Max had spent some leisure time in writing to the dear ones in his home, and the still dearer one pledged to become his wife, telling just where he was and the prospect immediately before him, expressing his hope that all would go well with the Americans—now championing the cause of the poor, oppressed Cubans and of these downtrodden Filipinos—and that he would be able to write further after the conflict ended, should he pass safely through it; but if he should be killed or seriously wounded, doubtless the news would reach them in due season, and they must think of him as having fallen in a good cause, hoping to meet them all in a better land.
A little before that, the commodore was walking back and forth on the starboard side of the upper deck, when he noticed an old sailor who seemed to be trying to find something to do on the port side. He was a man who had been forty years in the service of the navy and army of the United States, and was a privileged character on the Olympia. He seemed to be keeping a careful lookout on the commodore, who noticed it and perceived that he had something on his mind.
"Well, Purdy, what is it?" he asked.
Purdy straightened up and saluted. "I hope, sir," he said, "ye don't intend to fight on the 3d of May."
"And why not?" asked the commodore.
"Well, ye see, sir," Purdy replied, in the most serious manner, "the last time I fought on the 3d of May I got licked—at the battle of Chancellorsville, under Fighting Joe Hooker."
"All right, Purdy, we won't fight on the 3d of May this time," said the commodore; "but when we do fight, Purdy, you'll have a different kind of a May anniversary to think about. Remember that, Purdy."
"Ay, ay, sir," replied Purdy, saluting, then hurrying away to rejoin his blue jacket comrades, whom he told, "We'll lick those Spaniards if they was ten times as many as they are."
The moon was in its first quarter, and though often veiled by clouds its light might enable the Spaniards on the fortified points here and there to perceive the stealthy approach of their foe. Max, on the watch with others, overheard the commodore say, as they neared the opening between Mariveles and the Island of Corregidor, "We ought to hear from this battery about now."