by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XVIII
A TRIANGULAR ACTION WITH GREAT GUNS
When Mr. Baskirk went on deck to take his watch at midnight, the foghad disappeared, and a fresh breeze was blowing from the westward. Thischange was reported to the captain, and he went on deck. No sail hadbeen seen since the fog cleared off, and Christy returned to his stateroom, where he was soon asleep again. He was called, as he had directed,at four in the morning, but no change in the weather was reported, andno sail had been seen.
At four bells in the morning watch two sails were reported to him, onedead ahead, and the other on the port beam. He hastened to the deck, andfound Mr. Amblen using his spyglass, and trying to make out the distantsails. The one at the northeast of the Bronx was making a long streak ofblack smoke on the sky, and there was no such appearance over the other.Both were steamers.
"The one ahead of us is the Ocklockonee," said Captain Passford, afterhe had used the spyglass. "I have no doubt the other is the Arran.Probably she has a new name by this time, but I have not heard it yet.Pass the word for Mr. Ambleton."
This was the gunner, and he was directed to fire a single shot, blank,from the midship gun. This was immediately done, and was the signalagreed upon with Flint if either discovered the Arran. It was promptlyanswered by a similar discharge on board of the Ocklockonee, indicatingthat she had seen the steamer in question.
"Now, make her course southeast, Mr. Amblen," said Christy, after thetwo signals had been made.
"Southeast, sir," responded the second lieutenant, giving the course tothe quartermaster at the wheel.
The commander of the Ocklockonee changed his course as soon as the Bronxhad done so. Both steamers were headed directly towards the sail in thesoutheast, and both were running for the apex of the triangle where thethird steamer was located.
The captain visited every part of the vessel, and gave orders to havebreakfast served at once, for he expected there would be lively timesbefore many hours. Everything was overhauled, and put in order. At eightbells, when Mr. Baskirk took the deck, the captain did not care how soonthe battle began. Everything was ready and waiting, and he went belowfor his breakfast.
From delicacy or some other motive Captain Dinsmore spent most ofhis time in the ward room; but he was called to breakfast with thecommander. Both captains were as polite to each other as they had beenthe evening before, but it was evident to Christy that his guest wasquite uneasy, as though he had discovered what had transpired on deck;and the movements there were quite enough to inform him without a wordfrom any one. He had not asked a question of any person on board; and itwas impossible for him to know that a sail supposed to be the Arran wasin sight.
"I have heard some firing this morning, Captain Passford," said he as heseated himself at the table, and watched the expression of his host'scountenance.
"Merely a couple of signals; the distant shot came from theOcklockonee," replied Christy lightly.
"I thought it possible that you had fallen in with another steamer,"added the guest.
"I have considered it more than possible, and within the limits ofprobability, that we should fall in with another steamer ever since weran so opportunely upon the Scotian, as she was formerly called."
"Opportunely for you, but very inopportunely for me," added CaptainDinsmore with a faint smile.
"I am happy to inform you that we have passed beyond both possibilityand probability, and come into the region of fact," continued Christy.
"Then you have made out a sail?" asked the guest anxiously.
"We have; a steamer on our port beam; and I am reasonably confident itis the vessel you supposed was coming alongside the Ocklockonee lastevening."
"Indeed?" added the guest, as though he did not know just what to say,and did not mean to commit himself.
"In other words, I am almost sure this steamer is the Arran, thoughdoubtless you have changed her name," said Christy, as he helped theother from the choicest dish on the table.
"The Arran?" repeated Captain Dinsmore, manifesting but not expressinghis surprise that his companion in a different service from his own knewthis name.
"Perhaps you can give me her later name, as I have no doubt she is orwill be called after some southern river, which is quite proper, andentirely patriotic. Perhaps she is called the Perdido, which is notvery far from Perdition, where I shall do my best to send her unless shesurrenders within a reasonable time, or runs away from me," said CaptainPassford lightly. "Is your coffee quite right, Captain Dinsmore?"
"It is very good indeed, captain, thank you."
"Perhaps it is too strong for you, like the United States Navy, and youwould prefer it weaker," suggested Christy.
"It is quite right as it is, and, like the United States Navy of whichyou speak, it will be used up in a short time," replied the guest aspleasantly as the captain of the Bronx.
"That is yet to be settled," laughed Christy.
"Well, captain, the coffee is settled, and that is more than can be saidof our navy, which will be as clear as this in due time."
"I thought it best to inform you that we might be in action in thecourse of a couple of hours, and you were to notify me in case youwished to change your status on board," added Christy more seriously.
"I am much obliged to you, Captain Passford, for your courtesy andkindness, but I see no reason to change my position. I will stillconfine myself to the cabin and ward room. I cannot wish you success inthe action in which you are about to engage, for it would break my heartto have the Arran, as you call her, captured," added the guest.
"I think you may fairly count upon such a result," replied Christyconfidently.
"You must excuse me, Captain Passford, but I think you are reckoningwithout your host, and therein your youth makes its only manifestation,"said the guest, shaking his head. "I can only say that, when you are aprisoner on board of the Escambia, I shall do my best to have you ashandsomely treated as I have been in your cabin."
"Thank you, captain; I assure you I shall appreciate any courtesy andkindness extended to me. The Escambia is her name then. That is not sonear Perdition as the word I suggested, and I am glad it is not so longas the name you gave the Scotian. I shall expect to come across anApalachicola in due time. They are all very good names, but we shall becompelled to change them when they fall into our hands," said Christy.
"I have plenty of spare time on my hands just now, and perhaps I hadbetter think up a new name for the Bronx; and Apalachicola would be asgood as any other. I wonder you did not call her the Nutcracker, for herpresent name rather suggests that idea."
"I have heard a similar remark before; but she is not big enough forsuch a long name as the one you suggest, and you would have to beginto pronounce it before breakfast in order to get it out before the dogwatches," said Christy, as he rose from the table and went on deck.
The first thing he noticed when he came on the bridge was that theOcklockonee was headed to intercept the Bronx. Captain Flint signalledthat he wished to speak to him, and he changed his course to comply withthe request. At the end of another hour they came together, the Arranbeing still at least four miles distant, going very slowly if she wasmoving at all.
Christy had written out his orders for Captain Flint in full. So faras he had been able to judge of the speed of the other steamer, itappeared to be about the same as that of the Bronx. He had directed theOcklockonee to get to the southward of the Arran. A boat was sent to herwith the orders, and Flint immediately proceeded to obey them. The Bronxslowed down her engines to enable the other to gain her position; butthe Arran did not seem to be willing to permit her to do this, and gavechase to her at once.
The commander of the Bronx met this change by one on his own part, andwent ahead with all the speed he could get out of her. The Confederatesteamer was farther to the eastward than either of the other two, andafter the changes of position which Christy had brought about inspeaking the Ocklockonee, the Arran was nearly southeast of both of theothers. Flint went di
rectly to the south, and Christy ran for the enemy.
All hands had been beaten to quarters on board of the Bronx, and thecaptain was on the bridge, watching with the most intense interest theprogress of the other two vessels. It was soon apparent to him thatthe Ocklockonee could not get into the position to which she had beenordered under present circumstances, for the enemy was giving his wholeattention to her.
"There goes a gun from the enemy!" exclaimed Mr. Amblen, as a puff ofsmoke rose from the forward deck of the Arran.
"The shot struck in the water," added Christy a moment later; "but thetwo vessels are within range. There is the first shot from theOcklockonee! Captain Flint is not asleep."
The firing was done on both vessels with the heavy midship guns, anddoubtless the calibre of the pieces was the same; but Flint was the morefortunate of the two, for his shot struck the smokestack of the enemy,or partly upset it. Christy thought it was time for him to take a handin the game, and he ordered the midship gun to be fired, charged as itwas with a solid shot. The gunner aimed the piece himself, and the shotwas seen to tear up the water alongside of the enemy. He discharged thepiece four times more with no better result. Evidently he had not gotthe hang of the gun, though he was improving at every trial.
Three steamers were rushing towards each other with all the fury steamcould give them, for the overthrow of the funnel of the enemy did notdisable her, though it probably diminished the draught of her furnaces.Through the glass it could be seen that they were making an effort torestore the fallen smokestack to its position. All three of the steamerswere delivering the fire of their midship guns very regularly, thoughwith little effect, the distance was so great. The gunner of the Bronxwas evidently greatly nettled at the number of solid shots he hadwasted, though the gun of the Ocklockonee had done little better so faras could be seen. The three vessels were not much more than half a milefrom each other, and the enemy had begun to use his broadside guns.
"Good!" shouted Mr. Amblen suddenly after the gunner had just let offthe great gun. "That shot overturned the midship piece of the Arran.Ambleton has fully redeemed himself." The announcement of the effect ofthis last shot sent up a volley of cheers from the crew.
The Bronx and her consort had set the American flag at the beginning ofthe action, and the Confederate had promptly displayed her ensign, asthough she scorned to go into action without having it fully understoodwhat she was. She did not claim to be a blockade runner, and do her bestto escape, but "faced the music," even when she realized that she hadtwo enemies instead of one.
Christy had evidently inherited some of the naval blood on his mother'sside, and he was not satisfied with the slow progress of the action, forthe shots from the broadside guns of the enemy were beginning to tellupon the Bronx, though she had received no serious injury. He caused thesignal to prepare to board to be set as agreed upon with Captain Flint.The orders already given were to be carried out, and both vessels boredown on the Arran with all speed.