"I hope the study will soon be followed by a recitation," grinned Dalzell. "I feel that I'm going stale with so much study. Now, if we could only hear a few shots, and then fall in with an advancing firing line!"
"You bloodthirsty wretch!" rebuked Ensign Darrin, but he smiled in sympathy.
"This waiting and watching grows wearisome," groaned Danny Grin.
"But we're watching behind big guns," returned Dave Darrin, grimly. "Surely, when our ships are down here in such force, and others are being rushed through preparation before coming into these waters, there must be something more in the air than the ordinary kind of watching and waiting. Cheer up, Dan! Before long you'll hear some of our big guns speak, and you'll hear the rattle of small arms, too."
"Understand, please," begged Dalzell, "I'm not bloodthirsty, and I abhor the very thought of war, but, since we're doing all the watching and waiting, I wish these Mexicans would hurry up and start something!"
Trent climbed to the superstructure. Then, catching sight of his juniors, he came toward them.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Watching," sighed Dave.
"And waiting," added Danny Grin.
"Then perhaps you youngsters will be interested in the news of what's going on under this superstructure," suggested Lieutenant Trent.