by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE BEARER OF DESPATCHES
Christy had assured himself that the father of the beautiful younglady was a loyal citizen, and then he pointed out to her in what mannerthey might reach their home, which was at Newburgh on the Hudson. Mr.Pembroke was not a wealthy man, though he had the means of supportingwhat was left of his family comfortably. But Christy had to ask to beexcused, as the Bronx was but a short distance from the Havana.
He directed Mr. Amblen to stop her, so as to permit the gunboat tocome alongside of her. As the Bronx came within hailing distance ofthe steamer towing the schooners, a hearty cheer burst from the crew onthe forecastle of the former, for the prizes alongside of the Havanaindicated the success of the expedition. The sea was smooth, and thenaval steamer came alongside of the port schooner, and Christy, who hadput himself in position to do so as soon as he understood her intention,sprang lightly on board of her.
Captain Blowitt was on the quarter deck, and the commander of theexpedition hastened into his presence. Of course Christy could not helprealizing that he had been successful, however the circumstances hadaided him, and he felt sure of his welcome.
The commander of the Bronx was a man that weighed two hundred pounds,and his fat cheeks were immediately distended with laughter as soon ashe saw his executive officer hastening towards him. He almost doubledhimself up in his mirth as he looked into the young man's sober face,for Christy was struggling to appear as dignified as the importance ofthe occasion seemed to require of him. But the commander restrainedhimself as much as he could, and extended his hand to the firstlieutenant, which the young man accepted, and received a pressure thatwas almost enough to crush his feebler paw. In spite of himself, hecould not help laughing in sympathy with his superior.
"I am sorry you did not bring it all off with you, Mr. Passford," saidCaptain Blowitt, as soon as he was able to speak, for his risiblesseemed to have obtained complete control of him.
"I have brought it all off with me, captain," replied Christy, though hehad not yet got at the point of the joke, and spoke at a venture.
"What, the whole State of Florida!" exclaimed the commander.
"No, sir; I did not bring it all off with me, for I did not think itwould be quite safe to do this, for it might set the Gulf Stream torunning in a new course, and derange navigation by making all our chartsuseless," replied Christy, smoothing down the muscles of his face sothat he looked as sober as before.
"I thought from the appearance that you had brought it all off," addedCaptain Blowitt. "Did I instruct you to bring it off?"
"No, sir; you were considerate enough to say that you did not expect meto capture the whole State, and therefore I have not done it."
"But we heard heavy guns this morning," continued the commander, puttingon his sober face, for he could be as serious as a judge, though hisadipose structure compelled him to be a great joker at suitable times."You had no boat guns."
"No, sir; but we picked up four twelve-pounder field pieces, which yousee, two of them on carriages, on the forecastle of that steamer. Wefound the garrison asleep, and we carried off the four guns with whichthe battery was mounted. We put them on the Seahorse Key, and went intothe bay to see what was there, sir. We found two schooners, and on theway we took the steamer. When we were hauling out the two schooners, thegarrison woke up, and attempted to drive us off with musketry. We beatthem off and sunk two boats with the field pieces. This is my report inbrief."
"And a very good report it is, Mr. Passford. I did not expect you to doanything more than bring off full information in regard to the situationat the port," added Captain Blowitt.
"But you ordered me to do anything I could to prepare the way for avisit from the Bronx," suggested Christy.
"And you have prepared the way by bringing off everything at the port,so that there is nothing for the Bronx to do there," said the commanderwith a smile.
"When I found that the garrison were all asleep, I thought it wasmy duty not to lose the opportunity that was thus presented to me.Everything was in our favor, and I was led to do one thing after anothertill there was nothing more to do. I found that Captain Lonley, theworthy gentleman who had made prisoners of Mr. Flint and myself on SantaRosa Island, was in command of the steamer. He was not glad to see me;and from him I learned that the Havana, which is her name, belonged tomy uncle Homer; and so did the schooners."
"Then your uncle has a heavy charge against you, for you have now takenfour of his vessels."
"Possibly the Confederate government is behind him in this operation.I don't know; but I am sure that the loss of every dollar he has in theworld would not change his views in regard to the justice of his cause.But, Captain Blowitt, there are on board of the Havana a gentleman andhis daughter, who reside in Newburgh. He is an invalid and a loyalcitizen," continued Christy, as he happened to see Miss Pembroke on thequarter deck of the steamer.
"They wish to go home, I suppose, and there will soon be an opportunityfor them to do so," replied the captain, as he went with his lieutenantto take a look at the prizes.
He gave particular attention to the Havana, which it was said had beenbuilt to run between Cedar Keys and the port for which she had beennamed, in connection with the railroad. She appeared to be a good vesselof about four hundred tons, which was as large as the navigation of thechannel to the port would permit. She was not fit for war purposes inher present condition, and Captain Blowitt decided to send her to NewYork. Most of the hands on board of the three prizes were negroes, whowere too happy to go to the North.
"Sail, ho!" shouted the lookout on board of the Bronx, while thecommander was still discussing his plans with Christy.
"Where away?" demanded the captain.
"Coming down from the northwest," reported a quartermaster.
Captain Blowitt hastened on board of the Bronx, for it did not yetappear whether the vessel was a friend or an enemy. She was a steamer,and she left a thin streak of black smoke in the sky, which indicatedthat her coal came from British territory.
The Havana and the schooners were left in charge of Mr. Amblen, afterthe prisoners had been properly disposed of in safe places. Mr. Spinnet,the second assistant engineer, was sent on board of her, for thecommander had not full confidence in Dolly, though he permitted him toremain as assistant. The boats used by the expedition were hoisted up tothe davits, and the first and second lieutenants were ordered to returnto the Bronx, and only six seamen were left on board to guard theprisoners, of whom Lonley was the only dangerous one, at all likely tomake trouble.
The Bronx steamed off at her best speed in the direction of theapproaching steamer, which appeared to be fast, and to be of thatpeculiarly rakish class of vessels of which there were so many engagedin the business of blockade running. She was examined by the officerswith their glasses; but they were unable to make her out. Her ensign wasset on a stern pole; but they could not see whether it was the Americanor the Confederate flag.
"What do you make of her, Mr. Passford?" asked the captain, as theywatched her advance over the smooth sea.
"She is or has been a blockade runner, and that is all I can make out ofher," replied Christy.
"She may have run the blockade, fitted in Mobile or some other port as acruiser, and come out to do what mischief she can. We may have to fightfor our prizes, but the splinters will fly before she gets them awayfrom us," said Captain Blowitt, who watched the steamer with an anxiouslook on his face, resolute as he was in the discharge of his duty. "Sheis considerably larger than the Bronx."
"As I make her out, she looks something like the Ocklockonee and theEscambia, which we sent to New York, though they had but one smokestackeach while this one has two. They were about five hundred tons; and Ishould think this vessel was of very nearly the same size," addedChristy.
"Flies the American flag, sir," reported a quartermaster who had beensent into the main rigging to observe her.
"That may be a trick," said the captain, "though I hardly
think it is,for she is larger than the Bronx, and need not resort to tricks."
A little later, she began to hoist her signals on the foremast wherethey could be plainly seen. Mr. Flint made them out to the effect thatthe steamer had orders for the Bronx. This settled the question, andthere was no more anxiety in regard to her, and there was to be no seafight for the possession of the prizes.
In less than half an hour the two steamers were within hailing distanceof each other, and the stranger sent off a boat with an officer as soonas both vessels had stopped their screws and lost their headway. AsChristy watched the approaching boat, he recognized the chief engineerof the Bellevite in the stern sheets. It was Paul Vapoor, his oldfriend and crony, who waved his cap as soon as he discovered thefirst lieutenant. The boat came to the side, and Paul mounted theaccommodation ladder. He was a demonstrative young man, and he embracedChristy as though he had been a Frenchman, as soon as he reached thedeck. He touched his cap to Captain Blowitt, and then delivered severalhuge envelopes to him, and also a despatch bag.
"Bearer of despatches, sir," said the chief engineer of the Bellevite.
"I see you are, Mr. Vapoor. If you will make yourself at home on boardof the Bronx, I will read these papers in my cabin," said the captain,as he went below.
"I think Mr. Passford and I shall not waste any time while you areengaged, captain," replied Mr. Vapoor.
Certain personal and social matters had to be spoken of, and Paul hadto ask about Florry Passford first, and Christy's father and motherafterwards, though there was no news to tell.
"What are those vessels off there, Christy?" asked Paul, pointing to theHavana and the schooners.
"They are our prizes," replied the first lieutenant.
"Did you have to fight for them?"
"A little, not much. What steamer is that in which you came, Paul?"
"Our prize," replied Paul, with a smile as though he knew more than hewas permitted to tell. "We had an awful fight to get her; but we got herall the same. Poor Mr. Dashington was badly wounded, and he may not getover it."
"I am sorry to hear that. Where was the fight?" asked Christy.
"About a hundred miles off the entrance to Mobile Bay. We were sent tolook out for her on account of our speed. She came out, and seemed tothink she was going to have her own way. We overhauled her, and capturedher by boarding."
"Captain Blowitt wishes to see Lieutenant Passford and Mr. Vapoor in hiscabin," said Dave, coming up to them at this moment; and both of themhastened to obey the summons.
"Take seats, gentlemen," said the commander, as he pointed to chairsat the table at which he was seated. "I am ordered back to the Belleviteas first lieutenant, for poor Dashington has been seriously wounded.Mr. Passford is ordered to New York in the Vixen, which brings thesedespatches, for she must be condemned. Mr. Flint is ordered to thetemporary command of the Bronx, though I am unable to understand why itis made temporary. You are to convoy several vessels at Key West in theVixen, which is fully armed, and has a sufficient crew."
Christy was never more astonished in all his life.