Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/101

Rh ashore. Oh, how I would like a good run on land!"

The days passed so slowly that soldiers and sailors devised all sorts of amusements with which to while away the hours. They got up walking and running matches, high jumping, and dancing contests, and played quoits, cards, checkers, and a hundred and one other games. At times both soldiers and sailors had drills and rifle practice, similar to those described in "Under Otis in the Philippines." At the stern somebody was always fishing, although catches were by no means frequent, for the reason that the Central moved too swiftly for the sluggish aquatic creatures of the tropics.

"Do you know, I'd like to catch a shark," remarked Si, one day. He was one of the steady fishermen, but so far had caught nothing worth mentioning.

"You don't want much," laughed Walter. "Why don't you try for a whale and be done with it?"

Si had an extra heavy line, procured from a sailor belonging to the transport, and on the day following this talk he baited up with the best piece of bloody meat he could procure,—a piece taken from a sheep which had just been slaughtered for the officers'