"
"But there's a big river in between, and we've got to leave it to the
boats for to-day, anyhow."
"Look again at those lower batteries. Their fire is certainly
decreasing. I can see it die down."
"Yes, and now it's stopped entirely. The boats have done good work!"
A tremendous cheer burst from the troops on the west shore as they saw
how much their gallant little gunboats had achieved. Every gun in the
lower batteries was silent now, but the top of the cliffs was still alive
with flame. The batteries there were far from silent. Instead their
fire was increasing in volume and power.
The four gunboats that had silenced the lower batteries now moved up to
the aid of their comrades, and the seven made a united effort, steaming
forward in a sort of half-moon, and raining shot and shell upon the
summits. But the guns there, well-sheltered and having every advantage
over rocking steamers, maintained an accurate and deadly fire. The decks
of the gunboats were swept more than once. Many men were killed or
wounded. Heavy shot crashed through their sides, and Dick expected every
instant to see some one of them sunk by a huge exploding shell.
Pages:
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106