We had hardly time to catch our breath when the order "Abandon ship" was
heard. Immediately there was a scurry of feet, and a rush for the upper
deck; but some stayed below to carry ship's bread and canned meats to
the boats--two cases of bread and two cases of meat for the large boats,
and one case of each for the smaller. The crews and passengers of each
boat gathered near it. Every man had been assigned to a boat either as
crew or passenger, and when the order "abandon ship" was given, every
one knew instantly where to go for refuge.

Though we had already gone through this "fire drill" and "abandon ship"
(one always followed the other), it had then been done in peaceful
waters and in a perfunctory way. Now that we were entering "the theatre
of war," we felt the seriousness of it all, and realized that what was
now a mere drill might become a stern reality.

The order "Secure" was given; the hose was reeled up, the ports opened,
and the provisions returned to their places in hold and store room. The
men went to their quarters, and so stood till the bugler blew "retreat."

The time not devoted to drills was taken up in getting the ship ready
for the serious work she was to undertake.

All woodwork on the gun deck not in actual use was carried below or
thrown overboard, and the great cargo booms were either taken down and
stowed safely away, where the splinters would not be dangerous, or were
covered with, canvas.

These preparations had a sinister look that made us realize, if we had
not done so before, that this was real war that we were about to engage