The day dawned clear but very warm.

There was very little breeze stirring, and the spar and gun decks, where we spent the most of our time, were almost stifling.

"Corking mats," as they are termed in naval parlance, were very much in evidence.

The sailor's "corking mat" is a strip of canvas which he spreads upon the deck to protect his clothing from the tarry seams, when he feels the necessity for a siesta or nap, which is quite often.
Toward evening we were put to work at a task which gave welcome promise of coming action.

Under the direction of the executive officer we broke out a number of bags of coal from the orlop deck and piled them five deep, and about the same number in height, around the steam steering engine under the forward wheel-house.