Look what's coming up the river." "The fleet!" exclaimed Newcomb in excitement.

"As sure as I'm here it's the fleet, advancing to make the attack alone.

Foote is a daring and energetic man, and the failure of the army to co-operate will not keep him back." "Daring and energy, seventy per cent, at least," Dick heard Warner murmur, but he paid no more attention to his comrades because all his interest was absorbed in the thrilling spectacle that was about to be unfolded before them.
The fleet, the armor clads, the floating batteries, and the mortar boats, were coming straight toward the fort.

Colonel Winchester lent Dick his glasses for a moment, and the boy plainly saw the great, yawning mouths of the mortars.

Then he passed the glasses back to the colonel, but he was able to see well what followed with the naked eye.
The fleet came on, steady, but yet silent.
There was a sudden roar, a flash of fire and a shell was discharged from one of the seventeen great guns in the fort.