"It would be better for him if he did. Admiral Buchanan is his equal in every respect. With his ram he will stave in every wooden ship in the fleet. His monitors will be blown up on the torpedoes." "I hope the affair will come out right," said Somers, rather indefinitely. "It will; you may depend upon it, captain. Whoever is here when the thing is done will see the greatest smash-up that has happened since the war began." "I hope so," replied Somers. "But suppose Admiral Farragut should run by the forts." "He can't do it; the thing is utterly impossible. The torpedoes will sink his monitors--they are like lead, and if you shake them up a little, they will plump down on the bottom like a solid shot. His wooden vessels, even if he gets by the fort,--which can't be done,--would be all chawed up in half an hour by the ram Tennessee." "Anchor apeak, sir!" shouted Boatswain Longstone, who was doing duty as second lieutenant. "Captain Column, the pilot, sir," said the first lieutenant, presenting a person who had been waiting a moment at his side. "I am happy to see you, Captain Column;" and Somers took his hand. "Thank you, sir," replied the pilot, who was evidently astonished at the degree of intimacy with which the commander condescended to treat him. Already the new captain had won a hard reputation abaft the mainmast. His stern and decisive measures with Langdon had been privately discussed among the officers, and it was the unanimous opinion that they had "caught a Tartar." "Well, Captain Column, have you got your weather eye open? This is a dark and foggy night." "Wide open, sir," replied the pilot, cheerfully; for Somers's cordial greeting had already produced a good effect upon him. "The darker and foggier the better, captain, for such a job as this. But there are so many Yankee ships outside, you can hardly get clear of them without a shot or two." "O, I don't mind that, if you can get us well over the torpedoes, and through the obstructions." "The obstructions are not of much account, and as for the torpedoes, I could put my hand on every one of them with my eyes shut." "Good; but I don't want you to put your hand or my ship on them." "Certainly not, captain," laughed the pilot. "I know how to keep clear of them." "That will suit me better. The ship is in your hands, Captain Column." A quartermaster from the Chatauqua was placed at the wheel, and when the anchor was heaved up, the Tallapoosa started on her course. Her wheels began to turn very slowly at first, and before she had gathered any headway, a boat touched at her side. "Boat alongside, Captain Pillgrim," reported Mr. Swayne. "What boat?" "I don't know, sir." "I have no more time to waste; keep the ship moving." As the Tallapoosa gathered headway, a gentleman, clothed in naval uniform, stepped on the rail from the accommodation ladder. When he had reached this point, he stopped and looked down at the boat.