"Can't be very big," said "Stump."

"About ten feet at the base, tapering to a point. The red flag that
flies from the top is perhaps fourteen feet from the water, I should
say."

"And they expect us to hit that?" broke in "Lucky bag Kennedy."

"Of course," said Tommy the confident, "and we shall."

As soon as the officers of the different divisions had returned from the
bridge, where they had been to report, the quick, sharp bugle call which
summons the crew to general quarters was sounded.

As the first notes were heard, the men scattered as if a bomb with a
visible burning fuse had fallen in their midst. Some hurried to lead out
the hose, some to get the gun sights and firing lanyards, some to get
belts and revolvers for the guns' crews, some down into the hot, dark
magazines, and some to open up the magazine hoists. All was apparent
confusion, but was in reality perfect discipline. Soon boxes of shell
were ready by the guns, but the order "load" had not yet been given.

The triangular target was then lowered over the side and cast loose. In
a few minutes the six-pounders on the spar deck began to bark. "Getting
the range, I guess," said "Hod," who had sneaked over from the powder
division to get a look at the target.

"Pretty near it," replied "Stump," as a shot splashed close to the
triangular piece of canvas.