Silently they sped onward; the low island across the river slowly took shape and the lad directed the boatswain’s mate to steer for the end of the black line barely discernible above the water.
“We are now within the arc of fire of the forts,” Phil whispered to Sydney; “from here to the island the gunboats will be unprotected if discovered by the sentries at the guns. However, it’s long range, and fortunately the night is dark.”
Silently and regularly the leadsman thrust downward his pole until twelve feet, three feet greater than the maximum draft of the gunboats, was buried beneath the surface.
All on board the launch were silently anxious. The deep channel of the river had been left behind and, under the train of the fort guns, they were traveling over water that on the charts issued by the home government showed barely enough water to float a row-boat, and yet the leadsman untiringly plunged his bamboo to a distance of twelve feet without touching the sandy bottom. Hope rose in Phil’s heart.
“Emmons’ chart is true!” Sydney exclaimed in a low, joyful voice. “See, we’re nearly abreast of the point. In a few minutes more the island will be between us and the guns.”
Phil’s eyes traveled excitedly over the scene; the forts, some thousands of yards away, were enshrouded in darkness; the island appeared ever more distinct, the deep shadow of its high vegetation rising ghastly from the water.
“Round the point close,” Phil directed O’Neil, “and keep in to the shore-line.”
Boldly the launch neared the dark land, now so near at hand that it seemed possible in the darkness to reach out and touch the long, overhanging reeds. The dry rustle of the wind among the rank growth seemed in the silence almost as loud as the footsteps of an army marching.
So far all seemed to be progressing happily for the allies. The channel was an established fact and the midshipmen saw with relief that once behind the island the gunboats could not be seen by the soldiers in the forts. The island was narrow, but so long that when the vessels emerged from its protection above the city of Ku-Ling, they would be in the dead angle of the heavy batteries and well beyond the range of the lighter guns.
The launch chugged steadily onward, the intention being to discover if possible any shoaling of the water in the channel, but the leadsman’s bamboo pole betrayed no change.