Now they had made a thing which they called a steam-ram, an iron-covered boat, like unto a serpent, even like unto the evil beast which crawleth upon its belly, eating dirt, as do many of those who made it.

And all the South rejoiced over it, the voices of many editors were uplifted,

According to the Revised Statutes,

Prophesying sure death and sudden ruin, on back action principles.

Yea, there were those who opined that the ram would suffice to destroy the whole North, or at least its navy—­there or thereabouts.

And they cried aloud that the rams of Jericho were nowhere, and that the great ram of Derby, was but as a ramlet compared to this.

And the reporters of the Crescent and Bee, and Delta, and Picayune, and they of the kangaroon Creole French press, went to see it,

And returned with their eyes greatly enlarged, so that they seemed as those of the fish men take from a mile depth in the Gulf of Nice,—­which are excessively magnocular,—­even as large as the round tower of Copenhagen were their optics,

Declaring that on the face of the earth was no such marvel as the ram; the wonderful wonder of wonders did it seem unto them; sharp death at short notice on craft of all sizes.

Then HOLLINS got unto himself divers tugs and clam-boats, ferry-boats, and one or two larger craft, which thieves had stolen privily aforetime from the government,

For in that land all was done in those days by stealing; pilfering and robbing were among them from the beginning.

And he went forth to battle.

* * * * *

Chapter III.

Now it was about the middle of the third watch of the night,

Came a messenger bearing good tidings unto the Philistines, even unto the Pelicans and Swampers of New Orleans,

Saying, ‘He has done it, well he has. C’est un fait accompli.’

Then got they all together in great joy, crying aloud, ’Vive Hollane!—­hurrah for Hollins! viva el adelantado! Massa Hollums fur ebber! Der Hollins soll leben! Go it, old Haulins! Evviva il capitano Hollino!  Hip, hip, hurroo, ye divils, for Hollins!’

Then there stood up in the high place one bearing a dispatch, which was opened, the words whereof read he unto them: 

[THE DISPATCH.]

’I have peppered them.

’Peppered, peppered, peppered, peppepa-peppered them.

’Pip, pap, pep, pop, pup-uppered ’em.

’I drove ’em all before me—­glory, g’lang; knocked ’em higher ’n a kite and peppered ’em.

’I sunk the Preble, and the Vincennes did I send to thunder.  I peppered ’em.

’The ram has rammed everything to pieces, and the rest did I drive high and dry ashore, where I peppered ’em.

’What was left did my ships destroy; verily I peppered ’em.