“Which, as the Texan said when he was accused of stealing a horse,” put in Tommy, “remains to be proved.  Just you keep your eye on the gun and wait.”

“There goes another string of signals on the ‘New York,’” exclaimed “Dye,” pointing toward the flagship.  “Whiz!  I’d hate to be a signalman aboard of her.  They are always at it.”

The flagship of a fleet like that assembled in front of Santiago during the blockade, is certainly kept very busy.  In the naval service, everything in the way of routine emanates from the flagship.  Every ship in the squadron, for instance, takes the uniform of the day from her.  The number of sick each morning must be reported by signal; all orders (and they are legion) are transmitted by wigwag or bunting; scores of questions are asked daily by each ship, and it is indeed seldom that the signal yards of a flagship are bare of colored flags.

In the American navy the present methods of communication are by the use of flags representing numerals, by the Meyer code of wigwag signals, and by a system of colored electric bulbs suspended in the rigging.  The latter system is called after its inventor, Ardois.

In the daytime, when ships are within easy distance, wigwagging is commonly used.  A small flag attached to a staff is held by the signalman in such a position that it can be seen by the ship addressed.  A code similar to the Morse telegraph alphabet is employed.  By this system the flag, when waved to the right, represents 1, or a dot; and 2, or a dash, when inclined to the left.  Each word is concluded by bringing the flag directly to the front, which motion is called 3.  Naval signalmen, generally apprentices, become very expert, and the rapidity with which they can wigwag sentences is really remarkable.

The Ardois system of night signalling consists of electric lights attached to the rigging.  There are four groups of double lamps, the two lamps in each group showing red and white respectively.  By the combination of these lights letters can be formed, and so, letter by letter, a word, and thence an order, can be spelled out for the guidance of the ships of a squadron.  The lamps are worked by a keyboard generally placed on the upper bridge.

The “flag hoist” system, as it is termed, consists of the displaying of different flags at some conspicuous place like the masthead.  There are a great many flags and pennants, differing in color, shape, and design, each having its own particular meaning, and when three or four are shown aloft together, a number is formed, the significance of which can only be determined by referring to a code book.  Each navy has a private code, which is guarded with great care.  So particular are Governments in this respect, that the commanding officer of every ship has instructions to go to any length to destroy the code book, if capture is imminent.  During the late war with Spain it was reported at one time that the Spanish code had been secured.  This means that the Dons will be compelled to adopt an entirely new code of signals.