ssel, is close to the
_Oregon_; in her turrets she carries two 12-inch and two 10-inch rifles,
and inside of her dark hull are brave men who will show the enemy that
the American monitor is as deadly a foe as of old. The _Olympia_,
_Philadelphia_, _Baltimore_, _Charleston_, _Bennington_, and _Yorktown_,
all protected cruisers, are equally ready to do battle with any of the
enemy that it is their duty to encounter.

The foreign fleet is now in sight from Sutro Heights. A glance through
the powerful telescope tells the General it is the enemy--six
first-class battle-ships and eight cruisers, for the belligerent country
depends upon the capture of this rich city to defray the heavy expense
of the war.

They are approaching in double column, the battle-ships leading. Nearer
and nearer they come. The range-finders at the different batteries show
the range is rapidly diminishing. News has reached San Francisco, and
the high bluffs about the city are thronged with an excited crowd. The
blue-coated regulars have dispersed from the little knots about the
guns, and have gone to their stations, and stand ready at the command to
open the greatest battle the West has ever seen. On the ships of the
enemy come, majestically cutting the smooth sea, throwing the silvery
spray upon their bare forecastles, over which their heavy turret guns
are to soon speak.

"Four miles, sir!" reports one of the General's aides. The batteries at
Lobos and Bonito are ordered to open fire. The six big 16-inch rifles
thunder forth their challenge almost simultaneously, and nearly three
and a half tons of steel go speeding toward the approaching enemy. All
eyes are turned seaward, and are just in time to see columns of water
thrown up close aboard the on-coming ships. Again and again the heavy
batteries speak; shot after shot goes on its deadly flight, making havoc
on board the silent vessels. The fleet is approaching at nearly
fifteen-knot speed; it will take them but eight minutes to reach the
range, when tons of gun-cotton will be sent out to meet them both above
and below the peaceful sea. They are heading directly for the entrance.
What can be their intention? Will they dare attempt to run the forts? Do
they suppose the harbor is clear of mines and they have naught to fear
save the guns? The range-finder dials point to 4000 yards from the Gate.
All the guns on the forts are blazing forth fire, but the gunners' aims
are poor, and the better part of t