Part 28 (2/2)
”I have brought it all off with me, captain,” replied Christy, though he had not yet got at the point of the joke, and spoke at a venture.
”What, the whole State of Florida!” exclaimed the commander.
”No, sir; I did not bring it all off with me, for I did not think it would be quite safe to do this, for it might set the Gulf Stream to running in a new course, and derange navigation by making all our charts useless,” replied Christy, smoothing down the muscles of his face so that he looked as sober as before.
”I thought from the appearance that you had brought it all off,” added Captain Blowitt. ”Did I instruct you to bring it off?”
”No, sir; you were considerate enough to say that you did not expect me to capture the whole State, and therefore I have not done it.”
”But we heard heavy guns this morning,” continued the commander, putting on his sober face, for he could be as serious as a judge, though his adipose structure compelled him to be a great joker at suitable times.
”You had no boat guns.”
”No, sir; but we picked up four twelve-pounder field pieces, which you see, two of them on carriages, on the forecastle of that steamer. We found the garrison asleep, and we carried off the four guns with which the battery was mounted. We put them on the Seahorse Key, and went into the bay to see what was there, sir. We found two schooners, and on the way we took the steamer. When we were hauling out the two schooners, the garrison woke up, and attempted to drive us off with musketry. We beat them off and sunk two boats with the field pieces. This is my report in brief.”
”And a very good report it is, Mr. Pa.s.sford. I did not expect you to do anything more than bring off full information in regard to the situation at the port,” added Captain Blowitt.
”But you ordered me to do anything I could to prepare the way for a visit from the Bronx,” suggested Christy.
”And you have prepared the way by bringing off everything at the port, so that there is nothing for the Bronx to do there,” said the commander with a smile.
”When I found that the garrison were all asleep, I thought it was my duty not to lose the opportunity that was thus presented to me.
Everything was in our favor, and I was led to do one thing after another till there was nothing more to do. I found that Captain Lonley, the worthy gentleman who had made prisoners of Mr. Flint and myself on Santa Rosa Island, was in command of the steamer. He was not glad to see me; and from him I learned that the Havana, which is her name, belonged to my uncle Homer; and so did the schooners.”
”Then your uncle has a heavy charge against you, for you have now taken four of his vessels.”
”Possibly the Confederate government is behind him in this operation.
I don't know; but I am sure that the loss of every dollar he has in the world would not change his views in regard to the justice of his cause.
But, Captain Blowitt, there are on board of the Havana a gentleman and his daughter, who reside in Newburgh. He is an invalid and a loyal citizen,” continued Christy, as he happened to see Miss Pembroke on the quarter deck of the steamer.
”They wish to go home, I suppose, and there will soon be an opportunity for them to do so,” replied the captain, as he went with his lieutenant to take a look at the prizes.
He gave particular attention to the Havana, which it was said had been built to run between Cedar Keys and the port for which she had been named, in connection with the railroad. She appeared to be a good vessel of about four hundred tons, which was as large as the navigation of the channel to the port would permit. She was not fit for war purposes in her present condition, and Captain Blowitt decided to send her to New York. Most of the hands on board of the three prizes were negroes, who were too happy to go to the North.
”Sail, ho!” shouted the lookout on board of the Bronx, while the commander was still discussing his plans with Christy.
”Where away?” demanded the captain.
”Coming down from the northwest,” reported a quartermaster.
Captain Blowitt hastened on board of the Bronx, for it did not yet appear whether the vessel was a friend or an enemy. She was a steamer, and she left a thin streak of black smoke in the sky, which indicated that her coal came from British territory.
The Havana and the schooners were left in charge of Mr. Amblen, after the prisoners had been properly disposed of in safe places. Mr. Spinnet, the second a.s.sistant engineer, was sent on board of her, for the commander had not full confidence in Dolly, though he permitted him to remain as a.s.sistant. The boats used by the expedition were hoisted up to the davits, and the first and second lieutenants were ordered to return to the Bronx, and only six seamen were left on board to guard the prisoners, of whom Lonley was the only dangerous one, at all likely to make trouble.
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