the steamer which christy had discovered was a long distance from the snapper. she had just come about, and this movement had enabled the prisoner to see that she had three masts; but that was really all there was to lead him to suppose she was the chateaugay. she was too far off for him to make her out; and if he had not known that she was cruising to the eastward of the bahamas, it would not have occurred to him that she was the steamer in which he had been a passenger two days before.
captain flanger discovered the sail a few minutes later, and fixed his attention upon it. in the business in which he was engaged it was necessary to practise the most unceasing vigilance. but, at this distance from any confederate port, the commander of the steamer did not appear to be greatly disturbed at the sight of a distant sail, 258 believing that his danger was nearer the shores of the southern states. doubtless he had papers of some sort which would show that his vessel had cleared for havana, or some port on the gulf of mexico.
christy did not deem it wise to manifest any interest in the distant sail, and, fixing his gaze upon the deck-planks, he continued to walk back and forth, as he was doing when he discovered the steamer. he had not been able to make out her course. he had first seen her when she was in the act of turning, obtaining only a glance at the three masts. whether or not she was "end-on" for the snapper, he could not determine, and captain flanger seemed to be studying up this question with no little earnestness.
the principal mission in these waters of the chateaugay was to look up the ovidio, of which captain passford in new york had obtained some information through his agents. this vessel was not simply a blockade-runner, but was intended for a cruiser, though she had sailed from scotland without an armament. it was known that she would proceed to nassau, and this fact had suggested to mr. gilfleur his visit to that port to 259 obtain reliable information in regard to her, as well as incidentally to look into the methods of fitting out vessels for running the blockade.
captain chantor was expecting to fall in with the ovidio, even before the return of his two passengers. he did not believe the authorities at nassau would permit her to take on board an armament at that port; but a rendezvous had probably been arranged, where she was to receive her guns and ammunition. but the only safe channel for any vessel to get to the deep sea from nassau was by the one that had received the name of providence. this channel is a continuation of what is called "the tongue of the ocean," which extends over a hundred miles south of new providence, a hundred and fifty fathoms in depth, and bordered by innumerable cays, reefs, and very shoal water.
south of great abaco island, this channel, from thirty to forty miles wide, divides into the north-east and north-west channels, and all vessels of any great draught can safely get out to sea only through one of them. it was evident enough to captain chantor, who was familiar with the navigation of these seas, that the ovidio must come out through one of the channels indicated. christy 260 had talked with the commander of the chateaugay in regard to these passages, and knew that it was his intention to keep a close watch over them.
he could not be sure that the steamer in the distance was the chateaugay; but the more he recalled what had passed between himself and captain chantor, and considered the situation, the stronger became his hope that it was she. he was sure that she had come about, and he reasoned that she had done so when her commander ascertained that the steamer he had sighted laid her course through the north-west channel. this was as far as he could carry his speculations.
without understanding the situation as well as did his prisoner, captain flanger seemed to be nervous and uneasy. he watched the distant sail for a long time, sent for his spy-glass and examined her, and then began to plank the deck. when he came abreast of christy he stopped.
"do you see that sail off to the eastward, mr. passford?"
"i see it now, captain," replied the prisoner, as indifferently as possible, for he felt that it would be very imprudent to manifest any interest in the matter.
261 "can you make out what she is?" continued the captain.
"i cannot; she must be eight or ten miles from us," replied christy, as he glanced to the eastward.
"i shouldn't wonder if that was one of your yankee gunboats," added captain flanger, spicing his remark with a heavy oath, for he could hardly say anything without interlarding his speech with profanity.
"it may be, for aught i know," replied the prisoner with something like a yawn.
"whatever she is, the snapper can run away from her, and you need not flatter yourself that there is any chance for you to escape from a confederate prison; and when they get you into it, they will hold on very tight."
"i must take things as they come," added christy.
he wanted to ask the captain why he wondered if the sail was a yankee gunboat, but he did not think it would be prudent to do so. the captain seemed to have, or pretended to have, great confidence in the speed of the snapper. when he left his prisoner he went to the engine-room, and it was 262 soon evident from the jar and shake of the vessel that he had instructed the chief engineer to increase the speed.
christy watched the distant sail for about three hours before he could come to any conclusion. at the end of this time he was satisfied that the three-masted steamer was gaining very decidedly upon the snapper. he began to cherish a very lively hope that the sail would prove to be the chateaugay. captain flanger remained on deck all the forenoon, and every hour that elapsed found him more nervous and excitable.
"i reckon that's a yankee gunboat astern of us, mr. passford; but i am going to get away from her," said the captain, as they sat down to dinner.
"is she gaining upon you, captain?" asked christy.
"i don't think she is; but if she does get any nearer to us, i shall give her the slip. the snapper is going into mobile bay as sure as you live. you can bet your life on it," insisted the captain.
christy was not disposed to converse on the subject, and he began to wonder in what manner the snapper could give her pursuer the slip. the 263 former was the smaller vessel, and probably did not draw over fourteen feet of water, if she did more than twelve. it might be possible for her to run into shoal water where the pursuer could not follow her.
after the dinner table was cleared off, the captain seated himself at it with a chart spread out before him. it was plain enough that he was devising some expedient to escape the three-master. christy did not deem it prudent to observe him, and he went on deck. it was as clear as the daylight that the pursuer was gaining rapidly upon the snapper; and the prisoner did not believe that the latter was making over twelve knots.
by this time seven hours had elapsed since the distant sail had come in sight, and she was now near enough for the prisoner to be sure that she was the chateaugay. she could make sixteen knots when driven at her best, and she must be gaining four or five knots an hour on the chase. christy had been through this channel in the bellevite, and he discovered that the steamer was running near the shoal water. presently the captain came on deck, and he appeared to be less nervous than before, perhaps because he had arranged his plan to escape his pursuer.
264 within an hour christy recognized the east isaac, a rock rising ten or twelve feet above the surface of the water, which he identified by its nearness to one over which the sea was breaking. the captain was too much occupied in the study of the surroundings to take any notice of him, and he endeavored to keep out of his sight.
the prisoner consulted his watch, and found it was four o'clock. the tower of the great isaac light could just be made out. the chateaugay was not more than four miles astern of the snapper, and in another hour she would certainly come up with her, if captain flanger did not put his plan into execution. the course of the chase continued to bring her nearer to the reefs.
"ring one bell!" shouted the captain to the quartermaster at the wheel.
the effect of one bell was to reduce the speed of the snapper by one-half. the order to put the helm hard a starboard followed in a short time. the course was made about south, and the steamer went ahead slowly. two men in the chains were heaving the lead constantly. they were reporting four and five fathoms. after the vessel had gone five or six miles on this course, it was changed to 265 about south-west. she was then moving in a direction directly opposite to that of the chateaugay, and the anxious prisoner could see the man-of-war across the reefs which lifted their heads above the water, very nearly abreast of the snapper, though at least ten miles distant from her.
"do you know what steamer that is, mr. passford?" asked captain flanger, coming aft, apparently for the purpose of finding him.
"how should i know, captain?" asked christy.
"i thought you might know her by sight."
"i could hardly be expected to know all the ships in the united states navy by sight, captain, for there are a great many of them by this time."
"all right; she looks like a pretty large vessel, and the bigger the better. i hope you won't get up a disappointment for yourself by expecting that you are going to get out of this scrape," said captain flanger, and there was a great deal of bitterness in his tones.
"i am taking things as they come, captain."
"the snapper is not a man-of-war, and she is engaged in a peaceful voyage. if that fellow thinks of capturing me, he is reckoning without his host. he has no more right to make a prize of 266 me than he has to murder me," protested the captain, as he gave the order to hoist the british flag.
"of course you know your business better than i do, captain flanger, and i don't propose to interfere with it," replied christy.
the commander walked forward again, giving the order to the quartermaster to ring two bells, which presently brought the steamer to a full stop, quite near the rocks which were awash to the northward of her. as the captain moved forward he encountered the first officer in the waist, who addressed him, and they began a conversation, none of which christy could hear. from the looks and gestures of the mate, he concluded that they were talking about him.
it was not difficult to imagine the subject of the conversation, and it was evident to christy that the first officer had suggested an idea to his commander. while he was waiting impatiently to ascertain what the chateaugay would do next, percy pierson came on deck looking very pale, for it had been reported at breakfast that he was very sea-sick.
"how are you, christy?" asked the southerner.
267 "i am very well, i thank you."
"haven't you been sea-sick?" asked the invalid.
"of course not; i never was sea-sick."
"but what has the steamer stopped for?" asked percy, looking about him.
"captain flanger seems to think that vessel over there is a united states man-of-war."
"will she capture the snapper?" asked the sufferer, looking paler than before.
at this moment a boat was lowered from the davits into the water, and christy was invited by the mate to take a seat in the stern sheets. he was astounded at this request, and wondered what it meant.
