xt morning at eight o'clock we tried again and sailed as close to the
beach as possible and anchored. An officer was stationed aloft with a
pair of marine glasses, that he might see over the sand dunes and have a
good view of the rebel schooner. For three hours we tried to put a
shell into the blockade-runner with our guns, but could not do so on
account of the sand dunes interfering with our range. At twelve o'clock
Captain Gregory decided to land a boat's crew; and that was his mistake
No. 3. We all well knew there would be resistance offered to our
landing, under the circumstances, but I received orders to set fire to
the schooner, and therefore had nothing to say. Sixteen of the best men
were selected and armed with rifles, and to each was also given a navy
revolver, or else a boarding-pistol, carrying an ounce bullet. Arrants
was ordered to assist me. The paymaster, a new officer from Boston,
volunteered his services, for he thought he would have a picnic, and,
besides, his admiring friends had presented him with an expensive sword
and revolver, and these weapons he intended taking back home with him
all covered with rebel gore. We three officers carried a whole
arsenal--sword, rifle, and revolver. As we expected to meet not more
than twenty Confederates, we felt confident of victory, especially as
we were better armed and could load our guns more rapidly, having
improved cartridges. The enemy had to tear the paper on theirs with
their teeth, while ours could be used without that process, as they were
encased in combustible paper.

CHAPTER XX

A PRISONER OF WAR

We took the first cutter for a landing party, and the second cutter was
manned with an armed crew of six men to take care of our boat while we
were on shore. A small keg, filled with tarred rope yarns and a bottle
of turpentine, was given to me with which to set the schooner on fire. I
told Captain Gregory to send George Brinsmaid along with us to carry the
keg, as he was of no use on the brig, and might be of some use on dry
land. Everybody thought it would be a good joke, so Mr. Brinsmaid was
ordered into the boat, and promoted to the office of bearer of
combustibles. My instructions were plain enough: "To land and set fire
to the schooner and house, and do all the damage possible."[D] In case
we were attacked, we were to get behind the sand dunes and defend
ourselves, while the guns on the brig would shell the rebels.

[D] It was denied a