“There’s a mighty good dinner waiting for me in the dear old house,” exclaimed “Stump,” unctuously.  “I can sniff it afar.  And say, fellows, won’t we forget—­for a few hours at least—­that such things as reveille and scrub and wash clothes and coal humping and salt-horse exist on earth?”

“Oh, good Mr. Captain, how long will it be before we hear the welcome call, ‘Shift into clean blue, the liberty party!’ and find ourselves piling over the side,” groaned “Hay.”

“You will be glad enough to come back to your Uncle Samuel,” grinned “Steve.”  “When your time is up you will be waiting for the boat.”

“No doubt,” replied Flagg.  “We will be ready to complete our time of service, but there are some, if rumor speaks the truth—­”

He finished with a significant wink.

He referred to the many threats of “French leave” made by certain members of the crew—­threats which did not materialize except in a very few cases.  The disgruntled members of the “Yankee’s” crew were composed mainly of the “outside” men—­men not of the Naval Reserves.  Among the latter, despite the unaccustomed hardships to which they were subjected, a firm determination existed to remain until lawfully mustered out.

The trip from Key West to New York was marked by only one important incident—­the celebration of the Fourth of July.  It was unlike that familiar to the majority of the crew.  There were no fireworks, no parades, nor bands playing the national anthem.  The day opened squally, and sharp gusts of rain swept the decks.  The usual routine of work was proceeded with, and it was not until eight bells (noon) that we fully realized the date.  At exactly midday a salute of twenty-one guns was fired, and those of us who were super-patriotic, took off our caps in honor of the flag.  That ended the ceremony.

“Never mind,” said Tommy, when one of the boys bewailed the meagre celebration, “never mind, shipmate.  There’s a good time coming when we can whoop ’er up for Old Glory as much as we please.  Then we’ll make up for to-day.  We can’t expect to do much under these conditions, you know.”

The day following (a fine, cool, bright one, and how we did appreciate it!) was spent by all hands in getting the ship spick and span for the inspection of visitors, who were sure to be on hand to welcome us.

The semi-weekly ceremony of airing hammocks and bedding was indulged in.  The bugler blew “hammocks,” whereupon all hands lined up to receive them from the stowers.  They were then unlashed on the gun deck, and inspected by the officers of the different divisions, who ordered that they should be taken up to the spar deck.  The blankets and mattresses were spread wherever sun and breeze could get at them.  The rail, as well as the boats, was covered with them.  Red blankets flaunted in the breeze from the rigging till we resembled an anarchist emigrant ship.

The marines aired their hammocks on the forecastle deck in the neighborhood of their guns.