Page:The Wreck of a World - Grove - 1890.djvu/128

112 the cliffs and palm-trees to avoid discovery, in hopes to join us before the enemy could do us any damage. He well knew the hopelessness of any resistance we could offer, and was prepared to engage the whole of the hostile squadron single handed, and either defeat it or perish in the attempt.

The hesitation of the enemy gave us breathing-space. I saw the pressing need for haste, and signalled to Dana, "America and Roanoke have steam up. Send officers and men aboard;" and within five minutes was delighted to see two boats set off and pull hard for these vessels. It was only just in time.

For the enemy was again steaming onwards; the firing, intermitted for a time, had burst forth anew, and we saw some of the shell fall among our shanties and barns and set them afire. Fortunately the whole population except the few sick was out of doors.

There had been no time to arrange the plan of action, but by means of signals Dana made his design clear to the other vessels. Presently we saw them separate, the Hope bearing Southward, the other two Northward, so as to fetch a compass round the enemy's line. We observed that though four of the hostile