The _Cumberland_ was now settling down forward under the weight of water there; it was plain that she must sink. It was certain that her shot could not pierce the side of the ironclad. But Lieutenant Morris replied: “Never! I’ll sink alongside.” And then the _Cumberland’s_ “gun’s crews kicked off their shoes, and stripped to the waist. Tanks of cartridges were hoisted on the gun-deck and opened, and round after round was fired at the ironclad. A shell passing through the hatch burst in the sick-bay, killing four of the wounded. On the berth-deck, the wounded men were lifted upon racks and mess-chests, to keep them from drowning; and as the water rose, those who fell on the upper decks were carried amidships and left there. Already, the boats had been lowered and made fast in a line on the shore side. At half-past three, the forward magazine was drowned, and five minutes later the order was given to the men to leave quarters and save themselves.” The water had risen at this time to the gun-deck, and the ship was heeling swiftly to port. There was need of haste if the crew were to save themselves even by swimming, but with their feet in the rising flood one crew lingered to fire a last shot. And as its smoke rolled from the ship’s side she sank out of sight with her flag flying. “Never did a crew fight a ship with more spirit and hardihood than these brave fellows of the _Cumberland_ while the vessel was going down. Nor was it a mere idle display of gallantry, this holding on to the last; for in these days, in naval battles,” “_c’est le dernier coup qui peut-être nous rendra victorieux_” (the last shot may give us the victory). “_Tirez, tirez toujours!_” Flag and all disappeared as the ship went down, but the water was only fifty-four feet deep, and when she struck bottom she righted, and the peaks of her masts appeared once more to flutter the old flag in the sunlight. And let it be told to the honor of the _Cumberland’s_ crew, who fought till their feet were wet by the water above the deck of the sinking ship, that their shot did more damage than any others fired at the _Merrimac_, not excepting the _Monitor’s_; for they shot off the muzzles of two of the Confederate guns and burst a shell in a port where its fragments killed two and wounded several others. There were 376 souls on board the _Cumberland_ when she went into action. Of these, 117 were lost and twenty-three were missing. [Illustration: The _Merrimac_ Ramming the _Cumberland_. _From a drawing by M. J. Burns._]