Fortunately, our friends were not injured by the shock.
“Arm yourselves, boys, arm yourselves,” cried Frank.
In a minute more all hands had their weapons ready for action, and began to fire down at the pirates.
The fugitive steamer was near by, and her crew, armed with several rifles and pistols, were firing at the pirates.
Report after report rang out.
Clouds of smoke and fumes of powder rose.
For a quarter of an hour the battle waxed hot.
The pirates were between two fires, and while half of them turned their attention upon the steamer’s crew, the other half engaged at firing at the airship’s crew.
In the midst of the conflict one of Diavolo’s gunners discharged the swivel piece up at the Jove again.
This shot smashed into the plane uprights on the port side, breaking them in two and tearing the braces.