One of the men obeyed, and the captain, taking a look at the hole, replaced it. Still he gave no order to fire, although the pirates were seen to be busily re-loading.
Hanging up to within a hundred yards, the captain looked quickly at his men.
“Port, a little,” said he to the man at the wheel.
“Are you ready?”
“Ay, ay, sur,” from Rooney Machowl, in a deep bass undertone.
“Fire!”
As if but one piece had been fired the whole broadside burst from the side of the gun-boat, shaking the little vessel violently. Miss Pritty’s voice came up responsive with an unearthly yell!
“Load!” was instantly ordered, and so quickly was it obeyed that before the enemy were ready with their second volley the gun-boat had charged and fired again, doing great damage.
There being no wind, a dense cloud of smoke from the three volleys settled down on the water and completely hid them and their enemy from each other.
“Steam ahead, full-speed,” signalled the captain to Edgar Berrington.