"This one," said he, holding up the larger medal, "is the Sampson Medal, given for bein’ on board of a ship of the U.S. Navy in some of the actions against the coastwise towns or with the Spanish Fleet. You all know that Admiral Sampson was in command of our naval forces that bottled up Cervera in the harbor of Santiago. That feller Cervera was a brave man indeed, and he fought like the gentleman he was, with no more chance of escapin’ than I have o’ bein’ made the Commandant of the Corps, and you know how likely that is, bedad. This other little piece of bronze is the regular medal everyone got who was in Cuban waters or on Cuban soil durin’ the war. It’s the Spanish or West Indian Campaign Medal." "Why don’t you ever wear your ribbons and medal, Mike?" asked Dick. "Believe me, if I had ’em I’d be so proud I’d want to show ’em to everybody I met. I would like to see you with them all on some day at inspection." "I’ll tell ye why, me lad, and ye can belave it or not, as you please; there’s one medal I want mor’n all of these combined and until I can wear that one, I’ll not be wearin’ of any." * * * * * * * * * [Illustration: Medal for Campaign in the West Indies and for Spanish War] MEDAL FOR CAMPAIGN IN THE WEST INDIES AND FOR SPANISH WAR Issued to those of the Army, Navy and Marines who served on the high seas en route to or in immediate vicinity of Cuba, Porto Rico or Philippines between certain dates. In case if the army or navy service was not in the West Indies the inscription read "Spanish Campaign." * * * * * * * * * "Which one is that, Dorlan?" "It’s one of them good-conduct medals the Top Sergeant was showin’ of ye that first day ye come on this ship, and I’ll git one yet! In three days more me present enlistment expires. I’m going to ship over right off, and I’ll be makin’ a bargain with ye right now!" "What’s the bargain?" asked Dick. "Well, if I don’t git one of them little bronzes at the end of my next enlistment, I’ll be givin’ all the rest o’ me medals to ye, and ye can melt ’em up into copper pennies; but if I do git it, I’ll string the hull lot of them across me chest at the first inspection what comes along." And midst much laughter from the group surrounding them, Dorlan and Richard shook hands on the "bargain." Ten days later the "galley yarns" came true, as they sometimes do, and the _Denver_ steamed through the narrow entrance and into the wonderful, green bordered, blue waters of Guantanamo Bay, where she anchored for an indefinite stay.