THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 276 of the Olymfia, was in the conning- tower, Dewey having assigned him this station, so that in case a shell burst on the bridge there would still be a senior officer ready to take command.

Eight knots an hour was now the speed of the leading ship. The range-finders in her fighting-tops were taking the range minute by minute, and telephoning the result to the conning-tower and bridge. A leadsman in the Confederate mines bursting like under-water volcanoes. LikeFarragut,he movessteadily on.

There goes the first gun from Sangley Point. Bad ranging again on the Spanish side; that jet of water ahead shows it has fallen short. Another and another,and now the guns of the Spanish fleet join in. They are getting the range, or the Americanfleet is driftinginto their zoneof fire, for now the shells are striking the water right and left of the flagship, some of THE U.S. CRUISER "BOSTON.''

bow was watching the depth, for it would be a serious matter to touch ground. No sound was heard but the regular throb of the powerful engines.

A roar like thunder,and then another,and a vast fountain of water thrown skyward amid encircling clouds of smoke, right ahead of the Olympia— two submarine mines have been fired, the only ones in the bay ; but the Spanish engineer officer who pressed down the firingkey in Sangley battery has badly misjudged the position of the enemy, and fired his heavy mines too soon. Dewey thinks, no doubt, ot the day, years ago, when, as he steamed into Mobile Bay with Farragut, he saw the them uncomfortably close. When is Dt-we\ going to open with his guns in reply?

Now a shellbursts directly over the OlympiaV deck. No one is touched, but the men must have somerelief from their pent-upexcitement.

The gunner in command at the heavy gun astern waves his cap and calls out," Remember the Maine.'" and the cry for vengeance is taken up by a hundred voices.

The range was now 5,500 yards, a little over three miles. It was just nineteen minutes to six. Dewey decided to beginhis attack. Turning to the voice tube that led to the conningtower, he said, " You may fire when ready. Gridley." The captain was only waitingfoi the