Part 26 (1/2)

Christy was not disposed to converse on the subject, and he began to wonder in what manner the Snapper could give her pursuer the slip. The former was the smaller vessel, and probably did not draw over fourteen feet of water, if she did more than twelve. It might be possible for her to run into shoal water where the pursuer could not follow her.

After the dinner table was cleared off, the captain seated himself at it with a chart spread out before him. It was plain enough that he was devising some expedient to escape the three-master. Christy did not deem it prudent to observe him, and he went on deck. It was as clear as the daylight that the pursuer was gaining rapidly upon the Snapper; and the prisoner did not believe that the latter was making over twelve knots.

By this time seven hours had elapsed since the distant sail had come in sight, and she was now near enough for the prisoner to be sure that she was the Chateaugay. She could make sixteen knots when driven at her best, and she must be gaining four or five knots an hour on the chase.

Christy had been through this channel in the Bellevite, and he discovered that the steamer was running near the shoal water. Presently the captain came on deck, and he appeared to be less nervous than before, perhaps because he had arranged his plan to escape his pursuer.

Within an hour Christy recognized the East Isaac, a rock rising ten or twelve feet above the surface of the water, which he identified by its nearness to one over which the sea was breaking. The captain was too much occupied in the study of the surroundings to take any notice of him, and he endeavored to keep out of his sight.

The prisoner consulted his watch, and found it was four o'clock. The tower of the Great Isaac light could just be made out. The Chateaugay was not more than four miles astern of the Snapper, and in another hour she would certainly come up with her, if Captain f.l.a.n.g.er did not put his plan into execution. The course of the chase continued to bring her nearer to the reefs.

”Ring one bell!” shouted the captain to the quartermaster at the wheel.

The effect of one bell was to reduce the speed of the Snapper by one-half. The order to put the helm hard a starboard followed in a short time. The course was made about south, and the steamer went ahead slowly. Two men in the chains were heaving the lead constantly. They were reporting four and five fathoms. After the vessel had gone five or six miles on this course, it was changed to about south-west. She was then moving in a direction directly opposite to that of the Chateaugay, and the anxious prisoner could see the man-of-war across the reefs which lifted their heads above the water, very nearly abreast of the Snapper, though at least ten miles distant from her.

”Do you know what steamer that is, Mr. Pa.s.sford?” asked Captain f.l.a.n.g.er, coming aft, apparently for the purpose of finding him.

”How should I know, Captain?” asked Christy.

”I thought you might know her by sight.”

”I could hardly be expected to know all the s.h.i.+ps in the United States navy by sight, Captain, for there are a great many of them by this time.”

”All right; she looks like a pretty large vessel, and the bigger the better. I hope you won't get up a disappointment for yourself by expecting that you are going to get out of this sc.r.a.pe,” said Captain f.l.a.n.g.er, and there was a great deal of bitterness in his tones.

”I am taking things as they come, Captain.”

”The Snapper is not a man-of-war, and she is engaged in a peaceful voyage. If that fellow thinks of capturing me, he is reckoning without his host. He has no more right to make a prize of me than he has to murder me,” protested the captain, as he gave the order to hoist the British flag.

”Of course you know your business better than I do, Captain f.l.a.n.g.er, and I don't propose to interfere with it,” replied Christy.

The commander walked forward again, giving the order to the quartermaster to ring two bells, which presently brought the steamer to a full stop, quite near the rocks which were awash to the northward of her. As the captain moved forward he encountered the first officer in the waist, who addressed him, and they began a conversation, none of which Christy could hear. From the looks and gestures of the mate, he concluded that they were talking about him.

It was not difficult to imagine the subject of the conversation, and it was evident to Christy that the first officer had suggested an idea to his commander. While he was waiting impatiently to ascertain what the Chateaugay would do next, Percy Pierson came on deck looking very pale, for it had been reported at breakfast that he was very sea-sick.

”How are you, Christy?” asked the Southerner.

”I am very well, I thank you.”

”Haven't you been sea-sick?” asked the invalid.

”Of course not; I never was sea-sick.”

”But what has the steamer stopped for?” asked Percy, looking about him.

”Captain f.l.a.n.g.er seems to think that vessel over there is a United States man-of-war.”

”Will she capture the Snapper?” asked the sufferer, looking paler than before.

At this moment a boat was lowered from the davits into the water, and Christy was invited by the mate to take a seat in the stern sheets. He was astounded at this request, and wondered what it meant.