THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 Mrs* Hans Heymann, Jr 

 
 JACK SOMERS'S PROMOTION. Page 123
 
 THE SAILOR BOY; 
 
 OB, 
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAYY. 
 
 Storg of % feat 
 
 BY 
 
 OLIVER OPTIC, 
 
 AUTHOR OF ** RICH AND HUMBLE," u IN SCHOOL AND OUT/* "THE BOAT CLUB,' 
 "LITTLE BY LITTLE," u THE RIVERDALE STORY BOOKS," ETC. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 LEE AND SHEPARD, 
 
 SUCCESSOKS TO PHILLIES. SAHPSOIf fc CO. 
 
 1867.
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by 
 
 WILLIAM T ADAMS, 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of MassachusetU 
 
 ELECTItOTTI'ED BY 
 
 C. J. PETERS & SON, 
 Xo. 13 WASHINGTON ST.
 
 {604 
 
 CHARLES A. B. SHEPARD, ESQ., 
 
 IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 
 
 BT HIS FRIEND 
 
 WILLIAM T. ADAMS. 
 
 8S2959
 
 THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES. 
 
 IN SIX VOLUMES. 
 
 BY OLIVER OPTIC. 
 
 i. 
 THE SOIVDIEPfc BOY; 
 
 Or, Tom. Somers in. the .A.rmy. 
 
 n. 
 THE SAILOR HOY; 
 
 Or, Jack Sorners in the N"avy. 
 
 in. 
 THE YOTJ1VG DL.IETJTE3VA.1VT ; 
 
 Or, The .Axlventures of an .A_rm.y Officer. 
 
 A SEQUEL TO "THE SOLDIER BOY." 
 IV. 
 
 THE Y^IVKEE MIDDY ; 
 
 Or, The Adventures of a Naval Officer. 
 
 A SEQUEL, TO "TUB SAILOR BOY." 
 V. 
 
 FIGHTING JOE; 
 
 Or, The Fortunes of a Staff- Officer. 
 
 A SEQUEL TO " T1IE YOUNG LIEUTENANT." 
 VI. 
 
 linA^E O1L,T> SA.T..T ; 
 
 Or, Life on the Quarter-Deck.. 
 
 A SEQUEL TO " TUE -YANKEE MIDDY."
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THIS volume, like its predecessor in the series of "ARMY AND 
 NAVY STORIES," is not altogether a romance, but is believed to 
 contain a judicious blending of fact and fiction, the former largely 
 predominating ; the latter being introduced for the purpose of 
 connecting and cementing the incidents. Like "THE SOLDIER 
 BOY," it is the record of a young man whose soul burned with a 
 patriotic desire to serve his country in the hour of her greatest 
 need ; and therein he is only a type of tens of thousands, who have 
 forsaken the joys of home and the allurements of plenty, to battle 
 upon the sea and the land for the integrity of the Union, for 
 a united country, which is one of the essential elements of our 
 national peace, freedom, and prosperity. 
 
 The work is not a connected historical narrative of the opera- 
 tions of the Western Gulf Squadron, though some of the events 
 introduced will form a brilliant record in the history of naval 
 movements in the South-west. The writer hopes the book will 
 convey a correct picture, as far as it extends, of the glorious 
 achievements of our gallant tars in that section ; and that it will 
 impart some information, especially to the juvenile reader, in regard 
 to the life of a man-of-war's man. 
 
 The author gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness for valua- 
 ble information, for charts, diagrams, and reports, to some of his
 
 C PREFACE. 
 
 naval friends, but especially to Ensign FRANCIS L. HARRIS, a 
 member of the late Arctic Expedition, now serving his country 
 in the North Atlantic Squadron ; to whose mind the following pages 
 will recall the long evenings spent in arranging the details of this 
 story. 
 
 JACK SOMERS is a representative character. Many have lived 
 as well and fought as bravely as he did for the country we love: 
 and, while we commend his noble and patriotic example to our 
 youthful readers, we may remind tflem that earnest and patient 
 continuance in well-doing is sure of its ultimate reward; which 
 is the lesson we have intended to teach in these pages. 
 
 WILLIAM T. ADAMS. 
 DORCHESTER, Nov. 24, 1864.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAOB 
 
 I. THE VICTORY AT PORT ROYAL 11 
 
 II. THE DASHAWAY IN A NOVEMBER GALE 21 
 
 III. THE SAILOR AND THE SOLDIER 32 
 
 IV. THE NAVAL RENDEZVOUS 42 
 
 V ON BOARD THE OHIO ., . 54 
 
 VI. JACK TAKES A LESSON IN DISCIPLINE 65 
 
 VII. THE HARRISBURG 76 
 
 VIII. "ALL HANDS, UP ANCHOR!" 86 
 
 IX. " ALL HANDS, MAKE SAIL ! " 96 
 
 X. " MAN OVERBOARD ! 107 
 
 XI. THE COCKSWAIN OF THE CAPTAIN'S GIG 117 
 
 XII. SHIP ISLAND 127 
 
 XIII. THE BOAT-EXPEDITION 139 
 
 XIV. JACK ON THE LOOKOUT 150 
 
 XV. THE C. S. STEAMER WIZARD 161 
 
 XVI. THE SHORE BATTERY , . 172 
 
 XVII. RETURN OF THE EXPEDITION 183 
 
 XVIII. FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP 193 
 
 7'
 
 8 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAOB 
 
 XIX. QUARTERMASTER SOMERS 202 
 
 XX. THE U. S. STEAMER MIDDY 212 
 
 XXI. UP THE RIVER 223 
 
 XXII. JACK ASHORE 232 
 
 XXIII. THE PLANTER'S MANSION 243 
 
 XXIV. A NIGHT-EXPEDITION 253 
 
 XXV. THE CAPTURE OF THE KKNSHAW 263 
 
 XXVI. THE UNION REFUGEES 27-1 
 
 XXVII. THE CONSPIRACY ON BOARD THE MIDDY 284 
 
 XXVIII. THE MIDDY ON THE BLOCKADE 294 
 
 XXIX. THE BLOCKADE-RUNNER 305 
 
 XXX. ON THE SUWANNEE RIVER, 315 
 
 XXXI. HOMEWARD BOUND 327
 
 THE SAILOR BOY.
 
 THE SAILOE BOY; 
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 THE VICTORY AT PORT ROYAL. 
 
 URRAH for the navy ! " shouted John Somers. 
 as he rushed into the house, threw his cap upoa 
 the floor in the entry, and bolted into the room 
 where the family were just sitting down to supper. 
 " Hurrah for the navy ! " 
 
 "What is the matter now, John?" demanded Mrs. 
 Somers, placing the teapot on the table, and suspending 
 all further proceedings till the excited young man had 
 told the news. 
 
 " ' The army and navy forever ! Three cheers for 
 the red, white, and blue ! ' " added John, swinging bis 
 
 11
 
 12 THE SAILOR BOY, OR, 
 
 handkerchief, and singing lustily the words of (he patri- 
 otic song. 
 
 " Why don't you tell us what the news is, John ? You 
 act just like a madman when any thing has happened." 
 
 " Fort Walker and Fort Beauregard captured ! The 
 navy gave 'em fits down there," replied John, pulling 
 the "Boston Journal" from his pocket, and tossing it 
 upon the table, to the imminent peril of the milk 
 pitcher, which, however, maintained its gravity, in spite 
 of the rude assault. 
 
 " Massy sake ! I thought the whole Southern consarn 
 had broke down," added Gran'ther Green. 
 
 " It will break down and cave in now. Our folks have 
 got a footing in South Carolina now, and they'll soon 
 bring the rebels to terms," said John, Avho was fully 
 imbued with the enthusiasm, as well as the spirit of 
 prophecy, which pervaded the earlier period of the great 
 American Rebellion. " Let me tell you, grau'ther, the 
 navy has done a big thing down there. Commodore Du- 
 pont will bring 'em to their senses in double-quick time. 
 Charleston will have to take it next." 
 
 " Eat your supper, John, and talk about it afterwards," 
 interposed Mrs. Somers. 
 
 " Supper ! " exclaimed John : " who can eat with such 
 news as this? Let me read it to you." 
 
 Mrs. Somers and the rest of the family were quite 
 willing to hear what the navy had done at Port Royal ;
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY, 13 
 
 and John was permitted to read the stirring account of 
 the action, which he interpolated with comments of his 
 own, expressive of his admiration of the flag-officer and 
 the blue-jackets generally, who had achieved the glori- 
 ous victory. 
 
 " I wish I had been there !" exclaimed John, when he 
 had completed the reading of the narrative. " How I 
 wish I had been there ! " 
 
 " You had better eat yonr supper now," quietly re- 
 marked Mrs. Somers, who did not seem to relish the turn 
 which the conversation had taken. 
 
 " Here I am rotting on the stocks, lying round like a 
 lubber, when the ship's in a gale of wind," said John, as 
 he stuffed half a hot biscuit into his mouth, apparently 
 to mollify the dissatisfaction with which he regarded his 
 position. 
 
 " Have some apple-sauce, John?" added Mrs. Somers. 
 
 The young aspirant for distinction took some apple- 
 sauce, and continued to eat, for a few moments, with a 
 desperation dangerous to the well-being of the digestive 
 organs, and which might reasonably have awakened a 
 fear in the mind of his anxious mother that he would 
 choke himself to death, instead of being killed by a splin- 
 ter or a shell on board a man-of-war. John was silent 
 for a time ; but he kept up a vigorous thinking, and it is 
 doubtful if he could have told whether he was eating hot 
 biscuit or " salt horse." It would not have required a
 
 14 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 conjurer, either, to tell what he was thinking about ; and 
 the poor mother, Avith her husband far away in the rebel 
 country (if, indeed, he was still living), and one son ex- 
 posed to the perils of battle and march, walked mechani- 
 cally from the table to the closet, as she proceeded to clear 
 off the table, looking as sad as a vision of sorrow ; and 
 it needed no conjurer to tell what she was thinking, about. 
 
 She was a patriotic woman ; but no doubt she wished 
 the glowing news from Port Royal had never reached the 
 ears of her son. She had endured all the agonizing sus- 
 pense which only the wife of an absent husband and the 
 mother of an absent soldier-boy can comprehend ; and 
 she would fain keep this remaining son by her side to 
 su&tain and soothe her by his presence. She hoped he 
 was not needed ; she tried to persuade herself that John 
 belonged to her, now that his twin-brother had joined the 
 army : yet the New-England blood in her veins would 
 not let her be selfish, if the country needed his services. 
 
 She knew what John was thinking about, and she 
 knew that the oft-repeated question was about to be pro- 
 posed with more emphasis than ever before : Would she 
 consent to his entering the navy? He had asked her 
 permission twenty times during the summer and autumn, 
 and she had as often silenced him by pointing to the 
 work required to be done upon the little farm. But now 
 the corn and cabbages, the potatoes and the apples, had 
 all been harvested, and she could no longer detain him
 
 JACK SOMERS IN TUE NAVY. 15 
 
 upon the plea that his services were needed at home ; for 
 there was hardly work enough about the place to give 
 Grau'ther Greene, who was now in better health than 
 usual, the exercise which was needed to keep him alive. 
 
 " Mother, aren't you ashamed of me ?" said John, sud- 
 denly dropping his knife and biscuit, and looking steadily 
 at Mrs. Somers, who was gathering up the dishes on the 
 other side of the table. 
 
 "Ashamed of you, my son ? What ails the boy ?" 
 exclaimed she, pausing in her occupation, and gazing at 
 him with all a mother's pride visible in her expression. 
 
 "Aren't you ashamed to have a son loafing about home 
 when the navy is short of sailors? I can hand, reef, and 
 steer, and I know the mainmast from the jolly-boat. I've 
 been one voyage with father in a square-rigged vessel, 
 and two in a ' fore-and-after.' I can make a long splice, 
 a short splice, an eye-splice, a Turk's head, or a Jacob's 
 ladder. I know where to find the halyards and braces, 
 the clewlines, buntlines, and bowlines. I know all about 
 it, mother. Now, aren't you ashamed to have me lub- 
 bering round here like a dandy in a hay-field ? " 
 
 " No : I'm sure I am not," replied Mrs. Somers with 
 emphasis. " You have been a good boy, and worked 
 hard all summer." 
 
 " But I haven't had any thing to do for a week but 
 stow my grub and pick my teeth." 
 
 " It won't hurt you to lie still for a week or two."
 
 16 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " "Well, mother, I want to go into the navy ; and I 
 think I shall be just as safe there as I shall at home, and 
 be earning something all the time, too." 
 
 " I should think you'd rather be at home than off to 
 sea this winter. Don't you hear the wind howl out- 
 doors ? " 
 
 John did hear the wind howl, and he had heard it be- 
 fore, and it did not disturb his bright vision of life on the 
 wave : on the contrary, he rather liked its music. He 
 suggested, in reply, that the coast of South Carolina or 
 the mouth of the Mississippi would be a warmer and 
 pleasanter place to spend the winter than the cold hills 
 of New England. While they were debating the ques- 
 tion, a loud knock at the front door interrupted the dis- 
 cussion ; and John bolted the balance of his supper, while 
 his mother went to answer the summons. 
 
 "Does Captain Somers live here?" inquired a fftmtle- 
 man at the do_or. 
 
 " Yes, sir, he does ; but he is away from home now," 
 replied Mrs. Somers. " Won't you walk in, sir?" 
 
 " Thank you : I wish to see his son, John Somers," 
 added the stranger, as he followed Mrs. Somers into the 
 little front parlor. 
 
 " Yes, sir : I'll call him," said she, as she glanced 
 nervously at the shoulder-straps which the gentleman 
 wore ; for the "foul anchor" on them indicated that he 
 was an officer in the navy.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 17 
 
 Leaving her lamp in the parlor, she returned to the 
 kitchen, where John had just swallowed his second cup 
 of tea, and was at that moment thinking, that, on board 
 a man-of-war, he should drink his " slops " out of a tin 
 cup, and not indulge in the luxury of plates, knives, and 
 forks. 
 
 " There's a gentleman wants to see you, John," said 
 his mother ; and her heart was full of misgivings, and 
 that foul anchor still haunted her imagination ; and she 
 could not persuade herself that the officer had not come 
 to carry off her boy, and ship him in the navy. 
 
 "Wants to see me?" exclaimed John, who was not in 
 the habit of receiving many visitors through the front door. 
 
 " Yes, and he is an officer in the navy." 
 
 " What can he want of me ? " ' 
 
 " Don't you know who he is, John?" asked the anx- 
 ious mother, who had more than half suspected that there 
 was a plot to rob her of her remaining son. 
 
 " I don't ; I haven't the least idea, mother.' 
 
 " Well, don't keep him waiting, John, whatever he 
 wants ; but I hope you won't do any thing without con- 
 sulting me." 
 
 " Of course not, mother," replied John, as he left the 
 room. 
 
 Mrs. Somers sat down in a chair near the parlor door, 
 and tried to hear what the stranger said ; for she was very 
 nervous and uneasy. She could not make out what the
 
 18 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 gentleman wanted : so she concluded that the small lamp 
 she had left in the parlor would not afford sufficient light 
 on the subject of the meeting ; and she lighted a large 
 kerosene lamp, and carried it into the apartment herself. 
 The conversation did not seem to be interrupted by her 
 appearance ; and she therefore concluded that the officer 
 and v her son were not engaged in any plot or conspiracy 
 against the peace and comfort of the present head of the 
 Somers Family. 
 
 " Madam, perhaps I ought to speak to you as well as 
 to your son about the object of my visit," said the officer, 
 as Mrs. Somers deposited the lamp on the mantel-piece. 
 
 " Well, I don't know, sir," replied she, fully expect- 
 ing to hear a proposition for John to go into the navy 
 that very night. 
 
 "Captain Barney sent me after your -son," he con- 
 tinued. 
 
 " That was not very kind of Captain Barney," thought 
 the poor mother, now fully convinced that John was 
 doomed to the navy ; but she did not say any thing. 
 
 " I reside in the next town to this, and am at home 
 for a short time on a furlough. My father was suddenly 
 taken very ill this forenoon ; and, about an hour ago, the 
 doctor declared he could not live till to-morrow morn- 
 ing." 
 
 " I'm very sorry," said Mrs. Somers, beginning to be 
 deeply interrested in the sad story of the strapger ; " and, 
 if I can do any thing to help you, I'll go right over."
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 19 
 
 " Thank you : we do not need any assistance at home. 
 My brother is a captain in the garrison down at Fort 
 Warren, and my father has expressed a very strong de- 
 sire to see him. I hastened over to Pinchbrook to take 
 the cars for Boston ; but I -was too late. All I could do 
 then was to take a boat, and go down to the fort. Cap- 
 tain Barney, who is a friend of mine, offered to let me 
 have his boat ; but I don't know any thing about Pinch- 
 brook Harbor, and must have a skipper. I am informed 
 that your son is one of the best boatmen in the place, 
 and knows every rock and shoal in the bay." 
 
 " I think I do, sir," replied John quietly. 
 
 " But it is an awful night to go upon the water," 
 added Mrs. Somers, as she glanced at the windows, the 
 loose sashes of which were beating a tattoo against the 
 frame. 
 
 "I know it is a bad night, Mrs. Somers ; but I have 
 been afloat in many a worse one. It is not a pleasure 
 excursion ; and I would not ask such a favor with a less 
 reasonable excuse than that which I have offered." 
 
 " John knows best about such things ; and, if he is 
 willing to go, I shall not object," added Mrs. Somers. 
 
 " Of course I am willing to go, mother. But you are 
 not going yourself, are you, sir ? " 
 
 " I feel that I must." 
 
 " I thought you would want to go back to your 
 father."
 
 20 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " I do ; bnt I am afraid you would not be able to gain 
 admission to the. fort without me." 
 
 " I guess they would let me in." 
 
 " I am afraid not ; and if my brother should fail to 
 reach home in time to see my father, through any neglect 
 of mine, I should never cease to reproach myself. I will 
 go with you." 
 
 " Dress yourself warm, John, before you go : it is an 
 awful night on the sea," added his mother. 
 
 Leaving Mrs. Somers with the stranger, John hastened 
 to put on his " sea rig," and in a few moments returned 
 to the parlor, with an oil-cloth coat on his arm, and a 
 fisherman's hat in his hand. 
 
 "All ready, sir," said he. 
 
 "Ay, ay, my lad," replied Lieutenant Bankhead, as he 
 rose, and bade adieu to Mrs. Somers. 
 
 " Now be careful, John," added Mrs. Somers, as she 
 followed them to the door. 
 
 " I'm always careful, mother. Don't be a bit scared 
 about me," replied the young salt confidently. 
 
 " I wish that man didn't belong to the navy," said 
 Mrs. Somers to herself as she closed the door : " he 
 will be certain to fill the boy's head full of notions 
 afore he gits back, and he'll be more'n ever for going. 
 Well, well, it can't be helped. I hope the poor soldier 
 will see his father afore it's too late ; " and she resumed 
 her household duties in the kitchen.
 
 JACK soarvRs IN THE NAVY. 21 
 
 CHAPTEK II. 
 
 THE DASHAWAY IN A NOVEMBER GALE. 
 
 'OHN SOMERS had been as uneasy as a fish 
 out of water ever since his brother went into the 
 army ; an event which had occurred the preced- 
 ing spring. He was quite as patriotic as Thomas, 
 and was just as desirous of doing something to help his 
 struggling country in the hour of her peril. His tastes 
 were for the sea ; though he would rather have joined the 
 army than not had a part in the glorious work of putting 
 down the Rebellion. But his mother had steadily resisted 
 his importunity, and the month of November found him 
 still at home, an unwilling resident beneath the parental 
 roof, discontented and unhappy even in the midst of those 
 hallowed associations which make home the dearest spot 
 on earth. 
 
 If the summoning voice of his country was powerful, 
 the gentle tones of his mother were more potent. Though 
 he did not reason and philosophize on the subject, he felt 
 that his mother was nearer to him than his country ; yet
 
 22 THE SAILOR EOT; OR, 
 
 he hoped that she would yet give her consent to his going 
 into the navy. 
 
 Pinchbrook was situated a few miles from Boston ; and 
 its port, which was dignified by the title of Pinchbrook 
 Harbor, was located upon one of the arms of the sea 
 connected with Boston Bay. It was a thriving little 
 place ; and, during the summer, John, besides taking 
 care of his father's little farm, had contrived to earn a 
 few dollars by doing odd jobs in the village, and espe- 
 cially by acting as skipper, cook, or foremast-hand, on 
 board the sail-boats and yachts of the place. He was a 
 skilful boatman, and was thoroughly proficient in the 
 science of nautical cooking. His chowders, fries, and 
 battered-clams were entirely unexceptionable ; and, at a 
 pinch, he could bake a bluefish or make a batch of bis- 
 cuit. 
 
 But John was not satisfied with his achievements at 
 Pinchbrook Harbor and in the bay, nor with the pro- 
 ceeds of his labors. His wages in the navy, not to men' 
 tion sundry huge expectations which he entertained of 
 pocketing some enormously large dividends of prize- 
 money, would yield a far better return for his labor. He 
 was satisfied that he could do more for the support of the 
 family away from home than he could by " loafing about 
 Pinchbrook," as he modestly designated his humble oper- 
 ations ; and, when he left the cottage with Lieutenant 
 Bankhead, he fully believed that the something had
 
 JACK SO ME BS IN THE NAVY. 23 
 
 turned up for which he had so impatiently waited for 
 months. 
 
 To make the acquaintance of a lieutenant in the navy 
 was a piece of good fortune which he had not anticipated, 
 and he was convinced that he should make a favorable 
 impression upon the mind of his passenger before they 
 returned from the fort. It was, as his mother had re- 
 marked, an awful night to go upon the sea ; but he had 
 weathered some heavy gales in a fore-and-aft schooner, 
 and he was satisfied that he could keep Captain Barney's 
 little yacht right side up in any thing short of a West- 
 India hurricane. 
 
 As they walked down to the harbor, Lieutenant Bank- 
 head questioned his young skipper in regard to the boat 
 in which they were to venture upon the stormy bay, and 
 the dangers they would encounter on the passage. These 
 inquiries, however, were only intended to " bring out " 
 the young salt, and develop his knowledge of the business 
 he had undertaken. His replies were so satisfactory, that 
 the officer soon became as confident as his skipper ; and, 
 moreover, he began to entertain a very high respect for 
 the character and ability of his new companion. 
 
 " You'll do, Jack," said Mr. Bankhead, after he had 
 fully tested the knowledge of the boy, and the peculiar 
 seamanship necessary for the safe management of a sail- 
 boat ; " you'll do. I can handle a ship : but I never 
 attempted to work a boat under sail ; that is, I never
 
 24 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 made a business of it. If you put me through all right, 
 I'll give you a ten-dollar bill, and be much obliged to you 
 besides." 
 
 " I'll do the best I can ; but it blows pretty heavy, and 
 there's an ugly sea running." 
 
 " I know it, my boy ; and so much the more credit to 
 you if you take me through handsomely." 
 
 " I don't think there'll be any trouble about it, sir. 
 Captain Barney's boat's as stiff as oak and iron can 
 make her, and she works like a. lady in a sea. Here is 
 the wharf. I don't know your name, sir." 
 
 " Lieutenant Bankhead, of the navy. Yours is Jack 
 Somers ; at least, everybody calls you so." 
 
 " Yes, sir ; and it's a good name enough for me. I 
 wish it was written on the shipping-papers in the navy." 
 
 " Perhaps it may be yet. We want all the likely lads 
 of your build and spirit that we can get." 
 
 " I should like to go in," added Jack, as he cast off 
 the painter of a small dory, in which they were to pull 
 out to the moorings of the sail-boat. 
 
 " Why don't you, then?" 
 
 " My mother don't want me to leave home. If you 
 will step into this dory, sir, I will pull you off to the 
 Dashaway." 
 
 " Dashaway ! is that the name of the captain's boat?" 
 
 " Yes, sir : he christened her himself." 
 
 " Well, it's a smashing name. By the by, I will speak
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY 25 
 
 to your mother about your going into the navy, if you 
 wish," added Mr. Bankhead, as he stepped into the dory, 
 aud seated himself at the stern. 
 
 " Thank you, sir ; but I don't think she will let me 
 go." 
 
 " Perhaps she will. I am ordered to the Harrisburg, 
 and very likely I can induce your mother to let you ship 
 in her. "Well, this comes heavy," added Mr. Bankhead, 
 as a wave dashed its spray all over him. 
 
 But the passage from the wharf to the Dashaway oc- 
 cupied but a few moments : and John soon placed his 
 passenger upon the half-deck ; and, after making fast the 
 dory to the moorings, he joined him. The skipper opened 
 the cuddy, which was large enough to contain two berths 
 and other conveniences, and invited him to enter, and 
 thus protect himself from the cold wind and the dashing 
 spray : but Mr. Bdnkhead was too much of a sailor to 
 shun his own peculiar element ; and, enveloping himself 
 in a heavy pea-jacket he found in the cuddy, he offered 
 his services to assist in getting the boat under way. 
 
 " You are the skipper, Jack, and I will obey your 
 orders," said he. " What "shall I do ? " 
 
 " You may knot these reef-points in the foresail, if you 
 please, sir, and I will put a couple of reefs in the main- 
 sail. It will help us get off the quicker." 
 
 " But you don't intend to carry a reefed foresail and a 
 reefed mainsail, do you ? " asked the officer.
 
 26 THE SAILOR BOY, OR, 
 
 "No, sir: we will try it under jib, and mainsail with 
 two reefs. I think she will carry it ; but, if she won't, 
 we shall be all ready to put her under a reefed foresail." 
 
 " Just so ; I understand you ; and your calculation is 
 a very good one." 
 
 In a few moments these preparations were completed, 
 and the mainsail was hoisted. The wind blew even 
 fresher than John had supposed ; but he still believed 
 that the Dashaway would carry her jib and double-reefed 
 mainsail. 
 
 " Now, sir, if you will stand by the helm, I Avill let go 
 the moorings, and hoist the jib," said the skipper, when 
 every thing was in readiness for a start. 
 
 "Ay, ay, my lad. The jib-sheet leads aft, don't it?" 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 John then cast off the moorings, and, seizing the hal- 
 yard, ran up the jib in the twinkling of an eye. Mr. 
 Bankhead then made fast the sheets, and the Dashaway, 
 catching a heavy flaw, heeled over till her washboard 
 was nearly submerged, an antic which caused the lieu- 
 tenant at the helm to cast loose the maiusheet, under the 
 impression that she was going over. 
 
 " She can stand it, sir," shouted John, as he hauled in 
 the sheet again, and took his place at the helm. 
 
 " She makes cantering work of it, anyhow," added 
 Mr. Bankhead, whose nerves were somewhat shaken by 
 the heeling-over of the boat.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 27 
 
 " She's good for a bigger blow than this. Now, if you 
 will take a seat on the weather-side, or lie down in the 
 cuddy, we shall soon get our bearings. There, sir, she 
 jumps over the waves like a feather." 
 
 Captain Barney was too much of a sailor himself to 
 own any other than a stiff, weatherly boat ; and such was 
 eminently the character of the Dashaway. She breasted 
 the big waves like a mass of solid oak'; and though the 
 spray dashed furiously over her, as she leaped .over the 
 angry billows, John Somers felt as ' safe in her as he 
 would in the kitchen of his mother's cottage. The wind 
 was east, and the sky overcast, which made the night 
 exceedingly gloomy and dark. The intrepid young skip- 
 per could only discern the sombre outlines of the islands 
 and the headlands of the main shore ; but these were suffi- 
 cient to enable him to lay his course. 
 
 Lieutenant Bankhead, though an older and perhaps a 
 better sailor, did not feel so much confidence in the 
 weatherly qualities of the Dashaway. He was accus- 
 tomed to large vessels, and he could not help realizing 
 that his life was in the keeping of the bold youth at the 
 helm. He was silent and thoughtful. His father was 
 dying at home ; and, without this solemn fact, a man 
 with a soul could not but be impressed and awed by the 
 wild war of the elements, within the circle of whose con- 
 tending forces the little bark that bore him on his mission 
 of parental affection was struggling on her course.
 
 28 THE SAILOR BOY; OB, 
 
 He was silent and anxious ; and John, fully alive to 
 the responsibility which rested upon him, was too busy 
 and too earnest to talk. The roaring of the wind, the 
 surging of the waves, and the thumping of the boat 
 against the sturdy sea, were the only sounds to be heard ; 
 and they were enough to occupy the whole mind of a 
 thinking being, and idle words seemed to be an insult to 
 the majesty of the storm. 
 
 On flew the Dashaway, till the dark form of Fort 
 Warren appeared like a gloomy shadow upon the eastern 
 sky. They were soon sheltered from the fierceness of 
 the blast by the high walls of the fortification, and the 
 boat came into comparatively still water. The spell 
 seemed to be broken ; and the lieutenant, who had hardly 
 spoken a word since the boat got under way, uttered 
 some hearty commendations of the skill of the boatman. 
 
 By the exercise of the same good judgment which had 
 enabled him to bring his little craft in safety through the 
 darkness and the storm to her destination, John, with 
 the assistance of his passenger, laid her alongside the 
 wharf which forms the only landing-place at the island. 
 Here, as Mr. Bankhead had anticipated, a serious diffi- 
 culty presented itself. The fort was at that time, as it is 
 at present, used as a place of confinement for political 
 prisoners. Messrs. Mason and Slidell had just been 
 placed within its strong walls, to meditate upon the folly 
 and crime of rebellion against the best government on
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 29 
 
 earth ; and the military regulations, which excluded the 
 curious and the lawless, were necessarily very stringent. 
 
 "Keep off, keep off!" shouted the sentinel on the 
 wharf, as the boat rounded up by the pier, " keep off,, 
 or I'll lire into you ! " 
 
 " I am Lieutenant Bankhead, of the United-States 
 Navy ; and I come on business of pressing importance." 
 
 " Show your pass," replied the guard hoarsely. 
 
 " I have no pass." 
 
 " Keep off, then, or I will fire ! My orders are very 
 strict." 
 
 "Will you pass the word for the officer of the guard?" 
 
 " I can't do it. Keep off, or I must fire ! " 
 
 " One word, and I will go. Who is officer of the 
 day ? " demanded the lieutenant. 
 
 " Captain Bankhead." 
 
 " He is my brother. His father is dying. You can 
 put the boatman and myself under guard." 
 
 This statement seemed to produce an effect upon the 
 sentinel, and he ordered both John and his passenger to 
 come upon the wharf. The corporal of the guard was 
 sent for, and soon appeared with a lantern in his hand, 
 which enabled him to see the shoulder-straps of Mr. 
 Bankhead. He directed them to get into the boat again, 
 while he despatched a man for Captain Bankhead. It 
 was some time before the latter appeared ; and then half
 
 30 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 I 
 
 an hour was consumed in seeing the commandant of the 
 fort and obtaining the necessary furlough. 
 
 It was after ten o'clock when the two brothers were 
 embarked on the Dashaway for the return trip. If there 
 was any change in the weather, it was for the worse. 
 The rain had begun to fall, and the gale had not decreased 
 in violence. 
 
 " Now, rny lad, you have two lives besides your own, 
 instead of one, in your keeping, and you must have a 
 sharp eye to windward," said Lieutenant Bankhead. 
 
 " I shall do the best I know how. We will run up 
 under the reefed foresail ; but a small boat going before 
 the wind makes worse weather than on any other tack. 
 She will shake you up a good deal ; but she will land 
 you at Pinchbrook Harbor in two hours from now, if 
 nothing happens," added John, as he cast off the painter, 
 and pushed off from the wharf. 
 
 "This is an awful night," said Captain Bankhead, 
 who, being no sailor, began to be filled with doubts 
 and fears as the Dashaway leaped forward upon her 
 course. 
 
 But, notwithstanding the doubts of the sailor and the 
 fears of the soldier, the brave little bark bore them safely 
 over the stormy waves, till in mid-channel, just below 
 Fort Independence, a dark object on the water, dead 
 ahead, attracted the attention of the watchful skipper. 
 
 " Sail ahead ! " said Lieutenant Baukhead.
 
 JACK SOMEItS IN THE NAVY. 31 
 
 " I see it, sir." 
 
 " I will go forward, and see how she heads." 
 The naval officer went out to the heel of the bowsprit 
 to determine the course of the approaching vessel. 
 " Steady," said he. 
 " Steady," replied John.
 
 32 THE SAILOR L Y ; OK, 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE SAILOR AND THE SOLDIER. 
 
 'HE approaching vessel, which appeared to be a 
 pilot-boat, was close-hauled, and was beating 
 down the harbor. Her course, at the time she 
 was discovered on board the Dashaway, was at a 
 sharp angle across that of the little schooner. She was 
 going off on the port side of the Dashaway ; and all dan- 
 ger of a collision seemed to be over, though Lieutenant 
 Bankhead still retained his position on the forecastle. 
 
 " Hard a-port the helm ! " shouted the naval officer 
 suddenly : " she is going in stays ! " 
 
 " Hard a-port it is ! " replied John promptly, as he put 
 the tiller in the direction indicated. 
 
 " Keep her away, keep her away ! Up with your 
 helm ! " screamed Mr. Bankhead, as the stranger came 
 about, with her sharp bows close aboard of the Dasha- 
 way. 
 
 John had obeyed the order of the lieutenant : but, at 
 the instant lie did so, he realized that it was a mistake, 
 which, if executed, would be likely to swamp the boat ;
 
 JACK SOMEBS IN THE NAVY. 33 
 
 and, the moment the foresail began to shake, he jammed 
 the helm hard down, at the same time hauling on the 
 fore-sheet, thus bringing her up to the wind. The Dash- 
 away began to draw again, and swept round in a graceful 
 curve : but the stranger was upon them ; and, to the eye 
 of the officer at the heel of the bowsprit, a collision Avas 
 inevitable. 
 
 " Jump for your lives ! " shouted he, as he sprang 
 from the forecastle of the Dashaway, intending to grasp 
 the bob-stay of the pilot-boat ; but he missed his mark, 
 and went into the water. 
 
 Captain Bankhead was about to follow the example of 
 his brother, and save himself from the impending wreck 
 of the Dashaway. 
 
 " Stay where you are ! " exclaimed John, seizing him 
 by the arm, as the Dashaway swept round, barely grazing 
 the bows of the stranger. " We are safe ! " 
 
 " But my brother is lost ! " replied he in an agony of 
 suspense. 
 
 " He leaped aboard the vessel." 
 
 " No : he fell into the water," gasped the captain. 
 
 The pilot-boat had swept by on her course ; but, on 
 discovering the accident, she came up with the wind. 
 
 ' Boat ahoy ! " cried a voice from the rolling waves. 
 
 John put the Dashaway about, and came up again 
 before the wind, heading for the spot, as nearly as he 
 could judge, whence the sound proceeded.
 
 34 THE SAILOR BOY; OS, 
 
 " Go forward, and haul him in, if you see him ! " said 
 John, sharply, to the soldier. 
 
 " Boat ahoy ! " again cried the lieutenant. 
 
 u I hear him ! " replied the captain, as he sprang for- 
 ward. "I see him ! " 
 
 A huge wave bore the struggling sailor upon its crest, 
 and his brother attempted to grasp his extended hand; 
 but the boat swayed off, placing him out of reach of the 
 willing soldier. But, fortunately, John saw the poor fel- 
 low, as the wave lifted him up ; and, putting the helm 
 down, he rushed to the side, and succeeded in grasping 
 the lieutenant by the arm. With the aid of the brother, 
 he was hauled on board, nearly exhausted by his struggles 
 with the augiy billows. 
 
 John sprang to the helm again ; for the boat had nearly 
 swamped by getting into the trough of the sea. Without 
 loss of time, he put her upon her course again. The 
 Dashaway had shipped a great deal of water ; and the 
 young skipper, without regarding the dignity of his pas- 
 sengers, ordered the captain to take the bucket, and bale 
 out the standing-room. 
 
 " Do it, Fred," said the lieutenant. " I can take care 
 of myself now." 
 
 "We are all right now. How do you feel?" asked 
 John of the sailor. 
 
 " I am almost used up ; but I shall be better in a few 
 moments," he answered feebly.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NA V Y. 35 
 
 In a short time he had recovered his breath, and was 
 able to assist the soldier in the labor of clearing the 
 standing-room of the water. When this work was com- 
 pleted, the boat rode easier over the seas, and confidence 
 was in a measure restored in the minds of the passengers, 
 who had seated themselves by the side of the skipper. 
 
 " I have been overboard twice before ; but I was never 
 so near being drowned as I have been to-night. My lad, 
 you have saved my life, and I shall never forget it as 
 long as I live," said Lieutenant Baukhead. 
 
 " I did the best I could for you, and I am sorry you 
 had such hard luck." 
 
 "If it had been I, that would have been the end of 
 me," added Captain Bankhead : "I should have gone to 
 the bottom like a stone." 
 
 " So should I, if Jack hadn't hauled me in just as he 
 did. My wind was about gone, and I should have given 
 up in half a minute more. Fred, do you know that 
 minutes seem like years when a man is overboard in 
 a heavy sea ? " 
 
 " I never tried it." 
 
 " When you missed your grasp, I gave up for lost ; for 
 I knew I couldn't hold out till the boat went round and 
 came up again. Jack, you are the pluckiest little fellow 
 I ever saw in my life." 
 
 " I tried to do what I could," replied John modestly. 
 
 " No one could have done more or better ; but, my
 
 36 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 lad, why didn't you put the helm hard a-port, as I told 
 you ? " 
 
 " It would have gybed the boat, and she would have 
 filled and gone down if I had." 
 
 " Perhaps you are right. You know your boat better 
 than I do." 
 
 " Besides, I was satisfied she would go clear if I 
 brought her up to the wind," added John. " If you had 
 stuck by the Dashaway, you would have been all right." 
 
 " But I was sure the schooner would come aboard of 
 us." 
 
 " It was a close shave : we only escaped by the skin 
 of our teeth. I wouldn't try it again for a hundred dol- 
 lars." * 
 
 " I wouldn't for a thousand." 
 
 "We may well thank God that we are still alive," 
 said the captain. 
 
 "With all my heart I do thank him," replied the 
 sailor reverently. " I shudder when I think of our poor 
 mother : what a blow it would have been to her in the 
 midst of her woe if only one of us had returned to close 
 the eyes of our dying father ! " 
 
 The brothers were silent during the rest of the passage ; 
 for thoughts too solemn and holy for utterance were stir- 
 ring their souls. Without further incident or accident, 
 the Dashaway reached her moorings. Lieutenant Bank- 
 head assisted John in making all snug on board of her, 
 after which they pulled ashore in the dory.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 37 
 
 " I never was so glad to set my foot on land before," 
 said Captain Bankhead, as he stepped upon the wharf. 
 " I am half frozen, as well as frightened out of my wits." 
 
 u I don't feel very comfortable ; but we have no time 
 to spare." 
 
 " I suppose not : it must be two o'clock in the morn- 
 ing," added the captain, whose teeth were chattering with 
 the cold. 
 
 As they walked up from the wharf, they discovered a 
 person approaching them. It was Captain Barney, at 
 whose stable Lieutenant Bankhead had left his horse. 
 He had been anxiously awaiting the return of the boat ; 
 for the howling wind and the cutting rain had raised 
 some doubts in his mind concerning the prudence of his 
 action in permitting Mr. Bankhead and John to venture 
 upon the bay on such a night. He had not expected to 
 see them yet, and was merely walking down to the wharf 
 to take an old sailor's glance at the sea and the weather. 
 
 "Is that you, Jack Somers?" said he, as he ap- 
 proached the party ; for it was too dark to make them 
 out with his eye. 
 
 " Yes, sir : we have come back safe and sound," re- 
 plied the young skipper, proud and happy that he had 
 succeeded in executing the duty imposed upon him. 
 
 " I am glad to see you, Bankhe'ad ; for I've been wor- 
 rying about you. It has blowed heavy ever since you 
 went away, and I began to be afraid that I had made a
 
 38 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 mistake in letting you go. Well, I see there are three 
 of you : so I suppose you found your brother." 
 
 "Yes, sir, Captain Barney, my brother," added the 
 lieutenant, introducing the parties, who were strangers to 
 each other. 
 
 "Happy to know you," replied the old gentleman. 
 " You are not a sailor, and I suppose you don't take this 
 kind of a night as kindly as your brother." 
 
 " It's a terrible night to go to sea, and I'm thankful to 
 be once more on the solid earth." 
 
 "So -am I," added Lieutenant Baukhead. "But, cap- 
 tain, we have no time to lose." 
 
 " Come into the house and warm you, while I get your 
 horse ready," said Captain Barney, as they reached the 
 hospitable mansion of the old shipmaster. 
 
 John volunteered to get the horse ; and the two officers 
 went into the house, where their kind host insisted upon 
 providing them with dry clothing. By the time the horse 
 was ready, they had not only put on dry garments, but 
 they had related the history of their perilous cruise, and 
 given John Somers the highest commendation for the 
 skill, coolness, and energy with which he had discharged 
 his duty. 
 
 " He saved my life, and I shall never forget him," said 
 Lieutenant Bankhead in conclusion. 
 
 " He's a smart fellow," added Captain Barney. 
 
 " He wants to go into the navy : and, if I can have any
 
 JACK SOMERS 7JV THE NAVY. 39 
 
 influence with his mother, he shall go ; for we want as 
 many such fellows as we can get." 
 
 The two brothers shook hands with Captain Barney 
 and John, and the lieutenant promised to visit Finch- 
 brook again as soon as he could. Though it was only 
 half-past twelve o'clock, instead of two, the sad mission 
 which had induced him to venture upon the water ia 
 such a night urged him to the utmost haste, and he 
 drove off at a rapid pace. 
 
 " Jack, you are a smart boy ! " said the captain 
 bluntly, as the vehicle disappeared in the gloom. " You 
 have done a big thing to-night, and it may be the making 
 of you. Come into the house and warm yourself now. 
 I've got some hot coffee and a lunch on the table." 
 
 " Thank you, sir ; but mother will be worrying about 
 me, and I think I had better go home as soon as I can." 
 
 " That's right, Jack : you are a good boy. Always 
 look out for your mother. But you must have a cup of 
 coffee and a bite before you go." 
 
 The old gentleman insisted ; and John concluded that 
 the coffee and eatables would enable him to walk enough 
 faster to make up for lost time : so he followed Captain 
 Barney into the house, and consumed a marvellously 
 large quantity of bread and ham in a marvellously short 
 space of time, very much to his own satisfaction, and 
 not less to that of his bountiful host. 
 
 'Jack!" said Captain Barney, who sat in his arm- 
 chair, watching the busy jaws of his young friend.
 
 40 ,. THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " Sir," replied he, not in a very clear tone ; for his 
 mouth was too full for a favorable exhibition of the hu- 
 man voice. 
 
 " You have made a good friend to-night." 
 
 '' Yes, sir ; but I only did my duty." 
 
 " Did your duty, you dog ! " roared the captain, laugh- 
 ing heartily. " That's just what I've been saying. It's 
 every man's duty to do the best he can, blow high or 
 blow 'low; but blow me, Jack, if there's one man in a 
 thousand that does it. Why, Jack, if every man did his 
 duty, Ave should all be angels, and every rogue would be 
 fit to make a parson of." 
 
 " I couldn't do any less than I did ; but I thought the 
 lieutenant had piped down for the last time when I saw 
 him go overboard," replied the happy boy, as he finished 
 his lunch. "Now I must go home, sir. I will come 
 down in the morning, and put the boat in order." 
 
 " Well, go home, Jack, and quiet your mother ; and 
 within a month you Avill be a reefer on board a man-of- 
 war. Good-night, Jack." 
 
 " Good-night, sir." 
 
 John walked home as fast as his legs would cany him ; 
 for he knew his mother was worrying about him, and 
 would not go to bed till he returned. I need not tell my 
 readers how gladly she welcomed him home after the 
 dangers through which he had passed, nor with what a 
 motherly interest she listened to the story of the cruiso,
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE ARMY. 41 
 
 nor record the exclamations of wonder and alarm with 
 which she interlarded the exciting narrative. But, before 
 two o'clock, John was sound asleep, dreaming of batteries 
 and broadsides, bobstays and bowlines, great guns, cut- 
 lasses, and boarding-pikes.
 
 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE NAVAL, RENDEZVOUS. 
 
 BOUT a week after the events recorded in the 
 preceding chapters, Lieutenant Baukhead paid 
 another visit to Pinchbrook ; but the way had 
 already been prepared for him. Mrs. Somers, 
 finding that she should be compelled to yield to the tre- 
 mendous pressure which would be brought to bear upon 
 her, had already decided to yield gracefully and without 
 a struggle. Captain Barney had used his eloquence to 
 some purpose ; but the strong desire of John to serve his 
 country was the most powerful influence acting upon her 
 mind. 
 
 On the morning after the captain's visit, John was 
 somewhat surprised to hear her open the subject herself, 
 without any prompting on his part. 
 
 " I have been thinking about your going into the navy, 
 John, ever since I waked up this morning." 
 
 "Have you? Well, what do you think about it, 
 mother?" replied John. 
 
 " I have come to the conclusion that you had better go, 
 if you want to."
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 43 
 
 " Of course, I want to go ; but I dou't want to go if 
 you are not willing. I shouldn't have a moment's com- 
 fort if I thought you were worrying about me all the 
 time." 
 
 " I don't think I should worry any more if you were 
 gone than I have for the last two or three months." 
 
 " Well, I didn't mean to drive you into letting me go." 
 
 " You haven't. I've made up my mind that you will 
 just be as well off in the navy as you will be at home. 
 You always was a good boy ; and I expect you will be- 
 have yourself wherever you go." 
 
 " I always mean to do that, mother. A fellow can't 
 be a very bad boy in the navy, they are so strict." 
 
 So it was decided that John should go into the navy ; 
 and there wasn't haTT ro much friction about the matter 
 as he thought there would be when the final action should 
 qome. His mother seemed to be entirely satisfied to 
 have him go ; and she was more cheerful for the few 
 days following the decision than she had been before. 
 AH doubt and anxiety on the subject were removed, and 
 she was disposed to look on the bright side of the case 
 
 When Lieutenant Bankhcad appeared, there was no 
 occasion for the array of excellent and convincing argu- 
 ments which he had provided to overcome the mother's 
 repugnance to the proposed step. 
 
 "Is your son at home, madam?" said he, after the 
 introductory remarks were concluded.
 
 44 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " Yes, sir : he is out in the garden. I have sent Jenny 
 after him, and he will be here in a few moments." 
 
 " I suppose you know what kind of a time we had 
 upon the water the other night," continued the visitor. 
 
 " Yes, sir : John told me all about it." 
 
 " And, of course, he told you how deeply I am in- 
 debted to him for the service he rendered me ? " 
 
 " He didn't say much about that," replied Mrs. Som- 
 ers, who did not know but that he might think her son 
 had criticised the conduct of his passenger on that event- 
 ful night. 
 
 " He is a brave little fellow, and I owe him a debt I 
 shall never be able to repay." 
 
 " Oh, well ! John don't mind that." 
 
 " But I mind it ; and I should have been here before to 
 repeat my thanks, if the death of my father had not pre- 
 vented." 
 
 " John thought ever so much of you ; and I rather 
 think he is much obliged to you for falling overboard, 
 and giving him a chance to pull you into the boat. But 
 you are not the first man that John has pulled out of the 
 water," added the mother proudly. 
 
 " I am very glad to have obliged him, though it is not 
 every young man whom I should be willing to oblige in 
 that manner. But, madam, your son wishes to go into 
 the navy." 
 
 i; Yes, sir ; he has been wanting to go ever since the
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 45 
 
 war broke out : but I couldn't make up my mind to let 
 him go before ; and John isn't a boy that would go with- 
 out his mother's leave." 
 
 " Good boys always love and respect their mothers." 
 
 " But I've made up my mind to let him go just as soon 
 as he has a mind to. He wanted to go off and sign the 
 papers yesterday ; but I told him he had better wait till 
 he saw you." 
 
 " Indeed ! I am very glad you have consented. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; I thought it would not do any good to hold" 
 out any longer : and John 'is a good boy, and will be- 
 have himself wherever he goes. Here he comes : he 
 can speak for himself.' 
 
 Lieutenant Bankhead rose, and grasped the hand of 
 John as he entered the room ; and, after they had talked 
 a while about their trip to Fort Warren, the subject near- 
 est to the young man's heart was again brought up for 
 consideration. His grateful friend gave him all the in- 
 formation necessary for his guidance in the important 
 step he was about to take. It was decided that John 
 should enter the navy on the following day ; but, as the- 
 ship to which Mr. Bankhead had been ordered would not 
 be ready for sea for a few weeks, it was thought best, for 
 several reasons, that the young sailor should enlist in 
 Boston, and spend the period of his probation on board 
 the receiving-ship at Charlestown. The arrangements 
 having been completed, and an appointment made for
 
 46 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 John to meet his friend in the city at noon the next day, 
 Mr. Bankhead rose to take his leave. 
 
 " Jack, I dare say you may think I am a very forget- 
 ful man," continued the lieutenant, with a smile upon 
 his handsome face. 
 
 "Forgetful? I don't understand you, sir. I'm sure 
 I never thought any thing of the kind," replied John, 
 blushing up to his eyes. 
 
 " You know, I promised to give you ten dollars if you 
 brought me back safely from the fort the other night." 
 
 " I never thought of it, sir." 
 
 " Well, I did ; though the illness of my father drove 
 it out of my head for the timo," added the officer, tak- 
 ing out his porte-monnaie. 
 
 "Really, sir, I don't want you to give me a cent. I 
 don't ask any thing for what I did." 
 
 " I don't care what you want, Jack. My conscience, 
 wouldn't let me sleep at night, if I didn't keep my prom- 
 ise. Oh ! you needn't blush, my boy : I'm not going to 
 pay you ; but I want to make you a small present, and 
 my brother insisted upon adding something to my little 
 gift. Here is mine, and here is my brother's ; " and Mr. 
 Bankhead handed him first a hundred-dollar bill, and then 
 a fifty-dollar bill. 
 
 "Why, sir, I"- 
 
 " Take them, Jack, just to oblige me," added the lieu- 
 tenant.
 
 JACK SOHERS IN THE NAVY. 47 
 
 " No, sir : I can't take all this money. It will bum 
 my fingers if I keep it." 
 
 " If you feel afraid of it, just hand it to your mother, 
 who, I dare say, will find a good use for it." 
 
 John protested, and Mrs. Somers protested ; they pro- 
 tested singly and together : but the officer was resolute, 
 and positively refused to take back the bills. 
 
 " If I thought I could pay you, Jack, in money, I 
 should have given you a thousand dollars. There is an 
 elderly lady, who lives only seven miles from here, who 
 is just as grateful to you as I am ; and, when she feels 
 able to leave home, she is coming over to see your mother ; 
 and I know they will be the best friends in the world." 
 
 "Who, sir?" 
 
 " My mother, Jack. She already thinks a great deal 
 of you, my boy ; and, when she sees you, she will not 
 think tliB less of you." 
 
 Lieutenant Baukhead took his leave ; and John and his 
 mother were so bewildered when he had gone, that they 
 hardly knew what had happened during his visit. But 
 there were the two bank-bills to attest the reality of what 
 had occurred ; and the rest of the day was spent in mak- 
 ing preparations for the sailor-boy's departure. The 
 question of what should be done with the hundred and 
 fifty dollars caused considerable discussion ; for Mrs. 
 Somers thought it should be placed to John's credit in 
 the Savings Bank, and he declared she must use it to
 
 48 THE SAILOR JiOY; OR, 
 
 make herself comfortable until he could get some money 
 to send home. John was the stronger party in the ar- 
 gument ; and the money was carefully deposited in the 
 bureau-drawer, to be expended as the necessities of the 
 family might require. 
 
 The next morning, John rose very early, and did his 
 " chores " about the house as usual. These were his 
 last hours at home ; and, though he Avas not a very senti- 
 mental lad, he couldn't help visiting all the familiar spots 
 in the vicinity, and recalling all the pleasant little inci- 
 dents of the past. He might never see them again ; and, 
 when he left the little chamber which Thomas and him- 
 self had occupied since they were old enough to leave 
 the trundle-bed, he was weak enough to shed a few tears. 
 He compared his comfortable bed with a hammock on 
 the berth-deck of a sloop-of-war ; but, when he thought 
 that he was going forth to fight for the glorious stripes 
 and stars, he was reconciled to any privations which he 
 might be called upon to endure. 
 
 The hour for his departure came ; aiid after his mother 
 had given him a few words of counsel, and a blessing 
 warm from her heart, he kissed his sisters, shook hands 
 with Gran'ther Greene, and rushed out of the house 
 before any one had an opportunity to shed many tears. 
 At the railroad station he found many of his young 
 friends who had come to see him off : but the train was 
 approaching ; and after Captain Barney had wrung his
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 49 
 
 hand, and his friends had given him a hearty God-speed, 
 he stepped into a car, and, as it seemed to him, actually 
 entered upon his career as a sailor-boy. 
 
 If our space would permit, we could, no doubt, tell 
 what Jack Somers was thinking about as the train hurled 
 him along into the arms of his future destiny. He was a 
 good boy, and I suppose he thought of every thing that 
 would be likely to occur to the mind of a good boy leav- 
 ing home to take a part in the most momentous war in 
 which a nation ever engaged. But, of whatever else he 
 thought, I am sure that his mother was uppermost in 
 his mind. For her sake he was resolved to be true to his 
 God, his country, and himself. 
 
 At the appointed time, he met Lieutenant Bankhead at 
 the 'hotel where he was boarding while in the city ; and 
 after dinner they repaired to the naval rendezvous, where 
 John was duly presented for examination under the aus- 
 pices of his influential friend. 
 
 "Your name, my lad?" demanded the recruiting 
 agent. 
 
 " John Somers," replied our hero with a promptness 
 which was part of his nature. 
 
 " How old are you? " 
 
 " Seventeen, sir." 
 
 " Have you been to sea?" 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " How long?" 
 4
 
 50 TE^ SAILOR BOY; O It, 
 
 " One voyage to the West Indies, and two to Charles- 
 ton. I have been about boats ever since I was a baby." 
 
 " I can vouch for him that he is every inch a sailor," 
 added Lieutenant Bankhead ; "and the smartest lad in a 
 small craft I ever came across in my life." 
 
 " Looks like it," said the agent. " What can you do, 
 my lad ? " 
 
 " Hand, reef, and steer. I know something about rig- 
 ging ; but I don't want to ship as an able seaman." 
 
 " Good : ordinary seaman, then ; though you are rather 
 young." 
 
 " Better than half of them in the service," said Jack's 
 friend. 
 
 "All right, Mr. Bankhead. We will take your Avord 
 for it." 
 
 " I ought to know : I have sailed with him when I 
 wouldn't trust myself in the hands of many a skipper 
 that I have known." 
 
 John was then taken into another room, where he was 
 ordered to " strip," and was thoroughly examined with 
 regard to his physical condition. A minute description 
 of his person was then written out, including his height, 
 complexion, color of his eyes, and other distinguishing 
 marks, which would enable his officers to identify him if 
 occasion should require. He was pronounced sound in 
 every respect, and fit to serve the United-States Govern- 
 ment in the capacity of an ordinary seaman.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY: 51 
 
 The men on board a ship-of-war are shipped in three 
 classes : landsmen, who know nothing about a ship ; ordi- 
 nary seamen, who can " hand, reef, and steer," and who 
 are sent aloft to perform the ordinary work of a sailor ; 
 and seamen, sometimes called " able seamen," who are 
 competent to do every thing required in fitting out and 
 working the ship ; who know all about rigging, splicing 
 ropes, making and mending sails ; who can rig and unrig 
 any spar ; and who understand the lead. 
 
 Landsmen, at the time of which we write, received 
 twelve dollars a month. They remain on deck, haul the 
 halyards, braces, and other ropes which are worked on 
 deck, clean up, and do general work. The pay of an 
 ordinary seaman was fourteen dollars a month ; and of a 
 seaman, eighteen. There are also three classes of boys, 
 called first, second, and third class boys, according to 
 their knowledge and physical ability, who received, 
 respectively, nine, eight, and seven dollars a month. 
 
 When a sailor ships for the navy, he is supplied with 
 clothing, and other articles of comfort and luxury, upon 
 credit ; that is, the value of the goods is charged to 
 him, to be deducted from his future wages. As my 
 readers may be curious to know the contents of Jack 
 Somers's bag, I shall add a list of the articles with which 
 lie was supplied, and the prices of them :
 
 52 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 Pea Jacket, $12 00 
 
 Blue Cloth Jacket, ; 10 00 
 
 pair Blue Cloth Pants, 4 00 
 
 " " Satinet do 3 00 
 
 Blue Cap, 1 00 
 
 2 " Flannel Shirts, 400 
 
 2 "White Frocks, 3 00 
 
 2 " Inside Shirts, 3 00 
 
 2 pairs Drawers, 3 00 
 
 2 " Duck Pants, 3 00 
 
 2 " Stockings, 1 00 
 
 1 pair Shoes, 2 00 
 
 1 Neck Handkerchief, '. 1 50 
 
 1 Tin Pot and Pan, 75 
 
 1 Jack-knife and Spoon, 50 
 
 1 Bar Soap and Scrubbing-Brush, 1 00 
 
 1 Shoe-brush and Blacking, 50 
 
 1 Kazor, Shaving-box, and Soap, 2 15 
 
 $55 40 
 
 Jack blushed when the last-named articles were handed 
 to him ; but, as he had already made some efforts to 
 coax a little feathery down upon his upper lip to vegetate 
 more rapidly than Nature was disposed, he determined to 
 persevere, in the hope that he might surprise his friends, 
 at the expiration of his term, by presenting himself be- 
 fore them with a full-grown beard. 
 
 Men may draw two pounds of tobacco ; but it is not 
 allowed if the sailor is under twenty.
 
 JACK SOME US IN THE NAVY. 53 
 
 Our hero was appalled at the extent of his wardrobe : 
 but Mr. Bankhead assured him he would find a use for 
 every thing he had, unless it was the shaving imple- 
 ments ; which made Jack blush again, as though it were 
 wicked to shave.
 
 54 THE SAILOR BOY; OB, 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 ON BOARD THE OHIO. 
 
 N board the receiving-ship Ohio, to which all 
 -J naval recruits in the vicinity of Boston are sent, 
 Jack reported to the officer of the deck ; and 
 after his name had been registered, and sundry 
 particulars in regard to him entered upon the ship's books, 
 he was sent forward. A number for -his hammock, and 
 another for his clothes-bag, were given him ; and he was 
 assigned to a mess. Mr. Bankhead, having done all he 
 could for his protege, and stated his intentions in regard 
 to him, took his leave ; and Jack found himself alone, 
 though there were hundreds of men on board the ship. 
 
 Though Jack was alone so far as acquaintances were 
 concerned, there was no opportunity to be lonesome ; for 
 the gun-deck was thronged with men. There were old 
 sailors who had been fifty years in the navy, and " green 
 hands" who had just come from the country, and had 
 never seen a ship till within a few days. There wore 
 rough, hard-visaged men, and those with no small pre- 
 tensions to gentility. There were men of all colors and 
 of every nation.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 55 
 
 It was a lively scene, whichever way he turned ; and 
 Jack sat down upon a mess-chest to observe the strange 
 sights, and listen to the strange sounds. Some of the 
 men were walking up and down the deck for exercise ; 
 some were playing cards, dominoes, and similar games ; 
 some were reading, and some were mending their clothes. 
 It was an interesting prospect to a young man full of 
 life ; but he could not help thinking of the happy 
 home in Pinchbrook, and the devoted mother who was 
 the central figure in the picture. On the whole, he did 
 not like his surroundings very well. The place did not 
 seem much like a ship, and he hoped he should not have 
 to be confined a great while on board the old hulk. 
 
 While he was thinking of home and friends, and trying 
 to bring his imagination to bear upon the future, a ring- 
 ing blow on the top of his head confused his ideas, and 
 completely upset "the air-castle which he had erected m 
 his vivid fancy. 
 
 " Heave up, my hearty ! " exclaimed the author of this 
 wanton mischief, as he brought the large tin pan he 
 carried in his hand down upon Jack's head a second 
 time. 
 
 "What are you about?" demanded the contemplative 
 young man, springing to his feet. 
 
 " Get off the mess-chest, then, so I can get at the 
 grub," replied the man in a surly tone. 
 
 " Why didn't you say so, then?"
 
 56 THE SAILOR BOY, OR, 
 
 " I did say so." 
 
 " Well, you had better not hit me in just that style 
 again," added Jack angrily. 
 
 " Shut up, you young monkey ! Do you think I'm 
 going to bow and scrape to every lubber that chooses to 
 moor his carcass on the mess-chest? Now sheer off, and 
 keep out of the way." 
 
 Jack did not move, and, withal, wore so dignified and 
 independent an air, that the man, who had charge of. the 
 mess to which the recruit was ordered, struck him once 
 more, on the side of the head, with the tin pan. This 
 was rather more than Jack's warm blood could endure, 
 and more than his philosophy was proof against. Re- 
 gardless of the rigid discipline of a man-of-war, he in- 
 stantly squared off, and planted a smart blow of his fist 
 upon the face of the surly fellow. With a volley of 
 heavy oaths, the cook of the mess sprang at him with the 
 ferocity of a tiger. Jack, who was cooler, defended him- 
 self on scientific principles, and repeated his "practice" 
 upon the physiognomy of his antagonist with such effect, 
 that either because his blows were tremendous, or be- 
 cause there was a spot of grease on the deck, his assail- 
 ant went down. 
 
 "Avast there, Spriggs ! " shouted an old and dignified 
 salt, who was mending his pants near the scene, 
 " avast there, and let the youngster alone ! 
 
 For a moment, the blue-jackets on the gun-deck revelled
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 57 
 
 in the anticipation of a fight. A crowd began to gather ; 
 but the sport was quickly nipped in the bud by the ap- 
 pi-iirance of a couple of marines with cutlasses in their 
 hands, each of whom seized one of the belligerents. 
 
 "What's all this about?" asked one of the marines. 
 
 "What's it about?" replied Spriggs. "Why, that 
 young lubber hit me side of the head ; and I don't let any 
 man this side of Gibraltar do that." 
 
 " He struck me three times on the head with the tin 
 pun." added Jack ; " and no man this side of Gibraltar, 
 01- the other side cither, can do that." . 
 
 " I shall report you to the officer of the deck," said 
 the marine, as a couple of ship's corporals appeared, and 
 were left to enforce a strict neutrality between the par- 
 ties. 
 
 In a few moments the master-at-arms presented him- 
 self, and Jack and Spriggs were ordered to the spar-deck 
 for examination. The parties were conducted into the 
 awful presence of the officer of the deck, before whom all 
 of them, including the master-at-arms, and Tom Long- 
 stone, the old seaman who had witnessed the affray, 
 reverently touched their hats ; which is the usual token 
 of respect to an officer on board a ship-of-war. 
 
 " Well, my lad, you have made a bad beginning," be- 
 gan the officer of the deck, who was no doubt pained to 
 see the protuye of Lieutenant Bankhead thus early impli- 
 cated in a disturbance.
 
 L>8 THE SAILOR BOY: OK, 
 
 " It was not my fault, sir," replied Jack. 
 
 " I beg your honor's pardou : but the youngster hit 
 me side of the head ; and what I did, yer honor, was in 
 self-defence," said Spriggs. 
 
 " How's that, my lad?" demanded the officer. 
 
 " It is not true, sir. I was sitting on the chest, whsn 
 he came up behind me, and struck me over the head 
 with a tin pan." 
 
 " Yes, your honor : he was sodgering on the mess- 
 chest, and wouldn't get out of the way, so I could get the 
 hard-tack out for supper." 
 
 " Then you struck him first?" asked the officer sternly. 
 
 " He wouldn't move till I did," added Spriggs sourly. 
 
 " He didn't ask me to move, and I did not know he 
 was near me till he struck me." 
 
 " That's a fact, yer honor," interposed Tom Long- 
 stone. " The youngster was peaceable enough till Spriggs 
 hit him, and he did not strike back till he was hit three 
 times." 
 
 The two marines fully confirmed this testimony, 
 though they had not witnessed the scene which preceded 
 the affray. Spriggs was immediately ordered to the 
 place of confinement on the orlop-deck, there to subsist 
 for twenty-four hours on bread and water, with irons on 
 his ankles. 
 
 " Now, my lad, you are a green hand on board of a 
 man-of-war," said the officer of the deck, when the guilty
 
 JACK SO MESS IN THE NAVY. 59 
 
 party had been conducted below. " You must learn that 
 fighting is lever tolerated under any circumstances. This 
 is your first offence, and I shall let you off." 
 
 " I beg pardon, sir," stammered Jack, his face as red 
 as the crimson bunting in the ensign at the peak, "I 
 beg pardon, sir ; but I could not help it." 
 
 " Yes, you could help it. "We don't tolerate fighting. 
 If you have any complaints to make, you will have a 
 chance to be heard. Now go to your mess, and remem- 
 ber what I have said." 
 
 Jack touched his hat as he saw the others do, and 
 went below. He was perfectly willing to remember what 
 the officer had told him: but it did not exactly accord 
 with his ideas ; and he was very much afraid, that, under, 
 the same temptation, he should be likely to repeat the 
 offence. ' 
 
 " There, youngster, you've larned a lesson," said Tom 
 Longstone, as he settled himself upon the mess-bench, 
 and resumed his labors at the dilapidated trousers he was 
 attempting to restore to their former state of usefulness. 
 
 " I'm much obliged to you for what you said for me," 
 replied Jack, as he took a seat by the side of the old 
 salt. 
 
 " You're welcome, my hearty. I hope you won't need 
 a word from me again to keep you out of the 'brig,' 
 which is the prison on board a man-of-war." 
 
 " I hope not ; but I can't stand it to be thumped round, 
 as Spriggs began with me."
 
 60 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " You are smart and spunky, my lad ; and I like you 
 for't : but, when one of them ere flunkies strikes you 
 foul, you must sarve 'im out some other way." 
 
 " I don't know any better way to serve out a bully 
 than to give him as good as he sends, on the spot." 
 
 " Nor I neither, my lad ; but 'twou't do board a man- 
 o'-war. That's beatin' to wind'ard for the sake o' runnin' 
 on the rocks. Sheer off, and sarve 'im out some other 
 way." 
 
 "A fellow will be bullied and. trodden upon by every 
 petty tyrant in the ship, if he submits to it." 
 
 " No, he won't, youngster. A man finds his level 
 board a man-o'-war just as he docs everywhere else. 
 If a man behaves himself, everybody officers and all 
 will treat him with respecL I've been in the navy thirty 
 years, and I know it's a fact." 
 
 "What could I do, when that man struck me? If I 
 had submitted, he and others around Avould have re- 
 peated the insult." 
 
 " Sarve him out some other way," replied old Tom 
 mysteriously. 
 
 " I don't understand what you mean." 
 
 " You'll larn, my fightin'-cock," added Tom with a 
 cunning smile. 
 
 " What would you have done if Spriggs had struck 
 you on the head with a tin pan ? " 
 
 " He wouldn't have done that to Tom Longstone, nor 
 any other man board this ' guardo.' "
 
 SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 61 
 
 " Perhaps not ; but suppose he had ? " 
 
 " I should have knocked him over, just as you did, my 
 spunky one." 
 
 " But then you would have gone into a fight." 
 
 " Not I, my lad. I should have sheered off as soon as 
 I had a done it ; and left the ship's corporals to take care 
 of him, if he wasn't satisfied. I might have cut down his 
 hammock arter he turned in, or dropped a belayin'-pin 
 on his toes, or something of that sort ; but I shouldn't 
 get up a fight with him. The fact is, my crank little 
 one, an ill-tempered fellow is sarved out so many ways, 
 board a man-o'-war, that he soon larns to mind his own 
 business." 
 
 " "Well, I dare say I shall soon learn the ways of my 
 new shipmates ; but I don't half like the fashion of 
 hitting a fellow in the dark." 
 
 " You can't fight it out board the ship, and you won't 
 stand it to be bullied by a flunky. As to hitting 'im in 
 the dark, my little breezer, that's all in your eye. Your 
 flunky knows who does it, and so does every man in the 
 ship. That's our way of sarvin' 'im out." 
 
 " Very likely I shall get used to it in a short time : at 
 any rate, I mean to do my duty faithfully, obey orders, 
 arid keep up to the discipline of the ship." 
 
 " That's right, my jolly bantam : that's the way to get 
 along in the navy." 
 
 Tom Longstone was a veteran in the navy, and knew
 
 62 THE SAILOR BOY, OR, , 
 
 every rope in the ship, as well as every quirk in its dis- 
 cipline, and was thoroughly posted in all the supersti- 
 tions and traditions of the service. For some reason or 
 other, perhaps because he had displayed the spirit of 
 a man, the old salt was strongly prejudiced in Jack's 
 favor at the first interview, and proceeded, in due form, 
 to take him under his protection. Tom pumped him dry 
 in regard to his parents, his native place, his antecedents 
 upon the sea and the land. He examined him in sea- 
 manship, inquired carefully into his moral and religious 
 principles, as carefully as though Jack had been a 
 candidate for the situation of chaplain instead of ordinary 
 seaman, and was particularly nice in his inquiries into 
 the incipient hero's patriotism. 
 
 "You see, my jolly little clipper, I believe in two 
 things : one on 'em is the Bible, and t'other the 'Meriken 
 flag. I never thro wed a vote in my life, and never had 
 nothin' to do with politics ; but the man that says any 
 thing agin the 'Meriken flag, why, smash my cutwater, 
 but he's my enemy ! Them's my sentiments, Jack. I 
 haven't got no other creed, in politics or religion. Stand 
 by the Bible and the 'Meriken flag, my hearty, and it'll 
 be all right with you in this world and t'other one too. 
 Steady ! there's the boatswain's whistle piping to supper. 
 Here, my jolly biscuit-nibbler, stow your little carcass in 
 here, and I'll see that the sharks don't gnaw your walk- 
 ing-timber s off."
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY G3 
 
 Tom Longstone seated himself at the mess-table, upon 
 which the grub had been placed, during the conversation, 
 by a steward pro tern., who had been deputed to serve in 
 the place of Spriggs. They did not have hot biscuits 
 and baked apples for supper ; but the fare was good, 
 wholesome, and abundant in quantity. Jack Avas intro- 
 duced to his mess-mates, in man-of-war style, by Tom ; 
 and very soon the conversation turned upon the events 
 which had occurred before supper, and our hero was duly 
 commended and admired for his manliness. 
 
 " He'll larn better how to sarve out a flunky one of 
 these days," said Tom, who was proud of his protege. 
 " That's just the way you'll sarve out the rebels, my lad : 
 lay 'em aboard, and carry 'em all standing." 
 
 " I hope I shall behave myself on such an occasion," 
 replied Jack modestly. " I came into the navy to fight 
 for my country, and I intend to do my duty." 
 
 " That's the idea, my merry little piper. Stand by 
 the stars and stripes as long as there's a plank left." 
 
 " I reckon some of us will be drafted before long," 
 added Ben Blinks, a weatherly old tar, who had just re- 
 turned from a foreign cruise, and shipped again for three 
 years. 
 
 " The sooner the better," said Jack with enthusiasm. 
 
 " I've been aboard the guardo about as long as I want 
 to be," coiiliiim-d Bob Rushiagtoii, a man-of-war dandy, 
 who wore ear-rings, and had shining black curls,
 
 64 THE SAILOR EOT; OR, 
 
 " I say, Jack, who's the officer that convoyed you 
 aboard ? " demanded Tom Longstone. 
 
 " Lieutenant Bankhead." 
 
 " Baukhead? He is a gentleman and a scholar. I've 
 heard good things of him." 
 
 " He promised to have me drafted into his ship," added 
 Jack. 
 
 " Good, my little honey-bee ; and, if he takes you, he 
 must take me," said Tom, bringing his fist down upon 
 the mess-table. . 
 
 " I think he would be very glad to have you." . 
 
 " Suppose you put in a word for me." 
 
 " I will, with pleasure." 
 
 "And for me," added Blinks. 
 
 *' Likewise for me," suggested Rushington. 
 
 Half a dozen others made a like request ; and Jack did 
 not know but he should have the pleasure of drafting the 
 whole crew for Mr. Bankhead's ship. But, after con- 
 sultation with Tom, he decided to use his influence only 
 for Blinks and Rushington : first, because he liked them ; 
 and, second, because Tom said they were first-rate sea- 
 men.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN TUB NAVY. 65 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 JACK TAKES A LESSON IN DISCIPLINE. 
 
 N the following day, Spriggs was released from 
 confinement ; having served out his twenty-four 
 hours upon bread aud water. He was ordered 
 to resume his duties as cook of the mess. He 
 looked at Jack with an evil eye : but, as our hero was 
 under the powerful protection of three old men-of-war's 
 men, he behaved tolerably well ; and Jack, willing to for- 
 give him, treated him as handsomely as though nothing 
 had happened to disturb their friendly relations. 
 
 " Just keep an eye to windward, my lad," said Blinks 
 after supper. " Spriggs looks as though he meant mis- 
 chief." 
 
 ' Thank you, I will," replied Jack ; " though I am 
 willing to let by-gones go for nothing." 
 
 "Spriggs isn't: so just keep your weather-eye wide 
 open." 
 
 " Do you think he will attempt to whip me? " 
 " Not he ; he has got enough of that : but he'll upset 
 a pot of hot tea in your lap, or do some dirty trick of 
 that sort." 
 
 I
 
 66 THE SAILOR B O- Y ; OR, 
 
 " I'll look out for him." 
 
 " Just keep riglit up stiff into the wind, and we'll see 
 you through if he attempts to fool you." 
 
 Jack paid no apparent attention to Spriggs, though he 
 kept a close watch upon all his movements. When the 
 hammocks were piped down at night, he observed that 
 his enemy kept a sharp eye upon him, and he had no 
 doubt he intended mischief. He mentioned his suspi- 
 cions to Blinks^ whose hammock was slung next to his 
 own." 
 
 "All right: he's got your bearings, and he means to 
 cut you down." 
 
 " I don't see that I can help myself, unless I keep 
 awake all night." 
 
 " Yes, you can : we'll rig a dummy for you." 
 
 Blinks explained his plan ; and, with the assistance of 
 his other friends, they deposited four twenty-four-pound 
 shot in Jack's hammock. Another shot was slung over 
 the hook, in such a manner that the ropeyarn which held 
 it in position would be severed when the revengeful vil- 
 lain cut the lanyard of the hammock. Bob Rushington 
 then stowed himself away under the lee of the mainmast, 
 and Jack occupied his hammock. All these preparations 
 had been very carefully conducted, so as to avoid the keen 
 scrutiny of the master-at-arms and the ship's corporals, 
 who form the active police of a man-of-war ; but it is 
 more than probable tluvt one of the latter officers knew
 
 JACK SO ME US IN THE NAVY. 67 
 
 all about the proceedings, and was quite willing that 
 Spriggs should be " sarved out " in his own coin. 
 
 The conspirators kept themselves wide awake, though 
 they were careful to avoid an open breach of discipline. 
 The lights were all put out, so that nothing could be seen ; 
 and silence reigned upon the decks of the Ohio, on which 
 were berthed not less than a thousand men. Jack was 
 nervous and expectant. Four bells ten o'clock 
 struck ; and he began to be very sleepy, and impatient 
 for the trap to be sprung. At five bells, he began to 
 think that he had mistaken the purpose of his malignant 
 enemy ; and he was just going to sleep, when down thun- 
 dered the cannon-balls upon the deck, rolling off into the 
 scuppers with a noise like the mutteriugs of a distant 
 tempest. At the same time, a heavy groan saluted the 
 ears of the aroused sleepers, as Avell as of the ingenious 
 conspirators who had plotted .and executed the mischief. 
 
 "What's the row?" demanded Blinks, as innocently 
 as though he had just been awakened from the slumber 
 of innocence itself. " Who's hurt ? " 
 
 " Oh, my foot ! " groaned the sufferer, who appeared 
 to be unable to retreat from his position. 
 
 "What's the matter with your foot?" asked Rush- 
 
 > J 
 
 iugtou, who had come forward from the mainmast to 
 
 ascertain the issue of the plot. 
 
 " It's smashed to a jelly ! " groaned Spriggs, whose 
 tones were readily recognized by the occupants of the 
 hammocks in the vicinity.
 
 68 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " How did you do it? Did you roll out of your ham- 
 mock? 1 heard an awful fall of something out here just 
 now," added Rushington, whose voice seemed to melt 
 with sympathy for the afflicted cook of the mess 
 
 Spriggs made no reply to these direct questions ; for 
 we doubt not his conscience was as sore as his foot. One 
 of the ship's corporals on duty upon the berth-deck pres- 
 ently appeared, and demanded the cause of the disturb- 
 ance. 
 
 " Spriggs has tumbled out of his hammock," replied 
 Rushington. "The ship gave a lee-lurch, and pitched 
 him out." 
 
 " Oh, my foot ! " groaned Spriggs. 
 
 " I don't exactly see IIOAV you could smash your foot 
 tumbling out of a hammock," added the ship's corporal. 
 "There aren't a V(jry heavy sea runniu' just here along- 
 side the wharf, nuther." 
 
 " I didn't fall out of the hammock," said Spriggs in 
 savage tones. 
 
 "Didn't you? Then maybe you can tell how it hap- 
 pened?' 
 
 " I don't know what it was : somebody dropped a shot 
 on my foot." 
 
 "What were you doing here?" demanded the officer 
 of police. 
 
 Spriggs declined 'to answer this question ; and the un- 
 pityiug official, for some reason or other, did not press
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 69 
 
 the question, but ordered the sufferer to come with him 
 to the hospital, and have the injured member examined. 
 
 " I can't walk," sighed Spriggs, as he attempted to 
 rise. " My foot is smashed to a jelly, I tell you ! " 
 
 " If that's so, Spriggs, I reckon you'd better stick to 
 your hammock another time, and not go skylarking 
 about decks at this hour of the night," added Rushing- 
 ton, whose advice was certainly good and well meant. 
 " If you can't walk, we will carry you to the sick-bay." 
 
 The ship's corporal and the seamen picked up the dis' 
 comfited conspirator, and bore him to the hospital. As 
 soon as they had disappeared, Blinks carefully concealed 
 tha ropcyaru by which the cannon-ball had been sus- 
 pended ; and, having repaired as well as he could the 
 damage to Jack's hammock, they all turned in, and slept 
 without further disturbance. 
 
 Spriggs was confined to the sick-bay for a week ; and 
 it was a month before he could walk without limping. 
 On his return to the mess, he seemed to be satisfied, and 
 treated his companions with proper respect and consider- 
 ation. When he came back, Jack was taking his turn as 
 cook of the mess ; a position jn which each man in suc- 
 cession serves for one week. He felt that his predecessor 
 in office had been amply " sarved out ; " and, though he 
 did not like the man, he wished to be at peace with him. 
 He treated him respectfully and kindly, and used every 
 means in his power to conciliate him. His efforts were
 
 70 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 not in vain ; for, before our hero left the receiving-ship, 
 Spriggs had forgiven, and perhaps forgotten, the past : at 
 any rate, they were on as good terms as two persons not 
 mutually respecting each other could be. 
 
 Jack had not seen Mr. Bankhead since they had parted 
 on the deck of the Ohio ; for the latter had gone to Phil- 
 adelphia, where his ship was fitting out : but our sailor- 
 boy had written to him in regard to his future prospects, 
 and, in his letter, had taken occasion to mention his three 
 friends who had desired him to intercede for them. He 
 had received a favorable reply, and for several weeks 
 had been impatiently waiting to be summoned to a more 
 active field of labor. 
 
 At the time of which we write, there was a deficiency 
 of seamen at the navy-yards of Philadelphia and Wash- 
 ington, and drafts were occasionally made on those at 
 Charlestown and Portsmouth. After Jack and his 
 friends had waited till their patience was nearly ex- 
 hausted, they Avere delighted to hear that Lieutenant, 
 Bankhead, first-lieutenant and executive officer of the 
 United-States steam sloop-of-w*ir Harrisburg, was upon 
 the spar-deck, and would immediately draft a number of 
 seamen for his ship. 
 
 " Now, my breezy little reefer, your time has come," 
 said Tom Longstone, as the word was passed along 
 among the men : " Mr. Bankhead is on deck." 
 
 " I will run up and see him," replied Jack hastily, as 
 he started to execute his purpose.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 71 
 
 "Avast, there, avast ! Belay every thing ! " exclaimed 
 Tom, as he grasped his protege by the arm, and detained 
 him. 
 
 "What's the matter, Tom?" demanded Jack, rather 
 surprised at the conduct of his friend. 
 
 " Don't be in a hurry : just moor your hulk alongside 
 of Old Tom on this mess-chest, my sentimental little 
 skipper, and let us overhaul this matter a little." 
 
 " But Mr. Bankhead is on deck, Tom ; and I want to 
 see him." 
 
 "All right, Jack : so he is. If he wasn't, I wouldn't 
 say a word. Mr. Bankhead is first-lieutenant and execu- 
 tive officer of the sloop-of-war Harrisburg. Now, my 
 lively little pap-consumer, what are you ? " 
 
 " What am I? What am I? Why, I'm an ordinary 
 seaman in the navy, and hope soon to be drafted into the 
 Harrisburg." 
 
 " Precisely so ; but you don't know no more nor a 
 marine. Are you go in' for to go for to throw yourself 
 into the arms of Mr. Bankhead, just as though he was 
 your fust cousin, and you'd been off on a long v'y'ge ? " 
 
 " He will be very glad to take me by the hand," said 
 Jack, rather mystified at this representation of his own 
 insignificance. 
 
 " Jack, don't you stick your flipper out to Mr. Bank- 
 head any more'n you'd put your leg into the maw of a 
 ground shark," continued Tom earnestly.
 
 72 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " Why not?" demanded Jack, who thought Tom's sus- 
 picions were an insult to his friend, and a reflection upon 
 his sincerity. 
 
 " Why, you young monkey, you are as green as a 
 horse-mackerel ! You don't know no more nor a land- 
 lubber ! " 
 
 " Mr. Bankhead has seen the time when he was glad 
 to obey my orders," replied Jack smartly. 
 
 " Ha, ha, ha ! " laughed Tom, taking off his cap, and 
 pitching it down upon the mess-table ; while Blinks and 
 Rushington roared till their sides ached at the self-suffi- 
 ciency of the young sailor. 
 
 " Well, you may laugh as much as you please ; but 
 says he, ' Jack, you are skipper, and I will obey your 
 orders. What shall I do ? ' says he. ' Knot these reef- 
 points in the foresail,' says I ; and he did it." 
 
 "All that may be, my noisy little boatman ; but things 
 is changed since you and Mr. Bankhead went on your 
 last cruise. I s'pose you think he'll take you into the 
 cabin, rig you out in long togs, and mess you with the 
 ward-room officers." 
 
 " I don't expect any thing of the sort, Tom : I don't 
 want him to do any thing of that kind. I am willing to 
 do my duty like any other fellow on board." 
 
 " So much the better, my darling ; for Mr. Bankhead 
 is too sensible a man for to make a baby of you. He 
 aren't a-going to feed you with warm milk. If he's your 
 friend, he's going to make a man of you."
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 73 
 
 " I expect to fare just like my mess-mates, no better, 
 no worse ; but I expect he will treat me like a Christian." 
 
 " He'll do that, my jolly little beef-eater ; but if you 
 go sticking your nipper out to him, just like as if you 
 was a wardroom officer, I'll bet a month's wages he 
 won't know you. Don't you do it, Jack. You hain't 
 been thirty years in the navy, my precious little infant ; 
 you never saw Cape Horn ; you never went up the Med- 
 iterranean ; you never walked round a capstan board a 
 nian-o'-war. You don't know no more about discipline 
 nor a heathen do about Watts's Hymns." 
 
 " "What shall I do ? " asked Jack, not a little puzzled 
 by this exemplification of man-of-war discipline ; and 
 perhaps he was disposed to inqiiire if there was any use 
 in having a friend in the wardroom, if he was not to be 
 permitted to know him. 
 
 "What shall you do? There, now, my sweet little 
 bone-cracker, them's the most sensible words you've 
 spoken for half an hour. What shall you do? That's 
 jest what the publiken wanted to know when he smote 
 his breast. He smote his breast bekase he wanted to 
 know. He didn't spile his shirt-bosom for nothin', Jack. 
 What shall you do, my blating little lamb ? 
 
 " Yes, Tom ; what shall I do ? " asked Jack, highly 
 amused as well as deeply edified by the profound remarks 
 of the old blue-jacket. " And, if you don't answer me 
 pretty soon, I shall begin to think you are nothing but 
 an old blower."
 
 74 THE SAILOR BOY; OB, 
 
 " Vast heavin', Jack : respect my bald head, and never 
 let that little tongue of yourn unkile any thing that 
 sounds like a nick-name. It's a bad practice, and nothin' 
 but lubbers and marines ever does such things," replied 
 Tom sagely. 
 
 Jack had his doubts upon this point, though he did 
 not venture to express them, but again pressed his ques- 
 tion. 
 
 " What shall you do, my little snivelling milk-sop? 
 what shall you do ? ' 
 
 "Yes; what shall I do, Tom? That's what I want 
 to know ; and, if you don't answer pretty soon, the boat- 
 swain's whistle will cut short your yarn, as it did yester- 
 day." 
 
 " I'll tell you, Jack. Just throw your ear-ports wide 
 open, and belay that frisky little tongue of yourn, and 
 I'll tell you in less time than it Avould take a monkey to 
 run up the main-to '-gallant-mast backstay." 
 
 "Blaze away, Tom !" replied Jack impatiently. 
 
 " Ay, ay, my lad : here goes. When you're mustered, 
 and Mr. Bankhead goes round lookin' at every man 
 from keel to truck, and gazin' down into his peepers as 
 though he'd lost his jack-knife down them, I say, my 
 oily little butter-chops, don't you do so much as wink at 
 him. I say, Jack, you mustn't know Mr. Bankhead 
 from Adam's great-grandfather. If he wants to know 
 you, he'll tell you on't. If he wants to shake hands with
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 75 
 
 you, he will send the ship's cook to let you know it three 
 weeks aforehaud, so't you can be all ready for the honor 
 that's in store for you. Mind that, Jack ; and you've 
 larnt a lesson that'll make a seaman of you." 
 
 And just then the " people " were mustered, and Jack 
 and his friends tumbled up on the spar-deck to undergo 
 the scrutiny of the executive officer of the Harrisburg. 

 
 THE SAIL OK SOT; OR, 
 
 CHAPTER VH. 
 
 THE HARRISBURG. 
 
 "T was fortunate for Jack Somers, that, when the 
 crew were mustered to enable the officer to make 
 his selection, he was prepared by the lesson of 
 Tom Longstone for his interview with Mr. Bank- 
 head. As the old man-of-war's man had suspected, our 
 sailor had fully anticipated a very cordial greeting from 
 his friend, the first-lieutenant of the Harrisburg ; and, 
 without the explanation he had received upon the gun- 
 deck, he would have been very much hurt by the cold 
 and stiff manners of that gentleman. As it was, he ex- 
 pected nothing in the nature of a courteous acknowledg- 
 ment of their former acquaintance. But in this he was 
 happily disappointed ; for though Mr. Baukhead did not 
 indulge in any thing like familiarity with him, and did 
 not even shake hands with him, he was greeted with a 
 pleasant smile, which was sufficiently significant to him. 
 " I am glad to see you again, Jack," said he, in ad- 
 dition to the condescending smile which made our sailor- 
 boy the envy of a score of blue-jackets who noticed it. 
 " Of course you will go with me."
 
 JACK SO ME MS IN THE NA VY. 77 
 
 " Thank you, sir," promptly replied Jack, as lie touched 
 his cap to the lieutenant with a degree of respect which 
 exhibited the remarkable progress he had made in dis- 
 cipline. 
 
 "Where are your friends, Jack?" added Mr. Bank- 
 head. 
 
 " This is Tom Longstone, your honor," answered 
 Jack, giving an extra flourish of discipline to his reply. 
 
 Tom was accepted, and so were Blinks and Rushing- 
 ton, very much to the satisfaction of all these worthies ; 
 for the Harrisburg was a crack ship, and to be drafted 
 into her was a stroke of good fortune worthy the highest 
 appreciation of the gallant tars. That evening, those 
 who were selected by Mr. Baukhead were sent to Phila- 
 delphia in charge of an officer, where they arrived on the 
 following day. Jack wrote a letter to his mother before 
 his departure ; but he had no opportunity to see her. 
 His friends, including Captain Barney, had been to see 
 him once on the regular visiting-day ; and he had hoped 
 that they would come again before his departure. He 
 was- disappointed in not being permitted to look once 
 more upon the face of his mother, though he rejoiced in 
 the prospect of soon engaging in active duty. The affec- 
 tionate letter which Jack wrote to her no doubt assured 
 her that he was still the same loving son ; that the new 
 life upon which lie was entering had not blotted from his 
 remembrance the hallowed associations of home.
 
 78 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 Jack had but little chance to see either New York or 
 Philadelphia on his journey : but he was more desirous 
 of fighting for his country than he was of seeing its great 
 cities ; more inclined to think of the active career before 
 him, than of the vanities and pleasures of a large town. 
 The draft of seamen was duly transferred to the receiv- 
 ing-ship at the navy-yard, and our hero again found him- 
 self subjected to the discipline of the " guardo." 
 
 Fortunately for his peace of mind, he was not long 
 condemned to this idle and distasteful life. The Harris- 
 burg lay at anchor near the receiving-ship, a beautiful 
 vessel, exhibiting every element of strength and endur- 
 ance ; and, as Jack occasionally glanced through the open 
 port at his future home, he admired her fair lines, and 
 longed for the time when he should be transferred to her. 
 The welcome order came in due time, and the crew of 
 the gallant ship were sent on board. 
 
 Jack and his friends were disposed to give three cheers 
 when they reached the deck of the Harrisburg ; but, as 
 this would have been a breach of discipline, it was not 
 attempted. Our hero soon had enough to think of; for 
 the executive officer immediately mustered the men, to 
 give them their stations, and assign them to their messes. 
 
 On board a man-of-war, every thing is arranged with 
 the nicest precision. A thorough system pervades the 
 ship, and every thing is done by rule. The Harrisburg 
 had a hundred and twenty men crowded upon her spar-
 
 JACK SOMEIiS 12? THE NAVY. 79 
 
 deck at this muster : but in a short time, under the 
 efficient and methodical arrangement of Mr Bankhead, 
 order came out of chaos ; and, when he had finished his 
 work, every man knew where he belonged during each 
 hour of the day and night ; where he was lo go when the 
 ship went into action ; when she was to tack or wear ; 
 when the sails were to be set, furled, or reefed ; where 
 he was to take position if the ship caught fire, or was 
 boarded by an enemy. Every one knew where he was 
 to eat and sleep, where he was to stow his hammock and 
 clothes-bag, and every thing else which was to enable 
 him to discharge his duty as one of the wheels in the 
 complicated machine of which he was an essential part, 
 
 If our readers are not familiar with ships, we shall 
 find it very difficult to make them comprehend Jack 
 Somcrs's position and duties on board the Harrisburg ; 
 but we shall endeavor to give them some ideas upon the 
 subject. A ship, and especially a man-of-war, is a com- 
 plicated structure ; and our young friends must not expect 
 any more than a partial view in these pages, for the 
 whole volume would be no more than sufficient to do 
 justice to the subject.* 
 
 The Ilarrisbury; was a screw-steamer of about two 
 
 * We refer those who are curious to know more about shlps-of-wnr to 
 Master Brady's " Hedge Anchor ; " to Herman Melville's " White Jacket, 
 or the World in a Man-of-War , " and, for ships in general, to Mr. DuuaV 
 " Seaman's Friend.'*
 
 80 THE SAILOR BOY; OK, 
 
 thousand tons burden, and usually denominated a sloop- 
 of-war. She was a full-rigged ship ; that is, she had 
 square sails on her fore, main, and mizzen mast, and 
 could be worked under sail or steam, as occasion or 
 necessity might require. She carried twenty-eight guns, 
 all of which were placed upon her upper or spar deck. 
 Some large men-of-war, called ships-of-the-line, have 
 four decks. The Ohio, in which Jack had spent several 
 weeks, was of this class. The upper deck is then called 
 the spar-deck ; the next below it, the gun-deck ; the third, 
 the berth-deck ; and the fourth, or lowest one, the orlop- 
 deck. 
 
 The decks, which in a house would be called floors or 
 stories, are not divided off into rooms ; so that, forward 
 of the officers' cabins, they look like long halls. The 
 square holes, or windows, through which the muzzles of 
 the cannon are pointed, are called port-holes, or ports. 
 They are closed by two doors, one swinging up, and 
 the other down. 
 
 The Harrisburg had two decks, properly so called, 
 the spar-deck and the berth-deck. On the former, where 
 the guns were placed, all the working of the ship is done, 
 as well as the fighting. There is no house or other 
 structure upon it, as is generally seen on board a mer- 
 chant-ship. Upon the berth-deck the men eat and sleep. 
 The after-part of this deck contains the cabins of the 
 officers. The captain occupies a cabin by himself in the
 
 JACK HOMERS IN THE NAVY. 81. 
 
 uttermost part of the ship Next forward of this is a 
 large apartment, having small staterooms on each side 
 of it, called the wardroom, which "belongs to the com- 
 missioned officers of the ship. Next to the wardroom 
 is an apartment called the steerage, divided into two 
 parts, the port and starboard steerage, in which live the 
 midshipmen and master's mates, the assistant engineers 
 in a steamer, and the "forward officers," viz., the 
 boatswain, gunner, carpenter, and sailmaker. Down 
 in the bottom of the ship are placed the boilers and 
 engines. 
 
 The hold, or place under the berth-deck, is divided into 
 a great number of rooms ; such as the paintroom, the store- 
 room, the breadroom, shot-locker, shellroom, sloproom, 
 magazine, lightroom, coal-bunkers, chain-loekers, tier- 
 gratings, and other cells and holes. The magazine con- 
 tains the powder, and is lined with copper. It is so 
 constructed that it can be filled with water flooding 
 the magazine when the ship takes fire. No man is 
 allowed to enter it unless clothed in a dress prescribed 
 for this duty, with no nails in his shoes, or metal buttons 
 upon his garments. The lightroom adjoins the maga- 
 zine, and is simply a small room to hold the powerful 
 reflecting-lamp, which throws its light into the magazine 
 through a large pane of heavy glass. This arrangement 
 is intended to prevent the necessity of taking a lantern 
 into the magazine, where the slightest spark might doom 

 
 82 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 the noble ship to instant destruction, and her gallant 
 crew to an untimely death. 
 
 The principal officer of the Ilarrisburg w,as the cap- 
 tain, whose rank in the navy, at the time of which we 
 write, was that of commander. Under the old system, 
 the highest grade in the navy was captain, who, when he 
 commanded a squadron (two or more vessels) was called 
 a commodore ; but this title was not authoritatively rec- 
 ognized in the Navy Department. A captain who had 
 been in command of a fleet or squadron was thereafter 
 called " commodore," as a mark of distinction, in the 
 same manner that a member of Congress keeps his 
 "Hon." after he has ceased to hold his office. 
 
 Whatever the nominal rank of the chief officer of a 
 ship-of-war, he is called the captain. He is supreme in 
 his command, being subject only to his orders and the 
 naval regulations. Everybody on board must obey his 
 orders, and without asking any questions. Being " mon- 
 arch of all he surveys," he does not give his orders to the 
 men who are to execute them, but to the first-lieutenant ; 
 who is also called the executive officer, because it is his 
 duty to execute all orders from the captain. For exam- 
 ple : If the captain wants the ship put upon the othor 
 tack, he does not give the order, " Ready about," to the 
 seamen ; " Put your helm down," to the quartermaster 
 who cons the helm : but he simply directs the first-lieu- 
 enant to " Come in stays ; " and this functionary gives the
 
 JACK SO ME US IN THE NAVY. 83 
 
 various orders to the officers and men who are to exe- 
 cute them. 
 
 The first-lieutenant is the working commander of the 
 ship. The other wardroom officers of the Harrisburg 
 were the second, third, and fourth lieutenants, the sailing- 
 master, the surgeon, the paymaster, lieutenant of ma- 
 rines, and chief engineer. 
 
 The ship's company are divided into two watches, each 
 of which serves alternately on deck for four hours during 
 the day and night. , At all times, the deck is in charge of 
 an officer ; and the period that he serves is called his 
 watch. He is then the officer of the deck. The first- 
 lieutenant does not keep a watch : this duty is performed 
 . in turn by the second, third, and fourth lieutenants, and 
 the master. For ordinary ship's duty, each watch-officer 
 serves four hours on deck, and twelve below ; but, when 
 all hands are called, every officer must be at his station, 
 and the first-lieutenant take command of the deck. The 
 master, who has charge of the navigation of the ship, is 
 not necessarily a watch-officer. 
 
 The surgeon, besides the obvious duty of such an 
 officer, has the entire charge of the sanitary condition of 
 the ship. He not only prescribes for the " people" when 
 they are sick, and dresses their wounds in battle, but he 
 must inspect the ship at times, and report any thing 
 which may tend to injure the health of the crew. 
 
 The paymaster formerly called the purser not
 
 84 THE SAILOR HOY; OR, 
 
 only performs the duties which his title implies, but he 
 has the charge of all stores and goods, clothing and pro- 
 visions, belonging to the Government, on board the ship. 
 He has a clerk to assist him ; for he must keep all the 
 accounts with the officers and men, charging them with 
 clothing or other stores with which they may be sup- 
 plied, that it may be deducted from their wages when 
 they are paid. 
 
 The lieutenant of marines has the command of the 
 marines, or soldiers, on board the ship, of whom there 
 were twenty in the Harrisburg. These men are em- 
 ployed as sentinels in various parts of the ship. One 
 is always stationed at the wardroom door, one at the 
 " brig," and one at the scuttle-butt, or pump. At anchor, 
 one is on duty at the gangway, or place where the ship 
 is entered ; and one on the forecastle. Between sailors 
 and marines there is a mortal antipathy, which the offi- 
 cers do not seek to abate ; for the soldiers are depended 
 upon in case of mutiny and insubordination. 
 
 The chief engineer has the sole charge of the engines 
 and boilers, and the subordinate engineers are under his 
 command. On board our ship there were one first, 
 two second, and four third assistant engineers ; these 
 officers having the actual charge of the engines, keeping 
 watch like the other officers : but their chief does not 
 keep a watch. 
 
 Master's mates and midshipmen, who occupy the steer-
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 85 
 
 age, are aids to the various officers, and have miscella- 
 neous duties. 
 
 The forward officers are, the boatswain, who has 
 charge of the rigging and cordage ; the gunner,. who has 
 charge of the guns and ammunition ; the carpenter, who 
 does the joinery-work ; and the sailmaker, who makes 
 and mends sails. The boatswain has four mates, one of 
 whom is called chief. The gunner has one mate, and 
 one quarter-gunner for each division of three guns on a 
 side. The carpenter and sailmaker have each one mate, 
 and each his gang, selected from the crew. 
 
 All ranking below the forward officers are called petty 
 officers, of whom there is a host : such as captain of the 
 fore, main, or mizsen top ; captain of the hold, of the 
 forecastle, of the after-guard ; quartermaster, master-at- 
 arms, ship's corporal, yeoman, arnwrer, &c. 
 
 Quartermasters have charge of the wheel, or steering- 
 apparatus, of the signals, and of the lead. The master- 
 at-arms is the chief of police, assisted by the ship's cor- 
 porals. The yeoman has charge of the ordnance and 
 stores. Each of the boats is in charge of a petty officer 
 called a cockswain. The duties of the other petty officer." 
 will be understood from their names.
 
 86 THE SAILOR BOY; OS, 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 "ALL HANDS, UP ANCHOR!" 
 
 'ACK SOMERS had a very correct idea of the 
 interior of a man-of-war, and of the various offi- 
 cers and their duties, when he went on board the 
 Harrisburg ; but he was not a little confused by 
 the many numbers he had to remember, which were used 
 to indicate his various stations at the guns and the mess, 
 on deck, in the top, in the boat, and in his hammock. 
 
 Ke was placed in the starboard watch, stationed in the 
 mizzen-top, belonged to the third division of the battery, 
 attached to gun No. 9, was first loader, and second 
 boarder. In furling sails, he belonged on the starboard- 
 yard arm of the mizzen-top-gallant yard. In reefing 
 topsails, his place was on the port-yard-arm of the 
 mizzen-topsail yard. In tacking or wearing ship, his 
 position was at the lee main-brace. In loosing sails, his 
 place was the same as in furling. In getting up the 
 anchor, his duty was at the capstan. In boat, he pulled 
 the bow-oar of the captain's gig.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 87 
 
 Jack Somers was a good boy, and was determined to 
 know and do his duty. As soon, therefore, as he had a 
 chance to sit down by, himself, he began to think over 
 and fix in his mind his various stations, and to rehearse 
 all that had been said to him. But he found that he had 
 already forgotten some of his numbers ; yet, by the grace 
 of the first-lieutenant, he was permitted to consult the 
 station-bill, a document in which the position of every 
 man in the ship is recorded. As perseverance always 
 overcomes every obstacle, he soon made himself pro- 
 ficient in all his numbers. 
 
 While the ship remained at her moorings in the river, 
 the crew were daily exercised in their various duties, 
 and Jack soon became practically familiar with every 
 thing required of him. After he had been on board 
 about a week, the proper signal was hoisted, every fire 
 and light in the ship were extinguished, and the powder 
 was taken in, and stowed in the magazine. 
 
 " Now, my little roisterer, we shall soon be in blue 
 water," said Tom Longstone, as they gathered around 
 the mess-table that afternoon. 
 
 " The sooner the better," replied Jack. "I want to 
 taiid by that gun No. 9 when she pours shot and shell 
 juto the rebels " 
 
 " You will have a chance one of these days', my ban- 
 tam, if you are patient." 
 
 " We may be sent off on blockade duty," said Ben
 
 88 THE SAILOR HOT; OR, 
 
 Blinks, who, by some contrivance of interested parties, 
 was in the same mess. 
 
 "Then we shall have a chance to gather up some 
 "prize-money," added Bob Rushington, who, by the same 
 contrivance, was a member of mess No. 4. 
 
 " I should like the prize-money very well," continued 
 Jack ; " but I don't like the idea of hugging a sand-bar 
 for the next six months." 
 
 " Well, my hearties, old Tom ain't no prophet : but I 
 really don't think this ship is going on the blockade ; 
 and, if she don't have some rebel shot through her in less 
 than three months, I'm content to give half my grub to 
 the jollies." 
 
 " Where do you suppose we are bound?" asked Ben. 
 
 " Don't know ; don't care : but this ship ain't a-going 
 to burrow in the mud, no how. Now, mind what old 
 Tftm says, and write it down in your log-book." 
 
 It was quite impossible to tell whether Tom was right 
 or wrong : but his words were accepted for all and more 
 than they were worth ; for the speaker was a kind of 
 oracle among the seamen, on account of his long expe" 
 rience in the service. The next morning, the engineers 
 and firemen were observed to be very busy ; and soon the 
 smoke was seen to issue from the smoke-stack. The 
 fires roared for several hours in the furnaces, and the 
 steam hissed in accord with the impatience of the crew 
 to be off.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 89 
 
 After Jack's patience had been sorely tried by the long 
 delay, he welcomed with a thrill of delight the pipe of 
 the boatswain. 
 
 " All hands, up anchor ! " 
 
 It seemed to him just as though the beginning of all 
 things had come, and he sprang to his station at the cap- 
 stan. The first-lieutenant was now in charge of the 
 deck : he had received his orders from the captain, and 
 was proceeding to the systematic execution of the details. 
 The second-lieutenant was on the foi-ecastle, with the 
 boatswain near him. The third-lieutenant was iu the 
 waist, and the fourth on the quarter-deck, near the miz- 
 zen-mast. These were the stations which these officers 
 took when any manoauvre which required all hands was 
 to be executed. 
 
 " Ship the capstan-bars ! " said the first-lieutenant. 
 
 The order was repeated by his subordinates ; and all 
 the sailors assigned to this duty seized the bars, and in- 
 serted them in the drum of the capstan. 
 
 "Bring-to, forward!" continued the executive officer; 
 which order was repeated by his juniors as before. 
 
 Our non-nautical readers will not, perhaps, understand 
 this command ; and we will try to Vender it into English. 
 The cable to which the anchor is attached, and which 
 holds the ship to the bottom, is a very large iron chain. 
 A rope, called the "messenger," is attached to this chain 
 by a contrivance called a " selvagee." The messenger
 
 90 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 extends from the cable to the capstan, around which it is 
 passed several times. When the capstan is turned by 
 the men, of course it winds up the messenger, and hauls 
 in the chain fastened to the anchor. "Bring-to, for- 
 ward," was the order requiring the men to attach the 
 messenger to the cable, and pass it around the capstan. 
 
 "Are you ready forward?" shouted the first-lieutenant, 
 after he had waited a sufficient time for his former order 
 to be executed. 
 
 "All ready forward, sir !" responded the second-lieu- 
 tenant. 
 
 " Walk round with the capstan ! " added the first-lieu- 
 tenant. 
 
 The men went round with a will ; and Jack would fain 
 have sung his " Yo-heave-oh ! " as he had been accustomed 
 to do at the windlass on board his father's vessel : but the 
 " people " of a man-of-war are required to execute their 
 duties in silence. The music of a fife, playing Yankee 
 Doodle, as an accompaniment to the movement, was, 
 however, some consolation, and assisted him very much 
 in keeping the needed " stopper on his jaw-tackle." 
 
 "Anchor away, sir!" said the boatswain, who was 
 on the forecastle, ready to report what progress the cum- 
 brous anchor was making in its passage upward to the 
 regions of daylight. 
 
 "Anchor away, sir ! " repeated the second-lieutenant. 
 
 " Strike one bell ! " continued the first-lieutenant, ad-
 
 JACK SOMEIiS IN THE NAVY. 91 
 
 dressing the quartermaster, who was stationed at the 
 wheel. 
 
 Old Tom Longstone, who was in charge of the wheel, 
 struck one bell, which was the signal for the engineer on 
 duty to "go ahead slowly." 
 
 " Anchor's up, sir ! " added the boatswain, after the 
 men had walked round the capstan a while longer. 
 
 "Anchor's up, sir!" repeated the second-lieutenant. 
 
 " Pawl the capstan ! " ordered the first-lieutenant ; 
 which meant that it was to be secured, so as to keep 
 the anchor where it was. " Unship the capstan-bars ! " 
 
 This order was repeated by the under-officers, and exe- 
 cuted in good order by the men. There was no crowding 
 or treading upon each other's corns ; but every one knew 
 his place, and did not get in anybody's way. 
 
 " Cat the anchor ! " said the first-lieutenant. 
 
 The ponderous anchor was now hanging at the hawse- 
 hole ; and the execution of the order last given would" 
 secure it - upon the top of the bulwarks,' ready to be 
 dropped overboard when occasion should again require 
 its use. 
 
 " Lay forward to the cat-falls ! " said the boatswain ; 
 and those whose duty it was to do this work attached a 
 purchase-block to the anchor, for the purpose of hoisting 
 it up to the cat-head, which is a timber projecting out 
 over the bow of the ship. 
 
 ' All ready with the cat, sir ! " reported the second- 
 lieutenant.
 
 92 THE SAILOR HOY; OR, 
 
 " Walk away with the cat ! " replied the executive 
 officer. 
 
 On board a man-of-war, the ropes are not pulled hand 
 over hand ; but the men walk away with them : that is, 
 they run along the deck with them as firemen do with 
 the engine. 
 
 " Strike four bells ! " continued the first-lieutenant to 
 the quarter-master at the wheel ; which meant. " Go 
 ahead at full speed ! " 
 
 The Harrisburg was now actually in motion, and glid- 
 ing down the Delaware upon her mission of destruction 
 among the rebels ; if, indeed, such was her mission : for 
 none of the crew had the remotest idea where the good 
 ship was bound, or upon what kind of duty she was 
 ordered. If the officers knew, they did not condescend 
 to inform the men ; for the " people " are as far removed 
 from their superiors in social rank in the ship, as though 
 they were not all equals before the democratic law of our 
 land. 
 
 " Here we are ! " said Jack enthusiastically, -as he 
 placed himself by the side of Bob Rushington, who was 
 gazing through one of the open ports into the water. 
 
 " Yes, my lad, we are off," replied the dandy sailor, 
 who looked very sad and sentimental for the moment. 
 " Has it occurred to you that not every one who is full 
 of life and hope to-day will return alive and well from 
 this cruise ? "
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 93 
 
 " Well, I hadn't thought any thing about it," replied 
 Jack with a smile, as he glanced at the wry face of his 
 friend, "and, what's more, I don't mean to think any 
 thing about it." 
 
 " You are a thoughtless boy," sighed Bob. " Some 
 of us will lose the number of our mess before many 
 weeks have passed by " 
 
 " Very likely, Bob : but we are going out to fight for 
 our country ; and, if we are uot ready to die for her. we 
 have no business here." 
 
 " Very true, my lad ; but the future is dark and un- 
 communicative." 
 
 " Come, Bob, you splice too many syllables on your 
 words. You are a brave fellow, and ready to do your 
 duty." 
 
 " I trust I am ; but sad thoughts come like the autumn 
 of the year." 
 
 "Avast there, Bob!" said Ben Blinks. "Don't 
 frighten the lad." 
 
 "He doesn't frighten me," added Jack. "I put my 
 trust in God ; and, come what may, I know it will be all 
 right with me as long as I do my duty to my God and 
 my country " 
 
 " Why, darken my toplights, if the lad don't talk like 
 a parson ! " said Ben. 
 
 But, while they were laughing at Jack for his pious 
 expression of faith, the drum beat to quarters ; and, in a
 
 94 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 moment more, the great guiis were belching forth the 
 customary salute. This was a new experience to our 
 sailor-boy ; for, though he had been through with all the 
 forms of firing the guns, he had not before heard them 
 " speak." The sound was perfectly stunning : but Jack 
 was a lad of too much spirit to exhibit any signs of dis- 
 like ; and, though he could not hear himself speak, he . 
 worked like an old man-of-war's man at his post. 
 
 The Harrisburg continued on her course down the 
 river under steam alone. The strict discipline of sea 
 service commenced, and every thing went along on board 
 like clockwork. The regular watches were set ; and the 
 second-lieutenant, who was the officer of the deck, walked 
 up and down on the weather-side, upon which .no idlers, 
 and no officers or men not on duty, were permitted to 
 intrude. 
 
 In a ship-of-war, as in a merchant-vessel, the twenty- 
 four hours are divided into watches of four hours each. 
 Commencing at eight o'clock in the evening, the star- 
 board watch is on duty till twelve. At half-past eight, 
 one bell is struck ; at nine, two bells ; and so on till the 
 end of the watch, when eight bells indicate the time for 
 the port watch to relieve the other. 
 
 The port watch is then on duty till eight bells, or four 
 o'clock in the morning. From four till eight is the 
 morning watch ; from eight till twelve is the forenoon 
 watch ; from twelve till four is the afternoon watch .
 
 JACK SOMERS IN TIIR NAVY. 95 
 
 From four till eight are the " dog-watches ; " that is, the 
 four hours are divided into two watches of two hours 
 each. By this arrangement, the watch which came on 
 duty at eight o'clock the preceding night will be below 
 during the first part of the night. If it were not for the 
 dog-watches, the starboard Avatch would be on duty every 
 night during the cruise from eight till twelve, and again 
 from four till eight in the morning, thus obtaining but 
 four hours' sleep each night ; while the port Avatch would 
 sleep every night from eight till twelve, and from four 
 till seven in the morning. By the change which the half- 
 watches introduce, every man obtains four hours' sleep 
 on watch-nights, and seven hours on other nights. 
 
 At four o'clock, when the hands were piped to supper, 
 the Harrisburg was off Cape Henlopen, and standing oul 
 to sea.
 
 96 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 " ALL HANDS, MAKE SAIL ! " 
 
 UPPER comes at four o'clock, in the dog- 
 watches : rather an early hour, when it is 
 remembered that Jack pipes to breakfast at 
 eight bells, or eight o'clock in the morning. 
 The three meals are taken within the space of eight 
 hours ; leaving sixteen hours between supper and break- 
 fast. Jack Somers did not like the arrangement very 
 well ; but custom adapts us to every emergency, and he 
 soon learned to lay in a stock of grub which would last 
 him two-thirds of a day. 
 
 " All hands make sail, ahoy ! " shouted the boatswain, 
 as his shrill whistle rang through the ship after the men 
 had concluded their evening meal. 
 
 " Lay aloft, topmen ! " was the first order given by 
 Mr. Bankhead, which was repeated by other officers at 
 their stations. " Lower-yard men in the chains ! " 
 
 The topmen ran up the shrouds, while the lower-yard 
 men placed themselves in position to do so when the 
 order should be given.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 97 
 
 " Aloft, lower-yard men ! " added the executive officer 
 at the right time. " Mail the boom tricing-lines ! " 
 
 The studding-sail booms are spars which extend out 
 beyond the yard-arms, when used ; but, when the sails 
 are furled, they lie upon the top of them. The boom 
 tricing-lines are attached to the inner ends of these spars, 
 by which they may be hauled up so as to get them out 
 of the way, and enable the men to work upon the sail. 
 
 " Trice up ! " continued Mr. Bankhead ; which order, 
 as usual, was repeated by the proper officers. 
 
 " Lay out ! " he added, when the studding-sail booms 
 were out of the men's way ; and, in obedience to the com- 
 mand, they extended themselves along the whole length 
 of the several yards, standing upon the foot-ropes, aud 
 holding on to the sail or ropes with the hands. 
 
 Jack Somers, as we have before stated, in loosing sails, 
 belonged upon the mizzen top-gallant yard, which is the 
 third cross-spar from the deck ; and, further, his place 
 was at the starboard yard-arm, which is the end of the 
 spar, on the right-hand side of the ship, looking forward. 
 He was as much interested in the operation as though 
 he had been in command of the ship ; for it was the first 
 time he had performed the duty when it really meant 
 something. 
 
 " Loose ! " said Mr. Bankhead ; and, at the Avord, the 
 men "passed the gasket," which is a rope \vound round 
 the sail, to confine it to the yard when furled.
 
 98 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " All ready in the mizzen-top ! " added the captain of 
 the top, when the operation was performed ; and the men 
 stood holding the sails in place upon the yard. 
 
 The captains of the main-top and of the fore-top in- 
 dicated, in like manner, that they were all ready for the 
 next order ; and", when the lieutenants upon deck had. 
 reported the fact to the executive officer, he proceeded 
 with the rnano3uvre. 
 
 " Let fall ! " and, at the word, all the sails to be set 
 were shaken out at the same moment, and dropped down 
 from the yards. 
 
 " Overhaul your rigging aloft ! " proceeded Mr. Bank- 
 head ; and his order, translated into the shore vernacular, 
 meant that the men on the yards were to aiTange the 
 sheets, btmtlines, clewlines, and other ropes, so that they 
 would work freely, or not impede the progress of the sail 
 when it should be hoisted up. 
 
 "Man your sheets and halyards ! " was the next com- 
 mand. 
 
 The sheets are the ropes on the topsails, by which they 
 are hauled down to the yards. For example, the miz- 
 zen-top-gallant sail was fastened to the mizzeu-top-gallaut 
 yard, upon which our hero was stationed. Attached io 
 the lower corners of this sail were two ropes, passing over 
 a sheave, or pulley, in the mizzen-topsail yard. These 
 two ropes were the sheets ; and, when the sail is set, they 
 are drajvu tight, to keep it in place.
 
 - JACK SOME11S IN THE NAVY. 99 
 
 All the yards of the ship, except the lower one on each 
 mast, slide up and down. When the sails Avere loosed, 
 the yards were down. The rope attached to the yard, 
 passing over a sheave set in the mast, by which the spar 
 is hoisted up, is called a halyard. Any rope by which a 
 sail is hoisted is called a halyard. 
 
 When the men appointed for the purpose had taken 
 hold of the sheets and halyards, the various officers re- 
 ported that they were ready. 
 
 " Haul well taut ! " said Mr. Bankhead. 
 
 The effect of the execution of this order was to bring 
 every thing to its bearings.. 
 
 " Let go, and overhaul your rigging aloft ! " continued 
 the first-lieutenant. 
 
 " Sheet home, and hoist away ! " 
 
 At this order the yards were hoisted up, and the sheets 
 hauled down to their places. The operation was thus 
 completed ; the ropes, with a whole vocabulary of caba- 
 listic names to designate them, were belayed and flem- 
 ished down ; and every thing was in apple-pie order. 
 
 At eight bells in the evening, the starboard watch went 
 on duty ; and Jack, muffled up in his pea-jacket, came on 
 deck. The wind was blowing a stiff breeze; and. the 
 Harrisburg, under sail and steam, was driving through 
 the great waves of the Atlantic at the rate of twelve 
 knots an hour. On board a man-of-war, men arc sta- 
 tioned at all times in the tops ; which are the platforms
 
 100 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 on the masts, just above the lower yards. In large ships, 
 they are capacious enough to hold quite a squad of men, 
 vvho are on duty there in readiness to perform any ser- 
 vice that may be required of them. 
 
 The topmen of the starboard and port watches are 
 each divided into first and second parts, called " quarter 
 watches," one of which relieves the other in the tops at 
 the appointed time. When Jack came on deck at eight 
 bells, as he belonged to the first part of the starboard 
 watch of mizzen-topmeu, his place was in this airy 
 perch above the deck. It was a very safe and comforta- 
 ble position, notwithstanding any prejudice "which our 
 shore friends might have against such an elevated roost- 
 ing-place, in a dark night, and in a rolling sea, when the 
 ship pitches so that a landsman would hardly be able to 
 keep his feet on deck, much less in the tops, where the 
 motion of the vessel is more sensibly experienced. 
 
 Jack Somers had his sea-legs on, and felt perfectly at 
 home on the topgallant-yard arm, in the tops, and in his 
 close quarters on the berth-deck. In fact, he had made 
 up his mind to be a good seaman, and to conduct himself 
 like a true patriot. The honor and glory of the Ameri- 
 can flag on board the Harrisburg had been intrusted to 
 him, in common with about a hundred and fifty others ; 
 and he was fully alive to the responsibility "which this 
 trust imposed upon him. He had braced himself up to 
 endure any discomforts and hardships which this new
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 101 
 
 positi'on might impose upon him ; and he was not likely 
 to be dismayed by a gale of wind or a sharp set-to with 
 a rebel battery, much less by the ordinary life of a man- 
 of-war's man. 
 
 Jack took his place in the mizzen-top : and, as he as- 
 cended the rigging, he began to think of home ; for this 
 was his first night at sea, and his thoughts naturally re- 
 verted to his mother's cottage m Pinchbrook. He often 
 thought, in his leisure moments, of the blessed associa- 
 tions which cluster around the abiding-place of parents 
 and brothers and sisters. It was a blessed influence 
 which these reflections exerted upon his mind and heart. 
 They preserved him pure and unsullied from the contam- 
 inations which surrounded him ; for, with many true and 
 good men in the ship, there were those of low and vile 
 tastes, who lived only for the joys of the present moment. 
 Thus far, our sailor-boy had set his face and his heart 
 against the vices and sins of his more debased ship- 
 mates. 
 
 Of the friends that Jack had made on board the re- 
 ceiving-ship, there was only one among his topmates, 
 Bob Rushington. All three of them had been rated as 
 petty officers ; for they were really superior hands. Bob 
 v, as a captain of the mizzcn-top, Ben Blinks was a cap- 
 tain of the main-top, and Tom Longstone was a quarter- 
 master. 
 
 "What are you thinking about, Jack?" said Bob,
 
 102 THE SAILOR BOY, OR, 
 
 when they had been in the lop about half an hour, dur- 
 ing which time his companions had been carrying on a 
 conversation in a low tone. 
 
 " I was thinking of home," replied Jack. 
 
 " Wishing you were there," added Bob. 
 
 " No : not exactly." 
 
 " You ought to brought your ma with you," added 
 Sam Becket with a low* chuckling laugh. 
 
 "I'm not homesick, I hope, not yet," said Jack; 
 " but it is pleasant to think of home." 
 
 " So it is to babies," sneered Sam. "You haven't 
 got larn't yet, my lad." 
 
 " I never shall learn to forget my home." 
 
 "Yes, you will ; just clew down your ideas, and be a 
 man-of-war's man. Milk for babies, rum for men, my 
 lad. Have you got any coppers in your pocket, my 
 boy?" 
 
 " I have three," answered Jack, thrusting his hand 
 down into the depths of his trousers-pocket. " Do you 
 want them?" 
 
 " Perhaps I do : that will depend upon circumstances. 
 Do you see my hand, Jack," said Sam Becket; "if you 
 can't, you can feel it : there it is." 
 
 "Well, what of it?" 
 
 " Odd or even?" continued Sam. 
 
 " Odd," replied Jack, not understanding the purpose 
 of his companion.
 
 JA C'/i SO ME US /A T THE NAVY. 103 
 
 " Odd it is : there are three of 'em, and they are 
 yours ; " and Sam took Jack's hand, and attempted to 
 place the cents in it. 
 
 " What do you mean by that?" demanded our hero. 
 
 " What do I mean ? Don't you know a boom from 
 a bobstay? You said odd, and the coppers are yours. 
 You won them." 
 
 " Won them ! " exclaimed Jack : "I don't want to 
 gamble." 
 
 " Hush up ! Do you want to tell the officer of the 
 deck what we are about ! " protested Sam in an energetic 
 whisper. 
 
 " I'm perfectly willing to tell him what I'm about." 
 
 " Well, you young monkey, I 'should think you were 
 hailing a frigate in a nor'-wester. You are as green as a 
 yaller squash-bug. Here, take the coppers : they belong 
 to you ; you won them." 
 
 " I never gamble," repeated Jack resolutely, but in a 
 lower tone than before. 
 
 " Take 'em, Jack, or you're my enemy." 
 
 " I cannot take them. I'd rather go into the brig for 
 a week than gamble for a single cent." 
 
 "Silence in the mizzen-top!" said Mr. Midshipman 
 Dickey, who had been pacing the lee-side of the quarter- 
 deck in the capacity of aide-de-camp to Mr. Granger, the 
 the deck.
 
 104 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " There, you young milksop ! " said Sam in an angry 
 whisper. "Do you see Avhat you have done?" 
 
 " Avast there, Becket ! " interposed the captain of the 
 top. " Don't get up a quarrel Avith the lad. Pie means 
 right." 
 
 " I won't have, no quarrel with him ; but he won tho 
 money, and he must take it, or he is my enemy." 
 
 " Friend or enemy, I won't take your money," added 
 Jack firmly, as he settled his hack against the mizzen- 
 topmast rigging, and folded his arms as if to prevent 
 the coppers which he had inadvertently won from heing 
 thrust upon him by force. 
 
 " Won't take 'em : won't ye, my hearty? " 
 
 " No, I will not : I did not mean to win them." 
 
 "Didn't mean to? Don't you knoAv what odd and 
 even means ? " 
 
 " I didn't know it meant gambling." 
 
 "All I got to say is, that I take it as an insult." 
 
 *' I did not mean to insult you." 
 
 " Then take the coppers." 
 
 " I can't do that." 
 
 " Take the coppers, and giA-e me a chance to Avin 'em 
 back, and then we'll call it square. After that, if you 
 want to go about on the other tack, all right." 
 
 " I will not gamble to please you or any other man." 
 
 " Very well, my hearty : I'll san r e you out for this. 
 There's two Avays to insult a seaman : one is not to drink
 
 JACK COMERS IN THE NAVY. 105 
 
 his grog when he axes you ; and t'other is not to take 
 his money when you've won it. You insulted me, Jack 
 Somers ; and I'll sarve you out the first time the wind 
 comes from the right quarter. D'ye hear, ye little sniv- 
 elling rat-catcher? Why didn't you bring your ma with 
 you to keep you from falling overboard ? " 
 
 "Because I can take care of myself, and because I 
 want to keep my mother out of bad company," replied 
 Jack sharply. 
 
 " Bad company ! What do you mean by that, you lit- 
 tle splatteYbrains ? Did you mean me ? " 
 
 " I didn't mean anybody else in the mizzen-top," an- 
 swei'ed Jack in a low but stiff tone. 
 
 "Did ye? Then I'll smash your toplights ! " said 
 Sam, springing forward, apparently with the intention of 
 inflicting summary vengeance upon his topmate. 
 
 "Avast there, Becket ! Now, batten down your gab- 
 port, and don't say another word. The lad has the rig'hts 
 of it. If he don't want to play, he needn't. It's agin 
 all orders to play on board. Now let him alone," inter- 
 posed Bob Rushington, taking the angry seaman by the 
 arm. 
 
 "I'll be" 
 
 " Belay all ! " said the captain of the top firmly. " If 
 you say another word about it, I'll report you to the olfi- 
 cer of the deck." 
 
 Becket, in the face of this threat, did not dare to pur-
 
 106 TJ1E SAILOR BOY; OK, 
 
 sue his vindictive measures any further ; and, during the 
 remainder of the watch in the top, Jack was permitted to 
 consider without interruption the enormity of the vice of 
 gambling, and the results to which it inevitably leads.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN TEE NAVY. 107 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 " MAN OVERBOARD ! " 
 
 (*T^U LL the starboard watch, ahoy ! " shouted the * 
 
 J\ boatswain's chief mate, at eight bells, on the 
 ^^ / %' following morning. 
 
 Jack- rubbed his eyes open as quick as he 
 could, and slipped out of his hammock ; for the first 
 thing that came to his mind was his resolution always 
 to be prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties. 
 As he tumbled up the ladder, and made his way aft to 
 the mizzen-rigging to relieve the quarter-watch in the 
 top, he saw that Sam Becket was the next man before 
 him. This circumstance recalled the incident of the pre- 
 ceding evening, especially as he saw the man who had 
 promised to be his enemy glancing over his shoulder at 
 him. It was still quite dark ; but Jack saw, or thought 
 he saw, a very malignant expression in the countenance 
 of his topmate. 
 
 He was determined not to give Becket any cause of 
 offence, and therefore kept well away from him. He 
 permitted his enemy to mount the rail, and go up several.
 
 108 THE SAILOR BOY;- OR, 
 
 ratlins, before he ventured to follow him, fearful that the 
 gambler would attempt to " sarve him out" by treading 
 upon his hands as he went aloft, or kicking him in the 
 head. 
 
 " Lively, Jack, lively ! " said Bob Rushington, who 
 was next behind him. 
 
 "Ay, ay, Bob ; but I mean to give my enemy a wide 
 berth." 
 
 " Heave ahead, Jack ! Don't stop there ! " added the 
 captain of the top ; for our sailor-boy had halted for a 
 moment till his dangerous companion should get out of 
 his way. 
 
 At that instant, Jack felt the whole weight of Beckct 
 come down upon him, and his hold upon the shrouds was 
 wrenched off. The instinct of self-preservation prompted 
 him to seize the nearest object, which happened to be 
 the long legs of Sam Becket. The additional strain 
 Upon the hands of that worthy was more than he was 
 competent to sustain ; and Jack, realizing that he had 
 grasped an insecure substance, released his hold, and, 
 recovering his balance, leaped down upon the quarter- 
 deck of the ship. 
 
 Sam Becket, unable to obtain a new hold upon the 
 rigging, was pitched over backwards into the sea. Jack 
 saw with horror the catastrophe which had overtaken the 
 gambler, and jumped upon the rail to ascertain his fate. 
 
 " Man overboard ! " shouted several of the watch.
 
 JACK SO ME MS IN THE NAVY. 109 
 
 The officer of the deck gave the orders to the quarter- 
 master at the wheel necessary for stopping and backing 
 the engines, while the man stationed at the taffrail for 
 the purpose detached the life-buoy. 
 
 Jack Somers stood on the rail, gazing down into the 
 dark and treacherous sea where his topmate had disap- 
 peared. He was a courageous lad ; and, without think- 
 ing of the consequences to himself or of his own weak- 
 ness, plunged into the water just as Becket rose to the 
 surface. The latter was but an indifferent swimmer, if 
 he coidd swim at all ; and, instead of taking his misfor- 
 tune like a reasonable man, he commenced kicking and 
 struggling in the most unaccountable manner, evidently 
 having no control over himself in the agonies of fear. 
 
 The steamer went ahead some distance before she 
 stopped ; and Jack and his struggling enemy were left 
 far astern in the rolling waves. Our hero, as heroes 
 always are, was cool and self-possessed. He could not 
 help wondering at the stupidity of his topmate in making 
 such a fuss at such a momentous time, when his safety 
 absolutely depended upon a careful husbanding of 'all his 
 strength. But Sam continued to kick and struggle till 
 his wind gave out ; and then, when he could' kick and 
 struggle no more, he began to take the thing more coolly : 
 in other words, he was on the point of going to the bot- 
 I'.'ni, mystically rendered in seamen's vernacular as " Davy 
 Jones's locker."
 
 110 THE SAILOR BOY; OK, 
 
 Jack, who had all the time behaved himself in a very 
 orderly and circumspect manner, kept his eye on the 
 burning fuze of the life-buoy, which had been ignited by 
 the act of being detached from its beckets at the stern 
 of the vessel. It was quite near him ; for it had been 
 dropped into the water the instant the cry which indi- 
 cated the accident had sounded through the ship. When 
 Sam showed signs of the exhaustion which rendered it 
 safe for his topmate to approach him, Jack swam up to 
 him, and seized him by one of his hands. 
 
 The convulsive clutch with which the drowning man 
 closed his hand upon his enterprising deliverer assured 
 the latter fhat the danger of being carried down with 
 him was not yet over. Jack was compelled to " pay 
 out" well to avoid this peril : but, after one more despe- 
 rate struggle, the unfortunate man Avas quiet again ; and 
 Jack succeeded by the exercise of a great deal of well- 
 expended strength in towing Becket to the life-buoy, to 
 the supporters of which he secured him as well as he 
 could. 
 
 Jack Somers was not made of iron, though he is the 
 hero of our story ; and, by the time he had placed Becket 
 in a position of comparative safety, he began to think it 
 was about time for a boat to come to his relief. He 
 was thoroughly worn out by his exertions ; and when he 
 glanced over the tops of the waves, which were tumbling 
 the life-buoy about in a very unceremonious manner, he
 
 JACK SOMX&S ff THE NAVJ. Ill 
 
 was appalled to see the steamer apparently a mile off. 
 To add to his consternation, the pyrotechnic apparatus' 
 on the life-buoy had been extinguished, either by thr 
 spray or by the limitation of its material. 
 
 The prospect was exceedingly dark aud gloomy, and 
 there were some strong indications that the career of 
 Jack Somers in the navy would be completed with the 
 close of the tenth chapter. Our sailor-boy could not help 
 thinking of his mother, and the assurance he had given 
 her that he was just as safe on board a man-of-war, as io 
 the cottage at Pinchbrook ; and perhaps he might have 
 been if he had had the worldly-minded prudence to re- 
 main on the deck of the Harrisburg, instead of trusting 
 his carcass to the uncertain mercies of an Atlantic sea 
 to save the life of 'a worthless fellow who hud taken the 
 trouble to publish himself as his enemy. 
 
 It is true, it was a sublime and Christian act to at- 
 tempt to save the life of an enemy : but we are quite sure 
 that Jack did not think of his religion, or reason upoi? 
 the subject, before he dashed into the water ; though a 
 soul influenced by the pure gospel of love does not have 
 to consider in an emergency which requires an act of 
 prompt self-sacrifice. The atmosphere of love with 
 which the Christian heart surrounds itself inspires the 
 thoughts, words, and deeds ; so that self-sacrifice, like a 
 heavenly impulse, requires no cold and calculating re- 
 flection.
 
 112 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 It was a rash act, unquestionably, however noble and 
 sublime it may appear. It had been performed from 
 impulse. Our sailor-boy bad done, at this* time, no more 
 tli ail be bad on three similar occasions in his previous 
 experience, though never under circumstances of so great 
 peril. To save a boy from a watery grave by jumping 
 over the stem of a yacht in Pinchbrook Harbor, and 
 leaping from the rail of a ship far out to sea in the 
 sombre shades of a winter morning, were two entirely 
 different affairs, as Jack was now fully assured while 
 clinging to the life-buoy exhausted and chilled. 
 
 We might transcribe some of the great thoughts which 
 rushed through the -mind of our hero, or give words to 
 the simple prayer which his heart rather than his lips 
 breathed to Him who holds the waters in the hollow of 
 his hand ; but, while every moment seemed a week, he 
 saw the lights of the ship moving on the rolling ocean. 
 The sight gave him hope ; and he watched them with aii 
 intensity of feeling which no one, not clinging to a life- 
 buoy in mid-ocean, can appreciate or comprehend. 
 
 But the lights moved not towards him. Those on 
 board had lost his bearings, or he had drifted far from 
 the spot where he had first committed himself to the 
 waves. He was chilled by the cold, and exhausted by 
 the A'iolcnce of his exertions ; and when he saw the 
 strainer barking by him, and too dislaul to Ite hailed, he 
 felt a sinking sensation of despair creep into his soul,
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY, 113 
 
 which began to drive the life from his body. When all 
 hope seemed to have departed, a sound, welcome as the 
 music of the flowing rill to the thirsty, dying pilgrim, 
 attracted his attention, and gave him strength for one 
 more struggle for life. It was the measured thump of 
 oars in the rowlocks of a boat. He looked in the direc- 
 tion from which the sound came, and discovered a blue 
 light, which had just been fired, casting a lurid glare 
 upon the rolling billows. 
 
 " Boat ahoy ! " he shouted with all the strength of his 
 lungs ; but his voice sounded to him like that of a pygmy. 
 He repeated the call several times, and his heart was 
 gladdened by the answering hail of his friends. 
 
 "Where away!" came in hoarse tones across the 
 long, sweeping surges of the ocean. 
 
 u Boat ahoy ! " repeated Jack with desperate earnest- 
 ness ; and he continued to shout, while the gleams of 
 rapidly expanding hope seemed to shoot warmth and life 
 through his chilled veins. 
 
 " I see him ! " shouted the bow-oarsman, as the boat 
 approached the buoy, still bravely bearing up its freight 
 of human life and hope. " Steady, cockswain ! Lay on 
 your oars ! Avast pulling ! Back her ! You will run 
 'em down ! " 
 
 By this time the boathook of the bowman wr. r ; made 
 fast to the buoy, and in another moment Jack and his 
 companion in misery were dragged into the boat
 
 114 THE SAILOR BOY; OK, 
 
 " God bless you, Jack, my boy ! " exclaimed Ben 
 Blinks, folding our hero in his arms as a mother does her 
 child. 
 
 " Give way ! " said the cockswain ; and the boat came 
 about, and pulled to the ship. 
 
 On the passage, Ben worked vigorously upon the be- 
 numbed limbs of Jack, while two others performed a 
 similar service for Becket. When the boat reached the 
 gangway, our sailor-boy was able to grasp the man- 
 ropes, and ascend to the deck with the assistance of Ben 
 Blinks ; but Sam was hoisted up in slings just like a 
 barrel of hard-tack. The sufferers were both handed 
 over to the care of Dr. Sawsett ; while the boats were 
 recalled, hoisted up to the davits again, and the ship 
 went on her course as though nothing had happened. 
 
 In a couple of hours, Jack Somers was as good as 
 new ; and Becket, when " the water was pumped out of 
 him," as Ben Blinks expressed it, began to improve, 
 and, after "general quarters," was able to give an ac- 
 count of his cruise. 
 
 It had been whispered about among the people that 
 there was some foul play connected with the affair ; and, 
 the report having reached Mr. Baukhead through the 
 officer of the deck, he proceeded to examine into the case 
 at the first practicable moment. 
 
 " How came you to fall overboard, my man ? " de- 
 manded the executive officer. " You are an ordinary
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 115 
 
 seaman, and you ought to be able to go aloft without ac- 
 cident." 
 
 " Foul play, sir ! " replied Becket in surly tones. 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 " The topman below me pulled me off the rigging, 
 sir." 
 
 "Who was he?" 
 
 " Somers, sir," replied Becket with the most unblush- 
 ing effrontery. 
 
 " Somers ! " exclaimed Mr. Bankhead, astonished at 
 the charge against his protege. 
 
 " Yes, sir : he caught hold of my legs, and pulled me 
 off the rigging," added he, looking up from the hammock 
 in the sick-bay, where the examination was in progress. 
 
 "Do you know who saved your life? who jumped 
 overboard after you ? " 
 
 "No, sir. Who was it?" 
 
 " No matter who it was. Did Somers pull you off by 
 accident ? " 
 
 "No, sir: I think not. We had some trouble in the 
 mizzen-top last night, and I think he has a grudge against 
 me. He was sarvin' me out, sir." 
 
 "Marine, pass the word for Somers," added Mr. Bank-- 
 head. 
 
 Jack presently appeared, and had no difficulty in di- 
 vining the occasion of the summons. The first-lieuten- 
 ant stated the charge, which Jack promptly denied, 
 giving a full explanation 'of the affair as it was.
 
 116 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " Pass the word for Rushington," said Mr. Bankhead ; 
 and the captain of the mizzen-top appeared, aud substan- 
 tiated Jack's story. The trouble in the top was al^o 
 ventilated. 
 
 " They are lying on me, sir ! " said Bccket. 
 
 " You black-hearted scoundrel ! " exclaimed Mr. Bank- 
 head warmly ; for his indignation could be no longer 
 controlled. " Would Somers push you overboard one 
 minute, and dive after you the next?" 
 
 The wretch was taken all aback when he learned that 
 his injured topmate had saved his life at the peril of his 
 own : and, having convicted the culprit, Mr. Bankhead 
 went on deck, followed by Jack and Rushington ; for the 
 ship was now approaching the capes of Virginia.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 117 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE COCKSWAIN OF THE CAPTAIN'S GIG. 
 
 'HE Harrisburg stood in between the capes, and, 
 in the course of the forenoon, dropped her an- 
 chor off Fortress Monroe. Jack, from his lofty 
 perch in the mizzen-top, obtained a fine view of 
 that celebrated fortification, of which he had heard and 
 read so much. As he gazed upon the " sacred soil" of 
 Virginia, now consecrated by the ashes of heroic martyrs 
 who had fallen in defence of the glorious old flag, his 
 thoughts reverted to his soldier-brother ; for there had 
 occurred the stirring events in which Tom Somers had 
 been an actor. 
 
 Jack was proud of his brother, and thankful that he 
 had done his duty bravely and faithfully in the army. He 
 hoped he should soon have an opportunity to do some- 
 thing for the old flag ; and, as he glanced at the ensign 
 floating at the peak of the Harrisburg, he felt more than 
 ever devoted to the good cause, and ready to die in 
 defence of the cherished emblem. 
 
 There was Virginia ; and Tom could not be a great 
 way off. He longed to see him ; and he could not help
 
 118 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 thinking how smart he should feel in presenting himself 
 before his soldier-brother in the uniform of the navy. 
 But every thing was very uncertain in time of war ; and 
 a bullet might kill Tom, a splinter or a round shot place 
 the gloomy " D. D." * against his own name on the ship's 
 books. What would his poor mother do if either of 
 them should be killed? His eye grew dim at the 
 thought. His father too, if living, was probably some- 
 where in Virginia ; and these reflections had a very 
 strong tendency to give him a fit of the blues. He felt 
 like crying a little, just as though a few tears would 
 do him good. 
 
 "What's the matter, Jack?" demanded Bob Rushing^ 
 ton. " You are foggy about the toplights." 
 
 " I was thinking of my father and my brother," re- 
 plied Jack. 
 
 " Well, aren't it pleasant to think of, my lad? " 
 
 " I haven't seen my father for nearly a year. I sup- 
 pose he is in the hands of the rebels, if he is alive." 
 
 " Don't cry about it, Jack ! The old gentleman will 
 turn up all right one of these days," added Bob in sym- 
 pathizing tones. 
 
 Just then, the boatswain's whistle piped away the crew 
 of the captain's gig ; and Jack, who was one of them, 
 ran down the mizzen-rigging, and was one of the first to 
 report on the quarter-deck. In anticipation of this duty, 
 
 * Discharged, dead.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 119 
 
 the oarsmen of the gig had been ordered to dress in clean 
 clothes. They were young, fine-looking, athletic men, 
 who had been selected, on account of their personal ap- 
 pearance, to pull the commander of the Harrisburg 
 wherever his duty or his inclination should lead him. 
 
 While the men were waiting for orders, Jack saw 
 Lieutenant Bankhead point to him ; and the captain 
 seemed to be very anxious to have him carefully desig- 
 nated, so that he could identify him. Now, our hero, 
 like all brave and noble-hearted young men, was as mod- 
 est and bashful as a school-girl. His cheek glowed with 
 blushes when he became conscious that he was the sub- 
 ject of the officer's remarks. He wished himself at 
 that moment on the mizzen-top-gallant yard-arm, or sur- 
 rounded by the favoring darkness of the fore-hold. 
 
 The idea of being looked at and particularly noticed 
 by so magnificent a person as Captain Mainwright, com- 
 mander of the United-States steamer Harrisburg, was 
 rather too much for Jack's susceptible nature ; but I am 
 happy to inform my sympathizing readers that he did 
 not faint, or commit any other foolish act. It wasn't his 
 fault that he was a handsome young, man ; that he was 
 we'1-formed, and had an exceedingly pleasant counte- 
 nance, with bright blue eyes, through which his soul, 
 as the novelists would say, proclaimed its own nobility. 
 I am not quite sure it was his fault that he blushed ; 
 but, considering his youth and inexperience, he may well
 
 120 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 be pardoned for this display of feminine weakness. Jack 
 was opposed to blushing on principle, and he felt ex- 
 ceedingly awkward while his cheek tingled with the 
 Avarm blood that did not belong there ; and, in his efforts 
 to appear indifferent, he was on the point of committing 
 a breach of discipline, and of sinning against the immac- 
 ulate stainlessness of the quarter-deck, by whistling, an 
 expedient to which people on shore as well as on board 
 ship resort to make.their looks belie their actions. 
 
 If it was a sin to blush, the captain and the first-lieu- 
 tenant of the Harrisburg had determined not to see it, or 
 not to punish it on the present occasion ; for they con- 
 tinued their remarks, without the least regard to the 
 agony they were causing our sailor-boy. They were 
 even cruel enough to utter some very flattering commen- 
 dations upon the conduct of Jack that morning, in a tone 
 so loud, that the whole gig's crew couldn't help hearing 
 them. 
 
 " Bully for you, Jack Somers ! " said the stroke-oars- 
 man in a whisper. 
 
 "Poh!" replied Jack contemptuously; but, at the 
 same time, his cheeks glowed with a ruddier tint, and his 
 heart beat a more lively tattoo against his ribs. 
 
 The first and second cutter and the captain's gig were 
 already moored to the swinging-boom, to which the boats 
 of a man-of-war are fastened when she lies in port. 
 Jack wished the order would be given to pipe over the
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 121 
 
 side into the gig ; for he felt just as though he should 
 sink through the deck-planks, if this scene continued 
 much longer. But there stood the captain and Mr. 
 Bankhea'd, talking about him, just as though he had been 
 some great man. The executive officer was evidently 
 giving his superior a history of Jack's cruise on the life- 
 buoy ; and our hero thought he was spinning out the 
 yarn to a very unnecessary length. 
 
 At last the story came to an end. The two great men 
 of the ship wheeled round upon their heels, and walked 
 aft. They paused a few moments at the taffrail, and 
 continued the conversation in a more earnest manner. 
 Suddenly the captain wheeled round again, just as 
 naval officers do who have spent years of their valuable 
 lives in pacing the weather-side of the quarter-deck, 
 and walked briskly towards the boat's crew, who were 
 all but Jack Somers patiently waiting for a further 
 expression of his mighty will and pleasure. 
 
 " Cockswain ! " said Captain Mainwright sharply ; for 
 he was an officer who always spoke quick and to the 
 point. 
 
 " He's on the sick-list, your honor," replied the stroke- 
 oarsman, touching his cap. 
 
 " Sick ! " exclaimed the captain with well-feigned as- 
 tonishment ; for every one of the gig's crew was per- 
 fectly well aware that the captain knew where his cock- 
 swain was at that particular moment, and also what had 
 occasioned his sudden illness.
 
 122 THE SAILOR BOY; OH, 
 
 " He's very bad, your honor," added the stroke-oarsman, 
 touching his hat again with a smile which indicated that 
 he was presumptuous enough to understand and appre- 
 ciate the joke that the majesty of the quarter-deck was 
 engaged in perpetrating. 
 
 " What business has my cockswain to be sick?" added 
 he, turning to the executive officer ; for the captain of a 
 man-of-war never jests with the denizens of the berth- 
 deck. 
 
 " Mutiny ! " replied Mr. Baukhead with a smile. 
 
 "What's his name?" asked the captain, who could 
 not be expected to know the cognomen of so humble an 
 individual as the cockswain of his own gig, especially as 
 the ship had been in commission less than a fortnight. 
 
 " Becket," replied the first-lieutenant, who might pos- 
 sibly have consulted the station-bill within half an hour. 
 At any rate, his information was sufficiently accurate to 
 enable him to answer the question without any embar- 
 rassing hesitation. 
 
 " That's the man that fell overboard, and was saved 
 by Somers ! " added Captain Maiuwright with apparent 
 astonishment ; but it is more than probable that he was 
 not half so much astonished as he appeared to be. 
 
 " The same, sir." 
 
 " He had no business to fall overboard, and I shall 
 disrate him for doing so." 
 
 Mr. Bankhead bowed with becoming reverence to the 
 fiat of his superior.
 
 JACK SO MESS IN THE NAVY. 123 
 
 " I want a new cockswain," continued the captain. 
 
 "Bully for you, Jack Somers !" said the stroke oars- 
 man jn an awful whisper. 
 
 " Somers ! " said the captain in a tone which seemed to 
 be fearfully majestic to our blushing, trembling sailor-boy. 
 
 Jack stepped forward, and touched his cap, as much 
 awed as though he had stood in the sublime presence of 
 the Autocrat of all the Russias. 
 
 " Somers, I am toldyou did a foolish thing this morn- 
 ing." 
 
 Jack touched his cap again, as deferentially as before : 
 and the captain's view of the act, at least as he expressed 
 it in his remark, was really a relief to him ; for he was 
 one of that sort, who, if it were not for the name of the 
 thing, had rather be blamed than praised. 
 
 " Never jump overboard after a man again, if he is . 
 the best friend you have in the world," added the captain, 
 in a tone so decided, that the gig's crew began to pity 
 poor Jack, and to think that the captain was using him 
 very harshly after he had behaved so handsomely. 
 
 It is true, Tom Longstone and Ben Blinks had told 
 him the same thing ; and their advice must certainly 
 have been good, since it was enforced by such high au- 
 thority as the captain. Jack touched his cap before the 
 admonition of his commander, and really began to think 
 that he had done a mean thing, instead of a noble and 
 magnanimous deed.
 
 124 THE SAILOR BOY, OR, 
 
 " Never do it again, Somers," continued the captain. 
 " We can't afford to lose a man like you, especially for 
 such a fellow as Becket. Henceforth you will be rated as 
 cockswain of my gig. Pipe away your crew, Somers ! " 
 
 Jack would not have been more astonished if the Min- 
 nesota, which lay at anchor near the Harrisburg, had 
 poured a broadside into the ship, than he was when he 
 found himself so suddenly and unexpectedly promoted to 
 the elegant and dignified office of cockswain of the cap- 
 tain's gig. He was amazed, confounded, bewildered, at 
 the magnificent position to which he had been elevated. 
 
 " Thank your honor ! " stammered Jack, pulling off his 
 cap, and bowing as low as though he had been in the 
 presence of the Sultan of Turkey. 
 
 Captain Mainwright turned, and walked aft ; leaving 
 Jack standing like a statue, as immovable as the main- 
 mast of the ship. 
 
 "Away with you, Jack." said Mr. Bankhead in a 
 low tone, as he walked by him towards the waist. 
 
 " Gig-men, away ! " added Jack, giving his first order 
 in virtue of his new position. 
 
 He was perfectly familiar with the duties of a cock- 
 swain, though he had never performed them, or even, in 
 his wildest dreams of future distinction, aspired to such 
 a splendid position. In a moment more, he was over the 
 side with his crew ; and the gig was brought up to the 
 gangway, ready to receive its distinguished passenger.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 125 
 
 While he was waiting, the new hand appointed to fill his 
 place entered the boat. 
 
 " Bully for you, Jack ! " said the stroke-oarsman, 
 while the new cockswain was adjusting the cushions in 
 the stern-sheets of the gig. 
 
 " Good on your head, Jack ! " added another. " You^ 
 desarved it ; and there is not a man in the ship that 
 won't be glad of it." 
 
 "That's so." 
 
 " Except Becket." 
 
 " Becket's only fit for shark's meat," added the first 
 speaker. 
 
 Jack was very glad to find there was no ill feeling 
 towards him among his shipmates on account of what 
 had been done, which added very much to his satisfac- 
 tion. He was as happy as a boy of seventeen could be ; 
 and he longed for the time when he could sit down on 
 the mess-bench, and hear Tom Longstone's comments on 
 the matter. And what a topic for a letter to his mother ! 
 "Wouldn't she feel good when she heard all about it ! 
 He intended to write that letter as soon as he returned 
 from the shore ; but in it he intended to promise his 
 mother never to jump overboard after a shipmate again, 
 in accordance with the injunction of the captain and the 
 advice of his best friends. He should have a word to 
 say about the increased pay he would receive in his new 
 capacity.
 
 126 THE SAILOR BOY, OR, 
 
 While he was thinking over the bright prospects which 
 had suddenly dawned upon him, Mr. Dickey, midshipman, 
 the elegant and accomplished bantam of the quarter- 
 deck, came over the gangway, and installed himself in 
 the stern-sheets as the officer of the boat. Jack paid him 
 the homage due to so important a personage, and the dis- 
 tinguished Mr. Dickey subsided upon the cushions in 
 languid consciousness of his own magnificence. On ordi- 
 nary occasions, our hero could not look upon this notable 
 young gentleman without a strong tendency to exercise 
 his risibles : but at this time he actually felt a profound 
 respect for him ; probably because his own position, 
 being a peg higher, placed himself so much nearer to 
 the ineffable grandeur of that held by Mr. Midshipman 
 Dickey. 
 
 The captain came over the side next, and was received 
 with due honor by all in the boat. 
 
 " Toss ! " said Jack. " Let fall ! Give way ! " and 
 the gig was dashing over the waves towards the sallyport 
 of the fortress. 
 
 Our innocent readers must not suppose, from the ele- 
 vated position to which our hero had been exalted, that 
 he was admitted to the counsels of the captain. Not 
 even the magnificent Mr. Dickey could aspire to this 
 honor ; and both of them had to wait in the boat till 
 Captain Mainwright had finished his business on shore.
 
 JACK SO ME US IN THE NAVY. 127 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 SHIP ISLAND. 
 
 CAPTAIN MAINWRIGHT remained so long 
 in the fort, that it is quite probable he forgot 
 that Mr. Midshipman Dickey was waiting for 
 him at the pier. Perhaps it would have made 
 no difference with him, if he had thought of it : at any 
 rate, he stopped a long time ; and, when he came down 
 to the boat, he did not apologize to Mr. Dickey for de- 
 taining him so long. Mr. Dickey did not seem to be 
 offended with him for his want of consideration ; for he 
 touched his cap as politely, when the captain stepped into 
 the boat, as though his patience had not been sorely 
 tried. 
 
 Jack Somers touched his cap very reverently ; for he 
 was so grateful to the commander of the Harrisburg for 
 his kindness to him, that he would willingly have waited 
 all day and all night in the boat for him. As Captain 
 Main wright was engaged in the business of the nation, 
 it is likely that he did not care whether Mr. Dickey was 
 satisfied or not. In fact, officers in the navy are not in
 
 128 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 the habit of consulting the wishes of their inferiors : and 
 we are inclined to think that they are perfectly right iu 
 doing so ; for, if they attempted to please all who chose 
 to differ from them, the old flag Avould be the greatest 
 sufferer by the operation. 
 
 Jack wanted very much to know how long the ship 
 was to remain at Fortress Monroe : but he did not think 
 it prudent to ask the question even of Mr. Bankhead, 
 much less of the captain ; for, even if these gentlemen 
 had known themselves, they had a provoking habit of 
 keeping things to themselves. It is not certain that any 
 officer below the captain knew when or where the ship 
 was going ; and it was a fact, that not a man outside of 
 the cabin and wardroom had the remotest idea whether 
 they w T ere going to Gibraltar or the South. This may 
 seem very strange to our readers ; but the destination of 
 a ship-of-war is seldom made public in time of Avar. 
 Sometimes the seamen can form a tolerably correct idea 
 from the amount and kind of stores put on board, and 
 other circumstances. Vessels often sail with sealed or- 
 ders, which the captain is permitted to open only when 
 the ship reaches a certain position. The information is 
 not often communicated to the people, though they some- 
 times obtain it by accident. 
 
 On board the Harrisburg, everybody wondered where 
 they were going ; but the whole subject was a sealed 
 book to them, and Jack was obliged to content himself
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 129 
 
 without knowing any thing at all about the matter. As 
 he stood behind Captain Mainwright, with the tiller-ropes 
 in his hands, he tried to read the expression of his face ; 
 yet, when he gave the order to " toss oars," he had made 
 no headway whatever in the operation. The captain's 
 face was as uncormmmicative as his lips. 
 
 The side was manned when the monarch of the quar- 
 ter-deck went over the gangway, and was received in due 
 form by the officer of the deck, and others who were 
 present. The commander of a man-of-war is always re- 
 ceived with a great deal of ceremony when he comes on 
 board of the ship, though he may not have been absent 
 fifteen minutes. The "side boys" form a double line, 
 and touch their caps as he passes through the lines. He 
 is treated with a great deal of respect at all times. Every 
 man, from the first-lieutenant to the third-class boys, 
 touches his cap to him, as every officer and man must do 
 when he approaches his superior. 
 
 Boat-keepers at the swinging-boom stand up, and salute 
 officers arriving or departing in boats. If Captain Main- 
 wright's gig, in going to or coming from the shore, had 
 met a boat containing a flag-officer, that is, the com- 
 mander of a squadron, etiquette would require that his 
 crew should toss oars (hold them up, perpendicularly), 
 and the captain would touch -his cap to his superior. 
 Commissioned officers, in passing him, would lie on their 
 oars, and warrant-officers would toss oars to him. These 
 9
 
 130 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 are tokens of respect which every inferior must yield to 
 his superior. Custom or particular regulations adjust all 
 these matters with the most punctilious care. 
 
 When Captain Mainwright had gone up the side, and 
 the accomplished Mr. Dickey had also disappeared over 
 the bulwarks, Jack secured his boat, and went on deck. 
 As he passed along the crowd of idlers, he was roughly 
 congratulated upon his good fortune. He made his way 
 down to the berth-deck, where he found Tom Longstoue. 
 
 " Give us your flipper, Jack ! " said the veteran, as he 
 rose from the mess bench. " I give ye joy, Jack ! It's 
 a good thing to have some one in the wardroom to speak 
 a good word for you." 
 
 " Then you think I owe my promotion to the favor of 
 Mr. Bankhead?" replied Jack, as Tom wrung his hand. 
 
 " Sartin of it, my pretty piper." 
 
 " Then I would rather throw up my new rating," 
 added our hero. 
 
 " Why, you lollipop ! I don't say you didn't desarve 
 it ; for every man aboard knows as how you did. It is 
 not every man that desarves promotion as gets it." 
 
 " I don't ask any favors," continued Jack. 
 
 " Yes, you do, my lively gigsman. You want your de- 
 sarts, and you'll find that's the greatest favor you can get." 
 
 " I don't see it in that light." 
 
 " Are you going for to kick because you've got a good 
 friend in the wardroom ? " demanded Tom sternly.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 131 
 
 " No ; but I don't want any favors not bestowed upon 
 the rest of the men." 
 
 " It's all right : no mistake about that? The whole 
 crew would like to give you three cheers for what you 
 did ; and every mother's son on 'em would vote to make 
 you boatswain this minute, if they could," 
 
 " Doubted ! "" 
 
 " Yes, they would : we'll except that piratical Becket, 
 or such car'on as he is. For all that, my merry to'gal- 
 lant-man, kissin' goes by favor. There's a score of old 
 sheet-anchor men for'ad that has weathered Cape Horn a 
 dozen times ; melted the grease out of their bodies in the 
 East Indies, and been froze up in the arctic ; and what 
 are they now ? Able seamen, Jack, that's all. They 
 don't get so much pay as you do, that never went out of 
 sight of land in a man-of-war. You're lucky, Jack ; and 
 you ought to be thankful for what you've got." 
 
 "I am thankful, Tom; But why didn't the captain 
 choose a cockswain from these sheet-anchor men ? " 
 
 " 'Cause kissin' goes by favor, my breezy little top- 
 man. But bless your heart, Jack, them old fellows 
 aren't good for cockswains. They want lively, brisk, 
 handsome little fellers like you for cockswains of the com- 
 modore's barge and the cap'u's gig. Besides, them fel- 
 lers are gettiu' old and stiff, and stow away grog enough 
 to float a seventy-four. You've got what you desarve, 
 Jack ; and you ought to be satisfied."
 
 132 THE SAILOR BOYi OR, 
 
 " Ko I am ; but I don't want any man to think that I 
 w& promoted when I didn't deserve it." 
 
 " You did "desarve it." t 
 
 " That's so ! " added Bob Rushington with emphasis-. 
 
 And so said the rest of the mess : for, while the argu- 
 ment was in progress, the crew had been piped to supper ; 
 and Jack had no reason to complain of a want of sym- 
 pathy among his messmates. 
 
 The Harrisburg remained at Fortress Monroe five 
 days ; at the end of which time, she went to sea again. 
 Though the prophets and wise men of the berth-deck 
 indulged in all sorts of speculations in regard to the 
 destination of the ship, nothing was known in regard to 
 the future, except that she was headed to the southward. 
 Whether she was going to serve as a blockader, or to en- 
 gage in more active work, was as much a mystery as 
 ever. If the quarter-deck was any wiser than the berth- 
 deck, it preserved its own secrets with religious care. 
 
 Three days after she sailed, the ship approached the 
 land again ; and Jack learned that she was going into 
 Port-Royal Harbor. A little later, he saw the forts, on 
 either side of the bay, which had been captured by the 
 squadron of Commodore Dupont. From the mizzen-top 
 he saw the stars and stripes floating over them ; and his 
 heart beat a livelier pulsation as he recalled the glorious 
 events of that heroic day. 
 
 The ship came to anchor in the harbor, and the cap-
 
 JACK SOMERS IN T n B N A V T. 133 
 
 tain's gig was again in demand. Jack saw a great many- 
 things which interested and instructed him ; but no events 
 of sufficient importance to be recorded in these pages 
 occurred during his stay. 
 
 From Port Royal, the Harrisburg went to Key West 
 on the following day ; thence to Havana, where she ex- 
 changed salutes with the English, French, and Spanish 
 men-of-war lying in the harbor ; and Jack had a fine 
 opportunity to observe the perfection of ceremonial ob- 
 servances which prevail in the navy. Admirals and 
 commodores were as thick as snow-flakes at Christmas ; 
 and such a banging of great guns, such a dipping of 
 ensigns, such a tossing of oars, even the old salts had 
 never seen before. Every other man he met seemed to 
 be an admiral ; and he had nearly worn out his cap in 
 touching it to the foul anchors that glittered upon the 
 shoulders of those who passed his station. 
 
 The last time he pulled the captain off from the shore, 
 he heard him tell a gentleman with him that the Harris- 
 burg was ordered to Snip Island Jo relieve the flag-ship 
 Niagara ; and, the same day, she got under weigh again. 
 
 " We are in for't now, Jack. We shall have some 
 music afore long," said Tom Longstone, when Jack re- 
 ported his information to the old quarter-master. " I'll 
 bet a month's pay we pitch into Mobile afore April Fools' 
 Day." 
 
 " I hope so," replied Jack.
 
 134 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " Perhaps you won't feel so good about it when the 
 time comes. You don't know what 'tis, Jack, to see 
 round-shot smashin' through the sides of the ship, tear- 
 ing off splinters, and scatterin' 'em like kindliu'-Avood all 
 over the decks, knocking over the best men at the guns. 
 We don't any on us know much about it." 
 
 " I'm ready -for it, if we can only knock Mobile, or 
 any other rebel place, in pieces. I hoped I should be in 
 when Charleston was taken." 
 
 " Time enough yet, Jack." 
 
 If our hero could have known in what bloody and ex- 
 citing scenes he was soon to engage, he would have been 
 satisfied to spend the intervening time in preparing for 
 the future. Every day the men were drilled at the guns, 
 and in the use of the cutlass and boarding-pike ; so that, 
 the longer the trying ordeal of battle was deferred, the 
 better prepared were the crew to meet it. 
 
 After a passage of four days, the Harrisburg arrived 
 at Ship Island ; which my young readers are aware is 
 little more than a sand-bar off the eastern coast of Louis- 
 iana. She was now nearer the rebels than she had been 
 before ; and certain little steamers, flaunting the Confed- 
 erate flag, were occasionally seen near the land, as they 
 came out to ascertain what Uncle Sam was doing at the 
 island. They were very prudent, however ; and seldom 
 placed themselves within range of the heavy guns on 
 board the ships-of-war.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE &AVY. 135 
 
 Afte^r the ship had been at this station about ten days, 
 a boat-expedition was organized ; though its object, as 
 usual, was a profound secret to all except the officers. 
 From various indications, the enterprise promised to be 
 an exciting affair. The first, second, and third cutters 
 were to compose the boat-party ; and, besides the regular 
 crews, a limited number of seamen were to engage in 
 the expedition. Forthwith there was a great struggle 
 among the men to obtain places in the boats ; for there 
 was hardly a man on board who did not wish to be 
 counted in. The men had all been selected by Mr. 
 Baukhead ; and Jack Somers was terribly disappointed 
 when he found that he was " left out in the cold." 
 
 Tom Longstone was to go in the first cutter, and our 
 hero bemoaned to him his sad fate in being compelled to 
 stay behind. 
 
 " Never mind, Jack ; plenty of time yet. It will be 
 your turn next," replied Tom in soothing tones. 
 
 " Let me go in your place. Tom," asked Jack, half in 
 jest, and half in earnest. 
 
 " Can't do that," replied the veteran, shaking his head, 
 " If there's any chance for a fight, I musn't lose it. Be- 
 sides, you may lose your number in the mess if you 
 go." 
 
 " I'll risk that. Don't you think I can get a chance 
 to go ? "
 
 136 THE SAIL OK BOY; O R : 
 
 " Perhaps you can find some one that will give you hia 
 chance, my little piper." 
 
 "Who wants to go?" said a voice at the mess-table 
 behind them. 
 
 " I do," answered Jack promptly, and before he saw 
 who asked the question. 
 
 "Jack Somers?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 Jack now found that the speaker was Sam Becket, his 
 topmate, who had been disrated on account of the affair 
 off the capes of Virginia. He had fully recovered from 
 the effects of his involuntary bath on that eventful morn- 
 ing. Popular opinion on board the Harn'sburg had set 
 hard against him ; and he had found that the way of tho 
 transgressor is hard. Since his recovery, he had per* 
 formed his duty in surly silence. If he felt any grati- 
 tude towards his topmate for saving his life, he never 
 manifested it by word or look , and Jack and his friends 
 had hardly noticed him. 
 
 " You can have my place, Jack, if you want it bad," 
 added Becket, without looking at the person he addressed. 
 
 " Thank you : I'm very much obliged to you, Becket," 
 said Jack, astonished at this self-sacrifice on the part of 
 his enemy. 
 
 " I owe you one for what you did that morning," con- 
 tinued the ex-cockswain of the captain's gig.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 137 
 
 " That's handsome ! " said Tom Longstone. 
 
 " I'd like to go myself,'.' added Becket ; " but I'll give 
 way to Somers. He did better nor that by me." 
 
 " That's a fact, Becket. If it hadn't been for the lad, 
 you'd 'a beenfish-bait in twenty minutes." 
 
 4L^ 
 
 . " Nobody TKows it better nor I do. I was wrong that 
 night in the top, and I axes his pardon." 
 
 " There's my hand, Becket," said Jack heartily. 
 
 "You haven't anything agin me, have you, Jack?" 
 asked Becket, as he took the proffered hand. 
 
 " Not a thing." 
 
 " You are welcome to my chance in the first cutter." 
 
 " Thank you, Becket." 
 
 " But you must get leave of the first-lieutenant," added 
 Tom. " How do you know but he has something for 
 you to do ? 'Spose the cap'n wants to go ashore : then 
 where's his cockswain? Perhaps he kept you back on 
 purpose." 
 
 Jack's ardor was a little dampened by this suggestion : 
 but he determined to adopt it ; for Tom's view seemed to 
 be correct. Though the ship was at anchor, her fires 
 were banked, and her regular watches were kept. The 
 boat-expedition was to start very early in the morning ; 
 and Jack was fearful that he should have no opportunity 
 to obtain the desired permission. 
 
 When the starboard watch was called at eight bells, he 
 was so fortunate as to find Mr. Bankhead on deck ; and
 
 138 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 he respectfully presented his petition. The first-lieuten- 
 ant promised to consult the captain ; and the result was, 
 that the permission was granted ; and Jack was as happy 
 as though he were going to a feast, instead of to a work 
 which might be bloody and fatal.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 139 
 
 CHAPTER XIH. 
 
 THE BOAT-EXPEDITION. 
 
 LL the starboard watch, ahoy ! " piped the 
 boatswain's mate at eight bells on the follow- 
 ing morning. 
 
 Jack turned out of his hammock, eager to 
 engage in the expedition which was to start at this time. 
 Hastening to the spar-deck, he heard the order given to 
 clear away the cutters. The men and material for the 
 enterprise were ready. Boat-howitzers were placed in 
 the bows of the cutters ; a supply of ammunition, provis- 
 ions, and water, was taken on board of them ; and" the 
 men embarked. 
 
 Mr. Granger, the second-lieutenant, was to command 
 the expedition, with the fourth-lieutenant in the third 
 cutter, and a master's mate in' the fourth. It was the 
 lirst active service in which either officers or men had 
 been engaged during the cruise ; and every one, from 
 the second-lieutenant down to the powder-boys, was anx- 
 ious to distinguish himself, and each one felt competent 
 to whip two or three rebels in any fair encounter. There
 
 140 THE SAILOR BOY; O n, 
 
 was pluck enough in the expedition to have supplied 
 three times as large a company : and it was fortunate for 
 them and for the Government that Mr. Granger was a 
 prudent and sensible man ; otherwise the expedition 
 might have taken it into its head to attack the city of 
 New Orleans or Mobile, or pitched into Fort Pike, Fort 
 Gaines, or some other rebel stronghold in the vicinity. 
 
 When the boats were ready to start, Mr. Granger 
 ordered the second and third cutters alongside the first, 
 in which he was seated himself. The officers in com- 
 mand of the other boats had already been instructed in 
 regard to their duties ; and Mr. Granger proceeded to 
 give a few general directions for the conduct of the men. 
 The oars had been " tossed," and the crews listened in 
 respectful silence to the remarks of the commander of 
 the expedition. 
 
 " Cast off! " said the cockswains of the cutters ; and 
 the three boats separated, so as to permit each to use its 
 oars. 
 
 " Let fall ! " added the cockswains. " Give way ! " 
 
 The cutters dashed away, the men pulling with a wilK 
 As yet, they knew not where they were going ; and, aside 
 from the natural ciiriosity all men feel, it is not probable 
 that they cared, provided they were introduced to some 
 stirring scene which would enable them to do something 
 for the old flag, and furnish an opportunity for the daring 
 spirits to distinguish themselves iu a hand-to-hand fight.
 
 JACK SOMEES IN THE NAVY. 141 
 
 Jack Somers stowed himself away under the lee of 
 Tom Longstone, who was in the same boat with him ; 
 purtjy because the old quartermaster wished " to keep 
 an eye on him ; " and partly because the veteran was a 
 sage and a prophet, and Jack wanted the benefit of his 
 observations and instructions. 
 
 "Do you know where we are going, Tom?" asked 
 Jack in a low voice ; for loud talking was not permitted. 
 
 " Haven't the least idea, my lad," replied Tom in a 
 whisper. 
 
 " Where do you suppose ? " 
 
 " The likes of you and me, my darling, are not to 
 know any thing about it. Bless you, Jack, Mr. Granger 
 hasn't asked my opinion about any thing, and hasn't even 
 told me where we are going ! " 
 
 " Can't you tell in what direction we are pulling?" 
 
 " As to the matter of that, my honey-bee, we are head- 
 ing due north." 
 
 " What do you think we are going to do?" 
 
 " I have not the leastest iflee in natur'. May be we 
 are goin' to capter Mobile ; that lays off here away some- 
 Avhere . but I don't think we are, Jack." 
 
 " Of course Ave are not," replied Jack impatiently. 
 
 " May be, Fort Pike : I heard one of the jollies say 
 there was such a battery or fort in here somewhere. I 
 don't think we are, 'though." 
 
 " You know we are not, Tom."
 
 142 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " May be we are going across the country to strike 
 New Orleans," chuckled Tom ; " but I don't believe we 
 are." 
 
 "You know very well we are not going to do any 
 thing of the kind. You are an old seaman. I didn't 
 know but you could tell, from the arms and other things 
 in the boat, what kind of work we are to perform." 
 
 " Well, my baby, seein' as how you want to know so 
 .bad, I'll give you my opinion. 'Taint worth much ; but 
 old Tom's always ready to give the best he's got." 
 
 The veteran spoke in low tones ; and the seamen near 
 him gathered closer around him, so as to hear the opin- 
 ion of the sage of the first cutter. Tom took off his cap, 
 scratched his bald head as if to stimulate his intellectual 
 powers, and sharpen his judgment up to the requisite 
 pitch for the important decision he was about to render. 
 
 " I don't know where we're goin', or what we're 
 goin' to do, as I said before," continued Tom, when all 
 heads were bent down to catch the words of wisdom 
 when they should fall from his venerated lips. " How- 
 somever, in my opinion, we're goin' to take a look at 
 the rebels, or else to attack some shore battery, or else 
 some steamboat or sailing vessel. Now, my lads, you've 
 got my opinion : so don't pester me no more." 
 
 Old Tom indulged in a low chuckle as he settled back 
 on the thwart, and glanced around him to discover in 
 the darkness how his opinion had beeu received.
 
 JACK SQMERS IN THE NAVY. 143 
 
 " Bully for you, Tom ! I thought you knowed all 
 about this work," laughed an old sheet-anchor man. 
 
 Jack gave up in despair, and was obliged to content 
 himself with knowing no more than the law allows. 
 The men at the oars were relieved every hour ; for it 
 was a long pull before they reached the scene of opera' 
 tions. At eight o'clock, the expedition came into a broad 
 bay-extending into the mainland. The boats were pass- 
 ing between two headlands about. two miles apart, when 
 a cannon-shot dropped into the water a short distance 
 ahead of the first cutter. 
 
 " There's music for you ! " said Tom Longstone. 
 
 " There's some more ! " added the sheet-anchor man. 
 
 This was the first time that Jack Somers had ever list- 
 ened to the whizzing of a cannon-ball ; and the sensation 
 was decidedly novel, if not agreeable. . It was different 
 from what our sailor-boy had anticipated. One of the 
 ugly missiles might hit the first cutter, and smash her in 
 pieces, killing half her human freight. There was no 
 chance to strike a blow in self-defence, or even to fire a 
 shot in return from the howitzers ; for the battery from 
 which the shot came was situated on the headland on the 
 port-hand, and more than a mile distant. 
 
 Mr. Granger being a prudent man, and unwilling to 
 expose the boats' crews to the fire of the battery, gave 
 orders for them to pull up into the favoring shelter of a 
 binall island, several of which appeared near the en-
 
 144 THE SAILOR LOYj OR, 
 
 trance to the bay. The fort then opened with shell ; to 
 Avlio.se hideous screaming, Jack and a majority of the 
 party listened for the first time. The second-lieuten- 
 ant landed upon the island, and with his glass made a 
 careful examination of the battery and the shores of the 
 bay. 
 
 " We're in the stocks !" said Tom Longstone Avith the 
 peculiar low chuckle with which he often delivered 
 himself. 
 
 " We shall not stay here long ! " added Jack nervously ; 
 for the shells did not sound pleasantly to his ear. 
 
 "You aren't afraid, are you, my little lamb?" de- 
 manded Tom. 
 
 " Of course I'm not afraid," replied Jack Avith a deep 
 blush ; " but I don't like to lie here, and be shot at, 
 without a chance of paying off the rebels in their own 
 coin." 
 
 " It aren't pleasant to lay still under fire, my boy ; but 
 that's a part of a good seaman's duty, and he must take 
 things as they come. Don't be alarmed, Jack : they 
 won't hit you." 
 
 " They are just as likely to hit me as they are any one 
 else. I should like something to do, if it's nothing more 
 than pulling an oar." 
 
 " That's cause you're narvous, Jack." 
 
 Perhaps there were not many in the boats who were 
 not nervous as they listened to the screaming shells. It
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 145 
 
 was a new experience to them ; and it is not in the na- 
 ture of man to stand in the presence of death, without 
 being moved by the peril. Some of the crew laughed, 
 and made fun of the dangerous missiles as they screeched 
 through the air, or burst at very inconvenient distances 
 from them ; but it is probable that those who laughed the 
 loudest were the most afraid, and therefore struggled 
 the hardest to avoid making an exhibition of their real 
 feelings. 
 
 Tom Longstone and a few others had been under fire 
 before ; and they were as cool and self-possessed as 
 though they had been on board a receiving-ship in a 
 peaceful port. Mr. Granger, who had recently been pro- 
 moted for gallant conduct, seemed to be perfectly calm, 
 paying no attention to the shells which were dropping 
 around him. The rebels in the fort had not yet got the 
 range of the island ; and their firing was not accurate, 
 though it was rapidly improving. At last, the com- 
 mander of the expedition finished his examination, and 
 walked toward the boats. 
 
 The crews of the cutters watched him with eager in- 
 terest : and most of them believed, perhaps some hoped, 
 that the expedition was to be abandoned ; for they did 
 not see what three boats could do while exposed to the 
 fire of the rebel battery, whose guns commanded the 
 waters of the bay. Mr. Granger, Mr. McBride, and 
 the master's mate from the third cutter, held a short con- 
 
 10
 
 146 THE SAILOR BOY; OB, 
 
 saltation on the shore, out of the hearing of the men. 
 When it was ended, each returned to his boat, and orders 
 were given to cast off. It was a moment of deep anxiety 
 to all the men ; for the question of success or failure 
 rested upon the decision of the officers. 
 
 The boats shoved off from the land ; and, when the 
 men gave way, instead of going about, they were headed 
 up the bay. There was a strong inclination to give three 
 cheers manifested by the more ardent spirits ; but it was 
 quickly repressed by a sharp Avord from the second-lieu- 
 tenant. 
 
 The boats were kept as much as possible within the 
 shelter of the range of islands on the easterly side of the 
 bay, and in a few moments they had passed out of reach 
 of the shells ; for the gunners in the fort, probably en- 
 veloped in their own smoke, had not discovered the 
 change of position made by the boats. 
 
 " Steamer on the port-quarter, sir ! " shouted Mr. 
 McBride from the second cutter. 
 
 " I see her ! " replied Mr. Granger. 
 
 " Now look out for squalls, my hearties ! " said Tom 
 Longstone in a low voice, as he glanced at the new en- 
 emy, which was just emerging from behind a headland 
 in the direction indicated by the fourth-lieutenant. 
 
 " We shall have a fight yet ! " added Jack uneasily ; 
 for, on a nearer approach, a hand-to-hand fight with the 
 rebels Avas not quite so sentimental an affair as it had 
 seemed to be at a distance.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 147 
 
 We do not mean to accuse our hero of being afraid ; 
 but the terrible inactivity of the moment was almost 
 insupportable. He wanted to pitch right in, and do 
 " a big thing." He wanted something to do, so that he 
 could prove to himself and his companions that he was 
 no coward. To sit in the boat like a block of wood, 
 and be shot at by the rebels, was wretched business ; and 
 he hoped Mr. Granger would pull out, and order the 
 boats' crews to board the steamer, and not permit her to 
 stand off and pelt them with shot and shell. 
 
 " It will be a smart fight too," added Tom. 
 
 "Ay, ay; that it will. The steamer's cut us off! 
 I'll tell you what, Tom : Mr. Granger has got us into a 
 tight place ! " replied Grummet, the sheet-anchor man. 
 
 " Let him alone ; he knows what he's about," an- 
 swered the" veteran. 
 
 " Don't ye see, Tom, the steamer can stand off, and 
 whittle us up into inch-pieces ; and we can't board, nor 
 nothin' ? " 
 
 " Leave all that to Mr. Granger," persisted Tom, 
 whose long experience had begotten confidence in his 
 officers. 
 
 Under the lee of one of the islands which rose higher 
 above the water than the others, the men were ordered to 
 lie on their oars. The fort still kept banging away at 
 the island behind which the boats had first taken refuge. 
 The steamer, which was a small river-boat, drawing no
 
 148 TEE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 more water than the first cutter, came puffing across the 
 bay, like a man with the asthma, towards the first island. 
 She was a slow affair, and it took her some time to come 
 within hailing distance of the expedition. As she ap- 
 proached the man-of-war's boats, the fort, out of regard 
 for her safety, ceased firing ; which might have been 
 done half an hour before, so far as any injury to the 
 cutters was concerned. 
 
 " I tell you, Tom Longstone, we are booked for a rebel 
 prison, as sure as you was born," said Grummet. 
 
 " Stopper your jaw ! " replied Tom impatiently. 
 " What are your officers for, if they are going for to 
 send you to a rebel prison?" 
 
 "Don't you see that old snorter astarn of us, Tom? 
 Are you goin' for to run away from a steamboat ? " 
 
 " We aren't goin' for to run away from any thing that 
 shows a rebel rag at its peak, mind that, you old 
 croaker ! " added Tom. " You aren't afraid, are you, 
 Jack?" continued he, putting his arm around his protege, 
 and hugging him like a baby. 
 
 " Of course I'm not afraid ; only only " 
 
 "What, my bleating little lamb?" 
 
 " I wish the fun would commence." 
 
 " See that, Tom ! " continued the sheet-anchor man. 
 " D'ye see that gun on the t'gallant fo'castle ? She is 
 swinging it round." 
 
 " Let her swing it round," snarled Tom. " Now bat- 
 ten down your jaw-port and don't groan any more."
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 149 
 
 At this moment, an order was heard for the men to 
 give way ; and, before the gun of the steamer was ready, 
 the boats had doubled the island, and the men were lying 
 upon their oars, with the high land between them and 
 the steamer. 
 
 " See that ! " said Tom triumphantly. " Mr. Granger 
 knows all about it." 
 
 " Perhaps he do," replied Grummet doubtfully, as a 
 shot from the steamer whizzed harmlesslv over their 
 heads.
 
 150 THE SAILOR BOY; OR", 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 JACK ON THE LOOKOUT. 
 
 ETE armament of the rebel steamer consisted of 
 two guns, placed on the main-deck, forward of 
 the boilers. The hull set so, low in the water, 
 that, while the island lay between the steamer 
 and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do 
 them any injury. Those in the first cutter could see the 
 smoke-stack of the Wizard which was the name of the 
 steamer over the island, while the crew of the latter 
 could not even determine the position of the boats. 
 
 The battle if the affair could be dignified by such a 
 title promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and- 
 seek ; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged 
 round the island, so as to escape her fire. It was "pull," 
 and " lie on your oars," for half an hour. The rebel 
 battery on shore could not interfere with the game, lost 
 the steamer should suffer from its fire. 
 
 Tom Longstone sat upon the thwart, occasionally in- 
 dulging in his inward clmckle, and apparently enjoying 
 the sport as keenly as a live boy relishes a game of
 
 JACK SOMERS fN THE NAVY. 151 
 
 "ball" or "high-spy." Old Grummet was not at all 
 satisfied with the position of affairs. He was a brave 
 mau, and ready to fight his gun while there was a plank 
 to stand on ; but he was an inveterate croaker. He was 
 always afraid that the officers had made some mistake, 
 or that they did not see the whole of the ground. Once 
 in a while, he was kind enough to suggest the manner in 
 which all three boats were to be blown up, sunk, or cap- 
 tured. He could see a hundred ways to get into a bad 
 scrape ; but he never troubled himself to consider how to 
 get out of them. 
 
 " S'posiu' another rebel steamer should come down 
 upon us," growled Grummet : " where should we be 
 then ? " 
 
 " I reckon we should be just where we are now," re- 
 plied Tom, who was the only man that ventured to con- 
 front the grim sheet-anchor man, as he doled out his dis- 
 mal notes of foreboding. 
 
 " S'posin' a company of rebel infantry should show 
 themselves on the main shore there, not twenty fathoms 
 from where we were just now?" 
 
 " We'd have to give 'em a few charges of grape from 
 that 'ere howitzer." 
 
 " There wouldn't be a man left of us if that should 
 happen, Tom Longstone ; and you knows it." 
 
 " I should like to p'int that 'ere- howitzer in among 
 'em, Grummet."
 
 152 THE SAILOR BOY; OK, 
 
 " Silence, forward ! " said Mr. Granger in a low, stern 
 tone. 
 
 Tom's body shook with his inward chuckle as he 
 thought what an awful deprivation it would be for Grum- 
 met if he had to refrain from grumbling. 
 
 " Forward, there ! " said the lieutenant. " I want a 
 man who is light and smart." 
 
 "I sir!" exclaimed Jack, springing up from his po- 
 sition under the lee of the old quartermaster, and touch- 
 ing his cap. 
 
 Half a dozen others, answering to the description, 
 sprang up at the same time, eager to perform any service 
 which might be required of them. 
 
 " Somers, you'll do," replied Mr. Granger. " Come 
 aft." 
 
 Jack passed along between the rowers to the stern- 
 sheets, and again touched his cap to the commander of 
 the expedition. 
 
 " Do you see the steamer?" asked Mr. Granger. 
 
 " Yes, sir," replied Jack, glancing at the Wizard's 
 smoke-stack, Avhich could still be seen over the little 
 island. 
 
 " I will land you on the island ; and you must creep 
 on your face up to the highest part of the ground, and 
 see if you can make out how many men there are ou 
 the steamer. Do you understand me, Somers ? " 
 
 I do, sir."
 
 JACK SOMERS Iff THE NAVY. 153 
 
 " Now mind your eye, and don't let them see you." 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir: I will be very careful." 
 
 " Now go forward, and be ready to jump ashore when 
 the boat touches." 
 
 Jack saluted the lieutenant, and sprang forward to the 
 bow of the cutter, proud and happy to be selected even 
 for the humble duty to which he had been ordered. 
 
 " Good boy, Jack ! " said Tom Longstone as our sailor- 
 boy passed him on his way to the bow. 
 
 " What may that 'ere mean ? " queried Grummet. 
 
 " Fight ! " replied Tom. 
 
 " He's goin' to board that steamer', as sure as I'm a 
 Yankee," added Grummet, pulling out his cutlass from 
 under the thwart, and passing his thumb along the edge. 
 
 " That's it : there's a hole in that millstone, least- 
 wise," chuckled Tom. 
 
 " I s'pose he'd board a frigate if he fell foul of one." 
 
 " No doubt on't," laughed Tom. 
 
 "Give way, easy!" said Mr. Granger; and the 
 boat swung in so that Jack Somers could jump ashore. 
 
 " Did you say good -by to the lad afore he went 
 ashore?" continued Grummet: "'cause that's the last 
 you'll see of him." 
 
 Tom Longstone sprang to his feet at these words, and 
 gazed earnestly at Jack and at all the surroundings on 
 the island. 
 
 " Grummet, you're an old fool ! " exclaimed Tom an-
 
 154 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 grily, " You frightened me more'n a whole frigate's 
 broadside would. I thought the lad was killed for sar- 
 tin." 
 
 " He will be, soon." 
 
 "Avast there ! If you don't stop growling, I'll heave 
 you overboard." 
 
 " Silence forward ! " said Mr. Granger. 
 
 The command was obeyed, and the sheet-anchor man's 
 savage reply was nipped in the bud. Tom was too much 
 interested in the movements of his young friend on the 
 island to give any further attention to his unhappy ship- 
 mate in the boat. Jack, as directed, crept on his stomach 
 up the ascent of the island till his head had reached the 
 highest point, from which he could look down on the 
 low deck of the Wizard. 
 
 Our sailor-boy Avas a very good scholar for one who had 
 enjoyed only the privileges of a district school ; but it did 
 not require a very profound knowledge of arithmetic to 
 solve the problem which had been imposed upon him. 
 The men in the rebel steamer were all gathered upon the 
 forward-deck ; and, according to our mathematician's es- 
 timate, they numbered about thirty. They Avould not 
 stand still long enough to be counted with entire accu- 
 racy ; but Jack satisfied himself that this was very nearly 
 
 her force. 
 
 
 
 He was about to retire from his position, and report 
 the result of the examination, when certain movements
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY 155 
 
 on board of the Wizard decided him to remain a few 
 moments longer. The steamer had run up close to the 
 island ; and her deck-hands were now in the act of pass- 
 ing the gang-planks to the shore, evidently with the in- 
 tention of landing her men. Jack did not want to see 
 any more ; but, retreating from his position with all 
 haste, he leaped into the boat. 
 
 "Well, Somers?" demanded Mr. Granger in sharp, 
 quick tones ; for the speed which the scout had used in 
 his return conveyed the impression that the whole expe- 
 dition was in imminent danger. 
 
 " They have run the gang-planks ashore, sir ; and I 
 suppose they are going to land." 
 
 " How many men have they?" 
 
 "About thirty, sir." 
 
 "Did you count them? " 
 
 "As well as I could, sir." 
 
 "Are there a hundred of them?" asked Mr. Granger 
 sharply. 
 
 " No, sir : the number won't vary half a dozen from 
 what I said." 
 
 " Very well, Somers. Are you willing to go up 
 again ? " 
 
 " I am, sir," promptly replied Jack. 
 
 " Go, then. Are your pistols loaded?" 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 "If the boats are in immediate danger, fire your pis- 
 tol, and make your way back as fast as you can."
 
 15(5 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 Jack touched his cap, adjusted his pistol in his belt, 
 and sprang forward to perform the important service 
 intrusted to him. 
 
 " Keep your weather-eye wide open, Jack, my dar- 
 ling," said Tom Longstone as he passed the old seaman. 
 
 "Ay, ay, Tom!" replied the sailor-boy as he sprang 
 to the stem of the cutter, and leaped ashore again. 
 
 He had not been absent more than five minutes from 
 the crest of the island : but the rebels had been indus* 
 trious during that short period ; and one of the Wizard's 
 guns, which was an ordinary field-piece, was on the gang,- 
 planks, ready to be rolled on shore. 
 
 Jack Somers was not a brigadier-general, nor was he 
 a proficient in naval or military tactics ; but the plan of 
 the rebels was as transparent to him as though he had 
 been a graduate of Annapolis or West Point. The in- 
 formation he had obtained was very important ; and, 
 without waiting to make any further observations, he 
 hastened back to the boat, and reported the operations of 
 the enemy. 
 
 He tried to keep cool, and not appear to be excited by 
 the revelation he made. He thought he had something 
 astounding to tell ; and so he had, perhaps : but, to his 
 intense astonishment, Mr. Granger did not appear to be 
 alarmed. He did uot rattle off any hasty orders such as 
 he had read in naval romances. 
 
 In Jack's opinion, it was time something was done ;
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 157 
 
 but Mr. Granger seemed to be provokingly indifferent to 
 the importance of the announcement he had just made to 
 him. 
 
 " You have done well, Somers," said the commander 
 of the expedition ; whereat Jack touched his cap, and 
 would have blushed if he had not fully expected to see 
 the rebels pitch into them the next minute. "Are you 
 willing to go again ? " 
 
 " I am, sir ! " replied Jack as readily as before, though 
 he was utterly confounded at the question. 
 
 "Go up once more, and see whether they are landing 
 the other gun, Somers." 
 
 Our hero touched his cap again ; for, in spite of the 
 excitement of the moment, he did not forget his man- 
 ners, and sprang ashore for the third time. Cautiously 
 ascending the slope of the little hill, he again reached his 
 position at its summit. The other gun had not been 
 landed ; the gang-planks had been hauled on board ; and 
 a squad of men had been sent on shore to work the field- 
 piece already on the island. Jack wanted to know what 
 the Wizard was going to do before he reported this time ; 
 and he determined to wait a moment longer, when this 
 question would be decided. 
 
 The gunners on the island were only a few yards dis- 
 tant from him, crouching upon the ground ; and none 
 of them spoke above a whisper, lest their movements 
 should be betrayed to the boats on the other side of the
 
 158 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 island. Jack thought he was in a very ticklish situa- 
 tion ; and, for his greater personal security, he drew 
 back a few feet, so that no inquisitive rebel should get 
 the range of his blue cap. As he did so, he glanced at 
 the navy revolver which he carried in his right hand 
 to assure himself that it was in readiness to give the 
 required signal if the occasion demanded it. 
 
 The pistol was all right ; and, after waiting a moment, 
 he heard the splash of the Wizard's paddle. Advancing 
 again to the crest of the hillock, he raised his head to 
 obtain his final glance at the scene of operations. The 
 steamer was certainly moving off; but a more prominent 
 object, nearer to him, claimed all his attention at this 
 moment. Directly in front of him, and not three feet 
 distant, was a pair of rebel eyes, each of which seemed 
 to be as big as the rebel steamer. 
 
 The enemy, knoAving and appreciating the value of 
 correct and seasonable information, had sent a man to 
 the crest of the hill to perform a service identical with 
 that which had devolved upon our hero. It would not 
 be of any use to stop and consider which of these scouts 
 was the most astonished as he gazed into the eager orbs 
 of the other ; for the question presents too many difficul- 
 ties for a just settlement. Both of them were astonished ; 
 but, fortunately for Jack, he was in a better state of 
 preparation for the unexpected event than his adversary. 
 
 The rebels below were rolling up the field-piece where
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 159 
 
 it could be brought to bear upon the boats, and Jack 
 considered himself fully justified in giving the signal for 
 imminent danger ; and his pistol being loaded with patrnt 
 metallic cartridges, each of which contained its adjusted 
 allowance of cold lead, he concluded to fire a shotted 
 salute, as Lieuteuant-Geueral Grant has since done on 
 several eminently proper occasions. 
 
 Jack was prompt and decided, traits of chara^er 
 which he and his brother Tom inherited in common frcra 
 three generations of shipmasters. He saw the pair of 
 rebel eyes glaring upon him the first instant ; and he 
 raised his revolver, and fired the second. The cold lead, 
 before mentioned, passed between the glowing orbs in 
 front of him, crushing through the brain of their owner. 
 
 The sailor-boy felt a cold tremor creep throiigh his 
 veins as the rebel gunner convulsively sprang upward, 
 and then dropped dead upon the ground. His self-pos- 
 session did not forsake him ; and, without stopping for 
 further developments, he rushed down to the boat with 
 all the speed he could command. 
 
 His face was almost as pale as that of the dead rebel 
 on the hill when he' leaped into the boat. His lip trem- 
 bled ; but it was with an emotion other than fear. He 
 had slain a human being. He had seen his bullet enter 
 the brain of" a fellow-creature. His first experience of 
 the awful solemnity of war was too minute in detail to 
 be pleasant, or even exhilarating.
 
 ICO THE SAILOR BOY; OH, 
 
 " Report, Somers, at once ! " said Mr. Granger ear- 
 nestly. 
 
 " The steamer is moving off, sir. There are twelve 
 men and one gun on the island. They arc moving up 
 the gun to the top of the hill. I killed one of the men." 
 
 " Give way ! " said Mr. Granger ; and the boats moved 
 out from the island.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 161 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE C. S. STEAMER WIZARD. 
 
 UCCESSFUL strategy owes as much to the 
 stupidity and inertness of one party as it does 
 to the shrewdness and activity of the other. If 
 Mr. Granger had not been shrewd in discov- 
 ering the purpose of the rebels, and active in defeating 
 it, in a few minutes more they would probably have fired 
 into the boats, and either suuk'them, or driven them from 
 their hiding-place under the lee of the island. Whoever 
 commanded the rebels must have seen that the man-of- 
 war boats could keep out of the way of the Wizard's gun 
 by dodging round the island, and that the game of 
 "hide-and-seek" would be prolonged till his Southern 
 patience was entirely exhausted. 
 
 By landing the gun on the island, he expected to drive 
 the boats away from their covert, and enable the steamer 
 to destroy or capture them. From the information that 
 ,T;u k Somers had procured, it was further evident that 
 the rebels indulged the hope of surprising the boat- 
 expedition. The gunners whom he had seen were roll-
 
 162 THE SAILOR BOY; OK, 
 
 ing the field-piece up the slope with the utmost caution. 
 Not one of them spoke a Avord ; and all of them crouched 
 down, so that not a head should be seen over the crest of 
 the island. The stealthy movements of the man whose 
 eager eyes Jack had confronted furnished additional tes- 
 timony on this point. 
 
 It is plain, then, that, if Mr. Granger had not thought 
 to send a lookout-man to the high ground, he would have 
 been caught in the trap which the enemy set for him. 
 He had discovered the plan ; arid he could now see the 
 . smoke-stack of the steamer receding from the island. 
 She was to obtain a position so that she could open upon 
 the boats the moment they were driven away from the 
 shore by the piece she had landed. Mr. Granger did not 
 become a victim of the enemy's strategy. His prudence 
 and forethought had defeated it. 
 
 Almost all strategetic operations are attended with more 
 or less risk. The movements uncover some assailable 
 point. Mr. Granger was actually pleased with the strat- 
 egy of the rebels on this occasion. He and his opponent 
 had commenced a hew game to determine which was the 
 abler strategist. Thus far, he had exhibited neither the 
 stupidity nor the inertness that belongs to the victim of 
 successful strategy. 
 
 " Give way ! " said Mr. Granger, glancing at the 
 smoke-stack of the Wizard. 
 
 The men pulled the steady man-of-war stroke which
 
 JACK SOMJinS IN THE NAVY. 163 
 
 discipline had rendered so familiar to them. There was 
 no hurry or nervousness in their movements. Not a 
 man "crabbed his oar" or lost his stroke, though the 
 race appeared to be for life, certainly for success. Mr. 
 Granger sat in the stern-sheets as calm as a block of 
 marble. His demeanor impressed the men with the be- 
 lief that he knew what he was about. They had confi- 
 dence in him, and were ready to run or fight as ordered, 
 without asking a question or suggesting a doubt. If this 
 was not true of all the blue-jackets, it certainly was of all 
 but Grummet ; and he growled more from the force of 
 habit than from want of confidence in his officers. 
 
 After the boats had pulled a short distance, the orcWb 
 was given for the rowers to lie on their oars. The com- 
 mander of the expedition kept one eye on the smoke-stack 
 of the steamer ; and as soon as she swung round, and 
 headed towards the north side of the island, he was ready 
 to develop his next movement. 
 
 " Give way with a will ! " said he, as he gave orders 
 to his cockswain in what direction to steer. 
 
 The boats were headed round the south end of the 
 island, while the "Wizard was going round the north end. 
 
 "Clear away your guns forward ! " said Mr. Granger. 
 
 Old Grummet sprang to the howitzer in the first cut- 
 ter. A grim smile lighted up his face as he adjusted the 
 tackle, and put the piece in condition for instant use. 
 Tom. Longstone was with him, and the most perfect hai--
 
 164 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 rnony now subsisted between them. While they were 
 thus eugaged, the officer in each boat detailed seven men 
 to act as " boarders." 
 
 " Now, Jack, my beauty, you are goin' to see some 
 fightin'," said Tom, when the gun was ready for use. 
 
 " That's so, Tom ; and I'm in for my share of it." 
 
 " So you be, Jack. I see you've got a cutlash." 
 
 "I'm one of the boarding-party." 
 
 " Now, stand right up to it, Jack, like a man," 
 
 " Oh ! you needn't be afraid of me. I've got my hand 
 in already," replied Jack, as he glanced at the weapon 
 he carried. 
 
 '^"Yes, and you'll be butchered like a young pig," 
 sneered old Grummet. " It's worse nor murder to send 
 little boys like that to board the lubbers on the island. 
 Why don't he send men as is fit for such work ? " 
 
 " Yeu needn't have any fears about me, Grummet. 
 I'll do my share of the work : if I don't, you may call 
 me a marine." 
 
 " You're a good boy enough, my lad ; but you aren't 
 no more fit for such work than the Evil Sperit is for a 
 missionary," added Grummet more graciously. 
 
 "All ready forward?" said Mr. Granger. 
 
 "All ready, sir ! " answered Grummet, Avho was acting 
 as captain of the gun. 
 
 The boats were now rounding the end of the island ; 
 and a few more strokes of the oars brought them to a
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 165 
 
 point where the officers could see the gun on shore, and 
 the men who were putting it in position for use. 
 
 " Give way with a will ! " shouted Mr. Granger, as he 
 passed forward to the howitzer in the bow of the cutter. 
 
 The men redoubled their efforts at the oars, till they 
 bent like reeds in their hands. 
 
 While they were making these preparations for the 
 bold assault, the rebels on shore were not idle. They 
 dragged the gun to a place where it commanded the 
 boats ; and, when the first cutter was within ten rods 
 of the shore, a solid shot whizzed over her, and plunged 
 into the water between the second and third cutters, 
 which were only a short distance astern of her. 
 
 At this moment, Mr. Granger sighted the howitzer in 
 the bow of his boat, and ordered the man at the lanyard 
 to fire. At the same time, the second and third cutters 
 followed the example of the first. The rebels, discover- 
 ing the intention of the boats in season, threw themselves 
 flat on the ground behind the crest of the island, and thus 
 escaped all injury. The fire of neither party was effect- 
 ual ; and the gunners on the island, perhaps appreciating 
 the celerity with which old man-of-war's-men handle a 
 gun, instead of loading up their piece, and firing again, 
 busied themselves in dragging it over the top of the 
 island, Avhere they could work it without being exposed 
 to the fire of the boats. 
 
 While the rebels were tugging away at tlic'ir gun, tht*
 
 1C6 THE SAILOR BOY; OK, 
 
 three cutters dashed up to the shore ; for it was no part 
 of Mr. Granger's plan to remain in the boats, and let the 
 gunners knock them to pieces at their leisure. As the 
 first cutter touched the island, he drew his sword, and 
 put on a very business-like air, which Jack could not 
 help admiring. He seemed to be as much at ease as 
 though the success of his strategy had already been de- 
 monstrated, and his work actually accomplished. 
 
 " Boarders, away ! " said he in his quick, sharp tones, 
 as he leaped on shore, followed by the seven men from 
 the first cutter who had been detailed for the purpose. 
 
 His party was immediately re-enforced by the fourteen 
 men from the other boats ; and, starting off at a run, 
 they advanced towards the gun at the summit of the hill. 
 Probably at this time the commander of the rebels dis- 
 covered what an awful blunder he had made ; and, very 
 likely, visions of a court-martial began to dance before 
 his vision. But, if no one made blunders in war, it would 
 be a more trying and difficult game than it is at present. 
 
 The boarding-party rushed upon their prey ; for, with 
 two to one of the rebels, they could hardly be regarded 
 in any other light. They saw the gleaming cutlasses of 
 the blue-jackets, and the dash and fury with which they 
 advanced. A few pistols were fired : but the resistance 
 was brief and feeble ; and, in less time than it would 
 lake to describe the operation, the rebels were borne 
 -low n and captured. Two of the gunners were wounded,
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 167 
 
 and one of the boarding-party had a pistol ball through 
 his right arm. 
 
 Twelve of the men were ordered to drag the gun down 
 to the water, while six more marched the prisoners in 
 the same direction. The latter were disarmed, and the 
 ammunition for the field-piece thrown into the water. 
 Four men, doubly armed, were detailed to guard the 
 rebels ; the assistant-surgeon was sent on shore to dress 
 the wounds of the injured men ; and the rest of the 
 party returned to their places in the boats. 
 
 As soon as Mr. Granger had given his orders for the 
 disposition of the prisoners and the wounded, for he 
 did not deem it advisable to encumber the boats with 
 them in the more difficult and dangerous work yet to be 
 performed by the expedition, he returned to the first 
 cutter. He had carefully watched the movements of 
 the Wizard during these exciting moments. She was 
 now sweeping round the south end of the island. 
 
 Mr. Granger had now a double duty to perform in 
 protecting his party, and preventing the recapture of his 
 prisoners on shore. There was apparently no opportu- 
 nity for the practice of strategy ; and it looked very 
 much like a hand-to-hand fight for the possession of the 
 steamer. The cool lieutenant in command gave his 
 orders to Mr. McBride and the master's mate in charge 
 of the third cutter, and in a few energetic words in- 
 form<'d Sir, 1 men what he intended to do, and urged them 
 to do their duty as American seamen.
 
 168 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 His address was received with a lusty cheer, and the 
 boats were ordered to cast off. The steamer continued 
 ou her course towards the place where the cutters had 
 landed ; her people probably being not yet fully aware of 
 the extent of the catastrophe which had overtaken their 
 auxiliary force on shore. 
 
 " Give way, my lads ! " said Mr. Granger, when the 
 boats had shoved off; and on they dashed tOAvards the 
 Wizard, which was now only a few rods distant. 
 
 Twelve men from each boat were ordered to act as 
 boarders, and the guns in the bows were in readiness to 
 open on the steamer. At the right time, the command 
 was given to fire, and the howitzers sent their charges 
 of grape into the Wizard, Before the people in the boats 
 could ascertain the effect of the shot, the steamer returned 
 the fire with solid shot. The ball struck the second cut- 
 ter on the quarter ; glancing off, however, so as to inflict 
 but little damage. 
 
 " Give way lively, my lads ! " shouted Mr. Granger. 
 
 " Now, my baby, don't you let 'em hurt you," said 
 Tom Longstone. " We shall be aboard of 'em in half a 
 minute more " 
 
 " I'll do my duty, Tom. If any thing happens to me, 
 you will ask Mr. Bankhead to write to my mother, won't 
 you ? '' 
 
 " Sartain, my lad ; but you mustn't let 'cm hurt you, 
 my little infant. Keep- your cut lash (lying; and have 
 - your pistol handy for use, if you git in a tight place."
 
 JACK SOMERS IX THE NAVY 169 
 
 " Steady ! Lie on your oars ! " said Mr. Granger, 
 whose boat was a little in advance of the others. 
 
 " See him ! " added Tom, glancing at the officer in 
 command. "Isn't he a darling? See how he does it ! 
 That man ought to be a commodore. See that ! There 
 comes the second cutter ; and there goes the third cutter, 
 she is going. to board her over the starn, while we 
 take her on for'ard." 
 
 "Give way, my men ! " said Mr. jGranger in a deep, 
 energetic tone, which seemed to electrify the muscles of 
 the oarsmen. " All ready there, forward ! Steady ! 
 Avast pulling ! " he added, as the first cutter darted in 
 under the port bow of the steamer. 
 
 " All ready, my darling ! " said Tom Longstone in a 
 low, encouraging tone ; for he seemed to feel that it was 
 part of his duty to keep up Jack's courage during this 
 trying ordeal. 
 
 Our sailor-boy, however, needed no such stimulus. 
 He was fully alive to the duty of the hour, anxious to 
 honor his flag, and distinguish himself. He had been in 
 one slight brush with the rebels, and was fully prepared 
 /or the desperate work before him. 
 
 " Boarders away ! " cried Mr. Granger. 
 
 " Boarders away ! " shouted Mr. McBride, in the sec- 
 ond cutter on the starboard bow, al the same instant. 
 
 The rebels on the deck of the Wizard were in readi- 
 ness to repel boarders ; and the first gallant tar who
 
 170 THE SAILOR EOT; OR, 
 
 leaped on board fell back with a ball through his heart. 
 The second was pierced with a bayonet ; but he was fol- 
 lowed by Tom Longstone, whose cutlass cleft the skull 
 of the rebel who disputed his passage. 
 
 " Lay 'em aboard, my lads ! Sweep the decks ! " 
 shouted Mr. Granger, as he gained a footing upon the 
 forecastle of the Wizard. 
 
 Jack Somers was by the side of Tom ; but he had 
 scarcely reached the^ deck before he saw a rebel bayonet 
 darting towards his heart. Turning it aside with a blow 
 of his cutlass, he fired his pistol, and the man dropped. 
 
 " No pistols ! Don't fire a pistol ! " exclaimed Mr. 
 Granger, turning round to see who had done so. " You 
 will hit our own men on the starboard side ! " 
 
 When the commander turned, a rebel soldier rushed 
 upon him. He had lost his gun in the affray ; and he 
 sprang at the throat of Mr. Granger, evidently with the 
 intention of wrenching his sword from his grasp. Jack 
 saw the movement, and received the soldier upon the 
 point of his cutlass, and beat him back. 
 
 The soldiers on board fought with desperate energy ; 
 but the determination of the seamen drove them back 
 towards the stern of the steamer, where, by this time, 
 the boarding-party from the third cutter had gained the 
 deck. They saw their fate, if they persisted ; and one by 
 one they surrendered to the victors, and the Wizard was 
 in possession of the cutters' .men.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 171 
 
 "Are you hurt, my dear?" demanded Tom Longstoue 
 when the fighting was finished. 
 
 " Not a bit, Tom. How is it with you ? " 
 
 " Nothing to speak of, my lad : only a slash in the 
 hand with a bagonet. The bloody rebel had near- 
 a'most harpooned me like a dolphin, when I caught 
 the tool in my hand," replied Tom, as he exhibited the 
 wounded member. " Got a hankercher, Jack?" 
 
 The article was furnished ; and Tom wrapped up his 
 wound, and then seemed to forget all about it. 
 
 " The steamer is ours ! " said Mr. Granger, after tha 
 last soldier and deck-hand had been secured. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " yelled the blue-jackets ; and the cry was. 
 taken up by the men in the boats, who had not been per- 
 mitted to have an active part in the encounter.
 
 172 THE SAILOR EOT, OR, 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE SHORE BATTERY. 
 
 'HE engineer of the Wizard had stopped her 
 when the combat commenced ; for she was 
 headed directly for the shore r During the fight, 
 she had drifted up within a few feet of the 
 island. Among the volunteers in the second cutter 
 was one of the third assistant-engineers, to whom the 
 charge of the machinery was immediately committed. 
 The negro firemen of the steamer were not sorry for 
 the change which had taken place in the ownership of 
 the craft ; and all of them, having no love for the rebel 
 Confederacy, promptly offered to continue their labors in 
 the firing department. 
 
 The intense exertions and excitement of the men had 
 fatigued them very much ; and, when the struggle was 
 ended, they sat down wherever they could find a place to 
 rest themselves and recover their breath. The teen in 
 the boats attended to the wounded of both parties. The 
 first cutter brought off the assistant-surgeon from the 
 island, and every thing was done that their condition
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 173 
 
 required The sufferers Avere placed in the cabin, and 
 included five sailors and eight rebels. Of the boats' 
 crews, only one had been killed ; aud the bodies of three 
 of the enemy lay upon the forward-deck of the Wizard. 
 
 " Somers, you did me a good turn in the action, which 
 I shall not soon forget," said Mr. Granger, when the 
 excitement had subsided. 
 
 Jack touched his cap, blushed, and stammered out that 
 he hoped he had done his duty. He had tried to do the 
 best he could. 
 
 " You have done nobly, my lad ; and I shall have a 
 good report of you for the captain, and a gentleman in 
 the wardroom, who has a strong interest in your wel- 
 fare." 
 
 " Thank you, sir ! " replied Jack, blushing more deeply 
 as he touched his cap again. 
 
 " The men all did well, behaved admirably ; but no 
 one better than yourself, my lad," said he, turning to the 
 seamen, who were seated in little groups on the deck of 
 the steamer. " Our real work hasn't commenced yet." 
 
 " Hurrah ! " shouted the blue-jackets, jumping to their 
 feet, and displaying their readiness to engage the enemy 
 wherever occasion might require. 
 
 " We came off to do a certain work ; and we should 
 have done it before this time, if this steamer hadn't 
 come athwart our hawse. But I intend to do it before 
 we return to the ship."
 
 174 THE SAILOR K O T ; OK, 
 
 " Hurrah ! " repeated the blue-jackets. 
 
 " I perceive you are all ready to stand by me, and see 
 it through." 
 
 "Ay ay, sir!" responded the men in prompt and 
 hearty tones. 
 
 " Then we will go to work at once." 
 
 The Wizard was run up to the island, the wounded 
 men on shore conveyed to the cabin, and the field-piece 
 placed in position on the forward-deck. In addition to 
 this armament, two of the boat-howitzers were hoisted 
 on board, and other preparations made, which indicated 
 sharp work, and that Mr. Granger intended the steamer 
 should be used for fighting purposes. The expedition 
 was, to some extent, re-organized. Gun-crews were 
 placed at the battery, and men detailed to serve iu the 
 boats, Avhich were to be towed by the steamer. 
 
 Mr. Granger had noticed the strong friendship subsist- 
 ing between Tom Longstone and Jack ; and, Avhen he 
 made the former captain of one of the captured guns, he 
 ordered Jack to serve as first train-tackle man, which 
 gave him a position alongside the veteran. 
 
 " You'll do, quartermaster," said the commander. u I 
 know I can trust you." 
 
 " Thank you, sir," replied Tom reverently. " I beg 
 your honor's pardon ; but I must ax permission to go and 
 see the doctor for a couple of seconds." 
 
 "Are you wounded, my man?'
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 175 
 
 " Nothing to speak of, your honor : only a slash in the 
 hand with a soger's bagonet. But I could work better 
 if the doctor would put a bit of plaster on it." 
 
 " Go : we can spare you for an hour or more." 
 
 "Thank your honor ; but I won't be gone above two 
 mimites," answered Tom, saluting the officer, and run- 
 ning up the stairs to the cabin-deck. 
 
 " Goin' to lose this here steamer now we've got it," 
 said the inevitable Grummet, who was captain of one of 
 the howitzers, when Mr. Granger went up to the wheel- 
 house to superintend the steering of the Wizard. " Well, 
 she aren't fit for nothin' else," he added, as he glanced 
 around him at the build of the steamer. 
 
 " She's a good enough boat, isn't she?"- asked Jack. 
 
 " What's she good for ? What was the lubber thinkin' 
 of when he built such a top-heavy, top-sided consarn as 
 this? I wouldn't trust the cap'u's monkey in her." 
 
 " She is a fresh- water steamer, built to run on the 
 rivers and lakes about here." 
 
 " I wouldn't cross a mud-puddle in her. A five-knot 
 breeze would blow her over. She looks more like a 
 grocery-store nor she do like a wessel." 
 
 " This is the kind of steamer they use on all the West- 
 ern rivers," added Jack, who had often seen pictures of 
 this kind of craft in the illustrated newspapers ; which, 
 by the way, have done an important work in making up 
 the history of this war.
 
 176 THE SAILOR BOY, OR, 
 
 " I don't care where they use 'em : they aren't ship- 
 shape. They may do for sogers and marines, and such 
 lubbers ; but they aren't fit for sailors. Howsomever, 
 there won't be much left of her in half an hour from 
 now." 
 
 "Why not, Mr. Grummet?" asked Jack. 
 
 "Avast there ! Don't you go for to mistering me. I 
 aren't a dandy nor an officer," said Grummet fretfully. 
 
 " I meant no harm." 
 
 " I know you didn't, my lad ; and, if you did, we can't 
 afford to quarrel. Some of us will wake up in eternity 
 in less nor an hour from now ; and this crazy old craft 
 will go to the bottom ! " 
 
 " What makes you think so? " 
 
 " Think so ? I knows it. Do you see that 'ere battery 
 over there ? " 
 
 " I've seen it before to-day." 
 
 " Do you expect this piece of shingle- work to stand up 
 afore them guns ? " 
 
 " I don't know ; but I think Mr. Granger wouldn't 
 take us in where there isn't a fair chance for us." 
 
 " The leftenant's a brave man ; but he's hot-headed. 
 Now ; you mark my words, not one in five of us will ever 
 get back to the ship ; and the cap'n of the Harrisburg 
 never'll set eyes on this ugly hulk of a steamboat." 
 
 " You forget that you told us once before to-day, we 
 should come to a bad end."
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. Ill 
 
 " Didn't I tell you the truth? There's Graves a-layin* 
 there : his pipe's out." 
 
 " But he's the only man killed." 
 
 "Avast growling, Grummet!" said Tom, joining his 
 crew at the gun. " The worse you makes it, Old Blow- 
 er, the better it'll be for us. When you says any thing's 
 goin' wrong, it always goes right." 
 
 " How's your hand, Tom?" asked Jack. 
 
 " Good as new : the doctor patched it up, and it's all 
 right now." 
 
 " I'm glad to hear it How are our poor fellows in 
 the cabin?" 
 
 "All doing well but Jones , and the doctor says he'll 
 die, in spite of all he can do, poor fellow." 
 
 " Didn't I tell you so?" exclaimed Grummet. 
 
 " No, you didn't, you old bruiser! You aren't a 
 goin' for to frighten the boy with your ghost-yarns. I 
 tell you " 
 
 At that moment, a twenty-four-pound shot from the 
 battery, which the steamer was rapidly approaching, 
 dropped into the water on one side of her, and interrupted 
 the conversation. All the steam that the Wizard's boil- 
 ers would bear was now crowded upon her ; and, when 
 she had advanced a quarter of a mile farther, the order 
 was given for the battery on the forward-deck to open 
 upon the fort, which was an earthwork, mounting four 
 guns. 
 
 12
 
 178 THE SAILOR BOY; OB, 
 
 The firing was vigorously kept up on both sides. Two 
 of the shots from the shore-battery struck the steamer, 
 but without inflicting any serious injury. As each party 
 had an equal number of guns, it was a fair thing ; but 
 the gunners in the fort were evidently not accustomed to 
 their work, while the old man-of-war's men on the deck 
 of the Wizard were perfectly at home at this business. 
 
 As the steamer approached nearer to the land, the fire 
 from the fort was sensibly diminished ; and Mr. Granger 
 was confident that two of its guns had been disabled. 
 The Wizard's course had been made by various angles, 
 so as to disturb as much as possible the calculations of 
 the gunners, and to prevent any chance shot from raking 
 her. The two balls that had struck her, therefore, passed 
 across her, instead of through her from end to end. Both 
 went under the cabin, abaft the paddle-boxes ; one- of 
 them crushing through the pine-wood partitions, and the 
 other knocking off one of the quarter-pieces at the stern. 
 
 While the men were still busy at the guns, Mr. Gran- 
 ger came down from the wheel-house. 
 
 " Give it to them, my men ! " said he with a smile, as 
 he observed the vigor with which they worked. " We 
 must hoist the stars and stripes on that battery." 
 
 " Hurrah ! " shouted the gun crews. 
 
 " Ready with the gang-planks ! " added the command- 
 er ; and, at the same time, the bell from the wheel-house 
 stopped the engine, and the boat struck the shore.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 179 
 
 " Boarders, away ! " shouted Mr. Granger, as the 
 steamer touched the shore. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " yelled the seamen, as they leaped ashore, 
 and dashed up the hill to the spot where the battery was 
 located. 
 
 On they flew, up the slope, and over the breastworks ; 
 when, after a short and decisive struggle, the victory 
 was won. There were but few men in the fort, only 
 enough to man the guns, and there was nothing very 
 brilliant in the achievement. Jack Somers hardly found 
 an opportunity to strike a blow. The rebel flag was 
 pulled down, and the stars and stripes were run up in its 
 place. 
 
 " Not so bad as it might be, is it?" said Jack, with 
 a smile, to Grummet. 
 
 " You haven't seen the end of it yet," persisted the 
 grumbler. 
 
 " We've seen the end of this battery, at any rate." 
 
 It Avas quite true that they had not yet seen the end 
 of the expedition ; for, after a working-party had been 
 detailed to transport the guns to the steamer, Mr. Gran- 
 ger ordered the first cutter to be manned, and imme- 
 diately started up the bay in her. After pulling a short 
 distance, they discovered the town which was known to 
 be there ; and, at a convenient place, the commander 
 landed. Taking twenty men with him, he proceeded to 
 examine the locality. On the road, which they soo
 
 180 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 /cached, they captured two men, whom Mr. Granger 
 questioned, and from whom, in spite of themselves, he 
 obtained some valuable information. 
 
 Crossing the neck of land, they came to the water on 
 the other side ; and here Mr. Granger discovered that of 
 which he had evidently been in search. It was a nonde- 
 script craft, which the rebels were converting into a ram ; 
 probably for the purpose of making a raid among the 
 men-of-war at Ship Island. At the approach of the 
 party, the mechanics who were at work vipon her fled, as 
 though the whole Federal army was sweeping down upon 
 them. Mr. Granger gave directions for setting fire to 
 the ram^; and the seamen piled up heaps of chips and 
 shavings in various parts of her, and applied the match. 
 
 The party remained long enough to insure the destruc- 
 tion of the clumsy contrivance ; and then hastened back 
 to the boat, which' was about two miles distant. 
 
 When they reached the road which they had before 
 crossed, a new and startling state of things menaced 
 them. Rushing down the road, on the double-quick, was 
 a company of infantry. They had just come in sight 
 from behind a hotel used in summer for pleasure-seekers 
 from New Orleans : and it was impossible to elude their 
 observation ; for the country was flat and open, and af- 
 forded no place for defence or concealment. 
 
 Jack could not help glancing at Mr. Granger to ob- 
 serve the effect of this discovery upon him ; but he looked 
 calm and unmoved, as he had all the morning.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 181 
 
 *' It's lucky old Grummet isn't here," said Tom. 
 
 " He told me we hadn't seen the end of it yet," replied 
 Jack. " What are AVC going to do ? " 
 
 " Dunno, my darling." 
 
 " Shall we fight, or surrender?" 
 
 " Jest look at the leftenant afore you say surrender." 
 
 " They are three to our one." 
 
 " No matter, my boy, if they were ten to our one. 
 Never say die ! " 
 
 Jack couldn't exactly see how they were to proceed, 
 with a company of fifty or sixty men in the very act of 
 charging upon them ; but he had unlimited confidence in 
 his commander, and he was resolved to take things as 
 they came. 
 
 " Halt ! " shouted the captain of the rebel company. 
 
 Mr. Granger declined to obey, and ordered the men to 
 move on towards the boat. The muskets of the soldiers 
 were raised to their shoulders. 
 
 " Fall flat on the ground ! " said the commander sud- 
 denly. 
 
 " Fire ! " shouted the rebel officer at the moment, when 
 all the seamen dropped as though they had been shot. 
 
 The bullets whistled over their heads ; but not a man 
 was injured. They jumped, and ran again with all their 
 might towards the place where they had landed, closely 
 pursued by the rebels. 
 
 Old Tom Longstone and some others of the party were
 
 182 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 more accustomed to fighting than they were to running , 
 and the consequence was, that the rebels gained rapidly 
 upon them. But, in the midst of the race, Jack Som- 
 ers, agile and fleet as he was, happened to he tripped 
 by one of his companions, who was looking over his 
 shoulder to see the pursuers. Before he could pick him- 
 self up, his party had left him, and the rebels were upon 
 him.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 183 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 RETURN OF THE EXPEDITION. 
 
 RECISELY what Jack's feelings were when he 
 saw his friends pass on without him, and the 
 rebels drawing near, it would be difficult to say. 
 They were not pleasant ; and it may have oc- 
 curred to him that all the dismal forebodings of old 
 Grummet were to be realized. 
 
 " Stand by that man ! " said the rebel captain as he 
 passed him. 
 
 The soldier to whom this order was given, was, no 
 doubt, very glad to obey it ; for Jack looked like a puny 
 opponent, and there was a prospect of a sharp fight with 
 the blue-jackets when they reached their boat. But the 
 soldier made a slight mistake ; for Jack had no intention 
 of being made a prisoner by any single rebel in the Con- 
 federacy. He had a cutlass and a pistol ; and he knew 
 tli at his enemy's gun was not loaded. 
 
 Jack jumped up, and confronted the soldier as soon as 
 he reached the spot ; the main body still pursuing the 
 sailors. He was a tall, stout fellow, and looked as ugly 
 as a human being could look.
 
 184 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " Drop that cutlass ! " said the rebel soldier as he 
 placed himself in the attitude of " charge bayonets." 
 
 " Drop that gun ! " replied Jack, elevating his large 
 naval .revolver. 
 
 "That's your game, is it, Yank?" added the rebel, 
 retreating a few paces, evidently not pleased with the 
 situation. 
 
 " That's my game, reb. I say, drop that gun, or 
 there'll be a dead ; man round here somewhere." 
 
 " That's rather sharp, Yank ! " replied the crest-falleu 
 soldier, too proud to obey the order. 
 
 " I see you're not going to do what I told you : so we 
 may as well finish this business before it gets any later, 
 especially as I've got some tall running to do." 
 
 The soldier threw down the gun, and Jack picked it 
 up. As he did so, he heard the report of fire-arms iu 
 the direction of the boat, and saw that the sailors, being 
 hard pressed by their pursuers, had turned upon them. 
 
 " Take off that cartridge-box and the rest of your 
 traps ! " continued Jack. 
 
 The man obeyed ; and Jack proceeded to load the 
 musket, the rebel watching the operation in surly si- 
 lence. 
 
 " Now, reb," said he, when he had returned the ram- 
 rod and capped the piece, " I want to see you run. 
 Make tracks towards that hotel. If you turn to the 
 right or the left, or look behind you, I shall just put
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE 2fAl'Y. 185 
 
 this bullet through you. Now, double-quick, forward, 
 march ! " 
 
 The rebel could not do otherwise than obey ; and, to 
 do him full justice, he did obey the orders of his captor 
 to the letter. As soon as a reasonable distance lay be- 
 tween him and the soldier, Jack turned his attention to 
 the exciting events which were transpiring in the vicinity 
 of the first cutter. 
 
 The party had driven back the soldiers by an impetu- 
 ous charge upon them with cutlass and revolver, and 
 the rebels had taken time to reload their muskets. They 
 were now in line, firing upon the boat-party. Jack's 
 chance of escape was not yet first-rate ; for the rebels 
 were between him and his friends. He could not move 
 in that direction, and it was not prudent to remain where 
 he was. The only line of retreat open to him was the 
 road to the point on which the captured redoubt was 
 situated. 
 
 With the musket on his shoulder, and the cutlass and 
 pistol in his belt, lie moved off in this direction,- and 
 soon reached the road! "While he was retreating with 
 due diligence, he heard the report of the first cutter's 
 howitzer, which assured him that his party had reached 
 the boat. He was exceedingly gratified at this result; 
 though it might provoke the soldiers to pursue him, 
 Avheu they were released from duty. To prevent any 
 such catastrophe as being recaptured, he quickened his
 
 186 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 pace to a run, which soon brought him in sight of the 
 fort. 
 
 Out of breath, and very much fatigued, he reached the 
 battery, and reported himself to Mr. McBride. He told 
 his story in full to the lieutenant, who, fearing that the 
 first cutter's people might still be hard pressed by the 
 rebels, immediately ordered the third cutter to pull up 
 the bay to their assistance. Jack was sent in her as 
 pilot, and to report himself to Mr. Granger. With the 
 musket in his hand to verify his report, he stepped into 
 the boat. 
 
 The third cutter reached the place where the party had 
 landed. Mr. Granger's boat was there in charge of four 
 men. The cockswain reported that the soldiers had been 
 beaten off, and that the rest of the crew had gone upon 
 shore again ; where, or for what, he could not answer. 
 Mr. Light, the master's mate, with most of his men, 
 landed at once, and hastened towards the road to find 
 them. They had proceeded but a short distance before 
 they met the party returning to the boat. 
 
 "Why are you here, Mr. Light?" demanded Mr. 
 Granger. 
 
 " We heard you were in trouble ; and Mr. McBride 
 sent me up to^render assistance, if any were needed." 
 
 " We are all right now, though we have had two men 
 killed, three wounded, and one captured. Young Somers 
 was taken prisoner."
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 187 
 
 " I beg parcton, your honor," said Jack, stepping for- 
 ward and touching his hat : " that's a mistake !" 
 
 " Somers ! " exclaimed Mr. Granger. 
 
 " My darling ! " exclaimed Tom Longstone, springing 
 forward, and throwing his arms around him. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " shouted the men, with whom Jack was a 
 great favorite. 
 
 "How's this, Somers?" asked Mr. Granger, whose 
 pleasant smile indicated the satisfaction which Jack's re- 
 appearance afforded him. " I thought you were taken 
 by the rebels." 
 
 " No, sir : I wasn't taken. I took the rebel who was 
 sent to capture me." 
 
 "How was that?" 
 
 " He ordered me to drop my cutlass ; and I ordered 
 him to drop his musket. As I had a loaded pistol in my 
 hand, he had the worst of it. I picked up the gun, and 
 Ipaded it. Then I told him to run up to the hotel yonder, 
 or I would shoot him. He did so ; and that's the last I 
 saw of him. Here is the musket, sir." 
 
 " Why didn't you come down to the boat then?" 
 
 " Because the rebels were between you and me, sir. 
 I was afraid I couldn't whip the whole of them : so I 
 ran down to the fort." 
 
 " Bravo, Somers ! " said Mr. Granger, laughing at 
 the manner the story was told, no less than at the story 
 itself.
 
 188 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 The commander of the expedition then ordered the 
 dead and the wounded men to be conveyed to the first 
 cutter ; and the boats returned to the steamer. The men 
 were sad for the loss of their companions, and little was 
 said on the passage. On their arrival at the point, all 
 the brave fellows who had fallen during the day were 
 reverently committed to the earth, prayers being said by 
 Mr. Granger ; while all who could be spared stood 
 uncovered around the grave. 
 
 The work for the day was finished. The ram had 
 been destroyed, an armed steamer captured, and some 
 valuable information had been obtained by Mr. Granger. 
 The result was entirely satisfactory to all, except old 
 Grummet ; and the expedition started on its return to 
 the ship. The boats were all towed astern of the steam- 
 er, and the men had nothing to do but to talk over the 
 events of the day. 
 
 It was three bells in the dog-watches, when the people 
 on the deck of the Harrisburg discovered a steamer, with 
 the stars and stripes over the stars and bars at her stern, 
 approaching them. The arrival caused some excitement 
 on board ; and three stunning cheers welcomed the vic- 
 tors back to the ship. Captain Mainwright took Mr. 
 Granger by the hand, and congratulated him upon the 
 success of the expedition. That night there was such a 
 spinning of yarns on board the Harrisburg as had never 
 been known before. Every man who had been with the
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 189 
 
 expedition was a hero ; but Jack Somers was regarded 
 as something better than a hero. He was commended 
 by the officers, and lauded by the crew ; and, if he had 
 not been a very sensible young man, his head would have 
 been turned by the lavish praise which was bestowed 
 upon him. 
 
 Jack had a strong friend in the wardroom, one who 
 could command the ear of the captain ; and, if our hero 
 could have heard what was said about him by these dis- 
 tinguished persons in the cabin, he might well have been 
 dazzled by the prospects in store for him. They were 
 discussing a plan for his future advancement ; which, in 
 due time, will be revealed to our readers. 
 
 Our sailor-boy bore his honors with tolerable self-pos- 
 session. His fame had extended beyond his own ship, 
 and his position as cockswain of the captain's gig fre- 
 quently brought him to the notice of the naval and mil- 
 itary officers on the station. His modesty, however, 
 prevented him from making a fool of himself; and, 
 wherever he went, he was a .universal favorite. 
 
 My readers must not suppose that there was no one 
 else at Ship Island but Jack Somers, because he happens 
 to be the central figure of our picture ; or that the rest 
 of the people there had nothing to do but to praise him. 
 There was, at this time, a mighty expedition gathering 
 there, which was destined to achieve one of the grandest 
 and most brilliant operations recorded in the aimals of
 
 190 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 war. Jack was only a very humble individual in the 
 vast throng ; and we doubt whether General Butler or 
 Flag-officer Farragut ever heard that there Avas such a 
 person. 
 
 It was fortunate for Jack that he did not consider him- 
 self the greatest man in the fleet ; as any self-sufficiency 
 of that kind would have placed him in a very unpleasant 
 position. He was still content to touch his cap to Mr. 
 Midshipman Dickey, and to discharge all his duties ou 
 board with promptness and fidelity. In his letters to his 
 mother, he related his adventures with the expedition : 
 but Mr. Bankhead, in writing to his friends, gave a more 
 glowing account of the affair ; which, in due time, was 
 conveyed to Pinchbrook. 
 
 "All hands up anchor, ahoy!" piped the boatswain, 
 one morning, about a week after the boat-expedition. 
 
 Jack sprang to his place at the capstan, buoyant with 
 hope that the day of action had again arrived. Every 
 man at Ship Island knew that some^ stupendous enter- 
 prise was about to be undertaken ; though none but a 
 few of the higher officers of the army and navy knew 
 what it was. 
 
 " Where do you suppose we are going now, Tom?" 
 asked Jack when the ship was fairly under way. 
 
 " Don't know, my bantling ; but you may be sure, if 
 there's any big thing to be done, this ship will be there," 
 replied Tom. " We're headed to the south 'ard."
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 191 
 
 " Perhaps we are going down to the Mississippi." 
 
 " Maybe we be, Jack." 
 
 That evening, the Harrisburg arrived at Pass a 1'Ou- 
 tre ; and, on the two following days, she made several 
 attempts to cross the bar, and enter the Mississippi, but 
 without success. She then went round to the South' 
 west Pass ; where she crossed the bar, and proceeded up 
 the river to Pilot Town. 
 
 At this place, Jack learned that the seamen in th& 
 navy have something to do besides drawing their pay 
 and eating their "grub." The topmasts were sent down, 
 and the ship stripped for action. Every thing not re- 
 quired for immediate service was sent on shore, and a 
 guard of marines stationed there to protect the property. 
 It was a hard day's work ; and Jack's hammock never 
 felt so good as it did that night when he was permitted 
 to " turn in." 
 
 The guns were all shotted, in readiness for an attack ; 
 for the rebels had a fleet of rams and iron-clads up the 
 river, with which they had already made one demonstra- 
 tion against the blockading-fleet. After these prepara- 
 tions were completed, the Harrisburg steamed up to the 
 head of the Passes. But here she again mocked the 
 eager expectations of the seamen ; for no forward move- 
 ment was made for a month. 
 
 There was occasionally an incident to vary the monot- 
 ony of the scene. The arrival of the mortar-fleet, the
 
 '192 THE SAILOR BOY; On, 
 
 discovery and destruction of a telegraph-wire extending 
 across the river, afforded brief periods of excitement : 
 but all were anxious to pour a few broadsides into Forts 
 Jackson and St. Philip ; for there was no longer any 
 doubt that the reduction of these fortifications was the 
 object of the expedition. 
 
 On the 16th of April, another fever of expectation 
 was produced by the ship getting under way again, and 
 going up to the head of the fleet, consisting of fifty-one 
 men-of-war ; where she anchored, much to the disappoint- 
 ment of the gallant tars. But the next week realized all 
 their anticipations, and immortalized every man of them.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVT. 193 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP. 
 
 /4, NDOUBTEDLY tKe hero of onr story was a 
 --1 brave, smart, and patriotic young man ; a good 
 y%/ seaman, and fully devoted to his duty : but we 
 do not wish any of our enthusiastic readers to 
 suppose he captured Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip 
 alone, or even that he did any more than his fair share 
 of the work. The river was full of ships, brigs, schoon- 
 ers, gunboats, and mortar-vessels. There were thousands 
 of men, and hundreds of guns ; and the history of those 
 tremendous events would require a whole volume : so 
 that we can only describe the part which our sailor-boy 
 acted in the memorable scenes of that glorious occasion. 
 
 For nearly a week, the mortar-fleet shook the very 
 earth with the roar of their ordnance ; and the ponder- 
 ous shells screamed through the atmosphere like " fiends 
 in upper air." But no sensible impression seemed to be 
 produced upon the forts. They still held out ; and the 
 intrepid flag-officer in command of the squadron pre- 
 pured for more decided measures. The ships had been 
 
 13
 
 194 THE SAILOR EOT; OR, 
 
 made ready for the severe work before them ; and every 
 .heart in the fleet burned to meet the foe at closer quar- 
 ters. 
 
 On the afternoon before the great battle, the flag-officer 
 visited every ship in the squadron : and Jack Somers 
 came to the conclusion that this act meant something ; 
 which was the unanimous opinion of all his top-mates. 
 Every man on board the Harrisburg was in earnest, and 
 longing for the decisive moment ; but though there was 
 a great deal of moving about in the fleet, a great many 
 boats passing and repassing during the rest of the day, 
 the men were piped to supper as usual, and the starboard- 
 watch turned in at the proper time. 
 
 At three bells in the morning, all hands were called ; 
 and, shortly afterwards, the signal to get under way was 
 made on board the flag-ship : but it was half-past three 
 before the fleet was under way, owing to the difficulty 
 which some of the ships experienced in " purchasing " 
 their anchors. The drum beat to quarters ; and the 
 ships, in two lines; moved up the river. The chain, 
 which the rebels had extended across the river, support- 
 ing it upon hulks of vessels, had been partially removed, 
 and the two lines of ships passed through. The " column 
 of the Red" was commanded by Captain Bailey ; and the 
 " column of the Blue," by Farragut himself, the former 
 occupying the right, and the latter the left. 
 
 It was night ; but the scene was illuminated by the
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 195 
 
 immense fires which the enemy had kindled on shore to 
 assist the aim of the gunners in the forts, and by the 
 fire-ships which were hurled down by the rebel squad- 
 ron with the intention of destroying the Federal fleet by 
 conflagration. The boat-brigade, which had been organ* 
 ized by Commodore Porter, fought these fire-fiends both 
 obstinately and successfully, arid not a ship was destroyed 
 by them. 
 
 Before the Harrisburg reached the hulks, the forts 
 opened fire upon the fleet. Shot and shell rained down 
 upon the devoted vessels. The grandest and most terri- 
 ble scene which the eye of man ever looked upon suc- 
 ceeded. The river seemed to be a molten sea of fire ; 
 while the roar of the cannon, the hissing of shot, and 
 the screaming qf shell, were enough to appall the stoutest 
 heart. 
 
 When the order was given, the Harrisburg poured her 
 broadside into Fort Jackson, which lay on the port hand. 
 The ship was shaken down to her keel by the tremendous 
 explosion, and Jack felt sure that the rebel works were 
 blown to pieces ; for it seemed to him that nothing which 
 human hands had made could stand before such a tor- 
 nado of iron hail. He attempted to look through the 
 port, to observe the destruction which the broadside had 
 caused ; but the ship was enveloped in such a dense vol- 
 ume of smoke, that nothing could be seen. The sulphur- 
 ous cloud rolled in at the port, and blinded him so that
 
 196 THE SAILOR BOY: OR, 
 
 he could not even discern the man on the opposite side 
 of the gun. 
 
 There was no time to look around him ; for the gun- 
 crew sprang to their duty with an energy which showed 
 their zeal in the work before them. Almost in the 
 twinkling of an eye, the ponderous piece was ready for a 
 second discharge, and another broadside was poured into 
 the fort. Again Jack tried to obtain a view of the forti- 
 fication. His position as first-loader and second-boarder 
 at the muzzle of the gun, when it was drawn in. placed 
 him near the port, where he had an opportunity to see 
 when there was any thing to be seen. 
 
 " Somers, ahoy ! " shouted the first-captain of the gun. 
 " Stand by, and take the cartridge ! 
 
 " Ay, ay ! " replied Jack as he sprang to his duty. 
 
 "What are you star-gazing out the port for? Keep 
 both eyes peeled ! " 
 
 Jack was reminded by these remarks that it was his 
 duty to assist in knocking down the fort, and not to take 
 notes for the future historian. But the scene was differ- 
 ent from what he had anticipated ; and it seemed hard to 
 stand at the guns without the privilege of beholding the 
 mischief they were doing. It was nothing but smoke, 
 however, in every direction ; and he might as well have 
 been in the gloom of the forehold, so far as seeing any 
 thing was concerned. He was nearly stunned by the 
 awfid roar of the broadside ; and, when the captain of
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 197 
 
 gun No. 9 shouted to him at the top of his lungs, his 
 voice sounded like that of a pygmy in the distance. The 
 words which he spoke himself did not seem to come from 
 his own mouth. 
 
 In spite of the rebuke he had received, Jack Sorners 
 was thoroughly alive to his duty ; and he worked with 
 so much zeal, that he soon wiped out any imputation 
 which his momentary neglect had produced. 
 
 At such a time as this, the splendid and punctilious 
 discipline of the navy is exhibited to the best advantage. 
 What to the casual observer, in the still waters of a 
 peaceful harbor, may seem terribly formal and ridicu- 
 lously precise, is the foundation of success in the ordeal 
 of a mighty naval conflict. Every man knows his place, 
 and has a definite duty assigned to him in case of any 
 emergency that can happen. Every one of the gallant 
 tars at gun No. 9 had a double, and some a triple, duty 
 assigned to him. Every manoeuvre of the piece was 
 performed in order, with the utmost promptness and pre- 
 cision. 
 
 At quarters, the men are stationed on each side of the 
 gun ; and the same crew handle the gun on the opposite 
 side of the ship, a division consisting of three guns on 
 the starboard, and three on the port-side. As the Har- 
 risburg went up the river on this momentous occa'sion, 
 her port-battery first engaged Fort Jackson ; but when 
 she reached Fort St. Philip, on the other side of the
 
 198 THE SAILOR BOY; 0-R, 
 
 river, her starboard-battery delivered the terrible broad- 
 side. The second-captaiu of gun No. 9, with his crew, 
 went over to the other side, and manned the other gun 
 No. 9. 
 
 Jack Somers, as we have before stated, wa.s first-loader 
 and second-boarder. The man opposite to him was first- 
 boarder and second-loader. The next was a shot-and- 
 wad-man, who was also a pumpman and pikeman. The 
 third was a sponger, who was also a boarder. The 
 fourth was a crow-and-handspike-man, who Avas also a 
 h'remau and sail-trimmer. The fifth was a train-tackle- 
 man, and also a boarder. The sixth was a captain of 
 the gun. The men on the opposite side had correspond- 
 ing duties ; and each is designated by his proper ordinal, 
 as first-boarder, second-boarder, &c. 
 
 The gun is secured by three classes of ropes. The 
 breeching is the heavy piece of cabJe passing through an 
 eye at the breech of the gun, with each end fastened to the 
 side of the ship, which prevents the recoil from throwing 
 the piece out of position. The train-tackle is a rope 
 with double blocks, attached at one end to the carriage, 
 and at the other to a ring in the deck, by which the gun 
 is hauled back from the port, or secured for loading. 
 The side-tackles are the purchases attached to the side 
 of the carriage, by which the gun is drawn up to the 
 port. 
 
 Modern gun-carriages have but two wheels, the after-
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 199 
 
 most part resting on the deck. A handspike with roll- 
 ers on the end, called a rolling handspike, by which the 
 carriage is pried up and made to bear upon the rollers, 
 is now used when the gun is to be run out at the port. 
 The cartridges are brought up from below, one at a time, 
 in a leathern bucket having a cover, which removes the 
 liability to accident. Shot-stands are placed near the 
 breech of the gun, to hold the balls, five in each, 
 which are replenished as occasion requires. 
 
 The perfect discipline which prevailed on board the 
 Harrisburg inspired every man with zeal and courage ; 
 for he knew that he was one wheel in the vast machine 
 whose action was essential to the operation of the whole. 
 Every one supported every other one, and was in turn 
 supported by them ; and entire confidence reigned through- 
 out the ship. 
 
 The Harrisburg passed Fort Jackson, and poured her 
 broadside into St. Philip. It was the same scene over 
 again, but intensified by the hopes of success, and by 
 the continued tension upon the nervous systems of its 
 actors. But hardly had the ship passed the second fort 
 before she got aground ; and, at the same instant', the 
 vessel seemed to be wrapped in flames. It was an aw- 
 ful moment to the devoted tars, who could not yet com- 
 prehend the nature or the extent of the calamity which 
 had overtaken the ship ; but, to their honor and glory, 
 not one of them deserted his station. The port-battery
 
 200 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 still roared, as it poured its destructive missiles into the 
 enemy. 
 
 An immense fire-raft had been pushed forward by one 
 of the rebel rams ; and the Harrisburg, in attempting to 
 avoid it, had been run into shoal water, and grounded. 
 The ship was on fire, the flames leaping up to her tops ; 
 and her destruction seemed to be inevitable. The fire- 
 men were called away ; and, ' after exertions almost 
 superhuman, the fire was extinguished, and the noble 
 ship was then backed off from the shoal. 
 
 The severest part of the day's work was yet to come. 
 What the officers saw was soon patent to all the crew, 
 that the river was swarming with rebel gunboats and 
 iron-clads. The roar of battle increased ; and the shot 
 and shell crushed through the sides of the Harrisburg, 
 scattering splinters and other missiles in every direc- 
 tion. Wounded men were borne down to the cockpit, 
 where Dr. Sawsett was busily discharging the duties of 
 his profession ; and the dead lay silent and calm amid 
 the awful din. 
 
 Still our noble ship continued to pour a terrible fire 
 into the rebel vessels ; and still her men, nerved to des- 
 peration by the thunder and the crash of battle, worked 
 like heroes. Now she butted against a rebel ram, and 
 now she poured her death-dealing broadsides into the 
 iron-mailed vessels that assailed her. 
 
 Jack Somers was only a hero among heroes. Stunned
 
 JACK SO ME US IN THE NAVY. 201 
 
 by the roar, blinded by the smoke, he maintained his 
 position at gun No. 9, without knowing what was trans- 
 piring even a few feet from him. As the ship changed 
 her place, he obtained an occasional glance at a rebel 
 gunboat ; and he saw one of them crushed like a paper- 
 box by the great guns of the Pensacola. 
 
 Still he exerted himself to the utmost. When he saw 
 a solid shot crush the head of poor Lawrence, one of 
 his topmates, he felt dizzy for an instant ; but, even 
 from this shock, he recovered under the stimulus of the 
 awful excitement. 
 
 Such a furious and destructive action could not long 
 continue. The roar began to diminish ; for the guns of 
 the rebel fleet had been silenced. Of the fifteen which 
 had appeared, eleven had been destroyed, driven ashore 
 in a sinking condition, or sent to the bottom of the great 
 river. 
 
 The columns of the Federal squadron moved on. 
 Three or four vessels were missing. The Varuna had 
 been sunk, after she had done deeds which immortalized 
 her name and that of her heroic commander. The 
 smoke cleared away, and the fleet steamed up the river. 
 Silence reigned when the storm of battle had spent itself. 
 The victory was complete ; and cheer on cheer rent the 
 air, and gave a thrill of inspiration to the poor fellows 
 who had been wounded, as the grateful sounds readied 
 their ears.
 
 202 THE SAILOR BOY, OR, 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 QUARTERMASTER SOMERS. 
 
 FTER passing the forts, the Harrisburg pro- 
 ceeded on her way up the river. On the fol- 
 lowing day, after many difficulties and delays, 
 the fleet arrived at English Turn. Some of the 
 light gunboats had been sent forward to cut the telegraph 
 wires, and otherwise prepare the way for the more for- 
 midable squadron which was to follow. The intelligence 
 of the- approach of the terrible gunboats had already been 
 conveyed to the city of New Orleans ; and that reckless 
 desperation which had so often characterized the move- 
 ments of the rebels in times of extreme peril began to 
 manifest itself in the wholesale destruction of property. 
 Large cotton-ships, which had been freighted with the 
 precious staple of the South to run the blockade, were 
 set on fire, and came careering down the river, convert- 
 ing the mighty stream into a moving panorama of leap- 
 ing flames. 
 
 The Mississippi was covered with burning vessels, and 
 other valuable property, which the fiery sous of the South
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NATY. 203 
 
 had made haste to destroy. The Harrisburg threaded 
 her perilous path through these floating chariots of flame, 
 till the roar of cannon was heard ahead of her. The 
 ship had proceeded but a short distance farther, before the 
 Cayuga, in which Captain Bailey was leading the way 
 up the river, was discovered engaging the rebel earth- 
 works on both shores. 
 
 The Harrisburg, being one of the fast ships, imme- 
 diately crowded on all steam to assist the spunky little 
 Cayuga in the unequal battle into which she had ven- 
 tured. The ship was now within a mile of the bat- 
 teries, which opened fire upon her, as well as upon the 
 Brooklyn and Peusacola. As she approached the forts 
 in a direct line, only the two guns on her topgallant-fore- 
 castle could be used ; while the batteries were enabled to 
 meet her with a raking fire during her approach. 
 
 The crew were at quarters ; and the broadside guns 
 had been loaded with shell, shrapnel, and grape, which 
 are used only at short ranges. When the ship had ap- 
 proached sufficiently near, the order was given to keep 
 her away. She rounded to, and her port battery poured 
 into one of the forts a broadside which could not but be 
 fearfully destructive among the gunners in the fort. 
 
 At the same time, the starboard battery of the Pensa- 
 cola gave the fort on the other side of the river a broad- 
 side of the same material. The Brooklyn then passed 
 between these two ships, and delivered her broadside ;
 
 204 THE SAILOR BOY; OK, 
 
 which, being followed by others from the remaining ves- 
 sels of the fleet, entirely silenced the guns in the earth- 
 works* The action was short, but brilliant, what Ad- 
 miral Farragut has styled " one of the elegances of the 
 profession." Not all of the fleet could obtain a "pop" 
 at the batteries, so quickly were they silenced. 
 
 The Harrisburg continued on her course, the crew still 
 at quarters, in readiness to make the daylight shine 
 through any rebel works which should have the temerity 
 to dispute her advance. As she approached the city, the 
 artistic eye of Mr. BankRead, who was standing in the 
 mizzen-rigging, giving directions to the quartermaster at 
 the wheel, so as to avoid the burning wrecks which were 
 borne down by the current of the mighty river, discerned 
 a beautiful little steamer, which had been set on fire, and 
 was drifting doAvn with its fellows. It was not one of 
 those ungainly, top-heavy Western steamers, whose build 
 had called forth the criticisms of old Grummet ; but she 
 was evidently a sea-going steamer, whose graceful lines 
 and symmetrical proportions would have filled the eye 
 of a professional yachtman. 
 
 The executive officer of the Harrisburg was a gentle- 
 man of exquisite taste in nautical affairs ; and the destruc- 
 tion of so fine a craft greatly disturbed his equanimity. 
 In fact, he was disposed to rescue the little steamer from 
 the "manifest destiny" which appeared to have over- 
 taken her, especially as the fire had made but little prog-
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 205 
 
 ress. He immediately communicated the suggestion to 
 Captain Mainwright, pointing out the value which the 
 fine craft' might be in the future operations of the fleet. 
 Mr. Bankhead was satisfied that he could save the 
 steamer ; and the order was at once given for the attempt 
 to be made. 
 
 " Strike two bells, quartermaster ! " said the first-lieu- 
 tenant. " Clear away the second cutter ! " 
 
 " Two bells, sir !" repeated Tom Longstone, who was 
 conning the wheel. 
 
 "Three bells, quartermaster!" continued Mr. Bank- 
 head : the first signal being to stop her ; the second, to 
 back her. 
 
 " Three bells, sir ! " 
 
 By the time the little steamer had drifted down to the 
 ship, the second cutter was in the water, manned by her 
 regular crew. A dozen more men, with axes and buck- 
 ets, were ordered into the boat. Mr. Bankhead, having 
 a peculiar interest in the rescue of this elegant speci- 
 men of naval architecture, took charge of the expedition 
 himself. 
 
 " Somers ! " said he as he sprang upon the gangway. 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir!" shouted Jack in reply, as he sprang 
 forward to answer the welcome summons. 
 
 " Take a bucket, and come into the boat." 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir ! " answered our sailor-boy, pleased to be 
 remembered when there was any difficult duty to be per- 
 formed.
 
 206 THE SAILOR EOT; OR, 
 
 The boat dashed after the burning steamer ; and, as 
 she was now only a few fathoms astern of the ship, the 
 bowman had his boat-hook fast to her before the oars- 
 men had pulled a dozen strokes. Jack, who had stowed 
 himself in the bow of the cutter, was the first to leap 
 on board. Rushing into the engine-room, he seized a 
 shovel, and began to throw overboard the combustibles 
 which had been piled up near the wood- work. There 
 were a dozen pairs of ready hands to assist him. 
 
 The work of firing the steamer had been done in haste, 
 and the chips and shavings were damp. The flames had 
 therefore hardly been communicated to the wood-work ; 
 and, after a few moments of vigorous exertion with the 
 buckets and the axes, the fire was completely subdued. 
 
 " Clear away that hawser on the forecastle ! " said Mr. 
 Bankhead. " Pass it into the boat." 
 
 ''Ay, ay, sir ! " answered Sam Becket, who happened 
 to- be nearest to him when the order was given, as he 
 seized the end of the rope. 
 
 " Carry it over to the port-side," added the officer. 
 
 The cockswain in charge of the cutter was ordered to 
 pull round to the other side of the steamer. By this 
 time, half a dozen men had hold of the hawser, and 
 were hauling it over as directed. Mr. Bankhead, who 
 was now making signals with his hands for the ship to 
 back down to the prize, incautiously stepped within the 
 bight of the hawser, a portion of which had fallen into
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 207 
 
 the water. He was standing on the plank-shear at the 
 time ; and, there being no railing for protection, he was 
 suddenly and violently tripped up Avhen the men hauled 
 the rope over to the other side. By the operation, his 
 legs were pulled out from under him ; and, obeying the 
 law of gravitation, he dropped head first iutp the river. 
 
 Unfortunately for Jack Somers, he was at this critical 
 moment engaged in extinguishing the last remnants of 
 fire in the cabin of the steamer, and lost this glorious 
 opportunity of practising his favorite diversion of leap- 
 ing overboard. "We doubt not he would have done it, if 
 he had witnessed the catastrophe ; but, as he did not, an 
 interesting and exciting incident for this chapter was 
 thereby effectually spoiled. 
 
 Sam Becket, who had lost caste by falling overboard, 
 was the nearest man to Mr. Bankhead when the acci- 
 dent happened ; being at that moment engaged in clear- 
 ing away the coils of the hawser in the middle of the 
 deck. As the reader has a very indifferent opinion of 
 Becket's Christian impulses, it is not to be supposed that 
 he was moved by any lofty motives at this crisis in the 
 affairs of the executive officer of the Harrisburg. It is 
 reasonable to believe that he remembered how Jack had 
 behaved on a similar occasion, and how much credit he 
 had obtained by his promptness and courage. Be this as 
 it may, Sam Becket plunged into the river, and swam 
 towards Mr. Bankhead.
 
 208 7^777? SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 Though Beckct was not an expert swimmer, he suc- 
 ceeded in reaching Mr. Bankhead as he rose, and grasped 
 him by the collar, regardless of the dignity of his high 
 office. It is quite probable, however, if a charred timber 
 had not floated near him at this critical period, that 
 both of them would have gone to the bottom together. 
 Becket was clumsy in his operations ; but he kept a firm 
 hold upon the sufferer till the boat came up and rescued 
 them. 
 
 Then it appeared that the first-lieutenant of the Har- 
 risburg had struck his head in falling, which had in- 
 flicted a serious injury, and deprived him of conscious- 
 ness. The ship had noAv backed down to the little 
 steamer. A heave-line was thrown upon her deck, and 
 the hawser hauled on board. The second cutter pulled 
 immediately to the gangway ; and Mr. Bankhead, still 
 insensible, was conveyed to the deck, and thence to the 
 wardroom, where Dr. Sawsett, full of interest and sym- 
 pathy, hastened to his assistance. The hawser was se- 
 cured, and the ship proceeded on her course with her 
 prize in tow. 
 
 The Harrisburg, shortly after this accident, arrived 
 before New Orleans, and anchored. The events con- 
 nected with the surrender of the city are matters of his- 
 tory ; and we shall confine our attention to the personages 
 who have already been presented to the reader. Mr. 
 Bankhead was not dangerously injured, though he was
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 209 
 
 confined to his bed a few days ; and Jack Somers was 
 relieved of a heavy load of anxiety, when he saw him 
 return to duty at the expiration of a Aveek. 
 
 It need scarcely be said that Sam Becket had suddenly 
 become a hero ; that, from the neglect induced by his lost 
 reputation, he had at once risen to the pinnacle of popular- 
 ity. Men began to understand and appreciate him. They 
 gave him due credit for the noble deed he had performed, 
 without scrutinizing his motives. Mr. Bankhead had 
 sent for him as soon as he was able to see him, and 
 thanked him for the service he had rendered, besides 
 giving him an intimation that he should be suitably 
 rewarded in the future. 
 
 The first time that the executive officer appeared on 
 deck, Jack Somers began to edge this way and that way, 
 beating up towards the quarter-deck, till he found him- 
 self under the lee of the mainmast. It would have been 
 quite evident, to any one who had Avatched our hero, that 
 he desired -to communicate with Mr. Bankhead; but he 
 was very shy and sheepish in his movements. He was 
 too familiar Avith the requisites of navy discipline to 
 approach, and congratulate his powerful friend upon his 
 recovery, as he Avould gladly have done. It was not to 
 do any stupid thing of this kind which caused him to 
 edge up to the mainmast : it was a purely business 
 matter. 
 
 At last, Avhen he had mustered the requisite degree 
 14
 
 210 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 of boldness, he dashed briskly up to the first-lieutenant, 
 and touched his cap. His face was covered with blushes, 
 and he was as confused as a school-girl when she reads 
 her first composition in public. 
 
 "Well, Somers?" said Mr. Baukhead kindly, as he 
 smiled at the difficulties with which Jack was beset. 
 
 " I beg your honor's pardon ! " stammered Jack, taking 
 off his cap ; " but I wanted to speak a word to you about 
 Becket." 
 
 " What, Somers ?" 
 
 " If you please, sir, I would like to see him rated as 
 he was before that affair," added Jack, after a deal of 
 stumbling and blundering. 
 
 " Cockswain of the captain's gig? Impossible ! You 
 would be disrated if that were done." 
 
 " Don't mind me, if you please, sir ; and I would 
 thank your honor more than any other man in the ship 
 if it could be done." 
 
 " We may do something else for him ; but I object 
 to disrating you," replied Mr. Bankhead. " You are 
 a good-hearted fellow, Somers ; and you shall not suffer 
 for it." 
 
 Jack argued like a lawyer ; alleging that it would be 
 peculiarly grateful to the feelings of his topmate to be 
 restored to his old rating. It would wipe out the stain 
 upon his character, and be better than any thing else that 
 could possibly be done for him. At last, moved by all
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 211 
 
 these arguments, Mr. Bankhead promised to submit the 
 matter to Captain Mainwright. 
 
 Half an hour afterwards, the word was passed for 
 Somers to appear at the mainmast ; which is the high 
 court of equity on board a man-of-war. The captain 
 was there, and heard our sailor-boy repeat his request. 
 
 " Somers, why didn't you jump over after Mr. Bank- 
 head?" said he in a quizzing tone. 
 
 " Because your honor told me not to jump overboard 
 even after the best friend I had in the world. Besides, 
 sir, I was not present when the accident happened." 
 
 " I grant his request, Mr. Bankhead ; but Somers 
 shall be rated as a quartermaster hereafter." 
 
 ' ' Thank your honor ! " exclaimed Jack, who, though 
 happy to have Becket receive his due, was not at all 
 anxious to lose his own rating as a petty officer. 
 
 Becket was sent for, and made as happy as -a man 
 could be by the restoration of his rating as cockswain 
 of the captain's gig.
 
 212 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE TJ. S. STEAMER MIDDY, 
 
 "M much obleeged to you, Jack Somers, for what 
 you done," said Becket, as they sat down in 
 the mizzen-top, on the evening after the con- 
 ference at the mainmast. 
 " I knew, after what had happened, that the first-luff 
 would want you to have your old place ; and I thought 
 I'd help him out a bit," replied Jack. 
 
 " It was handsome of you, Jack ; and, with all my 
 faults, I'm not mean enough to keep still after what 
 you've done for me. You've been unanimous no, that's 
 "not what the shore lubbers call it." 
 
 " Magnanimous," added Rushington, whose vocabu- 
 lary was more extensive than that of the mass of man- 
 of-war's-rnen. 
 
 " Ay, ay : that's the word. It's as long as a frigate's 
 cable ; but it's just what I meant. You saved my life, 
 and you have always treated me handsomely, Somers. 
 Now you've put me back just where I was before. I
 
 JACK SOMEKS 7.V THE NAVY. 213 
 
 don't want to be foolish, Jack ; but I'd do any thing in 
 the world for you." 
 
 " Thank you, Becket. I'm glad I had a chance to do 
 you a good turn." 
 
 " I've been a rough fellow, in my day ; but you've 
 taught me a lesson that all the parsons in the country 
 couldn't have got into my noddle. By the way, Jack, 
 do you know what I thought of you when we first come 
 aboard the ship ? " 
 
 " I haven't the least idea." 
 
 " Well, Jack, I thought you was one of them pious 
 sort of lubbers that say long prayers, and go canting up 
 and down the rigging, and shirk their duty whenever 
 they get a chance, one of them chaps that's always 
 preaching what they don't practise." 
 
 " I don't see where you got such an idea as that of 
 me." 
 
 " Nor I nuther, Jack ; but I did get it : and I was 
 determined to make you show your hand, or pick a quar- 
 rel with you. We had some talk about you in mess No. 
 2, and I told the boys I meant to show you up. I was 
 rather taken aback when you wouldn't odd-and-even 
 You got the laugh on me, and I meant to sarve you out 
 for it. You're a good fellow, Jack ; and, what's more'n 
 that, you're just my idee of a good Christian." 
 
 " I'm glad your opinion of me has changed," laughed 
 Jack. " I'm sure I haven't lost any thing by being fair
 
 214 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 and just towards you. I'm a quartermaster now. and 
 shall still wear my ' eagle, anchor, and star.' " 
 
 " Silence in the main-top ! " shouted the officer of the 
 deck at this interesting point in the conversation. 
 
 The sharp rebuke of the officer of the deck Avas called 
 forth by a disturbance in the main-top, where some ex- 
 traordinary event appeared to have transpired. Some of 
 the topmen were laughing, and some were swearing ; 
 and the aspect of the matter was, that a practical joke 
 had just been perpetrated. The mizzen-top was at once 
 deeply interested in the affairs of the main-top ; and the 
 quarter-watch were exceedingly curious to learn the 
 particulars. Jack Somers, whose new rating had re- 
 lieved him from duty as a topman, came down to learn 
 the facts, which were communicated to him by Ben 
 Blinks. 
 
 The captain of the after-guard was an epicure, and had 
 prepared, for his own especial use, a dish of dunderfunk, 
 a man-of-war delicacy which comes the nearest to 
 what the Tremont House would serve up under the more 
 pretentious title of " cracker-pudding " than any other 
 dish that can be mentioned. It is made of " hard-tack" 
 pounded up, with "slush" and molasses stirred in, and 
 baked brown in a tin dish. The captain of the after- 
 guard had no relish for the gross viands of the mess- 
 table ; for he was a very nice young man. Indeed, all 
 the after-guard are nice young men ; being selected lor
 
 JACK SOMERS /A r THE NAVY. 215 
 
 their trim and dandy appearance, because their duty lies 
 on the quarter-deck, to haul the main-braces, to handle 
 the spanker-sheet, brails, and vangs, and similar work in 
 that part of the ship where the officers " most do con- 
 gregate." 
 
 Spear, the captain of the after-guard, had duly pre- 
 pared his dish of dunderfunk, and bribed the ship's cook 
 to bake it for him. At the galley, or cooking-stove, of a 
 large man-of-war, a marine is usually stationed, in busy 
 times, to prevent any evil-disposed persons in the crew 
 from indulging forbidden appetites. In other words, a 
 roast chicken, duck, or goose, has been known to disap- 
 pear from the galley in the most mysterious manner ; 
 but, of course, appropriated by some hungry tars who 
 had not the spirit of the eighth commandment in their 
 hearts. In this manner had Spear's dunderfunk taken to 
 itself wings ; and none better than he knew how vain a 
 thing it would be to find the guilty purloiner of the de- 
 licious mess. 
 
 The captain of the after-guard was exceedingly wroth 
 at first ; but, when his anger had spent itself, he deter- 
 mined to wreak upon the thief or thieves a sweet re- 
 venge. The surgeon's steward kindly provided him with 
 a quantity of ipecacuanha, which the malicious conspir- 
 ator mixed up with pounded ship-biscuit, and put the 
 dough in a baking-pan. The mess was duly slushed and 
 sweetened, and committed to the care of the ship's cook,
 
 216 THE SAILOR BOY! OK, 
 
 who, with half a dozen others, had been intrusted Avith 
 the secret. 
 
 When the drraderfunk was properly cooked, it was 
 placed in a tempting position ; and the cook and marine 
 cunningly afforded the victims abundant opportunity to 
 pilfer the pudding. The half-dozen pairs of eyes that were 
 watching for the issue of the plot presently saw a main- 
 top-man slyly appropriate the dish, and carry it to the 
 spar-deck. The fellow hung around the fife-rail of the 
 mainmast for a time ; but, as no one seemed to be watch- 
 ing him, he attached to it a small cord which had been 
 dropped down from the main-top for the purpose. It 
 was then hoisted up by the accomplices of the thief, who 
 immediately hastened up to share in the spoil. 
 
 The maintopmen partook greedily of the pudding ; 
 and, as the medicinal ingredient had been liberally sup- 
 plied, the victims of the joke were soon in a suffering 
 condition. Spear's interests were represented in the 
 main-top by a friend ; and, as soon as the thief and his 
 ^accomplices began to be sick, he began to laugh so im- 
 moderately, that the joke had to be explained. Not only 
 the stomachs but the tempers of the victims rebelled. 
 They were mad with everybody, and disgusted with 
 themselves ; and, Avhile they swore and vowed vengeance 
 upon the authors of the joke, those who had not par- 
 taken laughed, till the din from the main-top constituted 
 u broach of discipline, which called forth the sharp re- 
 buke from the oHicer of the deck.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 217 
 
 The history of the joke spread through the ship, and 
 undoubtedly penetrated the sacred recesses of the cabin 
 and wardroom. Every man on board was in a broad 
 grin for the next twenty-four hours ; and the victims of 
 the plot became livid Avith rage when any one ventured 
 to mention "dunderfunk emetics." We sincerely hope 
 that the moral influence of the conspiracy was not lost 
 upon them, and that it inspired in them a deep and last- 
 ing reverence for the eighth commandment. 
 
 We beg the reader's pardon for the intrusion of this 
 nauseous incident in our story, which nothing but fidelity 
 to the truth of history would have induced us to narrate. 
 It is only a specimen of the practical jokes which men- 
 of-war's-men play off upon each other, and which afford 
 an agreeable, but not always salutary, relief from the 
 monotony of life on board ship, especially in seasons of 
 inactivity. 
 
 The Harrisburg had been somewhat injured by the 
 shot and shell of the rebels in the two actions in which 
 she had been engaged ; and, while she remained at anchor 
 opposite the city, her repairs were in progress. At the 
 same time, by order of the flag-officer, the little steamer 
 which had been rescued from the flames by the crew of 
 the Harrisburg was. refitted for service. A thirty-two- 
 pounder was placed xipon her forecastle, and a twenty- 
 four-pounder on each side abaft the paddle-boxes ; and she 
 was suitably prepared for the accommodation of her fu-
 
 218 THE SAILOR BOY; OB, 
 
 ture officers and crew. Her name was changed, and she 
 was henceforth to be known as the Middy. Giving her 
 this undignified appellative was a freak of the naval offi- 
 cers in charge of the difficult task of finding a suitable 
 title for the new-born gunboat: but there was no small 
 degree of fitness in the name ; for the steamer was both 
 small and smart, which are supposed to be the represen- 
 tative characteristics of the young gentlemen whose offi- 
 cial position is designated by the word. 
 
 The Middy made a trial trip when her repairs were 
 completed, and proved herself to be even more than had 
 been anticipated by her sanguine projector. She went 
 down to Fort Jackson, and returned, making splendid 
 time, and working to the entire satisfaction of Mr. Bank- 
 head, who had superintended her alterations. On her 
 arrival from below, she came to anchor under the quarter 
 of the Harrisburg. 
 
 On the following day, great was the astonishment of 
 the crew when it was whispered through the ship that 
 Mr. Bankhead, at his own request, had been appointed 
 to the command of the little gunboat. But the report 
 was received with incredulity. 
 
 " Don't you believe one word of it, my darling," said 
 Tom Longstone, to whom Jack had carried the astound- 
 ing neAvs. 
 
 " I hope it isn't true," added Jack, who Avas sorely 
 troubled at the idea of losing his wardroom friend.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 219 
 
 " Not one word of it, my dear. Do you suppose Mr. 
 Bankhead is goin' for to let himself down into such a 
 little craft as that? Why, Jack, my boy. he ought to 
 have the command of a sloop-of-war." 
 
 " But the Middy is a fine little vessel." 
 
 " No matter for that, my lad : she aren't big enough 
 to hold a man like Mr. Bankhead. If they should send 
 off Mr. Dickey, or even Mr. McBride, I shouldn't so 
 much wonder. But to send off the fust-luff in a cockle- 
 shell like that, why, it aren't reasonable." 
 
 " But if he should go " 
 
 " I tell you, my darling, he aren't goin'. Why, I'd 
 almost as soon think of the commodore's goin' in her 
 himself!" 
 
 " But officers are selected according to the service they 
 have to perform, as well as to the size of the vessel. The 
 Middy may be ordered to duty which requires one of the 
 best officers in the fleet." , 
 
 " That may be, Jack," said Tom, taking off his cap, 
 and rubbing his bald head. 
 
 " Suppose he should go, what will become of me ? " 
 
 " He aren't goin', I tell ye, my dear," persisted Tom. 
 " You mought as well talk of the cap'n's goin' cockswain 
 of the dingy ! " 
 
 Notwithstanding the very decided opinions of Quarter- 
 master Longstone, Mr. Bankhead was dHadicd from (lie 
 Harrisburg, uiul ordered to the Middy. The report
 
 220 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 passed from the wardroom to the steerage, and thence, 
 through Mr. Bobstock, the boatswain, to Cheeks, ser- 
 geant of marines, who conveyed it to a ship's corporal, 
 by whom it was disseminated through the ship, clothed 
 with such an air of authority, that even Longstone and 
 Grummet were compelled to believe. 
 
 " It may be so, Jack," said Tom. 
 
 " There can no longer be a doubt," added Jack. 
 
 "All I got to say is, if it is so, then the Middy's goin' 
 to do a big thing somewhere." 
 
 " I wouldn't care, if I were only wim of going in her," 
 continued Jack. 
 
 " Do you want to go off in the Middy, and leave me 
 here, my darling? Haven't I watched over you like a 
 baby ? Haven't I mended your troupers, like your grand- 
 mother ? Didn't I put that ' eagle, anchor, and star ' 
 in your blue frock? Haven't I nused ye, and tended 
 ye, and made a man-o'-war's-mau of ye? And now you 
 want to go for to leave me ! " 
 
 " No, I don't want to leave you, Tom. I w?.Dt you to 
 go with me." 
 
 " You'd sartinly git killed in the fu.<*. action, if I wa'n't 
 there to take care of ye." 
 
 " You shall be there, Tom. I won'f leave the Harris- 
 burg without you, if I can help it." 
 
 " Give us your flipper, my dear. I hain't got nobody 
 in this world but you, Jack ; and, if yo>i cast off and
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 221 
 
 leave me, I won't keer much what becomes of this old 
 hulk." 
 
 " I will not leave you, if I can help it, Tom," replied 
 Jack, much moved by the tenderness of the old man. 
 
 " I know you Avou't, Jack. I allus took you for an 
 Iiouest lad ; and, if you desart me, I shall be disap- 
 pinted, that's all. Now read me a chapter in your 
 mother's Testament, my darling." 
 
 Jack took the Testament from its place of coucealment 
 under the mess-table, and read as he had often done 
 before to the old quartermaster a portion of a chapter. 
 Tom, as was his habit, commented upon the text in 
 man-of-war style. Our sailor-boy listened, but with only 
 half his attention ; for the Middy was still an anxious 
 topic in his mind. 
 
 A week elapsed before any decided steps were taken 
 in manning the Middy ; and Jack was full of doubts and 
 fears. In the mean time, the little steamer had taken in 
 her ammunition, small-arms, provisions, and stores, and 
 seemed to be entirely ready for a cruise. 
 
 We have continually spoken of the Middy as a little 
 steamer ; and so she was, when compared with the larger 
 steamers of the fleet : but she was extensive enough to 
 require the services of forty men, including petty-officers 
 and marines, besides her officers and the engineers and 
 firemen. Her crew was selected with great care from 
 the squadron ; and we are happy to inform our anxious
 
 222 run SAILOR nor; or., 
 
 readers that both Jack Somers and Tom Longstonc were 
 drafted into her, to their intense satisfaction. 
 
 Passed-midshipmau Hayswell was appointed first-lieu- 
 tenant, and Mr. Midshipman Dickey was ordered to the 
 little gunboat iu the capacity of second-lieutenant, a 
 promotion which added three inches to his height in 
 a single instant. 
 
 The officers and crew of the Middy went on board, 
 and at once made themselves comfortable in their new 
 quarters.
 
 JACK SOMEIIS IN THE NAVY. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 UP THE RIVER. 
 
 'ACK SOMERS was delighted with the change 
 which had been made in his position : not that 
 /^\/7 he was dissatisfied with his duties on board the 
 " Harrisburg ; but there was a prospect of being 
 ordered to more active duty. The Middy was small and 
 fast ; and he was confident that her services would be in 
 continual demand. Besides, Mr. Bankhead was now his 
 captain ; and he hoped he should have a better opportu- 
 nity to distinguish himself. 
 
 Jack had hardly become accustomed to his new quar- 
 ters in the Middy before a new character appeared on 
 board, and one with whom the quartermasters were to 
 become particularly intimate. He was a rough-looking 
 man, and swore ever so much more than there ^vas any 
 need of; but he was not much worse than many of the 
 crew. Jack Sorners had not yet learned to swear. He was 
 strongly tempted, sometimes, to use big words ; but, when 
 he observed that Mr. Bankhead and Mr. Granger never 
 uttered an oath, he came to the conclusion that he could
 
 224 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 better afford to imitate them than the seamen who were 
 less careful of their speech. Tom Longstone never used 
 a profane word ; and a long conversation with him, while 
 the Harrisburg lay at anchor below the city, had fully 
 confirmed all liis previous resolutions. 
 
 Mr. Luusley did swear ; and his nose was very red, 
 and his manners very coarse. Jack did not like him at 
 all when he appeared at the wheel-house, Avhere the two 
 quartermasters were eugaged in making things snug and 
 orderly. He was the very antipodes of Mr Bankhead, 
 who was a perfect gentleman in all his relations both 
 with his inferiors and his superiors in rank. There was 
 only one thing about him which Jack did like ; and that 
 w r as the rosette of " red, white, and blue," which he wore 
 upon the lappel of his coat, indicating that he was a loyal 
 man. In the midst of so many traitors, this was no 
 small recommendation in a man who knew every bend 
 and shoal of the Mississippi River. 
 
 "All hands, up anchor, ahoy!" passed through the 
 Middy shortly after the appearance of Mr. Lunsley. 
 
 Tom Longstone and Jack were in the wheel-house 
 with the pilot, who was smoking his cigar, and watching 
 the operations of the sailors on the forecastle. 
 
 "Anchor's away, sir ! " said the man who officiated iu 
 the capacity of boatswain, to Mr. Hayswell, Avho stood 
 upon the hurricane-deck. 
 
 " Strike one bell, Jack ! " added the lieutenant.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 225 
 
 " One bell, sir ! " 
 
 The Middy went ahead slowly ; and, when the anchor 
 had been placed on the forecastle, the four bells were 
 struck, and she went ahead rapidly up the river. Jack 
 had the wheel, and received his directions from Mr. 
 Lunsley, who continued to smoke his cigar and to swear, 
 though he had nothing particular to swear at. 
 
 At the time of which we write, the country on both 
 sides of the river was in possession of the enemy, who 
 closely watched the stream, though they were very care- 
 ful not to demonstrate upon any of the gunboats which 
 passed up and down after the capture of New Orleans. 
 Though the rebels could not successfully contest the pos- 
 session of the river with the powerful naval armaments 
 of the Government, it was their policy to impede the nav- 
 igation as much as possible. Masked batteries had been 
 planted at various points, and companies of light artillery 
 and sharp-shooters were employed to annoy any steamers 
 which had not the means of returning the fire. 
 
 Even the gunboats and larger vessels were annoyed by 
 riflemen attempting to pick off any man who showed his 
 head above the bulwarks, or appeared in the rigging. 
 The Middy had been prepared for duty with a full 
 knowledge of this state of things. Her wheel-house had 
 been plated with iron sufficiently thick to resist a rifle- 
 ball. Iron screens had been prepared to protect the men 
 while working the guns. 
 15
 
 226 THE SAILOR HOY; OB, 
 
 The Middy continued on her course up the river, bear- 
 ing the stars and stripes through the very midst of the dis- 
 comfited rebels. The men were piped to dinner as usual ; 
 and no one on board seemed to consider that he was in 
 the enemy's country, and surrounded by enterprising and 
 spiteful foes. Tom was at dinner ; and Jack was alone 
 with Mr. Lunsley, who declared that he could not leave 
 till the steamer had passed a certain difficult bend which 
 he described. 
 
 " I think I can get along alone, after what you have 
 said," added Jack, who had a great deal of confidence in 
 his own ability. 
 
 " Perhaps you can, my little joker ; but I don't trust 
 this craft out of sight when there's a shoal ahead," re- 
 plied the pilot ; and of course he could not utter a remark 
 of this length without interlarding it with half a dozen 
 Mississippi oaths. 
 
 " Your directions are very plain, and I thought I un- 
 derstood them." 
 
 " But I have some pride in this business. I've run up 
 and down this brook for ten years, and always had good 
 luck. Now, if this steamer should get aground, some 
 of your folks would call me a traitor, or some other 
 pretty name of that sort." 
 
 " I think not, sir." 
 
 " I won't trust 'em, little joker. If you " 
 
 The loyal philosophy which was contained in the
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 227 
 
 thought Mr; Lunsley was about to utter was forever 
 lost upon our hero ; for a cannou-shot at this instant 
 Arliistled through the air, unpleasantly near the wheel- 
 house. 
 
 " I know'd it ! " said he, changing his tone and man- 
 ner. 
 
 " Knew what?" 
 
 " I know'd there was a battery here." 
 
 " What did you run us upon it for, then?" 
 
 "We must go in the channel, any way, my joker. 
 But may be you ain't afraid of cannon-balls?" 
 
 " Not particularly ; though I have a wholesome re- 
 spect for them when they are properly projected," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 Another shot followed the first, and then a third. 
 The crew were called to quarters, and Tom Longstone 
 returned to the wheel-house. Captain Bankhead took 
 his station on the hurricane-deck, by the side of the 
 pilot ; and Mr. Hayswell was on the forward-deck. 
 
 " Strike two bells, quartermaster," said the captain. 
 
 " Two bells, sir." 
 
 The boat stopped ; for it was no part of Captain Bank- 
 head's plan to have his vessel knocked to pieces without 
 an adequate compensation. By his order, the thirty-two- 
 povmder on the forecastle was discharged in the direction 
 from which the shot came. Old Grummet was captain 
 of this piece ; and there was not a better gunner in the
 
 228 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 navy. The old man growled all the time ; but he worked 
 with an alacrity which spoke better for his zeal and 
 courage than his words did. After half a dozen shells 
 had been thrown into the thicket from which the firing 
 had proceeded, the guns of the enemy appeared to be 
 silenced ; and the Middy again proceeded on her way. 
 
 She had been backed down the stream some distance ; 
 and, during the firing, the engine had worked just enough 
 to keep her head up the river, and give her steerage-way. 
 As she advanced, the thirty-two-pouuder continued to 
 discourse with the unseen rebels. 
 
 " We are all right now, Tom ! " said Jack. 
 
 " Not yet, my darling. The rebel guns is short range ; 
 and, when we come up, they'll give us some more." 
 
 " You may depend on that," added Mr. Lunsley. 
 " Starboard ! quartermaster." 
 
 " Starboard, sir ! " replied Torn. 
 
 "Steady!" 
 
 " Steady, sir ! " 
 
 " Now we catch it again ! " continued the pilot. " Star- 
 board ! " 
 
 " Starboard, sir ! " replied Tom, as another shot passed 
 over the forward-deck, so that the " wind " could be felt 
 in the pilot-house. 
 
 Just then, Tom was called to assist in working one of 
 the quarter-guns, and Jack was left alone at the wheel. 
 The pilot kept well back behind the iron plates which 
 shielded the helmsman.
 
 JACK SOMEKS IN THE NAVY. 229 
 
 " Hard-a-starboard ! " said the pilot. 
 
 " You don't see where you are going, sir ! " replied 
 Jack. 
 
 The sun, which had been behind a cloud, at this mo- 
 ment came out, and the helmsman could distinctly see 
 the bottom on the bow of the Middy. There was not 
 four fcet of water in the direction the pilot had ordered 
 him to steer. 
 
 u Hard-a-starboard ! " repeated the pilot sharply. " Do 
 you think I don't know this river better than you do ? 
 
 " But look, sir ! I can see the bottom ! ' 
 
 At this moment, the thirty-two-pounder sent another 
 shell into the thicket, the noise of which seemed to startle 
 Luusley, and he crouched back into his former position. 
 He had risen with the intention of taking the wheel from 
 the hands of the refractory quartermaster. Three or 
 four more shots from the shore passed near the Middy : 
 but she was still untouched , for her motion prevented 
 the rebel gunners from obtaining the correct range. 
 
 " Hard-a-starboard the helm !" shouted Lunsley again, 
 when he had quieted his nerves. 
 
 This time he did not wait for Jack to execute the 
 order, but rose, and seized the spokes of the wheel, roll- 
 ing it over in the direction indicated. 
 
 " Better mind what I say ! " growled he with a volley 
 of oaths, which made Jack's blood run cold. 
 
 " There's no water there ! " exclaimed Tom, glancing
 
 230 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 over the port-bow at the long shoal, which could be dis- 
 tinctly seeii. 
 
 At the same time, mustering all the strength and nerve 
 of his slender frame, he heaved- the wheel over to port 
 again, and thus prevented the Middy from grounding 
 while under the fire of the enemy's guns. 
 
 " Let go that wheel, you villain ! " cried the. pilot, 
 attempting to grasp him by the throat. 
 
 " What's the matter here?" demanded Captain Bauk- 
 head, opening the door of the pilot-house. 
 
 kk This man is a traitor ! He's trying to get the boat 
 aground ! " replied Jack with energy. 
 
 " He lies ! " 
 
 " Mind your helm, Somers ! " said Captain Bankhead, 
 unable to comprehend the merits of the question. 
 
 " Shall I put her hard-a-starboard as he orders me?" 
 asked Jack. " You can see the bottom there, sir." 
 
 The captain glanced over the port-bow, and was satis- 
 fied that the quartermaster had spoken the truth. 
 
 " Steady ! " said he. 
 
 " Steady, sir ! " repeated Jack ; which is the order 
 when the helm is to be kept as it is. 
 
 He looked at Lunsley, as he spoke, with a triumphant 
 expression upon his face. The pilot's face was as dark 
 as a thunder-cloud. The captain stepped out, apparently 
 satisfied that he could trust Jack, though he did not know 
 any thing about the river, better than the pilot, who knew 
 all about it.
 
 A TRAITOR IN THE WHEEL HOUSE. Page 231.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 231 
 
 He had scarcely closed the door after he had with- 
 drawn, when Lnnsley sprang to the wheel again, and 
 made a vigorous effort to throw it over as he had di- 
 rected the wheelman to do. Jack braced his feet against 
 the spokes underneath, and for a moment prevented the 
 scoundrel from accomplishing his purpose. But the pilot 
 was a powerful man, and Jack found himself defeated in 
 his attempt by main strength to prevent the Middy from 
 being thrown ashore. He did not give up the ship : and 
 this was precisely what it would have amounted to, if 
 she had got aground there ; for the rebels could have 
 knocked her to pieces in five minutes if she would only 
 " hold still" long enough. 
 
 When he found he was not a match in physical strength 
 for the burly pilot, he had the presence of mind to strike 
 two bells, followed by three ; which were the signals re- 
 spectively to stop and back her.. The traitor, finding 
 the steamer was receding from the shoal, sprang forward 
 towards the bell-pulls. There was a heavy hard-wood 
 stick in the wheel-house, which had been used to pry 
 up the iron screens into position. Jack grasped this 
 weapon ; and, as the pilot placed his hand upon the pull, 
 he struck him a heavy blow upon the back of the head, 
 which felled him to the deck. 
 
 Jack then rang two bells, stop her; one bell, 
 ahead slow ; four bells, ahead, full speed.
 
 232 THE SAILOR HOY; OR, 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 JACK ASnOBE. 
 
 'HE roar of the guns, and the busy scenes in every 
 part of the steamer, had prevented any one from 
 noticing the affair which had just transpired in 
 the wheel-house. The Middy was completely 
 enveloped in the smoke of her own guns ; and, though 
 Captain Bankhead was on the hurricane-deck, he had no 
 knowledge of the important event which had saved his 
 vessel from destruction. The stopping, backing, and 
 going ahead again, had been noticed, of course ; but they 
 were supposed to have been occasioned by some difficulty 
 in the navigation. 
 
 The battery which had opened upon the Middy was 
 situated upon a point of land at a bend in the river, and 
 on the port-hand. Near the land, there was a broad 
 shoal ; for the current, in turning this curve, would, by 
 its natural law, sweep round to the opposite shore. As 
 soon, therefore, as Jack found himself his own master 
 in the wheel-house, he put the helm well a- port, and kept 
 the steamer away from the dangerous ground.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 233 
 
 Captain Bankhead, who was directing the action ou 
 deck, had passed the word for Tom Lougstone as soon 
 as he was conscious of any treachery on the part of 
 Lmisley. Before Tom came up from below, he again 
 opened the door of the wheel-house, where he discovered 
 the prostrate form of the traitor. 
 
 "What's this, Soniers?" demanded Captain Bank- 
 head. 
 
 " He is a traitor, sir ! He tried to take the wheel 
 out of my hands, and throw the steamer on that shoal ! " 
 replied Jack in high excitement. "I knocked him down' 
 with this club, and kept her off." 
 
 " Good Heaven ! " exclaimed the captain, Avho could 
 not but be impressed by the danger he had just escaped. 
 " You have done well, Jack. Here comes Longstone. 
 Keep her off shore a few minutes longer, and Ave shall be 
 clear of the battery." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir. There is water enough for us anywhere 
 on the starboard hand. We are all right now, sir." 
 
 " Keep her steady, Jack, and be very cai'eful. Don't 
 stop her again if you can help it." 
 
 " I will not, sir." 
 
 " Here, Longstone : roll this traitor out of the wheel- 
 house, and then stand by with Somers." 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir;" and Tom pitched the carcass of the 
 pilot out of the wheel-house, very much as though it had 
 been the body of a dead dog.
 
 234 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 "What's the matter, my darling?" asked Tom as he 
 joiued Jack at the wheel. 
 
 " Nothing particular, Tom. I'll tell you all about it, 
 by aiid by," replied Jack, still keeping his eyes fixed upon 
 the water ahead. 
 
 The clouds of smoke obstructed his vision ; but he 
 made the most of -the brief intervals when the Aviud 
 opened a clear space for him. He felt that the safety of 
 the Middy depended as much upon him as upon the cap- 
 tain ; for, if she got aground, it would insure her destruc- 
 tion in a very few moments. The rebels were improving 
 in their practice, and two or three shots had struck the 
 steamer. One had passed through the cabin on the main 
 deck ; and another had ploughed up several feet of the 
 hurricane-deck, abaft the smoke-stack. 
 
 The Middy soon passed the most dangerous point, and 
 the guns of the rebels had begun to fall short of the 
 mark. Only the port-quarter gun of the steamer could 
 be brought to bear upon the battery ; and the action 
 seemed to be over, unless Captain Baukhead chose to 
 renew it. 
 
 " Where is that pilot?" asked the captain, opening the 
 door of the wheel-house. 
 
 " I dunno, sir : I pitched him out on the hurricane- 
 deck," replied Tom, stepping out to look for his victim. 
 
 " He is not here now." 
 
 " I dropped him down there," added Tom, pointing to
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 235 
 
 the place where he had deposited the senseless form of 
 the pilot. 
 
 " We must find him before he has a chance to do any 
 further mischief." 
 
 The captain and quartermaster walked aft'to ascertain 
 what had become of Lunsley, who had evidently come to 
 his senses, and taken himself off. He was not on the 
 hurricane-deck ; and they were about to descend to the 
 main-deck, when the pilot's canoe, which had been tow- 
 ing astern, was discovered some distance down the river, 
 pulling towards the battery. The villain, who had in 
 some measure recovered from the effects of Jack's blow, 
 had crept down from the hurricane-deck during the 
 excitement of the action, and taken to his canoe. A 
 twenty-four-pound tjhot from one of the quarter-guns was 
 sent after him ; but the object was so small, and the 
 distance so great, that the gunner failed to hit it. 
 
 The Middy was then put about, so as to bring the thirty- 
 two-pounder to bear upon the battery, and again opened 
 fire upon the rebels ; for Captain Bankhead expressed his 
 purpose to clean out the enemy from their position. As 
 the battery did not reply, she was moved tip nearer, so 
 that one of the twenty-four-pounders could also command 
 the spot. After firing for half an hour without eliciting 
 any response from the rebels, the Middy went down the 
 river again, and placed herself in different positions to 
 tempt the enemy to renew the action ; but the battery 
 was still silent.
 
 236 THE SAILOR BOY i OR, 
 
 The quarter-boat on the starboard-side was then cleared 
 away ; and Mr. Hayswell, the first-lieutenant, was ordered 
 on shore to examine the position. 
 
 " Somers, you will go in the boat. Mr. Hayswell may 
 want such a person as you are to assist him," said Cap- 
 tain Bankhead. 
 
 " Thank you, sir." 
 
 " Take a pistol and cutlass with you, and don't be 
 reckless." 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir." 
 
 The boat contained twelve men besides the officer, 
 and pulled to the nearest point of land, just below the 
 battery, where it could be covered in case of necessity by 
 the guns of the steamer. Mr. Hayswell with eight of 
 the men landed, and cautiously made their Avay up to the 
 battery. They found a rude earthwork ; but there was 
 not a gun to be seen : and it was evident that the fort 
 had been manned by a battery of light-artillery, which 
 had decamped when the fire became too warm for the 
 gunners. 
 
 A short distance from the thicket in which the gun- 
 ners had been concealed, there was the mansion-house 
 of a plantation, with its village of negro-huts in the 
 vicinity. It was important to know in what direction 
 the battery had gone ; for Mr. Hayswell concluded that 
 it had gone farther up the river, to open upon the steamer 
 from another position. The party , therefore, advanced
 
 JACK SOMERS IX THE NAVY. 237 
 
 towards the mansion, but with the utmost care, to avoid 
 falling into an ambush or any other trap which the 
 rebels might have set for them. 
 
 " Bress de Lord, massa ! De jubilee am come ! " 
 shouted a negro, stepping out from a cabin as the party 
 approached the negro-huts. 
 
 Mr. Hayswell at once proceeded to question the negro 
 in regard to the battery which had occupied the earth- 
 work. The man was very willing to give any informa- 
 tion in his power ; but unfortunately he knew nothing, 
 except that the rebels had taken the road which he 
 pointed out. It was a cross-road leading from the main 
 highway ; and the battery might have gone up or down 
 the river, he could not tell which. Mr. Hayswell then 
 decided to visit the mansion-house, leaving the negro 
 very much depressed in spirits because " de jubilee" had 
 not yet come, and five hundred slaves were not to be 
 carried off by the little Middy. 
 
 The people at the mansion-house were very uncommu- 
 nicative. They did not know where the battery had 
 gone ; did not know there was any battery ; had heard 
 firing, but did not know what it meant ; thought it best 
 not to interfere with matters that did not concern them. 
 Mr. Hayswell did not deem it prudent to continue his 
 investigation any farther, and left the house. He had 
 scarcely stepped off the veranda before a dense smoke 
 was discovered some distance up the river. The cotton-
 
 238 ' TIIK SAILOR VOY; OR, 
 
 burners, alarmed at the approach of the Union force, had 
 probably set fire to a pile of the precious commodity. 
 The smoke indicated in what direction the battery had 
 gone ; and Mr. Hays well decided to reconnoitre that 
 way : for it was the military force of the Confederacy 
 which destroyed cotton ; and there could be hardly a 
 doubt that the party which had fired upon the Middy 
 was the same that performed this work of destruction. 
 
 The boat-crew had advanced but a short distance be- 
 fore the lieutenant was startled by the roar of artillery 
 in the direction of the earthwork, near the spot where he 
 had landed. It did not proceed from the Middy's thirty- 
 two-pouuder. 
 
 " What does that mean ? " said Mr. Hays well as the 
 party halted. 
 
 " I think the battery of artillery has got back to its 
 old position, sir," replied Jack, who was the person 
 addressed. 
 
 " If it has, we are in a bad situation." 
 
 " I'm afraid we are, sir ! " added Jack, who wanted to 
 ask Mr. Hayswell why he had wandered so far from his 
 boat, since it did not make much difference where the 
 battery had gone ; but he was too well trained to ask an 
 impertinent question. 
 
 " We must get back, if we can," added Mr. Hayswell, 
 who seemed to be very much perplexed at the difficulty 
 of his situation-, as well he might have been.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 239 
 
 He led his party down to the shore of the river, which 
 Jack thought was the stupidest thing he could possibly 
 do ; for the earthwork was uow between them and the 
 boat. The Middy could not even be seen around Hie 
 bend of the river. At last, when the situation seemed 
 to be utterly hopeless, Jack' ventured to suggest that they 
 might pass round the battery, and reach the boat below, 
 or at least escape capture till the Middy had time to shell 
 out the rebels a second time. 
 
 Mr. Hay swell adopted the suggestion ; and the party 
 succeeded, Avith the help of the negro who was waiting 
 for the jubilee, in making their way as far as the cross- 
 road, which led from the principal highway to a laud- 
 ing-place on the river. While the boat-expedition were 
 looking for the cotton-burners half a mile above, the 
 rebel artillery company had returned by this road to 
 their original position. Of course the enemy had a mo- 
 tive in leaving the earthwork, and a motive in returning 
 to it. The subject Avas rather dark to Mr. Hayswell ; but 
 the fact was undeniable. 
 
 Meanwhile, the shells from the Middy were dropping 
 into the earthwork, and doing terrible execution among 
 the rebels. About the time our party reached the road, 
 they had got about enough of it, and were on the point 
 of retiring again, probably satisfied that they had 
 " waked up the wrong customer " when they attacked 
 the little Middy. Now, it was very unfortunate for our
 
 240 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 people on shore that this result had been reached at 
 this particular moment ; for the retreating graybacks 
 instantly discovered the blue-jackets, and, with a whoop 
 aud a yell, dashed forward for the purpose of capturing 
 them. 
 
 Resistance was useless ; and Mr. Hayswell ordered 
 the men to run for their lives ; of which permission they 
 promptly availed themselves. Most of them attempted 
 to make a sweep round the road, and reach the boats, 
 where the rebels followed them. Jack prudently re- 
 treated in another direction ; and, reaching a gin-house, 
 crawled in, and stowed himself away among the ma- 
 chinery. 
 
 The guns of the Middy still, played a lively tune, and 
 Jack was in hope that his companions had escaped. He 
 remained in his concealment until he thought the rebels 
 must have retired, and then crept out. No firing had 
 been heard for some time ; and he stealthily moved 
 towards the river, confident that his progress would 
 not be interrupted. But this was a day of mistakes ; 
 and our hero soon found that he had miscalculated his 
 chances. The rebels had ceased firing, because their 
 twelve-pounders only drew the steamer's fire, which they 
 found too much for them, without injuring her. 
 
 While he was slowly and cautiously making his way 
 towards the river, he was suddenly and very unexpectedly 
 accosted by a couple of graybacks.
 
 JACK SOMEnS IX THE NAVY. 241 
 
 " Halt ! " said one of them, stepping in front of our 
 sailor-boy. 
 
 Jack did halt : he could not well help halting, unless 
 he concluded to step over the rebels in his path. They 
 had been concealed behind a mound of earth, and were 
 either watching for him, or observing the movements of 
 the Middy. 
 
 " Lay down your arms ! " added the rebel speaker, 
 elevating a musket, and taking aim at him. 
 
 Perhaps Jack was reckless ; on the whole, we rather 
 think he was : for, instead of obeying the order, he drew 
 his revolver, and fired at the soldier who addressed him. 
 Of course, the grayback discharged his musket ; and 
 Jack felt something on his left shoulder very much like 
 a saw drawn along the skin. But he was not killed, he 
 was sure of this, and immediately fired another barrel 
 of the revolver, which caused the assiduous rebel to drop. 
 Yet Jack was sure he was not killed ; for he heard him 
 swear after he fell. 
 
 There was no time just then to balance probabilities : 
 and our blue-jacket, concluding that the rebels were in 
 force at the earthwork, decided to change his base ; 
 which is always considered a very difficult operation in 
 the midst of an engagement. In the present instance, it 
 consisted only of wheeling about, and running away in 
 the opposite direction ; which has often been the sum 
 
 16
 
 242 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 and substance of the same manoeuvre when conducted on 
 a larger scale. 
 
 Jack ran till he came to the mansion, being chased by 
 the uninjured rebel of the couple. He dodged several 
 times, and at last threw his pursuer off the track. As 
 he doubled up under the lee of the big house, he saw a 
 cellar-door open ; through which, as the place looked 
 inviting, he entered without asking permission.
 
 JACK SOMERb Iff Tfff NAVY. 243 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 THE PLANTER'S MANSION. 
 
 E cellar into which Jack had entered appeared 
 to be the storehouse of the plantation ; for it 
 was half filled with boxes and barrels, crates 
 and cases, with demijohns, jugs, and canisters- 
 In one corner, there was a small room partitioned off 
 from the rest of the space, which our hero concluded was 
 the depository- for eatables, and for which reason he was 
 very desirous of exploring it ; for it Avill be remembered 
 that the action had been commenced on board the Middy 
 just as the hands were piped to dinner. Jack had eaten 
 nothing since morning ; and, as boys at his age are con- 
 stitutionally predisposed to be hungry, he was now, in 
 the middle of the afternoon, almost in a suffering con- 
 dition. 
 
 He tried the door of the room in the corner of the cel- 
 lar ; but, to his grief, it was locked. Jack could not 
 help thinking what a villanously bad practice it was to 
 keep the pantry locked ; but if he had considered the 
 number of working negroes on the place, whose diet cru-
 
 244 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 sisted of a peck of corn and a small allowance of bacon 
 per week, he would have been satisfied with the wisdom 
 of the arrangement, and, for the sake of the negroes 
 aforesaid, have been content to remain hungry for the 
 present. 
 
 As he could not find any thing to eat, or even to 
 drink, for the demijohns and jugs were either empty 
 or filled with oil or vinegar, he was obliged to stow 
 himself away among the boxes and barrels, to wait for a 
 more convenient season to emerge from the gloom of his 
 hiding-place. He was alone, and there was nothing to 
 disturb his meditations. Of course, he could not help 
 reviewing the incidents of the afternoon, and wondering 
 how many of his companions had been killed, wounded, 
 and captured. As he had no data upon which to base 
 his calculations, his conclusions were not particularly 
 satisfactory. He was almost certain, however, that Mr. 
 Hayswell was a prisoner ; but he contented himself with 
 the thought that he was no great loss to the G-overnment, 
 after his mismanagement of the affair of the boat-party. 
 
 For the want of something better to do, in the gloom 
 and silence of the cellar, he went to sleep ; as almost 
 any sailor is apt to do, when he has nothing to busy his 
 hands or occupy his mind. He is " broke of his rest," 
 as the elderly ladies in the country say ; and it is just as 
 natural for him to go to sleep as it is for him to " splice 
 the main-brace." Jack went to sleep. He had not eaten
 
 JACK SO ME US IN THE NAVY. 245 
 
 any thing to give him the nightmare, and his bed was 
 hard, cold, and uncomfortable. His position was rather 
 cramped ; and these things, combined, caused him to 
 dream. 
 
 An old horse, thin, spavined, and afflicted with the 
 heaves, covered all over with stars and bars, slowly 
 came round, and began making stern-way till his heels 
 were within reach of the dreamer. He thought it was 
 about time to retire, but found himself unable to move. 
 The old horse deliberately raised his heels, and kicked 
 him in the head. He tried to cry out, and tried to beat 
 a retreat ; both of which, for some mysterious reason, he 
 was unable to do. The dilapidated old nag continued to 
 pound away till his head seemed to be mashed to a jelly , 
 and, when it appeared to him that the end of all things 
 had come, he waked up in a violent perspiration, trem- 
 bling from head to foot with the agony he had endured 
 during his slumbers 
 
 It was as dark as Egypt ; but there was no old horse 
 present. He felt around him, and the boxes and barrels 
 among which he had stowed himself recalled his bewil- 
 dered senses, and informed him where he was. He rubbed 
 his eyes, and renewed the vision which had just faded 
 from his consciousness. The old horse was, without 
 doubt, the Southern Confederacy ; a fact sufficiently cer- 
 tified by the stars and bars he wore. Jack could not 
 help laughing at the sorry figure of the miserable crea-
 
 246 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 ture ; but, when he thought what awful blows the typical 
 beast had given him, he concluded that the Confederacy, 
 though a one-horse affair, was not to be despised. 
 
 Jack had seen a dream-book on board the Harrisburg ; 
 but what the significance of dreaming about horses, and 
 especially about such a miserable beast as that which 
 had occupied his slumbering mind, might be, he could 
 not tell. In truth, he had not much faith in dreams ; 
 yet he could hardly escape the conclusion, that such a 
 remarkable vision must mean something. If not actually 
 a captive in the hands of the rebels, he was certainly in 
 a fair way of becoming such ; and he was afraid' the 
 dream foreshadowed his own fate in the hands of the 
 enemy: but he hoped, if he was doomed to a rebel 
 prison, that the old horse would not kick quite so hard 
 as he had in his dream. 
 
 It was very dark in the cellar now ; and Jack groped 
 his way out from the boxes and barrels which had con- 
 cealed him, and felt his Avay in the direction of the door 
 by which he had entered. It was closed, locked, and 
 the key removed. He could riot open it by any art or 
 device of his fertile ingenuity ; and it was patent to him 
 that his retreat by the door was cut off. But there must 
 be, according to the natural rule of architecture, some 
 means of getting into the cellar other than from the out- 
 side of the house. This was a comfortable reflection ; 
 and he groped about the dark place till he found the 
 stairs leading to the entry above.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY, 247 
 
 As A matter of precaution, he seated himself on the 
 first step, and, while he was listening for any sounds 
 which might reach him from the rooms above, loaded 
 the two barrels of his pistol which had been discharged 
 at the rebels. There were footsteps to be heard in one 
 of the rooms over him ; but the entry was apparently 
 unoccupied. When the pistol had been prepared for use, 
 he cautiously ascended the steps, opened the door, and 
 passed into the principal hall of the mansion. 
 
 The front door was now before him. On each side 
 of it, there was a room opening into the hall. Jack's 
 intention was to pass out of the house by the main en- 
 tranoe ; but, unfortunately, one of the doors at the side 
 of it was open. The room was lighted, and there were 
 persons in it engaged in conversation. It was not safe 
 to run the gantlet of this open door ; and Jack was 
 obliged to seek a passage in some other direction, or 
 wait till the parlor-door should be closed. 
 
 To facilitate the ease and silence of his movements, 
 our hero slipped off his shoes ; and, tying them together 
 by the strings, secured them in his belt. Thus prepared, 
 h commenced exploring the premises. There was a 
 door in the rear of the house ; but this was locked, 
 and the key removed. Adjoining the two front rooms, 
 there were two other rooms ; one of which Jack con- 
 cluded, from the pleasant odors saluting him in that 
 direction, was the dining-room. He looked iii ut the
 
 248 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 key-hole. The room was lighted, and the table seemed 
 to he in readiness for the family. There were no serv- 
 ants present ; and Jack concluded that they had gone to 
 the cook-house, which in the Southern States, our read- 
 ers are aware, is usually located at some little distance 
 from the mansion. 
 
 The hungry intruder ventured to open the door, using 
 extreme care in the operation. On the table, there were 
 a pair of cold roast chickens, ham, bread, cake, and 
 other nice things, which proved to be an unconquerable 
 temptation to the unwelcome visitor. Without cere- 
 mony, he confiscated one of the chickens and a quantity 
 of bread, soft-tack, in the vernacular of the blue-jack- 
 ets ; and, his mouth watering at the savory anticipations 
 the feast excited, he beat a hasty but well-conducted re- 
 treat. 
 
 As the hall was an exposed place, he thought of re- 
 turning to the cellar to discuss this supply of viands ; 
 but, as he passed the door of the apartment opposite the 
 dining-room, he glanced through the key-hole. It was 
 not lighted ; and, with the same care he had before used, 
 he opened the door. It was a stai-light evening, and 
 sufficient light came through the windows to enable him 
 to see that the room was the planter's library. But he 
 had hardly entered the apartment before he heard foot- 
 steps in the hall. Darting towards a door which he 
 descried in the dim light, he opened it, and shut himself
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 249 
 
 iu, just as a person entered from the hall. It was as 
 dark as Erebus iu his new quarters ; but Jack, after 
 placing his pistols in a position for instant service, felt 
 around him, and ascertained that he had taken refuge in 
 a large closet, which contained stacks of old papers, 
 pamphlets, and books. Hanging on one side were sun- 
 dry articles of clothing ; but our hero hoped they would 
 not be wanted till he had departed. He had not dared 
 lo latch the door behind him, lest the noise should at- 
 tract the attention of the person who had entered. Push- 
 ing it open a little, he found that the library had been 
 lighted ; and the servant who had performed this service 
 was seated in an easy-chair, occupied with his own re- 
 flections. He was a sleek, well-fed negro, dressed like 
 a gentleman ; and apparently had no interest whatever 
 in the "jubilee" for which the field-hands in the huts 
 were impatiently praying. 
 
 The fellow was evidently waiting for the planter to 
 finish his supper and take possession of the library. He 
 sat there as composed and contented as though he had 
 been the owner of the library. He was certainly uncon- 
 scious that he was, just at that moment, very much in 
 Jack's way ; for the latter wanted a chance to open the 
 window, and jump out. Jack was provoked at the indif- 
 ference of the gentlemanly servant, and even considered 
 the propriety of giving him one of the bullets in his re- 
 volver : but he rejected this suggestion, as it would havo
 
 250 THE SAILOR JiOY; OH, 
 
 been nothing less than nnirder ; for the fellow was as 
 harmless as he was fat and lazy. 
 
 Then he thought he would "appear" to the negro, 
 and, in the confusion which ensued, escape by the front 
 door ; but, as this would subject him to a pursuit, he de- 
 cided to remain quiet, even at the risk of having to stay 
 in the closet till the planter had retired for the night. 
 He concluded, after mature deliberation, that this would 
 not be a very terrible calamity ; for the old horse of his 
 dreams could hardly reach him in that comfortable posi- 
 tion. One thing, however, he regarded in the light of a 
 calamity ; and that was his empty, gnawing, rebellious 
 stomach, which was protesting in its own eloquent lan- 
 guage against the deprivations to which it had been cru- 
 elly subjected since seven-bells in the morning-watch. 
 Whatever happened, he was determined to attend to the 
 claims of this discomfited organ. 
 
 Carefully pulling the door to, he detached a wing from 
 the carcass of. the chicken, and devoured it. The drum- 
 stick and second joint were next depleted of every edible 
 particle ; and, in due time, the disintegrated skeleton of 
 the fowl lay in a heap upon a pile of pamphlets, stripped 
 as clean as the buzzards could have picked it. The three 
 large slices of bread also disappeared, and Jack felt bet- 
 ter. Nothing was needed but a cup of tea or coffee to 
 complete the feast. Perhaps the negro exquisite in the 
 easy-chair thought there were rats in the planter's closet
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 251 
 
 when he heard the chicken-bones crack ; but, luckily for 
 Jack, he was too indolent to investigate the cause of the 
 strange noises. 
 
 Our hero felt perfectly contented at this point of our 
 narrative. I don't think he would have cared a straw if 
 the servant, or even the master, had opened the closet 
 door when he had finished his supper ; for there is some- 
 thing in a full stomach which inspires confidence. If it 
 should ever be our lot to become a brigadier-general, we 
 should never take our brigade into battle except upon a 
 full stomach. Jack again pushed the door open a little, 
 so that he could see into the library. Suddenly the sleek 
 black rose from the easy-chair as though he had received 
 a charge of electricity through his back-bone, and the 
 planter with another gentleman entered the apartment. 
 Of course, the colored gentleman retired. 
 
 " Have a cigar, Litchfield," said the planter 
 
 " Thank'e," replied the guest ; for such he appeared 
 to be. " I always smoke when I get a chance." 
 
 "Eh, Mr. Litchfield?" thought Jack, when he heard 
 that voice, and recognized it as belonging to Lunsley, 
 the pilot. " So you change your name as well as your 
 colors." 
 
 The gentlemen in the library talked about the Rebel- 
 lion, and especially about the affair of the Middy : and 
 Jack learned that, the first-lieutenant and four of the men 
 hud been captured ; that the others had escaped to the
 
 252 THE SAILOR EOT; OR, 
 
 boat, and reached the steamer, which still lay at anchor 
 off the earthwork. 
 
 " Well, I suppose it's about time for me to start," said 
 Litchfield, alias Lunsley, after they had conversed about 
 the event for half an hour. " But I don't quite under- 
 stand the cotton matter yet." 
 
 The planter then proceeded, after closing the hall-door, 
 and declaring that no negro must hear a word about the 
 business, to describe the place where a large steamer, 
 loaded with cotton, was concealed in a bayou some 
 miles above. He was afraid the Union gunboats would 
 discover and appropriate the valuable cargo, or that the 
 Confederate cotton-burners would destroy it. Between 
 these two fires, he was terribly perplexed. He had char- 
 tered a steamer, and intended to run his cotton up the 
 Red River, where it would be safe for the present. 
 Lunsley agreed to pilot the boat up, and manage the 
 enterprise. 
 
 " But it must be done to-night. That Yankee gun- 
 boat will have it in the morning, if you don't," said the 
 planter. 
 
 " It shall be forty miles up the river before daylight," 
 replied the pilot. 
 
 '" Perhaps not ! " said Jack to himself, as the two gen- 
 tlemen left the study.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 253 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 A NIGHT-EXPEDITION. 
 
 ACK SOMERS was troubled with a strong desire 
 to get his hands upon that Mr. Litchfield, alias 
 Lunsley ; or, failing in .that, to bring his pistol to 
 bear upon some vital part of his corporeal being. 
 The wretch was a traitor, and had worn Union colors to 
 obtain the favor of the naval officers, that he might 
 betray his trust into the hands of his employers. It was 
 evident to him now that Litchfield had never intended to 
 take the Middy above this point ; for he knew of the ex- 
 istence of the earthwork. It was his purpose to get her 
 aground, where the battery could knock her to pieces. It 
 also looked very much as though he had come up for the 
 purpose of taking charge of the cotton-steamer which 
 the planter had intrusted to his care. 
 
 Jack waited but a moment, after the gentlemen had 
 left the room, before he emerged from his hiding-place ; 
 and, carefully opening the window, jumped out upon the. 
 veranda. He took the precaution to close the window,
 
 254 THE SAILOR BOY, OR, 
 
 that no suspicions might be awakened. He was now 
 free : the old horse had not yet hit him on the head ; and 
 lie was disposed to believe the old adage, that dreams go 
 by contraries. But Jack was too wise a lad to crow 
 before he had got out of the woods. 
 
 The conversation between the pilot and the planter, to 
 which he had listened, placed in his possession some val- 
 uable information, of which he now purposed to avail 
 himself. The light-battery was still in the vicinity, and 
 a squad of rebels was at the earthwork watching the 
 Middy. Instead, therefore, of going to the point where 
 he had lauded, he made his way directly to the river, 
 hoping that he should be able to find a boat. He could 
 discover no craft of any sort ; and was compelled to resort 
 to a log, upon which he boldly put off. 
 
 The current carried him down the stream, after he had 
 pushed out from the shore ; and, when he had rouuded 
 the bend, he discovered the Middy at anchor on the edge 
 of the shoal. By a vigorous application of the board he 
 used as a paddle, he contrived to navigate the log so as 
 to bring it up under the bow of the steamer. The watch 
 hailed him; but his well-known voice was 'all that was 
 needed to secure him assistance in getting on board. 
 
 " Why, Jack, my darling ! " cried Tom Longstone, 
 the veteran threw his arms around him, " I guv you uj 
 for lost ! " 
 
 " I'm all right, Tom. Who's officer of the deck?"
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 255 
 
 " Mr. Dickey, up there," replied Tom, pointing to the 
 hurricane-deck. 
 
 " Come on board, sir," added Jack, touching his cap 
 to Mr. Dickey. " If you please, sir, I would like to see 
 the captain." 
 
 " Come up, then." 
 
 " Where away now, Jack, my dear? Can't you tell us 
 any thing about it ? " 
 
 " Not now, Tom ; there'll be more fun by and by : but 
 don't say a word," whispered Jack as he ascended to the 
 hurricane-deck. 
 
 " So you got off, Somers ! " said Mr. Dickey with a 
 degree of condescension which was indeed quite remark- 
 able. 
 
 "Yes, sir : I stowed myself away in a dark place till 
 night, and then came off." 
 
 " Have you seen Mr. Hayswell?" 
 
 " No, sir : he was taken, and they have sent him off 
 somewhere. If you please, sir, I would like to see the 
 captain about something of great importance." 
 
 " The captain ! I'm acting first-lieutenant of this ship : 
 and you are aware that all communications must pass 
 through me," added Mr. Dickey with sublime impor- 
 tance. 
 
 " I beg your honor's pardon," added Jack with a clever 
 stroke of policy. " There's something to be done right 
 off; and I only wanted to save time."
 
 256 THE SAILOR EOT; OR, 
 
 " State your business to me at once, then," continued 
 the acting first-lieutenant of the Middy. 
 
 Fortunately, however, Mr. Dickey's high flight was 
 disturbed by the appearance of Captain Bankhead him- 
 self, who at once recognized Jack, dark as it was. 
 
 " Somers ! " exclaimed he, greatly astonished. 
 
 " Come on board, sir," answered Jack, touching his 
 cap. 
 
 " But you were captured? " 
 
 " No, sir : not quite. I came very near it." 
 
 " Come into the wheel-house, and tell me all about it," 
 added Captain Baiikhead, leading the way. 
 
 Jack told his story as rapidly as possible, including 
 that part relating to the cotton-steamer. The latter 
 portion of the narrative was particularly interesting to 
 Captain Bankhead, who was much dispirited by the loss 
 of his first-lieutenant and five men ; for it now appeared 
 that one had been killed in the boat. The capture of the 
 steamer, laden with cotton, would heal his wounded 
 pride, and enable him to return to the fleet with flying 
 colors. 
 
 Mr. Dickey was called in ; and Jack stated with great 
 care all the particulars in relation to the cotton-steamer. 
 The captain proposed at once to get up his anchor, and 
 hasten to the mouth of the bayou where the boat was 
 concealed. 
 
 "I beg your honor's pardon," interposed Jack very
 
 JACK SO HERS IN THE NAVY. 257 
 
 reverently ; " but the battery is on duty somewhere 
 about here, and men are watching the steamer from the 
 earthwork." 
 
 " Very good, Jack," said the captain with a smile. 
 " You are right. If you have any suggestions to make, 
 I will hear them ; for I find you have got a long head 
 for so small a body." 
 
 " I think the first cutter, with a howitzer and twenty 
 men, would do the business in first-rate style," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 " But, Somers, you must be used up after such a hard 
 day's work." 
 
 " Not at all, sir : I am as fresh as though I had just 
 come out of my hammock." 
 
 " Because you must go in the boat, if we conclude to 
 take the steamer in that manner." 
 
 " I am all ready, sir." 
 
 ' ' Mr. Dickey, clear away the first cutter, and have a 
 howitzer ready for her ! " added the captain. 
 
 The commander of the Middy seemed to be much 
 troubled when his little first-lieutenant had gone to exe- 
 cute the order. He did not speak for some time ; and, as 
 it was not proper to submit his doubts to a quartermaster, 
 we must add that the want of a suitable officer to conduct 
 the expedition was the occasion of his perplexity. Mr. 
 Dickey was the only officer who was available for the
 
 258 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 important duty, and it was not proper that the captain 
 should go himself. 
 
 Mr. Dickey was young, brave, and smart in a double 
 sense ; but he was hardly qualified to execute so diffi- 
 cult an undertaking. Captain Bankhead had seen one 
 expedition fail for want of discretion on the part of an 
 officer ; and he was very much inclined to leave Mr. 
 Dickey in charge of the Middy, and perform the duty 
 himself. This plan was rejected ; for the steamer her- 
 self might be captured in his absence. There was no 
 alternative but to commit the charge of the expedition to 
 Mr. Dickey ; and accordingly that little officer was duly 
 instructed for the purpose. 
 
 The best men on board were detailed to form his crew, 
 all of them armed to the teeth. Mr. Dickey was sol- 
 emnly charged to be prudent, and to act with vigor and 
 determination. The chief-engineer was ordered to go in 
 the boat, as his services would be required in case the 
 enterprise should be successful. Mr. Dickey was directed 
 to consult with him in any emergency. 
 
 Captain Bankhead had decided to make a demonstra- 
 tion with the Middy in order to cover up the movements 
 of the boat-party. The anchor was Aveighed, and she 
 
 stood over to the other side of the river, where, xinder 
 
 
 the shadow of the high bank, the boat cast oif, and pulled 
 
 up the river with muffled oars. The Middy was then 
 headed down the river ; and those who were watching no
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY, 259 
 
 doubt congratulated themselves that they had driven her 
 off. 
 
 Curled up in the bow of the cutter, Jack Somers re- 
 lated his adventures to Tom Longstone, who was one of 
 the party. He spoke in whispers ; and Tom did not 
 speak at all, so deeply was he absorbed in the exciting 
 story. 
 
 The oarsmen pulled for two hours against the current, 
 when she was in the vicinity of the bayou Avhere the cot- 
 ton-steamer lay. Of course, none of the party knew 
 precisely where to find the mouth of the stream they 
 were to ascend. Jack Somers was in the bow of the 
 cutter, on the lookout for any thing like an opening in 
 the bank of the river. The boat still kept under the 
 shadow of the left bank of the river ; and Mr. Dickey 
 had carefully observed his instructions to preserve entire 
 silence. 
 
 While Jack was on the watch, straining his eyes to 
 find the bayou, he discovered a light on the opposite 
 shore ; and, when the boat had advanced a little farther, 
 he clearly discerned the opening for which he had been 
 in search. But the light was ominous. It was clearly 
 a lantern in the hands of a man, as its occasional motion 
 plainly showed. 
 
 Jack Somers promptly concluded that the light meant 
 something, and that it was some kind of a signal for the 
 cotton-steamer. As the man who carried it could not
 
 2*60 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 .possibly have seen the cutter, the meaning of the light 
 was easily read. The signal-man had, of course, been 
 instructed to show the light if there was nothing to inter- 
 fere with the passage of the cotton-boat. 
 
 Our hero saw that this was delicate business to man- 
 age, and he was very much afraid that Mr. Dickey would 
 spoil every thing by his self-sufficiency. He had a sug- 
 gestion ; but he hardly dared to offer it, lest it should be 
 rejected : but there was no time to spare ; for the cutter 
 was now passing the bayou. 
 
 Creeping aft between the oarsmen, he touched his cap 
 in the darkaess, and " begged his honor's pardon ; but 
 there was a light on the bank." 
 
 "What of it?" demanded Mr. Dickey. 
 
 " Here's the place, your honor," added Jack in a whis- 
 per. " There is a man with a light on the bank. If 
 your honor will please to order the men to lie on their 
 oars." 
 
 Mr. Dickey did give the order ; for he had been sub- 
 missively addressed as " your honor ; " and nothing more 
 than that could possibly be expected of a quartermaster. 
 Jack then explained the probable meaning of the light, 
 and hinted, in a very respectful but roundabout way, that 
 the man who carried it must be disposed of before the 
 boat entered the bayou. He did not say this in so many 
 words ; and, happily, Mr. Dickey did not take offence at 
 the suggestion.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 261 
 
 " We will pull over to the other side, and land a cou- 
 ple of men, who can silence him, and keep the signal 
 flying," said Mr. Dickey, who fully believed that he had 
 given utterance to an original idea, so carefully had Jack 
 worded his hint. 
 
 The boat dropped down stream about half a mile, and 
 then crossed over. Jack begged permission to be one of 
 the two men who were to execute the important duty of 
 capturing the signal-man ; adding, that it would enable 
 him to verify some of the information he had obtained 
 on shore. Mr. Dickey was graciously pleased to grant 
 his request, for the reason stated ; and, when a signal for 
 the boat to approach had been agreed upon, he landed 
 with his companion. 
 
 " Have you got your pipe with you, Eaymond?" asked 
 Jack as they touched the bank. 
 
 " Of course I've got my pipe. D'ye want to smoke, 
 Jack?" 
 
 " No, I never smoke." And Jack proceeded to ex- 
 plain his plan to his shipmate. 
 
 A fifteen-minutes' walk brought them to the junction 
 of the bayou with the main river, where they found the 
 signal-man. 
 
 "Has that boat come down yet?" demanded Jack, 
 pointing up the bayou. 
 
 " What boat?" replied the man. 
 
 " That cotton-boat : we are going up in her."
 
 262 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " She hain't come down yet. Why don't you go up 
 where she is, if you are goin' in her?" 
 
 " Didn't know where to find her. Come along, Ray- 
 mond : we shall find her now easy enough," added Jack 
 as he moved off. 
 
 "Avast a minute till I light my pipe by this 'ere 
 lantern," replied Raymond as he had been instructed. 
 " Lend us your glim a moment." 
 
 " You'll put it out." 
 
 " No, I won't." 
 
 The signal-man permitted him to take the lantern : 
 whereupon Jack sprang upon him, and bore him to the 
 ground. The movement was so sudden, that he had no 
 chance to resist. Raymond came to Jack's assistance ; 
 placing his pistol at the fellow's temple, which caused 
 him to beg for his life. With a rope which had been 
 brought for the purpose they tied him hand and foot, 
 and fastened him tp a tree. 
 
 Jack assured the unfortunate rebel that he should not 
 be harmed, if he made no noise ; but he instructed Ray- 
 mond to shoot him if lie opened his mouth or attempted 
 to escape. Our hero then took the lantern, and waved 
 it three times, which was the signal for the boat to 
 advance ; then giving it to his companion, who was to 
 remain, he hastened down to the water to board the cut- 
 ter as she entered the bayou.
 
 JACK SQMERS IN THE NAVY. 263 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 THE CAPTURE OF THE KENSHAW. 
 
 'ACK SOMERS sat down on a log at the mouth 
 of the bayou to await the arrival of the cutter. 
 He was entirely satisfied with what had beeu 
 done thus far, and every thing was certainly 
 working right ; but he would have felt much safer in 
 regard to the future if such a man as Mr. Granger had 
 been in command of the expedition. Mr. Dickey was 
 no older than himself, and had a higher respect for his 
 own personal dignity than for any thing else. Any indis- 
 cretion might ruin the Avhole affair, and return the party 
 to the Middy empty-handed and crest-fallen. Jack hoped 
 for the best ; and, when the boat appeared, he jumped 
 on board, aad reported to Mr. Dickey the success of his 
 mission. 
 
 " Very well, Somers. You have benaved yourself 
 with great gallantry, and I shall take occasion to report 
 your good conduct to the captain," replied Mr. Dickey. 
 " Thank your honor," added Jack, removing his cap,
 
 264 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 though he could not help "laughing in his sleeve" at the 
 magnificent bearing of the young officer. 
 
 4 'It is a great satisfaction to an officer to have men, 
 upon whom he can rely, when difficult and dangerous 
 service is to be performed," continued Mr. Dickey, 
 addressing the engineer. 
 
 " Yes, sir," responded that officer, a man of forty, 
 who had seen more service before Mr. Dickey was born 
 than the latter had ever performed. 
 
 Jack Somers resumed his position in the bow of tke 
 boat, on the lookout now for the cotton-steamer. After 
 the expedition had proceeded a couple of miles or more, 
 a second lantern was discovered on shore, which was evi- 
 dently another signal for the pilot. Jack reported the 
 fact to Mr. Dickey ; and that gentleman was by this 
 time so well trained, that he knew exactly what to do. 
 Our hero and another man were ordered to land, and 
 secure the signal-man. The work was accomplished, 
 and the lantern hung upon a branch of a tree ; for Jack 
 concluded that another man could not be spared for such 
 inactivity as simply holding a lantern. 
 
 This signal was displayed at a bend in the bayou ; and, 
 when the cutter came up to the curve, the blazing fires 
 of the cotton-steamer were discovered at the distance of 
 less than half a mile., Mr. Dickey at once became ex- 
 cited by the brilliant prospect before him. A smart 
 dash, and the valuable prize would be his own ; and
 
 JACK SOMEXS IX THE NAVY. 265 
 
 what a joy it would be to report the success of his 
 mission ! 
 
 " Give way, my lads ! " said Mr. Dickey, warming up 
 with the enthusiasm of the moment. 
 
 " He'll spoil the whole of it ! " groaned Jack in the 
 ear of Tom Longstone. " We shall have to sneak back 
 like whipped chickens ! " 
 
 " Why, no, my darling. We can board her, and carry 
 her decks at one pull," whispered Tom. 
 
 " We may do that ; but the rebels will set the prize on 
 fire, disable her engine, and run her aground, or some- 
 thing of that sort, as soon as they see us coming. We 
 ought to pounce upon them like cats, when they are not 
 thinking." 
 
 " Here comes the engineer," added Tom as Mr. Gor- 
 don came forward to obtain a better view of the scene of 
 operations. 
 
 Jack ventured to suggest to him what he had just said 
 to Tom ; and the engineer volunteered to open the sub- 
 ject to Mr. Dickey. The result was that the men were 
 ordered to lie on their oars. The boat was then moved 
 into a recess in the bank, where it was concealed by 
 overhanging bushes. 
 
 " Now, my lads," said Mr. Dickey, when he had 
 placed the boat to his satisfaction, " I expect every mau 
 to do his duty. We shall board that steamer as she 
 comes down, and carry her in the twinkling of an eye." 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir ! " replied the crew in a low tone.
 
 26G THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " Silence, men ! " 
 
 The cotton-steamer was now in motion. The signal- 
 lantern at the bend below assured her pilot that every 
 thing was ready, and she came forward very slowly. 
 Her great furnaces, which were opened occasionally when 
 the firemen threw in wood, cast a broad glare upon the 
 dark waters of the bayou. Every heart in the cutter 
 was beating wild with expectation as she advanced. She 
 Avas now within a few rods of the boat. Her forward- 
 deck was but a few inches above the surface of the water, 
 presenting a most inviting prospect for a boarding-party. 
 
 "All ready, my lads ! " said Mr. Dickey in a low tone. 
 " Give way ! ' 
 
 The boat dashed forward ; and Jack, with the painter 
 in his hand, leaped on board, and made it fast to a cleat 
 'on the forecastle. Tom Longstone was by his side ; and, 
 as Mr. Dickey had not thought to makr>. a particular dis- 
 tribution of his characters for the exciting drama which 
 was now acting, the two quartermasters, animated prob- 
 ably by the instinct of their profession, rushed up the 
 stairs to the boiler-deck, and thence to the hurricane- 
 deck ; from which Jack, outstripping . his companion, 
 bounded into the wheel-house, where, with pistol in 
 hand, he .confronted the astonished Litchfield, alias 
 Lunsley. 
 
 " Surrender, or you are a dead man ! " shouted Jack. 
 
 "Who are you?" demanded the pilot w'th a horrid 
 oath.
 
 JACK SOAIERS IN THE NAVY. 267 
 
 "Do you surrender? or shall I blow your brains 
 out?" yelled Jack, as Tom Longstoue tumbled into the 
 wheel-house. 
 
 At this moment, the boat stopped ; for Mr. Gordon, the 
 engineer, had prudently taken possession of the machin- 
 ery as soon as he came on board, to prevent the pilot 
 from running the boat aground. 
 
 " Mind the helm, Jack, and I'll settle this 'ere chap," 
 said Tom, as he approached the pilot, and thrust his pis- 
 tol in his face. 
 
 " Who are you?" growled Lunsley, retreating into the 
 corner of the wheel-house. 
 
 " I'll larn ye who I am, you black-hearted traitor ! " 
 added Tom, as he seized him by the collar. 
 
 " Hands off, my old joker ! " replied the pilot, shaking 
 off his grasp ; for he was a powerful man. 
 
 "All right, my hearty ! If you don't surrender like a 
 Christian, I'll send you down to Davy Jones ! " 
 
 Tom evidently intended to put a pistol-ball through his 
 head ; but Jack begged him not to cheat the gallows of 
 its due. After some further parley, Lunsley concluded 
 to surrender, and gave up his pistols, which he had had 
 no opportunity to take from his pockets He was handed 
 over to a couple of marines, and secured in a safe place. 
 
 The cotton-steamer had now come to a dead stand. 
 All the white men on board had been secured, including 
 the captain, mate, clerk, engineers, and two pilots. The
 
 268 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 firemen were negroes ; and, being by nature loyal, they 
 were not molested. 
 
 " Our victory is complete," said Mr. Dickey, who had 
 now made his way to the wheel-house. 
 
 " I beg your honor's pardon," said Jack ; " but there's 
 a battery of artillery on shore, and we had better not 
 stay up here too long." 
 
 " I don't ask your advice, quartermaster," replied the 
 commander of the expedition. 
 
 " I beg your honor's pardon," added Jack with be- 
 coming humility. 
 
 Mr. Dickey walked down the hurricane-deck, and 
 back, and then returned to the wheel-house. 
 
 " Strike one bell, quartermaster ! " added he. 
 
 Jack obeyed the order, and the steamer started. 
 
 " Will your honor please to give me the course I am 
 to steer ? " asked Jack meekly. 
 
 " Down the stream, of course ! " replied Mr. Dickey 
 nervously. 
 
 " I am no pilot, sir, for these waters ; and she may 
 stick hard and fast before we go ahead five fathoms." 
 
 " Strike two bells, quartermaster ! " 
 
 " Two bells, sir ! " repeated Jack. 
 
 " We have no pilot, certainly," said Mr. Dickey more 
 nervously ; " but we must go ahead." 
 
 " If your honor would send the boat ahead to sound, 
 we could work her down very well," suggested Jack,
 
 JACK SOMEES IN THE NAVY. ?69 
 
 when he saw that the accomplished Mr. Dickey was ab- 
 solutely at his wits' end for an expedient. 
 
 The commander was graciously pleased to adopt this 
 plan ; and Tom Longstone was ordered to take one of 
 the steamer's lanterns, and sound out the channel in the 
 boat. The veteran quartermaster took the lead from the 
 forecastle, and proceeded to execute the order. 
 
 Mr. Dickey placed himself at Jack's side at the wheel, 
 and the steamer went ahead again. Her progi'ess was 
 necessarily very slow : but the lantern in the cutter was 
 a safe guide ; and, in due time, she reached the mouth of 
 the bayou. The boat was then recalled, Raymond taken 
 on board, and the steamer emerged into the great river. 
 The commander was relieved from his nervous anxiety, 
 and his remarks became more brilliant, though he dis- 
 played less of the self-sufficiency of his nature than might 
 have been expected under the circumstances. The events 
 of the night had inspired him with no small degree of 
 respect for Quartermaster Somers, and he was less 
 haughty than on former occasions. 
 
 The cotton-steamer had proceeded but a short distance 
 down the river before the Middy was discovered steam- 
 ing up. It is quite likely that Captain Bankhead suf- 
 fered a great deal during the absence of the expedition, 
 from anxiety for the safety of his men. The appearance 
 of the prize must have been a great relief to him ; for it
 
 270 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 removed from his mind a burden equal in weight to the 
 whole cargo of cotton. 
 
 The Middy ran up alongside the Kenshaw, which 
 was the cotton-steamer's name, after hailing her, and 
 learning that she was indeed the expected prize. 
 
 " Captain Bankhead, I have the honor to report the 
 entire success of the expedition," said Mr. Dickey, as he 
 stepped on board the Middy. 
 
 " I congratulate you upon your success, Mr, Dickey," 
 replied the captain, grasping the hand of the proud and 
 happy young officer. " I have been trembling for you 
 every moment since your departure." 
 
 " I am happy to say, sir, that every thing has worked 
 to my entire satisfaction. The men behaved themselves 
 with great discretion and gallantry ; and I would par- 
 ticularly recommend Quartermaster Somers to your 
 favor." 
 
 " Somers again ! " laughed Captain Bankhead. 
 
 " He conducted himself with remarkable skill and gal- 
 lantry, sir ; and his conduct merits my entire approba- 
 tion. I take great pleasure in reporting his excellent 
 conduct to you, sir ; and trust that his merit will not be 
 overlooked." 
 
 " It shall not be, Mr. Dickey. He shall be particu- 
 larly mentioned in my despatch to the flag-officer," re- 
 plied the captain, who could hardly help laughing at the 
 high-flown speech of Mr. Dickey.
 
 JACK SOMEnS IN THE NAVY. 271 
 
 The Kenshaw was ran up to the bank of the river, 
 and moored to a tree ; for Captain Baukhead did not 
 think it prudent to start for New Orleans without a pilot. 
 The Middy came to anchor in a position where she could 
 defend her from any attack from the shore. 
 
 Litchfield, the pilot, had been put in irons, and con- 
 veyed on board the Middy. He was silent and sullen, 
 refusing to answer any questions put to him by the cap- 
 tain. In the morning, however, he appeared to be more 
 tractable, and expressed his regret for his past conduct. 
 
 " I'm true to the Gover'ment, cap'n, and have been 
 from the beginning," said he. 
 
 "And for that reason you attempted to destroy my 
 vessel ! " 
 
 " No, sir : I only wanted to get that steamer out, and 
 take her down to New Orleans. Yon haven't any pilot 
 on board now, cap'n ; and, if you will only trust me, I'll 
 take the Kenshaw down for you, and prove that I'm a 
 true man." 
 
 " Very well : I will trust you," replied Captain Bank- 
 head. 
 
 " You will find that I'm all right." 
 
 The pilot's irons were taken off, and he was ordered 
 into the boat. Mr. Dickey Avas appointed to the com- 
 mand of the Kenshaw as prize-master, and Jack was to 
 go in her as wheelman. Captain Bankhead accompa- 
 nied the party to the steamer ; and, on boarding her,
 
 272 THE SAILOR nor, on, 
 
 proceeded at once to the wheel-house, followed by Luns- 
 ley. Two marines, armed with muskets and pistols, 
 were placed in the apartment. 
 
 " Somers," said the captain, " you will remain at the 
 wheel during the passage down. The pilot will give you 
 your steering directions. If the boat gets aground, you 
 will immediately order the marines to shoot him ! " 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir," replied Jack. 
 
 " You needn't take all that trouble, cap'n. I shall do 
 my duty, honor bright," added Lunsley. 
 
 "You have a strong inducement for doing it," an- 
 swered the captain as he left the wheel-house. 
 
 Mr. Dickey gave his orders, and the great furnaces 
 of the Kenshaw blazed with renewed vigor. The fasts 
 were cast off, and the steamer commenced her downward 
 trip to New Orleans. The Middy kept close astern of 
 her, with her guns shotted in readiness to defend her in 
 case of an attack. 
 
 Jack Somers kept his station at the wheel-house for 
 seven long hours, his breakfast and dinner being brought 
 up to him. Lunsley said very little on the passage. He 
 was apparently studying his chances to escape from the 
 strong grip which held him in abeyance : but there sat 
 the marines, pistol in hand, during the entire trip ; and 
 certain death was the penalty of even a suspicion of 
 treachery. 
 
 At one o'clock, the Kenshaw made her landing at the
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 273 
 
 Levee in New Orleans. The pilot was immediately de- 
 livered over to General Butler for safe keeping ; and 
 Jack, Avho had not slept a wink during the preceding 
 night, appropriated the captain's stateroom to his own 
 use, and turned ia 
 18
 
 274 THE SAILOR BOY; OH, 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 THE UNION REFUGEES. 
 
 FOUR-HOURS' nap renovated Jack's exhausted 
 frame ; and he .was ready to take another job 
 of piloting, if one had presented. Towards 
 evening, Captain Baukhead visited the prize ; 
 and one of the boat's crew handed Jack a letter from 
 home. It was a joyous missive ; for it contained the 
 intelligence of his father's escape from the rebels, and 
 his return to Pinchbrook. On the last page were a few 
 lines written in the well-known heavy hand of Captain 
 Somers, in which he encouraged his sou to do his duty 
 to the country faithfully, and to stand by the old flag to 
 the last. The old gentleman declared his intention of 
 going into the navy in SOKIC capacity, as soon as he had 
 recovered from the effects of his campaign in Virginia. 
 
 The letter also contained tidings from " Tom Somers 
 in the Army," who had been promoted to the rank of 
 sergeant for meritorious conduct. The people in Pinch- 
 brook were all well, and every thing was in a prosperous 
 condition at the cottage.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 275 
 
 " All right ! " said Jack, as he folded up the letter, and 
 put it iu his pocket, to be read over and over again. 
 " They shall hear from me one of these days. Well, 
 God bless the old gentleman ! He is one of the right 
 sort, and ought to have the command of one of these 
 gunboats. I suppose little Dickey, who don't know 
 enough to go into the house when it rains, could get a 
 vessel as quick again as my father, who has tumbled 
 about on the ocean all his lifetime." 
 
 Mr. Dickey obtained a great deal of credit for the skil- 
 ful manner in which he had brought in the Kenshaw ; 
 and there was a strong probability that he would be pro- 
 moted for his good conduct on that occasion. The. facts 
 in the case were not explained. Tom Longstone could 
 not tell the captain, that, if it had not been for Jack's 
 suggestions, the whole affair must have been a failui'e. 
 Mr. Gordon, the engineer, might have said so ; but he 
 was a prudent man, and minded his own business. Prob- 
 ably it was just as well that nothing of the kind was said ; 
 for Mr. Dickey's faults were those which age would cor- 
 rect. He was a good fellow with his equals, and was 
 as brave as a lion in the presence of his country's foes. 
 
 The crew of the prize-steamer were sent on board the 
 Middy on the day after her arrival, with a fine prospect 
 before them of pocketing a very handsome allowance of 
 prize-money, after the Kenshaw and her cargo had passed 
 through all the meshes of red-tape with which the law 
 surrounds a naval prize.
 
 276 THE SAILOR HOY; OR, 
 
 The little steamer was repaired and strengthened where 
 she had been found to be weak ; and, at the expiration of 
 a fortnight, she was ready for another cruise. An addi- 
 tion was made to her crew. Mr. Hay swell's place was 
 supplied by Mr. McBride, the fourth-Lieutenant of the 
 Harrisburg ; and a pilot of known loyalty was put on 
 board. Thus prepared, the little Middy again sailed 
 upon a cruise up the river. This time she attended the 
 Harrisburg and other ships of the fleet, and went up as 
 far as Vicksburg. Natchez, Baton Rouge, and other 
 cities on the river, had surrendered, after more or less 
 display of force. / 
 
 Vicksburg proved to be "a hard nut to crack." The 
 batteries which defended the city were located on high 
 bluffs, where the guns of the fleet were unable to reach 
 them. The water was falling, and the larger ships had 
 experienced much difficulty in getting up. The Harris- 
 burg had been compelled to lighter her battery and coal 
 over some of the shoals. In the face of these difficulties, 
 operations were suspended until a rise of the river should 
 favor their renewal ; and the larger vessels of the fleet 
 returned to New Orleans or Baton Rouge. 
 
 The gunboats had command of the river, however, 
 below Vicksburg ; and the iron-clads belonging to the 
 squadron of Commodore Porter had run the gantlet of 
 the heavy batteries at that place. During the summer, 
 the fleet inflicted severe injury upon the rebels at various
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 277 
 
 points ; and all the efforts of the latter to regain posses- 
 sion of the river were unavailing. The Arkansas, which 
 had forced a passage through the Union fleet at Vicks- 
 burg, was destroyed, Grand Gulf bombarded, and the 
 enemy terribly punished at Baton Rouge. 
 
 In the midst of such events as these, Jack Somers 
 passed the season. The Middy was ordered to watch 
 the banks of the river, to protect the transports which 
 conveyed troops and stores to the fleet and the army, and 
 generally to annoy the enemy as opportunity was pre- 
 sented. At one time she narrowly avoided a broadside 
 from the Arkansas ; and, at another, escaped by superior 
 running from the Webb and Music, the two consorts 
 of the rebel iron-clad. 
 
 Later in the season, when the river began to rise, the 
 Middy was ordered to make a reconnoissance up the Red 
 River ; and she started upon the perilous duty. This 
 river had been the hiding-place for rebel gunboats and 
 cotton-steamers ; and the Middy had not proceeded many 
 miles before she was attacked by a battery of light-artil- 
 lery, which she repulsed Avithout difficulty, and proceeded 
 on her Avay. 
 
 " I don't think AVC shall make a very long trip in this 
 direction," said Mr. Deane, the pilot. 
 
 " I suppose AVC haA 7 e only come up to take a look, and 
 find out Avhat there is here," replied Jack, who was at 
 the wheel.
 
 278 THE SAILOR BOY; OB, 
 
 " There's a steamer round that bend," added the pilot. 
 " I see her smoke-stacks." 
 
 " There's a chance for a prize, then. Very likely she 
 is a rebel gunboat, one of the cotton-clads." 
 
 " Well, we shall soon find out." 
 
 He had hardly uttered the words before a shot from 
 a concealed battery struck the wheel-house, tearing the 
 roof completely off, and scattering the splinters in every 
 direction. 
 
 "That's a close shave," said Jack. "Are you hurt, 
 Mr. Deane ? " 
 
 " Not at all," replied he, shaking off the pine- wood 
 which had fallen upon him. "But I shouldn't like to try 
 it over again." 
 
 " Two shots never go in the same place. We are safe 
 for the rest of the day." 
 
 The order was given by the captain to stop and back 
 her ; but, before the Middy could get out of range, half 
 a dozen more shot fell unpleasantly near to her. The 
 guns in the fort were heavy, long-range pieces ; and it 
 would be madness for the little steamer to attempt to 
 go any farther. She therefore put about, and com- 
 menced her return trip. She had proceeded but a few 
 miles towards the Mississippi, when a white flag was dis- 
 covered on the shore, around which were gathered some 
 forty or fifty men. They hailed the Steamer, and asked 
 to be taken off.
 
 J4CK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 279 
 
 The Middy's wheels were stopped, and Captain Bank- 
 head desired to know who and what they were. 
 
 " We are all Union men," replied the spokesman of 
 the party ; " and we want to get out of this region." 
 
 " Where are you from?" 
 
 " We came from up the river. We have been robbed 
 by the rebels of every thing we had : some of the Union- 
 ists have been murdered ; and we want to get inside the 
 Union lines." 
 
 " Where are your families?" demanded Captain Bank- 
 head. 
 
 " We had to leave them ; but the rebels don't meddle 
 with the women and children. We haven't had any 
 thing to eat for two days." 
 
 The bow of the Middy was run up to the shore : but 
 the captain seemed to have some doubts in regard to the 
 party ; for a portion of them were armed with guns, 
 pistols, and other weapons. He questioned them still 
 further in regard to their antecedents, and finally per- 
 mitted them to come on board ; taking the precaution to 
 disarm them as they passed the gang-plank. They were 
 provided with food, of which they partook with ravenous 
 appetites. 
 
 Their clothing was in a very dilapidated condition ; 
 and their appearance certainly confirmed their story, 
 that they had suffered every imaginable hardship. Many 
 of thorn proposed at once to enlist in the Union army, or
 
 280. THE SAILOR OY; OS, 
 
 enter the navy, as the captain might elect. They pro- 
 fessed to be very anxious to avenge the indignities to 
 which they had been subjected, and desired to join any 
 force which should have for its object the subjugation of 
 their State. 
 
 The man who had spoken for them was an intelligent 
 and gentlemanly person ; but the majority of the party 
 were coarse and rude in their manners, belonging to the 
 lowest stratum of Western society. 
 
 " I say, Jack, my dear, I don't like the looks of them 
 bloody vill'ns on the main-deck," said Tom Longstone 
 in a low tone when he came up to relieve the wheel at 
 dinner-time. 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " Stop my grub if I don't believe they are rebels at 
 heart, Jack ! " 
 
 " What makes you think so?" 
 
 " I don't like the looks of them. The sharks would 
 dodge such a crowd ! " 
 
 " They have seen hard times." 
 
 " I don't mind their dress, Jack' ; but they look ugly 
 about the eyes." 
 
 " Is that all you have against them?" 
 
 " No ; shiver my timbers if it is. I seen 'em whisper- 
 ing together more'n decent men ought to." 
 
 Jack went down to his dinner ; and, being off duty 
 afterwards, he took the opportunity to examine the ref'u-
 
 JACK SOMEnS IN THE NAVY. 281 
 
 gees. They were certainly whispering together ; and he- 
 noticed that their spokesman frequently passed from one 
 squad to another about the deck. Their movements 
 tvere suspicious ; and Jack very much desired to know 
 what their head man had to say in this confidential 
 manner. 
 
 The refugees were congregated on the deck around the 
 wind-sail by which fresh air was introduced to the fire- 
 room below the main-deck. Dunnett, the leader, was 
 seated near this wind-sail at that moment, talking to a 
 group around him ; and Jack's curiosity was so thor- 
 oughly stimulated, that he could not resist the temptation 
 to become one of his hearers. 
 
 Descending to the fire-room, he procured a short ladder 
 used in oiling the engine ; and, running it up the hatch 
 through which the wind-sail passed, he ascended till his 
 head was above the deck. He was now right in the 
 midst of the squad, and could distinctly hear every word 
 that was said. 
 
 " When I whistle, every man will do his share of the 
 work," said Dunnett in a whisper. " Half the crew are 
 below : put the hatch on, and keep them there ; then we 
 can easily conquer the rest." 
 
 Jack* did not wait to hear any more. He was only 
 afraid that the plot would be executed before he could 
 communicate the information to the officers. Coming up 
 from the fire-room, he hastened to find Mr. McBride,
 
 282 THE SAILOR BOY; OK, 
 
 "who was then officer of the deck. In a few words, he 
 informed him of the conspiracy. The captain was then 
 made acquainted with the alarming facts ; but not a 
 word was yet said to any other person. 
 
 Captain Bankhead was prompt and decided. The 
 watch on deck were ordered to the quarter-guns in a 
 quiet way. They had been loaded with case-shot during 
 the action with the light battery. The charge of one 
 was given to Tom Longstone, while the other was in 
 care of Raymond. 
 
 At the same time, a plank in the bulkhead between 
 the forecastle where part of the men were at the time 
 s and the fire-room was knocked out. Through this 
 opening the seamen passed into the fire-room, and thence 
 into the after-cabin, where they were armed with cut- 
 lasses and pistols. They were ordered to stay behind 
 the paddle-boxes, where they could not be seen by the 
 conspirators. The two quarter-guns were in readiness 
 to be slung round in an instant, so as to command the 
 passage on each side of the engine. 
 
 The preparations were all completed ; but Dunnett did 
 not yet give his signal for the attack. The crew of the 
 Middy were impatient for operations to commence ; and, 
 after some further time had elapsed, the captain began to 
 think that Jack had been deceived, and that his passen- 
 gers were honest and loyal men. 
 
 The fact was, that Duuuett had been waiting for a bet-
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 283 
 
 tcr disposition of the crew for his purpose ; but, when 
 he had waited till his patience was exhausted as well as 
 that of the captain, he gave the designated whistle. 
 
 A couple of the rebels sprang to the hatch, and closed 
 it ; perfectly confident, no doubt, that they were imprison- 
 ing at least half the seamen of the Middy. Others rushed 
 to the wheel-house and to the engine-room, where, of 
 course, they overpowered the pilot and the engineer. 
 Having secured these points, they formed in a body, and 
 moved aft. It now appeared that they were armed with 
 bowie-knives ; but, believing they were to encounter only 
 half their number, they advanced with entire confidence.
 
 284 THE SAILOR HOY; OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 THE CONSPIRACY ON BOARD THE MIDDY. 
 
 WING round .the guns ! " said Captain Bank- 
 head ; and, when the rebels advanced, they 
 were confronted by the black muzzles of the 
 t wenty-four-pounders . 
 
 "There! what do you think of that, my beauties?" 
 added Tom Longstone, who stood with the lock-string 
 in his hand, ready to scatter the iron hail among the 
 conspirators. 
 
 " Silence ! " commanded the captain. 
 The rebels, seeing what kind of a trap they had fallen 
 into, began to retreat. 
 
 " Halt ! " shouted the captain in a voice of thunder. 
 " If a man of you moves, I will give the order to fire ! " 
 There was no mistaking this insinuating request ; and 
 the party stood in dumb amazement before the frowning 
 guns. It was impossible for them to help seeing, that, 
 if they made any movement, it would result in the cer- 
 tain destruction of half their number. Their plans had 
 certainly been well laid ; and nothing but the discovery
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 285 
 
 of them interfered with their success. Expecting an 
 easy victory, they were confounded to find the whole 
 project suddenly ruined. 
 
 Dunnett looked savagely discontented with the result ; 
 and Captain Bankhead was afraid he would be rash 
 enough to rush upon the guns, and sacrifice his party. 
 It would have been a terrible necessity to him to give 
 the order for the destruction of so many human beings 
 as must have followed the discharge of the twenty-four- 
 pounders, especially as the engineers and two seamen 
 were also exposed to the fire. 
 
 " You understand the matter now," said Captain Bank- 
 head, after the rebels had stared at the guns long enough 
 to understand the situation. " It only remains for you 
 to surrender." 
 
 " Never ! " yelled Dunnett, stamping his foot with rage. 
 
 " Very well : you can take your choice." 
 
 The villain looked behind him, glancing at the shore 
 ahead of the steamer. He evidently had something to 
 hope for ; as the rebels had the wheel and engine in their 
 power, and could take the Middy where they pleased. 
 Captain Bankhead then nipped this hope in the bud by 
 sending Mr. McBride, with Jack Somers and two ma- 
 rines, to recover the wheel-house. 
 
 Unfortunately, the rebels who had captured Mr. Deane, 
 the pilot, had taken his pistols from him ; and the two 
 men at the wheel were thus supplied with weapons. The
 
 286 THE SAILOR J) Y ; O /?, 
 
 lieutenant and his men were equally well armed, it is 
 true ; but the capture of the rebels involved the loss of 
 some life, which a prudent officer should always avoid 
 if possible. There was no <?ther way, however ; for the 
 Confederates at the wheel, beginning to understand the 
 state of affairs below, were putting the steamer about, 
 probably with the intention of running her under the 
 guns of some battery in the vicinity. 
 
 Mr. McBride ordered the marines to advance, and 
 take the men at the wheel. They obeyed ; but the rebels 
 were prompt and decided in their resistance, and one of 
 the marines fell. The other, intimidated by the fall 
 of his companion, discharged his musket, and retreated. 
 Jack, seeing how matters were going, climbed upon the 
 top of the pilot's stateroom, which was a continuation 
 of the wheel-house, and advanced towards the scene of 
 action. 
 
 " Shoot them, Somers ! " said Mr. McBride, fearful 
 that Jack might attempt to compromise the matter. 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir!" replied our sailor-boy, lying down 
 upon his stomach, and creeping forward, with his re- 
 volver in his hand. 
 
 The lieutenant then approached the wheel-house with 
 the marine, ready to take advantage of the panic which 
 the other movement might occasion ; though they did not 
 show themselves to the enemy. Jack had now reached a 
 point where he could see the rebels ; for, as the reader
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 287 
 
 i-emcmbcrs, the roof of the wheel-house had been blown 
 off by the shot from the battery on shore. The two men 
 were crouching behind the door, pistols in hand, ready to 
 repel an assault in that direction. Jack took deliberate 
 aim at the man who had one hand on the wheel, and 
 fired. The wretch uttered an oath, and let go his hold, 
 which caused the wheel to roll over ; for the steamer was 
 in the act of coming about. His companion, dismayed 
 by this unexpected assault, turned to see whence it came, 
 and to be in readiness to repel it. As he did so, Mr. 
 McBride fired his pistol, but missed his aim. 
 
 The rebel, finding himself attacked in front and in 
 flank, and not knowing from what direction the next as- 
 sault might come, crouched down in the corner of the 
 wheel-house, and cried for " quarter." Jack Sorters 
 then dropped into the apartment from the broken roof, 
 and grasped the wheel, while Mr. McBride and the 
 marine seized the discomfited rebel. Mr. Deane, who 
 had been thrust into the pilot's state-room for safe keep- 
 ing, was called out ; and the Middy, which had nearly 
 run into the bank of the river during the affray, was 
 again headed down stream. 
 
 The steamer was now a "house divided against itself," 
 having a Union pilot and a rebel engineer. The latter 
 soon manifested his opposition to the dominant power in 
 the wheel-house by stopping the engine. Mr. McBride, 
 after the wounded rebel and the wounded marine had
 
 288 THE SAILOR BOY; OK, 
 
 been placed in the pilot's room, left the hurricane-deck to 
 report to the captain on the quarter. 
 
 While these events were transpiring, Captain Bank- 
 head had been parleying with Dunnett, endeavoring to 
 prevent the scene of bloodshed which must follow more 
 decided operations. When the rebel engineer stopped 
 the engine at a signal from the chief conspirator, it was 
 plain that no further temporizing must be allowed. 
 
 " I give you two minutes to surrender ! " said the cap- 
 tain sternly. "At the end of that time, we shall fire 
 upon you ! " 
 
 "And blow your boat all to pieces !" sneered Dunnett, 
 who evidently did not believe Captain Bankhead would 
 put his threat into execution, except in self-defence. 
 
 " Whatever happens, we shall fire ! " said the captain, 
 taking out his watch. 
 
 Dunnett waited with compressed lips and glaring eyes 
 until the captain announced that the time had nearly 
 expired. 
 
 " Lie down, boys ! " shouted the rebel leader ; and, 
 suiting the action to the words, he threw himself flat 
 upon the deck, and the others followed his example. 
 
 Without any orders from the captain, Tom Longstone 
 and Raymond depressed the muzzles of the guns till 
 they pointed into the midst of the two groups in the 
 passage-ways. 
 
 " Those who wish to surrender, come aft ! " said Cap-
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 289 
 
 tain Bankhead in a loud tone, so that all the rebels could 
 hear him. 
 
 ' Before Dunnett could counteract the effects of this 
 invitation upon his party, the miserable rebels began to 
 crawl aft ; for it was not in the nature of man to face 
 the muzzles of those terrible guns, which at any instant 
 might tear them in pieces. It was folly and -madness to 
 stand up or lie down in range of such savage persecutors. 
 
 The movement soon became general ; and, as the 
 rebels came aft, they were disarmed and secured by the 
 seamen. 
 
 " Cowards ! " yelled Dunnett. " Will you desert me? 
 Will you put your necks into a halter ? '" 
 
 The words hissed from his mouth in the fearful rage 
 he exhibited when he saw himself deserted by nearly all 
 his party. He was a desperate man, and evidently had 
 no regard for his own life or the lives of his men. He 
 had risen from his recumbent posture when the stampede 
 of his forces became general. Finding his words had no 
 effect upon his frightened followers, he began to nourish 
 his bowie-knife, and threatened to take the life of any one 
 who accepted" the captain's offer. 
 
 The force of example was potent ; and apparently there 
 were not more than half a dozen who were willing to 
 stand by him in his reckless measures. The battle 
 among the rebels themselves had actually commenced ; 
 and the desperado had stabbed two or three of his mis- 
 19
 
 290 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 erable crew, when Captain Bankhead considered it time 
 for him tp interfere. He ordered six marines to advance 
 with bayonets, under the direction of Mr. Dickey, to be 
 supported by half the crew with cutlasses and pistols. 
 
 Mr. Dickey, with his sword drawn, advanced valiantly 
 to the charge. Dunuett, and the half-dozen rebels who 
 still adhered to his failing fortunes, retreated to the bow 
 of the steamer, passing over the wounded and frightened 
 ones who had been vainly striving to escape the fury of 
 their own leader. 
 
 " Come on, my men ! " shouted Mr. Dickey, who led. 
 the way ten feet ahead of the marines, when the rebels 
 fled from the heavy force sent to capture them. 
 
 He rushed forward, flourishing his sword in the air ex- 
 actly as he had seen the weapon displayed in pictures of 
 such desperate affrays. Dunnett, probably inspired with 
 a supreme contempt for this puny antagonist, and more" 
 likely with a desire to wreak his vengeance upon the 
 authors of his discomfiture, advanced upon him ; and the 
 captain trembled for the fate of his little officer. But 
 Mr. Dickey parried the blow of the bowie-knife with the 
 trusty blade, which had hitherto been only an ornament 
 in his hand ; and, stepping back a pace or two, he drew 
 his pistol, and fired. Dunnett fell. The marines then 
 charged upon the others who supported him. Disheart- 
 ened by the fate of their chief, they gave way, and, 
 throwiu* dowa their knives, were made prisoners. The
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY 291 
 
 battle was ended, and the Middy still remained in pos- 
 session of the original officers and crew. 
 
 " Mr. Dickey, you have done nobly ! " said Captain 
 Bankhead, when the gallant tars had given the cheers 
 which are almost irrepressible after a victory. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " shouted the crew, as the captain took the 
 hand of his second-lieutenant. 
 
 " Thank you, sir. I have only endeavored to do my 
 duty," replied Mr. Dickey. 
 
 " You have done it bravely ; and I thank you for your 
 valuable services, which, I assure you, I shall not fail to 
 embody in my report to the flag-officer." 
 
 " I am very grateful to you, sir, both for the opportu- 
 nity you afforded me of serving the cause, and for your 
 kind appreciation of my humble endeavors to do my 
 duty," added Mr. Dickey. 
 
 " But there is another man on board who ought to be 
 remembered at this time, -= one who ferreted out this 
 plot, and gave me the information in time to prevent its 
 execution. Where is Somers ? " 
 
 " Somers again ! " exclaimed Mr. Dickey, facetiously 
 repeating the captain's words on a former occasion. 
 
 " I am here, sir," said Jack, who, after the engine 
 started, had come down from the wheel-house to witness 
 the exciting events transpiring on the main-deck, "3 
 am here, sir ; but " 
 
 " Hurrah ! " shouted the crew.
 
 292 THE SAILOR EOT; OR, 
 
 " The credit does not belong to me, Captain Bank- 
 head," continued Jack. " It was Tom Longstone " 
 
 " Vast heavin', my darling ! " interposed that veteran. 
 " It was Jack Somers, your honor. Don't believe a 
 word he says about me, sir." 
 
 " It was Longstone who first found out about it, sir. 
 He told me when he came up to relieve the wheel, at 
 dinner-time." 
 
 " Hurrah ! " shouted the crew, swinging their caps in 
 honor of the veteran quartermaster. 
 
 " Silence, my lads ! " said the captain. 
 
 " Who climbed up the wind-sail, and heard what the 
 lubbers had to say ? " persisted Tom stoutly. 
 
 " We owe our safety to both of you ; and both of you 
 have behaved very handsomely during the affair." 
 
 " Somers certainly has," added Mr. McBride, who now 
 reported the events which had taken place at the wheel- 
 house. 
 
 " Somers again ! " added Mr. Dickey. 
 
 Jack blushed, and was glad when the orders were 
 given to dispose of the rebel prisoners. Dunnett was the 
 only man killed during the exciting affray ; the ball from 
 Mr. Dickey's pistol passing through his head. The ma- 
 rine wounded on the hurricane-deck was in a critical 
 condition. The ball from Jack's pistol had passed 
 through the rebel's shoulder ; but his wound was not 
 mortal. Three of. the desperadoes, stabbed by Dunnett
 
 JACK SO ME US IX THE NAVY. 293 
 
 and his immediate supporters, appeared not to be dan- 
 gerously hurt. All of these sufferers were placed in the 
 cabin, and the surgeon was already attending to them. 
 
 When the usual order and quiet of the steamer had 
 been restored, Captain Baukhead examined the prisoners 
 in relation to the desperate enterprise they had under- 
 taken. It was ascertained that Dunnett was a lieutenant 
 in the light battery which had fired upon the Middy in 
 her passage up. the river, and that the men were, most 
 of them, members of the company. Dunnett had sug- 
 gested the plot, and selected the men to carry it out. 
 Knowing that the steamer would soon be beaten back by 
 the heavy battery above, he had awaited her return, and 
 hailed her under cover o f a flag of truce. They had 
 been provided with bowi^-knives, which the} had con- 
 cealed about their person?, though they had not expected 
 to be deprived of their guis and pistols. Tin wariness 
 of Captain Baukhead had prevented the earlier execution 
 of the treacherous scheme, which could hardly have failed 
 of ultimate success if the suspicions of Tom LongstoL3 
 and the investigations of Jack Somers had not disclosed 
 it in season to prevent it" accomplishment. 
 
 The Middy readied the Mississippi at dark, and joined 
 the fieet which was blockading the mouth of the Red 
 River. The next day, she reported to the flag-officer at 
 Baton Rouge, and was ordered to New Orleans for re- 
 pairs.
 
 294 THE SAILOR HOT; OK, 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 THE MIDDY ON THE BLOCKADE. 
 
 FIE Middy arrived at New Orleans about the 
 middle of August, where she was immediately 
 followed by the Harrisburg. The little steamer 
 was then hauled up at Algiers, opposite the city, 
 and completely dismantled for the purpose of making 
 certain repairs and alterations, to adapt her to a different 
 service from that in which she had before been engaged. 
 Her officers returned to the ship, with the exception of 
 Mr. Dickey, who remained in charge of the crew. The 
 Harrisburg then departed for Ship Island. 
 
 During the session of Congress, the navy had been 
 re-organized ; and Jack learned that his friend Mr. Bank- 
 head was now a commander. Flag-officer Farragut was 
 henceforth to be known as a rear-admiral. Mr. Dickey 
 had been promoted to the new rank of ensign. Mr. 
 McBride was still a lieutenant ; but his name was much 
 nearer the head of the list than before. 
 
 Our sailor-boy was rejoiced at the promotion of his 
 Hends ; but he was heartily disgusted when he learned,
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 295 
 
 a few days later, that Captain Bankhead had been ordered 
 to the command of a gunhoat iu the Eastern Gulf Squad- 
 ron, and that by no possibility could he obtain a berth in 
 the same vessel. He poured out his sorrows in dubious 
 strains to his friend Tom Lougstone, who did all he 
 could to comfort him. 
 
 " I've got enough of this fresh- water duty ! " said 
 Jack. " I want to see the blue sea again, and be tum- 
 bled about in a gale once more. I suppose we can get 
 back into the Harrisburg again, if we want to do so." 
 
 " Don't you do it, my darling. We have done very 
 well in this 'ere trim little craft." 
 
 " But I don't want to paddle about here in fresh water 
 all my days ; though I wouldn't mind it if Captain 
 Bankhead were "to remain in command." 
 
 " See here, Jack : do you mind what them 'ere men 
 are doin' ? " continued Tom, pointing to the shipwrights 
 at work on the forecastle of the Middy. 
 
 " They are putting up bulwarks, of course." 
 
 " That means that we are going to sea, my bantling.'* 
 
 "But who is going to command her? That is the 
 question." 
 
 " I dunuo, Jack." 
 
 " Mr. Dickey, very likely^" 
 
 " Perhaps he be : he's a ensign now ! " added Tom 
 with one of his inward chuckles. " What a lubberly 
 name that is to give an officer in the United-States Navy I 
 It aren't much better nor callin' him a marine."
 
 296 THE SAILOR BOY; OK, 
 
 The supposition in regard to Mr. Ensign Dickey proved 
 not to be correct ; for the command oi' the Middy was 
 given to Lieutenant McBride : but the aspiring little 
 gentleman was to serve as executive officer, while an 
 acting ensign Mr. Brackett was attached to her 
 as second-lieutenant. The repairs and alterations were 
 completed, her quota x>f officers reported to the captain, 
 and the Middy was again ready for duty. 
 
 "All hands, up anchor, ahoy ! " piped the acting-boat- 
 swain one fine morning about the middle of September. 
 
 " Here's a letter which Commander Bankhead re- 
 quested me to deliver to you, Somers," said Captain 
 McBride, who had just come on board with his orders, 
 having arrived the night before from Ship Island. 
 
 " Thank you, sir," replied Jack, as "he received the 
 letter through the window of the wheel-house. 
 
 " You had better open it before we get off; for it may 
 contain an official document," added the captain. " I 
 have been expecting an order to send you ashore ; but I 
 hope there is nothing of the kind there." 
 
 " Nothing, sir." 
 
 "Anchor away, sir ! " reported the boatswain. 
 
 " Strike one bell, quartermaster ! " said Mr. Dickey. 
 
 " One bell, sir ! " replied Tom Longstone. 
 
 There was a pilot on board, who had already received 
 his instructions ; and, as Tom had the helm, Jack was 
 at liberty to read his letter, which was an object of no
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE N A T Y. 297 
 
 little interest to him. Captain Bankliead informed him 
 that he was waiting an opportunity to join his ship, and 
 that they should probably meet again in a few weeks ; 
 for the Middy had been transferred to the Eastern Gulf 
 Squadron. 
 
 " I hope you will continue to conduct yourself with 
 the same heroism, and devotion to your country's cause, 
 which have heretofore distinguished you," the writer con- 
 tinued ; " for I have high hopes of your future. Your 
 character has, thus far, been above reproach ; and I am 
 satisfied that you will continue to keep it pure and unsul- 
 lied. I have just written to your mother a long story 
 about you, in which I told her that you never gambled, 
 drank liquor, or swore ; that, when you had a day's lib- 
 erty in New Orleans, you returned with no vices clinging 
 to you ; that your shipmates love you for your virtues ; 
 that you frequently read your Testament ; and arc, in 
 every respect, what I would have you. It is easier to 
 be brave in battle than it is to be a good man. 
 
 " But I have not written this letter to toll you what a 
 good boy you have been ; though it was exceedingly 
 pleasant to be able to give your mother so good an ac- 
 count of you. I desired to inform you that I have repre- 
 sented your case to the admiral, and others who have 
 influence at Washington. I hope to procure for yon a 
 warrant as a midshipman in the navy. I think I could 
 obtain a commission for you as an acting-ensign ; but
 
 298 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 you are not a navigator, and I wish to have you well in- 
 structed. You must go to the Naval School for a time ; 
 and, as your education has not been neglected, you need 
 remain there but a few months. The admiral warmly 
 seconds my views ; and I doubt not, as a special favor to 
 him, the request we make will be granted. 
 
 " Now, my dear boy, be true to yourself, your coun- 
 try, and God, and I shall hope to see you an officer in 
 the regular navy not a volunteer in a few months. 
 I have taken all this pains, and am willing to accept a 
 warrant, when I could procure a commission for you, in 
 order that you may not be thrown out of the service 
 when the war closes ; of which, Heaven knows, there 
 seems to be no present prospect. I shall expect to see 
 you when the Middy arrives ; but I may be gone before 
 she comes. 
 
 " Good-by, Jack ; and remember me to Tom Long- 
 stone. 
 
 " Your devoted friend, 
 
 " JOHN BANKHEAD." 
 
 Jack was bewildered by the contents of this kind let- 
 ter, and glanced at his collar to see if there was not 
 already an anchor upon it. " Midshipman Somers " did 
 not sound badly ; and our hero's face was wreathed in 
 smiles as the thought passed through his mind. A 
 delightful prospect was certainly before him ; and he
 
 JACK SO ME JtS IN THE NAVY. 299 
 
 resolved to be good and true to the end, that he might 
 be worthy of such friends as Commander Baukhead. 
 
 "What's in the letter, my dear?" demanded Tom 
 bluntly, as Jack went forward to look out at the wiu- 
 dow. 
 
 " Captain Bankhead desires to be remembered to you, 
 Tom." 
 
 " God bless his honor ! " exclaimed the old quarter- 
 master, lifting his cap. 
 
 " Starboard ! " said the pilot. 
 
 " Starboard, sir ! " repeated Tom. 
 
 " Steady ! " 
 
 " Steady, sir ! " 
 
 " Well,' Somers," said Captain McBride, stopping at 
 the side of the window of the wheel-house, " did the 
 letter please you ? " 
 
 " Very much, sir," replied Jack. " Will you please 
 to read it, sir?" 
 
 Captain McBride, in spite of the traditions of the- 
 navy, had ventured to be quite familiar with the quarter- 
 masters of the Middy ; for both of them were trusty men , 
 and had more than once won the approbation of the 
 officers. He took the letter, and read it through. 
 
 " I knew something about this matter before, Somers ; 
 and I congratulate you upon' the bright prospect before 
 you " 
 
 " Thank you, sir," replied Jack, touching his cap ; for
 
 300 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 he was determined that this familiarity in his case should 
 not breed contempt. 
 
 " I don't know much about your education, Somers. 
 What have you studied ? " asked the captain. 
 
 " I've only been to the common school, sir ; but I 
 went through with what they called the high-school 
 course." 
 
 " Have you studied Latin?" 
 
 " No, sir," laughed Jack ; "but I have studied algebra 
 and geometry." 
 
 " Well, Somers, I'll give you my opinion, and you may 
 take it for what it is worth. I've got some books in my 
 cabin ; and, while we are lying at anchor, I recommend 
 you to overhaul your studies, and brush them up. You 
 have plenty of time to spare." 
 
 " I thank you, sir : I shall certainly do so." 
 
 " You and Longstone have the wheel-house all to 
 yourselves after we have discharged the pilot ; and there 
 is nothing to prevent your making good use of your 
 time." 
 
 " I shall do so, sir." 
 
 "And, if you want any assistance, I will cheerfully 
 afford it," added the captain as he walked aft. 
 
 " Thank you, sir. You are very kind." 
 
 " God bless your honor !" ejaculated Tom Longstone, 
 who felt just as though all these favors were conferred 
 upon himself. "What's in the wind, my darling ?"
 
 JACK SO ME US IN THE NAVY. 301 
 
 " Port ! " said the pilot. 
 
 " Port, sir ! " repeated Tom. 
 
 " Steady ! " added the pilot, who was determined that 
 the wheelman should not do any talking while upon 
 duty. 
 
 " Steady, sir ! " repeated Tom. 
 
 But Jack, who sympathized with his friend in his im- 
 patience to know what the important letter contained, 
 took the helm, and handed the document to Tom, who 
 sat down in the corner, and proceeded to study out its 
 contents. 
 
 "Is it'a middy, my darling?" exclaimed the veteran 
 when h^ had finished the letter. " I touch my hat to 
 your honor." 
 
 " Not yet, Tom." 
 
 " Starboard ! " said the pilot. 
 
 " Starboard, sir ! " added Jack. 
 
 " No talking at the helm ! " said the pilot testily. " If 
 you say another word, I'll report you to the officer of the 
 deck." 
 
 Tom took the helm again, and Jack went beloAv. In 
 the course of the day, the captain gave him several 
 works on geometry, gunnery, and mathematics in gen- 
 eral, which he carefully deposited in the closet in the 
 wheel-house. 
 
 In the afternoon, the Middy went through Pass a 
 1'Outre, and, 'before evening, was rolling about in the
 
 302 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 swells of the Gulf; but she was a good sea-boat, and the 
 motion was rather refreshing to the old salts on board. 
 Before daylight, she came to anchor near the Harris- 
 burg. Visits were interchanged between the ship and 
 the Middy during the day ; but Jack was disappointed to 
 find that Captain Bankhead had gone the day before. 
 
 At sunset, the Middy departed for the eastward, and, 
 on the following day, reported to the acting admiral com- 
 manding the Eastern Gulf Squadron. Captain McBride 
 received his orders, and immediately sailed again for the 
 station, which was near the mouth of the Suwannee 
 River, in Florida. Tom Longstone expressed his dis- 
 gust when he found, as he supposed, that the steamer was 
 actually engaged in the blockading service ; but Jack 
 was too busy with his books to object to this life of inac- 
 tivity. 
 
 After they had lain on the station a few days, and 
 Jack's head was as full of lines and angles, projectiles 
 and parabolas, as a professor's, an incident occurred 
 which broke up the monotony of the blockader's life. 
 Jack was standing at the Avindow of the wheel-house, 
 running over in his mind a difficult problem in geom- 
 etry which had perplexed him during the day. It was a 
 dark and foggy evening, and no lights were allowed ; for 
 it was just the time to tempt a blockade-runner into a 
 daring deed : but Jack was an earnest student, and he 
 did not cease to study because he could not use hi? 
 book.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 903 
 
 As he meditated upon the mysterious problem, he 
 thought he heard the splashing of a steamer's paddles 
 in the water, between the Middy and the shore. The 
 sound drove all the mathematics out of his head ; and he 
 soon satisfied himself that the splashing was not an illu- 
 sion. He immediately reported the fact to Mr. Dickey, 
 who communicated it to Captain McBride. The cable 
 was instantly slipped and buoyed, and the Middy was in 
 motion. The fog was so dense, that nothing could be 
 seen ; but, after going at full speed for fifteen minutes in 
 the direction of the mouth of the river, she was stopped, 
 and her officers listened attentively for the sounds. They 
 could now be distinctly heard ; and the Middy continued 
 the chase in the fog and darkness. She approached the 
 mouth of the river, sounding her way, and stopping fre- 
 quently to listen to the splashing of the steamer's wheels, 
 which could be more distinctly heard at every pause. 
 
 " Hullo, de steamer ! " said a voice, close aboard of 
 her, at one of these stoppages. 
 
 A negro in a skiff now emerged from a dense volume 
 of fog, and came alongside. 
 
 " May I come on board, massa?" said he. " I'm pilot, 
 massa : knows ebery foot ob de riber." 
 
 "Ay, ay ; come on board ! " replied the captain. 
 
 " You go mos' aground, massa ! No water ober dar," 
 added the man as he pointed over on the port-bow. 
 "How much water do you draw, massa?"
 
 304 THE SAILOR OT; OR, 
 
 " We can carry up about five feet," replied Captain 
 McBride. 
 
 " Golly, massa ! jus' five foot on de bar at high water, 
 dat's all ! " grinned tbe negro. 
 
 "Are there any batteries up the river?" 
 
 " Yes, sir : tree guns up dar. Mos' on de bar now, 
 massa cap'n." 
 
 " We will remain here till high water, Mr. Dickey," 
 added. the captain. 
 
 " Dis chile want to run away awful bad, massa," said 
 the visitor. " Good pilot, massa : knows all about de 
 Keys, and all about here." 
 
 " I am glad to see you, then. What steamer was that 
 which just went up the river?" 
 
 " Don't know, massa : 'speck it was de 'Lympus. 
 She done run de blockade from de Keys." 
 
 The Middy remained where she was, and the pilot was 
 taken below to be fed and clothed.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN TH"E NAVY. 305 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 THE BLOCKADE-RUNNER. 
 
 'HE water on that portion of the coast of Florida 
 to which the Middy had been ordered is very 
 shallow. The shoals extend out from the land 
 about sixteen miles ; and, six miles from shore, 
 there was not, in many places, more than a foot of water 
 between the Middy's keel and the bottom. Her light 
 draught, and weatherly qualities, had been her principal 
 recommendations for the service on which she had been 
 sent ; but, for in-shore duty, she was well-nigh useless 
 without a pilot, which she had, thus far, been unable to 
 obtain. 
 
 The Suwannee River has two outlets. In front of these 
 there is a long, circular reef, outside of which the Middy 
 lay. The blockade-runner had approached from the di- 
 rection of Cedar Keys, and entered the river by the most 
 southern of the two outlets, passing inside of the Middy. 
 The negro who had boarded the steamer said he had 
 been after oysters. He had been on the lookout for a
 
 306 THE SAILOR SOT; OR, 
 
 Government vessel for weeks ; for, as he had declared, 
 he " wanted to run away very bad." Hundreds of slaves 
 had come off to the fleet in various places ; and Clem 
 this was the negro's name said there were thousands 
 more who wanted to escape from slavery. There was 
 no difficulty in believing all this, and nothing very 
 strange in Clem's coming off just when and where he 
 did. His color was a sufficient guaranty for his loyalty, 
 but not for his skill as a pilot in those difficult and dan- 
 gerous waters. 
 
 Captain McBride gave him some supper, and supplied 
 him with clothing ; for the poor fellow was not very 
 far from naked. He questioned him very closely in 
 regard to his knowledge of the navigation of the river 
 and the contiguous waters. Clem answered that he had 
 been a fireman on a river-steamer for ten years * had 
 been fishing and oystering for five more ; and, finally, 
 that he had several times piloted a steamer, drawing 
 three or four feet of water, from the Keys to Clay Land- 
 ing ; and he wished he " was jes as sartin of gwine to 
 heaben as he was of gwine frew dem channels." 
 
 The Middy started, in the fog and darkness, to pass 
 the bar ; though not till the captain had carefully con- 
 sulted all his authorities on board in regard to the chan- 
 nel, and ascertained that the spring-tides were then pre- 
 vailing. 
 
 " I'm going to trust you, Clem," said the captain, HS
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 307 
 
 he conducted him to the wheel-house ; " but woe betide 
 you if you get us into trouble ! " 
 
 " Golly, massa ! What's dis nigger gwine to git you 
 into trouble fur? I kin take de steamboat up to Clay 
 Landin' ; and dat's fur as five foot kin go. Git you into 
 trouble, massa cap'n ! Golly ! I guess dis chile git 
 hisself into trouble fus. Yah, yah ! What you s'pose 
 ole massa say if he cotch Clem takin' Yankee gunboat 
 up de riber ? I s'peck he broke his back if he cotch him, 
 jes as shore as you was a white man ! " 
 
 " Well, never mind that now," added Captain McBride, 
 who could not help seeing the force of the black pilot's 
 argument. " Go into the wheel-house now, and tell the 
 quartermaster how to steer." 
 
 " Sar ! " exclaimed Clem, opening his mouth from ear 
 to ear. 
 
 " Give these men your orders, and they will observe 
 them." 
 
 " Clem gib dese gemmen de orders ?" 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " Cotch Clem doin' such a t'ing as dat, massa cap'n ! 
 Nigger gib orders to de white man ! Yah, yah, yah ! " 
 and the pilot doubled up and laughed till the waistbands 
 of his new trousers were in danger of being mptured. 
 
 " Come, Clem, we are losing the tide," said the cap- 
 tain 
 
 " Yes, sar ! " exclaimed he, springing to the* wheel. 
 " Whar does you stroke dem bells?"
 
 SOS THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " Here," said Jack, pointing out the bell-pulls. 
 
 "If de gemman gib dis chile de wheel, he can steer 
 hisself all aloue." 
 
 " Give him the wheel, quartermaster," added the cap- 
 tain. 
 
 The black pilot stuck his head out of the Avindow, as 
 though he was trying to peer through the fog and gloom 
 of the night. It certainly looked very hopeless ; but the 
 negro snuffed the air half a dozen times, and then confi- 
 dently struck the bell to go ahead. 
 
 "Have you got your bearings?" demanded the cap- 
 tain nervously ; for it looked like dubious business to go 
 over a bar, with not more than six feet of water on it, in 
 such a night as that. 
 
 " Yes, massa cap'n : I smell um," replied Clem gravely. 
 
 " You smell them, you black rascal ! What do you 
 mean by that ? " roared the captain angrily ; for he was 
 disturbed by a strong suspicion that Clem was making 
 game of him. 
 
 " Golly, massa cap'n, you frighten dis nigger out of 
 his wits ; and he won't know de channel from de reef ! " 
 
 " What do you mean by saying that you smell your 
 bearings ? " 
 
 " Yes, massa, dat's so : I smell de rotten isters ober 
 on de point dar." 
 
 The Middy now went ahead slow T ly. Clem was as 
 confident as though it had been broad daylight, with a
 
 JACK SOAIERS IN THE NAVY. . 309 
 
 clear sky above him. Tom Longstone heaved the lead 
 constantly. 
 
 " Quarter, less two ! " said he as the steamer began to 
 move. 
 
 " Dat's all right dar," said the black pilot. " Dig 
 chile kin tell you de depf hisself, widont no soundin'." 
 
 "And a half, one ! " added Tom with emphasis. 
 
 " Yes, sar ; and, de nex' time you frow, find jes one 
 fadom." 
 
 " By the mark, one ! " roared Tom, who thought it 
 was about time to strike two bells. 
 
 " Rite on de bar, massa," said Clem, thrusting his 
 head out of the side-window, and taking three long snuffs. 
 " Dar's de pint ober dar." 
 
 " By the mark, one ! " repeated Tom as he threw the 
 lead again. 
 
 " Needn't soun' no more down dar. Dis chile knows 
 all about it Tiisself," cried Clem, who appeared to think 
 that the precaution was an imputation upon his skill or 
 his loyalty. 
 
 But Tom did not suspend tne operation ; and soon the 
 depth increased to eight feet. 
 
 "All right now, massa cap'n," said Clem a few min- 
 utes later, as he fixed his eye on the compass. 
 
 The binnacle-lamp had been lighted : but it was not to 
 be supposed that Clem knew any thing about the com- 
 pass ; yet great was the astonishment of^ the captain
 
 310 THE SAILOR HOY; OR, 
 
 when it, was observed that now he steered entirely by 
 that instrument. 
 
 ' What is your course, Clem ? " asked Captain Mo 
 Bride. 
 
 " No'th-east by no'th, massa," replied the black pilot. 
 
 " Can you box the compass ? " 
 
 " Yes, sar ; no'th, no'th by east, nor'-nor'-east, no'th- 
 east by no'th, nor'-east, no'th-east by east, east-nor'-east, 
 east by uo'th, east," chattered Clem without hesitation. 
 
 " That will do. Where did you learn that ? " 
 
 " 'Board vessel down t' de Keys." 
 
 Clem was certainly a prize ; and Captain McBride was 
 duly grateful that this " intelligent contraband " had con- 
 cluded to run away at the precise time he did. 
 
 " Steamer on the port-bow ! " shouted the lookout on 
 the forecastle. 
 
 " Dems 'em, massa cap'n ; and de fort's right ober 
 dar," said Clem, pointing out of the window. 
 
 " We had better not wake up the fort, if we can help 
 it," said the captain. 
 
 " I think not, sir," added Mr. Dickey. 
 
 The fog was not quite so dense up the river as it had 
 been outside ; and the blockade-runner cw.\! be distinctly 
 seen, at anchor. But there was a great deal of confusion 
 on board of her, as it now appeared from the noise which 
 reached the Middy. Probably her captain Avas not a 
 little surprised to find a United-States steamer at his
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 311 
 
 heels on such a night and in such a place ; and it must 
 be acknowledged that Captain McBride was scarcely less 
 surprised. 
 
 "Can you run alongside that steamer?" asked the 
 captain of the pilot. 
 
 " No, sar : dat steamer don't draw no more'n four 
 foot ob water." 
 
 " Clear away the first cutter, Mr. Dickey ! " added the 
 captain. " Send Mr. Brackett to board the steamer." 
 
 In a few moments, the first cutter, as the starboard 
 quarter boat was. designated, was pulling towards the- 
 blockade-runner. It contained, besides the second-lieu- 
 tenant, an engineer, a master's mate, and fifteen seamen, 
 all armed to the teeth. As the boat approached the 
 prize, a rocket went up from her forecastle, and she be- 
 gan to move up the river again. But, before she had got 
 i'ull headway on, Mr. Brackett boarded her. No resist- 
 ance was made, though some of the crew jumped over- 
 board, and swam towards the shore. 
 
 The rocket had done its *work, and the battery opened 
 fire ; but the aim of the gunners seemed to be half a 
 mile farther up the river, and no notice was taken of the 
 firing by the Middy. The prize was brought alongside 
 the steamer, and her crew put in irons to prevent them 
 from doing mischief. Mr. Brackett was directed to re- 
 main on board of her with his prize-crew ; and Jack 
 was ordered to her wheel, with instructions to follow the
 
 312 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 Middy. Both vessels reached the bar in safety ; but 
 there was not water enough for the little gunboat to go 
 over^ and she was compelled to anchor. The Olympus 
 for Clem had been correct in his supposition was 
 supplied with provisions and stores, and ordered to Key 
 West. An engineer and two first-class firemen were 
 sent on board, who, with her negro firemen, formed a 
 sufficient force for the engine. The master's mate and 
 six seamen also went in her. 
 
 The Olympus was a river-steamer of light draught. She 
 was loaded with a valuable cargo of hardware and cloth- 
 ing, which she had just brought up from Cedar Keys, 
 where it had been landed by a schooner hailing from 
 Nassau. Captain McBride had .some doubts whether she 
 would reach Key West ; but nothing else could be done 
 with her ; and he had full confidence in Mr. Brackett's 
 skill and prudence. She was fortunately favored with 
 good weather ; and, at the end of three weeks, the prize- 
 crew returned to the Middy by a vessel bound to Pen- 
 sacola. 
 
 " Now, massa cap'n," said Clem, when the Olympus 
 had departed, " dar's two boats loaded with cotton up de 
 riber, wat's gwine down to de Keys to load de schooners 
 dar." 
 
 "Where are they?" 
 
 " Up to Clay Landing, massa." ' 
 
 " Can we go up there?"
 
 JACK SOMEItS IN THE NAVY. 313 
 
 " Yes, sar, 'pose de fort let you go." 
 
 " We can take care of the fort." 
 
 "And de gorillas, massa?" 
 
 "The what?" 
 
 " Dem fellers dat goes about on hoss-back cutting 
 people froats, dem dat fired on de boats down to de 
 Keys." 
 
 "Oh! the guerillas?" 
 
 " Yes, sar." 
 
 "We can take care of them too." 
 
 " Take de gumboat right up dar, den ; but de gorillas 
 done shoot de man at de wheel ! " added Clem with a 
 shudder. 
 
 "Well, we have iron screens to .protect the helms- 
 man." 
 
 The Middy remained at her anchorage above the bar 
 till the forenoon of the next day, when a southerly wind, 
 Avhich had prevailed for several days, had raised the 
 Avater nearly two feet above the ordinary level of high 
 tide. The fog had disappeared ; and, under these favor- 
 .able circumstances, the little gunboat sailed on her cruise 
 up the river, where no armed steamer had gone before. 
 The iron screens had been put up to protect the gunners 
 and the helmsman, and every preparation made for a 
 stormy time. 
 
 Clem was now as lively as though he had been going 
 to a ball instead of a battle. He opened his mouth wide
 
 314 THE SAILOR HOY; O K, 
 
 . enough to shame the alligators, and seemed to rejoice 
 continually at his good fortune in escaping to the " gum- 
 boat." From the paymaster's stores he had been rigged 
 out in a complete suit of seaman's clothes ; and the 
 chauge of dress certainly wrought a marvellous revo- 
 lution in his personal appearance. He was apparently 
 forty years of age, as black as charcoal, and very far 
 from being a handsome man. He had no knowledge of 
 any thing except what related to his particular sphere of 
 duty. He didn't know what caused the war ; but he was 
 sure it would free the slaves. He had been down to Key 
 West several times in a schooner ; but his travels did 
 not appear to have enlarged his understanding. He was 
 always good-natured, docile, and funny. He could not 
 speak without exciting a laugh ; and at once became a 
 favorite with both officers and crew, all of whom had a 
 high respect for him on account of his skill as a pilot. 
 
 Clem took his place at the wheel ; and the Middy as- 
 cended the river, with the American flag flying at the 
 stern, to the intense disgust of " Secesh " on its banks. 
 In due time, the fort opened upon her very spitefully ; . 
 but its guns proved to be miserably inefficient in range, 
 which suggested to Captain McBride his proper course. 
 Dropping his anchor with a spring on the cable, out of 
 reach of the enemy's guns, he proceeded in a leisurely 
 manner to knock the works to pieces with his thirty-two- 
 pouuder and one quarter-gun.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 315 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 ON THE SUWANNEE RIVER. 
 
 'HE superiority of the Middy's metal over that 
 of the fort was soon manifest, not only to those 
 on board the steamer, but to the occupants of the 
 works ; and the latter displayed their apprecia- 
 tion of the fact by running away This important part 
 of the enterprise being disposed of, the gunboat pro- 
 ceeded up the river. On her passage, she was contin- 
 ually assailed by riflemen on the banks of the river ; 
 but the bullets struck harmlessly upon the iron screens 
 which protected the wheel-house and the gun-crews. 
 
 Clem performed his share of the work to the admira- 
 tion of the officers. Safely ensconced behind the iron 
 plates of his quarters, he shouted with delight when the 
 rifle-balls struck the screens. 
 
 " Golly ! dis jes like a skeeter-bar ! " cried he with 
 his long chattering laugh. " You hears de skeeters 
 buzz on de outside : but dey can't come in, nohow ; 
 no, sar ! Yah, yah, yah ! " 
 
 " Shut your mouth, blackee, afore any one falls into it," 
 added Tom Longstone.
 
 316 THE SAILOR BOY; OK, 
 
 " Yah, yah, yah ! " added Clem, peering through the 
 sight-holes in the front screens. " Bar's de steamers ! " 
 
 " I see them," said Jack. " There are hundreds of 
 people on shore." 
 
 Just then, a shot from the thirty-two-pounder fell near 
 them, and they fled. At the same time, the quarter-guns 
 opened with canister ; and not a human being could be 
 seen in any direction. Captain McBride was afraid that 
 the rebels would set fire to the steamers when their -cap- 
 ture became inevitable, especially as the Middy could not 
 run up into the shallow water, where they were moored 
 to the shore. 
 
 Mr. Dickey was ordered to get out the first cutter, 
 and, with a strong force, proceed to the steamers ; the 
 Middy all the time playing upon the shore with grape 
 and canister to keep the rebels at a respectful distance. 
 Jack Somers asked permission to go in the boat ; and, 
 as Mr. Dickey knew the value of his services, his request 
 Avas readily granted. The boat dashed in under the stern 
 of the nearest steamer ; but the painter had scarcely been 
 made fast before a volley of rifle-balls was discharged 
 into the midst of the crew by a gang of rebels concealed 
 among the cotton-bales. 
 
 " I am wounded ! " groaned Mr. Dickey, sinking back 
 in the stern-sheets of the boat, just as he. had risen to 
 board the steamer. " Lead on, Somers ; don't mind 
 me ! " added the intrepid young officer as the seamen 
 hesitated.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 317 
 
 " Come on, boys ! come on ! " shouted Jack, leaping 
 on board the cotton-boat. 
 
 "Ay, ay!" added the men with a cheer as they fol- 
 lowed our hero. 
 
 The rebels who had fired the volley had formecl a case- 
 mate among the cotton-bales, at the stern of the steamer. 
 As soon as Jack discovered the position of the enemy, he 
 ordered the cockswain of the first cutter to cast off, and 
 pull away from his exposed situation. The order was 
 obeyed ; the four men in the boat moving her up under 
 the lee of the steamer's paddles. One man had been 
 killed, and one wounded, besides the first-lieutenant. 
 
 Jack had fourteen men with him ; and of course he 
 lost no time in placing them out of the reach of the rebel 
 riflemen at the stern of the boat. As the guns of the 
 Middy protected his party from assault in the direction 
 of the shore, our hero was in no haste to finish the affair. 
 He took time to consider the best means of driving the 
 enemy from their lair without the loss of any of his 
 men. 
 
 Climbing up to the top of the mass of cotton-bales, he 
 soon found a way to their stronghold, which was open at 
 the top. But it was not safe to approach the den ; for 
 the rebels were ready to fire the moment they discovered 
 a blue-jacket. 
 
 " Bear a hand here, my lads ! " said Jack in a low 
 tone, when a happy thought took possession of his mind. 
 " Roll up this bale ! "
 
 318 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " Ay, ay ! " replied the men promptly, as they saw at a 
 glance what Jack intended to do. " Now she rises ! " 
 
 The bale did rise, was rolled over two or three times, 
 and then tumbled down into the lair of the rebels. From 
 the grqans and the oaths that followed this novel assault, 
 it was plain that some of the boat's defenders had been 
 crushed under the bale. 
 
 " Up with another ! " shouted Jack. 
 
 " Ay, ay, Somers ! Here she goes ' " 
 
 But the rebels did not wait for another. They leapect 
 from their dangerous quarters, and fled to the shore, 
 those who were able to do so. An examination of the 
 den showed that two of the rebels had been badly injured 
 by the fall of the bale. As the seamen were all on the 
 top of the pile, they were unable to prevent the escape of 
 the others, if they had been disposed to do so. 
 
 Not another rebel could be found, after a diligent 
 search in every part of the steamer ; and the victory was 
 complete. The fasts were cast off; and, while a dozen 
 men pushed her off from the landing-place with poles, 
 Jack, with the rest of the men, pulled off to the Middy 
 with the wounded officer and seamen. Mr. Dickey was 
 evidently very badly injured, a bullet having passed 
 through his side. He was faint, and appeared to be 
 rapidly sinking. 
 
 " Somers again ! " said he with a gentle smile, in rec- 
 ognition of the service which Jack had rendered.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 319 
 
 "How do you feel, sir?" 
 
 " Very bad : there is a hole 'in my side big enough for 
 an alligator to crawl in," he replied languidly 
 
 Jack could not smile at this conceit , for Mr. Dickey 
 looked as though he was dying. 
 
 " I ought to have taken you on board before, sir." 
 
 " No, Somers : you did just right, and just what I 
 ordered you to do." 
 
 The cutter came alongside the Middy, and the wounded 
 officer was tenderly conveyed to the cabin, where the 
 surgeon proceeded to examine his wound. Before his 
 decision could be reached, the captain orclei'ed off the 
 cutter to secure the other steamer. It was fully manned 
 again, and placed in charge of Mr. Scott, the master's 
 mate, and the only remaining officer who was available 
 for this duty. Captain McBride would willingly have 
 given Jack the command of this expedition ; but it was 
 hardly in order to send a petty-officer upon such duty. 
 
 As the boat pulled over to the steamer, Jack informed 
 Mr. Scott of the manner in which the first steamer had 
 been defended : so that officer was prepared for an 
 ambush. But all doubts on this point were soon settled 
 by the discovery of a broad sheet of flame rising from 
 the steamer's forecastle. The rebels, whe were con- 
 cealed in various hiding-places near the landing, had 
 improved the opportunity while the boat returned to the 
 Middy, and set her on fire.
 
 320 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 The first cutter dashed up to the cotton-boat, and her 
 crew leaped on board. The fire had made but little 
 progress. By rolling a few of the bales overboard, and 
 a diligent use of the buckets, the flames were extin- 
 guished. During these operations, an occasional shot 
 had been fired by the rebels from their concealment in 
 the storehouses on the shore ; but the distance was too 
 great for effective firing, and no one had been hit. 
 
 Mr. Scott, while the cutter Avas coming off, expressed 
 his astonishment that the enemy had not burned the 
 boats on the appearance of the Middy ; but it seemed, 
 from the plan they had adopted to defend them, that 
 they were confident of beating off the steamer's boats. 
 A further reason was now manifest to the party, consist- 
 ing of a company of artillery, having four guns, which 
 now appeared on the shore, dashing down to the landing- 
 place at the utmost speed of the horses. 
 
 " We must abandon her ! " exclaimed Mr. Scott when 
 this new array of force was discovered. 
 
 " I hope not, sir ! " replied Jack. " We can tow her 
 off with the boat, or carry a long line to the Middy." 
 
 " Cast off the fasts, Somers ! " shouted Mr. Scott in an 
 excited tone. " Pass that hawser into the boat ! Lively, 
 my men ! " 
 
 Jack rushed forward to let go the steamer's fasts. 
 The rebel company were wheeling their guns into posi- 
 tion, and there was yet imminent danger. Our sailor-
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 321 
 
 boy, foreseeing that the long hawser would be necessary 
 in hauling off the steamer, considered it necessary to cast 
 off the end on shore so as to save the line. For this pur- 
 pose he sprang over the gang-plank, and had unfastened 
 the rope, when a bullet from the rifle of one of the con- 
 cealed rebels passed through the fleshy part of his left 
 thigh. He dropped upon the ground, just as the steamer 
 began to recede from the land. 
 
 All the boat-party were in the cutter or in the after- 
 part of the steamer, so that the catastrophe which had 
 overtaken him was not discovered till it was too late to 
 remedy it. Jack, with admirable presence of mind, tied 
 his handkerchief tightly around his leg. He rose, and 
 attempted to walk down to the water ; but he found 
 himself unable to do so. 
 
 By this time, the artillery company had unlimbered 
 their pieces, and were pouring a steady fire into the 
 Middy and .the first cutter ; to which she was replying 
 with shell from her thirty-two, and canister from one 
 of the twenty-fours. Mr. Scott was still on board of the 
 steamer, with a portion of the men. He had attached 
 the hawser which Jack had saved to the tow-line, so that 
 the Middy soon had both her prizes in hand ; with which, 
 having accomplished the work for which she had come, 
 she steamed down the river. 
 
 Jack had crawled a short distance from the landing- 
 place to shelter himself from the fire of the Middy's 
 21
 
 322 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 guns ; but, as soon as the action ceased, he was waited 
 upon by at least fifty rebels. They were not in the best 
 humor imaginable, and not disposed to treat the wounded 
 quartermaster with the kindness due to a brave but un- 
 fortunate enemy. He was taken to a shed, and laid upon 
 some cotton-bales. A doctor who was present dressed 
 his wound, and declared that he would be fit to be hung 
 in a week ; which was certainly very consoling to the 
 sufferer. 
 
 While he lay there surrounded by a knot of rebels, he 
 had an opportunity to learn their opinions. They were 
 vexed, disappointed, and angry, and bestowed unmeas- 
 ured abuse upon the artillery company for not coming 
 sooner. This battery had been in the vicinity of the 
 ; eys to guard that place from a boat-attack, which was 
 ^xpected. On the appearance of the Middy on the pre- 
 ceding night, it had been sent for, and had been mo- 
 mentarily expected during the forenoon. This was the 
 principal reason why the steamers had not been burned. 
 
 Jack Somers found himself to be an object of great 
 curiosity. He was visited by all the men, women, and 
 children in the place, all of whom were anxious to look 
 upon one of the " terrible Yankees." The sufferer was 
 not a very dangerous-looking person, especially in his 
 present exhausted condition ; and those who came to 
 scoff at him found (heir admiration and sympathy ex- 
 cited rather thau their hatred. He was pale, but he
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 323 
 
 was handsome ; and the ladies expressed their surprise 
 that such a pretty boy should be a "horrid Yank." 
 
 Among those who came were Major Saudford, a rich 
 planter residing near the landing, and his wife and 
 daughter. The latter, a girl of fifteen, was touched to 
 the heart by the sad, pale face of Jack. She thought it 
 was a terrible thing for such a nice-looking young man 
 to lie wounded and suffering upon a heap of cotton- 
 bales. 
 
 " What is your name, poor fellow?" said she. 
 
 " John Somers, miss," answered Jack. 
 
 " What did you come down here to kill our people 
 for?" added she. 
 
 "Because they are rebels and traitors'!" replied he 
 faintly 
 
 We don't know whether Miss Edith Sandford liked 
 this answer or not 5 but she protested with all her might 
 against the little Yankee's lying on cotton-bales, where 
 he was, in such a dreadful condition. She insisted that 
 her father should take him home, and treat him like a 
 human being. She was an only daughter ; and, though 
 Major Sandford had a great many objections, he finally 
 -consented, and Jack was paroled for this purpose 
 
 He was conveyed in a wagon to the house of the 
 planter ; a good room was provided for him, and Edith 
 saw that he was tenderly nursed. At the expiration of a 
 fortnight, he was able to walk out.
 
 324 THE SAILOR BOY; OR, 
 
 " I wish you wasn't a Yankee," said Edith one day, as 
 they walked in front of the mansion. 
 
 " I wish you wasn't a rebel," replied Jack. 
 
 " I'm not a rebel, any more than you are ! " exclaimed 
 she, with a very pretty pout upon her interesting coun- 
 tenance. 
 
 " "We won't talk politics then," laughed Jack. " I 
 suppose my time here is about out, and I must soon be 
 sent to a rebel prison." 
 
 " To prison? Oh, no ! they won't send a nice young 
 man like you to prison." 
 
 "But they will, Miss Edith." 
 
 " Why don't you run off, then?" 
 
 " I would not break my parole." 
 
 " I thought a Yankee would do any thing that is mean ?" 
 
 " I think not." 
 
 It was plain that Edith was much interested in Jack ; 
 bnd she was not the first young lady who had been moved 
 in the same direction: not that she indulged in "moon- 
 shine " at his expense ; 'but she pitied him. She wept 
 when the captain of the artillery company insisted that 
 his prisoner should be sent off; for he did not believe in 
 treating Yankees like gentlemen. . No reasonable excuse 
 could be offered for resisting this claim ; and Jack, after 
 giving up his parole, was taken into custody. He was 
 sent to a barrack a few miles farther inland, Avhere three 
 others, captured from a boat-expedition at Cedar Keys,
 
 JACK SOMKRS IN Till!! NAVY. 325 
 
 were confined. They were to remain here till an oppor- 
 tunity offered to send them to a prison-camp. 
 
 Jack decided not to wait for this opportunity ; but one 
 night he made his way through the roof of the barrack, 
 and, under the guidance of a negro who was panting {'or 
 the " day of jubilee," reached the coast, near the mouth 
 of the Suwannee. After starving, and suffering from 
 cold and storms, for a week, they found a dug-out, with 
 which they pulled off to the Middy. 
 
 " Somers again ! " said Mr. Dickey as he climbed over 
 the bulwark. 
 
 Mr. Dickey was not dead, and gave him a warm hand 
 as he stepped upon deck. 
 
 " My darling ! " cried Tom Longstone. " I was sure 
 you was dead ! " 
 
 " Not yet, Tom. I was wounded ; but I am pretty 
 well now." 
 
 Jack had been absent four weeks, and had suffered 
 a great deal during the last part of this time ; but it was 
 worth while to endure a great deal for such a welcome 
 as was extended to him by officers and crew. After he 
 had taken his supper, he told his story, and listened to 
 a narrative of the events which had taken place on board 
 during his absence. The cotton-steamers had been sent 
 to Key AVest, and the officers and men who went ia 
 them had just returned. Mr. Dickey had been very low, 
 and was not expected to live for a week. He was now
 
 926 THE SAILOR BOY, OR, 
 
 able only to walk about the deck. Clem had taken the 
 Middy through every conceivable channel where there 
 was water enough to float her, and was still a favorite on 
 board. 
 
 " Now, Somers, if yoTi have finished your yarn, I want 
 to see you," said Captain McBridc at a later hour in the 
 evening. " Here is your warrant as a midshipman ; and 
 you are ordered to the Naval Academy, after a thirty- 
 days' leave of absence. Here is a letter from Captain 
 Bankhead." 
 
 " Thank you, sir ! " exclaimed Jack as he took the 
 papers. 
 
 "A supply-steamer will be along in a few days, and 
 you will leave in her," added the captain. 
 
 Jack was bewildered by this intelligence ; for the pros- 
 pect of seeing Pinchbrook in a few days, and embracing 
 his mother, shaking hands with his father, and spinning 
 yarns to the rest of the folks, was very delightful. The 
 tAvo days he remained on board the Middy, he spent with 
 Tom in the wheel-house. The veteran could hardly recon- 
 cile himself to part with his young friend ; but, as it was 
 for Jack's advancement, he put a cheerful face upon the 
 matter. 
 
 The supply-steamer arrived ; and Jack, after thanking 
 the captain for his kindness and shaking hands with oift- 
 cers and crew, went on board : and thus ended the career 
 of Jack Somers in the navy as an ordinary seaman.
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 327 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 HOMEWARD BOUND. 
 
 (Y/'ACK SOMERS was compelled to remain at Key 
 
 /*Ra West three weeks before he could find a vessel 
 f"\J/, bound to the North ; and the important docii- 
 
 inents which he carried burned in his pocket. 
 He wanted to show them to Captain Barney, to his 
 mother, and to all his friends in Pinchbrook. They 
 were the evidences of his good conduct, of his skill and 
 bravery ; and, though Jack was a modest young man, he 
 was proud of his record. He had served his country 
 faithfully and zealously ; and he was grateful to his 
 friends for their high appreciation of his services. 
 
 During those three weeks of idleness, Jack applied 
 himself closely to the study of navigation ; using a book 
 which Captain McBride had kindly presented to him. 
 He felt that he had not a moment to waste, and that his 
 future success depended upon the zeal and energy with 
 which he devoted himself to his studies. He was anx- 
 ious to secure a high rank in the Naval School ; and he 
 was willing to purchase his anticipated position by hard 
 work.
 
 328 THE SAILOR BOY; OK, 
 
 J 
 
 He was already a thorough seaman. Tom Longstone 
 had been a patient teacher, and he had learned all that 
 belongs to an able seaman's duty. He was perfectly 
 familiar with the practical part of gunnery ; was thor- 
 oughly posted in all the technicalities of the ship and its 
 batteries. Of the science of gunnery he knew only what 
 he had learned from his books since the Middy sailed 
 from New Orleans. He had thus obtained a measure of 
 knowledge in regard to the practical details of his profes- 
 sion, to the attainment of which the young gentlemen in 
 the Naval School must devote months or years. But 
 Jack had not acqiiired all this information during the 
 single year he had been in the navy : he had simply 
 added to his previous knowledge by close attention to 
 his duty. 
 
 Busy as he was with his studies, he found time to write 
 a long letter to Captain Bankhead, informing him of the 
 reception of his warrant, and expressing his gratitude for 
 the friendly interest he had ever manifested in his wel- 
 fare. " I shall always think the trip we made to Fort 
 Warren on that dark November night, a year ago, was 
 the luckiest cruise I ever made," wrote Jack in the let- 
 ter ; " for it gave me a friend who has done more for me 
 than I could ever have done fbr myself." 
 
 Jack wrote this ; but I am sure that Captain Bankhead 
 neither would nor could have done what he did, if our 
 hero had not deserved such distinguished favors, if he
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 329 
 
 had not been a good boy and a good seaman. He had 
 several weeks before received letters from home, inform- 
 ing him that his brother had been promoted to a lieuten- 
 ancy. Tom was a commissioned officer, and was therefore 
 some months, if not years, ahead of him in the race for 
 distinction ; but both of them, while they had a just and 
 proper regard for the honors of their respective profes- 
 sions, were better satisfied to have served their country 
 in its hour of trial than they were to receive their mej> 
 itcd promotion. 
 
 Jack wanted very much to get home ; but he was so 
 busy with his studies, that he had no time to be impatient 
 at the delay. When an opportunity to depart was pre- 
 sented, he was much less elated than his half-dozen im- 
 patient companions who had nothing to occupy their 
 minds. The men who were to go North were sent on 
 board of an old steamer, which was hardly seaworthy, 
 and which was going to New York for repairs. 
 
 The voyage was prosperous till the steamer reached 
 the latitude of Cape Hatteras, where she was overtaken 
 by one of the severe gales which prevail in that region. 
 The vessel leaked badly, and shipped great seas, till she 
 was in imminent danger of foundering. It required the 
 utmost exertion of all hands to keep her afloat ; but 
 the men worked zealously and cheerfully, till an accident 
 to the engine seemed to deprive them of all hope of ever 
 seeing the laud again.
 
 330 THE SAILOR BOY; C R, 
 
 The ship rolled and pitched heavily in the head-seas 
 for a time ; and, at every roll, it seemed as though her 
 back must be broken. By almost superhuman efforts 
 on the part of the crew, sufficient sail was set to keep her 
 head up to the sea, and she worked easier. Jack had 
 just come down from the fore-topsail-yard, completely 
 exhausted by the violence of his exertions. Life-lines 
 had been extended along the deck for the men to hold 
 on by when the seas swept over the decks. Jack had 
 grasped one of these ropes just as the ship felt her helm ; 
 when a great combing billow broke over the bow, sweep- 
 ing a flood of water towards the stern. 
 
 The second-lieutenant of the steamer, who had been 
 forward superintending the setting of the sail, was iu 
 front of him, and, cither by accident or carelessness, lost 
 his hold upon the life-line. The mass of water bore him 
 along, as though he had been a feather, towards a hole 
 which the sea. had stove in the bulwarks. Perceiving 
 the perilous situation of the officer, Jack seized the inner 
 fake of a rope, flemished on the deck, and sprang towards 
 the lieutenant. "Passing the line around his body., he fol- 
 lowed the rolling billow, and succeeded in securing a 
 hold upon the officer's leg, just as he was sliding over 
 the plank-shear into the sea. 
 
 Jack would certainly have gone with him, if his atten- 
 tive shipmates had not grasped the other end of the line 
 by which he had secured himself. Another sea rolled
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE XAVY. 301 
 
 over them before they could recover their perpendicular 
 positions ; but Jack held on to the leg of the officer, and 
 the men hauled them both up to the life-line. 
 
 " Your name ? " demanded the lieutenant, when he had 
 regained his feet. 
 
 " Somers, sir." 
 
 " Well, Somers, this is a bad time to plank the deck," 
 he added with a smile, as he emptied the salt water 
 from his mouth. 
 
 " Very bad, sir." 
 
 " You shall hear from me again, Somers," added the 
 officer as he walked aft. 
 
 After the crew of the old steamer had endured more 
 than we have room to describe, the gale broke ; and, fa- 
 vored with better weather, the engine was repaired, and 
 she proceeded on her voyage, very much to the satisfaction 
 of those who had lost all hope of ever reaching the land. 
 
 The next day, while the ship was rolling heavily 
 through the sea which had not yet subsided, Jack, who 
 had just been relieved from duty at the pumps, was ac- 
 costed by Mr. Waldron, the second-lieutenant, whom he 
 had saved from an ocean-grave. 
 
 " Somers, you saved my life yesterday : what can I 
 do for you?" said he. 
 
 " Thank you, sir: I'm not in want of any thing just 
 now," replied Jack, touching his cap. 
 
 " Your time is out, I suppose ? " 
 
 .
 
 332 THE SAILOR BOY: OR, 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Do you quit the navy?" 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 " Well, then, my lad, you shall have a better berth 
 than you had before. I think I have influence enough 
 to procure a good rating." 
 
 " Thank you, - sir," replied Jack. 
 
 " You look as though you would make a good topman. 
 What do you say to being captain of the main-top ? " 
 
 " Thank you, sir : I have been rated as cockswain of 
 the captain's gig and as a quartermaster." 
 
 " Is that so? Then I may not be able to do any thing 
 better in that direction." 
 
 Jack thought it would be a good joke to show him his 
 midshipman's warrant at this point of the conversation ; 
 and accordingly he produced the precious document. 
 
 " What are you doing forward with this paper in 
 your pocket?" asked the astonished lieutenant. 
 
 " I had no uniform, sir, and Ava,s in no condition to 
 appear as an officer." 
 
 " You shall swing your hammock in the steerage for the 
 rest of the voyage, at least. If you are a brother-officer, 
 I need not think of rewarding you," laughed Mr. Waldron, 
 
 u I hope not, sir." 
 
 Jack was immediately presented to the captain, who 
 ordered him to carry his bag into the steerage, greatly to 
 the astonishment of his late companions, who had no
 
 JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY. 333 
 
 suspicion that they had messed with so distinguished an 
 individual as a midshipman. The steamer rolled along 
 on her voyage, and at last arrived at New York. 
 
 Jack lost no time in proceeding to Boston, though not 
 till he had arranged for a meeting with Mr. Waldron at 
 some future time ; for the grateful officer insisted upon 
 continuing the acquaintance so fortunately begun. It was 
 about sunset when the sailor-boy reached Pinchbrook. 
 
 "Hallo, Jack, my hearty! " said a familiar voice as- 
 he stepped from the car. 
 
 " Captain Barney ! " 
 
 "Ay, ay, my lad! But where do you come from? 
 We did not expect you back yet a while," added the old 
 gentleman, still wringing our hero's hand. 
 
 Jack briefly informed his good friend where he had 
 come from. 
 
 " Well, Jack " 
 
 " I beg your pardon, Captain Barney : call me Mr. 
 Somers, if you please," laughed Jack. 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 " Mr. Midshipman Somers is my present designation." 
 
 " Whew ! " whistled the old sailor. 
 
 " I have won my warrant." 
 
 " Well, Mr. Somers " 
 
 " Avast, captain : that will do. You may call me 
 Jack, now ; for I don't know the sound of my own"name 
 with such a long handle to it."
 
 
 334 THE SAILOR SOT; OR, 
 
 " Come down to the house with me, Jack." 
 
 " Oh, no, sir ! not now. I must go up and see mother 
 and father : I haven't seen him for nearly two years." 
 
 " Never mind : come down to the house. You will 
 scare your mother out of her wits if you bolt in upon 
 her like a harpoon into a whale. I'll put the horse in, 
 and take you up pretty soon." 
 
 " I want to see her at once." 
 
 " And frighten her into a fit ! " 
 
 " She don't have fits : at any rate, she would only have 
 a fit of gladness at seeing me." 
 
 Captain Barney persisted, apparently firm in the belief 
 that Mrs. Somers would go into hysterics if her son pre- 
 sented himself too suddenly. It would be better to 
 break the news gradually to her. Jack could not help 
 himself, and walked home with Captain Barney. He 
 was conducted to the library as the bell rang for tea. 
 
 " Come, Jack, now come out and have some supper 
 with me," said the captain. 
 
 " No, sir : decidedly, I cannot. What would my 
 mother say if I took tea in Piuchbrook before I went 
 home?" replied Jack emphatically 
 
 " Well, come out and look at the folks, at any rate ; 
 and then, if you insist on going, I will harness right 
 up." 
 
 Jack began to protest that he would not go, even to 
 look at the folks ; when Captaiu Barney took him by the
 
 JACK SO HERS IN THE NAVY. 335 
 
 arm, and gently forced him through the door leading to 
 the dining-room. 
 
 " Why, John Somers ! " exclaimed a voice which Jack 
 could not possibly mistake. 
 
 " Why, Jack, my boy ! is that you?" added another 
 voice equally familiar to his ear. 
 
 In {mother moment our sailor-boy was in the arms of 
 his mother, who hugged and kissed him as though he 
 were still an infant. Mr. Midshipman Somers, regard- 
 less of the dignity of an officer in the United -States 
 Navy, wept like a baby. His " top-lights" were flooded, 
 in spite of all his efforts to suppress the rising tide ; but 
 we are happy to say that Mrs. Somers did not go into 
 hysterics, " conniptions," or any thing of the sort. Like 
 a sensible woman, she did not even faint. 
 
 Captain Somers took the hand of his brave boy, and 
 gave him a sailor's hearty welcome home. The whole 
 family, it appeared, were taking tea at the hospitable 
 mansion of the retired shipmaster, who had got up a sur 
 prise for Jack as well as for his mother.' 
 
 " Dou't you think my mother will be frightened into a 
 fit, Captain Barney?" said Jack, when the first greetings 
 were over. " You meant to throw me into a fit." 
 
 " Well, Jack, I had no more idea of seeing you than 
 I had of seeing Jeff. Davis. I went up after my news- 
 paper ; for I can't eat my supper till I've seen the news ; 
 but I didn't expect to bring you back with me."
 
 336 THE SAILOR BOY. 
 
 "I'll forgive you this time." 
 
 " Next time you come home, I suppose yoii'll be an 
 admiral." 
 
 " I hope not ; for I shall be older than you are, then." 
 
 I need not tell my readers what a happy evening 
 was spent at Captain Barney's, nor how late Jack and 
 his parents sat up that night in reviewing the events of 
 the year. Tom's letters were all brought out and read ; 
 and Jack could not help taking a little walk about the 
 house, though the Pinchbrook clock was striking twelve. 
 
 " Eight bells ! All the starboard-watch, ahoy ! " said 
 Jack, as he kissed his mother, and went to his old chamber 
 in the attic of the cottage. 
 
 A few days after his return, Jack put on his uniform : 
 and certain young ladies declared that he was even a 
 " handsomer fellow than his brother Tom ;" for patriotic 
 young ladies have a high regard for blue coats and bright 
 buttons. 
 
 At the expiration of his furlough, Jack reported at the 
 Naval School ; and here leaving him as a bright ex- 
 ample of what a young man may accomplish by being 
 true to himself, true to his country, and true to God 
 here properly ends the eventful history of " THE SAILOR 
 BOY," though not of " JACK SOMERS IN THE NAVY."
 
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