nd the other ships, as they passed the
collier, before sundown, cheered her. Lieutenant Hobson paid a brief visit
to the flag-ship shortly before midnight, and then returned to the
_Merrimac_.

While on board the flag-ship Lieutenant Hobson thus detailed his plan of
action:

"I shall go right into the harbour until about four hundred yards past the
Estrella battery, which is behind Morro Castle. I do not think they can
sink me before I reach somewhere near that point. The _Merrimac_ has seven
thousand tons buoyancy, and I shall keep her full speed ahead. She can
make about ten knots. When the narrowest part of the channel is reached I
shall put her helm hard aport, stop the engines, drop the anchors, open
the sea connections, touch off the torpedoes, and leave the _Merrimac_ a
wreck, lying athwart the channel, which is not as broad as the _Merrimac_
is long. There are ten 8-inch improvised torpedoes below the water-line,
on the _Merrimac's_ port-side. They are placed on her side against the
bulk-heads and vital spots, connected with each other by a wire under the
ship's keel. Each torpedo contains eighty-two pounds of gunpowder. Each
torpedo is also connected with the bridge; they should do their work in a
minute, and it will be quick work even if done in a minute and a quarter.

"On deck there will be four men and myself. In the engine-room there will
be two other men. This is the total crew, and all of us will be in our
underclothing, with revolvers and ammunition in water-tight packing
strapped around our waists. Forward there will be a man on deck, and
around his waist will be a line, the other end of the line being made fast
to the bridge, where I will stand. By that man's side will be an axe. When
I stop the engines I shall jerk this cord, and he will thus get the signal
to cut the lashing which will be holding the forward anchor. He will then
jump overboard and swim to the four-oared dingy, which we shall tow
astern. The dingy is full of life-buoys, and is unsinkable. In it are
rifles. It is to be held by two ropes, one made fast at her bow and one at
her stern. The first man to reach her will haul in the tow-line and pull
the dingy to starboard. The next to leave the ship are the rest of the
crew. The quartermaster at the wheel will not leave until after having put
it hard aport, and lashed it so; he will then jump overboard.

[Illustration: LIEUTENANT HOBSON.]

"Down below, the man at the reversing gear w