The herald., 1898-05-22

| were well out to sea and gliding along
| through the water SO smoothly that could
hardly believe the statement that our speed
was over twenty-four miles an hour. Slip
ping through the water with no vibration
at all, the only indications of speed were
the ripples on the water flying past US and
the fountain Of spray rising at our sharp,
straight stem, sparkling with all the coiors
of the rainbow as the suns rays flashed
upon 1t.
A beautiful blue sky. with hardly cloud
to be seen. except that on one part OF the
horison there Is q little haze. The fountain
at the bows is playing beautifully now. and
all around is the pure, bright sea air, blow
Ing against ones face and through ones
clothes and into ones body; rousing, slim
ulating and reviving one and making one
feel new man, so refreshing and exhil-
arating is 1t.
"Starboardw sings out my friend. STAR
board, sir!' answers the quartermaster,
whose head I. being startled in my reverie,
nearly tread on, 1t having come up sud-
denly through hole in the platform on
which we were standing.
"well how do you like it," queries my
guide. '.ft
Il wish I were in your place." said I.
"Oh," replied he. laughing, come out
on cold, wet night In January, when a
heavy sea Is running, and you have to
hang on to the rails to prevent yourself
being carried Off your feet; when the seas
rise dashing on the turtle-back, and wash
ing all over the upper deck; when you are
soaked to the skin, and, cling on to some
thing, are shivering and thinking of the
many thousands ashore vino are fast
asleep, warm and snugly tucked between
the blankets; when the binding spray and
sleet Is flashing your face like whipcord III
an incessant shower, 30 that you can
hardly open your eyes as you vainly strug-
gle to peer into the darkness to discern
the lights Of the vessel ahead; and when
everything down below in the ward room
is sliding about on the deck, gloriously
mixed up, so that II you wish to get
piece of meat for supper you have to hold
the joint with one hand whilst you hack or
a slice with the knife, and when you can't
stand up by yourself-you'd soon change
your mind"
Walking aft. We went down the engine
room ladder.
I'm sorry, we are only going go revolu-
tons per minute now" says he. you
should see them going at $50. That's the
time"
But as it Is. wonder nightly to see
these two engines with their many bright
rods flashing up and down; the cranks
whirring round at the rate Of four revolu-
lions per second are alone enough to make
one pause and wonder when human inge-
nuity will reach its limit, and also specu-
late on what terrible smash there would
be If anything CHANGED to go wrong.
"Lunch!" yells the matter-of-fact stew
ard
Chatting and joking formed the CONVEX
sation whilst plates we're being emptied
and refilled, for every one seems to be put
in good temper by this sort Of work.
AS to the messing, I must say 1t was far
better than imagined could obtain on
small boat like this.
Plain, but good and substantial food,
excellently cooked. is the order Of the day;
and cut and come again is the order OF
the table; which last carried out in spirit
and in truth.
"Sail!' suddenly came from above to
disturb our enjoyment, and there was at
once general exodus from the lunch
room. Then I was treated to an exhibit
ton Of the agility of Yankee crew when
there is real earnest work to be done. The
celebrity with which every man reached
his station and stood waiting for the next
order was marvellous. 1t proved to be
friendly craft, and there was much dis
appointment in consequence, but the
quickness and eagerness Of the men at the
prospect of an engagement augured well
for the success of the torpedo boat in an
action with the Spaniards.
We returned to Key West after short
run out to sea, and stepped ashore from
the boat with very satisfactory recollec-
ton of my first experience with torpedo
boat. and especially of the appetite that
had worked UP during my short trip on the
much-abused craft.