On board a vessel3 of war Saturday is regarded as a holiday. Only the necessary work, such as cleaning decks and bright work, is done.
Quarters are held at the usual hour, then Jack’s time is his own. The “smoking lamp” is lighted, and those who care to indulge in a pipe are permitted to do so. In passing it may as well be understood that naval4 cadets are forbidden to smoke, a wise government deeming it unnecessary for their health or pastime.
Clif and his friends set to work immediately after quarters. The forward part of the gun deck was turned over to them, and a stage prepared by the ship’s carpenter. A curtain was extemporized5 of bunting and canvas, and the space about the stage tastefully decorated with flags of all nations.
“Now, fellows,” said the young leader, cheerfully, “we must have just one more rehearsal6 before the grand event.”
“I thought we had the last one yesterday,” grumbled7 Toggles.
“We did until this morning. Come, Toggles, exert yourself. Remember the importance of the occasion. We’ve got to do our level best and turn out a good show or the upper classes will have the laugh on us. Get out your big horn and try that solo again.”
The affair was to be on the lines of a minstrel performance, but with novel features. Instead of the familiar, old-time black faces and negro costumes, Clif had provided different ideas.
“We’ll make it a deep-sea combination,” he had said; “something more appropriate to the raging main than nigger minstrelsy. We’ll have Father Neptune8 and his suite9.”
The idea captured the plebes at once, and they had lost no time in settling on a programme.
Clif, disguised as Neptune, was to occupy the center of the circle. At the ends were to be Trolley10, Toggles, Joy, and another plebe named Grat Wallace. They were to take the parts of bones and tambo, but to be clad in the fantastic garb11 of sea wolves.
Eight other plebes, dressed in cadet uniforms, were to occupy the other chairs. They were supposed to represent eight mortals captured by Neptune and compelled to assist in entertaining him.
The plan was novel, and Clif was very anxious to conceal12 it from outsiders until the curtain rose on Saturday night.
His efforts had proved successful and he was doubly concerned at this last moment to keep the secret. While the company was preparing for the final rehearsal he carefully examined the curtain and saw that the plebe sentries13 were alert.
But he totally forgot several deadlights and two gun ports which opened from the gun deck. They overlooked the sea, and for that reason it probably never occurred to him that they could be utilized14 by prying15 eyes.
When he returned from his tour of investigation16 he found the “Naval Academy Plebe Minstrel Troupe” in their places in full costume.
The orchestra was rather weak. It consisted of two asthmatic fiddles17, a brass18 horn, an old drum, and a peculiar19 instrument Trolley had rigged out of a dishpan and a variety of strings20.
In addition Clif was to perform on musical glasses, an accomplishment21 he had learned at home. This was to come in the olio, or second, part, together with juggling
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