to supervise the mounting, and I also want to get
up a head of steam and take you for a ride!"
28 By the time they reached the Iron Turtle one of the turrets already
had their pieces, and a crane was swinging another through the door of
the second. It was in place in minutes and the fourth piece was
swinging over, ready to go in.
29 Bold Fox marveled at the efficiency of Little Turtle's workmen, and
already they were laying out the forty pounders, and doors were open on
the deck where they would be lowered in.
30 The first of these was in the air, when suddenly cannonfire could be
heard in the distance. Bold Fox and Little Turtle ran to the end of the
pier. At the harbor entrance several enemy ships had suddenly appeared.
As they sailed by and their pieces came to bear, they were bombarding
the fortresses at the harbor's entrance.
31 Little Turtle ran back and leaped on the Iron Turtle. "Captain
Toad!" he cried, "Do we have steam?"
32 "Yes, sir!" the man screamed.
33 "Close those hatches! Cast off the bow line! Bring her around!"
34 Slowly the paddle wheels began to turn, and the ship's bow swung out towards the harbor. Bold Fox standing on
the dock, hesitated a moment, then leaped on board.
35 "Cast off the stern line!" cried Little Turtle, "Full speed ahead!"
36 The wind was against them but for the steamship it made no
difference. She plowed on with incredible speed. Little Turtle blew
into a pipe
and someone answered. "Forward turret!" "You may commence firing,"
ordered Little Turtle, "as soon as we come to range."