A muffled, thunderous explosion followed, an immense column of water rose in the air and the tremendous tipping of the _Albemarle_ showed she had received a mortal hurt.
It was accomplished at the critical second, for the rifled gun, filled with 100 pounds of canister and pointed at the launch ten feet away, was immediately discharged.

The careening of the ram deviated the aim just enough to prevent the crew from being blown to fragments, but confident that not a man could escape, the Confederates twice called upon their assailants to surrender, and several did so, but Cushing was not among them.

With the same marvelous coolness he had displayed from the first he took off his coat and shoes, flung his sword and revolver aside and shouted: "Every man save himself!" Then he leaped into the water and began swimming with might and main down stream, the bullets skipping all about him, but he soon passed beyond sight and was still swimming when he heard a plashing near him.
It was made by one of the acting master's mates, John Woodman, who was exhausted.

Cushing helped him until he himself had hardly an ounce of strength left, when he was obliged to let go, and the poor fellow, calling good-by, sank from sight.
When unable to struggle longer, Cushing let his feet drop and they touched bottom.

He managed to reach land, where he sank down so worn out that he lay motionless until daylight.