The National tribune., 1898-08-04

ranged in rows looked as a harmless, peace
ful village flooded with the bright, warm
sunshine.
1t was impossible to conceive Of its being
the terrible stronghold that the mind had
pictured it, and to a>sail which a fleet OF
powerful warvessel5 and 10000 armed men
were a ancing with desperate resolution.
Then were seen the tall flagstaff and its
hateful three-barred flag, and the zig-zag
line of embankments about the cabins began
to Obtrude themselves meaningly upon the
view. Next the large guns OF the forts
armament became very prominent. and soon
the groups of artillerists standing about them
ready TO fire were distinctly visible.
Not a sound broke the stiffness of the waO
air but the steady throb Of the machinery,
the measured beat of the paddles upon the
water. and the hiss OF the escaping steam.
The line of the boats was within a mile of
the black muzzIes OF the forts guns, and the
suspense had become awful.
Walter bad watched a man holding the
cord attached to the lock of one OF the big
bow guns to see him fire, until his eyes
wearied and he turned to look at the rebels
standing calmly by their guns. He looked
back quickly at the word Of command from an
officer and saw the man give the cord jerk.
/ The hammer fell, a stream of fire shot out Of
the vent. storm of flame burst from the
muzZle. the monster gun flew back on its
WAYS the firm deck quiyered with the recoil
and the roar was absolutely deafening. The
other bow guns followed as rapidly as the
ticking of "A watch and then came in the
same quick succession the reports from the
guns Of the three other ironclads.
Walter for a little while was dazed by the
terrific noise and the jar of the explosion.
As he began to recover his senses he saw the
brawny sailors handling the massive guns
with the ease and rapidity Of tield-pieces.
Occasionally they shouted cries Of encourage
ment to each other, but in the midst OF their
excitement they were as orderly and system
| attic as ever.
The smoke shut out the view in all direc-
| tons, save TO the rear, but Walter knew that
| the rebels were replying with equal vigor
| Great showers of water were flung up by
their shots, and above the shaking and noise
produced by our own guns could be felt and
heard the fearful shocks and crashes as their
balls battered against the boats invunerable
/ iron plating.
| The machinery throbbed on steadily, and
! Walter knew that every beat was taking the
| boat nearer the fort and making the fire on
! both sides more deadly. What new terTorS
would develop he knew not. What differ
/ ent shape this mighty warfare might assume
and what part he might be called upon TO
| take in il, he could not imagine. Instinct
| lively he gTasped his rife firmly as if it were
a staff for his feet in the path of danger, and
moved a little nearer Bronson.
| As yet the Surgeons had no employment.
! Then there came a terrible crash of wood
work, a tingling of shiycred glass that so
sounded above the duier din, Walter shut
/ his eyes and lodged nyoluntarily. When he
opened them he saw several men being carried
/ back to the Surgeons. One, fearfully mangled,
was lying dead upon the deck. Others were
picking splinters from various parts of their
/ persons.
- shot has entered one of the ports and
made terrible havoc with the crew of the
gun" said Bronson, seeing that Walter did
not comprehend what had happened. A new
crew took their position by the gun and be-
gan working it with the same energy as be-
fore.
That's my gun, and want to fight it to
the end. Let ME 90 back to it," shouted it's
wounded Captain 10 those who were bearing
him away; but though he struggled TO get
back TO his beloved piece, bis bearers were
inexorable, and carried him away to the cock
pit
Soon they heard the order to load with
grape.