English
EvenwiththeWestWindintow,theTallahatchiecouldmakefifteenknotsanhour;fortheseawassmooth,witheveryprospectofcontinuedfineweather.
Dr.Davidsonwasaprisonerofwar,butheremainedonboardinchargeofthewoundedofbothsides.
HewasverydevotedtoChristy,anddressedhiswoundeverymorningastenderlyashismothercouldhavedoneit.
Hewasagentlemaninthehighestsenseoftheword,andbelongedtooneofthebestfamiliesintheSouth.
CaptainRomboldwasaveryagreeableperson;andmostoftheconversationinthecabinwascarriedoninFrench,forthecommanderwasdelightedwhenhecouldobtainanopportunitytopractisethelanguage,andDr.DavidsonspokeitasfluentlyasaFrenchman,thoughCaptainDrakewasunabletounderstandawordofit.
Ifonehadlookedinuponthemhewouldhavesupposedtheywereenjoyingayachtingexcursion,andcouldnothavetoldwhowereprisonersandwhowerenot.
Thetwowoundedofficerspassedaportionofeverydayondeck,andthetimeslippedawayverypleasantly.
Mr.Grainesspentmuchofhisdaysandsomeofhisnightsintheengine-room,andwasonthebestoftermswiththeEnglishengineers;buthecoulddiscovernosignsoftreacheryontheirpart.
Theprisonersforwardwerewelltreatedandwellcaredfor,andtheymadenotrouble.
TheshipmadeaquickpassagetoNewYork,andwentintotheharborwiththeAmericanflagflyingovertheConfederate;butthiswasnotanuncommonsight,anditdidnotattractmuchattention.
Thepilotbroughtafileofnewspapers,andthelieutenantlearnedthatGrantwasstill"hammeringaway”attheConfederateforcesinVirginia,thoughwithoutanydecidedsuccess.
Theshipcametoanchoratthenavyyard,andCaptainDrakereportedtothecommandant.
LieutenantPassfordwaswellknownthere,thoughtheintelligenceofhislatestachievementhadnotyetreachedthere.
ChristyhadwrittenouthisreportoftheexpeditiontoMobilePoint,andCaptainDrakebroughtthatofCaptainBreakeroftheactionwiththeTallahatchie.
Thelieutenanthadnoofficialdutytoperform,andhewasatlibertytogowherehepleased.
HeprocuredleaveofabsenceforMr.Graines;forhewashimselfstillonfeverdiet,andwasratherweaksothatheneededhisassistance.
“Homeagain,Charley!”exclaimedChristy,whentheyhadlandedatthenavyyard.
“That’sso,andmyfolksathomewillnotexpecttoseeme,”repliedtheengineer.
“NeitherwillanyoneatBonnydaleanticipateavisitfromme,”addedChristy.
“WeknowallaboutthesharpactionoftheBellevitewiththeTallahatchie;butnooneinthesepartscanhaveheardawordaboutit.
Now,Charley,seeifyoucanfindacarriageforme;”andthewoundedofficerwentintoanofficetowaitforit.
Theuniformofthemessengercarriedhimpastallsentinels;andinhalfanhourhereturnedinacarriage,whichwaspermittedtoentertheyardonMr.Graines’sstatementofitsintendeduse.Christywasassistedintoit.
“WallStreetFerry,”saidthelieutenanttothedriver.
“Whydoyougothere?”askedtheengineer.“Youwishtogototherailroadstation,doyounot?”
“IwanttofindmyfatherifIcan,andIthinkhemustbeinthecity,”repliedChristy,ashegavehiscompanionthelocationoftheofficewherehedidhisbusinesswiththegovernment,thoughhemadefrequentvisitstoWashingtonforconsultationwiththeofficialsoftheNavyDepartment.
Thecarriagewasretained,andinanotherhourtheyreachedtheoffice.
CaptainPassfordwasnotthere;hehadgonetoWashingtonthreedaysbefore,andnooneknewwhenhewouldreturn.
Christywaspreparedforthisdisappointment,andhehadarrangedinhismindthewordingofatelegraphicmessagetohisfather.
Whilehewaswritingitoutagentlemancameoutoftheofficewhomthelieutenanthadmetbefore.
“Iamdelightedtoseeyou,Mr.Passford!”
exclaimedthegentleman,whowasintheuniformofanavalofficer,asheextendedhishandtothevisitor.
“OneofourpeopleinformedmethatthesonofCaptainPassfordwasatthedoor,andIhastenedouttoseeyou.Won’tyoucomeintotheoffice?”
“No,Ithankyou;Iamnotverywell,forIwaswoundedintheleftarminourlastaction,andIamsenthomebythesurgeononafurlough,”repliedChristy.
“Permitme,CaptainBentwick,tointroducemyfriend,Mr.Graines,thirdassistantengineeroftheBellevite.”
“Iamveryhappytoknowyou,Mr.Graines,”addedCaptainBentwick,takinghishand.“Iamverysorryyouarewounded,Mr.Passford.WhatcanIdoforyou?”
“Nothing,Ithankyou,atpresent.Iamwritingamessagetosendtomyfather.Iwasjustfinishingitwhenyoucame,”repliedChristy,asheaddedthefinishingwords,andpassedittotheofficial.
“‘Senthomeonfurlough,slightlywounded.
WishparolesforCaptainGeorgeRomboldandDr.PierreDavidson,’”CaptainBentwickreadfromthepaper.
“Iwillhaveitsentatoncefromthisoffice.
But,Mr.Passford,Icanparoletheseofficers,anditisnotnecessaryforyoutotroubleyourfatherwithsuchamatter.Whoandwhataretheofficers?”
“CaptainRomboldwasthecommanderoftheTallahatchie,prizetotheBellevite,”answeredChristy.
“WhenIwasindangeroffaintingaftertheactiononthedeckofhisship,hesentforhissurgeon,Dr.Davidson,thoughhisownwoundhadnotbeendressed.
Bothheandthesurgeonwereextremelykindtome,andIdesiretoreciprocatetheirgoodofficesbyinvitingthemtomyfather’shouse.”
“Wherearethesegentlemennow,Mr.Passford?”
“Ileftthemonboardoftheprizeatthenavyyard,sir.Iamnotsurethattheywillacceptparole,forIhavenotspokentothemaboutit;butIamveryanxioustoservethem.”
“Iknowwhatyourfatherwouldsayifhewerehere,andIwillsendanofficerauthorizedtotaketheirparoletothenavyyardatonce.
Iwillinstructhimtorepresentyourdesiretotheminthestrongestterms,andiftheyaccept,toconductthemtoBonnydale,forIknowyoumustbeinahurrytogetthere,”continuedCaptainBentwick,asheshookthehandsofbothofficers,andreturnedtotheoffice.
“Thatshowswhatitistohavepowerfulfriends,”saidMr.Graines,whenhiscompanionhaddirectedthedrivertotherailroadstation.
“Ihavenotaskedanythingunreasonable,Charley,”repliedChristy,sensitiveasusualinregardtoinfluentialassistance.
“Certainlynot;butifIhadaskedtohaveyourConfederatefriendsparoled,athousandyardsofredtapewouldhavetobeexpendedbeforeitcouldbedone,”addedtheengineerwithalaugh.
Theyreachedthestation,anddischargedthecarriage;buttheyfoundtheyhadtowaittwohoursforatraintoBonnydale.
Asitwasafternoon,theywenttoahotelfordinner,andpassedthetimeveryimpatientlyinwaitingforthetrain.
Bothofthemwereburningwiththedesiretoseetheirfriendsathome;butthetrainstartedinduetime,andtheyleftitattheneareststationtoBonnydale,proceedingthereinacarriage.
Christygavethebellaveryvigorouspull,andtheservantthatcametothedoorwasastrangertohim.
HewishedtoseeMrs.Passford;andthemanwasabouttoconducthimtothereceptionroom,whenheboltedfromhim.
“Mrs.Passfordisengagedjustnow,sir;butshewillbedowninafewminutes,”saidtheservant,layinghishandonhisarmforthepurposeofdetaininghim.
“ButIcannotwait,”returnedthelieutenantverydecidedly,andheshookofftheman,andbegantoascendthestairs.
Aninstantlatertherewasadoublescreamonthefloorabove,andMrs.Passfordrusheddownthesteps,followedbyFlorry.
Christyretreatedtothehall,andamomentlaterhewasfoldedinthearmsofhismotherandsister,bothofwhomwerekissinghimatthesametime.
“But,myson,yourarmisinasling!”exclaimedMrs.Passford,fallingbackwithanexpressionofconsternationonherface.
“Youarewounded,Christy!”criedFlorry,asafloodoftearscameintohereyes.
“Onlyascratch,mother;don’tbealarmed,”protestedthelieutenant.“Itwasallnonsensetosendmehomeonafurlough;butitwasthecommander’sorder,attherecommendationofDr.Linscott.”
“Butyouarewounded,myson,”persistedhismother.
“Youhavebeenshotinthearm,Christy,”addedFlorry.
“ButIwasnotshotthroughtheheadortheheart;itisnotabitofusetomakeafussaboutit;andPaulVapoorwasnotwounded,forhehadtostayintheengineroomduringtheaction,andheisasheartyasabuck,”rattledthelieutenant,andmakinghisprettysisterblushlikeafreshrose.
“Iamreallyworriedaboutit,myson.Whereisthewound?”askedhismother.
“Here,Charley,tellthemallaboutit,”calledChristytohiscompanion,whohadbeenforgottenintheexcitementofthemoment.
“Why,CharleyGraines!”exclaimedFlorry,rushingtohimwithanextendedhand.“Ididnotknowyouwerehere.”
“Iamgladtoseeyou,Charley,especiallyasyouhavebeenafriendandassociateofmyson,asyouwerebeforethewar,”addedMrs.Passford.
“Iamverygladtoseeyou,Mrs.PassfordandMissPassford,”saidhe,bowingtobothofthem.“IhavebeenondutyrecentlywithChristy,andIhavebeenlookingoutforhimonthevoyagehome.”
“Charleyhasbeenabrothertome,anddoneeverythingunderthecanopyforme.
Iamsomewhatfatiguedjustnow,”addedthelieutenant,asheseatedhimselfonasofainthehall.
“Hewillansweryourquestionsnow,andtellyouthatIamnotkilled.”
“Butcomeintothesitting-room,myson,forwecanmakeyoumorecomfortablethere,”saidhismother,takinghimbytherightarm,andassistinghimtorise.
“Idon’tneedanyhelp,mamma,”addedChristyplayfully,asherosefromthesofa.
“Ihavenotbeenbutchered,andIhaven’tanythingbutalittlebullet-holethroughthefleshypartofmyleftarm.
Don’tmakeababyofme;foracommanderintheConfederatenavytoldmethatGodmadesomefully-developedmenbeforetheyweretwenty-one,andthatIwasoneofthem.
Don’tmakemefallfrommyhighestatetothatofanovergrowninfant,mother.”
“Iwillnotdoanythingofthekind,myson,”repliedMrs.Passford,asshearrangedthecushionsonthesofaforhim.“Now,Florry,getawrapforhim.”
Christystretchedhimselfoutonthesofa,forhewasreallyfatiguedbythemovementsoftheforenoonandtheexcitementofhisreturntothescenesofhischildhood.
“Tellthemwhatthedoctorssaidaboutmywound,Charley,”hecontinued,ashearrangedhimselffortheenjoymentofaperiodofsilence.
“Mr.Passfordhashadtwosurgeons,”Mr.Grainesbegan.
“Thenhemusthavebeenverybadlywounded!”ejaculatedFlorry,leapingtoaveryhastyconclusion.
“Notatall,”protestedtheengineer.“Bothofthemsaidhewasnotseverelywounded.”
“Whywashesenthomeonafurlough?”askedMrs.Passford.
“BecausetheweatherwasgettingveryhotintheGulfofMexico,anditwasbelievedthathewoulddobetterathome.
Hehasbeensomewhatfeverish;butheisimprovingeveryday,andinacoupleofweekshewillbeaswellasever.”
“ThankGod,itisnoworse!”exclaimedMrs.Passford.
Thensheinsistedthatheshouldbequiet,andtheyallretiredtothelibrary.
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