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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/34306-8.txt b/34306-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a61b965 --- /dev/null +++ b/34306-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8336 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Fighting in Cuban Waters, by Edward Stratemeyer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Fighting in Cuban Waters + or, Under Schley on the Brooklyn + +Author: Edward Stratemeyer + +Illustrator: A. B. Shute + +Release Date: November 13, 2010 [EBook #34306] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS + + OR + + UNDER SCHLEY ON THE BROOKLYN + + Old Glory Series + + BY EDWARD STRATEMEYER + +AUTHOR OF "UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA" "A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA" "RICHARD +DARE'S VENTURE" "OLIVER BRIGHT'S SEARCH" "TO ALASKA FOR GOLD" ETC. + + + _ILLUSTRATED BY_ + A. B. SHUTE + + BOSTON + LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS + 1899 + + COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY LEE AND SHEPARD. + + _All Rights Reserved._ + + Norwood Press + J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith + Norwood Mass. U.S.A. + + + + +[Illustration: "THE FLAGSHIP BEGAN THE FIRING."] + + + + +PREFACE + + +"FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS," although a complete story in itself, forms +the third volume of the "Old Glory Series," tales depicting the various +campaigns in our late war with Spain. + +In "Under Dewey at Manila" we followed Larry Russell's adventures on +board of the flagship _Olympia_ during the memorable contest off Cavite; +in "A Young Volunteer in Cuba" we marched and fought with Ben Russell in +that notable campaign leading up to the surrender of Santiago; and in +the present volume are narrated the haps and mishaps of Walter Russell, +who joins Commodore Schley's flagship, the _Brooklyn_, and sails with +the Flying Squadron from Hampton Roads to Key West, thence to +Cienfuegos, and at last succeeds in "bottling up" Admiral Cervera's +fleet in Santiago Bay. The long blockade and the various bombardments +are described, and then follow the particulars of that masterly battle +on the part of the North Atlantic Squadron which led to the total +destruction of the Spanish warships. + +Walter Russell's bravery may seem overdrawn, but such is far from being +a fact. That our sailors were heroes in those days we have but to +remember the sinking of the _Merrimac_, the _Winslow_ affair, and a +score of deeds of equal daring. "The hour makes the man," and the +opportunity likewise makes the hero. Walter was brave, but he was no +more so than hundreds of others who stood ready to lay down their lives +in the cause of humanity and for the honor of Old Glory. Like his two +brothers, his religious belief was of the practical kind, and he went +into battle convinced that so long as he did his duty according to the +dictates of his conscience, an all-wise and all-powerful Providence +would guide him and watch over him. + +The author cannot refrain from saying a word about the historical +portions of the present work. They have been gleaned from the best +available authorities, including the reports of Admiral Sampson, +Commodore Schley, and a number of captains who took part in the contest; +also the personal narratives of one man who was on board the _Merrimac_ +at the time that craft was sunk, and of a number who have made the +_Brooklyn_ their home for several years past, and who will probably +remain on the pride of the Flying Squadron for some time to come. + +In presenting this third volume, the author begs to thank both critics +and the public for the cordial reception accorded to the previous +volumes, and trusts that the present story will meet with equal +commendation. + +EDWARD STRATEMEYER. + +NEWARK, N.J., + +March 1, 1899. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +I. WALTER DETERMINES TO ENTER THE NAVY + +II. A VISIT TO THE NAVY-YARD + +III. A CHASE AND ITS RESULT + +IV. ON THE WAY TO THE "BROOKLYN" + +V. SOMETHING ABOUT WAR AND PRIZE MONEY + +VI. A GLIMPSE OF THE PRESIDENT + +VII. A TALK ABOUT SPANISH SAILORS + +VIII. THE MEN BEHIND THE GUNS + +IX. COMMODORE WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY + +X. WALTER SHOWS HIS PLUCK + +XI. THE SAILING OF THE FLYING SQUADRON + +XII. AN ADVENTURE OFF CHARLESTON + +XIII. IN WHICH THE GOLD PIECE COMES TO LIGHT + +XIV. KEY WEST, AND THE LAST OF JIM HASKETT + +XV. FROM CIENFUEGOS TO SANTIAGO BAY + +XVI. THE FINDING OF ADMIRAL CERVERA'S FLEET + +XVII. IN WHICH THE "MERRIMAC" IS SUNK + +XVIII. WALTER'S ADVENTURE ON SHORE + +XIX. CARLOS, THE REBEL SPY + +XX. IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY + +XXI. THE FLIGHT TO THE SEACOAST + +XXII. THE LANDING OF THE MARINES AT GUANTANAMO + +XXIII. IN A SPANISH PRISON + +XXIV. BACK TO THE "BROOKLYN" AGAIN + +XXV. THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE SANTIAGO BATTERIES + +XXVI. IN WHICH THE ARMY OF INVASION ARRIVES + +XXVII. THE SPANISH FLEET AND ITS COMMANDER + +XXVIII. "THE ENEMY IS ESCAPING!" + +XXIX. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SPANISH FLEET + +XXX. FINAL SCENES OF THE GREAT FIGHT + +XXXI. TOGETHER ONCE MORE--CONCLUSION + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"The flagship began the firing" + +"He bent over Walter again" + +"The President bowed in return" + +"'See here, I want to talk to you!'" + +"'I'll get square on all of you!'" + +"With a final lurch the _Merrimac_ went down" + +"'Surrender, or I'll shoot you where you stand!'" + +"Rammer in hand, Walter edged close to the muzzle" + + + + +FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +WALTER DETERMINES TO ENTER THE NAVY + + +"Well, Walter, I suppose the newspapers are going like hot cakes this +morning." + +"They are, Mr. Newell. Everybody wants the news. I ran out of 'Globes' +and 'Heralds' before seven o'clock, and sent Dan down for fifty more of +each." + +"That was right. It's a windfall for us newsdealers, as well as a +glorious victory to match. It makes me think of my old war days, when I +was aboard of the _Carondelet_ under Captain Walke. We didn't sink so +many ships as Dewey has at Manila, but we sank some, and smashed many a +shore battery in the bargain, along the banks of the Mississippi. What +does that extra have to say?" and Phil Newell, the one-legged civil-war +naval veteran, who was also proprietor of the news-stand, took the +sheet which Walter Russell, his clerk, handed out. + +"There is not much additional news as yet," answered Walter. "One of the +sensational papers has it that Dewey is now bombarding Manila, but the +news is not confirmed. But it is true that our squadron sunk every one +of the Spanish warships,--and that, I reckon, is enough for one +victory." + +"True, my lad, true; but there is nothing like keeping at 'em, when you +have 'em on the run. That is the way we did down South. Perhaps Dewey is +waiting for additional instructions from Washington. I hope he didn't +suffer much of a loss. Some papers say he came off scot free, but that +seems too good to be true." + +"The news makes me feel more than ever like enlisting," continued the +boy, after a pause, during which he served out half a dozen newspapers +to as many customers. "What a glorious thing it must be to fight like +that and come out on top!" + +"Glorious doesn't express it, Walter. Why, if it wasn't for this game +leg of mine, and my age being against me, I'd go over to the navy-yard +to-day and reënlist, keelhaul me if I wouldn't!" + +"But what of the stand?" + +"The stand could take care of itself--until the Dons were given the +thrashing they deserve for making the Cubans suffer beyond all reason." +Phil Newell threw back his head and gave a laugh. "That puts me in mind +of something that happened when the Civil War started. A young lawyer in +New York locked up his office and pasted a notice on his door: 'Gone to +the front. Will be back when the war is over.' I'd have to put up +something similar, wouldn't I?" + +"I wish you and I could go together, Mr. Newell." + +"So do I, Walter, but I'm over sixty now, and they want young blood. By +the way, what of that brother of yours down in New York?" + +"Ben has joined the militia of that State, and is now at Camp Black +waiting to be sworn into the United States service. I wish he had come +on to Boston." + +"Well, Uncle Sam wants soldiers as well as sailors, or he wouldn't call +for a hundred and twenty-five thousand volunteers. But give me the deck +or gun-room of a warship every time. Nothing finer in the world. I +served for nearly ten years, and I know." + +Walter smiled, and then waited on several additional customers. "My +youngest brother, Larry, takes to the ocean," he answered. "He is out on +the Pacific now, somewhere between the Hawaiian Islands and Hong Kong. +He was always crazy for a boat when we were at home in Buffalo together, +and spent all his spare time on Lake Erie." + +"Going to Hong Kong, eh? That's not so far from the Philippines. It is a +pity he is not with Commodore Dewey. It would be a feather in his cap +when he got home." + +A steady stream of customers for five minutes broke off the conversation +at this point, and throwing down his newspaper, Phil Newell--he never +wanted to be called Philip--entered the stand to help his young +assistant. The stand was situated in the heart of Boston, just outside +of one of the leading hotels, and trade at this hour in the morning, +eight o'clock, was always brisk. + +When there came a lull later on, Walter turned again to his employer. +"Mr. Newell, what if I do enlist? Can you spare me?" he questioned. + +"What! do you really mean it, Walter?" + +"I do, sir. As you know, I've been thinking the matter over ever since +this war with Spain started." + +"But you've got to have your guardian's consent, or they won't take +you." + +"I've got it in my pocket now. I wrote to him last week, and he answered +that, as Ben had already joined the soldiers, I could do as I pleased, +but I mustn't blame him if I was killed." + +"Which you wouldn't be likely to do, if you were killed dead, so to +speak," laughed Phil Newell. Then he slapped Walter on the back, for +twenty odd years on land had not taken his "sea-dog" manners from him. +"Enlist, my lad, enlist by all means, if you feel it your duty. Of +course I don't like to lose such a handy clerk, but Uncle Sam can have +you and welcome." + +"Didn't you say there was a young man named Gimpwell looking for this +position?" + +"Yes, and he wants it badly, for he has a sick sister to support." + +"Has he any experience?" + +"Oh, yes; he tended a railroad stand for several years." + +"Then, perhaps you could break him in without much trouble--if I went +away." + +"Do you want to go at once?" + +"If I am to enlist, then it seems to me the quicker the better. I see by +the papers that some of our warships are still at Hampton Roads and Key +West, but there is no telling when they will start for Cuban waters. +Besides, I've been thinking that if I could manage it, I should like to +get aboard of the _Brooklyn_, the flagship of Commodore Schley's Flying +Squadron, which is now at Hampton Roads awaiting orders." + +"It's not so easy to pick your ship, my lad. However, if you wish, you +can go over to the navy-yard this afternoon and see what you can +do,--and I'll go along and leave Dan in charge here," concluded Phil +Newell. + +Walter Russell was one of three brothers, of whom Ben was the eldest and +Larry the youngest. Their home had been in Buffalo, where at the death +of their mother, a widow, they had been turned over to the care of their +step-uncle, Mr. Job Dowling, an eccentric old bachelor, whose prime +object in life was to hoard up money. + +In the two volumes previous to this, entitled respectively, "Under Dewey +at Manila," and "A Young Volunteer in Cuba," I related how the boys +found it impossible to remain under Job Dowling's roof, and how they ran +away, each to seek fortune as he might find it. Larry drifted first to +San Francisco and then to Honolulu, the principal city of the Hawaiian +Islands, where he shipped on a vessel bound for Hong Kong. From this +ship he was cast overboard with a Yankee friend named Luke Striker, and +both were picked up by the flagship _Olympia_ of the Asiatic Squadron +and taken to Manila Bay, there to serve most gallantly under the naval +commander whose name has since become a household word everywhere. As +Walter had intimated, Larry was a sailor by nature, and it was likely +that he would follow the sea as long as he lived. + +Ben and Walter had gone eastward, but at Middletown, in New York State, +they had separated, Walter to drift to Boston, and Ben to make his way +to New York. At the latter city the eldest of the Russell brothers had +secured employment in a hardware establishment, but this place was +burned out, and then Ben enlisted in the 71st Regiment of New York, +while his intimate friend, Gilbert Pennington, joined Roosevelt's Rough +Riders, and both went to Cuba, there to fight valorously in that +campaign which led to the surrender of Santiago and caused Spain to sue +for peace. + +As Walter had written to Larry, the recital of the former's adventures +in getting from Middletown to Boston would fill a volume. He had stolen +a ride on the cars from Middletown to Albany, and during this wild trip +his hat blew off and was not recovered. He was put off the train just +outside of the capital city; and, stopping at a farmhouse to inquire the +way, had his clothing torn by a bull-dog that was more than anxious to +get at what was beneath the garments. Walter hardly knew what to do, +when a tramp put in an appearance, and sent a well-directed stone at the +dog's head, causing the beast to slink away. The tramp introduced +himself as Raymond Cass, a bricklayer, out of luck, and bound for Boston +on foot. He proposed that they journey together, and Walter rather +hesitatingly consented. They moved eastward in company for two days, +when, on awakening one morning, Walter found Raymond Cass missing. The +boy's coat was also gone, and with it his entire capital,--forty-seven +cents. + +The pair had made their bed in the haymow of a large barn, and while +Walter was searching for the tramp, the owner of the place came up and +demanded to know what the youth was doing on his premises. Walter's tale +was soon told, and Farmer Hardell agreed to give him a week's work in +his dairy, one of the dairymen being sick. For this Walter received four +dollars, and an old hat and a coat in addition. + +Leaving Cornberry, the name of the hamlet, Walter had struck out once +more for Boston, but this time steering clear of all tramps, of the +Raymond Cass type or otherwise. He was sparing of his money, and the +first day out earned his dinner and a packed-up lunch for supper, by +putting in two panes of glass for an old lady who had waited for a week +for a travelling glazier to come around and do the job. In addition to +this, the lad worked for two days at a village blacksmith's +establishment during the absence of the regular helper who had gone to +his aunt's funeral in another place, and also found a regular position +with a florist, who had a number of large greenhouses up the Charles +River. Walter was not used to working where there was so much glass, and +on the third day he allowed a step-ladder he was using to slip. The +ladder crashed through several hot-bed frames, and poor Walter was +discharged on the spot, without a cent of pay. + +The boy's next move had been to the river, where he had obtained a +position on a freight steamboat. His duty was to truck freight on and +off, and the work blistered his hands and gave him many a backache. But +he stuck to it for two weeks, thereby earning fourteen dollars, and with +this capital entered Boston. + +Walter had not expected an easy time finding a situation in the Hub, but +neither had he anticipated the repeated failures that one after another +stared him in the face. For over a week he tramped up and down, without +so much as a "smell of an opening," as he afterwards wrote to his +brothers. In the meanwhile his money diminished rapidly, until more than +two-thirds of it was gone. + +A deed of kindness had obtained for him the position with Phil Newell. +Chancing to walk along School Street one afternoon, he had seen two boys +beating a small boy unmercifully. The small boy had turned into Province +Street, and the big boys had followed, and here they had thrown the +little fellow down, and were on the point of kicking him, when Walter +rushed up and flung both back. "You brutes, to attack such a small boy!" +he had cried. "Clear out, or I'll call a policeman, and have you both +locked up." + +"We told him to keep back at de newspaper office," growled one of the +big fellows. "Do it again, Dan Brown, and we'll give it to you worse," +and then as Walter advanced once more, both took to their heels and +disappeared. + +Dan Brown had been very grateful, and questionings had elicited the +information that the lad worked for Phil Newell, as a paper carrier and +to do errands. "His regular clerk, Dick Borden, left yesterday," Dan had +continued; "perhaps you can get the job." And Walter had lost no time in +following the small youth to Newell's place of business. Here Dan's +story was told, and the lad put in a good word for Walter, with the +result that the youth was taken for a week on trial. How well Walter +pleased the old naval veteran we have already seen. He had now occupied +the place as head clerk for nearly two months, and his salary had been +increased from four dollars a week to six. He boarded with Dan's mother, +in a little suite of rooms on a modest side street, not a great +distance from the Common. + +It must not be supposed that Job Dowling, who held a good deal of money +in trust for the boys, had allowed them to run off without making an +effort to bring them back. Larry was out of his reach, but Ben and +Walter were not, and the miserly man had descended upon Ben in New York +and tried his best to "make things warm," as Ben had mentioned in a +letter to Larry. But Job Dowling had overreached himself by attempting +to sell a watch and some jewelry which had belonged originally to Mr. +and Mrs. Russell, heirlooms which were not to be disposed of under any +circumstances. On his trip to New York after Ben, the articles had been +stolen from him at the Post-office--something that had so frightened Job +Dowling that he had consented to Ben's enlisting in the army with +scarcely a murmur, fearful the youth might otherwise have him brought to +book for what had happened. A vigorous search had been made for the +thief, but he was not found. Later on, when Ben was in the army, Job +Dowling received information that caused him to reach the conclusion +that the thief had gone to Boston. The miserly guardian of the boys +returned to his home in Buffalo and, as much worried as ever, wrote to +Walter to keep an eye open for the missing property. Walter did as +requested, but in such a large place as the Hub the youth had little +hope of ever seeing the precious heirlooms again. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A VISIT TO THE NAVY-YARD + + +There was a rush of business at the news-stand between twelve and one +o'clock, but shortly after one this died away, and inside of half an +hour Phil Newell told Walter that they might be on their way--"If you +are bound to enlist in Uncle Sam's service," he added. + +Walter made sure that the paper containing Job Dowling's permission for +him to enter the navy was safe in his coat pocket, and then announced +his readiness to depart. The owner of the stand called up Dan Brown and +gave him a few directions, and in another minute Newell and Walter had +boarded a Charlestown car and were off. + +"I haven't been over to the navy-yard for several years," remarked Phil +Newell, as they rode along. "I used to know several of the boys that +were there, but they've grown too old for the service. I reckon the yard +is a busy place these days." + +And a busy place it proved to be as they turned into Chelsea Street, and +moved along the solid granite wall which separates the yard from the +public thoroughfare. From beyond came the creaking of hoists, and the +ringing of countless hammers and anvils, for the government employees +were hard at work, fitting out a warship or two and converting several +private vessels into naval craft. + +"I don't know if I'm just right about this," went on Phil Newell, as +they headed for one of the numerous buildings near the wall, after being +passed by a guard. "It may be that they want to keep strangers out, now +the war is on, and you'll have to go elsewhere to sign articles. But I +know old Caleb Walton is here, and he'll tell me all he can, and set us +straight." + +Walter's heart beat violently, for he began to realize that the step he +was about to take was a serious one. Who knew but that, after getting +into the navy, he might be sent to the Philippines or to the coast of +Spain? Already there was some talk of carrying the war into the enemy's +home waters. + +"But I don't care," he said to himself. "If Larry can ship for Hong +Kong, I guess I'm safe in shipping to anywhere. But I do hope I can get +on the _Brooklyn_, or on some other ship of the Flying Squadron." + +"Hi, there, Phil Newell! What brought you here, you old landlubber?" +came a cry from their left, and Phil Newell turned as swiftly as his +wooden leg permitted, to find himself confronted by the very individual +he had started out to find. + +"Caleb Walton!" he ejaculated joyfully, and held out his bronzed hand. +"I just came in to see you. Here is a young friend of mine who wants to +sign articles under Uncle Sam. Do you think you can take him in?" + +"Take him in?" Caleb Walton held out his hand, brown and as tough as a +piece of leather. "Sure we can take him in, if he's sound,--and glad to +get him." He gave Walter's hand a grip that made every bone crack. "So +you want to enlist, eh? Go right over to yonder office, and they'll soon +put you through a course of sprouts," and he laughed good-naturedly. + +"But, hold on, Caleb," interposed Newell, as the seaman was about to +show Walter the way. "He don't want to sign articles and go just +anywhere. He would like to get aboard the _Brooklyn_." + +"That is what half of all who come here want," answered Caleb Walton. "I +reckon they think Commodore Schley's Flying Squadron is going to settle +the whole war by going after that Spanish fleet said to be at Cadiz, or +thereabouts. Well, the lad better come with me. I belong to the +_Brooklyn_ now." + +"You!" came from both Phil Newell and Walter simultaneously. + +"I thought you were stationed here?" continued the wooden-legged man. + +"I was, but I've just received orders to join the _Brooklyn_ and bring +at least fifteen men with me. It seems they are short-handed and can't +get the men at Norfolk. If this lad wants to go with me, now is his +chance. What's his handle?" + +"My name is Walter Russell, sir. But--but are you going to join the +_Brooklyn_ at once?" stammered Walter, never having dreamed that he +would be taken away on the spot. + +"Uncle Sam doesn't wait long when he picks his man," replied the old +gunner, for such Caleb Walton was. "Orders were to leave Boston +to-night, but I fancy we'll be kept until to-morrow night, for we are +shy three men, not counting you. Come on." And he led the way to the +building he had previously pointed out. + +"He's all right, and you're in luck," whispered Phil Newell, when he got +the chance. "Cotton to Caleb Walton, and you'll have a friend worth the +making." How true were Newell's words the chapters to follow will prove. + +The building to which Caleb Walton led them was one in which were +situated the main business offices of the yard. This was now a busy +place, and they had to fairly push their way through the crowd of +seamen, officers, and workmen, who kept coming and going, on one errand +or another. Several telephones were ringing, and from a corner came the +steady click-click of a telegraph sounder. + +"Uncle Sam has his shirt sleeves rolled up and is pitching in," +whispered Caleb Walton. "Here we are. Captain Line, here is another man +for my party." + +"He's rather a boy," rejoined Captain Line, as he gave Walter a +searching glance. "Is your father with you?" + +"My father is dead," answered Walter, softly. "Here is my guardian's +consent." And he handed over the sheet. + +"That seems to be correct. Walton, take him over to the examination +room. And hurry up, for I must catch the four-fifty train for New York." + +The "course of sprouts" had begun, and almost before he knew it, Walter +had been passed upon as able-bodied. Time was pressing, and in a quarter +of an hour the youth received a slip of paper signed and sealed by +Captain Line. + +"That is good for your passage to Fortress Monroe," he said. "You will +make the journey in company with Walton and a number of others. When you +get there you will report to Lieutenant Lee, who will have you +transferred to the _Brooklyn_,--unless the flagship has already sailed, +in which case you will be assigned to some other ship." + +"And when do I start, sir?" + +"Walton will have the orders inside of the next hour. Go with him, and +he will tell you what to do." Then came a bang of the curtain to a +roller-top desk, a shoving back of a revolving chair, and in a twinkle +Captain Line had disappeared from view. Truly, Uncle Sam and all under +him were rushing things. + +Walter wished very much to visit the dry dock and the great west basin, +filled as both were with vessels in various stages of construction, +alteration, or repair, but he felt if he was to leave that night he must +be getting back to Boston and to his boarding-house, to pack his "ditty +box," as Phil Newell had dubbed his valise, for all such receptacles are +called ditty boxes in the navy. + +"All right, Walter, you go ahead," said Newell. "I'll stay with Caleb +and let you know just when you are to leave, so you won't be left +behind." And in a moment more the youth had run out of the navy-yard and +was on board of another car. He made one transfer, and in less than half +an hour entered Mrs. Brown's home. + +"Why, Mr. Russell, what brings you?" queried Dan's mother, surprised at +his appearance, for he rarely showed himself during the day excepting at +the dinner and the supper hours. + +"I've enlisted, Mrs. Brown, and I'm to get off to-night or to-morrow," +he answered. "You can let Mr. Keefe have my room now. I'm glad that it +won't be left empty on your hands." + +"So am I, Mr. Russell, for a poor widow can't afford to have a room +vacant long," replied Mrs. Brown, with a faint smile. "So you have +really entered the navy? Well, I wish you all the luck in the world, and +I hope you will come out of the war a--a--commodore, or something like +that." And she wrung his hand. + +Walter's belongings were few, and soon packed away in his valise. Then +he ran downstairs again and bid Mrs. Brown good-by and settled up with +her. "I'll write to you and Dan some time," he said, on parting. + +"Well, did you make it?" was Dan's question, when Walter appeared at the +news-stand. + +"I did, Dan." And the protégé of Uncle Sam told his youthful friend the +particulars. + +"I'm glad you got on the _Brooklyn_," said Dan, with a shake of his +curly head. "She's going to lick the Spaniards out of their boots, see +if she ain't!" And his earnestness made Walter laugh. Dan was but +eleven, yet he read the newspapers as closely as do many grown folks. + +The afternoon papers were now coming in and trade picked up, so that +Walter had to help behind the counter. While he was at work a tall, +thin boy sauntered up and gazed at him doubtfully. + +"That's George Gimpwell," whispered Dan. "Didn't the boss say something +about hiring him?" + +"He did, Dan. Call him over." + +The errand boy did so. "Russell wants to see you," he explained. + +"I believe you were speaking to Mr. Newell about this situation," began +Walter. + +"Well--er--I asked him if he had any opening. I want work the worst +way," sighed George Gimpwell. "Of course, I don't want to do you out of +your job." + +"That's all right; I've just enlisted in the navy," replied Walter, and +he could not help but feel proud over the words. "So if you want this +situation, you had best remain around here until Mr. Newell gets back." + +"I will." George Gimpwell's face brightened. "So you've enlisted? I +wanted to do that, but I was too tall for my weight, so they told me." + +"So you've enlisted?" broke in a gentleman standing by. "Glad to hear +it, young man; it does you credit." And buying a magazine, he caught +Walter by the hand and wished him well. Soon it became noised around on +the block that Newell's clerk was going to join the _Brooklyn_, and half +a dozen, including the clerk of the hotel, came out to see him about it. +In those days, anybody connected with our army or navy was quite a hero, +and somebody to be looked up to, people unconsciously told themselves. + +It was after seven o'clock, and Walter was wondering if anything unusual +had delayed his employer, when Phil Newell hove into appearance. "It's +all right, my lad, don't worry," he said at once. "You don't leave until +to-morrow noon. You are to meet Caleb Walton at the New York and New +England railroad depot at exactly eleven o'clock, and all of the others +of the crowd are to be there too. The government wants to get you down +to Norfolk as soon as it can, and will, consequently, send you by rail +instead of by water." + +"Hurrah! that will make a jolly trip," cried Walter. "If only I could +stop off at New York, take a run out to Camp Black, and see Ben." + +"I doubt if you'll be given time to stop anywhere, time seems to be so +precious. Caleb Walton thinks the Flying Squadron will up anchors before +another week is out." + +"Well, I don't care how quickly they leave--after I am on board," +laughed the youth, much relieved that nothing had occurred whereby he +had been left behind. + +George Gimpwell now came up again, and soon he was engaged to take +Walter's place. Phil Newell promised him five dollars weekly, and as +Walter had gotten six, the good-hearted newsdealer put the extra dollar +on Dan's salary, much to that lad's delight. + +Eight o'clock found Walter at the stand alone, and it was then that he +penned the letter mailed to Ben, as mentioned in a previous volume, +stating he had enlisted and was making a strong "pull" to get on the +_Brooklyn_. "I won't say I am on her until it's a fact," he thought, as +he sealed up the communication, stamped it, and placed it in the corner +letter-box. + +The stand was located in a niche of the hotel, and was open only in the +front, above the counter. At night this space was closed by letting down +two large shutters attached to several hinges and ropes. + +"I reckon this is the last time I'll put these shutters down," thought +Walter, as he brought one down on the run. He was about to drop the +second, when a burly man, rather shabbily dressed, sauntered up, and +asked for one of the weekly sporting papers. + +"I'm thinking of going to the theatre," he said, somewhat unsteadily, +and now Walter learned by a whiff of his breath that he had been +drinking. "What's the best variety show in town?" + +"I'll give it up," said the youth, laughingly. "I haven't been to a show +since I came to Boston, and that's a number of weeks ago." + +"Humph! What do you do with yourself nights?" + +"I'm here up to eight or half past, and after that I either go home or +to one of the public reading rooms, or to the Young Men's Christian +Association Hall." + +"Humph! that must be dead slow." The man lurched heavily against the +counter. "What time is it now?" + +"About half past eight. I haven't any watch, so I can't tell you +exactly." + +"I've got a watch right here," mumbled the newcomer, still leaning +heavily on the counter. "Here it is. But your light is so low I can't +see the hands. Turn it up." + +Walter obligingly complied, and the fellow tried again to see the time, +but failed. "Strike a match," he went on; "I ain't going to no theatre +if it's as late as you say it is." + +Walter did not like the man's manner, but not caring to enter into any +dispute, he lit a match as requested, and held it down close to the +timepiece, which lay in the man's open palm. + +"Only eight-twenty," grumbled the fellow, slowly. "I knew you was off. +You don't--What's up?" And suddenly he straightened himself and stared +at Walter. + +"I want to know where you got that watch," demanded the youth, +excitedly. + +"That watch?" The man fell back a pace. "What do you--ahem--why do you +ask that question, boy?" + +"Because I know that watch," was Walter's ready reply. "It was stolen +from my uncle in New York only a few weeks ago!" + +"Was it?" The man's face changed color. "You--you're mistaken, boy," he +faltered, and fell back still further, and then, as Walter leaped over +the counter, he took to his heels and started down the half-deserted +street at the best speed at his command. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A CHASE AND ITS RESULT + + +Walter knew that watch, which had belonged first to his father and then +his mother, quite well, but if there was anything needed to convince him +that there was no mistake in the identification, it was furnished by the +hasty and unceremonious manner in which the partly intoxicated wearer +was endeavoring to quit the scene. + +"If he was honest, he wouldn't run!" thought the youth. "Ten to one he's +the thief who took the grip from Uncle Job." He started after the +fleeing one. "Come back here!" he shouted. "Stop, thief!" + +But the man did not stop; instead, he tried to run the faster. But he +did not turn any corners, and consequently, aided by the electric +lights, Walter could see him for quite a distance ahead. + +The youth ran but a few yards, then turned and clashed back to the +stand. Bang! the second shutter came down with a crash, and in a trice +he had the padlock secured. Then off he set, satisfied that a form in +the distance was the one he wanted to overtake. + +"What's the matter?" questioned a policeman on the second corner, as he +clutched Walter by the arm. "What are you running for?" + +"Didn't I call out to catch the thief?" answered the youth, sharply. +"Let me go. If you weren't so dead slow, you'd be doing something, +instead of standing there looking at the moon." And on he went again, +the officer shaking his fist after him, half of the opinion that Walter +was trying to joke him. + +At this hour of the evening the street was far from crowded, and Walter +kept the man ahead in sight with comparative ease. Four blocks were +covered, when the fellow paused and looked back. Seeing he was being +followed, he turned and darted into a small side street. Here were a +number of warehouses and several tenements. The door to one of the +latter stood open, and he lost no time in seeking the shelter of the +dark hallway. + +"That's the time I made a bad break," he muttered thickly. "When I came +up to Boston with that stuff I reckoned I was safe. I wonder if he'll +follow me to here? He had better not, unless he wants a broken head." + +In the meantime, Walter had reached the corner of the side street and +come to a halt. The narrow thoroughfare was but dimly lighted, and not a +soul was in sight. + +"He turned in here,--I am certain of that," said the boy to himself. +"More than likely he is in hiding in some dark corner. I wonder if I +hadn't better call an officer?" + +With this intention he gazed around, but no policeman was in view, and +he did not think it advisable to go back for the guardian of the peace +before encountered. He entered the side street slowly and cautiously, +peering into every nook and corner, and behind every bill-board, box, +and barrel as he moved along. + +He had just passed the tenement where the man was in hiding when the +sounds of muffled voices broke upon his ears, and the front door was +thrown back with a bang. + +"Who are you, and what are you doing in here?" came in an unmistakable +Irish voice. + +"Excuse me--I--I made a mistake," was the answer; and now Walter +recognized the tones of the fellow who had the watch. "I am looking for +a man named Harris." + +"Well, he doesn't live here,--so you had better get out." + +"Will you--er--tell me who lives next door?" asked the man Walter was +after, in a lower tone, evidently wishing to gain time ere leaving the +building. + +"A man named Casey and another named Barton live there. There ain't a +Harris on the block. If you----" + +"Hold him, please," burst in Walter, mounting the tenement steps. "He +has a watch that was stolen from my uncle." + +"Shut up, boy!" answered the man fiercely. "My watch is my own, and this +is all a mistake." + +"There is no mistake. Hold him, will you?" + +"I've got him," came from the gloom of the hallway. "I thought he was a +sneak or something by the way he was tip-toeing around here." + +"You are both of you crazy. I never stole a thing in my life. Let go, +both of you!" And then the man began to struggle fiercely, finally +pushing the party in the hallway backward, and almost sending Walter +headlong as he darted down the tenement steps and continued his flight +along the side street. + +As Walter went down, he made a clutch at the man's watch-chain, or +rather the chain which belonged among the Russell heirlooms. He caught +the top guard and the chain parted, one half remaining in the boy's +hand, and the other fast to the timepiece. + +"Help me catch him!'" gasped the youth, as soon as he could get up. His +breast had struck the edge of one of the steps, and he was momentarily +winded. + +"I will," answered the man who lived in the tenement. "Stop there!" he +called out, and set off in pursuit, with Walter beside him. But the +Irishman was old and rheumatic, and soon felt compelled to give up the +chase. "I can't match ye!" he puffed, and sank down on a step to rest; +and once again Walter continued the chase alone. + +Had the thief, Deck Mumpers, been perfectly sober, he might have escaped +with ease, for he was a good runner, and at this hour of the evening +hiding-places in such a city as Boston, with its many crooked +thoroughfares, were numerous. But the liquor he had imbibed had made him +hazy in his mind, and he ran on and on, with hardly any object in view +excepting to put distance between himself and his pursuer. + +He was heading eastward, and presently reached a wharf facing the harbor +and not a great distance from the Congress Street bridge. Here there was +a high board fence and a slatted gate, which for some reason stood +partly open. Without a second thought, he slipped through the gateway, +slid the gate shut, and snapped the hanging padlock into place. + +"Now he'll have a job following me," he chuckled. "I wonder what sort of +a place I've struck?" And he continued on his way, among huge piles of +merchandise covered with tarpaulins. + +Walter had come up at his best speed and was less than a hundred feet +away when the gate was closed and locked. + +"You rascal!" he shouted, but Deck Mumpers paid no attention to his +words. "Now what's to do?" the boy asked himself, dismally. + +He came up to the gate and examined it. It was all of nine feet high, +and the palings were pointed at the top. Could he scale such a barrier? + +"I must do it!" he muttered, and thrust one hand through to a cross +brace. He ascended with difficulty, and once slipped and ran a splinter +into his wrist. But undaunted he kept on until the top was gained, then +dropped to the planking of the wharf beyond. + +Several arc lights, high overhead, lit up the wharf, and he ran from one +pile of merchandise to another. Half the wharf was thus covered, when he +suddenly came face to face with Deck Mumpers. The thief had picked up a +thick bale stick, and without warning he raised this on high and brought +it down with all force upon Walter's head. The boy gave a groan, threw +up both hands, and dropped like a lump of lead, senseless. + +"Phew! I wonder if I've finished him?" muttered the man, anxiously. +"Didn't mean to hit him quite so hard. But it was his own fault--he had +no right to follow me." He bent over Walter and made a hasty +examination. "He's breathing, that's certain. I must get away before a +watchman shows up." + +He started to go, then paused and bent over Walter again. With a +dexterity acquired by long practice in his peculiar profession, he +turned out one pocket after another, transferring the cash and other +articles to his own clothing. Then, as Walter gave a long, deep sigh, as +if about to awaken, he took to his heels once more. He was in no +condition to climb the wharf fence as Walter had done, but helped +himself over by the use of several boxes; and was soon a long distance +away. + +[Illustration: HE BENT OVER WALTER AGAIN.] + +When Walter came to his senses and opened his eyes, the glare from a +bull's-eye lantern struck him, and he saw a wharf watchman eyeing him +curiously. + +"What are you doing here, young fellow?" were the watchman's words. + +"I--I--where is he?" questioned the youth, weakly. + +"He? Who?" + +"The thief--the man who struck me down?" + +"I haven't seen anybody but you around here." + +"A thief who has my uncle's watch came in here, and I followed him, and +he struck me down with a club. When--how long is it since you found me +here?" + +"Several minutes ago. I thought you were drunk at first, and was going +to hand you over to an officer." + +"I don't drink." Walter essayed to stand up, but found himself too weak. +"Gracious, my head is spinning around like a top!" he groaned. + +"You must have got a pretty good rap to be knocked out like this," +commented the watchman kindly. "So the man was a thief? It's a pity he +wasn't the one to be knocked down. Do you know the fellow?" + +"I would know him--if we ever meet again. But I fancy he won't let the +grass grow under his feet, after attacking me like this." + +"I'll take a run around the wharf and see if I can spot any stranger," +concluded the watchman, and hurried off. Another watchman was aroused, +and both made a thorough investigation, but, of course, nobody was +brought to light. + +By the time the search was ended, Walter felt something like himself, +and arose slowly and allowed the watchmen to conduct him to their shanty +at one side of the wharf. Here he bathed his face, picked the splinter +from his wrist, and brushed up generally. A cup of hot coffee from one +of the watchmen's cans braced him up still further. + +"It must be ten o'clock, isn't it?" he asked. + +"Ten o'clock!" came from the man who had found him. "I reckon that clip +on the head has muddled you. It's about three o'clock in the morning." + +"Three o'clock in the morning!" repeated Walter. "Then I must have been +lying out there for several hours. That thief has escaped long ago." And +his face fell. + +"Yes, he's had plenty of time, if he did the deed as long ago as that. +Did he have anything else besides your uncle's watch?" + +"I don't know, but it's likely. You see my uncle came to New York from +Buffalo to sell some heirlooms which were left to my brothers and myself +when our folks died. The heirlooms were in a travelling-bag, and +consisted of the watch and chain, two gold wedding rings, and a diamond +that a grandfather of mine once picked up in Australia. My uncle left +his bag standing in the post-office for a few minutes, and when he got +back the grip was gone. The police hunted everywhere for the thief, but +all that could be discovered was that it looked as if the rascal had +come to Boston. To-night--or rather, last evening--a man came up and +showed the watch, which I know only too well, as it has a little +horseshoe painted on the dial plate. I tried to collar the fellow, but +he ran away, and after stopping in a tenement house, he came here. Now I +suppose he is miles away--perhaps out of the city altogether." + +"That's so, yet there is no telling, lad. The best thing you can do is +to report to the police without delay--if you are able to do it." + +"Yes, I guess I am able, although my head aches a good bit, I can tell +you that. I am much obliged for what you have done for me." + +"Oh, that's all right--hope you get your belongings," replied the +watchman, and led the way to the gate, which he unlocked. Soon Walter +was on the street, and walking as rapidly as his condition permitted to +the police station. + +At this hour of the night he found only a sergeant and several roundsmen +in charge. The sergeant listened with interest to what he had to say. + +"I remember that case--it was reported to here from New York some time +ago. The pawnshops were ransacked for the jewelry and the watch, but +nothing was found. So you are certain you would recognize the man again +if you saw him?" + +"I am--unless he altered his appearance a good deal. He had a small, +dark moustache, but otherwise he was clean-shaven." + +"Come into the rear office and look over our album of pickpockets and +sneak-thieves. That is what this fellow most likely is--and a peculiar +one too. No first-class criminal would do this job as he is doing it." + +"He drinks heavily--he was partly intoxicated when I met him," said +Walter, as he followed the station official into a rear office. + +"Then that accounts for it. A man can't be a really successful criminal +unless he keeps his wits about him. Here is the album. Look it over +carefully, and let me know if you see anybody that looks like your man." +And he left Walter to himself and reëntered the outer office, to hear +the reports of the roundsmen coming in. + +The book given to Walter was a thick one, filled with cards, photos, and +tin-types of criminals. Under each picture was written a name, usually +accompanied by several aliases, and also a number, to correspond with +the same number in the criminal register. + +"Gracious, but they keep pretty good track of them," thought Walter, as +he turned over page after page. "Who would think all these good-looking +men were wrong-doers? Some of them look a good deal more like +ministers." + +Walter had gone through half the book, and the photographs were +beginning to confuse his already aching head, when a certain picture +arrested his attention. "I've found him!" he cried out. "That's the +fellow, although he is minus that moustache of his!" + +"Did you call?" asked the sergeant, coming to the door. + +"I've found him. This is the man. His name is given as Deck Mumpers, +alias Foxy Mumpers, and Swiller Deck." + +"If he is called Swiller Deck, he must drink a good deal," said the +sergeant, with a laugh. "You are sure of this identification?" + +"I am. But he wants a moustache put on that picture." + +"We take them bare-faced if we can. This photo was taken in Brooklyn." +The officer turned to an official register. "Deck Mumpers, age +forty-two, height five feet seven inches, weight one hundred and +thirty-two pounds. Round face, big ears, broad shoulders, poor teeth. +Sent to Sing Sing in 1892 for two years, for robbery of Scott diamonds. +A hard drinker when flush. Now wanted for several petty crimes in New +York. Came originally from South Boston, where he was in the liquor +business." The sergeant turned again to Walter. "I guess you have struck +your man. I'll send out the alarm. What is your address?" + +"I have just joined the navy and am bound for the _Brooklyn_. But I can +leave you my uncle's name and address, and he can come on to Boston from +Buffalo, if it's necessary." + +"That will do, then," answered the sergeant. + +He brought forth a book in which to put down the details of the affair. +While he was writing, Walter slipped his hand into his pocket to see if +the slip of paper he had received at the navy-yard was still safe. The +paper was gone. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +ON THE WAY TO THE "BROOKLYN" + + +"Oh, what luck!" + +"What is the matter now?"' + +"My order for a railroad ticket from Boston to Fortress Monroe is gone!" + +"Is that true? Perhaps Deck Mumpers cleaned you out after he struck you +down," suggested the sergeant, quickly. "Feel in your pockets." + +Walter did so, and his face blanched. "He did--everything,--my money, +keys, cash,--all are missing. What in the world shall I do now?"' + +"How much money did you have?" + +"About twenty dollars. The main thing was that railroad ticket order. If +that is gone, how am I to get to Norfolk?" + +"Was your name mentioned on the paper?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Where was it to be presented? any particular depot?" + +"Yes, the New York and New England railroad depot." + +"Then the best thing to do is to ring the railroad folks up and have the +bearer of the order detained, if the slip is presented," went on the +police officer, and stepping to the telephone he rang up central and had +the necessary connection made. + +"Is this the ticket office of the New York and New England railroad +depot?" he questioned. + +"Yes," came the reply over the wire. + +"A navy-yard order for a ticket from here to Norfolk, or Fortress +Monroe, has been stolen. It is made out in the name of Walter Russell. +If it is presented, hold the party having it and communicate with police +headquarters." + +"Is the name Walter Russell?" was the excited query, and Walter's heart +began to sink as he seemed to feel what was coming. + +"Yes." + +"That order has already been filled. It was presented about ten o'clock +last night." + +"I've missed it!" groaned the youth, and dropped into a chair. "What +will the navy-yard people say to this when they hear of it?" + +"I don't see how they can blame you," returned the sergeant, kindly, +"seeing as you were knocked senseless by the thief. Deck Mumpers has got +the best of it so far." + +He called through the telephone for a description of the party having +the order, and soon learned it must have been Mumpers beyond a doubt. + +"Can't you telegraph to Norfolk to have him arrested when he arrives?" +asked Walter suddenly. + +"You don't think he'll go all the way to Norfolk, do you?" smiled the +police officer. Then he turned again to the telephone. "What kind of a +ticket did that party get on the order?" he asked. + +"First-class, with sleepers." + +"He got a first-class ticket. Ten to one he'll not use it at all, but +sell the pasteboard at some cut-rate ticket office right here in Boston +and then buy another ticket for somewhere else." + +"I see!" cried Walter. "But if the ticket was sold here, could we trace +it?" + +"It is not likely, for many first-class tickets are alike. We might +trace the sleeping-car checks, but I doubt if Mumpers will try to do +anything with those." + +"But he may use the ticket," ventured Walter, hardly knowing what else +to say. + +"Oh, possibly. I'll have the men at the various stations keep an eye +open for the rascal," concluded the sergeant, and after a few more words +Walter left the station. + +It must be confessed that the youth was considerably out of sorts. "I +start off to recover some stolen property and end by losing more," he +groaned. "I'm not fit to join the navy, or do anything." And he gave a +mountainous sigh. + +It was almost five o'clock, and knowing Dan would soon be on hand with +Gimpwell to open the stand, he walked slowly in that direction. To keep +up his courage he tried to whistle, but the effort was a dismal failure. +Walter was naturally very light-hearted, but just now no one looking at +his troubled face would have suspected this. + +Reaching the stand, he opened the shutters and put out the light which +he had forgotten to extinguish. Soon the first bundles of papers came +along, and he sorted them over and arranged them for sale and for Dan's +route. The work was almost done when the carrier came along, followed +immediately by the new clerk. + +"Hullo, I didn't know you'd be here!" cried Dan. "Why didn't you come +home last night? Mother expected you to use the room, and you paid for +it." + +"I wish I had used the room," answered Walter, and went over his tale in +a few words, for Dan must be off, to serve several men with newspapers +before they themselves started off to their daily labors. + +"Say, but that's too bad!" cried the errand boy. "I've got two dollars, +Walter. You can have the money if it will do you any good." + +"Thanks, Dan, I want to see Mr. Newell first. But it's kind of you to +make the offer." + +"I'd offer you something, Russell," put in the new clerk. "But the fact +is I haven't even car-fare; had to tramp over from Charlestown." + +Phil Newell put into appearance shortly before seven o'clock, coming a +little earlier than usual, to see that Gimpwell got along all right. +Calling him aside, Walter told of what had happened. He was getting sick +of telling the story, but, in this case, there was no help for it. + +"Douse the toplights, but you've run on a sunken rock, and no mistake, +Walter," cried the old naval veteran. "So he cleaned you out +completely, eh?" + +"Yes, Mr. Newell. I don't care so much for the money, but that order for +the railroad ticket--" + +"It's too had; too bad!" Phil Newell ran his hand through his bushy +hair. "I don't believe the navy-yard authorities will issue a duplicate +order." + +"Neither do I." + +"You see, some sailors wouldn't be none too good for to get such a paper +and then sell it for what she would fetch." + +"Yes, that's the worst part of it. I shouldn't want them to think I +was--was getting in on them--or trying to do so." + +"The best thing to do, as far as I can see, is to call on Caleb Walton +and get his advice." + +"Where does he live?" + +"In Charlestown, only a few blocks from the Bunker Hill monument. I +don't know the number, but it's on Hill Street, and I know the house." + +"Will you go with me? If I haven't the number--" + +"To be sure I'll go with you, just as soon as I can set the new clerk on +his proper course." + +"And, Mr. Newell, would you mind--that is, would you make me a--a +loan--" faltered Walter. + +"Out with it, my boy, how much do you want? I told you before I'd be +your friend, and what Phil Newell says he means, every trip." + +"You are very kind, sir. I don't know how much I want. I had twenty +dollars and thirty-five cents, and Mr. Walton said that was more than +enough to see me through until pay day came along." + +"Then here are twenty dollars." The proprietor of the news-stand pulled +a roll of small bills from his pocket and counted out the amount. "You +can pay me back when you recover your money, or else out of your pay +money, if they don't collar that thief. Have you had breakfast yet?" + +"No, sir." + +"Then you had better get a bite while I instruct Gimpwell. I'll be ready +for you in quarter of an hour." + +Fifteen minutes found them on the way, taking a car which took them +directly over to Charlestown, along the navy-yard and up Hill Street. + +"Here we are," cried Phil Newell, as he stopped the car. "And just in +time, for there is Caleb Walton leaving his house now." + +"What brings you up?" demanded the gunner, when confronted. "Well, this +is certainly a mess," he continued, after he had been told. "No, I'm +certain they won't issue a duplicate order, for Captain Line is out of +the city." + +"But we might try and see what we can do," insisted Phil Newell. + +"To be sure; come on." And the three set off for the navy-yard. Here it +looked at first as if nothing could be gained, but finally one of the +higher officers took it upon his own shoulders to give Walter a new +order, at the same time saying something about charging it up to the +Emergency Account. + +"Well, that's a big relief," murmured Walter, on coming away. "I feel as +if a thousand pounds were taken from my heart." And he certainly looked +it. + +"I must leave you now," said Caleb Walton. "Be sure and be at the depot +on time, and take care of that new order." + +"It's pinned fast in my pocket," said the youth. "If it goes, so does my +coat." + +On returning to the news-stand, Walter procured some paper and an +envelope, and in the reading-room of the hotel sat down and wrote a long +letter to his uncle, Job Dowling, telling of his enlistment in the navy +and of what had happened during the night. "I think you ought to come to +Boston," he concluded. "If the police can't do anything, a detective +ought to be set on this Deck Mumper's track. You are holding a good deal +of money in trust for Ben, Larry, and me, and for my part, I would spend +a good deal rather than see father's watch and his and mother's wedding +rings gone forever,--not to mention grandfather's diamond, which alone +is worth at least two hundred dollars. Write to me concerning this, and +send the letter to the _Brooklyn_, Off Fortress Munroe, Va." + +This letter was mailed without delay, and soon after Walter bade Phil +Newell, Dan, and several others good-by, and, grip in hand, walked to +the depot. Here he found several jackies already assembled, and soon +learned that they were members of Walton's party. In a few minutes +Walton himself came hurrying down Federal Street, with several green +hands in tow. + +"All here?" he demanded, and began to "count noses." Only one man was +missing, and he soon put in an appearance, and all entered the depot and +procured their tickets. Then Walter asked about the stolen order, but +the clerk had heard nothing new concerning it. "You were mighty lucky to +get another order," he said with a grin. "Next time they may make you +walk the tracks." + +The train was in, and hurrying out to the long shed, they found their +proper places. Soon there came a sharp jerk, the train moved off; and +the long journey southward was begun. + +For a seat-mate Walter had a typical Yankee lad, one from the coast of +Maine, a young fellow who knew but little about warships, but who had +spent several years on the rolling deep, in voyages to South America, to +Nova Scotia, and elsewhere. His name was Silas Doring, and Walter found +him talkative, although not objectionably so. + +"Yes, I couldn't hardly wait till I got to Boston," said Si, for that +was what he said all of his friends "to hum" called him. "We'll lick the +Spanish out of their boots, see if we don't!" + +"You are bound for the _Brooklyn_?" asked Walter. + +"Thet's it, if they want me, otherwise I'm booked for the _Texas_. Putty +good for a boy from Maine to go on the _Texas_, ain't it, he! he! But I +don't care much. They can put me on the _San Francisco_ if they want +to--so long as they give me a chance at them tarnal Dons. When the +_Maine_ was blowed up, why, I jest jumped up an' down an' up an' down +with rage. 'Si Doring,' sez I, 'Si Doring, are you a-going to let such +an insult an' crime go by unnoticed? Not much!' sez I. 'I'll join the +navy, an' help blow all of the Spanish to Jericho,'--an' I'm going to do +it!" And the Yankee lad struck his fist into his open palm with a thump +of energy. + +"I wish I knew as much about ships as you do," ventured Walter. "I've +been on two trips across Lake Erie, and know something, but I'm afraid +I'll feel like a fish out of water when I get on a man-o'-war." + +"We'll keep our eyes and ears open, and try to learn--that's the only +way. I know every rope on a merchantman, kin name 'em from fore royal +stay to topping lift, but that ain't the hundredth part on it. We've got +to learn our vessel jest as a person has got to learn a new city and +its streets, fer boats ain't built one like another, not by a jugful! +And after we have learned the ship, we've got to learn the guns, and the +fire-drill, and how to clear ship for action, and a lot more, not to say +a word about learning how to knock out them Dons, as some calls 'em. Oh, +we'll have our hands full after we get on board, don't forget it!" And +Si Doring shook his head vigorously. + +On and on sped the train until Hyde Park was reached. Here a brief stop +was made, and several persons including a sailor got on board. The +sailor came through the car as if looking for somebody and finally found +Caleb Walton and shook hands. + +"Yes, I'm bound for Norfolk, too," Walter and Si Doring heard him +remark. + +"By gum!" whispered the Yankee sailor. "I wonder if thet chap is going +with us?" + +"Do you know him?" asked the boy. + +"Know him? jest guess I do! His name is Jim Haskett, and he used to be +the mate of the _Sunflower_, a three-master from Penobscot. I sailed +under him once, and he was the hardest man on shipboard I ever got next +to. If he gets in the navy, he'll make everybody under him dance to his +pipings, and worse." + +"If that's the case, I sincerely hope he isn't assigned to my ship," was +Walter's comment. "I haven't any use for a bully, big or little." + +"I owe Jim Haskett many an old score; I would like to get the chance to +even up," went on the Yankee. "But I've enlisted to do my duty and lick +the Spanish, and if Haskett leaves me alone, I'll leave him alone. Here +he comes now." And Si straightened up. + +The former mate of the _Sunflower_ passed down the aisle slowly. When he +saw the Yankee he started and then scowled at him. "Have you enlisted?" +he asked, in a voice that was far from pleasant. + +"I have," returned Si. "Got any objections, Haskett?" + +"Humph!" was the only answer, and the ex-mate of the _Sunflower_ passed +on, to drop into a vacant seat some distance behind them. + +"Oh, he's a corker," whispered the Yankee, and Walter nodded to show +that he agreed with him. Walter was destined to many an encounter with +Jim Haskett before his first term in the navy should come to an end. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +SOMETHING ABOUT WAR AND PRIZE MONEY + + +Commodore George Dewey's great victory over Admiral Montojo occurred on +May 1, 1898, and was the first to be scored during our war with Spain. + +Previous to this time, matters had moved along swiftly, but with no +definite results. Following the wanton destruction of our battleship +_Maine_ in the harbor of Havana, in February, popular indignation arose +to a fever heat against the country which had offered the American flag +several insults in the past, and which was now engaged in a ruthless +effort to put down the long-standing rebellion in Cuba, be the cost what +it might. + +For many months our President, Congress, and the people had watched, +with anxious eyes, the progress of events in Cuba--had seen the Cubans +doing their best to throw off the yoke of Spanish tyranny and +oppression. From a little uprising here, and another there, the +rebellion spread all over what was no longer "the ever-faithful isle," +until rich and poor, those of Cuban-Spanish blood, and those whose +ancestors had been negroes and Indians, became involved in it. At first +there was no army, only bands of guerillas, who fled to the mountains +whenever a regular Spanish force presented itself, but soon the conflict +assumed a definite shape, a rebel army was formed, to be commanded by +Generals Gomez, Antonio Maceo, Calixto Garcia, and others, and then +Spain awoke to the realization that Cuba, her richest colonial +possession, with the possible exception of the Philippines, was about to +break away from her. + +This crisis filled the rulers in Spain with alarm, for Cuba had turned +into her treasury millions of _pesetas_ every year, for which the island +got little or nothing in return. "Cuba must, and shall be subdued," was +the cry, and thousands of soldiers were transported from Spain and +elsewhere, to be landed at Havana, Santiago, and other points. These +soldiers immediately took possession of all the larger cities, causing +those in rebellion to withdraw to the villages and to the forests and +mountains. + +A bloody warfare lasting between two and three years followed, and +thousands of the rebels, including the noble Antonio Maceo, one of the +best negro patriots that ever existed, were slain. In addition to this, +millions of dollars' worth of property were destroyed, in the shape of +torn-up railroads, burnt sugar and tobacco plantations, and sacked +villages and towns. Every owner of property was compelled to take sides +in the conflict, and if he did not side with those who waited upon him, +then his property was either confiscated or destroyed. + +The Spanish authorities had started out to crush the rebellion on the +spot. As time went by and the rebels grew stronger and stronger, those +in command saw that extreme measures must be resorted to, or the +campaign would prove a failure. The majority of the Cuban men were away +from their homes. At once orders were issued to drive all the +defenceless women and children into the cities held by the Spanish. This +was accomplished under the pretext that Spain wished to keep them from +harm. Once driven into the larger places, these women and children were +not fed and cared for, but were allowed to either live upon the charity +of those about them, or starve. These poor people were called +_reconcentrados_, and it is a matter of record that before the war +closed nearly three hundred thousand of them gave up their lives through +neglect and lack of food. + +The people of the United States had stood by mutely and seen the war +waged against the rebels who well deserved their liberty, but no one +could stand by and see women, children, and helpless old men starved to +death. At once it was proposed to send relief ships to Cuba, but Spain +frowned at this, saying that such relief was only one way of helping +those who had taken up arms against her. + +At this time there were many Americans in Havana and elsewhere in Cuba, +and as a matter of self-protection the battleship _Maine_ was sent down +to Havana harbor to see that no harm came to them. How the battleship +was blown up and over two hundred and fifty lives lost, has already been +told in the previous volumes of this series. A Board of Inquiry was +appointed by the President, and it was soon settled that the explosion +which had wrecked the warship had come from the outside and that Spain +was responsible for the loss. Spain denied the charge; and the war was +practically on. + +The first movement of the authorities at Washington was to blockade the +city of Havana and a large portion of the coast to the east and the west +of that port. This work was intrusted to Commodore (afterwards Admiral) +Sampson, and he left Key West with the North Atlantic Squadron on the +morning of April 22, and in a few days had a grand semicircle of +warships stationed on the outside of Havana, Matanzas, Mariel, Cardenas, +Bahia Honda, Cabanas, and other ports of lesser importance. Later on, +other ports were likewise blockaded, and these portions of Cuba suddenly +found themselves cut off from the outside world. Sampson wished to +bombard Havana and bring the Spanish stationed there to terms at once, +but this suggestion was overruled, as it was imagined that Spain might +be brought to terms without such a great loss of life. + +As soon as the blockading of the ports mentioned began, the President +called for volunteers, and how nobly all our states responded we have +already learned in "A Young Volunteer in Cuba." The regular army was +also hurried to the south-east and concentrated at Tampa and other +points, while the volunteers remained in their various state camps, +waiting to be mustered into the United States service. Of the grand +movement to Cuba we shall hear later. + +The news of Commodore Dewey's glorious victory, as related in "Under +Dewey at Manila" thrilled our people as they had not been thrilled for +years. In the army and the navy were men from both the North and the +South, and sectionalism was now wiped out forever, and all stood +shoulder to shoulder under Old Glory, fighting for the sake of Humanity. +The battle-cries were "Free Cuba!" and "Remember the _Maine_!" and +certainly none could have been more inspiring. + +The blockading of so long a coast line required a great many warships, +and as it was not deemed advisable to place all our big vessels on this +duty, the authorities lost no time in buying or leasing a number of +ocean steamers and coast craft and converting them into vessels of war. +These vessels required a great number of men, and the Naval Reserves +were in great demand, as were also volunteers for the regular navy. This +was the reason that Walter and those with him were taken on so quickly. +Had he applied for enlistment into the navy during times of peace, he +would have found an entrance far more difficult, for Uncle Sam is +growing more and more particular every day as to the class of men he +allows to tread the decks of his men-o'-war. + +Shortly after Havana and its neighboring ports were blockaded, it was +rumored that Spain would send over a powerful fleet to bombard New York +or some other principal city along our eastern seacoast. This caused a +good deal of uneasiness, and steps were immediately taken to fortify all +principal points and mine many of the harbor entrances. Patrol boats +were also placed on duty, to give the alarm at the first sight of an +enemy. In some cases channel buoys were removed, and lighthouse lamps +were left unlit, so that no Spanish vessel might creep in under cover of +darkness. + +Acting Rear-Admiral Sampson, as he was officially designated, was kept +busy watching the blockade along the northern coast of Cuba, and in +distributing his auxiliary vessels to such points as would be most +advantageous. This being the case, Commodore Schley, next in command, +was left at Hampton Roads, near Fortress Monroe, Virginia, with what +was known as the Flying Squadron, a number of the fastest warships +riding the Atlantic. The Flying Squadron was to wait until the Spanish +fleet started westward, when it was to do its best toward doing as Dewey +had done to Montojo's fleet, "find it and engage it"; in plain words, to +fight it to the bitter end. Great things were expected of the Flying +Squadron, and in this the people were not to be disappointed, as we +shall see. + +The trip by rail from Boston to the South proved full of interest to +Walter, who loved riding on the cars. So far two transfers had been +made, one at New York, and the other at Baltimore, but at neither city +was any time allowed for seeing the sights. "It's a case of get there," +explained Caleb Walton. "You see, that Spanish fleet may sail for the +United States at any moment, and then Schley will be bound to go out on +a hunt for it in double-quick order." + +"I see that the Spanish Cape Verde Squadron has joined the fleet at +Cadiz, which is ready for sea," observed Walter, pointing to a morning +newspaper he had purchased on the train. "There are four first-class +cruisers, the _Viscaya_, the _Almirante Oquendo_, the _Infanta Maria +Teresa_, and the _Cristobal Colon_, besides two or three torpedo-boat +destroyers. At Cadiz there are the _Pelaya_, _Alfonso XIII._, and +several other ships. If they all come over here, it seems to me they may +make matters mighty warm for us." + +"We want 'em warm," interrupted Si Doring. "I wouldn't give a rap for a +milk-and-water battle. Let us have it hot, say I, hot,--and knock the +Spanish to kingdom come!" + +"They won't dare to send all of the ships over," said Caleb Walton. +"They must guard their own coast. If they don't, some of our ships may +slip over there and make it interesting for them." + +"Do you think we'll carry the war to Spain?" asked Walter, with deep +interest. + +"There is no telling, lad. Some folks have it that half of Europe will +be mixed up in this muss before it's over. One thing is certain, Dewey's +victory at Manila isn't going to be such a smooth thing out there, for +the Filipinos are in a state of revolt and won't want us to govern them +any more than they want the Spanish; and besides, Germany, France, and +other nations have big interests there." + +"Well, I guess the best we can do is to look out for our little end," +smiled the boy. "As for the rest, the authorities at Washington must +settle that." + +"Well said, lad; you and I couldn't run the government if we tried. But +we can do our duty, and that will be to obey orders and take what +comes." + +"How is it that you got Jim Haskett to enlist?" asked Si. + +"Oh, that fellow is after prize money," was the gunner's reply. "He has +been reading of the luck down around Havana, and he wants the chance to +earn a few hundred extra. Well, maybe he'll get it." + +"I've heard of prize money before, but I don't exactly know what it is," +observed Walter. + +"It's the money got out of a captured ship when she's sold. You see, +when a ship is captured she's taken to some port and turned over to a +prize court, and if she doesn't turn out a Scotch prize she is knocked +down under the hammer." + +"I know what you mean by knocking her down under the hammer. But why +doesn't the rule apply to a Scotch vessel?" + +At this query of Walter's Caleb Walton burst into a roar of laughter. +"It's easy to see you're a landsman," he said. "I didn't say a Scotch +vessel; I said a Scotch prize--a ship captured illegally, and one that +must be given back to her owners. I don't know where that term came +from, but it's what the men in the navy always use." + +"I see." + +"A legitimate prize is sold, and then the money is divided. If the +vessel captured was the equal of that taking her, then all the prize +money goes to her captain and crew; but if the captured ship is +inferior, then her takers get only half of the money, and Uncle Sam +keeps the balance." + +"And what part would I get if my ship took a prize?" went on Walter, +more interested than ever, for the question of prize money had not +appealed to him before. + +"You would get a share according to your regular pay--perhaps one dollar +out of every five or ten thousand." + +"That wouldn't be much--on a small craft." + +"You are right, lad, but it would be a tidy amount on a big warship +worth two or three millions. The division of the prize money is +regulated according to law, so there can't be any quarrelling. The +commander of a fleet gets one-twentieth, the commander of a ship +one-tenth of that coming to his ship (when there are more ships than one +interested in the prize), and so on, and we all get our money even if we +are on temporary leave of absence." + +"But what does Uncle Sam do with his share?" put in Si. + +"His share is put into a fund that is used toward paying naval officers, +seamen, and marines the pensions due them. These pensions are, of +course, not as large as those of the army, but they are considerable." + +"Well, I hope we strike a big prize, or half a dozen little ones," said +Walter. "On a pay of eleven dollars a month a fellow can't expect to get +very rich." + +"Do your duty, lad, and you may rise before the war is over." The old +gunner caught Walter by the arm. "Come with me," and Caleb Walton arose, +and led the way to the smoking-car. Wondering what was meant by this +movement, Walter followed. + +"I want to have a quiet talk with you," went on Caleb Walton, after they +were seated in a secluded corner. "Do you smoke?" + +"No, sir." + +"You're just as well off. But I must have my pipe." Caleb Walton drew +forth a brier-root, filled it with a dark mixture of tobacco, and lit +it. "Ah, that's just right. And now to business." And he threw one leg +over the other. For a moment he gazed thoughtfully at Walter, and the +boy wondered what was coming next. He was satisfied that it must be of +more than ordinary importance, otherwise the old gunner would not have +asked him to come to the smoking-car, away from their companions. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A GLIMPSE OF THE PRESIDENT + + +"You see it's this way," began Caleb Walton, after gazing for a moment +at Walter. "Phil Newell is your friend, isn't he?" + +"Yes, indeed!" responded the boy, warmly. + +"Exactly--likewise he is my friend, too. We served together for years, +and I sometimes looked up to Phil as a kind of elder brother. Well, +after you left us at the navy-yard he and I had a long talk about you, +and he made me promise to keep my eye on you--do you understand?" + +"I think I do." + +"Now, keeping an eye on you is out of the question unless you are placed +where I can see you." + +"But aren't we both to go aboard of the _Brooklyn_?" cried Walter. + +"Yes, according to the course we're steering now. But both being on the +_Brooklyn_ doesn't cover the bill. I expect to be in charge of one of +the guns--will be if Bill Darworthy is still in the hospital. Now if +you enter as a mere boy, or even as a landsman, it may be that you'll +never get around to where I am. You must remember that the _Brooklyn_ is +a big ship, and all the men on her are divided into classes,--officers, +petty officers, seamen, gunners, marines, and so on,--and one class is +pretty well separated from another." + +"I presume that is so, but I never thought of it before." + +"Even seamen are divided into seamen gunners, apprentices and the like, +and if you went on as a mere boy you might not see me once a week, +unless we happened to be off duty at the same time." + +"I see what you are driving at, Mr. Walton; you--" + +"Avast there, Walter, no mister for me, please. I'm plain Caleb Walton." + +"Well then, Walton, you want to get me attached to that gun you hope to +have placed in your charge?" + +"Now you've struck the bull's-eye, lad. The thing of it is, can I manage +it?" + +"I'm sure you must know more about that than I do. I'll like it +first-rate if you could, for I--well, to be plain, I like you." + +Caleb Walton held out his horny hand. "The liking is mutual, Walter, and +there's my fist on it. Now I have an idee." The old gunner took several +puffs at his pipe. "I know Captain Cook of the _Brooklyn_ tolerably +well--served under him for a short spell, and once did a little private +business for him. Now, Captain Cook won't do a thing as is out of his +line of duty, but still----" + +"He may aid you in having me assigned to the gun you expect to have +charge of?" finished Walter. + +"That's it. I think I can work the deal--almost sure of it,--but you +must help me." + +"What must I do?" + +"Say nothing and leave it all to me, and if my plan goes through, don't +tell any one that you were favored. If you do, you'll only make +enemies." + +"I'll remember that. But what of Haskett, Doring, and the others?" + +"I'd like to have Doring in my gang--he's the right sort. I don't want +that scowling Jim Haskett, not after what Doring has told me of him. But +he's out of it, anyway, for he enlisted as a first-class seaman, at +twenty-six dollars per month." + +"I wish I knew a little more about a warship," said the youth, +longingly. "The more I hear, the less I seem to know." + +"It will all come to you in time, and when you are on board I'll show +you all I can. It would do no good to talk about guns and the like until +I can point out the different parts to you, for you wouldn't know a +breech-block from a priming-wire until you laid eyes on it." + +"But how is a ship commanded? Won't you tell me something about that?" + +"Of course you mean a warship, not a merchantman. Well, the highest +officer is, of course, the captain, although the vessel may be the +flagship of a commodore or an admiral." + +"And what of a commodore and an admiral? You see I'm awfully green, when +it comes down to the navy. My younger brother Larry is the real sailor +in our family." + +"You'll get there, lad; anybody will who is in for learning as you are. +An admiral is the highest officer in any navy, and he commands +everything that floats, from battleship to despatch tug. Next to him is +the vice-admiral. In the United States navy these offices don't exist +any more, having died out with the deaths of Admiral Porter and +Vice-Admiral Rowan." + +"But the newspapers speak of Admiral Sampson." + +"He is acting rear-admiral, but holds only the office of commodore. He +commands a fleet of warships, while a commodore commands only a +squadron; that is, four or six, usually, although he may have more at +times. His ships are generally divided into two divisions." + +"I understand. Please go on." + +"Well, as I said before, the captain really commands the ship. Next to +him are the commander and the lieutenant-commander. The first of these +takes orders from the captain and issues them to those under him. The +lieutenant-commander is called the executive officer, and he's always +put down as the hardest worked man on the ship. What he does would fill +a book, and he rarely gets leave of absence, for nobody can spare him." + +"But what does he do?" + +"Well, in the first place he sees that the whole crew keeps straight, +and he keeps a conduct book for reference. He hears all complaints and +straightens out all difficulties. He sees to it that the ship is kept +clean, and he has the say about arranging messes. He must also station +the hands for the various fire, sail, and boat drills, the gun +exercises, and the drills with small-arms and cutlasses. Then every +night at eight o'clock he receives the reports of petty officers, to +show that each department is O. K. up to that hour. And there is a lot +more besides." + +"Thanks, but I don't care to be an executive officer," smiled Walter. +"But perhaps he gets well paid for it." + +"He earns from twenty-eight hundred to three thousand dollars per year. +The commander gets five hundred more than that. A commodore gets five +thousand a year, and a rear-admiral six thousand, when at sea. When on +shore all these figures are slightly reduced." + +"Those are nice salaries." + +"That is true. But don't forget that everybody on the ship in the shape +of an officer must board himself. The crew does that too, but Uncle Sam +makes them an allowance for that purpose." + +"Don't the higher officers get anything?" + +"They have a ration allowed them--that or thirty cents. Of course such +a ration cuts no figure with a commander or a captain." + +"I suppose that's so. But please go on. Who is next to the executive +officer?" + +"The junior lieutenant, and then come the ensigns and naval cadets; that +is, those young fellows from Annapolis who are studying up to become +higher officers." + +"And after that what?" + +"Then come the warrant officers, that is, those warranted by our +President, and they include boatswain, gunner, carpenter, and +sail-maker. And you mustn't forget the marines--the soldier-sailors." + +"Gracious, what a lot! Any more?" + +"We are not half through, lad, but the others will explain themselves by +their titles, such as chief engineer, chief surgeon, paymaster, and +chaplain. The chaplain holds the relative position to a captain or a +commander, but his whole duty is to hold church and keep the men from +going wrong, morally and spiritually. Besides these, we have boatswain's +mate, gunner's mate, and the like. Then among the seamen the leading men +are called captains; as, for instance, captain of the top, captain of +the afterguard, and like that. You'll soon get to know them all, never +fear." + +"How will I know them--by their uniforms?" + +"By their uniforms, and also by the stripes and devices they wear. Don't +you see this flaming spherical shell of silver that I wear? That shows +that I am a gunner and have seen over twenty years of service. If I was +a gunner with less time to my credit, the shell would be of gold." + +"And does everybody wear some device?" + +"Everybody, from a rear-admiral with his two silver stars and anchor +down to the apprentice who has his figure 8 knot. If I get to be a chief +gunner, I'll wear two crossed cannons instead of this shell." + +"And if you got to be a captain, what would you wear?" + +"A silver spread eagle, with an anchor at each end, on my shoulders." + +"That's another deal to learn. I should think a fellow would get mixed +on all these stars, eagles, shells, cannons, and the rest." + +"It takes time to learn, lad. Let me give you a bit of advice. If you +meet another person on shipboard and you are in doubt about it, salute. +You may be making a mistake, but it will be a mistake on the right +side." + +"I'll remember that. But I feel as if I had more than ever to learn. +Can't I get some book and study it?" + +"I've got such a work in my valise. I'll get it for you," concluded +Caleb Walton, and he arose. "But remember about that other thing--mum is +the word." + +"I certainly shall remember," and Walter smiled. "I'm awfully glad I've +found such a friend as you," and he squeezed the old gunner's hand. + +They returned to the other car, and soon Walter was deeply interested in +the volume which Caleb Walton loaned him. It was a technical work, +issued by the authority of the Navy Department, and contained all that +he desired to learn, and a deal besides. + +"Going to learn your duty as soon as possible, eh?" observed Si Doring, +as he looked over the boy's shoulder. "That's right. If you want to know +anything about sails or knots, call on me." + +"What's the matter with calling on me?" put in the voice of Jim Haskett, +as he slid into the seat behind them, and leaned over. "I reckon I know +as much as Doring about a ship, and maybe a leetle more." + +At this Si Doring fired up on the instant. "See here, Haskett, I ain't +under ye no longer, remember that!" he cried. "I don't want you to talk +to me, or about me. I owe you one, and more, and I ain't forgetting +it--remember that!" + +"Oh, don't get on a high horse," growled the former mate of the +_Sunflower_. "I won't talk to you if you don't want me to." + +"And ye needn't talk about me, either. Think ye know a leetle more about +a ship than I do, eh? Well, maybe Captain Pepperill didn't think so, +when you let the _Sunflower_ split her foremast in that blow off--" + +"I wasn't responsible for that!" interrupted Jim Haskett, his surly face +growing red. "You let the past drop, and I'll let it drop." He glared +savagely at Si, then turned to Walter. "Do you want some p'ints +explained, Russell?" + +"Thank you, but I would just as lief study this book for the present," +answered Walter, coldly, and somewhat astonished to learn that Haskett +knew his name. + +"Maybe I can make some p'ints clearer. I'm an old sea-dog, you know." + +"I think Doring can explain all I wish to know," continued the boy, +feeling he ought to stick up for the Yankee who had made himself so +agreeable since leaving Boston. + +"Don't want my advice, then?" + +"I think not." + +"All right, then, suit yourself. If you want to cotton to such a fellow +as Doring, you can do so, but"--he lowered his voice--"I reckon you are +making a mistake." And then, before either Walter or Si could answer, he +bounced up, and strode down the aisle and into the smoker. + +The train was approaching Washington, and shortly after this +conversation it rolled into the depot at the Capitol city, and came to a +standstill. + +"We stop here for fifteen minutes," said the porter to Walter, when +questioned on the point. "Give you sailor-boys time to stretch your +shoah legs." And he grinned, having been on a warship himself once, +serving as a "striker,"--one who waits on the mess tables. + +"Let us take a few minutes' walk; I am all cramped up," said Walter to +his Yankee friend; and Si readily agreed. Caleb Walton was willing they +should go, but warned them not to stay too long. + +"Fifteen minutes don't mean sixteen; remember that," he called after +them. + +"I should like to spend a few days here," observed Walter, as he and his +companion hurried on. "The Capitol, patent offices, and other buildings +must be very interesting." + +"I'd rather see President McKinley," returned the Yankee. "My, but he +must have his hands full these days!" + +"Do you want to see the President?" questioned a man who was just +passing them. "If you do, he's in his carriage three blocks below here. +There's a cave-in of a sewer, and his carriage just stopped." + +"Then here's our chance, Si!" cried Walter, eagerly. "Come on; we can +make it if we run. I wouldn't miss seeing the President for a good +deal!" + +"Thet's me!" burst out the Yankee. "Off we go!" And he started to run, +his long legs giving Walter all he could do to keep up with him. The +three blocks were covered, and they came to where the cave-in was +located, but only some very ordinary vehicles were in sight. + +"We're too late!" grumbled Si, crestfallen. "Come on back." + +"Too late for phwat?" asked an Irishman standing near the sewer. + +"We wanted to see the President." + +"Sure an' there goes his carriage down beyant." And the Irishman pointed +to a side street. + +It was still less than a block away, and without stopping to think twice +they made after it, and came up just as it was turning a corner. A very +trim driver sat on the box of the turn-out, and on the rear seat, the +sole occupant of the carriage, sat our country's chief executive. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Walter, impulsively, and waved his cap, and Si did the +same. Several others bowed and tipped their hats, and the President +bowed and tipped his silk hat in return. Then the carriage rolled +swiftly away. + +[Illustration: THE PRESIDENT BOWED IN RETURN.] + +"It was him all right enough," exclaimed Si, enthusiastically, and with +a total disregard for grammar. "He looks jest like his pictures, only a +little more care-worn. I suppose he loses lots o' sleep these nights." + +"Yes, indeed. Being the President isn't the easiest berth in the world. +If I--" Walter broke off short. "Our train--I'll wager a dollar we'll +miss it!" + +"Creation! don't say that!" gasped Si; and then both took to their heels +as if running the race of their lives. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A TALK ABOUT SPANISH SAILORS + + +"The train is gone!" + +It was Walter who gasped out the words, as he and his companion rushed +upon the depot platform. In the distance they could see the end of the +rear car just vanishing from view in a cloud of dust. + +"Thet's so!" groaned Si, panting for breath, for they had done their +best to reach the depot in time. "What's to be the next move?" And he +looked anxiously at his companion. + +"I'm sure I don't know," was Walter's slow answer. "I--I almost wish I +hadn't seen the President--now." + +"Can't we take a later train?" + +"I don't know if the tickets will be good. Certainly we'll have no +sleeping accommodations for to-night." + +"Who cares for that, so long as we get to Fortress Monroe? Come on, let +us see what can be done." And Si led the way to the ticket office. + +The ticket-seller was busy, and it was several minutes before they could +get to him. "Yes, there will be another train in an hour and a quarter," +he said. "About your tickets, did you have stop-over privileges?" + +"We did not--we didn't intend to stop over," answered Walter. + +"Then I don't believe the conductor will accept them." + +"Gee shoo!" groaned Si, dismally. "Do you mean to say we've got to pay +the fare from here to our destination? Why, it will take all I've got +with me, and maybe more." + +"There ought to be some way of having our tickets fixed up," said +Walter. "Can't we go to the main office and see about them?" + +"Certainly, if you desire," rejoined the ticket seller, and turned to a +number of others who were waiting impatiently to be served. + +The main offices of the railroad company were not far distant, and +hither they made their way. Inside, a young clerk learned what they +wanted, and then took them to an inner apartment. + +"Government fares, eh?" questioned the elderly gentleman to whom they +had been conducted. "What was the reason you didn't catch your train?" + +"We lingered to see President McKinley, who was out in his carriage," +said Walter. "We got so interested we forgot the time until we were just +about a minute late." + +"Well, I can't blame you much for wanting to see the man you are +fighting under," said the railroad official. "Let me see your tickets." +And, taking them, he wrote upon the back of each in blue pencil. "There +you are, but you'll have to ride in an ordinary coach." + +"We don't care if it is a freight," put in Si, earnestly. "We want to +get there." And, after both had thanked the official for his kindness, +they withdrew. + +"We're all right so far," observed Walter, as "to kill time," they +walked slowly down one of the broad avenues for which our Capitol city +is famous. "The question is, what will Caleb Walton think of us when he +finds us missing?" + +"I hope he doesn't think we are trying to desert!" cried Walter, to whom +this idea had not before occurred. + +"Some fellows wouldn't be any too good to desert, Walter. Only last week +a lot of fellows deserted on their way from one of the western states. +They got to Chicago, where they wanted to go, and that was the last seen +of them. They were like tramps--willing to do anything for a free ride +on the cars. But they ran the risk of being court-martialled for it." + +"I think the fact that we had our tickets fixed up will go to show what +our intentions were, Si. However, we have put our feet into it, and must +take what comes." + +After a walk of half an hour, both felt hungry and entered a +modest-looking restaurant on a side street. They had just ordered a +cheap meal each, when a newsboy entered with a bundle of afternoon +newspapers. + +"Have a paper, sir? Extra, sir; all about the Flying Squadron going to +sail. Only one cent, sir." + +"What's that?" questioned Walter. "Here, give me a paper." And he +grasped the sheet eagerly, while Si also purchased one of another sort. +Soon both were devouring the "scare-heads" showing upon each. + + THE FLYING SQUADRON READY TO SAIL! + + Schley and His Warships May Leave Hampton Roads To-night! + + The Spanish Fleet Said To Be On Its Way Westward! + + Has It Sailed for Cuba or Will It Bombard Some City on Our + Coast? + + The Authorities Very Reticent, but a Strict Watch To Be Kept + from Maine to Florida for the Appearance of the Enemy! + + +"By ginger, they're a-comin' over here, sure pop!" burst from the Yankee +youth's lips. "Supposing they bombard New York? Why, I heard tell that +they could lay out in the harbor and plant a shell right on the top of +Trinity Church, or come up to Boston Harbor and knock the top off of the +Bunker Hill monument!" + +"Our ships and forts won't give them the chance to come so close, Si. +But what I'm thinking of is, supposing the warships sail before we can +get on board?" + +"Thet's so!" Si Doring heaved a long sigh. "Why didn't we wait some +other time for to see the President? If we miss the ships, I don't know +what we'll do. We'll be stranded." + +"Oh, I presume, they'll put us on some other vessel. But my heart was +set on getting aboard the _Brooklyn_." And Walter sighed, too. + +Both had lost interest in eating, and swallowed the food mechanically. +Then, without waiting, they hurried back to the depot, bound that the +next train should not slip by. + +The route to Fortress Monroe was by way of Fredericksburg, Richmond, and +Newport News. Soon the train came along and they got aboard. The cars +were comfortable, but not nearly so elegant as the one previously +occupied. + +"It is odd to me to see separate cars for negroes and whites," observed +Walter, after the journey had begun. "We don't have any such thing up +North." + +"They will be done away with in time, I guess," answered Si. "By the +way, I see in this newspaper that among the first troops to be sent to +Cuba will be two regiments of negroes. Hurrah for those boys, say I." + +It was growing dark, and soon the car lamps were lighted. The boys read +their newspapers through from end to end, and Walter learned that the +volunteer regiments were everywhere being sworn into the United States +service as rapidly as possible. + +"I wonder who will get to the front first?" he mused. "It would be odd +if they should send Ben to the Philippines instead of Cuba. If only +Larry was with me to go into the navy. I am sure he would enjoy this +sort of service." And thus musing, he dropped asleep, never dreaming of +the part his younger brother had taken in the contest of Manila Ray. + +"Richmond! Change cars for James City, Williamsburg, and Newport News!" +Such was the cry which awoke him. He arose sleepily, to find Si snoring +heavily. + +"Si, wake up!" he cried, and shook his companion. "We have to change +here." + +"Change--for what?" questioned the Yankee, as he blinked his eyes in the +glare of an electric light. "How far have we got?" + +"Richmond. Come--the other train leaves in a few minutes." + +It was early morning, and the depot platform was deserted excepting for +the passengers that left the train. Soon the second train rolled in, and +they found a double seat, and proceeded to make themselves comfortable. + +"By ginger! I never thought of 'em before," remarked Si, suddenly. + +"What?" + +"Our satchels, that we left in that first train." + +"I had mine checked through." + +"I didn't, because I wanted to look over some things of mine on the way +down." Si shook his head in dejection. "Say, but ain't I running up +against the worst luck ever was! I'll bet a new pocket-knife the satchel +is gone when I get to the end of this trip." + +"Oh, I hope not, Si. Did it contain much of value?" + +"It had my clothing in, a Bible that my mother gave me, and a ten-dollar +gold piece that I've been carrying around for twelve years for luck, +because it was given to me by a South American rain-maker, a kind of +water-witch I met in San Luiz, Brazil. And that ain't the worst on it, +either. The grip wasn't locked." + +"It's too bad. But let us hope it's all right, Si. Anyway, I wouldn't +worry until you know the truth," said Walter, trying to put a bright +face on the matter, and then he dropped asleep again, and the Yankee +youth presently followed his example. + +Luckily the train ran right through from Newport News to Hampton, which +is within two miles and a half of Old Point Comfort and Fortress Munroe. +The ride proved uneventful, and when they reached Hampton they fell +directly into the arms of Caleb Walton. + +"What does this mean?" demanded the old gunner, as he caught each by the +arm. "Missed the train, eh? I told you to be careful." + +"We'll know better next time," answered Walter. "But what of the Flying +Squadron? Has it sailed?" + +"Not yet, but the ships may leave Hampton Roads at any hour. I made up +my mind to wait for this train and then go on. I sent the others ahead." + +"What of my satchel?" put in Si. + +"It's in the baggage room. But hurry up; every hour counts just about +now." And he led the way to where the bag had been left. + +"Here is a big wagon bound for the fort," said Walton, as they left the +station. "We'll ride down on that, for the soldiers in charge gave me +permission, should you show up." + +The wagon was loaded with blankets, and the pile made a soft seat. Soon +there came a crack of a whip, and they were off, down a sandy highway +leading directly to the sea. Soon the salt air filled their nostrils. + +"Oh, we're in good shape to give the Dons a hot reception, if they show +themselves around here," said one of the soldiers, in reply to a +question from Walter. "We've got some of the finest guns in the country +at the fort, and can reach a ship ten or twelve miles out in the +harbor." + +"I should like very much to inspect a real fort," answered the youth. +"The guns must be even more complicated than on board a warship." + +"The disappearing guns are very fine. But I doubt if you could get +permission to go through now--at least, not until you were duly enlisted +into the navy and had your uniform on. You know we have strict orders to +keep all outsiders at a distance. We don't want any Spanish spies to get +plans of our hidden batteries and the fort itself." + +"Would they dare to try to get them?" asked Si. "'Pears to me that would +be a mighty risky piece of business." + +"Certainly they would try. You mustn't think that all Spaniards are +cowards--even if the authorities are responsible for blowing up the +_Maine_. They'll give us a good shake up, if they get the chance." + +"I don't think so," said Caleb Walton. "They are not as up-to-date as we +are. I know we can beat 'em at gun practice every round." + +"Don't brag. Wait till the war is over." + +"I'm not bragging--only talking facts, sergeant. I have a friend at the +Brooklyn Navy-Yard, and he wrote to me about the gunners on the +_Vizcaya_, when that Spanish warship was lying off Staten Island this +spring. He said they were--well tired, I reckon we'd call it,--and +didn't have any drills worth mentioning all the while the ship was +there. Now you know that won't do." + +"Oh, yes, I know a man must keep at his drills if he doesn't want to +grow rusty." + +"Besides that, you must remember that four-fifths of their sailors don't +enlist for themselves. They are shanghied out of the seaport towns, made +drunk, and taken on the ships like so many cattle, and they are lucky if +they get away inside of ten or fifteen years. And in addition the +cat-o'-nine tails is always dangling afore their eyes. Now a man +treated like that can't make a good sailor, for the simple reason that +he knows he has been treated unjustly, and he can't take an interest in +his duties." + +"Gracious, don't you think you are stretching it a bit?" put in Walter. +"What of their officers?" + +"Nearly every one of them comes from the ranks of the nobility, and that +takes a good deal of ambition from the men, too, knowing it will be next +to impossible for them to rise, even to a petty office. Now in our navy +it's totally different. A man enlists of his own free will, he is +treated fairly even though subject to rigorous discipline, and if it's +in him he can rise to quite a respectable office and earn a good +salary--and he's certain to get his money, while the Spanish sailors and +soldiers go without a cent for months and months." + +"T know what you say about wages is true," said the sergeant in command +of the army wagon. "I have it from a friend who left Havana when Lee, +our consul, came away, that the majority of the Spanish troops stationed +about the city hadn't seen a pay-day for nearly a year." + +"And then there is another thing," continued Caleb Walton. "The +Spaniards have little mechanical ability, and before this war broke out +they had a great number of engineers and the like who were foreign +born--Englishmen, Frenchmen, and Germans principally. Now those men +won't stay on Spain's warships during this little muss,--at least the +Englishmen and Germans won't,--and a green hand at a marine engine can +do more damage in ten minutes than a ship-yard can repair in a month. +Take it, all in all, therefore, I think we have the best of it," +concluded the old gunner. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE MEN BEHIND THE GUNS + + +By the time Fortress Monroe was reached it was quite dark, so but little +could be seen outside of those sturdy and frowning walls behind which +were concealed the heavy guns intended to protect the entrance to +Chesapeake Bay. + +The warships rode at anchor some distance beyond. To the squadron had +just been added the protected cruiser _Minneapolis_, and the _New +Orleans_ and _St. Paul_ were also expected, and all was a buzz of +excitement alongshore. + +"They'll be off before long," said one old soldier. "I know because I +saw one of the captains saying good-by to his family. Such a parting +means a good deal." + +"I understand a Spanish warship was sighted last night," put in another. +"We may have a fight right here unless Schley keeps his eyes open." + +"Oh, he's got the _Scorpion_ out on scout duty--she can take care of any +sneak work," was the answer. He referred to the gunboat _Scorpion_ of +the auxiliary navy, which was doing duty just beyond the capes. The +_Scorpion_ was fast, and carried a strong searchlight, so it was likely +nothing could pass her without being detected and the alarm being given. +Alarms were numerous, but they were likewise all false, for no Spanish +ship of war came anywhere near our coast. + +A boat was in waiting at the wharf, and Walter, Si, and the others were +ordered aboard without delay. The boat was manned by eight sturdy +jackies. + +"Up oars!" came the command, and up went the eight blades straight into +the air; "Let fall!" and the oars fell into the water; "Give way!" and +the blades moved in a clock-like stroke, and they were off to the ships. +It was destined to be many a day before Walter should set foot on land +again. + +"Halt! who goes there?" came suddenly from out of the darkness, and +Walter saw that they were lying beside what looked to be a bulging wall +of dark-colored steel. + +"Aye! aye!" was the answer, and there followed a short talk. "Got ten of +them, sir," said the wardroom officer, in charge of the small boat. Then +a rope ladder was thrown down, and the newcomers clambered aboard the +warship that was to be their home for so long to come. + +Walter gazed about him eagerly, but that look was hardly satisfactory, +for to the darkness was now added a heavy fog through which the ship's +lights shone but faintly. All had their baggage, and without ceremony +they were told to fall in, and were then marched below by order of the +officer of the deck. + +"This looks like home to me," exclaimed Caleb Walton, as he gazed around +the berth deck. "I went over the _Brooklyn_ many a time when she was up +at the navy-yard, so I know her from stem to stern." He took Walter by +the arm. "Here is the baby I hope to manage," he whispered, and pointed +to one of the starboard monsters, whose long muzzle pointed frowningly +outward. "Isn't she a daisy?" + +"I suppose she is," was the boy's reply. "But how in the world do you +manage such a mass of metal? Surely a man can't do it by hand." + +"It might be done by hand, but nowaday everything is worked by +electricity and hydraulic pressure. You'll learn it all after you have +been on board awhile. At present just do what you are told and keep your +eyes open." + +Supper had been served some time before, but as it was not intended to +let the newcomers go hungry, a table was set and they messed together. +The swinging table and the tableware all interested Walter, especially +when he was provided with his own personal cup, plate, spoon, knife, and +fork. + +"As a gunner I'll mess with the other warrant officers," exclaimed Caleb +Walton, in reply to a question about messes from Walter. "You see, there +are a great number of tables. The commodore is entitled to dine alone, +so is the captain and the commander, while the other officers have what +they call the wardroom mess. Then there are the steerage mess, for +midshipmen, ensigns, and clerks; the master-at-arm's mess, for yeomen, +machinists, boiler-makers, and so on; and three or four other messes +besides, including that to which you will belong. We gunners dine with +the boatswain, sail-maker, and carpenter." + +The meal was a plain one, of bread and butter, coffee, cold corned +beef, and apple sauce, but it was well cooked, and all the new men and +boys ate heartily. As soon as it was finished, Walton hurried off to +interview Captain Cook, if he could obtain that privilege. + +"Well, where are we going to sleep? I don't see any beds," said one of +the boys, a timid lad named Paul Harbig. His query brought forth a roar. + +"Your bed is rolled up and lashed away, Paul," answered Si, who had +rather taken to the little lad. "Do you see those gratings over yonder?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, all the hammocks for this deck are stowed away behind that. When +it comes time to go to bed, we'll get them out, fasten them up to the +hooks you see about you, and there you are. And let me tell you there is +nothing finer nor a good canvas hammock to sleep in. I'll take it before +I take a greasy, dirty bunk in a buggy fo'castle every time." + +"But a fellow may fall out," suggested Paul. + +"If you're afraid of that, get a rope's-end and tie yourself in," +answered Si, philosophically. "But you won't tumble, unless we strike +some putty rough weather." + +The order was now passed to bring along all baggage, and Walter and Si +picked up their satchels. Thinking to take out several things he needed, +the Yankee youth opened his bag and put his hand inside. + +"By ginger!" came from him in an undertone, but loud enough for Walter +to hear. + +"What's up, Si?" + +"Thet ten-dollar gold piece is gone!" + +"Are you sure? Perhaps it has slipped among some of the clothing." + +"I'll soon see," was the quick response, and the Yankee youth dumped the +articles out in a heap. Sure enough, the golden eagle was gone. + +"Somebody has robbed me," came in a groan. "Now who did it, do you +suppose?" + +"I'm sure I don't know. It might have been done here or on the train, or +at the depot." + +Si looked around him sharply. Not far away stood Jim Haskett, watching +him intently. As soon as the ex-mate of the _Sunflower_ saw that he was +noticed he turned away. + +"I've got half a notion Haskett was the one to play me foul," he +whispered to Walter. "What do you think?" + +"He wouldn't be much of a man to rob a messmate of ten dollars." + +"Oh, you don't know Haskett. He's as close as he is brutal. Once we got +up a list to give Captain Pepperill a birthday present, but Haskett, +although he was first mate, only gave twenty-five cents,--no more than +Cooley, the cook, chipped in. In his eyes a ten-dollar gold piece is a +big lot of money." + +"It wouldn't do you any good to accuse him if you wasn't pretty certain +he was guilty," returned Walter, cautiously. "You don't want to get into +trouble right after coming on board. If you raised a row, they might put +both you and Haskett in the brig." + +"I'm going to ask him about it, anyway," answered the Yankee youth. +"See, he is looking at us, and it 'pears to me as if he was enjoying +himself to see me in trouble." + +Leaving his satchel and scattered clothing as they were, Si advanced +upon Haskett and without ceremony caught the man's shoulder. + +"Haskett, I want to ask you something," he said, in a low tone. "Do you +know anything about this, or don't you?" + +"I don't know--" The ex-mate of the _Sunflower_ stopped short. "What are +you talking about, Doring?" + +"I left my satchel on the train, as you know. A ten-dollar gold piece is +missing. I want to know----" + +"What! do you accuse me of taking it?" demanded the man, wrathfully. + +"I asked you if you knew anything about it." + +"No, I don't. I've got my own affairs to look after. More than likely +the car porter took your money--if you really had that amount." + +"Well, I'm going to find that gold piece sooner or later, as sure as my +name is Si Doring," exclaimed the Yankee youth, determinedly, and with a +shake of his head he rejoined Walter and Paul Harbig. + +The officer who had previously taken them in charge now came forward and +assigned them to their various sleeping places. This matter was readily +arranged, for one of the main features of the cruiser _Brooklyn_ is her +commodious berthing quarters, there being two complete decks, running +from end to end of the ship, for this purpose, also an extra forecastle, +so that the vessel can accommodate a thousand men if required--a number +nearly double that of her usual crew. + +"It's a big hotel, with one room on a floor," thought Walter, as he took +the hammock assigned to him. He was glad to find Si on one side of him +and Paul Harbig on the other. Si showed both boys how to take their +canvasses and sling them. This work was just completed, when Caleb +Walton came back with a broad smile on his face. + +"It's all right," he whispered to Walter. "The captain treated me better +than I thought he would. He called up the chief gunner, and we had a +talk, and you are to take the place of a man named Silvers, who has gone +lame through having a cat-block fall on his foot. If you'll only mind +yourself, and study up as I tell you, you'll have the chance of your +life." + +"Study! I'm ready to begin right off," answered Walter, earnestly. "I'm +just crazy to get at that gun you pointed out to me. Can't you show me +something to-night?" + +Caleb Walton laughed outright. "Don't try to learn it all before you go +to bed, Walter," he said. "Of course, you know more than some +landlubbers who think that on warships of to-day they handle the guns +as they used to, when one man took the powder and ball from the +powder-monkeys, another rammed them home in the gun, and the gunner +sighted his piece and pulled the string. Those days are gone, and a head +gunner like myself has very little to do, even if the position is a +responsible one. Come, I'll get permission to go below, and show you +just how a big gun is served from start to finish. Folks talk about 'the +man behind the gun' when they really mean from eight to twelve men." + +The two hurried off, and presently descended an iron staircase which +seemed to lead into the very bowels of the ship. At last they came to a +steel trap-door, barred and locked. + +"Below this door is one of the magazines," explained Caleb. "It contains +the ammunition for the eight-inch guns in the turret above. The keys to +the magazine are in the captain's cabin, and can only be had on special +order and by certain persons. The magazines are kept locked continually, +excepting when in use or when being inspected. All of them are connected +with huge water tanks, so at the first sign of a fire they can be +flooded, thus lessening the danger of an explosion." + +"Yes, I remember the Spaniards tried to prove that the _Maine_ blew up +from one of her magazines." + +"Such a thing couldn't happen in the American navy, because the +discipline is too strict. Now, when a gun is being served, several men +in the magazine get out the shells for the shellmen, who load them on +the ammunition hoist over there, which is nothing more than a warship +dumbwaiter. The hoist takes the shells up to the guns, in this case in +the forward turret. Other hoists supply the rear turret and the +secondary battery and other guns, including the rapid-firing weapons in +the military tops." + +"You mean those platforms around the upper ends of the two masts?" + +"Exactly. The tops are the places for the sharpshooters and the +range-finders." + +"The range-finders?" + +"Exactly. You see, it is a difficult matter to get an exact range on an +enemy several miles off, and we have to try to get the range in various +ways. One of the simplest ways is to station two range-finders in the +tops, as far away from each other as possible. Each man gets a bead on +the enemy with his glasses, and then proceeds to get the angle between +the bead and an imaginary line drawn between his station and that taken +by the other fellow. The three points--that is, the two range-finders +and the enemy--form a triangle, and having one line and the two angles +to work on, the working out of the problem gives the distance the +gunners are hunting for." + +"That makes pointing a gun nothing but a mathematical problem doesn't +it?" + +"It makes it partly a mathematical problem, lad. But having the distance +isn't everything, for that will only give us the height at which a gun +should be elevated in order to make its charge cover that distance and +hit the mark, instead of flying over it or ploughing the water below it. +After getting the distance we have to calculate on how the enemy's +vessel is moving, if she is under steam, and then, most important, we +have to let the gun go off at just the right motion of our own craft. In +some navies they discharge the guns on the upward roll of the ship, and +in others on the downward roll. My private opinion on that point is, a +downward roll in clear weather, and an upward roll in a choppy sea, when +you don't know just what is coming next." + +"I see. Firing a gun isn't so easy as one would imagine." + +"Easy enough if you want to waste ammunition, as those Spaniards did at +Manila. Gun practice is expensive, and Spain hasn't any money to waste +in that direction. Come, we'll have to get up to sleeping quarters now," +concluded the old gunner, as a drum beat was heard sounding throughout +the warship. "That's tattoo. It will soon be two bells, nine o'clock, +and then comes pipe down." + +"All right, I'm willing enough to go to sleep," said Walter. "But just +one question more. How do you count the time by bells on a warship?" + +"Just the same as on any ship, lad. The bell strikes at each half-hour, +starting at half-past twelve at night, which is one bell. This makes one +o'clock, two bells, half-past one, three bells, and so on, up to four +o'clock, which is eight bells, when you start again from the beginning. +By this means the day and night are divided into periods of time called +watches, as morning watch, middle watch, dog watch, and the like. You'll +get the lay of it soon," finished Walton, and then, having reached the +berth deck, the pair separated for the night. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +COMMODORE WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY + + +In a couple of days Walter began to feel at home on the flagship, and he +could no longer be termed a "greeny," strictly speaking, although there +were still a great number of things for him to learn. He was much +interested in the _Brooklyn_ as a whole as well as in detail, and was +proud to learn that this armored cruiser was the largest of the class in +our navy, having a displacement of 9215 tons, as against her sister +ship, the _New York_, which had a displacement of about a thousand tons +less. + +"This ship is just four hundred feet and six inches long," said Caleb. +"She don't look so long as she rides the water, but as a city block is +ordinarily two hundred feet deep, so to speak, she would cover two +blocks of a side street, providing the street was sixty-five feet wide, +for her to rest in. That's pretty big, eh?" + +"And how much water does she draw, Walton?" + +"Draws twenty-four feet, which is the height of an ordinary two-story +house. Her three smokestacks are about a hundred feet high each, and +that gives her fires a first-class draught, sailing or standing still." + +"I'm awfully glad I'm on her," smiled Walter. "Oh, I do hope we have a +fight with the Dons. I want to see the big guns go off. I know the main +battery, as you call it, has eight 8-inch guns. How many guns are there +besides?" + +"There are twelve 5-inch rapid-fire guns, twelve 6-pounders, four +1-pounders, four Colts, and two field guns. Besides, we carry four +torpedo tubes." + +"We're a regular floating arsenal!" exclaimed Walter. "It must make +things shake when they all get to firing." + +"You'll think you've struck the infernal regions, lad, if we ever do get +them all a-going. Yes, the _Brooklyn_ is nothing but a floating fort. +She's an unusual type, because she has an extra high forecastle deck. +Some folks don't think that makes her a beauty, but they must remember +that warships aren't built altogether for looks, although to my mind +she's as handsome as any of 'em. The high bow enables us to carry our +forward guns eight feet higher than those on the _New York_, and it will +come in mighty handy if we ever want to run full steam after an enemy in +a heavy sea which would drown out a ship with a low freeboard." + +"And why is she called an armored cruiser?" + +"Because she is protected by steel plating three inches thick on her +sides and on her deck, and under this is an additional protection of +coal and of cocoa-fibre, for keeping out water. It would surprise you to +see how the sides and deck, as well as the bottom, are built, were they +taken apart for examination." + +Discipline Walter found very strict, and once he had donned his uniform +he was kept employed from sunrise to sunset, his duties being largely +similar to those performed by his brother Larry on the _Olympia_. Early +in the morning he was aroused by the blare of a bugle, or the roll of a +drum, and given but a few minutes in which to dress and roll up his +hammock and put it away. Then came the work of washing down the deck, +followed by breakfast, and later all hands were called to quarters, to +attend some drill, sometimes at the guns, sometimes at the hose pipes +scattered about in case of fire, and occasionally with small-arms and +with cutlasses. Each afternoon there was a "run around," lasting from +ten minutes to half an hour. In this the men fell in singly or in pairs, +and ran around and around the deck, at first slowly until "second wind" +was gained, and then faster and faster. This is the one chance a jackie +gets of stretching his legs while on board of his ship, and how he does +enjoy it! + +Taking them as a whole, Walter found the ship's company a jolly crowd, +with but few men of the Jim Haskett stamp among them. The men connected +with the guns were a particularly brotherly set, and the youth soon felt +thoroughly at home among them. He was always willing to do anything +asked of him, and in return the best gunners on the vessel did not +hesitate to give him "points" whenever he asked for them. One jocularly +called him The Questioner, but Walter did not mind, and went on picking +up all the information possible. + +On his second morning on board Walter was talking to Si when a low roll +of drums reached their ears. "Hark!" cried the Yankee boy. "Two ruffles. +Do you know what that means? The commodore is either leaving or coming +on board. They always give a high officer that salute, or a similar +one." + +"Let us see him if we can," exclaimed Walter, who had not yet caught +sight of the commander of the squadron. They crowded to an open port and +were just in time to see Commodore Schley descend by the swinging ladder +to the gig. Soon the little craft shot out of sight through the fog, for +the day was far from clear. + +"He looks like a fighter," remarked Walter. "He has quite a record, +hasn't he?" + +"Yes, indeed, I was reading about him only last week. He was in the +Civil War, operating along the Mississippi, and after that he saw a lot +of fighting besides." + +"I know all about our commodore," said a gunner standing near. "My +father fought with him on the Mississippi, and also when Port Hudson, in +Louisiana, was taken. He is named after General Winfield +Scott,--Winfield Scott Schley,--for his father and the general were warm +friends." + +"It's a good name for a fighter; for certainly nobody fought better than +did General Scott, through the war with Mexico," was Walter's comment. + +"Schley entered the Naval Academy in 1856 and remained until 1861, when +the war broke out," continued the gunner. "They say he graduated at the +head of his class and was so well liked that he was given sea-duty on +the frigate _Potomac_, and in 1862 he was made a master, and ordered on +the _Winona_, of the Gulf Squadron. + +"After the Civil War was over, he was sent to the Pacific, and there he +aided in the suppression of an outbreak among the Chinese coolies in the +Chin Chi Islands. The United States consulate at this place was in +danger of being mobbed, but Schley took a hundred marines ashore, and +knocked the whole uprising in the head in short order." + +"No wonder he's a commodore," said Walter; and Si nodded approvingly. + +"It wasn't long before the young officer was made a +lieutenant-commander, and coming back from the Pacific, he was placed in +charge of a department at the Naval Academy. He remained ashore for +three years, then went to the coast of Africa, on the _Benicia_, where +he took part in a number of contests, and helped clear the Congo River +of pirates, and overthrew the forces defending the Salu River in Corea, +another bit of work for which he was warmly praised." + +"Oh, he's a corker," cried Si, enthusiastically. + +"I'm not done yet," went on the gunner, who loved to talk about the +exploits of his old commander. "Of course you have heard how the Greely +Expedition to the North Pole got lost and couldn't get back home. Well, +it was Schley who went after them, and found Greely and six of his +companions at Cape Sabine and brought them safely back. For this +Congress voted him a medal, and President Arthur raised him to the full +rank of captain and made him Chief of the Bureau of Equipment, a very +important office in the Naval Department. But Schley couldn't stand it +on land, he must have the rolling ocean under him, and so he gave up his +berth ashore and took command of the _Baltimore_." + +"I remember about that," put in Walter. "I was reading about John +Ericsson, the inventor of the monitor. When Ericsson died, the body was +sent to Sweden, his fatherland, on the _Baltimore_ under Schley." + +"Exactly, and the King of Sweden gave Schley a medal to commemorate the +event, at a grand gathering at Stockholm. From Sweden Schley took the +_Baltimore_ to Southern waters, and while off the coast of Chili he +smoothed out what threatened to become a serious difficulty between that +country and ours on account of some of Uncle Sam's jackies being stoned +on the streets of Valparaiso. For this the Navy Department was extremely +grateful, and he went up several points on the register, so that it +didn't take him long to become a commodore." + +"He's certainly a man worth sailing under," said Walter. "I suppose he +is married?" + +"Yes, and has several children--but that don't interest me," concluded +the gunner, who was an old bachelor, with a peculiar dislike for the +gentler sex. + +Since the time that Si had spoken to Haskett about the missing money, +the seaman had steered clear of both the Yankee lad and Walter. Perhaps +he was afraid that Si would accuse him openly of the theft of the gold +piece, or perhaps he was afraid of Caleb Walton, who was continually +around and ready to champion his "boys," as he had dubbed both. But +there was one boy who could not get away from him, and that was Paul +Harbig. + +"You're just the right sort to take to," said Haskett, as he caught Paul +by the arm one morning, while both were coming from mess. "You're too +much of a real little man to have anything to do with that Russell boy +or Si Doring." + +"Oh, I like them both very much!" answered Paul, and attempted to pass +on. With a frown Haskett caught him by the arm and swung him back. + +"See here, I want to talk to you," he cried uglily. "Has Si Doring been +telling you any yarns about me?" + +[Illustration: "SEE HERE, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU."] + +"You let go of me," was Paul's only answer. "I don't want anything to do +with you." + +"Answer my question." + +"I haven't got to." And now Paul did his best to get away. He had just +twisted himself loose when Jim Haskett struck him a cruel blow on the +head. + +"You--you brute!" gasped the boy, as the tears came. He was about to try +retreating again, when Haskett caught him once more. + +"Now answer me, or I'll thrash the life out of you," he hissed into +Paul's ear. "And mind you tell the truth." + +"He said that he had a--a--" the boy broke off short. "I won't tell you, +there! Now let go!" And he began to squirm. + +"I know what he said," blustered Haskett. "Said he had had a ten-dollar +gold piece in his valise, didn't he?" + +"Ye-es." + +"And he accused me of taking it, eh?" + +"He didn't say so outright. He said you had been where you could get at +the bag." + +"It amounts to the same thing. As a matter of fact I couldn't get at the +bag any more than could you, or Russell, or Walton, or any of the +others." + +"I suppose that is so. Now let me go." + +"I will in a minute, but I want to tell you something, for it's not nice +to have folks taking you to be a thief," went on Haskett, tactfully. + +"I haven't said anything about the affair." + +"Perhaps not, Paul, but Doring talks, and I reckon so do Russell and +Walton. During the past couple of days I've found more than one fellow +aboard the _Brooklyn_ looking at me queer-like, and I can put two and +two together as quick as the next man. If I allow this to go on, there +won't be a soul speak to me after a while." + +"I shan't say a word--I'll promise you." + +"It's Russell who will talk the most, I reckon," went on Haskett, with +apparent bitterness. "Russell, the very fellow who ought not to say a +word." + +"I'll caution him, if you want me to," went on Paul, who was +tender-hearted and very willing to help anybody out of trouble. + +"Caution Russell! Not for the world. See here, I'll tell you something, +and you can tell Doring or not, just as you please. To the best of my +knowledge Russell is the thief." + +"Walter!" ejaculated Paul. "Oh, no, you must be mistaken. Why, why--how +could he get at the satchel? He was with Doring." + +"I don't know about that. But I'm almost positive Russell is guilty." + +"Have you any proof? You shouldn't say such a thing unless you have," +retorted Paul, anxious to stick up for Walter, who had served him +several good turns since they had become acquainted. + +"I've got more proof against Russell than Doring has against me," +answered Jim Haskett, boldly. "And what is more, I can prove what I've +got to say." + +"But what have you to say?" came in a cold, heavy voice behind Haskett, +and turning swiftly the former mate of the _Sunflower_ found himself +confronted by Caleb Walton. The old gunner's face looked stern and +angry. + +"Why--er--where did you come from?" stammered the seaman. + +"I asked you what you have to say against Walter Russell," demanded +Caleb. "Come, out with it, or by the jumping beeswax, I'll wipe up this +deck with you!" And he doubled up his fists. + +"I'm not afraid, if you want to fight, Walton," replied Haskett, +recovering somewhat from his fright. "What I said about Russell, I'll +stick to." + +"But what have you got to say? out with it," was the old gunner's +demand. + +"I've got this much to say. I think Russell took Doring's gold piece, +and I am not the only one that does either. If you think I'm wrong, ask +Cal Blinker, the shellman. He heard almost as much as I did." + +"Heard what?" + +"Heard Russell talk in his sleep. It was last night. I got up to get a +drink of water and slipped and roused up Blinker. Then, when I went to +the water tub, I passed Russell's hammock. He was dreaming and talking +about the gold piece and saying that Doring would never learn that he +had it, and a lot more about hiding it under the gun. He went on about +the money and about hiding it for fully ten minutes. If you don't +believe me, go to Blinker about it." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WALTER SHOWS HIS PLUCK + + +"And is that all you have to say?" asked Caleb Walton, after a few +seconds of silence, during which he gazed so sharply at Jim Haskett that +the fellow felt compelled to drop his eyes. "Because a fellow dreams +about a gold piece, must you accuse him of stealing?" + +"That's all right, too," responded Haskett, doggedly. "I know he +wouldn't dream that way unless there was something in the wind. I'm +satisfied he took the money." + +"And I am satisfied that he is innocent," cried Caleb. "That boy would +never steal a cent from anybody." + +"Why, he was after a thief himself before he left Boston," put in Paul, +who had now sought protection behind the old gunner. + +"Well, suit yourselves," answered Haskett, with a shrug of his somewhat +rounded shoulders. "But let me tell you that I won't allow Russell, +Doring, or anybody else to speak of me as having taken the money--mind +that!" And he shook his fist savagely. + +"Here comes Walter now," announced Paul. "Walter, come here!" he called +out, before Caleb could stop him. + +At once Walter came up, an inquiring look upon his manly face, which was +now becoming sunburnt through exposure on deck. "What do you want, +Paul?" he asked. + +"It's only some of Haskett's nonsense," answered Caleb, ere the boy +could speak. "Tell us, lad, do you remember dreaming anything about Si's +gold piece?" + +For the instant Walter looked puzzled, then his face brightened. "I do," +he answered. "What of it?" + +"Tell us what you dreamed first." + +"Why--I--I can't remember exactly, excepting that I was having a good +lot of worry about it," he stammered. "You know how dreams come and go." + +"To be sure, Walter." + +"You dreamt about the money you hid, didn't you?" said Haskett, +sneeringly. + +"The money I hid? I hid no money." + +"Oh no, of course not!" + +"See here, Haskett, what do you mean?" And Walter strode over to the +seaman, his face flushing deeply. "Do you mean to insinuate that I took +Si's gold piece and hid it away?" + +"He just does," burst out Paul. "And he says you talked in your sleep +about it, too." + +"It is false--at least, it is false that I took the money. I might have +dreamed about it and talked in my sleep. We are not accountable for what +we do when we are sleeping." + +"Perhaps you took the gold piece when you were asleep," said Haskett, +squinting suggestively at those surrounding him. + +"The gold piece was taken while Si and I were left behind in Washington. +It was taken by somebody on the train." + +"That's your story--and you've been trying to lay the thing at my door. +But I shan't stand it--not me," stormed Haskett. "I heard what you said +in your sleep, and so did Cal Blinker. If anybody is guilty, it is you!" +And he pointed his long, bony finger full in Walter's face. + +By this time a crowd of a dozen or more had gathered round, realizing +that a quarrel of some sort was in progress. "It's about a gold piece," +said one. "Haskett says Russell took it. Say, fellows, we don't want +anything to do with a thief." + +"Not much we don't!" answered a messmate. "Heave him overboard if he is +guilty." + +"This matter ought to be reported to the officer of the deck," put in a +third. "If there is a thief on board, no man's ditty-box will be safe." + +At Haskett's concluding remark Walter's face grew as red as a beet, then +deadly pale. For a moment he stood stock still, breathing heavily. +Suddenly he leaped forward with clenched fist and struck Haskett a +stunning blow on the chin which sent the seaman staggering up against a +gun-carriage. + +"That, for talking to me in this fashion!" he exclaimed. + +"Oh!" grunted the ex-mate of the _Sunflower_, as he caught at the gun +just in time to prevent himself from falling to the deck. "You--you +young rascal, what do you mean by hitting me?" + +"A fight! a fight!" cried several, and soon a crowd of about fifty +jackies surrounded the pair. + +"Wasn't that a pretty blow though! And he's only a boy, too!" came from +a gunner's mate. + +"I'll fix you for this!" went on Haskett, putting one hand to his chin, +where a lump was rising rapidly. "I never before allowed anybody to hit +me--leastwise a boy." And he rushed at Walter with a fierceness which +boded the youth no good. + +"Don't you hit him, Haskett," put in Caleb, catching the seaman by the +arm. "If you do, you'll have to settle this affair with me." + +"He hit me." + +"And you as much as said he was a thief." + +"And so he is." + +"I am not, and I've a good mind to hit you again for saying so," burst +out Walter, and before anybody around could separate them he and Haskett +had closed in. Several ineffective blows were struck on each side, when +they were pulled apart. + +"This won't do, Walter," whispered Caleb. "If you're not careful, you'll +spend a week in the brig." + +"But--but it's awful to have him say I'm a--a--" + +"I know, I know. But keep cool, lad; it's best, take my word for it. +You've been on board only a few days, but you have made lots of +friends, while I reckon most of the men have already sized up Haskett +for the meanest chap on board." + +"He has no right to talk about me." + +"He says you and Si Doring talked about him." + +Haskett now pushed his way forward again. "I don't want trouble with the +officers, so we'll let this matter drop for the present," he blustered. +"But I'll remember you, and some day you'll be mighty sorry we had this +little mix-up." And muttering some more that nobody could understand he +strode off, the majority of the crowd gazing after him curiously. + +"Ran away from a boy!" said one old tar. "He must be a regular coward, +and no mistake!" + +Many wanted Walter to relate his version of what had brought the +encounter about, but Caleb hurried the lad away to a corner, where he +took a wash up and brushed off his clothing. + +"I want to interview that Cal Blinker," said the youth. "Where can I +find him?" + +"Down around the forward ammunition hoist," answered Paul, and Walter +hurried off, accompanied by his friends. + +"Yes, I did hear you say something about a gold piece," the shellman +admitted. "You didn't talk very plainly and I understood very little. +Haskett said he understood every word. Well, maybe he did. I've been in +the navy so long that the noise of the big guns has affected my +hearing." + +"Did I say I stole the piece?" insisted Walter. + +"I don't know as you did. All I could make out was 'ten dollars in gold' +and 'the gun--just the place.'" + +This was all Cal Blinker had to say. He was rather old and it was plain +to see that he wanted nothing to do with the controversy, one side or +the other. + +Si Doring had been attending a special boat drill, and it was not until +an hour had passed that he came below and heard what had occurred. +Without hesitation he slapped Walter on the shoulder. + +"Don't you take this to heart," he said. "No matter what that mean old +rascal of a Haskett says, he'll never make me believe that you are +anything but perfectly straight. I believe yet that he took the gold +piece and that some day I'll be able to prove it." And there the +incident, for the time being, dropped. + +The manner in which Walter had "sailed into Haskett," as Caleb +expressed it, made the youth many friends among the crew, for if there +is one thing a jack tar loves it is to see a messmate stand up for +himself. "You're all right, you are," said more than one, and caught +Walter's hand in a grip calculated to break the bones. Several, who had +thought to play a few tricks on the "greeny," reconsidered their ideas +on the subject and concluded that it was best not to run any chances +with such a spirited lad. + +For some time Walter was afraid that the executive officer would hear of +the encounter and bring him to book for it; but if the "mix-up" was +reported, nothing came of it. As a matter of fact, Uncle Sam's officers +just then had affairs of more importance requiring their attention. + +For every hour on board of the warships composing the Flying Squadron +increased the anxiety concerning the Spanish ships which it was felt +were preparing to make a quick dash for Cuba or for our own coast. How +soon would these warships sail, and where would they make their presence +felt? those were the all-important questions commodore and captains +asked of each other. "They'll most likely try to break the blockade at +Havana," said one. "No, they'll bombard one of our down-east seacoast +cities," said another. "I think they'll rush through the Suez Canal to +fight Dewey," was the conclusion reached by a third. Under-officers and +men speculated quite as much as did their superiors, arriving at equally +opposite conclusions. "They have our whole seacoast and Cuba to pick +from," Commodore Schley said. "They will go where they can do the most +good--to their way of thinking. I think they'll go to Cuba or Porto +Rico." How correct the commander was history has shown. + +Although the _Scorpion_ was patrolling the ocean just outside of the +capes, a strict watch was kept on every one of the warships, night and +day. Rumors were numerous, and one was to the effect that the Spaniards +had a submarine craft in their service and that this boat would soon +arrive along our eastern seacoast, to destroy the shipping from Maine to +the Gulf of Mexico. In these days, when we know the truth, we can afford +to laugh at such a report, but to the jackies on the warships, who +remembered only too well the fate of the _Maine_, it was no laughing +matter. Even when off duty, many would go on the spar deck and lie flat, +gazing into the dark waters for the best part of a night, hoping to +catch a glimpse of the unknown terror, should it come to that vicinity. + +Sunday, with its deeply impressive church service, came and went, and +still the squadron lay at anchor. In the meantime it was rumored that +Sampson would soon take his most powerful vessels from the blockade and +bombard Havana. The newspapers reported this, but if such was the plan +of the Navy Department, it was altered at the last moment. + +On May 12 came news of a fierce fight in the harbor of Cardenas, a +seaport a hundred and twenty miles east of Havana. In an attempt to +effect a landing, the torpedo boat _Winslow_ had her boiler blown to +pieces and several men were killed and injured, among them Ensign Worth +Bagley, who was thus the first American officer to fall in the war. Two +other warships, the _Wilmington_ and the _Hudson_, also took part in the +contest, but were repulsed after a gallant onslaught lasting over an +hour. + +"This is war," said Caleb, as he read the news from the paper that one +of the gunners had just brought on board. "Those fellows on the +_Winslow_ caught it hot. Think of running right into that harbor and +having a shell drop and smash your boiler and send the live steam all +over you. I tell you Ensign Bagley was a plucky one, all honor to his +memory." + +The next day brought even more important news. Dewey had gained a +foothold in the Philippines, the main city of Cuba was in a state of +blockade, and now Rear-Admiral Sampson had shifted the scene of action +to Porto Rico, by shelling the forts of San Juan, the principal city of +Spain's only other possession in the West Indies. + +"We're getting there!" cried Caleb, excitedly. "We'll soon give the Dons +all they want." + +"If Sampson succeeds in making the San Juan forts surrender, the whole +city will be at our mercy," said Walter. "Hurrah for the American navy, +and every ship and man in it." + +"We are bound to get them on the run," put in Si. "Here is another +report about a fight at Cienfuegos. Where is that?" + +"On the southern coast of Cuba," answered Walter, who had always had a +good head for geography, and who, since the war had started, had studied +the map of Cuba closely. "Havana, San Juan, and Manila! Say, but this +is becoming a war of magnificent distances." + +"It's a naval war, that's what it is," said Caleb. "If we--hullo! Did +any of you see this telegram?" He pointed to his newspaper. "The Spanish +Squadron under Admiral Cervera has slipped away from Cape Verde Islands +and is undoubtedly bound westward." + +"And here is another report that some strange vessels, supposed to be +warships, have been sighted off Martinique, Windward Island," added +Walter, quickly. "I'll wager we leave soon!" + +"But where to--the Windward Islands?" queried Si. + +"That's for Commodore Schley to decide. Rest assured he'll find this +Admiral Cervera sooner or later, just as Dewey found old Admiral +Montojo." + +The news was spreading, and officers and men gathered in knots to +discuss the situation. As for Commodore Schley and Captain Cook, they +smiled knowingly, but said nothing. Everybody in the Flying Squadron +remembered what Dewey and his men had accomplished, and all were on +their mettle accordingly. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE SAILING OF THE FLYING SQUADRON + + +"We are off at last!" + +It was Walter who broke the news, as he came tumbling down the stairs to +the berth deck, where Si and Caleb were engaged in a friendly game of +checkers on the top of a ditty-box. + +"Off!" cried the old gunner, and leaped up, scattering the men on the +checkerboard in all directions. "Who told you?" + +"The signal has just been hoisted on the military mast. I couldn't read +it, but Sandram could and he translated it for me." + +Caleb waited to hear no more, but rushed on deck, with Walter and the +others following. The news was true, the signal flew the words, "Weigh +anchor and follow the flagship," and the heavy black smoke was pouring +in dense volumes from every warship's funnels. + +"I wonder where we are bound?" questioned Walter, whose heart was +thumping within him at the thought war might soon become a stern reality +to him. "Of course we are going after Admiral Cervera's ships." + +"I reckon that's right, but there's no telling," responded Caleb. "The +officers don't consult us when they want to move, you know." And he said +this so dryly that both Walter and Si had to laugh. + +The warships at hand were four in number,--the _Brooklyn_, which I have +already described, and the _Massachusetts_, _Texas_, and _Scorpion_. +With them was the collier _Sterling_, loaded to the very rail with huge +bags of coal, for the exclusive use of the Flying Squadron. + +The _Massachusetts_ was a battleship of the first-class, a sister ship +to the _Indiana_. She had a displacement of over ten thousand tons, and +a speed of sixteen knots per hour. Her massive armor was eighteen inches +thick--enough to withstand some of the heaviest shots ever fired from +any gun. Her armament consisted of a main battery of four 13-inch and +eight 8-inch guns and four 6-inch slow-fire guns. The secondary battery +comprised twenty 6-pounders, four 1-pounders, four Gatlings, and two +field-guns. Besides this she carried three torpedo tubes and an immense +quantity of small-arms. Captain Francis J. Higginson was in charge, with +Lieutenant-Commander Seaton Schroeder. + +The _Texas_ was a battleship of the second class, her displacement being +only 6315 tons. She had the honor to be the first vessel built when our +navy began its reconstruction, in 1886. Her armor was just one foot +thick, and she could speed along at the rate of nearly eighteen knots an +hour. Two 12-inch and six 6-inch slow-fire guns made up her main +battery, while her secondary battery counted up six 1-pounders, four +Hotchkiss and two Gatling guns. There were two torpedo tubes. The +_Texas_ was under the command of Captain John W. Philip and +Lieutenant-Commander Giles B. Harber. + +The _Scorpion_ was a despatch boat of the gunboat pattern, with a +displacement of six hundred tons, and a rapid-firing battery of four +5-inch and six 6-pounders. She was a swift craft, and had done duty as a +scout for a long time. + +The signal to weigh anchor was hoisted on the flagship at four o'clock +in the afternoon, and inside of half an hour the Flying Squadron and the +collier were standing down Hampton Roads toward the capes, each +ploughing the waters at a twelve to fifteen knot rate. The wharves +alongshore were lined with people, who waved their hats and their +handkerchiefs, and shouted out their best wishes for the departing ones. + +"Remember the _Maine_, boys, and send us a good account of yourselves!" +shouted one old Southern veteran, as he shook a partly empty coat sleeve +at them. "I wish I was younger; I'd go along and fight as well for the +old stars and stripes as I once did for the stars and bars." + +"Now you're talking," responded a Union veteran. "That other quarrel was +our own, eh, neighbor? Let foreign nations keep their hands off Uncle +Sam's family and the children seeking his protection. Three cheers for +Old Glory and Free Cuba!" And the cheers were given with a will, while +Fortress Monroe thundered out a parting salute. + +A number of other vessels, including the protected cruisers +_Minneapolis_ and _New Orleans_ and the auxiliary cruiser _St. Paul_ had +been left behind, to join their sister ships later on. The _New Orleans_ +was a warship but recently purchased from the Brazilian government, and +formerly known as the _Amazonas_. The _St. Paul_ had formerly been a +trans-Atlantic steamer, and was commanded by Captain Charles E. Sigsbee, +who had so gallantly stuck to his post until the last moment when the +_Maine_ was destroyed. + +Each of the warships had a harbor pilot on board and proceeded under a +full head of steam for the passage between the capes, which were passed +a little after seven o'clock in the evening. Leaving Cape Henry well to +starboard, the pilots were dropped, and the warships, taking the middle +course, as it is termed, disappeared from the gaze of those who had +watched their departure so eagerly. + +"We're out for a fight now, sure enough," said Caleb, as he and Walter +went below, each to the mess to which he had been assigned. "Orders are +to prepare for action, so I've just been told." + +"I noticed that lights were being extinguished," answered the youth. "Do +you suppose they are afraid that the Spanish warships are coming up this +way?" + +"No telling, lad. It's a game of hide and seek, until one fellow or the +other sneaks up and thumps his opponent in the neck. I only hope we're +in it to do the first thumping." + +Mess was scarcely over when there came a call to quarters. Ports were +closed with massive steel covers, the battle hatches were put down, and +the big guns were carefully loaded. Watches had, of course, already been +established, and now the men were ordered to take turns at standing by +the guns. + +"Which way are we pointing, eastward or down the coast?" questioned +Walter of Si, who had come up during his off hours to take a look at the +cloudy sky from which only a few stars were peeping. + +"We are moving almost directly southward," was the slow reply of the +Yankee youth, after a long look overhead. + +"And where will that bring us to, Si?" + +"It will take us to Cape Hatteras first, and if we keep on long enough +it will bring us to the neighborhood of San Salvador Island. But I +reckon we'll change our course after Hatteras is passed." + +"Isn't Hatteras a bad point to pass?" + +"Is it? You just ought to try it in dirty weather. Many a craft has left +her hulk off that cape. But such a craft as the _Brooklyn_, with her +high bow, ought to weather almost anything. To my mind, the worst thing +we can run into is a fog-bank, and that's just what we are likely to do +in this vicinity." + +The regular lights of the warship had been extinguished, but behind its +hood the great searchlight glowed and spluttered, ready to be turned to +one point or another at a second's notice. All was quiet on board, save +for the rumble and quiver of the powerful engines which were driving +this floating fort on her way through the rolling ocean. While daylight +lasted the vessels kept more or less apart, but with the coming of night +they closed in, and the fretting and puffing little _Scorpion_ darted +ahead on picket guard. + +Walter's duty at his gun came to an end at midnight, and none too soon +for the lad, whose head had suddenly begun to spin around like a top. "I +guess I'm getting seasick," he murmured to Si; and the Yankee lad at +once led him away to a secluded corner, where he might have matters all +his own way, and where none might look on and enjoy his misery. Once +Haskett started to pass some uncomplimentary remarks about Walter, but a +single stern look from Caleb silenced the seaman, who tumbled into his +hammock without another word. For several days Jim Haskett had kept his +distance, but he was only biding his time to "even up," as he termed it. +"I'll make young Russell feel mighty sore before I'm done with him," was +what he promised himself. + +Walter was expected to go on duty again at four o'clock, but he was in +no condition for service, and sent Caleb word to that effect. Paul took +the message and soon returned with a reply. + +"You're to take it easy until you're all right," said Paul. "Walton will +fix it up so there will be no trouble." + +"He's the best friend a fellow ever fell in with," sighed Walter. "If I +hadn't met him I don't know what I should have done." + +"Oh, you would have taken care of yourself," answered Paul, lightly. He +had not yet forgotten the attack Haskett had sustained at Walter's +hands. + +Daybreak found the squadron running into the first of a series of +fog-banks. At once the speed of each warship was reduced, and presently +it became necessary to use the fog-horns and ship-bells. In the meantime +all hands were put through several drills, "to get them into fighting +trim," as the officer of the deck explained. The drills lasted until +dinner time, and in some way they made Walter feel much better. As a +matter of fact, his spell of seasickness was of short duration, and once +gone, the malady never returned. + +"I'm a fine specimen of a jackie, am I not?" he said to Caleb, with a +faint smile, on first presenting himself. "Why, a Spaniard could knock +me over with a feather." + +"Don't you go for to find fault with yourself," was the old gunner's +reply. "I've known men who have been on the ocean for years to get sick +the first day out. It's something they can't overcome, try their best. +Why, I saw several officers of the marines as sick as so many dogs." + +Mess over, Walter went on deck for a breath of fresh air. They had just +left a fog-bank and were standing out boldly into the ocean. The youth +sauntered slowly forward as far as the rules permitted. + +"Sail O!" came suddenly from the military mast. + +"Where away?" demanded the officer on the bridge. + +"Dead ahead, sir." + +"Is she flying any flag?" + +"I think not, sir." + +"What does she look like?" + +"I can't make out very well, for she is running into the fog. I don't +know but that she looks a bit like a warship," continued the lookout, +after some hesitation. + +Without delay Commodore Schley and Captain Cook were notified. A brief +consultation took place, and it was decided to pursue the unknown craft +and find out what she was and where she was going. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +AN ADVENTURE OFF CHARLESTON + + +The news that a strange vessel was in sight soon travelled throughout +the ship, and all who could do so, crowded to the spar deck, while the +officers stationed themselves on the forecastle, bridge and other points +of vantage. + +There was no necessity to give the order, "Clear ship for action!" for +the _Brooklyn_ was already cleared. Moreover, all the big guns contained +their charges of eight-inch and other shells. The six-pounders and the +Colts were now "provided," as it is termed, and then there was nothing +to do but to lie by the guns and await further orders. + +Immediately upon notification that a strange sail was in sight, the +flagship had run up a signal to the _Scorpion_, "Follow the unknown ship +to the southward," and away darted the little gunboat at a rate of speed +which caused the mighty waves of the Atlantic to wash her decks from +end to end. Presently the sea proved almost too heavy for her and she +had to reduce her speed, and the _Brooklyn_ went ahead, her high +freeboard sending the water to port and starboard with scarcely an +effort. Once, however, she did get caught below an unusually high crest +and all on the forward deck received a liberal drenching. + +"Fire a shot across her bow!" was the order given, when the strange +craft again emerged from a fog-bank, and boom! one of the smaller guns +belched forth. The echoes of the shot had scarcely died away when the +unknown ship was seen to hoist the British flag. + +"Only a Britisher!" sighed Caleb, when the news came down to him. "And I +thought we were going to have the profit of a nice Spanish prize." + +Not caring to go entirely by the flag displayed, since the unknown ship +had acted so strangely, the _Scorpion_ was again sent forward to make an +investigation. In quarter of an hour she came up within hailing +distance. + +"What ship is that?" was bawled out through a megaphone. + +"British steamer _Elsie_. What gunboat is that?" + +"The _Scorpion_, of the United States navy. Where are you bound and what +have you on board?" + +"Bound for Norfolk, Virginia, with a cargo of phosphate rock." + +"Why didn't you show your flag before?" + +"Well, to tell the truth we were afraid we had run into some Spanish +warships, and that England might be mixed up in this muss, in which case +we didn't want to become a Spanish prize. How is it? are we in it yet?" + +"No, Uncle Sam is running this war without outside help," was the +concluding remark, and then the two vessels separated; and the Flying +Squadron proceeded on its way. + +Saturday found the course of the _Brooklyn_ changed to southwest by +south. "We are still hugging the coast," explained Si. "I shouldn't +wonder if we are to make a stop somewhere, say at Charleston or +Savannah." + +"Perhaps the commodore has word that the Spanish ships are sailing for +our south-east coast," suggested Walter. "My! what a nasty day it is +going to be." He referred to the mist, which was so heavy that it felt +almost like rain. For May, the weather was raw and cold, and all hands +were glad to stay below decks as much as possible. + +On this day another long exercise at the gun was had, and Walter learned +more thoroughly than ever how the charge was raised from the ammunition +hoists to the gun, pushed into place by the mechanical rammer, and how +the gun was moved up, down, or sideways by merely touching this button +or that wheel or lever. "It's wonderful!" he observed. "I suppose it +would be next to impossible to move such a big gun by hand." + +"Oh, it can be done," answered Caleb. "In the old navy they used to do +it by hand, and each gun had ten to sixteen men to man it. In those days +they had no device to lessen the shock of the recoil as we have now. +Instead of having a water cushion for the gun to strike on, they used a +heavy rope in the back, and sometimes the rope broke, and the gun did +more damage flying backward than the charge did flying forward." + +"They didn't have any breech-loaders in those days, did they?" + +"They had some in the Civil War, but not many before that. Everything in +the way of powder and ball had to be put into the muzzle, and was rammed +home by hand. The first breech-loading guns were clumsy affairs, and not +a few accidents were had by guns going off before the breeches were +properly locked." + +"And what about sighting the pieces?" + +"Oh, they have had dozens of devices for getting a correct aim, some +pretty good and some decidedly bad. In the old navy the guns didn't +carry near so far as they do now, and your old-time gunner was just what +his name calls for, for he sighted the piece and fired it himself. But +the old times are gone, and I expect one of these days all the work +still left will be done by machinery, and a dozen men sitting up in the +conning tower will control the warship from stem to stern." + +Walter laughed at this. "I reckon we're some time off from that yet, +Walton. But it is wonderful how much the commander can control by using +his bells, annunciators, speaking-tubes, and electrical indicators. I +guess that is a great improvement on the old way of yelling orders +through a speaking-trumpet and having a dozen middies rushing around +telling this man and that what to do." + +"No doubt of it, lad. But when it's all done and said, you must remember +one thing--we have still to prove the worth of our floating forts in war +times. Dewey did well at Manila, but it may be that the Spanish warships +out there weren't in the best condition. Now this Admiral Cervera, whom +we are after, has ships that are thoroughly up to date, and when his +outfit meets ours, then--well, we'll see what we will see," concluded +the old gunner. + +That afternoon Walter took his first lesson in making knots. He had had +some idea concerning a variety of knots which had been taught to him by +Larry, when he and his younger brother were sailing about Lake Erie, but +those which were now exhibited were truly bewildering. + +"The single bend and figure of 8 are easy enough," he sighed. "But when +you come to that sheep-shank and bowline upon the bight, as you term +them, it grows confusing." + +"This is only the beginning," answered Caleb. "After you know the knots, +you'll want to learn the hitches--half-hitch, rolling-hitch, and so +on,--and after that you'll want to take up the splices, and then the +different kinds of tackle,--long-tackle, single-whip, and all that. I +reckon those will keep your mind busy for a week or two. To be sure, +those things belong more to a seaman than a gun-hand, but it's good to +know how to do, in case you are called upon at some time." + +The night came on with a storm in the air. As before, all the lights +were extinguished, and the different watches took their turns at the +guns. Walter had just turned in when a shout rang out. "Another vessel +in sight!" As rapidly as possible the lad leaped up. + +"Is it a Spanish warship?" he asked. + +"Don't know," answered Caleb, laconically, but leaped to the gun, with +Walter and the others following. + +But it was only another scare, for the vessel in sight proved to be a +merchantman bound for a northern port. The big searchlight of the +_Brooklyn_ was turned upon her, and instantly every light on the +merchantman went out and the ship sneaked away with all sails set. No +effort was made to pursue her. + +"The captain of that craft will report falling in with a big Spanish +fleet; see if he don't," said Caleb; and the old gunner was right, as a +newspaper of a few days later proved. + +By noon on Sunday Charleston Harbor was sighted, and a few hours later +the squadron came to anchor near Charleston Bar, nine miles from the +city. + +"The _Sterling_ isn't in sight," said Walter, as he came on deck and +took a look behind. "I wonder if the heavy sea was too much for the +collier." + +"Oh, she'll turn up sooner or later," answered Si. "But a boat loaded as +she was isn't the safest thing to sail around such a point as Cape +Hatteras, I can tell you that." The collier came in before night, +reporting a thoroughly disagreeable trip. + +A lighthouse tender was at hand, ready to take the mail ashore, as well +as to deliver letters and special messages. The messages were at once +delivered to Commodore Schley. + +"I wonder how long we'll stop here," said Walter. "I wouldn't mind a run +ashore, just to see what the city looks like." + +"There goes a signal to the _Texas_," said Si, as the signalman took up +his flag and began to wig-wag. "Wait a moment till I read what he is +saying." + +"Can you read it?" asked Walter, in deep interest. + +"Certainly, it's easy enough." Si began to spell to himself. "'W-h-a-t, +what--i-s, is--y-o-u-r, your--b-e-s-t, best--r-a-t-e, rate--o-f, +of--s-p-e-e-d, speed--n-o-w, now?' He is asking what the _Texas_ can do +at once, so far as speed is concerned. That means something important. +Hold on, here comes the answer." Again the Yankee youth began to spell. +"Might go fifteen and a half knots." Then the signalman on the +_Brooklyn_ sent another message. "We are off on business now." And the +signal went up for the squadron to weigh anchor again. + +"We're off for a fight!" ejaculated Walter. "But tell me about that +wig-wagging, Si; how do they signal the letters?" + +"It's easy enough. You take a small flag of some bright color, attached +to a pole six or eight feet long. As soon as you attract the attention +of the other fellow, you begin to use the flag in three motions, to the +right, the left, and down in front. To the right means one, to the left +means two, and down in front means three. Now all the letters are +represented by combinations of numbers, and all you have to do is to +learn the combinations and spell ahead. It's easy enough when one gets +the hang of it. At night you can use a lantern instead of a flag." + +"That is easy," commented Walter. "But what about those signals at the +masthead. Can you read those?" + +"No. In those, most every flag represents a letter, or a word, or +sentence; but to read the signal you have got to have either the +international signal code-book, or else the United States Navy +code-book. The navy code is locked up in the captain's cabin, and the +book is weighted with lead, so that if anything happens, it can be +heaved overboard and sunk, thus keeping it out of the enemy's hands." + +"I declare, signalling isn't so difficult, after all," cried Walter. "To +me it looked like a perfect jumble." + +"The trouble with flags is, that when there's no wind they won't +straighten out so you can see 'em," put in Caleb, who had joined the +pair. "Lanterns are more to be depended upon, and they have a new system +now, called the Ardois electric, in which they use four powerful +electric lights, so that the signals can be read at a distance of +several miles. You'll learn all about them if you stay in the navy long +enough." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +IN WHICH THE GOLD PIECE COMES TO LIGHT + + +"Where now?" was the question which more than one man on board of the +_Brooklyn_ asked himself. But no answer was forthcoming. The commodore, +captain, and commander knew, of course, but they kept the information to +themselves. In war it is a rule not to let the enemy know what you are +doing until you do it, and so a strict guard was kept, so that no +information might leak out. Yet Spanish spies in Canada learned a good +deal, and notified the home government as quickly as it could be done. + +From Charleston the course was almost due south, and both Si and Caleb +came to the conclusion that the flagship and her sister craft were bound +for Cuban waters. "Perhaps we're going to join in the blockading of +Havana," remarked the old gunner. + +"Oh, I hope not," said Walter. "Riding in one spot day after day must +be awfully tiresome. I'd like to hunt the Spaniards out and do them +battle, as Dewey did. He didn't waste any time." + +Dewey's name was to be heard constantly, for the jackies never got done +talking about this first great victory of the war. Some of them had +served on the _Olympia_, _Boston_, and other vessels of the Asiatic +Squadron, and they described just how these boats were built, and what +parts they must have taken in the contest. + +"Don't grow impatient, Walter," said Caleb. "We'll run up against +something soon--perhaps more than you care for. It's easy enough to +think of sinking an enemy's ship. Supposing he puts a few thirteen-inch +shells through your craft, and you begin to go down--what then?" + +"I'll make the best of it," returned the boy, calmly. "I enlisted to +fight for Uncle Sam, and I'm willing to take what comes." + +Jim Haskett was passing when Walter made this remark, and his lip curled +with a sneer. "That boy is too big for his boots," muttered the seaman. +"I can't see what the other men find in him to like." + +Jim Haskett was more sour than ever, for his disagreeable ways had lost +to him the few friends he had picked up when first coming on board. The +fact that Si and Walter were growing more popular every day caused him +fairly to grate his teeth with rage. + +"I'll fix him, see if I don't," he told himself that night. "They shan't +tell everybody that I took that gold piece--when I didn't touch his +bag." + +Jim Haskett was one of those mean, unscrupulous men, who do a wrong and +then try to argue themselves into thinking that it is all right. It was +not true that he had taken the ten-dollar gold piece from Si's bag, but +it _was_ true that he had found the Yankee boy's satchel overturned and +partly open, and had closed it up and locked it, and afterward found the +money on the floor of the car within a few feet of where the bag had +stood. Any fair-minded man would have told himself that the gold piece +must be the one lost by Si; but Haskett was not fair-minded, and it was +doubtful if the man could ever become so, any more than a dwarfed and +crippled tree can be forced to become straight and upright. + +On Monday morning, the day after leaving Charleston Bar, Haskett heard +Caleb tell Walter and Si that the gun must be cleaned and oiled. "We'll +go over the piece from top to bottom to-morrow," said the old gunner, +"and if there is anything more that you don't understand I'll explain it +to you." + +"This is my chance," said Haskett to himself, and lost no time in +bringing forth the gold piece from the place where he had hidden it. +Watching his opportunity, when Caleb, Si, and Walter were asleep that +night, he secreted the piece in a corner of the track upon which the +gun-base revolved. + +Inside of half an hour after breakfast the next day, Walter, stripped to +the waist, was working over the gun, in company with his friends and +Steve Colton, the second gun-captain, and Carl Stuben, the hose-man. All +were supplied with cotton waste, polishing-paste, and rags, and in a +short while the bright portions of the gun shone like a mirror. + +"There, I reckon that will suit the chief gunner," was Caleb's remark as +he stood back to inspect the work. "No piece on the starboard side +brighter than this, I'll wager my month's pay." + +Si was bending down under the gun, swabbing up some oil which had run +down from one of the working joints. Suddenly the Yankee youth threw +down his swab and caught up something which shone in spite of the dirt +upon it. + +"My gold piece, as sure as you're born!" he ejaculated, after he had +made an inspection at the porthole. "Now how in creation did that get +there?" + +He looked at Caleb, and half unconsciously both turned to Walter. + +"What's that?" asked the youth. + +"My gold piece--I found it hidden under the gun-track," answered Si. + +Walter's face turned red, as he remembered what Jim Haskett had said +concerning his talking in his sleep. "Why, Si--are--are you sure it is +your piece?" he faltered. + +"Certainly. There is the date, 1876--centennial year, and here is a +scratch I once made with my jack-knife. It's the very one that was taken +from my bag, beyond any doubt." + +Si continued to look at Walter, while Caleb suddenly turned and gazed +out of the porthole, while Stuben, the hose-man, whistled softly to +himself. + +"Why, Si, have you got your money back?" cried Paul, who had just +chanced up. + +"Yes." + +"And where did you find it?" + +"Under the gun, by the track." And Si pointed out the place with his +forefinger. + +"Under the gun! Why, that is where Haskett said Walter hid it!" was +Paul's comment, before he stopped to think twice. "I mean--that is, +Haskett said something about it," he stammered. + +"I know he did," answered the Yankee youth, coldly. + +Walter's face was burning hotly now, and he could scarcely trust himself +to speak. "Si, do you think I put that money there?" he asked in a +strained voice. + +"I'm sure I don't know what to think," was the dogged answer, and now Si +turned his gaze away. "Haskett said--well, you know what,--and Cal +Blinker backed him up in it," he went on, hesitatingly. + +"Yes, I know what Haskett and Blinker said," answered Walter. +"But--but--do you think I stole your money?" The words would scarcely +come, but he forced them out. + +"I don't say that, Walter; but the whole thing looks mighty queer." + +"I have it!" burst out Caleb. "Perhaps Walter put the money there when +he was asleep. Folks often do queer things when they have the +nightmare." + +"Yes, but if he put it there while he was asleep, how did he come by it +in the first place?" questioned Si, bluntly. + +"Perhaps he took it out of the bag while he was asleep on the train," +suggested Caleb. "You had the bag with you all the way from Boston, +didn't you?" + +"Yes." + +"And Walter bunked with you, too?" + +"He did." + +"Then it's as plain as day," went on the old gunner. "Walter took the +money while you were asleep on the train and hid it away in his +clothing, or somewhere. When he got on board he took to sleep-walking +and put the piece under the gun. Of course he doesn't know anything +about the transaction." + +Again all eyes were turned upon Walter, whose face was as red as ever. +"Perhaps that's true--but it's mighty queer," murmured Colton, the +second gun-captain. + +"I don't believe I did anything of the sort!" cried the youth, at last. +"I can give you my word on it that I never saw Si's money until just +now. To my mind, this whole matter is a job put up by Jim Haskett. He +took the money, and then when Si raised such an ado about it he was +afraid to get it changed or to spend it, and he watched his chance to +get rid of it. He's down on me, and when he heard me mutter in my sleep +he formed his plan to get me into trouble. I'm going to find Haskett on +the spot." And off he rushed before anybody could detain him. + +Haskett was discovered mending his jacket, which had become torn the +evening before. "What do you want?" he asked, as Walter ran up and +caught him fiercely by the arm. + +"I want you to own up to your dirty trick on me," answered the boy. "You +thought you had me, but your little plot won't work." + +"What do you mean?" blustered Haskett, although he knew well enough what +was coming. + +By this time the crowd had followed Walter, and they gathered round the +pair. Soon Haskett had heard all there was to say. + +"Don't lay it off on me," he cried. "I knew Russell was guilty from the +start. Si Doring can think as he pleases. As for me, I'm glad that I'm +not training with a night-walker--or a thief." + +Walter leaped forward with blazing eyes. But before he could strike out, +Caleb caught him, while another man held Haskett. Then, before anything +more could be done or said, Si stepped to the front. + +"Haskett, I lost the money, and I think I ought to have the biggest say +in this matter. If you played a trick on Walter, you are the meanest man +that ever trod the deck of a ship. If you didn't, let me say that I +don't think Walter stole the gold piece, although he may have taken it +while he was asleep and not responsible for his doings." + +"Thank you for saying that, Si," came from Walter. "But I don't think I +took it even when asleep. To my mind Haskett is guilty, and nobody +else." + +"If I wasn't held--" began Haskett, when a young seaman named George +Ellis, chief yeoman of the _Brooklyn_, stepped forward and asked to know +what the trouble was about. + +"I think I can tell something about this," said George Ellis, after the +matter had been explained. + +"You just hold your jaw!" stormed Haskett. "You don't know anything." + +"I know what I see," answered the chief yeoman, pointedly; and something +in his manner attracted such attention that all in the crowd gathered +around to learn what he might have to say. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +KEY WEST, AND THE LAST OF JIM HASKETT + + +George Ellis was known to be an upright honest man, and one whose word +was worth taking upon every occasion. He had an education above that of +the ordinary man in the navy, and was anxious to make something of +himself while in the service of his country, never dreaming, alas! that +his life was so soon to be taken from him during our struggle in the +cause of humanity and Cuban freedom. + +"And what did you see?" questioned Caleb, as all eyes were turned upon +Ellis, inquiringly. + +"It was last night," answered the Range Finder, for such was the man's +popular title, given him because he was so good at determining +distances. "I was rather feverish and couldn't sleep. I walked the berth +deck for a while and then went up to Walton's gun and stood leaning out +of the porthole, gazing at the water. + +"Presently I heard a slight noise behind me, and turning around I saw in +a dim way the figure of a man behind me. He was bending down under the +gun, as if he was hunting for something. I was just on the point of +speaking to him when he straightened up and slunk away as silently as a +ghost. I watched him, and when he got under the rays of the electric +light I got a good look at his face." + +"And was it this man?" cried Si, pointing to Jim Haskett. + +"It was." + +With a cry of anger Si leaped upon Haskett and bore him to the deck. +"You good-for-nothin' rascal!" he panted. "Will try to shove off your +dirty tricks on Walter, eh? So you stole my money and then got afraid to +use it? Take that, and that, and that!" + +Each _that_ was a blow in the face, one on the cheek, another on the +nose, and a third directly in Haskett's left eye. They were heavy, and +Haskett roared with pain. + +"Let up!" he sputtered. "Let go of me,"--the latter to Caleb, who still +held him. "Oh, my eye! Is this fair fighting, two to one?" + +"It is as fair as you treated Walter," answered Caleb. "Give him +another, Si; he deserves it." And Si followed directions by planting a +blow on Haskett's neck, something which spun the former mate of the +_Sunflower_ around like a top. At last Haskett broke loose and backed +away. + +"I'll get square on all of you!" he foamed, shaking his fist first at +Caleb and then at the others. "I'm not done yet." + +[Illustration: "I'LL GET SQUARE ON ALL OF YOU!"] + +"I've a good mind to report you," put in Walter. "I reckon you'd be good +for a month in irons, on bread and water." + +At this Haskett grew pale. "The officers won't believe your story. +Ellis, and the rest of you haven't any witnesses," he replied, but his +voice shook. "Just wait; my day will come some time." And then, as Si +started to advance again, he beat a hasty retreat. + +"That settles that mystery," remarked Caleb, when the excitement was +over. "I calculate, Walter, that you are not sorry the way matters came +out." + +"No, indeed." Walter turned to George Ellis. "I owe you one for your +kindness. I'll not forget it." + +"That's all right--I only did what any fair-minded fellow would do," +answered the chief yeoman, and strolled away. + +It was time for dinner, and Walter hurried off arm in arm with Si, who +was still somewhat worked up over what had happened. "Walter, don't you +go for to imagine I thought you guilty," said the Yankee boy. "I know +you are honest to the core." + +"Even if I do talk in my sleep," said Walter, from whose heart a great +load had been lifted. + +Once more the course of the Flying Squadron had been changed and now +they were making straight for the coast of Florida. Tuesday passed +quietly, although the same vigilance prevailed as before. It was +evident, come what might, Commodore Schley did not mean to allow the +enemy to catch him napping. + +They had passed through the Straits of Florida, and now they turned to +the westward, past a number of the Florida Reefs. Far across the ocean +could be seen the low-lying shore, backed up by stately palms and other +trees. The weather was now much warmer. + +"You see, we are drawing closer to the equator," remarked Caleb. "I +reckon we are bound for Key West." And his surmise proved correct, for +they dropped anchors in Key West Harbor early on the morning following. + +"What a lot of warships around here," cried Walter, as he came on deck. +"What is that big fellow over yonder?" + +"That is the _Iowa_," answered the old gunner. "You can well say big +fellow, for the _Iowa_ is the largest seagoing battleship we possess. +She has a displacement of over eleven thousand tons and can speed in any +sea at over seventeen knots. She carries four 12-inch guns and a whole +host of others. Her armor belt is solid steel, fourteen inches thick." + +"She's a beauty. I wonder if she will go out with us?" + +"That is according to what Rear Admiral Sampson has to say about it, +lad. You see, this campaign in Atlantic waters is largely in his hands." + +The _Iowa_ lay quite close, and during the day several messages were +transmitted from one warship to the other by means of the wig-wag +system. Walter had now mastered the mysteries of wig-wagging and amused +himself by spelling out the messages as they passed to and fro. + +A salute had been fired when the commodore entered the harbor, eleven +rounds being shot off. "If he was a rear-admiral, he'd get thirteen +guns," explained Caleb. "You see the salute varies from the President +down. McKinley gets twenty-one guns, the Vice-President or Secretary of +the Navy nineteen guns, a foreign minister fifteen guns, a consul seven +guns, and so on. By counting the guns every man on the ships can tell +what sort of a dignitary has arrived." + +It was a cloudy day, and the air was so close that Walter was glad +enough to take it easy. Presently he saw a boat leave the side, +containing several petty officers and George Ellis and Jim Haskett. + +"I wonder where they are going," said Walter to Si. + +"Some special business for Captain Cook," answered Paul, who stood near. +"Oh, but Haskett is in an ugly mood to-day. It will be a big wonder if +he and Ellis don't get into a fight before they come back." + +"Ellis is too much of a gentleman to fight with any one," returned +Walter. "By the way, what is his real position on board?" + +"He is chief yeoman," replied Si. "He is going ashore to look after some +ship's stores, so I heard him tell one of the paymasters." + +The small boat was soon out of sight, and Walter turned away to seek the +shade, for it was growing hotter and hotter. "If this is a sample of +weather in the torrid zone, what shall we do when we get into Cuban +waters?" he observed. + +"We are not very far from Cuban waters now," said the Yankee youth. "We +could make Havana in six or seven hours if it was necessary." + +"I wonder how the people of that city feel, Si, all cooped up as they +have been for so long." + +"I reckon they wish they had some fighting ships to come out after us, +Walter. I've heard it said that General Blanco hardly knows how to turn +himself, food is so scarce and so many idlers are about. It wouldn't +surprise me if they had a riot there, if they haven't had one already. +Even soldiers won't keep quiet when the grub fails." + +But little could be seen of Key West outside of the numerous shipping. +Presently a couple of petty officers came along with marine glasses and +one pointed out to his companion several Spanish prizes in the port. +"They'll be worth a good bit of money to the sailors on the blockade," +he added. "I wish we were in for a share of the spoils." + +"There are several transports," said Caleb, on joining his friends. +"They are fitting out to go to Tampa. It won't be long before an army of +invasion starts for Cuba." + +"I wonder if my brother Ben will go along," mused Walter, but just then +to get word from his older brother was impossible. + +Inside of two hours the small craft came back. Somewhat to his surprise +Walter saw that Jim Haskett was missing. He would not have thought much +of this had it not been that the _Brooklyn_ was already preparing to +continue on her trip. + +"Haskett did not come back," he announced to Si. "I'll wager something +is wrong." + +"Oh, I guess not," said the Yankee youth; nevertheless, he, too, began +to watch for the former mate of the _Sunflower_. + +Several hours later Walter passed George Ellis on the upper deck and +saluted. The chief yeoman hesitated and then called Walter to him. + +"I suppose you and your friend will be interested to know that James +Haskett has been left behind at Key West under military arrest," he +began. + +"Indeed! And what for, if I may ask?" + +"For getting into a rough-and-tumble fight with a soldier named +Grumbell. It seems Grumbell once owned a fishing-smack down East, and +Haskett failed to settle up on a cargo of fish he sold for Grumbell +three years ago. They had a quarrel of words and then got to blows, and +Haskett hit a captain of the regulars who tried to separate them. Both +he and the soldier are now in prison, and I rather imagine it will go +pretty hard with the seaman, for striking a captain is no light +offence." And after a few words more, George Ellis passed on. + +Of course Walter lost no time in carrying the news to his friends. All +listened with interest, and Si said he was glad Haskett was gone. "And I +hope he doesn't ever come back," he added. + +And Jim Haskett never did come back, nor did Walter ever set eyes on the +man again. For quarrelling with the soldier and striking the captain of +the regulars, Jim Haskett was dishonorably discharged from the navy, and +sentenced to a year's imprisonment at hard labor. Thus, in a roundabout +way, was the rascal made to suffer the punishment he so richly +deserved. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +FROM CIENFUEGOS TO SANTIAGO BAY + + +From Key West the Flying Squadron set sail direct for Cienfuegos. The +_Brooklyn_, _Massachusetts_, _Texas_, and _Scorpion_ left together, and +were followed, twenty-four hours later, by the _Iowa_, mentioned in the +previous chapter, and by the _Castine_ and the collier _Merrimac_. + +Cienfuegos is a town of good size lying on a small bay on the south +coast of Cuba, about midway between the eastern and western extremities. +For several days the Navy Department had been watching, or trying to +watch, the movements of the Spanish squadron, satisfied at last that it +was somewhere in Cuban waters. One report had it that Admiral Cervera +was at Cienfuegos, another that he was at Santiago de Cuba, many miles +to the eastward. Commodore Schley was now sent out to bring the truth to +light, were it possible to do so. + +The rainy season, as it is termed, was at its height in this vicinity, +and the showers came down nearly all day, striking the hot metal decks, +and converting the water into something closely resembling steam. It was +so muggy and uncomfortable that hardly any of the jackies could sleep, +and more than one poor fellow was overcome and had to be carried to the +sick bay for treatment. + +"If that Spanish squadron has passed Santiago and Cienfuegos, and is +crawling up around the western turn of Cuba, it won't be long before we +see some hot work," observed Caleb, as he lounged at a porthole, devoid +of any clothing but his shirt and trousers. + +"Any kind of work would be hot," said Walter, laughingly. "Why, I think +a fellow could cook eggs on deck." + +"Puts me in mind of a voyage I took to South America," put in Si, who +had just soused his head into a bucket of water, and was dripping from +nose, ears, and chin in consequence. "We lay off the mouth of the Amazon +for two days, waiting to get on a cargo of rubber. It was right under +the equator, and the tar just poured out of all our seams. One afternoon +I ran across the deck in my bare feet, for I was taking a swim, and as +true as I live I blistered my feet." + +"Oh, that's nothing," returned Caleb, dryly. "I was under the equator +once, off the coast of Columbia in the bark _Sally D_. The captain let +us go fishing in the jolly-boat. We caught about a dozen fish and threw +'em in the bottom as fast as they came in, and when we got back to the +bark hang me if the first two fish we had brought up weren't baked as +nice as you please, all fit for the captain's table." And Caleb turned +away and began to whistle softly to himself, while Si continued his +ablutions without another word. Among old sailors, "matching yarns" is a +constant pastime, and the stories sometimes told would shame even a +Baron Munchausen. + +The watch on board of the warship was now more strict than ever, and the +men slept at their guns, sometimes not seeing a hammock for several +nights. Everybody, from the captain down to the apprentices, felt that a +crisis could not be far off. + +It must not be imagined that while Commodore Schley was skirting the +southern coast of Cuba, the northern coast was neglected, for such was +not the case. The blockade of Havana and vicinity still continued, and +in addition Rear-Admiral Sampson took his own flagship, the _New York_, +and several other warships, and sailed eastward, thinking to occupy the +St. Nicholas Channel. Thus, if Admiral Cervera tried to gain the +vicinity of Havana by the northern coast, he would be likely to fall in +with Sampson; if he took the southern way, Schley would intercept his +path. By keeping his ships in the St. Nicholas Channel Sampson remained +ever ready to dash northward should the Spanish destroyers take a new +course and show themselves along our own coast. + +"We are coming in sight of land," cried Walter, toward nightfall, two +days after leaving Key West. "I suppose this is some port on the +southern coast of Cuba." + +"It is Cienfuegos Bay," returned Caleb. "I just heard one of the +officers say so. We're to lie at anchor until morning, and then perhaps +the fun will commence." + +At this announcement Walter's heart beat quickly, and it must be +admitted that he did not sleep a wink that night for speculating on what +the morrow might bring forth. In this particular, his thoughts were not +far different from those of every one else on board. + +Daybreak brought more rain, and the big warship rode on the long swells +of the ocean grim and silent. Not far away lay the _Texas_, and several +newcomers could be seen approaching from a distance. "This looks like +business," observed Si to Walter, and the boy nodded. + +Immediately after breakfast the signal was hoisted to clear ship for +action, and once more the jackies rushed to their various places and got +into fighting trim. Then the great engines of the _Brooklyn_ began to +work, and they crept slowly toward the entrance to the harbor. + +"If Cervera is there, he keeps himself pretty well hidden," remarked one +of the officers, within hearing of Walter. "I don't see anything that +looks like a warship." + +Presently the flagship came to a halt, and the _Texas_ steamed past her +and quite close to the harbor. Here the Spaniards had a small land +battery, but it kept silent. The inner portion of the bay was hidden +from view by a high spur of land. + +What to do next was a problem. If the Spanish squadron was really +there, it would be foolhardy to rush in and do battle while the enemy +would have the support of the shore battery. Commodore Schley thought +the matter over and, ever on the alert, decided to play a waiting game. + +Sunday passed without anything unusual developing, and so did the day +following. The strain on the men at the guns was great, for they were on +duty constantly. Night and day the bosom of the outer bay was closely +watched, for it was known that Cervera had with him one or two +torpedo-boat destroyers, and these were dreaded more than anything else. + +"Let one of those torpedo destroyers get near us, and we'll go up as +quickly as did the _Maine_," said Caleb. "I'm not afraid of the dagos, +but let me get out of the way of a torpedo boat every time." And this +opinion was shared by all Walton's messmates. + +"There's another boat coming up," announced Si, at six o'clock on +Tuesday morning. "Walton, what do you make her out to be?" + +"She's the _Marblehead_," was the old gunner's answer, after a long look +at the craft. "And she's got despatches for the commodore," he added, +as the signal went up and a small boat put off for the _Brooklyn_. Soon +Commander McCalla of the _Marblehead_ came on board, and a long +conference with Commodore Schley resulted, after which the newly arrived +officer departed for his own warship with all possible speed. McCalla's +mission was to communicate with the Cuban insurgents who were encamped +near Cienfuegos, with a view to ascertaining if Admiral Cervera's ships +were really in the harbor. + +The morning passed quietly, and by noon the _Marblehead_ and her +commander returned. The Cuban spies had made an investigation, and not a +single ship of war belonging to Spain had been found, outside of a +little harbor vessel of small moment. + +It was now thought that if Admiral Cervera was not at Cienfuegos he must +either be on his way hither or at Santiago. Accordingly, toward evening, +the squadron received orders to sail for Santiago. + +"We're off for Santiago Bay," said Caleb. "And if we don't find the +dagos there, I'll give up where they are. Perhaps they have gone back to +Spain." He continually alluded to the Spaniards as dagos,--a term which +became quite common among soldiers and sailors during the war, although +many referred to the enemy as the Dons. + +It had cleared off, and the sun shone down fiercely on the deck and +elsewhere. Inside of the steel turrets the air was stifling, and no one +could remain at his post over a couple of hours. From below, the +engineers, firemen, and coal-heavers came up constantly for a whiff of +fresh air. + +"We're badly enough off," remarked Walter. "But look at those poor +chaps. Why, some of the firemen look ready to melt." + +"Yes, and the worst of it is they never get any credit when it comes to +a battle," added Caleb. "Now to my mind, the engineer who sticks to his +engine during a battle, obeying orders and running the risk of having a +shot plough through a boiler and scald him to death, is just as much of +a hero as the chap behind a gun--and in one way he's more of a hero; for +if the ship should start to sink, a gunner has got the chance to leap +overboard and swim for it, while the man below is likely to be drowned +like a rat in a trap." + +"And the coal-heavers work harder than negroes," put in Paul. "Just +think of the tons and tons of coal they shovel every twenty-four hours +when we are under full steam. I'm quite certain such work would break my +back." + +"Oh, life on a warship isn't all a picnic," was Si's comment. "If a +fellow enlists to have an easy time of it, he deserves to get left. I +enlisted to serve Uncle Sam, and I'm going to do it--if Providence will +give me the chance." + +As Commodore Schley sailed toward Santiago from Cienfuegos, Rear-Admiral +Sampson, gaining additional information concerning the whereabouts of +the enemy, moved slowly and cautiously eastward toward Cape Maysi and +the Windward Passage. Thus, if Cervera was where he was supposed to be, +he was bound to be discovered before many more days passed. + +"Do you know anything about Santiago Bay?" asked Si of Walter. "I've +travelled to South America and Central America, but I never stopped +anywhere in Cuba." + +"I know only what the geographies teach," answered Walter. "It is on the +south side of Cuba, a hundred and some odd miles from the eastern end of +the island. It is said to be a very pretty harbor, about eight miles +long and one to two miles wide. Santiago, which is the next largest +Cuban city to Havana, is located on the northeast shore. I heard Caleb +say that the entrance to the harbor is shaped like the neck of a crooked +bottle, and that on the eastern side there is a strong fortress called +Morro Castle, and opposite to it a heavy concealed battery called La +Zocapa. Somehow, it's in my mind that we'll see a good deal of the +harbor before we come away," concluded the boy. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE FINDING OF ADMIRAL CERVERA'S FLEET + + +"Well, this doesn't look much like fighting." + +It was Paul who uttered the remark. The youngest member of the gunners' +crowd rested in the shadow of one of the long guns, half asleep. Near by +sat Walter and Si, each writing letters, although there was no telling +when the communications would be taken from the _Brooklyn_ and sent +home. At Key West Walter had looked for some word from Ben and from Job +Dowling, but none had come. + +"I'd like to know if my uncle went to Boston, and if he learned anything +concerning that Deck Mumpers and the stolen heirlooms," Walter observed +to Si, after nodding to Paul, in agreement that it didn't look like +fighting. + +"Well, you'll have to possess your soul in patience," answered the young +Yankee. "But oh, this is dead slow!" And thrusting his letter into an +envelope, he addressed it and laid it away. + +Several days had been spent around the mouth of Santiago Bay, without +anything being brought to light. If the Spanish fleet was within the +harbor, it knew enough to keep out of sight, that was certain. + +"If I was Commodore Schley, I'd rush past old Morro and make short work +of this," grumbled Paul, stretching himself and yawning. "Why, we'll all +die of laziness if this keeps on." + +"I hear the _Merrimac_ has broken down," put in Caleb, who had just come +below. "That means another wait of twenty-four hours or more, even if +Cervera isn't in the harbor. Why under the sun must those dagos play +such a game of hide-and-seek? Why can't they come up and fight like +men?" + +"Perhaps Admiral Cervera is bombarding some of our cities at this very +moment--" began Si, when a sudden loud hurrah caused all hands to leap +up and make for the deck. + +"What's up?" came from a hundred throats. + +"The _Iowa_ has just signalled that she has seen a big Spanish warship +showing her nose around the harbor point!" was the wild answer. "We've +found the Dons at last!" + +And then came another hurrah and a wild yell. "Let us get at 'em! Down +with the Spaniards! Remember the _Maine_ and Dewey's victory at Manila!" + +Commodore Schley was on the afterbridge of the flagship. As the yelling +broke loose, he smiled grimly. "Yes, they must be in there," he said to +Captain Cook. "And if they are, they'll never get home." Prophetic +words, as the events of just five weeks later proved. + +Owing to the heavy swells of the ocean, the warships under the +commodore's command had drifted somewhat apart, but now, when it was +known definitely that Admiral Cervera's ships were in the harbor before +them, the various craft were signalled to draw closer, until they lay +within four to six miles of the entrance. This may seem a long way off +to some of my readers, but it must be remembered that guns of the +present day can carry as far as ten to twelve miles when put to it, and +a destructive fire can be maintained at seven or eight miles. + +The night that followed was a trying one, for no one knew but that +Admiral Cervera's warships might come dashing out of the bay at any +instant ready to do them deadly battle. The _Brooklyn_ had long since +been stripped for action, many articles of wood being thrown overboard, +to avoid splinters when shot and shell began to fall. The small boats +were covered with strong nets, also to keep splinters away, and +everywhere throughout the ship the hoses were connected with the +water-plugs, to be used in case of fire, and all water-tubs were kept +filled for a like purpose. The magazines were kept open, and every gun, +big and little, stood ready to be fired at the word of command. Even the +wardroom tables were cleared off and covered with the sick-bay cloths, +and the surgeons saw to it in a quiet way that their bandages, knives, +and saws were ready to hand. + +"Say, but that looks like war, eh?" whispered Paul, jerking his thumb in +the direction of one of the improvised operating tables. "Gracious, it's +enough to give a fellow a cold shiver." + +"Then don't look that way, Paul," answered Walter. "As Si said, life +here isn't expected to be a picnic. We may gain lots of glory, but we'll +have to work for it,--and maybe suffer, too." + +It was the 30th of May, Decoration Day, but no services of a special +character were had, although the Civil War was talked of by a dozen +veterans of both the North and the South, who were now standing once +more shoulder to shoulder, as Washington, Jefferson, and a hundred other +patriots of old had intended that they should stand, once and forever. +"We're under the stars and stripes to stay," said one man who had worn +the gray at Gettysburg. "Just let those Dons show themselves, and we'll +lick 'em out of their boots." The man's name was Berkeley, and he was as +good a soldier as he was a sailor, and wore both Union and Confederate +medals for bravery. + +Walter had just fallen into a light doze early in the morning when a +dull booming awoke him with a start, and made him leap to his feet. +"What is that--guns firing?" he asked. + +"That's it, lad," came from Caleb. "The commodore is giving his defiance +to the enemy, I reckon. There she goes again," he went on, as half a +dozen sullen reports rolled over the water. "I just wish we were in +this." + +A Spanish warship, the _Christobal Colon_, had again showed herself at +the entrance to Santiago Bay, and the _Iowa_, the _Massachusetts_, and +the _New Orleans_, had been ordered to move to within seven thousand +yards and open fire. Away they darted, and passed and re-passed the +harbor entrance twice, firing as they sailed. What damage was done it +was impossible to tell, but that the _Colon_ was hit seemed very +probable, for she soon disappeared. The shore batteries also took part, +and sent one big shell directly over the _Iowa_, where it burst with a +noise that was deafening, but without doing any damage. + +"Gracious! what a racket!" exclaimed Walter, as he watched the +bombardment from afar. + +"Racket!" repeated Caleb, who stood beside him. "Why, lad, this is +nothing to what we'll have when we get mixed up. I only hope the +commodore signals us to line up for the scrap," he went on, for +Commodore Schley had left the _Brooklyn_ temporarily, and hoisted his +pennant on the _Massachusetts_. But the signal did not come, much to the +old gunner's disappointment. + +By dark the bombardment was at an end. It had been brought about by the +commodore with the view to ascertain the strength of the enemy, his +ability to shoot straight, and the number and location of the shore +batteries. Now this information was gained, and it was likely to be of +great value in the near future. + +It had been decided, should Admiral Cervera's fleet be discovered in +Santiago Bay, that Commodore Schley should unload the collier _Merrimac_ +as quickly as possible, and then sink the craft directly across the +channel at the narrow entrance. If this was accomplished, it would make +it impossible for the Spanish warships to escape until the sunken wreck +was blown up and cleared away, and in the meantime several other +available American vessels could be hurried to the scene of action. A +number of spies had been sent ashore, and at last the commodore was +positive that the enemy was just where he wanted him. "And now we'll +sink the _Merrimac_ and bottle him up," he said. + +The _Merrimac_ was an iron steamboat of five thousand tons' burden. She +had previously been a "tramp" steamer; that is, one going from port to +port, picking up any cargo that came to hand. She carried a large +quantity of coal for the various ships, and, as we already know, had +followed the Flying Squadron from Key West to Cienfuegos and the present +ocean territory. She was a heavily built craft, carrying two masts, and +just the right sort for the plan now at hand. + +A heavy salute on the morning of June 1 announced the coming of Admiral +Sampson with a number of additional warships,--the _New York_, _Oregon_, +_Mayflower_, _Porter_, and others. The _New York_, it may be added here, +was a cruiser, similar to the Brooklyn, only somewhat smaller. The +_Oregon_ was a battleship of the first class, of over ten thousand tons' +displacement, and carried four 13-inch, eight 8-inch, and four 6-inch +guns in her main battery, over twenty guns in her secondary battery, +besides several Gatling guns and three torpedo tubes. This noble vessel +had just made a record for herself by steaming, at full speed, from San +Francisco, around Cape Horn, to our eastern coast, without a +break-down,--a journey without precedent for a heavy battleship, so far +as our own navy was concerned. In the past, foreign critics had imagined +that our vessels were not quite as good as theirs in thoroughness of +build; now these critics were silenced, and they stood looking on, and +wondering what those "clever Yankees" would do next. + +The _Merrimac_ had been under the command of Captain James Miller, but +now she was eased of a large quantity of her coal, and turned over to +Lieutenant Richmond P. Hobson, an assistant naval constructor. Hobson +had his plans arranged in detail for sinking the _Merrimac_, and all he +asked for was a crew of six or seven men, to aid him in running the +collier into the harbor channel. "I know it looks like certain death to +go in," he said, "and therefore I want only volunteers with me." + +"You can get them easily enough," said Rear-Admiral Sampson, with a +smile. "I know a hundred men on the _New York_ who will be only too +anxious to go, no matter how dangerous the mission." Volunteers were +called for, and, to the credit of our navy, be it said, that the crews +of the different ships offered themselves almost to a man. + +"We can die only once," said one old gunner; "take me!" + +"I'd like to go, captain," said Caleb, appealing to Captain Cook. "Can't +you put me on the list somehow?" + +"I'll go," said Walter, readily, and Si said the same. Paul was so young +that he knew they would not take him. + +Of course where only seven men were wanted and hundreds had begged to be +allowed to go there were numerous disappointments. At last the list was +made up of the following--names to be remembered by every patriotic +young American: Lieutenant Hobson, in command; O. W. Deignan, helmsman; +G. F. Phillips, engineer; F. Kelley, fireman; J. Murphy, coxswain; G. +Charette, mine batteries; D. Montague, anchor hand; R. Clausen, extra +wheelman. The men were all experienced sailors, and fully realized the +extreme peril which awaited them, when they should run the _Merrimac_ in +directly under the fire of Morro Castle and the La Zocapa battery. + +A start was made late on Wednesday night, the _Merrimac_ cruising up and +down before the harbor entrance, trying to gain a favorable opportunity +for entering. But none showed itself, and by orders of the rear-admiral +the attempt was postponed until the night following. In the meantime a +catamaran was built and attached to the _Merrimac's_ side, to be used in +getting away in case the small boats became disabled when the craft was +wrecked. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +IN WHICH THE "MERRIMAC" IS SUNK + + +"It's too bad we can't get places on the _Merrimac_," observed Walter to +Si, as the two walked to their quarters after the selection of men had +been made. "If Lieutenant Hobson succeeds in getting the collier up in +the harbor entrance and sinking her, it will be a big feather in his +cap." + +"My idea is that the heavy guns of old Morro will blow the _Merrimac_ +clean out of the water before she gets within quarter of a mile of where +she is to be sunk," answered the Yankee lad. "Those on board are running +the greatest risk of their lives." + +"But the glory, Si!" + +"No glory if you're killed." + +"But you said you would go." + +"So I would--but I wouldn't expect to come back alive. I'll wager we +never see Hobson again, nor none of his men." + +The fierce heat of the day had given Walter a headache. As evening came +on it grew worse, and he was not able to sleep during the night. + +"I hope I'm not getting the Cuban fever," he remarked to Caleb, who had +offered several simple remedies ready at hand. + +"Better report and go on the sick list," advised the old gunner. "If +it's fever, the sooner you take it in hand the better." + +At first Walter demurred, but finally, as the ache in his head began to +creep all over him, he reported to one of the surgeons. "I don't want to +go into the sick bay," he said, "but I wish you would give me +something." + +"Yes, you need something," was the answer. "We don't want any men to get +down so soon. We may have to stay on the blockade here for some time, if +Cervera refuses to come out and fight us." + +"Or we block him in with the wreck of the _Merrimac_," said Walter, with +a faint smile. + +"Oh, that will be only a temporary check, to give Admiral Sampson time +to get his fleet into shape and give the army authorities time to send +on an army of invasion. The army is already gathering at Tampa," replied +the surgeon. + +The medicine was forthcoming, and Walter was at once given a big dose +and told to repeat every two hours. "It has quinine in it and will make +your ears ring and your head buzz, but that won't hurt you," said the +surgeon. "If you feel worse by to-morrow morning, report to me again." + +This was at eight o'clock. By noon Walter felt as if a buzz saw was in +full operation in his head, while he could not hear at all. But he +continued to take the medicine, and rested in a hammock slung up in the +coolest spot to be found between decks. + +"Oh dear!" he murmured, when left alone. "How my head does spin around! +If I get very sick, whatever will become of me?" And he buried his face +in his jacket sleeve, to suppress a groan that was bound to come. + +By nightfall he was worse, if anything, and both Caleb and Si advised +him to go into the sick bay for further treatment. But he shook his +head. "No, I reckon I can stand it till morning," he said. "There may be +a turn for the better by that time." + +Midnight found him on deck, under the impression that the fresh night +air would do him some good. To tell the truth, he was hardly +responsible for what he was doing, for his head was in a worse whirl +than at any time previous. He staggered to the side and leaned over. The +warship rose and fell on the bosom of the ocean, and the water danced +and twinkled before his eyes. Nobody was near him. + +How it all happened he could never tell afterward. He must have leaned +over too far, or slipped, for suddenly he seemed to awake as by a shock, +and felt himself going down and down into the greenish element which +washed up against the _Brooklyn's_ sides. He tried to scream, but his +mouth filled with water and he could only splutter. + +When at length he arose to the surface, the waves had carried him a +hundred feet away from the ship. He tried to cry out, but he was too +weak to utter more than a whisper. He threw out his hands and began to +swim in a mechanical way. But instead of carrying him back whence he had +come, the mighty waves lifted him closer and closer to shore. + +Ten minutes had passed, and Walter felt that he could keep up no longer, +when he came into contact with a large box which had at one time been +filled with naval stores, but which, on being emptied, had been thrown +overboard from one of the warships. The box was over four feet in length +and built of heavy slatting, and afforded a fair degree of buoyancy. +Lying across the top of the receptacle he floated on, wondering in a +bewildered way how this strange adventure was going to end. + +"If only I could get to one of our ships," he thought. "If I don't, I +must either drown or else be cast up on the coast, in which case the +Spaniards will most likely capture me. If I--Oh, there is a ship now!" + +Walter was right; a two-masted vessel was bearing directly down upon +him. The vessel carried no lights and moved along as silently as a +ghost. + +"I'll be run down!" was the boy's agonizing thought, when, on coming +within a few hundred feet, the craft began to turn in a small circle. +Then, when halfway around, her engines came to a stop and she drifted +idly on the waves. + +A chain was dangling from the vessel's stern. It was but three yards +away, and making a frantic leap Walter clutched it and hung fast. +Scarcely had this been accomplished than the steamer moved off again, +dragging him behind her. + +In his weak state it is a wonder that Walter was not compelled to +relinquish his hold; but life is sweet to us all, and he hung on grimly, +and setting his teeth, began to climb up the chain hand over hand. In a +few minutes he reached the taffrail, fell, rather than climbed, over, +and dropped unconscious on the deck. + +How long he lay in this state Walter did not know. He came to his senses +to find himself being shaken by somebody bending over him. + +"What are you doing here?" was the rough demand. "Don't you know that +all of the regular crew were ordered off at three o'clock?" + +"I--I--where am I?" stammered Walter, sitting up. + +"Where are you? Don't you know?" + +"No, sir." + +"You're on board of the _Merrimac_." + +"The _Merrimac_!" echoed the boy, and attempted to rise to his feet. He +was still very weak, but otherwise his involuntary bath had done him +much good. + +"Exactly; the _Merrimac_. How dare you remain on board against orders?" + +"I didn't remain on board. I--I fell off of my own ship, the _Brooklyn_, +and came near drowning, when this vessel came along and I managed to +catch hold of a chain that is dragging over the taffrail. I climbed up +and then--then I don't remember anything more." + +"Humph! that's a likely story. How did you happen to fall +overboard?" went on the man, who was one of the volunteers on this +never-to-be-forgotten expedition. + +In a few words Walter told him. By this time the youth felt stronger, +and got up on his feet. "I hope I shan't be in the way," he said, as he +concluded. + +"You had better keep out of the way," was the grim return. "Come +forward, and I'll report the matter to Lieutenant Hobson. If you have to +go in with us, the best thing you can do is to strip off your clothing, +and buckle a life preserver around you--just as the rest of us have +done. Of course if you were on the _Brooklyn_ you know what we intend to +do, and let me tell you we've some mighty hot work ahead of us." And +throwing him a life preserver, the man stalked off, leaving Walter +standing on the forward deck of the collier in the darkness. + +It was a little after three o'clock in the morning, and the _Merrimac_ +was headed north-northeast, directly for the harbor entrance. From far +ahead shone a Spanish flashlight, located on a hill, and by steering for +this, Lieutenant Hobson knew the craft would be taken just where he +wanted her. + +Walter was but lightly attired, and without stripping off any more +clothing he placed the life preserver around him, under the arms. "When +the _Merrimac_ goes down, we may not even have the catamaran to fall +back on," he thought. + +Boom! It was the report of one of the Spanish guns on shore, and a heavy +shot whizzed over the bridge of the _Merrimac_, where Lieutenant Hobson +and the helmsman were standing, and fell into the waves on the starboard +side. The aim was so close that the wind from the shot carried off the +helmsman's cap! + +Other shots soon followed, and in the excitement of the moment Walter's +presence on board was forgotten. The _Merrimac_ was now running at a +tremendous rate of speed, her fires roaring fiercely and her boilers +threatening to burst at any instant. Quivering from stem to stern under +such high pressure, she shot into the harbor entrance and straight for +the narrowest part of the channel. By this time the Spanish guns from +all sides were sending down on her a shower of shot and shell, awful to +contemplate. Seeing he could do nothing, Walter ran for the shelter of +one of the companionways. + +"Put the wheel hard a-port!" came the order from the bold commander, +who, if he was excited did not show it. "Lively now!" + +"Ay, ay, sir!" came from the helmsman, and the wheel went over, and was +lashed fast. + +"She isn't coming over!" came another cry, a moment later, and while +shot and shell were flying, in all directions. + +"What's the matter there? Charette, go down and look at the steering +gear." + +At once Charette ran off at his best speed. He was gone but a moment, +and came back all out of breath. + +"One of the rudder chains has been shot away, sir," he reported. + +"Shot away!" came from several. "That's bad." + +To this Hobson did not answer, but instantly ordered the engines +stopped. "And open the sea-valves and come up," he added. "There is not +a minute to lose now, lads, if we want to sink her and escape alive." + +Morro Castle and the battery opposite had heretofore been firing alone, +but now came shots from Smith Cay, up the harbor, and from a Spanish +warship which was bearing down upon the scene. + +"We must fire the mines now!" Walter heard somebody say. "Fire them as +closely together as possible, and then make for the starboard side +amidships." + +This order had scarcely been given when the wires attached to the mines +were touched off. A sullen roar from beneath the _Merrimac_ followed, +and the vessel was thrown high up in the air, while great columns of +water spouted up on every side. Then slowly but surely the collier began +to sink. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +WALTER'S ADVENTURE ON SHORE + + +Although the _Merrimac_ had been blown up and was sinking, the Spaniards +continued to fire upon her without interruption, and as before, the air +was filled with solid shot, bursting shells, and the whistling of leaden +messengers from rapid-firing rifles. + +The order to gather at the starboard was a wise one, for this spot was +the best protected on the deck, as the port side was settling rapidly. +To take to a small boat or the catamaran would have been the height of +foolishness, for a strong searchlight was being thrown on the scene, and +the men would have been picked off by the Spanish gunners at will. + +With the others Walter rushed to starboard and found a hiding-place +close to the rail. "I wonder what will happen next," he muttered. He was +certain that something would take place very soon, for the waves of the +harbor channel were already rolling over a portion of the _Merrimac's_ +deck. + +A few anxious minutes passed, when suddenly the doomed collier gave a +heavy list to starboard, and Walter found himself sliding along the rail +and unable to stop himself. + +"Hold on!" shouted somebody. "Who is that?" + +Still weak, and with the flying spray drenching his face, Walter could +not answer, and in a second more the questioner had disappeared amid the +gloom, smoke, and flying water. Again came a lurch of the collier, and +Walter was hurled flat and sent spinning against the smoke-stack. As he +arose he saw Lieutenant Hobson and his men climbing over the starboard +rail. Realizing, even in his bewildered state of mind, that he could not +do better than to follow them, he, too, made for the rail, going over at +one point as the courageous commander of the expedition went over at +another. The crew were swimming for the catamaran, which had been shoved +off from the _Merrimac's_ side, and Walter came after them. Hardly had +the catamaran been gained, than, with a final lurch and quiver, the +_Merrimac_ went down, partly across the narrow channel, but not exactly +in the position in which she would have been placed had not the rudder +chain been shot away. + +[Illustration: WITH A FINAL LURCH THE MERRIMAC WENT DOWN.] + +As the craft sank, a yell came from the Spanish battery nearest at hand, +the gunners thinking they had sunk an American man-o'-war and not +dreaming that the sinking had been done by those on board and purposely. +But none of the Americans paid any attention to these cries, all +thinking only of escape, now the work of the night was over. + +A steam launch under the command of Ensign Joseph Powell had been moving +up and down the harbor waiting for a chance to pick Hobson and his men +up. But a Spanish picket boat lay between those on the catamaran and the +launch, so escape in this direction was now cut off. + +The float was still attached by a long rope to the wreck of the +_Merrimac_, and the men were now ordered to remain where they were, +clinging to the catamaran with only their heads showing above water. "If +you try to swim away, the Spanish sharpshooters will pick you off as +quick as a wink," was the word passed around. + +Thus cautioned, all the brave crew remained where they were until +daylight began to show itself. Then a large launch steamed up, carrying +several oarsmen, half a dozen sharpshooters, and Admiral Cervera +himself. + +"Do you surrender?" came in Spanish, while every sailor on the catamaran +was carefully covered. + +"We surrender as prisoners of war," was Lieutenant Hobson's reply, and +then he and his men were ordered to swim to the launch one at a time and +give up their arms, if they had any. This was done, and the steam launch +returned to the _Reina Mercedes_, one of the Spanish warships. Later on, +Hobson and his men were sent ashore under a strong guard, marched up a +hill to Morro Castle, and turned over to General Toral, the military +governor of Santiago Province. + +When he made the leap for the catamaran Walter was not as fortunate as +those around him. He entered the water close to the _Merrimac_, and when +the great collier sank, the suction drew him under, and he went so far +down that he fancied he would never come up. His breath was gone, a gulp +partly filled him with water, and when at last the surface of the bay +was again reached he came up more dead than alive. + +He set out to swim instinctively, the life preserver holding him up, +although it had not been light enough to counteract the suction of the +sinking ship. Where he was going he did not know, for the glare of the +searchlight and the splashing of shots on the water was perfectly +bewildering. "I'm lost!" he thought a dozen times. "O God, help me to +get out alive!" And that prayer was answered, for presently his foot +touched bottom and he saw land ahead,--a bit of sandy beach between +Morro Castle and a battery located on Estrella Cove, for the tide was +coming in, and had carried him up the harbor instead of down. + +As Walter waded out of the water he heard several pickets shouting to +each other in Spanish. Without waiting for them to come nearer, he dove +out of sight in some bushes back of the beach, and then started to walk +to a woods still further inland. + +So far, the intense excitement had kept him up, but now came the +reaction, and he felt as sick as he had while on the _Brooklyn_. His +head began to spin and strange lights flashed before his eyes, while +chills crept up and down his backbone. "I reckon I'm in for a spell of +sickness, whether I escape or not," he groaned, and reaching the woods, +threw himself down under a mahogany tree to rest. + +Walter thought he could not sleep, but presently the pain became less +and he sank into a troubled slumber. He roused up to find a tall, +fine-looking negro shaking him. As soon as he opened his eyes, the negro +began to question him in Spanish. + +"I can't understand you," said the youth, and shook his head. + +"_Americano_, mistair?" questioned the negro, and Walter nodded. "You +come from big fight, maybe?" he went on, brokenly. + +"What fight do you mean?" + +"Fight down by Morro last night. Spanish sink your ship, maybe, not so?" +And the negro laughed. + +"Our men did the sinking. But who are you? a Spaniard?" + +"No, me Cuban, Carlos Dunetta." + +"My name is Walter Russell, but I suppose it might be Smith for all the +difference it makes to you," replied Walter, moodily. "What do you +intend to do? turn me over to the Spanish authorities?" + +"To de Spanish? No, no!" Carlos Dunetta leaned forward. "_Cuba libre!_ +'Member de _Maine_! Not so?" And he smiled broadly. + +"Now you are talking!" ejaculated Walter, joyfully. "You are an +insurgent, I suppose. Do you belong to General Garcia's troops?" + +Again the negro leaned forward. "Carlos Dunetta spy for de general," he +whispered. "Come, want to get away, must hurry!" And he took hold of +Walter's arm. + +Their course was directly into the woods, under broad mahogany and +grenadillo trees, and over rough rocks overgrown with rank vines. +Insects and bugs were numerous and spider-webs hung everywhere. + +"Udder men all caught and taken to prison," said the Cuban as they +progressed. "I hear dat from udder spy." + +"Well, I'm not out of the woods yet," said Walter, seriously. + +"Woods safe place in daytime," answered the negro, not catching his true +meaning. + +They had progressed less than half a mile when Walter began to lag +behind. "I can't go any farther," he declared. "I've been sick and I'm +about used up." + +"Sick? What is de mattair?" + +"I don't know--unless it is malarial fever." + +At the word "fever" Carlos Dunetta drew down the corners of his broad +mouth. "Fever? Dat is werry bad--_Americano_ canno stand dat. Maybe I +best carry you to Josefina's hut. Josefina she my sistair. She take care +of you if so you be sick." + +The tall negro took Walter upon his back with ease and continued on his +way. Presently they reached a trail, and passing along this for the +distance of a hundred yards, came within sight of a long, low hut, +thatched with palm. + +The negro gave a peculiar whistle, and immediately a short, fat negro +wench put in an appearance, followed by a man of twenty-five or thirty. +The man was fairly well dressed, and evidently a Cuban of Spanish +descent. + +"It is all right, Carlos!" cried the wench. "This is Seńor Ramona." + +"Seńor Ramona!" exclaimed the negro, and rushing up he dropped Walter +and took the out-stretched hand of the Cuban gentleman. A long talk in +Spanish, followed, of which Walter understood hardly a word. Yet he felt +certain the pair were talking about the American warships outside of +the harbor, the blowing up of the _Merrimac_, and about himself. +Suddenly the negro ran back to him, at the same time calling the wench. + +"You sick--I forget," he said. "Come; nice bed here." And he pointed to +a grass hammock suspended from one of the rear corner posts of the hut +to a near-by tree. "You lay dare; Josefina make good drink for you; den +you feel bettair." + +Walter was glad enough to accept the invitation, for standing unaided +was now out of the question. As soon as he was in the hammock the negro +woman ran off for a wet bandage, which she tied tightly over his +forehead. + +Carlos Dunetta evidently had an important message for Seńor Ramona, for +no sooner was the talk between the pair at an end, than the Cuban +brought out a horse from the shelter of the trees, and dashed down the +trail at a breakneck speed. + +"Me watch, warn you if any Spaniards come," said Carlos, on returning to +Walter's side. "You bettair rest, or get fever werry bad." + +"Do you suppose there is any hope of my getting back to my ship?" + +"De ship dat blow up?" + +"No, a big warship out there," and Walter waved his hand in the +direction of the coast. + +At this, the tall negro shrugged his shoulders. "Carlos can take you to +de shore--but no got boat. Maybe you swim, not so?" + +"Well, hardly," answered Walter. "I may be a pretty good swimmer, but +four or five miles is too much for any man." + +The negro retired, and Walter lay back watching the woman, who had +brought out several bags filled with herbs. Selecting some of the herbs, +the woman steeped them in water, and poured the tea into an earthen +bowl, sweetening the concoction with sugarcane ends. Bringing the bowl +to Walter, she motioned for him to drink. + +The youth had expected an unsavory mess, but he found the tea very +pleasant to the taste, and ten minutes after he had taken half the +contents of the bowl he was in a sound slumber, from which he did not +awaken until nearly nightfall. In the meantime Josefina removed the life +preserver and made him otherwise as comfortable as possible, proud to +think she was serving _un Americano_ who was battling against the +enemies of her beloved Cuba. + +"You had bettair come into de house now--night air werry bad for you," +announced Carlos, as Walter sat up in the hammock and stared around him. +"How feel now? weak?" + +"I--I dreamed I was back on the _Brooklyn_ and sailing for home," was +the hesitating reply. "My head feels better, but I'm afraid my legs have +gone back on me," Walter went on, as on trying to stand he found he must +support himself against the tree. "This is the queerest spell of +sickness I ever had." + +"Never mind--if only so be dat de fever is broken," said Carlos, +seriously. "Come." And he about carried Walter into the hut. Usually +negro huts in Cuba are dirty and full of vermin, but this was an +exception. In her younger days, Josefina had worked for a titled lady of +Santiago, and there had learned cleanliness quite unusual to those of +her standing. In a corner of the hut was a pile of fresh sugarcane husks +covered with a brown spread, and to this she motioned Walter, and here +he rested until the following morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +CARLOS, THE REBEL SPY + + +"Well, I'm not out of my troubles yet, but I suppose I'm better off than +those fellows who were captured and taken off to some Spanish dungeon." + +It was Walter who mused thus, as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. The herb +tea Josefina had made for him had "touched the spot" and he felt quite +like himself again. The native Cubans have to fight fevers constantly, +and, consequently, know a great deal about proper remedies. + +"Will you eat?" questioned Carlos, who sat by, smoking a cigarette, +while Josefina busied herself in preparing a morning meal of rice-cakes +and strong coffee. + +"I haven't much appetite, but I suppose I ought to eat if I want to get +back my strength. But see here," Walter went on. "I can't pay you a cent +for what you are doing for me, for I have no money with me." + +"Dat's all right; Josefina and me no want pay--we glad to do for you," +answered Carlos; and Josefina smiled so broadly that her eyes were +fairly closed. + +The rice-cakes were well done, and Walter ate several of them, and also +sipped at the heavy black coffee, sweetened with sugarcane drippings. +The meal over, Carlos leaped up and lit a fresh cigarette. + +"You stay here and I go to shore--see if you can get to ship," he said. +"If Spaniards come, Josefina show you where to hide, so no can find +you." + +"I'll have to stay, for I can't walk the distance to the shore--yet. By +the way, where am I?" + +"Dis place back of Estrella, 'bout halfway to Aguadores, on the Guama +River. Can see warships from mouth of Guama." + +"Yes, I've heard of the Guama. Some of the fellows on board ship said we +might capture that point, or Guantanamo Bay, so as to have a place to +coal when the ocean was rough. You are going to the shore?" + +"If Spanish pickets let me," grinned Carlos. "Werry strong Spanish guard +around here now. Werry much afraid American soldiers come." + +"Perhaps they will come, if Sampson needs help," replied Walter, but +without knowing that the army of invasion at Tampa was already preparing +to leave for Cuba, and his own brother Ben with it. + +After Carlos was gone, Walter tried to carry on a conversation with +Josefina, but as the wench's English vocabulary was as limited as was +the boy's knowledge of Spanish, the talk soon lagged. "_Cuba libre!_ +'Member de _Maine_!" she said over and over again, and smiled that awful +smile that almost caused Walter to burst into a fit of laughter. During +the morning she made him some more tea and insisted upon his drinking +it, greatly to the benefit of his health and strength, as he soon +realized. + +It was growing late in the afternoon, and Walter was wondering when +Carlos would get back, when the sound of a rifle-shot from a distance +startled him. Before he could get to the doorway of the hut, Josefina +was outside and speeding up the trail in the direction her brother had +taken. + +"Get back!" It was the voice of Carlos, and he was running beside his +sister, who kept up with him, despite her weight. "The Spaniards are +coming." + +"Soldiers?" gasped Walter. + +"Yes; ten or fifteen. They caught me going through de pickets, but I +knocked one so, and anodder so, and got away. Come wid me, before da +catch you!" And he took hold of Walter's arm and turned him to the back +of the hut. + +Wondering what would happen next, but remembering what had been said +about a hiding-place, the youth followed Carlos to the rear wall of the +structure. Here, directly against the logs, grew a tall ebony tree. + +"Dat tree hollow," explained the Cuban. "Climb to limb and drop inside. +Josefina haul us out when Spanish go 'way." And he gave Walter a lift +up. + +The lower branches were but twelve feet from the ground, and were easily +gained. Carlos came up also. "Let me drop first," he said. "Den you come +on top of me. Be quick, or too late!" And down he went into darkness, +and Walter came after. + +The hollow portion of the tree was not over twenty inches in diameter, +and it was a lucky thing for both inside that neither was stout nor +broad of shoulder. As it was, they stood breast to breast with +difficulty, and yet not daring to make a sound. + +A shout came from the trail, sounding in strange contrast to the song +Josefina had begun to sing--an old-fashioned Cuban ditty about a sailor +and his lass. Soon the soldiers drew closer, and several came around to +the side of the hut. + +"Ho! within there!" came in Spanish. "Where is that wretch we are +after?" + +"Wretch!" answered Josefina, in pretended surprise. "Whom do you mean, +kind sirs?" + +"You know well enough--the tall fellow who knocked over our guards and +ran in this direction." + +"I have seen nobody; I have been busy washing," answered Josefina, +pointing to a few articles of wearing apparel which lay soaking in a +water-butt. + +"You cannot humbug us!" cried the leader of the Spanish detachment, in a +fury. "Tell me where they are, or I'll run you through!" And he ran at +Josefina with pointed sword. It is doubtful if he intended to carry out +his threat, but the wench thought him in earnest, and the yell she gave +would have done credit to a cannibal of the South Sea Islands. + +The cry of terror from his sister was more than Carlos Dunetta could +stand, and in a twinkle he placed his hands on Walter's shoulders, +shoved himself upward, and showed himself at the top of the opening. + +"Let my sister alone, you dogs!" he burst out. "Let her alone!" And +leaping to the ground, he made after the Spaniard with a drawn machete, +a long knife used in the sugarcane fields and employed by the insurgents +as a favorite weapon. + +There was a cry of alarm, and then came two shots in quick succession, +followed by a fall close to the foot of the tree. + +"You have killed my brother!" shrieked Josefina. "Oh, Carlos, Carlos, +what shall I do now?" + +"Back with you, you good-for-nothing woman!" came from the leader of the +Spanish detachment. "I thought we were on the right trail. We ought to +shoot you for lying to us." + +At that moment came a deep groan of pain, showing that Carlos was not +yet dead. He had been shot in the arm and through the back, but the +wounds were not dangerous, although painful. + +Without paying attention to what more the Spaniards had to say, Josefina +busied herself over the body of her brother, laying him out on the +grass and binding up his wounds with such rags as were handy. While she +was doing this the Spaniards began an excited conversation among +themselves, of which, of course, Walter understood not a word. + +"Your brother had a very convenient hiding-place in the tree," suggested +the leader of the detachment, a greasy, lean-faced corporal, who +rejoiced in the name of Pedro Ruz. "Had he not shown himself, it is +doubtful if we should have located him." + +"You are bad men to shoot him--I want nothing to do with you," was +Josefina's only response. "Go--and leave my brother to me." + +"Leave him here!" burst out Pedro Ruz. "No, no, he goes with us as a +prisoner. If I am not mistaken, he is the spy Captain Coleo has been +after these many days." + +"You cannot take him away--a journey will kill him." + +"He must go--whether it kills him or not. He can ride on the back of the +horse one of my men is bringing up. Captain Coleo will want to interview +him before nightfall. And let me tell you, if it is discovered that he +has been carrying information to the rebels or those Yankee pigs out in +the waters beyond the bay, why, so much the worse for him, that's all." +And Corporal Ruz shrugged his shoulders suggestively. + +In a moment more the horse was brought forward, a beast as lean as its +owner, since fodder in that territory was becoming a scarce article. +Since Carlos could not move himself, he was lifted up to the saddle in +anything but a gentle fashion. Josefina began to expostulate, but the +only attention paid to her was by one of the men, who snatched at her +arm and hurled her backward. + +"You must learn to mind your betters," said the soldier. "Our worthy +corporal knows his business." + +"I will search the man, to see if he carries any despatches," put in +Corporal Ruz. "Ha, you rascal, let me get at that breast pocket of +yours. And, Camara, climb up into the tree and look into that hole. +There may be something worth finding there." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY + + +As Walter did not understand what was said, he was not aware of his +peril until the Spanish soldier began to climb the tree. Then he +realized the truth, and his heart sank within him. + +"It's all up with me now," he half groaned. "I wonder what they will do +with me after they find me." + +Reaching the top of the opening, the soldier paused and shouted +something to his companions regarding the darkness of the hole below. + +"Light a match and drop it down," ordered Corporal Ruz. "This rascal +carries nothing," he went on, disappointedly, having found Carlos's +pockets empty of anything of value. The negro did carry a message, but +it was on a small patch of thin paper, which had been rolled up tightly +and concealed in his thick woolly hair. + +The match was lit and dropped, and all ablaze it landed upon Walter's +head. He caught it in silence and put it out, but the movement was +noticed from above. + +"There is some one else in the tree--a white man," cried the soldier. +"Come out of that!" he continued. + +Walter guessed what the command meant, and as further concealment would +have been useless he attempted to crawl from the hole. But this was not +so easy, and in the end the soldier had to lend a hand, and then both +leaped to the ground together. + +"_Un Americano!_" ejaculated Corporal Ruz. "_De donde viene V.?_" he +added, asking Walter where he came from. + +At this the boy shook his head. "I don't understand you," he said. + +"_No habla V. castellano?_" continued the corporal, asking if he did not +speak Spanish. + +Again Walter shook his head. + +"Yankee pig!" murmured the corporal, using a term quite common in Cuba +during the war. "Why does he not learn our beautiful language? Does he +expect we will learn his dirty English?" + +He turned to the soldier who had discovered Walter, and between them +they searched the lad's clothing thoroughly, and even took off his +shoes and stockings. + +"Nothing," growled the under-officer. "It is strange." + +Carlos had been almost unconscious, but was now recovering. "We are in +serious trouble, I am afraid," said Walter, addressing him; but Carlos +pretended not to understand, not wishing the Spaniards to know that he +spoke English, for then they would have been more certain than ever that +he was a spy. + +In a few minutes the entire party had left the hut and was making its +way along the trail, Carlos on horseback and the others walking, Walter +between the corporal and a Spanish private, and Josefina bringing up in +the rear as if unwilling to leave her brother. + +The soldiers were eight in number, and each was armed with a Mauser +rifle of recent pattern. They were a hungry-looking set and their +uniforms were sadly in need of repair. Six were of middle age, but the +other two were no older than Walter, for conscription into the Spanish +army begins at as early an age as it does in the navy--some of the +soldiers and sailors being scarcely fifteen to sixteen years old! + +The course of the party was upward, over rocks and trailing vines, and +through a woods where hardly a breath of air was stirring. The heat soon +made Walter's head ache again, and he was glad enough when a small +Spanish camp was gained and he was allowed to sit down in the shade of a +plantain and rest. + +The encampment was in the open, the only shelter being that provided for +the officer in charge, Captain Coleo--a bit of dilapidated canvas +stretched between four trees fifteen or twenty feet apart. Under this +shelter were located a couple of hammocks, a small folding table for +writing, and a camp chair. + +Walter found Captain Coleo a thorough gentleman despite his +surroundings. He was well educated and spoke English fluently, with a +soft accent which under other circumstances would have been quite +pleasing. + +"So you are an American youth?" he said, after he had listened to his +corporal's report and examined Carlos. "And where did you come from, and +what are you doing here?" + +Feeling there would be no use in concealing the truth, Walter told his +story. At the mentioning of the _Merrimac_ the Spanish captain's brow +grew dark. + +"It was a brave deed, but it will do your countrymen small good," he +said. "The boat is not directly across the channel, so the harbor pilots +have discovered. All of your comrades are now prisoners in Morro Castle, +and I presume that is where I shall have to send you." + +"As a prisoner of war?" + +"As a prisoner of war. And you can be thankful that in trying to escape +you were not shot down," continued Captain Coleo. + +Walter was very thirsty, and said so. "You look as if you were getting +ready to have the fever," was the captain's comment, and he had a +soldier bring Walter a tin cup full of _guarapo_, water sweetened with +sugarcane ends, and said to be healthier than the plain article. Good +water in Cuba is scarce, and although Walter did not know it, it was +only the captain's natural good-heartedness that obtained for him what +he wanted. + +It had threatened rain for some hours, and as nightfall came on, the +first drops of a violent tropical storm descended. Soon from a distance +came the rumble of thunder, and spasmodic flashes of lightning lit up +the woods. The soldiers huddled under the shelter of a clump of low +trees, while Captain Coleo sought the protection of the canvas, +accompanied by Walter, Carlos, and a guard. Walter's hands had been +bound behind him, and he was allowed to sit on a small block of wood +beside one of the hammocks in which the wounded negro reclined. + +"We will not move to Santiago to-night," said the Spanish captain. "I +think the storm will clear away by morning." + +He was busy making out a report, and sat at his little table for the +purpose, a spluttering Mambi taper fastened to a stick driven into the +soil being his only light. The taper went out half a dozen times, but +there was nothing to do but to light it again, and this Captain Coleo +did without the least show of impatience. To him war was a business, and +he was satisfied to take matters just as they came. + +The guard trudged around and around the patch covered by the canvas, his +rifle on his shoulder and the never-failing Spanish cigarette in his +mouth. Occasionally he glanced toward Walter and the negro, but his +interest in the prisoners soon gave way to his own discomforts, and he +gave them no more attention. + +Presently Walter felt a hand steal over his shoulder. "What you +think--we run for it, maybe?" whispered Carlos. + +"I'd like to run, but we may get shot," whispered Walter in return. + +At this Carlos shrugged his shoulders. With two Mauser bullets in him +the tall negro rebel was still "game." It was such men as he who had +kept this unequal warfare in Cuba going for three long years despite +Spain's utmost endeavors to end the conflict. + +"Raise up a bit and I untie rope," he said, as the guard made another +round and walked from them. "Maybe we can go when big thunder and +lightning come--not so?" + +"All right--I'll go you," cried Walter, lowly, and in a bit of Western +slang. "A fellow can't die but once, and I have no desire to be taken to +the dungeon of Morro Castle, or to any other Spanish lockup." + +He raised up, and in a trice Carlos had the cords about his wrists +unloosened. Captain Coleo still sat writing. But now the taper went out +again and he paused to relight it. + +At that instant came a blinding flash of lightning and a loud peal of +thunder which startled the few horses the camp possessed and caused them +to prance about madly. "Now!" cried Carlos, and with one quick leap he +cleared six feet of ground between the hammock and the nearest patch of +woods. Walter also leaped, and away they went side by side through the +wind, rain, and darkness. + +Crack! crack! It was the reports of two Mausers, and the ping of a +bullet from the Spanish captain's pistol followed. Walter felt a strange +whistling by his ear, and putting up his hand found it covered with +blood. The bullet from the pistol had scratched the side of his head. +Had his aim been an inch closer, gentlemanly Captain Coleo would have +killed the youth on the spot. + +"You are hit?" queried Carlos, breathing heavily, for loss of blood had +made him weak. + +"I--I reckon it's not much!" panted Walter. "But hurry up--they are +coming after us!" + +The boy was right; both the captain and the guard were following the +pair with all possible speed, while three others brought up in the +rear, the other soldiers remaining behind to manage the horses, three +of which had broken their tethers and were bounding down the trail at a +breakneck speed. + +Could he manage to escape? Such was the one question which Walter asked +himself as he stumbled on in the darkness. A very few minutes would +suffice to answer the all-important query. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE FLIGHT TO THE SEACOAST + + +Carlos knew the wood well, and now he took hold of Walter's hand. "Put +udder arm up, or get hurt maybe," he said. "Nasty trees around here." +And Walter found this was true, for presently a low and twisted branch +caught him and flung him flat on his back. Had his arm been down he must +have been knocked senseless. + +The Spanish captain and the guard came crashing along behind them, +shouting "_Alto!_" (Halt) at the top of their lungs. Captain Coleo was +very much chagrined that they had gotten away so easily, and blamed the +guard roundly. The latter did not dare to answer back, and felt he must +catch the fleeing prisoners or suffer for it. + +The course had been straight ahead, but now Carlos turned to the +southward. Presently they came to a halt at the edge of a mountain +torrent. The pursuers were still on the track and drawing closer. + +"Jump and go ahead; I will come after," panted Carlos, who could run no +more. "Don't wait!" he added, as he saw Walter hesitate. + +"But yourself--" began Walter. + +"Never mind--go!" broke in the negro; and Walter made the leap over the +stream and ran on. Instantly Carlos sought the shelter of a near-by tree +and became silent. + +"I do not see them, _capitan_," observed the guard, as he and Captain +Coleo reached the spot. "Have they crossed, do you think?" + +"I will see, Rampo," was the answer, and the captain hurried on in the +direction Walter had taken. Scarcely was he out of sight than with set +teeth Carlos came forth from the shadow of the tree and crawled up +behind Rampo as silently as a panther seeking its prey. A quick, nervous +clutch and the negro had the soldier's Mauser. Then came a heavy swing +of the butt, and with hardly a groan the Spanish guard went down with a +broken skull. "_Cuba libre!_" muttered Carlos, grimly. "That for Maceo, +our fallen hero!" referring to Antonio Maceo, the patriot who had led +the rebels in eastern Cuba for several years, only to be shot down at +last in ambush. + +In the meantime Walter ran on, not knowing where he was going, and +hardly caring, if only his liberty might be assured to him. Occasionally +a flash of lightning lit up the scene, but this only served to make the +general darkness more intense. Soon his foot caught in an exposed +tree-root, and he went headlong, and rolled over and over to the bottom +of a hollow filled with rank vegetation, foul-smelling moss, and +brackish water. + +Before he could collect his scattered senses he heard the Spanish +captain coming up. He arose slowly to his feet, but, struck by a sudden +idea, remained in the hollow, ankle-deep in water, and screened from +view by the vegetation previously mentioned. + +A flash of lightning revealed the captain and at the same time uncovered +the youth. For a second both stood spellbound, then the Spaniard drew +his pistol. + +"Surrender!" he shouted; and the former mildness in his tone of voice +was now missing. "Surrender, or I'll shoot you where you stand." + +[Illustration: "SURRENDER, OR I'LL SHOOT YOU WHERE YOU STAND."] + +"Don't shoot," answered Walter, readily. "I'll come out." + +"Where is that Cuban rebel?" + +"I don't know." + +"You don't know? Ha! don't fool with me, lad--I am in no humor for it +now." + +"Well, I don't know, and that is all there is to it. We separated +several minutes ago." + +"I do not believe you--he is hiding somewhere in the hollow. Tell me +where, or as sure as I stand here, I will put a bullet through your +head." And the pistol was aimed straight at Walter. + +Before the youth could remonstrate, indeed, before he had time to think, +the crack of a Mauser penetrated the damp air. A second of silence +followed, and then, to Walter's amazement, Captain Coleo sank down where +he stood, a ball through his brain. + +"I hit him! what a fine shot!" The words came from Carlos, as he emerged +into the opening, the rifle still in hand. "That makes number two, for +de udder rascal is laid low with a broken head. Seńor, we are in luck, +but let us make de most of our chance." + +"But--but--is he dead?" asked Walter, in a hoarse whisper. To him such a +proceeding seemed little less than murder. + +"Dead? To be sure he is dead. But don't let dat worry you. See de blood +on your left ear, where he tried to serve you as I served him. Come, +before de udder soldiers arrive." And, catching Walter by the arm, +Carlos hurried him away. + +"And this is war!" thought the boy. "Oh, how cruel! how barbarous! But +Carlos is right, the captain tried to kill me." He drew a long breath. +"I'm glad I wasn't the one to knock him over." + +The pair had gone on about a hundred yards further when they came out on +a broad highway, used principally as an ox-team road. Here Carlos called +a halt again, to get his breath and take a view of the situation. + +"Hark--a horse come!" he ejaculated suddenly, and slipped a cartridge +into the Mauser rifle, for he had taken the ammunition box from the dead +soldier. "Back, out of sight--ah!" + +Walter ran to the shelter of a tree. But at the same time the negro +bounded forward, throwing the rifle to the ground. It was no horseman +approaching, only one of the animals that had broken away during the +heavy thunder and lightning. Making a clutch at the beast's bridle, +Carlos held fast and brought the horse to a sudden halt. + +"We in luck," he observed, as Walter came out of hiding. "Mount wid me, +and we'll soon be miles away!" + +"You get into the saddle, and I'll ride behind," answered Walter, who +saw how weak Carlos now was. And thus they went on until several miles +had been covered. Presently, from a distance, the youth heard the +booming of the surf. + +"Is that from the seacoast?" he asked; and the negro nodded. "And where +are we?" + +"We close to de ocean, two or three miles east from San Juan hill. We +stop pretty soon--werry much tired." And Carlos closed his eyes. He +would have fallen from the horse had not Walter held him fast. "Turn to +left at first cross-road," he muttered, and then fainted. + +"Poor chap!" thought the boy. "He kept up well, with two bullets in him. +I must do what I can for him." And he urged the horse on, at the same +time keeping his eyes open for the side road mentioned. Soon it came +into view, and five minutes later he found himself at the entrance to a +hut similar to that occupied by Josefina, who had now disappeared +entirely from the scene. Beyond the hut the road lost itself in a +wilderness of small brush. + +The hoof-strokes of the horse had been observed, and soon several men, +Cubans and negroes, came from the building. "Carlos!" cried several. +They turned to Walter. "What does this mean, seńor?" came in Spanish. + +"Spaniards," answered Walter, and pointed behind him. Then he pointed to +the gun and to the wounds Carlos had received, and also showed his own +bloody ear and scalp. + +The dumb language was instantly comprehended, and two men carried the +unconscious negro into the hut, while others took charge of the horse +and conducted Walter inside. The lad found the small abode crowded with +insurgents, who had come in to escape the drenching rain, and the air +was heavy with the smoke of cigarettes and the smell of a stew seasoned +with garlic, which was cooking over a lire in the rear. A constant flow +of conversation was kept up, of which he understood only an occasional +word. + +Poor Carlos was in a bad way, and by morning it was easy to see he could +be removed only with difficulty. Yet he was cheerful, or tried to be so, +and smiled when Walter came to him. + +"I have news for you," he said, in his broken English. "Your warships +fight, bang, bang, bang! down by the water, at Aguadores and udder +places. Think ships go up by Guantanamo Bay, maybe. If sailors land, you +have a chance to join them--not so?" + +"I just hope some of our boys do land, and that right away!" cried +Walter. "Can't I get somebody to show me the way to the seacoast?" + +"Gilberto, my brudder, show the way. But not to-day. Maybe to-morrow or +next day--when it is safe." + +Gilberto had just come in; a stout negro as short as his brother was +long, but a rebel fighter to the core. He, too, could speak a little +English and said he had been a sailor. + +"Sail from Santiago to Philadelphia twice with ore," he said. "Very nice +country, America; me like de people. Only werry cold in winter; no like +dat--make go dis way." And he gave a shiver. Later on, Walter learned +that the entire district was rich in minerals and that large quantities +of these were shipped from Santiago and from a near-by town called +Baiquiri. + +The day passed slowly, and so did the next. In the meanwhile the Cubans +came and went. They were a detachment of Garcia's army, the main body of +which was located many miles further northward. They were watching the +seacoast and trying to communicate with the American ships of war, which +could be seen on fair days lying in the offing. They knew that once a +landing was effected by the Americans, Uncle Sam would speedily supply +them with what they so greatly needed--clothing, guns, and ammunition. +Once these were obtained, they felt that they could secure their +independence. They had yet to learn that the trained soldiers of Spain +could be conquered only by the equally, or better, trained soldiers of +the States. + +On the morning of the third day, and while they could distinctly hear +the sounds of heavy firing in the vicinity of Morro Castle and the +Estrella battery, Walter and Gilberto started off, each on horseback. +The youth felt once more like himself, for the Cubans had continued to +give him drinks of herbs which had entirely banished the lurking fever +in his system. Before leaving Walter heard from the negress Josefina. +She had escaped injury, and fled to the northward, there to join a +great number of women and children, the wives and young people of the +insurgents. + +The course lay along a stretch of tableland and then up the side of a +small mountain. At one point on the mountain top there was a clearing, +and here a distant view could be obtained of the ocean to the south of +the "Pearl of the Antilles," as Cuba had often been termed. + +"Your ship's over dare," explained Gilberto, pointing with his long +fingers. "Might see dem if we had glass like dis." And he shut up one +hand and placed it over the other, in imitation of a spyglass. + +"Do the Spaniards guard the coast?" + +"To be sure, seńor, very heaby guard, too, at Aguadores and Guantanamo +Bay." + +"Then we'll have to go slow when we get near the water's edge." + +"We no go to water right away, seńor--wait till we see de coast clear. +Gilberto find you good hiding-place and bring eating, and there you stay +till I say come--not so?" + +"I suppose that will be best. I'm sure I don't want to be taken prisoner +again," concluded Walter, very positively. + +On they went, down the opposite side of the mountain. They were now +travelling in an easterly direction, and before night many miles were +covered. At last they came to a series of rocks overlooking the ocean, +but situated at least a quarter of a mile back from the beach proper. + +"Here is a good place to hide; Gilberto know it well," said the guide, +and pointed out a rude cave. "Here _Americano_ can stay many days and +Spaniards not find him. You take it easy, and I bring food to you." And +then Gilberto hurried off alone. + +Walter was glad to rest, for the travelling even on horseback had been +very trying. He sat down, and in half an hour Gilberto returned with +some bread, some jerked beef, and a number of other eatables, done up in +a bit of coffee sacking. + +"Dere, dat last two, t'ree days," said the guide. "Now lay low, as +_Americano_ say, and Gilberto come back one day or udder. I take horses, +and say _buenas noches_." And with this good night, Gilberto disappeared +down the trail, leaving Walter to himself. Strange as it may seem, the +youth never saw or heard of either Gilberto or Carlos again. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE LANDING OF THE MARINES AT GUANTANAMO + + +While Walter was in the depths of the Cuban wilderness, trying to escape +from the Spanish soldiers, history, so far as it concerned our war with +Spain, was moving forward rapidly. + +As soon as it was felt that Cervera could not escape from Santiago Bay +without running the risk of a fearful battle with Admiral Sampson's or +Commodore Schley's squadron, preparations were made to send an army of +invasion forward. + +For such an army a safe landing-place must be secured, and with this in +view, the American warships began the bombardment of various places +along the coast, from Santiago Bay to Guantanamo Bay, twenty odd miles +farther eastward. + +The first of these heavy bombardments took place on the sixth of June, +and was directed against Morro Castle, the batteries at Punta Gorda and +Zocapa, and at the village of Aguadores, already mentioned. Aguadores +is several miles to the eastward of Santiago Bay, to the rear of the +rocky promontory upon which Morro Castle is located, and it was felt +that if once a footing could be obtained here, the actual invasion by +the soldiers would become an easy matter. The bombardment lasted many +hours, and the various batteries were much damaged and the Spanish +warship, the _Reina Mercedes_, was so badly riddled that she was later +on sunk in the channel, thus blocking the outlet to the bay more +completely than ever. No damage was done to the American ships. + +Through this bombardment a landing was effected at Baiquiri, not far +from Aguadores, by a small body of marines, who burned up some Spanish +stores and spiked a number of old-fashioned guns. + +Following this attack came one upon Guantanamo and the other settlements +clustered around the shores of the bay of that name. Here the fighting +was as fierce as before, but before it was over a body of marines from +the _Oregon_ were landed, and later on came six hundred marines from the +_Panther_. The Spaniards stood their ground for only a short while and +then fled to the mountains, and the American flag was hoisted amid a +wild cheering from the troops at hand and those on the warships. No +sooner had the landing-places at Guantanamo, Baiquiri, and Aguadores +been secured than the army of invasion under General Shafter left Key +West for these points, the particulars of which expedition have already +been related in "A Young Volunteer in Cuba." + +Walter slept "like a rock" during the first night in the cave, being +thoroughly exhausted by his long ride. He did not awaken until long +after the sun had come up, and for the moment could not realize where he +was. + +A scanty breakfast was speedily despatched, and he walked out to inspect +his surroundings. Mindful of what Gilberto had told him about the enemy, +he was careful how he exposed himself, and at the first sign of anything +suspicious he ran to cover. + +Thus the day passed away slowly. In vain he tried to make out some of +the warships far out at sea. To his naked eye they were but specks on +that ceaseless tide which glared like molten lead in the fierce rays of +the sun. + +On the following night the youth underwent a curious experience. He had +just thrown himself down to rest when, without warning, the cave was +filled with a light that was dazzling. Thinking a fire must have +suddenly descended upon him, he leaped up, when, as silently as it had +come, the light disappeared. + +"Now, what in the world does that mean?" he asked himself, and started +for the cave opening, when, swish! the light came back, almost blinding +him. Then he understood it all. + +"It's a searchlight from one of our ships!" he cried, half aloud. "If +only they could see me and take me on board!" He watched for the light +to reappear, but it never showed itself again, being trained upon Morro +Castle and the entrance to Santiago Harbor. + +On the third day in the cave Walter's stock of provisions gave out. No +one had come near him, and the loneliness of his situation was +maddening. + +"I can't stand this any longer," he mused. "I must get out, if only to +hunt for something to eat." + +Fortunately for him, Gilberto had left him a pistol and several rounds +of cartridges. To be sure, the weapon was an old-fashioned affair, but +it was better than nothing, and soon the youth was out in the woods to +the rear of the rocks trying to scare up something to shoot. + +The woods had been well ransacked by both Spaniards and Cubans, but +several hours' hunt yielded two birds, besides some half-ripe plantains +and some nuts. Walter was about to return to the cave to cook the birds +when from a distance he heard loud shouting, and presently came the +rapid discharge of firearms. + +"A battle of some kind is on," he thought, and ran to where he had +discovered an ox-cart trail. He had scarcely reached the shelter of a +clump of bushes, when a detachment of Cubans, closely followed by two +companies of Spanish cavalrymen, rushed past, both parties firing as +they moved. + +"This is getting hot," thought the youth, and started to retreat, when +he heard more soldiers coming from the direction of the cave. As there +now seemed no help for it, he crossed the trail and plunged along a side +path, leading eastward,--a trail running directly to Guantanamo. + +Walter felt that the best thing to be done was to put distance between +himself and his enemies, and he did not stop running until several miles +had been covered. He had, meanwhile, crossed one small mountain stream, +and now he found himself on the bank of another. There was no bridge, +and the watercourse looked rather dangerous to ford. + +"I might as well follow the bank down to the ocean," he reasoned. "But I +must have something to eat first." And finding a secluded nook, he built +a tiny fire and broiled his two little birds, both of which made hardly +a meal. Then, obtaining the purest drink possible from the river, he +continued his journey. + +By nightfall Walter had covered many miles, yet no ocean came to view, +and now he felt that he must be lost in the wilds of the island. As this +conclusion forced itself home to him he smiled grimly. + +"Lost in Cuba, and I came down here to help man a gun on the +_Brooklyn_," he muttered. "Was there ever such a turning-around before! +I wonder what I had best do next." + +This was not an easy question to answer. It was already dark under the +thick trees, and to spend the night in such a spot was not pleasant to +contemplate. + +At last he came to a clearing. Here he was about to settle down, under +the shelter of a small cliff of rocks, when something appeared that +caused him to yell with all the strength of his lungs. It was a snake, +five feet long, and it advanced rapidly, hissing as it came. + +Walter had met snakes before, harmless reptiles not half as big as the +present one. But he did not know but that this reptile might be +poisonous, and gaining the top of the rocks he blazed away with the +pistol, not once, but several times. The last shot hit the snake in the +tail, and away it darted, out of sight and into the river. + +"Ugh! what a horrible creature!" he murmured, as he stood still, +watching for the possible reappearance of the reptile. "I wish I was out +of this. I'd give a year's wages to be safe on board of the _Brooklyn_ +once more." + +The words had just left Walter's lips, when he heard a movement behind +him. Turning swiftly, he beheld a Spanish soldier gazing at him from a +distance of less than fifty feet. The soldier had his rifle, and now the +weapon was aimed at the boy's head. + +"_Alto!_" came the Spanish command to halt. "_Americano!_" + +Walter's surprise was complete, yet he kept his wits about him. As the +Spaniard raised his gun, the youth made a quick leap for the shelter of +a near-by tree. + +Bang! went the Mauser, and the bullet clipped the tree bark. Then Walter +took aim, and trembling in spite of himself, pulled the trigger of his +pistol. The enemy was hit in the shoulder, and uttered a deep cry of +pain. + +"If there are others with him I'm in for it now!" thought the boy, and +took to his heels along the bank of the watercourse. From behind came a +cry for help and another to arms, and in less than a minute a whole +company of Spaniards were in wild pursuit. A dozen shots rang out, but +Walter was not hit, and plunged on. But he was no match for his +pursuers, and they gradually drew closer and closer. Then the youth +stumbled and fell, and ere he could arise he found himself surrounded. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +IN A SPANISH PRISON + + +The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous +the youth had ever beheld. They were all short, thin, and exceedingly +yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more +than half starved. Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the +wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, +and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to +supply them with what they absolutely needed. + +None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, +at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his +shoulders. He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was +taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his +back. + +The course of the party was along the river to a rude bridge, over which +Walter was marched in double-quick time. They emerged upon a narrow +highway, along which they encountered half a dozen detached Spanish +companies, some moving eastward and others in the opposite direction. +"I'm in for it now," thought the youth. "Escaping from this crowd will +be out of the question." + +Night was well advanced when they turned into a small settlement +fronting Guantanamo Bay. Here were half a dozen log houses thatched with +palm, while not far off was the office of a mineral company, now +deserted by the proprietors, for business in this section of Cuba had +long since come to a standstill. + +Without ceremony Walter was taken to one of the log huts and thrust +inside. The place was scarcely twenty feet square and was crowded with +fifteen or sixteen insurgents, whites and negroes, who huddled on the +floor, making themselves as comfortable as possible in their miserable +surroundings. On the outside of the hut eight Spanish soldiers stood on +guard, with rifles ready to shoot down the first prisoner that attempted +to escape. + +"_Un Americano!_" exclaimed one of the prisoners, a bright looking +Cuban, as he edged his way to Walter's side. "You are in a sorry plight, +boy." + +"What a vile-smelling place!" murmured Walter. "How long have you been +here?" + +"Two days and nights, with only some stale bread and soup to eat,--and +the soup was made of mouldy meat. Oh, that we were free!" + +"_Silencio!_" roared one of the guards, and poked his rifle end into the +doorway. "I will shoot the first prisoner who dares to speak again!" he +added in Spanish. + +Walter wished to question him, but did not dare, and so remained silent. +It was past midnight, and presently most of the prisoners went to sleep. +Huddled in a corner, the lad gave himself up to his dismal reflections. + +Daybreak found the Spanish soldiers very active, and catching a glimpse +of them through the open doorway, Walter felt that some important +movement was contemplated. As a matter of fact the marines from the +_Panther_ had landed, and the Spaniards were going to do their best to +either capture them or drive them back to our warships. + +Before noon the firing in the distance was heavy, and the Spaniards +could be seen rushing their commands hither and thither, as though +hardly knowing how to conduct the campaign which had been thrust upon +them. Evidently they realized that landing force was too large for them, +for they gradually fell back, occupying that night the settlement where +the prison was located. + +On the day following, the attack upon both sides was renewed. The rattle +of musketry was almost constant, and before long several bullets hit the +prison itself. The prisoners were about to remonstrate at this when, on +looking out, they discovered that their late guards had fled, leaving +them to do as they pleased. + +"_Cuba libre!_" yelled the insurgents and lost no time in piling into +the open air. Not far away lay several dead Spaniards, and rushing up to +the corpses they stripped them of their arms, after which they +disappeared into the brush. + +"I wonder if the army of invasion has come," was Walter's thought, as +he, too, sought the open air. A short sword lay beside a writing-table +under a near-by shelter, and he appropriated the weapon. "I'm going to +join our men or know the reason why!" And away he went toward the water, +which could now be seen quite plainly between the rocks and hills. + +The marines, after fighting from early afternoon until the following +morning, were now intrenched on a small hill, protected in front by a +dense chaparral. They were utterly worn out, and it was found necessary +to reënforce them by men from the _Marblehead_ and other vessels. +Several field-guns had been brought ashore, and although the firing from +the Spaniards was heavy, our gallant men held the ground they had first +claimed. + +"Halt! Who comes there?" came the command, from a thicket, and Walter +stopped short, although the words, spoken in true English, filled him +with joy. + +"Are you an American?" questioned the youth, eagerly. + +"I am, and who are you?" + +"Walter Russell, cruiser _Brooklyn_. Oh, but am I not glad to get back +among the boys again!" + +"From the _Brooklyn_? What are you doing ashore here?" questioned the +marine, a bronzed but evidently a good-natured man of middle age. + +"It's a long story. I've been a prisoner twice, and I was afraid I was +about done for when the guards up and ran away from the prison and let +me and a crowd of Cubans escape. How can I get back to my ship?" + +"You're asking me too much now. Go down yonder and report to our +commander. I reckon there ain't no call to rouse up the corporal of the +guard, with everybody utterly worn out. You're true blue--I can see that +by the cut of your jib." + +Inside of five minutes more Walter found himself surrounded by half a +dozen officers, including a major of marines, who questioned him closely +regarding his adventures and concerning the various detachments of +Spanish soldiers that he had encountered. + +"You've been through a good deal, lad," said the major, slapping Walter +on the shoulder. "I dare say you wouldn't like to go through it again." + +"No, indeed! The Spaniards are--are brutes!" exclaimed the youth. "I +only hope we send them from Cuba a-flying. I think they and the Cubans +must have been fighting for the past three years like a lot of cats and +dogs. It's high time Uncle Sam took a hand." This reply brought forth a +hearty laugh from those gathered around. Walter, young as he was, had +hit the nail right on the head, as later events proved. + +The major of marines did not see how the lad could be transferred to +the _Brooklyn_, which was a good many miles off, in the direction of +Santiago. "You'll have to remain here until some boat bound for +Commodore Schley's flagship chances along," he said. "At present only +the _Marblehead_, _Suwanee_, and _Porter_ are here, but others are +coming and going constantly." + +"And what of the army of invasion?" asked Walter, with keen interest. + +"I believe it has already left Key West. I know it started from Tampa +several days ago." + +"Was the Seventy-first New York with the troops?" + +"They were. Why do you ask?" + +"My brother is a member of that regiment. Hurrah! He'll be down here +soon," concluded Walter. + +He was now dismissed, and lost no time in hunting up one of the marines' +cooks, who speedily filled him up with meat, bread and butter, and +coffee. "We're not living like kings, you see," said the cook, but +grinning to see how the food disappeared. + +"You're living like kings in comparison to the way the Cubans and the +Spaniards are living. If the army comes up and besieges Santiago, I'll +wager the city will go hungry in no time," returned the boy. + +During the balance of the day the marines were kept busy resisting +several additional attacks from the Spaniards. The onslaughts were heavy +and determined, but each time the enemy was beaten back, and at +nightfall Old Glory still waved from the flagstaff where it had +originally been run up. A foothold had been gained by our side which was +not to be taken from us. + +Walter had selected a cosy corner to rest in and was sleeping soundly +when a sudden alarm rang out. "The Dons! They are coming over a thousand +strong! To arms, everybody!" And then came a grand rush. + +The report was true; the Spanish column had organized a midnight attack, +feeling they knew the ground much better in the dark than would their +opponents. On they came, yelling like demons, while the marines stood +their ground firmly and fearlessly. + +"I must do my share of fighting," thought the boy, and bounced up with +the rest. He had already been supplied with a carbine and ammunition, +and now he lost no time in attaching himself to the nearest company at +hand. "Don't send me back, captain; I can shoot as well as the rest, I +think." + +"All right, lad, come on," was the answer. "Company, attention! By +columns of fours--forward, march!" And away they went, up a small hill. +Then came the order to halt, and the company broke up into a broad +skirmish line. "Take aim! Fire!" And then and there Walter did his first +actual fighting for Uncle Sam and our own glorious stars and stripes. + +The determined front shown by our marines non-plussed the Spaniards for +a few minutes, and they came to a halt. But then they advanced again, +and the fire from each side became hot and irregular. + +The battle had thus waged for the best part of an hour, and the +Americans felt that they must be beaten back by sheer force of numbers, +when reënforcements came up, and in addition one of the warships steamed +close to shore, and threw the rays of her powerful searchlight upon the +enemy. As soon as the Spaniards were located the warship trained its +rapid-firing guns inland, and then the enemy beat a hasty retreat. + +"Hurrah! The fight is ours!" shouted Walter, enthusiastically. "See them +run!" + +"It was lucky for us the warship came up," put in a marine beside him. +"Those dagos ain't going to give ground without a big fight, that's +certain." + +It was nearly daylight when the company returned to the camp and was +dismissed. Walter was more worn out than ever, but too excited to sleep. +"At present I'd just as lief be a marine," he observed to his side +partner in the contest. + +"Oh, don't worry, your ships will have their hands full when Cervera +takes it into his head to come out and fight," was the answer. "You'll +have no such walkover as Dewey had at Manila--I'll promise you that." + +At noon a lieutenant of marines came up to where Walter stood, watching +a drill which was in progress. "Are you Walter Russell, of the +_Brooklyn_?" he asked. + +"I am, sir," and Walter saluted. + +"Then you had better hurry down to the shore. There is a steam launch +there, and I heard the officer in command say he was bound for the +_Iowa_ and the _Brooklyn_. If you want to get on your ship, I presume he +will take you along." + +Walter waited to hear no more, but ran for the landing-place with all +possible speed. The boat had come in with despatches and was to leave +again inside of ten minutes. The officer in charge was close at hand, +and the youth's situation was speedily explained. + +"All right, I'll take you," was the brief answer. "Go aboard and +forward." And the officer turned away. Walter did as directed; and a few +minutes later the steam launch left the landing-place and steamed down +Guantanamo Bay toward the ocean, or to be more particular perhaps, the +Caribbean Sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +BACK TO THE "BROOKLYN" AGAIN + + +The steam launch was the neatest craft of the kind Walter had ever seen, +and he had come in contact with a great number while sailing on Lake +Erie. It was fifty-five feet long, about twelve feet wide, and as +beautiful a boat as a designer could plan. It was manned by eight +stalwart men, all well drilled to their duties, and carried in addition +six marines, each of whom was a sharpshooter, and also a rapid-firing +gun of small caliber. + +The launch rode the waves like a thing of life and easily made ten miles +an hour. Soon Guantanamo was left behind, and they began to creep up the +coast in the direction of Baiquiri. In the bow was a lookout, who had a +marine glass which was constantly turned shoreward. + +"A flag!" said the lookout, about noontime, and immediately the launch +came to a stop. + +"Where is it, Parkhurst?" asked the officer in charge of the craft. + +"Yonder, just below that stretch of rocks, sir," answered the lookout, +and handed over his glasses. The commander of the launch took a long +look, then ordered the craft turned to starboard, and they steamed into +a little harbor not a great distance from a tiny Cuban settlement. A +small boat was thrown out, the commander and two launch hands leaped in, +and it at once advanced. Then those on the larger craft saw a dozen men +rush from the shelter of some brush, one holding a white and the other a +Cuban flag. + +The small boat was beached in true nautical style, and the Cubans and +Americans entered into a conversation lasting the best part of half an +hour. Letters were exchanged, and then the party broke up as rapidly as +it had gathered. Although Walter did not know it, the letter delivered +by the American commander was for the rebel leader, General Calixto +Garcia, while that received in return was for Admiral Sampson and +General Shafter. All related to the landing of the army of invasion, now +so close at hand. + +The conference over, the launch darted on her way, and dinner was +served, to the officers and sharpshooters first, and then to the crew +and Walter. "Oh, we're doing some fine work along this coast," said one +of the crew to the youth, while eating. "Those Dons will be greatly +astonished some day--when our boys in blue fall on 'em." + +It was night before the _Brooklyn_ came into view, looking exactly as +she had when Walter had so unceremoniously left her. How the youth's +heart beat at the sight of his ship! How would those on board receive +him, and what would they say when his story was told? + +"Russell!" exclaimed the officer of the deck, when he came up over the +side. "Why, we all thought you had fallen overboard and been drowned." + +"I came pretty near being drowned," was the reply. "You can't imagine, +sir, how glad I am to get back!" + +"But where have you been?" + +"I've been on the _Merrimac_, among the Cubans and the Spaniards, and in +a Spanish prison, besides being down to Guantanamo Bay with the marines +from the _Panther_, sir." + +"Great Scott, boy, do you expect me to believe all that!" burst out the +officer, in sheer astonishment. + +"As you will, sir; it's true, though." + +"But--but--let me see; you said you were on the _Merrimac_?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And on shore among the Cubans, and then among the enemy?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And then among the marines at Guantanamo Bay?" + +"Exactly, sir. I escaped from a Spanish prison, and was lucky enough to +fall in with the marines by accident. I fought with them too, sir." + +"Russell, after you disappeared Surgeon Barker said you had been +sick--had been troubled with some sort of fever in your head. Don't you +believe you went out of your head entirely, and imagined all this?" + +"No, sir." + +"Well, I reckon that's the truth of the matter, and the best thing you +can do is to turn yourself over to the surgeon again for further +treatment. How is your head?" And the officer of the deck placed his +hand on Walter's forehead. "Ah, rather hot, as I thought. You had +better go to bed." And he turned away. + +"I don't think I'll go to bed just yet," murmured Walter, and lost no +time in reaching the berth deck. Here he came up behind Si and Caleb +playing one of their favorite games of checkers, while Paul stood +looking on. + +"Crown that man," Caleb was saying, when he chanced to glance up, +"Walter! or is it a ghost?" he fairly yelled, and leaped up, scattering +board and men in all directions. "Walter, where on earth did you come +from?" And he reached out his hand. + +"It is Walter, back from the grave!" ejaculated Si, and grasped the +other hand, while Paul caught the youth by the neck. + +"We thought you were drowned!" said all three, simultaneously. + +"They said you had gone out of your mind, and committed suicide," added +Paul. + +"Well, I didn't commit suicide, and I'm as well as ever," was the merry +return. "But--but--I don't believe you'll think I'm telling the truth +when I give you my story." + +"That depends on what sort of a yarn you spin," returned Caleb, dryly. +"Where have you been--sinking Cervera's fleet single-handed?" + +"Not quite, but I've been pretty close to the fleet, and pretty close to +the Spaniards." And dropping on a box Walter told his story, interrupted +every few minutes by some newcomer who advanced to shake him by the +hand, for since joining them he had made many friends among the jackies +and petty officers. + +"I don't wonder the officer of the deck wouldn't believe you, lad," +remarked Caleb, when he had finished. "It's a big yarn; beats Jonah and +the whale all to pieces--not but what _that's_ a true story, seeing as +how it's in the Good Book. You are certain you wasn't taken down with +the fever while you were on shore?" + +"Not enough to lose my mind." + +"I believe Walter," put in Si. "But if I were you I wouldn't tell this +tale to the others," he added in a lower tone. "They'd be jealous of +you, you know." + +"I don't care, I'm telling the simple truth," answered Walter, stoutly. + +That evening word was passed to him to report at the captain's cabin, +and he went, just as soon as he could slip on his best suit of +clothing, wash up, and comb his hair, for on board of every man-o'-war a +visit to "headquarters" is a big thing to any of the crew, and a +"sprucing up" is, consequently, indispensable. + +This was the first time Walter had visited the cabin of the _Brooklyn_, +and the elegant surroundings immediately caught his eye. But in days +gone by, before he had been compelled to live with the miserly Job +Dowling, he had been used to a home furnished just as handsomely, and +therefore the surroundings did not overawe him. + +There was a small table in the centre of the cabin, at one end of which +sat Commodore Schley, looking over a map of the Cuban coast. At the +other end of the table sat Captain Cook, the firm and strict, yet +well-beloved commander of the flagship. + +"You sent for me, sir," said Walter, as he came in, "toed the mark," and +saluted. + +"You are Walter Russell?" asked Captain Cook, while Commodore Schley +dropped the map and looked on with interest. + +"Yes, sir." + +"You have been absent from the ship ever since June the second, or +third?" + +"Yes, sir. But I couldn't help it. I was sick and fell overboard,--and +I've had a whole lot of adventures since." + +"So the officer of the deck tells me," answered the captain, dryly. He +looked at the commander of the squadron. "Commodore Schley, would you +like to ask Russell any questions?" + +At this the commodore smiled and pulled meditatively at the little +goatee he wore. "Russell, you can tell us your story in detail. But do +not take over ten minutes," he said, and covered his eyes with his +hands, as if in deep thought--one of his favorite attitudes. + +Standing as before and still "toeing the mark," Walter told his story +again, simply but forcefully. Whether his hearers were listening or not +he could not tell, for not a word was said until he had finished. + +Then, however, came a flood of questions concerning the spot at which he +had landed after leaving the _Merrimac_, the names of the various Cuban +and Spanish leaders that he had encountered, and the names of the +marines with which he had fought. He was also questioned about the +trails and their conditions. + +"Could loaded wagons get over them, in your estimation?" asked Commodore +Schley. + +"Not very well, sir. In one place I saw an ox-team with a load of fruit, +and the load was in danger of being dumped every minute. Some of the +paths are not fit for a pack-mule to use." + +"What of the Cubans you met? Were they well armed?" + +"A few of them had guns, but most of them had nothing but their +machetes, sir. Ammunition, I was told, was very scarce." + +"What of food?" + +"That was scarce, too." And Walter smiled. "A good eater would starve to +death on what both the Spaniards and the Cubans have to offer." + +"Do the Spaniards expect an army of invasion--that is, did you hear any +talk on the subject?" + +"I caught a few words, sir. I cannot speak Spanish myself." + +Commodore Schley mused for a moment. "That is all," he said, addressing +Captain Cook. "The boy has certainly had some remarkable adventures. He +is better off than poor Lieutenant Hobson." + +"That's true," responded the commander of the _Brooklyn_. He turned to +Walter. "You can go, Russell; if we want you again, we will send for +you." + +"Yes, sir," was the youth's reply, and, saluting, he turned and left the +cabin. The interview had been a very formal one, but he was proud to +think that he had come into personal contact with his gallant captain +and his equally gallant commodore. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE SANTIAGO BATTERIES + + +When Walter returned to his friends he was immediately surrounded and +asked what had happened in the cabin. "Did the commodore slap you on the +back and call you a bully boy?" queried Si. + +"Well, hardly," answered Walter, with a quiet smile. "They plied me with +questions and said I had had some remarkable adventures; that's all." + +"Didn't praise you?" queried Caleb. + +"No." + +"Didn't rush up and shake hands even?" put in Paul. + +"Not at all. I saluted and toed the mark, and kept toeing it until I +left." + +At this Paul's face fell. "Why, I thought you would be right in it, +Walter," he said. + +"I guess you've been reading some dime and half-dime colored-cover +novels, Paul. I imagine that is the way they do in such books." + +"That's it. Why, I've got a story about 'Dewey's Boy Bodyguard.' The +hero in that overheard a plot against Dewey, and Dewey clasped him to +his breast and made him a captain of marines." + +"Indeed! And you believe such a yarn?" + +"Dewey couldn't make the boy a captain of marines, not if he was an +admiral twice over," put in Caleb. "Those yarns are pure trash. Paul, +you had better study some good book on gunnery, and try to become a gun +captain." + +"I thought the story was slightly overdrawn," said Paul, growing red in +the face. "There is another about the 'Boy Hero of Havana,' who saves +General Lee's life at the time the Americans are getting out of Havana. +I suppose that is untrue, too." + +"To be sure, Paul. General Lee was in no great danger at that time. Of +course some of the sensational papers had to make the most of it, and +they reported that he was travelling around with a six-shooter in his +pocket, and a detective dogging his footsteps. As a matter of fact he +walked around with nothing but a white cotton umbrella, to keep the sun +off." + +"I'll burn the whole batch of colored stuff up," cried the apprentice; +and he did, at the big galley fire. No one on board ever caught him +reading dime and half-dime novels again. + +Although the marines had established themselves fairly well at and near +Guantanamo, the Spaniards were determined to drive them off, and to hold +this landing and a number of others, several of the warships were kept +busy bombarding the enemy's strongholds and in firing with Gatling guns +at the Spanish soldiers whenever they put into appearance along the +coast. + +The day after Walter came on board the _Brooklyn_, which remained on the +blockade off Santiago Bay, the _Texas_, _Marblehead_, and _Suwanee_ ran +into Guantanamo Bay and attacked the fort at Caimanera, a small village +not far from Guantanamo. The attack began at two o'clock in the +afternoon, and in less than two hours the fort was in ruins, and those +who had garrisoned it were fleeing inland for their lives. + +Caimanera was thus taken, but to hold it was as difficult as it was to +hold Guantanamo. Many of the people were in sympathy with the Spanish +government, and some went so far as to soak the streets and some of the +houses with coal oil that the town might be burned down at a minute's +notice. + +While this was going on, Admiral Sampson determined to make another +attack on the outer defences of Santiago Harbor, only sparing Morro +Castle, in which it was understood that Lieutenant Hobson and his men +were confined. It was weary waiting for the transports to arrive with +the army, and something must be done to tear down the numerous +fortifications the Spaniards were constructing. + +The orders for the bombardment were issued on Wednesday evening; and at +once a subdued but excited talk took place among the various crews of +the blockading squadrons, which now numbered the following ships, along +with a few others of lesser importance:---- + +First squadron, under the direct command of Admiral Sampson, the +flagship _New York_, battleships _Iowa_ and _Oregon_, protected cruiser +_New Orleans_, gunboat _Mayflower_, torpedo boat _Porter_, and the +sprightly _Scorpion_. The second squadron, under Commodore Schley, +embraced the flagship _Brooklyn_, battleships _Massachusetts_ and +_Texas_, and the _Marblehead_ and _Vixen_. Other vessels, such as the +_Indiana_, _Dolphin_, and _Suwanee_, were kept busy plying between the +blockading fleet and Guantanamo Bay and surroundings. + +It was half-past three in the morning when the men were called up and +served with coffee. Among the first on hand was Walter. "Now for a first +real use of our gun," he said to Si. "I've been aching for this ever +since I enlisted." + +Before four o'clock came the call to quarters, and the men ran to their +various stations, and stripped for action, most of them wearing little +more than an undershirt and a pair of trousers. The weather was +frightfully hot, and the interior of the cruiser was little better than +a bake-oven. Possibly this was one reason why the thoughtful admiral +planned the attack for so early in the day. + +Silently the warships steamed for the mouth of the harbor, and took up +their various positions in a grand semicircle, the heavy fighting ships +in the centre, and the torpedo boats on the ends, ready to take care of +any infantry fire, should the Spaniards hurry their soldiers to the +shore. The big ships kept at a distance of three thousand yards--not +quite two miles. + +"We're a long way off," observed Walter, as he assisted in loading the +"Polly," as Caleb had named his gun. + +"Twenty-nine hundred yards!" came the report from the range-finder; and +the crew went to work to elevate the gun accordingly. In the meantime, +the magazines had been opened, the ammunition hoists set in motion, and +powder, shot, and shell were delivered everywhere from barbette to +fighting-top. + +"We're near enough to blow 'em sky-high if we strike 'em right," +muttered the old gunner, who, with the smell of powder in the air, was +in his element. "How about that hose, Stuben?" he went on to the +hose-man. + +"Dot hose it's all right alretty," answered Carl Stuben, a round-faced +German, who was an American citizen, even though he did speak the +language but brokenly. Heretofore Walter had had but little to do with +the man, yet they got along very well together. + +It was too dark to begin firing, and for half an hour the ships lay +quiet, every man ready to obey a command the instant it was given. This +was a nerve-trying test for Walter, who wondered how the thing would +sound when all of the ships began firing. + +Slowly it grew lighter, and the men became more anxious. The guns were +trained on the shore batteries to the west of the harbor entrance, while +other ships covered the batteries on the east. + +Boom! It was a broadside from the _New York_, directed against the +battery below El Morro. Instantly every other warship present responded +in a deafening crash and a shock to be heard many miles away. At once +the air became filled with the smoke, and on shore the dirt and masonry +of the batteries were seen to fly in all directions. + +"Oh, my!" gasped Walter, as the gun before him belched forth its mass of +flame and smoke. "What a noise! Did--did we hit anything?" + +"I hope we did," answered Steve Colton, the second gun captain, +laconically; and then came the order to unlock the breech of the gun. As +the breech fell back a cloud of smoke swirled into the sponson hood, +impregnated with the odor of saltpetre, which caused Walter and several +of the others to cough violently. "Never mind; you'll get used to it +before you die," went on Colton. + +The gun being opened, Carl Stuben caught up his hose-pipe, turned on +the nozzle and sent a stream of cold water through the gun, to both +clean and cool the interior. By the time this was accomplished the hoist +had another shell ready, and this was shoved in by the mechanical +rammer. Brown prismatic powder followed, with a small quantity of black +prismatic powder behind it, as a primer. Then the breech-block was swung +into position and locked again, and the electrical connections were +adjusted. + +All this had been done almost in the time it takes to tell it, but the +next shot was not discharged at once, since the various gunners had +strict orders to take their time and make every discharge count. It was +not like a pitched battle where every moment counted. + +But though the gunners took their time, there were so many ships and so +many guns that the firing was continuous--a spiteful cracking of +rapid-firing guns, mingled with the thunder-claps of the gigantic +thirteen-inch guns and the solid banging of the eight-inch and eight and +ten pounders. + +"This is war and no mistake," remarked Walter. In ten minutes his +undershirt had become as black as a stove-cloth, and he himself looked +almost like a negro. In the meantime the perspiration was streaming +from every pore of his body. + +"War!" shouted Caleb. "Why, lad, this is nothing. If only Cervera would +come out, then you would see some fun." + +The order had been passed to lessen the charges in the big guns and +elevate them more, in order to secure a plunging fire. The effect of +this change in tactics was soon apparent, as shot and shell began to +drop directly into the Spanish strongholds or behind them. Soon one of +the batteries was completely silenced, and a cheer went up from the +warship nearest to it. + +It must not be imagined that the Spaniards took this attack quietly. No +sooner had the American warships opened than they returned the fire with +equal fierceness. But although at an elevation, and using guns which +were stationary, their aim was wild, and only a few of their shots took +effect. + +As one battery after another was silenced, several of the warships +elevated their guns still more and put in large charges of powder, and, +as a result, one shell was carried far up the harbor to where the +_Vizcaya_ lay and burst directly over her deck, doing considerable +damage and injuring several sailors and an under-officer. + +Presently a terrific explosion rent the air. One of the shots from the +_Texas_ had landed in a powder magazine and sent it skyward. The +spectacle thus caused was magnificent, and for a moment all in the +squadrons watched the timbers, rocks, and dirt as they sailed through +the air, some coming down inland and some falling with loud splashes +into the sea. + +"That's a shot worth making!" cried Caleb. "Hurrah for the man as +trained that gun!" + +And the cheer was given with a will. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +IN WHICH THE ARMY OF INVASION ARRIVES + + +"Maybe I ain't hot and tired, Walter. I could sleep standing up and go +in an ice-house and do it." + +It was Si who spoke, as he was washing himself in a bucket of water set +on the gun-track. The water had been fresh when Si began his ablutions +and was now dirty, but the Yankee youth was still far from clean, for +gun smoke and gun dirt have a disagreeable knack of getting into the +pores of one's skin. + +The bombardment had lasted over an hour and every land battery had been +silenced. Yet, as the American ships drew away, one or two guns spat out +spitefully after them. + +"You'll feel all right in an hour or two, Si," answered Walter. "Oh, but +wasn't it glorious! I could stand such bombarding for a week. What a +sight it was when that powder magazine went up." + +"Such a bombardment costs Uncle Sam a good many thousand dollars," put +in Caleb, leaving the gun to get a drink of water from the tub standing +by. "A week of it would put a big hole in his pocket, large as it is." + +"I presume that is so, Walton. But say, why don't we run in and finish +things, now we have knocked the batteries out?" + +"Better ask the admiral, lad; he's the one who knows. Remember, we +didn't touch Morro Castle nor that fortification on Smith Cay,--and +those Spanish warships are somewhere around the bend, out of sight. I +reckon the time ain't quite ripe for running in yet. If we run in now +and do up that Spanish fleet, we haven't men enough to take Santiago +itself. We must wait until Shafter arrives with his army." + +"But why did we go at them at all for, then?" + +"To keep 'em from becoming too well fortified. Now they'll have their +hands full for several days repairing damages, and in the meantime our +army may arrive--at least, I hope it does." + +Si had been right about the heat. Even in the United States we had a +spell of uncommonly hot weather, and down here, under the tropical sun, +it was "sizzling," as Walter expressed it. During the noon hour no one +thought of going on deck unless it was absolutely necessary. +Refreshments of any kind were at a premium, and when a society known as +the Colonial Dames sent on a number of boxes of oranges and lemons for +distribution, the jackies could hardly contain themselves for joy. Cuban +sugar was easily obtained, and lemonade and orangeade became the order +of the hour. + +Having been away on shore, Walter had not felt the monotony on shipboard +so much, but those who had been on the blockade for nearly three weeks +felt fearfully bored, especially as reading matter was scarce. Every +scrap of a newspaper was saved and passed around, and poor Paul was +collared and tossed up in a canvas hammock for having burnt the +penny-dreadfuls previously mentioned. + +"Mail! mail! mail!" such was the welcome cry which rang through the +_Brooklyn_, several days after the bombardment just described. The news +caused a commotion, and all who could rushed on deck and peered eagerly +over the side as several heavy mail sacks were hoisted on board. Hardly +anybody could wait for the mail to be distributed. + +"Three letters for me, and a bundle of newspapers!" cried Walter, +joyfully. "Here's luck and no mistake." He studied the various +post-marks for a moment. "One from Boston, in my uncle's handwriting; +one from Tampa, Florida, and that's from Ben; and one from--yes--Hong +Kong, China, and that must be from dear old Larry. Now which shall I +read first? Oh, I must hear from Larry first." And dropping on deck he +tore open the letter from the other side of the world and perused it +eagerly. + +"Well, I never!" came from him, a few minutes later. "Si, Walton, listen +to this! My brother Larry was with Dewey at Manila and helped whip the +Dons! Oh, but Larry's the boy, after all! Just read the letter for +yourselves." And he tossed it over. + +Ben's letter came next, a rather short communication, for Ben had never +been much of a boy to write. + + "I am high private in the best company of the Seventy-first + regiment of New York," he wrote. "We are down here at Lakeland, + near Tampa, getting into condition to invade Cuba. At present + things are slow and awfully hot, but we look for livelier times + ahead and that keeps up our spirits. My chum, Gilbert + Pennington, has joined Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders. I + hope we go to Cuba together. + + "I suppose you are quite a jack tar by this time and walk with + a regular swagger. Larry is now a bigger fellow than either of + us, for he was on the _Olympia_, Dewey's flagship, at the + battle of Manila Bay. He wrote me all about it and said he + would write to you, too, so I suppose you already have the + letter. + + "Uncle Job seems to be coming around to his senses--with giving + both you and me permission to take care of ourselves. If I were + you, I would not let up on him about going to Boston. Those + heirlooms ought to be located, and he is the man who must push + the work, even if it does cost a few dollars. I want father's + watch, and I am sure you and Larry want the wedding rings. + + "I have made many friends while in the army, but I also have + two enemies, Gerald Holgait and Dwight Montgomery, and I am + afraid that sooner or later they will try to play me some mean + trick. However, I will be on my guard against them. Good-by and + good luck to you." + +"I hope Ben does come down," mused Walter. "And if he has any enemies of +the Jim Haskett sort he had better look out." And then he turned to the +communication from Job Dowling. + + "My dearest nephew," began the guardian, and the term of + address made Walter smile. "Your letter was a big surprise to + me, and I ain't over it yet. That you should meet that thief + gets me, and I don't understand it nohow. However, I packed my + valise (my new one that cost me a dollar thirty-five, although + Wilson says it is worth the money) and the next day I took the + cars for Boston on a ticket I got at cut rates, although it was + tolerably dear even at that. When I got to Boston I introduced + myself to Mr. Phil Newell, the one-legged man you used to work + for, and he took me to police headquarters, and now I am + stopping here at a boarding-house on Hammond Street. The police + sent a detective to me, and he is going to find them heirlooms + and that rascal of a Deck Mumpers, or whatever his name is, or + know the reason why. If he finds the things, I'm to give him + two hundred dollars in cash; if he don't, I pay his travelling + expenses and no more. I wouldn't make such a bargain, but I + know all you boys want the things back and I can't do the + running after the thief. It's a waste of money, but it can't be + helped. I want to show you and Ben and Larry that your uncle + means well in spite of what you think of him. + + "Newell says for me to tell you he will send you a bundle of + newspapers. He says he knows how lonely life on board of a + man-of-war gets sometimes. I hope you don't get hurt, if you + get into a fight down in Cuba. Keep out of the sun, and write + when you can, care of Newell's news-stand--for I stop there + every day, after the detective's report. The detective hopes to + get the things back before this week is out. + + "Your loving uncle, + + "JOB DOWLING." + +The letter was a mere scrawl, horribly mis-spelled, and it took Walter +fully quarter of an hour to decipher it. "Well, Uncle Job is turning +over a new leaf," he thought, as he put it away. "I only hope that +detective is all right, and don't hoodwink him into paying over his +money for nothing. I reckon the letters Ben and I wrote him scared him +pretty well, otherwise he wouldn't agree to pay two hundred dollars if +the heirlooms are recovered." + +Caleb had read Larry's letter with much interest. One portion of it, +relating to the narrow escape from disaster during the battle, +interested him not a little. + +"Your brother had a close shave," he said. "To fire a gun when the +breech is unlocked is a fearful thing." + +"I don't see how it could happen on board of such a ship as the +_Brooklyn_," answered Walter. "Everything works like clockwork here." + +"You don't know how a thing would work in the middle of a battle, lad. +Men get excited, and sometimes the jarring of the shots breaks the +electric connections. More than likely that gunner was firing his piece +by hand at the time. I've done the same, when the electric connection +gave out. Last month I heard from a friend of mine, a gunner on the _New +Orleans_, that used to be a Brazilian warship. They couldn't get their +electric-firing apparatus into shape nohow, and had to do everything by +hand,--and that is the time accidents occur. But somebody ought to have +been watching that breech-block--your brother or somebody else." And +then Caleb turned away to his duties. + +Larry had written that he was now in Hong Kong, and did not know whether +he would go back to Dewey's squadron, or return to the United States. +"You'll hear from me again soon, one way or another," he added in a +postscript. + +For a day or two, all of Walter's spare time was spent over the +newspapers his former employer had been kind enough to send him, but +drills and other duties must not be neglected, and now that the army of +invasion was hourly expected, discipline on the warships became more +rigid than ever. + +At last, one clear morning, a cry echoed and reëchoed from one warship +to another:-- + +"The transports are in sight! General Shafter's army has arrived!" + +What a shouting, cheering, and yelling broke loose! Jackies flew to the +deck, and up the military masts, and all other points of vantage. Yes, +the news was true, over thirty transports were coming up from the +direction of Guantanamo Bay, having rounded Cape Maysi some hours +previously. The army of invasion had really arrived, nearly seventeen +thousand strong. As that vast fleet came up, convoyed by fourteen +warships, it presented a most imposing appearance, and guns boomed +loudly to welcome it. + +"Is the Seventy-first on board?" was Walter's question; and when at last +he heard that it was, his heart beat quickly. "Ben must be there!" he +thought. And Ben _was_ there, and thinking of Walter at the same time. + +"Santiago is doomed now," said Caleb, as he surveyed the scene. + +"That's so," put in Si, tossing up his cap. "And old Cervera must either +come out and fight, or haul down his colors. Oh, but won't we just smash +things when that army is landed!" + +And Walter agreed with both of them. + +As soon as it could be arranged, the army was landed at Baiquiri, +Siboney, and other points, Guantanamo being reserved as a coaling +station for the warships. After the first landing, a strong detachment +of regulars and Rough Riders was thrown out, and then followed the +battles of La Guasima, San Juan, and El Caney, described in detail in +the previous volume of this series. The soldier boys fought bravely, and +Ben Russell and his chum, Gilbert Pennington, were well to the front, as +we know. + +The landing of the troops was no easy matter, for the surf ran high, and +it was feared that the Spaniard might make a heavy onslaught at any +instant. All the small boats of the warships were called into use, to +land men and army stores, and while this work was in progress, many of +the ships began to bombard various points along the coast, for the +purpose of confusing the enemy, so that they would not realize the truth +of what was taking place. The ruse succeeded, and during the landing the +Spaniards remained comparatively quiet, hardly knowing in what direction +to turn, or what to do, since the Americans were covering over a hundred +miles of rugged coast-line. + +The debarkation at an end, the _Brooklyn_ returned to her position on +the blockade. All hands knew that something important would soon happen, +and, consequently, everybody slept thenceforth "with one eye open." +"Cervera must not be allowed to escape, night or day, under any +circumstances," was the order passed, and it was to be obeyed to the +letter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE SPANISH FLEET AND ITS COMMANDER + + +"Now that we are so anxious to catch Admiral Cervera and smash his +ships, I should like to know something about the man and his command," +remarked Walter, a few days after the army had landed. He addressed +George Ellis, who, in his quiet, gentlemanly way had taken a liking to +the youth. + +The two were seated in the shadow of one of the forward guns, taking it +easy, for the morning drills were over and it yet lacked half an hour to +mess time. Slowly the _Brooklyn_ rose and sank on the waves of the +Caribbean Sea, four miles outside of Santiago Bay. This was the usual +distance in the daytime. At night, despite the danger of an attack by a +torpedo destroyer, the warships came in much closer, and the glare of +the searchlights never left Morro Castle or the narrow harbor entrance. + +"I know very little about Admiral Cervera excepting that he has been in +the Spanish navy for many years and is said to be one of the finest +gentlemen that ever trod the deck of a ship. Why he ever allowed himself +to be bottled up like this is more than I can understand. I imagine, +though, that he was on his way to Havana, to break the blockade there, +when he heard that Admiral Sampson was coming for him one way and our +commodore the other, and he concluded that the best thing he could do +would be to scoot into the bay yonder and save himself and possibly +Santiago. They say he carried a lot of guns and ammunition for the +Spanish army. He can distribute those as well at Santiago as he can at +Havana, for I understand General Toral here is as hard up as Blanco is +at the other city." + +"And what of the ships under him? They say he has six. Do you know how +big they are?" went on Walter. + +"He has four warships and two torpedo destroyers," answered the chief +yeoman. "I got that straight from Lieutenant Blue, who went ashore for +Admiral Sampson, made a detour of seventy miles, and from the top of a +high hill saw the ships in the harbor through his powerful glasses." + +"Somebody said all the big ships were armored cruisers." + +"That is true, and three of them, the _Vizcaya_, the _Almirante +Oquendo_, and the _Maria Teresa_, are sister ships, of seven thousand +tons each. Each is about three hundred and sixty feet long and can speed +at eighteen to nineteen knots an hour. They carry about five hundred men +each, and every one has a main battery of two 11-inch Hontoria and ten +5.5-inch Hontoria guns, with a secondary battery of eight 6-pounders, +ten 1-pounders, several machine guns; and they also carry six torpedo +tubes each." + +"And what of the fourth cruiser?" + +"She is the _Cristobal Colon_, the fastest of the lot, even though her +displacement is two hundred tons short of the others. They say she can +run eighteen knots an hour with ease and twenty knots if she is put to +it. Her armor belt is six inches thick, alongside of twelve inches on +the other cruisers. She also carries about five hundred men, and she has +a main battery of two 10-inch and five 6-inch guns, and a secondary +battery of rapid-firing rifles, 6 and 10 pounders and two Maxim guns. +Her torpedo tubes number four." + +"Then they are no small fry to battle with," observed Walter. "When +their batteries break loose they ought to do some talking." + +"They will talk. We mustn't expect any walkover, if Cervera ever comes +out of his hole." + +"And what of the two torpedo boats?" + +"They are sister ships, the _Pluton_ and _Furor_, each of three hundred +and eighty tons displacement. They say that each has a speed of +twenty-seven knots an hour, and both are equipped with the latest +appliances for such crafts, carrying regular, automatic, and rapid-fire +guns, and also fourteen-inch Schwartzkopff torpedo tubes." + +"I should say they would be good things to keep out of the way of," +exclaimed Walter. + +"We've got our eyes wide open for them, lad. To be sure, one or another +of them may play us some dirty trick of a dark night--but that is one of +the risks to be taken in war times," concluded the chief yeoman, as a +petty officer called him away. + +All on board the warships waited eagerly for news from the army of +invasion. It was known that the Rough Riders had had a severe skirmish +at La Guasima, but that was all, so far as the jackies went. Possibly +the officers knew more, but if so, they kept the knowledge to +themselves. + +"Another dull week will come to an end to-morrow," remarked Si, as he +and Walter were on their way to the mess table. "Oh, but I'm sick of +laying around looking at old Morro. If only those ships would come out, +we'd sink them all in less than two hours; I feel sure of it." + +Si's growl was becoming a universal one, even the officers grumbling a +good deal. All wanted to fight Cervera's fleet, and the more the Spanish +admiral kept himself hidden, the more angry did they become. Many almost +begged to have their ships forced into the harbor, no matter what the +consequences--they stating that anything would be better than this +everlasting waiting. The blockade had now lasted five long weeks. + +In the meantime, matters elsewhere had not been idle. Chagrined over +Dewey's victory at Manila, Spain resolved to send another fleet to the +Philippines by way of the Suez Canal, taking, for this purpose, almost +all the warships left in her home waters. As soon as this was brought to +light, our own naval board decided to send an American fleet to the +coast of Spain, and Commodore Watson was placed in command of the +expedition. But before the American warships could sail, the Spanish +fleet, having gone through the Suez Canal, turned back for home, and the +American warships remained where they were, and Dewey was left +unmolested at Manila, so far as Spanish operations were concerned, +although the insurgents under General Aguinaldo soon began to give him a +great deal of trouble. + +Saturday morning dawned misty but hot. From a great distance could be +heard the rattle of musketry, showing that the army of invasion was +slowly but surely advancing. + +"They're in it all right enough--" began Si, when there came a sudden +call to quarters, and at the same time the _Brooklyn's_ engines began to +move and she headed for Santiago Bay. "Hullo, what does this mean?" + +"Perhaps we are going to force an entrance!" ejaculated Walter. "Hurrah, +if we do!" + +"Better not count your chickens before they are hatched," remarked +Caleb, who had just rolled from his hammock. + +They soon learned the truth of the movement. The shore batteries were +again to be bombarded, and this time not even Morro Castle was to be +spared, it having been ascertained that Hobson and his men had been +removed to safe quarters. + +"Down with old Morro; we'll show the Dons a thing or two!" was the cry, +and off rushed the men to their guns, their eyes brighter than they had +been for many a day, for Morro Castle had been an eyesore to all. + +The flagship _New York_ was leading the fleet, which, as before, soon +ranged up in a semicircle. Inside of five minutes every vessel had her +station. + +"Cast loose and provide!" + +The now familiar cry was scarcely needed, for the jackies were already +at work, stripped, as before, of all their superfluous clothing. Shot +and powder were quickly handled, and the flagship began the firing, +which immediately broke forth in all its fury, deafening everybody and +sending forth a great cloud of smoke which hung over the warships like a +pall. + +"Morro's flag is down!" came the shout. It was true. A gunner on the +noble _Oregon_ had taken careful aim and cut the flagstaff in two. The +falling of the Spanish emblem was greeted with a wild cheer. At once the +Spaniards tried to put another flag up, but it was some time ere they +succeeded, and then it was a tiny affair, hardly visible excepting with +a glass. + +"We'll try for that battery yonder!" exclaimed Caleb, during the height +of the bombardment. "I think those fellows have been firing this way +ever since they started." + +He had scarcely spoken when bang! something hit the armor plate directly +under their gun, hurling the gunner, Walter, and several others back by +the shock. + +"They've struck us, but the shot didn't pierce our armor," remarked +Caleb, calmly, as he got up. "All right, you villains, here's the +compliment returned!" And he made his preparations with care. + +The shot following was the best they had yet placed. It struck into a +battery on the west shore of the harbor entrance, ploughed up the +foundation of a six-pound gun, and sent the piece flying high into the +air. + +"My, but that was immense!" cried Walter, while Si and the others +cheered wildly. "Give them another!" + +And they did give the battery another, and then a dozen more, until at +last the place was silenced, showing that what was left of the gunners +had fled. + +At half-past seven came the order to cease firing, but it was fully +twenty minutes later before the last of the warships' guns were +discharged. By this time not only the batteries but also old Morro were +filled with gaping holes. It is more than likely that if the fleet had +sought to enter the harbor at this time it could have done so with +comparative ease. + +The work at the gun had been very hot, and as soon as they were able to +do so, Walter and Si scurried to the upper deck to get a bit of fresh +air. + +"It fairly stews the fat out of a fellow," grumbled Si, running the +perspiration from his forehead with his forefinger. "I'll bet I'm ten +pounds lighter than before this blockade began." + +"Never mind; it's one of the fortunes of war--" began Walter, when of a +sudden a strange whir and a singing sound filled the air. It was a +shell, fired from Morro Castle, just as the _Brooklyn_ was turning +away. + +"Look out!" yelled Si, and dropped down, but the words were still on his +lips when the shell exploded, sending the fragments flying in all +directions. Both boys were struck, and with a groan Walter fell +senseless to the deck. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +"THE ENEMY IS ESCAPING!" + + +"Is he dead, surgeon?" + +"Oh, doctor, he'll live--say he'll live!" + +Caleb and Si had followed the senseless form of Walter to the sick bay +of the warship, the Yankee youth with the blood streaming from a deep +cut in his left cheek. Both were in distress for fear their comrade was +seriously injured. + +"Yes, he'll live, but he has had a narrow escape," was the reply of the +medical man in charge of the case. "The bit of shell scraped his left +temple, as you see. Had it come a little closer, it would have gone +through his brain." + +Walter had been placed on a swinging cot, and now his head was bound up. +Before this operation was over he opened his eyes. + +"Whe--where am I?" he stammered. "Wh--what hit me?" + +"Praise God, he's himself again!" murmured Caleb, reverently. "I was +afraid he was a goner." + +"So was I," whispered Si. "And I don't know how I could spare Walter--he +seems so like a brother." + +"You must lie quiet for a while," said the surgeon. "You'll be all right +by to-night." And then he gave Walter some medicine to brace his nerves, +for they had been sadly shattered by the shock. The remainder of that +Saturday was spent in bed. + +On this memorable day the fighting on land had been even more fierce +than on the sea. The army of invasion had taken the various outposts of +Santiago, and the very city itself now lay at General Shafter's mercy. +It was felt that a day or two longer would bring matters to a climax. + +When Walter joined his comrades after supper he looked rather pale and +scared. Almost silently he took Si's hand and wrung it. + +"You are all right?" he whispered. + +"No hurt to speak of," was the answer. + +"But we were pretty close to death. Oh, Si, I never realized before how +quick one could be put out of this world!" + +"Neither did I, Walter. After this I'm going to--well--I'm going to +attend church more regularly, that's all. I never did take much to sech +matters afore, like you do." + +"It's always well to be prepared for death, Si--I'm going to try to be +prepared after this," was Walter's low answer, and in the darkness of +the berth deck they clasped hands again. They understood each other +pretty well, these boys. + +On Sunday morning the sun arose clear and strong, and early in the day +an awning was spread over the quarterdeck of the flagship _Brooklyn_, +and preparations were made to pass a hot day as comfortably as possible. +"We will rest to-day," was the word passed around, and the jackies were +not sorry, for the bombardment on Saturday morning had tired them out. + +The _Brooklyn_ rested about three miles out from Santiago Bay, and not +far off lay the _Texas_. Between the two ships the long, green waves +rose and fell, only making a soft slish-slish as they struck the +vessels' sides. The jackies lolled here, there, and everywhere, some +talking, some reading old newspapers which from frequent handling would +scarcely hold together, while a few studied the Bibles they had brought +with them. + +Presently from the _Texas_ came the musical bugle-call for church +service. "I'd like to go on board of her once," said Walter to Si, as +they listened to the bell that followed. "She's certainly a fine-looking +craft." + +"Three bells," put in Caleb, as he came up. "Come on, lads, first Sunday +in the month, remember, and the Articles of War have got to be hearkened +to." + +"That's so; I had forgotten," answered Walter. And he and the others +dropped below, to don their cleanest and neatest "rigs," for general +muster. Soon the call came, and from all parts of the big cruiser the +men hurried to their various divisions, while the higher officers +buckled on their swords, and the executive officers prepared to make +their inspections. + +On the quarterdeck, near the hatchway, sat Commodore Schley, musing +thoughtfully, as he gazed over the waters in the direction of Morro +Castle. The fighting commodore undoubtedly felt as hot as anybody, for +he wore a thin, black alpaca coat and an equally thin, white summer hat. +He was now in sole command of the blockading fleet, for the _New York_ +had carried Admiral Sampson many miles away, to confer with General +Shafter. + +For some time there had been smoke in the harbor entrance in front of +the warships, and many were wondering what it meant. "Must be a supply +boat for the batteries," said several under-officers, and this theory +was accepted as correct. Nevertheless, Commodore Schley glanced toward +that smoke more than once. + +"We are going to have general muster, commodore," announced Captain +Cook, as he presented himself, followed by Executive Officer Mason, and +the commander of the fleet _pro tem._ nodded. But those keen eyes were +still bent shoreward. + +Suddenly, from the forward bridge there came a yell through a megaphone, +a yell that electrified everybody who heard it. + +"After bridge there! Report to the commodore and the captain that _the +enemy's ships are coming out of the harbor_!" + +There was no necessity to report, for commodore, captain, and all others +heard the cry. There was a second of silence. Could this news be true? +Then came the command of the executive officer. + +"_Clear ship for action!_" + +"Hurrah! the enemy is coming out at last! To your guns, boys! Remember +the _Maine_!" These and a score of other cries rang out, while men +rushed hither and thither, dropping one garment or another as they ran, +and kicking shoes right and left, for no jackie will do work worth the +counting unless he is barefooted. Everybody had on his best clothing, +but that did not matter, and down into the grimy depths of the big +vessel dropped the firemen, coal heavers, and all the rest of the "black +gang," as they are termed, for steam must be gotten up in a tremendous +hurry or the enemy would surely get away. Ton after ton of coal was +thrown onto the fires, and the firemen coaxed and coaxed until the black +lumps grew first red and then white, and converted the water in the +boilers into high-pressure steam. "Fire up! for the sake of the ship's +honor, fire up!" came in a hoarse cry down the speaking-tube, and the +men did fire up as never before, until all were ready to drop from the +terrific heat. And all this while the engineers were watching their +engines, oiling this part and that, and making every pound of steam do +its utmost to send the great armored cruiser dashing and hissing through +the sea to that point where the Spanish fleet was trying to escape. + +For Admiral Cervera could stand it no longer inside of the harbor. With +the army of invasion at the very outskirts of Santiago, and with the +American fleet beyond his bay of refuge, something must be done, and +done quickly. He would run for it,--run at the top of his speed--and +trust to luck, if not Providence, to get out of range and reach +Cienfuegos or Havana. Santiago Bay was "too hot to hold him." + +It was the big prow of the _Maria Teresa_ that first showed itself, +quickly followed by the _Vizcaya_, _Oquendo_, and _Colon_, with the +torpedo boats _Pluton_ and _Furor_ bringing up closely in the rear. All +were under a full head of steam, and the thick smoke shot up in heavy +clouds from every funnel. For an instant all seemed to pause at the +gateway to the sea, then, led by the _Maria Teresa_, they turned +westward along the coast. To this side of the blockade now lay but three +American warships, the _Brooklyn_, _Texas_, and the little _Vixen_. If +he could only get out of range of these, Admiral Cervera felt that he +would, for the time being at least, be safe. + +Boom! It was a three-pounder, fired from the _Iowa_, lying some distance +to the eastward of the _Texas_. She, too, was flying the signal, "The +enemy is escaping," in red and white and blue flags. Beyond the _Iowa_, +still further eastward, lay the pride of the western coast, the mighty +_Oregon_, and it was this ship that first started up her engines in +pursuit, having, by chance, a good head of steam up. And as the _Oregon_ +turned in one direction, the little _Resolute_ turned in the other, to +carry the news to the absent rear-admiral. + +Three minutes had not yet passed, yet a complete transformation had +occurred on the _Brooklyn_. Five hundred men had scuttled to as many +different directions, battle hatches had been lowered, water-tight +compartments closed, hose attached and decks wet down, fire tubs filled, +magazines opened, hoists put into operation, and ammunition delivered to +turret, decks, and to the fighting-tops. Down below, fire had been +started under four fresh boilers, and a dozen different connections +between engines made. + +Nor was this all. Splinter nets had been spread as before, all useless +woodwork thrown overboard, and the surgeons' operating tables made +ready. The warning gun from the _Iowa_ was followed by a gun from the +_Texas_, and then the _Brooklyn_ helped to "open the ball" with her +forward eight-inch guns. Another great naval battle, fully equal to that +of Manila Bay, was now on. + +"It's a question of do or die, boys!" cried Caleb, as he worked over the +heavy gun before him. "Hustle now, as you never hustled before, or the +dagos will get away. Now then, Polly, do the best you can!" And _bang!_ +went the gun, with a noise that was deafening. Ten minutes later Walter +felt as if his hearing had left him entirely, so incessant was the +firing. + +The first fire from the enemy came from the _Maria Teresa_, and was an +eleven-inch shell directed at the _Brooklyn_. Hardly had this been +discharged when the _Indiana_, coming up behind the _Iowa_, took a +long-range chance and sent a shell directly upon the _Teresa's_ deck, +doing not a little damage. Then the firing became general, and shot and +shell was hurled in every direction. + +So far, the _Brooklyn_ had been headed directly for the harbor entrance, +commodore and captain being intent upon cutting off the enemy's westward +flight, if possible. This course soon brought the _Maria Teresa_, +_Vizcaya_, and the _Brooklyn_ into close proximity, and presently all +were lost to view in a dense cloud of smoke, from which shot long +streaks of fire, as battery after battery was discharged at close range. + +"Give it to 'em!" was the cry that rang throughout the _Brooklyn_. +"Don't let up on 'em! We must do as well as Dewey did, and better! +Remember the _Maine_, and three cheers for Uncle Sam!" Such cries were +truly inspiring, but presently the men became silent, as the work began +to tell upon them, and they realized what a fearful task still lay +before them. + +"The second ship's flag is down!" was the welcome news which soon +drifted down from the fighting-tops. It was true, the _Vizcaya's_ big +silk flag had been riddled completely and the halyard shot away; but +soon another flag was run up. Later on the _Brooklyn's_ flag also came +down, but it did not remain so more than two minutes before a jackie had +it up again. + +The battle had but fairly begun, and the _Brooklyn_ and the _Maria +Teresa_ were having it "hot and heavy," when suddenly the bow of the +_Vizcaya_ began to turn swiftly. At once a cry rang out. "That ship is +going to ram the _Brooklyn_! See, she is turning full toward her!" + +The warning proved true. The _Vizcaya_ was turned fairly and squarely +for Commodore Schley's flagship. Bells were ringing on board of her for +"Full speed ahead." On and on she came, like a demon of the deep, in one +wild, terrible effort to ram the vessel Walter was on and sink her! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SPANISH FLEET + + +"We are lost!" + +"That ship will cut us in half!" + +"Give her a broadside, boys, before we go down!" + +These and a hundred other cries rang out, as the _Vizcaya_ came leaping +over the waves on her awful mission of death and destruction. Then gun +after gun roared out, sending shot and shell on the enemy's deck. If +this was their last hour on earth, these brave jackies were going to +make the most of it. + +But commodore, captain, and executive officer were all on the alert and +were not to be caught napping. As the _Vizcaya_ came on, the necessary +orders were given, and the _Brooklyn_ began to turn in a twelve-point +circle to starboard. Like a flash she swept past the warship dashing on +to destroy her, and then the command rang out, "Give her another +broadside!" And the port guns, twenty in number, vomited out their +death-dealing shots and shells, raking the Spanish deck from end to end, +and killing and wounding a great number of sailors and officers. To this +awful fire was added that from the _Oregon_, which now came up to assist +the flagship. Realizing that the plan to ram the _Brooklyn_ was a +failure, the _Vizcaya_ started westward once more. + +It was now high time to turn attention to the two torpedo-boat +destroyers, _Pluton_ and _Furor_, that were coming out of the harbor at +a speed of twenty knots per hour. Once these destroyers gained the open +sea, to catch them would be impossible. Like long, steel arrows +glistening in the sunlight, they darted through the greenish waves and +for a moment hid themselves behind their big sisters. + +Then on came the _Gloucester_, a converted yacht, commanded by +Lieutenant Wainwright. Wainwright had been executive officer of the +_Maine_ when she was blown up in Havana Harbor, and had vowed more than +once to sink something if only he were given a chance. Like an avenging +angel the _Gloucester_, but lightly armed, bore down upon the torpedo +boats and sent shot after shot into them. Then the destroyers began to +turn, as if to sink the little enemy who dared to molest them, but now +it was too late,--the big warships were coming to the _Gloucester's_ +aid. + +It was the _Oregon_ and the _Iowa_ that first came to the converted +yacht's assistance, and as the destroyers turned, first one way and then +another, as if to ram or to run, a perfect hailstorm of shot and shell +landed on their sides and decks, churning up the water into a milk-white +froth, and causing the destroyers to look like gigantic whales lashing +themselves in their death throes. The noise was even greater than it had +been before, and the smoke made the heavens above look as if a violent +thunderstorm was at hand. + +Finding they could not withstand such a combined attack, and with the +_Texas_ hurrying to the scene, the destroyers turned tail, as if to make +for the shore. As the turn was made a huge shell, flying over the masts +of the _Gloucester_, hit the _Pluton_ directly amidship, and with a +crash and a splutter she broke and sank, leaving the still living +members of her crew struggling in the boiling waters for their lives. + +Left to herself, the _Furor_ again paused, like some wild animal seeking +in vain for cover. She started to get behind the _Oquendo_, but, in +spite of the fire from the shore batteries, the _Gloucester_ went in +after her, with every available gun doing its utmost, and fairly filling +her with small holes. At last the destroyer could stand it no longer, +and with a lurch she struck on a reef and began to break. In a moment +more the water poured over her sides, and her crew was compelled to +surrender. The instant the surrender was made, the converted yacht, from +being an angel of vengeance, became an angel of mercy, and to gallant +Lieutenant-commander Wainwright fell the honor of rescuing hundreds of +wounded and drowning Spaniards who must otherwise have perished. + +Such was the close of this running fight. At the front, the four big +warships were still trying to push on, with the _Brooklyn_, _Oregon_, +_Iowa_, _Texas_, and _Indiana_ in the chase. With a full head of steam +the noble _Oregon_ reached a position between Commodore Schley's +flagship and the _Texas_, and every vessel in the line belched forth its +messengers of death and destruction. + +Presently a cry echoed throughout the squadron regarding the _Oquendo_. +"She is on fire! See, she is burning in three places!" + +The report was true. A shell had burst near the quarterdeck of the +warship, and now high to the sky arose a column of yellowish red smoke. +Then the flames burst out of her bow. In vain the Spaniards tried to man +their fire-hose. A shower of projectiles from the fighting-tops of our +own ships assailed them and drove them to shelter, while the big guns +continued to "pump up" shot and shell as never before. + +But the _Oquendo_ was no worse off than the _Maria Teresa_, if as badly. +She staggered on, and a few minutes later passed her sister ship as if +looking for aid, when aid could not be given. + +"The _Maria Teresa_ is on fire!" was the next cry, but a few minutes +later. "Down goes Cervera's flag! Hurrah, boys, we've got em 'on the +run! Give it to 'em hot!" + +Yes, the admiral's flag was down, and so was the mast that had held it. +Would the Spanish emblem go up again? All watched anxiously, and +meanwhile the _Brooklyn_ continued to pour in her hottest fire. + +"She's going ashore!" rang through the American flagship. "She's burning +up!" and then came a heavy shot from the _Brooklyn_, another from the +_Texas_, and staggering like a thing of life, the _Maria Teresa_ ran for +the beach, a mass of seething and roaring flames. Admiral Cervera's doom +was sealed. Five minutes later the _Oquendo_ was also cast on the shore. + +Four of the enemy's ships had been laid low, but the great fight was by +no means over. Shot and shell were flying around the _Vizcaya_ and +_Cristobal Colon_, but both warships kept on their way, the _Colon_ +slowly but surely forging to the front. Both Spanish ships were +returning the Americans' hot fire, and many a shot hit the _Brooklyn_ +and many a shell burst over her deck. But as yet no serious damage had +been inflicted. + +But a calamity was at hand, as rapid in its execution as it was +appalling. Near the forward eight-inch turret George Ellis was standing, +watching the struggle of the enemy's ships to escape. + +"Ellis, give us the range again!" shouted Captain Cook. + +"I'll have it in a moment, captain," answered the chief yeoman, and took +up his stadiometer. Making his calculation, he turned to Commodore +Schley, who was but a short distance away. "It is fourteen hundred yards +to the _Vizcaya_, sir," he said. + +These were the last words he ever uttered, for an instant after there +was the whistling of a shell, and those standing around were horrified +to see Ellis's headless body drop to the deck below. The poor fellow had +been killed instantly, in the very midst of his duties. What a shock +this was to those about him I will leave my readers to imagine. Never +until now had they realized what this awful war meant. "Poor Ellis, he +was such a fine man!" murmured one comrade as he turned away. And then +his face grew even more sober. "But he's the first on board of this +ship. What of those poor Dons yonder, who are going down by the +wholesale?" And though they were enemies, his heart beat in sympathy for +the poor wretches who were struggling madly amid shot, shell, fire, and +water for their lives. Fortunately the _Iowa_ was already coming to the +succor of the defeated ones. + +"We're going to catch it now, lad," remarked Caleb to Walter, as he +pointed through a rift in the cloud of smoke hanging over the gun. +"There are two of the enemy's ships, and they are both going to pound +us. Where in the world are our other vessels?" + +"The _Oregon_ is coming up!" came from the after-deck, a minute later. +"And the _Texas_ isn't far behind." + +Around the gun it was suffocating, and every hand was ready to drop. +Indeed, fainting fits were frequent, but the most that could be done for +a sufferer was to either throw some water over his head or yell out to +the surgeons' helpers to carry the men to the ward room for treatment. +As the _Brooklyn_ was struck here and there, splinters began to fly, and +a number were injured, although no one seriously. + +The _Texas_ had done wonderful work on the _Maria Teresa_ and the +_Oquendo_, and now did her best to keep to the front of the chase. But +the speed was too great for her, and gradually she dropped behind, +although still continuing to throw shot and shell after the _Vizcaya_ +that had dropped some distance behind the _Colon_. It was now apparent +to all that if any vessel was going to get away it was to be the +_Colon_, for her speed was greater than the _Vizcaya_ and as yet she had +hardly been touched. + +"The _Vizcaya_, boys, the _Vizcaya_!" came the cry from the quarterdeck. +"Don't let her screen the _Colon_!" + +"We'll pound 'em both!" was the answer. "Remember the _Maine_! Remember +Manila Bay!" + +And then the mighty guns of the _Brooklyn_ and _Oregon_ roared out +swifter than ever, and the _Vizcaya_, doing her best to sink one or the +other of the American warships, was raked as if passing through a +blizzard of fire, until her men were forced again and again from their +posts, and at last the guns were abandoned. Then fire caught the craft +in its awful embrace, and rolling from side to side, she, too, sought +for a harbor of refuge, but found none. Down came her colors, and at the +same instant she struck with a crash on the rocks. The fight had started +at quarter to ten. Now it was but quarter past eleven,--just an hour and +a half,--and all the Spanish ships but one had been destroyed. Such is +the appalling swiftness of modern naval warfare. Where in olden days +jack tars had fought for hours, they now fought for minutes. + +But the destruction of the _Vizcaya_ had taken time, and the _Colon_ was +forging onward, panting and throbbing like a thing of life trying to +escape from unspeakable terrors. Down in the bowels of the warship the +furnaces were at a white heat, and the engineers had long since pushed +their engines far past the danger point. "Faster! faster!" came the cry +from the deck and tower. "It will be better to blow up than to allow the +Yankee pigs to sink us. We must save at least one ship!" And the engines +pounded and quivered, threatening each instant to blow into a million +pieces. For once Don Quixote was making the run of his life. + +Unable to stand the heat, Walter had obtained permission to lay off for +a few minutes and get some fresh air. A look from the spar deck had +showed him the _Colon_ dashing far ahead, enveloped in a thin line of +smoke. Every few seconds a flash of fire would come from her stern guns, +but the marksmanship was poor and no serious damage was done to the +_Brooklyn_. + +The boy returned to his gun to find Caleb and the others in deep +perplexity. Something was wrong with a shell, and it had become wedged +in the gun and could not be pushed forward to its proper place or hauled +back. "We can't use Polly any more!" groaned Caleb. + +"I'll fix her!" cried Si Doring, and caught up a rammer. In a moment the +brave Yankee lad was crawling out over the smoking piece toward the +muzzle. But he had scarcely reached the outward end of the gun than the +_Brooklyn_ gave a lurch and down he slipped over the side and into +space! + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +FINAL SCENES OF THE GREAT FIGHT + + +"Si has fallen overboard!" + +The cry came from half a dozen throats at once, and Walter's heart +almost stopped beating, so attached had he become to the Yankee lad. + +"If he's overboard, he'll be sucked under and drowned," he groaned. "I +wonder if I can see anything of him." + +Without a second thought he leaped on the gun and began to crawl out, on +hands and knees, as perilous a thing to do, with the vessel going at +full speed, as one would care to undertake. + +"Come back!" roared Caleb, trying to detain him. "You'll go overboard, +too." + +At that moment came a cry from below, and looking down the steel side of +the _Brooklyn_, Walter beheld Si clinging to a rope ladder, one of +several flung over, to be used in case of emergency. "Si, are you all +right?" he called loudly. + +"I--reckon--I--I am," came with a pant. + +"But I had an awful tumble and the wind is about knocked out o' me." And +then Si began to climb up to the deck. + +"He's on the ladder and he's all right," shouted Walter, to those still +behind the gun. Then a sudden idea struck him. "Hand me another rammer, +Stuben." + +"Mine cracious! don't you try dot," cried the hose-man. "You vos fall +ofer chust like Si." + +"Yes, come in here," put in Caleb, and Paul also called upon him to +return. + +"I'm all right," was the boy's reply. "Give it to me, Stuben." And +catching the rammer from the hose-man, Steve Colton passed it forward. +"In war we have got to take some risks," he reasoned, as Caleb gave him +a severe look. + +"Then why didn't you get out on the gun, Steve?" was the old gunner's +dry response; and the second gun captain said no more. + +Rammer in hand, Walter edged closer and closer to the muzzle of the +Polly. The _Brooklyn_ was moving up and down over the long green waves, +sending the spray flying on both sides of the bow. He gave one look +down, felt himself growing dizzy, and then kept his eyes on the gun. + +[Illustration: RAMMER IN HAND, WALTER EDGED CLOSE TO THE MUZZLE.] + +At last the muzzle was gained, and not without difficulty the rammer was +inserted. The projectile had not been very tightly wedged, and a firm +pressure sent it backward, so that Caleb could catch it and pull it out +through the breech. Then throwing the rammer aboard, Walter lost no time +in coming in again. He had been exposed to the direct fire of the enemy, +but no shot had come near him. + +"Boy, you're too plucky," exclaimed Caleb, catching him by the shoulder. +"You ought to be flogged for your daring. Let me see your hands. Ah, +just as I thought; both of 'em blistered. Go and put some sweet oil on +'em, and a bit of flour. I'll bet the end of Polly is red-hot." + +"Well, it is pretty hot," replied Walter, and then he was glad enough to +follow Caleb's advice, for both hands smarted a good deal. Soon Si +joined him, to get something for his hands also. + +The _Colon_ had now drawn out of range, so firing would have been a +useless waste of ammunition. Down to the gunners came the order: "Cease +firing." And a moment later, "All hands on deck for an airing." What a +laughing and shouting ensued as the jackies poured up, to secure the +best viewing places they could within the ship's regulations. Hot, +tired, ready to drop from exhaustion, they shook hands with each other, +sang, laughed, and whistled. + +"Three cheers for Commodore Schley!" came suddenly from somebody, and +the cheers came with vigor, and a tiger, and then came a cheer for +Captain Cook and a cheer for the _Oregon_, coming up with ever +increasing speed. The _Oregon's_ men cheered in return, and for a moment +one would have thought this was holiday-making instead of grim war. + +The _Colon_ was close to shore, while the _Brooklyn_ and the _Oregon_ +lay from two to three miles out to sea. Some miles farther westward the +Cuban shore slopes southward to Cape Cruz. If the _Colon_ kept on her +present course she would have to make for the cape, thus coming down +toward the American warships. "We will catch her there," said Commodore +Schley, confidently. + +The _Oregon_ was flying the signal "Remember the _Maine_" from her +masthead, and as she drew still closer to the _Brooklyn_, another shout +of approval went up. The two warships would fight the _Colon_ between +them, if only they could get within range. + +It was now noontime, and a hasty mess was served all around, and the men +continued to air themselves, something easy to do with the ponderous +ship speeding the waters at an eighteen-knot rate. Suddenly from the +_Oregon_ came the boom of a thirteen-inch gun, and the shell fell just +astern of the _Colon_, sending the water up like a fountain. The battle +was again on. + +"Now for it!" cried Caleb, as the Spanish warship turned southward down +the coast, and the Polly spoke up as fiercely as at any time during the +contest. + +"The Spaniards are losing heart!" came the cry, a few minutes later. +"They ain't doing half the firing they were!" + +It was true; the _Colon_ was running short of ammunition, and her +officers saw what a hopeless fight a contest with the _Brooklyn_ and +_Oregon_ would prove to be. With shot and shell falling all around him, +Captain Moreu hauled down his flag and sent his ship ashore at Rio +Tarquino. + +The battle was won, and Dewey's magnificent victory at Manila, which the +world in general had declared was a miracle that could not be matched, +had been duplicated. Henceforth American warships and American sailors +would stand as the equals of any nation on the face of the globe. + +And now that the contest was over what was to follow? To me, the hours +that came after are even greater in honor than those glorious hours of +victory. Already down the shore, the work of rescuing the sailors and +marines from the _Maria Teresa_, _Oquendo_, and _Vizcaya_ had begun, and +now the crews of the _Brooklyn_ and _Oregon_ turned in to aid the +wounded and the dying, and those in danger of drowning, on the _Colon_. +Boat after boat went out, close to the sinking cruiser, now burning +fiercely, with abandoned guns going off, loose powder and shells +exploding, and magazines in danger of tearing all asunder. Amid such +perils did our noble jackies work, hauling man after man from the ship, +or from the water, and taking them to our own warships, there to be +cared for as tenderly as though they were our own. Some of the Spaniards +could not understand this treatment. They had been told that the +Americans were butchers and had no hearts, and when they realized the +truth many burst into tears of joy. + +When the battle was all over, some of our officers and men could not +comprehend what had been accomplished--that a whole fleet of Spanish +warships had been destroyed, that hundreds of men had been killed and +many more wounded and taken prisoners, and that the loss to our side had +been but one man killed, a handful wounded, and no ship seriously +damaged. "It was an act of Providence," said more than one, and Captain +Philip of the _Texas_ spoke thus to his crew, as he gathered all around +him on this never-to-be-forgotten Sunday, so bright and clear:-- + +"I wish to make confession that I have implicit faith in God and in the +officers and crew of the _Texas_, but my faith in you is only secondary +to my faith in God. We have seen what He has done for us, in allowing us +to achieve so great a victory, and I want to ask all of you, or at least +every man who has no scruples, to uncover his head with me and silently +offer a word of thanks to God for His goodness toward us all." The +thanks were given, some dropping upon their knees to deliver them, and +this outpouring of hearts travelled from one ship to another throughout +the entire fleet. + +"Poor Ellis!" said Walter; "the only seaman to give up his life! It's +too bad!" And when George Ellis's body was buried with all naval honors +he wept as bitterly as did anybody on board of the flagship. + +The victory had been gained, but the work of the fleet was not yet over. +The army still occupied the outskirts of Santiago, and General Shafter +had sent word to General Toral that unless he surrendered, the city +would be shelled Monday morning. At a conference with Admiral Sampson, +later on, it was decided that the fleet should take part in the +bombardment even if it was necessary to force an entrance into the +harbor. Without delay our warships were gotten into condition for this +task. + +But the bombardment did not come--for the reason that both on land and +sea the enemy had had enough of fighting. Several days passed, and the +conditions of a surrender were discussed. In the meantime Lieutenant +Hobson and his men were released and turned over to us in exchange for a +number of Spanish prisoners. Several of the men remembered seeing +Walter, and were glad to learn that the youth had escaped. + +The battle on sea had taken place on July the third, and my readers can +imagine what a glorious Fourth of July followed, not only among the +soldiers and sailors, but among our people at large. All over the land +cannons boomed, pistols cracked, rockets flared, bells pealed forth, and +bands played for the marching of thousands. It was a real old-fashioned +"Yankee Doodle time," as one down-east paper put it, and North, South, +East, and West united in celebrating as never before. Less than two +weeks later Santiago surrendered, a peace protocol followed; and the war +with Spain came to an end. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +TOGETHER ONCE MORE--CONCLUSION + + +"And now that business is finished, an' I'm most awfully glad on it; +yes, I am!" + +It was Job Dowling who spoke. The uncle and guardian of the three +Russell boys was sitting by the side window of his home in Buffalo. In +his lap lay a small, flat package, which had been wrapped in heavy brown +paper and well sealed. In his hand was an open letter which he had just +finished reading. + +"It was a dreadful price to pay thet detective," he resumed. "But I +couldn't git them hairlooms back no other way, and I'm afraid the boys +would raise the roof ef I didn't git 'em back. It's a comfort to know +thet thief was caught and is going to be tried for even a wuss crime +than stealin' them rings an' the watch an' the Australian diamond. I +hope they give him about twenty years in prison." He paused to put the +package away in his dilapidated secretary. "So Ben is coming home this +week? I wonder what he'll have to say when he faces me? Somehow, I don't +know wot I'm going to say myself." And he dropped into his chair again. + +Job Dowling was a different man from what he had been. The determined +stand taken by Larry, Walter, and Ben had opened his eyes to the +knowledge that he had no mere children to deal with, but boys who were +almost men, and who were fully capable of taking care of themselves. His +visit to New York, when he was robbed of the Russell heirlooms, had +caused him considerable loss of self-confidence, and the trip to Boston +after the thief had awakened him to the fact that, after all, he was of +but little importance in this world. His efforts to help the police +recover the heirlooms had been laughed at, and even the detective had +shown him plainly that he was hindering more than he was helping. +Finally he had returned home in disgust, and the detective had finished +the work on the case alone, recovered everything, and sent Deck Mumpers +to jail to stand trial on half a dozen charges. The detective's bill had +been over two hundred dollars, a sum the paying of which had nearly +given Job Dowling a fit; but now the whole thing was settled and he was +awaiting Ben's return, for the gallant young volunteer had been shot in +the left arm on the day before Santiago surrendered, and was coming home +on sick leave. + +Ding! ding! it was a double ring at the front-door bell, and before Mrs. +Graham, the new housekeeper, and a great improvement on the tartar-like +Mrs. Rafferty, could get to the door, Job Dowling was there himself. + +"Ben an' Walter!" he exclaimed, as he found himself confronted by two +nephews instead of one, as expected. "Well--er, how is this?" + +"How do you do, Uncle Job!" exclaimed Ben, extending his hand. + +"Aren't you glad to see me too, Uncle Job?" put in Walter. + +"Why--er--of course, of course!" came with a stammer; and Job Dowling +held out both of his bony hands. "Come right in. This is Mrs. Graham, my +new workwoman." And the lady of the house, dressed in a neat wrapper and +with a clean kitchen apron on, came forward and bowed. "Knows a sight +more than Mrs. Rafferty did," went on the uncle, in a whisper. + +"I didn't know Walter was coming on till day before yesterday," +continued Ben. "We met quite by accident in New York, and we made up to +come on together and surprise you." + +"I see--I see." Job Dowling was still very nervous, and he could hardly +tell why. At one instant he thought he ought to quarrel with them, the +next that it would be quite proper to embrace them and tell them they +were forgiven and could henceforth do as they saw proper. But he chose a +middle course and did neither. "Sit down and make yourselves to hum, +and, Mrs. Graham, you had best get a few extry chops--three won't be +enough. Tell Boggs to send me the best on the stand." + +At this order Walter nudged Ben, and both looked at each other and +smiled. "He's reforming," whispered the young sailor. "Only give him +time, and he'll be all right." + +"Yes, Mr. Dowling," put in the housekeeper. "And you said something +about pie yesterday, when Master Ben should come. What of that?" + +"Ah, yes, so I did, so I did." The former miser wrinkled his brow. "How +much does a pie cost?" + +"Ten and twenty cents." + +"Boys, do you think you could eat a twenty-cent pie?" + +"Do we?" cried Walter. "Just try us and see, Uncle Job." And now he +clasped his guardian half affectionately by the shoulder. + +"Then get the twenty-cent pie, Mrs. Graham, and be sure an' pick out the +best. You--er--have the other things?" + +"Yes, sir--potatoes, green corn, and coffee." + +"Very good." And as the housekeeper retired, Job Dowling turned to the +boys again. "And how is your arm, Ben? Not seriously hurt, I trust?" + +"It's only a scratch," was the answer. + +"And you, Walter?" + +"I'm all right. But how have you been, Uncle Job, and what of that +stolen stuff?" + +"Oh, I'm only tolerable--got quite some rheumatism. The hairlooms is all +safe--but they cost me two hundred and twenty-seven dollars an' a half +to git 'em!" And the guardian nodded to emphasize his words. + +"Well, they're worth it," answered Ben, promptly; and Job Dowling did +not dare dispute the assertion. "Where are they?" + +"In the desk. I'll show 'em to you, and then ye can both tell me all +about yer adventures on the water and in Cuby." + +The heirlooms had just been brought out, and Ben was examining the +watch, when a form darkened the window opening,--the form of a boy +dressed in a natty sailor suit. All looked up in wonder, and all cried +out in unison:---- + +"Larry!" + +"Ben, Walter, and Uncle Job!" came from the youth who had fought so +gallantly under Dewey at Manila. "Here's a family gathering, for sure!" +And with a light leap he cleared the window-sill and actually fell into +his brothers' arms, while Job Dowling looked on with a half smile on his +wrinkled face. + +"I couldn't remain away from the United States any longer," explained +Larry, when, an hour after, all sat down to the really excellent dinner +Job Dowling had provided. "While I was at Hong Kong I got a good chance +to ship on a steamer for San Francisco, and we came home on the +double-quick, for the government had chartered the vessel to carry +troops to the Philippines. Maybe I'll go back under Dewey some time, but +not just yet. I've got some prize money coming to me, I don't know yet +how much, and I'll lie off to see." + +"And I've got prize money coming, too," added Walter. "I like the navy +first-rate, and shall stick to it for the present, even if I have a +chance of being mustered out." + +"I haven't any prize money coming, but I am to be a second lieutenant of +volunteers," put in Ben. "Our regiment is to be mustered out very soon, +and then I'm going to try for something else in the same line." + +"And what is that, Ben?" asked Job Dowling and the other boys together. + +"I'm going to try for a commission in the regular army." + +"Hurrah! that's the talk!" came from Larry. "And if you stay in the +army, I'll see what I can do toward working my way up in the navy." + +Then both lads looked toward their guardian. Job Dowling scratched his +chin in perplexity, and cleared his throat. + +"All right, boys--I should say young men, fer ye ain't none o' ye boys +no more--go an' do as ye please, I ain't got nothin' agin' it. You have +all done yer duty to Uncle Sam, an' thet bein' so, it stands to reason +ye are capable o' doin' yer duty to yerselves an' to me. To look back it +'pears to me thet I made some kind of a mistake at the start with ye, +an' so I say, you willin' an' me willin', we'll take a fresh start,--an' +there's my hand on't." + +"Uncle Job, you're a--a brick!" came from Walter, and a general +handshaking followed, and then, as Mrs. Graham came on with a coffee-pot +and the dessert, Ben arose with the cup in his hand. + +"Boys, let us drink Uncle Job's health in a cup of coffee!" + +"We will!" came from his brothers. + +"And eat it, too,--in a piece of that pie!" concluded the +ever-lighthearted Larry. + + * * * * * + +Here we will bring to a close the story of Walter Russell's adventures +while "Fighting in Cuban Waters," which has taken us through a thrilling +naval campaign and shown us what true American pluck can accomplish even +under the most trying circumstances. + +As my readers know, the Russell boys had a large inheritance coming to +them, and now that Job Dowling had come to his senses regarding a proper +treatment of them, it was to be hoped that matters would move much more +smoothly for all concerned. + +Through Larry it was learned that his old-time friend, Luke Striker, was +still with Dewey in Philippine waters and had been promoted to the +position of first gun-captain on board the _Olympia_, much to the old +Yankee's credit and delight. + +Frank Bulkley, Ben's soldier chum, was still sick with the fever, but +was at his home in the metropolis, and was out of danger, which was much +to be thankful for, considering what awful havoc that fever had made +with the army of invasion. + +Walter's friends were all on the _Brooklyn_, and it was not long before +the lad was anxious to get back to them, for he had become very much +attached to the noble flagship that had rendered such a good account of +herself in the mighty conflict with Cervera's fleet. + +Gilbert Pennington, Ben's friend of the Rough Riders, was in Cuba, but +expected to come north shortly. Gilbert had an offer of a position as +bookkeeper with an importing firm in New York, but was destined to see a +good deal more of fighting ere he settled to work behind a desk. + +When Ben spoke of trying for a commission, and Larry said he should +remain in the navy, both thought that fighting for the American army and +navy was at an end. This supposition was correct so far as Spain was +concerned, but the insurgents in the Philippines under General Aguinaldo +refused to recognize Uncle Sam's authority, and it was not long before a +large army had to be sent to Manila and other points, to coöperate with +Dewey in restoring peace and order. Ben could not resist the temptation +to join these soldiers in a distant clime, and with more fighting in +view, Larry hastened to rejoin the _Olympia_. In another volume, to be +entitled, "Under Otis in the Philippines; Or, A Young Officer in the +Tropics," we shall follow the future adventures of these two brothers, +and shall also see more of Gilbert Pennington, Luke Striker, and several +others of our old acquaintances. + +And now, for the time being, good-by to all our friends, and especially +to Walter Russell, the American lad who made such a record for pluck +while "Fighting in Cuban Waters." + + + + +By EDWARD STRATEMEYER + + +THE OLD GLORY SERIES + + + UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA Or the War Fortunes of a Castaway. + + A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA Or Fighting for the Single Star. + + FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS Or Under Schley on the Brooklyn. + + "'Under Dewey at Manila' is a thoroughly timely book, in + perfect sympathy with the patriotism of the day. Its title is + conducive to its perusing, and its reading to anticipation. For + the volume is but the first of the Old Glory Series, and the + imprint is that of the famed firm of Lee and Shepard, whose + name has been for so many years linked with the publications of + Oliver Optic. As a matter of fact, the story is right in line + with the productions of that gifted and most fascinating of + authors, and certainly there is every cause for congratulation + that the stirring events of our recent war are not to lose + their value for instruction through that valuable school which + the late William T. Adams made so individually distinctive. + + "Edward Stratemeyer, who is the author of the present work, has + proved an extraordinarily apt scholar, and had the book + appeared anonymously there could hardly have failed of a + unanimous opinion that a miracle had enabled the writer of the + famous Army and Navy and other series to resume his pen for the + volume in hand. Mr. Stratemeyer has acquired in a wonderfully + successful degree the knack of writing an interesting + educational story which will appeal to the young people, and + the plan of his trio of books as outlined cannot fail to prove + both interesting and valuable."--_Boston Ideas._ + + "Stratemeyer's style suits the boys."--JOHN TERHUNE, _Supt. of + Public Instruction, Bergen Co., New Jersey._ + + "'The Young Volunteer in Cuba,' the second of the Old Glory + Series, is better than the first; perhaps it traverses more + familiar ground. Ben Russell, the brother of Larry, who was + 'with Dewey,' enlists with the volunteers and goes to Cuba, + where he shares in the abundance of adventure and has a chance + to show his courage and honesty and manliness, which win their + reward. A good book for boys, giving a good deal of information + in a most attractive form."--_Universalist Leader._ + + +THE BOUND TO SUCCEED SERIES + + + RICHARD DARE'S VENTURE Or Striking Out for Himself. + + OLIVER BRIGHTS SEARCH Or The Mystery of a Mine. + + TO ALASKA FOR GOLD Or The Fortune Hunters of the Yukon. + + "In 'Richard Dare's Venture,' Edward Stratemeyer has fully + sustained his reputation as an entertaining, helpful, and + instructive writer for boys."--_Philadelphia Call._ + + "'Richard Dare's Venture,' by Edward Stratemeyer, tells the + story of a country lad who goes to New York to earn enough to + support his widowed mother and orphaned sisters. Richard's + energy, uprightness of character, and good sense carry him + through some trying experiences, and gain him friends."--_The + Churchman_, New York. + + "A breezy boy's book is 'Oliver Bright's Search.' The author + has a direct, graphic style, and every healthy minded youth + will enjoy the volume."--_N. Y. Commercial Advertiser._ + + "'Richard Dare's Venture' is a fresh, wholesome book to put + into a boy's hands."--_St. Louis Post Dispatch._ + + "'Richard Dare's Venture' is a wholesome story of a practical + boy who made a way for himself when thrown upon his own + resources."--_Christian Advocate._ + + "It is such books as 'Richard Dare's Venture' that are + calculated to inspire young readers with a determination to + succeed in life, and to choose some honorable walk in which to + find that success. The author, Edward Stratemeyer, has shown a + judgment that is altogether too rare in the makers of books for + boys, in that he has avoided that sort of heroics in the + picturing of the life of his hero which deals in adventures of + the daredevil sort. In that respect alone the book commends + itself to the favor of parents who have a regard for the + education of their sons, but the story is sufficiently + enlivening and often thrilling to satisfy the healthful desires + of the young reader."--_Kansas City Star._ + + "Of standard writers of boys' stories there is quite a list, + but those who have not read any by Edward Stratemeyer have + missed a very goodly thing."--_Boston Ideas._ + + + + +BY EVERETT T. TOMLINSON + + +THE WAR OF 1812 SERIES + +COMPRISING + + The Search for Andrew Field + The Boy Soldiers of 1812 + The Boy Officers of 1812 + Tecumseh's Young Braves + Guarding the Border + The Boys with Old Hickory + + +Mr. Tomlinson, who knows the "ins and outs" of boy nature by heart, is +one of the most entertaining and at the same time one of the most +instructive of living writers of juvenile fiction. In his younger days a +teacher by profession, he has made boys and their idiosyncrasies the +absorbing study of his life, and, with the accumulated experience of +years to aid him, has applied himself to the task of preparing for their +mental delectation a diet that shall be at once wholesome and +attractive; and that his efforts in this laudable direction have been +successful is conclusively proven by his popularity among boy readers. + + +LIBRARY OF HEROIC EVENTS + +STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION _First Series_ + +STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION _Second Series_ + + + + +By OLIVER OPTIC + +All-Over-the-World Library. + + A Missing Million; or, The Adventures of Louis Belgrade. + + A Millionaire at Sixteen; or, The Cruise of the "Guardian + Mother." + + A Young Knight Errant; or, Cruising in the West Indies. + + Strange Sights Abroad; or, Adventures in European Waters + +No author has come before the public during the present generation who +has achieved a larger and more deserving popularity among young people +than "Oliver Optic." His stories have been very numerous, but they have +been uniformly excellent in moral tone and literary quality. As +indicated in the general title, it is the author's intention to conduct +the readers of this entertaining series "around the world." As a means +to this end, the hero of the story purchases a steamer which he names +the "Guardian Mother," and with a number of guests she proceeds on her +voyage.--_Christian Work, N. Y._ + + +All-Over-the-World Library. Second Series. + + + American Boys Afloat; or, Cruising in the Orient. + + The Young Navigators; or, The Foreign Cruise of the "Maud." + + Up and Down the Nile; or, Young Adventurers in Africa. + + Asiatic Breezes; or, Students on the Wing. + + +The interest in these stories is continuous, and there is a great +variety of exciting incident woven into the solid information which the +book imparts so generously and without the slightest suspicion of +dryness. Manly boys will welcome this volume as cordially as they did +its predecessors.--_Boston Gazette._ + + +All-Over-the-World Library. Third Series. + + + Across India; or, Live Boys in the Far East. + + Half Round the World; or, Among the Uncivilized. + + Four Young Explorers; or, Sight-seeing in the Tropics. + + Pacific Shores; or, Adventures in Eastern Seas. + + +Amid such new and varied surroundings it would be surprising indeed if +the author, with his faculty of making even the commonplace attractive, +did not tell an intensely interesting story of adventure, as well as +give much information in regard to the distant countries through which +our friends pass, and the strange peoples with whom they are brought in +contact. This book, and indeed the whole series, is admirably adapted to +reading aloud in the family circle, each volume containing matter which +will interest all the members of the family.--_Boston Budget._ + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Fighting in Cuban Waters, by Edward Stratemeyer + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS *** + +***** This file should be named 34306-8.txt or 34306-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/3/0/34306/ + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Fighting in Cuban Waters + or, Under Schley on the Brooklyn + +Author: Edward Stratemeyer + +Illustrator: A. B. Shute + +Release Date: November 13, 2010 [EBook #34306] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS</h1> + +<h2>OR<br /><br /> +<span class="smcap">Under Schley on the Brooklyn</span></h2> + +<h3>Old Glory Series</h3> + +<h2>BY EDWARD STRATEMEYER</h2> + +<h3>AUTHOR OF "UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA" "A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA" "RICHARD +DARE'S VENTURE" "OLIVER BRIGHT'S SEARCH" "TO ALASKA FOR GOLD" ETC.</h3> + + +<h3><i>ILLUSTRATED BY</i><br /> +A. B. SHUTE</h3> + +<h3>BOSTON<br /> +LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS<br /> +1899</h3> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1899, by Lee and Shepard.</span></h3> + +<h3><i>All Rights Reserved.</i></h3> + +<h3>Norwood Press<br /> +J. S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith<br /> +Norwood Mass. U.S.A.</h3> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus1" id="illus1"></a> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"<span class="smcap">The Flagship Began the Firing.</span>"</h3> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE</h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Fighting in Cuban Waters</span>," although a complete story in itself, forms +the third volume of the "Old Glory Series," tales depicting the various +campaigns in our late war with Spain.</p> + +<p>In "Under Dewey at Manila" we followed Larry Russell's adventures on +board of the flagship <i>Olympia</i> during the memorable contest off Cavite; +in "A Young Volunteer in Cuba" we marched and fought with Ben Russell in +that notable campaign leading up to the surrender of Santiago; and in +the present volume are narrated the haps and mishaps of Walter Russell, +who joins Commodore Schley's flagship, the <i>Brooklyn</i>, and sails with +the Flying Squadron from Hampton Roads to Key West, thence to +Cienfuegos, and at last succeeds in "bottling up" Admiral Cervera's +fleet in Santiago Bay. The long blockade and the various bombardments +are described, and then follow the particulars of that masterly battle +on the part of the North Atlantic Squadron which led to the total +destruction of the Spanish warships.</p> + +<p>Walter Russell's bravery may seem overdrawn, but such is far from being +a fact. That our sailors were heroes in those days we have but to +remember the sinking of the <i>Merrimac</i>, the <i>Winslow</i> affair, and a +score of deeds of equal daring. "The hour makes the man," and the +opportunity likewise makes the hero. Walter was brave, but he was no +more so than hundreds of others who stood ready to lay down their lives +in the cause of humanity and for the honor of Old Glory. Like his two +brothers, his religious belief was of the practical kind, and he went +into battle convinced that so long as he did his duty according to the +dictates of his conscience, an all-wise and all-powerful Providence +would guide him and watch over him.</p> + +<p>The author cannot refrain from saying a word about the historical +portions of the present work. They have been gleaned from the best +available authorities, including the reports of Admiral Sampson, +Commodore Schley, and a number of captains who took part in the contest; +also the personal narratives of one man who was on board the <i>Merrimac</i> +at the time that craft was sunk, and of a number who have made the +<i>Brooklyn</i> their home for several years past, and who will probably +remain on the pride of the Flying Squadron for some time to come.</p> + +<p>In presenting this third volume, the author begs to thank both critics +and the public for the cordial reception accorded to the previous +volumes, and trusts that the present story will meet with equal +commendation.</p> + +<p>EDWARD STRATEMEYER.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Newark, N.J.</span>,</p> + +<p>March 1, 1899.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#PREFACE">PREFACE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. <span class="smcap">Walter determines to enter the Navy</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. <span class="smcap">A Visit to the Navy-Yard</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. <span class="smcap">A Chase and its Result</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. <span class="smcap">On the Way to the "Brooklyn"</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. <span class="smcap">Something about War and Prize Money</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. <span class="smcap">A Glimpse of the President</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. <span class="smcap">A Talk about Spanish Sailors</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. <span class="smcap">The Men behind the Guns</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. <span class="smcap">Commodore Winfield Scott Schley</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. <span class="smcap">Walter shows his Pluck</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. <span class="smcap">The Sailing of the Flying Squadron</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. <span class="smcap">An Adventure off Charleston</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. <span class="smcap">In which the Gold Piece comes to Light</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER IV. <span class="smcap">Key West, and the Last of Jim Haskett</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. <span class="smcap">From Cienfuegos to Santiago Bay</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. <span class="smcap">The Finding of Admiral Cervera's Fleet</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. <span class="smcap">In which the "Merrimac" is sunk</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. <span class="smcap">Walter's Adventure on Shore</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. <span class="smcap">Carlos, the Rebel Spy</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. <span class="smcap">In the Hands of the Enemy</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI. <span class="smcap">The Flight to the Seacoast</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII. <span class="smcap">The Landing of the Marines at Guantanamo</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII. <span class="smcap">In a Spanish Prison</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV. <span class="smcap">Back to the "Brooklyn" again</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV. <span class="smcap">The Bombardment of the Santiago Batteries</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI. <span class="smcap">In which the Army of Invasion arrives</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII. <span class="smcap">The Spanish Fleet and its Commander</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII. <span class="smcap">"The Enemy is escaping!"</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX. <span class="smcap">The Destruction of the Spanish Fleet</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX. <span class="smcap">Final Scenes of the Great Fight</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI. <span class="smcap">Together Once More—Conclusion</span></a><br /><br /> +<a href="#By_EDWARD_STRATEMEYER">By EDWARD STRATEMEYER</a><br /> +<a href="#BY_EVERETT_T_TOMLINSON">BY EVERETT T. TOMLINSON</a><br /> +<a href="#By_OLIVER_OPTIC">By OLIVER OPTIC</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + +<p><a href="#illus1">"The flagship began the firing"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus2">"He bent over Walter again"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus3">"The President bowed in return"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus4">"'See here, I want to talk to you!'"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus5">"'I'll get square on all of you!'"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus6">"With a final lurch the <i>Merrimac</i> went down"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus7">"'Surrender, or I'll shoot you where you stand!'"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus8">"Rammer in hand, Walter edged close to the muzzle"</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>WALTER DETERMINES TO ENTER THE NAVY</h3> + + +<p>"Well, Walter, I suppose the newspapers are going like hot cakes this +morning."</p> + +<p>"They are, Mr. Newell. Everybody wants the news. I ran out of 'Globes' +and 'Heralds' before seven o'clock, and sent Dan down for fifty more of +each."</p> + +<p>"That was right. It's a windfall for us newsdealers, as well as a +glorious victory to match. It makes me think of my old war days, when I +was aboard of the <i>Carondelet</i> under Captain Walke. We didn't sink so +many ships as Dewey has at Manila, but we sank some, and smashed many a +shore battery in the bargain, along the banks of the Mississippi. What +does that extra have to say?" and Phil Newell, the one-legged civil-war +naval veteran, who was also proprietor of the news-stand, took the +sheet which Walter Russell, his clerk, handed out.</p> + +<p>"There is not much additional news as yet," answered Walter. "One of the +sensational papers has it that Dewey is now bombarding Manila, but the +news is not confirmed. But it is true that our squadron sunk every one +of the Spanish warships,—and that, I reckon, is enough for one +victory."</p> + +<p>"True, my lad, true; but there is nothing like keeping at 'em, when you +have 'em on the run. That is the way we did down South. Perhaps Dewey is +waiting for additional instructions from Washington. I hope he didn't +suffer much of a loss. Some papers say he came off scot free, but that +seems too good to be true."</p> + +<p>"The news makes me feel more than ever like enlisting," continued the +boy, after a pause, during which he served out half a dozen newspapers +to as many customers. "What a glorious thing it must be to fight like +that and come out on top!"</p> + +<p>"Glorious doesn't express it, Walter. Why, if it wasn't for this game +leg of mine, and my age being against me, I'd go over to the navy-yard +to-day and reënlist, keelhaul me if I wouldn't!"</p> + +<p>"But what of the stand?"</p> + +<p>"The stand could take care of itself—until the Dons were given the +thrashing they deserve for making the Cubans suffer beyond all reason." +Phil Newell threw back his head and gave a laugh. "That puts me in mind +of something that happened when the Civil War started. A young lawyer in +New York locked up his office and pasted a notice on his door: 'Gone to +the front. Will be back when the war is over.' I'd have to put up +something similar, wouldn't I?"</p> + +<p>"I wish you and I could go together, Mr. Newell."</p> + +<p>"So do I, Walter, but I'm over sixty now, and they want young blood. By +the way, what of that brother of yours down in New York?"</p> + +<p>"Ben has joined the militia of that State, and is now at Camp Black +waiting to be sworn into the United States service. I wish he had come +on to Boston."</p> + +<p>"Well, Uncle Sam wants soldiers as well as sailors, or he wouldn't call +for a hundred and twenty-five thousand volunteers. But give me the deck +or gun-room of a warship every time. Nothing finer in the world. I +served for nearly ten years, and I know."</p> + +<p>Walter smiled, and then waited on several additional customers. "My +youngest brother, Larry, takes to the ocean," he answered. "He is out on +the Pacific now, somewhere between the Hawaiian Islands and Hong Kong. +He was always crazy for a boat when we were at home in Buffalo together, +and spent all his spare time on Lake Erie."</p> + +<p>"Going to Hong Kong, eh? That's not so far from the Philippines. It is a +pity he is not with Commodore Dewey. It would be a feather in his cap +when he got home."</p> + +<p>A steady stream of customers for five minutes broke off the conversation +at this point, and throwing down his newspaper, Phil Newell—he never +wanted to be called Philip—entered the stand to help his young +assistant. The stand was situated in the heart of Boston, just outside +of one of the leading hotels, and trade at this hour in the morning, +eight o'clock, was always brisk.</p> + +<p>When there came a lull later on, Walter turned again to his employer. +"Mr. Newell, what if I do enlist? Can you spare me?" he questioned.</p> + +<p>"What! do you really mean it, Walter?"</p> + +<p>"I do, sir. As you know, I've been thinking the matter over ever since +this war with Spain started."</p> + +<p>"But you've got to have your guardian's consent, or they won't take +you."</p> + +<p>"I've got it in my pocket now. I wrote to him last week, and he answered +that, as Ben had already joined the soldiers, I could do as I pleased, +but I mustn't blame him if I was killed."</p> + +<p>"Which you wouldn't be likely to do, if you were killed dead, so to +speak," laughed Phil Newell. Then he slapped Walter on the back, for +twenty odd years on land had not taken his "sea-dog" manners from him. +"Enlist, my lad, enlist by all means, if you feel it your duty. Of +course I don't like to lose such a handy clerk, but Uncle Sam can have +you and welcome."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you say there was a young man named Gimpwell looking for this +position?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and he wants it badly, for he has a sick sister to support."</p> + +<p>"Has he any experience?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; he tended a railroad stand for several years."</p> + +<p>"Then, perhaps you could break him in without much trouble—if I went +away."</p> + +<p>"Do you want to go at once?"</p> + +<p>"If I am to enlist, then it seems to me the quicker the better. I see by +the papers that some of our warships are still at Hampton Roads and Key +West, but there is no telling when they will start for Cuban waters. +Besides, I've been thinking that if I could manage it, I should like to +get aboard of the <i>Brooklyn</i>, the flagship of Commodore Schley's Flying +Squadron, which is now at Hampton Roads awaiting orders."</p> + +<p>"It's not so easy to pick your ship, my lad. However, if you wish, you +can go over to the navy-yard this afternoon and see what you can +do,—and I'll go along and leave Dan in charge here," concluded Phil +Newell.</p> + +<p>Walter Russell was one of three brothers, of whom Ben was the eldest and +Larry the youngest. Their home had been in Buffalo, where at the death +of their mother, a widow, they had been turned over to the care of their +step-uncle, Mr. Job Dowling, an eccentric old bachelor, whose prime +object in life was to hoard up money.</p> + +<p>In the two volumes previous to this, entitled respectively, "Under Dewey +at Manila," and "A Young Volunteer in Cuba," I related how the boys +found it impossible to remain under Job Dowling's roof, and how they ran +away, each to seek fortune as he might find it. Larry drifted first to +San Francisco and then to Honolulu, the principal city of the Hawaiian +Islands, where he shipped on a vessel bound for Hong Kong. From this +ship he was cast overboard with a Yankee friend named Luke Striker, and +both were picked up by the flagship <i>Olympia</i> of the Asiatic Squadron +and taken to Manila Bay, there to serve most gallantly under the naval +commander whose name has since become a household word everywhere. As +Walter had intimated, Larry was a sailor by nature, and it was likely +that he would follow the sea as long as he lived.</p> + +<p>Ben and Walter had gone eastward, but at Middletown, in New York State, +they had separated, Walter to drift to Boston, and Ben to make his way +to New York. At the latter city the eldest of the Russell brothers had +secured employment in a hardware establishment, but this place was +burned out, and then Ben enlisted in the 71st Regiment of New York, +while his intimate friend, Gilbert Pennington, joined Roosevelt's Rough +Riders, and both went to Cuba, there to fight valorously in that +campaign which led to the surrender of Santiago and caused Spain to sue +for peace.</p> + +<p>As Walter had written to Larry, the recital of the former's adventures +in getting from Middletown to Boston would fill a volume. He had stolen +a ride on the cars from Middletown to Albany, and during this wild trip +his hat blew off and was not recovered. He was put off the train just +outside of the capital city; and, stopping at a farmhouse to inquire the +way, had his clothing torn by a bull-dog that was more than anxious to +get at what was beneath the garments. Walter hardly knew what to do, +when a tramp put in an appearance, and sent a well-directed stone at the +dog's head, causing the beast to slink away. The tramp introduced +himself as Raymond Cass, a bricklayer, out of luck, and bound for Boston +on foot. He proposed that they journey together, and Walter rather +hesitatingly consented. They moved eastward in company for two days, +when, on awakening one morning, Walter found Raymond Cass missing. The +boy's coat was also gone, and with it his entire capital,—forty-seven +cents.</p> + +<p>The pair had made their bed in the haymow of a large barn, and while +Walter was searching for the tramp, the owner of the place came up and +demanded to know what the youth was doing on his premises. Walter's tale +was soon told, and Farmer Hardell agreed to give him a week's work in +his dairy, one of the dairymen being sick. For this Walter received four +dollars, and an old hat and a coat in addition.</p> + +<p>Leaving Cornberry, the name of the hamlet, Walter had struck out once +more for Boston, but this time steering clear of all tramps, of the +Raymond Cass type or otherwise. He was sparing of his money, and the +first day out earned his dinner and a packed-up lunch for supper, by +putting in two panes of glass for an old lady who had waited for a week +for a travelling glazier to come around and do the job. In addition to +this, the lad worked for two days at a village blacksmith's +establishment during the absence of the regular helper who had gone to +his aunt's funeral in another place, and also found a regular position +with a florist, who had a number of large greenhouses up the Charles +River. Walter was not used to working where there was so much glass, and +on the third day he allowed a step-ladder he was using to slip. The +ladder crashed through several hot-bed frames, and poor Walter was +discharged on the spot, without a cent of pay.</p> + +<p>The boy's next move had been to the river, where he had obtained a +position on a freight steamboat. His duty was to truck freight on and +off, and the work blistered his hands and gave him many a backache. But +he stuck to it for two weeks, thereby earning fourteen dollars, and with +this capital entered Boston.</p> + +<p>Walter had not expected an easy time finding a situation in the Hub, but +neither had he anticipated the repeated failures that one after another +stared him in the face. For over a week he tramped up and down, without +so much as a "smell of an opening," as he afterwards wrote to his +brothers. In the meanwhile his money diminished rapidly, until more than +two-thirds of it was gone.</p> + +<p>A deed of kindness had obtained for him the position with Phil Newell. +Chancing to walk along School Street one afternoon, he had seen two boys +beating a small boy unmercifully. The small boy had turned into Province +Street, and the big boys had followed, and here they had thrown the +little fellow down, and were on the point of kicking him, when Walter +rushed up and flung both back. "You brutes, to attack such a small boy!" +he had cried. "Clear out, or I'll call a policeman, and have you both +locked up."</p> + +<p>"We told him to keep back at de newspaper office," growled one of the +big fellows. "Do it again, Dan Brown, and we'll give it to you worse," +and then as Walter advanced once more, both took to their heels and +disappeared.</p> + +<p>Dan Brown had been very grateful, and questionings had elicited the +information that the lad worked for Phil Newell, as a paper carrier and +to do errands. "His regular clerk, Dick Borden, left yesterday," Dan had +continued; "perhaps you can get the job." And Walter had lost no time in +following the small youth to Newell's place of business. Here Dan's +story was told, and the lad put in a good word for Walter, with the +result that the youth was taken for a week on trial. How well Walter +pleased the old naval veteran we have already seen. He had now occupied +the place as head clerk for nearly two months, and his salary had been +increased from four dollars a week to six. He boarded with Dan's mother, +in a little suite of rooms on a modest side street, not a great +distance from the Common.</p> + +<p>It must not be supposed that Job Dowling, who held a good deal of money +in trust for the boys, had allowed them to run off without making an +effort to bring them back. Larry was out of his reach, but Ben and +Walter were not, and the miserly man had descended upon Ben in New York +and tried his best to "make things warm," as Ben had mentioned in a +letter to Larry. But Job Dowling had overreached himself by attempting +to sell a watch and some jewelry which had belonged originally to Mr. +and Mrs. Russell, heirlooms which were not to be disposed of under any +circumstances. On his trip to New York after Ben, the articles had been +stolen from him at the Post-office—something that had so frightened Job +Dowling that he had consented to Ben's enlisting in the army with +scarcely a murmur, fearful the youth might otherwise have him brought to +book for what had happened. A vigorous search had been made for the +thief, but he was not found. Later on, when Ben was in the army, Job +Dowling received information that caused him to reach the conclusion +that the thief had gone to Boston. The miserly guardian of the boys +returned to his home in Buffalo and, as much worried as ever, wrote to +Walter to keep an eye open for the missing property. Walter did as +requested, but in such a large place as the Hub the youth had little +hope of ever seeing the precious heirlooms again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>A VISIT TO THE NAVY-YARD</h3> + + +<p>There was a rush of business at the news-stand between twelve and one +o'clock, but shortly after one this died away, and inside of half an +hour Phil Newell told Walter that they might be on their way—"If you +are bound to enlist in Uncle Sam's service," he added.</p> + +<p>Walter made sure that the paper containing Job Dowling's permission for +him to enter the navy was safe in his coat pocket, and then announced +his readiness to depart. The owner of the stand called up Dan Brown and +gave him a few directions, and in another minute Newell and Walter had +boarded a Charlestown car and were off.</p> + +<p>"I haven't been over to the navy-yard for several years," remarked Phil +Newell, as they rode along. "I used to know several of the boys that +were there, but they've grown too old for the service. I reckon the yard +is a busy place these days."</p> + +<p>And a busy place it proved to be as they turned into Chelsea Street, and +moved along the solid granite wall which separates the yard from the +public thoroughfare. From beyond came the creaking of hoists, and the +ringing of countless hammers and anvils, for the government employees +were hard at work, fitting out a warship or two and converting several +private vessels into naval craft.</p> + +<p>"I don't know if I'm just right about this," went on Phil Newell, as +they headed for one of the numerous buildings near the wall, after being +passed by a guard. "It may be that they want to keep strangers out, now +the war is on, and you'll have to go elsewhere to sign articles. But I +know old Caleb Walton is here, and he'll tell me all he can, and set us +straight."</p> + +<p>Walter's heart beat violently, for he began to realize that the step he +was about to take was a serious one. Who knew but that, after getting +into the navy, he might be sent to the Philippines or to the coast of +Spain? Already there was some talk of carrying the war into the enemy's +home waters.</p> + +<p>"But I don't care," he said to himself. "If Larry can ship for Hong +Kong, I guess I'm safe in shipping to anywhere. But I do hope I can get +on the <i>Brooklyn</i>, or on some other ship of the Flying Squadron."</p> + +<p>"Hi, there, Phil Newell! What brought you here, you old landlubber?" +came a cry from their left, and Phil Newell turned as swiftly as his +wooden leg permitted, to find himself confronted by the very individual +he had started out to find.</p> + +<p>"Caleb Walton!" he ejaculated joyfully, and held out his bronzed hand. +"I just came in to see you. Here is a young friend of mine who wants to +sign articles under Uncle Sam. Do you think you can take him in?"</p> + +<p>"Take him in?" Caleb Walton held out his hand, brown and as tough as a +piece of leather. "Sure we can take him in, if he's sound,—and glad to +get him." He gave Walter's hand a grip that made every bone crack. "So +you want to enlist, eh? Go right over to yonder office, and they'll soon +put you through a course of sprouts," and he laughed good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>"But, hold on, Caleb," interposed Newell, as the seaman was about to +show Walter the way. "He don't want to sign articles and go just +anywhere. He would like to get aboard the <i>Brooklyn</i>."</p> + +<p>"That is what half of all who come here want," answered Caleb Walton. "I +reckon they think Commodore Schley's Flying Squadron is going to settle +the whole war by going after that Spanish fleet said to be at Cadiz, or +thereabouts. Well, the lad better come with me. I belong to the +<i>Brooklyn</i> now."</p> + +<p>"You!" came from both Phil Newell and Walter simultaneously.</p> + +<p>"I thought you were stationed here?" continued the wooden-legged man.</p> + +<p>"I was, but I've just received orders to join the <i>Brooklyn</i> and bring +at least fifteen men with me. It seems they are short-handed and can't +get the men at Norfolk. If this lad wants to go with me, now is his +chance. What's his handle?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Walter Russell, sir. But—but are you going to join the +<i>Brooklyn</i> at once?" stammered Walter, never having dreamed that he +would be taken away on the spot.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Sam doesn't wait long when he picks his man," replied the old +gunner, for such Caleb Walton was. "Orders were to leave Boston +to-night, but I fancy we'll be kept until to-morrow night, for we are +shy three men, not counting you. Come on." And he led the way to the +building he had previously pointed out.</p> + +<p>"He's all right, and you're in luck," whispered Phil Newell, when he got +the chance. "Cotton to Caleb Walton, and you'll have a friend worth the +making." How true were Newell's words the chapters to follow will prove.</p> + +<p>The building to which Caleb Walton led them was one in which were +situated the main business offices of the yard. This was now a busy +place, and they had to fairly push their way through the crowd of +seamen, officers, and workmen, who kept coming and going, on one errand +or another. Several telephones were ringing, and from a corner came the +steady click-click of a telegraph sounder.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Sam has his shirt sleeves rolled up and is pitching in," +whispered Caleb Walton. "Here we are. Captain Line, here is another man +for my party."</p> + +<p>"He's rather a boy," rejoined Captain Line, as he gave Walter a +searching glance. "Is your father with you?"</p> + +<p>"My father is dead," answered Walter, softly. "Here is my guardian's +consent." And he handed over the sheet.</p> + +<p>"That seems to be correct. Walton, take him over to the examination +room. And hurry up, for I must catch the four-fifty train for New York."</p> + +<p>The "course of sprouts" had begun, and almost before he knew it, Walter +had been passed upon as able-bodied. Time was pressing, and in a quarter +of an hour the youth received a slip of paper signed and sealed by +Captain Line.</p> + +<p>"That is good for your passage to Fortress Monroe," he said. "You will +make the journey in company with Walton and a number of others. When you +get there you will report to Lieutenant Lee, who will have you +transferred to the <i>Brooklyn</i>,—unless the flagship has already sailed, +in which case you will be assigned to some other ship."</p> + +<p>"And when do I start, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Walton will have the orders inside of the next hour. Go with him, and +he will tell you what to do." Then came a bang of the curtain to a +roller-top desk, a shoving back of a revolving chair, and in a twinkle +Captain Line had disappeared from view. Truly, Uncle Sam and all under +him were rushing things.</p> + +<p>Walter wished very much to visit the dry dock and the great west basin, +filled as both were with vessels in various stages of construction, +alteration, or repair, but he felt if he was to leave that night he must +be getting back to Boston and to his boarding-house, to pack his "ditty +box," as Phil Newell had dubbed his valise, for all such receptacles are +called ditty boxes in the navy.</p> + +<p>"All right, Walter, you go ahead," said Newell. "I'll stay with Caleb +and let you know just when you are to leave, so you won't be left +behind." And in a moment more the youth had run out of the navy-yard and +was on board of another car. He made one transfer, and in less than half +an hour entered Mrs. Brown's home.</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr. Russell, what brings you?" queried Dan's mother, surprised at +his appearance, for he rarely showed himself during the day excepting at +the dinner and the supper hours.</p> + +<p>"I've enlisted, Mrs. Brown, and I'm to get off to-night or to-morrow," +he answered. "You can let Mr. Keefe have my room now. I'm glad that it +won't be left empty on your hands."</p> + +<p>"So am I, Mr. Russell, for a poor widow can't afford to have a room +vacant long," replied Mrs. Brown, with a faint smile. "So you have +really entered the navy? Well, I wish you all the luck in the world, and +I hope you will come out of the war a—a—commodore, or something like +that." And she wrung his hand.</p> + +<p>Walter's belongings were few, and soon packed away in his valise. Then +he ran downstairs again and bid Mrs. Brown good-by and settled up with +her. "I'll write to you and Dan some time," he said, on parting.</p> + +<p>"Well, did you make it?" was Dan's question, when Walter appeared at the +news-stand.</p> + +<p>"I did, Dan." And the protégé of Uncle Sam told his youthful friend the +particulars.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you got on the <i>Brooklyn</i>," said Dan, with a shake of his +curly head. "She's going to lick the Spaniards out of their boots, see +if she ain't!" And his earnestness made Walter laugh. Dan was but +eleven, yet he read the newspapers as closely as do many grown folks.</p> + +<p>The afternoon papers were now coming in and trade picked up, so that +Walter had to help behind the counter. While he was at work a tall, +thin boy sauntered up and gazed at him doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"That's George Gimpwell," whispered Dan. "Didn't the boss say something +about hiring him?"</p> + +<p>"He did, Dan. Call him over."</p> + +<p>The errand boy did so. "Russell wants to see you," he explained.</p> + +<p>"I believe you were speaking to Mr. Newell about this situation," began +Walter.</p> + +<p>"Well—er—I asked him if he had any opening. I want work the worst +way," sighed George Gimpwell. "Of course, I don't want to do you out of +your job."</p> + +<p>"That's all right; I've just enlisted in the navy," replied Walter, and +he could not help but feel proud over the words. "So if you want this +situation, you had best remain around here until Mr. Newell gets back."</p> + +<p>"I will." George Gimpwell's face brightened. "So you've enlisted? I +wanted to do that, but I was too tall for my weight, so they told me."</p> + +<p>"So you've enlisted?" broke in a gentleman standing by. "Glad to hear +it, young man; it does you credit." And buying a magazine, he caught +Walter by the hand and wished him well. Soon it became noised around on +the block that Newell's clerk was going to join the <i>Brooklyn</i>, and half +a dozen, including the clerk of the hotel, came out to see him about it. +In those days, anybody connected with our army or navy was quite a hero, +and somebody to be looked up to, people unconsciously told themselves.</p> + +<p>It was after seven o'clock, and Walter was wondering if anything unusual +had delayed his employer, when Phil Newell hove into appearance. "It's +all right, my lad, don't worry," he said at once. "You don't leave until +to-morrow noon. You are to meet Caleb Walton at the New York and New +England railroad depot at exactly eleven o'clock, and all of the others +of the crowd are to be there too. The government wants to get you down +to Norfolk as soon as it can, and will, consequently, send you by rail +instead of by water."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! that will make a jolly trip," cried Walter. "If only I could +stop off at New York, take a run out to Camp Black, and see Ben."</p> + +<p>"I doubt if you'll be given time to stop anywhere, time seems to be so +precious. Caleb Walton thinks the Flying Squadron will up anchors before +another week is out."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't care how quickly they leave—after I am on board," +laughed the youth, much relieved that nothing had occurred whereby he +had been left behind.</p> + +<p>George Gimpwell now came up again, and soon he was engaged to take +Walter's place. Phil Newell promised him five dollars weekly, and as +Walter had gotten six, the good-hearted newsdealer put the extra dollar +on Dan's salary, much to that lad's delight.</p> + +<p>Eight o'clock found Walter at the stand alone, and it was then that he +penned the letter mailed to Ben, as mentioned in a previous volume, +stating he had enlisted and was making a strong "pull" to get on the +<i>Brooklyn</i>. "I won't say I am on her until it's a fact," he thought, as +he sealed up the communication, stamped it, and placed it in the corner +letter-box.</p> + +<p>The stand was located in a niche of the hotel, and was open only in the +front, above the counter. At night this space was closed by letting down +two large shutters attached to several hinges and ropes.</p> + +<p>"I reckon this is the last time I'll put these shutters down," thought +Walter, as he brought one down on the run. He was about to drop the +second, when a burly man, rather shabbily dressed, sauntered up, and +asked for one of the weekly sporting papers.</p> + +<p>"I'm thinking of going to the theatre," he said, somewhat unsteadily, +and now Walter learned by a whiff of his breath that he had been +drinking. "What's the best variety show in town?"</p> + +<p>"I'll give it up," said the youth, laughingly. "I haven't been to a show +since I came to Boston, and that's a number of weeks ago."</p> + +<p>"Humph! What do you do with yourself nights?"</p> + +<p>"I'm here up to eight or half past, and after that I either go home or +to one of the public reading rooms, or to the Young Men's Christian +Association Hall."</p> + +<p>"Humph! that must be dead slow." The man lurched heavily against the +counter. "What time is it now?"</p> + +<p>"About half past eight. I haven't any watch, so I can't tell you +exactly."</p> + +<p>"I've got a watch right here," mumbled the newcomer, still leaning +heavily on the counter. "Here it is. But your light is so low I can't +see the hands. Turn it up."</p> + +<p>Walter obligingly complied, and the fellow tried again to see the time, +but failed. "Strike a match," he went on; "I ain't going to no theatre +if it's as late as you say it is."</p> + +<p>Walter did not like the man's manner, but not caring to enter into any +dispute, he lit a match as requested, and held it down close to the +timepiece, which lay in the man's open palm.</p> + +<p>"Only eight-twenty," grumbled the fellow, slowly. "I knew you was off. +You don't—What's up?" And suddenly he straightened himself and stared +at Walter.</p> + +<p>"I want to know where you got that watch," demanded the youth, +excitedly.</p> + +<p>"That watch?" The man fell back a pace. "What do you—ahem—why do you +ask that question, boy?"</p> + +<p>"Because I know that watch," was Walter's ready reply. "It was stolen +from my uncle in New York only a few weeks ago!"</p> + +<p>"Was it?" The man's face changed color. "You—you're mistaken, boy," he +faltered, and fell back still further, and then, as Walter leaped over +the counter, he took to his heels and started down the half-deserted +street at the best speed at his command.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>A CHASE AND ITS RESULT</h3> + + +<p>Walter knew that watch, which had belonged first to his father and then +his mother, quite well, but if there was anything needed to convince him +that there was no mistake in the identification, it was furnished by the +hasty and unceremonious manner in which the partly intoxicated wearer +was endeavoring to quit the scene.</p> + +<p>"If he was honest, he wouldn't run!" thought the youth. "Ten to one he's +the thief who took the grip from Uncle Job." He started after the +fleeing one. "Come back here!" he shouted. "Stop, thief!"</p> + +<p>But the man did not stop; instead, he tried to run the faster. But he +did not turn any corners, and consequently, aided by the electric +lights, Walter could see him for quite a distance ahead.</p> + +<p>The youth ran but a few yards, then turned and clashed back to the +stand. Bang! the second shutter came down with a crash, and in a trice +he had the padlock secured. Then off he set, satisfied that a form in +the distance was the one he wanted to overtake.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" questioned a policeman on the second corner, as he +clutched Walter by the arm. "What are you running for?"</p> + +<p>"Didn't I call out to catch the thief?" answered the youth, sharply. +"Let me go. If you weren't so dead slow, you'd be doing something, +instead of standing there looking at the moon." And on he went again, +the officer shaking his fist after him, half of the opinion that Walter +was trying to joke him.</p> + +<p>At this hour of the evening the street was far from crowded, and Walter +kept the man ahead in sight with comparative ease. Four blocks were +covered, when the fellow paused and looked back. Seeing he was being +followed, he turned and darted into a small side street. Here were a +number of warehouses and several tenements. The door to one of the +latter stood open, and he lost no time in seeking the shelter of the +dark hallway.</p> + +<p>"That's the time I made a bad break," he muttered thickly. "When I came +up to Boston with that stuff I reckoned I was safe. I wonder if he'll +follow me to here? He had better not, unless he wants a broken head."</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Walter had reached the corner of the side street and +come to a halt. The narrow thoroughfare was but dimly lighted, and not a +soul was in sight.</p> + +<p>"He turned in here,—I am certain of that," said the boy to himself. +"More than likely he is in hiding in some dark corner. I wonder if I +hadn't better call an officer?"</p> + +<p>With this intention he gazed around, but no policeman was in view, and +he did not think it advisable to go back for the guardian of the peace +before encountered. He entered the side street slowly and cautiously, +peering into every nook and corner, and behind every bill-board, box, +and barrel as he moved along.</p> + +<p>He had just passed the tenement where the man was in hiding when the +sounds of muffled voices broke upon his ears, and the front door was +thrown back with a bang.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, and what are you doing in here?" came in an unmistakable +Irish voice.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me—I—I made a mistake," was the answer; and now Walter +recognized the tones of the fellow who had the watch. "I am looking for +a man named Harris."</p> + +<p>"Well, he doesn't live here,—so you had better get out."</p> + +<p>"Will you—er—tell me who lives next door?" asked the man Walter was +after, in a lower tone, evidently wishing to gain time ere leaving the +building.</p> + +<p>"A man named Casey and another named Barton live there. There ain't a +Harris on the block. If you——"</p> + +<p>"Hold him, please," burst in Walter, mounting the tenement steps. "He +has a watch that was stolen from my uncle."</p> + +<p>"Shut up, boy!" answered the man fiercely. "My watch is my own, and this +is all a mistake."</p> + +<p>"There is no mistake. Hold him, will you?"</p> + +<p>"I've got him," came from the gloom of the hallway. "I thought he was a +sneak or something by the way he was tip-toeing around here."</p> + +<p>"You are both of you crazy. I never stole a thing in my life. Let go, +both of you!" And then the man began to struggle fiercely, finally +pushing the party in the hallway backward, and almost sending Walter +headlong as he darted down the tenement steps and continued his flight +along the side street.</p> + +<p>As Walter went down, he made a clutch at the man's watch-chain, or +rather the chain which belonged among the Russell heirlooms. He caught +the top guard and the chain parted, one half remaining in the boy's +hand, and the other fast to the timepiece.</p> + +<p>"Help me catch him!'" gasped the youth, as soon as he could get up. His +breast had struck the edge of one of the steps, and he was momentarily +winded.</p> + +<p>"I will," answered the man who lived in the tenement. "Stop there!" he +called out, and set off in pursuit, with Walter beside him. But the +Irishman was old and rheumatic, and soon felt compelled to give up the +chase. "I can't match ye!" he puffed, and sank down on a step to rest; +and once again Walter continued the chase alone.</p> + +<p>Had the thief, Deck Mumpers, been perfectly sober, he might have escaped +with ease, for he was a good runner, and at this hour of the evening +hiding-places in such a city as Boston, with its many crooked +thoroughfares, were numerous. But the liquor he had imbibed had made him +hazy in his mind, and he ran on and on, with hardly any object in view +excepting to put distance between himself and his pursuer.</p> + +<p>He was heading eastward, and presently reached a wharf facing the harbor +and not a great distance from the Congress Street bridge. Here there was +a high board fence and a slatted gate, which for some reason stood +partly open. Without a second thought, he slipped through the gateway, +slid the gate shut, and snapped the hanging padlock into place.</p> + +<p>"Now he'll have a job following me," he chuckled. "I wonder what sort of +a place I've struck?" And he continued on his way, among huge piles of +merchandise covered with tarpaulins.</p> + +<p>Walter had come up at his best speed and was less than a hundred feet +away when the gate was closed and locked.</p> + +<p>"You rascal!" he shouted, but Deck Mumpers paid no attention to his +words. "Now what's to do?" the boy asked himself, dismally.</p> + +<p>He came up to the gate and examined it. It was all of nine feet high, +and the palings were pointed at the top. Could he scale such a barrier?</p> + +<p>"I must do it!" he muttered, and thrust one hand through to a cross +brace. He ascended with difficulty, and once slipped and ran a splinter +into his wrist. But undaunted he kept on until the top was gained, then +dropped to the planking of the wharf beyond.</p> + +<p>Several arc lights, high overhead, lit up the wharf, and he ran from one +pile of merchandise to another. Half the wharf was thus covered, when he +suddenly came face to face with Deck Mumpers. The thief had picked up a +thick bale stick, and without warning he raised this on high and brought +it down with all force upon Walter's head. The boy gave a groan, threw +up both hands, and dropped like a lump of lead, senseless.</p> + +<p>"Phew! I wonder if I've finished him?" muttered the man, anxiously. +"Didn't mean to hit him quite so hard. But it was his own fault—he had +no right to follow me." He bent over Walter and made a hasty +examination. "He's breathing, that's certain. I must get away before a +watchman shows up."</p> + +<p>He started to go, then paused and bent over Walter again. With a +dexterity acquired by long practice in his peculiar profession, he +turned out one pocket after another, transferring the cash and other +articles to his own clothing. Then, as Walter gave a long, deep sigh, as +if about to awaken, he took to his heels once more. He was in no +condition to climb the wharf fence as Walter had done, but helped +himself over by the use of several boxes; and was soon a long distance +away.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus2" id="illus2"></a> +<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><span class="smcap">He Bent Over Walter Again.</span></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>When Walter came to his senses and opened his eyes, the glare from a +bull's-eye lantern struck him, and he saw a wharf watchman eyeing him +curiously.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here, young fellow?" were the watchman's words.</p> + +<p>"I—I—where is he?" questioned the youth, weakly.</p> + +<p>"He? Who?"</p> + +<p>"The thief—the man who struck me down?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't seen anybody but you around here."</p> + +<p>"A thief who has my uncle's watch came in here, and I followed him, and +he struck me down with a club. When—how long is it since you found me +here?"</p> + +<p>"Several minutes ago. I thought you were drunk at first, and was going +to hand you over to an officer."</p> + +<p>"I don't drink." Walter essayed to stand up, but found himself too weak. +"Gracious, my head is spinning around like a top!" he groaned.</p> + +<p>"You must have got a pretty good rap to be knocked out like this," +commented the watchman kindly. "So the man was a thief? It's a pity he +wasn't the one to be knocked down. Do you know the fellow?"</p> + +<p>"I would know him—if we ever meet again. But I fancy he won't let the +grass grow under his feet, after attacking me like this."</p> + +<p>"I'll take a run around the wharf and see if I can spot any stranger," +concluded the watchman, and hurried off. Another watchman was aroused, +and both made a thorough investigation, but, of course, nobody was +brought to light.</p> + +<p>By the time the search was ended, Walter felt something like himself, +and arose slowly and allowed the watchmen to conduct him to their shanty +at one side of the wharf. Here he bathed his face, picked the splinter +from his wrist, and brushed up generally. A cup of hot coffee from one +of the watchmen's cans braced him up still further.</p> + +<p>"It must be ten o'clock, isn't it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Ten o'clock!" came from the man who had found him. "I reckon that clip +on the head has muddled you. It's about three o'clock in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Three o'clock in the morning!" repeated Walter. "Then I must have been +lying out there for several hours. That thief has escaped long ago." And +his face fell.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he's had plenty of time, if he did the deed as long ago as that. +Did he have anything else besides your uncle's watch?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but it's likely. You see my uncle came to New York from +Buffalo to sell some heirlooms which were left to my brothers and myself +when our folks died. The heirlooms were in a travelling-bag, and +consisted of the watch and chain, two gold wedding rings, and a diamond +that a grandfather of mine once picked up in Australia. My uncle left +his bag standing in the post-office for a few minutes, and when he got +back the grip was gone. The police hunted everywhere for the thief, but +all that could be discovered was that it looked as if the rascal had +come to Boston. To-night—or rather, last evening—a man came up and +showed the watch, which I know only too well, as it has a little +horseshoe painted on the dial plate. I tried to collar the fellow, but +he ran away, and after stopping in a tenement house, he came here. Now I +suppose he is miles away—perhaps out of the city altogether."</p> + +<p>"That's so, yet there is no telling, lad. The best thing you can do is +to report to the police without delay—if you are able to do it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess I am able, although my head aches a good bit, I can tell +you that. I am much obliged for what you have done for me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right—hope you get your belongings," replied the +watchman, and led the way to the gate, which he unlocked. Soon Walter +was on the street, and walking as rapidly as his condition permitted to +the police station.</p> + +<p>At this hour of the night he found only a sergeant and several roundsmen +in charge. The sergeant listened with interest to what he had to say.</p> + +<p>"I remember that case—it was reported to here from New York some time +ago. The pawnshops were ransacked for the jewelry and the watch, but +nothing was found. So you are certain you would recognize the man again +if you saw him?"</p> + +<p>"I am—unless he altered his appearance a good deal. He had a small, +dark moustache, but otherwise he was clean-shaven."</p> + +<p>"Come into the rear office and look over our album of pickpockets and +sneak-thieves. That is what this fellow most likely is—and a peculiar +one too. No first-class criminal would do this job as he is doing it."</p> + +<p>"He drinks heavily—he was partly intoxicated when I met him," said +Walter, as he followed the station official into a rear office.</p> + +<p>"Then that accounts for it. A man can't be a really successful criminal +unless he keeps his wits about him. Here is the album. Look it over +carefully, and let me know if you see anybody that looks like your man." +And he left Walter to himself and reëntered the outer office, to hear +the reports of the roundsmen coming in.</p> + +<p>The book given to Walter was a thick one, filled with cards, photos, and +tin-types of criminals. Under each picture was written a name, usually +accompanied by several aliases, and also a number, to correspond with +the same number in the criminal register.</p> + +<p>"Gracious, but they keep pretty good track of them," thought Walter, as +he turned over page after page. "Who would think all these good-looking +men were wrong-doers? Some of them look a good deal more like +ministers."</p> + +<p>Walter had gone through half the book, and the photographs were +beginning to confuse his already aching head, when a certain picture +arrested his attention. "I've found him!" he cried out. "That's the +fellow, although he is minus that moustache of his!"</p> + +<p>"Did you call?" asked the sergeant, coming to the door.</p> + +<p>"I've found him. This is the man. His name is given as Deck Mumpers, +alias Foxy Mumpers, and Swiller Deck."</p> + +<p>"If he is called Swiller Deck, he must drink a good deal," said the +sergeant, with a laugh. "You are sure of this identification?"</p> + +<p>"I am. But he wants a moustache put on that picture."</p> + +<p>"We take them bare-faced if we can. This photo was taken in Brooklyn." +The officer turned to an official register. "Deck Mumpers, age +forty-two, height five feet seven inches, weight one hundred and +thirty-two pounds. Round face, big ears, broad shoulders, poor teeth. +Sent to Sing Sing in 1892 for two years, for robbery of Scott diamonds. +A hard drinker when flush. Now wanted for several petty crimes in New +York. Came originally from South Boston, where he was in the liquor +business." The sergeant turned again to Walter. "I guess you have struck +your man. I'll send out the alarm. What is your address?"</p> + +<p>"I have just joined the navy and am bound for the <i>Brooklyn</i>. But I can +leave you my uncle's name and address, and he can come on to Boston from +Buffalo, if it's necessary."</p> + +<p>"That will do, then," answered the sergeant.</p> + +<p>He brought forth a book in which to put down the details of the affair. +While he was writing, Walter slipped his hand into his pocket to see if +the slip of paper he had received at the navy-yard was still safe. The +paper was gone.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>ON THE WAY TO THE "BROOKLYN"</h3> + + +<p>"Oh, what luck!"</p> + +<p>"What is the matter now?"'</p> + +<p>"My order for a railroad ticket from Boston to Fortress Monroe is gone!"</p> + +<p>"Is that true? Perhaps Deck Mumpers cleaned you out after he struck you +down," suggested the sergeant, quickly. "Feel in your pockets."</p> + +<p>Walter did so, and his face blanched. "He did—everything,—my money, +keys, cash,—all are missing. What in the world shall I do now?"'</p> + +<p>"How much money did you have?"</p> + +<p>"About twenty dollars. The main thing was that railroad ticket order. If +that is gone, how am I to get to Norfolk?"</p> + +<p>"Was your name mentioned on the paper?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Where was it to be presented? any particular depot?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, the New York and New England railroad depot."</p> + +<p>"Then the best thing to do is to ring the railroad folks up and have the +bearer of the order detained, if the slip is presented," went on the +police officer, and stepping to the telephone he rang up central and had +the necessary connection made.</p> + +<p>"Is this the ticket office of the New York and New England railroad +depot?" he questioned.</p> + +<p>"Yes," came the reply over the wire.</p> + +<p>"A navy-yard order for a ticket from here to Norfolk, or Fortress +Monroe, has been stolen. It is made out in the name of Walter Russell. +If it is presented, hold the party having it and communicate with police +headquarters."</p> + +<p>"Is the name Walter Russell?" was the excited query, and Walter's heart +began to sink as he seemed to feel what was coming.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"That order has already been filled. It was presented about ten o'clock +last night."</p> + +<p>"I've missed it!" groaned the youth, and dropped into a chair. "What +will the navy-yard people say to this when they hear of it?"</p> + +<p>"I don't see how they can blame you," returned the sergeant, kindly, +"seeing as you were knocked senseless by the thief. Deck Mumpers has got +the best of it so far."</p> + +<p>He called through the telephone for a description of the party having +the order, and soon learned it must have been Mumpers beyond a doubt.</p> + +<p>"Can't you telegraph to Norfolk to have him arrested when he arrives?" +asked Walter suddenly.</p> + +<p>"You don't think he'll go all the way to Norfolk, do you?" smiled the +police officer. Then he turned again to the telephone. "What kind of a +ticket did that party get on the order?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"First-class, with sleepers."</p> + +<p>"He got a first-class ticket. Ten to one he'll not use it at all, but +sell the pasteboard at some cut-rate ticket office right here in Boston +and then buy another ticket for somewhere else."</p> + +<p>"I see!" cried Walter. "But if the ticket was sold here, could we trace +it?"</p> + +<p>"It is not likely, for many first-class tickets are alike. We might +trace the sleeping-car checks, but I doubt if Mumpers will try to do +anything with those."</p> + +<p>"But he may use the ticket," ventured Walter, hardly knowing what else +to say.</p> + +<p>"Oh, possibly. I'll have the men at the various stations keep an eye +open for the rascal," concluded the sergeant, and after a few more words +Walter left the station.</p> + +<p>It must be confessed that the youth was considerably out of sorts. "I +start off to recover some stolen property and end by losing more," he +groaned. "I'm not fit to join the navy, or do anything." And he gave a +mountainous sigh.</p> + +<p>It was almost five o'clock, and knowing Dan would soon be on hand with +Gimpwell to open the stand, he walked slowly in that direction. To keep +up his courage he tried to whistle, but the effort was a dismal failure. +Walter was naturally very light-hearted, but just now no one looking at +his troubled face would have suspected this.</p> + +<p>Reaching the stand, he opened the shutters and put out the light which +he had forgotten to extinguish. Soon the first bundles of papers came +along, and he sorted them over and arranged them for sale and for Dan's +route. The work was almost done when the carrier came along, followed +immediately by the new clerk.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, I didn't know you'd be here!" cried Dan. "Why didn't you come +home last night? Mother expected you to use the room, and you paid for +it."</p> + +<p>"I wish I had used the room," answered Walter, and went over his tale in +a few words, for Dan must be off, to serve several men with newspapers +before they themselves started off to their daily labors.</p> + +<p>"Say, but that's too bad!" cried the errand boy. "I've got two dollars, +Walter. You can have the money if it will do you any good."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Dan, I want to see Mr. Newell first. But it's kind of you to +make the offer."</p> + +<p>"I'd offer you something, Russell," put in the new clerk. "But the fact +is I haven't even car-fare; had to tramp over from Charlestown."</p> + +<p>Phil Newell put into appearance shortly before seven o'clock, coming a +little earlier than usual, to see that Gimpwell got along all right. +Calling him aside, Walter told of what had happened. He was getting sick +of telling the story, but, in this case, there was no help for it.</p> + +<p>"Douse the toplights, but you've run on a sunken rock, and no mistake, +Walter," cried the old naval veteran. "So he cleaned you out +completely, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Newell. I don't care so much for the money, but that order for +the railroad ticket—"</p> + +<p>"It's too had; too bad!" Phil Newell ran his hand through his bushy +hair. "I don't believe the navy-yard authorities will issue a duplicate +order."</p> + +<p>"Neither do I."</p> + +<p>"You see, some sailors wouldn't be none too good for to get such a paper +and then sell it for what she would fetch."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the worst part of it. I shouldn't want them to think I +was—was getting in on them—or trying to do so."</p> + +<p>"The best thing to do, as far as I can see, is to call on Caleb Walton +and get his advice."</p> + +<p>"Where does he live?"</p> + +<p>"In Charlestown, only a few blocks from the Bunker Hill monument. I +don't know the number, but it's on Hill Street, and I know the house."</p> + +<p>"Will you go with me? If I haven't the number—"</p> + +<p>"To be sure I'll go with you, just as soon as I can set the new clerk on +his proper course."</p> + +<p>"And, Mr. Newell, would you mind—that is, would you make me a—a +loan—" faltered Walter.</p> + +<p>"Out with it, my boy, how much do you want? I told you before I'd be +your friend, and what Phil Newell says he means, every trip."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind, sir. I don't know how much I want. I had twenty +dollars and thirty-five cents, and Mr. Walton said that was more than +enough to see me through until pay day came along."</p> + +<p>"Then here are twenty dollars." The proprietor of the news-stand pulled +a roll of small bills from his pocket and counted out the amount. "You +can pay me back when you recover your money, or else out of your pay +money, if they don't collar that thief. Have you had breakfast yet?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Then you had better get a bite while I instruct Gimpwell. I'll be ready +for you in quarter of an hour."</p> + +<p>Fifteen minutes found them on the way, taking a car which took them +directly over to Charlestown, along the navy-yard and up Hill Street.</p> + +<p>"Here we are," cried Phil Newell, as he stopped the car. "And just in +time, for there is Caleb Walton leaving his house now."</p> + +<p>"What brings you up?" demanded the gunner, when confronted. "Well, this +is certainly a mess," he continued, after he had been told. "No, I'm +certain they won't issue a duplicate order, for Captain Line is out of +the city."</p> + +<p>"But we might try and see what we can do," insisted Phil Newell.</p> + +<p>"To be sure; come on." And the three set off for the navy-yard. Here it +looked at first as if nothing could be gained, but finally one of the +higher officers took it upon his own shoulders to give Walter a new +order, at the same time saying something about charging it up to the +Emergency Account.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's a big relief," murmured Walter, on coming away. "I feel as +if a thousand pounds were taken from my heart." And he certainly looked +it.</p> + +<p>"I must leave you now," said Caleb Walton. "Be sure and be at the depot +on time, and take care of that new order."</p> + +<p>"It's pinned fast in my pocket," said the youth. "If it goes, so does my +coat."</p> + +<p>On returning to the news-stand, Walter procured some paper and an +envelope, and in the reading-room of the hotel sat down and wrote a long +letter to his uncle, Job Dowling, telling of his enlistment in the navy +and of what had happened during the night. "I think you ought to come to +Boston," he concluded. "If the police can't do anything, a detective +ought to be set on this Deck Mumper's track. You are holding a good deal +of money in trust for Ben, Larry, and me, and for my part, I would spend +a good deal rather than see father's watch and his and mother's wedding +rings gone forever,—not to mention grandfather's diamond, which alone +is worth at least two hundred dollars. Write to me concerning this, and +send the letter to the <i>Brooklyn</i>, Off Fortress Munroe, Va."</p> + +<p>This letter was mailed without delay, and soon after Walter bade Phil +Newell, Dan, and several others good-by, and, grip in hand, walked to +the depot. Here he found several jackies already assembled, and soon +learned that they were members of Walton's party. In a few minutes +Walton himself came hurrying down Federal Street, with several green +hands in tow.</p> + +<p>"All here?" he demanded, and began to "count noses." Only one man was +missing, and he soon put in an appearance, and all entered the depot and +procured their tickets. Then Walter asked about the stolen order, but +the clerk had heard nothing new concerning it. "You were mighty lucky to +get another order," he said with a grin. "Next time they may make you +walk the tracks."</p> + +<p>The train was in, and hurrying out to the long shed, they found their +proper places. Soon there came a sharp jerk, the train moved off; and +the long journey southward was begun.</p> + +<p>For a seat-mate Walter had a typical Yankee lad, one from the coast of +Maine, a young fellow who knew but little about warships, but who had +spent several years on the rolling deep, in voyages to South America, to +Nova Scotia, and elsewhere. His name was Silas Doring, and Walter found +him talkative, although not objectionably so.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I couldn't hardly wait till I got to Boston," said Si, for that +was what he said all of his friends "to hum" called him. "We'll lick the +Spanish out of their boots, see if we don't!"</p> + +<p>"You are bound for the <i>Brooklyn</i>?" asked Walter.</p> + +<p>"Thet's it, if they want me, otherwise I'm booked for the <i>Texas</i>. Putty +good for a boy from Maine to go on the <i>Texas</i>, ain't it, he! he! But I +don't care much. They can put me on the <i>San Francisco</i> if they want +to—so long as they give me a chance at them tarnal Dons. When the +<i>Maine</i> was blowed up, why, I jest jumped up an' down an' up an' down +with rage. 'Si Doring,' sez I, 'Si Doring, are you a-going to let such +an insult an' crime go by unnoticed? Not much!' sez I. 'I'll join the +navy, an' help blow all of the Spanish to Jericho,'—an' I'm going to do +it!" And the Yankee lad struck his fist into his open palm with a thump +of energy.</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew as much about ships as you do," ventured Walter. "I've +been on two trips across Lake Erie, and know something, but I'm afraid +I'll feel like a fish out of water when I get on a man-o'-war."</p> + +<p>"We'll keep our eyes and ears open, and try to learn—that's the only +way. I know every rope on a merchantman, kin name 'em from fore royal +stay to topping lift, but that ain't the hundredth part on it. We've got +to learn our vessel jest as a person has got to learn a new city and +its streets, fer boats ain't built one like another, not by a jugful! +And after we have learned the ship, we've got to learn the guns, and the +fire-drill, and how to clear ship for action, and a lot more, not to say +a word about learning how to knock out them Dons, as some calls 'em. Oh, +we'll have our hands full after we get on board, don't forget it!" And +Si Doring shook his head vigorously.</p> + +<p>On and on sped the train until Hyde Park was reached. Here a brief stop +was made, and several persons including a sailor got on board. The +sailor came through the car as if looking for somebody and finally found +Caleb Walton and shook hands.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm bound for Norfolk, too," Walter and Si Doring heard him +remark.</p> + +<p>"By gum!" whispered the Yankee sailor. "I wonder if thet chap is going +with us?"</p> + +<p>"Do you know him?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"Know him? jest guess I do! His name is Jim Haskett, and he used to be +the mate of the <i>Sunflower</i>, a three-master from Penobscot. I sailed +under him once, and he was the hardest man on shipboard I ever got next +to. If he gets in the navy, he'll make everybody under him dance to his +pipings, and worse."</p> + +<p>"If that's the case, I sincerely hope he isn't assigned to my ship," was +Walter's comment. "I haven't any use for a bully, big or little."</p> + +<p>"I owe Jim Haskett many an old score; I would like to get the chance to +even up," went on the Yankee. "But I've enlisted to do my duty and lick +the Spanish, and if Haskett leaves me alone, I'll leave him alone. Here +he comes now." And Si straightened up.</p> + +<p>The former mate of the <i>Sunflower</i> passed down the aisle slowly. When he +saw the Yankee he started and then scowled at him. "Have you enlisted?" +he asked, in a voice that was far from pleasant.</p> + +<p>"I have," returned Si. "Got any objections, Haskett?"</p> + +<p>"Humph!" was the only answer, and the ex-mate of the <i>Sunflower</i> passed +on, to drop into a vacant seat some distance behind them.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's a corker," whispered the Yankee, and Walter nodded to show +that he agreed with him. Walter was destined to many an encounter with +Jim Haskett before his first term in the navy should come to an end.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>SOMETHING ABOUT WAR AND PRIZE MONEY</h3> + + +<p>Commodore George Dewey's great victory over Admiral Montojo occurred on +May 1, 1898, and was the first to be scored during our war with Spain.</p> + +<p>Previous to this time, matters had moved along swiftly, but with no +definite results. Following the wanton destruction of our battleship +<i>Maine</i> in the harbor of Havana, in February, popular indignation arose +to a fever heat against the country which had offered the American flag +several insults in the past, and which was now engaged in a ruthless +effort to put down the long-standing rebellion in Cuba, be the cost what +it might.</p> + +<p>For many months our President, Congress, and the people had watched, +with anxious eyes, the progress of events in Cuba—had seen the Cubans +doing their best to throw off the yoke of Spanish tyranny and +oppression. From a little uprising here, and another there, the +rebellion spread all over what was no longer "the ever-faithful isle," +until rich and poor, those of Cuban-Spanish blood, and those whose +ancestors had been negroes and Indians, became involved in it. At first +there was no army, only bands of guerillas, who fled to the mountains +whenever a regular Spanish force presented itself, but soon the conflict +assumed a definite shape, a rebel army was formed, to be commanded by +Generals Gomez, Antonio Maceo, Calixto Garcia, and others, and then +Spain awoke to the realization that Cuba, her richest colonial +possession, with the possible exception of the Philippines, was about to +break away from her.</p> + +<p>This crisis filled the rulers in Spain with alarm, for Cuba had turned +into her treasury millions of <i>pesetas</i> every year, for which the island +got little or nothing in return. "Cuba must, and shall be subdued," was +the cry, and thousands of soldiers were transported from Spain and +elsewhere, to be landed at Havana, Santiago, and other points. These +soldiers immediately took possession of all the larger cities, causing +those in rebellion to withdraw to the villages and to the forests and +mountains.</p> + +<p>A bloody warfare lasting between two and three years followed, and +thousands of the rebels, including the noble Antonio Maceo, one of the +best negro patriots that ever existed, were slain. In addition to this, +millions of dollars' worth of property were destroyed, in the shape of +torn-up railroads, burnt sugar and tobacco plantations, and sacked +villages and towns. Every owner of property was compelled to take sides +in the conflict, and if he did not side with those who waited upon him, +then his property was either confiscated or destroyed.</p> + +<p>The Spanish authorities had started out to crush the rebellion on the +spot. As time went by and the rebels grew stronger and stronger, those +in command saw that extreme measures must be resorted to, or the +campaign would prove a failure. The majority of the Cuban men were away +from their homes. At once orders were issued to drive all the +defenceless women and children into the cities held by the Spanish. This +was accomplished under the pretext that Spain wished to keep them from +harm. Once driven into the larger places, these women and children were +not fed and cared for, but were allowed to either live upon the charity +of those about them, or starve. These poor people were called +<i>reconcentrados</i>, and it is a matter of record that before the war +closed nearly three hundred thousand of them gave up their lives through +neglect and lack of food.</p> + +<p>The people of the United States had stood by mutely and seen the war +waged against the rebels who well deserved their liberty, but no one +could stand by and see women, children, and helpless old men starved to +death. At once it was proposed to send relief ships to Cuba, but Spain +frowned at this, saying that such relief was only one way of helping +those who had taken up arms against her.</p> + +<p>At this time there were many Americans in Havana and elsewhere in Cuba, +and as a matter of self-protection the battleship <i>Maine</i> was sent down +to Havana harbor to see that no harm came to them. How the battleship +was blown up and over two hundred and fifty lives lost, has already been +told in the previous volumes of this series. A Board of Inquiry was +appointed by the President, and it was soon settled that the explosion +which had wrecked the warship had come from the outside and that Spain +was responsible for the loss. Spain denied the charge; and the war was +practically on.</p> + +<p>The first movement of the authorities at Washington was to blockade the +city of Havana and a large portion of the coast to the east and the west +of that port. This work was intrusted to Commodore (afterwards Admiral) +Sampson, and he left Key West with the North Atlantic Squadron on the +morning of April 22, and in a few days had a grand semicircle of +warships stationed on the outside of Havana, Matanzas, Mariel, Cardenas, +Bahia Honda, Cabanas, and other ports of lesser importance. Later on, +other ports were likewise blockaded, and these portions of Cuba suddenly +found themselves cut off from the outside world. Sampson wished to +bombard Havana and bring the Spanish stationed there to terms at once, +but this suggestion was overruled, as it was imagined that Spain might +be brought to terms without such a great loss of life.</p> + +<p>As soon as the blockading of the ports mentioned began, the President +called for volunteers, and how nobly all our states responded we have +already learned in "A Young Volunteer in Cuba." The regular army was +also hurried to the south-east and concentrated at Tampa and other +points, while the volunteers remained in their various state camps, +waiting to be mustered into the United States service. Of the grand +movement to Cuba we shall hear later.</p> + +<p>The news of Commodore Dewey's glorious victory, as related in "Under +Dewey at Manila" thrilled our people as they had not been thrilled for +years. In the army and the navy were men from both the North and the +South, and sectionalism was now wiped out forever, and all stood +shoulder to shoulder under Old Glory, fighting for the sake of Humanity. +The battle-cries were "Free Cuba!" and "Remember the <i>Maine</i>!" and +certainly none could have been more inspiring.</p> + +<p>The blockading of so long a coast line required a great many warships, +and as it was not deemed advisable to place all our big vessels on this +duty, the authorities lost no time in buying or leasing a number of +ocean steamers and coast craft and converting them into vessels of war. +These vessels required a great number of men, and the Naval Reserves +were in great demand, as were also volunteers for the regular navy. This +was the reason that Walter and those with him were taken on so quickly. +Had he applied for enlistment into the navy during times of peace, he +would have found an entrance far more difficult, for Uncle Sam is +growing more and more particular every day as to the class of men he +allows to tread the decks of his men-o'-war.</p> + +<p>Shortly after Havana and its neighboring ports were blockaded, it was +rumored that Spain would send over a powerful fleet to bombard New York +or some other principal city along our eastern seacoast. This caused a +good deal of uneasiness, and steps were immediately taken to fortify all +principal points and mine many of the harbor entrances. Patrol boats +were also placed on duty, to give the alarm at the first sight of an +enemy. In some cases channel buoys were removed, and lighthouse lamps +were left unlit, so that no Spanish vessel might creep in under cover of +darkness.</p> + +<p>Acting Rear-Admiral Sampson, as he was officially designated, was kept +busy watching the blockade along the northern coast of Cuba, and in +distributing his auxiliary vessels to such points as would be most +advantageous. This being the case, Commodore Schley, next in command, +was left at Hampton Roads, near Fortress Monroe, Virginia, with what +was known as the Flying Squadron, a number of the fastest warships +riding the Atlantic. The Flying Squadron was to wait until the Spanish +fleet started westward, when it was to do its best toward doing as Dewey +had done to Montojo's fleet, "find it and engage it"; in plain words, to +fight it to the bitter end. Great things were expected of the Flying +Squadron, and in this the people were not to be disappointed, as we +shall see.</p> + +<p>The trip by rail from Boston to the South proved full of interest to +Walter, who loved riding on the cars. So far two transfers had been +made, one at New York, and the other at Baltimore, but at neither city +was any time allowed for seeing the sights. "It's a case of get there," +explained Caleb Walton. "You see, that Spanish fleet may sail for the +United States at any moment, and then Schley will be bound to go out on +a hunt for it in double-quick order."</p> + +<p>"I see that the Spanish Cape Verde Squadron has joined the fleet at +Cadiz, which is ready for sea," observed Walter, pointing to a morning +newspaper he had purchased on the train. "There are four first-class +cruisers, the <i>Viscaya</i>, the <i>Almirante Oquendo</i>, the <i>Infanta Maria +Teresa</i>, and the <i>Cristobal Colon</i>, besides two or three torpedo-boat +destroyers. At Cadiz there are the <i>Pelaya</i>, <i>Alfonso XIII.</i>, and +several other ships. If they all come over here, it seems to me they may +make matters mighty warm for us."</p> + +<p>"We want 'em warm," interrupted Si Doring. "I wouldn't give a rap for a +milk-and-water battle. Let us have it hot, say I, hot,—and knock the +Spanish to kingdom come!"</p> + +<p>"They won't dare to send all of the ships over," said Caleb Walton. +"They must guard their own coast. If they don't, some of our ships may +slip over there and make it interesting for them."</p> + +<p>"Do you think we'll carry the war to Spain?" asked Walter, with deep +interest.</p> + +<p>"There is no telling, lad. Some folks have it that half of Europe will +be mixed up in this muss before it's over. One thing is certain, Dewey's +victory at Manila isn't going to be such a smooth thing out there, for +the Filipinos are in a state of revolt and won't want us to govern them +any more than they want the Spanish; and besides, Germany, France, and +other nations have big interests there."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess the best we can do is to look out for our little end," +smiled the boy. "As for the rest, the authorities at Washington must +settle that."</p> + +<p>"Well said, lad; you and I couldn't run the government if we tried. But +we can do our duty, and that will be to obey orders and take what +comes."</p> + +<p>"How is it that you got Jim Haskett to enlist?" asked Si.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that fellow is after prize money," was the gunner's reply. "He has +been reading of the luck down around Havana, and he wants the chance to +earn a few hundred extra. Well, maybe he'll get it."</p> + +<p>"I've heard of prize money before, but I don't exactly know what it is," +observed Walter.</p> + +<p>"It's the money got out of a captured ship when she's sold. You see, +when a ship is captured she's taken to some port and turned over to a +prize court, and if she doesn't turn out a Scotch prize she is knocked +down under the hammer."</p> + +<p>"I know what you mean by knocking her down under the hammer. But why +doesn't the rule apply to a Scotch vessel?"</p> + +<p>At this query of Walter's Caleb Walton burst into a roar of laughter. +"It's easy to see you're a landsman," he said. "I didn't say a Scotch +vessel; I said a Scotch prize—a ship captured illegally, and one that +must be given back to her owners. I don't know where that term came +from, but it's what the men in the navy always use."</p> + +<p>"I see."</p> + +<p>"A legitimate prize is sold, and then the money is divided. If the +vessel captured was the equal of that taking her, then all the prize +money goes to her captain and crew; but if the captured ship is +inferior, then her takers get only half of the money, and Uncle Sam +keeps the balance."</p> + +<p>"And what part would I get if my ship took a prize?" went on Walter, +more interested than ever, for the question of prize money had not +appealed to him before.</p> + +<p>"You would get a share according to your regular pay—perhaps one dollar +out of every five or ten thousand."</p> + +<p>"That wouldn't be much—on a small craft."</p> + +<p>"You are right, lad, but it would be a tidy amount on a big warship +worth two or three millions. The division of the prize money is +regulated according to law, so there can't be any quarrelling. The +commander of a fleet gets one-twentieth, the commander of a ship +one-tenth of that coming to his ship (when there are more ships than one +interested in the prize), and so on, and we all get our money even if we +are on temporary leave of absence."</p> + +<p>"But what does Uncle Sam do with his share?" put in Si.</p> + +<p>"His share is put into a fund that is used toward paying naval officers, +seamen, and marines the pensions due them. These pensions are, of +course, not as large as those of the army, but they are considerable."</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope we strike a big prize, or half a dozen little ones," said +Walter. "On a pay of eleven dollars a month a fellow can't expect to get +very rich."</p> + +<p>"Do your duty, lad, and you may rise before the war is over." The old +gunner caught Walter by the arm. "Come with me," and Caleb Walton arose, +and led the way to the smoking-car. Wondering what was meant by this +movement, Walter followed.</p> + +<p>"I want to have a quiet talk with you," went on Caleb Walton, after they +were seated in a secluded corner. "Do you smoke?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"You're just as well off. But I must have my pipe." Caleb Walton drew +forth a brier-root, filled it with a dark mixture of tobacco, and lit +it. "Ah, that's just right. And now to business." And he threw one leg +over the other. For a moment he gazed thoughtfully at Walter, and the +boy wondered what was coming next. He was satisfied that it must be of +more than ordinary importance, otherwise the old gunner would not have +asked him to come to the smoking-car, away from their companions.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>A GLIMPSE OF THE PRESIDENT</h3> + + +<p>"You see it's this way," began Caleb Walton, after gazing for a moment +at Walter. "Phil Newell is your friend, isn't he?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed!" responded the boy, warmly.</p> + +<p>"Exactly—likewise he is my friend, too. We served together for years, +and I sometimes looked up to Phil as a kind of elder brother. Well, +after you left us at the navy-yard he and I had a long talk about you, +and he made me promise to keep my eye on you—do you understand?"</p> + +<p>"I think I do."</p> + +<p>"Now, keeping an eye on you is out of the question unless you are placed +where I can see you."</p> + +<p>"But aren't we both to go aboard of the <i>Brooklyn</i>?" cried Walter.</p> + +<p>"Yes, according to the course we're steering now. But both being on the +<i>Brooklyn</i> doesn't cover the bill. I expect to be in charge of one of +the guns—will be if Bill Darworthy is still in the hospital. Now if +you enter as a mere boy, or even as a landsman, it may be that you'll +never get around to where I am. You must remember that the <i>Brooklyn</i> is +a big ship, and all the men on her are divided into classes,—officers, +petty officers, seamen, gunners, marines, and so on,—and one class is +pretty well separated from another."</p> + +<p>"I presume that is so, but I never thought of it before."</p> + +<p>"Even seamen are divided into seamen gunners, apprentices and the like, +and if you went on as a mere boy you might not see me once a week, +unless we happened to be off duty at the same time."</p> + +<p>"I see what you are driving at, Mr. Walton; you—"</p> + +<p>"Avast there, Walter, no mister for me, please. I'm plain Caleb Walton."</p> + +<p>"Well then, Walton, you want to get me attached to that gun you hope to +have placed in your charge?"</p> + +<p>"Now you've struck the bull's-eye, lad. The thing of it is, can I manage +it?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure you must know more about that than I do. I'll like it +first-rate if you could, for I—well, to be plain, I like you."</p> + +<p>Caleb Walton held out his horny hand. "The liking is mutual, Walter, and +there's my fist on it. Now I have an idee." The old gunner took several +puffs at his pipe. "I know Captain Cook of the <i>Brooklyn</i> tolerably +well—served under him for a short spell, and once did a little private +business for him. Now, Captain Cook won't do a thing as is out of his +line of duty, but still——"</p> + +<p>"He may aid you in having me assigned to the gun you expect to have +charge of?" finished Walter.</p> + +<p>"That's it. I think I can work the deal—almost sure of it,—but you +must help me."</p> + +<p>"What must I do?"</p> + +<p>"Say nothing and leave it all to me, and if my plan goes through, don't +tell any one that you were favored. If you do, you'll only make +enemies."</p> + +<p>"I'll remember that. But what of Haskett, Doring, and the others?"</p> + +<p>"I'd like to have Doring in my gang—he's the right sort. I don't want +that scowling Jim Haskett, not after what Doring has told me of him. But +he's out of it, anyway, for he enlisted as a first-class seaman, at +twenty-six dollars per month."</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew a little more about a warship," said the youth, +longingly. "The more I hear, the less I seem to know."</p> + +<p>"It will all come to you in time, and when you are on board I'll show +you all I can. It would do no good to talk about guns and the like until +I can point out the different parts to you, for you wouldn't know a +breech-block from a priming-wire until you laid eyes on it."</p> + +<p>"But how is a ship commanded? Won't you tell me something about that?"</p> + +<p>"Of course you mean a warship, not a merchantman. Well, the highest +officer is, of course, the captain, although the vessel may be the +flagship of a commodore or an admiral."</p> + +<p>"And what of a commodore and an admiral? You see I'm awfully green, when +it comes down to the navy. My younger brother Larry is the real sailor +in our family."</p> + +<p>"You'll get there, lad; anybody will who is in for learning as you are. +An admiral is the highest officer in any navy, and he commands +everything that floats, from battleship to despatch tug. Next to him is +the vice-admiral. In the United States navy these offices don't exist +any more, having died out with the deaths of Admiral Porter and +Vice-Admiral Rowan."</p> + +<p>"But the newspapers speak of Admiral Sampson."</p> + +<p>"He is acting rear-admiral, but holds only the office of commodore. He +commands a fleet of warships, while a commodore commands only a +squadron; that is, four or six, usually, although he may have more at +times. His ships are generally divided into two divisions."</p> + +<p>"I understand. Please go on."</p> + +<p>"Well, as I said before, the captain really commands the ship. Next to +him are the commander and the lieutenant-commander. The first of these +takes orders from the captain and issues them to those under him. The +lieutenant-commander is called the executive officer, and he's always +put down as the hardest worked man on the ship. What he does would fill +a book, and he rarely gets leave of absence, for nobody can spare him."</p> + +<p>"But what does he do?"</p> + +<p>"Well, in the first place he sees that the whole crew keeps straight, +and he keeps a conduct book for reference. He hears all complaints and +straightens out all difficulties. He sees to it that the ship is kept +clean, and he has the say about arranging messes. He must also station +the hands for the various fire, sail, and boat drills, the gun +exercises, and the drills with small-arms and cutlasses. Then every +night at eight o'clock he receives the reports of petty officers, to +show that each department is O. K. up to that hour. And there is a lot +more besides."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, but I don't care to be an executive officer," smiled Walter. +"But perhaps he gets well paid for it."</p> + +<p>"He earns from twenty-eight hundred to three thousand dollars per year. +The commander gets five hundred more than that. A commodore gets five +thousand a year, and a rear-admiral six thousand, when at sea. When on +shore all these figures are slightly reduced."</p> + +<p>"Those are nice salaries."</p> + +<p>"That is true. But don't forget that everybody on the ship in the shape +of an officer must board himself. The crew does that too, but Uncle Sam +makes them an allowance for that purpose."</p> + +<p>"Don't the higher officers get anything?"</p> + +<p>"They have a ration allowed them—that or thirty cents. Of course such +a ration cuts no figure with a commander or a captain."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that's so. But please go on. Who is next to the executive +officer?"</p> + +<p>"The junior lieutenant, and then come the ensigns and naval cadets; that +is, those young fellows from Annapolis who are studying up to become +higher officers."</p> + +<p>"And after that what?"</p> + +<p>"Then come the warrant officers, that is, those warranted by our +President, and they include boatswain, gunner, carpenter, and +sail-maker. And you mustn't forget the marines—the soldier-sailors."</p> + +<p>"Gracious, what a lot! Any more?"</p> + +<p>"We are not half through, lad, but the others will explain themselves by +their titles, such as chief engineer, chief surgeon, paymaster, and +chaplain. The chaplain holds the relative position to a captain or a +commander, but his whole duty is to hold church and keep the men from +going wrong, morally and spiritually. Besides these, we have boatswain's +mate, gunner's mate, and the like. Then among the seamen the leading men +are called captains; as, for instance, captain of the top, captain of +the afterguard, and like that. You'll soon get to know them all, never +fear."</p> + +<p>"How will I know them—by their uniforms?"</p> + +<p>"By their uniforms, and also by the stripes and devices they wear. Don't +you see this flaming spherical shell of silver that I wear? That shows +that I am a gunner and have seen over twenty years of service. If I was +a gunner with less time to my credit, the shell would be of gold."</p> + +<p>"And does everybody wear some device?"</p> + +<p>"Everybody, from a rear-admiral with his two silver stars and anchor +down to the apprentice who has his figure 8 knot. If I get to be a chief +gunner, I'll wear two crossed cannons instead of this shell."</p> + +<p>"And if you got to be a captain, what would you wear?"</p> + +<p>"A silver spread eagle, with an anchor at each end, on my shoulders."</p> + +<p>"That's another deal to learn. I should think a fellow would get mixed +on all these stars, eagles, shells, cannons, and the rest."</p> + +<p>"It takes time to learn, lad. Let me give you a bit of advice. If you +meet another person on shipboard and you are in doubt about it, salute. +You may be making a mistake, but it will be a mistake on the right +side."</p> + +<p>"I'll remember that. But I feel as if I had more than ever to learn. +Can't I get some book and study it?"</p> + +<p>"I've got such a work in my valise. I'll get it for you," concluded +Caleb Walton, and he arose. "But remember about that other thing—mum is +the word."</p> + +<p>"I certainly shall remember," and Walter smiled. "I'm awfully glad I've +found such a friend as you," and he squeezed the old gunner's hand.</p> + +<p>They returned to the other car, and soon Walter was deeply interested in +the volume which Caleb Walton loaned him. It was a technical work, +issued by the authority of the Navy Department, and contained all that +he desired to learn, and a deal besides.</p> + +<p>"Going to learn your duty as soon as possible, eh?" observed Si Doring, +as he looked over the boy's shoulder. "That's right. If you want to know +anything about sails or knots, call on me."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with calling on me?" put in the voice of Jim Haskett, +as he slid into the seat behind them, and leaned over. "I reckon I know +as much as Doring about a ship, and maybe a leetle more."</p> + +<p>At this Si Doring fired up on the instant. "See here, Haskett, I ain't +under ye no longer, remember that!" he cried. "I don't want you to talk +to me, or about me. I owe you one, and more, and I ain't forgetting +it—remember that!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't get on a high horse," growled the former mate of the +<i>Sunflower</i>. "I won't talk to you if you don't want me to."</p> + +<p>"And ye needn't talk about me, either. Think ye know a leetle more about +a ship than I do, eh? Well, maybe Captain Pepperill didn't think so, +when you let the <i>Sunflower</i> split her foremast in that blow off—"</p> + +<p>"I wasn't responsible for that!" interrupted Jim Haskett, his surly face +growing red. "You let the past drop, and I'll let it drop." He glared +savagely at Si, then turned to Walter. "Do you want some p'ints +explained, Russell?"</p> + +<p>"Thank you, but I would just as lief study this book for the present," +answered Walter, coldly, and somewhat astonished to learn that Haskett +knew his name.</p> + +<p>"Maybe I can make some p'ints clearer. I'm an old sea-dog, you know."</p> + +<p>"I think Doring can explain all I wish to know," continued the boy, +feeling he ought to stick up for the Yankee who had made himself so +agreeable since leaving Boston.</p> + +<p>"Don't want my advice, then?"</p> + +<p>"I think not."</p> + +<p>"All right, then, suit yourself. If you want to cotton to such a fellow +as Doring, you can do so, but"—he lowered his voice—"I reckon you are +making a mistake." And then, before either Walter or Si could answer, he +bounced up, and strode down the aisle and into the smoker.</p> + +<p>The train was approaching Washington, and shortly after this +conversation it rolled into the depot at the Capitol city, and came to a +standstill.</p> + +<p>"We stop here for fifteen minutes," said the porter to Walter, when +questioned on the point. "Give you sailor-boys time to stretch your +shoah legs." And he grinned, having been on a warship himself once, +serving as a "striker,"—one who waits on the mess tables.</p> + +<p>"Let us take a few minutes' walk; I am all cramped up," said Walter to +his Yankee friend; and Si readily agreed. Caleb Walton was willing they +should go, but warned them not to stay too long.</p> + +<p>"Fifteen minutes don't mean sixteen; remember that," he called after +them.</p> + +<p>"I should like to spend a few days here," observed Walter, as he and his +companion hurried on. "The Capitol, patent offices, and other buildings +must be very interesting."</p> + +<p>"I'd rather see President McKinley," returned the Yankee. "My, but he +must have his hands full these days!"</p> + +<p>"Do you want to see the President?" questioned a man who was just +passing them. "If you do, he's in his carriage three blocks below here. +There's a cave-in of a sewer, and his carriage just stopped."</p> + +<p>"Then here's our chance, Si!" cried Walter, eagerly. "Come on; we can +make it if we run. I wouldn't miss seeing the President for a good +deal!"</p> + +<p>"Thet's me!" burst out the Yankee. "Off we go!" And he started to run, +his long legs giving Walter all he could do to keep up with him. The +three blocks were covered, and they came to where the cave-in was +located, but only some very ordinary vehicles were in sight.</p> + +<p>"We're too late!" grumbled Si, crestfallen. "Come on back."</p> + +<p>"Too late for phwat?" asked an Irishman standing near the sewer.</p> + +<p>"We wanted to see the President."</p> + +<p>"Sure an' there goes his carriage down beyant." And the Irishman pointed +to a side street.</p> + +<p>It was still less than a block away, and without stopping to think twice +they made after it, and came up just as it was turning a corner. A very +trim driver sat on the box of the turn-out, and on the rear seat, the +sole occupant of the carriage, sat our country's chief executive.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" shouted Walter, impulsively, and waved his cap, and Si did the +same. Several others bowed and tipped their hats, and the President +bowed and tipped his silk hat in return. Then the carriage rolled +swiftly away.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus3" id="illus3"></a> +<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The President Bowed in Return.</span></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"It was him all right enough," exclaimed Si, enthusiastically, and with +a total disregard for grammar. "He looks jest like his pictures, only a +little more care-worn. I suppose he loses lots o' sleep these nights."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed. Being the President isn't the easiest berth in the world. +If I—" Walter broke off short. "Our train—I'll wager a dollar we'll +miss it!"</p> + +<p>"Creation! don't say that!" gasped Si; and then both took to their heels +as if running the race of their lives.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>A TALK ABOUT SPANISH SAILORS</h3> + + +<p>"The train is gone!"</p> + +<p>It was Walter who gasped out the words, as he and his companion rushed +upon the depot platform. In the distance they could see the end of the +rear car just vanishing from view in a cloud of dust.</p> + +<p>"Thet's so!" groaned Si, panting for breath, for they had done their +best to reach the depot in time. "What's to be the next move?" And he +looked anxiously at his companion.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know," was Walter's slow answer. "I—I almost wish I +hadn't seen the President—now."</p> + +<p>"Can't we take a later train?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know if the tickets will be good. Certainly we'll have no +sleeping accommodations for to-night."</p> + +<p>"Who cares for that, so long as we get to Fortress Monroe? Come on, let +us see what can be done." And Si led the way to the ticket office.</p> + +<p>The ticket-seller was busy, and it was several minutes before they could +get to him. "Yes, there will be another train in an hour and a quarter," +he said. "About your tickets, did you have stop-over privileges?"</p> + +<p>"We did not—we didn't intend to stop over," answered Walter.</p> + +<p>"Then I don't believe the conductor will accept them."</p> + +<p>"Gee shoo!" groaned Si, dismally. "Do you mean to say we've got to pay +the fare from here to our destination? Why, it will take all I've got +with me, and maybe more."</p> + +<p>"There ought to be some way of having our tickets fixed up," said +Walter. "Can't we go to the main office and see about them?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, if you desire," rejoined the ticket seller, and turned to a +number of others who were waiting impatiently to be served.</p> + +<p>The main offices of the railroad company were not far distant, and +hither they made their way. Inside, a young clerk learned what they +wanted, and then took them to an inner apartment.</p> + +<p>"Government fares, eh?" questioned the elderly gentleman to whom they +had been conducted. "What was the reason you didn't catch your train?"</p> + +<p>"We lingered to see President McKinley, who was out in his carriage," +said Walter. "We got so interested we forgot the time until we were just +about a minute late."</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't blame you much for wanting to see the man you are +fighting under," said the railroad official. "Let me see your tickets." +And, taking them, he wrote upon the back of each in blue pencil. "There +you are, but you'll have to ride in an ordinary coach."</p> + +<p>"We don't care if it is a freight," put in Si, earnestly. "We want to +get there." And, after both had thanked the official for his kindness, +they withdrew.</p> + +<p>"We're all right so far," observed Walter, as "to kill time," they +walked slowly down one of the broad avenues for which our Capitol city +is famous. "The question is, what will Caleb Walton think of us when he +finds us missing?"</p> + +<p>"I hope he doesn't think we are trying to desert!" cried Walter, to whom +this idea had not before occurred.</p> + +<p>"Some fellows wouldn't be any too good to desert, Walter. Only last week +a lot of fellows deserted on their way from one of the western states. +They got to Chicago, where they wanted to go, and that was the last seen +of them. They were like tramps—willing to do anything for a free ride +on the cars. But they ran the risk of being court-martialled for it."</p> + +<p>"I think the fact that we had our tickets fixed up will go to show what +our intentions were, Si. However, we have put our feet into it, and must +take what comes."</p> + +<p>After a walk of half an hour, both felt hungry and entered a +modest-looking restaurant on a side street. They had just ordered a +cheap meal each, when a newsboy entered with a bundle of afternoon +newspapers.</p> + +<p>"Have a paper, sir? Extra, sir; all about the Flying Squadron going to +sail. Only one cent, sir."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" questioned Walter. "Here, give me a paper." And he +grasped the sheet eagerly, while Si also purchased one of another sort. +Soon both were devouring the "scare-heads" showing upon each.</p> + +<blockquote><p>THE FLYING SQUADRON READY TO SAIL!</p> + +<p>Schley and His Warships May Leave Hampton Roads To-night!</p> + +<p>The Spanish Fleet Said To Be On Its Way Westward!</p> + +<p>Has It Sailed for Cuba or Will It Bombard Some City on Our +Coast?</p> + +<p>The Authorities Very Reticent, but a Strict Watch To Be Kept +from Maine to Florida for the Appearance of the Enemy!</p></blockquote> + + +<p>"By ginger, they're a-comin' over here, sure pop!" burst from the Yankee +youth's lips. "Supposing they bombard New York? Why, I heard tell that +they could lay out in the harbor and plant a shell right on the top of +Trinity Church, or come up to Boston Harbor and knock the top off of the +Bunker Hill monument!"</p> + +<p>"Our ships and forts won't give them the chance to come so close, Si. +But what I'm thinking of is, supposing the warships sail before we can +get on board?"</p> + +<p>"Thet's so!" Si Doring heaved a long sigh. "Why didn't we wait some +other time for to see the President? If we miss the ships, I don't know +what we'll do. We'll be stranded."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I presume, they'll put us on some other vessel. But my heart was +set on getting aboard the <i>Brooklyn</i>." And Walter sighed, too.</p> + +<p>Both had lost interest in eating, and swallowed the food mechanically. +Then, without waiting, they hurried back to the depot, bound that the +next train should not slip by.</p> + +<p>The route to Fortress Monroe was by way of Fredericksburg, Richmond, and +Newport News. Soon the train came along and they got aboard. The cars +were comfortable, but not nearly so elegant as the one previously +occupied.</p> + +<p>"It is odd to me to see separate cars for negroes and whites," observed +Walter, after the journey had begun. "We don't have any such thing up +North."</p> + +<p>"They will be done away with in time, I guess," answered Si. "By the +way, I see in this newspaper that among the first troops to be sent to +Cuba will be two regiments of negroes. Hurrah for those boys, say I."</p> + +<p>It was growing dark, and soon the car lamps were lighted. The boys read +their newspapers through from end to end, and Walter learned that the +volunteer regiments were everywhere being sworn into the United States +service as rapidly as possible.</p> + +<p>"I wonder who will get to the front first?" he mused. "It would be odd +if they should send Ben to the Philippines instead of Cuba. If only +Larry was with me to go into the navy. I am sure he would enjoy this +sort of service." And thus musing, he dropped asleep, never dreaming of +the part his younger brother had taken in the contest of Manila Ray.</p> + +<p>"Richmond! Change cars for James City, Williamsburg, and Newport News!" +Such was the cry which awoke him. He arose sleepily, to find Si snoring +heavily.</p> + +<p>"Si, wake up!" he cried, and shook his companion. "We have to change +here."</p> + +<p>"Change—for what?" questioned the Yankee, as he blinked his eyes in the +glare of an electric light. "How far have we got?"</p> + +<p>"Richmond. Come—the other train leaves in a few minutes."</p> + +<p>It was early morning, and the depot platform was deserted excepting for +the passengers that left the train. Soon the second train rolled in, and +they found a double seat, and proceeded to make themselves comfortable.</p> + +<p>"By ginger! I never thought of 'em before," remarked Si, suddenly.</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Our satchels, that we left in that first train."</p> + +<p>"I had mine checked through."</p> + +<p>"I didn't, because I wanted to look over some things of mine on the way +down." Si shook his head in dejection. "Say, but ain't I running up +against the worst luck ever was! I'll bet a new pocket-knife the satchel +is gone when I get to the end of this trip."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope not, Si. Did it contain much of value?"</p> + +<p>"It had my clothing in, a Bible that my mother gave me, and a ten-dollar +gold piece that I've been carrying around for twelve years for luck, +because it was given to me by a South American rain-maker, a kind of +water-witch I met in San Luiz, Brazil. And that ain't the worst on it, +either. The grip wasn't locked."</p> + +<p>"It's too bad. But let us hope it's all right, Si. Anyway, I wouldn't +worry until you know the truth," said Walter, trying to put a bright +face on the matter, and then he dropped asleep again, and the Yankee +youth presently followed his example.</p> + +<p>Luckily the train ran right through from Newport News to Hampton, which +is within two miles and a half of Old Point Comfort and Fortress Munroe. +The ride proved uneventful, and when they reached Hampton they fell +directly into the arms of Caleb Walton.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" demanded the old gunner, as he caught each by the +arm. "Missed the train, eh? I told you to be careful."</p> + +<p>"We'll know better next time," answered Walter. "But what of the Flying +Squadron? Has it sailed?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet, but the ships may leave Hampton Roads at any hour. I made up +my mind to wait for this train and then go on. I sent the others ahead."</p> + +<p>"What of my satchel?" put in Si.</p> + +<p>"It's in the baggage room. But hurry up; every hour counts just about +now." And he led the way to where the bag had been left.</p> + +<p>"Here is a big wagon bound for the fort," said Walton, as they left the +station. "We'll ride down on that, for the soldiers in charge gave me +permission, should you show up."</p> + +<p>The wagon was loaded with blankets, and the pile made a soft seat. Soon +there came a crack of a whip, and they were off, down a sandy highway +leading directly to the sea. Soon the salt air filled their nostrils.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we're in good shape to give the Dons a hot reception, if they show +themselves around here," said one of the soldiers, in reply to a +question from Walter. "We've got some of the finest guns in the country +at the fort, and can reach a ship ten or twelve miles out in the +harbor."</p> + +<p>"I should like very much to inspect a real fort," answered the youth. +"The guns must be even more complicated than on board a warship."</p> + +<p>"The disappearing guns are very fine. But I doubt if you could get +permission to go through now—at least, not until you were duly enlisted +into the navy and had your uniform on. You know we have strict orders to +keep all outsiders at a distance. We don't want any Spanish spies to get +plans of our hidden batteries and the fort itself."</p> + +<p>"Would they dare to try to get them?" asked Si. "'Pears to me that would +be a mighty risky piece of business."</p> + +<p>"Certainly they would try. You mustn't think that all Spaniards are +cowards—even if the authorities are responsible for blowing up the +<i>Maine</i>. They'll give us a good shake up, if they get the chance."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so," said Caleb Walton. "They are not as up-to-date as we +are. I know we can beat 'em at gun practice every round."</p> + +<p>"Don't brag. Wait till the war is over."</p> + +<p>"I'm not bragging—only talking facts, sergeant. I have a friend at the +Brooklyn Navy-Yard, and he wrote to me about the gunners on the +<i>Vizcaya</i>, when that Spanish warship was lying off Staten Island this +spring. He said they were—well tired, I reckon we'd call it,—and +didn't have any drills worth mentioning all the while the ship was +there. Now you know that won't do."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I know a man must keep at his drills if he doesn't want to +grow rusty."</p> + +<p>"Besides that, you must remember that four-fifths of their sailors don't +enlist for themselves. They are shanghied out of the seaport towns, made +drunk, and taken on the ships like so many cattle, and they are lucky if +they get away inside of ten or fifteen years. And in addition the +cat-o'-nine tails is always dangling afore their eyes. Now a man +treated like that can't make a good sailor, for the simple reason that +he knows he has been treated unjustly, and he can't take an interest in +his duties."</p> + +<p>"Gracious, don't you think you are stretching it a bit?" put in Walter. +"What of their officers?"</p> + +<p>"Nearly every one of them comes from the ranks of the nobility, and that +takes a good deal of ambition from the men, too, knowing it will be next +to impossible for them to rise, even to a petty office. Now in our navy +it's totally different. A man enlists of his own free will, he is +treated fairly even though subject to rigorous discipline, and if it's +in him he can rise to quite a respectable office and earn a good +salary—and he's certain to get his money, while the Spanish sailors and +soldiers go without a cent for months and months."</p> + +<p>"T know what you say about wages is true," said the sergeant in command +of the army wagon. "I have it from a friend who left Havana when Lee, +our consul, came away, that the majority of the Spanish troops stationed +about the city hadn't seen a pay-day for nearly a year."</p> + +<p>"And then there is another thing," continued Caleb Walton. "The +Spaniards have little mechanical ability, and before this war broke out +they had a great number of engineers and the like who were foreign +born—Englishmen, Frenchmen, and Germans principally. Now those men +won't stay on Spain's warships during this little muss,—at least the +Englishmen and Germans won't,—and a green hand at a marine engine can +do more damage in ten minutes than a ship-yard can repair in a month. +Take it, all in all, therefore, I think we have the best of it," +concluded the old gunner.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>THE MEN BEHIND THE GUNS</h3> + + +<p>By the time Fortress Monroe was reached it was quite dark, so but little +could be seen outside of those sturdy and frowning walls behind which +were concealed the heavy guns intended to protect the entrance to +Chesapeake Bay.</p> + +<p>The warships rode at anchor some distance beyond. To the squadron had +just been added the protected cruiser <i>Minneapolis</i>, and the <i>New +Orleans</i> and <i>St. Paul</i> were also expected, and all was a buzz of +excitement alongshore.</p> + +<p>"They'll be off before long," said one old soldier. "I know because I +saw one of the captains saying good-by to his family. Such a parting +means a good deal."</p> + +<p>"I understand a Spanish warship was sighted last night," put in another. +"We may have a fight right here unless Schley keeps his eyes open."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's got the <i>Scorpion</i> out on scout duty—she can take care of any +sneak work," was the answer. He referred to the gunboat <i>Scorpion</i> of +the auxiliary navy, which was doing duty just beyond the capes. The +<i>Scorpion</i> was fast, and carried a strong searchlight, so it was likely +nothing could pass her without being detected and the alarm being given. +Alarms were numerous, but they were likewise all false, for no Spanish +ship of war came anywhere near our coast.</p> + +<p>A boat was in waiting at the wharf, and Walter, Si, and the others were +ordered aboard without delay. The boat was manned by eight sturdy +jackies.</p> + +<p>"Up oars!" came the command, and up went the eight blades straight into +the air; "Let fall!" and the oars fell into the water; "Give way!" and +the blades moved in a clock-like stroke, and they were off to the ships. +It was destined to be many a day before Walter should set foot on land +again.</p> + +<p>"Halt! who goes there?" came suddenly from out of the darkness, and +Walter saw that they were lying beside what looked to be a bulging wall +of dark-colored steel.</p> + +<p>"Aye! aye!" was the answer, and there followed a short talk. "Got ten of +them, sir," said the wardroom officer, in charge of the small boat. Then +a rope ladder was thrown down, and the newcomers clambered aboard the +warship that was to be their home for so long to come.</p> + +<p>Walter gazed about him eagerly, but that look was hardly satisfactory, +for to the darkness was now added a heavy fog through which the ship's +lights shone but faintly. All had their baggage, and without ceremony +they were told to fall in, and were then marched below by order of the +officer of the deck.</p> + +<p>"This looks like home to me," exclaimed Caleb Walton, as he gazed around +the berth deck. "I went over the <i>Brooklyn</i> many a time when she was up +at the navy-yard, so I know her from stem to stern." He took Walter by +the arm. "Here is the baby I hope to manage," he whispered, and pointed +to one of the starboard monsters, whose long muzzle pointed frowningly +outward. "Isn't she a daisy?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose she is," was the boy's reply. "But how in the world do you +manage such a mass of metal? Surely a man can't do it by hand."</p> + +<p>"It might be done by hand, but nowaday everything is worked by +electricity and hydraulic pressure. You'll learn it all after you have +been on board awhile. At present just do what you are told and keep your +eyes open."</p> + +<p>Supper had been served some time before, but as it was not intended to +let the newcomers go hungry, a table was set and they messed together. +The swinging table and the tableware all interested Walter, especially +when he was provided with his own personal cup, plate, spoon, knife, and +fork.</p> + +<p>"As a gunner I'll mess with the other warrant officers," exclaimed Caleb +Walton, in reply to a question about messes from Walter. "You see, there +are a great number of tables. The commodore is entitled to dine alone, +so is the captain and the commander, while the other officers have what +they call the wardroom mess. Then there are the steerage mess, for +midshipmen, ensigns, and clerks; the master-at-arm's mess, for yeomen, +machinists, boiler-makers, and so on; and three or four other messes +besides, including that to which you will belong. We gunners dine with +the boatswain, sail-maker, and carpenter."</p> + +<p>The meal was a plain one, of bread and butter, coffee, cold corned +beef, and apple sauce, but it was well cooked, and all the new men and +boys ate heartily. As soon as it was finished, Walton hurried off to +interview Captain Cook, if he could obtain that privilege.</p> + +<p>"Well, where are we going to sleep? I don't see any beds," said one of +the boys, a timid lad named Paul Harbig. His query brought forth a roar.</p> + +<p>"Your bed is rolled up and lashed away, Paul," answered Si, who had +rather taken to the little lad. "Do you see those gratings over yonder?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, all the hammocks for this deck are stowed away behind that. When +it comes time to go to bed, we'll get them out, fasten them up to the +hooks you see about you, and there you are. And let me tell you there is +nothing finer nor a good canvas hammock to sleep in. I'll take it before +I take a greasy, dirty bunk in a buggy fo'castle every time."</p> + +<p>"But a fellow may fall out," suggested Paul.</p> + +<p>"If you're afraid of that, get a rope's-end and tie yourself in," +answered Si, philosophically. "But you won't tumble, unless we strike +some putty rough weather."</p> + +<p>The order was now passed to bring along all baggage, and Walter and Si +picked up their satchels. Thinking to take out several things he needed, +the Yankee youth opened his bag and put his hand inside.</p> + +<p>"By ginger!" came from him in an undertone, but loud enough for Walter +to hear.</p> + +<p>"What's up, Si?"</p> + +<p>"Thet ten-dollar gold piece is gone!"</p> + +<p>"Are you sure? Perhaps it has slipped among some of the clothing."</p> + +<p>"I'll soon see," was the quick response, and the Yankee youth dumped the +articles out in a heap. Sure enough, the golden eagle was gone.</p> + +<p>"Somebody has robbed me," came in a groan. "Now who did it, do you +suppose?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know. It might have been done here or on the train, or +at the depot."</p> + +<p>Si looked around him sharply. Not far away stood Jim Haskett, watching +him intently. As soon as the ex-mate of the <i>Sunflower</i> saw that he was +noticed he turned away.</p> + +<p>"I've got half a notion Haskett was the one to play me foul," he +whispered to Walter. "What do you think?"</p> + +<p>"He wouldn't be much of a man to rob a messmate of ten dollars."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you don't know Haskett. He's as close as he is brutal. Once we got +up a list to give Captain Pepperill a birthday present, but Haskett, +although he was first mate, only gave twenty-five cents,—no more than +Cooley, the cook, chipped in. In his eyes a ten-dollar gold piece is a +big lot of money."</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't do you any good to accuse him if you wasn't pretty certain +he was guilty," returned Walter, cautiously. "You don't want to get into +trouble right after coming on board. If you raised a row, they might put +both you and Haskett in the brig."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to ask him about it, anyway," answered the Yankee youth. +"See, he is looking at us, and it 'pears to me as if he was enjoying +himself to see me in trouble."</p> + +<p>Leaving his satchel and scattered clothing as they were, Si advanced +upon Haskett and without ceremony caught the man's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Haskett, I want to ask you something," he said, in a low tone. "Do you +know anything about this, or don't you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know—" The ex-mate of the <i>Sunflower</i> stopped short. "What are +you talking about, Doring?"</p> + +<p>"I left my satchel on the train, as you know. A ten-dollar gold piece is +missing. I want to know——"</p> + +<p>"What! do you accuse me of taking it?" demanded the man, wrathfully.</p> + +<p>"I asked you if you knew anything about it."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't. I've got my own affairs to look after. More than likely +the car porter took your money—if you really had that amount."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm going to find that gold piece sooner or later, as sure as my +name is Si Doring," exclaimed the Yankee youth, determinedly, and with a +shake of his head he rejoined Walter and Paul Harbig.</p> + +<p>The officer who had previously taken them in charge now came forward and +assigned them to their various sleeping places. This matter was readily +arranged, for one of the main features of the cruiser <i>Brooklyn</i> is her +commodious berthing quarters, there being two complete decks, running +from end to end of the ship, for this purpose, also an extra forecastle, +so that the vessel can accommodate a thousand men if required—a number +nearly double that of her usual crew.</p> + +<p>"It's a big hotel, with one room on a floor," thought Walter, as he took +the hammock assigned to him. He was glad to find Si on one side of him +and Paul Harbig on the other. Si showed both boys how to take their +canvasses and sling them. This work was just completed, when Caleb +Walton came back with a broad smile on his face.</p> + +<p>"It's all right," he whispered to Walter. "The captain treated me better +than I thought he would. He called up the chief gunner, and we had a +talk, and you are to take the place of a man named Silvers, who has gone +lame through having a cat-block fall on his foot. If you'll only mind +yourself, and study up as I tell you, you'll have the chance of your +life."</p> + +<p>"Study! I'm ready to begin right off," answered Walter, earnestly. "I'm +just crazy to get at that gun you pointed out to me. Can't you show me +something to-night?"</p> + +<p>Caleb Walton laughed outright. "Don't try to learn it all before you go +to bed, Walter," he said. "Of course, you know more than some +landlubbers who think that on warships of to-day they handle the guns +as they used to, when one man took the powder and ball from the +powder-monkeys, another rammed them home in the gun, and the gunner +sighted his piece and pulled the string. Those days are gone, and a head +gunner like myself has very little to do, even if the position is a +responsible one. Come, I'll get permission to go below, and show you +just how a big gun is served from start to finish. Folks talk about 'the +man behind the gun' when they really mean from eight to twelve men."</p> + +<p>The two hurried off, and presently descended an iron staircase which +seemed to lead into the very bowels of the ship. At last they came to a +steel trap-door, barred and locked.</p> + +<p>"Below this door is one of the magazines," explained Caleb. "It contains +the ammunition for the eight-inch guns in the turret above. The keys to +the magazine are in the captain's cabin, and can only be had on special +order and by certain persons. The magazines are kept locked continually, +excepting when in use or when being inspected. All of them are connected +with huge water tanks, so at the first sign of a fire they can be +flooded, thus lessening the danger of an explosion."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember the Spaniards tried to prove that the <i>Maine</i> blew up +from one of her magazines."</p> + +<p>"Such a thing couldn't happen in the American navy, because the +discipline is too strict. Now, when a gun is being served, several men +in the magazine get out the shells for the shellmen, who load them on +the ammunition hoist over there, which is nothing more than a warship +dumbwaiter. The hoist takes the shells up to the guns, in this case in +the forward turret. Other hoists supply the rear turret and the +secondary battery and other guns, including the rapid-firing weapons in +the military tops."</p> + +<p>"You mean those platforms around the upper ends of the two masts?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly. The tops are the places for the sharpshooters and the +range-finders."</p> + +<p>"The range-finders?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly. You see, it is a difficult matter to get an exact range on an +enemy several miles off, and we have to try to get the range in various +ways. One of the simplest ways is to station two range-finders in the +tops, as far away from each other as possible. Each man gets a bead on +the enemy with his glasses, and then proceeds to get the angle between +the bead and an imaginary line drawn between his station and that taken +by the other fellow. The three points—that is, the two range-finders +and the enemy—form a triangle, and having one line and the two angles +to work on, the working out of the problem gives the distance the +gunners are hunting for."</p> + +<p>"That makes pointing a gun nothing but a mathematical problem doesn't +it?"</p> + +<p>"It makes it partly a mathematical problem, lad. But having the distance +isn't everything, for that will only give us the height at which a gun +should be elevated in order to make its charge cover that distance and +hit the mark, instead of flying over it or ploughing the water below it. +After getting the distance we have to calculate on how the enemy's +vessel is moving, if she is under steam, and then, most important, we +have to let the gun go off at just the right motion of our own craft. In +some navies they discharge the guns on the upward roll of the ship, and +in others on the downward roll. My private opinion on that point is, a +downward roll in clear weather, and an upward roll in a choppy sea, when +you don't know just what is coming next."</p> + +<p>"I see. Firing a gun isn't so easy as one would imagine."</p> + +<p>"Easy enough if you want to waste ammunition, as those Spaniards did at +Manila. Gun practice is expensive, and Spain hasn't any money to waste +in that direction. Come, we'll have to get up to sleeping quarters now," +concluded the old gunner, as a drum beat was heard sounding throughout +the warship. "That's tattoo. It will soon be two bells, nine o'clock, +and then comes pipe down."</p> + +<p>"All right, I'm willing enough to go to sleep," said Walter. "But just +one question more. How do you count the time by bells on a warship?"</p> + +<p>"Just the same as on any ship, lad. The bell strikes at each half-hour, +starting at half-past twelve at night, which is one bell. This makes one +o'clock, two bells, half-past one, three bells, and so on, up to four +o'clock, which is eight bells, when you start again from the beginning. +By this means the day and night are divided into periods of time called +watches, as morning watch, middle watch, dog watch, and the like. You'll +get the lay of it soon," finished Walton, and then, having reached the +berth deck, the pair separated for the night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>COMMODORE WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY</h3> + + +<p>In a couple of days Walter began to feel at home on the flagship, and he +could no longer be termed a "greeny," strictly speaking, although there +were still a great number of things for him to learn. He was much +interested in the <i>Brooklyn</i> as a whole as well as in detail, and was +proud to learn that this armored cruiser was the largest of the class in +our navy, having a displacement of 9215 tons, as against her sister +ship, the <i>New York</i>, which had a displacement of about a thousand tons +less.</p> + +<p>"This ship is just four hundred feet and six inches long," said Caleb. +"She don't look so long as she rides the water, but as a city block is +ordinarily two hundred feet deep, so to speak, she would cover two +blocks of a side street, providing the street was sixty-five feet wide, +for her to rest in. That's pretty big, eh?"</p> + +<p>"And how much water does she draw, Walton?"</p> + +<p>"Draws twenty-four feet, which is the height of an ordinary two-story +house. Her three smokestacks are about a hundred feet high each, and +that gives her fires a first-class draught, sailing or standing still."</p> + +<p>"I'm awfully glad I'm on her," smiled Walter. "Oh, I do hope we have a +fight with the Dons. I want to see the big guns go off. I know the main +battery, as you call it, has eight 8-inch guns. How many guns are there +besides?"</p> + +<p>"There are twelve 5-inch rapid-fire guns, twelve 6-pounders, four +1-pounders, four Colts, and two field guns. Besides, we carry four +torpedo tubes."</p> + +<p>"We're a regular floating arsenal!" exclaimed Walter. "It must make +things shake when they all get to firing."</p> + +<p>"You'll think you've struck the infernal regions, lad, if we ever do get +them all a-going. Yes, the <i>Brooklyn</i> is nothing but a floating fort. +She's an unusual type, because she has an extra high forecastle deck. +Some folks don't think that makes her a beauty, but they must remember +that warships aren't built altogether for looks, although to my mind +she's as handsome as any of 'em. The high bow enables us to carry our +forward guns eight feet higher than those on the <i>New York</i>, and it will +come in mighty handy if we ever want to run full steam after an enemy in +a heavy sea which would drown out a ship with a low freeboard."</p> + +<p>"And why is she called an armored cruiser?"</p> + +<p>"Because she is protected by steel plating three inches thick on her +sides and on her deck, and under this is an additional protection of +coal and of cocoa-fibre, for keeping out water. It would surprise you to +see how the sides and deck, as well as the bottom, are built, were they +taken apart for examination."</p> + +<p>Discipline Walter found very strict, and once he had donned his uniform +he was kept employed from sunrise to sunset, his duties being largely +similar to those performed by his brother Larry on the <i>Olympia</i>. Early +in the morning he was aroused by the blare of a bugle, or the roll of a +drum, and given but a few minutes in which to dress and roll up his +hammock and put it away. Then came the work of washing down the deck, +followed by breakfast, and later all hands were called to quarters, to +attend some drill, sometimes at the guns, sometimes at the hose pipes +scattered about in case of fire, and occasionally with small-arms and +with cutlasses. Each afternoon there was a "run around," lasting from +ten minutes to half an hour. In this the men fell in singly or in pairs, +and ran around and around the deck, at first slowly until "second wind" +was gained, and then faster and faster. This is the one chance a jackie +gets of stretching his legs while on board of his ship, and how he does +enjoy it!</p> + +<p>Taking them as a whole, Walter found the ship's company a jolly crowd, +with but few men of the Jim Haskett stamp among them. The men connected +with the guns were a particularly brotherly set, and the youth soon felt +thoroughly at home among them. He was always willing to do anything +asked of him, and in return the best gunners on the vessel did not +hesitate to give him "points" whenever he asked for them. One jocularly +called him The Questioner, but Walter did not mind, and went on picking +up all the information possible.</p> + +<p>On his second morning on board Walter was talking to Si when a low roll +of drums reached their ears. "Hark!" cried the Yankee boy. "Two ruffles. +Do you know what that means? The commodore is either leaving or coming +on board. They always give a high officer that salute, or a similar +one."</p> + +<p>"Let us see him if we can," exclaimed Walter, who had not yet caught +sight of the commander of the squadron. They crowded to an open port and +were just in time to see Commodore Schley descend by the swinging ladder +to the gig. Soon the little craft shot out of sight through the fog, for +the day was far from clear.</p> + +<p>"He looks like a fighter," remarked Walter. "He has quite a record, +hasn't he?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, I was reading about him only last week. He was in the +Civil War, operating along the Mississippi, and after that he saw a lot +of fighting besides."</p> + +<p>"I know all about our commodore," said a gunner standing near. "My +father fought with him on the Mississippi, and also when Port Hudson, in +Louisiana, was taken. He is named after General Winfield +Scott,—Winfield Scott Schley,—for his father and the general were warm +friends."</p> + +<p>"It's a good name for a fighter; for certainly nobody fought better than +did General Scott, through the war with Mexico," was Walter's comment.</p> + +<p>"Schley entered the Naval Academy in 1856 and remained until 1861, when +the war broke out," continued the gunner. "They say he graduated at the +head of his class and was so well liked that he was given sea-duty on +the frigate <i>Potomac</i>, and in 1862 he was made a master, and ordered on +the <i>Winona</i>, of the Gulf Squadron.</p> + +<p>"After the Civil War was over, he was sent to the Pacific, and there he +aided in the suppression of an outbreak among the Chinese coolies in the +Chin Chi Islands. The United States consulate at this place was in +danger of being mobbed, but Schley took a hundred marines ashore, and +knocked the whole uprising in the head in short order."</p> + +<p>"No wonder he's a commodore," said Walter; and Si nodded approvingly.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't long before the young officer was made a +lieutenant-commander, and coming back from the Pacific, he was placed in +charge of a department at the Naval Academy. He remained ashore for +three years, then went to the coast of Africa, on the <i>Benicia</i>, where +he took part in a number of contests, and helped clear the Congo River +of pirates, and overthrew the forces defending the Salu River in Corea, +another bit of work for which he was warmly praised."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's a corker," cried Si, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"I'm not done yet," went on the gunner, who loved to talk about the +exploits of his old commander. "Of course you have heard how the Greely +Expedition to the North Pole got lost and couldn't get back home. Well, +it was Schley who went after them, and found Greely and six of his +companions at Cape Sabine and brought them safely back. For this +Congress voted him a medal, and President Arthur raised him to the full +rank of captain and made him Chief of the Bureau of Equipment, a very +important office in the Naval Department. But Schley couldn't stand it +on land, he must have the rolling ocean under him, and so he gave up his +berth ashore and took command of the <i>Baltimore</i>."</p> + +<p>"I remember about that," put in Walter. "I was reading about John +Ericsson, the inventor of the monitor. When Ericsson died, the body was +sent to Sweden, his fatherland, on the <i>Baltimore</i> under Schley."</p> + +<p>"Exactly, and the King of Sweden gave Schley a medal to commemorate the +event, at a grand gathering at Stockholm. From Sweden Schley took the +<i>Baltimore</i> to Southern waters, and while off the coast of Chili he +smoothed out what threatened to become a serious difficulty between that +country and ours on account of some of Uncle Sam's jackies being stoned +on the streets of Valparaiso. For this the Navy Department was extremely +grateful, and he went up several points on the register, so that it +didn't take him long to become a commodore."</p> + +<p>"He's certainly a man worth sailing under," said Walter. "I suppose he +is married?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and has several children—but that don't interest me," concluded +the gunner, who was an old bachelor, with a peculiar dislike for the +gentler sex.</p> + +<p>Since the time that Si had spoken to Haskett about the missing money, +the seaman had steered clear of both the Yankee lad and Walter. Perhaps +he was afraid that Si would accuse him openly of the theft of the gold +piece, or perhaps he was afraid of Caleb Walton, who was continually +around and ready to champion his "boys," as he had dubbed both. But +there was one boy who could not get away from him, and that was Paul +Harbig.</p> + +<p>"You're just the right sort to take to," said Haskett, as he caught Paul +by the arm one morning, while both were coming from mess. "You're too +much of a real little man to have anything to do with that Russell boy +or Si Doring."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I like them both very much!" answered Paul, and attempted to pass +on. With a frown Haskett caught him by the arm and swung him back.</p> + +<p>"See here, I want to talk to you," he cried uglily. "Has Si Doring been +telling you any yarns about me?"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus4" id="illus4"></a> +<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"<span class="smcap">See here, I want to talk to you.</span>"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"You let go of me," was Paul's only answer. "I don't want anything to do +with you."</p> + +<p>"Answer my question."</p> + +<p>"I haven't got to." And now Paul did his best to get away. He had just +twisted himself loose when Jim Haskett struck him a cruel blow on the +head.</p> + +<p>"You—you brute!" gasped the boy, as the tears came. He was about to try +retreating again, when Haskett caught him once more.</p> + +<p>"Now answer me, or I'll thrash the life out of you," he hissed into +Paul's ear. "And mind you tell the truth."</p> + +<p>"He said that he had a—a—" the boy broke off short. "I won't tell you, +there! Now let go!" And he began to squirm.</p> + +<p>"I know what he said," blustered Haskett. "Said he had had a ten-dollar +gold piece in his valise, didn't he?"</p> + +<p>"Ye-es."</p> + +<p>"And he accused me of taking it, eh?"</p> + +<p>"He didn't say so outright. He said you had been where you could get at +the bag."</p> + +<p>"It amounts to the same thing. As a matter of fact I couldn't get at the +bag any more than could you, or Russell, or Walton, or any of the +others."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that is so. Now let me go."</p> + +<p>"I will in a minute, but I want to tell you something, for it's not nice +to have folks taking you to be a thief," went on Haskett, tactfully.</p> + +<p>"I haven't said anything about the affair."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not, Paul, but Doring talks, and I reckon so do Russell and +Walton. During the past couple of days I've found more than one fellow +aboard the <i>Brooklyn</i> looking at me queer-like, and I can put two and +two together as quick as the next man. If I allow this to go on, there +won't be a soul speak to me after a while."</p> + +<p>"I shan't say a word—I'll promise you."</p> + +<p>"It's Russell who will talk the most, I reckon," went on Haskett, with +apparent bitterness. "Russell, the very fellow who ought not to say a +word."</p> + +<p>"I'll caution him, if you want me to," went on Paul, who was +tender-hearted and very willing to help anybody out of trouble.</p> + +<p>"Caution Russell! Not for the world. See here, I'll tell you something, +and you can tell Doring or not, just as you please. To the best of my +knowledge Russell is the thief."</p> + +<p>"Walter!" ejaculated Paul. "Oh, no, you must be mistaken. Why, why—how +could he get at the satchel? He was with Doring."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that. But I'm almost positive Russell is guilty."</p> + +<p>"Have you any proof? You shouldn't say such a thing unless you have," +retorted Paul, anxious to stick up for Walter, who had served him +several good turns since they had become acquainted.</p> + +<p>"I've got more proof against Russell than Doring has against me," +answered Jim Haskett, boldly. "And what is more, I can prove what I've +got to say."</p> + +<p>"But what have you to say?" came in a cold, heavy voice behind Haskett, +and turning swiftly the former mate of the <i>Sunflower</i> found himself +confronted by Caleb Walton. The old gunner's face looked stern and +angry.</p> + +<p>"Why—er—where did you come from?" stammered the seaman.</p> + +<p>"I asked you what you have to say against Walter Russell," demanded +Caleb. "Come, out with it, or by the jumping beeswax, I'll wipe up this +deck with you!" And he doubled up his fists.</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid, if you want to fight, Walton," replied Haskett, +recovering somewhat from his fright. "What I said about Russell, I'll +stick to."</p> + +<p>"But what have you got to say? out with it," was the old gunner's +demand.</p> + +<p>"I've got this much to say. I think Russell took Doring's gold piece, +and I am not the only one that does either. If you think I'm wrong, ask +Cal Blinker, the shellman. He heard almost as much as I did."</p> + +<p>"Heard what?"</p> + +<p>"Heard Russell talk in his sleep. It was last night. I got up to get a +drink of water and slipped and roused up Blinker. Then, when I went to +the water tub, I passed Russell's hammock. He was dreaming and talking +about the gold piece and saying that Doring would never learn that he +had it, and a lot more about hiding it under the gun. He went on about +the money and about hiding it for fully ten minutes. If you don't +believe me, go to Blinker about it."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>WALTER SHOWS HIS PLUCK</h3> + + +<p>"And is that all you have to say?" asked Caleb Walton, after a few +seconds of silence, during which he gazed so sharply at Jim Haskett that +the fellow felt compelled to drop his eyes. "Because a fellow dreams +about a gold piece, must you accuse him of stealing?"</p> + +<p>"That's all right, too," responded Haskett, doggedly. "I know he +wouldn't dream that way unless there was something in the wind. I'm +satisfied he took the money."</p> + +<p>"And I am satisfied that he is innocent," cried Caleb. "That boy would +never steal a cent from anybody."</p> + +<p>"Why, he was after a thief himself before he left Boston," put in Paul, +who had now sought protection behind the old gunner.</p> + +<p>"Well, suit yourselves," answered Haskett, with a shrug of his somewhat +rounded shoulders. "But let me tell you that I won't allow Russell, +Doring, or anybody else to speak of me as having taken the money—mind +that!" And he shook his fist savagely.</p> + +<p>"Here comes Walter now," announced Paul. "Walter, come here!" he called +out, before Caleb could stop him.</p> + +<p>At once Walter came up, an inquiring look upon his manly face, which was +now becoming sunburnt through exposure on deck. "What do you want, +Paul?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"It's only some of Haskett's nonsense," answered Caleb, ere the boy +could speak. "Tell us, lad, do you remember dreaming anything about Si's +gold piece?"</p> + +<p>For the instant Walter looked puzzled, then his face brightened. "I do," +he answered. "What of it?"</p> + +<p>"Tell us what you dreamed first."</p> + +<p>"Why—I—I can't remember exactly, excepting that I was having a good +lot of worry about it," he stammered. "You know how dreams come and go."</p> + +<p>"To be sure, Walter."</p> + +<p>"You dreamt about the money you hid, didn't you?" said Haskett, +sneeringly.</p> + +<p>"The money I hid? I hid no money."</p> + +<p>"Oh no, of course not!"</p> + +<p>"See here, Haskett, what do you mean?" And Walter strode over to the +seaman, his face flushing deeply. "Do you mean to insinuate that I took +Si's gold piece and hid it away?"</p> + +<p>"He just does," burst out Paul. "And he says you talked in your sleep +about it, too."</p> + +<p>"It is false—at least, it is false that I took the money. I might have +dreamed about it and talked in my sleep. We are not accountable for what +we do when we are sleeping."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you took the gold piece when you were asleep," said Haskett, +squinting suggestively at those surrounding him.</p> + +<p>"The gold piece was taken while Si and I were left behind in Washington. +It was taken by somebody on the train."</p> + +<p>"That's your story—and you've been trying to lay the thing at my door. +But I shan't stand it—not me," stormed Haskett. "I heard what you said +in your sleep, and so did Cal Blinker. If anybody is guilty, it is you!" +And he pointed his long, bony finger full in Walter's face.</p> + +<p>By this time a crowd of a dozen or more had gathered round, realizing +that a quarrel of some sort was in progress. "It's about a gold piece," +said one. "Haskett says Russell took it. Say, fellows, we don't want +anything to do with a thief."</p> + +<p>"Not much we don't!" answered a messmate. "Heave him overboard if he is +guilty."</p> + +<p>"This matter ought to be reported to the officer of the deck," put in a +third. "If there is a thief on board, no man's ditty-box will be safe."</p> + +<p>At Haskett's concluding remark Walter's face grew as red as a beet, then +deadly pale. For a moment he stood stock still, breathing heavily. +Suddenly he leaped forward with clenched fist and struck Haskett a +stunning blow on the chin which sent the seaman staggering up against a +gun-carriage.</p> + +<p>"That, for talking to me in this fashion!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" grunted the ex-mate of the <i>Sunflower</i>, as he caught at the gun +just in time to prevent himself from falling to the deck. "You—you +young rascal, what do you mean by hitting me?"</p> + +<p>"A fight! a fight!" cried several, and soon a crowd of about fifty +jackies surrounded the pair.</p> + +<p>"Wasn't that a pretty blow though! And he's only a boy, too!" came from +a gunner's mate.</p> + +<p>"I'll fix you for this!" went on Haskett, putting one hand to his chin, +where a lump was rising rapidly. "I never before allowed anybody to hit +me—leastwise a boy." And he rushed at Walter with a fierceness which +boded the youth no good.</p> + +<p>"Don't you hit him, Haskett," put in Caleb, catching the seaman by the +arm. "If you do, you'll have to settle this affair with me."</p> + +<p>"He hit me."</p> + +<p>"And you as much as said he was a thief."</p> + +<p>"And so he is."</p> + +<p>"I am not, and I've a good mind to hit you again for saying so," burst +out Walter, and before anybody around could separate them he and Haskett +had closed in. Several ineffective blows were struck on each side, when +they were pulled apart.</p> + +<p>"This won't do, Walter," whispered Caleb. "If you're not careful, you'll +spend a week in the brig."</p> + +<p>"But—but it's awful to have him say I'm a—a—"</p> + +<p>"I know, I know. But keep cool, lad; it's best, take my word for it. +You've been on board only a few days, but you have made lots of +friends, while I reckon most of the men have already sized up Haskett +for the meanest chap on board."</p> + +<p>"He has no right to talk about me."</p> + +<p>"He says you and Si Doring talked about him."</p> + +<p>Haskett now pushed his way forward again. "I don't want trouble with the +officers, so we'll let this matter drop for the present," he blustered. +"But I'll remember you, and some day you'll be mighty sorry we had this +little mix-up." And muttering some more that nobody could understand he +strode off, the majority of the crowd gazing after him curiously.</p> + +<p>"Ran away from a boy!" said one old tar. "He must be a regular coward, +and no mistake!"</p> + +<p>Many wanted Walter to relate his version of what had brought the +encounter about, but Caleb hurried the lad away to a corner, where he +took a wash up and brushed off his clothing.</p> + +<p>"I want to interview that Cal Blinker," said the youth. "Where can I +find him?"</p> + +<p>"Down around the forward ammunition hoist," answered Paul, and Walter +hurried off, accompanied by his friends.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I did hear you say something about a gold piece," the shellman +admitted. "You didn't talk very plainly and I understood very little. +Haskett said he understood every word. Well, maybe he did. I've been in +the navy so long that the noise of the big guns has affected my +hearing."</p> + +<p>"Did I say I stole the piece?" insisted Walter.</p> + +<p>"I don't know as you did. All I could make out was 'ten dollars in gold' +and 'the gun—just the place.'"</p> + +<p>This was all Cal Blinker had to say. He was rather old and it was plain +to see that he wanted nothing to do with the controversy, one side or +the other.</p> + +<p>Si Doring had been attending a special boat drill, and it was not until +an hour had passed that he came below and heard what had occurred. +Without hesitation he slapped Walter on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Don't you take this to heart," he said. "No matter what that mean old +rascal of a Haskett says, he'll never make me believe that you are +anything but perfectly straight. I believe yet that he took the gold +piece and that some day I'll be able to prove it." And there the +incident, for the time being, dropped.</p> + +<p>The manner in which Walter had "sailed into Haskett," as Caleb +expressed it, made the youth many friends among the crew, for if there +is one thing a jack tar loves it is to see a messmate stand up for +himself. "You're all right, you are," said more than one, and caught +Walter's hand in a grip calculated to break the bones. Several, who had +thought to play a few tricks on the "greeny," reconsidered their ideas +on the subject and concluded that it was best not to run any chances +with such a spirited lad.</p> + +<p>For some time Walter was afraid that the executive officer would hear of +the encounter and bring him to book for it; but if the "mix-up" was +reported, nothing came of it. As a matter of fact, Uncle Sam's officers +just then had affairs of more importance requiring their attention.</p> + +<p>For every hour on board of the warships composing the Flying Squadron +increased the anxiety concerning the Spanish ships which it was felt +were preparing to make a quick dash for Cuba or for our own coast. How +soon would these warships sail, and where would they make their presence +felt? those were the all-important questions commodore and captains +asked of each other. "They'll most likely try to break the blockade at +Havana," said one. "No, they'll bombard one of our down-east seacoast +cities," said another. "I think they'll rush through the Suez Canal to +fight Dewey," was the conclusion reached by a third. Under-officers and +men speculated quite as much as did their superiors, arriving at equally +opposite conclusions. "They have our whole seacoast and Cuba to pick +from," Commodore Schley said. "They will go where they can do the most +good—to their way of thinking. I think they'll go to Cuba or Porto +Rico." How correct the commander was history has shown.</p> + +<p>Although the <i>Scorpion</i> was patrolling the ocean just outside of the +capes, a strict watch was kept on every one of the warships, night and +day. Rumors were numerous, and one was to the effect that the Spaniards +had a submarine craft in their service and that this boat would soon +arrive along our eastern seacoast, to destroy the shipping from Maine to +the Gulf of Mexico. In these days, when we know the truth, we can afford +to laugh at such a report, but to the jackies on the warships, who +remembered only too well the fate of the <i>Maine</i>, it was no laughing +matter. Even when off duty, many would go on the spar deck and lie flat, +gazing into the dark waters for the best part of a night, hoping to +catch a glimpse of the unknown terror, should it come to that vicinity.</p> + +<p>Sunday, with its deeply impressive church service, came and went, and +still the squadron lay at anchor. In the meantime it was rumored that +Sampson would soon take his most powerful vessels from the blockade and +bombard Havana. The newspapers reported this, but if such was the plan +of the Navy Department, it was altered at the last moment.</p> + +<p>On May 12 came news of a fierce fight in the harbor of Cardenas, a +seaport a hundred and twenty miles east of Havana. In an attempt to +effect a landing, the torpedo boat <i>Winslow</i> had her boiler blown to +pieces and several men were killed and injured, among them Ensign Worth +Bagley, who was thus the first American officer to fall in the war. Two +other warships, the <i>Wilmington</i> and the <i>Hudson</i>, also took part in the +contest, but were repulsed after a gallant onslaught lasting over an +hour.</p> + +<p>"This is war," said Caleb, as he read the news from the paper that one +of the gunners had just brought on board. "Those fellows on the +<i>Winslow</i> caught it hot. Think of running right into that harbor and +having a shell drop and smash your boiler and send the live steam all +over you. I tell you Ensign Bagley was a plucky one, all honor to his +memory."</p> + +<p>The next day brought even more important news. Dewey had gained a +foothold in the Philippines, the main city of Cuba was in a state of +blockade, and now Rear-Admiral Sampson had shifted the scene of action +to Porto Rico, by shelling the forts of San Juan, the principal city of +Spain's only other possession in the West Indies.</p> + +<p>"We're getting there!" cried Caleb, excitedly. "We'll soon give the Dons +all they want."</p> + +<p>"If Sampson succeeds in making the San Juan forts surrender, the whole +city will be at our mercy," said Walter. "Hurrah for the American navy, +and every ship and man in it."</p> + +<p>"We are bound to get them on the run," put in Si. "Here is another +report about a fight at Cienfuegos. Where is that?"</p> + +<p>"On the southern coast of Cuba," answered Walter, who had always had a +good head for geography, and who, since the war had started, had studied +the map of Cuba closely. "Havana, San Juan, and Manila! Say, but this +is becoming a war of magnificent distances."</p> + +<p>"It's a naval war, that's what it is," said Caleb. "If we—hullo! Did +any of you see this telegram?" He pointed to his newspaper. "The Spanish +Squadron under Admiral Cervera has slipped away from Cape Verde Islands +and is undoubtedly bound westward."</p> + +<p>"And here is another report that some strange vessels, supposed to be +warships, have been sighted off Martinique, Windward Island," added +Walter, quickly. "I'll wager we leave soon!"</p> + +<p>"But where to—the Windward Islands?" queried Si.</p> + +<p>"That's for Commodore Schley to decide. Rest assured he'll find this +Admiral Cervera sooner or later, just as Dewey found old Admiral +Montojo."</p> + +<p>The news was spreading, and officers and men gathered in knots to +discuss the situation. As for Commodore Schley and Captain Cook, they +smiled knowingly, but said nothing. Everybody in the Flying Squadron +remembered what Dewey and his men had accomplished, and all were on +their mettle accordingly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>THE SAILING OF THE FLYING SQUADRON</h3> + + +<p>"We are off at last!"</p> + +<p>It was Walter who broke the news, as he came tumbling down the stairs to +the berth deck, where Si and Caleb were engaged in a friendly game of +checkers on the top of a ditty-box.</p> + +<p>"Off!" cried the old gunner, and leaped up, scattering the men on the +checkerboard in all directions. "Who told you?"</p> + +<p>"The signal has just been hoisted on the military mast. I couldn't read +it, but Sandram could and he translated it for me."</p> + +<p>Caleb waited to hear no more, but rushed on deck, with Walter and the +others following. The news was true, the signal flew the words, "Weigh +anchor and follow the flagship," and the heavy black smoke was pouring +in dense volumes from every warship's funnels.</p> + +<p>"I wonder where we are bound?" questioned Walter, whose heart was +thumping within him at the thought war might soon become a stern reality +to him. "Of course we are going after Admiral Cervera's ships."</p> + +<p>"I reckon that's right, but there's no telling," responded Caleb. "The +officers don't consult us when they want to move, you know." And he said +this so dryly that both Walter and Si had to laugh.</p> + +<p>The warships at hand were four in number,—the <i>Brooklyn</i>, which I have +already described, and the <i>Massachusetts</i>, <i>Texas</i>, and <i>Scorpion</i>. +With them was the collier <i>Sterling</i>, loaded to the very rail with huge +bags of coal, for the exclusive use of the Flying Squadron.</p> + +<p>The <i>Massachusetts</i> was a battleship of the first-class, a sister ship +to the <i>Indiana</i>. She had a displacement of over ten thousand tons, and +a speed of sixteen knots per hour. Her massive armor was eighteen inches +thick—enough to withstand some of the heaviest shots ever fired from +any gun. Her armament consisted of a main battery of four 13-inch and +eight 8-inch guns and four 6-inch slow-fire guns. The secondary battery +comprised twenty 6-pounders, four 1-pounders, four Gatlings, and two +field-guns. Besides this she carried three torpedo tubes and an immense +quantity of small-arms. Captain Francis J. Higginson was in charge, with +Lieutenant-Commander Seaton Schroeder.</p> + +<p>The <i>Texas</i> was a battleship of the second class, her displacement being +only 6315 tons. She had the honor to be the first vessel built when our +navy began its reconstruction, in 1886. Her armor was just one foot +thick, and she could speed along at the rate of nearly eighteen knots an +hour. Two 12-inch and six 6-inch slow-fire guns made up her main +battery, while her secondary battery counted up six 1-pounders, four +Hotchkiss and two Gatling guns. There were two torpedo tubes. The +<i>Texas</i> was under the command of Captain John W. Philip and +Lieutenant-Commander Giles B. Harber.</p> + +<p>The <i>Scorpion</i> was a despatch boat of the gunboat pattern, with a +displacement of six hundred tons, and a rapid-firing battery of four +5-inch and six 6-pounders. She was a swift craft, and had done duty as a +scout for a long time.</p> + +<p>The signal to weigh anchor was hoisted on the flagship at four o'clock +in the afternoon, and inside of half an hour the Flying Squadron and the +collier were standing down Hampton Roads toward the capes, each +ploughing the waters at a twelve to fifteen knot rate. The wharves +alongshore were lined with people, who waved their hats and their +handkerchiefs, and shouted out their best wishes for the departing ones.</p> + +<p>"Remember the <i>Maine</i>, boys, and send us a good account of yourselves!" +shouted one old Southern veteran, as he shook a partly empty coat sleeve +at them. "I wish I was younger; I'd go along and fight as well for the +old stars and stripes as I once did for the stars and bars."</p> + +<p>"Now you're talking," responded a Union veteran. "That other quarrel was +our own, eh, neighbor? Let foreign nations keep their hands off Uncle +Sam's family and the children seeking his protection. Three cheers for +Old Glory and Free Cuba!" And the cheers were given with a will, while +Fortress Monroe thundered out a parting salute.</p> + +<p>A number of other vessels, including the protected cruisers +<i>Minneapolis</i> and <i>New Orleans</i> and the auxiliary cruiser <i>St. Paul</i> had +been left behind, to join their sister ships later on. The <i>New Orleans</i> +was a warship but recently purchased from the Brazilian government, and +formerly known as the <i>Amazonas</i>. The <i>St. Paul</i> had formerly been a +trans-Atlantic steamer, and was commanded by Captain Charles E. Sigsbee, +who had so gallantly stuck to his post until the last moment when the +<i>Maine</i> was destroyed.</p> + +<p>Each of the warships had a harbor pilot on board and proceeded under a +full head of steam for the passage between the capes, which were passed +a little after seven o'clock in the evening. Leaving Cape Henry well to +starboard, the pilots were dropped, and the warships, taking the middle +course, as it is termed, disappeared from the gaze of those who had +watched their departure so eagerly.</p> + +<p>"We're out for a fight now, sure enough," said Caleb, as he and Walter +went below, each to the mess to which he had been assigned. "Orders are +to prepare for action, so I've just been told."</p> + +<p>"I noticed that lights were being extinguished," answered the youth. "Do +you suppose they are afraid that the Spanish warships are coming up this +way?"</p> + +<p>"No telling, lad. It's a game of hide and seek, until one fellow or the +other sneaks up and thumps his opponent in the neck. I only hope we're +in it to do the first thumping."</p> + +<p>Mess was scarcely over when there came a call to quarters. Ports were +closed with massive steel covers, the battle hatches were put down, and +the big guns were carefully loaded. Watches had, of course, already been +established, and now the men were ordered to take turns at standing by +the guns.</p> + +<p>"Which way are we pointing, eastward or down the coast?" questioned +Walter of Si, who had come up during his off hours to take a look at the +cloudy sky from which only a few stars were peeping.</p> + +<p>"We are moving almost directly southward," was the slow reply of the +Yankee youth, after a long look overhead.</p> + +<p>"And where will that bring us to, Si?"</p> + +<p>"It will take us to Cape Hatteras first, and if we keep on long enough +it will bring us to the neighborhood of San Salvador Island. But I +reckon we'll change our course after Hatteras is passed."</p> + +<p>"Isn't Hatteras a bad point to pass?"</p> + +<p>"Is it? You just ought to try it in dirty weather. Many a craft has left +her hulk off that cape. But such a craft as the <i>Brooklyn</i>, with her +high bow, ought to weather almost anything. To my mind, the worst thing +we can run into is a fog-bank, and that's just what we are likely to do +in this vicinity."</p> + +<p>The regular lights of the warship had been extinguished, but behind its +hood the great searchlight glowed and spluttered, ready to be turned to +one point or another at a second's notice. All was quiet on board, save +for the rumble and quiver of the powerful engines which were driving +this floating fort on her way through the rolling ocean. While daylight +lasted the vessels kept more or less apart, but with the coming of night +they closed in, and the fretting and puffing little <i>Scorpion</i> darted +ahead on picket guard.</p> + +<p>Walter's duty at his gun came to an end at midnight, and none too soon +for the lad, whose head had suddenly begun to spin around like a top. "I +guess I'm getting seasick," he murmured to Si; and the Yankee lad at +once led him away to a secluded corner, where he might have matters all +his own way, and where none might look on and enjoy his misery. Once +Haskett started to pass some uncomplimentary remarks about Walter, but a +single stern look from Caleb silenced the seaman, who tumbled into his +hammock without another word. For several days Jim Haskett had kept his +distance, but he was only biding his time to "even up," as he termed it. +"I'll make young Russell feel mighty sore before I'm done with him," was +what he promised himself.</p> + +<p>Walter was expected to go on duty again at four o'clock, but he was in +no condition for service, and sent Caleb word to that effect. Paul took +the message and soon returned with a reply.</p> + +<p>"You're to take it easy until you're all right," said Paul. "Walton will +fix it up so there will be no trouble."</p> + +<p>"He's the best friend a fellow ever fell in with," sighed Walter. "If I +hadn't met him I don't know what I should have done."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you would have taken care of yourself," answered Paul, lightly. He +had not yet forgotten the attack Haskett had sustained at Walter's +hands.</p> + +<p>Daybreak found the squadron running into the first of a series of +fog-banks. At once the speed of each warship was reduced, and presently +it became necessary to use the fog-horns and ship-bells. In the meantime +all hands were put through several drills, "to get them into fighting +trim," as the officer of the deck explained. The drills lasted until +dinner time, and in some way they made Walter feel much better. As a +matter of fact, his spell of seasickness was of short duration, and once +gone, the malady never returned.</p> + +<p>"I'm a fine specimen of a jackie, am I not?" he said to Caleb, with a +faint smile, on first presenting himself. "Why, a Spaniard could knock +me over with a feather."</p> + +<p>"Don't you go for to find fault with yourself," was the old gunner's +reply. "I've known men who have been on the ocean for years to get sick +the first day out. It's something they can't overcome, try their best. +Why, I saw several officers of the marines as sick as so many dogs."</p> + +<p>Mess over, Walter went on deck for a breath of fresh air. They had just +left a fog-bank and were standing out boldly into the ocean. The youth +sauntered slowly forward as far as the rules permitted.</p> + +<p>"Sail O!" came suddenly from the military mast.</p> + +<p>"Where away?" demanded the officer on the bridge.</p> + +<p>"Dead ahead, sir."</p> + +<p>"Is she flying any flag?"</p> + +<p>"I think not, sir."</p> + +<p>"What does she look like?"</p> + +<p>"I can't make out very well, for she is running into the fog. I don't +know but that she looks a bit like a warship," continued the lookout, +after some hesitation.</p> + +<p>Without delay Commodore Schley and Captain Cook were notified. A brief +consultation took place, and it was decided to pursue the unknown craft +and find out what she was and where she was going.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>AN ADVENTURE OFF CHARLESTON</h3> + + +<p>The news that a strange vessel was in sight soon travelled throughout +the ship, and all who could do so, crowded to the spar deck, while the +officers stationed themselves on the forecastle, bridge and other points +of vantage.</p> + +<p>There was no necessity to give the order, "Clear ship for action!" for +the <i>Brooklyn</i> was already cleared. Moreover, all the big guns contained +their charges of eight-inch and other shells. The six-pounders and the +Colts were now "provided," as it is termed, and then there was nothing +to do but to lie by the guns and await further orders.</p> + +<p>Immediately upon notification that a strange sail was in sight, the +flagship had run up a signal to the <i>Scorpion</i>, "Follow the unknown ship +to the southward," and away darted the little gunboat at a rate of speed +which caused the mighty waves of the Atlantic to wash her decks from +end to end. Presently the sea proved almost too heavy for her and she +had to reduce her speed, and the <i>Brooklyn</i> went ahead, her high +freeboard sending the water to port and starboard with scarcely an +effort. Once, however, she did get caught below an unusually high crest +and all on the forward deck received a liberal drenching.</p> + +<p>"Fire a shot across her bow!" was the order given, when the strange +craft again emerged from a fog-bank, and boom! one of the smaller guns +belched forth. The echoes of the shot had scarcely died away when the +unknown ship was seen to hoist the British flag.</p> + +<p>"Only a Britisher!" sighed Caleb, when the news came down to him. "And I +thought we were going to have the profit of a nice Spanish prize."</p> + +<p>Not caring to go entirely by the flag displayed, since the unknown ship +had acted so strangely, the <i>Scorpion</i> was again sent forward to make an +investigation. In quarter of an hour she came up within hailing +distance.</p> + +<p>"What ship is that?" was bawled out through a megaphone.</p> + +<p>"British steamer <i>Elsie</i>. What gunboat is that?"</p> + +<p>"The <i>Scorpion</i>, of the United States navy. Where are you bound and what +have you on board?"</p> + +<p>"Bound for Norfolk, Virginia, with a cargo of phosphate rock."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you show your flag before?"</p> + +<p>"Well, to tell the truth we were afraid we had run into some Spanish +warships, and that England might be mixed up in this muss, in which case +we didn't want to become a Spanish prize. How is it? are we in it yet?"</p> + +<p>"No, Uncle Sam is running this war without outside help," was the +concluding remark, and then the two vessels separated; and the Flying +Squadron proceeded on its way.</p> + +<p>Saturday found the course of the <i>Brooklyn</i> changed to southwest by +south. "We are still hugging the coast," explained Si. "I shouldn't +wonder if we are to make a stop somewhere, say at Charleston or +Savannah."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the commodore has word that the Spanish ships are sailing for +our south-east coast," suggested Walter. "My! what a nasty day it is +going to be." He referred to the mist, which was so heavy that it felt +almost like rain. For May, the weather was raw and cold, and all hands +were glad to stay below decks as much as possible.</p> + +<p>On this day another long exercise at the gun was had, and Walter learned +more thoroughly than ever how the charge was raised from the ammunition +hoists to the gun, pushed into place by the mechanical rammer, and how +the gun was moved up, down, or sideways by merely touching this button +or that wheel or lever. "It's wonderful!" he observed. "I suppose it +would be next to impossible to move such a big gun by hand."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it can be done," answered Caleb. "In the old navy they used to do +it by hand, and each gun had ten to sixteen men to man it. In those days +they had no device to lessen the shock of the recoil as we have now. +Instead of having a water cushion for the gun to strike on, they used a +heavy rope in the back, and sometimes the rope broke, and the gun did +more damage flying backward than the charge did flying forward."</p> + +<p>"They didn't have any breech-loaders in those days, did they?"</p> + +<p>"They had some in the Civil War, but not many before that. Everything in +the way of powder and ball had to be put into the muzzle, and was rammed +home by hand. The first breech-loading guns were clumsy affairs, and not +a few accidents were had by guns going off before the breeches were +properly locked."</p> + +<p>"And what about sighting the pieces?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, they have had dozens of devices for getting a correct aim, some +pretty good and some decidedly bad. In the old navy the guns didn't +carry near so far as they do now, and your old-time gunner was just what +his name calls for, for he sighted the piece and fired it himself. But +the old times are gone, and I expect one of these days all the work +still left will be done by machinery, and a dozen men sitting up in the +conning tower will control the warship from stem to stern."</p> + +<p>Walter laughed at this. "I reckon we're some time off from that yet, +Walton. But it is wonderful how much the commander can control by using +his bells, annunciators, speaking-tubes, and electrical indicators. I +guess that is a great improvement on the old way of yelling orders +through a speaking-trumpet and having a dozen middies rushing around +telling this man and that what to do."</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it, lad. But when it's all done and said, you must remember +one thing—we have still to prove the worth of our floating forts in war +times. Dewey did well at Manila, but it may be that the Spanish warships +out there weren't in the best condition. Now this Admiral Cervera, whom +we are after, has ships that are thoroughly up to date, and when his +outfit meets ours, then—well, we'll see what we will see," concluded +the old gunner.</p> + +<p>That afternoon Walter took his first lesson in making knots. He had had +some idea concerning a variety of knots which had been taught to him by +Larry, when he and his younger brother were sailing about Lake Erie, but +those which were now exhibited were truly bewildering.</p> + +<p>"The single bend and figure of 8 are easy enough," he sighed. "But when +you come to that sheep-shank and bowline upon the bight, as you term +them, it grows confusing."</p> + +<p>"This is only the beginning," answered Caleb. "After you know the knots, +you'll want to learn the hitches—half-hitch, rolling-hitch, and so +on,—and after that you'll want to take up the splices, and then the +different kinds of tackle,—long-tackle, single-whip, and all that. I +reckon those will keep your mind busy for a week or two. To be sure, +those things belong more to a seaman than a gun-hand, but it's good to +know how to do, in case you are called upon at some time."</p> + +<p>The night came on with a storm in the air. As before, all the lights +were extinguished, and the different watches took their turns at the +guns. Walter had just turned in when a shout rang out. "Another vessel +in sight!" As rapidly as possible the lad leaped up.</p> + +<p>"Is it a Spanish warship?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Don't know," answered Caleb, laconically, but leaped to the gun, with +Walter and the others following.</p> + +<p>But it was only another scare, for the vessel in sight proved to be a +merchantman bound for a northern port. The big searchlight of the +<i>Brooklyn</i> was turned upon her, and instantly every light on the +merchantman went out and the ship sneaked away with all sails set. No +effort was made to pursue her.</p> + +<p>"The captain of that craft will report falling in with a big Spanish +fleet; see if he don't," said Caleb; and the old gunner was right, as a +newspaper of a few days later proved.</p> + +<p>By noon on Sunday Charleston Harbor was sighted, and a few hours later +the squadron came to anchor near Charleston Bar, nine miles from the +city.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Sterling</i> isn't in sight," said Walter, as he came on deck and +took a look behind. "I wonder if the heavy sea was too much for the +collier."</p> + +<p>"Oh, she'll turn up sooner or later," answered Si. "But a boat loaded as +she was isn't the safest thing to sail around such a point as Cape +Hatteras, I can tell you that." The collier came in before night, +reporting a thoroughly disagreeable trip.</p> + +<p>A lighthouse tender was at hand, ready to take the mail ashore, as well +as to deliver letters and special messages. The messages were at once +delivered to Commodore Schley.</p> + +<p>"I wonder how long we'll stop here," said Walter. "I wouldn't mind a run +ashore, just to see what the city looks like."</p> + +<p>"There goes a signal to the <i>Texas</i>," said Si, as the signalman took up +his flag and began to wig-wag. "Wait a moment till I read what he is +saying."</p> + +<p>"Can you read it?" asked Walter, in deep interest.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, it's easy enough." Si began to spell to himself. "'W-h-a-t, +what—i-s, is—y-o-u-r, your—b-e-s-t, best—r-a-t-e, rate—o-f, +of—s-p-e-e-d, speed—n-o-w, now?' He is asking what the <i>Texas</i> can do +at once, so far as speed is concerned. That means something important. +Hold on, here comes the answer." Again the Yankee youth began to spell. +"Might go fifteen and a half knots." Then the signalman on the +<i>Brooklyn</i> sent another message. "We are off on business now." And the +signal went up for the squadron to weigh anchor again.</p> + +<p>"We're off for a fight!" ejaculated Walter. "But tell me about that +wig-wagging, Si; how do they signal the letters?"</p> + +<p>"It's easy enough. You take a small flag of some bright color, attached +to a pole six or eight feet long. As soon as you attract the attention +of the other fellow, you begin to use the flag in three motions, to the +right, the left, and down in front. To the right means one, to the left +means two, and down in front means three. Now all the letters are +represented by combinations of numbers, and all you have to do is to +learn the combinations and spell ahead. It's easy enough when one gets +the hang of it. At night you can use a lantern instead of a flag."</p> + +<p>"That is easy," commented Walter. "But what about those signals at the +masthead. Can you read those?"</p> + +<p>"No. In those, most every flag represents a letter, or a word, or +sentence; but to read the signal you have got to have either the +international signal code-book, or else the United States Navy +code-book. The navy code is locked up in the captain's cabin, and the +book is weighted with lead, so that if anything happens, it can be +heaved overboard and sunk, thus keeping it out of the enemy's hands."</p> + +<p>"I declare, signalling isn't so difficult, after all," cried Walter. "To +me it looked like a perfect jumble."</p> + +<p>"The trouble with flags is, that when there's no wind they won't +straighten out so you can see 'em," put in Caleb, who had joined the +pair. "Lanterns are more to be depended upon, and they have a new system +now, called the Ardois electric, in which they use four powerful +electric lights, so that the signals can be read at a distance of +several miles. You'll learn all about them if you stay in the navy long +enough."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH THE GOLD PIECE COMES TO LIGHT</h3> + + +<p>"Where now?" was the question which more than one man on board of the +<i>Brooklyn</i> asked himself. But no answer was forthcoming. The commodore, +captain, and commander knew, of course, but they kept the information to +themselves. In war it is a rule not to let the enemy know what you are +doing until you do it, and so a strict guard was kept, so that no +information might leak out. Yet Spanish spies in Canada learned a good +deal, and notified the home government as quickly as it could be done.</p> + +<p>From Charleston the course was almost due south, and both Si and Caleb +came to the conclusion that the flagship and her sister craft were bound +for Cuban waters. "Perhaps we're going to join in the blockading of +Havana," remarked the old gunner.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope not," said Walter. "Riding in one spot day after day must +be awfully tiresome. I'd like to hunt the Spaniards out and do them +battle, as Dewey did. He didn't waste any time."</p> + +<p>Dewey's name was to be heard constantly, for the jackies never got done +talking about this first great victory of the war. Some of them had +served on the <i>Olympia</i>, <i>Boston</i>, and other vessels of the Asiatic +Squadron, and they described just how these boats were built, and what +parts they must have taken in the contest.</p> + +<p>"Don't grow impatient, Walter," said Caleb. "We'll run up against +something soon—perhaps more than you care for. It's easy enough to +think of sinking an enemy's ship. Supposing he puts a few thirteen-inch +shells through your craft, and you begin to go down—what then?"</p> + +<p>"I'll make the best of it," returned the boy, calmly. "I enlisted to +fight for Uncle Sam, and I'm willing to take what comes."</p> + +<p>Jim Haskett was passing when Walter made this remark, and his lip curled +with a sneer. "That boy is too big for his boots," muttered the seaman. +"I can't see what the other men find in him to like."</p> + +<p>Jim Haskett was more sour than ever, for his disagreeable ways had lost +to him the few friends he had picked up when first coming on board. The +fact that Si and Walter were growing more popular every day caused him +fairly to grate his teeth with rage.</p> + +<p>"I'll fix him, see if I don't," he told himself that night. "They shan't +tell everybody that I took that gold piece—when I didn't touch his +bag."</p> + +<p>Jim Haskett was one of those mean, unscrupulous men, who do a wrong and +then try to argue themselves into thinking that it is all right. It was +not true that he had taken the ten-dollar gold piece from Si's bag, but +it <i>was</i> true that he had found the Yankee boy's satchel overturned and +partly open, and had closed it up and locked it, and afterward found the +money on the floor of the car within a few feet of where the bag had +stood. Any fair-minded man would have told himself that the gold piece +must be the one lost by Si; but Haskett was not fair-minded, and it was +doubtful if the man could ever become so, any more than a dwarfed and +crippled tree can be forced to become straight and upright.</p> + +<p>On Monday morning, the day after leaving Charleston Bar, Haskett heard +Caleb tell Walter and Si that the gun must be cleaned and oiled. "We'll +go over the piece from top to bottom to-morrow," said the old gunner, +"and if there is anything more that you don't understand I'll explain it +to you."</p> + +<p>"This is my chance," said Haskett to himself, and lost no time in +bringing forth the gold piece from the place where he had hidden it. +Watching his opportunity, when Caleb, Si, and Walter were asleep that +night, he secreted the piece in a corner of the track upon which the +gun-base revolved.</p> + +<p>Inside of half an hour after breakfast the next day, Walter, stripped to +the waist, was working over the gun, in company with his friends and +Steve Colton, the second gun-captain, and Carl Stuben, the hose-man. All +were supplied with cotton waste, polishing-paste, and rags, and in a +short while the bright portions of the gun shone like a mirror.</p> + +<p>"There, I reckon that will suit the chief gunner," was Caleb's remark as +he stood back to inspect the work. "No piece on the starboard side +brighter than this, I'll wager my month's pay."</p> + +<p>Si was bending down under the gun, swabbing up some oil which had run +down from one of the working joints. Suddenly the Yankee youth threw +down his swab and caught up something which shone in spite of the dirt +upon it.</p> + +<p>"My gold piece, as sure as you're born!" he ejaculated, after he had +made an inspection at the porthole. "Now how in creation did that get +there?"</p> + +<p>He looked at Caleb, and half unconsciously both turned to Walter.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked the youth.</p> + +<p>"My gold piece—I found it hidden under the gun-track," answered Si.</p> + +<p>Walter's face turned red, as he remembered what Jim Haskett had said +concerning his talking in his sleep. "Why, Si—are—are you sure it is +your piece?" he faltered.</p> + +<p>"Certainly. There is the date, 1876—centennial year, and here is a +scratch I once made with my jack-knife. It's the very one that was taken +from my bag, beyond any doubt."</p> + +<p>Si continued to look at Walter, while Caleb suddenly turned and gazed +out of the porthole, while Stuben, the hose-man, whistled softly to +himself.</p> + +<p>"Why, Si, have you got your money back?" cried Paul, who had just +chanced up.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"And where did you find it?"</p> + +<p>"Under the gun, by the track." And Si pointed out the place with his +forefinger.</p> + +<p>"Under the gun! Why, that is where Haskett said Walter hid it!" was +Paul's comment, before he stopped to think twice. "I mean—that is, +Haskett said something about it," he stammered.</p> + +<p>"I know he did," answered the Yankee youth, coldly.</p> + +<p>Walter's face was burning hotly now, and he could scarcely trust himself +to speak. "Si, do you think I put that money there?" he asked in a +strained voice.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know what to think," was the dogged answer, and now Si +turned his gaze away. "Haskett said—well, you know what,—and Cal +Blinker backed him up in it," he went on, hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know what Haskett and Blinker said," answered Walter. +"But—but—do you think I stole your money?" The words would scarcely +come, but he forced them out.</p> + +<p>"I don't say that, Walter; but the whole thing looks mighty queer."</p> + +<p>"I have it!" burst out Caleb. "Perhaps Walter put the money there when +he was asleep. Folks often do queer things when they have the +nightmare."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but if he put it there while he was asleep, how did he come by it +in the first place?" questioned Si, bluntly.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he took it out of the bag while he was asleep on the train," +suggested Caleb. "You had the bag with you all the way from Boston, +didn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"And Walter bunked with you, too?"</p> + +<p>"He did."</p> + +<p>"Then it's as plain as day," went on the old gunner. "Walter took the +money while you were asleep on the train and hid it away in his +clothing, or somewhere. When he got on board he took to sleep-walking +and put the piece under the gun. Of course he doesn't know anything +about the transaction."</p> + +<p>Again all eyes were turned upon Walter, whose face was as red as ever. +"Perhaps that's true—but it's mighty queer," murmured Colton, the +second gun-captain.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I did anything of the sort!" cried the youth, at last. +"I can give you my word on it that I never saw Si's money until just +now. To my mind, this whole matter is a job put up by Jim Haskett. He +took the money, and then when Si raised such an ado about it he was +afraid to get it changed or to spend it, and he watched his chance to +get rid of it. He's down on me, and when he heard me mutter in my sleep +he formed his plan to get me into trouble. I'm going to find Haskett on +the spot." And off he rushed before anybody could detain him.</p> + +<p>Haskett was discovered mending his jacket, which had become torn the +evening before. "What do you want?" he asked, as Walter ran up and +caught him fiercely by the arm.</p> + +<p>"I want you to own up to your dirty trick on me," answered the boy. "You +thought you had me, but your little plot won't work."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" blustered Haskett, although he knew well enough what +was coming.</p> + +<p>By this time the crowd had followed Walter, and they gathered round the +pair. Soon Haskett had heard all there was to say.</p> + +<p>"Don't lay it off on me," he cried. "I knew Russell was guilty from the +start. Si Doring can think as he pleases. As for me, I'm glad that I'm +not training with a night-walker—or a thief."</p> + +<p>Walter leaped forward with blazing eyes. But before he could strike out, +Caleb caught him, while another man held Haskett. Then, before anything +more could be done or said, Si stepped to the front.</p> + +<p>"Haskett, I lost the money, and I think I ought to have the biggest say +in this matter. If you played a trick on Walter, you are the meanest man +that ever trod the deck of a ship. If you didn't, let me say that I +don't think Walter stole the gold piece, although he may have taken it +while he was asleep and not responsible for his doings."</p> + +<p>"Thank you for saying that, Si," came from Walter. "But I don't think I +took it even when asleep. To my mind Haskett is guilty, and nobody +else."</p> + +<p>"If I wasn't held—" began Haskett, when a young seaman named George +Ellis, chief yeoman of the <i>Brooklyn</i>, stepped forward and asked to know +what the trouble was about.</p> + +<p>"I think I can tell something about this," said George Ellis, after the +matter had been explained.</p> + +<p>"You just hold your jaw!" stormed Haskett. "You don't know anything."</p> + +<p>"I know what I see," answered the chief yeoman, pointedly; and something +in his manner attracted such attention that all in the crowd gathered +around to learn what he might have to say.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>KEY WEST, AND THE LAST OF JIM HASKETT</h3> + + +<p>George Ellis was known to be an upright honest man, and one whose word +was worth taking upon every occasion. He had an education above that of +the ordinary man in the navy, and was anxious to make something of +himself while in the service of his country, never dreaming, alas! that +his life was so soon to be taken from him during our struggle in the +cause of humanity and Cuban freedom.</p> + +<p>"And what did you see?" questioned Caleb, as all eyes were turned upon +Ellis, inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"It was last night," answered the Range Finder, for such was the man's +popular title, given him because he was so good at determining +distances. "I was rather feverish and couldn't sleep. I walked the berth +deck for a while and then went up to Walton's gun and stood leaning out +of the porthole, gazing at the water.</p> + +<p>"Presently I heard a slight noise behind me, and turning around I saw in +a dim way the figure of a man behind me. He was bending down under the +gun, as if he was hunting for something. I was just on the point of +speaking to him when he straightened up and slunk away as silently as a +ghost. I watched him, and when he got under the rays of the electric +light I got a good look at his face."</p> + +<p>"And was it this man?" cried Si, pointing to Jim Haskett.</p> + +<p>"It was."</p> + +<p>With a cry of anger Si leaped upon Haskett and bore him to the deck. +"You good-for-nothin' rascal!" he panted. "Will try to shove off your +dirty tricks on Walter, eh? So you stole my money and then got afraid to +use it? Take that, and that, and that!"</p> + +<p>Each <i>that</i> was a blow in the face, one on the cheek, another on the +nose, and a third directly in Haskett's left eye. They were heavy, and +Haskett roared with pain.</p> + +<p>"Let up!" he sputtered. "Let go of me,"—the latter to Caleb, who still +held him. "Oh, my eye! Is this fair fighting, two to one?"</p> + +<p>"It is as fair as you treated Walter," answered Caleb. "Give him +another, Si; he deserves it." And Si followed directions by planting a +blow on Haskett's neck, something which spun the former mate of the +<i>Sunflower</i> around like a top. At last Haskett broke loose and backed +away.</p> + +<p>"I'll get square on all of you!" he foamed, shaking his fist first at +Caleb and then at the others. "I'm not done yet."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus5" id="illus5"></a> +<img src="images/illus5.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"<span class="smcap">I'll Get Square On All of You!</span>"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"I've a good mind to report you," put in Walter. "I reckon you'd be good +for a month in irons, on bread and water."</p> + +<p>At this Haskett grew pale. "The officers won't believe your story. +Ellis, and the rest of you haven't any witnesses," he replied, but his +voice shook. "Just wait; my day will come some time." And then, as Si +started to advance again, he beat a hasty retreat.</p> + +<p>"That settles that mystery," remarked Caleb, when the excitement was +over. "I calculate, Walter, that you are not sorry the way matters came +out."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed." Walter turned to George Ellis. "I owe you one for your +kindness. I'll not forget it."</p> + +<p>"That's all right—I only did what any fair-minded fellow would do," +answered the chief yeoman, and strolled away.</p> + +<p>It was time for dinner, and Walter hurried off arm in arm with Si, who +was still somewhat worked up over what had happened. "Walter, don't you +go for to imagine I thought you guilty," said the Yankee boy. "I know +you are honest to the core."</p> + +<p>"Even if I do talk in my sleep," said Walter, from whose heart a great +load had been lifted.</p> + +<p>Once more the course of the Flying Squadron had been changed and now +they were making straight for the coast of Florida. Tuesday passed +quietly, although the same vigilance prevailed as before. It was +evident, come what might, Commodore Schley did not mean to allow the +enemy to catch him napping.</p> + +<p>They had passed through the Straits of Florida, and now they turned to +the westward, past a number of the Florida Reefs. Far across the ocean +could be seen the low-lying shore, backed up by stately palms and other +trees. The weather was now much warmer.</p> + +<p>"You see, we are drawing closer to the equator," remarked Caleb. "I +reckon we are bound for Key West." And his surmise proved correct, for +they dropped anchors in Key West Harbor early on the morning following.</p> + +<p>"What a lot of warships around here," cried Walter, as he came on deck. +"What is that big fellow over yonder?"</p> + +<p>"That is the <i>Iowa</i>," answered the old gunner. "You can well say big +fellow, for the <i>Iowa</i> is the largest seagoing battleship we possess. +She has a displacement of over eleven thousand tons and can speed in any +sea at over seventeen knots. She carries four 12-inch guns and a whole +host of others. Her armor belt is solid steel, fourteen inches thick."</p> + +<p>"She's a beauty. I wonder if she will go out with us?"</p> + +<p>"That is according to what Rear Admiral Sampson has to say about it, +lad. You see, this campaign in Atlantic waters is largely in his hands."</p> + +<p>The <i>Iowa</i> lay quite close, and during the day several messages were +transmitted from one warship to the other by means of the wig-wag +system. Walter had now mastered the mysteries of wig-wagging and amused +himself by spelling out the messages as they passed to and fro.</p> + +<p>A salute had been fired when the commodore entered the harbor, eleven +rounds being shot off. "If he was a rear-admiral, he'd get thirteen +guns," explained Caleb. "You see the salute varies from the President +down. McKinley gets twenty-one guns, the Vice-President or Secretary of +the Navy nineteen guns, a foreign minister fifteen guns, a consul seven +guns, and so on. By counting the guns every man on the ships can tell +what sort of a dignitary has arrived."</p> + +<p>It was a cloudy day, and the air was so close that Walter was glad +enough to take it easy. Presently he saw a boat leave the side, +containing several petty officers and George Ellis and Jim Haskett.</p> + +<p>"I wonder where they are going," said Walter to Si.</p> + +<p>"Some special business for Captain Cook," answered Paul, who stood near. +"Oh, but Haskett is in an ugly mood to-day. It will be a big wonder if +he and Ellis don't get into a fight before they come back."</p> + +<p>"Ellis is too much of a gentleman to fight with any one," returned +Walter. "By the way, what is his real position on board?"</p> + +<p>"He is chief yeoman," replied Si. "He is going ashore to look after some +ship's stores, so I heard him tell one of the paymasters."</p> + +<p>The small boat was soon out of sight, and Walter turned away to seek the +shade, for it was growing hotter and hotter. "If this is a sample of +weather in the torrid zone, what shall we do when we get into Cuban +waters?" he observed.</p> + +<p>"We are not very far from Cuban waters now," said the Yankee youth. "We +could make Havana in six or seven hours if it was necessary."</p> + +<p>"I wonder how the people of that city feel, Si, all cooped up as they +have been for so long."</p> + +<p>"I reckon they wish they had some fighting ships to come out after us, +Walter. I've heard it said that General Blanco hardly knows how to turn +himself, food is so scarce and so many idlers are about. It wouldn't +surprise me if they had a riot there, if they haven't had one already. +Even soldiers won't keep quiet when the grub fails."</p> + +<p>But little could be seen of Key West outside of the numerous shipping. +Presently a couple of petty officers came along with marine glasses and +one pointed out to his companion several Spanish prizes in the port. +"They'll be worth a good bit of money to the sailors on the blockade," +he added. "I wish we were in for a share of the spoils."</p> + +<p>"There are several transports," said Caleb, on joining his friends. +"They are fitting out to go to Tampa. It won't be long before an army of +invasion starts for Cuba."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if my brother Ben will go along," mused Walter, but just then +to get word from his older brother was impossible.</p> + +<p>Inside of two hours the small craft came back. Somewhat to his surprise +Walter saw that Jim Haskett was missing. He would not have thought much +of this had it not been that the <i>Brooklyn</i> was already preparing to +continue on her trip.</p> + +<p>"Haskett did not come back," he announced to Si. "I'll wager something +is wrong."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess not," said the Yankee youth; nevertheless, he, too, began +to watch for the former mate of the <i>Sunflower</i>.</p> + +<p>Several hours later Walter passed George Ellis on the upper deck and +saluted. The chief yeoman hesitated and then called Walter to him.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you and your friend will be interested to know that James +Haskett has been left behind at Key West under military arrest," he +began.</p> + +<p>"Indeed! And what for, if I may ask?"</p> + +<p>"For getting into a rough-and-tumble fight with a soldier named +Grumbell. It seems Grumbell once owned a fishing-smack down East, and +Haskett failed to settle up on a cargo of fish he sold for Grumbell +three years ago. They had a quarrel of words and then got to blows, and +Haskett hit a captain of the regulars who tried to separate them. Both +he and the soldier are now in prison, and I rather imagine it will go +pretty hard with the seaman, for striking a captain is no light +offence." And after a few words more, George Ellis passed on.</p> + +<p>Of course Walter lost no time in carrying the news to his friends. All +listened with interest, and Si said he was glad Haskett was gone. "And I +hope he doesn't ever come back," he added.</p> + +<p>And Jim Haskett never did come back, nor did Walter ever set eyes on the +man again. For quarrelling with the soldier and striking the captain of +the regulars, Jim Haskett was dishonorably discharged from the navy, and +sentenced to a year's imprisonment at hard labor. Thus, in a roundabout +way, was the rascal made to suffer the punishment he so richly +deserved.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>FROM CIENFUEGOS TO SANTIAGO BAY</h3> + + +<p>From Key West the Flying Squadron set sail direct for Cienfuegos. The +<i>Brooklyn</i>, <i>Massachusetts</i>, <i>Texas</i>, and <i>Scorpion</i> left together, and +were followed, twenty-four hours later, by the <i>Iowa</i>, mentioned in the +previous chapter, and by the <i>Castine</i> and the collier <i>Merrimac</i>.</p> + +<p>Cienfuegos is a town of good size lying on a small bay on the south +coast of Cuba, about midway between the eastern and western extremities. +For several days the Navy Department had been watching, or trying to +watch, the movements of the Spanish squadron, satisfied at last that it +was somewhere in Cuban waters. One report had it that Admiral Cervera +was at Cienfuegos, another that he was at Santiago de Cuba, many miles +to the eastward. Commodore Schley was now sent out to bring the truth to +light, were it possible to do so.</p> + +<p>The rainy season, as it is termed, was at its height in this vicinity, +and the showers came down nearly all day, striking the hot metal decks, +and converting the water into something closely resembling steam. It was +so muggy and uncomfortable that hardly any of the jackies could sleep, +and more than one poor fellow was overcome and had to be carried to the +sick bay for treatment.</p> + +<p>"If that Spanish squadron has passed Santiago and Cienfuegos, and is +crawling up around the western turn of Cuba, it won't be long before we +see some hot work," observed Caleb, as he lounged at a porthole, devoid +of any clothing but his shirt and trousers.</p> + +<p>"Any kind of work would be hot," said Walter, laughingly. "Why, I think +a fellow could cook eggs on deck."</p> + +<p>"Puts me in mind of a voyage I took to South America," put in Si, who +had just soused his head into a bucket of water, and was dripping from +nose, ears, and chin in consequence. "We lay off the mouth of the Amazon +for two days, waiting to get on a cargo of rubber. It was right under +the equator, and the tar just poured out of all our seams. One afternoon +I ran across the deck in my bare feet, for I was taking a swim, and as +true as I live I blistered my feet."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's nothing," returned Caleb, dryly. "I was under the equator +once, off the coast of Columbia in the bark <i>Sally D</i>. The captain let +us go fishing in the jolly-boat. We caught about a dozen fish and threw +'em in the bottom as fast as they came in, and when we got back to the +bark hang me if the first two fish we had brought up weren't baked as +nice as you please, all fit for the captain's table." And Caleb turned +away and began to whistle softly to himself, while Si continued his +ablutions without another word. Among old sailors, "matching yarns" is a +constant pastime, and the stories sometimes told would shame even a +Baron Munchausen.</p> + +<p>The watch on board of the warship was now more strict than ever, and the +men slept at their guns, sometimes not seeing a hammock for several +nights. Everybody, from the captain down to the apprentices, felt that a +crisis could not be far off.</p> + +<p>It must not be imagined that while Commodore Schley was skirting the +southern coast of Cuba, the northern coast was neglected, for such was +not the case. The blockade of Havana and vicinity still continued, and +in addition Rear-Admiral Sampson took his own flagship, the <i>New York</i>, +and several other warships, and sailed eastward, thinking to occupy the +St. Nicholas Channel. Thus, if Admiral Cervera tried to gain the +vicinity of Havana by the northern coast, he would be likely to fall in +with Sampson; if he took the southern way, Schley would intercept his +path. By keeping his ships in the St. Nicholas Channel Sampson remained +ever ready to dash northward should the Spanish destroyers take a new +course and show themselves along our own coast.</p> + +<p>"We are coming in sight of land," cried Walter, toward nightfall, two +days after leaving Key West. "I suppose this is some port on the +southern coast of Cuba."</p> + +<p>"It is Cienfuegos Bay," returned Caleb. "I just heard one of the +officers say so. We're to lie at anchor until morning, and then perhaps +the fun will commence."</p> + +<p>At this announcement Walter's heart beat quickly, and it must be +admitted that he did not sleep a wink that night for speculating on what +the morrow might bring forth. In this particular, his thoughts were not +far different from those of every one else on board.</p> + +<p>Daybreak brought more rain, and the big warship rode on the long swells +of the ocean grim and silent. Not far away lay the <i>Texas</i>, and several +newcomers could be seen approaching from a distance. "This looks like +business," observed Si to Walter, and the boy nodded.</p> + +<p>Immediately after breakfast the signal was hoisted to clear ship for +action, and once more the jackies rushed to their various places and got +into fighting trim. Then the great engines of the <i>Brooklyn</i> began to +work, and they crept slowly toward the entrance to the harbor.</p> + +<p>"If Cervera is there, he keeps himself pretty well hidden," remarked one +of the officers, within hearing of Walter. "I don't see anything that +looks like a warship."</p> + +<p>Presently the flagship came to a halt, and the <i>Texas</i> steamed past her +and quite close to the harbor. Here the Spaniards had a small land +battery, but it kept silent. The inner portion of the bay was hidden +from view by a high spur of land.</p> + +<p>What to do next was a problem. If the Spanish squadron was really +there, it would be foolhardy to rush in and do battle while the enemy +would have the support of the shore battery. Commodore Schley thought +the matter over and, ever on the alert, decided to play a waiting game.</p> + +<p>Sunday passed without anything unusual developing, and so did the day +following. The strain on the men at the guns was great, for they were on +duty constantly. Night and day the bosom of the outer bay was closely +watched, for it was known that Cervera had with him one or two +torpedo-boat destroyers, and these were dreaded more than anything else.</p> + +<p>"Let one of those torpedo destroyers get near us, and we'll go up as +quickly as did the <i>Maine</i>," said Caleb. "I'm not afraid of the dagos, +but let me get out of the way of a torpedo boat every time." And this +opinion was shared by all Walton's messmates.</p> + +<p>"There's another boat coming up," announced Si, at six o'clock on +Tuesday morning. "Walton, what do you make her out to be?"</p> + +<p>"She's the <i>Marblehead</i>," was the old gunner's answer, after a long look +at the craft. "And she's got despatches for the commodore," he added, +as the signal went up and a small boat put off for the <i>Brooklyn</i>. Soon +Commander McCalla of the <i>Marblehead</i> came on board, and a long +conference with Commodore Schley resulted, after which the newly arrived +officer departed for his own warship with all possible speed. McCalla's +mission was to communicate with the Cuban insurgents who were encamped +near Cienfuegos, with a view to ascertaining if Admiral Cervera's ships +were really in the harbor.</p> + +<p>The morning passed quietly, and by noon the <i>Marblehead</i> and her +commander returned. The Cuban spies had made an investigation, and not a +single ship of war belonging to Spain had been found, outside of a +little harbor vessel of small moment.</p> + +<p>It was now thought that if Admiral Cervera was not at Cienfuegos he must +either be on his way hither or at Santiago. Accordingly, toward evening, +the squadron received orders to sail for Santiago.</p> + +<p>"We're off for Santiago Bay," said Caleb. "And if we don't find the +dagos there, I'll give up where they are. Perhaps they have gone back to +Spain." He continually alluded to the Spaniards as dagos,—a term which +became quite common among soldiers and sailors during the war, although +many referred to the enemy as the Dons.</p> + +<p>It had cleared off, and the sun shone down fiercely on the deck and +elsewhere. Inside of the steel turrets the air was stifling, and no one +could remain at his post over a couple of hours. From below, the +engineers, firemen, and coal-heavers came up constantly for a whiff of +fresh air.</p> + +<p>"We're badly enough off," remarked Walter. "But look at those poor +chaps. Why, some of the firemen look ready to melt."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and the worst of it is they never get any credit when it comes to +a battle," added Caleb. "Now to my mind, the engineer who sticks to his +engine during a battle, obeying orders and running the risk of having a +shot plough through a boiler and scald him to death, is just as much of +a hero as the chap behind a gun—and in one way he's more of a hero; for +if the ship should start to sink, a gunner has got the chance to leap +overboard and swim for it, while the man below is likely to be drowned +like a rat in a trap."</p> + +<p>"And the coal-heavers work harder than negroes," put in Paul. "Just +think of the tons and tons of coal they shovel every twenty-four hours +when we are under full steam. I'm quite certain such work would break my +back."</p> + +<p>"Oh, life on a warship isn't all a picnic," was Si's comment. "If a +fellow enlists to have an easy time of it, he deserves to get left. I +enlisted to serve Uncle Sam, and I'm going to do it—if Providence will +give me the chance."</p> + +<p>As Commodore Schley sailed toward Santiago from Cienfuegos, Rear-Admiral +Sampson, gaining additional information concerning the whereabouts of +the enemy, moved slowly and cautiously eastward toward Cape Maysi and +the Windward Passage. Thus, if Cervera was where he was supposed to be, +he was bound to be discovered before many more days passed.</p> + +<p>"Do you know anything about Santiago Bay?" asked Si of Walter. "I've +travelled to South America and Central America, but I never stopped +anywhere in Cuba."</p> + +<p>"I know only what the geographies teach," answered Walter. "It is on the +south side of Cuba, a hundred and some odd miles from the eastern end of +the island. It is said to be a very pretty harbor, about eight miles +long and one to two miles wide. Santiago, which is the next largest +Cuban city to Havana, is located on the northeast shore. I heard Caleb +say that the entrance to the harbor is shaped like the neck of a crooked +bottle, and that on the eastern side there is a strong fortress called +Morro Castle, and opposite to it a heavy concealed battery called La +Zocapa. Somehow, it's in my mind that we'll see a good deal of the +harbor before we come away," concluded the boy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>THE FINDING OF ADMIRAL CERVERA'S FLEET</h3> + + +<p>"Well, this doesn't look much like fighting."</p> + +<p>It was Paul who uttered the remark. The youngest member of the gunners' +crowd rested in the shadow of one of the long guns, half asleep. Near by +sat Walter and Si, each writing letters, although there was no telling +when the communications would be taken from the <i>Brooklyn</i> and sent +home. At Key West Walter had looked for some word from Ben and from Job +Dowling, but none had come.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to know if my uncle went to Boston, and if he learned anything +concerning that Deck Mumpers and the stolen heirlooms," Walter observed +to Si, after nodding to Paul, in agreement that it didn't look like +fighting.</p> + +<p>"Well, you'll have to possess your soul in patience," answered the young +Yankee. "But oh, this is dead slow!" And thrusting his letter into an +envelope, he addressed it and laid it away.</p> + +<p>Several days had been spent around the mouth of Santiago Bay, without +anything being brought to light. If the Spanish fleet was within the +harbor, it knew enough to keep out of sight, that was certain.</p> + +<p>"If I was Commodore Schley, I'd rush past old Morro and make short work +of this," grumbled Paul, stretching himself and yawning. "Why, we'll all +die of laziness if this keeps on."</p> + +<p>"I hear the <i>Merrimac</i> has broken down," put in Caleb, who had just come +below. "That means another wait of twenty-four hours or more, even if +Cervera isn't in the harbor. Why under the sun must those dagos play +such a game of hide-and-seek? Why can't they come up and fight like +men?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Admiral Cervera is bombarding some of our cities at this very +moment—" began Si, when a sudden loud hurrah caused all hands to leap +up and make for the deck.</p> + +<p>"What's up?" came from a hundred throats.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Iowa</i> has just signalled that she has seen a big Spanish warship +showing her nose around the harbor point!" was the wild answer. "We've +found the Dons at last!"</p> + +<p>And then came another hurrah and a wild yell. "Let us get at 'em! Down +with the Spaniards! Remember the <i>Maine</i> and Dewey's victory at Manila!"</p> + +<p>Commodore Schley was on the afterbridge of the flagship. As the yelling +broke loose, he smiled grimly. "Yes, they must be in there," he said to +Captain Cook. "And if they are, they'll never get home." Prophetic +words, as the events of just five weeks later proved.</p> + +<p>Owing to the heavy swells of the ocean, the warships under the +commodore's command had drifted somewhat apart, but now, when it was +known definitely that Admiral Cervera's ships were in the harbor before +them, the various craft were signalled to draw closer, until they lay +within four to six miles of the entrance. This may seem a long way off +to some of my readers, but it must be remembered that guns of the +present day can carry as far as ten to twelve miles when put to it, and +a destructive fire can be maintained at seven or eight miles.</p> + +<p>The night that followed was a trying one, for no one knew but that +Admiral Cervera's warships might come dashing out of the bay at any +instant ready to do them deadly battle. The <i>Brooklyn</i> had long since +been stripped for action, many articles of wood being thrown overboard, +to avoid splinters when shot and shell began to fall. The small boats +were covered with strong nets, also to keep splinters away, and +everywhere throughout the ship the hoses were connected with the +water-plugs, to be used in case of fire, and all water-tubs were kept +filled for a like purpose. The magazines were kept open, and every gun, +big and little, stood ready to be fired at the word of command. Even the +wardroom tables were cleared off and covered with the sick-bay cloths, +and the surgeons saw to it in a quiet way that their bandages, knives, +and saws were ready to hand.</p> + +<p>"Say, but that looks like war, eh?" whispered Paul, jerking his thumb in +the direction of one of the improvised operating tables. "Gracious, it's +enough to give a fellow a cold shiver."</p> + +<p>"Then don't look that way, Paul," answered Walter. "As Si said, life +here isn't expected to be a picnic. We may gain lots of glory, but we'll +have to work for it,—and maybe suffer, too."</p> + +<p>It was the 30th of May, Decoration Day, but no services of a special +character were had, although the Civil War was talked of by a dozen +veterans of both the North and the South, who were now standing once +more shoulder to shoulder, as Washington, Jefferson, and a hundred other +patriots of old had intended that they should stand, once and forever. +"We're under the stars and stripes to stay," said one man who had worn +the gray at Gettysburg. "Just let those Dons show themselves, and we'll +lick 'em out of their boots." The man's name was Berkeley, and he was as +good a soldier as he was a sailor, and wore both Union and Confederate +medals for bravery.</p> + +<p>Walter had just fallen into a light doze early in the morning when a +dull booming awoke him with a start, and made him leap to his feet. +"What is that—guns firing?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"That's it, lad," came from Caleb. "The commodore is giving his defiance +to the enemy, I reckon. There she goes again," he went on, as half a +dozen sullen reports rolled over the water. "I just wish we were in +this."</p> + +<p>A Spanish warship, the <i>Christobal Colon</i>, had again showed herself at +the entrance to Santiago Bay, and the <i>Iowa</i>, the <i>Massachusetts</i>, and +the <i>New Orleans</i>, had been ordered to move to within seven thousand +yards and open fire. Away they darted, and passed and re-passed the +harbor entrance twice, firing as they sailed. What damage was done it +was impossible to tell, but that the <i>Colon</i> was hit seemed very +probable, for she soon disappeared. The shore batteries also took part, +and sent one big shell directly over the <i>Iowa</i>, where it burst with a +noise that was deafening, but without doing any damage.</p> + +<p>"Gracious! what a racket!" exclaimed Walter, as he watched the +bombardment from afar.</p> + +<p>"Racket!" repeated Caleb, who stood beside him. "Why, lad, this is +nothing to what we'll have when we get mixed up. I only hope the +commodore signals us to line up for the scrap," he went on, for +Commodore Schley had left the <i>Brooklyn</i> temporarily, and hoisted his +pennant on the <i>Massachusetts</i>. But the signal did not come, much to the +old gunner's disappointment.</p> + +<p>By dark the bombardment was at an end. It had been brought about by the +commodore with the view to ascertain the strength of the enemy, his +ability to shoot straight, and the number and location of the shore +batteries. Now this information was gained, and it was likely to be of +great value in the near future.</p> + +<p>It had been decided, should Admiral Cervera's fleet be discovered in +Santiago Bay, that Commodore Schley should unload the collier <i>Merrimac</i> +as quickly as possible, and then sink the craft directly across the +channel at the narrow entrance. If this was accomplished, it would make +it impossible for the Spanish warships to escape until the sunken wreck +was blown up and cleared away, and in the meantime several other +available American vessels could be hurried to the scene of action. A +number of spies had been sent ashore, and at last the commodore was +positive that the enemy was just where he wanted him. "And now we'll +sink the <i>Merrimac</i> and bottle him up," he said.</p> + +<p>The <i>Merrimac</i> was an iron steamboat of five thousand tons' burden. She +had previously been a "tramp" steamer; that is, one going from port to +port, picking up any cargo that came to hand. She carried a large +quantity of coal for the various ships, and, as we already know, had +followed the Flying Squadron from Key West to Cienfuegos and the present +ocean territory. She was a heavily built craft, carrying two masts, and +just the right sort for the plan now at hand.</p> + +<p>A heavy salute on the morning of June 1 announced the coming of Admiral +Sampson with a number of additional warships,—the <i>New York</i>, <i>Oregon</i>, +<i>Mayflower</i>, <i>Porter</i>, and others. The <i>New York</i>, it may be added here, +was a cruiser, similar to the Brooklyn, only somewhat smaller. The +<i>Oregon</i> was a battleship of the first class, of over ten thousand tons' +displacement, and carried four 13-inch, eight 8-inch, and four 6-inch +guns in her main battery, over twenty guns in her secondary battery, +besides several Gatling guns and three torpedo tubes. This noble vessel +had just made a record for herself by steaming, at full speed, from San +Francisco, around Cape Horn, to our eastern coast, without a +break-down,—a journey without precedent for a heavy battleship, so far +as our own navy was concerned. In the past, foreign critics had imagined +that our vessels were not quite as good as theirs in thoroughness of +build; now these critics were silenced, and they stood looking on, and +wondering what those "clever Yankees" would do next.</p> + +<p>The <i>Merrimac</i> had been under the command of Captain James Miller, but +now she was eased of a large quantity of her coal, and turned over to +Lieutenant Richmond P. Hobson, an assistant naval constructor. Hobson +had his plans arranged in detail for sinking the <i>Merrimac</i>, and all he +asked for was a crew of six or seven men, to aid him in running the +collier into the harbor channel. "I know it looks like certain death to +go in," he said, "and therefore I want only volunteers with me."</p> + +<p>"You can get them easily enough," said Rear-Admiral Sampson, with a +smile. "I know a hundred men on the <i>New York</i> who will be only too +anxious to go, no matter how dangerous the mission." Volunteers were +called for, and, to the credit of our navy, be it said, that the crews +of the different ships offered themselves almost to a man.</p> + +<p>"We can die only once," said one old gunner; "take me!"</p> + +<p>"I'd like to go, captain," said Caleb, appealing to Captain Cook. "Can't +you put me on the list somehow?"</p> + +<p>"I'll go," said Walter, readily, and Si said the same. Paul was so young +that he knew they would not take him.</p> + +<p>Of course where only seven men were wanted and hundreds had begged to be +allowed to go there were numerous disappointments. At last the list was +made up of the following—names to be remembered by every patriotic +young American: Lieutenant Hobson, in command; O. W. Deignan, helmsman; +G. F. Phillips, engineer; F. Kelley, fireman; J. Murphy, coxswain; G. +Charette, mine batteries; D. Montague, anchor hand; R. Clausen, extra +wheelman. The men were all experienced sailors, and fully realized the +extreme peril which awaited them, when they should run the <i>Merrimac</i> in +directly under the fire of Morro Castle and the La Zocapa battery.</p> + +<p>A start was made late on Wednesday night, the <i>Merrimac</i> cruising up and +down before the harbor entrance, trying to gain a favorable opportunity +for entering. But none showed itself, and by orders of the rear-admiral +the attempt was postponed until the night following. In the meantime a +catamaran was built and attached to the <i>Merrimac's</i> side, to be used in +getting away in case the small boats became disabled when the craft was +wrecked.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH THE "MERRIMAC" IS SUNK</h3> + + +<p>"It's too bad we can't get places on the <i>Merrimac</i>," observed Walter to +Si, as the two walked to their quarters after the selection of men had +been made. "If Lieutenant Hobson succeeds in getting the collier up in +the harbor entrance and sinking her, it will be a big feather in his +cap."</p> + +<p>"My idea is that the heavy guns of old Morro will blow the <i>Merrimac</i> +clean out of the water before she gets within quarter of a mile of where +she is to be sunk," answered the Yankee lad. "Those on board are running +the greatest risk of their lives."</p> + +<p>"But the glory, Si!"</p> + +<p>"No glory if you're killed."</p> + +<p>"But you said you would go."</p> + +<p>"So I would—but I wouldn't expect to come back alive. I'll wager we +never see Hobson again, nor none of his men."</p> + +<p>The fierce heat of the day had given Walter a headache. As evening came +on it grew worse, and he was not able to sleep during the night.</p> + +<p>"I hope I'm not getting the Cuban fever," he remarked to Caleb, who had +offered several simple remedies ready at hand.</p> + +<p>"Better report and go on the sick list," advised the old gunner. "If +it's fever, the sooner you take it in hand the better."</p> + +<p>At first Walter demurred, but finally, as the ache in his head began to +creep all over him, he reported to one of the surgeons. "I don't want to +go into the sick bay," he said, "but I wish you would give me +something."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you need something," was the answer. "We don't want any men to get +down so soon. We may have to stay on the blockade here for some time, if +Cervera refuses to come out and fight us."</p> + +<p>"Or we block him in with the wreck of the <i>Merrimac</i>," said Walter, with +a faint smile.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that will be only a temporary check, to give Admiral Sampson time +to get his fleet into shape and give the army authorities time to send +on an army of invasion. The army is already gathering at Tampa," replied +the surgeon.</p> + +<p>The medicine was forthcoming, and Walter was at once given a big dose +and told to repeat every two hours. "It has quinine in it and will make +your ears ring and your head buzz, but that won't hurt you," said the +surgeon. "If you feel worse by to-morrow morning, report to me again."</p> + +<p>This was at eight o'clock. By noon Walter felt as if a buzz saw was in +full operation in his head, while he could not hear at all. But he +continued to take the medicine, and rested in a hammock slung up in the +coolest spot to be found between decks.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear!" he murmured, when left alone. "How my head does spin around! +If I get very sick, whatever will become of me?" And he buried his face +in his jacket sleeve, to suppress a groan that was bound to come.</p> + +<p>By nightfall he was worse, if anything, and both Caleb and Si advised +him to go into the sick bay for further treatment. But he shook his +head. "No, I reckon I can stand it till morning," he said. "There may be +a turn for the better by that time."</p> + +<p>Midnight found him on deck, under the impression that the fresh night +air would do him some good. To tell the truth, he was hardly +responsible for what he was doing, for his head was in a worse whirl +than at any time previous. He staggered to the side and leaned over. The +warship rose and fell on the bosom of the ocean, and the water danced +and twinkled before his eyes. Nobody was near him.</p> + +<p>How it all happened he could never tell afterward. He must have leaned +over too far, or slipped, for suddenly he seemed to awake as by a shock, +and felt himself going down and down into the greenish element which +washed up against the <i>Brooklyn's</i> sides. He tried to scream, but his +mouth filled with water and he could only splutter.</p> + +<p>When at length he arose to the surface, the waves had carried him a +hundred feet away from the ship. He tried to cry out, but he was too +weak to utter more than a whisper. He threw out his hands and began to +swim in a mechanical way. But instead of carrying him back whence he had +come, the mighty waves lifted him closer and closer to shore.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes had passed, and Walter felt that he could keep up no longer, +when he came into contact with a large box which had at one time been +filled with naval stores, but which, on being emptied, had been thrown +overboard from one of the warships. The box was over four feet in length +and built of heavy slatting, and afforded a fair degree of buoyancy. +Lying across the top of the receptacle he floated on, wondering in a +bewildered way how this strange adventure was going to end.</p> + +<p>"If only I could get to one of our ships," he thought. "If I don't, I +must either drown or else be cast up on the coast, in which case the +Spaniards will most likely capture me. If I—Oh, there is a ship now!"</p> + +<p>Walter was right; a two-masted vessel was bearing directly down upon +him. The vessel carried no lights and moved along as silently as a +ghost.</p> + +<p>"I'll be run down!" was the boy's agonizing thought, when, on coming +within a few hundred feet, the craft began to turn in a small circle. +Then, when halfway around, her engines came to a stop and she drifted +idly on the waves.</p> + +<p>A chain was dangling from the vessel's stern. It was but three yards +away, and making a frantic leap Walter clutched it and hung fast. +Scarcely had this been accomplished than the steamer moved off again, +dragging him behind her.</p> + +<p>In his weak state it is a wonder that Walter was not compelled to +relinquish his hold; but life is sweet to us all, and he hung on grimly, +and setting his teeth, began to climb up the chain hand over hand. In a +few minutes he reached the taffrail, fell, rather than climbed, over, +and dropped unconscious on the deck.</p> + +<p>How long he lay in this state Walter did not know. He came to his senses +to find himself being shaken by somebody bending over him.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here?" was the rough demand. "Don't you know that +all of the regular crew were ordered off at three o'clock?"</p> + +<p>"I—I—where am I?" stammered Walter, sitting up.</p> + +<p>"Where are you? Don't you know?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"You're on board of the <i>Merrimac</i>."</p> + +<p>"The <i>Merrimac</i>!" echoed the boy, and attempted to rise to his feet. He +was still very weak, but otherwise his involuntary bath had done him +much good.</p> + +<p>"Exactly; the <i>Merrimac</i>. How dare you remain on board against orders?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't remain on board. I—I fell off of my own ship, the <i>Brooklyn</i>, +and came near drowning, when this vessel came along and I managed to +catch hold of a chain that is dragging over the taffrail. I climbed up +and then—then I don't remember anything more."</p> + +<p>"Humph! that's a likely story. How did you happen to fall +overboard?" went on the man, who was one of the volunteers on this +never-to-be-forgotten expedition.</p> + +<p>In a few words Walter told him. By this time the youth felt stronger, +and got up on his feet. "I hope I shan't be in the way," he said, as he +concluded.</p> + +<p>"You had better keep out of the way," was the grim return. "Come +forward, and I'll report the matter to Lieutenant Hobson. If you have to +go in with us, the best thing you can do is to strip off your clothing, +and buckle a life preserver around you—just as the rest of us have +done. Of course if you were on the <i>Brooklyn</i> you know what we intend to +do, and let me tell you we've some mighty hot work ahead of us." And +throwing him a life preserver, the man stalked off, leaving Walter +standing on the forward deck of the collier in the darkness.</p> + +<p>It was a little after three o'clock in the morning, and the <i>Merrimac</i> +was headed north-northeast, directly for the harbor entrance. From far +ahead shone a Spanish flashlight, located on a hill, and by steering for +this, Lieutenant Hobson knew the craft would be taken just where he +wanted her.</p> + +<p>Walter was but lightly attired, and without stripping off any more +clothing he placed the life preserver around him, under the arms. "When +the <i>Merrimac</i> goes down, we may not even have the catamaran to fall +back on," he thought.</p> + +<p>Boom! It was the report of one of the Spanish guns on shore, and a heavy +shot whizzed over the bridge of the <i>Merrimac</i>, where Lieutenant Hobson +and the helmsman were standing, and fell into the waves on the starboard +side. The aim was so close that the wind from the shot carried off the +helmsman's cap!</p> + +<p>Other shots soon followed, and in the excitement of the moment Walter's +presence on board was forgotten. The <i>Merrimac</i> was now running at a +tremendous rate of speed, her fires roaring fiercely and her boilers +threatening to burst at any instant. Quivering from stem to stern under +such high pressure, she shot into the harbor entrance and straight for +the narrowest part of the channel. By this time the Spanish guns from +all sides were sending down on her a shower of shot and shell, awful to +contemplate. Seeing he could do nothing, Walter ran for the shelter of +one of the companionways.</p> + +<p>"Put the wheel hard a-port!" came the order from the bold commander, +who, if he was excited did not show it. "Lively now!"</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir!" came from the helmsman, and the wheel went over, and was +lashed fast.</p> + +<p>"She isn't coming over!" came another cry, a moment later, and while +shot and shell were flying, in all directions.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter there? Charette, go down and look at the steering +gear."</p> + +<p>At once Charette ran off at his best speed. He was gone but a moment, +and came back all out of breath.</p> + +<p>"One of the rudder chains has been shot away, sir," he reported.</p> + +<p>"Shot away!" came from several. "That's bad."</p> + +<p>To this Hobson did not answer, but instantly ordered the engines +stopped. "And open the sea-valves and come up," he added. "There is not +a minute to lose now, lads, if we want to sink her and escape alive."</p> + +<p>Morro Castle and the battery opposite had heretofore been firing alone, +but now came shots from Smith Cay, up the harbor, and from a Spanish +warship which was bearing down upon the scene.</p> + +<p>"We must fire the mines now!" Walter heard somebody say. "Fire them as +closely together as possible, and then make for the starboard side +amidships."</p> + +<p>This order had scarcely been given when the wires attached to the mines +were touched off. A sullen roar from beneath the <i>Merrimac</i> followed, +and the vessel was thrown high up in the air, while great columns of +water spouted up on every side. Then slowly but surely the collier began +to sink.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>WALTER'S ADVENTURE ON SHORE</h3> + + +<p>Although the <i>Merrimac</i> had been blown up and was sinking, the Spaniards +continued to fire upon her without interruption, and as before, the air +was filled with solid shot, bursting shells, and the whistling of leaden +messengers from rapid-firing rifles.</p> + +<p>The order to gather at the starboard was a wise one, for this spot was +the best protected on the deck, as the port side was settling rapidly. +To take to a small boat or the catamaran would have been the height of +foolishness, for a strong searchlight was being thrown on the scene, and +the men would have been picked off by the Spanish gunners at will.</p> + +<p>With the others Walter rushed to starboard and found a hiding-place +close to the rail. "I wonder what will happen next," he muttered. He was +certain that something would take place very soon, for the waves of the +harbor channel were already rolling over a portion of the <i>Merrimac's</i> +deck.</p> + +<p>A few anxious minutes passed, when suddenly the doomed collier gave a +heavy list to starboard, and Walter found himself sliding along the rail +and unable to stop himself.</p> + +<p>"Hold on!" shouted somebody. "Who is that?"</p> + +<p>Still weak, and with the flying spray drenching his face, Walter could +not answer, and in a second more the questioner had disappeared amid the +gloom, smoke, and flying water. Again came a lurch of the collier, and +Walter was hurled flat and sent spinning against the smoke-stack. As he +arose he saw Lieutenant Hobson and his men climbing over the starboard +rail. Realizing, even in his bewildered state of mind, that he could not +do better than to follow them, he, too, made for the rail, going over at +one point as the courageous commander of the expedition went over at +another. The crew were swimming for the catamaran, which had been shoved +off from the <i>Merrimac's</i> side, and Walter came after them. Hardly had +the catamaran been gained, than, with a final lurch and quiver, the +<i>Merrimac</i> went down, partly across the narrow channel, but not exactly +in the position in which she would have been placed had not the rudder +chain been shot away.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus6" id="illus6"></a> +<img src="images/illus6.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><span class="smcap">With a Final Lurch the Merrimac Went Down.</span></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>As the craft sank, a yell came from the Spanish battery nearest at hand, +the gunners thinking they had sunk an American man-o'-war and not +dreaming that the sinking had been done by those on board and purposely. +But none of the Americans paid any attention to these cries, all +thinking only of escape, now the work of the night was over.</p> + +<p>A steam launch under the command of Ensign Joseph Powell had been moving +up and down the harbor waiting for a chance to pick Hobson and his men +up. But a Spanish picket boat lay between those on the catamaran and the +launch, so escape in this direction was now cut off.</p> + +<p>The float was still attached by a long rope to the wreck of the +<i>Merrimac</i>, and the men were now ordered to remain where they were, +clinging to the catamaran with only their heads showing above water. "If +you try to swim away, the Spanish sharpshooters will pick you off as +quick as a wink," was the word passed around.</p> + +<p>Thus cautioned, all the brave crew remained where they were until +daylight began to show itself. Then a large launch steamed up, carrying +several oarsmen, half a dozen sharpshooters, and Admiral Cervera +himself.</p> + +<p>"Do you surrender?" came in Spanish, while every sailor on the catamaran +was carefully covered.</p> + +<p>"We surrender as prisoners of war," was Lieutenant Hobson's reply, and +then he and his men were ordered to swim to the launch one at a time and +give up their arms, if they had any. This was done, and the steam launch +returned to the <i>Reina Mercedes</i>, one of the Spanish warships. Later on, +Hobson and his men were sent ashore under a strong guard, marched up a +hill to Morro Castle, and turned over to General Toral, the military +governor of Santiago Province.</p> + +<p>When he made the leap for the catamaran Walter was not as fortunate as +those around him. He entered the water close to the <i>Merrimac</i>, and when +the great collier sank, the suction drew him under, and he went so far +down that he fancied he would never come up. His breath was gone, a gulp +partly filled him with water, and when at last the surface of the bay +was again reached he came up more dead than alive.</p> + +<p>He set out to swim instinctively, the life preserver holding him up, +although it had not been light enough to counteract the suction of the +sinking ship. Where he was going he did not know, for the glare of the +searchlight and the splashing of shots on the water was perfectly +bewildering. "I'm lost!" he thought a dozen times. "O God, help me to +get out alive!" And that prayer was answered, for presently his foot +touched bottom and he saw land ahead,—a bit of sandy beach between +Morro Castle and a battery located on Estrella Cove, for the tide was +coming in, and had carried him up the harbor instead of down.</p> + +<p>As Walter waded out of the water he heard several pickets shouting to +each other in Spanish. Without waiting for them to come nearer, he dove +out of sight in some bushes back of the beach, and then started to walk +to a woods still further inland.</p> + +<p>So far, the intense excitement had kept him up, but now came the +reaction, and he felt as sick as he had while on the <i>Brooklyn</i>. His +head began to spin and strange lights flashed before his eyes, while +chills crept up and down his backbone. "I reckon I'm in for a spell of +sickness, whether I escape or not," he groaned, and reaching the woods, +threw himself down under a mahogany tree to rest.</p> + +<p>Walter thought he could not sleep, but presently the pain became less +and he sank into a troubled slumber. He roused up to find a tall, +fine-looking negro shaking him. As soon as he opened his eyes, the negro +began to question him in Spanish.</p> + +<p>"I can't understand you," said the youth, and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"<i>Americano</i>, mistair?" questioned the negro, and Walter nodded. "You +come from big fight, maybe?" he went on, brokenly.</p> + +<p>"What fight do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Fight down by Morro last night. Spanish sink your ship, maybe, not so?" +And the negro laughed.</p> + +<p>"Our men did the sinking. But who are you? a Spaniard?"</p> + +<p>"No, me Cuban, Carlos Dunetta."</p> + +<p>"My name is Walter Russell, but I suppose it might be Smith for all the +difference it makes to you," replied Walter, moodily. "What do you +intend to do? turn me over to the Spanish authorities?"</p> + +<p>"To de Spanish? No, no!" Carlos Dunetta leaned forward. "<i>Cuba libre!</i> +'Member de <i>Maine</i>! Not so?" And he smiled broadly.</p> + +<p>"Now you are talking!" ejaculated Walter, joyfully. "You are an +insurgent, I suppose. Do you belong to General Garcia's troops?"</p> + +<p>Again the negro leaned forward. "Carlos Dunetta spy for de general," he +whispered. "Come, want to get away, must hurry!" And he took hold of +Walter's arm.</p> + +<p>Their course was directly into the woods, under broad mahogany and +grenadillo trees, and over rough rocks overgrown with rank vines. +Insects and bugs were numerous and spider-webs hung everywhere.</p> + +<p>"Udder men all caught and taken to prison," said the Cuban as they +progressed. "I hear dat from udder spy."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not out of the woods yet," said Walter, seriously.</p> + +<p>"Woods safe place in daytime," answered the negro, not catching his true +meaning.</p> + +<p>They had progressed less than half a mile when Walter began to lag +behind. "I can't go any farther," he declared. "I've been sick and I'm +about used up."</p> + +<p>"Sick? What is de mattair?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know—unless it is malarial fever."</p> + +<p>At the word "fever" Carlos Dunetta drew down the corners of his broad +mouth. "Fever? Dat is werry bad—<i>Americano</i> canno stand dat. Maybe I +best carry you to Josefina's hut. Josefina she my sistair. She take care +of you if so you be sick."</p> + +<p>The tall negro took Walter upon his back with ease and continued on his +way. Presently they reached a trail, and passing along this for the +distance of a hundred yards, came within sight of a long, low hut, +thatched with palm.</p> + +<p>The negro gave a peculiar whistle, and immediately a short, fat negro +wench put in an appearance, followed by a man of twenty-five or thirty. +The man was fairly well dressed, and evidently a Cuban of Spanish +descent.</p> + +<p>"It is all right, Carlos!" cried the wench. "This is Seńor Ramona."</p> + +<p>"Seńor Ramona!" exclaimed the negro, and rushing up he dropped Walter +and took the out-stretched hand of the Cuban gentleman. A long talk in +Spanish, followed, of which Walter understood hardly a word. Yet he felt +certain the pair were talking about the American warships outside of +the harbor, the blowing up of the <i>Merrimac</i>, and about himself. +Suddenly the negro ran back to him, at the same time calling the wench.</p> + +<p>"You sick—I forget," he said. "Come; nice bed here." And he pointed to +a grass hammock suspended from one of the rear corner posts of the hut +to a near-by tree. "You lay dare; Josefina make good drink for you; den +you feel bettair."</p> + +<p>Walter was glad enough to accept the invitation, for standing unaided +was now out of the question. As soon as he was in the hammock the negro +woman ran off for a wet bandage, which she tied tightly over his +forehead.</p> + +<p>Carlos Dunetta evidently had an important message for Seńor Ramona, for +no sooner was the talk between the pair at an end, than the Cuban +brought out a horse from the shelter of the trees, and dashed down the +trail at a breakneck speed.</p> + +<p>"Me watch, warn you if any Spaniards come," said Carlos, on returning to +Walter's side. "You bettair rest, or get fever werry bad."</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose there is any hope of my getting back to my ship?"</p> + +<p>"De ship dat blow up?"</p> + +<p>"No, a big warship out there," and Walter waved his hand in the +direction of the coast.</p> + +<p>At this, the tall negro shrugged his shoulders. "Carlos can take you to +de shore—but no got boat. Maybe you swim, not so?"</p> + +<p>"Well, hardly," answered Walter. "I may be a pretty good swimmer, but +four or five miles is too much for any man."</p> + +<p>The negro retired, and Walter lay back watching the woman, who had +brought out several bags filled with herbs. Selecting some of the herbs, +the woman steeped them in water, and poured the tea into an earthen +bowl, sweetening the concoction with sugarcane ends. Bringing the bowl +to Walter, she motioned for him to drink.</p> + +<p>The youth had expected an unsavory mess, but he found the tea very +pleasant to the taste, and ten minutes after he had taken half the +contents of the bowl he was in a sound slumber, from which he did not +awaken until nearly nightfall. In the meantime Josefina removed the life +preserver and made him otherwise as comfortable as possible, proud to +think she was serving <i>un Americano</i> who was battling against the +enemies of her beloved Cuba.</p> + +<p>"You had bettair come into de house now—night air werry bad for you," +announced Carlos, as Walter sat up in the hammock and stared around him. +"How feel now? weak?"</p> + +<p>"I—I dreamed I was back on the <i>Brooklyn</i> and sailing for home," was +the hesitating reply. "My head feels better, but I'm afraid my legs have +gone back on me," Walter went on, as on trying to stand he found he must +support himself against the tree. "This is the queerest spell of +sickness I ever had."</p> + +<p>"Never mind—if only so be dat de fever is broken," said Carlos, +seriously. "Come." And he about carried Walter into the hut. Usually +negro huts in Cuba are dirty and full of vermin, but this was an +exception. In her younger days, Josefina had worked for a titled lady of +Santiago, and there had learned cleanliness quite unusual to those of +her standing. In a corner of the hut was a pile of fresh sugarcane husks +covered with a brown spread, and to this she motioned Walter, and here +he rested until the following morning.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>CARLOS, THE REBEL SPY</h3> + + +<p>"Well, I'm not out of my troubles yet, but I suppose I'm better off than +those fellows who were captured and taken off to some Spanish dungeon."</p> + +<p>It was Walter who mused thus, as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. The herb +tea Josefina had made for him had "touched the spot" and he felt quite +like himself again. The native Cubans have to fight fevers constantly, +and, consequently, know a great deal about proper remedies.</p> + +<p>"Will you eat?" questioned Carlos, who sat by, smoking a cigarette, +while Josefina busied herself in preparing a morning meal of rice-cakes +and strong coffee.</p> + +<p>"I haven't much appetite, but I suppose I ought to eat if I want to get +back my strength. But see here," Walter went on. "I can't pay you a cent +for what you are doing for me, for I have no money with me."</p> + +<p>"Dat's all right; Josefina and me no want pay—we glad to do for you," +answered Carlos; and Josefina smiled so broadly that her eyes were +fairly closed.</p> + +<p>The rice-cakes were well done, and Walter ate several of them, and also +sipped at the heavy black coffee, sweetened with sugarcane drippings. +The meal over, Carlos leaped up and lit a fresh cigarette.</p> + +<p>"You stay here and I go to shore—see if you can get to ship," he said. +"If Spaniards come, Josefina show you where to hide, so no can find +you."</p> + +<p>"I'll have to stay, for I can't walk the distance to the shore—yet. By +the way, where am I?"</p> + +<p>"Dis place back of Estrella, 'bout halfway to Aguadores, on the Guama +River. Can see warships from mouth of Guama."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I've heard of the Guama. Some of the fellows on board ship said we +might capture that point, or Guantanamo Bay, so as to have a place to +coal when the ocean was rough. You are going to the shore?"</p> + +<p>"If Spanish pickets let me," grinned Carlos. "Werry strong Spanish guard +around here now. Werry much afraid American soldiers come."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they will come, if Sampson needs help," replied Walter, but +without knowing that the army of invasion at Tampa was already preparing +to leave for Cuba, and his own brother Ben with it.</p> + +<p>After Carlos was gone, Walter tried to carry on a conversation with +Josefina, but as the wench's English vocabulary was as limited as was +the boy's knowledge of Spanish, the talk soon lagged. "<i>Cuba libre!</i> +'Member de <i>Maine</i>!" she said over and over again, and smiled that awful +smile that almost caused Walter to burst into a fit of laughter. During +the morning she made him some more tea and insisted upon his drinking +it, greatly to the benefit of his health and strength, as he soon +realized.</p> + +<p>It was growing late in the afternoon, and Walter was wondering when +Carlos would get back, when the sound of a rifle-shot from a distance +startled him. Before he could get to the doorway of the hut, Josefina +was outside and speeding up the trail in the direction her brother had +taken.</p> + +<p>"Get back!" It was the voice of Carlos, and he was running beside his +sister, who kept up with him, despite her weight. "The Spaniards are +coming."</p> + +<p>"Soldiers?" gasped Walter.</p> + +<p>"Yes; ten or fifteen. They caught me going through de pickets, but I +knocked one so, and anodder so, and got away. Come wid me, before da +catch you!" And he took hold of Walter's arm and turned him to the back +of the hut.</p> + +<p>Wondering what would happen next, but remembering what had been said +about a hiding-place, the youth followed Carlos to the rear wall of the +structure. Here, directly against the logs, grew a tall ebony tree.</p> + +<p>"Dat tree hollow," explained the Cuban. "Climb to limb and drop inside. +Josefina haul us out when Spanish go 'way." And he gave Walter a lift +up.</p> + +<p>The lower branches were but twelve feet from the ground, and were easily +gained. Carlos came up also. "Let me drop first," he said. "Den you come +on top of me. Be quick, or too late!" And down he went into darkness, +and Walter came after.</p> + +<p>The hollow portion of the tree was not over twenty inches in diameter, +and it was a lucky thing for both inside that neither was stout nor +broad of shoulder. As it was, they stood breast to breast with +difficulty, and yet not daring to make a sound.</p> + +<p>A shout came from the trail, sounding in strange contrast to the song +Josefina had begun to sing—an old-fashioned Cuban ditty about a sailor +and his lass. Soon the soldiers drew closer, and several came around to +the side of the hut.</p> + +<p>"Ho! within there!" came in Spanish. "Where is that wretch we are +after?"</p> + +<p>"Wretch!" answered Josefina, in pretended surprise. "Whom do you mean, +kind sirs?"</p> + +<p>"You know well enough—the tall fellow who knocked over our guards and +ran in this direction."</p> + +<p>"I have seen nobody; I have been busy washing," answered Josefina, +pointing to a few articles of wearing apparel which lay soaking in a +water-butt.</p> + +<p>"You cannot humbug us!" cried the leader of the Spanish detachment, in a +fury. "Tell me where they are, or I'll run you through!" And he ran at +Josefina with pointed sword. It is doubtful if he intended to carry out +his threat, but the wench thought him in earnest, and the yell she gave +would have done credit to a cannibal of the South Sea Islands.</p> + +<p>The cry of terror from his sister was more than Carlos Dunetta could +stand, and in a twinkle he placed his hands on Walter's shoulders, +shoved himself upward, and showed himself at the top of the opening.</p> + +<p>"Let my sister alone, you dogs!" he burst out. "Let her alone!" And +leaping to the ground, he made after the Spaniard with a drawn machete, +a long knife used in the sugarcane fields and employed by the insurgents +as a favorite weapon.</p> + +<p>There was a cry of alarm, and then came two shots in quick succession, +followed by a fall close to the foot of the tree.</p> + +<p>"You have killed my brother!" shrieked Josefina. "Oh, Carlos, Carlos, +what shall I do now?"</p> + +<p>"Back with you, you good-for-nothing woman!" came from the leader of the +Spanish detachment. "I thought we were on the right trail. We ought to +shoot you for lying to us."</p> + +<p>At that moment came a deep groan of pain, showing that Carlos was not +yet dead. He had been shot in the arm and through the back, but the +wounds were not dangerous, although painful.</p> + +<p>Without paying attention to what more the Spaniards had to say, Josefina +busied herself over the body of her brother, laying him out on the +grass and binding up his wounds with such rags as were handy. While she +was doing this the Spaniards began an excited conversation among +themselves, of which, of course, Walter understood not a word.</p> + +<p>"Your brother had a very convenient hiding-place in the tree," suggested +the leader of the detachment, a greasy, lean-faced corporal, who +rejoiced in the name of Pedro Ruz. "Had he not shown himself, it is +doubtful if we should have located him."</p> + +<p>"You are bad men to shoot him—I want nothing to do with you," was +Josefina's only response. "Go—and leave my brother to me."</p> + +<p>"Leave him here!" burst out Pedro Ruz. "No, no, he goes with us as a +prisoner. If I am not mistaken, he is the spy Captain Coleo has been +after these many days."</p> + +<p>"You cannot take him away—a journey will kill him."</p> + +<p>"He must go—whether it kills him or not. He can ride on the back of the +horse one of my men is bringing up. Captain Coleo will want to interview +him before nightfall. And let me tell you, if it is discovered that he +has been carrying information to the rebels or those Yankee pigs out in +the waters beyond the bay, why, so much the worse for him, that's all." +And Corporal Ruz shrugged his shoulders suggestively.</p> + +<p>In a moment more the horse was brought forward, a beast as lean as its +owner, since fodder in that territory was becoming a scarce article. +Since Carlos could not move himself, he was lifted up to the saddle in +anything but a gentle fashion. Josefina began to expostulate, but the +only attention paid to her was by one of the men, who snatched at her +arm and hurled her backward.</p> + +<p>"You must learn to mind your betters," said the soldier. "Our worthy +corporal knows his business."</p> + +<p>"I will search the man, to see if he carries any despatches," put in +Corporal Ruz. "Ha, you rascal, let me get at that breast pocket of +yours. And, Camara, climb up into the tree and look into that hole. +There may be something worth finding there."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY</h3> + + +<p>As Walter did not understand what was said, he was not aware of his +peril until the Spanish soldier began to climb the tree. Then he +realized the truth, and his heart sank within him.</p> + +<p>"It's all up with me now," he half groaned. "I wonder what they will do +with me after they find me."</p> + +<p>Reaching the top of the opening, the soldier paused and shouted +something to his companions regarding the darkness of the hole below.</p> + +<p>"Light a match and drop it down," ordered Corporal Ruz. "This rascal +carries nothing," he went on, disappointedly, having found Carlos's +pockets empty of anything of value. The negro did carry a message, but +it was on a small patch of thin paper, which had been rolled up tightly +and concealed in his thick woolly hair.</p> + +<p>The match was lit and dropped, and all ablaze it landed upon Walter's +head. He caught it in silence and put it out, but the movement was +noticed from above.</p> + +<p>"There is some one else in the tree—a white man," cried the soldier. +"Come out of that!" he continued.</p> + +<p>Walter guessed what the command meant, and as further concealment would +have been useless he attempted to crawl from the hole. But this was not +so easy, and in the end the soldier had to lend a hand, and then both +leaped to the ground together.</p> + +<p>"<i>Un Americano!</i>" ejaculated Corporal Ruz. "<i>De donde viene V.?</i>" he +added, asking Walter where he came from.</p> + +<p>At this the boy shook his head. "I don't understand you," he said.</p> + +<p>"<i>No habla V. castellano?</i>" continued the corporal, asking if he did not +speak Spanish.</p> + +<p>Again Walter shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Yankee pig!" murmured the corporal, using a term quite common in Cuba +during the war. "Why does he not learn our beautiful language? Does he +expect we will learn his dirty English?"</p> + +<p>He turned to the soldier who had discovered Walter, and between them +they searched the lad's clothing thoroughly, and even took off his +shoes and stockings.</p> + +<p>"Nothing," growled the under-officer. "It is strange."</p> + +<p>Carlos had been almost unconscious, but was now recovering. "We are in +serious trouble, I am afraid," said Walter, addressing him; but Carlos +pretended not to understand, not wishing the Spaniards to know that he +spoke English, for then they would have been more certain than ever that +he was a spy.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the entire party had left the hut and was making its +way along the trail, Carlos on horseback and the others walking, Walter +between the corporal and a Spanish private, and Josefina bringing up in +the rear as if unwilling to leave her brother.</p> + +<p>The soldiers were eight in number, and each was armed with a Mauser +rifle of recent pattern. They were a hungry-looking set and their +uniforms were sadly in need of repair. Six were of middle age, but the +other two were no older than Walter, for conscription into the Spanish +army begins at as early an age as it does in the navy—some of the +soldiers and sailors being scarcely fifteen to sixteen years old!</p> + +<p>The course of the party was upward, over rocks and trailing vines, and +through a woods where hardly a breath of air was stirring. The heat soon +made Walter's head ache again, and he was glad enough when a small +Spanish camp was gained and he was allowed to sit down in the shade of a +plantain and rest.</p> + +<p>The encampment was in the open, the only shelter being that provided for +the officer in charge, Captain Coleo—a bit of dilapidated canvas +stretched between four trees fifteen or twenty feet apart. Under this +shelter were located a couple of hammocks, a small folding table for +writing, and a camp chair.</p> + +<p>Walter found Captain Coleo a thorough gentleman despite his +surroundings. He was well educated and spoke English fluently, with a +soft accent which under other circumstances would have been quite +pleasing.</p> + +<p>"So you are an American youth?" he said, after he had listened to his +corporal's report and examined Carlos. "And where did you come from, and +what are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>Feeling there would be no use in concealing the truth, Walter told his +story. At the mentioning of the <i>Merrimac</i> the Spanish captain's brow +grew dark.</p> + +<p>"It was a brave deed, but it will do your countrymen small good," he +said. "The boat is not directly across the channel, so the harbor pilots +have discovered. All of your comrades are now prisoners in Morro Castle, +and I presume that is where I shall have to send you."</p> + +<p>"As a prisoner of war?"</p> + +<p>"As a prisoner of war. And you can be thankful that in trying to escape +you were not shot down," continued Captain Coleo.</p> + +<p>Walter was very thirsty, and said so. "You look as if you were getting +ready to have the fever," was the captain's comment, and he had a +soldier bring Walter a tin cup full of <i>guarapo</i>, water sweetened with +sugarcane ends, and said to be healthier than the plain article. Good +water in Cuba is scarce, and although Walter did not know it, it was +only the captain's natural good-heartedness that obtained for him what +he wanted.</p> + +<p>It had threatened rain for some hours, and as nightfall came on, the +first drops of a violent tropical storm descended. Soon from a distance +came the rumble of thunder, and spasmodic flashes of lightning lit up +the woods. The soldiers huddled under the shelter of a clump of low +trees, while Captain Coleo sought the protection of the canvas, +accompanied by Walter, Carlos, and a guard. Walter's hands had been +bound behind him, and he was allowed to sit on a small block of wood +beside one of the hammocks in which the wounded negro reclined.</p> + +<p>"We will not move to Santiago to-night," said the Spanish captain. "I +think the storm will clear away by morning."</p> + +<p>He was busy making out a report, and sat at his little table for the +purpose, a spluttering Mambi taper fastened to a stick driven into the +soil being his only light. The taper went out half a dozen times, but +there was nothing to do but to light it again, and this Captain Coleo +did without the least show of impatience. To him war was a business, and +he was satisfied to take matters just as they came.</p> + +<p>The guard trudged around and around the patch covered by the canvas, his +rifle on his shoulder and the never-failing Spanish cigarette in his +mouth. Occasionally he glanced toward Walter and the negro, but his +interest in the prisoners soon gave way to his own discomforts, and he +gave them no more attention.</p> + +<p>Presently Walter felt a hand steal over his shoulder. "What you +think—we run for it, maybe?" whispered Carlos.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to run, but we may get shot," whispered Walter in return.</p> + +<p>At this Carlos shrugged his shoulders. With two Mauser bullets in him +the tall negro rebel was still "game." It was such men as he who had +kept this unequal warfare in Cuba going for three long years despite +Spain's utmost endeavors to end the conflict.</p> + +<p>"Raise up a bit and I untie rope," he said, as the guard made another +round and walked from them. "Maybe we can go when big thunder and +lightning come—not so?"</p> + +<p>"All right—I'll go you," cried Walter, lowly, and in a bit of Western +slang. "A fellow can't die but once, and I have no desire to be taken to +the dungeon of Morro Castle, or to any other Spanish lockup."</p> + +<p>He raised up, and in a trice Carlos had the cords about his wrists +unloosened. Captain Coleo still sat writing. But now the taper went out +again and he paused to relight it.</p> + +<p>At that instant came a blinding flash of lightning and a loud peal of +thunder which startled the few horses the camp possessed and caused them +to prance about madly. "Now!" cried Carlos, and with one quick leap he +cleared six feet of ground between the hammock and the nearest patch of +woods. Walter also leaped, and away they went side by side through the +wind, rain, and darkness.</p> + +<p>Crack! crack! It was the reports of two Mausers, and the ping of a +bullet from the Spanish captain's pistol followed. Walter felt a strange +whistling by his ear, and putting up his hand found it covered with +blood. The bullet from the pistol had scratched the side of his head. +Had his aim been an inch closer, gentlemanly Captain Coleo would have +killed the youth on the spot.</p> + +<p>"You are hit?" queried Carlos, breathing heavily, for loss of blood had +made him weak.</p> + +<p>"I—I reckon it's not much!" panted Walter. "But hurry up—they are +coming after us!"</p> + +<p>The boy was right; both the captain and the guard were following the +pair with all possible speed, while three others brought up in the +rear, the other soldiers remaining behind to manage the horses, three +of which had broken their tethers and were bounding down the trail at a +breakneck speed.</p> + +<p>Could he manage to escape? Such was the one question which Walter asked +himself as he stumbled on in the darkness. A very few minutes would +suffice to answer the all-important query.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE FLIGHT TO THE SEACOAST</h3> + + +<p>Carlos knew the wood well, and now he took hold of Walter's hand. "Put +udder arm up, or get hurt maybe," he said. "Nasty trees around here." +And Walter found this was true, for presently a low and twisted branch +caught him and flung him flat on his back. Had his arm been down he must +have been knocked senseless.</p> + +<p>The Spanish captain and the guard came crashing along behind them, +shouting "<i>Alto!</i>" (Halt) at the top of their lungs. Captain Coleo was +very much chagrined that they had gotten away so easily, and blamed the +guard roundly. The latter did not dare to answer back, and felt he must +catch the fleeing prisoners or suffer for it.</p> + +<p>The course had been straight ahead, but now Carlos turned to the +southward. Presently they came to a halt at the edge of a mountain +torrent. The pursuers were still on the track and drawing closer.</p> + +<p>"Jump and go ahead; I will come after," panted Carlos, who could run no +more. "Don't wait!" he added, as he saw Walter hesitate.</p> + +<p>"But yourself—" began Walter.</p> + +<p>"Never mind—go!" broke in the negro; and Walter made the leap over the +stream and ran on. Instantly Carlos sought the shelter of a near-by tree +and became silent.</p> + +<p>"I do not see them, <i>capitan</i>," observed the guard, as he and Captain +Coleo reached the spot. "Have they crossed, do you think?"</p> + +<p>"I will see, Rampo," was the answer, and the captain hurried on in the +direction Walter had taken. Scarcely was he out of sight than with set +teeth Carlos came forth from the shadow of the tree and crawled up +behind Rampo as silently as a panther seeking its prey. A quick, nervous +clutch and the negro had the soldier's Mauser. Then came a heavy swing +of the butt, and with hardly a groan the Spanish guard went down with a +broken skull. "<i>Cuba libre!</i>" muttered Carlos, grimly. "That for Maceo, +our fallen hero!" referring to Antonio Maceo, the patriot who had led +the rebels in eastern Cuba for several years, only to be shot down at +last in ambush.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Walter ran on, not knowing where he was going, and +hardly caring, if only his liberty might be assured to him. Occasionally +a flash of lightning lit up the scene, but this only served to make the +general darkness more intense. Soon his foot caught in an exposed +tree-root, and he went headlong, and rolled over and over to the bottom +of a hollow filled with rank vegetation, foul-smelling moss, and +brackish water.</p> + +<p>Before he could collect his scattered senses he heard the Spanish +captain coming up. He arose slowly to his feet, but, struck by a sudden +idea, remained in the hollow, ankle-deep in water, and screened from +view by the vegetation previously mentioned.</p> + +<p>A flash of lightning revealed the captain and at the same time uncovered +the youth. For a second both stood spellbound, then the Spaniard drew +his pistol.</p> + +<p>"Surrender!" he shouted; and the former mildness in his tone of voice +was now missing. "Surrender, or I'll shoot you where you stand."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus7" id="illus7"></a> +<img src="images/illus7.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"<span class="smcap">Surrender, or I'll Shoot You Where You Stand.</span>"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"Don't shoot," answered Walter, readily. "I'll come out."</p> + +<p>"Where is that Cuban rebel?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"You don't know? Ha! don't fool with me, lad—I am in no humor for it +now."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know, and that is all there is to it. We separated +several minutes ago."</p> + +<p>"I do not believe you—he is hiding somewhere in the hollow. Tell me +where, or as sure as I stand here, I will put a bullet through your +head." And the pistol was aimed straight at Walter.</p> + +<p>Before the youth could remonstrate, indeed, before he had time to think, +the crack of a Mauser penetrated the damp air. A second of silence +followed, and then, to Walter's amazement, Captain Coleo sank down where +he stood, a ball through his brain.</p> + +<p>"I hit him! what a fine shot!" The words came from Carlos, as he emerged +into the opening, the rifle still in hand. "That makes number two, for +de udder rascal is laid low with a broken head. Seńor, we are in luck, +but let us make de most of our chance."</p> + +<p>"But—but—is he dead?" asked Walter, in a hoarse whisper. To him such a +proceeding seemed little less than murder.</p> + +<p>"Dead? To be sure he is dead. But don't let dat worry you. See de blood +on your left ear, where he tried to serve you as I served him. Come, +before de udder soldiers arrive." And, catching Walter by the arm, +Carlos hurried him away.</p> + +<p>"And this is war!" thought the boy. "Oh, how cruel! how barbarous! But +Carlos is right, the captain tried to kill me." He drew a long breath. +"I'm glad I wasn't the one to knock him over."</p> + +<p>The pair had gone on about a hundred yards further when they came out on +a broad highway, used principally as an ox-team road. Here Carlos called +a halt again, to get his breath and take a view of the situation.</p> + +<p>"Hark—a horse come!" he ejaculated suddenly, and slipped a cartridge +into the Mauser rifle, for he had taken the ammunition box from the dead +soldier. "Back, out of sight—ah!"</p> + +<p>Walter ran to the shelter of a tree. But at the same time the negro +bounded forward, throwing the rifle to the ground. It was no horseman +approaching, only one of the animals that had broken away during the +heavy thunder and lightning. Making a clutch at the beast's bridle, +Carlos held fast and brought the horse to a sudden halt.</p> + +<p>"We in luck," he observed, as Walter came out of hiding. "Mount wid me, +and we'll soon be miles away!"</p> + +<p>"You get into the saddle, and I'll ride behind," answered Walter, who +saw how weak Carlos now was. And thus they went on until several miles +had been covered. Presently, from a distance, the youth heard the +booming of the surf.</p> + +<p>"Is that from the seacoast?" he asked; and the negro nodded. "And where +are we?"</p> + +<p>"We close to de ocean, two or three miles east from San Juan hill. We +stop pretty soon—werry much tired." And Carlos closed his eyes. He +would have fallen from the horse had not Walter held him fast. "Turn to +left at first cross-road," he muttered, and then fainted.</p> + +<p>"Poor chap!" thought the boy. "He kept up well, with two bullets in him. +I must do what I can for him." And he urged the horse on, at the same +time keeping his eyes open for the side road mentioned. Soon it came +into view, and five minutes later he found himself at the entrance to a +hut similar to that occupied by Josefina, who had now disappeared +entirely from the scene. Beyond the hut the road lost itself in a +wilderness of small brush.</p> + +<p>The hoof-strokes of the horse had been observed, and soon several men, +Cubans and negroes, came from the building. "Carlos!" cried several. +They turned to Walter. "What does this mean, seńor?" came in Spanish.</p> + +<p>"Spaniards," answered Walter, and pointed behind him. Then he pointed to +the gun and to the wounds Carlos had received, and also showed his own +bloody ear and scalp.</p> + +<p>The dumb language was instantly comprehended, and two men carried the +unconscious negro into the hut, while others took charge of the horse +and conducted Walter inside. The lad found the small abode crowded with +insurgents, who had come in to escape the drenching rain, and the air +was heavy with the smoke of cigarettes and the smell of a stew seasoned +with garlic, which was cooking over a lire in the rear. A constant flow +of conversation was kept up, of which he understood only an occasional +word.</p> + +<p>Poor Carlos was in a bad way, and by morning it was easy to see he could +be removed only with difficulty. Yet he was cheerful, or tried to be so, +and smiled when Walter came to him.</p> + +<p>"I have news for you," he said, in his broken English. "Your warships +fight, bang, bang, bang! down by the water, at Aguadores and udder +places. Think ships go up by Guantanamo Bay, maybe. If sailors land, you +have a chance to join them—not so?"</p> + +<p>"I just hope some of our boys do land, and that right away!" cried +Walter. "Can't I get somebody to show me the way to the seacoast?"</p> + +<p>"Gilberto, my brudder, show the way. But not to-day. Maybe to-morrow or +next day—when it is safe."</p> + +<p>Gilberto had just come in; a stout negro as short as his brother was +long, but a rebel fighter to the core. He, too, could speak a little +English and said he had been a sailor.</p> + +<p>"Sail from Santiago to Philadelphia twice with ore," he said. "Very nice +country, America; me like de people. Only werry cold in winter; no like +dat—make go dis way." And he gave a shiver. Later on, Walter learned +that the entire district was rich in minerals and that large quantities +of these were shipped from Santiago and from a near-by town called +Baiquiri.</p> + +<p>The day passed slowly, and so did the next. In the meanwhile the Cubans +came and went. They were a detachment of Garcia's army, the main body of +which was located many miles further northward. They were watching the +seacoast and trying to communicate with the American ships of war, which +could be seen on fair days lying in the offing. They knew that once a +landing was effected by the Americans, Uncle Sam would speedily supply +them with what they so greatly needed—clothing, guns, and ammunition. +Once these were obtained, they felt that they could secure their +independence. They had yet to learn that the trained soldiers of Spain +could be conquered only by the equally, or better, trained soldiers of +the States.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the third day, and while they could distinctly hear +the sounds of heavy firing in the vicinity of Morro Castle and the +Estrella battery, Walter and Gilberto started off, each on horseback. +The youth felt once more like himself, for the Cubans had continued to +give him drinks of herbs which had entirely banished the lurking fever +in his system. Before leaving Walter heard from the negress Josefina. +She had escaped injury, and fled to the northward, there to join a +great number of women and children, the wives and young people of the +insurgents.</p> + +<p>The course lay along a stretch of tableland and then up the side of a +small mountain. At one point on the mountain top there was a clearing, +and here a distant view could be obtained of the ocean to the south of +the "Pearl of the Antilles," as Cuba had often been termed.</p> + +<p>"Your ship's over dare," explained Gilberto, pointing with his long +fingers. "Might see dem if we had glass like dis." And he shut up one +hand and placed it over the other, in imitation of a spyglass.</p> + +<p>"Do the Spaniards guard the coast?"</p> + +<p>"To be sure, seńor, very heaby guard, too, at Aguadores and Guantanamo +Bay."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll have to go slow when we get near the water's edge."</p> + +<p>"We no go to water right away, seńor—wait till we see de coast clear. +Gilberto find you good hiding-place and bring eating, and there you stay +till I say come—not so?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose that will be best. I'm sure I don't want to be taken prisoner +again," concluded Walter, very positively.</p> + +<p>On they went, down the opposite side of the mountain. They were now +travelling in an easterly direction, and before night many miles were +covered. At last they came to a series of rocks overlooking the ocean, +but situated at least a quarter of a mile back from the beach proper.</p> + +<p>"Here is a good place to hide; Gilberto know it well," said the guide, +and pointed out a rude cave. "Here <i>Americano</i> can stay many days and +Spaniards not find him. You take it easy, and I bring food to you." And +then Gilberto hurried off alone.</p> + +<p>Walter was glad to rest, for the travelling even on horseback had been +very trying. He sat down, and in half an hour Gilberto returned with +some bread, some jerked beef, and a number of other eatables, done up in +a bit of coffee sacking.</p> + +<p>"Dere, dat last two, t'ree days," said the guide. "Now lay low, as +<i>Americano</i> say, and Gilberto come back one day or udder. I take horses, +and say <i>buenas noches</i>." And with this good night, Gilberto disappeared +down the trail, leaving Walter to himself. Strange as it may seem, the +youth never saw or heard of either Gilberto or Carlos again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>THE LANDING OF THE MARINES AT GUANTANAMO</h3> + + +<p>While Walter was in the depths of the Cuban wilderness, trying to escape +from the Spanish soldiers, history, so far as it concerned our war with +Spain, was moving forward rapidly.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was felt that Cervera could not escape from Santiago Bay +without running the risk of a fearful battle with Admiral Sampson's or +Commodore Schley's squadron, preparations were made to send an army of +invasion forward.</p> + +<p>For such an army a safe landing-place must be secured, and with this in +view, the American warships began the bombardment of various places +along the coast, from Santiago Bay to Guantanamo Bay, twenty odd miles +farther eastward.</p> + +<p>The first of these heavy bombardments took place on the sixth of June, +and was directed against Morro Castle, the batteries at Punta Gorda and +Zocapa, and at the village of Aguadores, already mentioned. Aguadores +is several miles to the eastward of Santiago Bay, to the rear of the +rocky promontory upon which Morro Castle is located, and it was felt +that if once a footing could be obtained here, the actual invasion by +the soldiers would become an easy matter. The bombardment lasted many +hours, and the various batteries were much damaged and the Spanish +warship, the <i>Reina Mercedes</i>, was so badly riddled that she was later +on sunk in the channel, thus blocking the outlet to the bay more +completely than ever. No damage was done to the American ships.</p> + +<p>Through this bombardment a landing was effected at Baiquiri, not far +from Aguadores, by a small body of marines, who burned up some Spanish +stores and spiked a number of old-fashioned guns.</p> + +<p>Following this attack came one upon Guantanamo and the other settlements +clustered around the shores of the bay of that name. Here the fighting +was as fierce as before, but before it was over a body of marines from +the <i>Oregon</i> were landed, and later on came six hundred marines from the +<i>Panther</i>. The Spaniards stood their ground for only a short while and +then fled to the mountains, and the American flag was hoisted amid a +wild cheering from the troops at hand and those on the warships. No +sooner had the landing-places at Guantanamo, Baiquiri, and Aguadores +been secured than the army of invasion under General Shafter left Key +West for these points, the particulars of which expedition have already +been related in "A Young Volunteer in Cuba."</p> + +<p>Walter slept "like a rock" during the first night in the cave, being +thoroughly exhausted by his long ride. He did not awaken until long +after the sun had come up, and for the moment could not realize where he +was.</p> + +<p>A scanty breakfast was speedily despatched, and he walked out to inspect +his surroundings. Mindful of what Gilberto had told him about the enemy, +he was careful how he exposed himself, and at the first sign of anything +suspicious he ran to cover.</p> + +<p>Thus the day passed away slowly. In vain he tried to make out some of +the warships far out at sea. To his naked eye they were but specks on +that ceaseless tide which glared like molten lead in the fierce rays of +the sun.</p> + +<p>On the following night the youth underwent a curious experience. He had +just thrown himself down to rest when, without warning, the cave was +filled with a light that was dazzling. Thinking a fire must have +suddenly descended upon him, he leaped up, when, as silently as it had +come, the light disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Now, what in the world does that mean?" he asked himself, and started +for the cave opening, when, swish! the light came back, almost blinding +him. Then he understood it all.</p> + +<p>"It's a searchlight from one of our ships!" he cried, half aloud. "If +only they could see me and take me on board!" He watched for the light +to reappear, but it never showed itself again, being trained upon Morro +Castle and the entrance to Santiago Harbor.</p> + +<p>On the third day in the cave Walter's stock of provisions gave out. No +one had come near him, and the loneliness of his situation was +maddening.</p> + +<p>"I can't stand this any longer," he mused. "I must get out, if only to +hunt for something to eat."</p> + +<p>Fortunately for him, Gilberto had left him a pistol and several rounds +of cartridges. To be sure, the weapon was an old-fashioned affair, but +it was better than nothing, and soon the youth was out in the woods to +the rear of the rocks trying to scare up something to shoot.</p> + +<p>The woods had been well ransacked by both Spaniards and Cubans, but +several hours' hunt yielded two birds, besides some half-ripe plantains +and some nuts. Walter was about to return to the cave to cook the birds +when from a distance he heard loud shouting, and presently came the +rapid discharge of firearms.</p> + +<p>"A battle of some kind is on," he thought, and ran to where he had +discovered an ox-cart trail. He had scarcely reached the shelter of a +clump of bushes, when a detachment of Cubans, closely followed by two +companies of Spanish cavalrymen, rushed past, both parties firing as +they moved.</p> + +<p>"This is getting hot," thought the youth, and started to retreat, when +he heard more soldiers coming from the direction of the cave. As there +now seemed no help for it, he crossed the trail and plunged along a side +path, leading eastward,—a trail running directly to Guantanamo.</p> + +<p>Walter felt that the best thing to be done was to put distance between +himself and his enemies, and he did not stop running until several miles +had been covered. He had, meanwhile, crossed one small mountain stream, +and now he found himself on the bank of another. There was no bridge, +and the watercourse looked rather dangerous to ford.</p> + +<p>"I might as well follow the bank down to the ocean," he reasoned. "But I +must have something to eat first." And finding a secluded nook, he built +a tiny fire and broiled his two little birds, both of which made hardly +a meal. Then, obtaining the purest drink possible from the river, he +continued his journey.</p> + +<p>By nightfall Walter had covered many miles, yet no ocean came to view, +and now he felt that he must be lost in the wilds of the island. As this +conclusion forced itself home to him he smiled grimly.</p> + +<p>"Lost in Cuba, and I came down here to help man a gun on the +<i>Brooklyn</i>," he muttered. "Was there ever such a turning-around before! +I wonder what I had best do next."</p> + +<p>This was not an easy question to answer. It was already dark under the +thick trees, and to spend the night in such a spot was not pleasant to +contemplate.</p> + +<p>At last he came to a clearing. Here he was about to settle down, under +the shelter of a small cliff of rocks, when something appeared that +caused him to yell with all the strength of his lungs. It was a snake, +five feet long, and it advanced rapidly, hissing as it came.</p> + +<p>Walter had met snakes before, harmless reptiles not half as big as the +present one. But he did not know but that this reptile might be +poisonous, and gaining the top of the rocks he blazed away with the +pistol, not once, but several times. The last shot hit the snake in the +tail, and away it darted, out of sight and into the river.</p> + +<p>"Ugh! what a horrible creature!" he murmured, as he stood still, +watching for the possible reappearance of the reptile. "I wish I was out +of this. I'd give a year's wages to be safe on board of the <i>Brooklyn</i> +once more."</p> + +<p>The words had just left Walter's lips, when he heard a movement behind +him. Turning swiftly, he beheld a Spanish soldier gazing at him from a +distance of less than fifty feet. The soldier had his rifle, and now the +weapon was aimed at the boy's head.</p> + +<p>"<i>Alto!</i>" came the Spanish command to halt. "<i>Americano!</i>"</p> + +<p>Walter's surprise was complete, yet he kept his wits about him. As the +Spaniard raised his gun, the youth made a quick leap for the shelter of +a near-by tree.</p> + +<p>Bang! went the Mauser, and the bullet clipped the tree bark. Then Walter +took aim, and trembling in spite of himself, pulled the trigger of his +pistol. The enemy was hit in the shoulder, and uttered a deep cry of +pain.</p> + +<p>"If there are others with him I'm in for it now!" thought the boy, and +took to his heels along the bank of the watercourse. From behind came a +cry for help and another to arms, and in less than a minute a whole +company of Spaniards were in wild pursuit. A dozen shots rang out, but +Walter was not hit, and plunged on. But he was no match for his +pursuers, and they gradually drew closer and closer. Then the youth +stumbled and fell, and ere he could arise he found himself surrounded.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>IN A SPANISH PRISON</h3> + + +<p>The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous +the youth had ever beheld. They were all short, thin, and exceedingly +yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more +than half starved. Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the +wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, +and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to +supply them with what they absolutely needed.</p> + +<p>None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, +at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his +shoulders. He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was +taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his +back.</p> + +<p>The course of the party was along the river to a rude bridge, over which +Walter was marched in double-quick time. They emerged upon a narrow +highway, along which they encountered half a dozen detached Spanish +companies, some moving eastward and others in the opposite direction. +"I'm in for it now," thought the youth. "Escaping from this crowd will +be out of the question."</p> + +<p>Night was well advanced when they turned into a small settlement +fronting Guantanamo Bay. Here were half a dozen log houses thatched with +palm, while not far off was the office of a mineral company, now +deserted by the proprietors, for business in this section of Cuba had +long since come to a standstill.</p> + +<p>Without ceremony Walter was taken to one of the log huts and thrust +inside. The place was scarcely twenty feet square and was crowded with +fifteen or sixteen insurgents, whites and negroes, who huddled on the +floor, making themselves as comfortable as possible in their miserable +surroundings. On the outside of the hut eight Spanish soldiers stood on +guard, with rifles ready to shoot down the first prisoner that attempted +to escape.</p> + +<p>"<i>Un Americano!</i>" exclaimed one of the prisoners, a bright looking +Cuban, as he edged his way to Walter's side. "You are in a sorry plight, +boy."</p> + +<p>"What a vile-smelling place!" murmured Walter. "How long have you been +here?"</p> + +<p>"Two days and nights, with only some stale bread and soup to eat,—and +the soup was made of mouldy meat. Oh, that we were free!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Silencio!</i>" roared one of the guards, and poked his rifle end into the +doorway. "I will shoot the first prisoner who dares to speak again!" he +added in Spanish.</p> + +<p>Walter wished to question him, but did not dare, and so remained silent. +It was past midnight, and presently most of the prisoners went to sleep. +Huddled in a corner, the lad gave himself up to his dismal reflections.</p> + +<p>Daybreak found the Spanish soldiers very active, and catching a glimpse +of them through the open doorway, Walter felt that some important +movement was contemplated. As a matter of fact the marines from the +<i>Panther</i> had landed, and the Spaniards were going to do their best to +either capture them or drive them back to our warships.</p> + +<p>Before noon the firing in the distance was heavy, and the Spaniards +could be seen rushing their commands hither and thither, as though +hardly knowing how to conduct the campaign which had been thrust upon +them. Evidently they realized that landing force was too large for them, +for they gradually fell back, occupying that night the settlement where +the prison was located.</p> + +<p>On the day following, the attack upon both sides was renewed. The rattle +of musketry was almost constant, and before long several bullets hit the +prison itself. The prisoners were about to remonstrate at this when, on +looking out, they discovered that their late guards had fled, leaving +them to do as they pleased.</p> + +<p>"<i>Cuba libre!</i>" yelled the insurgents and lost no time in piling into +the open air. Not far away lay several dead Spaniards, and rushing up to +the corpses they stripped them of their arms, after which they +disappeared into the brush.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if the army of invasion has come," was Walter's thought, as +he, too, sought the open air. A short sword lay beside a writing-table +under a near-by shelter, and he appropriated the weapon. "I'm going to +join our men or know the reason why!" And away he went toward the water, +which could now be seen quite plainly between the rocks and hills.</p> + +<p>The marines, after fighting from early afternoon until the following +morning, were now intrenched on a small hill, protected in front by a +dense chaparral. They were utterly worn out, and it was found necessary +to reënforce them by men from the <i>Marblehead</i> and other vessels. +Several field-guns had been brought ashore, and although the firing from +the Spaniards was heavy, our gallant men held the ground they had first +claimed.</p> + +<p>"Halt! Who comes there?" came the command, from a thicket, and Walter +stopped short, although the words, spoken in true English, filled him +with joy.</p> + +<p>"Are you an American?" questioned the youth, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I am, and who are you?"</p> + +<p>"Walter Russell, cruiser <i>Brooklyn</i>. Oh, but am I not glad to get back +among the boys again!"</p> + +<p>"From the <i>Brooklyn</i>? What are you doing ashore here?" questioned the +marine, a bronzed but evidently a good-natured man of middle age.</p> + +<p>"It's a long story. I've been a prisoner twice, and I was afraid I was +about done for when the guards up and ran away from the prison and let +me and a crowd of Cubans escape. How can I get back to my ship?"</p> + +<p>"You're asking me too much now. Go down yonder and report to our +commander. I reckon there ain't no call to rouse up the corporal of the +guard, with everybody utterly worn out. You're true blue—I can see that +by the cut of your jib."</p> + +<p>Inside of five minutes more Walter found himself surrounded by half a +dozen officers, including a major of marines, who questioned him closely +regarding his adventures and concerning the various detachments of +Spanish soldiers that he had encountered.</p> + +<p>"You've been through a good deal, lad," said the major, slapping Walter +on the shoulder. "I dare say you wouldn't like to go through it again."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed! The Spaniards are—are brutes!" exclaimed the youth. "I +only hope we send them from Cuba a-flying. I think they and the Cubans +must have been fighting for the past three years like a lot of cats and +dogs. It's high time Uncle Sam took a hand." This reply brought forth a +hearty laugh from those gathered around. Walter, young as he was, had +hit the nail right on the head, as later events proved.</p> + +<p>The major of marines did not see how the lad could be transferred to +the <i>Brooklyn</i>, which was a good many miles off, in the direction of +Santiago. "You'll have to remain here until some boat bound for +Commodore Schley's flagship chances along," he said. "At present only +the <i>Marblehead</i>, <i>Suwanee</i>, and <i>Porter</i> are here, but others are +coming and going constantly."</p> + +<p>"And what of the army of invasion?" asked Walter, with keen interest.</p> + +<p>"I believe it has already left Key West. I know it started from Tampa +several days ago."</p> + +<p>"Was the Seventy-first New York with the troops?"</p> + +<p>"They were. Why do you ask?"</p> + +<p>"My brother is a member of that regiment. Hurrah! He'll be down here +soon," concluded Walter.</p> + +<p>He was now dismissed, and lost no time in hunting up one of the marines' +cooks, who speedily filled him up with meat, bread and butter, and +coffee. "We're not living like kings, you see," said the cook, but +grinning to see how the food disappeared.</p> + +<p>"You're living like kings in comparison to the way the Cubans and the +Spaniards are living. If the army comes up and besieges Santiago, I'll +wager the city will go hungry in no time," returned the boy.</p> + +<p>During the balance of the day the marines were kept busy resisting +several additional attacks from the Spaniards. The onslaughts were heavy +and determined, but each time the enemy was beaten back, and at +nightfall Old Glory still waved from the flagstaff where it had +originally been run up. A foothold had been gained by our side which was +not to be taken from us.</p> + +<p>Walter had selected a cosy corner to rest in and was sleeping soundly +when a sudden alarm rang out. "The Dons! They are coming over a thousand +strong! To arms, everybody!" And then came a grand rush.</p> + +<p>The report was true; the Spanish column had organized a midnight attack, +feeling they knew the ground much better in the dark than would their +opponents. On they came, yelling like demons, while the marines stood +their ground firmly and fearlessly.</p> + +<p>"I must do my share of fighting," thought the boy, and bounced up with +the rest. He had already been supplied with a carbine and ammunition, +and now he lost no time in attaching himself to the nearest company at +hand. "Don't send me back, captain; I can shoot as well as the rest, I +think."</p> + +<p>"All right, lad, come on," was the answer. "Company, attention! By +columns of fours—forward, march!" And away they went, up a small hill. +Then came the order to halt, and the company broke up into a broad +skirmish line. "Take aim! Fire!" And then and there Walter did his first +actual fighting for Uncle Sam and our own glorious stars and stripes.</p> + +<p>The determined front shown by our marines non-plussed the Spaniards for +a few minutes, and they came to a halt. But then they advanced again, +and the fire from each side became hot and irregular.</p> + +<p>The battle had thus waged for the best part of an hour, and the +Americans felt that they must be beaten back by sheer force of numbers, +when reënforcements came up, and in addition one of the warships steamed +close to shore, and threw the rays of her powerful searchlight upon the +enemy. As soon as the Spaniards were located the warship trained its +rapid-firing guns inland, and then the enemy beat a hasty retreat.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! The fight is ours!" shouted Walter, enthusiastically. "See them +run!"</p> + +<p>"It was lucky for us the warship came up," put in a marine beside him. +"Those dagos ain't going to give ground without a big fight, that's +certain."</p> + +<p>It was nearly daylight when the company returned to the camp and was +dismissed. Walter was more worn out than ever, but too excited to sleep. +"At present I'd just as lief be a marine," he observed to his side +partner in the contest.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't worry, your ships will have their hands full when Cervera +takes it into his head to come out and fight," was the answer. "You'll +have no such walkover as Dewey had at Manila—I'll promise you that."</p> + +<p>At noon a lieutenant of marines came up to where Walter stood, watching +a drill which was in progress. "Are you Walter Russell, of the +<i>Brooklyn</i>?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I am, sir," and Walter saluted.</p> + +<p>"Then you had better hurry down to the shore. There is a steam launch +there, and I heard the officer in command say he was bound for the +<i>Iowa</i> and the <i>Brooklyn</i>. If you want to get on your ship, I presume he +will take you along."</p> + +<p>Walter waited to hear no more, but ran for the landing-place with all +possible speed. The boat had come in with despatches and was to leave +again inside of ten minutes. The officer in charge was close at hand, +and the youth's situation was speedily explained.</p> + +<p>"All right, I'll take you," was the brief answer. "Go aboard and +forward." And the officer turned away. Walter did as directed; and a few +minutes later the steam launch left the landing-place and steamed down +Guantanamo Bay toward the ocean, or to be more particular perhaps, the +Caribbean Sea.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>BACK TO THE "BROOKLYN" AGAIN</h3> + + +<p>The steam launch was the neatest craft of the kind Walter had ever seen, +and he had come in contact with a great number while sailing on Lake +Erie. It was fifty-five feet long, about twelve feet wide, and as +beautiful a boat as a designer could plan. It was manned by eight +stalwart men, all well drilled to their duties, and carried in addition +six marines, each of whom was a sharpshooter, and also a rapid-firing +gun of small caliber.</p> + +<p>The launch rode the waves like a thing of life and easily made ten miles +an hour. Soon Guantanamo was left behind, and they began to creep up the +coast in the direction of Baiquiri. In the bow was a lookout, who had a +marine glass which was constantly turned shoreward.</p> + +<p>"A flag!" said the lookout, about noontime, and immediately the launch +came to a stop.</p> + +<p>"Where is it, Parkhurst?" asked the officer in charge of the craft.</p> + +<p>"Yonder, just below that stretch of rocks, sir," answered the lookout, +and handed over his glasses. The commander of the launch took a long +look, then ordered the craft turned to starboard, and they steamed into +a little harbor not a great distance from a tiny Cuban settlement. A +small boat was thrown out, the commander and two launch hands leaped in, +and it at once advanced. Then those on the larger craft saw a dozen men +rush from the shelter of some brush, one holding a white and the other a +Cuban flag.</p> + +<p>The small boat was beached in true nautical style, and the Cubans and +Americans entered into a conversation lasting the best part of half an +hour. Letters were exchanged, and then the party broke up as rapidly as +it had gathered. Although Walter did not know it, the letter delivered +by the American commander was for the rebel leader, General Calixto +Garcia, while that received in return was for Admiral Sampson and +General Shafter. All related to the landing of the army of invasion, now +so close at hand.</p> + +<p>The conference over, the launch darted on her way, and dinner was +served, to the officers and sharpshooters first, and then to the crew +and Walter. "Oh, we're doing some fine work along this coast," said one +of the crew to the youth, while eating. "Those Dons will be greatly +astonished some day—when our boys in blue fall on 'em."</p> + +<p>It was night before the <i>Brooklyn</i> came into view, looking exactly as +she had when Walter had so unceremoniously left her. How the youth's +heart beat at the sight of his ship! How would those on board receive +him, and what would they say when his story was told?</p> + +<p>"Russell!" exclaimed the officer of the deck, when he came up over the +side. "Why, we all thought you had fallen overboard and been drowned."</p> + +<p>"I came pretty near being drowned," was the reply. "You can't imagine, +sir, how glad I am to get back!"</p> + +<p>"But where have you been?"</p> + +<p>"I've been on the <i>Merrimac</i>, among the Cubans and the Spaniards, and in +a Spanish prison, besides being down to Guantanamo Bay with the marines +from the <i>Panther</i>, sir."</p> + +<p>"Great Scott, boy, do you expect me to believe all that!" burst out the +officer, in sheer astonishment.</p> + +<p>"As you will, sir; it's true, though."</p> + +<p>"But—but—let me see; you said you were on the <i>Merrimac</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"And on shore among the Cubans, and then among the enemy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"And then among the marines at Guantanamo Bay?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly, sir. I escaped from a Spanish prison, and was lucky enough to +fall in with the marines by accident. I fought with them too, sir."</p> + +<p>"Russell, after you disappeared Surgeon Barker said you had been +sick—had been troubled with some sort of fever in your head. Don't you +believe you went out of your head entirely, and imagined all this?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, I reckon that's the truth of the matter, and the best thing you +can do is to turn yourself over to the surgeon again for further +treatment. How is your head?" And the officer of the deck placed his +hand on Walter's forehead. "Ah, rather hot, as I thought. You had +better go to bed." And he turned away.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I'll go to bed just yet," murmured Walter, and lost no +time in reaching the berth deck. Here he came up behind Si and Caleb +playing one of their favorite games of checkers, while Paul stood +looking on.</p> + +<p>"Crown that man," Caleb was saying, when he chanced to glance up, +"Walter! or is it a ghost?" he fairly yelled, and leaped up, scattering +board and men in all directions. "Walter, where on earth did you come +from?" And he reached out his hand.</p> + +<p>"It is Walter, back from the grave!" ejaculated Si, and grasped the +other hand, while Paul caught the youth by the neck.</p> + +<p>"We thought you were drowned!" said all three, simultaneously.</p> + +<p>"They said you had gone out of your mind, and committed suicide," added +Paul.</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't commit suicide, and I'm as well as ever," was the merry +return. "But—but—I don't believe you'll think I'm telling the truth +when I give you my story."</p> + +<p>"That depends on what sort of a yarn you spin," returned Caleb, dryly. +"Where have you been—sinking Cervera's fleet single-handed?"</p> + +<p>"Not quite, but I've been pretty close to the fleet, and pretty close to +the Spaniards." And dropping on a box Walter told his story, interrupted +every few minutes by some newcomer who advanced to shake him by the +hand, for since joining them he had made many friends among the jackies +and petty officers.</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder the officer of the deck wouldn't believe you, lad," +remarked Caleb, when he had finished. "It's a big yarn; beats Jonah and +the whale all to pieces—not but what <i>that's</i> a true story, seeing as +how it's in the Good Book. You are certain you wasn't taken down with +the fever while you were on shore?"</p> + +<p>"Not enough to lose my mind."</p> + +<p>"I believe Walter," put in Si. "But if I were you I wouldn't tell this +tale to the others," he added in a lower tone. "They'd be jealous of +you, you know."</p> + +<p>"I don't care, I'm telling the simple truth," answered Walter, stoutly.</p> + +<p>That evening word was passed to him to report at the captain's cabin, +and he went, just as soon as he could slip on his best suit of +clothing, wash up, and comb his hair, for on board of every man-o'-war a +visit to "headquarters" is a big thing to any of the crew, and a +"sprucing up" is, consequently, indispensable.</p> + +<p>This was the first time Walter had visited the cabin of the <i>Brooklyn</i>, +and the elegant surroundings immediately caught his eye. But in days +gone by, before he had been compelled to live with the miserly Job +Dowling, he had been used to a home furnished just as handsomely, and +therefore the surroundings did not overawe him.</p> + +<p>There was a small table in the centre of the cabin, at one end of which +sat Commodore Schley, looking over a map of the Cuban coast. At the +other end of the table sat Captain Cook, the firm and strict, yet +well-beloved commander of the flagship.</p> + +<p>"You sent for me, sir," said Walter, as he came in, "toed the mark," and +saluted.</p> + +<p>"You are Walter Russell?" asked Captain Cook, while Commodore Schley +dropped the map and looked on with interest.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"You have been absent from the ship ever since June the second, or +third?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. But I couldn't help it. I was sick and fell overboard,—and +I've had a whole lot of adventures since."</p> + +<p>"So the officer of the deck tells me," answered the captain, dryly. He +looked at the commander of the squadron. "Commodore Schley, would you +like to ask Russell any questions?"</p> + +<p>At this the commodore smiled and pulled meditatively at the little +goatee he wore. "Russell, you can tell us your story in detail. But do +not take over ten minutes," he said, and covered his eyes with his +hands, as if in deep thought—one of his favorite attitudes.</p> + +<p>Standing as before and still "toeing the mark," Walter told his story +again, simply but forcefully. Whether his hearers were listening or not +he could not tell, for not a word was said until he had finished.</p> + +<p>Then, however, came a flood of questions concerning the spot at which he +had landed after leaving the <i>Merrimac</i>, the names of the various Cuban +and Spanish leaders that he had encountered, and the names of the +marines with which he had fought. He was also questioned about the +trails and their conditions.</p> + +<p>"Could loaded wagons get over them, in your estimation?" asked Commodore +Schley.</p> + +<p>"Not very well, sir. In one place I saw an ox-team with a load of fruit, +and the load was in danger of being dumped every minute. Some of the +paths are not fit for a pack-mule to use."</p> + +<p>"What of the Cubans you met? Were they well armed?"</p> + +<p>"A few of them had guns, but most of them had nothing but their +machetes, sir. Ammunition, I was told, was very scarce."</p> + +<p>"What of food?"</p> + +<p>"That was scarce, too." And Walter smiled. "A good eater would starve to +death on what both the Spaniards and the Cubans have to offer."</p> + +<p>"Do the Spaniards expect an army of invasion—that is, did you hear any +talk on the subject?"</p> + +<p>"I caught a few words, sir. I cannot speak Spanish myself."</p> + +<p>Commodore Schley mused for a moment. "That is all," he said, addressing +Captain Cook. "The boy has certainly had some remarkable adventures. He +is better off than poor Lieutenant Hobson."</p> + +<p>"That's true," responded the commander of the <i>Brooklyn</i>. He turned to +Walter. "You can go, Russell; if we want you again, we will send for +you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," was the youth's reply, and, saluting, he turned and left the +cabin. The interview had been a very formal one, but he was proud to +think that he had come into personal contact with his gallant captain +and his equally gallant commodore.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE SANTIAGO BATTERIES</h3> + + +<p>When Walter returned to his friends he was immediately surrounded and +asked what had happened in the cabin. "Did the commodore slap you on the +back and call you a bully boy?" queried Si.</p> + +<p>"Well, hardly," answered Walter, with a quiet smile. "They plied me with +questions and said I had had some remarkable adventures; that's all."</p> + +<p>"Didn't praise you?" queried Caleb.</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Didn't rush up and shake hands even?" put in Paul.</p> + +<p>"Not at all. I saluted and toed the mark, and kept toeing it until I +left."</p> + +<p>At this Paul's face fell. "Why, I thought you would be right in it, +Walter," he said.</p> + +<p>"I guess you've been reading some dime and half-dime colored-cover +novels, Paul. I imagine that is the way they do in such books."</p> + +<p>"That's it. Why, I've got a story about 'Dewey's Boy Bodyguard.' The +hero in that overheard a plot against Dewey, and Dewey clasped him to +his breast and made him a captain of marines."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! And you believe such a yarn?"</p> + +<p>"Dewey couldn't make the boy a captain of marines, not if he was an +admiral twice over," put in Caleb. "Those yarns are pure trash. Paul, +you had better study some good book on gunnery, and try to become a gun +captain."</p> + +<p>"I thought the story was slightly overdrawn," said Paul, growing red in +the face. "There is another about the 'Boy Hero of Havana,' who saves +General Lee's life at the time the Americans are getting out of Havana. +I suppose that is untrue, too."</p> + +<p>"To be sure, Paul. General Lee was in no great danger at that time. Of +course some of the sensational papers had to make the most of it, and +they reported that he was travelling around with a six-shooter in his +pocket, and a detective dogging his footsteps. As a matter of fact he +walked around with nothing but a white cotton umbrella, to keep the sun +off."</p> + +<p>"I'll burn the whole batch of colored stuff up," cried the apprentice; +and he did, at the big galley fire. No one on board ever caught him +reading dime and half-dime novels again.</p> + +<p>Although the marines had established themselves fairly well at and near +Guantanamo, the Spaniards were determined to drive them off, and to hold +this landing and a number of others, several of the warships were kept +busy bombarding the enemy's strongholds and in firing with Gatling guns +at the Spanish soldiers whenever they put into appearance along the +coast.</p> + +<p>The day after Walter came on board the <i>Brooklyn</i>, which remained on the +blockade off Santiago Bay, the <i>Texas</i>, <i>Marblehead</i>, and <i>Suwanee</i> ran +into Guantanamo Bay and attacked the fort at Caimanera, a small village +not far from Guantanamo. The attack began at two o'clock in the +afternoon, and in less than two hours the fort was in ruins, and those +who had garrisoned it were fleeing inland for their lives.</p> + +<p>Caimanera was thus taken, but to hold it was as difficult as it was to +hold Guantanamo. Many of the people were in sympathy with the Spanish +government, and some went so far as to soak the streets and some of the +houses with coal oil that the town might be burned down at a minute's +notice.</p> + +<p>While this was going on, Admiral Sampson determined to make another +attack on the outer defences of Santiago Harbor, only sparing Morro +Castle, in which it was understood that Lieutenant Hobson and his men +were confined. It was weary waiting for the transports to arrive with +the army, and something must be done to tear down the numerous +fortifications the Spaniards were constructing.</p> + +<p>The orders for the bombardment were issued on Wednesday evening; and at +once a subdued but excited talk took place among the various crews of +the blockading squadrons, which now numbered the following ships, along +with a few others of lesser importance:——</p> + +<p>First squadron, under the direct command of Admiral Sampson, the +flagship <i>New York</i>, battleships <i>Iowa</i> and <i>Oregon</i>, protected cruiser +<i>New Orleans</i>, gunboat <i>Mayflower</i>, torpedo boat <i>Porter</i>, and the +sprightly <i>Scorpion</i>. The second squadron, under Commodore Schley, +embraced the flagship <i>Brooklyn</i>, battleships <i>Massachusetts</i> and +<i>Texas</i>, and the <i>Marblehead</i> and <i>Vixen</i>. Other vessels, such as the +<i>Indiana</i>, <i>Dolphin</i>, and <i>Suwanee</i>, were kept busy plying between the +blockading fleet and Guantanamo Bay and surroundings.</p> + +<p>It was half-past three in the morning when the men were called up and +served with coffee. Among the first on hand was Walter. "Now for a first +real use of our gun," he said to Si. "I've been aching for this ever +since I enlisted."</p> + +<p>Before four o'clock came the call to quarters, and the men ran to their +various stations, and stripped for action, most of them wearing little +more than an undershirt and a pair of trousers. The weather was +frightfully hot, and the interior of the cruiser was little better than +a bake-oven. Possibly this was one reason why the thoughtful admiral +planned the attack for so early in the day.</p> + +<p>Silently the warships steamed for the mouth of the harbor, and took up +their various positions in a grand semicircle, the heavy fighting ships +in the centre, and the torpedo boats on the ends, ready to take care of +any infantry fire, should the Spaniards hurry their soldiers to the +shore. The big ships kept at a distance of three thousand yards—not +quite two miles.</p> + +<p>"We're a long way off," observed Walter, as he assisted in loading the +"Polly," as Caleb had named his gun.</p> + +<p>"Twenty-nine hundred yards!" came the report from the range-finder; and +the crew went to work to elevate the gun accordingly. In the meantime, +the magazines had been opened, the ammunition hoists set in motion, and +powder, shot, and shell were delivered everywhere from barbette to +fighting-top.</p> + +<p>"We're near enough to blow 'em sky-high if we strike 'em right," +muttered the old gunner, who, with the smell of powder in the air, was +in his element. "How about that hose, Stuben?" he went on to the +hose-man.</p> + +<p>"Dot hose it's all right alretty," answered Carl Stuben, a round-faced +German, who was an American citizen, even though he did speak the +language but brokenly. Heretofore Walter had had but little to do with +the man, yet they got along very well together.</p> + +<p>It was too dark to begin firing, and for half an hour the ships lay +quiet, every man ready to obey a command the instant it was given. This +was a nerve-trying test for Walter, who wondered how the thing would +sound when all of the ships began firing.</p> + +<p>Slowly it grew lighter, and the men became more anxious. The guns were +trained on the shore batteries to the west of the harbor entrance, while +other ships covered the batteries on the east.</p> + +<p>Boom! It was a broadside from the <i>New York</i>, directed against the +battery below El Morro. Instantly every other warship present responded +in a deafening crash and a shock to be heard many miles away. At once +the air became filled with the smoke, and on shore the dirt and masonry +of the batteries were seen to fly in all directions.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my!" gasped Walter, as the gun before him belched forth its mass of +flame and smoke. "What a noise! Did—did we hit anything?"</p> + +<p>"I hope we did," answered Steve Colton, the second gun captain, +laconically; and then came the order to unlock the breech of the gun. As +the breech fell back a cloud of smoke swirled into the sponson hood, +impregnated with the odor of saltpetre, which caused Walter and several +of the others to cough violently. "Never mind; you'll get used to it +before you die," went on Colton.</p> + +<p>The gun being opened, Carl Stuben caught up his hose-pipe, turned on +the nozzle and sent a stream of cold water through the gun, to both +clean and cool the interior. By the time this was accomplished the hoist +had another shell ready, and this was shoved in by the mechanical +rammer. Brown prismatic powder followed, with a small quantity of black +prismatic powder behind it, as a primer. Then the breech-block was swung +into position and locked again, and the electrical connections were +adjusted.</p> + +<p>All this had been done almost in the time it takes to tell it, but the +next shot was not discharged at once, since the various gunners had +strict orders to take their time and make every discharge count. It was +not like a pitched battle where every moment counted.</p> + +<p>But though the gunners took their time, there were so many ships and so +many guns that the firing was continuous—a spiteful cracking of +rapid-firing guns, mingled with the thunder-claps of the gigantic +thirteen-inch guns and the solid banging of the eight-inch and eight and +ten pounders.</p> + +<p>"This is war and no mistake," remarked Walter. In ten minutes his +undershirt had become as black as a stove-cloth, and he himself looked +almost like a negro. In the meantime the perspiration was streaming +from every pore of his body.</p> + +<p>"War!" shouted Caleb. "Why, lad, this is nothing. If only Cervera would +come out, then you would see some fun."</p> + +<p>The order had been passed to lessen the charges in the big guns and +elevate them more, in order to secure a plunging fire. The effect of +this change in tactics was soon apparent, as shot and shell began to +drop directly into the Spanish strongholds or behind them. Soon one of +the batteries was completely silenced, and a cheer went up from the +warship nearest to it.</p> + +<p>It must not be imagined that the Spaniards took this attack quietly. No +sooner had the American warships opened than they returned the fire with +equal fierceness. But although at an elevation, and using guns which +were stationary, their aim was wild, and only a few of their shots took +effect.</p> + +<p>As one battery after another was silenced, several of the warships +elevated their guns still more and put in large charges of powder, and, +as a result, one shell was carried far up the harbor to where the +<i>Vizcaya</i> lay and burst directly over her deck, doing considerable +damage and injuring several sailors and an under-officer.</p> + +<p>Presently a terrific explosion rent the air. One of the shots from the +<i>Texas</i> had landed in a powder magazine and sent it skyward. The +spectacle thus caused was magnificent, and for a moment all in the +squadrons watched the timbers, rocks, and dirt as they sailed through +the air, some coming down inland and some falling with loud splashes +into the sea.</p> + +<p>"That's a shot worth making!" cried Caleb. "Hurrah for the man as +trained that gun!"</p> + +<p>And the cheer was given with a will.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH THE ARMY OF INVASION ARRIVES</h3> + + +<p>"Maybe I ain't hot and tired, Walter. I could sleep standing up and go +in an ice-house and do it."</p> + +<p>It was Si who spoke, as he was washing himself in a bucket of water set +on the gun-track. The water had been fresh when Si began his ablutions +and was now dirty, but the Yankee youth was still far from clean, for +gun smoke and gun dirt have a disagreeable knack of getting into the +pores of one's skin.</p> + +<p>The bombardment had lasted over an hour and every land battery had been +silenced. Yet, as the American ships drew away, one or two guns spat out +spitefully after them.</p> + +<p>"You'll feel all right in an hour or two, Si," answered Walter. "Oh, but +wasn't it glorious! I could stand such bombarding for a week. What a +sight it was when that powder magazine went up."</p> + +<p>"Such a bombardment costs Uncle Sam a good many thousand dollars," put +in Caleb, leaving the gun to get a drink of water from the tub standing +by. "A week of it would put a big hole in his pocket, large as it is."</p> + +<p>"I presume that is so, Walton. But say, why don't we run in and finish +things, now we have knocked the batteries out?"</p> + +<p>"Better ask the admiral, lad; he's the one who knows. Remember, we +didn't touch Morro Castle nor that fortification on Smith Cay,—and +those Spanish warships are somewhere around the bend, out of sight. I +reckon the time ain't quite ripe for running in yet. If we run in now +and do up that Spanish fleet, we haven't men enough to take Santiago +itself. We must wait until Shafter arrives with his army."</p> + +<p>"But why did we go at them at all for, then?"</p> + +<p>"To keep 'em from becoming too well fortified. Now they'll have their +hands full for several days repairing damages, and in the meantime our +army may arrive—at least, I hope it does."</p> + +<p>Si had been right about the heat. Even in the United States we had a +spell of uncommonly hot weather, and down here, under the tropical sun, +it was "sizzling," as Walter expressed it. During the noon hour no one +thought of going on deck unless it was absolutely necessary. +Refreshments of any kind were at a premium, and when a society known as +the Colonial Dames sent on a number of boxes of oranges and lemons for +distribution, the jackies could hardly contain themselves for joy. Cuban +sugar was easily obtained, and lemonade and orangeade became the order +of the hour.</p> + +<p>Having been away on shore, Walter had not felt the monotony on shipboard +so much, but those who had been on the blockade for nearly three weeks +felt fearfully bored, especially as reading matter was scarce. Every +scrap of a newspaper was saved and passed around, and poor Paul was +collared and tossed up in a canvas hammock for having burnt the +penny-dreadfuls previously mentioned.</p> + +<p>"Mail! mail! mail!" such was the welcome cry which rang through the +<i>Brooklyn</i>, several days after the bombardment just described. The news +caused a commotion, and all who could rushed on deck and peered eagerly +over the side as several heavy mail sacks were hoisted on board. Hardly +anybody could wait for the mail to be distributed.</p> + +<p>"Three letters for me, and a bundle of newspapers!" cried Walter, +joyfully. "Here's luck and no mistake." He studied the various +post-marks for a moment. "One from Boston, in my uncle's handwriting; +one from Tampa, Florida, and that's from Ben; and one from—yes—Hong +Kong, China, and that must be from dear old Larry. Now which shall I +read first? Oh, I must hear from Larry first." And dropping on deck he +tore open the letter from the other side of the world and perused it +eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Well, I never!" came from him, a few minutes later. "Si, Walton, listen +to this! My brother Larry was with Dewey at Manila and helped whip the +Dons! Oh, but Larry's the boy, after all! Just read the letter for +yourselves." And he tossed it over.</p> + +<p>Ben's letter came next, a rather short communication, for Ben had never +been much of a boy to write.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"I am high private in the best company of the Seventy-first +regiment of New York," he wrote. "We are down here at Lakeland, +near Tampa, getting into condition to invade Cuba. At present +things are slow and awfully hot, but we look for livelier times +ahead and that keeps up our spirits. My chum, Gilbert +Pennington, has joined Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders. I +hope we go to Cuba together.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you are quite a jack tar by this time and walk with +a regular swagger. Larry is now a bigger fellow than either of +us, for he was on the <i>Olympia</i>, Dewey's flagship, at the +battle of Manila Bay. He wrote me all about it and said he +would write to you, too, so I suppose you already have the +letter.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Job seems to be coming around to his senses—with giving +both you and me permission to take care of ourselves. If I were +you, I would not let up on him about going to Boston. Those +heirlooms ought to be located, and he is the man who must push +the work, even if it does cost a few dollars. I want father's +watch, and I am sure you and Larry want the wedding rings.</p> + +<p>"I have made many friends while in the army, but I also have +two enemies, Gerald Holgait and Dwight Montgomery, and I am +afraid that sooner or later they will try to play me some mean +trick. However, I will be on my guard against them. Good-by and +good luck to you."</p></blockquote> + +<p>"I hope Ben does come down," mused Walter. "And if he has any enemies of +the Jim Haskett sort he had better look out." And then he turned to the +communication from Job Dowling.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"My dearest nephew," began the guardian, and the term of +address made Walter smile. "Your letter was a big surprise to +me, and I ain't over it yet. That you should meet that thief +gets me, and I don't understand it nohow. However, I packed my +valise (my new one that cost me a dollar thirty-five, although +Wilson says it is worth the money) and the next day I took the +cars for Boston on a ticket I got at cut rates, although it was +tolerably dear even at that. When I got to Boston I introduced +myself to Mr. Phil Newell, the one-legged man you used to work +for, and he took me to police headquarters, and now I am +stopping here at a boarding-house on Hammond Street. The police +sent a detective to me, and he is going to find them heirlooms +and that rascal of a Deck Mumpers, or whatever his name is, or +know the reason why. If he finds the things, I'm to give him +two hundred dollars in cash; if he don't, I pay his travelling +expenses and no more. I wouldn't make such a bargain, but I +know all you boys want the things back and I can't do the +running after the thief. It's a waste of money, but it can't be +helped. I want to show you and Ben and Larry that your uncle +means well in spite of what you think of him.</p> + +<p>"Newell says for me to tell you he will send you a bundle of +newspapers. He says he knows how lonely life on board of a +man-of-war gets sometimes. I hope you don't get hurt, if you +get into a fight down in Cuba. Keep out of the sun, and write +when you can, care of Newell's news-stand—for I stop there +every day, after the detective's report. The detective hopes to +get the things back before this week is out.</p> + +<p>"Your loving uncle,</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Job Dowling</span>."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The letter was a mere scrawl, horribly mis-spelled, and it took Walter +fully quarter of an hour to decipher it. "Well, Uncle Job is turning +over a new leaf," he thought, as he put it away. "I only hope that +detective is all right, and don't hoodwink him into paying over his +money for nothing. I reckon the letters Ben and I wrote him scared him +pretty well, otherwise he wouldn't agree to pay two hundred dollars if +the heirlooms are recovered."</p> + +<p>Caleb had read Larry's letter with much interest. One portion of it, +relating to the narrow escape from disaster during the battle, +interested him not a little.</p> + +<p>"Your brother had a close shave," he said. "To fire a gun when the +breech is unlocked is a fearful thing."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how it could happen on board of such a ship as the +<i>Brooklyn</i>," answered Walter. "Everything works like clockwork here."</p> + +<p>"You don't know how a thing would work in the middle of a battle, lad. +Men get excited, and sometimes the jarring of the shots breaks the +electric connections. More than likely that gunner was firing his piece +by hand at the time. I've done the same, when the electric connection +gave out. Last month I heard from a friend of mine, a gunner on the <i>New +Orleans</i>, that used to be a Brazilian warship. They couldn't get their +electric-firing apparatus into shape nohow, and had to do everything by +hand,—and that is the time accidents occur. But somebody ought to have +been watching that breech-block—your brother or somebody else." And +then Caleb turned away to his duties.</p> + +<p>Larry had written that he was now in Hong Kong, and did not know whether +he would go back to Dewey's squadron, or return to the United States. +"You'll hear from me again soon, one way or another," he added in a +postscript.</p> + +<p>For a day or two, all of Walter's spare time was spent over the +newspapers his former employer had been kind enough to send him, but +drills and other duties must not be neglected, and now that the army of +invasion was hourly expected, discipline on the warships became more +rigid than ever.</p> + +<p>At last, one clear morning, a cry echoed and reëchoed from one warship +to another:—</p> + +<p>"The transports are in sight! General Shafter's army has arrived!"</p> + +<p>What a shouting, cheering, and yelling broke loose! Jackies flew to the +deck, and up the military masts, and all other points of vantage. Yes, +the news was true, over thirty transports were coming up from the +direction of Guantanamo Bay, having rounded Cape Maysi some hours +previously. The army of invasion had really arrived, nearly seventeen +thousand strong. As that vast fleet came up, convoyed by fourteen +warships, it presented a most imposing appearance, and guns boomed +loudly to welcome it.</p> + +<p>"Is the Seventy-first on board?" was Walter's question; and when at last +he heard that it was, his heart beat quickly. "Ben must be there!" he +thought. And Ben <i>was</i> there, and thinking of Walter at the same time.</p> + +<p>"Santiago is doomed now," said Caleb, as he surveyed the scene.</p> + +<p>"That's so," put in Si, tossing up his cap. "And old Cervera must either +come out and fight, or haul down his colors. Oh, but won't we just smash +things when that army is landed!"</p> + +<p>And Walter agreed with both of them.</p> + +<p>As soon as it could be arranged, the army was landed at Baiquiri, +Siboney, and other points, Guantanamo being reserved as a coaling +station for the warships. After the first landing, a strong detachment +of regulars and Rough Riders was thrown out, and then followed the +battles of La Guasima, San Juan, and El Caney, described in detail in +the previous volume of this series. The soldier boys fought bravely, and +Ben Russell and his chum, Gilbert Pennington, were well to the front, as +we know.</p> + +<p>The landing of the troops was no easy matter, for the surf ran high, and +it was feared that the Spaniard might make a heavy onslaught at any +instant. All the small boats of the warships were called into use, to +land men and army stores, and while this work was in progress, many of +the ships began to bombard various points along the coast, for the +purpose of confusing the enemy, so that they would not realize the truth +of what was taking place. The ruse succeeded, and during the landing the +Spaniards remained comparatively quiet, hardly knowing in what direction +to turn, or what to do, since the Americans were covering over a hundred +miles of rugged coast-line.</p> + +<p>The debarkation at an end, the <i>Brooklyn</i> returned to her position on +the blockade. All hands knew that something important would soon happen, +and, consequently, everybody slept thenceforth "with one eye open." +"Cervera must not be allowed to escape, night or day, under any +circumstances," was the order passed, and it was to be obeyed to the +letter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<h3>THE SPANISH FLEET AND ITS COMMANDER</h3> + + +<p>"Now that we are so anxious to catch Admiral Cervera and smash his +ships, I should like to know something about the man and his command," +remarked Walter, a few days after the army had landed. He addressed +George Ellis, who, in his quiet, gentlemanly way had taken a liking to +the youth.</p> + +<p>The two were seated in the shadow of one of the forward guns, taking it +easy, for the morning drills were over and it yet lacked half an hour to +mess time. Slowly the <i>Brooklyn</i> rose and sank on the waves of the +Caribbean Sea, four miles outside of Santiago Bay. This was the usual +distance in the daytime. At night, despite the danger of an attack by a +torpedo destroyer, the warships came in much closer, and the glare of +the searchlights never left Morro Castle or the narrow harbor entrance.</p> + +<p>"I know very little about Admiral Cervera excepting that he has been in +the Spanish navy for many years and is said to be one of the finest +gentlemen that ever trod the deck of a ship. Why he ever allowed himself +to be bottled up like this is more than I can understand. I imagine, +though, that he was on his way to Havana, to break the blockade there, +when he heard that Admiral Sampson was coming for him one way and our +commodore the other, and he concluded that the best thing he could do +would be to scoot into the bay yonder and save himself and possibly +Santiago. They say he carried a lot of guns and ammunition for the +Spanish army. He can distribute those as well at Santiago as he can at +Havana, for I understand General Toral here is as hard up as Blanco is +at the other city."</p> + +<p>"And what of the ships under him? They say he has six. Do you know how +big they are?" went on Walter.</p> + +<p>"He has four warships and two torpedo destroyers," answered the chief +yeoman. "I got that straight from Lieutenant Blue, who went ashore for +Admiral Sampson, made a detour of seventy miles, and from the top of a +high hill saw the ships in the harbor through his powerful glasses."</p> + +<p>"Somebody said all the big ships were armored cruisers."</p> + +<p>"That is true, and three of them, the <i>Vizcaya</i>, the <i>Almirante +Oquendo</i>, and the <i>Maria Teresa</i>, are sister ships, of seven thousand +tons each. Each is about three hundred and sixty feet long and can speed +at eighteen to nineteen knots an hour. They carry about five hundred men +each, and every one has a main battery of two 11-inch Hontoria and ten +5.5-inch Hontoria guns, with a secondary battery of eight 6-pounders, +ten 1-pounders, several machine guns; and they also carry six torpedo +tubes each."</p> + +<p>"And what of the fourth cruiser?"</p> + +<p>"She is the <i>Cristobal Colon</i>, the fastest of the lot, even though her +displacement is two hundred tons short of the others. They say she can +run eighteen knots an hour with ease and twenty knots if she is put to +it. Her armor belt is six inches thick, alongside of twelve inches on +the other cruisers. She also carries about five hundred men, and she has +a main battery of two 10-inch and five 6-inch guns, and a secondary +battery of rapid-firing rifles, 6 and 10 pounders and two Maxim guns. +Her torpedo tubes number four."</p> + +<p>"Then they are no small fry to battle with," observed Walter. "When +their batteries break loose they ought to do some talking."</p> + +<p>"They will talk. We mustn't expect any walkover, if Cervera ever comes +out of his hole."</p> + +<p>"And what of the two torpedo boats?"</p> + +<p>"They are sister ships, the <i>Pluton</i> and <i>Furor</i>, each of three hundred +and eighty tons displacement. They say that each has a speed of +twenty-seven knots an hour, and both are equipped with the latest +appliances for such crafts, carrying regular, automatic, and rapid-fire +guns, and also fourteen-inch Schwartzkopff torpedo tubes."</p> + +<p>"I should say they would be good things to keep out of the way of," +exclaimed Walter.</p> + +<p>"We've got our eyes wide open for them, lad. To be sure, one or another +of them may play us some dirty trick of a dark night—but that is one of +the risks to be taken in war times," concluded the chief yeoman, as a +petty officer called him away.</p> + +<p>All on board the warships waited eagerly for news from the army of +invasion. It was known that the Rough Riders had had a severe skirmish +at La Guasima, but that was all, so far as the jackies went. Possibly +the officers knew more, but if so, they kept the knowledge to +themselves.</p> + +<p>"Another dull week will come to an end to-morrow," remarked Si, as he +and Walter were on their way to the mess table. "Oh, but I'm sick of +laying around looking at old Morro. If only those ships would come out, +we'd sink them all in less than two hours; I feel sure of it."</p> + +<p>Si's growl was becoming a universal one, even the officers grumbling a +good deal. All wanted to fight Cervera's fleet, and the more the Spanish +admiral kept himself hidden, the more angry did they become. Many almost +begged to have their ships forced into the harbor, no matter what the +consequences—they stating that anything would be better than this +everlasting waiting. The blockade had now lasted five long weeks.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, matters elsewhere had not been idle. Chagrined over +Dewey's victory at Manila, Spain resolved to send another fleet to the +Philippines by way of the Suez Canal, taking, for this purpose, almost +all the warships left in her home waters. As soon as this was brought to +light, our own naval board decided to send an American fleet to the +coast of Spain, and Commodore Watson was placed in command of the +expedition. But before the American warships could sail, the Spanish +fleet, having gone through the Suez Canal, turned back for home, and the +American warships remained where they were, and Dewey was left +unmolested at Manila, so far as Spanish operations were concerned, +although the insurgents under General Aguinaldo soon began to give him a +great deal of trouble.</p> + +<p>Saturday morning dawned misty but hot. From a great distance could be +heard the rattle of musketry, showing that the army of invasion was +slowly but surely advancing.</p> + +<p>"They're in it all right enough—" began Si, when there came a sudden +call to quarters, and at the same time the <i>Brooklyn's</i> engines began to +move and she headed for Santiago Bay. "Hullo, what does this mean?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we are going to force an entrance!" ejaculated Walter. "Hurrah, +if we do!"</p> + +<p>"Better not count your chickens before they are hatched," remarked +Caleb, who had just rolled from his hammock.</p> + +<p>They soon learned the truth of the movement. The shore batteries were +again to be bombarded, and this time not even Morro Castle was to be +spared, it having been ascertained that Hobson and his men had been +removed to safe quarters.</p> + +<p>"Down with old Morro; we'll show the Dons a thing or two!" was the cry, +and off rushed the men to their guns, their eyes brighter than they had +been for many a day, for Morro Castle had been an eyesore to all.</p> + +<p>The flagship <i>New York</i> was leading the fleet, which, as before, soon +ranged up in a semicircle. Inside of five minutes every vessel had her +station.</p> + +<p>"Cast loose and provide!"</p> + +<p>The now familiar cry was scarcely needed, for the jackies were already +at work, stripped, as before, of all their superfluous clothing. Shot +and powder were quickly handled, and the flagship began the firing, +which immediately broke forth in all its fury, deafening everybody and +sending forth a great cloud of smoke which hung over the warships like a +pall.</p> + +<p>"Morro's flag is down!" came the shout. It was true. A gunner on the +noble <i>Oregon</i> had taken careful aim and cut the flagstaff in two. The +falling of the Spanish emblem was greeted with a wild cheer. At once the +Spaniards tried to put another flag up, but it was some time ere they +succeeded, and then it was a tiny affair, hardly visible excepting with +a glass.</p> + +<p>"We'll try for that battery yonder!" exclaimed Caleb, during the height +of the bombardment. "I think those fellows have been firing this way +ever since they started."</p> + +<p>He had scarcely spoken when bang! something hit the armor plate directly +under their gun, hurling the gunner, Walter, and several others back by +the shock.</p> + +<p>"They've struck us, but the shot didn't pierce our armor," remarked +Caleb, calmly, as he got up. "All right, you villains, here's the +compliment returned!" And he made his preparations with care.</p> + +<p>The shot following was the best they had yet placed. It struck into a +battery on the west shore of the harbor entrance, ploughed up the +foundation of a six-pound gun, and sent the piece flying high into the +air.</p> + +<p>"My, but that was immense!" cried Walter, while Si and the others +cheered wildly. "Give them another!"</p> + +<p>And they did give the battery another, and then a dozen more, until at +last the place was silenced, showing that what was left of the gunners +had fled.</p> + +<p>At half-past seven came the order to cease firing, but it was fully +twenty minutes later before the last of the warships' guns were +discharged. By this time not only the batteries but also old Morro were +filled with gaping holes. It is more than likely that if the fleet had +sought to enter the harbor at this time it could have done so with +comparative ease.</p> + +<p>The work at the gun had been very hot, and as soon as they were able to +do so, Walter and Si scurried to the upper deck to get a bit of fresh +air.</p> + +<p>"It fairly stews the fat out of a fellow," grumbled Si, running the +perspiration from his forehead with his forefinger. "I'll bet I'm ten +pounds lighter than before this blockade began."</p> + +<p>"Never mind; it's one of the fortunes of war—" began Walter, when of a +sudden a strange whir and a singing sound filled the air. It was a +shell, fired from Morro Castle, just as the <i>Brooklyn</i> was turning +away.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" yelled Si, and dropped down, but the words were still on his +lips when the shell exploded, sending the fragments flying in all +directions. Both boys were struck, and with a groan Walter fell +senseless to the deck.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<h3>"THE ENEMY IS ESCAPING!"</h3> + + +<p>"Is he dead, surgeon?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, doctor, he'll live—say he'll live!"</p> + +<p>Caleb and Si had followed the senseless form of Walter to the sick bay +of the warship, the Yankee youth with the blood streaming from a deep +cut in his left cheek. Both were in distress for fear their comrade was +seriously injured.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he'll live, but he has had a narrow escape," was the reply of the +medical man in charge of the case. "The bit of shell scraped his left +temple, as you see. Had it come a little closer, it would have gone +through his brain."</p> + +<p>Walter had been placed on a swinging cot, and now his head was bound up. +Before this operation was over he opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Whe—where am I?" he stammered. "Wh—what hit me?"</p> + +<p>"Praise God, he's himself again!" murmured Caleb, reverently. "I was +afraid he was a goner."</p> + +<p>"So was I," whispered Si. "And I don't know how I could spare Walter—he +seems so like a brother."</p> + +<p>"You must lie quiet for a while," said the surgeon. "You'll be all right +by to-night." And then he gave Walter some medicine to brace his nerves, +for they had been sadly shattered by the shock. The remainder of that +Saturday was spent in bed.</p> + +<p>On this memorable day the fighting on land had been even more fierce +than on the sea. The army of invasion had taken the various outposts of +Santiago, and the very city itself now lay at General Shafter's mercy. +It was felt that a day or two longer would bring matters to a climax.</p> + +<p>When Walter joined his comrades after supper he looked rather pale and +scared. Almost silently he took Si's hand and wrung it.</p> + +<p>"You are all right?" he whispered.</p> + +<p>"No hurt to speak of," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"But we were pretty close to death. Oh, Si, I never realized before how +quick one could be put out of this world!"</p> + +<p>"Neither did I, Walter. After this I'm going to—well—I'm going to +attend church more regularly, that's all. I never did take much to sech +matters afore, like you do."</p> + +<p>"It's always well to be prepared for death, Si—I'm going to try to be +prepared after this," was Walter's low answer, and in the darkness of +the berth deck they clasped hands again. They understood each other +pretty well, these boys.</p> + +<p>On Sunday morning the sun arose clear and strong, and early in the day +an awning was spread over the quarterdeck of the flagship <i>Brooklyn</i>, +and preparations were made to pass a hot day as comfortably as possible. +"We will rest to-day," was the word passed around, and the jackies were +not sorry, for the bombardment on Saturday morning had tired them out.</p> + +<p>The <i>Brooklyn</i> rested about three miles out from Santiago Bay, and not +far off lay the <i>Texas</i>. Between the two ships the long, green waves +rose and fell, only making a soft slish-slish as they struck the +vessels' sides. The jackies lolled here, there, and everywhere, some +talking, some reading old newspapers which from frequent handling would +scarcely hold together, while a few studied the Bibles they had brought +with them.</p> + +<p>Presently from the <i>Texas</i> came the musical bugle-call for church +service. "I'd like to go on board of her once," said Walter to Si, as +they listened to the bell that followed. "She's certainly a fine-looking +craft."</p> + +<p>"Three bells," put in Caleb, as he came up. "Come on, lads, first Sunday +in the month, remember, and the Articles of War have got to be hearkened +to."</p> + +<p>"That's so; I had forgotten," answered Walter. And he and the others +dropped below, to don their cleanest and neatest "rigs," for general +muster. Soon the call came, and from all parts of the big cruiser the +men hurried to their various divisions, while the higher officers +buckled on their swords, and the executive officers prepared to make +their inspections.</p> + +<p>On the quarterdeck, near the hatchway, sat Commodore Schley, musing +thoughtfully, as he gazed over the waters in the direction of Morro +Castle. The fighting commodore undoubtedly felt as hot as anybody, for +he wore a thin, black alpaca coat and an equally thin, white summer hat. +He was now in sole command of the blockading fleet, for the <i>New York</i> +had carried Admiral Sampson many miles away, to confer with General +Shafter.</p> + +<p>For some time there had been smoke in the harbor entrance in front of +the warships, and many were wondering what it meant. "Must be a supply +boat for the batteries," said several under-officers, and this theory +was accepted as correct. Nevertheless, Commodore Schley glanced toward +that smoke more than once.</p> + +<p>"We are going to have general muster, commodore," announced Captain +Cook, as he presented himself, followed by Executive Officer Mason, and +the commander of the fleet <i>pro tem.</i> nodded. But those keen eyes were +still bent shoreward.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, from the forward bridge there came a yell through a megaphone, +a yell that electrified everybody who heard it.</p> + +<p>"After bridge there! Report to the commodore and the captain that <i>the +enemy's ships are coming out of the harbor</i>!"</p> + +<p>There was no necessity to report, for commodore, captain, and all others +heard the cry. There was a second of silence. Could this news be true? +Then came the command of the executive officer.</p> + +<p>"<i>Clear ship for action!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! the enemy is coming out at last! To your guns, boys! Remember +the <i>Maine</i>!" These and a score of other cries rang out, while men +rushed hither and thither, dropping one garment or another as they ran, +and kicking shoes right and left, for no jackie will do work worth the +counting unless he is barefooted. Everybody had on his best clothing, +but that did not matter, and down into the grimy depths of the big +vessel dropped the firemen, coal heavers, and all the rest of the "black +gang," as they are termed, for steam must be gotten up in a tremendous +hurry or the enemy would surely get away. Ton after ton of coal was +thrown onto the fires, and the firemen coaxed and coaxed until the black +lumps grew first red and then white, and converted the water in the +boilers into high-pressure steam. "Fire up! for the sake of the ship's +honor, fire up!" came in a hoarse cry down the speaking-tube, and the +men did fire up as never before, until all were ready to drop from the +terrific heat. And all this while the engineers were watching their +engines, oiling this part and that, and making every pound of steam do +its utmost to send the great armored cruiser dashing and hissing through +the sea to that point where the Spanish fleet was trying to escape.</p> + +<p>For Admiral Cervera could stand it no longer inside of the harbor. With +the army of invasion at the very outskirts of Santiago, and with the +American fleet beyond his bay of refuge, something must be done, and +done quickly. He would run for it,—run at the top of his speed—and +trust to luck, if not Providence, to get out of range and reach +Cienfuegos or Havana. Santiago Bay was "too hot to hold him."</p> + +<p>It was the big prow of the <i>Maria Teresa</i> that first showed itself, +quickly followed by the <i>Vizcaya</i>, <i>Oquendo</i>, and <i>Colon</i>, with the +torpedo boats <i>Pluton</i> and <i>Furor</i> bringing up closely in the rear. All +were under a full head of steam, and the thick smoke shot up in heavy +clouds from every funnel. For an instant all seemed to pause at the +gateway to the sea, then, led by the <i>Maria Teresa</i>, they turned +westward along the coast. To this side of the blockade now lay but three +American warships, the <i>Brooklyn</i>, <i>Texas</i>, and the little <i>Vixen</i>. If +he could only get out of range of these, Admiral Cervera felt that he +would, for the time being at least, be safe.</p> + +<p>Boom! It was a three-pounder, fired from the <i>Iowa</i>, lying some distance +to the eastward of the <i>Texas</i>. She, too, was flying the signal, "The +enemy is escaping," in red and white and blue flags. Beyond the <i>Iowa</i>, +still further eastward, lay the pride of the western coast, the mighty +<i>Oregon</i>, and it was this ship that first started up her engines in +pursuit, having, by chance, a good head of steam up. And as the <i>Oregon</i> +turned in one direction, the little <i>Resolute</i> turned in the other, to +carry the news to the absent rear-admiral.</p> + +<p>Three minutes had not yet passed, yet a complete transformation had +occurred on the <i>Brooklyn</i>. Five hundred men had scuttled to as many +different directions, battle hatches had been lowered, water-tight +compartments closed, hose attached and decks wet down, fire tubs filled, +magazines opened, hoists put into operation, and ammunition delivered to +turret, decks, and to the fighting-tops. Down below, fire had been +started under four fresh boilers, and a dozen different connections +between engines made.</p> + +<p>Nor was this all. Splinter nets had been spread as before, all useless +woodwork thrown overboard, and the surgeons' operating tables made +ready. The warning gun from the <i>Iowa</i> was followed by a gun from the +<i>Texas</i>, and then the <i>Brooklyn</i> helped to "open the ball" with her +forward eight-inch guns. Another great naval battle, fully equal to that +of Manila Bay, was now on.</p> + +<p>"It's a question of do or die, boys!" cried Caleb, as he worked over the +heavy gun before him. "Hustle now, as you never hustled before, or the +dagos will get away. Now then, Polly, do the best you can!" And <i>bang!</i> +went the gun, with a noise that was deafening. Ten minutes later Walter +felt as if his hearing had left him entirely, so incessant was the +firing.</p> + +<p>The first fire from the enemy came from the <i>Maria Teresa</i>, and was an +eleven-inch shell directed at the <i>Brooklyn</i>. Hardly had this been +discharged when the <i>Indiana</i>, coming up behind the <i>Iowa</i>, took a +long-range chance and sent a shell directly upon the <i>Teresa's</i> deck, +doing not a little damage. Then the firing became general, and shot and +shell was hurled in every direction.</p> + +<p>So far, the <i>Brooklyn</i> had been headed directly for the harbor entrance, +commodore and captain being intent upon cutting off the enemy's westward +flight, if possible. This course soon brought the <i>Maria Teresa</i>, +<i>Vizcaya</i>, and the <i>Brooklyn</i> into close proximity, and presently all +were lost to view in a dense cloud of smoke, from which shot long +streaks of fire, as battery after battery was discharged at close range.</p> + +<p>"Give it to 'em!" was the cry that rang throughout the <i>Brooklyn</i>. +"Don't let up on 'em! We must do as well as Dewey did, and better! +Remember the <i>Maine</i>, and three cheers for Uncle Sam!" Such cries were +truly inspiring, but presently the men became silent, as the work began +to tell upon them, and they realized what a fearful task still lay +before them.</p> + +<p>"The second ship's flag is down!" was the welcome news which soon +drifted down from the fighting-tops. It was true, the <i>Vizcaya's</i> big +silk flag had been riddled completely and the halyard shot away; but +soon another flag was run up. Later on the <i>Brooklyn's</i> flag also came +down, but it did not remain so more than two minutes before a jackie had +it up again.</p> + +<p>The battle had but fairly begun, and the <i>Brooklyn</i> and the <i>Maria +Teresa</i> were having it "hot and heavy," when suddenly the bow of the +<i>Vizcaya</i> began to turn swiftly. At once a cry rang out. "That ship is +going to ram the <i>Brooklyn</i>! See, she is turning full toward her!"</p> + +<p>The warning proved true. The <i>Vizcaya</i> was turned fairly and squarely +for Commodore Schley's flagship. Bells were ringing on board of her for +"Full speed ahead." On and on she came, like a demon of the deep, in one +wild, terrible effort to ram the vessel Walter was on and sink her!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> + +<h3>THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SPANISH FLEET</h3> + + +<p>"We are lost!"</p> + +<p>"That ship will cut us in half!"</p> + +<p>"Give her a broadside, boys, before we go down!"</p> + +<p>These and a hundred other cries rang out, as the <i>Vizcaya</i> came leaping +over the waves on her awful mission of death and destruction. Then gun +after gun roared out, sending shot and shell on the enemy's deck. If +this was their last hour on earth, these brave jackies were going to +make the most of it.</p> + +<p>But commodore, captain, and executive officer were all on the alert and +were not to be caught napping. As the <i>Vizcaya</i> came on, the necessary +orders were given, and the <i>Brooklyn</i> began to turn in a twelve-point +circle to starboard. Like a flash she swept past the warship dashing on +to destroy her, and then the command rang out, "Give her another +broadside!" And the port guns, twenty in number, vomited out their +death-dealing shots and shells, raking the Spanish deck from end to end, +and killing and wounding a great number of sailors and officers. To this +awful fire was added that from the <i>Oregon</i>, which now came up to assist +the flagship. Realizing that the plan to ram the <i>Brooklyn</i> was a +failure, the <i>Vizcaya</i> started westward once more.</p> + +<p>It was now high time to turn attention to the two torpedo-boat +destroyers, <i>Pluton</i> and <i>Furor</i>, that were coming out of the harbor at +a speed of twenty knots per hour. Once these destroyers gained the open +sea, to catch them would be impossible. Like long, steel arrows +glistening in the sunlight, they darted through the greenish waves and +for a moment hid themselves behind their big sisters.</p> + +<p>Then on came the <i>Gloucester</i>, a converted yacht, commanded by +Lieutenant Wainwright. Wainwright had been executive officer of the +<i>Maine</i> when she was blown up in Havana Harbor, and had vowed more than +once to sink something if only he were given a chance. Like an avenging +angel the <i>Gloucester</i>, but lightly armed, bore down upon the torpedo +boats and sent shot after shot into them. Then the destroyers began to +turn, as if to sink the little enemy who dared to molest them, but now +it was too late,—the big warships were coming to the <i>Gloucester's</i> +aid.</p> + +<p>It was the <i>Oregon</i> and the <i>Iowa</i> that first came to the converted +yacht's assistance, and as the destroyers turned, first one way and then +another, as if to ram or to run, a perfect hailstorm of shot and shell +landed on their sides and decks, churning up the water into a milk-white +froth, and causing the destroyers to look like gigantic whales lashing +themselves in their death throes. The noise was even greater than it had +been before, and the smoke made the heavens above look as if a violent +thunderstorm was at hand.</p> + +<p>Finding they could not withstand such a combined attack, and with the +<i>Texas</i> hurrying to the scene, the destroyers turned tail, as if to make +for the shore. As the turn was made a huge shell, flying over the masts +of the <i>Gloucester</i>, hit the <i>Pluton</i> directly amidship, and with a +crash and a splutter she broke and sank, leaving the still living +members of her crew struggling in the boiling waters for their lives.</p> + +<p>Left to herself, the <i>Furor</i> again paused, like some wild animal seeking +in vain for cover. She started to get behind the <i>Oquendo</i>, but, in +spite of the fire from the shore batteries, the <i>Gloucester</i> went in +after her, with every available gun doing its utmost, and fairly filling +her with small holes. At last the destroyer could stand it no longer, +and with a lurch she struck on a reef and began to break. In a moment +more the water poured over her sides, and her crew was compelled to +surrender. The instant the surrender was made, the converted yacht, from +being an angel of vengeance, became an angel of mercy, and to gallant +Lieutenant-commander Wainwright fell the honor of rescuing hundreds of +wounded and drowning Spaniards who must otherwise have perished.</p> + +<p>Such was the close of this running fight. At the front, the four big +warships were still trying to push on, with the <i>Brooklyn</i>, <i>Oregon</i>, +<i>Iowa</i>, <i>Texas</i>, and <i>Indiana</i> in the chase. With a full head of steam +the noble <i>Oregon</i> reached a position between Commodore Schley's +flagship and the <i>Texas</i>, and every vessel in the line belched forth its +messengers of death and destruction.</p> + +<p>Presently a cry echoed throughout the squadron regarding the <i>Oquendo</i>. +"She is on fire! See, she is burning in three places!"</p> + +<p>The report was true. A shell had burst near the quarterdeck of the +warship, and now high to the sky arose a column of yellowish red smoke. +Then the flames burst out of her bow. In vain the Spaniards tried to man +their fire-hose. A shower of projectiles from the fighting-tops of our +own ships assailed them and drove them to shelter, while the big guns +continued to "pump up" shot and shell as never before.</p> + +<p>But the <i>Oquendo</i> was no worse off than the <i>Maria Teresa</i>, if as badly. +She staggered on, and a few minutes later passed her sister ship as if +looking for aid, when aid could not be given.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Maria Teresa</i> is on fire!" was the next cry, but a few minutes +later. "Down goes Cervera's flag! Hurrah, boys, we've got em 'on the +run! Give it to 'em hot!"</p> + +<p>Yes, the admiral's flag was down, and so was the mast that had held it. +Would the Spanish emblem go up again? All watched anxiously, and +meanwhile the <i>Brooklyn</i> continued to pour in her hottest fire.</p> + +<p>"She's going ashore!" rang through the American flagship. "She's burning +up!" and then came a heavy shot from the <i>Brooklyn</i>, another from the +<i>Texas</i>, and staggering like a thing of life, the <i>Maria Teresa</i> ran for +the beach, a mass of seething and roaring flames. Admiral Cervera's doom +was sealed. Five minutes later the <i>Oquendo</i> was also cast on the shore.</p> + +<p>Four of the enemy's ships had been laid low, but the great fight was by +no means over. Shot and shell were flying around the <i>Vizcaya</i> and +<i>Cristobal Colon</i>, but both warships kept on their way, the <i>Colon</i> +slowly but surely forging to the front. Both Spanish ships were +returning the Americans' hot fire, and many a shot hit the <i>Brooklyn</i> +and many a shell burst over her deck. But as yet no serious damage had +been inflicted.</p> + +<p>But a calamity was at hand, as rapid in its execution as it was +appalling. Near the forward eight-inch turret George Ellis was standing, +watching the struggle of the enemy's ships to escape.</p> + +<p>"Ellis, give us the range again!" shouted Captain Cook.</p> + +<p>"I'll have it in a moment, captain," answered the chief yeoman, and took +up his stadiometer. Making his calculation, he turned to Commodore +Schley, who was but a short distance away. "It is fourteen hundred yards +to the <i>Vizcaya</i>, sir," he said.</p> + +<p>These were the last words he ever uttered, for an instant after there +was the whistling of a shell, and those standing around were horrified +to see Ellis's headless body drop to the deck below. The poor fellow had +been killed instantly, in the very midst of his duties. What a shock +this was to those about him I will leave my readers to imagine. Never +until now had they realized what this awful war meant. "Poor Ellis, he +was such a fine man!" murmured one comrade as he turned away. And then +his face grew even more sober. "But he's the first on board of this +ship. What of those poor Dons yonder, who are going down by the +wholesale?" And though they were enemies, his heart beat in sympathy for +the poor wretches who were struggling madly amid shot, shell, fire, and +water for their lives. Fortunately the <i>Iowa</i> was already coming to the +succor of the defeated ones.</p> + +<p>"We're going to catch it now, lad," remarked Caleb to Walter, as he +pointed through a rift in the cloud of smoke hanging over the gun. +"There are two of the enemy's ships, and they are both going to pound +us. Where in the world are our other vessels?"</p> + +<p>"The <i>Oregon</i> is coming up!" came from the after-deck, a minute later. +"And the <i>Texas</i> isn't far behind."</p> + +<p>Around the gun it was suffocating, and every hand was ready to drop. +Indeed, fainting fits were frequent, but the most that could be done for +a sufferer was to either throw some water over his head or yell out to +the surgeons' helpers to carry the men to the ward room for treatment. +As the <i>Brooklyn</i> was struck here and there, splinters began to fly, and +a number were injured, although no one seriously.</p> + +<p>The <i>Texas</i> had done wonderful work on the <i>Maria Teresa</i> and the +<i>Oquendo</i>, and now did her best to keep to the front of the chase. But +the speed was too great for her, and gradually she dropped behind, +although still continuing to throw shot and shell after the <i>Vizcaya</i> +that had dropped some distance behind the <i>Colon</i>. It was now apparent +to all that if any vessel was going to get away it was to be the +<i>Colon</i>, for her speed was greater than the <i>Vizcaya</i> and as yet she had +hardly been touched.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Vizcaya</i>, boys, the <i>Vizcaya</i>!" came the cry from the quarterdeck. +"Don't let her screen the <i>Colon</i>!"</p> + +<p>"We'll pound 'em both!" was the answer. "Remember the <i>Maine</i>! Remember +Manila Bay!"</p> + +<p>And then the mighty guns of the <i>Brooklyn</i> and <i>Oregon</i> roared out +swifter than ever, and the <i>Vizcaya</i>, doing her best to sink one or the +other of the American warships, was raked as if passing through a +blizzard of fire, until her men were forced again and again from their +posts, and at last the guns were abandoned. Then fire caught the craft +in its awful embrace, and rolling from side to side, she, too, sought +for a harbor of refuge, but found none. Down came her colors, and at the +same instant she struck with a crash on the rocks. The fight had started +at quarter to ten. Now it was but quarter past eleven,—just an hour and +a half,—and all the Spanish ships but one had been destroyed. Such is +the appalling swiftness of modern naval warfare. Where in olden days +jack tars had fought for hours, they now fought for minutes.</p> + +<p>But the destruction of the <i>Vizcaya</i> had taken time, and the <i>Colon</i> was +forging onward, panting and throbbing like a thing of life trying to +escape from unspeakable terrors. Down in the bowels of the warship the +furnaces were at a white heat, and the engineers had long since pushed +their engines far past the danger point. "Faster! faster!" came the cry +from the deck and tower. "It will be better to blow up than to allow the +Yankee pigs to sink us. We must save at least one ship!" And the engines +pounded and quivered, threatening each instant to blow into a million +pieces. For once Don Quixote was making the run of his life.</p> + +<p>Unable to stand the heat, Walter had obtained permission to lay off for +a few minutes and get some fresh air. A look from the spar deck had +showed him the <i>Colon</i> dashing far ahead, enveloped in a thin line of +smoke. Every few seconds a flash of fire would come from her stern guns, +but the marksmanship was poor and no serious damage was done to the +<i>Brooklyn</i>.</p> + +<p>The boy returned to his gun to find Caleb and the others in deep +perplexity. Something was wrong with a shell, and it had become wedged +in the gun and could not be pushed forward to its proper place or hauled +back. "We can't use Polly any more!" groaned Caleb.</p> + +<p>"I'll fix her!" cried Si Doring, and caught up a rammer. In a moment the +brave Yankee lad was crawling out over the smoking piece toward the +muzzle. But he had scarcely reached the outward end of the gun than the +<i>Brooklyn</i> gave a lurch and down he slipped over the side and into +space!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX</h2> + +<h3>FINAL SCENES OF THE GREAT FIGHT</h3> + + +<p>"Si has fallen overboard!"</p> + +<p>The cry came from half a dozen throats at once, and Walter's heart +almost stopped beating, so attached had he become to the Yankee lad.</p> + +<p>"If he's overboard, he'll be sucked under and drowned," he groaned. "I +wonder if I can see anything of him."</p> + +<p>Without a second thought he leaped on the gun and began to crawl out, on +hands and knees, as perilous a thing to do, with the vessel going at +full speed, as one would care to undertake.</p> + +<p>"Come back!" roared Caleb, trying to detain him. "You'll go overboard, +too."</p> + +<p>At that moment came a cry from below, and looking down the steel side of +the <i>Brooklyn</i>, Walter beheld Si clinging to a rope ladder, one of +several flung over, to be used in case of emergency. "Si, are you all +right?" he called loudly.</p> + +<p>"I—reckon—I—I am," came with a pant.</p> + +<p>"But I had an awful tumble and the wind is about knocked out o' me." And +then Si began to climb up to the deck.</p> + +<p>"He's on the ladder and he's all right," shouted Walter, to those still +behind the gun. Then a sudden idea struck him. "Hand me another rammer, +Stuben."</p> + +<p>"Mine cracious! don't you try dot," cried the hose-man. "You vos fall +ofer chust like Si."</p> + +<p>"Yes, come in here," put in Caleb, and Paul also called upon him to +return.</p> + +<p>"I'm all right," was the boy's reply. "Give it to me, Stuben." And +catching the rammer from the hose-man, Steve Colton passed it forward. +"In war we have got to take some risks," he reasoned, as Caleb gave him +a severe look.</p> + +<p>"Then why didn't you get out on the gun, Steve?" was the old gunner's +dry response; and the second gun captain said no more.</p> + +<p>Rammer in hand, Walter edged closer and closer to the muzzle of the +Polly. The <i>Brooklyn</i> was moving up and down over the long green waves, +sending the spray flying on both sides of the bow. He gave one look +down, felt himself growing dizzy, and then kept his eyes on the gun.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus8" id="illus8"></a> +<img src="images/illus8.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Rammer in Hand, Walter Edged Close to the Muzzle.</span></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>At last the muzzle was gained, and not without difficulty the rammer was +inserted. The projectile had not been very tightly wedged, and a firm +pressure sent it backward, so that Caleb could catch it and pull it out +through the breech. Then throwing the rammer aboard, Walter lost no time +in coming in again. He had been exposed to the direct fire of the enemy, +but no shot had come near him.</p> + +<p>"Boy, you're too plucky," exclaimed Caleb, catching him by the shoulder. +"You ought to be flogged for your daring. Let me see your hands. Ah, +just as I thought; both of 'em blistered. Go and put some sweet oil on +'em, and a bit of flour. I'll bet the end of Polly is red-hot."</p> + +<p>"Well, it is pretty hot," replied Walter, and then he was glad enough to +follow Caleb's advice, for both hands smarted a good deal. Soon Si +joined him, to get something for his hands also.</p> + +<p>The <i>Colon</i> had now drawn out of range, so firing would have been a +useless waste of ammunition. Down to the gunners came the order: "Cease +firing." And a moment later, "All hands on deck for an airing." What a +laughing and shouting ensued as the jackies poured up, to secure the +best viewing places they could within the ship's regulations. Hot, +tired, ready to drop from exhaustion, they shook hands with each other, +sang, laughed, and whistled.</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for Commodore Schley!" came suddenly from somebody, and +the cheers came with vigor, and a tiger, and then came a cheer for +Captain Cook and a cheer for the <i>Oregon</i>, coming up with ever +increasing speed. The <i>Oregon's</i> men cheered in return, and for a moment +one would have thought this was holiday-making instead of grim war.</p> + +<p>The <i>Colon</i> was close to shore, while the <i>Brooklyn</i> and the <i>Oregon</i> +lay from two to three miles out to sea. Some miles farther westward the +Cuban shore slopes southward to Cape Cruz. If the <i>Colon</i> kept on her +present course she would have to make for the cape, thus coming down +toward the American warships. "We will catch her there," said Commodore +Schley, confidently.</p> + +<p>The <i>Oregon</i> was flying the signal "Remember the <i>Maine</i>" from her +masthead, and as she drew still closer to the <i>Brooklyn</i>, another shout +of approval went up. The two warships would fight the <i>Colon</i> between +them, if only they could get within range.</p> + +<p>It was now noontime, and a hasty mess was served all around, and the men +continued to air themselves, something easy to do with the ponderous +ship speeding the waters at an eighteen-knot rate. Suddenly from the +<i>Oregon</i> came the boom of a thirteen-inch gun, and the shell fell just +astern of the <i>Colon</i>, sending the water up like a fountain. The battle +was again on.</p> + +<p>"Now for it!" cried Caleb, as the Spanish warship turned southward down +the coast, and the Polly spoke up as fiercely as at any time during the +contest.</p> + +<p>"The Spaniards are losing heart!" came the cry, a few minutes later. +"They ain't doing half the firing they were!"</p> + +<p>It was true; the <i>Colon</i> was running short of ammunition, and her +officers saw what a hopeless fight a contest with the <i>Brooklyn</i> and +<i>Oregon</i> would prove to be. With shot and shell falling all around him, +Captain Moreu hauled down his flag and sent his ship ashore at Rio +Tarquino.</p> + +<p>The battle was won, and Dewey's magnificent victory at Manila, which the +world in general had declared was a miracle that could not be matched, +had been duplicated. Henceforth American warships and American sailors +would stand as the equals of any nation on the face of the globe.</p> + +<p>And now that the contest was over what was to follow? To me, the hours +that came after are even greater in honor than those glorious hours of +victory. Already down the shore, the work of rescuing the sailors and +marines from the <i>Maria Teresa</i>, <i>Oquendo</i>, and <i>Vizcaya</i> had begun, and +now the crews of the <i>Brooklyn</i> and <i>Oregon</i> turned in to aid the +wounded and the dying, and those in danger of drowning, on the <i>Colon</i>. +Boat after boat went out, close to the sinking cruiser, now burning +fiercely, with abandoned guns going off, loose powder and shells +exploding, and magazines in danger of tearing all asunder. Amid such +perils did our noble jackies work, hauling man after man from the ship, +or from the water, and taking them to our own warships, there to be +cared for as tenderly as though they were our own. Some of the Spaniards +could not understand this treatment. They had been told that the +Americans were butchers and had no hearts, and when they realized the +truth many burst into tears of joy.</p> + +<p>When the battle was all over, some of our officers and men could not +comprehend what had been accomplished—that a whole fleet of Spanish +warships had been destroyed, that hundreds of men had been killed and +many more wounded and taken prisoners, and that the loss to our side had +been but one man killed, a handful wounded, and no ship seriously +damaged. "It was an act of Providence," said more than one, and Captain +Philip of the <i>Texas</i> spoke thus to his crew, as he gathered all around +him on this never-to-be-forgotten Sunday, so bright and clear:—</p> + +<p>"I wish to make confession that I have implicit faith in God and in the +officers and crew of the <i>Texas</i>, but my faith in you is only secondary +to my faith in God. We have seen what He has done for us, in allowing us +to achieve so great a victory, and I want to ask all of you, or at least +every man who has no scruples, to uncover his head with me and silently +offer a word of thanks to God for His goodness toward us all." The +thanks were given, some dropping upon their knees to deliver them, and +this outpouring of hearts travelled from one ship to another throughout +the entire fleet.</p> + +<p>"Poor Ellis!" said Walter; "the only seaman to give up his life! It's +too bad!" And when George Ellis's body was buried with all naval honors +he wept as bitterly as did anybody on board of the flagship.</p> + +<p>The victory had been gained, but the work of the fleet was not yet over. +The army still occupied the outskirts of Santiago, and General Shafter +had sent word to General Toral that unless he surrendered, the city +would be shelled Monday morning. At a conference with Admiral Sampson, +later on, it was decided that the fleet should take part in the +bombardment even if it was necessary to force an entrance into the +harbor. Without delay our warships were gotten into condition for this +task.</p> + +<p>But the bombardment did not come—for the reason that both on land and +sea the enemy had had enough of fighting. Several days passed, and the +conditions of a surrender were discussed. In the meantime Lieutenant +Hobson and his men were released and turned over to us in exchange for a +number of Spanish prisoners. Several of the men remembered seeing +Walter, and were glad to learn that the youth had escaped.</p> + +<p>The battle on sea had taken place on July the third, and my readers can +imagine what a glorious Fourth of July followed, not only among the +soldiers and sailors, but among our people at large. All over the land +cannons boomed, pistols cracked, rockets flared, bells pealed forth, and +bands played for the marching of thousands. It was a real old-fashioned +"Yankee Doodle time," as one down-east paper put it, and North, South, +East, and West united in celebrating as never before. Less than two +weeks later Santiago surrendered, a peace protocol followed; and the war +with Spain came to an end.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI</h2> + +<h3>TOGETHER ONCE MORE—CONCLUSION</h3> + + +<p>"And now that business is finished, an' I'm most awfully glad on it; +yes, I am!"</p> + +<p>It was Job Dowling who spoke. The uncle and guardian of the three +Russell boys was sitting by the side window of his home in Buffalo. In +his lap lay a small, flat package, which had been wrapped in heavy brown +paper and well sealed. In his hand was an open letter which he had just +finished reading.</p> + +<p>"It was a dreadful price to pay thet detective," he resumed. "But I +couldn't git them hairlooms back no other way, and I'm afraid the boys +would raise the roof ef I didn't git 'em back. It's a comfort to know +thet thief was caught and is going to be tried for even a wuss crime +than stealin' them rings an' the watch an' the Australian diamond. I +hope they give him about twenty years in prison." He paused to put the +package away in his dilapidated secretary. "So Ben is coming home this +week? I wonder what he'll have to say when he faces me? Somehow, I don't +know wot I'm going to say myself." And he dropped into his chair again.</p> + +<p>Job Dowling was a different man from what he had been. The determined +stand taken by Larry, Walter, and Ben had opened his eyes to the +knowledge that he had no mere children to deal with, but boys who were +almost men, and who were fully capable of taking care of themselves. His +visit to New York, when he was robbed of the Russell heirlooms, had +caused him considerable loss of self-confidence, and the trip to Boston +after the thief had awakened him to the fact that, after all, he was of +but little importance in this world. His efforts to help the police +recover the heirlooms had been laughed at, and even the detective had +shown him plainly that he was hindering more than he was helping. +Finally he had returned home in disgust, and the detective had finished +the work on the case alone, recovered everything, and sent Deck Mumpers +to jail to stand trial on half a dozen charges. The detective's bill had +been over two hundred dollars, a sum the paying of which had nearly +given Job Dowling a fit; but now the whole thing was settled and he was +awaiting Ben's return, for the gallant young volunteer had been shot in +the left arm on the day before Santiago surrendered, and was coming home +on sick leave.</p> + +<p>Ding! ding! it was a double ring at the front-door bell, and before Mrs. +Graham, the new housekeeper, and a great improvement on the tartar-like +Mrs. Rafferty, could get to the door, Job Dowling was there himself.</p> + +<p>"Ben an' Walter!" he exclaimed, as he found himself confronted by two +nephews instead of one, as expected. "Well—er, how is this?"</p> + +<p>"How do you do, Uncle Job!" exclaimed Ben, extending his hand.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you glad to see me too, Uncle Job?" put in Walter.</p> + +<p>"Why—er—of course, of course!" came with a stammer; and Job Dowling +held out both of his bony hands. "Come right in. This is Mrs. Graham, my +new workwoman." And the lady of the house, dressed in a neat wrapper and +with a clean kitchen apron on, came forward and bowed. "Knows a sight +more than Mrs. Rafferty did," went on the uncle, in a whisper.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know Walter was coming on till day before yesterday," +continued Ben. "We met quite by accident in New York, and we made up to +come on together and surprise you."</p> + +<p>"I see—I see." Job Dowling was still very nervous, and he could hardly +tell why. At one instant he thought he ought to quarrel with them, the +next that it would be quite proper to embrace them and tell them they +were forgiven and could henceforth do as they saw proper. But he chose a +middle course and did neither. "Sit down and make yourselves to hum, +and, Mrs. Graham, you had best get a few extry chops—three won't be +enough. Tell Boggs to send me the best on the stand."</p> + +<p>At this order Walter nudged Ben, and both looked at each other and +smiled. "He's reforming," whispered the young sailor. "Only give him +time, and he'll be all right."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Dowling," put in the housekeeper. "And you said something +about pie yesterday, when Master Ben should come. What of that?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, so I did, so I did." The former miser wrinkled his brow. "How +much does a pie cost?"</p> + +<p>"Ten and twenty cents."</p> + +<p>"Boys, do you think you could eat a twenty-cent pie?"</p> + +<p>"Do we?" cried Walter. "Just try us and see, Uncle Job." And now he +clasped his guardian half affectionately by the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Then get the twenty-cent pie, Mrs. Graham, and be sure an' pick out the +best. You—er—have the other things?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir—potatoes, green corn, and coffee."</p> + +<p>"Very good." And as the housekeeper retired, Job Dowling turned to the +boys again. "And how is your arm, Ben? Not seriously hurt, I trust?"</p> + +<p>"It's only a scratch," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"And you, Walter?"</p> + +<p>"I'm all right. But how have you been, Uncle Job, and what of that +stolen stuff?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm only tolerable—got quite some rheumatism. The hairlooms is all +safe—but they cost me two hundred and twenty-seven dollars an' a half +to git 'em!" And the guardian nodded to emphasize his words.</p> + +<p>"Well, they're worth it," answered Ben, promptly; and Job Dowling did +not dare dispute the assertion. "Where are they?"</p> + +<p>"In the desk. I'll show 'em to you, and then ye can both tell me all +about yer adventures on the water and in Cuby."</p> + +<p>The heirlooms had just been brought out, and Ben was examining the +watch, when a form darkened the window opening,—the form of a boy +dressed in a natty sailor suit. All looked up in wonder, and all cried +out in unison:——</p> + +<p>"Larry!"</p> + +<p>"Ben, Walter, and Uncle Job!" came from the youth who had fought so +gallantly under Dewey at Manila. "Here's a family gathering, for sure!" +And with a light leap he cleared the window-sill and actually fell into +his brothers' arms, while Job Dowling looked on with a half smile on his +wrinkled face.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't remain away from the United States any longer," explained +Larry, when, an hour after, all sat down to the really excellent dinner +Job Dowling had provided. "While I was at Hong Kong I got a good chance +to ship on a steamer for San Francisco, and we came home on the +double-quick, for the government had chartered the vessel to carry +troops to the Philippines. Maybe I'll go back under Dewey some time, but +not just yet. I've got some prize money coming to me, I don't know yet +how much, and I'll lie off to see."</p> + +<p>"And I've got prize money coming, too," added Walter. "I like the navy +first-rate, and shall stick to it for the present, even if I have a +chance of being mustered out."</p> + +<p>"I haven't any prize money coming, but I am to be a second lieutenant of +volunteers," put in Ben. "Our regiment is to be mustered out very soon, +and then I'm going to try for something else in the same line."</p> + +<p>"And what is that, Ben?" asked Job Dowling and the other boys together.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to try for a commission in the regular army."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! that's the talk!" came from Larry. "And if you stay in the +army, I'll see what I can do toward working my way up in the navy."</p> + +<p>Then both lads looked toward their guardian. Job Dowling scratched his +chin in perplexity, and cleared his throat.</p> + +<p>"All right, boys—I should say young men, fer ye ain't none o' ye boys +no more—go an' do as ye please, I ain't got nothin' agin' it. You have +all done yer duty to Uncle Sam, an' thet bein' so, it stands to reason +ye are capable o' doin' yer duty to yerselves an' to me. To look back it +'pears to me thet I made some kind of a mistake at the start with ye, +an' so I say, you willin' an' me willin', we'll take a fresh start,—an' +there's my hand on't."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Job, you're a—a brick!" came from Walter, and a general +handshaking followed, and then, as Mrs. Graham came on with a coffee-pot +and the dessert, Ben arose with the cup in his hand.</p> + +<p>"Boys, let us drink Uncle Job's health in a cup of coffee!"</p> + +<p>"We will!" came from his brothers.</p> + +<p>"And eat it, too,—in a piece of that pie!" concluded the +ever-lighthearted Larry.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Here we will bring to a close the story of Walter Russell's adventures +while "Fighting in Cuban Waters," which has taken us through a thrilling +naval campaign and shown us what true American pluck can accomplish even +under the most trying circumstances.</p> + +<p>As my readers know, the Russell boys had a large inheritance coming to +them, and now that Job Dowling had come to his senses regarding a proper +treatment of them, it was to be hoped that matters would move much more +smoothly for all concerned.</p> + +<p>Through Larry it was learned that his old-time friend, Luke Striker, was +still with Dewey in Philippine waters and had been promoted to the +position of first gun-captain on board the <i>Olympia</i>, much to the old +Yankee's credit and delight.</p> + +<p>Frank Bulkley, Ben's soldier chum, was still sick with the fever, but +was at his home in the metropolis, and was out of danger, which was much +to be thankful for, considering what awful havoc that fever had made +with the army of invasion.</p> + +<p>Walter's friends were all on the <i>Brooklyn</i>, and it was not long before +the lad was anxious to get back to them, for he had become very much +attached to the noble flagship that had rendered such a good account of +herself in the mighty conflict with Cervera's fleet.</p> + +<p>Gilbert Pennington, Ben's friend of the Rough Riders, was in Cuba, but +expected to come north shortly. Gilbert had an offer of a position as +bookkeeper with an importing firm in New York, but was destined to see a +good deal more of fighting ere he settled to work behind a desk.</p> + +<p>When Ben spoke of trying for a commission, and Larry said he should +remain in the navy, both thought that fighting for the American army and +navy was at an end. This supposition was correct so far as Spain was +concerned, but the insurgents in the Philippines under General Aguinaldo +refused to recognize Uncle Sam's authority, and it was not long before a +large army had to be sent to Manila and other points, to coöperate with +Dewey in restoring peace and order. Ben could not resist the temptation +to join these soldiers in a distant clime, and with more fighting in +view, Larry hastened to rejoin the <i>Olympia</i>. In another volume, to be +entitled, "Under Otis in the Philippines; Or, A Young Officer in the +Tropics," we shall follow the future adventures of these two brothers, +and shall also see more of Gilbert Pennington, Luke Striker, and several +others of our old acquaintances.</p> + +<p>And now, for the time being, good-by to all our friends, and especially +to Walter Russell, the American lad who made such a record for pluck +while "Fighting in Cuban Waters."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="By_EDWARD_STRATEMEYER" id="By_EDWARD_STRATEMEYER"></a>By EDWARD STRATEMEYER</h2> + + +<h3>THE OLD GLORY SERIES</h3> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA Or the War Fortunes of a Castaway.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA Or Fighting for the Single Star.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS Or Under Schley on the Brooklyn.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<blockquote><p>"'Under Dewey at Manila' is a thoroughly timely book, in +perfect sympathy with the patriotism of the day. Its title is +conducive to its perusing, and its reading to anticipation. For +the volume is but the first of the Old Glory Series, and the +imprint is that of the famed firm of Lee and Shepard, whose +name has been for so many years linked with the publications of +Oliver Optic. As a matter of fact, the story is right in line +with the productions of that gifted and most fascinating of +authors, and certainly there is every cause for congratulation +that the stirring events of our recent war are not to lose +their value for instruction through that valuable school which +the late William T. Adams made so individually distinctive.</p> + +<p>"Edward Stratemeyer, who is the author of the present work, has +proved an extraordinarily apt scholar, and had the book +appeared anonymously there could hardly have failed of a +unanimous opinion that a miracle had enabled the writer of the +famous Army and Navy and other series to resume his pen for the +volume in hand. Mr. Stratemeyer has acquired in a wonderfully +successful degree the knack of writing an interesting +educational story which will appeal to the young people, and +the plan of his trio of books as outlined cannot fail to prove +both interesting and valuable."—<i>Boston Ideas.</i></p> + +<p>"Stratemeyer's style suits the boys."—<span class="smcap">John Terhune</span>, <i>Supt. of +Public Instruction, Bergen Co., New Jersey.</i></p> + +<p>"'The Young Volunteer in Cuba,' the second of the Old Glory +Series, is better than the first; perhaps it traverses more +familiar ground. Ben Russell, the brother of Larry, who was +'with Dewey,' enlists with the volunteers and goes to Cuba, +where he shares in the abundance of adventure and has a chance +to show his courage and honesty and manliness, which win their +reward. A good book for boys, giving a good deal of information +in a most attractive form."—<i>Universalist Leader.</i></p></blockquote> + + +<h3>THE BOUND TO SUCCEED SERIES</h3> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">RICHARD DARE'S VENTURE Or Striking Out for Himself.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">OLIVER BRIGHTS SEARCH Or The Mystery of a Mine.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">TO ALASKA FOR GOLD Or The Fortune Hunters of the Yukon.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<blockquote><p>"In 'Richard Dare's Venture,' Edward Stratemeyer has fully +sustained his reputation as an entertaining, helpful, and +instructive writer for boys."—<i>Philadelphia Call.</i></p> + +<p>"'Richard Dare's Venture,' by Edward Stratemeyer, tells the +story of a country lad who goes to New York to earn enough to +support his widowed mother and orphaned sisters. Richard's +energy, uprightness of character, and good sense carry him +through some trying experiences, and gain him friends."—<i>The +Churchman</i>, New York.</p> + +<p>"A breezy boy's book is 'Oliver Bright's Search.' The author +has a direct, graphic style, and every healthy minded youth +will enjoy the volume."—<i>N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.</i></p> + +<p>"'Richard Dare's Venture' is a fresh, wholesome book to put +into a boy's hands."—<i>St. Louis Post Dispatch.</i></p> + +<p>"'Richard Dare's Venture' is a wholesome story of a practical +boy who made a way for himself when thrown upon his own +resources."—<i>Christian Advocate.</i></p> + +<p>"It is such books as 'Richard Dare's Venture' that are +calculated to inspire young readers with a determination to +succeed in life, and to choose some honorable walk in which to +find that success. The author, Edward Stratemeyer, has shown a +judgment that is altogether too rare in the makers of books for +boys, in that he has avoided that sort of heroics in the +picturing of the life of his hero which deals in adventures of +the daredevil sort. In that respect alone the book commends +itself to the favor of parents who have a regard for the +education of their sons, but the story is sufficiently +enlivening and often thrilling to satisfy the healthful desires +of the young reader."—<i>Kansas City Star.</i></p> + +<p>"Of standard writers of boys' stories there is quite a list, +but those who have not read any by Edward Stratemeyer have +missed a very goodly thing."—<i>Boston Ideas.</i></p></blockquote> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BY_EVERETT_T_TOMLINSON" id="BY_EVERETT_T_TOMLINSON"></a>BY EVERETT T. TOMLINSON</h2> + + +<h3>THE WAR OF 1812 SERIES</h3> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Comprising</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Search for Andrew Field<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Boy Soldiers of 1812<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Boy Officers of 1812<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tecumseh's Young Braves<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Guarding the Border<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Boys with Old Hickory<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>Mr. Tomlinson, who knows the "ins and outs" of boy nature by heart, is +one of the most entertaining and at the same time one of the most +instructive of living writers of juvenile fiction. In his younger days a +teacher by profession, he has made boys and their idiosyncrasies the +absorbing study of his life, and, with the accumulated experience of +years to aid him, has applied himself to the task of preparing for their +mental delectation a diet that shall be at once wholesome and +attractive; and that his efforts in this laudable direction have been +successful is conclusively proven by his popularity among boy readers.</p> + + +<h3>LIBRARY OF HEROIC EVENTS</h3> + +<p>STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION <i>First Series</i></p> + +<p>STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION <i>Second Series</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="By_OLIVER_OPTIC" id="By_OLIVER_OPTIC"></a>By OLIVER OPTIC</h2> + +<h3>All-Over-the-World Library.</h3> + +<blockquote><p>A Missing Million; <span class="smcap">or, The Adventures of Louis Belgrade</span>.</p> + +<p>A Millionaire at Sixteen; <span class="smcap">or, The Cruise of the "Guardian +Mother</span>."</p> + +<p>A Young Knight Errant; or, <span class="smcap">Cruising in the West Indies</span>.</p> + +<p>Strange Sights Abroad; <span class="smcap">or, Adventures in European Waters</span></p></blockquote> + +<p>No author has come before the public during the present generation who +has achieved a larger and more deserving popularity among young people +than "Oliver Optic." His stories have been very numerous, but they have +been uniformly excellent in moral tone and literary quality. As +indicated in the general title, it is the author's intention to conduct +the readers of this entertaining series "around the world." As a means +to this end, the hero of the story purchases a steamer which he names +the "Guardian Mother," and with a number of guests she proceeds on her +voyage.—<i>Christian Work, N. Y.</i></p> + + +<h3>All-Over-the-World Library. Second Series.</h3> + +<blockquote> +<p>American Boys Afloat; <span class="smcap">or, Cruising in the Orient</span>.</p> + +<p>The Young Navigators; <span class="smcap">or, The Foreign Cruise of the "Maud."</span></p> + +<p>Up and Down the Nile; <span class="smcap">or, Young Adventurers in Africa</span>.</p> + +<p>Asiatic Breezes; <span class="smcap">or, Students on the Wing</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The interest in these stories is continuous, and there is a great +variety of exciting incident woven into the solid information which the +book imparts so generously and without the slightest suspicion of +dryness. Manly boys will welcome this volume as cordially as they did +its predecessors.—<i>Boston Gazette.</i></p> + + +<h3>All-Over-the-World Library. Third Series.</h3> + +<blockquote><p>Across India; <span class="smcap">or, Live Boys in the Far East</span>.</p> + +<p>Half Round the World; <span class="smcap">or, Among the Uncivilized</span>.</p> + +<p>Four Young Explorers; <span class="smcap">or, Sight-seeing in the Tropics</span>.</p> + +<p>Pacific Shores; <span class="smcap">or, Adventures in Eastern Seas</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Amid such new and varied surroundings it would be surprising indeed if +the author, with his faculty of making even the commonplace attractive, +did not tell an intensely interesting story of adventure, as well as +give much information in regard to the distant countries through which +our friends pass, and the strange peoples with whom they are brought in +contact. This book, and indeed the whole series, is admirably adapted to +reading aloud in the family circle, each volume containing matter which +will interest all the members of the family.—<i>Boston Budget.</i></p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Fighting in Cuban Waters, by Edward Stratemeyer + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS *** + +***** This file should be named 34306-h.htm or 34306-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/3/0/34306/ + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Fighting in Cuban Waters + or, Under Schley on the Brooklyn + +Author: Edward Stratemeyer + +Illustrator: A. B. Shute + +Release Date: November 13, 2010 [EBook #34306] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS + + OR + + UNDER SCHLEY ON THE BROOKLYN + + Old Glory Series + + BY EDWARD STRATEMEYER + +AUTHOR OF "UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA" "A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA" "RICHARD +DARE'S VENTURE" "OLIVER BRIGHT'S SEARCH" "TO ALASKA FOR GOLD" ETC. + + + _ILLUSTRATED BY_ + A. B. SHUTE + + BOSTON + LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS + 1899 + + COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY LEE AND SHEPARD. + + _All Rights Reserved._ + + Norwood Press + J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith + Norwood Mass. U.S.A. + + + + +[Illustration: "THE FLAGSHIP BEGAN THE FIRING."] + + + + +PREFACE + + +"FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS," although a complete story in itself, forms +the third volume of the "Old Glory Series," tales depicting the various +campaigns in our late war with Spain. + +In "Under Dewey at Manila" we followed Larry Russell's adventures on +board of the flagship _Olympia_ during the memorable contest off Cavite; +in "A Young Volunteer in Cuba" we marched and fought with Ben Russell in +that notable campaign leading up to the surrender of Santiago; and in +the present volume are narrated the haps and mishaps of Walter Russell, +who joins Commodore Schley's flagship, the _Brooklyn_, and sails with +the Flying Squadron from Hampton Roads to Key West, thence to +Cienfuegos, and at last succeeds in "bottling up" Admiral Cervera's +fleet in Santiago Bay. The long blockade and the various bombardments +are described, and then follow the particulars of that masterly battle +on the part of the North Atlantic Squadron which led to the total +destruction of the Spanish warships. + +Walter Russell's bravery may seem overdrawn, but such is far from being +a fact. That our sailors were heroes in those days we have but to +remember the sinking of the _Merrimac_, the _Winslow_ affair, and a +score of deeds of equal daring. "The hour makes the man," and the +opportunity likewise makes the hero. Walter was brave, but he was no +more so than hundreds of others who stood ready to lay down their lives +in the cause of humanity and for the honor of Old Glory. Like his two +brothers, his religious belief was of the practical kind, and he went +into battle convinced that so long as he did his duty according to the +dictates of his conscience, an all-wise and all-powerful Providence +would guide him and watch over him. + +The author cannot refrain from saying a word about the historical +portions of the present work. They have been gleaned from the best +available authorities, including the reports of Admiral Sampson, +Commodore Schley, and a number of captains who took part in the contest; +also the personal narratives of one man who was on board the _Merrimac_ +at the time that craft was sunk, and of a number who have made the +_Brooklyn_ their home for several years past, and who will probably +remain on the pride of the Flying Squadron for some time to come. + +In presenting this third volume, the author begs to thank both critics +and the public for the cordial reception accorded to the previous +volumes, and trusts that the present story will meet with equal +commendation. + +EDWARD STRATEMEYER. + +NEWARK, N.J., + +March 1, 1899. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +I. WALTER DETERMINES TO ENTER THE NAVY + +II. A VISIT TO THE NAVY-YARD + +III. A CHASE AND ITS RESULT + +IV. ON THE WAY TO THE "BROOKLYN" + +V. SOMETHING ABOUT WAR AND PRIZE MONEY + +VI. A GLIMPSE OF THE PRESIDENT + +VII. A TALK ABOUT SPANISH SAILORS + +VIII. THE MEN BEHIND THE GUNS + +IX. COMMODORE WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY + +X. WALTER SHOWS HIS PLUCK + +XI. THE SAILING OF THE FLYING SQUADRON + +XII. AN ADVENTURE OFF CHARLESTON + +XIII. IN WHICH THE GOLD PIECE COMES TO LIGHT + +XIV. KEY WEST, AND THE LAST OF JIM HASKETT + +XV. FROM CIENFUEGOS TO SANTIAGO BAY + +XVI. THE FINDING OF ADMIRAL CERVERA'S FLEET + +XVII. IN WHICH THE "MERRIMAC" IS SUNK + +XVIII. WALTER'S ADVENTURE ON SHORE + +XIX. CARLOS, THE REBEL SPY + +XX. IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY + +XXI. THE FLIGHT TO THE SEACOAST + +XXII. THE LANDING OF THE MARINES AT GUANTANAMO + +XXIII. IN A SPANISH PRISON + +XXIV. BACK TO THE "BROOKLYN" AGAIN + +XXV. THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE SANTIAGO BATTERIES + +XXVI. IN WHICH THE ARMY OF INVASION ARRIVES + +XXVII. THE SPANISH FLEET AND ITS COMMANDER + +XXVIII. "THE ENEMY IS ESCAPING!" + +XXIX. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SPANISH FLEET + +XXX. FINAL SCENES OF THE GREAT FIGHT + +XXXI. TOGETHER ONCE MORE--CONCLUSION + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"The flagship began the firing" + +"He bent over Walter again" + +"The President bowed in return" + +"'See here, I want to talk to you!'" + +"'I'll get square on all of you!'" + +"With a final lurch the _Merrimac_ went down" + +"'Surrender, or I'll shoot you where you stand!'" + +"Rammer in hand, Walter edged close to the muzzle" + + + + +FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +WALTER DETERMINES TO ENTER THE NAVY + + +"Well, Walter, I suppose the newspapers are going like hot cakes this +morning." + +"They are, Mr. Newell. Everybody wants the news. I ran out of 'Globes' +and 'Heralds' before seven o'clock, and sent Dan down for fifty more of +each." + +"That was right. It's a windfall for us newsdealers, as well as a +glorious victory to match. It makes me think of my old war days, when I +was aboard of the _Carondelet_ under Captain Walke. We didn't sink so +many ships as Dewey has at Manila, but we sank some, and smashed many a +shore battery in the bargain, along the banks of the Mississippi. What +does that extra have to say?" and Phil Newell, the one-legged civil-war +naval veteran, who was also proprietor of the news-stand, took the +sheet which Walter Russell, his clerk, handed out. + +"There is not much additional news as yet," answered Walter. "One of the +sensational papers has it that Dewey is now bombarding Manila, but the +news is not confirmed. But it is true that our squadron sunk every one +of the Spanish warships,--and that, I reckon, is enough for one +victory." + +"True, my lad, true; but there is nothing like keeping at 'em, when you +have 'em on the run. That is the way we did down South. Perhaps Dewey is +waiting for additional instructions from Washington. I hope he didn't +suffer much of a loss. Some papers say he came off scot free, but that +seems too good to be true." + +"The news makes me feel more than ever like enlisting," continued the +boy, after a pause, during which he served out half a dozen newspapers +to as many customers. "What a glorious thing it must be to fight like +that and come out on top!" + +"Glorious doesn't express it, Walter. Why, if it wasn't for this game +leg of mine, and my age being against me, I'd go over to the navy-yard +to-day and reenlist, keelhaul me if I wouldn't!" + +"But what of the stand?" + +"The stand could take care of itself--until the Dons were given the +thrashing they deserve for making the Cubans suffer beyond all reason." +Phil Newell threw back his head and gave a laugh. "That puts me in mind +of something that happened when the Civil War started. A young lawyer in +New York locked up his office and pasted a notice on his door: 'Gone to +the front. Will be back when the war is over.' I'd have to put up +something similar, wouldn't I?" + +"I wish you and I could go together, Mr. Newell." + +"So do I, Walter, but I'm over sixty now, and they want young blood. By +the way, what of that brother of yours down in New York?" + +"Ben has joined the militia of that State, and is now at Camp Black +waiting to be sworn into the United States service. I wish he had come +on to Boston." + +"Well, Uncle Sam wants soldiers as well as sailors, or he wouldn't call +for a hundred and twenty-five thousand volunteers. But give me the deck +or gun-room of a warship every time. Nothing finer in the world. I +served for nearly ten years, and I know." + +Walter smiled, and then waited on several additional customers. "My +youngest brother, Larry, takes to the ocean," he answered. "He is out on +the Pacific now, somewhere between the Hawaiian Islands and Hong Kong. +He was always crazy for a boat when we were at home in Buffalo together, +and spent all his spare time on Lake Erie." + +"Going to Hong Kong, eh? That's not so far from the Philippines. It is a +pity he is not with Commodore Dewey. It would be a feather in his cap +when he got home." + +A steady stream of customers for five minutes broke off the conversation +at this point, and throwing down his newspaper, Phil Newell--he never +wanted to be called Philip--entered the stand to help his young +assistant. The stand was situated in the heart of Boston, just outside +of one of the leading hotels, and trade at this hour in the morning, +eight o'clock, was always brisk. + +When there came a lull later on, Walter turned again to his employer. +"Mr. Newell, what if I do enlist? Can you spare me?" he questioned. + +"What! do you really mean it, Walter?" + +"I do, sir. As you know, I've been thinking the matter over ever since +this war with Spain started." + +"But you've got to have your guardian's consent, or they won't take +you." + +"I've got it in my pocket now. I wrote to him last week, and he answered +that, as Ben had already joined the soldiers, I could do as I pleased, +but I mustn't blame him if I was killed." + +"Which you wouldn't be likely to do, if you were killed dead, so to +speak," laughed Phil Newell. Then he slapped Walter on the back, for +twenty odd years on land had not taken his "sea-dog" manners from him. +"Enlist, my lad, enlist by all means, if you feel it your duty. Of +course I don't like to lose such a handy clerk, but Uncle Sam can have +you and welcome." + +"Didn't you say there was a young man named Gimpwell looking for this +position?" + +"Yes, and he wants it badly, for he has a sick sister to support." + +"Has he any experience?" + +"Oh, yes; he tended a railroad stand for several years." + +"Then, perhaps you could break him in without much trouble--if I went +away." + +"Do you want to go at once?" + +"If I am to enlist, then it seems to me the quicker the better. I see by +the papers that some of our warships are still at Hampton Roads and Key +West, but there is no telling when they will start for Cuban waters. +Besides, I've been thinking that if I could manage it, I should like to +get aboard of the _Brooklyn_, the flagship of Commodore Schley's Flying +Squadron, which is now at Hampton Roads awaiting orders." + +"It's not so easy to pick your ship, my lad. However, if you wish, you +can go over to the navy-yard this afternoon and see what you can +do,--and I'll go along and leave Dan in charge here," concluded Phil +Newell. + +Walter Russell was one of three brothers, of whom Ben was the eldest and +Larry the youngest. Their home had been in Buffalo, where at the death +of their mother, a widow, they had been turned over to the care of their +step-uncle, Mr. Job Dowling, an eccentric old bachelor, whose prime +object in life was to hoard up money. + +In the two volumes previous to this, entitled respectively, "Under Dewey +at Manila," and "A Young Volunteer in Cuba," I related how the boys +found it impossible to remain under Job Dowling's roof, and how they ran +away, each to seek fortune as he might find it. Larry drifted first to +San Francisco and then to Honolulu, the principal city of the Hawaiian +Islands, where he shipped on a vessel bound for Hong Kong. From this +ship he was cast overboard with a Yankee friend named Luke Striker, and +both were picked up by the flagship _Olympia_ of the Asiatic Squadron +and taken to Manila Bay, there to serve most gallantly under the naval +commander whose name has since become a household word everywhere. As +Walter had intimated, Larry was a sailor by nature, and it was likely +that he would follow the sea as long as he lived. + +Ben and Walter had gone eastward, but at Middletown, in New York State, +they had separated, Walter to drift to Boston, and Ben to make his way +to New York. At the latter city the eldest of the Russell brothers had +secured employment in a hardware establishment, but this place was +burned out, and then Ben enlisted in the 71st Regiment of New York, +while his intimate friend, Gilbert Pennington, joined Roosevelt's Rough +Riders, and both went to Cuba, there to fight valorously in that +campaign which led to the surrender of Santiago and caused Spain to sue +for peace. + +As Walter had written to Larry, the recital of the former's adventures +in getting from Middletown to Boston would fill a volume. He had stolen +a ride on the cars from Middletown to Albany, and during this wild trip +his hat blew off and was not recovered. He was put off the train just +outside of the capital city; and, stopping at a farmhouse to inquire the +way, had his clothing torn by a bull-dog that was more than anxious to +get at what was beneath the garments. Walter hardly knew what to do, +when a tramp put in an appearance, and sent a well-directed stone at the +dog's head, causing the beast to slink away. The tramp introduced +himself as Raymond Cass, a bricklayer, out of luck, and bound for Boston +on foot. He proposed that they journey together, and Walter rather +hesitatingly consented. They moved eastward in company for two days, +when, on awakening one morning, Walter found Raymond Cass missing. The +boy's coat was also gone, and with it his entire capital,--forty-seven +cents. + +The pair had made their bed in the haymow of a large barn, and while +Walter was searching for the tramp, the owner of the place came up and +demanded to know what the youth was doing on his premises. Walter's tale +was soon told, and Farmer Hardell agreed to give him a week's work in +his dairy, one of the dairymen being sick. For this Walter received four +dollars, and an old hat and a coat in addition. + +Leaving Cornberry, the name of the hamlet, Walter had struck out once +more for Boston, but this time steering clear of all tramps, of the +Raymond Cass type or otherwise. He was sparing of his money, and the +first day out earned his dinner and a packed-up lunch for supper, by +putting in two panes of glass for an old lady who had waited for a week +for a travelling glazier to come around and do the job. In addition to +this, the lad worked for two days at a village blacksmith's +establishment during the absence of the regular helper who had gone to +his aunt's funeral in another place, and also found a regular position +with a florist, who had a number of large greenhouses up the Charles +River. Walter was not used to working where there was so much glass, and +on the third day he allowed a step-ladder he was using to slip. The +ladder crashed through several hot-bed frames, and poor Walter was +discharged on the spot, without a cent of pay. + +The boy's next move had been to the river, where he had obtained a +position on a freight steamboat. His duty was to truck freight on and +off, and the work blistered his hands and gave him many a backache. But +he stuck to it for two weeks, thereby earning fourteen dollars, and with +this capital entered Boston. + +Walter had not expected an easy time finding a situation in the Hub, but +neither had he anticipated the repeated failures that one after another +stared him in the face. For over a week he tramped up and down, without +so much as a "smell of an opening," as he afterwards wrote to his +brothers. In the meanwhile his money diminished rapidly, until more than +two-thirds of it was gone. + +A deed of kindness had obtained for him the position with Phil Newell. +Chancing to walk along School Street one afternoon, he had seen two boys +beating a small boy unmercifully. The small boy had turned into Province +Street, and the big boys had followed, and here they had thrown the +little fellow down, and were on the point of kicking him, when Walter +rushed up and flung both back. "You brutes, to attack such a small boy!" +he had cried. "Clear out, or I'll call a policeman, and have you both +locked up." + +"We told him to keep back at de newspaper office," growled one of the +big fellows. "Do it again, Dan Brown, and we'll give it to you worse," +and then as Walter advanced once more, both took to their heels and +disappeared. + +Dan Brown had been very grateful, and questionings had elicited the +information that the lad worked for Phil Newell, as a paper carrier and +to do errands. "His regular clerk, Dick Borden, left yesterday," Dan had +continued; "perhaps you can get the job." And Walter had lost no time in +following the small youth to Newell's place of business. Here Dan's +story was told, and the lad put in a good word for Walter, with the +result that the youth was taken for a week on trial. How well Walter +pleased the old naval veteran we have already seen. He had now occupied +the place as head clerk for nearly two months, and his salary had been +increased from four dollars a week to six. He boarded with Dan's mother, +in a little suite of rooms on a modest side street, not a great +distance from the Common. + +It must not be supposed that Job Dowling, who held a good deal of money +in trust for the boys, had allowed them to run off without making an +effort to bring them back. Larry was out of his reach, but Ben and +Walter were not, and the miserly man had descended upon Ben in New York +and tried his best to "make things warm," as Ben had mentioned in a +letter to Larry. But Job Dowling had overreached himself by attempting +to sell a watch and some jewelry which had belonged originally to Mr. +and Mrs. Russell, heirlooms which were not to be disposed of under any +circumstances. On his trip to New York after Ben, the articles had been +stolen from him at the Post-office--something that had so frightened Job +Dowling that he had consented to Ben's enlisting in the army with +scarcely a murmur, fearful the youth might otherwise have him brought to +book for what had happened. A vigorous search had been made for the +thief, but he was not found. Later on, when Ben was in the army, Job +Dowling received information that caused him to reach the conclusion +that the thief had gone to Boston. The miserly guardian of the boys +returned to his home in Buffalo and, as much worried as ever, wrote to +Walter to keep an eye open for the missing property. Walter did as +requested, but in such a large place as the Hub the youth had little +hope of ever seeing the precious heirlooms again. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A VISIT TO THE NAVY-YARD + + +There was a rush of business at the news-stand between twelve and one +o'clock, but shortly after one this died away, and inside of half an +hour Phil Newell told Walter that they might be on their way--"If you +are bound to enlist in Uncle Sam's service," he added. + +Walter made sure that the paper containing Job Dowling's permission for +him to enter the navy was safe in his coat pocket, and then announced +his readiness to depart. The owner of the stand called up Dan Brown and +gave him a few directions, and in another minute Newell and Walter had +boarded a Charlestown car and were off. + +"I haven't been over to the navy-yard for several years," remarked Phil +Newell, as they rode along. "I used to know several of the boys that +were there, but they've grown too old for the service. I reckon the yard +is a busy place these days." + +And a busy place it proved to be as they turned into Chelsea Street, and +moved along the solid granite wall which separates the yard from the +public thoroughfare. From beyond came the creaking of hoists, and the +ringing of countless hammers and anvils, for the government employees +were hard at work, fitting out a warship or two and converting several +private vessels into naval craft. + +"I don't know if I'm just right about this," went on Phil Newell, as +they headed for one of the numerous buildings near the wall, after being +passed by a guard. "It may be that they want to keep strangers out, now +the war is on, and you'll have to go elsewhere to sign articles. But I +know old Caleb Walton is here, and he'll tell me all he can, and set us +straight." + +Walter's heart beat violently, for he began to realize that the step he +was about to take was a serious one. Who knew but that, after getting +into the navy, he might be sent to the Philippines or to the coast of +Spain? Already there was some talk of carrying the war into the enemy's +home waters. + +"But I don't care," he said to himself. "If Larry can ship for Hong +Kong, I guess I'm safe in shipping to anywhere. But I do hope I can get +on the _Brooklyn_, or on some other ship of the Flying Squadron." + +"Hi, there, Phil Newell! What brought you here, you old landlubber?" +came a cry from their left, and Phil Newell turned as swiftly as his +wooden leg permitted, to find himself confronted by the very individual +he had started out to find. + +"Caleb Walton!" he ejaculated joyfully, and held out his bronzed hand. +"I just came in to see you. Here is a young friend of mine who wants to +sign articles under Uncle Sam. Do you think you can take him in?" + +"Take him in?" Caleb Walton held out his hand, brown and as tough as a +piece of leather. "Sure we can take him in, if he's sound,--and glad to +get him." He gave Walter's hand a grip that made every bone crack. "So +you want to enlist, eh? Go right over to yonder office, and they'll soon +put you through a course of sprouts," and he laughed good-naturedly. + +"But, hold on, Caleb," interposed Newell, as the seaman was about to +show Walter the way. "He don't want to sign articles and go just +anywhere. He would like to get aboard the _Brooklyn_." + +"That is what half of all who come here want," answered Caleb Walton. "I +reckon they think Commodore Schley's Flying Squadron is going to settle +the whole war by going after that Spanish fleet said to be at Cadiz, or +thereabouts. Well, the lad better come with me. I belong to the +_Brooklyn_ now." + +"You!" came from both Phil Newell and Walter simultaneously. + +"I thought you were stationed here?" continued the wooden-legged man. + +"I was, but I've just received orders to join the _Brooklyn_ and bring +at least fifteen men with me. It seems they are short-handed and can't +get the men at Norfolk. If this lad wants to go with me, now is his +chance. What's his handle?" + +"My name is Walter Russell, sir. But--but are you going to join the +_Brooklyn_ at once?" stammered Walter, never having dreamed that he +would be taken away on the spot. + +"Uncle Sam doesn't wait long when he picks his man," replied the old +gunner, for such Caleb Walton was. "Orders were to leave Boston +to-night, but I fancy we'll be kept until to-morrow night, for we are +shy three men, not counting you. Come on." And he led the way to the +building he had previously pointed out. + +"He's all right, and you're in luck," whispered Phil Newell, when he got +the chance. "Cotton to Caleb Walton, and you'll have a friend worth the +making." How true were Newell's words the chapters to follow will prove. + +The building to which Caleb Walton led them was one in which were +situated the main business offices of the yard. This was now a busy +place, and they had to fairly push their way through the crowd of +seamen, officers, and workmen, who kept coming and going, on one errand +or another. Several telephones were ringing, and from a corner came the +steady click-click of a telegraph sounder. + +"Uncle Sam has his shirt sleeves rolled up and is pitching in," +whispered Caleb Walton. "Here we are. Captain Line, here is another man +for my party." + +"He's rather a boy," rejoined Captain Line, as he gave Walter a +searching glance. "Is your father with you?" + +"My father is dead," answered Walter, softly. "Here is my guardian's +consent." And he handed over the sheet. + +"That seems to be correct. Walton, take him over to the examination +room. And hurry up, for I must catch the four-fifty train for New York." + +The "course of sprouts" had begun, and almost before he knew it, Walter +had been passed upon as able-bodied. Time was pressing, and in a quarter +of an hour the youth received a slip of paper signed and sealed by +Captain Line. + +"That is good for your passage to Fortress Monroe," he said. "You will +make the journey in company with Walton and a number of others. When you +get there you will report to Lieutenant Lee, who will have you +transferred to the _Brooklyn_,--unless the flagship has already sailed, +in which case you will be assigned to some other ship." + +"And when do I start, sir?" + +"Walton will have the orders inside of the next hour. Go with him, and +he will tell you what to do." Then came a bang of the curtain to a +roller-top desk, a shoving back of a revolving chair, and in a twinkle +Captain Line had disappeared from view. Truly, Uncle Sam and all under +him were rushing things. + +Walter wished very much to visit the dry dock and the great west basin, +filled as both were with vessels in various stages of construction, +alteration, or repair, but he felt if he was to leave that night he must +be getting back to Boston and to his boarding-house, to pack his "ditty +box," as Phil Newell had dubbed his valise, for all such receptacles are +called ditty boxes in the navy. + +"All right, Walter, you go ahead," said Newell. "I'll stay with Caleb +and let you know just when you are to leave, so you won't be left +behind." And in a moment more the youth had run out of the navy-yard and +was on board of another car. He made one transfer, and in less than half +an hour entered Mrs. Brown's home. + +"Why, Mr. Russell, what brings you?" queried Dan's mother, surprised at +his appearance, for he rarely showed himself during the day excepting at +the dinner and the supper hours. + +"I've enlisted, Mrs. Brown, and I'm to get off to-night or to-morrow," +he answered. "You can let Mr. Keefe have my room now. I'm glad that it +won't be left empty on your hands." + +"So am I, Mr. Russell, for a poor widow can't afford to have a room +vacant long," replied Mrs. Brown, with a faint smile. "So you have +really entered the navy? Well, I wish you all the luck in the world, and +I hope you will come out of the war a--a--commodore, or something like +that." And she wrung his hand. + +Walter's belongings were few, and soon packed away in his valise. Then +he ran downstairs again and bid Mrs. Brown good-by and settled up with +her. "I'll write to you and Dan some time," he said, on parting. + +"Well, did you make it?" was Dan's question, when Walter appeared at the +news-stand. + +"I did, Dan." And the protege of Uncle Sam told his youthful friend the +particulars. + +"I'm glad you got on the _Brooklyn_," said Dan, with a shake of his +curly head. "She's going to lick the Spaniards out of their boots, see +if she ain't!" And his earnestness made Walter laugh. Dan was but +eleven, yet he read the newspapers as closely as do many grown folks. + +The afternoon papers were now coming in and trade picked up, so that +Walter had to help behind the counter. While he was at work a tall, +thin boy sauntered up and gazed at him doubtfully. + +"That's George Gimpwell," whispered Dan. "Didn't the boss say something +about hiring him?" + +"He did, Dan. Call him over." + +The errand boy did so. "Russell wants to see you," he explained. + +"I believe you were speaking to Mr. Newell about this situation," began +Walter. + +"Well--er--I asked him if he had any opening. I want work the worst +way," sighed George Gimpwell. "Of course, I don't want to do you out of +your job." + +"That's all right; I've just enlisted in the navy," replied Walter, and +he could not help but feel proud over the words. "So if you want this +situation, you had best remain around here until Mr. Newell gets back." + +"I will." George Gimpwell's face brightened. "So you've enlisted? I +wanted to do that, but I was too tall for my weight, so they told me." + +"So you've enlisted?" broke in a gentleman standing by. "Glad to hear +it, young man; it does you credit." And buying a magazine, he caught +Walter by the hand and wished him well. Soon it became noised around on +the block that Newell's clerk was going to join the _Brooklyn_, and half +a dozen, including the clerk of the hotel, came out to see him about it. +In those days, anybody connected with our army or navy was quite a hero, +and somebody to be looked up to, people unconsciously told themselves. + +It was after seven o'clock, and Walter was wondering if anything unusual +had delayed his employer, when Phil Newell hove into appearance. "It's +all right, my lad, don't worry," he said at once. "You don't leave until +to-morrow noon. You are to meet Caleb Walton at the New York and New +England railroad depot at exactly eleven o'clock, and all of the others +of the crowd are to be there too. The government wants to get you down +to Norfolk as soon as it can, and will, consequently, send you by rail +instead of by water." + +"Hurrah! that will make a jolly trip," cried Walter. "If only I could +stop off at New York, take a run out to Camp Black, and see Ben." + +"I doubt if you'll be given time to stop anywhere, time seems to be so +precious. Caleb Walton thinks the Flying Squadron will up anchors before +another week is out." + +"Well, I don't care how quickly they leave--after I am on board," +laughed the youth, much relieved that nothing had occurred whereby he +had been left behind. + +George Gimpwell now came up again, and soon he was engaged to take +Walter's place. Phil Newell promised him five dollars weekly, and as +Walter had gotten six, the good-hearted newsdealer put the extra dollar +on Dan's salary, much to that lad's delight. + +Eight o'clock found Walter at the stand alone, and it was then that he +penned the letter mailed to Ben, as mentioned in a previous volume, +stating he had enlisted and was making a strong "pull" to get on the +_Brooklyn_. "I won't say I am on her until it's a fact," he thought, as +he sealed up the communication, stamped it, and placed it in the corner +letter-box. + +The stand was located in a niche of the hotel, and was open only in the +front, above the counter. At night this space was closed by letting down +two large shutters attached to several hinges and ropes. + +"I reckon this is the last time I'll put these shutters down," thought +Walter, as he brought one down on the run. He was about to drop the +second, when a burly man, rather shabbily dressed, sauntered up, and +asked for one of the weekly sporting papers. + +"I'm thinking of going to the theatre," he said, somewhat unsteadily, +and now Walter learned by a whiff of his breath that he had been +drinking. "What's the best variety show in town?" + +"I'll give it up," said the youth, laughingly. "I haven't been to a show +since I came to Boston, and that's a number of weeks ago." + +"Humph! What do you do with yourself nights?" + +"I'm here up to eight or half past, and after that I either go home or +to one of the public reading rooms, or to the Young Men's Christian +Association Hall." + +"Humph! that must be dead slow." The man lurched heavily against the +counter. "What time is it now?" + +"About half past eight. I haven't any watch, so I can't tell you +exactly." + +"I've got a watch right here," mumbled the newcomer, still leaning +heavily on the counter. "Here it is. But your light is so low I can't +see the hands. Turn it up." + +Walter obligingly complied, and the fellow tried again to see the time, +but failed. "Strike a match," he went on; "I ain't going to no theatre +if it's as late as you say it is." + +Walter did not like the man's manner, but not caring to enter into any +dispute, he lit a match as requested, and held it down close to the +timepiece, which lay in the man's open palm. + +"Only eight-twenty," grumbled the fellow, slowly. "I knew you was off. +You don't--What's up?" And suddenly he straightened himself and stared +at Walter. + +"I want to know where you got that watch," demanded the youth, +excitedly. + +"That watch?" The man fell back a pace. "What do you--ahem--why do you +ask that question, boy?" + +"Because I know that watch," was Walter's ready reply. "It was stolen +from my uncle in New York only a few weeks ago!" + +"Was it?" The man's face changed color. "You--you're mistaken, boy," he +faltered, and fell back still further, and then, as Walter leaped over +the counter, he took to his heels and started down the half-deserted +street at the best speed at his command. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A CHASE AND ITS RESULT + + +Walter knew that watch, which had belonged first to his father and then +his mother, quite well, but if there was anything needed to convince him +that there was no mistake in the identification, it was furnished by the +hasty and unceremonious manner in which the partly intoxicated wearer +was endeavoring to quit the scene. + +"If he was honest, he wouldn't run!" thought the youth. "Ten to one he's +the thief who took the grip from Uncle Job." He started after the +fleeing one. "Come back here!" he shouted. "Stop, thief!" + +But the man did not stop; instead, he tried to run the faster. But he +did not turn any corners, and consequently, aided by the electric +lights, Walter could see him for quite a distance ahead. + +The youth ran but a few yards, then turned and clashed back to the +stand. Bang! the second shutter came down with a crash, and in a trice +he had the padlock secured. Then off he set, satisfied that a form in +the distance was the one he wanted to overtake. + +"What's the matter?" questioned a policeman on the second corner, as he +clutched Walter by the arm. "What are you running for?" + +"Didn't I call out to catch the thief?" answered the youth, sharply. +"Let me go. If you weren't so dead slow, you'd be doing something, +instead of standing there looking at the moon." And on he went again, +the officer shaking his fist after him, half of the opinion that Walter +was trying to joke him. + +At this hour of the evening the street was far from crowded, and Walter +kept the man ahead in sight with comparative ease. Four blocks were +covered, when the fellow paused and looked back. Seeing he was being +followed, he turned and darted into a small side street. Here were a +number of warehouses and several tenements. The door to one of the +latter stood open, and he lost no time in seeking the shelter of the +dark hallway. + +"That's the time I made a bad break," he muttered thickly. "When I came +up to Boston with that stuff I reckoned I was safe. I wonder if he'll +follow me to here? He had better not, unless he wants a broken head." + +In the meantime, Walter had reached the corner of the side street and +come to a halt. The narrow thoroughfare was but dimly lighted, and not a +soul was in sight. + +"He turned in here,--I am certain of that," said the boy to himself. +"More than likely he is in hiding in some dark corner. I wonder if I +hadn't better call an officer?" + +With this intention he gazed around, but no policeman was in view, and +he did not think it advisable to go back for the guardian of the peace +before encountered. He entered the side street slowly and cautiously, +peering into every nook and corner, and behind every bill-board, box, +and barrel as he moved along. + +He had just passed the tenement where the man was in hiding when the +sounds of muffled voices broke upon his ears, and the front door was +thrown back with a bang. + +"Who are you, and what are you doing in here?" came in an unmistakable +Irish voice. + +"Excuse me--I--I made a mistake," was the answer; and now Walter +recognized the tones of the fellow who had the watch. "I am looking for +a man named Harris." + +"Well, he doesn't live here,--so you had better get out." + +"Will you--er--tell me who lives next door?" asked the man Walter was +after, in a lower tone, evidently wishing to gain time ere leaving the +building. + +"A man named Casey and another named Barton live there. There ain't a +Harris on the block. If you----" + +"Hold him, please," burst in Walter, mounting the tenement steps. "He +has a watch that was stolen from my uncle." + +"Shut up, boy!" answered the man fiercely. "My watch is my own, and this +is all a mistake." + +"There is no mistake. Hold him, will you?" + +"I've got him," came from the gloom of the hallway. "I thought he was a +sneak or something by the way he was tip-toeing around here." + +"You are both of you crazy. I never stole a thing in my life. Let go, +both of you!" And then the man began to struggle fiercely, finally +pushing the party in the hallway backward, and almost sending Walter +headlong as he darted down the tenement steps and continued his flight +along the side street. + +As Walter went down, he made a clutch at the man's watch-chain, or +rather the chain which belonged among the Russell heirlooms. He caught +the top guard and the chain parted, one half remaining in the boy's +hand, and the other fast to the timepiece. + +"Help me catch him!'" gasped the youth, as soon as he could get up. His +breast had struck the edge of one of the steps, and he was momentarily +winded. + +"I will," answered the man who lived in the tenement. "Stop there!" he +called out, and set off in pursuit, with Walter beside him. But the +Irishman was old and rheumatic, and soon felt compelled to give up the +chase. "I can't match ye!" he puffed, and sank down on a step to rest; +and once again Walter continued the chase alone. + +Had the thief, Deck Mumpers, been perfectly sober, he might have escaped +with ease, for he was a good runner, and at this hour of the evening +hiding-places in such a city as Boston, with its many crooked +thoroughfares, were numerous. But the liquor he had imbibed had made him +hazy in his mind, and he ran on and on, with hardly any object in view +excepting to put distance between himself and his pursuer. + +He was heading eastward, and presently reached a wharf facing the harbor +and not a great distance from the Congress Street bridge. Here there was +a high board fence and a slatted gate, which for some reason stood +partly open. Without a second thought, he slipped through the gateway, +slid the gate shut, and snapped the hanging padlock into place. + +"Now he'll have a job following me," he chuckled. "I wonder what sort of +a place I've struck?" And he continued on his way, among huge piles of +merchandise covered with tarpaulins. + +Walter had come up at his best speed and was less than a hundred feet +away when the gate was closed and locked. + +"You rascal!" he shouted, but Deck Mumpers paid no attention to his +words. "Now what's to do?" the boy asked himself, dismally. + +He came up to the gate and examined it. It was all of nine feet high, +and the palings were pointed at the top. Could he scale such a barrier? + +"I must do it!" he muttered, and thrust one hand through to a cross +brace. He ascended with difficulty, and once slipped and ran a splinter +into his wrist. But undaunted he kept on until the top was gained, then +dropped to the planking of the wharf beyond. + +Several arc lights, high overhead, lit up the wharf, and he ran from one +pile of merchandise to another. Half the wharf was thus covered, when he +suddenly came face to face with Deck Mumpers. The thief had picked up a +thick bale stick, and without warning he raised this on high and brought +it down with all force upon Walter's head. The boy gave a groan, threw +up both hands, and dropped like a lump of lead, senseless. + +"Phew! I wonder if I've finished him?" muttered the man, anxiously. +"Didn't mean to hit him quite so hard. But it was his own fault--he had +no right to follow me." He bent over Walter and made a hasty +examination. "He's breathing, that's certain. I must get away before a +watchman shows up." + +He started to go, then paused and bent over Walter again. With a +dexterity acquired by long practice in his peculiar profession, he +turned out one pocket after another, transferring the cash and other +articles to his own clothing. Then, as Walter gave a long, deep sigh, as +if about to awaken, he took to his heels once more. He was in no +condition to climb the wharf fence as Walter had done, but helped +himself over by the use of several boxes; and was soon a long distance +away. + +[Illustration: HE BENT OVER WALTER AGAIN.] + +When Walter came to his senses and opened his eyes, the glare from a +bull's-eye lantern struck him, and he saw a wharf watchman eyeing him +curiously. + +"What are you doing here, young fellow?" were the watchman's words. + +"I--I--where is he?" questioned the youth, weakly. + +"He? Who?" + +"The thief--the man who struck me down?" + +"I haven't seen anybody but you around here." + +"A thief who has my uncle's watch came in here, and I followed him, and +he struck me down with a club. When--how long is it since you found me +here?" + +"Several minutes ago. I thought you were drunk at first, and was going +to hand you over to an officer." + +"I don't drink." Walter essayed to stand up, but found himself too weak. +"Gracious, my head is spinning around like a top!" he groaned. + +"You must have got a pretty good rap to be knocked out like this," +commented the watchman kindly. "So the man was a thief? It's a pity he +wasn't the one to be knocked down. Do you know the fellow?" + +"I would know him--if we ever meet again. But I fancy he won't let the +grass grow under his feet, after attacking me like this." + +"I'll take a run around the wharf and see if I can spot any stranger," +concluded the watchman, and hurried off. Another watchman was aroused, +and both made a thorough investigation, but, of course, nobody was +brought to light. + +By the time the search was ended, Walter felt something like himself, +and arose slowly and allowed the watchmen to conduct him to their shanty +at one side of the wharf. Here he bathed his face, picked the splinter +from his wrist, and brushed up generally. A cup of hot coffee from one +of the watchmen's cans braced him up still further. + +"It must be ten o'clock, isn't it?" he asked. + +"Ten o'clock!" came from the man who had found him. "I reckon that clip +on the head has muddled you. It's about three o'clock in the morning." + +"Three o'clock in the morning!" repeated Walter. "Then I must have been +lying out there for several hours. That thief has escaped long ago." And +his face fell. + +"Yes, he's had plenty of time, if he did the deed as long ago as that. +Did he have anything else besides your uncle's watch?" + +"I don't know, but it's likely. You see my uncle came to New York from +Buffalo to sell some heirlooms which were left to my brothers and myself +when our folks died. The heirlooms were in a travelling-bag, and +consisted of the watch and chain, two gold wedding rings, and a diamond +that a grandfather of mine once picked up in Australia. My uncle left +his bag standing in the post-office for a few minutes, and when he got +back the grip was gone. The police hunted everywhere for the thief, but +all that could be discovered was that it looked as if the rascal had +come to Boston. To-night--or rather, last evening--a man came up and +showed the watch, which I know only too well, as it has a little +horseshoe painted on the dial plate. I tried to collar the fellow, but +he ran away, and after stopping in a tenement house, he came here. Now I +suppose he is miles away--perhaps out of the city altogether." + +"That's so, yet there is no telling, lad. The best thing you can do is +to report to the police without delay--if you are able to do it." + +"Yes, I guess I am able, although my head aches a good bit, I can tell +you that. I am much obliged for what you have done for me." + +"Oh, that's all right--hope you get your belongings," replied the +watchman, and led the way to the gate, which he unlocked. Soon Walter +was on the street, and walking as rapidly as his condition permitted to +the police station. + +At this hour of the night he found only a sergeant and several roundsmen +in charge. The sergeant listened with interest to what he had to say. + +"I remember that case--it was reported to here from New York some time +ago. The pawnshops were ransacked for the jewelry and the watch, but +nothing was found. So you are certain you would recognize the man again +if you saw him?" + +"I am--unless he altered his appearance a good deal. He had a small, +dark moustache, but otherwise he was clean-shaven." + +"Come into the rear office and look over our album of pickpockets and +sneak-thieves. That is what this fellow most likely is--and a peculiar +one too. No first-class criminal would do this job as he is doing it." + +"He drinks heavily--he was partly intoxicated when I met him," said +Walter, as he followed the station official into a rear office. + +"Then that accounts for it. A man can't be a really successful criminal +unless he keeps his wits about him. Here is the album. Look it over +carefully, and let me know if you see anybody that looks like your man." +And he left Walter to himself and reentered the outer office, to hear +the reports of the roundsmen coming in. + +The book given to Walter was a thick one, filled with cards, photos, and +tin-types of criminals. Under each picture was written a name, usually +accompanied by several aliases, and also a number, to correspond with +the same number in the criminal register. + +"Gracious, but they keep pretty good track of them," thought Walter, as +he turned over page after page. "Who would think all these good-looking +men were wrong-doers? Some of them look a good deal more like +ministers." + +Walter had gone through half the book, and the photographs were +beginning to confuse his already aching head, when a certain picture +arrested his attention. "I've found him!" he cried out. "That's the +fellow, although he is minus that moustache of his!" + +"Did you call?" asked the sergeant, coming to the door. + +"I've found him. This is the man. His name is given as Deck Mumpers, +alias Foxy Mumpers, and Swiller Deck." + +"If he is called Swiller Deck, he must drink a good deal," said the +sergeant, with a laugh. "You are sure of this identification?" + +"I am. But he wants a moustache put on that picture." + +"We take them bare-faced if we can. This photo was taken in Brooklyn." +The officer turned to an official register. "Deck Mumpers, age +forty-two, height five feet seven inches, weight one hundred and +thirty-two pounds. Round face, big ears, broad shoulders, poor teeth. +Sent to Sing Sing in 1892 for two years, for robbery of Scott diamonds. +A hard drinker when flush. Now wanted for several petty crimes in New +York. Came originally from South Boston, where he was in the liquor +business." The sergeant turned again to Walter. "I guess you have struck +your man. I'll send out the alarm. What is your address?" + +"I have just joined the navy and am bound for the _Brooklyn_. But I can +leave you my uncle's name and address, and he can come on to Boston from +Buffalo, if it's necessary." + +"That will do, then," answered the sergeant. + +He brought forth a book in which to put down the details of the affair. +While he was writing, Walter slipped his hand into his pocket to see if +the slip of paper he had received at the navy-yard was still safe. The +paper was gone. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +ON THE WAY TO THE "BROOKLYN" + + +"Oh, what luck!" + +"What is the matter now?"' + +"My order for a railroad ticket from Boston to Fortress Monroe is gone!" + +"Is that true? Perhaps Deck Mumpers cleaned you out after he struck you +down," suggested the sergeant, quickly. "Feel in your pockets." + +Walter did so, and his face blanched. "He did--everything,--my money, +keys, cash,--all are missing. What in the world shall I do now?"' + +"How much money did you have?" + +"About twenty dollars. The main thing was that railroad ticket order. If +that is gone, how am I to get to Norfolk?" + +"Was your name mentioned on the paper?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Where was it to be presented? any particular depot?" + +"Yes, the New York and New England railroad depot." + +"Then the best thing to do is to ring the railroad folks up and have the +bearer of the order detained, if the slip is presented," went on the +police officer, and stepping to the telephone he rang up central and had +the necessary connection made. + +"Is this the ticket office of the New York and New England railroad +depot?" he questioned. + +"Yes," came the reply over the wire. + +"A navy-yard order for a ticket from here to Norfolk, or Fortress +Monroe, has been stolen. It is made out in the name of Walter Russell. +If it is presented, hold the party having it and communicate with police +headquarters." + +"Is the name Walter Russell?" was the excited query, and Walter's heart +began to sink as he seemed to feel what was coming. + +"Yes." + +"That order has already been filled. It was presented about ten o'clock +last night." + +"I've missed it!" groaned the youth, and dropped into a chair. "What +will the navy-yard people say to this when they hear of it?" + +"I don't see how they can blame you," returned the sergeant, kindly, +"seeing as you were knocked senseless by the thief. Deck Mumpers has got +the best of it so far." + +He called through the telephone for a description of the party having +the order, and soon learned it must have been Mumpers beyond a doubt. + +"Can't you telegraph to Norfolk to have him arrested when he arrives?" +asked Walter suddenly. + +"You don't think he'll go all the way to Norfolk, do you?" smiled the +police officer. Then he turned again to the telephone. "What kind of a +ticket did that party get on the order?" he asked. + +"First-class, with sleepers." + +"He got a first-class ticket. Ten to one he'll not use it at all, but +sell the pasteboard at some cut-rate ticket office right here in Boston +and then buy another ticket for somewhere else." + +"I see!" cried Walter. "But if the ticket was sold here, could we trace +it?" + +"It is not likely, for many first-class tickets are alike. We might +trace the sleeping-car checks, but I doubt if Mumpers will try to do +anything with those." + +"But he may use the ticket," ventured Walter, hardly knowing what else +to say. + +"Oh, possibly. I'll have the men at the various stations keep an eye +open for the rascal," concluded the sergeant, and after a few more words +Walter left the station. + +It must be confessed that the youth was considerably out of sorts. "I +start off to recover some stolen property and end by losing more," he +groaned. "I'm not fit to join the navy, or do anything." And he gave a +mountainous sigh. + +It was almost five o'clock, and knowing Dan would soon be on hand with +Gimpwell to open the stand, he walked slowly in that direction. To keep +up his courage he tried to whistle, but the effort was a dismal failure. +Walter was naturally very light-hearted, but just now no one looking at +his troubled face would have suspected this. + +Reaching the stand, he opened the shutters and put out the light which +he had forgotten to extinguish. Soon the first bundles of papers came +along, and he sorted them over and arranged them for sale and for Dan's +route. The work was almost done when the carrier came along, followed +immediately by the new clerk. + +"Hullo, I didn't know you'd be here!" cried Dan. "Why didn't you come +home last night? Mother expected you to use the room, and you paid for +it." + +"I wish I had used the room," answered Walter, and went over his tale in +a few words, for Dan must be off, to serve several men with newspapers +before they themselves started off to their daily labors. + +"Say, but that's too bad!" cried the errand boy. "I've got two dollars, +Walter. You can have the money if it will do you any good." + +"Thanks, Dan, I want to see Mr. Newell first. But it's kind of you to +make the offer." + +"I'd offer you something, Russell," put in the new clerk. "But the fact +is I haven't even car-fare; had to tramp over from Charlestown." + +Phil Newell put into appearance shortly before seven o'clock, coming a +little earlier than usual, to see that Gimpwell got along all right. +Calling him aside, Walter told of what had happened. He was getting sick +of telling the story, but, in this case, there was no help for it. + +"Douse the toplights, but you've run on a sunken rock, and no mistake, +Walter," cried the old naval veteran. "So he cleaned you out +completely, eh?" + +"Yes, Mr. Newell. I don't care so much for the money, but that order for +the railroad ticket--" + +"It's too had; too bad!" Phil Newell ran his hand through his bushy +hair. "I don't believe the navy-yard authorities will issue a duplicate +order." + +"Neither do I." + +"You see, some sailors wouldn't be none too good for to get such a paper +and then sell it for what she would fetch." + +"Yes, that's the worst part of it. I shouldn't want them to think I +was--was getting in on them--or trying to do so." + +"The best thing to do, as far as I can see, is to call on Caleb Walton +and get his advice." + +"Where does he live?" + +"In Charlestown, only a few blocks from the Bunker Hill monument. I +don't know the number, but it's on Hill Street, and I know the house." + +"Will you go with me? If I haven't the number--" + +"To be sure I'll go with you, just as soon as I can set the new clerk on +his proper course." + +"And, Mr. Newell, would you mind--that is, would you make me a--a +loan--" faltered Walter. + +"Out with it, my boy, how much do you want? I told you before I'd be +your friend, and what Phil Newell says he means, every trip." + +"You are very kind, sir. I don't know how much I want. I had twenty +dollars and thirty-five cents, and Mr. Walton said that was more than +enough to see me through until pay day came along." + +"Then here are twenty dollars." The proprietor of the news-stand pulled +a roll of small bills from his pocket and counted out the amount. "You +can pay me back when you recover your money, or else out of your pay +money, if they don't collar that thief. Have you had breakfast yet?" + +"No, sir." + +"Then you had better get a bite while I instruct Gimpwell. I'll be ready +for you in quarter of an hour." + +Fifteen minutes found them on the way, taking a car which took them +directly over to Charlestown, along the navy-yard and up Hill Street. + +"Here we are," cried Phil Newell, as he stopped the car. "And just in +time, for there is Caleb Walton leaving his house now." + +"What brings you up?" demanded the gunner, when confronted. "Well, this +is certainly a mess," he continued, after he had been told. "No, I'm +certain they won't issue a duplicate order, for Captain Line is out of +the city." + +"But we might try and see what we can do," insisted Phil Newell. + +"To be sure; come on." And the three set off for the navy-yard. Here it +looked at first as if nothing could be gained, but finally one of the +higher officers took it upon his own shoulders to give Walter a new +order, at the same time saying something about charging it up to the +Emergency Account. + +"Well, that's a big relief," murmured Walter, on coming away. "I feel as +if a thousand pounds were taken from my heart." And he certainly looked +it. + +"I must leave you now," said Caleb Walton. "Be sure and be at the depot +on time, and take care of that new order." + +"It's pinned fast in my pocket," said the youth. "If it goes, so does my +coat." + +On returning to the news-stand, Walter procured some paper and an +envelope, and in the reading-room of the hotel sat down and wrote a long +letter to his uncle, Job Dowling, telling of his enlistment in the navy +and of what had happened during the night. "I think you ought to come to +Boston," he concluded. "If the police can't do anything, a detective +ought to be set on this Deck Mumper's track. You are holding a good deal +of money in trust for Ben, Larry, and me, and for my part, I would spend +a good deal rather than see father's watch and his and mother's wedding +rings gone forever,--not to mention grandfather's diamond, which alone +is worth at least two hundred dollars. Write to me concerning this, and +send the letter to the _Brooklyn_, Off Fortress Munroe, Va." + +This letter was mailed without delay, and soon after Walter bade Phil +Newell, Dan, and several others good-by, and, grip in hand, walked to +the depot. Here he found several jackies already assembled, and soon +learned that they were members of Walton's party. In a few minutes +Walton himself came hurrying down Federal Street, with several green +hands in tow. + +"All here?" he demanded, and began to "count noses." Only one man was +missing, and he soon put in an appearance, and all entered the depot and +procured their tickets. Then Walter asked about the stolen order, but +the clerk had heard nothing new concerning it. "You were mighty lucky to +get another order," he said with a grin. "Next time they may make you +walk the tracks." + +The train was in, and hurrying out to the long shed, they found their +proper places. Soon there came a sharp jerk, the train moved off; and +the long journey southward was begun. + +For a seat-mate Walter had a typical Yankee lad, one from the coast of +Maine, a young fellow who knew but little about warships, but who had +spent several years on the rolling deep, in voyages to South America, to +Nova Scotia, and elsewhere. His name was Silas Doring, and Walter found +him talkative, although not objectionably so. + +"Yes, I couldn't hardly wait till I got to Boston," said Si, for that +was what he said all of his friends "to hum" called him. "We'll lick the +Spanish out of their boots, see if we don't!" + +"You are bound for the _Brooklyn_?" asked Walter. + +"Thet's it, if they want me, otherwise I'm booked for the _Texas_. Putty +good for a boy from Maine to go on the _Texas_, ain't it, he! he! But I +don't care much. They can put me on the _San Francisco_ if they want +to--so long as they give me a chance at them tarnal Dons. When the +_Maine_ was blowed up, why, I jest jumped up an' down an' up an' down +with rage. 'Si Doring,' sez I, 'Si Doring, are you a-going to let such +an insult an' crime go by unnoticed? Not much!' sez I. 'I'll join the +navy, an' help blow all of the Spanish to Jericho,'--an' I'm going to do +it!" And the Yankee lad struck his fist into his open palm with a thump +of energy. + +"I wish I knew as much about ships as you do," ventured Walter. "I've +been on two trips across Lake Erie, and know something, but I'm afraid +I'll feel like a fish out of water when I get on a man-o'-war." + +"We'll keep our eyes and ears open, and try to learn--that's the only +way. I know every rope on a merchantman, kin name 'em from fore royal +stay to topping lift, but that ain't the hundredth part on it. We've got +to learn our vessel jest as a person has got to learn a new city and +its streets, fer boats ain't built one like another, not by a jugful! +And after we have learned the ship, we've got to learn the guns, and the +fire-drill, and how to clear ship for action, and a lot more, not to say +a word about learning how to knock out them Dons, as some calls 'em. Oh, +we'll have our hands full after we get on board, don't forget it!" And +Si Doring shook his head vigorously. + +On and on sped the train until Hyde Park was reached. Here a brief stop +was made, and several persons including a sailor got on board. The +sailor came through the car as if looking for somebody and finally found +Caleb Walton and shook hands. + +"Yes, I'm bound for Norfolk, too," Walter and Si Doring heard him +remark. + +"By gum!" whispered the Yankee sailor. "I wonder if thet chap is going +with us?" + +"Do you know him?" asked the boy. + +"Know him? jest guess I do! His name is Jim Haskett, and he used to be +the mate of the _Sunflower_, a three-master from Penobscot. I sailed +under him once, and he was the hardest man on shipboard I ever got next +to. If he gets in the navy, he'll make everybody under him dance to his +pipings, and worse." + +"If that's the case, I sincerely hope he isn't assigned to my ship," was +Walter's comment. "I haven't any use for a bully, big or little." + +"I owe Jim Haskett many an old score; I would like to get the chance to +even up," went on the Yankee. "But I've enlisted to do my duty and lick +the Spanish, and if Haskett leaves me alone, I'll leave him alone. Here +he comes now." And Si straightened up. + +The former mate of the _Sunflower_ passed down the aisle slowly. When he +saw the Yankee he started and then scowled at him. "Have you enlisted?" +he asked, in a voice that was far from pleasant. + +"I have," returned Si. "Got any objections, Haskett?" + +"Humph!" was the only answer, and the ex-mate of the _Sunflower_ passed +on, to drop into a vacant seat some distance behind them. + +"Oh, he's a corker," whispered the Yankee, and Walter nodded to show +that he agreed with him. Walter was destined to many an encounter with +Jim Haskett before his first term in the navy should come to an end. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +SOMETHING ABOUT WAR AND PRIZE MONEY + + +Commodore George Dewey's great victory over Admiral Montojo occurred on +May 1, 1898, and was the first to be scored during our war with Spain. + +Previous to this time, matters had moved along swiftly, but with no +definite results. Following the wanton destruction of our battleship +_Maine_ in the harbor of Havana, in February, popular indignation arose +to a fever heat against the country which had offered the American flag +several insults in the past, and which was now engaged in a ruthless +effort to put down the long-standing rebellion in Cuba, be the cost what +it might. + +For many months our President, Congress, and the people had watched, +with anxious eyes, the progress of events in Cuba--had seen the Cubans +doing their best to throw off the yoke of Spanish tyranny and +oppression. From a little uprising here, and another there, the +rebellion spread all over what was no longer "the ever-faithful isle," +until rich and poor, those of Cuban-Spanish blood, and those whose +ancestors had been negroes and Indians, became involved in it. At first +there was no army, only bands of guerillas, who fled to the mountains +whenever a regular Spanish force presented itself, but soon the conflict +assumed a definite shape, a rebel army was formed, to be commanded by +Generals Gomez, Antonio Maceo, Calixto Garcia, and others, and then +Spain awoke to the realization that Cuba, her richest colonial +possession, with the possible exception of the Philippines, was about to +break away from her. + +This crisis filled the rulers in Spain with alarm, for Cuba had turned +into her treasury millions of _pesetas_ every year, for which the island +got little or nothing in return. "Cuba must, and shall be subdued," was +the cry, and thousands of soldiers were transported from Spain and +elsewhere, to be landed at Havana, Santiago, and other points. These +soldiers immediately took possession of all the larger cities, causing +those in rebellion to withdraw to the villages and to the forests and +mountains. + +A bloody warfare lasting between two and three years followed, and +thousands of the rebels, including the noble Antonio Maceo, one of the +best negro patriots that ever existed, were slain. In addition to this, +millions of dollars' worth of property were destroyed, in the shape of +torn-up railroads, burnt sugar and tobacco plantations, and sacked +villages and towns. Every owner of property was compelled to take sides +in the conflict, and if he did not side with those who waited upon him, +then his property was either confiscated or destroyed. + +The Spanish authorities had started out to crush the rebellion on the +spot. As time went by and the rebels grew stronger and stronger, those +in command saw that extreme measures must be resorted to, or the +campaign would prove a failure. The majority of the Cuban men were away +from their homes. At once orders were issued to drive all the +defenceless women and children into the cities held by the Spanish. This +was accomplished under the pretext that Spain wished to keep them from +harm. Once driven into the larger places, these women and children were +not fed and cared for, but were allowed to either live upon the charity +of those about them, or starve. These poor people were called +_reconcentrados_, and it is a matter of record that before the war +closed nearly three hundred thousand of them gave up their lives through +neglect and lack of food. + +The people of the United States had stood by mutely and seen the war +waged against the rebels who well deserved their liberty, but no one +could stand by and see women, children, and helpless old men starved to +death. At once it was proposed to send relief ships to Cuba, but Spain +frowned at this, saying that such relief was only one way of helping +those who had taken up arms against her. + +At this time there were many Americans in Havana and elsewhere in Cuba, +and as a matter of self-protection the battleship _Maine_ was sent down +to Havana harbor to see that no harm came to them. How the battleship +was blown up and over two hundred and fifty lives lost, has already been +told in the previous volumes of this series. A Board of Inquiry was +appointed by the President, and it was soon settled that the explosion +which had wrecked the warship had come from the outside and that Spain +was responsible for the loss. Spain denied the charge; and the war was +practically on. + +The first movement of the authorities at Washington was to blockade the +city of Havana and a large portion of the coast to the east and the west +of that port. This work was intrusted to Commodore (afterwards Admiral) +Sampson, and he left Key West with the North Atlantic Squadron on the +morning of April 22, and in a few days had a grand semicircle of +warships stationed on the outside of Havana, Matanzas, Mariel, Cardenas, +Bahia Honda, Cabanas, and other ports of lesser importance. Later on, +other ports were likewise blockaded, and these portions of Cuba suddenly +found themselves cut off from the outside world. Sampson wished to +bombard Havana and bring the Spanish stationed there to terms at once, +but this suggestion was overruled, as it was imagined that Spain might +be brought to terms without such a great loss of life. + +As soon as the blockading of the ports mentioned began, the President +called for volunteers, and how nobly all our states responded we have +already learned in "A Young Volunteer in Cuba." The regular army was +also hurried to the south-east and concentrated at Tampa and other +points, while the volunteers remained in their various state camps, +waiting to be mustered into the United States service. Of the grand +movement to Cuba we shall hear later. + +The news of Commodore Dewey's glorious victory, as related in "Under +Dewey at Manila" thrilled our people as they had not been thrilled for +years. In the army and the navy were men from both the North and the +South, and sectionalism was now wiped out forever, and all stood +shoulder to shoulder under Old Glory, fighting for the sake of Humanity. +The battle-cries were "Free Cuba!" and "Remember the _Maine_!" and +certainly none could have been more inspiring. + +The blockading of so long a coast line required a great many warships, +and as it was not deemed advisable to place all our big vessels on this +duty, the authorities lost no time in buying or leasing a number of +ocean steamers and coast craft and converting them into vessels of war. +These vessels required a great number of men, and the Naval Reserves +were in great demand, as were also volunteers for the regular navy. This +was the reason that Walter and those with him were taken on so quickly. +Had he applied for enlistment into the navy during times of peace, he +would have found an entrance far more difficult, for Uncle Sam is +growing more and more particular every day as to the class of men he +allows to tread the decks of his men-o'-war. + +Shortly after Havana and its neighboring ports were blockaded, it was +rumored that Spain would send over a powerful fleet to bombard New York +or some other principal city along our eastern seacoast. This caused a +good deal of uneasiness, and steps were immediately taken to fortify all +principal points and mine many of the harbor entrances. Patrol boats +were also placed on duty, to give the alarm at the first sight of an +enemy. In some cases channel buoys were removed, and lighthouse lamps +were left unlit, so that no Spanish vessel might creep in under cover of +darkness. + +Acting Rear-Admiral Sampson, as he was officially designated, was kept +busy watching the blockade along the northern coast of Cuba, and in +distributing his auxiliary vessels to such points as would be most +advantageous. This being the case, Commodore Schley, next in command, +was left at Hampton Roads, near Fortress Monroe, Virginia, with what +was known as the Flying Squadron, a number of the fastest warships +riding the Atlantic. The Flying Squadron was to wait until the Spanish +fleet started westward, when it was to do its best toward doing as Dewey +had done to Montojo's fleet, "find it and engage it"; in plain words, to +fight it to the bitter end. Great things were expected of the Flying +Squadron, and in this the people were not to be disappointed, as we +shall see. + +The trip by rail from Boston to the South proved full of interest to +Walter, who loved riding on the cars. So far two transfers had been +made, one at New York, and the other at Baltimore, but at neither city +was any time allowed for seeing the sights. "It's a case of get there," +explained Caleb Walton. "You see, that Spanish fleet may sail for the +United States at any moment, and then Schley will be bound to go out on +a hunt for it in double-quick order." + +"I see that the Spanish Cape Verde Squadron has joined the fleet at +Cadiz, which is ready for sea," observed Walter, pointing to a morning +newspaper he had purchased on the train. "There are four first-class +cruisers, the _Viscaya_, the _Almirante Oquendo_, the _Infanta Maria +Teresa_, and the _Cristobal Colon_, besides two or three torpedo-boat +destroyers. At Cadiz there are the _Pelaya_, _Alfonso XIII._, and +several other ships. If they all come over here, it seems to me they may +make matters mighty warm for us." + +"We want 'em warm," interrupted Si Doring. "I wouldn't give a rap for a +milk-and-water battle. Let us have it hot, say I, hot,--and knock the +Spanish to kingdom come!" + +"They won't dare to send all of the ships over," said Caleb Walton. +"They must guard their own coast. If they don't, some of our ships may +slip over there and make it interesting for them." + +"Do you think we'll carry the war to Spain?" asked Walter, with deep +interest. + +"There is no telling, lad. Some folks have it that half of Europe will +be mixed up in this muss before it's over. One thing is certain, Dewey's +victory at Manila isn't going to be such a smooth thing out there, for +the Filipinos are in a state of revolt and won't want us to govern them +any more than they want the Spanish; and besides, Germany, France, and +other nations have big interests there." + +"Well, I guess the best we can do is to look out for our little end," +smiled the boy. "As for the rest, the authorities at Washington must +settle that." + +"Well said, lad; you and I couldn't run the government if we tried. But +we can do our duty, and that will be to obey orders and take what +comes." + +"How is it that you got Jim Haskett to enlist?" asked Si. + +"Oh, that fellow is after prize money," was the gunner's reply. "He has +been reading of the luck down around Havana, and he wants the chance to +earn a few hundred extra. Well, maybe he'll get it." + +"I've heard of prize money before, but I don't exactly know what it is," +observed Walter. + +"It's the money got out of a captured ship when she's sold. You see, +when a ship is captured she's taken to some port and turned over to a +prize court, and if she doesn't turn out a Scotch prize she is knocked +down under the hammer." + +"I know what you mean by knocking her down under the hammer. But why +doesn't the rule apply to a Scotch vessel?" + +At this query of Walter's Caleb Walton burst into a roar of laughter. +"It's easy to see you're a landsman," he said. "I didn't say a Scotch +vessel; I said a Scotch prize--a ship captured illegally, and one that +must be given back to her owners. I don't know where that term came +from, but it's what the men in the navy always use." + +"I see." + +"A legitimate prize is sold, and then the money is divided. If the +vessel captured was the equal of that taking her, then all the prize +money goes to her captain and crew; but if the captured ship is +inferior, then her takers get only half of the money, and Uncle Sam +keeps the balance." + +"And what part would I get if my ship took a prize?" went on Walter, +more interested than ever, for the question of prize money had not +appealed to him before. + +"You would get a share according to your regular pay--perhaps one dollar +out of every five or ten thousand." + +"That wouldn't be much--on a small craft." + +"You are right, lad, but it would be a tidy amount on a big warship +worth two or three millions. The division of the prize money is +regulated according to law, so there can't be any quarrelling. The +commander of a fleet gets one-twentieth, the commander of a ship +one-tenth of that coming to his ship (when there are more ships than one +interested in the prize), and so on, and we all get our money even if we +are on temporary leave of absence." + +"But what does Uncle Sam do with his share?" put in Si. + +"His share is put into a fund that is used toward paying naval officers, +seamen, and marines the pensions due them. These pensions are, of +course, not as large as those of the army, but they are considerable." + +"Well, I hope we strike a big prize, or half a dozen little ones," said +Walter. "On a pay of eleven dollars a month a fellow can't expect to get +very rich." + +"Do your duty, lad, and you may rise before the war is over." The old +gunner caught Walter by the arm. "Come with me," and Caleb Walton arose, +and led the way to the smoking-car. Wondering what was meant by this +movement, Walter followed. + +"I want to have a quiet talk with you," went on Caleb Walton, after they +were seated in a secluded corner. "Do you smoke?" + +"No, sir." + +"You're just as well off. But I must have my pipe." Caleb Walton drew +forth a brier-root, filled it with a dark mixture of tobacco, and lit +it. "Ah, that's just right. And now to business." And he threw one leg +over the other. For a moment he gazed thoughtfully at Walter, and the +boy wondered what was coming next. He was satisfied that it must be of +more than ordinary importance, otherwise the old gunner would not have +asked him to come to the smoking-car, away from their companions. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A GLIMPSE OF THE PRESIDENT + + +"You see it's this way," began Caleb Walton, after gazing for a moment +at Walter. "Phil Newell is your friend, isn't he?" + +"Yes, indeed!" responded the boy, warmly. + +"Exactly--likewise he is my friend, too. We served together for years, +and I sometimes looked up to Phil as a kind of elder brother. Well, +after you left us at the navy-yard he and I had a long talk about you, +and he made me promise to keep my eye on you--do you understand?" + +"I think I do." + +"Now, keeping an eye on you is out of the question unless you are placed +where I can see you." + +"But aren't we both to go aboard of the _Brooklyn_?" cried Walter. + +"Yes, according to the course we're steering now. But both being on the +_Brooklyn_ doesn't cover the bill. I expect to be in charge of one of +the guns--will be if Bill Darworthy is still in the hospital. Now if +you enter as a mere boy, or even as a landsman, it may be that you'll +never get around to where I am. You must remember that the _Brooklyn_ is +a big ship, and all the men on her are divided into classes,--officers, +petty officers, seamen, gunners, marines, and so on,--and one class is +pretty well separated from another." + +"I presume that is so, but I never thought of it before." + +"Even seamen are divided into seamen gunners, apprentices and the like, +and if you went on as a mere boy you might not see me once a week, +unless we happened to be off duty at the same time." + +"I see what you are driving at, Mr. Walton; you--" + +"Avast there, Walter, no mister for me, please. I'm plain Caleb Walton." + +"Well then, Walton, you want to get me attached to that gun you hope to +have placed in your charge?" + +"Now you've struck the bull's-eye, lad. The thing of it is, can I manage +it?" + +"I'm sure you must know more about that than I do. I'll like it +first-rate if you could, for I--well, to be plain, I like you." + +Caleb Walton held out his horny hand. "The liking is mutual, Walter, and +there's my fist on it. Now I have an idee." The old gunner took several +puffs at his pipe. "I know Captain Cook of the _Brooklyn_ tolerably +well--served under him for a short spell, and once did a little private +business for him. Now, Captain Cook won't do a thing as is out of his +line of duty, but still----" + +"He may aid you in having me assigned to the gun you expect to have +charge of?" finished Walter. + +"That's it. I think I can work the deal--almost sure of it,--but you +must help me." + +"What must I do?" + +"Say nothing and leave it all to me, and if my plan goes through, don't +tell any one that you were favored. If you do, you'll only make +enemies." + +"I'll remember that. But what of Haskett, Doring, and the others?" + +"I'd like to have Doring in my gang--he's the right sort. I don't want +that scowling Jim Haskett, not after what Doring has told me of him. But +he's out of it, anyway, for he enlisted as a first-class seaman, at +twenty-six dollars per month." + +"I wish I knew a little more about a warship," said the youth, +longingly. "The more I hear, the less I seem to know." + +"It will all come to you in time, and when you are on board I'll show +you all I can. It would do no good to talk about guns and the like until +I can point out the different parts to you, for you wouldn't know a +breech-block from a priming-wire until you laid eyes on it." + +"But how is a ship commanded? Won't you tell me something about that?" + +"Of course you mean a warship, not a merchantman. Well, the highest +officer is, of course, the captain, although the vessel may be the +flagship of a commodore or an admiral." + +"And what of a commodore and an admiral? You see I'm awfully green, when +it comes down to the navy. My younger brother Larry is the real sailor +in our family." + +"You'll get there, lad; anybody will who is in for learning as you are. +An admiral is the highest officer in any navy, and he commands +everything that floats, from battleship to despatch tug. Next to him is +the vice-admiral. In the United States navy these offices don't exist +any more, having died out with the deaths of Admiral Porter and +Vice-Admiral Rowan." + +"But the newspapers speak of Admiral Sampson." + +"He is acting rear-admiral, but holds only the office of commodore. He +commands a fleet of warships, while a commodore commands only a +squadron; that is, four or six, usually, although he may have more at +times. His ships are generally divided into two divisions." + +"I understand. Please go on." + +"Well, as I said before, the captain really commands the ship. Next to +him are the commander and the lieutenant-commander. The first of these +takes orders from the captain and issues them to those under him. The +lieutenant-commander is called the executive officer, and he's always +put down as the hardest worked man on the ship. What he does would fill +a book, and he rarely gets leave of absence, for nobody can spare him." + +"But what does he do?" + +"Well, in the first place he sees that the whole crew keeps straight, +and he keeps a conduct book for reference. He hears all complaints and +straightens out all difficulties. He sees to it that the ship is kept +clean, and he has the say about arranging messes. He must also station +the hands for the various fire, sail, and boat drills, the gun +exercises, and the drills with small-arms and cutlasses. Then every +night at eight o'clock he receives the reports of petty officers, to +show that each department is O. K. up to that hour. And there is a lot +more besides." + +"Thanks, but I don't care to be an executive officer," smiled Walter. +"But perhaps he gets well paid for it." + +"He earns from twenty-eight hundred to three thousand dollars per year. +The commander gets five hundred more than that. A commodore gets five +thousand a year, and a rear-admiral six thousand, when at sea. When on +shore all these figures are slightly reduced." + +"Those are nice salaries." + +"That is true. But don't forget that everybody on the ship in the shape +of an officer must board himself. The crew does that too, but Uncle Sam +makes them an allowance for that purpose." + +"Don't the higher officers get anything?" + +"They have a ration allowed them--that or thirty cents. Of course such +a ration cuts no figure with a commander or a captain." + +"I suppose that's so. But please go on. Who is next to the executive +officer?" + +"The junior lieutenant, and then come the ensigns and naval cadets; that +is, those young fellows from Annapolis who are studying up to become +higher officers." + +"And after that what?" + +"Then come the warrant officers, that is, those warranted by our +President, and they include boatswain, gunner, carpenter, and +sail-maker. And you mustn't forget the marines--the soldier-sailors." + +"Gracious, what a lot! Any more?" + +"We are not half through, lad, but the others will explain themselves by +their titles, such as chief engineer, chief surgeon, paymaster, and +chaplain. The chaplain holds the relative position to a captain or a +commander, but his whole duty is to hold church and keep the men from +going wrong, morally and spiritually. Besides these, we have boatswain's +mate, gunner's mate, and the like. Then among the seamen the leading men +are called captains; as, for instance, captain of the top, captain of +the afterguard, and like that. You'll soon get to know them all, never +fear." + +"How will I know them--by their uniforms?" + +"By their uniforms, and also by the stripes and devices they wear. Don't +you see this flaming spherical shell of silver that I wear? That shows +that I am a gunner and have seen over twenty years of service. If I was +a gunner with less time to my credit, the shell would be of gold." + +"And does everybody wear some device?" + +"Everybody, from a rear-admiral with his two silver stars and anchor +down to the apprentice who has his figure 8 knot. If I get to be a chief +gunner, I'll wear two crossed cannons instead of this shell." + +"And if you got to be a captain, what would you wear?" + +"A silver spread eagle, with an anchor at each end, on my shoulders." + +"That's another deal to learn. I should think a fellow would get mixed +on all these stars, eagles, shells, cannons, and the rest." + +"It takes time to learn, lad. Let me give you a bit of advice. If you +meet another person on shipboard and you are in doubt about it, salute. +You may be making a mistake, but it will be a mistake on the right +side." + +"I'll remember that. But I feel as if I had more than ever to learn. +Can't I get some book and study it?" + +"I've got such a work in my valise. I'll get it for you," concluded +Caleb Walton, and he arose. "But remember about that other thing--mum is +the word." + +"I certainly shall remember," and Walter smiled. "I'm awfully glad I've +found such a friend as you," and he squeezed the old gunner's hand. + +They returned to the other car, and soon Walter was deeply interested in +the volume which Caleb Walton loaned him. It was a technical work, +issued by the authority of the Navy Department, and contained all that +he desired to learn, and a deal besides. + +"Going to learn your duty as soon as possible, eh?" observed Si Doring, +as he looked over the boy's shoulder. "That's right. If you want to know +anything about sails or knots, call on me." + +"What's the matter with calling on me?" put in the voice of Jim Haskett, +as he slid into the seat behind them, and leaned over. "I reckon I know +as much as Doring about a ship, and maybe a leetle more." + +At this Si Doring fired up on the instant. "See here, Haskett, I ain't +under ye no longer, remember that!" he cried. "I don't want you to talk +to me, or about me. I owe you one, and more, and I ain't forgetting +it--remember that!" + +"Oh, don't get on a high horse," growled the former mate of the +_Sunflower_. "I won't talk to you if you don't want me to." + +"And ye needn't talk about me, either. Think ye know a leetle more about +a ship than I do, eh? Well, maybe Captain Pepperill didn't think so, +when you let the _Sunflower_ split her foremast in that blow off--" + +"I wasn't responsible for that!" interrupted Jim Haskett, his surly face +growing red. "You let the past drop, and I'll let it drop." He glared +savagely at Si, then turned to Walter. "Do you want some p'ints +explained, Russell?" + +"Thank you, but I would just as lief study this book for the present," +answered Walter, coldly, and somewhat astonished to learn that Haskett +knew his name. + +"Maybe I can make some p'ints clearer. I'm an old sea-dog, you know." + +"I think Doring can explain all I wish to know," continued the boy, +feeling he ought to stick up for the Yankee who had made himself so +agreeable since leaving Boston. + +"Don't want my advice, then?" + +"I think not." + +"All right, then, suit yourself. If you want to cotton to such a fellow +as Doring, you can do so, but"--he lowered his voice--"I reckon you are +making a mistake." And then, before either Walter or Si could answer, he +bounced up, and strode down the aisle and into the smoker. + +The train was approaching Washington, and shortly after this +conversation it rolled into the depot at the Capitol city, and came to a +standstill. + +"We stop here for fifteen minutes," said the porter to Walter, when +questioned on the point. "Give you sailor-boys time to stretch your +shoah legs." And he grinned, having been on a warship himself once, +serving as a "striker,"--one who waits on the mess tables. + +"Let us take a few minutes' walk; I am all cramped up," said Walter to +his Yankee friend; and Si readily agreed. Caleb Walton was willing they +should go, but warned them not to stay too long. + +"Fifteen minutes don't mean sixteen; remember that," he called after +them. + +"I should like to spend a few days here," observed Walter, as he and his +companion hurried on. "The Capitol, patent offices, and other buildings +must be very interesting." + +"I'd rather see President McKinley," returned the Yankee. "My, but he +must have his hands full these days!" + +"Do you want to see the President?" questioned a man who was just +passing them. "If you do, he's in his carriage three blocks below here. +There's a cave-in of a sewer, and his carriage just stopped." + +"Then here's our chance, Si!" cried Walter, eagerly. "Come on; we can +make it if we run. I wouldn't miss seeing the President for a good +deal!" + +"Thet's me!" burst out the Yankee. "Off we go!" And he started to run, +his long legs giving Walter all he could do to keep up with him. The +three blocks were covered, and they came to where the cave-in was +located, but only some very ordinary vehicles were in sight. + +"We're too late!" grumbled Si, crestfallen. "Come on back." + +"Too late for phwat?" asked an Irishman standing near the sewer. + +"We wanted to see the President." + +"Sure an' there goes his carriage down beyant." And the Irishman pointed +to a side street. + +It was still less than a block away, and without stopping to think twice +they made after it, and came up just as it was turning a corner. A very +trim driver sat on the box of the turn-out, and on the rear seat, the +sole occupant of the carriage, sat our country's chief executive. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Walter, impulsively, and waved his cap, and Si did the +same. Several others bowed and tipped their hats, and the President +bowed and tipped his silk hat in return. Then the carriage rolled +swiftly away. + +[Illustration: THE PRESIDENT BOWED IN RETURN.] + +"It was him all right enough," exclaimed Si, enthusiastically, and with +a total disregard for grammar. "He looks jest like his pictures, only a +little more care-worn. I suppose he loses lots o' sleep these nights." + +"Yes, indeed. Being the President isn't the easiest berth in the world. +If I--" Walter broke off short. "Our train--I'll wager a dollar we'll +miss it!" + +"Creation! don't say that!" gasped Si; and then both took to their heels +as if running the race of their lives. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A TALK ABOUT SPANISH SAILORS + + +"The train is gone!" + +It was Walter who gasped out the words, as he and his companion rushed +upon the depot platform. In the distance they could see the end of the +rear car just vanishing from view in a cloud of dust. + +"Thet's so!" groaned Si, panting for breath, for they had done their +best to reach the depot in time. "What's to be the next move?" And he +looked anxiously at his companion. + +"I'm sure I don't know," was Walter's slow answer. "I--I almost wish I +hadn't seen the President--now." + +"Can't we take a later train?" + +"I don't know if the tickets will be good. Certainly we'll have no +sleeping accommodations for to-night." + +"Who cares for that, so long as we get to Fortress Monroe? Come on, let +us see what can be done." And Si led the way to the ticket office. + +The ticket-seller was busy, and it was several minutes before they could +get to him. "Yes, there will be another train in an hour and a quarter," +he said. "About your tickets, did you have stop-over privileges?" + +"We did not--we didn't intend to stop over," answered Walter. + +"Then I don't believe the conductor will accept them." + +"Gee shoo!" groaned Si, dismally. "Do you mean to say we've got to pay +the fare from here to our destination? Why, it will take all I've got +with me, and maybe more." + +"There ought to be some way of having our tickets fixed up," said +Walter. "Can't we go to the main office and see about them?" + +"Certainly, if you desire," rejoined the ticket seller, and turned to a +number of others who were waiting impatiently to be served. + +The main offices of the railroad company were not far distant, and +hither they made their way. Inside, a young clerk learned what they +wanted, and then took them to an inner apartment. + +"Government fares, eh?" questioned the elderly gentleman to whom they +had been conducted. "What was the reason you didn't catch your train?" + +"We lingered to see President McKinley, who was out in his carriage," +said Walter. "We got so interested we forgot the time until we were just +about a minute late." + +"Well, I can't blame you much for wanting to see the man you are +fighting under," said the railroad official. "Let me see your tickets." +And, taking them, he wrote upon the back of each in blue pencil. "There +you are, but you'll have to ride in an ordinary coach." + +"We don't care if it is a freight," put in Si, earnestly. "We want to +get there." And, after both had thanked the official for his kindness, +they withdrew. + +"We're all right so far," observed Walter, as "to kill time," they +walked slowly down one of the broad avenues for which our Capitol city +is famous. "The question is, what will Caleb Walton think of us when he +finds us missing?" + +"I hope he doesn't think we are trying to desert!" cried Walter, to whom +this idea had not before occurred. + +"Some fellows wouldn't be any too good to desert, Walter. Only last week +a lot of fellows deserted on their way from one of the western states. +They got to Chicago, where they wanted to go, and that was the last seen +of them. They were like tramps--willing to do anything for a free ride +on the cars. But they ran the risk of being court-martialled for it." + +"I think the fact that we had our tickets fixed up will go to show what +our intentions were, Si. However, we have put our feet into it, and must +take what comes." + +After a walk of half an hour, both felt hungry and entered a +modest-looking restaurant on a side street. They had just ordered a +cheap meal each, when a newsboy entered with a bundle of afternoon +newspapers. + +"Have a paper, sir? Extra, sir; all about the Flying Squadron going to +sail. Only one cent, sir." + +"What's that?" questioned Walter. "Here, give me a paper." And he +grasped the sheet eagerly, while Si also purchased one of another sort. +Soon both were devouring the "scare-heads" showing upon each. + + THE FLYING SQUADRON READY TO SAIL! + + Schley and His Warships May Leave Hampton Roads To-night! + + The Spanish Fleet Said To Be On Its Way Westward! + + Has It Sailed for Cuba or Will It Bombard Some City on Our + Coast? + + The Authorities Very Reticent, but a Strict Watch To Be Kept + from Maine to Florida for the Appearance of the Enemy! + + +"By ginger, they're a-comin' over here, sure pop!" burst from the Yankee +youth's lips. "Supposing they bombard New York? Why, I heard tell that +they could lay out in the harbor and plant a shell right on the top of +Trinity Church, or come up to Boston Harbor and knock the top off of the +Bunker Hill monument!" + +"Our ships and forts won't give them the chance to come so close, Si. +But what I'm thinking of is, supposing the warships sail before we can +get on board?" + +"Thet's so!" Si Doring heaved a long sigh. "Why didn't we wait some +other time for to see the President? If we miss the ships, I don't know +what we'll do. We'll be stranded." + +"Oh, I presume, they'll put us on some other vessel. But my heart was +set on getting aboard the _Brooklyn_." And Walter sighed, too. + +Both had lost interest in eating, and swallowed the food mechanically. +Then, without waiting, they hurried back to the depot, bound that the +next train should not slip by. + +The route to Fortress Monroe was by way of Fredericksburg, Richmond, and +Newport News. Soon the train came along and they got aboard. The cars +were comfortable, but not nearly so elegant as the one previously +occupied. + +"It is odd to me to see separate cars for negroes and whites," observed +Walter, after the journey had begun. "We don't have any such thing up +North." + +"They will be done away with in time, I guess," answered Si. "By the +way, I see in this newspaper that among the first troops to be sent to +Cuba will be two regiments of negroes. Hurrah for those boys, say I." + +It was growing dark, and soon the car lamps were lighted. The boys read +their newspapers through from end to end, and Walter learned that the +volunteer regiments were everywhere being sworn into the United States +service as rapidly as possible. + +"I wonder who will get to the front first?" he mused. "It would be odd +if they should send Ben to the Philippines instead of Cuba. If only +Larry was with me to go into the navy. I am sure he would enjoy this +sort of service." And thus musing, he dropped asleep, never dreaming of +the part his younger brother had taken in the contest of Manila Ray. + +"Richmond! Change cars for James City, Williamsburg, and Newport News!" +Such was the cry which awoke him. He arose sleepily, to find Si snoring +heavily. + +"Si, wake up!" he cried, and shook his companion. "We have to change +here." + +"Change--for what?" questioned the Yankee, as he blinked his eyes in the +glare of an electric light. "How far have we got?" + +"Richmond. Come--the other train leaves in a few minutes." + +It was early morning, and the depot platform was deserted excepting for +the passengers that left the train. Soon the second train rolled in, and +they found a double seat, and proceeded to make themselves comfortable. + +"By ginger! I never thought of 'em before," remarked Si, suddenly. + +"What?" + +"Our satchels, that we left in that first train." + +"I had mine checked through." + +"I didn't, because I wanted to look over some things of mine on the way +down." Si shook his head in dejection. "Say, but ain't I running up +against the worst luck ever was! I'll bet a new pocket-knife the satchel +is gone when I get to the end of this trip." + +"Oh, I hope not, Si. Did it contain much of value?" + +"It had my clothing in, a Bible that my mother gave me, and a ten-dollar +gold piece that I've been carrying around for twelve years for luck, +because it was given to me by a South American rain-maker, a kind of +water-witch I met in San Luiz, Brazil. And that ain't the worst on it, +either. The grip wasn't locked." + +"It's too bad. But let us hope it's all right, Si. Anyway, I wouldn't +worry until you know the truth," said Walter, trying to put a bright +face on the matter, and then he dropped asleep again, and the Yankee +youth presently followed his example. + +Luckily the train ran right through from Newport News to Hampton, which +is within two miles and a half of Old Point Comfort and Fortress Munroe. +The ride proved uneventful, and when they reached Hampton they fell +directly into the arms of Caleb Walton. + +"What does this mean?" demanded the old gunner, as he caught each by the +arm. "Missed the train, eh? I told you to be careful." + +"We'll know better next time," answered Walter. "But what of the Flying +Squadron? Has it sailed?" + +"Not yet, but the ships may leave Hampton Roads at any hour. I made up +my mind to wait for this train and then go on. I sent the others ahead." + +"What of my satchel?" put in Si. + +"It's in the baggage room. But hurry up; every hour counts just about +now." And he led the way to where the bag had been left. + +"Here is a big wagon bound for the fort," said Walton, as they left the +station. "We'll ride down on that, for the soldiers in charge gave me +permission, should you show up." + +The wagon was loaded with blankets, and the pile made a soft seat. Soon +there came a crack of a whip, and they were off, down a sandy highway +leading directly to the sea. Soon the salt air filled their nostrils. + +"Oh, we're in good shape to give the Dons a hot reception, if they show +themselves around here," said one of the soldiers, in reply to a +question from Walter. "We've got some of the finest guns in the country +at the fort, and can reach a ship ten or twelve miles out in the +harbor." + +"I should like very much to inspect a real fort," answered the youth. +"The guns must be even more complicated than on board a warship." + +"The disappearing guns are very fine. But I doubt if you could get +permission to go through now--at least, not until you were duly enlisted +into the navy and had your uniform on. You know we have strict orders to +keep all outsiders at a distance. We don't want any Spanish spies to get +plans of our hidden batteries and the fort itself." + +"Would they dare to try to get them?" asked Si. "'Pears to me that would +be a mighty risky piece of business." + +"Certainly they would try. You mustn't think that all Spaniards are +cowards--even if the authorities are responsible for blowing up the +_Maine_. They'll give us a good shake up, if they get the chance." + +"I don't think so," said Caleb Walton. "They are not as up-to-date as we +are. I know we can beat 'em at gun practice every round." + +"Don't brag. Wait till the war is over." + +"I'm not bragging--only talking facts, sergeant. I have a friend at the +Brooklyn Navy-Yard, and he wrote to me about the gunners on the +_Vizcaya_, when that Spanish warship was lying off Staten Island this +spring. He said they were--well tired, I reckon we'd call it,--and +didn't have any drills worth mentioning all the while the ship was +there. Now you know that won't do." + +"Oh, yes, I know a man must keep at his drills if he doesn't want to +grow rusty." + +"Besides that, you must remember that four-fifths of their sailors don't +enlist for themselves. They are shanghied out of the seaport towns, made +drunk, and taken on the ships like so many cattle, and they are lucky if +they get away inside of ten or fifteen years. And in addition the +cat-o'-nine tails is always dangling afore their eyes. Now a man +treated like that can't make a good sailor, for the simple reason that +he knows he has been treated unjustly, and he can't take an interest in +his duties." + +"Gracious, don't you think you are stretching it a bit?" put in Walter. +"What of their officers?" + +"Nearly every one of them comes from the ranks of the nobility, and that +takes a good deal of ambition from the men, too, knowing it will be next +to impossible for them to rise, even to a petty office. Now in our navy +it's totally different. A man enlists of his own free will, he is +treated fairly even though subject to rigorous discipline, and if it's +in him he can rise to quite a respectable office and earn a good +salary--and he's certain to get his money, while the Spanish sailors and +soldiers go without a cent for months and months." + +"T know what you say about wages is true," said the sergeant in command +of the army wagon. "I have it from a friend who left Havana when Lee, +our consul, came away, that the majority of the Spanish troops stationed +about the city hadn't seen a pay-day for nearly a year." + +"And then there is another thing," continued Caleb Walton. "The +Spaniards have little mechanical ability, and before this war broke out +they had a great number of engineers and the like who were foreign +born--Englishmen, Frenchmen, and Germans principally. Now those men +won't stay on Spain's warships during this little muss,--at least the +Englishmen and Germans won't,--and a green hand at a marine engine can +do more damage in ten minutes than a ship-yard can repair in a month. +Take it, all in all, therefore, I think we have the best of it," +concluded the old gunner. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE MEN BEHIND THE GUNS + + +By the time Fortress Monroe was reached it was quite dark, so but little +could be seen outside of those sturdy and frowning walls behind which +were concealed the heavy guns intended to protect the entrance to +Chesapeake Bay. + +The warships rode at anchor some distance beyond. To the squadron had +just been added the protected cruiser _Minneapolis_, and the _New +Orleans_ and _St. Paul_ were also expected, and all was a buzz of +excitement alongshore. + +"They'll be off before long," said one old soldier. "I know because I +saw one of the captains saying good-by to his family. Such a parting +means a good deal." + +"I understand a Spanish warship was sighted last night," put in another. +"We may have a fight right here unless Schley keeps his eyes open." + +"Oh, he's got the _Scorpion_ out on scout duty--she can take care of any +sneak work," was the answer. He referred to the gunboat _Scorpion_ of +the auxiliary navy, which was doing duty just beyond the capes. The +_Scorpion_ was fast, and carried a strong searchlight, so it was likely +nothing could pass her without being detected and the alarm being given. +Alarms were numerous, but they were likewise all false, for no Spanish +ship of war came anywhere near our coast. + +A boat was in waiting at the wharf, and Walter, Si, and the others were +ordered aboard without delay. The boat was manned by eight sturdy +jackies. + +"Up oars!" came the command, and up went the eight blades straight into +the air; "Let fall!" and the oars fell into the water; "Give way!" and +the blades moved in a clock-like stroke, and they were off to the ships. +It was destined to be many a day before Walter should set foot on land +again. + +"Halt! who goes there?" came suddenly from out of the darkness, and +Walter saw that they were lying beside what looked to be a bulging wall +of dark-colored steel. + +"Aye! aye!" was the answer, and there followed a short talk. "Got ten of +them, sir," said the wardroom officer, in charge of the small boat. Then +a rope ladder was thrown down, and the newcomers clambered aboard the +warship that was to be their home for so long to come. + +Walter gazed about him eagerly, but that look was hardly satisfactory, +for to the darkness was now added a heavy fog through which the ship's +lights shone but faintly. All had their baggage, and without ceremony +they were told to fall in, and were then marched below by order of the +officer of the deck. + +"This looks like home to me," exclaimed Caleb Walton, as he gazed around +the berth deck. "I went over the _Brooklyn_ many a time when she was up +at the navy-yard, so I know her from stem to stern." He took Walter by +the arm. "Here is the baby I hope to manage," he whispered, and pointed +to one of the starboard monsters, whose long muzzle pointed frowningly +outward. "Isn't she a daisy?" + +"I suppose she is," was the boy's reply. "But how in the world do you +manage such a mass of metal? Surely a man can't do it by hand." + +"It might be done by hand, but nowaday everything is worked by +electricity and hydraulic pressure. You'll learn it all after you have +been on board awhile. At present just do what you are told and keep your +eyes open." + +Supper had been served some time before, but as it was not intended to +let the newcomers go hungry, a table was set and they messed together. +The swinging table and the tableware all interested Walter, especially +when he was provided with his own personal cup, plate, spoon, knife, and +fork. + +"As a gunner I'll mess with the other warrant officers," exclaimed Caleb +Walton, in reply to a question about messes from Walter. "You see, there +are a great number of tables. The commodore is entitled to dine alone, +so is the captain and the commander, while the other officers have what +they call the wardroom mess. Then there are the steerage mess, for +midshipmen, ensigns, and clerks; the master-at-arm's mess, for yeomen, +machinists, boiler-makers, and so on; and three or four other messes +besides, including that to which you will belong. We gunners dine with +the boatswain, sail-maker, and carpenter." + +The meal was a plain one, of bread and butter, coffee, cold corned +beef, and apple sauce, but it was well cooked, and all the new men and +boys ate heartily. As soon as it was finished, Walton hurried off to +interview Captain Cook, if he could obtain that privilege. + +"Well, where are we going to sleep? I don't see any beds," said one of +the boys, a timid lad named Paul Harbig. His query brought forth a roar. + +"Your bed is rolled up and lashed away, Paul," answered Si, who had +rather taken to the little lad. "Do you see those gratings over yonder?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, all the hammocks for this deck are stowed away behind that. When +it comes time to go to bed, we'll get them out, fasten them up to the +hooks you see about you, and there you are. And let me tell you there is +nothing finer nor a good canvas hammock to sleep in. I'll take it before +I take a greasy, dirty bunk in a buggy fo'castle every time." + +"But a fellow may fall out," suggested Paul. + +"If you're afraid of that, get a rope's-end and tie yourself in," +answered Si, philosophically. "But you won't tumble, unless we strike +some putty rough weather." + +The order was now passed to bring along all baggage, and Walter and Si +picked up their satchels. Thinking to take out several things he needed, +the Yankee youth opened his bag and put his hand inside. + +"By ginger!" came from him in an undertone, but loud enough for Walter +to hear. + +"What's up, Si?" + +"Thet ten-dollar gold piece is gone!" + +"Are you sure? Perhaps it has slipped among some of the clothing." + +"I'll soon see," was the quick response, and the Yankee youth dumped the +articles out in a heap. Sure enough, the golden eagle was gone. + +"Somebody has robbed me," came in a groan. "Now who did it, do you +suppose?" + +"I'm sure I don't know. It might have been done here or on the train, or +at the depot." + +Si looked around him sharply. Not far away stood Jim Haskett, watching +him intently. As soon as the ex-mate of the _Sunflower_ saw that he was +noticed he turned away. + +"I've got half a notion Haskett was the one to play me foul," he +whispered to Walter. "What do you think?" + +"He wouldn't be much of a man to rob a messmate of ten dollars." + +"Oh, you don't know Haskett. He's as close as he is brutal. Once we got +up a list to give Captain Pepperill a birthday present, but Haskett, +although he was first mate, only gave twenty-five cents,--no more than +Cooley, the cook, chipped in. In his eyes a ten-dollar gold piece is a +big lot of money." + +"It wouldn't do you any good to accuse him if you wasn't pretty certain +he was guilty," returned Walter, cautiously. "You don't want to get into +trouble right after coming on board. If you raised a row, they might put +both you and Haskett in the brig." + +"I'm going to ask him about it, anyway," answered the Yankee youth. +"See, he is looking at us, and it 'pears to me as if he was enjoying +himself to see me in trouble." + +Leaving his satchel and scattered clothing as they were, Si advanced +upon Haskett and without ceremony caught the man's shoulder. + +"Haskett, I want to ask you something," he said, in a low tone. "Do you +know anything about this, or don't you?" + +"I don't know--" The ex-mate of the _Sunflower_ stopped short. "What are +you talking about, Doring?" + +"I left my satchel on the train, as you know. A ten-dollar gold piece is +missing. I want to know----" + +"What! do you accuse me of taking it?" demanded the man, wrathfully. + +"I asked you if you knew anything about it." + +"No, I don't. I've got my own affairs to look after. More than likely +the car porter took your money--if you really had that amount." + +"Well, I'm going to find that gold piece sooner or later, as sure as my +name is Si Doring," exclaimed the Yankee youth, determinedly, and with a +shake of his head he rejoined Walter and Paul Harbig. + +The officer who had previously taken them in charge now came forward and +assigned them to their various sleeping places. This matter was readily +arranged, for one of the main features of the cruiser _Brooklyn_ is her +commodious berthing quarters, there being two complete decks, running +from end to end of the ship, for this purpose, also an extra forecastle, +so that the vessel can accommodate a thousand men if required--a number +nearly double that of her usual crew. + +"It's a big hotel, with one room on a floor," thought Walter, as he took +the hammock assigned to him. He was glad to find Si on one side of him +and Paul Harbig on the other. Si showed both boys how to take their +canvasses and sling them. This work was just completed, when Caleb +Walton came back with a broad smile on his face. + +"It's all right," he whispered to Walter. "The captain treated me better +than I thought he would. He called up the chief gunner, and we had a +talk, and you are to take the place of a man named Silvers, who has gone +lame through having a cat-block fall on his foot. If you'll only mind +yourself, and study up as I tell you, you'll have the chance of your +life." + +"Study! I'm ready to begin right off," answered Walter, earnestly. "I'm +just crazy to get at that gun you pointed out to me. Can't you show me +something to-night?" + +Caleb Walton laughed outright. "Don't try to learn it all before you go +to bed, Walter," he said. "Of course, you know more than some +landlubbers who think that on warships of to-day they handle the guns +as they used to, when one man took the powder and ball from the +powder-monkeys, another rammed them home in the gun, and the gunner +sighted his piece and pulled the string. Those days are gone, and a head +gunner like myself has very little to do, even if the position is a +responsible one. Come, I'll get permission to go below, and show you +just how a big gun is served from start to finish. Folks talk about 'the +man behind the gun' when they really mean from eight to twelve men." + +The two hurried off, and presently descended an iron staircase which +seemed to lead into the very bowels of the ship. At last they came to a +steel trap-door, barred and locked. + +"Below this door is one of the magazines," explained Caleb. "It contains +the ammunition for the eight-inch guns in the turret above. The keys to +the magazine are in the captain's cabin, and can only be had on special +order and by certain persons. The magazines are kept locked continually, +excepting when in use or when being inspected. All of them are connected +with huge water tanks, so at the first sign of a fire they can be +flooded, thus lessening the danger of an explosion." + +"Yes, I remember the Spaniards tried to prove that the _Maine_ blew up +from one of her magazines." + +"Such a thing couldn't happen in the American navy, because the +discipline is too strict. Now, when a gun is being served, several men +in the magazine get out the shells for the shellmen, who load them on +the ammunition hoist over there, which is nothing more than a warship +dumbwaiter. The hoist takes the shells up to the guns, in this case in +the forward turret. Other hoists supply the rear turret and the +secondary battery and other guns, including the rapid-firing weapons in +the military tops." + +"You mean those platforms around the upper ends of the two masts?" + +"Exactly. The tops are the places for the sharpshooters and the +range-finders." + +"The range-finders?" + +"Exactly. You see, it is a difficult matter to get an exact range on an +enemy several miles off, and we have to try to get the range in various +ways. One of the simplest ways is to station two range-finders in the +tops, as far away from each other as possible. Each man gets a bead on +the enemy with his glasses, and then proceeds to get the angle between +the bead and an imaginary line drawn between his station and that taken +by the other fellow. The three points--that is, the two range-finders +and the enemy--form a triangle, and having one line and the two angles +to work on, the working out of the problem gives the distance the +gunners are hunting for." + +"That makes pointing a gun nothing but a mathematical problem doesn't +it?" + +"It makes it partly a mathematical problem, lad. But having the distance +isn't everything, for that will only give us the height at which a gun +should be elevated in order to make its charge cover that distance and +hit the mark, instead of flying over it or ploughing the water below it. +After getting the distance we have to calculate on how the enemy's +vessel is moving, if she is under steam, and then, most important, we +have to let the gun go off at just the right motion of our own craft. In +some navies they discharge the guns on the upward roll of the ship, and +in others on the downward roll. My private opinion on that point is, a +downward roll in clear weather, and an upward roll in a choppy sea, when +you don't know just what is coming next." + +"I see. Firing a gun isn't so easy as one would imagine." + +"Easy enough if you want to waste ammunition, as those Spaniards did at +Manila. Gun practice is expensive, and Spain hasn't any money to waste +in that direction. Come, we'll have to get up to sleeping quarters now," +concluded the old gunner, as a drum beat was heard sounding throughout +the warship. "That's tattoo. It will soon be two bells, nine o'clock, +and then comes pipe down." + +"All right, I'm willing enough to go to sleep," said Walter. "But just +one question more. How do you count the time by bells on a warship?" + +"Just the same as on any ship, lad. The bell strikes at each half-hour, +starting at half-past twelve at night, which is one bell. This makes one +o'clock, two bells, half-past one, three bells, and so on, up to four +o'clock, which is eight bells, when you start again from the beginning. +By this means the day and night are divided into periods of time called +watches, as morning watch, middle watch, dog watch, and the like. You'll +get the lay of it soon," finished Walton, and then, having reached the +berth deck, the pair separated for the night. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +COMMODORE WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY + + +In a couple of days Walter began to feel at home on the flagship, and he +could no longer be termed a "greeny," strictly speaking, although there +were still a great number of things for him to learn. He was much +interested in the _Brooklyn_ as a whole as well as in detail, and was +proud to learn that this armored cruiser was the largest of the class in +our navy, having a displacement of 9215 tons, as against her sister +ship, the _New York_, which had a displacement of about a thousand tons +less. + +"This ship is just four hundred feet and six inches long," said Caleb. +"She don't look so long as she rides the water, but as a city block is +ordinarily two hundred feet deep, so to speak, she would cover two +blocks of a side street, providing the street was sixty-five feet wide, +for her to rest in. That's pretty big, eh?" + +"And how much water does she draw, Walton?" + +"Draws twenty-four feet, which is the height of an ordinary two-story +house. Her three smokestacks are about a hundred feet high each, and +that gives her fires a first-class draught, sailing or standing still." + +"I'm awfully glad I'm on her," smiled Walter. "Oh, I do hope we have a +fight with the Dons. I want to see the big guns go off. I know the main +battery, as you call it, has eight 8-inch guns. How many guns are there +besides?" + +"There are twelve 5-inch rapid-fire guns, twelve 6-pounders, four +1-pounders, four Colts, and two field guns. Besides, we carry four +torpedo tubes." + +"We're a regular floating arsenal!" exclaimed Walter. "It must make +things shake when they all get to firing." + +"You'll think you've struck the infernal regions, lad, if we ever do get +them all a-going. Yes, the _Brooklyn_ is nothing but a floating fort. +She's an unusual type, because she has an extra high forecastle deck. +Some folks don't think that makes her a beauty, but they must remember +that warships aren't built altogether for looks, although to my mind +she's as handsome as any of 'em. The high bow enables us to carry our +forward guns eight feet higher than those on the _New York_, and it will +come in mighty handy if we ever want to run full steam after an enemy in +a heavy sea which would drown out a ship with a low freeboard." + +"And why is she called an armored cruiser?" + +"Because she is protected by steel plating three inches thick on her +sides and on her deck, and under this is an additional protection of +coal and of cocoa-fibre, for keeping out water. It would surprise you to +see how the sides and deck, as well as the bottom, are built, were they +taken apart for examination." + +Discipline Walter found very strict, and once he had donned his uniform +he was kept employed from sunrise to sunset, his duties being largely +similar to those performed by his brother Larry on the _Olympia_. Early +in the morning he was aroused by the blare of a bugle, or the roll of a +drum, and given but a few minutes in which to dress and roll up his +hammock and put it away. Then came the work of washing down the deck, +followed by breakfast, and later all hands were called to quarters, to +attend some drill, sometimes at the guns, sometimes at the hose pipes +scattered about in case of fire, and occasionally with small-arms and +with cutlasses. Each afternoon there was a "run around," lasting from +ten minutes to half an hour. In this the men fell in singly or in pairs, +and ran around and around the deck, at first slowly until "second wind" +was gained, and then faster and faster. This is the one chance a jackie +gets of stretching his legs while on board of his ship, and how he does +enjoy it! + +Taking them as a whole, Walter found the ship's company a jolly crowd, +with but few men of the Jim Haskett stamp among them. The men connected +with the guns were a particularly brotherly set, and the youth soon felt +thoroughly at home among them. He was always willing to do anything +asked of him, and in return the best gunners on the vessel did not +hesitate to give him "points" whenever he asked for them. One jocularly +called him The Questioner, but Walter did not mind, and went on picking +up all the information possible. + +On his second morning on board Walter was talking to Si when a low roll +of drums reached their ears. "Hark!" cried the Yankee boy. "Two ruffles. +Do you know what that means? The commodore is either leaving or coming +on board. They always give a high officer that salute, or a similar +one." + +"Let us see him if we can," exclaimed Walter, who had not yet caught +sight of the commander of the squadron. They crowded to an open port and +were just in time to see Commodore Schley descend by the swinging ladder +to the gig. Soon the little craft shot out of sight through the fog, for +the day was far from clear. + +"He looks like a fighter," remarked Walter. "He has quite a record, +hasn't he?" + +"Yes, indeed, I was reading about him only last week. He was in the +Civil War, operating along the Mississippi, and after that he saw a lot +of fighting besides." + +"I know all about our commodore," said a gunner standing near. "My +father fought with him on the Mississippi, and also when Port Hudson, in +Louisiana, was taken. He is named after General Winfield +Scott,--Winfield Scott Schley,--for his father and the general were warm +friends." + +"It's a good name for a fighter; for certainly nobody fought better than +did General Scott, through the war with Mexico," was Walter's comment. + +"Schley entered the Naval Academy in 1856 and remained until 1861, when +the war broke out," continued the gunner. "They say he graduated at the +head of his class and was so well liked that he was given sea-duty on +the frigate _Potomac_, and in 1862 he was made a master, and ordered on +the _Winona_, of the Gulf Squadron. + +"After the Civil War was over, he was sent to the Pacific, and there he +aided in the suppression of an outbreak among the Chinese coolies in the +Chin Chi Islands. The United States consulate at this place was in +danger of being mobbed, but Schley took a hundred marines ashore, and +knocked the whole uprising in the head in short order." + +"No wonder he's a commodore," said Walter; and Si nodded approvingly. + +"It wasn't long before the young officer was made a +lieutenant-commander, and coming back from the Pacific, he was placed in +charge of a department at the Naval Academy. He remained ashore for +three years, then went to the coast of Africa, on the _Benicia_, where +he took part in a number of contests, and helped clear the Congo River +of pirates, and overthrew the forces defending the Salu River in Corea, +another bit of work for which he was warmly praised." + +"Oh, he's a corker," cried Si, enthusiastically. + +"I'm not done yet," went on the gunner, who loved to talk about the +exploits of his old commander. "Of course you have heard how the Greely +Expedition to the North Pole got lost and couldn't get back home. Well, +it was Schley who went after them, and found Greely and six of his +companions at Cape Sabine and brought them safely back. For this +Congress voted him a medal, and President Arthur raised him to the full +rank of captain and made him Chief of the Bureau of Equipment, a very +important office in the Naval Department. But Schley couldn't stand it +on land, he must have the rolling ocean under him, and so he gave up his +berth ashore and took command of the _Baltimore_." + +"I remember about that," put in Walter. "I was reading about John +Ericsson, the inventor of the monitor. When Ericsson died, the body was +sent to Sweden, his fatherland, on the _Baltimore_ under Schley." + +"Exactly, and the King of Sweden gave Schley a medal to commemorate the +event, at a grand gathering at Stockholm. From Sweden Schley took the +_Baltimore_ to Southern waters, and while off the coast of Chili he +smoothed out what threatened to become a serious difficulty between that +country and ours on account of some of Uncle Sam's jackies being stoned +on the streets of Valparaiso. For this the Navy Department was extremely +grateful, and he went up several points on the register, so that it +didn't take him long to become a commodore." + +"He's certainly a man worth sailing under," said Walter. "I suppose he +is married?" + +"Yes, and has several children--but that don't interest me," concluded +the gunner, who was an old bachelor, with a peculiar dislike for the +gentler sex. + +Since the time that Si had spoken to Haskett about the missing money, +the seaman had steered clear of both the Yankee lad and Walter. Perhaps +he was afraid that Si would accuse him openly of the theft of the gold +piece, or perhaps he was afraid of Caleb Walton, who was continually +around and ready to champion his "boys," as he had dubbed both. But +there was one boy who could not get away from him, and that was Paul +Harbig. + +"You're just the right sort to take to," said Haskett, as he caught Paul +by the arm one morning, while both were coming from mess. "You're too +much of a real little man to have anything to do with that Russell boy +or Si Doring." + +"Oh, I like them both very much!" answered Paul, and attempted to pass +on. With a frown Haskett caught him by the arm and swung him back. + +"See here, I want to talk to you," he cried uglily. "Has Si Doring been +telling you any yarns about me?" + +[Illustration: "SEE HERE, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU."] + +"You let go of me," was Paul's only answer. "I don't want anything to do +with you." + +"Answer my question." + +"I haven't got to." And now Paul did his best to get away. He had just +twisted himself loose when Jim Haskett struck him a cruel blow on the +head. + +"You--you brute!" gasped the boy, as the tears came. He was about to try +retreating again, when Haskett caught him once more. + +"Now answer me, or I'll thrash the life out of you," he hissed into +Paul's ear. "And mind you tell the truth." + +"He said that he had a--a--" the boy broke off short. "I won't tell you, +there! Now let go!" And he began to squirm. + +"I know what he said," blustered Haskett. "Said he had had a ten-dollar +gold piece in his valise, didn't he?" + +"Ye-es." + +"And he accused me of taking it, eh?" + +"He didn't say so outright. He said you had been where you could get at +the bag." + +"It amounts to the same thing. As a matter of fact I couldn't get at the +bag any more than could you, or Russell, or Walton, or any of the +others." + +"I suppose that is so. Now let me go." + +"I will in a minute, but I want to tell you something, for it's not nice +to have folks taking you to be a thief," went on Haskett, tactfully. + +"I haven't said anything about the affair." + +"Perhaps not, Paul, but Doring talks, and I reckon so do Russell and +Walton. During the past couple of days I've found more than one fellow +aboard the _Brooklyn_ looking at me queer-like, and I can put two and +two together as quick as the next man. If I allow this to go on, there +won't be a soul speak to me after a while." + +"I shan't say a word--I'll promise you." + +"It's Russell who will talk the most, I reckon," went on Haskett, with +apparent bitterness. "Russell, the very fellow who ought not to say a +word." + +"I'll caution him, if you want me to," went on Paul, who was +tender-hearted and very willing to help anybody out of trouble. + +"Caution Russell! Not for the world. See here, I'll tell you something, +and you can tell Doring or not, just as you please. To the best of my +knowledge Russell is the thief." + +"Walter!" ejaculated Paul. "Oh, no, you must be mistaken. Why, why--how +could he get at the satchel? He was with Doring." + +"I don't know about that. But I'm almost positive Russell is guilty." + +"Have you any proof? You shouldn't say such a thing unless you have," +retorted Paul, anxious to stick up for Walter, who had served him +several good turns since they had become acquainted. + +"I've got more proof against Russell than Doring has against me," +answered Jim Haskett, boldly. "And what is more, I can prove what I've +got to say." + +"But what have you to say?" came in a cold, heavy voice behind Haskett, +and turning swiftly the former mate of the _Sunflower_ found himself +confronted by Caleb Walton. The old gunner's face looked stern and +angry. + +"Why--er--where did you come from?" stammered the seaman. + +"I asked you what you have to say against Walter Russell," demanded +Caleb. "Come, out with it, or by the jumping beeswax, I'll wipe up this +deck with you!" And he doubled up his fists. + +"I'm not afraid, if you want to fight, Walton," replied Haskett, +recovering somewhat from his fright. "What I said about Russell, I'll +stick to." + +"But what have you got to say? out with it," was the old gunner's +demand. + +"I've got this much to say. I think Russell took Doring's gold piece, +and I am not the only one that does either. If you think I'm wrong, ask +Cal Blinker, the shellman. He heard almost as much as I did." + +"Heard what?" + +"Heard Russell talk in his sleep. It was last night. I got up to get a +drink of water and slipped and roused up Blinker. Then, when I went to +the water tub, I passed Russell's hammock. He was dreaming and talking +about the gold piece and saying that Doring would never learn that he +had it, and a lot more about hiding it under the gun. He went on about +the money and about hiding it for fully ten minutes. If you don't +believe me, go to Blinker about it." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WALTER SHOWS HIS PLUCK + + +"And is that all you have to say?" asked Caleb Walton, after a few +seconds of silence, during which he gazed so sharply at Jim Haskett that +the fellow felt compelled to drop his eyes. "Because a fellow dreams +about a gold piece, must you accuse him of stealing?" + +"That's all right, too," responded Haskett, doggedly. "I know he +wouldn't dream that way unless there was something in the wind. I'm +satisfied he took the money." + +"And I am satisfied that he is innocent," cried Caleb. "That boy would +never steal a cent from anybody." + +"Why, he was after a thief himself before he left Boston," put in Paul, +who had now sought protection behind the old gunner. + +"Well, suit yourselves," answered Haskett, with a shrug of his somewhat +rounded shoulders. "But let me tell you that I won't allow Russell, +Doring, or anybody else to speak of me as having taken the money--mind +that!" And he shook his fist savagely. + +"Here comes Walter now," announced Paul. "Walter, come here!" he called +out, before Caleb could stop him. + +At once Walter came up, an inquiring look upon his manly face, which was +now becoming sunburnt through exposure on deck. "What do you want, +Paul?" he asked. + +"It's only some of Haskett's nonsense," answered Caleb, ere the boy +could speak. "Tell us, lad, do you remember dreaming anything about Si's +gold piece?" + +For the instant Walter looked puzzled, then his face brightened. "I do," +he answered. "What of it?" + +"Tell us what you dreamed first." + +"Why--I--I can't remember exactly, excepting that I was having a good +lot of worry about it," he stammered. "You know how dreams come and go." + +"To be sure, Walter." + +"You dreamt about the money you hid, didn't you?" said Haskett, +sneeringly. + +"The money I hid? I hid no money." + +"Oh no, of course not!" + +"See here, Haskett, what do you mean?" And Walter strode over to the +seaman, his face flushing deeply. "Do you mean to insinuate that I took +Si's gold piece and hid it away?" + +"He just does," burst out Paul. "And he says you talked in your sleep +about it, too." + +"It is false--at least, it is false that I took the money. I might have +dreamed about it and talked in my sleep. We are not accountable for what +we do when we are sleeping." + +"Perhaps you took the gold piece when you were asleep," said Haskett, +squinting suggestively at those surrounding him. + +"The gold piece was taken while Si and I were left behind in Washington. +It was taken by somebody on the train." + +"That's your story--and you've been trying to lay the thing at my door. +But I shan't stand it--not me," stormed Haskett. "I heard what you said +in your sleep, and so did Cal Blinker. If anybody is guilty, it is you!" +And he pointed his long, bony finger full in Walter's face. + +By this time a crowd of a dozen or more had gathered round, realizing +that a quarrel of some sort was in progress. "It's about a gold piece," +said one. "Haskett says Russell took it. Say, fellows, we don't want +anything to do with a thief." + +"Not much we don't!" answered a messmate. "Heave him overboard if he is +guilty." + +"This matter ought to be reported to the officer of the deck," put in a +third. "If there is a thief on board, no man's ditty-box will be safe." + +At Haskett's concluding remark Walter's face grew as red as a beet, then +deadly pale. For a moment he stood stock still, breathing heavily. +Suddenly he leaped forward with clenched fist and struck Haskett a +stunning blow on the chin which sent the seaman staggering up against a +gun-carriage. + +"That, for talking to me in this fashion!" he exclaimed. + +"Oh!" grunted the ex-mate of the _Sunflower_, as he caught at the gun +just in time to prevent himself from falling to the deck. "You--you +young rascal, what do you mean by hitting me?" + +"A fight! a fight!" cried several, and soon a crowd of about fifty +jackies surrounded the pair. + +"Wasn't that a pretty blow though! And he's only a boy, too!" came from +a gunner's mate. + +"I'll fix you for this!" went on Haskett, putting one hand to his chin, +where a lump was rising rapidly. "I never before allowed anybody to hit +me--leastwise a boy." And he rushed at Walter with a fierceness which +boded the youth no good. + +"Don't you hit him, Haskett," put in Caleb, catching the seaman by the +arm. "If you do, you'll have to settle this affair with me." + +"He hit me." + +"And you as much as said he was a thief." + +"And so he is." + +"I am not, and I've a good mind to hit you again for saying so," burst +out Walter, and before anybody around could separate them he and Haskett +had closed in. Several ineffective blows were struck on each side, when +they were pulled apart. + +"This won't do, Walter," whispered Caleb. "If you're not careful, you'll +spend a week in the brig." + +"But--but it's awful to have him say I'm a--a--" + +"I know, I know. But keep cool, lad; it's best, take my word for it. +You've been on board only a few days, but you have made lots of +friends, while I reckon most of the men have already sized up Haskett +for the meanest chap on board." + +"He has no right to talk about me." + +"He says you and Si Doring talked about him." + +Haskett now pushed his way forward again. "I don't want trouble with the +officers, so we'll let this matter drop for the present," he blustered. +"But I'll remember you, and some day you'll be mighty sorry we had this +little mix-up." And muttering some more that nobody could understand he +strode off, the majority of the crowd gazing after him curiously. + +"Ran away from a boy!" said one old tar. "He must be a regular coward, +and no mistake!" + +Many wanted Walter to relate his version of what had brought the +encounter about, but Caleb hurried the lad away to a corner, where he +took a wash up and brushed off his clothing. + +"I want to interview that Cal Blinker," said the youth. "Where can I +find him?" + +"Down around the forward ammunition hoist," answered Paul, and Walter +hurried off, accompanied by his friends. + +"Yes, I did hear you say something about a gold piece," the shellman +admitted. "You didn't talk very plainly and I understood very little. +Haskett said he understood every word. Well, maybe he did. I've been in +the navy so long that the noise of the big guns has affected my +hearing." + +"Did I say I stole the piece?" insisted Walter. + +"I don't know as you did. All I could make out was 'ten dollars in gold' +and 'the gun--just the place.'" + +This was all Cal Blinker had to say. He was rather old and it was plain +to see that he wanted nothing to do with the controversy, one side or +the other. + +Si Doring had been attending a special boat drill, and it was not until +an hour had passed that he came below and heard what had occurred. +Without hesitation he slapped Walter on the shoulder. + +"Don't you take this to heart," he said. "No matter what that mean old +rascal of a Haskett says, he'll never make me believe that you are +anything but perfectly straight. I believe yet that he took the gold +piece and that some day I'll be able to prove it." And there the +incident, for the time being, dropped. + +The manner in which Walter had "sailed into Haskett," as Caleb +expressed it, made the youth many friends among the crew, for if there +is one thing a jack tar loves it is to see a messmate stand up for +himself. "You're all right, you are," said more than one, and caught +Walter's hand in a grip calculated to break the bones. Several, who had +thought to play a few tricks on the "greeny," reconsidered their ideas +on the subject and concluded that it was best not to run any chances +with such a spirited lad. + +For some time Walter was afraid that the executive officer would hear of +the encounter and bring him to book for it; but if the "mix-up" was +reported, nothing came of it. As a matter of fact, Uncle Sam's officers +just then had affairs of more importance requiring their attention. + +For every hour on board of the warships composing the Flying Squadron +increased the anxiety concerning the Spanish ships which it was felt +were preparing to make a quick dash for Cuba or for our own coast. How +soon would these warships sail, and where would they make their presence +felt? those were the all-important questions commodore and captains +asked of each other. "They'll most likely try to break the blockade at +Havana," said one. "No, they'll bombard one of our down-east seacoast +cities," said another. "I think they'll rush through the Suez Canal to +fight Dewey," was the conclusion reached by a third. Under-officers and +men speculated quite as much as did their superiors, arriving at equally +opposite conclusions. "They have our whole seacoast and Cuba to pick +from," Commodore Schley said. "They will go where they can do the most +good--to their way of thinking. I think they'll go to Cuba or Porto +Rico." How correct the commander was history has shown. + +Although the _Scorpion_ was patrolling the ocean just outside of the +capes, a strict watch was kept on every one of the warships, night and +day. Rumors were numerous, and one was to the effect that the Spaniards +had a submarine craft in their service and that this boat would soon +arrive along our eastern seacoast, to destroy the shipping from Maine to +the Gulf of Mexico. In these days, when we know the truth, we can afford +to laugh at such a report, but to the jackies on the warships, who +remembered only too well the fate of the _Maine_, it was no laughing +matter. Even when off duty, many would go on the spar deck and lie flat, +gazing into the dark waters for the best part of a night, hoping to +catch a glimpse of the unknown terror, should it come to that vicinity. + +Sunday, with its deeply impressive church service, came and went, and +still the squadron lay at anchor. In the meantime it was rumored that +Sampson would soon take his most powerful vessels from the blockade and +bombard Havana. The newspapers reported this, but if such was the plan +of the Navy Department, it was altered at the last moment. + +On May 12 came news of a fierce fight in the harbor of Cardenas, a +seaport a hundred and twenty miles east of Havana. In an attempt to +effect a landing, the torpedo boat _Winslow_ had her boiler blown to +pieces and several men were killed and injured, among them Ensign Worth +Bagley, who was thus the first American officer to fall in the war. Two +other warships, the _Wilmington_ and the _Hudson_, also took part in the +contest, but were repulsed after a gallant onslaught lasting over an +hour. + +"This is war," said Caleb, as he read the news from the paper that one +of the gunners had just brought on board. "Those fellows on the +_Winslow_ caught it hot. Think of running right into that harbor and +having a shell drop and smash your boiler and send the live steam all +over you. I tell you Ensign Bagley was a plucky one, all honor to his +memory." + +The next day brought even more important news. Dewey had gained a +foothold in the Philippines, the main city of Cuba was in a state of +blockade, and now Rear-Admiral Sampson had shifted the scene of action +to Porto Rico, by shelling the forts of San Juan, the principal city of +Spain's only other possession in the West Indies. + +"We're getting there!" cried Caleb, excitedly. "We'll soon give the Dons +all they want." + +"If Sampson succeeds in making the San Juan forts surrender, the whole +city will be at our mercy," said Walter. "Hurrah for the American navy, +and every ship and man in it." + +"We are bound to get them on the run," put in Si. "Here is another +report about a fight at Cienfuegos. Where is that?" + +"On the southern coast of Cuba," answered Walter, who had always had a +good head for geography, and who, since the war had started, had studied +the map of Cuba closely. "Havana, San Juan, and Manila! Say, but this +is becoming a war of magnificent distances." + +"It's a naval war, that's what it is," said Caleb. "If we--hullo! Did +any of you see this telegram?" He pointed to his newspaper. "The Spanish +Squadron under Admiral Cervera has slipped away from Cape Verde Islands +and is undoubtedly bound westward." + +"And here is another report that some strange vessels, supposed to be +warships, have been sighted off Martinique, Windward Island," added +Walter, quickly. "I'll wager we leave soon!" + +"But where to--the Windward Islands?" queried Si. + +"That's for Commodore Schley to decide. Rest assured he'll find this +Admiral Cervera sooner or later, just as Dewey found old Admiral +Montojo." + +The news was spreading, and officers and men gathered in knots to +discuss the situation. As for Commodore Schley and Captain Cook, they +smiled knowingly, but said nothing. Everybody in the Flying Squadron +remembered what Dewey and his men had accomplished, and all were on +their mettle accordingly. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE SAILING OF THE FLYING SQUADRON + + +"We are off at last!" + +It was Walter who broke the news, as he came tumbling down the stairs to +the berth deck, where Si and Caleb were engaged in a friendly game of +checkers on the top of a ditty-box. + +"Off!" cried the old gunner, and leaped up, scattering the men on the +checkerboard in all directions. "Who told you?" + +"The signal has just been hoisted on the military mast. I couldn't read +it, but Sandram could and he translated it for me." + +Caleb waited to hear no more, but rushed on deck, with Walter and the +others following. The news was true, the signal flew the words, "Weigh +anchor and follow the flagship," and the heavy black smoke was pouring +in dense volumes from every warship's funnels. + +"I wonder where we are bound?" questioned Walter, whose heart was +thumping within him at the thought war might soon become a stern reality +to him. "Of course we are going after Admiral Cervera's ships." + +"I reckon that's right, but there's no telling," responded Caleb. "The +officers don't consult us when they want to move, you know." And he said +this so dryly that both Walter and Si had to laugh. + +The warships at hand were four in number,--the _Brooklyn_, which I have +already described, and the _Massachusetts_, _Texas_, and _Scorpion_. +With them was the collier _Sterling_, loaded to the very rail with huge +bags of coal, for the exclusive use of the Flying Squadron. + +The _Massachusetts_ was a battleship of the first-class, a sister ship +to the _Indiana_. She had a displacement of over ten thousand tons, and +a speed of sixteen knots per hour. Her massive armor was eighteen inches +thick--enough to withstand some of the heaviest shots ever fired from +any gun. Her armament consisted of a main battery of four 13-inch and +eight 8-inch guns and four 6-inch slow-fire guns. The secondary battery +comprised twenty 6-pounders, four 1-pounders, four Gatlings, and two +field-guns. Besides this she carried three torpedo tubes and an immense +quantity of small-arms. Captain Francis J. Higginson was in charge, with +Lieutenant-Commander Seaton Schroeder. + +The _Texas_ was a battleship of the second class, her displacement being +only 6315 tons. She had the honor to be the first vessel built when our +navy began its reconstruction, in 1886. Her armor was just one foot +thick, and she could speed along at the rate of nearly eighteen knots an +hour. Two 12-inch and six 6-inch slow-fire guns made up her main +battery, while her secondary battery counted up six 1-pounders, four +Hotchkiss and two Gatling guns. There were two torpedo tubes. The +_Texas_ was under the command of Captain John W. Philip and +Lieutenant-Commander Giles B. Harber. + +The _Scorpion_ was a despatch boat of the gunboat pattern, with a +displacement of six hundred tons, and a rapid-firing battery of four +5-inch and six 6-pounders. She was a swift craft, and had done duty as a +scout for a long time. + +The signal to weigh anchor was hoisted on the flagship at four o'clock +in the afternoon, and inside of half an hour the Flying Squadron and the +collier were standing down Hampton Roads toward the capes, each +ploughing the waters at a twelve to fifteen knot rate. The wharves +alongshore were lined with people, who waved their hats and their +handkerchiefs, and shouted out their best wishes for the departing ones. + +"Remember the _Maine_, boys, and send us a good account of yourselves!" +shouted one old Southern veteran, as he shook a partly empty coat sleeve +at them. "I wish I was younger; I'd go along and fight as well for the +old stars and stripes as I once did for the stars and bars." + +"Now you're talking," responded a Union veteran. "That other quarrel was +our own, eh, neighbor? Let foreign nations keep their hands off Uncle +Sam's family and the children seeking his protection. Three cheers for +Old Glory and Free Cuba!" And the cheers were given with a will, while +Fortress Monroe thundered out a parting salute. + +A number of other vessels, including the protected cruisers +_Minneapolis_ and _New Orleans_ and the auxiliary cruiser _St. Paul_ had +been left behind, to join their sister ships later on. The _New Orleans_ +was a warship but recently purchased from the Brazilian government, and +formerly known as the _Amazonas_. The _St. Paul_ had formerly been a +trans-Atlantic steamer, and was commanded by Captain Charles E. Sigsbee, +who had so gallantly stuck to his post until the last moment when the +_Maine_ was destroyed. + +Each of the warships had a harbor pilot on board and proceeded under a +full head of steam for the passage between the capes, which were passed +a little after seven o'clock in the evening. Leaving Cape Henry well to +starboard, the pilots were dropped, and the warships, taking the middle +course, as it is termed, disappeared from the gaze of those who had +watched their departure so eagerly. + +"We're out for a fight now, sure enough," said Caleb, as he and Walter +went below, each to the mess to which he had been assigned. "Orders are +to prepare for action, so I've just been told." + +"I noticed that lights were being extinguished," answered the youth. "Do +you suppose they are afraid that the Spanish warships are coming up this +way?" + +"No telling, lad. It's a game of hide and seek, until one fellow or the +other sneaks up and thumps his opponent in the neck. I only hope we're +in it to do the first thumping." + +Mess was scarcely over when there came a call to quarters. Ports were +closed with massive steel covers, the battle hatches were put down, and +the big guns were carefully loaded. Watches had, of course, already been +established, and now the men were ordered to take turns at standing by +the guns. + +"Which way are we pointing, eastward or down the coast?" questioned +Walter of Si, who had come up during his off hours to take a look at the +cloudy sky from which only a few stars were peeping. + +"We are moving almost directly southward," was the slow reply of the +Yankee youth, after a long look overhead. + +"And where will that bring us to, Si?" + +"It will take us to Cape Hatteras first, and if we keep on long enough +it will bring us to the neighborhood of San Salvador Island. But I +reckon we'll change our course after Hatteras is passed." + +"Isn't Hatteras a bad point to pass?" + +"Is it? You just ought to try it in dirty weather. Many a craft has left +her hulk off that cape. But such a craft as the _Brooklyn_, with her +high bow, ought to weather almost anything. To my mind, the worst thing +we can run into is a fog-bank, and that's just what we are likely to do +in this vicinity." + +The regular lights of the warship had been extinguished, but behind its +hood the great searchlight glowed and spluttered, ready to be turned to +one point or another at a second's notice. All was quiet on board, save +for the rumble and quiver of the powerful engines which were driving +this floating fort on her way through the rolling ocean. While daylight +lasted the vessels kept more or less apart, but with the coming of night +they closed in, and the fretting and puffing little _Scorpion_ darted +ahead on picket guard. + +Walter's duty at his gun came to an end at midnight, and none too soon +for the lad, whose head had suddenly begun to spin around like a top. "I +guess I'm getting seasick," he murmured to Si; and the Yankee lad at +once led him away to a secluded corner, where he might have matters all +his own way, and where none might look on and enjoy his misery. Once +Haskett started to pass some uncomplimentary remarks about Walter, but a +single stern look from Caleb silenced the seaman, who tumbled into his +hammock without another word. For several days Jim Haskett had kept his +distance, but he was only biding his time to "even up," as he termed it. +"I'll make young Russell feel mighty sore before I'm done with him," was +what he promised himself. + +Walter was expected to go on duty again at four o'clock, but he was in +no condition for service, and sent Caleb word to that effect. Paul took +the message and soon returned with a reply. + +"You're to take it easy until you're all right," said Paul. "Walton will +fix it up so there will be no trouble." + +"He's the best friend a fellow ever fell in with," sighed Walter. "If I +hadn't met him I don't know what I should have done." + +"Oh, you would have taken care of yourself," answered Paul, lightly. He +had not yet forgotten the attack Haskett had sustained at Walter's +hands. + +Daybreak found the squadron running into the first of a series of +fog-banks. At once the speed of each warship was reduced, and presently +it became necessary to use the fog-horns and ship-bells. In the meantime +all hands were put through several drills, "to get them into fighting +trim," as the officer of the deck explained. The drills lasted until +dinner time, and in some way they made Walter feel much better. As a +matter of fact, his spell of seasickness was of short duration, and once +gone, the malady never returned. + +"I'm a fine specimen of a jackie, am I not?" he said to Caleb, with a +faint smile, on first presenting himself. "Why, a Spaniard could knock +me over with a feather." + +"Don't you go for to find fault with yourself," was the old gunner's +reply. "I've known men who have been on the ocean for years to get sick +the first day out. It's something they can't overcome, try their best. +Why, I saw several officers of the marines as sick as so many dogs." + +Mess over, Walter went on deck for a breath of fresh air. They had just +left a fog-bank and were standing out boldly into the ocean. The youth +sauntered slowly forward as far as the rules permitted. + +"Sail O!" came suddenly from the military mast. + +"Where away?" demanded the officer on the bridge. + +"Dead ahead, sir." + +"Is she flying any flag?" + +"I think not, sir." + +"What does she look like?" + +"I can't make out very well, for she is running into the fog. I don't +know but that she looks a bit like a warship," continued the lookout, +after some hesitation. + +Without delay Commodore Schley and Captain Cook were notified. A brief +consultation took place, and it was decided to pursue the unknown craft +and find out what she was and where she was going. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +AN ADVENTURE OFF CHARLESTON + + +The news that a strange vessel was in sight soon travelled throughout +the ship, and all who could do so, crowded to the spar deck, while the +officers stationed themselves on the forecastle, bridge and other points +of vantage. + +There was no necessity to give the order, "Clear ship for action!" for +the _Brooklyn_ was already cleared. Moreover, all the big guns contained +their charges of eight-inch and other shells. The six-pounders and the +Colts were now "provided," as it is termed, and then there was nothing +to do but to lie by the guns and await further orders. + +Immediately upon notification that a strange sail was in sight, the +flagship had run up a signal to the _Scorpion_, "Follow the unknown ship +to the southward," and away darted the little gunboat at a rate of speed +which caused the mighty waves of the Atlantic to wash her decks from +end to end. Presently the sea proved almost too heavy for her and she +had to reduce her speed, and the _Brooklyn_ went ahead, her high +freeboard sending the water to port and starboard with scarcely an +effort. Once, however, she did get caught below an unusually high crest +and all on the forward deck received a liberal drenching. + +"Fire a shot across her bow!" was the order given, when the strange +craft again emerged from a fog-bank, and boom! one of the smaller guns +belched forth. The echoes of the shot had scarcely died away when the +unknown ship was seen to hoist the British flag. + +"Only a Britisher!" sighed Caleb, when the news came down to him. "And I +thought we were going to have the profit of a nice Spanish prize." + +Not caring to go entirely by the flag displayed, since the unknown ship +had acted so strangely, the _Scorpion_ was again sent forward to make an +investigation. In quarter of an hour she came up within hailing +distance. + +"What ship is that?" was bawled out through a megaphone. + +"British steamer _Elsie_. What gunboat is that?" + +"The _Scorpion_, of the United States navy. Where are you bound and what +have you on board?" + +"Bound for Norfolk, Virginia, with a cargo of phosphate rock." + +"Why didn't you show your flag before?" + +"Well, to tell the truth we were afraid we had run into some Spanish +warships, and that England might be mixed up in this muss, in which case +we didn't want to become a Spanish prize. How is it? are we in it yet?" + +"No, Uncle Sam is running this war without outside help," was the +concluding remark, and then the two vessels separated; and the Flying +Squadron proceeded on its way. + +Saturday found the course of the _Brooklyn_ changed to southwest by +south. "We are still hugging the coast," explained Si. "I shouldn't +wonder if we are to make a stop somewhere, say at Charleston or +Savannah." + +"Perhaps the commodore has word that the Spanish ships are sailing for +our south-east coast," suggested Walter. "My! what a nasty day it is +going to be." He referred to the mist, which was so heavy that it felt +almost like rain. For May, the weather was raw and cold, and all hands +were glad to stay below decks as much as possible. + +On this day another long exercise at the gun was had, and Walter learned +more thoroughly than ever how the charge was raised from the ammunition +hoists to the gun, pushed into place by the mechanical rammer, and how +the gun was moved up, down, or sideways by merely touching this button +or that wheel or lever. "It's wonderful!" he observed. "I suppose it +would be next to impossible to move such a big gun by hand." + +"Oh, it can be done," answered Caleb. "In the old navy they used to do +it by hand, and each gun had ten to sixteen men to man it. In those days +they had no device to lessen the shock of the recoil as we have now. +Instead of having a water cushion for the gun to strike on, they used a +heavy rope in the back, and sometimes the rope broke, and the gun did +more damage flying backward than the charge did flying forward." + +"They didn't have any breech-loaders in those days, did they?" + +"They had some in the Civil War, but not many before that. Everything in +the way of powder and ball had to be put into the muzzle, and was rammed +home by hand. The first breech-loading guns were clumsy affairs, and not +a few accidents were had by guns going off before the breeches were +properly locked." + +"And what about sighting the pieces?" + +"Oh, they have had dozens of devices for getting a correct aim, some +pretty good and some decidedly bad. In the old navy the guns didn't +carry near so far as they do now, and your old-time gunner was just what +his name calls for, for he sighted the piece and fired it himself. But +the old times are gone, and I expect one of these days all the work +still left will be done by machinery, and a dozen men sitting up in the +conning tower will control the warship from stem to stern." + +Walter laughed at this. "I reckon we're some time off from that yet, +Walton. But it is wonderful how much the commander can control by using +his bells, annunciators, speaking-tubes, and electrical indicators. I +guess that is a great improvement on the old way of yelling orders +through a speaking-trumpet and having a dozen middies rushing around +telling this man and that what to do." + +"No doubt of it, lad. But when it's all done and said, you must remember +one thing--we have still to prove the worth of our floating forts in war +times. Dewey did well at Manila, but it may be that the Spanish warships +out there weren't in the best condition. Now this Admiral Cervera, whom +we are after, has ships that are thoroughly up to date, and when his +outfit meets ours, then--well, we'll see what we will see," concluded +the old gunner. + +That afternoon Walter took his first lesson in making knots. He had had +some idea concerning a variety of knots which had been taught to him by +Larry, when he and his younger brother were sailing about Lake Erie, but +those which were now exhibited were truly bewildering. + +"The single bend and figure of 8 are easy enough," he sighed. "But when +you come to that sheep-shank and bowline upon the bight, as you term +them, it grows confusing." + +"This is only the beginning," answered Caleb. "After you know the knots, +you'll want to learn the hitches--half-hitch, rolling-hitch, and so +on,--and after that you'll want to take up the splices, and then the +different kinds of tackle,--long-tackle, single-whip, and all that. I +reckon those will keep your mind busy for a week or two. To be sure, +those things belong more to a seaman than a gun-hand, but it's good to +know how to do, in case you are called upon at some time." + +The night came on with a storm in the air. As before, all the lights +were extinguished, and the different watches took their turns at the +guns. Walter had just turned in when a shout rang out. "Another vessel +in sight!" As rapidly as possible the lad leaped up. + +"Is it a Spanish warship?" he asked. + +"Don't know," answered Caleb, laconically, but leaped to the gun, with +Walter and the others following. + +But it was only another scare, for the vessel in sight proved to be a +merchantman bound for a northern port. The big searchlight of the +_Brooklyn_ was turned upon her, and instantly every light on the +merchantman went out and the ship sneaked away with all sails set. No +effort was made to pursue her. + +"The captain of that craft will report falling in with a big Spanish +fleet; see if he don't," said Caleb; and the old gunner was right, as a +newspaper of a few days later proved. + +By noon on Sunday Charleston Harbor was sighted, and a few hours later +the squadron came to anchor near Charleston Bar, nine miles from the +city. + +"The _Sterling_ isn't in sight," said Walter, as he came on deck and +took a look behind. "I wonder if the heavy sea was too much for the +collier." + +"Oh, she'll turn up sooner or later," answered Si. "But a boat loaded as +she was isn't the safest thing to sail around such a point as Cape +Hatteras, I can tell you that." The collier came in before night, +reporting a thoroughly disagreeable trip. + +A lighthouse tender was at hand, ready to take the mail ashore, as well +as to deliver letters and special messages. The messages were at once +delivered to Commodore Schley. + +"I wonder how long we'll stop here," said Walter. "I wouldn't mind a run +ashore, just to see what the city looks like." + +"There goes a signal to the _Texas_," said Si, as the signalman took up +his flag and began to wig-wag. "Wait a moment till I read what he is +saying." + +"Can you read it?" asked Walter, in deep interest. + +"Certainly, it's easy enough." Si began to spell to himself. "'W-h-a-t, +what--i-s, is--y-o-u-r, your--b-e-s-t, best--r-a-t-e, rate--o-f, +of--s-p-e-e-d, speed--n-o-w, now?' He is asking what the _Texas_ can do +at once, so far as speed is concerned. That means something important. +Hold on, here comes the answer." Again the Yankee youth began to spell. +"Might go fifteen and a half knots." Then the signalman on the +_Brooklyn_ sent another message. "We are off on business now." And the +signal went up for the squadron to weigh anchor again. + +"We're off for a fight!" ejaculated Walter. "But tell me about that +wig-wagging, Si; how do they signal the letters?" + +"It's easy enough. You take a small flag of some bright color, attached +to a pole six or eight feet long. As soon as you attract the attention +of the other fellow, you begin to use the flag in three motions, to the +right, the left, and down in front. To the right means one, to the left +means two, and down in front means three. Now all the letters are +represented by combinations of numbers, and all you have to do is to +learn the combinations and spell ahead. It's easy enough when one gets +the hang of it. At night you can use a lantern instead of a flag." + +"That is easy," commented Walter. "But what about those signals at the +masthead. Can you read those?" + +"No. In those, most every flag represents a letter, or a word, or +sentence; but to read the signal you have got to have either the +international signal code-book, or else the United States Navy +code-book. The navy code is locked up in the captain's cabin, and the +book is weighted with lead, so that if anything happens, it can be +heaved overboard and sunk, thus keeping it out of the enemy's hands." + +"I declare, signalling isn't so difficult, after all," cried Walter. "To +me it looked like a perfect jumble." + +"The trouble with flags is, that when there's no wind they won't +straighten out so you can see 'em," put in Caleb, who had joined the +pair. "Lanterns are more to be depended upon, and they have a new system +now, called the Ardois electric, in which they use four powerful +electric lights, so that the signals can be read at a distance of +several miles. You'll learn all about them if you stay in the navy long +enough." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +IN WHICH THE GOLD PIECE COMES TO LIGHT + + +"Where now?" was the question which more than one man on board of the +_Brooklyn_ asked himself. But no answer was forthcoming. The commodore, +captain, and commander knew, of course, but they kept the information to +themselves. In war it is a rule not to let the enemy know what you are +doing until you do it, and so a strict guard was kept, so that no +information might leak out. Yet Spanish spies in Canada learned a good +deal, and notified the home government as quickly as it could be done. + +From Charleston the course was almost due south, and both Si and Caleb +came to the conclusion that the flagship and her sister craft were bound +for Cuban waters. "Perhaps we're going to join in the blockading of +Havana," remarked the old gunner. + +"Oh, I hope not," said Walter. "Riding in one spot day after day must +be awfully tiresome. I'd like to hunt the Spaniards out and do them +battle, as Dewey did. He didn't waste any time." + +Dewey's name was to be heard constantly, for the jackies never got done +talking about this first great victory of the war. Some of them had +served on the _Olympia_, _Boston_, and other vessels of the Asiatic +Squadron, and they described just how these boats were built, and what +parts they must have taken in the contest. + +"Don't grow impatient, Walter," said Caleb. "We'll run up against +something soon--perhaps more than you care for. It's easy enough to +think of sinking an enemy's ship. Supposing he puts a few thirteen-inch +shells through your craft, and you begin to go down--what then?" + +"I'll make the best of it," returned the boy, calmly. "I enlisted to +fight for Uncle Sam, and I'm willing to take what comes." + +Jim Haskett was passing when Walter made this remark, and his lip curled +with a sneer. "That boy is too big for his boots," muttered the seaman. +"I can't see what the other men find in him to like." + +Jim Haskett was more sour than ever, for his disagreeable ways had lost +to him the few friends he had picked up when first coming on board. The +fact that Si and Walter were growing more popular every day caused him +fairly to grate his teeth with rage. + +"I'll fix him, see if I don't," he told himself that night. "They shan't +tell everybody that I took that gold piece--when I didn't touch his +bag." + +Jim Haskett was one of those mean, unscrupulous men, who do a wrong and +then try to argue themselves into thinking that it is all right. It was +not true that he had taken the ten-dollar gold piece from Si's bag, but +it _was_ true that he had found the Yankee boy's satchel overturned and +partly open, and had closed it up and locked it, and afterward found the +money on the floor of the car within a few feet of where the bag had +stood. Any fair-minded man would have told himself that the gold piece +must be the one lost by Si; but Haskett was not fair-minded, and it was +doubtful if the man could ever become so, any more than a dwarfed and +crippled tree can be forced to become straight and upright. + +On Monday morning, the day after leaving Charleston Bar, Haskett heard +Caleb tell Walter and Si that the gun must be cleaned and oiled. "We'll +go over the piece from top to bottom to-morrow," said the old gunner, +"and if there is anything more that you don't understand I'll explain it +to you." + +"This is my chance," said Haskett to himself, and lost no time in +bringing forth the gold piece from the place where he had hidden it. +Watching his opportunity, when Caleb, Si, and Walter were asleep that +night, he secreted the piece in a corner of the track upon which the +gun-base revolved. + +Inside of half an hour after breakfast the next day, Walter, stripped to +the waist, was working over the gun, in company with his friends and +Steve Colton, the second gun-captain, and Carl Stuben, the hose-man. All +were supplied with cotton waste, polishing-paste, and rags, and in a +short while the bright portions of the gun shone like a mirror. + +"There, I reckon that will suit the chief gunner," was Caleb's remark as +he stood back to inspect the work. "No piece on the starboard side +brighter than this, I'll wager my month's pay." + +Si was bending down under the gun, swabbing up some oil which had run +down from one of the working joints. Suddenly the Yankee youth threw +down his swab and caught up something which shone in spite of the dirt +upon it. + +"My gold piece, as sure as you're born!" he ejaculated, after he had +made an inspection at the porthole. "Now how in creation did that get +there?" + +He looked at Caleb, and half unconsciously both turned to Walter. + +"What's that?" asked the youth. + +"My gold piece--I found it hidden under the gun-track," answered Si. + +Walter's face turned red, as he remembered what Jim Haskett had said +concerning his talking in his sleep. "Why, Si--are--are you sure it is +your piece?" he faltered. + +"Certainly. There is the date, 1876--centennial year, and here is a +scratch I once made with my jack-knife. It's the very one that was taken +from my bag, beyond any doubt." + +Si continued to look at Walter, while Caleb suddenly turned and gazed +out of the porthole, while Stuben, the hose-man, whistled softly to +himself. + +"Why, Si, have you got your money back?" cried Paul, who had just +chanced up. + +"Yes." + +"And where did you find it?" + +"Under the gun, by the track." And Si pointed out the place with his +forefinger. + +"Under the gun! Why, that is where Haskett said Walter hid it!" was +Paul's comment, before he stopped to think twice. "I mean--that is, +Haskett said something about it," he stammered. + +"I know he did," answered the Yankee youth, coldly. + +Walter's face was burning hotly now, and he could scarcely trust himself +to speak. "Si, do you think I put that money there?" he asked in a +strained voice. + +"I'm sure I don't know what to think," was the dogged answer, and now Si +turned his gaze away. "Haskett said--well, you know what,--and Cal +Blinker backed him up in it," he went on, hesitatingly. + +"Yes, I know what Haskett and Blinker said," answered Walter. +"But--but--do you think I stole your money?" The words would scarcely +come, but he forced them out. + +"I don't say that, Walter; but the whole thing looks mighty queer." + +"I have it!" burst out Caleb. "Perhaps Walter put the money there when +he was asleep. Folks often do queer things when they have the +nightmare." + +"Yes, but if he put it there while he was asleep, how did he come by it +in the first place?" questioned Si, bluntly. + +"Perhaps he took it out of the bag while he was asleep on the train," +suggested Caleb. "You had the bag with you all the way from Boston, +didn't you?" + +"Yes." + +"And Walter bunked with you, too?" + +"He did." + +"Then it's as plain as day," went on the old gunner. "Walter took the +money while you were asleep on the train and hid it away in his +clothing, or somewhere. When he got on board he took to sleep-walking +and put the piece under the gun. Of course he doesn't know anything +about the transaction." + +Again all eyes were turned upon Walter, whose face was as red as ever. +"Perhaps that's true--but it's mighty queer," murmured Colton, the +second gun-captain. + +"I don't believe I did anything of the sort!" cried the youth, at last. +"I can give you my word on it that I never saw Si's money until just +now. To my mind, this whole matter is a job put up by Jim Haskett. He +took the money, and then when Si raised such an ado about it he was +afraid to get it changed or to spend it, and he watched his chance to +get rid of it. He's down on me, and when he heard me mutter in my sleep +he formed his plan to get me into trouble. I'm going to find Haskett on +the spot." And off he rushed before anybody could detain him. + +Haskett was discovered mending his jacket, which had become torn the +evening before. "What do you want?" he asked, as Walter ran up and +caught him fiercely by the arm. + +"I want you to own up to your dirty trick on me," answered the boy. "You +thought you had me, but your little plot won't work." + +"What do you mean?" blustered Haskett, although he knew well enough what +was coming. + +By this time the crowd had followed Walter, and they gathered round the +pair. Soon Haskett had heard all there was to say. + +"Don't lay it off on me," he cried. "I knew Russell was guilty from the +start. Si Doring can think as he pleases. As for me, I'm glad that I'm +not training with a night-walker--or a thief." + +Walter leaped forward with blazing eyes. But before he could strike out, +Caleb caught him, while another man held Haskett. Then, before anything +more could be done or said, Si stepped to the front. + +"Haskett, I lost the money, and I think I ought to have the biggest say +in this matter. If you played a trick on Walter, you are the meanest man +that ever trod the deck of a ship. If you didn't, let me say that I +don't think Walter stole the gold piece, although he may have taken it +while he was asleep and not responsible for his doings." + +"Thank you for saying that, Si," came from Walter. "But I don't think I +took it even when asleep. To my mind Haskett is guilty, and nobody +else." + +"If I wasn't held--" began Haskett, when a young seaman named George +Ellis, chief yeoman of the _Brooklyn_, stepped forward and asked to know +what the trouble was about. + +"I think I can tell something about this," said George Ellis, after the +matter had been explained. + +"You just hold your jaw!" stormed Haskett. "You don't know anything." + +"I know what I see," answered the chief yeoman, pointedly; and something +in his manner attracted such attention that all in the crowd gathered +around to learn what he might have to say. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +KEY WEST, AND THE LAST OF JIM HASKETT + + +George Ellis was known to be an upright honest man, and one whose word +was worth taking upon every occasion. He had an education above that of +the ordinary man in the navy, and was anxious to make something of +himself while in the service of his country, never dreaming, alas! that +his life was so soon to be taken from him during our struggle in the +cause of humanity and Cuban freedom. + +"And what did you see?" questioned Caleb, as all eyes were turned upon +Ellis, inquiringly. + +"It was last night," answered the Range Finder, for such was the man's +popular title, given him because he was so good at determining +distances. "I was rather feverish and couldn't sleep. I walked the berth +deck for a while and then went up to Walton's gun and stood leaning out +of the porthole, gazing at the water. + +"Presently I heard a slight noise behind me, and turning around I saw in +a dim way the figure of a man behind me. He was bending down under the +gun, as if he was hunting for something. I was just on the point of +speaking to him when he straightened up and slunk away as silently as a +ghost. I watched him, and when he got under the rays of the electric +light I got a good look at his face." + +"And was it this man?" cried Si, pointing to Jim Haskett. + +"It was." + +With a cry of anger Si leaped upon Haskett and bore him to the deck. +"You good-for-nothin' rascal!" he panted. "Will try to shove off your +dirty tricks on Walter, eh? So you stole my money and then got afraid to +use it? Take that, and that, and that!" + +Each _that_ was a blow in the face, one on the cheek, another on the +nose, and a third directly in Haskett's left eye. They were heavy, and +Haskett roared with pain. + +"Let up!" he sputtered. "Let go of me,"--the latter to Caleb, who still +held him. "Oh, my eye! Is this fair fighting, two to one?" + +"It is as fair as you treated Walter," answered Caleb. "Give him +another, Si; he deserves it." And Si followed directions by planting a +blow on Haskett's neck, something which spun the former mate of the +_Sunflower_ around like a top. At last Haskett broke loose and backed +away. + +"I'll get square on all of you!" he foamed, shaking his fist first at +Caleb and then at the others. "I'm not done yet." + +[Illustration: "I'LL GET SQUARE ON ALL OF YOU!"] + +"I've a good mind to report you," put in Walter. "I reckon you'd be good +for a month in irons, on bread and water." + +At this Haskett grew pale. "The officers won't believe your story. +Ellis, and the rest of you haven't any witnesses," he replied, but his +voice shook. "Just wait; my day will come some time." And then, as Si +started to advance again, he beat a hasty retreat. + +"That settles that mystery," remarked Caleb, when the excitement was +over. "I calculate, Walter, that you are not sorry the way matters came +out." + +"No, indeed." Walter turned to George Ellis. "I owe you one for your +kindness. I'll not forget it." + +"That's all right--I only did what any fair-minded fellow would do," +answered the chief yeoman, and strolled away. + +It was time for dinner, and Walter hurried off arm in arm with Si, who +was still somewhat worked up over what had happened. "Walter, don't you +go for to imagine I thought you guilty," said the Yankee boy. "I know +you are honest to the core." + +"Even if I do talk in my sleep," said Walter, from whose heart a great +load had been lifted. + +Once more the course of the Flying Squadron had been changed and now +they were making straight for the coast of Florida. Tuesday passed +quietly, although the same vigilance prevailed as before. It was +evident, come what might, Commodore Schley did not mean to allow the +enemy to catch him napping. + +They had passed through the Straits of Florida, and now they turned to +the westward, past a number of the Florida Reefs. Far across the ocean +could be seen the low-lying shore, backed up by stately palms and other +trees. The weather was now much warmer. + +"You see, we are drawing closer to the equator," remarked Caleb. "I +reckon we are bound for Key West." And his surmise proved correct, for +they dropped anchors in Key West Harbor early on the morning following. + +"What a lot of warships around here," cried Walter, as he came on deck. +"What is that big fellow over yonder?" + +"That is the _Iowa_," answered the old gunner. "You can well say big +fellow, for the _Iowa_ is the largest seagoing battleship we possess. +She has a displacement of over eleven thousand tons and can speed in any +sea at over seventeen knots. She carries four 12-inch guns and a whole +host of others. Her armor belt is solid steel, fourteen inches thick." + +"She's a beauty. I wonder if she will go out with us?" + +"That is according to what Rear Admiral Sampson has to say about it, +lad. You see, this campaign in Atlantic waters is largely in his hands." + +The _Iowa_ lay quite close, and during the day several messages were +transmitted from one warship to the other by means of the wig-wag +system. Walter had now mastered the mysteries of wig-wagging and amused +himself by spelling out the messages as they passed to and fro. + +A salute had been fired when the commodore entered the harbor, eleven +rounds being shot off. "If he was a rear-admiral, he'd get thirteen +guns," explained Caleb. "You see the salute varies from the President +down. McKinley gets twenty-one guns, the Vice-President or Secretary of +the Navy nineteen guns, a foreign minister fifteen guns, a consul seven +guns, and so on. By counting the guns every man on the ships can tell +what sort of a dignitary has arrived." + +It was a cloudy day, and the air was so close that Walter was glad +enough to take it easy. Presently he saw a boat leave the side, +containing several petty officers and George Ellis and Jim Haskett. + +"I wonder where they are going," said Walter to Si. + +"Some special business for Captain Cook," answered Paul, who stood near. +"Oh, but Haskett is in an ugly mood to-day. It will be a big wonder if +he and Ellis don't get into a fight before they come back." + +"Ellis is too much of a gentleman to fight with any one," returned +Walter. "By the way, what is his real position on board?" + +"He is chief yeoman," replied Si. "He is going ashore to look after some +ship's stores, so I heard him tell one of the paymasters." + +The small boat was soon out of sight, and Walter turned away to seek the +shade, for it was growing hotter and hotter. "If this is a sample of +weather in the torrid zone, what shall we do when we get into Cuban +waters?" he observed. + +"We are not very far from Cuban waters now," said the Yankee youth. "We +could make Havana in six or seven hours if it was necessary." + +"I wonder how the people of that city feel, Si, all cooped up as they +have been for so long." + +"I reckon they wish they had some fighting ships to come out after us, +Walter. I've heard it said that General Blanco hardly knows how to turn +himself, food is so scarce and so many idlers are about. It wouldn't +surprise me if they had a riot there, if they haven't had one already. +Even soldiers won't keep quiet when the grub fails." + +But little could be seen of Key West outside of the numerous shipping. +Presently a couple of petty officers came along with marine glasses and +one pointed out to his companion several Spanish prizes in the port. +"They'll be worth a good bit of money to the sailors on the blockade," +he added. "I wish we were in for a share of the spoils." + +"There are several transports," said Caleb, on joining his friends. +"They are fitting out to go to Tampa. It won't be long before an army of +invasion starts for Cuba." + +"I wonder if my brother Ben will go along," mused Walter, but just then +to get word from his older brother was impossible. + +Inside of two hours the small craft came back. Somewhat to his surprise +Walter saw that Jim Haskett was missing. He would not have thought much +of this had it not been that the _Brooklyn_ was already preparing to +continue on her trip. + +"Haskett did not come back," he announced to Si. "I'll wager something +is wrong." + +"Oh, I guess not," said the Yankee youth; nevertheless, he, too, began +to watch for the former mate of the _Sunflower_. + +Several hours later Walter passed George Ellis on the upper deck and +saluted. The chief yeoman hesitated and then called Walter to him. + +"I suppose you and your friend will be interested to know that James +Haskett has been left behind at Key West under military arrest," he +began. + +"Indeed! And what for, if I may ask?" + +"For getting into a rough-and-tumble fight with a soldier named +Grumbell. It seems Grumbell once owned a fishing-smack down East, and +Haskett failed to settle up on a cargo of fish he sold for Grumbell +three years ago. They had a quarrel of words and then got to blows, and +Haskett hit a captain of the regulars who tried to separate them. Both +he and the soldier are now in prison, and I rather imagine it will go +pretty hard with the seaman, for striking a captain is no light +offence." And after a few words more, George Ellis passed on. + +Of course Walter lost no time in carrying the news to his friends. All +listened with interest, and Si said he was glad Haskett was gone. "And I +hope he doesn't ever come back," he added. + +And Jim Haskett never did come back, nor did Walter ever set eyes on the +man again. For quarrelling with the soldier and striking the captain of +the regulars, Jim Haskett was dishonorably discharged from the navy, and +sentenced to a year's imprisonment at hard labor. Thus, in a roundabout +way, was the rascal made to suffer the punishment he so richly +deserved. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +FROM CIENFUEGOS TO SANTIAGO BAY + + +From Key West the Flying Squadron set sail direct for Cienfuegos. The +_Brooklyn_, _Massachusetts_, _Texas_, and _Scorpion_ left together, and +were followed, twenty-four hours later, by the _Iowa_, mentioned in the +previous chapter, and by the _Castine_ and the collier _Merrimac_. + +Cienfuegos is a town of good size lying on a small bay on the south +coast of Cuba, about midway between the eastern and western extremities. +For several days the Navy Department had been watching, or trying to +watch, the movements of the Spanish squadron, satisfied at last that it +was somewhere in Cuban waters. One report had it that Admiral Cervera +was at Cienfuegos, another that he was at Santiago de Cuba, many miles +to the eastward. Commodore Schley was now sent out to bring the truth to +light, were it possible to do so. + +The rainy season, as it is termed, was at its height in this vicinity, +and the showers came down nearly all day, striking the hot metal decks, +and converting the water into something closely resembling steam. It was +so muggy and uncomfortable that hardly any of the jackies could sleep, +and more than one poor fellow was overcome and had to be carried to the +sick bay for treatment. + +"If that Spanish squadron has passed Santiago and Cienfuegos, and is +crawling up around the western turn of Cuba, it won't be long before we +see some hot work," observed Caleb, as he lounged at a porthole, devoid +of any clothing but his shirt and trousers. + +"Any kind of work would be hot," said Walter, laughingly. "Why, I think +a fellow could cook eggs on deck." + +"Puts me in mind of a voyage I took to South America," put in Si, who +had just soused his head into a bucket of water, and was dripping from +nose, ears, and chin in consequence. "We lay off the mouth of the Amazon +for two days, waiting to get on a cargo of rubber. It was right under +the equator, and the tar just poured out of all our seams. One afternoon +I ran across the deck in my bare feet, for I was taking a swim, and as +true as I live I blistered my feet." + +"Oh, that's nothing," returned Caleb, dryly. "I was under the equator +once, off the coast of Columbia in the bark _Sally D_. The captain let +us go fishing in the jolly-boat. We caught about a dozen fish and threw +'em in the bottom as fast as they came in, and when we got back to the +bark hang me if the first two fish we had brought up weren't baked as +nice as you please, all fit for the captain's table." And Caleb turned +away and began to whistle softly to himself, while Si continued his +ablutions without another word. Among old sailors, "matching yarns" is a +constant pastime, and the stories sometimes told would shame even a +Baron Munchausen. + +The watch on board of the warship was now more strict than ever, and the +men slept at their guns, sometimes not seeing a hammock for several +nights. Everybody, from the captain down to the apprentices, felt that a +crisis could not be far off. + +It must not be imagined that while Commodore Schley was skirting the +southern coast of Cuba, the northern coast was neglected, for such was +not the case. The blockade of Havana and vicinity still continued, and +in addition Rear-Admiral Sampson took his own flagship, the _New York_, +and several other warships, and sailed eastward, thinking to occupy the +St. Nicholas Channel. Thus, if Admiral Cervera tried to gain the +vicinity of Havana by the northern coast, he would be likely to fall in +with Sampson; if he took the southern way, Schley would intercept his +path. By keeping his ships in the St. Nicholas Channel Sampson remained +ever ready to dash northward should the Spanish destroyers take a new +course and show themselves along our own coast. + +"We are coming in sight of land," cried Walter, toward nightfall, two +days after leaving Key West. "I suppose this is some port on the +southern coast of Cuba." + +"It is Cienfuegos Bay," returned Caleb. "I just heard one of the +officers say so. We're to lie at anchor until morning, and then perhaps +the fun will commence." + +At this announcement Walter's heart beat quickly, and it must be +admitted that he did not sleep a wink that night for speculating on what +the morrow might bring forth. In this particular, his thoughts were not +far different from those of every one else on board. + +Daybreak brought more rain, and the big warship rode on the long swells +of the ocean grim and silent. Not far away lay the _Texas_, and several +newcomers could be seen approaching from a distance. "This looks like +business," observed Si to Walter, and the boy nodded. + +Immediately after breakfast the signal was hoisted to clear ship for +action, and once more the jackies rushed to their various places and got +into fighting trim. Then the great engines of the _Brooklyn_ began to +work, and they crept slowly toward the entrance to the harbor. + +"If Cervera is there, he keeps himself pretty well hidden," remarked one +of the officers, within hearing of Walter. "I don't see anything that +looks like a warship." + +Presently the flagship came to a halt, and the _Texas_ steamed past her +and quite close to the harbor. Here the Spaniards had a small land +battery, but it kept silent. The inner portion of the bay was hidden +from view by a high spur of land. + +What to do next was a problem. If the Spanish squadron was really +there, it would be foolhardy to rush in and do battle while the enemy +would have the support of the shore battery. Commodore Schley thought +the matter over and, ever on the alert, decided to play a waiting game. + +Sunday passed without anything unusual developing, and so did the day +following. The strain on the men at the guns was great, for they were on +duty constantly. Night and day the bosom of the outer bay was closely +watched, for it was known that Cervera had with him one or two +torpedo-boat destroyers, and these were dreaded more than anything else. + +"Let one of those torpedo destroyers get near us, and we'll go up as +quickly as did the _Maine_," said Caleb. "I'm not afraid of the dagos, +but let me get out of the way of a torpedo boat every time." And this +opinion was shared by all Walton's messmates. + +"There's another boat coming up," announced Si, at six o'clock on +Tuesday morning. "Walton, what do you make her out to be?" + +"She's the _Marblehead_," was the old gunner's answer, after a long look +at the craft. "And she's got despatches for the commodore," he added, +as the signal went up and a small boat put off for the _Brooklyn_. Soon +Commander McCalla of the _Marblehead_ came on board, and a long +conference with Commodore Schley resulted, after which the newly arrived +officer departed for his own warship with all possible speed. McCalla's +mission was to communicate with the Cuban insurgents who were encamped +near Cienfuegos, with a view to ascertaining if Admiral Cervera's ships +were really in the harbor. + +The morning passed quietly, and by noon the _Marblehead_ and her +commander returned. The Cuban spies had made an investigation, and not a +single ship of war belonging to Spain had been found, outside of a +little harbor vessel of small moment. + +It was now thought that if Admiral Cervera was not at Cienfuegos he must +either be on his way hither or at Santiago. Accordingly, toward evening, +the squadron received orders to sail for Santiago. + +"We're off for Santiago Bay," said Caleb. "And if we don't find the +dagos there, I'll give up where they are. Perhaps they have gone back to +Spain." He continually alluded to the Spaniards as dagos,--a term which +became quite common among soldiers and sailors during the war, although +many referred to the enemy as the Dons. + +It had cleared off, and the sun shone down fiercely on the deck and +elsewhere. Inside of the steel turrets the air was stifling, and no one +could remain at his post over a couple of hours. From below, the +engineers, firemen, and coal-heavers came up constantly for a whiff of +fresh air. + +"We're badly enough off," remarked Walter. "But look at those poor +chaps. Why, some of the firemen look ready to melt." + +"Yes, and the worst of it is they never get any credit when it comes to +a battle," added Caleb. "Now to my mind, the engineer who sticks to his +engine during a battle, obeying orders and running the risk of having a +shot plough through a boiler and scald him to death, is just as much of +a hero as the chap behind a gun--and in one way he's more of a hero; for +if the ship should start to sink, a gunner has got the chance to leap +overboard and swim for it, while the man below is likely to be drowned +like a rat in a trap." + +"And the coal-heavers work harder than negroes," put in Paul. "Just +think of the tons and tons of coal they shovel every twenty-four hours +when we are under full steam. I'm quite certain such work would break my +back." + +"Oh, life on a warship isn't all a picnic," was Si's comment. "If a +fellow enlists to have an easy time of it, he deserves to get left. I +enlisted to serve Uncle Sam, and I'm going to do it--if Providence will +give me the chance." + +As Commodore Schley sailed toward Santiago from Cienfuegos, Rear-Admiral +Sampson, gaining additional information concerning the whereabouts of +the enemy, moved slowly and cautiously eastward toward Cape Maysi and +the Windward Passage. Thus, if Cervera was where he was supposed to be, +he was bound to be discovered before many more days passed. + +"Do you know anything about Santiago Bay?" asked Si of Walter. "I've +travelled to South America and Central America, but I never stopped +anywhere in Cuba." + +"I know only what the geographies teach," answered Walter. "It is on the +south side of Cuba, a hundred and some odd miles from the eastern end of +the island. It is said to be a very pretty harbor, about eight miles +long and one to two miles wide. Santiago, which is the next largest +Cuban city to Havana, is located on the northeast shore. I heard Caleb +say that the entrance to the harbor is shaped like the neck of a crooked +bottle, and that on the eastern side there is a strong fortress called +Morro Castle, and opposite to it a heavy concealed battery called La +Zocapa. Somehow, it's in my mind that we'll see a good deal of the +harbor before we come away," concluded the boy. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE FINDING OF ADMIRAL CERVERA'S FLEET + + +"Well, this doesn't look much like fighting." + +It was Paul who uttered the remark. The youngest member of the gunners' +crowd rested in the shadow of one of the long guns, half asleep. Near by +sat Walter and Si, each writing letters, although there was no telling +when the communications would be taken from the _Brooklyn_ and sent +home. At Key West Walter had looked for some word from Ben and from Job +Dowling, but none had come. + +"I'd like to know if my uncle went to Boston, and if he learned anything +concerning that Deck Mumpers and the stolen heirlooms," Walter observed +to Si, after nodding to Paul, in agreement that it didn't look like +fighting. + +"Well, you'll have to possess your soul in patience," answered the young +Yankee. "But oh, this is dead slow!" And thrusting his letter into an +envelope, he addressed it and laid it away. + +Several days had been spent around the mouth of Santiago Bay, without +anything being brought to light. If the Spanish fleet was within the +harbor, it knew enough to keep out of sight, that was certain. + +"If I was Commodore Schley, I'd rush past old Morro and make short work +of this," grumbled Paul, stretching himself and yawning. "Why, we'll all +die of laziness if this keeps on." + +"I hear the _Merrimac_ has broken down," put in Caleb, who had just come +below. "That means another wait of twenty-four hours or more, even if +Cervera isn't in the harbor. Why under the sun must those dagos play +such a game of hide-and-seek? Why can't they come up and fight like +men?" + +"Perhaps Admiral Cervera is bombarding some of our cities at this very +moment--" began Si, when a sudden loud hurrah caused all hands to leap +up and make for the deck. + +"What's up?" came from a hundred throats. + +"The _Iowa_ has just signalled that she has seen a big Spanish warship +showing her nose around the harbor point!" was the wild answer. "We've +found the Dons at last!" + +And then came another hurrah and a wild yell. "Let us get at 'em! Down +with the Spaniards! Remember the _Maine_ and Dewey's victory at Manila!" + +Commodore Schley was on the afterbridge of the flagship. As the yelling +broke loose, he smiled grimly. "Yes, they must be in there," he said to +Captain Cook. "And if they are, they'll never get home." Prophetic +words, as the events of just five weeks later proved. + +Owing to the heavy swells of the ocean, the warships under the +commodore's command had drifted somewhat apart, but now, when it was +known definitely that Admiral Cervera's ships were in the harbor before +them, the various craft were signalled to draw closer, until they lay +within four to six miles of the entrance. This may seem a long way off +to some of my readers, but it must be remembered that guns of the +present day can carry as far as ten to twelve miles when put to it, and +a destructive fire can be maintained at seven or eight miles. + +The night that followed was a trying one, for no one knew but that +Admiral Cervera's warships might come dashing out of the bay at any +instant ready to do them deadly battle. The _Brooklyn_ had long since +been stripped for action, many articles of wood being thrown overboard, +to avoid splinters when shot and shell began to fall. The small boats +were covered with strong nets, also to keep splinters away, and +everywhere throughout the ship the hoses were connected with the +water-plugs, to be used in case of fire, and all water-tubs were kept +filled for a like purpose. The magazines were kept open, and every gun, +big and little, stood ready to be fired at the word of command. Even the +wardroom tables were cleared off and covered with the sick-bay cloths, +and the surgeons saw to it in a quiet way that their bandages, knives, +and saws were ready to hand. + +"Say, but that looks like war, eh?" whispered Paul, jerking his thumb in +the direction of one of the improvised operating tables. "Gracious, it's +enough to give a fellow a cold shiver." + +"Then don't look that way, Paul," answered Walter. "As Si said, life +here isn't expected to be a picnic. We may gain lots of glory, but we'll +have to work for it,--and maybe suffer, too." + +It was the 30th of May, Decoration Day, but no services of a special +character were had, although the Civil War was talked of by a dozen +veterans of both the North and the South, who were now standing once +more shoulder to shoulder, as Washington, Jefferson, and a hundred other +patriots of old had intended that they should stand, once and forever. +"We're under the stars and stripes to stay," said one man who had worn +the gray at Gettysburg. "Just let those Dons show themselves, and we'll +lick 'em out of their boots." The man's name was Berkeley, and he was as +good a soldier as he was a sailor, and wore both Union and Confederate +medals for bravery. + +Walter had just fallen into a light doze early in the morning when a +dull booming awoke him with a start, and made him leap to his feet. +"What is that--guns firing?" he asked. + +"That's it, lad," came from Caleb. "The commodore is giving his defiance +to the enemy, I reckon. There she goes again," he went on, as half a +dozen sullen reports rolled over the water. "I just wish we were in +this." + +A Spanish warship, the _Christobal Colon_, had again showed herself at +the entrance to Santiago Bay, and the _Iowa_, the _Massachusetts_, and +the _New Orleans_, had been ordered to move to within seven thousand +yards and open fire. Away they darted, and passed and re-passed the +harbor entrance twice, firing as they sailed. What damage was done it +was impossible to tell, but that the _Colon_ was hit seemed very +probable, for she soon disappeared. The shore batteries also took part, +and sent one big shell directly over the _Iowa_, where it burst with a +noise that was deafening, but without doing any damage. + +"Gracious! what a racket!" exclaimed Walter, as he watched the +bombardment from afar. + +"Racket!" repeated Caleb, who stood beside him. "Why, lad, this is +nothing to what we'll have when we get mixed up. I only hope the +commodore signals us to line up for the scrap," he went on, for +Commodore Schley had left the _Brooklyn_ temporarily, and hoisted his +pennant on the _Massachusetts_. But the signal did not come, much to the +old gunner's disappointment. + +By dark the bombardment was at an end. It had been brought about by the +commodore with the view to ascertain the strength of the enemy, his +ability to shoot straight, and the number and location of the shore +batteries. Now this information was gained, and it was likely to be of +great value in the near future. + +It had been decided, should Admiral Cervera's fleet be discovered in +Santiago Bay, that Commodore Schley should unload the collier _Merrimac_ +as quickly as possible, and then sink the craft directly across the +channel at the narrow entrance. If this was accomplished, it would make +it impossible for the Spanish warships to escape until the sunken wreck +was blown up and cleared away, and in the meantime several other +available American vessels could be hurried to the scene of action. A +number of spies had been sent ashore, and at last the commodore was +positive that the enemy was just where he wanted him. "And now we'll +sink the _Merrimac_ and bottle him up," he said. + +The _Merrimac_ was an iron steamboat of five thousand tons' burden. She +had previously been a "tramp" steamer; that is, one going from port to +port, picking up any cargo that came to hand. She carried a large +quantity of coal for the various ships, and, as we already know, had +followed the Flying Squadron from Key West to Cienfuegos and the present +ocean territory. She was a heavily built craft, carrying two masts, and +just the right sort for the plan now at hand. + +A heavy salute on the morning of June 1 announced the coming of Admiral +Sampson with a number of additional warships,--the _New York_, _Oregon_, +_Mayflower_, _Porter_, and others. The _New York_, it may be added here, +was a cruiser, similar to the Brooklyn, only somewhat smaller. The +_Oregon_ was a battleship of the first class, of over ten thousand tons' +displacement, and carried four 13-inch, eight 8-inch, and four 6-inch +guns in her main battery, over twenty guns in her secondary battery, +besides several Gatling guns and three torpedo tubes. This noble vessel +had just made a record for herself by steaming, at full speed, from San +Francisco, around Cape Horn, to our eastern coast, without a +break-down,--a journey without precedent for a heavy battleship, so far +as our own navy was concerned. In the past, foreign critics had imagined +that our vessels were not quite as good as theirs in thoroughness of +build; now these critics were silenced, and they stood looking on, and +wondering what those "clever Yankees" would do next. + +The _Merrimac_ had been under the command of Captain James Miller, but +now she was eased of a large quantity of her coal, and turned over to +Lieutenant Richmond P. Hobson, an assistant naval constructor. Hobson +had his plans arranged in detail for sinking the _Merrimac_, and all he +asked for was a crew of six or seven men, to aid him in running the +collier into the harbor channel. "I know it looks like certain death to +go in," he said, "and therefore I want only volunteers with me." + +"You can get them easily enough," said Rear-Admiral Sampson, with a +smile. "I know a hundred men on the _New York_ who will be only too +anxious to go, no matter how dangerous the mission." Volunteers were +called for, and, to the credit of our navy, be it said, that the crews +of the different ships offered themselves almost to a man. + +"We can die only once," said one old gunner; "take me!" + +"I'd like to go, captain," said Caleb, appealing to Captain Cook. "Can't +you put me on the list somehow?" + +"I'll go," said Walter, readily, and Si said the same. Paul was so young +that he knew they would not take him. + +Of course where only seven men were wanted and hundreds had begged to be +allowed to go there were numerous disappointments. At last the list was +made up of the following--names to be remembered by every patriotic +young American: Lieutenant Hobson, in command; O. W. Deignan, helmsman; +G. F. Phillips, engineer; F. Kelley, fireman; J. Murphy, coxswain; G. +Charette, mine batteries; D. Montague, anchor hand; R. Clausen, extra +wheelman. The men were all experienced sailors, and fully realized the +extreme peril which awaited them, when they should run the _Merrimac_ in +directly under the fire of Morro Castle and the La Zocapa battery. + +A start was made late on Wednesday night, the _Merrimac_ cruising up and +down before the harbor entrance, trying to gain a favorable opportunity +for entering. But none showed itself, and by orders of the rear-admiral +the attempt was postponed until the night following. In the meantime a +catamaran was built and attached to the _Merrimac's_ side, to be used in +getting away in case the small boats became disabled when the craft was +wrecked. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +IN WHICH THE "MERRIMAC" IS SUNK + + +"It's too bad we can't get places on the _Merrimac_," observed Walter to +Si, as the two walked to their quarters after the selection of men had +been made. "If Lieutenant Hobson succeeds in getting the collier up in +the harbor entrance and sinking her, it will be a big feather in his +cap." + +"My idea is that the heavy guns of old Morro will blow the _Merrimac_ +clean out of the water before she gets within quarter of a mile of where +she is to be sunk," answered the Yankee lad. "Those on board are running +the greatest risk of their lives." + +"But the glory, Si!" + +"No glory if you're killed." + +"But you said you would go." + +"So I would--but I wouldn't expect to come back alive. I'll wager we +never see Hobson again, nor none of his men." + +The fierce heat of the day had given Walter a headache. As evening came +on it grew worse, and he was not able to sleep during the night. + +"I hope I'm not getting the Cuban fever," he remarked to Caleb, who had +offered several simple remedies ready at hand. + +"Better report and go on the sick list," advised the old gunner. "If +it's fever, the sooner you take it in hand the better." + +At first Walter demurred, but finally, as the ache in his head began to +creep all over him, he reported to one of the surgeons. "I don't want to +go into the sick bay," he said, "but I wish you would give me +something." + +"Yes, you need something," was the answer. "We don't want any men to get +down so soon. We may have to stay on the blockade here for some time, if +Cervera refuses to come out and fight us." + +"Or we block him in with the wreck of the _Merrimac_," said Walter, with +a faint smile. + +"Oh, that will be only a temporary check, to give Admiral Sampson time +to get his fleet into shape and give the army authorities time to send +on an army of invasion. The army is already gathering at Tampa," replied +the surgeon. + +The medicine was forthcoming, and Walter was at once given a big dose +and told to repeat every two hours. "It has quinine in it and will make +your ears ring and your head buzz, but that won't hurt you," said the +surgeon. "If you feel worse by to-morrow morning, report to me again." + +This was at eight o'clock. By noon Walter felt as if a buzz saw was in +full operation in his head, while he could not hear at all. But he +continued to take the medicine, and rested in a hammock slung up in the +coolest spot to be found between decks. + +"Oh dear!" he murmured, when left alone. "How my head does spin around! +If I get very sick, whatever will become of me?" And he buried his face +in his jacket sleeve, to suppress a groan that was bound to come. + +By nightfall he was worse, if anything, and both Caleb and Si advised +him to go into the sick bay for further treatment. But he shook his +head. "No, I reckon I can stand it till morning," he said. "There may be +a turn for the better by that time." + +Midnight found him on deck, under the impression that the fresh night +air would do him some good. To tell the truth, he was hardly +responsible for what he was doing, for his head was in a worse whirl +than at any time previous. He staggered to the side and leaned over. The +warship rose and fell on the bosom of the ocean, and the water danced +and twinkled before his eyes. Nobody was near him. + +How it all happened he could never tell afterward. He must have leaned +over too far, or slipped, for suddenly he seemed to awake as by a shock, +and felt himself going down and down into the greenish element which +washed up against the _Brooklyn's_ sides. He tried to scream, but his +mouth filled with water and he could only splutter. + +When at length he arose to the surface, the waves had carried him a +hundred feet away from the ship. He tried to cry out, but he was too +weak to utter more than a whisper. He threw out his hands and began to +swim in a mechanical way. But instead of carrying him back whence he had +come, the mighty waves lifted him closer and closer to shore. + +Ten minutes had passed, and Walter felt that he could keep up no longer, +when he came into contact with a large box which had at one time been +filled with naval stores, but which, on being emptied, had been thrown +overboard from one of the warships. The box was over four feet in length +and built of heavy slatting, and afforded a fair degree of buoyancy. +Lying across the top of the receptacle he floated on, wondering in a +bewildered way how this strange adventure was going to end. + +"If only I could get to one of our ships," he thought. "If I don't, I +must either drown or else be cast up on the coast, in which case the +Spaniards will most likely capture me. If I--Oh, there is a ship now!" + +Walter was right; a two-masted vessel was bearing directly down upon +him. The vessel carried no lights and moved along as silently as a +ghost. + +"I'll be run down!" was the boy's agonizing thought, when, on coming +within a few hundred feet, the craft began to turn in a small circle. +Then, when halfway around, her engines came to a stop and she drifted +idly on the waves. + +A chain was dangling from the vessel's stern. It was but three yards +away, and making a frantic leap Walter clutched it and hung fast. +Scarcely had this been accomplished than the steamer moved off again, +dragging him behind her. + +In his weak state it is a wonder that Walter was not compelled to +relinquish his hold; but life is sweet to us all, and he hung on grimly, +and setting his teeth, began to climb up the chain hand over hand. In a +few minutes he reached the taffrail, fell, rather than climbed, over, +and dropped unconscious on the deck. + +How long he lay in this state Walter did not know. He came to his senses +to find himself being shaken by somebody bending over him. + +"What are you doing here?" was the rough demand. "Don't you know that +all of the regular crew were ordered off at three o'clock?" + +"I--I--where am I?" stammered Walter, sitting up. + +"Where are you? Don't you know?" + +"No, sir." + +"You're on board of the _Merrimac_." + +"The _Merrimac_!" echoed the boy, and attempted to rise to his feet. He +was still very weak, but otherwise his involuntary bath had done him +much good. + +"Exactly; the _Merrimac_. How dare you remain on board against orders?" + +"I didn't remain on board. I--I fell off of my own ship, the _Brooklyn_, +and came near drowning, when this vessel came along and I managed to +catch hold of a chain that is dragging over the taffrail. I climbed up +and then--then I don't remember anything more." + +"Humph! that's a likely story. How did you happen to fall +overboard?" went on the man, who was one of the volunteers on this +never-to-be-forgotten expedition. + +In a few words Walter told him. By this time the youth felt stronger, +and got up on his feet. "I hope I shan't be in the way," he said, as he +concluded. + +"You had better keep out of the way," was the grim return. "Come +forward, and I'll report the matter to Lieutenant Hobson. If you have to +go in with us, the best thing you can do is to strip off your clothing, +and buckle a life preserver around you--just as the rest of us have +done. Of course if you were on the _Brooklyn_ you know what we intend to +do, and let me tell you we've some mighty hot work ahead of us." And +throwing him a life preserver, the man stalked off, leaving Walter +standing on the forward deck of the collier in the darkness. + +It was a little after three o'clock in the morning, and the _Merrimac_ +was headed north-northeast, directly for the harbor entrance. From far +ahead shone a Spanish flashlight, located on a hill, and by steering for +this, Lieutenant Hobson knew the craft would be taken just where he +wanted her. + +Walter was but lightly attired, and without stripping off any more +clothing he placed the life preserver around him, under the arms. "When +the _Merrimac_ goes down, we may not even have the catamaran to fall +back on," he thought. + +Boom! It was the report of one of the Spanish guns on shore, and a heavy +shot whizzed over the bridge of the _Merrimac_, where Lieutenant Hobson +and the helmsman were standing, and fell into the waves on the starboard +side. The aim was so close that the wind from the shot carried off the +helmsman's cap! + +Other shots soon followed, and in the excitement of the moment Walter's +presence on board was forgotten. The _Merrimac_ was now running at a +tremendous rate of speed, her fires roaring fiercely and her boilers +threatening to burst at any instant. Quivering from stem to stern under +such high pressure, she shot into the harbor entrance and straight for +the narrowest part of the channel. By this time the Spanish guns from +all sides were sending down on her a shower of shot and shell, awful to +contemplate. Seeing he could do nothing, Walter ran for the shelter of +one of the companionways. + +"Put the wheel hard a-port!" came the order from the bold commander, +who, if he was excited did not show it. "Lively now!" + +"Ay, ay, sir!" came from the helmsman, and the wheel went over, and was +lashed fast. + +"She isn't coming over!" came another cry, a moment later, and while +shot and shell were flying, in all directions. + +"What's the matter there? Charette, go down and look at the steering +gear." + +At once Charette ran off at his best speed. He was gone but a moment, +and came back all out of breath. + +"One of the rudder chains has been shot away, sir," he reported. + +"Shot away!" came from several. "That's bad." + +To this Hobson did not answer, but instantly ordered the engines +stopped. "And open the sea-valves and come up," he added. "There is not +a minute to lose now, lads, if we want to sink her and escape alive." + +Morro Castle and the battery opposite had heretofore been firing alone, +but now came shots from Smith Cay, up the harbor, and from a Spanish +warship which was bearing down upon the scene. + +"We must fire the mines now!" Walter heard somebody say. "Fire them as +closely together as possible, and then make for the starboard side +amidships." + +This order had scarcely been given when the wires attached to the mines +were touched off. A sullen roar from beneath the _Merrimac_ followed, +and the vessel was thrown high up in the air, while great columns of +water spouted up on every side. Then slowly but surely the collier began +to sink. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +WALTER'S ADVENTURE ON SHORE + + +Although the _Merrimac_ had been blown up and was sinking, the Spaniards +continued to fire upon her without interruption, and as before, the air +was filled with solid shot, bursting shells, and the whistling of leaden +messengers from rapid-firing rifles. + +The order to gather at the starboard was a wise one, for this spot was +the best protected on the deck, as the port side was settling rapidly. +To take to a small boat or the catamaran would have been the height of +foolishness, for a strong searchlight was being thrown on the scene, and +the men would have been picked off by the Spanish gunners at will. + +With the others Walter rushed to starboard and found a hiding-place +close to the rail. "I wonder what will happen next," he muttered. He was +certain that something would take place very soon, for the waves of the +harbor channel were already rolling over a portion of the _Merrimac's_ +deck. + +A few anxious minutes passed, when suddenly the doomed collier gave a +heavy list to starboard, and Walter found himself sliding along the rail +and unable to stop himself. + +"Hold on!" shouted somebody. "Who is that?" + +Still weak, and with the flying spray drenching his face, Walter could +not answer, and in a second more the questioner had disappeared amid the +gloom, smoke, and flying water. Again came a lurch of the collier, and +Walter was hurled flat and sent spinning against the smoke-stack. As he +arose he saw Lieutenant Hobson and his men climbing over the starboard +rail. Realizing, even in his bewildered state of mind, that he could not +do better than to follow them, he, too, made for the rail, going over at +one point as the courageous commander of the expedition went over at +another. The crew were swimming for the catamaran, which had been shoved +off from the _Merrimac's_ side, and Walter came after them. Hardly had +the catamaran been gained, than, with a final lurch and quiver, the +_Merrimac_ went down, partly across the narrow channel, but not exactly +in the position in which she would have been placed had not the rudder +chain been shot away. + +[Illustration: WITH A FINAL LURCH THE MERRIMAC WENT DOWN.] + +As the craft sank, a yell came from the Spanish battery nearest at hand, +the gunners thinking they had sunk an American man-o'-war and not +dreaming that the sinking had been done by those on board and purposely. +But none of the Americans paid any attention to these cries, all +thinking only of escape, now the work of the night was over. + +A steam launch under the command of Ensign Joseph Powell had been moving +up and down the harbor waiting for a chance to pick Hobson and his men +up. But a Spanish picket boat lay between those on the catamaran and the +launch, so escape in this direction was now cut off. + +The float was still attached by a long rope to the wreck of the +_Merrimac_, and the men were now ordered to remain where they were, +clinging to the catamaran with only their heads showing above water. "If +you try to swim away, the Spanish sharpshooters will pick you off as +quick as a wink," was the word passed around. + +Thus cautioned, all the brave crew remained where they were until +daylight began to show itself. Then a large launch steamed up, carrying +several oarsmen, half a dozen sharpshooters, and Admiral Cervera +himself. + +"Do you surrender?" came in Spanish, while every sailor on the catamaran +was carefully covered. + +"We surrender as prisoners of war," was Lieutenant Hobson's reply, and +then he and his men were ordered to swim to the launch one at a time and +give up their arms, if they had any. This was done, and the steam launch +returned to the _Reina Mercedes_, one of the Spanish warships. Later on, +Hobson and his men were sent ashore under a strong guard, marched up a +hill to Morro Castle, and turned over to General Toral, the military +governor of Santiago Province. + +When he made the leap for the catamaran Walter was not as fortunate as +those around him. He entered the water close to the _Merrimac_, and when +the great collier sank, the suction drew him under, and he went so far +down that he fancied he would never come up. His breath was gone, a gulp +partly filled him with water, and when at last the surface of the bay +was again reached he came up more dead than alive. + +He set out to swim instinctively, the life preserver holding him up, +although it had not been light enough to counteract the suction of the +sinking ship. Where he was going he did not know, for the glare of the +searchlight and the splashing of shots on the water was perfectly +bewildering. "I'm lost!" he thought a dozen times. "O God, help me to +get out alive!" And that prayer was answered, for presently his foot +touched bottom and he saw land ahead,--a bit of sandy beach between +Morro Castle and a battery located on Estrella Cove, for the tide was +coming in, and had carried him up the harbor instead of down. + +As Walter waded out of the water he heard several pickets shouting to +each other in Spanish. Without waiting for them to come nearer, he dove +out of sight in some bushes back of the beach, and then started to walk +to a woods still further inland. + +So far, the intense excitement had kept him up, but now came the +reaction, and he felt as sick as he had while on the _Brooklyn_. His +head began to spin and strange lights flashed before his eyes, while +chills crept up and down his backbone. "I reckon I'm in for a spell of +sickness, whether I escape or not," he groaned, and reaching the woods, +threw himself down under a mahogany tree to rest. + +Walter thought he could not sleep, but presently the pain became less +and he sank into a troubled slumber. He roused up to find a tall, +fine-looking negro shaking him. As soon as he opened his eyes, the negro +began to question him in Spanish. + +"I can't understand you," said the youth, and shook his head. + +"_Americano_, mistair?" questioned the negro, and Walter nodded. "You +come from big fight, maybe?" he went on, brokenly. + +"What fight do you mean?" + +"Fight down by Morro last night. Spanish sink your ship, maybe, not so?" +And the negro laughed. + +"Our men did the sinking. But who are you? a Spaniard?" + +"No, me Cuban, Carlos Dunetta." + +"My name is Walter Russell, but I suppose it might be Smith for all the +difference it makes to you," replied Walter, moodily. "What do you +intend to do? turn me over to the Spanish authorities?" + +"To de Spanish? No, no!" Carlos Dunetta leaned forward. "_Cuba libre!_ +'Member de _Maine_! Not so?" And he smiled broadly. + +"Now you are talking!" ejaculated Walter, joyfully. "You are an +insurgent, I suppose. Do you belong to General Garcia's troops?" + +Again the negro leaned forward. "Carlos Dunetta spy for de general," he +whispered. "Come, want to get away, must hurry!" And he took hold of +Walter's arm. + +Their course was directly into the woods, under broad mahogany and +grenadillo trees, and over rough rocks overgrown with rank vines. +Insects and bugs were numerous and spider-webs hung everywhere. + +"Udder men all caught and taken to prison," said the Cuban as they +progressed. "I hear dat from udder spy." + +"Well, I'm not out of the woods yet," said Walter, seriously. + +"Woods safe place in daytime," answered the negro, not catching his true +meaning. + +They had progressed less than half a mile when Walter began to lag +behind. "I can't go any farther," he declared. "I've been sick and I'm +about used up." + +"Sick? What is de mattair?" + +"I don't know--unless it is malarial fever." + +At the word "fever" Carlos Dunetta drew down the corners of his broad +mouth. "Fever? Dat is werry bad--_Americano_ canno stand dat. Maybe I +best carry you to Josefina's hut. Josefina she my sistair. She take care +of you if so you be sick." + +The tall negro took Walter upon his back with ease and continued on his +way. Presently they reached a trail, and passing along this for the +distance of a hundred yards, came within sight of a long, low hut, +thatched with palm. + +The negro gave a peculiar whistle, and immediately a short, fat negro +wench put in an appearance, followed by a man of twenty-five or thirty. +The man was fairly well dressed, and evidently a Cuban of Spanish +descent. + +"It is all right, Carlos!" cried the wench. "This is Senor Ramona." + +"Senor Ramona!" exclaimed the negro, and rushing up he dropped Walter +and took the out-stretched hand of the Cuban gentleman. A long talk in +Spanish, followed, of which Walter understood hardly a word. Yet he felt +certain the pair were talking about the American warships outside of +the harbor, the blowing up of the _Merrimac_, and about himself. +Suddenly the negro ran back to him, at the same time calling the wench. + +"You sick--I forget," he said. "Come; nice bed here." And he pointed to +a grass hammock suspended from one of the rear corner posts of the hut +to a near-by tree. "You lay dare; Josefina make good drink for you; den +you feel bettair." + +Walter was glad enough to accept the invitation, for standing unaided +was now out of the question. As soon as he was in the hammock the negro +woman ran off for a wet bandage, which she tied tightly over his +forehead. + +Carlos Dunetta evidently had an important message for Senor Ramona, for +no sooner was the talk between the pair at an end, than the Cuban +brought out a horse from the shelter of the trees, and dashed down the +trail at a breakneck speed. + +"Me watch, warn you if any Spaniards come," said Carlos, on returning to +Walter's side. "You bettair rest, or get fever werry bad." + +"Do you suppose there is any hope of my getting back to my ship?" + +"De ship dat blow up?" + +"No, a big warship out there," and Walter waved his hand in the +direction of the coast. + +At this, the tall negro shrugged his shoulders. "Carlos can take you to +de shore--but no got boat. Maybe you swim, not so?" + +"Well, hardly," answered Walter. "I may be a pretty good swimmer, but +four or five miles is too much for any man." + +The negro retired, and Walter lay back watching the woman, who had +brought out several bags filled with herbs. Selecting some of the herbs, +the woman steeped them in water, and poured the tea into an earthen +bowl, sweetening the concoction with sugarcane ends. Bringing the bowl +to Walter, she motioned for him to drink. + +The youth had expected an unsavory mess, but he found the tea very +pleasant to the taste, and ten minutes after he had taken half the +contents of the bowl he was in a sound slumber, from which he did not +awaken until nearly nightfall. In the meantime Josefina removed the life +preserver and made him otherwise as comfortable as possible, proud to +think she was serving _un Americano_ who was battling against the +enemies of her beloved Cuba. + +"You had bettair come into de house now--night air werry bad for you," +announced Carlos, as Walter sat up in the hammock and stared around him. +"How feel now? weak?" + +"I--I dreamed I was back on the _Brooklyn_ and sailing for home," was +the hesitating reply. "My head feels better, but I'm afraid my legs have +gone back on me," Walter went on, as on trying to stand he found he must +support himself against the tree. "This is the queerest spell of +sickness I ever had." + +"Never mind--if only so be dat de fever is broken," said Carlos, +seriously. "Come." And he about carried Walter into the hut. Usually +negro huts in Cuba are dirty and full of vermin, but this was an +exception. In her younger days, Josefina had worked for a titled lady of +Santiago, and there had learned cleanliness quite unusual to those of +her standing. In a corner of the hut was a pile of fresh sugarcane husks +covered with a brown spread, and to this she motioned Walter, and here +he rested until the following morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +CARLOS, THE REBEL SPY + + +"Well, I'm not out of my troubles yet, but I suppose I'm better off than +those fellows who were captured and taken off to some Spanish dungeon." + +It was Walter who mused thus, as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. The herb +tea Josefina had made for him had "touched the spot" and he felt quite +like himself again. The native Cubans have to fight fevers constantly, +and, consequently, know a great deal about proper remedies. + +"Will you eat?" questioned Carlos, who sat by, smoking a cigarette, +while Josefina busied herself in preparing a morning meal of rice-cakes +and strong coffee. + +"I haven't much appetite, but I suppose I ought to eat if I want to get +back my strength. But see here," Walter went on. "I can't pay you a cent +for what you are doing for me, for I have no money with me." + +"Dat's all right; Josefina and me no want pay--we glad to do for you," +answered Carlos; and Josefina smiled so broadly that her eyes were +fairly closed. + +The rice-cakes were well done, and Walter ate several of them, and also +sipped at the heavy black coffee, sweetened with sugarcane drippings. +The meal over, Carlos leaped up and lit a fresh cigarette. + +"You stay here and I go to shore--see if you can get to ship," he said. +"If Spaniards come, Josefina show you where to hide, so no can find +you." + +"I'll have to stay, for I can't walk the distance to the shore--yet. By +the way, where am I?" + +"Dis place back of Estrella, 'bout halfway to Aguadores, on the Guama +River. Can see warships from mouth of Guama." + +"Yes, I've heard of the Guama. Some of the fellows on board ship said we +might capture that point, or Guantanamo Bay, so as to have a place to +coal when the ocean was rough. You are going to the shore?" + +"If Spanish pickets let me," grinned Carlos. "Werry strong Spanish guard +around here now. Werry much afraid American soldiers come." + +"Perhaps they will come, if Sampson needs help," replied Walter, but +without knowing that the army of invasion at Tampa was already preparing +to leave for Cuba, and his own brother Ben with it. + +After Carlos was gone, Walter tried to carry on a conversation with +Josefina, but as the wench's English vocabulary was as limited as was +the boy's knowledge of Spanish, the talk soon lagged. "_Cuba libre!_ +'Member de _Maine_!" she said over and over again, and smiled that awful +smile that almost caused Walter to burst into a fit of laughter. During +the morning she made him some more tea and insisted upon his drinking +it, greatly to the benefit of his health and strength, as he soon +realized. + +It was growing late in the afternoon, and Walter was wondering when +Carlos would get back, when the sound of a rifle-shot from a distance +startled him. Before he could get to the doorway of the hut, Josefina +was outside and speeding up the trail in the direction her brother had +taken. + +"Get back!" It was the voice of Carlos, and he was running beside his +sister, who kept up with him, despite her weight. "The Spaniards are +coming." + +"Soldiers?" gasped Walter. + +"Yes; ten or fifteen. They caught me going through de pickets, but I +knocked one so, and anodder so, and got away. Come wid me, before da +catch you!" And he took hold of Walter's arm and turned him to the back +of the hut. + +Wondering what would happen next, but remembering what had been said +about a hiding-place, the youth followed Carlos to the rear wall of the +structure. Here, directly against the logs, grew a tall ebony tree. + +"Dat tree hollow," explained the Cuban. "Climb to limb and drop inside. +Josefina haul us out when Spanish go 'way." And he gave Walter a lift +up. + +The lower branches were but twelve feet from the ground, and were easily +gained. Carlos came up also. "Let me drop first," he said. "Den you come +on top of me. Be quick, or too late!" And down he went into darkness, +and Walter came after. + +The hollow portion of the tree was not over twenty inches in diameter, +and it was a lucky thing for both inside that neither was stout nor +broad of shoulder. As it was, they stood breast to breast with +difficulty, and yet not daring to make a sound. + +A shout came from the trail, sounding in strange contrast to the song +Josefina had begun to sing--an old-fashioned Cuban ditty about a sailor +and his lass. Soon the soldiers drew closer, and several came around to +the side of the hut. + +"Ho! within there!" came in Spanish. "Where is that wretch we are +after?" + +"Wretch!" answered Josefina, in pretended surprise. "Whom do you mean, +kind sirs?" + +"You know well enough--the tall fellow who knocked over our guards and +ran in this direction." + +"I have seen nobody; I have been busy washing," answered Josefina, +pointing to a few articles of wearing apparel which lay soaking in a +water-butt. + +"You cannot humbug us!" cried the leader of the Spanish detachment, in a +fury. "Tell me where they are, or I'll run you through!" And he ran at +Josefina with pointed sword. It is doubtful if he intended to carry out +his threat, but the wench thought him in earnest, and the yell she gave +would have done credit to a cannibal of the South Sea Islands. + +The cry of terror from his sister was more than Carlos Dunetta could +stand, and in a twinkle he placed his hands on Walter's shoulders, +shoved himself upward, and showed himself at the top of the opening. + +"Let my sister alone, you dogs!" he burst out. "Let her alone!" And +leaping to the ground, he made after the Spaniard with a drawn machete, +a long knife used in the sugarcane fields and employed by the insurgents +as a favorite weapon. + +There was a cry of alarm, and then came two shots in quick succession, +followed by a fall close to the foot of the tree. + +"You have killed my brother!" shrieked Josefina. "Oh, Carlos, Carlos, +what shall I do now?" + +"Back with you, you good-for-nothing woman!" came from the leader of the +Spanish detachment. "I thought we were on the right trail. We ought to +shoot you for lying to us." + +At that moment came a deep groan of pain, showing that Carlos was not +yet dead. He had been shot in the arm and through the back, but the +wounds were not dangerous, although painful. + +Without paying attention to what more the Spaniards had to say, Josefina +busied herself over the body of her brother, laying him out on the +grass and binding up his wounds with such rags as were handy. While she +was doing this the Spaniards began an excited conversation among +themselves, of which, of course, Walter understood not a word. + +"Your brother had a very convenient hiding-place in the tree," suggested +the leader of the detachment, a greasy, lean-faced corporal, who +rejoiced in the name of Pedro Ruz. "Had he not shown himself, it is +doubtful if we should have located him." + +"You are bad men to shoot him--I want nothing to do with you," was +Josefina's only response. "Go--and leave my brother to me." + +"Leave him here!" burst out Pedro Ruz. "No, no, he goes with us as a +prisoner. If I am not mistaken, he is the spy Captain Coleo has been +after these many days." + +"You cannot take him away--a journey will kill him." + +"He must go--whether it kills him or not. He can ride on the back of the +horse one of my men is bringing up. Captain Coleo will want to interview +him before nightfall. And let me tell you, if it is discovered that he +has been carrying information to the rebels or those Yankee pigs out in +the waters beyond the bay, why, so much the worse for him, that's all." +And Corporal Ruz shrugged his shoulders suggestively. + +In a moment more the horse was brought forward, a beast as lean as its +owner, since fodder in that territory was becoming a scarce article. +Since Carlos could not move himself, he was lifted up to the saddle in +anything but a gentle fashion. Josefina began to expostulate, but the +only attention paid to her was by one of the men, who snatched at her +arm and hurled her backward. + +"You must learn to mind your betters," said the soldier. "Our worthy +corporal knows his business." + +"I will search the man, to see if he carries any despatches," put in +Corporal Ruz. "Ha, you rascal, let me get at that breast pocket of +yours. And, Camara, climb up into the tree and look into that hole. +There may be something worth finding there." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY + + +As Walter did not understand what was said, he was not aware of his +peril until the Spanish soldier began to climb the tree. Then he +realized the truth, and his heart sank within him. + +"It's all up with me now," he half groaned. "I wonder what they will do +with me after they find me." + +Reaching the top of the opening, the soldier paused and shouted +something to his companions regarding the darkness of the hole below. + +"Light a match and drop it down," ordered Corporal Ruz. "This rascal +carries nothing," he went on, disappointedly, having found Carlos's +pockets empty of anything of value. The negro did carry a message, but +it was on a small patch of thin paper, which had been rolled up tightly +and concealed in his thick woolly hair. + +The match was lit and dropped, and all ablaze it landed upon Walter's +head. He caught it in silence and put it out, but the movement was +noticed from above. + +"There is some one else in the tree--a white man," cried the soldier. +"Come out of that!" he continued. + +Walter guessed what the command meant, and as further concealment would +have been useless he attempted to crawl from the hole. But this was not +so easy, and in the end the soldier had to lend a hand, and then both +leaped to the ground together. + +"_Un Americano!_" ejaculated Corporal Ruz. "_De donde viene V.?_" he +added, asking Walter where he came from. + +At this the boy shook his head. "I don't understand you," he said. + +"_No habla V. castellano?_" continued the corporal, asking if he did not +speak Spanish. + +Again Walter shook his head. + +"Yankee pig!" murmured the corporal, using a term quite common in Cuba +during the war. "Why does he not learn our beautiful language? Does he +expect we will learn his dirty English?" + +He turned to the soldier who had discovered Walter, and between them +they searched the lad's clothing thoroughly, and even took off his +shoes and stockings. + +"Nothing," growled the under-officer. "It is strange." + +Carlos had been almost unconscious, but was now recovering. "We are in +serious trouble, I am afraid," said Walter, addressing him; but Carlos +pretended not to understand, not wishing the Spaniards to know that he +spoke English, for then they would have been more certain than ever that +he was a spy. + +In a few minutes the entire party had left the hut and was making its +way along the trail, Carlos on horseback and the others walking, Walter +between the corporal and a Spanish private, and Josefina bringing up in +the rear as if unwilling to leave her brother. + +The soldiers were eight in number, and each was armed with a Mauser +rifle of recent pattern. They were a hungry-looking set and their +uniforms were sadly in need of repair. Six were of middle age, but the +other two were no older than Walter, for conscription into the Spanish +army begins at as early an age as it does in the navy--some of the +soldiers and sailors being scarcely fifteen to sixteen years old! + +The course of the party was upward, over rocks and trailing vines, and +through a woods where hardly a breath of air was stirring. The heat soon +made Walter's head ache again, and he was glad enough when a small +Spanish camp was gained and he was allowed to sit down in the shade of a +plantain and rest. + +The encampment was in the open, the only shelter being that provided for +the officer in charge, Captain Coleo--a bit of dilapidated canvas +stretched between four trees fifteen or twenty feet apart. Under this +shelter were located a couple of hammocks, a small folding table for +writing, and a camp chair. + +Walter found Captain Coleo a thorough gentleman despite his +surroundings. He was well educated and spoke English fluently, with a +soft accent which under other circumstances would have been quite +pleasing. + +"So you are an American youth?" he said, after he had listened to his +corporal's report and examined Carlos. "And where did you come from, and +what are you doing here?" + +Feeling there would be no use in concealing the truth, Walter told his +story. At the mentioning of the _Merrimac_ the Spanish captain's brow +grew dark. + +"It was a brave deed, but it will do your countrymen small good," he +said. "The boat is not directly across the channel, so the harbor pilots +have discovered. All of your comrades are now prisoners in Morro Castle, +and I presume that is where I shall have to send you." + +"As a prisoner of war?" + +"As a prisoner of war. And you can be thankful that in trying to escape +you were not shot down," continued Captain Coleo. + +Walter was very thirsty, and said so. "You look as if you were getting +ready to have the fever," was the captain's comment, and he had a +soldier bring Walter a tin cup full of _guarapo_, water sweetened with +sugarcane ends, and said to be healthier than the plain article. Good +water in Cuba is scarce, and although Walter did not know it, it was +only the captain's natural good-heartedness that obtained for him what +he wanted. + +It had threatened rain for some hours, and as nightfall came on, the +first drops of a violent tropical storm descended. Soon from a distance +came the rumble of thunder, and spasmodic flashes of lightning lit up +the woods. The soldiers huddled under the shelter of a clump of low +trees, while Captain Coleo sought the protection of the canvas, +accompanied by Walter, Carlos, and a guard. Walter's hands had been +bound behind him, and he was allowed to sit on a small block of wood +beside one of the hammocks in which the wounded negro reclined. + +"We will not move to Santiago to-night," said the Spanish captain. "I +think the storm will clear away by morning." + +He was busy making out a report, and sat at his little table for the +purpose, a spluttering Mambi taper fastened to a stick driven into the +soil being his only light. The taper went out half a dozen times, but +there was nothing to do but to light it again, and this Captain Coleo +did without the least show of impatience. To him war was a business, and +he was satisfied to take matters just as they came. + +The guard trudged around and around the patch covered by the canvas, his +rifle on his shoulder and the never-failing Spanish cigarette in his +mouth. Occasionally he glanced toward Walter and the negro, but his +interest in the prisoners soon gave way to his own discomforts, and he +gave them no more attention. + +Presently Walter felt a hand steal over his shoulder. "What you +think--we run for it, maybe?" whispered Carlos. + +"I'd like to run, but we may get shot," whispered Walter in return. + +At this Carlos shrugged his shoulders. With two Mauser bullets in him +the tall negro rebel was still "game." It was such men as he who had +kept this unequal warfare in Cuba going for three long years despite +Spain's utmost endeavors to end the conflict. + +"Raise up a bit and I untie rope," he said, as the guard made another +round and walked from them. "Maybe we can go when big thunder and +lightning come--not so?" + +"All right--I'll go you," cried Walter, lowly, and in a bit of Western +slang. "A fellow can't die but once, and I have no desire to be taken to +the dungeon of Morro Castle, or to any other Spanish lockup." + +He raised up, and in a trice Carlos had the cords about his wrists +unloosened. Captain Coleo still sat writing. But now the taper went out +again and he paused to relight it. + +At that instant came a blinding flash of lightning and a loud peal of +thunder which startled the few horses the camp possessed and caused them +to prance about madly. "Now!" cried Carlos, and with one quick leap he +cleared six feet of ground between the hammock and the nearest patch of +woods. Walter also leaped, and away they went side by side through the +wind, rain, and darkness. + +Crack! crack! It was the reports of two Mausers, and the ping of a +bullet from the Spanish captain's pistol followed. Walter felt a strange +whistling by his ear, and putting up his hand found it covered with +blood. The bullet from the pistol had scratched the side of his head. +Had his aim been an inch closer, gentlemanly Captain Coleo would have +killed the youth on the spot. + +"You are hit?" queried Carlos, breathing heavily, for loss of blood had +made him weak. + +"I--I reckon it's not much!" panted Walter. "But hurry up--they are +coming after us!" + +The boy was right; both the captain and the guard were following the +pair with all possible speed, while three others brought up in the +rear, the other soldiers remaining behind to manage the horses, three +of which had broken their tethers and were bounding down the trail at a +breakneck speed. + +Could he manage to escape? Such was the one question which Walter asked +himself as he stumbled on in the darkness. A very few minutes would +suffice to answer the all-important query. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE FLIGHT TO THE SEACOAST + + +Carlos knew the wood well, and now he took hold of Walter's hand. "Put +udder arm up, or get hurt maybe," he said. "Nasty trees around here." +And Walter found this was true, for presently a low and twisted branch +caught him and flung him flat on his back. Had his arm been down he must +have been knocked senseless. + +The Spanish captain and the guard came crashing along behind them, +shouting "_Alto!_" (Halt) at the top of their lungs. Captain Coleo was +very much chagrined that they had gotten away so easily, and blamed the +guard roundly. The latter did not dare to answer back, and felt he must +catch the fleeing prisoners or suffer for it. + +The course had been straight ahead, but now Carlos turned to the +southward. Presently they came to a halt at the edge of a mountain +torrent. The pursuers were still on the track and drawing closer. + +"Jump and go ahead; I will come after," panted Carlos, who could run no +more. "Don't wait!" he added, as he saw Walter hesitate. + +"But yourself--" began Walter. + +"Never mind--go!" broke in the negro; and Walter made the leap over the +stream and ran on. Instantly Carlos sought the shelter of a near-by tree +and became silent. + +"I do not see them, _capitan_," observed the guard, as he and Captain +Coleo reached the spot. "Have they crossed, do you think?" + +"I will see, Rampo," was the answer, and the captain hurried on in the +direction Walter had taken. Scarcely was he out of sight than with set +teeth Carlos came forth from the shadow of the tree and crawled up +behind Rampo as silently as a panther seeking its prey. A quick, nervous +clutch and the negro had the soldier's Mauser. Then came a heavy swing +of the butt, and with hardly a groan the Spanish guard went down with a +broken skull. "_Cuba libre!_" muttered Carlos, grimly. "That for Maceo, +our fallen hero!" referring to Antonio Maceo, the patriot who had led +the rebels in eastern Cuba for several years, only to be shot down at +last in ambush. + +In the meantime Walter ran on, not knowing where he was going, and +hardly caring, if only his liberty might be assured to him. Occasionally +a flash of lightning lit up the scene, but this only served to make the +general darkness more intense. Soon his foot caught in an exposed +tree-root, and he went headlong, and rolled over and over to the bottom +of a hollow filled with rank vegetation, foul-smelling moss, and +brackish water. + +Before he could collect his scattered senses he heard the Spanish +captain coming up. He arose slowly to his feet, but, struck by a sudden +idea, remained in the hollow, ankle-deep in water, and screened from +view by the vegetation previously mentioned. + +A flash of lightning revealed the captain and at the same time uncovered +the youth. For a second both stood spellbound, then the Spaniard drew +his pistol. + +"Surrender!" he shouted; and the former mildness in his tone of voice +was now missing. "Surrender, or I'll shoot you where you stand." + +[Illustration: "SURRENDER, OR I'LL SHOOT YOU WHERE YOU STAND."] + +"Don't shoot," answered Walter, readily. "I'll come out." + +"Where is that Cuban rebel?" + +"I don't know." + +"You don't know? Ha! don't fool with me, lad--I am in no humor for it +now." + +"Well, I don't know, and that is all there is to it. We separated +several minutes ago." + +"I do not believe you--he is hiding somewhere in the hollow. Tell me +where, or as sure as I stand here, I will put a bullet through your +head." And the pistol was aimed straight at Walter. + +Before the youth could remonstrate, indeed, before he had time to think, +the crack of a Mauser penetrated the damp air. A second of silence +followed, and then, to Walter's amazement, Captain Coleo sank down where +he stood, a ball through his brain. + +"I hit him! what a fine shot!" The words came from Carlos, as he emerged +into the opening, the rifle still in hand. "That makes number two, for +de udder rascal is laid low with a broken head. Senor, we are in luck, +but let us make de most of our chance." + +"But--but--is he dead?" asked Walter, in a hoarse whisper. To him such a +proceeding seemed little less than murder. + +"Dead? To be sure he is dead. But don't let dat worry you. See de blood +on your left ear, where he tried to serve you as I served him. Come, +before de udder soldiers arrive." And, catching Walter by the arm, +Carlos hurried him away. + +"And this is war!" thought the boy. "Oh, how cruel! how barbarous! But +Carlos is right, the captain tried to kill me." He drew a long breath. +"I'm glad I wasn't the one to knock him over." + +The pair had gone on about a hundred yards further when they came out on +a broad highway, used principally as an ox-team road. Here Carlos called +a halt again, to get his breath and take a view of the situation. + +"Hark--a horse come!" he ejaculated suddenly, and slipped a cartridge +into the Mauser rifle, for he had taken the ammunition box from the dead +soldier. "Back, out of sight--ah!" + +Walter ran to the shelter of a tree. But at the same time the negro +bounded forward, throwing the rifle to the ground. It was no horseman +approaching, only one of the animals that had broken away during the +heavy thunder and lightning. Making a clutch at the beast's bridle, +Carlos held fast and brought the horse to a sudden halt. + +"We in luck," he observed, as Walter came out of hiding. "Mount wid me, +and we'll soon be miles away!" + +"You get into the saddle, and I'll ride behind," answered Walter, who +saw how weak Carlos now was. And thus they went on until several miles +had been covered. Presently, from a distance, the youth heard the +booming of the surf. + +"Is that from the seacoast?" he asked; and the negro nodded. "And where +are we?" + +"We close to de ocean, two or three miles east from San Juan hill. We +stop pretty soon--werry much tired." And Carlos closed his eyes. He +would have fallen from the horse had not Walter held him fast. "Turn to +left at first cross-road," he muttered, and then fainted. + +"Poor chap!" thought the boy. "He kept up well, with two bullets in him. +I must do what I can for him." And he urged the horse on, at the same +time keeping his eyes open for the side road mentioned. Soon it came +into view, and five minutes later he found himself at the entrance to a +hut similar to that occupied by Josefina, who had now disappeared +entirely from the scene. Beyond the hut the road lost itself in a +wilderness of small brush. + +The hoof-strokes of the horse had been observed, and soon several men, +Cubans and negroes, came from the building. "Carlos!" cried several. +They turned to Walter. "What does this mean, senor?" came in Spanish. + +"Spaniards," answered Walter, and pointed behind him. Then he pointed to +the gun and to the wounds Carlos had received, and also showed his own +bloody ear and scalp. + +The dumb language was instantly comprehended, and two men carried the +unconscious negro into the hut, while others took charge of the horse +and conducted Walter inside. The lad found the small abode crowded with +insurgents, who had come in to escape the drenching rain, and the air +was heavy with the smoke of cigarettes and the smell of a stew seasoned +with garlic, which was cooking over a lire in the rear. A constant flow +of conversation was kept up, of which he understood only an occasional +word. + +Poor Carlos was in a bad way, and by morning it was easy to see he could +be removed only with difficulty. Yet he was cheerful, or tried to be so, +and smiled when Walter came to him. + +"I have news for you," he said, in his broken English. "Your warships +fight, bang, bang, bang! down by the water, at Aguadores and udder +places. Think ships go up by Guantanamo Bay, maybe. If sailors land, you +have a chance to join them--not so?" + +"I just hope some of our boys do land, and that right away!" cried +Walter. "Can't I get somebody to show me the way to the seacoast?" + +"Gilberto, my brudder, show the way. But not to-day. Maybe to-morrow or +next day--when it is safe." + +Gilberto had just come in; a stout negro as short as his brother was +long, but a rebel fighter to the core. He, too, could speak a little +English and said he had been a sailor. + +"Sail from Santiago to Philadelphia twice with ore," he said. "Very nice +country, America; me like de people. Only werry cold in winter; no like +dat--make go dis way." And he gave a shiver. Later on, Walter learned +that the entire district was rich in minerals and that large quantities +of these were shipped from Santiago and from a near-by town called +Baiquiri. + +The day passed slowly, and so did the next. In the meanwhile the Cubans +came and went. They were a detachment of Garcia's army, the main body of +which was located many miles further northward. They were watching the +seacoast and trying to communicate with the American ships of war, which +could be seen on fair days lying in the offing. They knew that once a +landing was effected by the Americans, Uncle Sam would speedily supply +them with what they so greatly needed--clothing, guns, and ammunition. +Once these were obtained, they felt that they could secure their +independence. They had yet to learn that the trained soldiers of Spain +could be conquered only by the equally, or better, trained soldiers of +the States. + +On the morning of the third day, and while they could distinctly hear +the sounds of heavy firing in the vicinity of Morro Castle and the +Estrella battery, Walter and Gilberto started off, each on horseback. +The youth felt once more like himself, for the Cubans had continued to +give him drinks of herbs which had entirely banished the lurking fever +in his system. Before leaving Walter heard from the negress Josefina. +She had escaped injury, and fled to the northward, there to join a +great number of women and children, the wives and young people of the +insurgents. + +The course lay along a stretch of tableland and then up the side of a +small mountain. At one point on the mountain top there was a clearing, +and here a distant view could be obtained of the ocean to the south of +the "Pearl of the Antilles," as Cuba had often been termed. + +"Your ship's over dare," explained Gilberto, pointing with his long +fingers. "Might see dem if we had glass like dis." And he shut up one +hand and placed it over the other, in imitation of a spyglass. + +"Do the Spaniards guard the coast?" + +"To be sure, senor, very heaby guard, too, at Aguadores and Guantanamo +Bay." + +"Then we'll have to go slow when we get near the water's edge." + +"We no go to water right away, senor--wait till we see de coast clear. +Gilberto find you good hiding-place and bring eating, and there you stay +till I say come--not so?" + +"I suppose that will be best. I'm sure I don't want to be taken prisoner +again," concluded Walter, very positively. + +On they went, down the opposite side of the mountain. They were now +travelling in an easterly direction, and before night many miles were +covered. At last they came to a series of rocks overlooking the ocean, +but situated at least a quarter of a mile back from the beach proper. + +"Here is a good place to hide; Gilberto know it well," said the guide, +and pointed out a rude cave. "Here _Americano_ can stay many days and +Spaniards not find him. You take it easy, and I bring food to you." And +then Gilberto hurried off alone. + +Walter was glad to rest, for the travelling even on horseback had been +very trying. He sat down, and in half an hour Gilberto returned with +some bread, some jerked beef, and a number of other eatables, done up in +a bit of coffee sacking. + +"Dere, dat last two, t'ree days," said the guide. "Now lay low, as +_Americano_ say, and Gilberto come back one day or udder. I take horses, +and say _buenas noches_." And with this good night, Gilberto disappeared +down the trail, leaving Walter to himself. Strange as it may seem, the +youth never saw or heard of either Gilberto or Carlos again. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE LANDING OF THE MARINES AT GUANTANAMO + + +While Walter was in the depths of the Cuban wilderness, trying to escape +from the Spanish soldiers, history, so far as it concerned our war with +Spain, was moving forward rapidly. + +As soon as it was felt that Cervera could not escape from Santiago Bay +without running the risk of a fearful battle with Admiral Sampson's or +Commodore Schley's squadron, preparations were made to send an army of +invasion forward. + +For such an army a safe landing-place must be secured, and with this in +view, the American warships began the bombardment of various places +along the coast, from Santiago Bay to Guantanamo Bay, twenty odd miles +farther eastward. + +The first of these heavy bombardments took place on the sixth of June, +and was directed against Morro Castle, the batteries at Punta Gorda and +Zocapa, and at the village of Aguadores, already mentioned. Aguadores +is several miles to the eastward of Santiago Bay, to the rear of the +rocky promontory upon which Morro Castle is located, and it was felt +that if once a footing could be obtained here, the actual invasion by +the soldiers would become an easy matter. The bombardment lasted many +hours, and the various batteries were much damaged and the Spanish +warship, the _Reina Mercedes_, was so badly riddled that she was later +on sunk in the channel, thus blocking the outlet to the bay more +completely than ever. No damage was done to the American ships. + +Through this bombardment a landing was effected at Baiquiri, not far +from Aguadores, by a small body of marines, who burned up some Spanish +stores and spiked a number of old-fashioned guns. + +Following this attack came one upon Guantanamo and the other settlements +clustered around the shores of the bay of that name. Here the fighting +was as fierce as before, but before it was over a body of marines from +the _Oregon_ were landed, and later on came six hundred marines from the +_Panther_. The Spaniards stood their ground for only a short while and +then fled to the mountains, and the American flag was hoisted amid a +wild cheering from the troops at hand and those on the warships. No +sooner had the landing-places at Guantanamo, Baiquiri, and Aguadores +been secured than the army of invasion under General Shafter left Key +West for these points, the particulars of which expedition have already +been related in "A Young Volunteer in Cuba." + +Walter slept "like a rock" during the first night in the cave, being +thoroughly exhausted by his long ride. He did not awaken until long +after the sun had come up, and for the moment could not realize where he +was. + +A scanty breakfast was speedily despatched, and he walked out to inspect +his surroundings. Mindful of what Gilberto had told him about the enemy, +he was careful how he exposed himself, and at the first sign of anything +suspicious he ran to cover. + +Thus the day passed away slowly. In vain he tried to make out some of +the warships far out at sea. To his naked eye they were but specks on +that ceaseless tide which glared like molten lead in the fierce rays of +the sun. + +On the following night the youth underwent a curious experience. He had +just thrown himself down to rest when, without warning, the cave was +filled with a light that was dazzling. Thinking a fire must have +suddenly descended upon him, he leaped up, when, as silently as it had +come, the light disappeared. + +"Now, what in the world does that mean?" he asked himself, and started +for the cave opening, when, swish! the light came back, almost blinding +him. Then he understood it all. + +"It's a searchlight from one of our ships!" he cried, half aloud. "If +only they could see me and take me on board!" He watched for the light +to reappear, but it never showed itself again, being trained upon Morro +Castle and the entrance to Santiago Harbor. + +On the third day in the cave Walter's stock of provisions gave out. No +one had come near him, and the loneliness of his situation was +maddening. + +"I can't stand this any longer," he mused. "I must get out, if only to +hunt for something to eat." + +Fortunately for him, Gilberto had left him a pistol and several rounds +of cartridges. To be sure, the weapon was an old-fashioned affair, but +it was better than nothing, and soon the youth was out in the woods to +the rear of the rocks trying to scare up something to shoot. + +The woods had been well ransacked by both Spaniards and Cubans, but +several hours' hunt yielded two birds, besides some half-ripe plantains +and some nuts. Walter was about to return to the cave to cook the birds +when from a distance he heard loud shouting, and presently came the +rapid discharge of firearms. + +"A battle of some kind is on," he thought, and ran to where he had +discovered an ox-cart trail. He had scarcely reached the shelter of a +clump of bushes, when a detachment of Cubans, closely followed by two +companies of Spanish cavalrymen, rushed past, both parties firing as +they moved. + +"This is getting hot," thought the youth, and started to retreat, when +he heard more soldiers coming from the direction of the cave. As there +now seemed no help for it, he crossed the trail and plunged along a side +path, leading eastward,--a trail running directly to Guantanamo. + +Walter felt that the best thing to be done was to put distance between +himself and his enemies, and he did not stop running until several miles +had been covered. He had, meanwhile, crossed one small mountain stream, +and now he found himself on the bank of another. There was no bridge, +and the watercourse looked rather dangerous to ford. + +"I might as well follow the bank down to the ocean," he reasoned. "But I +must have something to eat first." And finding a secluded nook, he built +a tiny fire and broiled his two little birds, both of which made hardly +a meal. Then, obtaining the purest drink possible from the river, he +continued his journey. + +By nightfall Walter had covered many miles, yet no ocean came to view, +and now he felt that he must be lost in the wilds of the island. As this +conclusion forced itself home to him he smiled grimly. + +"Lost in Cuba, and I came down here to help man a gun on the +_Brooklyn_," he muttered. "Was there ever such a turning-around before! +I wonder what I had best do next." + +This was not an easy question to answer. It was already dark under the +thick trees, and to spend the night in such a spot was not pleasant to +contemplate. + +At last he came to a clearing. Here he was about to settle down, under +the shelter of a small cliff of rocks, when something appeared that +caused him to yell with all the strength of his lungs. It was a snake, +five feet long, and it advanced rapidly, hissing as it came. + +Walter had met snakes before, harmless reptiles not half as big as the +present one. But he did not know but that this reptile might be +poisonous, and gaining the top of the rocks he blazed away with the +pistol, not once, but several times. The last shot hit the snake in the +tail, and away it darted, out of sight and into the river. + +"Ugh! what a horrible creature!" he murmured, as he stood still, +watching for the possible reappearance of the reptile. "I wish I was out +of this. I'd give a year's wages to be safe on board of the _Brooklyn_ +once more." + +The words had just left Walter's lips, when he heard a movement behind +him. Turning swiftly, he beheld a Spanish soldier gazing at him from a +distance of less than fifty feet. The soldier had his rifle, and now the +weapon was aimed at the boy's head. + +"_Alto!_" came the Spanish command to halt. "_Americano!_" + +Walter's surprise was complete, yet he kept his wits about him. As the +Spaniard raised his gun, the youth made a quick leap for the shelter of +a near-by tree. + +Bang! went the Mauser, and the bullet clipped the tree bark. Then Walter +took aim, and trembling in spite of himself, pulled the trigger of his +pistol. The enemy was hit in the shoulder, and uttered a deep cry of +pain. + +"If there are others with him I'm in for it now!" thought the boy, and +took to his heels along the bank of the watercourse. From behind came a +cry for help and another to arms, and in less than a minute a whole +company of Spaniards were in wild pursuit. A dozen shots rang out, but +Walter was not hit, and plunged on. But he was no match for his +pursuers, and they gradually drew closer and closer. Then the youth +stumbled and fell, and ere he could arise he found himself surrounded. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +IN A SPANISH PRISON + + +The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous +the youth had ever beheld. They were all short, thin, and exceedingly +yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more +than half starved. Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the +wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, +and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to +supply them with what they absolutely needed. + +None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, +at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his +shoulders. He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was +taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his +back. + +The course of the party was along the river to a rude bridge, over which +Walter was marched in double-quick time. They emerged upon a narrow +highway, along which they encountered half a dozen detached Spanish +companies, some moving eastward and others in the opposite direction. +"I'm in for it now," thought the youth. "Escaping from this crowd will +be out of the question." + +Night was well advanced when they turned into a small settlement +fronting Guantanamo Bay. Here were half a dozen log houses thatched with +palm, while not far off was the office of a mineral company, now +deserted by the proprietors, for business in this section of Cuba had +long since come to a standstill. + +Without ceremony Walter was taken to one of the log huts and thrust +inside. The place was scarcely twenty feet square and was crowded with +fifteen or sixteen insurgents, whites and negroes, who huddled on the +floor, making themselves as comfortable as possible in their miserable +surroundings. On the outside of the hut eight Spanish soldiers stood on +guard, with rifles ready to shoot down the first prisoner that attempted +to escape. + +"_Un Americano!_" exclaimed one of the prisoners, a bright looking +Cuban, as he edged his way to Walter's side. "You are in a sorry plight, +boy." + +"What a vile-smelling place!" murmured Walter. "How long have you been +here?" + +"Two days and nights, with only some stale bread and soup to eat,--and +the soup was made of mouldy meat. Oh, that we were free!" + +"_Silencio!_" roared one of the guards, and poked his rifle end into the +doorway. "I will shoot the first prisoner who dares to speak again!" he +added in Spanish. + +Walter wished to question him, but did not dare, and so remained silent. +It was past midnight, and presently most of the prisoners went to sleep. +Huddled in a corner, the lad gave himself up to his dismal reflections. + +Daybreak found the Spanish soldiers very active, and catching a glimpse +of them through the open doorway, Walter felt that some important +movement was contemplated. As a matter of fact the marines from the +_Panther_ had landed, and the Spaniards were going to do their best to +either capture them or drive them back to our warships. + +Before noon the firing in the distance was heavy, and the Spaniards +could be seen rushing their commands hither and thither, as though +hardly knowing how to conduct the campaign which had been thrust upon +them. Evidently they realized that landing force was too large for them, +for they gradually fell back, occupying that night the settlement where +the prison was located. + +On the day following, the attack upon both sides was renewed. The rattle +of musketry was almost constant, and before long several bullets hit the +prison itself. The prisoners were about to remonstrate at this when, on +looking out, they discovered that their late guards had fled, leaving +them to do as they pleased. + +"_Cuba libre!_" yelled the insurgents and lost no time in piling into +the open air. Not far away lay several dead Spaniards, and rushing up to +the corpses they stripped them of their arms, after which they +disappeared into the brush. + +"I wonder if the army of invasion has come," was Walter's thought, as +he, too, sought the open air. A short sword lay beside a writing-table +under a near-by shelter, and he appropriated the weapon. "I'm going to +join our men or know the reason why!" And away he went toward the water, +which could now be seen quite plainly between the rocks and hills. + +The marines, after fighting from early afternoon until the following +morning, were now intrenched on a small hill, protected in front by a +dense chaparral. They were utterly worn out, and it was found necessary +to reenforce them by men from the _Marblehead_ and other vessels. +Several field-guns had been brought ashore, and although the firing from +the Spaniards was heavy, our gallant men held the ground they had first +claimed. + +"Halt! Who comes there?" came the command, from a thicket, and Walter +stopped short, although the words, spoken in true English, filled him +with joy. + +"Are you an American?" questioned the youth, eagerly. + +"I am, and who are you?" + +"Walter Russell, cruiser _Brooklyn_. Oh, but am I not glad to get back +among the boys again!" + +"From the _Brooklyn_? What are you doing ashore here?" questioned the +marine, a bronzed but evidently a good-natured man of middle age. + +"It's a long story. I've been a prisoner twice, and I was afraid I was +about done for when the guards up and ran away from the prison and let +me and a crowd of Cubans escape. How can I get back to my ship?" + +"You're asking me too much now. Go down yonder and report to our +commander. I reckon there ain't no call to rouse up the corporal of the +guard, with everybody utterly worn out. You're true blue--I can see that +by the cut of your jib." + +Inside of five minutes more Walter found himself surrounded by half a +dozen officers, including a major of marines, who questioned him closely +regarding his adventures and concerning the various detachments of +Spanish soldiers that he had encountered. + +"You've been through a good deal, lad," said the major, slapping Walter +on the shoulder. "I dare say you wouldn't like to go through it again." + +"No, indeed! The Spaniards are--are brutes!" exclaimed the youth. "I +only hope we send them from Cuba a-flying. I think they and the Cubans +must have been fighting for the past three years like a lot of cats and +dogs. It's high time Uncle Sam took a hand." This reply brought forth a +hearty laugh from those gathered around. Walter, young as he was, had +hit the nail right on the head, as later events proved. + +The major of marines did not see how the lad could be transferred to +the _Brooklyn_, which was a good many miles off, in the direction of +Santiago. "You'll have to remain here until some boat bound for +Commodore Schley's flagship chances along," he said. "At present only +the _Marblehead_, _Suwanee_, and _Porter_ are here, but others are +coming and going constantly." + +"And what of the army of invasion?" asked Walter, with keen interest. + +"I believe it has already left Key West. I know it started from Tampa +several days ago." + +"Was the Seventy-first New York with the troops?" + +"They were. Why do you ask?" + +"My brother is a member of that regiment. Hurrah! He'll be down here +soon," concluded Walter. + +He was now dismissed, and lost no time in hunting up one of the marines' +cooks, who speedily filled him up with meat, bread and butter, and +coffee. "We're not living like kings, you see," said the cook, but +grinning to see how the food disappeared. + +"You're living like kings in comparison to the way the Cubans and the +Spaniards are living. If the army comes up and besieges Santiago, I'll +wager the city will go hungry in no time," returned the boy. + +During the balance of the day the marines were kept busy resisting +several additional attacks from the Spaniards. The onslaughts were heavy +and determined, but each time the enemy was beaten back, and at +nightfall Old Glory still waved from the flagstaff where it had +originally been run up. A foothold had been gained by our side which was +not to be taken from us. + +Walter had selected a cosy corner to rest in and was sleeping soundly +when a sudden alarm rang out. "The Dons! They are coming over a thousand +strong! To arms, everybody!" And then came a grand rush. + +The report was true; the Spanish column had organized a midnight attack, +feeling they knew the ground much better in the dark than would their +opponents. On they came, yelling like demons, while the marines stood +their ground firmly and fearlessly. + +"I must do my share of fighting," thought the boy, and bounced up with +the rest. He had already been supplied with a carbine and ammunition, +and now he lost no time in attaching himself to the nearest company at +hand. "Don't send me back, captain; I can shoot as well as the rest, I +think." + +"All right, lad, come on," was the answer. "Company, attention! By +columns of fours--forward, march!" And away they went, up a small hill. +Then came the order to halt, and the company broke up into a broad +skirmish line. "Take aim! Fire!" And then and there Walter did his first +actual fighting for Uncle Sam and our own glorious stars and stripes. + +The determined front shown by our marines non-plussed the Spaniards for +a few minutes, and they came to a halt. But then they advanced again, +and the fire from each side became hot and irregular. + +The battle had thus waged for the best part of an hour, and the +Americans felt that they must be beaten back by sheer force of numbers, +when reenforcements came up, and in addition one of the warships steamed +close to shore, and threw the rays of her powerful searchlight upon the +enemy. As soon as the Spaniards were located the warship trained its +rapid-firing guns inland, and then the enemy beat a hasty retreat. + +"Hurrah! The fight is ours!" shouted Walter, enthusiastically. "See them +run!" + +"It was lucky for us the warship came up," put in a marine beside him. +"Those dagos ain't going to give ground without a big fight, that's +certain." + +It was nearly daylight when the company returned to the camp and was +dismissed. Walter was more worn out than ever, but too excited to sleep. +"At present I'd just as lief be a marine," he observed to his side +partner in the contest. + +"Oh, don't worry, your ships will have their hands full when Cervera +takes it into his head to come out and fight," was the answer. "You'll +have no such walkover as Dewey had at Manila--I'll promise you that." + +At noon a lieutenant of marines came up to where Walter stood, watching +a drill which was in progress. "Are you Walter Russell, of the +_Brooklyn_?" he asked. + +"I am, sir," and Walter saluted. + +"Then you had better hurry down to the shore. There is a steam launch +there, and I heard the officer in command say he was bound for the +_Iowa_ and the _Brooklyn_. If you want to get on your ship, I presume he +will take you along." + +Walter waited to hear no more, but ran for the landing-place with all +possible speed. The boat had come in with despatches and was to leave +again inside of ten minutes. The officer in charge was close at hand, +and the youth's situation was speedily explained. + +"All right, I'll take you," was the brief answer. "Go aboard and +forward." And the officer turned away. Walter did as directed; and a few +minutes later the steam launch left the landing-place and steamed down +Guantanamo Bay toward the ocean, or to be more particular perhaps, the +Caribbean Sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +BACK TO THE "BROOKLYN" AGAIN + + +The steam launch was the neatest craft of the kind Walter had ever seen, +and he had come in contact with a great number while sailing on Lake +Erie. It was fifty-five feet long, about twelve feet wide, and as +beautiful a boat as a designer could plan. It was manned by eight +stalwart men, all well drilled to their duties, and carried in addition +six marines, each of whom was a sharpshooter, and also a rapid-firing +gun of small caliber. + +The launch rode the waves like a thing of life and easily made ten miles +an hour. Soon Guantanamo was left behind, and they began to creep up the +coast in the direction of Baiquiri. In the bow was a lookout, who had a +marine glass which was constantly turned shoreward. + +"A flag!" said the lookout, about noontime, and immediately the launch +came to a stop. + +"Where is it, Parkhurst?" asked the officer in charge of the craft. + +"Yonder, just below that stretch of rocks, sir," answered the lookout, +and handed over his glasses. The commander of the launch took a long +look, then ordered the craft turned to starboard, and they steamed into +a little harbor not a great distance from a tiny Cuban settlement. A +small boat was thrown out, the commander and two launch hands leaped in, +and it at once advanced. Then those on the larger craft saw a dozen men +rush from the shelter of some brush, one holding a white and the other a +Cuban flag. + +The small boat was beached in true nautical style, and the Cubans and +Americans entered into a conversation lasting the best part of half an +hour. Letters were exchanged, and then the party broke up as rapidly as +it had gathered. Although Walter did not know it, the letter delivered +by the American commander was for the rebel leader, General Calixto +Garcia, while that received in return was for Admiral Sampson and +General Shafter. All related to the landing of the army of invasion, now +so close at hand. + +The conference over, the launch darted on her way, and dinner was +served, to the officers and sharpshooters first, and then to the crew +and Walter. "Oh, we're doing some fine work along this coast," said one +of the crew to the youth, while eating. "Those Dons will be greatly +astonished some day--when our boys in blue fall on 'em." + +It was night before the _Brooklyn_ came into view, looking exactly as +she had when Walter had so unceremoniously left her. How the youth's +heart beat at the sight of his ship! How would those on board receive +him, and what would they say when his story was told? + +"Russell!" exclaimed the officer of the deck, when he came up over the +side. "Why, we all thought you had fallen overboard and been drowned." + +"I came pretty near being drowned," was the reply. "You can't imagine, +sir, how glad I am to get back!" + +"But where have you been?" + +"I've been on the _Merrimac_, among the Cubans and the Spaniards, and in +a Spanish prison, besides being down to Guantanamo Bay with the marines +from the _Panther_, sir." + +"Great Scott, boy, do you expect me to believe all that!" burst out the +officer, in sheer astonishment. + +"As you will, sir; it's true, though." + +"But--but--let me see; you said you were on the _Merrimac_?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And on shore among the Cubans, and then among the enemy?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And then among the marines at Guantanamo Bay?" + +"Exactly, sir. I escaped from a Spanish prison, and was lucky enough to +fall in with the marines by accident. I fought with them too, sir." + +"Russell, after you disappeared Surgeon Barker said you had been +sick--had been troubled with some sort of fever in your head. Don't you +believe you went out of your head entirely, and imagined all this?" + +"No, sir." + +"Well, I reckon that's the truth of the matter, and the best thing you +can do is to turn yourself over to the surgeon again for further +treatment. How is your head?" And the officer of the deck placed his +hand on Walter's forehead. "Ah, rather hot, as I thought. You had +better go to bed." And he turned away. + +"I don't think I'll go to bed just yet," murmured Walter, and lost no +time in reaching the berth deck. Here he came up behind Si and Caleb +playing one of their favorite games of checkers, while Paul stood +looking on. + +"Crown that man," Caleb was saying, when he chanced to glance up, +"Walter! or is it a ghost?" he fairly yelled, and leaped up, scattering +board and men in all directions. "Walter, where on earth did you come +from?" And he reached out his hand. + +"It is Walter, back from the grave!" ejaculated Si, and grasped the +other hand, while Paul caught the youth by the neck. + +"We thought you were drowned!" said all three, simultaneously. + +"They said you had gone out of your mind, and committed suicide," added +Paul. + +"Well, I didn't commit suicide, and I'm as well as ever," was the merry +return. "But--but--I don't believe you'll think I'm telling the truth +when I give you my story." + +"That depends on what sort of a yarn you spin," returned Caleb, dryly. +"Where have you been--sinking Cervera's fleet single-handed?" + +"Not quite, but I've been pretty close to the fleet, and pretty close to +the Spaniards." And dropping on a box Walter told his story, interrupted +every few minutes by some newcomer who advanced to shake him by the +hand, for since joining them he had made many friends among the jackies +and petty officers. + +"I don't wonder the officer of the deck wouldn't believe you, lad," +remarked Caleb, when he had finished. "It's a big yarn; beats Jonah and +the whale all to pieces--not but what _that's_ a true story, seeing as +how it's in the Good Book. You are certain you wasn't taken down with +the fever while you were on shore?" + +"Not enough to lose my mind." + +"I believe Walter," put in Si. "But if I were you I wouldn't tell this +tale to the others," he added in a lower tone. "They'd be jealous of +you, you know." + +"I don't care, I'm telling the simple truth," answered Walter, stoutly. + +That evening word was passed to him to report at the captain's cabin, +and he went, just as soon as he could slip on his best suit of +clothing, wash up, and comb his hair, for on board of every man-o'-war a +visit to "headquarters" is a big thing to any of the crew, and a +"sprucing up" is, consequently, indispensable. + +This was the first time Walter had visited the cabin of the _Brooklyn_, +and the elegant surroundings immediately caught his eye. But in days +gone by, before he had been compelled to live with the miserly Job +Dowling, he had been used to a home furnished just as handsomely, and +therefore the surroundings did not overawe him. + +There was a small table in the centre of the cabin, at one end of which +sat Commodore Schley, looking over a map of the Cuban coast. At the +other end of the table sat Captain Cook, the firm and strict, yet +well-beloved commander of the flagship. + +"You sent for me, sir," said Walter, as he came in, "toed the mark," and +saluted. + +"You are Walter Russell?" asked Captain Cook, while Commodore Schley +dropped the map and looked on with interest. + +"Yes, sir." + +"You have been absent from the ship ever since June the second, or +third?" + +"Yes, sir. But I couldn't help it. I was sick and fell overboard,--and +I've had a whole lot of adventures since." + +"So the officer of the deck tells me," answered the captain, dryly. He +looked at the commander of the squadron. "Commodore Schley, would you +like to ask Russell any questions?" + +At this the commodore smiled and pulled meditatively at the little +goatee he wore. "Russell, you can tell us your story in detail. But do +not take over ten minutes," he said, and covered his eyes with his +hands, as if in deep thought--one of his favorite attitudes. + +Standing as before and still "toeing the mark," Walter told his story +again, simply but forcefully. Whether his hearers were listening or not +he could not tell, for not a word was said until he had finished. + +Then, however, came a flood of questions concerning the spot at which he +had landed after leaving the _Merrimac_, the names of the various Cuban +and Spanish leaders that he had encountered, and the names of the +marines with which he had fought. He was also questioned about the +trails and their conditions. + +"Could loaded wagons get over them, in your estimation?" asked Commodore +Schley. + +"Not very well, sir. In one place I saw an ox-team with a load of fruit, +and the load was in danger of being dumped every minute. Some of the +paths are not fit for a pack-mule to use." + +"What of the Cubans you met? Were they well armed?" + +"A few of them had guns, but most of them had nothing but their +machetes, sir. Ammunition, I was told, was very scarce." + +"What of food?" + +"That was scarce, too." And Walter smiled. "A good eater would starve to +death on what both the Spaniards and the Cubans have to offer." + +"Do the Spaniards expect an army of invasion--that is, did you hear any +talk on the subject?" + +"I caught a few words, sir. I cannot speak Spanish myself." + +Commodore Schley mused for a moment. "That is all," he said, addressing +Captain Cook. "The boy has certainly had some remarkable adventures. He +is better off than poor Lieutenant Hobson." + +"That's true," responded the commander of the _Brooklyn_. He turned to +Walter. "You can go, Russell; if we want you again, we will send for +you." + +"Yes, sir," was the youth's reply, and, saluting, he turned and left the +cabin. The interview had been a very formal one, but he was proud to +think that he had come into personal contact with his gallant captain +and his equally gallant commodore. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE SANTIAGO BATTERIES + + +When Walter returned to his friends he was immediately surrounded and +asked what had happened in the cabin. "Did the commodore slap you on the +back and call you a bully boy?" queried Si. + +"Well, hardly," answered Walter, with a quiet smile. "They plied me with +questions and said I had had some remarkable adventures; that's all." + +"Didn't praise you?" queried Caleb. + +"No." + +"Didn't rush up and shake hands even?" put in Paul. + +"Not at all. I saluted and toed the mark, and kept toeing it until I +left." + +At this Paul's face fell. "Why, I thought you would be right in it, +Walter," he said. + +"I guess you've been reading some dime and half-dime colored-cover +novels, Paul. I imagine that is the way they do in such books." + +"That's it. Why, I've got a story about 'Dewey's Boy Bodyguard.' The +hero in that overheard a plot against Dewey, and Dewey clasped him to +his breast and made him a captain of marines." + +"Indeed! And you believe such a yarn?" + +"Dewey couldn't make the boy a captain of marines, not if he was an +admiral twice over," put in Caleb. "Those yarns are pure trash. Paul, +you had better study some good book on gunnery, and try to become a gun +captain." + +"I thought the story was slightly overdrawn," said Paul, growing red in +the face. "There is another about the 'Boy Hero of Havana,' who saves +General Lee's life at the time the Americans are getting out of Havana. +I suppose that is untrue, too." + +"To be sure, Paul. General Lee was in no great danger at that time. Of +course some of the sensational papers had to make the most of it, and +they reported that he was travelling around with a six-shooter in his +pocket, and a detective dogging his footsteps. As a matter of fact he +walked around with nothing but a white cotton umbrella, to keep the sun +off." + +"I'll burn the whole batch of colored stuff up," cried the apprentice; +and he did, at the big galley fire. No one on board ever caught him +reading dime and half-dime novels again. + +Although the marines had established themselves fairly well at and near +Guantanamo, the Spaniards were determined to drive them off, and to hold +this landing and a number of others, several of the warships were kept +busy bombarding the enemy's strongholds and in firing with Gatling guns +at the Spanish soldiers whenever they put into appearance along the +coast. + +The day after Walter came on board the _Brooklyn_, which remained on the +blockade off Santiago Bay, the _Texas_, _Marblehead_, and _Suwanee_ ran +into Guantanamo Bay and attacked the fort at Caimanera, a small village +not far from Guantanamo. The attack began at two o'clock in the +afternoon, and in less than two hours the fort was in ruins, and those +who had garrisoned it were fleeing inland for their lives. + +Caimanera was thus taken, but to hold it was as difficult as it was to +hold Guantanamo. Many of the people were in sympathy with the Spanish +government, and some went so far as to soak the streets and some of the +houses with coal oil that the town might be burned down at a minute's +notice. + +While this was going on, Admiral Sampson determined to make another +attack on the outer defences of Santiago Harbor, only sparing Morro +Castle, in which it was understood that Lieutenant Hobson and his men +were confined. It was weary waiting for the transports to arrive with +the army, and something must be done to tear down the numerous +fortifications the Spaniards were constructing. + +The orders for the bombardment were issued on Wednesday evening; and at +once a subdued but excited talk took place among the various crews of +the blockading squadrons, which now numbered the following ships, along +with a few others of lesser importance:---- + +First squadron, under the direct command of Admiral Sampson, the +flagship _New York_, battleships _Iowa_ and _Oregon_, protected cruiser +_New Orleans_, gunboat _Mayflower_, torpedo boat _Porter_, and the +sprightly _Scorpion_. The second squadron, under Commodore Schley, +embraced the flagship _Brooklyn_, battleships _Massachusetts_ and +_Texas_, and the _Marblehead_ and _Vixen_. Other vessels, such as the +_Indiana_, _Dolphin_, and _Suwanee_, were kept busy plying between the +blockading fleet and Guantanamo Bay and surroundings. + +It was half-past three in the morning when the men were called up and +served with coffee. Among the first on hand was Walter. "Now for a first +real use of our gun," he said to Si. "I've been aching for this ever +since I enlisted." + +Before four o'clock came the call to quarters, and the men ran to their +various stations, and stripped for action, most of them wearing little +more than an undershirt and a pair of trousers. The weather was +frightfully hot, and the interior of the cruiser was little better than +a bake-oven. Possibly this was one reason why the thoughtful admiral +planned the attack for so early in the day. + +Silently the warships steamed for the mouth of the harbor, and took up +their various positions in a grand semicircle, the heavy fighting ships +in the centre, and the torpedo boats on the ends, ready to take care of +any infantry fire, should the Spaniards hurry their soldiers to the +shore. The big ships kept at a distance of three thousand yards--not +quite two miles. + +"We're a long way off," observed Walter, as he assisted in loading the +"Polly," as Caleb had named his gun. + +"Twenty-nine hundred yards!" came the report from the range-finder; and +the crew went to work to elevate the gun accordingly. In the meantime, +the magazines had been opened, the ammunition hoists set in motion, and +powder, shot, and shell were delivered everywhere from barbette to +fighting-top. + +"We're near enough to blow 'em sky-high if we strike 'em right," +muttered the old gunner, who, with the smell of powder in the air, was +in his element. "How about that hose, Stuben?" he went on to the +hose-man. + +"Dot hose it's all right alretty," answered Carl Stuben, a round-faced +German, who was an American citizen, even though he did speak the +language but brokenly. Heretofore Walter had had but little to do with +the man, yet they got along very well together. + +It was too dark to begin firing, and for half an hour the ships lay +quiet, every man ready to obey a command the instant it was given. This +was a nerve-trying test for Walter, who wondered how the thing would +sound when all of the ships began firing. + +Slowly it grew lighter, and the men became more anxious. The guns were +trained on the shore batteries to the west of the harbor entrance, while +other ships covered the batteries on the east. + +Boom! It was a broadside from the _New York_, directed against the +battery below El Morro. Instantly every other warship present responded +in a deafening crash and a shock to be heard many miles away. At once +the air became filled with the smoke, and on shore the dirt and masonry +of the batteries were seen to fly in all directions. + +"Oh, my!" gasped Walter, as the gun before him belched forth its mass of +flame and smoke. "What a noise! Did--did we hit anything?" + +"I hope we did," answered Steve Colton, the second gun captain, +laconically; and then came the order to unlock the breech of the gun. As +the breech fell back a cloud of smoke swirled into the sponson hood, +impregnated with the odor of saltpetre, which caused Walter and several +of the others to cough violently. "Never mind; you'll get used to it +before you die," went on Colton. + +The gun being opened, Carl Stuben caught up his hose-pipe, turned on +the nozzle and sent a stream of cold water through the gun, to both +clean and cool the interior. By the time this was accomplished the hoist +had another shell ready, and this was shoved in by the mechanical +rammer. Brown prismatic powder followed, with a small quantity of black +prismatic powder behind it, as a primer. Then the breech-block was swung +into position and locked again, and the electrical connections were +adjusted. + +All this had been done almost in the time it takes to tell it, but the +next shot was not discharged at once, since the various gunners had +strict orders to take their time and make every discharge count. It was +not like a pitched battle where every moment counted. + +But though the gunners took their time, there were so many ships and so +many guns that the firing was continuous--a spiteful cracking of +rapid-firing guns, mingled with the thunder-claps of the gigantic +thirteen-inch guns and the solid banging of the eight-inch and eight and +ten pounders. + +"This is war and no mistake," remarked Walter. In ten minutes his +undershirt had become as black as a stove-cloth, and he himself looked +almost like a negro. In the meantime the perspiration was streaming +from every pore of his body. + +"War!" shouted Caleb. "Why, lad, this is nothing. If only Cervera would +come out, then you would see some fun." + +The order had been passed to lessen the charges in the big guns and +elevate them more, in order to secure a plunging fire. The effect of +this change in tactics was soon apparent, as shot and shell began to +drop directly into the Spanish strongholds or behind them. Soon one of +the batteries was completely silenced, and a cheer went up from the +warship nearest to it. + +It must not be imagined that the Spaniards took this attack quietly. No +sooner had the American warships opened than they returned the fire with +equal fierceness. But although at an elevation, and using guns which +were stationary, their aim was wild, and only a few of their shots took +effect. + +As one battery after another was silenced, several of the warships +elevated their guns still more and put in large charges of powder, and, +as a result, one shell was carried far up the harbor to where the +_Vizcaya_ lay and burst directly over her deck, doing considerable +damage and injuring several sailors and an under-officer. + +Presently a terrific explosion rent the air. One of the shots from the +_Texas_ had landed in a powder magazine and sent it skyward. The +spectacle thus caused was magnificent, and for a moment all in the +squadrons watched the timbers, rocks, and dirt as they sailed through +the air, some coming down inland and some falling with loud splashes +into the sea. + +"That's a shot worth making!" cried Caleb. "Hurrah for the man as +trained that gun!" + +And the cheer was given with a will. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +IN WHICH THE ARMY OF INVASION ARRIVES + + +"Maybe I ain't hot and tired, Walter. I could sleep standing up and go +in an ice-house and do it." + +It was Si who spoke, as he was washing himself in a bucket of water set +on the gun-track. The water had been fresh when Si began his ablutions +and was now dirty, but the Yankee youth was still far from clean, for +gun smoke and gun dirt have a disagreeable knack of getting into the +pores of one's skin. + +The bombardment had lasted over an hour and every land battery had been +silenced. Yet, as the American ships drew away, one or two guns spat out +spitefully after them. + +"You'll feel all right in an hour or two, Si," answered Walter. "Oh, but +wasn't it glorious! I could stand such bombarding for a week. What a +sight it was when that powder magazine went up." + +"Such a bombardment costs Uncle Sam a good many thousand dollars," put +in Caleb, leaving the gun to get a drink of water from the tub standing +by. "A week of it would put a big hole in his pocket, large as it is." + +"I presume that is so, Walton. But say, why don't we run in and finish +things, now we have knocked the batteries out?" + +"Better ask the admiral, lad; he's the one who knows. Remember, we +didn't touch Morro Castle nor that fortification on Smith Cay,--and +those Spanish warships are somewhere around the bend, out of sight. I +reckon the time ain't quite ripe for running in yet. If we run in now +and do up that Spanish fleet, we haven't men enough to take Santiago +itself. We must wait until Shafter arrives with his army." + +"But why did we go at them at all for, then?" + +"To keep 'em from becoming too well fortified. Now they'll have their +hands full for several days repairing damages, and in the meantime our +army may arrive--at least, I hope it does." + +Si had been right about the heat. Even in the United States we had a +spell of uncommonly hot weather, and down here, under the tropical sun, +it was "sizzling," as Walter expressed it. During the noon hour no one +thought of going on deck unless it was absolutely necessary. +Refreshments of any kind were at a premium, and when a society known as +the Colonial Dames sent on a number of boxes of oranges and lemons for +distribution, the jackies could hardly contain themselves for joy. Cuban +sugar was easily obtained, and lemonade and orangeade became the order +of the hour. + +Having been away on shore, Walter had not felt the monotony on shipboard +so much, but those who had been on the blockade for nearly three weeks +felt fearfully bored, especially as reading matter was scarce. Every +scrap of a newspaper was saved and passed around, and poor Paul was +collared and tossed up in a canvas hammock for having burnt the +penny-dreadfuls previously mentioned. + +"Mail! mail! mail!" such was the welcome cry which rang through the +_Brooklyn_, several days after the bombardment just described. The news +caused a commotion, and all who could rushed on deck and peered eagerly +over the side as several heavy mail sacks were hoisted on board. Hardly +anybody could wait for the mail to be distributed. + +"Three letters for me, and a bundle of newspapers!" cried Walter, +joyfully. "Here's luck and no mistake." He studied the various +post-marks for a moment. "One from Boston, in my uncle's handwriting; +one from Tampa, Florida, and that's from Ben; and one from--yes--Hong +Kong, China, and that must be from dear old Larry. Now which shall I +read first? Oh, I must hear from Larry first." And dropping on deck he +tore open the letter from the other side of the world and perused it +eagerly. + +"Well, I never!" came from him, a few minutes later. "Si, Walton, listen +to this! My brother Larry was with Dewey at Manila and helped whip the +Dons! Oh, but Larry's the boy, after all! Just read the letter for +yourselves." And he tossed it over. + +Ben's letter came next, a rather short communication, for Ben had never +been much of a boy to write. + + "I am high private in the best company of the Seventy-first + regiment of New York," he wrote. "We are down here at Lakeland, + near Tampa, getting into condition to invade Cuba. At present + things are slow and awfully hot, but we look for livelier times + ahead and that keeps up our spirits. My chum, Gilbert + Pennington, has joined Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders. I + hope we go to Cuba together. + + "I suppose you are quite a jack tar by this time and walk with + a regular swagger. Larry is now a bigger fellow than either of + us, for he was on the _Olympia_, Dewey's flagship, at the + battle of Manila Bay. He wrote me all about it and said he + would write to you, too, so I suppose you already have the + letter. + + "Uncle Job seems to be coming around to his senses--with giving + both you and me permission to take care of ourselves. If I were + you, I would not let up on him about going to Boston. Those + heirlooms ought to be located, and he is the man who must push + the work, even if it does cost a few dollars. I want father's + watch, and I am sure you and Larry want the wedding rings. + + "I have made many friends while in the army, but I also have + two enemies, Gerald Holgait and Dwight Montgomery, and I am + afraid that sooner or later they will try to play me some mean + trick. However, I will be on my guard against them. Good-by and + good luck to you." + +"I hope Ben does come down," mused Walter. "And if he has any enemies of +the Jim Haskett sort he had better look out." And then he turned to the +communication from Job Dowling. + + "My dearest nephew," began the guardian, and the term of + address made Walter smile. "Your letter was a big surprise to + me, and I ain't over it yet. That you should meet that thief + gets me, and I don't understand it nohow. However, I packed my + valise (my new one that cost me a dollar thirty-five, although + Wilson says it is worth the money) and the next day I took the + cars for Boston on a ticket I got at cut rates, although it was + tolerably dear even at that. When I got to Boston I introduced + myself to Mr. Phil Newell, the one-legged man you used to work + for, and he took me to police headquarters, and now I am + stopping here at a boarding-house on Hammond Street. The police + sent a detective to me, and he is going to find them heirlooms + and that rascal of a Deck Mumpers, or whatever his name is, or + know the reason why. If he finds the things, I'm to give him + two hundred dollars in cash; if he don't, I pay his travelling + expenses and no more. I wouldn't make such a bargain, but I + know all you boys want the things back and I can't do the + running after the thief. It's a waste of money, but it can't be + helped. I want to show you and Ben and Larry that your uncle + means well in spite of what you think of him. + + "Newell says for me to tell you he will send you a bundle of + newspapers. He says he knows how lonely life on board of a + man-of-war gets sometimes. I hope you don't get hurt, if you + get into a fight down in Cuba. Keep out of the sun, and write + when you can, care of Newell's news-stand--for I stop there + every day, after the detective's report. The detective hopes to + get the things back before this week is out. + + "Your loving uncle, + + "JOB DOWLING." + +The letter was a mere scrawl, horribly mis-spelled, and it took Walter +fully quarter of an hour to decipher it. "Well, Uncle Job is turning +over a new leaf," he thought, as he put it away. "I only hope that +detective is all right, and don't hoodwink him into paying over his +money for nothing. I reckon the letters Ben and I wrote him scared him +pretty well, otherwise he wouldn't agree to pay two hundred dollars if +the heirlooms are recovered." + +Caleb had read Larry's letter with much interest. One portion of it, +relating to the narrow escape from disaster during the battle, +interested him not a little. + +"Your brother had a close shave," he said. "To fire a gun when the +breech is unlocked is a fearful thing." + +"I don't see how it could happen on board of such a ship as the +_Brooklyn_," answered Walter. "Everything works like clockwork here." + +"You don't know how a thing would work in the middle of a battle, lad. +Men get excited, and sometimes the jarring of the shots breaks the +electric connections. More than likely that gunner was firing his piece +by hand at the time. I've done the same, when the electric connection +gave out. Last month I heard from a friend of mine, a gunner on the _New +Orleans_, that used to be a Brazilian warship. They couldn't get their +electric-firing apparatus into shape nohow, and had to do everything by +hand,--and that is the time accidents occur. But somebody ought to have +been watching that breech-block--your brother or somebody else." And +then Caleb turned away to his duties. + +Larry had written that he was now in Hong Kong, and did not know whether +he would go back to Dewey's squadron, or return to the United States. +"You'll hear from me again soon, one way or another," he added in a +postscript. + +For a day or two, all of Walter's spare time was spent over the +newspapers his former employer had been kind enough to send him, but +drills and other duties must not be neglected, and now that the army of +invasion was hourly expected, discipline on the warships became more +rigid than ever. + +At last, one clear morning, a cry echoed and reechoed from one warship +to another:-- + +"The transports are in sight! General Shafter's army has arrived!" + +What a shouting, cheering, and yelling broke loose! Jackies flew to the +deck, and up the military masts, and all other points of vantage. Yes, +the news was true, over thirty transports were coming up from the +direction of Guantanamo Bay, having rounded Cape Maysi some hours +previously. The army of invasion had really arrived, nearly seventeen +thousand strong. As that vast fleet came up, convoyed by fourteen +warships, it presented a most imposing appearance, and guns boomed +loudly to welcome it. + +"Is the Seventy-first on board?" was Walter's question; and when at last +he heard that it was, his heart beat quickly. "Ben must be there!" he +thought. And Ben _was_ there, and thinking of Walter at the same time. + +"Santiago is doomed now," said Caleb, as he surveyed the scene. + +"That's so," put in Si, tossing up his cap. "And old Cervera must either +come out and fight, or haul down his colors. Oh, but won't we just smash +things when that army is landed!" + +And Walter agreed with both of them. + +As soon as it could be arranged, the army was landed at Baiquiri, +Siboney, and other points, Guantanamo being reserved as a coaling +station for the warships. After the first landing, a strong detachment +of regulars and Rough Riders was thrown out, and then followed the +battles of La Guasima, San Juan, and El Caney, described in detail in +the previous volume of this series. The soldier boys fought bravely, and +Ben Russell and his chum, Gilbert Pennington, were well to the front, as +we know. + +The landing of the troops was no easy matter, for the surf ran high, and +it was feared that the Spaniard might make a heavy onslaught at any +instant. All the small boats of the warships were called into use, to +land men and army stores, and while this work was in progress, many of +the ships began to bombard various points along the coast, for the +purpose of confusing the enemy, so that they would not realize the truth +of what was taking place. The ruse succeeded, and during the landing the +Spaniards remained comparatively quiet, hardly knowing in what direction +to turn, or what to do, since the Americans were covering over a hundred +miles of rugged coast-line. + +The debarkation at an end, the _Brooklyn_ returned to her position on +the blockade. All hands knew that something important would soon happen, +and, consequently, everybody slept thenceforth "with one eye open." +"Cervera must not be allowed to escape, night or day, under any +circumstances," was the order passed, and it was to be obeyed to the +letter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE SPANISH FLEET AND ITS COMMANDER + + +"Now that we are so anxious to catch Admiral Cervera and smash his +ships, I should like to know something about the man and his command," +remarked Walter, a few days after the army had landed. He addressed +George Ellis, who, in his quiet, gentlemanly way had taken a liking to +the youth. + +The two were seated in the shadow of one of the forward guns, taking it +easy, for the morning drills were over and it yet lacked half an hour to +mess time. Slowly the _Brooklyn_ rose and sank on the waves of the +Caribbean Sea, four miles outside of Santiago Bay. This was the usual +distance in the daytime. At night, despite the danger of an attack by a +torpedo destroyer, the warships came in much closer, and the glare of +the searchlights never left Morro Castle or the narrow harbor entrance. + +"I know very little about Admiral Cervera excepting that he has been in +the Spanish navy for many years and is said to be one of the finest +gentlemen that ever trod the deck of a ship. Why he ever allowed himself +to be bottled up like this is more than I can understand. I imagine, +though, that he was on his way to Havana, to break the blockade there, +when he heard that Admiral Sampson was coming for him one way and our +commodore the other, and he concluded that the best thing he could do +would be to scoot into the bay yonder and save himself and possibly +Santiago. They say he carried a lot of guns and ammunition for the +Spanish army. He can distribute those as well at Santiago as he can at +Havana, for I understand General Toral here is as hard up as Blanco is +at the other city." + +"And what of the ships under him? They say he has six. Do you know how +big they are?" went on Walter. + +"He has four warships and two torpedo destroyers," answered the chief +yeoman. "I got that straight from Lieutenant Blue, who went ashore for +Admiral Sampson, made a detour of seventy miles, and from the top of a +high hill saw the ships in the harbor through his powerful glasses." + +"Somebody said all the big ships were armored cruisers." + +"That is true, and three of them, the _Vizcaya_, the _Almirante +Oquendo_, and the _Maria Teresa_, are sister ships, of seven thousand +tons each. Each is about three hundred and sixty feet long and can speed +at eighteen to nineteen knots an hour. They carry about five hundred men +each, and every one has a main battery of two 11-inch Hontoria and ten +5.5-inch Hontoria guns, with a secondary battery of eight 6-pounders, +ten 1-pounders, several machine guns; and they also carry six torpedo +tubes each." + +"And what of the fourth cruiser?" + +"She is the _Cristobal Colon_, the fastest of the lot, even though her +displacement is two hundred tons short of the others. They say she can +run eighteen knots an hour with ease and twenty knots if she is put to +it. Her armor belt is six inches thick, alongside of twelve inches on +the other cruisers. She also carries about five hundred men, and she has +a main battery of two 10-inch and five 6-inch guns, and a secondary +battery of rapid-firing rifles, 6 and 10 pounders and two Maxim guns. +Her torpedo tubes number four." + +"Then they are no small fry to battle with," observed Walter. "When +their batteries break loose they ought to do some talking." + +"They will talk. We mustn't expect any walkover, if Cervera ever comes +out of his hole." + +"And what of the two torpedo boats?" + +"They are sister ships, the _Pluton_ and _Furor_, each of three hundred +and eighty tons displacement. They say that each has a speed of +twenty-seven knots an hour, and both are equipped with the latest +appliances for such crafts, carrying regular, automatic, and rapid-fire +guns, and also fourteen-inch Schwartzkopff torpedo tubes." + +"I should say they would be good things to keep out of the way of," +exclaimed Walter. + +"We've got our eyes wide open for them, lad. To be sure, one or another +of them may play us some dirty trick of a dark night--but that is one of +the risks to be taken in war times," concluded the chief yeoman, as a +petty officer called him away. + +All on board the warships waited eagerly for news from the army of +invasion. It was known that the Rough Riders had had a severe skirmish +at La Guasima, but that was all, so far as the jackies went. Possibly +the officers knew more, but if so, they kept the knowledge to +themselves. + +"Another dull week will come to an end to-morrow," remarked Si, as he +and Walter were on their way to the mess table. "Oh, but I'm sick of +laying around looking at old Morro. If only those ships would come out, +we'd sink them all in less than two hours; I feel sure of it." + +Si's growl was becoming a universal one, even the officers grumbling a +good deal. All wanted to fight Cervera's fleet, and the more the Spanish +admiral kept himself hidden, the more angry did they become. Many almost +begged to have their ships forced into the harbor, no matter what the +consequences--they stating that anything would be better than this +everlasting waiting. The blockade had now lasted five long weeks. + +In the meantime, matters elsewhere had not been idle. Chagrined over +Dewey's victory at Manila, Spain resolved to send another fleet to the +Philippines by way of the Suez Canal, taking, for this purpose, almost +all the warships left in her home waters. As soon as this was brought to +light, our own naval board decided to send an American fleet to the +coast of Spain, and Commodore Watson was placed in command of the +expedition. But before the American warships could sail, the Spanish +fleet, having gone through the Suez Canal, turned back for home, and the +American warships remained where they were, and Dewey was left +unmolested at Manila, so far as Spanish operations were concerned, +although the insurgents under General Aguinaldo soon began to give him a +great deal of trouble. + +Saturday morning dawned misty but hot. From a great distance could be +heard the rattle of musketry, showing that the army of invasion was +slowly but surely advancing. + +"They're in it all right enough--" began Si, when there came a sudden +call to quarters, and at the same time the _Brooklyn's_ engines began to +move and she headed for Santiago Bay. "Hullo, what does this mean?" + +"Perhaps we are going to force an entrance!" ejaculated Walter. "Hurrah, +if we do!" + +"Better not count your chickens before they are hatched," remarked +Caleb, who had just rolled from his hammock. + +They soon learned the truth of the movement. The shore batteries were +again to be bombarded, and this time not even Morro Castle was to be +spared, it having been ascertained that Hobson and his men had been +removed to safe quarters. + +"Down with old Morro; we'll show the Dons a thing or two!" was the cry, +and off rushed the men to their guns, their eyes brighter than they had +been for many a day, for Morro Castle had been an eyesore to all. + +The flagship _New York_ was leading the fleet, which, as before, soon +ranged up in a semicircle. Inside of five minutes every vessel had her +station. + +"Cast loose and provide!" + +The now familiar cry was scarcely needed, for the jackies were already +at work, stripped, as before, of all their superfluous clothing. Shot +and powder were quickly handled, and the flagship began the firing, +which immediately broke forth in all its fury, deafening everybody and +sending forth a great cloud of smoke which hung over the warships like a +pall. + +"Morro's flag is down!" came the shout. It was true. A gunner on the +noble _Oregon_ had taken careful aim and cut the flagstaff in two. The +falling of the Spanish emblem was greeted with a wild cheer. At once the +Spaniards tried to put another flag up, but it was some time ere they +succeeded, and then it was a tiny affair, hardly visible excepting with +a glass. + +"We'll try for that battery yonder!" exclaimed Caleb, during the height +of the bombardment. "I think those fellows have been firing this way +ever since they started." + +He had scarcely spoken when bang! something hit the armor plate directly +under their gun, hurling the gunner, Walter, and several others back by +the shock. + +"They've struck us, but the shot didn't pierce our armor," remarked +Caleb, calmly, as he got up. "All right, you villains, here's the +compliment returned!" And he made his preparations with care. + +The shot following was the best they had yet placed. It struck into a +battery on the west shore of the harbor entrance, ploughed up the +foundation of a six-pound gun, and sent the piece flying high into the +air. + +"My, but that was immense!" cried Walter, while Si and the others +cheered wildly. "Give them another!" + +And they did give the battery another, and then a dozen more, until at +last the place was silenced, showing that what was left of the gunners +had fled. + +At half-past seven came the order to cease firing, but it was fully +twenty minutes later before the last of the warships' guns were +discharged. By this time not only the batteries but also old Morro were +filled with gaping holes. It is more than likely that if the fleet had +sought to enter the harbor at this time it could have done so with +comparative ease. + +The work at the gun had been very hot, and as soon as they were able to +do so, Walter and Si scurried to the upper deck to get a bit of fresh +air. + +"It fairly stews the fat out of a fellow," grumbled Si, running the +perspiration from his forehead with his forefinger. "I'll bet I'm ten +pounds lighter than before this blockade began." + +"Never mind; it's one of the fortunes of war--" began Walter, when of a +sudden a strange whir and a singing sound filled the air. It was a +shell, fired from Morro Castle, just as the _Brooklyn_ was turning +away. + +"Look out!" yelled Si, and dropped down, but the words were still on his +lips when the shell exploded, sending the fragments flying in all +directions. Both boys were struck, and with a groan Walter fell +senseless to the deck. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +"THE ENEMY IS ESCAPING!" + + +"Is he dead, surgeon?" + +"Oh, doctor, he'll live--say he'll live!" + +Caleb and Si had followed the senseless form of Walter to the sick bay +of the warship, the Yankee youth with the blood streaming from a deep +cut in his left cheek. Both were in distress for fear their comrade was +seriously injured. + +"Yes, he'll live, but he has had a narrow escape," was the reply of the +medical man in charge of the case. "The bit of shell scraped his left +temple, as you see. Had it come a little closer, it would have gone +through his brain." + +Walter had been placed on a swinging cot, and now his head was bound up. +Before this operation was over he opened his eyes. + +"Whe--where am I?" he stammered. "Wh--what hit me?" + +"Praise God, he's himself again!" murmured Caleb, reverently. "I was +afraid he was a goner." + +"So was I," whispered Si. "And I don't know how I could spare Walter--he +seems so like a brother." + +"You must lie quiet for a while," said the surgeon. "You'll be all right +by to-night." And then he gave Walter some medicine to brace his nerves, +for they had been sadly shattered by the shock. The remainder of that +Saturday was spent in bed. + +On this memorable day the fighting on land had been even more fierce +than on the sea. The army of invasion had taken the various outposts of +Santiago, and the very city itself now lay at General Shafter's mercy. +It was felt that a day or two longer would bring matters to a climax. + +When Walter joined his comrades after supper he looked rather pale and +scared. Almost silently he took Si's hand and wrung it. + +"You are all right?" he whispered. + +"No hurt to speak of," was the answer. + +"But we were pretty close to death. Oh, Si, I never realized before how +quick one could be put out of this world!" + +"Neither did I, Walter. After this I'm going to--well--I'm going to +attend church more regularly, that's all. I never did take much to sech +matters afore, like you do." + +"It's always well to be prepared for death, Si--I'm going to try to be +prepared after this," was Walter's low answer, and in the darkness of +the berth deck they clasped hands again. They understood each other +pretty well, these boys. + +On Sunday morning the sun arose clear and strong, and early in the day +an awning was spread over the quarterdeck of the flagship _Brooklyn_, +and preparations were made to pass a hot day as comfortably as possible. +"We will rest to-day," was the word passed around, and the jackies were +not sorry, for the bombardment on Saturday morning had tired them out. + +The _Brooklyn_ rested about three miles out from Santiago Bay, and not +far off lay the _Texas_. Between the two ships the long, green waves +rose and fell, only making a soft slish-slish as they struck the +vessels' sides. The jackies lolled here, there, and everywhere, some +talking, some reading old newspapers which from frequent handling would +scarcely hold together, while a few studied the Bibles they had brought +with them. + +Presently from the _Texas_ came the musical bugle-call for church +service. "I'd like to go on board of her once," said Walter to Si, as +they listened to the bell that followed. "She's certainly a fine-looking +craft." + +"Three bells," put in Caleb, as he came up. "Come on, lads, first Sunday +in the month, remember, and the Articles of War have got to be hearkened +to." + +"That's so; I had forgotten," answered Walter. And he and the others +dropped below, to don their cleanest and neatest "rigs," for general +muster. Soon the call came, and from all parts of the big cruiser the +men hurried to their various divisions, while the higher officers +buckled on their swords, and the executive officers prepared to make +their inspections. + +On the quarterdeck, near the hatchway, sat Commodore Schley, musing +thoughtfully, as he gazed over the waters in the direction of Morro +Castle. The fighting commodore undoubtedly felt as hot as anybody, for +he wore a thin, black alpaca coat and an equally thin, white summer hat. +He was now in sole command of the blockading fleet, for the _New York_ +had carried Admiral Sampson many miles away, to confer with General +Shafter. + +For some time there had been smoke in the harbor entrance in front of +the warships, and many were wondering what it meant. "Must be a supply +boat for the batteries," said several under-officers, and this theory +was accepted as correct. Nevertheless, Commodore Schley glanced toward +that smoke more than once. + +"We are going to have general muster, commodore," announced Captain +Cook, as he presented himself, followed by Executive Officer Mason, and +the commander of the fleet _pro tem._ nodded. But those keen eyes were +still bent shoreward. + +Suddenly, from the forward bridge there came a yell through a megaphone, +a yell that electrified everybody who heard it. + +"After bridge there! Report to the commodore and the captain that _the +enemy's ships are coming out of the harbor_!" + +There was no necessity to report, for commodore, captain, and all others +heard the cry. There was a second of silence. Could this news be true? +Then came the command of the executive officer. + +"_Clear ship for action!_" + +"Hurrah! the enemy is coming out at last! To your guns, boys! Remember +the _Maine_!" These and a score of other cries rang out, while men +rushed hither and thither, dropping one garment or another as they ran, +and kicking shoes right and left, for no jackie will do work worth the +counting unless he is barefooted. Everybody had on his best clothing, +but that did not matter, and down into the grimy depths of the big +vessel dropped the firemen, coal heavers, and all the rest of the "black +gang," as they are termed, for steam must be gotten up in a tremendous +hurry or the enemy would surely get away. Ton after ton of coal was +thrown onto the fires, and the firemen coaxed and coaxed until the black +lumps grew first red and then white, and converted the water in the +boilers into high-pressure steam. "Fire up! for the sake of the ship's +honor, fire up!" came in a hoarse cry down the speaking-tube, and the +men did fire up as never before, until all were ready to drop from the +terrific heat. And all this while the engineers were watching their +engines, oiling this part and that, and making every pound of steam do +its utmost to send the great armored cruiser dashing and hissing through +the sea to that point where the Spanish fleet was trying to escape. + +For Admiral Cervera could stand it no longer inside of the harbor. With +the army of invasion at the very outskirts of Santiago, and with the +American fleet beyond his bay of refuge, something must be done, and +done quickly. He would run for it,--run at the top of his speed--and +trust to luck, if not Providence, to get out of range and reach +Cienfuegos or Havana. Santiago Bay was "too hot to hold him." + +It was the big prow of the _Maria Teresa_ that first showed itself, +quickly followed by the _Vizcaya_, _Oquendo_, and _Colon_, with the +torpedo boats _Pluton_ and _Furor_ bringing up closely in the rear. All +were under a full head of steam, and the thick smoke shot up in heavy +clouds from every funnel. For an instant all seemed to pause at the +gateway to the sea, then, led by the _Maria Teresa_, they turned +westward along the coast. To this side of the blockade now lay but three +American warships, the _Brooklyn_, _Texas_, and the little _Vixen_. If +he could only get out of range of these, Admiral Cervera felt that he +would, for the time being at least, be safe. + +Boom! It was a three-pounder, fired from the _Iowa_, lying some distance +to the eastward of the _Texas_. She, too, was flying the signal, "The +enemy is escaping," in red and white and blue flags. Beyond the _Iowa_, +still further eastward, lay the pride of the western coast, the mighty +_Oregon_, and it was this ship that first started up her engines in +pursuit, having, by chance, a good head of steam up. And as the _Oregon_ +turned in one direction, the little _Resolute_ turned in the other, to +carry the news to the absent rear-admiral. + +Three minutes had not yet passed, yet a complete transformation had +occurred on the _Brooklyn_. Five hundred men had scuttled to as many +different directions, battle hatches had been lowered, water-tight +compartments closed, hose attached and decks wet down, fire tubs filled, +magazines opened, hoists put into operation, and ammunition delivered to +turret, decks, and to the fighting-tops. Down below, fire had been +started under four fresh boilers, and a dozen different connections +between engines made. + +Nor was this all. Splinter nets had been spread as before, all useless +woodwork thrown overboard, and the surgeons' operating tables made +ready. The warning gun from the _Iowa_ was followed by a gun from the +_Texas_, and then the _Brooklyn_ helped to "open the ball" with her +forward eight-inch guns. Another great naval battle, fully equal to that +of Manila Bay, was now on. + +"It's a question of do or die, boys!" cried Caleb, as he worked over the +heavy gun before him. "Hustle now, as you never hustled before, or the +dagos will get away. Now then, Polly, do the best you can!" And _bang!_ +went the gun, with a noise that was deafening. Ten minutes later Walter +felt as if his hearing had left him entirely, so incessant was the +firing. + +The first fire from the enemy came from the _Maria Teresa_, and was an +eleven-inch shell directed at the _Brooklyn_. Hardly had this been +discharged when the _Indiana_, coming up behind the _Iowa_, took a +long-range chance and sent a shell directly upon the _Teresa's_ deck, +doing not a little damage. Then the firing became general, and shot and +shell was hurled in every direction. + +So far, the _Brooklyn_ had been headed directly for the harbor entrance, +commodore and captain being intent upon cutting off the enemy's westward +flight, if possible. This course soon brought the _Maria Teresa_, +_Vizcaya_, and the _Brooklyn_ into close proximity, and presently all +were lost to view in a dense cloud of smoke, from which shot long +streaks of fire, as battery after battery was discharged at close range. + +"Give it to 'em!" was the cry that rang throughout the _Brooklyn_. +"Don't let up on 'em! We must do as well as Dewey did, and better! +Remember the _Maine_, and three cheers for Uncle Sam!" Such cries were +truly inspiring, but presently the men became silent, as the work began +to tell upon them, and they realized what a fearful task still lay +before them. + +"The second ship's flag is down!" was the welcome news which soon +drifted down from the fighting-tops. It was true, the _Vizcaya's_ big +silk flag had been riddled completely and the halyard shot away; but +soon another flag was run up. Later on the _Brooklyn's_ flag also came +down, but it did not remain so more than two minutes before a jackie had +it up again. + +The battle had but fairly begun, and the _Brooklyn_ and the _Maria +Teresa_ were having it "hot and heavy," when suddenly the bow of the +_Vizcaya_ began to turn swiftly. At once a cry rang out. "That ship is +going to ram the _Brooklyn_! See, she is turning full toward her!" + +The warning proved true. The _Vizcaya_ was turned fairly and squarely +for Commodore Schley's flagship. Bells were ringing on board of her for +"Full speed ahead." On and on she came, like a demon of the deep, in one +wild, terrible effort to ram the vessel Walter was on and sink her! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SPANISH FLEET + + +"We are lost!" + +"That ship will cut us in half!" + +"Give her a broadside, boys, before we go down!" + +These and a hundred other cries rang out, as the _Vizcaya_ came leaping +over the waves on her awful mission of death and destruction. Then gun +after gun roared out, sending shot and shell on the enemy's deck. If +this was their last hour on earth, these brave jackies were going to +make the most of it. + +But commodore, captain, and executive officer were all on the alert and +were not to be caught napping. As the _Vizcaya_ came on, the necessary +orders were given, and the _Brooklyn_ began to turn in a twelve-point +circle to starboard. Like a flash she swept past the warship dashing on +to destroy her, and then the command rang out, "Give her another +broadside!" And the port guns, twenty in number, vomited out their +death-dealing shots and shells, raking the Spanish deck from end to end, +and killing and wounding a great number of sailors and officers. To this +awful fire was added that from the _Oregon_, which now came up to assist +the flagship. Realizing that the plan to ram the _Brooklyn_ was a +failure, the _Vizcaya_ started westward once more. + +It was now high time to turn attention to the two torpedo-boat +destroyers, _Pluton_ and _Furor_, that were coming out of the harbor at +a speed of twenty knots per hour. Once these destroyers gained the open +sea, to catch them would be impossible. Like long, steel arrows +glistening in the sunlight, they darted through the greenish waves and +for a moment hid themselves behind their big sisters. + +Then on came the _Gloucester_, a converted yacht, commanded by +Lieutenant Wainwright. Wainwright had been executive officer of the +_Maine_ when she was blown up in Havana Harbor, and had vowed more than +once to sink something if only he were given a chance. Like an avenging +angel the _Gloucester_, but lightly armed, bore down upon the torpedo +boats and sent shot after shot into them. Then the destroyers began to +turn, as if to sink the little enemy who dared to molest them, but now +it was too late,--the big warships were coming to the _Gloucester's_ +aid. + +It was the _Oregon_ and the _Iowa_ that first came to the converted +yacht's assistance, and as the destroyers turned, first one way and then +another, as if to ram or to run, a perfect hailstorm of shot and shell +landed on their sides and decks, churning up the water into a milk-white +froth, and causing the destroyers to look like gigantic whales lashing +themselves in their death throes. The noise was even greater than it had +been before, and the smoke made the heavens above look as if a violent +thunderstorm was at hand. + +Finding they could not withstand such a combined attack, and with the +_Texas_ hurrying to the scene, the destroyers turned tail, as if to make +for the shore. As the turn was made a huge shell, flying over the masts +of the _Gloucester_, hit the _Pluton_ directly amidship, and with a +crash and a splutter she broke and sank, leaving the still living +members of her crew struggling in the boiling waters for their lives. + +Left to herself, the _Furor_ again paused, like some wild animal seeking +in vain for cover. She started to get behind the _Oquendo_, but, in +spite of the fire from the shore batteries, the _Gloucester_ went in +after her, with every available gun doing its utmost, and fairly filling +her with small holes. At last the destroyer could stand it no longer, +and with a lurch she struck on a reef and began to break. In a moment +more the water poured over her sides, and her crew was compelled to +surrender. The instant the surrender was made, the converted yacht, from +being an angel of vengeance, became an angel of mercy, and to gallant +Lieutenant-commander Wainwright fell the honor of rescuing hundreds of +wounded and drowning Spaniards who must otherwise have perished. + +Such was the close of this running fight. At the front, the four big +warships were still trying to push on, with the _Brooklyn_, _Oregon_, +_Iowa_, _Texas_, and _Indiana_ in the chase. With a full head of steam +the noble _Oregon_ reached a position between Commodore Schley's +flagship and the _Texas_, and every vessel in the line belched forth its +messengers of death and destruction. + +Presently a cry echoed throughout the squadron regarding the _Oquendo_. +"She is on fire! See, she is burning in three places!" + +The report was true. A shell had burst near the quarterdeck of the +warship, and now high to the sky arose a column of yellowish red smoke. +Then the flames burst out of her bow. In vain the Spaniards tried to man +their fire-hose. A shower of projectiles from the fighting-tops of our +own ships assailed them and drove them to shelter, while the big guns +continued to "pump up" shot and shell as never before. + +But the _Oquendo_ was no worse off than the _Maria Teresa_, if as badly. +She staggered on, and a few minutes later passed her sister ship as if +looking for aid, when aid could not be given. + +"The _Maria Teresa_ is on fire!" was the next cry, but a few minutes +later. "Down goes Cervera's flag! Hurrah, boys, we've got em 'on the +run! Give it to 'em hot!" + +Yes, the admiral's flag was down, and so was the mast that had held it. +Would the Spanish emblem go up again? All watched anxiously, and +meanwhile the _Brooklyn_ continued to pour in her hottest fire. + +"She's going ashore!" rang through the American flagship. "She's burning +up!" and then came a heavy shot from the _Brooklyn_, another from the +_Texas_, and staggering like a thing of life, the _Maria Teresa_ ran for +the beach, a mass of seething and roaring flames. Admiral Cervera's doom +was sealed. Five minutes later the _Oquendo_ was also cast on the shore. + +Four of the enemy's ships had been laid low, but the great fight was by +no means over. Shot and shell were flying around the _Vizcaya_ and +_Cristobal Colon_, but both warships kept on their way, the _Colon_ +slowly but surely forging to the front. Both Spanish ships were +returning the Americans' hot fire, and many a shot hit the _Brooklyn_ +and many a shell burst over her deck. But as yet no serious damage had +been inflicted. + +But a calamity was at hand, as rapid in its execution as it was +appalling. Near the forward eight-inch turret George Ellis was standing, +watching the struggle of the enemy's ships to escape. + +"Ellis, give us the range again!" shouted Captain Cook. + +"I'll have it in a moment, captain," answered the chief yeoman, and took +up his stadiometer. Making his calculation, he turned to Commodore +Schley, who was but a short distance away. "It is fourteen hundred yards +to the _Vizcaya_, sir," he said. + +These were the last words he ever uttered, for an instant after there +was the whistling of a shell, and those standing around were horrified +to see Ellis's headless body drop to the deck below. The poor fellow had +been killed instantly, in the very midst of his duties. What a shock +this was to those about him I will leave my readers to imagine. Never +until now had they realized what this awful war meant. "Poor Ellis, he +was such a fine man!" murmured one comrade as he turned away. And then +his face grew even more sober. "But he's the first on board of this +ship. What of those poor Dons yonder, who are going down by the +wholesale?" And though they were enemies, his heart beat in sympathy for +the poor wretches who were struggling madly amid shot, shell, fire, and +water for their lives. Fortunately the _Iowa_ was already coming to the +succor of the defeated ones. + +"We're going to catch it now, lad," remarked Caleb to Walter, as he +pointed through a rift in the cloud of smoke hanging over the gun. +"There are two of the enemy's ships, and they are both going to pound +us. Where in the world are our other vessels?" + +"The _Oregon_ is coming up!" came from the after-deck, a minute later. +"And the _Texas_ isn't far behind." + +Around the gun it was suffocating, and every hand was ready to drop. +Indeed, fainting fits were frequent, but the most that could be done for +a sufferer was to either throw some water over his head or yell out to +the surgeons' helpers to carry the men to the ward room for treatment. +As the _Brooklyn_ was struck here and there, splinters began to fly, and +a number were injured, although no one seriously. + +The _Texas_ had done wonderful work on the _Maria Teresa_ and the +_Oquendo_, and now did her best to keep to the front of the chase. But +the speed was too great for her, and gradually she dropped behind, +although still continuing to throw shot and shell after the _Vizcaya_ +that had dropped some distance behind the _Colon_. It was now apparent +to all that if any vessel was going to get away it was to be the +_Colon_, for her speed was greater than the _Vizcaya_ and as yet she had +hardly been touched. + +"The _Vizcaya_, boys, the _Vizcaya_!" came the cry from the quarterdeck. +"Don't let her screen the _Colon_!" + +"We'll pound 'em both!" was the answer. "Remember the _Maine_! Remember +Manila Bay!" + +And then the mighty guns of the _Brooklyn_ and _Oregon_ roared out +swifter than ever, and the _Vizcaya_, doing her best to sink one or the +other of the American warships, was raked as if passing through a +blizzard of fire, until her men were forced again and again from their +posts, and at last the guns were abandoned. Then fire caught the craft +in its awful embrace, and rolling from side to side, she, too, sought +for a harbor of refuge, but found none. Down came her colors, and at the +same instant she struck with a crash on the rocks. The fight had started +at quarter to ten. Now it was but quarter past eleven,--just an hour and +a half,--and all the Spanish ships but one had been destroyed. Such is +the appalling swiftness of modern naval warfare. Where in olden days +jack tars had fought for hours, they now fought for minutes. + +But the destruction of the _Vizcaya_ had taken time, and the _Colon_ was +forging onward, panting and throbbing like a thing of life trying to +escape from unspeakable terrors. Down in the bowels of the warship the +furnaces were at a white heat, and the engineers had long since pushed +their engines far past the danger point. "Faster! faster!" came the cry +from the deck and tower. "It will be better to blow up than to allow the +Yankee pigs to sink us. We must save at least one ship!" And the engines +pounded and quivered, threatening each instant to blow into a million +pieces. For once Don Quixote was making the run of his life. + +Unable to stand the heat, Walter had obtained permission to lay off for +a few minutes and get some fresh air. A look from the spar deck had +showed him the _Colon_ dashing far ahead, enveloped in a thin line of +smoke. Every few seconds a flash of fire would come from her stern guns, +but the marksmanship was poor and no serious damage was done to the +_Brooklyn_. + +The boy returned to his gun to find Caleb and the others in deep +perplexity. Something was wrong with a shell, and it had become wedged +in the gun and could not be pushed forward to its proper place or hauled +back. "We can't use Polly any more!" groaned Caleb. + +"I'll fix her!" cried Si Doring, and caught up a rammer. In a moment the +brave Yankee lad was crawling out over the smoking piece toward the +muzzle. But he had scarcely reached the outward end of the gun than the +_Brooklyn_ gave a lurch and down he slipped over the side and into +space! + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +FINAL SCENES OF THE GREAT FIGHT + + +"Si has fallen overboard!" + +The cry came from half a dozen throats at once, and Walter's heart +almost stopped beating, so attached had he become to the Yankee lad. + +"If he's overboard, he'll be sucked under and drowned," he groaned. "I +wonder if I can see anything of him." + +Without a second thought he leaped on the gun and began to crawl out, on +hands and knees, as perilous a thing to do, with the vessel going at +full speed, as one would care to undertake. + +"Come back!" roared Caleb, trying to detain him. "You'll go overboard, +too." + +At that moment came a cry from below, and looking down the steel side of +the _Brooklyn_, Walter beheld Si clinging to a rope ladder, one of +several flung over, to be used in case of emergency. "Si, are you all +right?" he called loudly. + +"I--reckon--I--I am," came with a pant. + +"But I had an awful tumble and the wind is about knocked out o' me." And +then Si began to climb up to the deck. + +"He's on the ladder and he's all right," shouted Walter, to those still +behind the gun. Then a sudden idea struck him. "Hand me another rammer, +Stuben." + +"Mine cracious! don't you try dot," cried the hose-man. "You vos fall +ofer chust like Si." + +"Yes, come in here," put in Caleb, and Paul also called upon him to +return. + +"I'm all right," was the boy's reply. "Give it to me, Stuben." And +catching the rammer from the hose-man, Steve Colton passed it forward. +"In war we have got to take some risks," he reasoned, as Caleb gave him +a severe look. + +"Then why didn't you get out on the gun, Steve?" was the old gunner's +dry response; and the second gun captain said no more. + +Rammer in hand, Walter edged closer and closer to the muzzle of the +Polly. The _Brooklyn_ was moving up and down over the long green waves, +sending the spray flying on both sides of the bow. He gave one look +down, felt himself growing dizzy, and then kept his eyes on the gun. + +[Illustration: RAMMER IN HAND, WALTER EDGED CLOSE TO THE MUZZLE.] + +At last the muzzle was gained, and not without difficulty the rammer was +inserted. The projectile had not been very tightly wedged, and a firm +pressure sent it backward, so that Caleb could catch it and pull it out +through the breech. Then throwing the rammer aboard, Walter lost no time +in coming in again. He had been exposed to the direct fire of the enemy, +but no shot had come near him. + +"Boy, you're too plucky," exclaimed Caleb, catching him by the shoulder. +"You ought to be flogged for your daring. Let me see your hands. Ah, +just as I thought; both of 'em blistered. Go and put some sweet oil on +'em, and a bit of flour. I'll bet the end of Polly is red-hot." + +"Well, it is pretty hot," replied Walter, and then he was glad enough to +follow Caleb's advice, for both hands smarted a good deal. Soon Si +joined him, to get something for his hands also. + +The _Colon_ had now drawn out of range, so firing would have been a +useless waste of ammunition. Down to the gunners came the order: "Cease +firing." And a moment later, "All hands on deck for an airing." What a +laughing and shouting ensued as the jackies poured up, to secure the +best viewing places they could within the ship's regulations. Hot, +tired, ready to drop from exhaustion, they shook hands with each other, +sang, laughed, and whistled. + +"Three cheers for Commodore Schley!" came suddenly from somebody, and +the cheers came with vigor, and a tiger, and then came a cheer for +Captain Cook and a cheer for the _Oregon_, coming up with ever +increasing speed. The _Oregon's_ men cheered in return, and for a moment +one would have thought this was holiday-making instead of grim war. + +The _Colon_ was close to shore, while the _Brooklyn_ and the _Oregon_ +lay from two to three miles out to sea. Some miles farther westward the +Cuban shore slopes southward to Cape Cruz. If the _Colon_ kept on her +present course she would have to make for the cape, thus coming down +toward the American warships. "We will catch her there," said Commodore +Schley, confidently. + +The _Oregon_ was flying the signal "Remember the _Maine_" from her +masthead, and as she drew still closer to the _Brooklyn_, another shout +of approval went up. The two warships would fight the _Colon_ between +them, if only they could get within range. + +It was now noontime, and a hasty mess was served all around, and the men +continued to air themselves, something easy to do with the ponderous +ship speeding the waters at an eighteen-knot rate. Suddenly from the +_Oregon_ came the boom of a thirteen-inch gun, and the shell fell just +astern of the _Colon_, sending the water up like a fountain. The battle +was again on. + +"Now for it!" cried Caleb, as the Spanish warship turned southward down +the coast, and the Polly spoke up as fiercely as at any time during the +contest. + +"The Spaniards are losing heart!" came the cry, a few minutes later. +"They ain't doing half the firing they were!" + +It was true; the _Colon_ was running short of ammunition, and her +officers saw what a hopeless fight a contest with the _Brooklyn_ and +_Oregon_ would prove to be. With shot and shell falling all around him, +Captain Moreu hauled down his flag and sent his ship ashore at Rio +Tarquino. + +The battle was won, and Dewey's magnificent victory at Manila, which the +world in general had declared was a miracle that could not be matched, +had been duplicated. Henceforth American warships and American sailors +would stand as the equals of any nation on the face of the globe. + +And now that the contest was over what was to follow? To me, the hours +that came after are even greater in honor than those glorious hours of +victory. Already down the shore, the work of rescuing the sailors and +marines from the _Maria Teresa_, _Oquendo_, and _Vizcaya_ had begun, and +now the crews of the _Brooklyn_ and _Oregon_ turned in to aid the +wounded and the dying, and those in danger of drowning, on the _Colon_. +Boat after boat went out, close to the sinking cruiser, now burning +fiercely, with abandoned guns going off, loose powder and shells +exploding, and magazines in danger of tearing all asunder. Amid such +perils did our noble jackies work, hauling man after man from the ship, +or from the water, and taking them to our own warships, there to be +cared for as tenderly as though they were our own. Some of the Spaniards +could not understand this treatment. They had been told that the +Americans were butchers and had no hearts, and when they realized the +truth many burst into tears of joy. + +When the battle was all over, some of our officers and men could not +comprehend what had been accomplished--that a whole fleet of Spanish +warships had been destroyed, that hundreds of men had been killed and +many more wounded and taken prisoners, and that the loss to our side had +been but one man killed, a handful wounded, and no ship seriously +damaged. "It was an act of Providence," said more than one, and Captain +Philip of the _Texas_ spoke thus to his crew, as he gathered all around +him on this never-to-be-forgotten Sunday, so bright and clear:-- + +"I wish to make confession that I have implicit faith in God and in the +officers and crew of the _Texas_, but my faith in you is only secondary +to my faith in God. We have seen what He has done for us, in allowing us +to achieve so great a victory, and I want to ask all of you, or at least +every man who has no scruples, to uncover his head with me and silently +offer a word of thanks to God for His goodness toward us all." The +thanks were given, some dropping upon their knees to deliver them, and +this outpouring of hearts travelled from one ship to another throughout +the entire fleet. + +"Poor Ellis!" said Walter; "the only seaman to give up his life! It's +too bad!" And when George Ellis's body was buried with all naval honors +he wept as bitterly as did anybody on board of the flagship. + +The victory had been gained, but the work of the fleet was not yet over. +The army still occupied the outskirts of Santiago, and General Shafter +had sent word to General Toral that unless he surrendered, the city +would be shelled Monday morning. At a conference with Admiral Sampson, +later on, it was decided that the fleet should take part in the +bombardment even if it was necessary to force an entrance into the +harbor. Without delay our warships were gotten into condition for this +task. + +But the bombardment did not come--for the reason that both on land and +sea the enemy had had enough of fighting. Several days passed, and the +conditions of a surrender were discussed. In the meantime Lieutenant +Hobson and his men were released and turned over to us in exchange for a +number of Spanish prisoners. Several of the men remembered seeing +Walter, and were glad to learn that the youth had escaped. + +The battle on sea had taken place on July the third, and my readers can +imagine what a glorious Fourth of July followed, not only among the +soldiers and sailors, but among our people at large. All over the land +cannons boomed, pistols cracked, rockets flared, bells pealed forth, and +bands played for the marching of thousands. It was a real old-fashioned +"Yankee Doodle time," as one down-east paper put it, and North, South, +East, and West united in celebrating as never before. Less than two +weeks later Santiago surrendered, a peace protocol followed; and the war +with Spain came to an end. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +TOGETHER ONCE MORE--CONCLUSION + + +"And now that business is finished, an' I'm most awfully glad on it; +yes, I am!" + +It was Job Dowling who spoke. The uncle and guardian of the three +Russell boys was sitting by the side window of his home in Buffalo. In +his lap lay a small, flat package, which had been wrapped in heavy brown +paper and well sealed. In his hand was an open letter which he had just +finished reading. + +"It was a dreadful price to pay thet detective," he resumed. "But I +couldn't git them hairlooms back no other way, and I'm afraid the boys +would raise the roof ef I didn't git 'em back. It's a comfort to know +thet thief was caught and is going to be tried for even a wuss crime +than stealin' them rings an' the watch an' the Australian diamond. I +hope they give him about twenty years in prison." He paused to put the +package away in his dilapidated secretary. "So Ben is coming home this +week? I wonder what he'll have to say when he faces me? Somehow, I don't +know wot I'm going to say myself." And he dropped into his chair again. + +Job Dowling was a different man from what he had been. The determined +stand taken by Larry, Walter, and Ben had opened his eyes to the +knowledge that he had no mere children to deal with, but boys who were +almost men, and who were fully capable of taking care of themselves. His +visit to New York, when he was robbed of the Russell heirlooms, had +caused him considerable loss of self-confidence, and the trip to Boston +after the thief had awakened him to the fact that, after all, he was of +but little importance in this world. His efforts to help the police +recover the heirlooms had been laughed at, and even the detective had +shown him plainly that he was hindering more than he was helping. +Finally he had returned home in disgust, and the detective had finished +the work on the case alone, recovered everything, and sent Deck Mumpers +to jail to stand trial on half a dozen charges. The detective's bill had +been over two hundred dollars, a sum the paying of which had nearly +given Job Dowling a fit; but now the whole thing was settled and he was +awaiting Ben's return, for the gallant young volunteer had been shot in +the left arm on the day before Santiago surrendered, and was coming home +on sick leave. + +Ding! ding! it was a double ring at the front-door bell, and before Mrs. +Graham, the new housekeeper, and a great improvement on the tartar-like +Mrs. Rafferty, could get to the door, Job Dowling was there himself. + +"Ben an' Walter!" he exclaimed, as he found himself confronted by two +nephews instead of one, as expected. "Well--er, how is this?" + +"How do you do, Uncle Job!" exclaimed Ben, extending his hand. + +"Aren't you glad to see me too, Uncle Job?" put in Walter. + +"Why--er--of course, of course!" came with a stammer; and Job Dowling +held out both of his bony hands. "Come right in. This is Mrs. Graham, my +new workwoman." And the lady of the house, dressed in a neat wrapper and +with a clean kitchen apron on, came forward and bowed. "Knows a sight +more than Mrs. Rafferty did," went on the uncle, in a whisper. + +"I didn't know Walter was coming on till day before yesterday," +continued Ben. "We met quite by accident in New York, and we made up to +come on together and surprise you." + +"I see--I see." Job Dowling was still very nervous, and he could hardly +tell why. At one instant he thought he ought to quarrel with them, the +next that it would be quite proper to embrace them and tell them they +were forgiven and could henceforth do as they saw proper. But he chose a +middle course and did neither. "Sit down and make yourselves to hum, +and, Mrs. Graham, you had best get a few extry chops--three won't be +enough. Tell Boggs to send me the best on the stand." + +At this order Walter nudged Ben, and both looked at each other and +smiled. "He's reforming," whispered the young sailor. "Only give him +time, and he'll be all right." + +"Yes, Mr. Dowling," put in the housekeeper. "And you said something +about pie yesterday, when Master Ben should come. What of that?" + +"Ah, yes, so I did, so I did." The former miser wrinkled his brow. "How +much does a pie cost?" + +"Ten and twenty cents." + +"Boys, do you think you could eat a twenty-cent pie?" + +"Do we?" cried Walter. "Just try us and see, Uncle Job." And now he +clasped his guardian half affectionately by the shoulder. + +"Then get the twenty-cent pie, Mrs. Graham, and be sure an' pick out the +best. You--er--have the other things?" + +"Yes, sir--potatoes, green corn, and coffee." + +"Very good." And as the housekeeper retired, Job Dowling turned to the +boys again. "And how is your arm, Ben? Not seriously hurt, I trust?" + +"It's only a scratch," was the answer. + +"And you, Walter?" + +"I'm all right. But how have you been, Uncle Job, and what of that +stolen stuff?" + +"Oh, I'm only tolerable--got quite some rheumatism. The hairlooms is all +safe--but they cost me two hundred and twenty-seven dollars an' a half +to git 'em!" And the guardian nodded to emphasize his words. + +"Well, they're worth it," answered Ben, promptly; and Job Dowling did +not dare dispute the assertion. "Where are they?" + +"In the desk. I'll show 'em to you, and then ye can both tell me all +about yer adventures on the water and in Cuby." + +The heirlooms had just been brought out, and Ben was examining the +watch, when a form darkened the window opening,--the form of a boy +dressed in a natty sailor suit. All looked up in wonder, and all cried +out in unison:---- + +"Larry!" + +"Ben, Walter, and Uncle Job!" came from the youth who had fought so +gallantly under Dewey at Manila. "Here's a family gathering, for sure!" +And with a light leap he cleared the window-sill and actually fell into +his brothers' arms, while Job Dowling looked on with a half smile on his +wrinkled face. + +"I couldn't remain away from the United States any longer," explained +Larry, when, an hour after, all sat down to the really excellent dinner +Job Dowling had provided. "While I was at Hong Kong I got a good chance +to ship on a steamer for San Francisco, and we came home on the +double-quick, for the government had chartered the vessel to carry +troops to the Philippines. Maybe I'll go back under Dewey some time, but +not just yet. I've got some prize money coming to me, I don't know yet +how much, and I'll lie off to see." + +"And I've got prize money coming, too," added Walter. "I like the navy +first-rate, and shall stick to it for the present, even if I have a +chance of being mustered out." + +"I haven't any prize money coming, but I am to be a second lieutenant of +volunteers," put in Ben. "Our regiment is to be mustered out very soon, +and then I'm going to try for something else in the same line." + +"And what is that, Ben?" asked Job Dowling and the other boys together. + +"I'm going to try for a commission in the regular army." + +"Hurrah! that's the talk!" came from Larry. "And if you stay in the +army, I'll see what I can do toward working my way up in the navy." + +Then both lads looked toward their guardian. Job Dowling scratched his +chin in perplexity, and cleared his throat. + +"All right, boys--I should say young men, fer ye ain't none o' ye boys +no more--go an' do as ye please, I ain't got nothin' agin' it. You have +all done yer duty to Uncle Sam, an' thet bein' so, it stands to reason +ye are capable o' doin' yer duty to yerselves an' to me. To look back it +'pears to me thet I made some kind of a mistake at the start with ye, +an' so I say, you willin' an' me willin', we'll take a fresh start,--an' +there's my hand on't." + +"Uncle Job, you're a--a brick!" came from Walter, and a general +handshaking followed, and then, as Mrs. Graham came on with a coffee-pot +and the dessert, Ben arose with the cup in his hand. + +"Boys, let us drink Uncle Job's health in a cup of coffee!" + +"We will!" came from his brothers. + +"And eat it, too,--in a piece of that pie!" concluded the +ever-lighthearted Larry. + + * * * * * + +Here we will bring to a close the story of Walter Russell's adventures +while "Fighting in Cuban Waters," which has taken us through a thrilling +naval campaign and shown us what true American pluck can accomplish even +under the most trying circumstances. + +As my readers know, the Russell boys had a large inheritance coming to +them, and now that Job Dowling had come to his senses regarding a proper +treatment of them, it was to be hoped that matters would move much more +smoothly for all concerned. + +Through Larry it was learned that his old-time friend, Luke Striker, was +still with Dewey in Philippine waters and had been promoted to the +position of first gun-captain on board the _Olympia_, much to the old +Yankee's credit and delight. + +Frank Bulkley, Ben's soldier chum, was still sick with the fever, but +was at his home in the metropolis, and was out of danger, which was much +to be thankful for, considering what awful havoc that fever had made +with the army of invasion. + +Walter's friends were all on the _Brooklyn_, and it was not long before +the lad was anxious to get back to them, for he had become very much +attached to the noble flagship that had rendered such a good account of +herself in the mighty conflict with Cervera's fleet. + +Gilbert Pennington, Ben's friend of the Rough Riders, was in Cuba, but +expected to come north shortly. Gilbert had an offer of a position as +bookkeeper with an importing firm in New York, but was destined to see a +good deal more of fighting ere he settled to work behind a desk. + +When Ben spoke of trying for a commission, and Larry said he should +remain in the navy, both thought that fighting for the American army and +navy was at an end. This supposition was correct so far as Spain was +concerned, but the insurgents in the Philippines under General Aguinaldo +refused to recognize Uncle Sam's authority, and it was not long before a +large army had to be sent to Manila and other points, to cooeperate with +Dewey in restoring peace and order. Ben could not resist the temptation +to join these soldiers in a distant clime, and with more fighting in +view, Larry hastened to rejoin the _Olympia_. In another volume, to be +entitled, "Under Otis in the Philippines; Or, A Young Officer in the +Tropics," we shall follow the future adventures of these two brothers, +and shall also see more of Gilbert Pennington, Luke Striker, and several +others of our old acquaintances. + +And now, for the time being, good-by to all our friends, and especially +to Walter Russell, the American lad who made such a record for pluck +while "Fighting in Cuban Waters." + + + + +By EDWARD STRATEMEYER + + +THE OLD GLORY SERIES + + + UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA Or the War Fortunes of a Castaway. + + A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA Or Fighting for the Single Star. + + FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS Or Under Schley on the Brooklyn. + + "'Under Dewey at Manila' is a thoroughly timely book, in + perfect sympathy with the patriotism of the day. Its title is + conducive to its perusing, and its reading to anticipation. For + the volume is but the first of the Old Glory Series, and the + imprint is that of the famed firm of Lee and Shepard, whose + name has been for so many years linked with the publications of + Oliver Optic. As a matter of fact, the story is right in line + with the productions of that gifted and most fascinating of + authors, and certainly there is every cause for congratulation + that the stirring events of our recent war are not to lose + their value for instruction through that valuable school which + the late William T. Adams made so individually distinctive. + + "Edward Stratemeyer, who is the author of the present work, has + proved an extraordinarily apt scholar, and had the book + appeared anonymously there could hardly have failed of a + unanimous opinion that a miracle had enabled the writer of the + famous Army and Navy and other series to resume his pen for the + volume in hand. Mr. Stratemeyer has acquired in a wonderfully + successful degree the knack of writing an interesting + educational story which will appeal to the young people, and + the plan of his trio of books as outlined cannot fail to prove + both interesting and valuable."--_Boston Ideas._ + + "Stratemeyer's style suits the boys."--JOHN TERHUNE, _Supt. of + Public Instruction, Bergen Co., New Jersey._ + + "'The Young Volunteer in Cuba,' the second of the Old Glory + Series, is better than the first; perhaps it traverses more + familiar ground. Ben Russell, the brother of Larry, who was + 'with Dewey,' enlists with the volunteers and goes to Cuba, + where he shares in the abundance of adventure and has a chance + to show his courage and honesty and manliness, which win their + reward. A good book for boys, giving a good deal of information + in a most attractive form."--_Universalist Leader._ + + +THE BOUND TO SUCCEED SERIES + + + RICHARD DARE'S VENTURE Or Striking Out for Himself. + + OLIVER BRIGHTS SEARCH Or The Mystery of a Mine. + + TO ALASKA FOR GOLD Or The Fortune Hunters of the Yukon. + + "In 'Richard Dare's Venture,' Edward Stratemeyer has fully + sustained his reputation as an entertaining, helpful, and + instructive writer for boys."--_Philadelphia Call._ + + "'Richard Dare's Venture,' by Edward Stratemeyer, tells the + story of a country lad who goes to New York to earn enough to + support his widowed mother and orphaned sisters. Richard's + energy, uprightness of character, and good sense carry him + through some trying experiences, and gain him friends."--_The + Churchman_, New York. + + "A breezy boy's book is 'Oliver Bright's Search.' The author + has a direct, graphic style, and every healthy minded youth + will enjoy the volume."--_N. Y. Commercial Advertiser._ + + "'Richard Dare's Venture' is a fresh, wholesome book to put + into a boy's hands."--_St. Louis Post Dispatch._ + + "'Richard Dare's Venture' is a wholesome story of a practical + boy who made a way for himself when thrown upon his own + resources."--_Christian Advocate._ + + "It is such books as 'Richard Dare's Venture' that are + calculated to inspire young readers with a determination to + succeed in life, and to choose some honorable walk in which to + find that success. The author, Edward Stratemeyer, has shown a + judgment that is altogether too rare in the makers of books for + boys, in that he has avoided that sort of heroics in the + picturing of the life of his hero which deals in adventures of + the daredevil sort. In that respect alone the book commends + itself to the favor of parents who have a regard for the + education of their sons, but the story is sufficiently + enlivening and often thrilling to satisfy the healthful desires + of the young reader."--_Kansas City Star._ + + "Of standard writers of boys' stories there is quite a list, + but those who have not read any by Edward Stratemeyer have + missed a very goodly thing."--_Boston Ideas._ + + + + +BY EVERETT T. TOMLINSON + + +THE WAR OF 1812 SERIES + +COMPRISING + + The Search for Andrew Field + The Boy Soldiers of 1812 + The Boy Officers of 1812 + Tecumseh's Young Braves + Guarding the Border + The Boys with Old Hickory + + +Mr. Tomlinson, who knows the "ins and outs" of boy nature by heart, is +one of the most entertaining and at the same time one of the most +instructive of living writers of juvenile fiction. In his younger days a +teacher by profession, he has made boys and their idiosyncrasies the +absorbing study of his life, and, with the accumulated experience of +years to aid him, has applied himself to the task of preparing for their +mental delectation a diet that shall be at once wholesome and +attractive; and that his efforts in this laudable direction have been +successful is conclusively proven by his popularity among boy readers. + + +LIBRARY OF HEROIC EVENTS + +STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION _First Series_ + +STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION _Second Series_ + + + + +By OLIVER OPTIC + +All-Over-the-World Library. + + A Missing Million; or, The Adventures of Louis Belgrade. + + A Millionaire at Sixteen; or, The Cruise of the "Guardian + Mother." + + A Young Knight Errant; or, Cruising in the West Indies. + + Strange Sights Abroad; or, Adventures in European Waters + +No author has come before the public during the present generation who +has achieved a larger and more deserving popularity among young people +than "Oliver Optic." His stories have been very numerous, but they have +been uniformly excellent in moral tone and literary quality. As +indicated in the general title, it is the author's intention to conduct +the readers of this entertaining series "around the world." As a means +to this end, the hero of the story purchases a steamer which he names +the "Guardian Mother," and with a number of guests she proceeds on her +voyage.--_Christian Work, N. Y._ + + +All-Over-the-World Library. Second Series. + + + American Boys Afloat; or, Cruising in the Orient. + + The Young Navigators; or, The Foreign Cruise of the "Maud." + + Up and Down the Nile; or, Young Adventurers in Africa. + + Asiatic Breezes; or, Students on the Wing. + + +The interest in these stories is continuous, and there is a great +variety of exciting incident woven into the solid information which the +book imparts so generously and without the slightest suspicion of +dryness. Manly boys will welcome this volume as cordially as they did +its predecessors.--_Boston Gazette._ + + +All-Over-the-World Library. Third Series. + + + Across India; or, Live Boys in the Far East. + + Half Round the World; or, Among the Uncivilized. + + Four Young Explorers; or, Sight-seeing in the Tropics. + + Pacific Shores; or, Adventures in Eastern Seas. + + +Amid such new and varied surroundings it would be surprising indeed if +the author, with his faculty of making even the commonplace attractive, +did not tell an intensely interesting story of adventure, as well as +give much information in regard to the distant countries through which +our friends pass, and the strange peoples with whom they are brought in +contact. This book, and indeed the whole series, is admirably adapted to +reading aloud in the family circle, each volume containing matter which +will interest all the members of the family.--_Boston Budget._ + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Fighting in Cuban Waters, by Edward Stratemeyer + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS *** + +***** This file should be named 34306.txt or 34306.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/3/0/34306/ + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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