by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER VII
A BOLD PROPOSITION
The evidence was sufficient to justify the capture of the Ionian withouta particle of doubt, for she was as really a Confederate vessel asthough the captain and officers were provided with commissions signed byMr. Jefferson Davis.
Mr. Birdwing went to the door and directed the third lieutenant to haveCaptain Sawlock conducted to the cabin; and the two seamen who had heldhim as a prisoner brought him before the first lieutenant of theChateaugay. He appeared to have got control of his temper, and offeredno further resistance. Mr. Carlin came to the door, and his superiordirected him to examine all hands forward, in order to ascertain whetherthey were Confederates or otherwise. He gave him the shipping-list toassist him.
"Are you an American citizen, Captain Sawlock?" asked Mr. Birdwing,as soon as the third lieutenant had departed on his mission.
"I am," replied he stiffly.
"Where were you horn?"
"In Pensacola."
"Have you ever taken the oath of allegiance to the United Statesgovernment?"
"No; and I never will!" protested the captain with an oath.
"I must inform you, Captain Sawlock, that I am directed by the commanderof the United States steamer Chateaugay to take possession of theIonian, on finding sufficient evidence on board that she is engaged inan illegal voyage. I have no doubt in regard to the matter, and I takepossession of her accordingly."
"It is an outrage!" howled the captain with a heavy oath.
"You can settle that matter with the courts. I have nothing more tosay," replied Mr. Birdwing as he rose and left the cabin, followed byChristy and the detective.
"I found ten heavy guns and a large quantity of ammunition at the bottomof the hold," reported Mr. Carlin, as his superior appeared on deck, andhanded back the shipping-list of the vessel. "The three engineers appearto be Englishmen, and so declare themselves. I find six Americans amongthe crew, who are provided with protections, and they all desire toenlist in the navy. The rest of the crew are of all nations."
"Let the six men with protections man the first cutter. You will remainon board of the Ionian, Mr. Carlin, till orders come to you from thecaptain," said the first lieutenant. "I shall now return to theChateaugay to report."
Christy decided to return to the ship; but the detective wished toremain, though he said there was nothing more for him to do. The sixsailors who wished to enter the navy were ordered into the boat, two ofthe regular crew remaining in it. The recruits were good-looking men,and they pulled their oars as though they had already served in thenavy. They supposed the Ionian was really bound to Wilmington; but theycould not explain why they had not enlisted at Brooklyn if they desiredto do so. The first lieutenant went on board of the ship, and reportedto the captain.
Mr. Gwyndale was at once appointed prize-master, with Mr. Tompers as hisexecutive officer, and sent on board with the ten seamen who had beenput on board of the Chateaugay expressly for this duty. Several pairs ofhandcuffs were sent on board of the Ionian, for the first lieutenantapprehended that they would be needed to keep Captain Sawlock and hismate in proper subjection. The papers which had been contained in thetin case were intrusted to the care of Mr. Gwyndale, with the strictestinjunction to keep them safely, and deliver them to the governmentofficial before any of the Ionian ship's company were permitted to land.
The cutters returned from the prize with all the hands who had been sentfrom the ship, including Mr. Gilfleur. The prize-master had a sufficientforce with him to handle the steamer, and to control the disaffected, ifthere were any besides the captain and mate. The engineers and firemenwere willing to remain and do duty as long as they were paid. In acouple of hours the Ionian started her screw and headed for New York,where she would arrive the next day.
Captain Chantor directed the quartermaster at the wheel to ring onebell, and the Chateaugay began to move again. The events of the day werediscussed; but the first business of the ship had been successfullydisposed of, and the future was a more inviting field than the past. Thecaptain requested the presence of the two passengers in his cabin, andread to them in full the latest instructions that had been sent off tohim.
"Our next duty is to look for the Dornoch, with her six guns and fiftymen, and we are not likely to have so soft a time of it as we had withthe Ionian," said Captain Chantor, when he had read the letter.
"The Chateaugay is reasonably fast, though she could not hold her ownwith the Bellevite, or even the Bronx; and you have a pivot gunamidships, and six broadside guns," added Christy.
"Oh, I shall be happy to meet her!" exclaimed the commander. "I don'tobject to her six guns and fifty men; the only difficulty I can see isin finding her. I am afraid she has already gone into St. George'sharbor, and she may not come out for a month."
"Why should she wait all that time?" asked Christy. "Her commander knewnothing about the Ionian, that she was to take in a valuable cargo forher, and she will not wait for her."
"That is true; but I am afraid we shall miss the Ovidio if we remain toolong in these waters."
"It seems to me that the Dornoch has had time enough to reach theBermudas," said Christy. "Possibly she is in port at this moment."
"That is a harassing reflection!" exclaimed the commander.
"I don't see that there is any help for it," added Christy. "You cannotgo into the port of St. George's to see if she is there."
"Why not?" asked Mr. Gilfleur, speaking for the first time. "I spent awinter there when I was sick from over-work and exposure; and I know allabout the islands."
"That will not help me, Mr. Gilfleur," said the captain, with a smile atwhat he considered the simplicity of the Frenchman.
"But why can you not go in and see if the Dornoch is there?" inquiredthe detective.
"Because if I learned that she was about to leave the port, theauthorities would not let me sail till twenty-four hours after she hadgone."
"You need not wait till she gets ready to leave," suggested theFrenchman.
"She might be ready to sail at the very time I arrived, and then Ishould lose her. Oh, no; I prefer to take my chance at a marine leaguefrom the shore," added the captain, shaking his head.
"Perhaps I might go into Hamilton harbor and obtain the information youneed," suggested Mr. Gilfleur, looking very earnest, as though he wasthinking of something.
"You!" exclaimed Captain Chantor, looking at him with amazement. "Howcould you go in without going in the ship?"
"You know that I have a boat on deck," replied the detective quietly.
"But you are not a sailor, sir."
"No, I am not a sailor; but I am a boatman. After I had worked up thebiggest case in all my life in Paris,--one that required me to go toLondon seven times,--I was sick when the bank-robbers were convicted,and the excitement was over. The doctors ordered me to spend the winterin Martinique, and I went to the Bermudas in an English steamer, where Iwas to take another for my destination; but I liked the islands so wellthat I remained there all the winter. My principal amusement wasboating; and I learned the whole art to perfection. I used to go throughthe openings in the reefs, and sail out of sight of land. I had a boatlike the one on deck."
"Your experience is interesting, but I do not see how it will profitme," said the captain.
"I can go to the Bermudas, obtain the information you want, and returnto the Chateaugay," replied Mr. Gilfleur rather impatiently.
"That would be a risky cruise for you, my friend," suggested CaptainChantor, shaking his head in a deprecatory manner.
"I don't think so. I have been outside the reefs many times when thewind blew a gale, and I felt as safe in my boat as I do on board of thisship," said the detective earnestly.
"How would you manage the matter?" asked the commander, beginning to beinterested in the project.
"You shall run to the south of the islands, or rather to the south-west,in the night, with all your lights put out, and let me embark there inmy boat. You will give me a co
mpass, and I have a sail in the boat. Ishall steer to the north-east, and I shall soon see Gibbs Hill light. Bythat I can make the point on the coast I wish to reach, which is HogfishCut. I have been through it twenty times. Once inside the reefs I shallhave no difficulty in reaching Hamilton harbor. Then I will take acarriage to St. George's. If I find the Dornoch in the harbor, I willcome out the same way I went in, and you will pick me up."
"That looks more practicable than I supposed it could be," added CaptainChantor.
"While I am absent you will be attending to your duty as commander ofthe Chateaugay, for you will still be on the lookout for your prize,"continued the versatile Frenchman. "You can run up twenty or thirtymiles to the northward, on the east side of the islands, where all largevessels have to go in."
"How long will it take you to carry out this enterprise, Mr. Gilfleur?"
"Not more than two days; perhaps less time. Do you consent?"
"I will consider it, and give you an answer to-morrow morning," repliedCaptain Chantor.
"Won't you take me with you, Mr. Gilfleur?" asked Christy, who was muchpleased with the idea of such an excursion.
"I should be very happy to have your company, Mr. Passford," replied thedetective very promptly, and with a smile on his face which revealed hisown satisfaction.
"Are you in earnest, Lieutenant Passford?" demanded the commander,looking with astonishment at his passenger.
"Of course I am: I see no difficulty in the enterprise," repliedChristy. "I have had a good deal of experience in sailboats myself, andI do not believe I should be an encumbrance to Mr. Gilfleur; and I maybe of some service to him."
"You would be of very great service to me, for you know all about ships,and I do not," the detective added.
"Just as you please, Mr. Passford. You are not under my orders, for youare not attached to the ship," said the captain.
The commander went on deck, and the two passengers retired to Christy'sstateroom, where they discussed the enterprise for a couple of hours.In the mean time the Chateaugay was making her best speed, for CaptainChantor did not wish to lose any of his chances by being too late; andhe believed that the Dornoch must be fully due at the Bermudas. Beforehe turned in that night he had altered the course of the ship half apoint more to the southward, for he had decided to accept the offer ofMr. Gilfleur; and he wished to go to the west of the islands instead ofthe east, as he had given out the course at noon.
For two days more the Chateaugay continued on her voyage. At noon thesecond day he found his ship was directly west of the southern part ofthe Bermudas, and but fifty miles from them. He shaped his course so asto be at the south of them that night.