Cervera and his fleet are in the harbor, you know, and the scheme was to keep them from coming out." "Did they succeed ?" chorused the whole group of eager listeners.
"Yes, but----" The conclusion of "Hay's" sentence was drowned in a wild whoop of joy, a whoop that brought a number of other "Yankees" to the spot, and also a gesture of remonstrance from the executive officer on the bridge.
"Wait, boys," I said, gently; "you haven't heard all." There was quiet at once.
"Hobson and his brave men succeeded in accomplishing their object, but they have paid the penalty for it." "Not dead ?" asked one in almost a whisper.
"So the captain read the signals.

The 'Merrimac' went in about three o'clock this morning.

It seems she reached the channel all right, but she was discovered and sent to the bottom with all on board." "Hay" took off his cap reverently, and the others instantly followed his example.

Nothing more was said.

The glory of the deed was overshadowed by the supposed fate of the gallant volunteer crew.
The "Yankee" steamed in to a position designated by the flagship, and the captain went aboard to pay his respects to Admiral Sampson.