nds the Confederates looking for
shelter; and the sailors pull off through the darkness to their ship,
there to watch the burning vessel, until, with a sudden burst of
flame, she is blown to pieces.

Considering the dashing nature of this exploit, the loss of life was
wonderfully small. Lieut. Blake, who commanded one of the boats, was
saved by one of those strange accidents so common in war. As he was
going over the side of the "Colorado," some one handed him a metal
flask filled with brandy, to be used for the wounded. He dropped it
into the lower pocket of his overcoat, but, finding it uncomfortable
there, changed it to the side pocket of his coat, immediately over his
heart. When the boats touched the side of the schooner, Blake was one
of the first to spring into the chains and clamber aboard. Just as he
was springing over the gunwale, a Confederate sailor pointed a pistol
at his heart, and fired it just as Blake cut him down with a savage
cutlass-stroke. The bullet sped true to its mark, but struck the
flask, and had just enough force to perforate it, without doing any
injury to the lieutenant.

The first death in the fight was a sad one. A marine, the first man to
board the schooner, lost his distinguishing white cap in his leap. His
comrades followed fast behind him, and, seeing that he wore no cap,
took him for one of the enemy, and plunged their bayonets deep in his
breast, killing him instantly. He was known to his comrades as John
Smith, but on searching his bag letters were found proving that this
was not his own name. One from his mother begged him to return home,
and give up his roving life. He proved to be a well-educated young
man, who through fear of some disgrace had enlisted in the marines to
hide himself from the world.

[Illustration: Capture of the "Harriet Lane."]

Another dashing event occurred on the Gulf Coast some months later,
although in this instance the Confederates were the assailants and the
victors. Galveston had for some time been in the hands of the Union
forces, and was occupied by three regiments of United States troops.
In the harbor lay three men-of-war, whose cannon kept the town in
subjection. It had been rumored for some time that the Confederates
were planning to recapture the city, and accordingly the most vigilant
lookout was kept from all the ships. On the 1st of January, 1863, at
half-past one A.M., as the lookout on the "Harriet Lane" was thinking
of the new year ju