We were correspondingly elated, and worked all the harder.
It was not until we had been firing some time that we began to take particular note of our surroundings.

At first the novelty of the situation and a state of excitement, natural under the circumstances, kept us absorbed in our duties, but when it became apparent that the engagement was to be a matter of hours--and also that the Spaniards did not aim very well--we commenced to look about.
One of the first things to strike me personally, and it was rather humorous, was the appearance of "Stump," the second loader.

Orders had early been given to avoid exposing ourselves to the enemy's fire as much as possible.

"Stump," than whom no more daring and aggressive man could be found on board, thought it wise to obey, so he crouched behind the gun-mount and compressed himself so as to be out of range.

From this position he had only to reach out one hand to train the gun, which was his special duty.