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THE UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 4 
 
 THE WILMER COLLECTION 
 OF CIVIL WAR NOVELS 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 RICHARD H. WILMER, JR. 
 
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Somers and the Admiral. Page 202, 
 
BRAVE OLD SALT; 
 
 OR, 
 
 LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK 
 
 3Uxxi ^t tl\^ (Bxnrt ^S^'bMlm. 
 
 BY 
 
 OLIVER OPTIC, 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THE SOLDIER BOY," " TFfE SAILOR BOY," " THE YOCXG LIEL'TEXAXT, 
 
 "THE TAXKEE MIDDY," "FIGHTING JOE," "THE "tt'OODVILLE STORIES," 
 
 "the KTV'EKDAiE STOBX BOOKS," ETC., ETC 
 
 BOSTON: 
 LEF. AND SHEPARD, 
 
 SUCCESSORS TO PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & CO. 
 
 18G6. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S66, by 
 
 WILLIAM T. ADAMS, 
 
 In the Clerk's Offlcc of tlic L>fBtTict Court of tlic District of Massachusetti. 
 
 ELECTROTTPED AT THE 
 
 Boston stereotype Foundry, 
 No. 4 Spring Lane. 
 
TO 
 
 SAMUEL C. PERKINS, ESQ., 
 
 This Boole 
 
 IS RESPECTEULLY DEDICATED, 
 
 BY HIS FRIEND 
 
 WILLIAM T. ADAMS 
 
 602657 
 
THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES. 
 
 Ill Six: "Volioixies. 
 
 ■ ^ilj:^^^^} in |].cianig imH (Did. 
 
 BY OLIVER OPTIC. 
 
 I. 
 
 THE SOLDIETt BOY; 
 
 Or, ToixL Somers in th.e -A.rrriy. 
 
 n. 
 
 TKDE S^IXiOR BOY; 
 
 Or, Jack Somers in. tlie Navy, 
 
 III. 
 Tin: YOXJiVO X^IETJTE1VA.IVT ; 
 
 Or, Th.e ^dventizres of an -A.rmy Officer. 
 A SEQUEL TO "THE SOLDIER BOY," 
 
 lY. 
 THE "YAIVKTEE 3m>r>Y; 
 
 Or, The .A^clventiares of a ZN'aval Officer. 
 A SEQUEL TO '?THE SAILOR BOY." 
 
 V. 
 EIOHTHVG JOE; 
 
 Or, The inortunes of a Staff Officer. 
 A SEQLT:L to "THE YOUXG LIEUTENANT." 
 
 VI. 
 BRA. YE OEX> SAJLT; 
 
 Or, Hiife on the Quarter Deck. 
 A SEQUEL TO "THE YANKEE MIDDY." 
 
 (4) 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 This volume, the sixth and last of "The Army and Navy 
 Stories," is a record of " Life on the Quarter Deck," mostly in 
 the squadron of Vice Admiral Farragut, one of whose familiar 
 appellations, used in the ward-room and on the berth deck, has 
 furnished the leadmg title of the book. The terrible war which 
 devastated our country for four years has given to history two 
 generals, Grant and Sherman, and one admiral, Farragut, whose 
 achievements are unsurpassed, if they are equalled, in the annals 
 of military and naval warfare ; but while the author, in this 
 work, has gratefully rendered his tribute of admu-ation to the 
 distinguished naval commander, he has not attempted to present 
 a complete biography of him. 
 
 Those who. have read the preceding voltmies of this series need 
 hardly be told that this is a book of adventure — of personal 
 experience in the great struggle of the nineteenth century. Jack 
 Somers, "The Sailor Boy," Mr. Somers, " The Yankee Middy," 
 and Captain Somers, Lieutenant Commanding, are the same 
 person ; though often as he changes his official position, he is still 
 t^e same honest, true, and Christian young man. 
 
 in our completed sixth volume we take leave of the Somers 
 1* (5) 
 
6 PREFACE. *• 
 
 family with many rc^etsi If our young friends in the army and 
 navy had been less true, noble, and Christian, we could have 
 parted with less sorrow. Yet the army and navy, as they 
 crushed the Rebellion, have given us many young men just as 
 true, just as noble and Christian. Let us gratefully cherish these 
 living heroes, and they will not pass away from us " like a tale 
 that is told." 
 
 To the readers, young and old, who have perseveringly fol- 
 lowed my heroes through the two thousand pages of this series, 
 I am even more than grateful ; for I feel that they have sym- 
 pathized with me in my desire to present a lofty ideal to the 
 young man of to-day — one who will be true to God, true to 
 himself, and true to his country, in whatever sphere his lot may 
 be cast, whether on the forecastle or the quarter deck ; as a 
 private or an ofRcer, in the great army which must ever battle 
 with life's trials and temptations till the crown immortal be won. 
 
 WILLIAM T. ADAMS. 
 
 Habrison Square, Mass., March 13, 1866. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER ^^°* 
 
 I. Lieutenant Pillgrki H 
 
 II. Waiting for the Ship 23 
 
 III. The Wounded Sailor 33 
 
 IV. The Front Chamber ^ 
 
 V. SOMERS C031ES TO HIS SENSES 55 
 
 VI. Lieutenant Wynkoop, R. X 66 
 
 VII. Langdon's Letters 77 
 
 VIII. The United States Steamer Chatauqua. ... 87 
 
 IX. In the State-Room 07 
 
 X. The Chief Conspirator 103 
 
 XL After General Quarters 119 
 
 XIL The Ben Nevis 130 
 
 XIII. A Conflict of Authority 1^0 
 
 XIV. The Prize Steamer 150 
 
 XV. The Prisoner in the Cabin iCO 
 
 XVI. Captain Walmsley ,,.... 170 
 
 XVII. Off Mobile Bay . • .ISO 
 
 XVIII. Brave Old Salt 1^ 
 
 XIX. The Boat Expedition 200 
 
 XX. The Picket Boat «il 
 
 XXI. The Ben Lomond 222 
 
 (7) 
 
8 CONTENTS. 
 
 XXII, RUNXING THE BLOCKADE 233 
 
 XXIII. A Yankee Trick 244 
 
 XXIV. PiLLGRIM AND LA5?GD0N 254 
 
 XXV. The Battle of Mobile Bay 204 
 
 XXVI. In the Hospital 274 
 
 XXVII. Miss Portington not at Home. 284 
 
 XXVIII. The Ben Ledi 2W 
 
 XXIX. A Long Chase 303 
 
 XXX. The End of the Kebellion 318 
 
BRAVE OLD SALT. 
 
# 
 
BRAVE OLD SALT; 
 
 OR, 
 
 LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 IIEUTENAXT PILLGRIM. 
 
 fV^ir^^'ELL, Prodigy, I congratulate you on jour 
 promotion. I even agree with your enthu- 
 siastic admirers, who say that no young 
 man better deserves his advancement than you," said 
 Miss Kate Portington, standing in the entry of her 
 father's house at Newport, holding Mr. Ensign John 
 Somers by the hand. 
 
 " Thank you, Miss Portington," replied the young offi- 
 cer, with a blush caused as much by the excitement of 
 that happy moment, as by the handsome compliment paid 
 by the fair girl, who, we are compelled to acknowledge, 
 had formed no inconsiderable portion of the young man's 
 thoughts, hopes, and aspirations during the preceding 
 year. 
 
 (11) 
 
12 BRAVE OLD S.iLT, OR 
 
 John Somers had becu examined by the board of 
 naval officers appointed for the purpose, had been tri- 
 umphantly passed, and promoted to the rank he now 
 held. A short furlough had been granted to him, and 
 he had just come from Pinchbrook, ■where he had spent a 
 week. A visit to Newport was now almost as indispen- 
 sable as one to the home of his childhood, and on his 
 ■way to join the ship to which he had been ordered, he 
 paused to discharge this pleasing duty. 
 
 Ensign Somers was dressed in a new uniform, and a 
 certain boyish look, for which he was partly indebted to 
 the short jacket he had worn as a midshipman, had van- 
 ished. Perhaps Miss Portington felt that the pertness, 
 not to say impudence, with which she had formerly 
 treated him, though allowable, under a liberal toleration, 
 towards a boy, would hardly be justifiable in her inter- 
 course with a young man. Though, from the force of 
 habit, she called him " Prodigy," there was a certain 
 maidenly reserve in her manner, which rather puzzled 
 Somers, and he could not help asking himself what he 
 had done to cause this slight chill in her tones and 
 actions. 
 
 Undoubtedly It was the frock coat which produced this 
 refrigerating effect ; but it was a very elegant and well- 
 fashioned garment, having the shoulder straps on which 
 glistened the " foul anchor," indicating his new rank, 
 and each sleeve being adorned with a single gold band on 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. . 'l3 
 
 the cuff, also indicative of his new position. The cap, 
 which he now held in his hand, was decorated with a 
 han;l of gold lace, and bore on its front the appropriate 
 naval emblem. In strict accordance with the traditions 
 of the navy, he wore kid gloves, without which a naval 
 officer, on a ceremonial occasion, would be as incomplete 
 as a ship without a rudder. 
 
 "We have no means of knowing what Mr. Ensign 
 Somers thought of himself in his " new rig," which cer- 
 tainly, fitted with admirable nicety, arid gave him an ap- 
 pearance of maturity which he did not possess when wo 
 last saw him on the quarter deck of the Rosalie. We 
 will venture to assert, however, that he felt like a man, 
 and fully believed that he was one — a commendable 
 sentiment in a person of his years, inasmuch as, if he 
 feels like a man, he is the more likely to act like one. 
 As Ave can hardly suppose he soared above all the vani- 
 ties of his impressible period of life, it is more than 
 probable that he regarded himself as a very good looking 
 young fellow ; which brilliant suggestion was, no doubt, 
 wholly or in part due to the new uniform he wore. 
 
 If not wholly above the weakness of a young man of 
 twenty, possibly he had a great deal of confidence in his 
 own knowledge and ability, regarded some of the vet- 
 erans of the navy as " old fogies," and looked upon his 
 own father as "a slow coach." But we must do Mr. 
 Somers the justice to say that he tried to be humble in 
 2 
 
14 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 his estimate of himself, and to bear the honors he had 
 won jvith meekness ; that he endeavored to crush down 
 and mortify that overweening self-sufficiency which dis- 
 torts and disfigures the character of many estimable 
 young men. His native bashfulness had, in some meas- 
 ure, been overcome by his intercourse with the world, 
 and the humility of his nature, though occasionally as- 
 saulted by the accident of a new coat and an extra sup- 
 ply of gold lace, or by the hearty commendations of his 
 superiors, was genuine, and, in the main, saved him from 
 the besetting sin of his years. 
 
 Standing in the presence of Miss Kate Portington, 
 after an absence of several months, wearing a new coat 
 glittering with the laurels he had won on the blood- 
 stained decks of the nation's ships, he would have been 
 more than human if he had not felt proud of what he 
 was, and what he had done — proud, not vain. He was 
 happy, holding the hand of her who had occupied so 
 large a place in his thoughts, and whose image had 
 fringed with roseate hues his brightest hopes and strong- 
 est aspirations. 
 
 Kate was not so free with him as she had been, and 
 her reserve annoyed and perplexed him. He had antici- 
 pated a much warmer welcome than that which greeted 
 him on his arrival. He was slightly disappointed, 
 tliouo;h there was nothiuo- in her manner for which he 
 could have reproached her, even if their relations had 
 
LIFE OX THE QUAIiTEIi DECK. 15 
 
 been more intimate tlinn they were. She was less 
 stormy, but still gentle and kind ; a little more distant 
 in manner, though her looks and words assured him 
 she regarded him with undiminished intere^. Had he 
 known that the elegant frock coat he wore produced the 
 cliill in the lady which so vexed and disconcerted him, 
 he would willingly have exchanged it for the short jacket 
 in which he had won his promotion. 
 
 They were standing in the entry. When the servant 
 admitted Mr. Somers, Kate had heard his voice, and 
 perhaps from prudential motives — for there was a visitor 
 in the parlor — she had preferred to meet him in the hall. 
 " You have been very fortunate, Mr. Somers," added 
 she, gently releasing her hand from that of the ensign. 
 Mr. Somers, instead of " Prodigy" ! 
 "I have. I don't deserve my promotion, I know; 
 but I could not help taking it when it was within my 
 reach," replied Somers ; and her words, though so 
 slightly chilled that the frigid tone could not have been 
 noticed by any one who did not expect an unreasonable 
 Avarmth, took half the conceit out of him, and let him 
 down a long reach from the high hopes and brilliant 
 expectations with which he had looked forward to this 
 meeting. 
 
 " On the contrary, Mr. Somers, I think you deserve 
 even more than you have received." 
 
 " Thank you, Miss Portington ; you were always more 
 lavish of kind words than I deserved." 
 
16 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 "Why, Prodigy — " 
 
 She suddenly checked herself. It was evident to 
 Somers that she intended to say something pert or saucy. 
 Perhaps she choked down the impertinent words from 
 th^ fear that the honorable secretary of the navy, 
 if such wild and wayward young ladies as herself were 
 permitted to contaminate the plushy air of Newport so- 
 ciety, would remove the Naval Academy back to Annap- 
 olis, where it is better to be " proper " than to be loyal. 
 
 " You were about to say something, Miss Portington," 
 said Somers. 
 
 " I was, but it was saucy." 
 
 " I am sorry you did not say it." 
 
 *' I am glad I did not, for you must know, Mr. Somers, 
 that mother has scolded me so much for being saucy, 
 that I have solemnly resolved to be proper in all things 
 henceforth and forevermore." 
 
 " I am sorry for it," answered Somers, with unaffected 
 earnestness. 
 
 " Sorry, you wretch ? " 
 
 Somers laughed. 
 
 " There's another slip. I have done my best to re- 
 form my life. I am afraid I shall never succeed. Now, 
 Prodigy — " 
 
 Somers lausfhed aojain. 
 
 " Again ! " exclaimed Kate. 
 
 "I wish to ask one favor of you, Miss Portington." 
 
LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK. 17 
 
 " It would afford me more pleasure to grant it, than it 
 does you to ask it. Name it." 
 
 " That you will never call me Prodigy again." 
 
 " I had firmly resolved before you came never to do 
 it," laughed she. 
 
 " Well, I only asked it in order to help along your 
 good resolutions." 
 
 " Then you are making fun of me?" 
 
 " Like yourself, I am very serious." 
 
 *' But I am in earnest, Mr. Somers ; I mean to re- 
 form. Now, father and mother will be very glad to see 
 you, Mr. Somers." 
 
 "Your father?" 
 
 " He was temporarily relieved to attend a court mar- 
 tial. He is going away again to-morrow." 
 
 " You have other visitors ? " 
 
 " Only Lieutenant Pillgrim." 
 
 *' I have not the pleasure of his acquaintance." 
 
 " He is a Virginian, I believe ; at any rate he is from 
 the South, and has just been restored to his rank in the 
 navy." 
 
 Kate led the way into the parlor, where he was first 
 welcomed by her mother. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, I am glad to see you, and to congratu- 
 iate you on your promotion," said the commodore, as he 
 grasped the hand of the young officer. 
 
 " Thank you, sir," replied Somers. " The only ungrat- 
 2* 
 
18 BIIAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 ified wish I liad was that I might be appointed to your 
 ship." 
 
 *' My ship!" 
 
 " I should have been glad to serve under so able and 
 distinguished a commander." 
 
 " I wouldn't have you in my ship," promptly returned 
 the commodore, shaking his head energetically. 
 
 Somers looked abashed, and Kate wore a troubled 
 expression. 
 
 " I should endeavor to do my duty," he added. 
 
 " I have no doubt of it, but I wouldn't have you in 
 my ship." 
 
 '* Your remark is not very complimentary," said Som- 
 ers, his face beginning to flush with indignation at what 
 seemed to be an assault upon his professional character. 
 
 "It is the most complimentary thing I could say to 
 you. And I mean what I say : I wouldn't have you in 
 my ship." 
 
 " Why not, father? " demanded Kate. 
 
 " Because I like the young dog, and because I believe 
 in discipline. I never indulge in partiality on board my 
 ship, and it is better to keep out of temptation. I am 
 under obligations to you, Mr. Somers; lam happy to 
 acknowledge them, but they must not come between me 
 and duty. Mr. Somers, Lieutenant Pillgrim," continued 
 Commodore Portington, turning to the visitor. 
 
 Somers looked at the officer thus indicated, and as his 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 19 
 
 eyes rested upon him, he started back with a momentary 
 astonishment, for the face had a strange look of familiar- 
 ity to him. 
 
 *' Mr. Somers, I am happy to meet and to know you. 
 Your name and reputation are already familiar to mc." 
 
 " I am glad to know you, sir," replied Somers, with 
 Bome confusion. " Your face looks so familiar to me, 
 that I think we must have met before." 
 
 " Never, to my knowledge," answered the lieutenant, 
 with easy self-possession. 
 
 " I was quite sure I had seen you before." 
 
 " Possibly ; I do not remember it, however." 
 
 " If I had met you without the favor of an introduc- 
 tion, I should certainly have claimed the honor of your 
 acquaintance." 
 
 *' I should have been proud to be so claimed, but I 
 must confess you would have had the advantage of me." 
 
 " Of course, I must be mistaken, as you suggest." 
 
 " It is not unlikely that we have met in some ante- 
 room where we were dancing attendance on the powers 
 that be, in search of employment ; but I am quite sure, 
 Mr. Somers, that I should have been proud and happy 
 to number you among my friends." 
 
 " It is not too late now," said the commodore. 
 
 " Certainly not. I should be but too happy to have 
 as my friend one who has served his country so faith- 
 fully," added Mr. Pillgrim, as he bowed gracefully to 
 
20 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 Somers, " especially as I understand we are appointed 
 to the same ship." 
 
 " Indeed ! " 
 
 " I am ordered to the Chatauqua.'* 
 
 " So am I." 
 
 " Then, Mr. Pillgrim, you will take care of our Prod- 
 igy ; you will be excellent friends, I trust," said Kate, 
 beginning very impulsively in her old way, and suddenly 
 checking herself when her resolution to be "proper" 
 interposed itself. 
 
 "What is the matter, Kate? Have you and Mr. 
 Somers had a falling out?" demanded the commodore. 
 
 " O, no, father." 
 
 " You talk as though you had had a quarrel, and for 
 a moment had forgotten to be savage." 
 
 " We have had no quarrel, pa," replied Kate, blush- 
 ing. " I was going to be saucy, but ma says I must not 
 be saucy, and I shall not be saucy any more. I only 
 hoped the two gentlemen who are going to live together 
 in the same ship Avould be good friends." 
 
 " Of course they will. Officers never quarrel." 
 
 " Perhaps they don't ; but they are not always as good 
 friends as I hope these gentlemen will be," laughed Kate. 
 
 " Perhaps he will be my friend for your sake, if he is 
 not for mine," added Pillgi'im. 
 
 " I do not wish that. I don't like to have anybody 
 do anything for my sake, unless it be to take paregoric 
 when I am sick.'* 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 21 
 
 '• I trust I shall not be paregoric to liiui," said Pill- 
 grim. 
 
 " Then he will not take you for my sake." 
 
 '• As Lieutenant Pillgrim is my superior oflicer, I 
 should be likely to court his good will, and prize his 
 friendship very highly. If we are not friends, I am 
 sure it will not be my fault." 
 
 At this moment the dinner bell rang ; and although 
 Somers did not feel intimate enough with the family to 
 invite himself to dine, he was easily prevailed upon to 
 remain, and gallantly gave his arm to Mrs. Portington, 
 as Kate, for some wayward reason of her own, had 
 already seized upon that of Lieutenant Pillgrim. 
 
 At the table Somers sat opposite the lieutenant, and 
 he found it impossible to avoid looking upon him Avith a 
 strange and undefinable interest. Since his first glance 
 at the commodore's visitor, who seemed to be on the best 
 of terms with the family, he had been perplexed by some 
 stran<2:e niisf?ivin«?s. He could not banish from his mind 
 an assurance that he had seen him before ; that he had 
 talked with him, and even been, to some extent, intimate 
 with him. 
 
 The thought that Kate was somewhat changed in her 
 demeanor towards him did not contribute to increase his 
 satisfaction. She had contrived to take the lieutenant's 
 arm instead of his own, and perhaps he had come as the 
 successor of Phil Kennedy, who had been reputed to 
 
22 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 be high in her good graces. But Mr. Pillgrim was a 
 gentleman of thirty-five, at least, and this was not proba- 
 ble, in his view of the matter. Somers, being disinter- 
 ested, was more worried to know when, where, and 
 under what circumstances he had met the lieutenant. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 23 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 TTAITING FOR THE SHIP. 
 
 OMERS "was utterly unable to satisfy himself ia 
 regard to Lieutenant Pillgrim. The face was 
 certainly familiar to him, not as a combination 
 of remembered features, but rather as an expression. To 
 him the eye seemed to be the whole of the man, and its 
 gaze would haunt him, though his memory refused to 
 identify it with any time, place, or circumstances. 
 Though his reason compelled him to believe that he was 
 mistaken, and that Mr. Pillgrim was actually a stranger, 
 his consciousness of having seen, and even of having been 
 intimate with, the gentleman, most obstinately refused to 
 be shaken. 
 
 " Of course, gentlemen, you have no idea to what point 
 i,he Chatauqua has been ordered ? " said the commodore. 
 
 " I have not," replied Mr. Pillgrim. 
 
 " I have heard it said that she was going to the Gulf," 
 added Somers. 
 
 " Very likely ; there are two points where extensive 
 javal operations are likely to be undertaken — at Mobile 
 
24 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 and at Wilmington. The rebellion has had so many 
 hard knocks that the bottom must drop out before many 
 months." 
 
 " I am afraid the end is farther off than most people at 
 the North are willinc: to believe," said Mr. Pillfrrira. 
 
 " Every thing looks hopeful. If we can contrive to 
 batter down Fort Fisher, and open Mobile Bay, the 
 rebels may count the months of their Confederacy ou 
 their fingers." 
 
 " I think there is greater power of resistance left in 
 the South, than we give it the credit for." 
 
 "The rebels have fought well ; what of it? " continued 
 the commodore, who did not seem to be pleased with the 
 style of the lieutenant's remarks. 
 
 " As fighting men, we can hardly fail to respect those 
 who have fought so bravely as the people of the South." 
 
 " People of the South ! " sneered the commodore. 
 " Why don't you call them rebels ? " 
 
 " Of course that is what I mean," answered Mr. Pill- 
 grim, a slight flush visible on his cheek. 
 
 " If you mean it, why dou't you say it? Call things 
 by their right names. The people of the South are not 
 all rebels. Why, confound it, Farragut is a Southerner ; 
 so is General Anderson ; so are a hundred men, who have 
 distinguished themselves in putting down treason. It's 
 an insult to these men to talk about the people of the 
 South as rebels." 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 25 
 
 " I agree with you. Commodore Portiiigfou, and wliut 
 I said was only a form of expression." 
 
 " It's a very bad form of expression. Why, man, you 
 are a Southerner yourself." 
 
 '' I am ; and I suppose that is what makes- me so 
 proud of the good fighting the people of the South — I 
 mean the rebels — have done. We can't hel"p respecting 
 men who have behaved with so much gallantry." 
 
 " Can't we?" exclaimed the commodore, with a sneer 
 80 wholesome and honest, that Lieutenant Pillgrim with- 
 ered under it. "I can help it. I have no respeqt for 
 rebels and traitors under any circumstances." 
 
 " Nor I, as rebels and traitors," replijed J*illgrim, 
 mildly. 
 
 " As rebels and traitors ! I don't like these fioe'Spun 
 distinctions. If a man is a traitor, call him so, and 
 swing him up on the fore-yard arm, where he belongs." 
 
 " You are willing to acknowledge that the rebels Imve. 
 fouirlit well in this war ? " added the lieutenant. 
 
 " They have fought well : I don't deny it." 
 
 " And you appreciate gallant conduct ? " 
 
 " That depends on the cause. No, sir ! I don't appr* 
 ciate gallant conduct on the part of rebels aod traitors. 
 It is not gallant conduct ; and the better they fight, the. 
 more wicked they are.'' 
 
 *'• I can hardly take your view of the case." 
 
 " Can't you? The best fighting I ever saw in my life 
 
26 LRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 was on the deck of a pirate ship. The bhiek-heartcd 
 villains fought like demons. Not a man of them would 
 yield tiie breadth of a hair. "We had to cut them down 
 like dogs. Is piracy respectable because these men 
 fought well?" 
 
 " Certainly not ; but the bravery of such men — " 
 
 " Nonsense ! I know what you are going to say ; but 
 you can't separate the pirate from his piracy, nor the 
 traitor from his treason," replied the commodore, warm- 
 ly. " The other day I saw a little dirty urchin fighting 
 with his mother. The young cub had run away, I sup- 
 pose, and the woman was dragging him back to the 
 house. He was not more than six years old, but he 
 displayed a power of resistance which rather astonished 
 me. He kicked, bit, scratched, and yelled like a young 
 tiger. He called his mother everything but a lady. 
 The poor woman tugged at him with all her strength, 
 but the little rascal was almost a match for her. I 
 wanted to take him by the nape of the neck, and shake 
 the ugly out of him : nothing but my fixed principles of 
 neutrality prevented me from doing so. I suppose, Mr. 
 Pillgrim, you would have sympathized with the brat, 
 because he fought bravely." 
 
 " Hardly," replied the lieutenant, laughing at the simile. 
 
 " But he fought like a tiger, and displayed no mean 
 strategy in his rebellious warfare. Of course he was 
 worthy of your admiration," sneered the commodore. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 27 
 
 " That's hardly a fair comparisoD." 
 
 " The fairest iu the world. The rebels have insulted 
 their own mother — the parent that fostered, protected, 
 and loved them. They undertook to run away from her ; 
 and when she attempts to bring them back to their duty, 
 they kick, and scratch, and bite ; and you admire them 
 because they fight well." 
 
 " I stand convicted. Commodore Portington. I never 
 took this view of the matter ; I acknowledge that you 
 are right," said jNIr. Pillgrim. 
 
 Somers, who had been an attentive listener to the con- 
 versation, thought the lieutenant yielded very gracefully, 
 and much more readily than could have been expected ; 
 but then the logician was a commodore, and perhaps it 
 was prudence and politeness on his part to agree with 
 his powerful superior. 
 
 After dinner the party took a ride to the beach and to 
 the Glen ; and after an early tea, Somers and Pillgrim, 
 w^ho w^ere to be fellow-passengers to Philadelphia, where 
 the Chatauqua was fitting out, began to demonstrate in 
 the dii-ection of their departure. Kate, though she had 
 been tolerably playful during the afternoon, had, in the 
 main, carried out her good resolution to be proper. She 
 had not been impudent — hardly pert ; and deprived of 
 this convenient mask for whatever kindness she min-ht 
 have entertained towards the young ensign, she seemed 
 to be very cold and indifferent to him. She was more 
 
28 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 thoughtful, serious, and earnest than when they had met 
 on former occasions. He could not help asking himself 
 what he had done to produce this marked change in her 
 conduct. 
 
 " Good by. Miss Portington," said he, when he had 
 taken leave of her father and mother. 
 
 " Good by, Mr. Somers. Shall I hear from you when 
 you reach your station ? " she asked, presenting her hand. 
 
 " If you desire it." 
 
 " If I desire it ! Why, Mr. Somers, you forget that I 
 am deeply interested in your success." 
 
 " Perhaps, if I do anything of which you would care to 
 learn, the newspapers may inform you of the fact," re- 
 plied Somers, with a kind of grim smile, which seemed 
 actually to alarm poor Kate. 
 
 " I would rather hear it from you." 
 
 " I judge that you are more interested in my suc- 
 cess than you are in me." 
 
 *' Ah, Mr. Somers, you cannot separate the pirate 
 from his piracy, pa said ; nor the hero from his heroism, 
 let me add." 
 
 " Thank you, Miss Portington." 
 
 " I cannot forget hoAv deeply indebted we are to you, 
 Mr. Somers." 
 
 " I wish you could." 
 
 " Why do you wish so ? " demanded the astonished 
 maiden ; more astonished at his manner than his words. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 29 
 
 " I am sorry to have you burdened ^vith such a -weight 
 of obligation." 
 
 " I think you mean to quarrel with me, Mr. Somers. 
 I beg you will not be so savage just as you are going 
 away," laughed Kate, though there was a troubled ex- 
 pression on her fair face. " I asked you if I should hear 
 from you, Mr. Somers." 
 
 " Certainly, if you desire." 
 
 " Why do you qualify your words ? I should be just 
 as glad to hear from you as I ever was." 
 
 " Then you shall, at every opportunity." 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Somers. That sounds hearty and 
 honest, as father would say." 
 
 " I do not wish you to feel an interest in me from a 
 sense of duty. I shall not write any letters from a sense 
 of duty, or even because I have promised to do so. I 
 shall write to you because — because I can't help it," 
 stammered Somers, almost overcome by the violence of 
 his exertions. 
 
 " I thank you, Mr. Somers, and I am sure your letters 
 will be all the more welcome from my knowledge of the 
 fact." 
 
 " Good by," said he, gently pressing the little hand he 
 
 held. 
 
 " Good by," she replied ; and to his great satisfaction 
 and delight, the pressure was returned — a kind of tele- 
 
30 BRAVE OLD SALT OR 
 
 graphic signal, infinitely more expressive than all the 
 Avords in the spelling-book, strung into sentences, could 
 have been to a young man in his desperate condition. 
 
 Mr. Ensign Somers was now entirely satisfied. That 
 gentle pressure of the hand had atoned for all her reserve 
 and coldness, real or imaginary, and made the future 
 bright and pleasant to look upon. Undoubtedly Mr. 
 Somers was a silly young fellow ; but there is some con- 
 solation in believing that he was just like all young men 
 under similar circumstances. 
 
 Mr. Pillgrim followed him out of the house, and they 
 hastened down to the wharf to take the steamer for New 
 York. On the passage the two officers treated each 
 other with courtesy and consideration, but there appeared 
 to be no strong sympathy of thought or feeling between 
 them, and they were not drawn so closely together as 
 they might have been under similar circumstances, if 
 there had been more of opinion and sentiment common 
 between them. 
 
 On their arrival at Philadelphia, they found the Cha- 
 tauqua was still in the hands of the workmen, and would 
 not go into commission for a week or ten days. They 
 reported to the commandant of the navy yard, and took 
 up their quarters at the *' Continental," where Somers 
 found his old friend Mr. 'Waldron, who had been de- 
 tached from the Rosalie at his own request, and ordered to 
 the Chatauqua, in which he was to serve as executive 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 31 
 
 officer. This was splendid news to Soraers, for lie re- 
 garded Mr. Waldron as a true and trusty friend, in 
 whom he could with safety confide. 
 
 " Do you know Lieutenant Pillgrim? " asked Somers, 
 after they had discussed their joint information in regard 
 to the new ship. 
 
 " I am not personally acquainted with him, though I 
 have heard his name mentioned. He is a Virginian, I 
 think." 
 
 '' Yes." 
 
 " If I mistake not, there were some doubts about his 
 loyalty, though he never tendered his resignation ; he has 
 been kept in the background." 
 
 " He seems to be a loyal and true man." 
 
 " No doubt of it, or he would not have been appointed 
 to the Chatauqua." 
 
 " He has some respect for the rebels, but no sympathy." 
 
 " I think he has frequently applied for employment, 
 but has not obtained it until the present time. I have no 
 doubt he is a good fellow and a good officer. He ranks 
 next to me. But, Somers, I leave town in half an hour," 
 continued Mr. "Waldron, consulting his watch. *' I am 
 going to run home for a few days, till the ship goes into 
 commission. I will see you here on my return." 
 
 Somers walked to the railroad station with his late 
 commander, and parted with him as the train started. 
 During the three succeeding days, he visited the mu- 
 
32 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 senms, libraries, and other places of resort, interesting to 
 a young man of bis tastes. He -went to the navy yard 
 eVery day, and, witb bis usual zeal, learned wbat he 
 could of the build, rig, and armament of the Chatauqua, 
 and gathered such other information relating to bis pro- 
 fession as would be useful to him in the future. 
 
 Lieutenant Pillgrim passed his time in a different man- 
 ner. Though be "was not what the ■world would call an 
 intemperate or an, immoral man, he spent many of his 
 hours in bar-rooms, billiard-saloons, and places of public 
 amusement. He several times invited Somers to "join" 
 him at the bar, to play at billiards, and to visit the thea- 
 tre, and other places of more questionable morality. 
 The young officer was not a prude, but he never drank, 
 did not know how to play billiards, and never visited a 
 gambling resort. He went to the theatre two or three 
 times ; but this was the limit of his indulgence. 
 
 Mr. Pillgi'im was courteous and gentlemanly ; he did 
 not press his invitations. He treated his brother ofiicer 
 with the utmost kindness and consideration ; was always 
 ready, and even forward, to serve him ; and their rela- 
 tions were of the pleasantest character. 
 
 One evening, when Somers called at the office for the 
 key of his room, after his return from the navy yard, a 
 letter was handed to him. The writing w^as an unfamil- 
 iar hand, scrawling and hardly legible. It was evidently 
 the production of an illiterate person. On reaching hia 
 room he opened it. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK, 33 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE -WOUNDED SAILOR. 
 
 /^jfc^HE curiosity of Somers was not a little excited 
 #1 before lie opened the uncouth letter in his hand. 
 ^^Jy It was postmarked Philadelphia, which made its 
 reception all the more strange, for he had no friends or 
 acquaintances residing in the city. He tore open the 
 dirty epistle, which was not even enclosed in an envelope, 
 and read as follows : — 
 
 PillLA. June the 19. 1864. 
 
 Mr. John Somers Esq. Sir. I been wounded in the 
 leg up the Missippi and can not do nothing more. I 
 been in your division aboard the Rosalie, and I know 
 you was a good man and I know you was a good officer, 
 I hope you be in good helth, as I am not at this present 
 writen. my Leg is very bad, and don't git no better. 
 This is to inform you that I am the only son of a poor 
 widdow, who has no other Son, and she can not do noth- 
 ing for me, nor I can't do nothing for her. I have Font 
 for my countrey and have been woundded in the servii. 
 
34 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 If you could git a penshin for me. it would be a grate 
 help to me Sorrowin condition. I live No — Front Street. 
 If I miglit make bold to ask you to come and see a old 
 Sailor, thrown on the beam ends of missfortune, I would 
 be very thankful to you. 
 
 Yours to command, 
 
 Tho.aias Barron. 
 
 N. B. The doctor says he thinks my Leg will have 
 to come olF. 
 
 Tom Longstone knows me, and you ask him, he will 
 tell you all About me. 
 
 " Thomas Barron," mused Somers, as he folded the 
 letter. " I don't remember him. There were two or 
 three Toms on board the Rosalie. At any rate, I have 
 nothing better to do than call upon him. He is an old 
 sailor, and that is enough for me." 
 
 It was already after dark ; but he decided to visit the 
 sufferer that night, and after tea he left the house for 
 this purpose. He was suthciently acquainted with the 
 streets of this systematic city to make his way without 
 assistance. Of course he did not expect to find the home 
 of the old sailor in a wealthy and aristocratic portion of 
 the city ; but if he had understood the character of the 
 section to which the direction led him, he would probably 
 have deferred his charitable mission till the following 
 day. On reaching the vicinity of the place indicated, he 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 35 
 
 found himself in a vile locality, surrounded by llie lowest 
 and most depraved of the population. 
 
 AVith considerable dilliculty he found the number men- 
 tioned in the letter. The lower story of the building was 
 occupied as a liquor shop, and a further examination of 
 the premises assured him the place was a sailor's board- 
 ing-house. As this fact was not inconsistent with the 
 character of Tom Barron, he entered the shop. Half a 
 dozen vagabonds had possession ; and as Somers entered, 
 the attention of the whole group was directed to him. 
 
 " Is there a sailor by the name of Thomas Barron in 
 this house ? " asked Somers of the gi-easy, corpulent 
 woman, who stood behind about four feet of counter, 
 forming the bar, on which were displayed several bottles 
 and decanters. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; and very bad he is too," replied the 
 woman, civilly enough, though the young officer could 
 hardly help shuddering in her presence. 
 
 "Could I see him?" 
 
 " I 'spect you can, if you be the otHcer Tom says is 
 comin' to see him." 
 
 " I am the person." 
 
 " Tom's very bad." 
 
 " So he says in his letter." 
 
 " He hain't had a minute's peace or comfort with that 
 leg sence he come home from the war. Be you any 
 r^uition of his ? " 
 
36 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " I am not." 
 
 " Mebbe you're his friend.'* 
 
 " He served under me in the Rosalie." 
 
 "Tom hain't paid no board for two months, which 
 comes hard on a poor woman like me, takin' care of him, 
 and his mother too, that come here to nuss him." 
 
 " Perhaps something can be done for him." 
 
 " Well, I hope so. I don't see how I can keep him 
 any longer. He owes me forty dollars. If any body '11 
 pay half on't, I'd keep on doin' for him." 
 
 " I will see what can be done for him. TThv was he 
 not sent to the hospital ? " 
 
 " He's too bad to be sent, and he don't w^ant to go, 
 nuther. He says the doctors try speriments on poor 
 fellers like him, and he don't want to be cut up afore 
 he 's dead." 
 
 " "Well, I will endeavor to havt something done for 
 him. I am entirely willing to help him as much as I 
 can. 
 
 " Perhaps you'd be willin' to do sunthin' towards 
 payin' my bill, then." 
 
 " Perhaps I will ; but I wish to see the man before I 
 do anything. "Will you show me to his room ? " 
 
 " I don't go up and down stairs none now. Here, 
 Childs, you show this gentleman up to the front room," 
 said the landlady to one of the vagabonds before her. 
 " Then go and tell Tom his officer has come. I suppose 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 87 
 
 they '11 want to slick up a little, afore they let you in ; 
 but Miss BarroQ will tell you when she is ready." 
 
 Somers followed the man up a flight of rickety stairs, 
 and was ushered into the front room. It was a bed- 
 chamber, supplied with the rudest and coarsest furniture. 
 The visitor sat down, after telling Childs that the sailor's 
 mother need not stop to " slick up " before he was 
 admitted. He did not like the surroundings, even in- 
 dependent of the villanous odors that rose from the 
 groggery, and those that were engendered in the apart- 
 ment where he sat. Slush and tar were agreeable per- 
 fumes, compared with those which assaulted his sense 
 in this chamber ; and he hop6d Mrs. Barron would 
 humiliate her pride to an extent which would permit him 
 to make a speedy exit from the house. 
 
 Mrs. Barron, however, appeared not to be in a hurry, 
 and Somers waited ten minutes by his watch, which 
 seemed to expand into a full hour before he heard a 
 sound to disturb the monotony of the chamber's quiet. 
 But when it was disturbed, it was in such a manner that 
 he forgot all about the place and the odors, the hour and 
 the occasion, and even the poor sailor, who hud so 
 piteously appealed to him for assistance. 
 
 In the rear of the room in which Somers sat, thcro 
 Avas a door communicating with another apartment. 
 The house was old and out of repair ; and this door, 
 never very nicely adjusted, was uow warped and thrown 
 
 4 
 
38 BRAVE OLD SALT, OH 
 
 out of place, so that great cracks ya^vned arouud the 
 edges, and whatever was said or done in one room, of 
 which any knowledge could be obtained by the sense of 
 hearing, was immediately patent to the occupants of the 
 other. Somers heard footsteps in the rear room, though 
 the parties appeared not to have come up the stairs by 
 which he had ascended. The rattling of chairs and of 
 glass ware next saluted his ears ; but as yet Somers 
 bad not the slightest interest in the business of the ad- 
 joining apartment, and only wished that Mrs. Barron 
 would speedily complete the preparations for his re- 
 ception. 
 
 " It's danoferous business," said one of the men in the 
 rear room ; which remark followed a smack of the lips, 
 and a rude depositing of the glass on the table, indicating 
 that the speaker had just swallowed his dram. 
 
 The man uttered his remark in a loud tone, exhibiting 
 a strange carelessness, if the matter in hand was as dan- 
 gerous as the words implied. 
 
 " I know it is dangerous, Langdon," said another per- 
 son, in a voice which instantly riveted the attention of 
 the listener. 
 
 Somers heard the voice. It startled him, and he had 
 no eye, ear, or thought for anything but the individual 
 who had last spoken. If he had considered his position 
 at all, it would only have been to wish that Mrs. Barron 
 might be as proud as a Chestnut Street belle, in order to 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTETi DECK. 89 
 
 afford him time to inform himself in relation to the 
 business of the men who occupied the other room. 
 
 *' You have been shut up in Fort Lafayette once," 
 added the first speaker. 
 
 " In a good cause I am willing to go again," replied 
 the voice so familiar to the ears of Somers. *' I lost 
 eighty thousand dollars in a venture just like this. I 
 must get my money back." 
 
 " If you can, Coles." 
 
 Coles ! But Somers did not need to have his identity 
 confirmed by the use of his name. He knew Coles's 
 voice. At Newport he had lain in the fore-sheets of the 
 academy boat, and heard Coles and Phil Kennedy ma- 
 ture their plan to place the Snowden on the ocean, as a 
 Confederate cruiser. He had listened to the whole con- 
 versation on that occasion, and the knowledge he had 
 thus obtained enabled the government to capture the 
 steamer, and defeat the intentions of the conspirators. 
 
 The last Somers had known of Coles, he was a pris- 
 oner in Fort Lafayette. Probably he had been released 
 by the same influence which set Phil Kennedy at liberty, 
 and permitted him to continue his career of treason and 
 plunder. Coles had lost eighty thousand dollars by his 
 speculation in the Snowden, for one half of -svhich Ken- 
 nedy was holden to him ; but the bond had been effectu- 
 ally cancelled by the death of the principal. Coles 
 wanted his money back. It was a very natural desire ; 
 
40 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 but Somers could not help considering it as a very ex- 
 travagant one, under present circumstances. 
 
 The listener could not help regarding it as a most 
 remarkable thing, that he should again be within hear- 
 ing of Coles, engaged in plotting treason. Such an 
 event might happen once ; but that it should occur a 
 second time was absolutely marvellous. If our readers 
 are of the opinion that the writer is too severely taxing 
 their credulity in imposing the situation just described 
 upon them, he begs they will suspend their judgment till 
 the sequel justifies him. 
 
 It was so strange to Somers, that he could not help 
 thinking he had been brought there by some mysterious 
 power to listen to and defeat the intentions of the con- 
 spirators. He was not so far wrong as he might have 
 been. It was Coles who spoke ; it was Coles who had 
 been in Fort Lafayette ; and it was Coles who had lost 
 eighty thousand dollars by the Snowden. All these things 
 were real, and Somers had no suspicion that he had in- 
 haled some of the vile compounds in the bar below, 
 which might have thrown him into a stupor wherein he 
 dreamed the astounding situation in which he was actu- 
 ally placed. 
 
 Somers listened, and when Coles had mixed and drank 
 his dram, he spoke again. 
 
 " I can and Avill get my money back," said he, with 
 an oath which froze the blood of the listener. 
 
IIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK, 41 
 
 •' LJont believe it, Coles." 
 
 " You know rac, Langdon," added the plotter, Avith a 
 peculiar emphasis. 
 
 Langdon acknowledged that he did know him ; and as 
 there was, therefore, no need of an introduction, Coles 
 proceeded. 
 
 " You know me, Langdon ; I don't make any mistakes 
 myself." __ 
 
 Perhaps Langdon knew it ; but Somers had some 
 doubts, which, however, he did not purpose to urge on 
 this occasion. 
 
 " Phil Kennedy was a fool," added Coles, with another 
 oath. " He spoiled all my plans before, and I was glad 
 when I heard that he was killed, though I lost forty 
 thousand dollars Avlien he slipped out. He spilt the milk 
 for me." 
 
 Somers thought not. 
 
 '* Phil Avas smart about some things ; but he couldn't 
 keep a hotel. Why, that young pup that finally gave 
 him his quietus, twirled him around his fingers, like he 
 had been a school girl." 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Coles ; but I shall have the pleas- 
 ure of serving you in the same way before many weeks," 
 thought Somers, flattered by this warm and disinterested 
 tribute to his strategetic ability. 
 
 " You mean Somers?" said Lancrdon. 
 
 " I mean Somers. Tlic young pup isn't twenty-one 
 4. * 
 
42 BR ATE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 yet, but he is the smartest man in the old navy, by all 
 odds, whether the others be admirals, commodores, lieu- 
 tenants, or what not." 
 
 " That's higli praise, Coles." 
 
 " It's true. If he wasn't an imfernal Yankee, I would 
 drink his health in this old Bourbon. Good liquor — isn't 
 it, Langdon ? " 
 
 " Like the juice of a diamond." 
 
 " I would give more for this Soraers than I would for 
 any four rear admirals. He has just been appointed to 
 the Chatauqua ; but he will be in command of some small 
 craft down South, before many months, doing more mis- 
 chief to us than any four first-class steamers in the ser- 
 vice. He is as brave as a young lion ; knows a ship 
 from keel to truck, and is as familiar with every bolt and 
 pin of an engine as though he had been a machinist all 
 his life." 
 
 "Big thing, eh, Coles?" 
 
 " If I had this Somers, I could make his fortune and 
 mine in a year, and have a million surplus besides." 
 
 " What would you do with him? " 
 
 " I would give him the command of my steamer. I 
 would rather have him in that place than all the old 
 grannies in the Confederate navy." 
 
 Somers thought Mr. Coles was rather extravagant. 
 He had no idea that Mr. Ensign Somers was one tenth 
 part of the man which the amiable and patronizing Mr. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUAIiTER DECK. 43 
 
 Coles declared he was ; and he was impatient to have 
 the speaker announce his intentions, rather than waste 
 any more time in such unwarrantable commendation. 
 
 But instead of telling what he intended to do, he con- 
 fined himself most provokingly to what he had failed to 
 do, giving Langdon minute details of the capture of the 
 Thebau and the Snowden, dwelling with peculiar empha- 
 sis on the agency of Somers in the work. This was not 
 interesting to the listener, but something better soon 
 followed. 
 
44 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE FRONT CHAMBER. 
 
 L T I am going to get back the money I lost, and 
 make a pile besides," said Coles, when he had 
 fully detailed the events attending the loss of the 
 Snowden. 
 
 " If you can," added the sceptical Langdon. 
 
 " Of course there is some risk, but my plans are so 
 well laid that a failure is hardly possible," continued 
 Coles. 
 
 " It was possible before." 
 
 " Nothing but an accident could have defeated my 
 plan before. Everything worked to my satisfaction, 
 and I was sure of success." 
 
 " But you failed."' 
 
 " I shall not fail again." 
 
 " I hope not." 
 
 " Then believe I shall not," retorted Coles, apparently 
 irritated by the doubts and fears of his companion. 
 
 " It is not safe to believe too much," added Langdon, 
 with a kind of chuckle, whose force Somers could hardly 
 understand ; " you believed too much before." 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 
 
 45 
 
 " I luivc been more cautious this time, and I wouldn't 
 give anybody five per cent, to insure the venture." 
 
 Somers Avas becoming very impatient to hear the par- 
 ticulars of the plan, for he was in momentary fear of 
 being summoned to the bedside of the wounded sailor. 
 Coles was most provokingly deliberate in the discussion 
 of his treasonable project ; but when the naval officer 
 considered that the conversation was not especially 
 intended for him, he did not very severely censure the 
 conspirators for their tardiness. 
 
 " I don't understand what your plan is," said Langdon. 
 
 *' Nor I either," was Somers's facetious thought. 
 
 '' I will tell you all about it. Are there any ears 
 within hail of us ? " 
 
 " Not an ear." 
 
 " Is there anybody in the front room? " 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Are you sure?" 
 
 " The old woman told me the front room was not 
 occupied. She sent in there an officer who wanted to 
 see a sick sailor up stairs ; but he is gone before this 
 
 time." 
 
 " Perhaps not ; make sure on this point before I open 
 my mouth. I have no idea of being tripped up this 
 time," said the cautious Coles. 
 
 " I will look into the front room," added Langdon, 
 " though I know there is no one there." 
 
46 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 Soraers was rather auuoyed at this demonstration of 
 prudence ; but it was quite natural, and he was all the 
 more interested to hear the rest of the conference. Dis- 
 missing for a moment the dignity of the quarter deck, 
 he dropped hastily on the floor, and crawled under the 
 bed, concluding that Langdon, who Avas already fully 
 satisfied the front room was empty, would not push his 
 investigations to an unreasonable extent. But he had 
 already prepared himself for the worst, and if his pres- 
 ence were detected, he resolved to take advantage of the 
 high estimation in which, he was held, and, for his coun- 
 try's good, proposed to offer his valuable services in 
 getting the piratical ship to sea. He could thus obtam 
 the secret, and defeat the purposes of the conspirators. 
 
 He fortunately avoided the necessity of resorting to 
 this disagreeable course, for Langdon only opened the 
 door, and glanced into the chamber he occupied. 
 
 " The room is empty," he reported to Coles, on his 
 return. 
 
 " There are cracks around this door bi^j: enouo-h to 
 crawl through. Somebody may go into that room with- 
 out being heard, and listen to all I say." 
 
 " There is no danger." 
 
 " But there is danger ; and I will not leave the ghost 
 of a chance to be discovered. Langdon, lock that front 
 room, and put the key in your pocket. I must have 
 things perfectly secure before I open my mouth." 
 
LIFE OS THE QLAHTER DECK. 47 
 
 Langdou complied with the request of his principal ; 
 the door was locked, aud Sorners, without much doubt 
 or distrust, fouud his retreat cut gif for the present. 
 But, at last, everything was fixed to the entire satisfac- 
 tion of Coles. The glasses clinked again, indicating 
 that the worthies had fortified themselves with another 
 dose from the bottle. Somers crawled out from under 
 the bed, and heedless of the dust which whitened his 
 new uniform, placed himself in a comfortable position, 
 where he could hear all that w^as said by the confederates. 
 
 Coles now told his story in a straightforward, direct 
 manner, and Somers made memoranda on the back of a 
 letter of the principal facts in the statement. The arch 
 conspirator had just purchased a fine iron side-wheel 
 steamer, captured on the blockade, called the Ben Xevis. 
 She was about four hundred tons burden, and under 
 favorable circumstances had often made sixteen knots an 
 hour. It had already been announced in the newspapers 
 that the Ben Nevis would run regularly between New 
 York and St. John. Coles intended to clear her properly 
 for her destined port, where she could, by an arrange- 
 ment already made, be supplied with guns, ammunition, 
 and a crew. She was to clear regularly for New York, 
 but instead of proceeding there was to commence her 
 piratical course on the ocean. 
 
 This was the plan of the worthy Mr. Coles, which 
 Langdou permitted him to develop without a single 
 
48 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 interruption. But the prudent, or rather critical, con- 
 federate raised many objections, which were discussed 
 at great length — so great that Somers, possessed of the 
 principal facts, would have left the room, if the door had 
 not been locked, and escaped from the house, so as to 
 avoid the possibility of being discovered. The wounded 
 sailor could be attended to on the following day. 
 
 " But one thing we lack," continued Coles, after he 
 had removed all the objections of his companion. 
 
 " More than one, I fear," said the doubtful Langdon. 
 
 " Well, one thing more than all others." 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 " A naval officer to command her." 
 
 " There are plenty of them." 
 
 " No doubt of it ; but they are not the kind I want. 1 
 need a man who will play into my hand, as w^ell as grind 
 up the Yankees. I have no idea of burning all the 
 property captured by my vessel." 
 
 " Why don't you take command yourself ? " 
 
 *' I have other business to do." 
 
 " There are scores of Confederate naval officers in 
 Canada and New Brunswick," suggested Langdon. 
 
 " I know them all, and I wouldn't trust them to com- 
 mand a mud-scow. In a word, Langdon, I Avant this 
 Somers, and I must have him." 
 
 " But he is a northern Yankee. He would sooner cut 
 his own throat than engage in such an enterprise." 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 49 
 
 " Thank you for that," said Somers to himself. " If 
 you had known me all my lifetime, you couldn't have 
 said a better or a truer thing of me." 
 
 " I know he is actually reeking with what he calls 
 loyalty. He will be a hard subject, but I think he can 
 be brought over." 
 
 *' Perhaps he can." 
 
 *' It must be done ; that is the view we must take of 
 the matter." 
 
 " It will be easier to believe it than to do it." 
 
 *' This is to be your share of the enterprise." 
 
 "Mine?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 '.' Well, I think you have given me the biggest job in 
 the work." 
 
 " It can be done," said Coles, confidently. " Somers 
 is a mere boy in years, though he is smarter and knows 
 more than any man in the navy in the prime of life." 
 
 " I'm afraid he is too smart, and knows too much to 
 be caught in such a scrape." 
 
 " No ; he is young and ambitious. Offer him a com- 
 mission as a commander in the Confederate navy, to 
 begin with. I have the commission duly signed by the 
 president of the Confederacy, countersigned by the secre- 
 tary of the navy, with a blank for the name of the man 
 who receives it, which I am authorized to fill up as I 
 think best. Somers must have this commission." 
 5 
 
50 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " If he will take it." 
 
 " He Avill take it. In the old navy he is nothing but 
 a paltry ensign. He has been kept back; His merit 
 has been ignored. He must stand out of the way for 
 numskulls and old fogies. Even if the. war should last 
 ten years longer, he could not reach the rank, in that 
 time, which I now tender him. He will at once be offered 
 the command of a fine steamer, and may walk the quar- 
 ter deck like a king. He is ambitious, and if you ap- 
 proach him in the right way, you can win him over." 
 
 Somers listened with interest to this precious scheme. 
 He did not even feel complimented by the exalted opinion 
 which such a man as Coles entertained of him. It 
 Avould be a pleasant thing for a young man like him to 
 be a commander, and have a fine steamer ; but as he 
 could regard only with horror the idea of firing a gun at 
 a vessel bearing the stars and stripes, he was not even 
 tempted by the bait ; and he turned his thoughts from it 
 without the necessity of a " Get thee behind me, Satan," 
 in dismissing it. 
 
 " Where is this Somers?" asked Langdon. 
 
 " He is at the Continental," replied Coles. " He has 
 been appointed fourth lieutenant of the Chatauqua ; but 
 what a position for a man of his abilities ! He is better 
 qualified to command the ship than the numskull to 
 whom she has been given. Waldron, the first lieutenant, 
 is smart : he ought to be conmiander ; though I think 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER UEOAr. 51 
 
 Somers did all the hard work in Doboy SouTiU, for which 
 Waklron got the credit, aud lor which Im was promoted. 
 Pillgrim, the second lieutenant, is a renegade Virginian." 
 
 " We hud some hopes of him, at one time," said 
 Laugdon. 
 
 " He is worse than a Vermont Yankee now — has been 
 all along, for that matter. I tried to do sonixilhing witli 
 him, but he talked about the old flag, and other bosh of 
 that sort." 
 
 " Let him go," added Laugdon, with becoming resig- 
 nation. 
 
 " Let him go ! He never went. He has always been 
 a Yankee at heart. If the navy department wouldu^t 
 trust him, it was their fault, not his, for the South has 
 not had a worse enemy than he since the first gun^'as 
 fired at Sumter. He is none the better, and all the 
 more dangerous to us, because he gives the South credit 
 for skill and bravery." 
 
 Somers was pleased to hear this good account of Lieu- 
 tenant Pillgrim ; not because he had any doubt in regard 
 to his loyalty, but because it confirmed the good impres- 
 sion he had received of his travelling companion. If 
 the conspirators would only have graciously condescended 
 to resolve the doubts in his mind in regard to some 
 indefinite previous acquaintance he had had with the 
 second lieutenant of the Chatauqua, he would have been 
 greatly obliged to them. They did not do this, and Som- 
 
^52 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 ers was still annoyed and puzzled by the belief, patent to 
 his consciousness, that he had somewhere been intimate 
 with the " renegade Virginian," before they met at the 
 house of Commodore Portington. 
 
 " Now, Langdon, you must contrive to meet Somers, 
 sound him, and bring him over. You must be cautious 
 with him. He is a young man of good morals — never 
 drinks, gambles, or goes to bad places. He is a perfect 
 gentleman in his manners, never swears, and is the pet 
 of the chaplains." 
 
 " I think I can lyianage him." 
 
 " I know you can ; I have picked you out of a hun- 
 dred smart fellows for this work." 
 
 " How will it do for me to put on a white choker, and 
 approach him as a doctor of divinity." 
 
 " You can't humbug him." 
 
 " If I can't, why should I try?" 
 
 " If you should pretend to be a clergyman, and he 
 smelt the whiskey in your breath, he would set you down 
 as a hypocrite at once." 
 
 " That's so," thought Somers. 
 ' " He wouldn't listen to a preacher who drank whis- 
 key. He is a fanatic on these points." 
 
 Somers could not imagine where Coles had obtained 
 such an intimate knowledge of his views and principles ; 
 though, if he wanted his services in the Confederate 
 navy, it was probable he had made diligent inquiries in 
 regard to his opinions and habits. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 5t 
 
 "I think I could blind him as a D.D., but I am not 
 strenuous." 
 
 " You had better get acquainted ^vith him in some 
 other capacity." 
 
 *' As you please ; I will think over the matter, and be 
 ready to make a strike to-morrow morning. What time 
 is it?" 
 
 " Quarter past ten." 
 
 " So late ! I must be off at once." 
 
 Somers heard the clatter of glass-ware again, as the 
 conspirators took the parting libation. lie listened to 
 their retreating footsteps, heard Langdon return the key, 
 and then began to wonder what had become of Tom 
 Barron and his mother. He had waited more than two 
 hours in the front room, and no summons had come for 
 him to see the wounded sailor. It was very singular, to 
 say the least ; but while he was deliberating on the point, 
 a hand was placed on the door of the chamber. The 
 key turned, and a person entered. 
 
 Now, Somers had a very strong objection to being 
 seen after what had occurred. If discovered in this 
 room, Coles might see him, and finding his plans dis- 
 covered, might change them so as to defeat the ends of 
 justice. And the listener felt that, if detected in this 
 apartment by the conspirators, they would not scruple to 
 take his life in order to save themselves and their 
 schemes. 
 
 5* 
 
64 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 For these reasons Somers decided not to be seen. 
 The person "vvho entered the room was a rough, sea- 
 faring man, and evidently intended to sleep there, which 
 Somers was entirely willing he should do, if it could be 
 done without imperilling his personal safety. He there- 
 fore crawled under the bed again, as quietly as possible. 
 Unfortunately it was not quietly enough to escape the 
 observation of the lodger, who, not being of the timid sort, 
 seized him by the leg, dragged him out, and with a 
 volley of marine oaths, began to kick him with his heavy 
 boot. 
 
 Somers sprang to his feet, and attempted to explain ; 
 but the indignant seaman struck him a heavy blow on 
 the head, which felled him senseless on the floor. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. * 55 
 
 » 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 SOMERS COMES TO HIS SENSES. 
 
 (^0^'^ HEX Soraers opened his eyes, about half an 
 hour after the striking event just narrated, 
 and became conscious that he -was still in 
 the land of the living, he was lying on tlie bed in his 
 chamber at the Continental. By his side stood Lieuten- 
 ant Pill<rrim and a surfreon. 
 
 " Where am I ? " asked the young officer, using the 
 original expression made and provided for occasions of 
 this kind. 
 
 *' You are here, my dear fellow," replied the lieutenant. 
 
 This valuable information seemed to afford the injured 
 party a great deal of consolation, for he looked around 
 the apartment, not wildly, as he would have done if this 
 book were a novel, but with a look of perplexity and 
 dissatisfaction. As Mr. Ensign Somers was eminently 
 a fighting man on all proper occasions, he probably felt 
 displeased with himself to think he had giveii the stal- 
 wart seaman so easy a victory ; for he distinctly remem- 
 bered the affair in which he had been so rudely treated, 
 
66 • LEAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 though there was a great gulf between the past and the 
 present in his recollection. 
 
 " How do you feel, Mr. Soraers ? " asked the surgeon. 
 
 " The fact that I feel at all is quite enough for me at 
 the present time, without going into the question as to 
 how I feel," feplied the patient, with a sickly smile. *'I 
 don't exactly know how I do feel. My ideas are rather 
 confused." 
 
 " I should think they might be," added the surgeon. 
 '* You have had a hard rap on the head." 
 
 " So I should judge, for my brain is rather muddled." 
 
 " Does^your head pain you? " asked the medical gen- 
 tleman, placing his hand on the injured part. 
 
 " It does not exactly pain me, but it feels rather sore. 
 I think I will get up, and see how that affects me." 
 
 Somers got up, and immediately came to the conclu- 
 sion that he was not very badly damaged ; and the sur- 
 geon was happy to corroborate his opinion. "With the 
 exception of a soreness over the left temple, he felt pretty 
 well. The blow from the iron fist of the burly seaman 
 had stunned him ; and the kicks received from the big 
 boots of the assailant had produced sundry black and 
 blue places on his body, which a man not accustomed to 
 hard knocks might have looked upon with suspicion, but 
 to which Somers paid no attention. 
 
 The surgeon had carefully examined him before his 
 consciousness returned, and was fully satisfied that he 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 57 
 
 had not been seriously injured. Somers Avalked across 
 the room two or three times, and bathed his head with 
 cold water, which in a great measure restored the con- 
 sistency of his ideas. He felt a little sore, but he soon 
 became as chipper and as cheerful as an early robin. 
 His first thought was, that he had escaped being mur- 
 dered, and he was devoutly thankful to God for the 
 mercy which had again spared his life. 
 
 The doctor, after giving him some directions in regard 
 to his head, and the black and blue spots on his body, 
 left the room. He was a naval surgeon, a guest in the 
 hotel, and promised to see his patient again in the 
 morning. 
 
 " How do you feel, Somers ? " asked Lieutenant Pill- 
 grim, who sat on the bed, gazing with interest, not un- 
 mixed with anxiety, at his companion. 
 
 " I feel pretty well, considering the hard rap I got on 
 the head." 
 
 *' You have a hard head, Somers." 
 
 "Why so?" 
 
 "If you liad not, you would have been a dead man. 
 The fellow pounded you with his fist, which is about as 
 heavy as an anvil, and kicked you with his boots, which 
 are large enough and stout enough to make two very 
 respectable gunboats." 
 
 " Things are rather mixed in my mind," added Som- 
 ers, rubbing his head again, as if to explain how a 
 
58 BRAJ-E OLD SALT, Oli 
 
 Strong-minded young man like himself should be troubled 
 in his upper works. 
 
 " I am not surprised at that. You have remained in- 
 sensible more than half an hour. I was afraid, before 
 the surgeon saw you, that your pipe was out, and you had 
 become a D.D. Avithout taking orders." 
 
 " I think I had a narrow escape. TVliat a tiger the 
 fellow was that pitched into me ! " 
 
 " It was all a mistake on his part." 
 
 *' Perhaps it was ; but that don't make my head feel 
 any better. Who is he, and what is he ? " 
 
 " He is the captain of a coaster. He had consider- 
 able money in his pocket, and he thought you had con- 
 cealed yourself in his room for the purpose of robbing 
 him. "\Mien he saw that you were an officer in the 
 navy, he was overwhelmed with confusion, and really 
 felt very bad about it." 
 
 " I don't know that I blame him for what he did. 
 Tinder the circumstances. His conclusion was not a very 
 unnatural one. I don't exactly comprehend how I hap- 
 pen to be in the Continental House, after these stunning 
 events." 
 
 " Don't you?" said Pillgrim, vrith a smile. 
 
 " If I had been in condition to expect anything, I 
 should naturally have expected to find myself, on coming 
 to my senses, in the low groggery where I received the 
 blows." 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 59 
 
 " That is very easily accotmted for. I happened to be 
 at the house when you were struck do^vn. I was in the 
 lower room, and heard the row. With others I went up 
 to see what the matter was. I had a carriage in the 
 street, and when I recognized you, the captain of the 
 coaster, at my request, took you up in his arms like a 
 baby, carried you down into the street, and put you into 
 the vehicle, and you were brought here. I presume this 
 will fill up the entire gap in your recollection." 
 
 " It is all as clear as mud now," laughed Soraers. 
 " Mr. Pillgrim, I am very grateful to you for the kind 
 oiRces you rendered me." 
 
 "Don't mention it, my dear fellow. I should have 
 been worse than a brute if I had done any less than I 
 did." 
 
 " That may be ; but my gratitude is none the less ear- 
 nest on that account. Those are villanous people in that 
 liouse, and I might have been butchered and cut up, if I 
 had been left there." 
 
 " I think not. The captain of the coaster is evidently 
 an honest man ; at any rate he is very sorry for what he 
 did. But, S6mers, my dear fellow, — you will pardon 
 me if I seem impertinent, — how did you happen to be in 
 such a place ? " continued Mr. Pillgrim, with a certain 
 affectation of slyness in his look, as though he had 
 caught tlte exemplary young man in a house where he 
 would not have been willing to be seen. 
 
60 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 "How did you happen to be there?" demanded 
 Somers. 
 
 *' I don't profess to be a very proper person. I take 
 my whiskey when I want it." 
 
 " So do I ; and the only difference between us is, th^t 
 I never happen to want it." 
 
 " I did not go into that house for my whiskey, though. 
 It is rather strange that we should both happen into such 
 a place at the same time." 
 
 " Rather strange." 
 
 " But I will tell you why I w^as there," added Pill- 
 grim. " I received a letter from a wounded sailor, ask- 
 ing me to call upon him, and assist him in obtaining a 
 pension." 
 
 " Did you, indeed ! " exclaimed Somers, amazed at this 
 exjDlanation. " You have also told how I happened to 
 be there." 
 
 "How was that?" 
 
 " I received just such a letter as that you describe," 
 replied Somers, taking the dirty epistle from his pocket, 
 which he opened and exhibited to his brother officer. 
 
 " The handwriting is the same, and the substance of 
 both letters is essentially the same. That's odd — isn't 
 it ? " continued the lieutenant, as he drew the epistle he 
 had received from his pocket. " I got mine when I 
 came in, about ten o'clock ; and thinking I mfght go to 
 New York in the morning for a couple of days, I thought 
 I would attend to the matter at once." 
 
LIFE ON THE QV MITER DECK. CI 
 
 Somers took the letters, and compared them. They 
 were written by the same person, on the same kind of 
 paper, and were both mailed on the same day. 
 
 *' This looks rather suspicious to me," added Pillgrim, 
 reflecting on the circumstances. 
 
 " Why suspicious?" 
 
 "Why should both of us have been called? Tom 
 Barron claims to have served with me, as he did with 
 you. I don't remember any such person." 
 
 " Neither do I." 
 
 " Did you find out whether there was any such person 
 at the house as Tom Barron ? " 
 
 " The woman at the bar told me there was a wounded 
 sailor there whose description answered to that contained 
 in the letter." 
 
 " So she told me. Did you see him?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 " I did not ; and between you and me, I don't believe 
 there is any Tom Barron there, or anywhere else. This 
 business must be investigated," said Pillgrim, very de- 
 cidedly. 
 
 Somers did not wish it to be investigated. He was 
 utterly opposed to an investigation, for he was fearful, if 
 the matter should be " ventilated," that more would be 
 shown than he was willing to have exhibited at the pres- 
 ent time ; in other words. Coles would find out that his en- 
 terprising scheme had been exposed to a third person. 
 6 
 
62 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " I don't care to be mixed up in any revelations of 
 low life, Mr. Pillgi'im ; and, as I have lost nothing, and 
 the hard knocks I received were given under a mistake, 
 I think I would rather let the matter rest just where 
 it is." 
 
 " Very natural for a young man of your style,** 
 laughed the lieutenant. "'You are afraid the people of 
 Pinchbrook will read in the papers that Mr. Somers has 
 been in bad places." 
 
 '* They might put a wrong construction on the case," 
 replied Somers, willing to have his reasons for avoiding 
 an investigation as strong as possible. 
 
 " I can hand these letters over to the police, and let 
 the officers inquire into the matter," added Pillgrim. 
 " They need not call any names." 
 
 " I would rather not stir up the dirty pool. Besides, 
 Tom Barron and his mother may be in the house, after 
 all. There is no evidence to the contrary." 
 
 " I shall satisfy myself on that point by another visit 
 to the house. If I find there is such a person there, I 
 shall be satisfied." 
 
 " That will be the better way." 
 
 Just then it occurred to Somers that Coles might have 
 seen him while he was insensible, and was already aware 
 that his scheme had miscarried. He questioned Pill- 
 grim, therefore, in regard to the persons in the bar-room 
 when he entered. From the answers received he satis- 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. C3 
 
 fied himself that tlic conspirators hud departed before 
 the •"' row " iu the frout room occurred. 
 
 " Now, Somers, I am going down to that house again 
 before I sleep," said the lieutenant. " This time, I shall 
 take my revolver. Will you go with me ? " 
 
 " I don't feel exactly able to go out again to-night. 
 My head doesn't feel just right," replied Somers, who, 
 however, had other reasons for keeping his room, the 
 principal of which was the fear that he might meet Coles 
 there, and that, by some accident, his presence iu the 
 front room during the conference might be disclosed. 
 
 " I think you are right, Somers. You had better 
 keep still to-night," said Fillgrim. " Shall I send you 
 up anything ? " 
 
 '^ Thank you ; I don't need anything." 
 
 " A glass of Bourbon whiskey would do you good. 
 It would quiet your nerves, and put you to sleep." 
 
 '^ Perhaps it would, but I shall lie awake on those 
 terms." 
 
 " Don't be bigoted, my dear fellow. Of course I pre- 
 scribe the whiskey as a medicine." 
 
 " You are no surgeon." 
 
 " It would quiet your nerves." 
 
 " Let them kick, if nothing but whiskey will quiet 
 them," laughed Somers. " Seriously, Mr. Pillgrim, I 
 am very much obliged to you for your kindness, and for 
 your interest in me ; but I think I shall be better without 
 the whiskey than with it.'* 
 
^4 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " As you please, Somers. If you arc up wlien I re- 
 turn, I will tell you what I find at the house." 
 
 " Thank you ; I will leave my door unfastened." 
 
 Mr. Pillgrim left the room to make his perilous exam- 
 ination of the locality of his friend's misfortunes. Som- 
 ers walked the apartment, nervous and excited, consid- 
 ering the events of the evening. He then seated himself, 
 and carefully wrote out the statement of Coles in regard 
 to the Ben Nevis, and the method by which he purposed 
 to operate in getting her to sea as a Confederate cruiser, 
 with extended memoranda of all the conversation to 
 which he had listened. Before he had finished this task, 
 Lieutenant Pillgrim returned. 
 
 " It is all right," said he, as he entered the room. 
 
 "What's all right?" 
 
 " There is such a person as Thomas Barron. The 
 facts contained in the letters are essentially true." 
 
 " Then no investigation is necessary," replied Somers, 
 with a feeling of relief. 
 
 " None whatever ; to-morrow I will see that the poor 
 fellow is sent to the hospital, and his mother provided for." 
 
 Mr. Pillgrim, after again recommending a glass of 
 w^hiskey, took his leave, and Somers finished his paper. 
 He went to bed, and in spite of the fact that he had 
 drank no w^hiskey, his nerves were quiet, and he dropped 
 asleep like a good Christian, with a prayer in his heart 
 for the " loved ones at home " and elsewhere. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. G5 
 
 The next morning, though he was still quite sore, and 
 his head felt heavier than usual, he was in much better 
 condition, physically, than could have been expected. 
 After breakfast, as he sat in the parlor of the hotel, ho 
 was accosted by a gentleman in blue clothes, with a very 
 small cap on his head. 
 
 •*' An officer of the navy, I perceive," said the stranger, 
 courteously. 
 
 " How are you, Langdon?" was the thought, but not 
 the reply, of Somers. 
 6* 
 
66 BR AYE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 LIETTTENAXT WY]S~KOOP, R. N. 
 
 /^j^HE gentlemanly individual wlio addressed Som- 
 /'■ ers wore the uniform of an English naval officer. 
 \J_L/ By easy and gentle approaches, he proceeded to 
 make himself very agreeable. He was lavish in his 
 praise of the achievements of the " American navy," and 
 was sure that no nation on the face of the globe had ever 
 displayed such skill and energy in creating a war marine. 
 Somers listened patiently to this eloquent and just tribute 
 to the enterprise of his country ; and if he had not sus- 
 pected that the enthusiastic speaker was playing an as- 
 sumed character, he would have ventured to suggest that 
 the position of John Bull was rather equivocal ; that a 
 little less admiration, and a little more genuine sympathy, 
 would be more acceptable. 
 
 " We sailors belong to the same fraternity all over the 
 world," said the pretended Englishman. " There is 
 something in sailors which draws them together. I 
 never meet one without desiring to know him better. 
 Allow me to present you my card, and beg the favor of 
 yours in return." 
 
41 
 
 • LIFE Oy THK QCAUTEn DECK. G7 
 
 He handed his card to Somers, who read upon it the 
 name of ^' Lieutenant AVynkoop, R. N." It was ehibo- 
 rately engraved, and our oihcer began to have some doubts 
 in regard to his new-found acquaintance, for the card 
 coukHiardly have been got up since the interview of the 
 preceding evening. This gentleman might not be Lang- 
 don, after all ; but whether he was or not, it was proper 
 to treat him with respect and consideration. Somers 
 wrote his name on a blank card, and gave it to him. 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Somers : here is my hand," said 
 Lieutenant AVynkoop, when he had read the name. " I 
 am happy to make your acquaintance." 
 
 Somers took the offered hand, and made a courteous 
 reply, to the salutations of the other. 
 
 " May I beg the favor of your company to dinner with 
 me in my private parlor to-day?" continued Mr. Wyn- 
 koop. " I have a couple of bottles of fine old sherry, 
 which have twice made the voyage to India, sent to me 
 by an esteemed American friend residing in this city." 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Wynkoop. To the dinner I have 
 not the slightest objection ; to the wine I have ; and I'm 
 afraid you must reserve it for some one who will appre- 
 ciate it more highly than I can. I never drink wine." 
 
 ''Ah, indeed?" said the presumed representative of 
 the royal navy, as he adjusted an eye-glass to his left eye, 
 keeping it in position by contracting the muscles above 
 and below the visual member, which gave a peculiar 
 
G^ r.RAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 squint to his expression, very trying to the risibles of 
 his auditor. 
 
 " I should be happy to dine with you, but I don't drink 
 wine," repeated Somers, in good-natured but rather bluff 
 tones, for lie did not Avish to be understood as apologiz- 
 ing for his total abstinence principles. 
 
 " I should be glad to nieet you in my private parlor, 
 say, at four o'clock, w^hether you drink wine or not, Mr. 
 Somers." 
 
 "Four o'clock?" 
 
 " It's rar-ther early, I know. If you prefer five, say 
 the word." drawled Mr. Wynkoop. 
 
 " I should say that would be nearer supper time than 
 four," replied Somers, who had lately been in the habit 
 of dining at twelve in Pinchbrook. 
 
 " Earlier if you please, then." 
 
 " Any hour that is convenient for you will suit me." 
 
 " Let it be four, then. But I must acknowledge, Mr. 
 Somers, I am not entirely unselfish in desiring to make 
 your acquaintance. The operations of the American 
 navy have astonished me, and I wish to know more about 
 it. I landed in New York only a few days since, and I 
 improve every opportunity to make the acquaintance of 
 American naval officers. I have not yet visited one of 
 your dock yards." 
 
 " I am going over to look at my ship this forenoon, 
 and I should be delighted with your company." 
 
LIFE OX THK Qi'ARTEJt DECK. G9 
 
 " Tbauk you ! tlumk you ! " exclaimed Mr. Wyukoop. 
 *' I shall be under great obligations to you for the ftxvor." 
 
 They went to the navy yard, visited the Chatauqua, 
 and other vessels of war fitting out there. Mr. Wyu- 
 koop asked a thousand questions about ships, engines, 
 and armaments; and one could hardly help regarding 
 him as the most enthusiastic admirer of naval architec- 
 ture. Though the gentleman spoke in affected tones, 
 Somers had recognized the voice of Langdon. This was 
 the person, without a doubt, who was to lure him into 
 the Confederate navy, who was to crown his aspirations 
 with a commander's commission, and reward his infi- 
 delity with the command of a fine steamer. 
 
 Somers was very impatient for the inquiring member 
 of the royal navy to make his proposition ; for, strange as 
 it may seem to the loyal reader, he had fully resolved to 
 accept the brilliant offers he expected to receive ; to per- 
 mit Coles to place the name of " John Somers " in the 
 blank of the commander's commission which he had in 
 his possession ; and even to take his place on the quarter 
 deck of the Ben Nevis, if it became necessary to carry 
 proceedings to that extent. 
 
 But Lieutenant Wynkoop did not even allude to the 
 Confederate navy, or to the Ben Nevis, and did not even 
 attempt to sound the loyalty of his companion. Somers 
 concluded at last that this matter was reserved for the 
 after-dinner conversation ; and as he could afford to 
 
70 an AVE old salt, on 
 
 Avait, be continued to give his friend every facility for 
 prosecuting his inquiries into the secret of the marvel- 
 lous success of the " American navy." 
 
 After writing out his statement of Coles's plans, he had 
 carefully and prayerfully considered his duty in relation 
 to the startling information he had thus accidentally ob- 
 tained. Of course he had no doubt as to what he should 
 do. He must be sure that the Ben Nevis was handed 
 over to the government ; that Coles and Laugdon were put 
 in close quarters. He only inquired how this should be 
 done. Though the Snowden and the Theban had been 
 captured in the former instance, both Kennedy and Coles 
 had escaped punishment, and one of them was again en- 
 gaged in the work of pulling down the government. 
 
 If he gave information at the present stage of the con- 
 spiracy, his plans might be defeated. Though Coles had 
 mentioned no names, it was more than probable that he 
 was aided and abetted in his treasonable projects by other 
 persons. There were traitors in Boston, Xew York, and 
 Philadelphia, men of wealth and influence, occupying 
 high positions in society, who were engaged in just such 
 enterprises as that which had been revealed to the young 
 naval officer. 
 
 Somers felt, therefore, that a premature exposure 
 might ruin himself without overthrowing the conspir- 
 ators. A word from one of these influential men might 
 lay him on the shelf, to say the least, and remove all 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 71 
 
 suspicion from the guilty ones. lie must proceed with the 
 utmost caution, both for his own safety and tlie success 
 of his enterprise. 
 
 Besides, he felt that, if he could get " inside of the 
 ring," he should hud out who the great men were that 
 were striking at the heart of the nation in the dark. By 
 obtaining the confidence of the conspirators, he could the 
 more easily baffle them, and do the country a greater 
 service than he could render on the • quarter deck of the 
 Chatauqua. 
 
 After an earnest and careful consideration of the whole 
 matter, he concluded that his present duty was to pay 
 out rope enough to permit Coles and his guilty associates 
 to hang themselves. For this purpose, he was prepared 
 to receive Langdon with open arms, to accept the com- 
 mission intended for him, and to enter into the secret 
 councils of his country's bitterest enemies. 
 
 Somers, pure and patriotic in his motives, did not for 
 a moment consider that he exposed himself to any risk 
 in thus entering the councils of the wicked, or even in 
 taking a commission in the service of the enemy. He 
 did not intend to aid or abet in the treason of the traitors, 
 and he did not think what might be the result if a rebel 
 commission were found upon his person. He might be 
 killed in battle with this damning document in his pocket. 
 If any of the conspirators were caught, they might de- 
 nounce him as one of their number. He did not think 
 
72 SHAVE OLD SALT, OH 
 
 of these things. He was ambitious to serve his treason- 
 ridden country, and he forgot all about himself. 
 
 It was half past three when Somers and TVynkoop 
 returned to the hotel from their visit to the navy yard. 
 Langdon had evidently been in England, for he insisted 
 upon calling it a " dock yard." They separated to dress 
 for dinner, as the courtly John Bull expressed it. At 
 four they met again in the private parlor, where an 
 elegant dinner was served, and where Mr. Wynkoop 
 sipped his sherry " which had twice made the voyage to 
 the East Indies," though it probably came from the 
 cellar of the hotel. When the coffee had been brought 
 in, and the waiters had retired, the representative of the 
 royal navy lighted his cigar, and began, in a very moder- 
 ate way, to express some slight admiration for the skill 
 and prowess of the rebels. Somers helped him along 
 until he became a thorough rebel. 
 
 " With all my admiration for the American navy, 3Ir. 
 Somers, I find there is a great deal of injustice towards 
 the officers, especially the younger ones," continued Mr. 
 Wynkoop, after he had sufficiently indicated his sympathy 
 for the " noble and gallant people who were struggling 
 against such hodds in the South." — The lieutenant occa- 
 sionally pressed an h into use where it was not needed — 
 probably to be entirely consistent with himself. 
 
 " That's true ; and I have suffered from it myself," 
 replied Somers, determined that his companion should 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 73 
 
 want no inducement to make his proposition as soon as 
 he was ready. 
 
 " I don't doubt it, Mr. Somers ; " and Mr. W}Tikoop 
 stated some instances which had come to his knowledge. 
 
 Somers then gave a list of his own imaginary griev- 
 ances, and professed to be greatly dissatisfied with his 
 present position and prospects. 
 
 " I think you would do better in the Confederate 
 navy," said the lieutenant, warmly. 
 
 '' Perhaps I should." 
 
 " Whichever side you fight for, you fight for your own 
 country." 
 
 '' That's true." 
 
 " When the South wins, — as win she will, — all who 
 fought against her, will be like prophets in their own 
 country — without honor. In less than two months the 
 independence of the Confederate States will be acknowl- 
 edged by England and France. I happen to know this.'* 
 
 " It would not surprise me." 
 
 *•" My uncle, the Earl of — never mind ; I won't men- 
 tion his name — my uncle, who is an intimate friend of 
 Palmerston, told me so." 
 
 Somers was rather glad to hear it, for it would bring 
 the desolating war to a close. Mr. Wynkoop hesitated 
 no longer. He approached the real business of the meet- 
 ing rapidly, and in a few moments the commander's 
 commission was on the table. The offer was made, and 
 
 7 
 
74 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR . 
 
 Soiners, with such apparent quahus of conscience as a 
 naval officer might be expected to exhibit on deserting 
 his flag, accepted the proposition. Mr. AVynkoop went 
 into his sleeping apartment, adjoining the parlor, with 
 the commission in his hand. 
 
 He returned in a moment with the name of " John 
 Somers," filled in the blank space left for that purpose, 
 and handed it to his guest. 
 
 Somers shuddered when he saw his name written upon 
 such an infernal document ; for though he was still true 
 to God, his country, and himself, the paper had an ugly 
 look. But he regarded it only as evidence against the 
 conspirators, rather than against himself; as a necessary 
 formality to enable him to frustrate the designs of trai- 
 tors, rather than as a blot against his own name. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, I congratulate you. If you could be 
 induced to join me in a glass of this old sherry, vre 
 would drink to the success of the Louisiana — for that 
 is to be the name of your craft when you get to sea." 
 
 <*1 thank you, Mr. Wynkoop ; you must excuse me." 
 
 <* As you please. Mr. Somers, though I am an Eng- 
 lishman, and belong to the royal navy, it is hardly neces- 
 sary for me to say now, that I am in the service of the 
 South. I go with you in the Louisiana, as a passenger. 
 Your first work will be to capture one of the California 
 steamers, which I am to transform into a man-of-war, • 
 and call the Texas. She will be under my command." 
 
LIFJ-: ox THE QUARTER DECK'. 75 
 
 " T am satisfied." 
 
 " By the way, Captain Somers," added AVynkoop, as 
 be took a paper from his pocket, " here is the oatli of 
 allegiance to the Confederate States of America, which 
 it will be necessary for you to sign.'* 
 
 This was more tlian Somers had bargained for, and he 
 would have cut off his right hand, or permitted his head 
 to be severed from his body, rather than put his signa- 
 ture to the detested paper. A cold chill crept through 
 his veins, as he glanced at the sheet on which it was 
 printed, and he was afraid all he had done would foil 
 because he could not do this thiu"-. 
 
 o 
 
 Lieutenant AVynkoop brought a pen and ink from his 
 sleeping apartment, and placed it by the side of his guest. 
 
 " I would rather not sign this just now," said Somers. 
 " It might get me into trouble." 
 
 " Very well ; we will attend to that after you get on 
 board of the Ben Nevis," replied Wynkoop, as he took 
 the oath and the commission, with the pen and ink, and 
 went into his chamber ajrain. 
 
 He was absent several minutes this time, and Somers 
 had an opportunity to review his position. 
 
 " Here is your commission, Captain Somers," said the 
 lieutenant, as he placed the document on the table. " On 
 the whole, I think you had better sign the oath now." 
 
 " I think it will do just as well when we get oiTV 
 
 " Perhaps it will ; here are your orders," said he, 
 
76 BJiAVE OLD SALT. OR 
 
 4 
 
 handing Somers another paper, and placing that contain- 
 ing the oath on the table. 
 
 At this moment, Somers heard a step in the direction 
 of the bedroom. He turned, with surprise, to see who it 
 was, for he had heard no one enter. 
 
 " Ah, Somers, I am glad to see you," said the new 
 arrival, stepping up to the table, and glancing at the 
 papers which lay open there. 
 
 It was Lieutenant Pillgrim. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTEIi DECK. 77 
 
 C HATTER VII 
 
 langdon's letters. 
 
 (X^' T had been no part of Somers's purpose to bear 
 
 ^ 
 
 tjUL the whole responsibility of the transactions in 
 ^7/ Avhich he had so promptly engaged. Mr. Wal- 
 dron would return in a few days, and on his ar- 
 rival, the overburdened young officer intended to confide 
 the momentous secret to him, receiving the benefit of 
 his advice and support in the great business he had 
 undertaken. 
 
 After the kind treatment he had received at the hands 
 of Lieutenant Pillgrim, he was rather disposed to make 
 him a confidant ; but he knew so little about his travel- 
 ling companion, that though he had no question about 
 his fidelity and honor, he was not quite willing to stake 
 everything on his judgment and discretion, as he must 
 do, if he opened the subject to him. 
 
 Somers was not a little surprised to see Mr. Pillgrim 
 enter the parlor in that unceremonious way. It indicated 
 a degree of intimacy between the two gentleman that 
 gave him an unpleasant impression, which, however, he 
 had no time to follow out to its legitimate issue. 
 
78 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " Excuse me, Mr. "Wynkoop," said Lieutenant Pill- 
 grim, as he paused at the side of the table, " for entering 
 in this abrupt manner. I have been knocking at your 
 door for some time, Avithout obtaining a response." 
 
 " You went to the wrong door. That's my bed- 
 room." 
 
 " So I perceive, now." 
 
 " But there is no harm done ; on the contrary, I am 
 very glad to see you. Sit down and take a glass of wine 
 with me. Mr. Somers does not indulge." 
 
 " Mr. Somers is a very proper young man," said the 
 lieutenant, with a pleasant smile, as he glanced again at 
 the papers which lay open on the table. " I have been 
 looking for you, Somers, but it was only to ask you what 
 the prospect is on board the Chatauqua. I have not 
 been on board to-day." 
 
 " I think we shall be wanted by to-morrow or next 
 day," replied Somers, who could not help seeing that the 
 eye of his superior officer was fixed on the commander's 
 commission, which lay open before him. 
 
 " Indeed ! I am glad to know this, for I had made 
 up my mind to go to Xew York in the morning. Of 
 course I shall not go." 
 
 *' Sit down, Mr. — Really, sir, you must excuse me, 
 but J have forgotten your name," said Mr= TVynkoop. 
 
 " Lieutenant Pillgi'im — at your service. It is not 
 very surprising that you should forget it, since vre have 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 79 
 
 met but ouce ; not lialf so surprising as that T should 
 force myself into your rooms, on so short an ac- 
 quaintance." 
 
 " Don't mention it, my dear felloAv. "We sailors are 
 brothers all over the world. Sit down, and take a glass 
 of sherry witli me. It's a capital wine — made two 
 voyages to India." 
 
 '" Excuse me. Mr. Wynkoop ; I merely called to invite 
 you to spend the evening with me. I have a plan that 
 will use up two or three hours very pleasantly." 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Pillgrim. You are a friend in need, 
 and a friend indeed." 
 
 " I see that you and Mr. Somers have business, and 
 I will take my leave." 
 
 " I should be happy to have you remain, but if you 
 will not, I Avill join you in half an hour in the reading- 
 room. Better sit down, and wait here." 
 
 " I will not interrupt your business with Mr. Somers," 
 replied Lieutenant Pillgrim, again glancing curiously at 
 the documents on the table. 
 
 Greatly to the relief of Somers, his fellow-officer left 
 the room. This visit had been a most unfortunate one, 
 for the lieutenant could not have avoided seeing the nature 
 of the papers on the table. But as Somers was a true 
 and loyal man, his conscience accused him of no wrong, 
 and he had no fears in regard to the result. This reve- 
 lation simply imposed upon him the necessity of making 
 
80* BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 Mr. Pillgrim his confidant, wliich he proposed to do at 
 the first convenient opportunity. 
 
 " You think you will not sign the oath to-night, Mr. 
 Somers ? " said his companion. 
 
 " It had better be deferred," replied Somers, as he 
 folded up the commission, and put it in his pocket, regard- 
 ing it as the most important evidence in his possession 
 against Coles, and a sufficient confirmation of the truth of 
 the statement he had so carefully written out the night 
 before. 
 
 " Suit yourself, Somers. "NVe shall not differ about 
 these small matters," added T\"ynkoop, as he folded up 
 the oath, and put it in his pocket. " By the way, 
 Somers, what do you think of our friend Pillgrim?" 
 
 " He is a fine fellow, and I am told he is a good 
 officer. I was not aware that you knew him." 
 
 " I have only met him once, just as I met you. How 
 do you think he stands affected towards our cause ? " 
 
 " Not well." 
 
 " So I feared.*' 
 
 "He is a loyal man, though a Virginian." 
 
 " Do you think I could make anything of him? " 
 
 " I am satisfied you could not." 
 
 " I did not dare to try him. I gave him a chance to 
 nibble at my bait, but he wouldn't bite. Perhaps, when 
 I know him better, he will come round ; for I don't think 
 there are many of these Yankee officers that have any 
 real heart in their work." 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 81 
 
 " You are utterly mistcakeu," said Somers ; but re- 
 membering that he was hardly in a position to defend his 
 loyal comrades in the navy, he did not seriously combat 
 the proposition of the rebel emissary. 
 
 As the business of the interview was now finished, 
 Somers shook hands with his agreeable host — though his 
 heart repelled the act, — and took leave of him. He 
 hastened to his chamber, agitated and excited by the 
 strange and revolting scene through which he had just 
 passed. It was some time before he was calm enough to 
 think coherently of what he had done, and of the com- 
 pact he had made. He wished very much to see Mr. 
 Waldron now ; indeed, he felt the absolute necessity of 
 confiding to some trustworthy person the momentous 
 secret he had obtained, which burned in his soul like an 
 evil deed. 
 
 If Lieutenant Pillgrim had not actually read his com- 
 mission when it lay on the table, he must, at least, have 
 suspected that all was not right with his shipmate. He 
 must, therefore, confide in him, and without the loss of 
 another moment, he hastened to his room for this pur- 
 pose ; but the lieutenant was not there. He searched 
 for him in all the public rooms of the hotel, but without 
 success. Remembering that his fellow-ofiicer was to 
 meet Mr. AVynkoop in the reading-room half an hour 
 from the time they parted, he waited there over an hour, 
 but the appointment evidently was not kept by either 
 party. 
 
82 LEAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 Sorners did uot Avisli to sleep another uiidit without 
 sharing his great secret with some one ; for if anything 
 should happen to him, he reasoned, the commission and 
 the orders might be found in his possession, and subject 
 him to very unpleasant suspicions, if they did not expose 
 him to the actual charge of complicity with the enemies 
 of his country. He "waited in the vicinity of the office 
 till midnight, hoping to see Mr. Pillgi'im ; but he did not 
 appear, and he reluctantly retired to his chamber. 
 
 When he carried his key to the office in the morning, 
 there was a note in his box, addressed to him. The ink 
 of the direction was hardly dry, and the lap of the enve- 
 lope w^as still wet where it had been moistened to seal it. 
 Somers opened it. He was surprised and startled at its 
 contents ; but the writer had evidently made a mistake in 
 the superscription. It was as follows : — 
 
 " My Deak Pillgrim : I have just sent a note to 
 Somers, sapng that the Ben Nevis has sailed, — which 
 is a fact, — and that lie must join her at Mobile, where 
 she wall run in a cargo of arms and provisions. Act 
 accordingly. How is this ? 
 
 Langdon." 
 
 Both the name and the import of the letter implied 
 that the note was not intended for Somers, thou«-h it 
 was directed to him. The writer had evidently written 
 
LIFE OX THE QLAItTKR DECK. 83 
 
 two notes, iiuil ia his hi^stc IkuI misdirected the enve- 
 lopes. ^ 
 
 '' My dear Pillgrim ! " Tlie note was intended for his 
 fellow-otlicer. Was Tillgrim a confederate of Laugdou? 
 It looked so, incredible as it seemed. 
 
 Somcrs was bewildered for a moment, but he was too 
 good a strategist to be overwhelmed. Restoring the note 
 to its envelope, he readjusted the lap, which was still 
 wet, and the letter looked as though it had not been 
 opened. He returned it to the box under his key, and 
 perceived that there was also a note in Mr. Pillgrim's 
 box. As soon as the mistake was discovered, the letters 
 would be changed. He returned to his room to await 
 the result. 
 
 Somers had made an astounding discovery by the 
 merest accident in the world. Things Avere not what 
 they seemed. Mr. Pillgrim had relations of some kind 
 with Langdon, alias Lieutenant Wynkoop. His entering 
 the parlor while they were at dinner was not so acci- 
 dental a circumstance as it had appeared. Who and what 
 was Lieutenant Pillgrim ? The belief that he had met 
 liim somewhere before they came together at Newport, 
 still haunted Somers ; but he was in no better condition 
 now than then to solve the mystery. 
 
 In half an hour he went down to the office aarain. 
 
 o 
 
 The note to Mr. Pillgrim was gone ; but there Avas one 
 for himself in the box. He took it out ; the direction 
 
84 BRAV1-: OLD SALT, OR 
 
 Avas not in the same baud writing as before. Mr, Pill- 
 grim had probably discovered the mistake, and changed 
 the letters, without a suspicion that the one addressed to 
 himself had been read. Somers opened the note, which 
 contained the information he expected to find there in 
 regard to the Ben Nevis, and was signed by Wynkoop. 
 
 Beyond the possibility of a doubt now, Lieutenant Pill- 
 grim was a confederate of Langdou. OF course, he 
 knew Coles. He was a Virginian, and it was now cer- 
 tain to Somers, if to no one else, that his loyalty had 
 been justly suspected. lie had doubtless entered the 
 navy again for a purpose. Wiiat that purpose was, 
 remained yet to be exposed. From the depths of his 
 heart, Somers thanked God that this discovery had been 
 made ; and he determined to put it to good use. He 
 was now more anxious than before to meet his friend 
 Mr. "Waldron, and communicate the startling informa- 
 tion to him. 
 
 From the morning papers he saw that the Ben Xevis, 
 whose name had been changed to that of a famous Union 
 general, had actually sailed, as Langdon's note informed 
 him. In the forenoon, he went to the navy yard, ex- 
 pecting to find the ship ready to go into commission ; but 
 he learned that the bed-plates of her pivot guns had to be 
 recast, and that she w^ould not be ready for another week. 
 He also learned that his friend Mr. Waldron had been 
 taken down with typhoid fever at his home, and was 
 tbeu in a critical conditiou. 
 
LIFE OX TffE QUARTER DECK. g^ 
 
 Somers was not only shookod, but disconcerted by this 
 intelligence, for it deprived him of the friend and coun- 
 sellor whom he needed in this emergency. After care- 
 ful deliberation, he obtained a furlough of a week, and 
 went to the home of Mr. Waldrou ; hut the sufferer 
 could not even be seen, much less consulted on a matter 
 of business. Left to act for himself, he hastened to New 
 York, and then to Boston, to ascertain what he could in 
 regard to the Ben Nevis. So far as he could learn, 
 everything was all right in regard to her. After a short 
 visit to Pinchbrook, he hastened back to Philadelphia, 
 and found the Chatauqua hauled out into the stream, and 
 ready to go into commission at once. Lieutenant Pill- 
 grim and the other officers had already gone on board. 
 Under these circumstances, Somers had not a moment to 
 see Langdon. He took possession of his state-room, and 
 at once had all the work he could do, in the discliarge of 
 his duty. 
 
 At meridian the ensign was run up, and the ship went 
 into commission under the command of Captain Casca- 
 bel. Mr. Pillgrim was doing duty as executive officer, 
 though a substitute for Mr. Wakhou was expected before 
 the ship sailed, Somers was uneasy, and dissatisfied 
 with himself. He began to feel that he had left a duty 
 mi performed. He had intended to expose the conspiracy 
 before the Chatauqua sailed, and thus relieve himself 
 from the heavy responsibility that rested upon him. Yet 
 8 
 
86 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 
 
 to whom could he speak ? Mr. Waldron was still daiiprer- 
 ously ill. Mr. Pillgrim was evidently a traitor himself. 
 
 He could give his information to the United States 
 marshal at Philadelphia ; but how could he prove his 
 alle<?ations ? Lan^^don and Coles he had not seen since 
 his return, and perhaps they were in another part of the 
 country by this time. He had the commander's commis- 
 sion and the written orders, but in the absence of the 
 principals, he feared these would be better evidence 
 against himself than against the conspirators. 
 
 The Ben Nevis had sailed, and the worst she could do 
 at present would be to run the blockade. The Chatau- 
 qua was generally understood to be ordered to Mobile, 
 where the Ben Nevis was to run in, and fit out for her 
 piratical cruise. After a great deal of serious reflection, 
 Somers came to the unsatisfactory conclusion that he must 
 keep his secret. He could not denounce Mr. Pillgrim 
 as a rebel, with his present information, without exposing 
 himself to greater peril than the real criminal. Besides, 
 he was to be with the lieutenant, and he was going to 
 Mobile. He could watch the traitor, and await the 
 appearance of the Ben Nevis, when she arrived at the 
 station. 
 
 Somers was not satisfied with this conclusion, but his 
 judgment assured him his intended course of action was 
 the best the circumstances would admit. Thus settling 
 the question, he attended to his duty with his usual zeal 
 and energy. 
 
LIFE ON THE QL'AIiTEIt DECK. 87 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE UNITED STATES STEAMER CIIATAUQUA. 
 
 y> OMERS had served in several vessels, but never 
 bofore had he gone on board his ship with a 
 heavier responsibility resting upon him, than 
 when he took his station on the deck of the Chatauqua. 
 He was now a ward-room officer, and as such he would 
 be required to keep a watch, and be in command of the 
 deck. But in addition to his professional duties, he had 
 in liis keeping valuable but dangerous information, of 
 which he must make a judicious use. 
 
 The young officer was perfectly familiar with the rou- 
 tine of his duties. He knew the ship from stem to stem, 
 and from keel to truck. He felt entirely at home, there- 
 fore, and hoped soon to merit the approbation of his 
 superiors. He was formally presented to Captain Cas- 
 cabel and the other officers of the ship. He was kindly 
 and cordially greeted by all. Mr. Pillgrim, as acting 
 first lieutenant, proceeded at once to make out the watch, 
 quarter, and station bill ; and, whatever his political 
 principles, it must be confessed that he performed this 
 difficult duty with skill and judgment. 
 
88 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 Every day, until the ship sailed, the crew were exer- 
 cised at the guns, and in all the evolutions required for 
 carrying on ship's duty, from " fire stations " to piping 
 down the hammocks. They made the usual proficiency, 
 and were soon in condition to work together — to handle 
 the ship in a tornado, or to meet an enemy. On the 
 fourth day, when Mr. Pillgrim was superseded by Mr. 
 Hackleford, who was appointed in the place of Mr. "SVal- 
 dron, everything was in an advanced stage of progi'ess. 
 
 The Chatauqua was a screw steam sloop of war, of 
 the first class. She carried ten guns, and was about 
 fourteen hundred tons burden. Her complement of offi- 
 cers and men was about tw^o hundred and fifty, includino' 
 forty-two attached to the engineer's department. The 
 ship was a two-decker. On the upper or spar deck was 
 placed her armament, consisting of two immense pivot 
 guns and eight broadside guns. 
 
 Below this was the berth deck, on Avhich all the offi- 
 cers and men ate and slept. The after part was appro- 
 priated to the officers, and the forward part to the men. 
 The former w^ere provided wuth cabins and state-rooms, 
 •while the latter swung theii- hammocks to the deck 
 beams over their heads. 
 
 As most of our readers have probably never seen the 
 interior of a ship of war, we present on the adjoining 
 page a plan of that portion of the vessel occupied by 
 the officers. The round part is the stern of the ship. 
 
LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK. 89 
 
 and the diagram iucludes a little less thau one third of 
 the whole length of the vessel. 
 
 A. The Captain's cabin, to which are attached the six 
 small apartments on each side of it. 
 
 1. The Companion-way, or stairs, by which the cabin 
 is reached from the deck. 
 
 2, 3. Store-rooms. 
 
 4. Water-closet. 
 
 5. Pantry. 
 
 6. 7. State-rooms. 
 
 B. The AVard-room, in which there is a table, long 
 enough to accommodate the eight officers who occupy 
 this apartment. 
 
 8. First Lieutenant's state-room. 
 
 9. Second " 
 
 10. Third " 
 
 11. Fourth " 
 
 12. Chief Engineer's 
 
 13. Master's 
 
 14. Paymaster's 
 lo. Surgeon's 
 
 16. First Assistant Engineers' state-room. 
 
 17. Second Assistant Engineers' room. 
 
 C. The Steerage, occupied by Midshipmen and Mas- 
 ters' Mates. 
 
 D. Third Assistant Engineer's room. 
 
 18. The Armory. 
 
 8* 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
90 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 19, Ward-room pantry, through which passes the 
 mizzen-mast. 
 
 20, 20. Berths. 
 
 21, 21. Mess store-rooms. 
 
 In the floor of the ward-room, between the state-room, 
 8 and 12, there are two scuttles leading down to the 
 magazine, so that, during an action, all the powder is 
 passed up through this room. Woollen screens are hung 
 up on each side of these scuttles, when they are opened, 
 to prevent any spark from being carried doAvn to the 
 powder. 
 
 There are four other scuttles leading down into the 
 hold from the ward-room to the various store-rooms locat- 
 ed there, and several in the floor abreast of the steerage. 
 
 On the forward part of the berth deck, just abaft the 
 foremast, there are four state-rooms for the use of the 
 carpenter, gunner, boatswain, and sailmaker. All per- 
 sons except those mentioned sleep in hammocks. 
 
 The engine department of the Chatauqua consisted of 
 one chief, two first assistant, two second assistant, and 
 one third assistant engineers, with eighteen firemen and 
 eio:hteen coal heavers. The chief eno;ineer is a ward- 
 room officer. He has the sole charge of the engine, and 
 all persons connected with its management, but he keeps 
 no watch. The other engineers obey the orders of their 
 chief, and are divided into watches. They attend to the 
 actual working of the engine. The firemen are also 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 91 
 
 classified, and receive dilTerent grades of pay, a portion 
 of them attending to the oiling of the machinery, — 
 called " oilers, " — while others superintend or feed the 
 fires, and do other work connected with the engine and 
 boilers. Tlie coal-heavers convey the fuel from the coal 
 bunkers to the furnaces. 
 
 Mr. Ensign Somers was the fourth lieutenant of the 
 Chatauqua, and occupied the last state-room on the left, 
 as you enter the ward-room. It was a nice little apart- 
 ment, and the young ofiicer was as happy as a lord when 
 he Avas fully installed in his new quarters. And well 
 mif^ht one who had commenced his naval career as an 
 ordinary seaman, sleeping in a hammock, and who had 
 never before known anything better than the confined 
 accommodations of the steerage, have been delighted 
 with his present comfortable and commodious quarters. 
 
 His state-room was lighted by a bull's eye, or round 
 glass window, which could be opened in port, or in pleas- 
 ant wqather at sea. The room contained but one berth, 
 which was quite wide for a ship, supplied with an excel- 
 lent mattress ; and one who could not sleep well in such 
 a bed must be troubled with a rebellious conscience. 
 There was also a bureau, the upper drawer of which, 
 when the front was dropped down, became a convenient 
 writing desk, supplied with small drawers, shelves, and 
 pigeon-holes. The room was carpeted, and contained 
 all that a reasonable man could rcciuire to make him 
 comfortable and happy. 
 
92 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 ' There was only one drawback upon the happiness of 
 Somers ; and that was the absence of Mr. AValdron. 
 There Avas not one among the officers whom he could 
 now call by the endearing name of friend, though all of 
 them were good officers and gentlemanly men, and he 
 had no reason to anticipate any difficulty with any of 
 them, unless it was with Mr. Pillgrim. He sighed for 
 
 ' CO 
 
 the friendly guidance and the genial companionship of 
 the late commander of the .Rosalie, especially in view of 
 the embarrassing circumstances which surrounded him. 
 But it was some compensation to know that his old 
 shipmate, Tom Longstone, had been promoted to the 
 rank of boatswain, and ordered to the Chatauqua. The 
 old man's splendid behavior in Doboy Sound had enabled 
 Mr. Waldron to secure this favor for him, and to obtain 
 his appointment to his own ship. Mr. Longstone, as he 
 must hereafter be called, came on board in a uniform of 
 bright blue, and his dress so altered his appearance that 
 Somers hardly recognized him. The old salt had always 
 been very careful about " putting on airs," when he was 
 a common sailor or a petty officer ; but he knew how to 
 be a gentleman, and his new dignity sat as easily upon 
 him as though he had been brought up in the ward-room. 
 Though he looked well, and carried himself like an offi- 
 cer, he could not immediately adapt his language to his 
 new position. He was a representative sailor, and he 
 could not help being " salt." 
 
LIFE OX THE QrAItTKlt DECK. 93 
 
 The boatswain was Somcrs's only real friend on board, 
 and the distance between a ward-room officer and a for- 
 ward otHcer was so great that lie was not likely to real- 
 ize any especial satisfaction from the friendship ; but it 
 was pleasant to know that there was even one in the ship 
 who was devoted to him, heart and soul. 
 
 ''AH hands, up anchor ! " piped the boatswain ; and it 
 was a pleasant sound to the fourth lieutenant of the Clui- 
 tauqua, as doubtless it was to all hands, for " lying in 
 the stream " is stupid work to an expectant crew. 
 
 The ship got under way with all the order and regu- 
 larity which prevail on board a man-of-war, and in a 
 short time was standing down the Delaware River. Ilcr 
 great guns pealed the customary salute, and as the wind 
 was fair, her top-sails and top-gallant-sails were shaken 
 out as soon as she had passed from the narrow river into 
 the broad bay. Off the capes the sealed orders were 
 opened ; and it proved, as the knowing ones had antici- 
 pated, that the Chatauqua was bound to the blockading 
 station off Mobile Bay. 
 
 At eight o'clock in the evening the ship was out of 
 sight of land. Everything on board Avas in regular sea 
 trim. Mr. Garboard, the third lieutenant, had the deck, 
 and the other olficers were in the ward-room, or in their 
 state-rooms. They were discussing the merits of tlie 
 ship, or the probable work before them at Mobile ; for 
 a great naval attack in that quarter was confidently 
 
94 JiJiAVE OLD SALT, OJi 
 
 predicted. The " Old Salamander," " Brave Old Salt." 
 as Admiral Farragut Avas familiarly called, was under- 
 stood to be making preparations for one of Lis tremen- 
 dous onslaughts. 
 
 Somers was occupied in his state-room, putting his 
 books, papers, and clothing in order, Avhich he had not 
 had time to do before to his satisfaction. He placed his 
 Testament on the bureau, where it could be taken up for 
 a moment without delay, and where it would constantly 
 remind him of his duty, and of the loved ones at home, 
 with whom the precious volume seemed to be inseparably 
 associated. 
 
 Among his papers were the rebel commission, the 
 written orders, and the statement he had made of the 
 interview between Coles and Langdon, which had been 
 extended so as to contain a fliU account of his conference 
 with " Mr. Wynkoop," and his inquiries into the charac- 
 ter of the Ben Nevis, in Boston and New York. These 
 documents brought forcibly to his mind his relations with 
 Lieutenant Pillgrim, who was still a mystery to him. 
 Since Somers had come on board of the Chatauqua, not 
 a syllable had been breathed about the dinner with the 
 " officer of the royal navy." As Mr. Pillgrim doubtless 
 believed he had changed the letters, and thus .corrected 
 his confederate's mistake, before the letter intended for 
 him had fallen into Somers's hand, the lieutenant tad no 
 reason to suppose his treasonable position was even sus- 
 pected. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 05 
 
 Somcrs felt that he had a battle to light with Mr. Till- 
 griiii, iiud the suspense was iutolerable, not to mention 
 the hypocrisy and deceit which this double character ic- 
 quired of him. Now, more than before, he regretted the 
 absence of Mr. AValdron, who would have been a rock 
 of safety and strength to him in the trials that beset him. 
 While he was moodily overhauling his papers, and think- 
 ing of his diificult situation, Mr. Pillgrim knocked at the 
 door of his room, and was invited to enter. 
 
 "Ah, making stowage, are you, Somcrs?" said the 
 lieutenant, pleasantly. 
 
 *' Yes, sir ; putting things to rights a little." 
 
 " It's a good plan to have everything in its place," 
 added Pillgrim, as he took up the little Testament which 
 lay on the bureau. " You are a good boy, I see, and 
 read the book." 
 
 "That was given me by my mother, and I value it 
 very highly." 
 
 " Then I shouldn't think you would want to wear it 
 out." 
 
 " She gave it to me to use, and I am afraid, if she 
 saw it was not soiled by handling, she would think it had 
 not been well used." 
 
 " I am glad you use it. I don't fail to read mine 
 morning and evening." 
 
 Somers could not believe him, and he could not see 
 that a traitor to his country should have any use for the 
 New Testament. 
 
96 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " By the way, Somers, did you see your friend Wyn- 
 koop again before we sailed? " added Mr. Pillgrim. 
 
 " I did not ; I have not seen him since we dined to- 
 gether. I judge that you were better acquainted with 
 him than I was." 
 
 " My acquaintance with him w^as very slight. By the 
 papers I saw on the table before you, when you were at 
 dinner, I think you made good use of the short time you 
 knew each other." 
 
 "To what do you allude?" asked Somers, now as- 
 sured that Mr. Pillgrim knew the nature of the papers. 
 
 " To your commission as a commander in the Confed- 
 erate navy. Mr. Somers, I could not believe my eyes." 
 
 " Were you very much astonished? " 
 
 " If I had been told that President Lincoln had gone 
 over to the rebels, I should not have been more aston- 
 ished. Your conduct has severely embarrassed me. It 
 was my duty to denounce you as a traitor, in the service 
 of the enemy, but — " 
 
 At that instant the rattle of the drum, beating to quar- 
 ters, caused both of them to hurry on deck. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 97 
 
 chaptp:r IX. 
 
 IN THE STATE-ROOM. 
 
 OMERS took his station on the quarter deck, 
 near the mizzen-mast, while Mr. Pillgriin went 
 forward to the forecastle. The gims were cast 
 loose, and the crew exercised at quarters for a few 
 moments, just as though there were an enemy's ship 
 near. This manoeuvre was executed for the purpose of 
 perfecting the officers and crew in discipline ; and it is 
 not an uncommon thing to turn up all hands in the dead 
 of the night for this object, for it is easier to correct mis- 
 takes at such times than when in the presence of the 
 enemy. As' there was no Confederate ship in sight, all 
 hands were presently piped below, and Somers returned 
 to his state-room, where he was soon joined by Mr. Pill- 
 grim, who evidently wished to prolong the conversation 
 which had been commenced before the ship beat to quar- 
 ters. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, you and I have been friends for some 
 little time," the lieutenant began, " and I confess that I 
 have been deeply interested iu you, not only on your own 
 account, but for the sake of our friends at Newport." 
 
 9 
 
98 BRAVE OLD SALT, Oil 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Pillgrim," said Somers, as the gen- 
 tleman paused. " I am greatly obliged to you, and I 
 hope I shall always merit your good opinion." 
 
 " I'm afraid not, my young friend ; at least, you have 
 not commenced this cruise very -well, having first sold 
 yourself to the enemy." 
 
 " Do you think I have done that, Mr. Pillgrim ? " de- 
 manded Somers, not a little excited by the charge, from 
 such a source. 
 
 " I know you have. I saw your commission on the 
 table." 
 
 " I took the commission, I grant, but I have no inten- 
 tion of using it." 
 
 " "Why did you take it then ? " 
 
 " For the purpose of gaining information." 
 
 " Have you gained it ? " demanded Mr. Pillgrim, with 
 a hardly perceptible sneer. 
 
 "I have." 
 
 " You received written orders, also." 
 
 " I did ; and if I had obtained a foothold on the deck 
 of the vessel to which I -was ordered, you w^ould have 
 seen how quick I should have passed her over to my 
 government." 
 
 " That is a very plausible explanation, Mr. Somers," 
 added the lieutenant. " But why did you sign the oath of 
 allegiance to the Southern Confederacy ? " 
 
 '' I did not." 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 99 
 
 '* I beg your pardon, but I saw tbe document wilb 
 your signature ailixed to it." 
 
 " You are mistaken, Mr. Pillgrim." 
 
 *' Can I refuse to believe the evidence of my own 
 eyes ? " 
 
 " Nevertheless, I must persist in saying that I did not 
 sign the oath." 
 
 " After what you have done, Mr. Somers, I could 
 hardly expect you to acknowledge it to a loyal olficer. 
 Are you aware that any court martial would convict you, 
 on the evidence against you, of treason, autl sentence 
 you to death ? " 
 
 " I think not, •when it was made to appear that all I 
 did was in the service of my country." 
 
 Somers shuddered Avhen he thought of a traitor's 
 doom, and for the first time realized that he had accumu- 
 lated more evidence ac^ainst himself than a^rainst the 
 conspirators. The commander's commission and the 
 ■written orders were almost, if not quite, enough to hang 
 him. 
 
 " You don't believe what you say, Mr. Somers, and of 
 course you cannot e;x:pect me to believe it," said Pillgrim, 
 Avhen he saw his brother officer musing, and looking 
 rather anxious. 
 
 " I speak the truth, Mr. Pillgrim," replied Somers, 
 unable to turn his attention entirely away from the con- 
 sequences which might follow some of these appearances 
 asrainst him. 
 
100 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " Somers, I have felt a deep interest in you. I have 
 all along desired to be your friend. This is the only 
 reason why I did not prefer charges against you before 
 the ship sailed. Now, I advise you not to deny what is 
 as plain as truth can make it. I am your friend. Own 
 up to me, and I promise never to betray you." 
 
 " Would your friend Langdon, alias Lieutenant Wyn- 
 koop, R. N., be equally considerate ?" asked Somers, 
 provoked into making this unguarded remark by the 
 hypocrisy of Pillgrim. 
 
 If the second lieutenant of the Chatauqua had received 
 the bolt from a thunder cloud he could not have been 
 more astonished. He started back, turned pale, and 
 quivered with emotion. 
 
 "Who?" demanded he, with a tremendous effort to 
 recover his self-possession. 
 
 " Do you think, Mr. Pillgrim, that I am a little lamb, 
 that can be led round with a silken string?" replied 
 Somers, with energy. " You are my superior officer, 
 and as such I will respect and obey you until — -until — " 
 
 "UntHwhat?" 
 
 " Until the day of reckoning comes. When you stand 
 up in my presence and charge me with being a traitor to 
 my country, you had better remember that such charges, 
 like chickens, will go home to roost." 
 
 " I was not brought up in a barn yard, Mr. Somers, 
 and such comparisons are beyond my comprehension." 
 
LIFE O.y THE QUARTEIi DECK. 101 
 
 " 'SVhcrever you were brought up, I think my language 
 is plain enough to be understood by a person of your 
 intelligence." 
 
 Perhaps it was fortunate for both parties that a knock 
 at the state-room door disturbed the conference at this 
 exciting moment. Somers opened the door. 
 
 " Mr. Ilackleford desires to see Mr. Somers on deck,'* 
 said a midshipman. 
 
 " Excuse me for a few moments, Mr. Pillgrim," said 
 Somers, as he closed his desk and locked it. 
 
 " Certainly, sir ; but I should be happy to see you 
 when you are disengaged. I will remain here if you 
 please." 
 
 '• I will join you as soon as I can." 
 
 It was warm below, and both Pillgrim and Somers 
 had thrown off their coats, and laid them on the bed. 
 Somers slipped on his own, as he supposed, and hastened 
 on deck to meet the first lieutenant. The garment seemed 
 rather large for him, and there were several papers in 
 the breast pocket which did not belong to him. Then he 
 was aware that he had taken the second lieutenant's coat 
 instead of his own. 
 
 Mr. Hackleford wished to obtain some information 
 from him in regard to one of the petty officers, and wlien 
 Somers had answered the questions he went below again. 
 The papers in the pocket of Pillgi'im's coat seemed to 
 burn his fingers when he touched them. The owner was 
 9* 
 
102 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 a traitor, and perhaps these documents might contain 
 valuable intelligence. Under ordinary circumstances it 
 would have been the height of perfidy to look at one of 
 them ; but, in the present instance, he felt justified in 
 glancing at them. The state-room of the second assist- 
 ant engineers was open and liglited, but neither of these 
 officers was there. Stepping into the room, he opened 
 the papers and glanced at their contents. Only one of 
 them contained anything of importance. This Avas a 
 note from a person who signed himself simply '' Irvine," 
 but it was in the handwriting of Langdon. The only 
 clause in the epistle that was intelligible to Somers was 
 
 this : " Have just heard from B . The Ben Nevis, 
 
 he says, will make Wilmington after leaving St. John. 
 Plenty of guns there. She will sail July 4." 
 
 Whether " B " meant Boston or some person's name, 
 
 Somers could not determine ; but the fact in regard to 
 the Ben Nevis was of the utmost consequence. Hastily 
 folding up the note, he returned the package of papers 
 to the pocket where he had found them. Taking off the 
 coat as he entered the ward-room, he went into the state- 
 room, where Mr. Pillgrim was still waiting for him, with 
 the garment on his arm. He threw it upon the bed as 
 he entered, and his companion was not even aware of 
 the mistake which had been made. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, you were making some gi-ave charges 
 against me when you were called away," said the lieu- " 
 tenant. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 103 
 
 " Not half so grave as those you made agaiust me," 
 replied Somers. 
 
 *' Those eau be proved." 
 
 *' I made no charges. I only mentioned the name of 
 your friend Langdon." 
 
 " I don't know him," added Pillgrim, doggedly. 
 
 " I beg your pardon, as you did mine, just now." 
 
 " Which means that you doubt my word." 
 
 " As you did mine." 
 
 " Somers, I am not to be trifled with," said Pillgrim, 
 sternly. 
 
 '* Neither am I." 
 
 " Be cautious, or I will denounce you to the captain at 
 once," added the lieutenant, in low and threatening tones. 
 
 "" Proceed, and then I shall be at liberty to take the 
 next step." 
 
 ''What's that?" 
 
 "Do you think I intend to show you my hand?" said 
 Somers, with a meaning smile. 
 
 Pillgrim bit his lip with vexation. He seemed to be 
 completely cornered. He evidently believed that his 
 companion knew more than " the law allows." 
 
 " Mr. Pillgi'im, I am no traitor ; you know this as well 
 as I do. Whatever papers I took from your friend Lang- 
 don, alias Wynkoop, were taken with a view to serve my 
 country.'* 
 
 " You signed the oath of allegiance he offered you.'* 
 
104 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " It is false ! " replied Somers, angrily. 
 
 " Be calm, Mr. Somers. I am no hypocrite, as you 
 are," added Pillgi-im. " I have heard that you have a 
 talent for overhearing other people's conversation." 
 
 " In the service of my country I am willing to do even 
 this," said Somers, indignantly. 
 
 " No matter about that. You have hinted that I am 
 a traitor." 
 
 " If the hint is not sufficient, I declare that such is 
 the fact." 
 
 Somers was roused to a high pitch of excitement, and 
 he was not as prudent as he was wont to be. He was 
 not playing a part now ; he was talking and acting as he 
 wanted to talk and act. He was calling treason and 
 treachery by their right names. 
 
 " Explain, Mr. Somers," said Pillgi'im, who grew 
 cooler as his companion became hotter. 
 
 " You are in league with the enemies of your country. 
 You and others have just started a steamer for St. John, 
 which you intend to fit out as a Confederate cruiser — 
 the Ben Nevis, of which you and your fellow-conspira- 
 tors did me the honor to give me the command." 
 
 Pillgrim smiled blandly. 
 
 " And you accepted the command?" 
 
 " For a purpose, I did." 
 
 " You have not explained why you connect me with 
 this affair. You spoke of some one whom you call 
 Lanojdon. I don't know him." 
 
LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK. 105 
 
 « You — do!" 
 
 "Prove it." 
 
 " lie addresses a note to you, calling you ' my dear 
 Pillgrim,' and signs himself, familiarly, ' Langdon.' " 
 
 '' Then you have been reading my letters — have you ? " 
 
 " It was addressed to me, and put in my box at the 
 hotel." 
 
 The second lieutenant turned pale, then red. He 
 walked up and down the state-room several times in 
 silence. He could not deny the fact alleged. While he 
 walked, Somers explained how he had read the note, and 
 then put it back in the box. Pillgrim understood it. 
 
 " Of course you know Coles," continued Somers, 
 placing a heavy emphasis on the name of this worthy. 
 
 The lieutenant halted before his companion, and looked 
 earnestly and inquiringly into his face. Somers returned 
 his craze with unflinchinfjr resolution. There was a smile 
 upon his face, for he believed that he had thrown a red- 
 hot shot into the enemy. 
 
 « Coles ! " said Pillgrim. 
 
 " Coles ! " repeated Somers. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, you are a fool ! " 
 
 " Pray, where were you when human wisdom was 
 distributed?" 
 
 " Do you know Coles ? " asked Pillgrim. 
 
 *' I think I should know Coles if I saw him." 
 
 " Ko, you wouldn't." 
 
106 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " He is the greatest villain that ever went nnhimg." 
 
 " Except yourself. Somers, this is child's play. You 
 have made me your enemy, but let us fight it out like 
 men." 
 
 " I will do so with pleasure when you take your place 
 on the deck of a rebel vessel, where you belong." 
 
 " A truce to child's play, I say again. AVe must settle 
 this matter here and now." 
 
 " It can't be done." 
 
 " It must be done, or I will inform Captain Cascabel 
 who and what you are before the first watch is out. 
 Probably he will wish to see your Confederate commis- 
 sion and your letter of instructions." 
 
 " When he does, I have something else to show him," 
 replied Somers, whose answer was sufficiently indefinite 
 to make the traitor look very stormy and anxious. 
 
 " Can you show him a Confederate oath of allegiance 
 signed by me ? " 
 
 "No." 
 
 " Then he will be more likely to hear me than you," 
 added the lieutenant, whose countenance now looked as 
 malignant as that of a demon. " You have subscribed 
 to that oath ; I have not." 
 
 " It is false ! " 
 
 " So you said before." 
 
 " Prove it." 
 
 " Here," continued Pillgrim, taking from his pocket 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 107 
 
 the document which had been offered to Somers by Wyn- 
 k<3()p. 
 
 The young oflicer glanced at it, and on the line for the 
 signature, he saw, with horror and indignation, the name 
 of " John Somers," apparently in his own handwriting. 
 Undoubtedly it was a forgery, but it was so well done 
 that even the owner of the name could hardly distin- 
 guish it from his usual signature. 
 
 " It is a forgery," gasped Somers, appalled at the 
 deadly peril which seemed to be in his path. 
 
 " Prove it," said the lieutenant, with a mocking smile. 
 
 Somers groaned in spirit. It would be impossible for 
 him to prove that the signature was a forgery. Even 
 his best friends would acknowledge it, so well was it 
 executed. 
 
 "I have you, Somers," said Pillgrim, exultingly. 
 " Let us understand each other. You are mine, Som- 
 ers, or you hang ! Somers, I am Coles ! " 
 
108 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE CHIEF CONSPIRATOR. 
 
 OLVj^IEUTENANT PILLGRIM rcattled off the sea- 
 ^1 tences in which he acknowledged his complicity 
 
 ^^' with treason with a smile of malignant triumph 
 on his face. He gloated over his victim as the evil 
 one might be supposed to do over a soul wrenched 
 from truth and virtue. He believed that he had Somers 
 in a position where he could not betray him, or even 
 resent his tyranny. 
 
 For the first time Somers realized that he had been 
 imprudent in exposing himself to the machinations of 
 these evil men. Before he had only felt a little uncom- 
 fortably, and harbored a vague suspicion that, in attempt- 
 ing to overreach others, he had committed himself. He 
 had learned in his babyhood that it is dangerous to play 
 with fire, but had never believed it so fully as at this 
 moment. He had touched the pitch, and felt that he 
 had been defiled by it. Though his conscience kept 
 assuring him he was innocent, and protesting against a 
 harsh judgment, he could not help regretting that he had 
 
LIFE OX THE Ql'ARTER DUCK. 109 
 
 not exposed the villains before he left; Philadelphia, and 
 })ermitted the consequences to take care of themselves. 
 
 But stronger than any other impression, at tliis event- 
 ful moment, was the feeling that he was no match for 
 men so deeply versed in treason and wickedness as Pill- 
 grim and his confederates. lie had played at the game \ 
 of strategy, and been beaten. AVhile he thought ho was 
 leading them on to confusion, they were actually entwin- 
 ing the meshes of the net around him. 
 
 Mr. Pillgrim had just declared that he was the mys- 
 terious Coles. Soraers, at first, found it very difficult to 
 realize the fact. He had really seen Coles but once ; but 
 they had spent some hours together. At that time Coles 
 wore long, black whiskers, which concealed two thirds of 
 his face ; Pillgrim wore no beard, not even a mustache. 
 Coles was dressed in homely garments ; Pillgrim, in an 
 elegant uniform. Coles's hair was short and straight ; 
 Pillgrim's, long and curly at the ends. 
 
 In height, form, and proportions, they were the same ; 
 and the difference between Coles and Pillgrim was really 
 nothing which might not have been produced with a 
 razor, a pair of barber's shears, and the contrast of dress. 
 The familiarity of the lieutenant's expression, before un- 
 explained, was now accounted for ; and before his tyrant 
 spoke again, Somers was satisfied that he actually stood 
 in the presence of Coles. 
 
 Pillgrim stood with folded arms, gazing at his victim, 
 10 
 
110 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 and enjoying the confusion which Somers could not con- 
 ceal. The persecutor was a confident man, and fully 
 believed that he was master of the situation, and that 
 Somers would do anything he asked of him, even to 
 going over into the rebel ranks. He was mistaken ; for 
 Somers, deep as he felt that he was in hot water, would 
 liave chosen to hang at the fore yard-arm, rather than 
 betray his country, or be false to her interests. 
 
 " You just now remarked that you should know Coles 
 if you saw him," sneered Pillgrim. 
 
 " I know you now," replied Somers, bitterly. 
 
 " I see you do ; but you will know me better before 
 we part." 
 
 " I know you well enough now. You are a rebel and 
 a traitor ; and what I said of Coles I say of you, — that 
 you are the greatest villain that ever went unhung." 
 
 " I don't like that kind of language, Mr. Somers," 
 replied Pillgrim, with entire coolness and self-possession. 
 " It isn't the kind of language which one gentleman 
 should apply to another." 
 
 " Gentleman ! " said Somers, with curling lip ; "I 
 applied it to a rebel and a traitor." 
 
 *' In the present instance it is mutiny. I am your 
 superior officer." 
 
 " You are out of place ; you don't belong here." 
 
 " Your place is on the quarter deck of the Ben Nevis ; 
 and perhaps it will be when she goes into commission as 
 a Confederate cruiser." 
 
LIFE OS THE QUARTER DECK. Ill 
 
 " Never ! " exclaimed Somers, witli energy. 
 
 *' My dear Mr. Somers, be prudeut. Some of the 
 oiTicers might hear you." 
 
 '' I don't care if they all hear me." 
 
 " You talk and act like a boy, Somers. I beg you to 
 consider that your neck and mine are in the same noose. 
 If I hang, you hang with me." 
 
 Somers groaned, for he could not see where his vin- 
 dication was to come from. 
 
 " You seem to understand your situation, and at the 
 same time you appear to be quite willing to throw your- 
 self into the fire. Let me call your attention to the fact 
 that fire will burn." 
 
 '' Better burn or hang, than be a traitor." 
 
 *'Be reasonable, Somers. I do not propose to ask 
 anything of you which will compromise your position in 
 the navy ; but I repeat, you are mine." 
 
 *' I don't understand you." 
 
 " I have told you my secret. You know that I am in 
 the Confederate service ; that I have fitted out a vessel to 
 cruise for Yankee ships. I am willing you should know 
 this, for you dare not violate my confidence." 
 
 " Perhaps I dare." 
 
 " If you do, you are a dead man." 
 
 "Will you kill me?" 
 
 " If necessary.'* 
 
 " I have usually been able to defend myself," replied 
 Somers, with dignity. 
 
112 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 '' I am not an assassin. A court martial will do all T 
 wish done if you are not prudent and devoted, as you 
 should be. The Confederate oath of allegiance signed by 
 you is good testimony." 
 
 " I didn't sign it. The signature is a forgery." 
 
 " My dear fellow, what possible difference does that 
 make ? It is well done — is it not ? " 
 
 " Perhaps it is. Where did you get it? " 
 
 " Lanjjdon gave it to me." 
 
 " Did he sign my name to it?" 
 
 " Possibly ; but even grant that I did it myself-^ 
 what then ? " 
 
 " You are a greater villain than I ever gave Coles 
 the credit of being." 
 
 " Thank you ! " 
 
 " "Where is Langdon now? " 
 
 '*In New York — Avhere he can be reached if you 
 make it necessary to convene a court martial." 
 
 " Is he a naval officer? " 
 
 " Yes ; he has been a Confederate agent in London for 
 the past two years. Since the English have become a 
 little particular about letting steamers out for the Con- 
 federates, he buys them on this side." 
 
 " What do you want of me, Mr. — Pillgrim? if that is 
 your name ? " 
 
 " That is my name. I don't want much of you." 
 
 "What?" 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 113 
 
 *' I am not ready to tell you until you are in a proper 
 frame of miud. You are rather childish to-night. After 
 you have thought the matter over, you will be a man, 
 and be reasonable. Let me see : Garboard has the 
 forenoon watch to-morrow, and we shall both be off duty 
 after general quarters. If you please, I will meet you 
 at that time." 
 
 Somers considered a moment, and assented to the 
 proposition. Pillgrim bade him good night, and retired 
 to his own state-room, apparently without a fear that his 
 victim would struggle in the trap into which he had 
 fallen. 
 
 " And into the counsels of the ungodly enter thou not." 
 This text rang in the mind of Somers, as though some 
 mighty prophet were thundering it into his ears. lie 
 felt that he had already plunged deep enough into the pit 
 of treason, and he was anxious to get away from it 
 before he was scorched by the fire, and before the smell 
 of fire clung to his garments. 
 
 For half an liour the fourth lieutenant of the Chatau- 
 qua sat at his desk, in deep thought. Though iu the 
 matter of which he was thinking, he had not sinned 
 against his country, or the moral law, he was sorely 
 troubled. He could not conceal from himself the fact 
 that he was afraid of Pillgi-im. The dread of having his 
 name connected with any treasonable transaction was 
 hard to overcome. That oath of allegiance, with his 
 
114 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 signature forged upon it, haunted him like an evil de- 
 mon. He felt more timid and fearful than ever before in 
 his life. His faith in Him who doeth all things well, 
 seemed to be momentarily shaken, and he was hardly- 
 willing to do justly, and leave the consequences to 
 themselves. 
 
 He felt weak, and being conscious of his weakness, he 
 looked upward for strength. Leaning on his desk, he 
 prayed for wisdom to know the right, and for the power 
 to do it. He Avas in earnest ; and though his prayer was 
 not spoken, it moved his soul down to the depths of his 
 spiritual being. 
 
 Three bells struck w^hile he was thus engaged. He 
 rose from the desk, and walked up and down the state- 
 room several times. Suddenly he stopped short. A 
 great thought struck him. In an instant it became a 
 great resolution. Before it had time to grow cold, he 
 put on his coat and cap, and went out into the Avard- 
 room. Mr. Transit, the master, Mr. Grynbock, the 
 paymaster, and Dr. De Plesion, the surgeon, Avere there, 
 discussing the anticipated attacks on Mobile and Wil- 
 mington. Somers felt no interest in the conversation at 
 this ^time. He Avent on deck, Avhere he found Captain 
 Cascabel and the first lieutenant, smoking their cigars. 
 Waiting till the captain went below, he touched his cap 
 to Mr. Hackleford. 
 
 "Mr. Somers?" 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 115 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 "Not turned iu, Mr. Somers? You have the mid- 
 watch." 
 
 *' If you will excuse me, sir, for coming to you at such 
 a time, I wish to have half au hour's conversation with 
 you." 
 
 '* With me ? " said Mr. Ilackleford, apparently much 
 surprised at such a request at such an hour. 
 
 *' Yes, sir. It is a matter of the utmost consequence, 
 or I would not have mentioned it at this time." 
 
 *' Very well, Mr. Somers ; I am ready to hear you." 
 ' '' Excuse me, sir ; I would rather not introduce the 
 matter on deck." 
 
 " "Well, come to my state-room." 
 
 *' To my state-room, if you please, Mr. Ilackleford." 
 
 "Why not mine?" 
 
 " I am afraid the person most deeply concerned will 
 overhear me. His room is next to yours." 
 
 *' Mr. Pillgrim ? " exclaimed the first lieutenant. 
 
 *' 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." 
 
116 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 "Complaints against superior officers, Mr. Somers, 
 are rather dangerous." 
 
 "It is not personal, sir, though I may be the sufferer 
 for making it." 
 
 Mi\ Hacklelbrd 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 ob- 
 tained permission to burn his lamp till eleven o'clock. 
 The first lieutenant entered the room, and JSomers 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-glass, 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." 
 
LIFE OX THE QrARTER DECK. 117 
 
 *' 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 
 lior 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 \vith Mr. Pillgrim?" 
 asked Mr. Ilackleford. 
 
 " Mr. Pillgrim is the person spoken of in that paper 
 as Coles." 
 
 " Impossible ! " ejaculated Mr. Ilackleford, springing 
 to his feet. 
 
 *' I shall be able to prove it by to-morrow, sir." 
 
 Somers then jjax'tj him the substance of the conversa- 
 tiou between himself and Mr. Pillgrim. 
 
 " Why, this Coles wants something of you." 
 
 *' Yes, sir ; but I don't know what. lie engaged to 
 meet me here at four bells in the forenoon watch to- 
 morrow, when ho will tell mo what he wants." 
 
 *' Very well, Mr. Somers ; meet him as agreed. You 
 liave 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." 
 
118 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " 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. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 119 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 AFTER GENERAL QUARTERS. 
 
 z**^ T eleven o'clock, when the master-at-arms 
 71 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 re- 
 freshed 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, 
 wliich tlie officer of the deck always carries as the 
 emblem of his olfice, and commenced his walk on the 
 weather side. 
 
120 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 Though he carefully watched the compasses, 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 him- 
 self now. He had purged himself of all appearance of 
 complicity Avith 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 lieuten- 
 ant 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. AVhile he 
 was waiting to be relieved, he could not help considering 
 what a risk it was to leave that noble 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 Cliatauqua to 
 be imperilled even for a moment. 
 
 " Good morning, Mr. Somers," said Lieutenant Pill- 
 grim, as he came on deck. 
 
 " Good morning, Mr. Pillgrim," replied Somers, with 
 all the courtesy due to the quarter deck. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK, 121 
 
 *' A fine morning." 
 
 *' Beautiful weather." 
 
 *' You have had a good opportunity to think over our 
 business. IIow 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 ":oinn^ 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. Tliis gen- 
 tleman evidently intended to keep a sharp lookout for the 
 ollicer of the deck during his watch. ^le asked the 
 relieved officer if anything more had transpired, and the 
 unimportant conversation which had just taken place was 
 fully reported to him. 
 
 '' Mr. Somers, I haven't slept an hour during the night. 
 There are one or two points in your statement which 
 were a little dark to me," said Mr. Hackleford. 
 
 " More than that of it is dark to me. I do not pro- 
 fess to understand the whole of it. I only state the facts 
 from my own point of view." 
 11 
 
122 BRAVE OLD SALT, OB 
 
 ♦■ 
 
 " You listened to this talk between Coles and Lan^^don 
 at the sailors' boarding-house in Front Street? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " If you saw Coles there, how could — " 
 
 " I didn't see him, sir ; I only heard him." 
 
 " That accounts for it," said Mr. Hackleford, musin"'. 
 " Didn't you recognize Mr. Pillgrim's voice? " 
 
 *' No, sir ; I think he changed it ; though the two 
 tones were so similar that I might have recognized it, if 
 I had suspected they were the same person." 
 
 Mr. Hackleford asked other questions, which Soraers 
 answered with strict regard to the truth, rather than with 
 the intention of removing the first lieutenant's doubts. 
 He wanted only facts himself, and he was careful not to 
 distort them, in order to confirm any theory of his own 
 or of his superior officer. 
 
 Mr. Hackleford went on deck, and Somers turned in. 
 He was in condition to sleep now, and he improved his 
 four hours below to the best advantage. 
 
 After general quarters, when the crew were dismissed, 
 he went down to his state-room, prepared to meet Mr. 
 Pillgrim. He was surprised to know how little curiosity 
 he felt to learn what the traitor wanted and expected of 
 him. Punctual to the appointed time, which exhibited 
 the interest he felt in the expected interview, the treach- 
 erous second lieutenant made his appearance. Somers 
 received him as one officer should receive another, 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 123 
 
 though it was hard ^vork for him to disguise the eon- 
 temp^t and detestation with which he regarded the traitor. 
 " Well, Somers, now I am to tell you what I waut of 
 you. It isn't much, as I warned you heforc ; and I am 
 very glad to see that you are in such a happy frame of 
 
 mind." 
 
 " I am ready to hear you, and do the best I can," re- 
 plied Somers, carefully following the instructions of Mr. 
 Ilackleford with regard to matter and manner. 
 
 He had been cautioned to be ready enough in listening 
 to the chief conspirator, but not too ready, so as to be- 
 tray his object. 
 
 " Good ! I think you understand me now." 
 
 " I think I do, sir." 
 
 " I am sorry to do it, but it is necessary for me to 
 remind you again that your fate is in my hands ; that a 
 word from me would subject you to a trial by court 
 martial for treason, and probably to mose hemp rope 
 than would feel good about your neck." 
 
 " Though I don't think I am in so much danger as 
 you represent, I will grant your position." 
 
 '' Don't grant it, if you think it is not correct ; " and 
 Mr. Pillgrim minutely detailed the evidence which could 
 be brought to bear against him. 
 
 Somers appeared to be overwhelmed by this array of 
 testimony. He groaned, looked hopeless, and finally 
 granted the traitor's position in full. 
 
124 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " I am in your power. Do with nie as you will. Of 
 course the moment I put my foot on a rebel deck I am 
 ruined." 
 
 '' You can do as you please about going into the Con- 
 federate service. What I want of you will not compro- 
 mise you as a loyal man in the slightest degree." 
 
 " What do you want of me ? " 
 
 " Not quite so loud, if you please, Mr. Somers," said 
 the lieutenant, glancing at the door. " To me, Somers, 
 you liave been a thorn. You lost me the Snowden, and 
 the valuable cargo of the Theban." 
 
 " I only did my duty," pleaded Somers. 
 
 *' Bah ! don't use that word to me again. Through 
 you a fortune slipped through my fingers. I should have 
 got the Snowden into Wilmington, if you had not med- 
 dled with the matter. I have lost eighty thousand dollars 
 by you." 
 
 " Of course I had no ill will against you personally." 
 
 " Very true ; if you had, you would have been a dead 
 man before this time. Phil Kennedy was a fool, but he 
 was my best friend. I have his bond for forty thousand 
 dollars, w^hich is waste paper just now. Phil fell by 
 your hand." 
 
 " It was in fair fight." 
 
 " Nonsense ! What matter is it to me how he fell, 
 w^hether it was in fair fight or foul ? He is dead ; that 
 is all." 
 
LIFE OX TllK QUARTER DECK. I'io 
 
 ''What has all this to do with me?" asked Somers, 
 ■Nvith seeming impatience. 
 
 '* Much, my dear fellow. Phil was to marry Kale 
 Portingtou ; was to pocket her fortune. You have cut 
 him out. You will marry her, and iu due time come 
 into possession of a million. The commodore is apo- 
 plectic, and will not live many years. Do you see my 
 point?" 
 
 " I do not," answered Somers, disgusted with this 
 heartless statement. 
 
 *' As you cheated me out of the Snowden, as you 
 killed Phil Kennedy, as you will marry Kate Portingtou, 
 I propose that you assume and pay Phil's bond." 
 
 " I? " 
 
 " Certainly — you ; Mr. Somers ; Kate's prodigy," 
 lauf^hed Pill^^rim. 
 
 *' Never ! " exclaimed Somers, jumping to his feet. 
 
 *' You speak too loud, Mr. Somers." 
 
 " Am 1 a dog, or a snake, or a toad, that I should do 
 such an unclean thing ? " 
 
 The traitor took from his pocket the oath of allegiance, 
 opened it, and in silence thrust it into his companion's 
 face. 
 
 " I have sold myself." 
 
 " You have, Somers. Think of it. If I have to make 
 out a case against you, of course you will never see Kate 
 again. Let me add, that the commodore sets his life by 
 11 * 
 
126 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 me. "We were old friends before the war. You may 
 marry his daughter with my consent, but not without it." 
 
 " I never thoufi^ht of such a thin^i^." 
 
 " Perhaps not. We waste time. "Will you sign the 
 bond?" 
 
 " The bond is good for nothing. No court — " 
 
 " That is my affair. If you agree to it, I will run all 
 risks. I trouble no courts. If you don't pay, I have 
 only to speak, and hang you then." 
 - " I am lost," groaned Somers. 
 
 " No, you are not. Sign, and vou have found fortune 
 and a friend." 
 
 "T dare not sign." 
 
 " You dare not refuse. 
 
 Somers walked up and down the state-room, appar- 
 ently in great mental agony. 
 
 " Shall I sign? " said he, in a loud tone, as though he 
 were speaking to the empty air. 
 
 " Not so loud, man I " interposed Pillgrim, angrily. 
 
 At that instant two light raps were distinctly heard. 
 
 " What's that? " demanded the traitor, greatly alarmed. 
 
 " I Avill sign it," promptly added Somers, to whom the 
 two raps seemed to be perfectly intelligible. 
 
 "What was that noise?" asked Pillgrim, fearfully. 
 " Is there any one in Garboard's state-room? " 
 
 " I think not." 
 
 The second lieutenant was not satisfied. He opened 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK 127 
 
 the door and looked into the adjoining state-room, but 
 there was no person there, and tlie ward-room was 
 empty. There was no one within hearing, and the cod * 
 spirator recovered his wonted self-possession. 
 
 " You will sign? " said he. 
 
 *' I will." 
 
 " I knew you would, and therefore I prepared the doc- 
 ument ; read it," he continued, taking a paper from his 
 pocket. 
 
 Somers read. It w^as simply an agreement to pay 
 forty thousand dollars, when he married Kate Porting- 
 ton, in consideration of certain assistance rendered the 
 signer, but without any allusion to the circumstances 
 under which it was given. As a legal document, of 
 course it was good for nothing, as both parties well 
 understood. Somers signed it. 
 
 *' Now, Mr. Somers, Ave are friends," said Pillgrim, 
 as he folded up the paper, and restored it to his pocket. 
 " You have done me a good turn, and I have done you 
 one." 
 
 Somers, unwilling to regard Pi'llgrim as a fool, be- 
 lieved that this paper was intended to ruin him in the 
 estimation of the Portington family, and that the villain 
 intended to marry her himself when her apparent suitor 
 was disposed of. 
 
 " Is this all you expect of me ? " asked Somers. 
 
 " This is the principal thing. I may have occasion to 
 
128 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 use you agaiu ; if I do, I shall not hesitate to call upon 
 you. You are in my confidence now." 
 
 " Will you tell me, then, where the Ben Nevis is 
 bound? I may want to find her, for I haven't much 
 taste for the old navy now." 
 
 " Ah, you make better progress than I anticipated. 
 She is bound to St. Marks." 
 
 This was a lie, as Somers well knew. 
 
 " Coles and Langdon said she was to make Mobile." 
 
 '' The plan was changed. You must not lay much 
 stress on what you heard that night. It was all a blind, 
 — or most of it was." 
 
 "Indeed?" 
 
 " The conversation at the house in Front Street was 
 carried on for your especial benefit," added Pillgrim, 
 laughing and rubbing his hands. " Langdon wrote both 
 letters about the wounded sailor ; there was no such per- 
 son. The old woman that kept the house was in my 
 pay. When I spoke so warmly in your praise to Lang- 
 don, I knew that you were listening to all I said ; indeed, 
 I said it to you rather than to Langdon." 
 
 " Why did you tell me beforehand, if you intended to 
 catch me with the treasonable oiFer ? " asked Somers, 
 rather mortified to learn that he had been duped from 
 the beginning. 
 
 " I knew you would pretend to accept it. All I 
 wanted was to get you to take the commission, orders, 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 129 
 
 and oath. As you agreed to sign the latter, LangdoQ 
 did it for you, for I could not wait." 
 
 "The Ben Nevis is no humbug?" 
 
 " No ; I bought her and two other steamers on the 
 Clyde, in Scotland. The Ben Nevis was captured, but 
 my friends bought lier after she was condemned. Ai 
 there had been a great deal said about her in the news- 
 papers, I used her because it was probable you had 
 heard of her." 
 
 " I had." 
 
 "• Everything works as I intended." 
 
 " Not exactly," thought Somers. 
 
 " The captain of the coaster that pounded you that 
 night was Langdon," laughed Pilgrim. 
 
 "Why was that done?" 
 
 " That I might take you back to the hotel, and be 
 your friend. We did not intend to hurt you much. It 
 was important that you should think well of me. You 
 do — don't you?" 
 
 " Of course." 
 
 " All right now ; remember you are mine, Somers," 
 said rillgi'im, as he left the room. 
 
130 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE BEN NEVIS. 
 
 /^^I^HE Chatauqua rolled along easily on her course 
 g% ! during the rest of the day, until the dog watch, 
 ^^Jy when Mr. Pillgrim had the deck again. Somers, 
 having discharged his whole duty in reference to the con- 
 spiracy, was content to leave the matter in the hands of 
 Mr. Hackleford, to whom he had committed it. 
 
 At eight bells, as soon as Somers had been relieved 
 from the afternoon watch, he was not a little surprised to 
 receive a message from the captain, inviting him to his 
 cabin. He readily came to the conclusion that the sum- 
 mons related to the conspiracy. When he entered the 
 cabin, he saw Captain Cascabel and Mr. Hackleford 
 seated at the table, on which was spread a general chart 
 of the coast of the United States. 
 
 " Say what you wish to Mr. Somers," said the captain 
 to the first lieutenant. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, Captain Cascabel has sent for you in 
 relation to the affair of which we talked in your state- 
 room last night," Mr. Hackleford beiran. " All that you 
 
LIFE O.X THE QUARTER DECK. 131 
 
 have written out in your statemeut, aud all that you told 
 me, have been fully coutirmed." 
 
 *' I intended to confine myself strictly to the facts," 
 replied Somers, modestly. 
 
 "You have been very discreet and very prudent," 
 added Mr. Hackleford. 
 
 " I fully concur," said Captain Cascabel. " You have 
 exposed yourself to no little peril, in your zeal to serve 
 your country." 
 
 Somers bowed and blushed. 
 
 " I confess that I had some doubts in regard to the 
 result of your operations, Mr. Somers," continued the 
 first lieutenant ; " but I am entirely satisfied now that 
 Mr. Pillgrim is just what you represent him to be." 
 
 " All that you affirmed has been fully verified," added 
 the captain. 
 
 He did not say that both himself and Mr. Hackleford 
 had listened to the entire conversation between Somers 
 and the traitor in the forenoon, occupying one of the 
 captain's state-rooms, which adjoined the starboard side 
 of the ward-room, having bored a couple of holes throufrh 
 the partition, behind the bureau ; he did not say this, 
 for it was hardly dignified for a captain to play the eaves- 
 dropper, even in a good cause. Somers knew that Mr. 
 Hackleford was at hand at the time, and had arranged a 
 set of signals by which he could advise the young olficer, 
 if he should be in doubt. One rap meant, " No ; " two 
 
132 BRAVE OLD SALT, 4DR 
 
 raps, " Yes ; " and three raps, " Give no direct answer." 
 When Somers was in doubt respecting the bond, he 
 asked the question of the empty air, apparently, but 
 really of Mr. Hackleford, who had promptly replied in 
 the affirmative by giving the two knocks, which had 
 startled the traitor. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, what do you know of the Ben Nevis? " 
 asked the captain. 
 
 " She was to sail from St. John on the 4th of July, 
 to run the blockade at Wilmington. She is said to make 
 sixteen knots, under favorable circumstances." 
 . " She has had a head wind part of the time. If she 
 has made twelve on the average, she has done well," said 
 Mr. Hackleford. 
 
 " She will be due off Cape Fear some time after 
 meridian to-morrow," added the captain, consulting a 
 paper, on which were several arithmetical operations. 
 
 The calculations were carefully reviewed, and Somers 
 was questioned at considerable length ; but he had 
 already given all the information he possessed. It was 
 evidently the intention of Captain Cascabel to capture 
 the Ben Nevis, though he did not announce his purpose. 
 
 " After what has occurred, Mr. Somers, you may be 
 surprised that Mr. Pillgrim has not been relieved from 
 duty and placed under arrest," continued Captain Casca- 
 bel, after the position of the Ben Nevis had been care- 
 fully estimated. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 133 
 
 " I leave the matter entirely in the hands of my 
 superior otHcers," replied Somers. " Having cast the 
 responsibility upon them, I am willing to obey orders 
 without asking any questions." 
 
 " That is a very proper view to take of the subject, 
 and I commend your moderation," said the captain, with 
 a pleasant smile. " It has been thought best not to dis- 
 turb Mr. Pillgrim for a day or two, for other events may 
 transpire." 
 
 Captain Cascabel bowed to Somers, and intimated that 
 he had no further need of him at present. 
 
 " Ah, Mr. Somers, been visiting the captain," said 
 the second lieutenant, as his victim came on deck. 
 
 " I was sent for." 
 
 " What was the business? " 
 
 Fortunately, Mr. Transit, who was planking the deck 
 on the lee side, approached near enough to enable Somers 
 to avoid answering the question, and he thus escaped the 
 necessity of telling a falsehood. But as soon as Mr. 
 Garboard took the deck, Pillgrim repeated the inquiry, 
 and the young officer was obliged to narrate an imagi- 
 nary conversation. • 
 
 " It's no matter, Somers. You understand that I 
 have a rope round your neck, and I am not at all afraid 
 that you will make an improper use of your tongue." 
 
 " I certainly shall not," answered Somers, with em- 
 phasis. *' You may depend upon me for that." 
 12 
 
134 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " The fact is, Somers, I have got a mortgage on you ; 
 and I want no better security for your good conduct." 
 
 " You needn't trouble yourself at all about me." 
 
 " I shall not ; because, if you wish to betray me, I 
 should rather enjoy it. I have been your best friend. 
 Instead of blowing your brains out for making an end 
 of poor Phil Kennedy, I have taken you into my confi- 
 dence. You shall marry the prettiest and the richest 
 girl north of the Potomac ; and when Union officers are 
 proscribed and condemned after the war, you will have 
 a friend at court who will speak a good word for you." 
 
 " Thank you ; but do you really believe that the South 
 will carry the day ? " 
 
 " Pm sure of it. England is our best friend ; and 
 Louis Napoleon, in order to complete his Mexican 
 scheme, must recognize the Confederacy. AYhen France 
 does the job, England will be only one day behind her." 
 
 "If I go with you, I shall be on the winning side, 
 then." 
 
 " If you do? You have gone with me. Though I 
 don't ask you to help the South openly, I expect you to 
 be a friend of the government which must soon rule the 
 country. Leave it all to me, Somers, and I will man- 
 age the business for you and myself. You must confess, 
 Somers, that I am a little ahead of you in strategy," said 
 the traitor, with a complacent smile. 
 
 " You beat me in the game we have been playing ; but 
 
LIFE OX THE QUAnTER DECK. 1S5 
 
 that only makes us even, for I got the better of you ia 
 another aftair." 
 
 " Not of me ; it was tlic stupidity of Phil Kennedy 
 that ruined the Snowden business. I pride myself on 
 my strategy, Somers. I have never been beaten in any- 
 thing of this kind yet. The fact of it is, I know whom 
 to trust. I never give my confidence to a man who 
 dares to betray it," replied Pillgrim, rubbing his hands 
 with delight at his own cleverness. 
 
 Somers was of the opinion that he would think differ- 
 ently before many days had elapsed ; but he was as 
 prudent as the circumstances required. 
 
 At eight bells, the fourth lieutenant took the deck for 
 the first watch ; and from that time until the following 
 afternoon, he saw but little of the conspirator. At this 
 time, the ship was off Cape Fear, though too far out to 
 sight the land, or even the outer line of blockaders which 
 kept vigilant watch over the entrance to the river. Pre- 
 cisely at the moment when one bell struck in the first 
 dog-watch, the engine of the Chatauqua, without any 
 order from the olficer of the deck, and without any ap- 
 parent reason, suddenly stopped. , 
 
 It had proved itself to be a very good and well-mean- 
 ing engine, thus far, and all hands began to wonder what 
 had happened, or what was going to happen. But Mr. 
 Cranklin, the chief engineer, presently reported that 
 there was a " screw loose " somewhere, and that it 
 
136 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 would be necessary to lay to, and make some repairs. 
 Certainly it was a very opportune moment for the ship 
 to stop ; and those who did not know what had passed 
 between the chief engineer and the first lieutenant might 
 have supposed that the zealous engine, heretofore so faith- 
 ful in the discharge of its trying duties, had overheard 
 some of the conversation we have related, and was wait- 
 ing for the Ben Nevis to show herself to seaward. 
 
 In further confirmation that the stoppage was not en- 
 tirely owing to the obstinacy of the engine, it was 
 .observed that extra lookout men had been stationed on 
 the fore yard, and on the cross-trees, since meridian of 
 that day. The captain and the first lieutenant were often 
 seen in confidential communication ; and everybody on 
 board seemed to be impressed with the idea that some- 
 thing was about to " turn up." 
 
 Something did " turn up," about three bells ; for the 
 man on the fore cross-trees, reported a vessel on the 
 beam. The dense mass of black smoke in the wake of 
 her smoke-stack indicated that she was an English 
 blockade runner, approaching the coast so as to run in 
 after dark. As soon as this agreeable information 
 spread through the Chatauqua, it created an intense 
 excitement, not manifested in noisy demonstrations, for 
 that would have been in violation of the strict rule of 
 naval discipline, but in the expectant eyes and stimu- 
 lated movements of the officers and crew, to whose 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 137 
 
 pockets, as well as to their national pride, the prospect 
 of a rich prize appealed with tremendous force. 
 
 At this thrilling moment, when everything depended 
 upon the sailing qualities of the Chatauqua, either Mr. 
 Cranklin had completed his remedial efforts, or the 
 engine had come to a realizing sense of the proprieties of 
 the occasion, and was sensible of the appalling wicked- 
 ness of disappointing the two hundred and fifty anxious 
 souls on board. The docile machine was reported to be in 
 condition for active service. The bells pealed forth the 
 signal to *' go ahead slowly," then " at full speed," and 
 the Chatauqua darted away. 
 
 " Hard a starboard ! " said Mr. Somers, now the 
 officer of the deck, to the quartermaster, who was con- 
 ning the wheel. 
 
 " Hard a starboard, sir ! " 
 
 " Steady ! " 
 
 " Steady, sir ! " 
 
 " What does this mean, Somers? " demanded Pillgrim, 
 in a low, angry tone, as he passed the officer of the deck. 
 
 " I don't know, sir. I only obey orders," replied 
 Somers, as he glanced ahead at the chase. 
 
 "Do you know what steamer that is?" asked 
 Pillgrim. 
 
 '^How should I?" 
 
 " It is the Ben Nevis." 
 
 " How do you know? " 
 12* 
 
138 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " I know ; that is sufficient. We must save her," 
 said the second lieutenant, in low, but excited tones. 
 
 The chase continued for half an hour longer, when it 
 was evident tliat the Ben Nevis — for it was indeed she 
 — had changed her course, and was headed to the east- 
 ward. 
 
 " This will never do, Mr. Somers," said Mr. Hackle- 
 ford. " We can't sail with her. We must chanije our 
 tactics.'* 
 
 " She gains upon us," replied Somers. 
 
 " No doubt of it." 
 
 " I am afraid we shall lose her, sir." 
 
 " I would give my year's pay to capture her, Mr. 
 Somers, if it were only for your sake." 
 
 Somers suggested an idea to the first lieutenant, who, 
 after the approval of Captain Cascabel, adopted it. 
 
 " Clear away the first cutter," said Mr. Hackleford. 
 " Lower away." 
 
 The first cutter was soon in the water, the ship having 
 now stopped her engine. 
 
 " Mr. Pillgrim, you will stand by in the first cutter 
 till that steamer comes up. Capture her if her papers 
 are not all right, or if she is bound into Wilmington." 
 
 A smile of satisfaction lighted up the countenance of 
 the second lieutenant, when he found he was to go in the 
 boat. The first cutter pulled away. 
 
 "Clear away the second cutter!" said the first lieu- 
 
LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK. 
 
 139 
 
 tenant ; and while the men were eagerly performing this 
 duty, the captain instructed Somers, who was to go in 
 her, in regard to the duty he was expected to perform. 
 
 Somers took his place in the stern-sheets of the second 
 cutter, which was armed with a twenty-four pounder 
 howitzer, while the first cutter had nothing but small 
 arms. As soon as this boat left the ship's side, the Cha- 
 tauqua came about, as though she had abandoned the 
 chase, and stood to the westward. 
 
 The Ben Nevis immediately discovered the change 
 which had been made in the course of her pursuer. Ap- 
 parently satisfied that she had outwitted the man-of-war, 
 she put about and headed towards the coast again, with- 
 out suspecting the fact that two boats lay in her track. 
 
140 BRAVE OLD SALT, OH 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 A CONFLICT OF AUTHORITY. 
 
 (\J^T was about suDset -when the Ben Nevis put 
 about and headed in shore. The first cutter 
 
 was at least half a mile in advance of the 
 second, and both of them lying near the track 
 of the blockade-runner. It was useless to pull towards 
 the expected prize ; on the contrary, it was better policy 
 to keep still, so as not to attract the attention of her 
 people. 
 
 The Ben Ne\as, when she changed her course, might 
 have been about five miles distant from the Chatauqua, 
 and the longer the meeting between the steamer and the 
 boats was deferred, the more would the darkness favor 
 the latter. It was thought that the blockade-runner 
 would approach at half speed, so as not to encounter the 
 fleet off the river at too early an hour ; but her com- 
 mander did not appear to regard this delay as necessary, 
 and came down at full speed. It was not dark, there- 
 fore, when the first cutter was within hail of her. 
 
 As soon as the Ben Nevis discovered the nearest boat, 
 
LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK. 141 
 
 she sheered oti', though, as the first cutter had no how- 
 itzer, she could have everything her own way. Somers 
 kept the second cutter just out of hail of the other boat ; 
 and carefully watched the operations of the second lieu- 
 tenant. 
 
 The steamer sheered off just enough to avoid the boat ; 
 but presently she resumed her course, as if, making 
 twelve knots, she had nothing to fear from an enemy 
 with oars only to urge her forward. It would be impos- 
 sible for the first cutter to board her at full speed, and 
 she seemed disposed to run the risk of a shot or two 
 rather than expose herself to falling into any other trap 
 which the man-of-war might have set for her. 
 
 The Ben Nevis dashed on, therefore, in a direction 
 which placed the first cutter on her starboard bow, when 
 Mr. Pillgrim hailed her, and ordered her to heave to, 
 accompanying the command with a peculiar wave of his 
 cap in the air, which was thrice repeated, very much to 
 the astonishment, no doubt, of the loyal blue-jackets in 
 the boat with him. 
 
 " Topple my timber-heads ! What docs all that 
 mean ? " exclaimed Boatswain Longstone, who, by tlic 
 especial request of the fourth lieutenant, had a place 
 in the stern-sheets of the second cutter. 
 
 " Wait, and you will see," replied Mr. Somers. 
 The Ben Nevis at once stopped her wheels, and the 
 first cutter pulled towards her. 
 
142 • BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 '' That beats me ! " ejaculated the boatswain. *' What 
 did she stop. for? " 
 
 *' Probably her captain thinks that is his best course," 
 replied Somers, "vvho knew very well why she had 
 stopped. 
 
 The commander of the blockade-runner evidently rec- 
 ognized the voice and the signal of Pillgrim, and, like an 
 obedient servant, was willing to shift the responsibility 
 of the occasion on his owner and employer. Honest 
 Tom Longstone w^as sorely perplexed by the movement 
 of the steamer and the conduct of the second lieutenant 
 of the Chatauqua, for a suspicion of foul play on the 
 part of one of his officers could not have entered his 
 loyal heart. 
 
 The first cutter touched the side of the Ben Nevis, and 
 Mr. Pillgrim w^ent up the accommodation ladder. 
 
 " Clear away the howitzer ! " said Somers. 
 
 The boatswain looked at him as though he had been 
 mad. 
 
 " Man the howitzer ! " 
 
 The gun was loaded with a solid shot, and made ready 
 for instant use. 
 
 " Now give way, boatswain," continued Somers ; and 
 the second cutter dashed swiftly over the long billows 
 towards the Ben Nevis. 
 
 " Are you going to use that gun? " asked Tom Long^ 
 stone, in a low tone. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 143 
 
 " If necessary." 
 
 " But Mr. rillgrim has the steamer. He has boarded 
 her." 
 
 *' We will wiiit aud see," answered Somers, evasively ; 
 for it was expected and intended that the second lieuten- 
 ant should '^ hang himself," on this interesting occasion. 
 
 Before the second cutter could reach the steamer, Mr. 
 Pillgrim had completed his examination on board of her, 
 and descended to his boat. As he gave the order for 
 the cutter to shove oiF, Somers's boat shot in alongside 
 of her. 
 
 " She is all right, Mr. Somers," said the second lieu- 
 tenant. 
 
 " All right? " exclaimed Somers ; and, in spite of him- 
 self, he actually trembled with emotion, being conscious 
 that a very trying scene was before him — one which 
 would require all his skill and all his energy. 
 
 " I say she is all right, Mr. Somers," repeated Pill- 
 grim, sharply, for he did not appear to like the tone and 
 manner of the fourth lieutenant. 
 
 " What is she ? " 
 
 " She is an American steamer from Baltimore, bound 
 to Havana." 
 
 *' What is she doing in here, then? " demanded Somers. 
 
 " That's her affair. Don't you see the American flag 
 at her peak ? " 
 
 *' What is her name? " 
 
144 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " The Ben Nevis," replied Pillgrim, with the most 
 expressive emphasis. " Sheer off, and return to the 
 ship.'* 
 
 " I think she is a blockade-runner." 
 
 " Do you, indeed?" sneered the traitor. 
 
 " I am satisfied she is." 
 
 *' I have boarded her, and my report will be final in 
 this matter." 
 
 *' My orders were to board her," said Somers. 
 
 " Your orders? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " I am your superior officer. 
 
 *' You are, Mr. Pillgrim." 
 
 " Of course your orders were intended to be carried 
 out, in case you happened to come up with the steamer 
 before I did." 
 
 " I was ordered to board her, Mr. Pillgrim, and I 
 feel compelled to obey," replied Somers, w^ith firmness, 
 though he still trembled wuth emotion. 
 
 " Steady, Mr. Somers ; be careful," said Tom Long- 
 stone, bewildered by this conflict of authority — a cir- 
 cumstance he had not before observed in his long career 
 in the navy. " He is your superior officer." 
 
 *' I know w^hat I am about, Tom," whispered Somers, 
 compassionating the misery his apparently mutinous ac- 
 tions must cause his honest friend. 
 
 " If you do, go ahead, my darling." 
 
LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK. 145 
 
 *^ ]Mr. Somcrs, I order you to return to the ship," said 
 Mr. Pillgrim, steruly. 
 
 *^ I must obey the captaiu's orders, and board this 
 steamer." 
 
 " You mistake your orders, and I insist that you obey 
 me." 
 
 '* You will excuse me if I disregard your command ; 
 and I will be answerable to the captain for my con- 
 duct." 
 
 '' The captain is not here ; I am your superior officer. 
 Disobey me at your peril ! " continued Pillgrim, in sav- 
 age tones. 
 
 ''Is it all right?" shouted the captain of the Ben 
 Nevis, who was standing on the starboard paddle-box of 
 the steamer. 
 
 " Ay, ay ; all right. Start your wheels ! " replied 
 Pillgrim. 
 
 '* Captain, if you move a wheel, I will fire into you ! " 
 added Somers ; and the captain of the howitzer stood, 
 with the lock-string in his hand, ready to execute the 
 order when it should be given. 
 
 The commander of the Ben Nevis looked down upon 
 the second cutter's gun, pointing into the hull of his 
 vessel, so that the twenty-four pound shot would pass 
 through her engine-room. He did not give the order to 
 start the wheels. Pillgrim was disconcerted : he was 
 foiled in his scheme. By this time he realized that the 
 13 
 
146 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 fourth lieutenant of the Chatauqua was not the -willing, 
 timid tool he had taken him to be. 
 
 The men in both boats "were astonished and con- 
 founded by the startling clash of authority between their 
 officers. Such a thing had never been known before. 
 They had been surprised when Mr. Pillgrim declared 
 that the steamer was all right, for there was not one of 
 them who was not perfectly satisfied that the vessel was 
 running in to break the blockade. They were stiU more 
 surprised when Mr. Somers dared to dispute the con- 
 clusions of his superior officer. Involuntarily they took 
 sides with the fourth lieutenant, because his opinion that 
 the Ben Nevis was not all right coincided with their 
 own, and because the prize-money went with his view 
 of the matter. But they were well disciplined men, and 
 each crew, thus far, obeyed the orders of its own officer ; 
 and, so far as they were concerned, there was no conflict 
 of command, though this was likely soon to be the 
 case. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, I warn you — beware ! " said Pillgrim, 
 with the most expressive emphasis. 
 
 " I intend to do my duty," replied Somers. 
 
 " Bully for the fourth luff ! " shouted a seaman in the 
 second cutter, who felt disposed to take a part in the 
 dispute. 
 
 " Silence ! " interposed Somers, sternly, as he perceived 
 that this bad example was likely to be followed by others, 
 
LIFE ON THE QUAIiTER DECK. 117 
 
 and he felt that the occasion was too serious aud sol- 
 emn to admit of anything like levity. 
 
 *' Mr. Somers, you know the consequences ! " con- 
 tinued the second lieutenant. 
 
 " I do." 
 
 " Remember ! " 
 
 *' I know what I am about," answered Somers, under- 
 standing to what rillgrini alluded, though of course it 
 was incomprehensible to others in the boats. " I shall 
 board the steamer." 
 
 *' Do it at your peril ! " 
 
 " I shall do it." 
 
 " This is mutiny ! " stormed Pillgrim, with an oath, 
 as he took a revolver from his belt. 
 
 *' I will abide the consequences," replied Somers, 
 drawing his pistol. 
 
 '^ For God's sake, Mr. Somers — " 
 
 *' Silence, boatswain ! " 
 
 " You A\ ill ruin yourself," whispered Tom, whose 
 bronzed face was ghastly pale, and whose lips quivered 
 with the anxiety he felt for his protege. 
 
 *' I am perfectly cool, Tom ; don't be alarmed about 
 me," replied Somers, tenderly, as he glanced at the ex- 
 pression of suffering on the face of his faithful friend. 
 " That man is a traitor ! " he whispered. 
 
 *' Once more, Mr. Somers, will you obey me, or will 
 you not?" shouted Mr. Pillgrim, angrily. 
 
148 Bit AVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " If you will capture this steamer, as you should do, 
 I will obey you iu all thiugs," replied Somers. " I 
 know she is about to run the blockade, and so do you." 
 
 '' I have examined her, and I declare that her papers 
 are all right. My decision is final. Return to the ship, 
 Mr. Somers, and there answer for your mutinous conduct." 
 
 " I shall board this vessel," replied Somers, as he 
 ordered the bowman to haul in towards the steamer. 
 
 " This is mutiny, and I shall treat it as such. I icill 
 be obeyed ! " 
 
 Mr. Pillgrim raised his pistol, and fired at the rebel- 
 lious officer ; but he was too much excited to take good 
 aim, if, indeed, he intended to do anything more than 
 'intimidate his inferior otiicer. The ball whistled within 
 a few feet of Somers's head, and roused his belligerent 
 spirit. He raised his revolver on the instant, before the 
 second lieutenant was ready to repeat his experiment, 
 and fired. 
 
 The traitor sank down in the stern-sheets of the cutter. 
 The men seemed to be paralyzed by this sharp Avork, 
 and sat like statues on the thwarts. 
 
 " Haul in, bowman ! " said Somers, in sharp and 
 earnest tones, breaking the solemn silence of that awful 
 moment. 
 
 The man obeyed mechanically, and the others did the 
 same when required to boat their oars ; but probably 
 there was not one of the crew of either cutter who did 
 
LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK. 149 
 
 not believe that the fourth lieutenant would be hung at 
 the yard-arm for his mutinous, murderous conduct. 
 
 Somers directed the coxswain of the first cutter to 
 pull in to tlic accommodation ladder of the steamer. 
 He was obeyed, and Boatswain Longstone was ordered 
 to take charge of the boat. Eight men, armed with 
 cutlasses and revolvers, were sent on board the Boa 
 Nevis, and Somers followed them. The captain pro- 
 tested against the capture, but his papers were not what 
 they were represented to be by Pillgrim. Jhe character 
 of the steamer was evident, and she was taken posses- 
 sion of by the fourth lieutenant, and the crews of both 
 cutters were ordered on board. 
 
 " How is Mr. Pillgrim ? " asked Somers of the boat- 
 swain. " Is he dead ? " 
 
 " No, sir ; the ball only glanced along the side of his 
 head. He bleeds badly, but he is not severely wounded." 
 Tlie second lieutenant was soon able to sit up, and was 
 assisted on board the Ben Nevis, where he was conducted 
 to a state-room, aud two seamen placed as guards at the 
 door. 
 
 " Somers, you have played me false ! " said Pillgrim, 
 with a savage expression on his pale face, " but you are 
 a doomed man." 
 
 " As you please, Mr. Pillgrim. You will consider 
 yourself under arrest," replied Somers, as the traitor 
 passed into his state-room. 
 13* 
 
150 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE PRIZE STEAMER. 
 
 (X/'T was quite dark when the capture of the Ben 
 Nevis was completed. Rockets were thrown up 
 to inform the Chatauqua of her present position, 
 and with guards of seamen in the engine and fire- 
 rooms, the wheels of the captured steamer were set in 
 motion, and she was headed to the north. Somers dis- 
 played his usual decision and energy, and perhaps the 
 men began to think, by this time, that the young officer 
 knew his duty and was competent to perform it. 
 
 "While the Ben Nevis was making her way towards 
 the Chatauqua, Somers paced the deck, thinking of the 
 gi'eat event which had just transpired. The captain of 
 the Ben Nevis, sullen and discontented, stood by the 
 quartermaster at the wheel. He had attempted to enter 
 the state-room of the wounded officer, but the seamen in 
 charge of the prisoner had been instructed to exclude 
 him, and they carefully obeyed their orders. 
 
 The men of the first and second cutters were silent and 
 troubled. Perhaps they fully sympathized with Somers, 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 151 
 
 and dreaded the consequence of the decisive deed he had 
 performed. However the petty oflicers and seamen felt, 
 it is quije certain that Boatswain Longstone could hardly 
 keep from weeping when he thought of the punishment 
 which might be in store for his young friend. He was 
 in charge of the lookouts forward, and when the Cha- 
 tauqua was sighted, he w^ent aft to report to Somers. 
 
 " Very well ; we shall soon sec the end of this busi- 
 ness," said the young officer. 
 
 "I would like to see you safe through it," added the 
 boatswain, in tones of unaffected sympathy. 
 
 *' What's the matter, Tom?" asked Somers. 
 
 " I feel worse to-night than I have before for twenty 
 odd years," groaned Tom. 
 
 "Why so?" 
 
 *' Tm afraid this is bad business. It's no little thing 
 to fire a pistol at your superior officer.'* 
 
 " I told you what he was." 
 
 *• I know you said he was a traitor ; but it don't do 
 for an officer in the navy to take the law into his own 
 hands." 
 
 *' This steamer makes sixteen knots an hour, they 
 say," said Somers, with a smile. 
 
 The boatswain looked at him, and wondered what this 
 had to do with shooting the second lieutenant. 
 
 " She was going to run the blockade," continued 
 Somers. 
 
152 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " No doubt of that." 
 
 " Then they intended to fit her out as a Confederate 
 cruiser." 
 
 " Perhaps they did, Mr. Somers ; you know best." 
 
 " Mr. Pillgrim did not intend to capture her." 
 
 '• He did not, sartinly." 
 
 " Suppose I had permitted this vessel to go on her 
 way, to run the blockade, which she could have done as 
 easily as a hundred others have done the same thing, at 
 the same place, and then come out as a man-of-war." 
 
 " But Mr. Pillgrim was your superior otficer, and he 
 was responsible, not you." 
 
 " I carried out my orders to the letter, Tom." 
 
 "Did you?" 
 
 " To the letter, I said." 
 
 "Were you ordered to shoot Mr. Pillgrim?" 
 
 " Yes, if necessary." 
 
 " Thank'ee, Mr. Somers. You have taken a weight 
 heavier than the best bower off my stomach. I'd rather 
 be where Jonah was — in the whale's belly — than see any 
 harm come to you. I feel better now." 
 
 " You shall know all about it, Tom, in a few days, or 
 perhaps a, few hours." 
 
 " I'm satisfied, Mr. Somers. Shiver my kevel-heads, 
 but I ought to have been satisfied with anything you do." 
 
 By this time the steamer came up with the Chatauqua, 
 and both vessels stopped their engines, as the Ben Nevis 
 rounded to under the stern of the man-of-war. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 153 
 
 " Chatauqua, ahoy ! " shouted Somers. 
 
 " On board the prize ! " replied the officer of the deck. 
 
 *' Send the surgeon on board, if you please." 
 
 '^Ay, ay." 
 
 In a few moments the third cutter, in charge* of Mr, 
 Transit, the master, put oif from the ship, with Dr. De 
 Plesion on board. 
 
 "Where is Mr. Pillgrim, sir ? " asked the master of 
 Somers. 
 
 " Wounded, below." 
 
 " Mr. Hackleford wishes your report forthwith on 
 board the ship." 
 
 " Mr. Transit, Mr. Pillgrim is under arrest. You 
 will permit no one to communicate with him except the 
 surgeon." 
 
 *' Under arrest ! " exclaimed Mr. Transit. 
 
 " I have no time to explain," replied Somers, as he 
 directed his coxswain to pipe down his boat's crew. 
 
 AVhen the second cutter was hauled up to the accom- 
 modation ladder, Somers stepped on board, and a few 
 moments later, touched his hat to the first lieutenant on 
 the quarter deck of the Chatauqua. 
 
 *' I have to report that I have captured the Ben Nevis," 
 said Somers. 
 
 " Where is Mr. Pillgrim ? " asked Mr. Hackleford, the 
 captain standing by, an interested and excited listener. 
 
 " He is wounded, and under arrest, sir." 
 
154 HEAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " How wounded? " 
 
 "He fired at me, and in self-defence I was obliged to 
 shoot him. I think he is not seriously wounded. He 
 boarded the Ben Nevis, and had given the captain of her 
 permission to proceed, though the vessel was headed to- 
 wards Cape Fear." 
 
 " You have done well, Mr. Somers," said Captain Cas- 
 cabel. " Beat to quarters, Mr. Hackleford." 
 
 "When the crew were at quarters, Mr. Hackleford ex- 
 plained to them what had occurred, and fully justified 
 the course of the fourth lieutenant ; whereupon an ear- 
 nest and enthusiastic cheer rang through the ship. 
 
 " Are you satisfied, Tom? " asked Somers of the boat- 
 swain. 
 
 "Bless ye! I was satisfied before, Mr. Somers. 
 There is only one dark thing in the whole of it." 
 
 "What's that, Tom?" 
 
 " If Captain Cascabel and Mr. Hackleford both knew 
 that Mr. Pillgrim was a traitor, why did they send him 
 out to capture that steamer? That's what I can't see 
 through." 
 
 "Can't you? "Well, if they had not sent him, we 
 should not have captured the Ben Nevis." 
 
 " I don't see why." 
 
 " Don't you? Well, you are not as sharp as you are 
 sometimes." 
 
 " I know I'm dull, Mr. Somers, but splinter my figger 
 head if I can see through it." 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 155 
 
 " The Ben Nevis is good for fifteen knots at least." 
 
 " I know that ; she did it while wc were coming up." 
 
 " The Cliatauqua can't make more than twelve." 
 
 " That's true." 
 
 " Then, of course, the Chatauqua could not catch the 
 Ben Nevis." 
 
 " That's clear enough. But we were out in the boats, 
 and were close aboard of her." 
 
 " And just then she sheered off. Could the boats have 
 overhauled her ? '* 
 
 " Sartinly not ; but you could have put a shot through 
 her hull." 
 
 " Which might, at that distance, have disabled her, 
 and min:ht not. The chances were all a<?ainst us. But 
 the moment Mr. Pillgrim hailed her, and swung his cap, 
 she stopped her wheels. They knew very well he would 
 not detain her.'* 
 
 *' I see now." 
 
 " Probably the captain of the Ben Nevis knew the 
 Chatauqua, and knew that Pillgi-im was on board of her, 
 and they were on the lookout for him. If any other offi- 
 cer than myself had been in the second cutter, I am sat- 
 isfied Mr. Pillgrim would not have returned to his boat, 
 but would have staid on board the Ben Nevis." 
 
 " He's a horrible villain — arn't he ? " said the honest 
 boatswain. 
 
 This conversation took place while Captain Cascabel 
 
156 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 was preparing his despatches to be sent by the prize 
 steamer to the navy department. When they were com- 
 pleted, Somers was sent for, arid he repaired at once to 
 the captain's cabin. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, though I can hardly spare you, I feel 
 compelled to send you home as prize master in the Ben 
 Nevis. I have commended you to the department," said 
 Captain Cascabel, as he handed him the despatches. 
 
 " Thank you, sir." 
 
 A prize crew was at once detailed, with two master's 
 mates to act as first and second officers, and a corporal 
 and three marines to guard the prisoner who was to be 
 sent back in the prize. Somers bade a hasty good by to 
 his brother officers, and with his crew was sent on board 
 the Ben Nevis, whose deck he was now to tread for a 
 brief period as her commander. His orders required 
 him to take the Ben Nevis to Fortress Monroe, and there 
 communicate with the navy department. 
 
 " AVell, doctor, how is your patient ? " asked Somers, 
 when he reached the deck of the prize. 
 
 "He will do very well. If you had put the bullet 
 half an inch nearer his brain, you would have finished 
 him. The skin is torn off the side of his head, and I 
 suppose the ball stunned him. He is sitting up now, 
 and appears to be as well as ever, though in no very 
 amiable frame of mind." 
 
 " I suppose not." 
 
LIFE OX THE QUAliTEIi DECK. 157 
 
 " lie says you are a rebel and a traitor, and he intends 
 to prove it. I told him I thought his wound had 
 affected his brain." 
 
 " It would require a long story to explain what he 
 means. Mr. Ilackleford has the papers, and I doubt not 
 be will tell you all about it, doctor," replied Somers, as 
 he proceeded to arrange for the return voyage. 
 
 All who were not ffoinji; home in the Ben Nevis were 
 sent back to the Chatauqua. The firemen and engineers 
 of the prize steamer were willing to discharge their 
 duties as before, and under the direction of one of the 
 second assistants from the ship, they were set at work. 
 The first and third cutters pulled away towards the man- 
 of-war, giving three rousing cheers as they departed, and 
 the Ben Nevis steamed away to the northward. 
 
 By this time it was ten o'olock at night. The Avatch 
 was set on deck, and Somers went below to obtain his 
 supper, for he felt the need of some rest and refreshment. 
 The steward, anxious to be on good terms with the new 
 commander, had provided the best meal the larder of the 
 Ben Nevis afforded, and Somers was hungry enough to 
 do it ample justice. 
 
 A marine, with cutlass and revolver, stood at the door 
 of Pillgrim's state-room. "When Somers had finished his 
 supper, and was about to go on deck, the sentinel in- 
 formed him that the prisoner had knocked several times 
 on his door. 
 
 U 
 
158 • BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " See what he wants." 
 
 The marine opened the door. 
 
 " Who is the prize master?" asked Pillgrim. 
 
 The sentinel looked at Somers for permission before 
 he replied. 
 
 " Answer him." 
 
 " Mr. Somers," answered the marine. 
 
 " Will you present my compliments to Mr. Somers, 
 and say that I beg the favor of an interview with liim ? " 
 
 Again the sentinel glanced at Somers. 
 
 " With pleasure," replied the prize master, as politely 
 as the request was made. 
 
 " Ah, Mr. Somers," said the traitor, as the new com- 
 mander of the Ben Nevis stepped forward and showed 
 himself to the prisoner, " I am happy to see you." 
 
 " Are you, indeed?" added Somers, rather amused at 
 the smooth tones of the traitor. 
 
 " I am, I assure you. Might I beg the favor of a few 
 moments' private conversation with you ? " 
 
 " Certainly ; have you any weapons about you?" 
 
 " None, whatever." 
 
 Somers directed the marine to seat himself at the far- 
 ther end of the cabin. 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Somers ; you are as kind and gen- 
 erous as ever." 
 
 " Let me say, Mr. Pillgrim, that flattery and threats 
 are all the same to me." 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 159 
 
 *^ Somers, you have mc on the hip." 
 
 " I kuow it." 
 
 " You have won the game." 
 
 "I know it." 
 
 " I am in your power." 
 
 " I know it." 
 
 Pillgrim appeared to be hopeless and disconcerted. 
 
 " Somers, I have, in a bank in Philadelphia, fifty thou- 
 sand dollars." 
 
 "What bank?" 
 
 " Excuse me ; the confiscation laws are dangerous to 
 men in my situation." 
 
 " No matter ; I will inform the proper officers of the 
 fact, and they can find out what bank." 
 
 Pillgrim bit his lip. 
 
 *' I will give you this money if you will — " 
 
 " Silence, sir ! There is not money enough in the 
 whole world to bribe me." 
 
 "I still have the oath of allegiance — signed by you, 
 and — " 
 
 " No, you haven't. Mr. Hackleford has it. You left 
 it in your state-room." 
 
 " Now listen to reason, Somers." 
 
 " I shall. Reason counsels me to do my duty." 
 
 " Somers, I will be revenged." 
 
 " Good night, Mr. Pillgrim. I see you have nothing 
 of importance to say to me ; " and Somers went on deck 
 after calling the marine back to his post. 
 
160 
 
 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE PRISONER IN THE CABIN. 
 
 R. PILLGRIM'S wound, as such injuries are 
 regarded in the army and navy, was a mere 
 scratch ; but it might have been very sore, 
 and might have ached severely. The traitor 
 did not even mention it in his interview with Somers, for 
 the sore in his mind was much more serious. His vic- 
 tim had now become his tyrant ; not implacable or vin- 
 dictive, but firm and unyielding in the discharge of his 
 duty. 
 
 Somers went on deck, satisfied himself in regard to the 
 course of the steamer, then visited the engine-room, and 
 other parts of the vessel, until he had assured himself 
 that everything was right. It was a fine, clear night, 
 and w£en the port watch came on deck, he went below, 
 and lay down on the broad sofa, which extended across 
 the after part of the cabin. He was tired enough to 
 sleep, and he did sleep till the starboard watch was called 
 in the morning. 
 
 He was a prudent and zealous commander, and he 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 161 
 
 hastened ou deck at once to make sure that his char^^e 
 was still safe. The weather continued fine, and every 
 man was at his post. He scrutinized the log slate, and 
 questioned the officer of the deck. Everything had been 
 correctly done ; nothing had happened, and nothing was 
 likely to happen. There was nothing for him to do but 
 sleep, and he returned to his couch in the cabin, to com- 
 plete his nap. 
 
 The sentinel at the door of the prisoner's state-room 
 was still in position. The guard was relieved every two 
 hours, and the door was secured on the outside by a pad- 
 lock, which had been put on by the armorer after the ves- 
 sel was captured. Of course there could be no doubt in 
 regard to the safety of the prisoner. 
 
 Somers went to sleep again, satisfied that he had neg- 
 lected no precautions to insure the safety of the vessel 
 and the prisoner. The movements of the steward in the 
 cabin awoke him at six o'clock. He had slept away all 
 his fatigue, and when he looked out through the stern 
 lights upon a smooth sea, brightened by the morning sun, 
 all his anxiety left him. It was hardly possible that any 
 accident could interfere with the safe arrival of the prize 
 at her destined port. 
 
 As he rose from the sofa, the corporal of marines re- 
 lieved the sentry at the prisoner's door. 
 
 " Marine," said Somers, as the man passed him on 
 his way out of the cabin. 
 14* 
 
162 BRAVE OLD SALT, OH 
 
 The sentinel stopped and touched his cap. 
 
 " How is the prisoner ? " 
 
 " I haven't heard anything of him, sir, during my 
 beat," replied the marine. 
 
 " Isn't he up yet ? " 
 
 " I didn't hear him, sir. He's a heavy sleeper, I 
 should say, for I don't think he moved while I was on 
 guard." 
 
 As Somers had the key of the padlock in his pocket, 
 he was satisfied it was aU right with the prisoner, and 
 he went on deck. At seven bells, when his breakfast 
 was brought down, he directed the steward to give Mr. 
 Pillgrim liis morning meal, handing the key of the state- 
 room to the corporal. 
 
 The door was opened, and the marine entered the little 
 room. Somers sat down at the table to eat his break- 
 fast. He was blessed with a good appetite, and some 
 " 'am and heggs," which the steward particularly recom- 
 mended, looked very inviting. But he had hardly satis- 
 fied himself that the steward had not overrated the 
 quality of his viands, before his attention was attracted 
 by an exclamation from the corporal of marines. 
 
 "What's the matter?" demanded Somers, rising from 
 the table, and rushing to the state-room. 
 
 " Mr. Pillgrim is not here, sir," replied the man. 
 
 " Not here ! " 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK 1G3 
 
 " He can't be far off." 
 
 Somers entered the state-room. Certainly the prisoner 
 was not there ; nor was there any indication of the means 
 by wliich he liad departed. The partitions between this 
 aud the adjoining state-rooms were undisturbed. The 
 door had been securely locked, and the key was in the 
 pocket of the commanding oilicer. The traitor could not 
 have crawled through the bull's eye which lighted the 
 room, for it was not more than nine inches in diameter. 
 
 The marines who had been on guard during the night 
 were summoned. They all told the same story ; not a 
 sound had been heard in the room. Both the master's 
 mates who had kept the watches on deck were examined, 
 but they had no information to communicate. 
 
 '' This is very remarkable," said Somers to his first 
 officer. 
 
 *' Very remarkable," replied Mr. Hudson, who seemed 
 to be even more bewildered than his commander. 
 
 '' Where is Captain Walmsley?" asked Somers of the 
 steward. 
 
 " I don't know, sir. I 'aven't seen him since 'e hate 
 his supper last night." 
 
 " See if he is in his state-room, steward." 
 
 He was not in his state-room. His bed had not been 
 occupied ; no one had seen him since the Ben Nevis 
 parted company with the Chatauqua. 
 
 "Are there any boats missing, Mr. Hudson?" con- 
 tinued Somers. 
 
164 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " No, sir ; the steamer had two quarter-boats, and a 
 life-boat forward. They are all in their places." 
 
 " Wasn't there a dingy, or a jolly-boat, at the stern? " 
 
 " No, sir ; I am sure that no boat is missing.'* 
 
 " Then of course the prisoner must be on board.'* 
 
 " No doubt of that, Mr. Somers. In my opinion he 
 has concealed himself in the hold, and intends to escape 
 after we go into port.'* 
 
 " But how could he get into the hold?'* 
 
 " That is more than I know, sir. He isn't in his 
 state-room ; he wouldn't have jumped overboard forty 
 miles from land." 
 
 "He must be found before we make the capes," said 
 Somers, who could not help thinking how " cheap " he 
 should feel if compelled to report the escape of his pris- 
 oner to the department. 
 
 He returned to the table and finished his breakfast, as 
 a matter of necessity now, — for man must eat, — rather 
 than of inclination. The Scotch ham seemed to have 
 lost its fine flavor, and it was really a pity that he had not 
 completed his repast before the escape of Pillgrim was 
 discovered. But Somers was satisfied that the traitor 
 was still on board, and he was determined to find him, 
 even if he had to throw the valuable cargo of the Ben 
 Nevis overboard, in order to effect his purpose. 
 
 AYhen Somers had worried down his breakfast, he 
 went on deck to detail parties to engage in the search. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 1G5 
 
 The hatches were taken off, and I\Ir. Hudson was directed 
 to examine the hold, while Somers himself, with the ma- 
 rines and a couple of seamen, went to tlie cabin for the 
 purpose of tracing the fugitive from his starting-point. 
 This appeared to be no easy matter, for as yet there was 
 not the slightest clew to his means of egress. 
 
 Somers opened the door of the state-room, which had 
 been occupied by the prisoner, and there, to his utter 
 astonishment and confusion, he saw Pillgrim, sitting on 
 a stool, and looking as composed as though nothing had 
 happened. Somers could hardly believe the evidence of 
 his own eyes. 
 
 " Good morning, Mr. Somers," said the traitor. " I 
 am happy to see you. I was just thinking it was about 
 breakfast time." 
 
 *' Haven't you had your breakfast yet?" asked Som- 
 ers, who deemed it best to talk at random. 
 
 "How should I? You lock the door, and confine me 
 to a very limited sphere of observation. I hope you 
 don't intend to starve me." 
 
 "O, no, by no means. I thought.it likely you had 
 breakfasted while on your travels." 
 
 " On my travels? " said the prisoner, inquiringly. 
 
 " You have been out of your room." 
 
 "I?" 
 
 Pillgrim opened his eyes, and seemed to be astonished. 
 
 " Certainly you have. When we opened the door half 
 
166 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 an hour since, you were not here. Perhaps you will not 
 object to telling me where you have been." 
 
 " I have not been out of my state-room, as you must 
 be aware." 
 
 " But you have," replied Somers, stoutly. 
 
 " Am I to infer that you accuse me of lying, Mr. 
 Somers?" demanded the traitor, with an exhibition of 
 dignity. 
 
 " I accuse you of nothing ; I only say you have been 
 out of your state-room." . 
 
 " But I say I have not. I am your prisoner : it is 
 hardly magnanimous to insult me in my present situ- 
 ation." 
 
 " Are you ready for your breakfast ? " asked Somers, 
 unwilling to pursue the conversation on that tack. 
 
 " A hungry man is always ready for his breakfast. 
 My misfortunes have not impaired my appetite. I am 
 ready for my breakfast." 
 
 Somers directed the steward to bring the prisoner his 
 morning meal. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, may I beg the favor of half an hour's 
 conversation Avith you, when I have done my breakfast? " 
 added Pillgrim. 
 
 " It is hardly necessary." 
 
 " Excuse me ; it is absolutely necessary for your com- 
 fort and safety as well as mine." 
 
 " Under such a threat, I shall certainly decline," re- 
 plied Somers, coldly. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 107 
 
 " I inteuded no threat. Send these people away, and I 
 will speak." 
 
 " You may speak or be silent, as you please." 
 
 Somers stationed a marine at the door, and sent the 
 others away, retiring himself to the farther end of the 
 cabin, lie was sorely puzzled to know how the prisoner 
 had got out of his state-room, and why he had returned. 
 He concluded that the opening of tlie hold had induced 
 the latter step, but the former was still enveloped in mys- 
 tery. He determined to give the prisoner another room, 
 and make a more careful search in the one he now 
 occupied. 
 
 When Pillgrim had done his breakfast, Somers called 
 a couple of marines, and ordered them to put the prisoner 
 in the aftermost room. The hasp and padlock were then 
 transferred to the occupied room. 
 
 *' Mr. Somers," said Pillgrim, as he was about to lock 
 the door, " I should like to speak with you." 
 
 The tone was gentlemanly, and even supplicating, and 
 Somers entered the room, closing the door behind him ; 
 but lie was careful to cock his revolver as he did so, for 
 the prisoner was a desperate man. 
 
 *' I am ready to hear you." 
 
 " It is well you are." 
 
 " If you have any threats to make, I will not remain." 
 
 " Let me speak only the truth," said Pillgrim, as he 
 looked at his watch. " In twenty minutes from now, we 
 shall all be in kinjrdom come." 
 
168 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 There was a malignant smile on the face of the traitor 
 as he spoke, and it was plain to Somers that the villain did 
 not speak without a cause. 
 
 " Somers, you have beaten me in the last game we 
 played. I shall beat in the next one." 
 
 " I told you I did not come here to listen to threats." 
 
 " You will be a dead man in seventeen minutes, Som- 
 ers," continued Pillgrim, glancing at his watch again. 
 " I could not deny myself the satisfaction of informing 
 you of the fact. But, Somers, you will have the pleas- 
 ure of knowing that I shall share your fate." 
 
 "What do you mean, you villain?" demanded Som- 
 ers, horrified by the thought suggested by the traitor's 
 words. 
 
 " Gently, my dear fellow. Don't use hard words. 
 But I am glad to see you are moved. Ah, Somers, I 
 have you now," said the wretch, in mocking tones. 
 
 " Speak ! " roared Somers, drawing his pistol. 
 
 " Shoot me, Somers. I will thank you if you will. 
 It is better to be shot dead, than to be blown up, man- 
 gled, and then, after enduring a moment or an hour of 
 agony, to be drowned. Fire, Somers ! " 
 
 He restored the revolver to his belt, appalled by the 
 terrible picture which the villain painted. 
 
 " Somers, I did leave my state-room. I was not will- 
 •ing to acknowledge it before your crew." 
 
 "How?" 
 
LIFE O.V THE QUARTER DECK. IGO 
 
 "I have not time to explain. Tliere are but ten 
 minutes of life left to you and nie. We will not waste 
 them in what is of so little consequence to either of us. 
 You know of what the cargo of the Ben Nevis is com- 
 posed ? " 
 
 tt I ^]q — of arms, ammunition, and provisions." 
 
 " Correct ; the ammunition is stowed in the after part 
 of the ship — under us, in fact. Captain Walmsley and 
 myself have laid a train by Avhich the vessel will be 
 blown up when four bells strike. It wants five minutes 
 of the time. Captain Walmsley is in a position where 
 he can hear the bell," continued Pillgrim with perfect 
 coolness. 
 
 " Marine," said Somers, opening the door. 
 
 *' Here, sir," responded the man. 
 
 " Pass the word for the quartermaster to strike four 
 bells, instantly," added the young commander. "I am 
 ready, Mr. Pillgrim." 
 
 The traitor looked aghast. 
 15 
 
170 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 CAPTAIN WALMSLEY. 
 
 SO' 
 
 R. PILLGRTM, I am not to be intimidated 
 by any such stuff," said Somers, when he 
 had ordered the bells to be struck, which 
 would produce the explosion. 
 " Perhaps Captain Walmsley will not think it best to 
 fire the ammunition at the moment agreed upon ; some 
 discretion on this point was left with him ; but I assure 
 you, on my word and honor, that the train is laid 
 w^hich will blow up the Ben Nevis," said Pillgrim, 
 earnestly. 
 
 " If you had not mentioned the name of Captain 
 "Walmsley, I might have believed you. As it is, I do not. 
 Your word and honor do not weigh much with me." 
 " Don't insult me." 
 
 " I simply speak the truth. There ! do you hear four 
 bells?" 
 
 "I do ; and if you are not blown up in half a min- 
 ute, you may thank Captain "Walmsley for his moder- 
 ation." 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 171 
 
 *' lie is not villain enough to destroy the lives of forty 
 men, his own people as well as mine, to gratify your 
 malice and revenge. I give you mij v^ord and honor 
 that he will do nothing of the kind." 
 
 Pillgrim looked hard at him, and seemed to be slightly 
 disconcerted by the obstinacy of Somers. 
 
 *' If he will not, I will ! " said he, fiercely. 
 
 *' I purpose to put you in irons, when you have said 
 all you have to say." 
 
 " In irons, Somers ! " exclaimed the traitor, springing 
 to his feet, his face flushed with indignation. 
 
 " Siace you are open enough to announce your inten- 
 tions, it is plainly my duty to defeat them. Acknowledge 
 that your plot to blow up the v^sel is a mere scare, and 
 I may spare you this indignity." 
 
 " You will find that it is a reality." 
 
 " Why don't it blow up, then?" 
 
 " It will, as soon as Captain Walmsley is ready. The 
 Ben Nevis shall not again go into a Yankee port as a 
 prize. Mark my words." 
 
 " Captain Somers," called Mr. Hudson. 
 
 "What is wanted?" 
 
 " The men in the hold report a smell of fire there." 
 
 " I will be with you soon," replied Somers, convinced 
 by this message that there was some foundation for the 
 threats of the traitor. " Go into the hold, Mr. Hudson, 
 and find the fire, if there is any." 
 
172 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 He was cool, and did not permit the wretch before 
 him to see a muscle of his face move. 
 
 " There is fire there, Somers," said Pillgrim. " I 
 know just where it is. In a few minutes it will reach 
 the ammunition boxes." 
 
 " Corporal," said Somers, opening the door again. . 
 
 " Here, sir." 
 
 " Put the prisoner in irons, hands and feet," continued 
 Somers. 
 
 "Do you mean that, Mr. Somers?" asked Pillgrim, 
 quivering with emotion. 
 
 "I do mean it, and I shall stand by till it is done." 
 
 " Will you leave me in the midst of the fire, ironed 
 hand and foot? " 
 
 " I will. You kindled the fire ; and if you perish by 
 it, blame yourself." 
 
 Pillgi-im attempted to resist the execution of the order, 
 but the marines were resolute, and he was fully ironed 
 in spite of his struggles. 
 
 " Now lock him in," said Somers. 
 
 " One word, Mr. Somers." 
 
 " Not another word ; " and the young commander has- 
 tened from the state-room, and made his way to the scene 
 of peril in the hold. 
 
 He did not believe that even Pillgrim was stupid 
 enough to blow up the Ben Nevis for mere revenge ; and 
 Captain Walmsley certainly would do nothing of the 
 
LIFE OX THE QU ARTE It DECK. 173 
 
 Icind, for he could have no strong feeling on the subject, 
 at least not enough to sacritice the lives of himself and 
 his crew. 
 
 There was a smell of fire in the hold — the hold filled 
 Avith powder, shells, and other combustibles. This fact 
 tended to confirm the statement of the wretch ; yet Som- 
 ers was incredulous. When he reached the scene of 
 dan"-er he found the officers and the men timid about 
 
 o 
 
 proceeding far into the hold, for if there was fire, there 
 must soon be an explosion. 
 
 " Follow me, my men ! '* said he, as he walked aft on 
 the cargo. 
 
 *' Ay, ay, sir ! " cheerfully responded the men, — for 
 the American seaman will go anywhere an officer will 
 lead him. 
 
 In the after part of the hold there was a dense smoke 
 and a strong smell of fire. 
 
 " Keep back ! You are all dead men ! " shouted Cap- 
 tain Walmsley, as Somers advanced and discovered the 
 speaker seated on a box. 
 
 '''• What are you doing here?" demanded Somers. 
 
 " I am going to blow up the steamer," replied the cap- 
 tain, who held in his hand a tin pan filled with burning 
 oakum, chips, and other combustible material. 
 
 *' Well, why don't you do it, then? " said Somers. 
 
 " For God's sake, Mr. Somers, don't stay here," 
 pleaded Mr Hudson. 
 
174 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " You needn't, if you ans afraid," replied he, coolly. 
 
 *' Mr. Somers, in one instant I can blow the Ben 
 Nevie all to pieces," said Captain "Walmsley, with a 
 proper exhibition of tragic adjuncts. 
 
 "Why don't you do it, then?" 
 
 "I am willing to give you one chance to save your 
 lives." ' 
 
 " You are very considerate. Mr. Pillgrim Avas going 
 to blow her up for my special benefit." 
 
 " If you think I am not in earnest, you are greatly 
 mistaken," continued the captain, as he stirred up the 
 burning substances in the pan. 
 
 "I see you are in earnest, and I am waiting for you 
 to blow her up." 
 
 " I will give you ten minutes to save your lives ; for I 
 have sworn this vessel shall never go into port as a 
 prize. You and your people can take to the boats and 
 save yourselves." 
 
 " Will you blow her up when we are gone? " 
 
 "I will." 
 
 " I have had quite enough of this, Captain Walms- 
 ley," said Somers, advancing to the fire king, revolver in 
 hand. " Xow go on deck, or I will blow your brainy 
 out, if you have any." 
 
 The captain looked at the revolver, and he might as 
 well have acknowledged his defeat, for his face pro- 
 claimed it. - 
 
LIFE OX THE QUART ER DECK. 175 
 
 " If I should drop this into the cargo, it would blow 
 up the ship." 
 
 '^ No, it wouldn't. There are nothing but solid shot 
 and shell under you," replied Somers ; and perhaps his 
 coolness and self-possession were in a great measure duo 
 to his knowledge of this fact, for he had carefully in- 
 spected the cargo immediately after the capture of the 
 vessel. 
 
 Captain Walmsley, with the blazing censer in his hand, 
 made his way over the boxes, bales, and barrels which 
 lay above the heavy articles, to the hatchway. The pan 
 and its contents were thrown overboard, and the men 
 informed that there was no danger. The captain was 
 ordered into the cabin, where he was put in double irons, 
 as his fellow-conspirator had been. He protested, at 
 first, against this indignity. Then he begged, declaring 
 that Mr. Pillgrim was the author of the plot by which 
 it was intended to recapture the steamer. It was fully 
 believed that Somers and his crew would abandon the 
 vessel as soon as it was announced that there was fire in 
 the hold, knowing that her cargo would readily explode. 
 
 Captain Walmsley declared that Pillgrim was a fool ; 
 if he had kept still till the fire was discovered, instead 
 of declaiming over it beforehand, the plan would have 
 succeeded. Somers doubted it ; and when the humiliated 
 captain was ironed, he was sent into his state-room, and 
 a sentinel placed at his door. This business was hardly 
 
176 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 completed before the marine in charge of Pillgrim in- 
 formed Somers that his prisoner wished to speak with 
 him. The request was peremptorily refused. 
 
 " There, Mr. Hudson, I think we have fixed those fel- 
 lows so that we shall know where to find them when we 
 want them," said Somers, when the conspirators had 
 been disposed of. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; and if any other man had been in charge 
 of this vessel, he would have lost her, Captain Somers. 
 I should have voted for abandoning her as soon as I was 
 satisfied that she Avas on fire." 
 
 " Perhaps I should, if I had not known the powder 
 and shells were in the fore hold. But I did not believe 
 the villains had pluck enough to blow themselves up for 
 the sake of blowing me up. If there had been any real 
 danger, they would have been the first to run away." 
 
 " Well, sir, I think you have managed them exceed- 
 ingly well.". 
 
 Somers was perfectly willing he should think so, and 
 perhaps he thought so himself. At any rate, he was 
 heartily rejoiced to get out of the scrape so easily, and 
 fully resolved that the conspirators should have no fur- 
 ther opportunity to exercise their talents at plotting on 
 board the Ben Nevis. 
 
 There was a mystery still unsolved to the young offi- 
 cer, and with Mr. Hudson he repaired to the state-room 
 in which Pillgrim had passed the night, — or ought to 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 177 
 
 have passed it, — and commenced a further examination. 
 There was nothing supernatural, or even very remark- 
 able, in the absence of the prisoner, when the carpet was 
 pulled up, and a square aperture, now closed by a pine 
 board, was discovered in the corner of the room. In 
 the ceiling there was a similar aperture, which had been 
 filled up to correspond with the deck above. It was evi- 
 dent that a ventilator, which had been used to convey 
 fresh air to the after hold, had been removed at some 
 recent period. 
 
 As Captain Walmsley had indicated this state-room for 
 the use of Pillgrim, it was probable that he had chosen 
 it on account of this means of egress. Some time in the 
 liight he must have visited the prisoner, entering through 
 this aperture, and conducted him to the hold below. 
 
 In the fine weather and smooth sea the Ben Nevis 
 nearly made ggod the claim of the conspirators in regard 
 to her speed, for all day she logged fifteen knots, and at 
 three bells in the first dog watch Cape Henry was 
 sighted, and at ten o'clock in the evening she anchored 
 oif Fortress Monroe. 
 
 By the first conveyance Mr. Hudson was sent to Wash- 
 ington with the despatches of Captain Cascabel, and one 
 from Somers. On the second day the messenger re- 
 turned, with orders from the department. The young 
 officer took the bundle of documents into the cabin, and 
 proceeded to examine those directed to himself. He was 
 
178 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 ordered to hand his prisoners over to the commandant of 
 the fort, to deliver his vessel into the keeping of the senior 
 naval officer on the station, and to rejoin his ship forth- 
 with, taking passage in a supply steamer to sail on the 
 following day. He was highly commended for the skill 
 and energy with which he had discharged his duty on 
 board the Ben Nevis, full particulars of which had been 
 communicated by Mr. Hudson. 
 
 Another document contained his commission as mas- 
 ter, the next rank above that of ensign, which had been 
 solicited by Captain Cascabel. This paper was full of 
 interest to the recipient of it, and he was obliged to open 
 the Ions: letters he had written to his mother and to Kate 
 Portington, in order to add, in a postscript, this impor- 
 tant intelligence. He was proud and happy, and more 
 than ever satisfied that republics are not ungrateful, not- 
 withstanding the tradition to the contrary. 
 
 At the proper time he proceeded to execute his orders 
 in regard to the vessel and the prisoners. Pillgrim and 
 his fellow-conspirator were brought on deck. The for- 
 mer looked easy and defiant, as usual, and assured his 
 captor that he should be at liberty in a few days. 
 
 " Perhaps not," said Somers. 
 
 " You shall yet be cheated of your victim, but I shall 
 not be cheated of mine," said he, witli a malignant smile. 
 
 " I bear you no malice, Mr. Pillgrim." 
 
 " I do bear you malice ; and the heaviest revenue that 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 179 
 
 ever fell oq mau shall fall on you before the end of tliis 
 year." 
 
 '• Your threats arc idle. I have heard too mauy of 
 them. Pass into the boat, if you please." 
 
 Pillgrim and AValmsley went over the side, and the 
 boat pulled away. The chivalrous military olficcr re- 
 moved the irons from their legs and arms as soon as he 
 received them. 
 
 The Ben Nevis was to be sent to New York to be con- 
 demned, and Somers handed her over to the naval officer, 
 uccordin"j to his orders. 
 
180 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 OFF MOBILE BAY. 
 
 OMERS was now entirely relieved from duty. 
 He had delivered up the prize and handed the 
 prisoners over to the proper officers. On the 
 following day he went on shore to spend a few hours be- 
 fore the supply steamer sailed. On visiting the fortress, 
 he received the astonishino^ intellio^ence that Mr. Pillfrrim 
 had escaped from the officer having him in charge, even 
 before he had been placed in the casement appropriated 
 to his use. Somers had cautioned the lieutenant to whom 
 he had delivered him, of the danger of removing the 
 irons, but his advice had not been heeded. The careless 
 officer was now under arrest for his neglect of duty. 
 
 By none was this unfortunate event more deeply re- 
 gretted than by him who had been the means of foiling 
 the schemes of the traitor and handing him over to the 
 custody of the government. Pillgrim had boasted that 
 he would soon be at liberty. He was certainly a tal- 
 ented and a daring fellow ; and to handle him safely, it 
 was necessary to understand him thoroughly. Somers 
 
LIFE oy Tin: quarter deck. LSI 
 
 luitl a suspicion that the officer from whom tlie wretch 
 escaped was bribed by his prisoner ; but of course there 
 could be no evidence on this interesting point. 
 
 A careful search had been made by the garrison of the 
 fort, but without success. Pillgrim was dressed in the 
 full uniform of a naval lieutenant, and in this garb his 
 ingenuity would enable him to pass the military lines, if 
 indeed he was not provided with the means of doing so 
 by the faithless oiftcer in charge of him. The prisoner 
 had escaped on the preceding day, and there w'as now 
 little hope of recapturing him ; but Somers gave such 
 information as he possessed in regard to the fugitive. 
 Captain AValmsley had been less fortunate, and was still 
 in durance. 
 
 The story of the traitor's escape was a very simple 
 one. When thb boat which had conveyed the prisoners 
 from the steamer to the shore reached the pier, and they 
 had landed, Walmsley began to protest against his con- 
 finement, being a British subject. He* insisted upon 
 seeing the commandant of the fortress ; and while every- 
 body was listening to this debate, Pillgrim slipped into 
 the crowd and disappeared, passing the sentinels, who 
 had no suspicion that he was a prisoner, without a chal- 
 lenge. Immediate search was made for him ; but he 
 must have taken to the water, since there was no other 
 place of concealment which was not examined. A 
 calkcr's stage was moored to the shore near the pier, uud 
 IG 
 
182 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 it was afterwards surmised that he had crawled under 
 this, securing a position so that his head was out of 
 water, and remained there till evening. 
 
 He was gone, and that was all it was necessary to 
 know. The officer who had permitted him to escape 
 would be court-martialed and broken, and that would be 
 the end of it. At noon, as Somers was about to embark 
 on the supply steamer, a letter was handed to him, which 
 had been brought in by a contraband. The negro said 
 it had been handed to him by " a gemman wid de an- 
 chors on his shoulders," Avhom he had met on the road 
 to "Williamsburg, nine miles from the fort. 
 
 The epistle was from Pillgrim, as Somers would have 
 known from the writing, withoiit the contraband's de- 
 scription of the person who had given it to him. He 
 put it in his pocket, and did not open it tTll he had taken 
 possession of his state-room on board the steamer. He 
 was confident tliat it contained nothing but threats and 
 abuse, and he 'felt but little interest in its contents. The 
 writer, chagi'ined at the failure of his plot, was running 
 over with evil thoughts and malicious purposes. Somers 
 opened the letter and read as follows : — 
 
 Old Potxt Comfort, July 14. 
 
 Somers : You have been promoted. You remind me 
 
 of the fable. The goat went down into the well. The 
 
 fox sprang upon his horns and leaped out. You are the 
 
 fox ; you jumped over my head ; you went up ; you are 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 183 
 
 a master now. I congratulate you. You are the only 
 man iu the "vvorkl I hate. 
 
 The Tallahassee is doing a good business for the 
 South. She has captured fifty vessels. The Ben Nevis 
 was her sister. You have her. There are more of the 
 same family. You believe I am used up. No. I write 
 this letter to inform you that I am not even singed yet, 
 say nothing of being burned out. I shall be afloat soon. 
 The Ben Lomond, twin sister of the Ben Nevis and the 
 Tallahassee, will be at work in a fortnight. She will 
 then be called the Tallapoosa. Look out for her. 
 
 The Ben Nevis was captiu-ed ; my agents bought her 
 again. The Ben Lomond is now at — you wish you 
 knew where ! I shall command her. I could not resist 
 the temptation to inform you of my plan. I know you 
 will enjoy my prospects ! 
 
 You would like to make a little arrangement for the 
 capture of the Ben Lomond. I wish you might. You 
 will hear of her on the broad ocean in a few weeks, — 
 capturing, burning, bonding Yankee ships. It will please 
 you to read the papers then ! I shall strike for a Cali- 
 fornia steamer. Her treasure will make good my losses. 
 
 I am so anxious to meet you again that I am tempted 
 to tell you where my ship is. I would like to meet you 
 on her quarter deck. You are a remarkably enterprising 
 fellow ; perhaps we shall meet. If we do, I should feel 
 justified iu hanging you at the yard-arm. You belong 
 
184 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 to the South. You accepted a commission in her navy. 
 You betrayed your trust. I shall endeavor to see you 
 again. 
 
 Give my regards to the officers of the Chatauqua. 
 Inform them of my present brilliant prospects. Remem- 
 ber me kindly to Kate Portington. Possibly she may be 
 a little chilly when you see her again. 
 
 If yon capture the Ben Lomond, otherwise the Talla- 
 poosa, it would make you a lieutenant. Do it by all 
 means. 
 
 PiLLGRIM. 
 
 Somers read this singular letter three times before he 
 could form an opinion whether or not its statements were 
 mere idle boasts, and whether or not they had a foun- 
 dation of truth. "Was there any such vessel in existence 
 as the Ben Lomond? This was the interesting and im- 
 portant question to him. At this time the Tallahassee 
 was making fearful ravages among the shipping on the 
 coast, and the success and impunity with which she car- 
 ried on her depredations offered plenty of encouragement 
 for the rebels to send forth similar vessels, if they could 
 obtain them. 
 
 The Ben Nevis had been named after a mountain in 
 Scotland ; Ben Lomond was the name of another. The 
 former was a Clyde-built vessel, and it would have been 
 natural to give these twin names to twin steamers. Pill- 
 gi-im, in the character of " Coles," had given him a 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 185 
 
 certain amount of correct information in respect to the 
 Ben Nevis, though he had deceived him iu regard to her 
 destination. He had obtained this knowledge by acci- 
 dent, and the Ben Nevis had been captured. 
 
 To Somers there appeared to be a strong probability 
 that the statements contained in the letter were wholly or 
 partially true. There were only two rebel ports into 
 which it was possible for the Ben Lomond to have run 
 — Mobile and Wilmington. The conspirators had told 
 him that the Ben Nevis was bound to Mobile when she 
 was actually going to "Wilmington. Pillgrim, in his let- 
 ter, declared that he was to command the Tallapoosa. 
 If there was any plan at all, of course it had been laid 
 before the Chatauqua sailed from Philadelphia. 
 
 Why did Pillgrim start for Mobile in the Chatauqua? 
 Was it not possible that he intended, as second lieuten- 
 ant of a national ship, to obtain the means of getting the 
 Ben Lomond, or Tallapoosa, through the blockading fleet? 
 Did he not endeavor to involve the fourth lieutenant in 
 the meshes of the conspiracy for the purpose of obtaining 
 his assistance in this work? It was plausible. Perhaps 
 the recreant wretch had left some papers in his state- 
 room on board the Chatauqua, which would be intelli- 
 gible ill the light which he could bring to bear upon 
 them. 
 
 Bewildered and astonished by the prospect before him, 
 as he read the letter again and again, and considered ita 
 IG* 
 
186 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 remarkable statements in connection with his previous 
 knowledge, Somers spent the Avhole afternoon in his 
 state-room, and was only aroused from his meditations 
 by the supper bell. In the evening he resumed his 
 study of the case, and tried to reconcile the theory he 
 had framed w^ith reason and common sense. There was 
 nothing to conflict with this theory but the fact that Pill- 
 grim himself had given him the information upon which 
 it was based. The traitor would not intentionally betray 
 himself. Perhaps he did not expect his statements would 
 be credited ; or if he did, he had twice before been 
 equally reckless. 
 
 Then Somers attempted to analyze the mental constitu- 
 tion of Pillgrim. The conspirator seemed to be able to 
 endure all misfortunes. The loss of the Ben Nevis had 
 not aftected him, and he had endangered, defeated his plan 
 to recapture her by indulging in idle threats before the 
 match was applied. He had been more desirous of mor- 
 tifying, humiliating, and overwhelming Somers, than of 
 recovering his lost steamer. With great talents for 
 scheming and plotting, he had displayed the most amaz- 
 ing stupidity. 
 
 At this point the remark in the letter that Kate Por- 
 tington would be chilly when he saw her again, came up 
 for consideration. Pillgrim certainly had some purpose 
 in view which was equal to, or greater than, his desire to 
 serve the South, or even himself, in a pecuniary point of 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 
 
 187 
 
 view. He was the friend of the commodore — had kno>vii 
 the family before the war. Somers could not help be- 
 lieving that, in spite of his thirty-five years, he was an 
 aspirant for the hand of Kate, and that the bond he had 
 si^Tied was for her use rather than his ovm. 
 
 Miss Portington might well be chilly, if she discovered 
 that Somers had pledged a part of her fortune at the 
 present stage of proceedings ! 
 
 Somers was nervous and uneasy until he had reasoned 
 and coaxed himself into a full belief in the theory which 
 he had suggested. He could not wait for evidence, if, 
 indeed, any could be obtained. For the present he was 
 satisfied, and determined to proceed upon his hypothesis, 
 just as though every point in the argument had been 
 fully substantiated. 
 
 Our young officer was never idle when it was possible 
 to work. If any of our readers believe that Somers was 
 very " smart," very skilful, and very fortunate in his 
 previous career, we beg to remind them, and to impress 
 it upon their minds in the most forcible manner, that he 
 owed more to his industry and perseverance than to the 
 accidents of natural ability and favorable circumstances 
 combined. For" example, when he captured the Ben 
 Nevis, instead of gaping idly about the deck, and think- 
 inf^ what a great man he was, he went into the hold, and 
 made a careful examination of the steamer's cargo. The 
 knowledge thus gained had prevented him from abandon- 
 
188 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 ing the vessel when she was believed to be on fire, and 
 thus saved the prize and confounded the conspirators. 
 
 Somers was not idle now. He procured '' Blunt's 
 Coast Pilot," and " A Chart of the North Coast of the 
 Gulf of Mexico, from St. Mark's to Galveston," of the 
 captain of the steamer, and diligently studied up, and 
 even committed to memory, the bearings, distances, and 
 depths of water in Mobile Bay and vicinity. He care- 
 fully trained his mind on these matters so important to a 
 seaman ; and being blessed with a retentive memory, he 
 hoped and expected to have this knowledge at command 
 when it should be serviceable. It was hard study — the 
 hardest and dryest kind of study ; but he stuck to it as 
 though it had been a bewitching novel. 
 
 To assist his design he drew maps and charts of the 
 coast from memory, and was not satisfied till he could 
 make a perfect diagram of the coast, shoals, islands, and 
 bars, mark the prominent objects to be sighted from a 
 vessel, and lay down the depth of water. He had noth- 
 ino- else to do on the passage ; and as the steamer glided 
 swiftly over the summer sea, he found it a more agree- 
 able occupation than smoking, playing cards, and " spin- 
 ning yarns," which were the employments of his fellow- 
 passengers. 
 
 On the eighth day from Fortress Monroe the supply 
 steamer reached the blockading fleet off Mobile Bay, and 
 Somers was warmly welcomed by his brother officers. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 189 
 
 V- 
 
 Of course he had a long story to tell, whivh was listened 
 to with interest. The escape of the late second lieuten- 
 ant was received with becoming indignation. Somers 
 was now the third lieutenant of the Chatauqiia, and he 
 moved into the state-room formerly occupied by Mr. 
 Garboard, who had also advanced one grade in his rela- 
 tive rank. 
 
 '' Somers, you are just in time for a big thing," said 
 Mr. Hackleford. '' Our Brave Old Salt is going to take 
 us up Mobile Bay in a few days." 
 '' Indeed?" 
 
 " Yes, the Old Salamander has issued his orders." 
 " God bless him ! " ejaculated Somers, fervently, in 
 much the same spirit that a loyal subject speaks of a 
 popular monarch. 
 
 *' Ay, God bless him ! " replied the first lieutenant. 
 " lie is the ablest naval commander the world has yet 
 produced. In my opinion he is the superior of Nelson, 
 CoUingwood, Decatur, Porter, Preble, and Hull. By the 
 way, Mr. Somers, you were with him on the Mississippi?" 
 " Yes, sir ; I was in the Ilarrisburg when the fleet 
 passed Forts Jackson and St. Philip. But I am rather 
 sorry the attack is ta take place so soon." 
 "Why so?" 
 
 Then Somers showed him Pillgrim's letter ; but as we 
 intend to tell only what was done, not what was said, we 
 will not record the conversation. 
 
190 BUAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 BRAVE OLD SALT. 
 
 /^j^HE most extensive and careful preparations were 
 #1 in progress for the events ■wliicli, a few days 
 ^^_L/ later, astonished the world even more than the 
 splendid achievements of the fleet below New Orleans. 
 The squadron off the mouth of Mobile Bay had been 
 actively employed for several days in sending down top- 
 masts, superfluous spars, and rigging. Chain cables had 
 been extended over the sides of the ships where the ma- 
 chinery was exposed to injury from the shot and shell of 
 the fort. Chains and sand bags were placed on the 
 decks where plunging shot might disable the engines. 
 Boats were removed from the starboard to the port sides, 
 for the fleet was to go in with Fort Morgan on the right, 
 and close aboard of them. 
 
 The preparations were advancing when Somers re- 
 ported on board of the Chatauqua, and of course he at 
 once experienced the inspiration of coming events. If 
 there was any man in the navy whom he admired and 
 reverenced, that man "VAJifs Admiral Farragut. It is true, 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 191 
 
 he was not ^lingular iu this respect, for every man in tlic 
 fleet was equally devoted to him. The "• Old Salaman- 
 der," who seemed never to be happier than when iu tlie 
 midst of the hottest fire which the engines of modern 
 warfare could produce, was the idol of both officers and 
 seamen. He was an honest, just, and humane man, one 
 who involuntarily won the respect of every person with 
 whom he came into contact. 
 
 "We were never more thoroughly impressed by the 
 honesty, justice, and humanity of a man, than when we 
 took the hand of this " Brave Old Salt." His expressive 
 eye, and his gentle, but dignified bearing, spoke more 
 truly and forcibly of what he was, than the most elabo- 
 rate biography Avhich the pen of genius could produce. It 
 almost passes belief that men can stand up and work and 
 fight as officers and seamen worked and fought between 
 Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and at Mobile Bay ; but 
 we can think of no better inspiration than the leadership 
 of such a man as Admiral Farragut. 
 
 He was born in Tennessee — a southern state ; his 
 home was in Virginia — a southern state — at the break- 
 ing out of the rebellion. With all the motives >vliich 
 actuated Lee and Johnston, Tatnall and IloUins, to in- 
 duce him to abandon the old flag under which he had 
 fought in early youth, and served through all his man- 
 hood, he remained true to his country in the hour of her 
 severest trial. Neither bribes nor threats could mova 
 
192 BRAVB OLD SALT, OR 
 
 him, and not for one instant did he falter in his devotion 
 to the flag he had sworn to sustain against all foes. 
 Glory, honor, and immortality in the hearts of his coun- 
 trymen to the noble Admiral ! 
 
 As a naval commander, he has no rival in the past or 
 the present, in this or in any country. He has achieved, 
 once, twice, thrice, what any board of naval officers that 
 could have been convened from the boldest and most 
 skilful naval heroes of the united nations, would have 
 solemnly pronounced impossible. Chance might have 
 given him the Lower Mississippi — it did not ; but it 
 could not have given him that and Mobile Bay, and the 
 brilliant exploits up the Great River. Chance is capri- 
 cious ; it never metes out uniform success. 
 
 Admiral Farragut is nof simply a brave and skilful 
 seaman, for the stroke of genius shines out in all his bat- 
 tle plans, in all his preparations, and in all his move- 
 ments, w^hether on the silent river, as his majestic ship 
 leads in the van to the conflict, or under the most deadly 
 and destructive fire that ever was rained down on a 
 wooden hull. " Brave Old Salt " in the main riofiiinij of 
 the Hartford, as she breasted the storm of shot and shell 
 from Fort Moi'gan, is a spectacle more sublime than can 
 be presented in the annals of any other nation. The 
 position he chose for himself on that momentous occasion, 
 more truly indicates the key to his marvellous success 
 than any other fact in connection with the battle. He 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 11)3 
 
 ■was not there to expose himself needlessly to deadly 
 peril ; he was there to see and take advantage of the 
 issues of the battle. 
 
 His ^position was a symbol of the intelligence and 
 bravery which won the great battle. He saw with his 
 own eyes — not with others ; while his glorious personal 
 devotion was a type for every other man, which was 
 imitated from commodores down to powder-boys. We 
 read of a general who could not remember where he Avas 
 during one of the severest and most destructive fights of 
 the war. If he had been in a position corresponding to 
 that of the doughty old admiral, it would have been diffi- 
 cult for him to forget it. .But personal bravery alone 
 does not win the battle on the sea or the land. The 
 admiral's victories are due ev.en more to his genius — to 
 his persevering industry in the elaboration of preparatory 
 details. 
 
 " Brave Old Salt," as Somers always called him, was 
 our young officer's beau-ideal of a naval commander. 
 " Brave " he certainly was, and " Old Salt," to a sailor, 
 means something more than a long experience at sea. 
 It conveys to the nautical mind an idea of skill which no 
 " lubber " can possess. It was bravery, seamanship, 
 and those peculiar qualities which an " old salt " pos- 
 sesses, that made him great on the quarter deck, in com- 
 mand of a squadron. 
 
 Somers's admiration for the commander-in-chief of the 
 
194 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 fleet off Mobile Bay was of no recent origin. Since he 
 had first known him as "Flag Officer Farragut" at 
 Ship Island, before the grade of Rear and Vice Admiral 
 had been created in our navy, he had reverenced him as 
 a superior man, and looked up to him with an almost 
 superstitious awe. He could hardly realize that they 
 were both of the same earthly mould, with the like hu- 
 man hopes and aspirations. Though, for a young man 
 of his age, Somers regarded his rank of master as very 
 high, it did not permit him to abate one jot or tittle of 
 the distance which lay between him and the admiral. 
 He did not feel any better entitled to tread the same 
 deck with the glorious old hero, as a master, than he did 
 as an ordinary seaman. ^ 
 
 Somers returned to active duty as soon as he had 
 reported to the first lieutenant of the Chatauqua, and he 
 had the deck in the first dog watch on the day of his 
 arrival. During the afternoon watch he had had plenty 
 of time to report the incidents of his cruise in the Ben 
 Nevis. Mr. Hackleford had immediately communicated 
 to the captain the facts concerning Pillgrim's letter, and 
 the recreant lieutenant's papers had been carefully over- 
 hauled in search of anything which would shed a ray of 
 light upon the statements of the strange letter. 
 
 The only document which looked at all hopeful was a 
 note written in cipher, to which there was no key among 
 the papers. If the communication had been in Chinese 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 195 
 
 or Chaldaic, there might liavc been a chance of unravel- 
 liug it; as it was, the note was written in arbitrary 
 characters, whicli were as cabalistic and unintelligible as 
 the Egyptian hieroglyphics. Somers was annoyed and 
 discomfited, for he had confidently reckoned upon finding 
 some letter which contained a hint to guide him. There 
 was nothing but this note in cipher. 
 
 To add to his chagrin, Mr. Hackleford was utterly 
 sceptical in regard to Pillgrim's letter — did not believe 
 the first word of it -called it ''gas," and declared that 
 it would be stupid and childish to pay the least attention 
 to the document. Captain Cascabel fully concurred with 
 him in this opinion, and both of them laughed at Somers 
 for bestowing a second thought upon it. 
 
 ''Nonsense! Mr. Somers ! '^exclaimed the first lieu- 
 tenant. " There isn't a single scintillation of truth in the 
 story. If there were even a glimmering of reality in the 
 thing, I would look into it." 
 
 *' But Mr. Pillgrim told me some truth in regard to the 
 Ben Nevis," argued Somers. 
 
 " That is the best reason in the world for believing he 
 has not done so in this instance," said Mr Hackleford. 
 " I suppose I must give up the idea, then." 
 '* You must, indeed. If you don't, I am afraid your rep- 
 utation for common sense and good judgment will suffer." 
 "Will you allow me to take this letter in cipher, and 
 keep it tiU to-morrow?" asked Somers. 
 " Certainly." 
 
196 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 Somers took the letter, and put it into his pocket until 
 he had an opportunity to study its mystic characters. 
 He was mortified by the rebuff he had received, but his 
 faith, though somewhat shaken, was not destroyed. He 
 was officer of the deck from four till six. Just before he 
 was relieved, he ordered the side to be manned to receive 
 the captain, who was just returning from a visit to the 
 flag-ship. 
 
 As he touched his cap to Captain Cascabel, he noticed 
 a smile on his commander's face, which seemed to relate 
 to him, and he blushed beneath the pleasant, but expres- 
 sive glance bestowed upon him. 
 
 " Mr. Somers," said the captain. 
 
 The officer of the deck stepped forward, and saluted 
 the commander again. 
 
 " You are invited to dine with Admiral Farragut to- 
 morrow afternoon." 
 
 "I, sir ! " exclaimed Somers, completely overwhelmed 
 by this remarkable declaration. 
 
 " Rear Admiral Farragut presents his compliments to 
 Mr. Somers, and would be happy to see him at dinner 
 to-morrow, on board the Hartford." 
 
 The captain passed on to the companion-way, leading 
 to his cabin, leaving Somers as bewildered as though he 
 had been invited to dine with Queen Victoria, Louis Na- 
 poleon, and the Emperor of Russia ; indeed, he regarded 
 it as a much greater honor to dine with " Brave Old 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 107 
 
 Salt," than to put his feet under the mahogany of tlie 
 miglitiest crowned head of the world. It was evident 
 that somebody had been talking to the admiral about 
 him ; the captain and the first lieutenant of the Chatau- 
 qiui certainly felt kindly enough towards him to do so. 
 
 To dine with Admiral Farragut ! That was glory 
 enough for a lifetime ; or at least to be deemed worthy 
 of such a distinction. Our friend Somers was no snob ; 
 he *' looked up " to great people, especially to those who 
 were really great. He pretended to no familiarity with 
 his superiors, though some of the officers were dying with 
 envy at the notice taken of him by the captain and first 
 lieutenant of the ship. He did not assume to be familiar 
 with men who had won a deathless fame in defending 
 their country's cause. Perhaps there was not an officer 
 in the fleet who would so highly appreciate such a com- 
 pliment as that of which he was now the happy recipient. 
 
 AVhen he was relieved from the deck, and went down 
 into the ward-room, the news had gone before him, 
 and the " idlers " there congratulated him upon his 
 rising fame. But Somers broke away from them as soon 
 as he could decently do so, and shut himself up in his 
 state-room. He was actually dizzy at the idea of sitting 
 down at the table with " Brave Old Salt" in the cabin 
 of the Hartford ; and though ho took the cabalistic note 
 of Mr. Pillgrim from his pocket, at least half an hour was 
 wasted before ho could apply his mind \individedly to the 
 17 * 
 
198 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 difficult problem before him. Finally, the hope of making 
 a grand revelation to the admiral on the morrow fired his 
 zeal to such a pitch that the work looked like play to him. 
 Somers opened the mysterious document and spread it 
 out on the desk, at which he seated himself. It looked 
 dark and hopeless, with its dots and dashes, its horizon- 
 tals and perpendiculars, its curves and crosses. We pre- 
 sent the note in full, that our readers may be able to 
 appreciate the difficulty of the task he had undertaken. 
 
 3.1""^ i^cil'vxi3!'v.ln') 
 
 n ! X- i-N^ X V! = KT X i-x .1 i )C 
 t=r-ivi x"^!JiixCx nixx^.ivw-.o 
 
 ... ; . . . •« . 
 
 xcjjij -xoMxi^! XLr = z=rA^T xx 
 f^!x->!— i-xjivvx-ix.riiiLA 
 ! n x-ox hi xo I — i X ! •) X .u c 
 
 I'i XX oij[x=it-ixciix^!.-.xnI 
 x-i^i.-.i xh\\ X ii = i X 
 
 • • • • • • s 
 
 V.i/^vlni'V 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 199 
 
 If Somcrs had been a student of the occult sciences, he 
 might have been more hopeful. An hour's hard study 
 brought a gleam of Hght. lie thought the note must be 
 signed by Langdou. There were seven letters in the 
 signature. This was his first ray of hope. lie then 
 placed all the letters of the alphabet in a column, and 
 against each made the character that represented it in 
 the cipher. Six letters were thus interpreted. 
 
 The next step was to place each of the letters thus dis- 
 covered over its sign in the note. The second and third 
 words of the epistle then stood, the eights being for 
 undiscovered letters, as follows : 88nxlo8ond. 
 
 " Ben Lomond ! " exclaimed Somers, as he gave a 
 smart rap on the desk to indicate his joy at the 
 discovery. 
 
 Three more letter^ were gained, and the oblique cross 
 was only a mark to divide the words. The three letters 
 before Ben Lomond must be, the. The solution began 
 to be easy, though it required a long time to reach it. 
 At midnight, when he was called to take the mid watch, 
 he had it written out as follows : — 
 
 Washington, Twentieth of June. 
 The Ben Lomond is at MoUle, fitting out. Mallory 
 gives you the command. TJie forts will he attached by the 
 first of August. You must get her out before that time. 
 
 Langdon. 
 
200 an AVE old salt, oh 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE BOAT EXPEDITION. 
 
 /^"^M T general quarters, on the following day, Somers 
 71 looked somewhat care-worn. It was midnight 
 /^^\/ when he had worked out the solution of the 
 cipher, and at this hour he had been called to 
 take the mid watch. But there was no happier or more 
 exultant man in the fleet. His conquest over the cabalis- 
 tic letter had confirmed his theory. The Ben Lomond 
 was not a myth, and she was at Mobile. Pillgi-im liad 
 expressed a desire to see Somers again, and there was a 
 fair prospect that he might yet be able to do so. 
 
 The important event of this day was the dinner with 
 " Brave Old Salt." But the letter and the dinner seemed 
 to be inseparably connected. Somers had given the 
 translation to the first lieutenant, •who, to the chagrin 
 and mortification of the persevering student, did not 
 appear to attach much importance to the letter. 
 
 " If the Tallapoosa, or Ben Lomond, is in the bay, 
 we shall soon have her," said Mr. Hackleford, " for we 
 are going to make the attack on the forts within a few 
 days." 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 201 
 
 " The attack may fail, and thus afford an opportimity 
 for the cruiser to come out," suggested Somers. 
 
 *'Fail?" 
 
 The third lieutenant of the Chatauqua stood abashed 
 before the look of his superior. lie did not believe that 
 any attack made by Admiral Farragut could fail, but it 
 was possible for the Confederate steamer to run the 
 blockade, as hundreds had done before her, especially as 
 she could steam sixteen knots. 
 
 " I don't think the attack will fail, sir ; but even a vic- 
 tory might afford the Ben Lomond a chance to run out." 
 
 " I don't think there is much chance ; but Captain Cas- 
 cabel has your solution of the letter under consideration. 
 Perhaps the admiral may have something to say about it." 
 
 Somers was not satisfied with the reception given to 
 his revelation. He had already formed a plan for ascer- 
 taining where the Ben Lomond was, but the cool manner 
 in which his communication was received prevented him 
 from even mentioning it. 
 
 In the afternoon, the captain's gig came up to the 
 accommodation ladder, and the commander, attended by 
 Somers, seated himself in the stern-sheets. Captain 
 Cascabel was received with due honors on the quarter 
 deck of the Hartford, where the gallant admiral was 
 walking at the time. 
 
 When his superior had been welcomed with dignified 
 cordiality, Captain Cascabel introduced Somers. The 
 
202 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 admiral bowed, smiled pleasantly, and did not look 
 patronizingly upon the young officer, as he might have 
 been pardoned for doing. As he stood there on the quar- 
 ter deck of the flag-ship, he was full of genuine dignity 
 and true manliness — a noble representative of the Amer- 
 ican naval commander. He was of medium stature, 
 well formed, and of elegant proportions. He seemed to 
 be made of nerves and muscles, and when he moved 
 there was an elastic spring to his frame, which impressed 
 the observer with the idea of energy and vigor. He did 
 not appear to stand on the deck, but to be poised inde- 
 pendently in the air, resting on the planks beneath him 
 more because it was the fashion to do so, than because 
 he had any need of such support. 
 
 Somers removed his cap, made his best bow, and 
 blushed like a summer rose. He was deeply impressed 
 by the glance of the admiral, and the atmosphere around 
 bim seemed to be full of the man at whom he gazed in 
 reverent admiration. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, I am happy to see you," said the admi- 
 ral, in a tone so gentle and affable that it seemed to 
 remove the " curse " of greatness far from him. " I 
 have heard of you before, and I doubt not we shall be 
 able to make you very useful to your country." 
 
 " Thank you, sir," replied Somers, not daring to say 
 any more, and with the feeling of his childhood, that 
 " boys ought to be seen, not heard." 
 
LIFE ON THE QUAIiTER DECK. 203 
 
 The admiral, with this judicious commcudation, turned 
 to Captain Cascabel, and opened conversation with him, 
 evidently determined not to spoil the young man by 
 takin^ too much notice of him. Somers was soon at 
 home with the officers of the Hartford, and behaved him- 
 self with becoming modesty and discretion. He dined 
 with the admiral, several other officers of distinction 
 being present. Tlie conversation at the table, singularly 
 enough, it may appear to our readers, did not relate to 
 the war, or even to the navy. These topics appeared to 
 be carefully excluded, though the reserve on this occasion 
 was probably accidental. 
 
 Somers found sufficient pleasure in looking at and 
 listening to the admiral, and the other distinguished offi- 
 cers, though he was not ignored, being kindly encouraged, 
 by an occasional question, to use his voice. But he was 
 not forward, and his very nature prevented him from 
 indulf^ing in any of that impudent ftimiliarity which is so 
 offiinsive to elderly men, especially if they occupy high 
 positions. 
 
 After dinner, a matter of business came up, and it 
 soon appeared that Captain Cascabel had given the admi- 
 ral all the particulars relating to the Ben Lomond, includ- 
 ing the letter in cipher, which Somers had interpreted. 
 The conversation took place in private, with only the 
 three persons present who were most intimately con- 
 cerned. The letter was exhibited, and its solution ex- 
 plained. 
 
204 BUAVE OLD SALT, OTi 
 
 "Mr. Soraers, what is your plan? I am iuformed 
 that you have one," said the admiral. 
 
 " I have one, sir, but I hardly hope it will merit your 
 approbation," replied the third lieutenant of the Cha- 
 tauqua. 
 
 " AVe will hear it, if you please. By the way, our 
 picket boats report that a steamer came down the bay 
 this morning, and moored inside the Middle Ground. It 
 may be the one mentioned in your letter — the Talla- 
 poosa." 
 
 " Probably it is, sir. She can now only be waiting 
 the arrival of Lieutenant Pillgrim, who is to command 
 her." 
 
 " We must capture that man. State your plan, Mr. 
 Somers." 
 
 The young officer, with no little trepidation, related 
 the particulars of the method he had considered for the 
 capture of the Ben Lomond. 
 
 " Very daring and impudent, Mr. Somers," said the 
 admiral, as he glanced with a meaning smile at Captain 
 Cascabel. 
 
 " Mr. Somers's forte is daring and impudence. But 
 his scheme, besides being based on mere theory, is abso- 
 lutely fool-hardy," added the captain, throwing a whole 
 bucket of cold water on the young officer's prospects. 
 
 " I do not wholly agree with you, captain. By the 
 report of the picket boats, there is certainly a sea-going 
 
LIF1-: ox THE QUARTER DECK. 205 
 
 steamer in the bay. That, in a measure, confirms Mr. 
 Somers's theory. Now, if the vessel is there, the young 
 man may bring her out if he has the ability to do so. 
 AVhat force do you require, Mr. Somers ? " 
 
 " The first cutter of the Chatauqua, and twenty-four 
 men." 
 
 " You shall have them, Mr. Somers," said the admiral. 
 " Instead of the first cutter, I suggest a whale-boat, 
 •which will not be much more than half as heavy." 
 
 " That would be better, sir," replied Somers, hardly 
 able to conceal the joy and exultation he felt at the pros- 
 pect of being permitted to carry out his plan. 
 
 " Captain, you will permit Mr. Somers to pick his 
 men, and afford him every facility for the execution of 
 his purpose." 
 
 " I will, with pleasure, sir." 
 
 " When do you wish to begin, Mr. Somers ? " asked 
 the admiral. 
 
 '* To-night, sir." 
 
 " Very well. The monitors haven't arrived, captain, 
 and it may be a fortnight before we make the attack on 
 the forts. The steamer may run out in a fog or storm 
 before that time, and I think we do well to prevent 
 another Tuscaloosa from preying on the commerce of the 
 country." 
 
 *' Undoubtedly, sir, if we can." 
 
 " Mr. Somers's scheme may possibly succeed, though I 
 
20G BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 do Dot think liis chances of cutting out the steamer 
 are very encouraging." 
 
 " I am afraid not, admiral," answered Captain Casca- 
 bel, incredulously. • 
 
 " Mr. Somers, your reputation would be seriously 
 damaged by the failure of your enterprise. Your offi- 
 cers would be more unwilling to trust you than they are 
 now if you should meet with a disaster." 
 
 " I could not complain. I do not intend to meet with 
 any disaster. If I do nothing better, I shall bring my 
 men back with me." 
 
 The admiral laughed, and seemed to be pleased with 
 this confidence, while Captain Cascabel shook his head. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, the risk is very great. You and your 
 men may be prisoners in Fort Morgan within twenty- 
 four hours. A failure w^ould damage, if not ruin you. 
 Are you still ready to undertake the work ? " asked the 
 admiral. 
 
 " I am, sir." 
 
 " Remember that everything depends upon yourself. 
 My best wishes for your success go wuth you." 
 
 Somers needed no better inspiration, and his frame 
 seemed to jerk and spring like that of Brave Old Salt, 
 when he realized that he was actually to undertake his 
 cherished purpose. 
 
 The gig pulled back to the Chatauqua, and Somers 
 immediately commenced his preparations. The cordial 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 207 
 
 iudorscmcut of the admiral was cuough to silence all 
 opposition, and to " put a stopper on the jaw-tackle of 
 all croakers." He was earnestly seconded by the captain 
 and his officers. In a short time a light whale-boat was 
 towed up, and made fast to the boom. 
 
 Somers's first duty was to select his crew. He was to 
 engage in a desperate enterprise, and everything must 
 depend upon the skill and bravery, as well as the silence 
 and discretion, of his force. The first person selected 
 was the boatswain, Tom Longstone, who, being better 
 acquainted with the qualities of the seamen, was in- 
 trusted with the selection of the boat's crew. Just as 
 soon as it was discovered that some daring enterprise 
 was to be undertaken by the third lieutenant, he was 
 beset by eager applicants for a place in the boat. Act- 
 ing ensigns, masters' mates, midshipmen, indeed, all the 
 officers below Somers in rank, begged to be appointed. 
 
 The young commander of the expedition was prudent 
 and cautious, and he accepted the services of none. 
 Tom Longstone was the only officer to accompany him. 
 The boatswain Avould obey his orders without asking any 
 questions, or bothering him with any advice. 
 
 " There, Mr. Somers, I have picked out the twenty- 
 four best men in the ship — men that will work, fight, 
 and hold their tongues," said Boatswain Longstone, 
 when he had executed the important trust committed 
 to him. 
 
208 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " Thank you, boatswain. What do you think of the 
 weather ? " 
 
 " It's going to be a nasty night." 
 
 " So much the better. Let every man take his pea- 
 jacket ; apply to the armorer for revolvers and cutlasses 
 for each of them." 
 
 " A howitzer, Mr. Somers?" 
 
 " No ; we must go as light as possible," replied Som- 
 ers, as he proceeded to instruct the boatswain in regard 
 to certain " slings " and other rigging that would be 
 wanted. 
 
 Boatswain Longstone did not ask a single question 
 about the nature or object of the enterprise ; and with 
 the exception of the admiral, and the captain and first 
 lieutenant of the Chatauqua, not a man in the fleet besides 
 Somers knew " what was np." It was necessary to 
 conduct the enterprise with the utmost caution and se- 
 crecy. 
 
 The boatswain's predictions in regard to the weather 
 proved to be entirely correct, for at eight bells, when the 
 first watch was set, it was dark, foggy, and rainy. Som- 
 ers had calculated upon this weather, when he had so 
 promptly chosen the time for his venture. It was just 
 the night for a difiicult and dangerous enterprise, and the 
 fog and the darkness were its best friends. Wliile the 
 boatswain was carrying out the orders given him, Som- 
 ers had been engaged at the desk in his state-room, pre- 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 209 
 
 paring for use certain papers, including his commander's 
 commission in the Confederate navy, and his letter of 
 instructions, intended for the Ben Nevis, or Louisiana. 
 With his knife he scratched, and with his pen he wrote, 
 until the documents suited his present purpose ; and they 
 were placed in his pocket. 
 
 At two bells — nine o'clock in the evening — while the 
 rain poured down in torrents, Somers embarked with his 
 force, consisting of Tom Longstone and twenty-four as 
 athletic and resolute fellows as ever pulled an oar or 
 handled a cutlass. The whale-boat was crowded, though 
 it was of the largest size, being thirty feet in length. 
 The oars were carefully muffled, and the seamen were 
 so disposed that the oarsmen could be relieved without 
 noise. 
 
 Wrapping his overcoat closely around him, Somers 
 seated himself in the stern-sheets of the whale-boat, with 
 the boatswain at his side. Though profoundly impressed 
 by the magnitude and danger of the work in which he 
 was engaged, he could not help thinking of the changes 
 \vhich had checkered his lot, since, two years before, he 
 had sat in the first cutter of the Harrisburg, as an ordi- 
 nary seaman. Now he was a master, and in command of 
 the expedition. Tom Longstone had been with him 
 then ; he was with him now. In low tones, they talked 
 of that eventful night, and of the changes which had 
 occurred since that time. 
 18* 
 
210 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 Somers was grateful for his advancement, and thanked 
 God that he had been enabled to perform his duty so as 
 to merit the favor of his superiors. And in the depths 
 of his heart he asked God to bless his present exertions 
 for the good of his country. He leaned on the Good 
 Father even in this exciting hour, and his religious faith 
 was the strength of his arm. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 211 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE PICKET BOAT. 
 
 ,^ — 'IIROUGH the deep darkness and the dense, fog 
 #1 the boat made its way. There was not an ob- 
 ^^Jy ject to be seen, on ship or shore, to guide its 
 course ; and in front of Somers there was a patent bin- 
 nacle, whose lights were reflected on the compass, but 
 did not even soften the gloom without, into which he con- 
 tinued to gaze with the most anxious solicitude. He had 
 carefully estimated the currents the whale-boat would 
 encounter, and calculated the force of the wind, so as 
 to determine her lee-way with the nicest practicable 
 accuracy. 
 
 The young commander of the expedition hoped to 
 strike a certain point of the land to the eastward of the 
 fort on Mobile Point, distant five and a half miles from 
 the ship. Half a mile east or west of the desired point 
 might involve him in serious if not fatal difficulties, and 
 everything depended upon the a«curacy of his calcula- 
 tions. His early experience as a boatman at Pinchbrook 
 Harbor was of incalculable service to him, since nothin;^ 
 
212 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR ^ 
 
 » 
 
 can supply the place of actual observation in the making 
 of such nice estimates as were required for success in the 
 present instance. 
 
 The rain poured down in torrents, and the sea was 
 rough and uneasy ; but Somers, never for an instant 
 turned aside from the grand object before him by the 
 discomforts of his situation, watched his compass and 
 closely observed every motion of the whale-boat. He 
 was fired with zeal, but he Avas not excited, for he knew 
 how much depended upon cool judgment and careful ex- 
 ecution of the details of his work. 
 
 " Breakers ahead ! " said the bowman, in a low tone ; 
 and the words were passed aft to the officer. 
 
 Breakers were to be expected ; and of course Somers 
 was not appalled by the announcement. The boat dashed 
 on till she reached the broken water ; but the surf on the 
 shore, thrown up by the storm, was absolutely fearful. 
 A stunning roar broke upon the ears of the young officer 
 as the frail craft approached the foaming billows that 
 shattered themselves on the beach. 
 
 " That's a heavy surf, Mr. Somers," said Tom Long- 
 stone. 
 
 " So much the better," replied the officer, cheerfully. 
 
 " This whale-boat will not be much better than a cockle- 
 shell in that surf." 
 
 " She will go through it, if she is well handled." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir ; of course she will." 
 
LIFE OJV THE QUARTER DECK. 213 
 
 " The rebels will not expect a boat to land in snch a 
 surf and on such a night. We shall not be expected," 
 replied Somers, in a loud tone, for whispers and soft 
 speech could not be heard above the roar of the billows. 
 
 The commander of the expedition stood up in the 
 stern-sheets, and attempted to penetrate the gloom and 
 fog in the du-ection of the beach ; but neither sight nor 
 sound of the shore could be obtained. To plunge through 
 that boiling surf upon a rebel battery or an artillery com- 
 pany, would be a sad conclusion of the night's work ; but 
 even this must be risked, for it was not possible to obtain 
 a sin«;le item of information in reorard to the surround- 
 ings on shore. 
 
 " Oars ! " shouted Somers, when he had completed his 
 unsatisfactory survey shoreward, and there was not the 
 slightest danger of his order being heard by an enemy 
 beyond the thundering roll of the sea. " Hold water ! " 
 
 The onward progress of the boat was stopped. 
 
 *' Back the starboard, pull the port oars ! " added the 
 officer, who had now taken the management of the boat 
 out of the hands of the coxswain. " Oars ! " he con- 
 tinued, when the boat was turned so as to head directly 
 from the shore. 
 
 " Now, my lads, pull steady, and mind the orders 
 promptly." said the confident young officer. " There's a 
 heavy surf; but if you pull strong, and mind quick, we 
 shall be through it in a moment." 
 
214 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir ! " responded the blue-jackets. 
 
 " Stern, all ! " continued Somers, when he had care- 
 fully observed the sweep of the last wave. 
 
 The oarsmen backed water, and the boat moved to- 
 wards the shore, stern foremost. In a moment she was 
 lifted up by a great billow and swept furiously towards 
 the beach. 
 
 " Steady ! " said Somers, gazing forward over the 
 heads of the men, watching the approach of the next 
 foam-crested wave. 
 
 The men were entirely cool, and their iron muscles 
 held the boat under perfect control. A huge roller was 
 coming in, fiercely, rapidly, at double or triple the speed 
 of the whale-boat, and the first great peril of the surf 
 was at hand. 
 
 The danger was, as our inexperienced readers may not 
 understand, that the stern of the boat, suddenly struck 
 by the swift-flying wave, w^ould be lifted high in air, and 
 the bow forced under ; or that the boat would broach to, 
 and be rolled over in the sea. In either case the boat 
 would be swamped, and eventually be stove on the beach. 
 Somers saw one of these rushing billows coming down 
 with frightful velocity upon the whale-boat. 
 
 " Oars ! " cried he ; and the men ceased backing 
 her. 
 
 " Give way ! " he added, with an energy which was 
 at once communicated to the muscles of the men ; and 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 215 
 
 they pulled steadily, as a well-disciplined crew always 
 does, but with a firmucss and strength which caused the 
 boat to dart forward towards the savage roller. 
 
 She met the billow ; her bow rose upon it ; she passed 
 over without being ingulfed by it. 
 
 " Oars ! Hold water ! Stern, all ! " continued the 
 young officer ; and again the whale-boat moved towards 
 the shore. 
 
 The manoeuvre described was repeated several times, 
 until the boat had passed through the surf, and struck 
 heavily on the sandy beach. The men in the bow 
 were then ordered to jump into the water ; and as the 
 forward part was thus lightened, the successive rollers 
 bore the boat farther and farther upon the beach, until 
 the whole crew w^ere landed. The first step of the expe- 
 dition had been safely accomplished. 
 
 Somers ordered the men to haul up the boat high and 
 dry upon the beach. There was not a person to be seen, 
 or a sound to be heard, which indicated the presence of 
 an enemy. The young officer had now to prove the cor- 
 rectness of his calculations, for as yet he knew not upon 
 what portion of the point he had landed. A careful sur- 
 vey of the ground was therefore immediately to be made. 
 It was necessary to have assistance in this ; and Somers 
 selected two first-class firemen, very intelligent men, ma- 
 chinists and engineers, who were in training for situa- 
 tions in government ships. They had been brought to 
 
216 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 work the engine of the Ben Lomond, if, fortunately, she 
 were captured. 
 
 Tom Longstone was left in charge of the boat and 
 crew, and the two firemen followed the commander of 
 the expedition, who moved towards the north. When he 
 had proceeded a short distance, he explained to his com- 
 panions his object. 
 
 " About an eighth of a mile from the beach," said he, 
 " there is a creek, which widens into a little bay. I 
 wish to find this creek ; it will lead us into Mobile Bay. 
 Conant, you will go east, and. Wade, you will go west. 
 You must be very careful, or you will lose your way. 
 You will not go more than half a mile, as nearly as you 
 can judge, in either direction. If you find it, return to 
 the beach, and take notice of the best way to reach it." 
 
 The firemen parted, and Somers moved forward him- 
 self. He did not find the creek in the direction he had 
 chosen, and returned to the beach, after a search of about 
 an hour. Wade was there before him ; but Conant had 
 not yet made his appearance, though he did not long 
 delay the expedition. 
 
 " I have found it, sir," said Conant, when he returned. 
 " It lies in this direction : " he pointed to the north-east. 
 " It isn't a quarter of a mile distant ; but I had some dif- 
 ficulty in finding a good path." 
 
 " Did you see anybody, or anything? " 
 
 " Nothing, sir." 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 217 
 
 The whale-boat was then turned over ; each man took 
 off his pea-jacket, rolled it up, and put it on his shoulder. 
 The boat was then lifted up, and placed on the shoulders 
 of the sailors, the garment acting as a cushion to support 
 the weight, without injury to the bearers. After a great 
 many trials and diiiiculties incident to the darkness of 
 the night and the character of the ground, the creek was 
 reached, and the whale-boat launched. Unfortunately, 
 the water was very shallow, and even the light draught 
 of the boat was too great for rapid progress, though by 
 various expedients this obstacle was overcome, and the 
 expedition reached the mouth of the creek at about half 
 past twelve o'clock in the morning. 
 
 Somers was entirely dependent upon his memory and 
 the compass for sailing directions ; and the careful study 
 he had made of the navigation of the bay enabled him 
 to move with considerable confidence. The creek dis- 
 embogued in a nearly landlocked bay, whose compara- 
 tively still waters were passed, and the boat began to be 
 tossed by the waves of the broad bay. 
 
 Heading his craft to the westward, he bade the men 
 give way with a will. Encouraged by the manner in 
 which all obstacles had thus far been overcome, they 
 were ready and willing subjects. After pulling about 
 three miles, the rougher sea and the depth of water 
 which the bowman had continually reported, assured 
 Somers that he must have reached the Middle Ground, 
 19 
 
218 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 where vessels bound out usually came to anchor when 
 subjected to any delay. The Ben Lomond, if she was in 
 the bay, could not be far distant ; but the fog and dark- 
 ness prevented him from seeing a ship's length ahead, 
 
 " Can you see anything, Mr. Longstone?" asked the 
 young commander, who felt that he was now in the 
 midst of the greatest obstacles to the success of his 
 mission. 
 
 " I can't see anything," replied the boatswain ; " but 
 I think I hear something. There, sir ! Two bells just 
 struck in a vessel dead ahead." 
 
 " I see her," said the bowman. " It's a rebel iron- 
 clad ! " 
 
 " She's an ugly customer. I don't want anything of 
 her," said Somers, as he ordered the boat to go about, 
 and headed her to the north-east, 
 
 " Boat ahead, sir ! " reported the bowman. 
 
 " Speak out, man ! " said the commander. " I am 
 not afraid of being seen now. Where away is she ? " 
 
 " On the port quarter, sir." 
 
 " Starboard, coxswain," continued Somers. 
 
 In a few moments the dark outline of the boat was 
 seen in the water, and the coxswain was directed to 
 steer towards her. Somers was fully committed now, 
 and intended to carry himself through by impudence and 
 audacity. He was in the midst of the rebel fleet to be 
 used for the defence of the bay. He knew that the 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 219 
 
 waters around him were patrolled by picket boats, and 
 he doubted not the craft before him was one of them. 
 He could not find the Ben Lomond readily, and probably 
 the officer of this boat would know her position. 
 
 " Boat ahoy ! " he shouted. 
 
 *' In the boat ! " was the reply. 
 
 *' Oars ! Hold water ! " 
 
 *' Wliat boat is that?" demanded the officer of the 
 rebel party. 
 
 " My boat," replied Somers, rather irregularly. 
 
 " Wlio are you ? " 
 
 " John Pillgrim, commander in the Confederate navy, 
 appointed to the steamer Tallapoosa." 
 
 *' Ah," responded the officer. " You were expected 
 before." 
 
 " Couldn't come before," replied Somers, with perfect 
 assurance. " Where is the Tallapoosa? I have been 
 beating about here in the fog these two hours, trying to 
 find her." 
 
 " She lies about half a mile to the northward and east- 
 ward." 
 
 " Thank you ; I shall find her. Please report me to 
 Admiral Buchanan, and say I shall run out immedi- 
 ately." 
 
 '* It's a good night for it. I beg your pardon, Captain 
 Pillgrim ; have you a pass ? " 
 
220 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " A what? " demanded Somers, as if astonished at the 
 request. 
 
 " A pass." 
 
 " No ; where should I get a pass, or what should I 
 want one for ? " 
 
 " Excuse me, but my orders are very strict. I cannot 
 let a boat or vessel pass me without the proper papers." 
 
 " What papers do you want?" 
 
 " Simply a pass." 
 
 " I have no pass." 
 
 " I shall be obliged to detain you, then." 
 
 " No, you won't ! " answered Somers, indignantly. 
 " Here it is one o'clock in the morning. I ought to have 
 been over the bar by this time." 
 
 " I can't help it. Captain Pillgi'im ; my orders are im- 
 perative," pleaded the picket officer. 
 
 " Well, if you can't help it, I can. I may not have 
 such another night as this for a month." 
 
 " I shall not detain you half an hour. The Tallapoosa 
 has steam up, and is only waiting for her commander and 
 the balance of her crew." 
 
 " How many men has she on board? " asked Somers, 
 somewhat startled. 
 
 " About forty, besides the firemen." 
 
 " I have the balance. It is all right." 
 
 " Pardon me, if I persist. I must see your papers." 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 221 
 
 *' I have no pass ; but I will show you my coramissiou 
 and my orders from the secretary of the navy." 
 
 '^ Those will answer." 
 
 The boat was laid alongside, and by the light of a 
 lantern the otficer glanced at Somers's commission and 
 orders. He pronounced them all right, and the expedi- 
 tion was permitted to proceed. 
 19* 
 
222 Bit AVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE BEN LOMOND. 
 
 >^|^HAT'S a bold step, Mr. Somers," said Tom 
 /'J Longstone, as the "vvliale-boat dashed on towards 
 ^^_[y the intended prize. 
 
 " If it were less bold, it would be more dangerous," 
 replied Somers, easily ; for he entered so fully into the 
 spirit of the affair, that he felt quite at home, and was 
 hardly disturbed by a doubt of final success. 
 
 " Where is Mr. Pillgrim now?" asked the boatswain. 
 
 " I haven't the least idea ; but I think he cannot be 
 far off." 
 
 " You left him at Fortress Monroe ? " 
 
 " Yes ; he had started for the South then, to take com- 
 mand, I suppose, of this vessel. The traitor's plan was to 
 come down on the Chatauqua, and then bring out this 
 vessel perhaps, on the pretence of capturing her. At any 
 rate, he was going to use his official position in the navy 
 to help him get the Tallapoosa out of the bay, and past 
 the blockading squadron. If not, he would not have gone 
 in her, and thus wasted so much of his valuable time. I 
 wish I knew where he is now." 
 
LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK. 223 
 
 " Perhaps it don't make much difference." 
 
 " I am afraid it will make considerable difference. 
 Suppose the traitor has been on board the Beu Lo- 
 mond ? " 
 
 "The what?" 
 
 " The Tallapoosa ; they have changed her name. 
 Keep a sharp lookout forward for the ship, bowman." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir ! I can't see a thing yet." 
 
 " Suppose he has been on board, Mr. Somers ? " con- 
 tinued the boatswain. 
 
 " If he has, we may have to fight for the vessel." 
 
 *' Well, we can do that," replied Tom, as he involun- 
 tarily grasped his cutlass. 
 
 " He has forty men aboard of her now, besides the 
 firemen and coal-heavers." 
 
 " Our boys wouldn't mind forty of them." 
 
 "I should not hesitate to attack her, but the noise 
 would wake up the rebel iron clads and gunboats. We 
 must get the vessel without fighting. I don't believe Pill- 
 grim has been on board of her. If he had, that picket 
 officer would have known that I am not the man. I'm 
 not going to croak about the business, though. In my 
 opinion it will be all right." 
 
 " Of course the Tallapoosa is in charge of some one." 
 
 " All her officers are on board, except the commander, 
 we were told." 
 
 " Some of them may know Mr. Pillgrim," suggested 
 
224 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 the boatswain, who had more fears for his young com- 
 mander than the latter had for himself. 
 
 " Mr. Pillgrim has been in the North, and in England 
 since the war began. I am of the opinion that those on 
 board do not know him." 
 
 " Suppose they do?" 
 
 " I shall put them under arrest if they refuse to obey 
 my orders." 
 
 " You are smart, Mr. Somers," said Tom, who 
 chuckled over the adroitness of his protege, even while 
 he trembled for his safety and success. 
 
 '• Steamer ahead, sir ! " reported the bo^^^Ilan. 
 
 " Where does she lie? " 
 
 " On the starboard bow, sir ! " 
 
 " Port a little," said vSomers. " Now, my men, you 
 will obey orders and keep silent. Answer no questions 
 which may be put to you." 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir," responded the crew, cheerfully; for 
 though they seemed to be knocking at the door of a 
 rebel prison, they had full confidence in their gallant 
 young leader. 
 
 Perhaps some of them " had their doubts," for four 
 and twenty men are hardly ever gathered together, 
 among whom there are not more or less who are dis- 
 posed to grumble, and croak, and imagine possible disas- 
 ters. Within the rebel lines, surrounded by Confederate 
 vessels, and on the point of confronting superior numbers, 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 225 
 
 it would uot have been surprising if tlicsc men had been 
 rather uncertain of the future. Whatever doubts or 
 fears they had, they believed in Somers. 
 
 *' My lads," continued the commander of the expe- 
 dition, in a low tone, " you are rebel sailors for an hour 
 or so. You will talk and act as such. Do you under- 
 stand me ? " 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir." 
 
 " You will call me Captain Pillgrim." 
 
 The men had listened to the conversation between their 
 officer and the pickets, and they comprehended enough 
 of the plan to enable them to act intelligently. 
 
 " Tom," said Somers, " there is nothing to prevent me 
 from acting just as Mr. Pillgrim would do, if he were 
 in my place." 
 
 " That's so." 
 
 " I could go to sea in this steamer, and plunder all the 
 vessels I could overhaul." 
 
 " So you could," replied the boatswain, who seemed 
 to be amazed even at such a suggestion. 
 
 " I'm not sure that I am not carrying out the very 
 plan which the traitor had in his mind. Perhaps he 
 intended to do just what I have done, when he reached 
 the blockading station." 
 
 "Very likely." 
 
 " Then I shall be Mr. Pillgrim, and carry out his pur- 
 pose to the letter ; only, when we get out of the bay I 
 shall do rather differently from what he intended." 
 
226 BRAVE OLD SALT, Oil 
 
 "Boat ahoy ! " shouted a man at the gangway of the 
 Ben Lomond. 
 
 " On board the Tallapoosa ! " replied Somers. 
 
 " Keep off," said the man, who seemed to be the offi- 
 cer of the deck. " Who are you ? " 
 
 " Commander John Pillgrim, Confederate States navy, 
 and captain of this ship." 
 
 " Man the side, you lubbers ! " added the boatswain, 
 rather improving on the suggestion of Somers, given him 
 at this moment. 
 
 " Captain Pillgrim? " said the officer of the deck. 
 
 " I said so. Is the ship ready to sail?" 
 
 " She is, sir ; we have kept steam up all day, waiting 
 for you." 
 
 " Good ! You are the right officers for me. I com- 
 mend you," replied Somers, as he mounted the accom- 
 modation ladder. 
 
 The pretended commander went up the side, closely 
 followed by Longstone and a dozen of the sailors, and 
 stepped down upon the deck. 
 
 " I have not the pleasure of your acquaintance, I be- 
 lieve," added Somers, confronting the officer. 
 
 " Mr. Swayne, second lieutenant, sir," replied the offi- 
 cer. " Mr. Langdon is below, sir. I will send for him.'* 
 
 Langdon ! It was all up with Somers ! Langdon 
 knew him, had dined with him, had been intimate with 
 him, and of course it w^ould be useless to attempt to pass 
 himself off as Mr. Pillscrim. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 227 
 
 "Stop, sir!" said Soniers, sternly, and with great 
 presence of mind. " AVlieu did Mr. Laugdou come on 
 board?" 
 
 " Nearly a week ago, sir, Avhcn the rest of us did." 
 " Indeed ! " added Somers, savagely. " Mr. Laugdon 
 and myself have a little account to settle. lie has dis- 
 obeyed my orders, and I never will go to sea with such a 
 man as executive officer. Mr. Swayne, for the present 
 you will act as first lieutenant. I shall put Mr. Lang- 
 don under arrest at once." 
 " Here he comes, sir." 
 
 " Mr. Longstone, you will arrest the first lieutenant at 
 once ; put him in irons if he resists," said Somers, as he 
 saw Langdon come up the companion-way. 
 
 The stalwart boatswain confronted the astonished offi- 
 cer, as he approached the spot where Somers stood with 
 the second lieutenant. 
 
 " By order of Captain Pillgrim, you are placed under 
 arrest," said Tom, as, with a couple of seamen, he placed 
 himself in front of the executive officer. 
 " Under arrest ? " 
 " Yes, sir. 
 "What for?" 
 
 " For disobedience of orders." 
 
 "By M-hose command?" demanded the bewildered 
 Langdon. 
 
 " Captain Pillgrim's, sir ? " ' ^' 
 
 " Impossible ! " 
 
228 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " I beg your pardon, sir, but the captaiu told me to 
 lose no time. He is sroinoj to sea at once." 
 
 " Is Captain Pillgrim on board? " 
 
 " Of course he is. I just came off with him. He 
 ordered me to arrest you." 
 
 " Who are you, sir?" 
 
 " Blarney, sir ! " exclaimed the boatswain, impatiently ; 
 *' I can't stop — " 
 
 " Mr. Blarney, will you do me the favor to ask Cap- 
 tain Pillgrim for a moment's conversation with me. 
 There must be some mistake, Mr. Blarney." 
 
 " Can't stop, sir," answered Tom, who could not even 
 pause long enough to laugh at the rebel's blunder. " My 
 orders are to put you in irons if you resist. What do 
 you say, Mr. Langdon ? " 
 
 " Of course I do not resist ; but there is some 
 mistake." 
 
 " No mistake, upon my honor. You may take my 
 word for it, the business is all straight." 
 
 " With what am I charged? " 
 
 " With disobedience of orders ; and, Mr. Langdon, 
 you'll excuse me, but there's a suspicion that you mean 
 to go over to the Yankees." 
 
 ''I! To the Yankees!" 
 
 " Beg pardon, sir ; but I can't stop to blarney any 
 longer. My duty is plain ; and I'll bet a month's pay 
 you will see the captain sooner than you want to. Down 
 below if you please, sir, to your state-room." 
 
LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK. 229 
 
 Langdou obeyed in dogged silence. No doubt he 
 much wondered who the rougli fellow was that subjected 
 him to this summary treatment. But the salutary hint 
 about irons seemed to satisfy hira, and when he had gone 
 into his room, the door was closed, and a seaman placed 
 before it. Longstoue returned to the deck, touched his 
 cap politely to Somers, and reported his orders executed. 
 
 " Mr. Swayne, you will call all hands," said the new 
 commander of the Tallapoosa, when his dangerous first 
 lieutenant had been secured. 
 
 The boatswain of the steamer piped all hands, among 
 whom the seamen from the Chatauqua mingled, and 
 made themselves entirely at home. 
 
 " Mr. Swayne, will you do me the favor to read my 
 commission to the crew," said Somers, handing him the 
 document which he had carefully '^ tinkered " to suit the 
 present occasion. 
 
 Tom Longstone held the lantern, and the acting first 
 lieutenant promptly complied with the request of the 
 assumed commander. The document proclaimed that 
 John Pillgrim was duly invested with authority as a com- 
 mander in the Confederate navy, and was duly signed 
 by " S. R. Mallory," though whether that distinguished 
 rebel functionary had actually issued the paper or not, 
 Somers was himself as ignorant as the others who listened 
 to the reading. 
 
 From his orders Somers then read enough to satisfy 
 20 
 
230 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 any who might be in doubt of his appointment to the 
 Tallapoosa, which name he had substituted for that of 
 Ben Nevis, as it read on the original document, given 
 him by Langdon, alias Lieutenant "NYynkoop. 
 
 "Are you satisfied, Mr. Swayne?" asked the com- 
 mander, when he had finished the document. 
 
 " Entirely so, Captain Pillgrim," repUed the first 
 lieutenant. 
 
 If he had not been satisfied, probably he would have 
 been put under arrest as summarily as his superior had 
 been a few moments before. With such an energetic 
 captain, it was lucky for him he was satisfied ! Perhaps 
 Mr. Swayne was duly and properly impressed by the 
 decided character of his commander, and deemed it pru- 
 dent to raise no objections. 
 
 "Are you satisfied, gentlemen?" asked Somers, turn- 
 ing to the little group of officers. 
 
 Fortunately for them, and perhaps for Somers too, 
 they were also satisfied. 
 
 " My lads," continued the courteous but decisive cap- 
 tain, "you have listened to my commission, and you 
 have listened to my orders." 
 
 Somers paused, and the two first-class firemen from 
 the Chatauqua started a demonstration of applause 
 which was a complete success. 
 
 " My lads, I am going out to take a look at the Yankee 
 fleet, to-night," he proceeded. 
 
 Applause. 
 
LIFE OX Tin: Iji'AliTKR DKCK, * 231 
 
 " T am a fighting man." 
 
 More applause. 
 
 '* That Yankee fleet will not stop me ! " added Somers, 
 "N\ ith entiuisiasm. 
 
 ^' That's so ! " shouted one of the first-class firemen, 
 who had a high appreciation of a good joke ; and his 
 remark was followed by a storm of applause. 
 
 '' I repeat, my lads, the Yankee fleet will not stop me. 
 I shall pay my respects to the Yankee admiral down 
 there before the sun rises." 
 
 Tumultuous applause. 
 
 " Now, my lads, I mean just what I say, and I say 
 just what I mean. I command this ship, and every man 
 on board obeys me. I am going through the Yankee 
 fleet ; will you go Avith me ? " 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir ! " roared the crew ; and the voices of the 
 Chatauqua's people were prominent in the reply. 
 
 " Will you go where I lead you? " 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir." 
 
 " Very likely I shall send you upon the deck of the 
 lieaviest man-of-war in the Yankee squadron ; but I will 
 go witii you." 
 
 " Bully for the captain I " shouted the enthusiastic 
 first-class fireman, which remark was indorsed and ap- 
 proved by the crew in general. 
 
 " What an awful fellow he is ! — a regular fire-eater," 
 whispered Mr. Swayne to Tom Longstoue. 
 
232 * BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " He will do all lie says lie will,'* replied the boat- 
 swain. 
 
 " Will he board a Yankee frigate? " 
 
 " It's like him ; but he is as prudent as he is brave." 
 
 " Now, my lads, to your duty. We shall get under 
 way at once, and I want every man to be true to God 
 and his country," continued Somers. 
 
 " Three cheers for the captain ! " shouted the fireman ; 
 and they were given with a will, as Somers walked aft. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUAllTF.R DECK. 233 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 RUNNING THE BLOCKADE. 
 
 R. SWAYNE, you will get the ship under 
 way at once," said Somers, as he turned 
 from the crew, and walked aft. 
 
 The first lieutenant gave his orders, and 
 the crew were soon walking round the capstan. The 
 officers of the Tallapoosa had certainly used their time 
 to advantage, for the crew was well disciplined, though 
 the twenty-four petty officers and seamen from the Cha- 
 tauqua were the spice of every movement. 
 
 " AVhere is the pilot, Mr. Swayne ? " asked Somers. 
 " "We have one on board, sir. He berths in the steer- 
 age. Shall I send for him, Captain Pillgrim ? " 
 " If you please, do so." 
 
 A master's mate was ordered to find the pilot. 
 " Is he up to his business ? " continued Somers, to 
 whom the pilotage of the vessel was of the last impor- 
 tance. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; he is the best pilot in these waters. He has 
 taken out a great many vessels on worse nights than this." 
 20* 
 
234 BliAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " 1 could take the vessel out myself, so far as that is 
 concerned," said Somers, nervously. " Does he know 
 how to get through the obstructions ? " 
 
 " O, yes, sir ; he is perfectly familiar with everything 
 about the bay." 
 
 " And the channel is full of those infernal torpedoes." 
 
 " It is, sir ; but the pilot knows exactly where every 
 one of them is located. We are in no danc^er from 
 them ; but they will blow the Yankee fleet sky high when 
 they attempt to come up, as they probably will in a short 
 time." 
 
 " So I understand." 
 
 " There will be fun here in a few days," added Mr. 
 Swayue, rubbing his hands with delight, as he contem- 
 plated the destruction of the naval force gathered on the 
 other side of the bar for the demonstration. 
 
 " The admiral down there is no joker," suggested 
 Somers. " He won't feel his way, and then back out.'* 
 
 " It would be better for him if he did. Admiral Bu- 
 chanan is his equal in every respect. With his ram he 
 will stave in every wooden ship in the fleet. His moni- 
 tors will be blown up on the torpedoes." 
 
 " I hope the affair will come out right," said Somers, 
 rather indefinitely. 
 
 " It will ; you may depend upon it, captain. Wlioever 
 is here when the thing is done will see the gi-eatest 
 smash-up that has happened since the war began." 
 
Life ox the q [tauter deck. 235 
 
 " I hope so," replied Somers. " But suppose Admiral 
 Farragut should run by the forts." 
 
 " He can't do it ; the thing is utterly impossible. Tlie 
 torpedoes will sink liis monitors — they are like lead, 
 and if you shake them up a little, they will plump down 
 on the bottom like a solid shot. His wooden vessels, 
 even if he gets by the fort, — which can't be done, — 
 would be all chawed up in half an hour by the ram 
 Tennessee." 
 
 " Anchor apeak, sir ! " shouted Boatswain Longstone, 
 who was doing duty as second lieutenant. 
 
 " Captain Column, the pilot, sir," said the first lieu- 
 tenant, presenting a person who had been waiting a 
 moment at his side. 
 
 " I am happy to see you. Captain Column ; " and 
 Somers took his hand. 
 
 *' Thank you, sir," replied the pilot, who was evidently 
 astonished at the degree of intimacy with which the 
 commander condescended to treat him. 
 
 Already the new captain had won a hard reputation 
 abaft the mainmast. His stern and decisive measures 
 with Langdon had been privately discussed among the 
 officers, and it was the unanimous opinion that they had 
 *' caught a Tartar." 
 
 " Well, Captain Column, have you got your weather 
 eye open ? This is a dark and foggy night." 
 
 " Wide open, sir," replied the pilot, cheerfully ; for 
 
236 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 Soraers's cordial greeting had already produced a good 
 effect upon him. " The darker and foggier the better, 
 captain, for such a job as this. But there are so many 
 Yankee ships outside, you can hardly get clear of them 
 without a shot or two." 
 
 " O, I don't mind that, if you can get us well over 
 the torpedoes, and through the obstructions." 
 
 " The obstructions are not of much account, and as 
 for the torpedoes, I could put my hand on every one of 
 them with my eyes shut." 
 
 " Good ; but I don't want you to put your hand or my 
 ship on them." 
 
 " Certainly not, captain," laughed the pilot. " I know 
 how to keep clear of them." 
 
 " That will suit me better. The ship is in your hands, 
 Captain Column." 
 
 A quartermaster from the Chatauqua was placed at 
 the wheel, and when the anchor was heaved up, the Tal- 
 lapoosa started on her course. Her wheels began to turn 
 very slowly at first, and before she had gathered any 
 headway, a boat touched at her side. 
 
 " Boat alongside, Captain Pillgrim," reported Mr. 
 Swayne. 
 
 "^ATiatboat?" 
 
 " I don't know, sir." 
 
 " I have no more time to waste ; keep the ship 
 movins:." 
 
LIFE OX THE QUAIirKR DECK. ^Zl 
 
 As the Tallapoosa gathered headway, a geutleman, 
 clothed in naval uniform, stepped on the rail from the 
 accommodation ladder. When he had reached this 
 point, he stopped and looked down at the boat. 
 
 "Stop the steamer! " shouted he, in tones of author- 
 ity ; and to those who had heard it before there was no 
 mistaking that voice. 
 
 It was Pillgrim, without a doubt ! Somers was vexed 
 and disappointed at this accident, which threatened to 
 overthrow all his plans ; but he promptly decided to treat 
 him as he had Lan^don. 
 
 " See what he wants," said the commander to Swayne, 
 " but don't let the ship be delayed a single instant." 
 
 " Stop the steamer ! " shouted Pillgrim, with a volley 
 of oaths, because his first order had not been heeded. 
 " Stop the steamer, or you will swamp my gig ! " 
 
 " Your business, sir, if you please," said Swayne, 
 stepping up to him. 
 
 " Don't you hear what I say?" replied Pillgrim, angri- 
 ly. " vStop the steamer." 
 
 " It can't be done, sir." 
 
 "Can't be done !" gasped the traitor. "It can and 
 shall be done." 
 
 " Who are you, sir, that step upon this deck in that 
 overbearing manner?" demanded the first lieutenant, 
 roused by the tones and the manner of the new comer. 
 
 "I'll let you know who I am. Where is Langdon?" 
 
238 LEAVE OLD SALT, Oli 
 
 " None of your business where he is," said Swayne, 
 spunkily. " What do you want here ! " 
 
 " You shall soon know what I want here? " 
 
 Pillgrim was boiling over with passion at the rough 
 reception given him by his officers on board his own ship. 
 He Avas disposed to be even more stern and severe in his 
 discipline than Somers had been. 
 
 " Who are you? '' demanded Swayne. 
 
 " None of your business who I am, if you don't know ; 
 but I will soon bring you to your senses," roared Pill- 
 grim, as he leaped down upon the deck, and with the 
 step of a conqueror moved aft towards the wheel. 
 
 " Halt, sir ! " said Mr. Swayne, placing himself in 
 front of the stranger ; for he Avas roused to a high pitch 
 of anger and excitement by the unwarrantable conduct 
 of the interloper. " You can go no farther on this deck, 
 sir, till you explain who and what you are." 
 
 Somers stood where he could see without being seen ; 
 for his presence on the deck of the Ben Lomond would 
 have explained to Pillgrim the reason for his uncourteous 
 reception. He quietly sent the two firemen and a couple 
 of seamen to the assistance of Mr. Swayne. 
 
 " I am the captain of this ship," replied Pillgrim, who 
 found it necessary to make this statement. 
 
 " The man is crazy," muttered Swajme. 
 
 " You understand me now," growled Pillgi'im. " Stop 
 the ship ! " 
 
LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK. 2.'^)9 
 
 "I think not, sir," replied Swaync, coolly; and lie 
 evidently regarded the claim of the stranger in tlie light 
 of a joke, or as the whim of a maniac. 
 
 *' You think not ! " gasped Pillgrim, roused almost to 
 madness by this cool disregard of his authority. " I'll 
 have you in irons in three minutes, you scoundrel." 
 
 " There, sir, I have heard enough of this ! " said 
 Swayne. '' No man uses such language as that to me 
 Avith impunity." 
 
 " I tell you I am the commander of this steamer," 
 added Pillgrim, who doubtless felt that the epithet he had 
 used was unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. 
 
 " I don't care what you are. If your boat is alongside, 
 you will go into it, in double quick time." 
 
 Pillo-rim began to storm again, shouted to the pilot to 
 stop the steamer, and behaved in the most violent man- 
 ner. Mr. Swayne's patience was totally exhausted, and 
 he ordered the seamen who stood near him to arrest the 
 interloper. A sharp struggle ensued, in which Pillgrim 
 was overpowered, and was held fast by the stout tars of 
 the Chatauqna. 
 
 The first lieutenant then explained to the captain what 
 had passed, and what he had done. 
 
 " Put him in irons ! " said Somers, decidedly. 
 
 *' AVho is he, captain ? " 
 
 " It matters not who he is. No man can behave in 
 that manner on board of this ship." 
 
240 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 Swayne executed his orders to the letter, and the trai- 
 tor, in spite of his struggles, in spite of his explanations 
 and appeals, was put in irons on the quarter deck of his 
 own ship. He "was carried below, and put in a state- 
 room, which was guarded by Conant, who had orders to 
 shoot him if he did not keep quiet. 
 
 In the mean time, the Ben Lomond, — for Somers, in 
 strict accordance with the subsequent "ruling" of Mr. 
 Seward, refused to recognize the vessel by any other 
 than her original name, calling her the Tallapoosa only 
 in the presence of the rebels, — the Ben Lomond, under 
 • the skilful guidance of the pilot, was slowly making her 
 way out of the bay. A quartermaster had been sta- 
 tioned in the fore-chains when the steamer got under 
 way, to take the soundings, which seemed to be the 
 pilot's principal reliance in the difficult duty he had 
 undertaken. Captain Column had placed himself on the 
 port rail, just abaft the foremast, and the steering direc- 
 tions Avere sent aft' through a line of officers to the 
 helmsman. 
 
 " By the deep four," sang the quartermaster in the 
 chains. 
 
 " Steady ! " said the pilot. " Keep her sou'-west by 
 west, half west." 
 
 " Steady ! " responded the quartermaster at the wheel. 
 " Sou'-west by west, half west." 
 
 " By the mark five ! " said the leadsman, a little later. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 241 
 
 " We are getting into deep water," said Somers. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; "sve shall deepen till we get seven fathoms." 
 
 " And a half five ! " came from the chains. " By the 
 deep six." 
 
 The pilot went on the bridge, and taking the cord 
 attached to the whistle of the engine, made a signal, 
 consisting of several blasts, with irregular intervals be- 
 tween them. A heavy bell on shore sounded several 
 times in answer to the signal. 
 
 " All right," said the pilot. " I know exactly where 
 I am." 
 
 " By the deep six ! " called the leadsman. 
 
 The pilot repeated the signal with the whistle, which 
 was answered from the shore by the bell. 
 
 " Quarter less seven ! " 
 
 " It is all going right, captain," said the pilot to Som- 
 ers, who stood on the bridge with him. 
 
 " By the mark seven ! " 
 
 " Hard a port ! " shouted the pilot, as he gazed into 
 the binnacle on the bridge. 
 
 " Hard a port ! " repeated the line of officers, till the 
 order was returned by the wheelman. 
 
 " Steady ! " said the pilot. 
 
 " Mark under water seven ! " cried the quartermaster 
 in the chains. 
 
 " Keep her south by west," added the pilot. 
 
 '* South by west ! " returned the wheelman. 
 
242 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " This course will bring us into the midst of the Yan- 
 kee fleet in about twenty minutes," said Captain Column. 
 
 " I'm not at all afraid of the Yankee fleet," replied 
 Somers. 
 
 " I'm not afraid of anything else," laughed the pilot. 
 
 " Where are the torpedoes? " 
 
 " Between us and Fort Morgan, which is only about a 
 third of a mile distant, on our beam." 
 
 " And the obstructions ? " 
 
 " We have passed them ; they are of no account. 
 Captain, I think all your troubles are yet to come," said 
 the pilot, as he glanced ahead. 
 
 "Why so?" 
 
 " If we should happen to plump into one of those 
 monitors, a fifteen inch shot would finish this craft in less 
 time than it would take to read a man's epitaph." 
 
 " I have prepared for all such accidents. The Yan- 
 kees will not fire on me." 
 
 *' No ? " exclaimed the pilot, wonderingly. 
 - 1 think you don't know me." 
 
 -»' I heard the first lieutenant say you were coming 
 down here in one of the Yankee ships." 
 
 " I did." 
 
 ^ Did you, though ? " 
 
 " We will come to anchor, pilot, when we get within 
 hail of the Yankee squadron." 
 
 " Come to anchor, sir ? " 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 243 
 
 " Certainly ; come to uuchor, until the log clears otf*, 
 or we cau get a little daylight. I dou't want mucli." 
 
 '' Well, that beats me ! " ejaculated Captain Column. 
 
 " I shall hoist the Yankee flag over the Confederate ; 
 then the Yankees will think this ship is a prize, and will 
 not fire into her." 
 
 " That beats me ! " repeated the pilot. 
 
 '' I came down here in a Yankee man-of-war, and I 
 made the arrangements for carrying this thing thi-ough 
 before I left her." 
 
 " O, yes, I see ! " laughed Captain Column. " You 
 are playing them a Yankee trick." 
 
 " Exactly so ! " 
 
 " Capital ! capital ! " exclaimed the pilot. 
 
 Fifteen minutes later, the Ben Lomond came to anchor 
 under the lee of Sand Island, to wait for a favorable 
 time to continue her voyage. 
 
244 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 A YANKEE TEICK. 
 
 /^^^HE rebel officers and crew of the Ben Lomond 
 ■ I I were greatly astonished when the order was 
 ^^_[y given to let go the anghor. They were not in a 
 condition to appreciate the policy of stopping the wheels, 
 and waiting for daylight within hail of the blockading 
 squadron, reenforced as it had been for the attack on the 
 forts ; but as the captain had the reputation of being a 
 perfect tiger, a fire-eater of the most ravenous sort, they 
 did not venture to grumble or make any complaints. 
 
 Captain Column, the pilot, chuckled, and declared it 
 "was all right ; the commander knew what he was about, 
 and would get the steamer out of the scrape without even 
 a shot from the Yankee men-of-war. 
 
 Somers had kept up his dignity and maintained his 
 self-possession in the exciting scenes through which he 
 had just passed ; but it must not be thought that he was 
 as easy in mind as he appeared to be. Every moment 
 had been burdened with its own peculiar anxiety. The 
 least slip, the slightest accident, would expose him and 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 245 
 
 his brave followers to great peril, if not to capture and 
 death. He had won the day thus far by the mere force 
 of impudence and self-possession ; but it was not without 
 a fear of failure, disgrace, and captivity. 
 
 But everything, up to this time, had worked admirably. , 
 He had met and successfully turned aside the obstacles 
 which beset him ; and when the Ben Lomond came to 
 anchor, the prospect looked more hopeful than at any 
 previous hour. It was now about tAvo o'clock in the 
 morning. As there Avas nothing to do, he devoted an 
 hour to an examination of the vessel, which had been 
 fitted up at Mobile as a rebel cruiser. She had a heavy 
 rifled pivot gun amidships, and four broadside guns, and 
 was in every respect well provided for the Avork in which 
 she Avas to engage. 
 
 She Avas a vessel of about four hundred tons measure- 
 ment, long, narrow, and very sharp. Her rig was that 
 of a topsail schooner, and her smoke-stack raked Avith 
 her masts. She Avas a beautiful craft, and no labor or 
 expense had been spared to make her the fastest and 
 most elegant vessel afloat. 
 
 Even in the darkness, Somers could see enough of her 
 shape and fittings to excite his admiration. He passed 
 from the spar deck to the berth deck, Avhere everything 
 was in keeping Avith her appearance above. The Avard- 
 room Avas small, but it Avas comfortable and well ar- 
 ranged, and the captain's cabin was fitted up like that of 
 21* 
 
246 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 a royal yacht. Probably Mr. Plllgrim had spent some 
 of his own money on these arrangements before she left 
 the Clyde ; but what contributed distinctly to make her 
 a war steamer had been done after her arrival at Mobile. 
 
 Somers was delighted with the arrangements of the 
 prize, and as he examined the commander's cabin, he 
 could not help envying the man who was permitted to 
 occupy this sumptuous and convenient apartment ; that 
 is, if the stars and stripes floated at the peak above him, 
 for he would rather have been a coal-heaver in a loyal 
 ship, than in command of the Ben Lomond under the 
 flag of the Confederacy. 
 
 Mr. Swayne had conducted Somers over the vessel, 
 and pointed out to him those features which were most 
 w^orthy of notice. 
 
 " She is a splendid vessel," said the young command- 
 er, as they paused in the ward-room. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; I am but too happy in being appointed to 
 such a ship. If we only get clear of the Yankee squad- 
 ron, we shall give a good account of her." 
 
 " "We shall have no quarrel with the Yankee ships," 
 replied Somers, as he led the way to the spar deck again, 
 for he was not disposed, just yet, to let Pillgrim and 
 Langdon, who were confined there, hear his voice. 
 
 " Captain Pillgrim, you seem to be more confident on 
 this point than your officers," replied Swayne, in a gen- 
 tle tone, which more than insinuated that he would like 
 to know more of the commander's plans. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 2^7 
 
 Somers was very anxious that lie sliould know more 
 of them, so as to prevent any suspicions which his subse- 
 quent course might excite. 
 
 " From what point did you expect mc to come, before 
 my arrival ? " asked Somers. 
 
 " I had no idea. Mr. Langdon seemed to be familiar 
 with all your movements, but he did not say much about 
 them. He did remark, at one time, that you were 
 coming down as second lieutenant of one of the Yankee 
 men-of-war." 
 
 " Did he, indeed? "Well, he was a prudent man, and 
 he will have his reward within a few. days. Did he 
 really say that ? " 
 
 '' He did." 
 
 " I was deceived in him ; he was not to be trusted. I 
 placed every confidence in him. What else did he tell 
 you ? " asked Somers, artfully. 
 
 " Nothing else, sir. lie said more to me than to any 
 other ofTicer, and hardly anything to me." 
 
 " He has betrayed me." 
 
 " He told only me that you were to come in a Yankee 
 man-of-war." 
 
 " Yes, he did ; the pilot knew it — spoke to me of it ; 
 and very likely every man in the ship has the news. 
 But, Mr. Swayne, the statement was true." 
 
 " Mr. Laugdon afterwards contradicted it, and said 
 you were in Richmond, and were coming down by land." 
 
248 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " Probably he thought he had made a blunder. I did 
 come down in the Yankee ship, the Chatauqua. I am 
 third lieutenant of her, not second. I was sent off by 
 the captain, at my own suggestion, of course, to bring 
 out this vessel. I have done it — haven't I ? " 
 
 " You have," laughed Swayne. " Then you are ex- 
 pected by the Yankees ? " 
 
 " Of course I am." 
 
 The first lieutenant of the Ben Lomond indulG:ed in a 
 laugh highly complimentary to the skill and cleverness of 
 his commander. Somers laus^hed with him. It was an 
 excellent joke to both parties, though, like the Druid 
 shield, it Avas seen from different points of view. 
 
 " Capital ! " exclaimed Mr. Swayne, when he had 
 evaporated the foam of his mirth. 
 
 " If the fog clears off, I shall letup some rockets, which 
 will prevent the Yankees from firing at us. You under- 
 stand?" 
 
 " I see, sir : you have the Yankee signals?" chuckled 
 Mr. Swayne. 
 
 ^' Every one of them. No doubt they are on the look- 
 out for me in every ship in the squadron." 
 
 " Excellent, Captain Pillgrim. This is, by all odds, 
 the best joke of the season." 
 
 " Now, Mr. Swayne, you will hoist the Yankee flag 
 over the Confederate." 
 
 " I don't like to do that, captain," added Mr. Swayne, 
 with a burst of patriotic enthusiasm. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 249 
 
 " For a purpose, ^Mr. Swayne. Of course, wlien the 
 men-of-war see that flag over the other, they will not 
 fire. We shall run through the squadron, as though we 
 belonged to it; and then — well, you will sec what you 
 will see." 
 
 " Exactly so ! " exclaimed Mr. Swayne, who seemed 
 to enjoy the prospect exceedingly, even independent of 
 his desire to flatter and " toady " to his commander. 
 
 The flags were hoisted as Somers directed, and the 
 " captain" for a couple of hours plonked the deck in 
 silence, impatiently waiting for the fog to lift, or for the 
 daylight to come. It was his policy to anchor, because he 
 was fearful that the steamer would run by the squadron, 
 in the fog and darkness, and it would excite suspicion to 
 return to the fleet, after safely passing through it. If 
 Mr. Swayne had suspected any treachery, or that every- 
 thing was not as it appeared to be, it would have gone 
 hard with Somers and his men, for he could call in 
 double the loyal force to assist him, besides releasing 
 Pillgi-im and Langdon. 
 
 At four o'clock in the morning, the fog lifted, and 
 Somers directed the rockets to be discharged, and the 
 steamer to be got under way. Though anxious to keep 
 up appearances, he quietly directed Tom Longstone to 
 make as much delay as possible, and by some accident 
 the messenger parted when the anchor was apeak, and 
 it was necessary to do the work over again. 
 
250 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " Captain Pillgrim, what shall be done with the men 
 "Nvho came on board witli you?" asked Mr. Swayne, 
 while the crew were walking round the capstan. 
 
 *•■ What shall be done with them? " asked Somers, ap- 
 parently not comprehending the meaning of the question. 
 
 " They are Yankees — are they not ? " 
 
 " They are true men, Mr. Swayne. I selected them 
 for this very duty, and I know them." 
 
 " Excuse me, sir, 1 heard one of them singing a Yan- 
 kee song, just now." 
 
 " They have been in the habit of singing such soqgs 
 lately ; but they are true men, and will stand by me to 
 the last. If I had wanted them, I mi<rht have brought 
 off a hundred of the crew of the Chatauqua." 
 
 Somers told a great many truths in the course of the 
 night, for the purpose of deceiving the enemies of his 
 country, which is a very anomalous duty for truth to 
 perform. 
 
 The anchor was at the hawse hole, was " catted and 
 fished ; " and the Ben Lomond moved on again, with the 
 pilot on the bridge. As the fog lifted, and the daylight 
 increased, the squadron of "Brave Old Salt" was seen 
 by Somers and his companions. As he had promised, 
 not a ship fired on the steamer, or offered to -molest her. 
 The first lieutenant, pilot, and other officers were en- 
 tirely satisfied that everything was working in exact 
 accordance with the plans of their " smart" commander, 
 as they already called him. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 251 
 
 The exciting moment when all the delusion would be 
 swept away, and the rebel ollieers and seamen find them- 
 selves prisoners, and their ship a prize, was at hand. 
 Somers had already arranged his final movements with 
 the boatswain, and certain of the men were instructed to 
 perform particular parts in the closing scene of the drama. 
 
 " Now, Captain Column," said Somers to the pilot, 
 " we must run down for the Chatauqua. She is the last 
 vessel in the squadron, and if we appear to be moving 
 towards her, nothing will be suspected." 
 
 " Exactly so, captain," replied the pilot, shaking his 
 fat sides with laughter at the Yankee trick which they 
 were playing oiF upon the originators of this species of 
 pleasantry. 
 
 " It is quite smooth this morning. The wind has all 
 gone down. Run right under the quarter of the Cha- 
 tauqua." 
 
 " I can take her within six feet of the ship, if you 
 
 like." 
 
 " Not too close." 
 
 " They will give us three cheers, won't they ? " laughed 
 
 the pilot. 
 
 " Very likely." 
 
 " Port ! " shouted the pilot, as the Ben Lomond ap- 
 proached the Chatauqua. 
 
 " Port ! " yelled the quartermaster at the helm, at 
 whose side stood Tom Longstone. 
 
252 BRAVE OLD SALT, Oil 
 
 " Port !" repeated the pilot witli greater energy, when 
 he saw that the head of the steamer was swiuginor off 
 from the Chatauqua. 
 
 " Port ! " again responded the quartermaster. 
 
 " Starboard a little more," said Tom, in a low tone. 
 
 Captain Column began to storm because the helm did 
 aot go to port as he ordered. 
 
 " Can't help it, sir. The tiller chains are jammed, 
 sir," replied the quartermaster. 
 
 " Now hard a port ! " said Tom Longstone. 
 
 " Starboard ! Hard a starboard ! " screamed the pilot, 
 in tones of fury. 
 
 " Helm is jammed, sir ! " returned the boatswain. 
 
 At this moment the bells were rung to stop, and then 
 to back the engine. To all but the half dozen loyal sea- 
 men who stood near the helm, everything seemed to be 
 in confusion. The Ben Lomond ran up on the lee side 
 of the Chatauqua, and stopped within a few feet of her. 
 A stroke of the wheels and a turn of the helm brousrht 
 her alongside, before the rebels could clearly apprehend 
 the situation. The twenty-four men, with their revolvers 
 and cutlasses, stood ready to check any demonstration on 
 the part of officers or crew, but none was made. Their 
 weapons were in the armory, and they suspected nothing 
 till an instant before the steamer touched the ship's side. 
 
 Conant, as instructed, leaped on board the Chatauqua, 
 and reported Somers's wish to the officer of the deck. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 253 
 
 lu iinotlier moment, the ■\vatch ou deck of the man-of- 
 war poured into the prize, and secured every olficer and 
 seaman. Then came the three rousing cheers which tlie 
 pilot had expected, and the work was done. 
 
 If ever a rebel was disappointed, disheartened, and 
 disgusted, it was Mr. Swayne. He had been bewildered 
 by the sudden change in the course of the steamer, and 
 actually believed that it was caused by the wheel cliains 
 being jammed, until the watch from the Chalauqua 
 poured in upon her decks. 
 
 *' Well, Mr. Swayne, I suppose you are satisfied that I 
 spoke the truth. The Yankees have not fired upon us ; 
 I came down in the Chatauqua ; I was sent otf to bring 
 out this vessel ; I have done it," said Somers. 
 
 " I had no suspicion you were a Yankee," replied the 
 first lieutenant. " Where did you get your commis- 
 
 sion 
 
 V" 
 
 " It was given me by Mr. Langdon and Mr. Pillgrim, 
 both of whom are under guard below." 
 
 Swayne used some expletives more forcible than polite, 
 and Somers went ou board the Chatauqua to report, 
 22 
 
2o4i BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 PILLGRIM AND LAXGDON. 
 
 
 (\J/ HAVE the honor to report the capture of the 
 Ben Lomond, otherwise the Tallapoosa," said 
 Somers, as he advanced towards Mr. Hackleford, 
 his face red with blushes, and his heart boundins: 
 with emotion. 
 
 The first lieutenant of the Chatauqua had regarded his 
 enterprise with a want of faith, to say the least ; and 
 when the young commander of the expedition came for- 
 ward to report its entire success, there was something 
 like pride and exultation in his manner, mingling not un- 
 gracefully with the manifestations of his natural modesty. 
 He had done " a big thing ; " he felt that he had done 
 " a big thing ; " and it would have been a ridiculous 
 affectation for him to pretend, by word or manner, that 
 he had not done '* a big thing." 
 
 " I congi'atulate you upon your success, Mr. Somers," 
 replied jNIr. Hackleford, warmly. " I Avas sceptical, I 
 confess ; but no man in the fleet is happier than I am at 
 your good fortune." 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 255 
 
 " Thank you, sir," said Somers, blushiug more deeply 
 than before, and almost wishing that the first lieutenant 
 had done the " big thing " instead of himself, because he 
 was so kind and generous in his commendation. 
 
 " You have managed the affair with skill and energy. 
 For my own paKt, I did not, believe you would even get 
 into the bay, let alot!§toapturing the vessel. I am aston- 
 ished at your success, but none the less delighted because 
 I am surprised." 
 
 *' Thank you, sir," was all Somers could say in reply 
 to this praise so magnanimously bestowed. 
 
 " Captain Cascabel will see you, in his cabin, and we 
 will hear your verbal report there." 
 
 Mr. Garboard had already gone on board the prize, 
 hauled her off from the ship, where she was chafing her 
 sides, and moored her a cable's length distant. Somers 
 went below, where he was as warmly and generously 
 greeted by the captain as he had been by the first lieuten- 
 ant, lie related the story of his night's adventures to 
 them with all necessary minuteness. Plis auditors could 
 not help laughing when he told them what he had done 
 with his old friends, the first lieutenant and the com- 
 mander of the rebel craft. lie had acted on his theory 
 of Pillgrim's intended movements, and thus kept himself 
 above suspicion. 
 
 " How does Mr. Pillgrim appear? " asked the captain. 
 
 " I haven't seen him, sir ; I was very careful not to 
 
256 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 let him see me. Mr. Swayne, the first lieutenant of the 
 Ben Lomond, after I had disposed of Langdon, managed 
 him for me." 
 
 " It's a very amusing as "well as a very exciting affair. 
 But we must see these officers. Where are they ? " 
 
 " Under guard in the staterrooms of the prize, sir." 
 
 " Bring them on board, if you please, Mr. Somers. 
 Get your breakfast first." 
 
 Somers went to the ward-room, where he breakfasted 
 w^ith the officers off duty. He was cordially congratu- 
 lated upon his success, though perhaps some of the mess 
 regarded him as rather exclusive in permitting none of 
 them to share his laurels. 
 
 After breakfast the first cutter was cleared away, and 
 Somers pulled to the prize in her. The Ben Lomond 
 was temporarily in charge of the second lieutenant of 
 the Chatauqua, who had secured the prisoners, and put 
 everything in order on board. Somers went at once to 
 the ward-room, Avhere the two most important prisoners 
 were confined. There Avere now at each door a couple 
 of marines with loaded muskets, but no communication 
 had been had with the solitary occupant of either. 
 
 Pillgrim had several times attempted to obtain some 
 information in regard to what was going on, but he was 
 still in darkness. Even the bull's eye in his room could 
 not have enlightened him, for it was on the starboard side 
 of the steamer, while the Chatauqua lay on the port side. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 257 
 
 Somers ordered the marines to open the door of Lang- 
 don's room first, and the late first lieutenant of the Tal- 
 lapoosa came forth. 
 
 *' Lieutenant Wynkoop, I believe," said Somers, face- 
 tiously. 
 
 Langdon looked at him with astonishment. 
 
 " Have you any more old sherry that has made two 
 voyages to India ? " 
 
 " This is hardly magnanimous, Mr. Somers," said 
 Langdon, coldly. 
 
 " Perhaps not ; but when officers stoop to such tricks 
 as those you have practised, there can be no great harm 
 in mentioning them." 
 
 *' Mr. Somers, I find myself somewhat bewildered." 
 
 " I dare say," laughed Somers. " Very likely your 
 friend Pillgrim, or Coles, is in the same situation." 
 
 *' Is he on board? " 
 
 *' He is." 
 
 *' I have not seen him since he left Philadelphia in the 
 Chatauqua." 
 
 '' I have." 
 
 " You were in the Chatauqua with him? " 
 
 '' For a short time." 
 
 *' I had a letter from him, dated at Richmond, saying 
 that he had changed his plans." 
 
 "Changed them — did he?" said Somers, who had 
 22* 
 
258 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 changed them for him. " Perhaps you will inform me 
 how you happened to be on board this vessel." 
 
 " I don't object ; it makes little difference what I say 
 now. After obtaining the command of the Tallapoosa 
 for Pillgrim, I went to Wilmington, where I was to take 
 command of the Coosa." 
 
 " You mean the Ben Nevis." 
 
 " I do." 
 
 " I thought you were to call her the Louisiana." 
 
 " We did not always give you correct information," 
 added Langdon, with a sickly smile. 
 
 " Go on." 
 
 " While at Wilmington I got a letter from Pillgrim, 
 then in Richmond, informing me that the Ben Nevis had 
 been captured, and that I was appointed first lieutenant 
 of the Tallapoosa, if I chose to take the place. I did 
 choose to take it, hoping soon to be in command of one 
 of the California steamers. I went to Mobile at once, 
 and attended to the fitting out of the ship. Pillgrim 
 wrote me that he should be on board by the 2 2d, and 
 I had steam up to run out the moment he arrived." 
 
 '' How happened you to tell your ofiicers that Pillgrim 
 was coming down in a Yankee man-of-war ? " asked 
 Somers. 
 
 " That was his original plan. Though he wrote me 
 from Richmond, I did not know but that he intended to 
 return to the Chatauqua. He gave me no particulars ; 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 259 
 
 did not tell me that his plans had failed, only that he had 
 ehau<^ed them. When he wrote that he should be on 
 board by the 22d, I knew he was coming down by land, 
 and I corrected my statement. Now, Mr. Somers, will 
 you tell me how you happen to be here ? " 
 
 " Marine, bring out the other prisoner," said Somers, 
 who had been instructed by Captain Cascabel to confer 
 with the conspirators, if he could obtain any information 
 from them. 
 
 The discomfited, crestfallen commander of the Talla- 
 poosa w^as brought from his room by a marine. He saw 
 Somers, and started back with astonishment. He was 
 pale and haggard, as though he had been spending his 
 time in drinking bad whiskey, and in other debauchery. 
 He had upon his face a fortnight's growth of black beard, 
 and looked more like " Coles " than when Somers had 
 last met him. His captor concluded that his misfortunes 
 on board the Chatauqua had depressed his spirits, in spite 
 of the cool look he had before carried, and that he had 
 given way to dissipation. He certainly appeared like a 
 person who had just come out of a hard " spree." 
 
 In the Ben Lomond there was a door opening from the 
 ward-room into the captain's cabin. The vessel had 
 evidently been built for a swift passenger steamer. The 
 ward-room was a portion of the main cabin, from which 
 the steerage and engineers' rooms had been parted off; 
 while the captain's cabin was the original " ladies' 
 
2 GO Bit AVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 saloon." Langdoii had been conducted by the marines 
 through this door to the captain's cabin, where the 
 conversation with him had taken pUice. Pillgrim was in 
 the same manner introduced to this apartment. 
 
 " Mr. Somers ! " exclaimed the traitor. 
 
 ** Yes, sir. In the letter you sent me from Old Point 
 Comfort, — and I am greatly obliged to you for the 
 information contained in that letter, — you expressed a 
 hope that you should meet me on board of the Ben 
 Lomond. Your wish has been realized," replied Somers, 
 taking the original letter, with other papers, from his 
 pocket. 
 
 Pillgrim trembled in every fibre of his frame. It w-as 
 not thus he had hoped to meet his enemy. 
 
 " ' If you capture the Ben Lomond, it will make you 
 a lieutenant. Do it, by all means,' " continued Somers, 
 reading the last paragraph of the letter. " This was 
 your advice. I have done it." 
 
 Pillgrim made no reply. His pale, haggard face, 
 darkened by his half-grown beard, was contorted by 
 emotion, and his bloodshot eyes had lost their fire. 
 
 " You don't seem to enjoy the situation so much as 
 your letter intimated that you would." 
 
 " Mr. Somers, I am your prisoner," said he, with a 
 desperate struggle. 
 
 " You are ; you will not have the pleasure of hang- 
 ing me at the yard-arm." 
 
LIFE OS TIIL QUARTER DECK. 201 
 
 '' 1 am bcwiUlcrcd — overcome." 
 
 " So was Langdon." 
 
 " I sec why you did not join your ship before," said 
 Langdon, with a sneer, as he glanced contemptuously at 
 his principal. - You have been dissipating." 
 
 This remark brought forth an angry retort from PiU- 
 cn-im, and for a few moments each traitor reproached and 
 vilified the other, much to the amusement of the marines, 
 and to the disgust of Somers, who was compelled to in- 
 terfere. Langdpn's severest charge against his late cap- 
 tain was, that\e had betrayed their schemes by writing 
 letters, and in other stupid ways. Pillgrim denied it. 
 
 u Mr. Somers has just thanked you for the information 
 contained in your letter," sneered Langdon. " He has 
 rrood reason to do so. 
 "^ ^' I crave him no information that could be of any ser- 
 
 vice to him." 
 
 u You gave him the name of the vessel," retorted 
 
 Langdon. 
 
 '' But I did not tell him w^here she was." 
 
 '' You gave me that information, Mr. Langdon," said 
 
 Somers, quietly. 
 u I V " 
 
 Somers exhibited the letter in cipher, 
 u You could not read that without the key," protested 
 
 the writer of the note. 
 
 " The first word I made out was ' Langdon : ' the 
 
2G2 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 next, ' Ben Lomond.' I am indebted to both of you. 
 The moral of the whole affair is, that treason cannot 
 prosper. I am indebted to both of you for the informa- 
 tion which enabled me to capture the steamer. Gentle- 
 men, it becomes my duty to conduct you on board of the 
 Chatauqua." 
 
 " No, Mr. Somers ! " groaned Pillgrim, " spare me 
 that." 
 
 " I must obey my orders." 
 
 The traitor objected strongly to being taken into the 
 presence of the officers of the ship in which he had so 
 recently served. He protested that he had but a few 
 days to live, and begged to be saved from this humilia- 
 tion. But Somers, though he was not without pity for 
 the degraded and disgraced wretch, had no alternative 
 but to obey the orders of Captain Cascabel. 
 
 Langdon accepted his misfortunes with more resigna- 
 tion. He was quite cheerful, and volunteered to tell all 
 he knew^, though he was very bitter against Pillgrim, 
 who, he declared, had ruined all their hopes by his dissi- 
 pation, his silly pretensions, and his reckless exposure of 
 their plans. 
 
 Somers was now satisfied that Pilliz-rim had been in- 
 toxicated when he came over the side of the Ben Lo- 
 mond the night before, which accounted for his violent 
 conduct, and which w^as one of the accidents which 
 assisted in the easy capture of the vessel. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 263 
 
 Botli tlic prisoners Avere examined on board the Cliu- 
 taiiqua ; and, with the exphiuations of Somers, their 
 operations were clearly comprehended. They were placed 
 in confinement, to await the final decision in regard to 
 them. In the forenoon Somers was sent to make his 
 report to the admiral. He was warmly received, judi- 
 cionsly commended, and courteously dismissed. The 
 young ofiicer's respect and admiration for " Brave Old 
 Salt" were not diminished by his second interview. 
 
 In the afternoon the Ben Lomond, in charge of an act- 
 ing ensign, was sent to Pensacola, where she was to 
 remain until further orders. It was surmised that the 
 admiral, not wishing to spare any of the best officers of 
 the fleet, when on the eve of a mighty event, had decided 
 to let the prize remain in port with her prisoners until a 
 more favorable season. Be this as it may, the Old Sala- 
 mander kept everybody busy for the next ten days, when, 
 the monitors having arrived, and all the ships intended 
 for the attack being in complete readiness, the order was 
 given for the battle, which now stands without a parallel 
 in the annals of naval warfare. 
 
204 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF MOBILE BAT 
 
 (X/'N order to appreciate the importance of the tre- 
 mendous action in Mobile Bay, it is necessary to 
 consider that Mobile and Wilmington were the 
 only available ports of the rebels east of the 
 Mississippi. The resources of the Confederacy were 
 exhausted by three years of wasting war, and it was 
 dependent upon foreign supplies for the means of con- 
 tinuinor the strife. The earnest attention of the govern- 
 ment at Washington, therefore, was directed to the shut- 
 ting up of these ports. 
 
 To form a correct idea of the obstacles to the closing 
 of Mobile Bay, which had been intrusted to- Admiral 
 Farragut, it should be remembered that its entrance was 
 guarded by two strongly-built and heavily-armed forts ; 
 that the only available channel for large vessels, but 
 three fourths of a mile in width, ran under the guns of 
 Fort Morgan, the stronger of the two forts ; that this 
 channel was filled with sunken torpedoes, which, experi- 
 ence had demonstrated, were fatal to any vessels subjected 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 2G5 
 
 to the explosion ; and that the rebels had a fleet of gun- 
 boats and iron-elads, which could operate with every 
 advantage against an advancing fleet. 
 
 ** Brave Old Salt " had estimated all these obstacles, 
 and believing that " success was a duty," he had resolved 
 to overcome them. All the expedients which the ingenu- 
 ity of a thorough seaman could devise were adopted to 
 strengthen and protect the ships. The plan of the battle 
 was entirely original, and displayed the genius of its 
 author. The admiral modestly declares that he only 
 obeyed the orders of the navy department, and disclaims 
 the credit so lavislily awarded to him by his admiring 
 fellow-citizens ; but the government did not tell him how 
 to do it — and in that consisted the doing of it — did not 
 order him to " lash ships " and take his elevated position 
 in the main rigging ; did not bid him " butt " the rebel 
 rams with his wooden prows ; and for all these things 
 does the whole world sound his praise. 
 
 At half past five in the morning the Chatauqua, with 
 the Androscoggin lathed to her port side, took her posi- 
 tion in the line of battle. The Brooklyn was to lead the 
 van, with the " Old Hartford," the flag-ship, next in the 
 line, though the doughty old admiral had but tardily 
 acceded to the request of his officers in taking this place. 
 The position of the Chatauqua was in the centre of the 
 line of battle. 
 
 At the signal from the admiral, the fleet moved on. 
 
266 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR \ 
 
 jEvery officer was full of zeal and enthusiasm, tliough it 
 was certain that some of them would never behold the 
 light of another day ; that more or less of the gallant 
 vessels must soon be overwhelmed by the hidden engines 
 of destruction which had been planted in the channel. 
 Somers regarded it as the great day of his existence. 
 He had read his Testament and said his prayers that 
 inornin;2r as thoui^h it were the last dav he had to live, 
 for the most fearful and deadly strife of the whole war 
 was anticipated. A man is never so fully prepared to 
 live well and do his duty faithfully as Avhen he is ready 
 to die. 
 
 While the yonng officer thought even more tenderly 
 than usual of the loved ones in his far-off home, and of 
 that other loved one who was never forgotten when home 
 was remembered, he felt that his country was theirs, and 
 that every blow struck for the nation was struck for 
 them. To die for his country was to die for them — for 
 his own home ; and he asked no higher duty than to sac- 
 rifice his life, if such W'as the will of God. " Thy -will 
 be done," he repeated many times, though life was full 
 of hopes and joys to him. 
 
 The fleet moved on, and the roar of the great guns in 
 the monitors soon announced that the action had com- 
 menced. The chase guns of the Chatauqua opened first, 
 and the ship trembled beneath the concussion. 
 
 " The Tecumseh has gone down," passed from mouth 
 
^ LIFE OX TIIIC QUARTER DECK, 2G7 
 
 to mouth, as a tremcudous explosion saluted the ears of 
 the seameu. 
 
 The monitor had struck upon a torpedo, and in a mo- 
 ment had disappeared beneath the tide, carrying down 
 with her nearly all her gallant crew. But this incident, 
 appalling as it was even to the battle-scarred veterans on 
 the decks of the fleet, was hardly heeded in the terrible 
 determination of purpose which animated every heart. 
 The Brooklyn paused to dodge some supposed torpedo 
 buoys, and " Brave Old Salt" dashed ahead in the Hart- 
 ford to his proper place in the van of the battle. 
 
 The ships in pairs came up abreast of the fort ; and 
 according to the orders of the admiral, the broadside and 
 other guns opened upon the works, not with solid shot, in 
 futile attempts to batter down their dense walls, but with 
 grape, which drove the gunners of the fort from their 
 stations. 
 
 Never were guns fired more rapidly ; and the roar was 
 tremendous, shaking all earth beneath, and enveloping 
 the scene in dense volumes of smoke, above which, as it 
 occasionally rolled away, might be seen the admiral, 
 laslied to the main rigging of the Hartford. A glimpse 
 at him never failed to call forth the most uuboundcil en- 
 thusiasm, among officers and seamen. 
 
 With comparatively little injury the fleet passed the 
 fort, and standing to the north-west to clear the ^liddle 
 Ground, was out of the reach of its guns. Terriblti 
 
268 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 Stories of the torpedoes had been told by deserters and 
 refugees, but the admiral's hopes had been realized ; they 
 had been so long in the water that they had become 
 '* innocuous." 
 
 But a new and greater danger menaced the fleet. The 
 rebel iron-clad Tennessee started out from under the guns 
 of Fort Morgan. She was a formidable adversary ; and 
 though the monitors were depended upon to " neutralize" 
 or destroy her, they moved so slowly and steered so badly, 
 that the brunt of the battle was borne by the wooden 
 ships. 
 
 " Run her down," was the order from the admiral, 
 which the signal officer interpreted on the quarter deck 
 of the Chatauqua. 
 
 Captain Cascabel instantly ordered full head of steam 
 to be put on, and the ship, gathering headway, dashed 
 down upon the Tennessee, striking her at right angles, 
 near the after part of the casemate. The shock of the 
 concussion was terrible. The men were thrown from 
 their feet, and the ship groaned in bitterness of spirit at 
 the hard usage to which she was subjected. Her stem 
 was crushed in to the plank ends, and the water began to 
 pour into the forward store-rooms. Expecting such an 
 event, the carpenter and his gang were at the threatened 
 point, and prevented any disaster from the collision. 
 
 The effect upon the iron-clad was hardly perceptible, 
 giving her a heavy list, but apparently inflicting no dam- 
 

LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK. 2C9 
 
 age upon her. The Chatauqua swung round as she 
 struck. Captain . Cascabcl, Avho liad leaped into the 
 mizzeu rigging, gave his orders, which were promptly 
 executed by Mr. Ilackleford. Solid shot and shell were 
 poured into the ram with a fury which would have been 
 fatal to a less strongly built craft. As it was, one of her 
 port shutters was struck and shattered, the rest of the 
 shot bounding off like peas from an oak floor. 
 
 " Hah, you bloody villains of Yankees ! " shouted the 
 rebels, at their ports. 
 
 " How are you, Johnny Keb?" replied a fore-top man, 
 as he hurled a spittoon in at the port. 
 
 Another old salt dashed in a holy-stone, and then the 
 marines opened fire upon them with their muskets. 
 
 " Ram her again ! " shouted the admiral from the main 
 rigging of the Hartford, as the flag-ship dashed at the 
 game. 
 
 The Chatauqua swept round, and succeeded in striking 
 the Tennessee again, but with no better result than 
 before. At the same time she poured in shot and shell 
 from every available gun. 
 
 At this moment one of the ships struck the Hartford, 
 by accident, in the dense smoke, and knocked two of her 
 ports into one. It was believed that the flag-ship would 
 go down, for her planking was stove in within two feet 
 of the water-lino. 
 
 " Save the admiral ! save the admiral ! " shouted the 
 23* 
 
270 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 men ; and there was not one of them who would not 
 have died by fire or water to rescue their beloved leader. 
 
 Somers sprang upon the rail, to observe the catastro- 
 phe, and to be in readiness to save the admiral if an 
 opportunity occurred. "While he stood there, a shot hit 
 the rail diagonally, a splinter struck him in the side, and 
 he dropped helpless into the water. 
 
 *' Mr. Somers is wounded and fallen overboard ! '* 
 shouted the captain of the pivot gun amidships. 
 
 The words were hardly out of his mouth, before 
 another man dropped into the water from one of the 
 ports. It was Tom Longstone. He found his young 
 friend, and bearing him up with his strong arm, both 
 were rescued from their perilous position. 
 
 " She shows the white flag ! She surrenders ! " was 
 the cry, as the boatswain and Somers reached the deck. 
 
 The young officer was borne to the ward-room at the 
 moment of victory, while the cheers of the brave tars 
 were ringing through the fleet. 
 
 The Tennessee and the Selma had surrendered, the 
 Gaines had been driven ashore, and the Morgan was for 
 the present safe under the guns of the fort. The victory 
 was complete and decisive. 
 
 Somers was severely, if not dangerously, injured. He 
 was borne tenderly to his state-room by his brother offi- 
 cers, as the cheers for the great victory were sounding 
 through the fleet. There had been seven men killed and 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTRR DECK. 271 
 
 thirty-five wounded on board the Chatauqiia. The sur- 
 geon was in the cockpit, busily engaged in attending to 
 the wounds of the poor fellows, and could not immedi' 
 ately examine the young oflicer, who, it was evident, re' 
 quired no surgical operation. 
 
 The ship, though considerably cut up by the shots from 
 the fort and from the rebel steamers, was still in condition 
 for active service. The fleet anchored in the bay, out of 
 the reach of the guns of Fort . Morgan. Officers were 
 busy in making the necessary surveys, and the men were 
 occupied in repairing damages and restoring order about 
 the decks and rigging. 
 
 '^ How do you feel, Mr. Somers ? " asked Mr. Hackle- 
 ford, entering the sufferer's room, as soon as he could 
 leave the deck. 
 
 *'' I do not suffer much pain, sir ; but I am afraid I am 
 badly damaged in the hull," replied Somers, with a lan- 
 guid smile. 
 
 He was very pale, and lay very still. He was numb 
 from the effects of the shock given him by the splinter, 
 and some of the functions of his frame seemed to be sus- 
 pended. The first lieutenant was alarmed, and sent a 
 second messenger for the surgeon, who presently made 
 his appearance, having disposed of the severest cases in 
 the cockpit. 
 
 "What do you think of him, doctor?" asked Mr. 
 Hackleford. 
 
272 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " I fear he is badly injured," replied Dr. De Plesion, 
 shaking his head. 
 
 " Dangerously?" whispered the first lieutenant. 
 
 The surgeon shook his head. 
 
 " Speak out, doctor," said the patient, faintly. " I am 
 not afraid to die for my country. Please tell me the 
 truth." 
 
 " I cannot tell yet, Mr. Somers. Three of the ribs 
 are fractured, but if he is not injured internally, he will 
 do very well," added the surgeon, to Mr. Hackleford. 
 
 " I have but little pain," said the patient. 
 
 " You will have more, Mr. Somers, by night," con- 
 tinued Dr. De Plesion. " I do not discover any internal 
 injury." 
 
 " I hope there is none," said the first lieutenant. 
 " You are too good an officer to be spared, Mr. Somers, 
 — I mean for even a brief period, of course." 
 
 The report of the surgeon was anxiously awaited by 
 the captain and all the ward-room officers, for the third 
 lieutenant had been a universal favorite, and his capture 
 of the Ben Lomond, and his gallant conduct during the 
 action with the forts and the Tennessee, had not dimin- 
 ished his popularity. Of all who waited the doctor's 
 decision, none took the matter so much to heart as the 
 boatswain, who had saved him from drowning while he 
 was helpless in the water. Mr. Hackleford noticed him 
 at his duty, still wet to the skin, and kindly gave him 
 permission to visit his young friend. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 273 
 
 " I shall not go by the board, Tom," said Somers. 
 " You and I may yet make another cruise together.'* 
 
 " Thank God ! I hope so," exclaimed the boatswain, 
 encouraged by these cheerful words. 
 
 " Tom, I owe my life to you." 
 
 " O, never mind that, my darling ! "What would I 
 have done if you had slipped your wind?" 
 
 *' You would have done your duty, as you always do, 
 my good fellow." 
 
 '' I dare say I should, Mr. Somers, but I can only 
 thank God that you are alive now," replied the boat- 
 swain, as the tears flowed down his bronzed cheek, and 
 he turned to leave the room. 
 
274 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 IN THE HOSPITAL. 
 
 (^j"^ NDER the arrangement made by Admiral Far- 
 ragiit with the commander of Fort Morgan, the 
 wounded of both sides were sent in the Meta- 
 comet to Pensacola. Somers was of the number, and he 
 was borne from his berth in the Chatauqua to the 
 steamer, though the removal caused him great pain. 
 The numbness of his side was beginning to pass away, 
 and the parts to become very sensitive. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, I am sorry to see you in this condi- 
 tion," said " Brave Old Salt," who was present with a 
 kind word for the suffering heroes of the battle. " You 
 behaved nobly during the fight, as I am told you al- 
 ways do." 
 
 " Thank you, sir. You are very kind," moaned Som- 
 ers, in his pain and weakness. 
 
 " I have not forgotten you, my brave fellow," con- 
 tinued the admu'al. " The capture of the Ben Lomond 
 was a matter of more consequence than you can appre- 
 ciate, perhaps ; and your faith and skill in doing this 
 work entitle you to the gratitude of your country." 
 
LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK. 275 
 
 " I am happy in having merited your approbation." 
 
 " You have behaved gallantly in the action ; and, I 
 repeat, you shall be remembered. What can I do for 
 you, Mr. Somers? " 
 
 '* Nothing more for me, admiral. You have done more 
 for me now than I deserve. Mr. Longstone, the boat- 
 swain of the Chatauqua, who saved my life — '* 
 
 " I know all about him, Mr. Somers. He was your 
 right-hand man in the capture of the Ben Lomond." 
 
 " He was, sir." 
 
 " He shall not be forgotten." 
 
 " I have already been rewarded more than I de- 
 serve — " 
 
 " No, you haven't. Mr. Pillgrim promised you a lieu- 
 tenant's commission, if you broujrht out his steamer. I 
 ratify that promise. As to the boatswain, it is a pity he 
 is not an educated man ; but he shall be cared for." 
 
 " Thank you, sir." 
 
 But Somers was too faint to talk any longer, and the 
 admiral passed to other of the noble fellows "who had 
 been wounded on that eventful day. The sufferer's cot 
 was placed on the ward-room floor, for the state-rooms 
 and berths were already full. In one of them lay Ad- 
 miral Buchanan, who had commanded the rebel fleet. 
 He had been wounded in the leg in the battle, and he 
 had lost the battle itself, which, to a proud, brave spirit, 
 was worse than losing a leg. 
 
276 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 Somers was now suffering the most intense pain, which 
 he bore like a hero. Tom Longstone bent tenderly over 
 him, his eyes filled with tears, and uttered his adieus. 
 With a hand as gentle as a woman's, he pillowed his 
 head on the couch, and smoothed back his hair from his 
 eyes. Pie would gladly have gone with his wounded 
 friend, to lave his fevered brow and speak words of com- 
 fort and encouragement to him ; but neither of them 
 thought of such a thin^, for the admiral's fleet was in the 
 enemy's waters, and every man was needed at his post. 
 
 The Metacomet, having received her precious freight 
 of mangled heroes, cast off her moorings, and, passing 
 the fort, turned her prow to the eastward. On her 
 arrival at Pensacola, the sufferers were transferred to 
 the hospital, where they received every attention which 
 willing hands and generous hearts could bestow. 
 
 Fort Morgan surrendered to the combined forces of 
 the army and navy before the end of the month, and 
 Mobile Bay was in undisputed possession of the govern- 
 ment. The work undertaken by the brave admiral had 
 been fully completed. Mobile was now a cipher, so far 
 as the Confederacy was concerned, though a great bluster 
 was made of defending it to the last. 
 
 Somers had been three weeks in the hospital, and 
 doubtless owed his life to the skill of the surgeon and 
 the attentions of the nurses. He had been injured inter- 
 nally, as Dr. De Plesion feared ; but he had begun to 
 
LIFE OX THE QJARTER DECK. 277 
 
 improve, though he was still unable to sit up. lie had en- 
 dured the severest pain, and the doctor had not concealed 
 from him his fears of a fatal result, because the patience 
 and firmness, but especially the religious faith, of the suf- 
 ferer warranted him in doinc: so. *, 
 
 Day after day and night after night Somers struggled 
 with his condition, in faith, patience, and resignation. 
 He felt that he was ready to leave the world, full of joys 
 and hopes as it was, for the purer hopes and brighter 
 joys of the eternal world beyond the grave. He thouglit 
 of his mother, and wished that she might be with him to 
 smooth his dying pillow, if he must die ; but it was not 
 the will of God, and he did not murmur. He thought 
 of Kate Portington. He would like to see her once 
 more before he passed away, but this was a vain wish ; 
 and from her and the loved ones at home he turned to 
 the glorious realities of the immortal life — fitting theme 
 for one who was trembling between life and death. 
 
 In the midst of his pain and earthly loneliness he was 
 happy. He could not but recall the scene of Phil Ken- 
 nedy's death-bed ; 'of the agony of remorse Avhich shook 
 him, as he looked back upon his past life ; of the terrors 
 with which his stricken conscience invested the grave. 
 Then the sufferer, in the deepest depths of his heart, 
 thanked God that he had been enabled to be true to him- 
 self and to duty. He was happy in the past, happy in 
 the hope of the future. There was much to regret and 
 24 
 
278 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 to repent of; but as he did regret and repeat, lie felt that 
 he was forgiven. 
 
 He was happy ; and the joy of that hour, when an 
 approving conscience triumphs over bodily pain, and 
 decks the waiting tomb with flowers, was worth the 
 struggle with the legions of temptations which all must 
 encounter. 
 
 We are best fitted to live when best prepared to die. 
 Soraers waited with hope and resignation for the angel 
 of death, but he came not. The very calmness with 
 which he regarded the open tomb, assisted in closing its 
 portals to him. At the end of two weeks the doctor 
 spoke more of life than of death ; at the end of three he 
 spoke not at all of the grim messenger — grim he was, 
 even when he wore the chaplet of flowers with which ' 
 Faith and Hope ever crown him. 
 
 Somers was out of danger. The internal inflamma- 
 tion passed away, and the patient began to mend. He 
 thought of life now, of meeting the loved ones who, afar 
 off, had sadly spoken farewells to him when he departed 
 from their presence, with all the fearful perils of storm 
 and battle hanging over him. 
 
 On the day after the news of the surrender of Fort 
 Morgan arrived, the Chatauqua dropped her anchor off 
 Pensacola. A boat immediately put off from her, con- 
 taining Boatswain Longstone, who landed, and hastened 
 to the hospital with all possible speed. Probably there 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 279 
 
 liad barilly been an hour since the Metacomet left Mobile 
 Buy with the wounded, in which Tom had not thought of 
 Soniers. The old man was as eager and impatient as a 
 child, and could hardly submit to the formalities neces- 
 sary to procure admission to the hospital. 
 
 " My darling ! " exclaimed the veteran, as he crept up 
 to the bed of his young friend. 
 
 lie walked lightly, and spoke softly and tenderly, for 
 he knew how sick Somers had been. 
 
 " Ah, Tom, I am glad to see you," replied the patient, 
 as he extended his thin hand, which the boatswain 
 eagerly seized, though he handled it as tenderly as a 
 bashful youth does the hand of the maiden he loves. 
 " It does my eyes good to look upon you, Tom." 
 
 " Jack, I've been dying to see you. They told me 
 you were in a bad way, and might slip your cable any 
 moment." 
 
 '' I have not expected to live, until a week ago." 
 
 " God bless you. Jack ! I was never so happy in my 
 life ; " and the boatswain actually w^ept, — great, strong, 
 weather-stained veteran as he was, who had breasted the 
 storms of four and thirty years on the oceau. 
 
 *' I know how you feel, Tom." 
 
 " So you may. Jack, — I beg pardon, Mr. — " 
 
 " Call me Jack, now," interposed Somers, with a faint 
 smile ; " it sounds like old times. You have been the 
 making of me, Tom, and we won't stand on ceremony, 
 as long as we are not on board the ship." 
 
280 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 The boatswain still held the attenuated hand of his 
 sick friend, and they talked of the past and of the pres- 
 ent ; of the battle, and of the subsequent events in the 
 bay. But Tom Longstone seemed to be thinking all the 
 time of something else. 
 
 " Wliat have you got on, Tom? " asked Somers, as he 
 noticed a " foul anchor" on his shoulder, and a band of 
 gold lace on his sleeve. 
 
 " What have I got on ? A^^iy, I always wear my 
 colors, of course," replied Tom, with a smile of the deep- 
 est satisfaction. 
 
 " But those are not the colors of a boatswain in the 
 United States Navy." 
 
 " That's a fact. Jack. I'm not a boatswain, just now.'* 
 
 *' Indeed ! " 
 
 " I'm an acting ensign." 
 
 " Is it possible ? " exclaimed Somers, not less pleased 
 than the veteran. 
 
 " It's a fact, my darling ; but before we spin any more 
 yarns, here's a document for you. Shall I open it ? " con- 
 tinued Tom, as he took from his breast pocket a huge 
 official envelope, whose appearance was entirely familiar 
 to Somers. 
 
 " If you please." 
 
 It was directed to " Lieutenant John Somers ; " and 
 the superscription sufficiently indicated the nature of its 
 contents. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 281 
 
 *' God bless the admiral ! " said Somers. 
 
 ** God bless the admiral ! " repeated Tom, glancing 
 reverently upward as he spoke. 
 
 The commission ■svas dated before the news of the bat- 
 tle in Mobile Bay could have reached Washington. It 
 followed the reception of the despatches concerning the 
 capture of the Ben Lomond ; and Tom Longstone had 
 been made an acting ensign, though he still retained his 
 warrant as a boatswain, for his conduct in the same 
 affair. 
 
 *' I congratulate you, Tom, on this promotion," said 
 Somers. 
 
 " Tliank you. Jack ; and I congratulate you as Lieu- 
 tenant Somers. You are a ' regular,' but I'm only an 
 ' acting,' " replied the veteran. *' When the war's over, 
 I shall be a boatswain again." 
 
 " I am more rejoiced for you than for myself, Tom." 
 
 " Just like you. Jack. If I made you, I'm sure you 
 made me. I got my rating as boatswain's mate in the 
 Rosalie through you, and then I was made a boatswain 
 for what I did with you. Now I'm an ensign by your 
 doings. I suppose you think I'm not up to it. Jack." 
 
 " Yes, I do. I know you are. There's nothing about 
 a ship that you don't know as well as the admiral him- 
 self, except — " 
 
 " Except," laughed Tom, as Somers paused, " except 
 what?" 
 
 24* 
 
282 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " Navigation." 
 
 " I know something about that, Jack — I do, upon my 
 honor." 
 
 " I do not doubt it." 
 
 " When I first went into the navy, I was a regular 
 sea dandy. I used big words, as long as the coach- 
 whip ; but I soon found a man must not talk above his 
 station. When I was a young man, I wasn't a bad 
 scholar. I went to the academy, and learned surveying ; 
 I meant to be a surveyor ; but I got a hitch, and went 
 to sea." 
 
 "A hitch?" 
 
 " Well, I never mention it now. Squire Kent's daugh- 
 ter didn't treat me as handsomely as she did another 
 young fellow, and I drank more liquor than was good for 
 me. I got run down ; and when I had payed out all the 
 respectability I had, I went to sea. That cured me of 
 drinking ; in fact, I became a temperance man before 
 the grog rations were stopped in the navy. As I said, I 
 was pretty well educated, and talked as weU as the offi- 
 cers on the quarter deck. But my shipmates laughed at 
 me, and I soon dropped down into using sea slang." 
 
 " I have noticed that your speech has been wonder- 
 fully improved since you were made a boatswain." 
 
 " I've been trying to cure my bad habits. I've been 
 lying round loose in the navy for thirty years before the 
 war began. I tried to be honest and true, but the war 
 
LIFE Oy THE QUARTER DECK. 283 
 
 has set me right up. I haveu't told you the best of the 
 news yet, Jack." 
 
 "What more?" 
 
 *' You arc appointed to the Ben Lomond as prize 
 master, and I'm going with you as second officer. Tiie 
 admiral says you shall take the prize home, if she has to 
 wait two months for you. She is yours, and you shall 
 have the command of her." 
 
 " He is very kind ; but I do not think I shall be able 
 to take command at present." 
 
 " "VVe are to go as soon as the doctor will let you be 
 carried on board of her. Jack, the Ben Lomond is 
 going into the navy ; and if I mistake not, she will be in 
 command of Lieutenant Somers." 
 
 " That would be the height of my ambition. Indeed, 
 I never aspired to anything so great as the command of 
 a fine steamer." 
 
 " You'll have her ; the admiral is your friend. If you 
 do, I shall be in the ward-room. Splinter my timber- 
 heads ! Only think of that ! Tom Longstone a ward- 
 room officer ! " 
 
 " You deserve it, Tom." 
 
 In the course of the week, other officers of the Cha- 
 tauqua visited the patient, and at the end of that period 
 the doctor permitted Somers to be conveyed on board the 
 Ben Lomond. 
 
284 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 MISS PORTINGTOX NOT AT HOME. 
 
 ILLGIIIM and Langdon had been in close con- 
 iiuemeut at Pensacola since their capture. They 
 ^. were now placed on board of the Ben Lomond 
 to be sent north. An apartment was specially 
 fitted up for their use in the steerage, for they were 
 regarded as dangerous men, to Avhom bolts, bars, and 
 other obstacles, Avere but trifling impediments. A suffi- 
 cient number of marines to guard them were detailed for 
 duty on the passage, and the steamer sailed for Boston, 
 where the prize was to be adjusted. 
 
 Somers was now improving very rapidly, and before 
 he left the hospital, had sat up a small portion of each 
 day. The pleasant intelligence brought to him by Tom 
 Longstone had not retarded his recovery ; on the con- 
 trary, the bright hopes of the future Avhich it suggested, 
 rather stimulated his feeble frame, and assisted in his 
 restoration to health. 
 
 The steamer had fine weather on the passage, with the 
 exception of a gale of thirty hours' duration. She put 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 2»S5 
 
 into Hampton Roads, and landed lier prisoners at For- 
 tress Monroe, in accordance with the orders of her 
 commander, and then proceeded to Boston. The Ben 
 Lomond behaved remarkably well in the heavy weather 
 she experienced, proving herself to be a strongly-built 
 and substantial vessel. Somers sent his despatches to 
 "Washington from Fortress Monroe. 
 
 When the Ben Lomond sailed into Boston Harbor, 
 Somers was able to go on deck, for with each day of the 
 voyage his health had continued to improve. The 
 steamer was duly handed over to the naval authorities, 
 and the young lieutenant was granted a furlough of 
 sixty days. 
 
 " Our cruise is up," said Tom Longstone, when the 
 business had been completed. 
 
 '' For the present, we have nothing to do ; but I hope 
 we shall soon receive our orders," replied Somers. 
 " Now, Tom, you will go down to Pinchbrook with me, 
 and spend a couple of months." 
 
 " Thank you,- Jack ; I hardly think I should know how 
 to behave in a house on shore, it is so long since I have 
 been in one." i 
 
 " You will soon learn." 
 
 They went to Pinchbrook, and Tom received a wel- 
 come almost as cordial as that extended to Somers. The 
 veteran was soon made entirely at home by his young 
 friend's father, and such a " spinning of yarns " for 
 
286 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 thirty days had never been known before. Tom told a 
 story of the Cumberland ; then Captaia Somers had a 
 West India yarn ; and gran'ther Greene was indulgently 
 permitted to relate his experience in the *' last war," 
 though it was observed that the old man, whose memory 
 was much impaired, always told the same story. 
 
 Never did a happier trio gather around a kitchen fire 
 than that which sat around the cook-stove at Pinchbrook 
 oh those autumn mornings. Very likely Mrs. Somers 
 thought the " men folks " were in the way at times ; but 
 she was too much interested in the stories told, and too 
 good natured to raise an objection, especially when 
 John joined the party. 
 
 In the mean time, Somers was rapidly regaining hia 
 health and strength. As may be supposed, he was a 
 lion in Pinchbrook, and was invited to every party and 
 every merry-making in the place. Captain Barney was 
 with him a great deal, and was as fond of him as though 
 he had been his own son. Of course the young ladies of 
 Pinchbrook regarded the lieutenant as a great man ; and 
 if it had not been known in town that he was " paying 
 attention " to a commodore's daughter, he might have 
 been absolutely persecuted by the fair ones of his native 
 village. 
 
 In strict observance of his promise, Somers had written 
 several letters to Kate Portington, but hud received no 
 answer. These epistles, with the exception of an occa- 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 287 
 
 sional playful remark, were coufincd to the details of his 
 naval operations. The events of his career were faith- 
 fully recorded, and they were in no sense such produc- 
 tions as many silly young men would have written under 
 similar circumstances. No answer to any of them luid 
 been received. 
 
 Since his arrival at Pinchbrook, vSomers had written 
 two letters ; but at the end of the first month of his fur- 
 lou<di, he had not heard a word from Kate. He was 
 troubled, and no doubt thought Kate was very cold and 
 cruel. He knew that Pillgrim had not seen her, and 
 therefore could not have prejudiced her against him. It 
 was possible that his letters had not reached their desti- 
 nation ; Kate might be away from home ; and he was 
 not willing to believe that anything had occurred to make 
 her less friendly to him than formerly. 
 
 Somers, as we have so often had occasion to represent 
 him, was always in favor of " facing the music." If 
 there was anything the matter, he wanted to know it. 
 If the lady wished to discontinue the acquaintance, ho 
 wanted to know that ; and when he could no longer con- 
 tent himself in Pinchbrook, with the question unsettled, 
 he started for Newport. On his arrival he proceeded at 
 once to the residence of Commodore Portington. "With 
 a firm hand he rang the bell — in surprising contrast 
 with his first visit, for now he was firm and decided. 
 
 The servant informed him that Miss Portington was at 
 
288 BHAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 home, and he sent up his card. Soiners sat nervously 
 waiting the issue. Presently the servant returned and 
 handed him a card, on Avhich was written, " Miss For- 
 tington is not at home to Mr. John Somers." 
 
 He was confounded by this cool reply. Though her 
 present conduct was in accordance with the unanswered 
 letters, he had not expected to be thus rudely repelled. 
 If she had any objection to him, why didn't she tell him 
 so ? He had done his duty to his country, and kept his 
 promises to her. It was the severest blow he had ever 
 received. 
 
 He read the card, rose from his chair, and left the 
 house, as dignified as though he had been on the quarter 
 deck of the Ben Lomond. He was too proud to ask or 
 to offer any explanations. We Avill not undertake to say 
 how bad he felt. Perhaps he wished he had died in the 
 Pensacola hospital, when he lay at death's door ; perhaps 
 he felt like rushing into the hottest of a fight, and laying 
 down his life for the cause he had espoused, without 
 thinking that this would be suicide, rather than a gen- 
 erous sacrifice to a holy duty. 
 
 Mr. Pillgrim had informed him that he would meet 
 with a "chilly" reception. It was even worse than 
 that ; but as it Avas evidently caused by the traitor's 
 machinations, he was content to suffer. If she chose to 
 let the words of the wretched conspirator against his 
 country bias her against him, he could not help it ; and 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 289 
 
 bis only remaiuiug duty was to submit with the best pos- 
 sible grace. 
 
 Oi' course he could uot leave Newport without calling 
 at the Naval Academy. Mr. Revere, the commandant 
 of midshipmen, was his firm friend, and it would be 
 treason to him to leave the city without seeing him. He 
 was cordially received, and his experience in Mobile Bay 
 was listened to with the most friendly interest. 
 
 " I need not ask you if you have been to Commodore 
 Portington's," said Mr. Revere. 
 
 ** I have, sir." 
 
 " Well, how is Miss Portington ? " 
 
 '* I did not see her," replied Somers, who, conscious 
 that he had done no wrong, was not disposed to conceal 
 his misfortune from so good a friend. 
 
 " Did not see her ! " exclaimed the commandant. 
 
 Somers explained. 
 
 The story of Pillgrim's treason had been circulated, 
 but the particulars by which it had been exposed were 
 known to only a few. Mr. Revere saw at once the cause 
 of the rupture. 
 
 '' The villain has sent her the bond you signed,'* 
 said he. 
 
 " Perhaps he has." 
 
 •" Probably she knows nothing of the circumstances 
 under which you signed it." 
 
 " I have had no opportunity to explain." 
 
 r5 
 
290 BRAVK OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " But, Somers, you musn't be too stiff. Auj lady- 
 would be fully justified in refusing to see a gentlemaa 
 who signed a paper like that, which contained her name 
 in such a connection." 
 
 "I think so myself; and therefore I will not blame 
 her." 
 
 " Pillgrim got you to sign that document for this 
 very purpose." 
 
 " I surmised as much." 
 
 " But it is a wrong to the lady as well as to you, to 
 permit this thing to go on." 
 
 *' I have no remedy." 
 
 *' Write her a note, explaining your position." 
 
 " My motives would be misconstrued." 
 
 '' Then I shall act for you." 
 
 Somers went to his hotel, and Mr. Revere did act it for 
 him. Kate was not satisfied. A high-minded man 
 would have died rather than sign such a paper. So 
 would Somers, if the bond had any real meaning. The 
 commandant was not successful in the negotiation, as 
 mediators seldom are in such cases. 
 
 " I am satisfied, Mr. Revere," said Somers : but he 
 was as far from satisfied as a young man could be. 
 
 " There is no help for it ; but, Somers, I have invited 
 a few friends to my house this evening, and you must be 
 With us." 
 
 " Will Miss Portingtou be there ? " 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 291 
 
 *' She has beeu iuvited, witli hor mother." 
 
 '^ I will go," replied he, still carrying out his pria- 
 ciple that it is always best to " face the music." 
 
 He did go. The few friends were about fifty — to 
 celebrate the birthday of the commandant's lady. There 
 were music, and dancing, and revelry ; and Kate Porting- 
 ton was there, with her mother. He saw the fair girl ; 
 saw her smile as pleasantly and unconcernedly as though 
 nothing had happened. He met her face to face ; she 
 bowed coldly, and passed on. Mrs. Portington w^as not 
 quite so " chilly," but not at all as she had been in 
 former times. 
 
 *' Mr. Somers, we shall always remember you with 
 gratitude, for the service you so kindly rendered us," 
 said she. 
 
 " It is hardly worth remembering, madam, much less 
 mentioning," replied Somers. 
 
 " It shall always be gratefully remembered, and cor- 
 dially mentioned. You cannot yourself regret more than 
 I do, that anything should have occurred to disturb the 
 pleasant relations which formerly existed." 
 
 " I regret it very much, madam ; but as I think I 
 have done my duty to my country and to my friends, I 
 must regret it without reproaching myself for my conduct 
 in that which has proved so offensive." 
 
 " Was it your duty to sign that vile paper ? " asked the 
 lady, in excited tones. 
 
292 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " I think it was." 
 
 " I must take a different view of the matter ; but, Mr. 
 Somers, I shall still be interested in your success." 
 
 " Thank you, madam." 
 
 And the lady passed on. Somers looked at Kate. 
 She was dancing with a young officer who had greatly 
 distinguished himself in the waters of North Carolina. 
 She looked happy. "SVas she so ? She certainly had a 
 wonderful command of herself if she was not. Somers 
 retired at an early hour. 
 
 Did Kate think he was an adventurer? His superior 
 officer had directed him to sigu the bond, as a "■ war 
 measure." He had done so with regret and disgust. 
 The paper meant nothing to him. Why should it mean 
 anything to her and her mother? 
 
 The next day, Somers returned to Pinchbrook, where 
 he found certain official documents in the post office, 
 directed to him. He was appointed to the command of 
 the Firefly, which was the new name given by the de- 
 partment to the Ben Lomond. The steamer had been 
 duly condemned, and purchased by the government, her 
 great speed admirably adapting her as a cruiser for rebel 
 pirates. Somers was generously rewarded for his zeal 
 and success in the capture of the twin steamers, which 
 had been intended to prey on the commerce of the 
 country. 
 
 Acting Ensign Longstone was appointed second lieu- 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 293 
 
 tenant of tlie Firefly. The tliird and fourth lieutenants, 
 and the sailing master, were acting ensigns, like Tom 
 Longstone. 
 
 All was excitement now at the cottage in Pinchbrook, 
 in anticipation of Somcrs's departure. A lieutenant com- 
 manding was a higher position than he had ever hoped 
 to obtain ; but even while he rejoiced over his bright 
 future, he cotdd not help being "blue " over his affair at 
 Newport. He tried to forget the fair lady, but he found 
 that was not an easy matter. He devoted himself to the 
 fitting up of the Firefly, spending part of his time at 
 Pinchbrook, till his orders came from AVashington. A 
 kind word from Kate would have made him the happiest 
 man in the world. As that did not come, he went to sea 
 without it. 
 
 25* 
 
294 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 THE BEN LEDI. 
 
 z^^i^HE Firefly had been strengthened and otherwise 
 ^1 improved for the purpose to which she was to be 
 ^^Jy applied. Her armament had been changed, to 
 adapt it to the standard of the United States navy. 
 She now carried a hundred pounder rifle amidships, a 
 rifled thirty on her forecastle, four twenty-four pounders 
 on the broadsides, and two hoAvitzers on the quarter 
 deck. The cabin, ward-room, and steerage remained as 
 before. 
 
 It was a pleasant November day — in the full reign 
 of the Indian summer — when she went down the har- 
 bor. Somers stood on the quarter deck, as dignified as 
 the commander of a man-of-\\ar should be, but he 
 could hardly repress the feeling of pride and exultation 
 with which he regarded his position. He was hardly 
 twenty-one, though he was mature enough in appearance 
 and in judgment for twenty-five. He had realized the 
 warmest hope he had permitted himself to cherish. He 
 was in command of a beautiful vessel, with a hundred 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTEIi DECK. 295 
 
 officers and men under his charge. lie was the supreme 
 authority ; every man ou board touched his cap to him. 
 
 Below was a cabin, appropriated wholly to his use, 
 where he could live as luxuriously as a lord. He had no 
 watch to keep, no work to perform. As he contemplated 
 his position, he was absolutely amazed. He had hoped, 
 but not expected, to reach this pinnacle of his ambition. 
 But there was another side to the question. A fearful 
 responsibility was imposed upon him. The lives of his 
 hundred men depended upon him. This valuable steam- 
 er, with her armament and stores, was intrusted to him, 
 and he must account for all loss or waste on board of 
 her. More than this, the honor of the flag under which 
 he sailed hdd been committed to him. If he lost his 
 ship by bad management, it would be his ruin. If he 
 permitted the ensign which floated at his peak to be dis- 
 graced, it would be infamy to him. 
 
 In the public service he might have occasion to run 
 iuto foreign ports, or to visit neutral waters. His want 
 of knowledge, or his want of judgment, might entangle 
 his country in perplexing broils with other nations, or 
 even involve her in another war. As he thought of his 
 delicate and dilHcult duties, he felt like shrinking from 
 them, and avoiding the immense responsibility. Being 
 " captain," iu this view, was quite a different thing from 
 what he had anticipated. 
 
 With a smile he recalled his own reflections, when, as 
 
296 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 an ordinary seaman, he had observed the captain of his 
 ship walk the deck. Then he had thought the com- 
 mander had the easiest and joHiest time of all the men on 
 board, with his fine cabin all to himself, and no watch to 
 keep, and apparently no work to do. From his present 
 stand-point, the captain occupied the most difficult and 
 trj'ing place in the ship, and he almost wished he had 
 declined the command offered to him. 
 
 Outside the bay, the sealed orders were opened. As 
 he had anticipated, he was ordered to cruise in search of 
 rebel steamers, whose depredations on the coast had 
 severely tried the patience of the nation. He was 
 directed to proceed first to the eastward, and then to use 
 his own judgment. There were several reUel privateers, 
 or naval vessels belonging to the Confederacy. Tlie 
 Tallahassee, the Chickamauga, and the Olustee had been 
 the most mischievous ; and it was believed that there 
 were others at Wilmington, and the neutral ports of New 
 Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the "West Indies. 
 
 Having learned where he was to go, and what he was 
 to do, he went on deck and gave his orders to Mr. Gam- 
 age, the first lieutenant. The Firefly was headed to the 
 north-east, and all sail set to help her along. Before 
 Somers went below, she logged fifteen knots, which was 
 splendid for a ship with her bunkers full of coal. 
 
 In the evening the young commander invited Tom 
 Longstone to visit his cabin. The veteran was in his 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 297 
 
 happiest frame of mind. All the aspirations of his ear- 
 lier years seemed to have been rekindled in his soul ; he 
 had abandoned the use of slang, and conducted himself 
 so much like a gentleman, outwardly, that no oue could 
 have suspected lie had spent thirty odd years of his life 
 before the mast ; but as he had always been a gentleman 
 at heart, it was comparatively easy for him to assume 
 the externals of hi's new profession. 
 
 The old man had donned a new uniform ; and though 
 his hair and beard were iron gray, he looked as "spruce" 
 as a dry goods clerk. No change of dress, however, 
 could make him any other than an " old salt." He 
 "walked with a rolling gait, and had all the airs of a 
 veteran seaman. It is true that in the transposition 
 from the forecastle to the ward-room he had discarded 
 *' pigtail," and confined himself to " fine cut," taken 
 from a silver box ; but he still used as much of the 
 " weed " as an old sheet-anchor man. 
 
 " You sent for me. Captain Somers," said the second 
 lieutenant, as he touched his foretop, from the force of 
 habit. 
 
 " Sit down, Mr. Longstone," said the captain. " It 
 is one of the blessings of my present position that I have 
 a place to sit down and talk with old friends. I suppose 
 you know we are bound to the eastward in search of 
 rebel privateers." 
 
 ** So Mr. Gamage told me, sir. I hope we shall catch 
 some of them." 
 
298 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " So do I ; but I'm afraid we are on a wild-goose 
 chase." 
 
 " Perhaps not — at least, I hope not. If there is a 
 rebel ship in these waters, we'll have her, if we have to 
 dive after her." 
 
 " The ocean is very broad. None of our ships have 
 had much luck in catching these rebel pirates. I would 
 rather have gone down on the blockade, where there is 
 some show for us." 
 
 " Don't give it up. Captain Somers." 
 
 " I don't give it up ; but I do not see any reason why 
 I should be more fortunate than others. A score of our 
 ships have cruised for months without catching a single 
 one of them." 
 
 " They didn't look where they were," laughed Tom. 
 
 " If I knew where they were, I would look there." 
 
 " You will certainly catch one of the pirates, Captain 
 Somers." 
 
 '' Why do you say so? " 
 
 " Because you are smart, and you are lucky. I know 
 you will make a capture on this cruise. I feel it in my 
 bones." 
 
 " I hope I shall. Wouldn't it be glorious, if I could 
 send such a despatch as Captain Winslow did, after he 
 had sunk the Alabama ? " 
 
 Somers's eyes glistened as he thought of it, but it was 
 only an air-castle ; and after he had contemplated it for 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 209 
 
 a moment, his common sense obliged him to come down 
 iVom the clouds. 
 
 The cruise of the Firefly would supply matter enough 
 for a whole volume, but we have only space for a mere 
 outline of the voyage. The steamer lay off and on for a 
 week without meeting with anything that looked like a 
 rebel privateer, when her commander decided to run into 
 Halifax, where he hoped to obtain some information. 
 The city was a nest of " secesh sympathizers," and the 
 captain of the Firefly was not received with much en- 
 thusiasm outside of the American consulate. He had 
 not been in the habit of hearing his country and her 
 rulers vilified, and as he sat in the parlor of the hotel, 
 and listened to hostile remarks, evidently intended for 
 his ear, nothing but prudence prevented him from indulg- 
 ing in the luxury of pulling the noses of the speakers. 
 He preserved his dignity in spite of his inclination. 
 
 *' Upon my word, this is a very unexpected pleasure," 
 said a familiar voice. 
 
 He looked up from the newspaper he was reading. 
 Before him stood Mr. Pillgrim ! 
 
 " Quite as unexpected to me as to you, Mr. Pillgrim !" 
 replied Somers, with abundant self-possession. 
 
 '^ I dare say, Mr. Somers," laughed Pillgrim. " Of 
 course you did not expect to see me. "NVill yuu take a 
 glass of wine with me, Mr. Somers? " 
 
 " No, 1 thank you ; I never indulge — as you are 
 aware." 
 
300 lillAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " I didn't know but your rapid advancement liad 
 changed your tastes." 
 
 " No, sir.'* 
 
 " You command the Ben Lomond now, Mr. Somers, I 
 learn from the papers." 
 
 " The Firefly is her present name." 
 
 " Bah I What an ugly name for a fine steamer like 
 her. The Tallapoosa is much better. Be that as it 
 may, I congi-atulate you ou your promotion and your 
 appointment ; and you know how sincere I am ! " 
 
 " I do know ; and, therefore, cannot even thank you 
 for your good wishes." 
 
 " Don't be savage, Mr, Somers. You can afford to 
 be very good-natured." 
 
 " I am." 
 
 " You don't seem to be very glad to see me." 
 
 " On the contrary, I am. I hope, with your usual 
 candor, that you will tell me what you are going to do 
 next, and give me an opportunity to cut out your vessel. 
 I am up here for that purpose." 
 
 Pillgrim bit his lip. 
 
 " At present, Mr. Somers, I must be silent ; but we 
 shall yet meet and settle up old accounts. Let us not be 
 ill-natured. If we meet as enemies, we will fight it out." 
 
 " We can never meet in any other way." 
 
 " That isn't friendly. How is Miss Portington ? " 
 
 " She was well, last time I saw her ; " and Somers 
 blushed, and looked disconcerted — as he really was. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 601 
 
 '' I am glad to hoar it, Mr. Somers," said rillgrim, 
 significantly. 
 
 Somers changed the topic at once, and finally contrived 
 to ask the traitor how he happened to be in Halifax, 
 instead of Fortress Monroe. Pillgrim laughed exult- 
 ingly, and declared there -were no irons, bolts, or bars 
 that could keep him a prisoner ; and the facts seemed to 
 justify the assertion. 
 
 '' Mr. Somers, not more than one half of the people 
 of the North are in favor of this cruel war. I have 
 friends in Washington and other cities whom no one 
 suspects of favoring the South. I am indebted to them 
 for my liberation. I shall yet carry out my original pur- 
 pose. I have lost three vessels. I was paid for two by 
 the Confederacy ; and I have your bond for half the 
 value of the third. I am a commander in the Confed- 
 erate navy. In one week I shall be at sea. I shall 
 sink, burn, and destroy ! You can't help yourself." 
 " Is your ship here? " 
 "Yes — no." 
 
 rillgrim laughed, turned on his heel, and walked 
 away. Somers was excited. He wanted to kuow more. 
 He went to the American consul. A •' blue-nose" sailor 
 of the Firefly was sent on shore, who found Pillgrim, 
 and without much difficulty shipped in the " Sunny 
 South " for a voyage on the coast. This was all the 
 information that could be obtained. There was no such 
 
602 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 craft as the Sunny South in port. Somcrs examined all 
 llic vessels in the harbor, and found a steamer called the 
 Ben Ledi — another Scottish mountain. She was Clyde- 
 built, and similar to the Ben Nevis and the Ben Lomond. 
 The name alone satisfied the inquirer that she belonged 
 to the same family as the two vessels he had already 
 captured. 
 
 Things began to look a little more hopeful, and the 
 young commander carefully read his books on interna- 
 tional law. He attempted to place the Firefly where he 
 could watch the suspected steamer ; but the authorities, 
 on various pretences, prevented him from doing so. The 
 next morning the Ben Ledi was gone. Somers was ex- 
 ceedingly mortified, for he might as well look for a needle 
 in a haymow as try to find the vessel on the ocean. He 
 put to sea at once. A " blue-nose " official laughed at 
 him as his gig pulled off to the ship, and everybody on 
 shore was in high glee because the Confederate had 
 eluded the Yankee. 
 
 Somers kept cool in spite of his chagrin ; and believ- 
 ing the Ben Ledi would run for Wilmington, where she 
 would probably be fitted out as a cruiser, he headed the 
 Firefly in that direction, and gave chase. 
 
LIFE ON THE QVARTEIi DECK. 303 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 A LONG CHASE. 
 
 y/' OMERS was somewhat bewildered by the events 
 which had transpired during his brief stay at 
 Halifax. It was almost incredible that Pillgrim 
 had again escaped ; but the traitor had powerful friends — 
 men who appeared to be loyal while they were in full 
 sympathy with the leaders of the rebellion. The three 
 " Bens," the last of which was now fleeing before him, 
 were certainly an interesting family. Pillgrim, while 
 abroad, and operating for the Southern Confederacy, had 
 apparently purchased a whole line of Clyde-built steam- 
 ers. Two of them were now in good hands, and doino" 
 good service to the loyal cause ; but Somers feared that 
 the third would escape him. 
 
 Pillgrim had learned prudence from the experience of 
 the past. Somers hoped he would indulge in his custom- 
 ary reckless boasting ; that his thirst for revenge would 
 again lead him to betray himself; but he had not dropped 
 even a hint that could be of any service. The decoy 
 seaman had only learned that he was to sail in the 
 
304 JSIiAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 " Suuny South." The sudden departure of the Bea 
 Ledi was the only important fact in possession of the 
 commander of the Firefly. 
 
 When the ship was well out of the bay, and her course 
 laid down, Sonicrs went into his cabin to consult his 
 charts, and consider a plan for future operations. Unfor- 
 tunately there was no information on wliich to base a 
 theory in regard to the pirate's course. He could only 
 guess at her destination. The Firefly Mas run at her 
 best speed during the rest of the day, but her course 
 for a large portion of the time was through a dense 
 Nova Scotia fog, and nothing "svas seen or heard. 
 
 On the following day, the sun shone through a clear 
 air, and at noon there was seen, dead ahead, some evi- 
 dences of black smoke in the horizon. This was a hope- 
 ful sign, for there was a steamer burning English coal in 
 the direction indicated. It might be the Ben Ledi, and 
 it might not ; but the appearance created a tremendous 
 excitement on board the Firefly. 
 
 " Captain Somers, you will have her," said Tom Long- 
 stone, placing himself by the side of the young com- 
 mander. " It is your luck." 
 
 " That may not be the steamer we are after. AVe 
 haven't seen her yet." 
 
 " That's the Ben Ledi ; you may depend upon it. I 
 wouldn't give five cents to any man to guarantee my 
 share of prize money in her." 
 
LIFE OX Tin: QrAiiri:it deck. 305 
 
 "Don't be too coiifitlcut, Afr. Longstonc." 
 
 " She is ours, Captain Somcrs." 
 
 " I wish I could believe it." 
 
 *' You must believe it, and work for it.'* 
 
 *' I shall certainly work for it." 
 
 And he did work for it. Everytliing that would add a 
 fraction of a knot to the speed of the Firefly was done. 
 The black smoke was visible all the rest of the day, but 
 not a sight of the steamer from which it proceeded could 
 be obtained. Darkness settled down upon the ocean, 
 and nothing could be seen during the night. The next 
 day was cloudy, and there was not a sign of encourage- 
 ment to those on board of the pursuing vessel. Then 
 came a gale of twenty hours' duration ; but the Firefly 
 held her course, and proved herself to be a perfect sea 
 boat. 
 
 The fourth day out from Halifax was fine, and shortly 
 after sunrise tlie cloud of black smoke was again dis- 
 covered, and a thrill of delight coursed through the 
 veins of Somcrs as he discovered it. The steamer was 
 on the port bow now, but it was evident that both steam- 
 ers were bound to the same point, though their courses 
 had slightly varied during the gale. 
 
 " I told you so. Captain Somers ! " exclaimed Lieuten- 
 ant Longstone, as he rubbed his hands lij'iskly in view of 
 the bright prospect. 
 
 " "We ha\en't caught her yet, Mr. Longstone." 
 26* 
 
306 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 *'But you will catch licr, just as sure as the sun 
 shines." 
 
 " Mr. Pillgrim Avill not allow himself to be taken." 
 
 " He cannot help himself." 
 
 " Perhaps he can. That steamer sails as well as the 
 Firefly, and we are not a hundred and fifty miles from 
 Cape Fear." 
 
 " No matter ; we have got ten hours* working time, 
 and we shall use her up. Shall we put the helm to star- 
 board, Captain Somers?" 
 
 " No ; keep her as she is," replied the commander. 
 " If she is sroino^ into AVilminfrtou we shall be makinnc 
 something on this tack. AVe have the weather-gage of 
 her." 
 
 It w^as soon clearly demonstrated that the chase had 
 " slowed doAvn," so as not to approach the coast before 
 night should favor her operations, though her great speed 
 gave her every advantage over an ordinary , pursuer. 
 The Firefly had run doAvn so that the Ben Ledi was on 
 her port beam, about eight miles distant. Both steam- 
 ers had hoisted English colors, for Somers had no idea 
 of being cheated out of the game by " showing his 
 hand." 
 
 The most intense excitement prevailed on board of the 
 Firefly, for it was evident that a few hours more would 
 settle the question one way or the other. Somers was 
 not disposed to wait until night, which would favor the 
 
LIFE OS THE QUARTER DECK. 307 
 
 chase more tliau himself; aud he was afraid, if he headed 
 towards her, that she would take the alarm and beat him 
 on time. He kept quiet for a couple of hours, just as 
 though he were waiting for the darkness to cover him in 
 running the blockade. 
 
 His plan seemed to be a success, for after a while the 
 Ben Ledi began to bear down upon him. It Avas au 
 anxious hour for Somers. He ordered the first lieu- 
 tenant to beat to quarters, and the chief engineer to have 
 on a full head of steam. The gims were loaded with 
 solid shot, aud every preparation made for an exciting 
 time. Pillgrim did not seem to suspect thus far that the 
 steamer under English colors was the one he had left; in 
 Halifax harbor. It was certain that he did not yet 
 recognize her. 
 
 The Firefly reciprocated the attention of the Ben Ledi, 
 and moved slowly towards her, for Somers was careful 
 not to excite suspicion by being precipitate. The two 
 steamers approached within three miles, and the respec- 
 tive captains were busy in examining each other's ship 
 through their glasses. The chase now hoisted her num- 
 ber. As Somers had the Lloyd's signal book, he read it 
 without difticulty. It was the Ben Ledi. To the ques- 
 tion, "What ship is that?" he had no answer to give, 
 for it was not prudent to hoist the old number of the 
 Ben Lomond. 
 
 Our younger readers may not understand how u con- 
 
308 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 versation is carried on between ships at sea, several miles 
 distant from each other. There are tea small signal flags 
 representing the nine digits and the zero. Any number 
 can of course be formed of these figures. Every ship is 
 provided with a number, which if it consists of two 
 figures is represented by two flags, hoisted together ; 
 three figures, three flags ; and so on. 
 
 The signal book also contains a great number of ques- 
 tions and answers, such as, '' \Yhat ship is that?'* 
 " Where bound ? " '' All well." " Short of water," &c. 
 Each sentence has its invariable number, which may be 
 indicated by the signal flags. If one vessel shows the 
 number li4, the captain of the ship signalized would find 
 this number in his signal book ; and against it would be 
 jmnted the question or answer. 
 
 Somers was not disposed to reply to the question of 
 Fillgrim ; and as he did not do so, the traitor immediately 
 took the alarm. The Ben Lcdi went about, and made 
 oflT to the eastward under full steam. The Firefly was 
 all ready to follow, and then commenced a most exciting 
 chase. It was useless to waste shot at that distance, and 
 Somers confined his attention to the speed of his vessel. 
 For three hours the pursuit was continued, without auy 
 perceptible decrease of the distance between the two 
 steamers. 
 
 But it was soon discovered that Pillgrim was gradually 
 wearing round, Somers perceived his intention, but it 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 309 
 
 was not prudent to attempt to cut him off all at once, by 
 takiii" the arc oi a smaller circle ; but he Avorked his 
 ship slowly rouud ; and whcu both vessels were headed 
 to ihe west, he had gained a mile. Pillgrim had evi- 
 dently made up his mind to go into Wilmington at any 
 risk, though under ordinary circumstances the more pru- 
 dent course would have been for him to continue at sea, 
 where a dark night or a fog might have enabled him to 
 elude his pursuer. Somers concluded, therefore, that the 
 Ben Ledi was short of coal, for his own supply was 
 nearly exhausted. 
 
 The furnaces of the Firefly were now worked to their 
 utmost capacity, and every expedient to make steam was 
 resorted to by the excited engineers and firemen. There 
 was a stiff breeze from the south-west, and both vessels 
 had crowded on every stitch of canvas that could be 
 spread. It had already been demonstrated that there 
 was no appreciable difference in the speed of the two 
 steamers, and the result of the chase was to depend en- 
 tirely upon the management of each. 
 
 When the two vessels had come about so as to make a 
 fair wind, the Firefly had been the first to spread her 
 canvas, and the superior discipline of her crew was thus 
 made apparent. A slight advantage had thus been 
 gained, and it was certain that ^' the balance of power" lay 
 in the sails. At meridian an observation was obtained, 
 and the position of the ship was accurately laid down on 
 
310 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 the chart. The latitude was 33° 59' 1" ; the longitude 
 76° 29' 23". To make the Swash Channel, which was 
 covered by the guns of Fort Fisher, the Ben Ledi would 
 have laid a course about half a point south of west ; but 
 her present course Avas west-south-west. Soraers, after 
 examining his chart, had some doubts whether she was 
 sroinji: into Wilminojton. 
 
 Tom Longstoue had the deck during the afternoon 
 watch. He was a veteran seaman, and his experience 
 had made him more familiar with canvas than with 
 steam. With the most anxious solicitude he watched 
 the sails during the afternoon, and under his skilful 
 directions they were kept perfectly trimmed. On that 
 momentous occasion everything was reduced down to 
 the finest point, as well in the handling of the engine as 
 the tacks, sheets, and halliards. 
 
 The case was hopeful, though the gain could not be 
 perceived in one, or two, hours ; but at eight bells hardly 
 a mile lay between the contending steamers. The first 
 lieutenant wanted to open on the chase with the rifled 
 gun on the top-gallant forecastle ; but Somers refused per- 
 mission, for while he was gaining on the Ben Ledi only 
 in inches, he could not afford to lose feet by the recoil of 
 the gun, until there was a better chance of hitting the 
 mark. At two bells in the first dog watch, just as the 
 sun was setting, the Ben Ledi doubled Frying Pan 
 Shoals, passing close to the breakers. Then, as her 
 
LIFE OX Tilt: QUARTER DECK. 311 
 
 people discovered a, couple of vessels belonging to 
 tlie blockading squadron, she sheered off, and went to 
 tlie westward. 
 
 These changes, with tlie doubt and uncertainty which 
 prevailed on board of the Ben Lcdi, had been very favor- 
 able to the Firefly, now within half a mile of her. Two 
 vessels from the blockading fleet had started to engage in 
 the exciting work, but they were too late to help or 
 hinder the pursuit. Somers gave the order to fire upon 
 the Ben Ledi, which was now endeavoring to work round 
 to the Beach Channel. 
 
 Though the darkness had settled down upon the chase, 
 the Firefly continued the pursuit with unabated vigor. 
 Her pilot was familiar with the channels, bars, and 
 shoals. Shot after shot was fired at the Ben Ledi, and 
 it was soon evident that one of them liad in some way 
 damaged her wheels, for she was rapidly losing ground. 
 But now a battery on Oak Island suddenly opened on the 
 Firefly. 
 
 " AVe must end this thing," said Somers, as a shot 
 from the fort whizzed over his head. 
 
 " Yes, sir," replied the first lieutenant. " "We can 
 hardly pass that battery." 
 
 " Try the hundred pounder." 
 
 When the pivot gun was ready, the Firefly swung 
 round, and the heavy piece roared out its salutation to 
 the blockade runner. It was aimed by Tom Longstone, 
 
312 HEAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 and the bolt struck the Ben Ledi square in the stern, 
 breaking in her counter, and leaving lier helpless on the 
 water. The Firefly stopped her ^vheels. A shot from 
 the fort crushed through her smoke-stack. 
 
 The chase, completely disabled, drifted on the beach 
 and grounded, under the guns of the battery. The Fire- 
 fly now poured shell into her from every gun that could 
 be brought to bear. In a few moments a sheet of flame 
 rose from her, and lighted up the channel for miles 
 around, clearly revealing to the gunners in the fort the 
 exact position of Somers's vessel. 
 
 The work had been accomplished, tlie Ben Ledi had 
 been destroyed, and the Firefly hastened to escape from 
 her dangerous locality. In coming about slie poured a 
 parting broadside into the burning steamer. As she 
 swung round, a hail from the water was heard, and a 
 boat containing several men was discovered. It had 
 been carried by the tide away from the beach. Tlie 
 occupants were taken on board, though one of them was 
 wounded and utterly helpless. They had no oars, and 
 were in danger of being carried out to sea. 
 
 " Here's the cap'n ; he was hit by a piece of a shell," 
 said one of the men. 
 
 " Who is he ? " asked Somers. 
 
 " Cap'n Pillgrim." 
 
 The sufferer was taken do^\^l into the ward-room, and 
 the surgeon began to examine him as the Firefly steamed 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 313 
 
 down the cliannel under a shower of shot and shell from 
 the battery. 
 
 '• How is lie?" asked the young commander, when the 
 ship liiid passed out of the reach of the guns of the fort. 
 
 '• He is dead ! " replied the surgeon. 
 
 '* Dead ! Good Heaveu ! " exclaimed Somers, im- 
 pressed by the terrible retribution which had at last 
 overtaken the traitor. 
 
 • " Yes, sir ; he died a few moments since. A fragment 
 of a shell tore open his breast and penetrated his lungs," 
 added the surgeon. 
 
 '' That's the last of him," said Lieutenant Longstone. 
 " He will lay uo more plots." 
 
 " He has been a dangerous enemy to his country," 
 continued Somers. " If he had succeeded in running in 
 with that vessel, he would have obtained her armament, 
 and made terrible havoc among the merchant ships on 
 the coast. He was a daring fellow ; he was reckless at 
 times. He told me on board of the Chatauqua that he 
 had purchased three steamers in Scotland ; this is the 
 last one." 
 
 " Three Bens," added Tom. " Captain Somers, you 
 have had a hand in capturing and destroying them all." 
 
 " I have ; and it is really marvellous, when I think 
 of it." 
 
 " I knew you would capture the Ben Ledi," continued 
 the second lieutenant, exultingly. 
 27 
 
314 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 "I did not capture her." 
 
 " It is the same thing." 
 
 " You will not find it so when your prize money is 
 distributed." 
 
 " A iig for the prize money," replied Tom, contempt- 
 uously. " We destroyed her ; and it's all the same thing. 
 I would rather have had that villain hanged than killed 
 by an honest shell ; but there is no help for it now." 
 
 " Peace, Mr. Longstone ; lie is dead now. "\Ve have 
 uothing more to do with him." 
 
 The body of Mr. Pillgrim was laid out in a proper 
 place, and as the coal bunkers of the Firefly were nearly 
 empty, she was headed for Port Royal, where she arrived 
 on the afternoon of the following day. On the passage, 
 the men from the Ben Ledi, who had been picked up in 
 the boat, were examined in regard to their knowledge of 
 her ultimate use. One of the party was an intelligent 
 English seaman, who acknowledged that he had shipped, 
 for the Confederate navy, in the Sunny South, which 
 was to be the new name of the Ben Ledi. She had 
 waited a month at Halifax for orders. Langdon was not 
 on board of her, and the seaman had no knowledge of 
 any such person. 
 
 The Firefly had not been seen on board the Sunny 
 South until both steamers were off Wilmington. After 
 passing Frying Pan Shoals, a shot from the Firefly had 
 partially crippled her port wheel, which accident had 
 
LIFE OX THE QVARTElt DECK. 315 
 
 caused her to lose ground rapidly. The projectile from 
 tlie hundred pounder had completely shattered her stern, 
 and disabled her rudder, and knocked the engine " all in 
 a heap." Tiie port quarter boat was torn to pieces by a 
 shell, the same which had given Pillgrim his mortal 
 wouud. The after tackle of the other quarter boat had 
 been shot away, and when it was dropped into the water 
 the oars were gone. Most of the crew had saved them- 
 selves by swimming ashore. The Ben Ledi had a valu- 
 able cargo, which the informer declared was totally de- 
 stroyed by fire or Avater. 
 
 On her arrival at Port Royal, the Firefly coaled with- 
 out delay ; the body of Pillgrim was buried, and after 
 forwarding his despatches to the navy department by a 
 supply steamer, Somers sailed again on another cruise 
 after privateers, Confederate cruisers, and blockade run- 
 ners. The Tallahassee and the Chickamauga were sup- 
 posed to be at Wilmington, but the Olustee was believed 
 to be still afloat. Of this cruise our limits do not permit 
 us to record details ; but the Firefly captured a valuable 
 steamer in December, and sent her into port. This was 
 the only prize she obtained ; and being short of coal, she 
 ran into Boston, on New Year's day, where her prize 
 had arrived before lier. 
 
 Somers immediately forwarded his despatches, and 
 awaited the orders of the department. Of course he 
 hastened down to Pinchbrook as soon as he could leave 
 
31^ LRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 tlic ship, where he was heartily M'elcomcd and warmly 
 congratulated upon his successful cruise. 
 
 '* Here's something for you, John,'* said Mrs. Somers, 
 taking a daintily made up letter from tlie mantel-piece, 
 when the welcome had been given, kisses bestowed, and 
 hands shaken. " It has been here a fortnight." 
 
 Somers knew the handwriting, for it had often glad- 
 dened his heart before, and a flush came to his cheeks as 
 he tore open the envelope. It was from Kate Portington, 
 whom the young commander had not failed to 1 1 link of 
 every day during his absence, though it was with pain 
 and sorrow at the rupture which had separated them. 
 The letter healed his only wound. 
 
 " I shall never forgive myself," she wrote, " for ray 
 liarsh treatment of you ; and I am afraid you can never 
 forgive me. I have seen Mr. Hackleford, who says that 
 he ordered you to sign that horrible paper. Why didn't 
 you tell me so, John ? " He Avould have told her so, if 
 she had given him an opportunity. But she was repent- 
 ant, and Somers was rejoiced. 
 
 The letter w:as four pages in length, and among all the 
 pleasant things it contained, the pleasantest w^as that she 
 Avas spending a month in Boston, at the residence of a 
 friend, where she hoped to see him. 
 
 She did see him there, on the very day he received the 
 letter. What passed between them we are not at liberty 
 to say in a book of this kind, except to inform the reader 
 
LIFE ON THE QUAIVmn HFJ'K. 317 
 
 tliat Kate was herself again ; that in the joy of meeting 
 him after this painful rupture, she actually forgot to 
 be proper, and in spite of her promise, and her moth- 
 er's lecture, she called him " prodigy." The past, the 
 present, and the future, were discussed, and Somers went 
 on board the Firefly the happiest of mortals. 
 27* 
 
318 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE END OF THE KEIiELLION. 
 
 /^"Pj^HE Firefly, "with her energetic young commander, 
 m\ ^^^^ ^^^ serviceable to be permitted long to re- 
 ^^_Ly main in idleness, and she was ordered to join 
 Admiral Porter's squadron, -which had failed to capture 
 Fort Fisher in December ; or rather, the military portion 
 of the expedition had failed to do it, for the navy had 
 done its part of the work to the satisfaction of the nation. 
 Somers sailed again, and in due time reported to the 
 admiral, who was then waiting for the army, in order to 
 make the second attack. A tremendous gale delayed the 
 expedition ; but on the 13th of January, the bombard- 
 ment of Fort Fisher was commenced, and the military 
 force was lauded on Federal Point. A detachment of 
 sailors from the Firefly, under the command of Lieuten- 
 ant Lougstone, was sent on shore to join the naval 
 brigade, and the steamer was variously employed during 
 the action, rendering valuable aid with her hundred 
 pounder, as well as performing various duties, for which 
 her great speed and light draught peculiarly fitted her. 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 319 
 
 Tlie zeal and energy of JSoniers were warmly commended, 
 though he had no opportunity to render any signal service 
 in the attack. 
 
 Fort Fisher fell this time ; every man and every ship 
 was faithful ; and though some Mere distinguished by 
 gallant exploits, the victory Mas the result of the steadi- 
 ness of the Mhole line, rather than of the brilliant deeds 
 of the few. The last maritime stronghold of the rebel- 
 lion M-as reduced, and the sinking Confederacy Avas shut 
 in from all material support from abroad. Its days were 
 numbered, and many of its most rabid supporters were 
 now crying out for peace. 
 
 The flag of the Union floated over Fort Fisher, and 
 the great fleet before its shattered ramparts celebrated 
 the victory with clouds of gay flags, with flights of rock- 
 ets, and with salvos of artillery. It Mas a glorious day 
 for that expedition. Admiral Porter and General Terry 
 MOD a glorious fame and an unfading name upon the 
 annals of their country. 
 
 Gallant old Tom Longstone M-as M'ounded in the arm 
 in an attempt to rally the sailors when they broke under 
 the most terrible Arc that mortal men ever breasted. 
 Lieutenant Longstone did all that any officer could do, 
 but the Avhole garrison seemed to be gathered at the 
 point where the naval assault Avas made. The sailors 
 Avere repulsed and driven back. They luul never been 
 disciplined to this kind of Mork ; yet llicy fought like 
 
320 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 tigers, hand to liaud oftentimes, witli the foe ; and 
 though they were forced back, even while the Ame/ican 
 flag was floating over the other side of the works, it was 
 no disgrace to them. Tom stood by to the last, though 
 he was severely wounded, and finally had the satisfaction 
 of beholding a complete triumph. The soldiers did won- 
 ders on that day — the sailors hardly less. 
 
 "Witli other vessels of light draught the Firefly went 
 up the river, fishing up torpedoes, transporting soldiers, 
 and hammering down rebel batteries, and continued upon 
 this duty until General Terry marched into the deserted 
 city of Wilmington, and raised the national flag where 
 the emblem of treason had insulted the free air for four 
 long years. 
 
 The Firefly was ordered to the James River, in the 
 vicinity of Avhich the last gi'oan of the expiring monster 
 of Rebellion was soon to be heard ; and on the 20th of 
 March she was on her winding way up the stream. In 
 the mean time Charleston had fallen ; negro troops pa- 
 trolled her streets, and the people of this foul nest of 
 secession were suflfering the agonies of actual subjuga- 
 tion. Sherman, w^ith his grand army, w^as " marching 
 on" in his resistless course, with hardly a foe to impede 
 his exultant march. Columbia, the proud capital of 
 arrogant South Carolina, yielded, and the people re- 
 pented their folly in the ashes of the burning city. 
 Johnston was retreating before his invincible conqueror, 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 321 
 
 and the whole miUtary power of the rebelliou east of 
 Mississippi was concentrated within an area of not more 
 than a luindred and fifty miles. 
 
 The movements of General Grant before Petersburg 
 commenced ; and his great army, now animated by the 
 sure prestige of victory, was hurled against the rebel lines. 
 The shock was tremendous ; the whole world seemed 
 to be shaken by it, for it Vas the onslaught of freedom, 
 striking its last terrible blow at the legions of slavery. 
 
 The fleet on the James was busily employed in fishing 
 up torpedoes, in guarding the pontoons across the river, 
 and in "neutralizing" the enemy's iron-clads which lay 
 above the obstructions. The Firefly found abundant oc- 
 cupation, though there was no opportunity for brilliant 
 and startling achievements ; but she bore her full share 
 in the hard work and disagreeable drudgery of the 
 occasion. 
 
 Tom Longstone had entirely recovered from his 
 wound ; and being a practical man himself, he was the 
 life of every working party sent out from the ship. The 
 old man was an immense favorite with the sailors ; for, 
 unlike many who have risen from a low position to a 
 high, he was kind and considerate, while he exacted the 
 full measure of duty from all. He was no tyrant, and 
 had a heart for every man, whfltever his degree. 
 
 " Well, IMr. Longstone, wc have got almost to the end 
 of the rebellion," said Captain Somers, on one of those 
 
322 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 last days of March, when the roar from beyond Peters- 
 burg was heavier than usual. 
 
 " No doubt of that, captain," replied Tom. " I shall 
 be a boatswain again before long." 
 
 " Do you dread the time ? " 
 
 " No, sir ; far be it from me. I wouldn't prolong tho 
 war a single day, if that day would make me an admiral." 
 
 " Only one day, Tom ? " said Somers, with a smile. 
 
 " Not one, sir ! " repeated the veteran, with emphasis. 
 " For on that day a husband or a father, a brother or 
 a son, might be killed, and I should be a murderer before 
 God." 
 
 " What do you think of those, then, that began this 
 war?" 
 
 " They are murderers ! The blood of every man 
 who has been killed in this war on both sides rests on 
 their heads. I'd rather be Cain than Jeff Davis, or any 
 other man of his crew." 
 
 " I think you are right, Tom." 
 
 " As for me, it don't make much difference whether 
 I'm a boatswain or an admiral. This old hulk won't 
 stand many more storms ; and I wouldn't do a mean 
 thing for the sake of living twenty years. Well, well," 
 sighed the veteran, as he glanced in the direction from 
 which the roar of the artillery came, " many a good fel- 
 low will lose the number of his mess to-day." 
 
 " Hundreds of them." 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 323 
 
 And so the reports of tlie succeeding days assured 
 them. The rebels had stormed and temporarily pos- 
 sessed themselves of Fort Steadman. The terrible con- 
 flict was opened in earnest ; and from that time, swarms 
 of prisoners were sent forward to the river, which were 
 guarded by detachments of sailors and marines from the 
 fleet. 
 
 For three days the storm of war continued to howl in 
 the distance, and on the peaceful Sabbath more fiercely 
 than before. Vague rumors were flying through the 
 fleet, and everybody felt that the end was at hand. 
 Somers retired as usual that night ; but in the first 
 watch, Tom Longstone came down to him with report 
 of great lights and heavy explosions in the direction of 
 Richmond. 
 
 The rebels were evacuating the city, blowing up their 
 iron-clads, and firing the town. Richmond, which had 
 defied the armies of the Union for four years, had fallen. 
 The heroic and persevering Grant had struck a blow 
 miles away, which tumbled down the last stronghold of 
 treason. Jeff Davis and his cabinet were fugitives now, 
 fleeing from men, while the wrath of God pursued where 
 men could not reach them. 
 
 The morning came, and with it the glad tidings of 
 victory, which foreshadowed peace. The Firefly was 
 ordered to move up the river, and she went up into 
 waters where a loyal steamer had not floated for four 
 
'324 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 years. The negro troops were even tlieu marching 
 through the streets of Richmond. The note of rejoicing, 
 begun in the early morning, was continued through the 
 day. The brightest flags and the heaviest guns pro- 
 claimed the joyful event. 
 
 The Firefly went up to Varina, and then returned. 
 This river was clear ; there was no sign of an enemy 
 upon its waters. At City Point the sounds of rejoicing 
 thrilled upon the ear of soldier and sailor. Cheer upon 
 cheer rent the air, gun upon gun roared the pa^an of 
 triumph, and every heart beat in unison with the glad 
 acclaim. 
 
 " Glory, hallelujah ! " shouted Somers, on the quarter 
 deck of the Firefly, as she passed through the fleet. 
 
 " Glory, hallelujah ! " returned all who heard him. 
 
 Three rousing cheers, such as Jack only can give, 
 came from the flag-ship, as the Firefly ran under her 
 counter. 
 
 " What's that? " asked Somers — for there seemed to 
 be somethino^ unusual oroin"; on. 
 
 Calling his gig, he went on board the flag-ship to 
 report the result of his visit up the rivci-. On the 
 quarter deck he discovered a familiar face, which thrilled 
 his heart with delight. It was " Brave Old Salt." 
 
 Somers approached the vice admiral, cap in hand, and 
 was immediately recognized. 
 
 " Mr. Somers, I am delighted to see you ! " said the 
 admiral, extending his hand. 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 325 
 
 " Thank you, sir," replied the young commander. 
 *' This is an unexpected happiness to me." 
 
 " There is only one joy to-day, Mr. Somers," con- 
 tinued the admiral. " Richmond has fallen, and the 
 rebellion is ended ! " 
 
 " Glory, hallelujah ! " said Somers, waving his cap. 
 
 *' I came down here to Icaru what Grant was doing. 
 God bless him ! He has done everything," added the 
 admiral. 
 
 Rear Admiral Porter now ordered the Firefly to be 
 placed at the disposal of the Old Salamander, and 
 Somers was happy in the duty assigned to him. A 
 twelve-oar barge received the vice admiral, and con- 
 veyed him to the steamer in which his voyage was to be 
 continued. When he was on board, the barge was 
 towed astern for his use farther up the river. 
 
 The Firefly steamed up the river with her illustrious 
 passenger, and at the invitation of the admiral, Somers 
 accompanied him to Richmond. 
 
 A day later came President Lincoln in a barge, at- 
 tended by Admiral Porter, and Somers had the honor of 
 being formally presented to the chief magistrate of the 
 nation, who had a pleasant word for him, as he had for 
 all who approached him. Somers assisted in the ovation 
 to the president, and listened with wonder and delight to 
 the shouts of the negroes, as they greeted the author of 
 28 
 
326 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 the Emancipation Proclamation as the saviour and 
 redeemer of their race. 
 
 Ten days later, that simple, great man fell by the hand 
 of the assassin, though not till the news of the surrender 
 of Lee's army had gladdened his heart, and assured him 
 that the great work of his lifetime was finished. 
 
 Somers was shocked, stunned by the fearful news, the 
 more so that he had so recently pressed the hand of the 
 illustrious martyr ; and though the nation was full of 
 mourners, there were none more sincere in their grief than 
 the young commander of the Firefly. He wept as he 
 would have wept for his own father ; and shutting himself 
 up in his cabin, in solemn fast, he read his Bible and 
 prayed for the land he loved. How many true souls did 
 the same, when they heard of the awful tragedy ! 
 
 The war was ended. A feAV days later came the news, 
 of Johnston's surrender. One by one, the gunboats were 
 ordered north, and in June the Firefly dropped her 
 anchor oflT the navy yard at Charlestown. A few hours 
 later Somers was in the arms of the loved ones at home, 
 weeping tears of joy that the sound of strife was no more 
 heard in the land. 
 
 The Firefly was no longer needed in the navy, and 
 with a hundred others she was sold. As soon as she 
 went out of commission, Tom Longstone, having been 
 " honorably discharged with the thanks of the depart- 
 ment " as an ensign, returned to his former rank of boat- 
 
LIFE OX THE QUARTER DECK. 327 
 
 swain. When he obtained a furlough, he paid a visit to 
 Piuchbrook, where he was kindly received by all the 
 friends of his p'otccje. The old man had money enough 
 to buy him a farm and retire from the navy ; but he 
 obstinately refused to do so while Somers retained his 
 commission. He confidently expected to be appointed 
 boatswain of the ship to which Lieutenant Somers might 
 be ordered. 
 
 During his absence Somers had received occasional 
 letters from Kate Portington ; and we will not undertake 
 to say how many reams of fine note paper he spoiled in 
 saying what can be of interest to none but the parties 
 concerned. Of course there was any quantity of liquid 
 moonshine spread out on these dainty sheets, and the 
 young man was all the happier for writing it, as she was 
 for reading it, for Kate and Somers had come to an ex- 
 cellent understanding with each other on these matters. 
 
 At the earliest day the public service would admit, he 
 hastened to Newport ; but on his arrival he found the 
 commodore's house filled with grief and lamentation. 
 The husband and the father — the kindest of husbands and 
 the tenderest of fathers — had been suddenly stricken 
 down in New Orleans, where his ship was stationed. 
 The sad tidings had come but a few hours before ; and a 
 few hours later it had flashed all over the land that one 
 of the nation's truest defenders had fallen at the post of 
 duty. 
 
328 BRAVE OLD SALT, OR 
 
 In her grief Kate clung to Somers, who became the 
 tenderest of comforters. Then she learned, when earth 
 was dark to her, what a wealth of holy hope and pious 
 faith there was in the soul of him she had chosen from 
 the whole world to lean upon in joy and in soitow, in 
 prosperity and adversity, till life's fitful dream was over. 
 Fondly she looked up to him in her heavy affliction, and 
 through him to the heaven of which he spoke. He wept 
 with her for him who was gone, and if she had loved 
 him before, she reverenced him now. 
 
 Two weeks after the news came a steamer bearing the 
 remains of the deceased commodore. Then the tears 
 broke out afresh, and Somers continued to perform the 
 holy office he had chosen. TTith the bereaved child — 
 the only one — he stood at the tomb, and helped her to 
 see the glory that streamed forth beyond its dark portals. 
 Every day, for weeks after, he visited her, never now to 
 speak of his own selfish heart yearnings, but to utter 
 words of peace and hope. When he announced his 
 intention to return home, she could not restrain her tears, 
 so needful had he become to her in the depth of her 
 Borrow. 
 
 In the autumn her mother and herself came to Boston 
 to spend the winter. Kate was cheerful now, but the 
 affliction through which she had passed had given a shade 
 of pensive sadness to her beautiful face, which time alone 
 could wear away. They attended the wedding of Major 
 
LIFE ON THE QUARTER DECK. 329 
 
 Somers, John's brother, and rejoiced with him as he put 
 the cup of bliss to his lips. Lilian and Kate became fast 
 friends ; they were nearer alike now than before the 
 death of Commodore Portington. 
 
 The winter passed away, and early in March Lieu- 
 tenant Somers was appointed to a ship bound to tlie 
 Pacific Ocean. He must be absent two or three years. 
 He hastened to Kate with the intelligence ; and sad as it 
 was to himself, he knew it would be infinitely more so to 
 her. She turned pale, and burst into tears. Her mother 
 was hardly less affected. 
 
 "You must not go, John ! O, no ! You will not 
 leave me ! " . 
 
 " I must obey orders." 
 
 " You can resign," suggested Mrs. Portington. 
 
 " Resio^n ! " exclaimed Somers. '^ Resisrn when I am 
 ordered to difficult or disagreeable duty." 
 
 " You need not make so much of it," added the 
 matron, with a smile. " There are twice as many offi- 
 cers in the navy as are required. It is certainly no dis- 
 grace, in time of peace, to resign. You will only make 
 a place for another who wants to visit the Pacific." 
 
 " You must resign, John," pleaded Kate, Avith an 
 eloquence which he could not resist. 
 
 " On one condition I will do so," replied he, at last. 
 " If there should be war, I shall return to my post, if 
 needed." 
 
 28* 
 
330 BRAVE OLD SALT. 
 
 And thus it was that Somers left the navy. Ilis prize 
 money, which had been carefully iuvested from time to 
 time by Captain Barney, now amounted to more than 
 twenty thousand dollars. He was able to retire, and he 
 did so. 
 
 It is generally understood that they are to be married 
 in the autumn, when Mr. Somers will receive half a mil- 
 lion with his wife, who is worth a million times that sum 
 herself. As the happy event has not yet occurred, we 
 have nothing to say about it, but we wish them every joy 
 in anticipation. Mrs. Portington speaks hopefully of the 
 occasion, and has already selected a location, in the 
 vicinity of Boston, ^where the happy young couple are to 
 reside. 
 
 This event has decided Tom Longstone. He has 
 thrown up his warrant, and bought a farm in Pinchbrook, 
 on which he intends to " lay up " for the rest of his life. 
 A niece, who lost her husband in the war, is his house- 
 keeper, and at the time of Somers's last visit, the veteran 
 was at the high tide of felicity. 
 
 With many regrets we bid adieu to John Somers, to 
 Thomas his brother, and all of the family. We leave 
 them prosperous and happy ; but they have purchased 
 earth's joys and heaven's hopes by being faithful to duty 
 — true to God and themselves. 
 
ARMY AND NAVY STORIES, 
 By Olivjer Optic. 
 
 THE SOLDIER BOY; 
 
 OR, 
 
 Toivr som:ei?,s in the -a^e-miy. 
 
 1 vol. 16mo. Illustrated hi/ Champnei/. Price $1.50. 
 
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 JA.CK som:er,s in the n^vy, 
 
 1 vol. 16mo. Illustrated hy Champney. Price $1.50. 
 
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 A SEQUEL TO "TUE SOLDIER BOY." 
 
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 OR, THE 
 
 ^^DVENTTJRES OE A NA^AL OEEICER. 
 
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 is nothing on record that will exceed in interest the stories of those 
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 Soldier Boy " and " The Sailor Boy " cannot be excelled. 
 
 These four volumes will form a series, to be called, when com- 
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