When all was in readiness for the game to begin, the New York, which was the flagship, sent up a rocket, warning the other vessels to be on the lookout for the blockade runner.

The flagship of a fleet is always the one which has the admiral on board.  The ships in a fleet are like a regiment of soldiers, and act under the orders of the admiral in command; and as the orders are always sent from ship to ship by means of flags or signals, the ship from which the orders are issued is called the flagship.

All the search-lights were in play, and there was the greatest excitement on board the various vessels as the little cruiser steamed out to sea to begin the game.

Back and forth the search-light flashed along the whole line of the blockade.  Here and there, in every direction, the waters were searched for a sign of the little Vesuvius, which was surely steaming toward them to try and run the blockade.

No sign of the cruiser could be seen, and anxiety was felt lest she should have escaped all the searchers, when the signal came from the Maine that she had been discovered, and all the search-lights from the various vessels were turned toward the Maine’s light, and there was the Vesuvius, defeated.

She showed her lights, which till then had been concealed, and steamed back to sea again for another trial.

This time she so nearly succeeded that there was consternation in the whole fleet; but still she was detected in time.

Five times she made the attempt, but defeat succeeded defeat; and at last Admiral Bunce declared the game over for the night, and the Vesuvius returned to anchor, with the rest of the fleet.

Admiral Bunce declared himself highly pleased at the success of his blockade.

The next night the game was played again.  This time the Vesuvius won easily, for it was a foggy night, and the search-lights were not able to pierce the fog.

Admiral Bunce would not allow that this was a fair test, but as, in real war, blockade runners would be pretty sure to wait for a cloudy night, or for one that was dark or foggy, it would seem that the test was fairer than that of the night before, which was clear and moonlit.

Before the manoeuvres were over, the admiral ordered a practice with the big guns.

From all accounts it was a very fine sight, and our navy proved itself a great credit to us.

The guns were fired at targets, and the shooting seems to have been particularly fine, the targets being hit every time.

* * * * *

At last beyond any further question Major William McKinley has been elected President of the United States.

The last formality was complied with when, on February 11th, at one o’clock, the Senate of the United States, headed by the Vice-President, filed into the House of Representatives to count the vote of the Electoral College, cast in the manner described in THE GREAT ROUND WORLD, No. 13.