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164 The battle had started early in the morning. By the middle of the afternoon it was over and a regular jubilee among the jack tars followed. They yelled, cheered, sang, and danced, while eating and drinking went on until nightfall.

Some of the ships had been sent to other places, but we lay close to Cavité. We could have taken a great number of prisoners, but Commodore Dewey had no place to put them.

"Let them go, poor fellows; they have suffered enough," said more than one officer, and in my mind I agreed with them.

"Didn't I tell you!" cried Roundstock, coming up. "Nothing can stand up against the Stars and Stripes, our glorious flag of freedom."

"What's to do, now, Roundstock?" I questioned.

"That's for the commodore and our captain to say. As for myself, I feel as if I could sleep for a week."

"Won't we go in and take Manila?"

"I suppose we will—later on."

"I would like to go in right away. I want to learn how my friends there are faring."

"You'll have to be patient."

Roundstock strode off, and I turned again to Dan, who was moaning. I found his face very hot, as if he was in a fever.

The hours of the night passed slowly, and in