CHAPTER VI
AN ENGINE OF DESTRUCTION
The _David_, so named because although she was small it was hoped shewould strike terror to the huge Goliaths of the Union fleet, was builtof boiler iron. She was thirty feet long and of a cigar shape, hergreatest diameter being a little less than six feet. She was propelledby a hand engine worked by members of her crew, and could be submergedat pleasure, but experience had shown that once down she usually stayeddown with all on board. A resume of her history has been given. She wasa floating, or sinking, death-trap.
Originally she was intended to drag after her a floating torpedo in thehope that she could pass under a vessel's keel and explode the torpedowhen she reached the proper position. General Beauregard, however, hadpositively forbidden that she should be used as a submarine any longeron account of her disastrous behavior, and on this occasion she wasprovided with a long spar sticking out from her nose, on the end ofwhich was one hundred pounds of powder in a copper cylinder providedwith four extremely sensitive tubes of lead containing a highlyexplosive mixture, which would ignite upon contact with a ship's sideor bottom and explode the torpedo.
She was painted a slate-gray, and her ballast was so adjusted that withthe seven men who manned her on board, one to steer, one to look afterthe torpedo, and five to turn the propeller crank, her low hatchscarcely rose above the water. In that condition, and especially atnight, she looked like a plank floating on the surface. By hard andconscientious labor her five man-power engine could shove her along atabout a speed of four knots. Although the order of General Beauregardthat she should not be submerged again had materially diminished therisk which experience had shown was overwhelming, yet the proposedexpedition was nevertheless hazardous in the extreme.
In the first place, an excellent lookout was kept on the Union ships onaccount of the several attempts which had been made against them bysimilar boats. If she were discovered, one shot striking the boat asshe approached, even a rifle shot, would suffice to sink her. No oneknew what she would do even if she succeeded in exploding the torpedo.It was scarcely hoped that she could get away from a sinking shipin that event.
The little party of officers grouped on the wharf bade good-by to themen who entered the deadly affair as if they were saying farewell tothose about to die. Every preparation had been made, the artilleryofficer had finally and carefully inspected the torpedo to see if itwas in good working order, the men had descended into the crampednarrow little hull of the boat and had made ready to start thepropeller. None of them wore any superfluous clothing, for it wasoppressively hot in the confined area of the little iron shell, andthey might have to swim for their lives anyway--perhaps they would belucky if they got the chance. In short, everybody was ready and everyone was there except the commander of the expedition.
Great secrecy had been observed in the preparations lest there might bea spy in the town, who, learning of the attempt, would communicate thevaluable information to the Federal fleet, and so frustrate it. GeneralBeauregard had caused the wharf to be cleared and guarded early in theevening. It was quite dark in February at six o'clock, and no oneexcept his trusted staff officers and Lacy, who had so magnanimouslysurrendered his opportunity to Sempland, was present.
At a quarter before seven, which was the time Sempland had appointed toreturn when he left in obedience to Fanny Glen's summons, the generalbegan to feel some uneasiness. He spoke about it to Lacy, but wasreassured by that gentleman, who professed full confidence that theyoung lieutenant would undoubtedly be there in a few moments. He hadalready of his own motion despatched a soldier to Fanny Glen's houseand had learned from him the false news that Sempland had been thereand had left. Lacy supposed he had returned to his quarters.
The state of the tide, the necessities of the blockade-runners whohoped to escape that night under cover of the confusion caused by theattack, rendered it absolutely necessary that there should be no delayin the departure of the torpedo boat. The time had been set for seveno'clock, as late as practicable, in order to secure the advantage ofsettled darkness before the blow was delivered. The party on the wharfwaited apprehensively a little longer, conversing in low tones as themoments ran away, and there was great anxiety as to the whereabouts ofthe missing officer. Seven o'clock struck from the ancient churchsteeple hard by; still he did not appear.
"General," said Lacy, a few moments later, "if I might suggest, sir--"
"Go on. What is it?"
"It might be well to send for him."
"Never!" said the general, shortly; "it is a soldier's duty to be atthe place appointed him at the specified time. I shall not send forhim. If he has forgotten himself, his duty, for any cause, he shallsuffer the consequences."
Lacy was in despair. He could not understand the situation. He had notthe slightest doubt of Sempland's courage. He knew his friend's rigididea of soldierly duty or honor. Where had he gone? If there had beenany way, he would have despatched men to hunt for him in everydirection, but the general's prohibition was positive. And for somereason which he could not explain he refrained from saying anythingabout Sempland's visit to Fanny Glen, merely advising the general, inresponse to an inquiry, that he had left him to go to his quarters towrite a letter.
Five minutes more dragged along.
"General Beauregard," said Lacy at last, "with your permission I willseek him myself."
"No," said the general, sternly, "we can wait no longer. I need you forsomething else."
"You mean--?"
"I mean that I shall carry out the original plan. Mr. Sempland hasforfeited any consideration whatever at our hands."
"Then I am to--?"
Lacy pointed toward the _David_.
"Unless you wish to back out."
"No one has ever used these words to me, sir," answered Lacy, proudly."I am as ready, as anxious, to go as I ever was. But Sempland--sir, Iwould stake my life on his fidelity."
"It may be so. I can wait no longer. Will you go, or shall I give upthe expedition?"
"Rather than that, sir," said one of his staff officers, "if Major Lacyhesitates, let me go."
"Enough!" said Lacy. "Will you explain to Sempland how it came about?Good-by."