"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.