He did not like the idea of being shot at in that manner without returning the fire.

At length the captain inquired: "What have you in your gun, Mr.Nelson ?" "A five-second shell, sir," answered Frank, promptly.
"Very well.

Run out your gun and give them a shot." The men sprang to their stations in an instant; the ports flew open with a crash, and the heavy gun was ran out as easily as though it had been a twelve-pounder.

The first captain seized the lock string; there was a deafening report, and an eleven-inch shell went booming into the fort.

The force of the discharge ran the gun back into the turret again, and the ports closed as if by magic.