On The Blockade

by Oliver Optic

  CHAPTER XXXI

  A SHORT VISIT TO BONNYDALE

  The firing was continued from the long gun, though only at intervalsthat would permit any signals to be seen on board of the enemy. When itlooked as though there would soon be nothing left of her, she hauleddown the Confederate flag at her fore, where she had hoisted it when themainmast went over. The order to go ahead was given, and in a short timethe 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 justifiedin throwing away the lives of my men," replied a very spruce-lookingofficer.

  "You will board her, Mr. Fillbrook, with the first division, and takepossession of her," said Christy, when he had received the captain'sanswer. "Ascertain her condition as soon as possible."

  The steamer proved to be the Pedee, formerly the Carnfield, CaptainLinden. She had run the blockade with a valuable cargo, which more thanpaid the cost of the vessel, and was then loaded with cotton, and armedfor her own protection, as well as to capture anything that fell in herway. She had a crew of eighty men to do her fighting, and the commanderconfidently expected to pick up a better steamer than the Pedee, towhich the greater portion of the ship's company were to be transferred.

  "I saw your steamer yesterday afternoon," said the captain; "but she hadseveral other vessels near her, and I thought she might have a wholeblockading 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 answermy purpose, and I wanted her. A nearer view of her assures me she isexactly the steamer I needed."

  "For your sake, captain, I am sorry I cannot accommodate you," repliedChristy, 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 myintention to set up a navy on my own hook. The Pedee was the firstvessel, and I intended that the Vixen should be the second, and becomemy 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 shouldhave been as polite to you about this time as you are to me. The fact ofit 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, insteadof running down and boarding the Pedee, you stood off out of range of myside guns, and knocked the starch all out of us. If you had only boardedus, I could have whipped you out of your boots, for I have got thegreatest crowd of fighting dogs that was ever hitched up together."

  "Of course I was not aware of your views in regard to the manner inwhich I ought to have managed the affair on my own part, and therefore Icould not handle my ship just as you desired," replied Christy. "As itis, I am afraid you will have to start your navy over again."

  Mr. Fillbrook had by this time driven the "fighting dogs" forward, andtaken full possession of the prize. On examination, Christy found that,though the Pedee had been terribly battered in her upper works, she wasnot materially injured below the water line. He sent for Mr. Caulbolt,and required him to inspect the engine, which was not injured in anyimportant part.

  Captain Linden had three times attempted to get nearer to the Vixen withthe intention of boarding her, but Christy preferred to fight the battleat long range under the circumstances, and he had preserved his distancefrom the enemy. He had discovered that she had a large crew, and he wasvastly more prudent than most of his critics gave him the credit ofbeing. He was surprised, after examining the Pedee, that the captain hadhauled down his flag, for the steamer could have stood a good deal morepounding without being used up. He concluded that Captain Linden wasfull of fight, but, for the want of a naval education, he had not fullycomprehended 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 anyprisoners to speak of, and this was effected without any delay. Mr.Scopfield, the third lieutenant, was appointed prize-master, andinstructed to keep as near as practicable to the Vixen on the voyage.Captain Linden and his principal officers were allowed to remain onboard. An assistant engineer and two first-class firemen, on their wayto New York for examination and promotion, were sent on board of theprize. The two steamers were soon under way, and then it was ascertainedthat the Pedee's ordinary rate of sailing did not exceed ten knots, andit was not probable that she would be bought into the navy.

  The fleet of prize vessels had continued on its course to the north, andwas soon overhauled by the Vixen and her capture. The progress of thefleet was very slow, for the Aleppo, which was said to have a speed often knots, did very badly towing two steamers. Mr. Pembroke and Berthawere sent on board of the Vixen, and the young lady blushed beautifullywhen Christy welcomed her return.

  Possibly she had feared he might be killed in the action, and hadworried about him till his return in safety, with the prize alongsidehis ship. Her father was very cordial in his congratulations to theyoung commander, and even said that he and his daughter had prayed thathe might not be killed or injured in the conflict; and Bertha blushedall the more when he said it.

  Mr. Scopfield was instructed to take one of the schooners of the Aleppoin tow. Five men had been killed on board of the Pedee, and her surgeonhad more than he could do with at least twenty wounded men. Dr. Appletonwas sent on board of her to assist him. The fleet thus reorganized gotunder way, and it was found that the log gave better results after thechange. Fortunately no enemy interfered with its progress, for Christyfelt that his hands were already full.

  In the early days of the month of May, he sailed into New York harborwith his fleet of eight vessels, though only three of them were theprizes of the Bronx. He had been absent hardly a month; though he hadsomething to show for the time he had been employed. The vessels weredelivered over to the authorities, and the young commander obtainedleave of absence to visit his mother and sister at Bonnydale, for hisfather came on board of the Vixen as soon as he heard the news of herarrival in command of his son.

  Captain Passford, Senior, was conducted to the cabin of CaptainPassford, Junior, and the meeting of father and son was veryaffectionate and very demonstrative. Mr. Pembroke and his daughterwere presented to the commander's father, and after they had talked overthe incidents of the return voyage, the former owner of the Bellevitesuspected that relations were altogether pleasant between Christy andBertha.

  He was greatly pleased with the young lady, and whatever else hethought, he could not very well help indorsing his son's good taste. Inthe course of the subsequent conversation it appeared that Mr. Pembrokeowned a small house at Newburgh, but that the occupant of it had athree-years' lease of the premises. Captain Passford immediatelyextended an invitation to the invalid and his daughter to visitBonnydale, which became so pressing that it was finally accepted. In theafternoon 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 andFlorry were soon fast friends. Even if Christy's father had not droppeda hint to Mrs. Passford in regard to the fact that his son was at leasttenderly inclined towards the lovely maiden from the South she could nothave failed to notice his attentions to her. Later at night his fatherand 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 orboat-club business?"

  "I should say neither; decidedly not," replied his father, taking thedocuments from his pocket, and handing them to him. "They have anofficial look, and bear the imprint of the Navy Department."

  "What business can the Navy Department have with me now? I have thehonor to be the executive offic
er of the gunboat Bronx, with the rank ofmaster, on detached duty as prize-master," added Christy, as he lookedat the ponderous envelopes.

  "You can easily answer that question by reading the papers," replied hisfather.

  "A commission!" exclaimed Christy, as he opened the first one. "I ampromoted 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 theOcklockonee and the Escambia, and you have won your spurs, my son. I didnot ask for this promotion, or even suggest it to any one."

  "Well, I am astonished, confounded, overwhelmed!" exclaimed the younglieutenant, as we are now permitted to call him. "And the commission isdated back far enough to put me over the heads of not a few others ofthe same rank."

  "Perhaps it will please you quite as much when I inform you that theofficers you recommended for appointment as masters have been promotedto that rank," added the captain.

  "I am even more pleased at their promotion than at my own," repliedChristy, opening the other envelope, in which he was addressed as"Lieutenant Christopher Passford." "Ah, ha!" he exclaimed, leaping outof his chair in his excitement, to which he gave way on such an occasionas the present.

  "What in the world is the matter with you, Christy?" demanded hismother, astonished at such an unusual demonstration on the part of herson.

  "I am appointed to the command of the Bronx, in place of LieutenantBlowitt, transferred to the Bellevite!" almost shouted the youngofficer. "If I could have selected a position for myself, this is thevery one I should have chosen."

  "I heard you say as much as that when you were appointed to thetemporary command of the Bronx, and I shall plead guilty of havinginserted a hint where it would do the most good," added CaptainPassford.

  "I am much obliged to you, father; for I don't object to that kind ofinfluence, though I could have commanded the Bronx just as well as amaster, 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 orderedto proceed to the Gulf as soon as possible."

  In three days he obtained passage in a store-ship steamer; and he spentall this time at home, as perhaps he would not have done if BerthaPembroke had not been there. Before he reported on board of thestore-ship, he visited the Vixen, which was undergoing alterations andrepairs, and took leave of his officers. Before dark he was on board ofthe 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."