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diff --git a/18579.txt b/18579.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e95ab4 --- /dev/null +++ b/18579.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8358 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Taken by the Enemy, by Oliver Optic + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Taken by the Enemy + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Release Date: June 14, 2006 [EBook #18579] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TAKEN BY THE ENEMY *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, David Garcia, Juliet Sutherland +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Kentuckiana Digital +Library) + + + + + + +THE BLUE AND THE GRAY--AFLOAT + +Two colors cloth Emblematic Dies Illustrated +Price per volume $1.50 + + TAKEN BY THE ENEMY + WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES + ON THE BLOCKADE + STAND BY THE UNION + FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT + A VICTORIOUS UNION + +THE BLUE AND THE GRAY--ON LAND + +Two colors cloth Emblematic Dies Illustrated +Price per volume $1.50 + + BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER + IN THE SADDLE + A LIEUTENANT AT EIGHTEEN + (Other volumes in preparation) + +Any Volume Sold Separately. +Lee and Shepard Publishers Boston + + + + + [Illustration: "Three Cheers for Captain Passford" (Page 75)] + + + + + The + + BLUE AND THE GRAY + + Series + + [Illustration] + + By Oliver Optic + + TAKEN by the ENEMY + + + + + _The Blue and the Gray Series_ + + TAKEN BY THE ENEMY + + by + OLIVER OPTIC + + Author of +"The Army and Navy Series" "Young America Abroad" +"The Great Western Series" "The Woodville Stories" +"The Starry-Flag Series" "The Boat-Club Stories" +"The Onward and Upward Series" "The Yacht-Club Series" +"The Lake-Shore Series" "The Riverdale Series" + "The Boat-Builder Series" etc. + + _WITH ILLUSTRATIONS_ + + + BOSTON + + LEE AND SHEPARD Publishers + + + + + Copyright, 1888, by Lee and Shepard + _All rights reserved._ + + Taken by the Enemy. + + + + + To + + My Nephew, + + HERBERT W. ADAMS, + + This Book + + is Affectionately Dedicated. + + + + +PREFACE + + +"TAKEN BY THE ENEMY" is the first of a new series of six volumes which +are to be associated under the general title of "The Blue and the Gray +Series," which sufficiently indicates the character of the books. At the +conclusion of the war of the Rebellion, and before the writer had +completed "The Army and Navy Series," over twenty years ago, some of his +friends advised him to make all possible haste to bring his war stories +to a conclusion, declaring that there could be no demand for such works +when the war had come to an end. But the volumes of the series mentioned +are as much in demand to-day as any of his other stories, though from +their nature the field of their circulation is more limited. Surprising +as this may appear, it is still the fact; and certainly the author has +received more commendatory letters from young people in regard to the +books of this series than concerning those of any other. + +Among these letters there has occasionally been one, though rarely, in +which the writer objected to this series for the reason that he was "on +the other side" of the great issue which shook the nation to the centre +of its being for four years. Doubtless the writers of these letters, and +many who wrote no letters, will be surprised and grieved at the +announcement of another series by the author on war topics. The writer +had little inclination to undertake this task; for he has believed for +twenty years that the war is over, and he has not been disposed to keep +alive old issues which had better remain buried. He has spent some time +in the South, and has always found himself among friends there. He +became personally acquainted with those who fought on the Confederate +side, from generals to privates, and he still values their friendship. +He certainly is not disposed to write any thing that would cause him to +forfeit his title to the kind feeling that was extended to him. + +It is not, therefore, with the desire or intention to rekindle the fires +of sectional animosity, now happily subdued, that the writer begins +another series relating to the war. The call upon him to use the topics +of the war has been so urgent, and its ample field of stirring events +has been so inviting, that he could not resist; but, while his own +opinions in regard to the great question of five-and-twenty years ago +remain unchanged, he hopes to do more ample justice than perhaps was +done before to those "who fought on the other side." + +The present volume introduces those which are to follow it, and presents +many of the characters that are to figure in them. Though written from +the Union standpoint, the author hopes that it will not be found unfair +or unjust to those who looked from the opposite point of view. + + Dorchester, June 12, 1888. + + + + +CONTENTS + + Page +CHAPTER I. +Astounding News from the Shore 13 + +CHAPTER II. +The Brother at the South 24 + +CHAPTER III. +Dangerous and Somewhat Irregular 35 + +CHAPTER IV. +The First Mission of the Bellevite 47 + +CHAPTER V. +The Bellevite and those on Board of her 58 + +CHAPTER VI. +Mr. Percy Pierson introduces himself 69 + +CHAPTER VII. +A Complication at Glenfield 80 + +CHAPTER VIII. +A Disconsolate Purchaser of Vessels 91 + +CHAPTER IX. +Christy matures a Promising Scheme 102 + +CHAPTER X. +The Attempt to pass into Mobile Bay 113 + +CHAPTER XI. +The Major in Command of Fort Gaines 124 + +CHAPTER XII. +How the Bellevite passed Fort Morgan 135 + +CHAPTER XIII. +A Decided Difference of Opinion 146 + +CHAPTER XIV. +The Blue and the Gray 157 + +CHAPTER XV. +Brother at War with Brother 168 + +CHAPTER XVI. +Christy finds himself a Prisoner 179 + +CHAPTER XVII. +Major Pierson is puzzled 190 + +CHAPTER XVIII. +The Morning Trip of the Leopard 201 + +CHAPTER XIX. +The Report of the Scout from the Shore 212 + +CHAPTER XX. +A Rebellion in the Pilot-House 223 + +CHAPTER XXI. +The Sick Captain of the Leopard 234 + +CHAPTER XXII. +The Proceedings on the Lower Deck 245 + +CHAPTER XXIII. +The Expedition from the Leopard 256 + +CHAPTER XXIV. +The Engineer goes into the Forecastle 267 + +CHAPTER XXV. +The First Lesson for a Sailor 278 + +CHAPTER XXVI. +The Post of Duty and of Danger 289 + +CHAPTER XXVII. +A Cannon-Ball through the Leopard 300 + +CHAPTER XXVIII. +The American Flag at the Fore 311 + +CHAPTER XXIX. +On Board of the Bellevite 322 + +CHAPTER XXX. +Running the Gantlet 333 + + + + +TAKEN BY THE ENEMY + + + + +CHAPTER I + +ASTOUNDING NEWS FROM THE SHORE + + +"This is most astounding news!" exclaimed Captain Horatio Passford. + +It was on the deck of the magnificent steam-yacht Bellevite, of which he +was the owner; and with the newspaper, in which he had read only a few +of the many head-lines, still in his hand, he rushed furiously across +the deck, in a state of the most intense agitation. + +It would take more than one figure to indicate the number of millions by +which his vast wealth was measured, in the estimation of those who knew +most about his affairs; and he was just returning from a winter cruise +in his yacht. + +His wife and son were on board; but his daughter had spent the winter at +the South with her uncle, preferring this to a voyage at sea, being in +rather delicate health, and the doctors thought a quiet residence in a +genial climate was better for her. + +The Bellevite had been among the islands of the Atlantic, visiting the +Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, and was now coming from Bermuda. +She had just taken a pilot fifty miles from Sandy Hook, and was bound to +New York, for the captain's beautiful estate, Bonnydale, was located on +the Hudson. + +As usual, the pilot had brought on board with him the latest New-York +papers, and one of them contained the startling news which appeared to +have thrown the owner of the Bellevite entirely off his balance; and it +was quite astounding enough to produce this effect upon any American. + +"What is it, sir?" demanded Christopher Passford, his son, a remarkably +bright-looking young fellow of sixteen, as he followed his father across +the deck. + +"What is it, Horatio?" inquired Mrs. Passford, who had been seated with +a book on the deck, as she also followed her husband. + +The captain was usually very cool and self-possessed, and neither the +wife nor the son had ever before seen him so shaken by agitation. He +seemed to be unable to speak a word for the time, and took no notice +whatever of his wife and son when they addressed him. + +For several minutes he continued to rush back and forth across the deck +of the steamer, like a vessel which had suddenly caught a heavy flaw of +wind, and had not yet come to her bearings. + +"What is the matter, Horatio?" asked Mrs. Passford, when he came near +her. "What in the world has happened to overcome you in this manner, for +I never saw you so moved before?" + +But her husband did not reply even to this earnest interrogatory, but +again darted across the deck, and his lips moved as though he were +muttering something to himself. He did not look at the paper in his +hands again; and whatever the startling intelligence it contained, he +seemed to have taken it all in at a glance. + +Christy, as the remarkably good-looking young man was called by all in +the family and on board of the Bellevite, appeared to be even more +astonished than his mother at the singular conduct of his father; but +he saw how intense was his agitation, and he did not follow him in his +impulsive flights across the deck. + +Though his father had always treated him with great consideration, and +seldom if ever had occasion to exercise any of his paternal authority +over him, the young man never took advantage of the familiarity existing +between them. His father was certainly in a most extraordinary mood for +him, and he could not venture to speak a word to him. + +He stood near the companion way, not far from his mother, and he +observed the movements of his father with the utmost interest, not +unmingled with anxiety; and Mrs. Passford fully shared with him the +solicitude of the moment. + +The steamer was going at full speed in the direction of Sandy Hook. +Captain Passford gave no heed to the movement of the vessel, but for +several minutes planked the deck as though he were unable to realize +the truth or the force of the news he had hastily gathered from the +head-lines of the newspaper. + +At last he halted in the waist, at some distance from the other members +of his family, raised his paper, and fixed his gaze upon the staring +announcement at the head of one of its columns. No one ventured to +approach him; for he was the magnate of the vessel, and, whatever his +humor, he was entitled to the full benefit of it. + +He only glanced at the head-lines as he had done before, and then +dropped the paper, as though the announcement he had read was all he +desired to know. + +"Beeks," said he, as a quartermaster passed near him. + +The man addressed promptly halted, raised his hand to his cap, and +waited the pleasure of the owner of the steamer. + +"Tell Captain Breaker that I wish to see him, if you please," added +Captain Passford. + +The man repeated the name of the person he was to call, and hastened +away to obey the order. The owner resumed his march across the deck, +though it was evident to the anxious observers that he had in a great +measure recovered his self-possession, for his movements were less +nervous, and the usual placid calm was restored to his face. + +In another minute, Captain Breaker, who was the actual commander of the +vessel, appeared in the waist, and walked up to his owner. Though not +more than forty-five years old, his hair and full beard were heavily +tinted with gray; and an artist who wished for an ideal shipmaster, +who was both a gentleman and a sailor, could not have found a better +representative of this type in the merchant or naval service, or on the +deck of the finest steam-yacht in the world. + +"You sent for me, Captain Passford," said the commander, in respectful +but not subservient tones. + +"You will take the steamer to some point off Fire Island, and come to +anchor there," replied the owner, as, without any explanation, he walked +away from the spot. + +"Off Fire Island," added Captain Breaker, simply repeating the name of +the locality to which his order related, but not in a tone that required +an exclamation-point to express his surprise. + +Whatever the captain of the Bellevite thought or felt, it was an +extraordinary order which he received. It was in the month of April, +and the vessel had been absent about five months on her winter pleasure +cruise. + +In a few hours more the yacht could easily be at her moorings off +Bonnydale on the Hudson; but when almost in sight of New York, the +captain had been ordered to anchor, as though the owner had no intention +of returning to his elegant home. + +If he was surprised, as doubtless he was, he did not manifest it in the +slightest degree; for he was a sailor, and it was a part of his gospel +to obey the orders of his owner without asking any questions. + +No doubt he thought of his wife and children as he walked forward to the +pilot-house to execute his order, for he had been away from them for a +long time. The three papers brought on board by the pilot had all been +given to the owner, and he had no hint of the startling news they +contained. + +The course of the Bellevite was promptly changed more to the northward; +and if the pilot wished to be informed in regard to this strange +alteration in the immediate destination of the vessel, Captain Breaker +was unable to give him any explanation. + +Captain Passford was evidently himself again; and he did not rush across +the deck as he had done before, but seated himself in an armchair he had +occupied before the pilot came on board, and proceeded to read something +more than the headlines in the paper. + +He hardly moved or looked up for half an hour, so intensely was he +absorbed in the narrative before him. Mrs. Passford and Christy, though +even more excited by the singular conduct of the owner, and the change +in the course of the steamer, did not venture to interrupt him. + +The owner took the other two papers from his pocket, and had soon +possessed himself of all the details of the astounding news; and it +was plain enough to those who so eagerly observed his expression as he +read, that he was impressed as he had never been before in his life. + +Before the owner had finished the reading of the papers, the Bellevite +had reached the anchorage chosen by the pilot, and the vessel was soon +fast to the bottom in a quiet sea. + +"The tide is just right for going up to the city," said the pilot, who +had left his place in the pilot-house, and addressed himself to the +owner in the waist. + +"But we shall not go up to the city," replied Captain Passford, in a +very decided tone. "But that shall make no difference in your pilot's +fees.--Captain Breaker." + +The captain of the steamer, who had also come out of the pilot-house, +had stationed himself within call of the owner to receive the next +order, which might throw some light on the reason for anchoring the +steamer so near her destination on a full sea. He presented himself +before the magnate of the yacht, and indicated that he was ready to +take his further orders. + +"You will see that the pilot is paid his full fee for taking the vessel +to a wharf," continued Captain Passford. + +The captain bowed, and started towards the companionway; but the owner +called him back. + +"I see what looks like a tug to the westward of us. You will set the +signal to bring her alongside," the magnate proceeded. + +This order was even more strange than that under which the vessel had +come to anchor so near home after her long cruise; but the captain asked +no questions, and made no sign. Calling Beeks, he went aft with the +pilot, and paid him his fees. + +When the American flag was displayed in the fore-rigging for the tug, +Captain Passford, with his gaze fixed on the planks of the deck, walked +slowly to the place where his wife was seated, and halted in front of +her without speaking a word. But there was a quivering of the lip which +assured the lady and her son that he was still struggling to suppress +his agitation. + +"What is the matter, Horatio?" asked the wife, in the tenderest of +tones, while her expression assured those who saw her face that the +anxiety of the husband had been communicated to the wife. + +"I need hardly tell you, Julia, that I am disturbed as I never was +before in all my life," replied he, maintaining his calmness only with +a struggle. + +"I can see that something momentous has happened in our country," she +added, hardly able to contain herself, for she felt that she was in the +presence of an unexplained calamity. + +"Something has happened, my dear; something terrible,--something that +I did not expect, though many others were sure that it would come," he +continued, seating himself at the side of his wife. + +"But you do not tell me what it is," said the lady, with a look which +indicated that her worst fears were confirmed. "Is Florry worse? Is +she"-- + +"So far as I know, Florry is as well as usual," interposed the husband. +"But a state of war exists at the present moment between the North and +the South." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE BROTHER AT THE SOUTH + + +Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, +the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it +had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the +complications between the North and the South. + +Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of +the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently +informed in regard to the progress of political events at home. Captain +Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious +difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country +had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States. + +He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his +departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the +brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them. + +Captain Passford had been the master of a ship in former times, though +he had accumulated his vast fortune after he abandoned the sea. His +father was an Englishman, who had come to the United States as a young +man, had married, raised his two sons, and died in the city of New York. + +These two sons, Horatio and Homer, were respectively forty-five and +forty years of age. Both of them were married, and each of them had only +a son and a daughter. While Horatio had been remarkably successful in +his pursuit of wealth in the metropolis, he had kept himself clean and +honest, like so many of the wealthy men of the great city. When he +retired from active business, he settled at Bonnydale on the Hudson. + +His brother had been less successful as a business-man, and soon +after his marriage to a Northern lady he had purchased a plantation in +Alabama, where both of his children had been born, and where he was a +man of high standing, with wealth enough to maintain his position in +luxury, though his fortune was insignificant compared with that of his +brother. + +Between the two brothers and their families the most kindly relations +had always existed; and each made occasional visits to the other, though +the distance which separated them was too great to permit of very +frequent exchanges personally of brotherly love and kindness. + +Possibly the fraternal feeling which subsisted between the two brothers +had some influence upon the opinions of Horatio, for to him hostilities +meant making war upon his only brother, whom he cherished as warmly as +if they had not been separated by a distance of over a thousand miles. + +He measured the feelings of others by his own; and if all had felt as +he felt, war would have been an impossibility, however critical and +momentous the relations between the two sections. + +Though his father had been born and bred in England, Horatio was more +intensely American than thousands who came out of Plymouth Rock stock; +and he believed in the union of the States, unable to believe that any +true citizen could tolerate the idea of a separation of any kind. + +The first paper which Captain Passford read on the deck of the Bellevite +contained the details of the bombardment and capture of Fort Sumter; and +the others, a record of the events which had transpired in the few +succeeding days after the news of actual war reached the North. + +This terrible intelligence was unexpected to the owner of the yacht, +believing, as he had, in the impossibility of war; and it seemed to him +just as though he and his cherished brother were already arrayed against +each other on the battle-field. + +The commotion between the two sections had begun before his departure +from home on the yacht cruise, but his brother, perhaps because he was +fully instructed in regard to the Union sentiment of Horatio, was +strangely reticent, and expressed no opinions of his own. + +But Captain Passford, measuring his brother according to his own +standard, was fully persuaded that Homer was as sound on the great +question as he was himself, though the excitement and violence around +him might have caused him to maintain a neutral position. + +Certainly if the Northern brother had anticipated that a terrible +war was impending, he would not have permitted his daughter Florence, +a beautiful young lady of seventeen, to reside during the winter in a +hot-bed of secession and disunion. The papers informed him what had been +done at the North and at the South to initiate the war; and the thought +that Florry was now in the midst of the enemies of her country was +agonizing to him. + +Though he felt that his country demanded his best energies, and though +he was ready and willing to give himself and his son to her in her hour +of need, he felt that his first duty was to his own family, within +reasonable limits; and his earliest thoughts were directed to the safety +of his daughter, and then to the welfare of his brother and his family. + +"War!" exclaimed Mrs. Passford, when her husband had announced so +briefly the situation which had caused such intense agitation in his +soul. "What do you mean by war, Horatio?" + +"I mean all that terrible word can convey of destruction and death, and, +worse yet, of hate and revenge between brothers of the same household!" +replied the husband impressively. "Both the North and the South are +sounding the notes of preparation. Men are gathering by thousands on +both sides, soon to meet on fields which must be drenched in the gore of +brothers." + +"But don't you think the trouble will be settled in some way, Horatio?" +asked the anxious wife and mother; and her thoughts, like those of her +husband, reverted to the loving daughter then in the enemy's camp. + +"I do not think so; that is impossible now. I did not believe that war +was possible: now I do not believe it will be over till one side or the +other shall be exhausted," replied Captain Passford, wiping from his +brow the perspiration which the intensity of his emotion produced. +"A civil war is the most bitter and terrible of all wars." + +"I cannot understand it," added the lady. + +"Is it really war, sir?" asked Christy, who had been an interested +listener to all that had been said. + +"It is really war, my son," replied the father earnestly. "It will be +a war which cannot be carried to a conclusion by hirelings; but father, +son, and brother must take part in it, against father, son, and +brother." + +"It is terrible to think of," added Mrs. Passford with something like +a shudder, though she was a strong-minded woman in the highest sense of +the words. + +Captain Passford then proceeded to inform his wife and son in regard to +all the events which had transpired since he had received his latest +papers at Bermuda. They listened with the most intense interest, and the +trio were as solemn as though they had met to consider the dangerous +illness of the absent member of the family. + +The owner did not look upon the impending war as a sort of frolic, as +did many of the people at the North and the South, and he could not +regard it as a trivial conflict which would be ended in a few weeks +or a few months. To him it was the most terrible reality which his +imagination could picture; and more clearly than many eminent statesmen, +he foresaw that it would be a long and fierce encounter. + +"From what you say, Horatio, I judge that the South is already arming +for the conflict," said Mrs. Passford, after she had heard her husband's +account of what had occurred on shore. + +"The South has been preparing for war for months, and the North began to +make serious preparation for coming events as soon as Fort Sumter fell. +Doubtless the South is better prepared for the event to-day than the +North, though the greater population and vast resources of the latter +will soon make up for lost time," replied the captain. + +"And Florry is right in the midst of the gathering armies of the South," +added the fond mother, wiping a tear from her eyes. + +"She is; and, unless something is done at once to restore her to her +home, she may have to remain in the enemy's country for months, if not +for years," answered the father, with a slight trembling of the lips. + +"But what can be done?" asked the mother anxiously. + +"The answer to that question has agitated me more than any thing else +which has come to my mind for years, for I cannot endure the thought of +leaving her even a single month at any point which is as likely as any +other to become a battle-field in a few days or a few weeks," continued +Captain Passford, with some return of the agitation which had before +shaken him so terribly. + +"Of course your brother Homer will take care of her," said the terrified +mother, as she gazed earnestly into the expressive face of the +stout-hearted man before her. + +"Certainly he will do all for Florry that he would do for his own +children, but he may not long be able to save his own family from the +horrors of war." + +"Do you think she will be in any actual danger, Horatio?" + +"I have no doubt she will be as safe at Glenfield, if the conflict were +raging there, as she would be at Bonnydale under the same circumstances. +From the nature of the case, the burden of the fighting, the havoc and +desolation, will be within the Southern States, and few, if any, of the +battle-fields will be on Northern soil, or at least as far north as our +home." + +"From what I have seen of the people near the residence of your brother, +they are neither brutes nor savages," added the lady. + +"No more than the people of the North; but war rouses the brute nature +of most men, and there will be brutes and savages on both sides, from +the very nature of the case." + +"In his recent letters, I mean those that came before we sailed from +home, Homer did not seem to take part with either side in the political +conflict; and in those which came to us at the Azores and Bermuda, he +did not say a single word to indicate whether he is a secessionist, or +in favor of the Union. Do you know how he stands, Horatio?" + +"My means of knowing are the same as yours, and I can be no wiser than +you are on this point, though I have my opinion," replied Captain +Passford. + +"What is your opinion?" + +"That he is as truly a Union man as I am." + +"I am glad that he is." + +"I do not say that he is a Union man; but judging from his silence, and +what I know of him, I think he is. And it is as much a part of my desire +and intention to bring him and his family out of the enemy's country as +it is to recover Florry." + +"Then we shall have them all at Bonnydale this summer?" suggested Mrs. +Passford. "Nothing could suit me better." + +"Though I am fully persuaded in my own mind that Homer will be true to +his country in this emergency, I may be mistaken. He has lived for many +years at the South, and has been identified with the institutions of +that locality, as I have been with those of the North. Though we both +love the land of our fathers on the other side of the ocean, we have +both been strongly American. As he always believed in the whole country +as a unit, I shall expect him to be more than willing to stand by his +country as it was, and as it should be." + +"I hope you will find him so, but I am grievously sorry that Florry is +not with us." + +"Tug-boat alongside, Captain Passford," said the commander. + +The owner of the Bellevite wished the tug to wait his orders. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +DANGEROUS AND SOMEWHAT IRREGULAR + + +In various parts of the deck of the Bellevite, the officers, seamen, +engineers, and coal-passers of the steamer were gathered in knots, +evidently discussing the situation; for the news brought on board by +the pilot had been spread through the ship. + +Captain Passford hardly noticed the announcement made to him by the +commander, that the tug was alongside, for he was not yet ready to make +use of it. Even the wife and the son of the owner wondered what the +mission of the little vessel was to be; but the husband and father had +not yet disclosed his purpose in coming to anchor almost in sight of his +own mansion. + +"Why have you come to anchor here, Horatio?" asked Mrs. Passford, taking +advantage of the momentary pause in the interesting, and even exciting, +conversation, to put this leading question. + +"I was about to tell you. I have already adopted my plan to recover +Florry, and bring my brother and his family out of the enemy's country," +replied the owner, looking with some solicitude into the face of his +wife, as though he anticipated some objection to his plan. + +"You have adopted it so quick?" inquired the lady. "You have not had +much time to think of it." + +"I have had all the time I need to enable me to reach the decision to +rescue my child from peril, and save my brother and his family from +privation and trouble in the enemy's country. But I have only decided +what to do, and I have yet to mature the details of the scheme." + +"I hope you are not going into any danger," added the wife anxiously. + +"Danger!" exclaimed Captain Passford, straightening up his manly form. +"War with all its perils and hardships is before us. Am I a villain, +a poltroon, who will desert his country in the hour of her greatest +need? I do not so understand myself." + +"Of course I meant any needless exposure," added Mrs. Passford, +impressed by the patriotic bearing of her husband. + +"You may be assured, Julia, that I will incur no needless peril, and I +think I am even more careful than the average of men. But, when I have +a duty to perform, I feel that I ought to do it without regard to the +danger which may surround it." + +"I know you well enough to understand that, Horatio," said the lady. + +"I believe there will be danger in my undertaking, though to what extent +I am unable to say." + +"But you do not tell me how you intend to recover Florry." + +"I intend to go for her and my brother's family in the Bellevite." + +"In the Bellevite!" exclaimed the lady. + +"Of course; there is no other possible way to reach Glenfield," which +was the name that Homer Passford had given to his plantation. + +"But Fort Morgan, at the entrance of Mobile Bay, is in the hands of the +Confederates, and has been for three or four months," said Christy, who +had kept himself as thoroughly posted in regard to events at home as the +sources of information would permit. + +"I am well aware of it; and I have no doubt, that, by this time, the +fort is strongly garrisoned, to say nothing of other forts which have +probably been built in the vicinity," replied Captain Passford. + +"It says in this paper that the ports of the South have been blockaded," +said Christy, glancing at the journal in his hand. + +"The President has issued a proclamation to this effect, but there has +hardly been time to enforce it to any great extent yet. But of these +matters I have nothing to say yet. The important point now is that I +shall go in the Bellevite to Mobile Bay, and by force or strategy I +shall bring off my daughter and the family of my brother." + +"Then I suppose Christy and I are to be sent on shore in the tug +alongside," suggested Mrs. Passford. + +"That is precisely what I wanted the tug for," added the husband. + +"I should be willing to go with you, and share whatever dangers you may +incur," said the lady, who had by this time come to a full realization +of what war meant. + +"I should be a heathen to allow you to do so. A woman would be more of +a burden than a help to us. You had better return to Bonnydale, Julia, +where I am sure you can render more service to your country than you +could on board of the steamer. All that I am, all that I have, shall be +at the service of the Union; and I wish you to act for me according to +your own good judgment." + +"I shall do whatever you wish me to do, Horatio," added the lady. + +"My mission will be a dangerous one at best, and the deck of the steamer +will be no place for you, Julia." + +"Very well; Christy and I will take the tug as soon as you are ready to +have us leave you." + +"Am I to go on shore, father?" demanded Christy, with a look of chagrin +on his handsome face, browned by exposure to the sun on the ocean. +"I want to go with you; and I am sure I can do my share of the duty, +whatever it may be." + +"You are rather young to engage in such an enterprise as that before me, +Christy," added his father, as he gazed with pride at the face and form +of his son, who had thrown back his head as though he felt the +inspiration of all the manliness in his being. + +"If there is to be a war for the Union, I am a Union man, or boy, as you +like; and it would be as mean and cowardly for me to turn my back to the +enemy as it would be for you to do so, sir," replied Christy, his chest +heaving with patriotic emotion. + +"I am willing you should go with me," added Captain Passford, turning +from the young man to his mother. + +There was a tear in the eyes of the lady as she looked upon her son. It +was hard enough to have her husband leave her on such a mission: it was +doubly so to have Christy go with him. + +"Christy might be of great service to me," said his father. "I look upon +this war as a very solemn event; and when a man's country calls upon him +to render his time, his comfort, even his life, he has no moral right to +put himself, his father, his brother, or his son in a safe place, and +leave mere hirelings, the thoughtless, reckless adventurers, to fight +his battle for him." + +"I am ready to go, sir," added Christy. + +"He may go with you, if you think it best," said the mother with a +quivering lip. "I shall miss him, but I am sure you would miss him +more." + +"My first mission is hardly in the service of my country; at least, it +is not directly so, though I hope to be of some use to her during my +absence. As I said before, I think my first duty--a duty committed to +me by the Almighty, which takes precedence over all other duties--is, +within reasonable limits, to my own family. I will not spare myself or +my son, but I must save Florry and my brother's family." + +"I think you are right, Horatio." + +"On my return I shall present the Bellevite to the Government, which +is in sore need of suitable vessels at the present time, and offer my +services in any capacity in which I can be useful," continued Captain +Passford. "Captain Breaker," he called to the commander. + +"Here, sir." + +"Pipe the entire ship's company on the forecastle, and see that no one +from the tug is near enough to hear what is said there." + +Captain Breaker had formerly been a lieutenant in the navy, and the +forms and discipline of a man-of-war prevailed on board of the +steam-yacht. In a minute more the pipe of the boatswain rang through +the vessel, and all hands were mustered on the forecastle. The tug was +made fast on the quarter of the steamer, and no one from her had come +on board. + +Captain Passford and Christy walked forward, leaving the lady with her +own thoughts. She was a daughter of a distinguished officer in the navy, +and she had been fully schooled in the lesson of patriotism for such an +emergency as the present. She was sad, and many a tear dropped from her +still handsome face; but she was brave enough to feel proud that she had +a husband and a son whom she was willing to give to her country. + +The ship's company gathered on the forecastle; and every one of them +seemed to be deeply impressed with the solemnity of the occasion, for +not a light word was spoken, not a laugh played on any face. They had +just learned that the country was in a state of war; and the present +occasion indicated that the owner had some serious question in his mind, +which was now to be presented to them. + +The Bellevite was heavily manned for a yacht; but every person had been +selected for his position, from the highest to the lowest, with the +utmost care by Captain Breaker, assisted by the owner. Every one of them +had been attached to the steamer for at least a year, and some of them +for a longer period. All of them were personally known to the owner and +the members of the family, who had taken the greatest pleasure in +improving and assisting them and their families, if they had any. + +They were all devoted to the owner and the members of his family, who +had taken such a strong personal interest in them and theirs. Many +instances of the kindness of the lady in times of sickness and death, +as well as in the brighter days of prosperity and happiness, could be +related; and in return for all this generous and considerate treatment, +there was not a man on board who would not have laid down his life for +the family. + +It was certainly a model ship's company; and if there had ever been +another owner and captain like those of the Bellevite, there might also +have been such another collection of officers and seamen. But every one +of them had been selected for his moral character, not less than for his +nautical skill and knowledge. In fact, the personal history of any one +of them would have been interesting to the general reader. + +These men composed the audience of Captain Passford when he took his +place at the bowsprit bitts; and, if the occasion had been less solemn, +they would have cheered him, as they were in the habit of doing on every +suitable opportunity, and even when it was not suitable. + +The owner prefaced his remarks with a statement of the events which +had occurred in the country since the last dates they had received, and +then proceeded to describe his mission as indicated to his wife and son. +He fully stated the perils of the enterprise, with the fact that his +operations would be somewhat irregular; though he intended to make an +immediate tender of the vessel to the Government, with his own services +in any capacity in which he might be needed. + +In spite of the solemnity of the occasion, the men broke out into +cheers, and not a few of the sailors shouted out their readiness to go +with him wherever he might go, without regard to danger or hardship. One +old sheet-anchor man declared that he was ready to die for Miss Florry; +and he was so lustily cheered that it was evident this was the sentiment +of all. + +"I have called the tug at the quarter alongside to convey Mrs. Passford +to the shore, though Christy will go with me," added the owner. + +At this point he was interrupted by a volley of cheers, for Christy was +a universal favorite on board, as Florry had always been; and the ship's +company regarded her as a sort of mundane divinity, upon whom they could +look only with the most profound reverence. + +"In view of the danger and the irregularity of the enterprise, I shall +not persuade or urge any person on board to accompany me; and the tug +will take on shore all who prefer to leave the vessel, with my best +wishes for their future. Those who prefer to go on shore will go aft +to the mainmast," continued Captain Passford. + +Officers and seamen looked from one to the other; but not one of them +took a step from his place on the forecastle, to which all seemed to be +nailed. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE FIRST MISSION OF THE BELLEVITE + + +Captain Passford looked over his audience with no little interest, and +perhaps with considerable anxiety; for he felt that the success of his +enterprise must depend, in a great measure, upon the fidelity and skill +of the individual members of the ship's company. + +"My remarks are addressed to every person in the ship's company, from +Captain Breaker to the stewards and coal-passers; and any one has a +perfect right to decline to go with me, without prejudice to his present +or future interests," continued the owner. + +More earnestly than before the officers and men gazed at each other; and +it looked as though not one of them dared to move a single inch, lest a +step should be interpreted as an impeachment of his fidelity to one who +had been a Christian and a trusty friend in all his relations with him. + +"I know that some of you have families, mothers, brothers, and sisters +on shore; and I assure you that I shall not regard it as a disgrace or +a stigma upon any man who does his duty as he understands it, without +regard to me or mine," the owner proceeded. + +Still not a man moved, and all seemed to be more averse than before to +change their positions a particle; and possibly any one who was tempted +to do so expected to be hooted by his shipmates, if he took the +treacherous step. + +"I sincerely hope that every man of you will be guided by his own sense +of duty, without regard to what others may think of his action. I will +not allow any man to suffer from any reproach or indignity on account +of what he does in this matter, if by any means I can prevent it," +continued Captain Passford, looking over his audience again, to +discover, if he could, any evidence of faltering on the part of a +single one. + +Still officers and men were as immovable as a group of statuary; and not +a face betrayed an expression indicating a desire to leave the vessel, +or to falter in what all regarded as the allegiance they owed to the +owner and his family. + +"We will all go with you to the end of the world, or the end of the +war!" shouted the old sheet-anchor man, who was the spokesman of the +crew when they had any thing to say. "If any man offers to leave"-- + +"He shall go with my best wishes," interposed Captain Passford. "None of +that, Boxie; you have heard what I said, and I mean every word of it. +There shall be no persuasion or intimidation." + +"Beg pardon, Captain Passford; but there isn't a man here that would go +to the mainmast if he knew that the forecastle would drop out from under +him, and let him down into Davy Jones's locker the next minute if he +staid here," responded Boxie, with a complaisant grin on his face, as +if he was entirely conscious that he knew what he was talking about. + +"Every man must act on his own free will," added the owner. + +"That's just what we are all doing, your honor; and every one of us +would rather go than have his wages doubled. If any dumper here has a +free will to go to the mainmast, he'd better put his head in soak, +and"-- + +"Avast heaving, Boxie!" interposed the owner, smiling in spite of +himself at the earnestness of the old sailor. + +"I hain't got a word more to say, your honor; only"-- + +"Only nothing, Boxie! I see that not one of you is inclined to leave the +vessel, and I appreciate in the highest degree this devotion on your +part to me and my family. I have some writing to do now; and, while I am +engaged upon it, Mr. Watts shall take the name and residence of every +man on board. I shall give this list to my wife, and charge her to see +that those dependent upon you need nothing in your absence. She will +visit the friends of every one of you, if she has to go five hundred +miles to do so. I have nothing more to say at present." + +The men cheered lustily for the owner, and then separated, as the +captain went aft to draw up his papers to send on shore by Mrs. +Passford. He was followed by Captain Breaker, while little groups +formed in various parts of the deck to discuss the situation. + +"I intended to have some talk with you, Breaker, before I said any thing +to the ship's company; but, you know, it is very seldom that I ever say +any thing directly to them," said Captain Passford, as the commander +came up with him. + +"This was an extraordinary occasion; and I am very glad that you did +the business directly, instead of committing it to me," replied Captain +Breaker; "and I have not the slightest objection to make. But I have a +word to say in regard to myself personally. As you are aware, I was +formerly an officer of the navy, with the rank of lieutenant. I wish to +apply to the department to be restored to my former rank, or to any rank +which will enable me to serve my country the most acceptably. I hope my +purpose will not interfere with your enterprise." + +"Not at all, I think, except in the matter of some delay. I shall tender +the Bellevite as a free gift to the Government in a letter I shall send +on shore by my wife," replied Captain Passford. "But I shall offer to +do this only on my return from a trip I feel obliged to make in her. +I shall also offer my own services in any capacity in which I can be +useful; though, as I am not a naval officer like yourself, I cannot +expect a prominent position." + +"Your ability fits you for almost any position; and, after a little +study of merely routine matters, you will be competent for almost any +command," added Captain Breaker. + +"I do not expect that, and I am willing to do my duty in a humble +position," said the owner. "All that I am and all that I have shall be +for my country's use." + +"I knew very well where we should find you if the troubles ended in a +war." + +"My present enterprise will be rather irregular, as I have already said; +but the delay it would cause alone prevents me from giving the vessel to +the Government at once." + +"As a man-of-war, the Bellevite could not be used for the purpose you +have in mind. The plan you have chosen is the only practicable one." + +"Very well, Breaker. You had better pass the word through the ship's +company that the Bellevite will sail in an hour or two,--as soon as I +can finish my business; and if officer or seaman wishes to leave the +vessel, let him do so," added the owner, as he moved towards the +companionway. + +"Not one of them will leave her under any circumstances," replied the +commander, as he went forward. + +The word was passed, as suggested by the owner, and the result was to +set the greater part of the officers and men to writing letters for +their friends, to be sent on shore by the tug; but the captain warned +them not to say a word in regard to the destination of the steamer. + +In another hour Captain Passford had completed his letters and papers, +including letters to the Secretary of the Navy, a power of attorney to +his wife which placed his entire fortune at her command, and other +documents which the hurried movements of the writer rendered necessary. + +The owner and his son bade adieu to the wife and mother in the cabin; +and it is not necessary to penetrate the sacred privacy of such an +occasion, for it was a tender, sad, and trying ordeal to all of them. + +All the letters were gathered together and committed to the care of the +lady as she went over the side to leave the floating home in which she +had lived for several months, for the family did not often desert their +palatial cabin for the poorer accommodations of a hotel on shore. + +The pilot departed in the tug, and he was no wiser than when he came on +board in regard to the intentions of the owner of the steam-yacht. There +was an abundant supply of coal and provisions on board, for the vessel +was hardly three days from Bermuda when she came up with Sandy Hook; and +the commander gave the order to weigh anchor as soon as the tug cast off +her fasts. + +"I suppose we are bound somewhere, Captain Passford," said Captain +Breaker, as soon as the vessel was fully under way. "But you have not +yet indicated to me our destination." + +"Bermuda. The fact is that I have been so absorbed in the tremendous +news that came to us with the pilot, that I have not yet come to my +bearings," replied the owner with a smile. "My first duty now will be to +discuss our future movements with you; and when you have given out the +course, we will attend to that matter." + +Captain Breaker called Mr. Joel Dashington, the first officer, to him, +and gave him the course of the ship, as indicated by the owner. He was +six feet and one inch in height, and as thin as a rail; but he was a +very wiry man, and it was said that he could stand more hunger, thirst, +exposure, and hardship than any other living man. He was a gentleman in +his manners, and had formerly been in command of a ship in the employ of +Captain Passford. He was not quite fifty years old, and he had seen +service in all parts of the world, and in his younger days had been a +master's mate in the navy. + +The second officer was superintending the crew as they put things to +rights for the voyage. His person was in striking contrast with his +superior officer; for he weighed over two hundred pounds, and looked as +though he were better fitted for the occupancy of an alderman's chair +than for a position on the deck of a sea-going vessel. He was under +forty years of age, but he had also been in command of a bark in the +employ of his present owner. + +"Of course we cannot undertake the difficult enterprise before us, +Breaker, without an armament of some sort," said Captain Passford, as +they halted at the companionway. + +"I should say not, and I was wondering how you intended to manage in +this matter," replied the commander. + +"I will tell you, for our first mission renders it necessary to give +some further orders before we go below," continued the owner. "We have +not a day or an hour to waste." + +"The sooner we get at the main object of the expedition, the better will +be our chances of success." + +"You remember that English brig which was wrecked on Mills Breaker, +while we were at Hamilton?" + +"Very well indeed; and she was said to be loaded with a cargo of +improved guns, with the ammunition for them, which some enterprising +Britisher had brought over on speculation, for the use of the +Confederate army and navy,--if they ever have any navy," added Captain +Breaker. + +"That is precisely the cargo to which I allude. The brig had a hole in +her bottom, but only a part of her was under water. The officers of the +vessel were confident that the entire cargo would be saved, with not +much of it in a damaged condition," added the owner. + +"There has been no violent storm since we left St. George, hardly three +days ago," said the commander. + +"I wish to obtain as much of this cargo as will be necessary to arm the +Bellevite properly for the expedition; and I have a double object in +obtaining it, even if I have to throw half of it into the Atlantic +Ocean." + +"The fact that we need the guns and ammunition is reason enough for +trying to obtain the cargo." + +"But I have the additional inducement of keeping it out of the hands +of the enemy, so that the guns shall be turned against the foes of the +Union instead of its friends. We must make a quick passage, so that, +if we lose this opportunity, it will not be our fault." + +"I understand. Pass the word for Mr. Vapoor," added the commander to a +quartermaster who was taking in the ensign at the peak. + +Mr. Vapoor was the chief engineer; though he was the youngest officer on +board, and really looked younger than Christy Passford. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE BELLEVITE AND THOSE ON BOARD OF HER + + +Paul Vapoor was a genius, and that accounted for his position as chief +engineer at the age of twenty-two. He was born a machinist, and his +taste in that direction had made him a very hard student. His days and +a large portion of his nights, while in his teens, had been spent in +studying physics, chemistry, and, in fact, all the sciences which had +any bearing upon the life-work which nature rather than choice had given +him to do. + +His father had been in easy circumstances formerly, so that there had +been nothing to interfere with his studies before he was of age. Up to +this period, he had spent much of his time in a large machine-shop, +working for nothing as though his daily bread depended upon his +exertions; and he was better qualified to run an engine than most men +who had served for years at the business, for he was a natural +scientist. + +There was scarcely a part of an engine at which he had not worked with +his own hands as a volunteer, and he was as skilful with his hands as he +was deep with his head. Paul's father was an intimate friend of Captain +Passford; and when a sudden reverse of fortune swept away all the former +had, the latter gave the prodigy a place as assistant engineer on board +of his steam-yacht, from which, at the death of the former incumbent of +the position, he had been promoted to the head of the department. While +his talent and ability were of the highest order, of course his rapid +promotion was due to the favor of the owner of the Bellevite. + +Captain Breaker, who had rather reluctantly assented to the placing in +charge of the engineer department a young man of only twenty-one, had no +occasion to regret that he had yielded his opinion to that of his owner. +Paul Vapoor had been found equal to all the requirements of the +situation, for the judgment of the young chief was almost as marvellous +as his genius. + +Paul was gentle in his manners, and possessed a very lovable +disposition; in fact, he was almost a woman in all the tender +susceptibilities of his nature; and those who knew him best knew not +which to admire most, his genius or his magnetic character. Mr. Leon +Bolter, the first assistant engineer, was thirty-six years old; and +Mr. Fred Faggs, the second, was twenty-six. But there was neither envy, +jealousy, nor other ill-feeling in the soul of either in respect to his +superior; and they recognized the God-given genius of the chief more +fully than others could, for their education enabled them to understand +it better. + +Paul Vapoor and Christy Passford were fast friends almost from the +first time they met; and they had been students together in the same +institution, though they were widely apart in their studies. They were +cronies in the strongest sense of the word, and the chief engineer would +have given up his very life for the son of his present employer. The +owner favored this intimacy, for he felt that he could not find in all +the world a better moral and intellectual model for his son. + +Mr. Vapoor, as he was always called when on duty, even by the members of +the owner's family in spite of the fact that he seemed to be only a boy, +appeared on the quarter-deck of the steamer in answer to the summons of +the commander. He was neatly dressed in a suit of blue, with brass +buttons, though some of the oil and grime of the engine defaced his +uniform. He bowed, and touched his cap to the commander, in the most +respectful manner as he presented himself before him. + +"For reasons which you will understand better, Mr. Vapoor, at a later +period, Captain Passford is in a great hurry to reach Bermuda, where we +are bound, at the earliest possible moment," the captain began. "Our +ordinary rate of speed is fourteen knots when we don't hurry her." + +"That is what I make her do when not otherwise instructed," replied the +chief engineer. + +"You assisted as a volunteer in building the engine of the Bellevite, +and you were in the engine-room during the whole of the trial trip, +three years ago," continued Captain Breaker with a smile on his face; +and a smile seemed to be a necessity in the presence of the young man. + +"That is all very true, captain; and I was more interested in this +engine than I have ever been in any other, and it has fully realized my +strongest hopes." + +"What speed did you get out of her on the trial trip?" + +"Eighteen knots; but her machinery was new then. The order of Captain +Passford included the requirement that the engine of the vessel should +give her the greatest speed ever produced in a sea-going steamer, and +the Bellevite was built strong enough to bear such an engine. I believe +the company that built it fully met the requirement." + +"What do you believe to be her best speed, Mr. Vapoor?" + +"I have never had the opportunity to test it, but I believe that she +can make more than twenty knots, possibly twenty-two. You remember +that Captain Passford was in a desperate hurry to get from Messina to +Marseilles a year ago this month, and the Bellevite logged twenty knots +during nearly the whole of the trip," replied the engineer, with a +gentle smile of triumph on his handsome face, for he looked upon the +feat of the engine as he would upon a noble deed of his father. + +"You made her shake on that trip, Mr. Vapoor." + +"Not very much, sir. All the owner's family, including Miss Florry, were +on board then, and, if any thing had happened, I should have charged +myself with murder. I do not know what the Bellevite could do if the +occasion warranted me in taking any risk." + +"I do not wish you to be reckless on the present emergency; but it is +of the utmost importance to save every hour we can, and the success or +failure of the expedition may depend upon a single hour. I will say no +more, though an accident to the engine would be a disaster to the +enterprise. I leave the matter with you, Mr. Vapoor," added the +commander, as he moved off. + +"I understand you perfectly, Captain Breaker, and there shall be no +failure in the engine department to meet your wishes," replied the +chief, as he touched his cap and retired to the engine-room. + +"I am waiting for you, Breaker," said Captain Passford, who was standing +near the companionway with Christy. + +"Excuse me for a few minutes more, for there seems to be a strong +breeze coming up from the north-east, and I want to take a look at +the situation," replied the commander, and he hastened forward. + +It had been bright sunshine when the pilot came on board: but suddenly +the wind had veered to an ugly quarter, and had just begun to pipe +up into something like half a gale. Captain Breaker went to the +pilot-house, looked at the barometer, and then directed Mr. Dashington +to crowd on all sail, for he intended to drive the vessel to her utmost +capacity. + +The Bellevite was rigged as a barkantine; that is, she was square-rigged +on her foremast, like a ship, while her main and mizzen masts carried +only fore-and-aft sails, including gaff-topsails. The shrill pipe of the +boatswain immediately sounded through the vessel, and twenty-four able +seamen dashed to their stations. In a few minutes, every rag of canvas +which the steamer could carry was set. But the commander did not wait +for this to be done, but hastened to join the owner. + +"I suppose you don't want me, sir," said Christy, as his father led the +way into the cabin. + +"On the contrary, I do want you, Christy," replied Captain Passford, as +he halted, and the commander passed him on his way to the cabin. "I wish +you to understand as well as I do myself what we are going to do." + +"I shall be very glad to know more about it," added Christy, pleased +with the confidence his father reposed in him in connection with the +serious undertaking before him. + +"In the work I have to do, you stand nearer to me than any other person +on board," continued Captain Passford. "I know what you are, and you are +older than your sixteen years make you. It was at your age that Charles +XII. took command of the armies of Sweden, and he was more than a +figure-head in his forces." + +"Sometimes I feel older than I am," suggested the boy. + +"I believe in keeping a boy young as long as possible, and I have never +hurried you by putting you in an important place, though at one time I +thought of having a third officer, and assigning you to the position, +for the practice it would give you in real life; but I concluded that +you had better not be driven forward." + +"I think I know something about handling a steamer, father." + +"I know you do; though I have never told you so, for I did not care to +have you think too much of yourself. Now, in common with all the rest of +us, you are hurled into the presence of mighty events; and in a single +day from a boy you must become a man. You are my nearest representative +on board; and if any thing should happen to me, in the midst of the +perils of this expedition, a responsibility would fall upon you which +you cannot understand now. I wish to prepare you for it," said Captain +Passford, as he went down into the cabin. + +The commander was already seated at the table, waiting for the owner; +and Captain Passford and Christy took places near him. The cabin was as +elegant and luxurious as money and taste could make it. In the large +state-room of the owner there was every thing to make a sea-voyage +comfortable and pleasant to one who had a liking for the ocean. + +Leading from the main cabin were the state-rooms of Florence and +Christy. One of the four others was occupied by Dr. Linscott, the +surgeon of the ship, who had had abundant experience in his profession, +who had been an army surgeon in the Mexican war, though his health did +not permit him to practise on shore. + +Another was occupied by the chief steward, who was a person of no little +consequence on board; while the others were appropriated to guests when +there were any, as was often the case when the Bellevite made short +voyages. + +The trio at the table began the discussion of the subject before them +without delay; but it is not necessary to enter into its details, since, +whatever plans were made, they must still be subject to whatever +contingencies were presented when the time for action came. + +Forward of the main cabin was what is called in naval parlance the +ward-room, and it was called by this name on board of the Bellevite. In +this apartment the officers next in rank below the commander took their +meals; and from it opened the state-rooms of the first and second +officers on the starboard-side, with one for the chief engineer on the +port-side, and another for his two assistants next abaft it. + +The commander was an old friend of the owner, and messed with him in +the main cabin, though his state-room was a large apartment between the +cabin and the ward-room; the space on the opposite side of the ship +being used for the pantries and the bath-room. + +Before the conference in the cabin had proceeded far, the motion of the +steamer, and the creaking of the timbers within her, indicated that +Mr. Vapoor was doing all that could be required of him in the matter of +speed, though the pressure of canvas steadied the vessel in the heavy +sea which the increasing breeze had suddenly produced. Before night, the +wind was blowing a full gale, and some reduction of sail became +necessary. + +The Bellevite had the wind fair, and the most that was possible was made +of this accessory to her speed. At one time she actually logged the +twenty-two knots which the chief engineer had suggested as her limit, +and inside of two days she reached her destination. Christy had suddenly +become the active agent of his father, and he was the first to be sent +on shore to obtain information in regard to the guns and ammunition, for +it was thought that he would excite less suspicion than any other on +board. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +MR. PERCY PIERSON INTRODUCES HIMSELF + + +Christy procured the desired information on shore; and being but a boy, +he obtained no credit for the head he carried on his shoulders, so that +no attention was given to him when he made his investigation. At the +proper time Captain Passford appeared; but, as the guns and other war +material were intended for the other side in the conflict, he was +obliged to resort to a little strategy to obtain them. + +But they were obtained, and the Bellevite was as fully armed and +prepared for an emergency as though she had been in the employ of the +Government, as it was intended that she should be when her present +mission was accomplished. During her stay at St. George, such changes +as were necessary to adapt the vessel to her enterprise--such as the +fitting up of a magazine--were completed, and the steamer sailed. + +After a quick passage, the Bellevite arrived at New Providence, Nassau, +where she put in to obtain some needed supplies, as it was directly on +her course. Already there was not a little activity at the principal +foreign ports nearest to the Southern States, created by the hurried +operations of speculators anxious to profit by the war that was to come; +and later these harbors were the refuge of the blockade-runners. + +The arrival of the Bellevite at New Providence created not a little +excitement among the Confederate sympathizers who had hastened there to +take advantage of the maritime situation, and to procure vessels for the +use of the South in the struggle. The steamer was painted black, and, as +she had been built after plans suggested by her owner, she was peculiar +in her construction to some extent, and her appearance baffled the +curiosity of the active Confederate patriots and speculators alike; for +both classes were represented there, though not yet in large numbers. + +Captain Passford had instructed the commander to conceal all the facts +in regard to her, and no flag or any thing else which could betray her +nationality or character was allowed to be seen. The business of +obtaining the needed stores required many of the officers and men to go +on shore, but all of them were instructed to answer no questions. No one +was allowed to come on board. + +"Good-morning, my friend," said a young man to Christy, as he landed on +the day after the arrival. + +"Good-morning," replied the owner's son, civilly enough, as he looked +over the person addressing him, who appeared to be a young man not more +than eighteen years old. + +"What steamer is that?" continued the stranger, pointing to the +steam-yacht. + +Christy looked at his interlocutor, who was a pleasant-looking young +man, though there was something which did not appear to be quite natural +in his expression; and he suspected that he had been placed at the +landing to interrogate him or some other person from the steamer, in +regard to her character and nationality. Possibly he derived this idea +from the fact that he had himself been employed on a similar duty at St. +George. + +"Do you mean that schooner?" asked Christy carelessly, as he pointed at +a vessel much nearer the shore than the Bellevite. + +"No, not at all," replied the stranger. "I mean that steamer, off to the +north-east," replied the young man, pointing out into the bay. + +"North-east?" added the owner's son. "That is this way;" and he turned +about, and directed his finger towards the interior of the island. "That +would put the craft you mean on the shore, wouldn't it?" + +"Not a bit of it! I don't mean that way. Don't you know the points of +the compass?" + +"I learned them when I was young, but I forget them now." + +"Pray how old are you, my friend?" asked the stranger, who thought his +companion was stupid enough to answer any question he might put to him. + +"I was forty-two yesterday; and in a year from yesterday, I shall be +forty-three, if I don't die of old age before that time," replied +Christy, looking the other full in the face, and with as serious an +expression as he could command. + +"Forty-two! You are chaffing me. Didn't you come from that steamer over +there?" demanded the young man, pointing at the Bellevite again. + +"No, sir. I came from China, from a place they call Shensibangerwhang. +Were you ever there?" + +"I never was there, and I question if you were ever there." + +"Do you mean to question my veracity?" demanded Christy, knitting his +brow. + +"Oh, no, not at all!" + +"Very well; and when you go to Shensibangerwhang, I shall be glad to see +you; and then I will endeavor to answer all the questions you desire to +ask." + +"I thought you came from that steamer over there." + +"Thought made a world, but it wasn't your thought that did it." + +"Of course you know the name of that steamer." + +"Oh, now I think of her name! That is the Chicherwitherwing, and she +belongs to the Chinese navy. She is sent out on a voyage of discovery to +find the north pole, which she expects to reach here in the West Indies. +When she finds it, I will let you know by mail, if you will give me your +address," rattled Christy with abundant self-possession. + +"No, no, now! You are chaffing me." + +"Do you know, brother mortal of mine, that I suspect you are a Yankee; +for they say they live on baked beans, and earn the money to buy the +pork for them by asking questions." + +"I am not a Yankee; I am a long way from that." + +"Then perhaps you sympathize with the meridonial section of the nation +on the other side of the Gulf Stream." + +"Which section?" asked the stranger, looking a little puzzled. + +"The meridonial section." + +"Which is that? I don't know which meridian you mean." + +"I mean no meridian. Perhaps the word is a little irregular; I studied +French when I was in the Bangerwhangerlang College in China, and I am +sometimes apt to get that language mixed up with some other. Let me see, +we were speaking just now, were we not?" + +"I was." + +"Sometimes I can't speak any English, and I had forgotten about it. +If you prefer to carry on this conversation in Hebrew or Hindostanee, +I shall not object," added Christy gravely. + +"I think I can do better with English." + +"Have your own way about it; but 'meridonial' in French means +'southern,' if you will excuse me for making the suggestion." + +"Then I am meridonial," replied the stranger, and he seemed to make the +admission under the influence of a sudden impulse. + +"Your hand on that!" promptly added Christy, extending his own. + +"All right!" exclaimed the other. "My name is Percy Pierson. What is +yours?" + +"Percy Pierson!" exclaimed Christy, starting back with astonishment, as +though his companion had fired a pistol in his face. + +"What is the matter now?" demanded Percy Pierson, surprised at the +demonstration of the other. + +"What did you say your name was? Did I understand you aright?" + +"I said my name was Percy Pierson. Is there any thing surprising about +that?" asked Percy, puzzled at the demeanor of Christy. + +"See here, my jolly high-flyer, who told you my name?" demanded the son +of the owner of the Bellevite, with a certain amount of indignation in +his manner. + +"You did not, to be sure, though I asked you what it was." + +"What sort of a game are you trying to play off on me? I am an innocent +young fellow of sixteen, and I don't like to have others playing tricks +on me. Who told you my name, if you please?" + +"No one told me your name; and I don't know yet what it is, though I +have asked it of you." + +"Oh, get away with you! You are playing off something on me which I +don't understand, and I think I had better bid you good-morning," added +Christy, as he started to move off. + +"Then you won't tell me your name. Stay a minute." + +"You know my name as well as I do, and you are up to some trick with +me," protested Christy, halting. + +"'Pon my honor as a Southern gentleman, I don't know your name." + +"If you are a Southern gentleman, I must believe you, for I did not come +from as far north as I might have come. My name is Percy Pierson," added +Christy seriously; for he felt that this was actually war, and that the +strategy that does not always or often speak the truth was justifiable. + +"Percy Pierson!" exclaimed the real owner of the name. "Didn't I just +tell you that was my name?" + +"Undoubtedly you did, and that is the reason why I thought you were +making game of me." + +"But how can that be when my name is Percy Pierson?" + +"Give it up; but I suggest that in London, where I came from, there are +acres of King Streets, almost as many Queens; and, though you may not be +aware of the fact, there are seven thousand two hundred and twenty-seven +native and foreign born citizens of the name of John Smith. Possibly you +and I are the only two Percy Piersons in the country, or in the world." + +"Now you say you are from London, and a little while ago you said you +were from farther north than I am. Which is it?" + +"Isn't London farther north than any Southern State?" + +"Enough of this," continued Percy impatiently. + +"Quite enough of it," assented Christy. + +"Will you tell me what steamer that is, where she is bound, and what she +is here for?" + +"My dear Mr. Pierson, it would take me forty-eight hours to tell you +all that," replied the representative of the Bellevite, taking out his +watch. "If you will meet me here to-morrow night at sundown, I will make +a beginning of the yarn, and I think I can finish it in two days. But +really you must excuse me now; for I have to dine with the Chinese +admiral at noon, and I must go at once." + +"I can put the owner of that craft in the way of making a fortune for +himself, if he is willing to part with her," added Percy, as his +companion began to move off. + +"That is just what the owner of that steamer wants to do: he desires to +part with her, and he is determined to get rid of her. I have the means +of knowing that he will let her go just as soon as he can possibly get +rid of her." + +"Then he is the man my father wants to see; that is, if the vessel is +what she appears to be, for no one is allowed to go on board of her." + +"I am sorry to tear myself away from you, but positively I must go now; +for the Chinese admiral will get very impatient if I am not on time, and +I have some important business with him before dinner," said Christy, as +he increased his pace and got away from Mr. Percy Pierson, though he was +afraid he would follow him. + +But he did not; instead of doing so, he began to talk with a boatman who +had some kind of a craft at the landing. Christy was not in so much of a +hurry as he had appeared to be, and he waited in the vicinity till he +saw his Southern friend embark in a boat which headed for the Bellevite. +He concluded that his communicative friend meant to go on board of her, +thinking the vessel was for sale. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A COMPLICATION AT GLENFIELD + + +The boat in which Christy had come on shore carried off to the steamer +the last load of supplies, and she sailed in the middle of the +afternoon. Captain Passford and Christy were standing on the quarter +deck together; and, as the latter had not had time to tell his father +his adventure before, he was now relating it. + +The captain was amused with the story, and told his son that he had been +approached by a gentleman who said his name was Pierson, and he was +probably the father of the enterprising young man who had been so +zealous to assist in the purchase of a suitable vessel for the service +of the Confederates. + +"Let me alone! Take you hands off of me!" shouted a voice that sounded +rather familiar to Christy, as he and his father were still talking on +the deck. "Let me alone! I am a Southern gentleman!" + +"I know you are," replied Mr. Dashington, as he appeared on deck, coming +up from the companionway that led to the cabin and ward-room, holding by +the collar a young man who was struggling to escape from his strong +grasp. "Don't make a fuss, my hearty: I want to introduce you to the +captain." + +"What have you got there, Mr. Dashington?" asked Captain Breaker, who +was standing near the owner. + +"I have got a young cub who says he is a Southern gentleman; and I +suppose he is," replied the first officer. "But he is a stowaway, and +was hid away under my berth in the ward-room.--Here you are, my jolly +frisker: and that gentleman is the captain of the steamer." + +As he spoke, the officer set his victim down rather heavily on the deck, +and he sprawled out at full length on the planks. But he was sputtering +with rage at the treatment he had received; and he sprang to his feet, +rushing towards Mr. Dashington as though he intended to annihilate him. +But, before he reached his intended victim, he stopped short, and eyed +the tall and wiry first officer from head to foot. + +He concluded not to execute his purpose upon him, for he could hardly +have reached his chin if he resorted to violence. But he turned his back +to the captain, so that the owner and his son did not get a look at his +face. Captain Breaker walked up to him and began to question him. + +"If you are a Southern gentleman, as I heard you say you were, don't +you think it is a little irregular to be hid in the ward-room of this +vessel?" was the first question the commander asked. + +"I am what I said I was, and I am proud to say it; and I don't allow any +man to put his hands on me," blustered the prisoner. + +"But I think you did allow Mr. Dashington to put his hands on you," +replied the captain. + +"Of course I did not know that he was a Southern gentleman when I snaked +him out from under the berth," added the first officer. + +"I accept your apology," said the prisoner, coming down from his high +horse with sudden energy; possibly because he felt that he had a mission +on board of the steamer. + +All present laughed heartily at the apology of the giant mate, and +Christy changed his position so that he could see the front of the +stowaway. + +"Why, that is the gentleman I met on shore,--Mr. Percy Pierson!" +exclaimed the owner's son, as soon as he saw the face of his late +companion at the landing. + +"I am glad to see you again, Mr. Percy Pierson," said the original of +that name, as he extended his hand to Christy. + +"I did not expect to meet you again so soon, and under such +circumstances," replied he, taking the offered hand; for his father +had proclaimed his own principle on board, that, though the war was +not to be conducted on peace principles, it was to be carried on in an +enlightened, and even gentlemanly manner, so far as he was concerned. + +"I am right glad to see you, Mr. Percy Pierson, for I think you can +assist me in the object I have in view," said the first officer's +victim, looking now as though he was entirely satisfied with himself. + +"What do you mean by calling each other by the same name?" inquired +Captain Breaker, somewhat astonished at this phase of the conversation. + +"That is the most astonishing thing in the world, that my friend here +should have the same name I have; and he even thought I was playing +a game upon him when I told him what my name was," replied Percy, +laughing, and apparently somewhat inflated to find a friend on board. + +"Precisely so," interposed Captain Passford, before the commander had +time to say any thing more about the name. "But, as you both have the +same name, it will be necessary to distinguish you in some manner, or it +may make confusion while you remain on board." + +"I see the point, sir, though I do not expect to remain on board for any +great length of time; or possibly you may not," answered Percy. + +"Then, I suggest that you be called simply Percy, for that is a noble +name; and the other young man shall be addressed as Pierson. By doing +this we shall not sacrifice either of you," continued the owner, who did +not understand what his son had been doing. + +"I have not the slightest objection. My friend Pierson gave me some +information in regard to this steamer which made me very desirous to +get on board of her. That must explain why I was found here under +circumstances somewhat irregular, though a true gentleman can sacrifice +himself to the needs of his suffering country." + +"To what country do you allude, Mr. Percy?" asked Captain Passford. + +"To _our_ country," replied Percy with strong and significant emphasis, +as though he were sure that this would cause him to be fully understood. + +"Exactly so," added the owner. + +"But I see that you are sailing away from Nassau as fast as you can, and +I think I had better explain my business as soon as possible," continued +Percy, who seemed to be as confident as though he had already +accomplished his purpose as hinted at in his conversation with Christy. + +"I shall have to ask you to excuse me for a few minutes, for I have a +little business with the captain of the steamer and this young man," +said Captain Passford. "The tall gentleman who so gracefully apologized +for his seeming rudeness to you will entertain you while I am absent." + +The owner presented the tall first officer by name to his late victim, +and at the same time gave him a look which Mr. Dashington understood to +the effect that he was to keep the young man where he was. With a signal +to his son and to the captain, he went below. + +"I do not understand this masquerade, Christy," said he, as he seated +himself at the cabin table. "What have you been telling this young +fellow?" + +Christy had only informed his father that he had been approached by +Percy, and that he had, as well as he could, evaded his questions, +and he had fooled the young man. He then gave the substance of the +conversation at the landing, which amused both the owner and the +commander very much; though he could not recall the Chinese names, +invented on the spot, which he had used. + +"All right, Christy. This young man is evidently the son of the +gentleman by the name of Pierson who approached me for the purpose of +purchasing the Bellevite. I went so far as to tell him that the vessel +was for service in Southern waters. At any rate, he inferred that she +was intended for the navy of the Confederate States, and I did not think +it necessary to undeceive him. With this belief, he sought no further to +buy the vessel, and I had no difficulty in shaking him off. It seems +that the same mission absorbs the attention of the son, and that he has +come on board to purchase the steamer." + + [Illustration: "Let Me alone, I am a Southern Gentleman" (Page 81)] + +"I told him that you wanted to get rid of her, and that you would do so +soon, by which, of course, I meant that she was to go into the service +of the Government," added Christy. + +"I should not have taken this young man on board; but, as he is here, he +may be of use to us. But it is necessary to conceal from him the real +character of the Bellevite, and we will keep up the farce as long as we +please. So far as he is concerned, Christy, you may be my nephew instead +of my son." + +Captain Passford led the way back to the deck, where they found the +first officer evidently on the best of terms with his prisoner. But Mr. +Dashington had been as discreet as a man could be, and Percy had not +obtained a particle of information from him. + +"Now, Mr. Percy, I am at your service," said the owner, when he reached +the deck. "I think you said you had some business with me." + +"I have not the pleasure of knowing who or what you are, sir; and Mr. +Dashington and my friend Mr. Pierson are all I know on board by name," +added Percy. + +"Then you must be made better acquainted before any thing can be done," +replied the owner, pointing to the captain of the steamer. "Mr. Percy, +this is Captain Breaker, the commander of the steamer." + +"And this," added Captain Breaker, pointing at the owner, "is Captain +Passford, who is the fortunate owner of this vessel, though she is soon +to pass into other hands." + +"Captain Passford!" exclaimed Percy, bowing to both gentlemen as he +was presented to them. "That is a familiar name to me; and upon my word, +I thought it was Colonel Passford of Glenfield when I first looked at +him." + +"He is my brother; but I never heard him called 'colonel' before," added +the owner, laughing at the odd-sounding title, as it was to him. + +"Colonel Homer Passford is the name by which he is often called near his +residence," Percy explained. "He is the nearest neighbor of my father, +Colonel Richard Pierson." + +"Indeed! then you probably know my brother," said Captain Passford, +interested in spite of himself. + +"As well as I know any gentleman in the State of Alabama," replied +Percy. "By the great palmetto! you are Colonel Passford's brother; and +I think you must know Miss Florence Passford, who has been staying all +winter with her uncle." + +"She is my daughter," replied the owner with some emotion, which he +could not wholly conceal when he thought of his mission in the South. + +"I have met her several times, though not often, for I have been away +from home at school. But my brother, Major Lindley Pierson, I learn from +my letters, is a frequent visitor at your brother's house: and they even +say"-- + +But Percy did not repeat what they said, though he had gone far enough +to give the father of Florry something like a shock. + +"What were you about to say, Mr. Percy?" he asked. + +"I think I had better not say it, for it may have been a mere idle +rumor," answered Percy, who was now beginning to disclose some of his +better traits of character. + +"Does it relate to my daughter, sir?" asked the captain rather sternly; +for, in the present condition of the country, he was more than +ordinarily anxious about his daughter. + +"I ought not to have said any thing, sir; but what I was about to say, +but did not say, does relate to Miss Florence," replied Percy, not a +little embarrassed by the situation. "But I assure you, sir, that it was +nothing that reflects in the slightest degree upon her. As I have said +so much, I may as well say the rest of it, or you will think more than +was intended was meant." + +"That is the proper view to take of it, Mr. Percy." + +"It was simply said that my brother Lindley was strongly attracted to +your brother's house by the presence of your daughter. That is all." + +But the fond father was very anxious. Of course the major was a +Confederate. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A DISCONSOLATE PURCHASER OF VESSELS + + +The information in regard to Florry was very meagre and very indefinite. +She was a very beautiful young lady of eighteen; and it was not at all +strange that a young Confederate officer should be attracted to her, +though the thought of it was exceedingly disagreeable to her father, +under present circumstances. + +Percy evidently was not satisfied with the situation; and after he had +given the information which had so disturbed the owner of the steamer, +he desired to change the subject of the conversation, to which Captain +Passford only assented after he realized that nothing could be +ascertained from him in regard to his daughter. + +"I don't think I quite understand the situation on board of this +steamer," said Percy, when he had told all he knew about the visits of +his brother at Glenfield. + +"What further do you desire to know in regard to her?" asked Captain +Passford; for the commander, when he saw that there was a family matter +involved in the conversation, was disposed to be very reticent. + +"I did not come on board of this vessel in the manner I did--I do not +even know her name yet," continued Percy; and when he found that he was +talking to a brother of Colonel Passford, he dropped all his rather +magnificent airs, and became quite sensible. + +"The steamer is called the Bellevite," replied the owner. + +"The Bellevite. It is an odd name, but I think I can remember it. I was +about to say that I did not come on board of her, as I did, without an +object; for I assure you that I am high-toned enough not to do any thing +in an irregular manner unless for the most weighty reasons," said Percy, +with an anxious look directed towards the island, which was now almost +out of sight. + +"I do not ask your reasons; but, if you wish to give them, I will hear +all you have to say, Mr. Percy," replied the owner. + +"I talked with Mr. Pierson on shore; and though he was disposed at first +to chaff me, and avoid giving me any information in regard to this +steamer, he afterwards informed me that the gentleman who owned her +intended to get rid of her as soon as he could." + +"And you came on board for the purpose of buying her?" suggested Captain +Passford. + +"I did not expect to buy her myself, of course; but my father is +exceedingly anxious to obtain a steamer like this one, and he asked me +to do what I could to obtain any information in regard to her. That was +the object which brought me on board of her in a clandestine manner." + +"You were very zealous in meeting the wishes of your father." + +"More than that, I was at work in a good cause; and I think I have +patriotism enough to do my duty to my country in the hour of her need," +added the young man, with a swell of the chest. + +"After his family, a man's first duty is to his country," said the +owner. + +"I wanted to go into the army, for I am eighteen years old; but my +father insisted that I could be of more service to the Confederacy as +his assistant in obtaining vessels for its use." + +"I understand your motives." + +"From what I learned from Mr. Pierson,--though I do not yet know who or +what he is," said Percy, bestowing a smiling glance upon Christy. + +"You may look upon him as my nephew," added Captain Passford, glancing +at his son, who gave a slight bow for the benefit of the guest on board. + +"From what I could learn from your nephew, sir, I concluded that this +steamer could be bought, if I could only obtain an interview with the +owner," continued Percy, with an inquiring glance at all who were +present "I understand you are the owner of the vessel, Captain +Passford." + +"You are quite right: she has been my yacht since she was built, and a +stronger and more able vessel was never put into the water." + +"Mr. Pierson gave me to understand that he was in sympathy with the +Confederacy; and since I came on board, and learned that you were a +brother of our nearest neighbor, I have no difficulty in arriving at the +conclusion that you are a devoted friend of the Southern cause." + +"What I am, for the present, I do not feel at liberty to say," replied +Captain Passford, who was certainly reluctant to play a double part +before the young man, though he felt that the necessities of the +occasion required him to do so. + +"Quite right, sir; one cannot be too cautious in these times. But it +is time for me to say that I did not intend to take passage in the +Bellevite, and I am sure my father will be very anxious in my absence." + +"May I ask how you did intend to proceed?" + +"I can hardly tell myself, sir; but my object was to see the owner as +soon as I could discover who he was. But I have found you now, Captain +Passford, and I am glad to find in you a friend of our holy cause." + +The owner only bowed; and it was as true as it could be that the +representative of the intended purchaser of vessels jumped at nearly all +of his conclusions, giving the captain but little occasion to say any +thing that was not literally true; though the deception was just as real +as though it had been carried on with actual falsehood. + +"May I ask you for a few minutes in private, Captain Passford?" +continued Percy. + +"Certainly;" and the owner retired with him to the weather-rail. + +"I have seen this vessel, and I have heard what you say of her. Now I am +better informed in regard to her than my father is. I am not authorized +to name a price, but I am very sure that he will buy her." + +"So he said to me himself, Mr. Percy," added the owner with a smile. + +"He said so to you, sir!" exclaimed the young man, starting back; for he +believed that he had accomplished all that had been done towards buying +the vessel. + +"I had an interview with him, and stated most explicitly that the +Bellevite could not be purchased by any person at any price; and when +I hinted very guardedly to him, as I do to you, in the strictest +confidence, that I am hound for Mobile Bay, he did not urge the matter. +He was satisfied that the steamer was to be used in a good cause; and I +can give you the same assurance, Mr. Percy." + +The young man looked positively humble after he had listened to the +remark of the owner, for he felt that his father had "taken all the wind +out of his sails." He looked in the direction of the receding island of +Nassau, and realized that he had been wasting his time, to say nothing +of the wasted strategy he had bestowed on his enterprise. + +"You have stated that you are bound for Mobile Bay, sir," said he. +"That is a long distance from New Providence, as I have learned from +experience." + +"But this trip will give you the satisfaction of being restored to your +own home in a very short time, for there is no faster vessel afloat than +the Bellevite," added Captain Passford. + +"It will put me into the army," said Mr. Percy; but he felt at once that +he had made a slip of the tongue, and he hastened to correct the effect +of his involuntary speech. "Of course, I wanted to go into the army of +my country, as every patriotic fellow in the South does; but my father +objects simply because I can be of more service to the good cause in +another field of action, and I had to yield the point." + +The owner thought he had not been guilty of a very savage yielding of +his own inclination, but he said nothing. He was evidently the youngest +child of the family, and doubtless the pet of his parents; and it was +hard for them to put him in a position to be shot, or to endure the +hardships of the camp. + +"I see now that my mission is a failure, though with no detriment to the +good cause. I wish I was in New Providence again," continued Mr. Percy, +looking very much discontented with himself. + +"I am sorry you did not speak to me on shore as your father did, and +that would have saved you from all annoyance." + +"But I must beg you to do me the favor to put me ashore again, for my +father will suffer untold agonies when he misses me to-night." + +"Put you on shore!" exclaimed Captain Passford. "You are a sensible and +reasonable young gentleman, and you will readily see that this is quite +impossible." + +"We have not been out above two hours, sir," suggested Percy. + +"But we have made thirty-six miles, at least, in that time; and to +return would delay me about four or five hours,--long enough, perhaps, +to defeat the object of my voyage. I assure you that it is wholly +impossible for us to return." + +"Do you think so, sir?" asked the enterprising purchaser of vessels, +looking very disconsolate indeed. + +"I not only think so, but I am perfectly sure on this point. You can see +for yourself that I cannot sacrifice the object of my voyage--for the +vessel has a special mission at her destination--by a delay of some +hours. I am not responsible for your being on board, and I am sorry that +I cannot do any thing for you." + +"But you can put me ashore at Key West, and I may find some vessel bound +to Nassau," suggested Percy, becoming more and more disconsolate, as he +realized the difficulties of his situation, for he was plainly very much +averse to returning to his home. + +"But, my dear Mr. Percy, the Bellevite will not go within fifty miles +of Key West; and if she did, I should not dare to put in there, for the +port is a naval station of the United States, and my vessel might be +taken from me in the absence of any regular papers to explain her +character." + +"I suppose you are right," added Percy gloomily. + +Captain Passford was really more afraid of falling in with any naval +vessel of the nation than of meeting any of the Confederate tugs or +other vessels which had been hurriedly fitted out, even at this early +period of the war; for he knew that his mission, however justifiable +under the circumstances, was quite irregular. He had decided to keep at +least fifty miles from Key West, and the usual course of vessels bound +into the Gulf of Mexico. + +"We may meet some vessel, and you could put me on board of her," the +disconsolate young man proposed. + +"My mission compels me to give every vessel a wide berth, and I can +incur no risks. But it cannot be a great hardship for you to be conveyed +back to your own home." + +"But my father needs me with him, and he will suffer terrible anxiety +when he fails to find me. He will even think I am dead." + +"I know he must be anxious, but I think some way will be found to send a +letter to him." + +"But I shall be compelled to go into the army, and my father is utterly +opposed to that." + +"But you have a brother who is a major in the army, and I should say +that he will be able to save you." + +"My brother is the one who insists that I shall go into one of the +regiments forming in the State. He called me a coward because I yielded +to my father and mother." + +"All that is your own family affair, and I am sorry that I can do +nothing for you, Mr, Percy.--Mr. Watts," he called to the chief steward, +who was planking the lee-side of the deck. + +"Here, sir," replied the official. + +"Give Mr. Percy the best stateroom available, and see that he is made as +comfortable and happy as possible," added the owner. + +The involuntary guest on board was conducted to the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +CHRISTY MATURES A PROMISING SCHEME + + +However interesting the voyage of the Bellevite might prove to be, the +purpose of this story does not admit of its details. Mr. Vapoor was +instructed to the effect that a quick run was desirable, and he governed +himself accordingly. At daylight on a bright May morning, the lofty +light tower of Sand Island, off the entrance to Mobile Bay, was reported +by the lookout, and the captain was called. + +On the passage from Nassau, the guns of the steamer had been mounted; +for, as a measure of prudence, they had been put in the hold. Though the +owner hoped to avoid any close scrutiny of his outfit, and had succeeded +in doing so, he was not inclined to tempt fate by any carelessness. But +when the first watch was called, the night before her arrival off the +bay, every thing was in condition for active service. + +Captain Passford had not a particle of the foam generated by the +excitement of the times, and he sincerely hoped he should have no +occasion to use the guns which it had cost him so much trouble to +procure. Fort Morgan was on one side of the entrance to the bay, and +Fort Gaines on the other side. + +He had seen a paragraph in one of his papers, to the effect that one or +both of these works had been garrisoned by Confederate troops, and it +was not likely to be an easy matter to get into the bay. As it looked to +the owner and the commander, the only way to accomplish this feat was by +running the gauntlet of both forts, which were just three nautical miles +apart. + +A shot from either of them might go through the boiler or engine of the +Bellevite, which would render her utterly helpless, and subject all on +board to the fate of prisoners-of-war. It looked like a terrible +alternative to the owner, so overburdened with anxiety for the safety of +his daughter; but he was prepared to run even this risk for her sake. + +The method of getting into the bay had been fully considered by the +owner and the captain; and as soon as the latter came on deck, he +ordered the course of the vessel to be changed to the westward, as they +had decided to enter the bay by the Middle Channel. For the danger from +Fort Gaines was believed to be less than that from Fort Morgan, though +either of them doubtless had the means of sinking the steamer with a +single shot. + +The water was shoal in the Middle Channel, and it was not prudent to +attempt to go into the bay at any other time than high tide; though +Captain Breaker was thoroughly acquainted with the channel, having once +been engaged in a survey of the shifting shoals in this locality, and he +had once before taken the Bellevite by this passage on a trip to New +Orleans. + +As he could not foresee the time of the steamer's arrival off the bay, +he was obliged to consult his almanac, and make his calculations in +regard to the tide, which rises and falls less than three feet at this +point. It would not be safe to attempt the passage before nine o'clock +in the forenoon, and he headed the vessel away from the land. + +Percy had tried to make the best of his situation, annoying as it was; +and Christy amused him with more Chinese reminiscences. Both of them +came on deck at an unusually early hour on the morning that the Sand +Island light was made out; for there was more commotion than usual on +board, and even in the cabin, where the owner and commander discussed +the situation. + +"Here we are, my Chinese friend," said Percy, as he joined Christy on +deck, and made out the tall tower in the distance. "I wish I was on the +Island of Nassau, instead of here." + +"Why, Mr. Percy, this is your own, your native land; and in China we +always used to have a warm affection for our own country," replied +Christy. + +"You didn't have to go into the army there," said Percy with a sigh. + +"But don't you want to go into the army?" + +"Certainly I do; that is the dearest wish of my heart. But my father +would not let me, and what could I do?" + +"If you were bent on it, like a patriot, as you must be, you could run +away and enlist. I don't know but I shall do that when I get back to +China." + +"I don't like to do any thing to make my poor father unhappy. I am +afraid my absence now, without his knowing where I am, or whether I am +dead or alive, will bring on a fit of sickness." + +"But I am sure he would be very proud of you if you should run away and +join the army." + +"Perhaps he would; but I should not feel very proud of myself if I did +a thing like that. I am only afraid I shall meet my brother, Major +Pierson, and that he will make me go into some regiment against the +wishes of my father and mother. He is not willing to hear a word from +either of them," replied Percy, disgusted with the prospect before him. + +"He is very patriotic," suggested Christy. + +"He is altogether too patriotic for me. But don't misunderstand me: I am +really very anxious to go into the army, and fight the enemies of my +country." + +"I see that you are, and perhaps you and I had better run away and +enlist." + +"My conscience would not let me do that contrary to the wishes of my +parents," replied Percy, shaking his head vigorously. + +"But you may not see your brother the major; for probably he has been +ordered away with his regiment before this time," said his companion in +comforting tones, though he was not as sincere as he generally was. + +"I am afraid I shall; and I fear, that, in the absence of my father, he +would put me into the ranks in spite of all I could do." + +"But your mother is at home." + +"Lindley don't care a rush for what she says in this matter, for he +insists that a boy of eighteen ought not to be tied to his mother's +apron-strings when his country needs his services, I may see my brother +before we get fairly into the bay." + +"Where in the world are you going to see him before you get on shore?" +asked Christy, becoming more interested in the conversation. + +"I believe he is in command of the garrison at Fort Gaines, though I am +not sure," replied Percy, suddenly looking more disconsolate than ever +at the prospect of meeting his patriotic brother. + +"What makes you think he is?" asked Christy, with the feeling that he +might be on the point of obtaining some useful information. + +"They talked of sending him there before father and I left for New +Providence." + +"I supposed your brother was a young fellow like yourself." + +"I believe he is twenty-six years old; but he has been two years in a +military school in North Carolina, and they say he is a good soldier, +and knows all about guns and forts and such things." + +"Where do you think we are likely to overhaul him?" + +"I don't know much about this business; but don't a boat have to come +out from the fort and see that this vessel is all right before she can +go into the bay?" asked Percy. + +"I don't know about that. We may run into the bay without waiting for +any boat." + +"Then they fire on you from the fort," suggested the disconsolate. + +"We rather expect that," added Christy quietly. + +"You do?" + +"Of course, a shot from the fort may blow us out of the water; but we +can't help that, and we must take our chances of being hit." + +"But that is terribly risky business, and the whole of us may be killed +before we get by the fort." + +"Of course: that may be the case; but we have no papers, and we have to +take things as they come." + +"It isn't pleasant to take cannon-balls as they come, for they are apt +to hit hard. But they won't fire at us if a boat comes off to examine +the vessel." + +"But in that case you will have the pleasure of meeting your brother the +major." + +"And whatever he may do with the steamer, he will take me to the fort +with him, and put me into the ranks." + +"Perhaps we can save you from such a fate in some way," suggested +Christy, who was already doing some heavy thinking on his own account. + +"I wish you would!" exclaimed Percy, catching at the straw held out to +him. + +"There is time enough, and I will see you again," added Christy, as he +joined his father on the forecastle, where lie was taking a survey. + +The owner's son had an idea, and he thought it was a good one. Without +losing any time, he laid it before his father, explaining it in detail. +He was even ready to remove objections to the scheme, and was confident +that it would succeed. Captain Passford called the commander, and +informed him what his son had suggested. Captain Breaker heartily +approved it; for, if it failed, it would leave the steamer in no worse +position than before, with all her chances of running the gauntlet +successfully still open to her. + +Christy was the best person on board to manage the details, for he was +the most intimate with the son of the purchaser of vessels. He returned +to that part of the deck where he had left his companion. He found that +Percy was very anxious to see him again, for he had founded a hope on +what had been said before. + +"I think we can manage it, Mr. Percy, if you will do just what you are +told to do," Christy began. + +"I will do all that to the letter," protested Percy; and a smile +actually lighted up his face at the prospect of escaping the fate to +which his father and mother objected so strongly. + +"You see the trouble with the Bellevite is that she has no papers; not +even a letter from the Confederate agent who is picking up vessels for +the navy. But I think we can manage it if you will learn your part +correctly." + +"I will do that. Do you think you can really keep my brother from taking +me to the fort?" asked Percy, his tones and manner burdened with +anxiety. + +"I feel almost sure of it." + +"Good for you!" + +"You must go into the cabin now with me. They are just starting up the +steamer again, and she will soon reach the channel where she is going +into the bay." + +The owner and the commander were busy in instructing the ship's company +in regard to what would be expected of them as soon as the Bellevite was +in motion again. All the men spoken to smiled as they heard what was +said to them, and they evidently regarded the whole affair as a decided +pleasantry. But they all promised to be very discreet, and to say only +what they had been told to say if they were called on for any +information by Confederate officials. + +In the mean time Christy was very busy with his pupil, who entered +heartily into the plan which promised to save him from shouldering a +musket in one of the companies of his brother's regiment. He had been +quite enthusiastic from the first; and, as he was deeply interested in +the result of the adventure, he was a very apt pupil. + +As the Bellevite approached the Middle Channel, a tug-boat was +discovered off Fort Gaines, which immediately began to move towards the +approaching steamer. Examined with the glass, a heavy gun was seen on +her forecastle. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE ATTEMPT TO PASS INTO MOBILE BAY + + +The tug appeared to be one of the craft which had been hastily prepared +for service, and she did not look like a formidable vessel. Captain +Breaker was sure he could blow her out of the water with his heavy guns, +on an emergency; but this would be bad policy, and he did not propose to +do any thing of this kind. + +He was not as confident as Captain Passford and his son were that the +plan adopted would be an entire success, with the assistance of Percy; +but there could be no harm in trying it. He intended to pass as near +Fort Gaines as possible, for it was not probable that the works were +yet in the best condition; and two miles from Fort Morgan, which was +doubtless much stronger, would afford a better chance of escaping any +shots fired from it. + +As the Bellevite approached the channel, where there could not be more +than a foot of water under her keel, Christie came on deck, followed by +Percy. The latter wore a sort of naval uniform, which his instructor had +borrowed for him from his own stock. It fitted him well; for he was no +larger than the owner's son, though he was two years older. + +Percy was to be on duty, on board of the steamer, as a Confederate agent +taking the vessel into the bay for service. He was not a little inflated +by the position which had been assigned to him, though he had no powers +whatever, except in appearance. He had been instructed to conduct +himself boldly, and to insist that the vessel was in his charge, when +she was boarded by officers from the tug or from the fort. His very +nature inclined him to play this part to the best advantage. + +The blockade had been established at some of the northern ports of the +seceded States, but not yet at the cities on the Gulf of Mexico; and +the only real obstacle to the passage of the Bellevite into the bay +consisted of the two forts, for the tug-boats were not regarded as of +any consequence to an armed steamer of great speed like the Bellevite, + +"We are approaching the shoal water now," said Captain Breaker to Mr. +Vapoor, as the steamer came near the south-eastern end of Pelican +Island. "We may take the ground, for the shoals have an ugly trick of +changing their position. Let her go at about half speed." + +"Half speed, sir," replied the chief engineer, as he descended to the +engine-room. + +"Is it fully high tide now, Breaker?" asked Captain Passford, who was +watching the movements of the vessel with the most intense interest, for +it seemed to him that the critical moment in his enterprise had come. + +"Not quite; it will not be full sea for about half an hour," replied the +commander. "If we take the ground, we shall have some small chance of +getting off.--Mr. Dashington." + +"On duty, sir," responded the first officer. + +"Beeks has the wheel, I believe?" + +"Yes; and Thayer is with him." + +"They are both reliable men; but I wish you would stand by the helm, +and see that the steamer is headed directly towards the eastern end of +Dauphine Island. That will give us the deepest water till we get to the +spit. Have a man in the port and starboard chains with directions to +sound as fast as possible." + +"Mr. Blowitt," called the first officer, "let a hand sound in the port +and starboard chains, and look out for it yourself, if you please." + +The second officer went forward and the first officer aft, each to +perform the duties assigned to him by the captain. The speed of the +Bellevite had been reduced, and she was going along at a very easy rate. +The tug was some distance beyond Fort Gaines when she was first seen, +and she seemed to be incapable of making more than six knots an hour. + +The steamer had taken on board all the coal it was possible for her to +stow away in her bunkers, and a large supply had been put into the hold; +but she had used a considerable portion of it in her rapid passage, +though she had still an abundant supply for her return voyage. The +reduction in the quantity had made her draught somewhat less, and the +owner and captain hoped she would get through the channel. + +But the thought had hardly passed through their minds before the +Bellevite came to a sudden stop, and her keel was heard grinding on +the bottom. Mr. Vapoor heard the sound in the engine-room, and felt the +jar; and before any bell came to him, he had stopped the machine, and +reversed it so as to check the steamer's headway. + +"Run her back with all the steam you can crowd on, Mr. Vapoor," said +Captain Breaker, as he hastened to the door of the engine-room. + +"I don't think she hit the ground very hard, captain," added the chief +engineer. + +"No; she will come off. The ground has shifted since I was here last," +said the captain of the vessel. + +But it was half an hour before she yielded to the pressure brought to +bear upon her, and then only because a few inches had been added by the +tide to the depth of water. She went back, and came into depth enough to +give her a foot under her keel. + +"It don't look very hopeful," said Captain Passford, as he joined the +commander at the door of the engine-room. + +"Oh, I think we shall be all right now!" replied Captain Breaker very +cheerfully. "I have found where the shoal is now, and I know where to +find deeper water.--Keep her going astern, Mr. Vapoor." + +"A boat from the fort, sir," reported a messenger, who had been sent aft +by the second officer on the forecastle. + +"That looks like an inquiry into our business here," added the owner. + +"Now we are all right," said the commander, who was watching the +position of the vessel very carefully. "I must go to the wheel, and look +out for the course myself." + +Again the Bellevite went ahead; and she soon reached a point half way +between the two forts, and her speed was reduced to not more than three +knots. But the tug was approaching, and the worst part of the channel +was still to be attempted. The two men in the chains reported the depth +as rapidly as they could heave the lead, and it was soon evident that +the steamer could not pass the extensive bar to the westward of the +ship-channel. + +"Steamer ahoy!" shouted the captain of the tug, as he stopped his screw +within hailing-distance of the Bellevite. + +"Reply to that hail, Mr. Percy," said the commander to the young +gentleman in uniform. "You must do all the talking." + +"I shall be very happy to do it, and I think I can do it to your +satisfaction," replied Percy confidently. + +"Jump up on the rail nearest to the tug, where you can see and hear." + +"I am not much of a sailor, Captain Breaker, and I don't pretend to be +one," added Percy. "What shall I say to the captain of that boat?" + +"On board of the tug!" shouted the agent of his father, after the +commander had instructed him in regard to his speech. + +"What steamer is that?" demanded the master of the tug. + +Captain Breaker instructed him in what manner to make his reply, though +he did not tell him what to say. The young man was to explain the +character of the vessel as he understood it; and neither the commander +nor the owner was disposed to indulge in any unnecessary strategetical +falsehood, though they felt that they could do so in the service of the +Union. + +"The Bellevite from Nassau," replied Percy. + +"Is she a Federal vessel?" inquired the captain of the tug with the +greatest simplicity. + +"A Federal vessel!" exclaimed Percy, evidently expressing by his manner +some of the indignation he felt. "Do you mean to insult me, sir?" + +"No, I do not mean to insult you; but it becomes necessary for me to +ascertain something more in regard to the steamer," returned the other. +"Where are you from?" + +"I told you the vessel was from Nassau." + +"But she don't hail from Nassau. Where did she come from before that?" + +"From Bermuda," answered Percy, as instructed. + +"But she don't belong to Bermuda." + +The volunteer agent of the Confederate cause was not able to answer any +questions in this direction, and the commander did not tell him what +more to say. + +"Can you tell me who is in command of Fort Gaines at the present time?" +demanded Percy, branching out on his own account. + +"I can; but I want you to tell me something more about the steamer, +before I answer any questions. Is the steamer armed?" + +"She is armed; and she could blow your tug into ten thousand pieces +in four minutes if she should open upon you," added Percy; and the +listeners were of the opinion that he was beginning to use strong +speech. + +"That may be; but with a fort on each side of you, I don't think you +will get into the bay in broad daylight," said the captain of the tug. +"The commander of Fort Gaines is in that boat, and I suppose he is +coming off to examine the steamer. As you are not disposed to answer my +questions, you can wait for him; but if you try to get into the bay, you +will find that a shot from both forts can reach you." + +"I am an agent of the Confederate government, and my father has been +sent to Nassau to obtain vessels for our navy," continued Percy, as he +saw that the boat from the fort was still some distance from the vessel. + +"Why didn't you say so before?" demanded the captain of the tug rather +impatiently. "Of course you have some papers from the agent at Nassau, +to show what the vessel is." + +"Not a single paper; he had no time to give me any." + +"Who is the agent?" + +The question was evidently put as a test; for if the young agent, as +the captain could see that he was, gave a known name, it would be some +evidence that he told the truth. + +"Colonel Richard Pierson; and he is my father." + +"Your father!" exclaimed the other, evidently impressed with the fact, +and his tone was more respectful. + +"You can come on board and see her for yourself," suggested Percy, +prompted by the commander; for there was nothing on board to betray her +true character, the guns having been concealed. + +"I will not do that, as the commander of the fort will soon be here, and +he may make the examination for himself. But perhaps you will be willing +to give me your name?" added the captain. + +"My name is Percy Pierson; and, as I told you, I am the son of Colonel +Richard Pierson." + +"Then you are the brother of Major Pierson, who is in command of Fort +Gaines. I think it must be all right." + +"Of course it is all right. Do you think I would bring a vessel into +this bay if she were not all right?" inquired Percy with becoming +indignation. + +"I suppose you have heard there is going to be a war, and it is +necessary to find out what vessels go into the bay," said the captain of +the tug, when he had brought his craft quite near the steamer. "That is +a very fine vessel." + +"It is the fastest and strongest steamer that floats, and she will give +a good account of herself when the trouble begins in earnest." + +"Here comes the boat from the fort, and I see that Major Pierson is in +the stern sheets. I have no doubt he will find you all right," said the +captain. + +The boat came alongside of the Bellevite, and the major went on board. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE MAJOR IN COMMAND OF FORT GAINES + + +Percy Pierson retained his position on the rail when his brother the +major came up the gangway steps, which had been put over for him. As +the latter went up, he could not help seeing him; and his astonishment +evidently mounted to the highest degree, as manifested in his +expression. The owner and the commander stood near the rail, to give +the visitor a pleasant reception. + +But the major took no notice of them; for his attention was plainly +absorbed in his surprise at seeing his brother, dressed in uniform, on +the rail of the steamer. He halted as soon as he had mounted the rail, +over which he must pass to reach the deck. He looked at Percy for some +time, without being able to say a word, and seemed to be not quite sure +that it was he. + +The younger brother was as silent as the older one; for he had had some +rather exciting times with him in the matter of enlisting, and he was +not very confident of his reception at the hands of the commander of +Fort Gaines. He looked at him with interest, not unmingled with some +painful solicitude for the future. + +"Percy!" exclaimed Major Pierson at last, when he was entirely satisfied +that the young man was his brother, in spite of the uniform of blue he +wore, though the gray had not yet come into extensive use. + +"Lindley!" added the younger, evidently desiring to go no faster than +the occasion might require of him. + +"I am glad to see you back again," continued the major, without offering +to take his hand. "You deserted like a coward, and I have been ashamed +of you ever since. A young fellow like you, eighteen years old, who will +not fight for his country, ought to lose the respect of even his own +brother." + +"That is a pleasant greeting," replied Percy, with the suspicion of a +sneer on his face. + +"It is all that a coward deserves," replied Lindley severely. + +"I am no coward, any more than you are," protested Percy. "You know that +father did not wish me to join the army, though I wished to do so." + +"I know that you wished to do so just as any other coward does,--over +the left." + +"What could I do when father told me not to go to the war?" + +"What could you do? You could have gone! If you had not been a poltroon, +you would have joined the first regiment that came in your way." + +"I never was in the habit of disobeying my father," pleaded the young +agent. + +"You were not? You ran away to New Orleans last winter when your father +told you not to go. You came home from the academy when he told you to +remain there. You have spent the evening in Mobile when he told you not +to go there. I could tell you instances all day in which you disobeyed +him, and mother too," continued the soldier warmly. + +"That was different." + +"It was different; and you could obey your father in a bad cause, but +not in a good one. I am heartily ashamed of you, and I don't feel +willing to own you as a brother of mine." + +"But my father told me that I could better serve the good cause by going +with him than I could by joining the army." + +"And you were willing to go with him, for then you could keep out of +danger. Father is getting old, and he is not fit to serve in the army; +and you have been his pet since you were born. But that is no excuse for +you; and if I can get you back into the army, I mean to do so." + +Percy was afraid he might succeed, and he did not feel as confident as +he had been; and he lost, for the time, some of his self-possession. He +was confronting the fate he had dreaded when he found the steamer was +leaving Nassau. + +"What are you doing here?" demanded the major, looking down upon the +deck of the vessel for the first time. + +"I am taking this steamer into the bay, where she is to go into the +service of the Confederate States," answered Percy, plucking a little +more confidence from the nature of his present occupation. + +"You are taking her into the bay!" exclaimed the older brother. + +"That is what I said, and that is what I mean," added Percy, glad to see +that his mission had produced an impression. + +"Taking this steamer into the bay!" repeated the major, evidently unable +to comprehend the mission of his brother. "Do you mean to say that _you_ +are taking her in, Percy?" + +"That is what I mean to say, and do say." + +"Are you the pilot of the steamer? I should think you might have been, +for she was aground just now," sneered the commander of the fort. + +"I am not the pilot, and I don't pretend to be a sailor; but the steamer +is in my charge," replied Percy, elevating his head to the need of the +occasion. + +"In charge of the steamer! I would not trust a coward like you in charge +of a sick monkey," added Lindley, with his contempt fully expressed in +his face. + +"See here, Lindley, I don't mean to be insulted on board of this steamer +by my own brother. If you can't be decent, I have nothing more to say to +you!" cried Percy, his wrath breaking out quite violently. + +"If you give me an impudent word, I will take you into the boat and put +you into the fort," added the major, as he stepped down upon the deck. + +"No, you won't. I will jump overboard before I will be carried to the +fort. I have done just what my father told me to do, to say nothing of +my mother; and I won't be insulted by you. It is you who are the coward +and the poltroon, to do so," continued Percy, boiling over with rage. + +Whatever provocation the major had had for his savage treatment of +his brother, the owner of the Bellevite thought his conduct was +unjustifiable. The young man was under age; and whether or not his +father was less a patriot than his older son, the latter was certainly +unkind, ungenerous, and even brutal. Without being a "milk-and-water +man," Captain Passford was full of kindness, courtesy, and justice. He +did not like the behavior of the major towards his brother. + +It looked like a family quarrel of the two brothers on board of the +steamer; for Percy was evidently "a weak chicken," after all, though he +had become desperate under the stings and reproaches of the major. Under +present circumstances, it did not appear that Percy could be of any +service on board of the Bellevite, for his brother would not hear a word +he said. Captain Passford directed the commander to have every thing +ready for a hurried movement at once, for there was but little hope of +satisfying a man as unreasonable as the commander of the fort had proved +himself to be in his dealing with his brother. + +The captain of the steamer went to Mr. Vapoor, who was standing near the +door of the engine-room, and said something to him, which soon produced +a lively effect among the coal-passers below. + +"I will attend to your case in a few minutes, Percy, for I do not allow +any one to be impudent to me," growled the major. + +"Nor I either. If you put a finger on me, I will put a bullet through +your head, if you are my brother!" yelled Percy, as he took a small +revolver from his hip-pocket. + +This demonstration increased the anger of Lindley; and he ran up the +steps to the rail again, where he called upon two soldiers to come on +deck. At the same moment, Captain Breaker, as instructed by the owner, +rang the bell on the quarter, and the engine began to move again. Before +the men from the boat could leave it, the steamer was moving, and it was +no longer possible for them to obey the order. + +"What are you about, sir?" demanded Major Pierson, rushing to the +commander, not a little excited by what had been done. + +"I think this thing has gone about far enough, sir," replied Captain +Breaker, as calmly as though there had not been a ripple on the surface +of affairs. + +"But I came on board of this steamer to make an examination of the +character of the vessel," protested the major, who evidently did not +like the present aspect of the situation. + +"I have waited for you to do so; but I do not care to lose the tide +while you are quarrelling with your brother, sir," added the commander. + +"But I order you to stop, sir!" continued the major. + +"What am I to do, Mr. Percy?" asked Captain Breaker, addressing the +young man with a revolver in his hand. + +There was something on the part of the commander which indicated that +he was playing a part, as were all on board, though he seemed to be +a little amused to find that he was taking his orders from a boy of +eighteen. At the same time he nodded his head slightly, though very +significantly, to the young agent. + +"Go ahead just as fast as you can make the steamer travel, Captain +Breaker," said Percy, with as much energy as though he had been in +command of a Confederate fleet. + +"Certainly, Mr. Percy; I shall obey your order, as you have charge of +the vessel," added the commander. + +This passage between the authority of the steamer and his brother +absolutely confounded the major, and for a couple of minutes he was +unable to say any thing at all. But Captain Breaker, who was the only +pilot on board, was obliged to leave the ship's guest in order to look +out for the course of the steamer. + +It seemed to be useless to attempt to get over the bar where he +had tried to do so; and he directed the vessel towards the main +ship-channel, finding plenty of water to enable him to reach it. But he +would have to run the gauntlet of Fort Morgan, and the chances of a shot +were against him. + +"Do you mean to say that Percy is in charge of this steamer, Captain +Breaker?" demanded Major Pierson, who had by this time recovered some +portion of his self-possession. + +"That is what both he and I said to you," replied Captain Breaker. + +"And the vessel is to be in the service of the Confederate States," +added Percy, with more pluck than he had displayed before. "If my +brother will not let her pass into the bay, I will go on shore at +Fort Morgan, and explain the situation to the officer in command," +blustered Percy; and perhaps he would have done just as much under the +circumstances if he had known the vessel was on the other side in the +coming conflict. + +"Where are your papers, sir?" asked the major. + +"We have no papers; and that is why I am come in charge of the steamer," +replied the agent, who seemed to be quite able to strain a point when +necessary. + +"We met Colonel Richard Pierson in Nassau, and I believe he is your +father and Mr. Percy's," answered Captain Breaker. + +"He is; but I can hardly understand how he happened to send my brother +home in charge of this fine steamer," said the major, glancing at his +brother. + +"Going into the army is not all the duty a man has to do for his +country," said Percy warmly. + +"May I ask where this vessel came from?" inquired the commander of the +fort. + +"From New York before she went to Bermuda and Nassau; before that, from +England," replied the commander evasively. + +"If you are really in charge of the steamer, Percy, I have nothing more +to say," continued Major Pierson. "Now may I ask who owns her?" + +"Captain Horatio Passford, who stands there?" + +The officer in command of the fort started back as though he had +received another surprise, greater than before. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +HOW THE BELLEVITE PASSED FORT MORGAN + + +Major Lindley Pierson was plainly very much disturbed when the owner +of the Bellevite was pointed out to him by the commander. He had +practically retreated from the position he had taken with his brother, +and had apparently given up the idea of sending him to the fort to be +made a soldier. + +From the point which the steamer had reached, just north of Little +Pelican Island, Captain Breaker had directed Mr. Dashington to head the +vessel to the eastward, through Sand Island Channel; and she was now +moving towards the main ship-channel, which passed under the very guns +of Fort Morgan. + +The tug had picked up the boat from the fort on the other side of the +bay, and was following the Bellevite, though she had fallen a long way +behind her in a very short time. It was about two miles to the more +formidable fort, and the steamer was going at full speed, so that it +could not be long before a shot would interrupt the harmony of her +movements. + +In the mean time the commander of Fort Gaines was really a prisoner on +board of the Bellevite, for Captain Breaker had started her screw before +he could get any of his force on board. But the major was not half so +much disturbed by this fact as he was by the consciousness that he had +behaved in a very rude, brutal, and tyrannical manner in the presence of +Colonel Passford's brother, who had thus far spoken not a word to him. + +"Captain Breaker, may I ask you to present me to the owner of the +steamer?" said Major Pierson, after he had looked about him for a time, +and perhaps considered how he should atone for his rudeness. + +"Certainly, if you desire it," replied the commander, who was as polite +as though he had been brought up in Paris, though he was hardly an +exception to all naval officers. + +"Will you excuse me if I say that you are running at great speed, sir, +and a shot from Fort Morgan cannot be much longer postponed," added the +major, as he glanced at the fort on the right. + +"I did not willingly start the steamer, sir; but it was my duty to +protect the agent in whose charge the steamer comes into port. If you +say that he shall suffer no further annoyance, either on your own part +or that of your people, I will stop the screw and wait your pleasure," +said the commander. + +"I have had some difficulty with my brother, and it looked incredible +to me that he had come into Mobile Bay in charge of this fine vessel. +I apologize to you and the owner for my rudeness, and assure you that I +will not trouble Percy again while he remains on board," continued Major +Pierson, with no little embarrassment in his manner. + +"I accept the apology, and your explanation is entirely sufficient. What +happens to Mr. Percy after he leaves the steamer does not concern me," +answered Captain Breaker with a polite bow, as he went to the quarter +and rang the bell to stop her. + +When he had done this, he conducted Major Pierson to the quarter-deck, +where Captain Passford and Christy were seated, and formally presented +him to both of them. + +"I am most happy to make your acquaintance, Captain Passford," said the +commander of Fort Gaines, as he extended his hand to the owner, which +was taken, though the expression of the gentleman from the North did not +indicate that he was very well pleased with him. + +To Christy he was as polite as to his father, and to both he was almost +obsequious. It was rather difficult for father or son to realize that +this was the man who had threatened to send his own brother to the fort +as a soldier, to say nothing of the abusive language he had used. + +"I am very glad to see you in the State of Alabama, Captain Passford, +and especially at this time," the major began; and it looked as though +the cordiality of his welcome was to compensate for former rudeness. + +"I am not a total stranger here," added the owner rather coldly. + +"It affords me a degree of pleasure I cannot express to see you come +here, as events are getting big all around us, and with such a fine +steamer. I am sure the Government will regard you as one of its greatest +and truest benefactors," continued Major Pierson. + +"It is my intention to serve the good cause with whatever measure of +ability I may possess; but I do not care to say any thing at all about +my purpose till I have talked with my brother. I hope I shall find my +brother Homer in full sympathy with me in my views," added the owner, +though it was not a pleasure to him even to deceive an enemy. + +"Colonel Passford!" exclaimed the major. "Have you any doubt about him?" + +"Hardly any, though I prefer to talk with him before I say much on my +own account." + +"Colonel Passford is not a very demonstrative man, but no one in the +vicinity of Glenfield has any doubt as to how he stands on the great +question." + +"I think no one will have any doubt as to how I stand, as soon as I take +my position." + +"Certainly, sir, you will give no doubtful sound." + +"I hope not." + +"I came on board to examine this steamer before we permitted her to +pass the forts," continued Major Pierson. "I find her in charge of +my brother, in the absence of any letter from my father or other +Confederate agent. I humbly apologize for the rudeness of which I was +guilty, though I assure you I have had abundant provocation for it." + +"That is a family affair with which we have nothing to do beyond the +proper protection of the young agent in charge of the steamer." + +"I wish to say that I am entirely satisfied, Captain Passford, and I am +heartily delighted to learn that you are about to make your residence in +this section of the country," said the major, who seemed to have assured +himself on this point without much assistance from those most deeply +concerned. + +The owner looked at him, and tried to ascertain what was passing in +his mind; and it was not a very difficult enterprise to accomplish his +purpose. The hint he had received about the frequent visits of Major +Pierson at Glenfield seemed to explain the present operations of his +mind. Florry Passford was a beautiful young lady of eighteen, and any +young man of twenty-six could easily have been excused for making his +visits very often at the mansion in which she resided. + +Though the fond father was not disposed to interfere unnecessarily with +the choice of his daughter, even the hint that she might be entangled +more than a thousand miles from her home had given him a positive shock. +Now that he had seen the young man, and observed his conduct on board of +the Bellevite, he most earnestly hoped that she was not in any degree +committed to him. He had an additional inducement to get her away from +the home of his brother, and the thought of it nerved him to increased +exertion. What he had seen of the commander of Fort Gaines, though he +appeared to be a faithful, patriotic, and energetic young man, as he +understood his duty to his country, assuredly he was not the person he +would have chosen for Florry. But his brother could tell him more about +it, and how far the matter had gone, when he saw him. + +By the time Captain Passford had settled his conclusions as far as he +could, the tug came up to the steamer, towing the boat from the fort, +Percy felt that he had won a victory over his brother, and a Bantam +rooster could not have made a wider spread on the deck. He seemed to +feel that he was in command of the steamer, though he did not venture +to interfere with any thing on board. + +"I am very sorry to have given you any annoyance, Captain Passford," +said the major, as the tug came up to the gangway. "I think we should +have understood each other better if your steamer had not got aground." + +"We have suffered little or no inconvenience, sir." + +"Whether you have or not, you shall suffer no more. The tug has come +alongside, and I will see that you are not delayed a moment after I +can get to Fort Morgan, which will certainly fire upon you if I do not +interfere; and I will go to it in the tug," continued the major, who was +still struggling to make all the atonement in his power for his former +conduct. + +"You are very kind, Major Pierson, and I am under obligations to you. +I have not seen my daughter for nearly six months, or my brother; and +the sooner I meet them, the better I shall like it," replied the owner. + +"I have had the pleasure of meeting your daughter several times, as +your brother's plantation is next to my father's. It is possible that, +if the exigencies of the coming war permit, I may desire to address a +communication to you at no distant day," said Major Pierson, with +considerable embarrassment in his manner. + +Captain Passford made no reply to this remark; for he thought it was +entirely out of place under present circumstances, and hoped matters had +not gone far enough even to think of future formalities. The major shook +hands with the owner and his son, and then with the commander, and went +over the side. As he did so, he requested Captain Breaker not to advance +till he reached the fort, or at least not to attempt to pass it. + +The tug-boat went off on its course, but it was nearly half an hour +before it got near enough to the fort to allow the Bellevite to start +her screw. As there was nowhere less than three fathoms of water, and +Captain Breaker knew every inch of bottom, he directed Mr. Vapoor to +hurry the engine, so that no one should have time to change his mind. +The steamer shot by the fort as though she did not like the looks of it, +and in another half an hour she was out of the reach of its guns. + +The commander had piloted the steamer to her present destination before; +and there was plenty of water till she nearly reached the wharf, where +the planter could load small vessels with cotton. It was not within the +city of Mobile, though it was not far from it; and it was a sort of +low-ground paradise, which money and taste had made very beautiful. + +"What am I to do now, Mr. Pierson?" asked Percy, when the steamer had +come to her moorings alongside the wharf. + +"That will be for you to decide, Mr. Percy: but you had better take that +uniform off before you live any longer, for I am afraid some one will +mistake your character if you wear it on shore," replied Christy. + +"I don't know that I shall go on shore," replied the agent doubtfully. +"I got by my brother very nicely, thanks to Captain Breaker; for I +should have been sent to the fort if he had not started the screw." + +"Do you think you are in any danger here?" asked Christy. + +"I know I am. My father's house is over in that direction about half +a mile. My brother can leave the fort any time he likes; and he will +either do so, or send some of his men up here in the fast tug to catch +me." + +"Why don't you go into the army, if your brother is so anxious about it, +Percy?" + +"That is just what I want to do, but my father positively forbid my +doing so," replied the volunteer agent. "I should like to get back to +Nassau; for I know I shall be forced into the army, in spite of my +father, if I stay here." + +"My boy," called his father, "I am going on shore now, and I should like +to have you go with me to see your uncle." + +Christy was glad to do so; and he departed with the owner, leaving Percy +in charge of the commander. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A DECIDED DIFFERENCE OF OPINION + + +If Homer Passford was not a rich man in the sense that his brother was, +he was still a wealthy man, and lived in a style as elegant as that of +any nabob in the South. More than this, and of vastly more consequence, +he was a good and true man. He was a member of his church, and his +brother believed that he was a genuine and true religious man. The same +principles of justice, humanity, and fairness had been born into both of +the brothers, and inherited from the same father. + +This was the brother whom he from the North was about to visit on the +most solemn and momentous questions which could unite or separate the +only two sons of the same father. Though Horatio had reasoned himself +into the belief that Homer was as strongly a Union man as he was +himself, he had argued without any adequate premises; and now, when he +was almost on the threshold of his door, he did not feel sure of the +position of his brother, though his hope was very strong. + +It was with no little trepidation on this account that he rang the bell +at the front door of Glenfield. A few minutes or an hour or two would +settle the momentous question, and decide whether or not all the family, +as well as Florry, would take passage in the Bellevite for a more +Northern clime. + +"De Lo'd!" exclaimed the venerable colored man that came to the door. +"De hull family done be wery glad to see you, Massa 'Ratio." + +"I hope you are very well, Pedro," replied Captain Passford, as he gave +his hand to the old servant. "Here is Christy." + +"De Lo'd bless Massa Christy!" And he shook hands with the son as he had +with the father. + +"Is your master at home, Pedro?" asked the visitor, in haste to see his +brother. + +"Yes, sar; all de folks to home; jes' gwine to lunch. I spects dey all +wery glad to see Massa 'Ratio and Massa Christy. Walk in, sar; took a +seat in de parlor; and I done reckon we call Massa Homer and de rest ob +de folks afore you gits to sleep in yer char, thar," said Pedro, as he +scurried out of the room where he had shown the visitors. + +It was Florry who caught the first sound of the visitors who had +arrived, and she rushed into the drawing-room before the others could be +called from up-stairs. She bounded into the room like a fawn, with her +eyes swimming with tears, and threw herself into her father's arms. She +could not speak a word, and the captain was as dumb as she was. + +For a moment she remained folded in his arms, and then she gently +disengaged herself, to render the same wealth of affection in its +manifestation to her brother, who was standing by her father when she +darted into the room. But Christy was a boy, and not as demonstrative as +his father, though he discharged the duties of the affecting occasion +with becoming fidelity, so that the loving girl was sure that his heart +was where it had always been. + +"Why, papa, I had no idea of seeing you to-day!" exclaimed Florry, when +she had wiped away her abundant tears. "I did not know that I should +ever see you again, for they say that all the roads to the North have +been closed to travel." + +"We did not come by land, either by railroad or otherwise; and the +Bellevite lies at the wharf near this house," the captain explained. + +"I was terribly afraid I should never see you again, and that I should +have to stay here till this war is ended, papa; but they say it will +soon be over," said the fair girl. + +"I am afraid it will not be over for a long time, for each side is +firmly united in its own cause. But I could not leave you here. Do you +want to go back to Bonnydale, Florry?" + +"Do I want to go back? What a funny question, papa!" exclaimed she. + +"Why is it a funny question?" asked the anxious father, recalling the +rather presumptuous suggestion the gallant major from Fort Gaines had +made. + +"Don't you think I want to see mamma? You have not told me a word about +her; and it is a long time now since I have heard any thing. I do want +to go home, and especially I want to see mamma." + +"Then you shall see her." + +"Is she here, papa?" exclaimed Florry, leaping out of the chair in which +she had seated herself. + +"She is not here, my child. She is at home, but it will not take many +days to bear you to her," replied the devoted father, embracing her +again, while she kissed him over and over again. + +"Can I see her before the war is over, papa?" she asked. + +"Certainly you can, if no accident interferes with my plans. You really +want to go home?" + +"To be sure I do. How cruel it is of you to ask me such a question!" + +"Then I won't ask it again. But perhaps you will not be able to come to +Glenfield again for years," added Captain Passford, looking earnestly +into her face. + +"What makes you look at me so, papa? What have I done? You look just as +you did when I was little and pulled the kitten's tail." + +"It is a long time since I have seen you, Florry and I want to look at +you all I can." + + [Illustration: "She was Clasped in her Father's Arms" (Page 148)] + +"Then you may look at me as much as you wish; and I shall be thankful it +is not that Major Pierson who comes here, for he has stared me out of +countenance every time he came," replied she, blushing a little. + +"Then you don't like him, do you?" asked her father, with more interest +than he cared to display. + +"I like him well enough, but I wish he would not stare at me all the +time. He seems to think I am good for nothing but to look at," replied +Florry smartly. + +But the entrance of Mr. and Mrs. Passford turned aside the inquiries +the captain was making before he had satisfied himself, though he had +obtained enough to afford him some hope. The greeting extended to the +brother and nephew was all that could be expected or desired; and if +the country had not been riven into two bitterly hostile sections, the +interview could not have been more brotherly and affectionate. A full +hour was used in talking about the trip of the Bellevite, so anxious +were the family, including Florry, to hear the particulars of the +voyage. + +"But how in the world did you get here, Horatio, when every public +conveyance that leads into the South has been discontinued?" asked +Homer. + +"I came as I came before," replied Horatio. + +"You came in the Bellevite!" exclaimed Homer. + +"I did." + +"But how did you get by the forts? Both of them have been garrisoned, +and they have been ordered to allow no vessel to pass unless she give +a good account of herself," continued the planter. + +"In other words, it is war now," added Horatio. + +"Undoubtedly it is war; and, in my judgment, it will be a terrible +conflict before it is finished." + +"I fully agree with you, Homer." + +"But you did not tell me in what manner you passed the two forts, which +are already strong enough to blow your steamer into a thousand pieces," +suggested Homer. + +"I did not tell you, and I think we had better understand each other a +little better before I say any thing at all about the passage of the +forts; though I can assure you that not a single shot was fired at the +Bellevite," said Horatio, somewhat embarrassed by the situation. + +"De lunch am ready, saw," said a darky at the door at this moment; and +perhaps the summons saved the owner of the Bellevite from some further +annoyance. + +An hour was spent at the table, for there was enough to talk about +without meddling with delicate subjects. When the repast was over, +Florry invited her brother to look at the flower-garden, which was +in the height of its glory, and she was followed by Gerty her cousin, +and by Mrs. Passford. As in the Northern family, there were only two +children; but Cornelius, or Corny as he was generally called, was not +at home, though nothing at all was said about him. + +Horatio was invited into the library by his brother, and they seated +themselves for a long talk. The owner of the Bellevite was confident +that he should soon know on which side the planter belonged, though he +was still confident in his former views. + +"I suppose there is no other way for you to get here at the present +time except in your yacht, and not many men can command so elegant +and substantial a vessel as the Bellevite," said Homer, when they were +seated. "But what in the world do you expect to do with her down here?" + +"I intend to return to my home in her, and to take my daughter back to +her mother," replied Horatio, as unmoved as though he had uttered a +commonplace expression. + +"Take Florry back to her mother!" exclaimed Homer, springing out of his +armchair as though his five-and-forty years counted for nothing. "I hope +that nothing at all is the matter with your brain, Horatio." + +"Nothing at all, so far as I am aware, Homer. You seem to think it is a +great undertaking to take my daughter home," added Horatio. + +"But it is war in this country, and all along the coast. You will +certainly be captured, and your daughter sent to a prison, at least till +she can be sent home. You have not more than one chance in ten to get to +New York." + +"Do you think so?" asked Horatio, smiling. + +"If you don't know it, I do, my dear brother, that the Southern +Confederacy has sent out agents to buy up all the suitable vessels they +can find, to do duty as cruisers and privateers. You are almost sure to +be captured, and think what Florry would suffer in such an event." + +"You seem to think that the North is going to hold still, and let you do +all this, Homer," added the owner of the Bellevite. + +"I don't see how the North can help itself." + +"My information is rather meagre; but I am informed that the Government +of the United States has proclaimed the blockade, and even that it is +enforced farther north, as I am sure it will be on the south." + +"That is all nonsense, Horatio, and you know it." + +"I don't understand it so." + +"How is it possible for the Yankee Government to station ships-of-war on +the coast of the Southern States? It is simply impossible," said Homer, +warming up with the argument. "The business of fitting out vessels is +already begun, I read in the newspapers; and it will be pushed to the +utmost." + +"I am confident that every Confederate port in the United States will be +invested by one or more vessels within a reasonable time." + +"But your steamer will be captured before you can get home, even if you +get out of Mobile Bay." + +"I don't apprehend any difficulty on that account. If the Bellevite +can't keep out of the way of any thing that floats, she deserves to be +captured. She will belong to the Government within a few weeks," added +Horatio quietly. + +"The Bellevite!" exclaimed Homer. + +"The Bellevite, certainly. I should be ashamed to retain her a month +after I knew that the Union needs her, and the Union shall have her as a +free gift," added Horatio, quite as warmly as his brother had spoken. + +"You will give your steamer to the Yankee Government!" gasped Homer, +rising from his chair again, and darting across the room, as though he +was both shocked and disgusted at the conduct of Horatio. "You will +allow her to be used in subduing a free people? I am sorry." + +Homer was very deeply grieved, and Horatio hardly less so. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE BLUE AND THE GRAY + + +To Captain Passford the question seemed to be settled; and he could no +longer doubt that his brother fully sympathized with the leaders of the +rebellion, if he was not one of them himself. He was certainly the most +enthusiastic person he had yet seen on that side of the question. But +Homer was thoroughly sincere, for he never was any thing else on any +subject. + +Horatio was unable to understand how his brother could reason himself +into the belief that secession was right, when the duty of saving the +Union was to him paramount; and certainly Homer was equally puzzled over +the political faith of Horatio. Until the darkness of evening began to +gather, they argued the tremendous question; and they discussed it ably, +for both of them were thinking and reasoning men. + +But, when the darkness gathered, they were not one hair's-breadth nearer +an agreement; and probably if they had continued to argue till morning, +or even till the end of the year, they would have come no nearer +together. Each had a sort of horror of the views of the other, though +they had lived in peace and harmony all the days of their lives. + +"Homer, you are my brother; and I am sure that an unpleasant word never +passed between us," said Horatio, when the sun had gone down on the +fruitless discussion. + +"Certainly not, brother; and it grieves me sorely to find that you are +upon one side, while I am on the other," replied Homer with a strong +manifestation of feeling. "I did not expect to see you at Glenfield; but +I felt sure that you would not be found, actually or constructively, in +the ranks of the enemies of the South." + +"And I was equally sure that you would be found on the side of your +country,--the whole country, and not a miserable fraction of it," added +Horatio, with quite as much warmth as his brother. "I came here in the +Bellevite as much to convey you to a place of safety, as to restore +Florry to her mother." + +"My country is here in the South. I have no other country; and I shall +stand by it to the last ditch, wherein I am ready to cast all that I +have and all that I am. If you thought it possible for me to desert the +cause of the South, you strangely misjudged me; and I do not feel at all +complimented by the formation of your opinion of me," said Homer, with a +trifle more of bitterness in his tone and manner than he had used +before. + +"I see how it is with you, Homer; and I realize that it is worse than +folly for us to discuss this important question. Your mind is made up, +and so is mine; and I fear that we might quarrel if we should continue +to bandy words on the subject. We had better drop it entirely, once for +all." + +"Perhaps we had; but it grieves me sorely, even to think of my only +brother taking part with the hirelings of the North in an attempt to +subdue the free, untamed, and untamable South. It would not hurt my +feelings more to know that you were a buccaneer, roving on the ocean +for the plunder of all nations." + +"You should also consider my feelings when I think of you in armed +rebellion against the best government God ever allowed to exist; that my +own brother is a rebel and a traitor, who is liable to be shot or hung +for his armed treason." + +This was too much for Homer, and he gave vent to his emotion in a +laugh at the picture his brother had drawn. He walked the library, and +chuckled as though he were actually amused at the remarks of the other; +and perhaps he was. + +"I am really and heartily sorry for you, Horatio. Your future, I fear, +will be terribly dark. Of course, all business will cease at the North: +the grass will grow in the streets of New York and other large cities. +You have an immense fortune, which I do not believe you can retain a +single year; for the war is not to be confined to Southern soil, but +will be carried into the North, where the expenses of our men will be +paid by the enemy." + +"I think we had better confine our attention to the present, and let the +future take care of itself," said Horatio, with a smile at the prophetic +croakings of his brother. + +"Be that as it may, though I feel confident that all I predict will come +to pass, I desire to have one thing understood: when you have lost your +fortune, or wasted it on the hireling armies of the North, or on ships +for its navy, you may always be sure of a home at Glenfield for yourself +and all your family." + +"If you do not lose or waste all that you have on the army of the +other side," added Horatio with a smile. "But I am ready to drop this +subject." + +"It seems to be useless to continue it; though, if there were any +possible way to convert you from the error of your way of thinking, +I would struggle all night with you," said Homer. + +"You cannot make a traitor of me, brother. But I must tell Florry to +pack her trunk at once." + +"Pack her trunk? Why are you in such a hurry?" demanded Homer. + +"Because this is not a safe place for me and mine; and I have my two +children with me." + +"You ought to have left Christy at home." + +"I think not. Though he is only sixteen, he has seen so much of the +world, and is so bright, that he is almost a man. He will go into the +navy within a few weeks, and I shall expect him to give a good account +of himself." + +"He is rather young. Corny is eighteen, and he has already enlisted with +his mother's blessing and mine. But I think you need not be in such a +hurry, Horatio, to get away from here; for it is a long time since we +met." + +"I have expressed my political sentiments very freely to you, Homer, and +you know as well as I do, that, if they were known, I should not be safe +a single day." + +"Not quite so bad as that, for I think I should have sufficient +influence to save you from arrest," added Homer. + +"The Bellevite cost me over half a million dollars, and she is worth all +she cost. If I were safe a single day, the steamer and ship's company on +board of her would not be. I brought them down here, and I intend to +take them back." + +"And then you present this fine vessel to the Yankee Government, and +doubtless the men on board of her will go into the service of the navy." + +"I certainly expect as much as that of them." + +"Then I question whether I ought to allow such a prize to pass out of +the bay for such a purpose," said Homer. + +"Then, with such a doubt as that in your mind, I ought not to remain +here another hour," added Horatio quietly. "If you have gone far enough +in treason to betray your own brother, coming here to your home for no +warlike purpose, into the hands of the enemy, why, all I can do is to +look out for myself." + +"I did not say that I should betray you, Horatio. It is simply a +question with me whether my duty to my country will allow me to let your +steamer leave these waters. I have not settled the question in my own +mind." + +"I hope you will settle it soon. If I am to take my first step in this +fratricidal war by defending myself against my own brother, let him +speak, and I am ready," replied Horatio, shaken by an emotion deeper +than he had ever experienced before. + +"Horatio, whatever you may do, whatever I may do, each in the discharge +of his duty to his country, his country as he understands it, let us +have no unfraternal feeling," continued Homer, almost as much disturbed +in his feelings as his brother. + +"In other words, if you hand me and my vessel over to your leaders, and +consequently take from me the means of bearing my daughter to a place of +safety, I am to put my hand on my heart, and say that my brother has +done right, for I will not use any stronger terms," said Horatio, +struggling with his emotion. + +"I must do my duty as I understand it," protested Homer. "The question I +put to myself is this: can I justify myself, before God and my country, +if I permit the finest steamer in the world, as you state it, to be +transferred to the Yankee navy, to be used in killing, ravaging, and +destroying within the free South? The steamer is here, and within my +reach. After all you have said, she would be the lawful prize of any +tug-boat in the bay that could capture her. I begin to realize that I +should be guilty of treason to my country in letting her go." + +"You must be your own judge in regard to that," replied Horatio +bitterly, as he rose from his chair and walked towards the door. + +"One word more, Horatio. I look upon the Bellevite as already belonging +to the Southern Confederacy. Of course, being a private yacht, she is +not armed?" + +Homer paused and looked at his brother as though he expected an answer +to this question; but the owner of the steamer made no reply. + +"Do you say that the Bellevite is armed, Horatio?" repeated Homer. + +"I do not say any thing about it. I find that I am in the presence of an +enemy, though he is my own brother." + +"Do not assume that tone to me, Horatio: it wounds me to the heart," +said Homer, in a deprecatory tone. "If we are enemies because you choose +to oppress our people, I cannot help it; but we will still be brothers." + +"The attack upon Fort Sumter was made by the South; and thus far, at +least to the extent that I have been informed, the South has been the +assailant; and you say that I choose to oppress your people. They have +taken the sword, and they will perish by the sword." + +Captain Passford could not trust his feelings any longer to remain with +his brother, and he left the room. In the hall he met Florry, who had +been lying in wait for him for over an hour. She threw herself on his +neck as she had done before; but she found her father full of energy, +and he was not even willing to use his minutes to caress her. + +"What is the matter, papa?" asked the fair girl, astonished at the +manner of her father, for she had never before seen him so agitated. + +"Do not ask me any questions, Florry, for I have not time to answer them +now," said he hastily. "Go to your room and pack all your things as +quick as you possibly can, and without saying a word to any one." + +"Why, papa!" + +"Not a word, my dear child," he added, kissing her. + +"It will not take me five minutes, papa; for I have been packing my +trunk this afternoon, when I had nothing else to do." + +"Where is your room, Florry?" + +"It is on the lower floor, next to the library." + +"I will be there in a few minutes. Dress yourself, and be ready to leave +at a minute's notice," continued Captain Passford. "Where is Christy?" + +"He went out about an hour ago, when he saw from the window a young man +I did not know," replied Florry, as she passed into her room. + +Captain Passford wondered who the young man was whom his son had gone +out to meet; for no one was allowed to leave the deck of the Bellevite +who belonged to her, and he was not aware that Christy had any friend in +the vicinity. He was annoyed at his absence, for he wanted him at that +very moment. + +Mrs. Passford and Gerty were up-stairs, where nimble fingers were busily +at work for the soldiers of the Southern Confederacy, as they were also +in the North for the Union. The captain looked all about the house, but +he could not see or hear of his son. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +BROTHER AT WAR WITH BROTHER + + +Captain Passford was very much annoyed at the absence of Christy at +that particular moment, for it seemed to be heavily laden with momentous +events to him and his family; though Christy could not possibly know +what had transpired in the library between the two brothers. He waited +very uneasily in the hall, after his return from his search. + +Homer Passford did not come out of his library, and he sat brooding over +the remarkable interview which had taken place between the brothers. No +doubt he would have been glad to believe that he had been wrong; for he +had nothing but the kindest feelings in the world towards his brother, +and had never had in all his life. He was five years older than Horatio; +and, in their earlier life, he had been to some extent his guardian and +protector, and he had never lost the feeling of boyhood. + +But he had proved himself to be a patriot of the severest type, and +proposed to rob his brother of his steamer, his only means of conveying +his daughter to his home, for the benefit of the fraction of the nation +which he called his country, and more to prevent her from being +transferred to the navy of the Union. + +While the captain was waiting in the hall, the library door opened, +and Homer presented himself. He invited his brother to return to the +apartment, for he had something to say to him; but Horatio positively +declined to do so, fearful that they might come to an open rupture if +the exciting discussion was continued. + +"But you will hear me a moment or two, will you not, Horatio?" asked +Homer; and his lips quivered under the influence of his active thought. + +"I will as long as that," replied Horatio. + +"I have been thinking of the subject of our conversation in relation to +the Bellevite; and I have something to propose to you, which I hope will +satisfy you, and at the same time will not rob our Government of what +now belongs to it." + +"I am listening," added Horatio, as Homer paused to note the effect of +his proposal. + +"You did not tell me how you got by the forts in your steamer, and +perhaps you are ready to do so now." + +"I am not ready now; and I am not likely to be ready at any future time +to do so, Homer. You have indicated that we are enemies, and each should +keep his own counsels." + +"Of course you will do as you think proper. I cannot reconcile myself to +the idea of permitting a fine steamer like the Bellevite, now virtually +in possession of the Confederacy, to sail away out of the bay. I feel +that I should be guilty of treason to my country to do so." + +"And you propose to steal her from your own brother, if you can. You +have done a large business in stealing forts, and one ought not to be +surprised when you propose to steal a ship," replied Horatio mildly but +sternly. + +"I pass over the injustice and unkindness on your part of that remark, +and I hope you will accept my offer." + +"Let me hear it as soon as possible." + +"In spite of your present, unfortunate position, Horatio, I believe you +are still a man of truth, honor, and integrity." + +"Thank you, Homer." + +"I do not wish to keep Florry here when her mother desires so much to +see her, and I have hit upon a plan by which you can do this without +making me a traitor to my country." + +"It must have been a happy thought," added Horatio, somewhat interested +in what the other was saying. + +"I think it was a happy thought, and I sincerely hope you will be able +to accept the plan. I have some little influence in this section, and I +have no doubt I can procure a pass for your steamer to go to sea," +continued Homer, pausing to study the expression of his brother. + +"Do I understand that you propose to do this, Homer?" asked Captain +Passford, not a little astonished at the apparent change his brother had +made in his position. + +"On a certain condition, which you can easily meet." + +"It looks as though you were becoming more reasonable. What is the +condition on which you will do this? For I should certainly prefer to +have no shots fired at the Bellevite while Florry is on board of her." + +"As I have said, your word is as good as your bond; and I am willing +to accept the consequences of the step I propose to take, since the +Confederacy will not suffer any loss or detriment on account of it." + +"It will not!" exclaimed the captain, beginning to see that he could not +accept the conditions. + +"It will not. I could not injure or cheat my country, even to serve my +only brother, greatly as I desire to do all I can for him." + +"But what is the condition, Homer?" asked Captain Passford, who had by +this time lost all hope of the plan. + +"You shall take Florry to some point,--Bermuda, for instance,--from +which she can obtain passage to New York. Before you go, you shall +give me your simple word that you will return to Mobile Bay with the +Bellevite, and surrender her to the Confederate authorities. I am +entirely willing to accept your promise to do this, without any bond +or other writing." + +"Is that all?" asked Horatio, hardly able to contain himself. + +"That is all; what more do you desire?" + +"Nothing; that is enough. I have already tendered my steamer to the +Government of the United States; do you think me capable of surrendering +my vessel to rebels and traitors, under any possible circumstances? +I would blow her up with all on board of her, before I would do such +a thing. You insult me by proposing such treachery to me. Not another +word about it, if you please!" + +Homer returned to his library, and closed the door after him; for the +last remark of the owner of the Bellevite had excited him, and he could +not trust himself to remain any longer in the presence of his Union +brother. + +"I am all ready, papa," said Florry, who had opened the door once +before, and found that her father was engaged. + +"I cannot find Christy, but I hope he is not far off," added Captain +Passford, as he went into the room, and, to the astonishment of his +daughter, bolted the door after him. + +"I did not know the young man he went out to see, but I noticed that he +looked something like Major Pierson," said Florry. + +"Then it was the major's brother, and he came from Nassau with us on +board of the steamer. I hope neither of them will get into any trouble, +for all this country is in a very excited condition," said the captain, +as he carefully opened the window at the side of the apartment. + +This was quite as singular a movement as bolting the door; and the fair +girl, who had heard some of the energetic conversation in the hall, +began to think that something strange was about to transpire in the +mansion. Her father spent some time in looking out the window; for it +was now quite dark, and he could not make out objects outdoors very +readily. + +The window opened upon a lawn covered with orange, magnolia, and other +ornamental trees. The house was low on the ground, and it was not more +than three feet from the window-sill to the lawn. Without explaining any +thing, Captain Passford took his daughter's trunk, carried it to the +window, and then dropped it upon the lawn beneath. + +"Now, Florry, I want you to get out at this window; and you can easily +step down upon the trunk," continued the owner of the Bellevite. + +"Get out of the window, papa?" demanded the maiden, with a look of +intense astonishment at her father. + +"Do just as I tell you, my child, and don't ask any questions now; for +all will be explained to your satisfaction," replied he, as he assisted +her to a chair, by which she mounted to the window-stool. + +She dropped lightly down upon the trunk, which had been placed in a +convenient position for her, and then to the ground. Her father followed +her; though he stopped long enough to close the window after him, and +leave every thing as it had been before. + +"I think I can understand something about it, papa," said Florry, as the +captain joined her. "But am I to leave this house, where I have been for +six months, without saying good-by to uncle or aunt?" + +"Not a word to any one, my child. I am sorry it must be so; but this is +a time of war, and I have no time to stand on ceremonies," replied her +father, as he picked up the trunk, and tossed it on his shoulder as +though he had done that kind of work before. + +He walked off with a firm step, in spite of his burden, taking the +nearest way to the wharf where he had left the Bellevite. The distance +was considerable, and the millionnaire was obliged to stop and rest two +or three times; and, though Florry insisted upon helping him, he would +not allow her to do so. It was nearly ten o'clock at night when the +wanderers reached their destination, and were hailed by the vigilant +watch on the deck. + +"Florence!" called the owner of the steamer when he was challenged, and +gave the word that had been agreed upon. + +"Pass, Florence," replied the sentinel. + +All the officers were still upon board, and Florry received a very +respectful greeting from all of them. Her trunk was carried to her +stateroom; and she soon followed it, for the excitement of the afternoon +and evening was rather too much for her. + +"Is Percy still on board, Breaker?" asked the owner. + +"He is not: he lounged about the deck till nearly night, and then he +said he would go up and see his mother, to which I had not the least +objection," replied the commander. + +"I have no objection to his going where he pleases now, but the worst of +it is that Christy appears to have gone with him. They must have been +gone three hours, and I begin to be worried about my son. But no matter +for that now: we are ready to sail, and it is necessary to get out into +the bay, at least without any loss of time, Breaker. The tide is right +now." + +Captain Breaker had not expected to leave so soon, and thought it +probable that the vessel would remain where she was for several days or +a week. But he had caused the fires to be banked, so as to be ready for +any emergency, though he did not anticipate any; for he reasoned that +the powerful influence of the owner's brother would be enough to protect +the steamer from interference. + +The commander called all hands, and the owner requested that the work +be done with as little noise as possible. In less than an hour the +Bellevite was floating in the deep waters of the bay. But the owner was +far from easy; though, in spite of all his brother had said, he felt +that the steamer was safe for the present: he was not a little alarmed +at the continued absence of Christy. + +Captain Passford had formed a very decided opinion in regard to Major +Pierson, and he did not believe that Percy had seen the end of his +troubles in the matter of joining the army. It was not over a three +hours' run in a reasonably fast steamer from the forts to the city, and +at least ten hours had elapsed since the Bellevite came up. Possibly the +major might wonder whether or not the coming of Captain Passford would +disturb the residence of Miss Florence at the mansion of her uncle. It +was not improbable that he had, or might, come up to look out for his +interests. + +If he came across his brother Percy after he left the steamer, he was +likely to make a soldier of him; and it was unfortunate that Christy had +been his companion when last seen. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +CHRISTY FINDS HIMSELF A PRISONER + + +Christy Passford had not gone out of his uncle's house for any +particular purpose; though he saw Percy, and joined him as he left the +mansion. He had visited Glenfield before, and he had some curiosity to +see familiar objects again. It was nearly dark, and he wondered where +the major's brother was going at that hour. + +"Where are you going now, Mr. Percy," he asked, as he approached the +agent. + +"I thought I would go up to the house and see my mother," replied Percy. +"Won't you go over with me? It is only a short distance." + +"No, I think not: I don't care to go a great way from the house." + +"It isn't above half a mile, and I am coming directly back again." + +"I will not go as far as you are going, but I will take a little stroll +as far as the gate. Where is your brother now?" + +"I suppose he is at the fort. If I thought he were about here, I should +not leave the steamer. He has got it into his head that I must join the +army, and he will never be satisfied till I am there." + +"He is certainly very much in earnest, judging by his conduct on board +of the Bellevite," added Christy. + +"He pretends to believe that my not joining the army will be a disgrace +to the family; but, if my father don't think so, Lindley need not worry +his head about the matter." + +"Your brother seems to have a very strong will of his own," suggested +Christy. + +"He will send me into the army in spite of my father and mother; and, +for that reason, I don't mean to go where he can put his finger on me. +Of course, the Bellevite is going into the Confederate navy." + +Percy looked his companion in the face, as though he had been thinking +of something which would benefit his own case. + +"You will have to ask my uncle about that," replied Christy, not willing +to say any more than was necessary on this subject. + +"There can be no doubt of it, and I would rather be in the navy than in +the army. I hope your uncle will be able to do something for me." + +"I don't know whether he can or not. For aught I know, the steamer may +be sent to England, or to some other country," replied Christy, as they +approached the gate, which was to be the end in that direction of his +walk. + +"At any rate, I mean to stay on board of the Bellevite; and I shall take +my chances of getting a position of some kind on board of her." + +"What kind of a position do you desire?" + +"I am willing to be one of the lieutenants, or something of that kind," +replied Percy with becoming condescension. + +"One of the lieutenants!" exclaimed Christy. "Of course you know all +about handling a ship or a steamer." + +"I can't say I do. In fact, I never went on the sea till I went to +Nassau with my father," replied Percy candidly. "But I can soon learn +all about it." + +"A nice lieutenant you will make! Why don't you apply for the position +of commander of her?" + +"I am willing to take a subordinate position till I learn something +about the business." + +"That's right! Be humble at first, and you will be great afterwards." + +"I should have been willing to go into the army as a captain, or even +as a lieutenant; but I couldn't quite stand it to go in as a common +soldier, while my brother made a beginning as a major." + +"I think I will not go any farther, Mr. Percy," said Christy, as he +halted near the gate. + +"Oh, don't leave me now, Mr. Pierson! We are half way to my father's +house," Percy objected. + +"I can't go any farther, for I may be wanted." + +"You will be safe enough, Mr. Pierson, My mother is at home, and she +will be glad to see you." + +"I think I will not see your mother to-night," added Christy, as he +turned, and began to retrace his steps towards the mansion of his uncle. + + [Illustration: Four Men Sprang in Front of Him (Page 183)] + +They had halted in the road near the gate, and on both sides of it was +a thick undergrowth of small trees and bushes; and in the shade of this +foliage it had become quite dark. Christy had not taken three steps +before four men sprang out of the thicket in front of him, all of them +armed with muskets, and wearing a uniform of gray. Two placed themselves +in front of Christy; while the other two rushed after Percy, who took to +his heels as soon as he saw them. + +The gate was an impediment to the latter; and before he could get over +or through it, the two soldiers had laid violent hands on him. He could +offer no effectual resistance, and it was evident that he was frightened +out of his wits; for he looked and acted like the ghost of despair +itself. The two men immediately tied his hands behind him; and, though +they did not use any undue harshness, they did their work thoroughly. + +Christy was even more astonished than his companion at this sharp +discipline. He did not regard himself as a fit subject for such +treatment, and he could not understand why he had been subjected to it. +He was not liable to do military duty, and Major Pierson could hardly +think of pressing him into the service of the Confederacy. His two +captors were as prompt in their action as the two who had taken Percy, +and his hands were also tied behind him. + +"Good-evening, gentlemen," said Christy, as soon as the soldiers had +bound him, and then stood in front to take a look at him. "Don't it +strike you that you are indulging in rather sharp practice?" + +"We haven't any thing to do with the practice: all we have to do is to +obey orders," replied one of the men. + +"But I think you have mistaken your orders," suggested the prisoner. + +"I think not: if we have, we will set things to rights at once," replied +the man, who appeared to be the sergeant in command of the party. "But +our business is not so much with you as with the other young fellow." + +Upon this, Christy was conducted to the gate, where Percy had not yet +recovered any of his self-possession. For his own part, he felt that a +mistake had been made, which must soon be corrected. He knew nothing +of the wide difference of opinion which had suddenly become apparent +between his father and his uncle, and he was sure that the latter could +soon effect his release. + +"This is an outrage!" exclaimed Percy, who perhaps felt that it was +necessary for him to say something, now that Christy had come within +hearing distance. + +"Perhaps it is, Mr. Pierson," replied the sergeant. "But that isn't any +of my business." + +"You will be held responsible for it, sir!" protested Percy. + +"Perhaps I shall; but I shall obey my orders," replied the soldier +doggedly. + +"Who gave you your orders?" demanded Percy imperatively. + +"Well, I don't belong to the class in catechism, and I don't answer all +the questions that are put to me." + +"My father will have something to say about this business." + +"He can say all he likes, but he need not say it to me; for I only obey +my orders, and I have nothing to do with giving them." + +"What are you going to do with me?" asked Percy, when he found he could +make nothing of the sergeant. + +"I don't know what they will do with you; but I reckon they won't +shoot you, as they might a fellow whose father was not a man of some +consequence," replied the sergeant, as he ordered one of his men to open +the gate. + +"Shoot me!" exclaimed Percy, evidently appalled at the bare possibility +of such an event. + +"I reckon they won't do that," added the soldier. + +"This is my father's plantation, and my mother is in the house," +continued Percy. + +"She can stay there: we shall not meddle with her." + +"But you are going to take me away from her." + +"You look like a stout young fellow, and you ought to be able to get +along for a while without your mother," chuckled the sergeant. "You +belong in the army; and I reckon you will have to go back to it, in +spite of your mother." + +"I don't belong to the army," protested Percy. + +"Well, they call you a deserter, anyhow." + +Percy seemed to be overcome by this statement, and Christy thought +there was something more of his story than he had told on board of the +Bellevite. It was possible, after all, that Major Pierson was not as +much of a brute as be had appeared to be. But, if his companion was a +deserter, he certainly did not come under that head himself, and he +could not understand why he had been arrested. + +"I suppose you don't claim me as a deserter, do you?" asked Christy +good-naturedly. + +"I don't think they do," replied the sergeant, as pleasantly as he had +spoken himself. + +"Then, why do you arrest me?" + +"My orders were to arrest any person with Mr. Pierson; and that is all +I know about your case, and I am very sorry to give you any annoyance. +Things are a little mixed, and I hope they will soon get them levelled +down. If you don't object, we will march." + +"I suppose you will march all the same, if I do object," added Christy. +"I was not aware that it was a crime here to be in the company of that +young man." + +"I reckon I was ordered to arrest you as a matter of precaution; and I +dare say they will let you return as soon as we report to the major," +said the sergeant, leading his prisoner through the gateway. + +The other men took Percy by the arm; and, after they had closed the +gate, they followed the road for a considerable distance, and then +struck across the fields. Not far ahead, Christy saw many lights; and +he concluded that this must be the location of the mansion of Colonel +Pierson, the father of Percy, and for some reason best known to himself, +the sergeant desired to avoid going very near it. + +A march of a short distance farther across the field brought them to a +road, which they followed till they came to a wagon drawn by two horses. +The animals were hitched at the side of the road, and no one seemed to +be in charge of the team. But the sergeant halted his party at this +point; and, leaving the prisoners in charge of his men, he went to the +wagon. + +"Major Pierson," said he; but no answer came to his question, and he +repeated it with no better success. + +Then he mounted the seat in front of the wagon, and looked over into the +body of it. Then he reached over; and a moment later the form of a man +was seen to rise from a quantity of hay which filled the body. + +"Is that you, Spottswood?" demanded the rising form. + +"Yes, sir, I am here; and I have two prisoners. One of them is your +brother, and I don't know who the other is," replied the sergeant. + +"Are you sure that one of them is my brother?" asked the major. + +"I am as sure as I can be, for I heard the other fellow call him Percy +two or three times before I stepped in front of them." + +"Don't you know who the other one is?" + +"I haven't the least idea. I arrested him as you told me, but I did not +question him." + +The major ordered him to put his prisoners into the wagon. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +MAJOR PIERSON IS PUZZLED + + +Two of the soldiers were placed at the rear of the wagon, one took his +place on the hay with Percy, while the major and the sergeant seated +themselves on the cushion in front. Spottswood took the reins; and the +officer told him to drive on, without saying a word to the prisoners. + +It was quite dark; and Christy had not the least idea where he was, or +where he was going. He could see that Major Pierson had sent this party +to arrest his brother, as Percy seemed to fear that he would do, and +had remained and slept away the time in the wagon himself. He had been +introduced to the major, and had been treated with "distinguished +consideration" by him. In view of the possible relations between him and +Florry, he did not feel much concerned about his own safety, though he +was sorry to have his father and sister worry over his absence. + +"Then, it seems you have been in the army, after all," said he to his +fellow-prisoner, after they had gone some distance. + +"I never belonged to the army," he replied decidedly. + +"Did you put your name down?" + +"Yes, I did; but I supposed I was to be a captain, or something of that +sort. When I found I must go as a common soldier, mixed up with all +sorts of people, I couldn't stand it. I applied for my discharge; but +they would not give it to me, and I went home without it." + +"That looks very much like desertion," added Christy, and the major went +up somewhat in his estimation. + +"But it was not desertion; for I applied for my discharge, and all they +had to do was to give it to me. They understood it so, for they did not +come to the house after me," argued Percy. "Then, when my father went +to Nassau, he took me with him. But the surgeon said I was not fit for +the army, for I had indications of varicose veins. My father sent the +certificate to the authorities, and applied for my discharge." + +"Was it ever granted?" + +"I suppose it was, but I don't know." + +"If it had been, your brother would know about it." + +"Will your uncle make you join the army, Mr. Pierson?" + +"No: my uncle has no authority over me, and he cannot make me join the +army," replied Christy. + +"Where is your father?" + +"He was at my uncle's plantation. I think we have kept up this farce +long enough, Percy," said Christy, laughing. "My father is the owner of +the Bellevite." + +"What did you tell me your name was Percy Pierson for?" demanded the +other prisoner. + +"For the same reason that I told you the steamer belonged to the Chinese +government, and a dozen other things of the same sort." + +"What is your name, then?" + +"Christopher Passford; but I am commonly called Christy." + +"Then, you have been fooling me?" + +"You knew very well that I had been fooling you." + +"Then, you are the son of the owner of the Bellevite." + +"I am." + +"Then, you can get me a place on board of her." + +"Perhaps I can. We will see about that." + +Christy doubted if their political opinions would permit them to serve +on the deck of the same vessel, but he did not suggest any thing of this +kind. He had been introduced to Major Pierson under his real name, and +he was certain to be identified by him as soon as the light permitted +him to see his face; and he had made the best of it by telling Percy the +truth before he found it out himself. + +"You haven't told me who the other prisoner is, Spottswood," said the +major, when they had ridden some distance in silence. + +"I don't know who he is," replied the sergeant. "I never saw him before +in my life, so far as I know." + +"Didn't he tell you who he was?" + +"He did not, and I did not ask him any questions." + +That was all that was said about it; and the major relapsed into +silence, and Christy concluded that he had gone to sleep again. The +wagon continued on the journey, though at a very slow pace, for the road +could hardly have been any worse. At the end of about two hours more, +the vehicle halted near a sheet of water which looked as though it might +be a river, or an arm of Mobile Bay. + +The road appeared to end at a rude sort of wharf; but there was no +person in the vicinity, no house, and no craft of any kind in the water, +so far as Christy could see when he was helped out of the wagon. Percy +was assisted to the ground also; and the two soldiers at the rear of the +wagon, who had gone to sleep, were waked, and ordered to get out. + +"We shall not want the wagon any more," said the major. "You can send +Boyce back to the house with it." + +"It is five miles from here, and he will not get back till nearly +morning." + +"We can wait for him. The Leopard will not be here for some time." + +"I think we ought to send two men, major," suggested the sergeant. + +"Why two?" + +"For company: one of them may get asleep, and two will get back sooner +than one." + +"They might as well all of them go, for they can do nothing here," added +the major with a terrific yawn. + +Two men were sent away with the wagon. The most of the hay in it was +taken out; and with it the superior officer made a bed for himself, and +was soon asleep again. The sergeant and the remaining soldier took their +knapsacks from a tree where they had put them before, and it was decided +that one of them might sleep while the other kept guard over the +prisoners. Spottswood was the first to take his turn, and his companion +stretched himself on the planks of the wharf. + +The sergeant brought out the knapsacks of the two absent soldiers, and +gave the blankets to Christy and Percy, both of whom were sleepy enough +to follow the example of the others. Spottswood assisted them very +kindly, spreading out the blankets for them, and covering them +afterwards; for, as their hands were tied behind them, they were almost +helpless. + +The two prisoners soon dropped asleep; and they knew nothing more till +after daylight, when Christy was waked by the hissing of steam at the +rude wharf. The two soldiers who had been sent away with the wagon were +asleep on the planks, though neither had a blanket. The major had not +been disturbed by the noise, for he was farther from it than the others. + +With some difficulty Christy got upon his feet, and looked about him. +A tug-boat lay at the wharf, with the steam escaping from her pipe. +There was nothing else to be seen in the vicinity. The sheet of water, +which was apparently half a mile wide, had a bend some distance from the +wharf, so that he could not see any farther; but he had no difficulty in +coming to the conclusion that the water was an arm of the bay. + +On board of the Leopard, for the name was on the front of the +pilot-house, he could see only two men, one of whom came out of the +engine-room; and he judged that they were the pilot and engineer. +Doubtless the former was also the captain of the craft. + +While one of the two men seated himself on the rail, the other came on +shore. He was a man of very small stature, and looked as though his +health was very poor. Indeed, his step was quite feeble, and he seemed +to have hardly strength enough to handle his frame. As the tug had just +come in, doubtless he had been on duty the whole or a portion of the +night, which may have explained his exhausted condition. + +"Good-morning, Captain Pecklar," said the sentinel on duty at the wharf. + +"Good morning, Tubbs. Where is Major Pierson?" asked the captain of the +Leopard, in a very faint voice. + +"He is still asleep, and he has his bed at the foot of that tree +yonder," replied the sentinel, pointing at it. "How do you find yourself +this morning? Any better?" + +"About the same; I am about used up for this world," replied Captain +Pecklar, continuing his painful walk towards the tree indicated. + +"Is that the captain of the Leopard?" asked Christy. + +"Yes, poor fellow! He came down here two years ago from somewhere North, +almost gone in consumption. He got a little better; but he is worse +again, and I don't believe he will last much longer," replied the +sentry. + +"Has he been out all night on the steamer?" inquired Christy, who felt +that it was his duty to obtain all the information he could in regard to +this steamer, as it was in the service of the commander of Fort Gaines. + +"I don't know where he has been; but I suppose he has been on duty all +night, and that don't agree with him at all. We came up here yesterday +afternoon--Well, never mind what we have been about. I forgot that you +were a prisoner; and you may be a Yankee, for aught I know." + +Before Christy had time to make any reply, the sentinel walked away, and +the major was seen coming from his bed with Captain Pecklar. They went +to the wharf together, where they seated themselves on a box which lay +there. The prisoner turned away from them; and the major took no notice +of him, and did not appear to see him, or he would certainly have +identified him. + +Christy's bed was just behind them, when they had seated themselves; and +he dropped down on his blanket, rolled it about him as well as he could, +and then pretended to be asleep, as Percy was still, in spite of the +noise of the escaping steam on board of the boat. + +"What have you done with your men, Captain Pecklar?" asked the major. + +"I have just told you that the steamer had changed her position," +replied the captain. + +"I did not understand you," returned the major. "Do you mean that she +has left the wharf?" + +"I do: she was out at least two miles from the shore," added Captain +Pecklar. + +"Two miles from the shore!" exclaimed Major Pierson. "What does that +mean?" + +"I don't know, sir. Lieutenant Dallberg did not know what to make of it; +and he decided to take his two men to the shore, and investigate the +matter. He directed me to report this to you." + +"But when did the Bellevite leave the wharf?" asked the major, evidently +very much puzzled at what he regarded as the singular conduct of the +owner of the steamer. + +"I don't know, sir. It was after ten o'clock in the evening when we +first saw her out in the bay." + +"Was she at anchor?" + +"I think not. I was ordered not to go very near her, and I could not +tell." + +"Do you know whether or not Captain Passford is on board of her?" + +"Of course I do not. In fact, I know nothing at all about her, except +that she has left the wharf and come out into the bay. I think I heard +her screw in motion, though I am not sure; and that makes me think that +she is not at anchor. Mr. Dallberg thought he ought to go on shore, +visit Colonel Passford, and obtain further information if he could." + +The major ordered the captain to embark the party at once. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE MORNING TRIP OF THE LEOPARD + + +If Major Pierson had had any curiosity at all in regard to the person +captured by the soldiers with his brother, he appeared to have forgotten +all about him. He took no notice of him after he left his bed of hay, +but then he was evidently very much disturbed by the fact that the +Bellevite had left the wharf. + +Christy Passford was quite as much astonished as the major when he +learned that the steamer had left her berth at the wharf, and he was +utterly unable to account for the change of position. The movement had +been made since he left his uncle's mansion; for at that time the two +brothers were still in the library, and he had no knowledge whatever of +what was passing between them. + +The major ordered all his men on board the Leopard, and directed the +sergeant to conduct the prisoners to the deck of the tug. Percy was +waked when he was wanted, and he had slept soundly till that time. +With their hands still tied behind them, they were conducted to the +after-deck of the tug, where there was a small space from which opened +the stateroom of the captain. + +"I might as well jump overboard first as last," said Percy bitterly, as +he seated himself in the place assigned to him by Spottswood. + +"It is hardly worth your while to do that, Percy. I don't think your +brother is likely to do you any harm," replied Christy. + +"I would rather be drowned in deep water than be sent into the army as a +common soldier," said the victim, as he went to the rail and looked over +into the water. + +But his companion was perfectly confident that he would not jump +overboard while his hands were tied behind him; for the chances were all +against him, though he might be willing to punish his brother by making +a demonstration in the direction indicated. + +"The water is too cold at this time in the morning, Percy," said Christy +with a smile. "I think you ought to give your brother the credit of +having the reputation of your family at heart. If I had a brother, I had +about as lief have him drown himself as desert from the army." + +"I don't call it deserting," replied Percy rather warmly. + +"You can call it what you like, but that is what it was." + +"It is no use to talk with you about it. Where are we going now?" +demanded Percy impatiently. + +"We are going to look out for the Bellevite, and perhaps you can get on +board her again," suggested Christy. + +"Do you think I can?" asked the deserter with renewed interest. + +"I am afraid your brother will look out too sharply for you. He has you +now, and he will hold on this time." + +Christy had little sympathy for his companion. He was an able-bodied +young man of eighteen, with influence enough behind him to give him a +good show in the ranks if he did his duty. But he was the youngest +child of his father and mother; and he had evidently been spoiled by +indulgence, so that he was not fit for the stern duties of the present +emergency. + +The steamer seemed to be very short handed, and doubtless part of the +work on board was done by the soldiers, for the tug seemed to be in the +employ of the fort. There was no crew, so far as Christy could judge, +except the captain and engineer; and both of these seemed to be +invalids, for the latter was so lame he could hardly go. The soldiers +hauled in the fasts, and seemed to be at home with this sort of work. + +The Leopard backed out from the wharf, came about, and headed down the +inlet, or whatever it was. She had hardly left the pier before Major +Pierson appeared on the quarter-deck, which had been assigned for the +use of the prisoners. His gaze was first fixed on Percy; for the other +prisoner was looking astern, in order to obtain some idea of where he +was, if he could, for he thought such information might be of some use +to him in the future. + +"Well, Percy, how goes it now?" asked the major. + +Christy heard the voice, which was the first he knew of the presence of +a third person, and he turned about. The major started back as though he +had seen his father with his hands tied behind him by his order. + +"Good Heaven! Mr. Passford!" exclaimed the major; and Christy was +satisfied that his astonishment was sincere. + +"That is certainly my name: I haven't forgotten it, if I am a prisoner +with my hands tied behind me," replied Christy, as good-naturedly as +though he had had no grievance. + +"This is all a mistake!" ejaculated Major Pierson, evidently greatly +disturbed by the discovery he had just made, as he rushed upon the +prisoner, turned him around, and proceeded to untie the line which +bound him. + +"I thought it must be a mistake," added Christy. + +"You must have been with this brother of mine. I told Spottswood to +arrest Percy, for be has disgraced himself and his family; and I told +him to capture whoever might be with him, for I did not care to leave +behind an informant of what had been done, for it would only have made +my mother feel badly. That is really the whole of it. I am very sorry +indeed that you were subjected to this annoyance, Mr. Passford; and I +assure you I will do all in my power to atone for my offence." + +"I am satisfied, Major Pierson; and the only thing that disturbs me is +the fact that my father and sister will worry about my absence," replied +Christy. + +"You are no longer a prisoner, Mr. Passford, and you are at liberty to +go where you please." + +"But my limits are rather circumscribed on board this tug." + +"But I will soon put you on board your father's steamer." + +"Thank you, sir; that is all I can desire." + +"Can't you do as much as that for me, Lindy?" asked Percy, when he saw +that his brother was about to leave him. + +"If you say that you will return to your place in your regiment, I will +release you at once," replied the brother. + +"I won't do that," answered Percy without any hesitation. "But I want +to go into the navy. I am better fitted for a sailor than I am for a +soldier." + +"The first thing is to wipe out the disgrace you have cast upon yourself +and your family," added the major warmly. "I induced your officers to +look upon it as a freak of a boy, and by returning to your duty you can +soon wipe out the stigma." + +"I shall not become a common soldier if I can help it. My father and +mother will stand by me, if the rest of you do not," said Percy. + +"That's enough; and you will go back to the army, whether or not you are +willing," added the major, as he turned on his heel. + +Christy followed him to the forecastle of the tug, where a rather heavy +gun was mounted, which took up most of the space. + +"Take a seat, Mr. Passford," said the major, giving him a stool, while +he took another himself. "It looks as though your father changed his +plans rather suddenly last evening." + +"I was not aware of it," replied Christy. + +"The Bellevite was taken from the wharf where you landed some time in +the evening, and came out into the bay, where she seems to be waiting +for something, I don't know what. As I understand the matter, your +father has sold the steamer to the Confederacy." + +"Where did you learn that, Major Pierson?" asked Christy, who had not +heard any such story. + +"You certainly came from Nassau?" + +"We did." + +"And you met my father there?" + +"I did not meet him, but my father did." + +"I understood that my father bought this steamer, or that he bargained +for her in some manner, for the use of the Confederacy." + +"I was not present at the interview between your father and mine, and I +do not know just what passed between them." + +"And I understood that he sent Percy to act as a sort of agent for the +delivery of the vessel; though it still puzzles me to comprehend how my +father should do such a thing, especially when he knew that the boy +would be arrested as a deserter if he showed his face anywhere near +Mobile." + +Christy felt that his tongue might be a dangerous member, and he was not +disposed to talk about the matter at all. All the information which the +major had derived from Captain Passford and others had been accepted +from inference; for the owner of the Bellevite certainly had not said +that the steamer was for the use of the Confederacy, and he would have +blown her up rather than admit any thing of the sort. + +"It looked to me as though every thing was all right about the steamer, +or I would not have let her pass the fort; and the commander at Fort +Morgan was as well satisfied as I was, after I had explained the +situation to him." + +Major Pierson looked at Christy as though he expected him to talk on the +subject before them; but the latter would not say any thing, for he saw +that he was in an extremely delicate position. He made some sort of +answers, but they amounted to nothing. + +"I cannot understand why Captain Passford has moved the Bellevite from +the wharf," continued the major. + +"I am as much in the dark as you are, sir. I spent the afternoon with my +sister, and my uncle Homer and my father were in the library together +all this time," replied Christy. "I have no idea what they were talking +about. Just at dark, I saw Percy pass the window; and I went out for a +little walk. I was arrested by your men soon after. Not a word had been +said in my hearing about moving the steamer. That is all I know about +the matter, and I am as much surprised as you can be at the change which +has been made." + +"I have no doubt that every thing connected with the steamer is all +right. I know that your father is a Northern man, but I am confident +that he will be on the right side in this conflict," added the major. + +"He will certainly be on the right side," said Christy; but he had gone +far enough to know that there were two right sides to the question, and +one seemed to him to be as honest, earnest, and resolute as the other. + +"We shall soon know something more about it," added the major, evidently +disappointed at not being able to obtain any information from the +owner's son. + +The tug went out into the bay, and then changed her course to the +eastward. One of the soldiers went to the galley, and breakfast was +served to the major and his guest in the captain's room; and Percy was +released long enough to take the meal with them. But he was sullen, and +even morose, in view of the fate that awaited him. + +"Boat just come round that point," said the captain from the +pilot-house, when the party had returned to the forecastle. + +Captain Pecklar seemed to be hardly able to speak; he was so exhausted +by his night watch, and by constant fits of coughing, that he could +hardly make himself heard. + +"What boat is it, Pecklar?" asked the major, straining his eyes to +discover it. "I don't see it." + +"Take my glass, and you can see it," added the captain, more faintly +than before. "I don't think I can stand it any longer, Major Pierson." + +"But we can't get along without you, Pecklar. We haven't another hand +that knows how to steer," replied the major, as he hastened up to the +pilot-house, followed by Christy. + +Captain Pecklar had fainted and fallen from the wheel. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE REPORT OF THE SCOUT FROM THE SHORE + + +Captain Pecklar had held out as long as it was possible for him to stand +it, and he had only given up when his senses deserted him. Major Pierson +raised him from his position on the floor of the pilot-house, and, with +Christy's assistance, bore him out into the air. + +The wheel had gone over when the sick man could no longer hold it, and +the tug was beginning to whirl about in an erratic manner, when the +major rang the bell to stop the engine. The captain was carried down to +his room, and put into his berth, where one of the soldiers was detailed +to act as his nurse. + +"I haven't a man on board that knows the first thing about handling a +steamboat; and I am not a bit wiser myself," said the major, when the +sick man had been disposed of. "Every man that is fit to be made into a +soldier is sent to the army; and we have nothing but the lame, and the +halt, and the blind to handle these boats." + +"It does not look like good policy," added Christy. + +"Dallberg and his two men are soldiers, and they know no more about a +steamboat than the rest of us," continued Major Pierson. "It looks as +though we should have to stay here till some other boat comes along; and +that may be in three days or a week, for steamers have no occasion to +come up here now." + +"Perhaps you may find a pilot among the men in that boat," suggested +Christy, as he looked about the pilot-house, where the conversation took +place. + +The captain's glass was lying on a shelf in front of the wheel, and he +took a look through it in order to find the boat. After searching in +every direction, he discovered the boat, which was pulled by two men, +with a third in the stern-sheets. He indicated the position of it to the +major, and gave him the glass. + +"That's Dallberg, without any doubt; but he must be five miles off. He +can't reach the steamer for a long time," said the major, when he had +examined the boat. "But we shall be no better off than we are now when +she gets here, for not one of those in it is a sailor." + +Christy was not a little interested in the situation; for he thought his +father must have gone on board of the Bellevite, or she would not have +changed her position. It was all a mystery to him as well as to the +commandant of Fort Gaines, and the boat in the distance had been to the +shore for the purpose of investigating it. + +He had an idea in his head, and he continued to examine the interior of +the pilot-house till he found a number of paper rolls in a drawer, which +looked very much like local charts of the bay. He examined several of +them, and found one which covered the portion of the waters around him. +He had noted the direction taken by the Bellevite the day before, and he +had no difficulty in placing the inlet where she had moored at the +wharf. + +"What have you got there, Mr. Passford?" asked the major, who had been +looking on the floor, thinking what he should do in his present dilemma. + + [Illustration: "You a Sailor?" (Page 215)] + +"It is a chart of these waters, which appears to have been considerably +improved with a pen and ink," replied Christy, still examining it. + +"That is the work of Captain Pecklar. They call him the best pilot for +Mobile Bay there is about here, though he has been here but two years." + +"Here is the inlet, or river, where we passed the night; and the captain +has marked the wharf on it." + +"What good is the chart without a man that knows how to steer a +steamer?" asked the major, who was becoming very impatient in the +presence of the delay that confronted him; for the illness of Captain +Pecklar deprived him of the ability to do any thing, even to return to +the fort. + +"You forget that I am a sailor, Major Pierson," said Christy. + +"You a sailor? I thought you were the son of a millionnaire, who could +not possibly know any thing except how to eat and sleep," replied the +soldier, laughing. + +"I have steered the Bellevite for a great many hundred miles, and my +father says I am competent to do duty as a quartermaster." + +"You astonish me; and, as we are both engaged in the same good cause, +I am heartily delighted to find that you are a sailor." + +"Probably I shall astonish you still more before we have got through. +With this chart before me, I have no doubt I can find my way about here +in the Leopard," said Christy. + +"Then I give you the command of the steamer in the absence of Captain +Pecklar," continued the major. "This boat and another are in the service +of the forts; and if you don't want to join the army with Percy, perhaps +I can obtain the appointment for you, especially as you are hardly old +enough to go into the ranks. We will see about that." + +"We will leave all that open for future action, if you please, Major +Pierson," replied Christy, as he rang the bell for the steamer to go +ahead. + +The major watched him with the most intense interest, as though he +feared that the young man would prove to be a failure as a steamboat +captain. But the steamer went ahead at the sound of the bell, and in +a minute or two Christy had her on her course in the direction of the +approaching boat. He examined the chart very carefully, and satisfied +himself that there was water enough for the tug anywhere outside the +headlands which projected into the hay. + +The Leopard held her course as steadily as though the sick captain were +still at the wheel; and the major was entirely satisfied with the +qualifications of the new master, after he had watched him for a while. + +"Spottswood, how is the captain?" called the major from the pilot-house. + +"Just the same: he don't seem to be any better," replied the sergeant. + +"He ought to have a doctor; for the poor fellow may die here, away from +any proper attendance," said the major, with more feeling than the new +captain supposed he possessed. + +"There is a very skilful surgeon on board of the Bellevite," suggested +Christy. "Dr. Linscott served in the army in Mexico, and had a large +practice in New York." + +"Then he shall see Pecklar. Dr. Linscott is just the sort of a surgeon +we want in our army; and I suppose he would not be on board of the +Bellevite if he was not of our way of thinking," added the major. + +Christy knew he was nothing but a Union man, and not of the way of +thinking which the soldier suggested: so he said nothing. The Leopard +was a faster tug than the one which had come off from Fort Gaines, and +she came up with the boat which contained Lieutenant Dallberg and his +two men, the latter of whom were nearly exhausted with the long pull +they had taken; for, as they were not sailors, they did not row to the +best advantage. + +The new captain rang the bell to stop her, as soon as the boat came +near, and the party came on board. The two men seated themselves on the +rail as though they never intended to do another stroke of work, for +they had been using the oars most of the time since the evening before. + +"Come up here, Dallberg," called the major from the pilot-house. + +The lieutenant looked as though he had just been through one war; +for he had slept none the night before, and had been on duty without +intermission. He came to the hurricane-deck, and entered the +pilot-house, where he dropped on the sofa abaft the wheel as though he +were not in much better condition than the captain when he fell at his +post. + +"You have made a night of it, Dallberg," the major began, seating +himself by the side of the lieutenant. + +"I am about used up, major. I believe I walked ten miles on shore; and I +am not as strong as I wish I was," replied Mr. Dallberg. "But I found +out all I wanted to know, and I expected the Leopard would be somewhere +near the creek." + +"I beg your pardon, Major Pierson," said Christy, who was standing at +the wheel. "What am I to do now?" + +"I will tell you in a moment.--Can you tell me, Dallberg, where the +Bellevite is at the present time?" asked the major, turning to the +lieutenant. + +"She seems to be running up and down across the head of the bay. She is +beyond that point now, and you will see her when you go within a mile of +the land," replied the lieutenant. + +"Have you been near her?" + +"Not within a mile of her, I should say." + +"All right, you may head her within a mile of that point, Captain +Passford," added the major; and Christy rang to go ahead. + +When the major applied this high-sounding title to the new captain, the +lieutenant opened his eyes a little; but he asked no questions, for he +had learned as he came on board that Captain Pecklar had fainted at his +post. + +"Well, what have you been about, Dallberg?" asked the major rather +impatiently, as soon as the boat was under way again. + +"Walking, talking, and rowing most of the time. As the poet says, +'Things are not what they seem,'" replied the scout; for such appeared +to be the duty in which he had been engaged. + +"What do you mean by that?" asked Major Pierson, opening his eyes very +wide. + +"We discovered that the steamer had left the wharf last night, and you +sent me to investigate when you started off in that wagon." + +"That's so; and Pecklar reported to me early this morning that the +steamer had left the wharf, and was standing off and on in the bay." + +"I went ashore in the evening, leaving Pecklar to watch the steamer. +I don't know any thing about his movements." + +"He reported to me this morning about daylight. It is all right as far +as he is concerned. What have you done?" + +"I landed at the wharf where the Bellevite had been moored, about eleven +o'clock, I should say, for I could not see my watch. I went up to +Colonel Passford's house, and found it all in commotion." + +"What was the matter?" + +"Colonel Passford was not there: he had gone off to procure assistance." + +"Assistance for what?" demanded the major. "You are sleepy, Dallberg, +and you are mixing your story." + +"I am sleepy and exhausted, but I will try to do better. I saw Mrs. +Passford. She told me that her brother-in-law, Captain Horatio Passford, +had come to the house that day, with his son; and you are aware, I +believe, that his daughter, Miss Florence, has been there all winter." + +"I know all about that. Go ahead, Dallberg." + +"The two brothers had been shut up in the library all the afternoon, +engaged in an earnest discussion; though the colonel's wife did not know +what it was about. Captain Horatio left Colonel Homer in the library +some time in the evening, and the colonel remained there till after ten. +Then it was found that the captain had left the house secretly, with his +daughter and his son; though some of the servants had seen the young man +going up the road with Percy Pierson." + +"Exactly so; never mind the young man now. The captain had left the +house, and his daughter went with him?" repeated the major, beginning to +be a good deal excited. + +"The house was searched, but they could not be found; and the young +lady's trunk had been removed from her room. Then the colonel went down +to the wharf, and found that the Bellevite had left." + +Major Pierson sprang to his feet, hardly able to contain himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A REBELLION IN THE PILOT-HOUSE + + +Captain Passford had obtained the idea, from the fact that Florry did +not like to have the major gaze at her all the time, that she was not +very deeply interested in him; and the conclusion afforded him a great +deal of satisfaction. She did not like to leave her uncle and aunt and +her two cousins without saying good-by to them; but she had not said a +word about the military gentleman who was supposed to have made frequent +visits at the mansion on her account. + +When Lieutenant Dallberg informed Major Pierson that Miss Florry had +left the house, and that her trunk had been removed, indicating that she +did not intend to return, the effect upon him was very decided. However +it may have been with the young lady, it was plain enough that he was +stirred to the very centre of his being. + +"Then Captain Passford has left the mansion?" said the Major, after he +had strode several times across the little pilot-house, as he halted in +front of the lieutenant. + +"No doubt of that; the family and the servants hunted the house all over +in search of him and his daughter," replied Mr. Dallberg with a yawn. + +"Well, what did Colonel Passford say about him?" demanded the major. + +"He was not at the house when I got there. As I said, he had gone for +assistance. I could do nothing till I had seen him. I sent my men on +ahead to look for him, and then I went myself. We did not find him till +one o'clock in the morning. He had given up all his horses for the +service, and we had to go on foot," continued the lieutenant. + +"But you saw Colonel Passford?" + +"I did; but he had been unable to find the persons of whom he had +been in search, and he could procure no such assistance as he wished. +I walked back to his mansion with him. At first he was not inclined to +say any thing to me; but when I told him that you were over here in the +Leopard to look out for the steamer, he had more confidence in me." + +"Well, what did he say?" asked the major impatiently. + +"He would not say any thing till I had told him all I knew, including +the manner in which the steamer had passed the forts. By this time we +had reached his house, and we seated ourselves in the library." + +"You need not stop to describe the chairs or the sofa," interposed the +excited commandant of the fort. + +"I will not; but, if I omit any thing, it will not be my fault," said +the younger officer with a long gape. "He told me he and his brother had +been discussing the great question, as he called it, for over six hours; +and they understood each other perfectly in the end." + +"Six hours! It is a wonder they did not talk each other to death!" +exclaimed the major. + +"At any rate, they talked enough to enable them to come to a perfect +understanding. Colonel Passford is as true to the Confederacy as we all +know him to be, but Captain Passford is a Yankee to the marrow of his +bones; and the two brothers could not agree at all on the political +question, though they profess still to be friends." + +"Then the owner of the Bellevite is on the other side?" + +"No doubt of that; and the steamer did not come down here to go into the +service of the Confederacy," added the lieutenant. + +"But she will go into it, all the same," said the major, glancing at the +new captain of the Leopard. + +Christy was quite as much excited over the conversation to which he +could not help being a listener, even if he had wished not to be so. It +was clear enough to him that the whole object of the voyage to Mobile +Bay had come out, and the major needed no further information to enable +him to act with promptness and decision. The fact that Miss Florry must +be on board of the Bellevite was doubtless an additional incentive to +make him do his entire duty to the Confederacy. + +"I think I have told you the whole story, Major Pierson," said +Lieutenant Dallberg with another prodigious yawn. + +"Then Captain Passford and his daughter are now on board of the +steamer," added the major; though he seemed to be musing on the fact, +rather than saying it to his companion. + +"There can be no doubt of that," replied the other. + +"As Captain Passford is a Yankee at heart, of course he don't intend +to remain in these waters much longer," continued the major, giving +utterance to his reflections. + +"There is something more than that, which I forgot to tell you; for you +hurried me so that I could not keep my thoughts about me," interposed +the lieutenant. + +"What more is there? You said you had told me the whole," said the +major, with a sneer on his lips. + +"The Bellevite is intended for the Yankee navy, and she has already been +tendered to the Government for that purpose. More yet, Captain Passford +and the commander of the steamer have offered their services. The owner +is sure that all hands will be volunteers for the service as soon as she +returns from this trip," continued Dallberg, who had suddenly roused his +energies to the requirements of the situation. + +"I had no doubt that Captain Passford would be with his brother in this +war," mused the major. + +"He could not be any farther from him. He came down here after his +daughter, and his brother says he expected to remove him and his family +to the North at the same time." + +"His mission will be a failure in every sense," added Major Pierson, as +though he regarded it as a matter of course. + +"The colonel said his duty to his country and her cause would not allow +him to suffer his brother to take the steamer back to the North to be +handed over to the Yankee navy." + +"That is where he was quite right." + +"But the colonel does not like to do any thing to injure his brother +and his two children who are with him; and he wished to find Colonel +Dalheath, who could manage the business without loss to the Confederacy, +while he could favor the captain's escape. But he was satisfied that you +would feel an interest to prevent the departure of the steamer; while +you would not be willing to do her owner or his family any injury in +their persons, however it might be in their property." + +"I think I understand the situation perfectly now," said the major, as +he went to the front windows of the pilot-house. "Spottswood!" he called +to the sergeant. + +"Here, sir." + +"How is Captain Pecklar?" + +"He has come to himself, but he is no better. I am afraid he is going to +die." replied Spottswood, coming near the bulkhead, and speaking in a +low tone. + +"That's bad," added the major, shaking his head. + +"There's the steamer, sir!" called one of the soldiers. + +The Leopard had just passed a point of land beyond which the Bellevite +was discovered, apparently going at full speed, and headed to the +south-west. Christy brought his glass to bear upon her, but he could see +nothing which afforded him any information in regard to her movements or +intentions. + +"I suppose it is not difficult to determine what your father's steamer +is waiting in the bay for, Mr. Passford," said Major Pierson, as he +looked into the face of his pilot. + +"I am sure I don't know what he is waiting for," replied Christy. + +"Don't you, indeed?" added the major, laughing. + +"I am sure I do not." + +"Then, it has not occurred to you that he misses you, and don't like to +leave without you?" chuckled the major. "I did not intend to have you +captured by my men, and I gave them no definite orders to that effect; +but, as things look just now, it is rather fortunate that I have you on +board of the Leopard, not only for the sake of your father's waiting for +you, but you are a good pilot, and are of great service to me." + +Christy rang the bell with a sudden impulse, which made it look as +though he had not fully taken in the situation before. The engineer, +though he was one of the army of the disabled in whole or in part, +obeyed the summons of the bell, and the propeller ceased to revolve. + +"What's that for, Captain Passford?" asked the major good-naturedly. + +"With your permission, Major Pierson, I will resign my office as captain +of the Leopard," replied Christy, as he stepped back from the wheel. + +"But I cannot give you my permission," laughed the major. + +"I am sorry to disoblige you, Major Pierson; but then I am compelled to +resign the position without your permission," replied Christy without an +instant's hesitation; for he clearly understood what he was doing now, +and neither really nor constructively was he willing to do any thing in +the service of the enemies of the Union. + +"But you can't resign in the face of the enemy, Captain Passford; and +you accepted the position which I assigned to you," said the major, +beginning to look a little more serious. + +"In the face of the enemy!" exclaimed Christy, glancing at the +Bellevite, as she dashed furiously over the waves at a distance of not +more than a mile from the tug. "May I ask what you mean by the enemy, +Major Pierson?" + +"Yon must have heard all the information which was brought to me by +Lieutenant Dallberg; and by this time you are aware that the steamer +yonder is an enemy of the Confederate States," continued the major. + +"She did not come into these waters as an enemy, or with any warlike +intentions, sir. She came on a peaceful mission; and now it appears that +my uncle is guilty of treachery towards my father," replied Christy with +deep emotion. + +"Do you think it would be right or proper for your uncle to allow that +fine steamer, which I am told is one of the strongest and fastest ever +built, to be handed over to the Yankee navy?" demanded the major, with +energy enough to assure his auditor that he meant all he said. + +"I happen to know that my father had several hundred dollars about him +in gold; and my uncle would have done no worse to rob him of that, than +to have his steamer taken from him when it was not engaged in acts of +war. In either case, Homer Passford is a thief and a robber!" + +"That's plain speech, young man," said the major, biting his lips. + +"I meant it should be plain, sir," said Christy, gasping for breath in +his deep emotion. "I am ashamed of my uncle, and I know that my father +would not be guilty of such treachery." + +"I see that it is useless to reason with you, Passford." + +"You have come to a correct conclusion. When you call my father's +steamer an enemy, you define my duty for me; and I have nothing further +to do on board of this tug," replied Christy. "I am in your power, and +of course you can do with me as you please." + +Major Pierson was certainly very much embarrassed. The events of the +night, and the information obtained on shore, to say nothing of the +specific request from Colonel Passford to "manage the business," imposed +upon him the duty of capturing the Bellevite; and he was all ready to do +it. But the Leopard might as well have been without an engine as without +a pilot; for all the men on board were from the interior of the country, +and not one of them, not even the officers, knew how to steer the boat. + +The marks and figures on the chart of the bay, which Christy had put on +the shelf in front of the wheel, were all Greek to them. Possibly they +might get the tug to the shore, or aground on the way to it; but the +steamer was practically disabled. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE SICK CAPTAIN OF THE LEOPARD + + +Christy Passford now realized, for the first time, that he had +been taken by the enemy. War had actually been declared against the +Bellevite, and Major Pierson would undertake to perform the duty +assigned to him by Colonel Passford. The young man was determined to be +true to his colors under all possible circumstances; and therefore he +could do nothing, directly or indirectly, to assist in the capture of +the steamer. + +Captain Passford, while he recognized the irregularity of his mission, +had come into the waters of Mobile Bay with no intention of committing +any depredations on the persons, property, or vessels of the +Confederacy. The Bellevite had not fired a shot, or landed a force, +in the enemy's country. + +Indeed, the owner of the steamer had taken especial pains to conceal any +appearance of using force on coming into the bay; and all the guns on +the deck of the vessel, that could not be easily lowered into the hold, +had been covered up and concealed. Though Major Pierson had spent some +time on board of the Bellevite, he did not know whether or not she was +armed. He was no wiser than the owner's brother. + +The major went to the lower deck of the Leopard, where Christy saw him +questioning the soldiers there, though he could not hear any thing that +was said. Of course he was inquiring for some hand who had steered a +steamer; but he soon returned alone, and it looked as though he had not +found the person he sought. + +"It looks like bad weather, Mr. Passford, since you decline to be called +captain any longer," said the major, as he came into the pilot-house, +and looked at the sky in all directions. + +Christy had noticed the weather signs before; and the wind was beginning +to pipe up a rather fresh blast, though the sun had been out for an hour +or more earlier in the morning. It came from the southward, and it was +already knocking up a considerable sea, as it had the range of the whole +length of the bay. + +"I was thinking that we should have a storm before long when I looked at +the signs this morning," replied Christy rather indifferently. + +"How many men does your father have on board of his steamer, Mr. +Passford?" asked the major, in a careless sort of way. + +"Not as many, I should say, as you have in Fort Gaines. By the way, how +many have you under your command there?" returned Christy with a twinkle +of the eye. + +"We have two thousand four hundred and twenty-six, including myself," +replied the major. + +"That is quite a force; my father has only seven hundred and forty-two, +without counting me." + +"Where do you put them all?" + +"We stow them away in the hold, after the manner of packing sardines in +a box. We only let them out one at a time, when we feed them with salt +fish and baked beans." + +"That makes a good many men to a gun," suggested the major. + +"Lots of them," answered Christy. + +"How many guns does the steamer carry?" + +"Only two hundred; of course I mean heavy guns,--sixty and eighty-four +pounders. I think there must be small arms enough to supply all your men +in the fort." + +"I was on board of the Bellevite for half an hour or more, and I really +did not see a single heavy gun," added the major, biting his lip. + +"Didn't you notice the one hundred and twenty pounder in the waist? It +is big enough for you to have seen it." + +It was plain enough to the young Unionist that the major really desired +to know something about the force and metal of the Bellevite, and that +he was disappointed when he found that the son of the owner was on his +guard. No information was to be obtained from him. + +"I think you said there was a doctor on board of the steamer," continued +Major Pierson, changing the subject of the conversation. + +"Yes, sir; and a very skilful surgeon he is,--Dr. Linscott," replied +Christy. + +"I went in to see Captain Pecklar when I was below, and I found him in a +very bad condition. I am afraid he will die before we can get him to the +shore; and he is suffering terribly," added the major, looking earnestly +into the face of the young man. + +"I am sorry for him," replied Christy; and his pity and sympathy were +apparent in his face. + +He had noticed the captain of the tug in the morning, and one of the +soldiers had told him he was a Northern man who had come to this region +for his health. He appeared to have no scruples at doing the duty +assigned to him, though he had been only two years at the South. But he +seemed to be of no use to either side in the contest, for he was too +sick to work any longer. + +Christy was filled with pity for the sufferings of the captain of the +tug, and he thought the major's questions suggested that something was +to be required of him in connection with the sick man. He was willing to +do any thing he could for the aid of the captain, if he could do it +without sacrificing his principles. + +"It was a part of my purpose to obtain assistance from the surgeon of +the steamer for poor Pecklar," continued the major. "But you have moored +us all here by refusing to steer the boat, and the captain will die +without our being able to do a single thing for him. There is not even a +drop of brandy on board of this boat to restore him." + +"What do you propose to do, Major Pierson?" asked Christy. + +"Just now, all I desire is to procure assistance for poor Pecklar," +replied the major. "But we are as helpless as though we were all babies, +for we can't handle the steamer, and cannot run down to the Bellevite. +I hope you will not have the death of this poor fellow on your +conscience." + +"I will not. I will take the Leopard alongside of the Bellevite, if you +like," replied Christy; and he regarded this as a mission of humanity +which he had no right to decline. + +"The steamer has turned about!" shouted one of the soldiers on the +forecastle. + +Christy had noticed that the Bellevite was coming about before the +announcement came from below, for his nautical eye enabled him to see +her first movement. He did not feel that the service he was about to +render would benefit the enemy, on the one hand; and he hoped that his +father or some other person on board of the Bellevite would see him in +the pilot-house, on the other hand. If he could only let his father know +where he was, he felt that he should remove a heavy burden from his mind +and that of his sister. + +What else might come from getting near to the steamer, he did not +venture to consider. But he could not help figuring up the number of +soldiers on board of the tug; the force which had captured him and +Percy consisted of four men, and two men were with the lieutenant. Two +officers and six men was the available force of the enemy on board of +the little steamer, for neither the captain nor the engineer was fit for +duty. + +"I accept your offer, Captain Passford; and we have no time to spare, or +the sick man may die," said the major. + +Christy made no reply, but went to the wheel, and rang the bell to go +ahead. Heading the Leopard for the Bellevite, he gave himself up to a +consideration of the situation. Major Pierson immediately left the +pilot-house, and did not return. No stipulations of any kind had been +made, and no terms had been imposed upon Christy. All that he desired +was that his father should see him, and know where he was. + +No one but himself on board could handle the steamer; and he could not +be sent out of the pilot-house, or concealed so that he should not be +seen. On the other hand, it did not seem to him that the officer could +do any thing towards capturing the Bellevite. The major desired to +ascertain what force she had, and had asked some questions calculated +to throw light on the subject. + +If the steamer had come into the bay on a peaceful errand, as Christy +insisted that she had, the major might easily believe that she was not +armed, and that she had only men enough to man her. But Christy could +not tell what his captor was thinking about, and he could not yet +enlarge his plans for the future; but he was very certain in his own +mind, that he should not let pass any opportunity to escape, even at +great risk, from his present situation. + +As the Leopard went off on her course, considerably shaken by the fresh +breeze which had stirred up a smart sea, the acting captain of the tug +saw that all the men who had been on the forecastle had disappeared, +with a single exception. The major was not to be seen, and doubtless +he was taking care of the sick captain, or arranging his plan for the +interview with the people of the Bellevite. In a few minutes more, this +last man disappeared, and Percy Pierson took his place on the +forecastle. + +"So you are a Yank, are you, Mr. Pierson?" said he of that name, looking +up to the window at which Christy stood. + +"Whatever I am, I am in command of a Confederate steamer," replied +Christy, laughing. "What is your brother doing, Mr. Percy?" + +"I am sure I don't know: he is only talking to the men," answered the +young man, who had evidently been put there to act as a lookout. + +At that moment a voice was heard from farther aft, and Percy went +towards the stern of the boat. A few minutes later he ascended to the +pilot-house. On the sofa abaft the wheel was Lieutenant Dallberg, where +he had dropped asleep as he finished his report of what he had learned +on shore. + +"Mr. Dallberg!" shouted Percy; but the lieutenant did not show any signs +of life till the messenger had shaken him smartly. "Major Pierson wants +you down below." + +The officer rubbed his eyes for a moment, and then rose from the sofa, +and left the apartment. The summons for the lieutenant made it look to +Christy as though something was in progress below. There was only one +thing which the major could think of doing; and that was to capture the +Bellevite, either by force or by strategy. He would have given a good +deal to know what the plan was, but it seemed to him to be quite +impossible to leave the wheel. + +"How is the sick man, Percy?" asked Christy, when he found that the +messenger was not disposed to leave the pilot-house. + +"He is a good deal better: they have just given him another glass of +brandy," replied Percy. + +This statement did not agree with that of the major, who had told him +the captain was likely to die, and that there was not a drop of brandy +on board of the boat. The commandant of the fort had evidently been +acting in the pilot-house with a purpose. + +"Didn't your brother order you to stay on the forecastle, Mr. Percy?" +asked Christy, when his companion came to the wheel on the opposite side +from the helmsman. + +"No: he said if I would help him, he would do what he could for me; and +he told me to keep a lookout at this end of the tug. I can see ahead +better here than I can down below," replied Percy, as he tried to turn +the wheel. "I believe I could steer this thing." + +"I know you could, Percy. Do you see the Bellevite?" + +"Of course I do: I'm not blind." + +"She has stopped her screw, and is not going ahead now," added Christy, +as he let go the spokes of the wheel, and proceeded to instruct his +pupil. + +A few minutes later, Christy left the pilot-house to take a look below. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE PROCEEDINGS ON THE LOWER DECK + + +Christy Passford did not consider Percy Pierson a competent helmsman, +for he had spent but a few minutes in instructing him in handling the +wheel; in fact, only long enough to induce him to "steer small." For the +moment, Percy was interested in the occupation, and gave his whole mind +to it; and Christy intended to remain where he could reach the wheel in +a moment if occasion should require. His companion in the pilot-house +did not seem to care what he did. + +The Bellevite, as the new captain had observed before, had stopped her +screw: and she appeared to be waiting for the tug to come up, as it was +headed towards her. Christy had examined her with the glass, but he +could see nothing which gave him any idea of what was going on upon her +decks. As Florry was now on board of her, he was satisfied that his +father could only be waiting for him; and he intended to do his best to +report on board some time during the day. + +Major Pierson and his little force were gathered under the +hurricane-deck, in the space from which opened the door of the captain's +little cabin. Christy could not see a single one of them from the upper +deck; but he had gone but a few steps aft before he heard the voice of +the major who seemed to be "laying down the law" in a forcible manner to +his men. + +"Do you understand me, Spikeley?" demanded the major slowly and loudly, +as though he were talking to a deaf man. + +Christy had not heard the name of Spikeley before; but he concluded that +he must be one of the soldiers, probably one of the two who had come on +board with Lieutenant Dallberg. + +"I don't think I do," replied the man addressed, in a tone quite as loud +as that of the military officer. + +"You are not to start the engine under any circumstances," continued the +major, in a louder tone than before, as if the man had failed to hear +him. + +The man addressed as Spikeley must be the engineer then, and not a +soldier, Christy realized at once. + +"Don't I mind the bells, Major Pierson?" asked the engineer, whose tones +indicated that he was not a little astonished at the positive order he +had received. + +"You will not mind the bells. You will take no notice of them after this +present moment. When I tell you to stop the engine, you will stop it, +not without, no matter how many times the bells ring," said the major +with emphasis. + +"I hear you, and I understand now what I am to do," replied Spikeley. + +"All right, so far; but do you understand what you are not to do?" +demanded the officer sharply, as though he fully comprehended the +obtuseness of the engineer. + +"I reckon I do: I am not to start the engine till you tell me to start +it," answered the dull engineer. + +"Not if you don't start it for a month!" added the major sternly. + +"But you are going off, Major Pierson," suggested Spikeley. "If that +steamer over yonder looks like she was going to run over the Leopard, +I am not to start the engine to keep her from being sent to the bottom +of the bay?" + +"No!" exclaimed the officer. + +"All right, major; then you may find me on the bottom when you come +back." + +"You will not be lost as long as I know where you are," added the major +with a chuckle. + +"Are you coming back to-day, major?" + +"I don't know when I shall return. All you have to do is to obey orders, +and leave all the rest to me." + +"Shall I be all alone on board?" + +"That young fellow at the wheel will remain on board; but you are not to +mind what he says to you. Do you understand that?" + +"I reckon I do," replied Spikeley. + +"My brother, who was down here a little while ago, will also remain on +board; and Captain Pecklar will be in his room, for he cannot leave it. +That is all that will be on board. But no one will bother you, unless it +should be the fellow now at the wheel; and he can't do any harm as long +as you don't start the engine for him." + +"I reckon I won't start the engine for him, or anybody else but you, +major. You can bet your commission on that," added the engineer, with +more vim in his speech than he had used before. + +"All right, Spikeley; and I will see that you don't lose any thing, +if you are faithful to your duty. You must keep a sharp lookout for +Passford: that's the young fellow at the wheel. He is the only one that +can do any mischief, and I would not have him go near that steamer for a +thousand dollars." + +Christy thought he understood what was in progress; at any rate, he +dared not remain any longer away from the wheel, and he returned to +the pilot-house. Percy was still interested in his occupation. He was +steering the tug very well for a beginner, and his brother was too busy +organizing his expedition to notice that the steering was a little wild; +for the waves caused the boat to yaw somewhat in the absence of a +skilled hand at the helm. + +The Leopard was now within about half a mile of the Bellevite. The +latter turned her screw a few times once in a while to keep from +drifting, and Christy saw from his chart that the water was too shallow +for her in the direction in which the tug was approaching her. Of course +his father was aware that, by this time, his own and his daughter's +departure from his uncle's mansion was known. His own absence, +therefore, must be the only thing that detained her in these waters. + +"I think I can steer this thing pretty well, Mr. Pierson," said Percy, +when the new captain joined him. + +"You do it very well indeed for a beginner, Percy; but you need not call +me 'Mr. Pierson' any longer, for it takes too long to say it. Everybody +calls me Christy, and you had better follow the fashion," replied the +captain. + +"All right, Christy, and I will do so; for there are more Piersons on +board of this boat now than I wish there were," added Percy, glancing at +the face of his companion. + +"What is your brother going to do, Percy? He seems to be arranging +something on the lower deck," continued Christy. + +"I don't know: he didn't tell me any thing at all about it. He wanted to +use me: so he soaped me." + +"If he knew you could steer this steamer, he would have something more +for you to do." + +"Then I won't tell him. All I want is to get away from him. He will make +a common soldier of me, and I shall never get out of the ranks." + +"But you will fight like a brave fellow, and you will be promoted," +suggested Christy. + +"If I get a bullet through my carcass, they will make a corporal of me. +Then if I had half my head shot off, they might make a sergeant of me. +I am not thirsting for any such glory as that, and I expected to stay +with my father at Nassau." + +"Did your brother ask you any thing about the Bellevite, Percy?" + +"Not a thing: he would hardly speak to me, for he says I have disgraced +the family. But, Christy, now I think of it, you are not on the South +side of this question." + +"How do you know I am not?" asked Christy, laughing. + +"I heard my brother say so; and that he did not wish to have you, on any +account, go near that other steamer." + +"I think we won't talk about that just now," added Christy cautiously, +for he was not inclined to have Percy know too much about his affairs at +present. + +"Why not? After all my brother has done, and is trying to do, to me, +I don't think I am exactly on the South side of the question any more +than you are," said Percy, looking with interest into the face of his +companion. "If your father is a Union man, as Lindley says he is, he +don't mean to have the Bellevite go into the service of the +Confederacy." + +"That is not bad logic, with the premises on which you base it." + +"Just talk English, if you please, Christy." + +"The English of it is, that if my father is a Union man, as your brother +says he is, the Bellevite is not going into the Southern navy," replied +Christy, willing to encourage the major's brother. + +"I can understand that, Christy. Now, you are going on board of your +father's steamer if you can get there." + +"I certainly don't want to stay on board of this little tub any longer +than I am obliged to do so, for you can see that I am really a +prisoner." + +"So am I; and that is just where we ought to be friends, and stand by +each other," said Percy with a good deal of enthusiasm. "I can see +through a brick wall, when there is a hole in it." + +"Good eyes you have, Percy, and you don't have to wear glasses." + +"I don't know much about logic; but if the Bellevite is not going into +the Confederate navy, as I supposed when we came into Mobile Bay, I can +figure it out that she is not going to stay in these parts at all." + +"That's your logic, Percy, not mine; but I don't think I care to argue +the question on the other side," said Christy, making very light of the +whole matter, though he was vastly more interested than he was willing +to acknowledge. + +"She is going to get out of Mobile Bay, and she is going to do it just +as soon as she can. Now, the question is, where is she going then?" + +"You will have to put that question to my father, Percy," said Christy. +"He can tell you what he is going to do a great deal better than I can." + +"He is not within ear-shot of me just now: if he were, I would ask him +without stopping to soap my tongue." + +"You may see him before long. I don't know what your brother is about +just now; and, for aught I know, he may intend to capture the +Bellevite." + +"I reckon he will have a good time doing it, if your father and Captain +Breaker haven't a mind to let him do it." + +"They will not wish to fight, even for their steamer, here in Mobile +Bay. I know that my father intended to keep the peace. Besides, your +brother may think there are few men on board of the vessel." + +"I want to get on board of the Bellevite anyhow!" exclaimed Percy, +bluntly coming to the point at which he had been aiming for some time. + +"I shall not do any thing to prevent you from doing so," added Christy. + +"I don't say that I want to go into the Yankee navy, or that I will lift +a finger against my country, mind you." + +He seemed to be equally unwilling to lift a finger for it. + +"I don't ask you to do any thing against your conscience, Percy." + +"If the Bellevite gets out of the bay with you and me on board, +I believe I can find some way to get back to Nassau. That is what I +am driving at." + +"I can't say that the steamer will not go there," added Christy, who did +not mean to commit himself. + +Suddenly, without any bell from the pilot-house, the engine of the +Leopard stopped; but Christy was not at all surprised at the failure of +the power, though Percy began to make himself very indignant over the +stoppage of the engine. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE EXPEDITION FROM THE LEOPARD + + +"What is the matter now?" demanded Percy Pierson, when the tug ceased to +shake under the pressure of the engine, and began to roll rather smartly +in the sea, though it was not heavy enough to be at all dangerous. + +"It appears that the engine has stopped," replied Christy quietly. + +"What has it stopped for?" asked the other. + +"You will have to put that conundrum to your brother; but doubtless the +needs of the Confederate States require that it should stop." + +"Which is the bell, Christy?" inquired Percy, looking at the pulls on +the frame of the wheel. + +"The large one is the gong bell, the other is the speed bell, and the +latter is a jingler." + +"Well, which one do you ring to start her?" + +"One pull at the gong bell to stop or to start her," replied Christy, +who was rather anxious to have his companion learn the secrets of the +pilot-house. + +"One bell to stop or start her," repeated Percy. + +"Two bells to back her," added the acting captain. + +"Two bells to back her. I can remember all that without writing it down. +But what is the other pull for. There don't seem to be any need of any +more bells." + +"I think there is; at least, it saves striking too many strokes on the +gong when there is an emergency. The other is the speed bell." + +"What is that for, to make her go faster?" + +"Yes, or slower. If you start the engine, the engineer will run it +slowly at first, and continue to do so till he gets the speed bell, +or jingler, which he can never mistake for the gong." + +"I see; and that is a good scheme." + +"If you are approaching a wharf or another vessel, or if a fog come +up, you ring the jingler, if the boat is going at full speed, and the +engineer slows her down. If there is any danger, and you wish to stop +her as quick as you can, you ring one bell on the gong, which stops the +engine, and then two bells on the same, which reverses the engine. Now +let me see if you know all about it; for your brother may want you to +steer the Leopard, and become her captain, after he has tied my hands +behind me again." + +"If he does that, I will cut you loose, Christy." + +"Thank you, Percy. I don't know what he will do, but it seems to me that +he is going to do something;" and Christy proceeded to examine his pupil +in the use of the bell-pulls. + +Percy made some mistakes, which were carefully corrected; and, as he did +so, the captain wrote down the directions in full, placing the paper on +the shelf with the chart. + +The student of bell-pulls signalized the completion of his examination +by giving one pull at the gong; but it produced no effect at all upon +the engine or the engineer, and the Leopard, having fallen off into the +trough of the sea, had begun to roll more violently than at first. + +"What is the matter with that engineer?" pouted Percy, who did not feel +flattered that his first experience with the bell-pulls produced no +effect, though he had distinctly heard the sound of the gong. + +"They haven't sent any word up to the pilot house that the engine is +disabled, and we shall have to apply to Major Pierson for further +information." + +"That engineer must have gone to sleep!" exclaimed Percy, whose vexation +was in proportion to his zeal. + +He rang the gong again; but Christy understood why the screw did not +turn, though he deemed it wise to keep his own counsel for the present. +Percy was rousing himself to a passion at the neglect of the engineer to +heed his bell. + +"Keep cool, Percy," interposed Christy. "Don't say a word to your +brother that you have learned to steer a steamer; and you may have a +chance to surprise him, and show that you are a good deal more of a +fellow than he takes you to be." + +"I don't believe he will get such a chance if he don't have it now. +I wonder what he is up to," added Percy, restraining his impatience. + +"We can only wait till his plans come out," added Christy. "But I will +go to the side of the hurricane deck, and tell him that the engine does +not respond to the bells." + +"I should think he might see that for himself," said Percy. + +"Don't you say a word, and don't you show yourself to any one. Sit down +on that stool, and keep quiet." + +"I will do just what you tell me, Christy, for I believe you will be +able to get me out of this scrape," replied Percy, as he seated himself, +and began to read over the instructions relating to the bells. + +In fact, he was so interested in the new occupation he had taken up, +that he soon forgot all about his brother, and the trouble that lay in +his path. He read the paper, and applied his fingers to the pulls in a +great many different ways, supposing all the various situations of the +boat which Christy had suggested. + +Christy went to the side of the upper deck, and saw that the soldiers +had hauled in the boat that had been used by the lieutenant and his two +men. It was a large and clumsy affair, big enough to hold a dozen men, +and provided with four oars. But the Leopard was in the trough of the +sea, and it was not an easy matter for the soldiers to handle it; and +just then the major declared that the boat would be smashed against the +side of the tug. + +"Major Pierson, this steamer has stopped without any bell from the +pilot-house, and I have been unable to start her again," said Christy, +hailing the commander of the fort. + +"All right, Mr. Passford: I told the engineer to stop her," replied +the major, who appeared to be in a hurry, though he could not make the +long-boat work as he desired. "Oblige me by remaining in the pilot-house +for the present, and keep a sharp lookout for the Bellevite." + +"Certainly, Major Pierson, if you desire it; but permit me to suggest +that you will not be able to do any thing with that boat while the tug +remains in the trough of the sea," replied Christy, who was more afraid +that the major would not carry out his plan than that he would do so. + +"I don't see that it can be helped, though I am no sailor," replied the +commandant, looking up with interest to the acting captain. "For reasons +of my own, which I cannot stop to explain, I don't wish to take this tug +any nearer to the Bellevite; and I am going off in the boat after Dr. +Linscott. But it looks now as though the boat would be smashed in +pieces." + +"I should say that it would be," added Christy. "If you will start the +engine again, I think I can help you out of this difficulty." + +"How do you expect to do it?" asked the major, who seemed to be +incredulous on the point. + +"If you will let me get the tug out of the trough of the sea, you can +easily haul the boat up on the lee side of her," Christy explained. "The +steamer will shelter the water on that side of her." + +"Spikeley!" called the major, in a loud voice; and the engineer came out +of his den. "Start her up now." + +"Run her at about half speed, major," and the commandant repeated his +direction to the engineer. + +Christy retreated to the pilot-house, and threw over the wheel of the +boat; so that, when the screw began to turn, the bow of the tug soon +headed to the southward, which gave her the wind ahead. Then he brought +her so that the water was comparatively smooth on her port quarter, +where the long-boat was. + +Without the loss of a moment, the major drove all his men into the boat, +and they shoved off. The men were soldiers, and they had had but little +practice in rowing, having taken it up at the fort. They made rather +bad work of it; but, more by luck than skill, the boat cleared the tug +without being stove. + +"Spikeley!" shouted the major. + +"Here, sir," replied the engineer, hobbling out of his room. + +"Stop the engine, and remember what I told you," added the commandant. + +"All right, sir: I will do just as you ordered me." + +"What does he want to stop the engine for?" asked Percy. "She don't roll +so badly when the engine is going." + +"That is very true; but your brother knows what he is about," replied +Christy, his eyes beginning to light up with an unwonted fire. + +"Well, what is he about?" + +"He is going to capture the Bellevite." + +"He will have a nice time of it!" exclaimed Percy. "That steamer can +blow him out of the water a dozen times before he gets near her." + +"I don't believe your brother has any idea that the Bellevite is heavily +armed," added Christy. + +"But he has been on board of her." + +"That is very true; but the two heavy guns were covered up, and the +others were sent down into the hold. All the soldiers in the boat +with your brother have their muskets; and he would not have taken the +lieutenant and six men with him if he were simply going for the doctor +for Captain Pecklar, as he told me he was." + +"I believe Lindley is a fool to think of such a thing as capturing the +Bellevite with eight men," added Percy. + +"I don't know what else he can intend to do, but I do know why he don't +take the tug any nearer to the steamer. He don't want my father to know +what has become of me." + +"Can't you make some sort of a signal to him, Christy?" + +"I can do something better than that." + +"What's that?" + +"I can show myself to him. But, before I do that, I must know how you +stand, Percy." + +"How I stand? You know as much about me as I know about myself. I want +to get on board of the Bellevite, and I am not a bit anxious to fight my +brother's battle for him. I know what he is after, now I think of it." + +"Well, what is he after?" + +"He is after the Bellevite; and if he can take her, he is sure of a +colonel's commission." + +"I should say that he could not do any thing better for the Confederacy +than to present it with the finest steamer in the world. But you are not +with him, you say, Percy." + +"I am not. I belong to the Confederacy the same as he does; but I want +to get aboard of the Bellevite, and then I shall have a good chance to +reach Nassau," replied Percy. + +Christy had a good deal better opinion of Major Pierson than he had of +his brother in the pilot-house with him; but just then the latter was +able to be more useful to him than the commandant of the fort. + +"I can now almost promise that you shall be put on board of the +Bellevite, if I succeed in reaching her myself," said Christy. + +"That is all I can expect of you; and I will do whatever you tell me, if +it be to sink the Leopard. But we can't do a thing. The engineer will +not start the engine for us; and I don't see but what we must stay here +till my brother comes back from his errand, whatever it may be." + +"I don't feel quite so helpless as that," added Christy, as he took a +revolver from his hip-pocket, where he had carried it all the time since +the steamer left Nassau, and while she was there. + +"What are you going to do with that, Christy?" asked Percy, impressed +with the sight of the weapon. + +"I am going to start this tug with it, if necessary. Now hear me." + +Percy was all attention. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE ENGINEER GOES INTO THE FORECASTLE + + +The wind from the southward seemed to be increasing in force, though it +was not yet what old salts would call any thing more than half a gale, +and hardly that; but the long-boat from the Leopard made bad weather of +it, and rolled wildly in the trough of the sea. The soldiers pulled +badly, for they had had no training in the use of the oars, and very +little experience. + +The boat had made very little progress towards the Bellevite, and +Christy was in no hurry to put his plan in operation. He showed his +revolver to Percy, and then restored it to his hip-pocket. But he +watched the expression of his companion in the pilot-house very closely; +for, as the case then stood, one of them belonged to the blue, while the +other was of the gray. But Percy's patriotism was hardly skin deep, and +he had already spoken freely enough to make himself understood. + +"I don't see how you are going to start the tug with that pistol if the +fellow at the engine don't look at it in that light," said Percy, as his +companion restored the weapon to his pocket. + +"I don't intend to use it if it can be avoided," replied Christy. +"I shall not ask Spikeley to start the engine, and if he don't interfere +with me, I shall not harm him; for he seems to be a cripple, and it +would hurt my feelings to have to lay hands on him, or even to point a +revolver at his head." + +"If Spikeley don't start the engine, I reckon it will not start itself," +suggested Percy. + +"I don't believe it will." + +"What are you going to do, then?" + +"I am going to start it myself." + +"Start it yourself! You will blow the whole thing up!" exclaimed Percy, +who did not see how the same young fellow of sixteen could know how to +steer, and run the engine. + +"I have been on board the Bellevite a great deal of the time for the +last three years, and my mother says I was born a sailor, as my father +was before me. I always took a deep interest in every thing connected +with the steamer." + +"I should think you might, on board of such a fine vessel as the +Bellevite." + +"I have stood my trick at the wheel for weeks together; and the +quartermasters taught me all they knew about steering, the compass, +the log, the lead, and the signals." + +"Those things have nothing to do with the engine," suggested Percy. + +"That is very true; but, when I had learned enough in the pilot-house, +I went down into the engine and fire rooms. Mr. Vapoor, the chief +engineer, and I were in the same school together; and, though he is six +years older than I am, we have been cronies for four years." + +"And he told you about the engine?" + +"I made a regular study of the engine, in connection with physics, and +Paul"-- + +"Paul? That's another fellow?" + +"No: it's the same fellow,--Paul Vapoor. Everybody that knows him says +he is a genius. He was my teacher. But he told me that all the theory in +the world would not make me an engineer: I must have the experience; and +for weeks together I took the place of one of the assistant engineers. +That's how I happen to know something about an engine; and I have been +on board of all sorts of steamers with Paul, for the purpose of studying +the engines, from a launch up to the biggest ocean-steamers." + +"Did you take any lessons of the cook on board of the Bellevite, +Christy?" asked Percy, laughing. + +"I used to ask questions of him; but I have served as cook on board of a +small yacht, and I know how to get up a chowder or bake a pot of beans." + +"All right; then I will take it for granted that you can start the +engine of the Leopard," continued Percy, coming back to the topic which +interested him most. "What are you going to do after you have started +the engine?" + +"I am going to get on board of the Bellevite, and get you on board of +her." + +"That will suit me first rate," replied Percy. "But I don't want you to +think I am a Yankee, for I am not." + +"But I want you to think I am a Yankee, as you call it; and I am one," +added Christy. + +"After we get on board of the Bellevite, what do you suppose she will +do?" + +"That is more than I can tell you; but I have no doubt my father will +try to get out of the bay, and then he will go to New York. It is about +time to make a beginning, for the boat will not trouble us now," replied +Christy, as he took a look all around the tug. + +"What am I to do?" + +"I haven't told you all I know about steering the boat for nothing, +Percy, and you will remain at the wheel. But I wonder what that is over +in the north-west," added Christy, as he took the glass from the shelf, +and pointed it out the after window of the pilot-house. + +"I think I can steer her all right now. What do you see over there?" + +"I believe there is a steamer coming down from that direction," replied +Christy anxiously, as he brought the glass to bear on the object in +sight. + +"A steamer!" exclaimed Percy. "That will mix things with us." + +"Perhaps it will. It is a steamer, but it looks like a river boat, at +any rate, it is not a tug. She is headed this way." + +Christy was a good deal disturbed by the discovery he made; and giving +no further attention to his companion, he continued to study the +approaching craft, at the same time endeavoring to account for her +appearance. His uncle Homer had gone to find some one who was to render +assistance in preventing the Bellevite from leaving the bay, and +becoming a part of the navy of the Union. + +He had not succeeded in finding the person he sought, but he had had +abundance of time to go to Mobile; and Christy feared that this steamer +coming down from the north-west might be intended for the capture of the +Bellevite, in which case she must be armed and provided with an ample +force for the purpose. + +"That is not a tug-boat: she is a river or a bay steamer, and I am +afraid she is faster than this thing," said Christy, when he had +obtained all the information he could at the present time. "At any rate, +we have no time to spare. Do you think you can steer the Leopard, +Percy?" + +"I know I can," replied he confidently. + +"The boat with the major in it is losing a good deal by lee-way, for he +seems to be making no allowance for it." + +"What does that mean?" asked Percy, puzzled by the statement. + +"She has the wind on her beam, and she drifts to the north almost as +much as she goes ahead. He ought to head her for some point to the +southward of the Bellevite; but the more mistakes he makes, the better +it will be for us." + +"I see that he don't seem to be headed anywhere in particular." + +"Now, Percy, I am going below to have it out with Spikeley," continued +Christy, taking the revolver from his pocket, while he drew a box of +cartridges from another. "The Bellevite drifts as well as the boat; but +they don't let her go far to the north where the shoal water is, and +they turn the screw enough to keep her pretty nearly in the same +position." + +"I am to steer for her, of course," added Percy. + +"No: there is something that looks like buildings on the shore, at least +five miles beyond the steamer. Do you see them?" + +"I do." + +"Run for them; and this course will carry you a considerable distance to +the southward of the boat. I shall be near you all the time; and if you +get bothered, sing out for me, and I will help you out." + +"Don't you think I had better go below with you, so as to make a sure +thing with the engineer?" + +"I can handle him alone; or, if I find that I cannot, I will call for +you. Now, look out very closely for your steering, and don't let her +wobble any more than you can help." + +Christy left the pilot-house, after he had put six cartridges into his +revolver, and restored the weapon to his pocket. He had already made up +his mind as to the manner in which he proposed to dispose of the +engineer. He descended the ladder to the forecastle of the tug; but +before he proceeded to the important task before him, he made a careful +survey of the accommodations of the steamer, though she did not appear +to be different from a score of similar vessels he had visited in making +his studies. + +Under the pilot-house was the galley, which was also the mess-room of +the crew when she had any. Forward of this, and under the forward deck, +was the forecastle, to which the inquirer descended. It was fitted up +with bunks, and there was only one entrance to it, by a ladder from a +scuttle in the deck. + +The scuttle was the interesting point with him; and he saw that it was +provided with a hasp and staple, so that the entrance could be secured +by a padlock, though that was missing. Getting a piece of wood from the +deck, he made a toggle that would fit the staple, and put the scuttle +in a convenient place. Leaving the forward deck, he went aft, taking +another look at the steamer in the north-west; but he could hardly see +her with the naked eye, and he thought she must be at least five miles +off. + +"Where is your bunk, Mr. Spikeley?" asked Christy, as he went to the +door of the engine-room. + +"What's that to you, youngster?" demanded the engineer; and possibly it +did not comport with his dignity to be bossed by a boy. + +"It is rather important for me to know just now," replied Christy, +looking as savage as it was possible for a good-natured boy to look. + +"What do you want to know for?" asked Spikeley. + +"I happen to be in command of this tug for the present moment, and I +want an answer without stopping all day to talk about it." + +"Well, youngster, I don't reckon I'll tell you any thing about it. I get +my orders from Major Pierson," replied the engineer sourly. + +"The Leopard is in my charge, and I must ask you to show me where your +bunk is; and after you have done that, I shall ask you to get into it, +and stay there," said Christy, with decision enough for the needs of the +occasion. + +At the same time he took the revolver from his pocket, and pointed it +towards the head of the engineer. + +"You can take your choice, Mr. Spikeley: you can get into your bunk, or +have your carcass thrown into the bay; and you haven't got a great while +to think of it." + +The engineer seemed to be properly impressed by the sight of the weapon, +and he could see that the chambers contained cartridges. He rose from +his seat, and moved towards the door of the engine-room. + +"I heard some of the men say you was a Yank, and I reckon you be," said +Spikeley. "What are you go'n to do?" + +"I am going to get you into your bunk, where you will be more +comfortable than you are here. Move on!" + +The man obeyed; for he was unarmed, and he did not like the looks of the +revolver. Without another word, he moved forward, and descended to the +forecastle. As soon as he was below the deck, Christy closed the +scuttle, and secured it with the toggle. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE FIRST LESSON FOR A SAILOR + + +As the engineer was a cripple, Christy Passford had not expected to have +any difficulty in bringing him to terms; and the result justified his +calculations. The Leopard was now practically in his possession, for +Captain Pecklar was the only person on board, except Percy, who could +give him any trouble; and he was too feeble to do any thing. + +Percy seemed to be very busy in the pilot-house, going through imaginary +evolutions at the wheel, and supposing all sorts of orders, and all +kinds of positions in which the tug might be placed. He did not seem +even to observe what his companion was doing, though the engineer had +been driven into the forecastle in plain sight from the window of the +pilot-house. + + [Illustration: "The Engineer Obeyed" (Page 277)] + +The long-boat was still struggling through the waves on her way to +the Bellevite, and could hardly have made any worse weather of such a +comparatively mild sea. But she had made some considerable progress, for +the boat was now making a proper allowance for leeway, and the soldiers +were improving in their rowing, possibly under the direction of the +major, who could not help seeing how badly they had been doing. + +Christy decided to ascertain more definitely the condition of Captain +Pecklar, for reports in in regard to him were conflicting. He went to +his state-room, and found him in his berth. He certainly looked like a +very sick man, though he appeared to be in no immediate danger, so far +as the new captain of the Leopard was able to judge from his appearance. + +"How do you find yourself, Captain Pecklar?" asked Christy in +sympathetic tones; for he really pitied the poor man, far away from +his friends, and apparently on the very brink of the grave. + +"I am a great deal better," replied the invalid, looking earnestly into +the face of the young man in front of him. + +"I am glad to hear it. Major Pierson has gone in the boat to the +Bellevite for Dr. Linscott, and I am sure he will be able to do +something for you when he comes," added Christy. + +"When he comes," repeated Captain Pecklar, with a smile on his thin and +blue lips. "I don't expect to see him at present." + +"But the major has gone for him; at least, he told me he should." + +"I have no doubt he told you so; but he has not gone for the doctor, +though I may see the surgeon of the steamer in the course of the day," +replied the captain, turning his gaze upon the floor of his room, as +though his mind troubled him as much as his body. + +"If the major has not gone for the doctor, what has he gone for?" asked +Christy. + +"I know what he has gone for; and, as you belong on board of that +steamer, I should think you might easily imagine." + +"Perhaps I can," added Christy rather vaguely. + +"Was it necessary for a major and a lieutenant, with six soldiers, to +go for the doctor, when five at the most could have done it better? But +have they gone?" asked the captain anxiously. + +"They have; they started some time ago. They are making bad weather of +it, for they don't know how to handle the boat in a sea," replied +Christy. + +"They have gone!" exclaimed Captain Pecklar, getting out of his bunk. +"Then I need not stay in my berth any longer." + +Christy looked at him with astonishment when he saw him get out of his +berth without any apparent difficulty; for he certainly looked like a +very sick man, though his appearance had somewhat improved since he left +the pilot-house. + +"Do you feel able to get up, captain?" asked he, as the sufferer put on +his coat. + +"I was exhausted and worn out by being on duty all night, and I had a +faint turn; but I am subject to them. If you are the son of the man that +owns that steamer, you will be able to understand me," replied the +captain; and his feeble condition seemed to make him somewhat timid. + +"I am the son of Captain Passford, who owns the Bellevite," added +Christy. + +"I should not have been down here now, if I could have got away; but +they seem to hold on to me, for the reason that I am a pilot of these +waters. I was brought up in the pilot-house of a steamer; and they say I +know the bottom of this bay better than any other man, though I have +been here but two years." + +"Then you are not in sympathy with the secession movement?" + +"In sympathy with it? I hate the very sound of the word! I will tell you +about it." + +"Don't be long about it, for I have an affair on my hands," interposed +Christy, though he was not sorry to have the advice of one who knew +something about the situation in the vicinity. + +"Only a minute. Major Pierson sent a glass of brandy to me, and I was +fit to take my place in the pilot-house then, for I felt a great deal +better; in fact, I was as well as usual, and I am now. But I had an idea +what the major was about, and I did not want to take any part in getting +your father's steamer into trouble. That's the whole of it; all I want +is to get on board of her, and get out of this country." + +"All right, Captain Pecklar!" exclaimed Christy, delighted at the +frankness of his companion. "The steamer, I mean the tug, is already in +my possession." + +"In your possession! What do you mean by that?" asked the captain with a +look of astonishment. + +"I have driven the engineer into the forecastle, and fastened him down. +The major's brother is in the pilot-house, and he has learned something +about handling the wheel. I am going to start the boat now; and if I +can do nothing more, I can show myself to my father on board of the +Bellevite." + +"I am glad to hear it. I intended to do something, though I hardly knew +what, as soon as I was sure that the major and his men had gone," added +Captain Pecklar. "I can take the wheel now." + +"Percy Pierson takes a great deal of interest in his new occupation, +and I think it will be best to let him occupy his mind in that way. He +steered the tug for some time, while I was ascertaining what was going +on in this part of the boat." + +"Just as you think best, Mr. Passford." + +"Call me Christy, for that will sound more natural to me." + +"As you please, Christy. I am competent to run an engine, and did it +once for a couple of years, though the business does not agree with me." + +"Very well, Captain Pecklar; then you shall run the engine, and I will +keep the run of what is going on around us," said Christy, as he walked +towards the stern of the tug. "There is a new danger off in the +north-west." + +"What's that?" asked the captain. + +"There is another steamer coming in this direction, and I suppose she +hails from Mobile. There she is." + +Christy was somewhat disturbed to find that the approaching steamer was +overhauling the tug very rapidly. It looked as though she would prove to +be a more important factor in the immediate future than he had supposed. +If he could only get on board of the Bellevite, he was sure that she +could run away from any thing that floated. But there was not another +moment to be lost, and he hastened on deck to have the Leopard started. +He found Percy still engaged with his problems in steering, going +through all the forms as though the boat were actually under way. + +"Now you may do it in earnest, Percy," said he. "We are all ready to go +ahead. Strike your gong." + +"It will be no use to strike it while you are up here," replied the +pilot, looking at Christy with interest. + +"We have not a second to spare; strike your gong, and we will talk about +it afterwards," continued Christy impatiently. + +"But I am not a fool, Christy, and I don't"-- + +"But I do!" interposed the acting captain sharply, as he reached over +and pulled the bell. + +"I don't like to have a fellow fool with me when I am in earnest. What +good will it do to ring the bell while you are in the pilot-house, +Christy?" + +But before the captain could answer the question, if he intended to do +so, the boat began to shake under the pressure of the engine, and the +tug moved ahead at half speed. Percy was so much astonished that he +could hardly throw over the wheel, and Christy took hold of it himself. + +"I don't understand it," said he, as he took hold of the spokes, and +looked ahead to get the course of the boat. + +"You will never make a sailor till you mend your ways," added Christy. + +"There must be some one in the engine-room," said Percy. + +"Of course there is." + +"Why didn't you say so, then? I did not suppose the boat could go ahead +while you were up here." + +"I told you to ring the gong, didn't I?" + +"What was the use of ringing it when you were in the pilot-house?" + +"What was the use of ringing it when I did?" demanded Christy, who had +but little patience with this kind of a sailor. + +"You knew there was some one in the engine-room." + +"But the engine would have started just the same if you had rung the +gong." + +"Well, I didn't know it; and if you had only said you had an engineer, +I should have understood it." + +"You will never make a sailor, as I said before," added Christy. + +"What is the reason I won't?" + +"Because you don't obey orders, and that is the first and only business +of a sailor." + +"If you had only told me, it would have been all right." + +"If the captain, in an emergency, should tell you to port the helm, you +could not obey the order till he had explained why it was given; and by +that time the ship might go to the bottom. I can't trust you with the +wheel if you don't do better than you have; for I have no time to +explain what I am about, and I should not do it if I had." + +"It would not have taken over half an hour to tell me there was an +engineer in the engine-room," growled Percy. + +"That is not the way to do things on board of a vessel, and I object to +the method. I don't know what there is before us, and I don't mean to +give an order which is not likely to be obeyed till I have explained its +meaning." + +"I will do as you say, Christy," said Percy rather doggedly. "Did +Spikeley agree to run the engine?" + +"No, he did not; he is locked up in the forecastle. Captain Pecklar is +at the engine; but he is all ready to take the wheel when I say the +word." + +"I can keep the wheel, for I think I understand it very well now." + +"I did not wish to take you away from the wheel, for I saw that you +liked the work; and I said so to Captain Pecklar. If you have learned +the first lesson a sailor has to get through his head, all right; if +not, Captain Pecklar will take the wheel." + +"I understand the case better now, and I will do just what you tell me," +protested Percy. + +"And without asking any questions?" + +"I won't ask a question if the whole thing drops from under me." + +Percy steered very well, and Christy had enough to do to watch the +steamer astern and the boat ahead. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE POST OF DUTY AND OF DANGER + + +The long-boat, with the increased experience of its crew, was doing very +well, and it would soon be within hailing-distance of the Bellevite. But +Major Pierson could hardly help discovering that the Leopard was under +way, though he seemed to give his whole attention to the boat and the +steamer ahead of him. + +Christy went aft to ascertain the situation of the steamer from the +north-west, and with the glass he satisfied himself that she was not +exactly a river steamer, such as he had seen on the Alabama; or, if she +was, she had been altered to fit her for duty on the bay. + +He could see that she had brass guns on her forward deck, and a +considerable force of soldiers or sailors. But she was a nondescript +craft, and he was unable to make her out accurately, though by this time +she was not more than half a mile distant. No immediate danger was to be +apprehended from her, unless she opened fire with the field-pieces on +her deck. As the Leopard was in the service of the forts, she was not +likely to do this till she knew more of the present situation on board +of her. + +Christy had made up a new course for the tug when he saw the change +in the working of the long-boat, and the approaching steamer had an +influence in his calculations. He had directed the new pilot to head her +directly for the Bellevite, only taking care to give the long-boat a +sufficiently wide berth to prevent the soldiers from boarding her, and +with steam it would be an easy thing to keep out of its way. + +Christy went below to the engine-room to ascertain the condition of +Captain Pecklar. He found him eating his breakfast, which he took from a +basket he had evidently brought with him from the shore the day before. +He seemed to have an appetite; and, from the food he consumed, the +acting captain did not believe he could be in a desperate situation. + +"How do you get on, Captain Pecklar?" asked Christy, as he glanced at +the engine, and judged that it was moving more rapidly than at any time +before. + +"I am a good deal better, Christy: in fact, the thought of getting out +of this country is almost enough to cure me; for I have come to the +conclusion that I had rather die at home than live here," replied the +captain, as he put an enormous piece of beef into his mouth, which his +companion thought would be almost enough for his breakfast. + +"I am glad you are better. How does the engine work?" asked Christy. + +"I have been stirring it up, and I just filled up the furnaces. I think +she is doing her best, though that is not saying a great deal. But, +Christy, have you tried to get a look over beyond the Bellevite?" + +"No, I haven't seen any thing in that direction," replied Christy, +a little startled by the question. + +"I believe there is another steamer over there; and, if there is, it +must be the Dauphine." + +"What of her?" asked Christy anxiously. + +"She is a steam-yacht of four hundred tons, and the fastest steamer in +these waters. They have been fitting her up for the war, though I don't +know whether she is to be a man-of-war or a blockade-runner." + +"What makes you think it is she?" + +"Because she has been over to the town you may have seen in that +direction. She is behind the Bellevite, so that you can hardly see her." + +"I am inclined to think the Bellevite can take care of herself," replied +Christy. + +"Why, the Bellevite cannot do any thing but run away; and Major Pierson +says she will never do that till you have been taken on board of her. +I heard him and Lieutenant Dallberg talk it all over near the door of +my room." + +"Perhaps the Bellevite can do something more than run away," added +Christy with a smile. + +"What do you mean, my friend?" asked the captain, suspending the +operation of his jaws, he was so interested in the answer to his +question. "The major said distinctly that she was a gentleman's +pleasure-yacht, and that she was not armed." + +"The major has a right to his opinion, and I shall not argue the point +against him. My father came into the bay on a peaceful errand, and he +had no intention to be aggressive." + +"All right, Christy; I can see through plain glass even when there +isn't a hole in it," said Captain Pecklar, laughing; for he seemed to +be entirely satisfied with the situation, in spite of the fact that two +hostile steamers appeared to menace the Bellevite, which he hoped would +bear him to his home. + +"Now, what do you know of the steamer astern of us?" asked Christy. + +"That must be the Belle. She is no match for an armed steamer, but she +may do a great deal of mischief. She used to run down the bay in the +summer." + +"I will go up to the pilot-house, and see if I can make out the +Dauphine. If she is a sea-going yacht, she is the one we have to fear," +said Christy, as he left the engine-room. + +"See here, Christy; there is another steamer over beyond the Bellevite, +and she is pretty near her, too," said Percy, as he entered the +pilot-house. + +The acting captain brought his glass to bear over the Bellevite, and he +was satisfied that the approaching vessel was the yacht described by +Captain Pecklar. But he had hardly got his eye on the Dauphine, before +he saw that the Bellevite had started her screw. It looked as though she +deemed it advisable to change her position in view of the approach of +the steamers on each side of her. + +"Where is she going, Christy?" asked Percy. + +"I am sure I cannot tell you. You can see all that I can see," replied +Christy, who was very anxious about the situation. + +"We are not a great way from the long-boat," suggested Percy, who was +more afraid of that than he was of all the steamers in sight. "What am I +to steer for now? Shall I make her follow the Bellevite?" + +"Head her off to the north-east," replied Christy, opening the binnacle. + +But he might as well have opened the book of the black art to Percy, +for he could not steer by compass. Christy got the Leopard on her +new course, by which she would come somewhere near intercepting the +Bellevite; and then he found an object on the shore, many miles distant, +for the guidance of the pilot. + +But the long-boat was now almost within hailing-distance of the Leopard. +Major Pierson was certainly aware that the tug was under way, and he +made the most energetic demonstrations for her to stop her screw. +Suddenly the Bellevite changed her course again, and run directly +towards the tug. + +This movement was apparently noticed by the major; for his men doubled +their efforts at the oars, pulling for the Leopard. The boat was then +out of the trough of the sea, and its progress was much better. Then the +Bellevite changed her course again; and it was impossible to determine +what she intended to do, though possibly she was following a crooked +channel. + +"Leopard, ahoy!" shouted Major Pierson; and he was near enough now to be +distinctly heard. + +"In the boat!" returned Christy, though he knew the parley could amount +to nothing. + +"Stop her!" yelled the major. + +"Not yet!" replied the acting captain. + +"Stop, or I will fire into you!" + +"I'm not going to stand here and be shot down!" exclaimed Percy. "My +brother don't know that I am at the wheel, and I shall be the first one +to get hit." + +Christy could not blame Percy for not wishing to be shot by the party +under his brother's command; and he had no more relish for being shot +himself, quite in sight of his father's steamer. But to abandon the helm +was to abandon the control of the tug, and the major could recover +possession of her and of his prisoner within a few minutes. + +"Go below, Percy, and put yourself in the fire-room, for you will be +safe there," said Christy. + +At that moment the crack of a musket was heard, and a bullet crashed +through the pine boards of the pilot-house. It was the first evidence +of actual war which Christy had seen, and it impressed him strongly. + +"It isn't safe for me to show myself," said Percy, as his companion took +the wheel from him. + +"You must be your own judge of that," replied Christy, as he dropped +down on the floor, with the compass in his hand. + +"What are you going to do down there?" asked Percy. + +"I have no wish to be shot any more than you have. I am going to keep +out of sight, and steer the steamer by compass," replied Christy. + +"I will steer her if I can keep out of sight," added Percy. + +"You can't steer by compass; but you can do something if you are +willing," suggested the pilot. + +"I am willing to do all I can; but I don't want my brother to shoot me, +as much for his sake as my own. What shall I do?" asked Percy. + +"Crawl out of the pilot-house on the port-side, where they can't see you +from the boat, and then keep watch of all the other steamers. Report to +me just where they all are, and what they are doing." + +"All right; I will do that," replied Percy, as he obeyed the order. + +The boat continued to fire at the pilot-house of the Leopard, and though +a shot came uncomfortably near Christy, he stuck to his post; for to +leave it was to give up the battle. + +"The Bellevite is headed directly towards us," called Percy, outside of +the pilot-house. "The other steamers are just as they were." + +"All right; keep your eye on them all the time." + +"The Bellevite is headed directly towards us," said Captain Pecklar, +coming to the top of the ladder on the port-side. + +"So Percy has just reported to me." + +"But you will get killed if you stay here," said the captain, with +genuine solicitude in his looks and manner. + +"But I must stay here, all the same," replied Christy, who felt too +proud to desert the post of duty because it happened to be the post of +danger at the same time. + +"But let me take your place, Christy," continued Captain Pecklar, +finishing the ascent of the ladder. + +"No, no, captain! Don't expose yourself," protested Christy. "It is as +safe for me as it will be for you." + +"But I have got about to the end of my chapter of life; and there is not +more than a year, if there is as much as that, left for me. You are a +young fellow, and the pride of your father, I have no doubt; at any +rate, you ought to be. Give me that place, and you will be safer in the +engine-room." + +Captain Pecklar insisted for some time, but Christy obstinately refused +to leave his post. + +"Men pulling in the boat with all their might!" shouted Percy. + +"I think I can bring their labors in that way to an end," added the +captain. "But do you understand what the Bellevite is doing, Christy?" + +"She is coming this way; that is all I know." + +"She is coming this way because the major has been fool enough to fire +on the Leopard. The shooting assures your father that this tug is an +enemy." + +The captain went below again, leaving Christy to consider his last +remark. But he had not been gone five minutes before the report of a +cannon shook the hull of the Leopard, and the pilot saw that it was on +the forecastle of the tug. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +A CANNON-BALL THROUGH THE LEOPARD + + +The gun on the forecastle of the Leopard was placed as far aft as +possible, so that Christy could not see it without putting his head out +at the front windows of the pilot-house, and for this reason he had not +seen what Captain Pecklar was about. But the piece must have been loaded +before, for he could not have charged it without being seen. + +The captain had remarked that he could bring the labors of those in +the long-boat to an end, for Major Pierson was urging his men to their +utmost with their oars in order to reach the tug. The smoke prevented +Christy from seeing to what extent he had succeeded, though the fact +that he had fired the gun at the boat was all he needed to satisfy him +of the fidelity of the acting engineer to the cause he had just +espoused. + +Christy had not deemed it advisable to change the course of the Leopard; +for the long-boat was approaching her at right angles, and he thought +she would get out of its way, for those in charge of it made no +calculation of the distance the tug would run while the boat was +approaching her. + +The smoke blew aside in a moment, and Christy discovered that the +long-boat had not been struck by the shot; or, if it had, it had +received no material damage. The major was still urging his men to +increase their efforts, and he seemed to be not at all disconcerted by +the shot which had been fired at him. But Christy saw that he was losing +the game, as he probably would not have done if he had been a sailor, +for his calculations would have been better made. + +When the pilot of the Leopard realized that the major was too much +occupied in increasing the speed of the long-boat to continue the firing +at the tug, he had resumed his place at the window; but he kept his eye +on the enemy. He looked out at the window; but he could not see Captain +Pecklar, though he heard him shovelling coal a minute later. The engine +still appeared to be doing its best, and the tug was in a fair way to +pass clear of the long-boat. + +"Look out, up there, Christy!" shouted the engineer, a little later. + +The pilot turned his attention to the boat again, and saw that the major +and the lieutenant were loading their muskets again, and the two men +not at the oars were doing the same. The commandant evidently began to +feel that he was to miss his prey if he depended upon the oars of the +soldiers, and he was about to turn his attention again to the business +of disabling the pilot of the tug. Christy dropped down on the floor +again, and steered by the compass, which was still where he had placed +it before. + +He could hear a rumbling sound on the forward deck, and he was curious +to know what the captain was doing; but it was not prudent to look +out at the window. After a great deal of hard kicking and prying, he +succeeded in removing a narrow board from the front of the pilot-house +near the floor; and through this aperture he could see that the acting +engineer had just finished reloading the gun, and was changing its +position so as to bring it to bear on the long-boat. + +The enemy were now a little forward of the beam of the tug, and not more +than fifty yards from her; but Christy was satisfied that the Leopard +would go clear of the long-boat if his craft was not disabled. The major +and his companions could not help seeing that Captain Pecklar had +deserted their cause, and that, with the gun on the deck, he was a +dangerous enemy. + +The report of a musket in the direction of the boat caused Christy to +look very anxiously to the forward deck; but to his great satisfaction +he saw that the captain had not been hit. But he immediately retired +under the pilot-house, so that he could not see him. He was brave enough +to stand up and be shot at, but he was also prudent enough not to expose +himself unnecessarily. + +Three other shots followed the first, one of the balls passing through +the boards of the pilot-house, above the helmsman's head; and he saw a +splinter fly from a stanchion forward. Captain Pecklar waited for the +fourth shot,--and he had evidently noticed how many men had muskets in +their hands,--then he sprang out from his hiding-place, sighted the gun, +and pulled the lock-string. + +Through the aperture he had made, Christy looked with intense interest +to ascertain the effect of this shot. As soon as the smoke blew away, +he saw that the shot had passed obliquely into the boat, striking the +stern-board just behind Major Pierson, and splitting off the plank near +the water-line. + +There was a commotion in the ranks of the enemy, and it was plain enough +that the water was flowing into the craft. The soldiers stopped rowing, +and the lieutenant and one of the extra men were sent into the bow. This +change settled the bow of the boat down into the water, and lifted the +stern. The major appeared to be equal to the emergency; he gave his +orders in a loud voice, and the rowing was renewed with the delay of not +more than a couple of minutes. But that was enough to defeat his present +purpose, though he still urged his men to exert themselves to the +utmost. + +The long-boat went astern of the tug, and Christy came out from his +place on the floor to the windows. Captain Pecklar was loading the gun, +as he had done before, by swinging it around so that the muzzle was +under the pilot-house. + +"I think you will have no further use for that gun," said Christy, when +he saw what the captain was doing. + +"Perhaps not; but it is best to have it ready for the next time we want +it. The major kept it loaded all the time, and I shall follow his +example," replied the captain. + +"Have you been hit, Percy?" asked Christy, looking out at the side under +which the late pilot had bestowed himself for safe-keeping. + +"I have not been hit; they could not see me where I am. Have you been +hit, Christy?" replied Percy. + +"Not at all; I took good care not to be seen while they were firing. But +your brother has dropped astern of the Leopard in his boat, and there is +no danger here now: so you can come in and take the helm, if you like." + +Percy was glad to have something to do, for he was very nervous; and +he came into the pilot-house. He was not half as airy as he had been +before, and the sound of the muskets and the twelve-pounder on the +forward deck had undoubtedly made an impression upon him. But he was as +glad to take the wheel as Christy was to have him, for he desired to +study the situation after all the changes which had been made in the +position of the several vessels. + +"You have had an awful time of it, Christy," said Percy, as he took the +wheel. "I wonder that you have not been killed." + +"Not a very awful time of it, and I took good care not to be killed," +replied Christy. "A fellow isn't good for much after he has been killed, +and it is always best to look out and not get killed; though I suppose +one cannot always help it." + +"Did you fire the field-piece on the deck below?" + +"No, I did not; that was done by Captain Pecklar." + +"My brother will have him hanged when he gets hold of him," added Percy, +shaking his head. + +"Very likely he will if he gets hold of him, but we don't intend to let +him get hold of him." + +Christy left the pilot-house, and went out on the hurricane deck, where +he could better see all that was to be seen, and be alone with his own +thoughts. His first care was to ascertain the position of his most +active enemy, the long-boat. He could see it a short distance astern of +the tug. It had changed its course, and was following the Leopard, which +was now gaining rapidly upon it. + +Directly ahead of the tug was the Bellevite, not more than a quarter +of a mile distant; but while she was going off to the north-west, the +Dauphine had kept more to the southward and was now nearer than the +steamer of Captain Passford. + +The remark which Captain Pecklar had made when he came partly upon the +hurricane deck, that the Bellevite had changed her course because Major +Pierson had been fool enough to fire at the tug, came up in Christy's +mind again. He had thought of it at the time it was uttered, and several +times since; but he had not had the time to weigh its meaning. + +The owner's son knew very well that every incident connected with the +tug, and with the other vessels in sight, had been carefully observed +and weighed by his father and Captain Breaker. They had seen the boat +leave the Leopard. It looked like a stupid movement to do such a thing, +when the approach to the Bellevite could be made so much more rapidly +and safely in the tug. + +There must be a motive for such a singular step. Of course the passage +of the boat had been closely observed, and the starting up of the screw +of the Leopard had been duly noted. As the tug came near the long-boat, +the latter had fired upon it. This must have been seen; and the question +naturally would come up as to why those in the boat fired upon their own +people in the Leopard. + +It was not likely that they could answer the question in a satisfactory +manner on board of the Bellevite; but the firing indicated that an +enemy was in possession of the tug. This was enough, in the opinion +of Christy, as it had been in that of Captain Pecklar, to produce the +change in her course. + +The firing from both craft since the first demonstration must have +deepened the impression. Those on board of the Leopard must be on the +side of the Union, or the party in the boat would not repeatedly fire +upon them. Christy was satisfied that his father would know what all the +indications meant before he abandoned the investigation. + +But the Bellevite did not seem to be making her best speed by a +great deal. With his glass he could see that there was a hand in the +fore-chains heaving the lead; and probably Captain Breaker feared that +the bottom "might be too near the top of the water" for the draught of +his vessel, and he was proceeding with caution. + +Christy descended the ladder to the main-deck. He found Captain Pecklar +in the fire-room, shovelling coal into the furnace. He seemed to be +again nearly exhausted by the efforts he had made during the morning; +and Christy took the shovel from him, and did the work himself. + +"You must not kill yourself, Captain Pecklar. This is too hard work for +you," said Christy. + +"If I can only get out of this scrape, it will not make much difference +what becomes of me," replied the invalid faintly. + +"I will do this work myself. Don't you touch that shovel again." + +"But things are looking very badly indeed for us, Christy," said the +captain, bracing himself up as if for a renewed effort. "The Belle is +almost up with the boat, and she will take Major Pierson and his party +on board; and she is nearer to us than the Bellevite." + +"Is that so? I have not looked astern for some time," replied Christy, +rather startled by the information. + +"The Bellevite is not sailing as fast as she has some of the time, and +both the Belle and the Dauphine are nearer to us than she is," added +Captain Pecklar. "I have been trying to get up more steam." + +"If my father only knew that I was on board this tug, I should feel more +hope," said Christy. + +"Perhaps he suspects you are. He probably sent ashore to obtain +information in regard to you. But we don't know." + +Just then a cannon-ball made the splinters fly all around them. + + [Illustration: "I have hit Her" (Page 315)] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE AMERICAN FLAG AT THE FORE + + +Christy rushed out of the engine-room followed by Captain Pecklar, to +ascertain what damage had been done to the tug by the shot. A cloud of +smoke rising from the Belle, astern of the Leopard, informed them that +the shot had come from her. It had struck the house on deck, carrying +away the corner of the captain's state-room; but, beyond this, no damage +appeared to be done. + +But the tug had broached to, and it was evident that Percy had abandoned +the wheel when the shot struck the vessel; and Christy hastened to the +pilot-house to restore the vessel to her course. But he was closely +followed by the acting engineer. They found the volunteer pilot lying on +the deck, where he had been before when the vessel was fired upon. + +"Is that the way you steer the boat, Percy?" said Christy reproachfully, +as he went into the pilot-house, and righted the helm. + +"Didn't you hear that cannon-shot that struck her just now?" demanded +Percy, partly raising himself from his recumbent posture. + +"Of course I heard it: I am not deaf; and, if I had been, I could have +felt it. I don't believe we shall want you on board of the Bellevite, if +that is the way you do your duty." + +"I don't want to be shot by my own people," pleaded Percy. "Has the shot +ruined the vessel?" + +"Don't you see that she is going along the same as ever? No harm has +been done to her so far as any further use to us is concerned," replied +Christy. "But, Captain Pecklar, as things are now, we are running right +into the fire." + +Christy was more troubled than he had been at any time before; and he +realized that it was necessary to make some change in the course of the +Leopard, though she had the enemy on each side of her. + +"It don't look as well as it might," added the captain gloomily. + +"The Dauphine is getting altogether too near us, and we are making the +distance between us less every minute," added Christy. + +"There comes another shot from the Belle. She means business, and Major +Pierson is certainly directing things on board of her. We can't stand +that any longer. But she wasted her powder that time, and we must do +better than that. What do you intend to do, Christy?" + +"I mean to come about, and take a course between the Belle and the +Dauphine: that is the most hopeful thing I can think of," replied +Christy, after another careful survey of the positions of the enemy. + +"I think you are right." + +"We will come about, then;" and Christy threw over the wheel. + +"That will bring our gun where we can use it; and we shall have a better +chance at the Belle than she has at us, for she is larger, and has a +crowd of men on her main deck," added Captain Pecklar, as he went to the +ladder. + +"If you are not afraid of those shots, I am not," said Percy, coming +into the pilot-house again; and he was evidently ashamed of himself when +he saw a fellow younger than himself taking no notice of them. + +"I don't pretend to like them, or that I am not afraid of them; but I +shall do my duty in spite of them," replied Christy. "I should be +ashamed to meet my father, if I ever see him again, if I gave up the +fight, and allowed myself to be kept as a prisoner." + +"I want to get away from here as much as you do; and I will take the +wheel again, if you will let me," continued Percy. + +"I don't ask you to expose yourself; but, if you take the helm, you must +stick to it till you are relieved. We have no time to fool with you." + +"I will stick to it, Christy." + +"Very well, then you shall take it; but if you desert your post again, +I will shoot you the first time I set eyes on you." + +"That is rough." + +"If you think it is, don't take the helm." + +"I will take it, for I had rather be shot by those in the other steamers +than by you." + +"I am going below to help Captain Pecklar; but the moment the tug goes +wrong, I shall send a ball from my revolver up into the pilot-house." + +"I understand you, and it looks as though we were getting into a hot +place. I will do my duty as well as I know how. Now tell me how I am to +steer." + +"Run for that point you see far off to the northward." + +Christy went to the main deck forward, where he found Captain Pecklar +getting the field-piece ready for use. The Belle was now quite near on +the one hand, while the Dauphine was hardly farther off on the other +hand. The Bellevite was coming down from the north-east, with the lead +still going in her chains. The immediate danger was to come from the +Belle. + +"That won't do!" exclaimed Captain Pecklar, when they had the gun in +position for use. + +"What won't do?" asked Christy. + +"Didn't you notice that? They are firing rifle-balls from the Belle. One +of them just struck the bulkhead." + +"I don't see that we can help ourselves, whether it will do or not." + +"The chances are in our favor, however, for the men cannot handle their +rifles to the best advantage while the Belle heaves in the sea," added +the captain. "Don't stand up where they can see you, Christy, but get +down on the deck with that lock-string in your hand. When I give you the +word, pull it as quick as you can," said the captain, as he sighted the +gun, and changed its position several times. + +He was a sailor, and the artillery officers at the forts had trained the +men employed on the tugs in handling the pieces put on board of them, to +be used in bringing vessels to. Better than any soldier, he could make +the proper allowance for the motion of the steamer in the sea, which was +becoming heavier. + +"Fire!" shouted he, with more voice than he was supposed to have in the +feeble condition of his lungs. + +The gunner had loaded the piece himself, and it made a tremendous +report when Christy pulled the lock-string. The Leopard shook under the +concussion of the discharge, and she was completely enveloped in smoke; +so that they could not see whether the Belle had been hit or not. But in +the distance they could hear hoarse shouts in the direction of the +Belle, and they concluded that something had happened in that quarter. + +Christy had brought down the glass with him; and he directed it towards +the steamer aimed at as soon as the smoke began to blow out of the way, +though it was some time before he could get a clear view of her. + +"By the great Constitution!" exclaimed Captain Pecklar, before Christy +could cover the Belle with his glass. "I have hit her!" + +"Where?" asked the other, elated at the intelligence. + +"Right on the bow! There is a hole big enough to roll a wheelbarrow +through," replied the captain, greatly excited. "She has stopped her +wheels." + +"That's a nice hole!" added Christy, as he got the glass to bear on it, +and his hopes began to rise again. "It is just about big enough for a +small wheelbarrow. But they have gone to work on it, and are putting +mattresses over it." + +"That craft is finished for to-day, and we needn't worry any more about +her," said the captain. "She will not get that hole stopped up for an +hour or longer, and I hope this affair will be over before this can be +done. Shall we give them another shot? What do you think, Christy? She +holds still now, and I believe I can hit her every time." + +"Decidedly not: she is disabled for the present, and that is all I care +for. We are not in war trim," replied Christy, as he turned his +attention in the direction of the other vessels. + +"As I told you, the Dauphine is fast; and she will be down upon us in +less than five minutes more," said Captain Pecklar. + +"I wonder that she don't fire upon us," added Christy. + +"I doubt if she has any guns on board, though she may have a field-piece +or two." + +"The Bellevite is waking up, I think," said Christy. + +"She is getting into deeper water." + +"But the Dauphine is coming right between the Leopard and the +Bellevite," continued Christy, as he brought the glass to bear upon her, +though she was near enough to be distinctly seen with the naked eye. +"Whether she had any guns or not, she has plenty of men on board; and it +is easy enough to see what she intends to do." + +"What do you think she intends to do?" asked the captain. + +"Of course she came out here after the Bellevite, as the Belle did also; +but her people have seen what the Leopard has been about for the last +hour, and they intend to dispose of us before they hunt for the bigger +game." + +"She may capture the Bellevite after she has finished her business with +us," said the captain, looking very anxious. + +"She may, but I don't believe she will. You have proved that you are +all right, Captain Pecklar, and I don't mind telling you now that the +Bellevite is heavily armed. Captain Breaker was a lieutenant in the +navy, and he knows how to handle a ship," replied Christy. + +"Then, if we escape the Dauphine, we shall be all right." + +"The Dauphine will come down, and throw a few men on board of us; +boarding us, in fact, as we have no force with which to help ourselves," +added Christy, as he took a small American flag from his pocket. + +It had been made by his mother on the late cruise of the steamer, and it +was a sort of talisman with him, which he had often displayed in foreign +lands. He found a pole on the deck, to which he attached the emblem of +his whole country, and displayed it at the bow of the tug. He hoped that +his father or the captain might see it, and recognize it as the one he +had so often seen on board and ashore. + +"That's a handsome flag, Christy; and it does me good to see it again," +said Captain Pecklar, as he took off his hat, and bowed reverently to +it. + +"Percy, hard-a-starboard the helm!" shouted Christy to the helmsman. +"Head her for the Belle." + +"All right." + +"I think we can increase the distance a little between us and the +Dauphine," added Christy. + +"That's a good move; for we have been putting ourselves nearer to her +when there was no need of it, as there has not been since the Belle was +disabled." + +He had hardly spoken the words before a tremendous cheer came from the +Bellevite, and her fore-rigging appeared to be filled with men. The +cheer was repeated till it had been given at least "three times three." + +"What does that mean, Christy?" asked Captain Pecklar. + +"It means that my father or some one on board has recognized my flag. +I should have set it before if we had been near enough for them to make +it out. But they have seen it, and I feel sure that all the steamers in +the bay could not capture us now. Look at the Bellevite!" + +She seemed suddenly to have taken the bit in her teeth, and she was +rushing forward at a speed which she had not before exhibited. Paul +Vapoor was evidently wide awake. + +A little later her port-holes flew open. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +ON BOARD OF THE BELLEVITE + + +The crisis was at hand; for the Dauphine was darting in between the +Leopard and the Bellevite, between father and son. On the port rail of +the former, as if ready to leap upon the deck of the tug, were at least +twenty men; and, for the first time, the plan of the enemy became +apparent to Christy Passford. + +He hastened to the hurricane deck of the Leopard, where he could see +more clearly; and it was evident to him that the question before them +would be settled within a very few minutes. If he and his companions +fell into the hands of the enemy, nothing less than a severe fight with +the Dauphine, perhaps aided by the Belle, on the part of the Bellevite +could undo the mischief. + +Christy was disposed to leave nothing to be undone. Rushing into the +pilot-house, he seized the wheel, and threw it over, determined to +redeem the fate of the tug while he could. Captain Pecklar had crowded +on all the steam he could, and doubtless the boat was doing her very +best. She flew round like a top, careening till her rail was under +water. + +"Hard up, Percy!" cried he, while the tug was still whirling. "Those men +will drop on board of us if we don't get out of the Dauphine's way." + +"The Bellevite is almost into her," added the volunteer pilot. + +Paul Vapoor evidently understood the situation, and must have been +preparing for it for some time, though the shoal-water had prevented the +steamer from taking advantage of his effort. She had suddenly begun to +dart ahead as though she had been an object shot from one of her biggest +guns; and she seemed almost to leap out of the water in her struggle to +come between the Leopard and the Dauphine. + +The Bellevite was certainly making two miles to her rival's one in the +race, and it looked as though she would strike her sharp bow into the +broadside of the enemy. She seemed to rely on a vigorous blow with her +stem rather than on her guns; for as yet she had not fired a shot, +though she was fully prepared to do so. + +The Leopard came about in double-quick time; and as soon as her keel was +at right angles with that of the Dauphine, Christy righted the helm, and +let her go in the direction of the disabled Belle. She rolled, pitched, +and plunged in the sea, which had been increasing very sensibly within a +short time; but she went ahead at her best speed, and that was all +Christy wanted of her. + +The Bellevite was still rushing down upon the Dauphine as though she +intended to annihilate her when the crash came, as come it must within +a minute or two. Christy's heart was in his throat, for he felt that +his own safety depended upon the events of the next two minutes. +A tremendous collision was impending, and thus far the Dauphine had done +nothing to avoid it. Doubtless her commander had gauged the speed of the +Bellevite by what she had been doing in the shoal water, and had not +believed she could overhaul him before he had thrown a force on board of +the Leopard. + +"Now, keep her as she is, Percy, and we shall soon know what is going to +happen," said Christy, when the tug had come about so that he could not +readily see the movements of the other steamers. + +"We are running right into the Belle," suggested Percy. + +"This thing will be settled before we can come within hail of her, and I +don't think she wants any thing more of us at present," replied Christy, +as he left the pilot-house, and hastened aft, where he could get a +better view of the situation. + +"There is a row on board of the Dauphine," said Captain Pecklar, who +had come to the stern for the same purpose as Christy. "Those men are +leaping down from the rail." + +"What has happened on board of her?" asked Christy. + +"Nothing; but the Bellevite is coming into her full tilt, and they know +that the shock will knock all those men overboard; and I think they +don't want to have to stop to pick them up," answered the captain. + +At this moment several sharp orders were given on board of the Dauphine, +and her head began to swing around to the northward. + +"That's what's the matter!" exclaimed the captain. "They think they +won't wait for the rap the Bellevite is ready to give them." + +The helm of the enemy's steamer had been put hard-a-port; and as she +promptly came about, the sharp bow of the Bellevite shot past her +quarter, and she barely escaped the blow. It look as though those on +board of either vessel could have leaped to the deck of the other. + +"What is the reason she don't fire upon the Bellevite?" asked Christy, +when he felt that the crisis was past. + +"I don't believe she has any guns on board yet, though I don't know," +replied the captain. + +"What is she going to do now, I wonder." + +"I think she will come about and try to board the Bellevite now. It +seems to me that if she had any guns on board, she would have opened +fire before this time." + +"We must look out, or the Bellevite will run into us," added Christy, as +he went forward to the pilot-house. + +"That steamer has come about," said Percy, as he joined him. + +"If she had not come about, the Bellevite would have cut through her +starboard quarter," replied Christy. "But we are all right now, and I +think the excitement is about over." + +By this time the Bellevite was abreast of the Leopard, and not half a +cable's length from her; but there was no demonstration at all of any +sort on board of her. Her high bulwarks concealed the whole ship's +company; and no one could be seen but the lookouts forward, and a couple +of officers in the rigging of the mainmast. + +"Now we will get a little nearer to her," said Christy, as he threw the +wheel over. "She is coming about." + +The Bellevite was blowing off steam, and she had reduced her speed as +soon as she went clear of the Dauphine. In a minute more, when she had +come a little nearer to the Leopard, she stopped her screw. + +"Tug, ahoy!" shouted some one, in whose voice Christy recognized that of +Captain Breaker. + +"On board the Bellevite!" responded Christy. + +"Come alongside!" added the commander of the steamer. + +"That's just what I was going to do," added Christy to his companion. + +"I suppose we are all right now, are we not, Christy?" asked Percy. + +"I don't know what will come up next. The Dauphine is still afloat, and +in good condition; and I don't believe she is going to let the Bellevite +off without doing something." + +Captain Pecklar was letting off steam also; for he realized that the +battle, so far as the Leopard was concerned, was finished. Christy +steered the tug alongside of the steamer; and when he rang the bell +finally to stop her, after a rope had been heaved on board of her, he +left the engine, with the steam still escaping from the boiler, and the +furnace-door wide open, and went to the pilot-house. + +"Hurry up!" shouted Captain Breaker, appearing on the rail of the +Bellevite, at the gangway. + +Captain Pecklar looked astern of the tug, and saw that the Dauphine was +rapidly approaching. She had come about, and her captain did not appear +to be satisfied with saving his own vessel from the collision, and +intended to make another movement. But he had gone some distance before +he came about, though he was now rather too near for the comfort of the +Bellevite after she had stopped her screw. + +"What shall we do with this tug?" asked Christy, who had some doubts +whether or not he ought to leave the Leopard in condition for further +use by the enemy. + +"We have no time to bother with her, and she don't amount to any thing. +Come on board as quick as you can," replied Captain Breaker. + +"Go on board, Captain Pecklar," said Christy, pointing to the gangway. +"Come, Percy, your troubles are over for the present." + +The captain went up the ladder, followed by Percy, and Christy went +the last; for he felt that he must see his friends through before he +abandoned the Leopard himself. The moment the owner's son showed himself +on the rail, a burst of cheers came from the ship's company, to which he +replied by taking off his cap and bowing. + +"I am glad to see you again, Christy," said his father, as he descended +to the deck and found himself in the arms of Captain Passford. "I was +afraid I should have to leave you here, though I did not intend to do +that as long as a plank of the Bellevite remained under me." + +Christy found his father a great deal more demonstrative than he had +ever known him to be before, and he fully realized that he had had a +very narrow, and even a wonderful escape since he had been taken by the +enemy. + +Captain Breaker did not wait for father and son to finish their +affectionate greetings; but as soon as Christy put his foot on the rail +he directed the line to the tug to be cast off, and the order was given +to start the screw. The Bellevite went ahead again, and the commander +gave out the course for her. + +Before Captain Passford was ready to think of any thing except the +joyful meeting with his son, Captain Pecklar suddenly dropped to the +deck as though a bullet from the enemy had finished his career in the +very moment of victory. Christy broke from his father, and hastened to +his assistance. He had fainted again from exhaustion after the efforts +of the day. Dr. Linscott was at his side almost as soon as Christy, and +the sufferer was borne to the cabin, where he was placed in one of the +vacant state-rooms. + +"Who is that man, Christy?" asked Captain Passford, as soon as the +invalid had been cared for. + +"That is Captain Pecklar; and he is a Union man, though he has been +in charge of that tug in the service of the forts. But he is in +consumption, and he does not believe he can live much longer. He says he +would rather die at home than live down here," replied Christy. + +"He looks like a sick man," added the owner. + +"He is, and he has worked altogether beyond his strength. But I believe +I should not have been here, father, at this moment, if he had not +worked with me, and acted with the utmost courage and devotion." + +"Then he shall want for nothing while he is on board of the Bellevite." + +"But I am sure that the doctor can improve his condition; at least, +I hope he can." + +"He can if any one can. But how happens Percy to be with you in the +tug?" asked Captain Passford, as he looked about him for the young man, +who was standing near the mainmast, watching the approaching smoke-stack +of the Dauphine. + +"Percy has not been as reliable as Captain Pecklar; but he has done +well, and has rendered good service. He has steered the tug for some +time," replied Christy, calling to him the subject of the last remarks. + +"I am glad to see you again, Mr. Percy," said the owner, giving him his +hand. "I am under obligations to you for all you have done to assist my +son on board of that tug." + +"I was at work too for myself," said Percy, taking the offered hand, +"I don't belong on this side of the question, and all I want is to get +back to Nassau. I have nothing to expect from my brother, Major Pierson, +and my mother cannot protect me." + +"In consideration of the service you have rendered to my son, I shall be +glad to do all I can to assist you in getting there." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"But where is Florry, father?" asked Christy, looking about the deck. + +"I could not allow her to be on deck when a shot was liable to come on +board. She is in the cabin, and she will be as glad to see you as I have +been," replied Captain Passford. + +Christy hastened to the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +RUNNING THE GANTLET + + +Captain Passford and Percy soon followed Christy into the cabin, and +the meeting of the brother and sister was quite as affectionate as +that between father and son had been. In fact, none of them cared now +for the steamers of the enemy, or for any thing else, except to get out +of Mobile Bay. Christy told his story; and he learned that his father +had sent a party ashore the night before to look for him, though they +had been unable to obtain the slightest information in regard to him. + +Captain Breaker insisted that Christy was on board of the Leopard, +though not till the soldiers in the long-boat had fired into the tug. +The father believed that his son would not tamely submit to being made a +prisoner, and the act of Major Pierson had almost convinced him that the +commander was right. He had not been fully satisfied on this point till +he recognized the silk American flag at the fore of the tug. + +But Captain Passford was too much interested in the situation on deck +to remain long in the cabin, and he left Christy there with Florry, who +seemed to be supremely happy, now that the family was in a fair way to +be re-united at no distant day. + +"I think you know the gentleman who has made all this trouble for me, +Florry," said Christy, when he and Percy were alone with her. + +"How can I know him?" asked the fair girl, puzzled. + +"He is my brother, Major Pierson; and they say he used to call at +Colonel Passford's once in a while, while I was away at school," +interposed Percy. + +"Then I do know him," replied Florry, blushing. + +"Father thought, or at least he feared, that you might not like to leave +the South," added Christy. + +"Did he say so?" asked the fair maiden, laughing. + +"He did not say a word, but I could tell by his looks." + +"Then papa was very much mistaken. Major Pierson was very kind and +polite to me, and I think he is a gentleman; but I have had no desire +to remain at Glenfield on his account." + +Florry spoke as though she intended this remark to be the end of the +conversation on that subject, and Christy felt quite sure that she was +not deeply interested in the commander of Fort Gaines. + +"Now, I wonder if I can't go on deck," continued Florry, breaking away +from the disagreeable conversation. "They are not firing now." + +"I don't know, but I will go on deck and ask father if you wish." + +"Do, Christy, if you please." + +The Bellevite was shaking in all her frame; for Paul Vapoor was again +exercising his skill upon the screw, and she was flying through the +water. The Dauphine seemed to be struggling to get up an equal degree of +speed; but, fast as she was said to be, the Bellevite was running away +from her. There was no excitement on deck, and Christy readily obtained +the required permission for his sister. + +Captain Pecklar, under the skillful treatment of Dr. Linscott, had +improved a great deal, though he still remained in his bed. He declared +that he felt like a new man; and, whether he lived or died, he was as +happy as any man ought to be on the face of the earth. + +"That steamer off to the north-west has set her ensign with the union +down, though I can't make out what the flag is," said Captain Breaker, +addressing the owner, as Christy came on deck. + +"What does that mean?" asked Captain Passford, getting upon the rail +with the commander. + +"I am sure I don't know. I suppose it is a signal of distress, but it +may be a trick of some sort," added Captain Breaker. + +"Do you know any thing about that steamer over there, Christy?" asked +the owner, calling his son. + +"That is the Belle, and I believe she came from Mobile," replied +Christy. + +"What is she out here for?" + +"I have no doubt she came out here to capture the Bellevite. Uncle Homer +must have sent word to some one in Mobile, judging from what I heard +Major Pierson say; and probably that steamer came out here to prevent +the Bellevite from going into the navy of the Union." + +"But why does she hoist a signal of distress?" + +"I think it is very likely she is in distress." + +"She is firing a gun," added Captain Breaker, as a cloud of smoke rose +from the Belle. + +"Why do you think she is in distress, Christy?" asked his father. + +"She opened fire on the Leopard, after she had picked up the boat +containing Major Pierson's party, and Captain Pecklar and I gave her +a shot in return, which went through her bow and made a big hole. She +stopped her wheels then, and since that she has been out of the fight." + +"The Dauphine is coming about," added Christy, as he joined the +commander and his father on the rail. + +"The Dauphine?" queried Captain Passford. + +"That is her name. Captain Pecklar can tell you something about her. He +says she is fitting up for the Confederate navy, but he thinks she has +no guns on board yet." + +"It is beginning to blow very fresh," said Captain Breaker, as he took a +look at the sky and the waters of the bay. "My barometer indicates nasty +weather." + +"There is too much sea, at any rate, for a steamer with a big hole in +her bow," said Captain Passford. + +Christy told all he knew about the Belle, and the owner declared that +he had no desire to see the large number of men on board of her drowned +before his eyes. The gun the disabled steamer had fired was regarded as +another signal of distress, which indicated that the situation was +becoming urgent with her. + +"She has hoisted a white flag," added Captain Breaker; and no glass was +needed to disclose the fact that a panic existed on board of her, for +men who could fight bravely for a cause they deemed right might not be +willing to be drowned without being able to lift a finger to save +themselves. + +"Come about, Breaker, and run for the disabled steamer," said Captain +Passford, in a decided tone; and the order was instantly obeyed. + +The commander sent Christy to the chief engineer to have him increase +the speed of the steamer, at the suggestion of the owner. Paul had not +seen him before, and the two friends hugged each other like a couple of +girls when they came together. But the chief did not lose a moment in +obeying the order brought to him. In a few minutes the Bellevite passed +the Dauphine, and readied the vicinity of the Belle, which was evidently +sinking, for she had settled a good deal in the water. + +Four boats were instantly lowered into the water; and Christy was +assigned to the command of one of them, while the first and second +officers and the boatswain went in charge of the others. These boats +were skilfully handled, and they dashed boldly up to the sinking craft. +The soldiers on board of her were more afraid of water than they were of +fire, and the four boats were soon loaded. + +"Is that you, Christy?" said one of his passengers. + +Christy looked, and saw that the person who addressed him was his uncle +Homer. + +"Yes, sir," replied the nephew; but he did not venture to say any thing +more. + +"I was not aware that you were taking an active part in this affair till +Major Pierson told me that you had taken possession of his steam-tug, +and that it was you who had fired the shot which disabled the Belle," +continued Colonel Passford, evidently very much troubled and annoyed. + +"I was made a prisoner by the major, and I have done what I could to +get out of his hands," replied Christy. "I suppose you came out in this +steamer for the purpose of capturing the Bellevite; but you have not +done it yet, and I don't believe you will." + +"I should like to see your father," added the colonel. + +"We are ordered to put these people on board of the Dauphine, and she +has just stopped her screw. I cannot disobey my orders, uncle Homer." + +But Christy did not like to prolong the conversation, and he told his +men to give way. The sea had certainly increased till it made it lively +for the boats, and the colonel said no more. The passengers were put on +board of the Dauphine, and it was not necessary for more than two of the +boats to return to the Belle for the rest of the men on board of her. +Colonel Passford insisted upon boarding the Bellevite, after the others +had left the boat, and Christy yielded the point. + +The Confederate brother was received by the Union brother as though +nothing had occurred to divide them. He was conducted to the cabin, as +it had just begun to rain, where he was greeted as kindly by Florry. + +"I am sorry you left me in such an abrupt manner, Horatio," said Homer, +very much embarrassed. "I think you took a rather unfair advantage of +the circumstances." + +"Unfair? What? When you said outright that you intended to take steps +for the capture of my steamer, the only means of reaching my family, and +conveying my daughter to her home, that were within my reach. I came +here on a peaceful mission, and I think the unfairness was all on the +other side," replied Horatio. + +"I still believe that I had no moral right, before God and my +countrymen, to allow you to hand this fine steamer over to the Yankee +navy: but I was on board of the Belle for the purpose of seeing that no +harm came to you, or any member of your family," said Homer with deep +feeling. + +"Then I thank you for your good intentions. But I believed, before God +and my countrymen North and South, that I had no moral right to let this +vessel be taken for the use of the Confederacy, and I would have burned +her on the waters of Mobile Bay before I would have given her up," added +Horatio, quite as earnestly as the other had spoken. + +"Fortune has favored you this time, Horatio; but when you are suffering +and in want from the effects of this war, remember that I shall always +have a brother's heart in my bosom, and that it will always be open to +you and yours." + +"I heartily reciprocate this fraternal sentiment, and I am confident +that you will need my assistance before I need yours: but all that I +have and all that I am shall be at your service, Homer." + +"I am glad that we understand each other, and I rejoice that I came on +board of your steamer for these parting words. I will not ask you what +you are going to do next, for you would not tell me; but I shall expect +to hear that the Bellevite has been sunk in attempting to pass the +forts." + +"Better that than in the service of the enemies of my country, Homer." + +They parted with tears in the eyes of both, and never before had they +realized how stern and severe was the mandate of duty. Christy conveyed +his uncle back to the Dauphine, shook hands with him, and returned to +the Bellevite. + +The mission of the steamer in Mobile Bay ended, and she had nothing more +to do but return to her native waters, though perhaps this would prove +to be the most difficult part of the entire enterprise. The steamer +stood down the bay in the drenching rain, and was soon buried in a dense +fog that was blown in by the wind from the gulf. She lay off and on +during the rest of the day, and the commander made his preparations for +running the gantlet of the forts. + +This was not so difficult and dangerous an enterprise as it became later +when the channel was obstructed, though even now the feat could not be +accomplished without great difficulty and danger. In the course of the +day, Captain Pecklar left his berth and came on deck. Captain Breaker +decided to leave the piloting of the steamer to him, after he had +conversed for hours with him. + +No better night in the whole year could have been selected for the +undertaking. It had ceased to rain, but the darkness and the fog were +as dense as possible. The pilot manifested entire confidence, as he had +plenty of water in the channel, and he knew all about the currents, the +tide, and the action of the wind. It was an exciting time, when every +light on board was extinguished, and the steamer started down the bay +with Captain Pecklar and two quartermasters at the wheel. + +After the Bellevite had passed the dangerous part of the channel, firing +was heard from Fort Morgan; but the vessel was soon in the Gulf of +Mexico. Heavy guns were heard for some time, but all on board of the +steamer could afford to laugh at them. The ship continued on her course, +and among the islands near Nassau Percy Pierson was put on board of a +schooner bound to New Providence. + +In eight days from the time she passed the forts, the Bellevite steamed +into New York Bay, and then to Bonnydale on the Hudson, where the family +were again re-united, and the fond mother wept over her two children, +restored to her after all the dangers of the past. + +On his arrival, Captain Passford found letters for him from the +Government, and the offer of the Bellevite had been promptly accepted. +After having been Taken by the Enemy, on the next voyage Christy found +himself Within the Enemy's Lines. + + + + +_OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS._ + +YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD + +SECOND SERIES. + +A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. 16mo. +Illustrated by Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others. +Per volume, $1.25. + +1. UP THE BALTIC; + Or, Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. + +2. NORTHERN LANDS; + Or, Young America in Russia and Prussia. + +3. CROSS AND CRESCENT; + Or, Young America in Turkey and Greece. + +4. SUNNY SHORES; + Or, Young America in Italy and Austria. + +5. VINE AND OLIVE; + Or, Young America in Spain and Portugal. + +6. ISLES OF THE SEA; + Or, Young America Homeward Bound. + + "Oliver Optic" is a _nom de plume_ that is known and loved by + almost every boy of intelligence in the land. We have seen a highly + intellectual and world-weary man, a cynic whose heart was somewhat + imbittered by its large experience of human nature, take up one of + Oliver Optic's books and read it at a sitting, neglecting his work + in yielding to the fascination of the pages. When a mature and + exceedingly well-informed mind, long despoiled of all its freshness, + can thus find pleasure in a book for boys, no additional words of + recommendation are needed.--_Sunday Times._ + + +_OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS._ + +FAMOUS "BOAT-CLUB" SERIES, + +Library for Young People. Six volumes, handsomely illustrated. +Per volume, $1.25. + +1. THE BOAT CLUB; + Or, The Bonkers of Rippleton. +2. ALL ABOARD; + Or, Life on the Lake. +3. NOW OR NEVER; + Or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright. +4. TRY AGAIN; + Or, The Trials and Triumphs of Harry West. +5. POOR AND PROUD; + Or, The Fortunes of Katy Redburn. +6. LITTLE BY LITTLE; + Or, The Cruise of the Flyaway. + + This is the first series of books written for the young by "Oliver + Optic." It laid the foundation for his fame as the first of authors + in which the young delight, and gained for him the title of the + Prince of Story-Tellers. The six books are varied in incident and + plot, but all are entertaining and original. + + +_OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS._ + +ARMY AND NAVY STORIES. + +Six Volumes. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.25. + +1. THE SOLDIER BOY; + Or, Tom Somers In the Army. + +2. THE SAILOR BOY; + Or, Jack Somers in the Navy. + +3. THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT; + Or, Adventures of an Army Officer. + +4. THE YANKEE MIDDY; + Or, Adventures of a Navy Officer. + +5. FIGHTING JOE; + Or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer. + +6. BRAVE OLD SALT; + Or, Life on the Quarter-Deck. + + This series of six volumes recounts the adventures of two brothers, + Tom and Jack Somers, one in the army, the other in the navy, in + the great civil war. The romantic narratives of the fortunes and + exploits of the brothers are thrilling in the extreme. Historical + accuracy in the recital of the great events of that period is + strictly followed, and the result is not only a library of + entertaining volumes, but also the best history of the civil war + for young people ever written. + + +_OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS._ + +YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD. + +FIRST SERIES. + +A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. 16mo. +Illustrated by Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others. +Per volume, $1.25. + +1. OUTWARD BOUND; + Or, Young America Afloat. +2. SHAMROCK AND THISTLE; + Or, Young America in Ireland and Scotland. +3. RED CROSS; + Or, Young America in England and Wales. +4. DIKES AND DITCHES; + Or, Young America in Holland and Belgium. +5. PALACE AND COTTAGE; + Or, Young America in France and Switzerland. +6. DOWN THE RHINE; + Or, Young America in Germany. + + The story from its inception and through the twelve volumes (see + _Second Series_), is a bewitching one, while the information + imparted, concerning the countries of Europe and the isles of the + sea, is not only correct in every particular, but is told in a + captivating style. "Oliver Optic" will continue to be the boy's + friend, and his pleasant books will continue to be read by thousands + of American boys. What a fine holiday present either or both series + of "Young America Abroad" would be for a young friend! It would make + a little library highly prized by the recipient, and would not be an + expensive one.--_Providence Press._ + + +_OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS._ + +ALL-OVER-THE-WORLD LIBRARY + +Illustrated Per Volume $1.25 + +FIRST SERIES + +A MISSING MILLION or The Adventures of Louis Belgrave + A MILLIONAIRE AT SIXTEEN or The Cruise of the Guardian mother + A YOUNG KNIGHT ERRANT or Cruising in the West Indies + STRANGE SIGHTS ABROAD or A Voyage In European Waters + +SECOND SERIES + +THE AMERICAN BOYS AFLOAT or Cruising In the Orient + THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS or The Foreign Cruise of the Maud + UP AND DOWN THE NILE or Young Adventurers in Africa + ASIATIC BREEZES or Students on the Wing (in press) + + The bare announcement of a new series of books by Oliver Optic will + delight boys all over the country. When they farther learn that + their favorite author proposes to 'personally conduct' his army of + readers on a grand tour of the world, there will be a terrible + scramble for excursion tickets--that is, the opening volume of the + 'Globe Trotting Series.' Of one thing the boys may be dead sure, it + will be no tame, humdrum journey, for Oliver Optic does not believe + that fun and excitement are injurious to boys, but, on the contrary, + if of the right kind he thinks it does them good. Louis Belgrave + is a fortunate lad, because, at the age of sixteen, he was the + possessor of a cool million of dollars. No one, not even a young + boy, can travel without money, as our author well knows, therefore + he at once provided a liberal supply. Louis is a fine young fellow + with good principles and honor, so he can be trusted to spend his + million wisely. But he does not have entirely smooth sailing. In the + first place he has a rascally step-father whom he had to subjugate, + a dear mother to protect and care for, and the missing million to + find before he could commence his delightful travels. They are all + accomplished at last, and there was plenty of excitement and brave + exploits in the doing of them, as the boy readers will find. The + cover design shows many things--a globe, the Eiffel tower, + mountains, seas, rivers, castles and other things Louis will see + on his travels.--_Current Review._ + +LEE AND SHEPARD Publishers Boston + + +_OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS._ + +THE BLUE and THE GRAY + +Illustrated. With Emblematic Dies. Each volume bound in Blue and Gray. +Per volume, $1.50. + +AFLOAT + + TAKEN BY THE ENEMY + WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES + A VICTORIOUS UNION + ON THE BLOCKADE + STAND BY THE UNION + FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT + +ON LAND + + BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER + IN THE SADDLE + A LIEUTENANT AT EIGHTEEN + +_Other volumes in preparation_ + + The opening of a new series of books from the pen of Oliver Optic is + bound to arouse the highest anticipation in the minds of boy and + girl readers. There never has been a more interesting writer in the + field of juvenile literature than Mr. W. T. Adams, who under his + well-known pseudonym, is known and admired by every boy and girl + in the country, and by thousands who have long since passed the + boundaries of youth, yet who remember with pleasure the genial, + interesting pen that did so much to interest, instruct and entertain + their younger years. The present volume opens "The Blue and the Gray + Series," a title that is sufficiently indicative of the nature and + spirit of the series, of which the first volume is now presented, + while the name of Oliver Optic is sufficient warrant of the + absorbing style of narrative. "Taken by the Enemy," the first book + of the series, is as bright and entertaining as any work that Mr. + Adams has yet put forth, and will be as eagerly perused as any that + has borne his name. It would not be fair to the prospective reader + to deprive him of the zest which comes from the unexpected, by + entering Into a synopsis of the story. A word, however, should be + said in regard to the beauty and appropriateness of the binding, + which makes it a most attractive volume.--_Boston Budget._ + + "Taken by the Enemy" has just come from the press, an announcement + that cannot but appeal to every healthy boy from ten to fifteen + years of age in the country. "No writer of the present day," says + the Boston _Commonwealth_, "whose aim has been to hit the boyish + heart, has been as successful as Oliver Optic. There is a period in + the life of every youth, just about the time that he is collecting + postage-stamps, and before his legs are long enough for a bicycle, + when he has the Oliver Optic fever. He catches it by reading a few + stray pages somewhere, and then there is nothing for it but to let + the matter take its course. Belief comes only when the last page of + the last book is read: and then there are relapses whenever a new + book appears until one is safely on through the teens."--_Literary + News._ + + * * * * * + * * * * + * * * * * + +Errata Noted by Transcriber: + +Invisible punctuation-- chiefly quotation marks-- has been silently +supplied. + +for he intended to drive the vessel + _text reads "to to drive"_ +any unnecessary strategetical / falsehood + _so in original_ +and observed his conduct on board of the Bellevite + _text reads "an board"_ +"De Lo'd!" exclaimed the venerable colored man + _text reads "De L'od"_ +"Shoot me!" exclaimed Percy, + _text reads "exclaimed, Percy,"_ +"You will not be lost as long as I know where you are," + _text reads "where your are"_ +[Illustration: "I have hit Her" (Page 315)] + _capitalization as in original_ +What do you intend to do, Christy?" + _text has period for question mark_ +that is the most hopeful thing I can think of," + _text reads "think off"_ +no additional words of recommendation are needed + _text reads "recomendation"_ +The bare announcement of a new series + _text begins with open quote_ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Taken by the Enemy, by Oliver Optic + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TAKEN BY THE ENEMY *** + +***** This file should be named 18579.txt or 18579.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/5/7/18579/ + +Produced by Louise Hope, David Garcia, Juliet Sutherland +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Kentuckiana Digital +Library) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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