Most of us on board thought so too, that is, if it did come to a scrap, but the general opinion was that her crew could not possibly be trained, would not be able to fight her guns properly, and, if she couldn't run away, would have to surrender.
Raynor, the Engineer Sub, who knew all about her, pointed out that she was supposed to have three knots more speed than the Hector, so might be able to escape.
'Running away won't do her any good,' I said, 'or Gerald's people either.'
However, the possibility of having to fight made every one of us in the gun-room, except myself, extremely cheerful and excited, and when late in the afternoon we began to 'clear ship for action' and 'prepare for battle,' you would have thought by the way we all jumped round and got the ship in fighting trim that we were expecting to pay off old scores on some deadly enemy. It almost made me smile to hear the mids. talking now. At the back of their minds there was a feeling that perhaps the fight might be a bit more even if the Hercules came along to help, and they made quite pleasant remarks about her and her hated gun-room.
I know that I myself hoped that if it did come to a 'scrap,' old Ginger Hood would be there to share the fun.
Cousin Bob must tell you what did actually happen.
CHAPTER XIV
La Buena Presidente fights
Written by Midshipman Bob Temple
After we had had that ripping lark with those two 4.7's on shore, the insurgent President sent off a great basket of fruit—oranges, grape-fruit, melons, and bananas—every day whilst we remained off San Fernando, so we were jolly sorry to get up anchor and steam down to El Castellar.