There lay the wreck of the _Maine_, and there waited the Spanish army that Captain-General Blanco had sworn should yield its last drop of blood in resisting an invasion by the hated Yankees.

There also the guns of time-blackened Morro sullenly faced the floating fortresses that only awaited a signal to engage them in deadly conflict.
Running close to Commodore Watson's flag-ship, the _San Francisco_, the _Speedy_ broke the tedious monotony of blockade by delivering an eagerly welcomed mail, with its wealth of news from the outside world.
Then the saucy craft was off again, headed to the eastward.

Matanzas and Cardenas, both under blockade, were passed during the night, and while off the latter place Dick Comly told Ridge the story of his classmate, Ensign Worth Bagley, who lost his life on board the torpedo-boat _Winslow_, in Cardenas Bay, on May 11th, or less than one month before, and who was the first American officer killed in the war.
"They only went in to find out who was there," began Comly, "the _Wilmington_, _Hudson_, and _Winslow_.

The last, being of least draught, ran ahead, and got within range of some hidden batteries before she discovered them.

She was turning to go out when they opened fire.