e more in the harbor here. She worked
beautifully for a while, but fouled the cable of the receiving ship
trying to pass under her keel, and stayed there. She has just been
raised, the dead cleared out of her, now you want to go on her again."

"I do, sir," returned Sempland.

"Is life worth so little to you that you are willing to sacrifice it?"

"There is Lacy, sir."

"Oh, he is different!" burst out the general, and then bit his lip. "It
would be greatly to Lacy's credit," had flashed into his mind, "if he
could manage to die in some such heroic action."

Lacy and Sempland knew what the general thought, and Sempland could
think of no words to bridge over the pause.

"You see," at last said Lacy, smiling satirically at Sempland, "the
general understands. You would better let me go."

"No. The thing sometimes works. Glassell got out alive when he tried to
blow up the _New Ironsides_, and anyway, I want this chance. I have had
four years of war and have spent three of it in prison. For God's sake,
General--"

"Very well. You shall have it," answered Beauregard, "but I will not
have the boat used as a submarine. You can sink her until her hatch is
awash, but no lower."

"Thank you," answered the delighted Sempland; "where shall I get a
crew?"

"One has already been selected from among hundreds who volunteered.
Five seamen are to attend to the propeller and an artillery officer to
look after the torpedo. You can steer the boat?"

"I lived on the water before I entered the army."

"All right. The _Wabash_ is lying off the Main Ship Channel. I have no
instructions to give you except to go at her and sink her. I am told
the most vulnerable spot of a ship is just forward of the mainmast. Hit
her there. Don't explode your torpedo until you are in actual contact
if possible. Glassell's went off the moment he saw her without
touching, else he would have sunk the _New Ironsides_. You will find
the torpedo boat at the government wharf. Everything is ready. You will
leave at seven. The three blockade-runners will follow you as close as
is practicable, and when you torpedo the frigate they will dart through
the Swash and try to get to sea. I reckon upon the other Yankee ships
running down to aid the _Wabash_. I'll see you on the wharf. God bless
you, and may He have mercy on your souls!" said the little general,
solemnly.

He put out his hand to the young man, and Sempland shook it vigorously.

"I pray that I may s