"Why, we are anchored, are we not, Levis?" Violet asked of her husband on awakening the next morning.
"Yes, my dear," he answered; "we are riding at anchor in Gardiner's Bay. I suspected that would prove the destination of the squadron, it being about the best place for naval exercises in our Northern waters; and it seems I was right. The squadron is at anchor now at no great distance from us."
"And what do you suppose they will do here?"
"Probably fight some sham battles on sea and land. Do you care to witness such?"
"Oh, very much! I should greatly prefer witnessing a sham battle to a real one. But they won't be likely to begin it immediately, I suppose?"
"No; I presume we shall have time for a hearty breakfast first," replied her husband, with a slight look of amusement. "Don't allow the prospect of witnessing a battle to spoil your appetite for your morning meal, little wife."
"Oh, no," she answered, with a pleasant laugh. "I really am not now so much of a child as all that would come to."
It was not long before she and nearly every other passenger had sought the deck to take a look at their surroundings.
They found Gardiner's Bay a beautiful body of water bounded by islands on nearly every side, that forming its eastern shore bearing the same name. There were a large number of vessels in the bay,—several sloops, schooners, and a yacht or two beside the "Dolphin," to say nothing of the squadron of war-ships. But all were lying quietly at anchor, and our friends willingly responded to the call to breakfast.