Page:A Sailor Boy with Dewey.djvu/166

150 he would have nothing to protect but a collection of bamboo huts."

"Has he much of a fleet?"

"Supposed to have eight or nine vessels, so Roundstock told me. He is one of Spain's best admirals, too, I was told."

"Then we won't have a walk-over. If we—hark!"

A sudden cry from below reached our ears. Both of us listened intently, but could make out only a confusion of voices.

"Something is wrong," cried Dan. "Let us see what it is," and he ran for the stairs.

We met half a dozen gunners coming up. "Fire! fire!" yelled one of the number. "There is a fire between decks!"

"A fire!" The cry was instantly taken up on all sides. "Whereabouts?"

"Near Jackson's gun. It caught from some straw that was in a crockery barrel Gumpers was emptying. It's close to a lot of ammunition!"

"Man the fire hose!" put in an officer. "Lively, boys, or we'll have an explosion!"

The cry of fire had by this time aroused the entire ship, and men came hurrying to the scene from all directions.

At first all was confusion, but soon discipline reigned supreme, and the fire drill was put into execution.