"On deck, there," shouted the captain, through the trumpet. "That was very well done. Try them again, and fire a little higher, and a trifle further to the left."
"Very good, sir," shouted Frank, in reply; and the gun was again pointed, and another breach was made in the battery, but a loud, derisive shout was sent back in reply, showing that the shot had been without effect.
For nearly an hour the fight was kept up, Frank using his gun as rapidly as possible, and the rebels replying with their bullets, which rattled harmlessly against the Trenton's iron mail, until the captain, finding that it was impossible to dislodge them, gave the order to cease firing.
As soon as Frank had seen the gun secured, he left the deck and went into the ward-room. It was filled with officers, who had been awakened by the firing, and were engaged in an animated conversation on the probabilities of having breakfast.
"If the rebels continue to shoot at us, I don't know what you can do, gentlemen," said the caterer. "You know that the galley is on deck, and I can't send the cook up there, where he will be in danger of his life. When you get hungry you will find plenty of hard-tack and pickles in the paymaster's store-rooms."
"O no," said the executive officer, "I am not going without my breakfast. There's no danger."
"If you will go on deck, and remain there five minutes," said the caterer, "I'll agree to cook some breakfast for you."
The proposition was accepted by the executive officer, and the two men went on deck, and walked toward the galley. They reached it in safety, when the executive said, triumphantly:
"What do you think now? I told you there was no danger."