Casilda and
Cienfuegos. We came to know it very well; every ravine in the mountains
was familiar, every inlet in the coral-bound shore known to us. It began
to grow monotonous.

Time lay rather heavy on our hands, but not too heavy, for we were put
to work, two guns' crews at a time, coaling in a new and torrid fashion:
the coal in the after hold had not all been taken out during the
northern cruise, so it was decided to pack it in bags, two hundred
pounds to a bag, carry it forward and stack it in an unused ballast
tank.

Number Six and Number Eight guns' crews were among the first to engage
in this pleasant occupation.

We found heat enough below to supply a good-sized house all winter, so
clothing seemed unnecessary. We stripped to the waist, "Cumming," a
member of Number Six gun's crew, remarking that he thought a cool glance
and a frozen smile would be sufficient in such a warm climate.

The work was hard and dirty and the heat terrific. We saw no necessity
for the transfer. Jack never can see the need of work unless it happens
that some other crew is doing it.

We cheered ourselves, however, by singing "There's a hot time in the old
ship to-day."

While we lay close inshore, the "Dixie" cruised outside, and toward
evening the two vessels met, and together we went to Casilda, a port
near Trinidad. We stood by while the "Dixie" threw a few shells into
the fort. Two days later the "Yankee" parted from her consort and
proceeded to the Isle of Pines.

It was here one of the most laughable incidents of the cruise occurred.
While steaming past one of the outlying islands, a small fleet of
fishing sloops was discovered at anchor inshore. Under ordinary
circumstances such unimportant craft would not have been molested, but
in the present case it was suspected that they formed part of the fleet
supplying fish to the Havana market. To destroy them was our bounden
duty.

"Man the starboard fo'c'sle six-pounder and fire a shell in their
direction," ordered the captain from the bridge.

The gun was loaded in short order, and presently a projectile went
screeching across the water, dropping with a splash near the largest
sloop. Several small rowboats were seen to pull away from the smacks,
and it was evident the crews had fled in terror. Directly after dinner,
the "Yankee's" first cutter and the second whaleboat were ordered away,
manned and armed. A Colt machine gun was placed in the bow of the
former, and each ca