Page:Barbour--For the freedom from the seas.djvu/235

 the sharp bark of three-inch or four-infour-inch [sic] guns added to the joy of life. When it wasn't inanimate wreckage that made a lookout gasp and shout incoherently it was a porpoise. A porpoise appearing suddenly near the bow suggests just one thing in the world, and it isn't "Porpoise!" It's "Torpedo!" The Gyandotte was theoretically blown to bits at least five times that day by playful porpoises! What distressed the Gyandotte's secondary battery crews was that while the destroyers were forever letting fly at something, or, at least, preparing to, the Gyandotte's place at number three in the formation presupposed her to be safely guarded and gave no excuse for potting mythical periscopes.

That was a wonderful day, though. Aside from imitation U-boats, there was other excitement. Once they sighted and bore down on a big four-masted schooner from which trailed a long veil of black smoke. One of the destroyers slipped out of column and had speech with the schooner and later reported to the cruiser: "American ship Annie B, Wells, Baltimore, in cargo. Struck a mine yesterday evening and started a fire in some turpentine casks. Says she has fire under control and will be able to make Havre without assistance." 210