Brave Old Salt; or, Life on the Quarter Deck: A Story of the Great Rebellion

by Oliver Optic

  CHAPTER XXI.

  THE BEN LOMOND.

  "That's a bold step, Mr. Somers," said Tom Longstone, as the whale-boatdashed on towards the intended prize.

  "If it were less bold, it would be more dangerous," replied Somers,easily; for he entered so fully into the spirit of the affair, that hefelt quite at home, and was hardly disturbed by a doubt of finalsuccess.

  "Where is Mr. Pillgrim now?" asked the boatswain.

  "I haven't the least idea; but I think he cannot be far off."

  "You left him at Fortress Monroe?"

  "Yes; he had started for the South then, to take command, I suppose, ofthis vessel. The traitor's plan was to come down on the Chatauqua, andthen bring out this vessel perhaps, on the pretence of capturing her. Atany rate, he was going to use his official position in the navy to helphim get the Tallapoosa out of the bay, and past the blockading squadron.If not, he would not have gone in her, and thus wasted so much of hisvaluable time. I wish I knew where he is now."

  "Perhaps it don't make much difference."

  "I am afraid it will make considerable difference. Suppose the traitorhas been on board the Ben Lomond?"

  "The what?"

  "The Tallapoosa; they have changed her name. Keep a sharp lookoutforward for the ship, bowman."

  "Ay, ay, sir! I can't see a thing yet."

  "Suppose he has been on board, Mr. Somers?" continued the boatswain.

  "If he has, we may have to fight for the vessel."

  "Well, we can do that," replied Tom, as he involuntarily grasped hiscutlass.

  "He has forty men aboard of her now, besides the firemen andcoal-heavers."

  "Our boys wouldn't mind forty of them."

  "I should not hesitate to attack her, but the noise would wake up therebel iron clads and gunboats. We must get the vessel without fighting.I don't believe Pillgrim has been on board of her. If he had, thatpicket officer would have known that I am not the man. I'm not going tocroak about the business, though. In my opinion it will be all right."

  "Of course the Tallapoosa is in charge of some one."

  "All her officers are on board, except the commander, we were told."

  "Some of them may know Mr. Pillgrim," suggested the boatswain, who hadmore fears for his young commander than the latter had for himself.

  "Mr. Pillgrim has been in the North, and in England since the war began.I am of the opinion that those on board do not know him."

  "Suppose they do?"

  "I shall put them under arrest if they refuse to obey my orders."

  "You are smart, Mr. Somers," said Tom, who chuckled over the adroitnessof his _protege_, even while he trembled for his safety and success.

  "Steamer ahead, sir!" reported the bowman.

  "Where does she lie?"

  "On the starboard bow, sir!"

  "Port a little," said Somers. "Now, my men, you will obey orders andkeep silent. Answer no questions which may be put to you."

  "Ay, ay, sir," responded the crew, cheerfully; for though they seemed tobe knocking at the door of a rebel prison, they had full confidence intheir gallant young leader.

  Perhaps some of them "had their doubts," for four and twenty men arehardly ever gathered together, among whom there are not more or less whoare disposed to grumble, and croak, and imagine possible disasters.Within the rebel lines, surrounded by Confederate vessels, and on thepoint of confronting superior numbers, it would not have beensurprising if these men had been rather uncertain of the future.Whatever doubts or fears they had, they believed in Somers.

  "My lads," continued the commander of the expedition, in a low tone,"you are rebel sailors for an hour or so. You will talk and act as such.Do you understand me?"

  "Ay, ay, sir."

  "You will call me Captain Pillgrim."

  The men had listened to the conversation between their officer and thepickets, and they comprehended enough of the plan to enable them to actintelligently.

  "Tom," said Somers, "there is nothing to prevent me from acting just asMr. Pillgrim would do, if he were in my place."

  "That's so."

  "I could go to sea in this steamer, and plunder all the vessels I couldoverhaul."

  "So you could," replied the boatswain, who seemed to be amazed even atsuch a suggestion.

  "I'm not sure that I am not carrying out the very plan which the traitorhad in his mind. Perhaps he intended to do just what I have done, whenhe reached the blockading station."

  "Very likely."

  "Then I shall be Mr. Pillgrim, and carry out his purpose to the letter;only, when we get out of the bay I shall do rather differently from whathe intended."

  "Boat ahoy!" shouted a man at the gangway of the Ben Lomond.

  "On board the Tallapoosa!" replied Somers.

  "Keep off," said the man, who seemed to be the officer of the deck. "Whoare you?"

  "Commander John Pillgrim, Confederate States navy, and captain of thisship."

  "Man the side, you lubbers!" added the boatswain, rather improving onthe suggestion of Somers, given him at this moment.

  "Captain Pillgrim?" said the officer of the deck.

  "I said so. Is the ship ready to sail?"

  "She is, sir; we have kept steam up all day, waiting for you."

  "Good! You are the right officers for me. I commend you," repliedSomers, as he mounted the accommodation ladder.

  The pretended commander went up the side, closely followed by Longstoneand a dozen of the sailors, and stepped down upon the deck.

  "I have not the pleasure of your acquaintance, I believe," added Somers,confronting the officer.

  "Mr. Swayne, second lieutenant, sir," replied the officer. "Mr. Langdonis below, sir. I will send for him."

  Langdon! It was all up with Somers! Langdon knew him, had dined withhim, had been intimate with him, and of course it would be useless toattempt to pass himself off as Mr. Pillgrim.

  "Stop, sir!" said Somers, sternly, and with great presence of mind."When did Mr. Langdon come on board?"

  "Nearly a week ago, sir, when the rest of us did."

  "Indeed!" added Somers, savagely. "Mr. Langdon and myself have a littleaccount to settle. He has disobeyed my orders, and I never will go tosea with such a man as executive officer. Mr. Swayne, for the presentyou will act as first lieutenant. I shall put Mr. Langdon under arrestat once."

  "Here he comes, sir."

  "Mr. Longstone, you will arrest the first lieutenant at once; put him inirons if he resists," said Somers, as he saw Langdon come up thecompanion-way.

  The stalwart boatswain confronted the astonished officer, as heapproached the spot where Somers stood with the second lieutenant.

  "By order of Captain Pillgrim, you are placed under arrest," said Tom,as, with a couple of seamen, he placed himself in front of the executiveofficer.

  "Under arrest?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "What for?"

  "For disobedience of orders."

  "By whose command?" demanded the bewildered Langdon.

  "Captain Pillgrim's, sir?"

  "Impossible!"

  "I beg your pardon, sir, but the captain told me to lose no time. He isgoing to sea at once."

  "Is Captain Pillgrim on board?"

  "Of course he is. I just came off with him. He ordered me to arrestyou."

  "Who are you, sir?"

  "Blarney, sir!" exclaimed the boatswain, impatiently; "I can't stop--"

  "Mr. Blarney, will you do me the favor to ask Captain Pillgrim for amoment's conversation with me. There must be some mistake, Mr. Blarney."

  "Can't stop, sir," answered Tom, who could not even pause long enough tolaugh at the rebel's blunder. "My orders are to put you in irons if youresist. What do you say, Mr. Langdon?"

  "Of course I do not resist; but there is some mistake."

  "No mistake, upon my honor. You may take my word for it, the business isall straight."

  "With what am I charged?"

  "With disobedience of orders; and, M
r. Langdon, you'll excuse me, butthere's a suspicion that you mean to go over to the Yankees."

  "I! To the Yankees!"

  "Beg pardon, sir; but I can't stop to blarney any longer. My duty isplain; and I'll bet a month's pay you will see the captain sooner thanyou want to. Down below if you please, sir, to your state-room."

  Langdon obeyed in dogged silence. No doubt he much wondered who therough fellow was that subjected him to this summary treatment. But thesalutary hint about irons seemed to satisfy him, and when he had goneinto his room, the door was closed, and a seaman placed before it.Longstone returned to the deck, touched his cap politely to Somers, andreported his orders executed.

  "Mr. Swayne, you will call all hands," said the new commander of theTallapoosa, when his dangerous first lieutenant had been secured.

  The boatswain of the steamer piped all hands, among whom the seamen fromthe Chatauqua mingled, and made themselves entirely at home.

  "Mr. Swayne, will you do me the favor to read my commission to thecrew," said Somers, handing him the document which he had carefully"tinkered" to suit the present occasion.

  Tom Longstone held the lantern, and the acting first lieutenant promptlycomplied with the request of the assumed commander. The documentproclaimed that John Pillgrim was duly invested with authority as acommander in the Confederate navy, and was duly signed by "S. R.Mallory," though whether that distinguished rebel functionary hadactually issued the paper or not, Somers was himself as ignorant as theothers who listened to the reading.

  From his orders Somers then read enough to satisfy any who might be indoubt of his appointment to the Tallapoosa, which name he hadsubstituted for that of Ben Nevis, as it read on the original document,given him by Langdon, _alias_ Lieutenant Wynkoop.

  "Are you satisfied, Mr. Swayne?" asked the commander, when he hadfinished the document.

  "Entirely so, Captain Pillgrim," replied the first lieutenant.

  If he had not been satisfied, probably he would have been put underarrest as summarily as his superior had been a few moments before. Withsuch an energetic captain, it was lucky for him he was satisfied!Perhaps Mr. Swayne was duly and properly impressed by the decidedcharacter of his commander, and deemed it prudent to raise noobjections.

  "Are you satisfied, gentlemen?" asked Somers, turning to the littlegroup of officers.

  Fortunately for them, and perhaps for Somers too, they were alsosatisfied.

  "My lads," continued the courteous but decisive captain, "you havelistened to my commission, and you have listened to my orders."

  Somers paused, and the two first-class firemen from the Chatauquastarted a demonstration of applause which was a complete success.

  "My lads, I am going out to take a look at the Yankee fleet, to-night,"he proceeded.

  Applause.

  "I am a fighting man."

  More applause.

  "That Yankee fleet will not stop me!" added Somers, with enthusiasm.

  "That's so!" shouted one of the first-class firemen, who had a highappreciation of a good joke; and his remark was followed by a storm ofapplause.

  "I repeat, my lads, the Yankee fleet will not stop me. I shall pay myrespects to the Yankee admiral down there before the sun rises."

  Tumultuous applause.

  "Now, my lads, I mean just what I say, and I say just what I mean. Icommand this ship, and every man on board obeys me. I am going throughthe Yankee fleet; will you go with me?"

  "Ay, ay, sir!" roared the crew; and the voices of the Chatauqua's peoplewere prominent in the reply.

  "Will you go where I lead you?"

  "Ay, ay, sir."

  "Very likely I shall send you upon the deck of the heaviest man-of-warin the Yankee squadron; but I will go with you."

  "Bully for the captain!" shouted the enthusiastic first-class fireman,which remark was indorsed and approved by the crew in general.

  "What an awful fellow he is!--a regular fire-eater," whispered Mr.Swayne to Tom Longstone.

  "He will do all he says he will," replied the boatswain.

  "Will he board a Yankee frigate?"

  "It's like him; but he is as prudent as he is brave."

  "Now, my lads, to your duty. We shall get under way at once, and I wantevery man to be true to God and his country," continued Somers.

  "Three cheers for the captain!" shouted the fireman; and they were givenwith a will, as Somers walked aft.