CHAPTER XV.

THE C. S. STEAMER WIZARD.

Successful strategy owes as much to the stupidity and inertness of one party as it does to the shrewdness and activity of the other. If Mr. Granger had not been shrewd in discovering the purpose of the rebels, and active in defeating it, in a few minutes more they would probably have fired into the boats, and either sunk them or driven them from their hiding-place under the lee of the island. Whoever commanded the rebels must have seen that the man-of-war boats could keep out of the way of the Wizard’s gun by dodging round the island, and that the game of “hide-and-seek” would be prolonged till his Southern patience was entirely exhausted.

By landing the gun on the island, he expected to drive the boats away from their covert, and enable the steamer to destroy or capture them. From the information that Jack Somers had procured, it was further evident that the rebels indulged the hope of surprising the boat-expedition. The gunners whom he had seen were rolling the field-piece up the slope with the utmost caution. Not one of them spoke a word; and all of them crouched down, so that not a head should be seen over the crest of the island. The stealthy movements of the man whose eager eyes Jack had confronted furnished additional testimony on this point.

It is plain, then, that, if Mr. Granger had not thought to send a lookout-man to the high ground, he would have been caught in the trap which the enemy set for him. He had discovered the plan; and he could now see the smoke-stack of the steamer receding from the island. She was to obtain a position so that she could open upon the boats the moment they were driven away from the shore by the piece she had landed. Mr. Granger did not become a victim of the enemy’s strategy. His prudence and forethought had defeated it.

Almost all strategic operations are attended with more or less risk. The movements uncover some assailable point. Mr. Granger was actually pleased with the strategy of the rebels on this occasion. He and his opponent had commenced a new game to determine which was the abler strategist. Thus far, he had exhibited neither the stupidity nor the inertness that belongs to the victim of successful strategy.

“Give way!” said Mr. Granger, glancing at the smoke-stack of the Wizard.

The men pulled the steady man-of-war stroke which discipline had rendered so familiar to them. There was no hurry or nervousness in their movements. Not a man “crabbed his oar,” or lost his stroke, though the race appeared to be for life, certainly for success. Mr. Granger sat in the stern-sheets as calm as a block of marble. His demeanor impressed the men with the belief that he knew what he was about. They had confidence in him, and were ready to run or fight as ordered, without asking a question or suggesting a doubt. If this was not time of all the blue-jackets, it certainly was of all but Grummet; and he growled more from the force of habit than from want of confidence in his officers.

After the boats had pulled a short distance, the order was given for the rowers to lie on their oars. The commander of the expedition kept one eye on the smoke-stack of the steamer; and as soon as she swung round, and headed towards the north side of the island, he was ready to develop his next movement.

“Give way with a will!” said he, as he gave orders to his cockswain in what direction to steer.

The boats were headed round the south end of the island, while the Wizard was going round the north end.

“Clear away your guns forward!” said Mr. Granger.

Old Grummet sprang to the howitzer in the first cutter. A grim smile lighted up his face as he adjusted the tackle, and put the piece in condition for instant use. Tom Longstone was with him, and the most perfect harmony now subsisted between them. While they were thus engaged, the officer in each boat detailed seven men to act as “boarders.”

“Now, Jack, my beauty, you are goin’ to see some fightin’,” said Tom, when the gun was ready for use.

“That’s so, Tom; and I’m in for my share of it.”

“So you be, Jack. I see you’ve got a cutlash.”

“I’m one of the boarding-party.”

“Now, stand right up to it, Jack, like a man.”

“Oh! you needn’t be afraid of me. I’ve got my hand in already,” replied Jack, as he glanced at the weapon he carried.

“Yes, and you’ll be butchered like a young pig,” sneered old Grummet. “It’s worse nor murder to send little boys like that to board the lubbers on the island. Why don’t he send men as is fit for such work?”

“You needn’t have any fears about me, Grummet. I’ll do my share of the work: if I don’t, you may call me a marine.”

“You’re a good boy enough, my lad; but you aren’t no more fit for such work than the Evil Sperit is for a missionary,” added Grummet more graciously.

“All ready forward?” said Mr. Granger.

“All ready, sir!” answered Grummet, who was acting as captain of the gun.

The boats were now rounding the end of the island; and a few more strokes of the oars brought them to a point where the officers could see the gun on shore, and the men who were putting it in position for use.

“Give way with a will!” shouted Mr. Granger, as he passed forward to the howitzer in the bow of the cutter.

The men redoubled their efforts at the oars, till they bent like reeds in their hands.

While they were making these preparations for the bold assault, the rebels on shore were not idle. They dragged the gun to a place where it commanded the boats; and, when the first cutter was within ten rods of the shore, a solid shot whizzed over her, and plunged into the water between the second and third cutters, which were only a short distance astern of her.

At this moment, Mr. Granger sighted the howitzer in the bow of his boat, and ordered the man at the lanyard to fire. At the same time, the second and third cutters followed the example of the first. The rebels, discovering the intention of the boats in season, threw themselves flat on the ground behind the crest of the island, and thus escaped all injury. The fire of neither party was effectual; and the gunners on the island, perhaps appreciating the celerity with which old man-of-war’s men handle a gun, instead of loading up their piece, and firing again, busied themselves in dragging it over the top of the island, where they could work it without being exposed to the fire of the boats.

While the rebels were tugging away at their gun, the three cutters dashed up to the shore; for it was no part of Mr. Granger’s plan to remain in the boats, and let the gunners knock them to pieces at their leisure. As the first cutter touched the island, he drew his sword, and put on a very business-like air, which Jack could not help admiring. He seemed to be as much at ease as though the success of his strategy had already been demonstrated, and his work actually accomplished.

“Boarders, away!” said he in his quick, sharp tones, as he leaped on shore, followed by the seven men from the first cutter who had been detailed for the purpose.

His party was immediately re-enforced by the fourteen men from the other boats; and, starting off at a run, they advanced towards the gun at the summit of the hill. Probably at this time the commander of the rebels discovered what an awful blunder he had made; and, very likely, visions of a court-martial began to dance before his vision. But, if no one made blunders in war, it would be a more trying and difficult game than it is at present.

The boarding-party rushed upon their prey; for, with two to one of the rebels, they could hardly be regarded in any other light. They saw the gleaming cutlasses of the blue-jackets, and the dash and fury with which they advanced. A few pistols were fired: but the resistance was brief and feeble; and, in less time than it would take to describe the operation, the rebels were borne down and captured. Two of the gunners were wounded, and one of the boarding-party had a pistol-ball through his right arm.

Twelve of the men were ordered to drag the gun down to the water, while six more marched the prisoners in the same direction. The latter were disarmed, and the ammunition for the field-piece thrown into the water. Four men, doubly armed, were detailed to guard the rebels; the assistant-surgeon was sent on shore to dress the wounds of the injured men; and the rest of the party returned to their places in the boats.

As soon as Mr. Granger had given his orders for the disposition of the prisoners and the wounded,--for he did not deem it advisable to encumber the boats with them in the more difficult and dangerous work yet to be performed by the expedition,--he returned to the first cutter. He had carefully watched the movements of the Wizard during these exciting moments. She was now sweeping round the south end of the island.

Mr. Granger had now a double duty to perform in protecting his party, and preventing the recapture of his prisoners on shore. There was apparently no opportunity for the practice of strategy; and it looked very much like a hand-to-hand fight for the possession of the steamer. The cool lieutenant in command gave his orders to Mr. McBride and the master’s mate in charge of the third cutter, and in a few energetic words informed the men what he intended to do, and urged them to do their duty as American seamen.

His address was received with a lusty cheer, and the boats were ordered to cast off. The steamer continued on her course towards the place where the cutters had landed; her people probably being not yet fully aware of the extent of the catastrophe which had overtaken their auxiliary force on shore.

“Give way, my lads!” said Mr. Granger, when the boats had shoved off; and on they dashed towards the Wizard, which was now only a few rods distant.

Twelve men from each boat were ordered to act as boarders, and the guns in the bows were in readiness to open on the steamer. At the right time, the command was given to fire, and the howitzers sent their charges of grape into the Wizard. Before the people in the boats could ascertain the effect of the shot, the steamer returned the fire with solid shot. The ball struck the second cutter on the quarter; glancing off, however, so as to inflict but little damage.

“Give way lively, my lads!” shouted Mr. Granger.

“Now, my baby, don’t you let ’em hurt you,” said Tom Longstone. “We shall be aboard of ’em in half a minute more.”

“I’ll do my duty, Tom. If anything happens to me, you will ask Mr. Bankhead to write to my mother, won’t you?”

“Sartin, my lad; but you mustn’t let ’em hurt you, my little infant. Keep your cutlash flying; and have your pistol handy for use, if you git in a tight place.”

“Steady! Lie on your oars!” said Mr. Granger, whose boat was a little in advance of the others.

“See him!” added Tom, glancing at the officer in command. “Isn’t he a darling? See how he does it! That man ought to be a commodore. See that! There comes the second cutter; and there goes the third cutter,--she is going to board her over the starn, while we take her on for’ard.”

“Give way, my men!” said Mr. Granger in a deep, energetic tone, which seemed to electrify the muscles of the oarsmen. “All ready there, forward! Steady! Avast pulling!” he added, as the first cutter darted in under the port-bow of the steamer.

“All ready, my darling!” said Tom Longstone in a low, encouraging tone; for he seemed to feel that it was part of his duty to keep up Jack’s courage during this trying ordeal.

Our sailor-boy, however, needed no such stimulus. He was fully alive to the duty of the hour,--anxious to honor his flag, and distinguish himself. He had been in one slight brush with the rebels, and was fully prepared for the desperate work before him.

“Boarders away!” cried Mr. Granger.

“Boarders away!” shouted Mr. McBride, in the second cutter on the starboard bow, at the same instant.

The rebels on the deck of the Wizard were in readiness to repel boarders; and the first gallant tar who leaped on board fell back with a ball through his heart. The second was pierced with a bayonet; but he was followed by Tom Longstone, whose cutlass cleft the skull of the rebel who disputed his passage.

“Lay ’em aboard, my lads! Sweep the decks!” shouted Mr. Granger, as he gained a footing upon the forecastle of the Wizard.

Jack Somers was by the side of Tom; but he had scarcely reached the deck before he saw a rebel bayonet darting towards his heart. Turning it aside with a blow of his cutlass, he fired his pistol, and the man dropped.

“No pistols! Don’t fire a pistol!” exclaimed Mr. Granger, turning round to see who had done so. “You will hit our own men on the starboard side!”

When the commander turned, a rebel soldier rushed upon him. He had lost his gun in the affray; and he sprang at the throat of Mr. Granger, evidently with the intention of wrenching his sword from his grasp. Jack saw the movement, and received the soldier upon the point of his cutlass, and beat him back.

The soldiers on board fought with desperate energy; but the determination of the seamen drove them back towards the stern of the steamer, where, by this time, the boarding-party from the third cutter had gained the deck. They saw their fate, if they persisted; and one by one they surrendered to the victors, and the Wizard was in possession of the cutters’ men.

“Are you hurt, my dear?” demanded Tom Longstone when the fighting was finished.

“Not a bit, Tom. How is it with you?”

“Nothing to speak of, my lad: only a slash in the hand with a bayonet. The bloody rebel had near-a’most harpooned me like a dolphin, when I caught the tool in my hand,” replied Tom, as he exhibited the wounded member. “Got a handkercher, Jack?”

The article was furnished; and Tom wrapped up his wound, and then seemed to forget all about it.

“The steamer is ours!” said Mr. Granger, after the last soldier and deck-hand had been secured.

“Hurrah!” yelled the blue-jackets; and the cry was taken up by the men in the boats, who had not been permitted to have an active part in the encounter.