multaneous
discharge of all guns would distribute over seven thousand pounds of
metal with foot-tons of energy sufficient to lift the ship herself high
out of water. Bristling, glistening, and massive, a reservoir of death
potential, a center of radiant destruction, a spitting, chattering,
thundering epitome of racial hatred, she bore within her steel walls
the ever-growing burden of progressive human thought. She was a maker
of history, a changer of boundaries, a friend of young governments; and
it chanced that on a fine tropical morning, in company with three
armored cruisers, four protected cruisers, and a fleet of torpedo-boats
and destroyers, she went into action.

She was stripped to bare steel and signal-halyards. Davits, anchors,
and cables were stowed and secured. Ladders, gratings, stanchions, and
all movable deck-fittings were below the water-line. Wooden bulkheads,
productive of splinters, were knocked down and discarded, while all
boats, with the plugs out, were overboard, riding to a sea-anchor made
up of oars and small spars.

The crew was at quarters. Below, in the magazine, handling-rooms,
stoke-holds, and bunkers, bare-waisted men worked and waited in
stifling heat; for she was under forced draft, and compartments were
closed, even though the enemy was still five miles away. The chief and
his first assistant engineer watched the main engines in their twin
compartments, while the subordinate aids and machinists attended to the
dynamos, motors, and auxiliary cylinders that worked the turrets,
pumps, and ammunition-hoists. All boilers were hot and hissing steam;
all fire-pumps were working; all fire-hose connected and spouting
streams of water. Perspiring men with strained faces deluged one
another while they waited.

In the turrets were the gun-crews, six men to a gun, with an officer
above in the sighting-hood; behind the superstructure-ports were the
quick-fire men, sailors and marines; and above all, in the
fighting-tops, were the sharp-shooters and men who handled the
one-pounders and Gatling guns--the easiest-minded of the ship's
company, for they could see and breathe. Each division of fighters and
workers was overseen by an officer; in some cases by two and three.

Preparatory work was done, and, excepting the "black gang," men were
quiescent, but feverish. Few spoke, and then on frivolous things, in
tones that were not recognized. Occasionally a man would bring out a
piece of paper and write