“You will find on the hooks your uniform as captain.  There are three suits, from which you will select one that fits you.”

Captain Carnes entered and closed the door.  If he did not feel like a king, he ought to have felt so.

Mr. Lowington then gave the next room to the first and second lieutenants, who were to occupy it together; and they were also directed to clothe themselves in the uniforms deposited there for their use.  The third state room was given to the third and fourth lieutenants, and the fourth to the first and second midshipmen.  The forward room of the port side was assigned to the first and second masters; the next to the third and fourth; the third to the two pursers, and the last to the third and fourth midshipmen.

In a short time the officers came out of their rooms clothed in their uniforms, which consisted of a blue frock coat, with brass buttons, and blue pants.  The cap was of the same material, with a gold band around it.  Thus far the uniforms were all alike; but there were distinguishing insignia to indicate the rank of each.  All the officers had shoulder-straps, by which their positions were designated.  The captain had two anchors; the first lieutenant had one anchor, with four stars, one above, one below, and one on each side; the second lieutenant had the anchor with three stars—­none above; the third lieutenant, one star on each side of the anchor; and the fourth lieutenant one star below the anchor.  The captain also wore five narrow gold bands on each of his coat sleeves; the first lieutenant four, and so on, the fourth wearing but one band.

The shoulder-straps of the masters contained no anchor; only the stars, one for each grade, the first master having four stars; the fourth only one.  The rank of the pursers was indicated by the outline of a parallelogram for the second, and two of the same figure, one within the other, for the first.  The straps of the midshipmen contained gilt numbers, from one to four, designating their grade.

The officers presented a very elegant and dashing appearance in their new uniform; and if some of them did not feel a little vain, it was because they were less human than boys usually are.

“What are we to do, sir?” asked Kendall of the principal, after the uniforms had been duly criticised.

“Nothing, at present.”

“Nothing!  Why, I feel like a counterfeit gold dollar, in this rig, when I know no more about a ship than I do about the inside of the moon.”

“You will learn in due time.  You will go on deck now, young gentlemen; and remember that, as officers, you are not to be familiar with the crew while you are on duty.”

“Can’t we speak to them?” asked Kendall, who was not disposed to be so exclusive as naval discipline required him to be.

“Not while you are on duty, except when it is necessary to do so.  We will now assign the berths in the steerage to the crew.”