n the fort, when Desmond cried out that
the admiral was again making signals. They were to the effect that all
ships of the squadron were to get under way and form line of battle
before the town.

Accordingly Jack, leaving the sorely battered fort, steamed away to take
up his position in the line. The weather, which had long been
threatening, came on much worse as the crews stood ready at their guns.
A heavy squall blew across the gulf, and at the same instant a downfall
of rain came on.

Suddenly the whole of the batteries opened on the squadron; still the
ships did not return the fire. Immediately the squall cleared away, the
signal was seen flying from the flag-ship, directing the prizes to be
destroyed and the vessels which had them in charge to join the line of
battle. The flag-ship, which was leading, was for some time, owing to
the heavy gale which was blowing, exposed to the fire of several
batteries, which killed two of her officers and wounded a considerable
number of men.

As soon as the weather would allow, the other ships got up and lost not
a moment in opening with their guns on the batteries. The ships had not
long been engaged, when the effects of their fire became visible from
the battered state to which the fort was reduced, while flames were seen
bursting out in different parts of the town. Every moment the weather
was getting worse. The wind had increased almost to a hurricane. The
sky was overcast with dark and gloomy clouds, rendering more than
usually vivid the flashes of the guns as they poured forth their
death-dealing shot into the town. At length it became difficult to work
them, and the admiral gave the signal to discontinue the action.

Five large junks lay to the southward of the town, which the Japanese
might have hoped would have escaped, but they were mistaken in supposing
that the prince was not to receive the full punishment due to him.
These vessels were his private property. The admiral ordered one of the
smaller ships to proceed immediately and set fire to the junks, as there
was no possibility of carrying them off. One after the other they were
quickly blazing up, and the flames, fanned by the rising gale, soon
destroyed them.

The steamer also threw her shells into an arsenal and among a number of
large storehouses, which soon, sharing the fate of the junks, were left
furiously blazing away.

The squadron now stood off from the batteries and returned to their
fo