of laughter, and noises of every description, that can be made only by a
lot of healthy boys just turned loose from their studies, arose through
the hatchway, and presently the crew came tumbling up the ladder. The
foremost held a guitar under his arm; the one that followed at his heels
brought a checker-board; a third had a box of dominoes; and the boy who
brought up the rear carried a single-stick in each hand, and went about
challenging every one he met to a friendly trial of skill. Some of the
crew walked aft to converse with their officers; the boys with the
checkers and dominoes seated themselves on deck to engage in quiet
games; he of the single-sticks very soon found an antagonist; and the
sailor with the guitar perched himself upon the heel of the bowsprit,
and, after tuning his instrument, cleared his throat, preparatory to
treating his companions to a song containing the information that he had
at one time "Sailed in the good ship Bessie."

The second dog-watch (the hours from six until eight in the evening) was
a season of recreation with the students attached to the Storm King, and
they never failed to make the most of it. A first-class boy, or an
ordinary seaman, could then walk up to the executive officer and
challenge him to a contest with broadswords, without committing any
breach of discipline; and the first lieutenant could talk sociably with
his men, with no fear of being brought before the principal and
reprimanded for unofficer-like conduct. The boys played, sang, ran races
through the rigging, swung Indian clubs and dumb-bells, and, of course,
yelled all the while at the top of their lungs.

The Storm King had now been in possession of the principal of the
academy about two months, and was every day growing in favor with the
students. Indeed, the addition of a navy to the academy bid fair to
cause some radical changes in the programme of studies, for military
honors were at a heavy discount, and all the students were working for
positions on board the yacht. No one cared for the colonel's silver
eagle now, but every body cast longing eyes toward the anchors he wore
in his naval shoulder-straps. The little vessel had had at least one
good effect. She had put ambition into the boys, elevated the standard
of scholarship, and convinced such lazy fellows as Martin, Rich, and
Miller, that they must pay more attention to their books, or be left
behind by every student in the academy.

The yacht was in