English
TheconversationbetweenthecaptainandtheexecutiveofficeroftheBellevitewascontinuedtilltheywerecalledtosupper;butadecisionhadbeenreached.
Onimportantoccasions,aswhenseveralboatswereordereduponanexpedition,itwasnotunusualtosendthefirstlieutenantincommand.
Thoughonlyasinglewhaleboatwouldberequiredfortheenterpriseinwhichthecommanderwassodeeplyinterested,itsimportanceappearedtojustifytheselectionoftheexecutiveofficertoconductit;andChristywasdirectedtosuithimself.
Ofcoursetheexpeditionwastobesentoutatnight,forthecoverofthedarknesswasnecessarytorenderiteffectual.
Intheafternoonthewindhadcomearoundtothesouth-west,andalreadyaslightfoghadobscuredtheSandIslandLighthouse.
Itpromisedtobesuchanightasablockade-runnerwouldselectforgettingtosea.
ChristywasespeciallywarnedthattheprincipalbusinessofhisexpeditionwastoobtaininformationinregardtotheTrafalgar,thoughitwasprobablethatanewnamehadbeengiventoherfortheserviceinwhichshewastobeengaged.
Theexaminationofthesurroundingsofthefort,thecaptainstronglyimpresseduponhismind,wasentirelysubsidiarytothediscoveryoftheintendingblockade-runner.
Infact,thecommanderseemedtohaveseriousdoubtsastowhetheritwasproperforhimeventoreconnoitrewithoutspecialordersfortheuseofthearmy.
ItwasseveralmonthsthatChristyhadbeenonboardoftheBelleviteinhispresentcapacity,andhehadbecomeverywellacquaintedwithallthepettyofficersandseamenoftheship’scompany,nowcomposedofonehundredandtwentymen.
Afterhehadfinishedhissupperhewalkedaboutthespar-decktorefreshhismemorybyasightatallofthemen,andselectedthosewhoweretotakepartinhisenterprise.
Oneofthefirstpersonsheencounteredinhispromenadewasthethirdassistantengineer,CharlesGraines,whomhehadknownasaboy,beforethewar.
Hewasnotonlyamachinist,butasailor,havingservedinbothcapacities,thoughnowonlytwenty-fiveyearsofage.
ThroughhisfatherChristyhadprocuredhisappointmentasanengineer,andhisassignmenttotheBellevite.
Theyoungmanwasexceedinglygratefultohimforthisservice,andentirelydevotedtohim.
PaulVapoor,thechiefengineer,spokeofGrainesinthehighestterms,notonlyinhisofficialcapacity,butasahigh-toned,patriotic,andthoroughlyreliableman.
Themomenttheexecutiveofficerputhiseyeontheassistantengineer,hedecidedthatGrainesshouldbehisright-handman.
Asamatterofprecautiontheproposedexpeditionwastobeaprofoundsecret,fortherewerewhitemenandnegroesaboutthedeckwhohadbeenpickedupinvariousways,andwereretainedtilltheycouldbedisposedof.
Theycouldnotbetrusted,anddoubtlesssomeofthemwereConfederatesatheart,ifnotengagedinsecretmissions.
ChristyinvitedGrainestothewardroomforaconference.
Therewereseveralofficersthere,andtheyretiredtothestateroomofthefirstlieutenant,whichistheforwardoneonthestarboardside.
Theplan,asithadbeenmaturedinthemindoftheoneappointedtocarryitout,wasfullyexplained,andtheengineerwasdelightedtobechosentotakepartinitsexecution.
Theselectionoftheseamentocomposetheexpeditionwasnotaneasymatter,thougheverysailoronboardwouldhavevolunteeredforsuchdutyiftheopportunityhadbeenpresentedtohim.
Graineswasnotsofamiliarwiththemeritsoftheseamenashewaswiththoseofthemenintheengineerdepartment.
Itbecamenecessaryfortheexecutiveofficertotakeanotherwalkonthespar-deck,inordertorevivehisrecollectionofthemen;andhesoonreturnedtothestateroomwithacompletelistofthosehehadselected.
TheengineersuggestedanoilerbythenameofWeeksasamostexcellentman;andChristyacceptedhim,completingthenumberfromthoseofhisownchoice.
Seatedathisdesk,hewroteoutthenamesofthetenmenchosen.
“Ofcourseifweshouldbecaughtonshoreinourordinaryuniformsitwouldbeallnightwithus,”saidChristy,ashecompletedthewritingoutofthelist.
“IbelieveyouhaveneverseentheinsideofaConfederateprison,Mr.Graines.”
“Never;thoughIcameprettynearitoncewhileIwasanoileronboardoftheHatteras,”repliedtheengineer.
“Youhavebeenfortunate,andIhopeyouwillcomeoutofthisexcursionaswell.
IspentashorttimeinaConfederatelock-up;butIdidnotlikethearrangements,andItookleaveofitonenight.
ItwasinMobile,andIdon’tcaretobesentupthereagain.
Thereforewemustclotheourselvesintheworstgarmentswecanfind;andIcarryasuitforjustthispurpose,thoughIhavenothadoccasiontouseitlately.”
“Ihavetowearoldclotheswhenatworkonthemachinery,andIhaveaplentifulsupplyonhand,”addedGraines.“PerhapsIcouldhelpoutsomeoftheothers.”
“Alltheseamenhaveoldclothes,andtheywillneednoassistanceinarrangingtheirwardrobes.
Now,Mr.Graines,itwillexciteremarkifIinstructthetenmenwehaveselected,andImustleavethatpartoftheworktoyou,”continuedChristy.
“Butalltheinstructionyouneedgivethemisinregardtotheirdress,andrequirethemtobeatthemainchainsonthestarboardsideatteno’clockto-nightprecisely.”
“AsIhaveplentyoftimeIwilltakethemen,oneatatime,tomyroominthesteerage,andinstructthem,”repliedtheengineer.
“Youcantelleachonetosendinthenextonewanted.
Aboveall,makethempromisenottospeaktoanypersonwhateverinregardtotheexpedition,”saidtheexecutiveofficerashiscompanionretired.
Mr.Graineslostnotimeindischargingtheimportantdutyassignedtohim.
Christyreportedtothecommander,assoonashefoundanopportunitytospeaktohimprivately,whatprogresshehadmadeincarryingoutthedutyassignedtohim.
CaptainBreakerlookedoverthelistofthemenselected,andgaveithisheartyapprobation.
Hewasamanofelevatedmoralandreligiouscharacter;hehadalwaysexercisedasortoffatherlysupervisionoverhisship’scompany,andhewasbetteracquaintedwiththoseunderhiscommandthanmostcommanders.
“Itlooksasthoughitwasgoingtobeagoodnightforblockade-runners,Mr.Passford,”saidCaptainBreaker,ashelookedovertowindwardandsawthebanksoffog,notyetverydense,rollingupfromtheopengulf.
“Itisnotknown,Isuppose,whetherornottheTrafalgarhascomedownfromMobile?”inquiredChristy.
“Ihavebeenunabletoobtainanydefiniteinformation;butanegrowhocameofffromtheshoreyesterdayassuredmetherewasablacksteameratanchorbetweentheMiddleGroundandMobilePoint.
ThatisalltheinformationIhavebeenabletoobtain,thoughIhaveexaminedallwhocameonboardduringthelastweek.
ItiscertainlytimefortheTrafalgartocomeout,astheConfederatesareingreathastetore-enforcetheAlabama,theShenandoah,andothercruisers;forthesevesselshavemadeatremendousimpressionuponourmercantilemarine.
Shehasbeeninportlongenoughtorebuildheralready,andIamconfidentshemustbereadyforservice.”
“IfIdon’tfindherreadytocomeoutto-night,woulditnotbewelltorepeatmyvisittotheshoreuntilwelearnsomethingabouther?”askedChristy.
“Thatismypurpose,”repliedthecommander.
“Ishouldliketohavethescopeofmypowersastheofficerofthisexpeditionalittlemoredefinitelydefined,CaptainBreaker,”continuedthefirstlieutenant.
“IthoughtIhadfullyinstructedyou,Christy,”answeredthecommanderwithasmile.
“AmItoconfinemyselfsolelytothetwopointsassignedtome?”
“Idon’tunderstandwhatyouhaveinyourmind,myboy.”
“Ihavenothinginmymind,Captain.Ihavenotlaidoutanyplanofoperationsoutsideoftheinstructionsyouhavegivenme,sir;andIdonotpurposetodoso.
IfIhadtheintentiontodoanythingbutthedutyassignedtome,Ishouldassuredlyinformyouofit,andobtainyourorders.”
“Iknowyouwould,mydearboy.”
“ButifIseeanopportunitytodoanythingforthebenefitofmycountry”—
“Suchasthecaptureofasloopofwar,”interposedthecommanderwithasuggestivelaugh.
“Whenyouweresenttolookoutforasmallsteamer,simplytoobtaininformationinregardtoher,inPensacolaBay,youwentonyourmission,andbroughtouttheTeaser,whichafterwardsbecametheBronx,andrenderedveryvaluableservicetothecountryunderyourcommand.”
“IcouldnotverywellhelpdoingsowhenIsawmyopportunity,”repliedChristy,inanapologetictone,asthoughhehadbeenreprovedforexceedinghisinstructions.
“Youdidpreciselyright,Christy;andthatactdidmoretomakethedeservedlyhighreputationyouhavewonthanalmostanythingelseyouhavedone,unlessitwasyourachievementsatCedarKeys,”addedCaptainBreakerheartily.
“IamgladyouhavebroughtuptheTeasermatter,Captain,foritjustillustrateswhatIhaveinmymind.
IfIseeanopportunitytodosuchathingasthatonthepresentoccasion,IsimplywishtoknowwhetherornotIamtoconfinemyoperationstothestrictletterofmyinstructions.
Ofcourse,ifsoinstructed,Ishallobeymyorderstotheletter.”
“‘Theletterkilleth,thespiritgivethlife,’myboy.
Yourmissionalwaysandeverywhereistoserveyourcountry,andyouaretodothisonthepresentoccasion.
WhatIsaidaboutingenuityinspeakingofmyofficersiscoveredinthiscase.
IfyoucancaptureandsendouttheTrafalgar,doitbyallmeans,forthatistheobjectinviewinsendingoffthisexpedition.
Yourheadislevel,Christy;andthatisthereasonwhyIdesiredyoutocommandthisenterpriseratherthaneitheroftheotherofficers.
Icantrustyou,andyouhavefullpowerstoactonyourownjudgment.”
“Ithankyouforyourabundantconfidence,Captain;andIshallendeavornottoabuseit,”repliedChristy.
“ButitisnotevenremotelypossiblethatIshallcapturetheTrafalgar;yetsometimesunexpectedopportunitiesarepresented,andtheletterofmyordersmightpreventmefromembracingthem.IamverygladtoknowwhereIstand.”
Thenightcameon,andwithitmorefog;butitwasofthatflittingkindwhichsettlesdownandthenblowsaway.
Itseemedtocomeinbanksthatwerecontinuallyinmotion.
Themenwhoweretogototheshorehadallbeeninstructed,andatpreciselyteno’clocktheywereseatedinthewhaleboat,withMr.Grainesinthesternsheets.
Theywereallarmedwithtworevolversapiece,andtherewasacutlassforeachintheboat.
Themenhadnotonlychangedtheirdress,buttheyhaddisguisedthemselves,smoochingtheirfaceswithcoaldust,andtearingtheirgarmentstilltheywereintatters.
Christyhaddressedhimselfinhisoldgarments,butaddedtothemagraycoathehadobtainedonboardofaprize.
Thewatchondeckhadbeenorderedtotheforecastle,sothattheyneednottoocloselyobservethecrewofthewhaleboat.
Thechiefoftheexpeditionhadquietlydescendedtotheplatformoftheaftergangway,andwhentheboatdroppedastern,hesteppedintoit,selectinghisplacebythesideoftheengineer,whohadtakenthetillerlines.
Theboatpulledawayatonce,withfourhandsattheoars,andMr.Grainesheadedittothenorth-eastbythecompass,thesidelightsofwhichwerecoveredsothattheyshouldnotbetraytheapproachoftheboattotheshore,ifanyonewasthere.
OnthewayChristygavethemenfullinstructionsinregardtotheirconduct;andinlessthananhourthepartylanded.
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