the david, so named because although she was small it was hoped she would strike terror to the huge goliaths of the union fleet, was built of boiler iron. she was thirty feet long and of a cigar shape, her greatest diameter being a little less than six feet. she was propelled by a hand engine worked by members of her crew, and could be submerged at pleasure, but experience had shown that once down she usually stayed down with all on board. a résumé of her history has been given. she was a floating, or sinking, death-trap.
originally she was intended to drag after her a floating torpedo in the hope that she could pass under a vessel's keel and explode the torpedo when she reached the proper position. general beauregard, however, had positively forbidden that she should be used as a submarine any longer on account of her disastrous behavior, and on this occasion she was provided with a long spar sticking out from her nose, on the end of which was one hundred pounds of powder in a copper cylinder provided with four extremely sensitive tubes of lead containing a highly explosive mixture, which would ignite upon contact with a ship's side or bottom and explode the torpedo.
she was painted a slate-gray, and her ballast was so adjusted that with the seven men who manned her on board, one to steer, one to look after the torpedo, and five to turn the propeller crank, her low hatch scarcely rose above the water. in that condition, and especially at night, she looked like a plank floating on the surface. by hard and conscientious labor her five man-power engine could shove her along at about a speed of four knots. although the order of general beauregard that she should not be submerged again had materially diminished the risk which experience had shown was overwhelming, yet the proposed expedition was nevertheless hazardous in the extreme.
in the first place, an excellent lookout was kept on the union ships on account of the several attempts which had been made against them by similar boats. if she were discovered, one shot striking the boat as she approached, even a rifle shot, would suffice to sink her. no one knew what she would do even if she succeeded in exploding the torpedo. it was scarcely hoped that she could get away from a sinking ship in that event.
the little party of officers grouped on the wharf bade good-by to the men who entered the deadly affair as if they were saying farewell to those about to die. every preparation had been made, the artillery officer had finally and carefully inspected the torpedo to see if it was in good working order, the men had descended into the cramped narrow little hull of the boat and had made ready to start the propeller. none of them wore any superfluous clothing, for it was oppressively hot in the confined area of the little iron shell, and they might have to swim for their lives anyway—perhaps they would be lucky if they got the chance. in short, everybody was ready and every one was there except the commander of the expedition.
great secrecy had been observed in the preparations lest there might be a spy in the town, who, learning of the attempt, would communicate the valuable information to the federal fleet, and so frustrate it. general beauregard had caused the wharf to be cleared and guarded early in the evening. it was quite dark in february at six o'clock, and no one except his trusted staff officers and lacy, who had so magnanimously surrendered his opportunity to sempland, was present.
at a quarter before seven, which was the time sempland had appointed to return when he left in obedience to fanny glen's summons, the general began to feel some uneasiness. he spoke about it to lacy, but was reassured by that gentleman, who professed full confidence that the young lieutenant would undoubtedly be there in a few moments. he had already of his own motion despatched a soldier to fanny glen's house and had learned from him the false news that sempland had been there and had left. lacy supposed he had returned to his quarters.
the state of the tide, the necessities of the blockade-runners who hoped to escape that night under cover of the confusion caused by the attack, rendered it absolutely necessary that there should be no delay in the departure of the torpedo boat. the time had been set for seven o'clock, as late as practicable, in order to secure the advantage of settled darkness before the blow was delivered. the party on the wharf waited apprehensively a little longer, conversing in low tones as the moments ran away, and there was great anxiety as to the whereabouts of the missing officer. seven o'clock struck from the ancient church steeple 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 at the place appointed him at the specified time. i shall not send for him. if he has forgotten himself, his duty, for any cause, he shall suffer the consequences."
lacy was in despair. he could not understand the situation. he had not the slightest doubt of sempland's courage. he knew his friend's rigid idea of soldierly duty or honor. where had he gone? if there had been any way, he would have despatched men to hunt for him in every direction, but the general's prohibition was positive. and for some reason which he could not explain he refrained from saying anything about sempland's visit to fanny glen, merely advising the general, in response to an inquiry, that he had left him to go to his quarters to write a letter.
five minutes more dragged along.
"general beauregard," said lacy at last, "with your permission i will seek him myself."
"no," said the general, sternly, "we can wait no longer. i need you for something else."
"you mean—?"
"i mean that i shall carry out the original plan. mr. sempland has forfeited 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, i would stake my life on his fidelity."
"it may be so. i can wait no longer. will you go, or shall i give up the expedition?"
"rather than that, sir," said one of his staff officers, "if major lacy hesitates, let me go."
"enough!" said lacy. "will you explain to sempland how it came about? good-by."
