"Yes, sir."
"Mr. Somers, I have a high regard for you as an officer and a gentleman, and I am not unacquainted with your past history. I hope you have nothing to say which will reflect on a brother officer."
"I have, sir."
"Then I advise you to think well before you speak."
"I am entirely prepared to speak, sir."
"Complaints against superior officers, Mr. Somers, are rather dangerous."
"It is not personal, sir, though I may be the sufferer for making it."
Mr. Hackleford led the way down to the ward-room. The officers had retired to their apartments, and there was no one to see them enter the state-room. As it was now nearly ten o"clock, when all officers" lights must be extinguished, Somers formally asked and obtained permission to burn his lamp till eleven o"clock. The first lieutenant entered the room, and Somers closed the door.
"Mr. Hackleford, may I trouble you to read this statement?" said Somers, as he handed out the paper he had so carefully prepared.
The first lieutenant adjusted his eye-gla.s.s, and read the statement through, asking an explanation of two or three points as he proceeded.
He was deeply absorbed in the narrative, which was drawn up with the utmost minuteness.
"This is an infernal scheme, Mr. Somers. I hope you did not permit the vessel to sail without giving information of her character."
"The Ben Nevis sailed from New York before I could do anything or say a word," said Somers, exhibiting Langdon"s letter.
"That was bad. You should have spoken before."
"My paper explains my reasons for keeping still. Perhaps I was wrong, sir, but I did the best I knew how."
"And this vessel is bound to Mobile. We may pick her up."
"The note says she is bound to Mobile; but it is not true. That is a blind to deceive me."
"Why should they wish to deceive you, after giving you their confidence."
"I don"t know the reason."
"But what has all this to do with Mr. Pillgrim?" asked Mr. Hackleford.
"Mr. Pillgrim is the person spoken of in that paper as Coles."
"Impossible!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mr. Hackleford, springing to his feet.
"I shall be able to prove it by to-morrow, sir."
Somers then gave him the substance of the conversation between himself and Mr. Pillgrim.
"Why, this Coles wants something of you."
"Yes, sir; but I don"t know what. He engaged to meet me here at four bells in the forenoon watch to-morrow, when he will tell me what he wants."
"Very well, Mr. Somers; meet him as agreed. You have played your part well. When you come together, you must yield the point; lead him along, and you will bag him,--and the vessel, I hope."
"The Ben Nevis will sail from St. John July 4, for Wilmington."
"Ah, then she is about even with the Chatauqua. I would give a year"s pay for the privilege of catching her."
Until eleven o"clock the two officers consulted charts, and figured up the time of the Ben Nevis.
CHAPTER XI.
AFTER GENERAL QUARTERS.
At eleven o"clock, when the master-at-arms knocked at the door of the fourth lieutenant, to inform him that it was time to put out his light, the calculations in regard to the position of the Ben Nevis had been made and verified. Mr. Hackleford, after counselling prudence and precaution, retired to his state-room. Somers threw himself on his cot, and having eased his mind of the heavy burden which had rested upon it, he went to sleep. But there was only an hour of rest for him, for at twelve o"clock he was to take the deck.
When eight bells struck, he turned out, much refreshed by his short nap, to relieve Mr. Garboard. It was a beautiful night, with only a gentle breeze from the westward, and the ship was doing her ten knots without making any fuss about it. Somers took the trumpet, which the officer of the deck always carries as the emblem of his office, and commenced his walk on the weather side.
Though he carefully watched the compa.s.ses, and saw that the sheets were hauled close home, he could not help thinking of the startling events which had transpired on the preceding evening. But he was satisfied with himself now. He had purged himself of all appearance of complicity with the enemies of his country, and he fully expected that Pillgrim would be put under arrest within the next forty-eight hours. The consciousness of duty done made him happy and contented. The first lieutenant had even praised him for the manner in which he had conducted the delicate business, and did not lay any stress on the oath of allegiance, or the commander"s commission.
For his four hours he "planked the deck," thinking of the past and hopeful of the future. At eight bells he sent a midshipman down to call Mr. Pillgrim. While he was waiting to be relieved, he could not help considering what a risk it was to leave that n.o.ble ship in the hands of a traitor; but Somers had given all the information he had to Mr.
Hackleford, and the responsibility did not rest upon himself. The first lieutenant was an able and discreet officer, and would not permit the Chatauqua to be imperilled even for a moment.
"Good morning, Mr. Somers," said Lieutenant Pillgrim, as he came on deck.
"Good morning, Mr. Pillgrim," replied Somers, with all the courtesy due to the quarter deck.
"A fine morning."
"Beautiful weather."
"You have had a good opportunity to think over our business. How do you feel about it?"
"Just right, I hope."
"I am glad to hear it. Have you seen anything of the Ben Nevis?"
"Of the Ben Nevis! No, sir; I don"t expect to see her here."
"We may," replied Pillgrim, as he took the trumpet.
"Isn"t she going to Mobile?"
"We"ll talk of her during the forenoon watch," added the second lieutenant, as he turned on his heel and walked forward.
Somers went below. As he entered the ward-room, Mr. Hackleford came out of his state-room. This gentleman evidently intended to keep a sharp lookout for the officer of the deck during his watch. He asked the relieved officer if anything more had transpired, and the unimportant conversation which had just taken place was fully reported to him.