d a "magazine
watch" was set. The ammunition was stowed in all parts of the
ship--forward, main, and after holds were filled. A watch was set on
each of the holds. It was their duty to watch the temperature day and
night and to report the same to the officer of the deck every half hour.
Extreme care was taken to guard against fire. In case fire was
discovered, it was the duty of the man on watch to run and turn on the
water--the key for the valve which regulated this being always carried
on his wrist. Then he must notify the officer of the deck, shouting
"fire" as he went, after which he must go back and with the hose
endeavor to put out the blaze.

Constant, wide-awake, alert watchfulness was necessary. It was hot and
close below, and at night it was almost impossible to keep awake. It is
difficult enough to keep wide awake for an hour's lookout on deck, when
there is much to see and the air is brisk and invigorating, but it is
quite a different matter to be roused in the middle of the night to
stand two hours' watch in a close, hot hold, where nothing more
interesting than cases of powder and the bare, blank sides of the ship
are to be seen.

At first, the knowledge that the lives of all on board and the safety of
the ship herself depended on the alertness of the watch, kept us wide
awake and anxious, but as time went on, it grew harder and harder to
resist nature's demand for sleep; therefore, when the order was given to
unload the ammunition, none were gladder than the men of the "magazine
watches."

After evening mess the boatswain's mate--he got his orders from the
bridge--came aft, shouting as he walked, "All you men who want to go in
swimming may do so right away."

[Illustration: "HE GOT HIS ORDERS FROM THE BRIDGE"]

[Illustration: "ALL YOU MEN WHO WANT TO GO IN SWIMMING MAY DO SO"]

There was no doubt as to the popularity of that order. "All we men"
wanted to go in swimming, and that right away. In a jiffy, white figures
began to drop over the side with a splash, and soon shouts of glee
filled the air. The water was warm and clear as crystal, and so dense
with salt that a man diving, came up like a cork. In fifteen minutes the
order "Knock off swimming" was passed, and though we left the water with
reluctance, obedience was prompt, lest the privilege might not again be
accorded us.

After hammocks had been given out, boats hoisted--all the work of the
day finished, in fact--most of the men gathered af