"That's queer." "Not at all, dear boy," was the second loader's calm reply.

"D'ye see, I am in training for the billet of chief deck hand on a tramp canal boat, and this experience is just in my line." Four days later the mooring hawsers were cast off and the "Yankee" steamed out between the capes en route to Santiago.

From the hour we left Norfolk until the sighting of the Cuban coast, our time was taken up with drills of every description.

The following extract from the log for July 18th, will suffice for an example: "Cleared ship for action at three bells along with general quarters.
General quarters again half an hour after turn to at noon.

Fire drill and abandon ship at three bells in the afternoon.