The skipper now thinks that it was a convoy of transports bringing the army of occupation.

He didn't stop to find out, though.

Say, you fellows look tired.

Why don't you 'pipe down' ?" He scurried off with a laugh, and we were just settling back for another siege of it when the welcome order came to "secure." The order was executed in a jiffy, and then those who had the off watch piled into their hammocks with a celerity seldom equalled.

Santiago was reached early the following morning, and before the day was over we heard that our neighbors of the night before were, as the captain had suspected, a fleet of transports bringing troops from the United States.
"Which doesn't alter the fact that we displayed wisdom in taking a 'sneak,'" commented Tommy, grimly.