"This is Her Majesty's ship, Talbot."

The idea of a tug-boat like the Leyden halting a warship in this
fashion was not particularly pleasing to the British Captain. Neither
was he better pleased when some one on the tug-boat called out, "Good
night, Talbot!" But he took it as a new experience, and solemnly
replied:

"You may go, Leyden."

The spirit that animated the officers of our navy in these trying
times was well expressed by Lieutenant Fremont, who commanded the
torpedo-boat Porter. Fremont was the son of John C. Fremont, whom you
may possibly remember as a noted explorer and pioneer in the western
part of the United States, and a general during the Civil War; and he
possessed the bravery and daring of his father. Some one said to him:

"Those Spanish destroyers have heavier batteries than yours. What
would you do if you ran across one of them out here?"

"Well," replied Fremont, "it's my business to keep them from getting
in among the fleet. I'd try to do it. I'd engage a destroyer, and if I
found his battery was too heavy for me I'd close in. If a chance
offered, I'd torpedo him. If not--well, this boat has made twenty-six
knots. I'd go at him full speed. I think the Porter would go half way
through him before we stopped."

"And then?"