by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER VI.
LIEUTENANT WYNKOOP, R. N.
The gentlemanly individual who addressed Somers wore the uniform of anEnglish naval officer. By easy and gentle approaches, he proceeded tomake himself very agreeable. He was lavish in his praise of theachievements of the "American navy," and was sure that no nation on theface of the globe had ever displayed such skill and energy in creating awar marine. Somers listened patiently to this eloquent and just tributeto the enterprise of his country; and if he had not suspected that theenthusiastic speaker was playing an assumed character, he would haveventured to suggest that the position of John Bull was rather equivocal;that a little less admiration, and a little more genuine sympathy, wouldbe more acceptable.
"We sailors belong to the same fraternity all over the world," said thepretended Englishman. "There is something in sailors which draws themtogether. I never meet one without desiring to know him better. Allow meto present you my card, and beg the favor of yours in return."
He handed his card to Somers, who read upon it the name of "LieutenantWynkoop, R. N." It was elaborately engraved, and our officer began tohave some doubts in regard to his new-found acquaintance, for the cardcould hardly have been got up since the interview of the precedingevening. This gentleman might not be Langdon, after all; but whether hewas or not, it was proper to treat him with respect and consideration.Somers wrote his name on a blank card, and gave it to him.
"Thank you, Mr. Somers: here is my hand," said Lieutenant Wynkoop, whenhe had read the name. "I am happy to make your acquaintance."
Somers took the offered hand, and made a courteous reply, to thesalutations of the other.
"May I beg the favor of your company to dinner with me in my privateparlor to-day?" continued Mr. Wynkoop. "I have a couple of bottles offine old sherry, which have twice made the voyage to India, sent to meby an esteemed American friend residing in this city."
"Thank you, Mr. Wynkoop. To the dinner I have not the slightestobjection; to the wine I have; and I'm afraid you must reserve it forsome one who will appreciate it more highly than I can. I never drinkwine."
"Ah, indeed?" said the presumed representative of the royal navy, as headjusted an eye-glass to his left eye, keeping it in position bycontracting the muscles above and below the visual member, which gave apeculiar squint to his expression, very trying to the risibles of hisauditor.
"I should be happy to dine with you, but I don't drink wine," repeatedSomers, in good-natured but rather bluff tones, for he did not wish tobe understood as apologizing for his total abstinence principles.
"I should be glad to meet you in my private parlor, say, at fouro'clock, whether you drink wine or not, Mr. Somers."
"Four o'clock?"
"It's rar-ther early, I know. If you prefer five, say the word," drawledMr. Wynkoop.
"I should say that would be nearer supper time than four," repliedSomers, who had lately been in the habit of dining at twelve inPinchbrook.
"Earlier if you please, then."
"Any hour that is convenient for you will suit me."
"Let it be four, then. But I must acknowledge, Mr. Somers, I am notentirely unselfish in desiring to make your acquaintance. The operationsof the American navy have astonished me, and I wish to know more aboutit. I landed in New York only a few days since, and I improve everyopportunity to make the acquaintance of American naval officers. I havenot yet visited one of your dock yards."
"I am going over to look at my ship this forenoon, and I should bedelighted with your company."
"Thank you! thank you!" exclaimed Mr. Wynkoop. "I shall be under greatobligations to you for the favor."
They went to the navy yard, visited the Chatauqua, and other vessels ofwar fitting out there. Mr. Wynkoop asked a thousand questions aboutships, engines, and armaments; and one could hardly help regarding himas the most enthusiastic admirer of naval architecture. Though thegentleman spoke in affected tones, Somers had recognized the voice ofLangdon. This was the person, without a doubt, who was to lure him intothe Confederate navy, who was to crown his aspirations with acommander's commission, and reward his infidelity with the command of afine steamer.
Somers was very impatient for the inquiring member of the royal navy tomake his proposition; for, strange as it may seem to the loyal reader,he had fully resolved to accept the brilliant offers he expected toreceive; to permit Coles to place the name of "John Somers" in the blankof the commander's commission which he had in his possession; and evento take his place on the quarter deck of the Ben Nevis, if it becamenecessary to carry proceedings to that extent.
But Lieutenant Wynkoop did not even allude to the Confederate navy, orto the Ben Nevis, and did not even attempt to sound the loyalty of hiscompanion. Somers concluded at last that this matter was reserved forthe after-dinner conversation; and as he could afford to wait, hecontinued to give his friend every facility for prosecuting hisinquiries into the secret of the marvellous success of the "Americannavy."
After writing out his statement of Coles's plans, he had carefully andprayerfully considered his duty in relation to the startling informationhe had thus accidentally obtained. Of course he had no doubt as to whathe should do. He must be sure that the Ben Nevis was handed over to thegovernment; that Coles and Langdon were put in close quarters. He onlyinquired how this should be done. Though the Snowden and the Theban hadbeen captured in the former instance, both Kennedy and Coles had escapedpunishment, and one of them was again engaged in the work of pullingdown the government.
If he gave information at the present stage of the conspiracy, his plansmight be defeated. Though Coles had mentioned no names, it was more thanprobable that he was aided and abetted in his treasonable projects byother persons. There were traitors in Boston, New York, andPhiladelphia, men of wealth and influence, occupying high positions insociety, who were engaged in just such enterprises as that which hadbeen revealed to the young naval officer.
Somers felt, therefore, that a premature exposure might ruin himselfwithout overthrowing the conspirators. A word from one of theseinfluential men might lay him on the shelf, to say the least, and removeall suspicion from the guilty ones. He must proceed with the utmostcaution, both for his own safety and the success of his enterprise.
Besides, he felt that, if he could get "inside of the ring," he shouldfind out who the great men were that were striking at the heart of thenation in the dark. By obtaining the confidence of the conspirators, hecould the more easily baffle them, and do the country a greater servicethan he could render on the quarter deck of the Chatauqua.
After an earnest and careful consideration of the whole matter, heconcluded that his present duty was to pay out rope enough to permitColes and his guilty associates to hang themselves. For this purpose, hewas prepared to receive Langdon with open arms, to accept the commissionintended for him, and to enter into the secret councils of his country'sbitterest enemies.
Somers, pure and patriotic in his motives, did not for a moment considerthat he exposed himself to any risk in thus entering the councils of thewicked, or even in taking a commission in the service of the enemy. Hedid not intend to aid or abet in the treason of the traitors, and he didnot think what might be the result if a rebel commission were found uponhis person. He might be killed in battle with this damning document inhis pocket. If any of the conspirators were caught, they might denouncehim as one of their number. He did not think of these things. He wasambitious to serve his treason-ridden country, and he forgot all abouthimself.
It was half past three when Somers and Wynkoop returned to the hotelfrom their visit to the navy yard. Langdon had evidently been inEngland, for he insisted upon calling it a "dock yard." They separatedto dress for dinner, as the courtly John Bull expressed it. At four theymet again in the private parlor, where an elegant dinner was served, andwhere Mr. Wynkoop sipped his sherry "which had twice made the voyage tothe East Indies," though it probably came from the cellar of the hotel.When the coffee had been brought in, and the waiters
had retired, therepresentative of the royal navy lighted his cigar, and began, in a verymoderate way, to express some slight admiration for the skill andprowess of the rebels. Somers helped him along until he became athorough rebel.
"With all my admiration for the American navy, Mr. Somers, I find thereis a great deal of injustice towards the officers, especially theyounger ones," continued Mr. Wynkoop, after he had sufficientlyindicated his sympathy for the "noble and gallant people who werestruggling against such hodds in the South."--The lieutenantoccasionally pressed an _h_ into use where it was not needed--probablyto be entirely consistent with himself.
"That's true; and I have suffered from it myself," replied Somers,determined that his companion should want no inducement to make hisproposition as soon as he was ready.
"I don't doubt it, Mr. Somers;" and Mr. Wynkoop stated some instanceswhich had come to his knowledge.
Somers then gave a list of his own imaginary grievances, and professedto be greatly dissatisfied with his present position and prospects.
"I think you would do better in the Confederate navy," said thelieutenant, warmly.
"Perhaps I should."
"Whichever side you fight for, you fight for your own country."
"That's true."
"When the South wins,--as win she will,--all who fought against her,will be like prophets in their own country--without honor. In less thantwo months the independence of the Confederate States will beacknowledged by England and France. I happen to know this."
"It would not surprise me."
"My uncle, the Earl of--never mind; I won't mention his name--my uncle,who is an intimate friend of Palmerston, told me so."
Somers was rather glad to hear it, for it would bring the desolating warto a close. Mr. Wynkoop hesitated no longer. He approached the realbusiness of the meeting rapidly, and in a few moments the commander'scommission was on the table. The offer was made, and Somers, with suchapparent qualms of conscience as a naval officer might be expected toexhibit on deserting his flag, accepted the proposition. Mr. Wynkoopwent into his sleeping apartment, adjoining the parlor, with thecommission in his hand.
He returned in a moment with the name of "John Somers," filled in theblank space left for that purpose, and handed it to his guest.
Somers shuddered when he saw his name written upon such an infernaldocument; for though he was still true to God, his country, and himself,the paper had an ugly look. But he regarded it only as evidence againstthe conspirators, rather than against himself; as a necessary formalityto enable him to frustrate the designs of traitors, rather than as ablot against his own name.
"Mr. Somers, I congratulate you. If you could be induced to join me in aglass of this old sherry, we would drink to the success of theLouisiana--for that is to be the name of your craft when you get tosea."
"I thank you, Mr. Wynkoop; you must excuse me."
"As you please. Mr. Somers, though I am an Englishman, and belong to theroyal navy, it is hardly necessary for me to say now, that I am in theservice of the South. I go with you in the Louisiana, as a passenger.Your first work will be to capture one of the California steamers, whichI am to transform into a man-of-war, and call the Texas. She will beunder my command."
"I am satisfied."
"By the way, Captain Somers," added Wynkoop, as he took a paper from hispocket, "here is the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States ofAmerica, which it will be necessary for you to sign."
This was more than Somers had bargained for, and he would have cut offhis right hand, or permitted his head to be severed from his body,rather than put his signature to the detested paper. A cold chill creptthrough his veins, as he glanced at the sheet on which it was printed,and he was afraid all he had done would fail because he could not dothis thing.
Lieutenant Wynkoop brought a pen and ink from his sleeping apartment,and placed it by the side of his guest.
"I would rather not sign this just now," said Somers. "It might get meinto trouble."
"Very well; we will attend to that after you get on board of the BenNevis," replied Wynkoop, as he took the oath and the commission, withthe pen and ink, and went into his chamber again.
He was absent several minutes this time, and Somers had an opportunityto review his position.
"Here is your commission, Captain Somers," said the lieutenant, as heplaced the document on the table. "On the whole, I think you had bettersign the oath now."
"I think it will do just as well when we get off."
"Perhaps it will; here are your orders," said he, handing Somersanother paper, and placing that containing the oath on the table.
At this moment, Somers heard a step in the direction of the bedroom. Heturned, with surprise, to see who it was, for he had heard no one enter.
"Ah, Somers, I am glad to see you," said the new arrival, stepping up tothe table, and glancing at the papers which lay open there.
It was Lieutenant Pillgrim.