CHAPTER XXIX
THE NEW COMMANDER OF THE VIXEN
"Have I done anything to offend the flag-officer, or has he noconfidence in me?" asked Christy, who heard in utter surprise that hewas ordered to New York in command of the Vixen.
"Certainly not, Mr. Passford," replied Captain Blowitt, with adeprecatory smile which was almost enough to satisfy the young officer."What could have put such an idea as that into your head?"
"It looked to me just as though I was sent away simply as a prize-masterbecause my services were not needed down here where there is fighting,and is likely to be a great deal more of it," added Christy, not yetquite satisfied. "Perhaps I am banished for the crime of audacity."
"That is a little too bad, Christy," said the commander, shaking hishead. "I promised not to use that word again, and you ought not to twitme for it, for it was only a pleasantry on my part."
"It was the farthest thing in the world from my mind to twit you for theword; I was only afraid that they considered me an imprudent officer onboard of the flagship. I beg your pardon, Captain Blowitt, and I willnever again remind you of the conversation we had on the subject ofaudacity," answered Christy, rising from his chair and taking thecommander by the hand.
"It is all right, Christy, my dear fellow," replied the captain, comingdown from the dignified manner of the navy. "I think we understand eachother perfectly, and I don't wish to part with the shadow of a shadowbetween us. We have sailed together too long to be anything but the bestof friends; and the fate of poor Dashington reminds me that we may nevermeet again in this world."
"Whatever you say and whatever you do, Captain Blowitt, we can neverbe anything but the best of friends, and, so far as you are concerned,I never had an instant of doubt or suspicion."
"Now, Christy," interposed Paul Vapoor, "you entirely mistake the motivewhich has led to your appointment to the Vixen, for I happen to knowsomething about it. You are not sent simply as a prize-master to NewYork, but you are put in temporary command of the Vixen because an able,vigilant, courageous officer was required."
"Then I wonder all the more that I was selected," added Christy.
"You wonder!" exclaimed Paul, looking intently into the brown face ofthe young officer, apparently to discover if there was not someaffectation in this manifestation of modesty.
There was nothing like affectation in the composition of ChristyPassford, and whatever he had done to distinguish himself, he had donestrictly in the line of his duty, and from the purest of patrioticmotives. It was the most difficult thing in the world to make himbelieve that he had done "a big thing," though all others on boardof his ship believed it with all their might. Paul Vapoor knew whateverybody thought of his friend, and he was surprised that he should beso innocent and ignorant of the great reputation he had won.
"I do wonder," replied Christy, earnestly and honestly. "I believe Iam about the youngest officer in the fleet, and if this service requiresan able officer, it seems very strange to me that I should have beenselected."
"Captain Breaker was consulted in regard to you, though he was not askedto name a commander, for the flag-officer had thought of you himself,and no doubt he had just been reading your report of your voyage to theGulf in the Bronx," said Paul, laughing. "I don't see how he could dootherwise than select you, Christy."
"You are chaffing me, Paul, as you do sometimes," said Christy with asmile.
"Then the expression of my honest opinion, which is also the opinionof every other officer in the ship, is chaffing you," retorted theengineer.
"I am satisfied; and I am sorry I said a word," added the subject of allthese remarks.
"It is a very important and responsible situation to which you areordered, Mr. Passford," said Captain Blowitt, putting on his dignityagain. "Not a few steamers fitted up in part for service as Confederatemen-of-war, in spite of neutrality treaties, are expected on the coast.You have diminished the number by two, and I hope you will be able tomake a still further reduction of that fleet. We have three vessels tosend on for condemnation, and your orders will inform you that thereare several others, including another steamer, at Key West; and aConfederate armed steamer could easily recapture the whole of them. Youwill have to protect a fleet of at least seven vessels; and this commandought to satisfy your ambition. You will also have charge of a despatchbag, to be forwarded to Washington at once; and this must not fall intothe hands of the enemy. Sink or burn it if you are captured."
"I don't intend to be captured," added Christy with a smile.
"I remember that you were taken by the enemy on one occasion, andmisfortunes may come to the best of officers. You must get ready to sailat once; but you must write your report of your expedition before youleave," added Captain Blowitt, as he rose from his chair, and the trioleft the cabin.
Christy gaped several times during the latter part of the interview, forhe had not slept a wink during the preceding night. He went to the wardroom and began to write his report, while the Bronx and the Vixenproceeded towards the three vessels which had been captured. It was wellthat they did so, for as they approached the Havana and her consortsthey discovered quite a fleet of boats coming out from behind theSeahorse Key, evidently intending to recapture the prizes in the absenceof the gunboat. They retired at once as she approached.
Christy was a rapid writer, and his report was soon finished, for thesubject was still very fresh in his mind, and he never attempted todo any "fine writing." He had packed his valises, and he took anaffectionate farewell of the captain, Flint, and Sampson, as well as theship's company in a more general way, though he said he expected to beback again in a few weeks. The Vixen's boat was waiting for him, and heembarked in it with Paul Vapoor. In a few minutes he ascended to thedeck of the steamer, and the side was manned at his appearance. He waspresented to the officers of the ship by the engineer, and all three ofthem were older men than Christy, though he was their senior in rank,for his commission had been dated back to his enlistment in the navy.
Every one of the officers was a stranger to Christy, though there were afew men who had served in the Bellevite, but not in her original crew.With the customary proceedings he took command of the Vixen, and hefound from sundry remarks made to him or dropped in his hearing that hisreputation was already established on board. He directed the executiveofficer to follow the Bronx. In a short time the screw was stopped inthe vicinity of the prizes. The Bronx reclaimed the men left on board ofthe Havana, and Captain Lonley was sent on board of the Vixen.
Christy had been down into his cabin, and taken a hasty glance at theward room. In addition to his own apartments like those on board of theBronx, though they were larger, he found a state room opening from thefoot of the companion way, and another from the passage way leading tohis principal cabin. These two rooms he appropriated to the use of Mr.Pembroke and his daughter, though they were very well provided for onboard of the Havana. They were invited on board, and gratefully acceptedthe accommodations tendered to them.
Mr. Amblen was to retain the place assigned to him as prize-master, andtwo competent men were found to take charge of the schooners. All thearrangements were completed in a couple of hours, and the prizes of theBronx were started at once. The negroes were employed in transferringthe deckload of the Havana to the holds of the schooners, which were notquite full.
The engineer of the Bellevite was to return to her in the Bronx, and heshook hands at parting with Christy, giving him a letter to Miss FlorryPassford; and even her brother could not help seeing that he was greatlyinterested in her. Three rousing cheers went up from the Bronx as thescrew of the Vixen began to turn, and she started on her voyage.
The new commander, though he was very sleepy, gave his first momentsto an examination of the vessel. The carpenter and his gang were stillengaged in repairing the damage done to her in the engagement with theBellevite. She was about the size of the two steamers captured by theBronx, and coming out of the small steamer, she seemed quite large.She carried a mid
ship gun of heavy calibre, and four broadside pieces.She had a crew of sixty men, besides those employed in the engineer'sdepartment, selected from the fleet, for the mission of the steamer wasregarded as a very important one.
"Your machine looks well, Mr. Caulbolt," said Christy, as he went to theengine room in making his round with the executive officer.
"I fancy it is as good as can be built on the other side of the water,"replied the chief engineer.
"Do you know anything in regard to the speed of the Vixen, for that maybe a very important matter with us?" asked the commander.
"I do not know very much yet, sir, but I think she is a fast steamer.Mr. Vapoor told me that the Bellevite made twenty-two knots in chasingher, and that no other vessel in the navy could have overhauled her.He gave me the figures," added Mr. Caulbolt, taking a paper from hispocket. "I think she is good for eighteen knots when driven hard."
"I dare say that will do," replied Christy, finishing his examinationand retiring to his cabin.
He found Mr. Pembroke and his daughter there. The young lady presentedhim to her father, who appeared to be about fifty years of age. He wasvery gentlemanly in his manners, and thanked the captain heartily forthe courtesy and kindness with which he had been treated. Later in thevoyage he learned that Mr. Pembroke's wife and son had been killed someyears before in a railroad accident, and that the money recovered fromthe corporation was about his only fortune. Miss Bertha, as her fathercalled her, had been educated to become a teacher, but when his healthfailed, she had devoted herself wholly to him. They had gone to Georgiajust before the war, and had lived in the pine woods nearly two years.
"My health is very much improved, and the genial climate just suited mycase; but in the present situation, I had rather die at home than livein the South," said the invalid in conclusion.
"Father is ever so much better than when we came to Georgia," addedBertha.
Christy looked at her, and he had never seen a young lady before whomade such a decided impression upon him. Of course the reason for thiswas that she was so dutiful and devoted to her sick father, for notevery young and beautiful maiden would have been so entirely unselfishas she was. The commander could not help looking at her till he made herblush by the intensity of his gaze, and after all, it is possible thatChristy was as human as other young men of his age. He had never been soaffected before, and he hardly knew what to make of it; but he concludedthat it was not because she was so pretty, but because she was so good,and so devoted to her father.
In due time the Vixen and her convoy reached Key West. He found only twoschooners and a steamer, all loaded with cotton, awaiting his coming,for two others had been sent with another steamer. Christy went on boardof them, and as the sea was smooth, he arranged them as he had theothers, though tow lines were ready in case of need, and the fleetsailed for the North.