Lights, red, white and blue, were twinkling from the masts of the various ships at anchor in the bay, while officers on the bridge of the "Long Island" were reading them.
"Is signalman there?" called the captain from the bridge.
"Aye, aye, sir," came the response.
"Signal the flagship that the 'Long Island's' crew abandoned ship in four minutes and twenty seconds."
The signalman did so, working the keyboard of his signal apparatus—that somewhat resembled a typewriter machine—causing colored lights to flash and twinkle far up on the forward mast of his own ship.
"'Good work, sir,' the admiral says."
"Ask him for the best time."
"Flagship signals that the 'Long Island' has made a record for abandoning ship. Five minutes best time in previous record. To-night's second-best record, four minutes and fifty seconds."
"Mr. Coates, will you pass the word to the men by megaphone?" asked the captain.
"Aye, aye, sir. Battleship crew, there!"