CHAPTER VII.
WE ENTER THE "THEATRE OF WAR." The shrill pipe of the bosun's whistle, followed by the order "All hands to muster," reached our ears a day or two out from New York.

We were enjoying an hour of well-earned leisure, so it was with reluctance that we obeyed and went aft on the gun deck.

All hands are seldom called to muster, so we knew that something of importance was in the wind.
After the three-sided hollow square had been formed, the captain appeared.

The small men stood on tip-toe, and the tall men craned their necks.
"We are about to enter the theatre of war," said the captain, in his sharp, decisive way, "and I expect every man to do his duty, to redouble his efforts to preserve discipline, to perfect drills.

Drills will, of a necessity, be frequent and hard.