The next few shots from the “Aquadores” were fired singly by O’Neil. Phil sent him the exact range from his range finder, while Sydney saw the sight bar was accurately set. The first shell struck only a few yards short, in her white wake. The next shot struck under her counter and exploded with an echoing report. “You jammed her rudder,” Phil shouted jubilantly, as he saw the “Soledad” sheer widely to starboard and expose half of her broadside to the bow fire of the chaser. O’Neil saw his opportunity to plant a number of shells against her water line. Putting the cross wire of his telescope sight fairly and steadily on her water line amidships, he fired. The watchers on the bridge anxiously followed with their eyes the shell speeding toward the “Soledad.” Then the sound of a mighty explosion filled the air and the hindmost enemy was blotted out in a cloud of white, vapor-like smoke. “Her boilers have exploded!” cried Phil, grasping Captain Garcia’s arm in his excitement. The “Barcelo,” as if fearing the terrible punishment of her mate would be visited upon her, had stopped dead on the water. Captain Garcia steamed his vessel cautiously up to the vanquished enemy. The “Soledad” was a pitiful sight as she rolled a shattered hulk on the ocean swell; smoke-stacks gone; her decks blackened with the fire of explosions, and torn and rent by the terrific violence of the blown up boilers. “She’s sinking,” cried Phil in horror, turning anxiously to Captain Garcia. The captain nodded his head in the affirmative. “I fear many of her crew have perished. We must save every life we can.” The “Aquadores” was stopped near the sinking ship and boats were lowered promptly. But as Captain Garcia had feared, there were but a handful of survivors left on the surface after the “Soledad,” her colors still flying, sank beneath the surface of the sea. In a half hour more a prize crew from the “Aquadores” had been sent on board the captured “Barcelo” and the two vessels, now no longer enemies, lay quietly awaiting the darkness to finish the work of destruction of the insurgent navy; a torpedo-boat must yet be accounted for before Captain Garcia could sail back to La Boca and report to his president that his work had been successfully accomplished. “The ‘Barcelo’ is quite serviceable,” Captain Garcia informed the American lads, after his return on board the “Aquadores” from his visit to the captured vessel. “She suffered badly from our shells and has lost many men; fortunately her surgeons are uninjured, and are now attending to her wounded. Our losses have been heavy; I weep for my poor countrymen, fighting against their own flesh and blood.” Captain Garcia burst into tears. The sight quite unmanned the youths. It was a new sight for them--a man, who had borne himself with so much bravery through the terrible trials of the last few hours, breaking down and crying like a child.