English
Thefogwascomingandgoinginthedistance,andattimesthelandcouldbejustdiscerned.
Inspiteofthenumberandvigilanceoftheblockadingfleet,severalhundredblockade-runnershadsucceededinmakingtheirwayintoCapeFearRiver,thoughseveralhundredalsohadbeencaptured,nottomentionaveryconsiderablenumberthathadbeenrunashoreorburnedwhenescapebecamehopeless.
ItwasthepolicyoftheConfederacytosendoutvesselstopreyuponthecommerceoftheUnitedStates.
SomeofthembegantheirdepredationswithoutmakingaportintheSouth,andafewoftheswiftsteamersthatsucceededingettingintoMobile,Wilmington,andothersafeplaces,werefittedoutfortheworkofdestruction.
Thefogthatprevailedinshorewasfavorabletoblockade-runners;andiftherewasavesselofthischaracterinCapeFearRiver,theearlymorninghadbeensuchastotempthertotrytomakeherwaythroughtheblockaderstosea.
“Sheisnotoneoftheordinarysteamersthatruninandoutoftheriver,”saidMr.Baskirk,whileheandthecommanderwerestillwatchingtheprogressofthechase,andPaulVapoorwaswarminguptheengineashehaddonebefore.
“SheislargerthantheSt.Regis,buthardlyequalinsizetotheBellevite,”addedChristy.
“Shecannotdrawmorethantwelveorfourteenfeetofwater,orshecouldnothavecomeoutthroughthoseshallowchannelsatthemouthofCapeFearRiver.
Sheseemstohavethespeedtorunawayfromherpursuers;butprobablynotoneofthemcanmakefifteenknotsanhour.”
Thethreepursuersoftheblockade-runnerhadchangedtheircoursewhenthechasedidso;butitwasalreadyevidentthattheyhadnochancetooverhaulher.
Theywerestillthreemilesasternofher,whiletheSt.Regis,atsunset,wasnotmorethanthree.
Notashothadbeenfiredbyanyoneofthesteamers,anditwouldhavebeenawasteofammunitiontodoso.
“Wearegainingonher,”saidChristy,halfanhourlater.“Thatsteamerismakingsixteenknotsatleast.”
“Ifshehasfoundoutthatwecanoutsailher,verylikelyshewillcountuponthedarknesstoenablehertogiveustheslip,”suggestedMr.Baskirk.
“Mr.Vapoorhascometohisbearings,andinanotherhalfhourweshallbewithinonemileofher.ButIamafraidweshallnotbeabletosettlethisaffairfinallyto-night,”repliedChristy.
Thedarknessgatheredaroundthetwoships,andnoneofthesteamersinthedistancecouldanylongerbeseen.
Theofficerscouldjustmakeoutthesteamerahead,whichstillkeptonhercourse.
Themidshipgunwasnowbroughtintouse,andaroundshotwassentonitsmissiontoher;butwithlittlechanceofhittingherintheincreasinggloom,fortheskywasobscuredwithclouds,andallthesignsindicatedfogduringthenight,whichwouldbeexceedinglyfavorabletothechase.
Aflashwasseeninthedistance,andthencametheroarofaheavygun.
“Sheisnotmerelyablockade-runner;foritappearsnowthatsheisanarmedvessel,andhassomeheavymetalonboard,”saidChristy.
“Butnoshothascomewithinhearing,”addedMr.Baskirk.“Perhapssheonlywishedtoinformusthatshecouldbiteaswellasbark.”
TheSt.Regiskeptonhercourseforanotherhour.
Christywasveryanxious,forthechasewasplainlyaConfederateman-of-war,oraprivateer;andifsheescapedshemightbeginherworkofdestructiontheverynextday.
Attwobellsinthefirstwatchshecouldnotbeseen;butthecommanderkeptonhiscourseanotherhalf-hour,andthenheranintoafog.
Thelogindicatedthattheshipwasmakingherbestspeed;andifthechasecontinuedonherformercourse,shemusthavebeenwithinsightorhearingbythistime.
Christypeeredthroughthegloomofthenightandthefog,andlistenedforanysound.
Hekeptupatremendousthinkingallthetime,andactedasthoughhewasindoubt.
“Makethecourseeast,Mr.Baskirk,”saidhe,callingtheexecutiveofficer.
“East,CaptainPassford?”interrogatedthelieutenant;andifhetriedtoconcealtheastonishmenthefelt,histonesfailedhim.
“East,Mr.Baskirk,”repeatedthecommander.
Thecoursewasgiventothequartermasteratthewheel;andtheSt.Regiscameaboutgradually,andstoodoffinthedirectionindicated.
Christyhadatheoryofhisown,inregardtotheprobablemovementsofthechase,andhedesiredtobesolelyresponsiblefortheresult:thereforehekepthisplantohimself.
“Callallhands,Mr.Baskirk,butwithoutanynoiseatall,”continuedthecommander,whiletheshipwasstilldrivingaheadattherateoftwentyknotsanhour.
Theship’scompanysilentlytooktheirstations,andnooneonthedeckspokealoudword,thoughnoordertothiseffecthadbeengiven.
Allthewhitecottoncloththatcouldbefoundonboardwasbroughttothewaist,whereitwastornintostripsaboutthreeincheswide,andtwofeetinlength.
Thesetwopiecesweredistributedamongtheship’scompany,withtheordertotiethemaroundtheleftarm,abovetheelbow.
Thefogwasdeepanddense;andthelookouts,whowerestationedonthetop-gallantforecastleandaloft,couldnotseeaship’slengthahead.
Christyhadgoneforward,andmadehiswayoutonthebowsprit,inordertogetasfaraspossiblefromthenoiseoftheengine.
Helistenedthereforafullhalf-hour,andwhiletheshiphadmadetenmiles.
“Starboardalittle,Mr.Baskirk,”hecalledtotheexecutiveofficer,whohadfollowedhimforward.
“Starboard,sir,”repeatedtheofficer,ashesenttheorderaft.
“Port!Port!”exclaimedthecommanderwithmoreenergy.
Theorderswerepassedrapidlythroughthelineofofficerstilltheyreachedthequartermasterconningthewheel.Thecaptaincontinuedtolistenforanotherquarterofanhour.
“Steady!”heshoutedaloud,andlefthispositiononthebowsprittotakeanotheronthetop-gallantforecastle.
“Wearecloseaboardofher,Mr.Baskirk!Haveyourgrapplingironsready!Layheraboardaswecomealongside!”
Bythistimeallhandsforwardcouldseethedarkhulloftheenemy.
TheSt.Regiswasrapidlyrunningalongsideofher,forthechasedidnotseemtobegoingatherformerspeed;andnodoubthercommanderwasbusyworkingoutsomemanœuvrehehaddevisedtoescapefromhispursuers.
Theboardersthrewtheirgrappling-irons,andfastenedtothesideoftheenemy.
Thedrumwasheardonboardofher,beatingtoquarters;butitwastoolate,fortheboarderswerespringingoverherrail.
Christyheardonebellonthegongoftheothership,andinstantlymadethesamesignalonhisown.
Itwasevidentlyasurprisetotheenemy,buttheship’scompanywerepromptlyrallied.
Theenemywasoverwhelmedinafewminutes,thoughnottillseveralhadfallenonbothsides.
Thecaptainseemedtohavebeentoobusywithhismanœuvretoescapetoattendtopresentconditions.
WhilethecommanderoftheSt.Regisremainedonthedeck,orevenonthetop-gallantforecastle,theclangofhisownenginepreventedhimfromhearinganyothersounds;andtheenemyappearednottohaveseentheshiptillsheemergedfromthefog.
Thecrewoftheprize,asshewasbythistime,werealldrivenbelow,andthevictorywascomplete.
“Doyousurrender?”demandedMr.Baskirkoftheofficerwhoappearedtobethecaptain.
“Thereappearstobenoalternative,”repliedthecommanderverygloomily:andhedidnotattempttoexplainhowhismisfortunehadcomeuponhim.
Hehadcounteduponthefogtoinsurehissalvation;butitappearedtohavebeentheprimarycauseofhiscapture,thoughhecertainlyhadnotbeenasvigilantasacommandershouldbe.
Christycameonboard,andMr.Baskirkintroducedhim.
“Iamgladtoseeyou,CaptainPassford,”saidthecommanderasamatterofform.
“Iwasabsolutelysurethatyouwouldchasemetothewestward,sir;andIhadnottheslightestexpectationofencounteringyouonthiscourse.”
“Itookmychancesoffindingyouinthisdirectionratherthanintheoppositeone,”repliedChristy.
“ItappearsthatIcorrectlyinterpretedyourstrategy,thoughIdarednotevenmentionmyplantomyexecutiveofficer.”
“Ihavefallenintomyowntrap,andbeingcapturedasIwas,isdisgracefultome,”addedCaptainWinnlock,ashisnameprovedtobe;andthesteamerwastheWatauga.
Christy’sopinionofthecapturedidnotdifferfromthatofthecommanderoftheprize,buthemadenoremarkuponit.
TheWataugawasloadedwithcotton,whichwastobesenttoEnglandfromNassau,whilethesteamerwastogoonacruiseinsearchofdefencelessmerchantmenoftheUnitedStates.
“Ihaveapassengeronboard,CaptainPassford,whobearsthesamenamethatyoudo,andpossiblyhemaybeoneofyourrelatives,thoughheisbynomeansaFederalist,”saidCaptainWinnlock.
“Indeed!MayIaskhisname?”repliedChristyverymuchsurprised.
“ColonelHomerPassford,sir.”
“Myuncleagain!”
Mr.French,themaster,hadalreadybeenappointedprize-master;andwhileMr.BaskirkwasmakingthearrangementsforherdepartureforNewYork,Christyaccompaniedthecaptaintothecabin.
ColonelPassfordhadlearnedthefateoftheWatauga;andhesatatatable,hisfacecoveredwithbothhands.
“Ihavebroughtdowntoseeyou,ColonelPassford,yournephew,”saidthecommander;andhisunclesprangtohisfeet,andgazedathisbrother’ssonasthoughhehadbeenaspectre.
“Christy!”heexclaimed;buthecouldsaynomore,andgroanedinhisanguish.
“Heisalieutenant-commandernow,andcaptainofthesteamerSt.Regis,formerlytheTallahatchie.
TheWataugaisnowunfortunatelytheprizeofhisship,”addedCaptainWinnlock,asheretiredfromthecabin.
“Capturedagainbymynephew,”groanedtheunhappycolonel.“IbelieveyouaretheemissaryoftheEvilOne,senttotormentme.”
“IamsentbytheoppositePower,UncleHomer,”repliedChristyverygently.“ButIammoreastonishedtoseeyouherethanyououghttobetoseeme,forIgowhereverthefortunesofwarcarryme.”
“Iwasstilltryingtoservemycountryinhermisfortunes.
Iraisedanothercargoofcottonamongmyfriends,anditisnowonboardofthisvessel.
Ithasfallenintoyourhands,wheremostofmycottonhasgone.”
ThevictoriouscommanderinquiredforhisauntandcousinsintheSouth,andinformedhimthathismotherandsisterwereverywell.
HeaddedthatheshouldbeobligedtosendhimtoNewYorkintheprize,andinsuredhimabrotherlywelcomeatBonnydale.
Hepartedwithhisunclepityinghimverymuch;buthehadchosenforhimselfwhichsidehewouldtakeinthegreatconflict.
TheWataugahadacrewofsixtymen,whoweretobere-enforcedatNassau,andalargeprize-crewhadtobesentwithher;butFrenchreturnedwithhisforceinthreeweeks,andtheSt.Regiswasagainfullymanned.
Christyreceivedaletterfromtheflag-officer,whocommendedhimveryhighlyfortheservicehehadrendered;andtheSt.Regiswascontinuedonherpresentstationthroughtheremainderofthesummer,andduringthewinterontheouterlimitoftheblockaders.
Shemadeseveralcaptures,thoughallofthemwithoutanyfighting,fornomoreConfederatemen-of-war,actuallyorintendedassuch,cameoutofWilmington,orattemptedtoentertheCapeFear;buthesentalargenumberofblockade-runners,loadedwithcottoncomingout,orwithsuppliesfortheConfederatearmiesgoingin,toNewYork.
OnedayinAugustalargesteamerwasreportedtothecommanderoftheSt.RegisascomingfromtheSouth.
ChristywasallreadyforabattleifsheprovedtobeaConfederatecruiser;buttohisgreatjoysheturnedouttobetheBellevite.
Theoceanwasassmoothasglass,andshecamealongsidetheSt.Regis.
Theyoungcommanderhastenedonboardofher,followedbyhischiefengineer.
CaptainBreakeractuallyhuggedhimamidtherepeatedcheersandapplauseoftheship’scompany,andPaulVapoorwasreceivedwithhardlylessenthusiasm.
Christyhadtoshakehandsforthenexthalf-hour.
“ButhowdoyouandtheBellevitehappentobeinthislatitude,CaptainBreaker?”askedtheyoungcommanderwhenhehadanopportunitytospeak.
“Haven’tyouheardthenews,CaptainPassford?”demandedthecaptainoftheBellevite.
“Whatnews?Wedon’tgetthenewssofaroffshore,”repliedChristy.
“TherewasnofartheruseformyshipintheGulf,andIamsentheretoreporttotheflag-officer.
AdmiralFarragutturnedhisattentiontoMobileBaywithhisfleet;andIgavehimtheinformationyouprocuredforme.
TheBellevitetookpartinthebattle,anditwasthehottestactioninwhichIwaseverengaged.
Myshipwasbadlycutupinherupperworks,butshecameoutallright.”
“Thisisgloriousnews,CaptainBreaker!”exclaimedChristy,wavinghishat,whereuponthetarsinthewaistbrokeoutinavolleyofcheers.
“Thecarpentershavebeenbusysincetheaction,andtheBelleviteisasgoodasnew,”addedhercommander,asheproceededtotellthestoryofthegreatbattle,towhichChristyandPaullistenedwithbreathlessinterest.
“FortMorganandFortGainessurrendered,andthebayisopentoourships.”
Thenarrativehasgoneintohistory,anditisnotnecessarytorepeatit.
TheBellevitereportedtotheflagofficer;andashergreatspeedfittedherfordutylikethatinwhichtheSt.Regiswasengaged,shewasemployedasacruisertilltheendofthewar,thoughsheandChristy’sshiptookpartinthebombardmentandcaptureofFortFisherinJanuary.Theendwasrapidlyapproaching.
TheBellevitecontinuedtocruiseuntiltheendofthewar,announcedtotheworldbythesurrenderofGeneralLee.
AmongthesteamersordereduptheJamesRiverweretheBelleviteandtheSt.Regis,andthesailorsofbothwereamongthosewhoputoutthefirewhichthreatenedtoconsumethecityofRichmond.
ChristysawthePresidentthere,andwaspresentedtohim,whichhewillrememberaslongashelives.
InduetimetheSt.RegiswasorderedtothenavyyardatNewYork.
AsearlyaspossiblehehastenedtoBonnydale,whereallthefamilyandBerthaPembrokewerewaitingforhim.
Itwasasortofunitedembracewhichwelcomedhim;andallthedayandhalfthenightweregiventothenarrativeoftheyoungcommander’sadventures.Theywereallsupremelyhappy.
Peacehadcome,andthewholeNorthwasringingwiththerejoicingsofthepeople.
Thousandsuponthousandshadlaiddowntheirlivesinthearmyandthenavyintheirdevotiontotheircountry,andwerelaidingravesfarfromhomeandkindred,orcommittedtothesilentdepthsoftheocean.
TheyhadwonPeaceandAVictoriousUnion.
ItwasfarotherwiseintheSouth,thoughPeacespreadhermantleoverthewholeunitednation.
Herpeoplehadfoughtvaliantly,andmadesacrificeswhichnoonebeyondtheirborderscanunderstandorappreciate.
Ifthedevotionandself-sacrificeoftheSouth,thebraveryanddeterminationwithwhichhersonsfought,andtheheroismwithwhichtheysufferedanddied,weretheonlyconsiderations,theydeservedsuccess.
ButthirtyyearsofpeacehavemadetheSouthmoreprosperousthaneverbefore,andherpeopleenjoythebenefitsoftheVictoriousUnion.
HomerPassford,likethousandsofothersintheSouth,wasaruinedmanatthecloseofthewar.
Hehadlosthisplantation,andheandhisfamilyhadnowheretolaytheirheads.
ButhewasatrueSoutherner,andhedidnotregretorrepentofwhathehaddoneforwhathecalledhiscountry.
HisbrothercharteredasteamertobringthefamilytoBonnydale,butonlyforafriendlyvisit.
Thereunionwasahappyone;andneitherbrotherwasdisposedtotalkpolitics,andthoseoftheNorthdidnotindulgeinasingle“Itoldyouso!”
inthepresenceoftheirdefeatedrelatives.
Theywerethesameastheyhadbeenbeforethewar;anditisneedlesstosaythatHoratiogenerouslyhelpedoutHomerfinancially;andnowheisaswealthyandprosperousaseverbefore.
Whenitcametodisposingofthevesselsthatwerenolongerneededforthenavy,ChristyboughttheSt.Regis,forinamoderatewaycomparedwithhisfatherhewasarichman.
Onthedayhewastwenty-oneyearsold,BerthaPembrokebecamehiswife;andPaulVapoorbecamethehusbandofFlorryPassfordonthesameoccasion.
Overayearhadelapsedsincethewar,andtheSt.Regishadbeenentirelyreconstructedinherinterior,andfurnishedinthemostelegantmanner.
HerfirstmissionwasavoyagetoMobiletobringthefamilyofUncleHomertothewedding.
ItwasthegrandestoccasionthathadeverbeenknownintheregionofBonnydale.
Theyoungcoupleweretospendthesummerontheirbridaltriponboardoftheelegantsteam-yacht,visitingvariousportsofEurope.
InthemultitudewhocametoBonnydaletoassistatthemarriageoftheyoungherowasMonsieurGilfleur,whowasreceivedwithdistinguishedconsiderationbyallthefamily,includingthebrideelect;anditcanbesafelyassertedthathewasoneofthehappiestoftheguestswhorejoicedinthefelicityoftheex-lieutenant-commander,forhehadresignedhiscommissionatthecloseofthewar.
ThiswasnotthefirsttimetheyhadmetsincetheirmemorablecampaignsinBermudaandNassau;forthedetectivehadspentafortnightatBonnydalewithhisyoungfriend,duringwhichtheyhadtoldthestoriesoftheirexperienceinsecretservice.Theyarefastfriendsforlife.
CaptainPassford,senior,presentedtohissonaneleganthouse,builtandmagnificentlyfurnishedwhileChristyandhiswifewerevoyaginginEuropeanwaters.
ItisontheBonnydaleestate:andthegrandfatheroftwoboysandagirldoesnothavetogofartovisitthefamily,forheisnearlyeightyyearsold.
Christyissomewhatgrizzledwithirongrayhairandwhiskers;butheisstillthesameaswhenhewasayoungofficer,andstillasdevotedasevertothecountryhehelpedtomakeAVictoriousUnion.
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