Part 19 (2/2)
”I don't know how seriously, but I have a cut on the hip, for which I exchanged one on the head, parrying the stroke so that it took me below the belt.”
”Have you a surgeon on board, Captain ---- I have not the pleasure of knowing your name, sir.”
”Captain Richfield, lieutenant in the Confederate Navy. We have a surgeon on board, and he is below attending to the wounded,” replied the captain.
”Allow me to a.s.sist you to your cabin, Captain Richfield,” continued Christy, as he and Baskirk each took one of the wounded officer's arms.
”Thank you, sir. I see that you have been doubly fortunate, Captain Pa.s.sford, and you have both the Escambia and the Ocklockonee. I did the best I could to save my s.h.i.+p, but the day has gone against me.”
”And no one could have done any more than you have done. Your s.h.i.+p has been ably and bravely defended; but it was my good fortune to be able to outnumber you both in s.h.i.+ps and in men.”
Captain Richfield was taken to his state room, and a.s.sisted into his berth. A steward was sent for the surgeon, and Christy and his first lieutenant retired from the cabin. The captured seamen of the Arran were all sent below, and everything was done that the occasion required.
Christy asked Captain Flint to meet him in the cabin of the Bronx for a consultation over the situation, for the sealed orders of the commander had been carried out to the letter so far as the two expected steamers were concerned, and it only remained to report to the flag officer of the Eastern Gulf squadron. But with two prizes, and a considerable number of prisoners, the situation was not without its difficulties.
”I hope you are quite comfortable, Captain Dinsmore,” said Christy as he entered his cabin, and found his guest reading at the table.
”Quite so, Captain Pa.s.sford. I have heard a great deal of firing in the last hour, and I am rather surprised to find that you are not a prisoner on board of the Escambia, or perhaps you have come to your cabin for your clothes,” replied the guest cheerfully.
”I have not come on any such mission; and I have the pleasure of informing you that the Confederate steamer Escambia is a prize to the Bronx,” replied Christy quite as cheerfully. ”I am sorry to add that Captain Richfield was wounded in the hip, and that Mr. Berwick, the first lieutenant, was killed.”
The Confederate officer leaped out of his chair astonished at the news.
He declared that he had confidently expected to be released by the capture of the Bronx. Christy gave a brief review of the action; and Captain Dinsmore was not surprised at the result when informed that the Ocklockonee had taken part in the capture. The commander then requested him to retire to the ward room, and Flint came in. They seated themselves at the table, and proceeded to figure up their resources and consider what was to be done. Mr. Baskirk was then sent for to a.s.sist in the conference.
CHAPTER XX
THE NEW COMMANDER OF THE BRONX
”Captain Flint, the first question to be settled is in regard to the engineer force,” said Christy, as the three officers seated themselves at the table.
”I think we shall have no difficulty on that score, Captain Pa.s.sford, for I have already sounded those on board of the Arran, or the Escambia, as her officers call her. As long as their wages are paid, they don't care which side they serve. Mr. Pivotte is the chief, and he is as willing to go one way as the other.”
”Very well; then he shall retain his present position, and Bockburn shall be restored to the Ocklockonee. Of course the arrangements made after the capture of the first vessel were only temporary, and I propose to report to the flag officer with everything as nearly as possible in the condition in which we left New York,” continued Christy.
”Of course I expected to resume my former position on board of the Bronx as soon as we had disposed of the two steamers; and I can say that I shall not be sorry to do so,” said Flint with a pleasant smile, as though he did not intend to grieve over the loss of his command.
”In a few days more, we shall move down a peg, and I shall cease to have a command as well as yourself,” added Christy.
”And I suppose I shall be relegated to my position as a quartermaster,”
said Baskirk; ”but I shall be satisfied. I don't care to wear any spurs that I have not won, though I shall be glad to have a higher rank when I deserve it.”
”You deserve it now, Mr. Baskirk, and if you don't receive it, it will not be on account of any weakness in my report of the events of the last twenty-four hours,” added Christy heartily.
”Thank you, captain; I suppose I could have procured a better position than that of able seaman, but I preferred to work my way up.”
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