by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER IX
CHRISTY MATURES A PROMISING SCHEME
However interesting the voyage of the Bellevite might prove to be, thepurpose of this story does not admit of its details. Mr. Vapoor wasinstructed to the effect that a quick run was desirable, and he governedhimself accordingly. At daylight on a bright May morning, the loftylight tower of Sand Island, off the entrance to Mobile Bay, was reportedby the lookout, and the captain was called.
On the passage from Nassau, the guns of the steamer had been mounted;for, as a measure of prudence, they had been put in the hold. Though theowner hoped to avoid any close scrutiny of his outfit, and had succeededin doing so, he was not inclined to tempt fate by any carelessness. Butwhen the first watch was called, the night before her arrival off thebay, every thing was in condition for active service.
Captain Passford had not a particle of the foam generated by theexcitement of the times, and he sincerely hoped he should have nooccasion to use the guns which it had cost him so much trouble toprocure. Fort Morgan was on one side of the entrance to the bay, andFort Games on the other side.
He had seen a paragraph in one of his papers, to the effect that one orboth of these works had been garrisoned by Confederate troops, and itwas not likely to be an easy matter to get into the bay. As it looked tothe owner and the commander, the only way to accomplish this feat was byrunning the gauntlet of both forts, which were just three nautical milesapart.
A shot from either of them might go through the boiler or engine of theBellevite, which would render her utterly helpless, and subject all onboard to the fate of prisoners-of-war. It looked like a terriblealternative to the owner, so overburdened with anxiety for the safety ofhis daughter; but he was prepared to run even this risk for her sake.
The method of getting into the bay had been fully considered by theowner and the captain; and as soon as the latter came on deck, heordered the course of the vessel to be changed to the westward, as theyhad decided to enter the bay by the Middle Channel. For the danger fromFort Gaines was believed to be less than that from Fort Morgan, thougheither of them doubtless had the means of sinking the steamer with asingle shot.
The water was shoal in the Middle Channel, and it was not prudent toattempt to go into the bay at any other time than high tide; thoughCaptain Breaker was thoroughly acquainted with the channel, having oncebeen engaged in a survey of the shifting shoals in this locality, and hehad once before taken the Bellevite by this passage on a trip to NewOrleans.
As he could not foresee the time of the steamer's arrival off the bay,he was obliged to consult his almanac, and make his calculations inregard to the tide, which rises and falls less than three feet at thispoint. It would not be safe to attempt the passage before nine o'clockin the forenoon, and he headed the vessel away from the land.
Percy had tried to make the best of his situation, annoying as it was;and Christy amused him with more Chinese reminiscences. Both of themcame on deck at an unusually early hour on the morning that the SandIsland light was made out; for there was more commotion than usual onboard, and even in the cabin, where the owner and commander discussedthe situation.
"Here we are, my Chinese friend," said Percy, as he joined Christy ondeck, and made out the tall tower in the distance. "I wish I was on theIsland of Nassau, instead of here."
"Why, Mr. Percy, this is your own, your native land; and in China wealways used to have a warm affection for our own country," repliedChristy.
"You didn't have to go into the army there," said Percy with a sigh.
"But don't you want to go into the army?"
"Certainly I do; that is the dearest wish of my heart. But my fatherwould not let me, and what could I do?"
"If you were bent on it, like a patriot, as you must be, you could runaway and enlist. I don't know but I shall do that when I get back toChina."
"I don't like to do any thing to make my poor father unhappy. I amafraid my absence now, without his knowing where I am, or whether I amdead or alive, will bring on a fit of sickness."
"But I am sure he would be very proud of you if you should run away andjoin the army."
"Perhaps he would; but I should not feel very proud of myself if I dida thing like that. I am only afraid I shall meet my brother, MajorPierson, and that he will make me go into some regiment against thewishes of my father and mother. He is not willing to hear a word fromeither of them," replied Percy, disgusted with the prospect before him.
"He is very patriotic," suggested Christy.
"He is altogether too patriotic for me. But don't misunderstand me: I amreally very anxious to go into the army, and fight the enemies of mycountry."
"I see that you are, and perhaps you and I had better run away andenlist."
"My conscience would not let me do that contrary to the wishes of myparents," replied Percy, shaking his head vigorously.
"But you may not see your brother the major; for probably he has beenordered away with his regiment before this time," said his companion incomforting tones, though he was not as sincere as he generally was.
"I am afraid I shall; and I fear, that, in the absence of my father, hewould put me into the ranks in spite of all I could do."
"But your mother is at home."
"Lindley don't care a rush for what she says in this matter, for heinsists that a boy of eighteen ought not to be tied to his mother'sapron-strings when his country needs his services, I may see my brotherbefore we get fairly into the bay."
"Where in the world are you going to see him before you get on shore?"asked Christy, becoming more interested in the conversation.
"I believe he is in command of the garrison at Fort Gaines, though I amnot sure," replied Percy, suddenly looking more disconsolate than everat the prospect of meeting his patriotic brother.
"What makes you think he is?" asked Christy, with the feeling that hemight be on the point of obtaining some useful information.
"They talked of sending him there before father and I left for NewProvidence."
"I supposed your brother was a young fellow like yourself."
"I believe he is twenty-six years old; but he has been two years in amilitary school in North Carolina, and they say he is a good soldier,and knows all about guns and forts and such things."
"Where do you think we are likely to overhaul him?"
"I don't know much about this business; but don't a boat have to comeout from the fort and see that this vessel is all right before she cango into the bay?" asked Percy.
"I don't know about that. We may run into the bay without waiting forany boat."
"Then they fire on you from the fort," suggested the disconsolate.
"We rather expect that," added Christy quietly.
"You do?"
"Of course, a shot from the fort may blow us out of the water; but wecan't help that, and we must take our chances of being hit."
"But that is terribly risky business, and the whole of us may be killedbefore we get by the fort."
"Of course: that may be the case; but we have no papers, and we have totake things as they come."
"It isn't pleasant to take cannon-balls as they come, for they are aptto hit hard. But they won't fire at us if a boat comes off to examinethe vessel."
"But in that case you will have the pleasure of meeting your brother themajor."
"And whatever he may do with the steamer, he will take me to the fortwith him, and put me into the ranks."
"Perhaps we can save you from such a fate in some way," suggestedChristy, who was already doing some heavy thinking on his own account.
"I wish you would!" exclaimed Percy, catching at the straw held out tohim.
"There is time enough, and I will see you again," added Christy, as hejoined his father on the forecastle, where lie was taking a survey.
The owner's son had an idea, and he thought it was a good one. Withoutlosing any time, he laid it before his father, explaining it in detail.He was even ready to remove objections to the scheme, and was c
onfidentthat it would succeed. Captain Passford called the commander, andinformed him what his son had suggested. Captain Breaker heartilyapproved it; for, if it failed, it would leave the steamer in no worseposition than before, with all her chances of running the gauntletsuccessfully still open to her.
Christy was the best person on board to manage the details, for he wasthe most intimate with the son of the purchaser of vessels. He returnedto that part of the deck where he had left his companion. He found thatPercy was very anxious to see him again, for he had founded a hope onwhat had been said before.
"I think we can manage it, Mr. Percy, if you will do just what you aretold to do," Christy began.
"I will do all that to the letter," protested Percy; and a smileactually lighted up his face at the prospect of escaping the fate towhich his father and mother objected so strongly.
"You see the trouble with the Bellevite is that she has no papers; noteven a letter from the Confederate agent who is picking up vessels forthe navy. But I think we can manage it if you will learn your partcorrectly."
"I will do that. Do you think you can really keep my brother from takingme to the fort?" asked Percy, his tones and manner burdened withanxiety.
"I feel almost sure of it."
"Good for you!"
"You must go into the cabin now with me. They are just starting up thesteamer again, and she will soon reach the channel where she is goinginto the bay."
The owner and the commander were busy in instructing the ship's companyin regard to what would be expected of them as soon as the Bellevite wasin motion again. All the men spoken to smiled as they heard what wassaid to them, and they evidently regarded the whole affair as a decidedpleasantry. But they all promised to be very discreet, and to say onlywhat they had been told to say if they were called on for anyinformation by Confederate officials.
In the mean time Christy was very busy with his pupil, who enteredheartily into the plan which promised to save him from shouldering amusket in one of the companies of his brother's regiment. He had beenquite enthusiastic from the first; and, as he was deeply interested inthe result of the adventure, he was a very apt pupil.
As the Bellevite approached the Middle Channel, a tug-boat wasdiscovered off Fort Gaines, which immediately began to move towards theapproaching steamer. Examined with the glass, a heavy gun was seen onher forecastle.