Page:Under Dewey at Manila.djvu/301

Rh shouted somebody, and the cheers were given with a will.

"Three cheers for Captain Gridley and our other officers!" was added.

"What's the matter with three cheers for the Olympia and the other ships of this squadron?" asked Larry, half laughing, and up went the cheers as loudly as the rest. No one on board had been injured, the enemy was all but defeated, and it was a joyous if a tired time all around.

"We've got five shots in the upper works, that's all," was the report which went around. "The only man injured is Casey. Hautermann stepped on his toe-corn, and they had a set-to." And a roar went up; for Casey was known as a pugnacious Irishman, and Hautermann as an equally belligerent German, and the two were continually at swords' points.

Breakfast and a well-earned rest put every man again on his feet, and Castleton came back to his gun. "I remember the breech," he said. "I was just starting to lock it when I went down as if a weight had hit me on the head. I couldn't have helped it if I was to hang for it."

"I believe you," growled Barrow. "But after this I reckon I'll take a squint at the breech myself before I touch her off."