shots. Several
struck her hull, while others, flying between her masts, cut away her
rigging. This only made her crew work with greater zeal, in the hopes
of soon silencing the battery. That, however, was not easily done, for
the Japanese were evidently handling their guns well, and were not to be
driven from them.

Desmond kept his glass directed towards the flag-ship, to report any
signals which might be made. Tom was attending to his duty at the guns.
Billy Blueblazes was standing near Desmond, ready to convey the
captain's orders. A shot passed unpleasantly near his head.

"A miss is as good as a mile," remarked Desmond, as Billy bobbed,
looking rather pale.

"I hope no other will come nearer than that," said Billy, recovering
himself and trying to laugh.

Just then a shot struck the end of Desmond's telescope, shattering it to
pieces, and carrying the instrument out of his hands, a fragment
striking Billy on the cheek and drawing blood, but not inflicting any
serious wound. The same shot took off the head of a man who was at the
moment coming aft, at the other side of the deck.

"Now, that's not fair!" exclaimed Billy; "aiming at me on purpose."

"Then go and get me another spy-glass, and afterwards ask the doctor to
stick a plaster on your cheek," said Desmond. "You'll be out of harm's
way there, and have the honour of being reported wounded, which will be
pleasanter than being in the other list, though it may not tend so much
to your fame."

Billy gladly hurried off, holding his handkerchief to his face and
speedily returned with the telescope, with which Desmond, as coolly as
before, continued to watch the mast-heads of the flag-ship. It was warm
work, for already two men had been killed and several wounded, not
including Billy, who, however, appeared on deck with a large black patch
on his cheek and a handkerchief tied round his head, not certainly
improving his beauty.

"Did you get any teeth knocked out?" asked Tom, as Billy passed him.
"If you did, take care to pick them up and get the doctor to stick them
in again, for they will grow, depend on that."

"No, I lost no teeth; I only had a piece taken out of my cheek," said
Billy.

"Lucky it wasn't your nose," observed Tom; "it would have spoilt your
beauty for ever." He could make no further remark, as he had to attend
to his gun.

Jack had well performed the duty entrusted to him, and was expecting to
remain until he had battered dow