"If it came in here, what would it do?"
"Kill three or four of the men at a gun, perhaps; tear away a bit of the ship's side; or perhaps disable the gun."
"While you were firing at the enemy on this side, the guns of the other side, I suppose, would have nothing to do?"
"They might be fighting another enemy on that side," said the midshipman, smiling.
"I should think," said Dolly, looking down the long line of the gun deck, and trying to imagine the state of things described,—"I should think it would be most dreadful!"
"I have no doubt you would think so."
"Don't you think so?"
"I have never been in action yet."
"Don't you hope you never will?"
The young man laughed a little. "What would be the use of ships of war, if there were never any fighting? I should have nothing to do in the world."