Chapter I: Preface

The purpose of this story is to bring before the American youth who read it a correct portrayal of midshipman life at Annapolis, to bring out in story form the routine of drills, studies and customs of our Naval Academy, the discipline there undergone by American midshipmen and the environment in which they live and which controls them from the time they enter.

“The Osborn Demonstration” of the Pythagorean problem may not be new. It hardly seems reasonable that such a simple solving of this ancient problem should be discovered at this late date. However, it is certainly shorter and more graphic than any given in present day geometry text-books. Some search has been made, but up to the present no evidence has been found showing previous knowledge of this method of demonstration.

Should this story create any interest in Ralph Osborn and his friends it may here be stated that they have all lived. They were not the first nor will they be the last to have trials and triumphs at Annapolis.

EDWARD LATIMER BEACH,
_Lieutenant-Commander,
United States Navy_.

_United States Ship Montana._

CONTENTS

I. A COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR THE NAVAL ACADEMY 11

II. MR. THOMAS G. SHORT AND HIS MAN 21

III. SHORT’S METHOD OF PASSING AN EXAMINATION 33

IV. SHORT’S NAVAL CAREER IS SHORT 44

V. HIMSKIHUMSKONSKI 55

VI. THE SUMMER PRACTICE CRUISE BEGINS 65

VII. MAN OVERBOARD 76

VIII. BOLLUP’S WATCH IN A QUEER PLACE 88

IX. “INDIGNANT FOURTH CLASSMAN” 101

X. “THE OSBORN DEMONSTRATION” 113

XI. THIRD CLASSMAN OSBORN 122

XII. CHIEF WATER TENDER HESTER 132

XIII. OILER COLLINS JUMPS SHIP 145

XIV. RALPH IS KIDNAPPED 156

XV. RALPH BREAKFASTS WITH HIS CAPTAIN 164

XVI. A BOILER EXPLOSION 173

XVII. THIRD CLASSMEN ELECT CLASS OFFICERS 187

XVIII. “PROFESSOR MOEHLER IS A LIAR AND A FOOL” 198

XIX. “OSBORN NEVER WROTE IT, SIR” 209

XX. HIMSKI SAVES RALPH 219

XXI. “CREELTON, I BELIEVE YOU ARE THE MAN” 230

XXII. RALPH AT BOLLUP’S HOME 241

XXIII. RALPH SAVES BOLLUP FROM DISMISSAL 252

XXIV. RALPH HAS A JOKE PLAYED ON HIM BY A CANDIDATE 262

XXV. RALPH COURT-MARTIALED FOR HAZING 275

XXVI. RALPH IS DISMISSED BY SENTENCE OF GENERAL COURT MARTIAL 289

XXVII. HIMSKI AND COMPANY ARE JOYFULLY ASTONISHED 300

XXVIII. FIRST CLASS LEAVE AT HAMPDEN GROVE 309

XXIX. “TURN OUT ON THIS FLOOR. TURN OUT, TURN OUT” 320

XXX. THE THIEF UNMASKED 333

XXXI. RALPH’S LOST WATCH IS FOUND 346

XXXII. RALPH FINDS HIS UNCLE AT LAST 359

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

“You did well, sir” _Frontispiece_ 80

“They are not my papers” 43

He saw the man just ahead and on the port bow
swimming frantically 146

“You may be the man” 235

Ralph threw himself on Bollup and caught him
around the waist 330

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Ralph Osborn--Midshipman at Annapolis