125

The Capture of New Orleans

the great ships slowly passed by. More than twohundred guns were now firing at once, with noiselike an earthquake, and the dark sky was veiledin darker clouds of smoke, fitfully illumined hereand there by spasmodic flashes. Presently thewhole scene was shown up in the lurid glare of ablazing raft which a brave little tugboat was push-ing straight down upon the Hartford. -phe jj art _After passing the fort with thirty-two ford’s danger,shots in her hull and rigging, the flagship was nowexposed to her greatest danger. In turning herhelm to avoid it, she grounded on a shoal, andthere received the shock of the huge mass of burn-ing pine-knots. The crackling flames instantlycaught her and danced half way to her mastheads,while shells from St. Philip’s water-batteries stillkept dropping and bursting on her deck. At thisperilous moment the great captain to whom thebattle had been entrusted showed all the qualitiesof which he had given promise fifty years before,when as midshipman he trod the blood-staineddeck of the Essex. Walking calmly up and down,his hands behind him, the old man gave his orderswith a cheery voice that made every one ashamedof fear. “ Steady, boys, steady,” he cried, withhis pleasant smile, “ there’s a hotter fire than this,you know, for those who flinch from duty! ” Hiscoolness and the admirable discipline of the crew