CHAPTER XVII
A SATISFACTORY ORDER
Whatever had happened to the Bellevite, it was plain enough now toChristy that she had repaired the injury, for the speck in the distancewas assuming the form of a steamer. The discovery was not calculated tofan the hopes of Captain Carboneer and his officers, though the twoUnionists on board of the Yazoo were elated. The chase was continuedtill the middle of the afternoon, when the Bellevite opened fire withher heavy midship gun.
"Mr. Passford, your ship has opened fire upon us, and I will not compelyou to expose yourself to it," said Captain Carboneer, as one of theshots from the Bellevite dropped into the water near the Yazoo. "You areat liberty to retire to any part of the vessel you desire, with yourcompanion."
"Thank you, sir; you are very kind; and as I don't care to be shot by myfriends, I will go below," replied Christy.
It was hardly safer below than on deck, and it was not likely that theresolute commander of the Yazoo would allow her to be captured as longas he could make any resistance. Christy got the idea from the decisionhe had observed in the face and expression of Captain Carboneer, thatthe only way to capture the steamer would be to knock her to pieces. Heexpected to be saved from the fate of a prisoner of war, but he was notready to believe that the Yazoo would be sent to the North as a prize.She had not half the force of the Bellevite, either in men or guns,and it had been proved that her speed could not save her. But all thechances of accidents were to be incurred, and no one could predict thefinal result.
Christy and Beeks went below, and seated themselves in the wardroom ofthe ship. It looked as though it had been altered from the dining-saloonof a passenger steamer for its present use. But the vessel was anelegant affair, and Christy thought it was evident from what he sawthat she had been built for a steam-yacht by some British magnate. Shewas not more than two-thirds as large as the Bellevite.
The sound of the firing indicated that the Bellevite was gaining on thechase even more rapidly than in the morning. At the end of a couple ofhours more she seemed to be within a mile, or perhaps less. The Yazoowas shaking in every fibre of her steel body, and it was plain thatCaptain Carboneer was straining her to the utmost to effect his escape.
"It is beginning to warm up a little," said Beeks, as he tried to lookout at one of the round ports of the wardroom.
"It will be hotter than this before we see the end of it," repliedChristy. "Can you see anything?"
"Not a thing; of course the Bellevite is astern of us," added Beeks."But the Yazoo is not using her guns."
"How can she? She has not fired a shot for some time, and she cannotwithout coming to. I should say she might as well do one thing asanother. She can't run away from the Bellevite, and she may as welltake her chances in a fight as a run."
"But the Bellevite does not seem to be handling her great gun at a verylively rate," suggested Beeks.
"I suppose Captain Breaker wants to save all he can of the Yazoo, andhe knows that he can knock her all to pieces when he decides that it isnecessary."
"What is all that racket on deck?" asked Beeks.
"Probably they are getting a couple of stern chasers ready for use,"answered Christy; and this explanation was soon proved to be correct bythe report of a gun at the stern of the Yazoo.
For the next half-hour, the firing from the Bellevite was more rapid,and several crashes, produced by the striking of shot, were heard. Itwas soon apparent that one of the stern chasers had been disabled; andafter a while the other ceased its noise. Beeks was so excited thathe left the wardroom, and found his way into what proved to be thecaptain's cabin. More than one shot had come into it, and made no littlehavoc. He found a port there through which he obtained a view of theBellevite. Whatever damage had been done to her, her engine was inperfect order, for she was driving ahead at her best speed.
The quartermaster reported what he had seen to Christy, though it provednothing except that the Bellevite was all right, but everything beganto look more hopeful to the occupants of the wardroom. They had only towait, for they could do nothing. The pursuer had ceased to discharge herguns, and those of the Yazoo were useless under present circumstances.
The situation was becoming more exciting on the deck of the Yazoo,judging by the sounds that came from it. Then it was evident that theBellevite had returned to her former tactics, and was coming alongsidewith the intention of boarding. Loud yells and fierce cries followed,and then came the noise of a hand-to-hand struggle on the deck. It wasof short duration, for the ship's company of the Yazoo were outnumberedat least two to one.
"I suppose we may go on deck now," said Beeks.
"I should judge that the fight was over," replied Christy, as he led theway out of the wardroom.
At the companion-way they found two sailors assisting Captain Carboneerto his cabin. His face was covered with blood, and he looked very pale.The surgeon was close by him. Christy felt sincerely sorry for thecommander, for he was a noble and upright man. His protest had preventedMajor Pierson from attempting to carry out whatever plan he had in hismind for the abduction of Florry Passford, and the young officer feltgrateful to him.
"Ah, Mr. Passford, the luck is on your side again," said the woundedcommander, when he saw Christy.
"Of course, I rejoice that it is so, but I am sincerely sorry that youare wounded," replied Christy. "I must thank you for your interferencein behalf of my sister in opposition to the scheme of Major Pierson."
"How could you know anything about that?" asked the commander, bracinghimself up.
"I heard the whole of it."
"I see; but I did not consider that Major Pierson contemplated anyruffianism," added Captain Carboneer, as the surgeon urged him to gointo his cabin.
Christy hastened on deck, and was warmly received by his fellow-officersthere. He reported on board to Captain Breaker without any delay, andwas warmly congratulated on his escape. He returned to his duty at once.Paul Vapoor was inclined to hug him when he met him.
"I felt like a prisoner of war," said Christy, when he had told hisbrief story. "The Bellevite was disabled, and I supposed it was all upwith me."
"A shot from the Killbright damaged our rudder, so that we could notsteer her; though we repaired the mischief after a considerable delay,"replied the engineer. "But we have the prize."
"She was intended for a cruiser, and they call her the Yazoo."
"Whatever her name, she will not be a cruiser on that side."
The captured vessel was carefully surveyed; she had been considerablydamaged in the contest, but she was still seaworthy, and Mr. Blowitt wasappointed prize-master to take her to New York. All the arrangementswere speedily completed, and, when the prize had sailed for herdestination, Christy became the acting second lieutenant.
For the next month the Bellevite cruised in search of such craft asthe Killbright, and then she took her place on the blockade off MobileBay, to which she had been ordered. Mr. Blowitt and the prize-crew hadreturned, and all the damage done by the guns of the Yazoo had beenrepaired, so that the Bellevite was in as good condition as when sheleft the Navy Yard at Brooklyn. She captured several schooners, but novery important prize. Many of the officers were disgusted with theinactivity of the service.
In a letter from his father, Christy obtained the information that theBellevite was likely to be ordered to duty as a cruiser, for which hergreat speed adapted her better than any other vessel in the navy. Thiswas cheering news to the discontented ones. But before any orders tothis effect was received, the ship was ordered to proceed to Pensacola,where a very fast steamer was said to be awaiting an opportunity to getto sea.
The position of the steamer was ascertained with no little difficulty;but it was protected by the guns of the forts. Captain Breaker desiredto obtain better information in regard to the Teaser, as the negroessaid she was called. She was quite small, and carried only a single longgun, and it was suspected that she was a privateer. On the evening ofthe Bellevite's arrival, the weather was rainy
, foggy, and thick. It wasjust the night for a blockade runner, and the captain believed that anattempt would be made to get out at this time.
The Unionists held Fort Pickens, and the Confederates the forts on themainland. The negroes said the Teaser was anchored at the mouth of thelagoon, or very near it. This was not very definite, even if it wereaccepted as true. It was very important that the Teaser should not bepermitted to get out of the bay, for she might do a great deal ofmischief to the shipping of the nation.
"I don't believe the stories of the negroes," said Captain Breaker, ashe was discussing the situation with his officers. "I know the port verywell, and I have no idea where the mouth of the lagoon is, or even if ithas any mouth in Pensacola Bay."
"Wherever the Teaser may be waiting her chance, this is a good night fora start," replied Mr. Dashington.
"Of course the officers of Fort Pickens are on the lookout for the saucylittle craft," added Mr. Blowitt.
"Captain Westover is still on board, and you are to send him to thefort, are you not, Captain Breaker?" asked Christy.
"Yes; as soon as he is ready to go," replied the captain. "He has givenall the information he has in regard to the Teaser; but he has not seenher to-day, and he does not believe she is in the lower bay, but thatshe is somewhere in the vicinity of the Navy Yard."
"If you will excuse me, Captain Breaker, I don't believe she means tocome out by the main channel, for her people know that the eyes of theofficers of Fort Pickens are wide open," suggested Christy, with a gooddeal of diffidence.
"How do you think she will come out, Mr. Passford?" asked the captain,with a smile.
"By Santa Rosa Sound, sir," replied the third lieutenant.
"Possibly you are right, Mr. Passford, though I do not think you are,"added the commander, thoughtfully. "Santa Rosa Sound is about fortymiles long, and there is hardly water enough in it, up and down, tofloat a raft, to say nothing of a steamer."
But later in the day, the captain called Christy aside, and had a longtalk with him, the charts open before them. It certainly did not looklike a very hopeful enterprise to take a steamer through such a sound asthat described.
"But we have no correct information in regard to the anchorage of theTeaser, and I have decided to obtain it if possible. I propose to sendyou to look into the matter, Mr. Passford," added the captain, settlingthe question in that way. "Select your own boat and crew. But if theTeaser gets by Fort Pickens, we may have to chase her to sea, and if onyour return you do not find the Bellevite, you and your men will remainat Fort Pickens."
Christy was entirely satisfied with this order.