<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap">xt75hq3rv937 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt75hq3rv937/data/mets.xml Optic, Oliver, 1822-1897. 1890  books b92-167-30116721 English Lee and Shepard, : Boston : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Juvenile fiction. On the blockade  / by Oliver Optic [i.e. W.T. Adams] text On the blockade  / by Oliver Optic [i.e. W.T. Adams] 1890 2002 true xt75hq3rv937 section xt75hq3rv937 


THE BLUE AND THE GRAY-AFLOAT

   Two colors cloth Emblematic Dies Illustrated
          Price per volume 1.50

  TAKEN BY THE ENEMY
  WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES
  ON THE BLOCKADE
  STAND B'b THE UNION
  FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT
  A VICTORIOUS UNION


THE BLUE AND THE GRAY- ON LAID

   Two colors cloth  Emblematic Dies  Illustrated
          Price per volume i.5o

  BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER
  IN THE SADDLE
  A LIEUTENANT AT EIGHTEEN
  ON THE STAFF
  AT THE FRONT
  AN UNDIVIDED UNION


  .  ANY VOLUME SOLD SEPARATELY 


LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS


BOSTON


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ANT THE ENGINEER.


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      The Blue and fie Gray Series


ON THE BLOCKADE


                        BY

               OLIVER OPTIC
AUTHOR OF "THE ARMY AND NAVY SERIES "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD" "THE
  GREAT WESTERN SERIES  "THE WOODVILLE STORIES   THE STARRY
     FLAG SERIES  "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES" n  THE ONWARD
       AND UPWARD SERIES"u "THE YACHT-CLUB SERIES
           THE LAKE SHORE SERIES"t "THE RIVERDALE
           STORIES "THE BOAT-BUILDER SERIES
                TAKEN BY THE ENEMY 9
                   WITHIN THE ENEMY'S
                     LINES " ETC.


            BOSTON
LEE AND SIEPARD PUBLISHERS

 
COPYRIGHT, IxSg, BY LEE AND SHEPARD.

          A 11 rights reserved.


          ON THE BLOCKADE.

 
              TO MY SON-IN.LAW,


      SOL SMITH RUSSELL,

         OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
     THOUGH RESIDING IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA,

                 WHO IS ALWAYS
"ON THE BLOCKADE" AGAINST MELANCHOLY, "THE BLUES,"
            AND ALL SIMILAR MALADIES,


                 Cbis IFolume

           IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.

 This page in the original text is blank.

 
PREFACE


  " ON THE BLOCKADE" is the third of " The Blue
and the Gray Series." Like the first and second
volumes, its incidents are dated back to the War
of the Rebellion, and located iii the midst of its
most stirring scenes on the Southern coast, where
the naval operations of the United States contrib-
uted their full share to the final result.
  The writer begs to remind his readers again
that he has not felt called upon to invest his
story with the dignity of history, or in all cases
to mingle fiction with actual historic occurrences.
He believes that all the scenes of the story are
not only possible, but probable, and that just such
events as he has narrated really and frequently
occurred in the days of the Rebellion.
  The historian is forbidden to make his work more
palatable or more interesting by the intermixture
of fiction with fact, while the story-writer, though
required to be reasonably consistent with the spirit

 
PREFACE


and the truth of history, may wander from veritable
details, and use his imagination in the creation of
incidents upon which the grand result is reached.
It would not be allowable to make the Rebellion
a success, if the writer so desired, even on the
pages of romance; and it would not be fair or
just to ignore the bravery, the self-sacrifice, and
the heroic endurance of the Southern people in a
cause they believed to be holy and patriotic, as
almost universally admitted at the present time,
any more than it would be to lose sight of the
magnificent spirit, the heroism, the courage, and
the persistence, of the Northern people in accom-
plishing what they believed then, and still believe,
was a holy and patriotic duty in the preservation
of the Union.
  Incidents not inconsistent with the final result,
or with the spirit of the people on either side in
the great conflict are of comparatively little con-
sequence. That General Lee or General Grant
turned this or that corner in reaching Appomat-
tox may be important, but the grand historical
tableau is the Christian hero, noble in the midst
of defeat, disaster, and ruin, formally rendering
his sword to the impassible but magnanimous con-


8

 
PREFACE


queror as the crowning event of a long       and
bloody wvar. The details are historically impor-
tant, though overshadowed by the mighty result
of the great conflict.
  AMany of the personages of the preceding vol-
umies have been introduced in the present one,
and the central figure remains the same.     The
writer is willing to a(ldnit that his hero is an
ideal character, tho ugh his lofty tone and patri-
otic spirit were fully paralleled by veritable indi-
viduals durinig( the war; and lie is not preiiared
to apolo(gize for the .abundant success -which at-
tended the career of Christy Passford.     Those
wvlro really struggle(l as earnestly and faitlhfully
deserved his good fortune, thLough they did. not
always obtain it.
  DORCHESTER, MASS., April 24, 1890.


9

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CONTENTS


                 CHAPTER I.
THE UNITED STATES STEAMER BRONX.

                CHAPTER IL.


A DINNER FOR THE CONFEDERACY

                CHAPTER IlL.
TIIE INTRUDER AT THIE CAI3iN DOOR


                CHAPTER IV.


.  .  .   . 26


.  .  .  37


A DEAF AND DUM3B MYSTERY  .  .   .  .  . 48

                CHAPTER V.


A CONFIDENTIAL STEWARD  .

                CHAPTER VI.


0  0   . 59


A MISSION UP THE FOREMXAST.  .   .  .   . 70

               CHAPTER VII.


. e  81


AN INTERVIEW ON TIHE BRIDGE .


               CHAPTER VIII.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION, IF TRUEE


. 92


PAGE
. 15


.

 
12


CONTENTS


                 CHAPTER IX.
A VOLUNThF FTh 4APTAIN'S CLEIF.


                 CHAPTER    ,
THE UNEXPECTECD ORDERs  .  


                 CHAPTER Xi
ANOTHER flEADUIN6 OF THE SEALED URD)EI


                 CHAPTER MlI
A SAIL ON "EI STARBOARD B[OU


                JHAPThR KLlt

THE STEAMERP, IN rFE F8OG


                 CHAPTER 2LIV
THE CONFFIDERATE STEAMER SCOTIAN


                 CHAPTER XV
THE SCOTMAN !JRCOMES THE OCKLOCKoNLaF


                 C)HAPTER XVI,
CAPTAIN I .SSFORD'S FINAL ORDERS


                CHAP'TER Vli.
A COUPLE OF nSTONISHED CONSPIRRATORB


                CHAPTER XVIII.
A TRIANGULAR ACTION WITii GREAT GUNS .


PAGE
A13


t14


'25


I  I   - 't36


I 47


I t58


69


- 80


- 191


. 202

 
                  CONTENTS                13

                CHAPTER XIX.             PAGE
ON THE DECK OF THE AIRAN                   213


                CHAPTER XX.

THE NEW CO.MM1ANDER OF TIM BRONX.        . 224


                CHAPTER XXI.

AN EXPEDITION IN TIlEp GULF.  .   .  .   . 235


               CHAPTER XXII.

A NIGHT EXPEDITION IN TILE BOATS  .  .  .  . 246


               CITAPTER XXIII.

THE VISIT TO A SHOIR BATTERY               2.. .    . 57


               CHAPTER XXIV.

CAPTAIN LONLEY OF TIHE STEAMIER HAVANA  .  . 268


               CHAPTER XXV.
THE NEW ENGINEER OF TIlE PRIZE STEAMIER  .  . 279


               CHAPTER XXVI.
THE BATTLE WITH THE SOLDIERS. .   .  .   . 290


               CHAPTER XXVII.
THE INNOCENT CAPTAIN OF THE GARRISON  .  . 301


              CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE BEARER OF DESPATCHES.  .  .   .  .   . 312

 
14               CONTENTS

               CHAPTER XXIX             PAGE
THE NEW COMMANDER OF THE VIXEN.        . 323


               CHAPTER XXX.
THE ACTION WITH A PRIVATEER STEAMER.  .  . 334


               CHAPTER XXXI.
A SHORT VISIT TO BONNYDALE.            . 345


      ON THE BLOCKADE


                CHAPTER I

     THE UNITED STATES STEAMER BRONX

  "SHE is a fine little steamer, father, without the
possibility of a doubt," said Lieutenant Passford,
who was seated at the table with his father in the
captain's cabin on board of the Bronx. "I dollt
feel quite at home here, and I don't quite like the
idea of being taken out of the Bellevite."
  "You are not going to sea for the fun of it, my
son," replied Captain Passford.  "You are not
setting out on a yachting excursion, but on the
most serious business in the world."
  "I know and feel all that, father, but I have
spent so many pleasant days, hours, weeks, and
months on board of the Bellevite, that I am very
sorry to leave her," added Christy Passford, who
had put on his new uniform, which was that of

 
ON THE BLOCKADE


master in the United States Navy; and he was as
becoming to the uniform as the uniform was to
him.
  "' You cannot well help having some regrets at
leaving the Bellevite; but you must remember that
your life on board of her was mostly in the capac-
ity of a pleasure-seeker, though you made a good
use of your time and of your opportunities for
improvement; and that is the reason why you
have made such remarkable progress in your
present profession."
  Go I shall miss my friends on board of the Belle-
vite. I have sailed with all her officers, and Paul
Vapoor and I have been cronies for years," con-
tinued Christy, with a shade of gloom on his bright
face.
  "You will probably see them occasionally, and
if your life is spared you may again find yourself
an officer of the Bellevite. But I think you have
no occasion to indulge in any regrets," said Cap-
tain Passford, imparting a cheerful expression to
his dignified countenance. "Allow me to call your
attention to the fact that you are the commander
of this fine little steamer. Here you are in your
own cabin, and you -are still nothing but a boy,
hardly eighteen years old."


16

 
THE UNITED STATES STEAMER BI1ONX  17


  "'If I have not earned my rank, it is not my
fault that I have it," answered Christy, hardly
knowing whether to be glad or sorry for his rapid
advancement. "' I have never asked for anything;
I did not ask or expect to be promoted. I was
satisfied with my rank as a midshipman."
  "I did not ask for your promotion, though I
could probably have procured for you the rank of
master when you entered the navy.    I do not
like to ask favors for a member of my own family.
I have wished you to feel that you were in the
service of your country because it needs you, and
not for glory br profit."
  "And I have tried to feel so, father."
  "I think you have felt so, my son; and I am
prouder of the fact that you ale a disinterested
latriot than of the rank you have nobly and
bravely won," said Captain Passford. as he took
some letters from his pocket, from wvhich he se-
lected one bearing an English postage stamp. iI
have a letter from one of my agents in England,
which, I think, contains valuable information. I
have called the attention of the government to
these employes of mine, and they will soon pass
from my service to that of the naval department.

 
ON THE BLOCKADE


The information sent me has sometimes been very
important."
  "I know that myself, for the information that
came from that source enalbled the Bellevite to
capture the Killbriglht," added Christy.
  "The contents of the letter in my hand have
been sent to the Secretaiy of the Navy; but it
will do no harm for you to possess the informa-
tion given to me," continued Captain Passford, as
he opened the letter. " But I see a man at work
at the foot of the companion way, and I don't care
to post the whole ship's company on this subject."
  "That is Pink AMulgrum," said Christy with a
smile on his face. " He is deaf and dumb, and
he cannot make any use of what you say."
  "D Don't be sure of anything, Christy, except
your religion and your patriotism, in these times,"
added Captain Passford, as he rose and closed the
door of the cabin.
  "I don't think there is much danger from a
deaf mute, father," said the young commander of
the Bronx laughing.
  "Perhaps not; but when you have war intelli-
gence to communicate, it is best to believe that
every person has ears, and that every door has a


18

 
THE UNITED STATES STEAMER BRONX 19


keyhole. I learn from this letter that the Scotian
sailed from Glasgow, and the Arran from Leith.
The agent is of the opinion that both these steamers
are fitted out by the same owners, who have formed
a company, apparently to furnish the South with
gunboats for its navy, as well as with needed sup-
plies. In his letter my correspondent gives me the
reason for this belief on his part."
  ";Does your agent give you any description of
the vessels, father " asked Christy, his eyes spark-
ling with the interest he felt in the information.
  "Not a very full description, my son, for no
strangers were allowed on board of either of theme,
for very obvious reasons; but they are both of
less than five hundred tons burthen, are of pre-
cisely the same model and build, evidently con-
structed in the same yard.    Both had been
pleasure yachts, though owned by different gen-
tlemen. Both sailed on the same day, the Sco-
tian from Greenock and the Arranl from Leith,
March 3."
  Christy opened his pocket diary, and put his
finger on the date mentioned, counting up the
days that had elapsed from that time to the pres-
ent. Captain Passford could not help smiling at

 
ON THE BLOCKADE


the interest his son manifested in the intelligence
he had brought to him. The acting commander
of the Bronx went over his calculation again.
  iIt is fourteen days since these vessels sailed,"
said he, looking at his father. "I doubt if your
information will be of any value to me, for I
suppose the steamers were selected on account of
their great speed, as is the case with all blockade
runners."
  " Undoubtedly they were chosen for their speed,
for a slow vessel does not amount to much in this
sort of service," replied. Captain Passford. "I
received my letter day before yesterday, when the
two vessels had been out twelve days."
  "If they are fast steamers, they ought to be
approaching the Southern coast by this time,"
suggested Christy.
  "This is a windy month, and a vessel bound to
the westward would encounter strong westerly
gales, so that she could hardly make a quick pass-
age. Then these steamers will almost certainly
put in at Nassau or the Bermudas, if not for coal
and supplies, at least to obtain the latest intelli-
gence from the blockaded coast, and to pick up a
pilot for the port to which they are bound. The


20

 
THE UNITED STATES STEAMER BRONX 21


agent thinks it is possible that the Scotian and
Arran will meet some vessel to the southward of
the Isle of Wight that will put an armament on
board of them. He had written to another of my
agents at Southampton to look up this matter. It
is a quick mail from the latter city to New York,
and I may get another letter on this subject before
you sail, Christy."
  ",My orders may come off to me to-day," added
the acting commander. "I am all ready to sail,
and I am only waiting for them."
  "s If these two steamers sail in company, as they
are likely to do if they are about equal in speed,
and if they take on board an armament, it will
hardly be prudent for you to meddle with them,"
said Captain Passford with a smile, though he
had as much confidence in the prudence as in the
bravery of his son.
  " What shall I do, father, run away from them"
asked Christy, opening his eyes very wide.
  " Certainly, my son. There is as much patriot-
ism in running away from a superior force as there
is in fighting an equal, for if the government
should lose your vessel and lose you and your
ship's company, it would be a disaster of more or
less consequence to your country."

 
ON THE BLOCKADE


   " I hardly think I shall fall in with the Scotian
and the Arran, so I will not consider the question
of running away from them," said Christy laugh-
ing.
  ";You have not received your orders yet, but
they will probably require you to report at once
to the flag-officer in the Gulf, and perhaps they
will not permit you to look up blockade runners
on the high seas," suggested Captain Passford.
"sThese vessels may be fully armed and manned,
in charge of Confederate naval officers; and doubt-
less they will be as glad to pick up the Bronx as
you would be to pick up the Scotian or the Arran.
You don't know yet whether they will come as
simple blockade runners, or as naval vessels fly-
ing the Confederate flag. Whatever your orders,
Christy, don't allow yourself to be carried away
by any Quixotic enthusiasm."
  "I don't think I have any more than half as
much audacity as Captain Breaker said I had.
As I look upon it, my first duty is to deliver my
ship over to the flag-officer in the Gulf; and I
suppose I shall be instructed to pick up a Confed-
erate cruiser or a blockade runner, if one should
cross my course."


22

 
THE UNITED STATES STEAMER BROINX  23


   " Obey your orders, Christy, whatever they may
h)e. Now, I should like to look over the Bronx
before I go on shore," said Captain Passford. "I
think you said she was of about two hundred
tons."
  ",That was what they said (lown south; but she
is about three hundred tons," replied Christy, as
he proceeded to show his father the cabin in which
the conversation had taken place.
  The captain's cabini wNvas in the stern of the
vessel, accordtiln to the orthodox rule in naval
vessels. Of course it was small, though it seemed
large to Christy who had spent so much of his
leisure time ini the cabin of the Florence, his sail-
boat onl the Hudson. It was substantially fitted
up, with little superfluous ornamentation; but it
was a complete parlor, as a lanidsman would regard
it. From it, on the port side opened the captain's
state room, which was quite ample for a vessel no
largrer thani the Bronx. Between it and the pan-
try on the starboard side, was a gangway leading
fromt the foot of the companion way, by -which the
captain's cabin anid the ward room were accessible
from the quarter deck.
  Crossing the gangway at the foot of the steps,

 
ON THE BLOCKADE


Christy led the way into the ward room, where the
principal officers were accommodated. It contained
four berths, with portidres in front of them, which
could be drawn out so as to inclose each one in
a temporary state room. The forward berth on
the starboard side was occupied by the first lieu-
tenant, and the after one by the second lieutenant,
according to the custom in the navy. On the port
side, the forward berth belonged to the chief en-
gineer, and the after one to the surgeon. Forward
of this was the steerage, in which the boatswain,
gunner, carpenter, the assistant engineers, and the
steward were berthed. Each of these apartments
was provided with a table upon which the meals
were served to the officers occupying it. The eti-
quette of a man-of-war is even more exacting than
that of a drawing room on shore.
  Captain Passford was then conducted to the
deck where he found the officers and seamen en
gaged in their various duties. Besides his son,
the former owner of the Bellevite was acquainted
with only two persons on board of the Bronx,
Sampson, the engineer, and Flint, the acting first
lieutenant, both of whom had served on board of
the steam yacht. Christy's father gave them a


24

 
     THE UNITED STATES STEAMER BRONX 25

hearty greeting, an(L both wdere as glad to see him
as he was to greet them. Captain Passford then
looked over the rest of the ship's company with a
deeper interest than lie eared to nianifest, for they
were to some extent bound uip wvith the immediate
future of his son. It was not such a ship's conm-
pany as that which manned the Bellevite, though
composed of much good material. The captain
shook hands with his son, and warent on board of
his boat.  Two hours later he came on board
again.


ON THE BLOCKADE


                CHAPTER II

       A DINNER FOR THE CONFEDERACY

  CHRISTY PASSFORD was not a little surprised
to see his father so soon after his former visit, and
he was confident that lie had some good reason for
coming. He conducted him at once to his cabin,
where Captain Passford immediately seated him-
self at the table, and drew from  his pocket a
telegram.
  " I found this on my desk when I went to my
office," said he, opening a cable message, and
placing it before Christy.
  "'Mutton, three veal, four sea chickens,'"
Christy read from the paper placed before him,
laughing all the time as he thought it was a joke
of some sort. "Signed 'Warnock.' It looks as
though somebody was going to have a dinner,
father. Mutton, veal, and four sea chickens seem
to form the substantials of the feast, though I
never ate any sea chickens."


26

 
A DINNER FOR THE CONFEDERACY


  "' Perhaps somebody will have a dinner, but I
hope it will prove to be indigestible to those for
whom it is provided,-' added Captain Passford,
amused at the comments of his son.
  "The message is signed by Warnock. I don't
happen to have the pleasure of his acquaintance,
and I don't see why he has taken the trouble to
send you this bill of fare," chuckled the com-
mander of the Bronx.
  "- This bill of fare is of more importance to me,
and especially to you, than you seem to under-
stand."
  ",It is all Greek to me; and I wonder why
Warnock, whoever he may be, has spent his
money in sending you such a message, though I
suppose you knowv who is to eat this dinner."
  "The expense of sending the cablegram    is
charged to me, though the dinner is prepared for
the Confederate States of Anmerica. Of course I
understand it, for if I could not, it would not have
been sent to me," replied Captain Passford, assum-
ing a very serious expression. "Y ou know War-
nock, for lie has often been at Bonnydale, though
not under the name he signs to this message. My
three agents, one in the north, one in the south,


97

 
ON THE BLOCKADE


and one in the west of England, have each an
assumed name. They are Otis, Barnes, and
Wilson, and you know them all. They have
been captains or mates in my employ; and they
know all about a vessel when they see it."
  "I know them all very well, and they are all
good friends of mine," added Christy.
  " Warnock is Captain Barnes, and this message
comes from  him.   Captain Otis signs himself
Bixwell in his letters and cablegrams, and Mr.
Wilson, who was formerly mate of the Manhattan,
uses the name of Fleetley."
  "I begin to see into your system, father; and
I suppose the government will carry out your
plan."
  " Very likely; for it would hardly be proper to
send such information, as these men have to trans-
mit in plain English, for there may be spies or
operators bribed by Confederate agents to suppress
such matter."
  "I see. I understand the system very well,
father," said Christy.
  "It is simple enough," added his father, as he
took a paper from his pocketbook.
  " If you only understand it, it is simple enough."


28

 
A DINNER FOR THE CONFEDERACY


  ,,I can interpret the language of this message,
and there is not another person on the western
continent that can do so.  Now, look at the
cablegram, Christy," continued Captain Passford,
as he opened the paper lie held in his hand.
"What is the first word"
  "Mutton," replied the commander.
  "Mutton means armed; that is to say the Sco-
tian and the Arran took an armament on board at
some point south of Englanid, as indicated by the
fact that the intelligence comes from Warnock.
In about a week the mail will bring me a letter
from him in which he will explain how he obtained
this information.:
  " He must have chartered a steamer and cruised
off the Isle of Wight to pick it up," suggested
Christy.
  "He is instructed to do that when necessary.
What is the next word "
  - Three,'" replied Christy.
  "' One means large, two medium, and three
small," explained his father. "1 Three wvhat, does
it say  "
  ' Three veal."'
  " Veal means ship's company, or crew."


29

 
ON THE BLOCKADE


  " Putting the pieces together, then, ' three veal'
means that the Scotian and the Arran have small
crews," said Christy, intensely interested in the
information.
  "Precisely so. Read the rest of the message,"
added Captain Passford.
  "'Four sea chickens,'" the commander read.
  "' Four' means some, a few, no great number;
in other words, rather indefinite.  Very likely
Warnock could not obtain exact information. 'C'
stands for Confederate, and 'sea' is written in-
stead of the letter. 'Chickens' means officers.
'Four sea chickens,' translated means 'some Con-
federate officers.'"
  Christy had written down on a piece of paper
the solution of the enigma, as interpreted by his
father, though not the symbol words of the cable-
gram. He continued to write for a little longer
time, amplifying and filling in the wanting parts
of the message. Then he read what he had writ-
ten, as follows: "' The Scotian and the Arran are
armed; there are some Confederate officers on
board, but their ship's companies are small.' Is
that it, father"
  "That is the substance of it," replied Captain


30

 
A DINNER FOR THE CONFEDERACY


Passford, as he restored the key of the cipher to
his pocket-book, and rose from his seat. "Now
you know all that can be known on this side of
the Atlantic in regard to the two steamers. The
important information is that they are armed, and
even with small crews they may be able to sink
the Bronx, if you should happen to fall in with
them, or if your orders req uired you to be on the
lookout for them. There is a knock at the door."
  Christy opened the door, and found a naval
officer waiting to see him. He handed him a
formidable looking envelope, with a great seal
upon it. The young commander looked at its
address, and saw that it came from  the Navy
Department.   With it was a letter, which he
opened. It was an order for the immediate sail-
ing of the Bronx, the sealed orders to be opened
when she reached latitude 380 N. The messenger
spoke some pleasant words, and then took his
leave. Christy returned to the cabin, and showed
the ponderous envelope to his father.
  " Sealed orders, as I supposed you would have,"
said Captain Passford.
  "1 And this is my order to sail immediately on
receipt of it," added Christy.


31

 
ON THE BLOCKADE


   "1 Then I must leave you, my son; and may the
blessing of God go with you wherever your duty
calls you "' exclaimed the father, not a little shaken
by his paternal feelings. "1 Be brave, be watchful;
but be prudent under all circumstances. Bravery
and Prudence ought to be twin sisters, and I hope
you will always have one of them on each side of
you. I am not afraid that you will be a poltroon,
a coward; but I do fear that your enthusiasm may
carry you farther than you ought to go."
  "I hope not, father; and your last words to me
shall be remembered. When I am about to engage
in any important enterprise, I will recall your
admonition, and ask myself if I am heeding it."
  " That satisfies me. I wish you had such a ship's
company as we had on board of the Bellevite;
but you have a great deal of good material, and
I am confident that you will make the best use
of it. Remember that you are fighting for your
country and the best government God ever gave
to the nations of the earth. Be brave, be prudent;
but be a Christian, and let no mean, cruel or
unworthy action stain your record."
  Captain Passford took the hand of his son, and
though neither of them wept, both of them were


32

 
A DINNER FOR THE CONFEDERACY


under the influence of the strongest emotions.
Christy accompanied his father to the accommoda-
tion ladder, and shook hands with him again as
he embarked in his boat. His mother and his
sister had been on board that day, arid the young
commander had parted from them with quite as
much emotion as on the present occasion. The
members of the family were devotedly attached
to each other, and in some respects the event
seemed like a funeral to all of them, and not less
to Christy than to the others, though he was en-
tering upon a very exalted duty for one of his
years.
  "Pass the word for Mr. Flint," said Christy,
after he had watched the receding boat that bore
away his father for a few minutes.
  "; On duty, Captain Passford," said the first
lieutenant, touching his cap to him a few minutes
later.
  "1 Heave short the anchor, and make ready to
get under way," added the commander.
  "1 Heave short, sir," replied Mr. Flint, as he
touched his cap and retired. "Pass the word for
Mr. Giblock."
  Mr. Giblock was the boatswain of the ship,


33

 
ON THE DLOCKADE


though he had only the rank of a boatswain's
mate. He was an old sailor, as salt as a barrel
of pickled pork, and knew his duty from keel to
truck. In a few moments his pipe was heard, and
the seamen began to walk around the capstan.
  "Cable up and down, sir," said the boatswain,
reporting to the second lieutenant on the fore-
castle.
  Mr. Lillyworth was the acting second lieuten-
ant, though he was not to be attached to the
Bronx after she reached her destination in the
Gulf. He repeated the report from the boatswain
to the first lieutenant. The steamer was rigged
as a topsail schooner; but the wind was contrary,
and no sail was set before getting under way.
The capstan was manned again, and as soon as
the report came from the second lieutenant that
the anchor was aweigh, the first lieutenant gave
the order to strike one bell, which meant that the
steamer was to go "ahead slow."
  The Bronx had actually started on her mission,
and the heart of Christy swelled in his bosom as
he looked over the vessel, and realized that he was
in command, though not for more than a week or
two. All the courtesies and ceremonies were duly


34

 
A DINNER FOR THE CONFEDERACY   35


attended to, and the steamer, as soon as the anchor
had been catted and fished, at the stroke of four
bells, went ahead at full speed, though, as the fires
had been banked in the furnaces, the engine was
not working up to its capacity. In a couple of
hours more she was outside of Sandy Hook, and
on the broad ocean. The ship's company had been
drilled to their duties, and everything workled to
the entire satisfaction of the young commander.
  The wind was ahead and light. All hands had
been stationed, and at four in the afternoon, the
first dog nwatch was on duty, and there wvas not
much that could be called fork for any one to
do. Mr. Lillyworth, the second lieutenant, had
the deck, and Christy had retired to his cabin to
think over the events of the day, especially those
relating to the Scotian and the Arran. He had
not yet read his orders, and he could not decide
what he should do, even if he discovered the two
steamers in his track. He sat in his arm chair
with the door of the cabin open, and -when. he saw
the first lieutenant on his way to the ward room,
lie called him in.
  " Well, Mr. Flint, what do you think of our
crew " asked the captain, after he had seated his
guest.


35

 
ON THE BLOCKADE


  "I have hardly seen enough of the men to be
able to form an opinion," replied Flint. "KI am
afraid we have some hard material on board,
though there are a good many first-class fellows
among them."
  "Of course we can not expect to get such a
crew as we had in the Bellevite. How do you
like Mr. Lillyworth  " asked the commander,
looking sharply into the eye of his subordinate.
  " I don't like him," replied Flint, bluntly.
",You and I have been in some tight places
together, and it is best to speak our minds
squarely."
  "That's right, Mr. Flint. We will talk of him
another time. I have another matter on my mind
just now," added Christy.
  He proceeded to tell the first lieutenant some-
thing about the two steamers.


36


THE INTRUDER AT THE CABIN DOOR


                CHAPTER III

      THE INTRUDER AT THE CABIN DOOR

  BEFORE he said anything about the Scotian and
the Arran, Christy, mindful of the injunction of
his father, had closed the cabin door, the portiare
remaining drawn as it was before. When he had
taken this precaution, he related some of the par-
ticulars which had been given to him earlier in
the day.
  "It is hardly worth while to talk about the
matter yet awhile," added Christy. "I have my
sealed orders, and I can not open the envelope
until we are in latitude 38, and that will be some-
time to-morrow forenoon."
  "I don't think that Captain Folkner, who ex-
pected to be i</pre>