in--no sham battle or manoeuvres.

The men went about their work more quietly and thoughtfully, for one and
all now understood their responsibilities. If the ship made a record for
herself, the crew would get a large share of the credit; and if she
failed to do the work cut out for her, on the crew would be laid the
blame. If the men behind the guns and the men running the engines did
not do their work rapidly and well, disaster and disgrace would follow.

As we neared the scene of conflict, the discipline grew more and more
strict. Before a man realized that he had done anything wrong, his name
would be called by the master-at-arms and he would be hauled "up to the
mast" for trial.

"You ought to see the gang up at the mast," said "Stump," one bright
afternoon. "'Mac' and 'Hod Marsh' have gathered enough extra duty men to
do all the dirty work for a month."

"What were you doing up there?" asked a bystander.

"Why, I thought I heard my name called, and as discretion is the better
part of valor, I lined up with the rest, and I was glad I did, too, for
it was good sport."

"Maybe you thought it was sport, but how about the chaps that were
'pinched'? Who was up before the skipper, anyhow?"

"Oh, there was a big gang up there--I can't remember them all; 'Lucky
Bag Kennedy' was there, for being late at general quarters the other
day. When the captain looked at him in that fierce way of his and asked