Part 35 (2/2)

”No mistake this time!” cried Young Glory, savagely.

”Must be. Up with our colors. Show them another American flag. Then there can't be any excuse.”

Up went the Stars and Stripes, amid the cheers of the sailors.

The instant it did the firing on sh.o.r.e began in real earnest.

A number of masked batteries opened fire on the cruiser, and shot and sh.e.l.l flew to the right and left of it.

Lieutenant Tyler was beside himself with rage.

What did it mean?

”It's a trap, sir, and we've fallen into it,” said Young Glory. ”That town is in Spanish hands, and the Cuban flag was run up to deceive us.”

”Open fire, lads!” cried Mr. Tyler. ”We'll show them that two can play at that game.”

Cras.h.!.+

”The s.h.i.+p's aground!”

This was the cry now, and it turned out to be true.

The Cristobal Colon was on a shoal.

Boom! Boom!

Her guns were being fired furiously, but Lieutenant Tyler saw with a face of concern that the sh.o.r.e batteries were situated at such a height, that it was quite impossible for him to train his guns on them.

Meanwhile, there the cruiser stuck, a target for the enemy to practice upon.

The engines were reversed. It was no good. The bottom of the cruiser was embedded in a bank of sand, and it was quite immovable.

The men were aghast.

”They'll come out and board us!” said one.

”Shure, it's not such fools they'll be.”

”Why not, Dan?”

”Because they've all day to fire at us. Begorra, it's sunk we'll be.”

”We can't get off, Young Glory,” said Mr. Tyler to the young sailor.

”So I see, sir. But we shall.”

”Not for two hours.”

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