Among the fully armed crew were twenty of the most expert sharpshooters in the army.
It was about ten o'clock when the _Carondelet_ swung round in the stream and started on its fearful race.

The fleet fairly held its breath, as officers and men listened and peered down the river in the tempestuous darkness.

Now and then the zigzagging lightning gave a momentary glimpse of the craft moving away, but the straining eye and ear caught no sight or sound.
But when the _Carondelet_ was close to the batteries a blaze suddenly shot up several feet above the chimneys.

The soot had caught fire and the reflection was thrown far out on the water.

The engineer immediately opened the flue caps and all was darkness again.