a few moments later.

"Now, d'ye hear there," he shouted, hoarsely, "you will break out mess
gear and get yourselves ready for messing aboard ship."

That did not sound as if we were destined to see our new vessel put into
commission very soon, and there was some grumbling, but the boys fell to
work with good grace, and we were soon preparing for our stay aboard the
old frigate. The officer of the deck was lenient, however, and the
majority of the crew secured permission to sleep at home that night.

The following Monday, on reporting on board the "New Hampshire," we
learned that the entire detail selected to man the "Yankee" would
proceed to that ship shortly after eight bells. Word was passed that our
enlistment papers--for we were to regularly enter Uncle Sam's naval
service--would be made out, and that our freedom and liberty, as some of
the boys put it, would cease from that hour. The latter statement made
little impression. We had entered the Naval Reserves for business, if
business was required, and we expected hardships as well as fun.

A navy-yard tug, sent by the Commandant, steamed alongside at two
o'clock, and the company was marched on board without delay. The boys
were eager to enter on this, their first real detail, and, in the rush
to gain the deck of the tug, young Potter slipped from the rail and fell
with a mighty splash into the water. "Man overboard!" bawled his
nearest mate, and "Man overboard!" echoed one hundred and fifty voices.
There was a scramble for the side, and the tug's deck hand, assisted by
several of our fellows, fished Potter from the river with a boat hook.

"Hereafter, please ask permission before you leave the ship,"