He seemed satisfied with his examination, for he immediately took his stand where he could see all that was going on, and gave orders to the pilot to head the vessel directly toward the fort; and then every thing relapsed into that horrible silence again.

But this did not continue long; for, the moment they came within range, the fort opened on them, and a solid shot struck the casemate directly over Frank's gun, with a force that seemed to shake the entire vessel.

Frank glanced at the captain, and saw him standing with his elbow on the starboard gun, and his head resting on his hand, watching the fort as coolly as though they had been engaged only in target practice.
The shells from the fort continued to fall around them, but the captain neither changed his position nor gave the order to fire.

The port-holes in the turret were all closed, with the exception of the one at which the captain stood, and, of course, no one could see what was going on.

Frank began to grow impatient.