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                       The Battleship Boys at Sea

                                   OR

                  Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam's Navy

                                   By

                           FRANK GEE PATCHIN

           Author of The Battleship Boys' First Step Upward,
                    The Pony Rider Boys Series, Etc.

                              Illustrated

                              PHILADELPHIA
                         HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY




                                CONTENTS

             CHAPTER                                      PAGE
                  I. The Lure of the Battleship              7
                 II. In Uncle Sam's Navy                    27
                III. Who Threw the Pie?                     35
                 IV. Piping up Hammocks                     43
                  V. Trying Out Their Grit                  50
                 VI. In the Midst of the Battle             60
                VII. The Red-Headed Boy's Surprise          69
               VIII. On the Rifle Range                     74
                 IX. Betrayed by a Streak of Red            86
                  X. Their First Detail                     94
                 XI. On Board a Battleship                 102
                XII. In the Deck Division                  118
               XIII. Resenting an Insult                   125
                XIV. Called Before the Mast                132
                 XV. A Badly Banged-up Bully               144
                XVI. Receiving a Challenge                 154
               XVII. Proving His Courage                   165
              XVIII. The Orderly Takes a Header            180
                XIX. The Work of an Enemy                  193
                 XX. Out on the Mine Field                 200
                XXI. Breaking the Record                   208
               XXII. Buried Three Fathoms Deep             217
              XXIII. Heroes to the Rescue                  224
               XXIV. Conclusion                            236




THE BATTLESHIP BOYS AT SEA




CHAPTER I--THE LURE OF THE BATTLESHIP


"That must be the place over there, Sam."

"Where?"

"Just across the street on the next block. I see something in front of
the building that looks like the picture we saw in the post office at
home."

Dan Davis turned to a passing policeman and, respectfully touching his
hat, asked:

"Will you tell us, sir, where we may find the United States Navy
recruiting station?"

The policeman pointed to the building in front of which Dan's eyes had
caught sight of a highly colored lithograph.

"Thank you, sir. Come on, Sam; I was right. That is the place we are
looking for. See that flag up there in the third story window? That's
the flag you and I are going to serve under if we are lucky enough to be
accepted."

Sam Hickey nodded and started after his companion across the street. A
moment later the lads stood before the picture that had attracted their
attention. In the foreground of the picture stood a sailor clad in the
uniform of a seaman in Uncle Sam's Navy, while on beyond him, in the
distant background, lay a white battleship, the Stars and Stripes
floating from her after staff, a line of signal flags fluttering from
the signal halyard just aft of the battleship's navigating bridge. Palm
trees and similar foliage showed it to be a tropical scene.

For several moments the lads stood gazing on the picture with fascinated
interest. Each seemed unable to withdraw his gaze from it. At last, with
a deep sigh, Dan turned his shining eyes upon his young companion.

"Isn't it beautiful, Sam?" he breathed.

"What, the sailor?"

"I was not thinking of the sailor; I was thinking of the ship--the
battleship--and that Flag floating there, the most beautiful Flag in the
world. At least I guess it must be. I've never seen any of the other
flags, except in pictures, but that one is handsome enough for me. Shall
we go upstairs to the recruiting office now?"

"Don't be in a hurry," objected Sam. "I want to look at the picture some
more."

"We can do that afterwards. The first thing is to see whether we shall
be able to enlist. This letter that I got from the station says we have
to be examined, though I don't know just what sort of examination they
will give us."

Sam Hickey still lingered.

"Are you coming, Sam?"

"No."

"Not coming?"

"No; I've changed my mind."

"I don't understand," rejoined Dan, a puzzled expression in his eyes.

"I guess I do not want to enlist