“I thank you for your assistance in saving many helpless sailors,” he said to Captain Anderson. “Without your aid many would have perished.”
“How badly is your ship damaged, sir?” asked Captain Anderson, asking the question that was uppermost in the minds of all aboard the Yucatan.
“Very little, sir,” was the reply. “Two guns shot to pieces, and five men injured. No man was killed. There was also some slight damage to the engine room. It was a notable victory.”
“Indeed it was!” cried Shirley, who could keep silent no longer.
The British sea captain gazed at her for a moment, then bowed slightly.
Shirley’s face grew red at her own boldness, but she said nothing more.
The commander of the British cruiser followed Captain Anderson to the latter’s cabin, where he inspected the ship’s papers. Half an hour later he made his way over the side of the Yucatan and was soon back aboard the cruiser.
Immediately he had left, the Yucatan got under way and continued her journey up the Mexican coast.
All the passengers remained on deck gazing after the British cruiser, which had turned in the opposite direction; and until she was lost to sight in the distance, a faint smoke marking her location, hardly an eye was taken from her.
“Well, Shirley,” said Mr. Willing, “what did you think of the battle?”