e. We all knew that, but where is the nation worthy of the name
that will not find men for risky work? People talk about the difference
of courage in nations. In my opinion that is all gammon. Most nations
that lie near to one another are pretty much alike as to courage. In
times of trial among all nations, the men of pluck come to the front,
and the plucky men, be they American, English, French, German, Russian,
or Turk, do pretty much the same thing--they fight like heroes till they
conquer or die."

"Better if they didn't fight at all," remarked Lancey.

"That's true, but if you're attacked you _must_ fight. Anyhow, on this
particular occasion we attacked the Confederate ironclad ram
_Albemarle_, and sent her to the bottom. I had volunteered for the duty
with some other men from the squadron, and we started in a steam-launch
under Lieutenant Cushing. The distance from the mouth of the river to
where the ram lay was about eight miles, the stream averaging 200 yards
in width, and being lined with the enemy's pickets, so that we had to
proceed with the utmost possible caution. We set out in the dead of
night. There was a wreck on our way, which was surrounded by schooners,
and we knew that a gun was mounted there to command the bend of the
river. We had the good luck, however, to pass the pickets and the wreck
without being discovered, and were not hailed until seen by the look-out
of the ram itself.

"Without replying to the hail, we made straight at her under a full head
of steam. The enemy sprang their rattles, rang their bell, and
commenced firing. The _Albemarle_ was made fast to a wharf, with a
defence of logs around her about thirty feet from her side. A chance
fire on the shore enabled us to see this, although the night was
intensely dark, and raining.

"From the report afterwards published by the commander of the
_Albemarle_, it seems that a good look-out had been kept. The watch
also had been doubled, and when we were seen (about three in the
morning) they were all ready. After hailing, a brisk fire was opened on
us both by small arms and large guns; but the latter could not be
brought to bear, owing to our being so close, and we partially disturbed
the aim of the former by a dose of canister at close range. Paymaster
Swan, of the _Otsego_, was wounded near me, and some others. My own
jacket was cut in many places, and the air seemed full of bullets.

"Our torpedo-boom was out and ready.