CHAPTER XIII.
UNION OR CONFEDERATE--WHICH?
For the first time since sailor Jack came home he was the bearer of goodnews, and you may be sure that his mother was glad to listen to it. Hedeclared that he took no stock whatever in the thousand and oneconflicting reports that had come to him through the papers, and sosuspicious had he become that the only thing that led him to believe therebels had been worsted in the fight at Hatteras, was because they werewilling to confess it themselves. Of course it would not be safe for himto try to carry out his resolve to enlist in the Union navy until heknew just how the land lay; and the only way in which he could find outwould be to go to Newbern and make personal observations. If his motherdid not object he would start the very next morning and take Marcy withhim. This proposition startled Mrs. Gray, for she had looked uponanother separation from Jack as something that was far in the future,and would not allow herself to think about it if she could help it. Shesaid nothing discouraging, however, and Jack's programme was dulycarried out.
The trip to Newbern was the most exciting and altogether disagreeableone that Marcy had ever taken on the cars. The train was crowded withsoldiers, and among them were some boisterous and inquisitive ones whoseemed to think it their duty to question every civilian who came onboard. And they did not do it in the most gentlemanly manner, either.Before the train had left Boydtown a mile behind, a young man, dressedin a neat, clean uniform that had never seen a minute's service at thefront, stopped in the aisle and laid his hand heavily on Jack'sshoulder.
"Look here, my lad," said he, in a tone that was as offensive as hismanner, "you are strong and able-bodied, are you not?"
"You'll think so if you don't take your hand off my collar mightysudden," replied Jack, jumping from his seat.
"Hallo!" exclaimed the young man, starting back in some alarm when hesaw the sailor's broad shoulders rising to a level with his own. "Iwouldn't throw on any airs," he added, glancing around at his uniformedcompanions, who straightway became interested in the proceedings.
"I won't, and I don't mean to let you do so, either--not with me,"replied Jack. "You seem to feel very important because you happen tohave some good clothes on, but you haven't been under fire yet."
"Neither have you," answered the Confederate.
"That's all you know about it. Now go off and let me alone, or I'llpitch you through the window."
The young man fell back to call up re-enforcements, and Jack took hisseat again.
"It's all right," said he, when he noticed the troubled expression onhis brother's face. "Because he wears a uniform himself, he thinks hehad a right to know why I haven't one also; but it is none of hisbusiness. Besides, it is nothing more than you did to Allison in thepost-office at Nashville."
"But I was among friends when I backed Allison down, and these men areall strangers to us," replied Marcy.
"No matter for that. I judge by their looks that they are mostlyAmericans, and if they are they will see fair play. There will be awhite man along to question us presently."
And sure enough there was. The defeated rebel drew back a little way tohold a council of war with some of his friends, and in a few minutes oneof these friends, whose uniform was by no means as clean and neat as theothers', arose from his seat and came down the aisle.
"Beg pardon, sir," said he respectfully. "I wish to offer a word ofexcuse for my impulsive young companion's conduct. He is a warmpatriot----"
"So I see," said Jack, with a smile. "A good many get that way theminute they put on a gray suit; but my brother and I, who have alreadyrisked our lives and liberty, do not feel called upon to give an accountof ourselves to every raw recruit who may demand it. If he had asked mea civil question I would have given him a civil answer."
"Of course; certainly. But I know you will overlook it this time. Butare you two really in the service?"
"My brother has been on a privateer and now he belongs to ablockade-runner," answered Jack. "You see he's got a bad arm, don't you?The Yankees gave him that."
"Well, well!" exclaimed the man, who did not know what else to say. "Heought to have a uniform on."
"His crew don't have any," replied Jack. "And if you want to know what Ihave done--by the way, are you going to Newbern?"
The soldier said he was.
"Well, when you get there go to Parker & Wall's and ask them whether ornot the supplies the _West Wind_ brought down from Boston are going tobe of any use to the Confederacy. I was second mate and pilot of thatcraft, and might have been on board of her yet if I had been inclined tostay; but if there is going to be a war I want a hand in it. I am goingto Newbern to see if there is any chance for me to get into the navy."
Of course, after such a talk as this it was impossible for the brothersto keep to themselves as they would like to have done. The inquisitiverebel apologized to Jack and introduced his friends; and from that timeforward there was a crowd of soldiers hanging about his seat all thewhile. Some of them had seen service and some hadn't; and the latterwere particularly anxious to know how Marcy felt when that shrapnel cameover the _Hattie's_ bow and knocked him and Captain Beardsley down, andwhether or not he was frightened and afraid he was going to be killed.
"The whole thing was done so quickly, and I was so excited, that Ididn't have time to ask myself whether I was frightened or not," wasMarcy's invariable reply; and it seemed to satisfy his questioners.
To Jack Gray's disappointment there was not a soldier in the car whocould tell him anything definite regarding the situation at HatterasInlet; but some of them interested themselves in the matter, and finallydiscovered a citizen who knew all about it, but who, upon beingquestioned, proved to be almost as ignorant as the rest. The few thingshe _did_ know, however, were very encouraging to Jack. The capturedforts had not been destroyed, he said, and that seemed to indicate thatthe Yankees intended to place garrisons there. The vessels of theattacking fleet had not been sunk or scattered, and neither was there asailor killed during the whole of the fight. The war vessels were stillhanging around the Inlet, ready to go up or down the Sound, according tothe orders they might receive from Washington, and the rebel garrison atFort Ocracoke, which was located on the seaward face of Beacon Island afew miles below, as well as the troops who occupied the camp on theopposite side of the island, were trembling in their boots, and holdingthemselves ready to run at a moment's notice. He didn't know the firstthing about naval matters, he said in conclusion. There might be agunboat or two building in the river above Newbern, but he didn't thinkthere was, and the only thing left for Jack was to ship on someblockade-runner. They still had the free use of Ocracoke and OregonInlets.
"I thank you for the information you have given me," said Jack. "Ideclare it is refreshing to find a man who can tell the truth. Thefalsehoods I have read and listened to during the last few days areenough to disgust anybody. The possession of Hatteras Inlet is importantto the Federal government, and you'll find it out."
"We have found it out already," answered the citizen. "The Yankee shipsare hauling in the prizes as fishermen haul in their catch with a dragnet. You see, the blockade-runners that are bound in don't know that theInlet has been captured, and neither do they find it out until they runslap into the arms of the cruisers, who are always on the watch forthem. They had hardly ceased firing upon the forts before they capturedfive schooners."
"All in one day?" exclaimed Marcy.
"All in one day," repeated the citizen.
"Good enough," said Marcy, to himself. "I hope the _Hattie_ was one ofthem." Then aloud he said: "Do you know the names of those schooners?The reason I ask is because my captain has had plenty of time to loadup, run down to Nassau, and get back again. His name is Beardsley, andhe commands the _Hattie_."
"Oh, yes. I heard about him, and when he gets back you will see anaccount of his daring exploit in the papers. That man has pluck, I tellyou."
"What did he do, and why will the papers w
ait until he returns beforesaying anything about it?" inquired Marcy.
"He had taken his cargo of cotton on board, and was all ready to sailwhen word was received that the Yankee ships had appeared off Hatteras,"answered the citizen. "No one supposed that he would think of going out,but he did; and the first thing we heard of him was that he had gotsafely off."
"He didn't run out of Hatteras, of course?"
"Certainly not. He stole a march on the Yankees and went down toOcracoke."
"Then I can't see what he did that was so daring," said Marcy, tohimself. "The greatest coward in the world, if he can handle a vessel atall, ought to be able to run her out of a wide inlet when there isnothing to oppose him."
"And the reason our papers didn't speak of it is because we don't wantthe Yankees to be on the watch for him when he comes back," continuedthe citizen. "We can tell by the way they have acted since they capturedthe forts, that they know what is going on in the city as well as we do.They must get the papers regularly; and if we ever find out who is toblame for it, I wouldn't give much for his neck."
"Now that's what _I_ call pluck," thought Marcy. "Captain Beardsleydidn't show a particle when he ran out to sea under the guns of FortOcracoke, for there was nothing for him to be afraid of, all theblockaders, if there were any, having gone to Hatteras to help thefleet. But when a Union man, in such a nest of rebels as Newbern is,risks his life by sending information to the defenders of the old flag,he's got nerve. But I am sorry to hear that about Beardsley. He'll keepon running the blockade until he is captured, and what if I shouldchance to be aboard the schooner when that happens?"
Having given them all the information he could, the citizen went back tohis own seat, and the boys were at last left to themselves. They hadn'tlearned much, and they did not learn any more when they reached Newbern.The fortifications below the city were being rapidly pushed tocompletion (negroes and poor whites did the work, the officers findinglife in town much more to their liking than digging in the trenches),and there had been some talk of building gunboats to assist in thedefence of the place; but so far nothing had been done about it. But,after all, there was no need of gunboats, for the thirty-one pieces ofheavy artillery that had been planted on the works below, would send theYankee fleet to the bottom in short order, should its commanding officerbe so foolhardy as to bring it into the Neuse River. There was nothingto keep the boys in the city, for the _West Wind_, which Marcy wantedmuch to see, had already sailed for Nassau with a cargo of cotton; andafter spending two days in making inquiries that did not bring them theinformation they desired, they took the cars for home. Old Morris, whomthey found waiting for them at Boydtown depot, was both surprised anddisappointed because they did not ride on the box with him, as theyusually did; but as the boys wanted to be alone, they went inside.
"You haven't done much talking since we started," said Marcy, whenMorris cracked his whip and drove away from the depot. "What's thematter?"
"I have been laying my plans," replied Jack. "But with all my thinking Ihaven't been able to decide upon anything further than this: As soon asit comes dark, we'll begin and load the _Fairy Belle_ with provisionsand such other things as we may be likely to stand in need of, andto-morrow morning we'll slip down and out."
"To-morrow night, you mean," suggested Marcy.
"No, to-morrow morning; just as soon as we have had breakfast. I amimpatient to be off; and besides I really cannot afford to waste anymore time. We must go at once or run the risk of missing the Federalfleet. It may be ordered somewhere else."
"But every one along the river will see us," protested Marcy.
"Who cares if they do? In fact I should care if they did not see us.We'll hoist my Confederate flag at the peak as----"
"Why, Jack. And sail under a lie?"
"Now just listen at you" exclaimed Jack, shaking his finger at hisbrother. "Captain Semmes didn't sail under a lie, I suppose, when he ranup the English colors to quiet the fears of the _Herndon's_ commander,and neither did you when you hoisted the same flag to coax my vesselwithin reach of your guns."
"Do you imagine that I would have done such a thing if I had been in aposition to refuse?" retorted Marcy, with some spirit. "I couldn't helpmyself."
"I know it; and can't you see that hoisting the rebel rag will help bothof us? I can, and I only wish Nashville was situated on the river sothat Allison and Shelby and the rest of those blatant traitors could seeus as we go by. It will save you from a heap of questioning, and may bethe means of keeping a roof over mother's head."
"But what will the Union men in the settlement think and do about it?"
"Not the first thing. There are but few of them, and they dare not saytheir souls are their own. They know they are watched as well as motherknows that she is watched, and there isn't one among them who dares lifthis hand or say a word. For their own sakes, I hope they will not doanything to you and mother because they think we are rebels, for if theydo, their houses will go up in smoke."
"But, Jack," persisted Marcy, "I wouldn't dare go alongside a Uniongunboat with that flag on board my schooner."
"When the time comes, we will pull it down and hoist one of your Unionflags in its place," was the answer.
"But suppose we should be seen by some one on shore who happened to havea strong spy-glass in his hand? Wouldn't I find myself in a fix when Igot back?"
"It is no part of my programme to hug the shores so closely that ourflag can be seen and recognized," replied Jack. "You are not going toget yourself into trouble by taking me down to the fleet. If I thoughtyou were, I would not ask you to go; but that money in the cellar may bethe means of turning you out of doors."
When the boys reached home, their mother saw at a glance that somethinghad been decided upon, but she asked no questions until they were allseated at the supper table, and then they told her as much of theirplans as they were willing Hanson should know, and no more.
"There isn't the sign of a navy in or about Newbern," said Jack, talkingfor the benefit of the girl who waited at table as well as for theinformation of any other eavesdropper who might chance to be hangingaround. "But there must be some vessels fitting out at Edenton orsomewhere else in these waters, and we intend to find out before we comeback. We shall set out to morrow as soon as we have had breakfast, andin order to do that we must provision the _Fairy Belle_ before we go tobed."
Of course the news of their intended movements got noised among theservants, as the boys were sure it would, and when they were ready toset to work, there were any number of volunteers at hand to assist them,the boy Julius, who took it for granted that he was to be one of thecrew, being particularly active and "bossy." He and another small darkeywere sent off in a skiff to cast the schooner loose from her mooringsand tow her to the shore, and the minute that duty had been performed hejumped out, seized a bundle which he had left on the bank, and wasclimbing back over the side with the agility of a monkey when Jackcalled to him:
"Avast, there. What are you about?" cried the sailor.
"Going to stow dis yere dunnage of mine in de fo'castle," repliedJulius, without stopping.
"Well, come back. You can't go this trip."
"Ain't I going to sea with Marse Marcy?" said Julius, who was almostready to cry.
"Not this trip, I tell you. You are an Abolitionist, and we can't trustyou. If I should get a chance to go into the navy I shall not want youaround, for you would come back and blab it all over the neighborhood.Somebody must stay home and take care of mother. Come ashore and lend ahand with this grub."
"I jes' ain't going to do no such nigger's work as dat," replied Juliusspitefully. "If I can't run on de schooner, I shan't help load her. Itell you dat for a fac'. I jes' hope she'll go to de bottom 'fore shesees Seven Mile creek agin."
The darkey emphasized his words by throwing his bundle as far as hecould send it, and by flinging himself over the side as if he had been abag of cotton. The moment his feet touched the ground he snatched up hisproperty again and di
sappeared in the darkness.
"Sorry he went off mad," said Jack, "but it can't be helped. In timeslike these the only persons we can trust are those who can keep stilltongues in their heads, and that is something Julius was never known todo. Now," he added, turning to the half a dozen blacks who remained, "ifthere are any among you who don't want to aid in loading a vessel thatis going to hoist the Confederate colors to-morrow, you can go also."
"But, Marse Jack," exclaimed Morris, who had been waiting for anopportunity like this, "you ain't no rebel."
"Of course I am not. Who said I was?"
"But I mean, you don't go in for the 'Federacy; kase if you did go infor the 'Federacy, the Missus wouldn't luff you in the house. I don'tsee what you want with that rebel flag in the sitting-room, nohow. Ijust believe--"
"I don't care what you believe," interrupted Jack, who was afraid thatthe coachman was about to give utterance to some suspicions that wouldcome too near the truth. "Are you for the Union?"
"Course I is, Marse Jack. And so be you."
"Are all the rest of you black ones for the Union, too?"
"Yes, sar, we is," was the unanimous response.
"Very well. I don't try to control your opinions; but if you are goingto take sides with those who are coming down here to rob us of ourproperty, you may trot right back to the quarter and leave us to do ourown work. Off you go, now."
The astonished negroes urged and pleaded to no purpose. Jack, whothought he knew just what he was doing, would not listen to them, andfinally they turned slowly and sorrowfully away, leaving Bose to act assentry and bodyguard.
"If everybody on the place doesn't hear of this in less than half anhour and set you down for a rebel, it will not be your fault," saidMarcy, when the negroes were out of ear-shot.
"I don't care what they set me down for, so long as they let you andmother alone while I am gone," replied Jack. "I have been here longenough to find out what is the matter with our neighbors. They are madbecause we will not declare ourselves."
"And you think the safest plan is to make them believe, if you can, thatwe are Confederates," added Marcy. "But don't you know that this game ofdeception can't last forever? Now that the Yankees have got a footholdon the coast, what is there to hinder them from spreading all over thecountry? Suppose they should come here, and some Union man should tellthem that we hoisted the first rebel flag that was seen in thesettlement--then what?"
"Then will be the time for you to show how smart you are, for I shallnot be here to help you. Now, Bose," he added, speaking as though theanimal could understand every word he said, "you stay here and keepwatch; and if you hear anybody sneaking up on us, take after him andhold him at bay till we come."
So saying he picked up the nearest basket and hoisted it over theschooner's side.
The _Fairy Belle_ having been built under sailor Jack's personalsupervision, was especially adapted for the service for which she wasintended, that of single-handed cruiser. Although she was provided withtop-masts, she had no sails for them, and all the sheets and halliardswere made to lead aft, so that they were under complete control of theboy at the helm, who could put his hand upon any of them without movingfrom the cock-pit. Beginning forward, there was the chain locker, whichcontained all the extra cordage the schooner was likely to need during acruise, and also served as a place of storage for the ground tackle whennot in use. Abaft of that was a forecastle, with bunks for two hands,and then came a small but convenient galley, with cupboards and dishesin plenty, from which a door gave entrance into a neatly furnishedcabin. It was all there, too, no space being taken up with state-rooms.An upholstered locker, running the full length of each side of thecabin, not only served as receptacles for hunting and fishing outfits,canned provisions, flags, and clothing, but could easily be made intobeds that would accommodate four boys. Nothing had been omitted thatcould in any way add to the comfort of her master and crew, and herspeed, under the four sails she usually carried, was all that could bedesired. She had sailed over nearly every mile of Albemarle and PamlicoSounds, and been fifty miles outside the sand dunes; but that was beforeYankee gunboats with their sharp-eyed lookouts were known upon thecoast. When Marcy made those trips he had but one flag--one that wasknown and respected the world over; but when he went outside this timehe would have two, either of which might be the means of sending him andhis brother to prison.
It did not take the boys more than ten minutes to put their suppliesaboard the schooner, and while they were about it they talked in theirordinary tones, so that their words could have been heard and understoodby any one who thought it worth while to come to the top of the bank andlisten to them; but they were careful to weigh the words before theyuttered them, and the sequel proved that the precaution was not aneedless one. After everything had been stowed in its proper place andthe hatches were fastened down. Jack said:
"Of course we can't leave her alone; we must have some one to watch her.So if you will keep an eye on her, I'll go to the house and send Morrisand Julius down." At the same time he pointed to Bose; and Marcy,comprehending his meaning, seized the dog by the neck to keep him fromfollowing Jack, who lumbered up the bank, making any amount of noise,and singing a sailor ditty as he went.
Scarcely had the words of the song died away in the distance, whensomething that sounded suspiciously like the breaking of twigs came toMarcy's ears, and at the same instant the faithful watch-dog torehimself loose from his master's detaining grasp and bounded up the bank,barking fierce and loud at every jump. This must have been what Jack wasthinking of when he left Bose behind. As quickly as he could Marcy gotupon his feet and shouted words of encouragement to his four-footedfriend.
"Pull him down," he yelled. "Pull the spy down and let me see who heis."
The dog heard the command and probably tried to obey it, for his barkchanged to an angry snarl, and a second later a familiar but frightenedvoice cried out:
"Call him off, Mister Marcy! Call him off! He'll eat me up if youdon't."
"It's nothing more than I expected," thought the boy, who was in noparticular hurry to give ear to the entreaty. "Now who is it thatcarries news to him from the house? That's the next thing to be foundout."
"Is that you, Hanson?" he exclaimed, as if he were much surprised. "Comeaway, Bose. What brought you down here, and why did you come in thatsneaking way? Jack will be mad enough to knock you down," he added, whenhe stood face to face with the overseer.
"Why Mr. Marcy, I had no thought of playing the part of a sneak,"protested the man. "I couldn't make head or tail of what the darkeytried to tell me, but I knew there was something going on in the creek,and thought it my duty to come down and take a look at things. I didn'tknow you was here."
"You are Union, are you not?" said Marcy, who knew there wasn't a wordof truth in the overseer's story.
"Of course I am, and so are you. So is Mr. Jack."
"Well, if he is, what is that Confederate flag doing in the house?"
"It's put there a purpose to fool folks. The niggers don't know what tothink about it, but I do; and I think it was a good idee on your part.There's plenty of folks about here who would be glad to see harm come toyou, but I'm watching 'em."
"So am I; and some day, when they least expect it, I will bring some ofthem up with a round turn. I hear Jack coming, and you had better getout of his way. He'd just as soon pick a quarrel with you as not."
But the overseer did not want Jack to pick a quarrel with him, so hetook Marcy at his word. He went away more mystified than ever. Were theGrays Union or Confederate? He would have given almost anything hepossessed to have his doubts on this point cleared up, and the men forwhom he was working in secret would have done the same thing.
Marcy the Blockade Runner Page 13