"Old! Captain Long's young."
"Arrah! ye're a tasin' lad. It's yerself knows what I mane."
The Brooklyn had faded from sight now. The Nashville was running towards San Juan. The gun-boat did not mean to enter the harbor, but simply to cruise about in the hope that something might be seen of the Spanish cruiser.
One night the weather was very thick.
It was quite possible for a ship to leave the port without being seen, or even heard, for the waves stifled any sound she might have made.
Towards morning the weather cleared.
Young Glory was on watch duty and Captain Long happened to be near him.
"Can I have a word with you, sir?"
"Surely?"
"Well, sir, I may be mistaken, but I feel positive that the Cristobal Colon went out of port during the night."