CHAPTER XXX
THE PRIZE-MASTER OF THE JUDITH
The weather had been clear all day, with quite a fresh breeze, and thesame conditions prevailed after dark. Colonel Passford seemed to have agreat deal to say to Captain Lonley, now that the time for sailing hadcome, and he occupied the attention of the latter so that neither ofthem could observe the new mate, if he were disposed to do so. As soonas Christy perceived the _role_ which circumstances had laid out forhim, he put his hand into a slush-tub he found in the waist, andanointed his face with the filthy stuff. There was just color enough inthe compound of grease and dirt to change his complexion, if it had beenlight enough to observe his physiognomy. Flint did the same thing.
"You will have to take your chances when you come to the entrance of thebay," said Colonel Passford, nervously. "This cargo is worth a fortune,and we are in sore need of the supplies which its value will purchasefor us."
"I think I understand the matter perfectly, colonel," replied Lonley,who did not seem to take kindly to any advice from a landsman.
"Do not take any unnecessary risks, Captain Lonley, for more than thevalue of the cotton is at stake," continued the planter.
"I have a plan of my own which I am confident will take me through theblockade all right," added the captain.
"You must remember that my brother's steamer is on the blockade, andthat she makes over twenty knots an hour."
"I shall pretend to be a prize of the Bellevite long enough to distractthe attention of the fleet," added Lonley, impatiently.
"I don't understand these things, and I shall leave you to manage theaffair as you think best; but I beg you will use all proper caution,"continued Colonel Passford. "Here are the ship's papers. You will givethe one on the top to the officer from the fort, and he will cause youno delay."
Lonley took the papers, and thrust them into his pocket without anyreply. Christy had taken charge of the hoisting of the mainsail withoutwaiting for any special orders, and Flint was doing his best to assisthim. The negroes, though not expert seamen, knew the ropes of aschooner, and they did very well with Flint in their midst.
"We are going to have a fresh breeze, Fetters," said Captain Lonley,as the new mate came near him.
"It looks like it now," added Christy, changing his voice as much as hecould, and as he had done before when he spoke to the captain.
"If things are not favorable when you get to the forte, I think you hadbetter anchor inside of the point," suggested the planter, who could notbe blamed for being deeply interested in the fate of his cotton, and thefortune which was locked up in it.
"Of course, I shall have to do that if necessary; but I don't like to dothat, for every blockader will watch her all the time if I do," repliedCaptain Lonley, still maintaining his respectful demeanor, though itseemed to be hard work.
By this time the mainsail was set, and was banging in the lively breeze.The negro sailors seemed to have become weary with wasting the dayin the sailing of the schooner, and they worked with a good deal ofenthusiasm.
"Now set the foresail, Fetters. I don't think we can carry thetopsails," said the captain. "Isn't that a white man with the hands?"asked he, as the men went to the foremast.
"That's a man I brought along with me," replied Christy. "He is an ableseaman, and he is very anxious to get to some port outside where he canobtain a berth as mate."
"All right; I thought the work was going on exceedingly well, and hispresence explains it," added the captain.
"He owns the boat in which we came over here, and I think we had betterhoist it on deck," said the mate.
"All right; do so, Fetters. I suppose you have nothing on your hands?"
"Nothing very particular," replied Christy.
"I am instructed to buy a fast steamer if I can find one, even if I haveto go to England to obtain her. What do you say to taking the berth offirst officer in her, Fetters, for I know that you are a sailor, andthat you have pluck enough to fire a gun?"
"Such a position would suit me first rate," replied Christy, with properenthusiasm.
Still Lonley did not recognize his voice, and he took especial painsthat he should not. But this state of things could not long continue. Ifthe Unionist went into the cabin where there was a light, he could nothelp betraying himself. It was necessary to provide against this or anysimilar emergency very soon. He had already arranged his plan, and itwas his purpose to carry it into execution as soon as the vessel wasfully clear of the creek.
The boat was hoisted on the deck; the fore and main sail were set, andeverything was in readiness for a departure. Colonel Passford, afterrepeating some of his admonition to the captain, shook hands with him,and stepped down upon the wharf. Lonley gave the order to stand by thejib, and cast off the fasts. The two principal sails filled on thestarboard tack, the jib went up in the twinkling of an eye under thedirection of Flint, and the schooner began to gather headway. Thecaptain was at the helm, for he would trust no other there, and Christywent forward.
"Set the fore topmast staysail," said the mate; but he was willing thecrew should execute the order in their own way, for he called themaster's mate to him. "The biggest job is yet to be done," he added,in a low tone.
"What is that?" asked Flint.
"To get possession of the vessel," replied Christy, impressively.
"That will be an easy matter, with nothing but niggers on board," addedFlint.
They talked together for a few minutes, and the plan was arranged. Flintsaw that the fore topmast staysail was properly set and trimmed. The twoUnionists on board did not even know the name of the schooner, but shegathered headway as she approached the mouth of the creek, and wentalong at a very satisfactory rate. The mate of the vessel and his fellowfugitive then went aft to be ready for the decisive action in which theywere to engage. But they had hardly reached the quarter-deck before theschooner was hailed by a boat.
"Schooner, ahoy! On board the Judith!" shouted a man.
"In the boat!" replied the captain. "Who's there?"
"Fetters!" responded the boatman.
"Fetters!" exclaimed Captain Lonley, apparently bewildered by the reply."It seems to me that Fetterses are plenty to-night."
But this was all he was permitted to say, for the stroke of a handspike,in the hands of Flint, fell upon his head at this instant, and hedropped upon the quarter-deck like a log. At the same moment, Christysprang to the wheel, and the schooner was not allowed to broach to. Shedashed on her course, increasing her speed every moment, without heedingthe boat that had hailed her. In the darkness, the genuine Fetters, asdoubtless he was in the boat, could not have seen in what manner CaptainLonley had been disposed of, and all the crew were forward, so that theywere no wiser.
"Judith, ahoy!" repeated the genuine and only true Fetters, at the topof his lungs, as the schooner hurried off on her course. "I am Fetters,the mate!"
"All right!" replied Christy. "I will see you in the morning. Come onboard at six o'clock."
Mr. Fetters said no more, and probably he concluded that the Judith hadgone to get firewood for the galley, to fill her water-casks, or forsome similar purpose. The fictitious Mr. Fetters kept his place at thewheel. The binnacle had been lighted by the cook, and he knew the exactcourse for the entrance to the bay. He felt that he was in possession ofthe Judith and her valuable cargo; and he had become so hardened in hispatriotic duty that he felt no compunction of conscience because thevessel and cotton had been wrested from his uncle.
As Colonel Passford had not scrupled to attempt to capture themagnificent steamer of his own brother, it would be a poor rule thatwould not work both ways. Besides, the proceeds of the sale of the cargowere to be expended in the purchase of supplies, and a steamer to carrythem, for the use of the Confederacy. His uncle, from his elevatedstandpoint of duty, would have an opportunity to consider theapplication of his stringent views on the other side of the question.
"I hope he is not dead," said Christy, as Flint bent over the prostratefo
rm of the captain.
"I don't know; but I am going to take him below, and lock him up in hisstateroom, where the crew will not see him," replied Flint.
"That is right; and I would help you if I could leave the wheel longenough," replied Christy.
"I can handle him alone; but see that none of the sailors come aft whileI am about it," added the master's mate, as he dragged the form to thecompanion-way.
In such a work as he had on his hands, he had the strength of two men.Without any great difficulty, he dragged the body to the cabin, and theninto one of the two staterooms he found, which was lighted. It was amore difficult task, for Lonley was a heavy man, but he placed the formin the berth. His first duty was to examine very carefully the pocketsof the captain. He secured the file of papers first, and then drew alarge naval revolver from each of his hip pockets. Then he took hispapers from his pocket-book, but left his money, watch, and othervaluables where he found them.
After a careful examination of the insensible form, he was satisfiedthat he was not dead, though he might yet die from the blow he hadreceived. He locked the door of the room, and went on deck. He gave oneof the revolvers to Christy, and retained the other, handing over to himalso all the papers he had taken.
"This is the biggest venture we have undertaken yet," said Flint, as heseated himself by Christy.
"But everything has gone well so far," replied the lieutenant. "If youare not promoted for this and the Teaser affair, Flint, it shall not befor the want of any recommendation on my part."
"Thank you, Mr. Passford; you are very kind. I hope your services willbe recognized in the same manner," returned the master's mate.
"I don't care so much for myself, and I should not cry if I were neverto become anything more than a midshipman."
"All I have done has been to obey your orders, and follow your lead;and if anybody is promoted for the two affairs in which we have beenengaged, you are surely the one who is entitled to it."
"Well, we will do our duty, whether we are promoted or not," addedChristy.
It was not more than nine o'clock in the evening when the Judith cameout of the creek, and in about four hours she was approaching FortMorgan. She was still within the enemy's lines, and her acting captainwas disposed to do everything in a regular manner, especially as hehad the means of doing so. He had not the same risk to run in gettingthrough the blockading fleet that Captain Lonley would have had, andhe promptly decided to take his chances without waiting for a darkand foggy night. A boat came off from the inner side of the fort, andChristy ordered Flint to bring her to.
The permit to pass the forts was in due form, and signed by the properofficials. The officer in the boat examined it carefully by the lightof a lantern, and declared that he was satisfied with it. Then he askedsome questions, which the acting commander of the Judith answered. Thetoughest inquiry he made was as to how he expected to get through theblockaders in a clear night like that. Christy assured him that he had aplan which he was confident would carry him through without difficulty.
The schooner filled away again, and passed through the main channel;and in another hour she was in the midst of the Union fleet. There wasa rattling of drums, a hissing of steam, and energetic commands heard assoon as the Judith was made out in the darkness, and doubtless a visionof prize-money flitted through the brains of officers and seamen. ButChristy soon impaired the vividness of these fancies by ordering theforesail of the schooner to be taken in, and then the fore topmaststaysail. The expectant ships' companies were not willing to believethat the vessel had come out for the purpose of surrendering.
"Schooner, ahoy!" shouted the officer of a boat sent off by the nearestblockader. "What vessel is that?"
"The Judith, prize to the United States steamer Bellevite," repliedChristy, "Kindly inform me where the Bellevite lies."
In another half-hour, Christy had dropped his anchor a cable's lengthfrom the Bellevite. Instructing Flint to ascertain the condition ofLonley, the lieutenant went on board of her to make his report, usingthe boat they had captured at Mobile, pulled by two of the negroes.
"I have come on board, Captain Breaker," said Christy, as he met thecommander, who had come on deck at the alarm.
"I see you have," replied the captain, grasping him by the hand. "I havebeen terribly worried about you, Christy."
"I am all right, sir; and so is Mr. Flint, who was with me. We havebrought off a schooner of two hundred tons, loaded with cotton,"continued Christy, as modestly as the circumstances would permit.
"I am very anxious to hear your report, Mr. Passford," said thecommander.
"Excuse me, sir, but the captain of that schooner is badly wounded, andneeds Dr. Linscott as soon as possible."
The surgeon was sent on board of the Judith. As Paul Vapoor caught asight of the returned third lieutenant, he hugged him as though he hadbeen separated from him for years instead of a few days. His welcomewas quite as cordial, though not as demonstrative, from the rest of theofficers. Then he went to the cabin with the captain, where he reportedall that had transpired since he had been separated from his companionson board of the Teaser. He was warmly commended for his bravery andskill, and Captain Breaker assured him that he should be rememberedin the reports to the department.
Captain Lonley was conveyed on board of the Bellevite, where he wascommitted to the sick bay. He had recovered his senses, but it waslikely, the surgeon said, that it would be a month before his health wasrestored. The Teaser had not yet been sent away; but the next day thethird lieutenant was appointed prize-master of the steamer, and Flint ofthe schooner, for he had been the master of a coaster, and was competentfor the position.
A considerable crew was put on board of the Teaser, and both vesselswere sent to New York instead of Key West. The steamer was expected totow the Judith when necessary, and defend her if she was attacked. Butboth arrived at their destination without any mishap, and both werecondemned; the Teaser was purchased by the government, for she waslikely to be a very useful vessel on account of her speed and lightdraught.
Christy had a brief leave of absence after he had served as a witnessagainst the captured vessels. He had seen his father, mother, and sisteron his arrival, and they were as proud of him as though he had beenmade a rear-admiral. Captain Breaker had written to his father of hisdisappearance on Santa Rosa Island, and had no doubt he had been madea prisoner within the enemy's lines. Christy brought the news of hisescape himself, which made him even doubly welcome at Bonnydale.Certainly the young lieutenant had never been so happy before in hislife.
Captain Passford was a man of great influence, though he held noposition in authority. At the first opportunity he obtained to talk withhim, Christy made a strong plea in favor of the promotion of Flint. Thelate owner of the Bellevite knew him well. The master's mate had been aschoolmaster, and was very well educated; but he had a taste for thesea. He had made several foreign voyages, and had bought a schoonerthen, of which he went as master. But he had sold his vessel to greatadvantage, and, having nothing to do, he shipped as third officer of theBellevite.
Sampson, who had come home as chief engineer of the Teaser, was alsoremembered by Christy, who interceded for his promotion, or ratherappointment. The government promptly obtained possession from the courtof the prize-steamer, and the repairs and alterations upon her werebegun at once. She had proved herself to be a fast sailer, and hadlogged sixteen knots, so that much was expected of her.
Captain Passford, after his son had pleaded so earnestly for thepromotion of the master's mate and the fireman, asked Christy what heexpected in the way of promotion for himself. The young officer did notask for any promotion, he was abundantly satisfied with his presentrank, and he rather preferred to retain it. His father laughed, anddeclared that he was very glad of it, for he had some delicacy in askingfavors for a member of his own family.
Corny still remained at the house of his uncle; and he was asthoroughbred a rebel as his father, though he said next to nothingabout h
is "cause." At a later period both he and Major Pierson were dulyexchanged; but the gallant officer had come to the conclusion that MissFlorry Passford was very far from being infatuated with him.
As the Bronx, which was the name given to the Teaser at the suggestionof Captain Passford, was to be ready about as soon as the legalproceedings would permit of the departure of the officers and seamen ofthe Bellevite, they were ordered to return to their ship in her. Flint'scommission as a master, and Sampson's as an assistant engineer, werereceived. Christy's companion in the night expeditions had not expectedto be anything more than a midshipman, and he was immeasurably delightedat his good fortune. Then it appeared that other influences than that ofCaptain Passford had been employed, for Christy, almost in spite ofhimself, was promoted to the rank of master, his commission antedatingthat of Flint.
Mr. Blowitt was appointed to the command of the Bronx, with MasterPassford as first lieutenant, and Master Flint as second; and Christywas to take her to the Gulf. She was to be used at the discretion of theflag officer after she had delivered her passengers on board of theBellevite, and received her new commander.
The Bronx was soon ready for sea with her new ship's company, and sailedfor her destination, where Christy was to make some further inquiriesinto operations ON THE BLOCKADE.
_OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS._
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY
SERIES
Illustrated. With Emblematic Dies. Each volume bound in Blue and Gray.Per volume, $1.50.
TAKEN BY THE ENEMY.
WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES.
The opening of a new series of books from the pen of Oliver Optic is bound to arouse the highest anticipation in the minds of boy and girl readers. There never has been a more interesting writer in the field of juvenile literature than Mr. W. T. Adams, who, under his well-known pseudonym, is known and admired by every boy and girl in the country, and by thousands who have long since passed the boundaries of youth, yet who remember with pleasure the genial, interesting pen that did so much to interest, instruct and entertain their younger years. The present volume opens "The Blue and the Gray Series," a title that is sufficiently indicative of the nature and spirit of the series, of which the first volume is now presented, while the name of Oliver Optic is sufficient warrant of the absorbing style of narrative. "Taken by the Enemy," the first book of the series, is as bright and entertaining as any work that Mr. Adams has yet put forth, and will be as eagerly perused as any that has borne his name. It would not be fair to the prospective reader to deprive him of the zest which comes from the unexpected, by entering into a synopsis of the story. A word, however, should be said in regard to the beauty and appropriateness of the binding, which makes it a most attractive volume.--_Boston Budget._
"Taken by the Enemy" has just come from the press, an announcement that cannot but appeal to every healthy boy from ten to fifteen years of age in the country. "No writer of the present day." says the Boston _Commonwealth_, "whose aim has been to hit the boyish heart, has been as successful as Oliver Optic. There is a period in the life of every youth, just about the time that he is collecting postage-stamps, and before his legs are long enough for a bicycle, when he has the Oliver Optic fever. He catches it by reading a few stray pages somewhere, and then there is nothing for it but to let the matter take its course. Relief comes only when the last page of the last book is read; and then there are relapses whenever a new book appears until one is safely on through the teens. The boys will be delighted to know, therefore, that 'Taken by the Enemy' is but the first of six books to come out in rapid succession, all based on the thrilling incidents of the late war."--_Literary News._
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Completed in Six Volumes. Illustrated.Per Vol., $1.25.
1. ALL ADRIFT; Or, The Goldwing Club.2. SNUG HARBOR; Or, The Champlain Mechanics.3. SQUARE AND COMPASS; 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 will be given in this Boat-Building series, and in each book a very interesting story is sure to be interwoven with the information. Every reader will be interested at once in "Dory," the hero of "All Adrift," and one of the characters to be retained in the future volumes of the series, at least there are already several of his recently made friends who do not want to lose sight of him, and this will be the case of pretty much every boy who makes his acquaintance in "All Adrift."
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Errata Noted by Transcriber:
En Reconnaissance de la Bonte de son Pere, _text reads "Pere" (with acute accent for grave)_and to be above any such villainy _text reads "villany"_"He is on board--of the Bellevite," the third lieutenant _text reads "lientenant"_
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