Taking Down the Captain.
When Frank's consciousness returned, he found himself lying on the floor
of the cabin, where the fight had taken place which resulted in his
capture by the guerrillas, his head supported by a dirty blanket, rolled
up to serve as a pillow, and the mate sitting on a three-legged chair
beside him. Through the open door could be seen a squad of the
Wild-cats, lounging under the shade of the trees.
Slowly the recollection of the scenes through which he had passed, the
sentence he had heard pronounced, the preparations he had seen made for
his execution, came to his mind, and he instinctively put his hand to
his throat, as if expecting to find it encircled by the fatal rope.
"Are you on an even keel now, my hearty?" asked the mate.
"Where are the guerrillas, Jack?" asked Frank. "Are we safe?"
"O yes, we're safe from them, but we are still prisoners."
At this moment a shaggy head, nearly covered up with a slouch hat, was
thrust in at the door, and a voice inquired:
"Are you all right now, Yank? If you are, come out here, for we must be
off."
Frank, although very weak, was able, with the assistance of the mate, to
walk out of the cabin, where they found several of the rebels mounted,
and waiting for them. They were each given a horse, after which the
Wild-cats closed about their prisoners, as if to put all further
attempts at escape out of the question, and conducted them down the road
at a rapid gallop.
As soon as Frank's ideas had fairly returned, he began to make inquiries
in regard to the singular manner in which he and the mate had been
rescued, and learned that the men by whom they had been captured were
guerrillas, in spite of what they had said to the contrary; that they
made war on rebel as well as Union people, and being especially
obnoxious to Colonel Harrison--from whom they had stolen several
horses--they had been summarily disposed of. At first Frank could
scarcely credit the statement that they had been rescued through the
agency of the very negro to whom they owed their capture; but, after
being assured that such was the case, it occurred to them that their
approach had first been discovered by the rebels in the cabin, and that
the negro, to save his own life, had acted in obedience to their orders;
and then, to make amends for what had at first appeared to be an act of
treachery, he had conveyed the news of their capture to Colonel
Harrison.
As soon as they had fairly started, the orderly sergeant galloped up
beside Frank, and inquired:
"Yank, how did you get out of that cabin that night? Nobody don't seem
to know nothing about it."
"I have already told him, sir," said the mate, "that we walked by the
sentinel when he was asleep; but he don't believe it."
Frank then proceeded to give an account of the manner in which their
escape had been effected, and as it corresponded with the mate's story,
the sergeant was compelled to believe it.
"Purty well done," said he. "But, mind you, don't go to tryin' it on
agin, 'cause, if you do, it's the colonel's orders that you both go in
double irons."
Having delivered this piece of information, the sergeant rode up to the
head of the column. The prisoners did not again attempt to escape, for
they knew that it would be an impossibility. They were closely watched,
not a single movement escaping observation. Wherever they went, two
stalwart rebels were at their heels; and when they slept, their guards
stood over them with loaded muskets. That same evening they overtook the
main body of the regiment, and on the sixth day after their rescue from
the guerrillas, they arrived opposite the village of Napoleon, where the
exchange was to take place. The Ticonderoga was not there, but two days
afterward she made her appearance; and, as soon as she had dropped her
anchor, a boat was seen approaching the shore with a flag of truce
flying in the bow. The colonel waved his handkerchief in reply. As the
boat drew near, Frank saw two men in rebel uniform seated in the
stern-sheets, and he knew, from the remarks made by the Wild-cats, that
one of them was the officer for whom he was to be exchanged.
As soon as the boat touched the shore, the executive officer sprang out,
followed by the two rebels. After a moment's conversation with the
colonel, the former advanced toward Frank and the mate, and, after
greeting them cordially, exclaimed:
"Come aboard the ship, boys; you belong to Uncle Sam once more."
The mate could scarcely believe that he, too, was exchanged. He had
expected nothing less than a long confinement in Vicksburg, or perhaps a
march to Shreveport; but, as it happened, the captain of the Ticonderoga
had found a rebel soldier on board the flag-ship, and had obtained
permission from the admiral to exchange him for the mate.
"Yes, Yanks," said the colonel, "you are at liberty to make yourselves
scarce as soon as you choose."
The prisoners lingered only to shake hands with Lieutenant Somers, who
had treated them very kindly, and had often found means to procure them
many little privileges and comforts, and then ran down the bank and
sprang into the boat, which at once pushed from the shore and started
toward the Ticonderoga. As Frank came over the side, the officers
crowded around him, asking innumerable questions in relation to the
treatment he had received while in the hands of the rebels; but he was
scarcely allowed time to answer one-half of their inquiries before he
was summoned into the presence of the captain.
That gentleman greeted him in the most cordial manner, requesting him to
be seated and relate his adventures. Frank gave a minute description of
the manner in which he had transacted the business intrusted to him with
the flag of truce, his recapture by the Wild-cats, and the circumstances
that had led to the retention of the boatswain's mate; recounted the
plans he had laid for their escape, their reception by the guerrillas,
and, finally, the rescue from a horrible death, to all of which the
captain listened attentively. After Frank had finished, the captain
said:
"It is, of course, needless to say that I am overjoyed to see you safe
on board the ship again, Mr. Nelson, and that you have returned none
the worse for your sojourn among the rebels. I am especially glad,
because I wish to make you an explanation. You have been misrepresented
to me, and I was very hasty in reprimanding you as I did on the day that
you behaved so gallantly in the fight at Cypress Bend. It was on account
of the report of Mr. Howe, who assumed command of the expedition after
the captain had been killed. His report showed that we had been severely
whipped; and when I learned what a slaughter there had been of the men I
placed under your command, and which I find, upon inquiry, was caused by
the ignorance of your superior officer, and not by any fault of your
own--I say, when I heard of this, I was so completely disheartened that
I scarcely knew what I was about. It was the first time that ever an
expedition that I had planned failed, and also the first time in my life
that I ever gave the order to retreat; and as I had every reason to hope
for success, you can have some idea of how I felt. After you had gone,
many facts came to light, of which no mention was made in Mr. Howe's
report, and with which I was, of course, unacquainted, and I find that
I have done you a great injustice. If ever a man earned a
shoulder-strap, you did at that fight. I have, however, sent in your
application for a court of inquiry, and have also represented the case
to the admiral. As soon as we arrive at the flag-ship, you will report
to him, and he will investigate the case."
Frank, as can easily be imagined, listened to this statement with a much
lighter heart than when he had received that unjust reprimand. After the
captain had finished questioning him in relation to incidents that had
transpired during his captivity, he left the cabin, and went forward
into the steerage, where he found his mess just sitting down to dinner.
"Well, Frank," exclaimed Keys, as the former entered and took his place
at the table, "was the captain glad to see you?"
"Yes, he appeared to be," replied Frank.
"I thought as much. He has been as uneasy as a fish out of water ever
since you were captured. He told the executive officer that if there was
any thing he had ever done that he regretted, it was that he had given
you that blowing up. He said that he had no right to talk to you as he
did, and that he would make amends for it at the very first
opportunity."
"Did he?" inquired Mr. French, eagerly. "I was certain that the navy
regulations state distinctly that the captain of a vessel has no right
to reprimand an officer, and that, if he does do it, he can be made to
apologize. He once gave me a blowing up, and said that I was of no more
account on this ship than an extra boiler; and, if he has apologized to
Mr. Nelson, he must do the same by me. I'll go and see him immediately
after dinner."
The effect of this speech on the older members of the mess can be easily
imagined. They looked at Mr. French for a moment, to see if he was
really in earnest, and then burst into a fit of the most uproarious
laughter. The idea of forcing the captain of a gun-boat to apologize to
one of his subordinate officers for administering a reprimand that he
really deserved, was ludicrous in the extreme. Mr. Keys was the only one
who could keep a straight face. He, with his ready wit, at once saw that
here was a capital chance to satisfy his love of mischief. He dropped
his knife and fork, looked first at one, then at another, and, when the
noise had subsided, said, quietly:
"I don't see where the laugh comes in. Perhaps some of you gentlemen
think that an officer has no right to demand an apology from a superior!
Then I can tell you that you are very much mistaken, for I have got the
whole thing in black and white, copied from the navy regulations; and,
if I was in Mr. French's place, I would make the captain take back what
he said, or I would report him."
We must pause here, for a moment, to say that the result of Mr. French's
interview with the captain, when the former had complained that his rank
was not respected, had become known. Mr. Keys, who had overheard every
word of it, and who was one of those uneasy, mischief-loving fellows who
always liked to see some one in hot water, considered the joke as too
good to be kept, and had told it, confidentially of course, first to
this officer, then to that one, until every person on board the ship had
become acquainted with the particulars; and thus far Mr. French had been
compelled to bear the jokes of his messmates without any chance of
obtaining redress. However, he had discovered it at last. The captain
had apologized to Frank, and he must do the same by him, if he wished to
keep out of trouble. He was certain that he should succeed this time,
for he knew that Keys had been in the service long enough to become well
acquainted with its rules and regulations, and there was such apparent
truthfulness and sincerity in what he said, that Mr. French was certain
of bringing the captain to terms.
"Yes, sir," repeated Keys; "if my superior officer abuses me, I shall
seek redress. Because a man wears three or four stripes of gold lace
around his arms, he has no right to impose upon me."
"I shall see the captain about it as soon as I have finished my dinner,"
said Mr. French, decidedly.
"You had better let that job out," said the caterer, who, being a very
quiet, staid sort of a person, did not wish to see any disturbance. "You
will remember that you got a blowing up once for not taking my advice. I
have been in the navy longer than you, and you had better listen to
me."
"I know that you have more experience than myself," answered French;
"but that experience doesn't tell you that a captain can use me as he
pleases. I have rank as well as he has. Besides, you see, I have the
advantage this time."
"Yes, sir," chimed in Keys, winking at Frank, who struggled hard to
suppress a laugh, "and, if you will only push the matter, you will see
some fun on this ship."
Here the subject was dropped. Immediately after dinner was finished, as
usual, the officers all congregated under the awning on the main-deck.
Mr. French walked up and down the deck, conversing earnestly with his
two friends, who, entirely ignorant of what might be the consequences of
such a step, were urging him to seek an interview with the captain, to
demand an apology, which would certainly be given, and would show the
ship's company that they _had_ rank, and that it must be respected.
Frank had for some time missed Keys, and was wondering what had become
of him, when he discovered that individual on his hands and knees behind
the pilot-house, beckoning eagerly. Frank walked toward him carelessly,
so as not to attract the attention of Mr. French and his friends, and,
as he came up, Keys said, in a hurried whisper:
"See here, Nelson; you know I told French that I had the rules and
regulations all copied down in my order-book. Now, it has just occurred
to me that he might want to see them; so I want to write something to
show him. I can't get to my room without his seeing me, so I wish you
would lend me your key."
Frank accordingly produced it; but his conscience reproved him when he
thought in what an unpleasant position his friend was endeavoring to
place Mr. French.
"Look here, Keys," said he, "I propose that you don't carry this joke
any further. It will get the poor greenhorn in a bad fix."
"I can't help it," returned Keys. "I have often volunteered to give him
advice, and have tried to convince him that if he ever wants to
understand his business he must make use of somebody's experience
besides his own. But he has always snapped me up very short. Now, if he
wants to learn by experience, I'll help him all I can."
So saying, Keys crawled off on his hands and knees toward Frank's room,
where he locked himself in, and the latter returned to the main-deck.
About an hour afterward Keys made his appearance, walking rapidly across
the deck, as if searching for something that he was in a great hurry to
find, and thus attracted the attention of Mr. French and his two
friends, who took him familiarly by the arm and led him forward, out of
ear-shot of the other officers, who were still seated on the main-deck.
"See here, Keys," said French, "I understood you to say that you had the
regulations in relation to the treatment of subordinate officers, copied
in your order-book. Will you allow me to look at them?"
"Ah, yes," said Keys, "I remember. Here's something that relates to it;"
and he produced his memorandum-book, and pointed to an article hastily
written in lead pencil, which ran as follows:
"_And be it further enacted_: That, as in the maintenance of his
authority over his officers on shipboard, it is rendered necessary
that the commanding officer should, in all cases, treat his
subordinates as gentlemen, all harsh words from a commanding
officer to an officer of lower grade are hereby strictly
prohibited; and in all cases where the commander is guilty of a
violation of this act, the person aggrieved shall be, and is
hereby, authorized to seek redress."
"There, gentlemen," exclaimed Mr. French, after he had carefully read
the article, "is an act of the American Congress, which authorizes me to
seek redress. All harsh words in the navy are strictly forbidden; and if
the captain does not apologize for what he said to me, I'll report him."
"You will please excuse me, gentlemen, for the present," said Keys, who
was finding it exceedingly difficult to control himself. "The turret
must be got ready for inspection at sundown;" and, thrusting the book in
his pocket, he walked rapidly below.
Mr. French immediately moved aft, and, drawing himself up very stiffly,
said to the orderly:
"Tell the captain that I have business with him."
The marine disappeared, and soon returned with a request that he would
walk into the cabin. The captain was seated at his table, writing; but,
as the mate entered, he dropped his pen, turned in his chair, and
waited for him to make known his wants.
"Captain," began Mr. French, hesitatingly, for he scarcely knew how to
commence the conversation, "I--I--I--have been reading the navy
regulations, and I find that I have been abused."
"Who has abused you, sir?"
"Well, you see, sir," began the mate----
"I asked you who had been abusing you, sir," interrupted the captain.
"Answer my question, and make your explanations afterward."
"Well, sir, to come to the point, you have abused me, sir."
The captain started back in surprise, and looked at the mate for several
moments, as if to make sure that he was in his right mind, and then
quietly asked:
"How have I abused you, sir?"
"In reprimanding me, sir. The navy regulations distinctly state that a
commanding officer has no right to use harsh words to his subordinates;
and I demand an apology."
"Can you furnish me with a copy of those regulations?"
"Yes, sir; Mr. Keys has them," replied the mate; and he left the cabin,
and commenced searching for that individual.
We should remark that Mr. Keys was pretty well aware that he would be
likely to get himself into hot water. Wishing to delay the interview
between himself and the captain as long as possible, he had retreated to
the hold, where he appeared to be very busily engaged; but, as soon as
Mr. French made known his errand, he readily produced his book, glad
indeed that he was to be let off without seeing the captain. The mate
carried it into the cabin. The captain read over the article several
times, and then arose from his seat, and, going to one of the
after-ports, appeared to be busily engaged with his own thoughts. Mr.
French stood watching him with a smile of triumph, certain that the
captain had been worsted, and that he would soon receive the required
apology; but, had he been a keen observer, he would have seen that the
captain was convulsed with laughter, which he was vainly endeavoring to
conceal. He easily saw through the trick, and it reminded him of the
days when he was a midshipman, and had been implicated in similar
jokes.
"Mr. French," said he, at length, "you may retire for a few moments. I
will send for you presently. Orderly, tell Mr. Keys that I wish to see
him."