"The only way I could get a permanent command," retorted Jack, "would
be to get appointed to Annapolis, if I could, and then work through the
long, long years for command rank."
"There are other ways," replied Ensign Fullerton, quietly. "And
especially, if a war should break out. Young men trained as finely as
you and your comrades, and showing as great talent, sir, would have no
difficulty in reaching important rank in a war of the future, when so
much must be risked on the submarine craft of which you young men are
masters."
"We have run a few submarine boats, I suppose," nodded Benson. "But none
of us has ever had the Annapolis training."
"Not all of the best American sea-fighters have come out of Annapolis,
sir," replied Fullerton, soberly. "If a boy gets through Annapolis
there's nothing wonderful in his making a fairly good officer. But
my cap, sir, is off to boys who can come through the ordinary machine
shop and qualify themselves to command submarine boats or anything else
afloat!"
Then, dropping back to his ordinary manner, Fullerton saluted, next
left the cabin to carry to the watch officer the orders for the course.
Pages:
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147