The big ship got nearer and nearer. She could now be seen through the ports on the starboard side.
“Well, but she’s a whopper!” exclaimed Ned Green, “though I hope we’ll whop her, notwithstanding. Now, boys, we’ll show the Monsieurs what we can do.”
Just then came the word along the decks—
“Fire!”
And the guns on the starboard side, with a loud roar, sent forth their missiles of death.
While the crew were running them in to re-load, the enemy fired in return; their shot came crashing against the sides, some sweeping the upper deck, others making their way through the ports.
The smoke from the guns curled round in thick eddies, through which objects could be but dimly seen.
The boys looked at each other. All of them were seated on their tubs, but they could see several forms stretched on the deck, some convulsively moving their limbs, others stilled in death.
This was likely to be a very different affair from the former action.
Having handed out the powder, Jack, Tom, and Bill returned to their places once more.