“Then I shall sacrifice the ‘Barcelo,’” the captain answered quickly, “in an attempt to run the mine fields to engage the enemy inside. The night will be moonless and the advantage will be with the attacking force.”
The boys could not hide their admiration of the captain’s strategy.
“How could you ever have thought of it?” cried Phil delightedly. “I believe that is exactly what she will do.” Then a thought came to him. “But if she is outside will she not discover you before you see her? You dare not use your search-lights, for she can then easily avoid you and escape into shallow water, where you could not follow her.”
“That is the risk of war,” Captain Garcia answered grandiloquently. “If she torpedoes us we must sink her even if we ourselves are sunk. My government can buy another ‘Aquadores.’”
The two vessels steamed swiftly away from their enemy. The sun sank slowly toward the horizon to the westward. The midshipmen watched the molten ball dip into the fiery sea. Darkness came quickly, for in these latitudes there is no twilight.
Inside of ten minutes night had settled down over the sea and the war-ships had turned about and were steaming at full speed toward the enemy’s harbor.
The hours passed with leaden feet. Cloud banks which had been visible on the horizon before sunset slowly spread a filmy mantle over the sky, blotting out the brilliant tropical stars. The night became darker. With all lights screened, the gray hulls moved noiselessly through the calm sea.
“If she is outside the night is in her favor,” Captain Garcia said, peering through the inky blackness. “We couldn’t see her five hundred yards away, while from her low deck she could see our hull at nearly twice that distance.”
“Maybe our better chance is to enter the harbor after all,” exclaimed Phil, losing heart.
“But think of the mines and the guns of the forts,” replied the captain; “for me, I’d rather find her outside. She can hardly be lucky enough to sink both ships, and I have confidence that we shall sink her if we see her.”