The San Francisco call., 1908-08-30
waiting
CHAPTER NJ

HE spring at last WOIS tNSSAL
away and the soft air of early
summer blew into the dungeons
Of the imprisoned Americans.
but still there was no sign Of the
American squadron. Not one OF the
prisoners. however, doubted for mo-
'ment that it would come. but the pc
riod Of delay and hardship was long
1t was easy enough to provide the
midshipmen with work; the problem
Of Captain Bainbridge and Mr.. Por-
ter was TO provide them, under the new
and harder conditions, with amuse-
ment
They were no longer permitted tools
with which to make implements or
games. but 1t is difficult to put limit
to a sailors ingenuity, and so the
midshipmen had games in spite of the
Tripolitans. A checkerboard could be
drawn with a piece of chalk, anywhere,
md the midshipmen's buttons, care
fulIy preserved, answered for the men
IN the game. Totten carved on the
corner of their one table a chessboard,
and little blocks of wood saved from
their scanty firing and numbered, did
duty for chessmen. Many hours were
spent by the midshipmen in playing
chess Match games were arranged
between the watch officers and their
juniors. in which the juniors by no
means always came out last
Among all the officers. none con-
trfbuted more to maintain the morale
of the midshipmen than did Lazy
Maitland" He had a pretty talent Tor
drawing and organized the midship-
men into a class. which was a great
resource TO them But above ali II
was Mr. Maitland who kept up the
spirits Of the Saturday nights, devoted
to social intercourse and "reminiscences
of home After a time this day and
hour were in danger of becoming the
saddest OF the whole week.
The first Saturday night after thelT
removal to the bashaw's castle Dicky
FaIconer was so overcome with the
recOIIections of that once happy hour
in the Phnadelphia's cockpit and
thoughts of home that he found him.
self weeping bitterly as he sat upor
his pallet Then Roger Thorne, mean
ing TO comfort him. came up 10 weeI
also Totten and Gray, who as senior
njdshipmen had the general super
. vision of the room. looked at eacf
. other in silence and perplexity- De
preston such as Dicky and Roger
showed was contagious. and Totten and
GRAY had often heard it said by Older
officers that these outbursts OF de-
spairing sadness once started among
hundreds Of men were liable TO sweeI
over them like an epidemic, of which
no man could foresee the consequences
At that moment Mr.. Maitland entered
the room. He was still, as far as hi.
narrow wardrobe permitted, dandy
and an exquisite and proud OF his sof
white hands, which knew, however
well enough how to handle a sword
without looking at Dicky and Roger h'
drawled:
gentlemen, have Captain Balm
bridges permission to invite you al
into the sailors quarters, where we viii
have Saturday night jollifcation IL
spite Of our friends the enemy. Th'
sailors quarters are more spacious, and
besides We want to cheer them up Z
trife."
Dicky and Roger. by some impuls,
as strange to them as that which haC
suddenly brought them to tears, fell
their hearts rise. In the largest apart
ment Of all they found the whole ship,
company assembled. All the candle.
permitted them were used TO illuminate
a space on the wall. A chorus of sing.
ers from among the crew Furnished
songs, of which the words and music
were OF Mr.. Maitland's own compost
ton. The officers, beginning with Cap
tain Bainbridge, were ranged around
with the men squatting on the grount
behind them Mr.. Maitland then begar
drawing on the wall a series OF mos
amusing ana rapid carlcatureS on th'
Tripolitans.
They were so good and Mr.. Matt
lands monologue, in his soft slow voice
with his head stuck on one side. was 8,
diverting that no one could forbea
laughing. In 10 minutes the spirits o
all were raised Then Mr.. Maitlan,
proceeded to draw patriotic pictures
and when at last he drew upon the wal
q representation Of the American flag
great storm OF applause broke forth
The captives felt at once an uprising
OF hope IN their hearts; they could no
be forgotten by their country so lon
as that flag few at the fore Of singl
ship of war.
The next Saturday night the sailors
emuIous Of their officers, arranged
credftable show, of which Bulge wa
stage manager as we'll as the star per
former, and it wound up with a repeti
fion Of Budges ''Tid-re-i." which tn
sailors bawled out with the best will 4
the world.
To men in the situation of the Ameri
cans this determination to be cheerfu
was OF the greatest service and wa
earn<st tly encouraged by Captain Balm
bridge ard Mr.. Porter.