"Going to Hong Kong, eh? That's not so far from the Philippines. It is a pity he is not with Commodore Dewey. It would be a feather in his cap when he got home." A steady stream of customers for five minutes broke off the conversation at this point, and throwing down his newspaper, Phil Newell--he never wanted to be called Philip--entered the stand to help his young assistant. The stand was situated in the heart of Boston, just outside of one of the leading hotels, and trade at this hour in the morning, eight o'clock, was always brisk. When there came a lull later on, Walter turned again to his employer. "Mr. Newell, what if I do enlist? Can you spare me?" he questioned. "What! do you really mean it, Walter?" "I do, sir. As you know, I've been thinking the matter over ever since this war with Spain started." "But you've got to have your guardian's consent, or they won't take you." "I've got it in my pocket now. I wrote to him last week, and he answered that, as Ben had already joined the soldiers, I could do as I pleased, but I mustn't blame him if I was killed." "Which you wouldn't be likely to do, if you were killed dead, so to speak," laughed Phil Newell. Then he slapped Walter on the back, for twenty odd years on land had not taken his "sea-dog" manners from him. "Enlist, my lad, enlist by all means, if you feel it your duty. Of course I don't like to lose such a handy clerk, but Uncle Sam can have you and welcome." "Didn't you say there was a young man named Gimpwell looking for this position?" "Yes, and he wants it badly, for he has a sick sister to support." "Has he any experience?" "Oh, yes; he tended a railroad stand for several years." "Then, perhaps you could break him in without much trouble--if I went away." "Do you want to go at once?" "If I am to enlist, then it seems to me the quicker the better. I see by the papers that some of our warships are still at Hampton Roads and Key West, but there is no telling when they will start for Cuban waters. Besides, I've been thinking that if I could manage it, I should like to get aboard of the _Brooklyn_, the flagship of Commodore Schley's Flying Squadron, which is now at Hampton Roads awaiting orders." "It's not so easy to pick your ship, my lad. However, if you wish, you can go over to the navy-yard this afternoon and see what you can do,--and I'll go along and leave Dan in charge here," concluded Phil Newell. Walter Russell was one of three brothers, of whom Ben was the eldest and Larry the youngest. Their home had been in Buffalo, where at the death of their mother, a widow, they had been turned over to the care of their step-uncle, Mr. Job Dowling, an eccentric old bachelor, whose prime object in life was to hoard up money.