“And so do I,” added his brother. 

 “Well, good luck to you,” said the sergeant, with a smile. “You may get your wishes.” 

 Frank and Ned were now apprentice seamen, or they would be when formally passed by the medical officer at the training station. They were to leave New York with a squad of other enlisted men the next day, and that night they wrote to their uncle telling of their progress. 

 Frank wanted to pay Sergeant Berk for the boarding house accommodations, but the officer said there was plenty of time for that. And so, in due season, our heroes found themselves on board a train that was headed for Norfolk. 

 “Well, we don’t know where we’re going to land, but we’re on our way,” said Ned, slightly changing the words of the song. 

 “That’s right,” agreed his brother. “But I guess we’ll make out all right.” 

 “I’d feel a little better if I felt there was some way in which we could help Uncle Phil,” murmured Ned, musingly. 

 “Well, maybe we can, after we get aboard some ship, and know just what we are about,” replied Frank. 68 

68

 But he little realized how soon his words were to be brought to his mind again with peculiar force. 

 The journey to Norfolk was without notable incident, save that once Ned thought he saw one of the men who had robbed Frank. But it proved a false alarm. 

 “And maybe it’s just as well,” said Frank. 

 “How so?” asked Ned. 

 “Well, if we got our money back now we might not want to keep on and join the navy.” 

 “Oh, no danger of my backing out now!” cried the younger lad. 

 “No, I guess not,” was his brother’s reply. 

 In time, they arrived at Norfolk, and were soon at the naval training station, where, with some other recruits, they were taken in charge by a petty officer to prepare for the second and more rigorous medical examination. 

69CHAPTER X—IN BARRACKS

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