by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER X
A CHANGE OF QUARTERS IN THE CONFUSION
Christy obeyed the order of Captain Battleton when he was directed toreport below; but he felt that he was permitting the plot of his cousinto be carried out without any opposition, and without any attempt tocheck its progress. But he was a prisoner, and he realized that he coulddo nothing. His case had been tried, and he had been condemned to hispresent condition. It was useless to appeal to the captain, for he hadalready passed upon all the facts that had been presented before him.
Seated on the side of his berth he considered the situation veryfaithfully. The Bronx lay off St. Rosa's Island; she was on theblockade, evidently ready to trip her anchor, whenever occasion shouldrequire. In regard to her officers Christy only knew that Mr. Flint wasin temporary command of her, in place of Mr. Blowitt, who had become theexecutive officer of the Bellevite. The other officers must have beenappointed for temporary service.
As Christy viewed the matter, there appeared to be no obstacle to thesuccess of Corny's scheme for the capture of the Bronx, unless it wasMr. Flint, who might or might not discover that the new commander was animpostor. If his old associate saw the two cousins together, he wouldhave no difficulty in determining which was his former commander; seeingCorny alone he might be deceived. With the flag-officer, who had seenChristy but once or twice, he was not likely to suspect that Corny wasan impostor.
The Bronx had but one officer on board who had been permanentlyappointed to her, and at least two others must be selected to serveon board of her. It would be an easy matter for Corny to procure theappointment of Mr. Galvinne, who was doubtless competent to handle thevessel as the impostor certainly was not.
When he realized that the scheme of his cousin, or whoever had devisedit, was in a fair way to accomplish its object, Christy felt that hemust do something. Though he was a prisoner and in disgrace, he did notfeel that he was absolved from the duty of attempting to save the Bronxto the Union. He had refused to accept a parole, or anything of thatkind, and his honor as an officer did not require him to submit to thediscipline of his situation. He was a prisoner; but the responsibilityof retaining him as such belonged to the captain of the Vernon for thepresent.
His reflections relieved him of all scruples in regard to any action hemight resolve to take. He was held in confinement as a Confederate. Whenhe had been taken by the enemy and locked up as a Union prisoner, he hadconsidered his duty, independently of his desire to be free, and he hadeffected his escape with Flint. In the present instance his confinementwas not irksome, but he felt more keenly than before that he ought to dosomething to save the little gunboat; and he could do nothing withoutfirst getting into a position where he could act.
Between the decks of the Vernon, he could do nothing; he could not evensee what was going on, though he had no doubt the captain was in the actof reporting to the flag-officer. Probably Corny would go off in thefirst boat to report for duty, and receive his orders. The seamenwho were simply passengers on board of the steamer, were below inconsiderable numbers, gathering up their bags, and preparing for thetransfer to the flag-ship, or to the Bronx, for there were no othervessels near to receive them.
Christy felt very much like a caged tiger. He had hoped that theBellevite would be on the station when he arrived, for there were plentyof officers and seamen on board of her who could identify him beyond thepossibility of a doubt. In that case he intended to make a strong appealto Captain Battleton, for he would then have the means of arriving at acorrect conclusion. Then he could explain in what manner he had beenrobbed of his papers with some chance of having his statement accepted.
The prisoner walked up and down the lower deck, doing his best toconceal the agitation which had taken possession of him. No one took anynotice of him, for the seamen had become accustomed to the presence ofthe captive officer. While he was struggling to contain his emotions, heheard the rattle of the cable again, and saw the chain descending to thelocker below.
"What does that mean, my man?" asked Christy of one of the men near him."They appear to be weighing the anchor."
"That is what they are doing," replied the man indifferently.
"What is that for?"
"The flag officer has not told me yet what he is about, and I am notgood at guessing, though I am a Yankee," replied the man chuckling,as though he believed he had said something funny.
"The flag-officer has signalled for the Vernon to come alongside,"interposed another seaman who had heard the question.
"Thank you, my man," replied Christy, beginning at once to consider howthis change would affect him.
"The Bronx is getting under way also," said the civil tar, who evidentlyhad some sympathy for the prisoner. "Probably she is also orderedalongside. Twenty-five of us have been detailed to serve on board ofher, and I am one of them."
"Then I may see you again, my friend. Thank you for your information,and will you give me your name?" added Christy.
"My name is Ralph Pennant; I have a sea-going name, and I supposethat is the reason why I went to sea," replied the seaman, with agood-natured laugh. "I have been the mate of a steamer, but I could notget any better position than that of able seaman, and I wanted to be inthis stir-up."
"I have no doubt you will work your way up in good time," added Christy,who saw that Pennant was an intelligent and reliable man, though it waspossible from the appearance of his face that he had been in the habitof imbibing too much whiskey for his own good.
In a short time the Vernon was alongside the flag-ship. Christy had puthis uniform coat in his valise, and still wore the frock he had takenfrom it. He had removed his linen collar, and put on a woollen shirt anda seaman's cap, for he did not care to be taken for an officer among thecrew. He carried his valise to the vicinity of the forehatch, and lookedup through the opening to ascertain what he could of the movements onboard.
"There comes the Bronx," said a seaman standing at the head of theladder.
"Ay, ay; and she is coming alongside the Vernon," added another.
The store-ship had been made fast to the flag-ship, and at this momentcame a call for all hands to go aft. Christy could not endure thesuspense any longer, and taking his valise in his hand he went on deck,just as the Bronx came alongside. Mr. Flint was on duty with a coupleof young officers, and gave the orders to make her fast to the Vernon.Captain Battleton was going up the side of the flag-ship, followed byCorny.
Christy put his valise in a convenient place, and then concealed himselfin the firemen's quarters under the top-gallant forecastle. He found aplace beneath a bunk which would effectually conceal him unless a verythorough search should be made for him. But he only kept this place as aresort in case of emergency, for he placed himself where he could seeout at the door; and it was a good location to overlook all that tookplace on the quarter-deck where the officers were, and the waist wherethe men had been assembled.
The second lieutenant was calling over a list of names, which Christyconcluded was the draft of seamen for the Bronx. Possibly CaptainPassford had used some influence in this selection, for all the otherhands were to be put on board of the flag-ship to be assigned to suchvessels as needed to be reinforced by the officers of the staff.
As the names were called the men passed over to the starboard side, withtheir bags in their hands, for there was evidently to be no delay inmaking the transfer. But it was a full hour before Captain Battletonand Corny returned from the flag-ship. The prisoner on the forecastlethought his cousin looked very complacent, and his return indicatedthat his plot had not miscarried, and that the flag-officer had notchallenged the identity of the future commander of the Bronx.
Corny's first movement on board of the Vernon was to take the hand ofMr. Galvinne, whom he appeared to be congratulating on a promotion orappointment. The second lieutenant promptly handed his lists to thethird lieutenant, Mr. Winter, who proceeded with the calling of thenames. Corny and Mr. Galvinne immediately went below, and Christyconcluded that the of
ficer he had spotted as the traitor had beenappointed to the little gunboat, either as first or second lieutenant,and that they were making their preparations to go on board of her. In afew minutes they appeared with the steward of the ward room carryingtheir baggage.
Corny politely saluted Mr. Flint, the acting commander of the gunboat.Mr. Galvinne was introduced, and there was plenty of bowing and formalpoliteness. Corny presented his commission and orders for the inspectionof the officer in command, and for the present the formalities werecompleted. Corny was evidently in command of the Bronx; but Christycould not determine the position of Mr. Flint, and he watched hismovements with intense interest for some time.
The late acting-commander did not leave the deck, as he would have beenlikely to do if he had been relieved and ordered to report on board ofthe flag-ship, though he might have been superseded as executiveofficer,--a position which he was clearly entitled to hold. A littlelater, the draft of seamen were ordered to file on board of the Bronx.Then the observer saw Mr. Galvinne, with a rather pompous gesture pointto the men who were coming on board, and say something he could not hearto Mr. Flint. He had evidently directed him to receive the seamen asthey came on deck. This indicated that the late second lieutenant of theVernon had been appointed executive officer of the Bronx.
Christy felt that the time for action had come. Taking his valise in hishand he joined the file of men, and cleverly inserting himself betweena couple of them, he went on the deck of the Bronx without beingchallenged as to his right to do so. Doubtless Captain Battleton hadreported that he had a prisoner on board, though he had not had time totell the whole story of the investigation, which had probably beenpostponed to a more convenient time. Mr. Flint went forward to receivethe seamen as they came on deck, and he ordered them to pipe below andleave their bags there.
"Where is your bag?" asked Mr. Flint, as Christy, the actual commanderof the Bronx, passed him. "What are you doing with a valise?"
"I have no bag, sir," replied Christy in submissive tones.
"Find a bag, for we shall throw that valise overboard," added Mr. Flint.
"I don't think you will, sir, after the circumstances have beenexplained."
Suddenly the officer started back, and began to look very sharply at thepresumed sailor. But the file pressed behind him, and Christy was tooglad to move with it to delay a moment longer. He went below to thefamiliar quarters of the crew, and saw many of his old seamen still onboard, though many of them had been taken to reinforce other vessels.
Christy deposited his valise in a secure place near the door leadinginto the steerage. All hands were on deck attending to the transfer ofseamen, even to the stewards. The way was clear, and the late prisonerpromptly decided what to do. He thought the captain's cabin was theproper place for him, and he went there.