The enemy had gotten a field-gun down to the shore and with it they began to throw three-inch shells at the _Chicken_. In this war it was usual that the down-trodden Spaniards in their ignorance should use smokeless powder while the Americans, by the power of the consistent everlasting three-ply, wire-woven, double back-action imbecility of a hay-seed government, used powder which on sea and on land cried their position to heaven, and, accordingly, good men got killed without reason. At first, Pent could not locate the field-gun at all, but as soon as he found it, he ran aft with one man and brought the after six-pounder again into action. He paid little heed to the old gun crew. One was lying on his face apparently dead; another was prone with a wound in the chest, while the third sat with his back to the deck-house holding a smitten arm. This last one called out huskily, "Give'm hell, sir." The minutes of the battle were either days, years, or they were flashes of a second. Once Pent looking up was astonished to see three shell holes in the _Chicken's_ funnel--made surreptitiously, so to speak.... "If we don't silence that field-gun, she'll sink us, boys." ... The eyes of the man sitting with his back against the deck-house were looking from out his ghastly face at the new gun-crew. He spoke with the supreme laziness of a wounded man. "Give'm hell." ... Pent felt a sudden twist of his shoulder. He was wounded--slightly.... The anchored gunboat was in flames. VII Pent took his little blood-stained tow-boat out to the _Holy Moses_. The yacht was already under way for the bay entrance. As they were passing out of range the Spaniards heroically redoubled their fire--which is their custom. Pent, moving busily about the decks, stopped suddenly at the door of the engine-room. His face was set and his eyes were steely. He spoke to one of the engineers. "During the action I saw you firing at the enemy with a rifle. I told you once to stop, and then I saw you at it again. Pegging away with a rifle is no part of your business. I want you to understand that you are in trouble." The humbled man did not raise his eyes from the deck. Presently the _Holy Moses_ displayed an anxiety for the _Chicken's_ health. "One killed and four wounded, sir." "Have you enough men left to work your ship?" After deliberation, Pent answered: "No, sir." "Shall I send you assistance?" "No, sir. I can get to sea all right."