shed multitude recovered from their surprise, the whole
fleet had come to within pistol-shot of the island!

The enemy now, for the first time, perceived the _ruse_, and began to
calculate its results. Those giant ships, that but a moment ago seemed
rushing to destruction, had rounded to at a safe distance, and were
preparing, with the speed and skilfulness of a perfect discipline, to
pour a hostile host upon the defenceless shores. In vain the cavalry
bugle called their horsemen to the saddle; in vain the artillery car
rattled along the streets; both would be too late!

Meanwhile, the ships let fall their anchors, with a plunge, and a
rasping, and a rattle. The sails came down upon the yards; and sailors
swung themselves into the great surf-boats, and mixed with the soldiers,
and seized the oars.

Then the blades were suddenly and simultaneously dropped on the surface
of the wave, a naval officer in each boat directing the movements of the
oarsmen.

And the boats pulled out nearer, and by an echelon movement took their
places in line.

Light ships of war were thrown upon our flanks, to cover the descent by
a cross fire. No enemy had yet appeared, and all eyes were turned
landward with fiery expectation. Bounding hearts waited impatiently for
the signal.

The report of a single gun was at length heard from the ship of the
commander-in-chief; and, as if by one impulse, a thousand oars struck
the water, and flung up the spray upon their broad blades. A hundred
boats leaped forward simultaneously. The powerful stroke was repeated,
and propelled them with lightning speed. Now was the exciting race, the
regatta of war! The Dardan rowers would have been distanced here.

On! on! with the velocity of the wind, over the blue waves, through the
snowy surf--on!

And now we neared the shore, and officers sprang to their feet, and
stood with their swords drawn; and soldiers half sat, half crouched,
clutching their muskets. And the keels gritted upon the gravelly bed;
and, at the signal, a thousand men, in one plunge, flung themselves into
the water, and dashed madly through the surf. Thousands followed,
holding their cartridge-boxes breast-high; and blades were glancing, and
bayonets gleaming, and banners waving; and under glancing blades, and
gleaming bayonets, and waving banners, the dark mass rushed high upon
the beach.

Then came a cheer, loud, long, and exulting. It pealed along the whole
line, uttered f