“Her boilers have exploded!” shouted Ned, as he gazed with horror-stricken eyes on the tragedy.
“Lower the boats; we must save all we can!” exclaimed Captain Gomez. “Alas! my poor countrymen!”
The Calvo wavered only for an instant after the explosion, and then, with a dreadful roar and a furious hissing, she vanished amid clouds of white steam. As the vapor cleared away, all that remained on the surface to show her end were a few ash-streaked pools of grease, amid which human heads showed like black dots.
The Barrill steamed among the debris, and many a man owed his life to her heroic efforts. But hardly had the work of rescue terminated before the destroyer was called upon to face a fresh emergency. The other vessel was within four thousand yards, steaming furiously toward them.
“It is the Bolivar!” exclaimed Captain Gomez, as he gazed through his glasses.
For a flash hope almost died in Ned’s heart. The newcomer was the torpedo-equipped craft. As we know, of this class of weapon the Barrill had but four on board. What chance would she stand, crippled as she was, against this new enemy? Hastily Stanley and Herc were called to the bridge and the situation explained to them. It was decided to get the Barrill’s torpedo apparatus in order, and at least discharge all the Whiteheads she carried at the Bolivar—provided, that is, that the other vessel gave them a chance. On came the Bolivar, her officers apparently not the least dismayed by the fate that had overtaken the Calvo. The Barrill’s batteries opened fire on her at three thousand five hundred yards. The accuracy of Stanley and Herc’s fire halted her for a moment in the same manner as a ferocious bulldog pursuing a cat will halt, in a puzzled way, as her claws encounter his nose.
The hesitation was only for an instant, however, and then the craft began to swing.
“They are going to try a broadside!” exclaimed Captain Gomez, signaling “astern,” and swinging his vessel till her bow pointed at the other’s beam. It was an effective position, and gave the destroyer the advantage for the moment. Stanley, with his bow guns, took full advantage of it. He opened fire with his two rapid-fire weapons forward and succeeded in opening up several holes in the Bolivar’s bow.
But the insurgent vessel retaliated fearfully. Her steel projectiles ripped and tore the forward structure of the little Barrill, putting Stanley’s two bow-chasers out of commission, killing two of his men and, of course, driving them all from that part of the vessel. Fortunately, however, not one of all the rapidly fired missiles struck the Barrill below the water line, or in any vital spot.