"Many a time I've heard him brag that he'd get even for the punishments that were put upon him.

And now he has gone and done it---the worse than cur!" "No; there are no duplicate parts here," announced Ensign Hastings at last.
"See if you can't fit on the old, worn one," proposed Lieutenant Jack.
"No such luck!" murmured Hal Hastings.

"Morton was too good a mechanic not to know bow to do his trick! He hasn't left us a single chance for our lives!" None the less Hal patiently tried to fit the plate back and make the motor work, Lieutenant Jack, in the meantime, standing by the board with the wrench in hand.

In the next ten minutes several efforts were made to start the motor, but all of them failed.
"And all for want of a bit of copper of a certain size, shape and thickness," sighed Midshipman Dan Dalzell.
"It does seem silly, doesn't it," replied Lieutenant Jack with a wan smile.
"At least," murmured Midshipman Wolgast, "we shall have a chance to show that we know how to die like men of the Navy." "Never say die," warned Ensign Eph Somers seriously, "until you know you're really dead!" This caused a laugh, and it eased them all.
"Well," muttered Jetson, "as I know that I can't be of any use here I'm going back into the cabin and sit down.

I can at least keep quiet and make no fuss about it." One after another the other midshipmen silently followed Jetson's example.