by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XXIII
A VERY IMPUDENT DECLARATION
Christy looked at the stranger with astonishment, and he could notimagine who he could be. He had seen no such person on board of theBronx or on the deck of the flag-ship. When the prisoners from theMagnolia had been brought on board, Christy had been too much occupiedwith other matters to bestow any attention upon them with the exceptionof "the dignified gentleman in black," who proved to be his uncle. Hehad had no curiosity in regard to them, and Mr. Camden had disposed ofthem at the rail.
The commander thought it very strange that there should be a person onboard of the steamer, and especially in possession of his cabin, who wasan entire stranger to him. He looked at the intruder, who was a stoutlybuilt man of rather more than forty years of age, with his hair and fullbeard somewhat grizzled by age. He was dressed like a seaman in blueclothes, though he was evidently not a common sailor, but might havebeen the master or mate of a vessel.
"I am sorry to have kept you waiting for your supper, sir," repliedChristy, falling in with the humor of his involuntary guest. "But thatwas the fault of my steward, who ought to have informed me that I was tohave the pleasure of your company at supper."
"Don't blame him, Captain Passford, for it was not his fault that he didnot announce my presence to you. He wished to do so, but I assured him Iwas not disposed to disturb you, for you must be occupied with your ownaffairs, and I persuaded him not to go for you," added the person withperfect self-possession.
"You were very considerate," answered Christy, looking at the steward,who had stationed himself behind the unwelcome guest.
Dave looked as solemn as an owl, and his ivories seemed to be sealed upin his expansive mouth. He attempted to make a sign to the captain, butit was not understood. At that moment, the stranger raised his fingerand beckoned to the steward.
"What is your name, boy?" he asked.
"Dave, sir," replied he, evidently deeply impressed by the visitor forsome reason not yet apparent to the captain.
"I don't like to have a man stand behind me, and you will take yourplace in the rear of Captain Passford, who is more worthy of yourattention than I am;" and though Dave was a brave fellow, he obeyed theorder.
It was evident enough to Christy that there had been some kind of ascene in the cabin before he came below, for the steward had certainlybeen intimidated by the powerful visitor.
"This fish seems to be red snapper, captain, and it is very good. Willyou allow me to help you to some of it?" continued the stranger verypolitely.
"Thank you, sir; I will take some of it, if you please," repliedChristy, as he passed his plate across the table. "Of course, as youhave done me the honor to take a seat at my table, I must be acquaintedwith you."
"We have met before," replied the stranger. "Shall I help you to some ofthese fried potatoes? They are very good, and I can recommend them.
I have already learned that you have an excellent cook on board. Ishould judge from these potatoes that he was brought up in New Orleans."
"It may be he was; I don't know about that. You say that we have metbefore, but to save my life, I cannot recall the time, and I am sorry toadd that I do not identify your face as that of any person I ever sawbefore. I have the pleasure of introducing myself to you as LieutenantChristopher Passford, commanding the United States steamer Bronx."
"Thank you, Captain Passford, and I cannot well help being less politeand less frank than you are; and I shall take the liberty of introducingmyself to your acquaintance and good offices as Captain Boyd Flanger,lately in command of the steamer Floridian, entirely at your service."
"Indeed!" exclaimed Christy, not a little startled at the informationthus communicated, for it was plain enough that the intruder meantmischief in spite of his good manners. "I was under the impression thatyou had taken up your abode on board of the flag-ship with others whowere captured in the Magnolia."
"That is very true; I went on board of the flag-ship, but I am somewhatfastidious in my notions, and I concluded not to remain there," repliedCaptain Flanger. "Without any intention of flattering you, CaptainPassford, candor compels me to say that I prefer your company to that ofthe commodore. Can I help you to anything more on my side of the table?"
"Thank you; I will have one of those lamb's tongues," replied Christy.
"They are very nice; I have just tried one of them," added CaptainFlanger, as he passed the plate over to the commander.
"You do not use your left hand, captain; I hope you were not wounded inthe affair this morning off St. Andrew's Bay."
"No, sir; I was not wounded. Your men did not fire into our party, as wedid into your boat. The fact is, Captain Passford, I have an ornament onmy left wrist which I am a little timid about displaying before people,though I do not object to showing it to you," replied the guest, as heheld up his left hand, and from the wrist a pair of handcuffs hung down,for he had succeeded in removing it only from his right hand.
"Such an ornament must be a nuisance to you, Captain Flanger, and Ithink we will have it removed. Dave, go and ask the second lieutenant toreport to me with his keys and a file," said Christy.
"I beg your pardon, Captain Passford, for countermanding your order; butDave will do nothing of the sort," interposed the intruder, as blandlyas before. "Dave knows better than to obey such an order."
Dave did know better than to obey the order, and Christy was morallycertain that he had been menaced with a pistol, or threatened in somemanner if he attempted to leave the cabin. He acted as though he feltconfident that a bullet would be sent through his head if he disobeyedthe bold visitor. At the same time there was a certain amount of energyand earnestness visible in the expression of the steward, which assuredChristy that he was ready to take part in any action that was reasonablyprudent and hopeful.
Captain Flanger had been handcuffed and made fast to the rail of thevessel with the other prisoners, and with them he had been transferredto the flag-ship. It was probably in this removal that he had found themeans of securing his liberty, and had made his way on board in somemanner not at all apparent to the commander of the Bronx, who had beenin conference with the commodore when the change was made.
Whether the escaped prisoner had gone to the captain's cabin for aspecial purpose, or had simply followed the most convenient way that wasopened to him in his flight, it was plain enough to Christy that, at thepresent time, he had an object before him. He had practically takenpossession of the cabin, and had already overawed the steward. Thecommander could not see his way to do anything to improve the situation.He had no weapon about him but his sword, and he was satisfied that theintruder was provided with one or more revolvers, as indicated by theappearance of the side pockets of his blue coat.
Whatever had been said about the imprudence and even recklessness ofthe young lieutenant, he was really a prudent and even cautious officer.He realized that any movement on his part would draw the fire of theinsolent intruder, and he saw that strategy was far preferable toopen violence, since the latter was likely to end only in killing ordisabling him. If he could visit his stateroom and obtain his pair ofnavy revolvers, or even the smaller ones in one of the drawers of hisdesk, it would improve the chances in his favor. It was evident that hewould not be permitted to do this, and he did not attempt it.
"Dave is a wise man," said the commander, after he had given a fewmoments to the consideration of the situation.
"Dave is a sensible man, and I trust I shall find you his equal in thatrespect, Captain Passford," replied the intruder, still seated in hischair at the supper-table.
"I claim to be reasonably sensible," answered Christy. "As you have doneme the honor to visit me in my cabin, Captain Flanger, it is reasonableto suppose you have some object in view, for I do not regard it as amerely friendly call."
Though the young officer was prudent and discreet, he did not lose hisself-possession, and he smiled as though he had been simply the host inthe dining-room of the mansion at Bonnydale. Th
ere was a certain humorabout the intruder which would have pleased him under othercircumstances.
"Quite right, captain!" exclaimed the visitor. "I have an object inview, and both my inclination and my duty are urging me to carry itout. How your boat happened to capture the Magnolia is beyond mycomprehension up to the present moment, though I think the principalreason was the lack of a sufficiently osseous vertebra on the part ofyour worthy uncle, Colonel Passford. Then the officer in charge of thecutter did not do what I expected him to do. Instead of falling backwhen he and one of his crew were wounded, as he ought to have done, andusing the heavy revolvers with which his men were armed, he did notdelay a moment, but smashed into the sloop, and jerked his men on boardof her, cutlass in one hand and revolver in the other; and that broughtme to the end of my rope. I could not do anything more."
"I am sorry that you are dissatisfied with my third lieutenant's modeof operations," replied Christy, laughing, though his mirth was of thegraveyard order. "But Mr. Pennant is a new officer, and that was thefirst active duty he had been called upon to perform. Very likely hewill suit you better next time."
Christy yawned, or pretended to do so, and in the act he rose from thetable. Captain Flanger was silent as he did so, and watched the captainwith the eye of a lynx, as the latter placed himself behind the chair hehad occupied. He was in position to make a movement of some kind, andthe intruder deliberately drew from his right-hand coat pocket a heavyrevolver. Holding this in his hand, he drew another from the left-handpocket, and threw it on the table.
"I don't wish to be rude with a gentleman as polite as yourself, CaptainPassford; but you interrupted my remarks by rising from your chair,"said Captain Flanger, with the revolver still poised in his hand, whilehe dropped the other with the handcuff upon it at his side.
"Excuse me for interrupting you, Captain Flanger; but I have eaten ahearty supper, encouraged by your friendly presence, and I was sleepy,for my rest was broken last night, and I wanted simply to stretchmyself," replied Christy, yawning and stretching himself again.
"All right, captain; it is not necessary for me to say a single word,"added the intruder, as he made a slight demonstration with the weaponin his right hand, which was not lost upon the commander. "With yourpermission, I will proceed with my remarks."
"Certainly, captain; go on."
"My first misfortune was in being made a prisoner. My second and mostannoying mishap was the capture of the Floridian," continued CaptainFlanger. "It was my intention to fit her out as a privateer, with theproceeds of the sale of her cargo of cotton, for she is a good vessel,and as fast as the Bronx, as you call her."
"Then I was very fortunate in capturing her," added Christy with asmile.
"Perhaps not, for I intend to replace her with the Bronx."
The commander was amazed at the impudence of the intruder.