As compared with the cliffs and hills of the land, the ships seemed veritable pigmies, but in this strife the pigmies were all powerful.
The guns of the fleet were working havoc in the forts ashore, and we could see the Spanish artillerymen abandon battery after battery.

Cayo, Punta Gorda, Estrella, and Catalena were rapidly being vacated.

The former was entirely out of the fight, and the others were replying only at intervals.

Presently the "Massachusetts" and "Marblehead" advanced within two thousand yards of the Estrella fortification and began such a terrific firing that within a few minutes a great cloud of smoke appeared above the works.

The Spanish guns became quiet at once, and a rousing cheer went up from the fleet.
"Hay," in his exuberance, wanted to send a five-inch shell from our gun at the burning fort, but the distance was too great and he was compelled to be content with a couple of well-aimed shots at the nearest battery.
"I wish we had thirteen-inch guns and the range was about ten feet," grumbled "Stump." "I'd like to smash the whole outfit in a pair of minutes.