The first shell rose high in the air and exploded with a deafening
thunder, and when the smoke cleared away it was seen that the
insurgents were almost paralysed with fright, and had just discovered
the cruiser in the river. But this first shell had not hurt any one,
and another was immediately ignited. This one exploded over the very
heads of the troops, and many of them must have been killed. Those who
were not either killed or wounded turned about and began to run, and
their leaders were powerless to make them stand their ground. One
shell followed another from the cruiser, and hundreds must have been
killed outright among the insurgents. Finally they were all running,
and it was soon perceived that the Americans had advanced, and were
now pursuing them with great energy. So the cruiser could fire no more
shells, and the admiral ordered her about and back to the anchorage
onshore.
It would take many pages to describe in detail the events of the
remainder of that afternoon, as Archie witnessed them from the deck of
the cruiser, and learned of them later from Bill Hickson. The
insurgents were nearly all killed or taken prisoners, and it was found
that they numbered nearly two thousand. So it was a great achievement
to have vanquished them all. The affair turned out to have been the
greatest victory of the war, so far.
CHAPTER XXII.
RETURN TO HEADQUARTERS-- A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR, WITH PERMISSION TO
RETURN TO NEW YORK-- BILL HICKSON GOES, TOO.
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