CHRISTY MATURES A PROMISING SCHEME
However interesting the voyage of the Bellevite might prove to be, the
purpose of this story does not admit of its details. Mr. Vapoor was
instructed to the effect that a quick run was desirable, and he governed
himself accordingly. At daylight on a bright May morning, the lofty
light tower of Sand Island, off the entrance to Mobile Bay, was reported
by 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 the
owner hoped to avoid any close scrutiny of his outfit, and had succeeded
in doing so, he was not inclined to tempt fate by any carelessness. But
when the first watch was called, the night before her arrival off the
bay, every thing was in condition for active service.
Captain Passford had not a particle of the foam generated by the
excitement of the times, and he sincerely hoped he should have no
occasion to use the guns which it had cost him so much trouble to
procure. Fort Morgan was on one side of the entrance to the bay, and
Fort Gaines on the other side.
He had seen a paragraph in one of his papers, to the effect that one or
both of these works had been garrisoned by Confederate troops, and it
was not likely to be an easy matter to get into the bay. As it looked to
the owner and the commander, the only way to accomplish this feat was by
running the gauntlet of both forts, which were just three nautical miles
apart.
A shot from either of them might go through the boiler or engine of the
Bellevite, which would render her utterly helpless, and subject all on
board to the fate of prisoners-of-war. It looked like a terrible
alternative to the owner, so overburdened with anxiety for the safety of
his 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 the
owner and the captain; and as soon as the latter came on deck, he
ordered the course of the vessel to be changed to the westward, as they
had decided to enter the bay by the Middle Channel. For the danger from
Fort Gaines was believed to be less than that from Fort Morgan, though
either of them doubtless had the means of sinking the steamer with a
single shot.
The water was shoal in the Middle Channel, and it was not prudent to
attempt to go into the bay at any other time than high tide; though
Captain Breaker was thoroughly acquainted with the channel, having once
been engaged in a survey of the shifting shoals in this locality, and he
had once before taken the Bellevite by this passage on a trip to New
Orleans.
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 in
regard to the tide, which rises and falls less than three feet at this
point. It would not be safe to attempt the passage before nine o'clock
in 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 them
came on deck at an unusually early hour on the morning that the Sand
Island light was made out; for there was more commotion than usual on
board, and even in the cabin, where the owner and commander discussed
the situation.
"Here we are, my Chinese friend," said Percy, as he joined Christy on
deck, and made out the tall tower in the distance. "I wish I was on the
Island of Nassau, instead of here."
"Why, Mr. Percy, this is your own, your native land; and in China we
always used to have a warm affection for our own country," replied
Christy.
"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 father
would not let me, and what could I do?"
"If you were bent on it, like a patriot, as you must be, you could run
away and enlist. I don't know but I shall do that when I get back to
China."
"I don't like to do any thing to make my poor father unhappy. I am
afraid my absence now, without his knowing where I am, or whether I am
dead 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 and
join the army."
"Perhaps he would; but I should not feel very proud of myself if I did
a thing like that. I am only afraid I shall meet my brother, Major
Pierson, and that he will make me go into some regiment against the
wishes of my father and mother. He is not willing to hear a word from
either 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 am
really very anxious to go into the army, and fight the enemies of my
country."
"I see that you are, and perhaps you and I had better run away and
enlist."
"My conscience would not let me do that contrary to the wishes of my
parents," replied Percy, shaking his head vigorously.
"But you may not see your brother the major; for probably he has been
ordered away with his regiment before this time," said his companion in
comforting 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, he
would 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 he
insists that a boy of eighteen ought not to be tied to his mother's
apron-strings when his country needs his services, I may see my brother
before 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 am
not sure," replied Percy, suddenly looking more disconsolate than ever
at the prospect of meeting his patriotic brother.
"What makes you think he is?" asked Christy, with the feeling that he
might be on the point of obtaining some useful information.
"They talked of sending him there before father and I left for New
Providence."
"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 a
military 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 come
out from the fort and see that this vessel is all right before she can
go into the bay?" asked Percy.
"I don't know about that. We may run into the bay without waiting for
any 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 we
can'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 killed
before we get by the fort."
"Of course: that may be the case; but we have no papers, and we have to
take things as they come."
"It isn't pleasant to take cannon-balls as they come, for they are apt
to hit hard. But they won't fire at us if a boat comes off to examine
the vessel."
"But in that case you will have the pleasure of meeting your brother the
major."
"And whatever he may do with the steamer, he will take me to the fort
with him, and put me into the ranks."
"Perhaps we can save you from such a fate in some way," suggested
Christy, who was already doing some heavy thinking on his own account.
"I wish you would!" exclaimed Percy, catching at the straw held out to
him.
"There is time enough, and I will see you again," added Christy, as he
joined 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. Without
losing any time, he laid it before his father, explaining it in detail.
He was even ready to remove objections to the scheme, and was confident
that it would succeed. Captain Passford called the commander, and
informed him what his son had suggested. Captain Breaker heartily
approved it; for, if it failed, it would leave the steamer in no worse
position than before, with all her chances of running the gauntlet
successfully still open to her.
Christy was the best person on board to manage the details, for he was
the most intimate with the son of the purchaser of vessels. He returned
to that part of the deck where he had left his companion. He found that
Percy was very anxious to see him again, for he had founded a hope on
what had been said before.
"I think we can manage it, Mr. Percy, if you will do just what you are
told to do," Christy began.
"I will do all that to the letter," protested Percy; and a smile
actually lighted up his face at the prospect of escaping the fate to
which his father and mother objected so strongly.
"You see the trouble with the Bellevite is that she has no papers; not
even a letter from the Confederate agent who is picking up vessels for
the navy. But I think we can manage it if you will learn your part
correctly."
"I will do that. Do you think you can really keep my brother from taking
me to the fort?" asked Percy, his tones and manner burdened with
anxiety.
"I feel almost sure of it."
"Good for you!"
"You must go into the cabin now with me. They are just starting up the
steamer again, and she will soon reach the channel where she is going
into the bay."
The owner and the commander were busy in instructing the ship's company
in regard to what would be expected of them as soon as the Bellevite was
in motion again. All the men spoken to smiled as they heard what was
said to them, and they evidently regarded the whole affair as a decided
pleasantry. But they all promised to be very discreet, and to say only
what they had been told to say if they were called on for any
information by Confederate officials.
In the mean time Christy was very busy with his pupil, who entered
heartily into the plan which promised to save him from shouldering a
musket in one of the companies of his brother's regiment. He had been
quite enthusiastic from the first; and, as he was deeply interested in
the result of the adventure, he was a very apt pupil.
As the Bellevite approached the Middle Channel, a tug-boat was
discovered off Fort Gaines, which immediately began to move towards the
approaching steamer. Examined with the glass, a heavy gun was seen on
her forecastle.