Though the second lieutenant1 of the Bronx had not been to breakfast, it was not his stomach that made the first demand upon him. He directed the steward2 to remain in the gangway and apprise4 him of the coming of any person in the direction of the cabin and ward3 room. Dave took his station on the steps. Mr. Flint entered the stateroom, and the first thing he did was to drop down on his knees and thrust his right hand into the space under the berth5. It was instantly grasped by Christy, and given a warm pressure.
"Is it really you, Captain Passford?" asked the second lieutenant.
"No doubt of it," replied Christy.
"I thought you were somewhat changed in your looks when I saw you come on board of the Bronx, and then I felt that the greeting you gave me was rather stiff for an old comrade who had 137 passed some time with you in a Confederate prison," added Mr. Flint.
"We have no time to talk sentiment now. It is necessary for you to understand the situation better than you do," interposed Christy; and he proceeded to explain in what manner his cousin Corny happened to be in command of the Bronx, while he was himself nominally6 a prisoner of war.
"Your absence from the between decks of the Vernon has been discovered, and Captain Battleton has caused the strictest search to be made for you on board of all three of the ships. The last I saw of him he was evidently talking with the flag-officer about you, as I judged from his looks and gestures," replied the second lieutenant.
"He has not found me yet; and I think that the stateroom of the commander of the Bronx is the last place he will think of looking for me. But I have no time to talk of merely selfish matters, for I am not at all worried about my personal safety while we are within union lines. If this plot succeeds, and the conspirators7 get the ship into a Confederate port, I shall feel differently about this matter. Has any third lieutenant been appointed, Mr. Flint?"
138 "There has, captain; he is a young man by the name of Byron; but I did not learn his rank."
"Byron!" exclaimed Christy, recalling Walsh, and the name he had insisted was his own when he first encountered him on board of the Vernon. "He may have a rank in the Confederate navy, but he has none in that of the union. In other words, he is a Confederate officer or seaman8, and he is the man who helped Corny steal my commission and orders."
"We have a nest of them in the cabin—the captain and two officers. What is to be done? We cannot allow the Bronx to be captured by any such trick as this, with forty-five loyal seamen9 on board of her, to say nothing of myself as a loyal officer."
"All the crew are not loyal," replied Christy, as he explained the instructions he had given to the steward.
"But most of the crew must be loyal, for twenty of the old seamen remain on board, and every one of them is as true as steel," Mr. Flint insisted.
"But the conspirators do not intend that any issue shall be raised until the vessel10 is under the 139 guns of a Confederate fort. Doubtless Mr. Galvinne, whom I look upon as the actual commander of the steamer, for Corny is no sailor, will run into Pensacola Bay under the American flag. Probably he is a pilot in these waters, and knows what signal to make to the Confederate forts."
"I don't believe he would attempt to run in while it is broad daylight," suggested Mr. Flint. "Captain Corny already has his sailing orders. They are sealed, but he is to proceed to the eastward11. I should say that he would obey orders, and when it is time for him to break the seals this evening, he will come about, hug the shore of St. Rosa's till he comes to the entrance of the bay, when he will go in."
"If he does that, so much the better, for we shall have more time to prepare for a decided12 stroke," replied Christy. "I have my plan all ready, though of course it may fail, and to-night we may all be prisoners of war."
"But don't you believe it will be better to appeal to the flag-officer?" asked the second lieutenant.
"What good will that do?" demanded Christy. "My cousin has made out his case before the captain of the Vernon."
140 "But you had no witnesses then. You have twenty or thirty of them now. I know you, and so do all the members of the old crew."
"But it appears that you promptly13 accepted your commander in the person of my cousin," said Christy, laughing in spite of the gravity of the situation.
"If I had seen you and Corny together, I should have known which was which," pleaded Mr. Flint.
"Do you think if I should present myself on deck at this moment, wearing the frock and shirt of a common seaman, the men would identify me alongside Corny, who wears the uniform of an officer?"
"I am not so sure of that."
"I don't see how the commodore could go behind the commission which Corny carries in his pocket, with the orders of the department, any more than Captain Battleton could. I have thought of this, and I am afraid to trust myself to the chance," replied Christy very decidedly. "Besides, I desire to take the conspirators in the very act of running away with the Bronx; then I can make out a good case."
141 "But how is this desirable end to be accomplished14?" inquired the second lieutenant, who seemed to be troubled with some doubts.
"Very easily, I think."
"But you must not be rash, captain."
"Will it be the highest prudence15 to permit the conspirators to take the Bronx into a Confederate port, Pensacola, or any other?" demanded Christy with more earnestness than he had yet manifested.
"We may not be able to help ourselves."
Without discussing this matter any farther, Christy detailed17 his plan to Mr. Flint, which was certainly very simple, and the second lieutenant could raise no objection to it. He was requested to select the men who were to take part in the enterprise, and all the particulars were definitely arranged. There was nothing more to be done, and Christy was left to himself to consider what he had done. The hungry officer helped himself hastily from the table which was waiting for him in the ward room, and then hastened on deck.
The transfer of cargo18, so far as the Bronx was 142 concerned, was completed. It appeared that the flag-officer was hurrying the departure of the steamer on her mission, whatever it was. He had just had a long talk with Corny, and doubtless there was danger that the object of the cruise might be defeated by delay. In a short time the Bronx was under way, headed to the eastward, in accordance with her verbal orders, for the sealed envelope was not to be opened till nine o'clock in the evening, as Christy learned from Mr. Flint.
The deck was in charge of the second lieutenant, who was seeing that everything was put in order. But it might have been observed that he was more familiar with the men than was his habit. For the first time since he came on board, Corny went below to take a look at his quarters, Dave bearing his valise before him. At the same time Mr. Galvinne presented himself in the ward room to take possession of the stateroom of the first lieutenant, which was the farthest forward on the starboard side. It had been Christy's room during his service in the Gulf19, though he had made himself at home in the captain's cabin when he was acting20 commander on the voyage from New York.
143 "This is my cabin, is it?" said Corny, as he followed the steward into the apartment.
"I think you ought to know it by this time, Captain Passford," answered Dave; and the remark was enough to condemn21 the impostor in the opinion of the servant. "You lived in here when you were in command of the vessel."
"All right. You may go into the ward room and ask Mr. Galvinne to come in here," added Corny, who did not feel quite at home in the cabin, and was in mortal terror of committing some indiscretion in his unaccustomed position.
"Invite the first lieutenant to the captain's cabin," said Dave. "Yes, sir;" and the steward left the cabin.
It was some little time before Mr. Galvinne presented himself, for probably he did not feel bound to obey the orders of the bogus captain with especial promptness. However, he came after a quarter of an hour, and seated himself familiarly in an arm-chair at the table. He had the bearing of the superior officer, to which Corny made no objection.
"We are all right so far," said Corny.
"Perhaps we are; but you talk too much by 144 half, Passford, and I have been dreading22 that you would make a slip of some kind," replied Mr. Galvinne rather crustily. "You were as stupid as a Kentucky mule23 when you stopped to talk with Byron in the waist."
"And you were as stupid as an Alabama mule when you snapped at me for doing so in the presence of some of the sailors," replied Corny, with considerable spirit; and Christy, who heard all that was said, was glad to have him maintain the dignity of the family in his new situation.
"I hope you will not make a donkey of yourself before we have finished this business," added the executive officer for the time being. "Now have you looked at your orders?"
"I have not; they are sealed orders, and I am not to open them till nine o'clock this evening," replied Corny.
"I believe you have lost all the wits you ever had, Passford," said Mr. Galvinne contemptuously.
"If I did, you did not pick them up."
"I am not going to banter24 with you, Passford. Where are your orders?" demanded the first lieutenant in a tyrannical manner.
"They are in my pocket," replied Corny sourly.
145 "Hand them over to me, and let us have no more fooling."
"I will take care of the orders myself."
"What! Are you not going to give them to me?" demanded Mr. Galvinne, apparently25 as much in astonishment26 as in anger.
"Not till you change your tone. I wish you to understand that I am in command of this ship, and I have my commission in my pocket. I intend to be treated with decency27 at least."
"Well, this is pleasant; and it will be my duty to report your conduct to my superior officer. In command of this ship! Why, you don't know enough to lay off the course of the ship, or even to box the compass."
"I know enough to understand when I am treated like a gentleman. Change your manners, or I will order you to leave my cabin. You talk to me as though I were a small boy, and had nothing to do with the enterprise in which we are engaged," returned Corny.
"If you don't, I will send for the second lieutenant 146 and a file of men to put you out of my cabin."
There was a silence for a few moments.
"This will never do, Passford," said the tyrannical officer.
"I don't think it will, Galvinne. Behave like a gentleman, and we shall have no difficulty," added Corny.
"Will you permit me to see your orders, Mr. Passford?" said the officer.
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收听单词发音
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1
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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apprise
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| vt.通知，告知 | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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nominally
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| 在名义上，表面地； 应名儿 | |
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7
conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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10
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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11
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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12
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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13
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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14
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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15
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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16
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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17
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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19
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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20
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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21
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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23
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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24
banter
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| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
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25
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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27
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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28
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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29
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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