The guns of the cruiser were replying now. Here the size of the Nashville was her safeguard. She lay low in the water, and being so near to the cruiser the shot of the latter passed over her decks. One of the topmasts was carried away, and two men were crushed by its fall, so the gun-boat got off lightly.
"Ready, men, ready."
Mr. Tyler, as executive officer stood ready to lead the boarders. Young Glory and Dan Daly, burning with impatience, were near him.
Slowly, amid the smoke, the two ships drifted towards each other. Then with a crash they met. Quick as lightning ladders were thrown from the gun-boat on to the cruiser.
The men swarmed up the sides of the Cristobal Colon like cats.
Captain Moret was astounded. He had never dreamed that the Americans would resort to such desperate tactics. Being completely surprised, he had made no preparations to repel boarders, and such of his men who were not at the guns were in the tops.
The result was that the blue jackets of the Nashville obtained a secure footing on the cruiser's deck.
But Captain Moret was not idle.
"Sweep these dogs from the deck!" he cried, savagely.
Bang!