de
the door.

"As soon as the attendants have gone outside, orderly, you will
chose the door from the outside, and remain there to keep any
one from entering the room."

"Aye, aye, sir!" responded the orderly, who then followed the
last attendant outside, closing the door after him.

"Gentlemen," continued the executive officer, remaining standing,
"Captain Gales sent for me this morning, to make a most important
communication. With his approval I am going to tell you something
of what he said. In a word, then, this ship is ordered to be
fitted for a cruise to Mexico in the shortest time possible.
Within three or four days we must be on our way to Mexican waters.

"We are to go with bunkers filled with coal. We are to carry
abundant clothing supplies for tropical service. We are to carry
all the large and small arms ammunition that we can stow away.
We are to take on food supplies to our fullest commissary capacity.
In a word, we are to go prepared for any emergency.

"Now, gentlemen, on account of our departure at the earliest moment,
every officer will be needed on board all the time. Unless for
some extraordinary reason, shore leave will not be granted to
any officer. The watch-word will be 'hustle.' Thank you, gentlemen,
for your attention."

In an instant there was clamor in the wardroom. Twenty officers
spoke at once, then subsided. Finally only the voice of Lieutenant
Commander Denton was heard as he inquired:

"Sir, are we entitled to ask any questions?"

"I will answer any questions that I may properly," smiled the
executive officer.

"We are going to Mexico, sir, in fighting trim, are we not?"

"I think what I have already said will indicate that," came Commander
Bainbridge's reply.

"Has anything happened in Mexico," continued Denton, "which makes
it imperative for us to fight there?"

"Nothing, so far as I know," answered the executive officer, "other
than the usual daily outrages that are disgracing the fair name
of Mexico."

"Then nothing of unusual importance has happened, which would
make us sure that we are heading for Mexico on a definite fighting
errand?"

"I have no knowledge that we are actually going to fight in Mexico,"
replied Commander Bainbridge. "It has occurred to me that this
ship, and others of the line, are being ordered to Mexico as a
hint to Federals and rebels alike that the United States possesses
force enough to bring all Mexicans to their senses."

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