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IthadnotoccurredtoChristyPassfordbeforeCaptainRomboldmentioneditthathisdaringexploithadinanyespecialmannerassistedinthefinalandgloriousresultoftheaction.
Hewasconfidentthat,ifhehadnotunmaskedtheplanoftheConfederatecommander,CaptainBreakerwouldhavediscoveredit,andperhapshadalreadydonesowhen,withoutanyorder,hehadimpetuouslyleapedovertherail,followedbyaportionoftheseconddivision,urgedforwardbylieutenantWalbrook,tocapturethegunbeforeitcouldbedischarged.
Herealized,asthethoughtflashedthroughhisbrainlikeaboltoflightning,thattheConfederatecommander’sschememustbecounteractedontheinstant,orCaptainBreakermightgivethecommandtoboard,forwhichtheimpatientseamenonhisdeckwerewaiting.
Hehadaccomplishedhispurposeinafewseconds;andtheenemy’sforce,huddledtogetheronthestarboardside,weresuddenlypiledupinaheapontheplanks,welteringintheirgore,andalargeproportionofthemkilled.
CaptainRomboldwasstandingabreastofthestumpofhismizzenmastobservingthewholeaffair,andhehadabetteropportunitytoobserveitthananyotherpersononthedeckofeithership.
Hehadordereduphismentoreceivetheboardersonthequarter-deckwhenthegunwasdischarged,andbeforehebelieveditcouldbedone.
Christyhadonlytoreversethedirectionofthecarriage,hastilysightthepiece,andpullthelanyard.
Themissileswithwhichthethirty-pounderwasloadedcutdowntheadvancingcolumn,rushingtoobeytheircommander’sorder,andthencarrieddeathanddestructionintothecrowdofseamenintheirrear.
“GoodHeavens,Mr.Passford!”exclaimedtheConfederatecommander,risingwithdifficultyfromhisseat.“Youarebadlywounded!”
“Notbadly,CaptainRombold,”repliedtheyoungofficer,gatheringuphisremainingstrength,andrestinghisrightarmupontheplanks.
“Butmydearfellow,youarebleedingtodeath,andthebloodisrunninginastreamfromtheendsofthefingersonyourlefthand!”
continuedtheConfederatecommander,apparentlyasfullofsympathyandkindnessasthoughthesuffererhadbeenoneofhisownofficers.“Gill!”
hecalledtohissteward,whowasassistingintheremovaloftheinjuredseamen.
“MycomplimentstoDr.Davidson,andaskhimtocomeondeckinstantly.”
Christyhadhardlynoticedtheballwhichpassedthroughthefleshypartofhisarmabovetheelbowatthetimeitstruckhim.
Whilehekeptthewoundedmemberraisedthebloodwasabsorbedbyhisclothing.
Ithadbeenpainfulfromthefirst;butthedegreeoffortitudewithwhichawoundedpersoninbattleenduressufferingamountingtoagonyisalmostincredible.
Somanyhadbeenkilled,andsomanyhadlostlegsandarmsonbothsides,thatitseemedweakandpusillanimoustocomplain,orevenmentionwhatheregardedasonlyaslightwound.
“ThisistheexecutiveofficeroftheBellevite,Dr.Davidson,”saidCaptainRomboldwhenthesurgeonappeared,notthreeminutesafterhehadbeensentfor.
“Butheisagentlemanineverysenseoftheword,andthebravestofthebrave.
Itwashewhodefeatedmyscheme;butIadmireandrespecthim.Attendtohimatonce,doctor.”
“IfhesavedthedayfortheYankees,itisapitythathiswoundhadnotkilledhim,”addedthesurgeon,withapleasantsmileonhishandsomeface.
“Butthatistakingthepatrioticratherthanthehumaneviewofhiscase.”
“Itwouldhavebeenbetterforus,andespeciallyforme,ifhehadbeenkilled;butIamsincerelygladthathewasnot,”addedthecommander.
“Thankyou,CaptainRombold,”saidChristy.“Youarethemostmagnanimousofenemies,anditisapleasuretofightsuchmenasyouare.”
“Good-morning,Mr.Passford,”continuedDr.Davidson,ashetooktherighthandofthepatient.“Iliketoserveabraveman,onwhicheversidehefights,whentheactionisfinished.”
“Youareverykind,doctor,”addedChristyfaintly.
WiththeassistanceofGill,thesurgeonremovedthecoatofthelieutenant,andtoreofftheshirtfromthewoundedarm.
“Notabadwoundatall,Mr.Passford,”saidDr.Davidson,afterhehadexaminedit.
“Butithasbeentoolongneglected,anditwouldnothavegivenyouhalfthetroubleifyouhadtakenittoyoursurgeonassoonastheactionwasdecided.
Youhavelostsomeblood,andthatmakesyoufaint.
Youwillhavetolieinyourberthafewdays,whichmighthavebeensparedtoyouifyouhadhaditattendedtosooner.”
Thedoctorsentforneededarticles;andassoonasGillbroughtthemhedressedthewound,aftergivingthepatientarestorativewhichmadehimfeelmuchbetter.
Whilethesurgeonwasstillatworkonhisarm,CaptainBreakerrushedindesperatehastetothesceneofoperations,forsomeonehadinformedhimthatthesurgeonoftheTallahatchiewasdressingawoundonhisexecutiveofficer.
“MercifulHeaven,Mr.Passford!”exclaimedtheloyalcommander.“Areyouwounded?”
“Nothingbutascratchinthearm,Captain.
Don’tbotheraboutme,”repliedChristy,whosespiritshadbeenbuiltupbythemedicineDr.Davidsonhadgivenhim;buthedidnotknowthatitwashalfbrandy,theodorofwhichwasdisguisedbythemixtureofsomeotheringredient.
“Ididnotknowthatyouwerewounded,mydearboy,”saidhiscommandertenderly;sotenderlythatthepatientcouldhardlyrestrainthetearswhichwerestrugglingforanoutflow.
“Mr.Watts,”calledCaptainBreakertothechiefstewardoftheBellevite,whohappenedtobethefirstpersonhesawonthedeckofhisownship.
“Ondeck,Captain,”repliedthesteward,touchinghiscaptothecommander.
“MycomplimentstoDr.Linscott,andaskhimtocometothedeckoftheprizewithoutanydelay,”addedthecaptain.
Suchamessageimpliedanemergency;andthesurgeonoftheBellevite,whowasamanwellalonginyears,hastenedwithallthespeedhecouldcommandtotheplaceindicated.
Thecaptain,whohadheardthenameoftheConfederatemedicalofficer,introducedhisownsurgeon,withanapologyforsummoninghim.
“Myexecutiveofficer,thepatientinyourhands,isthesonofmybestfriendonearth,forwhomIsailedforyearsbeforethewar,andIhopeyouwillpardonmygreatanxietyforyourpatient,Dr.Davidson,”saidhe.
“Themostnaturalthingintheworld,CaptainBreaker,andnoapologyorexplanationisnecessary,”politelyaddedtheConfederatesurgeon,asheandDr.Linscottshookhands.
“Mypatientisnotseverelywounded;butIshouldbehappytohaveyouexaminehisinjury.
Itwastoolongneglected,andheisratherweakfromthelossofblood.”
“Mr.Passfordwastooproudayoungmantomentionhiswoundortocalluponthesurgeonofhisship;butIwasdeterminedthatheshouldnolongerbeneglected,”interposedCaptainRombold.
Christywasawarethatthetwocommandershadnevermetbefore,andheintroducedthemwhileDr.Linscottwasexamininghisarm.
Theywerebothbraveandnoblemen,andeachreceivedtheotherinthepolitestandmostgentlemanlymanner.
Itwasevidenttoallwhowitnessedtheinterviewthattheymetwithmutualrespect,thoughhalfanhourbeforetheyhadbeenengagedinadesperatefighttheoneagainsttheother.
Butenemiescanbemagnanimoustoeachotherwithoutanysacrificeoftheirprinciplesoneitherside.
“Ithankyoumostheartily,CaptainRombold,foryourkindnesstomyprincipalofficer;andiftheopportunityiseverpresentedtome,Ishallreciprocatetotheextentofmyability,”continuedCaptainBreaker.
“Youhavebeenmorethanmagnanimous;youhavebeenaself-sacrificingChristian,foryouhaverequiredyoursurgeontobindupthewoundofanenemybeforeheassuagedyourown.
ThisisChristianityinwar;andIshallstrivetoemulateyournobleexample.”
“Youareextremelyconsiderate,Captain;andwearefriendstillthedemandsofdutyrequireustobecometechnicalenemiesonthequarter-deckeachofhisownship,”saidCaptainRombold,ashegraspedthehandoftheloyalcommander.
“IheartilyapproveofthetreatmentofmyfriendDr.Davidson,andfullyindorsehisopinionthatthewoundofMr.Passfordisnotadangerousorverysevereone,”interposedDr.Linscott.
“Iagreewithhimthatthepatienthadbetterspendacoupleofdaysormoreinhisberth.”
TheConfederatesurgeonhadfinishedthedressingofChristy’swound,andhewasinahurrytoreturntohisdutyinthecockpit.
HeshookhandswithDr.Linscott,andbothofthemhastenedtotheirposts.
Thepatienthadbeenseatedonabench,andCaptainRomboldhadreturnedtohisformerposition.
Hehadtiedhishandkerchiefaroundhisthigh,andbothofthemappearedtobeverycomfortable.
“Well,Mr.Passford,ifyouarereadytoreturntotheBellevite,Iwillassistyoutothewardroom,”saidCaptainBreaker.
“Excuseme,Captain,ifIdetainyouafewminutes,forIdesiretosettleapointindisputebetweenMr.Passfordandmyself,thoughitisdoubtlesshisextrememodestywhichcreatesthisdifferencebetweenus,”interposedtheConfederatecommander.
HeproceededtostatehisviewoftheexploitofChristy,bywhichhehadrenderedinutiletheschemetoslaughtertheloyalboarders.
“Iwasabsolutelydelighted,CaptainBreaker,whenIrealizedthatyouintendedtoboardtheTallahatchie.”hecontinued.
“IwasconfidentthatIshoulddefeatyourboarders,andboardandcarryyourdeckinmyturn.
Ihavenotyetchangedmyviewofthesituation.
YoucanjudgeofmyconsternationwhenIsawMr.Passfordleapintothemizzenriggingwiththeagilityofacat,andespeciallywhentheordertoboardmyshipwaswithheld.”
“Mr.Passfordactedwithoutorders,forIshouldhardlyhavesenthimintotheriggingwhilewewerealongside,foritwasalmostsuredeath,foryourmen,armedwithmusketsandrevolvers,werealllookingforthefiringofthethirty-pounder,”addedCaptainBreaker.
“Hewasasnimbleasacat,anditseemedtomethathewastwiceasquick.
Butallheneededtounearthmyschemewasasingleglanceatthegunanditscrewonthequarter-deck.
Inthetwinklingofaneyehedroppedtothedeck,calledhisboarders,andleapedovertherailintoourmidst.
ItwasthemostdaringandquicklyexecutedmanœuvreIeverobserved,”continuedtheConfederatecommanderwithenthusiasm.
“Iquiteagreewithyou,CaptainRombold,”repliedCaptainBreaker,ashelookedwithanaffectionateexpressionuponthepalefaceofthepatient.
“Now,Mr.Passfordchoosestoregardhisbrilliantexploitasamatteroflittleconsequence,forhedeclaresthatyouhaddiscovered,orwouldhavediscovered,myplantoannihilateyourboarders.”
“Mr.PassfordisentirelyinthewrongsofarasIamconcerned,”protestedCaptainBreakerwithagooddealofearnestness.
“Tomakethematterclear,Iwillexplainmyownactions.
WhentheBelleviterangedalongsidetheTallahatchie,everythingwasinreadinessforboarding.
IwasabouttogivetheordertodothiswhenIdiscoveredthatthecrewofyourshipweredrawnuponthestarboardside,insteadoftheport,anditsuggestedtomethatsomethingwaswrong,andIwithheldthecommand.
Inordertoobtainmoreinformation,Iwentfurtheraft,whereIhopedtogetaviewofaportionofthedeckofyourship.
Ihadraisedahawserportwiththeassistanceofaquartermaster;butIcouldseeonlythewreckofyoursparewheel.
AtthismomentMr.Passfordwasinthemizzenrigging.Hedidall;Ididnothing.”
“Ihopeyourreportoftheactionwilldohimfulljustice,forhedeservespromotion,”addedCaptainRombold.
“MyadmirationoftheconductofMr.Passfordisequaltoyours.”
Theyseparatedaftersomefurtherconversation,andhercommanderandChristyreturnedtotheBellevite.
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