Up the steep ascent they toiled, protected from harm by the trees which covered the slope. As they drew nearer the batteries, they saw that an almost impossible task was before them.
The walls of the fort were steep and high. The sailors had no scaling ladder with them. How, then, could they hope to make a successful attack?
This was the problem that confronted Lieut. Tyler.
"Faith, we can jump it!" cried Dan.
"Then you're wasting your time in the navy if that's so, Dan," laughed Young Glory. "A man who can clear fifteen feet ought to go in for athletics."
There was no holding the men back.
Furiously they rushed forward, leaving the shelter of the trees to assail the fort.
Bang, bang!
The Spaniards had them at their mercy now. They fired from the rampart at the helpless men below.
"Back!" shouted Lieutenant Tyler. "Back, I say! This is folly!"