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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18803-8.txt b/18803-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..939f1ac --- /dev/null +++ b/18803-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8643 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fighting for the Right, 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: Fighting for the Right + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Illustrator: A. B. Shute + +Release Date: July 10, 2006 [EBook #18803] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT *** + + + + +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 + ON THE STAFF + AT THE FRONT + AN UNDIVIDED UNION + +Any Volume Sold Separately + +Lee and Shepard Publishers Boston + + + + + [Illustration: + "Christy seized him by the collar with both hands." Page 75.] + + + + + The + + BLUE AND THE GRAY + + Series + + [Illustration] + + By Oliver Optic + + FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT + + + + + _The Blue and the Gray Series_ + + FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT + + 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 Series" +"The Onward and Upward Series" "The Yacht-Club Series" +"The Lake Shore Series" "The Riverdale Stories" +"The Boat-Builder Series" "Taken by the Enemy" +"Within the Enemy's Lines" "On the Blockade" +"Stand by the Union" "A Missing Million" +"A Millionaire at Sixteen" etc., etc., etc. + + + BOSTON + LEE AND SHEPARD Publishers + + + Copyright, 1892 by Lee and Shepard + _All Rights Reserved_ + + Fighting for the Right + + + Type-Setting and Electrotyping by + C. J. Peters & Son, Boston + + + + + To + + My Grand Nephew + + RICHARD LABAN ADAMS + + This Book + + Is Affectionately Dedicated + + + + +PREFACE + + +"FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT" is the fifth and last but one of "The Blue and +the Gray Series." The character of the operations in connection with the +war of the Rebellion, and the incidents in which the interest of the +young reader will be concentrated, are somewhat different from most of +those detailed in the preceding volumes of the series, though they all +have the same patriotic tendency, and are carried out with the same +devotion to the welfare of the nation as those which deal almost solely +in deeds of arms. + +Although the soldiers and sailors of the army and navy of the Union won +all the honors gained in the field of battle or on the decks of the +national ships, and deserved all the laurels they gathered by their +skill and bravery in the trying days when the republic was in peril, +they were not the only actors in the greatest strife of the nineteenth +century. Not all the labor of "saving the Union" was done in the +trenches, on the march, on the gun deck of a man-of-war, or in other +military and naval operations, though without these the efforts of all +others would have been in vain. Thousands of men and women who never +"smelled gunpowder," who never heard the booming cannon, or the rattling +musketry, who never witnessed a battle on sea or land, but who kept +their minds and hearts in touch with the holy cause, labored diligently +and faithfully to support and sustain the soldiers and sailors at the +front. + +If all those who fought no battles are not honored like the leaders and +commanders in the loyal cause, if they wear no laurels on their brows, +if no monuments are erected to transmit their memory to posterity, if +their names and deeds are not recorded in the Valhalla of the redeemed +nation, they ought not to be disregarded and ignored. It was not on the +field of strife alone in the South that the battle was fought and won. +The army and the navy needed a moral, as well as a material support, +which was cheerfully rendered by the great army of the people who never +buckled on a sword, or shouldered a musket. Their work can not be summed +up in deeds, for there was little or nothing that was brilliant and +dazzling in their career. They need no monuments; but their work was +necessary to the final and glorious result of the most terrible war of +modern times. + +No apology is necessary for placing the hero of the story and his +skilful associate in a position at a distance from the actual field of +battle. They were working for the salvation of the Union as effectively +as they could have done in the din of the strife. They were "Fighting +for the Right," as they understood it, though it is not treason to say, +thirty years later, that the people of the South were as sincere as +those of the North; and they could hardly have fought and suffered to +the extent they did if it had been otherwise. + +The incidents of the volume are more various than in the preceding +stories, which were so largely a repetition of battle scenes; but the +hero is still as earnest as ever in the cause he loves. He attains a +high position without any ambition to win it; for, like millions of +others who gave the best years of their lives to sustain the Union, who +suffered the most terrible hardships and privations, so many hundreds of +thousands giving their lives to their country, Christy fought and +labored for the cause, and not from any personal ambition. It is the +young man's high character, his devotion to duty, rather than the +incidents and adventures in which he is engaged, that render him worthy +of respect, and deserving of the honors that were bestowed upon him. The +younger participants in the war of the Rebellion, Christy Passford among +the number, are beginning to be grizzled with the snows of fifty +winters; but they are still rejoicing in "A Victorious Union." + + William T. Adams. + + Dorchester, April 18, 1892. + + + + +CONTENTS + + Page +CHAPTER I. +A Conference at Bonnydale 15 + +CHAPTER II. +A Complicated Case 26 + +CHAPTER III. +The Departure of the Chateaugay 37 + +CHAPTER IV. +Monsieur Gilfleur explains 48 + +CHAPTER V. +An Abundance of Evidence 59 + +CHAPTER VI. +The Boarding of the Ionian 70 + +CHAPTER VII. +A Bold Proposition 81 + +CHAPTER VIII. +A Notable Expedition 92 + +CHAPTER IX. +The Frenchman in Bermuda 103 + +CHAPTER X. +Important Information obtained 114 + +CHAPTER XI. +An Unexpected Rencontre 125 + +CHAPTER XII. +As Impracticable Scheme 136 + +CHAPTER XIII. +At the End of the Chase 147 + +CHAPTER XIV. +An Easy Victory 158 + +CHAPTER XV. +The Gentleman with a Grizzly Beard 169 + +CHAPTER XVI. +Among the Bahamas 180 + +CHAPTER XVII. +The Landing at New Providence 191 + +CHAPTER XVIII. +An Affray in Nassau 202 + +CHAPTER XIX. +An Old Acquaintance 213 + +CHAPTER XX. +A Band of Ruffians 224 + +CHAPTER XXI. +A Question of Neutrality 235 + +CHAPTER XXII. +On Board of the Snapper 246 + +CHAPTER XXIII. +The Chateaugay in the Distance 257 + +CHAPTER XXIV. +The Tables turned 268 + +CHAPTER XXV. +Captain Flanger in Irons 279 + +CHAPTER XXVI. +A Visit to Tampa Bay 290 + +CHAPTER XXVII. +Among the Keys of Tampa 302 + +CHAPTER XXVIII. +The Surrender of the Reindeer 313 + +CHAPTER XXIX. +Bringing out the Prize 324 + +CHAPTER XXX. +A Very Important Service 335 + +CHAPTER XXXI. +An Undesired Promotion 346 + + + + +FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A CONFERENCE AT BONNYDALE + + +"Well, Christy, how do you feel this morning?" asked Captain Passford, +one bright morning in April, at Bonnydale on the Hudson, the residence +of the former owner of the Bellevite, which he had presented to the +government. + +"Quite well, father; I think I never felt any better in all my life," +replied Lieutenant Passford, of the United States Navy, recently +commander of the little gunboat Bronx, on board of which he had been +severely wounded in an action with a Confederate fort in Louisiana. + +"Do you feel any soreness at the wound in your arm?" inquired the +devoted parent with some anxiety. + +"Not a particle, father." + +"Or at the one in your thigh?" + +"Not the slightest bit of soreness. In fact, I have been ready to return +to my duty at any time within the last month," replied Christy very +cheerfully. "It would be a shame for me to loiter around home any +longer, when I am as able to plank the deck as I ever was. In truth, +I think I am better and stronger than ever before, for I have had a long +rest." + +"Your vacation has been none too long, for you were considerably run +down, the doctor said, in addition to your two wounds," added Captain +Passford, senior; for the young man had held a command, and was entitled +to the same honorary title as his father. + +"These doctors sometimes make you think you are sicker than you really +are," said Christy with a laugh. + +"But your doctor did not do so, for your mother and I both thought you +were rather run out by your labors in the Gulf." + +"If I was, I am all right now. Do I look like a sick one? I weigh more +than I ever did before in my life." + +"Your mother has taken excellent care of you, and you certainly look +larger and stronger than when you went to sea in the Bronx." + +"But I am very tired of this inactive life. I have been assigned to the +Bellevite as second lieutenant, a position I prefer to a command, for +the reasons I have several times given you, father." + +"I am certainly very glad to have you returned to the Bellevite, though +the honors will be easier with you than they were when you were the +commander of the Bronx." + +"But I shall escape the responsibility of the command, and avoid being +pointed at as one who commands by official influence," said Christy, +rather warmly; for he felt that he had done his duty with the utmost +fidelity, and it was not pleasant to have his hard-earned honors +discounted by flings at his father's influence with the government. + +"It is impossible to escape the sneers of the discontented, and there +are always plenty of such in the navy and the army. But, Christy, you +wrong yourself in taking any notice of such flings, for they have never +been thrown directly at you, if at all. You are over-sensitive, and you +have not correctly interpreted what your superiors have said to you," +said Captain Passford seriously. + +His father recalled some of the conversations between the young officer +and Captain Blowitt and others, reported to him before. He insisted that +the remarks of his superiors were highly complimentary to him, and that +he had no right to take offence at them. + +"I dare say I am entirely wrong, father; but it will do me no harm to +serve in a subordinate capacity," added Christy. + +"I agree with you here; but I must tell you again, as I have half a +dozen times before, that I never asked a position or promotion for you +at the Navy Department. You have won your honors and your advancement +yourself," continued the father. + +"Well, it was all the same, father; you have used your time and your +money very freely in the service of the government, as you could not +help doing. I know that I did my duty, and the department promoted me +because I was your son," said Christy, laughing. + +"Not at all, my son; you deserved your promotion every time, and if you +had been the son of a wood-chopper in the State of Maine, you would have +been promoted just the same," argued Captain Passford. + +"Perhaps I should," answered the young officer rather doubtfully. + +"After what you did in your last cruise with the Bronx, a larger and +finer vessel would have been given to you in recognition of the +brilliant service you had rendered," added the father. "I prevented this +from being done simply because you wished to take the position of second +lieutenant on board of the Bellevite." + +"Then I thank you for it, father," replied Christy heartily. + +"But the department thinks it has lost an able commander," continued the +captain with a smile. + +"I am willing to let the department think so, father. All I really ask +of the officials now is to send me back to the Gulf, and to the +Bellevite. I believe you said that I was to go as a passenger in the +Chateaugay." + +"I did; and she has been ready for over a week." + +"Why don't she go, then?" asked Christy impatiently. + +"On her way to the Gulf she is to engage in some special service," +replied Captain Passford, as he took some letters from his pocket. + +"Letters!" exclaimed the young lieutenant, laughing as he recalled some +such missives on two former occasions. "Do you still keep your three +agents in the island of Great Britain?" + +"I don't keep them, for they are now in the employ of the government, +though they still report to me, and we use the system adopted some two +years ago." + +"What is it this time, father?" asked Christy, his curiosity as well as +his patriotism excited by this time at the prospect of capturing a +Confederate man-of-war, or even a blockade-runner. + +"There are traitors in and about the city of New York," answered Captain +Passford, as he returned the letters to his pocket. "We had a rebel in +the house here at one time, you remember, and it is not quite prudent +just now to explain the contents of the letters." + +"All right, father; but I suppose you will read them to me before I sail +for the South." + +"I will talk to you about it another time," added the captain, as a +knock was heard at the door. "Come in!" + +It was the man-servant of the house, and he brought in a tray on which +there was a card, which Captain Passford took. + +"Captain Wilford Chantor," the captain read from the card. "Show him in, +Gates. Lieutenant Chantor is appointed to the command of the Chateaugay, +Christy, in which you take passage to the Gulf; but she will not go +there directly." + +"Captain Chantor," said Gates, as he opened the door for the visitor. + +"I am happy to see you, Captain Chantor, though I have not had the +pleasure of meeting you before," said the captain, as he rose from his +chair, and bowed to the gentleman, who was in the uniform of a +lieutenant. + +"I presume I have the honor to address Captain Horatio Passford," said +the visitor, as he took a letter from his pocket, bowing very +respectfully at the same time, and delivering the letter. + +"I am very glad to meet you, Captain Chantor," continued Captain +Passford, taking the hand of the visitor. "Allow me to introduce to you +my son, Lieutenant Passford, who will be a passenger on your ship to the +Gulf." + +"I am very happy to make your acquaintance, Mr. Passford, for I need +hardly say that I have heard a great deal about you before, and this is +a very unexpected pleasure," replied Captain Chantor. + +"Thank you, Captain, and I am equally happy to meet you, as I am to be a +passenger on your ship," added Christy, as they shook hands very +cordially. + +"I had three other passengers on board, but they have been transferred +to the store-ship, which sails to-day, and you will be my only +passenger." + +"At my suggestion," said Captain Passford smiling, doubtless at the +puzzled expression of the captain of the Chateaugay at his statement. + +"I am to attend to some special service on my voyage to the Gulf, and I +am ordered to take my instructions from you," added Captain Chantor. + +"Precisely so; but I hold no official position, and your orders will be +put in proper form before you sail," replied Christy's father. "Now, if +you will be patient for a little while, I will explain the nature of the +special service." + +"I shall be very glad to understand the subject, and I am confident my +patience will hold out to any extent you may require." + +The conversation so far had taken place in the library. The owner of +Bonnydale rose from his arm-chair, opened the door into the hall, and +looked about him very cautiously. Then he closed a window which the +unusual warmth of an April day had rendered it necessary to open. He +conducted his companions to the part of the room farthest from the door, +and seated them on a sofa, while he placed his arm-chair in front of +them. Even Christy thought his father was taking extraordinary +precautions, and the visitor could make nothing of it. + +"As I have had occasion to remark before to-day, there are traitors in +and about New York," the captain began. + +"If you have any private business with Captain Chantor, father, I am +perfectly willing to retire," suggested Christy. + +"No; I wish you to understand this special service, for you may be +called upon to take a hand in it," replied Captain Passford; and the +son seated himself again. "There are traitors in and about New York, +I repeat. I think we need not greatly wonder that some of the English +people persist in attempting to run the blockade at the South, when some +of our own citizens are indirectly concerned in the same occupation." + +This seemed to the captain of the Chateaugay an astounding statement, +and not less so to Christy, and neither of them could make anything of +it; but they were silent, concluding that the special service related to +this matter. + +"In what I am about to say to you, Captain Chantor, I understand that I +am talking to an officer of the utmost discretion," continued Captain +Passford, "and not a word of it must be repeated to any person on board +of the Chateaugay, and certainly not to any other person whatever." + +"I understand you perfectly, sir," replied the officer. "My lips shall +be sealed to all." + +"I wish to say that the command of the Chateaugay would have been +offered to my son, but I objected for the reason that he prefers not to +have a command at present," said the captain. + +"That makes it very fortunate for me." + +"Very true, though the change was not made for your sake. You were +selected for this command as much on account of your discretion as for +your skill and bravery as an officer." + +"I consider myself very highly complimented by the selection." + +"Now to the point: I have information that a fast steamer, intended to +carry eight guns, called the Ovidio, sailed from the other side of the +ocean some time since, and she is to be a vessel in the Confederate +navy. Her first port will be Nassau, New Providence." + +"Does that prove that any Americans are traitors in and about New York, +father?" asked Christy. + +"She is to run the blockade with a cargo consisting in part of American +goods." + +Captain Passford took a file of papers from his pocket. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A COMPLICATED CASE + + +Captain Passford looked over his papers for a moment; but it was soon +evident from his manner that he had secrets which he would not intrust +even to his son, unless it was necessary to do so. He seemed to be armed +with documentary evidence upon which to act, but he did not read any of +his papers, and soon returned them to his pocket. + +"The American goods of which I speak are certain pieces of machinery to +be used in the manufacture of arms," continued the captain. "They cannot +be obtained in England, and the traitors have decided to send them +direct, rather than across the ocean in the first instance. These will +form the principal and most important part of the cargo of a steamer now +loaded, though she will carry other goods, such as the enemy need most +at the present time." + +"I did not suppose any Americans were wicked enough to engage in such an +enterprise for the sake of making money," said Christy indignantly. + +"The steamer of which you speak is already loaded, is she?" asked +Captain Chantor. + +"She is; and now I wish both of you to go with me, and I will point out +the vessel to you, and you must mark her so well that you can identify +her when occasion requires." + +The trio left the house and took the train together. They went to New +York, and in an out-of-the-way locality they went down to a wharf; but +there was no steamer or vessel of any kind there, and the pier was +falling to pieces from decay. Captain Passford stopped short, and seemed +to be confounded when he found the dock was not occupied. + +"I am afraid we are too late, and that the steamer has sailed on her +mission of destruction," said he, almost overcome by the discovery. "She +was here last night, and was watched till this morning. She has already +cleared, bound to Wilmington, Delaware, with a cargo of old iron." + +"Do you know her name, Captain Passford?" asked the commander of the +Chateaugay. + +"She was a screw steamer of about six hundred tons, and was called the +Ionian, but she is American." + +It was useless to remain there any longer, for the steamer certainly was +not there. Captain Passford hailed a passing-tug-boat, and they were +taken on board. The master of the boat was instructed to steam down the +East River, and the party examined every steamer at anchor or under way. +The tug had nearly reached the Battery before the leader of the trio saw +any vessel that looked like the Ionian. The tug went around this craft, +for she resembled the one which had been in the dock, and the name +indicated was found on her stern. + +"I breathe easier, for I was afraid she had given us the slip," said +Captain Passford. "She is evidently all ready to sail." + +"The Chateaugay is in commission, and ready to sail at a moment's +notice," added her commander. + +"But you are not ready to leave at once, Christy," suggested Captain +Passford, with some anxiety in his expression. + +"Yes, I am, father; I put my valises on board yesterday, and when mother +and Florry went down to Mr. Pembroke's I bade them both good-by, for +after I have waited so long for my passage, I felt that the call would +come in a hurry," replied Christy. "I am all ready to go on board of the +Chateaugay at this moment." + +"And so am I," added Captain Chantor. + +"But I am not ready with your orders in full, though they are duly +signed," said Captain Passford. "I will put you on shore at the foot of +Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, Captain Chantor, and you will hasten to +your ship, get up steam, and move down to this vicinity. I will put my +son on board as soon as I can have your papers completed." + +The order necessary to carry out this procedure was given to the captain +of the tug, and the commander of the Chateaugay was landed at the place +indicated. The tug started for the other side of the river. + +"It seems to me this is very strange business, father," said Christy, +as he and his father seated themselves at the stern of the boat. + +"Traitors do not work in the daylight, my son, as you have learned +before this time," replied Captain Passford. + +"If you know the men who are engaged in supplying the enemy with +machinery, why do you not have them arrested and put in Fort Lafayette?" +asked Christy, in a very low tone, after he had assured himself that no +person was within possible hearing distance. "It looks as though the +case might be settled here, without going to sea to do it." + +"We have not sufficient evidence to convict them; and to make arrests +without the means of conviction would be worse than doing nothing. The +Ionian has cleared for Wilmington with a cargo of old iron. Everything +looks regular in regard to her, and I have no doubt there is some party +who would claim the castings if occasion required. The first thing to be +ascertained is whether or not the steamer goes to Wilmington." + +"Then we can make short work of her." + +"My information in regard to this treason comes from Warnock--you know +who he is?" + +"Captain Barnes," replied Christy promptly, for the names of all the +agents of his father in England and Scotland had been given to him on a +former occasion, when the information received from one of the three had +resulted in the capture of the Scotian and the Arran. + +"Barnes is a very shrewd man. He does not inform me yet in what manner +he obtained the information that the Ovidio was to carry this machinery +from Nassau into a rebel port; but I shall get it later in a letter. He +gave me the name of the party who was to furnish the machinery; and one +of his agents obtained this from the direction of a letter to New York. +I placed four skilful detectives around this man, who stands well in the +community. They have worked the case admirably, and spotted the Ionian. +I have aided them in all possible ways; but the evidence is not +complete. If this steamer proceeds beyond Wilmington, Captain Chantor +will be instructed to capture her and send her back to New York." + +"Then this business will soon be settled," added Christy. + +"Perhaps not; the government official, with authority to act, is in New +York. I shall see him at once. I have no doubt the detectives have +already reported that the Ionian has moved down the river," said Captain +Passford, as the tug came up to a pier, where father and son landed. + +They went to an office in Battery Place, where the captain was informed +that a special messenger had been sent to Bonnydale to acquaint him with +the fact that the Ionian had moved down the river. Files of documents, +containing reports of detectives and other papers, were examined and +compared, and then the government official proceeded to finish the +filling out of Captain Chantor's orders. The paper was given to Christy, +with an order to deliver it to the commander of the Chateaugay. The tug +had been detained for them, and they hastened on board of her. + +They found the suspected steamer at her moorings still; but it was +evident that she was preparing to weigh her anchor. The tug continued on +her course towards the Navy Yard, and the Chateaugay was discovered in +the berth she had occupied for the last two weeks. Everything looked +lively on board of her, as though she were getting ready to heave up her +anchor. + +"Christy, you will find on board of your steamer a man by the name of +Gilfleur," said Captain Passford, as the tug approached the man-of-war. + +"That sounds like a French name," interposed Christy. + +"It is a French name, and the owner of it is a Frenchman who has been a +detective in Paris. He has accomplished more in this matter than all the +others put together, and he will go with you, for you will find in the +commander's instructions that you have more than one thing to do on your +way to the Gulf. I gave him a letter to you." + +"I shall be glad to see him." + +"Now, my son, we must part, for I have business on shore, and you may +have to sail at any moment," said Captain Passford, as he took the two +hands of his son. "I have no advice to give you except to be prudent, +and on this duty to be especially discreet. That's all--good-by." + +They parted, after wringing each other's hands, as they had parted +several times before. They might never meet again in this world, but +both of them subdued their emotion, for they were obeying the high and +solemn call of duty; both of them were fighting for the right, and the +civilian as well as the naval officer felt that it was his duty to lay +down his life for his suffering country. Christy mounted the gangway, +and was received by Captain Chantor on the quarter-deck. He had been on +board before, and had taken possession of his stateroom. + +The passenger took from his pocket the files of papers given him by the +official on shore; and then he noticed for the first time an envelope +addressed to him. The commander retired to his cabin to read his +instructions, and Christy went to his stateroom in the ward room to open +the envelope directed to him. As soon as he broke the seal he realized +that his father had done a great deal of writing, and he had no doubt +the paper contained full instructions for him, as well as a history of +the difficult case in which he was to take a part. A paper signed by the +official informed him that he was expected to occupy a sort of advisory +position near the commander of the Chateaugay, though of course he was +in no manner to control him in regard to the management of the ship. + +Christy read his father's letter through. The government was exceedingly +anxious to obtain accurate information in regard to the state of affairs +at Nassau, that hot-bed for blockade-runners. The Chateaugay was to look +out for the Ovidio, whose ultimate destination was Mobile, where she was +to convey the gun-making machinery, and such other merchandise as the +traitorous merchant of New York wished to send into the Confederacy. The +name of this man was given to him, and it was believed that papers +signed by him would be found on board of the Ionian. + +A knock at the door of his room disturbed his examination of the +documents, and he found the commander of the steamer there. After +looking about the ward room, and into the adjoining staterooms, he came +in without ceremony. + +"Here is my hand, Mr. Passford," said he, suiting the action to the +word. "I find after reading my instructions that I am expected to +consult with you, and as I have the very highest respect and regard for +you after the brilliant record you have made"-- + +"Don't you believe that I won my promotion to my present rank through +the influence of my father?" demanded Christy, laughing pleasantly, as +he took the offered hand and warmly pressed it. + +"If you did, your father did the very best thing in the world for his +country, and has given it one of the bravest and best officers in the +service," replied Captain Chantor, still wringing the hand of his +passenger. "But I don't believe anything of the kind; and no officer who +knows you, even if he is thirsting for promotion, believes it. I have +heard a great many of higher rank than either of us speak of you, and if +you had been present your ears would have tingled; but I never heard a +single officer of any rank suggest that you owed your rapid advancement +to anything but your professional skill and your unflinching bravery, as +well as to your absolute and hearty devotion to your country. I rank you +in date, Mr. Passford, but I would give a great deal to have your record +written against my name." + +"Your praise is exceedingly profuse, Captain Chantor, but I must believe +you are honest, however unworthy I may be of your unstinted laudation," +said Christy with his eyes fixed on the floor, and blushing like a +school-girl. + +"I hope and believe there will be no discount on our fellowship. A man +came on board this afternoon, and gives me a letter from the proper +authority, referring me to you in regard to his mission." + +Christy decided to see this person at once. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE DEPARTURE OF THE CHATEAUGAY + + +The commander told Christy that he would probably find the person who +had brought the letter to him in the waist, for he knew nothing of his +quality, position, or anything else about him, and he did not know where +to berth him, though there was room enough in the ward room or the +steerage. He was dressed like a gentleman, and brought two very handsome +valises on board with him. + +"For all that, I did not know but that he might be a French cook, a +steward, or something of that sort," added Captain Chantor, laughing. + +"He is a man who is said to be a Napoleon in his profession; but I will +tell you all about him after we get under way, for I am in a hurry to +speak with him," replied Christy. + +"He is evidently a Frenchman," continued the captain. + +"He is; but I never saw him in my life, and know nothing about him +except what I have learned from a long letter my father gave me when I +was coming on board." + +"I have been told that you speak French like a native of Paris, Mr. +Passford," suggested the commander. + +"Not so bad as that; I have studied the language a great deal under +competent instructors from Paris, but I am not so proficient as you may +think, though I can make my way with those who speak it," replied the +passenger, as he moved towards the door of the stateroom. + +"And I can't speak the first word of it, for I have been a sailor all my +life, though I went through the naval academy somewhat hurriedly," +continued the commander. + +"Fortunately you don't need French on the quarter-deck;" and Christy +left the stateroom. + +The captain went into his cabin, but came out before the passenger could +reach the deck. He informed Christy that he was directed to heave short +on the anchor and watch for a signal mentioned, which was to be hoisted +near the Battery. He might get under way at any minute. + +Christy found the person of whom the captain had spoken in the waist. +He was dressed in a black suit, and looked more like a dandy than a +detective. He was apparently about forty years of age, rather slenderly +built, but with a graceful form. He wore a long black mustache, but no +other beard. He was pacing the deck, and seemed to be very uneasy, +possibly because he was all alone, for no one took any notice of him, +though the captain had received him very politely. + +"Monsieur Gilfleur?" said Christy, walking up to him, and bowing as +politely as a Parisian. + +"I am Mr. Gilfleur; have I the honor to address Lieutenant Passford?" +replied the Frenchman. + +"I am Lieutenant Passford, though I have no official position on board +of this steamer." + +"I am aware of it," added Mr. Gilfleur, as he chose to call himself, +taking a letter from the breast pocket of his coat, and handing it very +gracefully to Christy. + +"Pardon me," added the young officer, as he opened the missive. + +It was simply a letter of introduction from Captain Passford, intended +to assure him of the identity of the French detective. Mr. Gilfleur +evidently prided himself on his knowledge of the English language, for +he certainly spoke it fluently and correctly, though with a little of +the accent of his native tongue. + +"I am very happy to meet you, Mr. Gilfleur," said Christy in French, as +he extended his hand to the other, who promptly took it, and from that +moment seemed to lose all his embarrassment. + +"I thank you, Mr. Passford, for this pleasant reception, for it is +possible that we may have a great deal of business together, and I hope +you have confidence in me." + +"Unlimited confidence, sir, since my father heartily indorses you." + +"I thank you, sir, and I am sure we shall be good friends, though I am +not a gentleman like you, Mr. Passford." + +"You are my equal in every respect, for though my father is a very rich +man, I am not. But we are all equals in this country." + +"I don't know about that," said the Frenchman, with a Parisian shrug of +the shoulders. "Your father has treated me very kindly, and I have heard +a great deal about his brave and accomplished son," said Mr. Gilfleur, +with a very deferential bow. + +"Spare me!" pleaded Christy, with a deprecatory smile and a shake of the +head. + +"You are very modest, Mr. Passford, and I will not offend you. I am not +to speak of our mission before the Chateaugay is out of sight of land," +said the detective, looking into the eyes of the young man with a gaze +which seemed to reach the soul, for he was doubtless measuring the +quality and calibre of his associate in the mission, as he called it, +in which both were engaged. "I knew your father very well in Paris," +he added, withdrawing his piercing gaze. + +"Then you are the gentleman who found the stewardess of the Bellevite +when she ran away with a bag of French gold at Havre?" said Christy, +opening his eyes. + +"I have the honor to be that person," replied Mr. Gilfleur, with one of +his graceful bows. "It was a difficult case, for the woman was +associated with one of the worst thieves of Paris, and it took me a +month to run them down." + +"Though I was a small boy, I remember it very well, for I was on board +of the Bellevite at the time," replied Christy. "I know that he was very +enthusiastic in his praise of the wonderful skill of the person who +recovered the money and sent the two thieves to prison. I understand now +why my father sent to Paris for you when he needed a very skilful person +of your profession." + +"Thank you, Mr. Passford; you know me now, and we shall be good +friends." + +"No doubt of it; but here comes the captain, and I have a word to say to +him," added Christy, as he touched his naval cap to the commander. +"Allow me to introduce to you my friend Mr. Gilfleur, whom my father +employed in Havre six years ago." + +The captain was as polite as the Frenchman, and gave him a hearty +reception. Christy then suggested that his friend should be berthed in +the ward room. The ship's steward was called, and directed to give Mr. +Gilfleur a room next to the other passenger. As they were likely to have +many conferences together in regard to the business on their hands, they +were both particular in regard to the location of their rooms; and the +chief steward suited them as well as he could. + +The detective spoke to him in French, but the steward could not +understand a word he said. Christy inquired if any of the ward-room +officers spoke the polite language, for his friend might sometimes wish +to converse in his own tongue. + +"I don't believe they do, for they all got into the ward room through +the hawse-hole," replied the steward, laughing at the very idea. + +When the passengers went on deck, the commander introduced them both to +the officers of the ship. To each in turn, at the request of Christy, he +put the question as to whether or not he could speak French; and they +all replied promptly in the negative, and laughed at the inquiry. + +"Have you no one on board who speaks French, Captain Chantor?" asked +Christy. + +"I don't know anything about it, but as it seems to be of some +importance to you and your friend, I will ascertain at once. Mr. +Suppleton, will you overhaul the ship's company, and see if you can find +any one that speaks French," continued the commander, addressing the +chief steward. + +In about half an hour he returned, and reported that he was unable to +find a single person who could speak a word of French. Doubtless many of +the officers, who were of higher grade than any on board of the +Chateaugay, were fluent enough in the language, but they were not to be +found in the smaller vessels of the navy; for, whatever their rank +before the war, they had all been advanced to the higher positions. +Every one of the officers on board of this steamer had been the captain +of a vessel, and had been instructed in the profession after the war +began. Though substantially educated, they were not to be compared in +this respect with the original officers. + +"We can talk as much as we please of our mission after we get out of +sight of land; and as long as we do it in French, no one will understand +us," said Christy to his fellow-passenger. + +"As soon as we are permitted by my orders to do so, I shall have much to +say to you, Mr. Passford," replied Mr. Gilfleur. + +"On deck!" shouted a man in the mizzen-top. + +"Aloft!" returned Mr. Birdwing, the first lieutenant. + +"Signal over the boarding-station, sir!" reported the quartermaster in +the top. "It is a number--'Get under way!'" + +The executive officer reported the signal to the commander, though he +was on deck, and had heard the words of the quartermaster. + +"Get under way at once, Mr. Birdwing," said the captain. + +"Boatswain, all hands up anchor!" said the first lieutenant to this +officer; and in a moment the call rang through the ship. + +Every officer and seaman was promptly in his station, for it was a +welcome call. The ship's company were dreaming of prize-money, for +officers had made fabulous sums from this source. In one instance a +lieutenant received for his share nearly forty thousand dollars; and +even an ordinary seaman pocketed seventeen hundred from a single +capture. The Chateaugayans were anxious to engage in this harvest, and +in a hurry to be on their way to the field of fortune. + +In a short time the steamer was standing down East River at moderate +speed. The Ionian could not be seen yet, and nothing in regard to her +was known to any one on board except the captain and his two passengers. +As the ship approached the battery, a tug, which Christy recognized as +the one his father had employed, came off and hailed the Chateaugay. The +screw was stopped, and Captain Passford was discovered at her bow. He +waved his hat to his son, saluted the commander in the same manner, and +then passed up an envelope. + +The tug sheered off, and the ship continued on her course, with a pilot +at the wheel. The missive from the shore was addressed to Captain +Chantor. He opened it at once, and then ordered one bell to be rung to +stop her. A few moments later a heavy tug came off, and twelve men were +put on board, with an order signed by the government official for the +commander to receive them on board. There had evidently been some +afterthoughts on shore. These men were turned in with the crew, except +two who were officers, and they were put in the ward room. The ship then +proceeded on her course. + +"The Ionian is about two miles ahead of us, Mr. Passford," said the +captain, after he had used his glass diligently for some time. And he +spoke in a very low tone. + +"We have no business with her at present," added Christy. + +"None, except to watch her; and, fortunately, we have fine, clear +weather, so that will not be a difficult job. By the way, Mr. Passford, +the envelope I received was from your father, and he gives me +information of another steamer expected in the vicinity of Bermuda about +this time; and he thinks we had better look for her when she comes out +from those islands," said the captain, evidently delighted with the +prospect before him. + +"What are these men for that were sent off in the tug?" Christy +inquired; for he felt that he had a right to ask the question. + +"They are to take the Ionian back to New York, if we have to capture +her." + +Captain Passford appeared to be afraid the Chateaugay would be +shorthanded if she had to send a prize crew home with the Ionian. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +MONSIEUR GILFLEUR EXPLAINS + + +The two officers and ten men that had been sent off to the Chateaugay +after she got under way, had evidently been considered necessary by the +authorities on shore after the receipt of the intelligence that another +vessel for the Confederates had been sent to Bermuda. A steamer had +arrived that day from Liverpool, and Captain Passford must have received +his mail after he landed from the tug. Captain Chantor had waited +several hours for the signal to get under way, and there had been time +enough to obtain the reinforcement from the Navy Yard. + +The officer in command of the detachment of sailors said that he had +been ordered to follow the Chateaugay, and he had been provided with a +fast boat for this purpose. The steamer proceeded on her course as soon +as the transport boat had cast off her fasts, and everything suddenly +quieted down on board of her. The distance between the Ionian and the +man-of-war was soon reduced to about a mile. It was beginning to grow +dark, but the crew had been stationed and billed while the ship lay off +the Navy Yard; but the new hands sent on board were assigned to watches +and quarter-watches, stationed and billed, as though they were a part of +the regular ship's company. One of the two additional officers was +placed in each of the watches. + +Before it was really dark everything on board was in order, and the ship +was put in perfect trim. Christy could not help seeing that Captain +Chantor was a thorough commander, and that his officers were excellent +in all respects. He walked about the ship, wishing to make himself +familiar with her. His father had not written to him in regard to the +second vessel which the Chateaugay was to look out for in the vicinity +of the Bermuda Islands, and he only knew what the captain had told him +in regard to the matter. + +If the steamer was armed, as probably she was, an action would be likely +to come off, and the young lieutenant could not remain idle while a +battle was in prospect. His quick eye enabled him to take in all he saw +without much study, and only one thing bothered him. In the waist, +secured on blocks, was something like the ordinary whaleboat used in the +navy; but it was somewhat larger than those with which he was familiar +in the discharge of his duties, and differed in other respects from +them. The first watch would begin at eight o'clock, and all hands were +still on duty. + +"What do you call this boat, Mr. Carlin?" asked Christy, as the third +lieutenant was passing him. + +"I call it a nondescript craft," replied the officer, laughing. "It is +something like a whaleboat, but it isn't one." + +"What is it for?" inquired the passenger. + +"That is more than I know, sir. It was put on deck while we were still +at the Navy Yard. I never saw a boat just like it before, and I have not +the remotest idea of its intended use. Probably the captain can inform +you." + +Christy was no wiser than before, but his curiosity was excited. He +strolled to the quarter-deck, where he found the captain directing his +night-glass towards the Ionian, which showed her port light on the +starboard hand, indicating that the Chateaugay was running ahead of her. +The commander called the second lieutenant, and gave him the order for +the chief engineer to reduce the speed of the ship. + +"The Ionian is a slow boat; at least, she is not as fast as the +Chateaugay, Mr. Passford," said Captain Chantor, when Christy had halted +near him. + +"That is apparent," replied Christy. "How many knots can you make in +your ship, Captain Chantor?" + +"I am told that she has made fifteen when driven at her best." + +"That is more than the average of the steamers in the service by three +knots," added Christy. "I have just been forward, Captain, and I saw +there a boat which is not quite on the regulation pattern." + +"It is like a whaleboat, though it differs from one in some respects," +added the commander. + +"Is it for ordinary service, Captain Chantor?" + +"There you have caught me, for I don't know to what use she is to be +applied," replied the captain, laughing because, as the highest +authority on board of the ship, he was unable to answer the question. + +"You don't know?" queried Christy. "Or have I asked an indiscreet +question?" said the passenger. + +"If I knew, and found it necessary to conceal my knowledge from you, +I should say so squarely, Mr. Passford," added the commander, a little +piqued. "I would not resort to a lie." + +"I beg your pardon, Captain Chanter; I certainly meant no offence," +pleaded Christy. + +"No offence, Mr. Passford; my hand upon it," said the commander, and +they exchanged a friendly grip of the hands. "I really know nothing at +all in regard to the intended use of the boat; in my orders, I am simply +directed to place it at the disposal of Mr. Gilfleur at such time and +place as he may require, and to co-operate with him in any enterprise in +which he may engage. I must refer you to the French gentleman for any +further information." + +The passenger went below to the ward room. The door of the detective's +room was closed, and he knocked. He was admitted, and there he found Mr. +Gilfleur occupied with a file of papers, which he was busily engaged in +studying. In the little apartment were two middle-sized valises, which +made it look as though the detective expected to pass some time on his +present voyage to the South. + +"I hope I don't disturb you, Mr. Gilfleur," said Christy in French. + +"Not at all, Mr. Passford; I am glad to see you, for I am ordered to +consult very freely with you, and to inform you fully in regard to all +my plans," replied the Frenchman. + +"Perhaps you can tell me, then, what that boat in the waist is for," +Christy began, in a very pleasant tone, and in his most agreeable +manner, perhaps copying to some extent the Parisian suavity, as he had +observed it in several visits he had made to the gay capital. + +"I can tell you all about it, Mr. Passford, though that is my grand +secret. No other person on board of this ship knows what it is for; but +you are my confidant, though I never had one before in the practice of +my profession," replied Mr. Gilfleur, fixing his keen gaze upon his +associate. "A man's secret is the safest when he keeps it to himself. +But I will tell you all about it." + +"No! no! I don't wish you to do that, Mr. Gilfleur, if you deem it wise +to keep the matter to yourself," interposed Christy. "My curiosity is a +little excited, but I can control it." + +"I shall tell you all about it, for this affair is different from the +ordinary practice of my profession," replied the detective; and he +proceeded to give a history of the boat in the waist, and then detailed +the use to which it was to be applied. + +"I am quite satisfied, and I should be glad to take part in the +expedition in which you intend to use it," said Christy when the +explanation in regard to the boat was finished. + +"You would be willing to take part in my little enterprise!" exclaimed +the Frenchman, his eyes lighting up with pleasure. + +"I should; why not?" + +"Because it may be very dangerous, and a slight slip may cost us both +our lives," replied the detective very impressively, and with another of +his keen and penetrating glances. + +"I have not been in the habit of keeping under cover in my two years' +service in the navy, and I know what danger is," added Christy. + +"I know you are a very brave young officer, Mr. Passford, but this +service is very different from that on the deck of a ship of war in +action. But we will talk of that at a future time," said Mr. Gilfleur, +as he rose hastily from his arm-chair at the desk, and rushed out into +the ward room. + +Christy had heard footsteps outside of the door, and he followed his +companion. They found there Mr. Suppleton, the ship's steward, with the +two extra officers who had been sent on board. + +"Do you speak French, gentlemen?" asked the detective, addressing +himself to the two officers. + +"Not a word of it," replied Mr. Gwyndale, one of them. + +"Not a syllable of it," added Mr. Tempers, the other. + +"Excuse me, gentlemen," said Mr. Gilfleur, as he retreated to his room. + +Mr. Suppleton introduced the two new officers to Christy, and he then +followed his associate. The Frenchman was afraid the new-comers +understood his native language, and had been listening to his +explanation of the use of the strange boat; but he had spoken in a +whisper, and no one could have heard him, even if the listener had been +a Frenchman. + +"We are all right," said the detective when they had both resumed their +seats, and the Frenchman had begun to overhaul his papers. + +Mr. Gilfleur proceeded to explain in what manner he had obtained his +knowledge of the plot to send the gun-making machinery to the South. One +of Captain Passford's agents had ascertained the name of Hillman Davis, +who was in correspondence with those who were fitting out the ships for +the Confederate service. + +"But that is all we learned from the letters--that the men who were +sending out the ships were in correspondence with this man Davis, who is +a very respectable merchant of New York," Mr. Gilfleur proceeded. + +"Is that all you had to start with, my friend?" asked Christy. + +"That was all; and it was very little. Your American detectives are more +cautious than Frenchmen in the same service." + +"I don't see how in the world you could work up the case with nothing +more than a mere name to begin with," added Christy, beginning to have a +higher opinion than ever of the skill of the French detective. + +"I tell you it was a narrow foundation on which to work up the case. It +may amuse you, but I will tell you how it was done. In the first place, +Captain Passford gave me all the money I needed to work with. I applied +for a situation at Mr. Davis's warehouse. He imported wines and liquors +from France; when his corresponding clerk, who spoke and wrote French, +was commissioned as a lieutenant in the army, he was looking for a man +to take his place. He employed me. I had charge of the letters, and +carried the mail to him in his private counting-room every time it +came." + +"I don't believe that any of our American detectives would have been +competent to take such a position," suggested Christy, deeply interested +in the narrative. + +"That is where I had the advantage of them. I was well educated, and was +graduated from the University of France, with the parchment in that +valise, signed by the minister of education. The carrier brought all the +letters to my desk. I looked them over, and when I found any from +England or Scotland, or even France, I opened and read them." + +"How could you do that?" asked Christy curiously. + +"I was educated to be a lawyer; but before I entered upon the +profession, I found I had a taste for the detective service. I did some +amateur work first, and was very successful. I afterwards reached a high +position in the service of the government. I acquired a great deal of +skill in disguising myself, and in all the arts of the profession. +I could open and reseal a letter so that no change could be discovered +in its appearance, and this was what I did in the service of Mr. Davis. +He was a mean man, the stingiest I ever met, and he was as dishonest and +unscrupulous as a Paris thief. I copied all the letters connected with +the case I had in hand, and this enabled me to get to the bottom of the +traitor's plot. He wrote letters himself, not only to England and +Scotland, but to people in the South, sending them to Bermuda and +Nassau. I took copies of all these, and saved one or two originals. +My pay was so small that I resigned my situation," and he flourished a +great file of letters as he finished. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AN ABUNDANCE OF EVIDENCE + + +Captain Passford had certainly kept his own counsel with punctilious +care; for he had never even mentioned the skilful detective in his +family, though the members of it had met the gentleman in Paris and in +Havre. Mr. Gilfleur was in constant communication with him while he was +working up the exposure of the treason of Davis, who might have been a +relative of the distinguished gentleman at the head of the Southern +Confederacy, though there was no evidence to this effect. + +"If the captain of this steamer manages his affair well with the Ionian, +I expect to find letters on board of her signed by Davis," continued Mr. +Gilfleur. "From the information I obtained, your father put American +detectives on the scent of Davis, who dogged him day and night till they +found the Ionian, and ascertained in what manner she obtained her cargo; +but she had been partly loaded before they reached a conclusion, and it +is suspected that she has arms under the pieces of machinery, perhaps +cannon and ammunition." + +The detective continued to explain his operations at greater length than +it is necessary to report them. Christy listened till nearly midnight, +and then he went on deck to ascertain the position of the chase before +he turned in. He found the captain on the quarter-deck, vigilant and +faithful to his duty, and evidently determined that the Ionian should +not elude him. + +"You are up late, Mr. Passford," said the captain, when he recognized +his passenger in the gloom of the night. + +"I have been busy, and I came on deck to see where the Ionian was before +I turned in," replied Christy. + +"I think the rascal has a suspicion that we have some business with him, +for at four bells he turned his head in for the shore," added the +commander. "If you go forward you will see that we have dowsed every +glim on board, even to our mast-head and side lights." + +"You are carrying no starboard and port light?" + +"None; but we have a strong lookout aloft, and in every other available +place. When the chase headed for the shore, we kept on our course for +half an hour, and then put out the lights. We came about and went off to +the eastward for another half-hour. Coming about, we went to the +westward till we made her out, for she has not extinguished her lights. +It is dark enough to conceal the ship from her, and no doubt she thinks +we are still far to the southward of her. At any rate, she has resumed +her former course, which was about south, half west." + +Christy was satisfied with this explanation, for the Ionian was doing +just what she was expected to do. She was not inclined to be overhauled +by a gunboat, and she had attempted to dodge the Chateaugay. Besides, if +she were bound to Wilmington, as her clearance stated, she would turn to +the south-west two or three points by this time. The young officer +seated himself in his room, and figured on the situation. If the steamer +were making an honest voyage she would not be more than twenty miles off +Absecum light at this time, and ought to be within ten of the coast. + +At two bells Christy was still in his chair, and when he heard the bells +he decided to go on deck again, for he felt that the time would soon +come to settle every doubt in regard to the character of the Ionian. He +found the commander still at his post, and he looked out for the chase. +It was not more than a mile distant, and hardly to be seen in the gloom +of a dark night. + +"On deck again, Mr. Passford?" said Captain Chantor. + +"Yes, sir; I am too much interested in this affair to sleep; besides, +I feel as though I had slept at home enough to last me six months," +replied the passenger. "It seems to me that the question of that +vessel's destination is to be decided about this time, or at least +within an hour or two." + +Christy explained the calculation he had been making, in which the +captain agreed with him, and declared that he had been over the same +course of reasoning. Both of them thought the Ionian would not wait till +daylight to change her course, as it would be more perilous to do so +then than in the darkness. + +"I am confident that she has not seen the Chateaugay since we put out +the lights," said the captain. "At the present moment we must be off +Absecum; but we cannot see the light. She is far off her course for +Wilmington." + +"That is plain enough." + +"What she will do depends upon whether or not she suspects that a +man-of-war is near her. We shall soon know, for she is already in a +position to justify her capture." + +"Better make sure of her course before that is done," suggested Christy, +who felt that he was permitted to say as much as this. + +"I don't intend to act till we are south of Cape Henlopen," added the +commander promptly. "Before we do anything, I shall formally consult +you, Mr. Passford, as I am advised to do." + +"I shall be happy to serve as a volunteer, and I will obey your orders +without question, and as strictly as any officer on board." + +"That is handsome, considering the position in which you have been +placed on board, Mr. Passford, and I appreciate the delicacy of your +conduct." + +Christy remained on deck another hour, and at the end of that time a +quartermaster came aft to report that the chase had changed her course +farther to the eastward. This proved to be the fact on examination by +the officers on the quarter-deck, and as nearly as could be made out she +was now headed to the south-east. + +"But that will not take her to the Bahama Islands," suggested Christy. + +"Certainly not; and she may not be bound to Nassau, as stated in those +letters. But it is useless to speculate on her destination, for we shall +be in condition in the morning to form an opinion," replied the captain. +"I shall keep well astern of her till morning; and if there should be +any change in her movements, I will have you called, Mr. Passford." + +Christy considered this a sage conclusion, and he turned in on the +strength of it. He was not disturbed during the remaining hours of the +night. He had taken more exercise than usual that day, and he slept +soundly, as he was in the habit of doing. The bell forward indicated +eight o'clock when he turned out. Breakfast was all ready, but he +hastened on deck to ascertain the position of the chase. The captain was +not on the quarter-deck, but the first lieutenant was planking the deck +for his morning "constitutional." + +"Good-morning, Mr. Birdwing," said Christy. + +"Good-morning, Mr. Passford; I hope you are very well this morning," +replied the executive officer. + +"Quite well, I thank you, sir. But what has become of the chase?" asked +the passenger, for the Ionian did not appear to be in sight, and he +began to be anxious about her. + +"Still ahead of us, sir; but she cannot be seen without a glass. I was +called with the morning watch, when the captain turned in. His policy is +to keep the Ionian so that we may know just where she is, and also to +give her the idea that she is running away from us," replied Mr. +Birdwing, as he took a glass from the brackets and handed it to Christy. + +The young officer could just make out the steamer with the aid of the +glass. The Chateaugay was following her; and a glance at the compass +gave her course as south-east, half south. Christy had sailed the Bronx +over this course, and he knew where it would bring up. + +"It is plain enough, Mr. Birdwing, that the Ionian is not bound to +Nassau," said he. + +"So Captain Chantor said when I came on deck," replied the first +lieutenant. + +"And it is equally plain where she is bound," added Christy. "That +course means the Bermuda Islands, and doubtless that is her +destination." + +"So the captain said." + +The passenger was satisfied, and went below for his breakfast. He found +Mr. Gilfleur at the table; and as the fact that the Chateaugay was +chasing the Ionian was well understood in the ward room, Christy did not +hesitate to tell him the news. The Frenchman bestowed one of his +penetrating glances upon his associate, and said nothing. After the meal +was finished they retired to the detective's room. Mr. Gilfleur looked +over his papers very industriously for a few minutes. + +"This affair is not working exactly as it should," said he, as he +selected a letter from his files. "I supposed this steamer would proceed +directly to Nassau. Read this letter, Mr. Passford." + +"Colonel Richard Pierson!" exclaimed Christy, as he saw to whom the +letter was addressed. + +"Anything strange about the address?" asked the detective. + +"Perhaps nothing strange; but I saw this gentleman in Nassau two years +ago," replied Christy, as he recalled the events of his first trip to +Mobile in the Bellevite. "I can say of my own knowledge that he is a +Confederate agent, and was trying to purchase vessels there. This letter +is signed by Hillman Davis." + +"The American traitor," added Mr. Gilfleur; and both of them were using +the French language. + +"He says he shall send the machinery and other merchandise to Nassau to +be reshipped to Mobile," continued Christy, reading the letter. "He adds +that he has bought the steamer Ionian for this purpose, and he expects +to be paid in full for her. I think that is quite enough to condemn the +steamer." + +"Undoubtedly; but what is the Ionian to do in the Bermudas? That is what +perplexes me," said the detective. + +"Possibly Captain Chantor can solve the problem, for I am sure I +cannot," answered the young officer, as he rose from his seat. + +He was as much perplexed as his companion, and he went on deck to wait +the appearance of the commander. About nine o'clock he came upon the +quarter-deck. The Ionian remained at the same relative distance from the +Chateaugay, for the captain had given an order to this effect before he +turned in. + +"I am glad to see you, Captain Chantor," said Christy. "Can you explain +why the Ionian is headed for the Bermudas, for you have later +information than any in my possession?" + +"I think I can," replied the captain, taking a letter from his pocket. +"This is the contents of the last envelope brought off from the shore. +The writer of it says he has just addressed a letter to 'our friend in +New York,' directing him, if it is not too late, to send the steamer +with the machinery and other merchandise to the Bermudas, where the +cargo will be transferred to the Dornoch; for the Ovidio had been +obliged to sail without her armament, and the cargo was too valuable to +be risked without protection." + +"That is the reason why the reinforcement was sent off at the last +moment," Christy remarked. + +"The Dornoch carries six guns and fifty men," added the captain, reading +from the letter. "I think we need not wait any longer to take possession +of the Ionian, Mr. Passford. What is your opinion?" + +"I concur entirely with you," replied Christy. + +"Quartermaster, strike four bells," continued the captain to the man who +was conning the wheel. + +"Four bells," repeated the quartermaster; and the gong could be heard on +deck as he did so. + +In the course of half an hour, for the steam had been kept rather low +for the slow progress the ship was obliged to make in order not to alarm +the chase, the Chateaugay began to show what she could do in the matter +of speed, and before noon she had overhauled the Ionian. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE BOARDING OF THE IONIAN + + +The Chateaugay, with her colors flying, ran abreast of the Ionian and by +her; but the latter did not show her flag. A blank cartridge was then +fired, but the steamer took no notice of it. A shot was then discharged +across her fore foot, and this brought her to her senses, so that she +hoisted the British flag, and stopped her screw. All the preparations +had been made for boarding her, and two boats were in readiness to +discharge this duty. + +The first cutter, in charge of Mr. Birdwing, was the first to leave the +ship. The sea was quite smooth, so that there was no difficulty in +getting the boats off. The first lieutenant's boat went from the +starboard side, and the second cutter was lowered on the port in charge +of the third lieutenant. Christy went in the first boat, and Mr. +Gilfleur in the second. The officers and crews of both boats were +especially directed to see that nothing was thrown overboard from the +Ionian; for if her captain found that he was in a "tight place," he +would be likely to heave his papers into the sea. + +The first cutter had not made half the distance to the Ionian before she +pulled down the British flag and hoisted the American in its place. Her +commander evidently believed that he was getting into hot water, and +well he might. He must have been selected for this enterprise on account +of his fitness for it, and as the steamer had not sailed on an honest +voyage, he could not be an honest man, and the officers of the boats +despised him. They were determined to discharge their duty faithfully, +even if they were obliged to treat him with the utmost rigor. + +"She has corrected her first blunder," said Mr. Birdwing, as the +American flag went up to her peak. "The skipper of that craft don't +exactly know what he is about." + +"It must be a surprise to him to be brought to by a United States +man-of-war," added Christy. + +"But why did the fool hoist the British flag when he has no papers to +back it up? That would have done very well among the blockaders," +continued the officer of the boat. "I don't know very much about this +business, and the captain ordered me to let you and the French gentleman +in the other boat have your own way on board of her, and to do all you +required. Have you any directions for me?" + +"We desire to have the steamer thoroughly searched, and I have little +doubt that we shall ask you to take possession of her," replied Christy. + +"Then we are to make a capture of it?" asked the first lieutenant, +manifesting no little surprise. + +"Under certain circumstances, yes." + +"Is she a Confederate vessel?" + +"No; she is an American vessel." + +"All right; but I shall obey my orders to the very letter," added Mr. +Birdwing. "How many men shall I put on board of her?" + +"Twelve, if you please," replied Christy, who had arranged the plan with +the detective. + +"Six from each boat," said the executive officer; and then he hailed the +second cutter, and directed Mr. Carlin to send this number on board of +the Ionian. + +"And, if you please, direct him to board the steamer on the starboard +side, for I take it you will board on the port," added Christy. "We fear +that she will throw certain papers overboard, and we must prevent that +if possible." + +The order was given to the third lieutenant, and in a few minutes more +the first cutter came alongside the steamer. Mr. Birdwing ordered those +on board to drop the accommodation ladder over the side; and for so mild +a gentleman he did it in a very imperative tone. The order was obeyed, +though it appeared to be done very reluctantly. The first lieutenant was +the first to mount the ladder, and was closely followed by his +passenger. + +"Where is the captain?" demanded Mr. Birdwing, as the six men detailed +for the purpose were coming over the side. + +"I am the captain," replied an ill-favored looking man, stepping forward +with very ill grace. + +"What steamer is this?" + +"The Ionian, of New York, bound to St. George's, Bermuda," replied the +captain in a crusty tone. + +"The captain's name?" demanded the officer, becoming more imperative as +the commander of the Ionian manifested more of his crabbed disposition. + +"Captain Sawlock," growled the ill-favored master of the steamer, who +was a rather short man, thick-set, with a face badly pitted by the +small-pox, but nearly covered with a grizzly and tangled beard. + +"You will oblige me by producing your papers, Captain Sawlock," +continued Mr. Birdwing. + +"For a good reason, my papers are not regular," answered the captain of +the Ionian, with an attempt to be more affable, though it did not seem +to be in his nature to be anything but a brute in his manners. + +"Regular or not, you will oblige me by exhibiting them," the officer +insisted. + +"It is not my fault that a change was made in my orders after I got +under way," pleaded Captain Sawlock. + +"Will you produce your clearance and other papers?" demanded the +lieutenant very decidedly. + +"This is an American vessel, and you have no right to overhaul me in +this manner," growled the captain of the steamer. + +"You are in command of a steamer, and you cannot be so ignorant as to +believe that an officer of a man-of-war has not the right to require you +to show your papers," added Mr. Birdwing with a palpable sneer. + +"This is an American vessel," repeated Captain Sawlock. + +"Then why did you hoist the British flag?" + +"That's my business!" + +"But it is mine also. Do you decline to show your papers? You are +trifling with me," said Mr. Birdwing impatiently. + +At this moment there was a scuffle in the waist of the steamer, which +attracted the attention of all on the deck. Mr. Gilfleur had suddenly +thrown himself on the first officer of the Ionian; and when his second +officer and several sailors had gone to his assistance, the third +lieutenant of the Chateaugay had rushed in to the support of the +Frenchman. The man-of-war's men were all armed with cutlasses and +revolvers; but they did not use their weapons, and it looked like a +rough-and-tumble fight on the deck. + +Mr. Birdwing and Christy rushed over to the starboard side of the +steamer; but Mr. Carlin and his men had so effectively sustained the +detective that the affray had reached a conclusion before they could +interfere. Mr. Gilfleur was crawling out from under two or three men who +had thrown themselves upon him when he brought the first officer to the +deck by jumping suddenly upon him. The Frenchman had in his hand a tin +case about a foot in length, and three inches in diameter, such as are +sometimes used to contain charters, or similar valuable papers. + +The contest had plainly been for the possession of this case, which the +quick eye of the detective had discovered as the mate was carrying it +forward; for Mr. Carlin had sent two of his men to the stern at the +request of the Frenchman, charged to allow no one to throw anything +overboard. The first officer of the Ionian had listened to the +conversation between Captain Sawlock and the first lieutenant, and had +gone below into the cabin when it began to be a little stormy. + +"What does all this mean, Mr. Carlin?" inquired Mr. Birdwing. + +"I simply obeyed my orders to support Mr. Gilfleur; and he can explain +his action better than I can," replied the third lieutenant. + +"I have requested the officers, through Captain Chantor, to see that +nothing was thrown overboard, either before or after we boarded the +steamer," interposed Christy. + +"And the captain's order has been obeyed," added the first lieutenant. +"Will you explain the cause of this affray, Mr. Gilfleur?" + +"With the greatest pleasure," answered the detective with one of his +politest bows. "While you were talking with the captain of the Ionian, +I saw the first officer of this steamer go into the cabin. I was told by +a sailor that he was the mate. In a minute or two he came on deck again, +and I saw that he had something under his coat. He moved forward, and +was going to the side when I jumped upon him. After a struggle I took +this tin case from him." + +The detective stepped forward, and handed the tin case to the executive +officer as gracefully as though he had been figuring in a ballroom. +Captain Sawlock had followed the officers over from the port side. He +appeared to be confounded, and listened in silence to the explanation of +Mr. Gilfleur. But he looked decidedly ugly. + +"That case is my personal, private property," said he, as soon as it was +in the hands of the chief officer of the boarding-party. + +"I don't dispute it, Captain Sawlock; but at the same time I intend to +examine its contents," replied Mr. Birdwing mildly, but firmly. + +"This is an outrage, Mr. Officer!" exclaimed the discomfited master. + +"If it is, I am responsible for it," added the executive officer, as he +removed the cover from the end of the case. + +"I protest against this outrage! I will not submit to it!" howled +Captain Sawlock, carried away by his wrath. + +"Perhaps you will," said Mr. Birdwing quietly. + +"But I will not!" + +With a sudden movement he threw himself upon the officer, and attempted +to wrest the tin case from his hands. Christy, who was standing behind +him, seized him by the collar with both hands, and hurled him to the +deck. A moment later two seamen, by order of Mr. Carlin, took him each +by his two arms, and held him like a vice. + +"I think we will retire to the cabin to examine these papers, for I see +that the case is filled with documents, including some sealed letters," +continued Mr. Birdwing, as he moved towards the cabin door. + +"That cabin is mine! You can't go into it!" howled Captain Sawlock, +crazy with anger. "Don't let them go into the cabin, Withers!" + +Withers appeared to be the mate, and he stepped forward as though he +intended to do something; but a couple of seamen, by order of the first +lieutenant, arrested and held him. He had apparently had enough of it in +his encounter with the detective, for he submitted without any +resistance. If the captain of the steamer was a fool, the mate was not, +for he saw the folly of resisting a United States force. + +"Mr. Carlin, you will remain on deck with the men; Mr. Passford and Mr. +Gilfleur, may I trouble you to come into the cabin with me?" continued +Mr. Birdwing, as he led the way. + +The executive officer seated himself at the table in the middle of the +cabin, and his companions took places on each side of him. The first +paper drawn from the case was the clearance of the Ionian for +Wilmington, with a cargo of old iron. The manifest had clearly been +trumped up for the occasion. The old iron was specified, and a list of +other articles of merchandise. + +At this point the executive officer sent for Mr. Carlin, and directed +him to take off the hatches and examine the cargo, especially what was +under the pieces of machinery. There were several letters to unknown +persons, and one in particular to the captain himself, in which he was +directed to deliver the machinery to a gentleman with the title of +"Captain," who was doubtless a Confederate agent, in St. George's, +Bermuda. The papers were abundantly sufficient to convict Davis of +treason. The last one found in the case directed Captain Sawlock to +deliver the cannon and ammunition in the bottom of the vessel to the +steamer Dornoch, on her arrival at St. George's, or at some convenient +place in the Bahama Islands. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A BOLD PROPOSITION + + +The evidence was sufficient to justify the capture of the Ionian without +a particle of doubt, for she was as really a Confederate vessel as +though the captain and officers were provided with commissions signed by +Mr. Jefferson Davis. + +Mr. Birdwing went to the door and directed the third lieutenant to have +Captain Sawlock conducted to the cabin; and the two seamen who had held +him as a prisoner brought him before the first lieutenant of the +Chateaugay. He appeared to have got control of his temper, and offered +no further resistance. Mr. Carlin came to the door, and his superior +directed him to examine all hands forward, in order to ascertain whether +they were Confederates or otherwise. He gave him the shipping-list to +assist him. + +"Are you an American citizen, Captain Sawlock?" asked Mr. Birdwing, +as soon as the third lieutenant had departed on his mission. + +"I am," replied he stiffly. + +"Where were you horn?" + +"In Pensacola." + +"Have you ever taken the oath of allegiance to the United States +government?" + +"No; and I never will!" protested the captain with an oath. + +"I must inform you, Captain Sawlock, that I am directed by the commander +of the United States steamer Chateaugay to take possession of the +Ionian, on finding sufficient evidence on board that she is engaged in +an illegal voyage. I have no doubt in regard to the matter, and I take +possession of her accordingly." + +"It is an outrage!" howled the captain with a heavy oath. + +"You can settle that matter with the courts. I have nothing more to +say," replied Mr. Birdwing as he rose and left the cabin, followed by +Christy and the detective. + +"I found ten heavy guns and a large quantity of ammunition at the bottom +of the hold," reported Mr. Carlin, as his superior appeared on deck, and +handed back the shipping-list of the vessel. "The three engineers appear +to be Englishmen, and so declare themselves. I find six Americans among +the crew, who are provided with protections, and they all desire to +enlist in the navy. The rest of the crew are of all nations." + +"Let the six men with protections man the first cutter. You will remain +on board of the Ionian, Mr. Carlin, till orders come to you from the +captain," said the first lieutenant. "I shall now return to the +Chateaugay to report." + +Christy decided to return to the ship; but the detective wished to +remain, though he said there was nothing more for him to do. The six +sailors who wished to enter the navy were ordered into the boat, two of +the regular crew remaining in it. The recruits were good-looking men, +and they pulled their oars as though they had already served in the +navy. They supposed the Ionian was really bound to Wilmington; but they +could not explain why they had not enlisted at Brooklyn if they desired +to do so. The first lieutenant went on board of the ship, and reported +to the captain. + +Mr. Gwyndale was at once appointed prize-master, with Mr. Tompers as his +executive officer, and sent on board with the ten seamen who had been +put on board of the Chateaugay expressly for this duty. Several pairs of +handcuffs were sent on board of the Ionian, for the first lieutenant +apprehended that they would be needed to keep Captain Sawlock and his +mate in proper subjection. The papers which had been contained in the +tin case were intrusted to the care of Mr. Gwyndale, with the strictest +injunction to keep them safely, and deliver them to the government +official before any of the Ionian ship's company were permitted to land. + +The cutters returned from the prize with all the hands who had been sent +from the ship, including Mr. Gilfleur. The prize-master had a sufficient +force with him to handle the steamer, and to control the disaffected, if +there were any besides the captain and mate. The engineers and firemen +were willing to remain and do duty as long as they were paid. In a +couple of hours the Ionian started her screw and headed for New York, +where she would arrive the next day. + +Captain Chantor directed the quartermaster at the wheel to ring one +bell, and the Chateaugay began to move again. The events of the day were +discussed; but the first business of the ship had been successfully +disposed of, and the future was a more inviting field than the past. The +captain requested the presence of the two passengers in his cabin, and +read to them in full the latest instructions that had been sent off to +him. + +"Our next duty is to look for the Dornoch, with her six guns and fifty +men, and we are not likely to have so soft a time of it as we had with +the Ionian," said Captain Chantor, when he had read the letter. + +"The Chateaugay is reasonably fast, though she could not hold her own +with the Bellevite, or even the Bronx; and you have a pivot gun +amidships, and six broadside guns," added Christy. + +"Oh, I shall be happy to meet her!" exclaimed the commander. "I don't +object to her six guns and fifty men; the only difficulty I can see is +in finding her. I am afraid she has already gone into St. George's +harbor, and she may not come out for a month." + +"Why should she wait all that time?" asked Christy. "Her commander knew +nothing about the Ionian, that she was to take in a valuable cargo for +her, and she will not wait for her." + +"That is true; but I am afraid we shall miss the Ovidio if we remain too +long in these waters." + +"It seems to me that the Dornoch has had time enough to reach the +Bermudas," said Christy. "Possibly she is in port at this moment." + +"That is a harassing reflection!" exclaimed the commander. + +"I don't see that there is any help for it," added Christy. "You cannot +go into the port of St. George's to see if she is there." + +"Why not?" asked Mr. Gilfleur, speaking for the first time. "I spent a +winter there when I was sick from over-work and exposure; and I know all +about the islands." + +"That will not help me, Mr. Gilfleur," said the captain, with a smile at +what he considered the simplicity of the Frenchman. + +"But why can you not go in and see if the Dornoch is there?" inquired +the detective. + +"Because if I learned that she was about to leave the port, the +authorities would not let me sail till twenty-four hours after she had +gone." + +"You need not wait till she gets ready to leave," suggested the +Frenchman. + +"She might be ready to sail at the very time I arrived, and then I +should lose her. Oh, no; I prefer to take my chance at a marine league +from the shore," added the captain, shaking his head. + +"Perhaps I might go into Hamilton harbor and obtain the information you +need," suggested Mr. Gilfleur, looking very earnest, as though he was +thinking of something. + +"You!" exclaimed Captain Chantor, looking at him with amazement. "How +could you go in without going in the ship?" + +"You know that I have a boat on deck," replied the detective quietly. + +"But you are not a sailor, sir." + +"No, I am not a sailor; but I am a boatman. After I had worked up the +biggest case in all my life in Paris,--one that required me to go to +London seven times,--I was sick when the bank-robbers were convicted, +and the excitement was over. The doctors ordered me to spend the winter +in Martinique, and I went to the Bermudas in an English steamer, where I +was to take another for my destination; but I liked the islands so well +that I remained there all the winter. My principal amusement was +boating; and I learned the whole art to perfection. I used to go through +the openings in the reefs, and sail out of sight of land. I had a boat +like the one on deck." + +"Your experience is interesting, but I do not see how it will profit +me," said the captain. + +"I can go to the Bermudas, obtain the information you want, and return +to the Chateaugay," replied Mr. Gilfleur rather impatiently. + +"That would be a risky cruise for you, my friend," suggested Captain +Chantor, shaking his head in a deprecatory manner. + +"I don't think so. I have been outside the reefs many times when the +wind blew a gale, and I felt as safe in my boat as I do on board of this +ship," said the detective earnestly. + +"How would you manage the matter?" asked the commander, beginning to be +interested in the project. + +"You shall run to the south of the islands, or rather to the south-west, +in the night, with all your lights put out, and let me embark there in +my boat. You will give me a compass, and I have a sail in the boat. I +shall steer to the north-east, and I shall soon see Gibbs Hill light. By +that I can make the point on the coast I wish to reach, which is Hogfish +Cut. I have been through it twenty times. Once inside the reefs I shall +have no difficulty in reaching Hamilton harbor. Then I will take a +carriage to St. George's. If I find the Dornoch in the harbor, I will +come out the same way I went in, and you will pick me up." + +"That looks more practicable than I supposed it could be," added Captain +Chantor. + +"While I am absent you will be attending to your duty as commander of +the Chateaugay, for you will still be on the lookout for your prize," +continued the versatile Frenchman. "You can run up twenty or thirty +miles to the northward, on the east side of the islands, where all large +vessels have to go in." + +"How long will it take you to carry out this enterprise, Mr. Gilfleur?" + +"Not more than two days; perhaps less time. Do you consent?" + +"I will consider it, and give you an answer to-morrow morning," replied +Captain Chantor. + +"Won't you take me with you, Mr. Gilfleur?" asked Christy, who was much +pleased with the idea of such an excursion. + +"I should be very happy to have your company, Mr. Passford," replied the +detective very promptly, and with a smile on his face which revealed his +own satisfaction. + +"Are you in earnest, Lieutenant Passford?" demanded the commander, +looking with astonishment at his passenger. + +"Of course I am: I see no difficulty in the enterprise," replied +Christy. "I have had a good deal of experience in sailboats myself, and +I do not believe I should be an encumbrance to Mr. Gilfleur; and I may +be of some service to him." + +"You would be of very great service to me, for you know all about ships, +and I do not," the detective added. + +"Just as you please, Mr. Passford. You are not under my orders, for you +are not attached to the ship," said the captain. + +The commander went on deck, and the two passengers retired to Christy's +stateroom, where they discussed the enterprise for a couple of hours. +In the mean time the Chateaugay was making her best speed, for Captain +Chantor did not wish to lose any of his chances by being too late; and +he believed that the Dornoch must be fully due at the Bermudas. Before +he turned in that night he had altered the course of the ship half a +point more to the southward, for he had decided to accept the offer of +Mr. Gilfleur; and he wished to go to the west of the islands instead of +the east, as he had given out the course at noon. + +For two days more the Chateaugay continued on her voyage. At noon the +second day he found his ship was directly west of the southern part of +the Bermudas, and but fifty miles from them. He shaped his course so as +to be at the south of them that night. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A NOTABLE EXPEDITION + + +The position of the Chateaugay was accurately laid down on the chart +fifty miles to the westward of Spears Hill, which is about the +geographical centre of the Bermuda Islands. Captain Chantor had invited +his two passengers to his cabin for a conference in relation to the +proposed enterprise, after the observations had been worked up at noon, +on the fourth day after the departure from New York. + +"Now, Mr. Gilfleur, if you will indicate the precise point at which you +desire to put off in your boat, I will have the ship there at the time +you require," said the captain, who had drawn a rough sketch of the +islands, and dotted upon it the points he mentioned in his statement. + +"Of course you do not wish the ship to be seen from the islands," +suggested the detective. + +"Certainly not; for if the Dornoch is in port at St. George's that would +be warning her to avoid us in coming out, and she might escape by +standing off to the northward," replied the commander. "Besides, there +might be fishing-craft or other small vessels off the island that would +report the ship if she were seen. It is not advisable to go any nearer +to the islands till after dark. We will show no lights as we approach +your destination." + +"How near Gibbs Hill light can you go with safety in the darkness, +Captain?" asked Mr. Gilfleur. + +"I should not care to go nearer than ten miles; we could not be seen +from the shore at that distance, but we might be seen by some small +craft." + +"That will do very well; and if you will make a point ten miles +south-west of Gibbs Hills light, I shall be exactly suited," added the +detective, as he made a small cross on the sketch near the place where +he desired to embark in the boat. + +The conference was finished, and the two passengers went on deck to +inspect the craft which was to convey them to the islands. By order of +the commander the carpenter had overhauled the boat and made such +repairs as were needed. Every open seam had been calked, and a heavy +coat of paint had been put upon it. The sailmaker had attended to the +jib and mainsail, and everything was in excellent condition for the trip +to the shore. + +"Is this the same boat that you used when you were in the Bermudas, Mr. +Gilfleur?" asked Christy, as they were examining the work which had been +done on the craft, its spars and sails. + +"Oh, no; it was six years ago that I spent the winter in the islands. I +found this boat under a shed on a wharf in New York. It had been picked +up near the Great Abaco in the Bahama Islands by a three-master, on her +voyage from the West Indies," replied Mr. Gilfleur. "When I had formed +my plan of operations in the vicinity of Nassau, in order to obtain the +information the government desired, I bought this boat. When picked up, +the boat had her spars, sails, oars, water-breakers, and other articles +carefully stowed away on board of her; and it appeared as though she had +broken adrift from her moorings, or had been carried away by a rising +tide from some beach where those in charge of her had landed. I happened +to find the captain of the vessel that brought the boat to New York; and +he made me pay roundly for her, so that he got well rewarded for his +trouble in picking it up." + +The Chateaugay stood due south till six o'clock at little more than half +speed, and when she came about her dead reckoning indicated that she was +seventy-five miles to the south-west of Gibbs Hill light. The weather +was very favorable for the proposed enterprise, with a moderate breeze +from the west. Mr. Gilfleur did not wish to leave the ship till after +midnight, for all he desired was to get inside the outer reefs before +daylight. The speed of the ship was regulated to carry out this idea. + +The light so frequently mentioned in the conference is three hundred and +sixty-two feet above the sea level, for it is built on the highest point +of land in the south of the Bermudas, and could be seen at a distance of +thirty miles. At three bells in the first watch the light was reported +by the lookout, and the speed was reduced somewhat. + +About this time the detective came out of his stateroom, and entered +that of Christy. He had smeared his face with a brownish tint, which +made him look as though he had been long exposed to the sun of the +tropics. He was dressed in a suit of coarse material, though it was not +the garb of a sailor. He had used the scissors on his long black +mustache, and given it a snarly and unkempt appearance. Christy would +not have known him if he had met him on shore. + +"You look like another man," said he, laughing. + +"A French detective has to learn the art of disguising himself; in fact, +he has to be an actor. Perhaps you will not be willing to believe it, +but I have played small parts at the Théâtre Français for over a year, +more to learn the actor's art of making himself up than because I had +any histrionic aspirations. I have worked up a case in the capacity of +an old man of eighty years of age," the detective explained. "When I +recovered the property of your father, stolen at Havre, I played the +part of a dandy, and won the confidence of the stewardess, though I came +very near having to fight a duel with the _voleur_ who was her 'pal' in +the robbery." + +"Of course it will not do for me to wear my lieutenant's uniform," +suggested Christy. + +"Not unless you wish to have your head broken by the crews of the +blockade-runners you will find at St. George's," replied the Frenchman +significantly. + +"I have some old clothes in my valise," added the lieutenant. + +"I don't like the idea of putting you in a humiliating position, Mr. +Passford, but I have not told you all my plans." + +"I will take any position you assign to me, for I am now to be a +volunteer in your service." + +"I intend to represent myself as a French gentleman of wealth, who has +passed the winter in the Bahama Islands in search of health, and found +it in abundance," said Mr. Gilfleur, with a pleasant smile on his face, +as though he really enjoyed the business in which he was at present +engaged. + +"Have you ever been in the Bahamas?" asked Christy. + +"All through them, including Nassau. If I had not, I should not have +brought that boat with me. I made a trip in an English steamer from the +Bermudas, which had occasion to visit nearly all the islands; and I +passed about two months of my stay in this region on that cruise," +replied the detective. + +"But how far is it from the Bermudas to the nearest point in the +Bahamas? Will people believe that we came even from the Great Abaco in +an open boat?" inquired Christy. "What is the distance?" + +"I estimate it at about seven hundred and fifty miles. That is nothing +for a boat like mine, though I should not care to undertake it in the +hurricane season," replied Mr. Gilfleur. "By the way, we must borrow +some charts of this region from the captain, though only to keep up +appearances." + +"You have not told me in what character I am to be your companion," +suggested Christy. + +"As my servant, if you do not rebel at the humiliation of such a +position, though I promise to treat you very kindly, and with all proper +consideration," laughed the Frenchman. + +"I have not the slightest objection to the character; and I will +endeavor to discharge my duties with humility and deference," responded +the lieutenant in the same vein. + +"Now let me see what sort of a suit you have for your part," added the +detective. + +Christy took from his valise a suit he had worn as a subordinate officer +when he was engaged in the capture of the Teaser. It was approved by his +companion, and he dressed himself in this garb. + +"But you have been bleached out by your long stay at Bonnydale, and your +complexion needs a little improvement," said Mr. Gilfleur, as he went to +his room for his tints. + +On his return he gave to the face of the officer the same sun-browned +hue he had imparted to his own. While he was so employed, he explained +that the tint was a fast color under ordinary circumstances, and in what +manner it could be easily removed, though it would wear off in about a +week. + +"Now, you need only a little touching up," continued the detective, when +he had completed the dyeing process. "You will be amazed at the change +produced in the expression of a person by a few touches of paint +skilfully applied," and he proceeded to make the alteration proposed. + +When he had finished his work, Christy looked in the glass, and declared +that he should hardly know himself. The preparations were completed, and +the French gentleman and his servant were ready to embark. But it was +only eleven o'clock, and both of them turned in for a nap of a couple of +hours. The captain had retired early in the evening, and the +quartermaster conning the wheel was steering for the light, the +Chateaugay making not more than six knots an hour. + +At one o'clock the commander was called, in accordance with his order to +the officer of the watch. He went on deck at once, had the log slate +brought to him, and made some calculations, which resulted in an order +to ring two bells, which meant "Stop her." Then he went to the ward room +himself, and knocked at the doors of his two passengers. Mr. Gilfleur +and Christy sprang from their berths, and the two doors were opened at +once. No toilet was necessary, for both of them had lain down with their +clothes on. + +"Pray, who might you be?" demanded the captain, laughing heartily when +the detective showed himself in his new visage and dress. "Can you +inform me what has become of Mr. Gilfleur?" + +"He has stepped out for a couple of days, and Monsieur Rubempré has +taken his place," replied the detective. + +"And who is this gentleman?" asked Captain Chantor, turning to his other +passenger, who was quite as much changed in appearance. + +"Contrary to his usual custom, he does not claim to be a gentleman just +now. This is Christophe, my servant, employed as such only for a couple +of days," answered Monsieur Rubempré. + +"All right, Mr. Rubumper! Three bells have just been struck, and the +watch are putting your boat into the water," continued the commander. +"I have directed the steward to fill your breaker with water, and put a +small supply of provisions into the craft. We shall be ready for you in +about half an hour." + +"We are all ready at this moment," replied Monsieur Rubempré; for both +of the passengers had agreed to call each other by their assumed names +at once, so as to get accustomed to them, and thus avoid committing +themselves in any moment of excitement. + +The detective came out of his room with a valise in his hand, which he +had packed with extreme care, so that nothing should be found in it, in +case of accident, to compromise him. He had superintended the placing of +Christy's clothing in one of his valises. He objected to the initials, +"C. P.," worked on his linen; but the owner had no other, and the +difficulty was compromised by writing the name of "Christophe Poireau" +on a number of pieces of paper and cards, and attaching a tag with this +name upon it to the handle. + +Both of them put on plain overcoats, and went on deck, where the boat, +which had the name of Eleuthera painted on the stern, had already been +committed to the waves. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE FRENCHMAN IN BERMUDA + + +"Bon voyage, Mr. Rubumper," said Captain Chanter, as the Frenchman was +about to descend the accommodation ladder. "I know French enough to say +that." + +"Thank you, Captain." + +"I hope you will make a success of the enterprise, Mr. Passford," the +commander added to the other member of the expedition. + +"I shall do the best I can to make it so," answered Christy, as he +followed his companion down the accommodation ladder. + +The detective shoved the boat off, and both of the voyagers took the +oars to get the craft clear of the ship, which was accomplished in a few +minutes. Then the Frenchman stepped the mast, which had been carefully +adjusted on board of the ship, while Christy rigged out the shifting +bowsprit. In half an hour they had placed the spars and bent on the +sail, for everything had been prepared for expeditious work. The sails +filled, and the skipper took his place at the long tiller. + +"We are all right now, Christophe," said the detective. + +"I should say that we were, Monsieur Rubempré," replied the acting +servant. "We have ten miles to make: with this breeze, how long will it +take for this boat to do it?" + +"If she sails as well as mine did, she will make it in two hours." + +The craft was about twenty feet long, and was sharp at both ends. She +had a cuddy forward, which was large enough to accommodate both of her +crew in a reclining posture. It had been furnished with a couple of +berthsacks, and with several blankets. The provisions and water had been +placed in it, as well as a couple of lanterns, ready for use if occasion +should require. + +It was a summer sea in this latitude, with a very steady breeze from the +westward. The overcoats they wore were hardly necessary, and they had +put them on mainly to conceal their changed garments from the crew of +the ship, who could only conjecture what the expedition meant. + +"You are a younger man than I am, Christophe, and you have slept only a +couple of hours to-night," said M. Rubempré, as soon as the Eleuthera +was well under way; and the remark was called forth by a long gape on +the part of the younger person. "You can turn in and sleep a couple of +hours more just as well as not, for there is nothing whatever for you to +do. We may have to make a long day of it to-morrow." + +"I am accustomed to doing without my sleep at times," replied +Christophe, which was his first name, according to the French +orthography, and was pronounced in two syllables. + +"Of course you have, when your duty required you to be on deck; but +there is not the least need of doing so now." + +The lieutenant complied with the advice of the skipper, and in five +minutes more he was sound asleep. The Bahama boat, with a Bahama name, +rose and fell on the long rolling seas, which were very gentle in their +motion, and made very good progress through the water. The light could +be plainly seen in its lofty position, and the detective steered for it +over an hour, and then kept it a little on the starboard hand; for the +opening in the outer reef through which he intended to pass was two +miles to the westward of the high tower. He had correctly estimated the +speed of the boat, for the faint light of the dawn of day began to +appear in the east when he was able clearly to discern the outline of +the hills on the most southern of the islands. + +Although it was still quite dark, the Frenchman continued on his course +very confidently. The reefs extended out two miles from the main shore; +but the navigator was so familiar with the locality that they did not +trouble him. Bearing about north-west from the light was Wreck Hill, one +hundred and fifty feet high, which assisted him in keeping his course. +As he approached the mainland he made out the fort, and steering +directly for it, passed safely through Hogfish Cut. + +When he was within half a mile of this fort, he headed the boat to the +north-west. It was still eighteen miles to Hamilton, the capital of the +islands; but he had a fair wind, and the boat made about five miles an +hour. Christy still slept, and the skipper did not wake him. It was +daylight when he was abreast of Wreck Hill, and there was no further +difficulty in the navigation. It was half-past eight when he ran up to +a pier where he had kept his boat in former days. There were plenty of +just such crafts as the Eleuthera, and no attention was paid to her as +she passed along the Front-street docks. The pier at which he made his +landing was in a retired locality. He lowered the sails, and had made +everything snug on board before he called his companion. + +"Half-past eight, Christophe," said he at the door of the cuddy. + +"Half-past eight!" exclaimed Christy, springing out of his berth on the +floor. "Where are we now, M. Rubempré?" + +"We are in Hamilton harbor; and if you will come out of the cuddy, you +will find yourself in the midst of flowers and green trees," replied the +skipper with a smile. + +"I must have slept six hours," said Christy, rubbing his eyes as he +crawled out of the cuddy. + +The scenery around him was certainly very beautiful, and he gazed upon +it in silence for a few minutes. It seemed to him just as though he had +waked in fairyland. He had cruised in the vicinity of the islands, but +he had never been very near the shore before. Though he had been in +Alabama, and seen the shores of the Gulf States, he had never beheld any +region that seemed so lovely to him. He had been on shore at Nassau, but +only on the wharves, and had hardly seen the beauties of the island. + +"Why didn't you call me before, M. Rubempré?" asked he, when he had +taken in the view from the pier. + +"Because I thought your sleep would do you more good than the view of +the shore, which you will have plenty of opportunities to see before we +leave," replied the detective. "But we must begin our work, for we have +no time to lose. I arranged with Captain Chantor to pick us up to-morrow +night at about the point where we embarked in the boat. In the mean time +he will sail around the islands, though the Chateaugay will not come +near enough to be seen from the shore." + +"What will you do with the boat while we are absent?" + +"Leave it where it is." + +While they were talking, an old negro came down the pier, and very +politely saluted the strangers. He appeared to come from a small house a +short distance from the shore, and passed along to a boat which lay near +the Eleuthera. + +"Is that your boat?" asked the detective, calling him back. + +"Yes, sir; I am a fisherman, though I've got the rheumatism, and don't +go out much; but I have to go to-day, for we have nothing to eat in the +house," replied the negro, whose language was very good. + +"What is your name?" + +"Joseph, sir." + +"Do you speak French?" + +"Oh, no, sir!" exclaimed Joseph. "I don't speak anything but plain +English; but I used to work sometimes for a French gentleman that kept a +boat at this pier, six or seven years ago." + +"What was his came?" asked the detective, who had had a suspicion from +the first that he knew the man, though he had changed a great deal as he +grew older. + +"Mounseer Gillflower," replied Joseph; "and he was very kind to me." + +"I am a Frenchman, Joseph; and, if you don't want to go fishing, I will +employ you to take care of my boat, and carry my valise to a hotel," +continued the detective, as he handed an English sovereign to him, for +he had taken care to provide himself with a store of them in New York. + +"Thank you, sir; but I can't change this piece," protested Joseph very +sadly. + +"I don't want you to change it; keep the whole of it." + +"God bless you forever and ever, Mounseer!" exclaimed the fisherman. +"I haven't had a sovereign before since Mounseer Gillflower was here. +I am a very poor man, and I can't get any work on shore." + +Probably, like the rest of his class, he was not inclined to work while +he had any money. He promised to take good care of the Eleuthera, and he +asked no troublesome questions. The detective gave his name, and ordered +Christophe, calling him by his name, to bring the valises on shore. Then +the Frenchman locked the door of the cuddy, for they left their +overcoats there, as they had no use for them. + +"To what hotel shall I carry the valises?" asked Joseph. + +"To the Atlantic; that will be the most convenient for us. Do you know +anything about these vessels in the harbor, Joseph?" + +"Not much, Mounseer Roobump; but they say the two steamers near the +island are going to run the blockade into the States; but I don't know. +They say a Confederate man-of-war came into St. George's harbor +yesterday; but I haven't seen her, and I don't know whether it's true or +not." + +"What is her name?" asked the detective, who from the beginning had +broken up his English, and imparted a strong French accent to it. + +"I did not hear any one mention her name, Mounseer. That vessel this +side of the island is the mail steamer from New York; she got in +yesterday," continued Joseph. + +"That is important; if the Dornoch is the Confederate man-of-war that +arrived at St. George's yesterday, this steamer brought letters from +Davis to her captain," said the Frenchman to Christy, in French. + +"But Davis could not have learned that the Ionian had been captured +before the mail steamer left New York," added Christy, in the same +language. + +"No matter for that, Christophe. I did not resign my place at Davis's +warehouse till the morning we sailed; and I have his letter to the +captain of the Dornoch with my other papers on board of the Chateaugay, +and I know that was the only letter written to him. As he has no +information in regard to the Ionian, he will not wait for her." + +"I remember; you showed me the letter." + +Joseph listened with a show of wonder on his face to this conversation +which he could not understand. The detective directed him to carry the +two valises to the hotel named; but Christy interposed in French, and +insisted that it would look better for him to carry his own valise, and +the point was yielded. The Atlantic Hotel was on Front Street, the +harbor being on one side of it. A couple of rooms were assigned to them, +one of them quite small, which was taken by Christy, in order to keep up +appearances. + +M. Rubempré registered his name, putting "and servant" after it, Paris, +and spoke even worse English than he had used to Joseph. Breakfast had +been ordered, but Christy, being only a servant, had to take his meal at +a side table. The detective was not dressed like a gentleman, and the +landlord seemed to have some doubts about his ability to pay his bills, +though he had baggage. He was not treated with anything like deference, +and he saw the difficulty. After breakfast he took a handful of English +gold from his pocket, and asked the landlord to change one of the coins +for smaller money. Mine host bowed low to him after this exhibition. + +"I want to see the American consul," said M. Rubempré, in his own +language. + +"I will go with you, but I think I will not see him, for he may take it +into his head that I am not a Frenchman," added Christy. + +"You can come with me, and stay outside." + +When they reached the consulate, which was on the same street as the +hotel, they found about a dozen sailors in front of the building. They +were a very rough and hard-looking set of men. They appeared to be +considerably excited about something, and to be bent on violence in some +direction; but the strangers could make nothing of the talk they heard, +though "the bloody spy" was an expression frequently used. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +IMPORTANT INFORMATION OBTAINED + + +Christy walked behind the detective in his capacity as servant. It was +soon evident to them that the ruffians gathered in the street meant +mischief. On the staff over their heads floated the flag of the United +States. Though Mr. Gilfleur was an alien, his companion was not. Of +course he knew that the islands were the resort of blockade-runners, +that they obtained their supplies from the two towns of Hamilton and St. +George's. This fact seemed to explain the occasion of the disturbance in +this particular locality. + +"What does all this mean, Christophe?" asked M. Rubempré, falling back +to join Christy at the door of the consulate. + +"I should judge that these ruffians intended to do violence to the +American consul," replied Christy. "I heard in New York that he was +faithful in the discharge of his duty to his government, and doubtless +he has excited the indignation of these ruffians by his fidelity. His +principal business is to follow up the enforcement of the neutrality +laws, which compels him to watch these blockade-runners, and vessels of +war intended for the Confederate States." + +"That was my own conclusion," added the Frenchman, speaking his own +language, as usual. "I should say that his position is not a pleasant +one." + +"Here comes the bloody spy!" shouted several of the ruffians. + +Looking down the street, they saw a dignified-looking gentleman +approaching, whom they supposed to be the consul, Mr. Alwayn. He did not +seem to be alarmed at the demonstration in front of his office. The +disturbers of the peace fell back as he advanced, and he reached the +door where the detective and his companion were standing without being +attacked. The mob, now considerably increased in numbers, though +probably more than a majority, as usual, were merely spectators, hooted +violently at the representative of the United States. + +The gentleman reached the door of his office, and by this time the +ruffians seemed to realize that simple hooting did no harm, and they +rushed forward with more serious intentions. One of them laid violent +hands on the consul, seizing him by the back of his coat collar, and +attempting to pull him over backwards. Christy felt that he was under +the flag of his country, and his blood boiled with indignation; and, +rash as was the act, he planted a heavy blow with his fist under the ear +of the assailant, which sent him reeling back among his companions. + +"No revolvers, Christophe!" said the detective earnestly, as he placed +himself by the side of the young man. + +Christy's revolver was in his hip-pocket, where he usually carried it, +and the detective feared he might use it, for both of them could hardly +withstand the pressure upon them; and the firing of a single shot would +have roused the passions of the mob, and led to no little bloodshed. +M. Rubempré was entirely cool and self-possessed, which could hardly be +said of the young naval officer. + + [Illustration: + "He planted a heavy blow with his fist under the ear of his + assailant." Page 116.] + +By this time Mr. Alwayn had opened the front door of the office, and +gone in. The detective backed in after him, and then pushed Christy in +after the consul. The ruffians saw that they were losing their game, and +they rushed upon the door. One of them crowded his way in, but M. +Rubempré, in a very quiet way, delivered a blow on the end of the +assailant's nose, which caused him to retreat, with the red fluid +spurting from the injured member. + +Taking his place, two others pushed forward, and aimed various blows at +the two defenders of the position; but both of them were skilled in this +sort of play, and warded off the strokes, delivering telling blows in +the faces of the enemy. Mr. Alwayn had partially closed the door; but he +was not so cowardly as to shut out his two volunteer defenders. As soon +as they understood his object, they backed in at the door, dispersing +the ruffians with well-directed blows, and the consul closed and locked +the door. Before any further mischief could be done, the police came and +dispersed the rioters. The consul fared better on this occasion than on +several others, in one of which he was quite seriously injured. + +As soon as order was restored, Mr. Alwayn conducted his defenders to his +office, where he thanked them heartily for the service they had rendered +him. During the _mélee_ M. Rubempré had tried to address the ruffians in +broken French, for he did not for a moment forget his assumed character. +He used the same "pigeon-talk" to the consul, and Christy, in the little +he said, adopted the same dialect. + +"I see you are not Americans, my friends," said the official. + +"No, saire; we are some Frenchmen," replied the detective, spreading out +his two hands in a French gesture, and bowing very politely. + +"Being Frenchmen, I am not a little surprised that you should have +undertaken to defend me from this assault," added Mr. Alwayn. + +"Ze Frenchman like, wat was this you call him, ze fair play; and ve +could not prevent to put some fingers in tose pies. Ver glad you was not +have the head broke," replied M. Rubempré, with another native flourish. +"_Mais_, wat for de _canaille_ make ze war on you, saire? You was +certainment un gentleman ver respectable." + +Mr. Alwayn explained why he had incurred the hostility of the +blockade-runners and their adherents, for he was sometimes compelled to +protest against what he regarded as breaches of neutrality, and was +obliged in the discharge of his duty to look after these people very +closely, so that he was regarded as a spy. + +"Oh! it was ze blockheads, was it?" exclaimed the Frenchman. + +"Hardly the blockheads," replied the consul, laughing at the blunder of +the foreigner. "It is the blockade-runners that make the trouble." + +"Blockade-runners! _Merci._ Was there much blockadeers here in ze +islands?" asked M. Rubempré, as though he was in total ignorance of the +entire business of breaking the blockade. + +"Thousands of them come here, for this is about the nearest neutral port +to Wilmington, where many of this sort of craft run in." + +"Wilmington was in Delaware, where I have seen him on ze map." + +"No, sir; this Wilmington is in North Carolina. If you look out on the +waters of the harbor, half the vessels you see there are +blockade-runners," added the consul. "And there are more of them at St. +George's. It was only yesterday that a steamer I believe to be intended +for a man-of-war for the Confederacy came into the port of St. George's, +and I have been much occupied with her affairs, which is probably the +reason for this attempt to assault me." + +"Ze _man_-of-war," repeated the Frenchman. "Ze war, _c'est la guerre_; +_mais_ wat was ze man?" + +"She is a vessel used for war purposes." + +"_She!_ She is a woman; and I think that steamer was a woman-of-war." + +The consul laughed heartily, but insisted upon the feminine designation +of the steamer. + +"What you call ze name of ze man-of-war?" asked M. Rubempré, putting on +a very puzzled expression of countenance. + +"The Dornoch," replied Mr. Alwayn. + +"The D'Ornoch," added the detective. "How you write him--like zis?" and +he wrote it on a piece of paper by his own method. + +"Not exactly," replied the consul, writing it as given in English. + +"How long ze Dornoch will she stop in zat port?" asked the Frenchman, +in a very indifferent tone, as though the answer was not of the least +consequence to him. + +"Not long; I heard it stated in St. George's that she would get her +supplies and cargo on board to-day and to-morrow, and will sail before +dark to-morrow night," replied Mr. Alwayn. "The government here ought +not to allow her to remain even as long as that, for she is plainly +intended for a Confederate cruiser, and my men inform me that she has +six great guns, and fifty men." + +M. Rubempré obtained all the information the consul was able to give +him, and much of it was of great importance. The official was under +obligations to the two strangers, and he seemed not to suspect that +either of them was an American, much less a naval officer. They took +their leave of him in the politest manner possible, and were shown to +the door by the consul. + +"I am not quite sure that all his information is correct, and we must +investigate for ourselves," said the detective when they were in the +street. "But this affray is bad for us, and I was very sorry when you +interfered, Christophe." + +"You did not expect to see me fold my arms when a representative of the +United States, and under our flag, was attacked by a lot of ruffians?" +demanded Christy, rather warmly, though he spoke in French. + +"I know you could not help it, and I did my best to aid you," added M. +Rubempré. "I only mean that it was unfortunate for us, for when we go +about on the islands, we may be recognized by some of that mob. We must +go back to the hotel." + +In a few minutes more they were at the Atlantic, where the Frenchman, +with his usual flourish, ordered a carriage to be ready in half an hour, +adding that he was about to dress for some visits he was to make in St. +George's. They went to their rooms, and each of them changed his dress, +coming out in black suits. The master wore a frock coat, but the servant +was dressed in a "claw-hammer," and looked like a first-class waiter. + +It is about a two hours' ride over to St. George's, and Christy enjoyed +the excursion as much as though there had not been a blockade-runner in +the world. The town, with even its principal street not more than ten +feet wide, reminded him of some of the quaint old cities of Europe he +had visited with his father a few years before. But M. Rubempré was bent +on business, and the delightful scenery was an old story to him. They +took a boat at a pier, and for an hour a negro pulled them about the +harbor. There were quite a number of steamers in the port, long, low, +and rakish craft, built expressly for speed, and some of them must have +been knocked to pieces by the blockaders before the lapse of many weeks, +though a considerable proportion of them succeeded in delivering their +cargoes at Wilmington or other places. + +The visitors looked them over with the greatest interest. They even went +on board of a couple of them, the detective pretending that he was +looking for a passage to some port in the South from which he could +reach Mobile, where his brother was in the Confederate army. No one +could doubt that he was a Frenchman, and on one of them the captain +spoke French, though very badly. M. Rubempré's good clothes secured the +respect and confidence of those he encountered, and most of the officers +freely told him where they were bound, and talked with great gusto of +the business in which they were engaged. But none of them could +guarantee him a safe passage to any port on the blockaded coast. + +The excursion in the boat was continued, for the visitors had not yet +seen the steamer they were the most anxious to examine. The detective +would not inquire about this steamer, fearful that it might be reported +by the negro at the oars, and excite suspicion. But at last, near the +entrance to the harbor, the boatman pointed out the Dornoch, and told +them all he knew about her. There were several lighters alongside, +discharging coal and other cargo into her. + +M. Rubempré, in his broken English, asked permission to go on deck, and +it was promptly accorded to him. He was very polite to the officers, and +they treated him with proper consideration. There were no guns in sight, +and the steamer looked like a merchantman; but if she had been searched, +her armament would have been found in the hold. The visitor again +repeated his desire to obtain a passage to the South; and this request +seemed to satisfy the first officer with whom he talked. He was informed +that the steamer would sail about five on the afternoon of the next day, +and he must be on board at that time, if he wished to go in the vessel. +He learned many particulars in regard to her. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +AN UNEXPECTED RENCONTRE + + +It was lunch-time when the visitors landed, and they proceeded to the +St. George's Hotel in Market Square, to attend to this mid-day duty. In +the coffee-room they found quite a number of guests, and the only spare +seat the detective found was at a large table at which a gentleman in +uniform was seated. + +"Wit your permis-si-on, I take one of the places here," said M. Rubempré +with his politest flourish. + +"Certainly," replied the gentleman, as politely as the Frenchman; and he +seated himself at the table, Christy remaining standing. + +"_Demandez un garcon_" (ask for a waiter), "Christophe." Then in French +he asked the stranger opposite him if he spoke that language. + +"A little, sir; but I am not fluent in it," replied the gentleman in the +same language. + +"Ah, my dear sir, you speak very well; and you have the Parisian +accent," added the Frenchman, who, like his countrymen, counted upon the +effect of a little well-administered flattery. + +"You are very kind to say so, sir. I have been in Paris a few months, +and was always able to make my way with the language," said the +stranger, evidently pleased with the commendation bestowed upon his +French accent; for many people take more pride in their foreign accent +than in the proper use of their own language. + +"Christophe, find a place for yourself, and order what you desire," +continued the Frenchman, as a waiter, summoned by the acting servant, +presented himself to take the order. + +At this moment a gentleman behind the detective vacated his place at the +table, and Christy took a seat close to his companion. The lunch of both +was ordered, and the stranger opposite had but just commenced his meal. +M. Rubempré "laid himself out" to make himself as agreeable as possible, +and he seemed to be succeeding admirably, for the stranger appeared to +be absolutely charmed with him. Speaking slowly and clearly, so that the +person in uniform, who did not speak French fluently, could understand +him, he told him all about his brother in the Confederate army, and +strongly expressed his desire to join him, and perhaps the army, for he +had very strong sympathy for the right in the great conflict; in fact, +he was disposed to engage in fighting for the right. + +Then he inquired of his new friend what wine was the best in the island. +The stranger preferred sherry, but perhaps a Frenchman might take a +different view of the subject. M. Rubempré ordered both sherry and +claret, and then filled the glasses of his _vis-a-vis_ and his own. He +did not offer any to his servant, for he knew that he never touched it. +They drank claret first to each other's health. + +"You are in the military, my friend?" continued the detective. + +"No, sir; I am a sailor. Allow me to introduce myself as Captain +Rombold, of the steamer Dornoch." + +"I am extremely happy to make your acquaintance, Captain Rombold. To +reciprocate, I am M. Rubempré, of Paris," added the Frenchman, as he +filled his companion's glass, and they tippled again with an abundance +of compliments. "I presume that you are in the British navy, Captain +Rombold?" + +"At present I am not, though I was formerly in that service, and +resigned to engage in a more lucrative occupation." + +"Indeed, what could be better than the position of an officer in the +Royal navy?" + +"I am now a commander in the navy of the Confederate States," added the +captain, looking with interest into the face of his companion. "I am +taking in coal and cargo, and shall sail at five to-morrow afternoon for +Wilmington." + +"Is it possible?" said M. Rubempré, who appeared to be greatly impressed +by what was said to him. "I wish I was a sailor, but I am not. You will +break through the blockade?" + +"I apprehend no difficulty in doing that, for the Dornoch is good for +fourteen knots an hour, and most of the Federal fleet cannot make more +than twelve." + +Christy was very glad to hear this acknowledgment of the speed of the +intended cruiser, for it assured him that the Chateaugay could outsail +her. The two gentlemen at the other table passed the wine very freely, +and both of them seemed to be considerably exhilarated; but he was glad +to perceive that his friend allowed the captain to do the most of the +talking. The lunch was finished at last, and both of them rose from the +table. + +"I am exceedingly obliged to you, M. Rubempré, for the pleasure I have +derived from this interview," said Captain Rombold, as he grasped the +hand of his companion. "I have had more practice with my French than for +several years, and I take great delight in speaking the language. I hope +we shall meet again." + +"Thanks! Thanks! I am very sure that we shall meet again; and almost as +sure that we shall meet fighting for the right," added the Frenchman. + +"But I hope you will be a passenger on board of the Dornoch, as you +suggested to me a little while ago. I will give you a good stateroom, +though I cannot absolutely promise to take you to the port of our +destination, for accidents may happen in the midst of the blockaders." + +"If I can go with you, my dear Captain Rombold, I shall be on board of +your ship by four to-morrow afternoon," replied the detective, as he +took the hand of his new friend for the last time. + +Christy had finished his lunch, and they left the hotel together. The +carriage in which they had come called for them at the appointed time, +and they returned to Hamilton. The conversation was continued in French, +so that the driver was none the wiser for what he heard. At the Atlantic +they went to their rooms, where the information they had obtained was +collaborated, and written down in French, the detective concealing it in +a belt pocket he wore on his body. + +"The wonder to me has been that these officers talked so freely," said +Christy, as they seated themselves at a window. "They talked to you as +plainly as though you had been their friend for life." + +"Why shouldn't they? They can't help knowing that I am a Frenchman; and +I am sorry to say that my countrymen, like so many of the English, +sympathize with the South in the great Civil War. They take me for a +friend at once. Besides, as they understand the matter here, why should +these blockade-runners, or even the Confederate commander, object to +telling what they are going to do. There will be no mail steamer to New +York till after they have all gone off; and there is no telegraph yet." + +"Perhaps you are right, M. Rubempré; but I think a good deal more +discretion would become them better, as they are likely to ascertain +very soon," added Christy. + +"I suppose none of these people here would consider it possible or +practicable to land at these islands and pick up the news, as we have +done. This was my plan for Nassau, but I did not think of applying it to +the Bermudas, till Captain Chantor told me his difficulty as to waiting +for the Dornoch." + +"It seems to me we have done all we can do here, and there is nothing +more to do." + +"That is very true; but I supposed it would take at least two days to do +our business. We have been much more successful than I anticipated, and +performed the duty in half the time I supposed it would require. But it +was better to have too much time than too little." + +"It is nearly night now, and we have another day to spend here." + +"We can rest from our labors in the hope that our works will follow us. +I am ready to do a good deal of sleeping in the time that remains to us, +for we may not be able to sleep any to-morrow night," added the +detective as he threw himself on his bed, and was soon fast asleep. + +Christy had slept enough the night before and during the morning; and he +went out to take a walk in the town. He had taken off his suit of black, +and put on the costume he had worn from the ship. He was inclined to see +what there was in the town; and he walked about till it was dark, at +which time he found himself in the vicinity of the Hamilton Hotel, the +largest and best appointed in the town. He was dressed very plainly, but +there was nothing shabby in his appearance; and he thought he would +inspect the interior of the hotel. + +He began to mount the piazza, when he suddenly halted, and started back +with astonishment, and his hair almost stood on end. Directly in front +of him, and not ten feet distant, sat his uncle, Homer Passford, of +Glenfield, talking with a gentleman in uniform. The lantern that hung +near him enabled him to see the features of the planter, but he could +not see the face of the officer, with whom he was engaged in a very +earnest conversation. + +Christy's first impulse was to put a long distance between himself and +his uncle, for his father's brother might identify him in spite of the +color on his face. Such a discovery was likely to prove very annoying to +him, and might render useless the information the detective and himself +had obtained with so much trouble and risk. But the first question that +came into his head was the inquiry as to what his uncle was doing in +Bermuda. He was a Confederate of the most positive type, had done +everything in his power for his government, as he understood it, and was +willing to sacrifice his life and all that he had in the world in its +service. + +Colonel Passford must be there on some mission. He was a prominent and +useful man in his State; and he would not have left it without some very +strong motive. The nephew would have given a great deal, and exposed +himself to no little peril, to be able to fathom this motive. He moved +away from the piazza, and went upon it at another place. If he could +hear some of the conversation he might be able to form some idea of the +occasion of his uncle's visit. + +Walking along the platform, he obtained a position behind Colonel +Passford, and at the same time saw the face of the person with whom he +was in conversation. He was not a little surprised to discover that the +gentleman was Captain Rombold, commander of the Dornoch. He had hardly +seen this officer, and he had no fear that he would recognize him; and, +if he did, it was of little consequence, for he was there in the +capacity of a servant. He took a vacant chair, turned his back to both +of the speakers, and opened wide his ears. Probably nine-tenths of the +people in the hotel were directly or indirectly concerned in the +business of blockade-running; and secrecy was hardly necessary in that +locality. + +"As I say, Captain Rombold, we need more fast steamers, not to run the +blockade, but to prey upon the enemy's commerce. In that way we can +bring the people of the North to their senses, and put this unhallowed +strife on the part of the Federals to an end," said Colonel Passford. + +"Well, Colonel, there are ships enough to be had on the other side of +the Atlantic, and your money or your cotton will buy them," added the +naval officer. + +"We have been rather unfortunate in running cotton out this last year. +Several steamers and sailing vessels that I fitted out with cotton +myself were captured by my own nephew, who was in command of a small +steamer called the Bronx." + +"Of course those things could not be helped," replied Captain Rombold; +"but with the Gateshead and the Kilmarnock, larger and more powerful +steamers than any that have been sent over, you can scour the ocean. +They are ready for you when your money is ready." + +"It is ready now, for I have sacrificed my entire fortune for the +purchase of these steamers; and I wait only for a vessel that will take +me to Scotland," replied Colonel Passford. + +Christy promptly decided that the steamers mentioned should not be +purchased to prey on the commerce of the United States, if he could +possibly prevent it. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +AN IMPRACTICABLE SCHEME + + +Before the War of the Rebellion the commerce of the United States +exceeded that of any other nation on the globe. The Confederate +steamers, the Sumter, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and other cruisers, +swept our ships from the ocean, and the country has never regained its +commercial prestige. Christy Passford listened with intense interest to +the conversation between his uncle and the commander of the Dornoch, and +he came to the conclusion that the latter was a naval officer of no +ordinary ability. He evidently believed that the six-gun steamer in his +charge was a command not worthy of his talent. + +The Sumter, and some other vessels fitted out as privateers or war +vessels, had already done a great deal of mischief to the shipping of +the Northern States, and the young man fully realized the meaning of his +uncle's intentions. Colonel Passford had been supplied with money by his +government, with what he had raised himself, to purchase larger and more +powerful steamers than had yet been obtained, and Captain Rombold +appeared to be his confidant, with whom he must have been in +communication for a considerable length of time. + +Colonel Passford was going to England and Scotland to purchase the +steamers mentioned and recommended as the kind required by his present +companion. Christy could think of no manner in which he could serve his +country so effectually as by preventing, or even delaying, the adding of +these vessels to the navy of the South. But it was a tremendous +undertaking for a young man. His uncle had certainly been very +indiscreet in talking out loud about his plans; but it could hardly have +been supposed that any loyal ears were near enough to hear them, for +even the American consul was not safe in the islands. + +Christy had doubled himself up in his chair, and pretended to be asleep, +so that no notice was taken of him by the two gentlemen in conversation. +He continued to listen till he heard a clock strike nine; but he +obtained no further information, except in relation to the details of +the colonel's plans. He was in great haste to get to England to purchase +the vessels, and he had the drafts about him for the purpose. It was a +vast sum, for the prices of desirable steamers had largely advanced +under the demand for them for running the blockade. + +"The easiest and quickest way for you to get to Liverpool or Glasgow is +to go to New York, and there take a steamer to either of these ports," +suggested Captain Rombold. + +"I dare not go to New York, for I should certainly be recognized there. +My only brother is one of the most prominent agents of the Yankee +government, and every passenger from Bermuda and Nassau is watched and +dogged by detectives. It would not be prudent for me to go New York, for +some pretext to rob me of the drafts I carry would be found," replied +Homer Passford. + +"There may be a steamer from Bermuda in a week or a month, for there is +no regular line," added the naval officer. + +"But there are regular lines from Havana, Mexico, Jamaica, and the +Windward Islands," suggested the agent of the Confederate government. + +"Very true, and it is not necessary that I should make a port in the +Confederate States before I begin my work on the ocean," said Captain +Rombold. "I have my commission from your government, with full powers to +act, though I desired to make a port in the South, for, as you are +aware, my wife is a native of Georgia, and is at her father's plantation +at the present time. I captured two Yankee vessels off the Azores, and +burned them." + +"I have no doubt about your powers; but can you not aid me in getting to +England?" persisted the colonel. + +"If you will take the chances, I can, Colonel Passford. If you will go +on board of my ship to-morrow afternoon, and sail with me, I have no +doubt we shall overhaul a steamer bound to England in the course of a +week, for I will get into the track of these vessels." + +The agent promptly accepted this proposition, and soon after the +conference ended, though not till the listener had taken himself out of +the way, Christy had turned over in his mind a plan to terminate very +suddenly his uncle's mission to purchase steamers, and to obtain +possession of his drafts. M. Rubempré was adroit enough to accomplish +almost anything, and he intended to have the detective make the +colonel's acquaintance, and induce him to embark with them in the +Eleuthera, pretending that he was going to France himself, and intended +to intercept a French steamer from Progreso, whose course lay but a +short distance south of the Bermudas. + +But the plan suggested by Captain Rombold, and adopted by Colonel +Passford, saved him from what the young officer regarded as his duty in +the deception and capture of his uncle. When the Bellevite, while she +was still the yacht of Captain Horatio Passford, had gone to the +vicinity of Mobile, to the home of his father's brother, Homer had done +all in his power to capture the steamer for the use of his government, +and had made war upon her with armed vessels. He had done so +conscientiously, believing it to be his duty to his country. This fact +from the past made it easier for Christy to think of such a thing as the +capture of his uncle, even in a neutral country. + +The young man returned to the Atlantic Hotel. He found M. Rubempré still +fast asleep, for his slumbers the night before had been very brief. +He waked him, and told him all that had transpired during the evening, +though not till the detective had ordered supper, which they had not +partaken of so far. He stated the plan by which he had proposed to +himself to prevent the purchase, for the present at least, of the +Gateshead and Kilmarnock. + +"Not a practicable plan, Christophe," said the detective, shaking his +head vigorously. + +"Why not?" demanded Christy; and he explained the conduct of his uncle +in regard to the Bellevite, when she was on a peaceful errand to convey +her owner's daughter back to her home. + +Then he related the attempt of the colonel's son, his cousin Corny, +to capture the Bronx by a piece of wild strategy. + +"But I do not object to your scheme on moral grounds," interposed M. +Rubempré. "Have you forgotten the affair of the Trent, when Messrs. +Mason and Slidell were taken out of an English steamer? The British +government made a tremendous tempest, and would certainly have declared +war if the two envoys had not been returned to a British ship-of-war. +The English flag waves over these islands, and they are supposed to be +neutral ground." + +"Neutral with a vengeance!" exclaimed Christy. + +"If Colonel Passford had been carried off in the manner you thought of, +the United States government would have been compelled to return him to +these islands, with all his drafts and other property. I am very glad +you found it unnecessary to carry out such a plot," said the detective, +as a knock at the door announced that their supper was ready. + +As Christy's plan was not in order, (missing words) the business of +the visitors at the islands was finished. Both of them slept till very +late in the morning, and after breakfast lay down again and slept all +the forenoon. The young man was afraid to go out of the hotel in the +afternoon, fearful that he might meet his uncle. But his companion +walked about the place, and visited the Hamilton, where he again +encountered Captain Rombold, who introduced him to Colonel Passford; +informing him that he was to be his fellow passenger. When the commander +of the Dornoch told him that he might not make a Confederate port for +some weeks, if at all, M. Rubempré decided not to take passage with him. +Of course nothing was said that could be of any service to the +detective, for he had already obtained the information he needed; but he +assured himself that the steamer would sail at the time stated the day +before. + +Towards night the detective informed the landlord that he was to go to +St. George's in the evening, paid his bill, and liberally rewarded the +waiters. He had been over to the pier to look after the Eleuthera, and +had found Joseph at his house. The boat was all right; her keeper had +washed her out, and put everything in order on board of her. M. Rubempré +returned to the hotel, and after supper Joseph came for the valises. It +was quite dark when they left the place, and made their way to the pier. +No one asked any questions, and the detective had caused it to be +understood that he had engaged a boatman to take him to St. George's by +water. + +They went on board of the boat, and the fisherman assisted them in +getting under way. The liberal skipper gave him another sovereign, +adding that he need not say anything to any person about him and his +servant. Joseph was profuse in his expressions of gratitude, for with so +much money in his pocket he need not go a-fishing again for a month or +more, and protested with all his might that he would not mention them to +anybody. + +The night was dark enough to conceal the Eleuthera after she got away +from the shore, but not so dark that the skipper could not find his way +around the reefs to Hogfish Cut. It was high tide, as it had been when +they came inside of the rocks, and the boat went along quite briskly in +the fresh west wind that was still blowing. Without accident or incident +of importance, though the wind was ahead a portion of the way, the boat +reached the Cut at about midnight. She stuck on a reef at this point, +but very lightly, though it required half an hour or more to get her +off. She made no water, and did not appear to be injured. + +Without further mishap the Eleuthera passed through the opening in the +reefs, and, taking the bearing of the light on Gibbs Hill, Mr. Gilfleur, +as Christy began to call him from this time, laid his course to the +south-west. The Chateaugay was not to show any lights, and there was +nothing but the compass to depend upon; but a light was necessary to +enable the skipper to see it. The lantern was used for this purpose, but +it was carefully concealed in the stern. + +"We are all right now, Mr. Passford; and you may turn in for about three +hours, for I don't think we shall sight the ship in less than that +time," said the detective, as he put on his overcoat, for the night air +was rather chilly, and his companion had already done so. + +"I have no occasion to turn in, for I have slept enough at that hotel to +last me for a week," replied Christy. "It looks now as though we had +made a good job of this visit to the Bermudas." + +"I think there can be no doubt of that, Mr. Passford; and there is an +unpleasant surprise in store for your worthy uncle," said Mr. Gilfleur, +chuckling as he spoke. + +"And perhaps for your accomplished friend Captain Rombold. We have both +heard him say that he was regularly commissioned as a commander in the +Confederate navy, and that his ship is armed with all proper authority +to capture, burn, and destroy the mercantile marine of the United +States." + +"But Captain Rombold is an ex-officer of the Royal navy, and you may +depend upon it he will fight. There will be a naval battle somewhere in +the vicinity of these islands to-morrow, and Captain Chantor will find +that it will be no boy's play," added Mr. Gilfleur. + +"My father told me that he was a very able officer, and had already +rendered good service, good enough to procure his rapid promotion. +I liked the looks of his officers and crew, and I have no doubt they +will give a good account of themselves." + +"I hope so, for I am to be an American citizen: I have filed my first +papers." + +"I doubt not you will make a good and useful citizen; and your wonderful +skill as a detective will make you very serviceable to your new +country." + +The conversation was continued for full three hours longer; at the end +of which time they saw a dark body ahead on the port bow, and heard some +rather gentle screams from a steam whistle. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AT THE END OF THE CHASE + + +Mr. Gilfleur estimated that the Eleuthera was at least fifteen miles +from the light, and the whistles were not loud enough to be heard at +that distance. Neither of the voyagers had any doubt that the dark mass +ahead was the Chateaugay, and the skipper headed the boat for her. If it +were not the ship that was expecting to pick up the visitors to the +island, she would not be whistling in mid-ocean; and any other vessel +would carry a head and side lights. + +In half an hour more, for the Chateaugay appeared to have stopped her +screw, the boat was within speaking distance, and the hail of Christy +was answered. When she came alongside the steamer, the accommodation +ladder was rigged out, several seamen came on board, and the voyagers +hastened to the deck of the ship. Captain Chantor grasped the hand of +the lieutenant, and then of the detective. + +"I had some doubts whether or not I should ever see you again," said the +commander. "If they had discovered that one of you was a United States +naval officer, they would have mobbed you." + +"As they did the American consul while we were there," added Mr. +Gilfleur. + +"You will tell me of that later," replied the captain, as he directed +the officer of the watch to hoist in the boat and secure it as it had +been before. "Now, come down into my cabin, and tell me your news, if +you have seen something, even if you have not done anything," he added. + +"We were not expected to capture the islands, or make any demonstration; +and we have been in only one fight," replied Christy, to whom the +commander turned as soon as they were seated at the table. + +"Then you have been in a fight?" queried the captain. + +"Only with the fists. We defended the United States consul when he was +hard pressed, and we got him safely into his office by the time the +police came upon the scene," continued Christy. "But we have important +information. Mr. Gilfleur will give it to you in full." + +"Pardon; but I very much prefer that Mr. Passford should be the +historian of the expedition," interposed the detective. + +"But my friend and companion has been the principal actor; and I am sure +I could not have done anything to obtain the information without him," +protested the lieutenant. + +"Then it is all the more proper that you should tell the story, Mr. +Passford, and spare Mr. Gilfleur's modesty," said the captain. + +It was agreed that Christy should be the narrator of the results of the +expedition, and he first described the trip to Hamilton in the boat. +Then he told about the assault on the consul, and in what manner they +had defended him. + +"I ought to inform you at once that the Dornoch was at St. George's +harbor, and that she was to sail yesterday afternoon at five o'clock," +said Christy. "But she is bound to the southward, and her first mission +is to intercept an English or French steamer, and put a Confederate +commissioner, wishing to get to England, on board of her. This agent of +the South happens to be my uncle." + +"The brother of Captain Passford?" + +"Yes, Captain; and he is provided with funds to purchase two +vessels--steamers, to be fitted up as men-of-war." + +"Then if he is your father's brother, you think, perhaps, that we ought +not to molest him," suggested the captain. + +"Why, his graceless nephew even considered a scheme to entice him on +board of our boat, under pretence of finding a passage to England for +him," interposed Mr. Gilfleur, laughing heartily at the suggestion of +the commander. + +"I believe in treating him like a Christian and a gentleman, for he is +both of these; but I do not believe in letting him fill up the +Confederate navy with foreign-built steamers, to ruin the commerce of my +country," replied the young officer with spirit. "My father would no +more believe in it than I do. You should treat him, Captain Chantor, +exactly as though he was nobody's brother or uncle." + +The commander clapped his hands as though he was of the same opinion as +his passenger, and Christy proceeded with his narrative, describing +their visit to the Dornoch and the blockade-runners at St. George's and +Hamilton. The captain was very much amused at his interview in French +with Captain Rombold, and his conversations with officers of other +vessels they had boarded. The detective took his papers from the belt, +and read the names of the steamers, and the ports for which they were +bound. + +"They were a very obliging lot of blockade-runners," said the captain, +laughing heartily at the freedom with which they had spoken. + +"I don't suppose there is an American in the Bermudas at the present +time besides Mr. Alwayn, the consul," added the detective. "The +blockade-runners have the islands all to themselves, or at least the two +towns on them. They have plenty of money, and they spend it without +stint or measure. They make business good, and the inhabitants take +excellent care of them. It is no place for Americans; for everybody's +sympathy is with the South. It seems to me that there is no danger of +talking about their business anywhere in the islands." + +"They were speaking all the time to a Frenchman, who had considerable +difficulty in using the English language," said Christy. "All the talk +with Captain Rombold was in French." + +The narrative was finished, and discussed at great length. The order had +been given to the officer of the deck to go ahead at full speed, making +the course south-east, after the Eleuthera had been hoisted on board and +secured. + +"It looks decidedly like a battle some time to-morrow," said the +commander thoughtfully. + +"No doubt of it," added Christy. + +"If the Dornoch sailed at five o'clock yesterday afternoon, according to +the arrangement, she must be over a hundred miles from the islands at +this moment," continued Captain Chantor thoughtfully, as he consulted +his watch. "We can only conjecture his course, and that is the important +thing for us to know. His first objective point is to intercept a +steamer bound to England or France. If he runs directly to the southward +he may miss the first one." + +"If I were in his place I should run to the eastward, so as not to fall +astern of any possible steamer bound to England," added Christy. + +"That was the thought that first came to my mind," replied the +commander, as he brought out a chart and spread it on the table. "For +that reason I gave out the course to the south-east." + +A careful examination of the chart and an extended calculation followed. +It was agreed between the two naval officers that the Dornoch would go +to the eastward till she fell into the track of vessels bound to the +north-east from Jamaica, Cuban ports, or Mexico, and then put her head +to the south-west. It was four o'clock in the morning, the cruiser had +been out nine hours, and the captain dotted the chart where he believed +she was at that moment. + +"She has made all the easting necessary, and by this time she has laid +her course about south-west," continued the commander. "Captain Rombold +will not hurry his ship, for he has no occasion to do so, and he will +naturally save his coal. If our calculations are correct, we shall see +the Dornoch about noon to-day;" and he pointed to the conjunction of the +two courses as he had drawn them on a diagram. "That is all; and we had +better turn in." + +A sharp lookout was maintained during the hours of the morning watch, +for the conjectures and calculations of the captain might prove to be +all wrong. It was possible that the Dornoch had proceeded directly to +the southward, after making less easting than was anticipated. Nothing +was seen of any steamer. But in the middle of the forenoon watch a long +and rather faint streak of black was discovered in the east. The Dornoch +was not exactly a blockade-runner, and doubtless she used soft coal, +though anthracite was beginning to come into use in other than American +steamers, for its smoke was less likely to betray them. + +"I think we have figured this matter out correctly, Mr. Passford," said +Captain Chantor, as they gazed at the attenuated streak of black. + +"Captain Rombold is a very competent officer, and you and he seem to +have agreed in your calculations," added Christy. + +The steamer to the eastward soon came in sight; she and the Chateaugay +were headed for the same point, and by noon they were in plain sight of +each other. In another hour they were within hailing distance. + +"That is not the Dornoch," said Christy decidedly. + +"No; she is much larger than the Dornoch," added Mr. Gilfleur. + +"I am disappointed," replied the captain. + +The steamer showed the British flag, and went on her way to the +south-west. The Chateaugay continued on her course without change till +eight bells in the afternoon watch, when a heavier volume of smoke was +descried in the north-east. No change was made in the course, and at the +beginning of the second dog watch the craft from which the smoke issued +could be seen with the naked eye. She was headed to the south-west, and +it was evident that her course would carry her to the westward of the +Chateaugay. The darkness soon settled down upon the ocean, and the port +light of the stranger showed itself over the starboard quarter of the +ship, proving that it crossed the wake of the other. + +The action, if the steamer proved to be the Dornoch, must be deferred +till the next morning. It was impossible to determine what she was in +the darkness, and Captain Chantor ordered the course to be changed to +correspond with that of the stranger, which manifested no disposition to +get away from her. All night the two vessels maintained the same +relative position, and both were making about ten knots an hour. +At daylight in the morning the commander and Christy were on the +quarter-deck, anxiously observing the stranger. She was carefully +examined with the glasses. + +"That is the Dornoch!" exclaimed Mr. Gilfleur, after a long inspection +with the glass. + +"No doubt of it," added Christy. + +"You are sure of it?" inquired the commander. + +"We have both been on board of her, and I am perfectly sure of it," +replied Christy, who proceeded to explain the details by which he +identified her; and the captain was entirely satisfied. + +The Dornoch was not more than two miles distant from the Chateaugay, for +in the early morning hours the course had been changed a couple of +points, to bring her nearer for examination. It was now a chase, and the +chief engineer was instructed to give the ship her best speed. It was +soon evident that the Dornoch was hurrying her pace, for her +smoke-stacks were vomiting forth immense inky clouds. + +"I doubt if Captain Rombold cares to fight with my uncle on board," said +Christy. "He can see that the Chateaugay is of heavier metal than the +Dornoch." + +"I should suppose that it would be his first care, as perhaps he regards +it as his first duty, to put his passenger on board of a steamer bound +to England," added the commander. "It appears to be a question of speed +just now." + +The Chateaugay was driven to her utmost, and it was soon clear that she +was too much for her antagonist. At two bells in the forenoon watch she +was about a mile abreast of the chase, which had not yet shown her +colors. The flag of the United States floated at the peak, and the +commander ordered a shot to be fired across the forefoot of the Dornoch. + +This was an order for her to come to; but, instead of doing so, she +flung out the Confederate flag, and fired a shotted gun, the ball from +which whizzed over the heads of the Chateaugay's officers on the +quarter-deck. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +AN EASY VICTORY + + +The shot from the Dornoch, which had evidently been intended to hit +the Chateaugay, sufficiently indicated the purpose of her commander. +On board of either steamer there could be no doubt in regard to the +character of the other. Captain Chantor gave the order to beat to +quarters, and in a few moments every officer and seaman was at his +station. + +Christy Passford went to his stateroom, buckled on his sword belt, and +prepared his revolvers for use; for though he held no position on board +of the Chateaugay, he did not intend to remain idle during the action, +and was ready to serve as a volunteer. Mr. Gilfleur came to the open +door of his room, and seemed to be somewhat astonished to observe his +preparations. + +"You appear to be ready for duty, Mr. Passford, though you are not +attached to this ship," said he. + +"I have no position on board of the Chateaugay; but it would be quite +impossible for me to remain inactive while my country needs my services, +even as a supernumerary," replied Christy. + +"But what am I to do?" asked the detective, with a puzzled expression on +his face. + +"Nothing at all, Mr. Gilfleur; I regard you as a non-combatant, and I +think you had better remain in your stateroom," replied Christy. "But I +must go on deck." + +The Frenchman followed him to the quarter-deck, and seemed to be +inclined to take a hand in the conflict. He desired to be an American +citizen, and possibly he believed he could win his title to this +distinction in a battle better than by any other means. But he had no +naval training, could be of no service at the guns, and was more likely +to be in the way of others than to accomplish anything of value. It was +a needless risk, and the captain suggested that his life was too +valuable to his adopted country for him to expose himself before his +mission had been accomplished. He stepped aside, but he was not willing +to go below. + +"I desire to offer my services as a volunteer, Captain Chanter," said +Christy, saluting the commander. "If you will assign me to any position +on deck, though it be nothing more than a station at one of the guns, +I will endeavor to do my duty." + +"I have no doubt you would do your whole duty, Mr. Passford," replied +the captain, taking him by the hand. "You can be of more service to me +as an adviser than as a hand at a gun. It is plain enough that the +commander of the Dornoch intends to fight as long as there is anything +left of him or his ship. Your report of him gives me that assurance." + +"I suppose by this time, Captain Chantor, you have arranged your plan +for the action," added Christy, looking curiously into the face of the +commander, though he had resolved to give no advice and to make no +suggestions unless directly requested to do so. + +"I suppose the only way is to pound the enemy till he has had enough of +it, using such strategy as the occasion may require. According to your +report we outweigh her in metal, and we have proved that we can outdo +her in speed," replied Captain Chantor. + +"But the Dornoch will have the privilege of pounding the Chateaugay at +the same time," said Christy in a very low tone, so that no one could +hear him. + +"That is very true; of course we must expect to take as good as we +send." + +"But then what use shall you make of your advantage in speed and weight +of metal?" asked the passenger very quietly. "We both believe that there +is humanity in war as well as in peace." + +At that moment a shot passed under the counter of the ship, and buried +itself in the water a cable's length beyond her. + +"That is good practice, Captain Chantor," said Christy. "That shot was +aimed at your rudder; and I have no doubt Captain Rombold is seeking to +cripple you by shooting it away." + +"I believe in humanity in war; but I do not see where it comes in just +now, except in a very general way," replied the captain. + +"If the Dornoch cripples you, and then takes her own time to knock the +Chateaugay to pieces, it will amount to the sacrifice of many lives," +suggested the unattached officer. + +"I should be very glad to have your opinion, Mr. Passford," added the +commander. + +"I certainly do not desire to thrust my opinion upon you, Captain +Chantor; but as you have asked for it, I will express myself freely." + +"Thank you, Mr. Passford." + +"I should adopt the tactics of Commodore Dupont at Port Royal." + +"In other words, you would keep sailing around the Dornoch." + +"Precisely so. I would not give him a shot till I was out of the reach +of his broadside guns." + +"And then pound her with the midship gun. That is my idea exactly. +Quartermaster, strike one bell." + +"One bell, sir." + +"Strike four bells, quartermaster," added the captain. + +"Four bells, sir." + +The Chateaugay was soon going ahead at her best speed, headed directly +away from the Dornoch, and it would have looked to an observer as though +she was running away from her. At any rate, the enemy made this +interpretation of her movement, and immediately gave chase, opening fire +upon the ship with her bow guns. Presently she fired her heavy midship +gun, the shot from which would have made havoc if it had hit the mark. +It was soon evident that the enemy's speed had been overrated, for the +Chateaugay gained rapidly upon her. A shot from her heavy gun knocked +off the upper works on one side of the Eleuthera, but did no other +damage. + +At the end of two hours even the heavy gun of the enemy could not carry +its shot to the chase. It would have been easy enough to run away from +the Dornoch; but this was by no means the intention of Captain Chantor. +He was very cool and self-possessed, and he did not ask his passenger +for any further suggestions. He understood his business thoroughly, +though he had at first been disposed to make shorter work of the action +than he had now adopted. As soon as he had obtained his distance, he +gave the order to bring the ship about. Thus far he had not fired a gun, +and the enemy had apparently had it all his own way. + +The midship was in readiness to initiate the work of the Chateaugay. At +the proper moment, the gunner himself sighted the piece, the lock string +was operated, and the hull of the ship shook under the discharge. +Christy had a spy-glass to his eye, levelled at the Dornoch. She had +just begun to change her course to conform to that of the Chateaugay, +and the observer on the quarter-deck discovered the splinters flying +about her forecastle. The shot appeared to have struck at the heel of +the bowsprit. + +"That was well done, Captain Chantor," said Christy. + +"Excellently well done; but Mr. Turreton will improve when he gets his +range a little better," replied the captain. + +At this moment the report of the Dornoch's great gun was heard again; +but the shot fell considerably short of the Chateaugay. At the same time +she was crowding on all the steam she could make, and Captain Chantor +was manoeuvring his ship so as to maintain his distance. The midship +gun was kept as busy as possible, and Mr. Turreton improved his practice +very materially. Fought in this manner, the action was not very +exciting. The ship followed her circular course, varying it only to +maintain the distance. For several hours the unequal battle continued. +The mainmast of the Dornoch had been shot away, and Christy, with his +glass, saw several of the huge shots crash into her bow. + +It was evident, after pounding her a good part of the day, that the +enemy could not stand much more of this punishment. At eight bells in +the afternoon watch she hauled down her flag. Christy had done nothing +but watch the Dornoch, and report to Captain Chantor. As her flag came +down, he discovered that her condition, after the last shot, was +becoming desperate. + +"She has settled considerably in the water, Captain Chantor, and that is +evidently the reason why she hauled down her flag," said Christy, just +as the ship's company were cheering at the disappearance of the +Confederate flag from the peak of the enemy. + +"I was confident she could not endure much more such hulling as Mr. +Turreton has been bestowing upon her," replied the commander, after he +had given the order to make the course directly towards the Dornoch. + +Christy continued to watch the enemy's vessel. The ship's company were +employed in stretching a sail over the bow, evidently for the purpose of +stopping in whole or partially a dangerous leak in that part of the +vessel; and she seemed to be in immediate peril of going to the bottom. +They were also getting their boats ready, and the situation must have +been critical. In a short time the Chateaugay was within hailing +distance of her prize. + +"Dornoch, ahoy!" shouted Captain Chantor, mounted on the port rail. "Do +you surrender?" + +"I do," replied Captain Rombold; for Christy recognized his voice. "Our +ship is sinking!" + +By this time the havoc made by the big gun of the Chateaugay could be +seen and estimated. The bow of the steamer had been nearly all shot +away. Her bowsprit and her mainmast had gone by the board. Her bulwarks +were stove in, and most of her boats appeared to have been knocked to +pieces. In spite of the efforts to keep her afloat, it was plain that +she was sinking; and Christy could see her settling in the water. The +boats of the victor were promptly lowered, and crews sent away in them +to the relief of the imperilled enemy. There were not more than sixty +men on board of her, including the officers; and they were soon +transferred to the deck of the Chateaugay. + +Christy watched the boats with the most intense interest as they came +alongside the ship; for he knew that his Uncle Homer was on board of the +Dornoch, if the plans arranged at the hotel had been fully carried out. +Captain Rombold came in the last boat, and Colonel Passford was with +him. His nephew did not care to meet him just then. The Confederate +commissioner came on deck; and Christy looked at him with interest from +behind the mizzenmast. His expression testified to his grief and sorrow +at the early failure of his mission. The young lieutenant could pity the +man, while he rejoiced at his ill success in building up the navy of the +Confederacy. + +His attention was drawn off from his uncle by the sudden sinking of the +Dornoch; and the vortex that followed her disappearance extended to the +Chateaugay. Most of the officers and seamen had brought off the whole or +a part of their clothing and other articles. + +When Captain Rombold came on deck, Captain Chantor politely saluted him, +and returned the sword he surrendered to him. Colonel Passford kept +close to him; and Christy thought he looked dazed and vacant. + +"While I must rejoice in my own good fortune, Captain Rombold, I can +sympathize personally with a brave commander who has lost his ship," +said Captain Chantor, taking the hand of the late commander of the +Dornoch. + +"I thank you for your consideration, Captain. I am sorry to have been so +easy a victim to your strategy; and I can reciprocate by congratulating +you on your victory, though your better guns enabled you to knock my +ship to pieces at your leisure," replied Captain Rombold. + +He then introduced Colonel Passford, and both of them were invited to +the captain's cabin. The wounded were turned over to the surgeon, and +the crew were sent below. It was clearly impossible for the ship to +continue on her voyage with such an addition to her numbers; and the +Chateaugay was at once headed back to New York. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE GENTLEMAN WITH A GRIZZLY BEARD + + +The addition of about sixty persons to the full complement of the ship's +company of the Chateaugay made a considerable crowd on board of her; but +accommodations were provided for all, and in three days the ship would +deliver her human freight to the authorities in New York. The Dornoch +had gone to the bottom with all her valuable cargo; but her captors +would be remunerated in prize-money by the government, so that in a +material point of view she was not lost to them, and there was one less +cruiser to prey upon the commerce of the loyal nation. + +Captain Rombold and Colonel Passford remained in the cabin all the rest +of the day; but the next morning both of them went on deck to take the +fresh air. Christy and Mr. Gilfleur were in the waist, and noticed them +as soon as they appeared. They had had some conversation the evening +before in regard to confronting the two most important prisoners, though +without arriving at a conclusion. + +"Of course I must meet my uncle," said Christy. "I am not inclined to +skulk and keep out of sight rather than meet him. Though I have assisted +in doing him and his cause a great deal of mischief, I have done it in +the service of my country; and I have no excuses to offer, and no +apologies to make." + +"I was not thinking of excusing myself, or apologizing for what I have +done," replied the detective quite earnestly. "That is not the point I +desire to make. Since I went to New York I have looked upon your country +as my own; and I would do as much to serve her as I ever would have done +for France." + +"What is your point, Mr. Gilfleur?" asked Christy. + +"I do not object to your fraternizing with your uncle, Mr. Passford, if +you are so disposed," continued the Frenchman; "but the case is quite +different with me. In the hotel at St. George's you were not presented +to Captain Rombold, and you did not allow the Confederate commissioner +to see and identify you. Neither of these gentlemen recognized you; but +the captain of the Dornoch would certainly know me, for I talked with +him a long time." + +"Suppose both of them know us: what difference will that make?" demanded +the young lieutenant. + +"It will explain to them in what manner we obtained our knowledge of the +force and weight of metal of the Dornoch. While we had as good a right +to be on shore in the Bermudas as the Confederates, if we were +recognized our method of operations would be betrayed, and in my opinion +that would be very bad policy, especially as we are to adopt the same +strategy in the Bahamas." + +"I see; and I agree with you, Mr. Gilfleur, that it will be good policy +to keep our own counsel in regard to what we have done in the islands," +added Christy, as he saw Captain Chantor approaching him. + +"Good-morning, Mr. Passford. You and your uncle do not appear to be on +very friendly terms, for I notice that you do not speak to each other." + +"Our relations have always been friendly, even while I was in a rebel +prison; but I have not happened to meet him since he came on board of +the Chateaugay." + +"I will present you to him as his nephew, if you desire me to do so," +continued the commander with a smile. + +"I thank you, Captain: I intended to speak to him when an opportunity +came. But you will pardon me if I make a suggestion without being asked +to do so," said Christy, speaking in a low tone; and he proceeded to +state what had passed between him and Mr. Gilfleur. "I hope you have not +mentioned the fact that Mr. Gilfleur and myself have been in the +Bermudas." + +"I have not, for it came to my mind that it would be very unwise to do +so," replied the captain. "Besides, I was not at all inclined to tell +Captain Rombold that I knew all about his ship, her size, the number of +her ship's company, and the weight of his guns. A man does not feel just +right when he finds he has been made the victim of a bit of strategy; +and I was disposed to spare his feelings. He charges his misfortune +altogether to his antiquated steamer, her failure in her promised speed, +and the neglect of the Confederate commissioners to provide him with a +suitable vessel." + +"Mr. Gilfleur will keep out of the captain's sight during the run to New +York; but I was acting as a servant when we met him, and did not sit at +the same table. I will speak to my uncle now." + +Captain Chantor attended him to the quarter-deck, where the commissioner +was taking his morning walk. They fell in behind him as he was moving +aft, so that he did not observe his nephew. + +"Colonel Passford, I have a young gentleman on board of my ship who +bears your name; allow me to present to you Lieutenant Christopher +Passford, who is simply a passenger on the Chateaugay," said the +captain, directing the attention of the commissioner to the young man. + +"My nephew!" exclaimed Colonel Passford, as he recognized Christy, and +extended his hand to him. + +"I am very glad to see you, Uncle Homer, though I am sorry to meet you +under present circumstances," replied the nephew, taking the offered +hand. "I hope you are very well, sir." + +"Not very well, Christy; and I am not likely to improve in health in a +Yankee prison," answered the colonel with a very sickly smile. + +"Probably my father will be able to obtain a parole for you, and he will +be extremely glad to have you with him at Bonnydale," added Christy. + +"The last time I met you, Christy, you looked upon me as a +non-combatant, released me, and sent me on shore." + +"I am not sure that I did wisely at that time." + +"I was not taken in arms; and I could hardly be regarded as a prisoner +of war." + +"But you were engaged in the Confederate service, Uncle Homer, for you +were shipping cotton for the benefit of the cause." + +"But I was merely a passenger on board of the Dornoch." + +"Yet you are a Confederate commissioner, seeking a passage in some +vessel bound to England, for the purpose of purchasing steamers to serve +in your navy," added Christy with considerable energy, and without +thinking that he was in danger of compromising himself and his companion +in the visit to the Bermudas. + +Colonel Passford stopped short, and gazed into the face of his nephew. +He appeared to be utterly confounded by the statement, though he did not +deny the truth of it. + +"Without admitting the truth of what you say, Christy, I desire to ask +upon what your statement is founded," said the commissioner, after some +hesitation. + +"As you are on one side in this great conflict, and I am on the other, +you must excuse me for not answering your question," replied Christy +very promptly, and declining to commit himself any farther. + +"It is very sad to have our family divided so that we should be enemies, +however friendly we may be personally," added Colonel Passford in a tone +that indicated his profound grief and sorrow. + +"I know how useless it is for us to discuss the question, Uncle Homer, +for I am sure you are as honest in your views as my father is in his." + +"I have no desire to argue the question; but I believe the North will +come to its senses in good time--when the grass grows in the streets of +New York, if not before." + +"You will have an opportunity to see for yourself, Uncle Homer, that New +York was never so busy, never so prosperous, as at the present time; and +the same may be truthfully said of all the cities of the North," replied +Christy with spirit. + +"Sail, ho!" shouted the lookout forward. + +An hour later the sail was reported to be a steamer, bound to the +westward, and her streak of black smoke indicated that she was English. +She was low in the water, had two smoke-stacks, and presented a very +rakish appearance. She was a vessel of not more than eight hundred tons, +and her build was quite peculiar. It was evident that she was a very +fast steamer. But she seemed to have no suspicions in regard to the +character of the Chateaugay. + +Christy left his uncle, and went to the ward room, where he found Mr. +Gilfleur in his stateroom. He desired the advice of the Frenchman before +he said anything to the captain in regard to the approaching sail. +Together they had looked over all the steamers in the harbor of St. +George's, and those on board of them were not disposed to conceal the +fact that they were to run the blockade as soon as they could get over +to the coast of the United States. + +"What have you been doing to yourself, Mr. Gilfleur?" asked Christy, as +soon as he discovered the detective, for he had completely changed his +appearance, and looked like an elderly gentleman of fifty, with a full +beard, grizzled with the snows of many winters. + +"I don't care to be shut up in this stateroom during the voyage to New +York," replied the Frenchman with a pleasant laugh. "This is one of my +useful costumes, and I don't believe Captain Rombold will recognize me +now." + +"I am very sure he will not," added Christy, looking him over, and +wondering at the skill which could so completely change his appearance. + +"I want you to see the steamer which is approaching, bound to the +westward. If I am not mistaken, we have seen her before." + +"I am all ready, and I will go on deck with you; but you must contrive +to let the captain know who I am, or he will order me below, or have too +much to say about me," replied the detective, as he followed Christy to +the quarter-deck. + +Colonel Passford and Captain Rombold had seated themselves abaft the +mizzenmast, and seemed to be interested in the reports respecting the +approaching steamer. Christy called Captain Chantor to the rail, and +explained what the commander had already scented as a mystery in regard +to the gentleman with the grizzled beard. He laughed heartily as he +gazed at the apparent stranger, and declared that he thought he might be +another Confederate commissioner, for he looked respectable and +dignified enough to be one. + +"I think that steamer is the Cadet, Captain Chantor; and I have brought +Mr. Gilfleur on deck to take a look at her." + +The Frenchman had no doubt the steamer was the Cadet, for she was +peculiar enough in her build to be identified among a thousand vessels +of her class. For some time they discussed the character of the vessel, +and minutely examined her build and rig. Neither of them had any doubt +as to her identity, and the passenger reported the result of the +conference to the commander, who immediately ordered the American flag +to be displayed at the peak; and gave the command to beat to quarters. + +"We are over six hundred miles from any Confederate port, Mr. Passford," +said the captain. "I should not like to have one of my captures +surrendered to her owners." + +"Of course you have your law books in your cabin, Captain; but I have +studied them so much that I can quote literally from one bearing on this +case," continued Christy. "'The sailing for a blockaded port, knowing it +to be blockaded, is, it seems, such an act as may charge the party with +a breach of the blockade.' Besides the evidence of her course, and that +of the nature of her cargo, there are two witnesses to the declaration +of the captain that he was intending to run into Wilmington." + +"She has come about, and is running away from you, Captain!" exclaimed +the passenger, who was the first on the quarter-deck to notice this +change. + +The commander ordered a gun to be fired across her bow, for the Cadet +was hardly more than a quarter of a mile from the Chateaugay. No notice +was taken of the shot, and a moment later the midship gun sent a shot +which carried away her pilot-house and disabled the wheel. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +AMONG THE BAHAMAS + + +"I am sorry to disturb you, gentlemen, but I feel obliged to ask you to +retire to my cabin until this affair is settled," said Captain Chantor, +addressing Colonel Passford and Captain Rombold. + +"I beg your pardon, Captain Chantor, but do you consider that you have a +right to capture that steamer?" asked the late commander of the Dornoch, +who seemed to be very much disturbed at the proceedings of his captor. + +"Undoubtedly; and I have no doubt I shall be able to procure her +condemnation on the ground that she is loaded for a Confederate port, +no other than Wilmington, and has the 'guilty intention' to run the +blockade." + +"I don't see where you could have obtained the information that enables +you to make sure of her condemnation at the very first sight of her," +replied the Confederate officer. + +"Well, Captain Rombold, if I succeed in proving my position before the +court, out of the mouth of Captain Vickers, her commander, would that +satisfy you?" asked the commander with a cheerful smile. "But you must +excuse me from discussing the matter to any greater length, for I have a +duty to perform at the present time." + +The Chateaugay was going ahead at full speed when the two gentlemen +retired from the quarter-deck. She stopped her screw within hail of the +Cadet. Her crew were clearing away the wreck of the pilot-house; but the +destruction of her steering gear forward did not permit her to keep +under way, though hands were at work on the quarter-deck putting her +extra wheel in order for use. Of course it was plain enough to the +captain of the Cadet that the Chateaugay, after the mischief she had +done with a single shot, could knock the steamer all to pieces in a few +minutes. + +The first cutter, in charge of Mr. Birdwing, the executive officer, was +sent on board of the disabled steamer, and Christy was invited to take a +place in the boat. Captain Vickers was a broken-hearted man when he +realized that his vessel was actually captured by a United States +man-of-war. + +"Do you surrender, Captain Vickers?" said Mr. Birdwing, as he saluted +the disconsolate commander. + +"How did you know my name?" demanded he gruffly. + +"That is of no consequence, Captain Vickers. You will oblige me by +answering my question. Do you surrender?" continued the lieutenant. + +"I don't know that I can help myself, for this steamer is not armed, and +I can make no resistance," replied the captain. "I had no idea that ship +was a Yankee gunboat." + +"But we had an idea that this was a blockade-runner," added Mr. +Birdwing, as he proceeded to take formal possession of the vessel, and +called for her papers. + +An examination was made into the character of the cargo, which consisted +largely of arms and ammunition. The extra wheel was soon in working +order. Before noon a prize crew was put on board, and both vessels were +headed for New York. In three days more the Chateaugay was at anchor off +the Navy Yard, with the Cadet near her. The return of the ship caused a +great deal of surprise, and one of the first persons to come on board of +her was Captain Passford. He gave his son his usual warm welcome. + +Christy gave his father the narrative of the brief voyage, and astounded +him with the information that his brother was on board. The two brothers +had not met since they parted at the plantation near Mobile, and the +meeting was as tender as it was sad; but both of them refrained from +saying anything unpleasant in regard to the war. The prisoners were +taken from the Chateaugay by a tender, and conveyed to Fort Lafayette; +but Captain Passford soon obtained a parole for his brother, which he +consented to give for a limited period. + +"I suppose the Chateaugay will sail again by to-morrow, Christy; but you +will have time to go home and see your mother and sister. I am so busy +that I cannot go, and you must take Uncle Homer with you," said his +father. + +They landed on the New York side, and took a carriage for the station. +Perhaps the streets of the great city were never more crowded with all +kinds of vehicles, and especially with wagons loaded with merchandise of +all kinds. They passed up Broadway, and Colonel Passford was silent as +he witnessed the marvellous activity of the city in the midst of a great +war. + +"I think you will not be able to find any grass growing in the streets +of New York, Uncle Homer," said Christy, as they passed the Park, where +the crowd seemed to be greater than elsewhere. + +"There is certainly no grass here, and I am surprised to see that the +city is as busy as ever," replied the commissioner in a subdued tone. +"We have been told at the South that business was paralyzed in the +cities of the North, except what little was created by the war." + +"The war makes a vast amount of business, Uncle Homer," added Christy. + +But the gentleman from the South was not disposed to talk, and he soon +relapsed into silence. Mrs. Passford and Florry were very much +astonished to see Christy again so soon, and even more so to meet Uncle +Homer; but his welcome was cordial, and nothing was said about the +exciting topic of the day. The visitor was treated like a friend, and +not an enemy, and everything was done to make him forget that he was not +in his own home. + +Early the next morning the young lieutenant hastened to report on board +of the Chateaugay, where Mr. Gilfleur had remained, though he had +divested himself of his disguise as soon as Captain Rombold was conveyed +to other quarters. They were kept very busy that day giving their +depositions in regard to the character of the Cadet, and of the +admissions of Captain Vickers in regard to his intention to run the +blockade. The ship had been coaled, and the next day she sailed again. +She gave the Bermudas a wide berth, for she had another mission now, +though she could probably have picked up one or two more of the +blockade-runners Christy and his companion had seen in the harbor of St. +George's. + +Four days from Sandy Hook, very early in the morning, Abaco light was +seen; and about fifty miles south of it was Nassau, on the island of New +Providence, a favorite resort for blockade-runners at that time. The +mission of the detective was at this port. Christy had again volunteered +to be his companion, and they desired to get into the place as they had +done in the Bermudas, without attracting the attention of any one, and +especially not of those engaged in loading or fitting out vessels for +the ports of the South. + +As soon as the light was discovered, Captain Chantor ordered the course +of the ship to be changed to east; and till eight bells in the afternoon +watch she continued to steam away from the Great Abaco Island. It was +his intention to avoid being seen, though there was a chance to fall in +with a blockade-runner. Standing to the south-west the last part of the +day, the light at the Hole in the Wall, the southern point of Great +Abaco Island, was made out in the evening. South-east of this point is +the northern end of Eleuthera Island, where the Egg Island light could +be seen. This was the locality where Mr. Gilfleur had decided to begin +upon his mission. + +His boat had been repaired by the carpenter after the shot from the +Dornoch struck it, and it was now in as good condition as it had ever +been. At eleven o'clock in the evening the Eleuthera was lowered into +the water, with a supply of provisions and water, and such clothing and +other articles as might be needed, on board. The weather was as +favorable as it could be, with a good breeze from the north-west. + +"Now, Mr. Gilfleur, I hope you will bring back as important information +as you did from the Bermudas," said the captain, when the adventurers +were ready to go on board of the boat. + +"I hope so myself; but I don't know," replied the Frenchman. "I expect +to find the Ovidio at Nassau; and, like the Dornoch, she is intended for +a man-of-war. Mr. Passford and I will do the best we can." + +"How long do you mean to be absent on this business?" + +"About three days, as well as I can judge, though I have not had a +chance to look over the ground. I have no doubt there are +blockade-runners there, and we shall ascertain what we can in regard to +them." + +"I shall expect to pick you up to the eastward of the Hole in the Wall, +and on the fourth night from the present time," added the captain. "You +know that the navigation of this region is very dangerous." + +"I am aware of it; but I have been here before, and I provided myself +with a good chart in New York. I have studied it very attentively, and I +have the feeling that I can make my way without any difficulty," replied +Mr. Gilfleur confidently. + +Christy had already taken his place in the boat, and the detective soon +followed him. It seemed something like an old story, after his +experience in the Bermudas. The Eleuthera was cast off, the captain +wished them a safe and prosperous voyage to their destination. The +mainsail had been set, and the breeze soon wafted the boat away from the +ship. The Chateaugay started her screw, and headed off to the eastward +again, on the lookout for blockade-runners. + +"Here is a light ahead," said Christy, after his companion had set the +jib, and taken the helm. + +"That is Egg Island light, about forty miles from Nassau. Our course is +south-west, which gives us a fair wind," replied the skipper. "Now, Mr. +Passford, you can do as you did on our former voyage in the Eleuthera: +turn in and sleep till morning." + +"That would not be fair. I will take my trick at the helm, as it seems +to be plain sailing, and you can have your nap first," suggested +Christy. + +"No; I slept all the afternoon in anticipation of to-night, and I could +not sleep if I tried," the skipper insisted. "By the way, Mr. Passford, +I am somewhat afraid that the name of our boat may get us into trouble." + +"Why so?" asked the other curiously. + +"The island on our port hand is Eleuthera, about forty miles long. Of +course it is well known at Nassau, and it may cause people to ask us +some hard questions. We may even stumble upon the boat's former owner, +who would claim her." + +"We could buy her, or another like her, in that case," suggested +Christy. "The name is painted on the stern board, and we might remove +it, if necessary." + +Mr. Gilfleur said so much about it that Christy finally turned in, and +was soon fast asleep. He did not wake till daylight in the morning. He +found that the boat was headed towards an island, while in the distance +he saw the light on Hog Island, with a portion of the town of Nassau, +and a fort. The skipper had his chart spread out on the seat at his +side, and he was watching it very closely. + +"Good-morning, Mr. Gilfleur. I suppose that must be Nassau ahead of us." + +"Yes; that is Nassau. I expected to get here earlier in the morning than +this, and I am not a little afraid to sail into the harbor at seven +o'clock in the morning, as it will be before we can get there. The wind +died out in the middle of the night, though I got it again very early +this morning. I must get to the town in some other way. The land on the +port is Rose Island, and Douglas Channel is just this side of it. I am +going through that, and shall make my way to the back side of the +island, where we can conceal the boat." + +"I should say that would be a good idea," added Christy, as he took in +the plan. "The water is as clear as crystal here, and you can see the +bottom as plainly as though nothing came between your eye and the rock." + +The skipper stationed his companion on the bow of the boat to watch for +rocks; but none interfered with the progress of the Eleuthera. She +sailed to the back side of the island of New Providence, where they +found a secluded nook, in which they moored the craft. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE LANDING AT NEW PROVIDENCE + + +The water was so clear that the bottom could be seen at all times, the +white coral rock greatly assisting the transparency. From Douglas +Channel, through which the boat had passed, the chart indicated that it +was twenty miles to the point where the skipper desired to land, and it +was nearly eleven o'clock when the Eleuthera ran into the little bay, +extending over a mile into the island, and nearly landlocked. The shore +was covered with tropical vegetation, including cocoa-nut palms, loaded +with fruit, with palmettoes, wild palms, and many plants of which +Christy did not even know the names. + +"We could not have anything better than this," said Mr. Gilfleur, as he +ran the boat into a tangle of mangroves and other plants. + +"This bay appears to be about five miles from the town of Nassau, and I +should say that no person is likely to see the boat if it should stay +here for a month," replied Christy, as he measured the distance across +the island with the scale his companion had prepared. + +"It will not take us long to walk that distance. There are all sorts of +people in Nassau at the present time, as there were in St. George's and +Hamilton; and we shall pass without exciting any particular attention." + +"I think we had better look out for a cleaner place to land than this, +for the mud seems to be about knee-deep," suggested Christy, as he +tested the consistency of the shore with an oar. + +"But there is hard ground within four feet of the water. I have a board +in the bottom of the boat with which we can bridge the mud," replied the +skipper. "But I think we had better have our lunch before we walk five +miles." + +"I am in condition to lunch," added Christy. + +The sails had been furled, and everything put in order on board of the +boat. The basket containing the provisions was brought out of the cuddy, +and seated in the stern sheets they did ample justice to the meal. The +detective had put on his suit of blue, and his companion dressed himself +as he had done in Bermuda, though he was not to act the part of a +servant on this occasion. + +"It will not do to acknowledge that we are Americans, and it would not +be prudent to claim that we are Englishmen," said Mr. Gilfleur. + +"Why not? We speak English; and you can pronounce it as well as I can," +argued Christy. + +"Because we may be catechised; though I know London almost as well as I +do Paris, I am afraid you might be caught." + +"I have been in London twice, though I don't know enough about it to +answer all the questions that may be put to me," added Christy. + +"In that case we had better be Frenchmen, as we were before. We are not +likely to find many people here who speak French, for the visiting +portion of the population must be people who are engaged in +blockade-running. Probably there are some Southern magnates here, +attending to the business of the Confederacy." + +"They were here two years ago, when I was in Nassau for a few hours, +on the lookout for steamers for their navy. I remember Colonel Richard +Pierson, who was extremely anxious to purchase the Bellevite, which +anchored outside the light, for there was not water enough to allow her +to cross the bar," said Christy, recalling some of the events of his +first voyage in the steamer his father had presented to the government. + +"Perhaps he is still in Nassau," suggested Mr. Gilfleur, with a shade of +anxiety on his face. + +"He would not recognize me now, for I have grown a good deal, and I +hardly saw him. He employed his son, a young fellow of eighteen, to act +for him in obtaining information in regard to the Bellevite. The son's +name was Percy Pierson, and when he tried to pump me in regard to the +Bellevite, I chaffed him till he lost all patience. Then he proposed to +put the owner of our steamer, for she had not then been transferred to +the government, in the way of making a fortune. I told him that the +owner was determined to get rid of the ship, though I only meant to say +that he intended to pass her over to the government. At any rate, Percy +believed she was for sale, and he smuggled himself on board of her. He +was not discovered till we were under way; and we had to take him with +us." + +"What became of this Percy Pierson?" asked the detective. + +"We brought him off with us when we fought our way out of Mobile Bay. +Off Carisfort Reef light we put him on board of a schooner belonging to +Nassau; and that was the last I know about him." + +"But I hope he is not in Nassau now," said Mr. Gilfleur. + +"I don't believe he is, for his brother was doing his best to get him +into the Confederate army." + +"You must keep your eyes wide open for this fellow, Mr. Passford," added +the skipper earnestly. "If he should recognize you, our enterprise would +be ruined." + +"I don't believe there is the least danger of that, for I am a +different-looking fellow from what I was two years ago. But I will look +out sharply for him, and for his father." + +"We had better speak nothing but French between ourselves, and break up +our English when we are obliged to use it," Mr. Gilfleur concluded, as +he returned the basket of provisions to the cuddy, and locked the door. + +The board was put down on the mud, and they walked ashore, dry-shod. The +temporary bridge was taken up, and concealed in a mass of mangroves. The +Eleuthera was so well covered up with trees and bushes that she was not +likely to be discovered, unless some wanderer penetrated the thicket +that surrounded her. A gentle elevation was directly before them, so +that they could not see the town. + +"We must not walk ten miles in making five," said the detective, as he +produced a pocket compass. "Our course, as I took it from the chart, is +due north, though it may bring us in at the western end of the town." + +"Then we can bear a little to the east, though if we get to the town it +will not make much difference where we strike it," added Christy. + +The land showed the remains of plantations which had flourished there in +the palmy days of the island. The ruins of several mansions and many +small huts were seen. Cocoa-nut palms and orange-trees were abundant. +After they had walked about a mile, they came upon what had been a road +in former days, and was evidently used to some extent still. Taking this +road, they followed it till they were satisfied that it would take them +to Nassau. + +The appearance of the island soon began to improve. The trees showed +that some care had been bestowed upon them, and an occasional mansion +was noticed. Then the street began to be flanked with small houses, +hardly better than huts, which were inhabited by the blacks. All the +people they met were negroes, and they were as polite as though they had +been brought up in Paris, for every one of the men either touched his +hat or took it off to the strangers. The women bowed also; and both of +the travellers returned the salutes in every instance. + +As they proceeded, the houses became better, and many of them were used +in part as shops, in which a variety of articles, including beer, was +sold. Christy had seen the negroes of the Southern States, and he +thought the Nassau colored people presented a much better appearance. +At one of these little shops a carriage of the victoria pattern was +standing. Doubtless the driver had gone in to refresh himself after a +long course, for the vehicle was headed towards the town. + +"I think we had better ride the rest of the way, if this carriage is not +engaged," said M. Rubempré, for they had agreed to use the names they +had adopted in the Bermudas. "What do you say, Christophe?" + +"I like the idea; I am beginning to be a little tired, for I have not +walked much lately," replied Christy. + +At this moment the driver, a negro wearing a straw hat with a very broad +brim, came out of the shop, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his +coat. He bowed with even more deference than the generality of the +people. The strangers were not elegantly or genteelly dressed, but they +wore good clothes, and would have passed for masters of vessels, so far +as their costumes were concerned. + +"Is this your carriage?" demanded M. Rubempré. + +"Yes, sir," replied the man in good English. + +"How far you must go to get into Nassau?" inquired the detective, +mangling his English enough to suit the occasion. + +"Two miles, sir." + +"How much you make pay to go to Nassau in ze carriage?" + +"Fifty cents." + +"Feefty cents; how much money was zat?" + +"Arn't you Americans?" + +"_Non!_" replied M. Rubempré with energy. "We have come from ze France; +but I was been in London, and I comprehend ze money of Eengland." + +"Two shillings then," replied the driver, laughing. + +"We go wiz you to ze Nassau," added the Frenchman, seating himself in +the carriage, his companion taking a place at his side. + +"Where do you want to go, sir?" asked the negro, as he closed the door +of the victoria. + +"We must go to Nassau," replied the detective, mangling his +pronunciation even more than his grammar. + +"Yes, I know; but where in Nassau do you wish to go? Shall I drive you +to a hotel? The Royal Victoria is the best in the place." + +"You shall take us to zat hotel." + +For the sake of appearances, rather than for any other reason, each of +the visitors to Nassau had brought with him a small hand-bag, containing +such articles as might be useful to them. Having these evidences that +they were travellers, it would be prudent to go to a hotel, though the +want of more luggage had made the landlord in Hamilton suspicious of +their ability to pay their bills. + +Christy found enough to do during the ride to observe the strange sights +presented to his gaze, even in the outskirts of the town. The people +were full of interest to him, and he wondered that his father had never +made a winter trip in the West Indies in former years, instead of +confining his visits to the more northern islands of the ocean. + +The carriage arrived at the Royal Victoria Hotel, located on a ridge +which has been dignified as a hill, a short distance in the rear of the +business portion of the town. M. Rubempré produced his purse, which was +well stuffed with sovereigns, more for the enlightenment of the clerk +who came out when the vehicle stopped, than for the information of the +driver, to whom he paid four florins, which was just double his fare. + +"Do you speak French?" asked the guest in that language. + +"No, sir; not a word of it," though he understood the question. + +"We must have two chambers for one, two, t'ree day." + +"All right; we have two that were vacated this morning," replied the +clerk, as he led the way to the office, where the Frenchman registered +his name, and his residence as in Paris. + +Christy wrote the name of Christophe Poireau, also from Paris. Then they +chatted together in French for a moment, in order to impress the clerk +and others who were standing near with the fact that they spoke the +polite language. They were shown to two small chambers, well up in the +air, for the hotel seemed to be as full as the clerk had suggested that +it was. The blockade business made the town and the hotel very lively. + +The newly arrived guests did not waste any time in their rooms, but +entered at once upon the work of their mission. On the piazza they +halted to size up the other visitors at the hotel. From this high point +of view they could see the harbor, crowded with vessels. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AN AFFRAY IN NASSAU + + +Christy's first care was to look about among the guests of the hotel +gathered on the piazza, in order to ascertain if there was any person +there whom he had ever met before. Very few of them were what could be +classed as genteel people, and some of them were such people as one +would not expect to see at a first-class hotel. They were dressed in +seaman's garments for the most part, though not as common sailors; and +doubtless many of them were commanders or officers of the vessels in the +harbor. + +Putting on an indifferent air he walked about the veranda, observing +every person he encountered, as well as those who were seated in groups, +engaged in rather noisy conversation, intermixed with a great deal of +profanity. He breathed easier when he had made the circuit of the +piazzas on the first floor, though there were two others on the stories +above it, for he found no one he could identify as a person he had seen +before. + +There were quite a number of steamers in the harbor, or in that part of +it which lies inside of the bar and in front of the town, with at least +three times as many sailing craft. No doubt many of the latter, as well +as the former, had brought cargoes of cotton from Confederate ports; for +though the blockade was regarded as effective, and treated as such by +foreign nations, many small vessels contrived to escape from obscure +harbors on the Southern coast. Christy had been concerned in the capture +of a considerable number of such. On the wharves were stacks of cotton +which had been landed from these vessels, and several of them were +engaged in transferring it to small steamers, for large ones were unable +to cross the bar. But the visitors had no business with the vessels thus +engaged, for they had completed their voyages, and were exempt from +capture. + +"I have taken not a few prisoners in or off Southern ports, and it would +not greatly surprise me if I should meet some one I had met before," +said Christy, in French, as he resumed his seat by the side of the +detective. + +"Then I fear that your coming with me was a mistake," replied M. +Rubempré. "You must be extremely cautious, not only for your own +protection, but because you may compromise me, and cause me to fail in +the accomplishment of my mission here." + +"I should be sorry to interfere with your work, and I think we had +better separate," replied Christy, very much disturbed at the suggestion +of his friend. "If I can do no good, I certainly do not wish to do any +harm." + +"No, my friend; I cannot desert you, especially if you are in peril," +protested the detective. "How could I ever look your father in the face +if I permitted you to get into trouble here?" + +"I don't think I shall get into trouble, even if I am recognized by some +person. This is not Confederate territory, though it looks very much +like it; for all the people around us are talking secession, and the +inhabitants sympathize with the South to the fullest extent. I could not +be captured and sent to a Confederate State, or be subjected to any +violence, for the authorities would not permit anything of the kind," +Christy argued with energy. + +"I am not so sure of that." + +"I have no doubt in regard to my own safety; but if you appear to be +connected with me in any manner, and I were identified as a United +States naval officer, of course it would ruin your enterprise. For this +reason I insist that we separate, and I will take a room at another +hotel." + +Christy was determined, and in the end the detective had to yield in +substance to him, though it was agreed, for reasons that seemed to be +good, that M. Rubempré should change his hotel. They arranged to meet +after dark in the grounds in the rear of the Royal Victoria, to consult +in regard to the future. + +"In the mean time I will do what I can to obtain information in regard +to steamers bound to Confederate ports. I will still claim to be a +Frenchman, and talk pigeon English," continued Christy. + +"If any misfortune happens to you, Christophe, I shall blame myself for +it," added the Frenchman. + +"You cannot fairly do that, for it will not be through any fault of +yours. If I fail to meet you as agreed, you can look for me. If you +cannot find me, you must leave at the time agreed upon with Captain +Chantor, whether I go with you or not. But I have no idea that anything +will happen to prevent me from returning to the ship with you." + +"I could not leave without you," said the detective moodily. + +"If you do not, you will be likely to get the Chateaugay into trouble; +for if we did not return to her, she would probably come into this port +after us." + +"I will consider the matter before I assent to it," returned M. +Rubempré, rising from his chair. + +Christy was fully resolved not to endanger the mission of his companion, +and he left the hotel. He walked slowly down Parliament to Bay Street, +which is the principal business avenue of the town, running parallel to +the shore. It was lined with shops, saloons, and small hotels on one +side, and with the market and wharves on the other. He desired to see +what he could of the place, and pick up all the information that would +be serviceable to an officer of the navy. + + [Illustration: + "His blood was boiling with indignation at the unprovoked assault." + Page 207.] + +As he passed a drinking-saloon a torrent of loud talk, spiced with +oaths, flowed out from the place. Before he had fairly passed the door a +violent hand was laid upon him, seizing him by the collar with no gentle +grasp. The ruffian had fallen upon him from the rear, and he could not +see who it was that assaulted him. The man attempted to drag him into +the saloon; but he was evidently considerably affected by his potations +in the place, and his legs were somewhat tangled up by the condition of +his brain. + +Christy attempted, by a vigorous movement, to shake off his assailant; +but the fellow held on, and he found it impossible to detach his grasp. +His blood was boiling with indignation at the unprovoked assault, and +his two fists were clinched so tight that iron could hardly have been +harder and tougher. He levelled a blow at the head of the ruffian, who +still kept in his rear, and delivered it with all the power of his +strong arm. + +The assailant reeled, and released his hold, for his head must have +whirled around like a top under the crashing blow it had sustained. +Christy turned so that he could see the ruffian. He was a stalwart +fellow, at least fifty pounds heavier than the young lieutenant. His +nose was terribly disfigured, not by the blow of the young officer, for, +twisted as it was, there was no sign of a fresh wound upon it. One +glance was enough to satisfy Christy as to the identity of the ruffian. + +It was Captain Flanger, whose steamer Christy had captured, with a boat +expedition sent out from the Bronx, in St. Andrew's Bay. He was a +prisoner, but had escaped, and invaded the cabin of the Bronx, where he +attempted to make Christy sign an order which would have resulted in +delivering the steamer to the enemy. The heroic young commander, +preferring death to dishonor, had refused to sign the order. The affair +had culminated in a sort of duel in the cabin, in which Christy, aided +by his faithful steward, had hit Flanger in the nose with his revolver. + +The ruffian had sworn to be revenged at the time, and he seemed to have +chosen the present occasion to wreak his vengeance upon the destroyer of +his nasal member. The blow his victim had struck was a set-back to him; +but he presently recovered the balance of his head which the shock had +upset. It was plain enough that he had not given up the battle, for he +had drawn back with the evident intention of using his clinched fists +upon his adversary. + +"Hit him again, Flanger!" shouted one of the brutal occupants of the +saloon, who now filled the doorway. + +The affair was rapidly becoming serious, and Christy was debating with +himself whether or not he should draw a revolver he carried in his +pocket; but he was cool enough to realize that he was on neutral ground, +and that it would be very imprudent to be the first to resort to deadly +weapons. He could not run away, for his self-respect would not permit +him to do so. He braced himself up to meet the onslaught of the ruffian. + +Flanger charged upon him, and attempted to plant a blow with his fist in +the face of his intended victim; but the young officer parried it, and +was about to follow up the movement with a blow, when Monsieur Rubempré +rushed in between them, struck the assailant such a blow that he went +over backwards. In fact, the man was too much intoxicated to stand +without considerable difficulty. + +At this moment a couple of colored policemen rushed in between the +combatants. The tipplers in the saloon picked up their comrade, and +stood him on his feet. The Nassau officers doubtless had a great deal of +this sort of quarrelling, for drinking strong liquors was the principal +occupation of the officers and crews of the blockade-runners while in +port and on shore. + +"What is all this about? Who began this quarrel?" demanded one of them, +as he looked from one party to the other in the battle. + +"I was passing the door of this saloon, and did not even look into it, +when that man rushed upon me, and seized me by the collar," replied +Christy. "I tried to shake him off, but I could not, and then I struck +him in the side of the head." + +"Look here, you nigger!" shouted Captain Flanger. "It's none of your +business who began it." + +"I shall arrest you for a breach of the peace," said the policeman. + +"I don't reckon you will. Do you see my nose? Look at it! Don't you see +that it is knocked into a cocked hat?" said Flanger fiercely. + +"I see it is; but what has that to do with this matter?" asked the negro +officer. + +"That man shot my nose off!" roared Flanger. "I am going to kill him for +it, if it costs me my head!" + +"You shall not kill him here," protested the guardian of the peace. "You +have been drinking too much, sir, and you must go with me and get +sobered off." + +The two policemen walked up to him with the intention of arresting him; +but he showed fight. He was too tipsy to make an effectual resistance. +His companions in the saloon huddled around him, and endeavored to +compel the policemen to let go their hold of him; but they held on to +their prisoner till two more officers came, and Flanger was dragged out +into the street, and then marched to the jail. + +Christy was very much surprised that nothing was said to him by the +officers about the affair in which he had been one of the principal +actors. He had expected to be summoned as a witness against the prisoner +they had taken, but not a word was said to him. He looked about to see +if the detective was in sight, but he had disappeared. + +"That was an ugly-looking man," said a gentleman in the street, after +the carousers had returned to the saloon. "I hope he has not injured +you." + +"Not at all, sir; he was too drunk to do all he could have done if he +had been in full possession of his faculties, for he is a much heavier +person than I am," replied Christy. "Why was I not summoned as a witness +at his examination?" + +"Oh, bless you, sir! they will not examine or try him; they will sober +him off, and then discharge him. He is the captain of that little +steamer near the public wharf. She is called the Snapper, and will sail +for the States on the high tide at five o'clock." + +"Do you know to what port she is bound?" asked Christy. + +"Mobile." + +The young officer walked down to the public wharf to see the Snapper. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE + + +The Snapper was quite a small craft, and looked like an old vessel; for +she was a side-wheeler, though she had evidently been built for a +sea-going craft. Whether Flanger had escaped from the Bellevite after +being transferred to her from the Bronx, or had been regularly exchanged +as a prisoner of war, Christy had no means of knowing. It made little +difference; he was in Nassau, and he was thirsting for revenge against +him. + +The young officer did not feel that the brutal wretch had any reasonable +cause to complain of him, and especially no right to revenge himself for +an injury received while his assailant was the aggressor. He had done +his duty to his country. He had been compelled to act promptly; and he +had not aimed his revolver particularly at the nose of his dangerous +assailant. Flanger was engaged in a foolhardy enterprise; and the +mutilation of his nasal member had resulted very naturally from his +folly. + +His enemy was probably a good sailor, and he was a bold ruffian. Christy +had captured the steamer loaded with cotton, in which he was all ready +to sail from St. Andrew's Bay; and doubtless this was his first reason +for hating the young officer. But no soldier or sailor of character +would ever think of such a thing as revenging himself for an injury +received in the strife, especially if it was fairly inflicted. The +business of war is to kill, wound, and capture, as well as for each side +to injure the other in person and property to the extent of its ability. + +"Want a boat, sir?" asked a negro, who saw that Christy was gazing at +the Snapper, even while he was thinking about his quarrel with Captain +Flanger. + +"Where is your boat?" asked the officer. + +"Right here, sir," replied the boatman, pointing to the steps at the +landing-place. "The best sailboat in the harbor, sir." + +"I want to sail about this bay for a couple of hours," added Christy, +as he stopped on the upper step to examine the craft. + +It was built exactly like the Eleuthera, though not quite so large. + +"I saw you looking at the steamer there," said the boatman, pointing to +the vessel in which Christy was interested. "Do you wish to go on board +of her, sir?" + +"No; I desire only to sail about the harbor, and perhaps go outside the +bar. Can you cross it in this boat?" + +"Yes, sir; no trouble at all about crossing it in the Dinah. Take you +over to Eleuthera, if you like." + +"No; I only want to sail about the harbor, and look at the vessels in +port," replied Christy. + +While he was looking at the boat, he became conscious that a young man, +who was standing on the capsill of the wharf, was looking at him very +earnestly. He only glanced at him, but did not recognize him. He had +taken the first step in the descent of the stairs, when this person put +his hand upon his shoulder to attract his attention. Christy looked at +him, and was sure that he had seen him before, though he failed to +identify him. + +"How are you, Christy?" said the stranger. "Don't you know me?" + +"Your face has a familiar look to me, but I am unable to make you out at +first sight," replied the young officer, more puzzled as he examined the +features of the young man, who appeared to be about twenty years old. + +"You and I both have grown a great deal in the last two years, since we +first met on this very wharf; but I am Percy Pierson, and you and I were +fellow-voyagers in the Bellevite." + +"I think you have changed in that time more than I have, or I should +have recognized you," answered Christy very coldly, for he was not at +all pleased to be identified by any person. + +"You are a good deal larger than when I saw you last time, but you look +just the same. I am glad to see you, Christy, for you and I ran a big +rig over in Mobile Bay," continued Percy, as he extended his hand to the +other. + +Christy realized that it would be useless as well as foolish to deny his +identity to one who knew him so well. A moment's reflection assured him +that he must make the best of the circumstances; but he wished with all +his might that he had not come to Nassau. He was particularly glad that +he had insisted upon separating from Mr. Gilfleur, for the present +encounter would have ruined his mission. The young man's father was +Colonel Richard Pierson, a neighbor of Homer Passford; and he was a +Confederate commissioner for the purchase of vessels for the rebel navy, +for running the blockade. Doubtless the son was his father's assistant, +as he had been at the time of Christy's first visit. + +Percy was not a person of very heavy brain calibre, as his companion had +learned from an association of several weeks with him. Christy believed +that he might obtain some useful information from him; and he decided, +since it was impossible to escape the interview, to make the best of it, +and he accepted the offered hand. He did not consider the young +Southerner as much of a rebel, for he had refused to shoulder a musket +and fight for the cause. + +"I begin to see your former looks, and particularly your expression," +said Christy. "I am very glad to see you, and I hope you have been very +well since we met last." + +"Very well indeed." + +"Do you live here, Percy?" + +"I have lived here most of the time since we parted on board of the +Bellevite, and you put me on board of a schooner bound to Nassau. That +was a very good turn you did me, for I believed you would take me to New +York, and pitch me into a Yankee prison. I was very grateful to you, for +I know it was your influence that saved me." + +This remark seemed to put a new face upon the meeting. Christy had done +nothing to cause him to be set free; for the Bellevite, though she had +beaten off several steamers that attempted to capture her, was not in +the regular service at the time, her mission in the South being simply +to bring home the daughter of her owner, who had passed the winter with +her uncle at Glenfield. + +"I am very glad I was able to do you a good turn," replied Christy, who +considered it his duty to take advantage of the circumstances. "I am +just going out to take a sail; won't you join me?" + +"Thank you; I shall be very glad to do so. I suppose you are a Yankee +still, engaged in the business of subjugating the free South, as I am +still a rebel to the backbone," replied Percy, laughing very pleasantly. + +"But you are not in the rebel army now, any more than you were at that +time," added Christy in equally good humor. + +"I am not. You know all about my army experience. My brother, the major, +sends me a letter by every chance he can get, and has offered to have my +indiscretion, as he called it, in leaving the camp, passed over, if I +will save the honor of the family by returning to the army; but my +father insists that I can render better service to the cause as his +assistant." + +Christy led the way down the steps, and the two seated themselves in the +bow of the boat. The skipper shoved off after he had set his sails, and +the boat stood out towards the Snapper, for he could hardly avoid +passing quite near to her. + +"What are you doing in Nassau, Christy?" asked Percy. + +This was a hard question, and it was utterly impossible to make a +truthful reply without upsetting the plan of Mr. Gilfleur, and rendering +useless the voyage of the Chateaugay to the Bahamas. + +"I am in just as bad a scrape as you were when you were caught on board +of the Bellevite," replied Christy after a moment's reflection. + +"Are you a prisoner of war?" + +"How could I be a prisoner in a neutral port like Nassau? No; I do not +regard myself as a prisoner just now," answered Christy very +good-humoredly. + +"But you have been a prisoner, and you have escaped in some vessel that +run the blockade. I see it all; and you need not stop to explain it," +said Percy, who flattered himself on his brilliant perception. + +"The less I say about it the better it will be for me," added Christy, +willing to accept the situation as his companion had marked it out. + +"But you must not let my father see you." + +"I never met Colonel Pierson, though I saw him once, and he would not +know me if we should meet." + +"Then don't let him know who you are." + +"He will not know, unless you tell him." + +"You may be very sure that I will not mention you to him, or to anybody +else, for that matter," replied Percy very earnestly. + +But Christy did not put any confidence in his assertion. Percy was +really a deserter from the Confederate army, and he knew that he had in +several instances acted the traitor's part. He had more respect for an +out-and-out rebel than for one who shirked his duty to his country as he +understood it. + +"I have been afraid some one might identify me here," suggested Christy, +determined not to over-act his part. + +"I might help you out of the scrape," said Percy, who appeared to be +reflecting upon something that had come to his mind. "I suppose you are +aware that most of the vessels in this harbor, and those outside the +bar, are directly or indirectly interested in blockade-running." + +"I supposed so, but I know nothing about it." + +"Some of them have brought in cotton, with which others are loading for +England. My business as my father's clerk takes me on board of most of +them, and I know the captains and other officers very well. This little +steamer we have just passed was bought for a Mobile man by my father. +She carried a full cargo of goods into Mobile, and came out again full +of cotton. She is called the Snapper, and she is a regular snapper at +her business. She is now all loaded, and will sail on the next tide. +I am well acquainted with her captain." + +"What sort of a man is he?" asked Christy in an indifferent tone. + +"He is a very good fellow; bold as an eagle, and brave as a lion. He +drinks too much whiskey for his own good; but he knows all the ports on +the Gulf of Mexico, and he gets in or out in face of the blockaders +every time," answered Percy with enthusiasm. + +"Did he never lose a vessel?" + +"Never but one; that was the Floridian, and I reckon you know as much +about that affair as any other person, Christy," replied Percy, laughing +as though it had been a good joke on Captain Flanger. + +"I know something about it." + +"Your uncle, Colonel Passford, lost several vessels, and you had a hand +in their capture. But never mind that; you did me a good turn, and I +never go back on a friend. Now, my dear fellow, I do not think it will +be safe for you to remain here. You are looked upon as a dangerous +fellow along the Gulf coast, as Colonel Passford writes to my father; +and if my governor should get a hint that you were here, he would make a +business of getting you inside a Confederate prison." + +"I am under the flag of England just now, and that is supposed to +protect neutrals." + +"That's all very well, my dear fellow; but my governor could manage your +affair in some way. I can make a trade with the captain of the Snapper +to put you ashore at Key West." + +"You are very kind, Percy." + +"It will be necessary for you to buy a boat here, one with a sail, which +can be carried on the deck of the steamer," continued Percy, evidently +much interested in the scheme he was maturing. + +At this moment the Dinah was passing under the stern of a steamer, +on which Christy read the name "Ovidio." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A BAND OF RUFFIANS + + +The Ovidio was one of the vessels of which Captain Passford had obtained +information in New York, and by which the traitor merchant had at first +intended to send the machinery on board of the Ionian into the +Confederacy. + +"That vessel flying the British flag appears to be a man-of-war," said +Christy. + +"That is just what she is, confound her!" replied Percy bitterly. "She +is the Greyhound, and she has seized the Ovidio which we just passed; +but my father believes she will be released;" as in fact she was, after +a delay of two months. + +"That looks a little like neutrality," added the naval officer. + +"But what do you think of my scheme to get you out of this scrape before +you get into any trouble here?" asked Percy, who seemed to his companion +to be altogether too much interested in his plan. "Flanger is a friend +of mine, for I was able to render him a very important service, nothing +less than getting him the command of the Snapper." + +"Of course I want to get out of the scrape." + +"I suppose you haven't money enough to buy the boat, if you escaped from +a Confederate prison; but I will help you out on that by lending you +forty or fifty dollars." + +"Thank you, Percy, you are behaving like a true friend, and I shall +remember you with gratitude," replied Christy, as earnestly as the +occasion seemed to require. "Do you think you can trust Captain Flanger +to put me in the way to get to Key West?" + +"I am sure I can!" exclaimed the schemer warmly. "He would do anything +for me." + +"But perhaps he would not do anything for me." + +"I hope you don't mistrust my sincerity in this matter, my dear fellow," +continued Percy, with an aggrieved expression on his face. + +"Oh, no! Certainly not. I only suggested that your friend the captain +might not be as willing as you are to let me escape at Key West." + +"I will guarantee his fidelity. I am as sure of him as I am of myself." + +"All right, Percy, I will hold myself subject to your orders. But I +think you had better buy the boat, and put it on board of the Snapper, +for I could not do so without exposing myself," suggested Christy. +"I have some money that I concealed about me, and I will pay the bills +before I go on board of the steamer." + +"I will do everything that is necessary to be done with the greatest +pleasure. Perhaps you had better go on board of the Snapper on our +return to the town. Then you will not be seen by any person," suggested +Percy with as much indifference as he could assume. + +"What time will the steamer sail?" + +"About five o'clock, which is high tide." + +"It is only half-past one now; besides, I have to go up to the hotel for +my satchel, and to pay my bill. Where do you live, Percy?" + +"We have a house on Frederick Street. At what hotel are you stopping?" + +"At the Royal Victoria." + +"What is the number of your room?" asked Percy. + +"No. 44." + +Christy was sharp enough to comprehend the object of these questions; +and, as a matter of precaution, he divided the number of his room by two +in making his reply. + +"That makes an easy thing of it," continued Percy. "I will go to the +Royal Victoria at four o'clock, pay your bill and get your satchel. +I will meet you on the public wharf at half-past, and see that you have +a good stateroom in the cabin of the Snapper." + +"That seems to be all very well arranged," added Christy. + +"But I must see Captain Flanger before four o'clock. How much longer do +you intend to cruise in this boat?" asked the schemer, beginning to +manifest a little impatience. + +The conversation had been carried on in a low tone at the bow of the +boat, where the boatman could not hear what was said. + +"I think I am safer out here than I should be on shore," suggested +Christy. "I might meet some other person in the town who knows me." + +"All right; but I ought to see Captain Flanger as soon as possible, for +I shall ask him to buy the boat," replied Percy uneasily. "You might +land me, and then sail another hour or two yourself." + +"Very well; that will suit me exactly. Skipper, this gentleman wishes to +be put on shore; but I desire to sail another hour or two," said +Christy, addressing the boatman. + +"All right, sir; I will go to the wharf if you say so, but I can put the +other gentleman into that boat which has just come over the bar. The +boatman is a friend of mine." + +"Who is he, David?" asked Percy. + +"Jim Peckson." + +"I know him, and I will go up in his boat if you will hail him," +answered the young Southerner. "I suppose the arrangement is well +understood," he added, dropping his voice so that the boatman could not +hear him. "You are to be on the public wharf at half-past four, when I +come down with your satchel." + +"Perfectly understood," added the other. + +David hailed his friend Jim Peckson, and Percy was transferred to his +boat. Christy felt an intense relief in getting rid of him. Of course he +had not the remotest idea of going on board of the Snapper, whose brutal +commander had declared that he would kill him. But he realized that +Nassau was not a safe place for him. + +The boat crossed the bar, and the passenger took his seat by the side of +the boatman. David directed his boat towards the larger steamers +outside, which were loading with cotton from several small craft. They +were, doubtless, to convey it to England. Christy felt no interest in +these, for the voyages of the blockade-runners ended when they reached +the port of Nassau. + +"Shall I sail you over to the sea-gardens now, sir?" asked David, when +his passenger intimated that he had seen enough of the vessels outside +the bar. + +"Yes; anywhere you please, David. I don't care about going on shore +before dark," replied Christy. + +The passenger was greatly interested in the sea-gardens, and for more +than an hour he gazed through the clear water at the sea-plants on the +bottom, and at the many-colored fishes that were swimming about in the +midst of them. He was desirous of using up the time until he could have +the covert of the friendly darkness. He looked at his watch, and found +it was nearly five o'clock. + +"What time is it high tide, David?" he asked. + +"Five o'clock, sir." + +"Are there any steamers to sail to-day? I suppose they can go over the +bar only at full sea." + +"Only small vessels can go over at any other time. The Snapper was to +sail at high tide." + +"Then I think we will run down by the light, and see her come out of the +harbor," added Christy. + +"I don't believe she will come out this afternoon, sir," said David. + +"Why not?" + +"Her captain got arrested for something. I saw four officers taking him +to the jail. Some one told me he was drunk, and had pitched into a +gentleman who was walking along the sidewalk in front of a saloon on Bay +Street." + +"They will discharge him in time to sail on the tide, won't they?" + +"I don't reckon they will. The men from the vessels in the harbor at +this time make heaps of trouble," replied David. "If the gentleman he +hit had a mind to complain of him, the court would lock him up for a +week or two." + +Christy was not disposed, under the circumstances, to make a complaint. +The boat was soon in sight of the lighthouse and the bar. The Dinah made +a long stretch to the eastward, and was in sight of the entrance to the +harbor till it began to be dark; but no steamer came out on the high +tide. The boat crossed the bar again. + +"Now, David, I want you to land me some distance beyond the public +wharf," said Christy. "How much shall I pay you for this sail?" + +"About three dollars, sir, if you don't think that is too much," +answered the boatman. + +"That is very reasonable for the time you have been out; and there is a +sovereign," added the passenger, as he handed him the gold coin. + +"I don't think I can change this piece, sir." + +"You need not change it; keep the whole of it." + +"Oh, thank you, sir! You are very generous, and I thank you with all my +heart. I don't often earn that much money in a whole day." + +"All right, David; I am satisfied if you are." + +"I am more than satisfied, sir. But where shall I land you?" + +"I don't know the names of all the streets, but go to the eastward of +the public wharf." + +"I can land you at the foot of Union Street." + +"How will I get to the Royal Victoria Hotel?" + +The boatman directed him so that he could find his destination. He was +somewhat afraid that Percy Pierson might be on the lookout for the +Dinah; but by this time it was so dark that he could hardly make her +out. David landed him at the place indicated, and he followed the +directions given him, which brought him to the east end of the hotel. +It was too early to meet Mr. Gilfleur, and he found the guests were at +dinner. He had eaten nothing since the lunch on board of the Eleuthera; +and, after he had looked in the faces of all the men at the table, he +took his place with them, and did full justice to the fare set before +him. + +He did not venture to remain in the hotel. He desired to see the +detective, for he had decided not to remain another day in Nassau. As +long as Percy Pierson was in the town, it was not a safe place for him. +He had decided to make his way across the island to the nook where the +Eleuthera was concealed, and remain on board of her until the detective +returned. But he desired to see him, and report his intention to him, +so that he need not be concerned about him. + + [Illustration: + "Two men sprang upon him." Page 233.] + +Christy was entirely satisfied that he had correctly interpreted the +purpose of Percy to betray him into the hands of Captain Flanger. As he +was not on the public wharf at half-past four, doubtless he had been on +the lookout for him. He knew David, and his first step would be to find +him. The boatman would be likely to tell him that his fellow-passenger +in the Dinah had gone to the hotel. He visited the place arranged for +his meeting with Mr. Gilfleur; but it was in advance of the time, and he +was not there. He walked about the hotel grounds, careful to avoid every +person who came in his way. + +In the darkness he saw a man approaching him, and he turned about, +walking away in the opposite direction. But presently this person moved +off towards the hotel, and he started again for the rendezvous with the +detective. He had gone but a short distance before two men sprang upon +him, one of them taking him in the rear, and hugging him so that he +could not move his arms. He began a mighty struggle; but two more men +came out of their hiding-place, and a pair of handcuffs were slipped +upon his wrists. + +Then he attempted to call for assistance, but a handkerchief was +promptly stuffed into his mouth, and the ruffians hurried him out +through a narrow gateway to an unfrequented street, where a carriage +appeared to be in waiting for them. + +"Drive to the beach back of Fort Montague," said one of them. + +It was the voice of Captain Flanger. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A QUESTION OF NEUTRALITY + + +Even before he heard the voice of his savage enemy, Christy Passford +realized that he had fallen into the hands of the commander of the +Snapper. He was placed on the back seat of the carriage, with a pair of +handcuffs on his wrists, and a handkerchief in his mouth to do duty as a +gag. Captain Flanger was at his side, with two other men on the front +seat, and one on the box with the driver. Against these four men he was +powerless to make any resistance while he was in irons. + +The carriage was drawn by two horses, and was considerably larger than +the ordinary victoria used in the town. It was quite dark, and though +the streets were flanked with many houses, hardly a person appeared to +be stirring at this hour. But a vehicle loaded down with the rough +visitors of the place could not be an unusual sight, for they were the +kind of people who were disposed to make the night hideous, as well as +the day. + +Christy had struggled with all his might to shake off the ruffians who +beset him, and two more had come out from their concealment when he +thought he was making some progress in freeing himself from their grasp. +As soon as his wrists were ironed he realized that resistance was +useless, and that it could only increase his discomfort. It was a +terrible calamity to have fallen into the power of a man so brutal and +unscrupulous as Captain Flanger, bent upon revenging himself for the +mutilation of his most prominent facial member. He was certainly +disfigured for life, though the wound made by the ball from the revolver +had healed; but it was an ill-looking member, and he appeared to be +conscious of his facial deformity all the time. + +The men in the carriage said nothing, and Christy was unable to speak. +They seemed to be afraid of attracting the attention of the few +passers-by in the streets, and of betraying the nature of the outrage in +which they were engaged. The streets in the more frequented parts of the +town were crowded with men, as the victim had been able to see, and he +hoped that they would come across some large collection of people. In +that case he decided to make a demonstration that would attract the +attention of the police, if nothing more. + +He had no idea of the location of Fort Montague, to which the man on the +box had been ordered to drive them. The direction was to a beach near +the fort; and he had no doubt there would be a boat there in readiness +to convey him to the Snapper. But the farther the carriage proceeded, +the less frequented the streets became. He found no opportunity to make +his intended demonstration. His only hope now was that Mr. Gilfleur, who +must have been in the vicinity of the hotel, had witnessed the outrage, +and would interfere, as he had done on Bay Street, and save him from the +fate that was in store for him. + +In a rather lonely place Christy discovered the outline in the darkness +of what looked like a fort. At the same moment he heard the distant +stroke of some public clock, striking nine o'clock. This was the time +appointed for the meeting with the detective, and he had been at the +place a quarter of an hour before, which fully explained why the +detective had not been there; and probably he had been in his room. This +conclusion seemed to cut off all hope that he had witnessed the attack +upon him. + +The carriage stopped at the beach below the fort. It was the +bathing-place for the town, and at this hour it was entirely deserted. +The person on the box with the driver was the first to alight, and he +ran down to the water. He returned in a few minutes to the carriage, the +other ruffians retaining their places. + +"The boat is not here yet, but it is coming," said this man, reporting +to the captain. + +"All right; I told the mate to be here at nine o'clock, and it has just +struck that hour," replied Flanger. "Go down to the water, driver." + +The vehicle moved down to the water's edge and stopped again. At the +same time the boat grated on the sand, and came to a halt a few feet +from the dry ground. + +"We are all right now," said the person who had been with the driver on +the box; and this time Christy recognized his voice as that of Percy +Pierson. + +He had not mistaken or misjudged him. He had not been able to understand +why the young man should befriend him, and it was clear enough now, +if it had not been before, that his gratitude towards him was a mere +pretence. Captain Passford, senior desired to get rid of him, and had +put him on board of the schooner for this reason only. + +"Captain Passford, we meet again, as I was sure we should when we parted +in Nassau to-day," said the commander of the Snapper. "Now, if you will +take the trouble to get out of the carriage, we shall be able to make +you comfortable before we have done with you." + +Christy attempted to speak; but the gag prevented him from articulating, +and he could not breathe as freely as usual. The captain drew the +handkerchief from his mouth, for there was no one within a long distance +of the spot to aid the prisoner if he had called for help. The victim +had fully determined to resign himself to his fate, and make the best of +the situation until an opportunity offered to effect his escape, though +he greatly feared that such an opportunity would not be presented. + +"Thank you, Captain Flanger; I am much obliged to you for giving me a +better chance to breathe, though I suppose you are not very anxious that +I should continue to breathe," replied Christy, assuming a degree of +good nature which had no substantial foundation in reality. "On the +contrary, I dare say you intend to stop my breathing altogether as soon +as you find it convenient to do so." + +"Not so; you can do all the breathing you want to, and I won't interfere +as long as you behave yourself," replied Captain Flanger in a more +civilized tone than his victim had heard him use before. + +"But to-day noon you swore that you would kill me," added the prisoner, +much surprised at the change in the manner of the ruffian since they had +met on the sidewalk. + +"I have altered my mind," replied the captain, leaving Christy in the +hands of his companions, and walking down to the boat, where the two men +in it seemed to be trying to find deeper water, so as to bring it nearer +to the shore. + +"Well, how do you find yourself, Christy?" asked Percy, placing himself +in front of him. + +"I haven't lost myself so far, and I am as comfortable as could be +expected under the circumstances," answered Christy, whose pride would +not permit him to show that he was overcome or cast down by the +misfortune which had overtaken him. + +"You did not come to the public wharf as you promised to do at half-past +four o'clock this afternoon," Percy proceeded. + +"I did not; David sailed me off to the sea-gardens, and we did not get +back to the town in season for me to keep the appointment." + +"Then you intended to keep it?" + +"I did not say so." + +"I had the idea you were a fellow that kept all the promises he made, +even if it hurt him to do so." + +"Do you think you would have kept your promise to have Captain Flanger +land me at Key West, if I had been weak enough to go on board of his +steamer?" demanded Christy. + +"You are fighting on one side, and I am fighting on the other, Christy; +and I suppose either of us is justified in lying and breaking his +promises in the service of his country." + +"You are fighting on your side at a very convenient distance from the +battle-ground, Percy." + +"I am fighting here because I can render the best service to my country +in this particular place," replied the young Southerner with spirit. +"I am sure I could not do anything better for my country than send you +back to the Confederate prison from which you escaped." + +"Even if you violate the neutrality of the place," suggested Christy. +"The British government was ready to declare war against the United +States when a couple of Confederate commissioners were taken out of an +English steamer by a man-of-war. Do you suppose that when this outrage +is known, England will not demand reparation, even to the restoring of +the victim to his original position on this island? I hope you have +considered the consequences of this violation of the neutrality of the +place." + +"I don't bother my head about matters of that sort. I have talked about +it with my father, and I think he understands himself," replied Percy +very flippantly. + +"I don't think he does. I have the same rights in Nassau that you and +your father possess. You are carrying on the war on neutral ground; and +no nation would permit that." + +"I am no lawyer, Christy. I only know that you have done a great deal of +mischief to our cause in the Gulf, as set forth in the letters of your +uncle to my father." + +"But I have fought my battles in the enemy's country, or on the open +sea; and I have not done it while skulking under a neutral flag," +replied the naval officer, with quite as much spirit as his adversary in +the debate. "You and Captain Flanger, with the co-operation of your +father, it appears, are engaged in a flagrant outrage against the +sovereignty of England." + +"My father has nothing to do with it; I will take back what I said about +him," added Percy, evidently alarmed at the strength of the argument +against him. + +"You told me that you had talked with your father about the case." + +"But I withdraw that statement; he knows nothing about it." + +"You make two diametrically opposite statements; and I am justified in +accepting the one that suits me best as the truth. If Captain Flanger +does not hang me to the yard-arm as soon as he gets me into blue water, +I shall make my complaint to the United States government as soon as I +have an opportunity to do so; and I have no doubt you and your father +will have permission to leave Nassau, never to return." + +Percy was silent, and appeared to be in deep thought. Captain Flanger +had returned to the spot from the boat, and had listened to the last +part of the discussion. + +"Captain Flanger understands enough of international law to see that I +am right," continued Christy, when Percy made no reply. + +"The people here treat us very handsomely, my little larky," said +Captain Flanger, with a coarse laugh. "I am not to be scared out of my +game by any such bugbears as you talk about. But I am willing to say +this, my little rooster: I have no intention to hang you to the +yard-arm, as you hinted that I might." + +"At noon to-day you swore that you would kill me." + +"I have altered my mind, as I told you before," growled the commander of +the Snapper, with very ill grace, as though he was ashamed because he +had abandoned his purpose to commit a murder. "I am not what you call a +temperance man; and when I get ashore, and in good company, I sometimes +take a little more good whiskey than it is prudent; but I don't drink +anything on board of my ship. To cut it short, I was a little too much +in the wind when I said I was going to kill you. I am sober now." + +"I think you must be able to see what the consequences of murdering a +person captured on British soil would be, Captain Flanger," suggested +Christy. + +"As I have told you twice before, I do not intend to murder you," said +the captain angrily. "I am going to put you back in the prison from +which you escaped; that's all. No more talk; take him to the boat." + +The two men at Christy's side marched him down to the boat, and seated +him in the stern. The rest of the party took places, and shoved off. In +half an hour the boat was alongside the Snapper. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +ON BOARD OF THE SNAPPER + + +Christy could not help seeing that a great change had come over the +manner of Captain Flanger, especially in his repeated declarations that +he did not intend to kill his prisoner. His thirst for revenge could +hardly have abated as the effect of his cups passed off, and it was +evident to the victim of the outrage that some other influence had been +brought to bear upon him. It did not seem possible to him that Percy +Pierson could have modified his vindictive nature to this degree. + +The young man's father could not fail to see the peril of the step his +son was taking, though he appeared not to have been able to resist the +temptation to get rid of such an active enemy as Christy had proved +himself to be. It looked plain enough to the victim, as he considered +the situation, that Colonel Pierson's influence had produced the change +in the intentions of Captain Flanger. If the prisoner were brutally +treated, and especially if his life were taken, it would make the breach +of neutrality so much the more flagrant. + +"Help the young cub on board," said the captain, as he went up the +accommodation ladder, followed by Percy. + +With his wrists fettered with a pair of handcuffs, Christy needed +assistance to mount the vessel's side. He was handled with more +consideration than he expected, and reached the deck without any injury. +By the order of the captain he was conducted to the cabin, where he +seated himself on a stool near the companion-way. A few minutes later +Percy came down the steps with a valise in his hand, which he deposited +in one of the staterooms. + +"I am your fellow-passenger, Christy," said he, when he came out of the +room. "I hope we shall be good friends." + +"After the treachery which has been practised upon me to-day, there +cannot be much love wasted between us, though I am not disposed to be a +bear, even under the present unfavorable circumstances," replied the +prisoner. "I suppose this steamer is to run the blockade?" + +"Of course she is to run the blockade; how else could she get into +Mobile?" replied Percy. + +"You can bet your worthless life she is going to run the blockade, and +you may be sure that she will get in too," added Captain Flanger, who +came into the cabin at the moment the question was asked. + +"By the way, Christy, from what prison in the Confederacy did you make +your escape?" + +"If you will excuse me, I prefer to answer no questions." + +"Just as you please, my boy. We shall know all about it when we get to +Mobile," said Percy lightly. "I am going home for a few days to see my +mother, who is in feeble health. I don't want to quarrel with you; and +if I can be of any service to you after we get into port, I shall be +happy to do so. We sail at about five o'clock in the morning, on the +high tide." + +"Captain Passford," began the commander, in a more subdued tone than the +prisoner had ever heard him use. + +"That title does not apply to me now, Captain Flanger," Christy +interposed. "If I ever get back to my duty on shipboard, it will be as +second lieutenant of the Bellevite." + +"Mr. Passford, if that suits you better, I was going to say that I mean +to treat you like a gentleman, whether you are one or not, in spite of +my shattered and battered nose," added the captain. + +"I do not consider myself responsible for the condition of your nose, +Captain Flanger. At the time you received that wound you were engaged in +a daring adventure, with two revolvers in your hands, ready to blow my +brains out. It was war, and I did nothing but my plain duty; and even in +a time of peace I had the natural right to defend myself, and save my +own life, even at the sacrifice of yours, as you were the assailant," +argued Christy quite warmly. "You would have put a ball through my head +or heart if I had not fired at the moment I did." + +"Why didn't you shoot me like a gentleman, and not blow my nose off?" +demanded the captain bitterly. + +"I had to fire in a hurry; and I did not aim at your nose. I could only +discharge my weapon on the instant, and I had no time to aim at any +particular part of you. I intended simply to cover your head." + +"But you blowed my nose off all the same." + +"I had no grudge against your nose. Do you think it would be honorable +for a soldier to revenge himself on neutral ground for a wound received +in the field?" + +"But it was a sneaking Yankee trick to shoot at a man's nose, even in a +square battle by sea or by land," protested the captain with a rattling +oath. + +It was useless to discuss the matter with such a man, though he had +probably been charged by Colonel Pierson not to do his prisoner any +injury, and Christy relapsed into silence. + +"If you propose to treat me like a gentleman, whether I am one or not, +may I ask where you propose to berth me, for I am very much fatigued +to-night?" asked the prisoner later in the evening. + +"I mean to give you as good a stateroom as I have myself; but it will +contain two berths, and the mate will occupy the lower one, to prevent +you from escaping, if you should take it into your head to do so," +replied the captain, as he opened the door of one of the rooms. + +"I can hardly get into the upper berth with my wrists ironed," said the +prisoner, exhibiting his fetters. + +"That is so," replied the captain, taking the key of the manacles from +his pocket and removing them. "But I warn you that any attempt to escape +may get you into a worse scrape than you are in now. When we get to sea +you shall have your liberty." + +"Thank you, Captain, for this indulgence. I suppose you will not make a +long voyage of it to Mobile. I presume you go to the northward of Great +Abaco Island?" asked Christy, though he hardly expected to receive an +answer to his question. + +"Why do you presume such a stupid idea as that?" demanded the captain, +who seemed to regard the inquiry as an imputation upon his seamanship; +and the inquirer had put the question to provoke an answer. "I have been +sailing nearly all my life in these waters, and I know where I am. Why +should I add three hundred miles to my voyage when there is no reason +for it?" + +"I am not much acquainted down here." + +"I shall go through the North-west, or Providence Channel." + +Captain Flanger did not know that the steamer Chateaugay was cruising +somewhere in the vicinity of the Bahamas; but his prisoner did know it, +and the information given him was not pleasant or satisfactory. Captain +Chantor had told him that he intended to stand off and to the eastward +of Great Abaco, and he had been cherishing a hope that he would fall in +with the Snapper, though he might not find evidence enough on board of +her to warrant her capture. + +If he fell in with the steamer, he would be likely to examine her; and +that would lead to the release of the involuntary passenger. But if the +Snapper went through the Providence Channel, the Chateaugay would not be +likely to fall in with her. It looked to the unfortunate officer as +though he was booked for a rebel prison. He could see no hope of escape, +though he was duly grateful for the change which had come over his +vicious persecutor. If he was allowed his liberty, he might find some +avenue of escape open. It was useless to groan over his fate, and he did +not groan; but he had come to the conclusion that it would be a long +time before he took possession of his stateroom in the ward room of the +Bellevite. + +Availing himself of the permission given to him, he went into the room, +and turned in with his clothes on, so that he might be in readiness for +any event. Mr. Gilfleur would miss him at the rendezvous agreed upon; +but he would have no means of knowing that anything had happened to him. +Tired as he was, he was not inclined to sleep. Presently he heard a +conversation which was not intended for his ears, for it was carried on +in very low tones. + +"Do you know, Captain Flanger, that I believe we are getting into a very +bad scrape?" said Percy Pierson in a subdued tone. + +"What are you afraid of?" demanded the captain, in a voice hardly above +a whisper. + +"My father refused at first to permit the capture of Passford," added +Percy. "He would consent to it only after you had promised to treat him +well." + +"I am treating him as well as I know how, though it goes against my +grain. We will get him into the jail in Mobile, and keep him there till +the Yankees have acknowledged the independence of the Confederacy, and +paid for all the damage they have done to our country. How is any one in +Washington or London to know anything about this little affair of +to-night?" + +"I don't know how; but if it should get out, the Yankees would make an +awful row, and England would be obliged to do something about it." + +"But we must make sure that it does not get out. The young cub has a +deal of spirit and pluck, and he would not live long if he were shut up +on such rations as our men have." + +Percy seemed to be better satisfied than he had been, and the +conversation turned to other subjects in which the listener had no +interest. Without much of an effort he turned over and went to sleep. +When he woke in the morning he heard the tramp of footsteps on the deck +over his head, and he concluded that the steamer was getting under way. +If the mate had slept in the berth below him, he had not seen or heard +him. He leaped out of the bed, and descended to the floor. When he tried +the door he found that it was locked. + +Presently he heard the movement of the screw, and felt the motion of the +vessel. There was a port light to the room, and he placed himself where +he could see out at it. But there was nothing to be seen which afforded +him any hope of comfort. There must be a pilot on board, and he began to +wonder if there could be any way to communicate with him. He took from +his pocket a piece of paper and pencil. He wrote a brief statement of +the outrage which had been perpetrated upon him, folded the paper, and +put it in his vest pocket, where he could readily slip it into the hand +of the pilot, if he found the opportunity to do so. The captain had +promised to give him his liberty when the vessel got out to sea, and he +hoped to be able to go on deck before the pilot left the steamer. + +The Snapper continued to go ahead, and in a short time she made a sort +of a plunge, as she went over the bar. The motion of the steamer began +to be rather violent, and Christy saw through the port the white caps +that indicated a strong north-west wind. When the vessel had continued +on her course for a couple of hours, she stopped, and the prisoner saw +the pilot boat drop astern a little later. The opportunity to deliver +his statement had passed by, and he tore up the paper, keeping the +fragments in his pocket, so that they should not expose his intention. + +He had scarcely destroyed the paper before his door was thrown open by +Percy Pierson, who informed him that he was at liberty to go on deck if +he wished to do so. He accepted the permission. He could see the land in +the distance in several directions, but he had no interest in anything. +He was called to breakfast soon after, and he took a hearty meal, for +the situation had not yet affected his appetite. In the middle of the +forenoon, with the light at Hole in the Wall on the starboard, and that +on Stirrup Cay on the port, the course of the Snapper was changed to the +north-west. + +At this point Christy discovered a three-masted steamer, which had also +excited the attention of Captain Flanger. It looked like the Chateaugay; +and the prisoner's heart bounded with emotion. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE CHATEAUGAY IN THE DISTANCE + + +The steamer which Christy had discovered was a long distance from the +Snapper. She had just come about, and this movement had enabled the +prisoner to see that she had three masts; but that was really all there +was to lead him to suppose she was the Chateaugay. She was too far off +for him to make her out; and if he had not known that she was cruising +to the eastward of the Bahamas, it would not have occurred to him that +she was the steamer in which he had been a passenger two days before. + +Captain Flanger discovered the sail a few minutes later, and fixed his +attention upon it. In the business in which he was engaged it was +necessary to practise the most unceasing vigilance. But, at this +distance from any Confederate port, the commander of the steamer did not +appear to be greatly disturbed at the sight of a distant sail, believing +that his danger was nearer the shores of the Southern States. Doubtless +he had papers of some sort which would show that his vessel had cleared +for Havana, or some port on the Gulf of Mexico. + +Christy did not deem it wise to manifest any interest in the distant +sail, and, fixing his gaze upon the deck-planks, he continued to walk +back and forth, as he was doing when he discovered the steamer. He had +not been able to make out her course. He had first seen her when she was +in the act of turning, obtaining only a glance at the three masts. +Whether or not she was "end-on" for the Snapper, he could not determine, +and Captain Flanger seemed to be studying up this question with no +little earnestness. + +The principal mission in these waters of the Chateaugay was to look up +the Ovidio, of which Captain Passford in New York had obtained some +information through his agents. This vessel was not simply a +blockade-runner, but was intended for a cruiser, though she had sailed +from Scotland without an armament. It was known that she would proceed +to Nassau, and this fact had suggested to Mr. Gilfleur his visit to that +port to obtain reliable information in regard to her, as well as +incidentally to look into the methods of fitting out vessels for running +the blockade. + +Captain Chantor was expecting to fall in with the Ovidio, even before +the return of his two passengers. He did not believe the authorities at +Nassau would permit her to take on board an armament at that port; but a +rendezvous had probably been arranged, where she was to receive her guns +and ammunition. But the only safe channel for any vessel to get to the +deep sea from Nassau was by the one that had received the name of +Providence. This channel is a continuation of what is called "The Tongue +of the Ocean," which extends over a hundred miles south of New +Providence, a hundred and fifty fathoms in depth, and bordered by +innumerable cays, reefs, and very shoal water. + +South of Great Abaco Island, this channel, from thirty to forty miles +wide, divides into the North-east and North-west Channels, and all +vessels of any great draught can safely get out to sea only through one +of them. It was evident enough to Captain Chantor, who was familiar with +the navigation of these seas, that the Ovidio must come out through one +of the channels indicated. Christy had talked with the commander of the +Chateaugay in regard to these passages, and knew that it was his +intention to keep a close watch over them. + +He could not be sure that the steamer in the distance was the +Chateaugay; but the more he recalled what had passed between himself and +Captain Chantor, and considered the situation, the stronger became his +hope that it was she. He was sure that she had come about, and he +reasoned that she had done so when her commander ascertained that the +steamer he had sighted laid her course through the North-west Channel. +This was as far as he could carry his speculations. + +Without understanding the situation as well as did his prisoner, Captain +Flanger seemed to be nervous and uneasy. He watched the distant sail for +a long time, sent for his spy-glass and examined her, and then began to +plank the deck. When he came abreast of Christy he stopped. + +"Do you see that sail off to the eastward, Mr. Passford?" + +"I see it now, Captain," replied the prisoner, as indifferently as +possible, for he felt that it would be very imprudent to manifest any +interest in the matter. + +"Can you make out what she is?" continued the captain. + +"I cannot; she must be eight or ten miles from us," replied Christy, +as he glanced to the eastward. + +"I shouldn't wonder if that was one of your Yankee gunboats," added +Captain Flanger, spicing his remark with a heavy oath, for he could +hardly say anything without interlarding his speech with profanity. + +"It may be, for aught I know," replied the prisoner with something like +a yawn. + +"Whatever she is, the Snapper can run away from her, and you need not +flatter yourself that there is any chance for you to escape from a +Confederate prison; and when they get you into it, they will hold on +very tight." + +"I must take things as they come," added Christy. + +He wanted to ask the captain why he wondered if the sail was a Yankee +gunboat, but he did not think it would be prudent to do so. The captain +seemed to have, or pretended to have, great confidence in the speed of +the Snapper. When he left his prisoner he went to the engine-room, and +it was soon evident from the jar and shake of the vessel that he had +instructed the chief engineer to increase the speed. + +Christy watched the distant sail for about three hours before he could +come to any conclusion. At the end of this time he was satisfied that +the three-masted steamer was gaining very decidedly upon the Snapper. He +began to cherish a very lively hope that the sail would prove to be the +Chateaugay. Captain Flanger remained on deck all the forenoon, and every +hour that elapsed found him more nervous and excitable. + +"I reckon that's a Yankee gunboat astern of us, Mr. Passford; but I am +going to get away from her," said the captain, as they sat down to +dinner. + +"Is she gaining upon you, Captain?" asked Christy. + +"I don't think she is; but if she does get any nearer to us, I shall +give her the slip. The Snapper is going into Mobile Bay as sure as you +live. You can bet your life on it," insisted the captain. + +Christy was not disposed to converse on the subject, and he began to +wonder in what manner the Snapper could give her pursuer the slip. The +former was the smaller vessel, and probably did not draw over fourteen +feet of water, if she did more than twelve. It might be possible for her +to run into shoal water where the pursuer could not follow her. + +After the dinner table was cleared off, the captain seated himself at it +with a chart spread out before him. It was plain enough that he was +devising some expedient to escape the three-master. Christy did not deem +it prudent to observe him, and he went on deck. It was as clear as the +daylight that the pursuer was gaining rapidly upon the Snapper; and the +prisoner did not believe that the latter was making over twelve knots. + +By this time seven hours had elapsed since the distant sail had come in +sight, and she was now near enough for the prisoner to be sure that she +was the Chateaugay. She could make sixteen knots when driven at her +best, and she must be gaining four or five knots an hour on the chase. +Christy had been through this channel in the Bellevite, and he +discovered that the steamer was running near the shoal water. Presently +the captain came on deck, and he appeared to be less nervous than +before, perhaps because he had arranged his plan to escape his pursuer. + +Within an hour Christy recognized the East Isaac, a rock rising ten or +twelve feet above the surface of the water, which he identified by its +nearness to one over which the sea was breaking. The captain was too +much occupied in the study of the surroundings to take any notice of +him, and he endeavored to keep out of his sight. + +The prisoner consulted his watch, and found it was four o'clock. The +tower of the Great Isaac light could just be made out. The Chateaugay +was not more than four miles astern of the Snapper, and in another hour +she would certainly come up with her, if Captain Flanger did not put his +plan into execution. The course of the chase continued to bring her +nearer to the reefs. + +"Ring one bell!" shouted the captain to the quartermaster at the wheel. + +The effect of one bell was to reduce the speed of the Snapper by +one-half. The order to put the helm hard a starboard followed in a short +time. The course was made about south, and the steamer went ahead +slowly. Two men in the chains were heaving the lead constantly. They +were reporting four and five fathoms. After the vessel had gone five or +six miles on this course, it was changed to about south-west. She was +then moving in a direction directly opposite to that of the Chateaugay, +and the anxious prisoner could see the man-of-war across the reefs which +lifted their heads above the water, very nearly abreast of the Snapper, +though at least ten miles distant from her. + +"Do you know what steamer that is, Mr. Passford?" asked Captain Flanger, +coming aft, apparently for the purpose of finding him. + +"How should I know, Captain?" asked Christy. + +"I thought you might know her by sight." + +"I could hardly be expected to know all the ships in the United States +navy by sight, Captain, for there are a great many of them by this +time." + +"All right; she looks like a pretty large vessel, and the bigger the +better. I hope you won't get up a disappointment for yourself by +expecting that you are going to get out of this scrape," said Captain +Flanger, and there was a great deal of bitterness in his tones. + +"I am taking things as they come, Captain." + +"The Snapper is not a man-of-war, and she is engaged in a peaceful +voyage. If that fellow thinks of capturing me, he is reckoning without +his host. He has no more right to make a prize of me than he has to +murder me," protested the captain, as he gave the order to hoist the +British flag. + +"Of course you know your business better than I do, Captain Flanger, and +I don't propose to interfere with it," replied Christy. + +The commander walked forward again, giving the order to the +quartermaster to ring two bells, which presently brought the steamer to +a full stop, quite near the rocks which were awash to the northward of +her. As the captain moved forward he encountered the first officer in +the waist, who addressed him, and they began a conversation, none of +which Christy could hear. From the looks and gestures of the mate, he +concluded that they were talking about him. + +It was not difficult to imagine the subject of the conversation, and it +was evident to Christy that the first officer had suggested an idea to +his commander. While he was waiting impatiently to ascertain what the +Chateaugay would do next, Percy Pierson came on deck looking very pale, +for it had been reported at breakfast that he was very sea-sick. + +"How are you, Christy?" asked the Southerner. + +"I am very well, I thank you." + +"Haven't you been sea-sick?" asked the invalid. + +"Of course not; I never was sea-sick." + +"But what has the steamer stopped for?" asked Percy, looking about him. + +"Captain Flanger seems to think that vessel over there is a United +States man-of-war." + +"Will she capture the Snapper?" asked the sufferer, looking paler than +before. + +At this moment a boat was lowered from the davits into the water, and +Christy was invited by the mate to take a seat in the stern sheets. He +was astounded at this request, and wondered what it meant. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE TABLES TURNED + + +Christy understood the character of Captain Flanger well enough to be +confident he meant mischief to him in getting him into the boat. He +concluded that this movement was the result of the conference with the +mate. He had a suspicion that his terrible enemy intended to drown him, +or get rid of him in some other manner. + +"May I ask where I am to be taken in the boat, Mr. Dawbin?" asked the +prisoner, suppressing as much as he could the excitement that disturbed +him. + +"I give you leave to ask, but I cannot answer you," replied the mate. + +"If you intend to put me on board of that steamer, it can do no harm to +say so, I think," added Christy. + +"If you will excuse me, Mr. Passford, I cannot answer any questions. +I ask you again to get into the boat," said Mr. Dawbin. + +"Well, sir, suppose I decline to do so?" + +"Then I shall be compelled to use force, and tumble you into the boat in +the best way I can, with the assistance of my men." + +"If you intend to murder me, why can't you do the deed here on deck?" +demanded the prisoner. + +"I don't intend to murder you." + +"That is some consolation. That lighthouse on the Great Isaac is the +only place to which you can convey me, and that is sixteen miles from +this steamer. I can't believe you intend to pull me that distance." + +"No fooling there!" shouted the captain. "What are you waiting for, Mr. +Dawbin? Why don't you obey my order?" + +"The fellow wants to talk," replied the mate. + +"If he won't get into the boat, pitch him into it like a dead dog!" + +Christy saw that it was useless to resist, though he had a revolver in +his pocket which had not been taken from him, for he had not been +searched. The mate and two sailors stood in front of him, and he +realized that he could accomplish nothing by resistance under present +circumstances. He thought he could do better in the boat after it was +beyond the reach of any reinforcements from the steamer. He went over +the side, and took his place in the stern sheets. + +The mate followed him, and the two men, one of whom was hardly more than +a boy, took their places on the thwarts. The boat was shoved off, and +the prisoner had an immediate interest in the course it was about to +steer. The mate arranged the tiller lines, and then looked about him. + +He directed his gaze towards the north, and seemed to be trying to find +some object or point. He satisfied himself in some manner, and then +resumed his seat, from which he had risen in order to obtain a better +view over the waves. The passenger had watched him closely, and found +that his vision had been directed towards the rocks awash and the East +Isaac rock. Towards these objects he steered the boat. The Chateaugay +was at least three miles to the eastward of these rocks. + +Christy watched the course of the boat long enough to satisfy himself +that it was headed for the rocks, which were awash at high tide, though +they now looked like a minute island. There could be but one object in +visiting this locality: and that must be to leave him on that desolate +reef. The wind was still fresh from the north-west, and the spray was +dashed over the rocks in a manner which suggested that a human being +could not remain long on it after the tide was high without being +washed off. It was little better than murder to leave him there, and he +knew very well that Captain Flanger would shed no tears if assured that +his troublesome prisoner was no more. + +Christy decided that he would not be left on the reef, or even on the +top of the East Isaac, which might be a drier place, though hardly more +comfortable. It must have been Mr. Dawbin who had suggested the idea of +landing him on the reef, for there was no other place nearer than the +Great Isaac light. Captain Flanger had boasted that he sailed a vessel +on a peaceful mission, and that the commander of the Chateaugay had no +more right to capture him than he had to murder him. But the prisoner +knew that the Snapper was to run the blockade, and was bound to Mobile, +for the captain had told him so himself. + +The commander could now see the folly of his boast. He had not expected +to encounter a United States man-of-war in the Bahamas. His prisoner was +a naval officer, and would be a strong witness against him. Upon his +testimony, and such other evidence as the cargo and other circumstances +might supply, the captain of the steamer in the channel might feel +justified in making a prize of the Snapper. It was necessary, therefore, +to remove this witness against him. As Christy had imagined, the captain +had not thought of his prisoner as a witness, and the mate had suggested +it to him. + +"I suppose I need not ask you what is to be done with me, for that is +sufficiently apparent now," said Christy, more to engage the attention +of the mate than for any other reason. + +"You can form your own conclusion," replied Mr. Dawbin. + +"You intend to leave me on that reef ahead, and doubtless you expect me +to be washed off and drowned, or starved to death there," added the +prisoner. "I can't see why you take all this trouble when you could more +conveniently blow my brains out." + +"The captain has promised not to harm you, Mr. Passford, and he will +keep his word," replied the mate with very ill grace. + +"I consider it worse than murder to leave me on that reef, or any of +these rocks, Mr. Dawbin. Since I understand your intention, I might as +well put a bullet through my own head, and save myself from all the +suffering in store for me," said Christy, assuming the manner of one +rendered desperate by his situation. "Have you a revolver in your +pocket?" + +"I have not a revolver in my pocket; and if I had I should not lend it +to you to shoot yourself," replied the mate. + +Mr. Dawbin had no revolver in his pocket, and that was all the prisoner +had been driving at. He was equally confident that neither of the +sailors was armed, for he had looked them over to see if there was any +appearance of pistols in their pockets. + +"You are making altogether too much fuss over this little matter, Mr. +Passford. The captain desires you to remain on one of these rocks till +he gets through his business with the commander of that steamer in the +channel, which is now headed for the Snapper," the mate explained. "When +that is finished we will take you off and proceed on our voyage." + +"You had better put a bullet through my head." + +"I don't think so. It is no great hardship for you to stay a few hours +on that rock. You have had your dinner, and you will not starve to +death. I don't think you will have to stay there long, for that steamer +draws too much water to come in among these reefs, and she will be hard +and fast on one of the shoals before she goes much farther." + +"Possibly her captain knows what he is about as well as you do," +suggested Christy. + +"I don't believe he does. There isn't a fathom of water on some of these +shoals." + +But the Chateaugay kept on her course, though she proceeded very slowly. +When she was off the Gingerbread Cay she stopped her screw, and she was +near enough for the observer to see that she was lowering at least two +boats into the water. In a few minutes more they were seen pulling +towards the Snapper, whose boat was now very near the reef which had +been selected as the prisoner's abiding-place. A few minutes later the +keel ground on the coral rock. + +"Jump ashore, both of you, and take the painter with you, my men," said +the mate, when the boat stuck about six feet from the top of the ledge. + +The two sailors waded to the highest part of the reef, and began to haul +in on the painter; but they could not get it anything less than three +feet from the rock. + +"We can't get the boat any nearer, Mr. Passford; but you are a vigorous +young man, and you can easily leap to the rock," said Mr. Dawbin. + +"Do you think you could leap to the ledge?" asked Christy, looking him +sharp in the eye. + +"I know I could." + +"Let me see you try it, Mr. Dawbin," replied Christy, with his right +hand on his revolver. + +"Come, come! Mr. Passford. No fooling. I have no time to spare," growled +the mate. + +"I am not fooling. As you consider it no hardship to pass a few hours on +that rock, I am going to trouble you to take my place there." + +"No nonsense! I am not to be trifled with!" + +"Neither am I," added the prisoner, as he drew out his weapon, and aimed +it at the head of the mate. "You can take your choice between the rock +and a ball from my revolver, Mr. Dawbin." + +"Do you mean to murder me?" demanded the mate. + +"I hope you will not compel me to do so harsh a thing as that. But no +fooling! I have no time to spare. Jump on the rock, or I will fire +before you are ten seconds older!" said Christy resolutely. + +"Come back into the boat, men!" shouted the officer. + +"The first one that comes any nearer the boat is a dead man!" added the +prisoner, "Five seconds gone, Mr. Dawbin." + +The mate did not wait for anything more, but made the leap to the rock. +He accomplished it so hastily that he fell when he struck the ledge; but +the impetus he had given the boat forced it from the rock, and sent it a +considerable distance. Christy restored the revolver to his pocket, and, +taking one of the oars, he sculled towards the Chateaugay, which was now +much nearer than the Snapper. The two boats from the man-of-war took no +notice of him, and perhaps did not see him. + +Taking out his white handkerchief he attached it to the blade of one of +the oars, and waved it with all his might in the direction of the +steamer. He set it up in the mast-hole through the forward thwart, and +then continued to scull. But his signal was soon seen, and a boat came +off from the steamer. + + [Illustration: + "Jump on the rock or I will fire before you are ten seconds older." + Page 276.] + +"Boat ahoy!" shouted the officer in charge of the cutter. + +"In the boat!" replied Christy, turning around as he suspended his labor +with the oar. + +"Lieutenant Passford!" exclaimed Mr. Hackling, the second lieutenant of +the Chateaugay. "Is it possible that it is you?" + +"I haven't any doubt of it, Mr. Hackling, if you have," replied the late +prisoner, heartily rejoiced to find himself in good company again. + +"But what does this mean? How do you happen to be here?" demanded the +astonished lieutenant of the ship. + +"I happen to be here because I have just played a sharp game. I was a +prisoner on that steamer yonder, on my way to a rebel prison. But I +think it is necessary that I should report immediately to Captain +Chantor in regard to the character of the Snapper, which is the name of +the vessel you have been chasing." + +The Snapper's boat was taken in tow, and the crew of the cutter gave way +with a will. In due time Christy was received with the most unbounded +astonishment by the commander on the deck of the Chateaugay. + +"Where is Mr. Gilfleur? I hope that no accident has happened to him," +said the captain with deep anxiety on his face. + +"None that I am aware of; but if you will excuse me from explanations +for the present, I will state that the steamer on the bank is the +Snapper, Captain Flanger, bound for Mobile; and the captain told me that +he intended to run the blockade." + +"Mr. Hackling, take charge of the second cutter, and give Mr. Birdwing +my order to make a prize of that steamer, and bring her off to the deep +water." + +It was quite dark when this order was executed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +CAPTAIN FLANGER IN IRONS + + +Christy Passford related to Captain Chantor all that had occurred to the +detective and himself from the time of their departure from the ship to +their parting on the shore; and he did not fail to mention the fact that +Mr. Gilfleur had come to his assistance when he was assaulted by the +ruffian in front of the saloon. + +"You have had a narrow escape, Mr. Passford," said the commander, when +he had concluded. "The idea of avenging an injury received in that way +is something I never happened to hear of before, though my experience is +not unlimited. Mr. Birdwing," he continued, after the first lieutenant +had reported to him, "had you any difficulty in effecting the capture of +the Snapper?" + +"Only with the captain; for my force was sufficient to have taken her if +she had been fully armed and manned. There was no fighting; but I was +obliged to put the captain in irons, for he was about the ugliest and +most unreasonable man I ever encountered," replied the chief of the boat +expedition. "I was not at all satisfied that the steamer was a fit +subject for capture till your order came to me, brought by Mr. Hackling. +Then Captain Flanger not only protested, with more bad language than I +ever before heard in the same time, but he absolutely refused to yield. +I could not give him the reasons that induced you to send me the order, +and I referred the matter to you." + +The Snapper had been anchored within a cable's length of the Chateaugay, +and Mr. Birdwing had brought Captain Flanger on board of the ship, with +Percy Pierson, that the question of prize might be definitely settled by +the commander, for he was not quite satisfied himself. The captain of +the Snapper was still in irons, and he and his companion had been put +under guard in the waist. The man with the mutilated nose had not yet +seen Christy, and possibly he was still wondering what had become of his +chief officer and the two men who had been ordered to put the prisoner +on the ledge. + +Christy had informed Captain Chantor, in his narrative, of the manner in +which he had turned the tables on his custodians, and he had not +forgotten that the party were still where he had left them. He reminded +the commander of the latter fact, and a quartermaster was sent in the +third cutter to bring them off, and put them on board of the Snapper; +where a considerable force still remained under the charge of Mr. +Carlin, the third lieutenant. + +"Now we will settle this matter with the captain of the Snapper, and I +hope to convince him that his vessel is a lawful prize, so far as she +can be so declared in advance of the decision of the court," said +Captain Chantor. "Come with me, if you please, Mr. Birdwing. For the +present, Mr. Passford, will you oblige me by keeping in the shade till I +send for you?" + +"Certainly, Captain Chantor, though I should like to hear what Captain +Flanger has to say in defence of his steamer," replied the passenger. +"But I will take care not to show myself to him till you are ready for +me." + +"I do not object to that arrangement. I do not quite understand who this +Percy Pierson is, though you mentioned him in your report of what had +occurred during your absence," added the commander. + +"He is the son of Colonel Richard Pierson, a Confederate commissioner, +who represents his government at Nassau, purchasing vessels as +opportunity to do so is found. His son is the person who tried to induce +me to take passage in the Snapper, with the promise that I should be +permitted to land at Key West. It was only a trick to get me on board of +the steamer; and when it failed, for I declined to fall into the trap, +I was captured by a gang of four or five ruffians, Captain Flanger being +one of them, and conveyed to the vessel, where I was locked up in a +stateroom till after she had sailed." + +"That is a proper question for the British government to deal with, and +I hope it will be put in the way of adjustment by the proper officials, +though I am inclined to regard it as an act of war, which will justify +me in holding the men engaged in the outrage as prisoners. Do you know +who they are, Mr. Passford?" + +"I can designate only three of them,--the captain, Mr. Dawbin, the mate, +who is now on the ledge, and Percy Pierson. I am sure they were all in +the carriage that conveyed me to the beach where I was put into the +boat. The others were sailors, and I could not identify them." + +"I will hold the three you name as prisoners," added Captain Chantor, +as he moved forward, followed by the executive officer. + +It was getting dark, and Christy made his way to the shadow of the +mainmast, where he obtained a position that enabled him to hear all that +passed without being seen himself. Captain Flanger seemed to be more +subdued than he had been reported to be on board of the Snapper, and the +commander ordered the irons to be taken from his wrists. + +"Captain Flanger, I have concluded to make a prize of the Snapper; but I +am willing to hear anything you may wish to offer," Captain Chantor +began. + +"I protest; you have no more right to make a prize of my vessel than you +have to capture a British man-of-war, if you were able to do such a +thing," replied the commander of the Snapper. + +"Do you claim that the Snapper is a British vessel?" + +"Yes, I do!" blustered Captain Flanger recklessly. + +"Are you a British subject?" + +"No, I am not; but I am not attempting to run the blockade." + +"For what port are you bound?" + +"Havana." + +"Have you a clearance for that port?" + +"For Havana, and a market." + +"But you have no more idea of going to Havana than you have of going to +China," added the captain of the Chateaugay. "You are bound to Mobile, +and you intend to run the blockade; and that intention proved, you are +liable to capture." + +"You seem to know my business better than I know it myself," said +Captain Flanger, with a sneer in his tones. + +"Perhaps I know it quite as well as you do, at least so far as the +voyage of the Snapper is concerned," replied the commander of the +Chateaugay, who proceeded to explain international law in relation to +the intention to run the blockade. "I shall be able to prove in the +court which sits upon your case that you left Nassau for the purpose +of running the blockade established at the entrance of Mobile Bay. +I presume that will be enough to satisfy both you and the court. In +Nassau you did not hesitate to announce your intention to run the +blockade, and get into Mobile." + +"I should like to see you prove it," growled the captain of the Snapper, +in his sneering tones. + +"I don't think you would like to see me do it; but I will take you at +your word, and prove it now. I have an excellent witness, to whom you +made your announcement;" and at this remark Christy stepped out from +behind the mainmast, and placed himself in front of the astounded +ruffian. "Lieutenant Passford, a naval officer in excellent repute, +is all ready to make oath to your assertions." + +Captain Flanger and Percy Pierson gazed in silence at the witness, for +they supposed he was on the ledge to which he had been transported by +the boat. Christy repeated what he had said before, and stated in what +manner he had been made a prisoner on board of the Snapper. + +"For this outrage in a neutral port I shall hold you and Mr. Pierson as +prisoners, leaving the government to determine what steps shall be taken +in regard to you; but I trust you will be handed over to the authorities +at Nassau, to be properly punished for the outrage." + +Of course this decision did not suit Captain Flanger; and Percy Pierson +appeared to be intensely alarmed at the prospect before him. Captain +Chantor, after consulting with his naval passenger, determined to send +the Snapper to Key West, from which she could readily be despatched to +New York if occasion should require. Mr. Carlin was appointed +prize-master, with a sufficient crew; and at daylight the next morning +he sailed for his destination. + +The boat which had been sent for the mate and two men belonging to the +Snapper put them on board of the steamer; but the captain and the +passenger were retained on board of the Chateaugay. The man with the +mutilated nose was so disgusted at the loss of his vessel, and with the +decision of his captor, that he could not contain himself; and it became +necessary not only to restore his irons, but also to commit him to the +"brig," which is the ship's prison. + +"What is to become of me, Christy?" asked Percy in the evening, overcome +with terror at the prospect before him. + +"That is more than I can inform you," replied Christy coldly. + +"But we had no intention of doing you any harm; and we treated you well +after you went on board of the Snapper." + +"You committed a dastardly outrage upon me; but your punishment will be +left to others." + +"But I had no intention to do you any harm," pleaded Percy. + +"No more lies! You have told me enough since I met you." + +"But I am speaking the truth now," protested the frightened Southerner. + +"No, you are not; the truth is not in you! Did you mean me no harm when +you attempted to entice me on board of the Snapper? Did you mean me no +harm when you engaged Flanger and his ruffians to make me a prisoner, +and put me on board of his steamer? It was a flagrant outrage from +beginning to end; for I had the same rights in Nassau that you and your +father had, and both of you abused the hospitality of the place when you +assaulted me." + +"You were a prisoner of the Confederacy, and had escaped in a +blockade-runner; and I thought it was no more than right that you should +be returned to your prison," Percy explained. + +"I had the right to escape if I could, and was willing to take the risk; +and my capture in Nassau was a cowardly trick. But I did not escape from +a Confederate prison." + +"You told me you did." + +"I did not; that was a conclusion to which you jumped with very little +help from me." + +"I thought I was doing my duty to my country." + +"Then you were an idiot. You have done your best to compromise your +country, as you call it, with the British government. If your father is +not sent out of Nassau, I shall lose my guess as a Yankee." + +"But my father would not allow Captain Flanger to do you any harm; for +he was bent upon hanging you as soon as he got out of sight of land, and +he sent me with you to see my mother in order to prevent him from +carrying out his threat." + +"You would have been a powerful preventive in the face of such a brutal +ruffian as Captain Flanger," said Christy with a sneer. "You have lied +to me before about your father, and I cannot believe anything you say." + +"I am speaking the truth now; my father saved your life. I heard him +tell Flanger that he would lose the command of the Snapper if any harm +came to you." + +"If he did so, he did it from the fear of the British authorities. +I have nothing more to say about it." + +"But as my father saved your life, you ought to stand by me in this +scrape," pleaded Percy. + +"Whatever was done by you or your father for me, was done from the fear +of consequences; and you were the originator of the outrage against me," +added Christy, as he descended to the ward room. + +The next morning the Snapper was on her voyage to Key West, and the +Chateaugay headed for the Hole in the Wall, though she gave it a wide +berth, and stood off to the eastward. The next night, being the fourth +since the Eleuthera left the ship, the boat containing Mr. Gilfleur was +picked up about twenty miles east of the lights. The detective came on +board, and was welcomed by the captain, who had been called by his own +order. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A VISIT TO TAMPA BAY + + +As soon as Mr. Gilfleur had been welcomed back to the Chateaugay the +commander gave the order to the officer of the deck to have the Bahama +boat hoisted to the deck, and disposed of as before. + +"I beg your pardon, Captain Chantor; but be so kind as to allow the boat +to remain alongside, for I must return to Nassau," interposed the +detective. + +"Return to Nassau!" exclaimed the captain. + +"Yes, sir; it is really necessary that I should do so, for you see that +I have come back without Mr. Passford," replied the Frenchman. "He was +attacked by a cowardly ruffian in front of a saloon in the town, and I +lost sight of him after that. I have been terribly distressed about him, +for the ruffian threatened to kill him, and I fear he has executed his +threat." + +"Don't distress yourself for another instant, Mr. Gilfleur, for Mr. +Passford is on board of the ship at this moment, and doubtless asleep in +his stateroom," said the captain, cutting short the narrative of the +detective. + +"On board of the ship!" exclaimed the Frenchman, retreating a few paces +in his great surprise. "Impossible! Quite impossible! I found our boat +just where we had left it at the back side of the island." + +"But what I say is entirely true; and Mr. Passford wished me to have him +called when you came on board," added the commander, as he sent a +quartermaster to summon Christy to the captain's cabin. + +"I don't understand how Mr. Passford can be on board of the ship," +continued the bewildered Frenchman. "Ah, he might have hired a boat like +the Eleuthera to bring him off." + +"He might have done so, but he did not," replied Captain Chantor, as he +directed the officer of the deck to go ahead, making the course east, as +soon as he had secured the detective's boat. "Now, if you will come to +my cabin, Mr. Gilfleur, Mr. Passford shall inform you himself that he is +on board of the ship; and he has quite an exciting story to tell." + +The commander and the Frenchman went below, and seated themselves in the +cabin of the former. + +"Mr. Passford has already informed me that the Ovidio is at Nassau, but +that she has been seized by a British gunboat for violation of the +neutrality laws," said the captain. + +"That is quite true, and it is not probable that the case will be +settled for a month to come," replied Mr. Gilfleur. "But I ascertained +by great good luck that her armament was waiting for her at Green Cay, +if you know where that is: I do not." + +"It is on the Tongue of the Ocean, as it is called, nearly a hundred +miles to the southward of Nassau. I supposed it would be managed in some +such way as that," added the commander. "But do you think it will be a +month before her case will be settled?" + +"Of course I know nothing about it myself; but I found a court official +who was very desirous of talking French, and he invited me to dine with +him at his house. I began to ask him questions about the blockade, and +the vessels in the harbor; and finally he gave me his opinion that a +decision in the case of the Ovidio could not be reached in less than a +month, and it might be two mouths." + +At this moment there was a knock at the door of the cabin, and the +captain called to the person to come in. Christy, who had taken the time +to dress himself fully, opened the door and entered the cabin. The +Frenchman leaped from his seat, and embraced the young officer as though +he had been his wife or sweetheart, from whom he had been separated for +years. Christy, who was not very demonstrative in this direction, +submitted to the hugging with the best possible grace, for he knew that +the detective was sincere, and had actually grown to love him, perhaps +as much for his father's sake as for his own. + +"Oh, my dear Mr. Passford, you are to me like one who has come out of +his grave, for I have believed for nearly three days that you had been +killed by the ruffian that attacked you in the street!" exclaimed Mr. +Gilfleur, still pressing both of his late companion's hands in his own. +"I was never so rejoiced in all my life, not even when I had unearthed a +murderer." + +"Perhaps you expected to unearth another murderer," said Christy with a +smile. + +"That was just what I intended to do. I heard the villanous ruffian +swear that he would kill you, and I was almost sure he had done so when +you failed to meet me in the rear of the hotel." + +At the request of the commander, Christy repeated the story of his +adventure in Nassau as briefly as possible, up to the time he had been +picked up by the Chateaugay's cutter, and conveyed on board of the ship. +The detective was deeply interested, and listened to the narration with +the closest attention. At the end of it, he pressed the hand of the +young officer again, and warmly congratulated him upon his escape from +the enemy. + +Mr. Gilfleur then reported more in detail than he had done before, the +result of his mission. He gave the names of all the intending +blockade-runners in the harbor of Nassau; but the captain declared that +he could not capture them on any such evidence as the detective had been +able to obtain, for it would not prove the intention. + +"The Ovidio may not come out of Nassau for two months to come, and then +she will proceed to Green Cay," said Captain Chantor. "I do not think I +should be justified in waiting so long for her, especially as she is to +run her cargo into Mobile. The blockaders will probably be able to pick +her up. I think my mission in the Bahama Islands is finished, and the +Chateaugay must proceed to more fruitful fields." + +"But you have not made a bad voyage of it so far, Captain Chantor," +added Christy. "You sent in the Ionian, sunk the Dornoch, and captured +the Cadet and the Snapper, to say nothing of bagging a Confederate +commissioner, and the son of another. I should have been glad if you had +sent in Colonel Pierson, for he has already done our commerce a great +deal of mischief." + +"I am entirely satisfied, and doubtless the information obtained here +and at the Bermudas will enable our fleet to pick up some more of the +steamers you have spotted," added the captain, as he rose from his seat, +and dismissed his guests. + +The Frenchman was so exhausted by his labors, and the want of sleep, +that he retired at once to his room, while Christy went on deck with the +commander. The ship had been working to the eastward for over an hour; +but the order was given for her to come about, and the course was laid +for the light at the Hole in the Wall. + +"Now, Mr. Passford, we are bound for the Gulf of Mexico, putting in at +Key West for the purpose of attending to the affair of the Snapper," +said Captain Chantor. "In a few days more no doubt you will be able to +report for duty on board of the Bellevite." + +"I shall not be sorry to be on duty again, and especially in the +Bellevite," replied Christy, as he went to his stateroom to finish his +night's sleep. + +The next day the Chateaugay overhauled the Snapper; but all was well on +board of her, and the ship proceeded on her course. On the third day she +went into the harbor of Key West. Christy and the captain went to work +at once on the legal questions relating to the prize last taken. The +evidence was deemed sufficient to warrant the sending of her to New +York, and on her arrival the prize-master was directed to proceed to +that port. Captain Flanger and Percy Pierson were transferred to her, +and she sailed the next day; but she encountered a tremendous storm on +the Atlantic coast, and was totally wrecked on Hetzel Spit, near Cape +Canaveral. The prisoners were put into one boat, which upset, and all in +it were drowned, while the other boat, in charge of Lieutenant Carlin, +succeeded in reaching the shore of Florida. + +The Snapper's case was settled, therefore, outside of the courts. +Captain Flanger perished in his wickedness, and Percy Pierson never +reached his mother in Mobile. But it was weeks before the news of the +disaster reached the Chateaugay and the Bellevite. Christy did not mourn +the loss of his great enemy, and he was sorry only that the young man +had not lived long enough to become a better man. + +The Chateaugay proceeded on her voyage, and reported to the flag-officer +of the Eastern Gulf Squadron; by whom she was assigned to a place in the +fleet off Appalachicola, while Christy was sent in a tender to the +Bellevite, then on duty off the entrance to Mobile Bay. + +At this point it became necessary for Christy and Mr. Gilfleur to +separate, for the latter was to proceed to New York by a store-ship +about to sail. The detective insisted upon hugging him again, and the +young officer submitted with better grace than usual to such +demonstrations. He had become much attached to his companion in the late +enterprises in which they had been engaged, and he respected him very +highly for his honesty and earnestness, and admired his skill in his +profession. On the voyage from Key West, Christy had written letters to +all the members of his family, as well as to Bertha Pembroke, which he +committed to the care of Mr. Gilfleur when they parted, not to meet +again till the end of the war. + +When Christy went on board of the Bellevite he was warmly welcomed by +Captain Breaker, who happened to be on deck. Mr. Blowitt was the next to +grasp his hand, and before he had done with him, Paul Vapoor, the chief +engineer, the young lieutenant's particular crony, hugged him as though +he were a brother. + +Most of the old officers were still in the ship, and Christy found +himself entirely at home where-ever he went on board. He was duly +presented to Mr. Walbrook, the third lieutenant, the acting second +lieutenant having returned to the flag-ship in the tender. + +For all the rest of the year the Bellevite remained on duty as a +blockader off Fort Morgan. It was an idle life for the most part, and +Christy began to regret that he had caused himself to be transferred +from the command of the Bronx. The steamer occasionally had an +opportunity to chase a blockade-runner, going in or coming out of the +bay. She was the fastest vessel on the station, and she never failed to +give a good account of herself. + +Late in the year the Bellevite and Bronx were ordered to operate at +Tampa Bay, where it was believed that several vessels were loading with +cotton. On the arrival of the ships off the bay, a boat expedition was +organized to ascertain what vessels were in the vicinity. But the +entrance was protected by a battery, and it was supposed that there were +field-works in several places on the shores. One of these was discovered +just inside of Palm Key, and the Bellevite opened upon it with her big +midship gun. Two or three such massive balls were enough for the +garrison, and they beat a precipitate retreat, abandoning their pieces. +There was water enough to permit the steamer to go into the bay nearly +to the town at the head of it. + +No other batteries were to be seen, and the Bronx proceeded up the bay, +followed by the Bellevite. When the latter had proceeded as far as the +depth of water rendered it prudent for her to go at that time of tide, +the Bronx went ahead some ten miles farther. The boat expedition, +consisting of three cutters from the Bellevite and one from the Bronx, +moved towards the head of the bay. Christy, in the second cutter of the +Bellevite, was at least two miles from any other boat, when a punt +containing a negro put out from the shore near him. + +"Are you a frien' ob de colored man?" demanded the negro as soon as he +came within speaking-distance of the cutter. + +"Within reasonable limits, I am the friend of the colored man," replied +Christy, amused at the form of the question. + +"What you gwine to do up dis bay, massa?" asked the colored man. + +"That will depend upon what we find up this bay." + +"You don't 'spect you find no steamers up dis bay, does you, massa?" + +"Do you know of any steamers up this bay, my man?" asked Christy. "Do +you know of any vessels up here loading with cotton?" asked Christy. + +"P'raps I do, massa; and den, again, p'raps I don't know anyt'ing about +any vessels," replied the negro, very indefinitely. + +Christy was provoked at the manner in which the negro replied to his +questions. Ordering his boat's crew to give way with all their might, +he directed the cockswain to run for the punt of the negro. The cutter +struck it on the broadside, and broke it into two pieces. The boatman +was fished up, and hauled on board of the boat. + + [Illustration: + "The boatman was fished up and hauled on board the boat." Page 301.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +AMONG THE KEYS OF TAMPA + + +Christy Passford did not intend to cut the negro's punt into two pieces, +though perhaps there was some mischief in the purpose of the cockswain. +The boatman gave him an evasive answer to his question, which provoked +the young officer. The punt was a very old affair, reduced almost to +punk by the decay of the boards of which it was built, or the bow of the +cutter would not have gone through it so readily. The lieutenant had +simply desired to get alongside the negro's shaky craft in order to +question him, for he was satisfied from the fellow's manner that he knew +more than he pretended to know. + +The boatman had come off from the shore of his own accord; he had not +been solicited to give any information, and his movements had been +entirely voluntary on his own part. Yet Christy was sorry that his punt +had been stove, valueless as the craft had been; for, as a rule, the +colored people were friendly to the Union soldiers, and he was not +disposed to do them any injury. + +As soon as the officer in charge of the boat saw that the bow was likely +to strike the punt, he directed the cockswain to stop and back her, +which was done, but too late to save the flimsy box from destruction. +The two bowmen drew in the negro without any difficulty; and so +expeditiously had he been rescued that he was not wet above the hips. +He had been caught up just as the bow of the cutter cut into the punt. + +"That was well done, bowmen," said Christy, as the boatman was placed +upon his feet in the fore sheets. + +The negro was rather small in stature, and black enough to save all +doubts in regard to his parentage; but there was an expression of +cunning in his face not often noticed in persons of his race. The +coast of Florida, south of the entrance to Tampa Bay, as in many other +portions, is fringed with keys, or cays as they are called in the West +Indies, which are small islands, though many of them are ten miles in +length. This fringe of keys extended up Tampa Bay for over twenty +miles; and it was from behind one of them that the punt had put out +when Christy's boat approached. The negro had been obliged to paddle +at least half a mile to come within speaking-distance of the cutter. + +"You done broke my boat in two pieces!" exclaimed the boatman, gazing at +the two parts of the floating wreck. "Don't t'ink you is a frien' ob de +colored man widin no limits at all, or you don't smash his boat like +dat." + +"That was an accident, my friend," replied Christy. "How much was the +punt worth?" + +"Dat boat wan't no punk, massa, and it was wuf two dollars in good +money," replied the colored man, his eyes brightening, and his +expression of cunning becoming more intense, when he realized the +possibility of being paid for his loss. + +"If you give me the information I desire, I will pay for the boat," +added Christy, who proposed to do so out of his own pocket, for his +father was a millionaire of several degrees, and the son had very nearly +made a fortune out of the prizes, from which he had received an +officer's share. + +"Tank you, massa; I'm a poor man, and I git my livin' gwine fishin' in +dat boat you done stove." + +"What is your name, my man?" + +"Quimp, sar; and dat's de short for Quimple," replied the colored person +of this name. + +"Where do you live?" + +"Ober on de shor dar, in de woods." + +"How deep is the water inside of these keys, Quimp?" asked Christy, +pointing to the long, narrow islands which lined the south-easterly side +of the bay. + +"Not much water inside dem keys dar, sar," replied the boatman, looking +off in the other direction. + +"But there are deep places in there, I am very sure." + +"Yes, sar; ten feet in some places," replied Quimp, suddenly becoming +more communicative. "When de wind blow from de west or de norf-west, +dar's twelve foot inside de long key." + +"Do you know of any vessels, any schooners, or steamers, inside the bay, +Quimp?" asked Christy, pushing his inquiries a point farther. + +"Couldn't told you, massa," replied the boatman, shaking his head. + +"Do you mean that you don't know, my man?" + +"Dis nigger done got but one head, and it's wuf more to him dan it is to +any oder feller, massa; and it don't do for him to tell no stories about +vessels and steamers," replied Quimp, shaking his head more vigorously. + +"I suppose you have a family, Quimp?" + +"No, sar; done got no family. De ole woman done gone to glory more'n ten +years ago, and de boys done growed up and gone off. No, sar; dis nigger +got no family." + +"Then you don't care to stay here, where you have to work hard for +little money?" suggested Christy. + +"Money! Don't see no money. Nobody but white folks got any money; and +dey has next to noffin in dese times." + +"I will pay you well for any information that may be of importance to +me, and I will take you on board of a man-of-war farther down the bay, +if you are afraid of losing your head." + +"If dis nigger told some stories he lose his head for sartin," added +Quimp, shaking his head, as if to make sure that it safely rested on his +shoulders. + +"If you tell me the truth, you shall be protected." + +"Wot you want to know, massa?" demanded Quimp, as though he was +weakening in his resolution. + +Christy could not help wondering why the boatman had come out from +behind the key, if he was not willing to impart his knowledge to the +officer of the boat, for he could not help understanding the object of +the gunboats in visiting the bay; and the Bellevite lay not half a mile +below the northern end of what Quimp called the long key. + +"I want to know if there are any steamers or other vessels in the bay," +replied Christy, coming directly to the point. "If there are any, we +shall find them; but you can save us the trouble of looking for them." + +"How much you gwine to gib me, massa, if I told you?" asked the negro, +as he walked between the men on the thwarts to the stern sheets, in +order to be nearer to the officer. + +"I will give you ten dollars if you will be sure and tell me the truth." + +"Dis nigger don't never told no lies, massa," protested Quimp. "If you +pay me five dollars for de boat you done stove, and"-- + +"But you said the boat was worth only two dollars," interposed the +officer. + +"Dat's de gospel truf, massa; but it costs me five dollars to get a new +boat, to say noffin about de time. I mought starve to def afore I can +get a boat." + +The negro's argument was logical, and Christy admitted its force, and +expressed his willingness to pay the price demanded. + +"Five dollars for de boat, massa, and ten dollars for tellin' de whole +truf," added Quimp. + +"All right, my man," added the lieutenant. + +"Yes, sar; but I want de money now, sar," said Quimp, extending his hand +to receive it; and Christy thought he was very sharp for one in his +position. + +"I will pay you when you have imparted the information," he replied; +and, for some reason he could not explain, he was not satisfied with the +conduct of the negro. + +He was altogether too shrewd for one who appeared to be so stupid. The +expression of cunning in his face told against him, and perhaps it was +this more than anything else that prejudiced the officer. He took it for +granted that he should have to take the boatman off to the Bellevite +with him, and that it would be time enough to pay him on board of the +ship. + +"Dat won't do, massa!" protested Quimp earnestly. "What you tink? +Suppose dar is a steamer in de bay loaded wid cotton, all ready to quit +for somewhar. Do you tink, massa, I can go on bord of her wid you? No, +sar! Dis nigger lose his head for sartin if dem uns knows I pilot you to +dat steamer. You done got two eyes, massa, and you can see it for +shore." + +"But I can protect you, Quimp," suggested Christy. + +"No, sar! All de sojers in de Yankee camp could not save me, sar. De +first man dat sees me will knive me in de heart, or cut my froat from +one ear to de oder!" protested Quimp more earnestly than before, though +he manifested no terror in his words or manner. + +"Very well, Quimp; I will pay you the money as soon as we see the +steamer or other vessel, and then assist you to make your escape," +replied Christy. "I will go a step farther, and pay you for the boat +now; but I will not pay you the ten dollars till you show us a vessel." + +While the negro was scratching his head to stimulate his ideas, the +officer handed him a gold sovereign and a shilling of English money, +provided for his visit to Bermuda and Nassau, which made a little more +than five dollars. + +"I don't reckon a gemman like you would cheat a poor nigger," said +Quimp, while his eyes were still glowing with delight at the sight of +the money in his hand. + +"Certainly not, my man," replied Christy, laughing at the idea. "Just as +soon as I get my eye on the steamer of which you speak, I will pay you +the ten dollars in gold and silver." + +"I don't know much about dis yere money, massa," said the boatman, still +studying the coin. + +"The gold piece is an English sovereign, worth about four dollars and +eighty-five cents; and the silver coin is a shilling, worth very nearly +a quarter of a dollar; so that I have paid you over five dollars." + +"Yes, sar, tank you, sar. Cap'n Stopfoot fotched over some ob de money +like dat from Nassau, and I done seen it." + +"But I can't stop to talk all day, Quimp," continued Christy +impatiently. "If you are going to do anything to earn your ten dollars, +it is time for you to be about it." + +"Yes, sar; I will told you all about it, massa." + +"No long yarns, my man!" protested the officer, as Quimp seated himself +in the stern sheets as though he intended to tell a long story. + +"Yes, massa; told you all about it in a bref. De wind done blow fresh +from de norf-west for t'ree days; dat's what Massa Cap'n Stopfoot say," +Quimp began. + +"No matter what Captain Stopfoot says!" Christy interposed. "Tell me +where the steamer is, if there is any steamer in the bay. We will stop +the foot and the mouth of Captain Stopfoot when we come to him." + +"Well, sar, if you don't want to har dis nigger's yarn, he'll shet up +all to onct," replied Quimp, standing on his dignity. + +"Go on, then; but make it short," added Christy, finding it would take +less time to get what he wanted out of the negro by letting him have his +own way. "Wind fresh from the north-west for three days." + +"Yes, sar; and dat pile up de water so de tide rise six or eight inches +higher," continued Quimp, picking up the clew given him. "High tide in +one hour from now, and de Reindeer was gwine out den for shore. Dat's de +whole story, massa, and not bery long." + +"All right, Quimp. Now where is the Reindeer?" + +"Ober de oder side ob long key, massa. Dar's more'n four fadoms ob water +under dis boat now, and twelve feet 'tween de two keys," added the +boatman, whose tongue was fully unlocked by this time. + +The crew of the cutter were directed to give way, and the negro pointed +out the channel which led inside the keys. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE SURRENDER OF THE REINDEER + + +Christy looked over the side of the boat, and saw that the water was +quite clear. The channel, which lay in the middle of the bay, had four +and a quarter fathoms of water at mean low tide, according to the chart +the officer had with him. He had brought several copies of the large +chart with him from New York, and he had cut them up into convenient +squares, so that they could be easily handled when he was on boat +service. But his authority gave no depth of water on the shoal sands. + +In a short time the boat came to the verge of the channel, and Christy +directed the bowman to stand by with the lead, with which the boat was +provided. The first heaving gave three and a half fathoms, and it +gradually decreased at each report, till only two fathoms and a quarter +was indicated, when the boat was between the two keys, the southern of +which Quimp called the long key, simply because that was the longest in +the bay, and not because it was a proper name. + +"Now, Massa Ossifer, look sharp ober on de starboard side," said the +negro. + +"I don't see anything," replied Christy. + +"No, sar, not yet; but look ober dat way, and you see somet'ing fo' yore +t'ree minutes older, massa." + +Christy fixed his gaze on the point of the long key, beyond which Quimp +intimated that the steamer would be seen. + +"Now, Massa Ossifer, fo' yore two minutes nearer glory, you'll see de +end ob de bowsprit ob de Reindeer," added Quimp, who was beginning to be +somewhat excited, possibly in expectation of receiving his ten dollars; +and perhaps he was regretting that he had not demanded twenty. + +"How big is that steamer, Quimp?" asked the officer of the cutter. + +"Fo' hund'ed tons, massa; dat's what Cap'n Stopfoot done say, kase I +never done measure her. He done say she is very flat on her bottom, and +don't draw much water for her size," replied the negro. "Dar's de end ob +de bowsprit, massa!" he exclaimed at this moment. + +"Way enough, cockswain!" said Christy sharply. "Stern all!" + +The headway of the cutter was promptly checked, and she was set back a +couple of lengths, when the order was given to the crew to lay on their +oars. + +"W'at's the matter, Massa Ossifer? Arn't you gwine no furder?" asked +Quimp. + +"I have seen enough of the Reindeer to satisfy me that she is there; and +I have stopped the boat to give you a chance to make your escape," +replied Christy. "I don't want you to lose your head for the service you +have rendered to me." + +"Dis nigger can't get away from here, massa," replied the boatman, +looking about him. "A feller can't swim a mile when de water's full ob +alligators. Dem varmints like niggers to eat jus' as well as dey do +white men." + +Christy had his doubts about there being alligators of a dangerous size +in the bay, though he had seen small ones in other bays of the coast; +but he was willing to admit that Quimp knew better about the matter than +he did. It was a hard swim to any other key than the long one, to which +the cutter was quite near. He could land the negro on that key, but he +would reveal the presence of the boat to the people on board of the +Reindeer, and they would burn her rather than have her fall into the +hands of the Union navy. + +"I can land you on the long key, Quimp," suggested the officer. + +"No, sar! Can't go there; for Cap'n Stopfoot sartainly cotch me dar," +protested the negro. + +"I don't think so, Quimp." + +"De ossifers and men ob de Reindeer will go asho' when you done took de +steamer; don't you see dat, massa?" + +"What shall I do with you then?" asked Christy, as he handed him two +sovereigns and two shillings. + +"T'ank you, sar; dat's a pile ob money!" exclaimed Quimp, as he looked +with admiration upon the coins. + +"It is what I agreed to give you. But what shall I do with you now? That +is the question I want answered," continued the officer impatiently. + +"You can't do not'ing wid me, Massa Ossifer, and I must tooken my chance +to go up in de boat. Better hab my froat cut 'n be chawed up by a big +alligator. Was you ever bit by an alligator, Massa Ossifer?" + +"I never was." + +"I knows about dat, massa," added Quimp, as he bared his leg, and showed +an ugly scar. + +Christy would not wait to hear any more, but ordered the cockswain to go +ahead again. It looked to him that Quimp, now that he had received his +money, and made fifteen dollars out of his morning's work, was +intentionally delaying the object of the expedition, for what reason he +could form no clear idea. + +"I spose, if Captain Stopfoot kill me for w'at I done do, you'll bury me +side de old woman dat done gone to glory ten year ago?" continued the +negro, who did not look old enough to have buried a wife ten years +before. + +"I am not in the burying business, my friend, and after you are dead, +you had better send for your sons to do the job, for they will know +where to find the grave of the departed companion of your joys and +sorrows," replied Christy, as the boat came in sight of the bowsprit of +the Reindeer again. + +"My sons done gone away to Alabamy, sar, and"-- + +"That's enough about that. There are no alligators about here, and you +can swim ashore if you are so disposed; but you must shut up your wide +mouth and keep still if you stay in the boat. Heave the lead, bowman!" + +"Mark under water two, sir," reported the leadsman. + +In a few moments more the cutter had gained a position where the steamer +could be fully seen. She was a side-wheeler, and appeared to be a very +handsome vessel. She had a considerable deck-load of cotton, and +doubtless her hold was filled with the same valuable commodity. + +"Is that steamer armed, Quimp?" asked Christy, who could see no signs of +life on board of her. + +"She don't got no arms, but she hab two field-pieces on her for'ad +deck," replied the negro. + +"How many men has she on board?" + +"L'em me see: the cap'n and de mate is two, two ingineers, two firemen; +dat makes six; and den she hab two deck-hands." + +"But that makes only eight in all," replied Christy. "Are you sure that +is all?" + +"Dead shoar dat's all, Massa Ossifer." + +"But that is not enough to handle the steamer on a voyage to a foreign +port, for I dare say she is going to Nassau," added Christy, who was on +the lookout for some piece of strategy by which his boat and its crew +might be destroyed. + +"I don't know not'ing about dat, sar; but Cap'n Stopfoot is a pow'ful +smart man; and he's Yankee too. I done hear him say he gwine to j'in de +Yankee navy." + +What Quimp said was rather suspicious; but Christy could see nothing to +justify his doubts. He directed the cockswain to steer the cutter as +closely to the side of the Reindeer as the movement of the oars would +permit, so that the field-pieces could not be brought to bear upon it. +The steamer lay at a sort of temporary pier, which had evidently been +erected for her accommodation, and the cotton had doubtless been brought +to the key by river steamers by the Suwanee and other streams from +cotton regions. + +There was no habitation or other building on the shore, but a gangway +was stretched to the land, over which a couple of men were hastening on +board when the cutter reached the stern of the Reindeer. From +appearances Christy judged that the water had been deepened by dredges, +for a considerable quantity of sand and mud was disposed in heaps in the +shallow water a hundred feet or more from the rude wharf. + +"Boat ahoy!" shouted a person on board, near the starboard accommodation +ladder, which the officer of the boat had noticed was in place. + +"On board the steamer!" replied Christy. + +"What is your business here?" inquired the person on the deck of the +Reindeer, though he could not be seen from the cutter. + +"I will go on board and inform you," replied Christy. + +As there were no signs of resistance on board of the vessel, the officer +of the cutter directed his men to make a dash for the accommodation +ladder, which had the appearance of having been left to make things +convenient for a boarding-party. The crew were all armed with a cutlass +and revolver in the belt. + +"Lay her aboard!" said Christy, quietly enough, as he led the way +himself, for he was a bold leader, and was not content to follow his +men. As he leaped down from the bulwarks to the deck, he confronted the +person who had hailed him in the boat. + +"What is your business on board of the Reindeer?" demanded, in a very +tame tone, the man in front of him. + +"I am an officer of the United States navy, and my business is to make a +prize of this steamer and her cargo," replied Christy. + +"Is that so? You did not give me your name, sir," added the man. + +"Lieutenant Passford, attached to the United States steamer Bellevite. +Do me the favor to explain who you are, sir," returned Christy. + +"I am Captain Solomon Stopfoot, in command of the Reindeer, at your +service, born and brought up on Long Island," answered the commander of +the steamer. + +"Then what are you doing here?" demanded the naval officer. "Where were +you born on Long Island?" + +"In Babylon, on the south shore." + +"Then Babylon is fallen!" exclaimed Christy, indignant to find a man +born so near his own home doing the dirty work of the Confederate +government. + +"Perhaps not; and perhaps you may change your view of me when you have +heard my story," added Captain Stopfoot. + +"Well, Captain, there is only one story that I care to hear just now, +and its title is simply 'Surrender,'" replied Christy rather +impatiently. "You understand my business on board of the Reindeer; and +if you propose to make any resistance, it is time for you to begin." + +"It would be folly for me to make any resistance, and I shall not make +any. I have only two engineers, two firemen, foreigners, hired in +Nassau, who would not fight if I wished them to do so, and two +deck-hands. I could do nothing against the eight well-armed men you have +brought on board. I surrender." + +"I should say that was a wise step on your part, Captain Stopfoot," +replied Christy. "When you are more at leisure, I hope you will indulge +me in an explanation of the manner in which a Long Islander happens to +be engaged in blockade-running." + +"I am an American citizen now, as I have always been; I shall be only +too happy to get back under the old flag. As an evidence of my +sincerity, I will assist you in getting the Reindeer out of this place. +The tide is high at this moment; and half an hour from now it will be +too late to move the vessel," said Captain Stopfoot, with every +appearance of sincerity in his manner. + +"I will see you, Captain, as soon as I have looked the steamer over," +replied Christy, as he left the commander of the Reindeer at the door of +his cabin, and went forward to examine the vessel. + +He found the steam up; and the engineer bowed to him as he looked into +his room. There was nothing to be seen but cotton, piled high on the +deck, and stuffed into the hold; and he returned to the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +BRINGING OUT THE PRIZE + + +It seemed to Christy, after he had completed his examination of the +Reindeer, that she carried an enormous deck-load for a steamer of her +size, and that the bales were piled altogether too high for a vessel +that was liable to encounter a heavy sea. But the cotton was where it +could be readily thrown overboard if the safety of the steamer was +threatened by its presence. He found only the six men mentioned by +Stopfoot, though he had looked in every part of the vessel, even to the +fire-room and the quarters of the crew and firemen. + +"I find everything as you stated, Captain Stopfoot; but I should say +that you were proposing to go to sea short-handed. I did not even see a +person whom I took for the mate. Is it possible that you could get along +without one?" said Christy, when he met the commander at the door of the +cabin. + +"The truth is, that my men deserted me when they saw the two men-of-war +come into the bay, for they knew I had no adequate means of making a +defence. In fact, the Reindeer was as good as captured as soon as your +two steamers came into the bay, for you were morally sure to find her," +replied the captain. + +"But where are your men? How could they get away?" asked Christy. + +"They have not got away a great distance. You could see the gangway to +the shore; and all they had to do was to land, without even the trouble +of taking to a boat. They are all on the long key; and without some sort +of a craft they will not be able to leave it. If you desire to spend +your time in hunting them down, I have no doubt you could find them +all." + +"How many of them are there on the island, Captain Stopfoot?" + +"The mate, four deck-hands, and two firemen. It would not be a difficult +task for you to capture them all, for I did not look upon them as +fighting material; they have crowded about all the men of that sort into +the army." + +"I have no desire to find them, and they may stay on the key till +doomsday, so far as I am concerned," replied Christy. "We don't regard +the men employed on blockade-runners as of much account. But it is time +to get under way, Captain; I have men enough to do all the work, and I +think I have learned the channel well enough to find the way out into +the deep water of the bay." + +"As I said before, Lieutenant Passford, I am willing to assist you, for +I am anxious to get back among my own people, and to find a position in +the old navy. I have been master of a vessel for the last ten years, and +I know the Southern coast better than most of your officers." + +"No doubt you will find a place when you want one, for all competent men +are taken," replied Christy, as he went to the quarter to see if the +Bellevite's cutter was in condition to be towed by the Reindeer. + +He had left the boat in charge of Quimp, or rather he had left him in it +without assigning any particular duty to him. He was no longer in the +cutter, and the officer concluded that he had taken to the long key, and +was fraternizing with the renegades who had deserted the Reindeer. The +long painter of the boat was taken to the stern and made fast in a +suitable place, and Christy hastened to the forward part of the vessel +with six of his men, leaving a quartermaster, who was the cockswain of +the cutter, with two others, in charge of the after part. + +On his way he went into the engine-room, which opened from the main +deck, where he had before seen the two engineers, the chief of whom had +received him very politely. He suggested to the captain that he had made +no arrangement with these officers, and he was not quite sure that they +would be willing to do duty now that the steamer was a prize. + +"There will be no trouble about them, for they are Englishmen, engaged +at Nassau, and they will do duty as long as they are paid for it, as +they have no interest in the quarrel between the North and the South," +said Captain Stopfoot; and Christy could not help seeing that he was +making everything very comfortable for him. + +"We are willing to work for whoever will pay us," added the chief +engineer, "and without asking any hard questions." + +"I will see that you are paid," returned Christy. "You will attend to +the bells as usual, will you?" + +"Yes, sir; we will do our duty faithfully," answered the chief. + +Christy and the captain proceeded to the pilot-house, which appeared to +have been recently added to the vessel to suit the taste of her American +owners. The naval officer stationed one of his own men at the wheel, and +then took a careful survey of the position of the steamer. He directed +his crew to cast off the fasts. + +"Is there a United States flag on board of this craft, Captain +Stopfoot?" asked Christy. + +"To be sure there is, Lieutenant," said the captain with a laugh; "but I +do not get much chance to get under its folds." + +"Of course you have Confederate flags in abundance?" + +"Enough of them," replied the commander, as he drew forth from a +signal-box the flags required. "What do you intend to do with these?" + +"I intend to hoist the United States flag over the Confederate to show +that this steamer is a prize, otherwise the Bellevite might put a shot +through her as soon as she shows herself outside of the key," replied +Christy. + +"A wise precaution," added Captain Stopfoot. + +The naval officer rang one bell as one of his men reported to him that +the fasts had been cast off, and that all was clear. The grating sound +of the engine was immediately heard, with the splash of the paddle +wheels. Very slowly the Reindeer began to move forward. Christy had very +carefully noted the bearings of the channel by which the steamer must +pass out into the deep water of the bay, and the instructions which the +captain volunteered to give him were not necessary. + +"I suppose I am as really a Northern man in principle as you are, Mr. +Passford," said the captain, as the steamer crept very cautiously +through the pass between the keys. + +"If you are, you have taken a different way to show it," replied +Christy, glancing at the speaker. + +"But the circumstances have compelled me to remain in the service of my +Southern employer until the present time, and this promises to be the +first favorable opportunity to escape from it that has been presented to +me," Captain Stopfoot explained. + +"You have been to Nassau a number of times, I judge; and it was possible +for you to abandon your employment any time you pleased," suggested the +naval officer. + +"It was not so easy a matter as you seem to think; for there were no +Northern vessels there in which I could take passage to New York, or any +other loyal port. + +"Mr. Groomer, the mate of the Reindeer, is part owner of her, though he +is not competent to navigate a vessel at sea, and he kept close watch of +me all the time, on shore as well as on board." + +"But I understand that Mr. Groomer, the mate, has deserted you, and gone +on shore with the others of your ship's company," added Christy, rather +perplexed at the situation indicated by the captain. + +"What else could he do?" + +"What else could you do? and why did you not abandon the steamer when he +did so? If one of the owners would not stand by the vessel, why did you +do so?" + +"I have told you before why I did not: because I wish to get back to my +friends in the North, and find a place in the old navy, which would be +more congenial to me than selling cotton for the benefit of the +Confederacy," replied Captain Stopfoot with considerable energy. + +The explanation seemed to be a reasonable one, and Christy could not +gainsay it, though he was not entirely satisfied with the declarations +of the commander. He admitted that he regarded the Reindeer as good as +captured when he saw the Bellevite and Bronx come into the bay; and he +could easily have escaped in a boat to one of the gunboats after the +watchful mate "took to the woods," as he had literally done, for the key +was partly covered with small trees. + +"And a quarter two!" reported the leadsman who had been stationed on the +forecastle. + +"The water don't seem to vary here," added Christy. + +"No, for the owners had done some dredging in this channel; in fact, +there was hardly anything like a channel here when they began the work," +replied Captain Stopfoot. "To which of the steamers do you belong, Mr. +Passford?" + +"To the Bellevite, the one which lies below the long key. The other has +gone up the bay." + +"She has gone on a fruitless errand, for there is not another vessel +loading in these waters," said the captain. "I suppose you will report +on board of the Bellevite, Mr. Passford?" + +"Of course I shall not leave the Reindeer without an order from the +commander of the ship," replied the lieutenant. + +"And a half two!" shouted the leadsman. + +"The channel deepens," said Christy. + +"You will be in deep water in five minutes." + +On this report Christy rang four bells, and the Reindeer went ahead at +full speed. + +"By the mark three!" called the man at the lead. + +The water was deepening rapidly, and presently the report of three and a +half fathoms came from the forecastle. It was soon followed by "And a +half four," upon which the lieutenant directed the wheelman to steer +directly for the Bellevite. He had hardly given the order before the +report of heavy firing from the upper waters of the bay came to his ear. + +"What can that be?" he asked, looking at Captain Stopfoot. + +"I don't know; but I suppose that the gunboat which went up the bay is +firing at some battery she has discovered. They have strengthened the +works in that direction which defend the town, since the only one there +was silenced by one of your gunboats," the captain explained. + +The guns were heard on board of the Bellevite, and she began to move up +the bay as though she intended to proceed to the assistance of her +consort. Mr. Blowitt in the first cutter had followed the Bronx, and the +third cutter, in charge of Mr. Lobscott, had gone over to Piney Point, +to which there was a channel with from three to five fathoms of water, +and which seemed to be a favorable place to load a vessel with cotton. + +As the Reindeer approached the Bellevite, the latter stopped her screw, +and Christy directed the wheelman to run the steamer alongside, and +within twenty or thirty feet of her. There was no sea in the bay, and +there was no danger in doing so. As the Reindeer approached the position +indicated, two bells were struck to stop her. The flags that had been +hoisted on board, informed Captain Breaker of the capture of the +steamer, so that no report was necessary. + +"I have to report the capture of the Reindeer, loaded with cotton, and +ready to sail for Nassau," said Christy, mounting one of the high piles +of cotton bales, and saluting the commander of the Bellevite, who had +taken his place on the rail to see the prize. + +"Do you know the cause of the firing up the bay, Mr. Passford?" asked +Captain Breaker. + +"I do not, Captain; but I learn that the battery below the town has been +strengthened, and I should judge that the Bronx had engaged it." + +"Have you men enough to hold your prize, Mr. Passford?" + +"I think I have, Captain." + +"You will go down the bay, and anchor outside of Egmont Key." + +Christy rang one bell, and then four. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +A VERY IMPORTANT SERVICE + + +The Reindeer went ahead at full speed, while the Bellevite stood up the +bay, picking up the crew of Mr. Blowitt's boat on the way, evidently +with the intention of taking part in the action which the Bronx had +initiated. The loud reports at intervals indicated that the Bronx was +using her big midship gun, while the feebler sounds proved that the +metal of the battery was much lighter. The prize was not a fast steamer, +and she was over an hour in making the dozen miles to Egmont Island, on +which was the tower of a lighthouse forty feet high, but no use was made +of it at that time. + +The Bellevite proceeded very slowly, sounding all the time; but at the +end of half an hour the Reindeer was at least ten miles from her, which +was practically out of sight and hearing. About this time Christy +observed that Captain Stopfoot left the pilot-house, where he had +remained from the first; but he paid no attention to him. He had three +men on the quarter-deck of the steamer, one in the pilot-house with him, +and five more in other parts of the vessel. + +Christy knew the channel to the south of the lighthouse, and piloted +the steamer to a point about half a mile to the westward of the island. +He was looking through one of the forward windows of the pilot-house, +selecting a proper place to come to anchor, in accordance with the +orders of Captain Breaker. While he was so engaged he heard some sort of +a disturbance in the after part of the steamer. + +"On deck there!" he called sharply; and the five men who had been +stationed in this part of the steamer stood up before him, jumping up +from the beds they had made for themselves on the cotton bales, or +rushing out from behind them. "Hopkins and White, go aft and ascertain +the cause of that disturbance," he added. + +The two men promptly obeyed the order, and the naval officer directed +the other three to stand by to anchor the steamer. In a few minutes the +anchor was ready to let go. Perhaps a quarter of an hour had elapsed, +when Christy began to wonder what had become of the two men he had sent +aft to report on the disturbance. + +"Linman," he called to one of the three men on the forecastle, "go aft +and see what has become of Hopkins and White." + +Linman proceeded to obey the order, but had not been gone twenty +seconds, before the noise of another disturbance came to Christy's ears, +and this time it sounded very much like a scuffle. Up to this moment, +and even since Captain Stopfoot had left the pilot-house, Christy had +not suspected that anything on board was wrong. The sounds that came +from the after part of the vessel excited his suspicions, though they +did not assure him that the ship's company of the steamer were engaged +in anything like a revolt. + +"Follow me, Bench and Kingman!" he shouted to the two men that remained +on the forecastle. "Strike two bells, Landers," he added to the +wheelman. + +Christy had drawn the cutlass he carried in his belt, and was ready, +with the assistance of the two men he had called, to put down any +insubordination that might have been manifested by the ship's company of +the prize. He would have been willing to admit, if he had given the +matter any attention at that moment, that it was the natural right of +the captured captain and his men to regain possession of their persons +and property by force and violence; but he was determined to make it +dangerous for them to do so. + +"On the forecastle, sir!" exclaimed Landers, the wheelman. + +Christy had put his hand upon the door of the pilot-house to open it as +the two men were moving aft; but he looked out the window at the +exclamation of the wheelman. The cotton bales seemed to have become +alive all at once, for half a dozen of them rolled over like a spaniel +just out of the water, and four men leaped out from under them, or from +apertures which had been formed beneath them. + + [Illustration: + "His assailant put his arms around him and hugged him like a bear." + Page 339.] + +Bench and Kingman seemed to be bewildered, and both of them were thrown +down by the movement of the bales. The four men who had so suddenly +appeared sprang upon them, and almost in the twinkling of an eye had +tied their hands behind them. Christy drew one of the revolvers from his +belt; but he did not fire, for he was as likely to hit his own men as +their assailants. The victors in the struggle dragged the two men into +the forecastle, and disappeared themselves. + +Christy was almost confounded by the suddenness of the attack; but he +did not give up the battle, for he had at least six men in the after +part of the steamer. Bidding Landers draw his cutlass and follow him, he +rushed out at the door he had before opened. He could not see anything +aft but the walls of cotton bales, with a narrow passage between them +and the bulwarks. He moved aft with his eyes wide open; but he had not +gone ten feet before a man dropped down upon him from the top of the +deck-load with so much force as to carry him down to the planks. + +His assailant put his arms around him and hugged him like a bear, so +that he could neither use his cutlass nor his revolvers. At the same +moment another man dropped down on Landers in like manner. It was +impossible to resist an attack made from overhead, where it was least +expected, and when they were taken by surprise. Christy was a prisoner, +and his hands were bound behind him. + +At this moment Captain Stopfoot presented himself before the +prize-master, his face covered with smiles, and nervous from the excess +of his joy at the recapture of the Reindeer. Christy could not see what +had become of the rest of his men. He knew that three of them had been +secured, but he did not know what had become of the other six, and he +had some hope that they had escaped their assailants, and were in +condition to render him needed assistance, for it seemed impossible that +all of them could have been overcome. + +In spite of his chagrin and mortification, Christy could not help seeing +that the affair on the part of Captain Stopfoot had been well managed, +and that the author of the plot was smart enough to be a Yankee, whether +he was one or not. It was evident enough now that the mate and the rest +of the crew had not "taken to the woods," but had been concealed in such +dens as could be easily made among the cotton bales. + +"I hope you are not very uncomfortable, Mr. Passford," said Captain +Stopfoot, as he presented his smiling face before his late captor. + +"Physically, I am not very uncomfortable, in spite of these bonds; but +otherwise, I must say that I am. I am willing to acknowledge that it is +a bad scrape for me," replied Christy as good-naturedly as possible, for +his pride would not allow him to let the enemy triumph over him. + +"That would not be at all unnatural, and I think it is a very bad scrape +for a naval officer of your high reputation to get into," added the +captain. "But I desire to say, Mr. Passford, that I have no ill-will +towards you, and it will not be convenient for me to send you to a +Confederate prison, important as such a service would be to our cause." + +"I judge that you are not as anxious as you were to get into the old +navy," added Christy. + +"I confess that I am not, and that I should very much prefer to obtain a +good position in the Confederate navy. I hope you will excuse the little +fictions in which I indulged for your amusement. I was born in the very +heart of the State of Alabama, and never saw Long Island in all my +life," continued the captain. "By the way, my mate is not part owner of +the Reindeer, though he is just as faithful to her interests as though +he owned the whole of her; and it was he that pounced down upon you at +the right moment. I assure you he is a very good fellow, and I hope you +will not have any grudge against him." + +"Not the least in the world, Captain Stopfoot," replied Christy. + +"I hope I shall not be obliged to detain you long, Mr. Passford; and I +shall not unless one of your gunboats chases me. I shall endeavor to put +you and your men on shore at the Gasparilla Pass, where you can hail one +of the gunboats as it comes along in pursuit of the Reindeer, though I +hope they will not sail for this purpose before night." + +"The Bellevite is not likely to discover the absence of the prize at +present, for she will have to remain up the bay over one tide," said the +mate. + +"That is what I was calculating upon," added the captain. "Now, Mr. +Passford, I shall be compelled to take my leave of you, for we have to +stow the cotton over again before we go to sea. I am exceedingly obliged +to you for the very valuable service you have rendered me." + +"I was not aware that I had rendered you any service," replied Christy, +wondering what he could mean. + +"You are not? Then your perception is not as clear as I supposed it was. +When it was reported to me that two gunboats were coming into the bay I +considered the Reindeer as good as captured, as I have hinted to you +before. My cargo will bring a fortune in Nassau, and I am half owner of +the steamer and her cargo, if Mr. Groomer, the mate, is not. I was +almost in despair, for I could not afford to lose my vessel and her +valuable cargo. I considered myself utterly ruined. But just then I got +an idea, and I came to a prompt decision;" and the captain paused. + +"And what was that decision?" asked Christy curiously. + +"When I saw your boat coming, for I was on the long key, I determined +that you should bring the Reindeer out into the Gulf, and save me all +trouble and anxiety in regard to her, and I knew that you could do it a +great deal better than I could. Wherefore I am extremely grateful to you +for this very important service," said Captain Stopfoot, bowing very +politely. "But I am compelled to leave you now to your own pleasant +reflections. Mr. Passford, I shall ask you and your men to take +possession of the cabin, and not show yourselves on deck; and you will +pardon me if I lock the door upon you." + +The captive officer followed the captain aft to the door of the cabin. +On a bale of cotton he saw the cutlasses and revolvers which had been +taken from him and his men, which had apparently been thrown in a heap +where they happened to hit, and had been forgotten. Seated on the cotton +he found all his men, with their hands tied behind them. Captain +Stopfoot opened the cabin door, and directed his prisoners to enter. + +"Excuse me for leaving you so abruptly, Mr. Passford," continued the +captain while he was feeling in his pocket for the key of the door. "It +looks as though it were going to blow before night, and I must get ready +for it. Besides, the Bellevite may return on the present tide, and I am +informed that she is a very fast sailer, as the Reindeer is not, and I +must make the most of my opportunity; but when my fortune is made out of +my present cargo, I shall owe it largely to you. Adieu for the present." + +Captain Stopfoot left the cabin, locking the door behind him. The hands +of the prisoners, ten in number, were tied behind them with ropes, for +probably the steamer was not provided with handcuffs. Christy examined +his men in regard to the manner in which they had been overcome. The +three men who had been left near the cabin door had been overthrown by +those who jumped down upon them when they were separated, one at the +stern, one on the bales, watching the Bellevite in the distance, and the +third asleep on a cotton bale. The lieutenant had seen the rest of the +enterprise. + +"This thing is not going to last long, my men," said Christy, who +realized that he should never be able to stand up under the obloquy of +having brought out a blockade-runner for the enemy. + +He caused the hands to march in front of him till he found one who had +been carelessly bound. He backed this one up in the rear of Calwood, the +quartermaster, and made him untie the line, which he could do with his +fingers, though his wrists were bound. It was not the work of three +minutes to unbind the rest of them. + +Christy broke a pane of glass in the door, and unlocked it with the key +the captain had left in the keyhole. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +AN UNDESIRED PROMOTION + + +As Christy unlocked the cabin door, he discovered a negro lying on the +deck, as close as he could get to the threshold. The man attempted to +spring to his feet, but the officer seized him by the hair of the head, +and pulled him into the cabin. + +"Here, Calwood, put your hand over this fellow's mouth!" said Christy to +the quartermaster, who laid violent hands on him, assisted by Norlock. + +The latter produced a handkerchief, which he thrust into the mouth of +the negro, so that he could not give the alarm. All the men were alert +and eager to wipe out the shame, as they regarded it, of the disaster; +and those who had been stationed near the cabin had certainly been +wanting in vigilance. Two of them seized a couple of the lines with +which they had been bound, and tied the arms of the negro behind him. + +A second look at the negro assured Christy that it was Quimp, and he was +more mortified than before at the trick which had been played upon him. +Thrusting his hand into the pocket of the fellow, he drew from it the +three sovereigns and the three shillings he had paid him for his boat +and his information. It was evident enough now that he belonged to the +Reindeer, and that he had been sent out by Captain Stopfoot to do +precisely what he had done, taking advantage of the general good feeling +which prevailed between the negroes and the Union forces. + +Christy thought that Captain Stopfoot had been over-confident to leave +his prisoners without a guard; but it appeared now that Quimp had been +employed in this capacity, though it was probable that he had been +instructed not to show himself to them, and for that reason had crept to +his station and lain down on the deck. + +"Now, my men, take your arms from that bale of cotton; but don't make +any noise," said Christy in a low tone, as he took his revolvers and +cutlass from the heap of weapons; and the seamen promptly obeyed the +order. "The captain of this steamer managed his affair very well indeed, +and I intend to adopt his tactics." + +The steamer was under way, and had been for some time. Christy climbed +upon the bales of cotton far enough to see what the crew of the vessel +were doing. The hatches appeared to have been taken off in the waist and +forward, and the crew were lowering cargo into the hold. A portion of +the cotton had either been hoisted out of the hold, or had been left on +deck, to form the hiding-places for the men. The captain must have had +early notice of the approach of the Bellevite and Bronx; but there had +been time enough after the former began to fire at the battery to enable +him to make all his preparations. + +Captain Stopfoot was not to be seen, and was probably in the +pilot-house. The officer concluded that there must be as many as four +men in the hold attending to the stowage of the bales, and four more +could be seen tumbling the cargo through the hatches. This accounted for +eight men; and this was the number Christy had figured out as the crew +of the Reindeer, though there was doubtless a man at the wheel. The +force was about equal to his own, not counting the engineers and the +firemen. + +Christy stationed his men as he believed Captain Stopfoot had arranged +his force. The cabin was in a deck-house; between the door of it and the +piles of cotton was a vacant space of about six feet fore and aft, which +could not be overlooked from the forward part of the vessel. It was here +that the first movement had been made. Calwood, who had been on duty +here, said that two men had dropped down upon them; and when the third +man came to learn the cause of the disturbance, he had been secured by +two more. + +This was the noise that Christy had heard when he sent two hands from +the forecastle to ascertain the occasion of it. The three prisoners had +been disarmed, bound, and concealed in the cabin. They were threatened +with instant death if they made any outcry, and one of their own +revolvers was pointed at them. Linman, who had been sent to learn what +had become of Hopkins and White, was treated in the same manner. Then he +went himself, and the mate had dropped upon him, while those from under +the bales secured Bench and Kingman. + +Every sailor was fully instructed in regard to the part he was to have +in the programme, and Christy had crawled forward to the point where he +found the aperture in which Groomer, the mate, had been concealed. He +was followed by Norlock, a very powerful man, who was to "make the drop" +on Captain Stopfoot, and stuff a handkerchief into his mouth before he +could call for assistance. Christy believed that the commander would be +the first one to come aft when the men by the cabin fired their +revolvers, as they had been instructed to do. + +Two hands had been placed where they could fall upon the two who were +rolling the cotton into the hold at the hatch in the waist; and two more +were instructed to rush forward and fall upon the two men at work at the +fore-hatch. The four men in the space in front of the cabin were to leap +upon the bales and rush forward, revolvers in hand, and secure those at +work in the hold. If there was any failure of the plan to work as +arranged, the sailors were to rally at the side of their officer, ready +for a stand-up fight. + +Christy gave the signal for the two revolvers to be discharged. The +captain did not appear at the report of the arms as expected; but he +ordered the two hands at work at the after-hatch to go aft and look out +for the prisoners. The two seamen on that side of the steamer dropped +upon them, gagged them, and secured them so quickly that they could +hardly have known what had happened to them. The enterprise had been +inaugurated without much noise; but the captain had heard it, and called +one of the men at the fore-hatch to take the wheel, from which it +appeared that he had been steering the steamer himself. + +The naval officer saw this man enter the pilot-house, from which Captain +Stopfoot had come out. He moved aft quite briskly with a revolver in his +hand; but as soon as he had reached the point where the mate had dropped +upon him, Christy leaped upon his head and shoulders, and he sank to +the deck, borne down by the weight of his assailant. He was surprised, +as the first victim of the movement had been, and a handkerchief was +stuffed into his mouth. He had dropped his weapon, which Christy picked +up and discharged while his knees were placed on the chest of the +prostrate commander, and his left hand grappled his throat. He was +conquered as quickly as the first victim had been. + +The shots had been the signal for all not engaged to rally at the side +of the lieutenant, and the men rushed forward. All of them had removed +their neck handkerchiefs to serve as gags, and they brought with them +the lines with which they had been bound. The captain was rolled over, +and his arms tied behind him. He was sent aft to the cabin, while +Christy led six of his crew forward. The hands in the hold had attempted +to come on deck, but the two sailors at each hatch dropped upon them. + +In less than five minutes every one of the crew of the Reindeer had been +"jumped upon," as the sailors put it, bound, and marched to the cabin. +The battle was fought and the victory won. Christy was quite as happy as +Captain Stopfoot had been when he had taken possession of the steamer. +The man at the wheel had been the last to be secured, and Calwood was +put in his place, with directions to come about and steer for Egmont +Key. + +Christy determined not to make the mistake Captain Stopfoot had +committed in leaving his prisoners insufficiently guarded. He selected +four of his best men, ordered them to hold the cutlass in the right hand +and the revolver in the left, and to keep their eyes on the prisoners +all the time. He then went to those who had been gagged, and removed the +handkerchiefs from their mouths. + +"I am as grateful to you, Captain Stopfoot, as you were to me less than +an hour ago," said Christy, and he removed the gag from his mouth. "I am +happy to be able to reciprocate your complimentary speeches." + +"I am not aware that I have done anything to merit your gratitude, Mr. +Passford," said the chief prisoner. + +"You are not? Why, my dear Captain, you could not have arranged +everything better than you did for the recapture of the Reindeer," +replied Christy. + +"I did not think that ten men with their hands tied behind them could do +anything to help themselves; but you Yankees are very ingenious, and it +seems that you found a way to liberate yourselves. Besides, I had a hand +here to watch you, with instructions to call me if there was any +trouble," added the captain, in an apologetic tone. + +"When the trouble came he was not in condition to call you," the +lieutenant explained. + +"No, sar! Dem beggars gagged me, and den robbed me of all my money!" +howled Quimp, whose greatest grievance was the loss of his fifteen +dollars. + +"That was hardly justifiable, Mr. Passford," added the captain shaking +his head. + +"It would not have been justifiable if the rogue had not first swindled +me out of the money," replied the naval officer. + +"How was that?" asked the chief prisoner. + +Christy explained the manner in which he had encountered Quimp, saying +that he had paid him five dollars for the loss of his boat, and ten for +the information that a steamer was loaded with cotton and ready to sail +behind the long key. + +"Quimp is as smart as a Yankee," said Captain Stopfoot, laughing in +spite of his misfortune. "The flatboat was one we picked up on one of +the keys; and the information was precisely what I instructed Quimp to +give you, without money and without price. I promised to give him ten +dollars if he would pretend to be an honest nigger, and do the job +properly. I have no fault to find with him; but under present +circumstances I have not ten dollars to give him. I have lost the +steamer and the cotton, and it seems to be all up with me." + +"I hope you will get into a safer business, Captain. I will suggest to +the commander of the Bellevite that you and your party be landed at +Gasparilla Pass; and I shall thus be able to reciprocate your good +intentions towards me." + +Christy had sent some of his men forward, and he now followed them +himself. The engineers had remained in their room, and kept the +machinery in motion. As the Reindeer approached Egmont Key, the +Bellevite, followed by the Bronx towing a schooner, were discovered +coming out of the bay. + +It was evident that the second lieutenant's capture had not been the +only one during the day, and he concluded that Mr. Lobscott had brought +out the schooner that had been supposed to be at Piney Point. + +The Reindeer was about two miles south of Egmont Key when the Bellevite +came out of the bay, and the latter stopped her screw as soon as she had +reached a favorable position a mile from the island. Christy brought his +prize as near to her as it was prudent to go in the open sea. The +lieutenant went to the cabin to look out for the prisoners there, and +found that the four men who had been detailed a guard were marching up +and down the cabin in front of their charge, plainly determined that the +steamer should not be captured again. + +"Boat from the Bellevite, sir," said one of the men on the quarter. + +"Where is the Bronx and her prize now, Kingman?" asked Christy. + +"Just coming by the island, sir." + +In a few minutes more the third cutter of the Bellevite came alongside. +Mr. Walbrook, the third lieutenant of the ship, came on board of the +Reindeer, and touched his cap to his superior officer. + +"Captain Breaker requests you to report on board of the ship, and I am +directed to take charge of the prize you have captured, Mr. Passford." + +"I will go on board at once, Mr. Walbrook," replied Christy. "It is +necessary for me to inform you before I leave that this steamer has +changed hands twice to-day, and her ship's company have given me a great +deal of trouble. The prisoners are in the cabin under guard, and I must +caution you to be vigilant. Calwood will inform you in regard to the +particulars." + +"I am sorry to inform you that Mr. Blowitt was severely, if not +dangerously wounded in the action with the battery up the bay, where we +had some sharp work," added Mr. Walbrook. + +"That is very bad news to me," replied Christy, who had known the +wounded man as second officer of the Bellevite when she was his father's +yacht, and had served under him when she became a man-of-war, and as his +first lieutenant in the Bronx. + +The intelligence filled him with anxiety and sorrow; but while he was +fighting for the right, as he had been for three years, he could not +give way to his feelings. Without asking for the result of the action up +the bay, he went over the side into the cutter, and ordered the crew to +pull for the ship. Mr. Blowitt had been more than his superior officer, +he had been his friend, and the young lieutenant was very sad while he +thought of the wounded officer. + +He found Captain Breaker on the quarter-deck; and he could see from his +expression that he was greatly affected by the condition of his +executive officer. Mr. Dashington, his first officer in the yacht, had +been killed in action the year before, and now another of his intimate +associates might soon be registered in the Valhalla of the nation's dead +who had perished while fighting for the right. + +"We have sad news for you, Mr. Passford," said the commander, who seemed +to be struggling with his emotions. + +"But I hope there is a chance for Mr. Blowitt's recovery, Captain +Breaker," added Christy. + +"I am afraid there is not. Dr. Linscott has very little hope that he +will live. But we have no time to mourn even for our best friends. You +have captured a steamer and brought her out; but I saw that you were +coming up from the southward when I first discovered the steamer. What +does that mean, Mr. Passford?" + +"I hardly know, Captain, whether I brought her out, or she brought me +out," replied Christy, who felt very tender over the Southern Yankee +trick which had been played upon him. "The steamer is the Reindeer, +Captain Stopfoot. My boat's crew were overpowered by her ship's company, +and we were all made prisoners; but we rebelled against the humiliating +circumstances, and recaptured the steamer." + +"Then you have redeemed yourself," added the captain. + +Christy gave a detailed report of all the events that had occurred +during his absence from the ship. The commander listened to him with the +deepest interest; for the young officer was in some sense his _protégé_, +and had sometimes been his instructor in navigation and seamanship. In +spite of the sadness of the hour, there was a smile on his face when he +comprehended the scheme of the captain of the Reindeer to get his vessel +out of the bay in the face of two men-of-war. + +While Christy was still on the quarter-deck, Mr. Lobscott came on board, +and reported the capture of the schooner Sylphide, full of cotton. Her +ship's company, consisting of six men, were on board of the Bronx. +Captain Breaker planked the deck for some time, evidently making up his +mind what to do with the prizes and with their crews, for he did not +regard these men as prisoners of war. He asked the second lieutenant +some questions in regard to the character of the Reindeer. She was an +old-fashioned craft, but a good vessel. + +"We are rather overburdened with prisoners, and I desire only to get rid +of them," said the captain. + +"Captain Stopfoot was considerate enough to announce his intention to +put me and my men on shore at Gasparilla Pass; and I promised to +reciprocate the favor by suggesting that he and his ship's company be +landed at the same place." + +"That will be a good way to get rid of them, and I will adopt the +suggestion," replied the commander. + +All the rest of the day and a part of the night were used up in making +the preparations for disposing of the prizes. A large number of hands +were sent on board of the Reindeer, and her cotton was nearly all placed +in the hold by good stowage. The prisoners from both prizes, except the +engineers and firemen, who were willing to work for wages, were +transferred to the Bronx. Mr. Lobscott was appointed prize-master of the +steamer, which was to tow the schooner to Key West, where both were to +be disposed of as circumstances might require. + +The Bronx was to convoy the two vessels as far as the Pass, where she +was to land her prisoners, and then return to her consort. At midnight +this fleet sailed. A protest against being landed at the place indicated +came from Captain Stopfoot before it departed; but the commander paid no +attention to it, declaring that if the Pass was good enough for one of +his officers, it was good enough for the captain of a blockade-runner. + +"Mr. Passford, by the lamentable accident to Mr. Blowitt, you become the +ranking lieutenant in condition for service," said Captain Breaker, soon +after the young officer had reported the capture of the Reindeer. "You +therefore become the acting executive officer of the Bellevite." + +"Of course I shall do my duty faithfully, Captain Breaker, in whatever +position is assigned to me," replied Christy, his bosom swelling with +emotion. "I regret more than anything else the occasion that makes it +necessary to put me in this place; and I am very sorry to be called upon +to occupy a position of so much responsibility." + +"You are competent to discharge the duties of executive officer, Mr. +Passford, though I appreciate your modesty in not desiring such an +important position; but there is no alternative at present." + +It was therefore under Christy's direction that all the arrangements for +sending off the prizes were made. The Bronx returned at noon the next +day, and both vessels sailed to the station of the flag-officer. The +commander reported that he had silenced two batteries, captured a +steamer and a schooner, sending them to Key West; but the shoal water in +the vicinity of Tampa had prevented him from capturing the town. + +Christy, in becoming first lieutenant, was relieved from duty as a watch +officer; but his duties and responsibilities had been vastly increased. +He was the second in command, and a shot from another vessel or a +battery on shore might make him the commander, and he certainly did not +aspire to such a charge and such an honor. There was something in the +situation that worried him greatly. Captain Breaker had not been to the +North since he entered upon his duties, now very nearly three years, and +the state of his health had given Dr. Linscott considerable uneasiness. + +Mr. Blowitt was sent home by a store-ship; but he died soon after his +arrival; and his loving companions-in-arms could not follow his remains +to an honored grave. + +The flag-officer, either because he believed that Christy was a faithful +and competent officer, in spite of his age, though in this respect he +had added a year to his span, or that no other officer was available for +the vacant position, made no other appointment, and Christy was +compelled to retain the place, very much against his desire. As he +thought of it he was absolutely astonished to find himself, even +temporarily, in so exalted a position. + +Here we are obliged to leave him for the present, crowned with honors +far beyond his most sanguine expectations, but always willing to do his +duty while fighting for the right. The future was still before him; he +had not yet done all there was for him to do; and in the early years of +his manhood came his reward, in common with the loyal sons of the +nation, in A VICTORIOUS UNION. + + + + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS + ++All-Over-the-World Library.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. First Series. + Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +A Missing Million+; or, The Adventures of Louis Belgrade. + 2. +A Millionaire at Sixteen+; or, The Cruise of the "Guardian + Mother." + 3. +A Young Knight Errant+; or, Cruising in the West Indies. + 4. +Strange Sights Abroad+; or, Adventures in European Waters. + + No author has come before the public during the present generation + who has achieved a larger and more deserving popularity among young + people than "Oliver Optic." His stories have been very numerous, + but they have been uniformly excellent in moral tone and literary + quality. As indicated in the general title, it is the author's + intention to conduct the readers of this entertaining series "around + the world." As a means to this end, the hero of the story purchases + a steamer which he names the "Guardian Mother," and with a number of + guests she proceeds on her voyage.--_Christian Work, N.Y._ + + ++All-Over-the-World Library.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Second Series. + Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +American Boys Afloat+; or, Cruising in the Orient. + 2. +The Young Navigator+; or, The Foreign Cruise of the "Maud." + 3. +Up and Down the Nile+; or, Young Adventurers in Africa. + 4. +Asiatic Breeze+; or, Students on the Wing. + + The interest in these stories is continuous, and there is a great + variety of exciting incident woven into the solid information which + the book imparts so generously and without the slightest suspicion + of dryness. Manly boys will welcome this volume as cordially as they + did its predecessors.--_Boston Gazette_. + + ++All-Over-the-World Library.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Third Series. + Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +Across India+; or, Live Boys in the Far East. + 2. +Half Round the World+; or, Among the Uncivilized. + 3. +Four Young Explorers+; or, Sight-Seeing in the Tropics. + 4. +Pacific Shores+; or, Adventures in Eastern Seas. + + Amid such new and varied surroundings it would be surprising indeed + if the author, with his faculty of making even the commonplace + attractive, did not tell an intensely interesting story of + adventure, as well as give much information in regard to the distant + countries through which our friends pass, and the strange peoples + with whom they are brought in contact. This book, and indeed the + whole series, is admirably adapted to reading aloud in the family + circle, each volume containing matter which will interest all the + members of the family.--_Boston Budget_. + + +LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE. + + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS + ++Army and Navy Stories.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Six volumes. Illustrated. + Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $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." + + ++Boat Builders Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. Illustrated. + Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +All Adrift+; or, The Goldwing Club. + 2. +Snug Harbor+; or, The Champlain Mechanics. + 3. +Square and Compasses+; or, Building the House. + 4. +Stem to Stern+; or, Building the Boat. + 5. +All Taut+; or, Rigging the Boat. + 6. +Ready About+; or, Sailing the Boat. + + "The series includes in six successive volumes the whole art of boat + building, boat rigging, boat managing, and practical hints to make + the ownership of a boat pay. A great deal of useful information + is given in this +Boat Builders Series+, and in each book a very + interesting story is interwoven with the information. Every reader + will be interested at once in Dory, the hero of 'All Adrift,' and + one of the characters retained in the subsequent volumes of the + series. His friends will not want to lose sight of him, and every + boy who makes his acquaintance in 'All Adrift' will become his + friend." + + ++Riverdale Story Books.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Twelve volumes. Illustrated. + Illuminated covers. Price: cloth, per set, $3.60; per volume, + 30 cents. + + 1. +Little Merchant.+ 7. +Proud and Lazy.+ + 2. +Young Voyagers.+ 8. +Careless Kate.+ + 3. +Christmas Gift.+ 9. +Robinson Crusoe, Jr.+ + 4. +Dolly and I.+ 10. +The Picnic Party.+ + 5. +Uncle Ben.+ 11. +The Gold Thimble.+ + 6. +Birthday Party.+ 12. +The Do-Somethings.+ + ++Riverdale Story Books.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Six volumes. Illustrated. + Fancy cloth and colors. Price per volume, 30 cents. + + 1. +Little Merchant.+ 4. +Careless Kate.+ + 2. +Proud and Lazy.+ 5. +Dolly and I.+ + 3. +Young Voyagers.+ 6. +Robinson Crusoe, Jr.+ + ++Flora Lee Library.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Six volumes. Illustrated. + Fancy cloth and colors. Price per volume, 30 cents. + + 1. +The Picnic Party.+ 4. +Christmas Gift.+ + 2. +The Gold Thimble.+ 5. +Uncle Ben.+ + 3. +The Do-Somethings.+ 6. +Birthday Party.+ + + These are bright short stories for younger children who are unable + to comprehend the +Starry Flag Series+ or the +Army and Navy + Series+. But they all display the author's talent for pleasing + and interesting the little folks. They are all fresh and original, + preaching no sermons, but inculcating good lessons. + + +LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE. + + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS + ++The Great Western Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. + Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +Going West+; or, The Perils of a Poor Boy. + 2. +Out West+; or, Roughing it on the Great Lakes. + 3. +Lake Breezes+; or, The cruise of the Sylvania. + 4. +Going South+; or, Yachting on the Atlantic Coast. + 5. +Down South+; or, Yacht Adventures in Florida. + 6. +Up the River+; or, Yachting on the Mississippi. + + "This is the latest series of books issued by this popular writer, + and deals with life on the Great Lakes, for which a careful study + was made by the author in a summer tour of the immense water sources + of America. The story, which carries the same hero through the six + books of the series, is always entertaining, novel scenes and varied + incidents giving a constantly changing yet always attractive aspect + to the narrative. OLIVER OPTIC has written nothing better." + + ++The Yacht Club Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. Illustrated. +Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +Little Bobtail+; or, The Wreck of the Penobscot. + 2. +The Yacht Club+; or, The Young Boat Builders. + 3. +Money-Maker+; or, The Victory of the Basilisk. + 4. +The Coming Wave+; or, The Treasure of High Rock. + 5. +The Dorcas Club+; or, Our Girls Afloat. + 6. +Ocean Born+; or, The Cruise of the Clubs. + + "The series has this peculiarity, that all of its constituent + volumes are independent of one another, and therefore each story is + complete in itself. OLIVER OPTIC is, perhaps, the favorite author of + the boys and girls of this country, and he seems destined to enjoy + an endless popularity. He deserves his success, for he makes very + interesting stories, and inculcates none but the best sentiments, + and the 'Yacht Club' is no exception to this rule."--_New Haven + Journal and Courier_. + + ++Onward and Upward Series+. By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. +Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +Field and Forest+; or, The Fortunes of a Farmer. + 2. +Plane and Plank+; or, The Mishaps of a Mechanic. + 3. +Desk and Debit+; or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk. + 4. +Cringle and Crosstree+; or, The Sea Swashes of a Sailor. + 5. +Bivouac and Battle+; or, The Struggles of a Soldier. + 6. +Sea and Shore+; or, The Tramps of a Traveller. + + "Paul Farringford, the hero of these tales, is, like most of this + author's heroes, a young man of high spirit, and of high aims and + correct principles, appearing in the different volumes as a farmer, + a captain, a bookkeeper, a soldier, a sailor, and a traveller. In + all of them the hero meets with very exciting adventures, told in + the graphic style for which the author is famous." + + ++The Lake Shore Series+. By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. Illustrated. +Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +Through by Daylight+; or, The Young Engineer of the Lake Shore + Railroad. + 2. +Lightning Express+; or, The Rival Academies. + 3. +On Time+; or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer. + 4. +Switch Off+; or, The War of the Students. + 5. +Brake Up+; or, The Young Peacemakers. + 6. +Bear and Forbear+; or, The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga. + + "OLIVER OPTIC is one of the most fascinating writers for youth, and + withal one of the best to be found in this or any past age. Troops + of young people hang over his vivid pages; and not one of them ever + learned to be mean, ignoble, cowardly, selfish, or to yield to any + vice from anything they ever read from his pen."--_Providence + Press_. + + +LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE. + + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS + ++The Famous Boat Club Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Six volumes. + Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume $1.25. + + 1. +The Boat Club+; or, The Bunkers 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." + + ++Young America Abroad+: A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign + Lands. By OLIVER OPTIC. Illustrated by Nast and others. + First Series. Six volumes. Any volume sold separately. Price 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 boys' 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_. + + ++Young America Abroad.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Second Series. Six volumes. + Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price 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 + embittered 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_. + + +LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE. + + + * * * * * + * * * * + * * * * * + +Errata Noted by Transcriber: + +Invisible punctuation has been silently supplied, and superfluous +quotation marks removed. Inconsistent hyphenation has been retained. + +The spelling "cockswain" is standard for this text. The variation +between "knots" and "knots an hour" is as in the original. + +"_Demandez un garcon_" (ask for a waiter), "Christophe." + _cedilla missing in original_ +and your wonderful skill as a detective + _text reads "wonderful-skill"_ +he could not breathe as freely as usual + _text reads "breath"_ +There was a port light to the room + _so in original: "porthole"?_ +the commander of that steamer + _text reads "of of" at line break_ +I heard the villanous ruffian swear that he would kill you + _spelling "villanous" as in original_ +"Do you know of any steamers ..." asked Christy. + _entire paragraph as in original_ +He knew that three of them had been secured + _text reads "know"_ +All of them had removed + _text reads "of of"_ + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Fighting for the Right, by Oliver Optic + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT *** + +***** This file should be named 18803-8.txt or 18803-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/8/0/18803/ + +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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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: Fighting for the Right + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Illustrator: A. B. Shute + +Release Date: July 10, 2006 [EBook #18803] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT *** + + + + +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) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class = "mynote"> +The Frontispiece ("Christy seized him...") has been placed between +the Preface and the <a href = "#toc">Table of Contents</a>.<br> +<br> +Invisible punctuation has been silently supplied, and superfluous +quotation marks removed. Inconsistent hyphenation has been retained. +Other typographical errors are marked in the text with <ins class = +"correction" title = "like this">mouse-hover popups</ins>. The spelling +"cockswain" is standard for this text. The variation between "knots" +and "knots an hour" is as in the original. +</div> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/cover.jpg" width = "395" height = "617" +alt = "book cover: The Blue and the Gray by Oliver Optic: Fighting for the Right" +title = "The Blue and the Gray by Oliver Optic: Fighting for the Right"> +</p> + +<div class = "outline chapter"> + +<h2 class = "ital">THE BLUE AND THE GRAY—AFLOAT</h2> + +<h5>Two colors cloth Emblematic Dies Illustrated<br> +Price per volume $1.50</h5> + +<table> +<tr><td> +TAKEN BY THE ENEMY<br> +WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES<br> +ON THE BLOCKADE<br> +STAND BY THE UNION<br> +FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT<br> +A VICTORIOUS UNION +</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class = "tiny"> + +<h2 class = "ital">THE BLUE AND THE GRAY—ON LAND</h2> + +<h5>Two colors cloth Emblematic Dies Illustrated<br> +Price per volume $1.50</h5> + +<table> +<tr><td> +BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER<br> +IN THE SADDLE<br> +A LIEUTENANT AT EIGHTEEN<br> +ON THE STAFF<br> +AT THE FRONT<br> +AN UNDIVIDED UNION +</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class = "tiny"> + +<h5 class = "smallcaps">* * * Any Volume Sold +Separately * * *</h5> + +<hr class = "tiny"> + +<h3>LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS</h3> + +<h4>BOSTON</h4> + +</div> + + +<p class = "illustration chapter"> +<img src = "images/titlepage.png" width = "319" height = "488" +alt = "title page: The Blue and the Gray Series / by Oliver Optic / Fighting for the Right" +title = "The Blue and the Gray Series / by Oliver Optic / Fighting for the Right"> +</p> + + +<h4 class = "chapter ital">The Blue and the Gray Series</h4> + +<hr class = "tiny"> + +<h2 class = "smallcaps">Fighting for the Right</h2> + +<h6>BY</h6> + +<h4>OLIVER OPTIC</h4> + +<h6>AUTHOR OF "THE ARMY AND NAVY SERIES" "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD" "THE<br> +GREAT WESTERN SERIES" "THE WOODVILLE STORIES" "THE STARRY FLAG<br> +SERIES" "THE BOAT-CLUB SERIES" "THE ONWARD AND UPWARD<br> +SERIES" "THE YACHT-CLUB SERIES" "THE LAKE SHORE SERIES"<br> +"THE RIVERDALE STORIES" "THE BOAT-BUILDER SERIES"<br> +"TAKEN BY THE ENEMY" "WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES"<br> +"ON THE BLOCKADE" "STAND BY THE UNION"<br> +"A MISSING MILLION" "A MILLIONAIRE<br> +AT SIXTEEN" ETC., ETC., ETC.</h6> + +<hr class = "tiny"> + +<h5 class = "section extended">BOSTON</h5> + +<h5>LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS</h5> + + +<h6 class = "chapter smallcaps">Copyright, 1892, by Lee and Shepard</h6> + +<hr class = "tiny"> + +<h6 class = "ital">All rights reserved.</h6> + +<h6 class = "smallcaps">Fighting for the Right</h6> + + +<h6 class = "smallcaps chapter">Type-Setting and Electrotyping by<br> +C. J. Peters & Son, Boston</h6> + + + + +<h4 class = "boldf chapter">To</h4> + +<h5>MY GRAND NEPHEW</h5> + +<h4>RICHARD LABAN ADAMS</h4> + +<h5 class = "boldf">This Book</h5> + +<h6>IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED</h6> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">7</span> +<h4 class = "chapter">PREFACE</h4> + +<hr class = "tiny"> + +<p>"<span class = "smallcaps">Fighting for the Right</span>" is the +fifth and last but one of "The Blue and the Gray Series." The character +of the operations in connection with the war of the Rebellion, and the +incidents in which the interest of the young reader will be +concentrated, are somewhat different from most of those detailed in the +preceding volumes of the series, though they all have the same patriotic +tendency, and are carried out with the same devotion to the welfare of +the nation as those which deal almost solely in deeds of arms.</p> + +<p>Although the soldiers and sailors of the army and navy of the Union +won all the honors gained in the field of battle or on the decks of the +national ships, and deserved all the laurels they gathered by their +skill and bravery in the trying days when the republic was in peril, +they were not the only actors in the greatest strife of the nineteenth +century. Not all the labor of "saving +<span class = "pagenum">8</span> +the Union" was done in the trenches, on the march, on the gun deck of a +man-of-war, or in other military and naval operations, though without +these the efforts of all others would have been in vain. Thousands of +men and women who never "smelled gunpowder," who never heard the booming +cannon, or the rattling musketry, who never witnessed a battle on sea or +land, but who kept their minds and hearts in touch with the holy cause, +labored diligently and faithfully to support and sustain the soldiers +and sailors at the front.</p> + +<p>If all those who fought no battles are not honored like the leaders +and commanders in the loyal cause, if they wear no laurels on their +brows, if no monuments are erected to transmit their memory to +posterity, if their names and deeds are not recorded in the Valhalla of +the redeemed nation, they ought not to be disregarded and ignored. It +was not on the field of strife alone in the South that the battle was +fought and won. The army and the navy needed a moral, as well as a +material support, which was cheerfully rendered by the great army of the +people who never buckled on a sword, or shouldered a musket. Their work +can +<span class = "pagenum">9</span> +not be summed up in deeds, for there was little or nothing that was +brilliant and dazzling in their career. They need no monuments; but +their work was necessary to the final and glorious result of the most +terrible war of modern times.</p> + +<p>No apology is necessary for placing the hero of the story and his +skilful associate in a position at a distance from the actual field of +battle. They were working for the salvation of the Union as effectively +as they could have done in the din of the strife. They were "Fighting +for the Right," as they understood it, though it is not treason to say, +thirty years later, that the people of the South were as sincere as +those of the North; and they could hardly have fought and suffered to +the extent they did if it had been otherwise.</p> + +<p>The incidents of the volume are more various than in the preceding +stories, which were so largely a repetition of battle scenes; but the +hero is still as earnest as ever in the cause he loves. He attains a +high position without any ambition to win it; for, like millions of +others who gave the best years of their lives to sustain the Union, who +suffered the most terrible hardships and privations, so many hundreds of +thousands giving their lives to +<span class = "pagenum">10</span> +their country, Christy fought and labored for the cause, and not from +any personal ambition. It is the young man's high character, his +devotion to duty, rather than the incidents and adventures in which he +is engaged, that render him worthy of respect, and deserving of the +honors that were bestowed upon him. The younger participants in the war +of the Rebellion, Christy Passford among the number, are beginning to be +grizzled with the snows of fifty winters; but they are still rejoicing +in "<span class = "smallcaps">A Victorious Union</span>."</p> + +<p class = "inset smallcaps">William T. Adams.</p> + +<p class = "inset"> +<span class = "smallcaps">Dorchester</span>, April 18, 1892.</p> + + +<p class = "illustration section"> +<img src = "images/frontis.png" width = "533" height = "353" +alt = "illustration of quoted scene"><br> +<span class = "caption"> +<span class = "smallcaps">"Christy seized him by the collar with both +hands."</span> +(Page 75)</span> +</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">11</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "toc">CONTENTS</a></h4> + +<table> +<tr> +<td></td> +<td class = "number smallcaps" width = "20%">page</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapI">CHAPTER I.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">A Conference at Bonnydale</td> +<td class = "number">15</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapII">CHAPTER II.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">A Complicated Case</td> +<td class = "number">26</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapIII">CHAPTER III.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">The Departure of the Chateaugay</td> +<td class = "number">37</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapIV">CHAPTER IV.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">Monsieur Gilfleur explains</td> +<td class = "number">48</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapV">CHAPTER V.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">An Abundance of Evidence</td> +<td class = "number">59</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapVI">CHAPTER VI.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">The Boarding of the Ionian</td> +<td class = "number">70</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapVII">CHAPTER VII.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">A Bold Proposition</td> +<td class = "number">81</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapVIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">A Notable Expedition</td> +<td class = "number">92</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapIX">CHAPTER IX.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">The Frenchman in Bermuda</td> +<td class = "number">103</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapX">CHAPTER X.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname"> +<span class = "pagenum">12</span> +Important Information obtained</td> +<td class = "number">114</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXI">CHAPTER XI.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">An Unexpected Rencontre</td> +<td class = "number">125</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXII">CHAPTER XII.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">As Impracticable Scheme</td> +<td class = "number">136</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">At the End of the Chase</td> +<td class = "number">147</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">An Easy Victory</td> +<td class = "number">158</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXV">CHAPTER XV.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">The Gentleman with a Grizzly Beard</td> +<td class = "number">169</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">Among the Bahamas</td> +<td class = "number">180</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">The Landing at New Providence</td> +<td class = "number">191</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">An Affray in Nassau</td> +<td class = "number">202</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">An Old Acquaintance</td> +<td class = "number">213</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXX">CHAPTER XX.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">A Band of Ruffians</td> +<td class = "number">224</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">A Question of Neutrality</td> +<td class = "number">235</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname"> +<span class = "pagenum">13</span> +On Board of the Snapper</td> +<td class = "number">246</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">The Chateaugay in the Distance</td> +<td class = "number">257</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">The Tables turned</td> +<td class = "number">268</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXXV">CHAPTER XXV.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">Captain Flanger in Irons</td> +<td class = "number">279</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">A Visit to Tampa Bay</td> +<td class = "number">290</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">Among the Keys of Tampa</td> +<td class = "number">302</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">The Surrender of the Reindeer</td> +<td class = "number">313</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">Bringing out the Prize</td> +<td class = "number">324</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXXX">CHAPTER XXX.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">A Very Important Service</td> +<td class = "number">335</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class = "chapnum" colspan = "2"> +<a class = "plain" href = "#chapXXXI">CHAPTER XXXI.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class = "chapname">An Undesired Promotion</td> +<td class = "number">346</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<span class = "pagenum">15</span> +<h3 class = "chapter">FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT</h3> + +<hr class = "mid"> + + +<h4 class = "section"><a name = "chapI">CHAPTER I</a></h4> + +<h6>A CONFERENCE AT BONNYDALE</h6> + +<p><span class = "smallcaps">"Well,</span> Christy, how do you feel this +morning?" asked Captain Passford, one bright morning in April, at +Bonnydale on the Hudson, the residence of the former owner of the +Bellevite, which he had presented to the government.</p> + +<p>"Quite well, father; I think I never felt any better in all my life," +replied Lieutenant Passford, of the United States Navy, recently +commander of the little gunboat Bronx, on board of which he had been +severely wounded in an action with a Confederate fort in Louisiana.</p> + +<p>"Do you feel any soreness at the wound in your arm?" inquired the +devoted parent with some anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Not a particle, father."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">16</span> +"Or at the one in your thigh?"</p> + +<p>"Not the slightest bit of soreness. In fact, I have been ready to +return to my duty at any time within the last month," replied Christy +very cheerfully. "It would be a shame for me to loiter around home any +longer, when I am as able to plank the deck as I ever was. In truth, I +think I am better and stronger than ever before, for I have had a long +rest."</p> + +<p>"Your vacation has been none too long, for you were considerably run +down, the doctor said, in addition to your two wounds," added Captain +Passford, senior; for the young man had held a command, and was entitled +to the same honorary title as his father.</p> + +<p>"These doctors sometimes make you think you are sicker than you +really are," said Christy with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"But your doctor did not do so, for your mother and I both thought +you were rather run out by your labors in the Gulf."</p> + +<p>"If I was, I am all right now. Do I look like a sick one? I weigh +more than I ever did before in my life."</p> + +<p>"Your mother has taken excellent care of you, +<span class = "pagenum">17</span> +and you certainly look larger and stronger than when you went to sea in +the Bronx."</p> + +<p>"But I am very tired of this inactive life. I have been assigned to +the Bellevite as second lieutenant, a position I prefer to a command, +for the reasons I have several times given you, father."</p> + +<p>"I am certainly very glad to have you returned to the Bellevite, +though the honors will be easier with you than they were when you were +the commander of the Bronx."</p> + +<p>"But I shall escape the responsibility of the command, and avoid +being pointed at as one who commands by official influence," said +Christy, rather warmly; for he felt that he had done his duty with the +utmost fidelity, and it was not pleasant to have his hard-earned honors +discounted by flings at his father's influence with the government.</p> + +<p>"It is impossible to escape the sneers of the discontented, and there +are always plenty of such in the navy and the army. But, Christy, you +wrong yourself in taking any notice of such flings, for they have never +been thrown directly at you, if at all. You are over-sensitive, and you +have not correctly interpreted what your superiors have said to you," +said Captain Passford seriously.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">18</span> +His father recalled some of the conversations between the young officer +and Captain Blowitt and others, reported to him before. He insisted that +the remarks of his superiors were highly complimentary to him, and that +he had no right to take offence at them.</p> + +<p>"I dare say I am entirely wrong, father; but it will do me no harm to +serve in a subordinate capacity," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"I agree with you here; but I must tell you again, as I have half a +dozen times before, that I never asked a position or promotion for you +at the Navy Department. You have won your honors and your advancement +yourself," continued the father.</p> + +<p>"Well, it was all the same, father; you have used your time and your +money very freely in the service of the government, as you could not +help doing. I know that I did my duty, and the department promoted me +because I was your son," said Christy, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Not at all, my son; you deserved your promotion every time, and if +you had been the son of a wood-chopper in the State of Maine, you would +have been promoted just the same," argued Captain Passford.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">19</span> +"Perhaps I should," answered the young officer rather doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"After what you did in your last cruise with the Bronx, a larger and +finer vessel would have been given to you in recognition of the +brilliant service you had rendered," added the father. "I prevented this +from being done simply because you wished to take the position of second +lieutenant on board of the Bellevite."</p> + +<p>"Then I thank you for it, father," replied Christy heartily.</p> + +<p>"But the department thinks it has lost an able commander," continued +the captain with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I am willing to let the department think so, father. All I really +ask of the officials now is to send me back to the Gulf, and to the +Bellevite. I believe you said that I was to go as a passenger in the +Chateaugay."</p> + +<p>"I did; and she has been ready for over a week."</p> + +<p>"Why don't she go, then?" asked Christy impatiently.</p> + +<p>"On her way to the Gulf she is to engage in some special service," +replied Captain Passford, as he took some letters from his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Letters!" exclaimed the young lieutenant, +<span class = "pagenum">20</span> +laughing as he recalled some such missives on two former occasions. "Do +you still keep your three agents in the island of Great Britain?"</p> + +<p>"I don't keep them, for they are now in the employ of the government, +though they still report to me, and we use the system adopted some two +years ago."</p> + +<p>"What is it this time, father?" asked Christy, his curiosity as well +as his patriotism excited by this time at the prospect of capturing a +Confederate man-of-war, or even a blockade-runner.</p> + +<p>"There are traitors in and about the city of New York," answered +Captain Passford, as he returned the letters to his pocket. "We had a +rebel in the house here at one time, you remember, and it is not quite +prudent just now to explain the contents of the letters."</p> + +<p>"All right, father; but I suppose you will read them to me before I +sail for the South."</p> + +<p>"I will talk to you about it another time," added the captain, as a +knock was heard at the door. "Come in!"</p> + +<p>It was the man-servant of the house, and he brought in a tray on +which there was a card, which Captain Passford took.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">21</span> +"Captain Wilford Chantor," the captain read from the card. "Show him in, +Gates. Lieutenant Chantor is appointed to the command of the Chateaugay, +Christy, in which you take passage to the Gulf; but she will not go +there directly."</p> + +<p>"Captain Chantor," said Gates, as he opened the door for the +visitor.</p> + +<p>"I am happy to see you, Captain Chantor, though I have not had the +pleasure of meeting you before," said the captain, as he rose from his +chair, and bowed to the gentleman, who was in the uniform of a +lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"I presume I have the honor to address Captain Horatio Passford," +said the visitor, as he took a letter from his pocket, bowing very +respectfully at the same time, and delivering the letter.</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to meet you, Captain Chantor," continued Captain +Passford, taking the hand of the visitor. "Allow me to introduce to you +my son, Lieutenant Passford, who will be a passenger on your ship to the +Gulf."</p> + +<p>"I am very happy to make your acquaintance, Mr. Passford, for I need +hardly say that I have heard a great deal about you before, and this is +a very unexpected pleasure," replied Captain Chantor.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">22</span> +"Thank you, Captain, and I am equally happy to meet you, as I am to be a +passenger on your ship," added Christy, as they shook hands very +cordially.</p> + +<p>"I had three other passengers on board, but they have been +transferred to the store-ship, which sails to-day, and you will be my +only passenger."</p> + +<p>"At my suggestion," said Captain Passford smiling, doubtless at the +puzzled expression of the captain of the Chateaugay at his +statement.</p> + +<p>"I am to attend to some special service on my voyage to the Gulf, and +I am ordered to take my instructions from you," added Captain +Chantor.</p> + +<p>"Precisely so; but I hold no official position, and your orders will +be put in proper form before you sail," replied Christy's father. "Now, +if you will be patient for a little while, I will explain the nature of +the special service."</p> + +<p>"I shall be very glad to understand the subject, and I am confident +my patience will hold out to any extent you may require."</p> + +<p>The conversation so far had taken place in the library. The owner of +Bonnydale rose from his arm-chair, opened the door into the hall, and +looked about him very cautiously. Then he closed a window +<span class = "pagenum">23</span> +which the unusual warmth of an April day had rendered it necessary to +open. He conducted his companions to the part of the room farthest from +the door, and seated them on a sofa, while he placed his arm-chair in +front of them. Even Christy thought his father was taking extraordinary +precautions, and the visitor could make nothing of it.</p> + +<p>"As I have had occasion to remark before to-day, there are traitors +in and about New York," the captain began.</p> + +<p>"If you have any private business with Captain Chantor, father, I am +perfectly willing to retire," suggested Christy.</p> + +<p>"No; I wish you to understand this special service, for you may be +called upon to take a hand in it," replied Captain Passford; and the son +seated himself again. "There are traitors in and about New York, I +repeat. I think we need not greatly wonder that some of the English +people persist in attempting to run the blockade at the South, when some +of our own citizens are indirectly concerned in the same +occupation."</p> + +<p>This seemed to the captain of the Chateaugay an astounding statement, +and not less so to Christy, +<span class = "pagenum">24</span> +and neither of them could make anything of it; but they were silent, +concluding that the special service related to this matter.</p> + +<p>"In what I am about to say to you, Captain Chantor, I understand that +I am talking to an officer of the utmost discretion," continued Captain +Passford, "and not a word of it must be repeated to any person on board +of the Chateaugay, and certainly not to any other person whatever."</p> + +<p>"I understand you perfectly, sir," replied the officer. "My lips +shall be sealed to all."</p> + +<p>"I wish to say that the command of the Chateaugay would have been +offered to my son, but I objected for the reason that he prefers not to +have a command at present," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"That makes it very fortunate for me."</p> + +<p>"Very true, though the change was not made for your sake. You were +selected for this command as much on account of your discretion as for +your skill and bravery as an officer."</p> + +<p>"I consider myself very highly complimented by the selection."</p> + +<p>"Now to the point: I have information that a fast steamer, intended +to carry eight guns, called +<span class = "pagenum">25</span> +the Ovidio, sailed from the other side of the ocean some time since, and +she is to be a vessel in the Confederate navy. Her first port will be +Nassau, New Providence."</p> + +<p>"Does that prove that any Americans are traitors in and about New +York, father?" asked Christy.</p> + +<p>"She is to run the blockade with a cargo consisting in part of +American goods."</p> + +<p>Captain Passford took a file of papers from his pocket.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">26</span> +<h4 class = "section"><a name = "chapII">CHAPTER II</a></h4> + +<h6>A COMPLICATED CASE</h6> + + +<p>Captain Passford looked over his papers for a moment; but it was soon +evident from his manner that he had secrets which he would not intrust +even to his son, unless it was necessary to do so. He seemed to be armed +with documentary evidence upon which to act, but he did not read any of +his papers, and soon returned them to his pocket.</p> + +<p>"The American goods of which I speak are certain pieces of machinery +to be used in the manufacture of arms," continued the captain. "They +cannot be obtained in England, and the traitors have decided to send +them direct, rather than across the ocean in the first instance. These +will form the principal and most important part of the cargo of a +steamer now loaded, though she will carry other goods, such as the enemy +need most at the present time."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">27</span> +"I did not suppose any Americans were wicked enough to engage in such an +enterprise for the sake of making money," said Christy indignantly.</p> + +<p>"The steamer of which you speak is already loaded, is she?" asked +Captain Chantor.</p> + +<p>"She is; and now I wish both of you to go with me, and I will point +out the vessel to you, and you must mark her so well that you can +identify her when occasion requires."</p> + +<p>The trio left the house and took the train together. They went to New +York, and in an out-of-the-way locality they went down to a wharf; but +there was no steamer or vessel of any kind there, and the pier was +falling to pieces from decay. Captain Passford stopped short, and seemed +to be confounded when he found the dock was not occupied.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid we are too late, and that the steamer has sailed on her +mission of destruction," said he, almost overcome by the discovery. "She +was here last night, and was watched till this morning. She has already +cleared, bound to Wilmington, Delaware, with a cargo of old iron."</p> + +<p>"Do you know her name, Captain Passford?" asked the commander of the +Chateaugay.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">28</span> +"She was a screw steamer of about six hundred tons, and was called the +Ionian, but she is American."</p> + +<p>It was useless to remain there any longer, for the steamer certainly +was not there. Captain Passford hailed a passing-tug-boat, and they were +taken on board. The master of the boat was instructed to steam down the +East River, and the party examined every steamer at anchor or under way. +The tug had nearly reached the Battery before the leader of the trio saw +any vessel that looked like the Ionian. The tug went around this craft, +for she resembled the one which had been in the dock, and the name +indicated was found on her stern.</p> + +<p>"I breathe easier, for I was afraid she had given us the slip," said +Captain Passford. "She is evidently all ready to sail."</p> + +<p>"The Chateaugay is in commission, and ready to sail at a moment's +notice," added her commander.</p> + +<p>"But you are not ready to leave at once, Christy," suggested Captain +Passford, with some anxiety in his expression.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am, father; I put my valises on board yesterday, and when +mother and Florry went down +<span class = "pagenum">29</span> +to Mr. Pembroke's I bade them both good-by, for after I have waited so +long for my passage, I felt that the call would come in a hurry," +replied Christy. "I am all ready to go on board of the Chateaugay at +this moment."</p> + +<p>"And so am I," added Captain Chantor.</p> + +<p>"But I am not ready with your orders in full, though they are duly +signed," said Captain Passford. "I will put you on shore at the foot of +Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, Captain Chantor, and you will hasten to +your ship, get up steam, and move down to this vicinity. I will put my +son on board as soon as I can have your papers completed."</p> + +<p>The order necessary to carry out this procedure was given to the +captain of the tug, and the commander of the Chateaugay was landed at +the place indicated. The tug started for the other side of the +river.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me this is very strange business, father," said Christy, +as he and his father seated themselves at the stern of the boat.</p> + +<p>"Traitors do not work in the daylight, my son, as you have learned +before this time," replied Captain Passford.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">30</span> +"If you know the men who are engaged in supplying the enemy with +machinery, why do you not have them arrested and put in Fort Lafayette?" +asked Christy, in a very low tone, after he had assured himself that no +person was within possible hearing distance. "It looks as though the +case might be settled here, without going to sea to do it."</p> + +<p>"We have not sufficient evidence to convict them; and to make arrests +without the means of conviction would be worse than doing nothing. The +Ionian has cleared for Wilmington with a cargo of old iron. Everything +looks regular in regard to her, and I have no doubt there is some party +who would claim the castings if occasion required. The first thing to be +ascertained is whether or not the steamer goes to Wilmington."</p> + +<p>"Then we can make short work of her."</p> + +<p>"My information in regard to this treason comes from +Warnock—you know who he is?"</p> + +<p>"Captain Barnes," replied Christy promptly, for the names of all the +agents of his father in England and Scotland had been given to him on a +former occasion, when the information received from one of the three had +resulted in the capture of the Scotian and the Arran.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">31</span> +"Barnes is a very shrewd man. He does not inform me yet in what manner +he obtained the information that the Ovidio was to carry this machinery +from Nassau into a rebel port; but I shall get it later in a letter. He +gave me the name of the party who was to furnish the machinery; and one +of his agents obtained this from the direction of a letter to New York. +I placed four skilful detectives around this man, who stands well in the +community. They have worked the case admirably, and spotted the Ionian. +I have aided them in all possible ways; but the evidence is not +complete. If this steamer proceeds beyond Wilmington, Captain Chantor +will be instructed to capture her and send her back to New York."</p> + +<p>"Then this business will soon be settled," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not; the government official, with authority to act, is in +New York. I shall see him at once. I have no doubt the detectives have +already reported that the Ionian has moved down the river," said Captain +Passford, as the tug came up to a pier, where father and son landed.</p> + +<p>They went to an office in Battery Place, where the captain was +informed that a special messenger +<span class = "pagenum">32</span> +had been sent to Bonnydale to acquaint him with the fact that the Ionian +had moved down the river. Files of documents, containing reports of +detectives and other papers, were examined and compared, and then the +government official proceeded to finish the filling out of Captain +Chantor's orders. The paper was given to Christy, with an order to +deliver it to the commander of the Chateaugay. The tug had been detained +for them, and they hastened on board of her.</p> + +<p>They found the suspected steamer at her moorings still; but it was +evident that she was preparing to weigh her anchor. The tug continued on +her course towards the Navy Yard, and the Chateaugay was discovered in +the berth she had occupied for the last two weeks. Everything looked +lively on board of her, as though she were getting ready to heave up her +anchor.</p> + +<p>"Christy, you will find on board of your steamer a man by the name of +Gilfleur," said Captain Passford, as the tug approached the +man-of-war.</p> + +<p>"That sounds like a French name," interposed Christy.</p> + +<p>"It is a French name, and the owner of it is a Frenchman who has been +a detective in Paris. He +<span class = "pagenum">33</span> +has accomplished more in this matter than all the others put together, +and he will go with you, for you will find in the commander's +instructions that you have more than one thing to do on your way to the +Gulf. I gave him a letter to you."</p> + +<p>"I shall be glad to see him."</p> + +<p>"Now, my son, we must part, for I have business on shore, and you may +have to sail at any moment," said Captain Passford, as he took the two +hands of his son. "I have no advice to give you except to be prudent, +and on this duty to be especially discreet. That's +all—good-by."</p> + +<p>They parted, after wringing each other's hands, as they had parted +several times before. They might never meet again in this world, but +both of them subdued their emotion, for they were obeying the high and +solemn call of duty; both of them were fighting for the right, and the +civilian as well as the naval officer felt that it was his duty to lay +down his life for his suffering country. Christy mounted the gangway, +and was received by Captain Chantor on the quarter-deck. He had been on +board before, and had taken possession of his stateroom.</p> + +<p>The passenger took from his pocket the files of +<span class = "pagenum">34</span> +papers given him by the official on shore; and then he noticed for the +first time an envelope addressed to him. The commander retired to his +cabin to read his instructions, and Christy went to his stateroom in the +ward room to open the envelope directed to him. As soon as he broke the +seal he realized that his father had done a great deal of writing, and +he had no doubt the paper contained full instructions for him, as well +as a history of the difficult case in which he was to take a part. A +paper signed by the official informed him that he was expected to occupy +a sort of advisory position near the commander of the Chateaugay, though +of course he was in no manner to control him in regard to the management +of the ship.</p> + +<p>Christy read his father's letter through. The government was +exceedingly anxious to obtain accurate information in regard to the +state of affairs at Nassau, that hot-bed for blockade-runners. The +Chateaugay was to look out for the Ovidio, whose ultimate destination +was Mobile, where she was to convey the gun-making machinery, and such +other merchandise as the traitorous merchant of New York wished to send +into the Confederacy. The name of this man was given to him, and it was +<span class = "pagenum">35</span> +believed that papers signed by him would be found on board of the +Ionian.</p> + +<p>A knock at the door of his room disturbed his examination of the +documents, and he found the commander of the steamer there. After +looking about the ward room, and into the adjoining staterooms, he came +in without ceremony.</p> + +<p>"Here is my hand, Mr. Passford," said he, suiting the action to the +word. "I find after reading my instructions that I am expected to +consult with you, and as I have the very highest respect and regard for +you after the brilliant record you have made"—</p> + +<p>"Don't you believe that I won my promotion to my present rank through +the influence of my father?" demanded Christy, laughing pleasantly, as +he took the offered hand and warmly pressed it.</p> + +<p>"If you did, your father did the very best thing in the world for his +country, and has given it one of the bravest and best officers in the +service," replied Captain Chantor, still wringing the hand of his +passenger. "But I don't believe anything of the kind; and no officer who +knows you, even if he is thirsting for promotion, believes it. I have +heard a great many of higher rank than +<span class = "pagenum">36</span> +either of us speak of you, and if you had been present your ears would +have tingled; but I never heard a single officer of any rank suggest +that you owed your rapid advancement to anything but your professional +skill and your unflinching bravery, as well as to your absolute and +hearty devotion to your country. I rank you in date, Mr. Passford, but I +would give a great deal to have your record written against my +name."</p> + +<p>"Your praise is exceedingly profuse, Captain Chantor, but I must +believe you are honest, however unworthy I may be of your unstinted +laudation," said Christy with his eyes fixed on the floor, and blushing +like a school-girl.</p> + +<p>"I hope and believe there will be no discount on our fellowship. A +man came on board this afternoon, and gives me a letter from the proper +authority, referring me to you in regard to his mission."</p> + +<p>Christy decided to see this person at once.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">37</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapIII">CHAPTER III</a></h4> + +<h6>THE DEPARTURE OF THE CHATEAUGAY</h6> + + +<p>The commander told Christy that he would probably find the person who +had brought the letter to him in the waist, for he knew nothing of his +quality, position, or anything else about him, and he did not know where +to berth him, though there was room enough in the ward room or the +steerage. He was dressed like a gentleman, and brought two very handsome +valises on board with him.</p> + +<p>"For all that, I did not know but that he might be a French cook, a +steward, or something of that sort," added Captain Chantor, +laughing.</p> + +<p>"He is a man who is said to be a Napoleon in his profession; but I +will tell you all about him after we get under way, for I am in a hurry +to speak with him," replied Christy.</p> + +<p>"He is evidently a Frenchman," continued the captain.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">38</span> +"He is; but I never saw him in my life, and know nothing about him +except what I have learned from a long letter my father gave me when I +was coming on board."</p> + +<p>"I have been told that you speak French like a native of Paris, Mr. +Passford," suggested the commander.</p> + +<p>"Not so bad as that; I have studied the language a great deal under +competent instructors from Paris, but I am not so proficient as you may +think, though I can make my way with those who speak it," replied the +passenger, as he moved towards the door of the stateroom.</p> + +<p>"And I can't speak the first word of it, for I have been a sailor all +my life, though I went through the naval academy somewhat hurriedly," +continued the commander.</p> + +<p>"Fortunately you don't need French on the quarter-deck;" and Christy +left the stateroom.</p> + +<p>The captain went into his cabin, but came out before the passenger +could reach the deck. He informed Christy that he was directed to heave +short on the anchor and watch for a signal mentioned, which was to be +hoisted near the Battery. He might get under way at any minute.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">39</span> +Christy found the person of whom the captain had spoken in the waist. He +was dressed in a black suit, and looked more like a dandy than a +detective. He was apparently about forty years of age, rather slenderly +built, but with a graceful form. He wore a long black mustache, but no +other beard. He was pacing the deck, and seemed to be very uneasy, +possibly because he was all alone, for no one took any notice of him, +though the captain had received him very politely.</p> + +<p>"Monsieur Gilfleur?" said Christy, walking up to him, and bowing as +politely as a Parisian.</p> + +<p>"I am Mr. Gilfleur; have I the honor to address Lieutenant Passford?" +replied the Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"I am Lieutenant Passford, though I have no official position on +board of this steamer."</p> + +<p>"I am aware of it," added Mr. Gilfleur, as he chose to call himself, +taking a letter from the breast pocket of his coat, and handing it very +gracefully to Christy.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," added the young officer, as he opened the missive.</p> + +<p>It was simply a letter of introduction from Captain Passford, +intended to assure him of the identity of the French detective. Mr. +Gilfleur +<span class = "pagenum">40</span> +evidently prided himself on his knowledge of the English language, for +he certainly spoke it fluently and correctly, though with a little of +the accent of his native tongue.</p> + +<p>"I am very happy to meet you, Mr. Gilfleur," said Christy in French, +as he extended his hand to the other, who promptly took it, and from +that moment seemed to lose all his embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"I thank you, Mr. Passford, for this pleasant reception, for it is +possible that we may have a great deal of business together, and I hope +you have confidence in me."</p> + +<p>"Unlimited confidence, sir, since my father heartily indorses +you."</p> + +<p>"I thank you, sir, and I am sure we shall be good friends, though I +am not a gentleman like you, Mr. Passford."</p> + +<p>"You are my equal in every respect, for though my father is a very +rich man, I am not. But we are all equals in this country."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," said the Frenchman, with a Parisian shrug +of the shoulders. "Your father has treated me very kindly, and I have +heard a great deal about his brave and accomplished +<span class = "pagenum">41</span> +son," said Mr. Gilfleur, with a very deferential bow.</p> + +<p>"Spare me!" pleaded Christy, with a deprecatory smile and a shake of +the head.</p> + +<p>"You are very modest, Mr. Passford, and I will not offend you. I am +not to speak of our mission before the Chateaugay is out of sight of +land," said the detective, looking into the eyes of the young man with a +gaze which seemed to reach the soul, for he was doubtless measuring the +quality and calibre of his associate in the mission, as he called it, in +which both were engaged. "I knew your father very well in Paris," he +added, withdrawing his piercing gaze.</p> + +<p>"Then you are the gentleman who found the stewardess of the Bellevite +when she ran away with a bag of French gold at Havre?" said Christy, +opening his eyes.</p> + +<p>"I have the honor to be that person," replied Mr. Gilfleur, with one +of his graceful bows. "It was a difficult case, for the woman was +associated with one of the worst thieves of Paris, and it took me a +month to run them down."</p> + +<p>"Though I was a small boy, I remember it very well, for I was on +board of the Bellevite at the +<span class = "pagenum">42</span> +time," replied Christy. "I know that he was very enthusiastic in his +praise of the wonderful skill of the person who recovered the money and +sent the two thieves to prison. I understand now why my father sent to +Paris for you when he needed a very skilful person of your +profession."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mr. Passford; you know me now, and we shall be good +friends."</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it; but here comes the captain, and I have a word to say +to him," added Christy, as he touched his naval cap to the commander. +"Allow me to introduce to you my friend Mr. Gilfleur, whom my father +employed in Havre six years ago."</p> + +<p>The captain was as polite as the Frenchman, and gave him a hearty +reception. Christy then suggested that his friend should be berthed in +the ward room. The ship's steward was called, and directed to give Mr. +Gilfleur a room next to the other passenger. As they were likely to have +many conferences together in regard to the business on their hands, they +were both particular in regard to the location of their rooms; and the +chief steward suited them as well as he could.</p> + +<p>The detective spoke to him in French, but the +<span class = "pagenum">43</span> +steward could not understand a word he said. Christy inquired if any of +the ward-room officers spoke the polite language, for his friend might +sometimes wish to converse in his own tongue.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe they do, for they all got into the ward room through +the hawse-hole," replied the steward, laughing at the very idea.</p> + +<p>When the passengers went on deck, the commander introduced them both +to the officers of the ship. To each in turn, at the request of Christy, +he put the question as to whether or not he could speak French; and they +all replied promptly in the negative, and laughed at the inquiry.</p> + +<p>"Have you no one on board who speaks French, Captain Chantor?" asked +Christy.</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about it, but as it seems to be of some +importance to you and your friend, I will ascertain at once. Mr. +Suppleton, will you overhaul the ship's company, and see if you can find +any one that speaks French," continued the commander, addressing the +chief steward.</p> + +<p>In about half an hour he returned, and reported that he was unable to +find a single person who could speak a word of French. Doubtless many of +the officers, who were of higher grade than any +<span class = "pagenum">44</span> +on board of the Chateaugay, were fluent enough in the language, but they +were not to be found in the smaller vessels of the navy; for, whatever +their rank before the war, they had all been advanced to the higher +positions. Every one of the officers on board of this steamer had been +the captain of a vessel, and had been instructed in the profession after +the war began. Though substantially educated, they were not to be +compared in this respect with the original officers.</p> + +<p>"We can talk as much as we please of our mission after we get out of +sight of land; and as long as we do it in French, no one will understand +us," said Christy to his fellow-passenger.</p> + +<p>"As soon as we are permitted by my orders to do so, I shall have much +to say to you, Mr. Passford," replied Mr. Gilfleur.</p> + +<p>"On deck!" shouted a man in the mizzen-top.</p> + +<p>"Aloft!" returned Mr. Birdwing, the first lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"Signal over the boarding-station, sir!" reported the quartermaster +in the top. "It is a number—'Get under way!'"</p> + +<p>The executive officer reported the signal to the +<span class = "pagenum">45</span> +commander, though he was on deck, and had heard the words of the +quartermaster.</p> + +<p>"Get under way at once, Mr. Birdwing," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"Boatswain, all hands up anchor!" said the first lieutenant to this +officer; and in a moment the call rang through the ship.</p> + +<p>Every officer and seaman was promptly in his station, for it was a +welcome call. The ship's company were dreaming of prize-money, for +officers had made fabulous sums from this source. In one instance a +lieutenant received for his share nearly forty thousand dollars; and +even an ordinary seaman pocketed seventeen hundred from a single +capture. The Chateaugayans were anxious to engage in this harvest, and +in a hurry to be on their way to the field of fortune.</p> + +<p>In a short time the steamer was standing down East River at moderate +speed. The Ionian could not be seen yet, and nothing in regard to her +was known to any one on board except the captain and his two passengers. +As the ship approached the battery, a tug, which Christy recognized as +the one his father had employed, came off and hailed the Chateaugay. The +screw was stopped, and +<span class = "pagenum">46</span> +Captain Passford was discovered at her bow. He waved his hat to his son, +saluted the commander in the same manner, and then passed up an +envelope.</p> + +<p>The tug sheered off, and the ship continued on her course, with a +pilot at the wheel. The missive from the shore was addressed to Captain +Chantor. He opened it at once, and then ordered one bell to be rung to +stop her. A few moments later a heavy tug came off, and twelve men were +put on board, with an order signed by the government official for the +commander to receive them on board. There had evidently been some +afterthoughts on shore. These men were turned in with the crew, except +two who were officers, and they were put in the ward room. The ship then +proceeded on her course.</p> + +<p>"The Ionian is about two miles ahead of us, Mr. Passford," said the +captain, after he had used his glass diligently for some time. And he +spoke in a very low tone.</p> + +<p>"We have no business with her at present," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"None, except to watch her; and, fortunately, we have fine, clear +weather, so that will not be a +<span class = "pagenum">47</span> +difficult job. By the way, Mr. Passford, the envelope I received was +from your father, and he gives me information of another steamer +expected in the vicinity of Bermuda about this time; and he thinks we +had better look for her when she comes out from those islands," said the +captain, evidently delighted with the prospect before him.</p> + +<p>"What are these men for that were sent off in the tug?" Christy +inquired; for he felt that he had a right to ask the question.</p> + +<p>"They are to take the Ionian back to New York, if we have to capture +her."</p> + +<p>Captain Passford appeared to be afraid the Chateaugay would be +shorthanded if she had to send a prize crew home with the Ionian.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">48</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapIV">CHAPTER IV</a></h4> + +<h6>MONSIEUR GILFLEUR EXPLAINS</h6> + + +<p>The two officers and ten men that had been sent off to the Chateaugay +after she got under way, had evidently been considered necessary by the +authorities on shore after the receipt of the intelligence that another +vessel for the Confederates had been sent to Bermuda. A steamer had +arrived that day from Liverpool, and Captain Passford must have received +his mail after he landed from the tug. Captain Chantor had waited +several hours for the signal to get under way, and there had been time +enough to obtain the reinforcement from the Navy Yard.</p> + +<p>The officer in command of the detachment of sailors said that he had +been ordered to follow the Chateaugay, and he had been provided with a +fast boat for this purpose. The steamer proceeded on her course as soon +as the transport boat had cast off her fasts, and everything suddenly +quieted +<span class = "pagenum">49</span> +down on board of her. The distance between the Ionian and the man-of-war +was soon reduced to about a mile. It was beginning to grow dark, but the +crew had been stationed and billed while the ship lay off the Navy Yard; +but the new hands sent on board were assigned to watches and +quarter-watches, stationed and billed, as though they were a part of the +regular ship's company. One of the two additional officers was placed in +each of the watches.</p> + +<p>Before it was really dark everything on board was in order, and the +ship was put in perfect trim. Christy could not help seeing that Captain +Chantor was a thorough commander, and that his officers were excellent +in all respects. He walked about the ship, wishing to make himself +familiar with her. His father had not written to him in regard to the +second vessel which the Chateaugay was to look out for in the vicinity +of the Bermuda Islands, and he only knew what the captain had told him +in regard to the matter.</p> + +<p>If the steamer was armed, as probably she was, an action would be +likely to come off, and the young lieutenant could not remain idle while +a battle was in prospect. His quick eye enabled +<span class = "pagenum">50</span> +him to take in all he saw without much study, and only one thing +bothered him. In the waist, secured on blocks, was something like the +ordinary whaleboat used in the navy; but it was somewhat larger than +those with which he was familiar in the discharge of his duties, and +differed in other respects from them. The first watch would begin at +eight o'clock, and all hands were still on duty.</p> + +<p>"What do you call this boat, Mr. Carlin?" asked Christy, as the third +lieutenant was passing him.</p> + +<p>"I call it a nondescript craft," replied the officer, laughing. "It +is something like a whaleboat, but it isn't one."</p> + +<p>"What is it for?" inquired the passenger.</p> + +<p>"That is more than I know, sir. It was put on deck while we were +still at the Navy Yard. I never saw a boat just like it before, and I +have not the remotest idea of its intended use. Probably the captain can +inform you."</p> + +<p>Christy was no wiser than before, but his curiosity was excited. He +strolled to the quarter-deck, where he found the captain directing his +night-glass towards the Ionian, which showed her port light on the +starboard hand, indicating that +<span class = "pagenum">51</span> +the Chateaugay was running ahead of her. The commander called the second +lieutenant, and gave him the order for the chief engineer to reduce the +speed of the ship.</p> + +<p>"The Ionian is a slow boat; at least, she is not as fast as the +Chateaugay, Mr. Passford," said Captain Chantor, when Christy had halted +near him.</p> + +<p>"That is apparent," replied Christy. "How many knots can you make in +your ship, Captain Chantor?"</p> + +<p>"I am told that she has made fifteen when driven at her best."</p> + +<p>"That is more than the average of the steamers in the service by +three knots," added Christy. "I have just been forward, Captain, and I +saw there a boat which is not quite on the regulation pattern."</p> + +<p>"It is like a whaleboat, though it differs from one in some +respects," added the commander.</p> + +<p>"Is it for ordinary service, Captain Chantor?"</p> + +<p>"There you have caught me, for I don't know to what use she is to be +applied," replied the captain, laughing because, as the highest +authority on board of the ship, he was unable to answer the +question.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">52</span> +"You don't know?" queried Christy. "Or have I asked an indiscreet +question?" said the passenger.</p> + +<p>"If I knew, and found it necessary to conceal my knowledge from you, +I should say so squarely, Mr. Passford," added the commander, a little +piqued. "I would not resort to a lie."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, Captain Chanter; I certainly meant no offence," +pleaded Christy.</p> + +<p>"No offence, Mr. Passford; my hand upon it," said the commander, and +they exchanged a friendly grip of the hands. "I really know nothing at +all in regard to the intended use of the boat; in my orders, I am simply +directed to place it at the disposal of Mr. Gilfleur at such time and +place as he may require, and to co-operate with him in any enterprise in +which he may engage. I must refer you to the French gentleman for any +further information."</p> + +<p>The passenger went below to the ward room. The door of the +detective's room was closed, and he knocked. He was admitted, and there +he found Mr. Gilfleur occupied with a file of papers, which he was +busily engaged in studying. In the little apartment were two +middle-sized valises, +<span class = "pagenum">53</span> +which made it look as though the detective expected to pass some time on +his present voyage to the South.</p> + +<p>"I hope I don't disturb you, Mr. Gilfleur," said Christy in +French.</p> + +<p>"Not at all, Mr. Passford; I am glad to see you, for I am ordered to +consult very freely with you, and to inform you fully in regard to all +my plans," replied the Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you can tell me, then, what that boat in the waist is for," +Christy began, in a very pleasant tone, and in his most agreeable +manner, perhaps copying to some extent the Parisian suavity, as he had +observed it in several visits he had made to the gay capital.</p> + +<p>"I can tell you all about it, Mr. Passford, though that is my grand +secret. No other person on board of this ship knows what it is for; but +you are my confidant, though I never had one before in the practice of +my profession," replied Mr. Gilfleur, fixing his keen gaze upon his +associate. "A man's secret is the safest when he keeps it to himself. +But I will tell you all about it."</p> + +<p>"No! no! I don't wish you to do that, Mr. Gilfleur, if you deem it +wise to keep the matter to +<span class = "pagenum">54</span> +yourself," interposed Christy. "My curiosity is a little excited, but I +can control it."</p> + +<p>"I shall tell you all about it, for this affair is different from the +ordinary practice of my profession," replied the detective; and he +proceeded to give a history of the boat in the waist, and then detailed +the use to which it was to be applied.</p> + +<p>"I am quite satisfied, and I should be glad to take part in the +expedition in which you intend to use it," said Christy when the +explanation in regard to the boat was finished.</p> + +<p>"You would be willing to take part in my little enterprise!" +exclaimed the Frenchman, his eyes lighting up with pleasure.</p> + +<p>"I should; why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because it may be very dangerous, and a slight slip may cost us both +our lives," replied the detective very impressively, and with another of +his keen and penetrating glances.</p> + +<p>"I have not been in the habit of keeping under cover in my two years' +service in the navy, and I know what danger is," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"I know you are a very brave young officer, Mr. Passford, but this +service is very different from that on the deck of a ship of war in +action. But +<span class = "pagenum">55</span> +we will talk of that at a future time," said Mr. Gilfleur, as he rose +hastily from his arm-chair at the desk, and rushed out into the ward +room.</p> + +<p>Christy had heard footsteps outside of the door, and he followed his +companion. They found there Mr. Suppleton, the ship's steward, with the +two extra officers who had been sent on board.</p> + +<p>"Do you speak French, gentlemen?" asked the detective, addressing +himself to the two officers.</p> + +<p>"Not a word of it," replied Mr. Gwyndale, one of them.</p> + +<p>"Not a syllable of it," added Mr. Tempers, the other.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, gentlemen," said Mr. Gilfleur, as he retreated to his +room.</p> + +<p>Mr. Suppleton introduced the two new officers to Christy, and he then +followed his associate. The Frenchman was afraid the new-comers +understood his native language, and had been listening to his +explanation of the use of the strange boat; but he had spoken in a +whisper, and no one could have heard him, even if the listener had been +a Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"We are all right," said the detective when +<span class = "pagenum">56</span> +they had both resumed their seats, and the Frenchman had begun to +overhaul his papers.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gilfleur proceeded to explain in what manner he had obtained his +knowledge of the plot to send the gun-making machinery to the South. One +of Captain Passford's agents had ascertained the name of Hillman Davis, +who was in correspondence with those who were fitting out the ships for +the Confederate service.</p> + +<p>"But that is all we learned from the letters—that the men who +were sending out the ships were in correspondence with this man Davis, +who is a very respectable merchant of New York," Mr. Gilfleur +proceeded.</p> + +<p>"Is that all you had to start with, my friend?" asked Christy.</p> + +<p>"That was all; and it was very little. Your American detectives are +more cautious than Frenchmen in the same service."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how in the world you could work up the case with nothing +more than a mere name to begin with," added Christy, beginning to have a +higher opinion than ever of the skill of the French detective.</p> + +<p>"I tell you it was a narrow foundation on which +<span class = "pagenum">57</span> +to work up the case. It may amuse you, but I will tell you how it was +done. In the first place, Captain Passford gave me all the money I +needed to work with. I applied for a situation at Mr. Davis's warehouse. +He imported wines and liquors from France; when his corresponding clerk, +who spoke and wrote French, was commissioned as a lieutenant in the +army, he was looking for a man to take his place. He employed me. I had +charge of the letters, and carried the mail to him in his private +counting-room every time it came."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe that any of our American detectives would have been +competent to take such a position," suggested Christy, deeply interested +in the narrative.</p> + +<p>"That is where I had the advantage of them. I was well educated, and +was graduated from the University of France, with the parchment in that +valise, signed by the minister of education. The carrier brought all the +letters to my desk. I looked them over, and when I found any from +England or Scotland, or even France, I opened and read them."</p> + +<p>"How could you do that?" asked Christy curiously.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">58</span> +"I was educated to be a lawyer; but before I entered upon the +profession, I found I had a taste for the detective service. I did some +amateur work first, and was very successful. I afterwards reached a high +position in the service of the government. I acquired a great deal of +skill in disguising myself, and in all the arts of the profession. I +could open and reseal a letter so that no change could be discovered in +its appearance, and this was what I did in the service of Mr. Davis. He +was a mean man, the stingiest I ever met, and he was as dishonest and +unscrupulous as a Paris thief. I copied all the letters connected with +the case I had in hand, and this enabled me to get to the bottom of the +traitor's plot. He wrote letters himself, not only to England and +Scotland, but to people in the South, sending them to Bermuda and +Nassau. I took copies of all these, and saved one or two originals. My +pay was so small that I resigned my situation," and he flourished a +great file of letters as he finished.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">59</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapV">CHAPTER V</a></h4> + +<h6>AN ABUNDANCE OF EVIDENCE</h6> + + +<p>Captain Passford had certainly kept his own counsel with punctilious +care; for he had never even mentioned the skilful detective in his +family, though the members of it had met the gentleman in Paris and in +Havre. Mr. Gilfleur was in constant communication with him while he was +working up the exposure of the treason of Davis, who might have been a +relative of the distinguished gentleman at the head of the Southern +Confederacy, though there was no evidence to this effect.</p> + +<p>"If the captain of this steamer manages his affair well with the +Ionian, I expect to find letters on board of her signed by Davis," +continued Mr. Gilfleur. "From the information I obtained, your father +put American detectives on the scent of Davis, who dogged him day and +night till they found the Ionian, and ascertained in what manner +<span class = "pagenum">60</span> +she obtained her cargo; but she had been partly loaded before they +reached a conclusion, and it is suspected that she has arms under the +pieces of machinery, perhaps cannon and ammunition."</p> + +<p>The detective continued to explain his operations at greater length +than it is necessary to report them. Christy listened till nearly +midnight, and then he went on deck to ascertain the position of the +chase before he turned in. He found the captain on the quarter-deck, +vigilant and faithful to his duty, and evidently determined that the +Ionian should not elude him.</p> + +<p>"You are up late, Mr. Passford," said the captain, when he recognized +his passenger in the gloom of the night.</p> + +<p>"I have been busy, and I came on deck to see where the Ionian was +before I turned in," replied Christy.</p> + +<p>"I think the rascal has a suspicion that we have some business with +him, for at four bells he turned his head in for the shore," added the +commander. "If you go forward you will see that we have dowsed every +glim on board, even to our mast-head and side lights."</p> + +<p>"You are carrying no starboard and port light?"</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">61</span> +"None; but we have a strong lookout aloft, and in every other available +place. When the chase headed for the shore, we kept on our course for +half an hour, and then put out the lights. We came about and went off to +the eastward for another half-hour. Coming about, we went to the +westward till we made her out, for she has not extinguished her lights. +It is dark enough to conceal the ship from her, and no doubt she thinks +we are still far to the southward of her. At any rate, she has resumed +her former course, which was about south, half west."</p> + +<p>Christy was satisfied with this explanation, for the Ionian was doing +just what she was expected to do. She was not inclined to be overhauled +by a gunboat, and she had attempted to dodge the Chateaugay. Besides, if +she were bound to Wilmington, as her clearance stated, she would turn to +the south-west two or three points by this time. The young officer +seated himself in his room, and figured on the situation. If the steamer +were making an honest voyage she would not be more than twenty miles off +Absecum light at this time, and ought to be within ten of the coast.</p> + +<p>At two bells Christy was still in his chair, and +<span class = "pagenum">62</span> +when he heard the bells he decided to go on deck again, for he felt that +the time would soon come to settle every doubt in regard to the +character of the Ionian. He found the commander still at his post, and +he looked out for the chase. It was not more than a mile distant, and +hardly to be seen in the gloom of a dark night.</p> + +<p>"On deck again, Mr. Passford?" said Captain Chantor.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I am too much interested in this affair to sleep; besides, +I feel as though I had slept at home enough to last me six months," +replied the passenger. "It seems to me that the question of that +vessel's destination is to be decided about this time, or at least +within an hour or two."</p> + +<p>Christy explained the calculation he had been making, in which the +captain agreed with him, and declared that he had been over the same +course of reasoning. Both of them thought the Ionian would not wait till +daylight to change her course, as it would be more perilous to do so +then than in the darkness.</p> + +<p>"I am confident that she has not seen the Chateaugay since we put out +the lights," said the +<span class = "pagenum">63</span> +captain. "At the present moment we must be off Absecum; but we cannot +see the light. She is far off her course for Wilmington."</p> + +<p>"That is plain enough."</p> + +<p>"What she will do depends upon whether or not she suspects that a +man-of-war is near her. We shall soon know, for she is already in a +position to justify her capture."</p> + +<p>"Better make sure of her course before that is done," suggested +Christy, who felt that he was permitted to say as much as this.</p> + +<p>"I don't intend to act till we are south of Cape Henlopen," added the +commander promptly. "Before we do anything, I shall formally consult +you, Mr. Passford, as I am advised to do."</p> + +<p>"I shall be happy to serve as a volunteer, and I will obey your +orders without question, and as strictly as any officer on board."</p> + +<p>"That is handsome, considering the position in which you have been +placed on board, Mr. Passford, and I appreciate the delicacy of your +conduct."</p> + +<p>Christy remained on deck another hour, and at the end of that time a +quartermaster came aft to report that the chase had changed her course +farther to the eastward. This proved to be the fact +<span class = "pagenum">64</span> +on examination by the officers on the quarter-deck, and as nearly as +could be made out she was now headed to the south-east.</p> + +<p>"But that will not take her to the Bahama Islands," suggested +Christy.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not; and she may not be bound to Nassau, as stated in +those letters. But it is useless to speculate on her destination, for we +shall be in condition in the morning to form an opinion," replied the +captain. "I shall keep well astern of her till morning; and if there +should be any change in her movements, I will have you called, Mr. +Passford."</p> + +<p>Christy considered this a sage conclusion, and he turned in on the +strength of it. He was not disturbed during the remaining hours of the +night. He had taken more exercise than usual that day, and he slept +soundly, as he was in the habit of doing. The bell forward indicated +eight o'clock when he turned out. Breakfast was all ready, but he +hastened on deck to ascertain the position of the chase. The captain was +not on the quarter-deck, but the first lieutenant was planking the deck +for his morning "constitutional."</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, Mr. Birdwing," said Christy.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">65</span> +"Good-morning, Mr. Passford; I hope you are very well this morning," +replied the executive officer.</p> + +<p>"Quite well, I thank you, sir. But what has become of the chase?" +asked the passenger, for the Ionian did not appear to be in sight, and +he began to be anxious about her.</p> + +<p>"Still ahead of us, sir; but she cannot be seen without a glass. I +was called with the morning watch, when the captain turned in. His +policy is to keep the Ionian so that we may know just where she is, and +also to give her the idea that she is running away from us," replied Mr. +Birdwing, as he took a glass from the brackets and handed it to +Christy.</p> + +<p>The young officer could just make out the steamer with the aid of the +glass. The Chateaugay was following her; and a glance at the compass +gave her course as south-east, half south. Christy had sailed the Bronx +over this course, and he knew where it would bring up.</p> + +<p>"It is plain enough, Mr. Birdwing, that the Ionian is not bound to +Nassau," said he.</p> + +<p>"So Captain Chantor said when I came on deck," replied the first +lieutenant.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">66</span> +"And it is equally plain where she is bound," added Christy. "That +course means the Bermuda Islands, and doubtless that is her +destination."</p> + +<p>"So the captain said."</p> + +<p>The passenger was satisfied, and went below for his breakfast. He +found Mr. Gilfleur at the table; and as the fact that the Chateaugay was +chasing the Ionian was well understood in the ward room, Christy did not +hesitate to tell him the news. The Frenchman bestowed one of his +penetrating glances upon his associate, and said nothing. After the meal +was finished they retired to the detective's room. Mr. Gilfleur looked +over his papers very industriously for a few minutes.</p> + +<p>"This affair is not working exactly as it should," said he, as he +selected a letter from his files. "I supposed this steamer would proceed +directly to Nassau. Read this letter, Mr. Passford."</p> + +<p>"Colonel Richard Pierson!" exclaimed Christy, as he saw to whom the +letter was addressed.</p> + +<p>"Anything strange about the address?" asked the detective.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps nothing strange; but I saw this gentleman in Nassau two +years ago," replied Christy, as he recalled the events of his first trip +to Mobile +<span class = "pagenum">67</span> +in the Bellevite. "I can say of my own knowledge that he is a +Confederate agent, and was trying to purchase vessels there. This letter +is signed by Hillman Davis."</p> + +<p>"The American traitor," added Mr. Gilfleur; and both of them were +using the French language.</p> + +<p>"He says he shall send the machinery and other merchandise to Nassau +to be reshipped to Mobile," continued Christy, reading the letter. "He +adds that he has bought the steamer Ionian for this purpose, and he +expects to be paid in full for her. I think that is quite enough to +condemn the steamer."</p> + +<p>"Undoubtedly; but what is the Ionian to do in the Bermudas? That is +what perplexes me," said the detective.</p> + +<p>"Possibly Captain Chantor can solve the problem, for I am sure I +cannot," answered the young officer, as he rose from his seat.</p> + +<p>He was as much perplexed as his companion, and he went on deck to +wait the appearance of the commander. About nine o'clock he came upon +the quarter-deck. The Ionian remained at the same relative distance from +the Chateaugay, for the captain had given an order to this effect before +he turned in.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">68</span> +"I am glad to see you, Captain Chantor," said Christy. "Can you explain +why the Ionian is headed for the Bermudas, for you have later +information than any in my possession?"</p> + +<p>"I think I can," replied the captain, taking a letter from his +pocket. "This is the contents of the last envelope brought off from the +shore. The writer of it says he has just addressed a letter to 'our +friend in New York,' directing him, if it is not too late, to send the +steamer with the machinery and other merchandise to the Bermudas, where +the cargo will be transferred to the Dornoch; for the Ovidio had been +obliged to sail without her armament, and the cargo was too valuable to +be risked without protection."</p> + +<p>"That is the reason why the reinforcement was sent off at the last +moment," Christy remarked.</p> + +<p>"The Dornoch carries six guns and fifty men," added the captain, +reading from the letter. "I think we need not wait any longer to take +possession of the Ionian, Mr. Passford. What is your opinion?"</p> + +<p>"I concur entirely with you," replied Christy.</p> + +<p>"Quartermaster, strike four bells," continued the captain to the man +who was conning the wheel.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">69</span> +"Four bells," repeated the quartermaster; and the gong could be heard on +deck as he did so.</p> + +<p>In the course of half an hour, for the steam had been kept rather low +for the slow progress the ship was obliged to make in order not to alarm +the chase, the Chateaugay began to show what she could do in the matter +of speed, and before noon she had overhauled the Ionian.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">70</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapVI">CHAPTER VI</a></h4> + +<h6>THE BOARDING OF THE IONIAN</h6> + + +<p>The Chateaugay, with her colors flying, ran abreast of the Ionian and +by her; but the latter did not show her flag. A blank cartridge was then +fired, but the steamer took no notice of it. A shot was then discharged +across her fore foot, and this brought her to her senses, so that she +hoisted the British flag, and stopped her screw. All the preparations +had been made for boarding her, and two boats were in readiness to +discharge this duty.</p> + +<p>The first cutter, in charge of Mr. Birdwing, was the first to leave +the ship. The sea was quite smooth, so that there was no difficulty in +getting the boats off. The first lieutenant's boat went from the +starboard side, and the second cutter was lowered on the port in charge +of the third lieutenant. Christy went in the first boat, and Mr. +Gilfleur in the second. The officers and crews of +<span class = "pagenum">71</span> +both boats were especially directed to see that nothing was thrown +overboard from the Ionian; for if her captain found that he was in a +"tight place," he would be likely to heave his papers into the sea.</p> + +<p>The first cutter had not made half the distance to the Ionian before +she pulled down the British flag and hoisted the American in its place. +Her commander evidently believed that he was getting into hot water, and +well he might. He must have been selected for this enterprise on account +of his fitness for it, and as the steamer had not sailed on an honest +voyage, he could not be an honest man, and the officers of the boats +despised him. They were determined to discharge their duty faithfully, +even if they were obliged to treat him with the utmost rigor.</p> + +<p>"She has corrected her first blunder," said Mr. Birdwing, as the +American flag went up to her peak. "The skipper of that craft don't +exactly know what he is about."</p> + +<p>"It must be a surprise to him to be brought to by a United States +man-of-war," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"But why did the fool hoist the British flag when he has no papers to +back it up? That +<span class = "pagenum">72</span> +would have done very well among the blockaders," continued the officer +of the boat. "I don't know very much about this business, and the +captain ordered me to let you and the French gentleman in the other boat +have your own way on board of her, and to do all you required. Have you +any directions for me?"</p> + +<p>"We desire to have the steamer thoroughly searched, and I have little +doubt that we shall ask you to take possession of her," replied +Christy.</p> + +<p>"Then we are to make a capture of it?" asked the first lieutenant, +manifesting no little surprise.</p> + +<p>"Under certain circumstances, yes."</p> + +<p>"Is she a Confederate vessel?"</p> + +<p>"No; she is an American vessel."</p> + +<p>"All right; but I shall obey my orders to the very letter," added Mr. +Birdwing. "How many men shall I put on board of her?"</p> + +<p>"Twelve, if you please," replied Christy, who had arranged the plan +with the detective.</p> + +<p>"Six from each boat," said the executive officer; and then he hailed +the second cutter, and directed Mr. Carlin to send this number on board +of the Ionian.</p> + +<p>"And, if you please, direct him to board the +<span class = "pagenum">73</span> +steamer on the starboard side, for I take it you will board on the +port," added Christy. "We fear that she will throw certain papers +overboard, and we must prevent that if possible."</p> + +<p>The order was given to the third lieutenant, and in a few minutes +more the first cutter came alongside the steamer. Mr. Birdwing ordered +those on board to drop the accommodation ladder over the side; and for +so mild a gentleman he did it in a very imperative tone. The order was +obeyed, though it appeared to be done very reluctantly. The first +lieutenant was the first to mount the ladder, and was closely followed +by his passenger.</p> + +<p>"Where is the captain?" demanded Mr. Birdwing, as the six men +detailed for the purpose were coming over the side.</p> + +<p>"I am the captain," replied an ill-favored looking man, stepping +forward with very ill grace.</p> + +<p>"What steamer is this?"</p> + +<p>"The Ionian, of New York, bound to St. George's, Bermuda," replied +the captain in a crusty tone.</p> + +<p>"The captain's name?" demanded the officer, becoming more imperative +as the commander of the Ionian manifested more of his crabbed +disposition.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">74</span> +"Captain Sawlock," growled the ill-favored master of the steamer, who +was a rather short man, thick-set, with a face badly pitted by the +small-pox, but nearly covered with a grizzly and tangled beard.</p> + +<p>"You will oblige me by producing your papers, Captain Sawlock," +continued Mr. Birdwing.</p> + +<p>"For a good reason, my papers are not regular," answered the captain +of the Ionian, with an attempt to be more affable, though it did not +seem to be in his nature to be anything but a brute in his manners.</p> + +<p>"Regular or not, you will oblige me by exhibiting them," the officer +insisted.</p> + +<p>"It is not my fault that a change was made in my orders after I got +under way," pleaded Captain Sawlock.</p> + +<p>"Will you produce your clearance and other papers?" demanded the +lieutenant very decidedly.</p> + +<p>"This is an American vessel, and you have no right to overhaul me in +this manner," growled the captain of the steamer.</p> + +<p>"You are in command of a steamer, and you cannot be so ignorant as to +believe that an officer of a man-of-war has not the right to require you +to show +<span class = "pagenum">75</span> +your papers," added Mr. Birdwing with a palpable sneer.</p> + +<p>"This is an American vessel," repeated Captain Sawlock.</p> + +<p>"Then why did you hoist the British flag?"</p> + +<p>"That's my business!"</p> + +<p>"But it is mine also. Do you decline to show your papers? You are +trifling with me," said Mr. Birdwing impatiently.</p> + +<p>At this moment there was a scuffle in the waist of the steamer, which +attracted the attention of all on the deck. Mr. Gilfleur had suddenly +thrown himself on the first officer of the Ionian; and when his second +officer and several sailors had gone to his assistance, the third +lieutenant of the Chateaugay had rushed in to the support of the +Frenchman. The man-of-war's men were all armed with cutlasses and +revolvers; but they did not use their weapons, and it looked like a +rough-and-tumble fight on the deck.</p> + +<p>Mr. Birdwing and Christy rushed over to the starboard side of the +steamer; but Mr. Carlin and his men had so effectively sustained the +detective that the affray had reached a conclusion before they could +interfere. Mr. Gilfleur was crawling +<span class = "pagenum">76</span> +out from under two or three men who had thrown themselves upon him when +he brought the first officer to the deck by jumping suddenly upon him. +The Frenchman had in his hand a tin case about a foot in length, and +three inches in diameter, such as are sometimes used to contain +charters, or similar valuable papers.</p> + +<p>The contest had plainly been for the possession of this case, which +the quick eye of the detective had discovered as the mate was carrying +it forward; for Mr. Carlin had sent two of his men to the stern at the +request of the Frenchman, charged to allow no one to throw anything +overboard. The first officer of the Ionian had listened to the +conversation between Captain Sawlock and the first lieutenant, and had +gone below into the cabin when it began to be a little stormy.</p> + +<p>"What does all this mean, Mr. Carlin?" inquired Mr. Birdwing.</p> + +<p>"I simply obeyed my orders to support Mr. Gilfleur; and he can +explain his action better than I can," replied the third lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"I have requested the officers, through Captain Chantor, to see that +nothing was thrown overboard, either before or after we boarded the +steamer," interposed Christy.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">77</span> +"And the captain's order has been obeyed," added the first lieutenant. +"Will you explain the cause of this affray, Mr. Gilfleur?"</p> + +<p>"With the greatest pleasure," answered the detective with one of his +politest bows. "While you were talking with the captain of the Ionian, I +saw the first officer of this steamer go into the cabin. I was told by a +sailor that he was the mate. In a minute or two he came on deck again, +and I saw that he had something under his coat. He moved forward, and +was going to the side when I jumped upon him. After a struggle I took +this tin case from him."</p> + +<p>The detective stepped forward, and handed the tin case to the +executive officer as gracefully as though he had been figuring in a +ballroom. Captain Sawlock had followed the officers over from the port +side. He appeared to be confounded, and listened in silence to the +explanation of Mr. Gilfleur. But he looked decidedly ugly.</p> + +<p>"That case is my personal, private property," said he, as soon as it +was in the hands of the chief officer of the boarding-party.</p> + +<p>"I don't dispute it, Captain Sawlock; but at the same time I intend +to examine its contents," replied Mr. Birdwing mildly, but firmly.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">78</span> +"This is an outrage, Mr. Officer!" exclaimed the discomfited master.</p> + +<p>"If it is, I am responsible for it," added the executive officer, as +he removed the cover from the end of the case.</p> + +<p>"I protest against this outrage! I will not submit to it!" howled +Captain Sawlock, carried away by his wrath.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you will," said Mr. Birdwing quietly.</p> + +<p>"But I will not!"</p> + +<p>With a sudden movement he threw himself upon the officer, and +attempted to wrest the tin case from his hands. Christy, who was +standing behind him, seized him by the collar with both hands, and +hurled him to the deck. A moment later two seamen, by order of Mr. +Carlin, took him each by his two arms, and held him like a vice.</p> + +<p>"I think we will retire to the cabin to examine these papers, for I +see that the case is filled with documents, including some sealed +letters," continued Mr. Birdwing, as he moved towards the cabin +door.</p> + +<p>"That cabin is mine! You can't go into it!" howled Captain Sawlock, +crazy with anger. "Don't let them go into the cabin, Withers!"</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">79</span> +Withers appeared to be the mate, and he stepped forward as though he +intended to do something; but a couple of seamen, by order of the first +lieutenant, arrested and held him. He had apparently had enough of it in +his encounter with the detective, for he submitted without any +resistance. If the captain of the steamer was a fool, the mate was not, +for he saw the folly of resisting a United States force.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Carlin, you will remain on deck with the men; Mr. Passford and +Mr. Gilfleur, may I trouble you to come into the cabin with me?" +continued Mr. Birdwing, as he led the way.</p> + +<p>The executive officer seated himself at the table in the middle of +the cabin, and his companions took places on each side of him. The first +paper drawn from the case was the clearance of the Ionian for +Wilmington, with a cargo of old iron. The manifest had clearly been +trumped up for the occasion. The old iron was specified, and a list of +other articles of merchandise.</p> + +<p>At this point the executive officer sent for Mr. Carlin, and directed +him to take off the hatches and examine the cargo, especially what was +under the pieces of machinery. There were several letters +<span class = "pagenum">80</span> +to unknown persons, and one in particular to the captain himself, in +which he was directed to deliver the machinery to a gentleman with the +title of "Captain," who was doubtless a Confederate agent, in St. +George's, Bermuda. The papers were abundantly sufficient to convict +Davis of treason. The last one found in the case directed Captain +Sawlock to deliver the cannon and ammunition in the bottom of the vessel +to the steamer Dornoch, on her arrival at St. George's, or at some +convenient place in the Bahama Islands.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">81</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapVII">CHAPTER VII</a></h4> + +<h6>A BOLD PROPOSITION</h6> + + +<p>The evidence was sufficient to justify the capture of the Ionian +without a particle of doubt, for she was as really a Confederate vessel +as though the captain and officers were provided with commissions signed +by Mr. Jefferson Davis.</p> + +<p>Mr. Birdwing went to the door and directed the third lieutenant to +have Captain Sawlock conducted to the cabin; and the two seamen who had +held him as a prisoner brought him before the first lieutenant of the +Chateaugay. He appeared to have got control of his temper, and offered +no further resistance. Mr. Carlin came to the door, and his superior +directed him to examine all hands forward, in order to ascertain whether +they were Confederates or otherwise. He gave him the shipping-list to +assist him.</p> + +<p>"Are you an American citizen, Captain Sawlock?" asked Mr. Birdwing, +as soon as the third lieutenant had departed on his mission.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">82</span> +"I am," replied he stiffly.</p> + +<p>"Where were you horn?"</p> + +<p>"In Pensacola."</p> + +<p>"Have you ever taken the oath of allegiance to the United States +government?"</p> + +<p>"No; and I never will!" protested the captain with an oath.</p> + +<p>"I must inform you, Captain Sawlock, that I am directed by the +commander of the United States steamer Chateaugay to take possession of +the Ionian, on finding sufficient evidence on board that she is engaged +in an illegal voyage. I have no doubt in regard to the matter, and I +take possession of her accordingly."</p> + +<p>"It is an outrage!" howled the captain with a heavy oath.</p> + +<p>"You can settle that matter with the courts. I have nothing more to +say," replied Mr. Birdwing as he rose and left the cabin, followed by +Christy and the detective.</p> + +<p>"I found ten heavy guns and a large quantity of ammunition at the +bottom of the hold," reported Mr. Carlin, as his superior appeared on +deck, and handed back the shipping-list of the vessel. "The three +engineers appear to be Englishmen, and so +<span class = "pagenum">83</span> +declare themselves. I find six Americans among the crew, who are +provided with protections, and they all desire to enlist in the navy. +The rest of the crew are of all nations."</p> + +<p>"Let the six men with protections man the first cutter. You will +remain on board of the Ionian, Mr. Carlin, till orders come to you from +the captain," said the first lieutenant. "I shall now return to the +Chateaugay to report."</p> + +<p>Christy decided to return to the ship; but the detective wished to +remain, though he said there was nothing more for him to do. The six +sailors who wished to enter the navy were ordered into the boat, two of +the regular crew remaining in it. The recruits were good-looking men, +and they pulled their oars as though they had already served in the +navy. They supposed the Ionian was really bound to Wilmington; but they +could not explain why they had not enlisted at Brooklyn if they desired +to do so. The first lieutenant went on board of the ship, and reported +to the captain.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gwyndale was at once appointed prize-master, with Mr. Tompers as +his executive officer, and sent on board with the ten seamen who had +been put on board of the Chateaugay expressly for this +<span class = "pagenum">84</span> +duty. Several pairs of handcuffs were sent on board of the Ionian, for +the first lieutenant apprehended that they would be needed to keep +Captain Sawlock and his mate in proper subjection. The papers which had +been contained in the tin case were intrusted to the care of Mr. +Gwyndale, with the strictest injunction to keep them safely, and deliver +them to the government official before any of the Ionian ship's company +were permitted to land.</p> + +<p>The cutters returned from the prize with all the hands who had been +sent from the ship, including Mr. Gilfleur. The prize-master had a +sufficient force with him to handle the steamer, and to control the +disaffected, if there were any besides the captain and mate. The +engineers and firemen were willing to remain and do duty as long as they +were paid. In a couple of hours the Ionian started her screw and headed +for New York, where she would arrive the next day.</p> + +<p>Captain Chantor directed the quartermaster at the wheel to ring one +bell, and the Chateaugay began to move again. The events of the day were +discussed; but the first business of the ship had been successfully +disposed of, and the future was +<span class = "pagenum">85</span> +a more inviting field than the past. The captain requested the presence +of the two passengers in his cabin, and read to them in full the latest +instructions that had been sent off to him.</p> + +<p>"Our next duty is to look for the Dornoch, with her six guns and +fifty men, and we are not likely to have so soft a time of it as we had +with the Ionian," said Captain Chantor, when he had read the letter.</p> + +<p>"The Chateaugay is reasonably fast, though she could not hold her own +with the Bellevite, or even the Bronx; and you have a pivot gun +amidships, and six broadside guns," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shall be happy to meet her!" exclaimed the commander. "I don't +object to her six guns and fifty men; the only difficulty I can see is +in finding her. I am afraid she has already gone into St. George's +harbor, and she may not come out for a month."</p> + +<p>"Why should she wait all that time?" asked Christy. "Her commander +knew nothing about the Ionian, that she was to take in a valuable cargo +for her, and she will not wait for her."</p> + +<p>"That is true; but I am afraid we shall miss the Ovidio if we remain +too long in these waters."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">86</span> +"It seems to me that the Dornoch has had time enough to reach the +Bermudas," said Christy. "Possibly she is in port at this moment."</p> + +<p>"That is a harassing reflection!" exclaimed the commander.</p> + +<p>"I don't see that there is any help for it," added Christy. "You +cannot go into the port of St. George's to see if she is there."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Mr. Gilfleur, speaking for the first time. "I spent +a winter there when I was sick from over-work and exposure; and I know +all about the islands."</p> + +<p>"That will not help me, Mr. Gilfleur," said the captain, with a smile +at what he considered the simplicity of the Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"But why can you not go in and see if the Dornoch is there?" inquired +the detective.</p> + +<p>"Because if I learned that she was about to leave the port, the +authorities would not let me sail till twenty-four hours after she had +gone."</p> + +<p>"You need not wait till she gets ready to leave," suggested the +Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"She might be ready to sail at the very time I arrived, and then I +should lose her. Oh, no; I +<span class = "pagenum">87</span> +prefer to take my chance at a marine league from the shore," added the +captain, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I might go into Hamilton harbor and obtain the information +you need," suggested Mr. Gilfleur, looking very earnest, as though he +was thinking of something.</p> + +<p>"You!" exclaimed Captain Chantor, looking at him with amazement. "How +could you go in without going in the ship?"</p> + +<p>"You know that I have a boat on deck," replied the detective +quietly.</p> + +<p>"But you are not a sailor, sir."</p> + +<p>"No, I am not a sailor; but I am a boatman. After I had worked up the +biggest case in all my life in Paris,—one that required me to go +to London seven times,—I was sick when the bank-robbers were +convicted, and the excitement was over. The doctors ordered me to spend +the winter in Martinique, and I went to the Bermudas in an English +steamer, where I was to take another for my destination; but I liked the +islands so well that I remained there all the winter. My principal +amusement was boating; and I learned the whole art to perfection. I used +to go through the +<span class = "pagenum">88</span> +openings in the reefs, and sail out of sight of land. I had a boat like +the one on deck."</p> + +<p>"Your experience is interesting, but I do not see how it will profit +me," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"I can go to the Bermudas, obtain the information you want, and +return to the Chateaugay," replied Mr. Gilfleur rather impatiently.</p> + +<p>"That would be a risky cruise for you, my friend," suggested Captain +Chantor, shaking his head in a deprecatory manner.</p> + +<p>"I don't think so. I have been outside the reefs many times when the +wind blew a gale, and I felt as safe in my boat as I do on board of this +ship," said the detective earnestly.</p> + +<p>"How would you manage the matter?" asked the commander, beginning to +be interested in the project.</p> + +<p>"You shall run to the south of the islands, or rather to the +south-west, in the night, with all your lights put out, and let me +embark there in my boat. You will give me a compass, and I have a sail +in the boat. I shall steer to the north-east, and I shall soon see Gibbs +Hill light. By that I can make the point on the coast I wish to reach, +which is Hogfish Cut. I have been through it +<span class = "pagenum">89</span> +twenty times. Once inside the reefs I shall have no difficulty in +reaching Hamilton harbor. Then I will take a carriage to St. George's. +If I find the Dornoch in the harbor, I will come out the same way I went +in, and you will pick me up."</p> + +<p>"That looks more practicable than I supposed it could be," added +Captain Chantor.</p> + +<p>"While I am absent you will be attending to your duty as commander of +the Chateaugay, for you will still be on the lookout for your prize," +continued the versatile Frenchman. "You can run up twenty or thirty +miles to the northward, on the east side of the islands, where all large +vessels have to go in."</p> + +<p>"How long will it take you to carry out this enterprise, Mr. +Gilfleur?"</p> + +<p>"Not more than two days; perhaps less time. Do you consent?"</p> + +<p>"I will consider it, and give you an answer to-morrow morning," +replied Captain Chantor.</p> + +<p>"Won't you take me with you, Mr. Gilfleur?" asked Christy, who was +much pleased with the idea of such an excursion.</p> + +<p>"I should be very happy to have your company, Mr. Passford," replied +the detective very promptly, +<span class = "pagenum">90</span> +and with a smile on his face which revealed his own satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"Are you in earnest, Lieutenant Passford?" demanded the commander, +looking with astonishment at his passenger.</p> + +<p>"Of course I am: I see no difficulty in the enterprise," replied +Christy. "I have had a good deal of experience in sailboats myself, and +I do not believe I should be an encumbrance to Mr. Gilfleur; and I may +be of some service to him."</p> + +<p>"You would be of very great service to me, for you know all about +ships, and I do not," the detective added.</p> + +<p>"Just as you please, Mr. Passford. You are not under my orders, for +you are not attached to the ship," said the captain.</p> + +<p>The commander went on deck, and the two passengers retired to +Christy's stateroom, where they discussed the enterprise for a couple of +hours. In the mean time the Chateaugay was making her best speed, for +Captain Chantor did not wish to lose any of his chances by being too +late; and he believed that the Dornoch must be fully due at the +Bermudas. Before he turned in that night he had altered the course of +the ship half a point +<span class = "pagenum">91</span> +more to the southward, for he had decided to accept the offer of Mr. +Gilfleur; and he wished to go to the west of the islands instead of the +east, as he had given out the course at noon.</p> + +<p>For two days more the Chateaugay continued on her voyage. At noon the +second day he found his ship was directly west of the southern part of +the Bermudas, and but fifty miles from them. He shaped his course so as +to be at the south of them that night.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">92</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapVIII">CHAPTER VIII</a></h4> + +<h6>A NOTABLE EXPEDITION</h6> + + +<p>The position of the Chateaugay was accurately laid down on the chart +fifty miles to the westward of Spears Hill, which is about the +geographical centre of the Bermuda Islands. Captain Chantor had invited +his two passengers to his cabin for a conference in relation to the +proposed enterprise, after the observations had been worked up at noon, +on the fourth day after the departure from New York.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Gilfleur, if you will indicate the precise point at which +you desire to put off in your boat, I will have the ship there at the +time you require," said the captain, who had drawn a rough sketch of the +islands, and dotted upon it the points he mentioned in his +statement.</p> + +<p>"Of course you do not wish the ship to be seen from the islands," +suggested the detective.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not; for if the Dornoch is in port at St. +<span class = "pagenum">93</span> +George's that would be warning her to avoid us in coming out, and she +might escape by standing off to the northward," replied the commander. +"Besides, there might be fishing-craft or other small vessels off the +island that would report the ship if she were seen. It is not advisable +to go any nearer to the islands till after dark. We will show no lights +as we approach your destination."</p> + +<p>"How near Gibbs Hill light can you go with safety in the darkness, +Captain?" asked Mr. Gilfleur.</p> + +<p>"I should not care to go nearer than ten miles; we could not be seen +from the shore at that distance, but we might be seen by some small +craft."</p> + +<p>"That will do very well; and if you will make a point ten miles +south-west of Gibbs Hills light, I shall be exactly suited," added the +detective, as he made a small cross on the sketch near the place where +he desired to embark in the boat.</p> + +<p>The conference was finished, and the two passengers went on deck to +inspect the craft which was to convey them to the islands. By order of +the commander the carpenter had overhauled the boat and made such +repairs as were needed. Every open seam had been calked, and a heavy +coat of +<span class = "pagenum">94</span> +paint had been put upon it. The sailmaker had attended to the jib and +mainsail, and everything was in excellent condition for the trip to the +shore.</p> + +<p>"Is this the same boat that you used when you were in the Bermudas, +Mr. Gilfleur?" asked Christy, as they were examining the work which had +been done on the craft, its spars and sails.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; it was six years ago that I spent the winter in the islands. +I found this boat under a shed on a wharf in New York. It had been +picked up near the Great Abaco in the Bahama Islands by a three-master, +on her voyage from the West Indies," replied Mr. Gilfleur. "When I had +formed my plan of operations in the vicinity of Nassau, in order to +obtain the information the government desired, I bought this boat. When +picked up, the boat had her spars, sails, oars, water-breakers, and +other articles carefully stowed away on board of her; and it appeared as +though she had broken adrift from her moorings, or had been carried away +by a rising tide from some beach where those in charge of her had +landed. I happened to find the captain of the vessel that brought the +boat to New York; and he made me +<span class = "pagenum">95</span> +pay roundly for her, so that he got well rewarded for his trouble in +picking it up."</p> + +<p>The Chateaugay stood due south till six o'clock at little more than +half speed, and when she came about her dead reckoning indicated that +she was seventy-five miles to the south-west of Gibbs Hill light. The +weather was very favorable for the proposed enterprise, with a moderate +breeze from the west. Mr. Gilfleur did not wish to leave the ship till +after midnight, for all he desired was to get inside the outer reefs +before daylight. The speed of the ship was regulated to carry out this +idea.</p> + +<p>The light so frequently mentioned in the conference is three hundred +and sixty-two feet above the sea level, for it is built on the highest +point of land in the south of the Bermudas, and could be seen at a +distance of thirty miles. At three bells in the first watch the light +was reported by the lookout, and the speed was reduced somewhat.</p> + +<p>About this time the detective came out of his stateroom, and entered +that of Christy. He had smeared his face with a brownish tint, which +made him look as though he had been long exposed to the sun of the +tropics. He was dressed in a suit +<span class = "pagenum">96</span> +of coarse material, though it was not the garb of a sailor. He had used +the scissors on his long black mustache, and given it a snarly and +unkempt appearance. Christy would not have known him if he had met him +on shore.</p> + +<p>"You look like another man," said he, laughing.</p> + +<p>"A French detective has to learn the art of disguising himself; in +fact, he has to be an actor. Perhaps you will not be willing to believe +it, but I have played small parts at the Théâtre +Français for over a year, more to learn the actor's art of making +himself up than because I had any histrionic aspirations. I have worked +up a case in the capacity of an old man of eighty years of age," the +detective explained. "When I recovered the property of your father, +stolen at Havre, I played the part of a dandy, and won the confidence of +the stewardess, though I came very near having to fight a duel with the +<i>voleur</i> who was her 'pal' in the robbery."</p> + +<p>"Of course it will not do for me to wear my lieutenant's uniform," +suggested Christy.</p> + +<p>"Not unless you wish to have your head broken by the crews of the +blockade-runners you will find at St. George's," replied the Frenchman +significantly.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">97</span> +"I have some old clothes in my valise," added the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"I don't like the idea of putting you in a humiliating position, Mr. +Passford, but I have not told you all my plans."</p> + +<p>"I will take any position you assign to me, for I am now to be a +volunteer in your service."</p> + +<p>"I intend to represent myself as a French gentleman of wealth, who +has passed the winter in the Bahama Islands in search of health, and +found it in abundance," said Mr. Gilfleur, with a pleasant smile on his +face, as though he really enjoyed the business in which he was at +present engaged.</p> + +<p>"Have you ever been in the Bahamas?" asked Christy.</p> + +<p>"All through them, including Nassau. If I had not, I should not have +brought that boat with me. I made a trip in an English steamer from the +Bermudas, which had occasion to visit nearly all the islands; and I +passed about two months of my stay in this region on that cruise," +replied the detective.</p> + +<p>"But how far is it from the Bermudas to the nearest point in the +Bahamas? Will people believe that we came even from the Great Abaco +<span class = "pagenum">98</span> +in an open boat?" inquired Christy. "What is the distance?"</p> + +<p>"I estimate it at about seven hundred and fifty miles. That is +nothing for a boat like mine, though I should not care to undertake it +in the hurricane season," replied Mr. Gilfleur. "By the way, we must +borrow some charts of this region from the captain, though only to keep +up appearances."</p> + +<p>"You have not told me in what character I am to be your companion," +suggested Christy.</p> + +<p>"As my servant, if you do not rebel at the humiliation of such a +position, though I promise to treat you very kindly, and with all proper +consideration," laughed the Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"I have not the slightest objection to the character; and I will +endeavor to discharge my duties with humility and deference," responded +the lieutenant in the same vein.</p> + +<p>"Now let me see what sort of a suit you have for your part," added +the detective.</p> + +<p>Christy took from his valise a suit he had worn as a subordinate +officer when he was engaged in the capture of the Teaser. It was +approved by his companion, and he dressed himself in this garb.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">99</span> +"But you have been bleached out by your long stay at Bonnydale, and your +complexion needs a little improvement," said Mr. Gilfleur, as he went to +his room for his tints.</p> + +<p>On his return he gave to the face of the officer the same sun-browned +hue he had imparted to his own. While he was so employed, he explained +that the tint was a fast color under ordinary circumstances, and in what +manner it could be easily removed, though it would wear off in about a +week.</p> + +<p>"Now, you need only a little touching up," continued the detective, +when he had completed the dyeing process. "You will be amazed at the +change produced in the expression of a person by a few touches of paint +skilfully applied," and he proceeded to make the alteration +proposed.</p> + +<p>When he had finished his work, Christy looked in the glass, and +declared that he should hardly know himself. The preparations were +completed, and the French gentleman and his servant were ready to +embark. But it was only eleven o'clock, and both of them turned in for a +nap of a couple of hours. The captain had retired early in the evening, +and the quartermaster conning the wheel +<span class = "pagenum">100</span> +was steering for the light, the Chateaugay making not more than six +knots an hour.</p> + +<p>At one o'clock the commander was called, in accordance with his order +to the officer of the watch. He went on deck at once, had the log slate +brought to him, and made some calculations, which resulted in an order +to ring two bells, which meant "Stop her." Then he went to the ward room +himself, and knocked at the doors of his two passengers. Mr. Gilfleur +and Christy sprang from their berths, and the two doors were opened at +once. No toilet was necessary, for both of them had lain down with their +clothes on.</p> + +<p>"Pray, who might you be?" demanded the captain, laughing heartily +when the detective showed himself in his new visage and dress. "Can you +inform me what has become of Mr. Gilfleur?"</p> + +<p>"He has stepped out for a couple of days, and Monsieur +Rubempré has taken his place," replied the detective.</p> + +<p>"And who is this gentleman?" asked Captain Chantor, turning to his +other passenger, who was quite as much changed in appearance.</p> + +<p>"Contrary to his usual custom, he does not +<span class = "pagenum">101</span> +claim to be a gentleman just now. This is Christophe, my servant, +employed as such only for a couple of days," answered Monsieur +Rubempré.</p> + +<p>"All right, Mr. Rubumper! Three bells have just been struck, and the +watch are putting your boat into the water," continued the commander. "I +have directed the steward to fill your breaker with water, and put a +small supply of provisions into the craft. We shall be ready for you in +about half an hour."</p> + +<p>"We are all ready at this moment," replied Monsieur Rubempré; +for both of the passengers had agreed to call each other by their +assumed names at once, so as to get accustomed to them, and thus avoid +committing themselves in any moment of excitement.</p> + +<p>The detective came out of his room with a valise in his hand, which +he had packed with extreme care, so that nothing should be found in it, +in case of accident, to compromise him. He had superintended the placing +of Christy's clothing in one of his valises. He objected to the +initials, "C. P.," worked on his linen; but the owner had no other, and +the difficulty was compromised by writing the name of "Christophe +Poireau" on a number of +<span class = "pagenum">102</span> +pieces of paper and cards, and attaching a tag with this name upon it to +the handle.</p> + +<p>Both of them put on plain overcoats, and went on deck, where the +boat, which had the name of Eleuthera painted on the stern, had already +been committed to the waves.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">103</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapIX">CHAPTER IX</a></h4> + +<h6>THE FRENCHMAN IN BERMUDA</h6> + + +<p>"Bon voyage, Mr. Rubumper," said Captain Chanter, as the Frenchman +was about to descend the accommodation ladder. "I know French enough to +say that."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Captain."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will make a success of the enterprise, Mr. Passford," the +commander added to the other member of the expedition.</p> + +<p>"I shall do the best I can to make it so," answered Christy, as he +followed his companion down the accommodation ladder.</p> + +<p>The detective shoved the boat off, and both of the voyagers took the +oars to get the craft clear of the ship, which was accomplished in a few +minutes. Then the Frenchman stepped the mast, which had been carefully +adjusted on board of the ship, while Christy rigged out the shifting +bowsprit. In half an hour they had placed the spars +<span class = "pagenum">104</span> +and bent on the sail, for everything had been prepared for expeditious +work. The sails filled, and the skipper took his place at the long +tiller.</p> + +<p>"We are all right now, Christophe," said the detective.</p> + +<p>"I should say that we were, Monsieur Rubempré," replied the +acting servant. "We have ten miles to make: with this breeze, how long +will it take for this boat to do it?"</p> + +<p>"If she sails as well as mine did, she will make it in two +hours."</p> + +<p>The craft was about twenty feet long, and was sharp at both ends. She +had a cuddy forward, which was large enough to accommodate both of her +crew in a reclining posture. It had been furnished with a couple of +berthsacks, and with several blankets. The provisions and water had been +placed in it, as well as a couple of lanterns, ready for use if occasion +should require.</p> + +<p>It was a summer sea in this latitude, with a very steady breeze from +the westward. The overcoats they wore were hardly necessary, and they +had put them on mainly to conceal their changed garments from the crew +of the ship, who could only conjecture what the expedition meant.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">105</span> +"You are a younger man than I am, Christophe, and you have slept only a +couple of hours to-night," said M. Rubempré, as soon as the +Eleuthera was well under way; and the remark was called forth by a long +gape on the part of the younger person. "You can turn in and sleep a +couple of hours more just as well as not, for there is nothing whatever +for you to do. We may have to make a long day of it to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"I am accustomed to doing without my sleep at times," replied +Christophe, which was his first name, according to the French +orthography, and was pronounced in two syllables.</p> + +<p>"Of course you have, when your duty required you to be on deck; but +there is not the least need of doing so now."</p> + +<p>The lieutenant complied with the advice of the skipper, and in five +minutes more he was sound asleep. The Bahama boat, with a Bahama name, +rose and fell on the long rolling seas, which were very gentle in their +motion, and made very good progress through the water. The light could +be plainly seen in its lofty position, and the detective steered for it +over an hour, and then kept it a little on the starboard hand; for the +opening in the +<span class = "pagenum">106</span> +outer reef through which he intended to pass was two miles to the +westward of the high tower. He had correctly estimated the speed of the +boat, for the faint light of the dawn of day began to appear in the east +when he was able clearly to discern the outline of the hills on the most +southern of the islands.</p> + +<p>Although it was still quite dark, the Frenchman continued on his +course very confidently. The reefs extended out two miles from the main +shore; but the navigator was so familiar with the locality that they did +not trouble him. Bearing about north-west from the light was Wreck Hill, +one hundred and fifty feet high, which assisted him in keeping his +course. As he approached the mainland he made out the fort, and steering +directly for it, passed safely through Hogfish Cut.</p> + +<p>When he was within half a mile of this fort, he headed the boat to +the north-west. It was still eighteen miles to Hamilton, the capital of +the islands; but he had a fair wind, and the boat made about five miles +an hour. Christy still slept, and the skipper did not wake him. It was +daylight when he was abreast of Wreck Hill, and there was no further +difficulty in the navigation. It was +<span class = "pagenum">107</span> +half-past eight when he ran up to a pier where he had kept his boat in +former days. There were plenty of just such crafts as the Eleuthera, and +no attention was paid to her as she passed along the Front-street docks. +The pier at which he made his landing was in a retired locality. He +lowered the sails, and had made everything snug on board before he +called his companion.</p> + +<p>"Half-past eight, Christophe," said he at the door of the cuddy.</p> + +<p>"Half-past eight!" exclaimed Christy, springing out of his berth on +the floor. "Where are we now, M. Rubempré?"</p> + +<p>"We are in Hamilton harbor; and if you will come out of the cuddy, +you will find yourself in the midst of flowers and green trees," replied +the skipper with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I must have slept six hours," said Christy, rubbing his eyes as he +crawled out of the cuddy.</p> + +<p>The scenery around him was certainly very beautiful, and he gazed +upon it in silence for a few minutes. It seemed to him just as though he +had waked in fairyland. He had cruised in the vicinity of the islands, +but he had never been very near the shore before. Though he had been in +<span class = "pagenum">108</span> +Alabama, and seen the shores of the Gulf States, he had never beheld any +region that seemed so lovely to him. He had been on shore at Nassau, but +only on the wharves, and had hardly seen the beauties of the island.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you call me before, M. Rubempré?" asked he, when +he had taken in the view from the pier.</p> + +<p>"Because I thought your sleep would do you more good than the view of +the shore, which you will have plenty of opportunities to see before we +leave," replied the detective. "But we must begin our work, for we have +no time to lose. I arranged with Captain Chantor to pick us up to-morrow +night at about the point where we embarked in the boat. In the mean time +he will sail around the islands, though the Chateaugay will not come +near enough to be seen from the shore."</p> + +<p>"What will you do with the boat while we are absent?"</p> + +<p>"Leave it where it is."</p> + +<p>While they were talking, an old negro came down the pier, and very +politely saluted the strangers. He appeared to come from a small house a +short +<span class = "pagenum">109</span> +distance from the shore, and passed along to a boat which lay near the +Eleuthera.</p> + +<p>"Is that your boat?" asked the detective, calling him back.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I am a fisherman, though I've got the rheumatism, and +don't go out much; but I have to go to-day, for we have nothing to eat +in the house," replied the negro, whose language was very good.</p> + +<p>"What is your name?"</p> + +<p>"Joseph, sir."</p> + +<p>"Do you speak French?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir!" exclaimed Joseph. "I don't speak anything but plain +English; but I used to work sometimes for a French gentleman that kept a +boat at this pier, six or seven years ago."</p> + +<p>"What was his came?" asked the detective, who had had a suspicion +from the first that he knew the man, though he had changed a great deal +as he grew older.</p> + +<p>"Mounseer Gillflower," replied Joseph; "and he was very kind +to me."</p> + +<p>"I am a Frenchman, Joseph; and, if you don't want to go fishing, I +will employ you to take care of my boat, and carry my valise to a +hotel," continued +<span class = "pagenum">110</span> +the detective, as he handed an English sovereign to him, for he had +taken care to provide himself with a store of them in New York.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir; but I can't change this piece," protested Joseph +very sadly.</p> + +<p>"I don't want you to change it; keep the whole of it."</p> + +<p>"God bless you forever and ever, Mounseer!" exclaimed the fisherman. +"I haven't had a sovereign before since Mounseer Gillflower was here. I +am a very poor man, and I can't get any work on shore."</p> + +<p>Probably, like the rest of his class, he was not inclined to work +while he had any money. He promised to take good care of the Eleuthera, +and he asked no troublesome questions. The detective gave his name, and +ordered Christophe, calling him by his name, to bring the valises on +shore. Then the Frenchman locked the door of the cuddy, for they left +their overcoats there, as they had no use for them.</p> + +<p>"To what hotel shall I carry the valises?" asked Joseph.</p> + +<p>"To the Atlantic; that will be the most convenient for us. Do you +know anything about these vessels in the harbor, Joseph?"</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">111</span> +"Not much, Mounseer Roobump; but they say the two steamers near the +island are going to run the blockade into the States; but I don't know. +They say a Confederate man-of-war came into St. George's harbor +yesterday; but I haven't seen her, and I don't know whether it's true or +not."</p> + +<p>"What is her name?" asked the detective, who from the beginning had +broken up his English, and imparted a strong French accent +to it.</p> + +<p>"I did not hear any one mention her name, Mounseer. That vessel this +side of the island is the mail steamer from New York; she got in +yesterday," continued Joseph.</p> + +<p>"That is important; if the Dornoch is the Confederate man-of-war that +arrived at St. George's yesterday, this steamer brought letters from +Davis to her captain," said the Frenchman to Christy, in French.</p> + +<p>"But Davis could not have learned that the Ionian had been captured +before the mail steamer left New York," added Christy, in the same +language.</p> + +<p>"No matter for that, Christophe. I did not resign my place at Davis's +warehouse till the morning we sailed; and I have his letter to the +captain +<span class = "pagenum">112</span> +of the Dornoch with my other papers on board of the Chateaugay, and I +know that was the only letter written to him. As he has no information +in regard to the Ionian, he will not wait for her."</p> + +<p>"I remember; you showed me the letter."</p> + +<p>Joseph listened with a show of wonder on his face to this +conversation which he could not understand. The detective directed him +to carry the two valises to the hotel named; but Christy interposed in +French, and insisted that it would look better for him to carry his own +valise, and the point was yielded. The Atlantic Hotel was on Front +Street, the harbor being on one side of it. A couple of rooms were +assigned to them, one of them quite small, which was taken by Christy, +in order to keep up appearances.</p> + +<p>M. Rubempré registered his name, putting "and servant" after +it, Paris, and spoke even worse English than he had used to Joseph. +Breakfast had been ordered, but Christy, being only a servant, had to +take his meal at a side table. The detective was not dressed like a +gentleman, and the landlord seemed to have some doubts about his ability +to pay his bills, though he had baggage. He was not treated with +anything like deference, +<span class = "pagenum">113</span> +and he saw the difficulty. After breakfast he took a handful of English +gold from his pocket, and asked the landlord to change one of the coins +for smaller money. Mine host bowed low to him after this exhibition.</p> + +<p>"I want to see the American consul," said M. Rubempré, in his +own language.</p> + +<p>"I will go with you, but I think I will not see him, for he may take +it into his head that I am not a Frenchman," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"You can come with me, and stay outside."</p> + +<p>When they reached the consulate, which was on the same street as the +hotel, they found about a dozen sailors in front of the building. They +were a very rough and hard-looking set of men. They appeared to be +considerably excited about something, and to be bent on violence in some +direction; but the strangers could make nothing of the talk they heard, +though "the bloody spy" was an expression frequently used.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">114</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapX">CHAPTER X</a></h4> + +<h6>IMPORTANT INFORMATION OBTAINED</h6> + + +<p>Christy walked behind the detective in his capacity as servant. It +was soon evident to them that the ruffians gathered in the street meant +mischief. On the staff over their heads floated the flag of the United +States. Though Mr. Gilfleur was an alien, his companion was not. Of +course he knew that the islands were the resort of blockade-runners, +that they obtained their supplies from the two towns of Hamilton and St. +George's. This fact seemed to explain the occasion of the disturbance in +this particular locality.</p> + +<p>"What does all this mean, Christophe?" asked M. Rubempré, +falling back to join Christy at the door of the consulate.</p> + +<p>"I should judge that these ruffians intended to do violence to the +American consul," replied Christy. "I heard in New York that he was +faithful in the discharge of his duty to his government, +<span class = "pagenum">115</span> +and doubtless he has excited the indignation of these ruffians by his +fidelity. His principal business is to follow up the enforcement of the +neutrality laws, which compels him to watch these blockade-runners, and +vessels of war intended for the Confederate States."</p> + +<p>"That was my own conclusion," added the Frenchman, speaking his own +language, as usual. "I should say that his position is not a pleasant +one."</p> + +<p>"Here comes the bloody spy!" shouted several of the ruffians.</p> + +<p>Looking down the street, they saw a dignified-looking gentleman +approaching, whom they supposed to be the consul, Mr. Alwayn. He did not +seem to be alarmed at the demonstration in front of his office. The +disturbers of the peace fell back as he advanced, and he reached the +door where the detective and his companion were standing without being +attacked. The mob, now considerably increased in numbers, though +probably more than a majority, as usual, were merely spectators, hooted +violently at the representative of the United States.</p> + +<p>The gentleman reached the door of his office, +<span class = "pagenum">116</span> +and by this time the ruffians seemed to realize that simple hooting did +no harm, and they rushed forward with more serious intentions. One of +them laid violent hands on the consul, seizing him by the back of his +coat collar, and attempting to pull him over backwards. Christy felt +that he was under the flag of his country, and his blood boiled with +indignation; and, rash as was the act, he planted a heavy blow with his +fist under the ear of the assailant, which sent him reeling back among +his companions.</p> + +<p>"No revolvers, Christophe!" said the detective earnestly, as he +placed himself by the side of the young man.</p> + +<p>Christy's revolver was in his hip-pocket, where he usually carried +it, and the detective feared he might use it, for both of them could +hardly withstand the pressure upon them; and the firing of a single shot +would have roused the passions of the mob, and led to no little +bloodshed. M. Rubempré was entirely cool and self-possessed, +which could hardly be said of the young naval officer.</p> + + +<p class = "illustration section"> +<img src = "images/pic116.png" width = "358" height = "544" +alt = "illustration of quoted scene"><br> +<span class = "caption"> +<span class = "smallcaps">"He planted a heavy blow with his fist under +the ear of his assailant."</span> +(Page 116)</span> +</p> + + +<p>By this time Mr. Alwayn had opened the front door of the office, and +gone in. The detective +<span class = "pagenum">117</span> +backed in after him, and then pushed Christy in after the consul. The +ruffians saw that they were losing their game, and they rushed upon the +door. One of them crowded his way in, but M. Rubempré, in a very +quiet way, delivered a blow on the end of the assailant's nose, which +caused him to retreat, with the red fluid spurting from the injured +member.</p> + +<p>Taking his place, two others pushed forward, and aimed various blows +at the two defenders of the position; but both of them were skilled in +this sort of play, and warded off the strokes, delivering telling blows +in the faces of the enemy. Mr. Alwayn had partially closed the door; but +he was not so cowardly as to shut out his two volunteer defenders. As +soon as they understood his object, they backed in at the door, +dispersing the ruffians with well-directed blows, and the consul closed +and locked the door. Before any further mischief could be done, the +police came and dispersed the rioters. The consul fared better on this +occasion than on several others, in one of which he was quite seriously +injured.</p> + +<p>As soon as order was restored, Mr. Alwayn conducted his defenders to +his office, where he +<span class = "pagenum">118</span> +thanked them heartily for the service they had rendered him. During the +<i>mélee</i> M. Rubempré had tried to address the ruffians +in broken French, for he did not for a moment forget his assumed +character. He used the same "pigeon-talk" to the consul, and Christy, in +the little he said, adopted the same dialect.</p> + +<p>"I see you are not Americans, my friends," said the official.</p> + +<p>"No, saire; we are some Frenchmen," replied the detective, spreading +out his two hands in a French gesture, and bowing very politely.</p> + +<p>"Being Frenchmen, I am not a little surprised that you should have +undertaken to defend me from this assault," added Mr. Alwayn.</p> + +<p>"Ze Frenchman like, wat was this you call him, ze fair play; and ve +could not prevent to put some fingers in tose pies. Ver glad you was not +have the head broke," replied M. Rubempré, with another native +flourish. "<i>Mais</i>, wat for de <i>canaille</i> make ze war on you, +saire? You was certainment un gentleman ver respectable."</p> + +<p>Mr. Alwayn explained why he had incurred the hostility of the +blockade-runners and their adherents, for he was sometimes compelled to +protest +<span class = "pagenum">119</span> +against what he regarded as breaches of neutrality, and was obliged in +the discharge of his duty to look after these people very closely, so +that he was regarded as a spy.</p> + +<p>"Oh! it was ze blockheads, was it?" exclaimed the Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"Hardly the blockheads," replied the consul, laughing at the blunder +of the foreigner. "It is the blockade-runners that make the +trouble."</p> + +<p>"Blockade-runners! <i>Merci.</i> Was there much blockadeers here in +ze islands?" asked M. Rubempré, as though he was in total +ignorance of the entire business of breaking the blockade.</p> + +<p>"Thousands of them come here, for this is about the nearest neutral +port to Wilmington, where many of this sort of craft run in."</p> + +<p>"Wilmington was in Delaware, where I have seen him on ze map."</p> + +<p>"No, sir; this Wilmington is in North Carolina. If you look out on +the waters of the harbor, half the vessels you see there are +blockade-runners," added the consul. "And there are more of them at St. +George's. It was only yesterday that a steamer I believe to be intended +for a man-of-war for the Confederacy came into the port of St. +<span class = "pagenum">120</span> +George's, and I have been much occupied with her affairs, which is +probably the reason for this attempt to assault me."</p> + +<p>"Ze <i>man</i>-of-war," repeated the Frenchman. "Ze war, <i>c'est la +guerre</i>; <i>mais</i> wat was ze man?"</p> + +<p>"She is a vessel used for war purposes."</p> + +<p>"<i>She!</i> She is a woman; and I think that steamer was a +woman-of-war."</p> + +<p>The consul laughed heartily, but insisted upon the feminine +designation of the steamer.</p> + +<p>"What you call ze name of ze man-of-war?" asked M. Rubempré, +putting on a very puzzled expression of countenance.</p> + +<p>"The Dornoch," replied Mr. Alwayn.</p> + +<p>"The D'Ornoch," added the detective. "How you write him—like +zis?" and he wrote it on a piece of paper by his own method.</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," replied the consul, writing it as given in +English.</p> + +<p>"How long ze Dornoch will she stop in zat port?" asked the Frenchman, +in a very indifferent tone, as though the answer was not of the least +consequence to him.</p> + +<p>"Not long; I heard it stated in St. George's that she would get her +supplies and cargo on board +<span class = "pagenum">121</span> +to-day and to-morrow, and will sail before dark to-morrow night," +replied Mr. Alwayn. "The government here ought not to allow her to +remain even as long as that, for she is plainly intended for a +Confederate cruiser, and my men inform me that she has six great guns, +and fifty men."</p> + +<p>M. Rubempré obtained all the information the consul was able +to give him, and much of it was of great importance. The official was +under obligations to the two strangers, and he seemed not to suspect +that either of them was an American, much less a naval officer. They +took their leave of him in the politest manner possible, and were shown +to the door by the consul.</p> + +<p>"I am not quite sure that all his information is correct, and we must +investigate for ourselves," said the detective when they were in the +street. "But this affray is bad for us, and I was very sorry when you +interfered, Christophe."</p> + +<p>"You did not expect to see me fold my arms when a representative of +the United States, and under our flag, was attacked by a lot of +ruffians?" demanded Christy, rather warmly, though he spoke in +French.</p> + +<p>"I know you could not help it, and I did my +<span class = "pagenum">122</span> +best to aid you," added M. Rubempré. "I only mean that it was +unfortunate for us, for when we go about on the islands, we may be +recognized by some of that mob. We must go back to the hotel."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes more they were at the Atlantic, where the Frenchman, +with his usual flourish, ordered a carriage to be ready in half an hour, +adding that he was about to dress for some visits he was to make in St. +George's. They went to their rooms, and each of them changed his dress, +coming out in black suits. The master wore a frock coat, but the servant +was dressed in a "claw-hammer," and looked like a first-class +waiter.</p> + +<p>It is about a two hours' ride over to St. George's, and Christy +enjoyed the excursion as much as though there had not been a +blockade-runner in the world. The town, with even its principal street +not more than ten feet wide, reminded him of some of the quaint old +cities of Europe he had visited with his father a few years before. But +M. Rubempré was bent on business, and the delightful scenery was +an old story to him. They took a boat at a pier, and for an hour a negro +pulled them about the harbor. There were quite a +<span class = "pagenum">123</span> +number of steamers in the port, long, low, and rakish craft, built +expressly for speed, and some of them must have been knocked to pieces +by the blockaders before the lapse of many weeks, though a considerable +proportion of them succeeded in delivering their cargoes at Wilmington +or other places.</p> + +<p>The visitors looked them over with the greatest interest. They even +went on board of a couple of them, the detective pretending that he was +looking for a passage to some port in the South from which he could +reach Mobile, where his brother was in the Confederate army. No one +could doubt that he was a Frenchman, and on one of them the captain +spoke French, though very badly. M. Rubempré's good clothes +secured the respect and confidence of those he encountered, and most of +the officers freely told him where they were bound, and talked with +great gusto of the business in which they were engaged. But none of them +could guarantee him a safe passage to any port on the blockaded +coast.</p> + +<p>The excursion in the boat was continued, for the visitors had not yet +seen the steamer they were the most anxious to examine. The detective +<span class = "pagenum">124</span> +would not inquire about this steamer, fearful that it might be reported +by the negro at the oars, and excite suspicion. But at last, near the +entrance to the harbor, the boatman pointed out the Dornoch, and told +them all he knew about her. There were several lighters alongside, +discharging coal and other cargo into her.</p> + +<p>M. Rubempré, in his broken English, asked permission to go on +deck, and it was promptly accorded to him. He was very polite to the +officers, and they treated him with proper consideration. There were no +guns in sight, and the steamer looked like a merchantman; but if she had +been searched, her armament would have been found in the hold. The +visitor again repeated his desire to obtain a passage to the South; and +this request seemed to satisfy the first officer with whom he talked. He +was informed that the steamer would sail about five on the afternoon of +the next day, and he must be on board at that time, if he wished to go +in the vessel. He learned many particulars in regard to her.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">125</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXI">CHAPTER XI</a></h4> + +<h6>AN UNEXPECTED RENCONTRE</h6> + + +<p>It was lunch-time when the visitors landed, and they proceeded to the +St. George's Hotel in Market Square, to attend to this mid-day duty. In +the coffee-room they found quite a number of guests, and the only spare +seat the detective found was at a large table at which a gentleman in +uniform was seated.</p> + +<p>"Wit your permis-si-on, I take one of the places here," said M. +Rubempré with his politest flourish.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied the gentleman, as politely as the Frenchman; and +he seated himself at the table, Christy remaining standing.</p> + +<p>"<i>Demandez un gar<ins class = "correction" title = +"printed without cedilla">c</ins>on</i>" (ask for a waiter), +"Christophe." Then in French he asked the stranger opposite him if he +spoke that language.</p> + +<p>"A little, sir; but I am not fluent in it," replied the gentleman in +the same language.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my dear sir, you speak very well; and +<span class = "pagenum">126</span> +you have the Parisian accent," added the Frenchman, who, like his +countrymen, counted upon the effect of a little well-administered +flattery.</p> + +<p>"You are very kind to say so, sir. I have been in Paris a few months, +and was always able to make my way with the language," said the +stranger, evidently pleased with the commendation bestowed upon his +French accent; for many people take more pride in their foreign accent +than in the proper use of their own language.</p> + +<p>"Christophe, find a place for yourself, and order what you desire," +continued the Frenchman, as a waiter, summoned by the acting servant, +presented himself to take the order.</p> + +<p>At this moment a gentleman behind the detective vacated his place at +the table, and Christy took a seat close to his companion. The lunch of +both was ordered, and the stranger opposite had but just commenced his +meal. M. Rubempré "laid himself out" to make himself as agreeable +as possible, and he seemed to be succeeding admirably, for the stranger +appeared to be absolutely charmed with him. Speaking slowly and clearly, +so that the person in uniform, who did not speak French fluently, could +understand him, he told +<span class = "pagenum">127</span> +him all about his brother in the Confederate army, and strongly +expressed his desire to join him, and perhaps the army, for he had very +strong sympathy for the right in the great conflict; in fact, he was +disposed to engage in fighting for the right.</p> + +<p>Then he inquired of his new friend what wine was the best in the +island. The stranger preferred sherry, but perhaps a Frenchman might +take a different view of the subject. M. Rubempré ordered both +sherry and claret, and then filled the glasses of his <i>vis-a-vis</i> +and his own. He did not offer any to his servant, for he knew that he +never touched it. They drank claret first to each other's health.</p> + +<p>"You are in the military, my friend?" continued the detective.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I am a sailor. Allow me to introduce myself as Captain +Rombold, of the steamer Dornoch."</p> + +<p>"I am extremely happy to make your acquaintance, Captain Rombold. To +reciprocate, I am M. Rubempré, of Paris," added the Frenchman, as +he filled his companion's glass, and they tippled again with an +abundance of compliments. "I presume that you are in the British navy, +Captain Rombold?"</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">128</span> +"At present I am not, though I was formerly in that service, and +resigned to engage in a more lucrative occupation."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, what could be better than the position of an officer in the +Royal navy?"</p> + +<p>"I am now a commander in the navy of the Confederate States," added +the captain, looking with interest into the face of his companion. "I am +taking in coal and cargo, and shall sail at five to-morrow afternoon for +Wilmington."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible?" said M. Rubempré, who appeared to be greatly +impressed by what was said to him. "I wish I was a sailor, but I am not. +You will break through the blockade?"</p> + +<p>"I apprehend no difficulty in doing that, for the Dornoch is good for +fourteen knots an hour, and most of the Federal fleet cannot make more +than twelve."</p> + +<p>Christy was very glad to hear this acknowledgment of the speed of the +intended cruiser, for it assured him that the Chateaugay could outsail +her. The two gentlemen at the other table passed the wine very freely, +and both of them seemed to be considerably exhilarated; but he was glad +to perceive that his friend allowed the captain to do +<span class = "pagenum">129</span> +the most of the talking. The lunch was finished at last, and both of +them rose from the table.</p> + +<p>"I am exceedingly obliged to you, M. Rubempré, for the +pleasure I have derived from this interview," said Captain Rombold, as +he grasped the hand of his companion. "I have had more practice with my +French than for several years, and I take great delight in speaking the +language. I hope we shall meet again."</p> + +<p>"Thanks! Thanks! I am very sure that we shall meet again; and almost +as sure that we shall meet fighting for the right," added the +Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"But I hope you will be a passenger on board of the Dornoch, as you +suggested to me a little while ago. I will give you a good stateroom, +though I cannot absolutely promise to take you to the port of our +destination, for accidents may happen in the midst of the +blockaders."</p> + +<p>"If I can go with you, my dear Captain Rombold, I shall be on board +of your ship by four to-morrow afternoon," replied the detective, as he +took the hand of his new friend for the last time.</p> + +<p>Christy had finished his lunch, and they left the hotel together. The +carriage in which they had +<span class = "pagenum">130</span> +come called for them at the appointed time, and they returned to +Hamilton. The conversation was continued in French, so that the driver +was none the wiser for what he heard. At the Atlantic they went to their +rooms, where the information they had obtained was collaborated, and +written down in French, the detective concealing it in a belt pocket he +wore on his body.</p> + +<p>"The wonder to me has been that these officers talked so freely," +said Christy, as they seated themselves at a window. "They talked to you +as plainly as though you had been their friend for life."</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't they? They can't help knowing that I am a Frenchman; +and I am sorry to say that my countrymen, like so many of the English, +sympathize with the South in the great Civil War. They take me for a +friend at once. Besides, as they understand the matter here, why should +these blockade-runners, or even the Confederate commander, object to +telling what they are going to do. There will be no mail steamer to New +York till after they have all gone off; and there is no telegraph +yet."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right, M. Rubempré; but I +<span class = "pagenum">131</span> +think a good deal more discretion would become them better, as they are +likely to ascertain very soon," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"I suppose none of these people here would consider it possible or +practicable to land at these islands and pick up the news, as we have +done. This was my plan for Nassau, but I did not think of applying it to +the Bermudas, till Captain Chantor told me his difficulty as to waiting +for the Dornoch."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me we have done all we can do here, and there is nothing +more to do."</p> + +<p>"That is very true; but I supposed it would take at least two days to +do our business. We have been much more successful than I anticipated, +and performed the duty in half the time I supposed it would require. But +it was better to have too much time than too little."</p> + +<p>"It is nearly night now, and we have another day to spend here."</p> + +<p>"We can rest from our labors in the hope that our works will follow +us. I am ready to do a good deal of sleeping in the time that remains to +us, for we may not be able to sleep any to-morrow night," added the +detective as he threw himself on his bed, and was soon fast asleep.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">132</span> +Christy had slept enough the night before and during the morning; and he +went out to take a walk in the town. He had taken off his suit of black, +and put on the costume he had worn from the ship. He was inclined to see +what there was in the town; and he walked about till it was dark, at +which time he found himself in the vicinity of the Hamilton Hotel, the +largest and best appointed in the town. He was dressed very plainly, but +there was nothing shabby in his appearance; and he thought he would +inspect the interior of the hotel.</p> + +<p>He began to mount the piazza, when he suddenly halted, and started +back with astonishment, and his hair almost stood on end. Directly in +front of him, and not ten feet distant, sat his uncle, Homer Passford, +of Glenfield, talking with a gentleman in uniform. The lantern that hung +near him enabled him to see the features of the planter, but he could +not see the face of the officer, with whom he was engaged in a very +earnest conversation.</p> + +<p>Christy's first impulse was to put a long distance between himself +and his uncle, for his father's brother might identify him in spite of +the +<span class = "pagenum">133</span> +color on his face. Such a discovery was likely to prove very annoying to +him, and might render useless the information the detective and himself +had obtained with so much trouble and risk. But the first question that +came into his head was the inquiry as to what his uncle was doing in +Bermuda. He was a Confederate of the most positive type, had done +everything in his power for his government, as he understood it, and was +willing to sacrifice his life and all that he had in the world in its +service.</p> + +<p>Colonel Passford must be there on some mission. He was a prominent +and useful man in his State; and he would not have left it without some +very strong motive. The nephew would have given a great deal, and +exposed himself to no little peril, to be able to fathom this motive. He +moved away from the piazza, and went upon it at another place. If he +could hear some of the conversation he might be able to form some idea +of the occasion of his uncle's visit.</p> + +<p>Walking along the platform, he obtained a position behind Colonel +Passford, and at the same time saw the face of the person with whom he +was in conversation. He was not a little surprised +<span class = "pagenum">134</span> +to discover that the gentleman was Captain Rombold, commander of the +Dornoch. He had hardly seen this officer, and he had no fear that he +would recognize him; and, if he did, it was of little consequence, for +he was there in the capacity of a servant. He took a vacant chair, +turned his back to both of the speakers, and opened wide his ears. +Probably nine-tenths of the people in the hotel were directly or +indirectly concerned in the business of blockade-running; and secrecy +was hardly necessary in that locality.</p> + +<p>"As I say, Captain Rombold, we need more fast steamers, not to run +the blockade, but to prey upon the enemy's commerce. In that way we can +bring the people of the North to their senses, and put this unhallowed +strife on the part of the Federals to an end," said Colonel +Passford.</p> + +<p>"Well, Colonel, there are ships enough to be had on the other side of +the Atlantic, and your money or your cotton will buy them," added the +naval officer.</p> + +<p>"We have been rather unfortunate in running cotton out this last +year. Several steamers and sailing vessels that I fitted out with cotton +myself were captured by my own nephew, who +<span class = "pagenum">135</span> +was in command of a small steamer called the Bronx."</p> + +<p>"Of course those things could not be helped," replied Captain +Rombold; "but with the Gateshead and the Kilmarnock, larger and more +powerful steamers than any that have been sent over, you can scour the +ocean. They are ready for you when your money is ready."</p> + +<p>"It is ready now, for I have sacrificed my entire fortune for the +purchase of these steamers; and I wait only for a vessel that will take +me to Scotland," replied Colonel Passford.</p> + +<p>Christy promptly decided that the steamers mentioned should not be +purchased to prey on the commerce of the United States, if he could +possibly prevent it.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">136</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXII">CHAPTER XII</a></h4> + +<h6>AN IMPRACTICABLE SCHEME</h6> + + +<p>Before the War of the Rebellion the commerce of the United States +exceeded that of any other nation on the globe. The Confederate +steamers, the Sumter, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and other cruisers, +swept our ships from the ocean, and the country has never regained its +commercial prestige. Christy Passford listened with intense interest to +the conversation between his uncle and the commander of the Dornoch, and +he came to the conclusion that the latter was a naval officer of no +ordinary ability. He evidently believed that the six-gun steamer in his +charge was a command not worthy of his talent.</p> + +<p>The Sumter, and some other vessels fitted out as privateers or war +vessels, had already done a great deal of mischief to the shipping of +the Northern States, and the young man fully realized the meaning of his +uncle's intentions. Colonel Passford +<span class = "pagenum">137</span> +had been supplied with money by his government, with what he had raised +himself, to purchase larger and more powerful steamers than had yet been +obtained, and Captain Rombold appeared to be his confidant, with whom he +must have been in communication for a considerable length of time.</p> + +<p>Colonel Passford was going to England and Scotland to purchase the +steamers mentioned and recommended as the kind required by his present +companion. Christy could think of no manner in which he could serve his +country so effectually as by preventing, or even delaying, the adding of +these vessels to the navy of the South. But it was a tremendous +undertaking for a young man. His uncle had certainly been very +indiscreet in talking out loud about his plans; but it could hardly have +been supposed that any loyal ears were near enough to hear them, for +even the American consul was not safe in the islands.</p> + +<p>Christy had doubled himself up in his chair, and pretended to be +asleep, so that no notice was taken of him by the two gentlemen in +conversation. He continued to listen till he heard a clock strike nine; +but he obtained no further information, except in relation to the +details of the colonel's plans. He +<span class = "pagenum">138</span> +was in great haste to get to England to purchase the vessels, and he had +the drafts about him for the purpose. It was a vast sum, for the prices +of desirable steamers had largely advanced under the demand for them for +running the blockade.</p> + +<p>"The easiest and quickest way for you to get to Liverpool or Glasgow +is to go to New York, and there take a steamer to either of these +ports," suggested Captain Rombold.</p> + +<p>"I dare not go to New York, for I should certainly be recognized +there. My only brother is one of the most prominent agents of the Yankee +government, and every passenger from Bermuda and Nassau is watched and +dogged by detectives. It would not be prudent for me to go New York, for +some pretext to rob me of the drafts I carry would be found," replied +Homer Passford.</p> + +<p>"There may be a steamer from Bermuda in a week or a month, for there +is no regular line," added the naval officer.</p> + +<p>"But there are regular lines from Havana, Mexico, Jamaica, and the +Windward Islands," suggested the agent of the Confederate +government.</p> + +<p>"Very true, and it is not necessary that I should make a port in the +Confederate States before I +<span class = "pagenum">139</span> +begin my work on the ocean," said Captain Rombold. "I have my commission +from your government, with full powers to act, though I desired to make +a port in the South, for, as you are aware, my wife is a native of +Georgia, and is at her father's plantation at the present time. I +captured two Yankee vessels off the Azores, and burned them."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt about your powers; but can you not aid me in getting +to England?" persisted the colonel.</p> + +<p>"If you will take the chances, I can, Colonel Passford. If you will +go on board of my ship to-morrow afternoon, and sail with me, I have no +doubt we shall overhaul a steamer bound to England in the course of a +week, for I will get into the track of these vessels."</p> + +<p>The agent promptly accepted this proposition, and soon after the +conference ended, though not till the listener had taken himself out of +the way, Christy had turned over in his mind a plan to terminate very +suddenly his uncle's mission to purchase steamers, and to obtain +possession of his drafts. M. Rubempré was adroit enough to +accomplish almost anything, and he intended to have the detective make +the colonel's acquaintance, and induce +<span class = "pagenum">140</span> +him to embark with them in the Eleuthera, pretending that he was going +to France himself, and intended to intercept a French steamer from +Progreso, whose course lay but a short distance south of the +Bermudas.</p> + +<p>But the plan suggested by Captain Rombold, and adopted by Colonel +Passford, saved him from what the young officer regarded as his duty in +the deception and capture of his uncle. When the Bellevite, while she +was still the yacht of Captain Horatio Passford, had gone to the +vicinity of Mobile, to the home of his father's brother, Homer had done +all in his power to capture the steamer for the use of his government, +and had made war upon her with armed vessels. He had done so +conscientiously, believing it to be his duty to his country. This fact +from the past made it easier for Christy to think of such a thing as the +capture of his uncle, even in a neutral country.</p> + +<p>The young man returned to the Atlantic Hotel. He found M. +Rubempré still fast asleep, for his slumbers the night before had +been very brief. He waked him, and told him all that had transpired +during the evening, though not till the detective had ordered supper, +which they had not partaken +<span class = "pagenum">141</span> +of so far. He stated the plan by which he had proposed to himself to +prevent the purchase, for the present at least, of the Gateshead and +Kilmarnock.</p> + +<p>"Not a practicable plan, Christophe," said the detective, shaking his +head vigorously.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" demanded Christy; and he explained the conduct of his +uncle in regard to the Bellevite, when she was on a peaceful errand to +convey her owner's daughter back to her home.</p> + +<p>Then he related the attempt of the colonel's son, his cousin Corny, +to capture the Bronx by a piece of wild strategy.</p> + +<p>"But I do not object to your scheme on moral grounds," interposed M. +Rubempré. "Have you forgotten the affair of the Trent, when +Messrs. Mason and Slidell were taken out of an English steamer? The +British government made a tremendous tempest, and would certainly have +declared war if the two envoys had not been returned to a British +ship-of-war. The English flag waves over these islands, and they are +supposed to be neutral ground."</p> + +<p>"Neutral with a vengeance!" exclaimed Christy.</p> + +<p>"If Colonel Passford had been carried off in the +<span class = "pagenum">142</span> +manner you thought of, the United States government would have been +compelled to return him to these islands, with all his drafts and other +property. I am very glad you found it unnecessary to carry out such a +plot," said the detective, as a knock at the door announced that their +supper was ready.</p> + +<p>As Christy's plan was not in order, (missing words) the business of +the visitors at the islands was finished. Both of them slept till very +late in the morning, and after breakfast lay down again and slept all +the forenoon. The young man was afraid to go out of the hotel in the +afternoon, fearful that he might meet his uncle. But his companion +walked about the place, and visited the Hamilton, where he again +encountered Captain Rombold, who introduced him to Colonel Passford; +informing him that he was to be his fellow passenger. When the commander +of the Dornoch told him that he might not make a Confederate port for +some weeks, if at all, M. Rubempré decided not to take passage +with him. Of course nothing was said that could be of any service to the +detective, for he had already obtained the information he needed; but he +assured himself that the steamer would sail at the time stated the day +before.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">143</span> +Towards night the detective informed the landlord that he was to go to +St. George's in the evening, paid his bill, and liberally rewarded the +waiters. He had been over to the pier to look after the Eleuthera, and +had found Joseph at his house. The boat was all right; her keeper had +washed her out, and put everything in order on board of her. M. +Rubempré returned to the hotel, and after supper Joseph came for +the valises. It was quite dark when they left the place, and made their +way to the pier. No one asked any questions, and the detective had +caused it to be understood that he had engaged a boatman to take him to +St. George's by water.</p> + +<p>They went on board of the boat, and the fisherman assisted them in +getting under way. The liberal skipper gave him another sovereign, +adding that he need not say anything to any person about him and his +servant. Joseph was profuse in his expressions of gratitude, for with so +much money in his pocket he need not go a-fishing again for a month or +more, and protested with all his might that he would not mention them to +anybody.</p> + +<p>The night was dark enough to conceal the Eleuthera after she got away +from the shore, but +<span class = "pagenum">144</span> +not so dark that the skipper could not find his way around the reefs to +Hogfish Cut. It was high tide, as it had been when they came inside of +the rocks, and the boat went along quite briskly in the fresh west wind +that was still blowing. Without accident or incident of importance, +though the wind was ahead a portion of the way, the boat reached the Cut +at about midnight. She stuck on a reef at this point, but very lightly, +though it required half an hour or more to get her off. She made no +water, and did not appear to be injured.</p> + +<p>Without further mishap the Eleuthera passed through the opening in +the reefs, and, taking the bearing of the light on Gibbs Hill, Mr. +Gilfleur, as Christy began to call him from this time, laid his course +to the south-west. The Chateaugay was not to show any lights, and there +was nothing but the compass to depend upon; but a light was necessary to +enable the skipper to see it. The lantern was used for this purpose, but +it was carefully concealed in the stern.</p> + +<p>"We are all right now, Mr. Passford; and you may turn in for about +three hours, for I don't think we shall sight the ship in less than that +time," said the detective, as he put on his overcoat, +<span class = "pagenum">145</span> +for the night air was rather chilly, and his companion had already +done so.</p> + +<p>"I have no occasion to turn in, for I have slept enough at that hotel +to last me for a week," replied Christy. "It looks now as though we had +made a good job of this visit to the Bermudas."</p> + +<p>"I think there can be no doubt of that, Mr. Passford; and there is an +unpleasant surprise in store for your worthy uncle," said Mr. Gilfleur, +chuckling as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"And perhaps for your accomplished friend Captain Rombold. We have +both heard him say that he was regularly commissioned as a commander in +the Confederate navy, and that his ship is armed with all proper +authority to capture, burn, and destroy the mercantile marine of the +United States."</p> + +<p>"But Captain Rombold is an ex-officer of the Royal navy, and you may +depend upon it he will fight. There will be a naval battle somewhere in +the vicinity of these islands to-morrow, and Captain Chantor will find +that it will be no boy's play," added Mr. Gilfleur.</p> + +<p>"My father told me that he was a very able officer, and had already +rendered good service, +<span class = "pagenum">146</span> +good enough to procure his rapid promotion. I liked the looks of his +officers and crew, and I have no doubt they will give a good account of +themselves."</p> + +<p>"I hope so, for I am to be an American citizen: I have filed my first +papers."</p> + +<p>"I doubt not you will make a good and useful citizen; and your +wonderful skill as a detective will make you very serviceable to your +new country."</p> + +<p>The conversation was continued for full three hours longer; at the +end of which time they saw a dark body ahead on the port bow, and heard +some rather gentle screams from a steam whistle.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">147</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXIII">CHAPTER XIII</a></h4> + +<h6>AT THE END OF THE CHASE</h6> + + +<p>Mr. Gilfleur estimated that the Eleuthera was at least fifteen miles +from the light, and the whistles were not loud enough to be heard at +that distance. Neither of the voyagers had any doubt that the dark mass +ahead was the Chateaugay, and the skipper headed the boat for her. If it +were not the ship that was expecting to pick up the visitors to the +island, she would not be whistling in mid-ocean; and any other vessel +would carry a head and side lights.</p> + +<p>In half an hour more, for the Chateaugay appeared to have stopped her +screw, the boat was within speaking distance, and the hail of Christy +was answered. When she came alongside the steamer, the accommodation +ladder was rigged out, several seamen came on board, and the voyagers +hastened to the deck of the ship. Captain Chantor grasped the hand of +the lieutenant, and then of the detective.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">148</span> +"I had some doubts whether or not I should ever see you again," said the +commander. "If they had discovered that one of you was a United States +naval officer, they would have mobbed you."</p> + +<p>"As they did the American consul while we were there," added Mr. +Gilfleur.</p> + +<p>"You will tell me of that later," replied the captain, as he directed +the officer of the watch to hoist in the boat and secure it as it had +been before. "Now, come down into my cabin, and tell me your news, if +you have seen something, even if you have not done anything," he +added.</p> + +<p>"We were not expected to capture the islands, or make any +demonstration; and we have been in only one fight," replied Christy, to +whom the commander turned as soon as they were seated at the table.</p> + +<p>"Then you have been in a fight?" queried the captain.</p> + +<p>"Only with the fists. We defended the United States consul when he +was hard pressed, and we got him safely into his office by the time the +police came upon the scene," continued Christy. "But we have important +information. Mr. Gilfleur will give it to you in full."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">149</span> +"Pardon; but I very much prefer that Mr. Passford should be the +historian of the expedition," interposed the detective.</p> + +<p>"But my friend and companion has been the principal actor; and I am +sure I could not have done anything to obtain the information without +him," protested the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"Then it is all the more proper that you should tell the story, Mr. +Passford, and spare Mr. Gilfleur's modesty," said the captain.</p> + +<p>It was agreed that Christy should be the narrator of the results of +the expedition, and he first described the trip to Hamilton in the boat. +Then he told about the assault on the consul, and in what manner they +had defended him.</p> + +<p>"I ought to inform you at once that the Dornoch was at St. George's +harbor, and that she was to sail yesterday afternoon at five o'clock," +said Christy. "But she is bound to the southward, and her first mission +is to intercept an English or French steamer, and put a Confederate +commissioner, wishing to get to England, on board of her. This agent of +the South happens to be my uncle."</p> + +<p>"The brother of Captain Passford?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Captain; and he is provided with funds +<span class = "pagenum">150</span> +to purchase two vessels—steamers, to be fitted up as +men-of-war."</p> + +<p>"Then if he is your father's brother, you think, perhaps, that we +ought not to molest him," suggested the captain.</p> + +<p>"Why, his graceless nephew even considered a scheme to entice him on +board of our boat, under pretence of finding a passage to England for +him," interposed Mr. Gilfleur, laughing heartily at the suggestion of +the commander.</p> + +<p>"I believe in treating him like a Christian and a gentleman, for he +is both of these; but I do not believe in letting him fill up the +Confederate navy with foreign-built steamers, to ruin the commerce of my +country," replied the young officer with spirit. "My father would no +more believe in it than I do. You should treat him, Captain Chantor, +exactly as though he was nobody's brother or uncle."</p> + +<p>The commander clapped his hands as though he was of the same opinion +as his passenger, and Christy proceeded with his narrative, describing +their visit to the Dornoch and the blockade-runners at St. George's and +Hamilton. The captain was very much amused at his interview in +<span class = "pagenum">151</span> +French with Captain Rombold, and his conversations with officers of +other vessels they had boarded. The detective took his papers from the +belt, and read the names of the steamers, and the ports for which they +were bound.</p> + +<p>"They were a very obliging lot of blockade-runners," said the +captain, laughing heartily at the freedom with which they had +spoken.</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose there is an American in the Bermudas at the present +time besides Mr. Alwayn, the consul," added the detective. "The +blockade-runners have the islands all to themselves, or at least the two +towns on them. They have plenty of money, and they spend it without +stint or measure. They make business good, and the inhabitants take +excellent care of them. It is no place for Americans; for everybody's +sympathy is with the South. It seems to me that there is no danger of +talking about their business anywhere in the islands."</p> + +<p>"They were speaking all the time to a Frenchman, who had considerable +difficulty in using the English language," said Christy. "All the talk +with Captain Rombold was in French."</p> + +<p>The narrative was finished, and discussed at +<span class = "pagenum">152</span> +great length. The order had been given to the officer of the deck to go +ahead at full speed, making the course south-east, after the Eleuthera +had been hoisted on board and secured.</p> + +<p>"It looks decidedly like a battle some time to-morrow," said the +commander thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"If the Dornoch sailed at five o'clock yesterday afternoon, according +to the arrangement, she must be over a hundred miles from the islands at +this moment," continued Captain Chantor thoughtfully, as he consulted +his watch. "We can only conjecture his course, and that is the important +thing for us to know. His first objective point is to intercept a +steamer bound to England or France. If he runs directly to the southward +he may miss the first one."</p> + +<p>"If I were in his place I should run to the eastward, so as not to +fall astern of any possible steamer bound to England," added +Christy.</p> + +<p>"That was the thought that first came to my mind," replied the +commander, as he brought out a chart and spread it on the table. "For +that reason I gave out the course to the south-east."</p> + +<p>A careful examination of the chart and an extended +<span class = "pagenum">153</span> +calculation followed. It was agreed between the two naval officers that +the Dornoch would go to the eastward till she fell into the track of +vessels bound to the north-east from Jamaica, Cuban ports, or Mexico, +and then put her head to the south-west. It was four o'clock in the +morning, the cruiser had been out nine hours, and the captain dotted the +chart where he believed she was at that moment.</p> + +<p>"She has made all the easting necessary, and by this time she has +laid her course about south-west," continued the commander. "Captain +Rombold will not hurry his ship, for he has no occasion to do so, and he +will naturally save his coal. If our calculations are correct, we shall +see the Dornoch about noon to-day;" and he pointed to the conjunction of +the two courses as he had drawn them on a diagram. "That is all; and we +had better turn in."</p> + +<p>A sharp lookout was maintained during the hours of the morning watch, +for the conjectures and calculations of the captain might prove to be +all wrong. It was possible that the Dornoch had proceeded directly to +the southward, after making less easting than was anticipated. Nothing +was +<span class = "pagenum">154</span> +seen of any steamer. But in the middle of the forenoon watch a long and +rather faint streak of black was discovered in the east. The Dornoch was +not exactly a blockade-runner, and doubtless she used soft coal, though +anthracite was beginning to come into use in other than American +steamers, for its smoke was less likely to betray them.</p> + +<p>"I think we have figured this matter out correctly, Mr. Passford," +said Captain Chantor, as they gazed at the attenuated streak of +black.</p> + +<p>"Captain Rombold is a very competent officer, and you and he seem to +have agreed in your calculations," added Christy.</p> + +<p>The steamer to the eastward soon came in sight; she and the +Chateaugay were headed for the same point, and by noon they were in +plain sight of each other. In another hour they were within hailing +distance.</p> + +<p>"That is not the Dornoch," said Christy decidedly.</p> + +<p>"No; she is much larger than the Dornoch," added Mr. Gilfleur.</p> + +<p>"I am disappointed," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>The steamer showed the British flag, and went on her way to the +south-west. The Chateaugay +<span class = "pagenum">155</span> +continued on her course without change till eight bells in the afternoon +watch, when a heavier volume of smoke was descried in the north-east. No +change was made in the course, and at the beginning of the second dog +watch the craft from which the smoke issued could be seen with the naked +eye. She was headed to the south-west, and it was evident that her +course would carry her to the westward of the Chateaugay. The darkness +soon settled down upon the ocean, and the port light of the stranger +showed itself over the starboard quarter of the ship, proving that it +crossed the wake of the other.</p> + +<p>The action, if the steamer proved to be the Dornoch, must be deferred +till the next morning. It was impossible to determine what she was in +the darkness, and Captain Chantor ordered the course to be changed to +correspond with that of the stranger, which manifested no disposition to +get away from her. All night the two vessels maintained the same +relative position, and both were making about ten knots an hour. At +daylight in the morning the commander and Christy were on the +quarter-deck, anxiously observing the stranger. She was carefully +examined with the glasses.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">156</span> +"That is the Dornoch!" exclaimed Mr. Gilfleur, after a long inspection +with the glass.</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"You are sure of it?" inquired the commander.</p> + +<p>"We have both been on board of her, and I am perfectly sure of it," +replied Christy, who proceeded to explain the details by which he +identified her; and the captain was entirely satisfied.</p> + +<p>The Dornoch was not more than two miles distant from the Chateaugay, +for in the early morning hours the course had been changed a couple of +points, to bring her nearer for examination. It was now a chase, and the +chief engineer was instructed to give the ship her best speed. It was +soon evident that the Dornoch was hurrying her pace, for her +smoke-stacks were vomiting forth immense inky clouds.</p> + +<p>"I doubt if Captain Rombold cares to fight with my uncle on board," +said Christy. "He can see that the Chateaugay is of heavier metal than +the Dornoch."</p> + +<p>"I should suppose that it would be his first care, as perhaps he +regards it as his first duty, to put his passenger on board of a steamer +bound to +<span class = "pagenum">157</span> +England," added the commander. "It appears to be a question of speed +just now."</p> + +<p>The Chateaugay was driven to her utmost, and it was soon clear that +she was too much for her antagonist. At two bells in the forenoon watch +she was about a mile abreast of the chase, which had not yet shown her +colors. The flag of the United States floated at the peak, and the +commander ordered a shot to be fired across the forefoot of the +Dornoch.</p> + +<p>This was an order for her to come to; but, instead of doing so, she +flung out the Confederate flag, and fired a shotted gun, the ball from +which whizzed over the heads of the Chateaugay's officers on the +quarter-deck.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">158</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXIV">CHAPTER XIV</a></h4> + +<h6>AN EASY VICTORY</h6> + + +<p>The shot from the Dornoch, which had evidently been intended to hit +the Chateaugay, sufficiently indicated the purpose of her commander. On +board of either steamer there could be no doubt in regard to the +character of the other. Captain Chantor gave the order to beat to +quarters, and in a few moments every officer and seaman was at his +station.</p> + +<p>Christy Passford went to his stateroom, buckled on his sword belt, +and prepared his revolvers for use; for though he held no position on +board of the Chateaugay, he did not intend to remain idle during the +action, and was ready to serve as a volunteer. Mr. Gilfleur came to the +open door of his room, and seemed to be somewhat astonished to observe +his preparations.</p> + +<p>"You appear to be ready for duty, Mr. Passford, though you are not +attached to this ship," said he.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">159</span> +"I have no position on board of the Chateaugay; but it would be quite +impossible for me to remain inactive while my country needs my services, +even as a supernumerary," replied Christy.</p> + +<p>"But what am I to do?" asked the detective, with a puzzled expression +on his face.</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all, Mr. Gilfleur; I regard you as a non-combatant, and I +think you had better remain in your stateroom," replied Christy. "But I +must go on deck."</p> + +<p>The Frenchman followed him to the quarter-deck, and seemed to be +inclined to take a hand in the conflict. He desired to be an American +citizen, and possibly he believed he could win his title to this +distinction in a battle better than by any other means. But he had no +naval training, could be of no service at the guns, and was more likely +to be in the way of others than to accomplish anything of value. It was +a needless risk, and the captain suggested that his life was too +valuable to his adopted country for him to expose himself before his +mission had been accomplished. He stepped aside, but he was not willing +to go below.</p> + +<p>"I desire to offer my services as a volunteer, Captain Chanter," said +Christy, saluting the commander. +<span class = "pagenum">160</span> +"If you will assign me to any position on deck, though it be nothing +more than a station at one of the guns, I will endeavor to do my +duty."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt you would do your whole duty, Mr. Passford," replied +the captain, taking him by the hand. "You can be of more service to me +as an adviser than as a hand at a gun. It is plain enough that the +commander of the Dornoch intends to fight as long as there is anything +left of him or his ship. Your report of him gives me that +assurance."</p> + +<p>"I suppose by this time, Captain Chantor, you have arranged your plan +for the action," added Christy, looking curiously into the face of the +commander, though he had resolved to give no advice and to make no +suggestions unless directly requested to do so.</p> + +<p>"I suppose the only way is to pound the enemy till he has had enough +of it, using such strategy as the occasion may require. According to +your report we outweigh her in metal, and we have proved that we can +outdo her in speed," replied Captain Chantor.</p> + +<p>"But the Dornoch will have the privilege of pounding the Chateaugay +at the same time," said +<span class = "pagenum">161</span> +Christy in a very low tone, so that no one could hear him.</p> + +<p>"That is very true; of course we must expect to take as good as we +send."</p> + +<p>"But then what use shall you make of your advantage in speed and +weight of metal?" asked the passenger very quietly. "We both believe +that there is humanity in war as well as in peace."</p> + +<p>At that moment a shot passed under the counter of the ship, and +buried itself in the water a cable's length beyond her.</p> + +<p>"That is good practice, Captain Chantor," said Christy. "That shot +was aimed at your rudder; and I have no doubt Captain Rombold is seeking +to cripple you by shooting it away."</p> + +<p>"I believe in humanity in war; but I do not see where it comes in +just now, except in a very general way," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"If the Dornoch cripples you, and then takes her own time to knock +the Chateaugay to pieces, it will amount to the sacrifice of many +lives," suggested the unattached officer.</p> + +<p>"I should be very glad to have your opinion, Mr. Passford," added the +commander.</p> + +<p>"I certainly do not desire to thrust my opinion +<span class = "pagenum">162</span> +upon you, Captain Chantor; but as you have asked for it, I will express +myself freely."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mr. Passford."</p> + +<p>"I should adopt the tactics of Commodore Dupont at Port Royal."</p> + +<p>"In other words, you would keep sailing around the Dornoch."</p> + +<p>"Precisely so. I would not give him a shot till I was out of the +reach of his broadside guns."</p> + +<p>"And then pound her with the midship gun. That is my idea exactly. +Quartermaster, strike one bell."</p> + +<p>"One bell, sir."</p> + +<p>"Strike four bells, quartermaster," added the captain.</p> + +<p>"Four bells, sir."</p> + +<p>The Chateaugay was soon going ahead at her best speed, headed +directly away from the Dornoch, and it would have looked to an observer +as though she was running away from her. At any rate, the enemy made +this interpretation of her movement, and immediately gave chase, opening +fire upon the ship with her bow guns. Presently she fired her heavy +midship gun, the shot from which would have made havoc if it had hit the +<span class = "pagenum">163</span> +mark. It was soon evident that the enemy's speed had been overrated, for +the Chateaugay gained rapidly upon her. A shot from her heavy gun +knocked off the upper works on one side of the Eleuthera, but did no +other damage.</p> + +<p>At the end of two hours even the heavy gun of the enemy could not +carry its shot to the chase. It would have been easy enough to run away +from the Dornoch; but this was by no means the intention of Captain +Chantor. He was very cool and self-possessed, and he did not ask his +passenger for any further suggestions. He understood his business +thoroughly, though he had at first been disposed to make shorter work of +the action than he had now adopted. As soon as he had obtained his +distance, he gave the order to bring the ship about. Thus far he had not +fired a gun, and the enemy had apparently had it all his own way.</p> + +<p>The midship was in readiness to initiate the work of the Chateaugay. +At the proper moment, the gunner himself sighted the piece, the lock +string was operated, and the hull of the ship shook under the discharge. +Christy had a spy-glass to his eye, levelled at the Dornoch. She had +just begun to change her course to conform to +<span class = "pagenum">164</span> +that of the Chateaugay, and the observer on the quarter-deck discovered +the splinters flying about her forecastle. The shot appeared to have +struck at the heel of the bowsprit.</p> + +<p>"That was well done, Captain Chantor," said Christy.</p> + +<p>"Excellently well done; but Mr. Turreton will improve when he gets +his range a little better," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>At this moment the report of the Dornoch's great gun was heard again; +but the shot fell considerably short of the Chateaugay. At the same time +she was crowding on all the steam she could make, and Captain Chantor +was manœuvring his ship so as to maintain his distance. The +midship gun was kept as busy as possible, and Mr. Turreton improved his +practice very materially. Fought in this manner, the action was not very +exciting. The ship followed her circular course, varying it only to +maintain the distance. For several hours the unequal battle continued. +The mainmast of the Dornoch had been shot away, and Christy, with his +glass, saw several of the huge shots crash into her bow.</p> + +<p>It was evident, after pounding her a good part +<span class = "pagenum">165</span> +of the day, that the enemy could not stand much more of this punishment. +At eight bells in the afternoon watch she hauled down her flag. Christy +had done nothing but watch the Dornoch, and report to Captain Chantor. +As her flag came down, he discovered that her condition, after the last +shot, was becoming desperate.</p> + +<p>"She has settled considerably in the water, Captain Chantor, and that +is evidently the reason why she hauled down her flag," said Christy, +just as the ship's company were cheering at the disappearance of the +Confederate flag from the peak of the enemy.</p> + +<p>"I was confident she could not endure much more such hulling as Mr. +Turreton has been bestowing upon her," replied the commander, after he +had given the order to make the course directly towards the Dornoch.</p> + +<p>Christy continued to watch the enemy's vessel. The ship's company +were employed in stretching a sail over the bow, evidently for the +purpose of stopping in whole or partially a dangerous leak in that part +of the vessel; and she seemed to be in immediate peril of going to the +bottom. They were also getting their boats ready, and the situation +<span class = "pagenum">166</span> +must have been critical. In a short time the Chateaugay was within +hailing distance of her prize.</p> + +<p>"Dornoch, ahoy!" shouted Captain Chantor, mounted on the port rail. +"Do you surrender?"</p> + +<p>"I do," replied Captain Rombold; for Christy recognized his voice. +"Our ship is sinking!"</p> + +<p>By this time the havoc made by the big gun of the Chateaugay could be +seen and estimated. The bow of the steamer had been nearly all shot +away. Her bowsprit and her mainmast had gone by the board. Her bulwarks +were stove in, and most of her boats appeared to have been knocked to +pieces. In spite of the efforts to keep her afloat, it was plain that +she was sinking; and Christy could see her settling in the water. The +boats of the victor were promptly lowered, and crews sent away in them +to the relief of the imperilled enemy. There were not more than sixty +men on board of her, including the officers; and they were soon +transferred to the deck of the Chateaugay.</p> + +<p>Christy watched the boats with the most intense interest as they came +alongside the ship; for he knew that his Uncle Homer was on board of the +<span class = "pagenum">167</span> +Dornoch, if the plans arranged at the hotel had been fully carried out. +Captain Rombold came in the last boat, and Colonel Passford was with +him. His nephew did not care to meet him just then. The Confederate +commissioner came on deck; and Christy looked at him with interest from +behind the mizzenmast. His expression testified to his grief and sorrow +at the early failure of his mission. The young lieutenant could pity the +man, while he rejoiced at his ill success in building up the navy of the +Confederacy.</p> + +<p>His attention was drawn off from his uncle by the sudden sinking of +the Dornoch; and the vortex that followed her disappearance extended to +the Chateaugay. Most of the officers and seamen had brought off the +whole or a part of their clothing and other articles.</p> + +<p>When Captain Rombold came on deck, Captain Chantor politely saluted +him, and returned the sword he surrendered to him. Colonel Passford kept +close to him; and Christy thought he looked dazed and vacant.</p> + +<p>"While I must rejoice in my own good fortune, Captain Rombold, I can +sympathize personally with a brave commander who has lost his ship," +<span class = "pagenum">168</span> +said Captain Chantor, taking the hand of the late commander of the +Dornoch.</p> + +<p>"I thank you for your consideration, Captain. I am sorry to have been +so easy a victim to your strategy; and I can reciprocate by +congratulating you on your victory, though your better guns enabled you +to knock my ship to pieces at your leisure," replied Captain +Rombold.</p> + +<p>He then introduced Colonel Passford, and both of them were invited to +the captain's cabin. The wounded were turned over to the surgeon, and +the crew were sent below. It was clearly impossible for the ship to +continue on her voyage with such an addition to her numbers; and the +Chateaugay was at once headed back to New York.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">169</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXV">CHAPTER XV</a></h4> + +<h6>THE GENTLEMAN WITH A GRIZZLY BEARD</h6> + + +<p>The addition of about sixty persons to the full complement of the +ship's company of the Chateaugay made a considerable crowd on board of +her; but accommodations were provided for all, and in three days the +ship would deliver her human freight to the authorities in New York. The +Dornoch had gone to the bottom with all her valuable cargo; but her +captors would be remunerated in prize-money by the government, so that +in a material point of view she was not lost to them, and there was one +less cruiser to prey upon the commerce of the loyal nation.</p> + +<p>Captain Rombold and Colonel Passford remained in the cabin all the +rest of the day; but the next morning both of them went on deck to take +the fresh air. Christy and Mr. Gilfleur were in the waist, and noticed +them as soon as they appeared. They had had some conversation the +evening +<span class = "pagenum">170</span> +before in regard to confronting the two most important prisoners, though +without arriving at a conclusion.</p> + +<p>"Of course I must meet my uncle," said Christy. "I am not inclined to +skulk and keep out of sight rather than meet him. Though I have assisted +in doing him and his cause a great deal of mischief, I have done it in +the service of my country; and I have no excuses to offer, and no +apologies to make."</p> + +<p>"I was not thinking of excusing myself, or apologizing for what I +have done," replied the detective quite earnestly. "That is not the +point I desire to make. Since I went to New York I have looked upon your +country as my own; and I would do as much to serve her as I ever would +have done for France."</p> + +<p>"What is your point, Mr. Gilfleur?" asked Christy.</p> + +<p>"I do not object to your fraternizing with your uncle, Mr. Passford, +if you are so disposed," continued the Frenchman; "but the case is quite +different with me. In the hotel at St. George's you were not presented +to Captain Rombold, and you did not allow the Confederate commissioner +to see +<span class = "pagenum">171</span> +and identify you. Neither of these gentlemen recognized you; but the +captain of the Dornoch would certainly know me, for I talked with him a +long time."</p> + +<p>"Suppose both of them know us: what difference will that make?" +demanded the young lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"It will explain to them in what manner we obtained our knowledge of +the force and weight of metal of the Dornoch. While we had as good a +right to be on shore in the Bermudas as the Confederates, if we were +recognized our method of operations would be betrayed, and in my opinion +that would be very bad policy, especially as we are to adopt the same +strategy in the Bahamas."</p> + +<p>"I see; and I agree with you, Mr. Gilfleur, that it will be good +policy to keep our own counsel in regard to what we have done in the +islands," added Christy, as he saw Captain Chantor approaching him.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, Mr. Passford. You and your uncle do not appear to be +on very friendly terms, for I notice that you do not speak to each +other."</p> + +<p>"Our relations have always been friendly, even while I was in a rebel +prison; but I have not happened +<span class = "pagenum">172</span> +to meet him since he came on board of the Chateaugay."</p> + +<p>"I will present you to him as his nephew, if you desire me to do so," +continued the commander with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I thank you, Captain: I intended to speak to him when an opportunity +came. But you will pardon me if I make a suggestion without being asked +to do so," said Christy, speaking in a low tone; and he proceeded to +state what had passed between him and Mr. Gilfleur. "I hope you have not +mentioned the fact that Mr. Gilfleur and myself have been in the +Bermudas."</p> + +<p>"I have not, for it came to my mind that it would be very unwise to +do so," replied the captain. "Besides, I was not at all inclined to tell +Captain Rombold that I knew all about his ship, her size, the number of +her ship's company, and the weight of his guns. A man does not feel just +right when he finds he has been made the victim of a bit of strategy; +and I was disposed to spare his feelings. He charges his misfortune +altogether to his antiquated steamer, her failure in her promised speed, +and the neglect of the Confederate commissioners to provide him with a +suitable vessel."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">173</span> +"Mr. Gilfleur will keep out of the captain's sight during the run to New +York; but I was acting as a servant when we met him, and did not sit at +the same table. I will speak to my uncle now."</p> + +<p>Captain Chantor attended him to the quarter-deck, where the +commissioner was taking his morning walk. They fell in behind him as he +was moving aft, so that he did not observe his nephew.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Passford, I have a young gentleman on board of my ship who +bears your name; allow me to present to you Lieutenant Christopher +Passford, who is simply a passenger on the Chateaugay," said the +captain, directing the attention of the commissioner to the young +man.</p> + +<p>"My nephew!" exclaimed Colonel Passford, as he recognized Christy, +and extended his hand to him.</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to see you, Uncle Homer, though I am sorry to meet +you under present circumstances," replied the nephew, taking the offered +hand. "I hope you are very well, sir."</p> + +<p>"Not very well, Christy; and I am not likely to improve in health in +a Yankee prison," answered the colonel with a very sickly smile.</p> + +<p>"Probably my father will be able to obtain a +<span class = "pagenum">174</span> +parole for you, and he will be extremely glad to have you with him at +Bonnydale," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"The last time I met you, Christy, you looked upon me as a +non-combatant, released me, and sent me on shore."</p> + +<p>"I am not sure that I did wisely at that time."</p> + +<p>"I was not taken in arms; and I could hardly be regarded as a +prisoner of war."</p> + +<p>"But you were engaged in the Confederate service, Uncle Homer, for +you were shipping cotton for the benefit of the cause."</p> + +<p>"But I was merely a passenger on board of the Dornoch."</p> + +<p>"Yet you are a Confederate commissioner, seeking a passage in some +vessel bound to England, for the purpose of purchasing steamers to serve +in your navy," added Christy with considerable energy, and without +thinking that he was in danger of compromising himself and his companion +in the visit to the Bermudas.</p> + +<p>Colonel Passford stopped short, and gazed into the face of his +nephew. He appeared to be utterly confounded by the statement, though he +did not deny the truth of it.</p> + +<p>"Without admitting the truth of what you say, +<span class = "pagenum">175</span> +Christy, I desire to ask upon what your statement is founded," said the +commissioner, after some hesitation.</p> + +<p>"As you are on one side in this great conflict, and I am on the +other, you must excuse me for not answering your question," replied +Christy very promptly, and declining to commit himself any farther.</p> + +<p>"It is very sad to have our family divided so that we should be +enemies, however friendly we may be personally," added Colonel Passford +in a tone that indicated his profound grief and sorrow.</p> + +<p>"I know how useless it is for us to discuss the question, Uncle +Homer, for I am sure you are as honest in your views as my father is in +his."</p> + +<p>"I have no desire to argue the question; but I believe the North will +come to its senses in good time—when the grass grows in the +streets of New York, if not before."</p> + +<p>"You will have an opportunity to see for yourself, Uncle Homer, that +New York was never so busy, never so prosperous, as at the present time; +and the same may be truthfully said of all the cities of the North," +replied Christy with spirit.</p> + +<p>"Sail, ho!" shouted the lookout forward.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">176</span> +An hour later the sail was reported to be a steamer, bound to the +westward, and her streak of black smoke indicated that she was English. +She was low in the water, had two smoke-stacks, and presented a very +rakish appearance. She was a vessel of not more than eight hundred tons, +and her build was quite peculiar. It was evident that she was a very +fast steamer. But she seemed to have no suspicions in regard to the +character of the Chateaugay.</p> + +<p>Christy left his uncle, and went to the ward room, where he found Mr. +Gilfleur in his stateroom. He desired the advice of the Frenchman before +he said anything to the captain in regard to the approaching sail. +Together they had looked over all the steamers in the harbor of St. +George's, and those on board of them were not disposed to conceal the +fact that they were to run the blockade as soon as they could get over +to the coast of the United States.</p> + +<p>"What have you been doing to yourself, Mr. Gilfleur?" asked Christy, +as soon as he discovered the detective, for he had completely changed +his appearance, and looked like an elderly gentleman of fifty, with a +full beard, grizzled with the snows of many winters.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">177</span> +"I don't care to be shut up in this stateroom during the voyage to New +York," replied the Frenchman with a pleasant laugh. "This is one of my +useful costumes, and I don't believe Captain Rombold will recognize me +now."</p> + +<p>"I am very sure he will not," added Christy, looking him over, and +wondering at the skill which could so completely change his +appearance.</p> + +<p>"I want you to see the steamer which is approaching, bound to the +westward. If I am not mistaken, we have seen her before."</p> + +<p>"I am all ready, and I will go on deck with you; but you must +contrive to let the captain know who I am, or he will order me below, or +have too much to say about me," replied the detective, as he followed +Christy to the quarter-deck.</p> + +<p>Colonel Passford and Captain Rombold had seated themselves abaft the +mizzenmast, and seemed to be interested in the reports respecting the +approaching steamer. Christy called Captain Chantor to the rail, and +explained what the commander had already scented as a mystery in regard +to the gentleman with the grizzled beard. He laughed heartily as he +gazed at the apparent stranger, and declared that he thought he might +<span class = "pagenum">178</span> +be another Confederate commissioner, for he looked respectable and +dignified enough to be one.</p> + +<p>"I think that steamer is the Cadet, Captain Chantor; and I have +brought Mr. Gilfleur on deck to take a look at her."</p> + +<p>The Frenchman had no doubt the steamer was the Cadet, for she was +peculiar enough in her build to be identified among a thousand vessels +of her class. For some time they discussed the character of the vessel, +and minutely examined her build and rig. Neither of them had any doubt +as to her identity, and the passenger reported the result of the +conference to the commander, who immediately ordered the American flag +to be displayed at the peak; and gave the command to beat to +quarters.</p> + +<p>"We are over six hundred miles from any Confederate port, Mr. +Passford," said the captain. "I should not like to have one of my +captures surrendered to her owners."</p> + +<p>"Of course you have your law books in your cabin, Captain; but I have +studied them so much that I can quote literally from one bearing on this +case," continued Christy. "'The sailing for a blockaded port, knowing it +to be blockaded, is, it +<span class = "pagenum">179</span> +seems, such an act as may charge the party with a breach of the +blockade.' Besides the evidence of her course, and that of the nature of +her cargo, there are two witnesses to the declaration of the captain +that he was intending to run into Wilmington."</p> + +<p>"She has come about, and is running away from you, Captain!" +exclaimed the passenger, who was the first on the quarter-deck to notice +this change.</p> + +<p>The commander ordered a gun to be fired across her bow, for the Cadet +was hardly more than a quarter of a mile from the Chateaugay. No notice +was taken of the shot, and a moment later the midship gun sent a shot +which carried away her pilot-house and disabled the wheel.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">180</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXVI">CHAPTER XVI</a></h4> + +<h6>AMONG THE BAHAMAS</h6> + + +<p>"I am sorry to disturb you, gentlemen, but I feel obliged to ask you +to retire to my cabin until this affair is settled," said Captain +Chantor, addressing Colonel Passford and Captain Rombold.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, Captain Chantor, but do you consider that you +have a right to capture that steamer?" asked the late commander of the +Dornoch, who seemed to be very much disturbed at the proceedings of his +captor.</p> + +<p>"Undoubtedly; and I have no doubt I shall be able to procure her +condemnation on the ground that she is loaded for a Confederate port, no +other than Wilmington, and has the 'guilty intention' to run the +blockade."</p> + +<p>"I don't see where you could have obtained the information that +enables you to make sure of her condemnation at the very first sight of +her," replied the Confederate officer.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">181</span> +"Well, Captain Rombold, if I succeed in proving my position before the +court, out of the mouth of Captain Vickers, her commander, would that +satisfy you?" asked the commander with a cheerful smile. "But you must +excuse me from discussing the matter to any greater length, for I have a +duty to perform at the present time."</p> + +<p>The Chateaugay was going ahead at full speed when the two gentlemen +retired from the quarter-deck. She stopped her screw within hail of the +Cadet. Her crew were clearing away the wreck of the pilot-house; but the +destruction of her steering gear forward did not permit her to keep +under way, though hands were at work on the quarter-deck putting her +extra wheel in order for use. Of course it was plain enough to the +captain of the Cadet that the Chateaugay, after the mischief she had +done with a single shot, could knock the steamer all to pieces in a few +minutes.</p> + +<p>The first cutter, in charge of Mr. Birdwing, the executive officer, +was sent on board of the disabled steamer, and Christy was invited to +take a place in the boat. Captain Vickers was a broken-hearted man when +he realized that his vessel was actually captured by a United States +man-of-war.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">182</span> +"Do you surrender, Captain Vickers?" said Mr. Birdwing, as he saluted +the disconsolate commander.</p> + +<p>"How did you know my name?" demanded he gruffly.</p> + +<p>"That is of no consequence, Captain Vickers. You will oblige me by +answering my question. Do you surrender?" continued the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that I can help myself, for this steamer is not armed, +and I can make no resistance," replied the captain. "I had no idea that +ship was a Yankee gunboat."</p> + +<p>"But we had an idea that this was a blockade-runner," added Mr. +Birdwing, as he proceeded to take formal possession of the vessel, and +called for her papers.</p> + +<p>An examination was made into the character of the cargo, which +consisted largely of arms and ammunition. The extra wheel was soon in +working order. Before noon a prize crew was put on board, and both +vessels were headed for New York. In three days more the Chateaugay was +at anchor off the Navy Yard, with the Cadet near her. The return of the +ship caused a great deal of surprise, and one of the first persons to +come on board of +<span class = "pagenum">183</span> +her was Captain Passford. He gave his son his usual warm welcome.</p> + +<p>Christy gave his father the narrative of the brief voyage, and +astounded him with the information that his brother was on board. The +two brothers had not met since they parted at the plantation near +Mobile, and the meeting was as tender as it was sad; but both of them +refrained from saying anything unpleasant in regard to the war. The +prisoners were taken from the Chateaugay by a tender, and conveyed to +Fort Lafayette; but Captain Passford soon obtained a parole for his +brother, which he consented to give for a limited period.</p> + +<p>"I suppose the Chateaugay will sail again by to-morrow, Christy; but +you will have time to go home and see your mother and sister. I am so +busy that I cannot go, and you must take Uncle Homer with you," said his +father.</p> + +<p>They landed on the New York side, and took a carriage for the +station. Perhaps the streets of the great city were never more crowded +with all kinds of vehicles, and especially with wagons loaded with +merchandise of all kinds. They passed up Broadway, and Colonel Passford +was silent as he witnessed the marvellous activity of the city in the +midst of a great war.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">184</span> +"I think you will not be able to find any grass growing in the streets +of New York, Uncle Homer," said Christy, as they passed the Park, where +the crowd seemed to be greater than elsewhere.</p> + +<p>"There is certainly no grass here, and I am surprised to see that the +city is as busy as ever," replied the commissioner in a subdued tone. +"We have been told at the South that business was paralyzed in the +cities of the North, except what little was created by the war."</p> + +<p>"The war makes a vast amount of business, Uncle Homer," added +Christy.</p> + +<p>But the gentleman from the South was not disposed to talk, and he +soon relapsed into silence. Mrs. Passford and Florry were very much +astonished to see Christy again so soon, and even more so to meet Uncle +Homer; but his welcome was cordial, and nothing was said about the +exciting topic of the day. The visitor was treated like a friend, and +not an enemy, and everything was done to make him forget that he was not +in his own home.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning the young lieutenant hastened to report on +board of the Chateaugay, where Mr. Gilfleur had remained, though he had +<span class = "pagenum">185</span> +divested himself of his disguise as soon as Captain Rombold was conveyed +to other quarters. They were kept very busy that day giving their +depositions in regard to the character of the Cadet, and of the +admissions of Captain Vickers in regard to his intention to run the +blockade. The ship had been coaled, and the next day she sailed again. +She gave the Bermudas a wide berth, for she had another mission now, +though she could probably have picked up one or two more of the +blockade-runners Christy and his companion had seen in the harbor of St. +George's.</p> + +<p>Four days from Sandy Hook, very early in the morning, Abaco light was +seen; and about fifty miles south of it was Nassau, on the island of New +Providence, a favorite resort for blockade-runners at that time. The +mission of the detective was at this port. Christy had again volunteered +to be his companion, and they desired to get into the place as they had +done in the Bermudas, without attracting the attention of any one, and +especially not of those engaged in loading or fitting out vessels for +the ports of the South.</p> + +<p>As soon as the light was discovered, Captain Chantor ordered the +course of the ship to be +<span class = "pagenum">186</span> +changed to east; and till eight bells in the afternoon watch she +continued to steam away from the Great Abaco Island. It was his +intention to avoid being seen, though there was a chance to fall in with +a blockade-runner. Standing to the south-west the last part of the day, +the light at the Hole in the Wall, the southern point of Great Abaco +Island, was made out in the evening. South-east of this point is the +northern end of Eleuthera Island, where the Egg Island light could be +seen. This was the locality where Mr. Gilfleur had decided to begin upon +his mission.</p> + +<p>His boat had been repaired by the carpenter after the shot from the +Dornoch struck it, and it was now in as good condition as it had ever +been. At eleven o'clock in the evening the Eleuthera was lowered into +the water, with a supply of provisions and water, and such clothing and +other articles as might be needed, on board. The weather was as +favorable as it could be, with a good breeze from the north-west.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Gilfleur, I hope you will bring back as important +information as you did from the Bermudas," said the captain, when the +adventurers were ready to go on board of the boat.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">187</span> +"I hope so myself; but I don't know," replied the Frenchman. "I expect +to find the Ovidio at Nassau; and, like the Dornoch, she is intended for +a man-of-war. Mr. Passford and I will do the best we can."</p> + +<p>"How long do you mean to be absent on this business?"</p> + +<p>"About three days, as well as I can judge, though I have not had a +chance to look over the ground. I have no doubt there are +blockade-runners there, and we shall ascertain what we can in regard to +them."</p> + +<p>"I shall expect to pick you up to the eastward of the Hole in the +Wall, and on the fourth night from the present time," added the captain. +"You know that the navigation of this region is very dangerous."</p> + +<p>"I am aware of it; but I have been here before, and I provided myself +with a good chart in New York. I have studied it very attentively, and I +have the feeling that I can make my way without any difficulty," replied +Mr. Gilfleur confidently.</p> + +<p>Christy had already taken his place in the boat, and the detective +soon followed him. It seemed something like an old story, after his +experience in +<span class = "pagenum">188</span> +the Bermudas. The Eleuthera was cast off, the captain wished them a safe +and prosperous voyage to their destination. The mainsail had been set, +and the breeze soon wafted the boat away from the ship. The Chateaugay +started her screw, and headed off to the eastward again, on the lookout +for blockade-runners.</p> + +<p>"Here is a light ahead," said Christy, after his companion had set +the jib, and taken the helm.</p> + +<p>"That is Egg Island light, about forty miles from Nassau. Our course +is south-west, which gives us a fair wind," replied the skipper. "Now, +Mr. Passford, you can do as you did on our former voyage in the +Eleuthera: turn in and sleep till morning."</p> + +<p>"That would not be fair. I will take my trick at the helm, as it +seems to be plain sailing, and you can have your nap first," suggested +Christy.</p> + +<p>"No; I slept all the afternoon in anticipation of to-night, and I +could not sleep if I tried," the skipper insisted. "By the way, Mr. +Passford, I am somewhat afraid that the name of our boat may get us into +trouble."</p> + +<p>"Why so?" asked the other curiously.</p> + +<p>"The island on our port hand is Eleuthera, +<span class = "pagenum">189</span> +about forty miles long. Of course it is well known at Nassau, and it may +cause people to ask us some hard questions. We may even stumble upon the +boat's former owner, who would claim her."</p> + +<p>"We could buy her, or another like her, in that case," suggested +Christy. "The name is painted on the stern board, and we might remove +it, if necessary."</p> + +<p>Mr. Gilfleur said so much about it that Christy finally turned in, +and was soon fast asleep. He did not wake till daylight in the morning. +He found that the boat was headed towards an island, while in the +distance he saw the light on Hog Island, with a portion of the town of +Nassau, and a fort. The skipper had his chart spread out on the seat at +his side, and he was watching it very closely.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, Mr. Gilfleur. I suppose that must be Nassau ahead +of us."</p> + +<p>"Yes; that is Nassau. I expected to get here earlier in the morning +than this, and I am not a little afraid to sail into the harbor at seven +o'clock in the morning, as it will be before we can get there. The wind +died out in the middle of the night, though I got it again very early +this morning. I must get to the town in some other way. +<span class = "pagenum">190</span> +The land on the port is Rose Island, and Douglas Channel is just this +side of it. I am going through that, and shall make my way to the back +side of the island, where we can conceal the boat."</p> + +<p>"I should say that would be a good idea," added Christy, as he took +in the plan. "The water is as clear as crystal here, and you can see the +bottom as plainly as though nothing came between your eye and the +rock."</p> + +<p>The skipper stationed his companion on the bow of the boat to watch +for rocks; but none interfered with the progress of the Eleuthera. She +sailed to the back side of the island of New Providence, where they +found a secluded nook, in which they moored the craft.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">191</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXVII">CHAPTER XVII</a></h4> + +<h6>THE LANDING AT NEW PROVIDENCE</h6> + + +<p>The water was so clear that the bottom could be seen at all times, +the white coral rock greatly assisting the transparency. From Douglas +Channel, through which the boat had passed, the chart indicated that it +was twenty miles to the point where the skipper desired to land, and it +was nearly eleven o'clock when the Eleuthera ran into the little bay, +extending over a mile into the island, and nearly landlocked. The shore +was covered with tropical vegetation, including cocoa-nut palms, loaded +with fruit, with palmettoes, wild palms, and many plants of which +Christy did not even know the names.</p> + +<p>"We could not have anything better than this," said Mr. Gilfleur, as +he ran the boat into a tangle of mangroves and other plants.</p> + +<p>"This bay appears to be about five miles from the town of Nassau, and +I should say that no +<span class = "pagenum">192</span> +person is likely to see the boat if it should stay here for a month," +replied Christy, as he measured the distance across the island with the +scale his companion had prepared.</p> + +<p>"It will not take us long to walk that distance. There are all sorts +of people in Nassau at the present time, as there were in St. George's +and Hamilton; and we shall pass without exciting any particular +attention."</p> + +<p>"I think we had better look out for a cleaner place to land than +this, for the mud seems to be about knee-deep," suggested Christy, as he +tested the consistency of the shore with an oar.</p> + +<p>"But there is hard ground within four feet of the water. I have a +board in the bottom of the boat with which we can bridge the mud," +replied the skipper. "But I think we had better have our lunch before we +walk five miles."</p> + +<p>"I am in condition to lunch," added Christy.</p> + +<p>The sails had been furled, and everything put in order on board of +the boat. The basket containing the provisions was brought out of the +cuddy, and seated in the stern sheets they did ample justice to the +meal. The detective had put on his suit of blue, and his companion +dressed +<span class = "pagenum">193</span> +himself as he had done in Bermuda, though he was not to act the part of +a servant on this occasion.</p> + +<p>"It will not do to acknowledge that we are Americans, and it would +not be prudent to claim that we are Englishmen," said Mr. Gilfleur.</p> + +<p>"Why not? We speak English; and you can pronounce it as well as I +can," argued Christy.</p> + +<p>"Because we may be catechised; though I know London almost as well as +I do Paris, I am afraid you might be caught."</p> + +<p>"I have been in London twice, though I don't know enough about it to +answer all the questions that may be put to me," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"In that case we had better be Frenchmen, as we were before. We are +not likely to find many people here who speak French, for the visiting +portion of the population must be people who are engaged in +blockade-running. Probably there are some Southern magnates here, +attending to the business of the Confederacy."</p> + +<p>"They were here two years ago, when I was in Nassau for a few hours, +on the lookout for steamers for their navy. I remember Colonel Richard +Pierson, who was extremely anxious to purchase +<span class = "pagenum">194</span> +the Bellevite, which anchored outside the light, for there was not water +enough to allow her to cross the bar," said Christy, recalling some of +the events of his first voyage in the steamer his father had presented +to the government.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he is still in Nassau," suggested Mr. Gilfleur, with a shade +of anxiety on his face.</p> + +<p>"He would not recognize me now, for I have grown a good deal, and I +hardly saw him. He employed his son, a young fellow of eighteen, to act +for him in obtaining information in regard to the Bellevite. The son's +name was Percy Pierson, and when he tried to pump me in regard to the +Bellevite, I chaffed him till he lost all patience. Then he proposed to +put the owner of our steamer, for she had not then been transferred to +the government, in the way of making a fortune. I told him that the +owner was determined to get rid of the ship, though I only meant to say +that he intended to pass her over to the government. At any rate, Percy +believed she was for sale, and he smuggled himself on board of her. He +was not discovered till we were under way; and we had to take him +with us."</p> + +<p>"What became of this Percy Pierson?" asked the detective.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">195</span> +"We brought him off with us when we fought our way out of Mobile Bay. +Off Carisfort Reef light we put him on board of a schooner belonging to +Nassau; and that was the last I know about him."</p> + +<p>"But I hope he is not in Nassau now," said Mr. Gilfleur.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he is, for his brother was doing his best to get him +into the Confederate army."</p> + +<p>"You must keep your eyes wide open for this fellow, Mr. Passford," +added the skipper earnestly. "If he should recognize you, our enterprise +would be ruined."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe there is the least danger of that, for I am a +different-looking fellow from what I was two years ago. But I will look +out sharply for him, and for his father."</p> + +<p>"We had better speak nothing but French between ourselves, and break +up our English when we are obliged to use it," Mr. Gilfleur concluded, +as he returned the basket of provisions to the cuddy, and locked the +door.</p> + +<p>The board was put down on the mud, and they walked ashore, dry-shod. +The temporary bridge was taken up, and concealed in a mass of mangroves. +<span class = "pagenum">196</span> +The Eleuthera was so well covered up with trees and bushes that she was +not likely to be discovered, unless some wanderer penetrated the thicket +that surrounded her. A gentle elevation was directly before them, so +that they could not see the town.</p> + +<p>"We must not walk ten miles in making five," said the detective, as +he produced a pocket compass. "Our course, as I took it from the chart, +is due north, though it may bring us in at the western end of the +town."</p> + +<p>"Then we can bear a little to the east, though if we get to the town +it will not make much difference where we strike it," added Christy.</p> + +<p>The land showed the remains of plantations which had flourished there +in the palmy days of the island. The ruins of several mansions and many +small huts were seen. Cocoa-nut palms and orange-trees were abundant. +After they had walked about a mile, they came upon what had been a road +in former days, and was evidently used to some extent still. Taking this +road, they followed it till they were satisfied that it would take them +to Nassau.</p> + +<p>The appearance of the island soon began to +<span class = "pagenum">197</span> +improve. The trees showed that some care had been bestowed upon them, +and an occasional mansion was noticed. Then the street began to be +flanked with small houses, hardly better than huts, which were inhabited +by the blacks. All the people they met were negroes, and they were as +polite as though they had been brought up in Paris, for every one of the +men either touched his hat or took it off to the strangers. The women +bowed also; and both of the travellers returned the salutes in every +instance.</p> + +<p>As they proceeded, the houses became better, and many of them were +used in part as shops, in which a variety of articles, including beer, +was sold. Christy had seen the negroes of the Southern States, and he +thought the Nassau colored people presented a much better appearance. At +one of these little shops a carriage of the victoria pattern was +standing. Doubtless the driver had gone in to refresh himself after a +long course, for the vehicle was headed towards the town.</p> + +<p>"I think we had better ride the rest of the way, if this carriage is +not engaged," said M. Rubempré, for they had agreed to use the +names they had adopted in the Bermudas. "What do you say, +Christophe?"</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">198</span> +"I like the idea; I am beginning to be a little tired, for I have not +walked much lately," replied Christy.</p> + +<p>At this moment the driver, a negro wearing a straw hat with a very +broad brim, came out of the shop, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of +his coat. He bowed with even more deference than the generality of the +people. The strangers were not elegantly or genteelly dressed, but they +wore good clothes, and would have passed for masters of vessels, so far +as their costumes were concerned.</p> + +<p>"Is this your carriage?" demanded M. Rubempré.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the man in good English.</p> + +<p>"How far you must go to get into Nassau?" inquired the detective, +mangling his English enough to suit the occasion.</p> + +<p>"Two miles, sir."</p> + +<p>"How much you make pay to go to Nassau in ze carriage?"</p> + +<p>"Fifty cents."</p> + +<p>"Feefty cents; how much money was zat?"</p> + +<p>"Arn't you Americans?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Non!</i>" replied M. Rubempré with energy. "We have come +from ze France; but I was been +<span class = "pagenum">199</span> +in London, and I comprehend ze money of Eengland."</p> + +<p>"Two shillings then," replied the driver, laughing.</p> + +<p>"We go wiz you to ze Nassau," added the Frenchman, seating himself in +the carriage, his companion taking a place at his side.</p> + +<p>"Where do you want to go, sir?" asked the negro, as he closed the +door of the victoria.</p> + +<p>"We must go to Nassau," replied the detective, mangling his +pronunciation even more than his grammar.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know; but where in Nassau do you wish to go? Shall I drive +you to a hotel? The Royal Victoria is the best in the place."</p> + +<p>"You shall take us to zat hotel."</p> + +<p>For the sake of appearances, rather than for any other reason, each +of the visitors to Nassau had brought with him a small hand-bag, +containing such articles as might be useful to them. Having these +evidences that they were travellers, it would be prudent to go to a +hotel, though the want of more luggage had made the landlord in Hamilton +suspicious of their ability to pay their bills.</p> + +<p>Christy found enough to do during the ride to +<span class = "pagenum">200</span> +observe the strange sights presented to his gaze, even in the outskirts +of the town. The people were full of interest to him, and he wondered +that his father had never made a winter trip in the West Indies in +former years, instead of confining his visits to the more northern +islands of the ocean.</p> + +<p>The carriage arrived at the Royal Victoria Hotel, located on a ridge +which has been dignified as a hill, a short distance in the rear of the +business portion of the town. M. Rubempré produced his purse, +which was well stuffed with sovereigns, more for the enlightenment of +the clerk who came out when the vehicle stopped, than for the +information of the driver, to whom he paid four florins, which was just +double his fare.</p> + +<p>"Do you speak French?" asked the guest in that language.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; not a word of it," though he understood the question.</p> + +<p>"We must have two chambers for one, two, t'ree day."</p> + +<p>"All right; we have two that were vacated this morning," replied the +clerk, as he led the way to the office, where the Frenchman registered +his name, and his residence as in Paris.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">201</span> +Christy wrote the name of Christophe Poireau, also from Paris. Then they +chatted together in French for a moment, in order to impress the clerk +and others who were standing near with the fact that they spoke the +polite language. They were shown to two small chambers, well up in the +air, for the hotel seemed to be as full as the clerk had suggested that +it was. The blockade business made the town and the hotel very +lively.</p> + +<p>The newly arrived guests did not waste any time in their rooms, but +entered at once upon the work of their mission. On the piazza they +halted to size up the other visitors at the hotel. From this high point +of view they could see the harbor, crowded with vessels.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">202</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a></h4> + +<h6>AN AFFRAY IN NASSAU</h6> + + +<p>Christy's first care was to look about among the guests of the hotel +gathered on the piazza, in order to ascertain if there was any person +there whom he had ever met before. Very few of them were what could be +classed as genteel people, and some of them were such people as one +would not expect to see at a first-class hotel. They were dressed in +seaman's garments for the most part, though not as common sailors; and +doubtless many of them were commanders or officers of the vessels in the +harbor.</p> + +<p>Putting on an indifferent air he walked about the veranda, observing +every person he encountered, as well as those who were seated in groups, +engaged in rather noisy conversation, intermixed with a great deal of +profanity. He breathed easier when he had made the circuit of the +piazzas on the first floor, though there were two others on +<span class = "pagenum">203</span> +the stories above it, for he found no one he could identify as a person +he had seen before.</p> + +<p>There were quite a number of steamers in the harbor, or in that part +of it which lies inside of the bar and in front of the town, with at +least three times as many sailing craft. No doubt many of the latter, as +well as the former, had brought cargoes of cotton from Confederate +ports; for though the blockade was regarded as effective, and treated as +such by foreign nations, many small vessels contrived to escape from +obscure harbors on the Southern coast. Christy had been concerned in the +capture of a considerable number of such. On the wharves were stacks of +cotton which had been landed from these vessels, and several of them +were engaged in transferring it to small steamers, for large ones were +unable to cross the bar. But the visitors had no business with the +vessels thus engaged, for they had completed their voyages, and were +exempt from capture.</p> + +<p>"I have taken not a few prisoners in or off Southern ports, and it +would not greatly surprise me if I should meet some one I had met +before," said Christy, in French, as he resumed his seat by the side of +the detective.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">204</span> +"Then I fear that your coming with me was a mistake," replied M. +Rubempré. "You must be extremely cautious, not only for your own +protection, but because you may compromise me, and cause me to fail in +the accomplishment of my mission here."</p> + +<p>"I should be sorry to interfere with your work, and I think we had +better separate," replied Christy, very much disturbed at the suggestion +of his friend. "If I can do no good, I certainly do not wish to do any +harm."</p> + +<p>"No, my friend; I cannot desert you, especially if you are in peril," +protested the detective. "How could I ever look your father in the face +if I permitted you to get into trouble here?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think I shall get into trouble, even if I am recognized by +some person. This is not Confederate territory, though it looks very +much like it; for all the people around us are talking secession, and +the inhabitants sympathize with the South to the fullest extent. I could +not be captured and sent to a Confederate State, or be subjected to any +violence, for the authorities would not permit anything of the kind," +Christy argued with energy.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">205</span> +"I am not so sure of that."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt in regard to my own safety; but if you appear to be +connected with me in any manner, and I were identified as a United +States naval officer, of course it would ruin your enterprise. For this +reason I insist that we separate, and I will take a room at another +hotel."</p> + +<p>Christy was determined, and in the end the detective had to yield in +substance to him, though it was agreed, for reasons that seemed to be +good, that M. Rubempré should change his hotel. They arranged to +meet after dark in the grounds in the rear of the Royal Victoria, to +consult in regard to the future.</p> + +<p>"In the mean time I will do what I can to obtain information in +regard to steamers bound to Confederate ports. I will still claim to be +a Frenchman, and talk pigeon English," continued Christy.</p> + +<p>"If any misfortune happens to you, Christophe, I shall blame myself +for it," added the Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"You cannot fairly do that, for it will not be through any fault of +yours. If I fail to meet you as agreed, you can look for me. If you +cannot find me, you must leave at the time agreed upon +<span class = "pagenum">206</span> +with Captain Chantor, whether I go with you or not. But I have no idea +that anything will happen to prevent me from returning to the ship with +you."</p> + +<p>"I could not leave without you," said the detective moodily.</p> + +<p>"If you do not, you will be likely to get the Chateaugay into +trouble; for if we did not return to her, she would probably come into +this port after us."</p> + +<p>"I will consider the matter before I assent to it," returned M. +Rubempré, rising from his chair.</p> + +<p>Christy was fully resolved not to endanger the mission of his +companion, and he left the hotel. He walked slowly down Parliament to +Bay Street, which is the principal business avenue of the town, running +parallel to the shore. It was lined with shops, saloons, and small +hotels on one side, and with the market and wharves on the other. He +desired to see what he could of the place, and pick up all the +information that would be serviceable to an officer of the navy.</p> + + +<p class = "illustration section"> +<img src = "images/pic207.png" width = "362" height = "565" +alt = "illustration of quoted scene"><br> +<span class = "caption"> +<span class = "smallcaps">"His blood was boiling with indignation at the +unprovoked assault."</span> +(Page 207)</span> +</p> + + +<p>As he passed a drinking-saloon a torrent of loud talk, spiced with +oaths, flowed out from the place. Before he had fairly passed the door a +violent hand +<span class = "pagenum">207</span> +was laid upon him, seizing him by the collar with no gentle grasp. The +ruffian had fallen upon him from the rear, and he could not see who it +was that assaulted him. The man attempted to drag him into the saloon; +but he was evidently considerably affected by his potations in the +place, and his legs were somewhat tangled up by the condition of his +brain.</p> + +<p>Christy attempted, by a vigorous movement, to shake off his +assailant; but the fellow held on, and he found it impossible to detach +his grasp. His blood was boiling with indignation at the unprovoked +assault, and his two fists were clinched so tight that iron could hardly +have been harder and tougher. He levelled a blow at the head of the +ruffian, who still kept in his rear, and delivered it with all the power +of his strong arm.</p> + +<p>The assailant reeled, and released his hold, for his head must have +whirled around like a top under the crashing blow it had sustained. +Christy turned so that he could see the ruffian. He was a stalwart +fellow, at least fifty pounds heavier than the young lieutenant. His +nose was terribly disfigured, not by the blow of the young officer, for, +twisted as it was, there was no sign of a fresh +<span class = "pagenum">208</span> +wound upon it. One glance was enough to satisfy Christy as to the +identity of the ruffian.</p> + +<p>It was Captain Flanger, whose steamer Christy had captured, with a +boat expedition sent out from the Bronx, in St. Andrew's Bay. He was a +prisoner, but had escaped, and invaded the cabin of the Bronx, where he +attempted to make Christy sign an order which would have resulted in +delivering the steamer to the enemy. The heroic young commander, +preferring death to dishonor, had refused to sign the order. The affair +had culminated in a sort of duel in the cabin, in which Christy, aided +by his faithful steward, had hit Flanger in the nose with his +revolver.</p> + +<p>The ruffian had sworn to be revenged at the time, and he seemed to +have chosen the present occasion to wreak his vengeance upon the +destroyer of his nasal member. The blow his victim had struck was a +set-back to him; but he presently recovered the balance of his head +which the shock had upset. It was plain enough that he had not given up +the battle, for he had drawn back with the evident intention of using +his clinched fists upon his adversary.</p> + +<p>"Hit him again, Flanger!" shouted one of the +<span class = "pagenum">209</span> +brutal occupants of the saloon, who now filled the doorway.</p> + +<p>The affair was rapidly becoming serious, and Christy was debating +with himself whether or not he should draw a revolver he carried in his +pocket; but he was cool enough to realize that he was on neutral ground, +and that it would be very imprudent to be the first to resort to deadly +weapons. He could not run away, for his self-respect would not permit +him to do so. He braced himself up to meet the onslaught of the +ruffian.</p> + +<p>Flanger charged upon him, and attempted to plant a blow with his fist +in the face of his intended victim; but the young officer parried it, +and was about to follow up the movement with a blow, when Monsieur +Rubempré rushed in between them, struck the assailant such a blow +that he went over backwards. In fact, the man was too much intoxicated +to stand without considerable difficulty.</p> + +<p>At this moment a couple of colored policemen rushed in between the +combatants. The tipplers in the saloon picked up their comrade, and +stood him on his feet. The Nassau officers doubtless had a great deal of +this sort of quarrelling, for +<span class = "pagenum">210</span> +drinking strong liquors was the principal occupation of the officers and +crews of the blockade-runners while in port and on shore.</p> + +<p>"What is all this about? Who began this quarrel?" demanded one of +them, as he looked from one party to the other in the battle.</p> + +<p>"I was passing the door of this saloon, and did not even look into +it, when that man rushed upon me, and seized me by the collar," replied +Christy. "I tried to shake him off, but I could not, and then I struck +him in the side of the head."</p> + +<p>"Look here, you nigger!" shouted Captain Flanger. "It's none of your +business who began it."</p> + +<p>"I shall arrest you for a breach of the peace," said the +policeman.</p> + +<p>"I don't reckon you will. Do you see my nose? Look at it! Don't you +see that it is knocked into a cocked hat?" said Flanger fiercely.</p> + +<p>"I see it is; but what has that to do with this matter?" asked the +negro officer.</p> + +<p>"That man shot my nose off!" roared Flanger. "I am going to kill him +for it, if it costs me my head!"</p> + +<p>"You shall not kill him here," protested the +<span class = "pagenum">211</span> +guardian of the peace. "You have been drinking too much, sir, and you +must go with me and get sobered off."</p> + +<p>The two policemen walked up to him with the intention of arresting +him; but he showed fight. He was too tipsy to make an effectual +resistance. His companions in the saloon huddled around him, and +endeavored to compel the policemen to let go their hold of him; but they +held on to their prisoner till two more officers came, and Flanger was +dragged out into the street, and then marched to the jail.</p> + +<p>Christy was very much surprised that nothing was said to him by the +officers about the affair in which he had been one of the principal +actors. He had expected to be summoned as a witness against the prisoner +they had taken, but not a word was said to him. He looked about to see +if the detective was in sight, but he had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"That was an ugly-looking man," said a gentleman in the street, after +the carousers had returned to the saloon. "I hope he has not injured +you."</p> + +<p>"Not at all, sir; he was too drunk to do all he could have done if he +had been in full possession of his faculties, for he is a much heavier +person +<span class = "pagenum">212</span> +than I am," replied Christy. "Why was I not summoned as a witness at his +examination?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, bless you, sir! they will not examine or try him; they will +sober him off, and then discharge him. He is the captain of that little +steamer near the public wharf. She is called the Snapper, and will sail +for the States on the high tide at five o'clock."</p> + +<p>"Do you know to what port she is bound?" asked Christy.</p> + +<p>"Mobile."</p> + +<p>The young officer walked down to the public wharf to see the +Snapper.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">213</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXIX">CHAPTER XIX</a></h4> + +<h6>AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE</h6> + + +<p>The Snapper was quite a small craft, and looked like an old vessel; +for she was a side-wheeler, though she had evidently been built for a +sea-going craft. Whether Flanger had escaped from the Bellevite after +being transferred to her from the Bronx, or had been regularly exchanged +as a prisoner of war, Christy had no means of knowing. It made little +difference; he was in Nassau, and he was thirsting for revenge against +him.</p> + +<p>The young officer did not feel that the brutal wretch had any +reasonable cause to complain of him, and especially no right to revenge +himself for an injury received while his assailant was the aggressor. He +had done his duty to his country. He had been compelled to act promptly; +and he had not aimed his revolver particularly at the nose of his +dangerous assailant. Flanger was engaged in a foolhardy enterprise; and +the mutilation of +<span class = "pagenum">214</span> +his nasal member had resulted very naturally from his folly.</p> + +<p>His enemy was probably a good sailor, and he was a bold ruffian. +Christy had captured the steamer loaded with cotton, in which he was all +ready to sail from St. Andrew's Bay; and doubtless this was his first +reason for hating the young officer. But no soldier or sailor of +character would ever think of such a thing as revenging himself for an +injury received in the strife, especially if it was fairly inflicted. +The business of war is to kill, wound, and capture, as well as for each +side to injure the other in person and property to the extent of its +ability.</p> + +<p>"Want a boat, sir?" asked a negro, who saw that Christy was gazing at +the Snapper, even while he was thinking about his quarrel with Captain +Flanger.</p> + +<p>"Where is your boat?" asked the officer.</p> + +<p>"Right here, sir," replied the boatman, pointing to the steps at the +landing-place. "The best sailboat in the harbor, sir."</p> + +<p>"I want to sail about this bay for a couple of hours," added Christy, +as he stopped on the upper step to examine the craft.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">215</span> +It was built exactly like the Eleuthera, though not quite so large.</p> + +<p>"I saw you looking at the steamer there," said the boatman, pointing +to the vessel in which Christy was interested. "Do you wish to go on +board of her, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No; I desire only to sail about the harbor, and perhaps go outside +the bar. Can you cross it in this boat?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; no trouble at all about crossing it in the Dinah. Take you +over to Eleuthera, if you like."</p> + +<p>"No; I only want to sail about the harbor, and look at the vessels in +port," replied Christy.</p> + +<p>While he was looking at the boat, he became conscious that a young +man, who was standing on the capsill of the wharf, was looking at him +very earnestly. He only glanced at him, but did not recognize him. He +had taken the first step in the descent of the stairs, when this person +put his hand upon his shoulder to attract his attention. Christy looked +at him, and was sure that he had seen him before, though he failed to +identify him.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Christy?" said the stranger. "Don't you +know me?"</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">216</span> +"Your face has a familiar look to me, but I am unable to make you out at +first sight," replied the young officer, more puzzled as he examined the +features of the young man, who appeared to be about twenty years +old.</p> + +<p>"You and I both have grown a great deal in the last two years, since +we first met on this very wharf; but I am Percy Pierson, and you and I +were fellow-voyagers in the Bellevite."</p> + +<p>"I think you have changed in that time more than I have, or I should +have recognized you," answered Christy very coldly, for he was not at +all pleased to be identified by any person.</p> + +<p>"You are a good deal larger than when I saw you last time, but you +look just the same. I am glad to see you, Christy, for you and I ran a +big rig over in Mobile Bay," continued Percy, as he extended his hand to +the other.</p> + +<p>Christy realized that it would be useless as well as foolish to deny +his identity to one who knew him so well. A moment's reflection assured +him that he must make the best of the circumstances; but he wished with +all his might that he had not come to Nassau. He was particularly glad +that he had insisted upon separating from Mr. Gilfleur, +<span class = "pagenum">217</span> +for the present encounter would have ruined his mission. The young man's +father was Colonel Richard Pierson, a neighbor of Homer Passford; and he +was a Confederate commissioner for the purchase of vessels for the rebel +navy, for running the blockade. Doubtless the son was his father's +assistant, as he had been at the time of Christy's first visit.</p> + +<p>Percy was not a person of very heavy brain calibre, as his companion +had learned from an association of several weeks with him. Christy +believed that he might obtain some useful information from him; and he +decided, since it was impossible to escape the interview, to make the +best of it, and he accepted the offered hand. He did not consider the +young Southerner as much of a rebel, for he had refused to shoulder a +musket and fight for the cause.</p> + +<p>"I begin to see your former looks, and particularly your expression," +said Christy. "I am very glad to see you, and I hope you have been very +well since we met last."</p> + +<p>"Very well indeed."</p> + +<p>"Do you live here, Percy?"</p> + +<p>"I have lived here most of the time since we +<span class = "pagenum">218</span> +parted on board of the Bellevite, and you put me on board of a schooner +bound to Nassau. That was a very good turn you did me, for I believed +you would take me to New York, and pitch me into a Yankee prison. I was +very grateful to you, for I know it was your influence that +saved me."</p> + +<p>This remark seemed to put a new face upon the meeting. Christy had +done nothing to cause him to be set free; for the Bellevite, though she +had beaten off several steamers that attempted to capture her, was not +in the regular service at the time, her mission in the South being +simply to bring home the daughter of her owner, who had passed the +winter with her uncle at Glenfield.</p> + +<p>"I am very glad I was able to do you a good turn," replied Christy, +who considered it his duty to take advantage of the circumstances. "I am +just going out to take a sail; won't you join me?"</p> + +<p>"Thank you; I shall be very glad to do so. I suppose you are a Yankee +still, engaged in the business of subjugating the free South, as I am +still a rebel to the backbone," replied Percy, laughing very +pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"But you are not in the rebel army now, any +<span class = "pagenum">219</span> +more than you were at that time," added Christy in equally good +humor.</p> + +<p>"I am not. You know all about my army experience. My brother, the +major, sends me a letter by every chance he can get, and has offered to +have my indiscretion, as he called it, in leaving the camp, passed over, +if I will save the honor of the family by returning to the army; but my +father insists that I can render better service to the cause as his +assistant."</p> + +<p>Christy led the way down the steps, and the two seated themselves in +the bow of the boat. The skipper shoved off after he had set his sails, +and the boat stood out towards the Snapper, for he could hardly avoid +passing quite near to her.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing in Nassau, Christy?" asked Percy.</p> + +<p>This was a hard question, and it was utterly impossible to make a +truthful reply without upsetting the plan of Mr. Gilfleur, and rendering +useless the voyage of the Chateaugay to the Bahamas.</p> + +<p>"I am in just as bad a scrape as you were when you were caught on +board of the Bellevite," replied Christy after a moment's +reflection.</p> + +<p>"Are you a prisoner of war?"</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">220</span> +"How could I be a prisoner in a neutral port like Nassau? No; I do not +regard myself as a prisoner just now," answered Christy very +good-humoredly.</p> + +<p>"But you have been a prisoner, and you have escaped in some vessel +that run the blockade. I see it all; and you need not stop to explain +it," said Percy, who flattered himself on his brilliant perception.</p> + +<p>"The less I say about it the better it will be for me," added +Christy, willing to accept the situation as his companion had marked it +out.</p> + +<p>"But you must not let my father see you."</p> + +<p>"I never met Colonel Pierson, though I saw him once, and he would not +know me if we should meet."</p> + +<p>"Then don't let him know who you are."</p> + +<p>"He will not know, unless you tell him."</p> + +<p>"You may be very sure that I will not mention you to him, or to +anybody else, for that matter," replied Percy very earnestly.</p> + +<p>But Christy did not put any confidence in his assertion. Percy was +really a deserter from the Confederate army, and he knew that he had in +several instances acted the traitor's part. He had +<span class = "pagenum">221</span> +more respect for an out-and-out rebel than for one who shirked his duty +to his country as he understood it.</p> + +<p>"I have been afraid some one might identify me here," suggested +Christy, determined not to over-act his part.</p> + +<p>"I might help you out of the scrape," said Percy, who appeared to be +reflecting upon something that had come to his mind. "I suppose you are +aware that most of the vessels in this harbor, and those outside the +bar, are directly or indirectly interested in blockade-running."</p> + +<p>"I supposed so, but I know nothing about it."</p> + +<p>"Some of them have brought in cotton, with which others are loading +for England. My business as my father's clerk takes me on board of most +of them, and I know the captains and other officers very well. This +little steamer we have just passed was bought for a Mobile man by my +father. She carried a full cargo of goods into Mobile, and came out +again full of cotton. She is called the Snapper, and she is a regular +snapper at her business. She is now all loaded, and will sail on the +next tide. I am well acquainted with her captain."</p> + +<p>"What sort of a man is he?" asked Christy in an indifferent tone.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">222</span> +"He is a very good fellow; bold as an eagle, and brave as a lion. He +drinks too much whiskey for his own good; but he knows all the ports on +the Gulf of Mexico, and he gets in or out in face of the blockaders +every time," answered Percy with enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"Did he never lose a vessel?"</p> + +<p>"Never but one; that was the Floridian, and I reckon you know as much +about that affair as any other person, Christy," replied Percy, laughing +as though it had been a good joke on Captain Flanger.</p> + +<p>"I know something about it."</p> + +<p>"Your uncle, Colonel Passford, lost several vessels, and you had a +hand in their capture. But never mind that; you did me a good turn, and +I never go back on a friend. Now, my dear fellow, I do not think it will +be safe for you to remain here. You are looked upon as a dangerous +fellow along the Gulf coast, as Colonel Passford writes to my father; +and if my governor should get a hint that you were here, he would make a +business of getting you inside a Confederate prison."</p> + +<p>"I am under the flag of England just now, and that is supposed to +protect neutrals."</p> + +<p>"That's all very well, my dear fellow; but my +<span class = "pagenum">223</span> +governor could manage your affair in some way. I can make a trade with +the captain of the Snapper to put you ashore at Key West."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind, Percy."</p> + +<p>"It will be necessary for you to buy a boat here, one with a sail, +which can be carried on the deck of the steamer," continued Percy, +evidently much interested in the scheme he was maturing.</p> + +<p>At this moment the Dinah was passing under the stern of a steamer, on +which Christy read the name "Ovidio."</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">224</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXX">CHAPTER XX</a></h4> + +<h6>A BAND OF RUFFIANS</h6> + + +<p>The Ovidio was one of the vessels of which Captain Passford had +obtained information in New York, and by which the traitor merchant had +at first intended to send the machinery on board of the Ionian into the +Confederacy.</p> + +<p>"That vessel flying the British flag appears to be a man-of-war," +said Christy.</p> + +<p>"That is just what she is, confound her!" replied Percy bitterly. +"She is the Greyhound, and she has seized the Ovidio which we just +passed; but my father believes she will be released;" as in fact she +was, after a delay of two months.</p> + +<p>"That looks a little like neutrality," added the naval officer.</p> + +<p>"But what do you think of my scheme to get you out of this scrape +before you get into any trouble here?" asked Percy, who seemed to his +companion to be altogether too much interested in +<span class = "pagenum">225</span> +his plan. "Flanger is a friend of mine, for I was able to render him a +very important service, nothing less than getting him the command of the +Snapper."</p> + +<p>"Of course I want to get out of the scrape."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you haven't money enough to buy the boat, if you escaped +from a Confederate prison; but I will help you out on that by lending +you forty or fifty dollars."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Percy, you are behaving like a true friend, and I shall +remember you with gratitude," replied Christy, as earnestly as the +occasion seemed to require. "Do you think you can trust Captain Flanger +to put me in the way to get to Key West?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure I can!" exclaimed the schemer warmly. "He would do +anything for me."</p> + +<p>"But perhaps he would not do anything for me."</p> + +<p>"I hope you don't mistrust my sincerity in this matter, my dear +fellow," continued Percy, with an aggrieved expression on his face.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! Certainly not. I only suggested that your friend the captain +might not be as willing as you are to let me escape at Key West."</p> + +<p>"I will guarantee his fidelity. I am as sure of him as I am of +myself."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">226</span> +"All right, Percy, I will hold myself subject to your orders. But I +think you had better buy the boat, and put it on board of the Snapper, +for I could not do so without exposing myself," suggested Christy. "I +have some money that I concealed about me, and I will pay the bills +before I go on board of the steamer."</p> + +<p>"I will do everything that is necessary to be done with the greatest +pleasure. Perhaps you had better go on board of the Snapper on our +return to the town. Then you will not be seen by any person," suggested +Percy with as much indifference as he could assume.</p> + +<p>"What time will the steamer sail?"</p> + +<p>"About five o'clock, which is high tide."</p> + +<p>"It is only half-past one now; besides, I have to go up to the hotel +for my satchel, and to pay my bill. Where do you live, Percy?"</p> + +<p>"We have a house on Frederick Street. At what hotel are you +stopping?"</p> + +<p>"At the Royal Victoria."</p> + +<p>"What is the number of your room?" asked Percy.</p> + +<p>"No. 44."</p> + +<p>Christy was sharp enough to comprehend the +<span class = "pagenum">227</span> +object of these questions; and, as a matter of precaution, he divided +the number of his room by two in making his reply.</p> + +<p>"That makes an easy thing of it," continued Percy. "I will go to the +Royal Victoria at four o'clock, pay your bill and get your satchel. I +will meet you on the public wharf at half-past, and see that you have a +good stateroom in the cabin of the Snapper."</p> + +<p>"That seems to be all very well arranged," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"But I must see Captain Flanger before four o'clock. How much longer +do you intend to cruise in this boat?" asked the schemer, beginning to +manifest a little impatience.</p> + +<p>The conversation had been carried on in a low tone at the bow of the +boat, where the boatman could not hear what was said.</p> + +<p>"I think I am safer out here than I should be on shore," suggested +Christy. "I might meet some other person in the town who +knows me."</p> + +<p>"All right; but I ought to see Captain Flanger as soon as possible, +for I shall ask him to buy the boat," replied Percy uneasily. "You might +land me, and then sail another hour or two yourself."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">228</span> +"Very well; that will suit me exactly. Skipper, this gentleman wishes to +be put on shore; but I desire to sail another hour or two," said +Christy, addressing the boatman.</p> + +<p>"All right, sir; I will go to the wharf if you say so, but I can put +the other gentleman into that boat which has just come over the bar. The +boatman is a friend of mine."</p> + +<p>"Who is he, David?" asked Percy.</p> + +<p>"Jim Peckson."</p> + +<p>"I know him, and I will go up in his boat if you will hail him," +answered the young Southerner. "I suppose the arrangement is well +understood," he added, dropping his voice so that the boatman could not +hear him. "You are to be on the public wharf at half-past four, when I +come down with your satchel."</p> + +<p>"Perfectly understood," added the other.</p> + +<p>David hailed his friend Jim Peckson, and Percy was transferred to his +boat. Christy felt an intense relief in getting rid of him. Of course he +had not the remotest idea of going on board of the Snapper, whose brutal +commander had declared that he would kill him. But he realized that +Nassau was not a safe place for him.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">229</span> +The boat crossed the bar, and the passenger took his seat by the side of +the boatman. David directed his boat towards the larger steamers +outside, which were loading with cotton from several small craft. They +were, doubtless, to convey it to England. Christy felt no interest in +these, for the voyages of the blockade-runners ended when they reached +the port of Nassau.</p> + +<p>"Shall I sail you over to the sea-gardens now, sir?" asked David, +when his passenger intimated that he had seen enough of the vessels +outside the bar.</p> + +<p>"Yes; anywhere you please, David. I don't care about going on shore +before dark," replied Christy.</p> + +<p>The passenger was greatly interested in the sea-gardens, and for more +than an hour he gazed through the clear water at the sea-plants on the +bottom, and at the many-colored fishes that were swimming about in the +midst of them. He was desirous of using up the time until he could have +the covert of the friendly darkness. He looked at his watch, and found +it was nearly five o'clock.</p> + +<p>"What time is it high tide, David?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Five o'clock, sir."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">230</span> +"Are there any steamers to sail to-day? I suppose they can go over the +bar only at full sea."</p> + +<p>"Only small vessels can go over at any other time. The Snapper was to +sail at high tide."</p> + +<p>"Then I think we will run down by the light, and see her come out of +the harbor," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe she will come out this afternoon, sir," said +David.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Her captain got arrested for something. I saw four officers taking +him to the jail. Some one told me he was drunk, and had pitched into a +gentleman who was walking along the sidewalk in front of a saloon on Bay +Street."</p> + +<p>"They will discharge him in time to sail on the tide, won't +they?"</p> + +<p>"I don't reckon they will. The men from the vessels in the harbor at +this time make heaps of trouble," replied David. "If the gentleman he +hit had a mind to complain of him, the court would lock him up for a +week or two."</p> + +<p>Christy was not disposed, under the circumstances, to make a +complaint. The boat was soon in sight of the lighthouse and the bar. The +Dinah +<span class = "pagenum">231</span> +made a long stretch to the eastward, and was in sight of the entrance to +the harbor till it began to be dark; but no steamer came out on the high +tide. The boat crossed the bar again.</p> + +<p>"Now, David, I want you to land me some distance beyond the public +wharf," said Christy. "How much shall I pay you for this sail?"</p> + +<p>"About three dollars, sir, if you don't think that is too much," +answered the boatman.</p> + +<p>"That is very reasonable for the time you have been out; and there is +a sovereign," added the passenger, as he handed him the gold coin.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I can change this piece, sir."</p> + +<p>"You need not change it; keep the whole of it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you, sir! You are very generous, and I thank you with all +my heart. I don't often earn that much money in a whole day."</p> + +<p>"All right, David; I am satisfied if you are."</p> + +<p>"I am more than satisfied, sir. But where shall I land you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know the names of all the streets, but go to the eastward of +the public wharf."</p> + +<p>"I can land you at the foot of Union Street."</p> + +<p>"How will I get to the Royal Victoria Hotel?"</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">232</span> +The boatman directed him so that he could find his destination. He was +somewhat afraid that Percy Pierson might be on the lookout for the +Dinah; but by this time it was so dark that he could hardly make her +out. David landed him at the place indicated, and he followed the +directions given him, which brought him to the east end of the hotel. It +was too early to meet Mr. Gilfleur, and he found the guests were at +dinner. He had eaten nothing since the lunch on board of the Eleuthera; +and, after he had looked in the faces of all the men at the table, he +took his place with them, and did full justice to the fare set before +him.</p> + +<p>He did not venture to remain in the hotel. He desired to see the +detective, for he had decided not to remain another day in Nassau. As +long as Percy Pierson was in the town, it was not a safe place for him. +He had decided to make his way across the island to the nook where the +Eleuthera was concealed, and remain on board of her until the detective +returned. But he desired to see him, and report his intention to him, so +that he need not be concerned about him.</p> + + +<p class = "illustration section"> +<img src = "images/pic233.png" width = "350" height = "554" +alt = "illustration of quoted scene"><br> +<span class = "caption"> +<span class = "smallcaps">"Two men sprang upon him."</span> +(Page 233)</span> +</p> + + +<p>Christy was entirely satisfied that he had correctly +<span class = "pagenum">233</span> +interpreted the purpose of Percy to betray him into the hands of Captain +Flanger. As he was not on the public wharf at half-past four, doubtless +he had been on the lookout for him. He knew David, and his first step +would be to find him. The boatman would be likely to tell him that his +fellow-passenger in the Dinah had gone to the hotel. He visited the +place arranged for his meeting with Mr. Gilfleur; but it was in advance +of the time, and he was not there. He walked about the hotel grounds, +careful to avoid every person who came in his way.</p> + +<p>In the darkness he saw a man approaching him, and he turned about, +walking away in the opposite direction. But presently this person moved +off towards the hotel, and he started again for the rendezvous with the +detective. He had gone but a short distance before two men sprang upon +him, one of them taking him in the rear, and hugging him so that he +could not move his arms. He began a mighty struggle; but two more men +came out of their hiding-place, and a pair of handcuffs were slipped +upon his wrists.</p> + +<p>Then he attempted to call for assistance, but a handkerchief was +promptly stuffed into his mouth, +<span class = "pagenum">234</span> +and the ruffians hurried him out through a narrow gateway to an +unfrequented street, where a carriage appeared to be in waiting for +them.</p> + +<p>"Drive to the beach back of Fort Montague," said one of them.</p> + +<p>It was the voice of Captain Flanger.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">235</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXXI">CHAPTER XXI</a></h4> + +<h6>A QUESTION OF NEUTRALITY</h6> + + +<p>Even before he heard the voice of his savage enemy, Christy Passford +realized that he had fallen into the hands of the commander of the +Snapper. He was placed on the back seat of the carriage, with a pair of +handcuffs on his wrists, and a handkerchief in his mouth to do duty as a +gag. Captain Flanger was at his side, with two other men on the front +seat, and one on the box with the driver. Against these four men he was +powerless to make any resistance while he was in irons.</p> + +<p>The carriage was drawn by two horses, and was considerably larger +than the ordinary victoria used in the town. It was quite dark, and +though the streets were flanked with many houses, hardly a person +appeared to be stirring at this hour. But a vehicle loaded down with the +rough visitors of the place could not be an unusual sight, for they +<span class = "pagenum">236</span> +were the kind of people who were disposed to make the night hideous, as +well as the day.</p> + +<p>Christy had struggled with all his might to shake off the ruffians +who beset him, and two more had come out from their concealment when he +thought he was making some progress in freeing himself from their grasp. +As soon as his wrists were ironed he realized that resistance was +useless, and that it could only increase his discomfort. It was a +terrible calamity to have fallen into the power of a man so brutal and +unscrupulous as Captain Flanger, bent upon revenging himself for the +mutilation of his most prominent facial member. He was certainly +disfigured for life, though the wound made by the ball from the revolver +had healed; but it was an ill-looking member, and he appeared to be +conscious of his facial deformity all the time.</p> + +<p>The men in the carriage said nothing, and Christy was unable to +speak. They seemed to be afraid of attracting the attention of the few +passers-by in the streets, and of betraying the nature of the outrage in +which they were engaged. The streets in the more frequented parts of the +town were crowded with men, as the victim had been able +<span class = "pagenum">237</span> +to see, and he hoped that they would come across some large collection +of people. In that case he decided to make a demonstration that would +attract the attention of the police, if nothing more.</p> + +<p>He had no idea of the location of Fort Montague, to which the man on +the box had been ordered to drive them. The direction was to a beach +near the fort; and he had no doubt there would be a boat there in +readiness to convey him to the Snapper. But the farther the carriage +proceeded, the less frequented the streets became. He found no +opportunity to make his intended demonstration. His only hope now was +that Mr. Gilfleur, who must have been in the vicinity of the hotel, had +witnessed the outrage, and would interfere, as he had done on Bay +Street, and save him from the fate that was in store for him.</p> + +<p>In a rather lonely place Christy discovered the outline in the +darkness of what looked like a fort. At the same moment he heard the +distant stroke of some public clock, striking nine o'clock. This was the +time appointed for the meeting with the detective, and he had been at +the place a quarter of an hour before, which fully explained why the +detective had not been there; and probably he had +<span class = "pagenum">238</span> +been in his room. This conclusion seemed to cut off all hope that he had +witnessed the attack upon him.</p> + +<p>The carriage stopped at the beach below the fort. It was the +bathing-place for the town, and at this hour it was entirely deserted. +The person on the box with the driver was the first to alight, and he +ran down to the water. He returned in a few minutes to the carriage, the +other ruffians retaining their places.</p> + +<p>"The boat is not here yet, but it is coming," said this man, +reporting to the captain.</p> + +<p>"All right; I told the mate to be here at nine o'clock, and it has +just struck that hour," replied Flanger. "Go down to the water, +driver."</p> + +<p>The vehicle moved down to the water's edge and stopped again. At the +same time the boat grated on the sand, and came to a halt a few feet +from the dry ground.</p> + +<p>"We are all right now," said the person who had been with the driver +on the box; and this time Christy recognized his voice as that of Percy +Pierson.</p> + +<p>He had not mistaken or misjudged him. He had not been able to +understand why the young +<span class = "pagenum">239</span> +man should befriend him, and it was clear enough now, if it had not been +before, that his gratitude towards him was a mere pretence. Captain +Passford, senior desired to get rid of him, and had put him on board of +the schooner for this reason only.</p> + +<p>"Captain Passford, we meet again, as I was sure we should when we +parted in Nassau to-day," said the commander of the Snapper. "Now, if +you will take the trouble to get out of the carriage, we shall be able +to make you comfortable before we have done with you."</p> + +<p>Christy attempted to speak; but the gag prevented him from +articulating, and he could not <ins class = "correction" title = +"text reads 'breath'">breathe</ins> as freely as usual. The captain drew +the handkerchief from his mouth, for there was no one within a long +distance of the spot to aid the prisoner if he had called for help. The +victim had fully determined to resign himself to his fate, and make the +best of the situation until an opportunity offered to effect his escape, +though he greatly feared that such an opportunity would not be +presented.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Captain Flanger; I am much obliged to you for giving me a +better chance to breathe, though I suppose you are not very anxious +<span class = "pagenum">240</span> +that I should continue to breathe," replied Christy, assuming a degree +of good nature which had no substantial foundation in reality. "On the +contrary, I dare say you intend to stop my breathing altogether as soon +as you find it convenient to do so."</p> + +<p>"Not so; you can do all the breathing you want to, and I won't +interfere as long as you behave yourself," replied Captain Flanger in a +more civilized tone than his victim had heard him use before.</p> + +<p>"But to-day noon you swore that you would kill me," added the +prisoner, much surprised at the change in the manner of the ruffian +since they had met on the sidewalk.</p> + +<p>"I have altered my mind," replied the captain, leaving Christy in the +hands of his companions, and walking down to the boat, where the two men +in it seemed to be trying to find deeper water, so as to bring it nearer +to the shore.</p> + +<p>"Well, how do you find yourself, Christy?" asked Percy, placing +himself in front of him.</p> + +<p>"I haven't lost myself so far, and I am as comfortable as could be +expected under the circumstances," answered Christy, whose pride would +<span class = "pagenum">241</span> +not permit him to show that he was overcome or cast down by the +misfortune which had overtaken him.</p> + +<p>"You did not come to the public wharf as you promised to do at +half-past four o'clock this afternoon," Percy proceeded.</p> + +<p>"I did not; David sailed me off to the sea-gardens, and we did not +get back to the town in season for me to keep the appointment."</p> + +<p>"Then you intended to keep it?"</p> + +<p>"I did not say so."</p> + +<p>"I had the idea you were a fellow that kept all the promises he made, +even if it hurt him to do so."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you would have kept your promise to have Captain +Flanger land me at Key West, if I had been weak enough to go on board of +his steamer?" demanded Christy.</p> + +<p>"You are fighting on one side, and I am fighting on the other, +Christy; and I suppose either of us is justified in lying and breaking +his promises in the service of his country."</p> + +<p>"You are fighting on your side at a very convenient distance from the +battle-ground, Percy."</p> + +<p>"I am fighting here because I can render the +<span class = "pagenum">242</span> +best service to my country in this particular place," replied the young +Southerner with spirit. "I am sure I could not do anything better for my +country than send you back to the Confederate prison from which you +escaped."</p> + +<p>"Even if you violate the neutrality of the place," suggested Christy. +"The British government was ready to declare war against the United +States when a couple of Confederate commissioners were taken out of an +English steamer by a man-of-war. Do you suppose that when this outrage +is known, England will not demand reparation, even to the restoring of +the victim to his original position on this island? I hope you have +considered the consequences of this violation of the neutrality of the +place."</p> + +<p>"I don't bother my head about matters of that sort. I have talked +about it with my father, and I think he understands himself," replied +Percy very flippantly.</p> + +<p>"I don't think he does. I have the same rights in Nassau that you and +your father possess. You are carrying on the war on neutral ground; and +no nation would permit that."</p> + +<p>"I am no lawyer, Christy. I only know that +<span class = "pagenum">243</span> +you have done a great deal of mischief to our cause in the Gulf, as set +forth in the letters of your uncle to my father."</p> + +<p>"But I have fought my battles in the enemy's country, or on the open +sea; and I have not done it while skulking under a neutral flag," +replied the naval officer, with quite as much spirit as his adversary in +the debate. "You and Captain Flanger, with the co-operation of your +father, it appears, are engaged in a flagrant outrage against the +sovereignty of England."</p> + +<p>"My father has nothing to do with it; I will take back what I said +about him," added Percy, evidently alarmed at the strength of the +argument against him.</p> + +<p>"You told me that you had talked with your father about the +case."</p> + +<p>"But I withdraw that statement; he knows nothing about it."</p> + +<p>"You make two diametrically opposite statements; and I am justified +in accepting the one that suits me best as the truth. If Captain Flanger +does not hang me to the yard-arm as soon as he gets me into blue water, +I shall make my complaint to the United States government as soon as +<span class = "pagenum">244</span> +I have an opportunity to do so; and I have no doubt you and your father +will have permission to leave Nassau, never to return."</p> + +<p>Percy was silent, and appeared to be in deep thought. Captain Flanger +had returned to the spot from the boat, and had listened to the last +part of the discussion.</p> + +<p>"Captain Flanger understands enough of international law to see that +I am right," continued Christy, when Percy made no reply.</p> + +<p>"The people here treat us very handsomely, my little larky," said +Captain Flanger, with a coarse laugh. "I am not to be scared out of my +game by any such bugbears as you talk about. But I am willing to say +this, my little rooster: I have no intention to hang you to the +yard-arm, as you hinted that I might."</p> + +<p>"At noon to-day you swore that you would kill me."</p> + +<p>"I have altered my mind, as I told you before," growled the commander +of the Snapper, with very ill grace, as though he was ashamed because he +had abandoned his purpose to commit a murder. "I am not what you call a +temperance man; and when I get ashore, and in good company, I sometimes +<span class = "pagenum">245</span> +take a little more good whiskey than it is prudent; but I don't drink +anything on board of my ship. To cut it short, I was a little too much +in the wind when I said I was going to kill you. I am sober now."</p> + +<p>"I think you must be able to see what the consequences of murdering a +person captured on British soil would be, Captain Flanger," suggested +Christy.</p> + +<p>"As I have told you twice before, I do not intend to murder you," +said the captain angrily. "I am going to put you back in the prison from +which you escaped; that's all. No more talk; take him to the boat."</p> + +<p>The two men at Christy's side marched him down to the boat, and +seated him in the stern. The rest of the party took places, and shoved +off. In half an hour the boat was alongside the Snapper.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">246</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXXII">CHAPTER XXII</a></h4> + +<h6>ON BOARD OF THE SNAPPER</h6> + + +<p>Christy could not help seeing that a great change had come over the +manner of Captain Flanger, especially in his repeated declarations that +he did not intend to kill his prisoner. His thirst for revenge could +hardly have abated as the effect of his cups passed off, and it was +evident to the victim of the outrage that some other influence had been +brought to bear upon him. It did not seem possible to him that Percy +Pierson could have modified his vindictive nature to this degree.</p> + +<p>The young man's father could not fail to see the peril of the step +his son was taking, though he appeared not to have been able to resist +the temptation to get rid of such an active enemy as Christy had proved +himself to be. It looked plain enough to the victim, as he considered +the situation, that Colonel Pierson's influence had produced the change +in the intentions of Captain Flanger. If +<span class = "pagenum">247</span> +the prisoner were brutally treated, and especially if his life were +taken, it would make the breach of neutrality so much the more +flagrant.</p> + +<p>"Help the young cub on board," said the captain, as he went up the +accommodation ladder, followed by Percy.</p> + +<p>With his wrists fettered with a pair of handcuffs, Christy needed +assistance to mount the vessel's side. He was handled with more +consideration than he expected, and reached the deck without any injury. +By the order of the captain he was conducted to the cabin, where he +seated himself on a stool near the companion-way. A few minutes later +Percy came down the steps with a valise in his hand, which he deposited +in one of the staterooms.</p> + +<p>"I am your fellow-passenger, Christy," said he, when he came out of +the room. "I hope we shall be good friends."</p> + +<p>"After the treachery which has been practised upon me to-day, there +cannot be much love wasted between us, though I am not disposed to be a +bear, even under the present unfavorable circumstances," replied the +prisoner. "I suppose this steamer is to run the blockade?"</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">248</span> +"Of course she is to run the blockade; how else could she get into +Mobile?" replied Percy.</p> + +<p>"You can bet your worthless life she is going to run the blockade, +and you may be sure that she will get in too," added Captain Flanger, +who came into the cabin at the moment the question was asked.</p> + +<p>"By the way, Christy, from what prison in the Confederacy did you +make your escape?"</p> + +<p>"If you will excuse me, I prefer to answer no questions."</p> + +<p>"Just as you please, my boy. We shall know all about it when we get +to Mobile," said Percy lightly. "I am going home for a few days to see +my mother, who is in feeble health. I don't want to quarrel with you; +and if I can be of any service to you after we get into port, I shall be +happy to do so. We sail at about five o'clock in the morning, on the +high tide."</p> + +<p>"Captain Passford," began the commander, in a more subdued tone than +the prisoner had ever heard him use.</p> + +<p>"That title does not apply to me now, Captain Flanger," Christy +interposed. "If I ever get back to my duty on shipboard, it will be as +second lieutenant of the Bellevite."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">249</span> +"Mr. Passford, if that suits you better, I was going to say that I mean +to treat you like a gentleman, whether you are one or not, in spite of +my shattered and battered nose," added the captain.</p> + +<p>"I do not consider myself responsible for the condition of your nose, +Captain Flanger. At the time you received that wound you were engaged in +a daring adventure, with two revolvers in your hands, ready to blow my +brains out. It was war, and I did nothing but my plain duty; and even in +a time of peace I had the natural right to defend myself, and save my +own life, even at the sacrifice of yours, as you were the assailant," +argued Christy quite warmly. "You would have put a ball through my head +or heart if I had not fired at the moment I did."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you shoot me like a gentleman, and not blow my nose off?" +demanded the captain bitterly.</p> + +<p>"I had to fire in a hurry; and I did not aim at your nose. I could +only discharge my weapon on the instant, and I had no time to aim at any +particular part of you. I intended simply to cover your head."</p> + +<p>"But you blowed my nose off all the same."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">250</span> +"I had no grudge against your nose. Do you think it would be honorable +for a soldier to revenge himself on neutral ground for a wound received +in the field?"</p> + +<p>"But it was a sneaking Yankee trick to shoot at a man's nose, even in +a square battle by sea or by land," protested the captain with a +rattling oath.</p> + +<p>It was useless to discuss the matter with such a man, though he had +probably been charged by Colonel Pierson not to do his prisoner any +injury, and Christy relapsed into silence.</p> + +<p>"If you propose to treat me like a gentleman, whether I am one or +not, may I ask where you propose to berth me, for I am very much +fatigued to-night?" asked the prisoner later in the evening.</p> + +<p>"I mean to give you as good a stateroom as I have myself; but it will +contain two berths, and the mate will occupy the lower one, to prevent +you from escaping, if you should take it into your head to do so," +replied the captain, as he opened the door of one of the rooms.</p> + +<p>"I can hardly get into the upper berth with my wrists ironed," said +the prisoner, exhibiting his fetters.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">251</span> +"That is so," replied the captain, taking the key of the manacles from +his pocket and removing them. "But I warn you that any attempt to escape +may get you into a worse scrape than you are in now. When we get to sea +you shall have your liberty."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Captain, for this indulgence. I suppose you will not make +a long voyage of it to Mobile. I presume you go to the northward of +Great Abaco Island?" asked Christy, though he hardly expected to receive +an answer to his question.</p> + +<p>"Why do you presume such a stupid idea as that?" demanded the +captain, who seemed to regard the inquiry as an imputation upon his +seamanship; and the inquirer had put the question to provoke an answer. +"I have been sailing nearly all my life in these waters, and I know +where I am. Why should I add three hundred miles to my voyage when there +is no reason for it?"</p> + +<p>"I am not much acquainted down here."</p> + +<p>"I shall go through the North-west, or Providence Channel."</p> + +<p>Captain Flanger did not know that the steamer Chateaugay was cruising +somewhere in the vicinity +<span class = "pagenum">252</span> +of the Bahamas; but his prisoner did know it, and the information given +him was not pleasant or satisfactory. Captain Chantor had told him that +he intended to stand off and to the eastward of Great Abaco, and he had +been cherishing a hope that he would fall in with the Snapper, though he +might not find evidence enough on board of her to warrant her +capture.</p> + +<p>If he fell in with the steamer, he would be likely to examine her; +and that would lead to the release of the involuntary passenger. But if +the Snapper went through the Providence Channel, the Chateaugay would +not be likely to fall in with her. It looked to the unfortunate officer +as though he was booked for a rebel prison. He could see no hope of +escape, though he was duly grateful for the change which had come over +his vicious persecutor. If he was allowed his liberty, he might find +some avenue of escape open. It was useless to groan over his fate, and +he did not groan; but he had come to the conclusion that it would be a +long time before he took possession of his stateroom in the ward room of +the Bellevite.</p> + +<p>Availing himself of the permission given to him, he went into the +room, and turned in with his +<span class = "pagenum">253</span> +clothes on, so that he might be in readiness for any event. Mr. Gilfleur +would miss him at the rendezvous agreed upon; but he would have no means +of knowing that anything had happened to him. Tired as he was, he was +not inclined to sleep. Presently he heard a conversation which was not +intended for his ears, for it was carried on in very low tones.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Captain Flanger, that I believe we are getting into a +very bad scrape?" said Percy Pierson in a subdued tone.</p> + +<p>"What are you afraid of?" demanded the captain, in a voice hardly +above a whisper.</p> + +<p>"My father refused at first to permit the capture of Passford," added +Percy. "He would consent to it only after you had promised to treat him +well."</p> + +<p>"I am treating him as well as I know how, though it goes against my +grain. We will get him into the jail in Mobile, and keep him there till +the Yankees have acknowledged the independence of the Confederacy, and +paid for all the damage they have done to our country. How is any one in +Washington or London to know anything about this little affair of +to-night?"</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">254</span> +"I don't know how; but if it should get out, the Yankees would make an +awful row, and England would be obliged to do something +about it."</p> + +<p>"But we must make sure that it does not get out. The young cub has a +deal of spirit and pluck, and he would not live long if he were shut up +on such rations as our men have."</p> + +<p>Percy seemed to be better satisfied than he had been, and the +conversation turned to other subjects in which the listener had no +interest. Without much of an effort he turned over and went to sleep. +When he woke in the morning he heard the tramp of footsteps on the deck +over his head, and he concluded that the steamer was getting under way. +If the mate had slept in the berth below him, he had not seen or heard +him. He leaped out of the bed, and descended to the floor. When he tried +the door he found that it was locked.</p> + +<p>Presently he heard the movement of the screw, and felt the motion +of the vessel. There was a <ins class = "correction" title = +"so in original: 'porthole'?">port light</ins> to the room, +and he placed himself where he could see out at it. But there was +nothing to be seen which afforded him any hope +<span class = "pagenum">255</span> +of comfort. There must be a pilot on board, and he began to wonder if +there could be any way to communicate with him. He took from his pocket +a piece of paper and pencil. He wrote a brief statement of the outrage +which had been perpetrated upon him, folded the paper, and put it in his +vest pocket, where he could readily slip it into the hand of the pilot, +if he found the opportunity to do so. The captain had promised to give +him his liberty when the vessel got out to sea, and he hoped to be able +to go on deck before the pilot left the steamer.</p> + +<p>The Snapper continued to go ahead, and in a short time she made a +sort of a plunge, as she went over the bar. The motion of the steamer +began to be rather violent, and Christy saw through the port the white +caps that indicated a strong north-west wind. When the vessel had +continued on her course for a couple of hours, she stopped, and the +prisoner saw the pilot boat drop astern a little later. The opportunity +to deliver his statement had passed by, and he tore up the paper, +keeping the fragments in his pocket, so that they should not expose his +intention.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely destroyed the paper before his +<span class = "pagenum">256</span> +door was thrown open by Percy Pierson, who informed him that he was at +liberty to go on deck if he wished to do so. He accepted the permission. +He could see the land in the distance in several directions, but he had +no interest in anything. He was called to breakfast soon after, and he +took a hearty meal, for the situation had not yet affected his appetite. +In the middle of the forenoon, with the light at Hole in the Wall on the +starboard, and that on Stirrup Cay on the port, the course of the +Snapper was changed to the north-west.</p> + +<p>At this point Christy discovered a three-masted steamer, which had +also excited the attention of Captain Flanger. It looked like the +Chateaugay; and the prisoner's heart bounded with emotion.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">257</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a></h4> + +<h6>THE CHATEAUGAY IN THE DISTANCE</h6> + + +<p>The steamer which Christy had discovered was a long distance from the +Snapper. She had just come about, and this movement had enabled the +prisoner to see that she had three masts; but that was really all there +was to lead him to suppose she was the Chateaugay. She was too far off +for him to make her out; and if he had not known that she was cruising +to the eastward of the Bahamas, it would not have occurred to him that +she was the steamer in which he had been a passenger two days +before.</p> + +<p>Captain Flanger discovered the sail a few minutes later, and fixed +his attention upon it. In the business in which he was engaged it was +necessary to practise the most unceasing vigilance. But, at this +distance from any Confederate port, the commander of the steamer did not +appear to be greatly disturbed at the sight of a distant sail, +<span class = "pagenum">258</span> +believing that his danger was nearer the shores of the Southern States. +Doubtless he had papers of some sort which would show that his vessel +had cleared for Havana, or some port on the Gulf of Mexico.</p> + +<p>Christy did not deem it wise to manifest any interest in the distant +sail, and, fixing his gaze upon the deck-planks, he continued to walk +back and forth, as he was doing when he discovered the steamer. He had +not been able to make out her course. He had first seen her when she was +in the act of turning, obtaining only a glance at the three masts. +Whether or not she was "end-on" for the Snapper, he could not determine, +and Captain Flanger seemed to be studying up this question with no +little earnestness.</p> + +<p>The principal mission in these waters of the Chateaugay was to look +up the Ovidio, of which Captain Passford in New York had obtained some +information through his agents. This vessel was not simply a +blockade-runner, but was intended for a cruiser, though she had sailed +from Scotland without an armament. It was known that she would proceed +to Nassau, and this fact had suggested to Mr. Gilfleur his visit to that +port to +<span class = "pagenum">259</span> +obtain reliable information in regard to her, as well as incidentally to +look into the methods of fitting out vessels for running the +blockade.</p> + +<p>Captain Chantor was expecting to fall in with the Ovidio, even before +the return of his two passengers. He did not believe the authorities at +Nassau would permit her to take on board an armament at that port; but a +rendezvous had probably been arranged, where she was to receive her guns +and ammunition. But the only safe channel for any vessel to get to the +deep sea from Nassau was by the one that had received the name of +Providence. This channel is a continuation of what is called "The Tongue +of the Ocean," which extends over a hundred miles south of New +Providence, a hundred and fifty fathoms in depth, and bordered by +innumerable cays, reefs, and very shoal water.</p> + +<p>South of Great Abaco Island, this channel, from thirty to forty miles +wide, divides into the North-east and North-west Channels, and all +vessels of any great draught can safely get out to sea only through one +of them. It was evident enough to Captain Chantor, who was familiar with +the navigation of these seas, that the Ovidio must come out through one +of the channels indicated. Christy +<span class = "pagenum">260</span> +had talked with the commander of the Chateaugay in regard to these +passages, and knew that it was his intention to keep a close watch over +them.</p> + +<p>He could not be sure that the steamer in the distance was the +Chateaugay; but the more he recalled what had passed between himself and +Captain Chantor, and considered the situation, the stronger became his +hope that it was she. He was sure that she had come about, and he +reasoned that she had done so when her commander ascertained that the +steamer he had sighted laid her course through the North-west Channel. +This was as far as he could carry his speculations.</p> + +<p>Without understanding the situation as well as did his prisoner, +Captain Flanger seemed to be nervous and uneasy. He watched the distant +sail for a long time, sent for his spy-glass and examined her, and then +began to plank the deck. When he came abreast of Christy he stopped.</p> + +<p>"Do you see that sail off to the eastward, Mr. Passford?"</p> + +<p>"I see it now, Captain," replied the prisoner, as indifferently as +possible, for he felt that it would be very imprudent to manifest any +interest in the matter.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">261</span> +"Can you make out what she is?" continued the captain.</p> + +<p>"I cannot; she must be eight or ten miles from us," replied Christy, +as he glanced to the eastward.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't wonder if that was one of your Yankee gunboats," added +Captain Flanger, spicing his remark with a heavy oath, for he could +hardly say anything without interlarding his speech with profanity.</p> + +<p>"It may be, for aught I know," replied the prisoner with something +like a yawn.</p> + +<p>"Whatever she is, the Snapper can run away from her, and you need not +flatter yourself that there is any chance for you to escape from a +Confederate prison; and when they get you into it, they will hold on +very tight."</p> + +<p>"I must take things as they come," added Christy.</p> + +<p>He wanted to ask the captain why he wondered if the sail was a Yankee +gunboat, but he did not think it would be prudent to do so. The captain +seemed to have, or pretended to have, great confidence in the speed of +the Snapper. When he left his prisoner he went to the engine-room, and +it was +<span class = "pagenum">262</span> +soon evident from the jar and shake of the vessel that he had instructed +the chief engineer to increase the speed.</p> + +<p>Christy watched the distant sail for about three hours before he +could come to any conclusion. At the end of this time he was satisfied +that the three-masted steamer was gaining very decidedly upon the +Snapper. He began to cherish a very lively hope that the sail would +prove to be the Chateaugay. Captain Flanger remained on deck all the +forenoon, and every hour that elapsed found him more nervous and +excitable.</p> + +<p>"I reckon that's a Yankee gunboat astern of us, Mr. Passford; but I +am going to get away from her," said the captain, as they sat down to +dinner.</p> + +<p>"Is she gaining upon you, Captain?" asked Christy.</p> + +<p>"I don't think she is; but if she does get any nearer to us, I shall +give her the slip. The Snapper is going into Mobile Bay as sure as you +live. You can bet your life on it," insisted the captain.</p> + +<p>Christy was not disposed to converse on the subject, and he began to +wonder in what manner the Snapper could give her pursuer the slip. The +<span class = "pagenum">263</span> +former was the smaller vessel, and probably did not draw over fourteen +feet of water, if she did more than twelve. It might be possible for her +to run into shoal water where the pursuer could not follow her.</p> + +<p>After the dinner table was cleared off, the captain seated himself at +it with a chart spread out before him. It was plain enough that he was +devising some expedient to escape the three-master. Christy did not deem +it prudent to observe him, and he went on deck. It was as clear as the +daylight that the pursuer was gaining rapidly upon the Snapper; and the +prisoner did not believe that the latter was making over twelve +knots.</p> + +<p>By this time seven hours had elapsed since the distant sail had come +in sight, and she was now near enough for the prisoner to be sure that +she was the Chateaugay. She could make sixteen knots when driven at her +best, and she must be gaining four or five knots an hour on the chase. +Christy had been through this channel in the Bellevite, and he +discovered that the steamer was running near the shoal water. Presently +the captain came on deck, and he appeared to be less nervous than +before, perhaps because he had arranged his plan to escape his +pursuer.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">264</span> +Within an hour Christy recognized the East Isaac, a rock rising ten or +twelve feet above the surface of the water, which he identified by its +nearness to one over which the sea was breaking. The captain was too +much occupied in the study of the surroundings to take any notice of +him, and he endeavored to keep out of his sight.</p> + +<p>The prisoner consulted his watch, and found it was four o'clock. The +tower of the Great Isaac light could just be made out. The Chateaugay +was not more than four miles astern of the Snapper, and in another hour +she would certainly come up with her, if Captain Flanger did not put his +plan into execution. The course of the chase continued to bring her +nearer to the reefs.</p> + +<p>"Ring one bell!" shouted the captain to the quartermaster at the +wheel.</p> + +<p>The effect of one bell was to reduce the speed of the Snapper by +one-half. The order to put the helm hard a starboard followed in a short +time. The course was made about south, and the steamer went ahead +slowly. Two men in the chains were heaving the lead constantly. They +were reporting four and five fathoms. After the vessel had gone five or +six miles on this course, it was changed to +<span class = "pagenum">265</span> +about south-west. She was then moving in a direction directly opposite +to that of the Chateaugay, and the anxious prisoner could see the +man-of-war across the reefs which lifted their heads above the water, +very nearly abreast of the Snapper, though at least ten miles distant +from her.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what steamer that is, Mr. Passford?" asked Captain +Flanger, coming aft, apparently for the purpose of finding him.</p> + +<p>"How should I know, Captain?" asked Christy.</p> + +<p>"I thought you might know her by sight."</p> + +<p>"I could hardly be expected to know all the ships in the United +States navy by sight, Captain, for there are a great many of them by +this time."</p> + +<p>"All right; she looks like a pretty large vessel, and the bigger the +better. I hope you won't get up a disappointment for yourself by +expecting that you are going to get out of this scrape," said Captain +Flanger, and there was a great deal of bitterness in his tones.</p> + +<p>"I am taking things as they come, Captain."</p> + +<p>"The Snapper is not a man-of-war, and she is engaged in a peaceful +voyage. If that fellow thinks of capturing me, he is reckoning without +his host. He has no more right to make a prize of +<span class = "pagenum">266</span> +me than he has to murder me," protested the captain, as he gave the +order to hoist the British flag.</p> + +<p>"Of course you know your business better than I do, Captain Flanger, +and I don't propose to interfere with it," replied Christy.</p> + +<p>The commander walked forward again, giving the order to the +quartermaster to ring two bells, which presently brought the steamer to +a full stop, quite near the rocks which were awash to the northward of +her. As the captain moved forward he encountered the first officer in +the waist, who addressed him, and they began a conversation, none of +which Christy could hear. From the looks and gestures of the mate, he +concluded that they were talking about him.</p> + +<p>It was not difficult to imagine the subject of the conversation, and +it was evident to Christy that the first officer had suggested an idea +to his commander. While he was waiting impatiently to ascertain what the +Chateaugay would do next, Percy Pierson came on deck looking very pale, +for it had been reported at breakfast that he was very sea-sick.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Christy?" asked the Southerner.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">267</span> +"I am very well, I thank you."</p> + +<p>"Haven't you been sea-sick?" asked the invalid.</p> + +<p>"Of course not; I never was sea-sick."</p> + +<p>"But what has the steamer stopped for?" asked Percy, looking about +him.</p> + +<p>"Captain Flanger seems to think that vessel over there is a United +States man-of-war."</p> + +<p>"Will she capture the Snapper?" asked the sufferer, looking paler +than before.</p> + +<p>At this moment a boat was lowered from the davits into the water, and +Christy was invited by the mate to take a seat in the stern sheets. He +was astounded at this request, and wondered what it meant.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">268</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a></h4> + +<h6>THE TABLES TURNED</h6> + + +<p>Christy understood the character of Captain Flanger well enough to be +confident he meant mischief to him in getting him into the boat. He +concluded that this movement was the result of the conference with the +mate. He had a suspicion that his terrible enemy intended to drown him, +or get rid of him in some other manner.</p> + +<p>"May I ask where I am to be taken in the boat, Mr. Dawbin?" asked the +prisoner, suppressing as much as he could the excitement that disturbed +him.</p> + +<p>"I give you leave to ask, but I cannot answer you," replied the +mate.</p> + +<p>"If you intend to put me on board of that steamer, it can do no harm +to say so, I think," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"If you will excuse me, Mr. Passford, I cannot answer any questions. +I ask you again to get into the boat," said Mr. Dawbin.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">269</span> +"Well, sir, suppose I decline to do so?"</p> + +<p>"Then I shall be compelled to use force, and tumble you into the boat +in the best way I can, with the assistance of my men."</p> + +<p>"If you intend to murder me, why can't you do the deed here on deck?" +demanded the prisoner.</p> + +<p>"I don't intend to murder you."</p> + +<p>"That is some consolation. That lighthouse on the Great Isaac is the +only place to which you can convey me, and that is sixteen miles from +this steamer. I can't believe you intend to pull me that distance."</p> + +<p>"No fooling there!" shouted the captain. "What are you waiting for, +Mr. Dawbin? Why don't you obey my order?"</p> + +<p>"The fellow wants to talk," replied the mate.</p> + +<p>"If he won't get into the boat, pitch him into it like a dead +dog!"</p> + +<p>Christy saw that it was useless to resist, though he had a revolver +in his pocket which had not been taken from him, for he had not been +searched. The mate and two sailors stood in front of him, and he +realized that he could accomplish nothing by resistance under present +circumstances. He thought he could do better in the boat after it was +<span class = "pagenum">270</span> +beyond the reach of any reinforcements from the steamer. He went over +the side, and took his place in the stern sheets.</p> + +<p>The mate followed him, and the two men, one of whom was hardly more +than a boy, took their places on the thwarts. The boat was shoved off, +and the prisoner had an immediate interest in the course it was about to +steer. The mate arranged the tiller lines, and then looked about +him.</p> + +<p>He directed his gaze towards the north, and seemed to be trying to +find some object or point. He satisfied himself in some manner, and then +resumed his seat, from which he had risen in order to obtain a better +view over the waves. The passenger had watched him closely, and found +that his vision had been directed towards the rocks awash and the East +Isaac rock. Towards these objects he steered the boat. The Chateaugay +was at least three miles to the eastward of these rocks.</p> + +<p>Christy watched the course of the boat long enough to satisfy himself +that it was headed for the rocks, which were awash at high tide, though +they now looked like a minute island. There could be but one object in +visiting this locality: +<span class = "pagenum">271</span> +and that must be to leave him on that desolate reef. The wind was still +fresh from the north-west, and the spray was dashed over the rocks in a +manner which suggested that a human being could not remain long on it +after the tide was high without being washed off. It was little better +than murder to leave him there, and he knew very well that Captain +Flanger would shed no tears if assured that his troublesome prisoner was +no more.</p> + +<p>Christy decided that he would not be left on the reef, or even on the +top of the East Isaac, which might be a drier place, though hardly more +comfortable. It must have been Mr. Dawbin who had suggested the idea of +landing him on the reef, for there was no other place nearer than the +Great Isaac light. Captain Flanger had boasted that he sailed a vessel +on a peaceful mission, and that the commander of the Chateaugay had no +more right to capture him than he had to murder him. But the prisoner +knew that the Snapper was to run the blockade, and was bound to Mobile, +for the captain had told him so himself.</p> + +<p>The commander could now see the folly of his boast. He had not +expected to encounter a United States man-of-war in the Bahamas. His +prisoner +<span class = "pagenum">272</span> +was a naval officer, and would be a strong witness against him. Upon his +testimony, and such other evidence as the cargo and other circumstances +might supply, the captain of the steamer in the channel might feel +justified in making a prize of the Snapper. It was necessary, therefore, +to remove this witness against him. As Christy had imagined, the captain +had not thought of his prisoner as a witness, and the mate had suggested +it to him.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I need not ask you what is to be done with me, for that is +sufficiently apparent now," said Christy, more to engage the attention +of the mate than for any other reason.</p> + +<p>"You can form your own conclusion," replied Mr. Dawbin.</p> + +<p>"You intend to leave me on that reef ahead, and doubtless you expect +me to be washed off and drowned, or starved to death there," added the +prisoner. "I can't see why you take all this trouble when you could more +conveniently blow my brains out."</p> + +<p>"The captain has promised not to harm you, Mr. Passford, and he will +keep his word," replied the mate with very ill grace.</p> + +<p>"I consider it worse than murder to leave me +<span class = "pagenum">273</span> +on that reef, or any of these rocks, Mr. Dawbin. Since I understand your +intention, I might as well put a bullet through my own head, and save +myself from all the suffering in store for me," said Christy, assuming +the manner of one rendered desperate by his situation. "Have you a +revolver in your pocket?"</p> + +<p>"I have not a revolver in my pocket; and if I had I should not lend +it to you to shoot yourself," replied the mate.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dawbin had no revolver in his pocket, and that was all the +prisoner had been driving at. He was equally confident that neither of +the sailors was armed, for he had looked them over to see if there was +any appearance of pistols in their pockets.</p> + +<p>"You are making altogether too much fuss over this little matter, +Mr. Passford. The captain desires you to remain on one of these +rocks till he gets through his business with the commander <ins class = +"correction" title = "text reads 'of of' at line break">of</ins> that +steamer in the channel, which is now headed for the Snapper," the mate +explained. "When that is finished we will take you off and proceed on +our voyage."</p> + +<p>"You had better put a bullet through my head."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so. It is no great hardship for +<span class = "pagenum">274</span> +you to stay a few hours on that rock. You have had your dinner, and you +will not starve to death. I don't think you will have to stay there +long, for that steamer draws too much water to come in among these +reefs, and she will be hard and fast on one of the shoals before she +goes much farther."</p> + +<p>"Possibly her captain knows what he is about as well as you do," +suggested Christy.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he does. There isn't a fathom of water on some of +these shoals."</p> + +<p>But the Chateaugay kept on her course, though she proceeded very +slowly. When she was off the Gingerbread Cay she stopped her screw, and +she was near enough for the observer to see that she was lowering at +least two boats into the water. In a few minutes more they were seen +pulling towards the Snapper, whose boat was now very near the reef which +had been selected as the prisoner's abiding-place. A few minutes later +the keel ground on the coral rock.</p> + +<p>"Jump ashore, both of you, and take the painter with you, my men," +said the mate, when the boat stuck about six feet from the top of the +ledge.</p> + +<p>The two sailors waded to the highest part of the reef, and began to +haul in on the painter; but they +<span class = "pagenum">275</span> +could not get it anything less than three feet from the rock.</p> + +<p>"We can't get the boat any nearer, Mr. Passford; but you are a +vigorous young man, and you can easily leap to the rock," said Mr. +Dawbin.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you could leap to the ledge?" asked Christy, looking +him sharp in the eye.</p> + +<p>"I know I could."</p> + +<p>"Let me see you try it, Mr. Dawbin," replied Christy, with his right +hand on his revolver.</p> + +<p>"Come, come! Mr. Passford. No fooling. I have no time to spare," +growled the mate.</p> + +<p>"I am not fooling. As you consider it no hardship to pass a few hours +on that rock, I am going to trouble you to take my place there."</p> + +<p>"No nonsense! I am not to be trifled with!"</p> + +<p>"Neither am I," added the prisoner, as he drew out his weapon, and +aimed it at the head of the mate. "You can take your choice between the +rock and a ball from my revolver, Mr. Dawbin."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to murder me?" demanded the mate.</p> + +<p>"I hope you will not compel me to do so harsh a thing as that. But no +fooling! I have no time to spare. Jump on the rock, or I will fire +before +<span class = "pagenum">276</span> +you are ten seconds older!" said Christy resolutely.</p> + +<p>"Come back into the boat, men!" shouted the officer.</p> + +<p>"The first one that comes any nearer the boat is a dead man!" added +the prisoner, "Five seconds gone, Mr. Dawbin."</p> + +<p>The mate did not wait for anything more, but made the leap to the +rock. He accomplished it so hastily that he fell when he struck the +ledge; but the impetus he had given the boat forced it from the rock, +and sent it a considerable distance. Christy restored the revolver to +his pocket, and, taking one of the oars, he sculled towards the +Chateaugay, which was now much nearer than the Snapper. The two boats +from the man-of-war took no notice of him, and perhaps did not see +him.</p> + +<p>Taking out his white handkerchief he attached it to the blade of one +of the oars, and waved it with all his might in the direction of the +steamer. He set it up in the mast-hole through the forward thwart, and +then continued to scull. But his signal was soon seen, and a boat came +off from the steamer.</p> + + +<p class = "illustration section"> +<img src = "images/pic276.png" width = "352" height = "548" +alt = "illustration of quoted scene"><br> +<span class = "caption"> +<span class = "smallcaps">"Jump on the rock or I will fire before you +are ten seconds older."</span> +(Page 276)</span> +</p> + + +<p>"Boat ahoy!" shouted the officer in charge of the cutter.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">277</span> +"In the boat!" replied Christy, turning around as he suspended his labor +with the oar.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Passford!" exclaimed Mr. Hackling, the second lieutenant +of the Chateaugay. "Is it possible that it is you?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't any doubt of it, Mr. Hackling, if you have," replied the +late prisoner, heartily rejoiced to find himself in good company +again.</p> + +<p>"But what does this mean? How do you happen to be here?" demanded the +astonished lieutenant of the ship.</p> + +<p>"I happen to be here because I have just played a sharp game. I was a +prisoner on that steamer yonder, on my way to a rebel prison. But I +think it is necessary that I should report immediately to Captain +Chantor in regard to the character of the Snapper, which is the name of +the vessel you have been chasing."</p> + +<p>The Snapper's boat was taken in tow, and the crew of the cutter gave +way with a will. In due time Christy was received with the most +unbounded astonishment by the commander on the deck of the +Chateaugay.</p> + +<p>"Where is Mr. Gilfleur? I hope that no accident has happened to him," +said the captain with deep anxiety on his face.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">278</span> +"None that I am aware of; but if you will excuse me from explanations +for the present, I will state that the steamer on the bank is the +Snapper, Captain Flanger, bound for Mobile; and the captain told me that +he intended to run the blockade."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hackling, take charge of the second cutter, and give Mr. +Birdwing my order to make a prize of that steamer, and bring her off to +the deep water."</p> + +<p>It was quite dark when this order was executed.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">279</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXXV">CHAPTER XXV</a></h4> + +<h6>CAPTAIN FLANGER IN IRONS</h6> + + +<p>Christy Passford related to Captain Chantor all that had occurred to +the detective and himself from the time of their departure from the ship +to their parting on the shore; and he did not fail to mention the fact +that Mr. Gilfleur had come to his assistance when he was assaulted by +the ruffian in front of the saloon.</p> + +<p>"You have had a narrow escape, Mr. Passford," said the commander, +when he had concluded. "The idea of avenging an injury received in that +way is something I never happened to hear of before, though my +experience is not unlimited. Mr. Birdwing," he continued, after the +first lieutenant had reported to him, "had you any difficulty in +effecting the capture of the Snapper?"</p> + +<p>"Only with the captain; for my force was sufficient to have taken her +if she had been fully armed and manned. There was no fighting; but I was +<span class = "pagenum">280</span> +obliged to put the captain in irons, for he was about the ugliest and +most unreasonable man I ever encountered," replied the chief of the boat +expedition. "I was not at all satisfied that the steamer was a fit +subject for capture till your order came to me, brought by Mr. Hackling. +Then Captain Flanger not only protested, with more bad language than I +ever before heard in the same time, but he absolutely refused to yield. +I could not give him the reasons that induced you to send me the order, +and I referred the matter to you."</p> + +<p>The Snapper had been anchored within a cable's length of the +Chateaugay, and Mr. Birdwing had brought Captain Flanger on board of the +ship, with Percy Pierson, that the question of prize might be definitely +settled by the commander, for he was not quite satisfied himself. The +captain of the Snapper was still in irons, and he and his companion had +been put under guard in the waist. The man with the mutilated nose had +not yet seen Christy, and possibly he was still wondering what had +become of his chief officer and the two men who had been ordered to put +the prisoner on the ledge.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">281</span> +Christy had informed Captain Chantor, in his narrative, of the manner in +which he had turned the tables on his custodians, and he had not +forgotten that the party were still where he had left them. He reminded +the commander of the latter fact, and a quartermaster was sent in the +third cutter to bring them off, and put them on board of the Snapper; +where a considerable force still remained under the charge of Mr. +Carlin, the third lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"Now we will settle this matter with the captain of the Snapper, and +I hope to convince him that his vessel is a lawful prize, so far as she +can be so declared in advance of the decision of the court," said +Captain Chantor. "Come with me, if you please, Mr. Birdwing. For the +present, Mr. Passford, will you oblige me by keeping in the shade till I +send for you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Captain Chantor, though I should like to hear what +Captain Flanger has to say in defence of his steamer," replied the +passenger. "But I will take care not to show myself to him till you are +ready for me."</p> + +<p>"I do not object to that arrangement. I do not quite understand who +this Percy Pierson is, though +<span class = "pagenum">282</span> +you mentioned him in your report of what had occurred during your +absence," added the commander.</p> + +<p>"He is the son of Colonel Richard Pierson, a Confederate +commissioner, who represents his government at Nassau, purchasing +vessels as opportunity to do so is found. His son is the person who +tried to induce me to take passage in the Snapper, with the promise that +I should be permitted to land at Key West. It was only a trick to get me +on board of the steamer; and when it failed, for I declined to fall into +the trap, I was captured by a gang of four or five ruffians, Captain +Flanger being one of them, and conveyed to the vessel, where I was +locked up in a stateroom till after she had sailed."</p> + +<p>"That is a proper question for the British government to deal with, +and I hope it will be put in the way of adjustment by the proper +officials, though I am inclined to regard it as an act of war, which +will justify me in holding the men engaged in the outrage as prisoners. +Do you know who they are, Mr. Passford?"</p> + +<p>"I can designate only three of them,—the captain, Mr. Dawbin, +the mate, who is now on the +<span class = "pagenum">283</span> +ledge, and Percy Pierson. I am sure they were all in the carriage that +conveyed me to the beach where I was put into the boat. The others were +sailors, and I could not identify them."</p> + +<p>"I will hold the three you name as prisoners," added Captain Chantor, +as he moved forward, followed by the executive officer.</p> + +<p>It was getting dark, and Christy made his way to the shadow of the +mainmast, where he obtained a position that enabled him to hear all that +passed without being seen himself. Captain Flanger seemed to be more +subdued than he had been reported to be on board of the Snapper, and the +commander ordered the irons to be taken from his wrists.</p> + +<p>"Captain Flanger, I have concluded to make a prize of the Snapper; +but I am willing to hear anything you may wish to offer," Captain +Chantor began.</p> + +<p>"I protest; you have no more right to make a prize of my vessel than +you have to capture a British man-of-war, if you were able to do such a +thing," replied the commander of the Snapper.</p> + +<p>"Do you claim that the Snapper is a British vessel?"</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">284</span> +"Yes, I do!" blustered Captain Flanger recklessly.</p> + +<p>"Are you a British subject?"</p> + +<p>"No, I am not; but I am not attempting to run the blockade."</p> + +<p>"For what port are you bound?"</p> + +<p>"Havana."</p> + +<p>"Have you a clearance for that port?"</p> + +<p>"For Havana, and a market."</p> + +<p>"But you have no more idea of going to Havana than you have of going +to China," added the captain of the Chateaugay. "You are bound to +Mobile, and you intend to run the blockade; and that intention proved, +you are liable to capture."</p> + +<p>"You seem to know my business better than I know it myself," said +Captain Flanger, with a sneer in his tones.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I know it quite as well as you do, at least so far as the +voyage of the Snapper is concerned," replied the commander of the +Chateaugay, who proceeded to explain international law in relation to +the intention to run the blockade. "I shall be able to prove in the +court which sits upon your case that you left Nassau for the purpose of +running the blockade established at the entrance +<span class = "pagenum">285</span> +of Mobile Bay. I presume that will be enough to satisfy both you and the +court. In Nassau you did not hesitate to announce your intention to run +the blockade, and get into Mobile."</p> + +<p>"I should like to see you prove it," growled the captain of the +Snapper, in his sneering tones.</p> + +<p>"I don't think you would like to see me do it; but I will take you at +your word, and prove it now. I have an excellent witness, to whom you +made your announcement;" and at this remark Christy stepped out from +behind the mainmast, and placed himself in front of the astounded +ruffian. "Lieutenant Passford, a naval officer in excellent repute, is +all ready to make oath to your assertions."</p> + +<p>Captain Flanger and Percy Pierson gazed in silence at the witness, +for they supposed he was on the ledge to which he had been transported +by the boat. Christy repeated what he had said before, and stated in +what manner he had been made a prisoner on board of the Snapper.</p> + +<p>"For this outrage in a neutral port I shall hold you and Mr. Pierson +as prisoners, leaving the government to determine what steps shall be +taken in regard to you; but I trust you will be handed over +<span class = "pagenum">286</span> +to the authorities at Nassau, to be properly punished for the +outrage."</p> + +<p>Of course this decision did not suit Captain Flanger; and Percy +Pierson appeared to be intensely alarmed at the prospect before him. +Captain Chantor, after consulting with his naval passenger, determined +to send the Snapper to Key West, from which she could readily be +despatched to New York if occasion should require. Mr. Carlin was +appointed prize-master, with a sufficient crew; and at daylight the next +morning he sailed for his destination.</p> + +<p>The boat which had been sent for the mate and two men belonging to +the Snapper put them on board of the steamer; but the captain and the +passenger were retained on board of the Chateaugay. The man with the +mutilated nose was so disgusted at the loss of his vessel, and with the +decision of his captor, that he could not contain himself; and it became +necessary not only to restore his irons, but also to commit him to the +"brig," which is the ship's prison.</p> + +<p>"What is to become of me, Christy?" asked Percy in the evening, +overcome with terror at the prospect before him.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">287</span> +"That is more than I can inform you," replied Christy coldly.</p> + +<p>"But we had no intention of doing you any harm; and we treated you +well after you went on board of the Snapper."</p> + +<p>"You committed a dastardly outrage upon me; but your punishment will +be left to others."</p> + +<p>"But I had no intention to do you any harm," pleaded Percy.</p> + +<p>"No more lies! You have told me enough since I met you."</p> + +<p>"But I am speaking the truth now," protested the frightened +Southerner.</p> + +<p>"No, you are not; the truth is not in you! Did you mean me no harm +when you attempted to entice me on board of the Snapper? Did you mean me +no harm when you engaged Flanger and his ruffians to make me a prisoner, +and put me on board of his steamer? It was a flagrant outrage from +beginning to end; for I had the same rights in Nassau that you and your +father had, and both of you abused the hospitality of the place when you +assaulted me."</p> + +<p>"You were a prisoner of the Confederacy, and had escaped in a +blockade-runner; and I thought +<span class = "pagenum">288</span> +it was no more than right that you should be returned to your prison," +Percy explained.</p> + +<p>"I had the right to escape if I could, and was willing to take the +risk; and my capture in Nassau was a cowardly trick. But I did not +escape from a Confederate prison."</p> + +<p>"You told me you did."</p> + +<p>"I did not; that was a conclusion to which you jumped with very +little help from me."</p> + +<p>"I thought I was doing my duty to my country."</p> + +<p>"Then you were an idiot. You have done your best to compromise your +country, as you call it, with the British government. If your father is +not sent out of Nassau, I shall lose my guess as a Yankee."</p> + +<p>"But my father would not allow Captain Flanger to do you any harm; +for he was bent upon hanging you as soon as he got out of sight of land, +and he sent me with you to see my mother in order to prevent him from +carrying out his threat."</p> + +<p>"You would have been a powerful preventive in the face of such a +brutal ruffian as Captain Flanger," said Christy with a sneer. "You have +lied to me before about your father, and I cannot believe anything you +say."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">289</span> +"I am speaking the truth now; my father saved your life. I heard him +tell Flanger that he would lose the command of the Snapper if any harm +came to you."</p> + +<p>"If he did so, he did it from the fear of the British authorities. I +have nothing more to say about it."</p> + +<p>"But as my father saved your life, you ought to stand by me in this +scrape," pleaded Percy.</p> + +<p>"Whatever was done by you or your father for me, was done from the +fear of consequences; and you were the originator of the outrage against +me," added Christy, as he descended to the ward room.</p> + +<p>The next morning the Snapper was on her voyage to Key West, and the +Chateaugay headed for the Hole in the Wall, though she gave it a wide +berth, and stood off to the eastward. The next night, being the fourth +since the Eleuthera left the ship, the boat containing Mr. Gilfleur was +picked up about twenty miles east of the lights. The detective came on +board, and was welcomed by the captain, who had been called by his own +order.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">290</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</a></h4> + +<h6>A VISIT TO TAMPA BAY</h6> + + +<p>As soon as Mr. Gilfleur had been welcomed back to the Chateaugay the +commander gave the order to the officer of the deck to have the Bahama +boat hoisted to the deck, and disposed of as before.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, Captain Chantor; but be so kind as to allow the +boat to remain alongside, for I must return to Nassau," interposed the +detective.</p> + +<p>"Return to Nassau!" exclaimed the captain.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; it is really necessary that I should do so, for you see +that I have come back without Mr. Passford," replied the Frenchman. "He +was attacked by a cowardly ruffian in front of a saloon in the town, and +I lost sight of him after that. I have been terribly distressed about +him, for the ruffian threatened to kill him, and I fear he has executed +his threat."</p> + +<p>"Don't distress yourself for another instant, Mr. Gilfleur, for Mr. +Passford is on board of the ship +<span class = "pagenum">291</span> +at this moment, and doubtless asleep in his stateroom," said the +captain, cutting short the narrative of the detective.</p> + +<p>"On board of the ship!" exclaimed the Frenchman, retreating a few +paces in his great surprise. "Impossible! Quite impossible! I found our +boat just where we had left it at the back side of the island."</p> + +<p>"But what I say is entirely true; and Mr. Passford wished me to have +him called when you came on board," added the commander, as he sent a +quartermaster to summon Christy to the captain's cabin.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand how Mr. Passford can be on board of the ship," +continued the bewildered Frenchman. "Ah, he might have hired a boat like +the Eleuthera to bring him off."</p> + +<p>"He might have done so, but he did not," replied Captain Chantor, as +he directed the officer of the deck to go ahead, making the course east, +as soon as he had secured the detective's boat. "Now, if you will come +to my cabin, Mr. Gilfleur, Mr. Passford shall inform you himself that he +is on board of the ship; and he has quite an exciting story to +tell."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">292</span> +The commander and the Frenchman went below, and seated themselves in the +cabin of the former.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Passford has already informed me that the Ovidio is at Nassau, +but that she has been seized by a British gunboat for violation of the +neutrality laws," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"That is quite true, and it is not probable that the case will be +settled for a month to come," replied Mr. Gilfleur. "But I ascertained +by great good luck that her armament was waiting for her at Green Cay, +if you know where that is: I do not."</p> + +<p>"It is on the Tongue of the Ocean, as it is called, nearly a hundred +miles to the southward of Nassau. I supposed it would be managed in some +such way as that," added the commander. "But do you think it will be a +month before her case will be settled?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I know nothing about it myself; but I found a court +official who was very desirous of talking French, and he invited me to +dine with him at his house. I began to ask him questions about the +blockade, and the vessels in the harbor; and finally he gave me his +opinion that a decision in the case of the Ovidio could not be reached +in less than a month, and it might be two mouths."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">293</span> +At this moment there was a knock at the door of the cabin, and the +captain called to the person to come in. Christy, who had taken the time +to dress himself fully, opened the door and entered the cabin. The +Frenchman leaped from his seat, and embraced the young officer as though +he had been his wife or sweetheart, from whom he had been separated for +years. Christy, who was not very demonstrative in this direction, +submitted to the hugging with the best possible grace, for he knew that +the detective was sincere, and had actually grown to love him, perhaps +as much for his father's sake as for his own.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear Mr. Passford, you are to me like one who has come out of +his grave, for I have believed for nearly three days that you had been +killed by the ruffian that attacked you in the street!" exclaimed Mr. +Gilfleur, still pressing both of his late companion's hands in his own. +"I was never so rejoiced in all my life, not even when I had unearthed a +murderer."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you expected to unearth another murderer," said Christy with +a smile.</p> + +<p>"That was just what I intended to do. I heard the <ins class = +"correction" title = "spelling as in original">villanous</ins> ruffian +swear that he would kill you, +<span class = "pagenum">294</span> +and I was almost sure he had done so when you failed to meet me in the +rear of the hotel."</p> + +<p>At the request of the commander, Christy repeated the story of his +adventure in Nassau as briefly as possible, up to the time he had been +picked up by the Chateaugay's cutter, and conveyed on board of the ship. +The detective was deeply interested, and listened to the narration with +the closest attention. At the end of it, he pressed the hand of the +young officer again, and warmly congratulated him upon his escape from +the enemy.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gilfleur then reported more in detail than he had done before, +the result of his mission. He gave the names of all the intending +blockade-runners in the harbor of Nassau; but the captain declared that +he could not capture them on any such evidence as the detective had been +able to obtain, for it would not prove the intention.</p> + +<p>"The Ovidio may not come out of Nassau for two months to come, and +then she will proceed to Green Cay," said Captain Chantor. "I do not +think I should be justified in waiting so long for her, especially as +she is to run her cargo into Mobile. The blockaders will probably be +able to pick her up. I think my mission in the Bahama +<span class = "pagenum">295</span> +Islands is finished, and the Chateaugay must proceed to more fruitful +fields."</p> + +<p>"But you have not made a bad voyage of it so far, Captain Chantor," +added Christy. "You sent in the Ionian, sunk the Dornoch, and captured +the Cadet and the Snapper, to say nothing of bagging a Confederate +commissioner, and the son of another. I should have been glad if you had +sent in Colonel Pierson, for he has already done our commerce a great +deal of mischief."</p> + +<p>"I am entirely satisfied, and doubtless the information obtained here +and at the Bermudas will enable our fleet to pick up some more of the +steamers you have spotted," added the captain, as he rose from his seat, +and dismissed his guests.</p> + +<p>The Frenchman was so exhausted by his labors, and the want of sleep, +that he retired at once to his room, while Christy went on deck with the +commander. The ship had been working to the eastward for over an hour; +but the order was given for her to come about, and the course was laid +for the light at the Hole in the Wall.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Passford, we are bound for the Gulf of Mexico, putting in +at Key West for the purpose of attending to the affair of the Snapper," +said +<span class = "pagenum">296</span> +Captain Chantor. "In a few days more no doubt you will be able to report +for duty on board of the Bellevite."</p> + +<p>"I shall not be sorry to be on duty again, and especially in the +Bellevite," replied Christy, as he went to his stateroom to finish his +night's sleep.</p> + +<p>The next day the Chateaugay overhauled the Snapper; but all was well +on board of her, and the ship proceeded on her course. On the third day +she went into the harbor of Key West. Christy and the captain went to +work at once on the legal questions relating to the prize last taken. +The evidence was deemed sufficient to warrant the sending of her to New +York, and on her arrival the prize-master was directed to proceed to +that port. Captain Flanger and Percy Pierson were transferred to her, +and she sailed the next day; but she encountered a tremendous storm on +the Atlantic coast, and was totally wrecked on Hetzel Spit, near Cape +Canaveral. The prisoners were put into one boat, which upset, and all in +it were drowned, while the other boat, in charge of Lieutenant Carlin, +succeeded in reaching the shore of Florida.</p> + +<p>The Snapper's case was settled, therefore, outside +<span class = "pagenum">297</span> +of the courts. Captain Flanger perished in his wickedness, and Percy +Pierson never reached his mother in Mobile. But it was weeks before the +news of the disaster reached the Chateaugay and the Bellevite. Christy +did not mourn the loss of his great enemy, and he was sorry only that +the young man had not lived long enough to become a better man.</p> + +<p>The Chateaugay proceeded on her voyage, and reported to the +flag-officer of the Eastern Gulf Squadron; by whom she was assigned to a +place in the fleet off Appalachicola, while Christy was sent in a tender +to the Bellevite, then on duty off the entrance to Mobile Bay.</p> + +<p>At this point it became necessary for Christy and Mr. Gilfleur to +separate, for the latter was to proceed to New York by a store-ship +about to sail. The detective insisted upon hugging him again, and the +young officer submitted with better grace than usual to such +demonstrations. He had become much attached to his companion in the late +enterprises in which they had been engaged, and he respected him very +highly for his honesty and earnestness, and admired his skill in his +profession. On the voyage from Key West, Christy had written +<span class = "pagenum">298</span> +letters to all the members of his family, as well as to Bertha Pembroke, +which he committed to the care of Mr. Gilfleur when they parted, not to +meet again till the end of the war.</p> + +<p>When Christy went on board of the Bellevite he was warmly welcomed by +Captain Breaker, who happened to be on deck. Mr. Blowitt was the next to +grasp his hand, and before he had done with him, Paul Vapoor, the chief +engineer, the young lieutenant's particular crony, hugged him as though +he were a brother.</p> + +<p>Most of the old officers were still in the ship, and Christy found +himself entirely at home where-ever he went on board. He was duly +presented to Mr. Walbrook, the third lieutenant, the acting second +lieutenant having returned to the flag-ship in the tender.</p> + +<p>For all the rest of the year the Bellevite remained on duty as a +blockader off Fort Morgan. It was an idle life for the most part, and +Christy began to regret that he had caused himself to be transferred +from the command of the Bronx. The steamer occasionally had an +opportunity to chase a blockade-runner, going in or coming out of the +bay. She was the fastest vessel on the station, +<span class = "pagenum">299</span> +and she never failed to give a good account of herself.</p> + +<p>Late in the year the Bellevite and Bronx were ordered to operate at +Tampa Bay, where it was believed that several vessels were loading with +cotton. On the arrival of the ships off the bay, a boat expedition was +organized to ascertain what vessels were in the vicinity. But the +entrance was protected by a battery, and it was supposed that there were +field-works in several places on the shores. One of these was discovered +just inside of Palm Key, and the Bellevite opened upon it with her big +midship gun. Two or three such massive balls were enough for the +garrison, and they beat a precipitate retreat, abandoning their pieces. +There was water enough to permit the steamer to go into the bay nearly +to the town at the head of it.</p> + +<p>No other batteries were to be seen, and the Bronx proceeded up the +bay, followed by the Bellevite. When the latter had proceeded as far as +the depth of water rendered it prudent for her to go at that time of +tide, the Bronx went ahead some ten miles farther. The boat expedition, +consisting of three cutters from the Bellevite and one from the Bronx, +moved towards the head of the +<span class = "pagenum">300</span> +bay. Christy, in the second cutter of the Bellevite, was at least two +miles from any other boat, when a punt containing a negro put out from +the shore near him.</p> + +<p>"Are you a frien' ob de colored man?" demanded the negro as soon as +he came within speaking-distance of the cutter.</p> + +<p>"Within reasonable limits, I am the friend of the colored man," +replied Christy, amused at the form of the question.</p> + +<p>"What you gwine to do up dis bay, massa?" asked the colored man.</p> + +<p>"That will depend upon what we find up this bay."</p> + +<p>"You don't 'spect you find no steamers up dis bay, does you, +massa?"</p> + +<p>"Do you know of any steamers up this bay, my man?" asked Christy. +"Do you know of any vessels up here loading with cotton?" <ins class = +"correction" title = "exact paragraph as in original">asked +Christy.</ins></p> + +<p>"P'raps I do, massa; and den, again, p'raps I don't know anyt'ing +about any vessels," replied the negro, very indefinitely.</p> + +<p>Christy was provoked at the manner in which the negro replied to his +questions. Ordering his +<span class = "pagenum">301</span> +boat's crew to give way with all their might, he directed the cockswain +to run for the punt of the negro. The cutter struck it on the broadside, +and broke it into two pieces. The boatman was fished up, and hauled on +board of the boat.</p> + + +<p class = "illustration section"> +<img src = "images/pic301.png" width = "352" height = "552" +alt = "illustration of quoted scene"><br> +<span class = "caption"> +<span class = "smallcaps">"The boatman was fished up and hauled on board +the boat."</span> +(Page 301)</span> +</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">302</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXXVII">CHAPTER XXVII</a></h4> + +<h6>AMONG THE KEYS OF TAMPA</h6> + + +<p>Christy Passford did not intend to cut the negro's punt into two +pieces, though perhaps there was some mischief in the purpose of the +cockswain. The boatman gave him an evasive answer to his question, which +provoked the young officer. The punt was a very old affair, reduced +almost to punk by the decay of the boards of which it was built, or the +bow of the cutter would not have gone through it so readily. The +lieutenant had simply desired to get alongside the negro's shaky craft +in order to question him, for he was satisfied from the fellow's manner +that he knew more than he pretended to know.</p> + +<p>The boatman had come off from the shore of his own accord; he had not +been solicited to give any information, and his movements had been +entirely voluntary on his own part. Yet Christy was sorry that his punt +had been stove, valueless as the craft +<span class = "pagenum">303</span> +had been; for, as a rule, the colored people were friendly to the Union +soldiers, and he was not disposed to do them any injury.</p> + +<p>As soon as the officer in charge of the boat saw that the bow was +likely to strike the punt, he directed the cockswain to stop and back +her, which was done, but too late to save the flimsy box from +destruction. The two bowmen drew in the negro without any difficulty; +and so expeditiously had he been rescued that he was not wet above the +hips. He had been caught up just as the bow of the cutter cut into the +punt.</p> + +<p>"That was well done, bowmen," said Christy, as the boatman was placed +upon his feet in the fore sheets.</p> + +<p>The negro was rather small in stature, and black enough to save all +doubts in regard to his parentage; but there was an expression of +cunning in his face not often noticed in persons of his race. The coast +of Florida, south of the entrance to Tampa Bay, as in many other +portions, is fringed with keys, or cays as they are called in the West +Indies, which are small islands, though many of them are ten miles in +length. This fringe of keys extended up Tampa Bay for over twenty miles; +<span class = "pagenum">304</span> +and it was from behind one of them that the punt had put out when +Christy's boat approached. The negro had been obliged to paddle at least +half a mile to come within speaking-distance of the cutter.</p> + +<p>"You done broke my boat in two pieces!" exclaimed the boatman, gazing +at the two parts of the floating wreck. "Don't t'ink you is a frien' ob +de colored man widin no limits at all, or you don't smash his boat like +dat."</p> + +<p>"That was an accident, my friend," replied Christy. "How much was the +punt worth?"</p> + +<p>"Dat boat wan't no punk, massa, and it was wuf two dollars in good +money," replied the colored man, his eyes brightening, and his +expression of cunning becoming more intense, when he realized the +possibility of being paid for his loss.</p> + +<p>"If you give me the information I desire, I will pay for the boat," +added Christy, who proposed to do so out of his own pocket, for his +father was a millionaire of several degrees, and the son had very nearly +made a fortune out of the prizes, from which he had received an +officer's share.</p> + +<p>"Tank you, massa; I'm a poor man, and I git my livin' gwine fishin' +in dat boat you done stove."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">305</span> +"What is your name, my man?"</p> + +<p>"Quimp, sar; and dat's de short for Quimple," replied the colored +person of this name.</p> + +<p>"Where do you live?"</p> + +<p>"Ober on de shor dar, in de woods."</p> + +<p>"How deep is the water inside of these keys, Quimp?" asked Christy, +pointing to the long, narrow islands which lined the south-easterly side +of the bay.</p> + +<p>"Not much water inside dem keys dar, sar," replied the boatman, +looking off in the other direction.</p> + +<p>"But there are deep places in there, I am very sure."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sar; ten feet in some places," replied Quimp, suddenly becoming +more communicative. "When de wind blow from de west or de norf-west, +dar's twelve foot inside de long key."</p> + +<p>"Do you know of any vessels, any schooners, or steamers, inside the +bay, Quimp?" asked Christy, pushing his inquiries a point farther.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't told you, massa," replied the boatman, shaking his +head.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that you don't know, my man?"</p> + +<p>"Dis nigger done got but one head, and it's wuf +<span class = "pagenum">306</span> +more to him dan it is to any oder feller, massa; and it don't do for him +to tell no stories about vessels and steamers," replied Quimp, shaking +his head more vigorously.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you have a family, Quimp?"</p> + +<p>"No, sar; done got no family. De ole woman done gone to glory more'n +ten years ago, and de boys done growed up and gone off. No, sar; dis +nigger got no family."</p> + +<p>"Then you don't care to stay here, where you have to work hard for +little money?" suggested Christy.</p> + +<p>"Money! Don't see no money. Nobody but white folks got any money; and +dey has next to noffin in dese times."</p> + +<p>"I will pay you well for any information that may be of importance to +me, and I will take you on board of a man-of-war farther down the bay, +if you are afraid of losing your head."</p> + +<p>"If dis nigger told some stories he lose his head for sartin," added +Quimp, shaking his head, as if to make sure that it safely rested on his +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"If you tell me the truth, you shall be protected."</p> + +<p>"Wot you want to know, massa?" demanded +<span class = "pagenum">307</span> +Quimp, as though he was weakening in his resolution.</p> + +<p>Christy could not help wondering why the boatman had come out from +behind the key, if he was not willing to impart his knowledge to the +officer of the boat, for he could not help understanding the object of +the gunboats in visiting the bay; and the Bellevite lay not half a mile +below the northern end of what Quimp called the long key.</p> + +<p>"I want to know if there are any steamers or other vessels in the +bay," replied Christy, coming directly to the point. "If there are any, +we shall find them; but you can save us the trouble of looking for +them."</p> + +<p>"How much you gwine to gib me, massa, if I told you?" asked the +negro, as he walked between the men on the thwarts to the stern sheets, +in order to be nearer to the officer.</p> + +<p>"I will give you ten dollars if you will be sure and tell me the +truth."</p> + +<p>"Dis nigger don't never told no lies, massa," protested Quimp. "If +you pay me five dollars for de boat you done stove, and"—</p> + +<p>"But you said the boat was worth only two dollars," interposed the +officer.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">308</span> +"Dat's de gospel truf, massa; but it costs me five dollars to get a new +boat, to say noffin about de time. I mought starve to def afore I can +get a boat."</p> + +<p>The negro's argument was logical, and Christy admitted its force, and +expressed his willingness to pay the price demanded.</p> + +<p>"Five dollars for de boat, massa, and ten dollars for tellin' de +whole truf," added Quimp.</p> + +<p>"All right, my man," added the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sar; but I want de money now, sar," said Quimp, extending his +hand to receive it; and Christy thought he was very sharp for one in his +position.</p> + +<p>"I will pay you when you have imparted the information," he replied; +and, for some reason he could not explain, he was not satisfied with the +conduct of the negro.</p> + +<p>He was altogether too shrewd for one who appeared to be so stupid. +The expression of cunning in his face told against him, and perhaps it +was this more than anything else that prejudiced the officer. He took it +for granted that he should have to take the boatman off to the Bellevite +with him, and that it would be time enough to pay him on board of the +ship.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">309</span> +"Dat won't do, massa!" protested Quimp earnestly. "What you tink? +Suppose dar is a steamer in de bay loaded wid cotton, all ready to quit +for somewhar. Do you tink, massa, I can go on bord of her wid you? No, +sar! Dis nigger lose his head for sartin if dem uns knows I pilot you to +dat steamer. You done got two eyes, massa, and you can see it for +shore."</p> + +<p>"But I can protect you, Quimp," suggested Christy.</p> + +<p>"No, sar! All de sojers in de Yankee camp could not save me, sar. De +first man dat sees me will knive me in de heart, or cut my froat from +one ear to de oder!" protested Quimp more earnestly than before, though +he manifested no terror in his words or manner.</p> + +<p>"Very well, Quimp; I will pay you the money as soon as we see the +steamer or other vessel, and then assist you to make your escape," +replied Christy. "I will go a step farther, and pay you for the boat +now; but I will not pay you the ten dollars till you show us a +vessel."</p> + +<p>While the negro was scratching his head to stimulate his ideas, the +officer handed him a gold sovereign and a shilling of English money, +provided +<span class = "pagenum">310</span> +for his visit to Bermuda and Nassau, which made a little more than five +dollars.</p> + +<p>"I don't reckon a gemman like you would cheat a poor nigger," said +Quimp, while his eyes were still glowing with delight at the sight of +the money in his hand.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, my man," replied Christy, laughing at the idea. "Just +as soon as I get my eye on the steamer of which you speak, I will pay +you the ten dollars in gold and silver."</p> + +<p>"I don't know much about dis yere money, massa," said the boatman, +still studying the coin.</p> + +<p>"The gold piece is an English sovereign, worth about four dollars and +eighty-five cents; and the silver coin is a shilling, worth very nearly +a quarter of a dollar; so that I have paid you over five dollars."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sar, tank you, sar. Cap'n Stopfoot fotched over some ob de +money like dat from Nassau, and I done seen it."</p> + +<p>"But I can't stop to talk all day, Quimp," continued Christy +impatiently. "If you are going to do anything to earn your ten dollars, +it is time for you to be about it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sar; I will told you all about it, massa."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">311</span> +"No long yarns, my man!" protested the officer, as Quimp seated himself +in the stern sheets as though he intended to tell a long story.</p> + +<p>"Yes, massa; told you all about it in a bref. De wind done blow fresh +from de norf-west for t'ree days; dat's what Massa Cap'n Stopfoot say," +Quimp began.</p> + +<p>"No matter what Captain Stopfoot says!" Christy interposed. "Tell me +where the steamer is, if there is any steamer in the bay. We will stop +the foot and the mouth of Captain Stopfoot when we come to him."</p> + +<p>"Well, sar, if you don't want to har dis nigger's yarn, he'll shet up +all to onct," replied Quimp, standing on his dignity.</p> + +<p>"Go on, then; but make it short," added Christy, finding it would +take less time to get what he wanted out of the negro by letting him +have his own way. "Wind fresh from the north-west for three days."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sar; and dat pile up de water so de tide rise six or eight +inches higher," continued Quimp, picking up the clew given him. "High +tide in one hour from now, and de Reindeer was gwine out den for shore. +Dat's de whole story, massa, and not bery long."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">312</span> +"All right, Quimp. Now where is the Reindeer?"</p> + +<p>"Ober de oder side ob long key, massa. Dar's more'n four fadoms ob +water under dis boat now, and twelve feet 'tween de two keys," added the +boatman, whose tongue was fully unlocked by this time.</p> + +<p>The crew of the cutter were directed to give way, and the negro +pointed out the channel which led inside the keys.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">313</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII</a></h4> + +<h6>THE SURRENDER OF THE REINDEER</h6> + + +<p>Christy looked over the side of the boat, and saw that the water was +quite clear. The channel, which lay in the middle of the bay, had four +and a quarter fathoms of water at mean low tide, according to the chart +the officer had with him. He had brought several copies of the large +chart with him from New York, and he had cut them up into convenient +squares, so that they could be easily handled when he was on boat +service. But his authority gave no depth of water on the shoal +sands.</p> + +<p>In a short time the boat came to the verge of the channel, and +Christy directed the bowman to stand by with the lead, with which the +boat was provided. The first heaving gave three and a half fathoms, and +it gradually decreased at each report, till only two fathoms and a +quarter was indicated, when the boat was between the two keys, the +<span class = "pagenum">314</span> +southern of which Quimp called the long key, simply because that was the +longest in the bay, and not because it was a proper name.</p> + +<p>"Now, Massa Ossifer, look sharp ober on de starboard side," said the +negro.</p> + +<p>"I don't see anything," replied Christy.</p> + +<p>"No, sar, not yet; but look ober dat way, and you see somet'ing fo' +yore t'ree minutes older, massa."</p> + +<p>Christy fixed his gaze on the point of the long key, beyond which +Quimp intimated that the steamer would be seen.</p> + +<p>"Now, Massa Ossifer, fo' yore two minutes nearer glory, you'll see de +end ob de bowsprit ob de Reindeer," added Quimp, who was beginning to be +somewhat excited, possibly in expectation of receiving his ten dollars; +and perhaps he was regretting that he had not demanded twenty.</p> + +<p>"How big is that steamer, Quimp?" asked the officer of the +cutter.</p> + +<p>"Fo' hund'ed tons, massa; dat's what Cap'n Stopfoot done say, kase I +never done measure her. He done say she is very flat on her bottom, and +don't draw much water for her size," replied the negro. "Dar's de end ob +de bowsprit, massa!" he exclaimed at this moment.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">315</span> +"Way enough, cockswain!" said Christy sharply. "Stern all!"</p> + +<p>The headway of the cutter was promptly checked, and she was set back +a couple of lengths, when the order was given to the crew to lay on +their oars.</p> + +<p>"W'at's the matter, Massa Ossifer? Arn't you gwine no furder?" asked +Quimp.</p> + +<p>"I have seen enough of the Reindeer to satisfy me that she is there; +and I have stopped the boat to give you a chance to make your escape," +replied Christy. "I don't want you to lose your head for the service you +have rendered to me."</p> + +<p>"Dis nigger can't get away from here, massa," replied the boatman, +looking about him. "A feller can't swim a mile when de water's full ob +alligators. Dem varmints like niggers to eat jus' as well as dey do +white men."</p> + +<p>Christy had his doubts about there being alligators of a dangerous +size in the bay, though he had seen small ones in other bays of the +coast; but he was willing to admit that Quimp knew better about the +matter than he did. It was a hard swim to any other key than the long +one, to which the cutter was quite near. He could land the negro on that +key, but he would reveal the presence of the boat +<span class = "pagenum">316</span> +to the people on board of the Reindeer, and they would burn her rather +than have her fall into the hands of the Union navy.</p> + +<p>"I can land you on the long key, Quimp," suggested the officer.</p> + +<p>"No, sar! Can't go there; for Cap'n Stopfoot sartainly cotch me dar," +protested the negro.</p> + +<p>"I don't think so, Quimp."</p> + +<p>"De ossifers and men ob de Reindeer will go asho' when you done took +de steamer; don't you see dat, massa?"</p> + +<p>"What shall I do with you then?" asked Christy, as he handed him two +sovereigns and two shillings.</p> + +<p>"T'ank you, sar; dat's a pile ob money!" exclaimed Quimp, as he +looked with admiration upon the coins.</p> + +<p>"It is what I agreed to give you. But what shall I do with you now? +That is the question I want answered," continued the officer +impatiently.</p> + +<p>"You can't do not'ing wid me, Massa Ossifer, and I must tooken my +chance to go up in de boat. Better hab my froat cut 'n be chawed up by a +big alligator. Was you ever bit by an alligator, Massa Ossifer?"</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">317</span> +"I never was."</p> + +<p>"I knows about dat, massa," added Quimp, as he bared his leg, and +showed an ugly scar.</p> + +<p>Christy would not wait to hear any more, but ordered the cockswain to +go ahead again. It looked to him that Quimp, now that he had received +his money, and made fifteen dollars out of his morning's work, was +intentionally delaying the object of the expedition, for what reason he +could form no clear idea.</p> + +<p>"I spose, if Captain Stopfoot kill me for w'at I done do, you'll bury +me side de old woman dat done gone to glory ten year ago?" continued the +negro, who did not look old enough to have buried a wife ten years +before.</p> + +<p>"I am not in the burying business, my friend, and after you are dead, +you had better send for your sons to do the job, for they will know +where to find the grave of the departed companion of your joys and +sorrows," replied Christy, as the boat came in sight of the bowsprit of +the Reindeer again.</p> + +<p>"My sons done gone away to Alabamy, sar, and"—</p> + +<p>"That's enough about that. There are no alligators +<span class = "pagenum">318</span> +about here, and you can swim ashore if you are so disposed; but you must +shut up your wide mouth and keep still if you stay in the boat. Heave +the lead, bowman!"</p> + +<p>"Mark under water two, sir," reported the leadsman.</p> + +<p>In a few moments more the cutter had gained a position where the +steamer could be fully seen. She was a side-wheeler, and appeared to be +a very handsome vessel. She had a considerable deck-load of cotton, and +doubtless her hold was filled with the same valuable commodity.</p> + +<p>"Is that steamer armed, Quimp?" asked Christy, who could see no signs +of life on board of her.</p> + +<p>"She don't got no arms, but she hab two field-pieces on her for'ad +deck," replied the negro.</p> + +<p>"How many men has she on board?"</p> + +<p>"L'em me see: the cap'n and de mate is two, two ingineers, two +firemen; dat makes six; and den she hab two deck-hands."</p> + +<p>"But that makes only eight in all," replied Christy. "Are you sure +that is all?"</p> + +<p>"Dead shoar dat's all, Massa Ossifer."</p> + +<p>"But that is not enough to handle the steamer on a voyage to a +foreign port, for I dare say she is +<span class = "pagenum">319</span> +going to Nassau," added Christy, who was on the lookout for some piece +of strategy by which his boat and its crew might be destroyed.</p> + +<p>"I don't know not'ing about dat, sar; but Cap'n Stopfoot is a pow'ful +smart man; and he's Yankee too. I done hear him say he gwine to j'in de +Yankee navy."</p> + +<p>What Quimp said was rather suspicious; but Christy could see nothing +to justify his doubts. He directed the cockswain to steer the cutter as +closely to the side of the Reindeer as the movement of the oars would +permit, so that the field-pieces could not be brought to bear upon it. +The steamer lay at a sort of temporary pier, which had evidently been +erected for her accommodation, and the cotton had doubtless been brought +to the key by river steamers by the Suwanee and other streams from +cotton regions.</p> + +<p>There was no habitation or other building on the shore, but a gangway +was stretched to the land, over which a couple of men were hastening on +board when the cutter reached the stern of the Reindeer. From +appearances Christy judged that the water had been deepened by dredges, +for a considerable quantity of sand and mud was disposed +<span class = "pagenum">320</span> +in heaps in the shallow water a hundred feet or more from the rude +wharf.</p> + +<p>"Boat ahoy!" shouted a person on board, near the starboard +accommodation ladder, which the officer of the boat had noticed was in +place.</p> + +<p>"On board the steamer!" replied Christy.</p> + +<p>"What is your business here?" inquired the person on the deck of the +Reindeer, though he could not be seen from the cutter.</p> + +<p>"I will go on board and inform you," replied Christy.</p> + +<p>As there were no signs of resistance on board of the vessel, the +officer of the cutter directed his men to make a dash for the +accommodation ladder, which had the appearance of having been left to +make things convenient for a boarding-party. The crew were all armed +with a cutlass and revolver in the belt.</p> + +<p>"Lay her aboard!" said Christy, quietly enough, as he led the way +himself, for he was a bold leader, and was not content to follow his +men. As he leaped down from the bulwarks to the deck, he confronted the +person who had hailed him in the boat.</p> + +<p>"What is your business on board of the Reindeer?" +<span class = "pagenum">321</span> +demanded, in a very tame tone, the man in front of him.</p> + +<p>"I am an officer of the United States navy, and my business is to +make a prize of this steamer and her cargo," replied Christy.</p> + +<p>"Is that so? You did not give me your name, sir," added the man.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Passford, attached to the United States steamer +Bellevite. Do me the favor to explain who you are, sir," returned +Christy.</p> + +<p>"I am Captain Solomon Stopfoot, in command of the Reindeer, at your +service, born and brought up on Long Island," answered the commander of +the steamer.</p> + +<p>"Then what are you doing here?" demanded the naval officer. "Where +were you born on Long Island?"</p> + +<p>"In Babylon, on the south shore."</p> + +<p>"Then Babylon is fallen!" exclaimed Christy, indignant to find a man +born so near his own home doing the dirty work of the Confederate +government.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not; and perhaps you may change your view of me when you +have heard my story," added Captain Stopfoot.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">322</span> +"Well, Captain, there is only one story that I care to hear just now, +and its title is simply 'Surrender,'" replied Christy rather +impatiently. "You understand my business on board of the Reindeer; and +if you propose to make any resistance, it is time for you to begin."</p> + +<p>"It would be folly for me to make any resistance, and I shall not +make any. I have only two engineers, two firemen, foreigners, hired in +Nassau, who would not fight if I wished them to do so, and two +deck-hands. I could do nothing against the eight well-armed men you have +brought on board. I surrender."</p> + +<p>"I should say that was a wise step on your part, Captain Stopfoot," +replied Christy. "When you are more at leisure, I hope you will indulge +me in an explanation of the manner in which a Long Islander happens to +be engaged in blockade-running."</p> + +<p>"I am an American citizen now, as I have always been; I shall be only +too happy to get back under the old flag. As an evidence of my +sincerity, I will assist you in getting the Reindeer out of this place. +The tide is high at this moment; and half an hour from now it will be +<span class = "pagenum">323</span> +too late to move the vessel," said Captain Stopfoot, with every +appearance of sincerity in his manner.</p> + +<p>"I will see you, Captain, as soon as I have looked the steamer over," +replied Christy, as he left the commander of the Reindeer at the door of +his cabin, and went forward to examine the vessel.</p> + +<p>He found the steam up; and the engineer bowed to him as he looked +into his room. There was nothing to be seen but cotton, piled high on +the deck, and stuffed into the hold; and he returned to the cabin.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">324</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXXIX">CHAPTER XXIX</a></h4> + +<h6>BRINGING OUT THE PRIZE</h6> + + +<p>It seemed to Christy, after he had completed his examination of the +Reindeer, that she carried an enormous deck-load for a steamer of her +size, and that the bales were piled altogether too high for a vessel +that was liable to encounter a heavy sea. But the cotton was where it +could be readily thrown overboard if the safety of the steamer was +threatened by its presence. He found only the six men mentioned by +Stopfoot, though he had looked in every part of the vessel, even to the +fire-room and the quarters of the crew and firemen.</p> + +<p>"I find everything as you stated, Captain Stopfoot; but I should say +that you were proposing to go to sea short-handed. I did not even see a +person whom I took for the mate. Is it possible that you could get along +without one?" said Christy, when he met the commander at the door of the +cabin.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">325</span> +"The truth is, that my men deserted me when they saw the two men-of-war +come into the bay, for they knew I had no adequate means of making a +defence. In fact, the Reindeer was as good as captured as soon as your +two steamers came into the bay, for you were morally sure to find her," +replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"But where are your men? How could they get away?" asked Christy.</p> + +<p>"They have not got away a great distance. You could see the gangway +to the shore; and all they had to do was to land, without even the +trouble of taking to a boat. They are all on the long key; and without +some sort of a craft they will not be able to leave it. If you desire to +spend your time in hunting them down, I have no doubt you could find +them all."</p> + +<p>"How many of them are there on the island, Captain Stopfoot?"</p> + +<p>"The mate, four deck-hands, and two firemen. It would not be a +difficult task for you to capture them all, for I did not look upon them +as fighting material; they have crowded about all the men of that sort +into the army."</p> + +<p>"I have no desire to find them, and they may +<span class = "pagenum">326</span> +stay on the key till doomsday, so far as I am concerned," replied +Christy. "We don't regard the men employed on blockade-runners as of +much account. But it is time to get under way, Captain; I have men +enough to do all the work, and I think I have learned the channel well +enough to find the way out into the deep water of the bay."</p> + +<p>"As I said before, Lieutenant Passford, I am willing to assist you, +for I am anxious to get back among my own people, and to find a position +in the old navy. I have been master of a vessel for the last ten years, +and I know the Southern coast better than most of your officers."</p> + +<p>"No doubt you will find a place when you want one, for all competent +men are taken," replied Christy, as he went to the quarter to see if the +Bellevite's cutter was in condition to be towed by the Reindeer.</p> + +<p>He had left the boat in charge of Quimp, or rather he had left him in +it without assigning any particular duty to him. He was no longer in the +cutter, and the officer concluded that he had taken to the long key, and +was fraternizing with the renegades who had deserted the Reindeer. The +long painter of the boat was taken to the stern and +<span class = "pagenum">327</span> +made fast in a suitable place, and Christy hastened to the forward part +of the vessel with six of his men, leaving a quartermaster, who was the +cockswain of the cutter, with two others, in charge of the after +part.</p> + +<p>On his way he went into the engine-room, which opened from the main +deck, where he had before seen the two engineers, the chief of whom had +received him very politely. He suggested to the captain that he had made +no arrangement with these officers, and he was not quite sure that they +would be willing to do duty now that the steamer was a prize.</p> + +<p>"There will be no trouble about them, for they are Englishmen, +engaged at Nassau, and they will do duty as long as they are paid for +it, as they have no interest in the quarrel between the North and the +South," said Captain Stopfoot; and Christy could not help seeing that he +was making everything very comfortable for him.</p> + +<p>"We are willing to work for whoever will pay us," added the chief +engineer, "and without asking any hard questions."</p> + +<p>"I will see that you are paid," returned Christy. "You will attend to +the bells as usual, will you?"</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">328</span> +"Yes, sir; we will do our duty faithfully," answered the chief.</p> + +<p>Christy and the captain proceeded to the pilot-house, which appeared +to have been recently added to the vessel to suit the taste of her +American owners. The naval officer stationed one of his own men at the +wheel, and then took a careful survey of the position of the steamer. He +directed his crew to cast off the fasts.</p> + +<p>"Is there a United States flag on board of this craft, Captain +Stopfoot?" asked Christy.</p> + +<p>"To be sure there is, Lieutenant," said the captain with a laugh; +"but I do not get much chance to get under its folds."</p> + +<p>"Of course you have Confederate flags in abundance?"</p> + +<p>"Enough of them," replied the commander, as he drew forth from a +signal-box the flags required. "What do you intend to do with +these?"</p> + +<p>"I intend to hoist the United States flag over the Confederate to +show that this steamer is a prize, otherwise the Bellevite might put a +shot through her as soon as she shows herself outside of the key," +replied Christy.</p> + +<p>"A wise precaution," added Captain Stopfoot.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">329</span> +The naval officer rang one bell as one of his men reported to him that +the fasts had been cast off, and that all was clear. The grating sound +of the engine was immediately heard, with the splash of the paddle +wheels. Very slowly the Reindeer began to move forward. Christy had very +carefully noted the bearings of the channel by which the steamer must +pass out into the deep water of the bay, and the instructions which the +captain volunteered to give him were not necessary.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I am as really a Northern man in principle as you are, Mr. +Passford," said the captain, as the steamer crept very cautiously +through the pass between the keys.</p> + +<p>"If you are, you have taken a different way to show it," replied +Christy, glancing at the speaker.</p> + +<p>"But the circumstances have compelled me to remain in the service of +my Southern employer until the present time, and this promises to be the +first favorable opportunity to escape from it that has been presented to +me," Captain Stopfoot explained.</p> + +<p>"You have been to Nassau a number of times, I judge; and it was +possible for you to abandon your employment any time you pleased," +suggested the naval officer.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">330</span> +"It was not so easy a matter as you seem to think; for there were no +Northern vessels there in which I could take passage to New York, or any +other loyal port.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Groomer, the mate of the Reindeer, is part owner of her, though +he is not competent to navigate a vessel at sea, and he kept close watch +of me all the time, on shore as well as on board."</p> + +<p>"But I understand that Mr. Groomer, the mate, has deserted you, and +gone on shore with the others of your ship's company," added Christy, +rather perplexed at the situation indicated by the captain.</p> + +<p>"What else could he do?"</p> + +<p>"What else could you do? and why did you not abandon the steamer when +he did so? If one of the owners would not stand by the vessel, why did +you do so?"</p> + +<p>"I have told you before why I did not: because I wish to get back to +my friends in the North, and find a place in the old navy, which would +be more congenial to me than selling cotton for the benefit of the +Confederacy," replied Captain Stopfoot with considerable energy.</p> + +<p>The explanation seemed to be a reasonable one, +<span class = "pagenum">331</span> +and Christy could not gainsay it, though he was not entirely satisfied +with the declarations of the commander. He admitted that he regarded the +Reindeer as good as captured when he saw the Bellevite and Bronx come +into the bay; and he could easily have escaped in a boat to one of the +gunboats after the watchful mate "took to the woods," as he had +literally done, for the key was partly covered with small trees.</p> + +<p>"And a quarter two!" reported the leadsman who had been stationed on +the forecastle.</p> + +<p>"The water don't seem to vary here," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"No, for the owners had done some dredging in this channel; in fact, +there was hardly anything like a channel here when they began the work," +replied Captain Stopfoot. "To which of the steamers do you belong, Mr. +Passford?"</p> + +<p>"To the Bellevite, the one which lies below the long key. The other +has gone up the bay."</p> + +<p>"She has gone on a fruitless errand, for there is not another vessel +loading in these waters," said the captain. "I suppose you will report +on board of the Bellevite, Mr. Passford?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I shall not leave the Reindeer without +<span class = "pagenum">332</span> +an order from the commander of the ship," replied the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"And a half two!" shouted the leadsman.</p> + +<p>"The channel deepens," said Christy.</p> + +<p>"You will be in deep water in five minutes."</p> + +<p>On this report Christy rang four bells, and the Reindeer went ahead +at full speed.</p> + +<p>"By the mark three!" called the man at the lead.</p> + +<p>The water was deepening rapidly, and presently the report of three +and a half fathoms came from the forecastle. It was soon followed by +"And a half four," upon which the lieutenant directed the wheelman to +steer directly for the Bellevite. He had hardly given the order before +the report of heavy firing from the upper waters of the bay came to his +ear.</p> + +<p>"What can that be?" he asked, looking at Captain Stopfoot.</p> + +<p>"I don't know; but I suppose that the gunboat which went up the bay +is firing at some battery she has discovered. They have strengthened the +works in that direction which defend the town, since the only one there +was silenced by one of your gunboats," the captain explained.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">333</span> +The guns were heard on board of the Bellevite, and she began to move up +the bay as though she intended to proceed to the assistance of her +consort. Mr. Blowitt in the first cutter had followed the Bronx, and the +third cutter, in charge of Mr. Lobscott, had gone over to Piney Point, +to which there was a channel with from three to five fathoms of water, +and which seemed to be a favorable place to load a vessel with +cotton.</p> + +<p>As the Reindeer approached the Bellevite, the latter stopped her +screw, and Christy directed the wheelman to run the steamer alongside, +and within twenty or thirty feet of her. There was no sea in the bay, +and there was no danger in doing so. As the Reindeer approached the +position indicated, two bells were struck to stop her. The flags that +had been hoisted on board, informed Captain Breaker of the capture of +the steamer, so that no report was necessary.</p> + +<p>"I have to report the capture of the Reindeer, loaded with cotton, +and ready to sail for Nassau," said Christy, mounting one of the high +piles of cotton bales, and saluting the commander of the Bellevite, who +had taken his place on the rail to see the prize.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">334</span> +"Do you know the cause of the firing up the bay, Mr. Passford?" asked +Captain Breaker.</p> + +<p>"I do not, Captain; but I learn that the battery below the town has +been strengthened, and I should judge that the Bronx had +engaged it."</p> + +<p>"Have you men enough to hold your prize, Mr. Passford?"</p> + +<p>"I think I have, Captain."</p> + +<p>"You will go down the bay, and anchor outside of Egmont Key."</p> + +<p>Christy rang one bell, and then four.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">335</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXXX">CHAPTER XXX</a></h4> + +<h6>A VERY IMPORTANT SERVICE</h6> + + +<p>The Reindeer went ahead at full speed, while the Bellevite stood up +the bay, picking up the crew of Mr. Blowitt's boat on the way, evidently +with the intention of taking part in the action which the Bronx had +initiated. The loud reports at intervals indicated that the Bronx was +using her big midship gun, while the feebler sounds proved that the +metal of the battery was much lighter. The prize was not a fast steamer, +and she was over an hour in making the dozen miles to Egmont Island, on +which was the tower of a lighthouse forty feet high, but no use was made +of it at that time.</p> + +<p>The Bellevite proceeded very slowly, sounding all the time; but at +the end of half an hour the Reindeer was at least ten miles from her, +which was practically out of sight and hearing. About this time Christy +observed that Captain Stopfoot left the pilot-house, where he had +remained from +<span class = "pagenum">336</span> +the first; but he paid no attention to him. He had three men on the +quarter-deck of the steamer, one in the pilot-house with him, and five +more in other parts of the vessel.</p> + +<p>Christy knew the channel to the south of the lighthouse, and piloted +the steamer to a point about half a mile to the westward of the island. +He was looking through one of the forward windows of the pilot-house, +selecting a proper place to come to anchor, in accordance with the +orders of Captain Breaker. While he was so engaged he heard some sort of +a disturbance in the after part of the steamer.</p> + +<p>"On deck there!" he called sharply; and the five men who had been +stationed in this part of the steamer stood up before him, jumping up +from the beds they had made for themselves on the cotton bales, or +rushing out from behind them. "Hopkins and White, go aft and ascertain +the cause of that disturbance," he added.</p> + +<p>The two men promptly obeyed the order, and the naval officer directed +the other three to stand by to anchor the steamer. In a few minutes the +anchor was ready to let go. Perhaps a quarter of an hour had elapsed, +when Christy began to wonder +<span class = "pagenum">337</span> +what had become of the two men he had sent aft to report on the +disturbance.</p> + +<p>"Linman," he called to one of the three men on the forecastle, "go +aft and see what has become of Hopkins and White."</p> + +<p>Linman proceeded to obey the order, but had not been gone twenty +seconds, before the noise of another disturbance came to Christy's ears, +and this time it sounded very much like a scuffle. Up to this moment, +and even since Captain Stopfoot had left the pilot-house, Christy had +not suspected that anything on board was wrong. The sounds that came +from the after part of the vessel excited his suspicions, though they +did not assure him that the ship's company of the steamer were engaged +in anything like a revolt.</p> + +<p>"Follow me, Bench and Kingman!" he shouted to the two men that +remained on the forecastle. "Strike two bells, Landers," he added to the +wheelman.</p> + +<p>Christy had drawn the cutlass he carried in his belt, and was ready, +with the assistance of the two men he had called, to put down any +insubordination that might have been manifested by the ship's company of +the prize. He would have been willing +<span class = "pagenum">338</span> +to admit, if he had given the matter any attention at that moment, that +it was the natural right of the captured captain and his men to regain +possession of their persons and property by force and violence; but he +was determined to make it dangerous for them to do so.</p> + +<p>"On the forecastle, sir!" exclaimed Landers, the wheelman.</p> + +<p>Christy had put his hand upon the door of the pilot-house to open it +as the two men were moving aft; but he looked out the window at the +exclamation of the wheelman. The cotton bales seemed to have become +alive all at once, for half a dozen of them rolled over like a spaniel +just out of the water, and four men leaped out from under them, or from +apertures which had been formed beneath them.</p> + + +<p class = "illustration section"> +<img src = "images/pic339.png" width = "352" height = "552" +alt = "illustration of quoted scene"><br> +<span class = "caption"> +<span class = "smallcaps">"His assailant put his arms around him and +hugged him like a bear."</span> +(Page 339)</span> +</p> + + +<p>Bench and Kingman seemed to be bewildered, and both of them were +thrown down by the movement of the bales. The four men who had so +suddenly appeared sprang upon them, and almost in the twinkling of an +eye had tied their hands behind them. Christy drew one of the revolvers +from his belt; but he did not fire, for he was as likely to hit his own +men as their assailants. The +<span class = "pagenum">339</span> +victors in the struggle dragged the two men into the forecastle, and +disappeared themselves.</p> + +<p>Christy was almost confounded by the suddenness of the attack; but he +did not give up the battle, for he had at least six men in the after +part of the steamer. Bidding Landers draw his cutlass and follow him, he +rushed out at the door he had before opened. He could not see anything +aft but the walls of cotton bales, with a narrow passage between them +and the bulwarks. He moved aft with his eyes wide open; but he had not +gone ten feet before a man dropped down upon him from the top of the +deck-load with so much force as to carry him down to the planks.</p> + +<p>His assailant put his arms around him and hugged him like a bear, so +that he could neither use his cutlass nor his revolvers. At the same +moment another man dropped down on Landers in like manner. It was +impossible to resist an attack made from overhead, where it was least +expected, and when they were taken by surprise. Christy was a prisoner, +and his hands were bound behind him.</p> + +<p>At this moment Captain Stopfoot presented himself before the +prize-master, his face covered +<span class = "pagenum">340</span> +with smiles, and nervous from the excess of his joy at the recapture of +the Reindeer. Christy could not see what had become of the rest of his +men. He <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads 'know'">knew</ins> +that three of them had been secured, but he did not know what had become +of the other six, and he had some hope that they had escaped their +assailants, and were in condition to render him needed assistance, for +it seemed impossible that all of them could have been overcome.</p> + +<p>In spite of his chagrin and mortification, Christy could not help +seeing that the affair on the part of Captain Stopfoot had been well +managed, and that the author of the plot was smart enough to be a +Yankee, whether he was one or not. It was evident enough now that the +mate and the rest of the crew had not "taken to the woods," but had been +concealed in such dens as could be easily made among the cotton +bales.</p> + +<p>"I hope you are not very uncomfortable, Mr. Passford," said Captain +Stopfoot, as he presented his smiling face before his late captor.</p> + +<p>"Physically, I am not very uncomfortable, in spite of these bonds; +but otherwise, I must say that I am. I am willing to acknowledge that it +is a bad scrape for me," replied Christy as good-naturedly +<span class = "pagenum">341</span> +as possible, for his pride would not allow him to let the enemy triumph +over him.</p> + +<p>"That would not be at all unnatural, and I think it is a very bad +scrape for a naval officer of your high reputation to get into," added +the captain. "But I desire to say, Mr. Passford, that I have no ill-will +towards you, and it will not be convenient for me to send you to a +Confederate prison, important as such a service would be to our +cause."</p> + +<p>"I judge that you are not as anxious as you were to get into the old +navy," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"I confess that I am not, and that I should very much prefer to +obtain a good position in the Confederate navy. I hope you will excuse +the little fictions in which I indulged for your amusement. I was born +in the very heart of the State of Alabama, and never saw Long Island in +all my life," continued the captain. "By the way, my mate is not part +owner of the Reindeer, though he is just as faithful to her interests as +though he owned the whole of her; and it was he that pounced down upon +you at the right moment. I assure you he is a very good fellow, and I +hope you will not have any grudge against him."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">342</span> +"Not the least in the world, Captain Stopfoot," replied Christy.</p> + +<p>"I hope I shall not be obliged to detain you long, Mr. Passford; and +I shall not unless one of your gunboats chases me. I shall endeavor to +put you and your men on shore at the Gasparilla Pass, where you can hail +one of the gunboats as it comes along in pursuit of the Reindeer, though +I hope they will not sail for this purpose before night."</p> + +<p>"The Bellevite is not likely to discover the absence of the prize at +present, for she will have to remain up the bay over one tide," said the +mate.</p> + +<p>"That is what I was calculating upon," added the captain. "Now, Mr. +Passford, I shall be compelled to take my leave of you, for we have to +stow the cotton over again before we go to sea. I am exceedingly obliged +to you for the very valuable service you have rendered me."</p> + +<p>"I was not aware that I had rendered you any service," replied +Christy, wondering what he could mean.</p> + +<p>"You are not? Then your perception is not as clear as I supposed it +was. When it was reported to me that two gunboats were coming into the +bay I considered the Reindeer as good as captured, as I +<span class = "pagenum">343</span> +have hinted to you before. My cargo will bring a fortune in Nassau, and +I am half owner of the steamer and her cargo, if Mr. Groomer, the mate, +is not. I was almost in despair, for I could not afford to lose my +vessel and her valuable cargo. I considered myself utterly ruined. But +just then I got an idea, and I came to a prompt decision;" and the +captain paused.</p> + +<p>"And what was that decision?" asked Christy curiously.</p> + +<p>"When I saw your boat coming, for I was on the long key, I determined +that you should bring the Reindeer out into the Gulf, and save me all +trouble and anxiety in regard to her, and I knew that you could do it a +great deal better than I could. Wherefore I am extremely grateful to you +for this very important service," said Captain Stopfoot, bowing very +politely. "But I am compelled to leave you now to your own pleasant +reflections. Mr. Passford, I shall ask you and your men to take +possession of the cabin, and not show yourselves on deck; and you will +pardon me if I lock the door upon you."</p> + +<p>The captive officer followed the captain aft to the door of the +cabin. On a bale of cotton he saw +<span class = "pagenum">344</span> +the cutlasses and revolvers which had been taken from him and his men, +which had apparently been thrown in a heap where they happened to hit, +and had been forgotten. Seated on the cotton he found all his men, with +their hands tied behind them. Captain Stopfoot opened the cabin door, +and directed his prisoners to enter.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me for leaving you so abruptly, Mr. Passford," continued the +captain while he was feeling in his pocket for the key of the door. "It +looks as though it were going to blow before night, and I must get ready +for it. Besides, the Bellevite may return on the present tide, and I am +informed that she is a very fast sailer, as the Reindeer is not, and I +must make the most of my opportunity; but when my fortune is made out of +my present cargo, I shall owe it largely to you. Adieu for the +present."</p> + +<p>Captain Stopfoot left the cabin, locking the door behind him. The +hands of the prisoners, ten in number, were tied behind them with ropes, +for probably the steamer was not provided with handcuffs. Christy +examined his men in regard to the manner in which they had been +overcome. The three men who had been left near the cabin door +<span class = "pagenum">345</span> +had been overthrown by those who jumped down upon them when they were +separated, one at the stern, one on the bales, watching the Bellevite in +the distance, and the third asleep on a cotton bale. The lieutenant had +seen the rest of the enterprise.</p> + +<p>"This thing is not going to last long, my men," said Christy, who +realized that he should never be able to stand up under the obloquy of +having brought out a blockade-runner for the enemy.</p> + +<p>He caused the hands to march in front of him till he found one who +had been carelessly bound. He backed this one up in the rear of Calwood, +the quartermaster, and made him untie the line, which he could do with +his fingers, though his wrists were bound. It was not the work of three +minutes to unbind the rest of them.</p> + +<p>Christy broke a pane of glass in the door, and unlocked it with the +key the captain had left in the keyhole.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum">346</span> +<h4 class = "chapter"><a name = "chapXXXI">CHAPTER XXXI</a></h4> + +<h6>AN UNDESIRED PROMOTION</h6> + + +<p>As Christy unlocked the cabin door, he discovered a negro lying on +the deck, as close as he could get to the threshold. The man attempted +to spring to his feet, but the officer seized him by the hair of the +head, and pulled him into the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Here, Calwood, put your hand over this fellow's mouth!" said Christy +to the quartermaster, who laid violent hands on him, assisted by +Norlock.</p> + +<p>The latter produced a handkerchief, which he thrust into the mouth of +the negro, so that he could not give the alarm. All the men were alert +and eager to wipe out the shame, as they regarded it, of the disaster; +and those who had been stationed near the cabin had certainly been +wanting in vigilance. Two of them seized a couple of the lines with +which they had been bound, and tied the arms of the negro behind +him.</p> + +<p>A second look at the negro assured Christy that +<span class = "pagenum">347</span> +it was Quimp, and he was more mortified than before at the trick which +had been played upon him. Thrusting his hand into the pocket of the +fellow, he drew from it the three sovereigns and the three shillings he +had paid him for his boat and his information. It was evident enough now +that he belonged to the Reindeer, and that he had been sent out by +Captain Stopfoot to do precisely what he had done, taking advantage of +the general good feeling which prevailed between the negroes and the +Union forces.</p> + +<p>Christy thought that Captain Stopfoot had been over-confident to +leave his prisoners without a guard; but it appeared now that Quimp had +been employed in this capacity, though it was probable that he had been +instructed not to show himself to them, and for that reason had crept to +his station and lain down on the deck.</p> + +<p>"Now, my men, take your arms from that bale of cotton; but don't make +any noise," said Christy in a low tone, as he took his revolvers and +cutlass from the heap of weapons; and the seamen promptly obeyed the +order. "The captain of this steamer managed his affair very well indeed, +and I intend to adopt his tactics."</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">348</span> +The steamer was under way, and had been for some time. Christy climbed +upon the bales of cotton far enough to see what the crew of the vessel +were doing. The hatches appeared to have been taken off in the waist and +forward, and the crew were lowering cargo into the hold. A portion of +the cotton had either been hoisted out of the hold, or had been left on +deck, to form the hiding-places for the men. The captain must have had +early notice of the approach of the Bellevite and Bronx; but there had +been time enough after the former began to fire at the battery to enable +him to make all his preparations.</p> + +<p>Captain Stopfoot was not to be seen, and was probably in the +pilot-house. The officer concluded that there must be as many as four +men in the hold attending to the stowage of the bales, and four more +could be seen tumbling the cargo through the hatches. This accounted for +eight men; and this was the number Christy had figured out as the crew +of the Reindeer, though there was doubtless a man at the wheel. The +force was about equal to his own, not counting the engineers and the +firemen.</p> + +<p>Christy stationed his men as he believed Captain +<span class = "pagenum">349</span> +Stopfoot had arranged his force. The cabin was in a deck-house; between +the door of it and the piles of cotton was a vacant space of about six +feet fore and aft, which could not be overlooked from the forward part +of the vessel. It was here that the first movement had been made. +Calwood, who had been on duty here, said that two men had dropped down +upon them; and when the third man came to learn the cause of the +disturbance, he had been secured by two more.</p> + +<p>This was the noise that Christy had heard when he sent two hands from +the forecastle to ascertain the occasion of it. The three prisoners had +been disarmed, bound, and concealed in the cabin. They were threatened +with instant death if they made any outcry, and one of their own +revolvers was pointed at them. Linman, who had been sent to learn what +had become of Hopkins and White, was treated in the same manner. Then he +went himself, and the mate had dropped upon him, while those from under +the bales secured Bench and Kingman.</p> + +<p>Every sailor was fully instructed in regard to the part he was to +have in the programme, and Christy had crawled forward to the point +where he +<span class = "pagenum">350</span> +found the aperture in which Groomer, the mate, had been concealed. He +was followed by Norlock, a very powerful man, who was to "make the drop" +on Captain Stopfoot, and stuff a handkerchief into his mouth before he +could call for assistance. Christy believed that the commander would be +the first one to come aft when the men by the cabin fired their +revolvers, as they had been instructed to do.</p> + +<p>Two hands had been placed where they could fall upon the two who were +rolling the cotton into the hold at the hatch in the waist; and two more +were instructed to rush forward and fall upon the two men at work at the +fore-hatch. The four men in the space in front of the cabin were to leap +upon the bales and rush forward, revolvers in hand, and secure those at +work in the hold. If there was any failure of the plan to work as +arranged, the sailors were to rally at the side of their officer, ready +for a stand-up fight.</p> + +<p>Christy gave the signal for the two revolvers to be discharged. The +captain did not appear at the report of the arms as expected; but he +ordered the two hands at work at the after-hatch to go aft and look out +for the prisoners. The two seamen +<span class = "pagenum">351</span> +on that side of the steamer dropped upon them, gagged them, and secured +them so quickly that they could hardly have known what had happened to +them. The enterprise had been inaugurated without much noise; but the +captain had heard it, and called one of the men at the fore-hatch to +take the wheel, from which it appeared that he had been steering the +steamer himself.</p> + +<p>The naval officer saw this man enter the pilot-house, from which +Captain Stopfoot had come out. He moved aft quite briskly with a +revolver in his hand; but as soon as he had reached the point where the +mate had dropped upon him, Christy leaped upon his head and shoulders, +and he sank to the deck, borne down by the weight of his assailant. He +was surprised, as the first victim of the movement had been, and a +handkerchief was stuffed into his mouth. He had dropped his weapon, +which Christy picked up and discharged while his knees were placed on +the chest of the prostrate commander, and his left hand grappled his +throat. He was conquered as quickly as the first victim had been.</p> + +<p>The shots had been the signal for all not engaged to rally at the +side of the lieutenant, and the men +<span class = "pagenum">352</span> +rushed forward. All <ins class = "correction" title = +"text reads 'of of'">of</ins> them had removed their neck handkerchiefs +to serve as gags, and they brought with them the lines with which they +had been bound. The captain was rolled over, and his arms tied behind +him. He was sent aft to the cabin, while Christy led six of his crew +forward. The hands in the hold had attempted to come on deck, but the +two sailors at each hatch dropped upon them.</p> + +<p>In less than five minutes every one of the crew of the Reindeer had +been "jumped upon," as the sailors put it, bound, and marched to the +cabin. The battle was fought and the victory won. Christy was quite as +happy as Captain Stopfoot had been when he had taken possession of the +steamer. The man at the wheel had been the last to be secured, and +Calwood was put in his place, with directions to come about and steer +for Egmont Key.</p> + +<p>Christy determined not to make the mistake Captain Stopfoot had +committed in leaving his prisoners insufficiently guarded. He selected +four of his best men, ordered them to hold the cutlass in the right hand +and the revolver in the left, and to keep their eyes on the prisoners +all the time. He +<span class = "pagenum">353</span> +then went to those who had been gagged, and removed the handkerchiefs +from their mouths.</p> + +<p>"I am as grateful to you, Captain Stopfoot, as you were to me less +than an hour ago," said Christy, and he removed the gag from his mouth. +"I am happy to be able to reciprocate your complimentary speeches."</p> + +<p>"I am not aware that I have done anything to merit your gratitude, +Mr. Passford," said the chief prisoner.</p> + +<p>"You are not? Why, my dear Captain, you could not have arranged +everything better than you did for the recapture of the Reindeer," +replied Christy.</p> + +<p>"I did not think that ten men with their hands tied behind them could +do anything to help themselves; but you Yankees are very ingenious, and +it seems that you found a way to liberate yourselves. Besides, I had a +hand here to watch you, with instructions to call me if there was any +trouble," added the captain, in an apologetic tone.</p> + +<p>"When the trouble came he was not in condition to call you," the +lieutenant explained.</p> + +<p>"No, sar! Dem beggars gagged me, and den robbed me of all my money!" +howled Quimp, +<span class = "pagenum">354</span> +whose greatest grievance was the loss of his fifteen dollars.</p> + +<p>"That was hardly justifiable, Mr. Passford," added the captain +shaking his head.</p> + +<p>"It would not have been justifiable if the rogue had not first +swindled me out of the money," replied the naval officer.</p> + +<p>"How was that?" asked the chief prisoner.</p> + +<p>Christy explained the manner in which he had encountered Quimp, +saying that he had paid him five dollars for the loss of his boat, and +ten for the information that a steamer was loaded with cotton and ready +to sail behind the long key.</p> + +<p>"Quimp is as smart as a Yankee," said Captain Stopfoot, laughing in +spite of his misfortune. "The flatboat was one we picked up on one of +the keys; and the information was precisely what I instructed Quimp to +give you, without money and without price. I promised to give him ten +dollars if he would pretend to be an honest nigger, and do the job +properly. I have no fault to find with him; but under present +circumstances I have not ten dollars to give him. I have lost the +steamer and the cotton, and it seems to be all up with me."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will get into a safer business, Captain. +<span class = "pagenum">355</span> +I will suggest to the commander of the Bellevite that you and your party +be landed at Gasparilla Pass; and I shall thus be able to reciprocate +your good intentions towards me."</p> + +<p>Christy had sent some of his men forward, and he now followed them +himself. The engineers had remained in their room, and kept the +machinery in motion. As the Reindeer approached Egmont Key, the +Bellevite, followed by the Bronx towing a schooner, were discovered +coming out of the bay.</p> + +<p>It was evident that the second lieutenant's capture had not been the +only one during the day, and he concluded that Mr. Lobscott had brought +out the schooner that had been supposed to be at Piney Point.</p> + +<p>The Reindeer was about two miles south of Egmont Key when the +Bellevite came out of the bay, and the latter stopped her screw as soon +as she had reached a favorable position a mile from the island. Christy +brought his prize as near to her as it was prudent to go in the open +sea. The lieutenant went to the cabin to look out for the prisoners +there, and found that the four men who had been detailed a guard were +marching up and down the cabin in front of their charge, plainly +determined +<span class = "pagenum">356</span> +that the steamer should not be captured again.</p> + +<p>"Boat from the Bellevite, sir," said one of the men on the +quarter.</p> + +<p>"Where is the Bronx and her prize now, Kingman?" asked Christy.</p> + +<p>"Just coming by the island, sir."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes more the third cutter of the Bellevite came +alongside. Mr. Walbrook, the third lieutenant of the ship, came on board +of the Reindeer, and touched his cap to his superior officer.</p> + +<p>"Captain Breaker requests you to report on board of the ship, and I +am directed to take charge of the prize you have captured, Mr. +Passford."</p> + +<p>"I will go on board at once, Mr. Walbrook," replied Christy. "It is +necessary for me to inform you before I leave that this steamer has +changed hands twice to-day, and her ship's company have given me a great +deal of trouble. The prisoners are in the cabin under guard, and I must +caution you to be vigilant. Calwood will inform you in regard to the +particulars."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to inform you that Mr. Blowitt was severely, if not +dangerously wounded in the +<span class = "pagenum">357</span> +action with the battery up the bay, where we had some sharp work," added +Mr. Walbrook.</p> + +<p>"That is very bad news to me," replied Christy, who had known the +wounded man as second officer of the Bellevite when she was his father's +yacht, and had served under him when she became a man-of-war, and as his +first lieutenant in the Bronx.</p> + +<p>The intelligence filled him with anxiety and sorrow; but while he was +fighting for the right, as he had been for three years, he could not +give way to his feelings. Without asking for the result of the action up +the bay, he went over the side into the cutter, and ordered the crew to +pull for the ship. Mr. Blowitt had been more than his superior officer, +he had been his friend, and the young lieutenant was very sad while he +thought of the wounded officer.</p> + +<p>He found Captain Breaker on the quarter-deck; and he could see from +his expression that he was greatly affected by the condition of his +executive officer. Mr. Dashington, his first officer in the yacht, had +been killed in action the year before, and now another of his intimate +associates might soon be registered in the Valhalla of the nation's +<span class = "pagenum">358</span> +dead who had perished while fighting for the right.</p> + +<p>"We have sad news for you, Mr. Passford," said the commander, who +seemed to be struggling with his emotions.</p> + +<p>"But I hope there is a chance for Mr. Blowitt's recovery, Captain +Breaker," added Christy.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid there is not. Dr. Linscott has very little hope that he +will live. But we have no time to mourn even for our best friends. You +have captured a steamer and brought her out; but I saw that you were +coming up from the southward when I first discovered the steamer. What +does that mean, Mr. Passford?"</p> + +<p>"I hardly know, Captain, whether I brought her out, or she brought me +out," replied Christy, who felt very tender over the Southern Yankee +trick which had been played upon him. "The steamer is the Reindeer, +Captain Stopfoot. My boat's crew were overpowered by her ship's company, +and we were all made prisoners; but we rebelled against the humiliating +circumstances, and recaptured the steamer."</p> + +<p>"Then you have redeemed yourself," added the captain.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">359</span> +Christy gave a detailed report of all the events that had occurred +during his absence from the ship. The commander listened to him with the +deepest interest; for the young officer was in some sense his +<i>protégé</i>, and had sometimes been his instructor in +navigation and seamanship. In spite of the sadness of the hour, there +was a smile on his face when he comprehended the scheme of the captain +of the Reindeer to get his vessel out of the bay in the face of two +men-of-war.</p> + +<p>While Christy was still on the quarter-deck, Mr. Lobscott came on +board, and reported the capture of the schooner Sylphide, full of +cotton. Her ship's company, consisting of six men, were on board of the +Bronx. Captain Breaker planked the deck for some time, evidently making +up his mind what to do with the prizes and with their crews, for he did +not regard these men as prisoners of war. He asked the second lieutenant +some questions in regard to the character of the Reindeer. She was an +old-fashioned craft, but a good vessel.</p> + +<p>"We are rather overburdened with prisoners, and I desire only to get +rid of them," said the captain.</p> + +<p><span class = "pagenum">360</span> +"Captain Stopfoot was considerate enough to announce his intention to +put me and my men on shore at Gasparilla Pass; and I promised to +reciprocate the favor by suggesting that he and his ship's company be +landed at the same place."</p> + +<p>"That will be a good way to get rid of them, and I will adopt the +suggestion," replied the commander.</p> + +<p>All the rest of the day and a part of the night were used up in +making the preparations for disposing of the prizes. A large number of +hands were sent on board of the Reindeer, and her cotton was nearly all +placed in the hold by good stowage. The prisoners from both prizes, +except the engineers and firemen, who were willing to work for wages, +were transferred to the Bronx. Mr. Lobscott was appointed prize-master +of the steamer, which was to tow the schooner to Key West, where both +were to be disposed of as circumstances might require.</p> + +<p>The Bronx was to convoy the two vessels as far as the Pass, where she +was to land her prisoners, and then return to her consort. At midnight +this fleet sailed. A protest against being landed at the place indicated +came from Captain Stopfoot +<span class = "pagenum">361</span> +before it departed; but the commander paid no attention to it, declaring +that if the Pass was good enough for one of his officers, it was good +enough for the captain of a blockade-runner.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Passford, by the lamentable accident to Mr. Blowitt, you become +the ranking lieutenant in condition for service," said Captain Breaker, +soon after the young officer had reported the capture of the Reindeer. +"You therefore become the acting executive officer of the +Bellevite."</p> + +<p>"Of course I shall do my duty faithfully, Captain Breaker, in +whatever position is assigned to me," replied Christy, his bosom +swelling with emotion. "I regret more than anything else the occasion +that makes it necessary to put me in this place; and I am very sorry to +be called upon to occupy a position of so much responsibility."</p> + +<p>"You are competent to discharge the duties of executive officer, Mr. +Passford, though I appreciate your modesty in not desiring such an +important position; but there is no alternative at present."</p> + +<p>It was therefore under Christy's direction that all the arrangements +for sending off the prizes were made. The Bronx returned at noon the +<span class = "pagenum">362</span> +next day, and both vessels sailed to the station of the flag-officer. +The commander reported that he had silenced two batteries, captured a +steamer and a schooner, sending them to Key West; but the shoal water in +the vicinity of Tampa had prevented him from capturing the town.</p> + +<p>Christy, in becoming first lieutenant, was relieved from duty as a +watch officer; but his duties and responsibilities had been vastly +increased. He was the second in command, and a shot from another vessel +or a battery on shore might make him the commander, and he certainly did +not aspire to such a charge and such an honor. There was something in +the situation that worried him greatly. Captain Breaker had not been to +the North since he entered upon his duties, now very nearly three years, +and the state of his health had given Dr. Linscott considerable +uneasiness.</p> + +<p>Mr. Blowitt was sent home by a store-ship; but he died soon after his +arrival; and his loving companions-in-arms could not follow his remains +to an honored grave.</p> + +<p>The flag-officer, either because he believed that Christy was a +faithful and competent officer, in spite of his age, though in this +respect he had +<span class = "pagenum">363</span> +added a year to his span, or that no other officer was available for the +vacant position, made no other appointment, and Christy was compelled to +retain the place, very much against his desire. As he thought of it he +was absolutely astonished to find himself, even temporarily, in so +exalted a position.</p> + +<p>Here we are obliged to leave him for the present, crowned with honors +far beyond his most sanguine expectations, but always willing to do his +duty while fighting for the right. The future was still before him; he +had not yet done all there was for him to do; and in the early years of +his manhood came his reward, in common with the loyal sons of the +nation, in <span class = "smallcaps">A Victorious Union</span>.</p> + + + + +<!--ADVERTISING--> + +<h3 class = "chapter">OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS</h3> + +<hr class = "tiny"> + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">All-Over-the-World Library.</span> By <span class += "smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. First Series. Illustrated. Price per +volume, $1.25.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">1. A Missing Million</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Adventures of Louis Belgrade.</span></p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">2. A Millionaire at Sixteen</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The cruise of the "Guardian Mother."</span></p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">3. A Young Knight Errant</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Cruising in the West Indies.</span></p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">4. Strange Sights Abroad</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Adventures in European Waters.</span></p> + +<p class = "advert"> +No author has come before the public during the present generation who +has achieved a larger and more deserving popularity among young people +than "Oliver Optic." His stories have been very numerous, but they have +been uniformly excellent in moral tone and literary quality. As +indicated in the general title, it is the author's intention to conduct +the readers of this entertaining series "around the world." As a means +to this end, the hero of the story purchases a steamer which he names +the "Guardian Mother," and with a number of guests she proceeds on her +voyage.—<i>Christian Work, N. Y.</i> +</p> + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">All-Over-the-World Library.</span> By <span class += "smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. Second Series. Illustrated. Price per +volume, $1.25.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">1. American Boys Afloat</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Cruising in the Orient.</span></p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">2. The Young Navigators</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Foreign Cruise of the "Maud."</span></p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">3. Up and Down the Nile</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Young Adventurers in Africa.</span></p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">4. Asiatic Breezes</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">Students on the Wing.</span></p> + +<p class = "advert"> +The interest in these stories is continuous, and there is a great +variety of exciting incident woven into the solid information which the +book imparts so generously and without the slightest suspicion of +dryness. Manly boys will welcome this volume as cordially as they did +its predecessors.—<i>Boston Gazette</i>.</p> + + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">All-Over-the-World Library.</span> By <span class += "smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. Third Series. Illustrated. Price per +volume, $1.25.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">1. Across India</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Live Boys in the Far East.</span></p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">2. Half Round the World</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Among the Uncivilized.</span></p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">3. Four Young Explorers</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Sight-Seeing in the Tropics.</span></p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">4. Pacific Shores</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Adventures in Eastern Seas.</span></p> + +<p class = "advert"> +Amid such new and varied surroundings it would be surprising indeed if +the author, with his faculty of making even the commonplace attractive, +did not tell an intensely interesting story of adventure, as well as +give much information in regard to the distant countries through which +our friends pass, and the strange peoples with whom they are brought in +contact. This book, and indeed the whole series, is admirably adapted to +reading aloud in the family circle, each volume containing matter which +will interest all the members of the family.—<i>Boston +Budget.</i></p> + +<h5 class = "sans space">LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE +CATALOGUE FREE.</h5> + + +<h4 class = "section">OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS</h4> + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">Army and Navy Stories.</span> By <span class = +"smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. Six volumes. Illustrated. Any volume +sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">1. The Soldier Boy</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">Tom Somers in the Army</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">2. The Sailor Boy</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">Jack Somers in the Navy</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">3. The Young Lieutenant</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">Adventures of an Army Officer</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">4. The Yankee Middy</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">Adventures of a Navy Officer</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">5. Fighting Joe</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">The Fortunes of a Staff Officer</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">6. Brave Old Salt</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">Life on the Quarter Deck</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert"> +"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."</p> + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">Boat Builders Series.</span> By <span class = +"smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. In six volumes. Illustrated. Any volume +sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">1. All Adrift</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">The Goldwing Club</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">2. Snug Harbor</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">The Champlain Mechanics</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">3. Square and Compasses</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">Building the House</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">4. Stem to Stern</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">Building the Boat</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">5. All Taut</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">Rigging the Boat</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">6. Ready About</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">Sailing the Boat</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert"> +"The series includes in six successive volumes the whole art of boat +building, boat rigging, boat managing, and practical hints to make the +ownership of a boat pay. A great deal of useful information is given in +this <b>Boat Builders Series</b>, and in each book a very interesting +story is interwoven with the information. Every reader will be +interested at once in Dory, the hero of 'All Adrift,' and one of the +characters retained in the subsequent volumes of the series. His friends +will not want to lose sight of him, and every boy who makes his +acquaintance in 'All Adrift' will become his friend."</p> + + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">Riverdale Story Books.</span> By <span class = +"smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. Twelve volumes. Illustrated. +Illuminated covers. Price: cloth, per set, $3.60; per volume, 30 cents; +paper, per set, $2.00.</p> + +<table> +<tr> +<td class = "boldbook" width = "40%"> +1. Little Merchant.<br> +2. Young Voyagers.<br> +3. Christmas Gift.<br> +4. Dolly and I.<br> +5. Uncle Ben.<br> +6. Birthday Party. +</td> +<td width = "20%"></td> +<td class = "boldbook"> + 7. Proud and Lazy.<br> + 8. Careless Kate.<br> + 9. Robinson Crusoe, Jr.<br> +10. The Picnic Party.<br> +11. The Gold Thimble.<br> +12. The Do-Somethings. +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">Riverdale Story Books.</span> By <span class = +"smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. Six volumes. Illustrated. Fancy cloth +and colors. Price per volume, 30 cents.</p> + +<table> +<tr> +<td class = "boldbook" width = "40%"> +1. Little Merchant.<br> +2. Proud and Lazy.<br> +3. Young Voyagers. +</td> +<td width = "20%"></td> +<td class = "boldbook"> +4. Careless Kate.<br> +5. Dolly and I.<br> +6. Robinson Crusoe, Jr. +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">Flora Lee Library.</span> By <span class = +"smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. Six volumes. Illustrated. Fancy cloth +and colors. Price per volume, 30 cents.</p> + +<table> +<tr> +<td class = "boldbook" width = "40%"> +1. The Picnic Party.<br> +2. The Gold Thimble.<br> +3. The Do-Somethings. +</td> +<td width = "20%"></td> +<td class = "boldbook"> +4. Christmas Gift.<br> +5. Uncle Ben.<br> +6. Birthday Party. +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class = "advert"> +These are bright short stories for younger children who are unable to +comprehend the <b>Starry Flag Series</b> or the <b>Army and Navy +Series</b>. But they all display the author's talent for pleasing and +interesting the little folks. They are all fresh and original, preaching +no sermons, but inculcating good lessons.</p> + +<h5 class = "sans space">LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE +CATALOGUE FREE.</h5> + + +<h4 class = "section">OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS</h4> + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">The Great Western Series.</span> By <span class = +"smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. In six volumes. Illustrated. Any volume +sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">1. Going West;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Perils of a Poor Boy</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">2. Out West;</span> <span class = "smallcaps">or, +Roughing It on the Great Lakes</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">3. Lake Breezes;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Cruise of the Sylvania</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">4. Going South;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Yachting on the Atlantic Coast</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">5. Down South;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Yacht Adventures in Florida</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">6. Up the River;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Yachting on the Mississippi</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert"> +"This is the latest series of books issued by this popular writer, and +deals with life on the Great Lakes, for which a careful study was made +by the author in a summer tour of the immense water sources of America. +The story, which carries the same hero through the six books of the +series, is always entertaining, novel scenes and varied incidents giving +a constantly changing yet always attractive aspect to the narrative. +<span class = "smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span> has written nothing +better."</p> + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">The Yacht Club Series.</span> By <span class = +"smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. In six volumes. Illustrated. Any volume +sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">1. Little Bobtail;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Wreck of the Penobscot</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">2. The Yacht Club;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Young Boat Builders</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">3. Money-Maker;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Victory of the Basilisk</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">4. The Coming Wave;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Treasure of High Rock</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">5. The Dorcas Club;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Our Girls Afloat</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">6. Ocean Born;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Cruise of the Clubs</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert"> +"The series has this peculiarity, that all of its constituent volumes +are independent of one another, and therefore each story is complete in +itself. <span class = "smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span> is, perhaps, the +favorite author of the boys and girls of this country, and he seems +destined to enjoy an endless popularity. He deserves his success, for he +makes very interesting stories, and inculcates none but the best +sentiments, and the 'Yacht Club' is no exception to this +rule."—<i>New Haven Journal and Courier</i>.</p> + + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">Onward and Upward Series.</span> By <span class = +"smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. In six volumes. Illustrated. Any volume +sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">1. Field and Forest;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Fortunes of a Farmer</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">2. Plane and Plank;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Mishaps of a Mechanic</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">3. Desk and Debit;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">4. Cringle and Crosstree;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Sea Swashes of a Sailor</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">5. Bivouac and Battle;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Struggles of a Soldier</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">6. Sea and Shore;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Tramps of a Traveller</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert"> +"Paul Farringford, the hero of these tales, is, like most of this +author's heroes, a young man of high spirit, and of high aims and +correct principles, appearing in the different volumes as a farmer, a +captain, a bookkeeper, a soldier, a sailor, and a traveller. In all of +them the hero meets with very exciting adventures, told in the graphic +style for which the author is famous."</p> + + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">The Lake Shore Series.</span> By <span class = +"smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. In six volumes. Illustrated. Any volume +sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">1. Through by Daylight;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Young Engineer of the Lake Shore +Railroad</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">2. Lightning Express;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Rival Academies</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">3. On Time;</span> <span class = "smallcaps">or, +The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">4. Switch Off;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The War of the Students</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">5. Brake Up;</span> <span class = "smallcaps">or, +The Young Peacemakers</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">6. Bear and Forbear;</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert"> +"<span class = "smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span> is one of the most +fascinating writers for youth, and withal one of the best to be found in +this or any past age. Troops of young people hang over his vivid pages; +and not one of them ever learned to be mean, ignoble, cowardly, selfish, +or to yield to any vice from anything they ever read from his +pen."—<i>Providence Press</i>.</p> + +<h5 class = "sans space">LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE +CATALOGUE FREE.</h5> + + +<h4 class = "section">OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS</h4> + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">The Famous Boat Club Series.</span> By <span +class = "smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. Six volumes. Illustrated. Any +volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">1. The Boat Club</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Bunkers of Rippleton</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">2. All Aboard</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Life on the Lake</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">3. Now or Never</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">4. Try Again</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Trials and Triumphs of Harry West</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">5. Poor and Proud</span>; or, <span class = +"smallcaps">The Fortunes of Katy Redburn</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">6. Little by Little</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, The Cruise of the Flyaway</span>.</p> + + +<p class = "advert"> +"This is the first series of books written for the young by <span class += "smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. 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."</p> + + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">Young America Abroad</span>: <span class = +"smallcaps">A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands</span>. +By <span class = "smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. Illustrated by <span +class = "smallcaps">Nast</span> and others. First Series. Six volumes. +Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">1. Outward Bound</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Young America Afloat</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">2. Shamrock and Thistle</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Young America in Ireland and Scotland</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">3. Red Cross</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Young America in England and Wales</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">4. Dikes and Ditches</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Young America in Holland and Belgium</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">5. Palace and Cottage</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Young America in France and Switzerland</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">6. Down the Rhine</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Young America in Germany</span>.</p> + + +<p class = "advert"> +"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. <span class = +"smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span> will continue to be the boys' 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."—<i>Providence Press</i>.</p> + + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "bigger">Young America Abroad.</span> By <span class = +"smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span>. Second Series. Six volumes. +Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">1. Up the Baltic</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">2. Northern Lands</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Young America in Russia and Prussia</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">3. Cross and Crescent</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Young America in Turkey and Greece</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">4. Sunny Shores</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Young America in Italy and Austria</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">5. Vine and Olive</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Young America in Spain and Portugal</span>.</p> + +<p class = "advert title"> +<span class = "bigger">6. Isles of the Sea</span>; <span class = +"smallcaps">or, Young America Homeward Bound</span>.</p> + + +<p class = "advert"> +"<span class = "smallcaps">Oliver Optic</span> is a <i>nom de plume</i> +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 embittered by its large experience of human nature, +take up one of <span class = "smallcaps">Oliver Optic's</span> 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."—<i>Sunday Times</i>.</p> + + +<h5 class = "sans space">LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE +CATALOGUE FREE.</h5> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Fighting for the Right, by Oliver Optic + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT *** + +***** This file should be named 18803-h.htm or 18803-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/8/0/18803/ + +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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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: Fighting for the Right + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Illustrator: A. B. Shute + +Release Date: July 10, 2006 [EBook #18803] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT *** + + + + +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 + ON THE STAFF + AT THE FRONT + AN UNDIVIDED UNION + +Any Volume Sold Separately + +Lee and Shepard Publishers Boston + + + + + [Illustration: + "Christy seized him by the collar with both hands." Page 75.] + + + + + The + + BLUE AND THE GRAY + + Series + + [Illustration] + + By Oliver Optic + + FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT + + + + + _The Blue and the Gray Series_ + + FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT + + 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 Series" +"The Onward and Upward Series" "The Yacht-Club Series" +"The Lake Shore Series" "The Riverdale Stories" +"The Boat-Builder Series" "Taken by the Enemy" +"Within the Enemy's Lines" "On the Blockade" +"Stand by the Union" "A Missing Million" +"A Millionaire at Sixteen" etc., etc., etc. + + + BOSTON + LEE AND SHEPARD Publishers + + + Copyright, 1892 by Lee and Shepard + _All Rights Reserved_ + + Fighting for the Right + + + Type-Setting and Electrotyping by + C. J. Peters & Son, Boston + + + + + To + + My Grand Nephew + + RICHARD LABAN ADAMS + + This Book + + Is Affectionately Dedicated + + + + +PREFACE + + +"FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT" is the fifth and last but one of "The Blue and +the Gray Series." The character of the operations in connection with the +war of the Rebellion, and the incidents in which the interest of the +young reader will be concentrated, are somewhat different from most of +those detailed in the preceding volumes of the series, though they all +have the same patriotic tendency, and are carried out with the same +devotion to the welfare of the nation as those which deal almost solely +in deeds of arms. + +Although the soldiers and sailors of the army and navy of the Union won +all the honors gained in the field of battle or on the decks of the +national ships, and deserved all the laurels they gathered by their +skill and bravery in the trying days when the republic was in peril, +they were not the only actors in the greatest strife of the nineteenth +century. Not all the labor of "saving the Union" was done in the +trenches, on the march, on the gun deck of a man-of-war, or in other +military and naval operations, though without these the efforts of all +others would have been in vain. Thousands of men and women who never +"smelled gunpowder," who never heard the booming cannon, or the rattling +musketry, who never witnessed a battle on sea or land, but who kept +their minds and hearts in touch with the holy cause, labored diligently +and faithfully to support and sustain the soldiers and sailors at the +front. + +If all those who fought no battles are not honored like the leaders and +commanders in the loyal cause, if they wear no laurels on their brows, +if no monuments are erected to transmit their memory to posterity, if +their names and deeds are not recorded in the Valhalla of the redeemed +nation, they ought not to be disregarded and ignored. It was not on the +field of strife alone in the South that the battle was fought and won. +The army and the navy needed a moral, as well as a material support, +which was cheerfully rendered by the great army of the people who never +buckled on a sword, or shouldered a musket. Their work can not be summed +up in deeds, for there was little or nothing that was brilliant and +dazzling in their career. They need no monuments; but their work was +necessary to the final and glorious result of the most terrible war of +modern times. + +No apology is necessary for placing the hero of the story and his +skilful associate in a position at a distance from the actual field of +battle. They were working for the salvation of the Union as effectively +as they could have done in the din of the strife. They were "Fighting +for the Right," as they understood it, though it is not treason to say, +thirty years later, that the people of the South were as sincere as +those of the North; and they could hardly have fought and suffered to +the extent they did if it had been otherwise. + +The incidents of the volume are more various than in the preceding +stories, which were so largely a repetition of battle scenes; but the +hero is still as earnest as ever in the cause he loves. He attains a +high position without any ambition to win it; for, like millions of +others who gave the best years of their lives to sustain the Union, who +suffered the most terrible hardships and privations, so many hundreds of +thousands giving their lives to their country, Christy fought and +labored for the cause, and not from any personal ambition. It is the +young man's high character, his devotion to duty, rather than the +incidents and adventures in which he is engaged, that render him worthy +of respect, and deserving of the honors that were bestowed upon him. The +younger participants in the war of the Rebellion, Christy Passford among +the number, are beginning to be grizzled with the snows of fifty +winters; but they are still rejoicing in "A Victorious Union." + + William T. Adams. + + Dorchester, April 18, 1892. + + + + +CONTENTS + + Page +CHAPTER I. +A Conference at Bonnydale 15 + +CHAPTER II. +A Complicated Case 26 + +CHAPTER III. +The Departure of the Chateaugay 37 + +CHAPTER IV. +Monsieur Gilfleur explains 48 + +CHAPTER V. +An Abundance of Evidence 59 + +CHAPTER VI. +The Boarding of the Ionian 70 + +CHAPTER VII. +A Bold Proposition 81 + +CHAPTER VIII. +A Notable Expedition 92 + +CHAPTER IX. +The Frenchman in Bermuda 103 + +CHAPTER X. +Important Information obtained 114 + +CHAPTER XI. +An Unexpected Rencontre 125 + +CHAPTER XII. +As Impracticable Scheme 136 + +CHAPTER XIII. +At the End of the Chase 147 + +CHAPTER XIV. +An Easy Victory 158 + +CHAPTER XV. +The Gentleman with a Grizzly Beard 169 + +CHAPTER XVI. +Among the Bahamas 180 + +CHAPTER XVII. +The Landing at New Providence 191 + +CHAPTER XVIII. +An Affray in Nassau 202 + +CHAPTER XIX. +An Old Acquaintance 213 + +CHAPTER XX. +A Band of Ruffians 224 + +CHAPTER XXI. +A Question of Neutrality 235 + +CHAPTER XXII. +On Board of the Snapper 246 + +CHAPTER XXIII. +The Chateaugay in the Distance 257 + +CHAPTER XXIV. +The Tables turned 268 + +CHAPTER XXV. +Captain Flanger in Irons 279 + +CHAPTER XXVI. +A Visit to Tampa Bay 290 + +CHAPTER XXVII. +Among the Keys of Tampa 302 + +CHAPTER XXVIII. +The Surrender of the Reindeer 313 + +CHAPTER XXIX. +Bringing out the Prize 324 + +CHAPTER XXX. +A Very Important Service 335 + +CHAPTER XXXI. +An Undesired Promotion 346 + + + + +FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A CONFERENCE AT BONNYDALE + + +"Well, Christy, how do you feel this morning?" asked Captain Passford, +one bright morning in April, at Bonnydale on the Hudson, the residence +of the former owner of the Bellevite, which he had presented to the +government. + +"Quite well, father; I think I never felt any better in all my life," +replied Lieutenant Passford, of the United States Navy, recently +commander of the little gunboat Bronx, on board of which he had been +severely wounded in an action with a Confederate fort in Louisiana. + +"Do you feel any soreness at the wound in your arm?" inquired the +devoted parent with some anxiety. + +"Not a particle, father." + +"Or at the one in your thigh?" + +"Not the slightest bit of soreness. In fact, I have been ready to return +to my duty at any time within the last month," replied Christy very +cheerfully. "It would be a shame for me to loiter around home any +longer, when I am as able to plank the deck as I ever was. In truth, +I think I am better and stronger than ever before, for I have had a long +rest." + +"Your vacation has been none too long, for you were considerably run +down, the doctor said, in addition to your two wounds," added Captain +Passford, senior; for the young man had held a command, and was entitled +to the same honorary title as his father. + +"These doctors sometimes make you think you are sicker than you really +are," said Christy with a laugh. + +"But your doctor did not do so, for your mother and I both thought you +were rather run out by your labors in the Gulf." + +"If I was, I am all right now. Do I look like a sick one? I weigh more +than I ever did before in my life." + +"Your mother has taken excellent care of you, and you certainly look +larger and stronger than when you went to sea in the Bronx." + +"But I am very tired of this inactive life. I have been assigned to the +Bellevite as second lieutenant, a position I prefer to a command, for +the reasons I have several times given you, father." + +"I am certainly very glad to have you returned to the Bellevite, though +the honors will be easier with you than they were when you were the +commander of the Bronx." + +"But I shall escape the responsibility of the command, and avoid being +pointed at as one who commands by official influence," said Christy, +rather warmly; for he felt that he had done his duty with the utmost +fidelity, and it was not pleasant to have his hard-earned honors +discounted by flings at his father's influence with the government. + +"It is impossible to escape the sneers of the discontented, and there +are always plenty of such in the navy and the army. But, Christy, you +wrong yourself in taking any notice of such flings, for they have never +been thrown directly at you, if at all. You are over-sensitive, and you +have not correctly interpreted what your superiors have said to you," +said Captain Passford seriously. + +His father recalled some of the conversations between the young officer +and Captain Blowitt and others, reported to him before. He insisted that +the remarks of his superiors were highly complimentary to him, and that +he had no right to take offence at them. + +"I dare say I am entirely wrong, father; but it will do me no harm to +serve in a subordinate capacity," added Christy. + +"I agree with you here; but I must tell you again, as I have half a +dozen times before, that I never asked a position or promotion for you +at the Navy Department. You have won your honors and your advancement +yourself," continued the father. + +"Well, it was all the same, father; you have used your time and your +money very freely in the service of the government, as you could not +help doing. I know that I did my duty, and the department promoted me +because I was your son," said Christy, laughing. + +"Not at all, my son; you deserved your promotion every time, and if you +had been the son of a wood-chopper in the State of Maine, you would have +been promoted just the same," argued Captain Passford. + +"Perhaps I should," answered the young officer rather doubtfully. + +"After what you did in your last cruise with the Bronx, a larger and +finer vessel would have been given to you in recognition of the +brilliant service you had rendered," added the father. "I prevented this +from being done simply because you wished to take the position of second +lieutenant on board of the Bellevite." + +"Then I thank you for it, father," replied Christy heartily. + +"But the department thinks it has lost an able commander," continued the +captain with a smile. + +"I am willing to let the department think so, father. All I really ask +of the officials now is to send me back to the Gulf, and to the +Bellevite. I believe you said that I was to go as a passenger in the +Chateaugay." + +"I did; and she has been ready for over a week." + +"Why don't she go, then?" asked Christy impatiently. + +"On her way to the Gulf she is to engage in some special service," +replied Captain Passford, as he took some letters from his pocket. + +"Letters!" exclaimed the young lieutenant, laughing as he recalled some +such missives on two former occasions. "Do you still keep your three +agents in the island of Great Britain?" + +"I don't keep them, for they are now in the employ of the government, +though they still report to me, and we use the system adopted some two +years ago." + +"What is it this time, father?" asked Christy, his curiosity as well as +his patriotism excited by this time at the prospect of capturing a +Confederate man-of-war, or even a blockade-runner. + +"There are traitors in and about the city of New York," answered Captain +Passford, as he returned the letters to his pocket. "We had a rebel in +the house here at one time, you remember, and it is not quite prudent +just now to explain the contents of the letters." + +"All right, father; but I suppose you will read them to me before I sail +for the South." + +"I will talk to you about it another time," added the captain, as a +knock was heard at the door. "Come in!" + +It was the man-servant of the house, and he brought in a tray on which +there was a card, which Captain Passford took. + +"Captain Wilford Chantor," the captain read from the card. "Show him in, +Gates. Lieutenant Chantor is appointed to the command of the Chateaugay, +Christy, in which you take passage to the Gulf; but she will not go +there directly." + +"Captain Chantor," said Gates, as he opened the door for the visitor. + +"I am happy to see you, Captain Chantor, though I have not had the +pleasure of meeting you before," said the captain, as he rose from his +chair, and bowed to the gentleman, who was in the uniform of a +lieutenant. + +"I presume I have the honor to address Captain Horatio Passford," said +the visitor, as he took a letter from his pocket, bowing very +respectfully at the same time, and delivering the letter. + +"I am very glad to meet you, Captain Chantor," continued Captain +Passford, taking the hand of the visitor. "Allow me to introduce to you +my son, Lieutenant Passford, who will be a passenger on your ship to the +Gulf." + +"I am very happy to make your acquaintance, Mr. Passford, for I need +hardly say that I have heard a great deal about you before, and this is +a very unexpected pleasure," replied Captain Chantor. + +"Thank you, Captain, and I am equally happy to meet you, as I am to be a +passenger on your ship," added Christy, as they shook hands very +cordially. + +"I had three other passengers on board, but they have been transferred +to the store-ship, which sails to-day, and you will be my only +passenger." + +"At my suggestion," said Captain Passford smiling, doubtless at the +puzzled expression of the captain of the Chateaugay at his statement. + +"I am to attend to some special service on my voyage to the Gulf, and I +am ordered to take my instructions from you," added Captain Chantor. + +"Precisely so; but I hold no official position, and your orders will be +put in proper form before you sail," replied Christy's father. "Now, if +you will be patient for a little while, I will explain the nature of the +special service." + +"I shall be very glad to understand the subject, and I am confident my +patience will hold out to any extent you may require." + +The conversation so far had taken place in the library. The owner of +Bonnydale rose from his arm-chair, opened the door into the hall, and +looked about him very cautiously. Then he closed a window which the +unusual warmth of an April day had rendered it necessary to open. He +conducted his companions to the part of the room farthest from the door, +and seated them on a sofa, while he placed his arm-chair in front of +them. Even Christy thought his father was taking extraordinary +precautions, and the visitor could make nothing of it. + +"As I have had occasion to remark before to-day, there are traitors in +and about New York," the captain began. + +"If you have any private business with Captain Chantor, father, I am +perfectly willing to retire," suggested Christy. + +"No; I wish you to understand this special service, for you may be +called upon to take a hand in it," replied Captain Passford; and the +son seated himself again. "There are traitors in and about New York, +I repeat. I think we need not greatly wonder that some of the English +people persist in attempting to run the blockade at the South, when some +of our own citizens are indirectly concerned in the same occupation." + +This seemed to the captain of the Chateaugay an astounding statement, +and not less so to Christy, and neither of them could make anything of +it; but they were silent, concluding that the special service related to +this matter. + +"In what I am about to say to you, Captain Chantor, I understand that I +am talking to an officer of the utmost discretion," continued Captain +Passford, "and not a word of it must be repeated to any person on board +of the Chateaugay, and certainly not to any other person whatever." + +"I understand you perfectly, sir," replied the officer. "My lips shall +be sealed to all." + +"I wish to say that the command of the Chateaugay would have been +offered to my son, but I objected for the reason that he prefers not to +have a command at present," said the captain. + +"That makes it very fortunate for me." + +"Very true, though the change was not made for your sake. You were +selected for this command as much on account of your discretion as for +your skill and bravery as an officer." + +"I consider myself very highly complimented by the selection." + +"Now to the point: I have information that a fast steamer, intended to +carry eight guns, called the Ovidio, sailed from the other side of the +ocean some time since, and she is to be a vessel in the Confederate +navy. Her first port will be Nassau, New Providence." + +"Does that prove that any Americans are traitors in and about New York, +father?" asked Christy. + +"She is to run the blockade with a cargo consisting in part of American +goods." + +Captain Passford took a file of papers from his pocket. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A COMPLICATED CASE + + +Captain Passford looked over his papers for a moment; but it was soon +evident from his manner that he had secrets which he would not intrust +even to his son, unless it was necessary to do so. He seemed to be armed +with documentary evidence upon which to act, but he did not read any of +his papers, and soon returned them to his pocket. + +"The American goods of which I speak are certain pieces of machinery to +be used in the manufacture of arms," continued the captain. "They cannot +be obtained in England, and the traitors have decided to send them +direct, rather than across the ocean in the first instance. These will +form the principal and most important part of the cargo of a steamer now +loaded, though she will carry other goods, such as the enemy need most +at the present time." + +"I did not suppose any Americans were wicked enough to engage in such an +enterprise for the sake of making money," said Christy indignantly. + +"The steamer of which you speak is already loaded, is she?" asked +Captain Chantor. + +"She is; and now I wish both of you to go with me, and I will point out +the vessel to you, and you must mark her so well that you can identify +her when occasion requires." + +The trio left the house and took the train together. They went to New +York, and in an out-of-the-way locality they went down to a wharf; but +there was no steamer or vessel of any kind there, and the pier was +falling to pieces from decay. Captain Passford stopped short, and seemed +to be confounded when he found the dock was not occupied. + +"I am afraid we are too late, and that the steamer has sailed on her +mission of destruction," said he, almost overcome by the discovery. "She +was here last night, and was watched till this morning. She has already +cleared, bound to Wilmington, Delaware, with a cargo of old iron." + +"Do you know her name, Captain Passford?" asked the commander of the +Chateaugay. + +"She was a screw steamer of about six hundred tons, and was called the +Ionian, but she is American." + +It was useless to remain there any longer, for the steamer certainly was +not there. Captain Passford hailed a passing-tug-boat, and they were +taken on board. The master of the boat was instructed to steam down the +East River, and the party examined every steamer at anchor or under way. +The tug had nearly reached the Battery before the leader of the trio saw +any vessel that looked like the Ionian. The tug went around this craft, +for she resembled the one which had been in the dock, and the name +indicated was found on her stern. + +"I breathe easier, for I was afraid she had given us the slip," said +Captain Passford. "She is evidently all ready to sail." + +"The Chateaugay is in commission, and ready to sail at a moment's +notice," added her commander. + +"But you are not ready to leave at once, Christy," suggested Captain +Passford, with some anxiety in his expression. + +"Yes, I am, father; I put my valises on board yesterday, and when mother +and Florry went down to Mr. Pembroke's I bade them both good-by, for +after I have waited so long for my passage, I felt that the call would +come in a hurry," replied Christy. "I am all ready to go on board of the +Chateaugay at this moment." + +"And so am I," added Captain Chantor. + +"But I am not ready with your orders in full, though they are duly +signed," said Captain Passford. "I will put you on shore at the foot of +Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, Captain Chantor, and you will hasten to +your ship, get up steam, and move down to this vicinity. I will put my +son on board as soon as I can have your papers completed." + +The order necessary to carry out this procedure was given to the captain +of the tug, and the commander of the Chateaugay was landed at the place +indicated. The tug started for the other side of the river. + +"It seems to me this is very strange business, father," said Christy, +as he and his father seated themselves at the stern of the boat. + +"Traitors do not work in the daylight, my son, as you have learned +before this time," replied Captain Passford. + +"If you know the men who are engaged in supplying the enemy with +machinery, why do you not have them arrested and put in Fort Lafayette?" +asked Christy, in a very low tone, after he had assured himself that no +person was within possible hearing distance. "It looks as though the +case might be settled here, without going to sea to do it." + +"We have not sufficient evidence to convict them; and to make arrests +without the means of conviction would be worse than doing nothing. The +Ionian has cleared for Wilmington with a cargo of old iron. Everything +looks regular in regard to her, and I have no doubt there is some party +who would claim the castings if occasion required. The first thing to be +ascertained is whether or not the steamer goes to Wilmington." + +"Then we can make short work of her." + +"My information in regard to this treason comes from Warnock--you know +who he is?" + +"Captain Barnes," replied Christy promptly, for the names of all the +agents of his father in England and Scotland had been given to him on a +former occasion, when the information received from one of the three had +resulted in the capture of the Scotian and the Arran. + +"Barnes is a very shrewd man. He does not inform me yet in what manner +he obtained the information that the Ovidio was to carry this machinery +from Nassau into a rebel port; but I shall get it later in a letter. He +gave me the name of the party who was to furnish the machinery; and one +of his agents obtained this from the direction of a letter to New York. +I placed four skilful detectives around this man, who stands well in the +community. They have worked the case admirably, and spotted the Ionian. +I have aided them in all possible ways; but the evidence is not +complete. If this steamer proceeds beyond Wilmington, Captain Chantor +will be instructed to capture her and send her back to New York." + +"Then this business will soon be settled," added Christy. + +"Perhaps not; the government official, with authority to act, is in New +York. I shall see him at once. I have no doubt the detectives have +already reported that the Ionian has moved down the river," said Captain +Passford, as the tug came up to a pier, where father and son landed. + +They went to an office in Battery Place, where the captain was informed +that a special messenger had been sent to Bonnydale to acquaint him with +the fact that the Ionian had moved down the river. Files of documents, +containing reports of detectives and other papers, were examined and +compared, and then the government official proceeded to finish the +filling out of Captain Chantor's orders. The paper was given to Christy, +with an order to deliver it to the commander of the Chateaugay. The tug +had been detained for them, and they hastened on board of her. + +They found the suspected steamer at her moorings still; but it was +evident that she was preparing to weigh her anchor. The tug continued on +her course towards the Navy Yard, and the Chateaugay was discovered in +the berth she had occupied for the last two weeks. Everything looked +lively on board of her, as though she were getting ready to heave up her +anchor. + +"Christy, you will find on board of your steamer a man by the name of +Gilfleur," said Captain Passford, as the tug approached the man-of-war. + +"That sounds like a French name," interposed Christy. + +"It is a French name, and the owner of it is a Frenchman who has been a +detective in Paris. He has accomplished more in this matter than all the +others put together, and he will go with you, for you will find in the +commander's instructions that you have more than one thing to do on your +way to the Gulf. I gave him a letter to you." + +"I shall be glad to see him." + +"Now, my son, we must part, for I have business on shore, and you may +have to sail at any moment," said Captain Passford, as he took the two +hands of his son. "I have no advice to give you except to be prudent, +and on this duty to be especially discreet. That's all--good-by." + +They parted, after wringing each other's hands, as they had parted +several times before. They might never meet again in this world, but +both of them subdued their emotion, for they were obeying the high and +solemn call of duty; both of them were fighting for the right, and the +civilian as well as the naval officer felt that it was his duty to lay +down his life for his suffering country. Christy mounted the gangway, +and was received by Captain Chantor on the quarter-deck. He had been on +board before, and had taken possession of his stateroom. + +The passenger took from his pocket the files of papers given him by the +official on shore; and then he noticed for the first time an envelope +addressed to him. The commander retired to his cabin to read his +instructions, and Christy went to his stateroom in the ward room to open +the envelope directed to him. As soon as he broke the seal he realized +that his father had done a great deal of writing, and he had no doubt +the paper contained full instructions for him, as well as a history of +the difficult case in which he was to take a part. A paper signed by the +official informed him that he was expected to occupy a sort of advisory +position near the commander of the Chateaugay, though of course he was +in no manner to control him in regard to the management of the ship. + +Christy read his father's letter through. The government was exceedingly +anxious to obtain accurate information in regard to the state of affairs +at Nassau, that hot-bed for blockade-runners. The Chateaugay was to look +out for the Ovidio, whose ultimate destination was Mobile, where she was +to convey the gun-making machinery, and such other merchandise as the +traitorous merchant of New York wished to send into the Confederacy. The +name of this man was given to him, and it was believed that papers +signed by him would be found on board of the Ionian. + +A knock at the door of his room disturbed his examination of the +documents, and he found the commander of the steamer there. After +looking about the ward room, and into the adjoining staterooms, he came +in without ceremony. + +"Here is my hand, Mr. Passford," said he, suiting the action to the +word. "I find after reading my instructions that I am expected to +consult with you, and as I have the very highest respect and regard for +you after the brilliant record you have made"-- + +"Don't you believe that I won my promotion to my present rank through +the influence of my father?" demanded Christy, laughing pleasantly, as +he took the offered hand and warmly pressed it. + +"If you did, your father did the very best thing in the world for his +country, and has given it one of the bravest and best officers in the +service," replied Captain Chantor, still wringing the hand of his +passenger. "But I don't believe anything of the kind; and no officer who +knows you, even if he is thirsting for promotion, believes it. I have +heard a great many of higher rank than either of us speak of you, and if +you had been present your ears would have tingled; but I never heard a +single officer of any rank suggest that you owed your rapid advancement +to anything but your professional skill and your unflinching bravery, as +well as to your absolute and hearty devotion to your country. I rank you +in date, Mr. Passford, but I would give a great deal to have your record +written against my name." + +"Your praise is exceedingly profuse, Captain Chantor, but I must believe +you are honest, however unworthy I may be of your unstinted laudation," +said Christy with his eyes fixed on the floor, and blushing like a +school-girl. + +"I hope and believe there will be no discount on our fellowship. A man +came on board this afternoon, and gives me a letter from the proper +authority, referring me to you in regard to his mission." + +Christy decided to see this person at once. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE DEPARTURE OF THE CHATEAUGAY + + +The commander told Christy that he would probably find the person who +had brought the letter to him in the waist, for he knew nothing of his +quality, position, or anything else about him, and he did not know where +to berth him, though there was room enough in the ward room or the +steerage. He was dressed like a gentleman, and brought two very handsome +valises on board with him. + +"For all that, I did not know but that he might be a French cook, a +steward, or something of that sort," added Captain Chantor, laughing. + +"He is a man who is said to be a Napoleon in his profession; but I will +tell you all about him after we get under way, for I am in a hurry to +speak with him," replied Christy. + +"He is evidently a Frenchman," continued the captain. + +"He is; but I never saw him in my life, and know nothing about him +except what I have learned from a long letter my father gave me when I +was coming on board." + +"I have been told that you speak French like a native of Paris, Mr. +Passford," suggested the commander. + +"Not so bad as that; I have studied the language a great deal under +competent instructors from Paris, but I am not so proficient as you may +think, though I can make my way with those who speak it," replied the +passenger, as he moved towards the door of the stateroom. + +"And I can't speak the first word of it, for I have been a sailor all my +life, though I went through the naval academy somewhat hurriedly," +continued the commander. + +"Fortunately you don't need French on the quarter-deck;" and Christy +left the stateroom. + +The captain went into his cabin, but came out before the passenger could +reach the deck. He informed Christy that he was directed to heave short +on the anchor and watch for a signal mentioned, which was to be hoisted +near the Battery. He might get under way at any minute. + +Christy found the person of whom the captain had spoken in the waist. +He was dressed in a black suit, and looked more like a dandy than a +detective. He was apparently about forty years of age, rather slenderly +built, but with a graceful form. He wore a long black mustache, but no +other beard. He was pacing the deck, and seemed to be very uneasy, +possibly because he was all alone, for no one took any notice of him, +though the captain had received him very politely. + +"Monsieur Gilfleur?" said Christy, walking up to him, and bowing as +politely as a Parisian. + +"I am Mr. Gilfleur; have I the honor to address Lieutenant Passford?" +replied the Frenchman. + +"I am Lieutenant Passford, though I have no official position on board +of this steamer." + +"I am aware of it," added Mr. Gilfleur, as he chose to call himself, +taking a letter from the breast pocket of his coat, and handing it very +gracefully to Christy. + +"Pardon me," added the young officer, as he opened the missive. + +It was simply a letter of introduction from Captain Passford, intended +to assure him of the identity of the French detective. Mr. Gilfleur +evidently prided himself on his knowledge of the English language, for +he certainly spoke it fluently and correctly, though with a little of +the accent of his native tongue. + +"I am very happy to meet you, Mr. Gilfleur," said Christy in French, as +he extended his hand to the other, who promptly took it, and from that +moment seemed to lose all his embarrassment. + +"I thank you, Mr. Passford, for this pleasant reception, for it is +possible that we may have a great deal of business together, and I hope +you have confidence in me." + +"Unlimited confidence, sir, since my father heartily indorses you." + +"I thank you, sir, and I am sure we shall be good friends, though I am +not a gentleman like you, Mr. Passford." + +"You are my equal in every respect, for though my father is a very rich +man, I am not. But we are all equals in this country." + +"I don't know about that," said the Frenchman, with a Parisian shrug of +the shoulders. "Your father has treated me very kindly, and I have heard +a great deal about his brave and accomplished son," said Mr. Gilfleur, +with a very deferential bow. + +"Spare me!" pleaded Christy, with a deprecatory smile and a shake of the +head. + +"You are very modest, Mr. Passford, and I will not offend you. I am not +to speak of our mission before the Chateaugay is out of sight of land," +said the detective, looking into the eyes of the young man with a gaze +which seemed to reach the soul, for he was doubtless measuring the +quality and calibre of his associate in the mission, as he called it, +in which both were engaged. "I knew your father very well in Paris," +he added, withdrawing his piercing gaze. + +"Then you are the gentleman who found the stewardess of the Bellevite +when she ran away with a bag of French gold at Havre?" said Christy, +opening his eyes. + +"I have the honor to be that person," replied Mr. Gilfleur, with one of +his graceful bows. "It was a difficult case, for the woman was +associated with one of the worst thieves of Paris, and it took me a +month to run them down." + +"Though I was a small boy, I remember it very well, for I was on board +of the Bellevite at the time," replied Christy. "I know that he was very +enthusiastic in his praise of the wonderful skill of the person who +recovered the money and sent the two thieves to prison. I understand now +why my father sent to Paris for you when he needed a very skilful person +of your profession." + +"Thank you, Mr. Passford; you know me now, and we shall be good +friends." + +"No doubt of it; but here comes the captain, and I have a word to say to +him," added Christy, as he touched his naval cap to the commander. +"Allow me to introduce to you my friend Mr. Gilfleur, whom my father +employed in Havre six years ago." + +The captain was as polite as the Frenchman, and gave him a hearty +reception. Christy then suggested that his friend should be berthed in +the ward room. The ship's steward was called, and directed to give Mr. +Gilfleur a room next to the other passenger. As they were likely to have +many conferences together in regard to the business on their hands, they +were both particular in regard to the location of their rooms; and the +chief steward suited them as well as he could. + +The detective spoke to him in French, but the steward could not +understand a word he said. Christy inquired if any of the ward-room +officers spoke the polite language, for his friend might sometimes wish +to converse in his own tongue. + +"I don't believe they do, for they all got into the ward room through +the hawse-hole," replied the steward, laughing at the very idea. + +When the passengers went on deck, the commander introduced them both to +the officers of the ship. To each in turn, at the request of Christy, he +put the question as to whether or not he could speak French; and they +all replied promptly in the negative, and laughed at the inquiry. + +"Have you no one on board who speaks French, Captain Chantor?" asked +Christy. + +"I don't know anything about it, but as it seems to be of some +importance to you and your friend, I will ascertain at once. Mr. +Suppleton, will you overhaul the ship's company, and see if you can find +any one that speaks French," continued the commander, addressing the +chief steward. + +In about half an hour he returned, and reported that he was unable to +find a single person who could speak a word of French. Doubtless many of +the officers, who were of higher grade than any on board of the +Chateaugay, were fluent enough in the language, but they were not to be +found in the smaller vessels of the navy; for, whatever their rank +before the war, they had all been advanced to the higher positions. +Every one of the officers on board of this steamer had been the captain +of a vessel, and had been instructed in the profession after the war +began. Though substantially educated, they were not to be compared in +this respect with the original officers. + +"We can talk as much as we please of our mission after we get out of +sight of land; and as long as we do it in French, no one will understand +us," said Christy to his fellow-passenger. + +"As soon as we are permitted by my orders to do so, I shall have much to +say to you, Mr. Passford," replied Mr. Gilfleur. + +"On deck!" shouted a man in the mizzen-top. + +"Aloft!" returned Mr. Birdwing, the first lieutenant. + +"Signal over the boarding-station, sir!" reported the quartermaster in +the top. "It is a number--'Get under way!'" + +The executive officer reported the signal to the commander, though he +was on deck, and had heard the words of the quartermaster. + +"Get under way at once, Mr. Birdwing," said the captain. + +"Boatswain, all hands up anchor!" said the first lieutenant to this +officer; and in a moment the call rang through the ship. + +Every officer and seaman was promptly in his station, for it was a +welcome call. The ship's company were dreaming of prize-money, for +officers had made fabulous sums from this source. In one instance a +lieutenant received for his share nearly forty thousand dollars; and +even an ordinary seaman pocketed seventeen hundred from a single +capture. The Chateaugayans were anxious to engage in this harvest, and +in a hurry to be on their way to the field of fortune. + +In a short time the steamer was standing down East River at moderate +speed. The Ionian could not be seen yet, and nothing in regard to her +was known to any one on board except the captain and his two passengers. +As the ship approached the battery, a tug, which Christy recognized as +the one his father had employed, came off and hailed the Chateaugay. The +screw was stopped, and Captain Passford was discovered at her bow. He +waved his hat to his son, saluted the commander in the same manner, and +then passed up an envelope. + +The tug sheered off, and the ship continued on her course, with a pilot +at the wheel. The missive from the shore was addressed to Captain +Chantor. He opened it at once, and then ordered one bell to be rung to +stop her. A few moments later a heavy tug came off, and twelve men were +put on board, with an order signed by the government official for the +commander to receive them on board. There had evidently been some +afterthoughts on shore. These men were turned in with the crew, except +two who were officers, and they were put in the ward room. The ship then +proceeded on her course. + +"The Ionian is about two miles ahead of us, Mr. Passford," said the +captain, after he had used his glass diligently for some time. And he +spoke in a very low tone. + +"We have no business with her at present," added Christy. + +"None, except to watch her; and, fortunately, we have fine, clear +weather, so that will not be a difficult job. By the way, Mr. Passford, +the envelope I received was from your father, and he gives me +information of another steamer expected in the vicinity of Bermuda about +this time; and he thinks we had better look for her when she comes out +from those islands," said the captain, evidently delighted with the +prospect before him. + +"What are these men for that were sent off in the tug?" Christy +inquired; for he felt that he had a right to ask the question. + +"They are to take the Ionian back to New York, if we have to capture +her." + +Captain Passford appeared to be afraid the Chateaugay would be +shorthanded if she had to send a prize crew home with the Ionian. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +MONSIEUR GILFLEUR EXPLAINS + + +The two officers and ten men that had been sent off to the Chateaugay +after she got under way, had evidently been considered necessary by the +authorities on shore after the receipt of the intelligence that another +vessel for the Confederates had been sent to Bermuda. A steamer had +arrived that day from Liverpool, and Captain Passford must have received +his mail after he landed from the tug. Captain Chantor had waited +several hours for the signal to get under way, and there had been time +enough to obtain the reinforcement from the Navy Yard. + +The officer in command of the detachment of sailors said that he had +been ordered to follow the Chateaugay, and he had been provided with a +fast boat for this purpose. The steamer proceeded on her course as soon +as the transport boat had cast off her fasts, and everything suddenly +quieted down on board of her. The distance between the Ionian and the +man-of-war was soon reduced to about a mile. It was beginning to grow +dark, but the crew had been stationed and billed while the ship lay off +the Navy Yard; but the new hands sent on board were assigned to watches +and quarter-watches, stationed and billed, as though they were a part of +the regular ship's company. One of the two additional officers was +placed in each of the watches. + +Before it was really dark everything on board was in order, and the ship +was put in perfect trim. Christy could not help seeing that Captain +Chantor was a thorough commander, and that his officers were excellent +in all respects. He walked about the ship, wishing to make himself +familiar with her. His father had not written to him in regard to the +second vessel which the Chateaugay was to look out for in the vicinity +of the Bermuda Islands, and he only knew what the captain had told him +in regard to the matter. + +If the steamer was armed, as probably she was, an action would be likely +to come off, and the young lieutenant could not remain idle while a +battle was in prospect. His quick eye enabled him to take in all he saw +without much study, and only one thing bothered him. In the waist, +secured on blocks, was something like the ordinary whaleboat used in the +navy; but it was somewhat larger than those with which he was familiar +in the discharge of his duties, and differed in other respects from +them. The first watch would begin at eight o'clock, and all hands were +still on duty. + +"What do you call this boat, Mr. Carlin?" asked Christy, as the third +lieutenant was passing him. + +"I call it a nondescript craft," replied the officer, laughing. "It is +something like a whaleboat, but it isn't one." + +"What is it for?" inquired the passenger. + +"That is more than I know, sir. It was put on deck while we were still +at the Navy Yard. I never saw a boat just like it before, and I have not +the remotest idea of its intended use. Probably the captain can inform +you." + +Christy was no wiser than before, but his curiosity was excited. He +strolled to the quarter-deck, where he found the captain directing his +night-glass towards the Ionian, which showed her port light on the +starboard hand, indicating that the Chateaugay was running ahead of her. +The commander called the second lieutenant, and gave him the order for +the chief engineer to reduce the speed of the ship. + +"The Ionian is a slow boat; at least, she is not as fast as the +Chateaugay, Mr. Passford," said Captain Chantor, when Christy had halted +near him. + +"That is apparent," replied Christy. "How many knots can you make in +your ship, Captain Chantor?" + +"I am told that she has made fifteen when driven at her best." + +"That is more than the average of the steamers in the service by three +knots," added Christy. "I have just been forward, Captain, and I saw +there a boat which is not quite on the regulation pattern." + +"It is like a whaleboat, though it differs from one in some respects," +added the commander. + +"Is it for ordinary service, Captain Chantor?" + +"There you have caught me, for I don't know to what use she is to be +applied," replied the captain, laughing because, as the highest +authority on board of the ship, he was unable to answer the question. + +"You don't know?" queried Christy. "Or have I asked an indiscreet +question?" said the passenger. + +"If I knew, and found it necessary to conceal my knowledge from you, +I should say so squarely, Mr. Passford," added the commander, a little +piqued. "I would not resort to a lie." + +"I beg your pardon, Captain Chanter; I certainly meant no offence," +pleaded Christy. + +"No offence, Mr. Passford; my hand upon it," said the commander, and +they exchanged a friendly grip of the hands. "I really know nothing at +all in regard to the intended use of the boat; in my orders, I am simply +directed to place it at the disposal of Mr. Gilfleur at such time and +place as he may require, and to co-operate with him in any enterprise in +which he may engage. I must refer you to the French gentleman for any +further information." + +The passenger went below to the ward room. The door of the detective's +room was closed, and he knocked. He was admitted, and there he found Mr. +Gilfleur occupied with a file of papers, which he was busily engaged in +studying. In the little apartment were two middle-sized valises, which +made it look as though the detective expected to pass some time on his +present voyage to the South. + +"I hope I don't disturb you, Mr. Gilfleur," said Christy in French. + +"Not at all, Mr. Passford; I am glad to see you, for I am ordered to +consult very freely with you, and to inform you fully in regard to all +my plans," replied the Frenchman. + +"Perhaps you can tell me, then, what that boat in the waist is for," +Christy began, in a very pleasant tone, and in his most agreeable +manner, perhaps copying to some extent the Parisian suavity, as he had +observed it in several visits he had made to the gay capital. + +"I can tell you all about it, Mr. Passford, though that is my grand +secret. No other person on board of this ship knows what it is for; but +you are my confidant, though I never had one before in the practice of +my profession," replied Mr. Gilfleur, fixing his keen gaze upon his +associate. "A man's secret is the safest when he keeps it to himself. +But I will tell you all about it." + +"No! no! I don't wish you to do that, Mr. Gilfleur, if you deem it wise +to keep the matter to yourself," interposed Christy. "My curiosity is a +little excited, but I can control it." + +"I shall tell you all about it, for this affair is different from the +ordinary practice of my profession," replied the detective; and he +proceeded to give a history of the boat in the waist, and then detailed +the use to which it was to be applied. + +"I am quite satisfied, and I should be glad to take part in the +expedition in which you intend to use it," said Christy when the +explanation in regard to the boat was finished. + +"You would be willing to take part in my little enterprise!" exclaimed +the Frenchman, his eyes lighting up with pleasure. + +"I should; why not?" + +"Because it may be very dangerous, and a slight slip may cost us both +our lives," replied the detective very impressively, and with another of +his keen and penetrating glances. + +"I have not been in the habit of keeping under cover in my two years' +service in the navy, and I know what danger is," added Christy. + +"I know you are a very brave young officer, Mr. Passford, but this +service is very different from that on the deck of a ship of war in +action. But we will talk of that at a future time," said Mr. Gilfleur, +as he rose hastily from his arm-chair at the desk, and rushed out into +the ward room. + +Christy had heard footsteps outside of the door, and he followed his +companion. They found there Mr. Suppleton, the ship's steward, with the +two extra officers who had been sent on board. + +"Do you speak French, gentlemen?" asked the detective, addressing +himself to the two officers. + +"Not a word of it," replied Mr. Gwyndale, one of them. + +"Not a syllable of it," added Mr. Tempers, the other. + +"Excuse me, gentlemen," said Mr. Gilfleur, as he retreated to his room. + +Mr. Suppleton introduced the two new officers to Christy, and he then +followed his associate. The Frenchman was afraid the new-comers +understood his native language, and had been listening to his +explanation of the use of the strange boat; but he had spoken in a +whisper, and no one could have heard him, even if the listener had been +a Frenchman. + +"We are all right," said the detective when they had both resumed their +seats, and the Frenchman had begun to overhaul his papers. + +Mr. Gilfleur proceeded to explain in what manner he had obtained his +knowledge of the plot to send the gun-making machinery to the South. One +of Captain Passford's agents had ascertained the name of Hillman Davis, +who was in correspondence with those who were fitting out the ships for +the Confederate service. + +"But that is all we learned from the letters--that the men who were +sending out the ships were in correspondence with this man Davis, who is +a very respectable merchant of New York," Mr. Gilfleur proceeded. + +"Is that all you had to start with, my friend?" asked Christy. + +"That was all; and it was very little. Your American detectives are more +cautious than Frenchmen in the same service." + +"I don't see how in the world you could work up the case with nothing +more than a mere name to begin with," added Christy, beginning to have a +higher opinion than ever of the skill of the French detective. + +"I tell you it was a narrow foundation on which to work up the case. It +may amuse you, but I will tell you how it was done. In the first place, +Captain Passford gave me all the money I needed to work with. I applied +for a situation at Mr. Davis's warehouse. He imported wines and liquors +from France; when his corresponding clerk, who spoke and wrote French, +was commissioned as a lieutenant in the army, he was looking for a man +to take his place. He employed me. I had charge of the letters, and +carried the mail to him in his private counting-room every time it +came." + +"I don't believe that any of our American detectives would have been +competent to take such a position," suggested Christy, deeply interested +in the narrative. + +"That is where I had the advantage of them. I was well educated, and was +graduated from the University of France, with the parchment in that +valise, signed by the minister of education. The carrier brought all the +letters to my desk. I looked them over, and when I found any from +England or Scotland, or even France, I opened and read them." + +"How could you do that?" asked Christy curiously. + +"I was educated to be a lawyer; but before I entered upon the +profession, I found I had a taste for the detective service. I did some +amateur work first, and was very successful. I afterwards reached a high +position in the service of the government. I acquired a great deal of +skill in disguising myself, and in all the arts of the profession. +I could open and reseal a letter so that no change could be discovered +in its appearance, and this was what I did in the service of Mr. Davis. +He was a mean man, the stingiest I ever met, and he was as dishonest and +unscrupulous as a Paris thief. I copied all the letters connected with +the case I had in hand, and this enabled me to get to the bottom of the +traitor's plot. He wrote letters himself, not only to England and +Scotland, but to people in the South, sending them to Bermuda and +Nassau. I took copies of all these, and saved one or two originals. +My pay was so small that I resigned my situation," and he flourished a +great file of letters as he finished. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AN ABUNDANCE OF EVIDENCE + + +Captain Passford had certainly kept his own counsel with punctilious +care; for he had never even mentioned the skilful detective in his +family, though the members of it had met the gentleman in Paris and in +Havre. Mr. Gilfleur was in constant communication with him while he was +working up the exposure of the treason of Davis, who might have been a +relative of the distinguished gentleman at the head of the Southern +Confederacy, though there was no evidence to this effect. + +"If the captain of this steamer manages his affair well with the Ionian, +I expect to find letters on board of her signed by Davis," continued Mr. +Gilfleur. "From the information I obtained, your father put American +detectives on the scent of Davis, who dogged him day and night till they +found the Ionian, and ascertained in what manner she obtained her cargo; +but she had been partly loaded before they reached a conclusion, and it +is suspected that she has arms under the pieces of machinery, perhaps +cannon and ammunition." + +The detective continued to explain his operations at greater length than +it is necessary to report them. Christy listened till nearly midnight, +and then he went on deck to ascertain the position of the chase before +he turned in. He found the captain on the quarter-deck, vigilant and +faithful to his duty, and evidently determined that the Ionian should +not elude him. + +"You are up late, Mr. Passford," said the captain, when he recognized +his passenger in the gloom of the night. + +"I have been busy, and I came on deck to see where the Ionian was before +I turned in," replied Christy. + +"I think the rascal has a suspicion that we have some business with him, +for at four bells he turned his head in for the shore," added the +commander. "If you go forward you will see that we have dowsed every +glim on board, even to our mast-head and side lights." + +"You are carrying no starboard and port light?" + +"None; but we have a strong lookout aloft, and in every other available +place. When the chase headed for the shore, we kept on our course for +half an hour, and then put out the lights. We came about and went off to +the eastward for another half-hour. Coming about, we went to the +westward till we made her out, for she has not extinguished her lights. +It is dark enough to conceal the ship from her, and no doubt she thinks +we are still far to the southward of her. At any rate, she has resumed +her former course, which was about south, half west." + +Christy was satisfied with this explanation, for the Ionian was doing +just what she was expected to do. She was not inclined to be overhauled +by a gunboat, and she had attempted to dodge the Chateaugay. Besides, if +she were bound to Wilmington, as her clearance stated, she would turn to +the south-west two or three points by this time. The young officer +seated himself in his room, and figured on the situation. If the steamer +were making an honest voyage she would not be more than twenty miles off +Absecum light at this time, and ought to be within ten of the coast. + +At two bells Christy was still in his chair, and when he heard the bells +he decided to go on deck again, for he felt that the time would soon +come to settle every doubt in regard to the character of the Ionian. He +found the commander still at his post, and he looked out for the chase. +It was not more than a mile distant, and hardly to be seen in the gloom +of a dark night. + +"On deck again, Mr. Passford?" said Captain Chantor. + +"Yes, sir; I am too much interested in this affair to sleep; besides, +I feel as though I had slept at home enough to last me six months," +replied the passenger. "It seems to me that the question of that +vessel's destination is to be decided about this time, or at least +within an hour or two." + +Christy explained the calculation he had been making, in which the +captain agreed with him, and declared that he had been over the same +course of reasoning. Both of them thought the Ionian would not wait till +daylight to change her course, as it would be more perilous to do so +then than in the darkness. + +"I am confident that she has not seen the Chateaugay since we put out +the lights," said the captain. "At the present moment we must be off +Absecum; but we cannot see the light. She is far off her course for +Wilmington." + +"That is plain enough." + +"What she will do depends upon whether or not she suspects that a +man-of-war is near her. We shall soon know, for she is already in a +position to justify her capture." + +"Better make sure of her course before that is done," suggested Christy, +who felt that he was permitted to say as much as this. + +"I don't intend to act till we are south of Cape Henlopen," added the +commander promptly. "Before we do anything, I shall formally consult +you, Mr. Passford, as I am advised to do." + +"I shall be happy to serve as a volunteer, and I will obey your orders +without question, and as strictly as any officer on board." + +"That is handsome, considering the position in which you have been +placed on board, Mr. Passford, and I appreciate the delicacy of your +conduct." + +Christy remained on deck another hour, and at the end of that time a +quartermaster came aft to report that the chase had changed her course +farther to the eastward. This proved to be the fact on examination by +the officers on the quarter-deck, and as nearly as could be made out she +was now headed to the south-east. + +"But that will not take her to the Bahama Islands," suggested Christy. + +"Certainly not; and she may not be bound to Nassau, as stated in those +letters. But it is useless to speculate on her destination, for we shall +be in condition in the morning to form an opinion," replied the captain. +"I shall keep well astern of her till morning; and if there should be +any change in her movements, I will have you called, Mr. Passford." + +Christy considered this a sage conclusion, and he turned in on the +strength of it. He was not disturbed during the remaining hours of the +night. He had taken more exercise than usual that day, and he slept +soundly, as he was in the habit of doing. The bell forward indicated +eight o'clock when he turned out. Breakfast was all ready, but he +hastened on deck to ascertain the position of the chase. The captain was +not on the quarter-deck, but the first lieutenant was planking the deck +for his morning "constitutional." + +"Good-morning, Mr. Birdwing," said Christy. + +"Good-morning, Mr. Passford; I hope you are very well this morning," +replied the executive officer. + +"Quite well, I thank you, sir. But what has become of the chase?" asked +the passenger, for the Ionian did not appear to be in sight, and he +began to be anxious about her. + +"Still ahead of us, sir; but she cannot be seen without a glass. I was +called with the morning watch, when the captain turned in. His policy is +to keep the Ionian so that we may know just where she is, and also to +give her the idea that she is running away from us," replied Mr. +Birdwing, as he took a glass from the brackets and handed it to Christy. + +The young officer could just make out the steamer with the aid of the +glass. The Chateaugay was following her; and a glance at the compass +gave her course as south-east, half south. Christy had sailed the Bronx +over this course, and he knew where it would bring up. + +"It is plain enough, Mr. Birdwing, that the Ionian is not bound to +Nassau," said he. + +"So Captain Chantor said when I came on deck," replied the first +lieutenant. + +"And it is equally plain where she is bound," added Christy. "That +course means the Bermuda Islands, and doubtless that is her +destination." + +"So the captain said." + +The passenger was satisfied, and went below for his breakfast. He found +Mr. Gilfleur at the table; and as the fact that the Chateaugay was +chasing the Ionian was well understood in the ward room, Christy did not +hesitate to tell him the news. The Frenchman bestowed one of his +penetrating glances upon his associate, and said nothing. After the meal +was finished they retired to the detective's room. Mr. Gilfleur looked +over his papers very industriously for a few minutes. + +"This affair is not working exactly as it should," said he, as he +selected a letter from his files. "I supposed this steamer would proceed +directly to Nassau. Read this letter, Mr. Passford." + +"Colonel Richard Pierson!" exclaimed Christy, as he saw to whom the +letter was addressed. + +"Anything strange about the address?" asked the detective. + +"Perhaps nothing strange; but I saw this gentleman in Nassau two years +ago," replied Christy, as he recalled the events of his first trip to +Mobile in the Bellevite. "I can say of my own knowledge that he is a +Confederate agent, and was trying to purchase vessels there. This letter +is signed by Hillman Davis." + +"The American traitor," added Mr. Gilfleur; and both of them were using +the French language. + +"He says he shall send the machinery and other merchandise to Nassau to +be reshipped to Mobile," continued Christy, reading the letter. "He adds +that he has bought the steamer Ionian for this purpose, and he expects +to be paid in full for her. I think that is quite enough to condemn the +steamer." + +"Undoubtedly; but what is the Ionian to do in the Bermudas? That is what +perplexes me," said the detective. + +"Possibly Captain Chantor can solve the problem, for I am sure I +cannot," answered the young officer, as he rose from his seat. + +He was as much perplexed as his companion, and he went on deck to wait +the appearance of the commander. About nine o'clock he came upon the +quarter-deck. The Ionian remained at the same relative distance from the +Chateaugay, for the captain had given an order to this effect before he +turned in. + +"I am glad to see you, Captain Chantor," said Christy. "Can you explain +why the Ionian is headed for the Bermudas, for you have later +information than any in my possession?" + +"I think I can," replied the captain, taking a letter from his pocket. +"This is the contents of the last envelope brought off from the shore. +The writer of it says he has just addressed a letter to 'our friend in +New York,' directing him, if it is not too late, to send the steamer +with the machinery and other merchandise to the Bermudas, where the +cargo will be transferred to the Dornoch; for the Ovidio had been +obliged to sail without her armament, and the cargo was too valuable to +be risked without protection." + +"That is the reason why the reinforcement was sent off at the last +moment," Christy remarked. + +"The Dornoch carries six guns and fifty men," added the captain, reading +from the letter. "I think we need not wait any longer to take possession +of the Ionian, Mr. Passford. What is your opinion?" + +"I concur entirely with you," replied Christy. + +"Quartermaster, strike four bells," continued the captain to the man who +was conning the wheel. + +"Four bells," repeated the quartermaster; and the gong could be heard on +deck as he did so. + +In the course of half an hour, for the steam had been kept rather low +for the slow progress the ship was obliged to make in order not to alarm +the chase, the Chateaugay began to show what she could do in the matter +of speed, and before noon she had overhauled the Ionian. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE BOARDING OF THE IONIAN + + +The Chateaugay, with her colors flying, ran abreast of the Ionian and by +her; but the latter did not show her flag. A blank cartridge was then +fired, but the steamer took no notice of it. A shot was then discharged +across her fore foot, and this brought her to her senses, so that she +hoisted the British flag, and stopped her screw. All the preparations +had been made for boarding her, and two boats were in readiness to +discharge this duty. + +The first cutter, in charge of Mr. Birdwing, was the first to leave the +ship. The sea was quite smooth, so that there was no difficulty in +getting the boats off. The first lieutenant's boat went from the +starboard side, and the second cutter was lowered on the port in charge +of the third lieutenant. Christy went in the first boat, and Mr. +Gilfleur in the second. The officers and crews of both boats were +especially directed to see that nothing was thrown overboard from the +Ionian; for if her captain found that he was in a "tight place," he +would be likely to heave his papers into the sea. + +The first cutter had not made half the distance to the Ionian before she +pulled down the British flag and hoisted the American in its place. Her +commander evidently believed that he was getting into hot water, and +well he might. He must have been selected for this enterprise on account +of his fitness for it, and as the steamer had not sailed on an honest +voyage, he could not be an honest man, and the officers of the boats +despised him. They were determined to discharge their duty faithfully, +even if they were obliged to treat him with the utmost rigor. + +"She has corrected her first blunder," said Mr. Birdwing, as the +American flag went up to her peak. "The skipper of that craft don't +exactly know what he is about." + +"It must be a surprise to him to be brought to by a United States +man-of-war," added Christy. + +"But why did the fool hoist the British flag when he has no papers to +back it up? That would have done very well among the blockaders," +continued the officer of the boat. "I don't know very much about this +business, and the captain ordered me to let you and the French gentleman +in the other boat have your own way on board of her, and to do all you +required. Have you any directions for me?" + +"We desire to have the steamer thoroughly searched, and I have little +doubt that we shall ask you to take possession of her," replied Christy. + +"Then we are to make a capture of it?" asked the first lieutenant, +manifesting no little surprise. + +"Under certain circumstances, yes." + +"Is she a Confederate vessel?" + +"No; she is an American vessel." + +"All right; but I shall obey my orders to the very letter," added Mr. +Birdwing. "How many men shall I put on board of her?" + +"Twelve, if you please," replied Christy, who had arranged the plan with +the detective. + +"Six from each boat," said the executive officer; and then he hailed the +second cutter, and directed Mr. Carlin to send this number on board of +the Ionian. + +"And, if you please, direct him to board the steamer on the starboard +side, for I take it you will board on the port," added Christy. "We fear +that she will throw certain papers overboard, and we must prevent that +if possible." + +The order was given to the third lieutenant, and in a few minutes more +the first cutter came alongside the steamer. Mr. Birdwing ordered those +on board to drop the accommodation ladder over the side; and for so mild +a gentleman he did it in a very imperative tone. The order was obeyed, +though it appeared to be done very reluctantly. The first lieutenant was +the first to mount the ladder, and was closely followed by his +passenger. + +"Where is the captain?" demanded Mr. Birdwing, as the six men detailed +for the purpose were coming over the side. + +"I am the captain," replied an ill-favored looking man, stepping forward +with very ill grace. + +"What steamer is this?" + +"The Ionian, of New York, bound to St. George's, Bermuda," replied the +captain in a crusty tone. + +"The captain's name?" demanded the officer, becoming more imperative as +the commander of the Ionian manifested more of his crabbed disposition. + +"Captain Sawlock," growled the ill-favored master of the steamer, who +was a rather short man, thick-set, with a face badly pitted by the +small-pox, but nearly covered with a grizzly and tangled beard. + +"You will oblige me by producing your papers, Captain Sawlock," +continued Mr. Birdwing. + +"For a good reason, my papers are not regular," answered the captain of +the Ionian, with an attempt to be more affable, though it did not seem +to be in his nature to be anything but a brute in his manners. + +"Regular or not, you will oblige me by exhibiting them," the officer +insisted. + +"It is not my fault that a change was made in my orders after I got +under way," pleaded Captain Sawlock. + +"Will you produce your clearance and other papers?" demanded the +lieutenant very decidedly. + +"This is an American vessel, and you have no right to overhaul me in +this manner," growled the captain of the steamer. + +"You are in command of a steamer, and you cannot be so ignorant as to +believe that an officer of a man-of-war has not the right to require you +to show your papers," added Mr. Birdwing with a palpable sneer. + +"This is an American vessel," repeated Captain Sawlock. + +"Then why did you hoist the British flag?" + +"That's my business!" + +"But it is mine also. Do you decline to show your papers? You are +trifling with me," said Mr. Birdwing impatiently. + +At this moment there was a scuffle in the waist of the steamer, which +attracted the attention of all on the deck. Mr. Gilfleur had suddenly +thrown himself on the first officer of the Ionian; and when his second +officer and several sailors had gone to his assistance, the third +lieutenant of the Chateaugay had rushed in to the support of the +Frenchman. The man-of-war's men were all armed with cutlasses and +revolvers; but they did not use their weapons, and it looked like a +rough-and-tumble fight on the deck. + +Mr. Birdwing and Christy rushed over to the starboard side of the +steamer; but Mr. Carlin and his men had so effectively sustained the +detective that the affray had reached a conclusion before they could +interfere. Mr. Gilfleur was crawling out from under two or three men who +had thrown themselves upon him when he brought the first officer to the +deck by jumping suddenly upon him. The Frenchman had in his hand a tin +case about a foot in length, and three inches in diameter, such as are +sometimes used to contain charters, or similar valuable papers. + +The contest had plainly been for the possession of this case, which the +quick eye of the detective had discovered as the mate was carrying it +forward; for Mr. Carlin had sent two of his men to the stern at the +request of the Frenchman, charged to allow no one to throw anything +overboard. The first officer of the Ionian had listened to the +conversation between Captain Sawlock and the first lieutenant, and had +gone below into the cabin when it began to be a little stormy. + +"What does all this mean, Mr. Carlin?" inquired Mr. Birdwing. + +"I simply obeyed my orders to support Mr. Gilfleur; and he can explain +his action better than I can," replied the third lieutenant. + +"I have requested the officers, through Captain Chantor, to see that +nothing was thrown overboard, either before or after we boarded the +steamer," interposed Christy. + +"And the captain's order has been obeyed," added the first lieutenant. +"Will you explain the cause of this affray, Mr. Gilfleur?" + +"With the greatest pleasure," answered the detective with one of his +politest bows. "While you were talking with the captain of the Ionian, +I saw the first officer of this steamer go into the cabin. I was told by +a sailor that he was the mate. In a minute or two he came on deck again, +and I saw that he had something under his coat. He moved forward, and +was going to the side when I jumped upon him. After a struggle I took +this tin case from him." + +The detective stepped forward, and handed the tin case to the executive +officer as gracefully as though he had been figuring in a ballroom. +Captain Sawlock had followed the officers over from the port side. He +appeared to be confounded, and listened in silence to the explanation of +Mr. Gilfleur. But he looked decidedly ugly. + +"That case is my personal, private property," said he, as soon as it was +in the hands of the chief officer of the boarding-party. + +"I don't dispute it, Captain Sawlock; but at the same time I intend to +examine its contents," replied Mr. Birdwing mildly, but firmly. + +"This is an outrage, Mr. Officer!" exclaimed the discomfited master. + +"If it is, I am responsible for it," added the executive officer, as he +removed the cover from the end of the case. + +"I protest against this outrage! I will not submit to it!" howled +Captain Sawlock, carried away by his wrath. + +"Perhaps you will," said Mr. Birdwing quietly. + +"But I will not!" + +With a sudden movement he threw himself upon the officer, and attempted +to wrest the tin case from his hands. Christy, who was standing behind +him, seized him by the collar with both hands, and hurled him to the +deck. A moment later two seamen, by order of Mr. Carlin, took him each +by his two arms, and held him like a vice. + +"I think we will retire to the cabin to examine these papers, for I see +that the case is filled with documents, including some sealed letters," +continued Mr. Birdwing, as he moved towards the cabin door. + +"That cabin is mine! You can't go into it!" howled Captain Sawlock, +crazy with anger. "Don't let them go into the cabin, Withers!" + +Withers appeared to be the mate, and he stepped forward as though he +intended to do something; but a couple of seamen, by order of the first +lieutenant, arrested and held him. He had apparently had enough of it in +his encounter with the detective, for he submitted without any +resistance. If the captain of the steamer was a fool, the mate was not, +for he saw the folly of resisting a United States force. + +"Mr. Carlin, you will remain on deck with the men; Mr. Passford and Mr. +Gilfleur, may I trouble you to come into the cabin with me?" continued +Mr. Birdwing, as he led the way. + +The executive officer seated himself at the table in the middle of the +cabin, and his companions took places on each side of him. The first +paper drawn from the case was the clearance of the Ionian for +Wilmington, with a cargo of old iron. The manifest had clearly been +trumped up for the occasion. The old iron was specified, and a list of +other articles of merchandise. + +At this point the executive officer sent for Mr. Carlin, and directed +him to take off the hatches and examine the cargo, especially what was +under the pieces of machinery. There were several letters to unknown +persons, and one in particular to the captain himself, in which he was +directed to deliver the machinery to a gentleman with the title of +"Captain," who was doubtless a Confederate agent, in St. George's, +Bermuda. The papers were abundantly sufficient to convict Davis of +treason. The last one found in the case directed Captain Sawlock to +deliver the cannon and ammunition in the bottom of the vessel to the +steamer Dornoch, on her arrival at St. George's, or at some convenient +place in the Bahama Islands. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A BOLD PROPOSITION + + +The evidence was sufficient to justify the capture of the Ionian without +a particle of doubt, for she was as really a Confederate vessel as +though the captain and officers were provided with commissions signed by +Mr. Jefferson Davis. + +Mr. Birdwing went to the door and directed the third lieutenant to have +Captain Sawlock conducted to the cabin; and the two seamen who had held +him as a prisoner brought him before the first lieutenant of the +Chateaugay. He appeared to have got control of his temper, and offered +no further resistance. Mr. Carlin came to the door, and his superior +directed him to examine all hands forward, in order to ascertain whether +they were Confederates or otherwise. He gave him the shipping-list to +assist him. + +"Are you an American citizen, Captain Sawlock?" asked Mr. Birdwing, +as soon as the third lieutenant had departed on his mission. + +"I am," replied he stiffly. + +"Where were you horn?" + +"In Pensacola." + +"Have you ever taken the oath of allegiance to the United States +government?" + +"No; and I never will!" protested the captain with an oath. + +"I must inform you, Captain Sawlock, that I am directed by the commander +of the United States steamer Chateaugay to take possession of the +Ionian, on finding sufficient evidence on board that she is engaged in +an illegal voyage. I have no doubt in regard to the matter, and I take +possession of her accordingly." + +"It is an outrage!" howled the captain with a heavy oath. + +"You can settle that matter with the courts. I have nothing more to +say," replied Mr. Birdwing as he rose and left the cabin, followed by +Christy and the detective. + +"I found ten heavy guns and a large quantity of ammunition at the bottom +of the hold," reported Mr. Carlin, as his superior appeared on deck, and +handed back the shipping-list of the vessel. "The three engineers appear +to be Englishmen, and so declare themselves. I find six Americans among +the crew, who are provided with protections, and they all desire to +enlist in the navy. The rest of the crew are of all nations." + +"Let the six men with protections man the first cutter. You will remain +on board of the Ionian, Mr. Carlin, till orders come to you from the +captain," said the first lieutenant. "I shall now return to the +Chateaugay to report." + +Christy decided to return to the ship; but the detective wished to +remain, though he said there was nothing more for him to do. The six +sailors who wished to enter the navy were ordered into the boat, two of +the regular crew remaining in it. The recruits were good-looking men, +and they pulled their oars as though they had already served in the +navy. They supposed the Ionian was really bound to Wilmington; but they +could not explain why they had not enlisted at Brooklyn if they desired +to do so. The first lieutenant went on board of the ship, and reported +to the captain. + +Mr. Gwyndale was at once appointed prize-master, with Mr. Tompers as his +executive officer, and sent on board with the ten seamen who had been +put on board of the Chateaugay expressly for this duty. Several pairs of +handcuffs were sent on board of the Ionian, for the first lieutenant +apprehended that they would be needed to keep Captain Sawlock and his +mate in proper subjection. The papers which had been contained in the +tin case were intrusted to the care of Mr. Gwyndale, with the strictest +injunction to keep them safely, and deliver them to the government +official before any of the Ionian ship's company were permitted to land. + +The cutters returned from the prize with all the hands who had been sent +from the ship, including Mr. Gilfleur. The prize-master had a sufficient +force with him to handle the steamer, and to control the disaffected, if +there were any besides the captain and mate. The engineers and firemen +were willing to remain and do duty as long as they were paid. In a +couple of hours the Ionian started her screw and headed for New York, +where she would arrive the next day. + +Captain Chantor directed the quartermaster at the wheel to ring one +bell, and the Chateaugay began to move again. The events of the day were +discussed; but the first business of the ship had been successfully +disposed of, and the future was a more inviting field than the past. The +captain requested the presence of the two passengers in his cabin, and +read to them in full the latest instructions that had been sent off to +him. + +"Our next duty is to look for the Dornoch, with her six guns and fifty +men, and we are not likely to have so soft a time of it as we had with +the Ionian," said Captain Chantor, when he had read the letter. + +"The Chateaugay is reasonably fast, though she could not hold her own +with the Bellevite, or even the Bronx; and you have a pivot gun +amidships, and six broadside guns," added Christy. + +"Oh, I shall be happy to meet her!" exclaimed the commander. "I don't +object to her six guns and fifty men; the only difficulty I can see is +in finding her. I am afraid she has already gone into St. George's +harbor, and she may not come out for a month." + +"Why should she wait all that time?" asked Christy. "Her commander knew +nothing about the Ionian, that she was to take in a valuable cargo for +her, and she will not wait for her." + +"That is true; but I am afraid we shall miss the Ovidio if we remain too +long in these waters." + +"It seems to me that the Dornoch has had time enough to reach the +Bermudas," said Christy. "Possibly she is in port at this moment." + +"That is a harassing reflection!" exclaimed the commander. + +"I don't see that there is any help for it," added Christy. "You cannot +go into the port of St. George's to see if she is there." + +"Why not?" asked Mr. Gilfleur, speaking for the first time. "I spent a +winter there when I was sick from over-work and exposure; and I know all +about the islands." + +"That will not help me, Mr. Gilfleur," said the captain, with a smile at +what he considered the simplicity of the Frenchman. + +"But why can you not go in and see if the Dornoch is there?" inquired +the detective. + +"Because if I learned that she was about to leave the port, the +authorities would not let me sail till twenty-four hours after she had +gone." + +"You need not wait till she gets ready to leave," suggested the +Frenchman. + +"She might be ready to sail at the very time I arrived, and then I +should lose her. Oh, no; I prefer to take my chance at a marine league +from the shore," added the captain, shaking his head. + +"Perhaps I might go into Hamilton harbor and obtain the information you +need," suggested Mr. Gilfleur, looking very earnest, as though he was +thinking of something. + +"You!" exclaimed Captain Chantor, looking at him with amazement. "How +could you go in without going in the ship?" + +"You know that I have a boat on deck," replied the detective quietly. + +"But you are not a sailor, sir." + +"No, I am not a sailor; but I am a boatman. After I had worked up the +biggest case in all my life in Paris,--one that required me to go to +London seven times,--I was sick when the bank-robbers were convicted, +and the excitement was over. The doctors ordered me to spend the winter +in Martinique, and I went to the Bermudas in an English steamer, where I +was to take another for my destination; but I liked the islands so well +that I remained there all the winter. My principal amusement was +boating; and I learned the whole art to perfection. I used to go through +the openings in the reefs, and sail out of sight of land. I had a boat +like the one on deck." + +"Your experience is interesting, but I do not see how it will profit +me," said the captain. + +"I can go to the Bermudas, obtain the information you want, and return +to the Chateaugay," replied Mr. Gilfleur rather impatiently. + +"That would be a risky cruise for you, my friend," suggested Captain +Chantor, shaking his head in a deprecatory manner. + +"I don't think so. I have been outside the reefs many times when the +wind blew a gale, and I felt as safe in my boat as I do on board of this +ship," said the detective earnestly. + +"How would you manage the matter?" asked the commander, beginning to be +interested in the project. + +"You shall run to the south of the islands, or rather to the south-west, +in the night, with all your lights put out, and let me embark there in +my boat. You will give me a compass, and I have a sail in the boat. I +shall steer to the north-east, and I shall soon see Gibbs Hill light. By +that I can make the point on the coast I wish to reach, which is Hogfish +Cut. I have been through it twenty times. Once inside the reefs I shall +have no difficulty in reaching Hamilton harbor. Then I will take a +carriage to St. George's. If I find the Dornoch in the harbor, I will +come out the same way I went in, and you will pick me up." + +"That looks more practicable than I supposed it could be," added Captain +Chantor. + +"While I am absent you will be attending to your duty as commander of +the Chateaugay, for you will still be on the lookout for your prize," +continued the versatile Frenchman. "You can run up twenty or thirty +miles to the northward, on the east side of the islands, where all large +vessels have to go in." + +"How long will it take you to carry out this enterprise, Mr. Gilfleur?" + +"Not more than two days; perhaps less time. Do you consent?" + +"I will consider it, and give you an answer to-morrow morning," replied +Captain Chantor. + +"Won't you take me with you, Mr. Gilfleur?" asked Christy, who was much +pleased with the idea of such an excursion. + +"I should be very happy to have your company, Mr. Passford," replied the +detective very promptly, and with a smile on his face which revealed his +own satisfaction. + +"Are you in earnest, Lieutenant Passford?" demanded the commander, +looking with astonishment at his passenger. + +"Of course I am: I see no difficulty in the enterprise," replied +Christy. "I have had a good deal of experience in sailboats myself, and +I do not believe I should be an encumbrance to Mr. Gilfleur; and I may +be of some service to him." + +"You would be of very great service to me, for you know all about ships, +and I do not," the detective added. + +"Just as you please, Mr. Passford. You are not under my orders, for you +are not attached to the ship," said the captain. + +The commander went on deck, and the two passengers retired to Christy's +stateroom, where they discussed the enterprise for a couple of hours. +In the mean time the Chateaugay was making her best speed, for Captain +Chantor did not wish to lose any of his chances by being too late; and +he believed that the Dornoch must be fully due at the Bermudas. Before +he turned in that night he had altered the course of the ship half a +point more to the southward, for he had decided to accept the offer of +Mr. Gilfleur; and he wished to go to the west of the islands instead of +the east, as he had given out the course at noon. + +For two days more the Chateaugay continued on her voyage. At noon the +second day he found his ship was directly west of the southern part of +the Bermudas, and but fifty miles from them. He shaped his course so as +to be at the south of them that night. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A NOTABLE EXPEDITION + + +The position of the Chateaugay was accurately laid down on the chart +fifty miles to the westward of Spears Hill, which is about the +geographical centre of the Bermuda Islands. Captain Chantor had invited +his two passengers to his cabin for a conference in relation to the +proposed enterprise, after the observations had been worked up at noon, +on the fourth day after the departure from New York. + +"Now, Mr. Gilfleur, if you will indicate the precise point at which you +desire to put off in your boat, I will have the ship there at the time +you require," said the captain, who had drawn a rough sketch of the +islands, and dotted upon it the points he mentioned in his statement. + +"Of course you do not wish the ship to be seen from the islands," +suggested the detective. + +"Certainly not; for if the Dornoch is in port at St. George's that would +be warning her to avoid us in coming out, and she might escape by +standing off to the northward," replied the commander. "Besides, there +might be fishing-craft or other small vessels off the island that would +report the ship if she were seen. It is not advisable to go any nearer +to the islands till after dark. We will show no lights as we approach +your destination." + +"How near Gibbs Hill light can you go with safety in the darkness, +Captain?" asked Mr. Gilfleur. + +"I should not care to go nearer than ten miles; we could not be seen +from the shore at that distance, but we might be seen by some small +craft." + +"That will do very well; and if you will make a point ten miles +south-west of Gibbs Hills light, I shall be exactly suited," added the +detective, as he made a small cross on the sketch near the place where +he desired to embark in the boat. + +The conference was finished, and the two passengers went on deck to +inspect the craft which was to convey them to the islands. By order of +the commander the carpenter had overhauled the boat and made such +repairs as were needed. Every open seam had been calked, and a heavy +coat of paint had been put upon it. The sailmaker had attended to the +jib and mainsail, and everything was in excellent condition for the trip +to the shore. + +"Is this the same boat that you used when you were in the Bermudas, Mr. +Gilfleur?" asked Christy, as they were examining the work which had been +done on the craft, its spars and sails. + +"Oh, no; it was six years ago that I spent the winter in the islands. I +found this boat under a shed on a wharf in New York. It had been picked +up near the Great Abaco in the Bahama Islands by a three-master, on her +voyage from the West Indies," replied Mr. Gilfleur. "When I had formed +my plan of operations in the vicinity of Nassau, in order to obtain the +information the government desired, I bought this boat. When picked up, +the boat had her spars, sails, oars, water-breakers, and other articles +carefully stowed away on board of her; and it appeared as though she had +broken adrift from her moorings, or had been carried away by a rising +tide from some beach where those in charge of her had landed. I happened +to find the captain of the vessel that brought the boat to New York; and +he made me pay roundly for her, so that he got well rewarded for his +trouble in picking it up." + +The Chateaugay stood due south till six o'clock at little more than half +speed, and when she came about her dead reckoning indicated that she was +seventy-five miles to the south-west of Gibbs Hill light. The weather +was very favorable for the proposed enterprise, with a moderate breeze +from the west. Mr. Gilfleur did not wish to leave the ship till after +midnight, for all he desired was to get inside the outer reefs before +daylight. The speed of the ship was regulated to carry out this idea. + +The light so frequently mentioned in the conference is three hundred and +sixty-two feet above the sea level, for it is built on the highest point +of land in the south of the Bermudas, and could be seen at a distance of +thirty miles. At three bells in the first watch the light was reported +by the lookout, and the speed was reduced somewhat. + +About this time the detective came out of his stateroom, and entered +that of Christy. He had smeared his face with a brownish tint, which +made him look as though he had been long exposed to the sun of the +tropics. He was dressed in a suit of coarse material, though it was not +the garb of a sailor. He had used the scissors on his long black +mustache, and given it a snarly and unkempt appearance. Christy would +not have known him if he had met him on shore. + +"You look like another man," said he, laughing. + +"A French detective has to learn the art of disguising himself; in fact, +he has to be an actor. Perhaps you will not be willing to believe it, +but I have played small parts at the Theatre Francais for over a year, +more to learn the actor's art of making himself up than because I had +any histrionic aspirations. I have worked up a case in the capacity of +an old man of eighty years of age," the detective explained. "When I +recovered the property of your father, stolen at Havre, I played the +part of a dandy, and won the confidence of the stewardess, though I came +very near having to fight a duel with the _voleur_ who was her 'pal' in +the robbery." + +"Of course it will not do for me to wear my lieutenant's uniform," +suggested Christy. + +"Not unless you wish to have your head broken by the crews of the +blockade-runners you will find at St. George's," replied the Frenchman +significantly. + +"I have some old clothes in my valise," added the lieutenant. + +"I don't like the idea of putting you in a humiliating position, Mr. +Passford, but I have not told you all my plans." + +"I will take any position you assign to me, for I am now to be a +volunteer in your service." + +"I intend to represent myself as a French gentleman of wealth, who has +passed the winter in the Bahama Islands in search of health, and found +it in abundance," said Mr. Gilfleur, with a pleasant smile on his face, +as though he really enjoyed the business in which he was at present +engaged. + +"Have you ever been in the Bahamas?" asked Christy. + +"All through them, including Nassau. If I had not, I should not have +brought that boat with me. I made a trip in an English steamer from the +Bermudas, which had occasion to visit nearly all the islands; and I +passed about two months of my stay in this region on that cruise," +replied the detective. + +"But how far is it from the Bermudas to the nearest point in the +Bahamas? Will people believe that we came even from the Great Abaco in +an open boat?" inquired Christy. "What is the distance?" + +"I estimate it at about seven hundred and fifty miles. That is nothing +for a boat like mine, though I should not care to undertake it in the +hurricane season," replied Mr. Gilfleur. "By the way, we must borrow +some charts of this region from the captain, though only to keep up +appearances." + +"You have not told me in what character I am to be your companion," +suggested Christy. + +"As my servant, if you do not rebel at the humiliation of such a +position, though I promise to treat you very kindly, and with all proper +consideration," laughed the Frenchman. + +"I have not the slightest objection to the character; and I will +endeavor to discharge my duties with humility and deference," responded +the lieutenant in the same vein. + +"Now let me see what sort of a suit you have for your part," added the +detective. + +Christy took from his valise a suit he had worn as a subordinate officer +when he was engaged in the capture of the Teaser. It was approved by his +companion, and he dressed himself in this garb. + +"But you have been bleached out by your long stay at Bonnydale, and your +complexion needs a little improvement," said Mr. Gilfleur, as he went to +his room for his tints. + +On his return he gave to the face of the officer the same sun-browned +hue he had imparted to his own. While he was so employed, he explained +that the tint was a fast color under ordinary circumstances, and in what +manner it could be easily removed, though it would wear off in about a +week. + +"Now, you need only a little touching up," continued the detective, when +he had completed the dyeing process. "You will be amazed at the change +produced in the expression of a person by a few touches of paint +skilfully applied," and he proceeded to make the alteration proposed. + +When he had finished his work, Christy looked in the glass, and declared +that he should hardly know himself. The preparations were completed, and +the French gentleman and his servant were ready to embark. But it was +only eleven o'clock, and both of them turned in for a nap of a couple of +hours. The captain had retired early in the evening, and the +quartermaster conning the wheel was steering for the light, the +Chateaugay making not more than six knots an hour. + +At one o'clock the commander was called, in accordance with his order to +the officer of the watch. He went on deck at once, had the log slate +brought to him, and made some calculations, which resulted in an order +to ring two bells, which meant "Stop her." Then he went to the ward room +himself, and knocked at the doors of his two passengers. Mr. Gilfleur +and Christy sprang from their berths, and the two doors were opened at +once. No toilet was necessary, for both of them had lain down with their +clothes on. + +"Pray, who might you be?" demanded the captain, laughing heartily when +the detective showed himself in his new visage and dress. "Can you +inform me what has become of Mr. Gilfleur?" + +"He has stepped out for a couple of days, and Monsieur Rubempre has +taken his place," replied the detective. + +"And who is this gentleman?" asked Captain Chantor, turning to his other +passenger, who was quite as much changed in appearance. + +"Contrary to his usual custom, he does not claim to be a gentleman just +now. This is Christophe, my servant, employed as such only for a couple +of days," answered Monsieur Rubempre. + +"All right, Mr. Rubumper! Three bells have just been struck, and the +watch are putting your boat into the water," continued the commander. +"I have directed the steward to fill your breaker with water, and put a +small supply of provisions into the craft. We shall be ready for you in +about half an hour." + +"We are all ready at this moment," replied Monsieur Rubempre; for both +of the passengers had agreed to call each other by their assumed names +at once, so as to get accustomed to them, and thus avoid committing +themselves in any moment of excitement. + +The detective came out of his room with a valise in his hand, which he +had packed with extreme care, so that nothing should be found in it, in +case of accident, to compromise him. He had superintended the placing of +Christy's clothing in one of his valises. He objected to the initials, +"C. P.," worked on his linen; but the owner had no other, and the +difficulty was compromised by writing the name of "Christophe Poireau" +on a number of pieces of paper and cards, and attaching a tag with this +name upon it to the handle. + +Both of them put on plain overcoats, and went on deck, where the boat, +which had the name of Eleuthera painted on the stern, had already been +committed to the waves. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE FRENCHMAN IN BERMUDA + + +"Bon voyage, Mr. Rubumper," said Captain Chanter, as the Frenchman was +about to descend the accommodation ladder. "I know French enough to say +that." + +"Thank you, Captain." + +"I hope you will make a success of the enterprise, Mr. Passford," the +commander added to the other member of the expedition. + +"I shall do the best I can to make it so," answered Christy, as he +followed his companion down the accommodation ladder. + +The detective shoved the boat off, and both of the voyagers took the +oars to get the craft clear of the ship, which was accomplished in a few +minutes. Then the Frenchman stepped the mast, which had been carefully +adjusted on board of the ship, while Christy rigged out the shifting +bowsprit. In half an hour they had placed the spars and bent on the +sail, for everything had been prepared for expeditious work. The sails +filled, and the skipper took his place at the long tiller. + +"We are all right now, Christophe," said the detective. + +"I should say that we were, Monsieur Rubempre," replied the acting +servant. "We have ten miles to make: with this breeze, how long will it +take for this boat to do it?" + +"If she sails as well as mine did, she will make it in two hours." + +The craft was about twenty feet long, and was sharp at both ends. She +had a cuddy forward, which was large enough to accommodate both of her +crew in a reclining posture. It had been furnished with a couple of +berthsacks, and with several blankets. The provisions and water had been +placed in it, as well as a couple of lanterns, ready for use if occasion +should require. + +It was a summer sea in this latitude, with a very steady breeze from the +westward. The overcoats they wore were hardly necessary, and they had +put them on mainly to conceal their changed garments from the crew of +the ship, who could only conjecture what the expedition meant. + +"You are a younger man than I am, Christophe, and you have slept only a +couple of hours to-night," said M. Rubempre, as soon as the Eleuthera +was well under way; and the remark was called forth by a long gape on +the part of the younger person. "You can turn in and sleep a couple of +hours more just as well as not, for there is nothing whatever for you to +do. We may have to make a long day of it to-morrow." + +"I am accustomed to doing without my sleep at times," replied +Christophe, which was his first name, according to the French +orthography, and was pronounced in two syllables. + +"Of course you have, when your duty required you to be on deck; but +there is not the least need of doing so now." + +The lieutenant complied with the advice of the skipper, and in five +minutes more he was sound asleep. The Bahama boat, with a Bahama name, +rose and fell on the long rolling seas, which were very gentle in their +motion, and made very good progress through the water. The light could +be plainly seen in its lofty position, and the detective steered for it +over an hour, and then kept it a little on the starboard hand; for the +opening in the outer reef through which he intended to pass was two +miles to the westward of the high tower. He had correctly estimated the +speed of the boat, for the faint light of the dawn of day began to +appear in the east when he was able clearly to discern the outline of +the hills on the most southern of the islands. + +Although it was still quite dark, the Frenchman continued on his course +very confidently. The reefs extended out two miles from the main shore; +but the navigator was so familiar with the locality that they did not +trouble him. Bearing about north-west from the light was Wreck Hill, one +hundred and fifty feet high, which assisted him in keeping his course. +As he approached the mainland he made out the fort, and steering +directly for it, passed safely through Hogfish Cut. + +When he was within half a mile of this fort, he headed the boat to the +north-west. It was still eighteen miles to Hamilton, the capital of the +islands; but he had a fair wind, and the boat made about five miles an +hour. Christy still slept, and the skipper did not wake him. It was +daylight when he was abreast of Wreck Hill, and there was no further +difficulty in the navigation. It was half-past eight when he ran up to +a pier where he had kept his boat in former days. There were plenty of +just such crafts as the Eleuthera, and no attention was paid to her as +she passed along the Front-street docks. The pier at which he made his +landing was in a retired locality. He lowered the sails, and had made +everything snug on board before he called his companion. + +"Half-past eight, Christophe," said he at the door of the cuddy. + +"Half-past eight!" exclaimed Christy, springing out of his berth on the +floor. "Where are we now, M. Rubempre?" + +"We are in Hamilton harbor; and if you will come out of the cuddy, you +will find yourself in the midst of flowers and green trees," replied the +skipper with a smile. + +"I must have slept six hours," said Christy, rubbing his eyes as he +crawled out of the cuddy. + +The scenery around him was certainly very beautiful, and he gazed upon +it in silence for a few minutes. It seemed to him just as though he had +waked in fairyland. He had cruised in the vicinity of the islands, but +he had never been very near the shore before. Though he had been in +Alabama, and seen the shores of the Gulf States, he had never beheld any +region that seemed so lovely to him. He had been on shore at Nassau, but +only on the wharves, and had hardly seen the beauties of the island. + +"Why didn't you call me before, M. Rubempre?" asked he, when he had +taken in the view from the pier. + +"Because I thought your sleep would do you more good than the view of +the shore, which you will have plenty of opportunities to see before we +leave," replied the detective. "But we must begin our work, for we have +no time to lose. I arranged with Captain Chantor to pick us up to-morrow +night at about the point where we embarked in the boat. In the mean time +he will sail around the islands, though the Chateaugay will not come +near enough to be seen from the shore." + +"What will you do with the boat while we are absent?" + +"Leave it where it is." + +While they were talking, an old negro came down the pier, and very +politely saluted the strangers. He appeared to come from a small house a +short distance from the shore, and passed along to a boat which lay near +the Eleuthera. + +"Is that your boat?" asked the detective, calling him back. + +"Yes, sir; I am a fisherman, though I've got the rheumatism, and don't +go out much; but I have to go to-day, for we have nothing to eat in the +house," replied the negro, whose language was very good. + +"What is your name?" + +"Joseph, sir." + +"Do you speak French?" + +"Oh, no, sir!" exclaimed Joseph. "I don't speak anything but plain +English; but I used to work sometimes for a French gentleman that kept a +boat at this pier, six or seven years ago." + +"What was his came?" asked the detective, who had had a suspicion from +the first that he knew the man, though he had changed a great deal as he +grew older. + +"Mounseer Gillflower," replied Joseph; "and he was very kind to me." + +"I am a Frenchman, Joseph; and, if you don't want to go fishing, I will +employ you to take care of my boat, and carry my valise to a hotel," +continued the detective, as he handed an English sovereign to him, for +he had taken care to provide himself with a store of them in New York. + +"Thank you, sir; but I can't change this piece," protested Joseph very +sadly. + +"I don't want you to change it; keep the whole of it." + +"God bless you forever and ever, Mounseer!" exclaimed the fisherman. +"I haven't had a sovereign before since Mounseer Gillflower was here. +I am a very poor man, and I can't get any work on shore." + +Probably, like the rest of his class, he was not inclined to work while +he had any money. He promised to take good care of the Eleuthera, and he +asked no troublesome questions. The detective gave his name, and ordered +Christophe, calling him by his name, to bring the valises on shore. Then +the Frenchman locked the door of the cuddy, for they left their +overcoats there, as they had no use for them. + +"To what hotel shall I carry the valises?" asked Joseph. + +"To the Atlantic; that will be the most convenient for us. Do you know +anything about these vessels in the harbor, Joseph?" + +"Not much, Mounseer Roobump; but they say the two steamers near the +island are going to run the blockade into the States; but I don't know. +They say a Confederate man-of-war came into St. George's harbor +yesterday; but I haven't seen her, and I don't know whether it's true or +not." + +"What is her name?" asked the detective, who from the beginning had +broken up his English, and imparted a strong French accent to it. + +"I did not hear any one mention her name, Mounseer. That vessel this +side of the island is the mail steamer from New York; she got in +yesterday," continued Joseph. + +"That is important; if the Dornoch is the Confederate man-of-war that +arrived at St. George's yesterday, this steamer brought letters from +Davis to her captain," said the Frenchman to Christy, in French. + +"But Davis could not have learned that the Ionian had been captured +before the mail steamer left New York," added Christy, in the same +language. + +"No matter for that, Christophe. I did not resign my place at Davis's +warehouse till the morning we sailed; and I have his letter to the +captain of the Dornoch with my other papers on board of the Chateaugay, +and I know that was the only letter written to him. As he has no +information in regard to the Ionian, he will not wait for her." + +"I remember; you showed me the letter." + +Joseph listened with a show of wonder on his face to this conversation +which he could not understand. The detective directed him to carry the +two valises to the hotel named; but Christy interposed in French, and +insisted that it would look better for him to carry his own valise, and +the point was yielded. The Atlantic Hotel was on Front Street, the +harbor being on one side of it. A couple of rooms were assigned to them, +one of them quite small, which was taken by Christy, in order to keep up +appearances. + +M. Rubempre registered his name, putting "and servant" after it, Paris, +and spoke even worse English than he had used to Joseph. Breakfast had +been ordered, but Christy, being only a servant, had to take his meal at +a side table. The detective was not dressed like a gentleman, and the +landlord seemed to have some doubts about his ability to pay his bills, +though he had baggage. He was not treated with anything like deference, +and he saw the difficulty. After breakfast he took a handful of English +gold from his pocket, and asked the landlord to change one of the coins +for smaller money. Mine host bowed low to him after this exhibition. + +"I want to see the American consul," said M. Rubempre, in his own +language. + +"I will go with you, but I think I will not see him, for he may take it +into his head that I am not a Frenchman," added Christy. + +"You can come with me, and stay outside." + +When they reached the consulate, which was on the same street as the +hotel, they found about a dozen sailors in front of the building. They +were a very rough and hard-looking set of men. They appeared to be +considerably excited about something, and to be bent on violence in some +direction; but the strangers could make nothing of the talk they heard, +though "the bloody spy" was an expression frequently used. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +IMPORTANT INFORMATION OBTAINED + + +Christy walked behind the detective in his capacity as servant. It was +soon evident to them that the ruffians gathered in the street meant +mischief. On the staff over their heads floated the flag of the United +States. Though Mr. Gilfleur was an alien, his companion was not. Of +course he knew that the islands were the resort of blockade-runners, +that they obtained their supplies from the two towns of Hamilton and St. +George's. This fact seemed to explain the occasion of the disturbance in +this particular locality. + +"What does all this mean, Christophe?" asked M. Rubempre, falling back +to join Christy at the door of the consulate. + +"I should judge that these ruffians intended to do violence to the +American consul," replied Christy. "I heard in New York that he was +faithful in the discharge of his duty to his government, and doubtless +he has excited the indignation of these ruffians by his fidelity. His +principal business is to follow up the enforcement of the neutrality +laws, which compels him to watch these blockade-runners, and vessels of +war intended for the Confederate States." + +"That was my own conclusion," added the Frenchman, speaking his own +language, as usual. "I should say that his position is not a pleasant +one." + +"Here comes the bloody spy!" shouted several of the ruffians. + +Looking down the street, they saw a dignified-looking gentleman +approaching, whom they supposed to be the consul, Mr. Alwayn. He did not +seem to be alarmed at the demonstration in front of his office. The +disturbers of the peace fell back as he advanced, and he reached the +door where the detective and his companion were standing without being +attacked. The mob, now considerably increased in numbers, though +probably more than a majority, as usual, were merely spectators, hooted +violently at the representative of the United States. + +The gentleman reached the door of his office, and by this time the +ruffians seemed to realize that simple hooting did no harm, and they +rushed forward with more serious intentions. One of them laid violent +hands on the consul, seizing him by the back of his coat collar, and +attempting to pull him over backwards. Christy felt that he was under +the flag of his country, and his blood boiled with indignation; and, +rash as was the act, he planted a heavy blow with his fist under the ear +of the assailant, which sent him reeling back among his companions. + +"No revolvers, Christophe!" said the detective earnestly, as he placed +himself by the side of the young man. + +Christy's revolver was in his hip-pocket, where he usually carried it, +and the detective feared he might use it, for both of them could hardly +withstand the pressure upon them; and the firing of a single shot would +have roused the passions of the mob, and led to no little bloodshed. +M. Rubempre was entirely cool and self-possessed, which could hardly be +said of the young naval officer. + + [Illustration: + "He planted a heavy blow with his fist under the ear of his + assailant." Page 116.] + +By this time Mr. Alwayn had opened the front door of the office, and +gone in. The detective backed in after him, and then pushed Christy in +after the consul. The ruffians saw that they were losing their game, and +they rushed upon the door. One of them crowded his way in, but M. +Rubempre, in a very quiet way, delivered a blow on the end of the +assailant's nose, which caused him to retreat, with the red fluid +spurting from the injured member. + +Taking his place, two others pushed forward, and aimed various blows at +the two defenders of the position; but both of them were skilled in this +sort of play, and warded off the strokes, delivering telling blows in +the faces of the enemy. Mr. Alwayn had partially closed the door; but he +was not so cowardly as to shut out his two volunteer defenders. As soon +as they understood his object, they backed in at the door, dispersing +the ruffians with well-directed blows, and the consul closed and locked +the door. Before any further mischief could be done, the police came and +dispersed the rioters. The consul fared better on this occasion than on +several others, in one of which he was quite seriously injured. + +As soon as order was restored, Mr. Alwayn conducted his defenders to his +office, where he thanked them heartily for the service they had rendered +him. During the _melee_ M. Rubempre had tried to address the ruffians in +broken French, for he did not for a moment forget his assumed character. +He used the same "pigeon-talk" to the consul, and Christy, in the little +he said, adopted the same dialect. + +"I see you are not Americans, my friends," said the official. + +"No, saire; we are some Frenchmen," replied the detective, spreading out +his two hands in a French gesture, and bowing very politely. + +"Being Frenchmen, I am not a little surprised that you should have +undertaken to defend me from this assault," added Mr. Alwayn. + +"Ze Frenchman like, wat was this you call him, ze fair play; and ve +could not prevent to put some fingers in tose pies. Ver glad you was not +have the head broke," replied M. Rubempre, with another native flourish. +"_Mais_, wat for de _canaille_ make ze war on you, saire? You was +certainment un gentleman ver respectable." + +Mr. Alwayn explained why he had incurred the hostility of the +blockade-runners and their adherents, for he was sometimes compelled to +protest against what he regarded as breaches of neutrality, and was +obliged in the discharge of his duty to look after these people very +closely, so that he was regarded as a spy. + +"Oh! it was ze blockheads, was it?" exclaimed the Frenchman. + +"Hardly the blockheads," replied the consul, laughing at the blunder of +the foreigner. "It is the blockade-runners that make the trouble." + +"Blockade-runners! _Merci._ Was there much blockadeers here in ze +islands?" asked M. Rubempre, as though he was in total ignorance of the +entire business of breaking the blockade. + +"Thousands of them come here, for this is about the nearest neutral port +to Wilmington, where many of this sort of craft run in." + +"Wilmington was in Delaware, where I have seen him on ze map." + +"No, sir; this Wilmington is in North Carolina. If you look out on the +waters of the harbor, half the vessels you see there are +blockade-runners," added the consul. "And there are more of them at St. +George's. It was only yesterday that a steamer I believe to be intended +for a man-of-war for the Confederacy came into the port of St. George's, +and I have been much occupied with her affairs, which is probably the +reason for this attempt to assault me." + +"Ze _man_-of-war," repeated the Frenchman. "Ze war, _c'est la guerre_; +_mais_ wat was ze man?" + +"She is a vessel used for war purposes." + +"_She!_ She is a woman; and I think that steamer was a woman-of-war." + +The consul laughed heartily, but insisted upon the feminine designation +of the steamer. + +"What you call ze name of ze man-of-war?" asked M. Rubempre, putting on +a very puzzled expression of countenance. + +"The Dornoch," replied Mr. Alwayn. + +"The D'Ornoch," added the detective. "How you write him--like zis?" and +he wrote it on a piece of paper by his own method. + +"Not exactly," replied the consul, writing it as given in English. + +"How long ze Dornoch will she stop in zat port?" asked the Frenchman, +in a very indifferent tone, as though the answer was not of the least +consequence to him. + +"Not long; I heard it stated in St. George's that she would get her +supplies and cargo on board to-day and to-morrow, and will sail before +dark to-morrow night," replied Mr. Alwayn. "The government here ought +not to allow her to remain even as long as that, for she is plainly +intended for a Confederate cruiser, and my men inform me that she has +six great guns, and fifty men." + +M. Rubempre obtained all the information the consul was able to give +him, and much of it was of great importance. The official was under +obligations to the two strangers, and he seemed not to suspect that +either of them was an American, much less a naval officer. They took +their leave of him in the politest manner possible, and were shown to +the door by the consul. + +"I am not quite sure that all his information is correct, and we must +investigate for ourselves," said the detective when they were in the +street. "But this affray is bad for us, and I was very sorry when you +interfered, Christophe." + +"You did not expect to see me fold my arms when a representative of the +United States, and under our flag, was attacked by a lot of ruffians?" +demanded Christy, rather warmly, though he spoke in French. + +"I know you could not help it, and I did my best to aid you," added M. +Rubempre. "I only mean that it was unfortunate for us, for when we go +about on the islands, we may be recognized by some of that mob. We must +go back to the hotel." + +In a few minutes more they were at the Atlantic, where the Frenchman, +with his usual flourish, ordered a carriage to be ready in half an hour, +adding that he was about to dress for some visits he was to make in St. +George's. They went to their rooms, and each of them changed his dress, +coming out in black suits. The master wore a frock coat, but the servant +was dressed in a "claw-hammer," and looked like a first-class waiter. + +It is about a two hours' ride over to St. George's, and Christy enjoyed +the excursion as much as though there had not been a blockade-runner in +the world. The town, with even its principal street not more than ten +feet wide, reminded him of some of the quaint old cities of Europe he +had visited with his father a few years before. But M. Rubempre was bent +on business, and the delightful scenery was an old story to him. They +took a boat at a pier, and for an hour a negro pulled them about the +harbor. There were quite a number of steamers in the port, long, low, +and rakish craft, built expressly for speed, and some of them must have +been knocked to pieces by the blockaders before the lapse of many weeks, +though a considerable proportion of them succeeded in delivering their +cargoes at Wilmington or other places. + +The visitors looked them over with the greatest interest. They even went +on board of a couple of them, the detective pretending that he was +looking for a passage to some port in the South from which he could +reach Mobile, where his brother was in the Confederate army. No one +could doubt that he was a Frenchman, and on one of them the captain +spoke French, though very badly. M. Rubempre's good clothes secured the +respect and confidence of those he encountered, and most of the officers +freely told him where they were bound, and talked with great gusto of +the business in which they were engaged. But none of them could +guarantee him a safe passage to any port on the blockaded coast. + +The excursion in the boat was continued, for the visitors had not yet +seen the steamer they were the most anxious to examine. The detective +would not inquire about this steamer, fearful that it might be reported +by the negro at the oars, and excite suspicion. But at last, near the +entrance to the harbor, the boatman pointed out the Dornoch, and told +them all he knew about her. There were several lighters alongside, +discharging coal and other cargo into her. + +M. Rubempre, in his broken English, asked permission to go on deck, and +it was promptly accorded to him. He was very polite to the officers, and +they treated him with proper consideration. There were no guns in sight, +and the steamer looked like a merchantman; but if she had been searched, +her armament would have been found in the hold. The visitor again +repeated his desire to obtain a passage to the South; and this request +seemed to satisfy the first officer with whom he talked. He was informed +that the steamer would sail about five on the afternoon of the next day, +and he must be on board at that time, if he wished to go in the vessel. +He learned many particulars in regard to her. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +AN UNEXPECTED RENCONTRE + + +It was lunch-time when the visitors landed, and they proceeded to the +St. George's Hotel in Market Square, to attend to this mid-day duty. In +the coffee-room they found quite a number of guests, and the only spare +seat the detective found was at a large table at which a gentleman in +uniform was seated. + +"Wit your permis-si-on, I take one of the places here," said M. Rubempre +with his politest flourish. + +"Certainly," replied the gentleman, as politely as the Frenchman; and he +seated himself at the table, Christy remaining standing. + +"_Demandez un garcon_" (ask for a waiter), "Christophe." Then in French +he asked the stranger opposite him if he spoke that language. + +"A little, sir; but I am not fluent in it," replied the gentleman in the +same language. + +"Ah, my dear sir, you speak very well; and you have the Parisian +accent," added the Frenchman, who, like his countrymen, counted upon the +effect of a little well-administered flattery. + +"You are very kind to say so, sir. I have been in Paris a few months, +and was always able to make my way with the language," said the +stranger, evidently pleased with the commendation bestowed upon his +French accent; for many people take more pride in their foreign accent +than in the proper use of their own language. + +"Christophe, find a place for yourself, and order what you desire," +continued the Frenchman, as a waiter, summoned by the acting servant, +presented himself to take the order. + +At this moment a gentleman behind the detective vacated his place at the +table, and Christy took a seat close to his companion. The lunch of both +was ordered, and the stranger opposite had but just commenced his meal. +M. Rubempre "laid himself out" to make himself as agreeable as possible, +and he seemed to be succeeding admirably, for the stranger appeared to +be absolutely charmed with him. Speaking slowly and clearly, so that the +person in uniform, who did not speak French fluently, could understand +him, he told him all about his brother in the Confederate army, and +strongly expressed his desire to join him, and perhaps the army, for he +had very strong sympathy for the right in the great conflict; in fact, +he was disposed to engage in fighting for the right. + +Then he inquired of his new friend what wine was the best in the island. +The stranger preferred sherry, but perhaps a Frenchman might take a +different view of the subject. M. Rubempre ordered both sherry and +claret, and then filled the glasses of his _vis-a-vis_ and his own. He +did not offer any to his servant, for he knew that he never touched it. +They drank claret first to each other's health. + +"You are in the military, my friend?" continued the detective. + +"No, sir; I am a sailor. Allow me to introduce myself as Captain +Rombold, of the steamer Dornoch." + +"I am extremely happy to make your acquaintance, Captain Rombold. To +reciprocate, I am M. Rubempre, of Paris," added the Frenchman, as he +filled his companion's glass, and they tippled again with an abundance +of compliments. "I presume that you are in the British navy, Captain +Rombold?" + +"At present I am not, though I was formerly in that service, and +resigned to engage in a more lucrative occupation." + +"Indeed, what could be better than the position of an officer in the +Royal navy?" + +"I am now a commander in the navy of the Confederate States," added the +captain, looking with interest into the face of his companion. "I am +taking in coal and cargo, and shall sail at five to-morrow afternoon for +Wilmington." + +"Is it possible?" said M. Rubempre, who appeared to be greatly impressed +by what was said to him. "I wish I was a sailor, but I am not. You will +break through the blockade?" + +"I apprehend no difficulty in doing that, for the Dornoch is good for +fourteen knots an hour, and most of the Federal fleet cannot make more +than twelve." + +Christy was very glad to hear this acknowledgment of the speed of the +intended cruiser, for it assured him that the Chateaugay could outsail +her. The two gentlemen at the other table passed the wine very freely, +and both of them seemed to be considerably exhilarated; but he was glad +to perceive that his friend allowed the captain to do the most of the +talking. The lunch was finished at last, and both of them rose from the +table. + +"I am exceedingly obliged to you, M. Rubempre, for the pleasure I have +derived from this interview," said Captain Rombold, as he grasped the +hand of his companion. "I have had more practice with my French than for +several years, and I take great delight in speaking the language. I hope +we shall meet again." + +"Thanks! Thanks! I am very sure that we shall meet again; and almost as +sure that we shall meet fighting for the right," added the Frenchman. + +"But I hope you will be a passenger on board of the Dornoch, as you +suggested to me a little while ago. I will give you a good stateroom, +though I cannot absolutely promise to take you to the port of our +destination, for accidents may happen in the midst of the blockaders." + +"If I can go with you, my dear Captain Rombold, I shall be on board of +your ship by four to-morrow afternoon," replied the detective, as he +took the hand of his new friend for the last time. + +Christy had finished his lunch, and they left the hotel together. The +carriage in which they had come called for them at the appointed time, +and they returned to Hamilton. The conversation was continued in French, +so that the driver was none the wiser for what he heard. At the Atlantic +they went to their rooms, where the information they had obtained was +collaborated, and written down in French, the detective concealing it in +a belt pocket he wore on his body. + +"The wonder to me has been that these officers talked so freely," said +Christy, as they seated themselves at a window. "They talked to you as +plainly as though you had been their friend for life." + +"Why shouldn't they? They can't help knowing that I am a Frenchman; and +I am sorry to say that my countrymen, like so many of the English, +sympathize with the South in the great Civil War. They take me for a +friend at once. Besides, as they understand the matter here, why should +these blockade-runners, or even the Confederate commander, object to +telling what they are going to do. There will be no mail steamer to New +York till after they have all gone off; and there is no telegraph yet." + +"Perhaps you are right, M. Rubempre; but I think a good deal more +discretion would become them better, as they are likely to ascertain +very soon," added Christy. + +"I suppose none of these people here would consider it possible or +practicable to land at these islands and pick up the news, as we have +done. This was my plan for Nassau, but I did not think of applying it to +the Bermudas, till Captain Chantor told me his difficulty as to waiting +for the Dornoch." + +"It seems to me we have done all we can do here, and there is nothing +more to do." + +"That is very true; but I supposed it would take at least two days to do +our business. We have been much more successful than I anticipated, and +performed the duty in half the time I supposed it would require. But it +was better to have too much time than too little." + +"It is nearly night now, and we have another day to spend here." + +"We can rest from our labors in the hope that our works will follow us. +I am ready to do a good deal of sleeping in the time that remains to us, +for we may not be able to sleep any to-morrow night," added the +detective as he threw himself on his bed, and was soon fast asleep. + +Christy had slept enough the night before and during the morning; and he +went out to take a walk in the town. He had taken off his suit of black, +and put on the costume he had worn from the ship. He was inclined to see +what there was in the town; and he walked about till it was dark, at +which time he found himself in the vicinity of the Hamilton Hotel, the +largest and best appointed in the town. He was dressed very plainly, but +there was nothing shabby in his appearance; and he thought he would +inspect the interior of the hotel. + +He began to mount the piazza, when he suddenly halted, and started back +with astonishment, and his hair almost stood on end. Directly in front +of him, and not ten feet distant, sat his uncle, Homer Passford, of +Glenfield, talking with a gentleman in uniform. The lantern that hung +near him enabled him to see the features of the planter, but he could +not see the face of the officer, with whom he was engaged in a very +earnest conversation. + +Christy's first impulse was to put a long distance between himself and +his uncle, for his father's brother might identify him in spite of the +color on his face. Such a discovery was likely to prove very annoying to +him, and might render useless the information the detective and himself +had obtained with so much trouble and risk. But the first question that +came into his head was the inquiry as to what his uncle was doing in +Bermuda. He was a Confederate of the most positive type, had done +everything in his power for his government, as he understood it, and was +willing to sacrifice his life and all that he had in the world in its +service. + +Colonel Passford must be there on some mission. He was a prominent and +useful man in his State; and he would not have left it without some very +strong motive. The nephew would have given a great deal, and exposed +himself to no little peril, to be able to fathom this motive. He moved +away from the piazza, and went upon it at another place. If he could +hear some of the conversation he might be able to form some idea of the +occasion of his uncle's visit. + +Walking along the platform, he obtained a position behind Colonel +Passford, and at the same time saw the face of the person with whom he +was in conversation. He was not a little surprised to discover that the +gentleman was Captain Rombold, commander of the Dornoch. He had hardly +seen this officer, and he had no fear that he would recognize him; and, +if he did, it was of little consequence, for he was there in the +capacity of a servant. He took a vacant chair, turned his back to both +of the speakers, and opened wide his ears. Probably nine-tenths of the +people in the hotel were directly or indirectly concerned in the +business of blockade-running; and secrecy was hardly necessary in that +locality. + +"As I say, Captain Rombold, we need more fast steamers, not to run the +blockade, but to prey upon the enemy's commerce. In that way we can +bring the people of the North to their senses, and put this unhallowed +strife on the part of the Federals to an end," said Colonel Passford. + +"Well, Colonel, there are ships enough to be had on the other side of +the Atlantic, and your money or your cotton will buy them," added the +naval officer. + +"We have been rather unfortunate in running cotton out this last year. +Several steamers and sailing vessels that I fitted out with cotton +myself were captured by my own nephew, who was in command of a small +steamer called the Bronx." + +"Of course those things could not be helped," replied Captain Rombold; +"but with the Gateshead and the Kilmarnock, larger and more powerful +steamers than any that have been sent over, you can scour the ocean. +They are ready for you when your money is ready." + +"It is ready now, for I have sacrificed my entire fortune for the +purchase of these steamers; and I wait only for a vessel that will take +me to Scotland," replied Colonel Passford. + +Christy promptly decided that the steamers mentioned should not be +purchased to prey on the commerce of the United States, if he could +possibly prevent it. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +AN IMPRACTICABLE SCHEME + + +Before the War of the Rebellion the commerce of the United States +exceeded that of any other nation on the globe. The Confederate +steamers, the Sumter, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and other cruisers, +swept our ships from the ocean, and the country has never regained its +commercial prestige. Christy Passford listened with intense interest to +the conversation between his uncle and the commander of the Dornoch, and +he came to the conclusion that the latter was a naval officer of no +ordinary ability. He evidently believed that the six-gun steamer in his +charge was a command not worthy of his talent. + +The Sumter, and some other vessels fitted out as privateers or war +vessels, had already done a great deal of mischief to the shipping of +the Northern States, and the young man fully realized the meaning of his +uncle's intentions. Colonel Passford had been supplied with money by his +government, with what he had raised himself, to purchase larger and more +powerful steamers than had yet been obtained, and Captain Rombold +appeared to be his confidant, with whom he must have been in +communication for a considerable length of time. + +Colonel Passford was going to England and Scotland to purchase the +steamers mentioned and recommended as the kind required by his present +companion. Christy could think of no manner in which he could serve his +country so effectually as by preventing, or even delaying, the adding of +these vessels to the navy of the South. But it was a tremendous +undertaking for a young man. His uncle had certainly been very +indiscreet in talking out loud about his plans; but it could hardly have +been supposed that any loyal ears were near enough to hear them, for +even the American consul was not safe in the islands. + +Christy had doubled himself up in his chair, and pretended to be asleep, +so that no notice was taken of him by the two gentlemen in conversation. +He continued to listen till he heard a clock strike nine; but he +obtained no further information, except in relation to the details of +the colonel's plans. He was in great haste to get to England to purchase +the vessels, and he had the drafts about him for the purpose. It was a +vast sum, for the prices of desirable steamers had largely advanced +under the demand for them for running the blockade. + +"The easiest and quickest way for you to get to Liverpool or Glasgow is +to go to New York, and there take a steamer to either of these ports," +suggested Captain Rombold. + +"I dare not go to New York, for I should certainly be recognized there. +My only brother is one of the most prominent agents of the Yankee +government, and every passenger from Bermuda and Nassau is watched and +dogged by detectives. It would not be prudent for me to go New York, for +some pretext to rob me of the drafts I carry would be found," replied +Homer Passford. + +"There may be a steamer from Bermuda in a week or a month, for there is +no regular line," added the naval officer. + +"But there are regular lines from Havana, Mexico, Jamaica, and the +Windward Islands," suggested the agent of the Confederate government. + +"Very true, and it is not necessary that I should make a port in the +Confederate States before I begin my work on the ocean," said Captain +Rombold. "I have my commission from your government, with full powers to +act, though I desired to make a port in the South, for, as you are +aware, my wife is a native of Georgia, and is at her father's plantation +at the present time. I captured two Yankee vessels off the Azores, and +burned them." + +"I have no doubt about your powers; but can you not aid me in getting to +England?" persisted the colonel. + +"If you will take the chances, I can, Colonel Passford. If you will go +on board of my ship to-morrow afternoon, and sail with me, I have no +doubt we shall overhaul a steamer bound to England in the course of a +week, for I will get into the track of these vessels." + +The agent promptly accepted this proposition, and soon after the +conference ended, though not till the listener had taken himself out of +the way, Christy had turned over in his mind a plan to terminate very +suddenly his uncle's mission to purchase steamers, and to obtain +possession of his drafts. M. Rubempre was adroit enough to accomplish +almost anything, and he intended to have the detective make the +colonel's acquaintance, and induce him to embark with them in the +Eleuthera, pretending that he was going to France himself, and intended +to intercept a French steamer from Progreso, whose course lay but a +short distance south of the Bermudas. + +But the plan suggested by Captain Rombold, and adopted by Colonel +Passford, saved him from what the young officer regarded as his duty in +the deception and capture of his uncle. When the Bellevite, while she +was still the yacht of Captain Horatio Passford, had gone to the +vicinity of Mobile, to the home of his father's brother, Homer had done +all in his power to capture the steamer for the use of his government, +and had made war upon her with armed vessels. He had done so +conscientiously, believing it to be his duty to his country. This fact +from the past made it easier for Christy to think of such a thing as the +capture of his uncle, even in a neutral country. + +The young man returned to the Atlantic Hotel. He found M. Rubempre still +fast asleep, for his slumbers the night before had been very brief. +He waked him, and told him all that had transpired during the evening, +though not till the detective had ordered supper, which they had not +partaken of so far. He stated the plan by which he had proposed to +himself to prevent the purchase, for the present at least, of the +Gateshead and Kilmarnock. + +"Not a practicable plan, Christophe," said the detective, shaking his +head vigorously. + +"Why not?" demanded Christy; and he explained the conduct of his uncle +in regard to the Bellevite, when she was on a peaceful errand to convey +her owner's daughter back to her home. + +Then he related the attempt of the colonel's son, his cousin Corny, +to capture the Bronx by a piece of wild strategy. + +"But I do not object to your scheme on moral grounds," interposed M. +Rubempre. "Have you forgotten the affair of the Trent, when Messrs. +Mason and Slidell were taken out of an English steamer? The British +government made a tremendous tempest, and would certainly have declared +war if the two envoys had not been returned to a British ship-of-war. +The English flag waves over these islands, and they are supposed to be +neutral ground." + +"Neutral with a vengeance!" exclaimed Christy. + +"If Colonel Passford had been carried off in the manner you thought of, +the United States government would have been compelled to return him to +these islands, with all his drafts and other property. I am very glad +you found it unnecessary to carry out such a plot," said the detective, +as a knock at the door announced that their supper was ready. + +As Christy's plan was not in order, (missing words) the business of +the visitors at the islands was finished. Both of them slept till very +late in the morning, and after breakfast lay down again and slept all +the forenoon. The young man was afraid to go out of the hotel in the +afternoon, fearful that he might meet his uncle. But his companion +walked about the place, and visited the Hamilton, where he again +encountered Captain Rombold, who introduced him to Colonel Passford; +informing him that he was to be his fellow passenger. When the commander +of the Dornoch told him that he might not make a Confederate port for +some weeks, if at all, M. Rubempre decided not to take passage with him. +Of course nothing was said that could be of any service to the +detective, for he had already obtained the information he needed; but he +assured himself that the steamer would sail at the time stated the day +before. + +Towards night the detective informed the landlord that he was to go to +St. George's in the evening, paid his bill, and liberally rewarded the +waiters. He had been over to the pier to look after the Eleuthera, and +had found Joseph at his house. The boat was all right; her keeper had +washed her out, and put everything in order on board of her. M. Rubempre +returned to the hotel, and after supper Joseph came for the valises. It +was quite dark when they left the place, and made their way to the pier. +No one asked any questions, and the detective had caused it to be +understood that he had engaged a boatman to take him to St. George's by +water. + +They went on board of the boat, and the fisherman assisted them in +getting under way. The liberal skipper gave him another sovereign, +adding that he need not say anything to any person about him and his +servant. Joseph was profuse in his expressions of gratitude, for with so +much money in his pocket he need not go a-fishing again for a month or +more, and protested with all his might that he would not mention them to +anybody. + +The night was dark enough to conceal the Eleuthera after she got away +from the shore, but not so dark that the skipper could not find his way +around the reefs to Hogfish Cut. It was high tide, as it had been when +they came inside of the rocks, and the boat went along quite briskly in +the fresh west wind that was still blowing. Without accident or incident +of importance, though the wind was ahead a portion of the way, the boat +reached the Cut at about midnight. She stuck on a reef at this point, +but very lightly, though it required half an hour or more to get her +off. She made no water, and did not appear to be injured. + +Without further mishap the Eleuthera passed through the opening in the +reefs, and, taking the bearing of the light on Gibbs Hill, Mr. Gilfleur, +as Christy began to call him from this time, laid his course to the +south-west. The Chateaugay was not to show any lights, and there was +nothing but the compass to depend upon; but a light was necessary to +enable the skipper to see it. The lantern was used for this purpose, but +it was carefully concealed in the stern. + +"We are all right now, Mr. Passford; and you may turn in for about three +hours, for I don't think we shall sight the ship in less than that +time," said the detective, as he put on his overcoat, for the night air +was rather chilly, and his companion had already done so. + +"I have no occasion to turn in, for I have slept enough at that hotel to +last me for a week," replied Christy. "It looks now as though we had +made a good job of this visit to the Bermudas." + +"I think there can be no doubt of that, Mr. Passford; and there is an +unpleasant surprise in store for your worthy uncle," said Mr. Gilfleur, +chuckling as he spoke. + +"And perhaps for your accomplished friend Captain Rombold. We have both +heard him say that he was regularly commissioned as a commander in the +Confederate navy, and that his ship is armed with all proper authority +to capture, burn, and destroy the mercantile marine of the United +States." + +"But Captain Rombold is an ex-officer of the Royal navy, and you may +depend upon it he will fight. There will be a naval battle somewhere in +the vicinity of these islands to-morrow, and Captain Chantor will find +that it will be no boy's play," added Mr. Gilfleur. + +"My father told me that he was a very able officer, and had already +rendered good service, good enough to procure his rapid promotion. +I liked the looks of his officers and crew, and I have no doubt they +will give a good account of themselves." + +"I hope so, for I am to be an American citizen: I have filed my first +papers." + +"I doubt not you will make a good and useful citizen; and your wonderful +skill as a detective will make you very serviceable to your new +country." + +The conversation was continued for full three hours longer; at the end +of which time they saw a dark body ahead on the port bow, and heard some +rather gentle screams from a steam whistle. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AT THE END OF THE CHASE + + +Mr. Gilfleur estimated that the Eleuthera was at least fifteen miles +from the light, and the whistles were not loud enough to be heard at +that distance. Neither of the voyagers had any doubt that the dark mass +ahead was the Chateaugay, and the skipper headed the boat for her. If it +were not the ship that was expecting to pick up the visitors to the +island, she would not be whistling in mid-ocean; and any other vessel +would carry a head and side lights. + +In half an hour more, for the Chateaugay appeared to have stopped her +screw, the boat was within speaking distance, and the hail of Christy +was answered. When she came alongside the steamer, the accommodation +ladder was rigged out, several seamen came on board, and the voyagers +hastened to the deck of the ship. Captain Chantor grasped the hand of +the lieutenant, and then of the detective. + +"I had some doubts whether or not I should ever see you again," said the +commander. "If they had discovered that one of you was a United States +naval officer, they would have mobbed you." + +"As they did the American consul while we were there," added Mr. +Gilfleur. + +"You will tell me of that later," replied the captain, as he directed +the officer of the watch to hoist in the boat and secure it as it had +been before. "Now, come down into my cabin, and tell me your news, if +you have seen something, even if you have not done anything," he added. + +"We were not expected to capture the islands, or make any demonstration; +and we have been in only one fight," replied Christy, to whom the +commander turned as soon as they were seated at the table. + +"Then you have been in a fight?" queried the captain. + +"Only with the fists. We defended the United States consul when he was +hard pressed, and we got him safely into his office by the time the +police came upon the scene," continued Christy. "But we have important +information. Mr. Gilfleur will give it to you in full." + +"Pardon; but I very much prefer that Mr. Passford should be the +historian of the expedition," interposed the detective. + +"But my friend and companion has been the principal actor; and I am sure +I could not have done anything to obtain the information without him," +protested the lieutenant. + +"Then it is all the more proper that you should tell the story, Mr. +Passford, and spare Mr. Gilfleur's modesty," said the captain. + +It was agreed that Christy should be the narrator of the results of the +expedition, and he first described the trip to Hamilton in the boat. +Then he told about the assault on the consul, and in what manner they +had defended him. + +"I ought to inform you at once that the Dornoch was at St. George's +harbor, and that she was to sail yesterday afternoon at five o'clock," +said Christy. "But she is bound to the southward, and her first mission +is to intercept an English or French steamer, and put a Confederate +commissioner, wishing to get to England, on board of her. This agent of +the South happens to be my uncle." + +"The brother of Captain Passford?" + +"Yes, Captain; and he is provided with funds to purchase two +vessels--steamers, to be fitted up as men-of-war." + +"Then if he is your father's brother, you think, perhaps, that we ought +not to molest him," suggested the captain. + +"Why, his graceless nephew even considered a scheme to entice him on +board of our boat, under pretence of finding a passage to England for +him," interposed Mr. Gilfleur, laughing heartily at the suggestion of +the commander. + +"I believe in treating him like a Christian and a gentleman, for he is +both of these; but I do not believe in letting him fill up the +Confederate navy with foreign-built steamers, to ruin the commerce of my +country," replied the young officer with spirit. "My father would no +more believe in it than I do. You should treat him, Captain Chantor, +exactly as though he was nobody's brother or uncle." + +The commander clapped his hands as though he was of the same opinion as +his passenger, and Christy proceeded with his narrative, describing +their visit to the Dornoch and the blockade-runners at St. George's and +Hamilton. The captain was very much amused at his interview in French +with Captain Rombold, and his conversations with officers of other +vessels they had boarded. The detective took his papers from the belt, +and read the names of the steamers, and the ports for which they were +bound. + +"They were a very obliging lot of blockade-runners," said the captain, +laughing heartily at the freedom with which they had spoken. + +"I don't suppose there is an American in the Bermudas at the present +time besides Mr. Alwayn, the consul," added the detective. "The +blockade-runners have the islands all to themselves, or at least the two +towns on them. They have plenty of money, and they spend it without +stint or measure. They make business good, and the inhabitants take +excellent care of them. It is no place for Americans; for everybody's +sympathy is with the South. It seems to me that there is no danger of +talking about their business anywhere in the islands." + +"They were speaking all the time to a Frenchman, who had considerable +difficulty in using the English language," said Christy. "All the talk +with Captain Rombold was in French." + +The narrative was finished, and discussed at great length. The order had +been given to the officer of the deck to go ahead at full speed, making +the course south-east, after the Eleuthera had been hoisted on board and +secured. + +"It looks decidedly like a battle some time to-morrow," said the +commander thoughtfully. + +"No doubt of it," added Christy. + +"If the Dornoch sailed at five o'clock yesterday afternoon, according to +the arrangement, she must be over a hundred miles from the islands at +this moment," continued Captain Chantor thoughtfully, as he consulted +his watch. "We can only conjecture his course, and that is the important +thing for us to know. His first objective point is to intercept a +steamer bound to England or France. If he runs directly to the southward +he may miss the first one." + +"If I were in his place I should run to the eastward, so as not to fall +astern of any possible steamer bound to England," added Christy. + +"That was the thought that first came to my mind," replied the +commander, as he brought out a chart and spread it on the table. "For +that reason I gave out the course to the south-east." + +A careful examination of the chart and an extended calculation followed. +It was agreed between the two naval officers that the Dornoch would go +to the eastward till she fell into the track of vessels bound to the +north-east from Jamaica, Cuban ports, or Mexico, and then put her head +to the south-west. It was four o'clock in the morning, the cruiser had +been out nine hours, and the captain dotted the chart where he believed +she was at that moment. + +"She has made all the easting necessary, and by this time she has laid +her course about south-west," continued the commander. "Captain Rombold +will not hurry his ship, for he has no occasion to do so, and he will +naturally save his coal. If our calculations are correct, we shall see +the Dornoch about noon to-day;" and he pointed to the conjunction of the +two courses as he had drawn them on a diagram. "That is all; and we had +better turn in." + +A sharp lookout was maintained during the hours of the morning watch, +for the conjectures and calculations of the captain might prove to be +all wrong. It was possible that the Dornoch had proceeded directly to +the southward, after making less easting than was anticipated. Nothing +was seen of any steamer. But in the middle of the forenoon watch a long +and rather faint streak of black was discovered in the east. The Dornoch +was not exactly a blockade-runner, and doubtless she used soft coal, +though anthracite was beginning to come into use in other than American +steamers, for its smoke was less likely to betray them. + +"I think we have figured this matter out correctly, Mr. Passford," said +Captain Chantor, as they gazed at the attenuated streak of black. + +"Captain Rombold is a very competent officer, and you and he seem to +have agreed in your calculations," added Christy. + +The steamer to the eastward soon came in sight; she and the Chateaugay +were headed for the same point, and by noon they were in plain sight of +each other. In another hour they were within hailing distance. + +"That is not the Dornoch," said Christy decidedly. + +"No; she is much larger than the Dornoch," added Mr. Gilfleur. + +"I am disappointed," replied the captain. + +The steamer showed the British flag, and went on her way to the +south-west. The Chateaugay continued on her course without change till +eight bells in the afternoon watch, when a heavier volume of smoke was +descried in the north-east. No change was made in the course, and at the +beginning of the second dog watch the craft from which the smoke issued +could be seen with the naked eye. She was headed to the south-west, and +it was evident that her course would carry her to the westward of the +Chateaugay. The darkness soon settled down upon the ocean, and the port +light of the stranger showed itself over the starboard quarter of the +ship, proving that it crossed the wake of the other. + +The action, if the steamer proved to be the Dornoch, must be deferred +till the next morning. It was impossible to determine what she was in +the darkness, and Captain Chantor ordered the course to be changed to +correspond with that of the stranger, which manifested no disposition to +get away from her. All night the two vessels maintained the same +relative position, and both were making about ten knots an hour. +At daylight in the morning the commander and Christy were on the +quarter-deck, anxiously observing the stranger. She was carefully +examined with the glasses. + +"That is the Dornoch!" exclaimed Mr. Gilfleur, after a long inspection +with the glass. + +"No doubt of it," added Christy. + +"You are sure of it?" inquired the commander. + +"We have both been on board of her, and I am perfectly sure of it," +replied Christy, who proceeded to explain the details by which he +identified her; and the captain was entirely satisfied. + +The Dornoch was not more than two miles distant from the Chateaugay, for +in the early morning hours the course had been changed a couple of +points, to bring her nearer for examination. It was now a chase, and the +chief engineer was instructed to give the ship her best speed. It was +soon evident that the Dornoch was hurrying her pace, for her +smoke-stacks were vomiting forth immense inky clouds. + +"I doubt if Captain Rombold cares to fight with my uncle on board," said +Christy. "He can see that the Chateaugay is of heavier metal than the +Dornoch." + +"I should suppose that it would be his first care, as perhaps he regards +it as his first duty, to put his passenger on board of a steamer bound +to England," added the commander. "It appears to be a question of speed +just now." + +The Chateaugay was driven to her utmost, and it was soon clear that she +was too much for her antagonist. At two bells in the forenoon watch she +was about a mile abreast of the chase, which had not yet shown her +colors. The flag of the United States floated at the peak, and the +commander ordered a shot to be fired across the forefoot of the Dornoch. + +This was an order for her to come to; but, instead of doing so, she +flung out the Confederate flag, and fired a shotted gun, the ball from +which whizzed over the heads of the Chateaugay's officers on the +quarter-deck. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +AN EASY VICTORY + + +The shot from the Dornoch, which had evidently been intended to hit +the Chateaugay, sufficiently indicated the purpose of her commander. +On board of either steamer there could be no doubt in regard to the +character of the other. Captain Chantor gave the order to beat to +quarters, and in a few moments every officer and seaman was at his +station. + +Christy Passford went to his stateroom, buckled on his sword belt, and +prepared his revolvers for use; for though he held no position on board +of the Chateaugay, he did not intend to remain idle during the action, +and was ready to serve as a volunteer. Mr. Gilfleur came to the open +door of his room, and seemed to be somewhat astonished to observe his +preparations. + +"You appear to be ready for duty, Mr. Passford, though you are not +attached to this ship," said he. + +"I have no position on board of the Chateaugay; but it would be quite +impossible for me to remain inactive while my country needs my services, +even as a supernumerary," replied Christy. + +"But what am I to do?" asked the detective, with a puzzled expression on +his face. + +"Nothing at all, Mr. Gilfleur; I regard you as a non-combatant, and I +think you had better remain in your stateroom," replied Christy. "But I +must go on deck." + +The Frenchman followed him to the quarter-deck, and seemed to be +inclined to take a hand in the conflict. He desired to be an American +citizen, and possibly he believed he could win his title to this +distinction in a battle better than by any other means. But he had no +naval training, could be of no service at the guns, and was more likely +to be in the way of others than to accomplish anything of value. It was +a needless risk, and the captain suggested that his life was too +valuable to his adopted country for him to expose himself before his +mission had been accomplished. He stepped aside, but he was not willing +to go below. + +"I desire to offer my services as a volunteer, Captain Chanter," said +Christy, saluting the commander. "If you will assign me to any position +on deck, though it be nothing more than a station at one of the guns, +I will endeavor to do my duty." + +"I have no doubt you would do your whole duty, Mr. Passford," replied +the captain, taking him by the hand. "You can be of more service to me +as an adviser than as a hand at a gun. It is plain enough that the +commander of the Dornoch intends to fight as long as there is anything +left of him or his ship. Your report of him gives me that assurance." + +"I suppose by this time, Captain Chantor, you have arranged your plan +for the action," added Christy, looking curiously into the face of the +commander, though he had resolved to give no advice and to make no +suggestions unless directly requested to do so. + +"I suppose the only way is to pound the enemy till he has had enough of +it, using such strategy as the occasion may require. According to your +report we outweigh her in metal, and we have proved that we can outdo +her in speed," replied Captain Chantor. + +"But the Dornoch will have the privilege of pounding the Chateaugay at +the same time," said Christy in a very low tone, so that no one could +hear him. + +"That is very true; of course we must expect to take as good as we +send." + +"But then what use shall you make of your advantage in speed and weight +of metal?" asked the passenger very quietly. "We both believe that there +is humanity in war as well as in peace." + +At that moment a shot passed under the counter of the ship, and buried +itself in the water a cable's length beyond her. + +"That is good practice, Captain Chantor," said Christy. "That shot was +aimed at your rudder; and I have no doubt Captain Rombold is seeking to +cripple you by shooting it away." + +"I believe in humanity in war; but I do not see where it comes in just +now, except in a very general way," replied the captain. + +"If the Dornoch cripples you, and then takes her own time to knock the +Chateaugay to pieces, it will amount to the sacrifice of many lives," +suggested the unattached officer. + +"I should be very glad to have your opinion, Mr. Passford," added the +commander. + +"I certainly do not desire to thrust my opinion upon you, Captain +Chantor; but as you have asked for it, I will express myself freely." + +"Thank you, Mr. Passford." + +"I should adopt the tactics of Commodore Dupont at Port Royal." + +"In other words, you would keep sailing around the Dornoch." + +"Precisely so. I would not give him a shot till I was out of the reach +of his broadside guns." + +"And then pound her with the midship gun. That is my idea exactly. +Quartermaster, strike one bell." + +"One bell, sir." + +"Strike four bells, quartermaster," added the captain. + +"Four bells, sir." + +The Chateaugay was soon going ahead at her best speed, headed directly +away from the Dornoch, and it would have looked to an observer as though +she was running away from her. At any rate, the enemy made this +interpretation of her movement, and immediately gave chase, opening fire +upon the ship with her bow guns. Presently she fired her heavy midship +gun, the shot from which would have made havoc if it had hit the mark. +It was soon evident that the enemy's speed had been overrated, for the +Chateaugay gained rapidly upon her. A shot from her heavy gun knocked +off the upper works on one side of the Eleuthera, but did no other +damage. + +At the end of two hours even the heavy gun of the enemy could not carry +its shot to the chase. It would have been easy enough to run away from +the Dornoch; but this was by no means the intention of Captain Chantor. +He was very cool and self-possessed, and he did not ask his passenger +for any further suggestions. He understood his business thoroughly, +though he had at first been disposed to make shorter work of the action +than he had now adopted. As soon as he had obtained his distance, he +gave the order to bring the ship about. Thus far he had not fired a gun, +and the enemy had apparently had it all his own way. + +The midship was in readiness to initiate the work of the Chateaugay. At +the proper moment, the gunner himself sighted the piece, the lock string +was operated, and the hull of the ship shook under the discharge. +Christy had a spy-glass to his eye, levelled at the Dornoch. She had +just begun to change her course to conform to that of the Chateaugay, +and the observer on the quarter-deck discovered the splinters flying +about her forecastle. The shot appeared to have struck at the heel of +the bowsprit. + +"That was well done, Captain Chantor," said Christy. + +"Excellently well done; but Mr. Turreton will improve when he gets his +range a little better," replied the captain. + +At this moment the report of the Dornoch's great gun was heard again; +but the shot fell considerably short of the Chateaugay. At the same time +she was crowding on all the steam she could make, and Captain Chantor +was manoeuvring his ship so as to maintain his distance. The midship +gun was kept as busy as possible, and Mr. Turreton improved his practice +very materially. Fought in this manner, the action was not very +exciting. The ship followed her circular course, varying it only to +maintain the distance. For several hours the unequal battle continued. +The mainmast of the Dornoch had been shot away, and Christy, with his +glass, saw several of the huge shots crash into her bow. + +It was evident, after pounding her a good part of the day, that the +enemy could not stand much more of this punishment. At eight bells in +the afternoon watch she hauled down her flag. Christy had done nothing +but watch the Dornoch, and report to Captain Chantor. As her flag came +down, he discovered that her condition, after the last shot, was +becoming desperate. + +"She has settled considerably in the water, Captain Chantor, and that is +evidently the reason why she hauled down her flag," said Christy, just +as the ship's company were cheering at the disappearance of the +Confederate flag from the peak of the enemy. + +"I was confident she could not endure much more such hulling as Mr. +Turreton has been bestowing upon her," replied the commander, after he +had given the order to make the course directly towards the Dornoch. + +Christy continued to watch the enemy's vessel. The ship's company were +employed in stretching a sail over the bow, evidently for the purpose of +stopping in whole or partially a dangerous leak in that part of the +vessel; and she seemed to be in immediate peril of going to the bottom. +They were also getting their boats ready, and the situation must have +been critical. In a short time the Chateaugay was within hailing +distance of her prize. + +"Dornoch, ahoy!" shouted Captain Chantor, mounted on the port rail. "Do +you surrender?" + +"I do," replied Captain Rombold; for Christy recognized his voice. "Our +ship is sinking!" + +By this time the havoc made by the big gun of the Chateaugay could be +seen and estimated. The bow of the steamer had been nearly all shot +away. Her bowsprit and her mainmast had gone by the board. Her bulwarks +were stove in, and most of her boats appeared to have been knocked to +pieces. In spite of the efforts to keep her afloat, it was plain that +she was sinking; and Christy could see her settling in the water. The +boats of the victor were promptly lowered, and crews sent away in them +to the relief of the imperilled enemy. There were not more than sixty +men on board of her, including the officers; and they were soon +transferred to the deck of the Chateaugay. + +Christy watched the boats with the most intense interest as they came +alongside the ship; for he knew that his Uncle Homer was on board of the +Dornoch, if the plans arranged at the hotel had been fully carried out. +Captain Rombold came in the last boat, and Colonel Passford was with +him. His nephew did not care to meet him just then. The Confederate +commissioner came on deck; and Christy looked at him with interest from +behind the mizzenmast. His expression testified to his grief and sorrow +at the early failure of his mission. The young lieutenant could pity the +man, while he rejoiced at his ill success in building up the navy of the +Confederacy. + +His attention was drawn off from his uncle by the sudden sinking of the +Dornoch; and the vortex that followed her disappearance extended to the +Chateaugay. Most of the officers and seamen had brought off the whole or +a part of their clothing and other articles. + +When Captain Rombold came on deck, Captain Chantor politely saluted him, +and returned the sword he surrendered to him. Colonel Passford kept +close to him; and Christy thought he looked dazed and vacant. + +"While I must rejoice in my own good fortune, Captain Rombold, I can +sympathize personally with a brave commander who has lost his ship," +said Captain Chantor, taking the hand of the late commander of the +Dornoch. + +"I thank you for your consideration, Captain. I am sorry to have been so +easy a victim to your strategy; and I can reciprocate by congratulating +you on your victory, though your better guns enabled you to knock my +ship to pieces at your leisure," replied Captain Rombold. + +He then introduced Colonel Passford, and both of them were invited to +the captain's cabin. The wounded were turned over to the surgeon, and +the crew were sent below. It was clearly impossible for the ship to +continue on her voyage with such an addition to her numbers; and the +Chateaugay was at once headed back to New York. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE GENTLEMAN WITH A GRIZZLY BEARD + + +The addition of about sixty persons to the full complement of the ship's +company of the Chateaugay made a considerable crowd on board of her; but +accommodations were provided for all, and in three days the ship would +deliver her human freight to the authorities in New York. The Dornoch +had gone to the bottom with all her valuable cargo; but her captors +would be remunerated in prize-money by the government, so that in a +material point of view she was not lost to them, and there was one less +cruiser to prey upon the commerce of the loyal nation. + +Captain Rombold and Colonel Passford remained in the cabin all the rest +of the day; but the next morning both of them went on deck to take the +fresh air. Christy and Mr. Gilfleur were in the waist, and noticed them +as soon as they appeared. They had had some conversation the evening +before in regard to confronting the two most important prisoners, though +without arriving at a conclusion. + +"Of course I must meet my uncle," said Christy. "I am not inclined to +skulk and keep out of sight rather than meet him. Though I have assisted +in doing him and his cause a great deal of mischief, I have done it in +the service of my country; and I have no excuses to offer, and no +apologies to make." + +"I was not thinking of excusing myself, or apologizing for what I have +done," replied the detective quite earnestly. "That is not the point I +desire to make. Since I went to New York I have looked upon your country +as my own; and I would do as much to serve her as I ever would have done +for France." + +"What is your point, Mr. Gilfleur?" asked Christy. + +"I do not object to your fraternizing with your uncle, Mr. Passford, if +you are so disposed," continued the Frenchman; "but the case is quite +different with me. In the hotel at St. George's you were not presented +to Captain Rombold, and you did not allow the Confederate commissioner +to see and identify you. Neither of these gentlemen recognized you; but +the captain of the Dornoch would certainly know me, for I talked with +him a long time." + +"Suppose both of them know us: what difference will that make?" demanded +the young lieutenant. + +"It will explain to them in what manner we obtained our knowledge of the +force and weight of metal of the Dornoch. While we had as good a right +to be on shore in the Bermudas as the Confederates, if we were +recognized our method of operations would be betrayed, and in my opinion +that would be very bad policy, especially as we are to adopt the same +strategy in the Bahamas." + +"I see; and I agree with you, Mr. Gilfleur, that it will be good policy +to keep our own counsel in regard to what we have done in the islands," +added Christy, as he saw Captain Chantor approaching him. + +"Good-morning, Mr. Passford. You and your uncle do not appear to be on +very friendly terms, for I notice that you do not speak to each other." + +"Our relations have always been friendly, even while I was in a rebel +prison; but I have not happened to meet him since he came on board of +the Chateaugay." + +"I will present you to him as his nephew, if you desire me to do so," +continued the commander with a smile. + +"I thank you, Captain: I intended to speak to him when an opportunity +came. But you will pardon me if I make a suggestion without being asked +to do so," said Christy, speaking in a low tone; and he proceeded to +state what had passed between him and Mr. Gilfleur. "I hope you have not +mentioned the fact that Mr. Gilfleur and myself have been in the +Bermudas." + +"I have not, for it came to my mind that it would be very unwise to do +so," replied the captain. "Besides, I was not at all inclined to tell +Captain Rombold that I knew all about his ship, her size, the number of +her ship's company, and the weight of his guns. A man does not feel just +right when he finds he has been made the victim of a bit of strategy; +and I was disposed to spare his feelings. He charges his misfortune +altogether to his antiquated steamer, her failure in her promised speed, +and the neglect of the Confederate commissioners to provide him with a +suitable vessel." + +"Mr. Gilfleur will keep out of the captain's sight during the run to New +York; but I was acting as a servant when we met him, and did not sit at +the same table. I will speak to my uncle now." + +Captain Chantor attended him to the quarter-deck, where the commissioner +was taking his morning walk. They fell in behind him as he was moving +aft, so that he did not observe his nephew. + +"Colonel Passford, I have a young gentleman on board of my ship who +bears your name; allow me to present to you Lieutenant Christopher +Passford, who is simply a passenger on the Chateaugay," said the +captain, directing the attention of the commissioner to the young man. + +"My nephew!" exclaimed Colonel Passford, as he recognized Christy, and +extended his hand to him. + +"I am very glad to see you, Uncle Homer, though I am sorry to meet you +under present circumstances," replied the nephew, taking the offered +hand. "I hope you are very well, sir." + +"Not very well, Christy; and I am not likely to improve in health in a +Yankee prison," answered the colonel with a very sickly smile. + +"Probably my father will be able to obtain a parole for you, and he will +be extremely glad to have you with him at Bonnydale," added Christy. + +"The last time I met you, Christy, you looked upon me as a +non-combatant, released me, and sent me on shore." + +"I am not sure that I did wisely at that time." + +"I was not taken in arms; and I could hardly be regarded as a prisoner +of war." + +"But you were engaged in the Confederate service, Uncle Homer, for you +were shipping cotton for the benefit of the cause." + +"But I was merely a passenger on board of the Dornoch." + +"Yet you are a Confederate commissioner, seeking a passage in some +vessel bound to England, for the purpose of purchasing steamers to serve +in your navy," added Christy with considerable energy, and without +thinking that he was in danger of compromising himself and his companion +in the visit to the Bermudas. + +Colonel Passford stopped short, and gazed into the face of his nephew. +He appeared to be utterly confounded by the statement, though he did not +deny the truth of it. + +"Without admitting the truth of what you say, Christy, I desire to ask +upon what your statement is founded," said the commissioner, after some +hesitation. + +"As you are on one side in this great conflict, and I am on the other, +you must excuse me for not answering your question," replied Christy +very promptly, and declining to commit himself any farther. + +"It is very sad to have our family divided so that we should be enemies, +however friendly we may be personally," added Colonel Passford in a tone +that indicated his profound grief and sorrow. + +"I know how useless it is for us to discuss the question, Uncle Homer, +for I am sure you are as honest in your views as my father is in his." + +"I have no desire to argue the question; but I believe the North will +come to its senses in good time--when the grass grows in the streets of +New York, if not before." + +"You will have an opportunity to see for yourself, Uncle Homer, that New +York was never so busy, never so prosperous, as at the present time; and +the same may be truthfully said of all the cities of the North," replied +Christy with spirit. + +"Sail, ho!" shouted the lookout forward. + +An hour later the sail was reported to be a steamer, bound to the +westward, and her streak of black smoke indicated that she was English. +She was low in the water, had two smoke-stacks, and presented a very +rakish appearance. She was a vessel of not more than eight hundred tons, +and her build was quite peculiar. It was evident that she was a very +fast steamer. But she seemed to have no suspicions in regard to the +character of the Chateaugay. + +Christy left his uncle, and went to the ward room, where he found Mr. +Gilfleur in his stateroom. He desired the advice of the Frenchman before +he said anything to the captain in regard to the approaching sail. +Together they had looked over all the steamers in the harbor of St. +George's, and those on board of them were not disposed to conceal the +fact that they were to run the blockade as soon as they could get over +to the coast of the United States. + +"What have you been doing to yourself, Mr. Gilfleur?" asked Christy, as +soon as he discovered the detective, for he had completely changed his +appearance, and looked like an elderly gentleman of fifty, with a full +beard, grizzled with the snows of many winters. + +"I don't care to be shut up in this stateroom during the voyage to New +York," replied the Frenchman with a pleasant laugh. "This is one of my +useful costumes, and I don't believe Captain Rombold will recognize me +now." + +"I am very sure he will not," added Christy, looking him over, and +wondering at the skill which could so completely change his appearance. + +"I want you to see the steamer which is approaching, bound to the +westward. If I am not mistaken, we have seen her before." + +"I am all ready, and I will go on deck with you; but you must contrive +to let the captain know who I am, or he will order me below, or have too +much to say about me," replied the detective, as he followed Christy to +the quarter-deck. + +Colonel Passford and Captain Rombold had seated themselves abaft the +mizzenmast, and seemed to be interested in the reports respecting the +approaching steamer. Christy called Captain Chantor to the rail, and +explained what the commander had already scented as a mystery in regard +to the gentleman with the grizzled beard. He laughed heartily as he +gazed at the apparent stranger, and declared that he thought he might be +another Confederate commissioner, for he looked respectable and +dignified enough to be one. + +"I think that steamer is the Cadet, Captain Chantor; and I have brought +Mr. Gilfleur on deck to take a look at her." + +The Frenchman had no doubt the steamer was the Cadet, for she was +peculiar enough in her build to be identified among a thousand vessels +of her class. For some time they discussed the character of the vessel, +and minutely examined her build and rig. Neither of them had any doubt +as to her identity, and the passenger reported the result of the +conference to the commander, who immediately ordered the American flag +to be displayed at the peak; and gave the command to beat to quarters. + +"We are over six hundred miles from any Confederate port, Mr. Passford," +said the captain. "I should not like to have one of my captures +surrendered to her owners." + +"Of course you have your law books in your cabin, Captain; but I have +studied them so much that I can quote literally from one bearing on this +case," continued Christy. "'The sailing for a blockaded port, knowing it +to be blockaded, is, it seems, such an act as may charge the party with +a breach of the blockade.' Besides the evidence of her course, and that +of the nature of her cargo, there are two witnesses to the declaration +of the captain that he was intending to run into Wilmington." + +"She has come about, and is running away from you, Captain!" exclaimed +the passenger, who was the first on the quarter-deck to notice this +change. + +The commander ordered a gun to be fired across her bow, for the Cadet +was hardly more than a quarter of a mile from the Chateaugay. No notice +was taken of the shot, and a moment later the midship gun sent a shot +which carried away her pilot-house and disabled the wheel. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +AMONG THE BAHAMAS + + +"I am sorry to disturb you, gentlemen, but I feel obliged to ask you to +retire to my cabin until this affair is settled," said Captain Chantor, +addressing Colonel Passford and Captain Rombold. + +"I beg your pardon, Captain Chantor, but do you consider that you have a +right to capture that steamer?" asked the late commander of the Dornoch, +who seemed to be very much disturbed at the proceedings of his captor. + +"Undoubtedly; and I have no doubt I shall be able to procure her +condemnation on the ground that she is loaded for a Confederate port, +no other than Wilmington, and has the 'guilty intention' to run the +blockade." + +"I don't see where you could have obtained the information that enables +you to make sure of her condemnation at the very first sight of her," +replied the Confederate officer. + +"Well, Captain Rombold, if I succeed in proving my position before the +court, out of the mouth of Captain Vickers, her commander, would that +satisfy you?" asked the commander with a cheerful smile. "But you must +excuse me from discussing the matter to any greater length, for I have a +duty to perform at the present time." + +The Chateaugay was going ahead at full speed when the two gentlemen +retired from the quarter-deck. She stopped her screw within hail of the +Cadet. Her crew were clearing away the wreck of the pilot-house; but the +destruction of her steering gear forward did not permit her to keep +under way, though hands were at work on the quarter-deck putting her +extra wheel in order for use. Of course it was plain enough to the +captain of the Cadet that the Chateaugay, after the mischief she had +done with a single shot, could knock the steamer all to pieces in a few +minutes. + +The first cutter, in charge of Mr. Birdwing, the executive officer, was +sent on board of the disabled steamer, and Christy was invited to take a +place in the boat. Captain Vickers was a broken-hearted man when he +realized that his vessel was actually captured by a United States +man-of-war. + +"Do you surrender, Captain Vickers?" said Mr. Birdwing, as he saluted +the disconsolate commander. + +"How did you know my name?" demanded he gruffly. + +"That is of no consequence, Captain Vickers. You will oblige me by +answering my question. Do you surrender?" continued the lieutenant. + +"I don't know that I can help myself, for this steamer is not armed, and +I can make no resistance," replied the captain. "I had no idea that ship +was a Yankee gunboat." + +"But we had an idea that this was a blockade-runner," added Mr. +Birdwing, as he proceeded to take formal possession of the vessel, and +called for her papers. + +An examination was made into the character of the cargo, which consisted +largely of arms and ammunition. The extra wheel was soon in working +order. Before noon a prize crew was put on board, and both vessels were +headed for New York. In three days more the Chateaugay was at anchor off +the Navy Yard, with the Cadet near her. The return of the ship caused a +great deal of surprise, and one of the first persons to come on board of +her was Captain Passford. He gave his son his usual warm welcome. + +Christy gave his father the narrative of the brief voyage, and astounded +him with the information that his brother was on board. The two brothers +had not met since they parted at the plantation near Mobile, and the +meeting was as tender as it was sad; but both of them refrained from +saying anything unpleasant in regard to the war. The prisoners were +taken from the Chateaugay by a tender, and conveyed to Fort Lafayette; +but Captain Passford soon obtained a parole for his brother, which he +consented to give for a limited period. + +"I suppose the Chateaugay will sail again by to-morrow, Christy; but you +will have time to go home and see your mother and sister. I am so busy +that I cannot go, and you must take Uncle Homer with you," said his +father. + +They landed on the New York side, and took a carriage for the station. +Perhaps the streets of the great city were never more crowded with all +kinds of vehicles, and especially with wagons loaded with merchandise of +all kinds. They passed up Broadway, and Colonel Passford was silent as +he witnessed the marvellous activity of the city in the midst of a great +war. + +"I think you will not be able to find any grass growing in the streets +of New York, Uncle Homer," said Christy, as they passed the Park, where +the crowd seemed to be greater than elsewhere. + +"There is certainly no grass here, and I am surprised to see that the +city is as busy as ever," replied the commissioner in a subdued tone. +"We have been told at the South that business was paralyzed in the +cities of the North, except what little was created by the war." + +"The war makes a vast amount of business, Uncle Homer," added Christy. + +But the gentleman from the South was not disposed to talk, and he soon +relapsed into silence. Mrs. Passford and Florry were very much +astonished to see Christy again so soon, and even more so to meet Uncle +Homer; but his welcome was cordial, and nothing was said about the +exciting topic of the day. The visitor was treated like a friend, and +not an enemy, and everything was done to make him forget that he was not +in his own home. + +Early the next morning the young lieutenant hastened to report on board +of the Chateaugay, where Mr. Gilfleur had remained, though he had +divested himself of his disguise as soon as Captain Rombold was conveyed +to other quarters. They were kept very busy that day giving their +depositions in regard to the character of the Cadet, and of the +admissions of Captain Vickers in regard to his intention to run the +blockade. The ship had been coaled, and the next day she sailed again. +She gave the Bermudas a wide berth, for she had another mission now, +though she could probably have picked up one or two more of the +blockade-runners Christy and his companion had seen in the harbor of St. +George's. + +Four days from Sandy Hook, very early in the morning, Abaco light was +seen; and about fifty miles south of it was Nassau, on the island of New +Providence, a favorite resort for blockade-runners at that time. The +mission of the detective was at this port. Christy had again volunteered +to be his companion, and they desired to get into the place as they had +done in the Bermudas, without attracting the attention of any one, and +especially not of those engaged in loading or fitting out vessels for +the ports of the South. + +As soon as the light was discovered, Captain Chantor ordered the course +of the ship to be changed to east; and till eight bells in the afternoon +watch she continued to steam away from the Great Abaco Island. It was +his intention to avoid being seen, though there was a chance to fall in +with a blockade-runner. Standing to the south-west the last part of the +day, the light at the Hole in the Wall, the southern point of Great +Abaco Island, was made out in the evening. South-east of this point is +the northern end of Eleuthera Island, where the Egg Island light could +be seen. This was the locality where Mr. Gilfleur had decided to begin +upon his mission. + +His boat had been repaired by the carpenter after the shot from the +Dornoch struck it, and it was now in as good condition as it had ever +been. At eleven o'clock in the evening the Eleuthera was lowered into +the water, with a supply of provisions and water, and such clothing and +other articles as might be needed, on board. The weather was as +favorable as it could be, with a good breeze from the north-west. + +"Now, Mr. Gilfleur, I hope you will bring back as important information +as you did from the Bermudas," said the captain, when the adventurers +were ready to go on board of the boat. + +"I hope so myself; but I don't know," replied the Frenchman. "I expect +to find the Ovidio at Nassau; and, like the Dornoch, she is intended for +a man-of-war. Mr. Passford and I will do the best we can." + +"How long do you mean to be absent on this business?" + +"About three days, as well as I can judge, though I have not had a +chance to look over the ground. I have no doubt there are +blockade-runners there, and we shall ascertain what we can in regard to +them." + +"I shall expect to pick you up to the eastward of the Hole in the Wall, +and on the fourth night from the present time," added the captain. "You +know that the navigation of this region is very dangerous." + +"I am aware of it; but I have been here before, and I provided myself +with a good chart in New York. I have studied it very attentively, and I +have the feeling that I can make my way without any difficulty," replied +Mr. Gilfleur confidently. + +Christy had already taken his place in the boat, and the detective soon +followed him. It seemed something like an old story, after his +experience in the Bermudas. The Eleuthera was cast off, the captain +wished them a safe and prosperous voyage to their destination. The +mainsail had been set, and the breeze soon wafted the boat away from the +ship. The Chateaugay started her screw, and headed off to the eastward +again, on the lookout for blockade-runners. + +"Here is a light ahead," said Christy, after his companion had set the +jib, and taken the helm. + +"That is Egg Island light, about forty miles from Nassau. Our course is +south-west, which gives us a fair wind," replied the skipper. "Now, Mr. +Passford, you can do as you did on our former voyage in the Eleuthera: +turn in and sleep till morning." + +"That would not be fair. I will take my trick at the helm, as it seems +to be plain sailing, and you can have your nap first," suggested +Christy. + +"No; I slept all the afternoon in anticipation of to-night, and I could +not sleep if I tried," the skipper insisted. "By the way, Mr. Passford, +I am somewhat afraid that the name of our boat may get us into trouble." + +"Why so?" asked the other curiously. + +"The island on our port hand is Eleuthera, about forty miles long. Of +course it is well known at Nassau, and it may cause people to ask us +some hard questions. We may even stumble upon the boat's former owner, +who would claim her." + +"We could buy her, or another like her, in that case," suggested +Christy. "The name is painted on the stern board, and we might remove +it, if necessary." + +Mr. Gilfleur said so much about it that Christy finally turned in, and +was soon fast asleep. He did not wake till daylight in the morning. He +found that the boat was headed towards an island, while in the distance +he saw the light on Hog Island, with a portion of the town of Nassau, +and a fort. The skipper had his chart spread out on the seat at his +side, and he was watching it very closely. + +"Good-morning, Mr. Gilfleur. I suppose that must be Nassau ahead of us." + +"Yes; that is Nassau. I expected to get here earlier in the morning than +this, and I am not a little afraid to sail into the harbor at seven +o'clock in the morning, as it will be before we can get there. The wind +died out in the middle of the night, though I got it again very early +this morning. I must get to the town in some other way. The land on the +port is Rose Island, and Douglas Channel is just this side of it. I am +going through that, and shall make my way to the back side of the +island, where we can conceal the boat." + +"I should say that would be a good idea," added Christy, as he took in +the plan. "The water is as clear as crystal here, and you can see the +bottom as plainly as though nothing came between your eye and the rock." + +The skipper stationed his companion on the bow of the boat to watch for +rocks; but none interfered with the progress of the Eleuthera. She +sailed to the back side of the island of New Providence, where they +found a secluded nook, in which they moored the craft. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE LANDING AT NEW PROVIDENCE + + +The water was so clear that the bottom could be seen at all times, the +white coral rock greatly assisting the transparency. From Douglas +Channel, through which the boat had passed, the chart indicated that it +was twenty miles to the point where the skipper desired to land, and it +was nearly eleven o'clock when the Eleuthera ran into the little bay, +extending over a mile into the island, and nearly landlocked. The shore +was covered with tropical vegetation, including cocoa-nut palms, loaded +with fruit, with palmettoes, wild palms, and many plants of which +Christy did not even know the names. + +"We could not have anything better than this," said Mr. Gilfleur, as he +ran the boat into a tangle of mangroves and other plants. + +"This bay appears to be about five miles from the town of Nassau, and I +should say that no person is likely to see the boat if it should stay +here for a month," replied Christy, as he measured the distance across +the island with the scale his companion had prepared. + +"It will not take us long to walk that distance. There are all sorts of +people in Nassau at the present time, as there were in St. George's and +Hamilton; and we shall pass without exciting any particular attention." + +"I think we had better look out for a cleaner place to land than this, +for the mud seems to be about knee-deep," suggested Christy, as he +tested the consistency of the shore with an oar. + +"But there is hard ground within four feet of the water. I have a board +in the bottom of the boat with which we can bridge the mud," replied the +skipper. "But I think we had better have our lunch before we walk five +miles." + +"I am in condition to lunch," added Christy. + +The sails had been furled, and everything put in order on board of the +boat. The basket containing the provisions was brought out of the cuddy, +and seated in the stern sheets they did ample justice to the meal. The +detective had put on his suit of blue, and his companion dressed himself +as he had done in Bermuda, though he was not to act the part of a +servant on this occasion. + +"It will not do to acknowledge that we are Americans, and it would not +be prudent to claim that we are Englishmen," said Mr. Gilfleur. + +"Why not? We speak English; and you can pronounce it as well as I can," +argued Christy. + +"Because we may be catechised; though I know London almost as well as I +do Paris, I am afraid you might be caught." + +"I have been in London twice, though I don't know enough about it to +answer all the questions that may be put to me," added Christy. + +"In that case we had better be Frenchmen, as we were before. We are not +likely to find many people here who speak French, for the visiting +portion of the population must be people who are engaged in +blockade-running. Probably there are some Southern magnates here, +attending to the business of the Confederacy." + +"They were here two years ago, when I was in Nassau for a few hours, +on the lookout for steamers for their navy. I remember Colonel Richard +Pierson, who was extremely anxious to purchase the Bellevite, which +anchored outside the light, for there was not water enough to allow her +to cross the bar," said Christy, recalling some of the events of his +first voyage in the steamer his father had presented to the government. + +"Perhaps he is still in Nassau," suggested Mr. Gilfleur, with a shade of +anxiety on his face. + +"He would not recognize me now, for I have grown a good deal, and I +hardly saw him. He employed his son, a young fellow of eighteen, to act +for him in obtaining information in regard to the Bellevite. The son's +name was Percy Pierson, and when he tried to pump me in regard to the +Bellevite, I chaffed him till he lost all patience. Then he proposed to +put the owner of our steamer, for she had not then been transferred to +the government, in the way of making a fortune. I told him that the +owner was determined to get rid of the ship, though I only meant to say +that he intended to pass her over to the government. At any rate, Percy +believed she was for sale, and he smuggled himself on board of her. He +was not discovered till we were under way; and we had to take him with +us." + +"What became of this Percy Pierson?" asked the detective. + +"We brought him off with us when we fought our way out of Mobile Bay. +Off Carisfort Reef light we put him on board of a schooner belonging to +Nassau; and that was the last I know about him." + +"But I hope he is not in Nassau now," said Mr. Gilfleur. + +"I don't believe he is, for his brother was doing his best to get him +into the Confederate army." + +"You must keep your eyes wide open for this fellow, Mr. Passford," added +the skipper earnestly. "If he should recognize you, our enterprise would +be ruined." + +"I don't believe there is the least danger of that, for I am a +different-looking fellow from what I was two years ago. But I will look +out sharply for him, and for his father." + +"We had better speak nothing but French between ourselves, and break up +our English when we are obliged to use it," Mr. Gilfleur concluded, as +he returned the basket of provisions to the cuddy, and locked the door. + +The board was put down on the mud, and they walked ashore, dry-shod. The +temporary bridge was taken up, and concealed in a mass of mangroves. The +Eleuthera was so well covered up with trees and bushes that she was not +likely to be discovered, unless some wanderer penetrated the thicket +that surrounded her. A gentle elevation was directly before them, so +that they could not see the town. + +"We must not walk ten miles in making five," said the detective, as he +produced a pocket compass. "Our course, as I took it from the chart, is +due north, though it may bring us in at the western end of the town." + +"Then we can bear a little to the east, though if we get to the town it +will not make much difference where we strike it," added Christy. + +The land showed the remains of plantations which had flourished there in +the palmy days of the island. The ruins of several mansions and many +small huts were seen. Cocoa-nut palms and orange-trees were abundant. +After they had walked about a mile, they came upon what had been a road +in former days, and was evidently used to some extent still. Taking this +road, they followed it till they were satisfied that it would take them +to Nassau. + +The appearance of the island soon began to improve. The trees showed +that some care had been bestowed upon them, and an occasional mansion +was noticed. Then the street began to be flanked with small houses, +hardly better than huts, which were inhabited by the blacks. All the +people they met were negroes, and they were as polite as though they had +been brought up in Paris, for every one of the men either touched his +hat or took it off to the strangers. The women bowed also; and both of +the travellers returned the salutes in every instance. + +As they proceeded, the houses became better, and many of them were used +in part as shops, in which a variety of articles, including beer, was +sold. Christy had seen the negroes of the Southern States, and he +thought the Nassau colored people presented a much better appearance. +At one of these little shops a carriage of the victoria pattern was +standing. Doubtless the driver had gone in to refresh himself after a +long course, for the vehicle was headed towards the town. + +"I think we had better ride the rest of the way, if this carriage is not +engaged," said M. Rubempre, for they had agreed to use the names they +had adopted in the Bermudas. "What do you say, Christophe?" + +"I like the idea; I am beginning to be a little tired, for I have not +walked much lately," replied Christy. + +At this moment the driver, a negro wearing a straw hat with a very broad +brim, came out of the shop, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his +coat. He bowed with even more deference than the generality of the +people. The strangers were not elegantly or genteelly dressed, but they +wore good clothes, and would have passed for masters of vessels, so far +as their costumes were concerned. + +"Is this your carriage?" demanded M. Rubempre. + +"Yes, sir," replied the man in good English. + +"How far you must go to get into Nassau?" inquired the detective, +mangling his English enough to suit the occasion. + +"Two miles, sir." + +"How much you make pay to go to Nassau in ze carriage?" + +"Fifty cents." + +"Feefty cents; how much money was zat?" + +"Arn't you Americans?" + +"_Non!_" replied M. Rubempre with energy. "We have come from ze France; +but I was been in London, and I comprehend ze money of Eengland." + +"Two shillings then," replied the driver, laughing. + +"We go wiz you to ze Nassau," added the Frenchman, seating himself in +the carriage, his companion taking a place at his side. + +"Where do you want to go, sir?" asked the negro, as he closed the door +of the victoria. + +"We must go to Nassau," replied the detective, mangling his +pronunciation even more than his grammar. + +"Yes, I know; but where in Nassau do you wish to go? Shall I drive you +to a hotel? The Royal Victoria is the best in the place." + +"You shall take us to zat hotel." + +For the sake of appearances, rather than for any other reason, each of +the visitors to Nassau had brought with him a small hand-bag, containing +such articles as might be useful to them. Having these evidences that +they were travellers, it would be prudent to go to a hotel, though the +want of more luggage had made the landlord in Hamilton suspicious of +their ability to pay their bills. + +Christy found enough to do during the ride to observe the strange sights +presented to his gaze, even in the outskirts of the town. The people +were full of interest to him, and he wondered that his father had never +made a winter trip in the West Indies in former years, instead of +confining his visits to the more northern islands of the ocean. + +The carriage arrived at the Royal Victoria Hotel, located on a ridge +which has been dignified as a hill, a short distance in the rear of the +business portion of the town. M. Rubempre produced his purse, which was +well stuffed with sovereigns, more for the enlightenment of the clerk +who came out when the vehicle stopped, than for the information of the +driver, to whom he paid four florins, which was just double his fare. + +"Do you speak French?" asked the guest in that language. + +"No, sir; not a word of it," though he understood the question. + +"We must have two chambers for one, two, t'ree day." + +"All right; we have two that were vacated this morning," replied the +clerk, as he led the way to the office, where the Frenchman registered +his name, and his residence as in Paris. + +Christy wrote the name of Christophe Poireau, also from Paris. Then they +chatted together in French for a moment, in order to impress the clerk +and others who were standing near with the fact that they spoke the +polite language. They were shown to two small chambers, well up in the +air, for the hotel seemed to be as full as the clerk had suggested that +it was. The blockade business made the town and the hotel very lively. + +The newly arrived guests did not waste any time in their rooms, but +entered at once upon the work of their mission. On the piazza they +halted to size up the other visitors at the hotel. From this high point +of view they could see the harbor, crowded with vessels. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AN AFFRAY IN NASSAU + + +Christy's first care was to look about among the guests of the hotel +gathered on the piazza, in order to ascertain if there was any person +there whom he had ever met before. Very few of them were what could be +classed as genteel people, and some of them were such people as one +would not expect to see at a first-class hotel. They were dressed in +seaman's garments for the most part, though not as common sailors; and +doubtless many of them were commanders or officers of the vessels in the +harbor. + +Putting on an indifferent air he walked about the veranda, observing +every person he encountered, as well as those who were seated in groups, +engaged in rather noisy conversation, intermixed with a great deal of +profanity. He breathed easier when he had made the circuit of the +piazzas on the first floor, though there were two others on the stories +above it, for he found no one he could identify as a person he had seen +before. + +There were quite a number of steamers in the harbor, or in that part of +it which lies inside of the bar and in front of the town, with at least +three times as many sailing craft. No doubt many of the latter, as well +as the former, had brought cargoes of cotton from Confederate ports; for +though the blockade was regarded as effective, and treated as such by +foreign nations, many small vessels contrived to escape from obscure +harbors on the Southern coast. Christy had been concerned in the capture +of a considerable number of such. On the wharves were stacks of cotton +which had been landed from these vessels, and several of them were +engaged in transferring it to small steamers, for large ones were unable +to cross the bar. But the visitors had no business with the vessels thus +engaged, for they had completed their voyages, and were exempt from +capture. + +"I have taken not a few prisoners in or off Southern ports, and it would +not greatly surprise me if I should meet some one I had met before," +said Christy, in French, as he resumed his seat by the side of the +detective. + +"Then I fear that your coming with me was a mistake," replied M. +Rubempre. "You must be extremely cautious, not only for your own +protection, but because you may compromise me, and cause me to fail in +the accomplishment of my mission here." + +"I should be sorry to interfere with your work, and I think we had +better separate," replied Christy, very much disturbed at the suggestion +of his friend. "If I can do no good, I certainly do not wish to do any +harm." + +"No, my friend; I cannot desert you, especially if you are in peril," +protested the detective. "How could I ever look your father in the face +if I permitted you to get into trouble here?" + +"I don't think I shall get into trouble, even if I am recognized by some +person. This is not Confederate territory, though it looks very much +like it; for all the people around us are talking secession, and the +inhabitants sympathize with the South to the fullest extent. I could not +be captured and sent to a Confederate State, or be subjected to any +violence, for the authorities would not permit anything of the kind," +Christy argued with energy. + +"I am not so sure of that." + +"I have no doubt in regard to my own safety; but if you appear to be +connected with me in any manner, and I were identified as a United +States naval officer, of course it would ruin your enterprise. For this +reason I insist that we separate, and I will take a room at another +hotel." + +Christy was determined, and in the end the detective had to yield in +substance to him, though it was agreed, for reasons that seemed to be +good, that M. Rubempre should change his hotel. They arranged to meet +after dark in the grounds in the rear of the Royal Victoria, to consult +in regard to the future. + +"In the mean time I will do what I can to obtain information in regard +to steamers bound to Confederate ports. I will still claim to be a +Frenchman, and talk pigeon English," continued Christy. + +"If any misfortune happens to you, Christophe, I shall blame myself for +it," added the Frenchman. + +"You cannot fairly do that, for it will not be through any fault of +yours. If I fail to meet you as agreed, you can look for me. If you +cannot find me, you must leave at the time agreed upon with Captain +Chantor, whether I go with you or not. But I have no idea that anything +will happen to prevent me from returning to the ship with you." + +"I could not leave without you," said the detective moodily. + +"If you do not, you will be likely to get the Chateaugay into trouble; +for if we did not return to her, she would probably come into this port +after us." + +"I will consider the matter before I assent to it," returned M. +Rubempre, rising from his chair. + +Christy was fully resolved not to endanger the mission of his companion, +and he left the hotel. He walked slowly down Parliament to Bay Street, +which is the principal business avenue of the town, running parallel to +the shore. It was lined with shops, saloons, and small hotels on one +side, and with the market and wharves on the other. He desired to see +what he could of the place, and pick up all the information that would +be serviceable to an officer of the navy. + + [Illustration: + "His blood was boiling with indignation at the unprovoked assault." + Page 207.] + +As he passed a drinking-saloon a torrent of loud talk, spiced with +oaths, flowed out from the place. Before he had fairly passed the door a +violent hand was laid upon him, seizing him by the collar with no gentle +grasp. The ruffian had fallen upon him from the rear, and he could not +see who it was that assaulted him. The man attempted to drag him into +the saloon; but he was evidently considerably affected by his potations +in the place, and his legs were somewhat tangled up by the condition of +his brain. + +Christy attempted, by a vigorous movement, to shake off his assailant; +but the fellow held on, and he found it impossible to detach his grasp. +His blood was boiling with indignation at the unprovoked assault, and +his two fists were clinched so tight that iron could hardly have been +harder and tougher. He levelled a blow at the head of the ruffian, who +still kept in his rear, and delivered it with all the power of his +strong arm. + +The assailant reeled, and released his hold, for his head must have +whirled around like a top under the crashing blow it had sustained. +Christy turned so that he could see the ruffian. He was a stalwart +fellow, at least fifty pounds heavier than the young lieutenant. His +nose was terribly disfigured, not by the blow of the young officer, for, +twisted as it was, there was no sign of a fresh wound upon it. One +glance was enough to satisfy Christy as to the identity of the ruffian. + +It was Captain Flanger, whose steamer Christy had captured, with a boat +expedition sent out from the Bronx, in St. Andrew's Bay. He was a +prisoner, but had escaped, and invaded the cabin of the Bronx, where he +attempted to make Christy sign an order which would have resulted in +delivering the steamer to the enemy. The heroic young commander, +preferring death to dishonor, had refused to sign the order. The affair +had culminated in a sort of duel in the cabin, in which Christy, aided +by his faithful steward, had hit Flanger in the nose with his revolver. + +The ruffian had sworn to be revenged at the time, and he seemed to have +chosen the present occasion to wreak his vengeance upon the destroyer of +his nasal member. The blow his victim had struck was a set-back to him; +but he presently recovered the balance of his head which the shock had +upset. It was plain enough that he had not given up the battle, for he +had drawn back with the evident intention of using his clinched fists +upon his adversary. + +"Hit him again, Flanger!" shouted one of the brutal occupants of the +saloon, who now filled the doorway. + +The affair was rapidly becoming serious, and Christy was debating with +himself whether or not he should draw a revolver he carried in his +pocket; but he was cool enough to realize that he was on neutral ground, +and that it would be very imprudent to be the first to resort to deadly +weapons. He could not run away, for his self-respect would not permit +him to do so. He braced himself up to meet the onslaught of the ruffian. + +Flanger charged upon him, and attempted to plant a blow with his fist in +the face of his intended victim; but the young officer parried it, and +was about to follow up the movement with a blow, when Monsieur Rubempre +rushed in between them, struck the assailant such a blow that he went +over backwards. In fact, the man was too much intoxicated to stand +without considerable difficulty. + +At this moment a couple of colored policemen rushed in between the +combatants. The tipplers in the saloon picked up their comrade, and +stood him on his feet. The Nassau officers doubtless had a great deal of +this sort of quarrelling, for drinking strong liquors was the principal +occupation of the officers and crews of the blockade-runners while in +port and on shore. + +"What is all this about? Who began this quarrel?" demanded one of them, +as he looked from one party to the other in the battle. + +"I was passing the door of this saloon, and did not even look into it, +when that man rushed upon me, and seized me by the collar," replied +Christy. "I tried to shake him off, but I could not, and then I struck +him in the side of the head." + +"Look here, you nigger!" shouted Captain Flanger. "It's none of your +business who began it." + +"I shall arrest you for a breach of the peace," said the policeman. + +"I don't reckon you will. Do you see my nose? Look at it! Don't you see +that it is knocked into a cocked hat?" said Flanger fiercely. + +"I see it is; but what has that to do with this matter?" asked the negro +officer. + +"That man shot my nose off!" roared Flanger. "I am going to kill him for +it, if it costs me my head!" + +"You shall not kill him here," protested the guardian of the peace. "You +have been drinking too much, sir, and you must go with me and get +sobered off." + +The two policemen walked up to him with the intention of arresting him; +but he showed fight. He was too tipsy to make an effectual resistance. +His companions in the saloon huddled around him, and endeavored to +compel the policemen to let go their hold of him; but they held on to +their prisoner till two more officers came, and Flanger was dragged out +into the street, and then marched to the jail. + +Christy was very much surprised that nothing was said to him by the +officers about the affair in which he had been one of the principal +actors. He had expected to be summoned as a witness against the prisoner +they had taken, but not a word was said to him. He looked about to see +if the detective was in sight, but he had disappeared. + +"That was an ugly-looking man," said a gentleman in the street, after +the carousers had returned to the saloon. "I hope he has not injured +you." + +"Not at all, sir; he was too drunk to do all he could have done if he +had been in full possession of his faculties, for he is a much heavier +person than I am," replied Christy. "Why was I not summoned as a witness +at his examination?" + +"Oh, bless you, sir! they will not examine or try him; they will sober +him off, and then discharge him. He is the captain of that little +steamer near the public wharf. She is called the Snapper, and will sail +for the States on the high tide at five o'clock." + +"Do you know to what port she is bound?" asked Christy. + +"Mobile." + +The young officer walked down to the public wharf to see the Snapper. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE + + +The Snapper was quite a small craft, and looked like an old vessel; for +she was a side-wheeler, though she had evidently been built for a +sea-going craft. Whether Flanger had escaped from the Bellevite after +being transferred to her from the Bronx, or had been regularly exchanged +as a prisoner of war, Christy had no means of knowing. It made little +difference; he was in Nassau, and he was thirsting for revenge against +him. + +The young officer did not feel that the brutal wretch had any reasonable +cause to complain of him, and especially no right to revenge himself for +an injury received while his assailant was the aggressor. He had done +his duty to his country. He had been compelled to act promptly; and he +had not aimed his revolver particularly at the nose of his dangerous +assailant. Flanger was engaged in a foolhardy enterprise; and the +mutilation of his nasal member had resulted very naturally from his +folly. + +His enemy was probably a good sailor, and he was a bold ruffian. Christy +had captured the steamer loaded with cotton, in which he was all ready +to sail from St. Andrew's Bay; and doubtless this was his first reason +for hating the young officer. But no soldier or sailor of character +would ever think of such a thing as revenging himself for an injury +received in the strife, especially if it was fairly inflicted. The +business of war is to kill, wound, and capture, as well as for each side +to injure the other in person and property to the extent of its ability. + +"Want a boat, sir?" asked a negro, who saw that Christy was gazing at +the Snapper, even while he was thinking about his quarrel with Captain +Flanger. + +"Where is your boat?" asked the officer. + +"Right here, sir," replied the boatman, pointing to the steps at the +landing-place. "The best sailboat in the harbor, sir." + +"I want to sail about this bay for a couple of hours," added Christy, +as he stopped on the upper step to examine the craft. + +It was built exactly like the Eleuthera, though not quite so large. + +"I saw you looking at the steamer there," said the boatman, pointing to +the vessel in which Christy was interested. "Do you wish to go on board +of her, sir?" + +"No; I desire only to sail about the harbor, and perhaps go outside the +bar. Can you cross it in this boat?" + +"Yes, sir; no trouble at all about crossing it in the Dinah. Take you +over to Eleuthera, if you like." + +"No; I only want to sail about the harbor, and look at the vessels in +port," replied Christy. + +While he was looking at the boat, he became conscious that a young man, +who was standing on the capsill of the wharf, was looking at him very +earnestly. He only glanced at him, but did not recognize him. He had +taken the first step in the descent of the stairs, when this person put +his hand upon his shoulder to attract his attention. Christy looked at +him, and was sure that he had seen him before, though he failed to +identify him. + +"How are you, Christy?" said the stranger. "Don't you know me?" + +"Your face has a familiar look to me, but I am unable to make you out at +first sight," replied the young officer, more puzzled as he examined the +features of the young man, who appeared to be about twenty years old. + +"You and I both have grown a great deal in the last two years, since we +first met on this very wharf; but I am Percy Pierson, and you and I were +fellow-voyagers in the Bellevite." + +"I think you have changed in that time more than I have, or I should +have recognized you," answered Christy very coldly, for he was not at +all pleased to be identified by any person. + +"You are a good deal larger than when I saw you last time, but you look +just the same. I am glad to see you, Christy, for you and I ran a big +rig over in Mobile Bay," continued Percy, as he extended his hand to the +other. + +Christy realized that it would be useless as well as foolish to deny his +identity to one who knew him so well. A moment's reflection assured him +that he must make the best of the circumstances; but he wished with all +his might that he had not come to Nassau. He was particularly glad that +he had insisted upon separating from Mr. Gilfleur, for the present +encounter would have ruined his mission. The young man's father was +Colonel Richard Pierson, a neighbor of Homer Passford; and he was a +Confederate commissioner for the purchase of vessels for the rebel navy, +for running the blockade. Doubtless the son was his father's assistant, +as he had been at the time of Christy's first visit. + +Percy was not a person of very heavy brain calibre, as his companion had +learned from an association of several weeks with him. Christy believed +that he might obtain some useful information from him; and he decided, +since it was impossible to escape the interview, to make the best of it, +and he accepted the offered hand. He did not consider the young +Southerner as much of a rebel, for he had refused to shoulder a musket +and fight for the cause. + +"I begin to see your former looks, and particularly your expression," +said Christy. "I am very glad to see you, and I hope you have been very +well since we met last." + +"Very well indeed." + +"Do you live here, Percy?" + +"I have lived here most of the time since we parted on board of the +Bellevite, and you put me on board of a schooner bound to Nassau. That +was a very good turn you did me, for I believed you would take me to New +York, and pitch me into a Yankee prison. I was very grateful to you, for +I know it was your influence that saved me." + +This remark seemed to put a new face upon the meeting. Christy had done +nothing to cause him to be set free; for the Bellevite, though she had +beaten off several steamers that attempted to capture her, was not in +the regular service at the time, her mission in the South being simply +to bring home the daughter of her owner, who had passed the winter with +her uncle at Glenfield. + +"I am very glad I was able to do you a good turn," replied Christy, who +considered it his duty to take advantage of the circumstances. "I am +just going out to take a sail; won't you join me?" + +"Thank you; I shall be very glad to do so. I suppose you are a Yankee +still, engaged in the business of subjugating the free South, as I am +still a rebel to the backbone," replied Percy, laughing very pleasantly. + +"But you are not in the rebel army now, any more than you were at that +time," added Christy in equally good humor. + +"I am not. You know all about my army experience. My brother, the major, +sends me a letter by every chance he can get, and has offered to have my +indiscretion, as he called it, in leaving the camp, passed over, if I +will save the honor of the family by returning to the army; but my +father insists that I can render better service to the cause as his +assistant." + +Christy led the way down the steps, and the two seated themselves in the +bow of the boat. The skipper shoved off after he had set his sails, and +the boat stood out towards the Snapper, for he could hardly avoid +passing quite near to her. + +"What are you doing in Nassau, Christy?" asked Percy. + +This was a hard question, and it was utterly impossible to make a +truthful reply without upsetting the plan of Mr. Gilfleur, and rendering +useless the voyage of the Chateaugay to the Bahamas. + +"I am in just as bad a scrape as you were when you were caught on board +of the Bellevite," replied Christy after a moment's reflection. + +"Are you a prisoner of war?" + +"How could I be a prisoner in a neutral port like Nassau? No; I do not +regard myself as a prisoner just now," answered Christy very +good-humoredly. + +"But you have been a prisoner, and you have escaped in some vessel that +run the blockade. I see it all; and you need not stop to explain it," +said Percy, who flattered himself on his brilliant perception. + +"The less I say about it the better it will be for me," added Christy, +willing to accept the situation as his companion had marked it out. + +"But you must not let my father see you." + +"I never met Colonel Pierson, though I saw him once, and he would not +know me if we should meet." + +"Then don't let him know who you are." + +"He will not know, unless you tell him." + +"You may be very sure that I will not mention you to him, or to anybody +else, for that matter," replied Percy very earnestly. + +But Christy did not put any confidence in his assertion. Percy was +really a deserter from the Confederate army, and he knew that he had in +several instances acted the traitor's part. He had more respect for an +out-and-out rebel than for one who shirked his duty to his country as he +understood it. + +"I have been afraid some one might identify me here," suggested Christy, +determined not to over-act his part. + +"I might help you out of the scrape," said Percy, who appeared to be +reflecting upon something that had come to his mind. "I suppose you are +aware that most of the vessels in this harbor, and those outside the +bar, are directly or indirectly interested in blockade-running." + +"I supposed so, but I know nothing about it." + +"Some of them have brought in cotton, with which others are loading for +England. My business as my father's clerk takes me on board of most of +them, and I know the captains and other officers very well. This little +steamer we have just passed was bought for a Mobile man by my father. +She carried a full cargo of goods into Mobile, and came out again full +of cotton. She is called the Snapper, and she is a regular snapper at +her business. She is now all loaded, and will sail on the next tide. +I am well acquainted with her captain." + +"What sort of a man is he?" asked Christy in an indifferent tone. + +"He is a very good fellow; bold as an eagle, and brave as a lion. He +drinks too much whiskey for his own good; but he knows all the ports on +the Gulf of Mexico, and he gets in or out in face of the blockaders +every time," answered Percy with enthusiasm. + +"Did he never lose a vessel?" + +"Never but one; that was the Floridian, and I reckon you know as much +about that affair as any other person, Christy," replied Percy, laughing +as though it had been a good joke on Captain Flanger. + +"I know something about it." + +"Your uncle, Colonel Passford, lost several vessels, and you had a hand +in their capture. But never mind that; you did me a good turn, and I +never go back on a friend. Now, my dear fellow, I do not think it will +be safe for you to remain here. You are looked upon as a dangerous +fellow along the Gulf coast, as Colonel Passford writes to my father; +and if my governor should get a hint that you were here, he would make a +business of getting you inside a Confederate prison." + +"I am under the flag of England just now, and that is supposed to +protect neutrals." + +"That's all very well, my dear fellow; but my governor could manage your +affair in some way. I can make a trade with the captain of the Snapper +to put you ashore at Key West." + +"You are very kind, Percy." + +"It will be necessary for you to buy a boat here, one with a sail, which +can be carried on the deck of the steamer," continued Percy, evidently +much interested in the scheme he was maturing. + +At this moment the Dinah was passing under the stern of a steamer, +on which Christy read the name "Ovidio." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A BAND OF RUFFIANS + + +The Ovidio was one of the vessels of which Captain Passford had obtained +information in New York, and by which the traitor merchant had at first +intended to send the machinery on board of the Ionian into the +Confederacy. + +"That vessel flying the British flag appears to be a man-of-war," said +Christy. + +"That is just what she is, confound her!" replied Percy bitterly. "She +is the Greyhound, and she has seized the Ovidio which we just passed; +but my father believes she will be released;" as in fact she was, after +a delay of two months. + +"That looks a little like neutrality," added the naval officer. + +"But what do you think of my scheme to get you out of this scrape before +you get into any trouble here?" asked Percy, who seemed to his companion +to be altogether too much interested in his plan. "Flanger is a friend +of mine, for I was able to render him a very important service, nothing +less than getting him the command of the Snapper." + +"Of course I want to get out of the scrape." + +"I suppose you haven't money enough to buy the boat, if you escaped from +a Confederate prison; but I will help you out on that by lending you +forty or fifty dollars." + +"Thank you, Percy, you are behaving like a true friend, and I shall +remember you with gratitude," replied Christy, as earnestly as the +occasion seemed to require. "Do you think you can trust Captain Flanger +to put me in the way to get to Key West?" + +"I am sure I can!" exclaimed the schemer warmly. "He would do anything +for me." + +"But perhaps he would not do anything for me." + +"I hope you don't mistrust my sincerity in this matter, my dear fellow," +continued Percy, with an aggrieved expression on his face. + +"Oh, no! Certainly not. I only suggested that your friend the captain +might not be as willing as you are to let me escape at Key West." + +"I will guarantee his fidelity. I am as sure of him as I am of myself." + +"All right, Percy, I will hold myself subject to your orders. But I +think you had better buy the boat, and put it on board of the Snapper, +for I could not do so without exposing myself," suggested Christy. +"I have some money that I concealed about me, and I will pay the bills +before I go on board of the steamer." + +"I will do everything that is necessary to be done with the greatest +pleasure. Perhaps you had better go on board of the Snapper on our +return to the town. Then you will not be seen by any person," suggested +Percy with as much indifference as he could assume. + +"What time will the steamer sail?" + +"About five o'clock, which is high tide." + +"It is only half-past one now; besides, I have to go up to the hotel for +my satchel, and to pay my bill. Where do you live, Percy?" + +"We have a house on Frederick Street. At what hotel are you stopping?" + +"At the Royal Victoria." + +"What is the number of your room?" asked Percy. + +"No. 44." + +Christy was sharp enough to comprehend the object of these questions; +and, as a matter of precaution, he divided the number of his room by two +in making his reply. + +"That makes an easy thing of it," continued Percy. "I will go to the +Royal Victoria at four o'clock, pay your bill and get your satchel. +I will meet you on the public wharf at half-past, and see that you have +a good stateroom in the cabin of the Snapper." + +"That seems to be all very well arranged," added Christy. + +"But I must see Captain Flanger before four o'clock. How much longer do +you intend to cruise in this boat?" asked the schemer, beginning to +manifest a little impatience. + +The conversation had been carried on in a low tone at the bow of the +boat, where the boatman could not hear what was said. + +"I think I am safer out here than I should be on shore," suggested +Christy. "I might meet some other person in the town who knows me." + +"All right; but I ought to see Captain Flanger as soon as possible, for +I shall ask him to buy the boat," replied Percy uneasily. "You might +land me, and then sail another hour or two yourself." + +"Very well; that will suit me exactly. Skipper, this gentleman wishes to +be put on shore; but I desire to sail another hour or two," said +Christy, addressing the boatman. + +"All right, sir; I will go to the wharf if you say so, but I can put the +other gentleman into that boat which has just come over the bar. The +boatman is a friend of mine." + +"Who is he, David?" asked Percy. + +"Jim Peckson." + +"I know him, and I will go up in his boat if you will hail him," +answered the young Southerner. "I suppose the arrangement is well +understood," he added, dropping his voice so that the boatman could not +hear him. "You are to be on the public wharf at half-past four, when I +come down with your satchel." + +"Perfectly understood," added the other. + +David hailed his friend Jim Peckson, and Percy was transferred to his +boat. Christy felt an intense relief in getting rid of him. Of course he +had not the remotest idea of going on board of the Snapper, whose brutal +commander had declared that he would kill him. But he realized that +Nassau was not a safe place for him. + +The boat crossed the bar, and the passenger took his seat by the side of +the boatman. David directed his boat towards the larger steamers +outside, which were loading with cotton from several small craft. They +were, doubtless, to convey it to England. Christy felt no interest in +these, for the voyages of the blockade-runners ended when they reached +the port of Nassau. + +"Shall I sail you over to the sea-gardens now, sir?" asked David, when +his passenger intimated that he had seen enough of the vessels outside +the bar. + +"Yes; anywhere you please, David. I don't care about going on shore +before dark," replied Christy. + +The passenger was greatly interested in the sea-gardens, and for more +than an hour he gazed through the clear water at the sea-plants on the +bottom, and at the many-colored fishes that were swimming about in the +midst of them. He was desirous of using up the time until he could have +the covert of the friendly darkness. He looked at his watch, and found +it was nearly five o'clock. + +"What time is it high tide, David?" he asked. + +"Five o'clock, sir." + +"Are there any steamers to sail to-day? I suppose they can go over the +bar only at full sea." + +"Only small vessels can go over at any other time. The Snapper was to +sail at high tide." + +"Then I think we will run down by the light, and see her come out of the +harbor," added Christy. + +"I don't believe she will come out this afternoon, sir," said David. + +"Why not?" + +"Her captain got arrested for something. I saw four officers taking him +to the jail. Some one told me he was drunk, and had pitched into a +gentleman who was walking along the sidewalk in front of a saloon on Bay +Street." + +"They will discharge him in time to sail on the tide, won't they?" + +"I don't reckon they will. The men from the vessels in the harbor at +this time make heaps of trouble," replied David. "If the gentleman he +hit had a mind to complain of him, the court would lock him up for a +week or two." + +Christy was not disposed, under the circumstances, to make a complaint. +The boat was soon in sight of the lighthouse and the bar. The Dinah made +a long stretch to the eastward, and was in sight of the entrance to the +harbor till it began to be dark; but no steamer came out on the high +tide. The boat crossed the bar again. + +"Now, David, I want you to land me some distance beyond the public +wharf," said Christy. "How much shall I pay you for this sail?" + +"About three dollars, sir, if you don't think that is too much," +answered the boatman. + +"That is very reasonable for the time you have been out; and there is a +sovereign," added the passenger, as he handed him the gold coin. + +"I don't think I can change this piece, sir." + +"You need not change it; keep the whole of it." + +"Oh, thank you, sir! You are very generous, and I thank you with all my +heart. I don't often earn that much money in a whole day." + +"All right, David; I am satisfied if you are." + +"I am more than satisfied, sir. But where shall I land you?" + +"I don't know the names of all the streets, but go to the eastward of +the public wharf." + +"I can land you at the foot of Union Street." + +"How will I get to the Royal Victoria Hotel?" + +The boatman directed him so that he could find his destination. He was +somewhat afraid that Percy Pierson might be on the lookout for the +Dinah; but by this time it was so dark that he could hardly make her +out. David landed him at the place indicated, and he followed the +directions given him, which brought him to the east end of the hotel. +It was too early to meet Mr. Gilfleur, and he found the guests were at +dinner. He had eaten nothing since the lunch on board of the Eleuthera; +and, after he had looked in the faces of all the men at the table, he +took his place with them, and did full justice to the fare set before +him. + +He did not venture to remain in the hotel. He desired to see the +detective, for he had decided not to remain another day in Nassau. As +long as Percy Pierson was in the town, it was not a safe place for him. +He had decided to make his way across the island to the nook where the +Eleuthera was concealed, and remain on board of her until the detective +returned. But he desired to see him, and report his intention to him, +so that he need not be concerned about him. + + [Illustration: + "Two men sprang upon him." Page 233.] + +Christy was entirely satisfied that he had correctly interpreted the +purpose of Percy to betray him into the hands of Captain Flanger. As he +was not on the public wharf at half-past four, doubtless he had been on +the lookout for him. He knew David, and his first step would be to find +him. The boatman would be likely to tell him that his fellow-passenger +in the Dinah had gone to the hotel. He visited the place arranged for +his meeting with Mr. Gilfleur; but it was in advance of the time, and he +was not there. He walked about the hotel grounds, careful to avoid every +person who came in his way. + +In the darkness he saw a man approaching him, and he turned about, +walking away in the opposite direction. But presently this person moved +off towards the hotel, and he started again for the rendezvous with the +detective. He had gone but a short distance before two men sprang upon +him, one of them taking him in the rear, and hugging him so that he +could not move his arms. He began a mighty struggle; but two more men +came out of their hiding-place, and a pair of handcuffs were slipped +upon his wrists. + +Then he attempted to call for assistance, but a handkerchief was +promptly stuffed into his mouth, and the ruffians hurried him out +through a narrow gateway to an unfrequented street, where a carriage +appeared to be in waiting for them. + +"Drive to the beach back of Fort Montague," said one of them. + +It was the voice of Captain Flanger. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A QUESTION OF NEUTRALITY + + +Even before he heard the voice of his savage enemy, Christy Passford +realized that he had fallen into the hands of the commander of the +Snapper. He was placed on the back seat of the carriage, with a pair of +handcuffs on his wrists, and a handkerchief in his mouth to do duty as a +gag. Captain Flanger was at his side, with two other men on the front +seat, and one on the box with the driver. Against these four men he was +powerless to make any resistance while he was in irons. + +The carriage was drawn by two horses, and was considerably larger than +the ordinary victoria used in the town. It was quite dark, and though +the streets were flanked with many houses, hardly a person appeared to +be stirring at this hour. But a vehicle loaded down with the rough +visitors of the place could not be an unusual sight, for they were the +kind of people who were disposed to make the night hideous, as well as +the day. + +Christy had struggled with all his might to shake off the ruffians who +beset him, and two more had come out from their concealment when he +thought he was making some progress in freeing himself from their grasp. +As soon as his wrists were ironed he realized that resistance was +useless, and that it could only increase his discomfort. It was a +terrible calamity to have fallen into the power of a man so brutal and +unscrupulous as Captain Flanger, bent upon revenging himself for the +mutilation of his most prominent facial member. He was certainly +disfigured for life, though the wound made by the ball from the revolver +had healed; but it was an ill-looking member, and he appeared to be +conscious of his facial deformity all the time. + +The men in the carriage said nothing, and Christy was unable to speak. +They seemed to be afraid of attracting the attention of the few +passers-by in the streets, and of betraying the nature of the outrage in +which they were engaged. The streets in the more frequented parts of the +town were crowded with men, as the victim had been able to see, and he +hoped that they would come across some large collection of people. In +that case he decided to make a demonstration that would attract the +attention of the police, if nothing more. + +He had no idea of the location of Fort Montague, to which the man on the +box had been ordered to drive them. The direction was to a beach near +the fort; and he had no doubt there would be a boat there in readiness +to convey him to the Snapper. But the farther the carriage proceeded, +the less frequented the streets became. He found no opportunity to make +his intended demonstration. His only hope now was that Mr. Gilfleur, who +must have been in the vicinity of the hotel, had witnessed the outrage, +and would interfere, as he had done on Bay Street, and save him from the +fate that was in store for him. + +In a rather lonely place Christy discovered the outline in the darkness +of what looked like a fort. At the same moment he heard the distant +stroke of some public clock, striking nine o'clock. This was the time +appointed for the meeting with the detective, and he had been at the +place a quarter of an hour before, which fully explained why the +detective had not been there; and probably he had been in his room. This +conclusion seemed to cut off all hope that he had witnessed the attack +upon him. + +The carriage stopped at the beach below the fort. It was the +bathing-place for the town, and at this hour it was entirely deserted. +The person on the box with the driver was the first to alight, and he +ran down to the water. He returned in a few minutes to the carriage, the +other ruffians retaining their places. + +"The boat is not here yet, but it is coming," said this man, reporting +to the captain. + +"All right; I told the mate to be here at nine o'clock, and it has just +struck that hour," replied Flanger. "Go down to the water, driver." + +The vehicle moved down to the water's edge and stopped again. At the +same time the boat grated on the sand, and came to a halt a few feet +from the dry ground. + +"We are all right now," said the person who had been with the driver on +the box; and this time Christy recognized his voice as that of Percy +Pierson. + +He had not mistaken or misjudged him. He had not been able to understand +why the young man should befriend him, and it was clear enough now, +if it had not been before, that his gratitude towards him was a mere +pretence. Captain Passford, senior desired to get rid of him, and had +put him on board of the schooner for this reason only. + +"Captain Passford, we meet again, as I was sure we should when we parted +in Nassau to-day," said the commander of the Snapper. "Now, if you will +take the trouble to get out of the carriage, we shall be able to make +you comfortable before we have done with you." + +Christy attempted to speak; but the gag prevented him from articulating, +and he could not breathe as freely as usual. The captain drew the +handkerchief from his mouth, for there was no one within a long distance +of the spot to aid the prisoner if he had called for help. The victim +had fully determined to resign himself to his fate, and make the best of +the situation until an opportunity offered to effect his escape, though +he greatly feared that such an opportunity would not be presented. + +"Thank you, Captain Flanger; I am much obliged to you for giving me a +better chance to breathe, though I suppose you are not very anxious that +I should continue to breathe," replied Christy, assuming a degree of +good nature which had no substantial foundation in reality. "On the +contrary, I dare say you intend to stop my breathing altogether as soon +as you find it convenient to do so." + +"Not so; you can do all the breathing you want to, and I won't interfere +as long as you behave yourself," replied Captain Flanger in a more +civilized tone than his victim had heard him use before. + +"But to-day noon you swore that you would kill me," added the prisoner, +much surprised at the change in the manner of the ruffian since they had +met on the sidewalk. + +"I have altered my mind," replied the captain, leaving Christy in the +hands of his companions, and walking down to the boat, where the two men +in it seemed to be trying to find deeper water, so as to bring it nearer +to the shore. + +"Well, how do you find yourself, Christy?" asked Percy, placing himself +in front of him. + +"I haven't lost myself so far, and I am as comfortable as could be +expected under the circumstances," answered Christy, whose pride would +not permit him to show that he was overcome or cast down by the +misfortune which had overtaken him. + +"You did not come to the public wharf as you promised to do at half-past +four o'clock this afternoon," Percy proceeded. + +"I did not; David sailed me off to the sea-gardens, and we did not get +back to the town in season for me to keep the appointment." + +"Then you intended to keep it?" + +"I did not say so." + +"I had the idea you were a fellow that kept all the promises he made, +even if it hurt him to do so." + +"Do you think you would have kept your promise to have Captain Flanger +land me at Key West, if I had been weak enough to go on board of his +steamer?" demanded Christy. + +"You are fighting on one side, and I am fighting on the other, Christy; +and I suppose either of us is justified in lying and breaking his +promises in the service of his country." + +"You are fighting on your side at a very convenient distance from the +battle-ground, Percy." + +"I am fighting here because I can render the best service to my country +in this particular place," replied the young Southerner with spirit. +"I am sure I could not do anything better for my country than send you +back to the Confederate prison from which you escaped." + +"Even if you violate the neutrality of the place," suggested Christy. +"The British government was ready to declare war against the United +States when a couple of Confederate commissioners were taken out of an +English steamer by a man-of-war. Do you suppose that when this outrage +is known, England will not demand reparation, even to the restoring of +the victim to his original position on this island? I hope you have +considered the consequences of this violation of the neutrality of the +place." + +"I don't bother my head about matters of that sort. I have talked about +it with my father, and I think he understands himself," replied Percy +very flippantly. + +"I don't think he does. I have the same rights in Nassau that you and +your father possess. You are carrying on the war on neutral ground; and +no nation would permit that." + +"I am no lawyer, Christy. I only know that you have done a great deal of +mischief to our cause in the Gulf, as set forth in the letters of your +uncle to my father." + +"But I have fought my battles in the enemy's country, or on the open +sea; and I have not done it while skulking under a neutral flag," +replied the naval officer, with quite as much spirit as his adversary in +the debate. "You and Captain Flanger, with the co-operation of your +father, it appears, are engaged in a flagrant outrage against the +sovereignty of England." + +"My father has nothing to do with it; I will take back what I said about +him," added Percy, evidently alarmed at the strength of the argument +against him. + +"You told me that you had talked with your father about the case." + +"But I withdraw that statement; he knows nothing about it." + +"You make two diametrically opposite statements; and I am justified in +accepting the one that suits me best as the truth. If Captain Flanger +does not hang me to the yard-arm as soon as he gets me into blue water, +I shall make my complaint to the United States government as soon as I +have an opportunity to do so; and I have no doubt you and your father +will have permission to leave Nassau, never to return." + +Percy was silent, and appeared to be in deep thought. Captain Flanger +had returned to the spot from the boat, and had listened to the last +part of the discussion. + +"Captain Flanger understands enough of international law to see that I +am right," continued Christy, when Percy made no reply. + +"The people here treat us very handsomely, my little larky," said +Captain Flanger, with a coarse laugh. "I am not to be scared out of my +game by any such bugbears as you talk about. But I am willing to say +this, my little rooster: I have no intention to hang you to the +yard-arm, as you hinted that I might." + +"At noon to-day you swore that you would kill me." + +"I have altered my mind, as I told you before," growled the commander of +the Snapper, with very ill grace, as though he was ashamed because he +had abandoned his purpose to commit a murder. "I am not what you call a +temperance man; and when I get ashore, and in good company, I sometimes +take a little more good whiskey than it is prudent; but I don't drink +anything on board of my ship. To cut it short, I was a little too much +in the wind when I said I was going to kill you. I am sober now." + +"I think you must be able to see what the consequences of murdering a +person captured on British soil would be, Captain Flanger," suggested +Christy. + +"As I have told you twice before, I do not intend to murder you," said +the captain angrily. "I am going to put you back in the prison from +which you escaped; that's all. No more talk; take him to the boat." + +The two men at Christy's side marched him down to the boat, and seated +him in the stern. The rest of the party took places, and shoved off. In +half an hour the boat was alongside the Snapper. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +ON BOARD OF THE SNAPPER + + +Christy could not help seeing that a great change had come over the +manner of Captain Flanger, especially in his repeated declarations that +he did not intend to kill his prisoner. His thirst for revenge could +hardly have abated as the effect of his cups passed off, and it was +evident to the victim of the outrage that some other influence had been +brought to bear upon him. It did not seem possible to him that Percy +Pierson could have modified his vindictive nature to this degree. + +The young man's father could not fail to see the peril of the step his +son was taking, though he appeared not to have been able to resist the +temptation to get rid of such an active enemy as Christy had proved +himself to be. It looked plain enough to the victim, as he considered +the situation, that Colonel Pierson's influence had produced the change +in the intentions of Captain Flanger. If the prisoner were brutally +treated, and especially if his life were taken, it would make the breach +of neutrality so much the more flagrant. + +"Help the young cub on board," said the captain, as he went up the +accommodation ladder, followed by Percy. + +With his wrists fettered with a pair of handcuffs, Christy needed +assistance to mount the vessel's side. He was handled with more +consideration than he expected, and reached the deck without any injury. +By the order of the captain he was conducted to the cabin, where he +seated himself on a stool near the companion-way. A few minutes later +Percy came down the steps with a valise in his hand, which he deposited +in one of the staterooms. + +"I am your fellow-passenger, Christy," said he, when he came out of the +room. "I hope we shall be good friends." + +"After the treachery which has been practised upon me to-day, there +cannot be much love wasted between us, though I am not disposed to be a +bear, even under the present unfavorable circumstances," replied the +prisoner. "I suppose this steamer is to run the blockade?" + +"Of course she is to run the blockade; how else could she get into +Mobile?" replied Percy. + +"You can bet your worthless life she is going to run the blockade, and +you may be sure that she will get in too," added Captain Flanger, who +came into the cabin at the moment the question was asked. + +"By the way, Christy, from what prison in the Confederacy did you make +your escape?" + +"If you will excuse me, I prefer to answer no questions." + +"Just as you please, my boy. We shall know all about it when we get to +Mobile," said Percy lightly. "I am going home for a few days to see my +mother, who is in feeble health. I don't want to quarrel with you; and +if I can be of any service to you after we get into port, I shall be +happy to do so. We sail at about five o'clock in the morning, on the +high tide." + +"Captain Passford," began the commander, in a more subdued tone than the +prisoner had ever heard him use. + +"That title does not apply to me now, Captain Flanger," Christy +interposed. "If I ever get back to my duty on shipboard, it will be as +second lieutenant of the Bellevite." + +"Mr. Passford, if that suits you better, I was going to say that I mean +to treat you like a gentleman, whether you are one or not, in spite of +my shattered and battered nose," added the captain. + +"I do not consider myself responsible for the condition of your nose, +Captain Flanger. At the time you received that wound you were engaged in +a daring adventure, with two revolvers in your hands, ready to blow my +brains out. It was war, and I did nothing but my plain duty; and even in +a time of peace I had the natural right to defend myself, and save my +own life, even at the sacrifice of yours, as you were the assailant," +argued Christy quite warmly. "You would have put a ball through my head +or heart if I had not fired at the moment I did." + +"Why didn't you shoot me like a gentleman, and not blow my nose off?" +demanded the captain bitterly. + +"I had to fire in a hurry; and I did not aim at your nose. I could only +discharge my weapon on the instant, and I had no time to aim at any +particular part of you. I intended simply to cover your head." + +"But you blowed my nose off all the same." + +"I had no grudge against your nose. Do you think it would be honorable +for a soldier to revenge himself on neutral ground for a wound received +in the field?" + +"But it was a sneaking Yankee trick to shoot at a man's nose, even in a +square battle by sea or by land," protested the captain with a rattling +oath. + +It was useless to discuss the matter with such a man, though he had +probably been charged by Colonel Pierson not to do his prisoner any +injury, and Christy relapsed into silence. + +"If you propose to treat me like a gentleman, whether I am one or not, +may I ask where you propose to berth me, for I am very much fatigued +to-night?" asked the prisoner later in the evening. + +"I mean to give you as good a stateroom as I have myself; but it will +contain two berths, and the mate will occupy the lower one, to prevent +you from escaping, if you should take it into your head to do so," +replied the captain, as he opened the door of one of the rooms. + +"I can hardly get into the upper berth with my wrists ironed," said the +prisoner, exhibiting his fetters. + +"That is so," replied the captain, taking the key of the manacles from +his pocket and removing them. "But I warn you that any attempt to escape +may get you into a worse scrape than you are in now. When we get to sea +you shall have your liberty." + +"Thank you, Captain, for this indulgence. I suppose you will not make a +long voyage of it to Mobile. I presume you go to the northward of Great +Abaco Island?" asked Christy, though he hardly expected to receive an +answer to his question. + +"Why do you presume such a stupid idea as that?" demanded the captain, +who seemed to regard the inquiry as an imputation upon his seamanship; +and the inquirer had put the question to provoke an answer. "I have been +sailing nearly all my life in these waters, and I know where I am. Why +should I add three hundred miles to my voyage when there is no reason +for it?" + +"I am not much acquainted down here." + +"I shall go through the North-west, or Providence Channel." + +Captain Flanger did not know that the steamer Chateaugay was cruising +somewhere in the vicinity of the Bahamas; but his prisoner did know it, +and the information given him was not pleasant or satisfactory. Captain +Chantor had told him that he intended to stand off and to the eastward +of Great Abaco, and he had been cherishing a hope that he would fall in +with the Snapper, though he might not find evidence enough on board of +her to warrant her capture. + +If he fell in with the steamer, he would be likely to examine her; and +that would lead to the release of the involuntary passenger. But if the +Snapper went through the Providence Channel, the Chateaugay would not be +likely to fall in with her. It looked to the unfortunate officer as +though he was booked for a rebel prison. He could see no hope of escape, +though he was duly grateful for the change which had come over his +vicious persecutor. If he was allowed his liberty, he might find some +avenue of escape open. It was useless to groan over his fate, and he did +not groan; but he had come to the conclusion that it would be a long +time before he took possession of his stateroom in the ward room of the +Bellevite. + +Availing himself of the permission given to him, he went into the room, +and turned in with his clothes on, so that he might be in readiness for +any event. Mr. Gilfleur would miss him at the rendezvous agreed upon; +but he would have no means of knowing that anything had happened to him. +Tired as he was, he was not inclined to sleep. Presently he heard a +conversation which was not intended for his ears, for it was carried on +in very low tones. + +"Do you know, Captain Flanger, that I believe we are getting into a very +bad scrape?" said Percy Pierson in a subdued tone. + +"What are you afraid of?" demanded the captain, in a voice hardly above +a whisper. + +"My father refused at first to permit the capture of Passford," added +Percy. "He would consent to it only after you had promised to treat him +well." + +"I am treating him as well as I know how, though it goes against my +grain. We will get him into the jail in Mobile, and keep him there till +the Yankees have acknowledged the independence of the Confederacy, and +paid for all the damage they have done to our country. How is any one in +Washington or London to know anything about this little affair of +to-night?" + +"I don't know how; but if it should get out, the Yankees would make an +awful row, and England would be obliged to do something about it." + +"But we must make sure that it does not get out. The young cub has a +deal of spirit and pluck, and he would not live long if he were shut up +on such rations as our men have." + +Percy seemed to be better satisfied than he had been, and the +conversation turned to other subjects in which the listener had no +interest. Without much of an effort he turned over and went to sleep. +When he woke in the morning he heard the tramp of footsteps on the deck +over his head, and he concluded that the steamer was getting under way. +If the mate had slept in the berth below him, he had not seen or heard +him. He leaped out of the bed, and descended to the floor. When he tried +the door he found that it was locked. + +Presently he heard the movement of the screw, and felt the motion of the +vessel. There was a port light to the room, and he placed himself where +he could see out at it. But there was nothing to be seen which afforded +him any hope of comfort. There must be a pilot on board, and he began to +wonder if there could be any way to communicate with him. He took from +his pocket a piece of paper and pencil. He wrote a brief statement of +the outrage which had been perpetrated upon him, folded the paper, and +put it in his vest pocket, where he could readily slip it into the hand +of the pilot, if he found the opportunity to do so. The captain had +promised to give him his liberty when the vessel got out to sea, and he +hoped to be able to go on deck before the pilot left the steamer. + +The Snapper continued to go ahead, and in a short time she made a sort +of a plunge, as she went over the bar. The motion of the steamer began +to be rather violent, and Christy saw through the port the white caps +that indicated a strong north-west wind. When the vessel had continued +on her course for a couple of hours, she stopped, and the prisoner saw +the pilot boat drop astern a little later. The opportunity to deliver +his statement had passed by, and he tore up the paper, keeping the +fragments in his pocket, so that they should not expose his intention. + +He had scarcely destroyed the paper before his door was thrown open by +Percy Pierson, who informed him that he was at liberty to go on deck if +he wished to do so. He accepted the permission. He could see the land in +the distance in several directions, but he had no interest in anything. +He was called to breakfast soon after, and he took a hearty meal, for +the situation had not yet affected his appetite. In the middle of the +forenoon, with the light at Hole in the Wall on the starboard, and that +on Stirrup Cay on the port, the course of the Snapper was changed to the +north-west. + +At this point Christy discovered a three-masted steamer, which had also +excited the attention of Captain Flanger. It looked like the Chateaugay; +and the prisoner's heart bounded with emotion. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE CHATEAUGAY IN THE DISTANCE + + +The steamer which Christy had discovered was a long distance from the +Snapper. She had just come about, and this movement had enabled the +prisoner to see that she had three masts; but that was really all there +was to lead him to suppose she was the Chateaugay. She was too far off +for him to make her out; and if he had not known that she was cruising +to the eastward of the Bahamas, it would not have occurred to him that +she was the steamer in which he had been a passenger two days before. + +Captain Flanger discovered the sail a few minutes later, and fixed his +attention upon it. In the business in which he was engaged it was +necessary to practise the most unceasing vigilance. But, at this +distance from any Confederate port, the commander of the steamer did not +appear to be greatly disturbed at the sight of a distant sail, believing +that his danger was nearer the shores of the Southern States. Doubtless +he had papers of some sort which would show that his vessel had cleared +for Havana, or some port on the Gulf of Mexico. + +Christy did not deem it wise to manifest any interest in the distant +sail, and, fixing his gaze upon the deck-planks, he continued to walk +back and forth, as he was doing when he discovered the steamer. He had +not been able to make out her course. He had first seen her when she was +in the act of turning, obtaining only a glance at the three masts. +Whether or not she was "end-on" for the Snapper, he could not determine, +and Captain Flanger seemed to be studying up this question with no +little earnestness. + +The principal mission in these waters of the Chateaugay was to look up +the Ovidio, of which Captain Passford in New York had obtained some +information through his agents. This vessel was not simply a +blockade-runner, but was intended for a cruiser, though she had sailed +from Scotland without an armament. It was known that she would proceed +to Nassau, and this fact had suggested to Mr. Gilfleur his visit to that +port to obtain reliable information in regard to her, as well as +incidentally to look into the methods of fitting out vessels for running +the blockade. + +Captain Chantor was expecting to fall in with the Ovidio, even before +the return of his two passengers. He did not believe the authorities at +Nassau would permit her to take on board an armament at that port; but a +rendezvous had probably been arranged, where she was to receive her guns +and ammunition. But the only safe channel for any vessel to get to the +deep sea from Nassau was by the one that had received the name of +Providence. This channel is a continuation of what is called "The Tongue +of the Ocean," which extends over a hundred miles south of New +Providence, a hundred and fifty fathoms in depth, and bordered by +innumerable cays, reefs, and very shoal water. + +South of Great Abaco Island, this channel, from thirty to forty miles +wide, divides into the North-east and North-west Channels, and all +vessels of any great draught can safely get out to sea only through one +of them. It was evident enough to Captain Chantor, who was familiar with +the navigation of these seas, that the Ovidio must come out through one +of the channels indicated. Christy had talked with the commander of the +Chateaugay in regard to these passages, and knew that it was his +intention to keep a close watch over them. + +He could not be sure that the steamer in the distance was the +Chateaugay; but the more he recalled what had passed between himself and +Captain Chantor, and considered the situation, the stronger became his +hope that it was she. He was sure that she had come about, and he +reasoned that she had done so when her commander ascertained that the +steamer he had sighted laid her course through the North-west Channel. +This was as far as he could carry his speculations. + +Without understanding the situation as well as did his prisoner, Captain +Flanger seemed to be nervous and uneasy. He watched the distant sail for +a long time, sent for his spy-glass and examined her, and then began to +plank the deck. When he came abreast of Christy he stopped. + +"Do you see that sail off to the eastward, Mr. Passford?" + +"I see it now, Captain," replied the prisoner, as indifferently as +possible, for he felt that it would be very imprudent to manifest any +interest in the matter. + +"Can you make out what she is?" continued the captain. + +"I cannot; she must be eight or ten miles from us," replied Christy, +as he glanced to the eastward. + +"I shouldn't wonder if that was one of your Yankee gunboats," added +Captain Flanger, spicing his remark with a heavy oath, for he could +hardly say anything without interlarding his speech with profanity. + +"It may be, for aught I know," replied the prisoner with something like +a yawn. + +"Whatever she is, the Snapper can run away from her, and you need not +flatter yourself that there is any chance for you to escape from a +Confederate prison; and when they get you into it, they will hold on +very tight." + +"I must take things as they come," added Christy. + +He wanted to ask the captain why he wondered if the sail was a Yankee +gunboat, but he did not think it would be prudent to do so. The captain +seemed to have, or pretended to have, great confidence in the speed of +the Snapper. When he left his prisoner he went to the engine-room, and +it was soon evident from the jar and shake of the vessel that he had +instructed the chief engineer to increase the speed. + +Christy watched the distant sail for about three hours before he could +come to any conclusion. At the end of this time he was satisfied that +the three-masted steamer was gaining very decidedly upon the Snapper. He +began to cherish a very lively hope that the sail would prove to be the +Chateaugay. Captain Flanger remained on deck all the forenoon, and every +hour that elapsed found him more nervous and excitable. + +"I reckon that's a Yankee gunboat astern of us, Mr. Passford; but I am +going to get away from her," said the captain, as they sat down to +dinner. + +"Is she gaining upon you, Captain?" asked Christy. + +"I don't think she is; but if she does get any nearer to us, I shall +give her the slip. The Snapper is going into Mobile Bay as sure as you +live. You can bet your life on it," insisted the captain. + +Christy was not disposed to converse on the subject, and he began to +wonder in what manner the Snapper could give her pursuer the slip. The +former was the smaller vessel, and probably did not draw over fourteen +feet of water, if she did more than twelve. It might be possible for her +to run into shoal water where the pursuer could not follow her. + +After the dinner table was cleared off, the captain seated himself at it +with a chart spread out before him. It was plain enough that he was +devising some expedient to escape the three-master. Christy did not deem +it prudent to observe him, and he went on deck. It was as clear as the +daylight that the pursuer was gaining rapidly upon the Snapper; and the +prisoner did not believe that the latter was making over twelve knots. + +By this time seven hours had elapsed since the distant sail had come in +sight, and she was now near enough for the prisoner to be sure that she +was the Chateaugay. She could make sixteen knots when driven at her +best, and she must be gaining four or five knots an hour on the chase. +Christy had been through this channel in the Bellevite, and he +discovered that the steamer was running near the shoal water. Presently +the captain came on deck, and he appeared to be less nervous than +before, perhaps because he had arranged his plan to escape his pursuer. + +Within an hour Christy recognized the East Isaac, a rock rising ten or +twelve feet above the surface of the water, which he identified by its +nearness to one over which the sea was breaking. The captain was too +much occupied in the study of the surroundings to take any notice of +him, and he endeavored to keep out of his sight. + +The prisoner consulted his watch, and found it was four o'clock. The +tower of the Great Isaac light could just be made out. The Chateaugay +was not more than four miles astern of the Snapper, and in another hour +she would certainly come up with her, if Captain Flanger did not put his +plan into execution. The course of the chase continued to bring her +nearer to the reefs. + +"Ring one bell!" shouted the captain to the quartermaster at the wheel. + +The effect of one bell was to reduce the speed of the Snapper by +one-half. The order to put the helm hard a starboard followed in a short +time. The course was made about south, and the steamer went ahead +slowly. Two men in the chains were heaving the lead constantly. They +were reporting four and five fathoms. After the vessel had gone five or +six miles on this course, it was changed to about south-west. She was +then moving in a direction directly opposite to that of the Chateaugay, +and the anxious prisoner could see the man-of-war across the reefs which +lifted their heads above the water, very nearly abreast of the Snapper, +though at least ten miles distant from her. + +"Do you know what steamer that is, Mr. Passford?" asked Captain Flanger, +coming aft, apparently for the purpose of finding him. + +"How should I know, Captain?" asked Christy. + +"I thought you might know her by sight." + +"I could hardly be expected to know all the ships in the United States +navy by sight, Captain, for there are a great many of them by this +time." + +"All right; she looks like a pretty large vessel, and the bigger the +better. I hope you won't get up a disappointment for yourself by +expecting that you are going to get out of this scrape," said Captain +Flanger, and there was a great deal of bitterness in his tones. + +"I am taking things as they come, Captain." + +"The Snapper is not a man-of-war, and she is engaged in a peaceful +voyage. If that fellow thinks of capturing me, he is reckoning without +his host. He has no more right to make a prize of me than he has to +murder me," protested the captain, as he gave the order to hoist the +British flag. + +"Of course you know your business better than I do, Captain Flanger, and +I don't propose to interfere with it," replied Christy. + +The commander walked forward again, giving the order to the +quartermaster to ring two bells, which presently brought the steamer to +a full stop, quite near the rocks which were awash to the northward of +her. As the captain moved forward he encountered the first officer in +the waist, who addressed him, and they began a conversation, none of +which Christy could hear. From the looks and gestures of the mate, he +concluded that they were talking about him. + +It was not difficult to imagine the subject of the conversation, and it +was evident to Christy that the first officer had suggested an idea to +his commander. While he was waiting impatiently to ascertain what the +Chateaugay would do next, Percy Pierson came on deck looking very pale, +for it had been reported at breakfast that he was very sea-sick. + +"How are you, Christy?" asked the Southerner. + +"I am very well, I thank you." + +"Haven't you been sea-sick?" asked the invalid. + +"Of course not; I never was sea-sick." + +"But what has the steamer stopped for?" asked Percy, looking about him. + +"Captain Flanger seems to think that vessel over there is a United +States man-of-war." + +"Will she capture the Snapper?" asked the sufferer, looking paler than +before. + +At this moment a boat was lowered from the davits into the water, and +Christy was invited by the mate to take a seat in the stern sheets. He +was astounded at this request, and wondered what it meant. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE TABLES TURNED + + +Christy understood the character of Captain Flanger well enough to be +confident he meant mischief to him in getting him into the boat. He +concluded that this movement was the result of the conference with the +mate. He had a suspicion that his terrible enemy intended to drown him, +or get rid of him in some other manner. + +"May I ask where I am to be taken in the boat, Mr. Dawbin?" asked the +prisoner, suppressing as much as he could the excitement that disturbed +him. + +"I give you leave to ask, but I cannot answer you," replied the mate. + +"If you intend to put me on board of that steamer, it can do no harm to +say so, I think," added Christy. + +"If you will excuse me, Mr. Passford, I cannot answer any questions. +I ask you again to get into the boat," said Mr. Dawbin. + +"Well, sir, suppose I decline to do so?" + +"Then I shall be compelled to use force, and tumble you into the boat in +the best way I can, with the assistance of my men." + +"If you intend to murder me, why can't you do the deed here on deck?" +demanded the prisoner. + +"I don't intend to murder you." + +"That is some consolation. That lighthouse on the Great Isaac is the +only place to which you can convey me, and that is sixteen miles from +this steamer. I can't believe you intend to pull me that distance." + +"No fooling there!" shouted the captain. "What are you waiting for, Mr. +Dawbin? Why don't you obey my order?" + +"The fellow wants to talk," replied the mate. + +"If he won't get into the boat, pitch him into it like a dead dog!" + +Christy saw that it was useless to resist, though he had a revolver in +his pocket which had not been taken from him, for he had not been +searched. The mate and two sailors stood in front of him, and he +realized that he could accomplish nothing by resistance under present +circumstances. He thought he could do better in the boat after it was +beyond the reach of any reinforcements from the steamer. He went over +the side, and took his place in the stern sheets. + +The mate followed him, and the two men, one of whom was hardly more than +a boy, took their places on the thwarts. The boat was shoved off, and +the prisoner had an immediate interest in the course it was about to +steer. The mate arranged the tiller lines, and then looked about him. + +He directed his gaze towards the north, and seemed to be trying to find +some object or point. He satisfied himself in some manner, and then +resumed his seat, from which he had risen in order to obtain a better +view over the waves. The passenger had watched him closely, and found +that his vision had been directed towards the rocks awash and the East +Isaac rock. Towards these objects he steered the boat. The Chateaugay +was at least three miles to the eastward of these rocks. + +Christy watched the course of the boat long enough to satisfy himself +that it was headed for the rocks, which were awash at high tide, though +they now looked like a minute island. There could be but one object in +visiting this locality: and that must be to leave him on that desolate +reef. The wind was still fresh from the north-west, and the spray was +dashed over the rocks in a manner which suggested that a human being +could not remain long on it after the tide was high without being +washed off. It was little better than murder to leave him there, and he +knew very well that Captain Flanger would shed no tears if assured that +his troublesome prisoner was no more. + +Christy decided that he would not be left on the reef, or even on the +top of the East Isaac, which might be a drier place, though hardly more +comfortable. It must have been Mr. Dawbin who had suggested the idea of +landing him on the reef, for there was no other place nearer than the +Great Isaac light. Captain Flanger had boasted that he sailed a vessel +on a peaceful mission, and that the commander of the Chateaugay had no +more right to capture him than he had to murder him. But the prisoner +knew that the Snapper was to run the blockade, and was bound to Mobile, +for the captain had told him so himself. + +The commander could now see the folly of his boast. He had not expected +to encounter a United States man-of-war in the Bahamas. His prisoner was +a naval officer, and would be a strong witness against him. Upon his +testimony, and such other evidence as the cargo and other circumstances +might supply, the captain of the steamer in the channel might feel +justified in making a prize of the Snapper. It was necessary, therefore, +to remove this witness against him. As Christy had imagined, the captain +had not thought of his prisoner as a witness, and the mate had suggested +it to him. + +"I suppose I need not ask you what is to be done with me, for that is +sufficiently apparent now," said Christy, more to engage the attention +of the mate than for any other reason. + +"You can form your own conclusion," replied Mr. Dawbin. + +"You intend to leave me on that reef ahead, and doubtless you expect me +to be washed off and drowned, or starved to death there," added the +prisoner. "I can't see why you take all this trouble when you could more +conveniently blow my brains out." + +"The captain has promised not to harm you, Mr. Passford, and he will +keep his word," replied the mate with very ill grace. + +"I consider it worse than murder to leave me on that reef, or any of +these rocks, Mr. Dawbin. Since I understand your intention, I might as +well put a bullet through my own head, and save myself from all the +suffering in store for me," said Christy, assuming the manner of one +rendered desperate by his situation. "Have you a revolver in your +pocket?" + +"I have not a revolver in my pocket; and if I had I should not lend it +to you to shoot yourself," replied the mate. + +Mr. Dawbin had no revolver in his pocket, and that was all the prisoner +had been driving at. He was equally confident that neither of the +sailors was armed, for he had looked them over to see if there was any +appearance of pistols in their pockets. + +"You are making altogether too much fuss over this little matter, Mr. +Passford. The captain desires you to remain on one of these rocks till +he gets through his business with the commander of that steamer in the +channel, which is now headed for the Snapper," the mate explained. "When +that is finished we will take you off and proceed on our voyage." + +"You had better put a bullet through my head." + +"I don't think so. It is no great hardship for you to stay a few hours +on that rock. You have had your dinner, and you will not starve to +death. I don't think you will have to stay there long, for that steamer +draws too much water to come in among these reefs, and she will be hard +and fast on one of the shoals before she goes much farther." + +"Possibly her captain knows what he is about as well as you do," +suggested Christy. + +"I don't believe he does. There isn't a fathom of water on some of these +shoals." + +But the Chateaugay kept on her course, though she proceeded very slowly. +When she was off the Gingerbread Cay she stopped her screw, and she was +near enough for the observer to see that she was lowering at least two +boats into the water. In a few minutes more they were seen pulling +towards the Snapper, whose boat was now very near the reef which had +been selected as the prisoner's abiding-place. A few minutes later the +keel ground on the coral rock. + +"Jump ashore, both of you, and take the painter with you, my men," said +the mate, when the boat stuck about six feet from the top of the ledge. + +The two sailors waded to the highest part of the reef, and began to haul +in on the painter; but they could not get it anything less than three +feet from the rock. + +"We can't get the boat any nearer, Mr. Passford; but you are a vigorous +young man, and you can easily leap to the rock," said Mr. Dawbin. + +"Do you think you could leap to the ledge?" asked Christy, looking him +sharp in the eye. + +"I know I could." + +"Let me see you try it, Mr. Dawbin," replied Christy, with his right +hand on his revolver. + +"Come, come! Mr. Passford. No fooling. I have no time to spare," growled +the mate. + +"I am not fooling. As you consider it no hardship to pass a few hours on +that rock, I am going to trouble you to take my place there." + +"No nonsense! I am not to be trifled with!" + +"Neither am I," added the prisoner, as he drew out his weapon, and aimed +it at the head of the mate. "You can take your choice between the rock +and a ball from my revolver, Mr. Dawbin." + +"Do you mean to murder me?" demanded the mate. + +"I hope you will not compel me to do so harsh a thing as that. But no +fooling! I have no time to spare. Jump on the rock, or I will fire +before you are ten seconds older!" said Christy resolutely. + +"Come back into the boat, men!" shouted the officer. + +"The first one that comes any nearer the boat is a dead man!" added the +prisoner, "Five seconds gone, Mr. Dawbin." + +The mate did not wait for anything more, but made the leap to the rock. +He accomplished it so hastily that he fell when he struck the ledge; but +the impetus he had given the boat forced it from the rock, and sent it a +considerable distance. Christy restored the revolver to his pocket, and, +taking one of the oars, he sculled towards the Chateaugay, which was now +much nearer than the Snapper. The two boats from the man-of-war took no +notice of him, and perhaps did not see him. + +Taking out his white handkerchief he attached it to the blade of one of +the oars, and waved it with all his might in the direction of the +steamer. He set it up in the mast-hole through the forward thwart, and +then continued to scull. But his signal was soon seen, and a boat came +off from the steamer. + + [Illustration: + "Jump on the rock or I will fire before you are ten seconds older." + Page 276.] + +"Boat ahoy!" shouted the officer in charge of the cutter. + +"In the boat!" replied Christy, turning around as he suspended his labor +with the oar. + +"Lieutenant Passford!" exclaimed Mr. Hackling, the second lieutenant of +the Chateaugay. "Is it possible that it is you?" + +"I haven't any doubt of it, Mr. Hackling, if you have," replied the late +prisoner, heartily rejoiced to find himself in good company again. + +"But what does this mean? How do you happen to be here?" demanded the +astonished lieutenant of the ship. + +"I happen to be here because I have just played a sharp game. I was a +prisoner on that steamer yonder, on my way to a rebel prison. But I +think it is necessary that I should report immediately to Captain +Chantor in regard to the character of the Snapper, which is the name of +the vessel you have been chasing." + +The Snapper's boat was taken in tow, and the crew of the cutter gave way +with a will. In due time Christy was received with the most unbounded +astonishment by the commander on the deck of the Chateaugay. + +"Where is Mr. Gilfleur? I hope that no accident has happened to him," +said the captain with deep anxiety on his face. + +"None that I am aware of; but if you will excuse me from explanations +for the present, I will state that the steamer on the bank is the +Snapper, Captain Flanger, bound for Mobile; and the captain told me that +he intended to run the blockade." + +"Mr. Hackling, take charge of the second cutter, and give Mr. Birdwing +my order to make a prize of that steamer, and bring her off to the deep +water." + +It was quite dark when this order was executed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +CAPTAIN FLANGER IN IRONS + + +Christy Passford related to Captain Chantor all that had occurred to the +detective and himself from the time of their departure from the ship to +their parting on the shore; and he did not fail to mention the fact that +Mr. Gilfleur had come to his assistance when he was assaulted by the +ruffian in front of the saloon. + +"You have had a narrow escape, Mr. Passford," said the commander, when +he had concluded. "The idea of avenging an injury received in that way +is something I never happened to hear of before, though my experience is +not unlimited. Mr. Birdwing," he continued, after the first lieutenant +had reported to him, "had you any difficulty in effecting the capture of +the Snapper?" + +"Only with the captain; for my force was sufficient to have taken her if +she had been fully armed and manned. There was no fighting; but I was +obliged to put the captain in irons, for he was about the ugliest and +most unreasonable man I ever encountered," replied the chief of the boat +expedition. "I was not at all satisfied that the steamer was a fit +subject for capture till your order came to me, brought by Mr. Hackling. +Then Captain Flanger not only protested, with more bad language than I +ever before heard in the same time, but he absolutely refused to yield. +I could not give him the reasons that induced you to send me the order, +and I referred the matter to you." + +The Snapper had been anchored within a cable's length of the Chateaugay, +and Mr. Birdwing had brought Captain Flanger on board of the ship, with +Percy Pierson, that the question of prize might be definitely settled by +the commander, for he was not quite satisfied himself. The captain of +the Snapper was still in irons, and he and his companion had been put +under guard in the waist. The man with the mutilated nose had not yet +seen Christy, and possibly he was still wondering what had become of his +chief officer and the two men who had been ordered to put the prisoner +on the ledge. + +Christy had informed Captain Chantor, in his narrative, of the manner in +which he had turned the tables on his custodians, and he had not +forgotten that the party were still where he had left them. He reminded +the commander of the latter fact, and a quartermaster was sent in the +third cutter to bring them off, and put them on board of the Snapper; +where a considerable force still remained under the charge of Mr. +Carlin, the third lieutenant. + +"Now we will settle this matter with the captain of the Snapper, and I +hope to convince him that his vessel is a lawful prize, so far as she +can be so declared in advance of the decision of the court," said +Captain Chantor. "Come with me, if you please, Mr. Birdwing. For the +present, Mr. Passford, will you oblige me by keeping in the shade till I +send for you?" + +"Certainly, Captain Chantor, though I should like to hear what Captain +Flanger has to say in defence of his steamer," replied the passenger. +"But I will take care not to show myself to him till you are ready for +me." + +"I do not object to that arrangement. I do not quite understand who this +Percy Pierson is, though you mentioned him in your report of what had +occurred during your absence," added the commander. + +"He is the son of Colonel Richard Pierson, a Confederate commissioner, +who represents his government at Nassau, purchasing vessels as +opportunity to do so is found. His son is the person who tried to induce +me to take passage in the Snapper, with the promise that I should be +permitted to land at Key West. It was only a trick to get me on board of +the steamer; and when it failed, for I declined to fall into the trap, +I was captured by a gang of four or five ruffians, Captain Flanger being +one of them, and conveyed to the vessel, where I was locked up in a +stateroom till after she had sailed." + +"That is a proper question for the British government to deal with, and +I hope it will be put in the way of adjustment by the proper officials, +though I am inclined to regard it as an act of war, which will justify +me in holding the men engaged in the outrage as prisoners. Do you know +who they are, Mr. Passford?" + +"I can designate only three of them,--the captain, Mr. Dawbin, the mate, +who is now on the ledge, and Percy Pierson. I am sure they were all in +the carriage that conveyed me to the beach where I was put into the +boat. The others were sailors, and I could not identify them." + +"I will hold the three you name as prisoners," added Captain Chantor, +as he moved forward, followed by the executive officer. + +It was getting dark, and Christy made his way to the shadow of the +mainmast, where he obtained a position that enabled him to hear all that +passed without being seen himself. Captain Flanger seemed to be more +subdued than he had been reported to be on board of the Snapper, and the +commander ordered the irons to be taken from his wrists. + +"Captain Flanger, I have concluded to make a prize of the Snapper; but I +am willing to hear anything you may wish to offer," Captain Chantor +began. + +"I protest; you have no more right to make a prize of my vessel than you +have to capture a British man-of-war, if you were able to do such a +thing," replied the commander of the Snapper. + +"Do you claim that the Snapper is a British vessel?" + +"Yes, I do!" blustered Captain Flanger recklessly. + +"Are you a British subject?" + +"No, I am not; but I am not attempting to run the blockade." + +"For what port are you bound?" + +"Havana." + +"Have you a clearance for that port?" + +"For Havana, and a market." + +"But you have no more idea of going to Havana than you have of going to +China," added the captain of the Chateaugay. "You are bound to Mobile, +and you intend to run the blockade; and that intention proved, you are +liable to capture." + +"You seem to know my business better than I know it myself," said +Captain Flanger, with a sneer in his tones. + +"Perhaps I know it quite as well as you do, at least so far as the +voyage of the Snapper is concerned," replied the commander of the +Chateaugay, who proceeded to explain international law in relation to +the intention to run the blockade. "I shall be able to prove in the +court which sits upon your case that you left Nassau for the purpose +of running the blockade established at the entrance of Mobile Bay. +I presume that will be enough to satisfy both you and the court. In +Nassau you did not hesitate to announce your intention to run the +blockade, and get into Mobile." + +"I should like to see you prove it," growled the captain of the Snapper, +in his sneering tones. + +"I don't think you would like to see me do it; but I will take you at +your word, and prove it now. I have an excellent witness, to whom you +made your announcement;" and at this remark Christy stepped out from +behind the mainmast, and placed himself in front of the astounded +ruffian. "Lieutenant Passford, a naval officer in excellent repute, +is all ready to make oath to your assertions." + +Captain Flanger and Percy Pierson gazed in silence at the witness, for +they supposed he was on the ledge to which he had been transported by +the boat. Christy repeated what he had said before, and stated in what +manner he had been made a prisoner on board of the Snapper. + +"For this outrage in a neutral port I shall hold you and Mr. Pierson as +prisoners, leaving the government to determine what steps shall be taken +in regard to you; but I trust you will be handed over to the authorities +at Nassau, to be properly punished for the outrage." + +Of course this decision did not suit Captain Flanger; and Percy Pierson +appeared to be intensely alarmed at the prospect before him. Captain +Chantor, after consulting with his naval passenger, determined to send +the Snapper to Key West, from which she could readily be despatched to +New York if occasion should require. Mr. Carlin was appointed +prize-master, with a sufficient crew; and at daylight the next morning +he sailed for his destination. + +The boat which had been sent for the mate and two men belonging to the +Snapper put them on board of the steamer; but the captain and the +passenger were retained on board of the Chateaugay. The man with the +mutilated nose was so disgusted at the loss of his vessel, and with the +decision of his captor, that he could not contain himself; and it became +necessary not only to restore his irons, but also to commit him to the +"brig," which is the ship's prison. + +"What is to become of me, Christy?" asked Percy in the evening, overcome +with terror at the prospect before him. + +"That is more than I can inform you," replied Christy coldly. + +"But we had no intention of doing you any harm; and we treated you well +after you went on board of the Snapper." + +"You committed a dastardly outrage upon me; but your punishment will be +left to others." + +"But I had no intention to do you any harm," pleaded Percy. + +"No more lies! You have told me enough since I met you." + +"But I am speaking the truth now," protested the frightened Southerner. + +"No, you are not; the truth is not in you! Did you mean me no harm when +you attempted to entice me on board of the Snapper? Did you mean me no +harm when you engaged Flanger and his ruffians to make me a prisoner, +and put me on board of his steamer? It was a flagrant outrage from +beginning to end; for I had the same rights in Nassau that you and your +father had, and both of you abused the hospitality of the place when you +assaulted me." + +"You were a prisoner of the Confederacy, and had escaped in a +blockade-runner; and I thought it was no more than right that you should +be returned to your prison," Percy explained. + +"I had the right to escape if I could, and was willing to take the risk; +and my capture in Nassau was a cowardly trick. But I did not escape from +a Confederate prison." + +"You told me you did." + +"I did not; that was a conclusion to which you jumped with very little +help from me." + +"I thought I was doing my duty to my country." + +"Then you were an idiot. You have done your best to compromise your +country, as you call it, with the British government. If your father is +not sent out of Nassau, I shall lose my guess as a Yankee." + +"But my father would not allow Captain Flanger to do you any harm; for +he was bent upon hanging you as soon as he got out of sight of land, and +he sent me with you to see my mother in order to prevent him from +carrying out his threat." + +"You would have been a powerful preventive in the face of such a brutal +ruffian as Captain Flanger," said Christy with a sneer. "You have lied +to me before about your father, and I cannot believe anything you say." + +"I am speaking the truth now; my father saved your life. I heard him +tell Flanger that he would lose the command of the Snapper if any harm +came to you." + +"If he did so, he did it from the fear of the British authorities. +I have nothing more to say about it." + +"But as my father saved your life, you ought to stand by me in this +scrape," pleaded Percy. + +"Whatever was done by you or your father for me, was done from the fear +of consequences; and you were the originator of the outrage against me," +added Christy, as he descended to the ward room. + +The next morning the Snapper was on her voyage to Key West, and the +Chateaugay headed for the Hole in the Wall, though she gave it a wide +berth, and stood off to the eastward. The next night, being the fourth +since the Eleuthera left the ship, the boat containing Mr. Gilfleur was +picked up about twenty miles east of the lights. The detective came on +board, and was welcomed by the captain, who had been called by his own +order. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A VISIT TO TAMPA BAY + + +As soon as Mr. Gilfleur had been welcomed back to the Chateaugay the +commander gave the order to the officer of the deck to have the Bahama +boat hoisted to the deck, and disposed of as before. + +"I beg your pardon, Captain Chantor; but be so kind as to allow the boat +to remain alongside, for I must return to Nassau," interposed the +detective. + +"Return to Nassau!" exclaimed the captain. + +"Yes, sir; it is really necessary that I should do so, for you see that +I have come back without Mr. Passford," replied the Frenchman. "He was +attacked by a cowardly ruffian in front of a saloon in the town, and I +lost sight of him after that. I have been terribly distressed about him, +for the ruffian threatened to kill him, and I fear he has executed his +threat." + +"Don't distress yourself for another instant, Mr. Gilfleur, for Mr. +Passford is on board of the ship at this moment, and doubtless asleep in +his stateroom," said the captain, cutting short the narrative of the +detective. + +"On board of the ship!" exclaimed the Frenchman, retreating a few paces +in his great surprise. "Impossible! Quite impossible! I found our boat +just where we had left it at the back side of the island." + +"But what I say is entirely true; and Mr. Passford wished me to have him +called when you came on board," added the commander, as he sent a +quartermaster to summon Christy to the captain's cabin. + +"I don't understand how Mr. Passford can be on board of the ship," +continued the bewildered Frenchman. "Ah, he might have hired a boat like +the Eleuthera to bring him off." + +"He might have done so, but he did not," replied Captain Chantor, as he +directed the officer of the deck to go ahead, making the course east, as +soon as he had secured the detective's boat. "Now, if you will come to +my cabin, Mr. Gilfleur, Mr. Passford shall inform you himself that he is +on board of the ship; and he has quite an exciting story to tell." + +The commander and the Frenchman went below, and seated themselves in the +cabin of the former. + +"Mr. Passford has already informed me that the Ovidio is at Nassau, but +that she has been seized by a British gunboat for violation of the +neutrality laws," said the captain. + +"That is quite true, and it is not probable that the case will be +settled for a month to come," replied Mr. Gilfleur. "But I ascertained +by great good luck that her armament was waiting for her at Green Cay, +if you know where that is: I do not." + +"It is on the Tongue of the Ocean, as it is called, nearly a hundred +miles to the southward of Nassau. I supposed it would be managed in some +such way as that," added the commander. "But do you think it will be a +month before her case will be settled?" + +"Of course I know nothing about it myself; but I found a court official +who was very desirous of talking French, and he invited me to dine with +him at his house. I began to ask him questions about the blockade, and +the vessels in the harbor; and finally he gave me his opinion that a +decision in the case of the Ovidio could not be reached in less than a +month, and it might be two mouths." + +At this moment there was a knock at the door of the cabin, and the +captain called to the person to come in. Christy, who had taken the time +to dress himself fully, opened the door and entered the cabin. The +Frenchman leaped from his seat, and embraced the young officer as though +he had been his wife or sweetheart, from whom he had been separated for +years. Christy, who was not very demonstrative in this direction, +submitted to the hugging with the best possible grace, for he knew that +the detective was sincere, and had actually grown to love him, perhaps +as much for his father's sake as for his own. + +"Oh, my dear Mr. Passford, you are to me like one who has come out of +his grave, for I have believed for nearly three days that you had been +killed by the ruffian that attacked you in the street!" exclaimed Mr. +Gilfleur, still pressing both of his late companion's hands in his own. +"I was never so rejoiced in all my life, not even when I had unearthed a +murderer." + +"Perhaps you expected to unearth another murderer," said Christy with a +smile. + +"That was just what I intended to do. I heard the villanous ruffian +swear that he would kill you, and I was almost sure he had done so when +you failed to meet me in the rear of the hotel." + +At the request of the commander, Christy repeated the story of his +adventure in Nassau as briefly as possible, up to the time he had been +picked up by the Chateaugay's cutter, and conveyed on board of the ship. +The detective was deeply interested, and listened to the narration with +the closest attention. At the end of it, he pressed the hand of the +young officer again, and warmly congratulated him upon his escape from +the enemy. + +Mr. Gilfleur then reported more in detail than he had done before, the +result of his mission. He gave the names of all the intending +blockade-runners in the harbor of Nassau; but the captain declared that +he could not capture them on any such evidence as the detective had been +able to obtain, for it would not prove the intention. + +"The Ovidio may not come out of Nassau for two months to come, and then +she will proceed to Green Cay," said Captain Chantor. "I do not think I +should be justified in waiting so long for her, especially as she is to +run her cargo into Mobile. The blockaders will probably be able to pick +her up. I think my mission in the Bahama Islands is finished, and the +Chateaugay must proceed to more fruitful fields." + +"But you have not made a bad voyage of it so far, Captain Chantor," +added Christy. "You sent in the Ionian, sunk the Dornoch, and captured +the Cadet and the Snapper, to say nothing of bagging a Confederate +commissioner, and the son of another. I should have been glad if you had +sent in Colonel Pierson, for he has already done our commerce a great +deal of mischief." + +"I am entirely satisfied, and doubtless the information obtained here +and at the Bermudas will enable our fleet to pick up some more of the +steamers you have spotted," added the captain, as he rose from his seat, +and dismissed his guests. + +The Frenchman was so exhausted by his labors, and the want of sleep, +that he retired at once to his room, while Christy went on deck with the +commander. The ship had been working to the eastward for over an hour; +but the order was given for her to come about, and the course was laid +for the light at the Hole in the Wall. + +"Now, Mr. Passford, we are bound for the Gulf of Mexico, putting in at +Key West for the purpose of attending to the affair of the Snapper," +said Captain Chantor. "In a few days more no doubt you will be able to +report for duty on board of the Bellevite." + +"I shall not be sorry to be on duty again, and especially in the +Bellevite," replied Christy, as he went to his stateroom to finish his +night's sleep. + +The next day the Chateaugay overhauled the Snapper; but all was well on +board of her, and the ship proceeded on her course. On the third day she +went into the harbor of Key West. Christy and the captain went to work +at once on the legal questions relating to the prize last taken. The +evidence was deemed sufficient to warrant the sending of her to New +York, and on her arrival the prize-master was directed to proceed to +that port. Captain Flanger and Percy Pierson were transferred to her, +and she sailed the next day; but she encountered a tremendous storm on +the Atlantic coast, and was totally wrecked on Hetzel Spit, near Cape +Canaveral. The prisoners were put into one boat, which upset, and all in +it were drowned, while the other boat, in charge of Lieutenant Carlin, +succeeded in reaching the shore of Florida. + +The Snapper's case was settled, therefore, outside of the courts. +Captain Flanger perished in his wickedness, and Percy Pierson never +reached his mother in Mobile. But it was weeks before the news of the +disaster reached the Chateaugay and the Bellevite. Christy did not mourn +the loss of his great enemy, and he was sorry only that the young man +had not lived long enough to become a better man. + +The Chateaugay proceeded on her voyage, and reported to the flag-officer +of the Eastern Gulf Squadron; by whom she was assigned to a place in the +fleet off Appalachicola, while Christy was sent in a tender to the +Bellevite, then on duty off the entrance to Mobile Bay. + +At this point it became necessary for Christy and Mr. Gilfleur to +separate, for the latter was to proceed to New York by a store-ship +about to sail. The detective insisted upon hugging him again, and the +young officer submitted with better grace than usual to such +demonstrations. He had become much attached to his companion in the late +enterprises in which they had been engaged, and he respected him very +highly for his honesty and earnestness, and admired his skill in his +profession. On the voyage from Key West, Christy had written letters to +all the members of his family, as well as to Bertha Pembroke, which he +committed to the care of Mr. Gilfleur when they parted, not to meet +again till the end of the war. + +When Christy went on board of the Bellevite he was warmly welcomed by +Captain Breaker, who happened to be on deck. Mr. Blowitt was the next to +grasp his hand, and before he had done with him, Paul Vapoor, the chief +engineer, the young lieutenant's particular crony, hugged him as though +he were a brother. + +Most of the old officers were still in the ship, and Christy found +himself entirely at home where-ever he went on board. He was duly +presented to Mr. Walbrook, the third lieutenant, the acting second +lieutenant having returned to the flag-ship in the tender. + +For all the rest of the year the Bellevite remained on duty as a +blockader off Fort Morgan. It was an idle life for the most part, and +Christy began to regret that he had caused himself to be transferred +from the command of the Bronx. The steamer occasionally had an +opportunity to chase a blockade-runner, going in or coming out of the +bay. She was the fastest vessel on the station, and she never failed to +give a good account of herself. + +Late in the year the Bellevite and Bronx were ordered to operate at +Tampa Bay, where it was believed that several vessels were loading with +cotton. On the arrival of the ships off the bay, a boat expedition was +organized to ascertain what vessels were in the vicinity. But the +entrance was protected by a battery, and it was supposed that there were +field-works in several places on the shores. One of these was discovered +just inside of Palm Key, and the Bellevite opened upon it with her big +midship gun. Two or three such massive balls were enough for the +garrison, and they beat a precipitate retreat, abandoning their pieces. +There was water enough to permit the steamer to go into the bay nearly +to the town at the head of it. + +No other batteries were to be seen, and the Bronx proceeded up the bay, +followed by the Bellevite. When the latter had proceeded as far as the +depth of water rendered it prudent for her to go at that time of tide, +the Bronx went ahead some ten miles farther. The boat expedition, +consisting of three cutters from the Bellevite and one from the Bronx, +moved towards the head of the bay. Christy, in the second cutter of the +Bellevite, was at least two miles from any other boat, when a punt +containing a negro put out from the shore near him. + +"Are you a frien' ob de colored man?" demanded the negro as soon as he +came within speaking-distance of the cutter. + +"Within reasonable limits, I am the friend of the colored man," replied +Christy, amused at the form of the question. + +"What you gwine to do up dis bay, massa?" asked the colored man. + +"That will depend upon what we find up this bay." + +"You don't 'spect you find no steamers up dis bay, does you, massa?" + +"Do you know of any steamers up this bay, my man?" asked Christy. "Do +you know of any vessels up here loading with cotton?" asked Christy. + +"P'raps I do, massa; and den, again, p'raps I don't know anyt'ing about +any vessels," replied the negro, very indefinitely. + +Christy was provoked at the manner in which the negro replied to his +questions. Ordering his boat's crew to give way with all their might, +he directed the cockswain to run for the punt of the negro. The cutter +struck it on the broadside, and broke it into two pieces. The boatman +was fished up, and hauled on board of the boat. + + [Illustration: + "The boatman was fished up and hauled on board the boat." Page 301.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +AMONG THE KEYS OF TAMPA + + +Christy Passford did not intend to cut the negro's punt into two pieces, +though perhaps there was some mischief in the purpose of the cockswain. +The boatman gave him an evasive answer to his question, which provoked +the young officer. The punt was a very old affair, reduced almost to +punk by the decay of the boards of which it was built, or the bow of the +cutter would not have gone through it so readily. The lieutenant had +simply desired to get alongside the negro's shaky craft in order to +question him, for he was satisfied from the fellow's manner that he knew +more than he pretended to know. + +The boatman had come off from the shore of his own accord; he had not +been solicited to give any information, and his movements had been +entirely voluntary on his own part. Yet Christy was sorry that his punt +had been stove, valueless as the craft had been; for, as a rule, the +colored people were friendly to the Union soldiers, and he was not +disposed to do them any injury. + +As soon as the officer in charge of the boat saw that the bow was likely +to strike the punt, he directed the cockswain to stop and back her, +which was done, but too late to save the flimsy box from destruction. +The two bowmen drew in the negro without any difficulty; and so +expeditiously had he been rescued that he was not wet above the hips. +He had been caught up just as the bow of the cutter cut into the punt. + +"That was well done, bowmen," said Christy, as the boatman was placed +upon his feet in the fore sheets. + +The negro was rather small in stature, and black enough to save all +doubts in regard to his parentage; but there was an expression of +cunning in his face not often noticed in persons of his race. The +coast of Florida, south of the entrance to Tampa Bay, as in many other +portions, is fringed with keys, or cays as they are called in the West +Indies, which are small islands, though many of them are ten miles in +length. This fringe of keys extended up Tampa Bay for over twenty +miles; and it was from behind one of them that the punt had put out +when Christy's boat approached. The negro had been obliged to paddle +at least half a mile to come within speaking-distance of the cutter. + +"You done broke my boat in two pieces!" exclaimed the boatman, gazing at +the two parts of the floating wreck. "Don't t'ink you is a frien' ob de +colored man widin no limits at all, or you don't smash his boat like +dat." + +"That was an accident, my friend," replied Christy. "How much was the +punt worth?" + +"Dat boat wan't no punk, massa, and it was wuf two dollars in good +money," replied the colored man, his eyes brightening, and his +expression of cunning becoming more intense, when he realized the +possibility of being paid for his loss. + +"If you give me the information I desire, I will pay for the boat," +added Christy, who proposed to do so out of his own pocket, for his +father was a millionaire of several degrees, and the son had very nearly +made a fortune out of the prizes, from which he had received an +officer's share. + +"Tank you, massa; I'm a poor man, and I git my livin' gwine fishin' in +dat boat you done stove." + +"What is your name, my man?" + +"Quimp, sar; and dat's de short for Quimple," replied the colored person +of this name. + +"Where do you live?" + +"Ober on de shor dar, in de woods." + +"How deep is the water inside of these keys, Quimp?" asked Christy, +pointing to the long, narrow islands which lined the south-easterly side +of the bay. + +"Not much water inside dem keys dar, sar," replied the boatman, looking +off in the other direction. + +"But there are deep places in there, I am very sure." + +"Yes, sar; ten feet in some places," replied Quimp, suddenly becoming +more communicative. "When de wind blow from de west or de norf-west, +dar's twelve foot inside de long key." + +"Do you know of any vessels, any schooners, or steamers, inside the bay, +Quimp?" asked Christy, pushing his inquiries a point farther. + +"Couldn't told you, massa," replied the boatman, shaking his head. + +"Do you mean that you don't know, my man?" + +"Dis nigger done got but one head, and it's wuf more to him dan it is to +any oder feller, massa; and it don't do for him to tell no stories about +vessels and steamers," replied Quimp, shaking his head more vigorously. + +"I suppose you have a family, Quimp?" + +"No, sar; done got no family. De ole woman done gone to glory more'n ten +years ago, and de boys done growed up and gone off. No, sar; dis nigger +got no family." + +"Then you don't care to stay here, where you have to work hard for +little money?" suggested Christy. + +"Money! Don't see no money. Nobody but white folks got any money; and +dey has next to noffin in dese times." + +"I will pay you well for any information that may be of importance to +me, and I will take you on board of a man-of-war farther down the bay, +if you are afraid of losing your head." + +"If dis nigger told some stories he lose his head for sartin," added +Quimp, shaking his head, as if to make sure that it safely rested on his +shoulders. + +"If you tell me the truth, you shall be protected." + +"Wot you want to know, massa?" demanded Quimp, as though he was +weakening in his resolution. + +Christy could not help wondering why the boatman had come out from +behind the key, if he was not willing to impart his knowledge to the +officer of the boat, for he could not help understanding the object of +the gunboats in visiting the bay; and the Bellevite lay not half a mile +below the northern end of what Quimp called the long key. + +"I want to know if there are any steamers or other vessels in the bay," +replied Christy, coming directly to the point. "If there are any, we +shall find them; but you can save us the trouble of looking for them." + +"How much you gwine to gib me, massa, if I told you?" asked the negro, +as he walked between the men on the thwarts to the stern sheets, in +order to be nearer to the officer. + +"I will give you ten dollars if you will be sure and tell me the truth." + +"Dis nigger don't never told no lies, massa," protested Quimp. "If you +pay me five dollars for de boat you done stove, and"-- + +"But you said the boat was worth only two dollars," interposed the +officer. + +"Dat's de gospel truf, massa; but it costs me five dollars to get a new +boat, to say noffin about de time. I mought starve to def afore I can +get a boat." + +The negro's argument was logical, and Christy admitted its force, and +expressed his willingness to pay the price demanded. + +"Five dollars for de boat, massa, and ten dollars for tellin' de whole +truf," added Quimp. + +"All right, my man," added the lieutenant. + +"Yes, sar; but I want de money now, sar," said Quimp, extending his hand +to receive it; and Christy thought he was very sharp for one in his +position. + +"I will pay you when you have imparted the information," he replied; +and, for some reason he could not explain, he was not satisfied with the +conduct of the negro. + +He was altogether too shrewd for one who appeared to be so stupid. The +expression of cunning in his face told against him, and perhaps it was +this more than anything else that prejudiced the officer. He took it for +granted that he should have to take the boatman off to the Bellevite +with him, and that it would be time enough to pay him on board of the +ship. + +"Dat won't do, massa!" protested Quimp earnestly. "What you tink? +Suppose dar is a steamer in de bay loaded wid cotton, all ready to quit +for somewhar. Do you tink, massa, I can go on bord of her wid you? No, +sar! Dis nigger lose his head for sartin if dem uns knows I pilot you to +dat steamer. You done got two eyes, massa, and you can see it for +shore." + +"But I can protect you, Quimp," suggested Christy. + +"No, sar! All de sojers in de Yankee camp could not save me, sar. De +first man dat sees me will knive me in de heart, or cut my froat from +one ear to de oder!" protested Quimp more earnestly than before, though +he manifested no terror in his words or manner. + +"Very well, Quimp; I will pay you the money as soon as we see the +steamer or other vessel, and then assist you to make your escape," +replied Christy. "I will go a step farther, and pay you for the boat +now; but I will not pay you the ten dollars till you show us a vessel." + +While the negro was scratching his head to stimulate his ideas, the +officer handed him a gold sovereign and a shilling of English money, +provided for his visit to Bermuda and Nassau, which made a little more +than five dollars. + +"I don't reckon a gemman like you would cheat a poor nigger," said +Quimp, while his eyes were still glowing with delight at the sight of +the money in his hand. + +"Certainly not, my man," replied Christy, laughing at the idea. "Just as +soon as I get my eye on the steamer of which you speak, I will pay you +the ten dollars in gold and silver." + +"I don't know much about dis yere money, massa," said the boatman, still +studying the coin. + +"The gold piece is an English sovereign, worth about four dollars and +eighty-five cents; and the silver coin is a shilling, worth very nearly +a quarter of a dollar; so that I have paid you over five dollars." + +"Yes, sar, tank you, sar. Cap'n Stopfoot fotched over some ob de money +like dat from Nassau, and I done seen it." + +"But I can't stop to talk all day, Quimp," continued Christy +impatiently. "If you are going to do anything to earn your ten dollars, +it is time for you to be about it." + +"Yes, sar; I will told you all about it, massa." + +"No long yarns, my man!" protested the officer, as Quimp seated himself +in the stern sheets as though he intended to tell a long story. + +"Yes, massa; told you all about it in a bref. De wind done blow fresh +from de norf-west for t'ree days; dat's what Massa Cap'n Stopfoot say," +Quimp began. + +"No matter what Captain Stopfoot says!" Christy interposed. "Tell me +where the steamer is, if there is any steamer in the bay. We will stop +the foot and the mouth of Captain Stopfoot when we come to him." + +"Well, sar, if you don't want to har dis nigger's yarn, he'll shet up +all to onct," replied Quimp, standing on his dignity. + +"Go on, then; but make it short," added Christy, finding it would take +less time to get what he wanted out of the negro by letting him have his +own way. "Wind fresh from the north-west for three days." + +"Yes, sar; and dat pile up de water so de tide rise six or eight inches +higher," continued Quimp, picking up the clew given him. "High tide in +one hour from now, and de Reindeer was gwine out den for shore. Dat's de +whole story, massa, and not bery long." + +"All right, Quimp. Now where is the Reindeer?" + +"Ober de oder side ob long key, massa. Dar's more'n four fadoms ob water +under dis boat now, and twelve feet 'tween de two keys," added the +boatman, whose tongue was fully unlocked by this time. + +The crew of the cutter were directed to give way, and the negro pointed +out the channel which led inside the keys. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE SURRENDER OF THE REINDEER + + +Christy looked over the side of the boat, and saw that the water was +quite clear. The channel, which lay in the middle of the bay, had four +and a quarter fathoms of water at mean low tide, according to the chart +the officer had with him. He had brought several copies of the large +chart with him from New York, and he had cut them up into convenient +squares, so that they could be easily handled when he was on boat +service. But his authority gave no depth of water on the shoal sands. + +In a short time the boat came to the verge of the channel, and Christy +directed the bowman to stand by with the lead, with which the boat was +provided. The first heaving gave three and a half fathoms, and it +gradually decreased at each report, till only two fathoms and a quarter +was indicated, when the boat was between the two keys, the southern of +which Quimp called the long key, simply because that was the longest in +the bay, and not because it was a proper name. + +"Now, Massa Ossifer, look sharp ober on de starboard side," said the +negro. + +"I don't see anything," replied Christy. + +"No, sar, not yet; but look ober dat way, and you see somet'ing fo' yore +t'ree minutes older, massa." + +Christy fixed his gaze on the point of the long key, beyond which Quimp +intimated that the steamer would be seen. + +"Now, Massa Ossifer, fo' yore two minutes nearer glory, you'll see de +end ob de bowsprit ob de Reindeer," added Quimp, who was beginning to be +somewhat excited, possibly in expectation of receiving his ten dollars; +and perhaps he was regretting that he had not demanded twenty. + +"How big is that steamer, Quimp?" asked the officer of the cutter. + +"Fo' hund'ed tons, massa; dat's what Cap'n Stopfoot done say, kase I +never done measure her. He done say she is very flat on her bottom, and +don't draw much water for her size," replied the negro. "Dar's de end ob +de bowsprit, massa!" he exclaimed at this moment. + +"Way enough, cockswain!" said Christy sharply. "Stern all!" + +The headway of the cutter was promptly checked, and she was set back a +couple of lengths, when the order was given to the crew to lay on their +oars. + +"W'at's the matter, Massa Ossifer? Arn't you gwine no furder?" asked +Quimp. + +"I have seen enough of the Reindeer to satisfy me that she is there; and +I have stopped the boat to give you a chance to make your escape," +replied Christy. "I don't want you to lose your head for the service you +have rendered to me." + +"Dis nigger can't get away from here, massa," replied the boatman, +looking about him. "A feller can't swim a mile when de water's full ob +alligators. Dem varmints like niggers to eat jus' as well as dey do +white men." + +Christy had his doubts about there being alligators of a dangerous size +in the bay, though he had seen small ones in other bays of the coast; +but he was willing to admit that Quimp knew better about the matter than +he did. It was a hard swim to any other key than the long one, to which +the cutter was quite near. He could land the negro on that key, but he +would reveal the presence of the boat to the people on board of the +Reindeer, and they would burn her rather than have her fall into the +hands of the Union navy. + +"I can land you on the long key, Quimp," suggested the officer. + +"No, sar! Can't go there; for Cap'n Stopfoot sartainly cotch me dar," +protested the negro. + +"I don't think so, Quimp." + +"De ossifers and men ob de Reindeer will go asho' when you done took de +steamer; don't you see dat, massa?" + +"What shall I do with you then?" asked Christy, as he handed him two +sovereigns and two shillings. + +"T'ank you, sar; dat's a pile ob money!" exclaimed Quimp, as he looked +with admiration upon the coins. + +"It is what I agreed to give you. But what shall I do with you now? That +is the question I want answered," continued the officer impatiently. + +"You can't do not'ing wid me, Massa Ossifer, and I must tooken my chance +to go up in de boat. Better hab my froat cut 'n be chawed up by a big +alligator. Was you ever bit by an alligator, Massa Ossifer?" + +"I never was." + +"I knows about dat, massa," added Quimp, as he bared his leg, and showed +an ugly scar. + +Christy would not wait to hear any more, but ordered the cockswain to go +ahead again. It looked to him that Quimp, now that he had received his +money, and made fifteen dollars out of his morning's work, was +intentionally delaying the object of the expedition, for what reason he +could form no clear idea. + +"I spose, if Captain Stopfoot kill me for w'at I done do, you'll bury me +side de old woman dat done gone to glory ten year ago?" continued the +negro, who did not look old enough to have buried a wife ten years +before. + +"I am not in the burying business, my friend, and after you are dead, +you had better send for your sons to do the job, for they will know +where to find the grave of the departed companion of your joys and +sorrows," replied Christy, as the boat came in sight of the bowsprit of +the Reindeer again. + +"My sons done gone away to Alabamy, sar, and"-- + +"That's enough about that. There are no alligators about here, and you +can swim ashore if you are so disposed; but you must shut up your wide +mouth and keep still if you stay in the boat. Heave the lead, bowman!" + +"Mark under water two, sir," reported the leadsman. + +In a few moments more the cutter had gained a position where the steamer +could be fully seen. She was a side-wheeler, and appeared to be a very +handsome vessel. She had a considerable deck-load of cotton, and +doubtless her hold was filled with the same valuable commodity. + +"Is that steamer armed, Quimp?" asked Christy, who could see no signs of +life on board of her. + +"She don't got no arms, but she hab two field-pieces on her for'ad +deck," replied the negro. + +"How many men has she on board?" + +"L'em me see: the cap'n and de mate is two, two ingineers, two firemen; +dat makes six; and den she hab two deck-hands." + +"But that makes only eight in all," replied Christy. "Are you sure that +is all?" + +"Dead shoar dat's all, Massa Ossifer." + +"But that is not enough to handle the steamer on a voyage to a foreign +port, for I dare say she is going to Nassau," added Christy, who was on +the lookout for some piece of strategy by which his boat and its crew +might be destroyed. + +"I don't know not'ing about dat, sar; but Cap'n Stopfoot is a pow'ful +smart man; and he's Yankee too. I done hear him say he gwine to j'in de +Yankee navy." + +What Quimp said was rather suspicious; but Christy could see nothing to +justify his doubts. He directed the cockswain to steer the cutter as +closely to the side of the Reindeer as the movement of the oars would +permit, so that the field-pieces could not be brought to bear upon it. +The steamer lay at a sort of temporary pier, which had evidently been +erected for her accommodation, and the cotton had doubtless been brought +to the key by river steamers by the Suwanee and other streams from +cotton regions. + +There was no habitation or other building on the shore, but a gangway +was stretched to the land, over which a couple of men were hastening on +board when the cutter reached the stern of the Reindeer. From +appearances Christy judged that the water had been deepened by dredges, +for a considerable quantity of sand and mud was disposed in heaps in the +shallow water a hundred feet or more from the rude wharf. + +"Boat ahoy!" shouted a person on board, near the starboard accommodation +ladder, which the officer of the boat had noticed was in place. + +"On board the steamer!" replied Christy. + +"What is your business here?" inquired the person on the deck of the +Reindeer, though he could not be seen from the cutter. + +"I will go on board and inform you," replied Christy. + +As there were no signs of resistance on board of the vessel, the officer +of the cutter directed his men to make a dash for the accommodation +ladder, which had the appearance of having been left to make things +convenient for a boarding-party. The crew were all armed with a cutlass +and revolver in the belt. + +"Lay her aboard!" said Christy, quietly enough, as he led the way +himself, for he was a bold leader, and was not content to follow his +men. As he leaped down from the bulwarks to the deck, he confronted the +person who had hailed him in the boat. + +"What is your business on board of the Reindeer?" demanded, in a very +tame tone, the man in front of him. + +"I am an officer of the United States navy, and my business is to make a +prize of this steamer and her cargo," replied Christy. + +"Is that so? You did not give me your name, sir," added the man. + +"Lieutenant Passford, attached to the United States steamer Bellevite. +Do me the favor to explain who you are, sir," returned Christy. + +"I am Captain Solomon Stopfoot, in command of the Reindeer, at your +service, born and brought up on Long Island," answered the commander of +the steamer. + +"Then what are you doing here?" demanded the naval officer. "Where were +you born on Long Island?" + +"In Babylon, on the south shore." + +"Then Babylon is fallen!" exclaimed Christy, indignant to find a man +born so near his own home doing the dirty work of the Confederate +government. + +"Perhaps not; and perhaps you may change your view of me when you have +heard my story," added Captain Stopfoot. + +"Well, Captain, there is only one story that I care to hear just now, +and its title is simply 'Surrender,'" replied Christy rather +impatiently. "You understand my business on board of the Reindeer; and +if you propose to make any resistance, it is time for you to begin." + +"It would be folly for me to make any resistance, and I shall not make +any. I have only two engineers, two firemen, foreigners, hired in +Nassau, who would not fight if I wished them to do so, and two +deck-hands. I could do nothing against the eight well-armed men you have +brought on board. I surrender." + +"I should say that was a wise step on your part, Captain Stopfoot," +replied Christy. "When you are more at leisure, I hope you will indulge +me in an explanation of the manner in which a Long Islander happens to +be engaged in blockade-running." + +"I am an American citizen now, as I have always been; I shall be only +too happy to get back under the old flag. As an evidence of my +sincerity, I will assist you in getting the Reindeer out of this place. +The tide is high at this moment; and half an hour from now it will be +too late to move the vessel," said Captain Stopfoot, with every +appearance of sincerity in his manner. + +"I will see you, Captain, as soon as I have looked the steamer over," +replied Christy, as he left the commander of the Reindeer at the door of +his cabin, and went forward to examine the vessel. + +He found the steam up; and the engineer bowed to him as he looked into +his room. There was nothing to be seen but cotton, piled high on the +deck, and stuffed into the hold; and he returned to the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +BRINGING OUT THE PRIZE + + +It seemed to Christy, after he had completed his examination of the +Reindeer, that she carried an enormous deck-load for a steamer of her +size, and that the bales were piled altogether too high for a vessel +that was liable to encounter a heavy sea. But the cotton was where it +could be readily thrown overboard if the safety of the steamer was +threatened by its presence. He found only the six men mentioned by +Stopfoot, though he had looked in every part of the vessel, even to the +fire-room and the quarters of the crew and firemen. + +"I find everything as you stated, Captain Stopfoot; but I should say +that you were proposing to go to sea short-handed. I did not even see a +person whom I took for the mate. Is it possible that you could get along +without one?" said Christy, when he met the commander at the door of the +cabin. + +"The truth is, that my men deserted me when they saw the two men-of-war +come into the bay, for they knew I had no adequate means of making a +defence. In fact, the Reindeer was as good as captured as soon as your +two steamers came into the bay, for you were morally sure to find her," +replied the captain. + +"But where are your men? How could they get away?" asked Christy. + +"They have not got away a great distance. You could see the gangway to +the shore; and all they had to do was to land, without even the trouble +of taking to a boat. They are all on the long key; and without some sort +of a craft they will not be able to leave it. If you desire to spend +your time in hunting them down, I have no doubt you could find them +all." + +"How many of them are there on the island, Captain Stopfoot?" + +"The mate, four deck-hands, and two firemen. It would not be a difficult +task for you to capture them all, for I did not look upon them as +fighting material; they have crowded about all the men of that sort into +the army." + +"I have no desire to find them, and they may stay on the key till +doomsday, so far as I am concerned," replied Christy. "We don't regard +the men employed on blockade-runners as of much account. But it is time +to get under way, Captain; I have men enough to do all the work, and I +think I have learned the channel well enough to find the way out into +the deep water of the bay." + +"As I said before, Lieutenant Passford, I am willing to assist you, for +I am anxious to get back among my own people, and to find a position in +the old navy. I have been master of a vessel for the last ten years, and +I know the Southern coast better than most of your officers." + +"No doubt you will find a place when you want one, for all competent men +are taken," replied Christy, as he went to the quarter to see if the +Bellevite's cutter was in condition to be towed by the Reindeer. + +He had left the boat in charge of Quimp, or rather he had left him in it +without assigning any particular duty to him. He was no longer in the +cutter, and the officer concluded that he had taken to the long key, and +was fraternizing with the renegades who had deserted the Reindeer. The +long painter of the boat was taken to the stern and made fast in a +suitable place, and Christy hastened to the forward part of the vessel +with six of his men, leaving a quartermaster, who was the cockswain of +the cutter, with two others, in charge of the after part. + +On his way he went into the engine-room, which opened from the main +deck, where he had before seen the two engineers, the chief of whom had +received him very politely. He suggested to the captain that he had made +no arrangement with these officers, and he was not quite sure that they +would be willing to do duty now that the steamer was a prize. + +"There will be no trouble about them, for they are Englishmen, engaged +at Nassau, and they will do duty as long as they are paid for it, as +they have no interest in the quarrel between the North and the South," +said Captain Stopfoot; and Christy could not help seeing that he was +making everything very comfortable for him. + +"We are willing to work for whoever will pay us," added the chief +engineer, "and without asking any hard questions." + +"I will see that you are paid," returned Christy. "You will attend to +the bells as usual, will you?" + +"Yes, sir; we will do our duty faithfully," answered the chief. + +Christy and the captain proceeded to the pilot-house, which appeared to +have been recently added to the vessel to suit the taste of her American +owners. The naval officer stationed one of his own men at the wheel, and +then took a careful survey of the position of the steamer. He directed +his crew to cast off the fasts. + +"Is there a United States flag on board of this craft, Captain +Stopfoot?" asked Christy. + +"To be sure there is, Lieutenant," said the captain with a laugh; "but I +do not get much chance to get under its folds." + +"Of course you have Confederate flags in abundance?" + +"Enough of them," replied the commander, as he drew forth from a +signal-box the flags required. "What do you intend to do with these?" + +"I intend to hoist the United States flag over the Confederate to show +that this steamer is a prize, otherwise the Bellevite might put a shot +through her as soon as she shows herself outside of the key," replied +Christy. + +"A wise precaution," added Captain Stopfoot. + +The naval officer rang one bell as one of his men reported to him that +the fasts had been cast off, and that all was clear. The grating sound +of the engine was immediately heard, with the splash of the paddle +wheels. Very slowly the Reindeer began to move forward. Christy had very +carefully noted the bearings of the channel by which the steamer must +pass out into the deep water of the bay, and the instructions which the +captain volunteered to give him were not necessary. + +"I suppose I am as really a Northern man in principle as you are, Mr. +Passford," said the captain, as the steamer crept very cautiously +through the pass between the keys. + +"If you are, you have taken a different way to show it," replied +Christy, glancing at the speaker. + +"But the circumstances have compelled me to remain in the service of my +Southern employer until the present time, and this promises to be the +first favorable opportunity to escape from it that has been presented to +me," Captain Stopfoot explained. + +"You have been to Nassau a number of times, I judge; and it was possible +for you to abandon your employment any time you pleased," suggested the +naval officer. + +"It was not so easy a matter as you seem to think; for there were no +Northern vessels there in which I could take passage to New York, or any +other loyal port. + +"Mr. Groomer, the mate of the Reindeer, is part owner of her, though he +is not competent to navigate a vessel at sea, and he kept close watch of +me all the time, on shore as well as on board." + +"But I understand that Mr. Groomer, the mate, has deserted you, and gone +on shore with the others of your ship's company," added Christy, rather +perplexed at the situation indicated by the captain. + +"What else could he do?" + +"What else could you do? and why did you not abandon the steamer when he +did so? If one of the owners would not stand by the vessel, why did you +do so?" + +"I have told you before why I did not: because I wish to get back to my +friends in the North, and find a place in the old navy, which would be +more congenial to me than selling cotton for the benefit of the +Confederacy," replied Captain Stopfoot with considerable energy. + +The explanation seemed to be a reasonable one, and Christy could not +gainsay it, though he was not entirely satisfied with the declarations +of the commander. He admitted that he regarded the Reindeer as good as +captured when he saw the Bellevite and Bronx come into the bay; and he +could easily have escaped in a boat to one of the gunboats after the +watchful mate "took to the woods," as he had literally done, for the key +was partly covered with small trees. + +"And a quarter two!" reported the leadsman who had been stationed on the +forecastle. + +"The water don't seem to vary here," added Christy. + +"No, for the owners had done some dredging in this channel; in fact, +there was hardly anything like a channel here when they began the work," +replied Captain Stopfoot. "To which of the steamers do you belong, Mr. +Passford?" + +"To the Bellevite, the one which lies below the long key. The other has +gone up the bay." + +"She has gone on a fruitless errand, for there is not another vessel +loading in these waters," said the captain. "I suppose you will report +on board of the Bellevite, Mr. Passford?" + +"Of course I shall not leave the Reindeer without an order from the +commander of the ship," replied the lieutenant. + +"And a half two!" shouted the leadsman. + +"The channel deepens," said Christy. + +"You will be in deep water in five minutes." + +On this report Christy rang four bells, and the Reindeer went ahead at +full speed. + +"By the mark three!" called the man at the lead. + +The water was deepening rapidly, and presently the report of three and a +half fathoms came from the forecastle. It was soon followed by "And a +half four," upon which the lieutenant directed the wheelman to steer +directly for the Bellevite. He had hardly given the order before the +report of heavy firing from the upper waters of the bay came to his ear. + +"What can that be?" he asked, looking at Captain Stopfoot. + +"I don't know; but I suppose that the gunboat which went up the bay is +firing at some battery she has discovered. They have strengthened the +works in that direction which defend the town, since the only one there +was silenced by one of your gunboats," the captain explained. + +The guns were heard on board of the Bellevite, and she began to move up +the bay as though she intended to proceed to the assistance of her +consort. Mr. Blowitt in the first cutter had followed the Bronx, and the +third cutter, in charge of Mr. Lobscott, had gone over to Piney Point, +to which there was a channel with from three to five fathoms of water, +and which seemed to be a favorable place to load a vessel with cotton. + +As the Reindeer approached the Bellevite, the latter stopped her screw, +and Christy directed the wheelman to run the steamer alongside, and +within twenty or thirty feet of her. There was no sea in the bay, and +there was no danger in doing so. As the Reindeer approached the position +indicated, two bells were struck to stop her. The flags that had been +hoisted on board, informed Captain Breaker of the capture of the +steamer, so that no report was necessary. + +"I have to report the capture of the Reindeer, loaded with cotton, and +ready to sail for Nassau," said Christy, mounting one of the high piles +of cotton bales, and saluting the commander of the Bellevite, who had +taken his place on the rail to see the prize. + +"Do you know the cause of the firing up the bay, Mr. Passford?" asked +Captain Breaker. + +"I do not, Captain; but I learn that the battery below the town has been +strengthened, and I should judge that the Bronx had engaged it." + +"Have you men enough to hold your prize, Mr. Passford?" + +"I think I have, Captain." + +"You will go down the bay, and anchor outside of Egmont Key." + +Christy rang one bell, and then four. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +A VERY IMPORTANT SERVICE + + +The Reindeer went ahead at full speed, while the Bellevite stood up the +bay, picking up the crew of Mr. Blowitt's boat on the way, evidently +with the intention of taking part in the action which the Bronx had +initiated. The loud reports at intervals indicated that the Bronx was +using her big midship gun, while the feebler sounds proved that the +metal of the battery was much lighter. The prize was not a fast steamer, +and she was over an hour in making the dozen miles to Egmont Island, on +which was the tower of a lighthouse forty feet high, but no use was made +of it at that time. + +The Bellevite proceeded very slowly, sounding all the time; but at the +end of half an hour the Reindeer was at least ten miles from her, which +was practically out of sight and hearing. About this time Christy +observed that Captain Stopfoot left the pilot-house, where he had +remained from the first; but he paid no attention to him. He had three +men on the quarter-deck of the steamer, one in the pilot-house with him, +and five more in other parts of the vessel. + +Christy knew the channel to the south of the lighthouse, and piloted +the steamer to a point about half a mile to the westward of the island. +He was looking through one of the forward windows of the pilot-house, +selecting a proper place to come to anchor, in accordance with the +orders of Captain Breaker. While he was so engaged he heard some sort of +a disturbance in the after part of the steamer. + +"On deck there!" he called sharply; and the five men who had been +stationed in this part of the steamer stood up before him, jumping up +from the beds they had made for themselves on the cotton bales, or +rushing out from behind them. "Hopkins and White, go aft and ascertain +the cause of that disturbance," he added. + +The two men promptly obeyed the order, and the naval officer directed +the other three to stand by to anchor the steamer. In a few minutes the +anchor was ready to let go. Perhaps a quarter of an hour had elapsed, +when Christy began to wonder what had become of the two men he had sent +aft to report on the disturbance. + +"Linman," he called to one of the three men on the forecastle, "go aft +and see what has become of Hopkins and White." + +Linman proceeded to obey the order, but had not been gone twenty +seconds, before the noise of another disturbance came to Christy's ears, +and this time it sounded very much like a scuffle. Up to this moment, +and even since Captain Stopfoot had left the pilot-house, Christy had +not suspected that anything on board was wrong. The sounds that came +from the after part of the vessel excited his suspicions, though they +did not assure him that the ship's company of the steamer were engaged +in anything like a revolt. + +"Follow me, Bench and Kingman!" he shouted to the two men that remained +on the forecastle. "Strike two bells, Landers," he added to the +wheelman. + +Christy had drawn the cutlass he carried in his belt, and was ready, +with the assistance of the two men he had called, to put down any +insubordination that might have been manifested by the ship's company of +the prize. He would have been willing to admit, if he had given the +matter any attention at that moment, that it was the natural right of +the captured captain and his men to regain possession of their persons +and property by force and violence; but he was determined to make it +dangerous for them to do so. + +"On the forecastle, sir!" exclaimed Landers, the wheelman. + +Christy had put his hand upon the door of the pilot-house to open it as +the two men were moving aft; but he looked out the window at the +exclamation of the wheelman. The cotton bales seemed to have become +alive all at once, for half a dozen of them rolled over like a spaniel +just out of the water, and four men leaped out from under them, or from +apertures which had been formed beneath them. + + [Illustration: + "His assailant put his arms around him and hugged him like a bear." + Page 339.] + +Bench and Kingman seemed to be bewildered, and both of them were thrown +down by the movement of the bales. The four men who had so suddenly +appeared sprang upon them, and almost in the twinkling of an eye had +tied their hands behind them. Christy drew one of the revolvers from his +belt; but he did not fire, for he was as likely to hit his own men as +their assailants. The victors in the struggle dragged the two men into +the forecastle, and disappeared themselves. + +Christy was almost confounded by the suddenness of the attack; but he +did not give up the battle, for he had at least six men in the after +part of the steamer. Bidding Landers draw his cutlass and follow him, he +rushed out at the door he had before opened. He could not see anything +aft but the walls of cotton bales, with a narrow passage between them +and the bulwarks. He moved aft with his eyes wide open; but he had not +gone ten feet before a man dropped down upon him from the top of the +deck-load with so much force as to carry him down to the planks. + +His assailant put his arms around him and hugged him like a bear, so +that he could neither use his cutlass nor his revolvers. At the same +moment another man dropped down on Landers in like manner. It was +impossible to resist an attack made from overhead, where it was least +expected, and when they were taken by surprise. Christy was a prisoner, +and his hands were bound behind him. + +At this moment Captain Stopfoot presented himself before the +prize-master, his face covered with smiles, and nervous from the excess +of his joy at the recapture of the Reindeer. Christy could not see what +had become of the rest of his men. He knew that three of them had been +secured, but he did not know what had become of the other six, and he +had some hope that they had escaped their assailants, and were in +condition to render him needed assistance, for it seemed impossible that +all of them could have been overcome. + +In spite of his chagrin and mortification, Christy could not help seeing +that the affair on the part of Captain Stopfoot had been well managed, +and that the author of the plot was smart enough to be a Yankee, whether +he was one or not. It was evident enough now that the mate and the rest +of the crew had not "taken to the woods," but had been concealed in such +dens as could be easily made among the cotton bales. + +"I hope you are not very uncomfortable, Mr. Passford," said Captain +Stopfoot, as he presented his smiling face before his late captor. + +"Physically, I am not very uncomfortable, in spite of these bonds; but +otherwise, I must say that I am. I am willing to acknowledge that it is +a bad scrape for me," replied Christy as good-naturedly as possible, for +his pride would not allow him to let the enemy triumph over him. + +"That would not be at all unnatural, and I think it is a very bad scrape +for a naval officer of your high reputation to get into," added the +captain. "But I desire to say, Mr. Passford, that I have no ill-will +towards you, and it will not be convenient for me to send you to a +Confederate prison, important as such a service would be to our cause." + +"I judge that you are not as anxious as you were to get into the old +navy," added Christy. + +"I confess that I am not, and that I should very much prefer to obtain a +good position in the Confederate navy. I hope you will excuse the little +fictions in which I indulged for your amusement. I was born in the very +heart of the State of Alabama, and never saw Long Island in all my +life," continued the captain. "By the way, my mate is not part owner of +the Reindeer, though he is just as faithful to her interests as though +he owned the whole of her; and it was he that pounced down upon you at +the right moment. I assure you he is a very good fellow, and I hope you +will not have any grudge against him." + +"Not the least in the world, Captain Stopfoot," replied Christy. + +"I hope I shall not be obliged to detain you long, Mr. Passford; and I +shall not unless one of your gunboats chases me. I shall endeavor to put +you and your men on shore at the Gasparilla Pass, where you can hail one +of the gunboats as it comes along in pursuit of the Reindeer, though I +hope they will not sail for this purpose before night." + +"The Bellevite is not likely to discover the absence of the prize at +present, for she will have to remain up the bay over one tide," said the +mate. + +"That is what I was calculating upon," added the captain. "Now, Mr. +Passford, I shall be compelled to take my leave of you, for we have to +stow the cotton over again before we go to sea. I am exceedingly obliged +to you for the very valuable service you have rendered me." + +"I was not aware that I had rendered you any service," replied Christy, +wondering what he could mean. + +"You are not? Then your perception is not as clear as I supposed it was. +When it was reported to me that two gunboats were coming into the bay I +considered the Reindeer as good as captured, as I have hinted to you +before. My cargo will bring a fortune in Nassau, and I am half owner of +the steamer and her cargo, if Mr. Groomer, the mate, is not. I was +almost in despair, for I could not afford to lose my vessel and her +valuable cargo. I considered myself utterly ruined. But just then I got +an idea, and I came to a prompt decision;" and the captain paused. + +"And what was that decision?" asked Christy curiously. + +"When I saw your boat coming, for I was on the long key, I determined +that you should bring the Reindeer out into the Gulf, and save me all +trouble and anxiety in regard to her, and I knew that you could do it a +great deal better than I could. Wherefore I am extremely grateful to you +for this very important service," said Captain Stopfoot, bowing very +politely. "But I am compelled to leave you now to your own pleasant +reflections. Mr. Passford, I shall ask you and your men to take +possession of the cabin, and not show yourselves on deck; and you will +pardon me if I lock the door upon you." + +The captive officer followed the captain aft to the door of the cabin. +On a bale of cotton he saw the cutlasses and revolvers which had been +taken from him and his men, which had apparently been thrown in a heap +where they happened to hit, and had been forgotten. Seated on the cotton +he found all his men, with their hands tied behind them. Captain +Stopfoot opened the cabin door, and directed his prisoners to enter. + +"Excuse me for leaving you so abruptly, Mr. Passford," continued the +captain while he was feeling in his pocket for the key of the door. "It +looks as though it were going to blow before night, and I must get ready +for it. Besides, the Bellevite may return on the present tide, and I am +informed that she is a very fast sailer, as the Reindeer is not, and I +must make the most of my opportunity; but when my fortune is made out of +my present cargo, I shall owe it largely to you. Adieu for the present." + +Captain Stopfoot left the cabin, locking the door behind him. The hands +of the prisoners, ten in number, were tied behind them with ropes, for +probably the steamer was not provided with handcuffs. Christy examined +his men in regard to the manner in which they had been overcome. The +three men who had been left near the cabin door had been overthrown by +those who jumped down upon them when they were separated, one at the +stern, one on the bales, watching the Bellevite in the distance, and the +third asleep on a cotton bale. The lieutenant had seen the rest of the +enterprise. + +"This thing is not going to last long, my men," said Christy, who +realized that he should never be able to stand up under the obloquy of +having brought out a blockade-runner for the enemy. + +He caused the hands to march in front of him till he found one who had +been carelessly bound. He backed this one up in the rear of Calwood, the +quartermaster, and made him untie the line, which he could do with his +fingers, though his wrists were bound. It was not the work of three +minutes to unbind the rest of them. + +Christy broke a pane of glass in the door, and unlocked it with the key +the captain had left in the keyhole. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +AN UNDESIRED PROMOTION + + +As Christy unlocked the cabin door, he discovered a negro lying on the +deck, as close as he could get to the threshold. The man attempted to +spring to his feet, but the officer seized him by the hair of the head, +and pulled him into the cabin. + +"Here, Calwood, put your hand over this fellow's mouth!" said Christy to +the quartermaster, who laid violent hands on him, assisted by Norlock. + +The latter produced a handkerchief, which he thrust into the mouth of +the negro, so that he could not give the alarm. All the men were alert +and eager to wipe out the shame, as they regarded it, of the disaster; +and those who had been stationed near the cabin had certainly been +wanting in vigilance. Two of them seized a couple of the lines with +which they had been bound, and tied the arms of the negro behind him. + +A second look at the negro assured Christy that it was Quimp, and he was +more mortified than before at the trick which had been played upon him. +Thrusting his hand into the pocket of the fellow, he drew from it the +three sovereigns and the three shillings he had paid him for his boat +and his information. It was evident enough now that he belonged to the +Reindeer, and that he had been sent out by Captain Stopfoot to do +precisely what he had done, taking advantage of the general good feeling +which prevailed between the negroes and the Union forces. + +Christy thought that Captain Stopfoot had been over-confident to leave +his prisoners without a guard; but it appeared now that Quimp had been +employed in this capacity, though it was probable that he had been +instructed not to show himself to them, and for that reason had crept to +his station and lain down on the deck. + +"Now, my men, take your arms from that bale of cotton; but don't make +any noise," said Christy in a low tone, as he took his revolvers and +cutlass from the heap of weapons; and the seamen promptly obeyed the +order. "The captain of this steamer managed his affair very well indeed, +and I intend to adopt his tactics." + +The steamer was under way, and had been for some time. Christy climbed +upon the bales of cotton far enough to see what the crew of the vessel +were doing. The hatches appeared to have been taken off in the waist and +forward, and the crew were lowering cargo into the hold. A portion of +the cotton had either been hoisted out of the hold, or had been left on +deck, to form the hiding-places for the men. The captain must have had +early notice of the approach of the Bellevite and Bronx; but there had +been time enough after the former began to fire at the battery to enable +him to make all his preparations. + +Captain Stopfoot was not to be seen, and was probably in the +pilot-house. The officer concluded that there must be as many as four +men in the hold attending to the stowage of the bales, and four more +could be seen tumbling the cargo through the hatches. This accounted for +eight men; and this was the number Christy had figured out as the crew +of the Reindeer, though there was doubtless a man at the wheel. The +force was about equal to his own, not counting the engineers and the +firemen. + +Christy stationed his men as he believed Captain Stopfoot had arranged +his force. The cabin was in a deck-house; between the door of it and the +piles of cotton was a vacant space of about six feet fore and aft, which +could not be overlooked from the forward part of the vessel. It was here +that the first movement had been made. Calwood, who had been on duty +here, said that two men had dropped down upon them; and when the third +man came to learn the cause of the disturbance, he had been secured by +two more. + +This was the noise that Christy had heard when he sent two hands from +the forecastle to ascertain the occasion of it. The three prisoners had +been disarmed, bound, and concealed in the cabin. They were threatened +with instant death if they made any outcry, and one of their own +revolvers was pointed at them. Linman, who had been sent to learn what +had become of Hopkins and White, was treated in the same manner. Then he +went himself, and the mate had dropped upon him, while those from under +the bales secured Bench and Kingman. + +Every sailor was fully instructed in regard to the part he was to have +in the programme, and Christy had crawled forward to the point where he +found the aperture in which Groomer, the mate, had been concealed. He +was followed by Norlock, a very powerful man, who was to "make the drop" +on Captain Stopfoot, and stuff a handkerchief into his mouth before he +could call for assistance. Christy believed that the commander would be +the first one to come aft when the men by the cabin fired their +revolvers, as they had been instructed to do. + +Two hands had been placed where they could fall upon the two who were +rolling the cotton into the hold at the hatch in the waist; and two more +were instructed to rush forward and fall upon the two men at work at the +fore-hatch. The four men in the space in front of the cabin were to leap +upon the bales and rush forward, revolvers in hand, and secure those at +work in the hold. If there was any failure of the plan to work as +arranged, the sailors were to rally at the side of their officer, ready +for a stand-up fight. + +Christy gave the signal for the two revolvers to be discharged. The +captain did not appear at the report of the arms as expected; but he +ordered the two hands at work at the after-hatch to go aft and look out +for the prisoners. The two seamen on that side of the steamer dropped +upon them, gagged them, and secured them so quickly that they could +hardly have known what had happened to them. The enterprise had been +inaugurated without much noise; but the captain had heard it, and called +one of the men at the fore-hatch to take the wheel, from which it +appeared that he had been steering the steamer himself. + +The naval officer saw this man enter the pilot-house, from which Captain +Stopfoot had come out. He moved aft quite briskly with a revolver in his +hand; but as soon as he had reached the point where the mate had dropped +upon him, Christy leaped upon his head and shoulders, and he sank to +the deck, borne down by the weight of his assailant. He was surprised, +as the first victim of the movement had been, and a handkerchief was +stuffed into his mouth. He had dropped his weapon, which Christy picked +up and discharged while his knees were placed on the chest of the +prostrate commander, and his left hand grappled his throat. He was +conquered as quickly as the first victim had been. + +The shots had been the signal for all not engaged to rally at the side +of the lieutenant, and the men rushed forward. All of them had removed +their neck handkerchiefs to serve as gags, and they brought with them +the lines with which they had been bound. The captain was rolled over, +and his arms tied behind him. He was sent aft to the cabin, while +Christy led six of his crew forward. The hands in the hold had attempted +to come on deck, but the two sailors at each hatch dropped upon them. + +In less than five minutes every one of the crew of the Reindeer had been +"jumped upon," as the sailors put it, bound, and marched to the cabin. +The battle was fought and the victory won. Christy was quite as happy as +Captain Stopfoot had been when he had taken possession of the steamer. +The man at the wheel had been the last to be secured, and Calwood was +put in his place, with directions to come about and steer for Egmont +Key. + +Christy determined not to make the mistake Captain Stopfoot had +committed in leaving his prisoners insufficiently guarded. He selected +four of his best men, ordered them to hold the cutlass in the right hand +and the revolver in the left, and to keep their eyes on the prisoners +all the time. He then went to those who had been gagged, and removed the +handkerchiefs from their mouths. + +"I am as grateful to you, Captain Stopfoot, as you were to me less than +an hour ago," said Christy, and he removed the gag from his mouth. "I am +happy to be able to reciprocate your complimentary speeches." + +"I am not aware that I have done anything to merit your gratitude, Mr. +Passford," said the chief prisoner. + +"You are not? Why, my dear Captain, you could not have arranged +everything better than you did for the recapture of the Reindeer," +replied Christy. + +"I did not think that ten men with their hands tied behind them could do +anything to help themselves; but you Yankees are very ingenious, and it +seems that you found a way to liberate yourselves. Besides, I had a hand +here to watch you, with instructions to call me if there was any +trouble," added the captain, in an apologetic tone. + +"When the trouble came he was not in condition to call you," the +lieutenant explained. + +"No, sar! Dem beggars gagged me, and den robbed me of all my money!" +howled Quimp, whose greatest grievance was the loss of his fifteen +dollars. + +"That was hardly justifiable, Mr. Passford," added the captain shaking +his head. + +"It would not have been justifiable if the rogue had not first swindled +me out of the money," replied the naval officer. + +"How was that?" asked the chief prisoner. + +Christy explained the manner in which he had encountered Quimp, saying +that he had paid him five dollars for the loss of his boat, and ten for +the information that a steamer was loaded with cotton and ready to sail +behind the long key. + +"Quimp is as smart as a Yankee," said Captain Stopfoot, laughing in +spite of his misfortune. "The flatboat was one we picked up on one of +the keys; and the information was precisely what I instructed Quimp to +give you, without money and without price. I promised to give him ten +dollars if he would pretend to be an honest nigger, and do the job +properly. I have no fault to find with him; but under present +circumstances I have not ten dollars to give him. I have lost the +steamer and the cotton, and it seems to be all up with me." + +"I hope you will get into a safer business, Captain. I will suggest to +the commander of the Bellevite that you and your party be landed at +Gasparilla Pass; and I shall thus be able to reciprocate your good +intentions towards me." + +Christy had sent some of his men forward, and he now followed them +himself. The engineers had remained in their room, and kept the +machinery in motion. As the Reindeer approached Egmont Key, the +Bellevite, followed by the Bronx towing a schooner, were discovered +coming out of the bay. + +It was evident that the second lieutenant's capture had not been the +only one during the day, and he concluded that Mr. Lobscott had brought +out the schooner that had been supposed to be at Piney Point. + +The Reindeer was about two miles south of Egmont Key when the Bellevite +came out of the bay, and the latter stopped her screw as soon as she had +reached a favorable position a mile from the island. Christy brought his +prize as near to her as it was prudent to go in the open sea. The +lieutenant went to the cabin to look out for the prisoners there, and +found that the four men who had been detailed a guard were marching up +and down the cabin in front of their charge, plainly determined that the +steamer should not be captured again. + +"Boat from the Bellevite, sir," said one of the men on the quarter. + +"Where is the Bronx and her prize now, Kingman?" asked Christy. + +"Just coming by the island, sir." + +In a few minutes more the third cutter of the Bellevite came alongside. +Mr. Walbrook, the third lieutenant of the ship, came on board of the +Reindeer, and touched his cap to his superior officer. + +"Captain Breaker requests you to report on board of the ship, and I am +directed to take charge of the prize you have captured, Mr. Passford." + +"I will go on board at once, Mr. Walbrook," replied Christy. "It is +necessary for me to inform you before I leave that this steamer has +changed hands twice to-day, and her ship's company have given me a great +deal of trouble. The prisoners are in the cabin under guard, and I must +caution you to be vigilant. Calwood will inform you in regard to the +particulars." + +"I am sorry to inform you that Mr. Blowitt was severely, if not +dangerously wounded in the action with the battery up the bay, where we +had some sharp work," added Mr. Walbrook. + +"That is very bad news to me," replied Christy, who had known the +wounded man as second officer of the Bellevite when she was his father's +yacht, and had served under him when she became a man-of-war, and as his +first lieutenant in the Bronx. + +The intelligence filled him with anxiety and sorrow; but while he was +fighting for the right, as he had been for three years, he could not +give way to his feelings. Without asking for the result of the action up +the bay, he went over the side into the cutter, and ordered the crew to +pull for the ship. Mr. Blowitt had been more than his superior officer, +he had been his friend, and the young lieutenant was very sad while he +thought of the wounded officer. + +He found Captain Breaker on the quarter-deck; and he could see from his +expression that he was greatly affected by the condition of his +executive officer. Mr. Dashington, his first officer in the yacht, had +been killed in action the year before, and now another of his intimate +associates might soon be registered in the Valhalla of the nation's dead +who had perished while fighting for the right. + +"We have sad news for you, Mr. Passford," said the commander, who seemed +to be struggling with his emotions. + +"But I hope there is a chance for Mr. Blowitt's recovery, Captain +Breaker," added Christy. + +"I am afraid there is not. Dr. Linscott has very little hope that he +will live. But we have no time to mourn even for our best friends. You +have captured a steamer and brought her out; but I saw that you were +coming up from the southward when I first discovered the steamer. What +does that mean, Mr. Passford?" + +"I hardly know, Captain, whether I brought her out, or she brought me +out," replied Christy, who felt very tender over the Southern Yankee +trick which had been played upon him. "The steamer is the Reindeer, +Captain Stopfoot. My boat's crew were overpowered by her ship's company, +and we were all made prisoners; but we rebelled against the humiliating +circumstances, and recaptured the steamer." + +"Then you have redeemed yourself," added the captain. + +Christy gave a detailed report of all the events that had occurred +during his absence from the ship. The commander listened to him with the +deepest interest; for the young officer was in some sense his _protege_, +and had sometimes been his instructor in navigation and seamanship. In +spite of the sadness of the hour, there was a smile on his face when he +comprehended the scheme of the captain of the Reindeer to get his vessel +out of the bay in the face of two men-of-war. + +While Christy was still on the quarter-deck, Mr. Lobscott came on board, +and reported the capture of the schooner Sylphide, full of cotton. Her +ship's company, consisting of six men, were on board of the Bronx. +Captain Breaker planked the deck for some time, evidently making up his +mind what to do with the prizes and with their crews, for he did not +regard these men as prisoners of war. He asked the second lieutenant +some questions in regard to the character of the Reindeer. She was an +old-fashioned craft, but a good vessel. + +"We are rather overburdened with prisoners, and I desire only to get rid +of them," said the captain. + +"Captain Stopfoot was considerate enough to announce his intention to +put me and my men on shore at Gasparilla Pass; and I promised to +reciprocate the favor by suggesting that he and his ship's company be +landed at the same place." + +"That will be a good way to get rid of them, and I will adopt the +suggestion," replied the commander. + +All the rest of the day and a part of the night were used up in making +the preparations for disposing of the prizes. A large number of hands +were sent on board of the Reindeer, and her cotton was nearly all placed +in the hold by good stowage. The prisoners from both prizes, except the +engineers and firemen, who were willing to work for wages, were +transferred to the Bronx. Mr. Lobscott was appointed prize-master of the +steamer, which was to tow the schooner to Key West, where both were to +be disposed of as circumstances might require. + +The Bronx was to convoy the two vessels as far as the Pass, where she +was to land her prisoners, and then return to her consort. At midnight +this fleet sailed. A protest against being landed at the place indicated +came from Captain Stopfoot before it departed; but the commander paid no +attention to it, declaring that if the Pass was good enough for one of +his officers, it was good enough for the captain of a blockade-runner. + +"Mr. Passford, by the lamentable accident to Mr. Blowitt, you become the +ranking lieutenant in condition for service," said Captain Breaker, soon +after the young officer had reported the capture of the Reindeer. "You +therefore become the acting executive officer of the Bellevite." + +"Of course I shall do my duty faithfully, Captain Breaker, in whatever +position is assigned to me," replied Christy, his bosom swelling with +emotion. "I regret more than anything else the occasion that makes it +necessary to put me in this place; and I am very sorry to be called upon +to occupy a position of so much responsibility." + +"You are competent to discharge the duties of executive officer, Mr. +Passford, though I appreciate your modesty in not desiring such an +important position; but there is no alternative at present." + +It was therefore under Christy's direction that all the arrangements for +sending off the prizes were made. The Bronx returned at noon the next +day, and both vessels sailed to the station of the flag-officer. The +commander reported that he had silenced two batteries, captured a +steamer and a schooner, sending them to Key West; but the shoal water in +the vicinity of Tampa had prevented him from capturing the town. + +Christy, in becoming first lieutenant, was relieved from duty as a watch +officer; but his duties and responsibilities had been vastly increased. +He was the second in command, and a shot from another vessel or a +battery on shore might make him the commander, and he certainly did not +aspire to such a charge and such an honor. There was something in the +situation that worried him greatly. Captain Breaker had not been to the +North since he entered upon his duties, now very nearly three years, and +the state of his health had given Dr. Linscott considerable uneasiness. + +Mr. Blowitt was sent home by a store-ship; but he died soon after his +arrival; and his loving companions-in-arms could not follow his remains +to an honored grave. + +The flag-officer, either because he believed that Christy was a faithful +and competent officer, in spite of his age, though in this respect he +had added a year to his span, or that no other officer was available for +the vacant position, made no other appointment, and Christy was +compelled to retain the place, very much against his desire. As he +thought of it he was absolutely astonished to find himself, even +temporarily, in so exalted a position. + +Here we are obliged to leave him for the present, crowned with honors +far beyond his most sanguine expectations, but always willing to do his +duty while fighting for the right. The future was still before him; he +had not yet done all there was for him to do; and in the early years of +his manhood came his reward, in common with the loyal sons of the +nation, in A VICTORIOUS UNION. + + + + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS + ++All-Over-the-World Library.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. First Series. + Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +A Missing Million+; or, The Adventures of Louis Belgrade. + 2. +A Millionaire at Sixteen+; or, The Cruise of the "Guardian + Mother." + 3. +A Young Knight Errant+; or, Cruising in the West Indies. + 4. +Strange Sights Abroad+; or, Adventures in European Waters. + + No author has come before the public during the present generation + who has achieved a larger and more deserving popularity among young + people than "Oliver Optic." His stories have been very numerous, + but they have been uniformly excellent in moral tone and literary + quality. As indicated in the general title, it is the author's + intention to conduct the readers of this entertaining series "around + the world." As a means to this end, the hero of the story purchases + a steamer which he names the "Guardian Mother," and with a number of + guests she proceeds on her voyage.--_Christian Work, N.Y._ + + ++All-Over-the-World Library.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Second Series. + Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +American Boys Afloat+; or, Cruising in the Orient. + 2. +The Young Navigator+; or, The Foreign Cruise of the "Maud." + 3. +Up and Down the Nile+; or, Young Adventurers in Africa. + 4. +Asiatic Breeze+; or, Students on the Wing. + + The interest in these stories is continuous, and there is a great + variety of exciting incident woven into the solid information which + the book imparts so generously and without the slightest suspicion + of dryness. Manly boys will welcome this volume as cordially as they + did its predecessors.--_Boston Gazette_. + + ++All-Over-the-World Library.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Third Series. + Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +Across India+; or, Live Boys in the Far East. + 2. +Half Round the World+; or, Among the Uncivilized. + 3. +Four Young Explorers+; or, Sight-Seeing in the Tropics. + 4. +Pacific Shores+; or, Adventures in Eastern Seas. + + Amid such new and varied surroundings it would be surprising indeed + if the author, with his faculty of making even the commonplace + attractive, did not tell an intensely interesting story of + adventure, as well as give much information in regard to the distant + countries through which our friends pass, and the strange peoples + with whom they are brought in contact. This book, and indeed the + whole series, is admirably adapted to reading aloud in the family + circle, each volume containing matter which will interest all the + members of the family.--_Boston Budget_. + + +LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE. + + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS + ++Army and Navy Stories.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Six volumes. Illustrated. + Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $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." + + ++Boat Builders Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. Illustrated. + Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +All Adrift+; or, The Goldwing Club. + 2. +Snug Harbor+; or, The Champlain Mechanics. + 3. +Square and Compasses+; or, Building the House. + 4. +Stem to Stern+; or, Building the Boat. + 5. +All Taut+; or, Rigging the Boat. + 6. +Ready About+; or, Sailing the Boat. + + "The series includes in six successive volumes the whole art of boat + building, boat rigging, boat managing, and practical hints to make + the ownership of a boat pay. A great deal of useful information + is given in this +Boat Builders Series+, and in each book a very + interesting story is interwoven with the information. Every reader + will be interested at once in Dory, the hero of 'All Adrift,' and + one of the characters retained in the subsequent volumes of the + series. His friends will not want to lose sight of him, and every + boy who makes his acquaintance in 'All Adrift' will become his + friend." + + ++Riverdale Story Books.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Twelve volumes. Illustrated. + Illuminated covers. Price: cloth, per set, $3.60; per volume, + 30 cents. + + 1. +Little Merchant.+ 7. +Proud and Lazy.+ + 2. +Young Voyagers.+ 8. +Careless Kate.+ + 3. +Christmas Gift.+ 9. +Robinson Crusoe, Jr.+ + 4. +Dolly and I.+ 10. +The Picnic Party.+ + 5. +Uncle Ben.+ 11. +The Gold Thimble.+ + 6. +Birthday Party.+ 12. +The Do-Somethings.+ + ++Riverdale Story Books.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Six volumes. Illustrated. + Fancy cloth and colors. Price per volume, 30 cents. + + 1. +Little Merchant.+ 4. +Careless Kate.+ + 2. +Proud and Lazy.+ 5. +Dolly and I.+ + 3. +Young Voyagers.+ 6. +Robinson Crusoe, Jr.+ + ++Flora Lee Library.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Six volumes. Illustrated. + Fancy cloth and colors. Price per volume, 30 cents. + + 1. +The Picnic Party.+ 4. +Christmas Gift.+ + 2. +The Gold Thimble.+ 5. +Uncle Ben.+ + 3. +The Do-Somethings.+ 6. +Birthday Party.+ + + These are bright short stories for younger children who are unable + to comprehend the +Starry Flag Series+ or the +Army and Navy + Series+. But they all display the author's talent for pleasing + and interesting the little folks. They are all fresh and original, + preaching no sermons, but inculcating good lessons. + + +LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE. + + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS + ++The Great Western Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. + Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +Going West+; or, The Perils of a Poor Boy. + 2. +Out West+; or, Roughing it on the Great Lakes. + 3. +Lake Breezes+; or, The cruise of the Sylvania. + 4. +Going South+; or, Yachting on the Atlantic Coast. + 5. +Down South+; or, Yacht Adventures in Florida. + 6. +Up the River+; or, Yachting on the Mississippi. + + "This is the latest series of books issued by this popular writer, + and deals with life on the Great Lakes, for which a careful study + was made by the author in a summer tour of the immense water sources + of America. The story, which carries the same hero through the six + books of the series, is always entertaining, novel scenes and varied + incidents giving a constantly changing yet always attractive aspect + to the narrative. OLIVER OPTIC has written nothing better." + + ++The Yacht Club Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. Illustrated. +Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +Little Bobtail+; or, The Wreck of the Penobscot. + 2. +The Yacht Club+; or, The Young Boat Builders. + 3. +Money-Maker+; or, The Victory of the Basilisk. + 4. +The Coming Wave+; or, The Treasure of High Rock. + 5. +The Dorcas Club+; or, Our Girls Afloat. + 6. +Ocean Born+; or, The Cruise of the Clubs. + + "The series has this peculiarity, that all of its constituent + volumes are independent of one another, and therefore each story is + complete in itself. OLIVER OPTIC is, perhaps, the favorite author of + the boys and girls of this country, and he seems destined to enjoy + an endless popularity. He deserves his success, for he makes very + interesting stories, and inculcates none but the best sentiments, + and the 'Yacht Club' is no exception to this rule."--_New Haven + Journal and Courier_. + + ++Onward and Upward Series+. By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. +Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +Field and Forest+; or, The Fortunes of a Farmer. + 2. +Plane and Plank+; or, The Mishaps of a Mechanic. + 3. +Desk and Debit+; or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk. + 4. +Cringle and Crosstree+; or, The Sea Swashes of a Sailor. + 5. +Bivouac and Battle+; or, The Struggles of a Soldier. + 6. +Sea and Shore+; or, The Tramps of a Traveller. + + "Paul Farringford, the hero of these tales, is, like most of this + author's heroes, a young man of high spirit, and of high aims and + correct principles, appearing in the different volumes as a farmer, + a captain, a bookkeeper, a soldier, a sailor, and a traveller. In + all of them the hero meets with very exciting adventures, told in + the graphic style for which the author is famous." + + ++The Lake Shore Series+. By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. Illustrated. +Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25. + + 1. +Through by Daylight+; or, The Young Engineer of the Lake Shore + Railroad. + 2. +Lightning Express+; or, The Rival Academies. + 3. +On Time+; or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer. + 4. +Switch Off+; or, The War of the Students. + 5. +Brake Up+; or, The Young Peacemakers. + 6. +Bear and Forbear+; or, The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga. + + "OLIVER OPTIC is one of the most fascinating writers for youth, and + withal one of the best to be found in this or any past age. Troops + of young people hang over his vivid pages; and not one of them ever + learned to be mean, ignoble, cowardly, selfish, or to yield to any + vice from anything they ever read from his pen."--_Providence + Press_. + + +LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE. + + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS + ++The Famous Boat Club Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Six volumes. + Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume $1.25. + + 1. +The Boat Club+; or, The Bunkers 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." + + ++Young America Abroad+: A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign + Lands. By OLIVER OPTIC. Illustrated by Nast and others. + First Series. Six volumes. Any volume sold separately. Price 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 boys' 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_. + + ++Young America Abroad.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Second Series. Six volumes. + Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price 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 + embittered 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_. + + +LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE. + + + * * * * * + * * * * + * * * * * + +Errata Noted by Transcriber: + +Invisible punctuation has been silently supplied, and superfluous +quotation marks removed. Inconsistent hyphenation has been retained. + +The spelling "cockswain" is standard for this text. The variation +between "knots" and "knots an hour" is as in the original. + +"_Demandez un garcon_" (ask for a waiter), "Christophe." + _cedilla missing in original_ +and your wonderful skill as a detective + _text reads "wonderful-skill"_ +he could not breathe as freely as usual + _text reads "breath"_ +There was a port light to the room + _so in original: "porthole"?_ +the commander of that steamer + _text reads "of of" at line break_ +I heard the villanous ruffian swear that he would kill you + _spelling "villanous" as in original_ +"Do you know of any steamers ..." asked Christy. + _entire paragraph as in original_ +He knew that three of them had been secured + _text reads "know"_ +All of them had removed + _text reads "of of"_ + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Fighting for the Right, by Oliver Optic + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT *** + +***** This file should be named 18803.txt or 18803.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/8/0/18803/ + +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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