ither sails nor oars in order
that they might not report the occurrence too soon. The blue-jackets
continued their pull down the river. Just as they reached the mouth
the moon shone out, and a quick hail came from a guard-boat. Cushing
made no answer, but in a low voice urged his men on, intending to
attack the enemy. But in an instant more three boats came out of the
shadow, and at the same instant five appeared on the other side. One
opening seemed left for the beleaguered boat to dash through. At it
they went, but a schooner filled with troops suddenly appeared
blockading this last exit. It looked as though all was up, and those
in the boat saw before them the cheerful prospect of execution as
spies. But Cushing's pluck and self-possession, which had never yet
failed, still stood by him. He resorted to strategy, and, like the
hunted fox, threw his pursuers off the track by doubling. He made a
dash so rapid and determined towards the western bar, that all the
boats of the enemy rushed to block that point. For an instant his own
was in the shadow of a cloud. In that instant he had turned, and
headed at full speed for New Inlet. His men were as cool as he. With a
few vigorous pulls the boat shot out into the breakers where the enemy
dared not follow it, and soon after the cutter was hoisted to the
davits of the "Monticello," uninjured, after a stay of three nights in
the heart of the enemy's country.

It was near the end of the great war that Cushing performed the
greatest feat of daring of his adventurous career; and, as on the
previous occasions, the scene of the exploit was in the waters
tributary to the North Carolina sounds. Early in the spring of 1863 it
became evident to the officers of the Union squadron in the sounds,
that the Confederates were making arrangements to drive the Yankee
ships from those waters, and to re-open the coasting-trade to the
people of North Carolina. The chief source of alarm to the fleet was a
heavy iron-clad which was reported to be building on the Roanoke River
above Plymouth. Full descriptions of this vessel were in the hands of
the Union officers; and they saw clearly that, should she be
completed, no vessel of the sound squadron, nor perhaps the entire
navy, would be able to do battle against her successfully. The river
was too shallow for the war-vessels to go up to the point where the
ram was being built, and the channel at Hatteras Inlet was not deep
enough for iron-clads to be