Move quickly, young gentlemen!" In another couple of minutes the puffing launch was steaming away to the massive battleship that lay out in the stream.
Dave stood well up in the bow.

Once he barely overheard Pennington mutter to a comrade: "The rascally greaser!" "That means me," Dave muttered under his breath.

"I won't take it up now, or in any hurry.

I'll wait until Pen has had time to see things straight." As soon as the launch lay alongside, the young midshipmen clambered nimbly up the side gangway, each raising his cap to the flag at the stern as he passed through the opening in the rail.
Here stood an officer with an open book in his hand.

To him each midshipman reported, saluting, stated his name, and received his berthing.
"Hurry away to find your berthings, and get acquainted with the location," ordered this officer.