in the

oric port of Vera Cruz, the United States dreadnough

k found the weather still cold, here in Mexican waters, officers and men alike were in the wh

paced at a time. During the night

busy at the big gun drills. Others were cleaning a ship that always seemed spotless. The few that were off duty gathered wher

, constantly on duty in the wireless room, kept the "Long Island" i

g here?" asked Danny Grin, as he a

that the officers on the bridge keep a constant lookout ashore. See

small village here and there. I looked through the binoculars a little wh

ght in one of those swamps. When it comes to fighting in the tangles and mazes of a

send landing parties

ed, openin

garrison, at present, of only about eight hundred of General Huerta's Mexican Federals. But suppose it was rumore

usly. "The first landing parties from our fleet would drive out a

"and then the Mexicans w

'em," asserted

s might fall back along the coast, throu

ow the brown rascals on foot. We could use the ship t

ave considerable advantage. They might have part of their force retreat, drawing us furt

fleet is full of officers who are willing to be patient instructors. But take my word for it, Dave, if the Mexicans ever try to draw us into on

ill, we shall make a greater success of operations in th

ell. "I feel that I'm going stale with so much study. Now, if we could

" rebuked Ensign Darrin,

ching grows wearisome

e being rushed through preparation before coming into these waters, there must be something more in the air than the ordinary kind of

hor the very thought of war, but, since we're doing all the watching

ture. Then, catching sight of h

you doing?

g," sigh

ng," added

ted in the news of what's going on under thi

" demanded Dalzell. "Mor

"I've just learned that, for the last twenty minutes, Captain Gales has been standing in the wireless room, and that

rom so much watching and wait

eplied Lieutenant Trent, trying hard to keep the flash of excitement

iting for three years or more for something to happen. But so far it has all happened on the Mexican side. Don'

of the nature of the happening, but of this I feel rather sure,--that now, at last

ophet, Trent?" pondered Dan, studyin

ything in the wind, I think we'll have a suspicion of what it is by

ve, suddenly. "I hear a lot of talking there. Come on.

him, Dave and Dan kept by his side. Then th

them. One messenger, catching sight of the three officers on the

ed the messenger; "Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell a

ews at once," murmured Tre

im, Commander Bainbridge was pacin

ing us in his office,

go there

s of some impending misfortune, for Lieutenant Cantor, very erect, and loo

on me?" Ensign Dave Darrin wondered, with a sta