"HAL AND GERALD RAN TO THE AFTER GUN."
"Stand ready there to heave them a line," he shouted from the bridge. "Now, I am going across her bows."
He placed his mouth to the speaking-tube and called to his engineer to cut off steam, while, with a wave of his arm, he directed his quartermaster to steer the gunboat close beside the Winslow. As he did so, a storm of shot and shell came spluttering around, churning the water up as if huge hailstones were falling into it. It was a most exciting moment, and to those who were watching from the deck of the Wilmington it appeared that all aboard the two boats must be doomed, so close was the range at which the Spaniards were firing, and so heavy the bombardment to which both the Americans were subjected.
More than once was the line thrown, but it failed to reach. Then, as the Hudson struggled manfully to get nearer, she, too, became almost unmanageable in the shallow water, rocking violently, and churning the sea into foam with the frantic revolutions of her propeller.
Bang! Boom! Smash! The sounds seemed to swallow her up, while the patter of bullets beat a loud and unceasing tattoo on her deck and sides. Crash! A shell had struck the rail close beside the gun at which Hal and Gerald were helping, and, exploding with a violent concussion, threw them to the deck. But they were uninjured, and at once sprang to their feet again.
At this moment a more fortunate throw of the line reached the stranded Winslow, and a cable was rapidly passed from the Hudson to her consort, and made fast. Then, putting up her helm, she steamed away at full speed, towing the wrecked gunboat after her till both were out of range. And all the while the stern gun on the deck of the Hudson growled a reply in sharp and angry snaps, while the shells from the Wilmington's big pieces roared and screeched overhead, in many cases to fall upon the stone quay, and injure it and the gunboats flying the Spanish flag.
"Guess that that is a bad business," said Lieutenant Billing. "Those fellows have just pitched into us and knocked us about sadly. Jove, sir, but we'll give it to them next time!"
It was, indeed, a reverse for the American navy, but a very slight one, for which the distinguished gallantry of the Hudson and Winslow more than compensated.