by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XVI
AMONG THE BAHAMAS
"I am sorry to disturb you, gentlemen, but I feel obliged to ask you toretire to my cabin until this affair is settled," said Captain Chantor,addressing Colonel Passford and Captain Rombold.
"I beg your pardon, Captain Chantor, but do you consider that you have aright to capture that steamer?" asked the late commander of the Dornoch,who seemed to be very much disturbed at the proceedings of his captor.
"Undoubtedly; and I have no doubt I shall be able to procure hercondemnation on the ground that she is loaded for a Confederate port,no other than Wilmington, and has the 'guilty intention' to run theblockade."
"I don't see where you could have obtained the information that enablesyou to make sure of her condemnation at the very first sight of her,"replied the Confederate officer.
"Well, Captain Rombold, if I succeed in proving my position before thecourt, out of the mouth of Captain Vickers, her commander, would thatsatisfy you?" asked the commander with a cheerful smile. "But you mustexcuse me from discussing the matter to any greater length, for I have aduty to perform at the present time."
The Chateaugay was going ahead at full speed when the two gentlemenretired from the quarter-deck. She stopped her screw within hail of theCadet. Her crew were clearing away the wreck of the pilot-house; but thedestruction of her steering gear forward did not permit her to keepunder way, though hands were at work on the quarter-deck putting herextra wheel in order for use. Of course it was plain enough to thecaptain of the Cadet that the Chateaugay, after the mischief she haddone with a single shot, could knock the steamer all to pieces in a fewminutes.
The first cutter, in charge of Mr. Birdwing, the executive officer, wassent on board of the disabled steamer, and Christy was invited to take aplace in the boat. Captain Vickers was a broken-hearted man when herealized that his vessel was actually captured by a United Statesman-of-war.
"Do you surrender, Captain Vickers?" said Mr. Birdwing, as he salutedthe disconsolate commander.
"How did you know my name?" demanded he gruffly.
"That is of no consequence, Captain Vickers. You will oblige me byanswering my question. Do you surrender?" continued the lieutenant.
"I don't know that I can help myself, for this steamer is not armed, andI can make no resistance," replied the captain. "I had no idea that shipwas a Yankee gunboat."
"But we had an idea that this was a blockade-runner," added Mr.Birdwing, as he proceeded to take formal possession of the vessel, andcalled for her papers.
An examination was made into the character of the cargo, which consistedlargely of arms and ammunition. The extra wheel was soon in workingorder. Before noon a prize crew was put on board, and both vessels wereheaded for New York. In three days more the Chateaugay was at anchor offthe Navy Yard, with the Cadet near her. The return of the ship caused agreat deal of surprise, and one of the first persons to come on board ofher was Captain Passford. He gave his son his usual warm welcome.
Christy gave his father the narrative of the brief voyage, and astoundedhim with the information that his brother was on board. The two brothershad not met since they parted at the plantation near Mobile, and themeeting was as tender as it was sad; but both of them refrained fromsaying anything unpleasant in regard to the war. The prisoners weretaken from the Chateaugay by a tender, and conveyed to Fort Lafayette;but Captain Passford soon obtained a parole for his brother, which heconsented to give for a limited period.
"I suppose the Chateaugay will sail again by to-morrow, Christy; but youwill have time to go home and see your mother and sister. I am so busythat I cannot go, and you must take Uncle Homer with you," said hisfather.
They landed on the New York side, and took a carriage for the station.Perhaps the streets of the great city were never more crowded with allkinds of vehicles, and especially with wagons loaded with merchandise ofall kinds. They passed up Broadway, and Colonel Passford was silent ashe witnessed the marvellous activity of the city in the midst of a greatwar.
"I think you will not be able to find any grass growing in the streetsof New York, Uncle Homer," said Christy, as they passed the Park, wherethe crowd seemed to be greater than elsewhere.
"There is certainly no grass here, and I am surprised to see that thecity is as busy as ever," replied the commissioner in a subdued tone."We have been told at the South that business was paralyzed in thecities of the North, except what little was created by the war."
"The war makes a vast amount of business, Uncle Homer," added Christy.
But the gentleman from the South was not disposed to talk, and he soonrelapsed into silence. Mrs. Passford and Florry were very muchastonished to see Christy again so soon, and even more so to meet UncleHomer; but his welcome was cordial, and nothing was said about theexciting topic of the day. The visitor was treated like a friend, andnot an enemy, and everything was done to make him forget that he was notin his own home.
Early the next morning the young lieutenant hastened to report on boardof the Chateaugay, where Mr. Gilfleur had remained, though he haddivested himself of his disguise as soon as Captain Rombold was conveyedto other quarters. They were kept very busy that day giving theirdepositions in regard to the character of the Cadet, and of theadmissions of Captain Vickers in regard to his intention to run theblockade. The ship had been coaled, and the next day she sailed again.She gave the Bermudas a wide berth, for she had another mission now,though she could probably have picked up one or two more of theblockade-runners Christy and his companion had seen in the harbor of St.George's.
Four days from Sandy Hook, very early in the morning, Abaco light wasseen; and about fifty miles south of it was Nassau, on the island of NewProvidence, a favorite resort for blockade-runners at that time. Themission of the detective was at this port. Christy had again volunteeredto be his companion, and they desired to get into the place as they haddone in the Bermudas, without attracting the attention of any one, andespecially not of those engaged in loading or fitting out vessels forthe ports of the South.
As soon as the light was discovered, Captain Chantor ordered the courseof the ship to be changed to east; and till eight bells in the afternoonwatch she continued to steam away from the Great Abaco Island. It washis intention to avoid being seen, though there was a chance to fall inwith a blockade-runner. Standing to the south-west the last part of theday, the light at the Hole in the Wall, the southern point of GreatAbaco Island, was made out in the evening. South-east of this point isthe northern end of Eleuthera Island, where the Egg Island light couldbe seen. This was the locality where Mr. Gilfleur had decided to beginupon his mission.
His boat had been repaired by the carpenter after the shot from theDornoch struck it, and it was now in as good condition as it had everbeen. At eleven o'clock in the evening the Eleuthera was lowered intothe water, with a supply of provisions and water, and such clothing andother articles as might be needed, on board. The weather was asfavorable as it could be, with a good breeze from the north-west.
"Now, Mr. Gilfleur, I hope you will bring back as important informationas you did from the Bermudas," said the captain, when the adventurerswere ready to go on board of the boat.
"I hope so myself; but I don't know," replied the Frenchman. "I expectto find the Ovidio at Nassau; and, like the Dornoch, she is intended fora man-of-war. Mr. Passford and I will do the best we can."
"How long do you mean to be absent on this business?"
"About three days, as well as I can judge, though I have not had achance to look over the ground. I have no doubt there areblockade-runners there, and we shall ascertain what we can in regard tothem."
"I shall expect to pick you up to the eastward of the Hole in the Wall,and on the fourth night from the present time," added the captain. "Youknow that the navigation of this region is very dangerous."
"I am aware of it; but I have been here before, and I provided myselfwith a good chart in New York. I have studied it very attentively, and Ihave the feeling that
I can make my way without any difficulty," repliedMr. Gilfleur confidently.
Christy had already taken his place in the boat, and the detective soonfollowed him. It seemed something like an old story, after hisexperience in the Bermudas. The Eleuthera was cast off, the captainwished them a safe and prosperous voyage to their destination. Themainsail had been set, and the breeze soon wafted the boat away from theship. The Chateaugay started her screw, and headed off to the eastwardagain, on the lookout for blockade-runners.
"Here is a light ahead," said Christy, after his companion had set thejib, and taken the helm.
"That is Egg Island light, about forty miles from Nassau. Our course issouth-west, which gives us a fair wind," replied the skipper. "Now, Mr.Passford, you can do as you did on our former voyage in the Eleuthera:turn in and sleep till morning."
"That would not be fair. I will take my trick at the helm, as it seemsto be plain sailing, and you can have your nap first," suggestedChristy.
"No; I slept all the afternoon in anticipation of to-night, and I couldnot sleep if I tried," the skipper insisted. "By the way, Mr. Passford,I am somewhat afraid that the name of our boat may get us into trouble."
"Why so?" asked the other curiously.
"The island on our port hand is Eleuthera, about forty miles long. Ofcourse it is well known at Nassau, and it may cause people to ask ussome hard questions. We may even stumble upon the boat's former owner,who would claim her."
"We could buy her, or another like her, in that case," suggestedChristy. "The name is painted on the stern board, and we might removeit, if necessary."
Mr. Gilfleur said so much about it that Christy finally turned in, andwas soon fast asleep. He did not wake till daylight in the morning. Hefound that the boat was headed towards an island, while in the distancehe saw the light on Hog Island, with a portion of the town of Nassau,and a fort. The skipper had his chart spread out on the seat at hisside, and he was watching it very closely.
"Good-morning, Mr. Gilfleur. I suppose that must be Nassau ahead of us."
"Yes; that is Nassau. I expected to get here earlier in the morning thanthis, and I am not a little afraid to sail into the harbor at seveno'clock in the morning, as it will be before we can get there. The winddied out in the middle of the night, though I got it again very earlythis morning. I must get to the town in some other way. The land on theport is Rose Island, and Douglas Channel is just this side of it. I amgoing through that, and shall make my way to the back side of theisland, where we can conceal the boat."
"I should say that would be a good idea," added Christy, as he took inthe plan. "The water is as clear as crystal here, and you can see thebottom as plainly as though nothing came between your eye and the rock."
The skipper stationed his companion on the bow of the boat to watch forrocks; but none interfered with the progress of the Eleuthera. Shesailed to the back side of the island of New Providence, where theyfound a secluded nook, in which they moored the craft.