color of truth. Our bumboat boarded us early and stayed with us until
the corporal of the guard called "time."

She came laden with pies and doughnuts, pins and needles, tape and
buttons and whisk brooms and shoe blacking, handkerchiefs, ties,
scissors, soap, writing paper, envelopes, ink, pens, cakes, bread,
jelly, pocket knives, and a schedule of prices that would have brought a
blush of envy to the face of a Swiss inn-keeper. As the boys had not yet
grown entirely accustomed to what is called "Government straight," i.e.,
salt meat and hard-tack, the bumboat did a thriving business. Young
Potter's bill was tremendous, and Mrs. Bumboat bade him a regretful
farewell when she visited us for the last time.

At three in the afternoon of the tenth we hoisted anchor on our way to
sea. Our good friends had not deserted us, and a number of them, aboard
several tugs, accompanied us as far as the Narrows. The "God-speed"
given us as we steamed away would have been a fine object lesson to our
future antagonists.

Up to the present we had been concerned simply with the preparations for
war, but it was destined that before another twenty-four hours had
passed we would have a taste of the actual realities.

The "Yankee" was to see service.


CHAPTER III.

IN WHICH THE "YANKEE" CRUISES FOR PRIZES.