nd was soon at the mouth of the stream, which seemed to be the estuary
of some great river. Then she steamed up-stream, and, sure enough, the
admiral soon discovered the rebels marching rapidly along the road,
about half a mile away. They had evidently not perceived the cruiser, on
account of the high reeds growing along the banks, and the admiral gave
orders to begin firing.

The first shell rose high in the air and exploded with a deafening
thunder, and when the smoke cleared away it was seen that the insurgents
were almost paralysed with fright, and had just discovered the cruiser
in the river. But this first shell had not hurt any one, and another
was immediately ignited. This one exploded over the very heads of the
troops, and many of them must have been killed. Those who were not
either killed or wounded turned about and began to run, and their
leaders were powerless to make them stand their ground. One shell
followed another from the cruiser, and hundreds must have been killed
outright among the insurgents. Finally they were all running, and it was
soon perceived that the Americans had advanced, and were now pursuing
them with great energy. So the cruiser could fire no more shells, and
the admiral ordered her about and back to the anchorage onshore.

It would take many pages to describe in detail the events of the
remainder of that afternoon, as Archie witnessed them from the deck of
the cruiser, and learned of them later from Bill Hickson. The insurgents
were nearly all killed or taken prisoners, and it was found that they
numbered nearly two thousand. So it was a great achievement to have
vanquished them all. The affair turned out to have been the greatest
victory of the war, so far.

CHAPTER XXII.

RETURN TO HEADQUARTERS--A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR, WITH PERMISSION TO
RETURN TO NEW YORK--BILL HICKSON GOES, TOO.

ARCHIE left the cruiser when she was once more at anchor, and, going
ashore to the American camp, he found things in a very lively condition
at the close of the afternoon's battle. Every man was very jubilant over
the retreat which had been turned into a great victory, and Archie was
congratulated on having been the lucky man to carry the news of the
coming of the rebels to the admiral. The officers were all in the best
of humour, except the colonel, who felt somewhat sad on account of the
death of his five faithful servants, as the men first shot turned out to
have been.

"There were ne