by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XII.
THE BEN NEVIS.
The Chatauqua rolled along easily on her course during the rest of theday, until the dog watch, when Mr. Pillgrim had the deck again. Somers,having discharged his whole duty in reference to the conspiracy, wascontent to leave the matter in the hands of Mr. Hackleford, to whom hehad committed it.
At eight bells, as soon as Somers had been relieved from the afternoonwatch, he was not a little surprised to receive a message from thecaptain, inviting him to his cabin. He readily came to the conclusionthat the summons related to the conspiracy. When he entered the cabin,he saw Captain Cascabel and Mr. Hackleford seated at the table, on whichwas spread a general chart of the coast of the United States.
"Say what you wish to Mr. Somers," said the captain to the firstlieutenant.
"Mr. Somers, Captain Cascabel has sent for you in relation to the affairof which we talked in your state-room last night," Mr. Hackleford began."All that you have written out in your statement, and all that you toldme, have been fully confirmed."
"I intended to confine myself strictly to the facts," replied Somers,modestly.
"You have been very discreet and very prudent," added Mr. Hackleford.
"I fully concur," said Captain Cascabel. "You have exposed yourself tono little peril, in your zeal to serve your country."
Somers bowed and blushed.
"I confess that I had some doubts in regard to the result of youroperations, Mr. Somers," continued the first lieutenant; "but I amentirely satisfied now that Mr. Pillgrim is just what you represent himto be."
"All that you affirmed has been fully verified," added the captain.
He did not say that both himself and Mr. Hackleford had listened to theentire conversation between Somers and the traitor in the forenoon,occupying one of the captain's state-rooms, which adjoined the starboardside of the ward-room, having bored a couple of holes through thepartition, behind the bureau; he did not say this, for it was hardlydignified for a captain to play the eavesdropper, even in a good cause.Somers knew that Mr. Hackleford was at hand at the time, and hadarranged a set of signals by which he could advise the young officer, ifhe should be in doubt. One rap meant, "No;" two raps, "Yes;" and threeraps, "Give no direct answer." When Somers was in doubt respecting thebond, he asked the question of the empty air, apparently, but really ofMr. Hackleford, who had promptly replied in the affirmative by givingthe two knocks, which had startled the traitor.
"Mr. Somers, what do you know of the Ben Nevis?" asked the captain.
"She was to sail from St. John on the 4th of July, to run the blockadeat Wilmington. She is said to make sixteen knots, under favorablecircumstances."
"She has had a head wind part of the time. If she has made twelve on theaverage, she has done well," said Mr. Hackleford.
"She will be due off Cape Fear some time after meridian to-morrow,"added the captain, consulting a paper, on which were severalarithmetical operations.
The calculations were carefully reviewed, and Somers was questioned atconsiderable length; but he had already given all the information hepossessed. It was evidently the intention of Captain Cascabel to capturethe Ben Nevis, though he did not announce his purpose.
"After what has occurred, Mr. Somers, you may be surprised that Mr.Pillgrim has not been relieved from duty and placed under arrest,"continued Captain Cascabel, after the position of the Ben Nevis had beencarefully estimated.
"I leave the matter entirely in the hands of my superior officers,"replied Somers. "Having cast the responsibility upon them, I am willingto obey orders without asking any questions."
"That is a very proper view to take of the subject, and I commend yourmoderation," said the captain, with a pleasant smile. "It has beenthought best not to disturb Mr. Pillgrim for a day or two, for otherevents may transpire."
Captain Cascabel bowed to Somers, and intimated that he had no furtherneed of him at present.
"Ah, Mr. Somers, been visiting the captain," said the second lieutenant,as his victim came on deck.
"I was sent for."
"What was the business?"
Fortunately, Mr. Transit, who was planking the deck on the lee side,approached near enough to enable Somers to avoid answering the question,and he thus escaped the necessity of telling a falsehood. But as soon asMr. Garboard took the deck, Pillgrim repeated the inquiry, and the youngofficer was obliged to narrate an imaginary conversation.
"It's no matter, Somers. You understand that I have a rope round yourneck, and I am not at all afraid that you will make an improper use ofyour tongue."
"I certainly shall not," answered Somers, with emphasis. "You may dependupon me for that."
"The fact is, Somers, I have got a mortgage on you; and I want no bettersecurity for your good conduct."
"You needn't trouble yourself at all about me."
"I shall not; because, if you wish to betray me, I should rather enjoyit. I have been your best friend. Instead of blowing your brains out formaking an end of poor Phil Kennedy, I have taken you into my confidence.You shall marry the prettiest and the richest girl north of the Potomac;and when Union officers are proscribed and condemned after the war, youwill have a friend at court who will speak a good word for you."
"Thank you; but do you really believe that the South will carry theday?"
"I'm sure of it. England is our best friend; and Louis Napoleon, inorder to complete his Mexican scheme, must recognize the Confederacy.When France does the job, England will be only one day behind her."
"If I go with you, I shall be on the winning side, then."
"If you do? You have gone with me. Though I don't ask you to help theSouth openly, I expect you to be a friend of the government which mustsoon rule the country. Leave it all to me, Somers, and I will manage thebusiness for you and myself. You must confess, Somers, that I am alittle ahead of you in strategy," said the traitor, with a complacentsmile.
"You beat me in the game we have been playing; but that only makes useven, for I got the better of you in another affair."
"Not of me; it was the stupidity of Phil Kennedy that ruined the Snowdenbusiness. I pride myself on my strategy, Somers. I have never beenbeaten in anything of this kind yet. The fact of it is, I know whom totrust. I never give my confidence to a man who dares to betray it,"replied Pillgrim, rubbing his hands with delight at his own cleverness.
Somers was of the opinion that he would think differently before manydays had elapsed; but he was as prudent as the circumstances required.
At eight bells, the fourth lieutenant took the deck for the first watch;and from that time until the following afternoon, he saw but little ofthe conspirator. At this time, the ship was off Cape Fear, though toofar out to sight the land, or even the outer line of blockaders whichkept vigilant watch over the entrance to the river. Precisely at themoment when one bell struck in the first dog-watch, the engine of theChatauqua, without any order from the officer of the deck, and withoutany apparent reason, suddenly stopped.
It had proved itself to be a very good and well-meaning engine, thusfar, and all hands began to wonder what had happened, or what was goingto happen. But Mr. Cranklin, the chief engineer, presently reported thatthere was a "screw loose" somewhere, and that it would be necessary tolay to, and make some repairs. Certainly it was a very opportune momentfor the ship to stop; and those who did not know what had passed betweenthe chief engineer and the first lieutenant might have supposed that thezealous engine, heretofore so faithful in the discharge of its tryingduties, had overheard some of the conversation we have related, and waswaiting for the Ben Nevis to show herself to seaward.
In further confirmation that the stoppage was not entirely owing to theobstinacy of the engine, it was observed that extra lookout men had beenstationed on the fore yard, and on the cross-trees, since meridian ofthat day. The captain and the first lieutenant were often seen inconfidential communication; and everybody on board seemed to beimpressed with the idea that something was about to "turn up.
"
Something did "turn up," about three bells; for the man on the forecross-trees, reported a vessel on the beam. The dense mass of blacksmoke in the wake of her smoke-stack indicated that she was an Englishblockade runner, approaching the coast so as to run in after dark. Assoon as this agreeable information spread through the Chatauqua, itcreated an intense excitement, not manifested in noisy demonstrations,for that would have been in violation of the strict rule of navaldiscipline, but in the expectant eyes and stimulated movements of theofficers and crew, to whose pockets, as well as to their nationalpride, the prospect of a rich prize appealed with tremendous force.
At this thrilling moment, when everything depended upon the sailingqualities of the Chatauqua, either Mr. Cranklin had completed hisremedial efforts, or the engine had come to a realizing sense of theproprieties of the occasion, and was sensible of the appallingwickedness of disappointing the two hundred and fifty anxious souls onboard. The docile machine was reported to be in condition for activeservice. The bells pealed forth the signal to "go ahead slowly," then"at full speed," and the Chatauqua darted away.
"Hard a starboard!" said Mr. Somers, now the officer of the deck, to thequartermaster, who was conning the wheel.
"Hard a starboard, sir!"
"Steady!"
"Steady, sir!"
"What does this mean, Somers?" demanded Pillgrim, in a low, angry tone,as he passed the officer of the deck.
"I don't know, sir. I only obey orders," replied Somers, as he glancedahead at the chase.
"Do you know what steamer that is?" asked Pillgrim.
"How should I?"
"It is the Ben Nevis."
"How do you know?"
"I know; that is sufficient. We must save her," said the secondlieutenant, in low, but excited tones.
The chase continued for half an hour longer, when it was evident thatthe Ben Nevis--for it was indeed she--had changed her course, and washeaded to the eastward.
"This will never do, Mr. Somers," said Mr. Hackleford. "We can't sailwith her. We must change our tactics."
"She gains upon us," replied Somers.
"No doubt of it."
"I am afraid we shall lose her, sir."
"I would give my year's pay to capture her, Mr. Somers, if it were onlyfor your sake."
Somers suggested an idea to the first lieutenant, who, after theapproval of Captain Cascabel, adopted it.
"Clear away the first cutter," said Mr. Hackleford. "Lower away."
The first cutter was soon in the water, the ship having now stopped herengine.
"Mr. Pillgrim, you will stand by in the first cutter till that steamercomes up. Capture her if her papers are not all right, or if she isbound into Wilmington."
A smile of satisfaction lighted up the countenance of the secondlieutenant, when he found he was to go in the boat. The first cutterpulled away.
"Clear away the second cutter!" said the first lieutenant; and whilethe men were eagerly performing this duty, the captain instructedSomers, who was to go in her, in regard to the duty he was expected toperform.
Somers took his place in the stern-sheets of the second cutter, whichwas armed with a twenty-four pounder howitzer, while the first cutterhad nothing but small arms. As soon as this boat left the ship's side,the Chatauqua came about, as though she had abandoned the chase, andstood to the westward.
The Ben Nevis immediately discovered the change which had been made inthe course of her pursuer. Apparently satisfied that she had outwittedthe man-of-war, she put about and headed towards the coast again,without suspecting the fact that two boats lay in her track.