the sea, and numerous
shots were now fired, but all fell short or went wild.

"I don't think we're in much danger from the muskets," said Obed, "so we
won't pay any more attention to them. But in another minute they'll have
big boats out in pursuit We must make for the land below the town, and
get away somehow or other in the brush. If we were to land in the town
itself we'd be as badly off as ever. Hark, there goes the alarm!"

A heavy booming report rose above the mutter of the waters and the
screaming of the wind. One of the great guns on the castle of San Juan
de Ulua had been fired. After a brief interval it was followed by a
second shot and then a third. The reports could be heard easily in Vera
Cruz, and they said that either a fresh revolution had begun, or that
prisoners were escaping. The people would be on the watch. White turned
the head of the boat more toward the south.

"Ned," he said, "we must choose the longer way. We cannot run any risk
of landing right under the rifles of Santa Anna's troops. Good God!"

Some gunner on the walls of San Juan de Ulua, of better sight and aim
than the others, had sent a cannon ball so close that it struck the sea
within ten feet of them. They were deluged by a water spout and again
their little vessel rocked fearfully. Obed White called out cheerfully:

"Still right side up! They may shoot more cannon balls at us, Ned, but
they won't hit as near as that again!"

"No, it's not likely," said Ned, "but there come the boats!"

Large boats rowed by eight men apiece had now put out, but they, too,
were troubled by the wind and the high waves, and the boat they pursued
was so small that it was lost to sight most of the time. The wind and
darkness while a danger on the one hand were a protection on the other.
Fortunately both current and wind were bearing them in the direction
they wished, and they struggled with the energy that the love of life
can bring. All the large boats save one now disappeared from view, but
the exception, having marked them well, came on, gaining. An officer
seated in the prow, and wrapped in a long cloak, hailed them in a loud
voice, ordering them to surrender.

"Ned," said Obed White, "you keep the boat going straight ahead and I'll
answer that man. But I wish this was a rifle in place of a musket."

He picked up the musket and took aim. When he fired the leading rower on
the right hand side of the pursuing boat dropped back, and the boat was