A Gunner Aboard the Yankee""

d the "Yankee," and goodness knows we had worked hard enough getting the ship ready for sailing to be permitted a little spor

s, a jolly good fellow, popular, and always in

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 thr

rted 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

ELLAR WANTS ME TO SLEE

you?" demanded the lat

leep in a bag, durn him," gasped the recruit, waving his

he officer shout

ay, but it was long before the master-at-arms was known

the forward part of the berth deck. On reaching the extreme end, which was occupied by an immense hawser reel

er is haunted I'll never play another joke,"

in an instant struck the deck with a thump, the hammock under him. As he rolled

," grinned "Bill."

f 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

The deck soon presented an animated scene. A number of us had slept long enough on board the "New Hampshire" to become accustomed to man-o'-war style, but the new recruits

I wonder?" asked the fellow from

r," suggested the coxs'n of the gi

ks. The question was solved presently by an old naval sailor, who calmly made a neat roll of his duck jumper and trousers and another of his shoes and shirt. The latter he tucked into hi

eyes watched him with delightful anticipation. Unconscious of the attention he was attracting, he doffed his clothes and brought out something from his black bag which

rning as quickly as he could, he looked up and saw the hammock swinging in its proper place. It was physical labor for us to keep from howling with glee at the expression on his face. He glanced sheepishly about to see if his catastrophe h

ubber who threw m

e master-at-arms' corner. "Turn i

e about with, the end of a broom. He found nothing suspicious, and proceeded to try again. Very gingerly he grasped the hooks, and he experimented with

ile they were arguing, "Bill" and I quickly fixed the hammock, casting off the shell and concealing it behind a black bag. We had barely finished when the chief petty officer came up and examined

tired, and I slept like a log until reveille. This unpleasant function occurred at three bells (half-past five o'clock), and it consisted of an infernal hubbub of drums a

rns of the lashing around your hammocks, and get 'em quick. If you can't pass

he nettings, which were large boxes on the gun deck, and our queer canvas beds were soon stowed away for the day. As the reveille hour is too early f

et six inches high, and twelve inches in diameter, and a small wooden box, eighteen inches square, known as a "ditty box," to keep his wardrobe in. All clothing is rolled, and careful sailors generally wrap each garment in a piece of muslin before consigning it to the black bag. In the ditty box are kept s

day laborers, and happy at that, was really a remarkable spectacle. For my part, I noticed with surprise that scratched and bruised hands-scratched so that the salt water caused positive pain-did not appeal to me. I tore off a corner of my right thumb trying to squeez

ice being with one of the best known men of the bar. He gave it up and joined the Naval Reserves because, as he expressed it, "To fight for one's country is a patrio

he was assisted to the hatch, "but I hate to be knocked out in

hawser was cast off, we were fairly started on our cruise in search of action. As the "Yankee" was assisted away from the wharf by a Government tug, a number of friends gathered ashore cheered lustily

e vicinity of Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, anchored off Tompkinsville, and then picked up a berth there for the night. Half way down the bay we met a tug carrying a committee from the "Sons of the Revolution" of New Y

ck. We wore the white duck service uniform, including trousers, jumper, and cap. Some of the uniforms had suffered in contact with pitc

of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York, to present these colors to the members o

en our skipper made a little speech in reply. The affair wound up with a round of cheers and general congratu

s on board the "Yankee" failed to enlighten me as to the derivation of the name, but the consensus of opinion was that these floating peddlers sold articles which, to use a slan

elly, pocket knives, and a schedule of prices that would have brought a blush of envy to the face of a Swiss inn-keeper. As the boys had not yet grown entirely accustomed to what is called "Government

deserted us, and a number of them, aboard several tugs, accompanied us as far as the Narrows. The "

ions for war, but it was destined that before another twenty-fou

e" was to