by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER IX
A VOLUNTEER CAPTAIN'S CLERK
Mr. Flint was really amused at the plan of the commander of the Bronx,as indicated in the letter he had just read, and he was not laughing outof mere compliment to his superior officer, as some subordinates feelobliged to do even when they feel more like weeping. Perhaps no one knewChristy Passford so well as his executive officer, not even his ownfather, for Flint had been with him in the most difficult and tryingordeals of his life. He had been the young leader's second in command inthe capture of the Teaser, whose cabin they now occupied, and they hadbeen prisoners together. He had been amazed at his young companion'saudacity, but he had always justified his action in the end. They hadbecome excellent friends as well as associates in the navy, and therewas a hearty sympathy between them.
Christy laughed almost in spite of himself, for he had been giving veryserious attention to the situation on board of the Bronx. In the ship'scompany were at least two officers on the other side of the greatquestion of the day, both of them doubtless men of great experiencein their profession, more mature in years than their opponent on thischess-board of fate, and they had come on board of the steamer toaccomplish some important purpose. The game at which they were engagedhad already become quite exciting, especially as it looked as if thefinal result was to be determined by strategy rather than hard fighting,for Pawcett and Hungerford could hardly expect to capture the Bronx withonly a force of eight men.
"Mulgrum is to copy this letter," said Flint, suppressing his laughter.
"I have written the letter in order to have something for him to copy,and at the same time to give him and his confederate something to thinkabout," replied Christy; and he could hardly help chuckling when hethought of the effect the contents of the letter would produce in theminds of those for whom the missive was really intended.
"Do you think they will swallow this fiction, Captain Passford?" askedthe first lieutenant.
"Why shouldn't they swallow it, hook, bait, and sinker? They areConfederate agents beyond the possibility of a doubt; and they arelooking for a ship in which they intend to ravage the commerce of theUnited States," replied Christy; and the question had done something tostimulate his reasoning powers. "They want a vessel, and the Bronx wouldsuit them very well."
"But they will not attempt to capture her under present circumstances,I am very confident. They know that we have about twenty seamen extraon board."
"They know that certainly; but possibly they know some things in thisconnection that we do not know," added Christy, as he put his hand onhis forehead, and leaned over the table, as though his mind werestrongly exercised by some serious question he was unable to answersatisfactorily to himself.
"What can they know that we don't know in regard to this vessel?"demanded Flint, looking quite as serious as the commander.
"Whether our extra men are loyal or not," answered Christy, dropping hishand, and looking his companion full in the face.
"Do you think there is any doubt in regard to them?"
"I confess that I have not had a doubt till this moment," said thecaptain, wiping the perspiration from his brow, for the terriblepossibility that any considerable portion of the extra men were in theemploy of the two Confederates had almost overcome him.
For a few moments he was silent as he thought of this tremendous idea.It was appalling to think of going into action with the Scotian or theArran, or both of them, and have a part of his own force turn againsthim on his own deck. This was possible, but he could hardly believe itwas probable. Dave had reported very faithfully to him all the detailsof the conversation between the Confederates, and they had claimed onlysix men. If they had any hold on the extra men on board, they would havebeen likely to say so, or at least to speak more indefinitely than theyhad of their expectations.
"Have you any friends on board, Mr. Flint, among the crew?" askedChristy suddenly, as though a solution of the difficult question of theloyalty of the men had suggested itself to him.
"I have at least half a dozen whom I worked hard to have drafted intothe Bronx, for I know that they are good and true men, though they maynot be able to pass the technical examination of the naval officers,"replied the first lieutenant promptly. "I can trust every one of them asfar as I could trust myself. One of them was the mate of my vessel atthe time I sold her, and he has since been in command of her."
"Who is he?"
"His name is Baskirk; and he is a quartermaster now. I wrote to him, andpromised to do the best I could to advance him. He is not a graduate ofa college, but he is a well-informed man, well read, sober, honest, anda man of good common-sense."
"The others?"
"McSpindle was a classmate of mine in college, and he is a capitalfellow. Unfortunately, he got into the habit of drinking more than wasgood for him, and spoiled his immediate future. He has made two foreignvoyages, and he is a good seaman. He came home second mate of anIndiaman, promoted on his merit. He is also a quartermaster," saidFlint, who was evidently very deeply interested in the persons hedescribed.
"Any more?"
"Luffard is a quartermaster, for I selected the best men I had for thesepositions. He is a young fellow, and the son of a rich man in Portland.He is a regular water bird, though he is not over eighteen years old."
"His age is no objection," added Christy with a smile.
"I suppose not; but I have taken Luffard on his bright promise ratherthan for anything he has ever done, though I have seen him sail aforty-footer in a race and win the first prize. The other men I happento think of just now have been sailors on board of my coaster. They aregood men, and I can vouch for their loyalty, though not for theireducation. They are all petty officers."
"I have a mission for your men, to be undertaken at once, and I shallbe likely to want the first three you named for important positions, ifmy orders do not fetter me too closely," said Christy. "As the matterstands just now, Mr. Flint, it would hardly be expedient for us tocapture a schooner running the blockade for the want of an officer toact as prize master."
"The three quartermasters I named are competent for this duty, for theyare navigators, and all of them have handled a vessel."
"I am glad to hear it; we are better off than I supposed we were. Myfather told me that several vessels had been sent to the South short ofofficers, and we are no worse off than some others, though what you saymakes us all right."
"I can find three officers on board who are as competent as I am, thoughthat is not saying much," added Flint.
"I can ask no better officers, then. But to return to this letter.I have spent a considerable part of my time at Bonnydale in talkingwith my father. He is in the confidence of the naval department."
"He ought to be, for he gave to the navy one of its best steamers, tosay the least."
"I don't want to brag of my father," suggested Christy, laughing;"I only wanted to show that he is posted. Coming to the point at once,putting this and that together of what I learned on shore, and of whatI have discovered on board of the Bronx, I am inclined to believe thatPawcett and Hungerford have their mission on board of this steamer inconnection with the Scotian and the Arran. I will not stop now toexplain why I have this idea, for I shall obtain more evidence aswe proceed. At any rate, I thought I would put the ghost of astumbling-block in the path of these conspirators; and this is thereason why I have put thirteen American seamen on board of each of theexpected steamers. If my conjectures are wrong the stumbling-block willbe nothing but a ghost; if I am right, it will make our men somewhatcautious as to what they do if we should be so fortunate as to fall inwith the two vessels."
"I understand you perfectly, Captain Passford. You said that you hadsomething for my men to do at once; but you did not explain what thisduty was," said Flint. "If you require their services at once, I willinstruct them."
"I did not explain, for I have so many irons in the fire that I amafraid I am getting them mixed, and I forgot to tell you what they wereto do. But I shall l
eave the details to be settled in your own way.I want to know who are loyal men and who are not. There are at leastsix men, according to the report of Dave, who are followers of Pawcettand Hungerford. We don't know who they are; but doubtless they havebeen selected for their shrewdness. Probably they will be looking forinformation among the men. Spoors is one of them, and by watching himsome clew may be obtained to the others."
"I am confident my men can find out all you want to know," added thefirst lieutenant.
"It should be done as soon as possible," replied the commander.
"Not a moment shall be lost. I have the deck at eight this morning, andone of the quartermasters will be at the wheel. I will begin with him."
Mr. Flint left the cabin, for his breakfast was waiting for him inthe ward room. Christy walked through to the steerage, where he foundMulgrum attending to the wants of the warrant officers as well as hecould. He looked at this man with vastly more interest than before hehad listened to Dave's report. It was easy to see that he was not anordinary man such as one would find in menial positions; but it was notprudent for him to make a study of the man, for his quick eye was takingin everything that occurred near him.
Eight bells struck, and Mr. Flint hastened on deck to relieve the secondlieutenant. Christy took his morning meal at a later hour, and when hehad finished it, he sent for Pink Mulgrum. Of course the conversationhad to be written, and the captain placed the scullion opposite himselfat the table.
"I learn from Mr. Lillyworth that you are a good writer, and that youare well educated," Christy wrote on a piece of paper, passing it to thedeaf mute.
Mulgrum read the sentence, and nodded his head with something likea smile. If Christy was a judge of his expression, he was certainlypleased, evidently to find that his confederate's plan was working well.
"I have a letter of which I desire several copies. Can I trust you tomake these copies?" Christy wrote.
The man read and nodded his head eagerly.
"Will you promise on your honor as a man that you will not reveal whatyou write to any person whatever?" Christy proceeded. Mulgrum read, andnodded his head earnestly several times.
The commander procured paper and other writing materials for him,and placed them before him. Then he seated himself again opposite thecopyist, and fixed his gaze upon him; unfolding the letter, of which hehad made a fair copy himself, he placed it under the eyes of the deafmute. Mulgrum had retained his smile till this moment. He had arrangedhis paper and taken a pen in his hand. Then he began to read; as heproceeded the smile deserted his face. He was plainly startled.