He saw that two white lights burned at the yard-arm of his own ship; she then was ready to lead the fleet on its perilous undertaking; to run by, well inside of the range of the forts’ guns, with but a screen of high grass to protect the unarmored ships from the heavy shells of their enemy. While the lad watched silently, his pulses beating fast, the signal of readiness flashed out from gunboat after gunboat, until the entire fleet had mutely informed the “Phœnix” that it was ready and eager to follow the lead of its intrepid commander. A moment later he heard a step at his side, and the captain’s voice saying: “Here are the orders for the monitors. You understand what you are to do. I shall give you further orders later.” Phil took the two envelopes and put them carefully in his pocket; then seeing his captain’s hand still extended, he grasped it warmly. “We little realize how much depends upon our success to-night,” Commander Hughes said in an earnest voice. Then casting from him the air of depression, he added lightly, “Our star is still in the ascendent. We shall not consider failure.” Phil gazed almost worshipfully at his captain as the latter left him, going forward toward the gunboat’s bridge to make the signal which would launch the fleet upon its perilous mission; then he was conscious that Sydney stood by him and the officer of the deck appeared anxious to have the big launch shove off. Together the lads descended the ladder, followed by Emmons as an interpreter for the Chinese crew men, for Langdon had been detailed to remain to pilot the fleet. Quietly the fleet got under way, forming in column of vessels with the American gunboat leading. Then as if by signal, commencing with the leader, each of the gunboats dissolved into the night. To the lads it appeared as if a cloak had been thrown over each vessel. “Their lights are all screened!” Sydney exclaimed. “Look! you can barely see the vessel following the ‘Phœnix.’” Phil allowed his eyes to travel over the scene where a moment before many lights pierced the darkness; now all that was visible was the shadowy form of the American vessel scarce a hundred yards away and a dark smudge of the next following; all others had vanished from view. In the long, tedious hour necessary to arrive at the anchored monitors, the midshipmen stood by O’Neil and Emmons at the launch’s wheel. Their pulses beat high in semi-dread at what the night would bring forth. They had seen enough of the marksmanship of the forts to know that their gunners were not to be despised. The island, behind which the gunboats were to find refuge in passing the forts, was low, but being covered with a dense growth of giant reeds, would conceal all but the lofty spars of the vessels, which for greater security had been lowered to the decks.