"The attendants will withdraw," he ordered. "Orderly!"

"Aye, aye, sir!" responded the marine orderly on post just inside
the door.

"As soon as the attendants have gone outside, orderly, you will
chose the door from the outside, and remain there to keep any
one from entering the room."

"Aye, aye, sir!" responded the orderly, who then followed the
last attendant outside, closing the door after him.

"Gentlemen," continued the executive officer, remaining standing,
"Captain Gales sent for me this morning, to make a most important
communication. With his approval I am going to tell you something
of what he said. In a word, then, this ship is ordered to be
fitted for a cruise to Mexico in the shortest time possible.
Within three or four days we must be on our way to Mexican waters.

"We are to go with bunkers filled with coal. We are to carry
abundant clothing supplies for tropical service. We are to carry
all the large and small arms ammunition that we can stow away.
We are to take on food supplies to our fullest commissary capacity.
In a word, we are to go prepared for any emergency.

"Now, gentlemen, on account of our departure at the earliest moment,
every officer will be needed on board all the time. Unless for
some extraordinary reason, shore leave will not be granted to
any officer. The watch-word will be 'hustle.' Thank you, gentlemen,