a good job it is too," remarked Tom.

"It is better than having no end," retorted Bill. "You spin out a yarn
to beat the band."

"It's getting late," spoke up "Hod," yawning. "If you fellows are going
to chew the rag all night I----"

"Only a word more," interrupted Tom. "As I staggered back I fell into
the arms of the nurse, who had come down to see what kept me. I
explained in a hurry, and he lit a match. We both went in and
discovered----"

"Sh-h-h! Get out of here, you fellows," suddenly spoke up a voice at the
door on the starboard side. "Here comes 'Cutlets'!"

There was a scramble for the opposite door, and in much less time than
is taken in the telling, the wheel-house was empty. We huddled in the
shadows for a moment; then dodged forward. As we reached the hatch I
heard the "Kid" ask Tom:

"Say, what was it you saw? Tell a fellow, won't you?"

"Two brass knobs on an old chest," was the calm reply.

"Huh!"

The following day being Sunday, was given over to rest and recreation
and the writing of letters, until late in the afternoon. The day dawned
clear but very warm. There was very little breeze stirring, and the spar
and gun decks, where we spent the most of our time, were almost
stifling. "Corking mats," as they are termed in naval parlance, were
very much in evidence. The sailor's "corking mat" is a strip of canvas
which he spreads upon the deck to protect his clothing from the tarry
seams, when he feels the necessity for a siesta or nap, which is quite
often.

Toward evening we were put to work at a task which gave welcome promise
of coming action. Under the direction of the executive officer we broke
out a number of bags of coal from the orlop deck and piled them five
deep, and about the same number in height, around the steam steering
engine under the forward wheel-house. This was to give added protection
to a vital part of the ship.

The work was hard and unpleasant, especially to men who had not spent
the major portion of their lives at manual labor, but it was one of
those disagreeable fortunes of war to which we were growing accustomed,
and we toiled without comment. That night when we turned in, that is,
those who were fortunate enough to have the "off watch," it was
generally rumored about the decks that the fleet would surely bombard
early the following morning.

About two bells (five o'clock) the different guns' crews, who were
sleeping at the batteries, were called by the boatswain