"As you would have done if you had succeeded in capturing the Bellevite," added Christy, smartly. "This time makes twice that you did not capture her."
"The third time may not fail."
"It may not; but I must be as magnanimous as you were. Sampson, release the gentleman."
"Thank you, Captain Pa.s.sford; that is no more than I did for you when you were in the same situation."
"But I suppose you will not undertake to capture this ship after I have done as well by you as you did by me. I intend to treat you like a gentleman, though the fortunes of war are against you. Now, perhaps you will not object to answering a question or two, in which there can be no treason."
"I must be my own judge of the questions," replied the major, rather haughtily.
"Certainly, sir; and I shall not insist upon your answering any question. Was any one on board of the Vampire killed in this affair?"
"No one was killed."
"Were any wounded?"
"I am sorry to say that three were injured by the falling of the pieces of the walking-beam."
"Seriously?"
"Two slightly, and one severely."
"Thank you, major."
"Of course, I am not informed of the fate of those in the boat when it was sunk," added the prisoner.
"I think no one was badly hurt in that part of the affair," said Christy.
"Perhaps it will be of interest to you to know that Private Pa.s.sford, formerly of my command, was the one who was severely wounded on board of the Vampire."
"Corny!" exclaimed Mrs. Pa.s.sford.
"I am sorry to say that he was struck on the shoulder by a fragment of the machinery," replied the major, very politely, as he bowed low to the lady.
"Poor Corny!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Miss Florry. "Is he very badly wounded, Major Pierson?"
"I do not know how seriously, but I am afraid he cannot use that shoulder for a long time." replied the prisoner, fixing a look of admiration upon her, as if he were glad to have the privilege of looking at her without causing any remark.
"I am so sorry for him. Corny was always real good to me when I have been at Glenfield," added the fair girl, and she actually shed some sympathetic tears as she thought of his wounded shoulder. "Can we not do something for him, mother?"
"I shall be very glad to have him removed to the house, and I will take care of him till he gets well. I don"t know whether this can be done or not. Perhaps Major Pierson can inform me."
"If your kind hearts prompt you to do this for one who is in arms against the government, I have no doubt it can be managed. He can give his parole, and that will make it all right."
"He is my nephew, and I would do as much for him as I would for my own son," replied Mrs. Pa.s.sford heartily.
"And I as much as I would for my brother," added Miss Florry.
Everything was pleasant so far, though all the Pa.s.sfords were worried about poor Corny, who had been with the ladies only the evening before.
CHAPTER XIII
AFTER THE BATTLE
It was six o"clock in the morning when the Bellevite let go her anchor off Twentieth Street, as the young commander decided to do after some consultation with Paul Vapoor, who was his senior in years if not in wisdom. He did not suppose the steamer would be allowed to anchor at the Navy Yard without orders to that effect. His father had not returned from the city. Though he held no office, Captain Pa.s.sford was as busy with public affairs as though he had been the collector of the port.
No one but the ladies had slept any during the trip; but they had been on deck some time when the steamer anch.o.r.ed. Christy had been very much in doubt as to what he should do with the Bellevite when he reached his destination, and he was glad to see his mother when she came out of the cabin. Though he was still hardly more than a boy, he believed in his mother, and it had not yet occurred to him that he knew more than she did. He stated his difficulty to her, for Paul had been as much in doubt as the midshipman.
"I think it is a very easy question to answer, Christy," replied Mrs.
Pa.s.sford, with a smile. "Where have you anch.o.r.ed?"
"Off Union Square, or very near it, I should think," replied Christy.
"You know that your father stays at the St. James Hotel when he is in the city," she added. "The only thing you can do is to find him, and let him decide what is to be done with the Bellevite."
"I did not think of that," added the midshipman. "I will get out a boat at once, and go on sh.o.r.e."
"Florry and I will go with you," continued Mrs. Pa.s.sford. "We have nothing to do here, and I should like to return to Bonnydale as soon as possible. But what will you do with your prisoner, Christy?"
"I shall do nothing with him. Sampson is in charge of him, and I am sure he will not take his eye off the major while he remains on board."
The port-quarter boat was lowered into the water, and a couple of the old sailors took their places in her. The ladies were a.s.sisted to their seats, and Christy, after he had informed the engineer that he was in command during his absence, leaped into the boat, and it was pulled to the nearest pier. A carriage was called, and the party were driven to the hotel. It was half-past six, and Christy was informed that his father had not yet come down. Word was sent up to him, and the son went to his room, where he found him only half dressed.
"I did not expect to see you at this time in the morning, my son," said the owner of the Bellevite. "How did you come down so early?"
"I came in the Bellevite; and she is at anchor in the stream off Twentieth Street, father," replied Christy.
"In the Bellevite!" exclaimed Captain Pa.s.sford, with the nearest thing to a frown that ever appeared on his brow in the presence of any member of his family. "I don"t quite understand how"--
"An attempt was made to capture her last night, father, and I thought it best to make sure of her," interposed the midshipman.
"To capture her!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Captain Pa.s.sford, suspending his toilet, and gazing into the face of his son. "I think you must have dreamed that, Christy."
"Perhaps I did, father; but we captured one prisoner of rank in my dream, and he is on board now, closely guarded by Sampson," replied Christy, laughing in his excitement. "Mother and Florry were on board, and they are down in the parlor waiting to see you."
"Do you mean that an attempt was really made to capture the Bellevite last night?" asked the captain, as if unable to credit the astounding intelligence.
"Of course I can prove all I say by many witnesses. Mr. Watts is on board, and he has been dreaming too if I have. Paul Vapoor is another dreamer, to say nothing of eight or ten more on board," added Christy.
Captain Pa.s.sford completed dressing himself about as quick as he had probably ever done since he became a millionnaire, and attended Christy down to the parlor, where he gave his wife and daughter an affectionate reception.
"But our boy tells me that some one has been trying to obtain possession of the Bellevite, Julia; and it seems to me hardly possible that such an attempt should be made so far up the river," said Captain Pa.s.sford, as soon as he was able to allude to the subject.
"But it is quite true, Horatio; and our boy has behaved like a hero, if he is our son," replied the lady, bestowing a glance of pride upon the midshipman.