by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XVIII
THE MORNING TRIP OF THE LEOPARD
If Major Pierson had had any curiosity at all in regard to the personcaptured by the soldiers with his brother, he appeared to have forgottenall about him. He took no notice of him after he left his bed of hay,but then he was evidently very much disturbed by the fact that theBellevite had left the wharf.
Christy Passford was quite as much astonished as the major when helearned that the steamer had left her berth at the wharf, and he wasutterly unable to account for the change of position. The movement hadbeen made since he left his uncle's mansion; for at that time the twobrothers were still in the library, and he had no knowledge whatever ofwhat was passing between them.
The major ordered all his men on board the Leopard, and directed thesergeant to conduct the prisoners to the deck of the tug. Percy waswaked when he was wanted, and he had slept soundly till that time.With their hands still tied behind them, they were conducted to theafter-deck of the tug, where there was a small space from which openedthe stateroom of the captain.
"I might as well jump overboard first as last," said Percy bitterly, ashe seated himself in the place assigned to him by Spottswood.
"It is hardly worth your while to do that, Percy. I don't think yourbrother is likely to do you any harm," replied Christy.
"I would rather he drowned in deep water than be sent into the army as acommon soldier," said the victim, as he went to the rail and looked overinto the water.
But his companion was perfectly confident that he would not jumpoverboard while his hands were tied behind him; for the chances were allagainst him, though he might be willing to punish his brother by makinga demonstration in the direction indicated.
"The water is too cold at this time in the morning, Percy," said Christywith a smile. "I think you ought to give your brother the credit ofhaving the reputation of your family at heart. If I had a brother, I hadabout as lief have him drown himself as desert from the army."
"I don't call it deserting," replied Percy rather warmly.
"You can call it what you like, but that is what it was."
"It is no use to talk with you about it. Where are we going now?"demanded Percy impatiently.
"We are going to look out for the Bellevite, and perhaps you can get onboard her again," suggested Christy.
"Do you think I can?" asked the deserter with renewed interest.
"I am afraid your brother will look out too sharply for you. He has younow, and he will hold on this time."
Christy had little sympathy for his companion. He was an able-bodiedyoung man of eighteen, with influence enough behind him to give him agood show in the ranks if he did his duty. But he was the youngestchild of his father and mother; and he had evidently been spoiled byindulgence, so that he was not fit for the stern duties of the presentemergency.
The steamer seemed to be very short handed, and doubtless part of thework on board was done by the soldiers, for the tug seemed to be in theemploy of the fort. There was no crew, so far as Christy could judge,except the captain and engineer; and both of these seemed to beinvalids, for the latter was so lame he could hardly go. The soldiershauled in the fasts, and seemed to be at home with this sort of work.
The Leopard backed out from the wharf, came about, and headed down theinlet, or whatever it was. She had hardly left the pier before MajorPierson appeared on the quarter-deck, which had been assigned for theuse of the prisoners. His gaze was first fixed on Percy; for the otherprisoner was looking astern, in order to obtain some idea of where hewas, if he could, for he thought such information might be of some useto him in the future.
"Well, Percy, how goes it now?" asked the major.
Christy heard the voice, which was the first he knew of the presence ofa third person, and he turned about. The major started back as though hehad seen his father with his hands tied behind him by his order.
"Good Heaven! Mr. Passford!" exclaimed the major; and Christy wassatisfied that his astonishment was sincere.
"That is certainly my name: I haven't forgotten it, if I am a prisonerwith my hands tied behind me," replied Christy, as good-naturedly asthough he had had no grievance.
"This is all a mistake!" ejaculated Major Pierson, evidently greatlydisturbed by the discovery he had just made, as he rushed upon theprisoner, turned him around, and proceeded to untie the line whichbound him.
"I thought it must be a mistake," added Christy.
"You must have been with this brother of mine. I told Spottswood toarrest Percy, for be has disgraced himself and his family; and I toldhim to capture whoever might be with him, for I did not care to leavebehind an informant of what had been done, for it would only have mademy mother feel badly. That is really the whole of it. I am very sorryindeed that you were subjected to this annoyance, Mr. Passford; and Iassure you I will do all in my power to atone for my offence."
"I am satisfied, Major Pierson; and the only thing that disturbs me isthe fact that my father and sister will worry about my absence," repliedChristy.
"You are no longer a prisoner, Mr. Passford, and you are at liberty togo where you please."
"But my limits are rather circumscribed on board this tug."
"But I will soon put you on board your father's steamer."
"Thank you, sir; that is all I can desire."
"Can't you do as much as that for me, Lindy?" asked Percy, when he sawthat his brother was about to leave him.
"If you say that you will return to your place in your regiment, I willrelease you at once," replied the brother.
"I won't do that," answered Percy without any hesitation. "But I wantto go into the navy. I am better fitted for a sailor than I am for asoldier."
"The first thing is to wipe out the disgrace you have cast upon yourselfand your family," added the major warmly. "I induced your officers tolook upon it as a freak of a boy, and by returning to your duty you cansoon wipe out the stigma."
"I shall not become a common soldier if I can help it. My father andmother will stand by me, if the rest of you do not," said Percy.
"That's enough; and you will go back to the army, whether or not you arewilling," added the major, as he turned on his heel.
Christy followed him to the forecastle of the tug, where a rather heavygun was mounted, which took up most of the space.
"Take a seat, Mr. Passford," said the major, giving him a stool, whilehe took another himself. "It looks as though your father changed hisplans rather suddenly last evening."
"I was not aware of it," replied Christy.
"The Bellevite was taken from the wharf where you landed some time inthe evening, and came out into the bay, where she seems to be waitingfor something, I don't know what. As I understand the matter, yourfather has sold the steamer to the Confederacy."
"Where did you learn that, Major Pierson?" asked Christy, who had notheard any such story.
"You certainly came from Nassau?"
"We did."
"And you met my father there?"
"I did not meet him, but my father did."
"I understood that my father bought this steamer, or that he bargainedfor her in some manner, for the use of the Confederacy."
"I was not present at the interview between your father and mine, and Ido not know just what passed between them."
"And I understood that he sent Percy to act as a sort of agent for thedelivery of the vessel; though it still puzzles me to comprehend how myfather should do such a thing, especially when he knew that the boywould be arrested as a deserter if he showed his face anywhere nearMobile."
Christy felt that his tongue might be a dangerous member, and he was notdisposed to talk about the matter at all. All the information which themajor had derived from Captain Passford and others had been acceptedfrom inference; for the owner of the Bellevite certainly had not saidthat the steamer was for the use of the Confederacy, and he would haveblown her up rather than admit any thing of the sort.
"It looked to me as though e
very thing was all right about the steamer,or I would not have let her pass the fort; and the commander at FortMorgan was as well satisfied as I was, after I had explained thesituation to him."
Major Pierson looked at Christy as though he expected him to talk on thesubject before them; but the latter would not say any thing, for he sawthat he was in an extremely delicate position. He made some sort ofanswers, but they amounted to nothing.
"I cannot understand why Captain Passford has moved the Bellevite fromthe wharf," continued the major.
"I am as much in the dark as you are, sir. I spent the afternoon with mysister, and my uncle Homer and my father were in the library togetherall this time," replied Christy. "I have no idea what they were talkingabout. Just at dark, I saw Percy pass the window; and I went out for alittle walk. I was arrested by your men soon after. Not a word had beensaid in my hearing about moving the steamer. That is all I know aboutthe matter, and I am as much surprised as you can be at the change whichhas been made."
"I have no doubt that every thing connected with the steamer is allright. I know that your father is a Northern man, but I am confidentthat he will be on the right side in this conflict," added the major.
"He will certainly be on the right side," said Christy; but he had gonefar enough to know that there were two right sides to the question, andone seemed to him to be as honest, earnest, and resolute as the other.
"We shall soon know something more about it," added the major, evidentlydisappointed at not being able to obtain any information from theowner's son.
The tug went out into the bay, and then changed her course to theeastward. One of the soldiers went to the galley, and breakfast wasserved to the major and his guest in the captain's room; and Percy wasreleased long enough to take the meal with them. But he was sullen, andeven morose, in view of the fate that awaited him.
"Boat just come round that point," said the captain from thepilot-house, when the party had returned to the forecastle.
Captain Pecklar seemed to be hardly able to speak; he was so exhaustedby his night watch, and by constant fits of coughing, that he couldhardly make himself heard.
"What boat is it, Pecklar?" asked the major, straining his eyes todiscover it. "I don't see it."
"Take my glass, and you can see it," added the captain, more faintlythan before. "I don't think I can stand it any longer, Major Pierson."
"But we can't get along without you, Pecklar. We haven't another handthat knows how to steer," replied the major, as he hastened up to thepilot-house, followed by Christy.
Captain Pecklar had fainted and fallen from the wheel.
