Three minutes had not yet passed, yet a complete transformation had occurred on the _Brooklyn_. Five hundred men had scuttled to as many different directions, battle hatches had been lowered, water-tight compartments closed, hose attached and decks wet down, fire tubs filled, magazines opened, hoists put into operation, and ammunition delivered to turret, decks, and to the fighting-tops. Down below, fire had been started under four fresh boilers, and a dozen different connections between engines made. Nor was this all. Splinter nets had been spread as before, all useless woodwork thrown overboard, and the surgeons' operating tables made ready. The warning gun from the _Iowa_ was followed by a gun from the _Texas_, and then the _Brooklyn_ helped to "open the ball" with her forward eight-inch guns. Another great naval battle, fully equal to that of Manila Bay, was now on. "It's a question of do or die, boys!" cried Caleb, as he worked over the heavy gun before him. "Hustle now, as you never hustled before, or the dagos will get away. Now then, Polly, do the best you can!" And _bang!_ went the gun, with a noise that was deafening. Ten minutes later Walter felt as if his hearing had left him entirely, so incessant was the firing. The first fire from the enemy came from the _Maria Teresa_, and was an eleven-inch shell directed at the _Brooklyn_. Hardly had this been discharged when the _Indiana_, coming up behind the _Iowa_, took a long-range chance and sent a shell directly upon the _Teresa's_ deck, doing not a little damage. Then the firing became general, and shot and shell was hurled in every direction. So far, the _Brooklyn_ had been headed directly for the harbor entrance, commodore and captain being intent upon cutting off the enemy's westward flight, if possible. This course soon brought the _Maria Teresa_, _Vizcaya_, and the _Brooklyn_ into close proximity, and presently all were lost to view in a dense cloud of smoke, from which shot long streaks of fire, as battery after battery was discharged at close range. "Give it to 'em!" was the cry that rang throughout the _Brooklyn_. "Don't let up on 'em! We must do as well as Dewey did, and better! Remember the _Maine_, and three cheers for Uncle Sam!" Such cries were truly inspiring, but presently the men became silent, as the work began to tell upon them, and they realized what a fearful task still lay before them. "The second ship's flag is down!" was the welcome news which soon drifted down from the fighting-tops. It was true, the _Vizcaya's_ big silk flag had been riddled completely and the halyard shot away; but soon another flag was run up. Later on the _Brooklyn's_ flag also came down, but it did not remain so more than two minutes before a jackie had it up again.