CHAPTER XIII.
A CONFLICT OF AUTHORITY.
It was about sunset 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 Nevis, 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 commander did not appear to regard this delay as necessary, and came down at full speed. It was not dark, therefore, when the first cutter was within hail of her.
As soon as the Ben Nevis discovered the nearest boat, she sheered off, though, as the first cutter had no howitzer, 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 lieutenant.
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 impossible 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 does all that mean?" exclaimed Boatswain Longstone, who, by the 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.
"That beats me!" ejaculated the boatswain. "What did she stop for?"
"Probably her captain thinks that is his best course," replied Somers, who knew very well why she had stopped.
The commander of the blockade-runner evidently recognized 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 was 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 went 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 Longstone, in a low tone.
"If necessary."
"But Mr. Pillgrim has the steamer. He has boarded her."
"We will wait and see," answered Somers, evasively; for it was expected and intended that the second lieutenant 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 off, Somers's boat shot in alongside of her.
"She is all right, Mr. Somers," said the second lieutenant.
"All right?" exclaimed Somers; and, in spite of himself, 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 Pillgrim, 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?"
"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, with firmness, though he still trembled with emotion.
"Steady, Mr. Somers; be careful," said Tom Longstone, bewildered by this conflict of authority—a circumstance he had not before observed in his long career in the navy. "He is your superior officer."
"I know what I am about, Tom," whispered Somers, compassionating the misery his apparently mutinous actions must cause his honest friend.
"If you do, go ahead, my darling."
"Mr. Somers, I order you to return to the ship," said Mr. Pillgrim, sternly.
"I must obey the captain'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 conduct."
"The captain is not here; I am your superior officer. Disobey me at your peril!" continued Pillgrim, in savage 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 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 confounded 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 still more surprised when Mr. Somers dared to dispute the conclusions 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, and he felt that the occasion was too serious and solemn to admit of anything like levity.
"Mr. Somers, you know the consequences!" continued the second lieutenant.
"I do."
"Remember!"
"I know what I am about," answered Somers, understanding to what Pillgrim 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 will ruin yourself," whispered Tom, whose bronzed face was ghastly pale, and whose lips quivered with the anxiety he felt for his protégé.
"I am perfectly cool, Tom; don't be alarmed about me," replied Somers, tenderly, as he glanced at the expression 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.
"If you will capture this steamer, as you should do, I will obey you in all things," 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 will be obeyed!"
Mr. Pillgrim raised his pistol, and fired at the rebellious officer; but he was too much excited to take good aim, if, indeed, he intended to do anything more than intimidate his inferior officer. 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 work, and sat like statues on the thwarts.
A Conflict of Authority. [Page 148].
"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 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 the 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 Ben Nevis, and Somers followed them. The captain protested against the capture, but his papers were not what they were represented to be by Pillgrim. The character of the steamer was evident, and she was taken possession of by the fourth lieutenant, and the crews of both cutters were ordered on board.
"How is Mr. Pillgrim?" asked Somers of the boatswain. "Is he dead?"
"No, sir; the ball only glanced along the side of his head. He bleeds badly, but he is not severely wounded."
The second lieutenant was soon able to sit up, and was assisted on board the Ben Nevis, where he was conducted to a state-room, and 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.