A Good Night's Work.
Frank's past history soon became known to every one on board the
Trenton, for several of the crew had acquaintances on board of the
Ticonderoga, and when they were allowed liberty, had taken pains to
inquire into the character of their new officer. He was scarcely allowed
time to become settled down in his new quarters, before he was given an
opportunity to establish his reputation among his messmates. Information
was received that the rebels were intending to cross a large body of
cavalry about twenty miles above the Yazoo River, and the Trenton was
ordered up the Mississippi to prevent it, if possible.
For several days they patrolled the river near the suspected point, but
nothing unusual was seen; neither could any intelligence of the
contemplated move be obtained from the people on shore. There were
several houses on the beat, and in one of them lived a Frenchman, who,
as he said, having claimed the protection of his own country, was not
compelled to bear arms; neither was he at all interested in the war. It
was near his house, however, that the crossing of the cavalry was to
take place, and the captain of the Trenton thought that this neutral
Frenchman would bear watching.
Although there were several white women on the premises, he was the only
man who had been seen; and he seemed to be in constant anxiety lest the
rebels should confiscate a large drove of cattle he had at a pasture
back in the country, and was in the habit of riding out twice each week
to "see to them," as he said. There was something suspicious in this,
for persons as much in want of provisions as the rebels were reported to
be--as they had gathered up all the stock in the country for miles
around Vicksburg--would not be likely to respect such property, although
it did belong to a neutral.
The captain and his officers mingled freely with the people, who
appeared to be eager to communicate all the plans of the rebels with
which they had become acquainted. Frank, as usual, was on the watch; and
if he sometimes paid a visit to the house, he was more frequently seen
questioning the negroes--of whom there were about half a dozen on the
plantation, the others having been compelled to leave their master to
work on the fortifications--who were either profoundly ignorant of what
was going on, or else were true rebels. There was one negro, in
particular, in whom the young officer was interested. He was a tall,
muscular fellow, black as midnight, about whom there was a kind of
sneaking, hangdog look that Frank did not like. He always accompanied
his master on his trips to attend his cattle, and Frank felt confident
that if any one about the plantation knew of any thing suspicious going
on, it was this negro; but, in spite of his efforts, he could not find
an opportunity to talk with him, for the negro was generally in the
company of his master, and, when alone, seemed to take particular pains
to avoid the young officer. This was enough to arouse his suspicions,
and he determined to watch him closely. He reported the matter to the
captain, who readily granted his request that he might be allowed to
spend his time, when off watch, on shore.
A week passed, but nothing had been developed. At length, one morning
the Frenchman prepared to pay his usual visit to the country. The negro
was to accompany him, and as Frank saw them about to move off, he
inquired, carelessly:
"Haven't you got another horse? If you have, I should like to go with
you."
"O, no," answered the man, quickly, "I have no other horse; and if I
had, it wouldn't do for you to go, for you would certainly get
captured."
This set Frank to thinking. The Frenchman had often told him that there
were no rebels in that section of the country, and now his excuse for
not wanting company was that Frank would be captured. There was
something suspicious in this. After seeing the man depart, he hailed the
ship for a boat, and as soon as he arrived on board, sought an interview
with the captain.
"I do not believe, sir," said he, "that this Frenchman owns any stock in
the country. It is my opinion that he goes out there to hold
communication with the rebels. He's a sort of spy and messenger-boy,
and relies on his nationality to protect him from suspicion."
Frank then related the particulars of what had transpired at the house,
and the captain readily agreed with him. But the question was, how to
proceed, in order to ascertain what was going on, and what kind of
information was furnished the rebels. It was impossible to follow the
men on their trips without being discovered; neither was it policy to
seize the man, accuse him of treachery, and compel him to confess the
truth, for the plot, whatever it was, might not be completed, and it
might be necessary to keep the Frenchman in ignorance of the fact that
his complicity with the rebels had become known, in order that, when the
work was completed, it might be finished up entirely.
"Well, to tell the truth," said the captain, rising from his chair and
pacing up and down the cabin, "I really don't know how to act. That
something is wrong, I have long been satisfied; but I don't know how to
go to work to find out what it is."
"I believe I can find it out, sir," said Frank, who, with his usual
promptness, had determined upon a plan. "They will return this afternoon
about three o'clock, and, with your permission, I'll see what I can do."
"Very well," replied the captain, in a tone which showed that he did not
anticipate his success. "Go ahead; but be careful not to excite their
suspicions."
Such a commission as this--something requiring skill and judgment--was
just what suited Frank, and, having laid his plans, he felt confident of
success. At half-past two a boat was called away, and he, in company
with the mate--both armed with revolvers--went on shore. Frank walked up
to the house and seated himself on the portico, while the mate,
previously instructed, strolled off toward the barn.
There were two officers in the house belonging to the vessel, and Frank
had spent but a few moments in conversation with them, when the
Frenchman and the negro rode up. The former dismounted and greeted the
officers with apparent cordiality, but Frank scarcely noticed him, for
his eyes were upon the negro, who rode off toward the barn to put up the
horses. Frank arose from his seat and followed slowly after him. As the
officers were accustomed to roam wherever they pleased about the
plantation, no notice was taken of his movements. When he reached the
barn where the negro was unsaddling the horses, he entered and closed
the door behind him. The negro became terrified when he found himself
thus confronted, for suspicions that he and his master had been
discovered instantly flashed across his mind.
"Ah, I know that you are guilty, you rascal," said Frank, triumphantly,
as he noticed the man's trepidation. "Come here; I want to have a few
moments' conversation with you on a very important subject. Come here."
The negro dropped the saddle which he had just taken from one of the
horses, and stood for a moment undecided how to act; then springing
forward like a tiger, he thrust the officer aside, and endeavored to
open the door. Quick as thought, Frank grappled with him, but the negro
was a most powerful fellow, and would no doubt have succeeded in
escaping, had not the mate sprang from a manger, where he had lain
concealed, and felled him to the floor with a blow from the butt of his
revolver. For some time he lay insensible, in spite of the buckets of
water which were dashed over him; but at length he began to recover.
When he was able to sit up, the mate stationed himself at the door to
guard against surprise, and Frank proceeded to interrogate the negro.
"In the first place," said he, "I guess you have found that we are in
earnest, haven't you?"
The negro felt of his head, but made no reply.
"Now," continued Frank, "unless you answer every question I ask you,
I'll take you on board the ship as a prisoner. What do you and your
master go out into the country for, twice every week?"
The negro still remained silent, and Frank, finally growing impatient,
exclaimed, "Here, Jack, take this scoundrel on board the ship; I guess
we can find means to make him open his mouth."
"O, my master will kill me," whimpered the negro, trembling violently.
"If I don't tell you every thing, you will kill me; and if I do, my
master will kill me, too; so I shall die any way."
"No you won't; just tell me the truth, and I'll see that no one harms
you. Your master need know nothing about it; we shall not be likely to
tell him. Now, what is there out in the country that you go to see so
often?"
"Torpedoes," replied the negro, in a low voice, gazing about the barn
with a frightened air, as if he expected to see his master appear before
him in some magical manner.
"Torpedoes!" repeated Frank. "Where are they?"
"In a little creek about six miles from here."
"Who is making them? Are there any rebels there?"
"Yes; there is a colonel, major, and lieutenant there; but my master's
black men are doing the work."
By adroit questioning--for the negro was very careful to answer no
further than he was asked--Frank finally gleaned the whole particulars.
One piece of information troubled him not a little, and that was, an
attempt was soon to be made to blow up the Trenton. He also learned the
number of the torpedoes, the manner of operating with them, and other
particulars that will soon appear. He was then as much puzzled as ever,
and paced the floor of the barn, undecided how to act. The time set for
the sinking of the Trenton was Friday night, (it was then Thursday), and
as information of her movements was every day conveyed to the rebels,
the question was, how to keep them in ignorance that their plot had been
discovered, so that the work might be carried on as usual. There was,
apparently, but one way, and that was to hold out inducements to the
negro.
"See here," Frank suddenly exclaimed, "you are between two fires now."
"I know that," replied the negro, well aware that he was in a most
precarious situation; "I know that. But what am I to do?"
"Well, this is what you must do," answered Frank; "go off and attend to
your business, just as you did before. Of course you won't be foolish
enough to say a word about this meeting to any one around the
plantation; but if every thing does not transpire to-morrow night just
as you said it would, I shall think that you have been telling some one,
and that the plot is discovered, and then you're a goner. But if you
will assist me, I will take care of you; I will take you on board the
ship, and make a free man of you."
The negro, who had been worked up to the highest pitch of terror at the
turn affairs were taking, brightened up when the words "free man" struck
his ear, and Frank, who was a pretty good judge of human nature, could
easily read what was passing in his mind, and knew that in the negro he
had a faithful coadjutor.
"Now, if you are certain that you understand what I mean," said he, "be
off. Go out the back door, so that no one will see you from the house;
and remember that your freedom depends upon the manner in which you
behave yourself."
The negro arose from the floor, and speedily made his exit. After
waiting long enough to allow him to reach the house, Frank and the mate
slipped out of the front door. Giving the negro quarters a wide berth,
they approached the house in a different direction from that in which
they had left it.
The mate had been instructed to keep the affair a profound secret, for,
now that they had succeeded in working out so much of the plot, they
wished to have the honor of completing it.
After a few moments' conversation with the Frenchman at the house, they
repaired on board the vessel.
"I have returned, sir," said Frank, as he entered the cabin.
"So I see," replied the captain, good-humoredly, "and have, I suppose,
accomplished nothing."
"No, sir; I can't say that," answered Frank, guardedly. "I HAVE
accomplished considerable. I know that the Frenchman is a spy; that he
has daily communication with the rebels, and that his story of visiting
his stock in the country is nonsense. He has about as many cattle there
as I have."
"Have you indeed succeeded?" inquired the captain, in surprise.
"Well, no, sir, not entirely," replied Frank, who did not know how much
it was best to tell the captain. "I have learned more than that, but it
takes time to complete the work. Before I go further, sir, I should like
authority to manage the affair myself. After I have gone as far as I
have, I shouldn't like to be superseded."
"That was not my intention. No one shall be placed over you. If you can
accomplish any thing more, do it. But what else did you hear?"
Frank then related the result of the interview between himself and the
negro, and then left the cabin, with repeated assurances that his plans
for capturing the rebels should not be interfered with.
The next day, it seemed to Frank, moved on laggard wings; but afternoon
came at length. He then went on shore, and after having learned from the
negro that every thing was working as nicely as could be wished,
returned, and commenced making his preparations for the night's work. At
eight o'clock he again left the vessel in a small skiff, with two
negroes for a crew, and the mate shortly followed in the cutter, with
twenty men, all well armed. The former held up the river, and the cutter
pulled in an opposite direction. The officers of the ship were, of
course, very much surprised at these movements. As they had not been
informed of what was going on, they thronged the forward part of the
deck, watching the expedition as long as it remained in sight.
The night was dark as pitch, but it could not have been better for their
purpose; and Frank was highly delighted at the handsome manner in which
all his plans were working, and which promised complete success. He held
his course up the river until he arrived at a small creek whose mouth
was almost concealed by thick bushes and trees. He boldly entered this
creek, but had not proceeded far when a voice hailed:
"Who comes there?"
"Death to the Yankees," promptly replied Frank.
"Why, you're half an hour ahead of time," said the voice. "Didn't the
Yanks see you as you came up?"
"I'll wager a good deal they did," said another voice. "It would be just
our luck to have the whole affair knocked in the head. But we'll make
the attempt, any way. Come up here."
It was so dark in the creek that Frank could scarcely see his hand
before him; but he knew pretty well who it was addressing him. Pulling
up the creek, in obedience to the order, he came in sight of a boat
lying close to the bank, in the shade of the bushes that hung out over
the water. In this boat were seated three men, two of whom were holding
in their hands several ropes that led to a dark object that lay in the
water astern of the skiff.
"Here's the torpedo," said one of the men, as Frank came alongside, and
as he spoke he passed the ropes over to the young officer. "Just drop
silently down the river as far as you can without being discovered, and
then cast off the torpedo, and let it float down on to the Trenton.
We'll go up on the bank and watch the experiment."
"Gentlemen," said Frank, suddenly pulling a brace of revolvers from his
pocket, "you are my prisoners."
As he spoke, the negroes threw down their oars and sprang into the
skiff. Before the rebels could draw a weapon, they were powerless in the
strong grasp of Frank's sable coadjutors. The prisoners were the colonel
and major of whom the negro at the plantation had spoken. The third
person in the boat was one of the Frenchman's slaves, who had rowed the
boat down the creek for the rebels. He had jumped to his feet as if
about to escape, but had been collared by one of Frank's negroes, and
thrown into the bottom of the boat, where the fear of the revolvers kept
him quiet.
"What's the meaning of all this?" asked the colonel, as he struggled
furiously to free himself.
[Illustration]
"It means," replied Frank, coolly, "that you are prisoners in the hands
of those you sought to destroy. So surrender yourselves without any more
fuss. Make their hands fast, boys."
The negroes, who seemed to be well prepared, drew from their pockets
several pieces of stout cord, with which they proceeded to tie the arms
of the rebels, who, finding that escape was impossible, submitted to the
operation without any further resistance. As soon as they were secured,
Frank made the torpedo fast to the bank, after which he and his men,
with the prisoners, disembarked, and commenced marching toward the
house. They had proceeded but a short distance when they received a
challenge, to which Frank replied, when they were joined by three of the
crew, who had been stationed on the bank by the mate, to capture the
rebels, in case they should escape from his officer. The prisoners were
given into their charge, and Frank continued his march toward the house,
congratulating himself that, although his work was but half done, he had
succeeded beyond his expectations.
The field about the house was silent as death, but he knew that the mate
had neglected none of his instructions, and that trusty men were hidden
all around him, ready at any moment to lend effective assistance.
Arriving at the door, he pounded loudly upon it with the butt of his
revolver. The summons was answered by the Frenchman, who gazed upon our
hero with surprise, not unmingled with a feeling of alarm.
"I'm glad to see you," said Frank. "You're just the chap I want."
The Frenchman comprehended at once that he had been betrayed. Drawing a
pistol, he leveled it full at Frank's head, but before he had time to
fire, a blow from a saber in the hands of one of the negroes, who had
followed close behind Frank, knocked the weapon from his grasp. The next
moment the back door of the room was suddenly opened, and the Frenchman
was clasped in the sturdy arms of the mate.
"Give him to some of the men, Jack," said Frank, "and then follow me
quick, or we may be too late."
The order was obeyed, and the mate, accompanied by the two negroes,
followed Frank, who led the way back to the creek where the torpedo had
been captured. They were just in the "nick of time," for, as they
approached, they distinctly heard a voice inquire:
"Where's the colonel? Here's the torpedo, made fast to the bank. I
wonder if there is any thing wrong?"
Frank and the mate at once became more cautious in their movements, but
their approach had already been discovered, for the lieutenant called
out:
"Who goes there?"
"Yankees," replied Frank, stepping out from the bushes, with a revolver
in each hand. "Come out here, and surrender!"
The rebel was taken so completely by surprise that he seemed deprived of
all power of action. He could hardly realize that he was a prisoner,
until Frank repeated his order in a more decided manner, adding, "I'm a
good shot at that distance." The lieutenant evidently did not doubt
this, for he arose to his feet, and sprang out upon the bank. The
prisoners having now all been secured, Frank collected his men and
returned on board his vessel.
We will now pause to explain. Frank, as we have seen, had learned from
the negro that one of the torpedoes would be finished by Friday night;
that it was to be towed down the creek to the river by the colonel and
major, who were to put it in working order, and deliver it to the
lieutenant, who, with two negroes to row his boat, was to leave the
plantation at half-past eight o'clock, to note the exact position of the
Trenton, so that, after getting the torpedo into position, he could
allow it to float down upon the vessel. The Frenchman was to be on
board, and, with the assistance of the negroes, was to capture any who
might escape the explosion. Frank had laid his plans to capture the
lieutenant first; but, through fear of creating a disturbance, or being
seen from the house, he had been compelled to abandon the idea, and had
started half an hour earlier, that he might secure the lieutenant after
the capture of the others had been effected, and before he would have
time to discover that any thing was wrong. His plans had all worked so
admirably, that he was not a little elated with his success. It was a
happy moment for him when he brought his prisoners over the side of the
vessel, and conducted them to the quarter-deck, where the captain and
all the officers were waiting to receive them. The necessary
explanations were soon given, after which the prisoners were ordered
below, and Frank retired to his room, well satisfied with his night's
work.
The next morning an expedition went ashore, accompanied by the captain.
After destroying the torpedo which had been captured the night before,
they were conducted by the negro to the place where several more were in
process of completion. These also were demolished. While thus engaged,
one of the sentinels, which Frank had posted a short distance up the
road, fired his gun, and commenced retreating. Frank at once formed his
men in line, in readiness for an attack. Shortly afterward a company of
cavalry came galloping around a bend in the road, and fired their
carbines at the sentinel, who ran for dear life. They halted, however,
on seeing the preparations made to receive them, and the captain, taking
advantage of this, ordered Frank to fire. The muskets cracked in rapid
succession, and, when the smoke cleared away, the sailors saw several
riderless horses galloping about, showing that their fire had been
effective.
The rebels scattered in all directions, and, dismounting, concealed
themselves behind logs and bushes, and commenced fighting in their
regular Indian fashion. The captain, knowing that such an action would
not result advantageously to him, and having accomplished the work for
which he had set out, ordered the sailors to fall back slowly. As they
obeyed, the rebels commenced pursuing; but the expedition reached the
river without the loss of a single man. The officer in command of the
vessel, hearing the firing, commenced shelling the woods, and under
cover of this fire the sailors reached the ship in safety.
The work which had been assigned the Trenton had not been accomplished,
but as the time allotted for her stay had expired, she started the next
morning to join the fleet at Yazoo River. The prisoners were delivered
over to the commanding naval officer--the admiral being below the
batteries--to whom a flattering mention was made of Frank, and the
skillful manner in which he had performed his work. The young officer
received the assurance that his gallant exploit should not be
overlooked.