A startled cry from Emmons drew the Americans’ attention. Looking anxiously in the direction indicated by the half-breed, Phil saw the white and colored lights of a steamer standing up the river, in the middle of the main channel. Those in the forts seemed also to have made the discovery. The entire crest of the hill forts burst into sudden flame and the distant screech of shell told the lad that this time the launch was not the target. “What can it be?” he exclaimed in a fever of excitement. “The allies know better than to carry lights. It must be a stranger.” Then as he gazed spellbound upon the spectacle before him, the search-light of the fort once more cut its narrow path of flame through the inky blackness. It swept spasmodically over the intruder and then to the Americans’ delighted eyes was revealed the outline of a monitor, the light of the search-light beam reflected brightly from her glistening, pointed hull. “The ‘Monterey’!” Phil cried, joyfully hugging Sydney. “And Jack O’Neil is on board her.” But a second later his joy was changed to apprehension. Would the monitor appreciate the situation and be prepared to return this fire? A fear took possession of his thoughts that the sailors, not knowing of the existence of hostilities, might have been standing unprotected upon the deck and before they could have sought the shelter of armor many might have already been killed by the shells of the enemy. CHAPTER XVI REËNFORCEMENTS All eyes were now intent on the American war-ship. The guns in the forts had become silent, as if startled at the sudden appearance of an enemy worthy of their metal. The monitor, apparently unconscious of the danger into which it had run, steamed proudly onward. The search-light of the fort lighted up every detail of the formidable vessel; the heavy turret guns were lowered, pointing inoffensively away from the inquisitive search-light. “They won’t dare fire again at her!” Sydney exclaimed. “See, she has shown her colors!” As the midshipman spoke a large American flag rose proudly aloft to the truck of the “Monterey,” where it fluttered defiantly, as if to say: “Now if you fire, knowing who I am, you declare war on the country which I represent.” Then the Chinese threw down the gauntlet; a flash of flame darted from the dark fort, licking the heels of a great shell, and a high splash of foam sprang up in the glare of the search-light not more than a half hundred yards from the bow of the silent monitor. Again, like huge fireflies on a summer night, the hill forts flashed fire, while still the monitor steamed boldly onward, closer and closer to the hostile guns. “Why doesn’t she return it?” Sydney exclaimed excitedly. “A few shots from her guns will startle the soldiers in those forts.”