Part 11 (1/2)

Dave left the cabin, and Christy devoted himself to his breakfast; and in his haste to meet the officers indicated, he hurried the meal more than was prudent for the digestion. The steward reported that he had delivered the message, and Christy finished his hasty collation.

The table was hurriedly cleared by the steward, and the captain paid a visit to his state room, during which he did not fail to look under his berth. He had a trunk there, and he saw that it had been moved to the front of the s.p.a.ce, so that there was room enough for the conspirator to conceal his body behind it, though his was a good-sized body. Returning to the cabin, he took his usual seat at the table, facing the door. In a few minutes more Mr. Flint and Mr. Baskirk came to the door and were invited to come in. Dave had returned from the galley, and he was instructed to watch that door as he was told to close it.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Dave finds Mulgrum under the berth.]

Flint took the seat a.s.signed to him, and Baskirk was placed opposite to him. The first lieutenant appeared to be a great deal more dissatisfied than the captain; but then he was a poor man, and next to his duty to his country, he was as anxious as the average officer to make all the money he could out of the prizes captured by his s.h.i.+p. It looked to him as though all his chances had slipped beyond his reach for the present.

Flint had taken no little stock in the two steamers that were expected on the coast at this time, and in spite of the treachery antic.i.p.ated he had counted upon a share in at least one of them. He knew very well that the commander, from sharp experience at his side some months before, would not pa.s.s by an opportunity to strike a blow, even in the face of any reasonable risk. But now, as he looked at it, the wings of the young captain had been clipped by the authorities at Was.h.i.+ngton, in the sealed orders.

”I am glad to meet you again, gentlemen; indeed I may say that I am particularly glad to see you,” said Christy in his most cheerful tones, as he looked about the cabin, and especially at the ports, to see if there was a spy looking in at one of them.

The thought came to him then and there that it was possible for a man to hang over the rail, and place one of his ears at an opening and listen to what was going on; and besides there were, besides Mulgrum, six others who were capable of doing such a thing. He sent Mr. Baskirk on deck to see that no man was at work over the side. He returned and reported that no one was in a position to hear what was said in the cabin.

Flint did not seem to be as much interested in the proceedings as on former occasions, for he had had time to consider the effect of the orders, and he saw no way to evade them. They might pick up some cotton schooners, but no such prizes as the Scotian and the Arran were likely to be taken when the steamer reached her station, wherever it might be, and the whole squadron shared the proceeds of the captures.

”You listened to the orders I read this noon,” began Christy, with a p.r.o.nounced twinkling of his eyes.

”Yes, sir; and, Captain Pa.s.sford, I have felt as if the gates of honor and profit had been closed against the Bronx,” added Flint.

”Perhaps a second reading of the orders will put a different aspect on the gates,” said the captain with a significant smile, the force of which, however, the first lieutenant failed to comprehend.

”Under these orders there seems to be no alternative but to hasten to the Gulf of Mexico, and run away from any blockade runner we may happen to see,” growled Flint.

”You are not as amiable as usual, Mr. Flint.”

”How can one be amiable under such orders?” added Flint, trying to smile.

”I will read them over again, now that we have not as many auditors as before,” said the captain.

Christy proceeded to read the doc.u.ment as it was written.

CHAPTER XII

A SAIL ON THE STARBOARD BOW

Before Captain Pa.s.sford had read two lines of the doc.u.ment in his hands, a noise as of a scuffle was heard in the pa.s.sage way to the ward room.

Mr. Baskirk was sent to ascertain the cause of the disturbance, and he threw the door wide open. Dave was there, blocking the pa.s.sage way, and Pink Mulgrum was trying to force his way towards the cabin door. The steward declared that no one must go to the cabin; it was the order of the captain himself. Mulgrum found it convenient not to hear on this occasion. The moment Baskirk appeared, the deaf mute exhibited a paper, which he pa.s.sed to the new lieutenant, evidently satisfied that he could get no nearer to the door. When he had delivered the paper, he hastened up the ladder to the deck. Dave came into the cabin and explained that Mulgrum had tried to force him out of the way, and he had resisted. The intruder did not exhibit any paper till the third lieutenant appeared at the door.

”That man is very persevering in his efforts to procure information,”

said Christy, as he unfolded the paper. ”'The fog is very dense ahead, and we shall soon be shut in by it,'” he read from the paper. ”Mr.

Lillyworth might have found a man that could speak for his messenger,”

he continued, ”but of course he wanted to a.s.sist his confederate to obtain more information.”

”I don't see what he wants to know now, for Mulgrum has told him the contents of the sealed envelope before this time, and he knows that the gates are closed against us,” added Flint. ”It is plain enough that they have had their heads together.”

”Certainly they have; but Mr. Lillyworth may not be any better satisfied with his information than you are, Mr. Flint,” replied the captain, with an expressive smile, though he felt that his fellow officer had been tantalized long enough by the circ.u.mstances. ”I have read and studied my orders very attentively. They direct me to proceed with all reasonable despatch to the Gulf of Mexico, and report to the flag officer of the Eastern Gulf Squadron, or his representative.”