Part 27 (2/2)
”Do you mean to murder me?” demanded the mate.
”I hope you will not compel me to do so harsh a thing as that. But no fooling! I have no time to spare. Jump on the rock, or I will fire before you are ten seconds older!” said Christy resolutely.
”Come back into the boat, men!” shouted the officer.
”The first one that comes any nearer the boat is a dead man!” added the prisoner, ”Five seconds gone, Mr. Dawbin.”
The mate did not wait for anything more, but made the leap to the rock.
He accomplished it so hastily that he fell when he struck the ledge; but the impetus he had given the boat forced it from the rock, and sent it a considerable distance. Christy restored the revolver to his pocket, and, taking one of the oars, he sculled towards the Chateaugay, which was now much nearer than the Snapper. The two boats from the man-of-war took no notice of him, and perhaps did not see him.
Taking out his white handkerchief he attached it to the blade of one of the oars, and waved it with all his might in the direction of the steamer. He set it up in the mast-hole through the forward thwart, and then continued to scull. But his signal was soon seen, and a boat came off from the steamer.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”Jump on the rock or I will fire before you are ten seconds older.”
Page 276.]
”Boat ahoy!” shouted the officer in charge of the cutter.
”In the boat!” replied Christy, turning around as he suspended his labor with the oar.
”Lieutenant Pa.s.sford!” exclaimed Mr. Hackling, the second lieutenant of the Chateaugay. ”Is it possible that it is you?”
”I haven't any doubt of it, Mr. Hackling, if you have,” replied the late prisoner, heartily rejoiced to find himself in good company again.
”But what does this mean? How do you happen to be here?” demanded the astonished lieutenant of the s.h.i.+p.
”I happen to be here because I have just played a sharp game. I was a prisoner on that steamer yonder, on my way to a rebel prison. But I think it is necessary that I should report immediately to Captain Chantor in regard to the character of the Snapper, which is the name of the vessel you have been chasing.”
The Snapper's boat was taken in tow, and the crew of the cutter gave way with a will. In due time Christy was received with the most unbounded astonishment by the commander on the deck of the Chateaugay.
”Where is Mr. Gilfleur? I hope that no accident has happened to him,”
said the captain with deep anxiety on his face.
”None that I am aware of; but if you will excuse me from explanations for the present, I will state that the steamer on the bank is the Snapper, Captain f.l.a.n.g.er, bound for Mobile; and the captain told me that he intended to run the blockade.”
”Mr. Hackling, take charge of the second cutter, and give Mr. Birdwing my order to make a prize of that steamer, and bring her off to the deep water.”
It was quite dark when this order was executed.
CHAPTER XXV
CAPTAIN f.l.a.n.g.eR IN IRONS
Christy Pa.s.sford related to Captain Chantor all that had occurred to the detective and himself from the time of their departure from the s.h.i.+p to their parting on the sh.o.r.e; and he did not fail to mention the fact that Mr. Gilfleur had come to his a.s.sistance when he was a.s.saulted by the ruffian in front of the saloon.
”You have had a narrow escape, Mr. Pa.s.sford,” said the commander, when he had concluded. ”The idea of avenging an injury received in that way is something I never happened to hear of before, though my experience is not unlimited. Mr. Birdwing,” he continued, after the first lieutenant had reported to him, ”had you any difficulty in effecting the capture of the Snapper?”
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