t up," cheered "Stump," under his
voice. "That's the stuff. Now, if only that measly fog lifts and we get
a trifle nearer, we'll do something for the old flag."

The minutes passed slowly. It was heartbreaking work, this waiting and
watching, and there was not one of the "Yankee's" crew but would have
given a year's pay to have seen the mist lift long enough to bring us
within range.

Suddenly, just as the fervent wish was trembling on our lips, "Hod
Marsh," who was near the port, cried out joyfully:

"She's fading, fellows, she's fading!"

Like a theatre curtain being slowly raised, the mist lifted from the
surface of the water. Little by little the expanse of ocean became
visible, and at last we, who were watching eagerly, saw the hull of a
steamer appear, followed by masts and stack and upper rigging. An
exclamation of bitter disappointment came from Tommy. "Durned if it
ain't an old tramp!" he groaned. "Fellows, we are sold."

And so it proved.

The fog lifted completely in the course of an hour and we secured a good
view of our "will o' the wisp" of the night's chase. It was a great
lumbering tramp, as high out of the water as a barn, and as
weather-stained as a homeward-bound whaler. She slouched along like a
crab, each roll of the hull showing streaks of marine grass and
barnacles. There was little of man-o'-war "smartness" in her make-up, of
a verity.

For several days the "Yankee" cruised up and down the coast between
Delaware Breakwater and Block Island. Many vessels were sighted, and on
two occasions it was considered expedient to sound "general quarters,"
but nothing came of it. We finally concluded that the enemy were
fighting shy of the vicinity of New York, and all began to long for
orders to the southward.

Drill followed drill during these waiting days. Target practice was held
whenever practicable, and the different guns' crews began to feel
familiar with the rapid-fire rifles.

The men, accustomed to a life of ease and plenty, found this first
month's work an experience of unparalleled hardship.

Their hands, better fitted for the grasp of pen and pencil, were made
sore and stiff by the handling of hawsers, chains, and heavy cases.
Bandages on hands, feet, and, in some cases, heads, were the popular
form of adornment, and the man who did not have some part of his anatomy
decorated in this way was looked upon as a "sloper," or one who ran away
from work. For how could any one do his share