Four of the Navy's firemen stood resting on their shovels.

Instantly, on perceiving the chief engineer, however, the men stood at attention.
"Pass the word for the chief water tender," ordered the engineer, turning to one of the firemen.
The messenger soon came back with a pleasant-faced, stalwart man of forty.
"Heistand," ordered the chief engineer, "give these members of the first section, third: class, steam instruction, a thorough drill in firing." "Aye, aye, sir," replied the chief water tender, saluting.
"Heistand's orders are mine, Mr.Dalzell," continued the lieutenant-commander, facing Dan.

"Preserve order in your section." "Aye, aye, sir," replied Dan, saluting.

Acknowledging this courtesy in kind, the chief engineer turned and left the furnace room.
Heistand was presumably of German parentage, though he had no accent.

He struck the midshipmen as being a pleasant, wholesome fellow, though the water tenders and firemen of the "Massachusetts" knew that he could be extremely strict and grim at need.
"You will now, young gentlemen," began Heistand, "proceed to learn all about priming a furnace, lighting, building, cleaning and generally taking care of a fire.