Part 16 (1/2)

”Then I will take any position you will please to give me,” answered the engineer, apparently delighted with the prospect thus held out to him.

”I shall appoint you first a.s.sistant engineer of the Bronx,” continued the captain, not a little to the astonishment of Flint, who wondered that he was not a.s.signed to the Ocklockonee.

”I am quite satisfied, captain,” replied Bockburn, bowing and smiling, for wages were more than rank to him. ”I will bring up my kit at once, sir. You see, captain, when a man has a family he--”

”Precisely as you say, Mr. Bockburn,” interrupted the captain. ”You will report to Mr. Sampson in the engine room of the Bronx for further orders.”

”Thank you, sir; I supposed I was out of a job from this out, and I was feeling--”

”Feel your way to the engine room of the Bronx. Mr. Gawl,” the captain proceeded.

”On duty, sir,” replied the first a.s.sistant engineer of the Bronx, touching his cap as respectfully as though the commander had been forty years old.

”You are appointed temporarily as chief engineer of the Ocklockonee, and you will take your place in the engine room as soon as possible,” said the captain, as brusquely as though favors cost nothing.

Mr. Gawl was taken to the engine room and introduced to the first and second a.s.sistants, Rowe and Leeds, and was kindly received by them, for, like their late chief, the question of wages was the only one that affected them. They promised to be faithful to the government they were to serve, and to discharge their duties faithfully under the direction of the new chief. The two officers on the quarter deck had watched all these proceedings with interest. They were the only persons remaining on board who had not been disposed of in some manner.

Christy approached them while Captain Flint, as he was now to be called by courtesy, was making his final arrangements with the crew that had been a.s.signed to the prize. Both of the officers bowed civilly to the commander as he presented himself on the quarter deck. They were older men than Captain Dinsmore, though neither was over forty-five. Christy suspected that they were not Confederate officers as soon as he had a chance to look them over.

”May I ask, gentlemen, if you are officers of the Confederate Navy?”

asked Christy, as he looked from one to the other of the men.

”We are not, sir,” replied the senior of them.

”Of course you are aware that you are serving in a Confederate man-of-war?” added Christy.

”I should say that was hardly true up to date. The captain holds a commission in the Confederate Navy, but the s.h.i.+p has never been into a Confederate port, Captain Pa.s.sford,” replied the senior, who had learned the commander's name.

”As you call me by name, perhaps you will enable me to do as much with you,” added Christy.

”My name is Farley Lippard; I s.h.i.+pped as first officer of the Scotian,”

replied the senior.

”And mine is Edward Sangston; and I s.h.i.+pped as second officer of the steamer.”

”We s.h.i.+pped only for the voyage, and were told that we could not retain our situations after the s.h.i.+p's company was fully organized,” added Mr.

Lippard.

”Then I hope you were paid in advance, as the engineers were,” said Christy with a smile.

”We were, sir, thank you,” added the first officer. ”Though we were told that we could not obtain any rank in the navy because there were more officers than s.h.i.+ps, the agent said we should find plenty of employment on board of blockade runners coming out with cotton.”

”I suppose you are Englishmen?” said the captain.

”Scotchmen, sir, but British subjects.”

”I cannot put you on sh.o.r.e and I may not have an opportunity to s.h.i.+p you to your homes by another vessel. I shall leave you on board of the Ocklockonee, and the acting commander will a.s.sign to you such quarters in the cabin as may be at his command,” continued Christy. ”It is only necessary that I should say I expect you to remain neutral, whatever occurs on board of the steamer.”