by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER V
CAPTAIN CARBONEER AND HIS PARTY
As Captain Carboneer blew his whistle, a mile below the moorings of theBellevite, an occasional response came from the shore. Everything wasremarkably quiet on the river, though at long intervals a steamer passedon its way up or down the stream. The signals made by the naval officerwere not loud, and the replies, made without the aid of any instrument,were quite feeble. One might have taken them for some frolic on the partof the boys.
"I don't quite understand this business," said Major Pierson, after hehad listened a while to the signals. "I suppose from the answers youget, that your men are all along the river, and the woods seem to befull of them."
"I have no doubt they are all here," replied Captain Carboneer. "I havebeen in this vicinity all day, and I have made good use of my time.I believe the Bellevite belongs to the Confederacy, and it shall beno fault of mine if the goods are not delivered in good order andcondition."
"My father was confident that he should obtain her at Nassau, though hewas mistaken," added the major.
"But when she went within our lines, we were all satisfied that she wasours. I have not yet been able to understand why she was permitted toescape."
"If you mean by that to cast any blame upon those who did their bestto prevent her escape, Captain Carboneer, you wrong them grossly,"said Major Pierson. "She came on a friendly visit to the plantation ofColonel Passford; but this gentleman, though the owner of the steamerwas his own brother, promptly gave information of her presence in thecreek, and did all he could to have her captured. No man could havesacrificed more to his patriotism than he did."
"I do not reflect on him or on any one; I only wonder how the Bellevitecontrived to escape when several steamers were sent out to capture her,"added the captain.
"The son of the owner of the Bellevite was a prisoner of mine, for whenI had my brother arrested for desertion, this young man was with him.The only mistake I made was in not putting him in irons. The captain ofmy tug proved to be a traitor to the Confederacy, and this fellow, withChristy Passford, did the most of the mischief in preventing the captureof the steamer."
"I was told that he was a smart boy," added the naval officer.
"He is all of that; and I think it was very fortunate that he did nothappen to be at home when we visited the Bellevite just now," said MajorPierson, who evidently had a proper respect for the abilities of themillionnaire's son.
"I do not see that his presence in his father's mansion, if he had beenthere, could have made any difference," added the captain, as he soundedhis whistle again, and heard a faint response from the shore. "As longas he was not actually on board of the steamer, he was harmless."
"Perhaps he was, though I have the feeling that it would have beenotherwise. There was a whistle from the shore."
"I heard it, and I understand it. Haslett has done his whole duty,I judge," replied Captain Carboneer.
"Who is Haslett?" asked the major curiously. "I never heard of himbefore."
"He is to be the first lieutenant of the Bellevite."
"You seem to have a full supply of officers and men, Captain Carboneer,"added Major Pierson, apparently a little disconcerted. "I do not seethat I am of the least use here, for you seem to have done everythingwithout consulting me."
"In naval matters I have; but I give you full credit for the planning ofthe enterprise," replied the captain, in his softest tones.
"When I was removed from my command because I allowed the steamer topass the forts, I felt that a great injustice had been done to me. I didall I could to effect the capture of the vessel, but the attempt was afailure," argued the major. "The shot hole through the bow of the Belleutterly wrecked her, and the force on board of her could do nothing, andChristy Passford had brought my own tug to bear against me. Why, theBellevite actually saved the force on board of the Belle from drowning.A violent gale came up, and that did a great deal to nullify all ourefforts. But I think I did my whole duty."
"I have no doubt of it, Major Pierson; and for that reason you were senton this mission; and I am confident that the success of the enterprisewill restore you to your former command, or give you another quite asgood," said Captain Carboneer, as consolation to the military arm of theexpedition.
"But I cannot see that I have been of any use to this enterprise, and Imight as well have staid at home."
"You are too modest by half, major. You planned the expedition, andsuggested that Corny should take part in it, as he would have the_entree_ to the residence of Captain Passford. But, being a mere boy,he could not be sent alone, and your services were likely to be ofthe most important character. It is no fault of yours that we foundeverything made ready for us, as it were. It might have been quitedifferent, and the burden of the action might have rested upon you.It is all right as it is."
"I am satisfied," added the major, "though I think it was no more thanright that you should have consulted me in regard to your methods, ofwhich I am still profoundly ignorant. In getting up the scheme, I basedeverything on the fact that Corny could go into his uncle's house andobtain all the information we needed."
"The scheme was well concocted; and I shall have the pleasure ofreporting to the government that the military arm of the expeditionconducted the enterprise to a perfect success, the naval force onlydoing the duty pointed out by the military."
"You are very kind, Captain Carboneer," said Major Pierson, who couldnot well help being entirely satisfied, and even greatly pleased, withthis happy showing of the final result.
"By daylight in the morning we shall be outside of Sandy Hook, I expect.We have no time to waste, and you can see for yourself how the affair ofthe young lady would have complicated our operations."
"How do you intend to convey these men, who seem to be scattered allalong the shores of the river, to the steamer?"
"They understand my signals, and they will all be ready within an hourto take a small steamer which will pick them up."
"But where is the steamer?"
"She is farther down the river. As you seem to be a little sensitive tothe fact that I have not consulted you in regard to the naval operationsof this enterprise, I can tell you in a few words all there is of them,"continued Captain Carboneer. "As you are aware, as soon as our plan wasmatured by you, I left Mobile with Lieutenant Haslett, though you knewnothing about him, for Nassau. We had no difficulty in getting out ofthe bay, for the blockade was not then enforced. At Nassau I engaged acouple of English engineers, and a few other officers, with thirtyseamen, mostly English, who were looking for prize-money. I had to takemy force to Quebec, for no steamer offered for New York. I sent them allhere in small parties, and Haslett posted them along the river when Itold him they would be needed to-night."
"I did not leave Mobile till two weeks later with Corny," added themajor. "But I got here sooner than you did."
"You were more fortunate in finding a steamer. I believe I have acapital crew, though I shall obtain more men at Bermuda, or some otherport. There are plenty of good English sailors who are willing to fighton either side if there is a good showing for prize-money; and I haveno doubt I shall capture a dozen vessels before we reach the Bermudas,which will fully satisfy them, especially as the government will paythe value of all vessels we are compelled to burn on the high seas."
"You will have the advantage over everything that floats, for I was toldthat the Bellevite made twenty knots an hour, and had done twenty-two,"said Major Pierson. "At what time do you think you will get on board ofthe steamer?"
"By one or two in the morning, I hope; but it will depend upon thesteamer Haslett engages, though he told me he had bargained for an oldone with a walking-beam; but that will answer our purpose. I believe hehad to buy her, though she was of no great value."
At a creek which appeared to be the rendezvous of the conspirators,the boat left the river; but there was no steamer, though quite a numberof men had gathered there. Leaving the party in the boat to follow outthe
remaining details of their enterprise, which, by this time, in theabsence of anything like an obstacle, they regarded as so many mereformalities, it becomes necessary to make another visit to the mansionof Captain Passford. This gentleman had gone to the city upon importantbusiness connected with the fitting out of the Bellevite, and he had notreturned when the clock in the great hall struck ten, which was at aboutthe time Captain Carboneer and his companions went into the creek fivemiles down the river.
"There is no knowing when your father will come home, Florry," said Mrs.Passford, as she suspended her work on a stocking she was knitting forthe soldiers. "But I can't imagine what has become of Christy. He neverstays out as late as this unless he tells us of it beforehand."
"I am really worried about him, mother," replied the beautiful daughter,looking up from the stocking on which she was employed. "He went away inthe Florence, and something may have happened to him."
"I think not, Florry: there has been no storm, or heavy blow, andhe thinks he is as safe in his boat as he is on shore," added Mrs.Passford, with an effort to control the fears of the daughter. "He mayhave gone down to the city. He is very indignant at the delay in givingthe order to have the steamer sent to the navy yard, and wherever he is,I am confident he is doing something in connection with the steamer."
"I wish I knew whether the Florence was at the boathouse," continuedFlorry. "He said he was going out in the boat; but perhaps he did not.Perhaps he is with father."
"There is the front-door bell," added Mrs. Passford, with a start."It cannot be your father or Christy, for both of them have latch-keys.Who could come here at this time in the evening?"
"Mr. Paul Vapoor," said the man-servant, who answered the bell.
The gentleman announced walked into the sitting-room without anyceremony, for he had long been a familiar visitor. He was dressed inthe full uniform of a chief engineer of the navy. Removing his cap, hepolitely bowed to the two ladies; and any one who was looking might haveseen that Miss Florry blushed a little when she saw him; and very likelyif Major Pierson had witnessed the roses on her fair cheek, he mightpossibly have concluded that it would have been useless to postpone thecapture of the Bellevite to enable him to fortify his position near her.
"I beg your pardon, ladies, for calling so late," said Mr. Vapoor, as hedrew a long envelope from his pocket. "But I thought Christy might wishto see what is in this envelope before he retired."
"Why, what is in it?" asked Mrs. Passford.
"Christy's commission as a midshipman in the navy."
"But Christy is not at home, and we are somewhat anxious about him,"added the mother, stating the facts in regard to her son.
Paul Vapoor volunteered to go in search of him, and left the house.
