And what a chance it will be for Navarro to escape from the Spaniards!" Half an hour later the trim launch, now displaying a large white flag forward, had passed the masts of the sunken _Merrimac_, the frowning Morro on its lofty headland, and, standing out to sea, was drawing near the superb cruiser _New York_, flag-ship of Admiral Sampson's fleet.
On either side of her, in imposing array, lay the great battle-ships _Iowa_, _Massachusetts_, _Texas_, and _Oregon_, the last of which had recently hurried to the scene of conflict from San Francisco, making a record voyage of 13,000 miles by way of Cape Horn.

Besides these there was the _Brooklyn_, swiftest of American cruisers, together with half a dozen more--cruisers, gunboats, yachts, and torpedo-boats--all in war-paint, all ready for instant action, and all flying the banner of stars and stripes.

At the wonderful sight Ridge's heart glowed with patriotism and a new courage.

How impregnable looked the huge battle-ships!--how terrible! Nothing could withstand them! He felt sure of that.
The young Spaniard who sat beside him gazed on the outspread American fleet in silent amazement.

He had thought Cervera's ships formidable, but now it seemed to him they would be but playthings for these modern leviathans.
As the Spanish launch ranged alongside the flagship, an object of curious attention to all on board, it was courteously received; but, to Ridge's disappointment, only the officer in charge was permitted to leave it.