As he took his station on the high bridge near the captain, the fire control instruments in his hands, his pulses throbbed with an excitement, the height of which he had never known before. Was this the feeling men had on the eve of their first battle? The cruiser drew nearer to the defending forts. The range finder showed five thousand yards was their distance from the cruiser. Suddenly a brown puff of smoke belched from one of the forts, and the screech of a huge shell sounded ominously. CHAPTER XI A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT The shell from the fort struck the water some hundred yards ahead of the “Aquadores,” and showed Captain Garcia that unless he stopped his ship, he would draw the fire of the forts. This would place him at a decided disadvantage. His best course was to entice the ships of the enemy away from the protection of the fortifications. That the captain understood his proper tactics was soon evident. “Hard astarboard,” he ordered, and the cruiser, obedient to her helm, quickly swung her bow around and headed directly away from the harbor’s mouth. Phil thrilled with the excitement of the moment; he glanced at the captain’s face; it showed plainly the tremendous strain that he was undergoing, although he seemed outwardly calm and deliberate. The gravity of their position came home to the lad; they were on the eve of a battle between modern ships with modern guns and its outcome meant either life or death. “There’s the ‘Barcelo,’ heading out,” cried Captain Garcia. “I believe she will give us battle; her mate must be behind the fort and we shall soon see what their intentions are. If they refuse to fight in the open, out from the protection of the fort guns, I shall be forced to enter the harbor regardless of the mines and heavy guns ashore.” Phil paled at the thought of entering the enemy’s fortified harbor, strongly protected by mines. He knew that the “Aquadores” could have but little chance in such an undertaking. A single mine exploded within a few feet of her bottom would send her skyward. But a look at Captain Garcia’s face showed his intense earnestness; he would risk all in his endeavor to destroy the rebellious navy of his country. The enemy’s vessels had now left the harbor. They were in plain sight, their battle flags waving from their trucks. They presented a noble appearance, cleared for action, the naked muzzles of their long high-powered guns pointing toward the apparently fleeing cruiser. “What a beautiful sight!” Phil exclaimed. “Yes, but deadly,” Captain Garcia replied, casting an apprehensive glance at the oncoming ships. “They are both nearly new and formidable. They doubtless hope for an easy victory, as they know of the half-heartedness of my men. But we are going to surprise them,” he added, his face brightening; “I believe they will catch a tartar.”