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had no part in that new drill； either looked on attentively； or
disported themselves in a gymnasium hard by。 The steadiness of the
broadsword boys on their short legs； and the firmness with which
they sustained the different positions； was truly remarkable。
The broadsword exercise over； suddenly there was great excitement
and a rush。 Naval Drill！
In the corner of the ground stood a decked mimic ship； with real
masts； yards； and sails … mainmast seventy feet high。 At the word
of command from the Skipper of this ship … a mahogany…faced Old
Salt； with the indispensable quid in his cheek； the true nautical
roll； and all wonderfully complete … the rigging was covered with a
swarm of boys： one； the first to spring into the shrouds；
outstripping all the others； and resting on the truck of the main…
topmast in no time。
And now we stood out to sea； in a most amazing manner； the Skipper
himself； the whole crew； the Uncommercial； and all hands present；
implicitly believing that there was not a moment to lose； that the
wind had that instant chopped round and sprung up fair； and that we
were away on a voyage round the world。 Get all sail upon her！
With a will； my lads！ Lay out upon the main…yard there！ Look
alive at the weather earring！ Cheery； my boys！ Let go the sheet；
now！ Stand by at the braces； you！ With a will； aloft there！
Belay； starboard watch！ Fifer！ Come aft； fifer； and give 'em a
tune！ Forthwith； springs up fifer； fife in hand … smallest boy
ever seen … big lump on temple； having lately fallen down on a
paving…stone … gives 'em a tune with all his might and main。 Hoo…
roar； fifer！ With a will； my lads！ Tip 'em a livelier one； fifer！
Fifer tips 'em a livelier one； and excitement increases。 Shake 'em
out； my lads！ Well done！ There you have her！ Pretty； pretty！
Every rag upon her she can carry； wind right astarn； and ship
cutting through the water fifteen knots an hour！
At this favourable moment of her voyage； I gave the alarm 'A man
overboard！' （on the gravel）； but he was immediately recovered； none
the worse。 Presently； I observed the Skipper overboard； but
forbore to mention it； as he seemed in no wise disconcerted by the
accident。 Indeed； I soon came to regard the Skipper as an
amphibious creature； for he was so perpetually plunging overboard
to look up at the hands aloft； that he was oftener in the bosom of
the ocean than on deck。 His pride in his crew on those occasions
was delightful； and the conventional unintelligibility of his
orders in the ears of uncommercial landlubbers and loblolly boys；
though they were always intelligible to the crew； was hardly less
pleasant。 But we couldn't expect to go on in this way for ever；
dirty weather came on； and then worse weather； and when we least
expected it we got into tremendous difficulties。 Screw loose in
the chart perhaps … something certainly wrong somewhere … but here
we were with breakers ahead； my lads； driving head on； slap on a
lee shore！ The Skipper broached this terrific announcement in such
great agitation； that the small fifer； not fifeing now； but
standing looking on near the wheel with his fife under his arm；
seemed for the moment quite unboyed； though he speedily recovered
his presence of mind。 In the trying circumstances that ensued； the
Skipper and the crew proved worthy of one another。 The Skipper got
dreadfully hoarse； but otherwise was master of the situation。 The
man at the wheel did wonders； all hands （except the fifer） were
turned up to wear ship； and I observed the fifer； when we were at
our greatest extremity； to refer to some document in his waistcoat…
pocket； which I conceived to be his will。 I think she struck。 I
was not myself conscious of any collision； but I saw the Skipper so
very often washed overboard and back again； that I could only
impute it to the beating of the ship。 I am not enough of a seaman
to describe the manoeuvres by which we were saved； but they made
the Skipper very hot （French polishing his mahogany face） and the
crew very nimble； and succeeded to a marvel； for； within a few
minutes of the first alarm； we had wore ship and got her off； and
were all a…tauto … which I felt very grateful for： not that I knew
what it was； but that I perceived that we had not been all a…tauto
lately。 Land now appeared on our weather…bow； and we shaped our
course for it； having the wind abeam； and frequently changing the
man at the helm； in order that every man might have his spell。 We
worked into harbour under prosperous circumstances； and furled our
sails； and squared our yards； and made all ship…shape and handsome；
and so our voyage ended。 When I complimented the Skipper at
parting on his exertions and those of his gallant crew； he informed
me that the latter were provided for the worst； all hands being
taught to swim and dive； and he added that the able seaman at the
main…topmast truck especially； could dive as deep as he could go
high。
The next adventure that befell me in my visit to the Short…Timers；
was the sudden apparition of a military band。 I had been
inspecting the hammocks of the crew of the good ship； when I saw
with astonishment that several musical instruments； brazen and of
great size； appeared to have suddenly developed two legs each； and
to be trotting about a yard。 And my astonishment was heightened
when I observed a large drum； that had previously been leaning
helpless against a wall； taking up a stout position on four legs。
Approaching this drum and looking over it； I found two boys behind
it （it was too much for one）； and then I found that each of the
brazen instruments had brought out a boy； and was going to
discourse sweet sounds。 The boys … not omitting the fifer； now
playing a new instrument … were dressed in neat uniform； and stood
up in a circle at their music…stands； like any other Military Band。
They played a march or two； and then we had Cheer boys； Cheer； and
then we had Yankee Doodle； and we finished； as in loyal duty bound；
with God save the Queen。 The band's proficiency was perfectly
wonderful； and it was not at all wonderful that the whole body
corporate of Short…Timers listened with faces of the liveliest
interest and pleasure。
What happened next among the Short…Timers？ As if the band had
blown me into a great class…room out of their brazen tubes； IN a
great class…room I found myself now； with the whole choral force of
Short…Timers singing the praises of a summer's day to the
harmonium； and my small but highly respected friend the fifer
blazing away vocally； as if he had been saving up his wind for the
last twelvemonth； also the whole crew of the good ship Nameless
swarming up and down the scale as if they had never swarmed up and
down the rigging。 This done； we threw our whole power into God
bless the Prince of Wales； and blessed his Royal Highness to such
an extent that； for my own Uncommercial part； I gasped again when
it was over。