“Anchor away, sir!” said the boatswain, who was on the forecastle, ready to report what progress the cumbrous anchor was making in its passage upward to the regions of daylight. “Anchor away, sir!” repeated the second-lieutenant. “Strike one bell!” continued the first-lieutenant, addressing the quartermaster, who was stationed at the wheel. Old Tom Longstone, who was in charge of the wheel, struck one bell, which was the signal for the engineer on duty to “go ahead slowly.” “Anchor’s up, sir!” added the boatswain, after the men had walked round the capstan a while longer. “Anchor’s up, sir!” repeated the second-lieutenant. “Pawl the capstan!” ordered the first-lieutenant; which meant that it was to be secured, so as to keep the anchor where it was. “Unship the capstan-bars!” This order was repeated by the under-officers, and executed in good order by the men. There was no crowding or treading upon each other’s corns; but everyone knew his place, and did not get in anybody’s way. “Cat the anchor!” said the first-lieutenant. The ponderous anchor was now hanging at the hawse-hole; and the execution of the order last given would secure it upon the top of the bulwarks, ready to be dropped overboard when occasion should again require its use. “Lay forward to the cat-falls!” said the boatswain; and those whose duty it was to do this work attached a purchase-block to the anchor, for the purpose of hoisting it up to the cat-head, which is a timber projecting out over the bow of the ship. “All ready with the cat, sir!” reported the second-lieutenant. “Walk away with the cat!” replied the executive officer. On board a man-of-war, the ropes are not pulled hand over hand; but the men walk away with them: that is, they run along the deck with them as firemen do with the engine. “Strike four bells!” continued the first-lieutenant to the quartermaster at the wheel; which meant, “Go ahead at full speed!” The Harrisburg was now actually in motion, and gliding down the Delaware upon her mission of destruction among the rebels; if, indeed, such was her mission: for none of the crew had the remotest idea where the good ship was bound, or upon what kind of duty she was ordered. If the officers knew, they did not condescend to inform the men; for the “people” are as far removed from their superiors in social rank in the ship, as though they were not all equals before the democratic law of our land. “Here we are!” said Jack enthusiastically, as he placed himself by the side of Bob Rushington, who was gazing through one of the open ports into the water. “Yes, my lad, we are off,” replied the dandy sailor, who looked very sad and sentimental for the moment. “Has it occurred to you that not everyone who is full of life and hope to-day will return alive and well from this cruise?”