His assertion was confirmed by a flash, followed by a sharp bark as the Pelikan, unmasking her guns, opened fire upon the approaching vessel.
CHAPTER XI
Denbigh's Plan
At the opening of the engagement the prize crew of the Myra made a simultaneous rush to the tramp's rigging, in order to witness the destruction of the audacious but lightly-armed gunboat. Unter-leutnant Klick and another junior officer hurried to the bridge. Denbigh, O'Hara, and the officers of the Myra found themselves in sole occupation of the deck.
"Idiots!" exclaimed Denbigh.
"Who?" asked Captain Pennington.
"The Pelikan's people. If they had waited another five minutes, they would have found the gunboat jammed up on the bar. As it is she has room to manoeuvre."
Even as he spoke, the gunboat let fly with her puny 4-inch bow gun—the only one capable of being trained upon the powerfully-armed raider. Immediately a dense cloud of black smoke burst from the little craft, entirely hiding her from view.
"She's got it properly," exclaimed Pennington.