Part 3 (1/2)
”It's in my blood, I tell you! It is not all my fault. Yet there is good in me, enough good to make me go mad if I stop to think of it. I want some way to get out of this life with honor. I leave the field for you.”
”She doesn't love-”
”You're a fool, Sempland-forgive me-about that woman. I know women better than you. Not so much the good as the bad, but in some things women are alike, a woman is a woman whatever she does. That girl loves the ground you walk on.”
”Nonsense! It's you.”
”Pshaw! She is fascinated by what she's heard on one hand, and she shuts her eyes to what she has heard on the other. The war is young. We'll be beaten, of course, but not without some hard, desperate fighting. Your chance will come, and when it does-”
”I will master it or die!”
”Of course, but don't die. Master it. Leave dying to me. I've sought ways for it, and now one is at hand.”
”What is it?”
”I am going to take out the David to-night.”
”What!”
”Yes. It's a dead secret, but I can tell you. There are three blockade-runners ready to sail. The Wabash lies off the Main s.h.i.+p Channel. Of course, all the others are blockaded, too, but General Beauregard thinks that if we can torpedo the flags.h.i.+p the others will hurry to her a.s.sistance and the blockade-runners can get out through the Swash Channel. Our magazines are running low, and we must have arms, powder, everything. There are two or three s.h.i.+ploads at Na.s.sau. This is an attempt to get to them. If we can blow up Admiral Vernon's flags.h.i.+p, perhaps we can raise the blockade. At any rate it's the only chance for the blockade-runners to get out.”
”Did the general order you to do this?”
”Certainly not. I suggested it to him. They don't order any one to the David, you know.”
”I should say not,” returned Sempland. ”She's been down five times, hasn't she?”
”Yes, and every time with all of her crew.”
”How many, all told, has she carried to death?”
”Some thirty or more, I believe.”
”And she has never done any damage to the enemy?”
”She sc.r.a.ped the paint off the New Ironsides one night and scared her people to death, I reckon, but that's all.”
”Lacy!” cried Sempland, suddenly, ”I have no right to ask favors of you, but-”
”That's all right. Ask.”
”Let me go to-night.”
”What's the use? One officer is enough, and you could not do any good by going along. I should be in command-”
”Let me go in your place!”
”Nonsense! It's almost certain death.”