“Hurrah!” shouted the gun-crews. “Ready with the gang-planks!” added the commander; and, at the same time, the bell from the wheel-house stopped the engine, and the boat struck the shore. “Boarders, away!” shouted Mr. Granger, as the steamer touched the shore. “Hurrah!” yelled the seamen, as they leaped ashore, and dashed up the hill to the spot where the battery was located. On they flew, up the slope, and over the breast-works; when, after a short and decisive struggle, the victory was won. There were but few men in the fort,--only enough to man the guns,--and there was nothing very brilliant in the achievement. Jack Somers hardly found an opportunity to strike a blow. The rebel flag was pulled down, and the stars and stripes were run up in its place. “Not so bad as it might be,--is it?” said Jack, with a smile, to Grummet. “You haven’t seen the end of it yet,” persisted the grumbler. “We’ve seen the end of this battery, at any rate.” It was quite true that they had not yet seen the end of the expedition; for, after a working-party had been detailed to transport the guns to the steamer, Mr. Granger ordered the first cutter to be manned, and immediately started up the bay in her. After pulling a short distance, they discovered the town which was known to be there; and, at a convenient place, the commander landed. Taking twenty men with him, he proceeded to examine the locality. On the road, which they soon reached, they captured two men, whom Mr. Granger questioned, and from whom, in spite of themselves, he obtained some valuable information. Crossing the neck of land, they came to the water on the other side; and here Mr. Granger discovered that of which he had evidently been in search. It was a nondescript craft, which the rebels were converting into a ram; probably for the purpose of making a raid among the men-of-war at Ship Island. At the approach of the party, the mechanics who were at work upon her fled, as though the whole Federal army was sweeping down upon them. Mr. Granger gave directions for setting fire to the ram; and the seamen piled up heaps of chips and shavings in various parts of her, and applied the match. The party remained long enough to insure the destruction of the clumsy contrivance; and then hastened back to the boat, which was about two miles distant. When they reached the road which they had before crossed, a new and startling state of things menaced them. Rushing down the road, on the double-quick, was a company of infantry. They had just come in sight from behind a hotel used in summer for pleasure-seekers from New Orleans: and it was impossible to elude their observation; for the country was flat and open, and afforded no place for defense or concealment. Jack could not help glancing at Mr. Granger to observe the effect of this discovery upon him; but he looked calm and unmoved, as he had all the morning. “It’s lucky old Grummet isn’t here,” said Tom.