A Gunner Aboard the Yankee | Page 7

Russell Doubleday
and when I reluctantly swung away from the mess table I
felt much better. At six bells, shortly before hammocks were piped
down, the "striker," or helper, for our mess cook, said mysteriously:
"Don't turn in early, Russ, there's going to be a little fun. 'Bill' and
'Stump' have young Potter on a string. It will be great."
CHAPTER II.
IN WHICH WE GET UNDER WAY AT LAST.
The hint of possible fun that night was sufficient to keep me alert. "All
work and no play, etc.," was part of our code aboard the "Yankee," and
goodness knows we had worked hard enough getting the ship ready for
sailing to be permitted a little sport. Then, again, any badgering of

young Potter would be innocent amusement, so I laid by and waited,
keeping my eye on "Bill."
"Bill," by the way, was the captain of our mess, a jolly good fellow,
popular, and always in evidence when there was any skylarking on
foot.
Hammocks were piped down at seven bells (7:30 p.m.), and, as it was
our first experience on board the "Yankee," there was some confusion.
A number of new recruits had joined that afternoon, and their efforts to
master the mysteries of the sailor's sleeping outfit were amusing. A
naval hammock differs largely from those used ashore. A hammock
aboard ship is of canvas, seven feet long, with holes a few inches apart
at each end, through which are reeved pieces of strong cord. The latter
are called clews, and they meet at an iron ring, which is attached to the
hooks in the carline beams when the hammock is in position for use.
When a hammock is properly slung it hangs almost straight, with very
little sagging. To get in properly, one grasps two hoops near the head,
and, with an agile spring, throws body and feet into the canvas bed.
This requires a knack, and is learned only after a more or less painful
experience. A three-inch mattress and two blankets go with each outfit.
For sheets a bag-like mattress cover is used, and, in lieu of the downy
pillows of home, the sailor must be content with his shoes rolled up
inside his trousers or flannel shirt. With it all, however, the naval
hammock is very comfortable. There is the advantage of being able to
not only wash your blankets and sheets, but your bed as well. Once
each month clean hammocks are issued and the old ones scrubbed.
While I was below, rigging up my clews, I saw a commotion on the
other side of the deck. The master-at-arms was expostulating with one
of the new recruits who had reported that afternoon. Suddenly the latter
called out, angrily, "I'll see if I have to, durn you!" and bolted for the
upper deck. The master-at-arms followed him at once, and several of us
followed the master-at-arms to see the excitement. We reached the
quarter-deck just as the recruit came to a stop in front of the officer on
watch.
[Illustration: "THAT FAT MAN IN THE CELLAR WANTS ME TO

SLEEP IN A BAG----".]
"What's the matter with you?" demanded the latter, curtly. "What's up?"
"Th-th-that m-m-man down in the--the cellar wants me to sleep in a bag,
durn him," gasped the recruit, waving his lanky arms, "and I won't do it
for him or no one else."
"Cellar?" Then the officer shouted with laughter.
The recruit was sent back to the "New Hampshire" next day, but it was
long before the master-at-arms was known by any other name or title
than "the man in the cellar."
A few minutes before tattoo, "Bill" and "Stump" came up and intimated
by signs that I was to accompany them to the forward part of the berth
deck. On reaching the extreme end, which was occupied by an
immense hawser reel, "Bill" indicated a hammock which was swinging
with the forward clews directly above the great spool, or reel.
"If young Potter doesn't think this old hooker is haunted I'll never play
another joke," he chuckled. "Get in and show him, 'Stump.'"
The latter grasped two hooks, gave himself a swing, landed in the
hammock, and in an instant struck the deck with a thump, the hammock
under him. As he rolled out I rubbed my eyes. The hammock had
swiftly returned to its former position!
"It isn't hoodooed," grinned "Bill." "Just look here."
He hauled up on the head clews and presently a five-inch shell
appeared above the top of the reel. The shell was fastened to the end of
the hammock lashing, at the other end of which was attached the ring.
The lashing led over the hook, and the weight of the shell was just
sufficient to keep the hammock in its place. As I finished inspecting the
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