by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER VIII
A DISCONSOLATE PURCHASER OF VESSELS
The information in regard to Florry was very meagre and very indefinite.She was a very beautiful young lady of eighteen; and it was not at allstrange that a young Confederate officer should be attracted to her,though the thought of it was exceedingly disagreeable to her father,under present circumstances.
Percy evidently was not satisfied with the situation; and after he hadgiven the information which had so disturbed the owner of the steamer,he desired to change the subject of the conversation, to which CaptainPassford only assented after he realized that nothing could beascertained from him in regard to his daughter.
"I don't think I quite understand the situation on board of thissteamer," said Percy, when he had told all he knew about the visits ofhis brother at Glenfield.
"What further do you desire to know in regard to her?" asked CaptainPassford; for the commander, when he saw that there was a family matterinvolved in the conversation, was disposed to be very reticent.
"I did not come on board of this vessel in the manner I did--I do noteven know her name yet," continued Percy; and when he found that he wastalking to a brother of Colonel Passford, he dropped all his rathermagnificent airs, and became quite sensible.
"The steamer is called the Bellevite," replied the owner.
"The Bellevite. It is an odd name, but I think I can remember it. I wasabout to say that I did not come on board of her, as I did, without anobject; for I assure you that I am high-toned enough not to do any thingin an irregular manner unless for the most weighty reasons," said Percy,with an anxious look directed towards the island, which was now almostout of sight.
"I do not ask your reasons; but, if you wish to give them, I will hearall you have to say, Mr. Percy," replied the owner.
"I talked with Mr. Pierson on shore; and though he was disposed at firstto chaff me, and avoid giving me any information in regard to thissteamer, he afterwards informed me that the gentleman who owned herintended to get rid of her as soon as he could."
"And you came on board for the purpose of buying her?" suggested CaptainPassford.
"I did not expect to buy her myself, of course; but my father isexceedingly anxious to obtain a steamer like this one, and he asked meto do what I could to obtain any information in regard to her. That wasthe object which brought me on board of her in a clandestine manner."
"You were very zealous in meeting the wishes of your father."
"More than that, I was at work in a good cause; and I think I havepatriotism enough to do my duty to my country in the hour of her need,"added the young man, with a swell of the chest.
"After his family, a man's first duty is to his country," said theowner.
"I wanted to go into the army, for I am eighteen years old; but myfather insisted that I could be of more service to the Confederacy ashis assistant in obtaining vessels for its use."
"I understand your motives."
"From what I learned from Mr. Pierson,--though I do not yet know who orwhat he is," said Percy, bestowing a smiling glance upon Christy.
"You may look upon him as my nephew," added Captain Passford, glancingat his son, who gave a slight bow for the benefit of the guest on board.
"From what I could learn from your nephew, sir, I concluded that thissteamer could be bought, if I could only obtain an interview with theowner," continued Percy, with an inquiring glance at all who werepresent "I understand you are the owner of the vessel, CaptainPassford."
"You are quite right: she has been my yacht since she was built, and astronger and more able vessel was never put into the water."
"Mr. Pierson gave me to understand that he was in sympathy with theConfederacy; and since I came on board, and learned that you were abrother of our nearest neighbor, I have no difficulty in arriving at theconclusion that you are a devoted friend of the Southern cause."
"What I am, for the present, I do not feel at liberty to say," repliedCaptain Passford, who was certainly reluctant to play a double partbefore the young man, though he felt that the necessities of theoccasion required him to do so.
"Quite right, sir; one cannot be too cautious in these times. But itis time for me to say that I did not intend to take passage in theBellevite, and I am sure my father will be very anxious in my absence."
"May I ask how you did intend to proceed?"
"I can hardly tell myself, sir; but my object was to see the owner assoon as I could discover who he was. But I have found you now, CaptainPassford, and I am glad to find in you a friend of our holy cause."
The owner only bowed; and it was as true as it could be that therepresentative of the intended purchaser of vessels jumped at nearly allof his conclusions, giving the captain but little occasion to say anything that was not literally true; though the deception was just as realas though it had been carried on with actual falsehood.
"May I ask you for a few minutes in private, Captain Passford?"continued Percy.
"Certainly;" and the owner retired with him to the weather-rail.
"I have seen this vessel, and I have heard what you say of her. Now I ambetter informed in regard to her than my father is. I am not authorizedto name a price, but I am very sure that he will buy her."
"So he said to me himself, Mr. Percy," added the owner with a smile.
"He said so to you, sir!" exclaimed the young man, starting back; for hebelieved that he had accomplished all that had been done towards buyingthe vessel.
"I had an interview with him, and stated most explicitly that theBellevite could not be purchased by any person at any price; and whenI hinted very guardedly to him, as I do to you, in the strictestconfidence, that I am hound for Mobile Bay, he did not urge the matter.He was satisfied that the steamer was to be used in a good cause; and Ican give you the same assurance, Mr. Percy."
The young man looked positively humble after he had listened to theremark of the owner, for he felt that his father had "taken all the windout of his sails." He looked in the direction of the receding island ofNassau, and realized that he had been wasting his time, to say nothingof the wasted strategy he had bestowed on his enterprise.
"You have stated that you are bound for Mobile Bay, sir," said he."That is a long distance from New Providence, as I have learned fromexperience."
"But this trip will give you the satisfaction of being restored to yourown home in a very short time, for there is no faster vessel afloat thanthe Bellevite," added Captain Passford.
"It will put me into the army," said Mr. Percy; but he felt at once thathe had made a slip of the tongue, and he hastened to correct the effectof his involuntary speech. "Of course, I wanted to go into the army ofmy country, as every patriotic fellow in the South does; but my fatherobjects simply because I can be of more service to the good cause inanother field of action, and I had to yield the point."
The owner thought he had not been guilty of a very savage yielding ofhis own inclination, but he said nothing. He was evidently the youngestchild of the family, and doubtless the pet of his parents; and it washard for them to put him in a position to be shot, or to endure thehardships of the camp.
"I see now that my mission is a failure, though with no detriment to thegood cause. I wish I was in New Providence again," continued Mr. Percy,looking very much discontented with himself.
"I am sorry you did not speak to me on shore as your father did, andthat would have saved you from all annoyance."
"But I must beg you to do me the favor to put me ashore again, for myfather will suffer untold agonies when he misses me to-night."
"Put you on shore!" exclaimed Captain Passford. "You are a sensible andreasonable young gentleman, and you will readily see that this is quiteimpossible."
"We have not been out above two hours, sir," suggested Percy.
"But we have made thirty-six miles, at least, in that time; and toreturn would delay me about four or five hours,--long enough, perhaps,to defeat the object of my voyage. I assure you that it is who
llyimpossible for us to return."
"Do you think so, sir?" asked the enterprising purchaser of vessels,looking very disconsolate indeed.
"I not only think so, but I am perfectly sure on this point. You can seefor yourself that I cannot sacrifice the object of my voyage--for thevessel has a special mission at her destination--by a delay of somehours. I am not responsible for your being on board, and I am sorry thatI cannot do any thing for you."
"But you can put me ashore at Key West, and I may find some vessel boundto Nassau," suggested Percy, becoming more and more disconsolate, as herealized the difficulties of his situation, for he was plainly very muchaverse to returning to his home.
"But, my dear Mr. Percy, the Bellevite will not go within fifty milesof Key West; and if she did, I should not dare to put in there, for theport is a naval station of the United States, and my vessel might betaken from me in the absence of any regular papers to explain hercharacter."
"I suppose you are right," added Percy gloomily.
Captain Passford was really more afraid of falling in with any navalvessel of the nation than of meeting any of the Confederate tugs orother vessels which had been hurriedly fitted out, even at this earlyperiod of the war; for he knew that his mission, however justifiableunder the circumstances, was quite irregular. He had decided to keep atleast fifty miles from Key West, and the usual course of vessels boundinto the Gulf of Mexico.
"We may meet some vessel, and you could put me on board of her," thedisconsolate young man proposed.
"My mission compels me to give every vessel a wide berth, and I canincur no risks. But it cannot be a great hardship for you to be conveyedback to your own home."
"But my father needs me with him, and he will suffer terrible anxietywhen he fails to find me. He will even think I am dead."
"I know he must be anxious, but I think some way will be found to send aletter to him."
"But I shall be compelled to go into the army, and my father is utterlyopposed to that."
"But you have a brother who is a major in the army, and I should saythat he will be able to save you."
"My brother is the one who insists that I shall go into one of theregiments forming in the State. He called me a coward because I yieldedto my father and mother."
"All that is your own family affair, and I am sorry that I can donothing for you, Mr, Percy.--Mr. Watts," he called to the chief steward,who was planking the lee-side of the deck.
"Here, sir," replied the official.
"Give Mr. Percy the best stateroom available, and see that he is made ascomfortable and happy as possible," added the owner.
The involuntary guest on board was conducted to the cabin.