A United States Midshipman Afloat

The Navy-Yard at Brooklyn buzzed with its daily turmoil of labor. It was a bright June morning, and the high chimneys of the numerous shops and foundries belched forth flame and...

His sleep had refreshed him and his mind was less ready to dwell on the dark side of his life on board ship. He believed when he and Lazar had become better acquainted the old g...

“You are the boast of the ship, and the captain will not be severe with you. You disobeyed orders, of course, but so did Admiral Nelson at the battle of the Nile, and yet he was...

At eight o’clock in the morning the squadron would daily be under way. Drill after drill followed to perfect the officers in handling the unwieldy monsters, until even the ships...

The accident came so unexpectedly that it was some moments before Phil could find his voice. Then he realized there was nothing to be done. The damage was beyond his capacity to...

“All hands” were now dressed in white uniforms, which made them comfortable enough on deck under the cool shade of an awning, but below decks the heat from the engines and boile...

“I am sure of it,” answered Phil; “and to think that our good minister’s name is being used in such a way. We must intercept these boxes before they reach their destination.”

Both boys were beside the wounded man in an instant and quickly stripped him of his blood-soaked clothing. In the light of a bull’s-eye lantern, Phil examined the hole made by a...

At this moment, however, a cavalcade appeared suddenly, and the cry of “Viva General Ruiz,” filled the air. The soldiers near the Americans fell back sullenly, leaving their cap...

Their terrible plight spurred them on to renewed efforts to break down the heavy door. The iron bolts were bent under their frenzied onslaughts, and the stifling smoke became th...

The shell from the fort struck the water some hundred yards ahead of the “Aquadores,” and showed Captain Garcia that unless he stopped his ship, he would draw the fire of the fo...

“You are denying my men and myself a rightful pleasure,” he answered after an appreciable silence. “They are acclaiming you their deliverers and I fear they will not observe my...

The next few moments were ones long to be remembered. The daring torpedo-boat was making a desperate attempt to sink the “Aquadores,” which stood between herself and safety. Her...

Captain Taylor was quite satisfied upon hearing Lazar’s ready explanation. The thought that the latter was aught but the honorable, efficient officer that he appeared never ente...

The lads dared not move. Even their breathing might attract the attention of their enemies, ready to open fire at the first sound; their number they could but conjecture; O’Neil...

Battery after battery within the government lines opened fire. The Americans could trace the points of defense by the red tongues of flame and the smoke from the heavy guns. The...

A heavy fusillade of musketry from behind them, a stamping of many feet in their rear, then a swarm of humanity had pressed in close to the almost empty trench and were emptying...

“How has he the face to report you for disobeying his order when he must realize that we have evidence enough against him to dismiss him from the service?” exclaimed Sydney as t...

Phil felt his last hope had gone. Craig, their only witness, would make good his escape. There was nothing left for him but to face the court martial and be found guilty of one...

O’Neil after leaving the midshipman went to his room under the forecastle and hid away the bundle of clothes until nightfall, when he intended to leave the ship under the cover...

The loud knock on the door resounded through the tense stillness of the courtroom. The door was thrown open violently and the stalwart figure of O’Neil, with Craig trembling bes...