ng to try to run her down, like they did the
_Cumberland_."

Sure enough, despairing of driving her doughty opponent off the field
with broadsides, the _Merrimac_ determined to try the effect of her
ram. For nearly an hour she had been manoeuvring for a position, and
at last an opportunity offered. Putting on full speed, she charged
forcibly down; but just in time the _Monitor_ turned aside, and the ram
glanced off without doing any damage.

At seeing this Terry clapped his hands as heartily as if he had been a
thorough-going Yankee.

"Sold again!" he cried, as the _Merrimac_ sullenly sheered off.
"You're not so smart after all."

The firing continued for some time longer, and then those on board the
_Minnesota_ were startled to see the _Monitor_ coming back towards them
with all the appearance of withdrawing from the fight. The Merrimac
could not follow on account of the shallowness of the water, but
remained out in the channel awaiting the other's return. Instead of
returning, however, the _Monitor_ swung round, and steamed off in the
direction of Fortress Monroe, leaving the helpless _Minnesota_ at the
mercy of the enemy.

"O Captain Afleck!" cried Terry, in keen alarm, "what will become of us
now? That murderin' thing will smash us all to pieces, seein' there's
nothing to hinder it."

The situation of the _Minnesota_ certainly was as serious as it could
well be. Many of the guns had been rendered useless in the conflict of
the preceding day. Full half of the crew were killed or wounded, and
most of the officers were unfit for duty. If the _Merrimac_ should
resume her work of destruction, there was slight chance of any one on
board surviving the catastrophe.

CHAPTER VIII.

ADVENTURES ASHORE.

For some minutes the _Minnesota's_ men were kept in harrowing
uncertainty as the _Merrimac_ hung off to mid-stream, apparently
undecided as to what to do next. Then, to their unspeakable relief,
she swung round, and turning her prow towards Norfolk, moved heavily
away. She, too, like the _Monitor_, had had her fill of fighting for
that day.

At sight of this Terry tossed his cap in the air, and began an Irish
jig on the fore-deck, crying,--

"Be off with you now. Sure, you've done mischief enough this blessed
day. It's mighty glad I'd be never to see a sight of you again."

As it turned out he had his wish granted, for when the withdrawal of
the ironclad became known at Fortress Monroe, two of