"Now, Mr. Dalzell, please detail four members of the section to follow
me with their shovels and bring red coals from under another boiler."

Dan appointed himself, Darrin, Farley and Pennington.

Burning coals were brought and thrown into each furnace, and in a little
while roaring fires were going. These, though not needed for the
handling of the battleship, were permitted to burn for a while,
Heistand explaining to the section practically the uses of the water
gauges and the test cocks. By this time the midshipmen's white working
clothes were liberally sprinkled with coal dust and somewhat smeared
with oils.

"And now, young gentlemen, as we have no further use for these fires,
you will next learn how to haul them," announced Heistand.

This was interesting work, but hot and fast. The implements with which
the middies worked soon became red-hot at the end. Yet, as all entered
into this novel work with zest, the fires had soon been hauled out on to
the floor plates.

Just as the last of this work was being done Pennington, as an apparent
accident due to excess of zeal, dropped the red-hot end of his implement
across the toe of Darrin's left shoe.

In an instant the leather began to blaze. With swift presence of mind
Dave stepped his right foot on the flame, smothering it at once.

But he was "mad clean through."