here was, deep in the east and at a considerable elevation,
a spark of white, and in a few seconds a red light, keener than stars,
and in half a minute there were the sharp flashes again, and we knew
that there were friends watching and waiting--that "our flag was still
there," that Admiral Dewey and General Merritt of the Navy and Army
of the United States had upheld the symbol of the sovereignty of the
Great Republic of North America, that the lights glowed down from the
massive rock of Corregidor, that through the shadows that fell on these
darksome waters the American squadron had entered into immortality
less than four months before, and that with the morning light we
should look upon the famous scene of triumphant Americanism. We had
been fifteen days out of the world, for there were only the southern
constellations to tell us, the southern cross so high and the north
star so low, and the dazzling scorpion with diamond claws touching the
central blue dome, to say how far down into the tropics we were, while
the clouds of flame rested on the serenities of the matchless sea; and
what had the great deep in its mysterious resplendence been whispering
along the enchanting shores of the islands of Asia--the true Indies,
Oriental or Occidental as might be--what had the wild waves that beat
against the volcanic coasts made known in the boats wafted by the
welcoming winds? We knew of the bloody days on the hills of Santiago,
and the fate of the fleet of Admiral Cervera, and there must be news of
other victories! Our ship turned away from the looming rock that sent
forth flashes as if to say all is well, in the universe that we in our
vast adventure had almost abandoned. And when the day dawned and the
green hills and blue mountains and the silvery waters were revealed
we turned to the left, where Dewey led his squadron to the right, and
there was the bay hundred and twenty knots in circumference. Yonder
were the white walls of Cavite, and further along domes and steeples,
masts and heavy lines of buildings, a wide spread city crouching on
a plain rising a few feet above the tides. It was Manila. Presently
a boat swept near, and what was that, a dozen words repeated here
and there--Merritt in possession of the city--of course, that was
what he was there for,--but who said "there was a declaration of
peace?" The strange statement was made. What--could it be that
Spain had surrendered? Surely the President would not stop pushin