We have been told by those who have been revived, after coming well-nigh within the gates of death by drowning, that in the few agonizing moments before they became unconscious, a thousand recollections of the life they were leaving flashed through their minds. So now I recalled Wade’s words when he had told me that this island was uninhabited, and cursed myself for having trusted to them. I thought of the report of the affair Mr. Bailey, soon to be commander in my place, would make to the admiral. What business had I, the captain, out of my ship, when a junior officer could have been sent in to make a reconnaissance, if indeed it were needed at all! And what sad news to be sent home to my young wife, for a Texas prison pen was but a shade better than death!
But I was aroused by the doctor’s question, “Hadn’t we better be getting out of this, captain?” and coming to a realizing sense of the necessity for immediate action, I made quick time in getting down to the ground.
The boat’s crew were amusing themselves by shying stones at a bottle they had set up for a mark, in utter unconsciousness of their imminent danger, and they were evidently greatly surprised at the rapid manner with which we came down to the boat.
“Into the boat at once, men!” I cried, “and give way for your lives! The rebs are almost on top of us!”
The doctor and I climbed into the stern sheets as the men sprang into their places; and as they bent to their oars, the rebels, seeing that they were discovered, poured over the sand hills with exultant yells. Fortunately we got the boat well in motion before they opened fire, and their shots flew wild, save one that buried itself in the stern of the boat close to the rudder head.
“They are bringing the fieldpiece over the hill, captain!” said the doctor, who was watching the enemy.
“Give way, lads! Make her jump, if you don’t want to sleep in prison to-night!” I shouted, keeping the boat as close over to the port shore as it was possible without fouling the oars.
Bang! and a shell came shrieking through the air so close to our heads that, as it burst, a fragment cut a slice out of the starboard gunwale of the boat, between the stern sheets and the after oar. At the same time the stroke oarsman was wounded in the left arm by another bit of shell. But the brave fellow did not abandon his oar or lose his stroke; and the doctor, tearing a piece from his own shirt sleeve, bound it about the wounded arm and stanched the blood, without moving the man from his seat.
“They are waving us to come in, captain,” said the doctor, as he finished binding up the man’s arm and took a look astern.
“Well, we won’t oblige them,” I replied. “Give them a sight of our ensign, doctor, so that they may know for certain who we are. It will not be the first time they have fired on that flag!”