instructors. But take my word for it, Dave, if the Mexicans ever
try to draw us into one of those swamps, they'll learn so much about
real Yankee fighting that it will be fatal to all the Mexicans who
take the instruction from us!"

"That's all very good," Darrin nodded, thoughtfully. "Still, we
shall make a greater success of operations in the swamps if we
study them as much as possible at present."

"I hope the study will soon be followed by a recitation," grinned
Dalzell. "I feel that I'm going stale with so much study. Now,
if we could only hear a few shots, and then fall in with an
advancing firing line!"

"You bloodthirsty wretch!" rebuked Ensign Darrin, but he smiled
in sympathy.

"This waiting and watching grows wearisome," groaned Danny Grin.

"But we're watching behind big guns," returned Dave Darrin, grimly.
"Surely, when our ships are down here in such force, and others
are being rushed through preparation before coming into these
waters, there must be something more in the air than the ordinary
kind of watching and waiting. Cheer up, Dan! Before long you'll
hear some of our big guns speak, and you'll hear the rattle of
small arms, too."

"Understand, please," begged Dalzell, "I'm not bloodthirsty, and
I abhor the very thought of war, but, since we're doing all the
watching and waiting, I wish these Mexicans would hurry up and