by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XXVI
THE ST. REGIS IN COMMISSION
The kindly expressions of feeling which passed between the hosts andtheir guests were far from being mere compliments, for the Confederatecommander and surgeon had made themselves very agreeable. Quite a numberof pleasant parties had been given in compliment to them and Christy.But the family felt that they owed a debt of gratitude to their guestswhich they could not repay; and enemies though they were, the mosteminent personages on the Federal side could not have been bettertreated.
"I am sorry you are going, though I congratulate you on the prospect nowbefore you of returning to your friends," said Captain Passford, afterthe conversation had continued for half an hour. "But I did not come into receive your adieus; only to introduce to you, and to Mrs. Passfordand Florry, a new character, who has just stepped upon the stage ofaction."
"Draw it mild, papa," interposed Christy, shrugging his shoulders.
"I have the pleasure of presenting to you Lieutenant-CommanderChristopher Passford."
Captain Rombold and Dr. Davidson set to clapping their hands as thoughthey had suddenly gone crazy. When the former had nearly blistered hisown, he rushed to the newly-promoted, and grasped his hands with apressure which made the recipient of his warm greeting squirm with pain.
"I congratulate you with all my heart and mind, Commander Passford," headded, with exceeding warmth. "I know that you deserved this promotion,and I was sure you would get it from the moment I saw you in the mizzenrigging of the Bellevite, and within the same minute leaping over therail of the Tallahatchie, closely followed by thirty or forty of yourseamen. I lost all hope of taking your ship then, for almost at the sameinstant came the discharge of the thirty-pounder I had prepared to laylow half your boarders. I told you this would come, but you seemed to bedoubtful of it; and I repeat what I have said before, that God makessome fully-developed men before they are twenty-one."
The surgeon followed the example of his fellow-prisoner; and thenChristy's mother and sister hugged and kissed him, and he heartilyreturned their affectionate embraces.
"I have only to add that my son has been appointed to the command of theSt. Regis, a steamer of over eight hundred tons, and reputed to have aspeed of twenty knots an hour, though I have some doubts in regard tothe last item," said Captain Passford.
"I cannot wish him success in his new command, for that would betreason; but I have no doubt he will damage our cause even more than hehas in the past; and so far as he is personally concerned, I can wishhim success with all my heart," added Captain Rombold. "I have kept alist of the names of the vessels in the Federal navy so far as I couldobtain them; but it does not include the St.-- What you call her?I never heard the name before."
"The St. Regis, after a river in the Adirondacks," said CaptainPassford, laughing. "But I can assure you, Captain, that you know herbetter than any of the rest of us, for I never even saw her."
"The St. Regis?" interrogated the commander, puzzled by the assertion.
"Just now this steamer is something like a newly-married widow, for sheis entering upon her third name," continued the host, very lightly."Formerly she was the Trafalgar, a highly honored name in Britishhistory; but more recently she received the name of Tallahatchie; andnow she becomes the St. Regis."
"I see," replied the Confederate commander, evidently trying to hide hisintense chagrin that the magnificent steamer, purchased by Colonel HomerPassford for him, had so soon become a ship belonging to the Federalnavy. "You expressed a doubt in regard to her speed, my dear Captain."
"I simply doubted if she could make twenty knots an hour, for theBellevite overhauled her without difficulty."
"That was because our coal was very bad. The Trafalgar made twenty knotsan hour several times when she was under my command."
"So much the better, Captain; if the speed is in her, her new engineerwill get it out of her," replied the host. "But I must take the nexttrain for New York, and I am going over to see the St. Regis, for shehas been put in the best of repair. Perhaps you would like to go withme, Christy."
"I should, father; I was expecting Charley Graines over this morning,and he would like to see his future home on the deep," replied thelieutenant-commander.
"He is in the reception-room now, waiting to see you," said Florry.
"I have his appointment in my pocket, and you may give it to him, myson," added the captain.
The guests were not to leave at once, and the trio hastened to thetrain. As soon as they were seated, Christy gave his friend the envelopecontaining his appointment, and Charley Graines was quite as happy asthe future commander of the St. Regis. On the way the latter gave theother all the news that had come out that morning.
"I suppose Paul Vapoor will not come on board till we get to the Gulf,father," said Christy.
"You will receive your orders to-morrow, as you have been advised; andthough I cannot properly inform you where you will be bound, I can tellyou where you are not bound; you are not going to the Gulf of Mexico,"answered Captain Passford.
"Not to the Gulf? All my service so far in blockaders has been in theGulf, and this will be a tremendous change for me. But where shall wepick up our chief engineer?"
"About all the business growing out of the capture of the Tallahatchie,including the promotions, was done very nearly four weeks ago. I was inWashington when Captain Breaker's very full report came, and theofficers were promoted then. The appointments were also made then; but Ihave been obliged, for reasons not necessary to be named, to keep themto myself. The steamer that carried a cargo of coal, provisions, andstores to the Eastern Gulf squadron, was the bearer of Paul'sappointment to the St. Regis, and Mr. Bolter's commission as chiefengineer of the Bellevite. Your friend was ordered to report at theBrooklyn Navy Yard at once. The steamer in which he came put in atDelaware Breakwater, short of coal. He will be here by to-morrowmorning, or sooner."
After a visit at his office Captain Passford and his companionsproceeded to the navy yard. The St. Regis was off the shore atanchor. She was a magnificent steamer; and the captain indulged in anexclamation, which he seldom did, when she was pointed out to him. Shewas all ready for sea, and would go into commission as soon as hercommander presented himself. They went on board of her, and wereheartily welcomed by such officers as had already occupied theirstaterooms.
Captain Passford went all over her, accompanied by Christy, while thenew first assistant engineer confined his attention to the engine. Thelieutenant-commander informed the proper officer of the yard that hewould hoist the flag on board of the St. Regis at noon the next day. Theparty took their leave, and in the afternoon returned to Bonnydale.
The guests were now relieved from their parole, and they took theirleave before night, with a repetition of the good wishes which had beenexpressed before. The next morning Christy was at the railroad stationon the arrival of the train from New York, and the first person thatrushed into his arms like a school-girl was Paul Vapoor. Of courseChristy was delighted to see him, but he kept watching the steps of theprincipal car all the time. At last he discovered Bertha Pembroke, andhe rushed to her, leaving Paul talking into the air.
He grasped the beautiful maiden by both hands, and both of them blushedlike a carnation pink. The young officer was not given to demonstrationsin public, and he reserved them to a more suitable occasion. He pickedup her hand-bag and bundles which she had dropped when the lover tookpossession of her, and conducted her to his father's carriage.
Christy presented her to Paul, who had heard much about her, but hadnever seen her. He was simply polite, though there was mischief in hiseye, and the commander was in danger of being teased very nicely whenthey were alone together. Both Bertha and Paul were cordially welcomedby Mrs. Passford and Florry, and Christy needed nothing more to completehis happiness.
But there was no time to spare, and Captain Passford hurried themwithout mercy, and without considering that the lovers had not metbefore for several months; but the commander of t
he St. Regis was tohoist his flag at noon, and there was no room for long speeches. Christyand Paul hurried themselves into their new uniforms, not made for theoccasion, but kept in store. The engineer's uniform was all right as itwas, for he had before reached the top of the ladder in his profession,but Flurry had changed the shoulder-straps of her brother.
Captain Passford was not remorseless in separating the newly reunitedfriends; for Paul and Flora had done some blushing, and had crept awayinto a corner of the great drawing-room as soon as he had put on hisbest uniform, and he finally insisted that all the ladies should go tothe navy yard and witness the ceremony. The company were rather late;but the captain had sent a man to the station in advance, and the trainwas held for them.
It is hardly necessary to state in what manner the seats in the car wereoccupied; but the captain and Mrs. Passford had to sit together. A navyyard tugboat was at the foot of Grand Street on the arrival of theparty, for it had been telegraphed for early in the morning. CaptainPassford was a very distinguished magnate in the eyes of all navalofficers, not only on account of his great wealth, but because he wasthe most influential man in the city at the department.
Half an hour before the time the party were on the deck of the St.Regis. All the officers were now on board; and while Paul was showingthe ladies over the vessel, the commander was renewing his acquaintancewith Mr. Baskirk, the executive officer. His father introduced Mr.Makepeace to him; and he found him a sturdy old salt, without as muchpolish as many of the officers, but a gentleman in every respect.
"I am very glad to know you, Captain Passford," said Mr. Makepeace. "Wehave one of the most brilliant commanders in the service, and I supposehe will make things hum on board of the St. Regis, if we get intoaction, as we are likely to do under his lead."
"I shall try to do my whole duty, and I shall endeavor not to make anysensation about it," replied Christy, as he turned from the second togreet the third lieutenant, Mr. Drake, who had been his shipmate onboard of the Bellevite, and the commander of the Tallahatchie while hewas a passenger on board.
The ship's company had already been mustered on deck. They were dressedin their best uniforms, and they were a fine-looking set of men. Theyhad all heard of Lieutenant Passford, and they were proud and happy toserve under his command. Promptly at noon, as the church bells on shorewere striking the hour, Commander Passford mounted a dais, and hiscommission was read to the ship's company. He then made a short speechsuited to the occasion, and ordered the colors to be run up to the peak.The ship was then in commission, and she was to sail on the tide thenext day. The subordinate officers and seamen then gave three cheers,in which every person seemed to put his whole heart.
Christy conducted Bertha to the captain's cabin, which had beenrestored to its original condition and refurnished. A lunch was servedto the whole party under an awning on the quarter-deck. Mr. Drake, aneye-witness and actor in the battle, fought it over for the benefit ofthe ladies; and before night they all returned to Bonnydale, where itrequired at least three rooms to accommodate them during the evening.
