Cheer after cheer arose from the mighty ships as the battle-scarred veterans steamed swiftly past.
The lads’ nerves tingled and Captain Garcia’s eyes filled with tears. He was touched beyond words at this enthusiastic greeting.
As soon as the “Aquadores” was anchored the Americans were ready to leave the ship on board which they had been through so many thrilling scenes.
“I am sorry to part,” Captain Garcia declared with genuine grief. “You have all endeared yourselves to me in many ways.”
They expressed their thanks to the gallant captain and as they passed through the motley crew the men broke out in excited cheers for “los Americanos.” O’Neil was surrounded by an admiring crowd, all shouting enthusiastically; they hugged him and cried over him and would have forcibly detained him on board. O’Neil stood it like a stoic.
“Them dagos are like a lot of women at a wedding,” the boatswain’s mate declared disgustedly, when they had left the ship and were being rowed across the water to the “Connecticut.” “You’d thought I was the bride, the way they embraced me.”
“I am glad we can talk our own tongue once more,” remarked Phil. “It seems so long since I used it that I’ll be talking Spanish to everybody I meet; I have the habit.”
A steam launch flying the American flag passed close by the Americans in their boat flying the Verazala flag at the stern. An officer wearing the uniform of an ensign saluted promptly.
“That’s the last salute we’ll get from an ensign for some years,” chuckled Sydney as they returned the salute. “Wouldn’t that fellow feel cheap if he knew we were only midshipmen.”
“I had quite forgotten how we are dressed,” Phil laughed, “but it was these or nothing.”