Part 34 (1/2)

”Christy!” he exclaimed; but he could say no more, and groaned in his anguish.

”He is a lieutenant-commander now, and captain of the steamer St. Regis, formerly the Tallahatchie. The Watauga is now unfortunately the prize of his s.h.i.+p,” added Captain Winnlock, as he retired from the cabin.

”Captured again by my nephew,” groaned the unhappy colonel. ”I believe you are the emissary of the Evil One, sent to torment me.”

”I am sent by the opposite Power, Uncle Homer,” replied Christy very gently. ”But I am more astonished to see you here than you ought to be to see me, for I go wherever the fortunes of war carry me.”

”I was still trying to serve my country in her misfortunes. I raised another cargo of cotton among my friends, and it is now on board of this vessel. It has fallen into your hands, where most of my cotton has gone.”

The victorious commander inquired for his aunt and cousins in the South, and informed him that his mother and sister were very well. He added that he should be obliged to send him to New York in the prize, and insured him a brotherly welcome at Bonnydale. He parted with his uncle pitying him very much; but he had chosen for himself which side he would take in the great conflict.

The Watauga had a crew of sixty men, who were to be re-enforced at Na.s.sau, and a large prize-crew had to be sent with her; but French returned with his force in three weeks, and the St. Regis was again fully manned. Christy received a letter from the flag-officer, who commended him very highly for the service he had rendered; and the St.

Regis was continued on her present station through the remainder of the summer, and during the winter on the outer limit of the blockaders.

She made several captures, though all of them without any fighting, for no more Confederate men-of-war, actually or intended as such, came out of Wilmington, or attempted to enter the Cape Fear; but he sent a large number of blockade-runners, loaded with cotton coming out, or with supplies for the Confederate armies going in, to New York.

One day in August a large steamer was reported to the commander of the St. Regis as coming from the South. Christy was all ready for a battle if she proved to be a Confederate cruiser; but to his great joy she turned out to be the Bellevite. The ocean was as smooth as gla.s.s, and she came alongside the St. Regis. The young commander hastened on board of her, followed by his chief engineer.

Captain Breaker actually hugged him amid the repeated cheers and applause of the s.h.i.+p's company, and Paul Vapoor was received with hardly less enthusiasm. Christy had to shake hands for the next half-hour.

”But how do you and the Bellevite happen to be in this lat.i.tude, Captain Breaker?” asked the young commander when he had an opportunity to speak.

”Haven't you heard the news, Captain Pa.s.sford?” demanded the captain of the Bellevite.

”What news? We don't get the news so far off sh.o.r.e,” replied Christy.

”There was no farther use for my s.h.i.+p in the Gulf, and I am sent here to report to the flag-officer. Admiral Farragut turned his attention to Mobile Bay with his fleet; and I gave him the information you procured for me. The Bellevite took part in the battle, and it was the hottest action in which I was ever engaged. My s.h.i.+p was badly cut up in her upper works, but she came out all right.”