The San Francisco call., 1908-07-19
CHAPTER I
Aboard the philadelphia

THE sea and sky were gray and
turbulent in the dull November
afternoon. while afar off the bar
ren Syrian coast menaced. with
its hidden reefs and treacherous break
ers. those hardy sailors who dared not
only the dangers Of rocks and breakers
and secret whirlpools. but the fierce
corsaIrs who ranged those seas.
A sun breeze was blowing off shore
and the great frigate philadelphia. car
rying all hard sail, every rag of canvas
drawing like windlass. with bone
in her mouth, drove her way through
the darlling water as the heavy seas
beloved under her bows.
The long vista of the gun deck was
in semidarkness. as most of the ports
We're closed. But here and there a Ian
tern twinkled and swung from the
deck beams On the starboard side.
over the first gun. known as the Mary
Ann. the port was open. Sitting astride
the gun was Dicky Faleoner. the young
est midshipman on board. deep in con-
versation with his particular friend and
chum. Bill Bulge, Mary AIMS gun cap
tain. Bulge had sailed with Captain
cambridge on nine cruises. and it was
known the captain thought him to be
the best gun captain in the United
States navy.
Including Bulge. Dicky had three
special chums on board ship. The first
was Roger Thorne. who was next in
age TO Dicky. being 1S years and
months old, compared to Dicky's 13
years and seven days. The second was
Bulge. between whom and the little
midshipman an odd but close friend
ship existed. Dicky's third chum was
William Paul Jones the senior goat of
the ship. which boasted of no fewer than
five goats. all regularly entered upon
the ships book.
At that moment Dicky was en5oving
the society of two Of his chums at the
same time-Budge and William Paul
Jones. which he was feeding with
piece Of chalk. Dicky was a handsome
little black eyed midshipman. small
even for his I3 years, but in
clined to measure himself in friendly
hstic encounters with Totten and Grey.
the oldest and biggest midshipmen in
the steerage country. It is true that
Dicky always got a good natured
trouncing for his imeudence, but he
took it gamely. and was always ready
70 try another bout. It cannot be said
that Dieky was a. model Of neatness
on this gray and dismal afternoon: his
jacket was dusty his trousers were
covered with chalk and there was
large black smut right across his snub
nose.
Bulge. on the contrary. was a per-
feet pattern of the trim sailorman. as
neat as the captain himself. His hand
some old face was weather beaten. but
his keen eyes could stn direct his
steady hand, and the powerful muscles
in his chest and arms were those of
man Of IS, rather than one Of so. as
he was. Bulge had never been known
during his 80 years service in the navy
TO change a note in his voice, and had
been heard TO inform the captain, ..sir.
the magazine is afre," in the same
measured tone as when he announced,
"sir. the gig is waiting"
II was the magazine episode which
Dicky was then trying TO screw out of
Bulge. For Bulge had an inexhaustible
fund Of stories that he was very willing
70 tell. except when they reflected great
credit upon himself. He had been COM
plimented more than once by the Sec
retary Of the navy and had in his
ditty box some souvenirs of which the
highest oficer in the naval service
might have been proud. but it was diff
hcult to get him to talk on these SUBJ
sects.
81 say. Bulge" said Dicky in