Part 7 (2/2)
”That's all I know about; and I think that is enough for one cruise in a Yankee s.h.i.+p.”
”Eight will do very well, Dave; but who are they?” asked the captain with interest.
”I know just three of them. One is the second lieutenant; Pink Mulgrum is another, and Spoors, one of the quartermasters, is the third. They didn't mention any more of them.”
”All right, Dave; now sit down on that stool, and tell me the whole story,” said Christy, pointing to the seat.
The steward, believing that he had done a ”big thing” that evening, did not hesitate to seat himself in the presence of the commander, and proceeded at once to relate all that he had done, and all that he had seen and heard on the bridge. When Dave had finished his story, and answered the questions put to him, the commander was willing to believe that he had done a big thing; though he said nothing beyond a few words of general commendation to the steward. Then he dismissed him, and, locking his desk, he went on deck. After taking an observation of the weather he mounted the bridge.
CHAPTER VIII
IMPORTANT INFORMATION, IF TRUE
”Good evening, Mr. Lillyworth,” said Captain Pa.s.sford, when he reached the bridge.
”Good evening, Captain Pa.s.sford,” replied the second lieutenant, as he touched his cap to his superior, galling as the act was, according to his own statement.
”It looks as though we should have some wind,” added the captain.
”Yes, sir; and we shall have a nasty time of it across the Gulf Stream.”
”If there is any decided change in the weather during your watch, you will oblige me by having me called,” added the captain; ”I think I am tired enough to turn in, for I have been very busy all the evening, copying letters and papers. I think I need a clerk almost as much as the captain of a frigate.”
”I think you ought to have one, sir,” added Mr. Lillyworth, manifesting a deep interest in this matter.
”As the matter now stands I have to use a good deal of my time in copying doc.u.ments. By the way, if we fall in with any United States man-of-war, I wish to communicate with her.”
”Of course I shall report to you, sir, if one comes in sight during my watch,” replied the second lieutenant, with a greater manifestation of zeal than he had before displayed in his relations with his commander, evidently profiting by the suggestion made to him by Pink Mulgrum.
”But I hope we shall not fall in with one before day after tomorrow, for I have not copied all the letters I desire to use if such an occasion offers,” said Captain Pa.s.sford, who was really playing out a baited hook for the benefit of the second lieutenant, in regard to whose intentions he had no doubt since the revelations of the steward.
”By the way, Captain Pa.s.sford, what you say in regard to the amount of writing imposed upon you reminds me that there is a man on board who might afford you some relief from this drudgery. Possibly you may have noticed this man, though he is doing duty as a mere scullion.”
”Do you mean the man I have seen cleaning bra.s.s work about the cabin?”
asked Christy, glad to have the other take hold of the baited hook.
”That is the one; he is deaf and dumb, but he has received a good education, and writes a good hand, and is rapid about it,” added the second lieutenant, with some eagerness in his manner, though he tried to conceal it.
”But my writing is of a confidential nature,” replied the captain.
”I have known this man, whose name is Pink Mulgrum, for some time. He is deaf and dumb, and you must have noticed him.”
”Oh, yes; I have seen him, and he had an interview with Mr. Flint in my presence. I observed that he wrote a good hand, and wrote very rapidly.”
”I am very confident that you can trust him with your papers, Captain Pa.s.sford. He could not go into the service as a soldier or a sailor on account of his infirmity; but he desired to do something for his country. He was determined to go to the war, as he called it, in any capacity, even if it was as a scullion. He wrote me a letter to this effect, and Mr. Nawood consented to take him as a man of all work.
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