In this bay were located three American men-of-war, of the old style, but fitted up with modern dynamite guns.
As the Republique came in sight of the Yankee warships, all three opened fire on her.
The aim of the American gunners was perfect, and five ten-inch shells crashed through the side of the French cruiser.
Three of the shots went below the water-mark, while a fourth struck into the magazine.
There was a deafening explosion, which tore away the middle deck of the cruiser, and then the huge mass of iron and steel began to sink like one vast lump of lead.
She came down directly on top of the new Holland, at the very moment that the time fuse had been set in motion by which the torpedo was to be blown up.
"By ginger! Something's wrong!" came from old George Dross. "She's a-comin' down on top o' us!"
"Back her!" ordered Captain Oscar. "Back, quick!"
But it was too late to back. Down came that monstrous weight, settling directly on top of the new Holland and quickly burying the submarine craft in several feet of sand!
Luckily the French cruiser rested, fore and aft, upon two slight hills, forming something of a hollow in the middle, otherwise the Holland XI. must have been totally crushed.