“Not much chance,” commented Ned, shaking his head. “No, but every chance is worth taking.” “Oh, yes, sure.” Together they walked down toward the lower end of the Island of Manhattan—the location known as South Ferry, where the waters of the East and Hudson River mingle. Frank was thinking hard. He and his brother had between them now only the clothing they had left at the Pennsylvania station, and a few dollars that the thief had not taken. It would hardly last them two days if they had to engage a boarding place. “Say, that’s the life all right!” suddenly exclaimed Ned. Frank saw him pointing to a gaily-colored poster which depicted some sailors landing on a tropical island, while in the distance, on the blue waters of a palm-encircled bay, was a battleship. It was one of Uncle Sam’s attractive posters, calling for young men to join the navy. 53 53 “Yes, that does look enticing,” admitted Frank. And then, before he could say any more, Ned clapped him heartily on the back, and exclaimed so loudly that several passersby heard it and smiled: “Let’s enlist! Let’s enlist, old man! That will solve all our troubles!” 54CHAPTER VIII—JOINING THE NAVY 54 This time it was Frank’s turn to stare at his brother as Ned had stared at him when Frank announced that they had been robbed. And as Ned had done, so did Frank, for the moment saying nothing. Then, finally, as Ned continued to stare at him with a smile on his face, Frank repeated: “Enlist?” “That’s what I said,” replied his brother. “Look on that picture—and then on, this!” and by a gesture he indicated himself and Frank. “Here we are,” he went on, “almost penniless in New York. By a strange trick of fate we’ve lost everything that we formerly had. We’ve either got to beg, or go to hunting work to keep from starving. On the other hand—look at those fellows! If they haven’t just had the very finest kind of a meal I don’t know what I’m talking about!” Ned pointed to the bright and cheerful picture of the blue-jackets. 55
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