A SHORT VISIT TO BONNYDALE
The firing was continued from the long gun, though only at intervals
that would permit any signals to be seen on board of the enemy. When it
looked as though there would soon be nothing left of her, she hauled
down the Confederate flag at her fore, where she had hoisted it when the
mainmast went over. The order to go ahead was given, and in a short time
the Vixen was alongside of her.
"Do you surrender?" asked Christy, mounting the rail of his ship.
"We do; there is not much left of the steamer, and I am not justified
in throwing away the lives of my men," replied a very spruce-looking
officer.
"You will board her, Mr. Fillbrook, with the first division, and take
possession of her," said Christy, when he had received the captain's
answer. "Ascertain her condition as soon as possible."
The steamer proved to be the Pedee, formerly the Carnfield, Captain
Linden. She had run the blockade with a valuable cargo, which more than
paid the cost of the vessel, and was then loaded with cotton, and armed
for her own protection, as well as to capture anything that fell in her
way. She had a crew of eighty men to do her fighting, and the commander
confidently expected to pick up a better steamer than the Pedee, to
which the greater portion of the ship's company were to be transferred.
"I saw your steamer yesterday afternoon," said the captain; "but she had
several other vessels near her, and I thought she might have a whole
blockading squadron with her. I kept off, and put about in the night.
When I saw the Vixen early this morning, I thought she would just answer
my purpose, and I wanted her. A nearer view of her assures me she is
exactly the steamer I needed."
"For your sake, captain, I am sorry I cannot accommodate you," replied
Christy, laughing at the cheerful expressions of Captain Linden.
"I presume you are an officer of the Confederate Navy?"
"No, sir; I am not; but I am a Confederate to the backbone. It was my
intention to set up a navy on my own hook. The Pedee was the first
vessel, and I intended that the Vixen should be the second, and become
my flag-ship."
"Then you came out as a privateer?"
"That's just the color of it. If you hadn't unhorsed my big gun I should
have been as polite to you about this time as you are to me. The fact of
it is, Captain Passford, you did not manage your ship just right."
"Indeed? In what respect?" asked Christy.
"Well, you see, you knocked my big gun all to pieces, and then, instead
of running down and boarding the Pedee, you stood off out of range of my
side guns, and knocked the starch all out of us. If you had only boarded
us, I could have whipped you out of your boots, for I have got the
greatest crowd of fighting dogs that was ever hitched up together."
"Of course I was not aware of your views in regard to the manner in
which I ought to have managed the affair on my own part, and therefore I
could not handle my ship just as you desired," replied Christy. "As it
is, I am afraid you will have to start your navy over again."
Mr. Fillbrook had by this time driven the "fighting dogs" forward, and
taken full possession of the prize. On examination, Christy found that,
though the Pedee had been terribly battered in her upper works, she was
not materially injured below the water line. He sent for Mr. Caulbolt,
and required him to inspect the engine, which was not injured in any
important part.
Captain Linden had three times attempted to get nearer to the Vixen with
the intention of boarding her, but Christy preferred to fight the battle
at long range under the circumstances, and he had preserved his distance
from the enemy. He had discovered that she had a large crew, and he was
vastly more prudent than most of his critics gave him the credit of
being. He was surprised, after examining the Pedee, that the captain had
hauled down his flag, for the steamer could have stood a good deal more
pounding without being used up. He concluded that Captain Linden was
full of fight, but, for the want of a naval education, he had not fully
comprehended his situation.
It was deemed advisable to transfer one half of the Pedee's crew of
"fighting dogs" to the Vixen, as she was not encumbered with any
prisoners to speak of, and this was effected without any delay. Mr.
Scopfield, the third lieutenant, was appointed prize-master, and
instructed to keep as near as practicable to the Vixen on the voyage.
Captain Linden and his principal officers were allowed to remain on
board. An assistant engineer and two first-class firemen, on their way
to New York for examination and promotion, were sent on board of the
prize. The two steamers were soon under way, and then it was ascertained
that the Pedee's ordinary rate of sailing did not exceed ten knots, and
it was not probable that she would be bought into the navy.
The fleet of prize vessels had continued on its course to the north, and
was soon overhauled by the Vixen and her capture. The progress of the
fleet was very slow, for the Aleppo, which was said to have a speed of
ten knots, did very badly towing two steamers. Mr. Pembroke and Bertha
were sent on board of the Vixen, and the young lady blushed beautifully
when Christy welcomed her return.
Possibly she had feared he might be killed in the action, and had
worried about him till his return in safety, with the prize alongside
his ship. Her father was very cordial in his congratulations to the
young commander, and even said that he and his daughter had prayed that
he might not be killed or injured in the conflict; and Bertha blushed
all the more when he said it.
Mr. Scopfield was instructed to take one of the schooners of the Aleppo
in tow. Five men had been killed on board of the Pedee, and her surgeon
had more than he could do with at least twenty wounded men. Dr. Appleton
was sent on board of her to assist him. The fleet thus reorganized got
under way, and it was found that the log gave better results after the
change. Fortunately no enemy interfered with its progress, for Christy
felt that his hands were already full.
In the early days of the month of May, he sailed into New York harbor
with his fleet of eight vessels, though only three of them were the
prizes of the Bronx. He had been absent hardly a month; though he had
something to show for the time he had been employed. The vessels were
delivered over to the authorities, and the young commander obtained
leave of absence to visit his mother and sister at Bonnydale, for his
father came on board of the Vixen as soon as he heard the news of her
arrival in command of his son.
Captain Passford, Senior, was conducted to the cabin of Captain
Passford, Junior, and the meeting of father and son was very
affectionate and very demonstrative. Mr. Pembroke and his daughter
were presented to the commander's father, and after they had talked over
the incidents of the return voyage, the former owner of the Bellevite
suspected that relations were altogether pleasant between Christy and
Bertha.
He was greatly pleased with the young lady, and whatever else he
thought, he could not very well help indorsing his son's good taste. In
the course of the subsequent conversation it appeared that Mr. Pembroke
owned a small house at Newburgh, but that the occupant of it had a
three-years' lease of the premises. Captain Passford immediately
extended an invitation to the invalid and his daughter to visit
Bonnydale, which became so pressing that it was finally accepted. In the
afternoon the entire party took the train for the home of the captain.
Christy's welcome was as hearty as though he had come home a commodore.
The visitors were received with a sincere greeting, and Bertha and
Florry were soon fast friends. Even if Christy's father had not dropped
a hint to Mrs. Passford in regard to the fact that his son was at least
tenderly inclined towards the lovely maiden from the South she could not
have failed to notice his attentions to her. Later at night his father
and mother had a long talk over the matter.
"Christy, I have a couple of envelopes for you," said Captain Passford,
as the party seated themselves in the drawing-room after supper.
"Envelopes, father?" asked the young officer curiously. "Base ball or
boat-club business?"
"I should say neither; decidedly not," replied his father, taking the
documents from his pocket, and handing them to him. "They have an
official look, and bear the imprint of the Navy Department."
"What business can the Navy Department have with me now? I have the
honor to be the executive officer of the gunboat Bronx, with the rank of
master, on detached duty as prize-master," added Christy, as he looked
at the ponderous envelopes.
"You can easily answer that question by reading the papers," replied his
father.
"A commission!" exclaimed Christy, as he opened the first one. "I am
promoted to the rank of lieutenant!"
"And, though you are my son, I must say that you deserve the promotion,"
added Captain Passford. "I have read your report of the capture of the
Ocklockonee and the Escambia, and you have won your spurs, my son. I did
not ask for this promotion, or even suggest it to any one."
"Well, I am astonished, confounded, overwhelmed!" exclaimed the young
lieutenant, as we are now permitted to call him. "And the commission is
dated back far enough to put me over the heads of not a few others of
the same rank."
"Perhaps it will please you quite as much when I inform you that the
officers you recommended for appointment as masters have been promoted
to that rank," added the captain.
"I am even more pleased at their promotion than at my own," replied
Christy, opening the other envelope, in which he was addressed as
"Lieutenant Christopher Passford." "Ah, ha!" he exclaimed, leaping out
of his chair in his excitement, to which he gave way on such an occasion
as the present.
"What in the world is the matter with you, Christy?" demanded his
mother, astonished at such an unusual demonstration on the part of her
son.
"I am appointed to the command of the Bronx, in place of Lieutenant
Blowitt, transferred to the Bellevite!" almost shouted the young
officer. "If I could have selected a position for myself, this is the
very one I should have chosen."
"I heard you say as much as that when you were appointed to the
temporary command of the Bronx, and I shall plead guilty of having
inserted a hint where it would do the most good," added Captain
Passford.
"I am much obliged to you, father; for I don't object to that kind of
influence, though I could have commanded the Bronx just as well as a
master, which is the rank of her present temporary commander, Mr. Flint.
I desire to win my own rank, and not get it by influence. I am ordered
to proceed to the Gulf as soon as possible."
In three days he obtained passage in a store-ship steamer; and he spent
all this time at home, as perhaps he would not have done if Bertha
Pembroke had not been there. Before he reported on board of the
store-ship, he visited the Vixen, which was undergoing alterations and
repairs, and took leave of his officers. Before dark he was on board of
the vessel and on his voyage to the scene of his future operations,
where we hope to find him again, doing his best for his whole country,
and true to his motto from the beginning, "STAND BY THE UNION."
OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS
+All-Over-the-World Library.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. First Series.
Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.25.
1. +A Missing Million+; or, The Adventures of Louis Belgrade.
2. +A Millionaire at Sixteen+; or, The cruise of the "Guardian
Mother."
3. +A Young Knight Errant+; or, Cruising in the West Indies.
4. +Strange Sights Abroad+; or, Adventures in European Waters.
No author has come before the public during the present generation
who has achieved a larger and more deserving popularity among young
people than "Oliver Optic." His stories have been very numerous,
but they have been uniformly excellent in moral tone and literary
quality. As indicated in the general title, it is the author's
intention to conduct the readers of this entertaining series "around
the world." As a means to this end, the hero of the story purchases
a steamer which he names the "Guardian Mother," and with a number of
guests she proceeds on her voyage.--_Christian Work, N. Y._
+All-Over-the-World Library.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Second Series.
Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.25.
1. +American Boys Afloat+; or, Cruising in the Orient.
2. +The Young Navigators+; or, The Foreign Cruise of the "Maud."
3. +Up and Down the Nile+; or, Young Adventurers in Africa.
4. +Asiatic Breezes+; or, Students on the Wing.
The interest in these stories is continuous, and there is a great
variety of exciting incident woven into the solid information which
the book imparts so generously and without the slightest suspicion
of dryness. Manly boys will welcome this volume as cordially as they
did its predecessors.--_Boston Gazette_.
+All-Over-the-World Library.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Third Series.
Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.25.
1. +Across India+; or, Live Boys in the Far East.
2. +Half Round the World+; or, Among the Uncivilized.
3. +Four Young Explorers+; or, Sight-Seeing in the Tropics.
4. +Pacific Shores+; or, Adventures in Eastern Seas.
Amid such new and varied surroundings it would be surprising indeed
if the author, with his faculty of making even the commonplace
attractive, did not tell an intensely interesting story of
adventure, as well as give much information in regard to the distant
countries through which our friends pass, and the strange peoples
with whom they are brought in contact. This book, and indeed the
whole series, is admirably adapted to reading aloud in the family
circle, each volume containing matter which will interest all the
members of the family.--_Boston Budget._
LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE.
OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS
+The Blue and the Gray--Afloat.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Six volumes.
Illustrated. Beautiful binding in blue and gray, with emblematic dies.
Cloth. Any volume sold separate. Price per volume, $1.50.
1. +Taken by the Enemy.+
2. +Within the Enemy's Lines.+
3. +On the Blockade.+
4. +Stand by the Union.+
5. +Fighting for the Right.+
6. +A Victorious Union.+
+The Blue and the Gray--on Land.+
1. +Brother against Brother.+
2. +In the Saddle.+
3. +A Lieutenant at Eighteen.+
4. +On the Staff.+
5. +At the Front.+
6. +An Undivided Union.+
"There never has been a more interesting writer in the field of
juvenile literature than Mr. W. T. ADAMS, who, under his well-known
pseudonym, is known and admired by every boy and girl in the
country, and by thousands Who have long since passed the boundaries
of youth, yet who remember with pleasure the genial, interesting pen
that did so much to interest, instruct, and entertain their younger
years. 'The Blue and the Gray' is a title that is sufficiently
indicative of the nature and spirit of the latest series, while the
name of OLIVER OPTIC is sufficient warrant of the absorbing style of
narrative. This series is as bright and entertaining as any work
that Mr. ADAMS has yet put forth, and will be as eagerly perused as
any that has borne his name. It would not be fair to the prospective
reader to deprive him of the zest which comes from the unexpected by
entering into a synopsis of the story. A word, however, should be
said in regard to the beauty and appropriateness of the binding,
which makes it a most attractive volume."--_Boston Budget_.
+Woodville Stories.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Six volumes. Illustrated.
Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.
1. +Rich and Humble;+ or, The Mission of Bertha Grant.
2. +In School and Out;+ or, The Conquest of Richard Grant.
3. +Watch and Wait;+ or, The Young Fugitives.
4. +Work and Win;+ or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise.
5. +Hope and Have;+ or, Fanny Grant Among the Indians.
6. +Haste and Waste;+ or, The Young Pilot of Lake Champlain.
"Though we are not so young as we once were, we relished these
stories almost as much as the boys and girls for whom they were
written. They were really refreshing even to us. There is much in
them which is calculated to inspire a generous, healthy ambition,
and to make distasteful all reading tending to stimulate base
desires."--_Fitchburg Reveille_.
+The Starry Flag Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. Illustrated.
Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.
1. +The Starry Flag;+ or, The Young Fisherman of Cape Ann.
2. +Breaking Away;+ or, The Fortunes of a Student.
3. +Seek and Find;+ or, The Adventures of a Smart Boy.
4. +Freaks of Fortune;+ or, Half Round the World.
5. +Make or Break;+ or, The Rich Man's Daughter.
6. +Down the River;+ or, Buck Bradford and the Tyrants.
"Mr. ADAMS, the celebrated and popular writer, familiarly known as
OLIVER OPTIC, seems to have inexhaustible funds for weaving together
the virtues of life; and, notwithstanding he has written scores of
books, the same freshness and novelty run through them all. Some
people think the sensational element predominates. Perhaps it does.
But a book for young people needs this, and so long as good
sentiments are inculcated such books ought to be read."
LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE.
OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS
+Army and Navy Stories.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Six volumes. Illustrated.
Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.
1. +The Soldier Boy+; or, Tom Somers in the Army.
2. +The Sailor Boy+; or, Jack Somers in the Navy.
3. +The Young Lieutenant+; or, Adventures of an Army Officer.
4. +The Yankee Middy+; or, Adventures of a Navy Officer.
5. +Fighting Joe+; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer.
6. +Brave Old Salt+; or, Life on the Quarter Deck.
"This series of six volumes recounts the adventures of two brothers,
Tom and Jack Somers, one in the army, the other in the navy, in
the great Civil War. The romantic narratives of the fortunes and
exploits of the brothers are thrilling in the extreme. Historical
accuracy in the recital of the great events of that period is
strictly followed, and the result is, not only a library of
entertaining volumes, but also the best history of the Civil War
for young people ever written."
+Boat Builders Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. Illustrated.
Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.
1. +All Adrift+; or, The Goldwing Club.
2. +Snug Harbor+; or, The Champlain Mechanics.
3. +Square and Compasses+; or, Building the House.
4. +Stem to Stern+; or, Building the Boat.
5. +All Taut+; or, Rigging the Boat.
6. +Ready About+; or, Sailing the Boat.
"The series includes in six successive volumes the whole art of boat
building, boat rigging, boat managing, and practical hints to make
the ownership of a boat pay. A great deal of useful information
is given in this +Boat Builders Series+, and in each book a very
interesting story is interwoven with the information. Every reader
will be interested at once in Dory, the hero of 'All Adrift,' and
one of the characters retained in the subsequent volumes of the
series. His friends will not want to lose sight of him, and every
boy who makes his acquaintance in 'All Adrift' will become his
friend."
+Riverdale Story Books.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Twelve volumes. Illustrated.
Illuminated covers. Price: cloth, per set, $3.60; per volume,
30 cents; paper, per set, $2.00.
1. +Little Merchant.+ 7. +Proud and Lazy.+
2. +Young Voyagers.+ 8. +Careless Kate.+
3. +Christmas Gift.+ 9. +Robinson Crusoe, Jr.+
4. +Dolly and I.+ 10. +The Picnic Party.+
5. +Uncle Ben.+ 11. +The Gold Thimble.+
6. +Birthday Party.+ 12. +The Do-Somethings.+
+Riverdale Story Books.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Six volumes. Illustrated.
Fancy cloth and colors. Price per volume, 30 cents.
1. +Little Merchant.+ 4. +Careless Kate.+
2. +Proud and Lazy.+ 5. +Dolly and I.+
3. +Young Voyagers.+ 6. +Robinson Crusoe, Jr.+
+Flora Lee Library.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. Six volumes. Illustrated.
Fancy cloth and colors. Price per volume, 30 cents.
1. +The Picnic Party.+ 4. +Christmas Gift.+
2. +The Gold Thimble.+ 5. +Uncle Ben.+
3. +The Do-Somethings.+ 6. +Birthday Party.+
These are bright short stories for younger children who are unable
to comprehend the +Starry Flag Series+ or the +Army and Navy
Series+. But they all display the author's talent for pleasing
and interesting the little folks. They are all fresh and original,
preaching no sermons, but inculcating good lessons.
LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE.
OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS
+The Great Western Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes.
Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.
1. +Going West;+ or, The Perils of a Poor Boy.
2. +Out West;+ or, Roughing It on the Great Lakes.
3. +Lake Breezes;+ or, The Cruise of the Sylvania.
4. +Going South;+ or, Yachting on the Atlantic Coast.
5. +Down South;+ or, Yacht Adventures in Florida.
6. +Up the River;+ or, Yachting on the Mississippi.
"This is the latest series of books issued by this popular writer,
and deals with life on the Great Lakes, for which a careful study
was made by the author in a summer tour of the immense water sources
of America. The story, which carries the same hero through the six
books of the series, is always entertaining, novel scenes and varied
incidents giving a constantly changing yet always attractive aspect
to the narrative. OLIVER OPTIC has written nothing better."
+The Yacht Club Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. Illustrated.
Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.
1. +Little Bobtail;+ or, The Wreck of the Penobscot.
2. +The Yacht Club;+ or, The Young Boat Builders.
3. +Money-Maker;+ or, The Victory of the Basilisk.
4. +The Coming Wave;+ or, The Treasure of High Rock.
5. +The Dorcas Club;+ or, Our Girls Afloat.
6. +Ocean Born;+ or, The Cruise of the Clubs.
"The series has this peculiarity, that all of its constituent
volumes are independent of one another, and therefore each story is
complete in itself. OLIVER OPTIC is, perhaps, the favorite author of
the boys and girls of this country, and he seems destined to enjoy
an endless popularity. He deserves his success, for he makes very
interesting stories, and inculcates none but the best sentiments,
and the 'Yacht Club' is no exception to this rule."--_New Haven
Journal and Courier_.
+Onward and Upward Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes.
Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.
1. +Field and Forest;+ or, The Fortunes of a Farmer.
2. +Plane and Plank;+ or, The Mishaps of a Mechanic.
3. +Desk and Debit;+ or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk.
4. +Cringle and Crosstree;+ or, The Sea Swashes of a Sailor.
5. +Bivouac and Battle;+ or, The Struggles of a Soldier.
6. +Sea and Shore;+ or, The Tramps of a Traveller.
"Paul Farringford, the hero of these tales, is, like most of this
author's heroes, a young man of high spirit, and of high aims and
correct principles, appearing in the different volumes as a farmer,
a captain, a bookkeeper, a soldier, a sailor, and a traveller. In
all of them the hero meets with very exciting adventures, told in
the graphic style for which the author is famous."
+The Lake Shore Series.+ By OLIVER OPTIC. In six volumes. Illustrated.
Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.
1. +Through by Daylight;+ or, The Young Engineer of the Lake Shore
Railroad.
2. +Lightning Express;+ or, The Rival Academies.
3. +On Time;+ or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer.
4. +Switch Off;+ or, The War of the Students.
5. +Brake Up;+ or, The Young Peacemakers.
6. +Bear and Forbear;+ or, The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga.
"OLIVER OPTIC is one of the most fascinating writers for youth, and
withal one of the best to be found in this or any past age. Troops
of young people hang over his vivid pages; and not one of them ever
learned to be mean, ignoble, cowardly, selfish, or to yield to any
vice from anything they ever read from his pen."--_Providence
Press_.
LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON, SEND THEIR COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE.
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Errata Noted by Transcriber:
Invisible punctuation has been silently supplied.
... exclaimed the second lieutenant
_text reads "exclained"_
... the lee side of the vessel.
_text reads "vesssel"_
ash cloth and sashes
_so in original_