“Hooray!” Ned could not help shouting, as the boat moved rapidly over the water. His enthusiasm received an abrupt check. Not a hundred yards from them a shell from the fort struck the water.
“They’ve seen us!” cried the middy.
“That may have been a chance shot, sir,” observed Stanley. “If they fire any more we’ll know then what their target is.”
Even as he spoke another shell whizzed toward them. It exploded in a “raying” smother of brown smoke.
“Wow! that was close,” exclaimed the boatswain’s mate, as the spray showered them.
“Another one like that——”
Boom!
The explosion cut short Ned’s words.
“They’re getting the range. That one wasn’t a hundred feet away,” grunted Stanley. “Give way now, boys.”