There was a sudden roar, a flash of fire and a shell was discharged from
one of the seventeen great guns in the fort. But it passed over the
boat at which it was aimed, and a fountain of water spurted up where it
struck. The other guns replied rapidly, and the fleet, with a terrific
roar, replied. It seemed to Dick that the whole earth shook with the
confusion. Through the smoke and flame he saw the water gushing up in
fountains, and he also saw earth and masonry flying from the fort.
"It's a fine fight," said Colonel Winchester, suppressed excitement
showing in his tone. "By George, the fleet is coming closer. Not a
boat has been sunk! What a tremendous roar those mortars make. Look!
One of their shells has burst directly on the fort!"
The fleet, single handed, was certainly making a determined and powerful
attack upon the fort, which standing upon low, marshy ground, was not
much above the level of the boats, and offered a fair target to their
great guns. Both fort and fleet were now enveloped in a great cloud of
smoke, but it was repeatedly rent asunder by the flashing of the great
guns, and, rapt by the spectacle from which he could not take his eyes,
Dick saw that all the vessels of the fleet were still afloat and were
crowding closer and closer.
The artillery kept up a steady crash now, punctuated by the hollow boom
of the great mortars, which threw huge, curving shells. The smoke
floated far up and down the river, and the Southern troops on the height
adjoining the fort moved back and forth uneasily, uncertain what to do.
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