Suddenly came a crash of heavy glass; a girl screamed. One of the
saloon dead-lights had crashed out, the thick glass rattling down the
steel hull to the sea. There was another crash and a yellow glow
flared into a bright blaze, illuminating the hull of the shrouded
vessel.
"Now they've done it!" cried Oddington. "They have soaked a
table-cloth with kerosene; it's all off now! So much for Captain
Merrithew's scheme. I--" A voice rang from the bridge.
"Everybody down, quick!" The warning was none too soon, for a second
later a rain of lead from the _El Toro_ swept through the top of the
funnel. Then with straining engines the gunboat made a swinging
detour, with the intention, plain to every one, of heading off the
freighter.
The firing was incessant now, and every one of the Howland party, as
well as the crew, grovelled flat on the deck and heard lead whistling
above. Virginia, glancing at the bridge in an agony of terror, saw the
Captain crouching just a trifle, but still at his post. One man, a
quarter-master, knelt at the wheel. But she missed her father, and a
great dread filled her mind. It was but momentary, however, for Mr.
Howland joined the party behind the deck-house.
"Oh father!" cried the girl, "I feared you were hurt. Why doesn't
Captain Merrithew stop the boat and leave the bridge? Surely his life
and those of his men there are of more value than your interests in
Blanco!"
"I told him to stop, to throw ourselves upon the protection of our
flag," and Mr.
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