Stand By The Union
Page 13
CHAPTER XI
LAYING OUT A PLAN OF OPERATIONS
Christy had deposited his valise in a place where it was not likely tobe seen unless a search was made for it. There was no one in the wardroom to obstruct his advance to the captain's cabin. He had served asacting-commander of the vessel in a voyage from New York to the Gulf,and been the executive officer on board for a short term, and he wasperfectly at home in every part of her. In the conspiracy on his lastvoyage in the Bronx, Pink Mulgrum had concealed himself under theberth in the captain's stateroom, where Dave, the cabin steward, haddiscovered him, though he might have remained there a month if hishiding-place had not been suspected.
Christy thought this would be an excellent retreat for him, not onlybecause it promised him the greatest security, but because it wouldpermit him to hear what passed between the pretended commander andothers, especially Mr. Galvinne. He had been reasonably confident ofreturning to the gunboat when he went to the North as prize master,though not as her commander, and he had left his trunk on board.
It was a humiliating posture for the actual commander of the vessel, buthe promptly got down upon the floor of the stateroom, and crawled underthe berth. He placed the trunk and some other articles there so as toform a sort of breast-work, behind which he carefully bestowed himself.It was not an uncomfortable position, for the floor was carpeted and anold satchel filled with his cast-off garments furnished him a pillowsufficiently soft for a person on extraordinary duty.
The cabin was to be occupied by Corny, though his cousin had no doubtthat Mr. Galvinne was the real leader in the adventure of capturing thesteamer. Both of them would be obliged to keep up appearances for thepresent. Christy's first thought after he had settled himself in hisnew quarters related to the cabin steward, who had served him veryfaithfully, and whom he had brought off in the Teaser, the former nameof the Bronx. He had no doubt he was still on board, and probably actingin his former capacity, for Mr. Flint knew that he was attached to theman for the service he had rendered, not only to him but to his country.He was absolutely sure that Dave could be trusted under any and allcircumstances, and the first thing he did would be to make a connectionwith him.
Christy became rather impatient because the Bronx did not get underway; but he concluded from such sounds as came to his ears that shewas taking in shot, shells, and powder, as well as stores and supplies.At any rate, neither Corny nor his first lieutenant came into the cabin,so far as he could ascertain. But he had not been in his hiding-placean hour before he heard a noise in the adjoining apartment. It was notthe commander, for the noise was an occasional rapping; it was not anunfamiliar sound to him, for he had often heard it before when he lay inhis berth. Dave was a remarkably neat person, and he was always dustingthe cabin and stateroom when he had nothing else to do. He was sure thatthe rapping was caused by the steward's feather duster.
In a few minutes, when he had made the cabin tidy for the reception of"Massa Cap'n Passford," he transferred his labors to the stateroom. Heworked in the berth and all its surroundings, including the desk, whichstill contained the real commander's papers, and then gave his attentionto the trunk beneath.
"Dave," said Christy, after he had obtained a view of the back of thesteward's head which satisfied him that he was the right man.
"Mullygumps!" exclaimed Dave, as he suspended his labors on the trunk.
No doubt he was greatly surprised to hear his name, pronounced as thoughit came up through the deck, as he had abundant reason to be.
"Dave," repeated Christy, in a more decided tone after he had heard thevoice of the steward.
"Is that you, Pink Mulgrum?" demanded Dave. "I give you the whole Stateof Alabama, but I thought we done rid of you long ago. Who's there?"
"Don't you know me, Dave?" asked Christy, speaking out plainly so thatthe steward might recognize his voice.
"Maggywogs! That sounds like Massa Christy's voice; but I done seen himon deck five or ten minutes ago."
"No, you didn't, Dave; that was Corny," replied Christy.
"Gollywops! But he was in command of the Bronx, for I done seen Mr.Flint hand it over to him. Go 'way! You can't fool this colored person."
"I tell you the truth, Dave; but things are mixed," added Christy.
"I believe you; they be mixed if you be the captain when I done seen himon deck just now."
"Sit down on the floor, Dave, and I will tell you all about it,"continued Christy, though the difficulty of convincing the steward wasnot unexpected.
"Let me see your face before you told me anything," persisted Dave, ashe pulled out one end of the trunk, and dropped upon his knees where hecould see under the berth.
Christy crawled to the front of the berth, and thrust his head out intothe stateroom in as natural a position as he could place it.
"Wollywogs! You look like Massa Christy, for sure," exclaimed Dave, ashe gave himself up to a study of the face presented to him. "But thecaptain looks like Massa Christy too."
"You have never seen my cousin Corny, I believe, Dave; but he looks likeme. Now sit down, and I will tell you all about it."
"I never saw Massa Corny; but I done hear enough about him when I was atBonnydale. Show me your knife and your watch, Massa Christy."
He complied with the request, as he saw that it was a very simple meansof identification, for the steward had some skill as a mechanic, andhe had frequently sharpened the knife, and knew the repeater of thelieutenant from having seen it so often, for it was a very peculiarwatch. Dave's last doubt vanished when these articles were produced.
"But the other Massa Passford looks just like you," added Dave.
"If you saw us together you would not mistake him for me," repliedChristy, as he proceeded to explain the situation to the steward, uponwhom he depended for very important assistance.
He related the incidents which had occurred at Bonnydale, the loss ofhis commission and orders, and the decision of Captain Battleton againsthim, concluding with the statement that he was then a prisoner of war,but had made his escape from the place where he had been required toremain.
"A prisoner of war!" exclaimed the steward. "The commander of the ship aprisoner!"
"That is exactly the situation, Dave. Can you tell me what they aredoing on deck?" asked Christy, who began to feel more hopeful of thefuture.
"The Bronx is taking in provisions, stores, and ammunition. They say thecaptain has his orders, but I don't know about that."
"Can you tell me what position Mr. Flint has on board?"
"He's just what he was before, when you was on board; he is the secondlieutenant, and we have a new man for first, I believe they call himGallivan," replied Dave, who was intelligent enough to comprehend whathe saw on deck.
"His name is Galvinne, and he was second lieutenant of the Vernon; buthe is a Confederate. I think he is to be the real commander of the Bronxif they succeed in getting her into Pensacola," added Christy.
"Into Pensacola!" exclaimed the steward, aghast at the remark.
"Of course my cousin Corny intends to hand the vessel over to theConfederate government."
"Gollywompus! My old master will get me back then!" groaned Dave, whohad been very happy in his new service and at Bonnydale where he hadspent considerable of his time while Christy was waiting for the fittingout of the Bronx. "I think I had better get on board of the flag-shipright off."
"Don't do it, Dave, for I hope to save the vessel to the Union, and youcan render me the most important service in this matter," added Christy.
"Then I stay for sure; I don't go back on you, Massa Christy," protestedthe steward warmly.
"Thank you, Dave."
"There ain't no hole in this millstone for me," continued Dave, suddenlybecoming very thoughtful. "I don't see how Massa Corny can run away withthe steamer when she has her officers and crew on board."
"I have just told you that the first lieutenant is a Confederateofficer; and I have not yet learned who is the third lieutenant. Amongthe
crew I know there are at least four men, and there may be twenty ofthem, who are to take part in this plot. The loyal men will not belikely to interfere with the officers unless they have a leader. Thefact that the Bronx is headed into a Confederate port would not create arebellion on board unless they were informed of the actual situation. Bythe time the Union men found out the plot, it would be too late for themto do anything, for the vessel would be under the guns of the forts."
"But what are we going to do, Massa Christy?" asked the steward, dazzledby the situation.
"We must recapture the vessel before she gets into port; and what I wantmost now is to see Mr. Flint. You must fix the matter in some way, Dave,so that I can see him. Now go on deck, and ascertain what is going onthere. If you get a chance, speak to Mr. Flint; but be extremelycareful."
"You can trust Dave, Massa Christy," replied the steward, as the officerdrew back into his hiding-place.
Dave arranged the trunk and other articles to the best advantage for theconcealment of the lieutenant, and then left the stateroom. Christy, assoon as he had become acquainted with the situation, had arranged hisplan of action, and the new officers of the Bronx were likely toencounter a mutiny, either to inaugurate or end their sway. In less thanhalf an hour, the steward returned to the stateroom with the informationthat he had spoken to the second lieutenant, and informed him that thereal commander of the Bronx was concealed under the berth in thecaptain's stateroom.
"Mr. Flint has not had his breakfast yet, and he will come below for itvery soon," added Dave. "He was just coming down for it when he got thesignal to come alongside the flag-ship."
"Did Mr. Flint say anything?" asked Christy.
"Not a word, sir; only said he would be down to his breakfast in a fewminutes."
The lieutenant took out his memorandum book, and looked at the names ofthe men he had spotted as disloyal, Rockton and Warton, to which he hadadded two others, Nichols and Swayne, after he had observed that theywere very intimate with the two whose names he had learned from theirown mouths.
Dave Identifies Christy.--Page 130.]
"Now, Dave, I have another commission for you to execute," continuedChristy, as he tore out the leaf on which he had written the names. "Notless than twenty-five of the crew of the Bronx came from New York in theVernon. One of them is Ralph Pennant, and he is an intelligent man, andone that can be trusted. You will see him. Tell him the commander is animpostor. Do you know what an impostor is, Dave?"
"I reckon I do, sir; your cousin Corny is an impostor," replied thesteward promptly.
"You will find this man, and give him this paper. The names on it arethose of disloyal men. Tell him to look out for them, and find out asfar as he can who are true to the Union."
Christy had hardly finished his instructions to the steward before heheard footsteps in the cabin. Dave looked into the apartment anddiscovered Mr. Flint, who went into the stateroom at once.