“Very heartily yours, DEAN PITFERGE.” END OF “A FLOATING CITY.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE BLOCKADE RUNNERS. ------- Table of contents Chapter Title Page Chapter I. The “Dolphin.” 197 Chapter II. Getting under sail. 206 Chapter III. 215 Chapter IV. Crockston’s trick. 225 Chapter V. The shot from the “Iroquois,” and 235 miss Jenny’s arguments. Chapter VI. Sullivan Island channel. 244 Chapter VII. A southern general. 252 Chapter VIII. The escape. 260 Chapter IX. Between two fires. 273 Chapter X. St. Mungo. 284 CHAPTER I. THE “DOLPHIN.” The Clyde was the first river whose waters were lashed into foam by a steam-boat. It was in 1812, when the steamer called the “Comet” ran between Glasgow and Greenock, at the speed of six miles an hour. Since that time more than a million of steamers or packet-boats have plied this Scotch river, and the inhabitants of Glasgow must be as familiar as any people with the wonders of steam navigation. However, on the 3rd of December, 1862, an immense crowd, composed of ship-owners, merchants, manufacturers, workmen, sailors, women, and children, thronged the muddy streets of Glasgow, all going in the direction of Kelvin Dock, the large ship-building premises belonging to Messrs. Tod and Mac Gregor. This last name especially proves that the descendants of the famous Highlanders have become manufacturers, and that they have made workmen of all the vassals of the old clan chieftains. Kelvin Dock is situated a few minutes’ walk from the town, on the right bank of the Clyde. Soon the immense timber-yards were thronged with spectators; not a part of the quay, not a wall of the wharf, not a factory roof, showed an unoccupied place; the river itself was covered with craft of all descriptions, and the heights of Govan, on the left bank, swarmed with spectators. There was, however, nothing extraordinary in the event about to take place; it was nothing but the launching of a ship, and this was an every-day affair with the people of Glasgow. Had the “Dolphin,” then—for that was the name of the ship built by Messrs. Tod and Mac Gregor—some special peculiarity? To tell the truth it had none.