remained standing, their
commanding officer talked with them as if they were really his equals;
that is, as if there were no social barriers erected between them.

The longer they remained in the service the more the Battleship Boys
came to realize that the gulf between officers and men was not nearly
so wide as it had been painted. The officer worked by the side of his
men in the grime and dirt, and at all times made the comfort of the
jackies his personal care. Strict forms, however, had to be lived up
to for the sake of discipline.

On the following morning, when the two boys reported to turret number
four, where they were stationed, the gun captain lined up his men and
looked them over after roll call.

"What we need in this crew, just now, is gun pointers. Those of you
who have tried that work aren't worth the powder to blow you through a
ventilator. What we are going to do I'll confess I don't know. Here
we are, within four weeks of battle practice, and not one of you could
sight a gun so that it would send a ball through a barn if the barn
were leaned up against the muzzle. Do any of you who haven't tried
think you can sight a seven-inch gun!"

"I used to shoot woodchucks with a shotgun, sir," Sam Hickey informed
the gun captain.

The gun crew laughed loudly.

"Bosh!" exploded the gun captain.

"I can shoot, sir," insisted Sam.

"I'd be afraid to have you get near a bag of powder with that fiery
head. It's a wonder you don't blow up with spontaneous combustion.
You will, one of these times, if you don't look sharp."

A pugnacious look flashed into Sam Hickey's eyes, but he dared not make
a retort to the gun captain.

"Davis, do you think you could learn to sight a gun?"

"Yes, sir; I think so."

"You'll get the chance. We will give you a try-out this morning. All
hands line up for dotter practice."

"What's dotter practice?" asked Sam.

"Sh-h-h," warned Dan. "Haven't you learned what that is yet?"

"No."

"Dotter practice is target work in miniature. Listen! The gun captain
is going to explain it to us."

"Some of you understand the dotter," began the gun captain. "For the
benefit of those of you who do not I will explain. The dotter is a
little contrivance on the gun, which enables you to shoot at a target
and proves your marksmanship. By looking through the finder you will
see a little target that moves up and down like a ship at sea. When
the crossed wires of your finder