by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PRIZE STEAMER.
It was quite dark when the capture of the Ben Nevis was completed.Rockets were thrown up to inform the Chatauqua of her present position,and with guards of seamen in the engine and fire-rooms, the wheels ofthe captured steamer were set in motion, and she was headed to thenorth. Somers displayed his usual decision and energy, and perhaps themen began to think, by this time, that the young officer knew his dutyand was competent to perform it.
While the Ben Nevis was making her way towards the Chatauqua, Somerspaced the deck, thinking of the great event which had just transpired.The captain of the Ben Nevis, sullen and discontented, stood by thequartermaster at the wheel. He had attempted to enter the state-room ofthe wounded officer, but the seamen in charge of the prisoner had beeninstructed to exclude him, and they carefully obeyed their orders.
The men of the first and second cutters were silent and troubled.Perhaps they fully sympathized with Somers, and dreaded the consequenceof the decisive deed he had performed. However the petty officers andseamen felt, it is quite certain that Boatswain Longstone could hardlykeep from weeping when he thought of the punishment which might be instore for his young friend. He was in charge of the lookouts forward,and when the Chatauqua was sighted, he went aft to report to Somers.
"Very well; we shall soon see the end of this business," said the youngofficer.
"I would like to see you safe through it," added the boatswain, in tonesof unaffected sympathy.
"What's the matter, Tom?" asked Somers.
"I feel worse to-night than I have before for twenty odd years," groanedTom.
"Why so?"
"I'm afraid this is bad business. It's no little thing to fire a pistolat your superior officer."
"I told you what he was."
"I know you said he was a traitor; but it don't do for an officer in thenavy to take the law into his own hands."
"This steamer makes sixteen knots an hour, they say," said Somers, witha smile.
The boatswain looked at him, and wondered what this had to do withshooting the second lieutenant.
"She was going to run the blockade," continued Somers.
"No doubt of that."
"Then they intended to fit her out as a Confederate cruiser."
"Perhaps they did, Mr. Somers; you know best."
"Mr. Pillgrim did not intend to capture her."
"He did not, sartinly."
"Suppose I had permitted this vessel to go on her way, to run theblockade, which she could have done as easily as a hundred others havedone the same thing, at the same place, and then come out as aman-of-war."
"But Mr. Pillgrim was your superior officer, and he was responsible, notyou."
"I carried out my orders to the letter, Tom."
"Did you?"
"To the letter, I said."
"Were you ordered to shoot Mr. Pillgrim?"
"Yes, if necessary."
"Thank'ee, Mr. Somers. You have taken a weight heavier than the bestbower off my stomach. I'd rather be where Jonah was--in the whale'sbelly--than see any harm come to you. I feel better now."
"You shall know all about it, Tom, in a few days, or perhaps a fewhours."
"I'm satisfied, Mr. Somers. Shiver my kevel-heads, but I ought to havebeen satisfied with anything you do."
By this time the steamer came up with the Chatauqua, and both vesselsstopped their engines, as the Ben Nevis rounded to under the stern ofthe man-of-war.
"Chatauqua, ahoy!" shouted Somers.
"On board the prize!" replied the officer of the deck.
"Send the surgeon on board, if you please."
"Ay, ay."
In a few moments the third cutter, in charge of Mr. Transit, the master,put off from the ship, with Dr. De Plesion on board.
"Where is Mr. Pillgrim, sir?" asked the master of Somers.
"Wounded, below."
"Mr. Hackleford wishes your report forthwith on board the ship."
"Mr. Transit, Mr. Pillgrim is under arrest. You will permit no one tocommunicate with him except the surgeon."
"Under arrest!" exclaimed Mr. Transit.
"I have no time to explain," replied Somers, as he directed his coxswainto pipe down his boat's crew.
When the second cutter was hauled up to the accommodation ladder, Somersstepped on board, and a few moments later, touched his hat to the firstlieutenant on the quarter deck of the Chatauqua.
"I have to report that I have captured the Ben Nevis," said Somers.
"Where is Mr. Pillgrim?" asked Mr. Hackleford, the captain standing by,an interested and excited listener.
"He is wounded, and under arrest, sir."
"How wounded?"
"He fired at me, and in self-defence I was obliged to shoot him. I thinkhe is not seriously wounded. He boarded the Ben Nevis, and had given thecaptain of her permission to proceed, though the vessel was headedtowards Cape Fear."
"You have done well, Mr. Somers," said Captain Cascabel. "Beat toquarters, Mr. Hackleford."
When the crew were at quarters, Mr. Hackleford explained to them whathad occurred, and fully justified the course of the fourth lieutenant;whereupon an earnest and enthusiastic cheer rang through the ship.
"Are you satisfied, Tom?" asked Somers of the boatswain.
"Bless ye! I was satisfied before, Mr. Somers. There is only one darkthing in the whole of it."
"What's that, Tom?"
"If Captain Cascabel and Mr. Hackleford both knew that Mr. Pillgrim wasa traitor, why did they send him out to capture that steamer? That'swhat I can't see through."
"Can't you? Well, if they had not sent him, we should not have capturedthe Ben Nevis."
"I don't see why."
"Don't you? Well, you are not as sharp as you are sometimes."
"I know I'm dull, Mr. Somers, but splinter my figger head if I can seethrough it."
"The Ben Nevis is good for fifteen knots at least."
"I know that; she did it while we were coming up."
"The Chatauqua can't make more than twelve."
"That's true."
"Then, of course, the Chatauqua could not catch the Ben Nevis."
"That's clear enough. But we were out in the boats, and were closeaboard of her."
"And just then she sheered off. Could the boats have overhauled her?"
"Sartinly not; but you could have put a shot through her hull."
"Which might, at that distance, have disabled her, and might not. Thechances were all against us. But the moment Mr. Pillgrim hailed her, andswung his cap, she stopped her wheels. They knew very well he would notdetain her."
"I see now."
"Probably the captain of the Ben Nevis knew the Chatauqua, and knew thatPillgrim was on board of her, and they were on the lookout for him. Ifany other officer than myself had been in the second cutter, I amsatisfied Mr. Pillgrim would not have returned to his boat, but wouldhave staid on board the Ben Nevis."
"He's a horrible villain--arn't he?" said the honest boatswain.
This conversation took place while Captain Cascabel was preparing hisdespatches to be sent by the prize steamer to the navy department. Whenthey were completed, Somers was sent for, and he repaired at once to thecaptain's cabin.
"Mr. Somers, though I can hardly spare you, I feel compelled to send youhome as prize master in the Ben Nevis. I have commended you to thedepartment," said Captain Cascabel, as he handed him the despatches.
"Thank you, sir."
A prize crew was at once detailed, with two master's mates to act asfirst and second officers, and a corporal and three marines to guard theprisoner who was to be sent back in the prize. Somers bade a hasty goodby to his brother officers, and with his crew was sent on board the BenNevis, whose deck he was now to tread for a brief period as hercommander. His orders required him to take the Ben Nevis to FortressMonroe, and there communicate with the navy department.
"Well, doctor, how is your patient?" asked Somers, when he reached
thedeck of the prize.
"He will do very well. If you had put the bullet half an inch nearer hisbrain, you would have finished him. The skin is torn off the side of hishead, and I suppose the ball stunned him. He is sitting up now, andappears to be as well as ever, though in no very amiable frame of mind."
"I suppose not."
"He says you are a rebel and a traitor, and he intends to prove it. Itold him I thought his wound had affected his brain."
"It would require a long story to explain what he means. Mr. Hacklefordhas the papers, and I doubt not he will tell you all about it, doctor,"replied Somers, as he proceeded to arrange for the return voyage.
All who were not going home in the Ben Nevis were sent back to theChatauqua. The firemen and engineers of the prize steamer were willingto discharge their duties as before, and under the direction of one ofthe second assistants from the ship, they were set at work. The firstand third cutters pulled away towards the man-of-war, giving threerousing cheers as they departed, and the Ben Nevis steamed away to thenorthward.
By this time it was ten o'clock at night. The watch was set on deck, andSomers went below to obtain his supper, for he felt the need of somerest and refreshment. The steward, anxious to be on good terms with thenew commander, had provided the best meal the larder of the Ben Nevisafforded, and Somers was hungry enough to do it ample justice.
A marine, with cutlass and revolver, stood at the door of Pillgrim'sstate-room. When Somers had finished his supper, and was about to go ondeck, the sentinel informed him that the prisoner had knocked severaltimes on his door.
"See what he wants."
The marine opened the door.
"Who is the prize master?" asked Pillgrim.
The sentinel looked at Somers for permission before he replied.
"Answer him."
"Mr. Somers," answered the marine.
"Will you present my compliments to Mr. Somers, and say that I beg thefavor of an interview with him?"
Again the sentinel glanced at Somers.
"With pleasure," replied the prize master, as politely as the requestwas made.
"Ah, Mr. Somers," said the traitor, as the new commander of the BenNevis stepped forward and showed himself to the prisoner, "I am happy tosee you."
"Are you, indeed?" added Somers, rather amused at the smooth tones ofthe traitor.
"I am, I assure you. Might I beg the favor of a few moments' privateconversation with you?"
"Certainly; have you any weapons about you?"
"None, whatever."
Somers directed the marine to seat himself at the farther end of thecabin.
"Thank you, Mr. Somers; you are as kind and generous as ever."
"Let me say, Mr. Pillgrim, that flattery and threats are all the same tome."
"Somers, you have me on the hip."
"I know it."
"You have won the game."
"I know it."
"I am in your power."
"I know it."
Pillgrim appeared to be hopeless and disconcerted.
"Somers, I have, in a bank in Philadelphia, fifty thousand dollars."
"What bank?"
"Excuse me; the confiscation laws are dangerous to men in my situation."
"No matter; I will inform the proper officers of the fact, and they canfind out what bank."
Pillgrim bit his lip.
"I will give you this money if you will--"
"Silence, sir! There is not money enough in the whole world to bribeme."
"I still have the oath of allegiance--signed by you, and--"
"No, you haven't. Mr. Hackleford has it. You left it in yourstate-room."
"Now listen to reason, Somers."
"I shall. Reason counsels me to do my duty."
"Somers, I will be revenged."
"Good night, Mr. Pillgrim. I see you have nothing of importance to sayto me;" and Somers went on deck after calling the marine back to hispost.