“Starboard, sir!” replied Tom, as another shot passed over the forward-deck, so that the “wind” could be felt in the pilot-house. Just then, Tom was called to assist in working one of the quarter-guns, and Jack was left alone at the wheel. The pilot kept well back behind the iron plates which shielded the helmsman. “Hard-a-starboard!” said the pilot. “You don’t see where you are going, sir!” replied Jack. The sun, which had been behind a cloud, at this moment came out, and the helmsman could distinctly see the bottom on the bow of the Middy. There was not four feet of water in the direction the pilot had ordered him to steer. “Hard-a-starboard!” repeated the pilot sharply. “Do you think I don’t know this river better than you do?” “But look, sir! I can see the bottom!” At this moment, the thirty-two-pounder sent another shell into the thicket, the noise of which seemed to startle Lunsley, and he crouched back into his former position. He had risen with the intention of taking the wheel from the hands of the refractory quartermaster. Three or four more shots from the shore passed near the Middy: but she was still untouched; for her motion prevented the rebel gunners from obtaining the correct range. “Hard-a-starboard the helm!” shouted Lunsley again, when he had quieted his nerves. This time he did not wait for Jack to execute the order, but rose, and seized the spokes of the wheel, rolling it over in the direction indicated. “Better mind what I say!” growled he with a volley of oaths, which made Jack’s blood run cold. “There’s no water there!” exclaimed Tom, glancing over the port-bow at the long shoal, which could be distinctly seen. At the same time, mustering all the strength and nerve of his slender frame, he heaved the wheel over to port again, and thus prevented the Middy from grounding while under the fire of the enemy’s guns. “Let go that wheel, you villain!” cried the pilot, attempting to grasp him by the throat. “What’s the matter here?” demanded Captain Bankhead, opening the door of the pilot-house. “This man is a traitor! He’s trying to get the boat aground!” replied Jack with energy. “He lies!” “Mind your helm, Somers!” said Captain Bankhead, unable to comprehend the merits of the question. “Shall I put her hard-a-starboard as he orders me?” asked Jack. “You can see the bottom there, sir.” The captain glanced over the port-bow, and was satisfied that the quartermaster had spoken the truth. “Steady!” said he. “Steady, sir!” repeated Jack; which is the order when the helm is to be kept as it is. He looked at Lunsley, as he spoke, with a triumphant expression upon his face. The pilot’s face was as dark as a thunder-cloud. The captain stepped out, apparently satisfied that he could trust Jack, though he did not know anything about the river, better than the pilot, who knew all about it.