Clem was now as lively as though he had been going to a ball instead of a battle. He opened his mouth wide enough to shame the alligators, and seemed to rejoice continually at his good fortune in escaping to the “gum-boat.” From the paymaster’s stores he had been rigged out in a complete suit of seaman’s clothes; and the change of dress certainly wrought a marvellous revolution in his personal appearance. He was apparently forty years of age, as black as charcoal, and very far from being a handsome man. He had no knowledge of anything except what related to his particular sphere of duty. He didn’t know what caused the war; but he was sure it would free the slaves. He had been down to Key West several times in a schooner; but his travels did not appear to have enlarged his understanding. He was always good-natured, docile, and funny. He could not speak without exciting a laugh; and at once became a favorite with both officers and crew, all of whom had a high respect for him on account of his skill as a pilot. Clem took his place at the wheel; and the Middy ascended the river, with the American flag flying at the stern, to the intense disgust of “Secesh” on its banks. In due time, the fort opened upon her very spitefully; but its guns proved to be miserably inefficient in range, which suggested to Captain McBride his proper course. Dropping his anchor with a spring on the cable, out of reach of the enemy’s guns, he proceeded in a leisurely manner to knock the works to pieces with his thirty-two-pounder and one quarter-gun. CHAPTER XXX. ON THE SUWANNEE RIVER. The superiority of the Middy’s metal over that of the fort was soon manifest, not only to those on board the steamer, but to the occupants of the works; and the latter displayed their appreciation of the fact by running away. This important part of the enterprise being disposed of, the gunboat proceeded up the river. On her passage, she was continually assailed by riflemen on the banks of the river; but the bullets struck harmlessly upon the iron screens which protected the wheel-house and the gun-crews. Clem performed his share of the work to the admiration of the officers. Safely ensconced behind the iron plates of his quarters, he shouted with delight when the rifle-balls struck the screens. “Golly! dis jes like a skeeter-bar!” cried he with his long chattering laugh. “You hears de skeeters buzz on de outside: but dey can’t come in, nohow; no, sar! Yah, yah, yah!” “Shut your mouth, blackee, afore anyone falls into it,” added Tom Longstone. “Yah, yah, yah!” added Clem, peering through the sight-holes in the front screens. “Dar’s de steamers!” “I see them,” said Jack. “There are hundreds of people on shore.”