emselves for the
service, while Terry O'Meara asked to be allowed to accompany his chum,
should the latter be accepted, to take charge of the engines of the boat
in which Jim was to go.

At length the commodore decided to send Jim in charge of the _Blanco's_
torpedo-boat, with Terry O'Meara in charge of the engines. Montt was to
take command of the _Cochrane's_ launch; and a man named Juarez was
given the command of the Hereschoff torpedo-boat, which was a craft of
about sixteen tons displacement. Jim, as being second lieutenant of the
flagship, was given the command of the little squadron; and, after half
an hour's interview with the commodore, during which he received the
most minute instructions as to how he was to proceed, he went over the
_Blanco Encalada's_ side into her steam-launch, and gave the signal to
start.

There was no cheering at their departure, for all those who were left
behind felt that they might never see their comrades again; moreover, it
was necessary to maintain the strictest silence, since, the night being
very still, sounds would carry to an immense distance over the water.
If suspicion were once aroused on shore, it would mean the absolute
annihilation of the brave fellows who had started on their desperate
errand. The fleet, of course, showed no lights, and neither did the
three torpedo--boats; consequently, within a minute after the latter had
started the darkness swallowed them up completely, and there was no
telling whereabout they were, or what progress they were making.

Jim had, however, most carefully taken his bearings before leaving the
flagship, and, by the help of the chart and compass, knew exactly where
to find the fleet again when his perilous mission had been accomplished.
He steamed along northward over the three or four miles which separated
him from Arica in extended column of line abreast, so that the chances
of detection should be as much reduced as possible, and so that they
could pick up any small craft which might perchance be cruising about in
the neighbourhood; and he had already arranged a simple code of signals,
whereby the three small steamers might communicate with one another
without attracting undue attention to themselves.

Half an hour after pushing off from the _Blanco Encalada_, the flotilla
came abreast of the southern extremity of Santa Catharina island, and
Jim knew that in another five minutes he would obtain a full view of the
harbour, when he w