Part 2 (1/2)
”I am glad you have brought up the Teaser matter, Captain, for it just ill.u.s.trates what I have in my mind. If I see an opportunity to do such a thing as that on the present occasion, I simply wish to know whether or not I am to confine my operations to the strict letter of my instructions. Of course, if so instructed, I shall obey my orders to the letter.”
”'The letter killeth, the spirit giveth life,' my boy. Your mission always and everywhere is to serve your country, and you are to do this on the present occasion. What I said about ingenuity in speaking of my officers is covered in this case. If you can capture and send out the Trafalgar, do it by all means, for that is the object in view in sending off this expedition. Your head is level, Christy; and that is the reason why I desired you to command this enterprise rather than either of the other officers. I can trust you, and you have full powers to act on your own judgment.”
”I thank you for your abundant confidence, Captain; and I shall endeavor not to abuse it,” replied Christy. ”But it is not even remotely possible that I shall capture the Trafalgar; yet sometimes unexpected opportunities are presented, and the letter of my orders might prevent me from embracing them. I am very glad to know where I stand.”
The night came on, and with it more fog; but it was of that flitting kind which settles down and then blows away. It seemed to come in banks that were continually in motion. The men who were to go to the sh.o.r.e had all been instructed, and at precisely ten o'clock they were seated in the whaleboat, with Mr. Graines in the stern sheets. They were all armed with two revolvers apiece, and there was a cutla.s.s for each in the boat.
The men had not only changed their dress, but they had disguised themselves, smooching their faces with coal dust, and tearing their garments till they were in tatters.
Christy had dressed himself in his old garments, but added to them a gray coat he had obtained on board of a prize. The watch on deck had been ordered to the forecastle, so that they need not too closely observe the crew of the whaleboat. The chief of the expedition had quietly descended to the platform of the after gangway, and when the boat dropped astern, he stepped into it, selecting his place by the side of the engineer, who had taken the tiller lines. The boat pulled away at once, with four hands at the oars, and Mr. Graines headed it to the north-east by the compa.s.s, the side lights of which were covered so that they should not betray the approach of the boat to the sh.o.r.e, if any one was there.
On the way Christy gave the men full instructions in regard to their conduct; and in less than an hour the party landed.
CHAPTER III
A BIVOUAC NEAR FORT MORGAN
The expedition landed about two miles east of Fort Morgan. The sea was not heavy, as it sometimes is on these sand islands, and the debarkation was effected without any difficulty. At this distance from the defences of the bay not a person was to be seen. The fog banks still swept over the waters of the gulf as during the latter part of the afternoon, and if any number of persons had been near the sh.o.r.e, they could hardly have been seen.
”We are all right so far, Mr. Graines,” said Christy, as the bowmen hauled up the boat on the beach.
”It is as quiet as a tomb in this vicinity,” replied the engineer, as he led the way to the sh.o.r.e.
”Now, my men, haul the boat out of the water. I think we need not use any of our small force as boat-keepers, for we can hardly spare them for this purpose, Mr. Graines,” Christy proceeded very promptly.
”It does not look as though the boat, or anything else, would ever be molested in this lonely locality,” replied Graines, as the men lifted it from the water.
”Now carry it back about half a cable from the sh.o.r.e,” continued the princ.i.p.al of the party. ”If one or two strollers should happen this way, they would not be able to put it into the water, though four men can carry it very easily.”
The whaleboat was borne to a spot indicated by the lieutenant, and left as it had been taken from the surf. Everything in it was arranged in order, so that it could be hastily put into the water if circ.u.mstance demanded a hurried retreat from the scene of operations. Near the spot was a post set up in the sand, which might have been one of the corners of a shanty, or have been used years before by fishermen drying their nets or other gear.
”Do you see that post, my men?” asked Christy, as he pointed to it, not twenty feet from the spot where the boat had been deposited.
”Ay, ay, sir!” the seamen responded, in low tones, for they had been warned not to speak out loud.
”That will be your guide in finding the boat if we should get scattered,” added the officer. ”Now, do you see the two stars about half way between the horizon and the zenith?”
”Ay, ay, sir!” answered Weeks, the oiler. ”The Band of Orion.”
”Quite right, Weeks,” added Christy. ”Fort Morgan lies about west of us; and a course from there in the direction of the two stars will bring you to the coast and the boat. Every man must act for himself to some extent, and you are expected to be prudent, and use your own judgment.
It will not be safe for us to keep together, for a dozen men seen all at once would be likely to awaken suspicion.”
”If there is not a crowd of men over by the fort, we can hardly expect to avoid coming together,” suggested Weeks, who proved to be a very intelligent man, with excellent judgment.
”I cannot tell whether or not we shall find any gathering of men in the vicinity of the fort,” replied Christy. ”We shall be obliged to govern ourselves according to circ.u.mstances. If you find any number of people over there, you can mingle with them. Some of you are very good scholars; but if any of you are disposed to indulge in fine talk, don't do it. Make your speech correspond with your dress, and let it be rough and rude, for that is the fas.h.i.+on among the laboring cla.s.s in this region.”
”I suppose sea-slang will not be out of order,” said Weeks.
”Not at all. Simply consider that you are sailors and laborers, and do not forget it,” answered Christy; and he was confident that he had selected only those who were competent to conduct themselves as the occasion might require. ”Now, Mr. Graines, tell off five men--any five.”