mpland--forgive me--about that woman. I know women
better than you. Not so much the good as the bad, but in some things
women are alike, a woman is a woman whatever she does. That girl loves
the ground you walk on."

"Nonsense! It's you."

"Pshaw! She is fascinated by what she's heard on one hand, and she
shuts her eyes to what she has heard on the other. The war is young.
We'll be beaten, of course, but not without some hard, desperate
fighting. Your chance will come, and when it does--"

"I will master it or die!"

"Of course, but don't die. Master it. Leave dying to me. I've sought
ways for it, and now one is at hand."

"What is it?"

"I am going to take out the _David_ to-night."

"What!"

"Yes. It's a dead secret, but I can tell you. There are three
blockade-runners ready to sail. The _Wabash_ lies off the Main Ship
Channel. Of course, all the others are blockaded, too, but General
Beauregard thinks that if we can torpedo the flagship the others will
hurry to her assistance and the blockade-runners can get out through
the Swash Channel. Our magazines are running low, and we must have
arms, powder, everything. There are two or three shiploads at Nassau.
This is an attempt to get to them. If we can blow up Admiral Vernon's
flagship, perhaps we can raise the blockade. At any rate it's the only
chance for the blockade-runners to get out."

"Did the general order you to do this?"

"Certainly not. I suggested it to him. They don't order any one to the
_David_, you know."

"I should say not," returned Sempland. "She's been down five times,
hasn't she?"

"Yes, and every time with all of her crew."

"How many, all told, has she carried to death?"

"Some thirty or more, I believe."

"And she has never done any damage to the enemy?"

"She scraped the paint off the _New Ironsides_ one night and scared her
people to death, I reckon, but that's all."

"Lacy!" cried Sempland, suddenly, "I have no right to ask favors of
you, but--"

"That's all right. Ask."

"Let me go to-night."

"What's the use? One officer is enough, and you could not do any good
by going along. I should be in command--"

"Let me go in your place!"

"Nonsense! It's almost certain death."

"I don't care. It's my chance. I can run the thing as well as you."

"Oh, anybody can run the thing, for that matter."

"My life is of no more value to the South or to me than yours. Come!
You have had your chances, and improved them; give th