ot. The rumor was correct
in part, at least.

We were glad to get to sea again. There is an undefinable feeling of
relief, almost of joy, when the regular throbbing of the engines begins
and the ship rolls and heaves to the swell.

The spirits of the men rise; smiles lighten up their faces, and snatches
of song can be heard as they work coiling down lines, lashing movables,
and preparing the vessel for the rough-and-tumble conflict with the sea.

As the sun sank, the waves rose. By the time the first night watch went
on duty, the old steamer was tossing like a chip.

The guns' crews of the watch on deck were ordered to sleep by their
posts, and all was in readiness for instant action.

At eleven o'clock we were roused by the call for "general quarters," and
in a minute, all hands were in their places. We looked vainly, at first,
for the cause of this commotion, but finally made out off our port bow
the dim outlines of a steamer.

It was only when our ship was on the top of the roll that we could make
out our chase at all--nothing but a wall of water could be seen when we
lay in the trough.

"That boat is certainly doing her best to get away," said "Bill." "And,
holy smoke! see how she rolls."

"She can't trot in our heat," said "Dye." "We're gaining on her every
minute."

"She's not a warship," said "Long Tommy," who was lucky enough to
possess a pair of glasses. "I wonder if we're going to get a prize at
last?"

"You forget the fishing sloops. 'Remember the fish,'" laughed "Hay."

The two vessels came nearer and nearer, till finally they were within
hailing distance.

"What ship is that?" called out Captain Brownson, through the
megaphone. "And where are you bound?"

The answer came faintly over the tossing waves: "The 'Burton,' with coal
for Santiago from Guadeloupe."

"Ah, ha!" said Tommy, "we get a prize at last."

"Wait a minute," said "Stump," "he is saying something else."

A gust of wind came at that moment and carried most of the sound away,
but we gathered that our hoped-for prize had papers from our consul
allowing her free passage.

There was a universal groan of disappointment, and when the order was
given to "secure," the hose was pulled up with unnecessary violence,
hatches were lowered, and gun closets closed with no gentle hands. Such
keen disappointment must somehow find a vent.

There was great excitement the following afternoon when the word was
passed for all hands to get out