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148 as the Boston there is little or nothing for sailors to do, and our time was, as before, our own.

We lay in Mirs Bay for several days longer. But early one day some special dispatches were received, and half an hour later the Olympia flew the signal: "Up anchors and follow the flagship," and all hands knew we were off at last.

The three cruisers, Olympia, Baltimore, and Boston, were the first to steam away, and they were shortly followed by the gunboats Concord, Petrel, and McCulloch, and two colliers, the latter loaded to the rail with coal for the six warships.

"What a splendid sight!" I said to Dan, as we stood on deck watching the column of vessels sweeping out swiftly to sea. "If we meet those Dons there will be fun."

"Pretty serious fun, Oliver, to my way of thinking. Killing fellow-beings isn't much play."

"That's right, Dan; but if we have got to have war I hope we come out on top."

"Oh, so do I!"

The day was an ideal one, and we remained on deck until the intense heat drove us below. Here we found a great state of confusion, for orders had been passed around to "clear ship for action," and all hands were tearing down unnecessary woodwork, preparatory to heaving it overboard.