Les forceurs de blocus. English

  Chapter VII

  A SOUTHERN GENERAL

  The _Dolphin_, on arriving at the Charleston quay, had been saluted bythe cheers of a large crowd. The inhabitants of this town, strictlyblockaded by sea, were not accustomed to visits from European ships.They asked each other, not without astonishment, what this greatsteamer, proudly bearing the English flag, had come to do in theirwaters; but when they learned the object of her voyage, and why she hadjust forced the passage Sullivan, when the report spread that shecarried a cargo of smuggled ammunition, the cheers and joyful crieswere redoubled.

  James Playfair, without losing a moment, entered into negotiation withGeneral Beauregard, the military commander of the town. The lattereagerly received the young Captain of the _Dolphin_, who had arrived intime to provide the soldiers with the clothes and ammunition they wereso much in want of. It was agreed that the unloading of the ship shouldtake place immediately, and numerous hands came to help the Englishsailors.

  Before quitting his ship James Playfair had received from MissHalliburtt the most pressing injunctions with regard to her father, andthe Captain had placed himself entirely at the young girl's service.

  "Miss Jenny," he had said, "you may rely on me; I will do the utmost inmy power to save your father, but I hope this business will not presentmany difficulties. I shall go and see General Beauregard to-day, and,without asking him at once for Mr. Halliburtt's liberty, I shall learnin what situation he is, whether he is on bail or a prisoner."

  "My poor father!" replied Jenny, sighing; "he little thinks hisdaughter is so near him. Oh that I could fly into his arms!"

  "A little patience, Miss Jenny; you will soon embrace your father. Relyupon my acting with the most entire devotion, but also with prudenceand consideration."

  This is why James Playfair, after having delivered the cargo of the_Dolphin_ up to the General, and bargained for an immense stock ofcotton, faithful to his promise, turned the conversation to the eventsof the day.

  "So," said he, "you believe in the triumph of the slave-holders?"

  "I do not for a moment doubt of our final success, and, as regardsCharleston, Lee's army will soon relieve it: besides, what do youexpect from the Abolitionists? Admitting that which will never be, thatthe commercial towns of Virginia, the two Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama,fall under their power, what then? Will they be masters of a countrythey can never occupy? No, certainly not; and for my part, if they areever victorious, they shall pay dearly for it."

  "And you are quite sure of your soldiers?" asked the Captain. "You arenot afraid that Charleston will grow weary of a siege which is ruiningher?"

  "No, I do not fear treason; besides, the traitors would be punishedremorselessly, and I would destroy the town itself by sword or fire ifI discovered the least Unionist movement. Jefferson Davis confidedCharleston to me, and you may be sure that Charleston is in safe hands."

  "Have you any Federal prisoners?" asked James Playfair, coming to theinteresting object of the conversation.

  "Yes, Captain," replied the General, "it was at Charleston that thefirst shot of separation was fired. The Abolitionists who were hereattempted to resist, and, after being defeated, they have been kept asprisoners of war."

  "And have you many?"

  "About a hundred."

  "Free in the town?"

  "They were until I discovered a plot formed by them: their chiefsucceeded in establishing a communication with the besiegers, who werethus informed of the situation of affairs in the town. I was thenobliged to lock up these dangerous guests, and several of them willonly leave their prison to ascend the slope of the citadel, where tenconfederate balls will reward them for their federalism."

  "What! to be shot!" cried the young man, shuddering involuntarily.

  "Yes, and their chief first of all. He is a very dangerous man to havein a besieged town. I have sent his letters to the President atRichmond, and before a week is passed his sentence will be irrevocablypassed."

  "Who is this man you speak of?" asked James Playfair, with an assumedcarelessness.

  "A journalist from Boston, a violent Abolitionist with the confoundedspirit of Lincoln."

  "And his name?"

  "Jonathan Halliburtt."

  "Poor wretch!" exclaimed James, suppressing his emotion. "Whatever hemay have done, one cannot help pitying him. And you think that he willbe shot?"

  "I am sure of it," replied Beauregard. "What can you expect? War iswar; one must defend oneself as best one can."

  "Well, it is nothing to me," said the Captain. "I shall be far enoughaway when this execution takes place."

  "What! you are thinking of going away already."

  "Yes, General, business must be attended to; as soon as my cargo ofcotton is on board I shall be out to sea again. I was fortunate enoughto enter the bay, but the difficulty is in getting out again. The_Dolphin_ is a good ship; she can beat any of the Federal vessels forspeed, but she does not pretend to distance cannon-balls, and a shellin her hull or engine would seriously affect my enterprise."

  "As you please, Captain," replied Beauregard; "I have no advice to giveyou under such circumstances. You are doing your business, and you areright. I should act in the same manner were I in your place; besides, astay at Charleston is not very pleasant, and a harbour where shells arefalling three days out of four is not a safe shelter for your ship; soyou will set sail when you please; but can you tell me what is thenumber and the force of the Federal vessels cruising before Charleston?"

  James Playfair did his best to answer the General, and took leave ofhim on the best of terms; then he returned to the _Dolphin_ verythoughtful and very depressed from what he had just heard.

  "What shall I say to Miss Jenny? Ought I to tell her of Mr.Halliburtt's terrible situation? Or would it be better to keep her inignorance of the trial which is awaiting her? Poor child!"

  He had not gone fifty steps from the governor's house when he ranagainst Crockston. The worthy American had been watching for him sincehis departure.

  "Well, Captain?"

  James Playfair looked steadily at Crockston, and the latter soonunderstood he had no favourable news to give him.

  "Have you seen Beauregard?" he asked.

  "Yes," replied James Playfair.

  "And have you spoken to him about Mr. Halliburtt?"

  "No, it was he who spoke to me about him."

  "Well, Captain?"

  "Well, I may as well tell you everything, Crockston."

  "Everything, Captain."

  "General Beauregard has told me that your master will be shot within aweek."

  At this news anyone else but Crockston would have grown furious orgiven way to bursts of grief, but the American, who feared nothing,only said, with almost a smile on his lips:

  "Pooh! what does it matter?"

  "How! what does it matter?" cried James Playfair. "I tell you that Mr.Halliburtt will be shot within a week, and you answer, what does itmatter?"

  "And I mean it--if in six days he is on board the _Dolphin_, and if inseven days the _Dolphin_ is on the open sea."

  "Right!" exclaimed the Captain, pressing Crockston's hand. "Iunderstand, my good fellow, you have got some pluck; and for myself, inspite of Uncle Vincent, I would throw myself overboard for Miss Jenny."

  "No one need be thrown overboard," replied the American, "only the fishwould gain by that: the most important business now is to deliver Mr.Halliburtt."

  "But you must know that it will be difficult to do so."

  "Pooh!" exclaimed Crockston.

  "It is a question of communicating with a prisoner strictly guarded."

  "Certainly."

  "And to bring about an almost miraculous escape."

  "Nonsense," exclaimed Crockston; "a prisoner thinks more of escapingthan his guardian thinks of keeping him; that's why, thanks to ourhelp, Mr. Halliburtt will be saved."

  "You are right, Crockston."

  "Always right."

  "But now what will you do? There must be
some plan: and there areprecautions to be taken."

  "I will think about it."

  "But when Miss Jenny learns that her father is condemned to death, andthat the order for his execution may come any day--"

  "She will know nothing about it, that is all."

  "Yes, it will be better for her and for us to tell her nothing."

  "Where is Mr. Halliburtt imprisoned?" asked Crockston.

  "In the citadel," replied James Playfair.

  "Just so! . . . On board now?"

  "On board, Crockston!"