Part 29 (1/2)
I have nothing more to say about it.”
”But as my father saved your life, you ought to stand by me in this sc.r.a.pe,” pleaded Percy.
”Whatever was done by you or your father for me, was done from the fear of consequences; and you were the originator of the outrage against me,”
added Christy, as he descended to the ward room.
The next morning the Snapper was on her voyage to Key West, and the Chateaugay headed for the Hole in the Wall, though she gave it a wide berth, and stood off to the eastward. The next night, being the fourth since the Eleuthera left the s.h.i.+p, the boat containing Mr. Gilfleur was picked up about twenty miles east of the lights. The detective came on board, and was welcomed by the captain, who had been called by his own order.
CHAPTER XXVI
A VISIT TO TAMPA BAY
As soon as Mr. Gilfleur had been welcomed back to the Chateaugay the commander gave the order to the officer of the deck to have the Bahama boat hoisted to the deck, and disposed of as before.
”I beg your pardon, Captain Chantor; but be so kind as to allow the boat to remain alongside, for I must return to Na.s.sau,” interposed the detective.
”Return to Na.s.sau!” exclaimed the captain.
”Yes, sir; it is really necessary that I should do so, for you see that I have come back without Mr. Pa.s.sford,” replied the Frenchman. ”He was attacked by a cowardly ruffian in front of a saloon in the town, and I lost sight of him after that. I have been terribly distressed about him, for the ruffian threatened to kill him, and I fear he has executed his threat.”
”Don't distress yourself for another instant, Mr. Gilfleur, for Mr.
Pa.s.sford is on board of the s.h.i.+p at this moment, and doubtless asleep in his stateroom,” said the captain, cutting short the narrative of the detective.
”On board of the s.h.i.+p!” exclaimed the Frenchman, retreating a few paces in his great surprise. ”Impossible! Quite impossible! I found our boat just where we had left it at the back side of the island.”
”But what I say is entirely true; and Mr. Pa.s.sford wished me to have him called when you came on board,” added the commander, as he sent a quartermaster to summon Christy to the captain's cabin.
”I don't understand how Mr. Pa.s.sford can be on board of the s.h.i.+p,”
continued the bewildered Frenchman. ”Ah, he might have hired a boat like the Eleuthera to bring him off.”
”He might have done so, but he did not,” replied Captain Chantor, as he directed the officer of the deck to go ahead, making the course east, as soon as he had secured the detective's boat. ”Now, if you will come to my cabin, Mr. Gilfleur, Mr. Pa.s.sford shall inform you himself that he is on board of the s.h.i.+p; and he has quite an exciting story to tell.”
The commander and the Frenchman went below, and seated themselves in the cabin of the former.
”Mr. Pa.s.sford has already informed me that the Ovidio is at Na.s.sau, but that she has been seized by a British gunboat for violation of the neutrality laws,” said the captain.
”That is quite true, and it is not probable that the case will be settled for a month to come,” replied Mr. Gilfleur. ”But I ascertained by great good luck that her armament was waiting for her at Green Cay, if you know where that is: I do not.”
”It is on the Tongue of the Ocean, as it is called, nearly a hundred miles to the southward of Na.s.sau. I supposed it would be managed in some such way as that,” added the commander. ”But do you think it will be a month before her case will be settled?”
”Of course I know nothing about it myself; but I found a court official who was very desirous of talking French, and he invited me to dine with him at his house. I began to ask him questions about the blockade, and the vessels in the harbor; and finally he gave me his opinion that a decision in the case of the Ovidio could not be reached in less than a month, and it might be two mouths.”
At this moment there was a knock at the door of the cabin, and the captain called to the person to come in. Christy, who had taken the time to dress himself fully, opened the door and entered the cabin. The Frenchman leaped from his seat, and embraced the young officer as though he had been his wife or sweetheart, from whom he had been separated for years. Christy, who was not very demonstrative in this direction, submitted to the hugging with the best possible grace, for he knew that the detective was sincere, and had actually grown to love him, perhaps as much for his father's sake as for his own.
”Oh, my dear Mr. Pa.s.sford, you are to me like one who has come out of his grave, for I have believed for nearly three days that you had been killed by the ruffian that attacked you in the street!” exclaimed Mr.
Gilfleur, still pressing both of his late companion's hands in his own.
”I was never so rejoiced in all my life, not even when I had unearthed a murderer.”