by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XXIII
THE CHATEAUGAY IN THE DISTANCE
The steamer which Christy had discovered was a long distance from theSnapper. She had just come about, and this movement had enabled theprisoner to see that she had three masts; but that was really all therewas to lead him to suppose she was the Chateaugay. She was too far offfor him to make her out; and if he had not known that she was cruisingto the eastward of the Bahamas, it would not have occurred to him thatshe was the steamer in which he had been a passenger two days before.
Captain Flanger discovered the sail a few minutes later, and fixed hisattention upon it. In the business in which he was engaged it wasnecessary to practise the most unceasing vigilance. But, at thisdistance from any Confederate port, the commander of the steamer did notappear to be greatly disturbed at the sight of a distant sail, believingthat his danger was nearer the shores of the Southern States. Doubtlesshe had papers of some sort which would show that his vessel had clearedfor Havana, or some port on the Gulf of Mexico.
Christy did not deem it wise to manifest any interest in the distantsail, and, fixing his gaze upon the deck-planks, he continued to walkback and forth, as he was doing when he discovered the steamer. He hadnot been able to make out her course. He had first seen her when she wasin the act of turning, obtaining only a glance at the three masts.Whether or not she was "end-on" for the Snapper, he could not determine,and Captain Flanger seemed to be studying up this question with nolittle earnestness.
The principal mission in these waters of the Chateaugay was to look upthe Ovidio, of which Captain Passford in New York had obtained someinformation through his agents. This vessel was not simply ablockade-runner, but was intended for a cruiser, though she had sailedfrom Scotland without an armament. It was known that she would proceedto Nassau, and this fact had suggested to Mr. Gilfleur his visit to thatport to obtain reliable information in regard to her, as well asincidentally to look into the methods of fitting out vessels for runningthe blockade.
Captain Chantor was expecting to fall in with the Ovidio, even beforethe return of his two passengers. He did not believe the authorities atNassau would permit her to take on board an armament at that port; but arendezvous had probably been arranged, where she was to receive her gunsand ammunition. But the only safe channel for any vessel to get to thedeep sea from Nassau was by the one that had received the name ofProvidence. This channel is a continuation of what is called "The Tongueof the Ocean," which extends over a hundred miles south of NewProvidence, a hundred and fifty fathoms in depth, and bordered byinnumerable cays, reefs, and very shoal water.
South of Great Abaco Island, this channel, from thirty to forty mileswide, divides into the North-east and North-west Channels, and allvessels of any great draught can safely get out to sea only through oneof them. It was evident enough to Captain Chantor, who was familiar withthe navigation of these seas, that the Ovidio must come out through oneof the channels indicated. Christy had talked with the commander of theChateaugay in regard to these passages, and knew that it was hisintention to keep a close watch over them.
He could not be sure that the steamer in the distance was theChateaugay; but the more he recalled what had passed between himself andCaptain Chantor, and considered the situation, the stronger became hishope that it was she. He was sure that she had come about, and hereasoned that she had done so when her commander ascertained that thesteamer he had sighted laid her course through the North-west Channel.This was as far as he could carry his speculations.
Without understanding the situation as well as did his prisoner, CaptainFlanger seemed to be nervous and uneasy. He watched the distant sail fora long time, sent for his spy-glass and examined her, and then began toplank the deck. When he came abreast of Christy he stopped.
"Do you see that sail off to the eastward, Mr. Passford?"
"I see it now, Captain," replied the prisoner, as indifferently aspossible, for he felt that it would be very imprudent to manifest anyinterest in the matter.
"Can you make out what she is?" continued the captain.
"I cannot; she must be eight or ten miles from us," replied Christy,as he glanced to the eastward.
"I shouldn't wonder if that was one of your Yankee gunboats," addedCaptain Flanger, spicing his remark with a heavy oath, for he couldhardly say anything without interlarding his speech with profanity.
"It may be, for aught I know," replied the prisoner with something likea yawn.
"Whatever she is, the Snapper can run away from her, and you need notflatter yourself that there is any chance for you to escape from aConfederate prison; and when they get you into it, they will hold onvery tight."
"I must take things as they come," added Christy.
He wanted to ask the captain why he wondered if the sail was a Yankeegunboat, but he did not think it would be prudent to do so. The captainseemed to have, or pretended to have, great confidence in the speed ofthe Snapper. When he left his prisoner he went to the engine-room, andit was soon evident from the jar and shake of the vessel that he hadinstructed the chief engineer to increase the speed.
Christy watched the distant sail for about three hours before he couldcome to any conclusion. At the end of this time he was satisfied thatthe three-masted steamer was gaining very decidedly upon the Snapper. Hebegan to cherish a very lively hope that the sail would prove to be theChateaugay. Captain Flanger remained on deck all the forenoon, and everyhour that elapsed found him more nervous and excitable.
"I reckon that's a Yankee gunboat astern of us, Mr. Passford; but I amgoing to get away from her," said the captain, as they sat down todinner.
"Is she gaining upon you, Captain?" asked Christy.
"I don't think she is; but if she does get any nearer to us, I shallgive her the slip. The Snapper is going into Mobile Bay as sure as youlive. You can bet your life on it," insisted the captain.
Christy was not disposed to converse on the subject, and he began towonder in what manner the Snapper could give her pursuer the slip. Theformer was the smaller vessel, and probably did not draw over fourteenfeet of water, if she did more than twelve. It might be possible for herto run into shoal water where the pursuer could not follow her.
After the dinner table was cleared off, the captain seated himself at itwith a chart spread out before him. It was plain enough that he wasdevising some expedient to escape the three-master. Christy did not deemit prudent to observe him, and he went on deck. It was as clear as thedaylight that the pursuer was gaining rapidly upon the Snapper; and theprisoner did not believe that the latter was making over twelve knots.
By this time seven hours had elapsed since the distant sail had come insight, and she was now near enough for the prisoner to be sure that shewas the Chateaugay. She could make sixteen knots when driven at herbest, and she must be gaining four or five knots an hour on the chase.Christy had been through this channel in the Bellevite, and hediscovered that the steamer was running near the shoal water. Presentlythe captain came on deck, and he appeared to be less nervous thanbefore, perhaps because he had arranged his plan to escape his pursuer.
Within an hour Christy recognized the East Isaac, a rock rising ten ortwelve feet above the surface of the water, which he identified by itsnearness to one over which the sea was breaking. The captain was toomuch occupied in the study of the surroundings to take any notice ofhim, and he endeavored to keep out of his sight.
The prisoner consulted his watch, and found it was four o'clock. Thetower of the Great Isaac light could just be made out. The Chateaugaywas not more than four miles astern of the Snapper, and in another hourshe would certainly come up with her, if Captain Flanger did not put hisplan into execution. The course of the chase continued to bring hernearer to the reefs.
"Ring one bell!" shouted the captain to the quartermaster at the wheel.
The effect of one bell was to reduce the speed of the Snapper byone-half. The order to put the helm hard a starboard followed in a shorttime. The course was made about south,
and the steamer went aheadslowly. Two men in the chains were heaving the lead constantly. Theywere reporting four and five fathoms. After the vessel had gone five orsix miles on this course, it was changed to about south-west. She wasthen moving in a direction directly opposite to that of the Chateaugay,and the anxious prisoner could see the man-of-war across the reefs whichlifted their heads above the water, very nearly abreast of the Snapper,though at least ten miles distant from her.
"Do you know what steamer that is, Mr. Passford?" asked Captain Flanger,coming aft, apparently for the purpose of finding him.
"How should I know, Captain?" asked Christy.
"I thought you might know her by sight."
"I could hardly be expected to know all the ships in the United Statesnavy by sight, Captain, for there are a great many of them by thistime."
"All right; she looks like a pretty large vessel, and the bigger thebetter. I hope you won't get up a disappointment for yourself byexpecting that you are going to get out of this scrape," said CaptainFlanger, and there was a great deal of bitterness in his tones.
"I am taking things as they come, Captain."
"The Snapper is not a man-of-war, and she is engaged in a peacefulvoyage. If that fellow thinks of capturing me, he is reckoning withouthis host. He has no more right to make a prize of me than he has tomurder me," protested the captain, as he gave the order to hoist theBritish flag.
"Of course you know your business better than I do, Captain Flanger, andI don't propose to interfere with it," replied Christy.
The commander walked forward again, giving the order to thequartermaster to ring two bells, which presently brought the steamer toa full stop, quite near the rocks which were awash to the northward ofher. As the captain moved forward he encountered the first officer inthe waist, who addressed him, and they began a conversation, none ofwhich Christy could hear. From the looks and gestures of the mate, heconcluded that they were talking about him.
It was not difficult to imagine the subject of the conversation, and itwas evident to Christy that the first officer had suggested an idea tohis commander. While he was waiting impatiently to ascertain what theChateaugay would do next, Percy Pierson came on deck looking very pale,for it had been reported at breakfast that he was very sea-sick.
"How are you, Christy?" asked the Southerner.
"I am very well, I thank you."
"Haven't you been sea-sick?" asked the invalid.
"Of course not; I never was sea-sick."
"But what has the steamer stopped for?" asked Percy, looking about him.
"Captain Flanger seems to think that vessel over there is a UnitedStates man-of-war."
"Will she capture the Snapper?" asked the sufferer, looking paler thanbefore.
At this moment a boat was lowered from the davits into the water, andChristy was invited by the mate to take a seat in the stern sheets. Hewas astounded at this request, and wondered what it meant.