Ned now stood alone on the bridge by Captain Gomez. A thrill ran through the boy as he realized this. They were in a real battle, and he was actually second in command! “Shall we let them have it again, sir?” he asked, as the shouts and cries of the terrified crew died out under Stanley’s persuasion and Herc’s reckless flourishing of his weapon. “Yes, my boy. This time we’ll sink them, if possible. It will be in revenge for the terrible fright they gave me when I saw our brave young friend wounded.” As the signal was transmitted, Stanley’s battery mingled its fire with Herc’s. This time the _Calvo_ did not answer. Instead they could see that the greatest confusion prevailed on her decks. “Give her some more!” shouted the captain. But even as he spoke there resounded from the crippled ship a terrific explosion. She seemed to lift for half of her length upward out of the water, and then, in a shroud of dense, white vapor, she settled back. “Her boilers have exploded!” shouted Ned, as he gazed with horror-stricken eyes on the tragedy. “Lower the boats; we must save all we can!” exclaimed Captain Gomez. “Alas! my poor countrymen!” The _Calvo_ wavered only for an instant after the explosion, and then, with a dreadful roar and a furious hissing, she vanished amid clouds of white steam. As the vapor cleared away, all that remained on the surface to show her end were a few ash-streaked pools of grease, amid which human heads showed like black dots. The _Barrill_ steamed among the debris, and many a man owed his life to her heroic efforts. But hardly had the work of rescue terminated before the destroyer was called upon to face a fresh emergency. The other vessel was within four thousand yards, steaming furiously toward them. “It is the _Bolivar_!” exclaimed Captain Gomez, as he gazed through his glasses. For a flash hope almost died in Ned’s heart. The newcomer was the torpedo-equipped craft. As we know, of this class of weapon the _Barrill_ had but four on board. What chance would she stand, crippled as she was, against this new enemy? Hastily Stanley and Herc were called to the bridge and the situation explained to them. It was decided to get the _Barrill’s_ torpedo apparatus in order, and at least discharge all the Whiteheads she carried at the _Bolivar_--provided, that is, that the other vessel gave them a chance. On came the _Bolivar_, her officers apparently not the least dismayed by the fate that had overtaken the _Calvo_. The _Barrill’s_ batteries opened fire on her at three thousand five hundred yards. The accuracy of Stanley and Herc’s fire halted her for a moment in the same manner as a ferocious bulldog pursuing a cat will halt, in a puzzled way, as her claws encounter his nose. The hesitation was only for an instant, however, and then the craft began to swing.