ntleman knows when he is well off and he'll stay
inside."

"Which, as the Texan said when he was accused of stealing a horse," put
in Tommy, "remains to be proved. Just you keep your eye on the gun and
wait."

"There goes another string of signals on the 'New York,'" exclaimed
"Dye," pointing toward the flagship. "Whiz! I'd hate to be a signalman
aboard of her. They are always at it."

The flagship of a fleet like that assembled in front of Santiago during
the blockade, is certainly kept very busy. In the naval service,
everything in the way of routine emanates from the flagship. Every ship
in the squadron, for instance, takes the uniform of the day from her.
The number of sick each morning must be reported by signal; all orders
(and they are legion) are transmitted by wigwag or bunting; scores of
questions are asked daily by each ship, and it is indeed seldom that the
signal yards of a flagship are bare of colored flags.

In the American navy the present methods of communication are by the
use of flags representing numerals, by the Meyer code of wigwag signals,
and by a system of colored electric bulbs suspended in the rigging. The
latter system is called after its inventor, Ardois.

In the daytime, when ships are within easy distance, wigwagging is
commonly used. A small flag attached to a staff is held by the signalman
in such a position that it can be seen by the ship addressed. A code
similar to the Morse telegraph alphabet is employed. By this system the
flag, when waved to the right, represents 1, or a dot; and 2, or a dash,
when inclined to the left. Each word is concluded by bringing the flag
directly to the front, which motion is called 3. Naval signalmen,
generally apprentices, become very expert, and the rapidity with which
they can wigwag sentences is really remarkable.

The Ardois system of night signalling consists of electric lights
attached to the rigging. There are four groups of double lamps, the two
lamps in each group showing red and white respectively. By the
combination of these lights letters can be formed, and so, letter by
letter, a word, and thence an order, can be spelled out for the guidance
of the ships of a squadron. The lamps are worked by a keyboard generally
placed on the upper bridge.

The "flag hoist" system, as it is termed, consists of the displaying of
different flags at some conspicuous place like the masthead. There are a
great many flags and pennants, differing in color,