leep at home that night.

The following Monday, on reporting on board the "New Hampshire," we
learned that the entire detail selected to man the "Yankee" would
proceed to that ship shortly after eight bells. Word was passed that our
enlistment papers--for we were to regularly enter Uncle Sam's naval
service--would be made out, and that our freedom and liberty, as some of
the boys put it, would cease from that hour. The latter statement made
little impression. We had entered the Naval Reserves for business, if
business was required, and we expected hardships as well as fun.

A navy-yard tug, sent by the Commandant, steamed alongside at two
o'clock, and the company was marched on board without delay. The boys
were eager to enter on this, their first real detail, and, in the rush
to gain the deck of the tug, young Potter slipped from the rail and fell
with a mighty splash into the water. "Man overboard!" bawled his
nearest mate, and "Man overboard!" echoed one hundred and fifty voices.
There was a scramble for the side, and the tug's deck hand, assisted by
several of our fellows, fished Potter from the river with a boat hook.

"Hereafter, please ask permission before you leave the ship,"
facetiously remarked the officer in charge.

"Humph! as if I meant to do it," grunted Potter, wringing the East River
from his duck shirt.

We caught our first view of the "Yankee" as we steamed past the cob dock
at the yard. We were favorably impressed at once. She is a fine-looking
ship, large, roomy, and comfortable, with lines which show that she is
built for speed. As her record is twenty knots an hour, the latter
promise is carried out. The "Yankee" was formerly the "El Norte," one of
the Morgan Line's crack ships, and, when it was found necessary to
increase the navy, she was purchased, together with other vessels of the
same company, and ordered converted into an auxiliary cruiser. Gun
mounts were placed in the cargo ports, beams strengthened, magazines
inserted, and interior arrangements made to accommodate a large crew.
The "Yankee's" tonnage is 4,695 tons; length, 408 feet; beam, 48 feet.
The battery carried consists of ten five-inch quick-firing
breechloaders, six six-pounders, and two Colt automatic guns. After
events proved conclusively the efficiency of the "Yankee's" armament.

The detail was taken alongside the "Yankee" by the tug. We had our first
meeting with our new captain, Commander W.H. Brownson, of the regular