Part 17 (1/2)
”Thank you, captain,” replied the guest, as he took the seat a.s.signed to him. ”I can't say that I have a very fierce appet.i.te after the misfortune that has befallen me; but I am none the less indebted to you for your courtesy and kindness.”
”I acknowledge that I am in condition to be very happy this evening, Captain Dinsmore, and I can hardly expect to be an agreeable companion to one with a burden on his mind; but I can a.s.sure you of my personal sympathy.”
”You are very kind, captain. I should like to ask if many of the officers of the old navy are young gentlemen like yourself?” inquired the guest, looking at his host very curiously.
”There are a great many young officers in the navy at the present time, for the exigency has pushed forward the older ones, and there are not enough of them to take all the positions. But we shall all of us grow older,” replied Christy good-naturedly, as he helped the officer to a piece of the chicken, which had just come from the galley fire.
”Perhaps you are older than you appear to be,” suggested the guest.
”I should judge that you were not over twenty, or at least not much more.”
”I am eighteen, sir, though, unlike a lady, I try to make myself as old as I can.”
”Eighteen!” exclaimed Captain Dinsmore.
But Christy told something of his experience on board of the Bellevite which had prepared him for his duties, and his case was rather exceptional.
”You have physique enough for a man of twenty-five,” added the guest.
”And you have been more fortunate than I have.”
”And I have been as unfortunate as you are, for I have seen the inside of a Confederate prison, though I concluded not to remain there for any length of time,” added Christy, laughing.
”You are a fortunate young man, and I do not belong to that cla.s.s,”
said Captain Dinsmore, shaking his head. ”I have lost my steamer, and I suppose that will finish my career.”
”Perhaps not;” but Christy was satisfied that he had lost his vessel by a want of care, and he could not waste any compliments upon him, though he had profited by the other's carelessness.
”I was confident when the Bronx approached the Ocklockonee that she was another vessel,” continued the guest.
”What vessel did you take her to be?”
”You will excuse me if I decline to go into particulars. I can only say that I was sure your steamer was another, and I had no suspicion that I was wrong till that man mounted the rail of the Bronx, and began to tell us to the contrary,” replied Captain Dinsmore. ”A bolt in the engine was broken, and the engineer could not find another on board. We expected to obtain one when the Bronx approached us. I was deceived; and that is the reason why I am here instead of in the cabin of my own s.h.i.+p.”
The guest seemed to feel a little better after he had made this explanation, though it contained nothing new to the commander of the Bronx. Possibly the excellent supper, of which he had partaken heartily in spite of his want of appet.i.te, had influenced his mind through the body. He had certainly become more cheerful, though his burden was no lighter than when he came on board of the Bronx. Christy was also light-hearted, not alone because he had been so successful, but because he felt that he was no longer compelled to watch the conspirators.
”I am sorry to be obliged to impose any restrictions upon you, Captain Dinsmore,” said Christy, as he rose from the supper table. ”The circ.u.mstances compel me to request you to remain in my cabin.”
”Of course I am subject to your will and pleasure, Captain Pa.s.sford,”
replied the guest.
”You are a gentleman, sir, and if you will simply give me your word to remain here, there will be no occasion for any unpleasantness. It is possible that we may go into action at any time; and in that case you can remain where you please below.”
”I give you my word that I will remain below until I notify you of my intention to do otherwise,” replied the prisoner, though Christy preferred to regard him as his guest.
”I am entirely satisfied. I shall be obliged to berth you in the ward room, and you are at liberty to pa.s.s your time as you please in these two apartments. I shall be happy to introduce you to the first lieutenant,” added the captain, as he led the way to the ward room.
Mr. Baskirk received the prisoner very politely, a berth was a.s.signed to him, and Christy went on deck. It was as dark as Egypt there, but Mr.
Amblen, the new acting second lieutenant, on the bridge, said the wind was hauling to the westward, and he thought there would be a change of weather before morning. Mr. Baskirk had made all his appointments of petty officers rendered necessary by sending a portion of the seamen to the Ocklockonee. Everything was in good order on deck, and Christy next went down to the sick bay, where Hungerford and Pawcett were the only occupants. He found Dr. Spokeley there, and inquired in regard to the condition of the wounded men. The surgeon described the wounds of his patients, and pointed them out to the captain.