immediate danger was to come from the
Belle.

"That won't do!" exclaimed Captain Pecklar, when they had the gun in
position for use.

"What won't do?" asked Christy.

"Didn't you notice that? They are firing rifle-balls from the Belle. One
of them just struck the bulkhead."

"I don't see that we can help ourselves, whether it will do or not."

"The chances are in our favor, however, for the men cannot handle their
rifles to the best advantage while the Belle heaves in the sea," added
the captain. "Don't stand up where they can see you, Christy, but get
down on the deck with that lock-string in your hand. When I give you the
word, pull it as quick as you can," said the captain, as he sighted the
gun, and changed its position several times.

He was a sailor, and the artillery officers at the forts had trained the
men employed on the tugs in handling the pieces put on board of them, to
be used in bringing vessels to. Better than any soldier, he could make
the proper allowance for the motion of the steamer in the sea, which was
becoming heavier.

"Fire!" shouted he, with more voice than he was supposed to have in the
feeble condition of his lungs.

The gunner had loaded the piece himself, and it made a tremendous
report when Christy pulled the lock-string. The Leopard shook under the
concussion of the discharge, and she was completely enveloped in smoke;
so that they could not see whether the Belle had been hit or not. But in
the distance they could hear hoarse shouts in the direction of the
Belle, and they concluded that something had happened in that quarter.

Christy had brought down the glass with him; and he directed it towards
the steamer aimed at as soon as the smoke began to blow out of the way,
though it was some time before he could get a clear view of her.

"By the great Constitution!" exclaimed Captain Pecklar, before Christy
could cover the Belle with his glass. "I have hit her!"

"Where?" asked the other, elated at the intelligence.

"Right on the bow! There is a hole big enough to roll a wheelbarrow
through," replied the captain, greatly excited. "She has stopped her
wheels."

"That's a nice hole!" added Christy, as he got the glass to bear on it,
and his hopes began to rise again. "It is just about big enough for a
small wheelbarrow. But they have gone to work on it, and are putting
mattresses over it."

"That craft is finished for to-day, and we needn't worry any more about
her," said the