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Rh "It won't do to have splinters around, you see," explained Bob Roundstock, the gunner. "We want everything clear for action, just as the order says."

The woodwork disposed of, ammunition was passed around and fire tubs were filled with water. Then the great guns, fore and aft, were loaded, and kept in readiness for instant use.

Several days passed without anything unusual happening. The weather remained fair, although the wind blew so strongly that the colliers were in danger of being swamped, so heavily were they loaded. We might have run at a greater rate of speed, but the colliers and the Petrel could not keep up, and Commodore Dewey thought it advisable, now we were in the enemy's waters, to keep his squadron and supply boats together.

"I wonder where we will find this Admiral Montojo?" I said one evening, as Dan and I lounged on deck. "Was he at Manila when we were there?"

"I don't know, I'm sure. He must be somewhere among the Philippine Islands."

"That's saying a good deal, when the islands number over a thousand."

"Oh, he must be near one or another of the principal cities, Oliver. At a second-rate place