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“Because,” said Bill Green, who was a foks’l wag, “when we comes to fightin’ the British, most likely the cap’n will call you up and make you a quarter gunner, or sumpin’ on the spot, boy; and you can’t git your share of the prize money if you ain’t entered on the ship’s books, reg’lar.”

Danny luckily did not mention his expectation of becoming a quarter gunner to Paul Jones, who, as first lieutenant, had charge of the ship in the absence of her captain. But he did ask that he might be put on the books so he could get his prize money; which the young lieutenant promised to do, laughing in spite of himself at Danny’s serious expectation of a considerable fortune in prize money.

Captain Saltonstall was to command the Alfred, but he had not yet arrived, and upon Paul Jones rested the duty of preparing the ship for sea. From the day his foot first touched the deck his active spirit pervaded everything, and the officers under him, as well as the men, felt the force of his commanding energy. Besides working all day, he and the other officers stood watch and watch on deck throughout the wintry nights, to prevent desertions; and although every other ship in the squadron had her crew lessened by desertion, not a single man was lost from the Alfred.