by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XII
THE PRISONER OF WAR
"What in the world have you been doing, Christy?" asked Mrs. Passford,as her son entered the engine-room; and her anxiety was visible in hertones and looks as she spoke.
"We have been repelling boarders, mother," replied the middy, his facewreathed in smiles.
"What do you mean by that, my son?" inquired his mother.
"Well, mother, you are the daughter of a distinguished naval officer,and it seems to me you must understand what repelling boarders means,"answered the young commander, laughing merrily; and no one in theengine-room could fail to see that he was in the highest state ofexhilaration, now that the safety of the ship had been assured.
"Of course, I know what it means," added the lady.
"And I don't mean boarders at the hotel, who are repelled by strongbutter and tough steaks," chuckled Christy.
"I wish you would explain yourself, my son."
"I will, mother mine. The fellows we fired at when we were at anchorhave just attempted to board the Bellevite, and thus obtain possessionof her, as they failed to do in Mobile Bay, as well as at our anchoragein the Hudson." And he proceeded to explain in detail all that hadoccurred on board and alongside.
"My dear boy, I had no idea that you had been engaged in a battle!"exclaimed the fond mother.
"It wasn't much of a battle, though a good many pistol-shots were firedat us; but a sixty-pound shot did the business on our side, and we leftthe enemy, or a portion of them, paddling in the river, and trying tokeep their heads above water. But I must not stay here, for I have tolook out for the steering of the ship," continued Christy, as he movedtowards the door.
"You whipped them out, did you, midshipman?" added the engineer.
"We did; and there isn't any doubt of it. I shouldn't wonder if some ofthem had lost the number of their mess. But I think it is settled forthe present that Captain Carboneer don't go to sea in the Bellevite. Bythe way, I had forgotten that we took a prisoner, and perhaps he will bewilling to tell us something more about his enterprise."
"Who is the prisoner?" asked Mrs. Passford.
"He is an officer, I judge, for he wore a frock-coat."
"The party could not have had a great many officers. It was not thecaptain, was it?"
"No; I am sure it is not he. I think it must be the naval officer whomCaptain Carboneer called Haslett; but I have not seen him except as hewas shinning up the painter of the boat. You can go on deck if you like,mother and Florry, or you may come with me into the pilot-house," addedChristy.
The engineer had to remain on duty, and Miss Florry mildly objected toleaving her present comfortable position on the sofa of the engine-room;but as her mother wished to go with her brother, she felt obliged to gowith her.
Christy gave his mother and sister places on the sofa abaft of thewheel, and then looked into the position of the steamer. But the twoquartermasters had so often steered the steamer up and down the riverthat they had done very well, and there was no especial need of themidshipman as a pilot. The Bellevite was not going at anything like herbest speed, or at her usual rate at sea. As she was going, it was abouta four-hours' run to New York, and Christy was not in a hurry to get tohis destination.
"Beeks, we have a prisoner, and I should like to take his measure," saidChristy to the senior quartermaster. "You may go aft and ask Sampson tobring him into the pilot-house."
"Bring him into the pilot-house," repeated the man, as he left theapartment.
"What are you going to do with your prisoner, Christy?" asked Mrs.Passford.
"I shall hand him over to the proper officers, and they can do what theyplease with him," replied the middy. "I don't want him: do you, mother?"
"What should I want of him?"
"Perhaps you want him, Florry?" asked Christy of his sister.
"I am sure I don't," she replied, pouting.
"Perhaps you will want him when you have seen him," added the middyroguishly.
At this moment Sampson appeared at the door of the pilot-house,conducting his prisoner, whose hands were still tied behind him. Christydid not see him at first, for he was looking at his sister; but herpretty face suddenly turned crimson, and her brother heard the sound offootsteps in the apartment.
As soon as he saw the prisoner, he started back in astonishment, thoughperhaps there was no particular reason to be surprised. It was not Mr.Haslett, as he had supposed, and it certainly was not Captain Carboneer.But it was Major Lindley Pierson, late commandant of Fort Gaines.Christy had not expected to meet him, and that was the only reason whyhe was astonished.
"Major Pierson!" exclaimed the midshipman, as soon as he had in somedegree recovered from his astonishment. "I believe we have met beforesomewhere."
"Without a doubt we have, Captain Passford," replied the major, who nolonger belonged to the Mulgate family.
"Not a captain, if you please; but I am none the less glad to see you onthat account. This is really a very unexpected pleasure."
"And quite as unexpected to me, I assure you, especially to meet theladies," added the prisoner as he bowed low to Mrs. Passford and herdaughter. "I had hoped I might meet Mrs. and Miss Passford before Ireturned to the South."
"And you had even hoped to take one of them back with you as a passengerin the Bellevite," Christy interpolated, with great good nature.
Major Pierson looked at him with a start, and it was his turn to beastonished. He was a prisoner, but he had the privilege of wondering howChristy knew so much about his affairs.
"Captain Carboneer is a very obstinate man, and did not take kindly tothe carrying of lady passengers in a man-of-war; but I think he wasright, though my view may be of no consequence to you," added the youngofficer. "I have the highest opinion of Captain Carboneer, for he is asolid, substantial man. By the way. Major Pierson, who is he?"
"He is Captain Carboneer," replied the major discreetly.
"Perhaps he is Captain Carboneer; I don't know: things are not alwayswhat they seem, and I find that persons are not, either. Hasn't thatbeen your experience, Mr. Mulgate--I beg your pardon, Major Pierson?"
The prisoner frowned, and gave a fierce glance at the midshipman, asthough he felt like annihilating him with a look. But he evidentlyconsidered just then that he was in the presence of the ladies, andperhaps that the flash of his eagle eye would not kill his tormentor,as the young man seemed to have become.
"I am your prisoner, or somebody's prisoner, Captain Passford, and thetables are turned against me. Of course, you don't expect me to giveinformation that will be of use to the enemies of my country."
"Of course not."
"When you were my prisoner, I think I treated you like a gentleman,"added Major Pierson.
"I think you did, sir; and that reminds me that your hands are tiedbehind you. You were so kind as to release me from my bonds when I wasin your power"--
"And it was the stupidest thing I ever did in my life," interposed theprisoner, with some bitterness.
"I am not familiar with the events of your life, and I cannot gainsayyour remark."
"You did not scruple to turn our own guns against us."
"As you would have done if you had succeeded in capturing theBellevite," added Christy, smartly. "This time makes twice that you didnot capture her."
"The third time may not fail."
"It may not; but I must be as magnanimous as you were. Sampson, releasethe gentleman."
"Thank you, Captain Passford; that is no more than I did for you whenyou were in the same situation."
"But I suppose you will not undertake to capture this ship after Ihave done as well by you as you did by me. I intend to treat you like agentleman, though the fortunes of war are against you. Now, perhaps youwill not object to answering a question or two, in which there can be notreason."
"I must be my own judge of the questions," replied the major, ratherhaughtily.
"Certainly, sir; and I shall not insist upon your answering anyquestion
. Was any one on board of the Vampire killed in this affair?"
"No one was killed."
"Were any wounded?"
"I am sorry to say that three were injured by the falling of the piecesof the walking-beam."
"Seriously?"
"Two slightly, and one severely."
"Thank you, major."
"Of course, I am not informed of the fate of those in the boat when itwas sunk," added the prisoner.
"I think no one was badly hurt in that part of the affair," saidChristy.
"Perhaps it will be of interest to you to know that Private Passford,formerly of my command, was the one who was severely wounded on board ofthe Vampire."
"Corny!" exclaimed Mrs. Passford.
"I am sorry to say that he was struck on the shoulder by a fragment ofthe machinery," replied the major, very politely, as he bowed low to thelady.
"Poor Corny!" ejaculated Miss Florry. "Is he very badly wounded, MajorPierson?"
"I do not know how seriously, but I am afraid he cannot use thatshoulder for a long time." replied the prisoner, fixing a look ofadmiration upon her, as if he were glad to have the privilege of lookingat her without causing any remark.
"I am so sorry for him. Corny was always real good to me when I havebeen at Glenfield," added the fair girl, and she actually shed somesympathetic tears as she thought of his wounded shoulder. "Can we notdo something for him, mother?"
"I shall be very glad to have him removed to the house, and I will takecare of him till he gets well. I don't know whether this can be done ornot. Perhaps Major Pierson can inform me."
"If your kind hearts prompt you to do this for one who is in armsagainst the government, I have no doubt it can be managed. He cangive his parole, and that will make it all right."
"He is my nephew, and I would do as much for him as I would for my ownson," replied Mrs. Passford heartily.
"And I as much as I would for my brother," added Miss Florry.
Everything was pleasant so far, though all the Passfords were worriedabout poor Corny, who had been with the ladies only the evening before.