“Let ’em increase their old garrison,” smiled Dalzell, contemptuously.  “The first landing parties from our fleet would drive out any kind of a Mexican garrison that Huerta could put in that town.”

“Exactly,” nodded Dave, “and then the Mexicans would naturally fall back.”

“We can chase ’em,” asserted Ensign Dalzell.

“Certainly, but a large force of Mexicans might fall back along the coast, through the swampy country we are now facing.”

“In that case,” argued Dan, “we wouldn’t have to follow the brown rascals on foot.  We could use the ship to follow ’em, and land and fight where we found ’em.”

“To be sure,” Ensign Darrin agreed.  “But the Mexicans, knowing their own swamps, would have considerable advantage.  They might have part of their force retreat, drawing us further and further into a swamp, and then have another force get between us and our ships.”

“Let ’em try it,” retorted Dan Dalzell, grimly, “If there is anything new that the Greasers want to know about American methods of fighting, our fleet is full of officers who are willing to be patient instructors.  But take my word for it, Dave, if the Mexicans ever try to draw us into one of those swamps, they’ll learn so much about real Yankee fighting that it will be fatal to all the Mexicans who take the instruction from us!”

“That’s all very good,” Darrin nodded, thoughtfully.  “Still, we shall make a greater success of operations in the swamps if we study them as much as possible at present.”

“I hope the study will soon be followed by a recitation,” grinned Dalzell.  “I feel that I’m going stale with so much study.  Now, if we could only hear a few shots, and then fall in with an advancing firing line!”

“You bloodthirsty wretch!” rebuked Ensign Darrin, but he smiled in sympathy.

“This waiting and watching grows wearisome,” groaned Danny Grin.

“But we’re watching behind big guns,” returned Dave Darrin, grimly.  “Surely, when our ships are down here in such force, and others are being rushed through preparation before coming into these waters, there must be something more in the air than the ordinary kind of watching and waiting.  Cheer up, Dan!  Before long you’ll hear some of our big guns speak, and you’ll hear the rattle of small arms, too.”

“Understand, please,” begged Dalzell, “I’m not bloodthirsty, and I abhor the very thought of war, but, since we’re doing all the watching and waiting, I wish these Mexicans would hurry up and start something!”

Trent climbed to the superstructure.  Then, catching sight of his juniors, he came toward them.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Watching,” sighed Dave.

“And waiting,” added Danny Grin.

“Then perhaps you youngsters will be interested in the news of what’s going on under this superstructure,” suggested Lieutenant Trent.

“What’s happening below?” demanded Dalzell.  “More watching—–­and waiting?”