CHAPTER XVII.
AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.
"What is she, Jack?" said Marcy, in a suppressed whisper. "Do you makeher out?"
His voice was husky, and he trembled as he asked the question, for heknew by the exclamation that fell from his brother's lips that thosewhite sails were things he did not like to see.
"I make her out easy enough, in spite of her disguise," was SailorJack's reply. "And I would rather meet all the gunboats in Uncle Sam'snavy than her."
"Disguise!" Marcy almost gasped. "You surely don't think----"
"No, I don't think anything about it," Jack interposed. "I know thatthat is Captain Beardsley's schooner. I wish from the bottom of my heartthat she had been sunk or captured before she ever caught us here; butit is too late to get away from her. She will go by within less thantwenty yards of us."
"And do you think Beardsley will know the _Fairy Belle_ in her newdress?" asked Marcy, who had never before been so badly frightened.
"Being an old sailor he can't help it."
"Of course he will mistrust what brought us out here, and spread it allthrough the settlement," added Marcy.
"That is just what he will do," said Jack truthfully.
"And what will Shelby and Dillon and the rest of them do to us--tomother?"
"You must make it your business to see Aleck Webster as soon as you gethome," replied Jack. "Tell him that Beardsley has returned, that hecaught us out here, and that the time has come for him and his friendsto show their hands. I think you will have time to see Aleck beforeBeardsley gets home, because he's got to go to Newbern with his cargo."
All this while Captain Beardsley's blockade-runner had been swiftlydrawing near to the mouth of the Inlet, where the _Fairy Belle_ layrising and falling with the waves, and now she dashed by within lessthan a stone's throw of them. The boys, who were standing up in theirskiff holding fast to the _Fairy Belle's_ rail, could not see a man onher deck except the lookout in the bow and the sailor at the wheel. Thelookout was Beardsley himself; Marcy and his brother would haverecognized his tall form and broad shoulders anywhere. He kept his eyesfastened upon the _Fairy Belle_ as he swept by, but he did not say aword or change his course by so much as an inch. In five minutes more hewas out of sight.
"Now will somebody tell me what that old villain wants of a pilot?"exclaimed sailor Jack, as he climbed over the rail and turned about tohelp Marcy up. "He knows more about Crooked Inlet than you do, or hecouldn't run it with all his muslin spread and no buoys to mark thechannel."
"I always said he didn't need a pilot," replied Marcy. "He has kept mewith him on purpose to torment mother."
"He'll not do it any longer," said Jack confidently. "You must send wordto those Union men as soon as you get home. If you don't, Beardsley willmake it so very hot for you that by the time the fire gets throughburning mother won't have a roof to go under when it rains. Stand by,Julius."
Jack and the darkey went forward to hoist the headsails, and Marcy,filled with the most gloomy forebodings, undid the fastenings of thewheel and laid his uninjured hand upon one of the spokes. One after theother the sails were given to the breeze, lights were put out to showthe first cruiser they met that they were honest folks going abouthonest business, and Jack came aft to relieve his brother.
"I have been thinking of Barrington," said the latter, as he backed awayand leaned up against the rail. "It has somehow run in my mind that ourlittle settlement would escape the horrors of war, but the events of thelast half hour have opened my eyes. We're going to see trouble."
"I really believe you are," answered Jack. "And when it comes, you mustshow what you are made of. I have no fear but that you will stand up tothe rack like a man."
"It isn't myself I care for; it's mother."
"I know; but when it comes to the pinch you will find that she's gotmore pluck than you have. That money is what scares me. If thesuspicions of the authorities become aroused, look out. But don't lisp aword of that where mother can hear it."
"Oh, Marse Jack," exclaimed Julius, who just then came aft in two jumps,"de Yankees out da'."
"Out where?" inquired Jack, while Marcy's heart began beating like atrip-hammer. "Oh, yes; I see them now. Stand by with a lantern,Julius."
The darkey hastened forward to obey the order, muttering as he went thatMarse Marcy would have to take de light kase he wasn't going nigh demYankees till he seed 'em fust, and the schooner held on her course. Whatthe boys saw was a bright light shining through the darkness a shortdistance off the starboard bow, and what they heard a moment later wasthe puffing of a small but exceedingly active steam engine. The lightpresently disappeared but the puffing continued, increasing in force andfrequency as the approaching launch gathered headway, and then came thehail:
"Schooner ahoy!" And almost in the same breath the same voice added:"All ready with that howitzer."
"Ay, ay, sir," answered Jack promptly; and anticipating the next commandhe gave the wheel a rapid turn and spilled the sails, while Marcy tookthe lantern Julius gave him and held it over the side.
In five minutes more a large launch, carrying a crew of twenty men and atwelve-pound howitzer in the bow, came alongside, half a dozen pairs ofbrawny hands laid hold of the _Fairy Belle's_ rail, and an officer,dressed in an ensign's uniform, came over the side, being immediatelyfollowed by four or five blue-jackets, armed with cutlasses. What sortof a reception they expected to meet at the hands of the _Fairy Belle's_crew it is hard to tell, but they were plainly surprised when theylooked about her deck and found that there was no one there to opposethem.
"Who are you?" demanded the officer, as Jack slipped a becket over oneof the spokes in the wheel and came forward to meet him. "What schooneris this and where are you going?"
"This schooner is the _Fairy Belle_ and she is the property of mybrother," answered Jack, waving his hand in Marcy's direction. "We aregoing to the blockading fleet. And as to who I am--will you be kindenough to run your eye over these? They will answer the question foryou."
As Jack said this, he placed his papers in the officer's hand, whileMarcy held up the lantern so that he could see to read them. He was byno means so surprised as Marcy expected him to be, and the reason wassimple enough. Since the forts at Hatteras Inlet were captured, scarcelya day passed that some vessel of the blockading fleet did not holdcommunication with Union people on shore. There was more love for theold flag in that secession country than most of us dreamed of. If MarcyGray had known this he would not have felt as uneasy as he did.
"I have been on the watch for an audacious little blockade-runner thatslipped by one of our boats into this Inlet a few weeks ago," said theofficer, as he folded the papers and handed them back to their owner."You're quite sure you're not the fellow?"
"Do I answer his description?" asked Jack, in reply.
"Well, no; I can't say that you do. But it is very easy to disguise avessel of this size."
"And it is just as easy for you to look around and see if I have anyplace to stow a cargo," said Jack. "Come below, if you please."
Taking the lantern from his brother's hand Jack led the way through thestanding-room into the _Fairy Belle's_ cabin, where he stopped to throwback the cushioned top of one of the lockers.
"Here's the flag I have sailed under ever since I was old enough to shinaloft," said he, taking up the carefully folded Union banner. "The otheris the one Semmes's boarding officer hoisted on the _Sabine_ when shewas captured. When we took her out of the hands of the prize crew Ihauled it down and kept it. It brought us safely by Plymouth and RoanokeIsland, and I hope it will take my brother safely back."
With this introduction Jack went on to give the officer a hastydescription of the state of affairs in and around the settlement inwhich his mother lived, and told what the Confederates were doing atRoanoke Island; and all the while he was leading the officer from oneroom to another and showing him all there was to be seen on the FairyBelle. But he
did not say a word about the _Hattie_. The officer did notknow that that "audacious little blockade-runner" had slipped throughhis fingers, and Jack thought it would be the part of wisdom to steerclear of the subject of blockade-runners if he could. A reference tothem might lead to some questions that he would not care to answer.
"I am entirely satisfied with your story," said the officer, when theyreturned to the deck. "But, all the same, I shall have to send you to mycommander. I have no authority to act in a case like this."
"Very good, sir," replied Jack. "We are quite willing to go. Do Iunderstand that you take the schooner out of our hands?"
"By no means," was the prompt reply. "I will put a petty officer aboardof you to act as your pilot, and you can run the vessel down yourselves.I must stay about here till daylight and look out for thatblockade-runner. Bo'son's mate!"
The petty officer stepped forward and received some brief instructionsfrom his superior, which were given in Jack's hearing.
"These are Union boys, and one of them has come out here to ship," saidthe officer. "I want you to pilot him to the _Harriet Lane_. You are notto interfere with the management of the schooner in any way, for she isnot a prize. She sails under our flag. Tell the captain the same storyyou have told me," he added, turning to Jack, "and I think it will beall right. Good-bye."
With these parting words the officer and his boarding party clambereddown into the launch, which put off to resume her useless vigil at themouth of the Inlet; the boatswain's mate, at Jack's request, took hisplace at the wheel, and the _Fairy Belle_ filled away on her course.
"All right so far," said Marcy, who breathed a great deal easier nowthan he did when the launch first hove in sight. "If the captain of the_Harriet Lane_ treats us as well as that ensign did, I shall be glad Icame out here."
"He will, sir," said the boatswain's mate, letting go of the wheel withone hand long enough to raise his forefinger to his cap. "He alwaysdoes. We have often had shore boats, come off to us since we have beenon the blockade."
"You have!" exclaimed Marcy, who was very much surprised. "And do youlet them go ashore again when they get ready?"
"Cert'ny, sir. They come and go betwixt two days--not because they areafraid of us, but because they must look out that the rebels ashoredon't hear of it. Some of the boats get news from Newbern every day orso."
"We know that," answered Jack. "And we heard a rebel say, not long ago,that if the Newbern people could find out who it is that sends off thepapers so regularly they would make short work of him. How much fartherhave we to go?"
"Not more than ten miles, sir. We'll see our lights directly."
"Do you know anything about this little blockade-runner that your launchis watching for?" inquired Marcy. "Who is she? What's her name and wheredoes she hail from?"
"We know all about her, sir, for we chased her once when she was theprivateer _Osprey_. She belongs up Roanoke River, but she runs theblockade out of Newbern. Her captain--what's this his name isagain?--Beardsley, used to be a smuggler; and if we get our hands on himwe'll be likely to remember him for that. Our Uncle Sam ain't so brokeup yet but what he can deal with men who have violated his laws."
"I hope to goodness you may get your hands upon him," thought Marcy, whowas surprised at the extent and accuracy of the blue-jacket'sinformation. It proved beyond a doubt that there were Union men ashorewho kept the Yankee commanders posted, and Marcy wished he knew who theywere. He might find it convenient to appeal to them if he and his mothergot into trouble with Captain Beardsley.
The strong breeze being in her favor, the _Fairy Belle_ made good speedalong the coast, and in due time the warning lights of the Union warvessel showed themselves through the darkness. It was not customary forthe Union cruisers to show lights and thus point out their position tovessels that might approach the coast with the intention of running theblockade, but being anchored off an inlet that was known to be in fullpossession of our forces, the captain of the _Harriet Lane_ knew that nosuch vessels would come near him. While the blue-jacket was explainingthis to the boys, a hoarse voice came from the gunboat's deck.
"Schooner ahoy!" it roared.
"No, no!" replied the man at the _Fairy Belle's_ wheel.
"That's a little the queerest answer to a hail _I_ ever heard," wasJack's comment.
"Be ready to stand by the sheets fore and aft, for we must round tounder her stern and come up on her port side," said the boatswain'smate. "The answer was all right, sir, and in strict accordance withnaval rules. Had I been a captain, I should have given the name of myship. Had I been a wardroom officer, I should have answered, 'Ay, ay!'But being neither one nor the other, I gave the same reply that thesteerage officers have to give."
"And what answer would you have given if the admiral was aboard of us?"inquired Jack.
"I should have said 'Flag,' sir. You give different replies fordifferent ranks so that the officer of the deck may know how to receivethe people that are coming aboard. It would make him awful mad if yougave such an answer that he would extend wardroom honors to a steerageofficer. Now, stand by to slack away and haul in."
Five minutes' skilful manoeuvring sufficed to bring the schooner aroundthe stern of the gunboat and up to an open gangway, in which stood theofficer of the deck and one of the ship's boys, who held a lightedlantern in his hand. To the former the boatswain's mate reported:
"A shore boat, sir, with a couple of Union boys aboard. Mr. Colson sentme down here with her. One of 'em wants to ship, sir. He's got papers."
"Let them come aboard," said the officer.
"It was easy enough for Jack to obey the order, for the gangway was low;but Marcy, having but one hand to work with, required a good deal ofassistance. As there was considerable swell on, Julius and theboatswain's mate remained on board the schooner to fend her off with theaid of boat-hooks.
"I have come off to ship under the old flag, sir," was the way in whichJack introduced himself and his business.
"Are you an able seaman?" inquired the officer.
"I am, sir, and there is the proof."
Jack produced his papers, and the officer of the deck read them by thelight of the lantern, Marcy improving the opportunity to make a hastyinspection of his surroundings. He didn't see much except the big gunswhich had aided in the reduction of the forts along the coast, thequartermaster on the bridge, and a few men lying on deck, apparentlyfast asleep, but he took note of the fact that everything was as neat ashis mother's kitchen. By the time he had made these observations theofficer had finished reading Jack's letters of recommendation. When hehanded them back, all he had to say was:
"So you have had some experience with that pirate, Semmes, have you? Iwish we had been around there about the time he captured your vessel. Wewill attend to your case in the morning. The doctor and paymaster areasleep, and it isn't worth while to rout them out just to ship oneman."
"It will not be necessary for my brother to lie alongside all night,will it, sir?"
"Oh, no. Boatswain's mate, you go back and report to Mr. Colson."
"Very good, sir," replied the petty officer, with his finger to hiscap.
"May I make bold to inquire if you have any papers aboard that you canspare?" continued Jack, who would not have thought of asking such aquestion if he had had a blue shirt on and been sworn into the service."We'd like some Northern papers, if you have them, for as we aresituated we get the news from only one side."
In response to this request the messenger boy was commanded to run downto the wardroom and bring up any papers he might find on the tablethere, and while awaiting his return Jack turned to say a parting wordto his brother.
"Now Marcy," said he, "you've got to look out for yourself--and formother. Not knowing what dangers you are likely to meet, I can't giveyou a word of advice; you will have to be on the alert and act accordingto circumstances. See Aleck Webster at the post-office, and tell him toput a stopper on those secret enemies of ours the first thing he does.You have seen me talking
with him, and will know him the minute you seehim. I shall trust you to communicate with me as often as you can,though I can't ask you to write to me. Tell mother you left me well andin good spirits. Good-bye."
"Why, my lad, things must be in a bad way in your part of the country,"said the officer of the deck, who had heard all Jack had to say to hisbrother.
"They are indeed, sir," answered the sailor. "It is easy enough for youNorthern folks to be loyal to the old flag, but it is as much as one'slife is worth down here."
The messenger boy having returned by this time, Marcy took the papers hehanded him, gave Jack's hand a parting shake, and was assisted over theside.
"Shove her bow off, Snowball," commanded the boatswain's mate, as hemoved aft to take his place at the wheel, and let her drift astern."Come back here, sir, and sit down," he added, in a vain effort to cheerMarcy up a little. "He's a fine lad. I'll warrant, that brother ofyours."
"He is, indeed," replied Marcy proudly. "And a sailor man, too, I thinkyou will find."
He had never before felt so gloomy and downhearted as he did at thatmoment, and he didn't care to talk. Calling Julius aft to strike a lightfor him, he went into the cabin and tried to read, leaving theman-of-war's man to sail the schooner, which he was able to do withouthelp from anybody. In the bundle of papers that the messenger boy gavehim, Marcy was glad to find three that were published in Newbern. Thesehe kept out to be read at once, intending when he passed Plymouth tothrow them ashore for the soldiers; but the Northern papers he stowedaway in one of the lockers beside the flags. He wanted time to read themcarefully, for he believed they would tell him the truth; and that wassomething he had not heard for many a day. It seemed to him that he hadnot been below more than half an hour when he heard a hail, to which thehoarse voice of the man at the wheel responded. A moment later itadded:
"On deck, if you please, sir. I've got to leave you now. My launch isclose aboard."
She was almost alongside by the time Marcy reached the deck, and fiveminutes later the officer in command of her again came over the rail;but this time he came alone. There were no blue-jackets with drawncutlasses at his heels.
"I guess you've had luck," were the first words he said. "I don't seethe other fellow anywhere."
"No, sir. We left him aboard your vessel," replied Marcy. "He will beexamined and sworn in in the morning. By the way, what did the officerof the deck mean when he said that the paymaster was asleep as well asthe doctor? What has the paymaster to do with swearing him in?"
"He or his clerk has to take the descriptive lists, you know, sir,"replied the sailor. "Then he gets an order from the captain to give themen their clothes and small stores--tobacco, soap, sewing silk, and thelike, you know, sir. I was told to come back and report to you, Mr.Colson."
"Very good. Get aboard the launch. Can you and the moke get along byyourselves?" he continued, turning to Marcy. "I see you have but onehand."
"Oh, yes, sir; we'll get along all right," answered Marcy, who was verymuch afraid that the officer would ask him how he had got hurt. "Seenanything of that blockade-runner since we left?"
"I haven't seen a thing except this schooner to-night," was the reply;and Marcy judged from the tone in which the words were uttered that theofficer was much disgusted at being obliged to stay out there all nightin an open boat for nothing. No doubt he would have been still moredisgusted to learn that if he had been two miles farther up the coast hewould have had a chance of capturing the "audacious" little vessel thathe was looking for.
The officer wasted no words in leave-taking, but went at once, and MarcyGray felt more gloomy than ever when he found himself alone on the oceanwith nobody but the boy Julius for a companion. He sent the latter tothe wheel and went forward to act as lookout and pilot, intending tofollow Captain Beardsley's example and run through Crooked Inlet underfull sail. He thought he could remember about where the buoys had beenplaced, and besides he had the flood tide to help him. If he succeeded,he would run across the Sound and hunt up some little bay in which hecould go into hiding until such time as he thought it safe to come outand start for home.
This programme was duly carried out, and the good luck that had thus farattended him stayed with him to the end. He piloted the schooner throughthe Inlet without the least trouble, ran across the Sound without beingseen by anybody, and put into the mouth of a little bayou, where he tiedup and turned in for a much needed rest. He remained there all that dayand the ensuing night, and at sunrise on the following morning ranSailor Jack's Confederate flag up to the _Fairy Belle's_ peak, and stoodboldly out for Roanoke Island.