"I have found it, sir," said Conant, when he returned. "It lies in this direction:" he pointed to the north-east. "It isn"t a quarter of a mile distant; but I had some difficulty in finding a good path."
"Did you see anybody, or anything?"
"Nothing, sir."
The whale-boat was then turned over; each man took off his pea-jacket, rolled it up, and put it on his shoulder. The boat was then lifted up, and placed on the shoulders of the sailors, the garment acting as a cushion to support the weight, without injury to the bearers. After a great many trials and difficulties incident to the darkness of the night and the character of the ground, the creek was reached, and the whale-boat launched. Unfortunately, the water was very shallow, and even the light draught of the boat was too great for rapid progress, though by various expedients this obstacle was overcome, and the expedition reached the mouth of the creek at about half past twelve o"clock in the morning.
Somers was entirely dependent upon his memory and the compa.s.s for sailing directions; and the careful study he had made of the navigation of the bay enabled him to move with considerable confidence. The creek disembogued in a nearly landlocked bay, whose comparatively still waters were pa.s.sed, and the boat began to be tossed by the waves of the broad bay.
Heading his craft to the westward, he bade the men give way with a will.
Encouraged by the manner in which all obstacles had thus far been overcome, they were ready and willing subjects. After pulling about three miles, the rougher sea and the depth of water which the bowman had continually reported, a.s.sured Somers that he must have reached the Middle Ground, where vessels bound out usually came to anchor when subjected to any delay. The Ben Lomond, if she was in the bay, could not be far distant; but the fog and darkness prevented him from seeing a ship"s length ahead.
"Can you see anything, Mr. Longstone?" asked the young commander, who felt that he was now in the midst of the greatest obstacles to the success of his mission.
"I can"t see anything," replied the boatswain; "but I think I hear something. There, sir! Two bells just struck in a vessel dead ahead."
"I see her," said the bowman. "It"s a rebel iron-clad!"
"She"s an ugly customer. I don"t want anything of her," said Somers, as he ordered the boat to go about, and headed her to the north-east.
"Boat ahead, sir!" reported the bowman.
"Speak out, man!" said the commander. "I am not afraid of being seen now. Where away is she?"
"On the port quarter, sir."
"Starboard, c.o.xswain," continued Somers.
In a few moments the dark outline of the boat was seen in the water, and the c.o.xswain was directed to steer towards her. Somers was fully committed now, and intended to carry himself through by impudence and audacity. He was in the midst of the rebel fleet to be used for the defence of the bay. He knew that the waters around him were patrolled by picket boats, and he doubted not the craft before him was one of them. He could not find the Ben Lomond readily, and probably the officer of this boat would know her position.
"Boat ahoy!" he shouted.
"In the boat!" was the reply.
"Oars! Hold water!"
"What boat is that?" demanded the officer of the rebel party.
"My boat," replied Somers, rather irregularly.
"Who are you?"
"John Pillgrim, commander in the Confederate navy, appointed to the steamer Tallapoosa."
"Ah," responded the officer. "You were expected before."
"Couldn"t come before," replied Somers, with perfect a.s.surance. "Where is the Tallapoosa? I have been beating about here in the fog these two hours, trying to find her."
"She lies about half a mile to the northward and eastward."
"Thank you; I shall find her. Please report me to Admiral Buchanan, and say I shall run out immediately."
"It"s a good night for it. I beg your pardon, Captain Pillgrim; have you a pa.s.s?"
"A what?" demanded Somers, as if astonished at the request.
"A pa.s.s."
"No; where should I get a pa.s.s, or what should I want one for?"
"Excuse me, but my orders are very strict. I cannot let a boat or vessel pa.s.s me without the proper papers."
"What papers do you want?"
"Simply a pa.s.s."
"I have no pa.s.s."
"I shall be obliged to detain you, then."
"No, you won"t!" answered Somers, indignantly. "Here it is one o"clock in the morning. I ought to have been over the bar by this time."
"I can"t help it, Captain Pillgrim; my orders are imperative," pleaded the picket officer.
"Well, if you can"t help it, I can. I may not have such another night as this for a month."
"I shall not detain you half an hour. The Tallapoosa has steam up, and is only waiting for her commander and the balance of her crew."
"How many men has she on board?" asked Somers, somewhat startled.
"About forty, besides the firemen."
"I have the balance. It is all right."
"Pardon me, if I persist. I must see your papers."
"I have no pa.s.s; but I will show you my commission and my orders from the secretary of the navy."
"Those will answer."
The boat was laid alongside, and by the light of a lantern the officer glanced at Somers"s commission and orders. He p.r.o.nounced them all right, and the expedition was permitted to proceed.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE BEN LOMOND.