Part 23 (1/2)
The commander said nothing when he had learned all he could about the prize-master; but it was evident that he had something in view which might be of interest to the subject of his inquiries. He turned his attention to the condition of his first lieutenant then, asking about his arm.
”It does not feel quite so easy as it did,” replied Christy, who had been suffering some pain from his wound for the last two hours, though he was so interested in the proceedings on board, and especially in the report from the West Wind, that he had not been willing to retire to his stateroom.
”Then you must turn in at once, Mr. Pa.s.sford,” said the commander, with more energy than he had spoken to the lieutenant before. ”I am afraid you have delayed it too long.”
”I think not, sir.” replied the wounded officer.
”Mr. Graines shall go with you and a.s.sist you,” added the captain.
”I will send Dr. Linscott to you as soon as you get into your berth.”
Christy had been sitting so long that he was quite stiff when he attempted to get out of his chair, and the engineer a.s.sisted him. He was still very weak, and Mr. Graines supported him, though he presently recovered himself. The s.h.i.+p's company, by this time relieved of all heavy work, had been observing him with affectionate admiration, and rehearsing the daring exploit in which he had received his wound, gave three rousing cheers as he rose to leave the quarter-deck.
Christy turned his pale face towards them, raised his cap, and bowed to them. Another cheer followed, and then another. The men knew that his prompt action in mounting the mizzen rigging, boarding the Tallahatchie, and firing the thirty-pounder after he had reversed its position, had saved the lives or limbs of a great number of them, and they were extremely grateful to him.
With the a.s.sistance of his friend the engineer, Christy was soon between the sheets in his berth. Dr. Linscott came in as soon as he was in his bed, spoke very tenderly to him, and then proceeded to dress his injured arm. He found the member was somewhat swollen, and the patient's pulse indicated some fever.
”I must send you home, Mr. Pa.s.sford,” said the surgeon. ”You are the hero of the day, you have earned a vacation, and you will need your mother's care for the next three weeks.”
In spite of Christy's protest, the doctor insisted, and left him.
CHAPTER XXII
THE DISPOSITION OF THE TWO PRIZES
The surgeon reported the condition of the first lieutenant to the commander at once, and a long conversation between them followed.
Devoted as Captain Breaker was to his executive officer, and filled with admiration as he was for the gallant exploit of that day, he was not willing to do anything that could be fairly interpreted as favoritism towards the son of Captain Pa.s.sford. The summer weather of the South was coming on, and the heat was already oppressive, even on board of the s.h.i.+ps of war at anchor so much of the time on the blockade, and this was the strong point of the doctor in caring for his patient.
Dr. Linscott was very earnest in insisting upon his point; and the commander yielded, for he could hardly do otherwise in the face of the surgeon's recommendation, for the latter was the responsible person. The next morning, after the wounded officer had pa.s.sed a feverish night, Captain Breaker visited him in his stateroom, and announced the decision. Christy began to fight against it.
”I am not so badly off as many officers who have been treated in the hospital down here; and if I am sent home it will be regarded as favoritism to the son of my father,” protested the lieutenant.
”You are too sensitive, my dear boy, as you have always been; and you are entirely mistaken. You have earned a furlough if you choose to ask for it, and every officer and seaman who has served with you would say so,” argued the captain. ”I shall insert in my report, with other matter concerning you, Christy, that you were sent home on the certificate of the surgeon; and even an unreasonable person cannot call it favoritism.”
”I don't know,” added Christy, shaking his head.
”I know, my boy. Merciful Heaven!” exclaimed Captain Breaker. ”You did enough yesterday to ent.i.tle you to any favor it is possible for the department to extend to you. You saved the lives of a quarter or a third of the s.h.i.+p's company. But it was not simply a brave and daring exploit, my boy, though even that would ent.i.tle you to the fullest commendation; but it included sound judgment on the instant, lightning invention, and consummately skilful action;” and the commander became positively eloquent as he proceeded.
”Come, come, Captain Breaker! You are piling it on altogether too thick,” cried Christy, overwhelmed by the torrent of praise. ”I only did what I could not help doing.”
”No matter if you did; it was the right thing to do, and it was done at precisely the right instant. A moment's delay would have brought the whole force of the enemy down upon you. It was absolutely wonderful how you got that gun off in such a short s.p.a.ce of time. I report Captain Rombold's words to you.”
”He is a magnanimous gentleman,” said Christy.
”He says, too, that a dozen muskets and revolvers were discharged at you, and it is a miracle that only one bullet struck you.”
”I found a bullet-hole in my cap, and two more in the skirt of my coat,”
added the patient with a smile, as he pointed to his coat and cap.