team launch and four
men, prepared to pick up any fugitives from the doomed ship. He went
daringly under the batteries and hung about until daylight revealed his
small craft, but not a man was seen in the ruffled waters, and he returned
disappointed at 6.15 A.M., pestered by spiteful shots from the Spanish
guns. He had followed the "Merrimac" until the low-lying smoke from the
roaring guns hid her from view. Then came the explosion of the torpedoes.
Hobson had done his work. Powell kept under the shelter of the cliffs
until full day had dawned, and before leaving he saw a spar of the
"Merrimac" rising out of the water of the channel. The sinking had been
accomplished, but no one could say with what result to Hobson and his men.

Let us now leave the distant spectators and go on board the "Merrimac,"
seeking the company of her devoted crew. It was Hobson's purpose to sink
her in the narrowest part of the channel, dropping the anchor and handling
the rudder so as to turn her across the stream. Her length was sufficient
to close up completely the deeper channel. He would stop the engines, let
fall the anchor, open the traps made for the sea-water to flow in, and
explode the torpedoes. Ten of these lay on the port side of the ship, each
containing eighty-two pounds of powder, and they were connected so that
they could be fired in train. There were two men below, one to reverse the
engines, the other to break open the sea-traps with a sledge hammer. Those
on deck were to let fall the anchor and set the helm. Then Hobson would
touch the electric button and fire the torpedoes, and all would leap
overboard and swim to the dingy towing astern, in which they hoped to
escape. Such were their plans; but chance, as it so often does, set them
sadly astray.

On through the darkness they went, hitting the channel squarely, and
steaming in under the frowning walls of the Morro through gloom and
death-like silence. But the Spaniards were not asleep. A small picket-boat
came gliding out under the collier's stern and fired several shots at the
suspicious craft. One of these carried away the rudder and spoiled one
important item of the plans. The dingy, which was trusted to for escape,
disappeared, perhaps hit by one of these shots. The picket-boat, having
done this serious mischief, then hurried ashore and gave the alarm, and
quickly the shore batteries were firing on the dark hull. The ships in the
harbor echoed the shots with their guns.