the thousand and one dangers, known and unknown, that beset his path, Dewey kept straight by Corregidor.

It was eleven o'clock, and the men of the fleet, which was now almost past the island, were congratulating themselves that they were undiscovered when a solitary rocket soared over the lofty lighthouse; there was an answering light from the shore, and every moment the Americans expected the boom of the Spanish guns, long primed with a deadly welcome for the "Yankee pigs."

The narrowest part of the inlet had been passed; and still no sign that the entering fleet had been discovered. Impressive, indeed, was that long line of gloomy hulls, steering for battle, and courting destruction. The Olympia, the Baltimore, the Raleigh, the Petrel, the Concord, and the Boston, with the two transports the Nanshan and the Zafiro, convoyed by the McCulloch, on the flag ship's port quarter-all kept on in the same straight course, while the men on board were partaking of light refreshment. For all felt that a great day's work was before them.

But where are the enemy? was the thought uppermost in every mind. For to the Americans themselves it seemed that they were surely making enough noise to be heard by the sentries on the shore. Doubtless they were asleep, dreaming a Spanish dream of mañana.

It was shortly past eleven o'clock, when from the smoke-stack of the convoy MeCulloch flew a shower of sparks. A fireman had thrown open the furnace-doors and shovelled in a few pounds of soft ccal.

This was evidently seen by some one on shore, for it was just fourteen minutes past eleven when a bugle sounded an alarm, and from the west came a blinding glare, a shrill whistle overhead, and the heavy boom of a cannon.

It was the first shot of the war, and it was fired with characteristic Spanish inaccuracy.

roar, and the battle was on. Again the battery sent its deadly missive over the fleet, and this time the Concord, taking its aim by the flash, responded by throwing a 6-inch shell into the Spanish fort. A crash and a cry and all was still. It was learned afterwards that considerable damage was done by this wonderfully accurate shot, several of the Spanish gunners being killed.

The Boston and the McCulloch fired another round or two, but the forts had evidently had enough of it; they were no longer heard from.

Meanwhile, the squadron continued its course, though its speed was reduced to about 3 knots an hour, the commodore not wishing to arrive at Manila before dawn.

Darkness hung over the harbor as the gray procession glided noiselessly in. Had a Spanish scout been on the lookout, it would scarcely have been possible for him to have distinguished his approaching enemy. A strict lookout was kept for the Spanish ships and for the dreaded torpedoboats, while most of the men lay down by their guns to get a little sleep. But with the terrible fate of the Maine vivid in their memories, the more imaginative ones conjured up a shuddering sense of insecurity in a harbor supposed to be literally planted with destructive mines.

This invisible foe, and not the longedfor and expected combat with the enemy's fleet, was feared by the brave Americans, and when the morning sun, in all his tropical splendor, rose right before the Americans, under the guns of the Cavité lay the Spanish fleet. The Americans were at last face to face with the enemy.

The commander-in-chief of the Spanish squadron was Rear-Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasaron; the second in command was the Commandante - General Enrique Sostoa y Ordennez.

Under Admiral Montojo's command were the following vessels:

Reina Cristina, flag-ship, armored cruiser, Capt. L. Cadarso commanding, 3,500 tons; battery, six 6.2-inch, two 2.7-inch, six 6-pounders, and six 3-pounder rapidfire guns; speed, 17.5 knots; crew, 400 officers and men.

two 4.7-inch, two 3.3-inch, four 2.9-inch, and eight 6-pounder rapid-fire guns; speed, 14 knots; crew, 300.

Isla de Cuba, Capt. J. Sidrach, and Isla de Luzon, Capt. J. de la Herian; 1,030 tons each; battery, four 4.7-inch, four 6pounder, and two 3-pounder rapid-fire guns; speed, 14 knots; crew, 200 men each. General Lezo, Commander R. Benevento, and Marques del Duero, Commander S. Morena Guerra; the former was 524, the latter 500 tons; batteries, two 4.7-inch, one 3.5-inch, and two 3-pounder rapid-fire guns; speed, 11 knots; crew, 100.

Altogether, the Americans had four cruisers, two gunboats, one cutter; fiftyseven classified big guns, seventy-four rapid-firing guns and machine-guns, and 1,808 men. On the other side were seven cruisers, five gunboats, two torpedo-boats; fifty-two classified big guns, eighty-three rapid-firing and machine guns, and 1,948 men. It will thus be seen that the Americans had a few more heavy guns; but the Spanish had several more ships and over 100 more men. They were also assisted by the powerful land-batteries, and by the knowledge of the exact distance of the American ships. For the latter had no range-marks with which to determine the proper elevation to be given to their sights. In the American squadron, moreover, was not a single armored cruiser; besides, the Spaniards were at their base of supplies, while Commodore Dewey was more than 6,000 miles away from all aid. Such were the numbers and the disposition of the combatants now about to fight.

With Old Glory flying at every masthead, and with the beating of drums, the American squadron, after a brief reconnoitring détour in the harbor, sailed in a straight line past the fleet of the enemy. Each ship was to hold its fire until near enough to inflict the most damage, when as many shots should be fired as possible. Then to steam as quickly as possible out of effective range; to wheel and return keeping close to the opposite shore-to the original point of starting, when the same manœuvre was to be repeated-and so again and again till the enemy was destroyed or defeated.

On the Spanish fleet, too, all was bustle and preparation; the national flag, that

symbol of mediæval tyranny, floated from every masthead, the admiral's flag on the Reina Cristina being the cynosure of all eyes.

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The Americans had left their supplyships behind, and their fleet, according to prearranged plan, steamed slowly past the enemy. Meanwhile the batteries of Cavité kept up an incessant roar, and now Montojo's flag-ship thundered deadly welcome; while over the American flag-ship was hoisted a code-flag, with the watchword, "Remember the Maine!" This was the signal for a concerted yell from the sailors in the fleet. And thus, with colors flying, and with fire reserved till a closer range should make it more effective, the commodore and his brave officers bore down towards the Spaniards, who were awaiting their approach with curiosity not unmixed with alarm, at the same time they sent a thunderous fusillade as a greeting to the hated Yankees.

But the Americans, undeterred, grimly kept their course, notwithstanding one or two mines exploded beneath the water, one near the Raleigh and one beside the Baltimore. Again and again the Spanish guns thundered, until the roar became incessant and shells were bursting all around. When about 6,000 yards from the Spanish fleet the commodore shouted to Captain Gridley, who was in the conning tower: "Fire as soon as you get ready, Gridley."

Hardly had he given the word, which also was passed down the line, when the whole ship shivered, and the 8-inch gun in the front turret burst into a sheet of flame, while a dull, muffled roar belched forth that awoke the apparent torpor of the whole fleet to instant activity.

The Baltimore and the Boston now took up the cue, and sent their tremendous shells crashing into the enemy, who replied vociferously. The din was deafening, and over and around all the American ships was the shriek and scream of terrifying shells. Some of these fell upon the decks, some smashed into the woodwork, but, as if providentially, not an American was hit.

"Open with all the guns," signalled the commodore; and all the ships joined together in a roaring chorus, as if Cerberus

and all the dogs of hell had opened their mighty throats.

And thus, with incessant firing, the battle-line passed the whole length of the stationary Spanish fleet, then slowly swung round and began the return to its starting-point, keeping up the same flash and clatter, the Spaniards responding furiously. It was at this time that a shot passed clean through the Baltimore, though, fortunately, no one was hurt. Lieutenant Brumby had the signal halyard shot out of his hands; while on the Boston a shell burst

in the state-room of Ensign Dodridge, and another passed through the Boston's foremast.

During the third round the Raleigh was carried by the strong current against the bows of two of the Spanish cruisers, where all aboard seemed too bewildered to take advantage of their opportunity. Captain Coughlan, however, did not lose his presence of mind, but poured a destructíve broadside into the enemy. His vessel was then carried back into the line.

While this fierce combat was waging the Reina Cristina

moved out of the Spanish line and made direct for the American flag-ship, which hurled a perfect tornado of steel into the approaching cruiser, her immense hulk being soon riddled with large holes, where the 8-inch shells had entered. The portbridge, where Admiral Montojo was standing, was also struck, but he bravely stuck to his post, while ton after ton of steel fell upon the deck.

No ship, however, could withstand such a fire, and the gallant Reina Cristina turned round and made for the shore. As she swung round Captain Gridley gave her a parting shot that caused her to tremble and stagger, while the 250-pound

shell crashed through the bowels of the ship and there exploded, hurling its deadly contents all round, while from the shattered deck rose columns of steam, mingled with human fragments. The ship, now completely disabled, continued her retreat. Sixty of her crew had been killed, and had she continued longer within the Americans' range all would have met a like fate.

Meanwhile, the little Petrel was engaged in a duel with two Spanish torpedoboats, headed for the American line. One

WRECK OF THE REINA CRISTINA.

of these she chased to the shore, where the crew sought shelter in the woods, while their abandoned vessel was blown into picces by the daring American. The other advanced to within 500 yards of the Olympia, braving the storm of shot and shell that threatened to overwhelm her. As it was, a shell ploughed its way into her middle, where it exploded. From stem to stern she shivered, gave a forward plunge, and sank beneath the waves.

The Baltimore, too, was engaged in an encounter with the Castilla that resulted most disastrously to the latter, for she was soon a blazing wreck.

Five times the American fleet passed