rom our fleet would drive out any kind
of a Mexican garrison that Huerta could put in that town."

"Exactly," nodded Dave, "and then the Mexicans would naturally
fall back."

"We can chase 'em," asserted Ensign Dalzell.

"Certainly, but a large force of Mexicans might fall back along the
coast, through the swampy country we are now facing."

"In that case," argued Dan, "we wouldn't have to follow the brown
rascals on foot. We could use the ship to follow 'em, and land
and fight where we found 'em."

"To be sure," Ensign Darrin agreed. "But the Mexicans, knowing
their own swamps, would have considerable advantage. They might
have part of their force retreat, drawing us further and further
into a swamp, and then have another force get between us and our
ships."

"Let 'em try it," retorted Dan Dalzell, grimly, "If there is anything
new that the Greasers want to know about American methods of fighting,
our fleet is full of officers who are willing to be patient
instructors. But take my word for it, Dave, if the Mexicans ever
try to draw us into one of those swamps, they'll learn so much about
real Yankee fighting that it will be fatal to all the Mexicans who
take the instruction from us!"

"That's all very good," Darrin nodded, thoughtfully. "Still, we
shall make a greater success of operations in the swamps if we
study them as much as possible at present."

"I hope the study will soon be followed by a recitation," grinned
Dalzell. "I feel that I'm going stale with so much study. Now,
if we could only hear a few shots, and then fall in with an
advancing firing line!"

"You bloodthirsty wretch!" rebuked Ensign Darrin, but he smiled
in sympathy.

"This waiting and watching grows wearisome," groaned Danny Grin.

"But we're watching behind big guns," returned Dave Darrin, grimly.
"Surely, when our ships are down here in such force, and others
are being rushed through preparation before coming into these
waters, there must be something more in the air than the ordinary
kind of watching and waiting. Cheer up, Dan! Before long you'll
hear some of our big guns speak, and you'll hear the rattle of
small arms, too."

"Understand, please," begged Dalzell, "I'm not bloodthirsty, and
I abhor the very thought of war, but, since we're doing all the
watching and waiting, I wish these Mexicans would hurry up and
start something!"

Trent climbed to the superstructure. Then, catching sight of his
juniors, he came