by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER VIII
ON BOARD OF THE COTTON SCHOONER
Probably some, if not all, of the six men in the deck-house of the WestWind were in the habit of taking intoxicating liquors when they wereashore, and when it was served out on board of the ship in conformitywith the rules and traditions of the navy. The commander and hisexecutive officer labored for the promotion of total abstinence amongthe officers and crew. More than the usual proportion of the mencommuted their "grog ration" for money, through the influence of theprincipal officers.
While the commander of the present expedition accepted the aid of thepowerful ally, "apple-jack," in the service of his country, drinkingfreely appeared to him to be about the same thing as going over to theenemy; and he could not permit his men to turn traitors involuntarily,when he knew they would not do so of their own free will and accord.He had settled the liquor question to his own satisfaction in thedeck-house, returning the bottle to French.
When Graines went below, a minute or two later than Captain Sullendine,he saw his new superior in the act of tossing off another glass ofwhiskey, as he concluded it was from the label on the bottle which stoodon the cabin table. He had been considerably exhilarated before, and hewas in a fair way to strengthen the ally of the loyalists by carryinghis powerful influence to the head of the commander of the intendingblockade-runner. The captain seated himself at the table, and Christysaw that he had a flat bottle in his breast-pocket.
"Now, Mr. Balker, we had better seal up the bargain we've made withforty drops from this bottle," said he, as he poured out a glass forhimself, regardless of the fact that he had just indulged; and at thesame time he pushed the bottle and another glass towards the new mate.
Graines covered the lower part of the glass with his hand, and poureda few drops into it. Putting some water with it from the pitcher, heraised the tumbler in imitation of the captain.
"Here's success to the right side," added the master, as he drank offthe contents of the glass.
"I drink that toast with all my mind, heart, and soul," added theengineer, with decided emphasis, though he knew that "the right side"did not always convey the same idea.
"Help yourself, Mr.-- I've forgot your name, Second Mate," he added ashe moved towards the companion ladder.
"Jerry Sandman, sir, and I will help myself to what I want," repliedChristy.
"That's right, Mr. Sandman; make yourself at home in this cabin. I mustgo on deck and take a look at the Tallahatchie," added the master as hewent up the ladder, followed by Graines.
The lieutenant helped himself to a glass of water, after rinsingthe tumbler, for that was what he wanted. Sopsy the cook immediatelyappeared, bearing a tray on which were several dishes of eatables, breadand ham being the principal. The bottle was in his way; and after he haddrunk off half a tumblerful of its contents, he removed it to thepantry. He proceeded to set the table.
"Oft in der chizzly night, 'fore slumber's yoke hab tooken me," hummedSopsy as he worked at the table.
"Where is this schooner bound, Sopsy?" asked Christy.
"Bound to dat boon whar no trab'ler returns," replied the cook, pausingin his occupation and staring the second mate full in the face.
"That bourn is Nassau, I reckon," laughed the lieutenant.
"I s'pose she's gwine dar if she don't go to dat boon where no trab'lerscome back agin," answered Sopsy seriously. "Be you Meth'dis' o'Bab'tis', Massa Mate?"
"Both, Sopsy."
"Can't be bof, Massa."
"Then I'm either one you like."
"That ain't right, Massa Secon' Mate, 'cordin' as you was brung up,"said the cook, shaking his head violently, as though he utterlydisapproved of the mate's theology.
"I'm a theosophist, Sopsy."
"A seehossofist!" exclaimed the cook, dropping a plate in hisastonishment. "We don't hab none o' dem on shore in de Souf. I reckondey libs in de water."
"No; they live on the mountains."
"We hain't got no mount'ns down here, and dat's de reason we don'thab none on 'em," added Sopsy as he went to the pantry; but presentlyreturned with a plate of pickles in one hand and the whiskey bottle inthe other. "Does dem sea-hosses drink whisker, Massa Secon' Mate?"
"They never drink a drop of it."
"Dis colored pusson ain't no sea-hoss, and he do drink whiskey whenhe kin git it," added the cook; and he half filled a tumbler with thecontents of the bottle, and drank it off at a single gulp.
He had hardly placed it on the table in the middle of the dishes beforethe captain came below. His first step was to take a liberal potationfrom the bottle. As he raised it to the swinging lamp, he discoveredthat the fluid had been freely expended in his absence.
"You've punished this bottle all it deserves," said he when he perceivedthat its level had been considerably lowered, and he did not ask the newofficer to join him. "That's all right, Mr. Sandman; but I don't wantyou to take more than you can manage to-night, for we have a big job onour hands, and we want our heads where we shall be able to find them.Now go on deck, and learn what you can about the vessel, for we hain'tgot but half an hour more before the Tallahatchie goes to sea. We mayhave lots of music after we get outside; but I reckon our steamer canoutsail anything the Yankees have got on the blockade. Don't drink nomore, Mr. Sandman; and when we git to Nassau you can have a reg'larblowout."
"I won't touch another drop before we get out of the bay, Cap'nSullendine," protested Christy, without betraying the misdemeanor ofthe cook, as doubtless it was.
"That's right, Mr. Sandman; we must all have our heads on our shouldersto-night," said the captain, as he drank off the potion he had prepared.
Christy wished to hold the commander to his own advice; but that wouldhave been fighting on the wrong side for him, and Sopsy escaped areprimand, if not a kick or two, by his forbearance. By this time thebottle was nearly empty; but the skipper put it under lock and key ina closet, which seemed to be well filled with others like it. Christywent on deck, in obedience to the order he had received, and found theengineer on the quarter-deck buried in the fog, which was just then moredense than at any time before.
"The captain's pretty well set 'up,' isn't he Christy?" said Graines ina low tone.
"About half seas over; but he knows what he is about, though he tookanother heavy potion just now," replied the lieutenant.
"All right; I think we can manage this craft very well without him,"added Graines with a smile, which could not be seen in the darkness.
But the conversation was interrupted at this point by the appearanceof the cook, whose legs were more tangled up by his tipples than hismaster's. He delivered the request of Captain Sullendine that theyshould come into the cabin, and partake of the lunch which had been setout for them. As they moved towards the companion, they saw Sopsy creepover to the alley where Bokes had been sleeping, and take up the bottleof apple-jack Christy had given him, and drink from it. It was evidentto them that the cook could not be much longer in condition for anyduty.
The two mates went below as invited, and found the captain at the table.He had brought out the bottle of whiskey, and was eating of the dishesbefore him, but plainly with little relish.
"Have another little drink, Mr. Balker; but I think Mr. Sandman hadbetter not take anymore," said the master, whose speech was rather thickby this time.
"Thank you, Captain Sullendine; I will do a little in that way, for weare likely to have a very damp night of it," replied Graines, as hehelped himself, though he did not take ten drops.
"A little does one good; but it don't do to take too much when wehave very important business on our hands. After that one, Mr. Balker,I advise you not to take any more till we get clear of the blockaders,"added the skipper, as he emptied the bottle into his glass.
The ham on the table was of excellent quality, and the two mates ateheartily of it, with the ship-bread. The last dose the captain had takenappeared to cap the climax, and he could no longer eat, or talk so as tobe clearly understood. When the mates
had finished their lunch, they sawthat the skipper had dropped asleep in his chair. They rose from theirplaces, and rattled the stools. The noise roused the sleeper, and hesprang to his feet with a violent start.
"What's time'z it, Mr. Zbalker?" he demanded, catching hold of the tableto avoid falling on the cabin floor.
He seemed to be conscious that he was not presenting a perfectly regularappearance to his new officers; and he dropped into his chair, making aludicrous effort to stiffen his muscles and put on his dignity, but itwas a failure.
"Quarter-past two, Captain Sullendine," replied Graines in answer to thequestion.
"Most an hour more 'fore we git started," stammered the invalid."I didn't sleep none last night, I'm sleepy. I'm go'n to turn in forhalf an hour, 'n then I'll be on deck ready for busi-- ready forbuzness."
Graines assisted him to his stateroom, for he could not walk, and he wasafraid he would fall and hurt himself. He helped him into his berth, andarranged him so that he could sleep it off, and he did not care if hedid not do so before the next day. He waited till he had dropped offinto a deep slumber, and then joined Christy in the cabin.
"If I had not been a temperance man before, I should be now," said thelieutenant. "It is just as well that the captain is clean over the bay,for we might have been obliged to shoot him if he had been sober."
"But we could have taken possession of the vessel in spite of him, ifthe steamer had not interfered," replied Graines, as he led the way tothe deck. "I don't see that we have anything to do but wait for themoving of the waters, or for the moving of the steamer. I suppose ourmen are all right forward."
"I have no doubt of it, though I have not seen them lately. I gave oneof the bottles of apple-jack the captain sent forward for them to Bokes,and poured the contents of the other into Mobile Bay. I think we hadbetter go forward and look the vessel over," said Christy.
They had gone but a few steps before they stumbled over the body ofSopsy, who had evidently succumbed to the quantity of firewater he hadconsumed. He had assisted Bokes to empty the bottle given to him, andboth of them were too far gone to give an alarm if they discovered atany time that something was wrong about the movements of the West Wind.
They found the Belleviters lounging about on the cotton bales, some ofthem asleep, and others carrying on a conversation in a low tone. Theywere glad to see their officers, who told them the time for some sort ofaction was rapidly approaching. Then they went to the bow of the vessel,where they found that she was anchored, though the chain had been hoveshort. The hawser by which she was to be towed to sea was made fast tothe bowsprit bitts, and led to the stern of the steamer, where it wasdoubtless properly secured.
While they were looking over the bow, a boat approached from theTallahatchie, and an officer hailed, asking for Captain Sullendine.
"He is in the cabin; I am the mate," replied the engineer, "and thecaptain has shipped a new crew, we are all right now."
"Weigh your anchor at three short whistles," added the officer.
"Understood, and all right," said the new mate.
The boat pulled back to the steamer.