A Gunner Aboard the Yankee""

torpedo boats and the many little launches darting here and there like so many beetles on a pond, became

l bit of news that I could scarcely contain myself as I hurried aft. I wanted to stop and fling my cap int

ort five-inch gun, a jolly good fellow, known familiarly as "Hay" by the boys, chanced to be under the bridge. As I raced aft on the port si

f your heroes! Whoop! Say, I'm glad I am a son of that old

orused a d

t ni

es

t a volunt

up, wil

, under the command of a naval constructor named Hobson, to

rved in the regular navy, incredulously. "Why,

said "Hay." "They were to b

k up the

the harbor, you know, and the schem

horused the whole gro

, bu

, a whoop that brought a number of other "Yankees" to the spot, and a

id, gently; "you h

s quiet

in accomplishing their object, but

ked one in alm

ee o'clock this morning. It seems she reached the channel all righ

wed his example. Nothing more was said. The glory of the deed was

dmiral Sampson. A Spanish tug, flying a flag of truce, which had emerged from the harbor at noon, met one of our tugs,

y ship in the fleet that it seemed as if every officer and sailor in Sampson

d his men

ing that the brave naval constructor and all his crew had been captured alive and were now prisone

received both the news of the feat and the rescue at the same time, can hardly understand the revulsion of feel

urs and their deed redounded to the eternal credit and fame of the American navy. Small wonder that we welcomed the n

mond Pearson Hob

oes

ance of the really formidable fleet of warships collected under Admiral Sampson's flag. For size of individual shi

ruisers "New York" and "Brooklyn," cruisers "New Orleans" and "Marblehead," converted yachts "Mayflower," "Josephine," and

ained. Two insurgent camps were plainly visible-one on the beach and another in the hills, which at that point rose to the height of fully four thousand feet. Morro Castle, a grim, s

learly by a tropical sun, formed a picture as far removed from the usual setting of war as could be. But war was there, and th

tion kept the boys interested. The "Rumor Committee" was in active session, and one of its principal members, the captain's orderly, br

low. We lay down by our loaded guns that night, feeling t

de all these warlike preparations very impressive, and it was some time before the boys fell asleep. For my part, such a rest

from the outside. "Just lean out here if yo

the faint light I recognized "Kid," as we called him, the smallest boy on board, an

ome companion at all times. He did not belong to my gun, being a "powder monkey" on No. 16, a six-pounder on

mself and yawning. "Too much tramping about on deck to sleep. Sa

reflection to suddenly fade from the surface of the water. The lights and shadows on

ve us a scare," resumed "Kid," thoughtfully. "Funny ways of fighting those

ears were a mature

ere properly handled," I ventured. "They are magnificent vessels of their class. Lo

e was di

, bu

ican," interrupted t

blockading fleet. Between us and the shore was the "New Orleans," the faint tracery of her masts just showing above

mast this morning, 'Kid'?"

ing shirt in

le. There was an esca

wardroom Jap wi

es

s his

t h

has been to put up with 'government s

y Uncle Sam, consisting of salt beef, pork, hardtack, beans, and canned butter, with

New York," resumed "Kid." "I dreamt I dropped into a bang-up

n's crew, who was within hearin

Jap and struck him for a hand-out. He wanted a shirt, and I wanted something to eat, and we made a bargain. I brought him my ext

ttered a voice from back of the g

p, and what did he do but lose it. My name was on the collar, and 'Jimmy Legs' put me on the report. The 'old man

a sudden stop, and he le

he matter

thing moving over t

ve been

, it looked like

a

effect on the crew of the "Yankee" was instantaneous. The men sleeping at the guns scrambled to their feet, hammocks were k

g moving inshore," cried

ump." "Great Scott! just listen to the 'New

-inch gun on the "Massachusetts." Sixty seconds later the six-pounders on t

eutenant Greene, the officer in charge of our d

ost overwhelming. We were held to our stations so rigidly that but few glimpses could

n even listening to the sounds of conflict, and the eager, tense faces surrounding the guns reflected in

tain, as a peculiarly vicious report came from the direction o

YANKEE'S' FORECASTLE JOINE

ant Greene. "Don't be impatient.

The moon suddenly emerged from behind the clouds, and we who were nearest the port, distinctly

tump." "It's the torpedo bo

e silent; then word was sent below to "secure." Our first action was disappointing, but there

boat "Porter" steamed alongside. Her coming created some ex

"Stump," pointing to a long brass cyli

t like those used in ou

Lieutenant Fremont, the "Porter's" commander. The latter was smiling, a

g, Brownson?"

ptain

id you a visi

ha

h torpedo boat made a great attempt to sink one of our ships, and, if

is was grim war of a certainty. Like the boy who was blown a mile in a cyclone w

ip. It was read at once, and immediately the boatswain's mate pas

clear ship

FOR ACTION!"