“Hurrah!” came from the throats of a dozen officers, but the cheer was not a very confident one.  Too long had the United States been patient in the face of one insult or injury after another.  General Huerta, in Mexico City, and Carranza and Villa, in the west and north of that country, had headed factions, neither of which seemed to care about Mexico’s good name in the world at large.  Maltreated Americans demanded punishment of the Mexican offenders, but the United States had been engaged in patiently waiting and watching, only once in a while sending a feeble protest either to the Federal or the Constitutionalist leaders in that murder-ridden country of Mexico.

Mess-call sounded to breakfast.  The officers filed into their places at table; then, on observing that the executive officer was not in his place at the head of the table, they remained standing by their chairs.

A minute afterward Commander Bainbridge entered with brisk stride, going to his place and giving the seating signal as he said: 

“Pardon my tardiness, gentlemen; the captain detained me on a most urgent matter.”

After that the buzz of conversation broke loose.  Breakfast orders were taken by the white-coated, noiseless Filipino servants.  When all had been served, the executive officer glanced up, then rose.

“The attendants will withdraw,” he ordered.  “Orderly!”

“Aye, aye, sir!” responded the marine orderly on post just inside the door.

“As soon as the attendants have gone outside, orderly, you will chose the door from the outside, and remain there to keep any one from entering the room.”

“Aye, aye, sir!” responded the orderly, who then followed the last attendant outside, closing the door after him.

“Gentlemen,” continued the executive officer, remaining standing, “Captain Gales sent for me this morning, to make a most important communication.  With his approval I am going to tell you something of what he said.  In a word, then, this ship is ordered to be fitted for a cruise to Mexico in the shortest time possible.  Within three or four days we must be on our way to Mexican waters.

“We are to go with bunkers filled with coal.  We are to carry abundant clothing supplies for tropical service.  We are to carry all the large and small arms ammunition that we can stow away.  We are to take on food supplies to our fullest commissary capacity.  In a word, we are to go prepared for any emergency.

“Now, gentlemen, on account of our departure at the earliest moment, every officer will be needed on board all the time.  Unless for some extraordinary reason, shore leave will not be granted to any officer.  The watch-word will be ‘hustle.’  Thank you, gentlemen, for your attention.”

In an instant there was clamor in the wardroom.  Twenty officers spoke at once, then subsided.  Finally only the voice of Lieutenant Commander Denton was heard as he inquired: