The San Francisco call., 1898-04-20

} boys. Again the girl soon to be left behind was in evidence, and a second look at many disclosed a familiar fig ure, last seen in a corner of the Pre- sidio gun shed or hanging on the arm of some gunner, waiting for the as- sembly call. They had come down from the post for another good-by, and there on the platform they staid. Cap- tain Potts tried to hurry the men. but neither he nor his officers interfered with the leave taking. The gunners looked out for the guns and the drivers looked out for the horses, and every one looked out for the girls, and felt bad for them and wondered how long they would keep the buttons the sol diers, with many a laugh and joke, cut from their cOatsleeves and gave to as many girls as there were buttons.
 Some of those buttons will be kept. It was not all joke and jocose farewell. There were tears and sighs and brave little smiles that had much better been bitter weeping for all the deception they proved, and there was handshak- ing and then as the last guns were be- ing loaded and every one saw the end was really near there was many a kiss and many a head that hung low for fear a glance might cause a break and spoil the parting.
 Again the busy little bugles trilled a call It was the assembly, and that meant the end. Some boys from Bat tery F were singing in the midst of a crowd of friends. but the cry of the bugle broke the song, and the men started for their line. One man kissed every girl he knew, others looked as if they would have liked to, but contented themselves with shaking hands. Flow CTS were tossed to the blue coats and the men tried to look brave as they strengthened up under the eyes of their officers.
 One man with his head bound up was Justify cheered. He had been hit with the pole of one of the caissons, and be- cause it did not knock him senseless he was the hero of the hour
 Formed in twOs, the two batteries started for the freight ferry at the foot of King street. The boat was not in, so they waited, and once more those who had twice said good-by were allowed another handshake. Then the boat came in and the cars were run on, and the order Forward" was given.
 The crowds had again eluded the po- lice, and had taken possession of all the fences and wharf piles in the neighbor- hood. They had been somewhat silent for quite a while, but as the first bat tery started steadily down the wharf the enthusiasm broke out afresh, and cheer upon cheer rent the air. The bat teries were cheered; the guns and the men who would so gallantly man them; the officers, the flag. and even Sport, the mascot dog of Battery c, who has gone along wearing a blanket and Haunting the legend Cuba or Bust, " was cheered to the echo. And one man, leaning out from the top of fence and frantically waving his free arm, gave the cry that may be famous, "Remem- Der the Maine"
 The boat started at once, and the locomotive that hauled the cars down footed a long farewell, winning an an- swering blast from the steamer. The soldiers gathered on the stern of the ferry and cheered while the crowd broke from the police and running down the wharf answered with a will
 And so they watched until the boat was out of sight, and as the people turned homeward the mournful wall o1 the siren on that grim fighter the Mon- terey, saluting the passing ferry, brought home the fact that the bat teries had gone-perhaps to return no more