Eager hands opened the breech, others inserted another cartridge, there was a shifting of the training lever, a turn of the elevating wheel, then "Hay" stood back once more, and coolly made the electrical connection.
Following the second report came a dull, booming sound, apparently from a distance.

We eyed one another significantly.
"It's a fort," quoth "Dye." "We've got to tackle both sea and land forces." Presently, while we were hard at work sending shots at the Spanish gunboat, which was in lively action a short distance away, we became aware of a peculiar whirring noise--a sound like the angry humming of a swarm of hornets.

It would rise and fall in volume, then break off short with a sharp crash.

Suddenly, while glancing through the port, I saw something strike the surface, sending up a great spurt of water.

It was followed by a dull, muffled report which seemed to shake the ship.
It was a shell! "Whiz! they are coming pretty fast," remarked Flagg.