“My country can never repay its debt to you, señors,” the captain exclaimed to the lads after they had returned from their last drill. The enemy would be encountered the next morning, if their commanding officers had the courage to fight. “I do not now fear the outcome. My greatest fear has been swept away; it was that if the shells of our enemy were to hit us too frequently our men might become demoralized and in spite of me haul down our flag. There can be no danger of that now.”
The next morning all hands were called before dawn and preparations were made for the coming battle. The lads were consumed with excitement as they moved among the willing sailors. The rapid shooting with which Phil hoped to overwhelm their two antagonists was provided for by placing at the guns a quantity of reserve ammunition. O’Neil went among the men joking with them and telling them what was expected of them. Their Latin blood was aroused to the highest pitch of excitement.
“Do you see these guns?” he cried, changing his voice to a harsh tone, pointing to two revolvers in his belt. “I have twelve dead men here. The first dozen men who show cowardice are as good as dead right now.”
By sunrise the low land of the Bay of Rio Grande was in sight. The red-roofed town, nestling against the side of the dark green of the forest, reflected the slanting rays of light.
The “Aquadores” steamed boldly toward the forts at the entrance.
Phil felt confident that Sydney and O’Neil would give a good account of themselves in the battle, the outcome of which meant so much to the Americans.
As he took his station on the high bridge near the captain, the fire control instruments in his hands, his pulses throbbed with an excitement, the height of which he had never known before. Was this the feeling men had on the eve of their first battle?
The cruiser drew nearer to the defending forts. The range finder showed five thousand yards was their distance from the cruiser.
Suddenly a brown puff of smoke belched from one of the forts, and the screech of a huge shell sounded ominously.