Soon the train was creeping out into the darkness, threading its way over the maze of switches and leaping out into the cool country air.  All the boys were in high spirits, mingling boisterously in jolly companionship, the car ringing with their songs and chatter.

Jack and Ted lounged together in their seat, chatting for a while; and finally, when the tumult had abated and the boys were getting tired, dozing away into slumber to dream about the new world into which they were being carried.

Behind them, Winchester and Brighton!  Before them, the stirring life of “jackies” aboard one of Uncle Sam’s warships—–­bound for the war zone!

CHAPTER II

DOWN IN A SUBMARINE

Daylight found them rolling through the suburbs of a great city.  The long night ride was nearing an end.

All around them as their train wended its way through the railway yard were evidences of the unusual activities of war times.  Long freight trains were puffing and chugging on the sidings; the air was black with smoke, and the tracks filled everywhere with locomotives and moving rolling stock.

In a few minutes the train slowed down into the railway terminal and the score or more of “rookies” were soon stretching their legs on the platform.  A detail of blue jackets, spick and span in their natty uniforms, awaited the party.  Jack and Ted stared at the fine looking escort, thinking what a wonderful thing it would be when they, too, were decked out ready for service in such fine-looking attire.

They had not long to wait.  Breakfast over, the entire party boarded trolley cars bound for the navy yard.  Soon, across the meadows, loomed the fighting tops of battleships, and in the background the giant antennae of the navy yard’s wireless station.

“Here we are at last, chum!” chortled Ted with a broad grin, as he and Jack piled out of the car.

Passing the armed sentries at the gate, the party of recruits were marched first to the commandant’s office, where their arrival was officially reported.  After roll call and checking up of the list of names, the boys were all marched over to the quartermaster’s depot to be fitted for uniforms.  Probably the most impressive moment of the morning to the boys was the ceremony of swearing them into service—–­when they took the oath of allegiance to their country.

Jack and Ted were anxious to get into their uniforms and were afforded an opportunity very shortly when they were directed aboard the training ship Exeter, where they were to be quartered for a few days until detailed into service on one of the fighting units in the yard.

The first few days aboard the Exeter passed rapidly, the time being so filled with drills that the boys had few idle moments.  Their letters home and to their chums at Brighton contained glowing accounts of the new service into which they had entered.