Les forceurs de blocus. English

  Chapter IV

  CROCKSTON'S TRICK

  It was not long before the whole crew knew Miss Halliburtt's story,which Crockston was no longer hindered from telling. By the Captain'sorders he was released from the capstan, and the cat-o'-nine-tailsreturned to its Place.

  "A pretty animal," said Crockston, "especially when it shows itsvelvety paws."

  As soon as he was free, he went down to the sailors' berths, found asmall portmanteau, and carried it to Miss Jenny; the young girl was nowable to resume her feminine attire, but she remained in her cabin, anddid not again appear on deck.

  As for Crockston, it was well and duly agreed that, as he was no more asailor than a horse-guard, he should be exempt from all duty on board.

  In the meanwhile the _Dolphin_, with her twin screws cutting the waves,sped rapidly across the Atlantic, and there was nothing now to do butkeep a strict look-out. The day following the discovery of Miss Jenny'sidentity, James Playfair paced the deck at the poop with a rapid step;he had made no attempt to see the young girl and resume theconversation of the day before.

  Whilst he was walking to and fro, Crockston passed him several times,looking at him askant with a satisfied grin. He evidently wanted tospeak to the Captain, and at last his persistent manner attracted theattention of the latter, who said to him, somewhat impatiently:

  "How now, what do you want? You are turning round me like a swimmerround a buoy: when are you going to leave off?"

  "Excuse me, Captain," answered Crockston, winking, "I wanted to speakto you."

  "Speak, then."

  "Oh, it is nothing very much. I only wanted to tell you frankly thatyou are a good fellow at bottom."

  "Why at bottom?"

  "At bottom and surface also."

  "I don't want your compliments."

  "I am not complimenting you. I shall wait to do that when you have goneto the end."

  "To what end?"

  "To the end of your task."

  "Ah! I have a task to fulfil?"

  "Decidedly, you have taken the young girl and myself on board; good!You have given up your cabin to Miss Halliburtt; good! You released mefrom the cat-o'-nine-tails; nothing could be better. You are going totake us straight to Charleston; that's delightful, but it is not all."

  "How not all?" cried James Playfair, amazed at Crockston's boldness.

  "No, certainly not," replied the latter, with a knowing look, "thefather is prisoner there."

  "Well, what about that?"

  "Well, the father must be rescued."

  "Rescue Miss Halliburtt's father?"

  "Most certainly, and it is worth risking something for such a noble manand courageous citizen as he."

  "Master Crockston," said James Playfair, frowning, "I am not in thehumour for your jokes, so have a care what you say."

  "You misunderstand me, Captain," said the American. "I am not joking inthe least, but speaking quite seriously. What I have proposed may atfirst seem very absurd to you; when you have thought it over, you willsee that you cannot do otherwise."

  "What, do you mean that I must deliver Mr. Halliburtt?"

  "Just so. You can demand his release of General Beauregard, who willnot refuse you."

  "But if he does refuse me?"

  "In that case," replied Crockston, in a deliberate tone, "we must usestronger measures, and carry off the prisoner by force."

  "So," cried James Playfair, who was beginning to get angry, "so, notcontent with passing through the Federal fleets and forcing theblockade of Charleston, I must run out to sea again from under thecannon of the forts, and this to deliver a gentleman I know nothing of,one of those Abolitionists whom I detest, one of those journalists whoshed ink instead of their blood!"

  "Oh, it is but a cannon-shot more or less!" added Crockston.

  "Master Crockston," said James Playfair, "mind what I say: if ever youmention this affair again to me, I will send you to the hold for therest of the passage, to teach you manners."

  Thus saying, the Captain dismissed the American, who went offmurmuring, "Ah, well, I am not altogether displeased with thisconversation: at any rate, the affair is broached; it will do, it willdo!"

  James Playfair had hardly meant it when he said an Abolitionist whom Idetest; he did not in the least side with the Federals, but he did notwish to admit that the question of slavery was the predominant reasonfor the civil war of the United States, in spite of President Lincoln'sformal declaration. Did he, then, think that the Southern States, eightout of thirty-six, were right in separating when they had beenvoluntarily united? Not so; he detested the Northerners, and that wasall; he detested them as brothers separated from the commonfamily--true Englishmen--who had thought it right to do what he, JamesPlayfair, disapproved of with regard to the United States: these werethe political opinions of the Captain of the _Dolphin_. But, more thanthis, the American war interfered with him personally, and he had agrudge against those who had caused this war; one can understand, then,how he would receive a proposition to deliver an Abolitionist, thusbringing down on him the Confederates, with whom he pretended to dobusiness.

  However, Crockston's insinuation did not fail to disturb him; he castthe thought from him, but it returned unceasingly to his mind, and whenMiss Jenny came on deck the next day for a few minutes, he dared notlook her in the face.

  And really it was a great pity, for this young girl, with the fair hairand sweet, intelligent face, deserved to be looked at by a young man ofthirty. But James felt embarrassed in her presence; he felt that thischarming creature who had been educated in the school of misfortunepossessed a strong and generous soul; he understood that his silencetowards her inferred a refusal to acquiesce in her dearest wishes;besides, Miss Jenny never looked out for James Playfair, neither didshe avoid him. Thus for the first few days they spoke little or not atall to each other. Miss Halliburtt scarcely ever left her cabin, and itis certain she would never have addressed herself to the Captain of the_Dolphin_ if it had not been for Crockston's strategy, which broughtboth parties together.

  The worthy American was a faithful servant of the Halliburtt family; hehad been brought up in his master's house, and his devotion knew nobounds. His good sense equalled his courage and energy, and, as hasbeen seen, he had a way of looking things straight in the face. He wasvery seldom discouraged, and could generally find a way out of the mostintricate dangers with a wonderful skill.

  This honest fellow had taken it into his head to deliver Mr.Halliburtt, to employ the Captain's ship, and the Captain himself forthis purpose, and to return with him to England. Such was hisintention, so long as the young girl had no other object than to rejoinher father and share his captivity. It was this Crockston tried to makethe Captain understand, as we have seen, but the enemy had not yetsurrendered; on the contrary.

  "Now," said he, "it is absolutely necessary that Miss Jenny and theCaptain come to an understanding; if they are going to be sulky likethis all the passage we shall get nothing done. They must speak,discuss; let them dispute even, so long as they talk, and I'll behanged if during their conversation James Playfair does not proposehimself what he refused me to-day."

  But when Crockston saw that the young girl and the young man avoidedeach other, he began to be perplexed.

  "We must look sharp," said he to himself, and the morning of the fourthday he entered Miss Halliburtt's cabin, rubbing his hands with an airof perfect satisfaction.

  "Good news!" cried he, "good news! You will never guess what theCaptain has proposed to me. A very noble young man he is. Now try."

  "Ah!" replied Jenny, whose heart beat violently, "has he proposed to--"

  "To deliver Mr. Halliburtt, to carry him off from the Confederates, andbring him to England."

  "Is it true?" cried Jenny.

  "It is as I say, miss. What a good-hearted man this James Playfair is!These English are either all good or all bad. Ah! he may reckon on mygratitude, and I am ready to cut myself in pieces if it would pleasehim."

 
Jenny's joy was profound on hearing Crockston's words. Deliver herfather! She had never dared to think of such a plan, and the Captain ofthe _Dolphin_ was going to risk his ship and crew!

  "That's what he is," added Crockston; "and this, Miss Jenny, is wellworth an acknowledgment from you."

  "More than an acknowledgment," cried the young girl; "a lastingfriendship!"

  And immediately she left the cabin to find James Playfair, and expressto him the sentiments which flowed from her heart.

  "Getting on by degrees," muttered the American.

  James Playfair was pacing to and fro on the poop, and, as may bethought, he was very much surprised, not to say amazed, to see theyoung girl come up to him, her eyes moist with grateful tears, and,holding out her hand to him, saying:

  "Thank you, sir, thank you for your kindness, which I should never havedared to expect from a stranger."

  "Miss," replied the Captain, as if he understood nothing of what shewas talking, and could not understand, "I do not know--"

  "Nevertheless, sir, you are going to brave many dangers, perhapscompromise your interests for me, and you have done so much already inoffering me on board an hospitality to which I have no right whatever--"

  "Pardon me, Miss Jenny," interrupted James Playfair, "but I protestagain I do not understand your words. I have acted towards you as anywell-bred man would towards a lady, and my conduct deserves neither somany thanks nor so much gratitude."

  "Mr. Playfair," said Jenny, "it is useless to pretend any longer;Crockston has told me all!"

  "Ah!" said the Captain, "Crockston has told you all; then I understandless than ever the reason for your leaving your cabin, and saying thesewords which--"

  Whilst speaking the Captain felt very much embarrassed; he rememberedthe rough way in which he had received the American's overtures, butJenny, fortunately for him, did not give him time for furtherexplanation; she interrupted him, holding out her hand and saying:

  "Mr. James, I had no other object in coming on board your ship exceptto go to Charleston, and there, however cruel the slave-holders may be,they will not refuse to let a poor girl share her father's prison; thatwas all. I had never thought of a return as possible; but, since youare so generous as to wish for my father's deliverance, since you willattempt everything to save him, be assured you have my deepestgratitude."

  James did not know what to do or what part to assume; he bit his lip;he dared not take the hand offered him; he saw perfectly that Crockstonhad compromised him, so that escape was impossible. At the same time hehad no thoughts of delivering Mr. Halliburtt, and getting complicatedin a disagreeable business: but how dash to the ground the hope whichhad arisen in this poor girl's heart? How refuse the hand which sheheld out to him with a feeling of such profound friendship? How changeto tears of grief the tears of gratitude which filled her eyes?

  So the young man tried to reply evasively, in a manner which wouldensure his liberty of action for the future.

  "Miss Jenny," said he, "rest assured I will do everything in my powerfor--"

  And he took the little hand in both of his, but with the gentlepressure he felt his heart melt and his head grow confused: words toexpress his thoughts failed him. He stammered out some incoherent words:

  "Miss--Miss Jenny--for you--"

  Crockston, who was watching him, rubbed his hands, grinning andrepeating to himself:

  "It will come! it will come! it has come!"

  How James Playfair would have managed to extricate himself from hisembarrassing position no one knows, but fortunately for him, if not forthe _Dolphin_, the man on watch was heard crying:

  "Ahoy, officer of the watch!"

  "What now?" asked Mr. Mathew.

  "A sail to windward!"

  James Playfair, leaving the young girl, immediately sprang to theshrouds of the mainmast.