He will assign you to an instructor." "Aye, aye, sir," Dan replied, saluting.

"Section, right wheel--march!" Dan already knew where, down in the bowels of the great battleship, to find the engine room.
Reaching that department, Dan halted his section.
"Section all present, sir," reported Dan, saluting a strange officer, who, however, wore the insignia of a lieutenant-commander.
"Your name, sir ?" inquired the officer.
"Dalzell, sir." "Let your section break ranks.

Then you may all follow me, and keep your eyes open, for you will go through one or two dark places." "Aye, aye, sir.

Section break ranks." Lieutenant-Commander Forman led the way, with all the members of the section wondering what was to be the nature of their first day's work in the engineer department.
Descending lower into the ship, the chief engineer led the young middies over a grating, and paused at the head of an iron ladder.
"Pass down in orderly fashion, single file," directed the chief engineer, halting.

"When at the foot of this ladder, cross a grating to port side, and then descend a second ladder, which you will find." All the midshipmen went down the first ladder in silence.