Fighting for the Right Part 22

"But what do you think of my scheme to get you out of this sc.r.a.pe before you get into any trouble here?" asked Percy, who seemed to his companion to be altogether too much interested in his plan. "f.l.a.n.g.er is a friend of mine, for I was able to render him a very important service, nothing less than getting him the command of the Snapper."

"Of course I want to get out of the sc.r.a.pe."

"I suppose you haven't money enough to buy the boat, if you escaped from a Confederate prison; but I will help you out on that by lending you forty or fifty dollars."

"Thank you, Percy, you are behaving like a true friend, and I shall remember you with grat.i.tude," replied Christy, as earnestly as the occasion seemed to require. "Do you think you can trust Captain f.l.a.n.g.er to put me in the way to get to Key West?"

"I am sure I can!" exclaimed the schemer warmly. "He would do anything for me."

"But perhaps he would not do anything for me."

"I hope you don't mistrust my sincerity in this matter, my dear fellow,"

continued Percy, with an aggrieved expression on his face.

"Oh, no! Certainly not. I only suggested that your friend the captain might not be as willing as you are to let me escape at Key West."

"I will guarantee his fidelity. I am as sure of him as I am of myself."

"All right, Percy, I will hold myself subject to your orders. But I think you had better buy the boat, and put it on board of the Snapper, for I could not do so without exposing myself," suggested Christy.

"I have some money that I concealed about me, and I will pay the bills before I go on board of the steamer."

"I will do everything that is necessary to be done with the greatest pleasure. Perhaps you had better go on board of the Snapper on our return to the town. Then you will not be seen by any person," suggested Percy with as much indifference as he could a.s.sume.

"What time will the steamer sail?"

"About five o'clock, which is high tide."

"It is only half-past one now; besides, I have to go up to the hotel for my satchel, and to pay my bill. Where do you live, Percy?"

"We have a house on Frederick Street. At what hotel are you stopping?"

"At the Royal Victoria."

"What is the number of your room?" asked Percy.

"No. 44."

Christy was sharp enough to comprehend the object of these questions; and, as a matter of precaution, he divided the number of his room by two in making his reply.

"That makes an easy thing of it," continued Percy. "I will go to the Royal Victoria at four o'clock, pay your bill and get your satchel.

I will meet you on the public wharf at half-past, and see that you have a good stateroom in the cabin of the Snapper."

"That seems to be all very well arranged," added Christy.

"But I must see Captain f.l.a.n.g.er before four o'clock. How much longer do you intend to cruise in this boat?" asked the schemer, beginning to manifest a little impatience.

The conversation had been carried on in a low tone at the bow of the boat, where the boatman could not hear what was said.

"I think I am safer out here than I should be on sh.o.r.e," suggested Christy. "I might meet some other person in the town who knows me."

"All right; but I ought to see Captain f.l.a.n.g.er as soon as possible, for I shall ask him to buy the boat," replied Percy uneasily. "You might land me, and then sail another hour or two yourself."

"Very well; that will suit me exactly. Skipper, this gentleman wishes to be put on sh.o.r.e; but I desire to sail another hour or two," said Christy, addressing the boatman.

"All right, sir; I will go to the wharf if you say so, but I can put the other gentleman into that boat which has just come over the bar. The boatman is a friend of mine."

"Who is he, David?" asked Percy.

"Jim Peckson."

"I know him, and I will go up in his boat if you will hail him,"

answered the young Southerner. "I suppose the arrangement is well understood," he added, dropping his voice so that the boatman could not hear him. "You are to be on the public wharf at half-past four, when I come down with your satchel."

"Perfectly understood," added the other.

David hailed his friend Jim Peckson, and Percy was transferred to his boat. Christy felt an intense relief in getting rid of him. Of course he had not the remotest idea of going on board of the Snapper, whose brutal commander had declared that he would kill him. But he realized that Na.s.sau was not a safe place for him.

The boat crossed the bar, and the pa.s.senger took his seat by the side of the boatman. David directed his boat towards the larger steamers outside, which were loading with cotton from several small craft. They were, doubtless, to convey it to England. Christy felt no interest in these, for the voyages of the blockade-runners ended when they reached the port of Na.s.sau.

"Shall I sail you over to the sea-gardens now, sir?" asked David, when his pa.s.senger intimated that he had seen enough of the vessels outside the bar.

"Yes; anywhere you please, David. I don't care about going on sh.o.r.e before dark," replied Christy.

The pa.s.senger was greatly interested in the sea-gardens, and for more than an hour he gazed through the clear water at the sea-plants on the bottom, and at the many-colored fishes that were swimming about in the midst of them. He was desirous of using up the time until he could have the covert of the friendly darkness. He looked at his watch, and found it was nearly five o'clock.

"What time is it high tide, David?" he asked.

"Five o'clock, sir."

"Are there any steamers to sail to-day? I suppose they can go over the bar only at full sea."

"Only small vessels can go over at any other time. The Snapper was to sail at high tide."

"Then I think we will run down by the light, and see her come out of the harbor," added Christy.

"I don't believe she will come out this afternoon, sir," said David.

"Why not?"

"Her captain got arrested for something. I saw four officers taking him to the jail. Some one told me he was drunk, and had pitched into a gentleman who was walking along the sidewalk in front of a saloon on Bay Street."

"They will discharge him in time to sail on the tide, won't they?"

"I don't reckon they will. The men from the vessels in the harbor at this time make heaps of trouble," replied David. "If the gentleman he hit had a mind to complain of him, the court would lock him up for a week or two."

Christy was not disposed, under the circ.u.mstances, to make a complaint.

The boat was soon in sight of the lighthouse and the bar. The Dinah made a long stretch to the eastward, and was in sight of the entrance to the harbor till it began to be dark; but no steamer came out on the high tide. The boat crossed the bar again.

"Now, David, I want you to land me some distance beyond the public wharf," said Christy. "How much shall I pay you for this sail?"