No. 32 f>HOTO BY r / 3AR0NY J.PEI^KINS TRACY All stories Copyrighted Cannot be had in any other edition J> J^ STREET ^LIBR/M' & SMITH ^ ...— ^ Publishers, New York # 0- The Blockade Runner J. PERKINS TRACY AUTHOR OF 'The Heart of Virginia," "Won by the Sword," etc. STREET & SMITH CORPORATION PUBLISHERS 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York I_, -^m r I Copyright. 1896 By STREET & SMITH The Blockade Runner L J ■■i ■ ■ H^ All rights reserved, including that of translation Into foreign languages. Including the Scandinavinn. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. CHAPTER I. THE BLOCKADE EUNNEK. " What are our chances jof getting into Wilmington to-night, cap'n ?" The speaker, a fine, handsome young fellow of twenty-five, attired in a thick pea-jacket, dark blue trowsers and undress naval cap, had just come on the quarterdeck from the cabin of the steamer Foxhound. " Good," was Captain Powell's brief reply. - He held his mouth close to the young man's ear so that the word should not be blown back down his throat. A heavy winter's gale was shrieking through the rigging of the vessel, and the dark sea was running furiously. She was steaming comparatively slowly, head on to the billows, while Foul weather Tom, the pilot, on whom rested the responsibility of taking her over the bar, was the picture of anxious watchfulness. The steamer was wrapped in darkness from stem to stern — not the gleam of a lantern visible, and the bin- acle light was completely shaded. " It's a snorter — this night is," said the young maa presently, turning his back against the wind. 1 8 THE BLOCKADE EUNNER. The skipper did not immediately reply, for a terrible gust just then swept the deck, sending a quantity of cold spray into his face, and a chill along his bones. " It's a regular January blow," he shouted at length, his cheeks puffing out like a pair of bellows. " Seen any gun boats ?" "Nary one,'' replied the captain. " They're pretty well scattered to-night, I reckon, and we are not likely to be seen at all, unless we run afoul of one of them ourselves." He turned red in the face from the exertion of talking. " Come below, Mr. Bentham. I'm chilled to the bone and must have a bracer. We can't talk here." The pair at once dived down the companion way. Captain Powell wiped the tiny icicles from his beard and eyebrowSj and the moisture from his mahog- any-hued cheeks. He then mixed two glasses of stiff grog, and pushing one toward his companion, gulped down the contents of the other with evident relish. " Yes," said the skipper complacently, " we will make port safely this time. It is just the kind of night for it — black as ink and blowing great guns. You feel bow the old gal rises to the sea — and she's as dry as a bone. I had her thoroughly overhauled and freshly caulked at Cherbourg, for I knew what I might expect off this coast at this time of the year. Some of those leaky tubs that try to run the blockade would founder in this gale." " I should say the Foxhound is a stanch craft," re- plied young Bentha.B. " I have been impressed with her seagoing qualities since I took passage on board. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 9 She's got such a reputation that I fancy Uncle Sam would be glad to overhaul her." " You can take your davy to that, Mr. Bentham," said the skipper with a grin. " but he won't have that pleasure this trip, nor for many more trips, if I can help it. Foul weather Tom is the crack pilot in this business, and the Foxhound has a mortgage on his services. What he don't know about the channels and shoals and sand bars off Charleston and Wilmington, as well as the Georgia coast, ain't worth considering. There's two channels into Wilmington, where we're bound — the bar channel and the beach channel — and if you don't keep your weather eye lifting on a night ^uch as this the chances are you run hard and fast on to the middle ground, and with such a sea running you'd go to pieces in no time." " That would be pleasant certainly." "I reckon you might say your prayers, if you know any. Have another tot of grog." " Thanks, not any more," said Bentham. "You must be aware the Yankee fleet has a big job on its hands when it undertakes to blockade Wilming- ton," said the bronzed old sea-dog while he mixed him- self a second potation. " When the wind blows off the coast, the vessels are forced to sea and scattered ; when it turns and blows landward they are compelled to haul off to escape the awful sea. For six months in the year it is next to impossible for a vessel to lie at anchor safely off the Carolina coast. So you see that everything is in our favor." " I'm glad to hear it," said the young man. " This gale is a little worse, if anything, than the one that took us in with our last cargo. Then we were 10 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. laden with shoes, blankets, caps and blouses for tue graycoats ; now, our hold is stored with muskets, sabers, percussion caps and such things, besides a quan- tity of quinine, the most valuable thing of all." " Worth about " " The whole cargo V " Yes." " Say about three millions." The passenger started, and seemed to meditate for a moment. " Oh, we carry richer cargoes thafx this sometimes," continued the captain, mistaking meditation for amaze- ment. " And the beauty of it all is that we've never lost one." "The pitcher which goes often to the well gets broken at last, you know," said Bentham, smiling. " There are exceptions to every rule," said Captain Powell, "and the Foxhound is fast proving that adage a downright humbug. Do you know, sir, that this is ray eighth successful run ?" " You astonish me." " Fact, sir. This steamer has paid for herself several times over, for the profits are enormous." " So I have heard." " I shall fill up to the hatches with cotton, which stands us in about eight cents a pound. How much do you think it will fetch at Liverpool ?" " I haven't the slightest idea," said Bentham, though he knew very well that the price of that material in Europe was extremely high. " About fourshilUings a pound," replied the skipper, smacking his lips with great gusto, as though the mere mention of that figure was like an agreeable morsel on the tongue. TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 11 " I don't wonder this war enriches some people very fast," said the young man thoug-htfully. " I should say it does. Why, sir, there are people, to my knowledge, who are now riding about in their car- riages, that a year — ay, six months ago — were compar- atively paupers. What was Kassau before the war \ The inhabitants were chiefly wreckers and tlsherraen, and but few vessels lay along the wharves or rode in the offing. Look at the place to-day ! The harbor is alive with shipping, and its wharves are crowded with cotton bales awaiting transportation to Europe, as well as merchandise, contraband of war, ready to be shipped for the blockaded Southern ports. It is the chief depot for the traffic. Confederate agents are established there, and the town has expanded into a port of immense importance." Captain Powell's passenger listened but said noth- ing. " You understand that the Bahamas, beinof a British possession, the Yankee cruisers cannot effect a legal capture within the three-mile limit, so they are forced to take their station off Abaco Light, and run their chance. The blockade runners generally await a dark and foggy night for getting away, and as we are care- ful to show no lights, you may easily judge that the cruisers have no sinecure trying to catch us." " It is unusual for a blockade runner to go direct to Europe and then return with a contraband cargo, as you have lately done, isn't it, cap'n ?" said Bentham. " Yes. Most of these vessels are liorht-drausrht steamers built expressly for the trade, and intended only to make the trip, either from Bermuda, Nassau or Cuba. The Foxhound is a superior vessel, and the 12 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. ownei's, of which I am one, had reasons for assuming an unusually hazardous risk. 1 shall not repeat the venture, at least not very soon. Had you not run foul of me at Cherbourg, Mr. Bentham, you would not likely have made this voyage direct. You would have been obliged to take passage for one of the places I have just named and there transhipped." " I consider myself fortunate in having secured pas- sage in the Foxhound, the more especially as she is a lucky vessel." " Ay, ay ; but you'll have to excuse me now, as I judge we are approaching dangerous ground. If I were you, sir, I'd remain below. It's a deal sight cosier than on deck such a night as this." " Thank you ; but I don't mind the storm a bit You know I got my sea legs on long ago." " Well, please yourself." Captain Powell stalked up the brass-bound staircase facing t\\Q wheel, his passenger close at his heels. As they emerged from their shelter the wind almost took then off their feet, and the icy spray blown aft, as it continually came over the bows of the steamer, struck their faces like cold kisses from the depths of the sea. It was the night of — th of January, 1862, and one of the wildest storms that swept the North Carolina coast during war times was then at its height. The Foxhound was not the only vessel abroad in the gale. Toward sundown a strong easterly wind had met the ebb-tide, and the whole coast presented a terrible appearance. The fleet of Federal blockaders, which for months THE BLOCKADE RUNNER, 13 had confronted Wilmington with their grim guns, was compelled to seek safety in the offing, for to remain near the coast would prove certain destruction. Added to the wind, that blew with tremendous force, was a perfect hailstorm of sleet, that cut the darkness like Scythian arrows. Besides, the cold was enough to freeze any one at the helm. The Foxhound steadily pursued her way. Time and again she had successfully run the blockade, and Captain Powell did not believe that there could be a break in his former good luck. She was an English-built craft, a remarkably swift one, and so arranged that she could navigate the seas Avith or without steam. She carried no armament aside from her officers' private weapons. Her forte was flight, not resistance, and there was not in the Federal service at that time a vessel swift enough to overhaul her. Time and again she had been chased on the high seas, but alwa3's outwitted her hunters. She was well known to the Union fleet, by which she was constantly watched. Her cargoes were always sure to be of great value to the Confederacy ; and on the night mentioned above she carried one worth, as her captain has said, three million dollars. ]S"ot three millions in Confederate bills, but in hard, glittering gold. The passenger resolutely facing the wintry gale on the~w^et decks of the trim blockade runner was a man who had boarded her at Cherbourg, from whence she had sailed bound for Wilmington. 14 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. He was a young man named Robert Bentham, an American by birth, and a person who seemed to know a good deal about ship gunnery. Indeed, he had been educated at one of the best naval schools in France, and was on his way to take part in the terrible conflict raging between the two sections of the Union. On which side ? Why ask the question, when we find him a pas- senger on board a Confederate blockade runnerj and almost in port ? If his sympathies w^ere with the Union, why did he hot take passage in a vessel bound for New York ? Let the future pages of our romance solve these questions. For some time the Foxhound kept steadily on her course, breasting the terrible waves with her cutting prow, and guided all the time by the sailor at the wheel. Captain Powell knew that the storm had beaten the Federal blockaders off the coast. But his experience also taught him that the gun- boats kept a particularly argus-eyed watch on such nisrhts as this, as it offered a favorable chance for the low-lying lead-painted blockade runners to elude the squadron. In spite of the assertion he had made to his pas- senger of a safe and speedy run, he was fully alive to the dangers that beset him as he drew in near the shore. He could not tell what moment he might run foul of a gunboat. He knew the crews were kept ready at their stations THE BLOCKADE RUNNEB. 15 [or every emergency, and that a sudden and well- directed broadside would cripple if not sink the Fox- hound at a most unexpected juncture. The squadron steamed about as close in shore as they dared, and now every instant was fraught with the greatest peril. With an anxious face, and eyes tr3^ing to pierce the night, he stood on deck watching the course of his gallant ship, as she pressed on through the awful seas that seemed always to ingulf her. His beard was a mass of ice, but he did not mind the cold and the storm. All at once there rose between him and the swelling sea a huge object, darker than the night itself. Captain Powell sprang toward the wheel, with an exclamation struggling to his lips. "I see it, sir," said Foulweather Tom, before the captain could speak. " It is a Yankee blockader. Hard a-port!" he said softl}'^ to the helmsman. The w^heel spun around "and the Foxhound sheered off within a biscuit-toss of the dangerous object. It was a moment of intense anxiety to all on deck. 16 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. CHAPTER IT. AN AWFOL PROJECT. Brave as he was, Captain Ralph Powell held his breath fi'om fear. Every second he expected to see her ports fly open, and her guns open lire ; and his strained imagination pictured the ripping and tearing sound of the wooden hull of his steamer under the hail of iron missiles. The terrible suspense really only lasted for a brief interval, and then the Foxhound was running under the blockader's bows like a phantom. She soon left the gunboat in her wake, a blot on the water, from which it vanished as th6 distance between the two vessels increased. " A narrow shave, by George !" exclaimed the skip- per softly, drawing a long breath. " Ay, ay, sir," responded the pilot, calmly resuming his position by the weather rail. With the salty sleet blowing like hailstones in his eyes, and flogging his weather-beaten cheeks, Foul weather Tom clung to his post and peered into the blackness ahead, fully conscious that he was doing his duty. It was now about two bells, or one o'clock in the morning, though of course the bells were not struck. The captain went on the bridge, followed by his TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 17 passenger, and Foulweather Tom followed after a time. " What's that just for'ard of the port beam, cap'n ?" said Bentham suddenly, pointing to a spot a little darker, if that ^Qre possible, than the surrounding water. " By gum ! A gunboat !" Powell's eyes seemed about to leap from their sockets. "And yonder," ejaculated Bentham excitedly, " is a second one." " We are running into the midst of the Yankee squadron," exclaimed the skipper, jumping toward the pilot. " Vessels straight ahead and off our bows, Tom," he said. "I know it, captain." " We are in a dangerous place." " That's so, sir." The coolness of the pilot argued well for the success of the expedition. For a few moments longer the Foxhound kept port- ward, when all at once a rocket shot upward, appar- ently from the very depths of the sea, and exploded above the masts of the largest vessel. An oath fell from Powell's lips as the rocket burst. " Discovered ! Now we're in for it !" he said with compressed lips. The Federal signal told him that they had, indeed, reached the most dangerous part of the voyage. A minute later several responsive rockets soared heavenward, revealing the position of as many Union blockaders to the captain. 18 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. "Go ahead full speed, cap'n," said Foulweather Tom. Powell returned to the center of the bridge and signalled the engineer. The Foxhound, which for some time had been run- ning at half-speed, now bounded forward, like her namesake, after a quarry. " Steady a-starboard !" whispered the pilot, and the word was instantly passed to the man at the wheel. The words had scarcely left his mouth ere the flash of a cannon lit up a part of the sea for a moment, and a shot tore across the Foxhound's deck, carrying a piece of the taffrail into the sea. " That Yankee gunner must have the e^^es of an owl !" said Powell, amazed at the shot. "The next one will pierce our counter, and the next tear through our boiler-room." Lights seemed to be flashing on every side, but dark- ness still enveloped the blockade runner. Her crew knew the danger and swarmed hej:" deck, but not a loud word was spoken. Hard upon the first shot from the Union fleet came another and another, only one of which took effect, with a crash of splintering wood, in the hull of the steamer. " Hard a-starboard !" said Foulweather Tom. " Hard down she is," came back the word. Another bright flash and another shot tore a jagged piece out of the mizzen-mast. Evidently the Union gunners, in spite of the rough sea, which rendered an accurate aim almost impossible, were well up in their line of work. Things were getting decidedly warm, but the TEE BLOCKADE BUNIf^EB. 19 steamer was drawing inside the line of blockaders fast ; but she was liable to be disabled before she succeeded in getting out of range. Captain Powell stood with hands clinched and a face reddened by madness. Presently a broadside was fired from a point where no vessel had yet been seen, and the iron balls tore like hail across the Foxhound's deck, killing two sailors and knocking the smokestack away. Gun after gun now opened on the devoted little blockade runner; but the man at the helm did his duty, and the ship kept on regardless of the iron shower. It was now a race for life, and every minute was that much precious time. Bentham, the young passenger, had not left his post for a moment. He stood erect like a person without Jear, watching the flash of the^ Federal guns with the utmost non- chalance imaginable. Foul weather Tom had reached a pathway leading straight to port ;" but the Union fleet seemed deter- mined to sink him outside the bar. " Look yonder," exclaimed Powell. " Do you see that gunboat? They are going to get between us and the shoals. There ! there is a mountain of iron straight ahead ! I guess the days of the Foxhound are numbered. Well, if it comes to the worst, I know what to do. If I cannot escape I will keep my oath. I will reach port or perish !" Powell had scarcely finished ere the flash of a heavy gun illuminated a point dead ahead, and a shot hummed across the deck fore-and-aft, so near the 20 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. skipper's bead that he fairly staggered, and grasped the rail of the bridge to save himself, " We're done for !" he exclaimed wildly. " But they shan't take me. I'll go to the bottom first!" With a bound Powell sprang to the deck and rushed below. " Hard a-port !" screamed the pilot. " What does the cap'n mean ?" Benthara said to the pilot. " Dunno," replied Foulweather Tom.^ " What did he say ?" " Swore all was up, and that he'd send the Fox- hound to the bottom before he'd be taken." " Then for God's sake follow and stop him !" ex- claimed the man. " We carry a torpedo in the hold^ and a fuse runs to the cap'n's stateroom. The skipper is stark, staring mad ! All's not lost yet. Stop him quick, or we shall all be sent to Davy Jones in a flash." " Great heavens !" exclaimed Bentham, his cheek paling at the awful possibility. " He is mad, surely. He must not be permitted to carry out his fearful purpose." The next minute he was descending the companion- way after the reckless captain. It was a moment big with the fate of the noble vessel and fifty valuable lives. The swing of the vessel as she rolled to the boiling seas threw Bentham forward on his hands and knees upon the cabin floor. He sprang to his feet and looked about. There was no sign of Captain Powell. His stateroom door was ajar, however, and the pas* senger ran to it and pushed it open. THE BL OVKADE R UMNEE. 2 1 The sight he saw he felt he never would forget. The skipper crouched on the deck with a lighted lantern in front of hini, the slide open. In his hand he held one end of a dark-looking snake- like rope, which issued from beneath his berth. He was unraveling a bit of yarn which protected the end of the fuse, preparatory to applying the candle- light. Crash! A round shot came tearing through the vessel's side, dashing the lantern into a hundred fractures, and rip- ping a great hole in the woodwork in its course athwart the deck, smashing thing's generally in the cabin beyond, and shattering an exit to the sea. Powell, wrapped in sudden darkness, uttered a fear- ful oath. Bentham stood back aghast. He could feel the tremble of the deck from the rapid throb of the engines, for the Foxhound was driving ahead at her utmost speed, the firemen below piling on tar and rosin, until the pitching and rolling fabric shook as with the ague. It was an awful moment. The huge waves thundered against the steamer's sides as if determined to hinder her escape from the lawful guardians of the port. The wind whistled down the cabin stairs, and a hun- dred odd noises added to the tumult of the hour. Bentham saw the flash of a match in the darkness, and the captain's face, looking fairly demoniacal, was lit up by the illumination. Only for a moment, then a draught of cold air through the shot-hole extinguished the flame. 22 THM BLOCKADE RTrNNEB. Another curse from the skipper, followed almost im- mediately by a fearful crash on deck. Another solid shot had taken effect, but the vessel's speed was unchecked. The frenzied captain struck another match, but like the first it puffed out. As he struck the third, Bentham stepped forward and took him by the shoulder. The match fell and was extinguished, while Powell sprang to his feet. The two men faced each other in utter gloom. "Who are you?" demanded the skipper with an imprecation. "Bentham." " What are you doing here ?" "To save you from a crime." " Curse you, what do you mean ?" " I mean that I have just learned of the existence of a torpedo in the hold of this steamer, and of your pur- pose to fire it sooner than surrender to the cruisers. You are mad, cap'n !" " How dare you dictate to me I" " You must not destroy this vessel." " Must not ?" hissed Powell. "Must not!" said Bentham calmly. "We are not yet stopped. Escape is still possible. We are almost over the bar. Your pilot will take her in, if there be the ghost of a chance." " We are doomed," yelled the skipper, " and I'm going to rob the Yankees of their prey. Their flag shall never float over the Foxhound. I have sworn it, and mean to keep my oath !" " You are beside yourself, man," said Bentham. " We are not yet disabled." THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 23 " Hark ! Do 3'^ou hear that V cried Powell, as another shot smashed the cabin bulkhead. " Well," said his passenger coolly, "let them sink us if they can. We shall then go to the bottom without the aid of your infernal machine. If you were caln:?" "^ou'd know they can never board us in this sea. \'^ the machinery is hit, we shall drift ashore and go to pieces. In no case will the gunboats take possession." The passenger's logic was undeniable, but Powell had only one idea in his brain, and was deaf to rod- son or entreaty. He had sworn to blow the Foxhound to atoms somj da}', and the mania was in complete control of his senses. "You are insane, cap'n, and I will not permit you to execute your project." With an oath Powell sprang upon his passengec, and an awful struggle in the dark ensued. 24 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. CHAPTER III. THE FOXHOUND AKKIVES IN PORT. Bentham was a wiry, athletic young fellow, but Powell was a man of powerful physique, and was more- over actuated by a desperate resolve. The passenger went down under the fierce assault, and he felt the skipper grappling for his throat. The young fellow exerted all his strength, and by a quick movement rolled the captain over and straddled him. Then he had his hands full trying to keep his as- sailant under. The struggle continued several moments, with a fearful exertion of muscle and determination on the part of each, but Bentham succeeded in maintaining his advantage. At last the' captain desisted and remained passive. Evidently he was gathering his breath and energies for a fresh attempt to displace his adversary. " Why can't you be sensible, Powell ?" said Bentham, puffing out the words. " Don't you see we're still under way. Not a shot has struck us in the last five minutes. If you go on deck I'll bet you'll find us in the beach channel, running up under the guns of Fort Caswell." Powell made no reply. " Look here. I've a revolver in my hand now. if THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 25 you don't give up this insane freak of yours ttiere'll be blood shed." At that instant a sailor flashed a lantern into the stateroom, and Captain Powell saw the gleam of a pistol barrel, and the stern realization seemed to bring him to his senses. " Let me up !" he growled. "Will you go on deck if I do?" "Yes — darn you; since you've got the drop on me. I can't help myself." Bentham released the prostrate skipper. " Give me that lantern," said the young man to the sailor. "How are things on deck?" " We're in the channel, sir." " And the gunboats ?" " Astern and out of range, sir.'* " Then we're safe ?" " Ay, ay ; so the pilot says." "What have you got to say, Captain Powell?" said Bentham. " What !■" exclaimed the skipper, who had regained his mental equilibrium ; " why, that you've saved the steamer, my boy, and there's my hand on it." They clasped hands heartily. "The pilot sent rae below to find y.ou, sir,"' said the seaman to his superior. " All right, Ducks, tell him Pll be up in a jiffy." The sailor hurried away. "Allow me to say, Bentham, that you're a brick. Your intrepidity has saved vessel, crew and cargv:) from certain destruction. I hope you w^ill accept to v apology for my rough treatment. I was not real.^ conscious of anything but the one determination -: Ze THE BLOCKABE RUNNER. blow this craft to the four winds of heaven. I've had it so long on my mind, and the wind of that cannon- ball turned my head, so that I could think only tliat the time had arrived for putting my last resource into execution." '• Say no more, Captain Powell." " But I assure you I'm heartily ashamed of myself. How came you to.learn about the torpedo ? I never told you.'' "The pilot " "Ay, ay; Foulweather Tom knows all about it. Some da}', however, I'll be obliged to carry it into effect. You've seen the legend painted over the cabin door : ' This steamer will never be taken by the enemy.' That's my motto, and I mean to stick by it. Wouldn't the Yankees chaff me if they could run their flag up to the mizzen-peak ? Do you think I could stand that? Never !" " "Well, sir, you're captain and part owner of this craft, and are in a position to do as it pleases you.; but let me tell you that such a project as j^ou have in view IS, in my opinion, a crime of the first magnitude. Every man who ships aboard the Foxhound has the sword of Damocles suspended above his head with a very slender thread. It is simply a foolhardy trick to destroy vessel and crew, and yourself, too, for that matter, in order to carry out a vainglorious threat. You'll ex- cuse me. Captain Powell, but I can't help telling you what I think of your method." " I shall not quarrel with your opinion, Bentham. You've a perfect right to it. The people of Wilming- ton, however, shall know that you've saved three million dollars' worth of war material to the Corifed- enicy." THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. i^ *' 1 beg you will not mention it, sir." **WJ3at!" exclaimed Powell, incredulously " J^ot mention it 2 Why, man, they'll give you a publio ovation !" " I prefer not to have the notoriety." " Do you really mean that?" " I do ; and I request as a favor that you will say nothing about my agency in this affair. Remember, it would only reflect on yourself." " That's so," admitted Powell ; " I didn't think of that. I won't say a word, then. Hold the light till I put the fuse away. There now, we'll go on deck." They passed from the stateroom and ascended the stairs The Foxhound was running in by the beach channel, and the frowning battlements of Fort Caswell could be just distinguished off the starboard bow in the gloom. Foulweather Tom was on the bridge and had just signalled to the engine-room to reduce speed, for the blockade runner was out of danger from the gunboats. They had ceased tiring and were steaming off shore, though their iron hulls were no longer visible to the Foxhound's people. " Safe at last, eh, Tom ?" exclaimed the skipper, who was now in an exhilarating mood. " I see you thought better of blowing us all to king- dom come," replied the pilot. " If I failed it is because of tne interference of our passenger. He is a gallant fellow, and deserves the thanks of all on board," said Powell, in a low voice. " Ay, ay ; I believe you, sir," answered Foulweather Tom. ^B TSE BLOCKADE BUNNER. All at once there was a concussion, followed by a shiver through the steamer that jarred every one on board. " We're aground !" cried Captain Powell. " You've run too close to the Middle Ground, Torn." The pilot, without a word, sprang to the center of the bridge and signalled the engineer to go ahead at full speed ; at the same moment a great wave lifted the Foxhound, and she slid forward over the obstruc- tion into deep water again. "The sand has shifted at that point," said Foul- weather Tom, as he again signalled to slow down. Fifteen minutes more and the distant lights of Wil- mington hove into view. " Ha !" exclaimed Powell exultantl}^ " yonder's the city. Bentham, the Confederacy owes you a debt of gratitude. If you had not shipped with us, by thun- der, we would all have been food for the fishes at this moment, and a cargo of inestimable value would be lying at the bottom of the sea. What an infernal idiot I was ! Five minutes more and you would have been too late. Next time 111 look before I leap." The young man looked very thoughtful. Just then four bells were struck forward. Two o'clock in the morning. The tempest was still having things pretty much its own way, and the standing rigging of the vessel was incrusted with icicles. The mizzen-mast had been shot away, leaving only a jagged stump. The taffrail was demolished in several places along the quarter-deck. Half of the smokestack was gone and the balance TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 39 above deck in ruins, so that the black smoke blew shoreward on a level with the shattered bulwarks. The boats at the davits were perfect wrecks. Indeed, the Foxhound had been terribly cut up, and had many nasty-looking shot-holes in her hull. But her machinery had escaped injury ; one shot in the engine-room would most likely have settled her fate for good and all. Near on to six bells the blockade runner had come to anchor close in shore, ready to steam up to her dock after sunrise. The good people of Wilmington slept in ignorance of the arrival of a cargo of precious freight, but the newspapers were already preparing accounts under flaring headlines of her wonderful escape, for the news had been long since telegraphed from Fort Gaswell, and reporters had flocked down the bay and boarded her almost as soon as the night lights of the city sprang into view. By eight o'clock in the morning the Foxhound was moored to her dock, and a large crowd was already gathered to survey the ruin wrought by the Yankee gunners. By this time the news of her arrival and thrilling experience was all over the city, and a stream of curi- osity seekers and patriotic idlers were en t'oute for the dock. The scene on the wharf beggared description. Men shouted and danced for very joy, and women waved their handkerchiefs and joined their voices to the loud cheers that soared skyward. The city bells were set a-ringing, and whistles were t?> As t!ie night was bitterly cold the fine spray c;-t to the marrow. As Mowbray poked his head above the protecliMcr sides* of the staircase a blast of wind nearly took .'is breath away. As far as iiis eye could see, on every hand arounft, the sea, flattened until it was nearly as level as a ph. !:i, was a mass of driving foam. The binnacle lamp burned faint and dim, with a sickly halo. Above, however, all was clear, except a few whi'(% fleecy clouds, driven wildly across the frosty stars that twinkled in the heavens. The steamer heeled away to the leeward, and the heavy black smoke poured from the funnels flattened out and was swept quickly over the starboard rail. Looking astern, Mowbray saw the billows howling after the Foxhound, urging on their white crests i:i fearful proximity, and threatening at every surge t» roll in over the taffrail. They looked for all the world like a pack of famished wolves, racing each other in the pursuit of the blockr.de runner, pitching and yelling after their prey. Mowbray was timid of venturing upon deck, which assumed alternate slants of nearly forty degrees, and as he couldn't make out Powell through the mist, he returned to the cabin. The swinging lamp burned low and dim. The place was quite deserted. " I can't do anything to-night," he muttered. "Never mind, I'll unmask him in the morning. He has further insulted me when he asked Norah for her hand. She is to become Captain Powers' wife. That has been settled, and no one shall interfere." 106 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. He carefully made his way to his own stateroom, and in half an hour was asleep, little reckoning that it was his last night of life. In the meanwhile the Foxhound was dashing toward Nassau, as though eager to reach her destination. Captain Powell had gone below, and Mr. Cresson, the second officer, kept watch on deck with Foul- weather Tom. They were both on the steamer's bridge, keeping a sharp lookout forward for any signal from the man stationed at the forecastle head. At four bells the mist lifted a bit, and suddenly the figure of the lookout was seen to wave his arm wildly, with a hoarse cry of "Port — hard a-port!" thrown by the wind violently into the pilot's teeth. The helmsman caught the repeated order and jammed the wheel over hard. "A brig close under our forefoot !" came the cry affain from the catheads. Mr. Cresson sprang to the starboard rail, where for a moment he was lost in a cloud of hissing spray, as the steamer careened that way. He caught a glance of the stern of a trim-looking craft, evidently lying to in the gale. The mist had heretofore concealed her position, and now the steamer was upon her and her fate was sealed. Those on board the brig had only just discovered their danger. Her helm was shifted, and there was great confusion on her deck, but it was too late to avoid the calamity. Her sheets were let fly, and with a wild lurch she rolled over, broadside to the Foxhound, which at that instant gave a leap like a horse clearing a gate, and then THE BLOVKADE RUNNER. 107 Crash .! The blockade runner shivered with the shock from end to end, and then she flew onward, burying her nose in the sea, from which, above the shriek of the wind, came wild cries for help. Then the ill-fated brig was whirled away astern, rolling frightfully, her masts gone by the board, and half-buried in the brine. Foulweather Tom stopped the engines, orders were issued in quick succession, and then under low head- way the steamer came about, and was headed back toward the sinking craft. She was made out lying a short distance on the weather bow, and fast settling in the water. The crew were seen working the pumps, while jets of brine spurted from the scuppers. " They are sinking," said the officer of the deck to Foulweather Tom. "Ay, ay; God help them, for we can't. No boat will live in this sea." "Terrible — terrible!" exclaimed Mr. Cresson sor- rowfully. Every man held his breath and looked in the direc- tion of the brig, fearful less the next surge would submerge her forever. The Foxhound drew as close to the sinking craft as she dared. Several life-preservers were cast overboard attached to long lines and allowed to sweep down toward the brig. But before anything could be done the mist settled again over the face of the sea, blotting out the un- happy vessel. 108 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. Then the Foxhound's whistle was kept going, and she lay to for a full hour, everybody hoping against hope. Then the mist thinned again, and the water for a mile round came into view ; but there was no sign of the brig within that circle. Only the empty life-preservers tugging away at the taut lines. The tragedy was over. The brig had gone down with all on board. Then Mr. Cresson sadly gave the order that put the Foxhound once more steaming on her course toward Nassau. THE BLOVKADE RUNNER. 109 CHAPTER XIV, ANOTHER TRAGEDY. The sun rose next morning over a troubled sea. The gale had nearly gone down, and the sky was clear and without a cloud, but the waves still ran high, heaving their snowy crests all about the Fox- hound. The day promised to be a charming one. When the steward summoned the occupants of the cabin to breakfast, Miss Nora Mowbray made her ap- pearance, looking very pale, but withal verv charming. The counterfeit Catesby was already at the table, seated next to Mr. Cresson. Captain Powell was at the head of the board, and he gallantly rose to assist Norah to her seat, which was next his own, and nearly opposite the presumed Confederate agent. At that moment Gordon Mowbray came out of his stateroom and sat beside his daughter, not deigning to notice the man he knew to be Flash Gilmor. The leading topic was the tragedy of the unfor- tunate bark, graphically described by Mr. Cresson, and the girl was horrified at the awful loss of life on board the ill-fated vessel. After breakfast Powell invited Norah on deck. Mowbray hovered near them, waiting for a chance to talk confidentially to the captain about the dis- guised passenger. 110 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. Catesby amused himself by conversing with the officer in charge of the deck. Suddenly the lookout aloft sung out : " Sail ho !" " Where away ?" returned Mr. Egan^ the first officer. " On the starboard bow." "What does he look like?" said Powell, leaving Norah at the rail and joining the officer of the watch, who had sprung into the rigging and was leveling his glass at the distant craft, "I should say it was one of Uncle Sara's sailing frigates," returned Mr. Egan ; " but he's too far off to make certain of it." There is always some excitement and speculation at sea when a distant sail is sighted ; but of course in war times, when the stranger is more than likely to prove an enemy, this sensation is much magnified. Half an hour later, during which the course of the Foxhound had not been changed, the vessel was easily visible from the deck. Powell remarked to Norah that she was undoubt- edly a war vessel, and was heading across the Fox- hound's bows. This made the course of each an acute angle, and necessarily they were drawing nearer each moment. Powell was not at all uneasy, for he knew he could easily run away from the craft ahead. During the next thirty minutes the stranger had considerably increased upon the horizon, and it was seen that he had reduced sail. Of course the stranger's purpose was evident, but Powell gave no order to the helmsman. He sent word to the engine-room, however, to get up a full head of steam. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. HI At this juncture the lookout announced that a steamer was made out on the port bow. Her hull was below the horizon as yet, but the sail- or's sharp eyes had readily distinguished the telltale film of smoke. She was heading for the frigate. " This is growing interesting," remarked the skipper of the Foxhound. "Are we in any danger?" inquired Norah. " Not at present, Miss Mowbray," he replied. "Yonder ship is an enemy, is she not?" " Yes ; a heavy sailing frigate, belonging to the United States navy. Take this glass and you will make her out quite plainly." The focus was adjusted to suit Miss Norah. "I see her very clearly. A perfect beauty she is," said Norah. And her heart gave a joyous throb when she recognized the Stars and Stripes floating in the breeze from her gaff. " But we are heading straight for her, Captain Powell. Are you not afraid to meet her ?" " We shall not meet her," said Powell. " We can easily outsail her. The steamer way down under the horizon yonder, where you see the smoke, is more to be feared, if she prove an enemy. However, I am not very anxious, for the Foxhound can reel off seventeen knots in an emergency, and that's more than any Yan- kee craft I know of can do under forced draft." " But why are you running toward this vessel if you really intend to avoid her?" inquired Norah, who was quite innocent of the dodges practiced by blockade runners at sea to avoid an enemy. " Well, Miss Mowbray, I have a purpose in view. I 11;> llIE BLOCKADE IIUNITEU. don't wish to lose any time getting into >Tassau, and the closer I get to yonder craft, as things stand, the less of a detour I will iiave to make in order to avoid her guns and eventuall}' to outstrip her." "I see,-' she said, with a smile. "How far off is she now?" "About five miles." "1 wouldn't think it, captain." _ " Oh, distances are very deceptive at sea." The frigate was heeled over under the breeze, and made a beautiful picture in the sun, which flashed prismatic rays from her copper sheathing along the water. She was reduced to easy sail, but Powell saw that her canvas hung in such a way that within two min- utes she could have all sails spread, even to her kites, such is the rapidit}'^ and precision on board a man-of- war. "I'll wager that fellow is dragging a sail astern of him to retard his speed," said Officer Egan, coming up, glass in hand., " An old trick, Mr. Egan," responded Powell. "But it won't do him any good. The wind is dropping, I believe " " Yes, sir." "Alter our course about half a point. That will be enough for the present. We need only keep out of range of his guns, you know. They have easily rec- ognized our character by this time. IIow mad they'll all be to see a rich prize escape them so easily ! I guess she is a new vessel on the Bahama station; though what good she can do without steam beats me. S!i^ probably carries a heav}' battery, but I fancy no ste.*;:! THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 113 vessel is going to come within range simply to test the matter." The slight change in the Foxhound's course was evidently noted by the frigate's people j but they could not but be aware that a chjise was out of the question, as some of their sails were even then shaking for lack of sufficient wind. At last the fri broadside from your vessel." Bentham uttered an exclamation of disappointment. He ran to the quarter-deck. There were several bodies there, but none that resem- bled the Confederate captain. 132 THE BLOCKADE RUNJ^ER. Then he entered the cabin, which was in ruins, but without result. Finally he descended to the cockpit, from which the wounded were- being rapidly removed by the Yankee tars, and made inquiries ; but no one could throw any light upon the late commander of the Swiftwing, . " 1 shan't believe him dead until I actually see his corpse. I'll wager he's off in one of the boats. How- ever, we'll overhaul them all, and I shall have, the pleasure of seeing my enemy face to face again." But Bob Bentham counted his chickens too soon. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 133 CHAPTER XVII. THE CHASE AND THE ESCAPE. It was the Avenger's first victor}'^ over an armed foe ; but it had been dearly purchased, for a third of her crew had been put out of action, and her hull and spars and rigging were a sight to witness. Her smokestack escaped injury, partly because it shut up like a telescope, and during the late action was scarcely visible above the bulwarks. One board the privateer the carpenter had reported to the officer in charge that there were several feet of water in the hold, and that it was not possible to get at the opening, through which the sea poured in a cataract. The removal of the wounded was therefore hurried, and every preparation made to leave the sinking vessel to her fate. When the prisoners so far taken were marshaled on the Avenger's deck, it was found that, beside the wounded, seventeen of the Swiftwing's crew had been secured. Captain Graham then ordered the cruiser to go after his other boats, which were still cnasing two of the privateer's launches. Bentham felt certain that Dick Powers was in one of the boats, and that both of them would be speedily overhauled was a foregone conclusion, as the moon- 134 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. light was too bright to enable them to escape from th© watchful eyes on board the cruiser. Captain Graham paced the quarter-deck with a frown on his countenance. He had absolutely nothing to show for his splendid victory but the consciousness of having rid his country of a dangerous craft, which but for this rencounter would soon having been preying upon American com- merce, and with her splendid armament have carried things on with a high hand. He had many prisoners, it was true, and others in the perspective, but they counted as nothing when com- pared with the value of the prize which was now rapidly going down. Suddenly he bethought himself of the steamer which had showed English colors. "Mr. Haskins," he said to the first lieutenant, " Where's that sneaking steamer that was reported some time ago ?" " Off yonder, sir. Seems to be hanging round to pick up some of the privateer's crew. I noticed her edging down while we were engaged with the sinking steamer. I did not report it sooner, as I was of the opinion she was placing herself within our reach. She's in range of our long gun now, sir, and don't seem at all anxious to make off." The captain examined the stranger carefully through his night-glass. " It is strange," he said. " If that fellow isn't a blockade runner then I never saw one. He's got the cheek of the devil, but I'll make him explain himself in a few minutes. Mr. Haskins !" " Yes, sir," said the officer, touching his cap. TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 135 "Pass the word for Mr. Bentham." In two minutes the youog gunner saluted his com- raander on he quarter-deck. " You've been in Wilmington lately and are prob- ably familiar with the looks of many of the blockade runners that were in that port at the time." " I was only there one day, sir, and had little chance to inspect them ; but you may know that I came from Europe on one of the most notorious of the class." " So I have heard. Well, sir, take this glass and examine yonder steamer and let me know what you think of her." Bentham leveled the glass at the long, low, rakish vessel that was slowly sailing along in the bright moon- light, as though waiting for something, and hardly more than a mile distant. " By George ! that's the Foxhound, sir," he ex- claimed excitedly. "What!" ejaculated his commander, who knew the famous blockader well by reputation ; " the Fox- hound ?" " Yes, sir." "Are you sure of that ?" "Quite positive. She is the vessel I came over from France on, and is commanded by Captain Kalph Powell. She's loaded with cotton at this moment, or possibly she's just out of Nassau with contraband goods. In any case you will probably never have a better chance to bring her to." " She's a prize worth the catching," said Captain Graham, briskly issuing orders to bear up for the stranger. "Excise me, sir, but it will interest you to kaow 136 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. that Powell has registered an oath never to be taken ; for that exigency he carries a Whitehead torpedo in the hold of the Foxhound with a fuse attached leading- to his stateroom. When capture seems unavoid- able he will blow his vessel to the winds." "■' He's a consummate donkey !" exclaimed Captain Graham. "He'll have an opportunity to do so now, I fancy. Do you know his speed ?" "Over sixteen knots when pressed, sir." "Phew ! We can't match that ; but I guess we've a long reach in that pivot gun of yours, Mr. Bentham. Call your crew to quarters ; everything will depend on your ability to cripple him as soon as he shows his heels." " I will do my best, sir." The young man touched his cap and retired to his station amidships. '" The boats have overhauled the privateer's launches, sir, and are towing them down," reported the first lieutenant at this juncture. "We can't wait for them, Mr. Haskins. Signal them to follow in our wake. Ah, I see that fellow has waked up at last. He's heading for the Northwest Channel. That means he's bound for Nassau. Loaded to the decks with cotton, I guess. What a prize he'll make !" And Captain Graham rubbed his hands gleefully. The Avenger was run up to top speed, and for that matter so was the chase, for great clouds of black sm^ke issued from her funnel, and a long streak of foam was churned up by her screw. " Let her have the pivot gun," exclaimed the com- mander. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 137 Bertham sighted the gun carefully, the cruiser being held a point off the direct course, so as to offer no hin- drance to the line of fire. The lanyard was pulled, and a shell. curved into the air, and finally exploded close to the Foxhound's stern. " Good," cried the skipper. "Another like that, only a little closer, will disable her screw." '' The captain of yonder craft has wonderful nerve, though I call it foolhardiness, to venture so close within range of an enemy," remarked Mr. Haskins. " That's Powell's reputation ; he's a regular dare- devil, they say. He had some object in hanging about here and taking such chances. He's a faster steamer than the Avenger, and will get away as it is, unless we can bring him to with a shot." The next shell exploded high above the blockade runner's deck, but the third carried away the raizzen- topniast. The long gun was worked as rapidly as possible, but the Foxhound was not hit, and to Benthara's extreme vexation was gradually drawing away. Great Abaco light was now visible above the hori- zon, and unless something was shortly done the block- ade runner would reach the safety of the three-mile limit, and could not legally be overhauled. During the next half hour three shells struck the fleeing steamer, but her speed was not affected in^any way. Twenty minutes later she was nearly out of range and fast nearing land, so the captain of the Avenger reluctantly hauled off and headed back over his course in order to pick up his boats. On board of the Foxhound the engines were pound- 13ii THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. Ing like mad, and her furnaces were packed with tar and rosin. " Ease her," exclaimed Captain Powell to his pilot, *' yonder cruiser has given up the chase and gone about." " Ay, ay, sir," and the bell in the engine-room rang out the joyful signal to slow up. " A narrow shave, Powell ; but a miss is as good as a mile any day." The speaker was a fine-looking man, whose face was turned seaward. " I should have been very sorry if this had turned out disastrously," he continued, "since I am respon- sible for putting 3^ou into the lion's den, so to speak. Had you not laid to to pick me up, after my vessel was knocked out, you would have been long since out of reach of the Yankee fangs; but I should have been a prisoner of war. I assure you that I am very grateful for your kindness. I could hardly expect another man to risk so much, even for a friend, and we, sir, are scarcely acquaintances." "Say no more, Captain Powers; I am glad to have had an opportunity of doing you a service — not to speak of cheating the Yankees of an important prisoner of war." " If I can ever return the favor, command me," said the late captain of the Swiftwing. " What do you mean to do now ?" said Powell. " Get another ship and pa}^ thera back !" was the quick reply, as the speaker's eyes flashed and his hands clinched at the ends of his gray sleeves. " By my soul! Powell, I will make the Yankees suffer for this disaster." THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. I39 " I hope you will, cap'n ; upon my soul I do." " 1 forgot to tell you that the man you brought over from France, Bob Bentham, is chief gunner on yon- der cruiser." "How do you know that?" said Powell, not a little astonished. " 1 liave means of learning many things that it is to my interest to be informed of. Mr. Mowbray's instruc- tions included positive orders to hunt out the craft that his nephew went to sea in, and unless she proved to be of^much superior force I was to engage her at all hazards, and if possible put an end to that young man's career." "You surprise me," said Powell. "Well, when 1 left Wilmington, I found that the Swiftwing was unseaworthy. Mowbray had evidently been imposed upon when he purchased the vessel. I was forced to put into Nassau for safety. The priva- teer underwent a thorough examination in dry dock and was overhauled and put into Al condition. I also obtained a heavier deck battery. In the meantime I was expecting intelligence regarding Bentham's move- ments. Yesterday I got a letter saying that this young man had been appointed to the Avenger — ^a fast steam cruiser of the third class, intended to over- haul the more important Confederate privateers. Like the Swiftwing she carried a broadside of four heavy guns, and a long rifled Parrott in the waist. There was not much difference in the armament of either vessel, so I felt easy in my mind about tackling her. My surprise, however, was great to run athwart her so soon. My only regret is that I lost the day." " It was a most unfortunate Waterloo for you," said Powell. 140 THE BLOCKADE RUNNEB. " What galls rae is that Benthara is aware that I commanded the Svviftwing, He bears me no good will, and the sinking of my vessel must have sent joy to his soul. But I will bide my time, and ere long I hope to return the compliment with interest." "To which I respond amen, since the object of your animosity is a Yankee. Aside from that fact I must admit I admire that young Bentham for his courage and firmness in the hour of peril. But for him the Foxhound's ribs would now be ornamenting the shoals off Wilmington, and the Confederate government would have been poorer by a couple of million dollars worth of war material.'" There was a pause in. the conversation. Since that terrible affair in the cabin, which I spoke to you about, the murder of Mr. Mowbra.y by Flash Gilmor, ill fortune has been our luck. We've been storm-struck for three days, but for which we had now been at Nassau unloading our cotton and figuring upon a fresh run." " I wish I had Flash Gilmor here !" hissed Powers. " I'd hang him to your yard-arm, Powell, and if you interfered, by Jove ! I'd take your life ! You were going to convey him to Nassau ?" ''Yes. At Nassau I would have turned him over to the authorities, and he would have been hustled back to Wilmington. But he got away." " Unaided ?" And Powers fixed his dark eyes on the captain of the Foxhound. " I am afraid no," was the answer, in a lower tone. " Captain Powers, 1 haven't the same crew I once had. When I recruited after my last tussle with the block- aders, I was compelled to take some doubtful THE BLOCKADE RUNNER, 141 characters. I dared not investigate Flash Gilmor's escape on the high seas. When I get to Nassau I shall discharge my bad men and get better ones. I tell you that Gihnor had assistance. It was a cold- blooded crime." " Not perpetrated in self-defense, then ?" " No ! I believe he came on board disguised as a Confederate agent for a dark purpose. He knew that he could never make Norah his wife while Mowbray lived. The old man hated him as he hated the North." Powers was silent for a moment. " How does Norah seem ?" he asked at length. " I don't see her often ; she keeps her stateroom," was Powell's answer. '' During the fight this evening she sent the steward up to ask we what it all -meant. That was the first I'd heard from her to-day." " With your permission I'll go down and see her," said Captain Powers eagerly. Powell made no reply. " Do you object, Captain Powell ?" inquired the Confederate officer, somewhat taken aback by his companion's silence. " You promise not to excite her ?" " Certainly, sir.' I might say I have a right to an interview since, with her late father's consent, I am a suitor for her hand." " Oh, is it possible," said Powell. " The steward will show you her stateroom ; but for all that she may not receive you." " Oh, that is ray risk, of course," said the handsome ofiicer as he turned away and went down the com- panion-way. l^Z TH3 BLOCKADE B'UNNBR. Captain Powell paced his deck in silence, thinking probably of his good fortune in getting back to j^assau with a valuable load of cotton. As he was a large owner in the Foxhound, it may be reasonably surmised that having made nine round trips he was very comfortably jBxed — ^very rich in fact. His home was at Nassau, where he lived in an unos- tentatious manner when on shore. His niece, Miss Dora Maxwell, kept house for him, in a charming little cottage in the suburbs. He knew she was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Foxhound, for he had been away an unusually long time — his trip to Europe and return having occupied many weeks, and his delay at Wilmington several more — so that it was quite four months since he last saw the only relative he had in the world. Perhaps Captain Powell was also thinking how he would excuse himself in the matter of Flash Gilmor's escape in an open boat on the night of his dastardly crime. But he was not to blame for that. The murderer had been manacled and secured below decks. He could not have escaped without outside assist- ance, and this he had, as the captain had indicated to Captain Powers. Indeed, Flash Gilmor had many accomplices on board, whom he was taking to Nassau in his pay, and for a purpose of his own not shown on the surface. The identity of these fellows was suspected, but could not be proven, and therefore nothing could bo done in the matter. While the skipper of the Foxhound was pacing the THE BL0CKAB:E RWNNER. 143 weather side of his quarter-deck, Captain Dick Powers sought the steward and was shown to the stateroom occupied by Miss Norah Mowbray. He knocked for admission. After a moment or two he heard a light footstep, which set his heart beating. "Who is there?" said a sadly sweet voice. "A friend," said Captain Powers. "I don't recognize your voice, sir." *' I have only just come on board, Miss Mowbray. I am here with Captain Powell's permission." There was a pause, and then the door was cautiously opened, showing the faultless figure of the late Gordon Mowbray's ward. As her e3'es fell on the face of her visitor she started. " Merciful heavens !" she exclaimed, "it is Captain Powers 1" 1 44 THE BLOCKADE B UNNER. CHAPTER XVIII. THE privateer's OATH. NoRAH stood, pale-faced and full of emotion, in Cap- tain Powers' presence. Neither seemed disposed to break the silence that had followed the girl's last words. Finally the Confederate officer said : " I have heard the sad news, and I deeply regret the villain's escape. I shall follow^ him and avenge your father's death," " No," said Norah gently, but with great firmness. "Leave him to the vengeance of jleaven. It will overtake him in its own good time. From whence did you come? Am I near the Swiftwing?" " Alas ! no," answered Powers, his brow darkening at thought of the privateer's destruction, " We met with the enemy, and the Swiftuing is at the bottom of the sea." "It is well that he did not live to hear your report, for he expected great things of the ship — and of the commander," she added, with the faintest of smiles. Powers did not answer for a moment, "Never mind!" he suddenly cried, "In another vessel I will retrieve our fortunes, and the victory gained by our foes over the Swift wing shall prove the dearest one of their lives. I am Captain Powell's pas- senger to Nassau. When I leave that port I will be THE BLOCKADE BUNNER. 145 on the quarter-deck of a new Destroyer — which shall literally sweep the seas." He spoke these words in the voice of a man who loves to think of vengeance. Rage leaped from the depths of his dark eyes, and he stood before the Southern beauty the very incarna- tion of grim resolution. All the while the Foxhound was flying through the waters with the speed of a gale. Her engines sent her swiftly and noiselessly forward. So well was she balanced on the waves, and so neatly built, that to Norah in her cozy little stateroom she was not moving at all. Never before had the girl looked so lovely to Powers. This was the woman whom he would make his wife — the beautiful creature whom Mowbray was to have given hira when he had brushed Bob Bentham from his (Mowbray's) path. Her guardian had been taken away, and she was thrown upon her own resources, left alone in the world with an immense fortune and an unpledged hand. These things passed rapidly through the Confederate captain's mind. " Your journey will end for the present at Nassau ?" said Powers, half-questioningly, fixing his eyes on his fair auditor. " It will. I shall remain there an indefinite length of time — perhaps until the close of the war," was the response. " It will last a long time," " Perhaps." " The South has not yet taxed her full strength.** 146 THE BLOCKADE R UNNER. " Neither has the national government. " Powers could not avoid noting the manner of her reply. It drew a stare from his eyes. "I see that my words have surprised you," said Norah, "They seem to tell you tliat my sympathies are not with the government you serve." " They indicate this, but I have not interpreted your words correctly. You have grown up under Gordon Mowbray's roof, and your hopes cannot be elsewhere than with the South." " Pardon me, sir, but if I have grown up as you say under the Mowbray roof, I have had thoughts — senti- ments of my own. This is not the proper place for an open avowal of sentiments which you may call treason, but since we have advanced to where we stand, let me say that the movement of secession Hnds no sympathy with me. I am for the old flag; my heart, my hopes, and m^' wishes are with the Union." A silence followed the girl's last' words. Captain Powers appeared thunderstruck. "Then the loss of the Swiftwing occasions no regrets in your bosom," he said, coloring. " Recollect that its loss shortens your fortune by almost one hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars," " The men who sunk with the vessel have my tears,'* she said softly ; "but the loss of the money invested in her I do not regret. You will say that ray avowed sentiments will deprive me of the estate which would naturally come into my possession by mj' father's death ; that it will be confiscated by the Confederate government. He left no will, but many things have been understood for years. Captain Powers, I shall I'HE BLOCKADE R UNNEB. 147 not lift a finger to retain those possessions. Let the Confederacy take them. My father's whole soul was wrapped up in the Southern cause ; he would have beo-ffared himself for it. Men— his enemies — would have made out that he wavered, that his heart was not in the cause ; but a truer man to the South than he never lived. He will not see the humiliation of the government you serve, Captain Powers; therefore it is well, perhaps, that the blue sea covers him.'' "It is well, too, that he has not lived to ,see you arrayed on the side of the power he so cordially hated," said Powers bitterh'. " You will not find any l^orth- ern sentiment prevailing at Nassau." " I shall not court society of any kind while there," was the gentle answer. " You forget. Captain Pow- ers, that the terrible deed committed on board this ship has darkened more than one page of my life history. I loved Gordon Mowbray, and to-night I throw the mantle of charity upon his faults." Norah's eyes became suffused with tears as she fin- ished. Captain Powers watched her wdth the eyes of the eagle that sees a dove in his power. He threw a rapid glance over his shoulder and stepped forward. "Ah ! if you would but bestow upon others a tithe of the love he drew from you !" he said, in tones that lifted the girl's gaze to his face, " What do you mean "' " Have you been blind till this time ?" was the quick, passionate response. " Norah, I stand before "you a self-confessed lover. I have loved 3'ou with all the depth and the ardor of my soul, and I here, for the 148 THE BLOCKADE liVJS NEB. first time, trust my lips with the deelaration. I have Mowbray's jDromise, but I would win you myself." Norah's look checked him. " Was not that promise a bargain as well ?" she asked. Captain Powers started. " Come," she continued, smiling. " Confess, Captain Powers, that you were to have me for certain work on the high seas. Ah ! I know a good deal about the purpose of the Swiftwing. There were secrets in Mowbray House, but some were not well kept. It was a bargain as well as a promise." The captain stood perplexed in the fair creature's presence, but his audacity came to the rescue. " Promise or bargain, it may yet be kept," he ex- claimed. "Sir?" " I would not be misunderstood now, not for the world !" he continued quickly. " You have not an- swered my declaration of love " "Need I answer?" "It is not necessary ;" and his lips closed behind the last word. " It was the desire of the dead that you should become my wife, Norah, and my life mission shall be to fulfill it. My love for you is not abated by our meeting to-night ; it has become intensified. I like a hard conquest, a wellrfought battle, where there is much at stake. I shall make you my wife ! I shall trinmpb in this tilt for a heart at the altar!" Norah's eyes flashed defiance before she replied. They accepted his challenge. "Captain Powers, I am not surprised at your words," she said, assuming a calmness which she evidently did THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 149 not possess. " They are the natural outgrowth of de- sires nursed in secret, but boldly proclaimed to a young girl whom murder has left unprotected. So you will make me your wife ? We will stand at an altar deco- rated with the Confederate flags, while pasons of vic- tory float skyward over the ruins of the Federal Union ! This is one of your dreams, I suppose. Let me break it ; for I say here that hour of your triumph will never come ! I will never, never, become your wife. The promise and the bargain must fall fruitless to the ground." Captain Powers could not but admire the fair girl who spoke these words. She stood before him as lovely as a queen, with courage beaming from the depths of her deep, sorrow- ful eyes, and with her figure drawn to its full stature. The captain of the ill-fated privateer could not see the stooped figure of the man who listened on the out- side of the stateroom door. " By Jove ! I carry a Yankee lover !" ejaculated the eavesdropper, who ha,d a figure like Captain Powell's. "I never dreamed that^old Mowbray's ward would ever think of such a thing. What will Dick Powers say now ? I think the girl has put an end to the argument." The man was the captain of the Foxhound. A minute's silence followed Norah's last sentence. " Oh, we will see who wins !" suddenly exclaimed Powers. "Do not think that I expect to lose the game. Gordon Mowbray was niy friend. I respect the promise of the dead, and I swear to-night on the deep, blue waters of this tropical sea that Gordon Mowbray's last oath shall be kept." 150 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. A defiant laugh was the girl's only reply. "You fling down the gauntlet, my beauty; "but it only goads me forward to victory !" he said. " I know where your heart is, but I will cross swords with Bob Bentham on his ow^n deck ere long and show him that the arm he struck down on the banks of the Cape Fear River can deal blows of vengeance. Love and live for him, if you will. Here in Nassau you will find few whose hearts beat for our enemies. To this place Bentham dare not come. Ah, the coward! he will keep behind iron plates and surround himself with ten-inch guns ! I long to meet him ! I will find him if I have to seek him in the midst of a Yankee fleet." "-He will not shun the meeting — be sure of that, Captain Bowers," said the girl calmly. " Look out — he might turn hunter himsetf. Stranger things than this have happened," Captain Bowers vouchsafed no reply, but iurned suddenly toward the door. " Good-night," he said, as he reached the threshold. " I will keep my oath ! You shall become the wife of Captain Bowers yet." He flung wide the door as he concluded, and so sud- denly that the eavesdropper on the outside failed to escape discovery, "What! a listener?" exclaimed Bowers, springing madly after the Foxhound's captain, whom he quickly overtook, and whirled until they stood face to face. " By my soul ! it is Bo well !" " It is Bowell !" echoed the blockade runner. " I owe you no apology, captain. I gave you orders when you left me not to excite that young girl, and I followed you to see that my orders were obeyed." TEE BLOCKADE BUNl^ER. 151 "Well?" The one word was accompanied by an eye challeno-e. " You touched forbidden ground, but the girl stood it bravely. She's more than a match for you, captain. You'll never win her !" " By heavens ! I will !" was the quick retort. '■ ^ have never failed in a love affair, and I've had laoie than one. If you say so, Powell, Til go back, and' re- peat ray oath, sealing it with a kiss." " Not while she is my passenger ?" exclaimed Poweil. " You have said enough to her to-night — more than I think a gentleman would have said. This is my ship, captain, and Norah is my passenger. She's Yankee in sentiment, but she has a right to think as she pleases. I say you shan't disturb her any more. Her stateroom is to be invaded no more twixt here and port." Captain Powers stared into the speaker's face re- vealed by the ship's lantern that swung overhead. Powell was desperately in earnest. " Ho — ho, Powell !" he laughed, almost boisterow:- ly, " I've a motion to go back just to try you." " You'd better not !" and Captain Powell's hand touched Powers' arm. "There are some things 3'ou can't do on board this ship. I am master here. When you rouse me, you stir up a tiger !" That was the end of it. Powers did not go back. 152 TEE BLOCKADE R UNNER. CHAPTER XIX. DOEA AND NOR AH. The Foxhound continued her course until Nassau was reached. Threatened by Captain Powell's look and voice, Dick Powers had not sought a second interview with Norah, and the girl kept within her stateroom. Day was breaking again when the little blockade runner entered the port with the Confederate flag fly- ing. She soon came to anchor, and Powell went below to tell Norah that the city had been reached. The distressed girl received him with a smile, glad to know that she was to leave the ship; even though she was about to take up her residence in a city where but few hearts beat for the American Union. As Captain Powell assisted her politely upon deck her eyes sent an inquiring glance round the ship, as though she sought some one. " You Avill be spared the sight of Captain Powers," said the blockade runner, addressing her. " He bade me a hasty good-by twenty minutes ago, and has already disappeared. It was well for him that he went no further than he did last night." " You were near, then ?" Powell's face flushed. "I was at the door," he said. " I believe it is the first time I ever played eavesdropper on board my own shipj but I had told Captain Powers that you THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 153 were not to be excited. I was afraid he might go too far. You will pardon rae for listening, Miss ?" " Certainl}'," smiled ISTorah. " Captain Powell, you have heard me declare my sentiments. They are not in accordance with 3''ours." " You've a full right to them," answered the Con- federate quickly. " I'm a full-blooded Confederate, Miss Norah. I would sink every Yankee ship afloat if I had the -power, but I never begrudge a woman her sentiments— never! Of course I did not expect to hear you talk as you have, since you were raised un- der Mowbray's roof ; but if you like the old flag better than the new one, why, stick to it." Norah was about to repl}?^, thanking Captain Powell for his words ; but they had reached the ship's side, and were about to descend to the boat waiting for them on the cahii waters of the ba3^ "Have you any acquaintances in Nassau ?" he asked of Norah, as the boat put off. "None at all. 1 come to the city a stranger " Powell seemed to reflect a moment. " Would you let me recommend a friend ?" he said. " Indeed I would, and thank you besides." " I have a niece here — a young lady about your age," he continued. " I am sure you two would get along famously together. Dora was raised in the tropics, and I call her a real tropic flower. She will talk what you might call treason, Norah ; but for all that you'll like her," Norah was much delighted to know that she would not be isolated in a strange land. Sbe believed she would like Captain Powell's niece, and longed to meet her. 154 ^ii^ BLOCKADE RUNNER. She thus expressed herself to the blockade runner, who seemed delighted, and a few minutes later Norah was in Nassau. The arrival of the Foxhound had attracted quite a crowd of people to the quay, and the sight of a young and handsome woman in the captain's boat caused a -murmur of speculation to float from lip to lip. The fair young girl stood the stares of the crowd for some time without complaining. At length she turned to Captain Powell with a smile : " Do they always stare thus at your passengers, captain ?" she asked. " Bless you ! no, girl. A lady passenger on board the Foxhound is, indeed, a novelty. They all know Dora, and they are wondering whether or not you are to supplant her in my heart." Norah met Captain Powell's glance with £\, blush, seeing which the blockade runner broke into a laugh. "iSTo harm intended at any rate, Norah," he said. "Dora is the only woman who can have Powell's love. We will see her soon." The people cheered Powell as he passed along ; for he was known as the most daring as well as the most successful blockade runner sailing from Nassau. Many a rich cargo had he conveyed to the Con- federates. His daring ventures had brought much gold to Nassau, and, if the war lasted many months, he would enrich many of her citizens. " They rather like the old blockade runner here," he smiled to Norah, as he lifted his cap in response to the plaudits of the crowd. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 155 The young girl did not reply. At that moment she had caught sight of a pair of dark eyes fastened upon her like the orbs of a basilisk. They were just raised above the shoulder of a man, so that she could not see the lower part of the face. A strange and nameless thrill shot to ISTorah's heart while the eyes regarded her, and she was returning their glare with a questioning look when Captain Powell spoke the words last recorded. Did the blockade runner notice the eyes ? He glanced at Norah, wondering why she had not replied, and his look wandered back to the crowd through which the}'^ were still passing. Presently the evil black eyes vanished, perhaps be- cause Norah had passed on, but she could not forget thera. They had welcomed her to Nassau in a manner not at all desirable. Had she ever seen them before ? The fair girl thought of Flash Gilmor and shivered. Not long afterward Captain PoweU rapped on the door of a small frame house which had a beautiful little flower garden in front, and a moment later a vision of loveliness appeared on the threshold. A sylph's figure and a houri's face — that is what appeared to Norah. We would describe the person as a tall young girl ©f eighteen, with a soft olive complexion, black hair,, and large lustrous eyes, such as one often meets with in the tropics. She greeted the blockade runner with an exclama- tion of joy which soon became an enthusiastic wel- come; but in the midst of her demonstrations she suddenly caught sight of Norah and started. 156 TEE BLOCKADE B UNNER. " I have brought you a companion, Dora," said Powell, glancing at Norah. "A companion and a friend; how glad I am!" ex- claimed Dora, turning from Powell and grasping No- rah's hands, while she drew near for a kiss. " We will be friends forever ! I have been lonely a long time, and you could have brought me no grander present than this friend. Uncle Ealph." Powell smiled proudly as the two girls embraced, and Dora, clinging to Nora's hand, led the way into the house. The interior of the building was in keeping with the outside-; exotic plants and flowers everywhere, and on every hand a certain beauty and neatness which pro- claimed loving woman's rule. Norah v/as soon left alone with her new acquaint- ance, for Powell left to go back to the ship, where he knew ho would be wanted to pay oif the men whom he expected to discharge. The two girls sat in the cosy room that looked out upon the street, Dora still touching ISTorah's hand ten- derly and gazing with sisterly affection into her face. " Now, tell me all," she said, in a tone which drew from Mowbray's ward a full recital of her life since leaving Wilmington. Dora listened without once interrupting her fair narrator. She breathlessly followed her, word by word, and sat silent for a moment after the story. " I know this Plash Gilmor," w^ere Dora's first words, spoken in a tone that startled Norah. " I have seen the ruflSan !" and the girl's small hands clinched. Let us hope that the waters ingulfed him and the boat he stole; that the ocean aveno^ed THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 157 your father's death. Once I was seated at this very window, looking out upon the street, half dreaming, half dozing. It was a lovely day, like the many we have in Nassau. All at once a pair of eyes became fixed upon me. I saw them peering through the plants in the window like the e\^es of a snake. 1 could not think that they belonged to a man, yet I knew that they were not a serpent's orbs. I leaned forward, in- tending to bid the intruder begone, when a young man doffed his hat and bowed. That was my introduction to Flash Gilmor. I afterward discovered that he had come to Nassau in a blockade runner for the purpose of winning a bet which he had made at Charleston — that he would marry Captain Powell's niece within three months." Nora could hardly repress an exclamation of sur- prise. " You. may be sure that he lost his money," contin- ued Dora, with a laugh. " He would have entered this house then if I had not given Pedro, my Spanish servant, orders to let no serpents cross the threshold. I spoke the command in a tone intended solely for Flash Gilmor's ears, and he shrunk away abashed. He came back, however, and let slip no opportunity of throwing himself in my path ; but I made him the laughing stock of Nassau until a Confederate vessel carried him away„ Since then I have not seen him, and your mention of him, Norah, has been the fii^st time I have heard his name spoken for many a, week." The two girls continued to converse until a servant called Dora from the parlor, leaving Norah alone. Mowbray's ward arose and went to the window for 158 TEB BLOCKADE RUNNER. the purpose of inspecting a rare flower, which had commanded her praise for several minutes. She soon found herself admiring the profusion of exotics that bloomed around her, filling the whole room with their fragrance, and forming a bower of great beauty. An exclamation escaped Korah's lips as she caught sight of a flower, the most beautiful of all she had yet seen ; but it hung out of the window, yet within reach. Norah leaned forward to lift the flower gently, in order that she might become fully acquainted with its exquisite loveliness. All at once a hand encircled her waist, and the form of a man rose before her. A glance showed the girl his handsome face and evil black eyes. A wild cry pealed from her throat, and the next moment she had fallen to the floor in a swoon, ia which state Dora found her a few moments later. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 159 CHAPTEK XIX. CAPTAIN POWELL KEEPS HIS OATH. After the fruitless chase of the Foxhound, Captain Graham picked up his boats, and laid his course for Charleston to report to the admiral of the station the result of his first marine duel, and to deliver his pris- oners that they might be sent North. He was in particular good humor, for the first clause in his sealed instructions, directing him to hang about the Bahamas and capture or destroy the steamer Swift- wing, before she could get away upon her lawless errand, had been fulfilled to the letter. The Avenger had been roughly handled in the late fight, but not so badly but the carpenters and machinists on board could soon repair all damages. But some things were bej'^ond repair — a dozen hardy Yankee tars lay on the lower deck in a row sewed up in their hammocks ready for the solemn service that was presently to consign them to the universal watery churchyard where no tombstones mark the last resting places of many thousands of the wanderers on the trackless deep. It was on the evening of the day following that the Avenger approached the Yankee squadron off Charles- ton. It was pretty dark on the water, as the sky was overcast by clouds, and a half-gale was blowing, kick- ing up a tolerably nasty sea. 100 THE. BLOCKADE R UNNEB. The first intimation that Captain Graham had of the immediate presence of the blockading fleet was a rocket sent up by a vigilant gunboat. It was green and red, signifying in the signal code that a suspicious steamer was in sight. Of course this meant the Avenger. Shortly afterward a blue light was to be seen directly ahead from another craft, and as soon as it burned out three lanterns appeared in the rigging in the form of a triangle — a red one at the top and a white and a green one at the bottom. Captain Graham had no need to call for his code to interpret this signal — as plain as a pikestaff it read to his eye " who are you V The signal ensign was immediately instructed to answer it. Soon after the Avenger ran close to the "Firefly" gunboat. In answer to Captain Graham's inquiry for the admiral of the station, he was directed to a point in- shore where the flagship — a large sailing frigate — was snugl}^ anchored. The Avenger proceeded slowly landward and pres- ently made out the big cruiser, with her frowning tier of guns run out in readiness for any emergency. " Steamer ahoy !" came a sharp hail from the flag- ship, showing that the lookouts were wide awake. " Ahoy !" replied Captain Graham. " What steamer is that ?" " Screw steamer Avenger, Captain Graham, from the Bahama station. Tell the admiral that I am coming on board." " Very well, sir." THE BLOCKADE RUNNEE. 161 Lights flashed on the deck of the flagship and preparations made to receive the visitor according to his rank. The first cutter of the Avenger was piped away, and the commander of the cruiser was soon in the admiral's cabin. Captain Graham found that august personage making himself comfortable over a whiskey punch. The report made by the cruiser's captain was emi- nently satisfactory to the admiral, who congratulated him upon his success. As the Avenger was a remarkably fast vessel the admiral said he would take the liberty of supplement- ing the instructions of the Navy Department, by order- ing Graham to delay his cruise after the Shenandoah privateer, and give attention to the Foxhound blockade runner. The admiral said that he had been censured in com- mon with his brother admiral on the AVilmington station for their want of success in putting an end to this particular vessel, which continued to run the block- ade off both ports with the greatest impunity. He said Graham must watch for the steamer, and run him down or sink him, and the commander of the cruiser, promising to do his best in the matter, took his leave. About noon on the following day the Avenger got away and headed straight for the Northeast passage in the Bahamas, where Captain Graham proposed to lie off and on until the Foxhound made her appearance from Nassau with a fresh load of contraband goods on board. It was night again on the broad expanse of the trop- 162 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. ical sea, about three weeks after the incidents already narrated. The cruiser Avenger was steaming slowly along well inside of Great Abaco light. It was not very dark, though the raoon was stiU be- low the horizon, for the stars were out in all their glory. " She won't come out to-night, that's certain," said Bentham to Jupe, with whom he was conversing, while both hung over the starboard bulwarks: in the waist of the steamer. " By golly, Marse Bob, I dun no 'bout dat. Dat vera Powell is de mos' recklus pusson I eber know'd. Ebery udder skipper hangs buck for a foggy ebening, but dat Powell, he don't seem ter care a snap. De Foxhound is so debblish fast dat he snap him fingers at de cruisers here 'bouts, and come an' go when him please. I reckon dat him bery suah ter come out if him make up him mind ter do so." " Well, if he does, we'll nab him as sure as eggs are; eggs." " Golly, I hope so, sah." " Steamer ho !" came pealing down from the foretop, startling every one into alertness. The officer of the deck soon learned that the stranger was several miles distant, and was stealing seaward^ close under the lee of Eleuthera island. Not a light showed aboard of her, and she looked like a thin black moving shadow ; indeed, it required very sharp eyes indeed to make her out at all until attention was called to the spot. Several night-glasses were leveled at her. " I'll bet that's the Foxhound. Powell is a sly THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 163 rascal, and calculates that we won't expect him on such a bright night," said Captain G-raham to Mr. Haskins, his lieutenant. " Well, we'll have to cut him off or he'll get away again." The cruiser's nose was laid for a certain point ahead of the strangei*, and Benthara ordered to call his gun's crew to quarters. The furnace doors in the hold were thrown wide open, and the slumbering flames fed with the contents of several tar barrels, and then the stokers proceeded to shovel in coal at a lively rate. The Avenger swooped down upon her prey like a falcon, and thoughts of prize money began to loom before the mental vision of all on board. " I'll bet dat's hira for suah, Massa Bob," exclaimed Jupe, as he laid down the sponger with which he had been cleaning the bore of the huge Parrott rifle. "I hope so," returned Bentham earnestly. " Golly, we is gwine ter cut him off dis yere time, an' doan' yer ferget it," .said the darky, forgetting himself in his joy and cutting a " pigeon wing " upon the deck. Before long it was seen that the stranger, whoever he was, had wore round and turned back toward Kassau, as though her commander had concluded now that his presence was discovered that it was too risky to run out to sea, and was acting upon the maxim that discretion was the better part of valor. The position of the Avenger, however, was such that she could cut the distant steamer off in either direction, or at least come within easy gun range. It was eleven o'clock when Bentham was instructed Ito throw a shot at her. 164 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. " Old Abe " was carefully sighted by the young gunner, and then Jupe pulled the lanyard with "great unction. The shell soared aloft and burst close to the fleeing steamer. Shot followed shot after that, and finally one shell struck the blockade runner squarely in the stern. After that she seemed to be crippled, for the cruiser came down on her hand over hand. " Hit, by the Lord Harry !" exclaimed Captain Graham.. " She's ours. By ray soul, the men will get their first prize-money to night." "Old Abe " had done his duty, and there was no need to discharge another shell. The stranfjer was drifting ashore. The two steamers were now less than a mile apart. A full-orbed moon hung over the wide expanse of waters, silvering the crests of the waves, and affording the Union vessel plenty of light. With full head on, the Avenger now bore swiftly down upon the blockade runner, still endeavoring to escape, despite the injuries inflicted by Benthara'sgun. Everybody on board the Union cruiser was on the alert. Ten minutes later the Avenger ran alongside, and the voice of Captain Graham was plainly heard as he called out : " Ship ahoy ! Who are 3'-ou?" The reply was not delayed an instant. " The steamer Foxhound," " Great heaven !" ejaculated Bentham to Jupe. " Powell may keep his oath ?" "We are the United States cruiser, Avenger," THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 165 answered the young commander. "Do you sur- render?" A moment of breathless suspense followed. " We are not armed. Your shot has pierced us through and through," was the response. " We can not resist and are forced to surrender." The next moment a loud voice on the Confederate's deck cried out : " Into the sea for your lives, men ! The captain has fired the fuse attached to the torpedo !" Instantl}' dark figures leaped over the sides of the blockade runner and threw themselves into the sea. " I feared that !" exclaimed Bentham, making for the quarter-deck. " For heaven's sake back off, Captain Graham. There's no telling when the torpedo will explode !" The Avenger was instantly reversed, and the next moment she was leaving the spot as rapidly as possible. All at once a noise like the explosion of a score of ammunition chests rent the air, the very sea itself seemed to reel, and the Avenger was almost thrown upon her side. Captain Ralph Powell of the Foxhound had kept his word ! His fatnous ship was worse than a wreck. With his own hands he had destroyed her rather than let her fall into the hands of the Unionists. If the Avenger had not been warned by the voice from the Foxhound's deck she might have been sunk by the explosion, for Powell had evidently waited until she came up for the mad purpose of sinking both ships together. The force of the explosion prostrated every soul on board the Union cruiser. 16b THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. Strong men fell in all directions. Bentham was thrown across a gun-carriage, and Graham was knocked senseless by a spar that swept the quarter-deck. For several minutes not a man spoke. There were cries for help from the sea. Boats were lowered as quickly as possible, and a number of the crew of the Foxhound were pulled from the sea, more frightened than hurt, " The old ship's gone at last," said one of the rescued men when he found his breath among his rescuers. " To think that we've been sailing the seas eight months with a torpedo somewhere in the hold ready to blow us to perdition! Some thought the captain wouldn't keep his word, but I knew him better than all the rest of them. When he went below half an hour ago with his two hands clinched and his eyes flashing, I knew that the Foxhound would never carry another cargo," " Where's Captain Powell ?" asked Bentham at the first opportunity. " I guess you'll have to ask the sea," was the reply. *' He's just lucky enough to escape on a spar, you see land is close aboard, and live to run the blockade till the war closes," " After blowing up one ship ?" ejaculated the young gunner. " That's ray opinion, sir, I've got confidence enough in Captain Powell's luck to believe in things you'd never dream of." THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 167 CHAPTER XX. A DANGEROUS MISSION. The sea for some distance around the spot where the Foxhound had met her fate at the hands of her mad captain was strewn with fragments of the disaster. The captured sailor's words impressed Bentham. He did not, therefore, scour the sea in a boat in a vain search for Powell, but contented him with picking up a sailor now and then, and at last rowed back to the Avenger. The men of the Foxhound told Graham that they had lately cleared at JS^assau with a cargo consisting of army clothing, besides a lot of medical stores for the Confederate army, that they did not expect to run across the Avenger, which they understood had de- parted on a cruise in search of the privateer Shenan- doah. They said that Bentham's last shot had disabled their engines, besides killing three men. Thanks to that shot, the sea had been rid of a pes!:, and the swiftest blockade runner in the Confederate service was at the oottom of the deep. Bentham then learned for the first time that thd Foxhound had picked Captain Powers up after the sinking of the Swift wing, and taken him to JS'assau, where he was getting ready to go to sea as the com- mander of a strong vessel named the Destroyer, which. English gold had purchased and manned. 108 THE BLOCKADE R UNNER. "Good!" exclaimed the young gunner, when he learned this. " I shall yet meet Powers on the deck of a Confederate privateer — just where I have longed to encounter him." The talkative prisoners also informed Cannoneer Bob of Norah's trip to i^assau ; and, little by little, the story of the terrible tragedy in the Foxhound's cabin was told. We need not say that the gunner hung on each word with bi'eathless interest. "What! Mowbray dead — murdered — and Nondi in Nassau, a stranger in a strange city ? AVhat trials, what indignities would not assail her there ! " The prisoners do not attempt to shield Flash Gilmor," he said to himself, when he found himself alone. "They cannot. He killed Uncle Gordon in cold blood, and for a purpose as base as his own dark heart. I wish Jupe had linished him that night on the river bank. It would have prevented a murder, any- how. But I still live! Beware, Flash Gilmor ! You may yet encounter one whose sword will avenge the death of that impulsive old man! I will not believe that the sea ingulfed the murderer the night of his escape. Water does not drown men of his stripe. They live to feel the merciless stroke of a Nemesis." In the quiet of his little quarters Bob Benthara stood alone thus communing with himself. " I will go to Nassau," he said, with the air of a man who had formed a great resolution which is cer- tain to bring him face to face with danger. "1 feel that Norah will be surrounded by danger. Dick Powers is there. Flash Gilmor may soon confront THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 1. 3 \\ev with the glilter of victory in his eyes. Betwe-n tlie two men she will suffer indignities which will <. 11 for vengeance !" Having said this he went to Graham's cabin ;;;«l started tiie young commander with the announcenit.^.t of his wish for a trip to Kassaii. " l^ou go to I^assau ?'' exclaimed Captain Grab. i. "Why, it is a veritable den of lions.'- " I know that," answered the 3'oung gunner, snril- ing. " If it were a pen of lambs I might not decidp t-o go. Mv mind is made up, captain. 1 go to Nassai. — with your permisson," Of course it was contrary to the regulations of tlie service for Bentham to leave the ship except by vx- press permission of his commander; but our hero \va<\ reasons for believing that Captain Graham, when \\q had heard his reasons, would not refuse him leave of absence. His commander heard him with patience and tht::i said : "I don't know^ how I can spare 3^ou, Bentham, julack Tom, an' you cau'u git away !" Bentham heard the two men approach him. THE BLOCKADE R UNNEB. 177 The next monieut they flitted past like specters, leaving him holding his breath, and with a revolver still half drawn. Jupe was the better runner of the two blacks. He gained on the sable spy so swiftly that Tom saw that escape could not be effected by running. All at once he whirled with a hoarse, tigerish ejaculation, and confronted Jupe with uplifted knife. " I'se knife proof, you spyin^ nigger!" shot from Jupe's throat, as he sprung straight at his enem}', knock- ing the knife arm up and dealing him a blow that sent him reeling back. Black Tom rose almost instantl}'^, but Jupe grappled him, and the two sable giants writhed and twisted for a few moments in one of the most desperate struggles that can be imagined. Benthara heard it on the darkened street, and bounded forward, eager to help terminate it in Jupe's favor, for discover}'-, if not arrest, was liable to take place at any moment. When he reached the combatants one sprung up and confronted him. "De spyin' debbil will nebber tell Cap'n Powers what him saw^ to-night," said the negro, pointing to the form lying motionless at his feet. ''You've killed him, Jupe." " 'Spect so, Massa Bob. It am de only sure way ob stoppin' a spy's tongue. Eemember dat we am in Nassau, an' dat Black Tom b'longs to Cap'n Dick Powers." Bentham stooped over the spv for a moment and satisfied himself that he was dead. He regretted that bis entrance into Nassau had been 178 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. followed by the death of a human being, but by the taking of a life of but little moment to the world at large his own had been saved. " We must go on, Jupe," he said to the giant negro, to whom he now owed lasting friendship. "There may be more spies in Nassau." "Dat's a fact, Massa Bob. We must go on fo' suah." Near where the two negroes had decided their com- bat was the mouth of a dark alley into which Jupe hastily dragged his foe. When he rejoined Bentham there was an unmis- takable gleam of victory in his eyes. Bentham and his dusky companion now secured quiet lodgings, and as they were worn out for want of sleep they slept nearly all day, and night was falling fast when they once more came out upon the streets. The twain hurried on without speaking, nor paused again until they reached one of the many squares of the city. They found it well lighted and thronged with people, all of whom seemed in a merry mood, for news had been received of an important Confederate victory. A great many Americans appeared everywhere among the crowds, and Bentham was constantly on the lookout. " Look a leetle ober yer right shoulder, Massa Bob," suddenly said Jupe, in low tones, that did not reach any other ears than those for which they were spoken. " Take a squint at dat dar man standin' by de little officer." Bentham looked in the direction indicated and saw two men — one below the average height, clad in Con« THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 179 federate naval uniform, the other tall, and dressed in a manner that suggested a disguise. " Flash Gilmor !" fell from the gunner's lips, after he had sazed at the pair — especially at the tall man — a moment. "The waters did not ingulf him after his brutal deed." The man was indeed Flash Gilmor. The small officer seemed to be his companion, for the pair stood side by side, looking at the many colored lanterns that were being run to the top of the pole in the center of the plaza or square. " Oh, for a sword, face to face with you, ruifian !" exclaimed Benthara, and the next moment he turned quickly to the negro. " Wait here for me, Jupe," he said, and before Jupe could utter a remonstrance he was gone. "Is de man crazy !" cried the negro, unconsciously speaking aloud and causing several bystanders to notice him. " Hyer me is, not an hour in de city, an' Massa Bob puts off arter de first enemy him sees. Dat's no way to carry out a plan !" and Jupe started off to find the gunner. Meanwhile Bentham, his blood at the boiling point and rage tugging at his heartstrings, was making his Avay toward Flash Gilmor and his companion. " He won't recognize me — 1 know it," the young gunner was saying to himself. " I am going to settle accounts with him first, and that before dawn," A minute later he reached Flash Gilmor's side, and jostled him with more spirit than gentility. Instantly the Southerner turned and demanded an apology in no civil voice. " This is my apology !" flashed Bentham, and the IBO THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. back of his hand was laid across Gibnor's flushed face. " I love to strike a coward wherever I find him !" An oath of rage — an expression of indignation from the little Confederate captain — nothing more. Gilmor dared not resent the blow. He realized that a duel would reveal his presence in Nassau to captain Powers — one of tlie last thing.s to be desired, for the Captain of the Swiftwing knew that he had taken Mowbray's life. Bentham, after dealing the blow, stepped back and gazed at the murderer. The little captain stepped forward. " Mv friend dare not fight here," he said, addressing the gunner, and sending a quick look at Gilmor. " If 3^ou are spoiling for a figlit, sir, I can accommodate you in my friend's stead. I am Captain Nugent of the Confederate service." Bob Bentham threw a look of contempt at the speaker. " Me fight you ?" he exclaimed. " I have no quarrel with a pygmy. Besides, I would not like to pierce the elegiint uniform you wear!" With the last word he turned on his heel and left Gihnor and the Confederate captain to their amaze- ment. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. Ibl CHAPTER XXII. CATCHING A TARTAR. Bentham's blow had beea witnessed by but few }3ersons, and the young gunner had disappeared even before those few could realize what had happened. "Come, Nugent, let us get away from here," said Flash Gilmor, addressing his companion, the Con- federate captain. " I would give ray right arm if I had been in a position to avenge that cowardly stroke. I know why it was dealt. The man must be a fool if he thinks I cannot penetrate his disguise. This affair does not end here ; but, first, let me get out of sight of tliese staring people." Giiraor almost dragged Captain Nugent from the spot. '' That man was Bentham, the Yankee gunner, whose shot sunk the Swiftwing," Gilmor said, after the twain had entered the cabin of a vessel lying in the harbor. " I did not recognize him till after he struck ; but 1 am not mistaken. I know what brings him to Nassau. He has found out what happened on board the Fox- hound, and he couldn't control himself when he saw me — that's the whole upshot of the matter. I wish I hadn't a certain fear before my eyes. I'd like to fight Bentham." " Why not accommodate him," said the Confederate. " Powell is gone, you know." '•But Dick Powers still remains. He wants ^^^ '^'» 182 THE BLOCKADE BUNNEB. badly as Powell ever did. He will sail day after to- morrow, thank heaven ! Then, 1 will be at liberty to fight the Yankee gunner ; and, by my soul ! I'll run him through without mercy ! You will stand by me, captain ?" " Draw on me for any assistance desired," was Nugent's reply ; " the drafts will be honored. I would have forced Bentham into a personal encounter when he insulted you, if I could have done so without com- promising your safety, but I dared not, you know." " Oi' course ; but when the Destroyer puts to sea, I will be at liberty to pay the several debts I owe cer- tain individuals here," said Gilraor. "I more than half believe that Captain Powers knows that I am somewhere in Nassau." " I am convinced that he does. That window affair Avas exceedingly rash." Gilmor smiled. " By Jove ! I could not help it, captain," he ex- claimed. "I was passing along and caught a glimpse of the two girls through the network of plant leaves. Curiosity drew me to the window, and I heard Dora's opinion of Flash Gilmor. When I beheld Norah alone in the room 1 felt like telling her that I was still alive to complete the triumph on which I have set ray heart. She came to the window and put forth her hand to pluck a delicate flower. I encircled her waist with my fingers before I could control myself. She knew me at once, and starting back with a light cr}', she fell to the floor in a swoon. Of course I hurried away. After that, that spot was no place for me." " As I have said, your adventure was a risk3'^ one. I am surprised that nothing has grown out of it," the THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 183 Confederate captain said, " For some reason or other, the two women are keeping secret your presence here." Gilraor was silent for a moment, during which time he poured out and drained a glass of wine, which im- mediately lent a strange glitter to his eyes. " That little matter we were discussing this after- noon must not fall through, captain," resumed Gilmor. "JSTo; but doesn't Bentham's arrival complicate matters just a little ?" " 1 cannot see how. I will fight him first. After that the Seabird can sail." '' Fix things to suit yourself," smiled Nugent. " I am ready to sail at an hour's notice, but, to tell the truth. Flash, I'd like to carry that Yankee gunner with me." "On the same vessel that conveys ISTorah from Nassau?" ejaculated Gilmor, staring at Nugent. "' Would that not be a risky piece of business?" "Not at all!" laughed the little Confederate. "A man in irons on board the Seabird could harm no one ; but you are determined to fight hira first ?" " Yes ! come what may, I will fight hira !" and Flash Gilmor leaped to his feet and brought a clinched hand down upon the table between them with a vehemence that shook the glasses and decanters upon it. " If T disarm him and draw some of his blood he shall be yours, captain. I'll not try to kill him unless — ^^unless he pla3^s the tiger a,nd lunges at my heart." " Where will you fight him ?" " In the grove on the seashore just beyond the city's limits." " When ?" 18i THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. "Any time after the sailiu<^ of the Destroyer. I have to wait until Powers has put to sea. I wish that man and his new privateer were at the bottom of the ocean !'' . It was thus determined that Flash Gihnor should tight Bentham after the departure of tlie new and formidablep rivateer which had been purchased for Powers since his arrival at Nassau. They went so far as to select the ground and name the time — all this without consulting the Union gunner. They knew that Bentham would not shrink from the encounter, for he was eager to meet Flash Gihnor, and avenge Mowbray's death. It was still dark when the two men left the captain's cabin and adjourned to the quarter-^deck with a couple of prime cigars. The sky w^as overcast, but a delightful breeze blew across the bay, which was well studded with water- craft of all kinds. Gilmor owed the preservation of his life to Captain Nugent, of the blockade runner Seabird,and his escape from the Foxhound after the killing of Gordon Mowbray. Fortune or fate favored him, for after rowing hard from the Foxhound until near dawn he was picked up by the Seabird, Captain Nugent, on her way to Nassau. Tt happened that Gilmor and the blockade runner were old friends, and the meeting at sea proved mutu- ally agreeable. The Seabird reached Nassau without accident; but Gilmor was obliged to move about with caution, for THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 185 shortly after bis arris'al Captain Powell ran into port, having Xora and Captain Powers of the doomed Swift- win «• on board. Powell did not disturb him, but Powers set to work to get a new ship vrhich, when it had been pui-chased, he renamed the Destroyer, in accordance with his oath, and got ready for sea. He commanded a ship superior in build and arma- ment to the Swiftwing and he confidentl}^ expected to carry everything before him. He would avenge the destruction of his first vessel ; he would hunt the Avenger down and force her to surrender, or send her with her crew to the depths of the ocean. Flash Gilmor and his companion, who affected the uniform of a Confederate captain, though only a blockade runner, enjoyed their cigars on the Seabird's quarter-deck for some time without molestation. Ml at once Captain Xugent stepped forward and leaned anxiously over the ship's side. The water lay dark and almost rippleless under the vessel's keel ; but it was certain that J^ugent's ears had caught a suspicious sound. There was just light enough on deck to enable Gilmor to see his figure leaning over the railing. Wh&,t had startled the captain ? As the minutes wore away, the young Confederate's anxiety. increased, until he at last glided to IS^ugent's side. At that moment the Seabird's captain turned his face toward him. '- There's a boat down yonder," he said, in the low-est of whispers, which was loud enough to make Gilmor 186 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. start, "I thought 1 heard it awhile ago. You can't hear it now ; neither can I, because it's directly be- neath us." " What does it mean ?" asked Gilmor. " It's the boat of a spy, of course," was the quick r^ly in the same tones. " I can make out its outlines in spite of the night. There's only one man in it. Hold— I'll lix him !" Nugent disappeared, but soon came back, bearing in his hands a long coil of black rope, at one end of which was a slip-loop like tjje noose of a lasso. " I'll give the sp}'' a surprise he isn't looking for." He smiled, uncoiling the rope. " We'll just pull him up on deck and inspect him at our leisure." " Can we do it, captain ?" " Trust to me." The Confederate leaned over the railing of the ship and looked downward again. The boat and its occupant were still in the position he had last seen them. Flash Gilmor held his breath. A minute later the noose descended from Nugent's hands, and all at once a startled cry broke the stillness of the night. " I have him, Gilmor ! Here ! help me pull him up !" exclaimed Nugent. Flash Gilmor seized the rope, braced himself beside his companion, and both men pulled together. It was evident that Nugent had lassoed a spy whose resisting powers were rather prodigious. The two Confederates had no child's task on their hands; but, hand over hand, they gradually drew their capture up the Seabird's side. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 187 " Another foot and we'll see him, Gilmor." The last word had scarcely left Nugent's tongue, when a dark shape appeared over the top of the ship's railing, and tlie next instant a huge figure alighted on the deck. Nugent and Gilinor were almost thrown down bv the sudden slackening of the cord. " Great heaven — a negro !" fell from Gilraor's lips. •'Yes; a black debbil, too, Massa Flash," was the quick retort ; and the following instant a tigerish bound carried the sable speaker to the assassin's side. "Jupe!" he gasped. " Dat's who I am !" Before Gilmor could draw a weapon, he was jerked off his feet and hurried to the ship's side. " Help, IS^ugent !" pealed from his throat in accents of terror. " The black fiend is going to kill me." The Confederate captain sprung quickly to Gilmor's rescue, but before he could render any assistance, the young Southerner was pitched headlong into the sea. An oath burst from ISTugent's throat. " By my soul, you shall pay for that deed !" he ex- claimed. " Mebbe so, Cap'n Nugent,*' replied the negro, as he wheeled upon him. The Confederate could not use the sword he had drawn, for the black man leaped upon him, dealt him three blows in blinding succession, and flung him away. " Dat's what yer git fur lassoin' a darky," ejacu- lated Jupe. "De next time I guess you'll let him go away without cotchin' 'ira." 1S8 2iiii' BLOCKADE RUNNER. Jupe sprung toward the railing just as a number of the crew made their appearance on deck. A rush was made for him, but he lowered himself over the ship's side, dropped into the boat and rowed away. Captain Nugent had caught a Tartar, THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 189 CHAPTER XXIII. MOVEMENTS OF PERIL. " Well, what did yon discover, Jupe ?" asked l^enthara, who was found by the giant negro an hour after the events just recorded. " Yah, yah ?" was the darky's reply, as his eyes twinkled merrily. " You see, Massa Bob, I found a boat at de wharf an' I row oat to whar dey tole me Cap'n Nugent's ship lay. I seed two little lights on de quarter, an' I knowed dat Flash Gilmor, an' de cap'n war enjoyin' deir cigars all to demselves, I went closer, till I war right under dera, listenin' to all dat dey war sayin', for dey didn't lower deir voices, but talked as if ole Jupe war away in jN^orf Caroliny. But all at once, Massa Bob, suffin' like a snake drop ober my shoulders, an' de next rainit I war pulled up- ward like a man when he's hung. Golly, but I war skeered fo' a minit ; but den I says to myself: ' Dem two chaps cotch a Tartar in ole Jupe!' an' suah enuff dat's de berv way it turned out, yah, yah, yah ! Jes' as I touched de deck Massa Gilmor, de rascal, him say : 'Jupe, by heben I' an' I wentfo' him." " You didn't kill him, Jupe ?" " Guess not, Massa Bob. Ole Jupe pick 'ira up an' toss 'im into de sea — dat's all." ''Over the ship's side?" "Ob course! I didn't carry 'im down an' lay 'im gently in de water. I wouldn't be so keerful wid 190 THE BLOCKADE BUNNER. such a chap as Flash Gilmor, what shoot ole Mars' Mosvbray. Den I turned on Cap'n Nugent, who war drawin' his sword. I touched 'ira two or free times wid ray fist, an' den toss 'iin away," " Overboard «" " No, down de deck. De sailors came up den ; dey had heard de tussle from below, an' ole Jupe had to make tracks fo' de boat. Him git away jes' in time, an' hyer he is, Massa Bob, ready fo' de next job." Bentham smiled. " I didn't expect your expedition to terminate thus, Jupe," he said ; '' but you couldn't have done other- wise under the circumstances. What did you hear Gilraor and the captain say before \'ou were caught?" " De}'' war talkin' about you, Massa Bob, Dat Flash Gilmor's bound to fight you arter de Destroyer sails," '• Oho !" ejaculated the young gunner. " He had better fight before that event takes place. Well, what else, Jupe ?" " From what I heard I calculate dat dey war goin' ober some plans dey had laid some time afore. Cap'a Nugent him tell Flash how him will fix up a stateroom fo' a lady passenger him expects to carry from Nassau when de Seabird puts to sea." " His words can have but one meaning," exclaimed Bentham, "Flash Gilmor is at the bottom of the whole scheme. Not content with murdering my uncle he wants to get Norah in his power. She is the ex- pected passenger. Let the rascal do his worst if ho can. Jupe, we must go to work to-night," "I'se ready, Massa Bob, Jes' work out de plan, an' let Jupe know what he's to do," THE BLOCKADE EUNNER. 191 Benthiim and his faithful friend were under the roof of a man whom they could trust. There were a few hearts in Nassau that beat for the Union cause ; but the great majority were in sympathy with the Confederacy. It was through the few that the loyal cruisers were kept posted about the movements of Confederate privateers and blockade runners that arrived at and departed from the wharves. Bentham had been told by Captain Graham, how and where to find the Union sympathizers, and after Jupe had disposed of Black Tom, Captain Powers' spy, the twain lost no time in reaching the house. The Unionist received them cordially, and offered them concealment and any assistance that lay in his power. His sympathies were well known, but he stood so high in the opinions of the British authorities that, up to the night with which we are now dealing, he had not been openly molested. The Confederacy, however, had dogged his steps with its keenest spies, but he had baffled them all. He was fearless, cunning and cautious, a match for his foes. This man entered the room shortly after Jupe had finished the narrative of his adventures. He was a middle-aged person, handsome, robust and tall, and a good natured smile appeared at the corners of his mouth as he shut the door. " Jupe is back again," said Bentham, addressing the newcomer. " So I see," was the response ; " but if he did not do better work this time than he did when he handled X93 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. Captain Powers' spy I fear he will not be of much service to you, Mr. Benthain." The young gunner started. "What has happened?" he asked, betraying some nervousness. •' Black Tom is on board the Destroyer." Bentham sprung up. '"Golly! didn't I settle dat black spy?" exclaimed Jupe, his distended eyes seemingly on the eve of flying from their sockets. " You certainly did not," was the answer. " After you stabbed him, you threw him into a hole that yawned before you ?" " Yes, massa." " Well, that hole led into the cellar of one of the most prominent Southern residents of Nassau. Tom was found shortl}' afterward, not dead by any means, although in a sad condition. He was able to say that he belonged to the new privateer, Destroyer, and lie was conveyed thither. Captain Powers was there when he arrived, and he knows that you are in Nassau." The sympathizer's last words were addressed to Bentham, whose eyes were filled with astonishment. " He is hunting me now?" he said, in a voice full of defiance. " He is in the cit}'. I need not tell you his m.ission." The young gunner was silent for a minute. He saw the deperate situation of affairs. His presence in Nassau was known to his old rival, Captain Powers, and that before he had seen Norah, to protect wliom he had fearlessl}' entered the lion's den. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 193 The captain of tbe Destroyer was liable to arrive at tiie door at any moment ; then his daring expedition Avould end in— smoke ! " As I have told you, I have heard about you many times," said the Unionist, breaking in upon our hero's thoughts. " You are a brave man, Robert Bentham, and the cause we both serve cannot afford to lose vou. You must not fall into Dick Powers' hands. As for Norah, I will see that she is protected in spite of Flash Gilmor and the privateer. You must leave Nassau." "Without seeing Norah — without accomplishing anything ? Nev^er !" exclaimed the young gunner. " Dat's de talk !" put in Jupe. " We'se hyer fo' a purpose, an' all de Captain Powerses in de world ain't goin' to skeer us off." The Unionist looked serious. " I regret your determination — not for my sake at all, but wholly for your own," he said, continuing to address Bentham. Captain Powers will not leave a single stone unturned in his search for you. He will make the authorities open my house to him." " Then we will leave your home," said Bentham. " I do not want to compromise you. No! there are other hiding places in Nassau. 1 am not wholly un- acquainted with the place." The gunner moved toward the door as he finished, but the Unionist stepped before him. " I do not fear Dick Powers' hunt — don't think so for a moment," he said, laying his hand on Bentham's arm, and looking him calmly in the eye. " My roof shall shelter you while 3'ou stay in Nassau ; but when I advised departure I thought I was acting for your good. You will not go ?" 194 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. « I shall stay !" Those three words were enough. The Unionist moved across the room and opened a door of whose existence up to that time the gunner was not aware. " Dar wasn't a do' dar a minit ago !" ejaculated Jupe, astonished, as the sympathizer motioned them into a room thus displayed. " Dis am a wonderful house, whar de owner kin make do's in a minit in de solid wall." Having stepped across the mysterious threshold Bentham and the darky found themselvt^s in a small, dimly lighted room, entirely devoid of furniture. The Unionist next raised a trapdoor in the floor, revealing a dark, cavernous opening, and llie head of a flight of steps. "We will descend," he said to Bentham, who in- stantly clutched his arm. "This is flight!" said the young gunner, hv^sitating — even drawing back. "It is the avenue to safety," w^as the answer. " You are still in Nassau ; you are not going to leave it. Follow me !" Thus answered, Bentham descended the steps at tiie Unionist's beck, he was in turn followed by Jupe, who entered the underground apartment with many fears. The trapdoor shut without noise above the party who stood at the foot of the stair in a dark place whose dimensions they could not see. The Avenger's gunner felt a hand on his arm, and a moment later he was treading a corridor as dark as midnight. Jupe was stepping at his heels. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 195 This journey terminated at the end of twenty min- utes, and the sympathizer led the way up a flight of steps into a room well lighted by a lamp. Jupe let slip a sigh of relief, but did not speak. " Powers will never find you here, unless " The speaker paused, for a gentle rap sounded on a door at his right. - Stepping lightly across the room, he opened the portal an inch, and Benthara caught a glimpse of a young girl's face. " Thank heaven for your coming, father !" said a woman's voice. " Three men have been in the garden for an hour." The Unionist started and turned to Bentham. "You see how 1 am watched," he said with a smile. At that moment a loud knocking startled every one. " Heavens ! They have discovered all !" gasped the girl. The 3^oung gunner drew his revolver and prepared for a desperate resistance. 196 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. CHAPTER XXIY. HUNTED DOWN. It was, indeed, a critical moment for Bob Benthara. The house which they had reached by traversing the underground passage belonged to the Union sympathizer, like the one they had left. Discovery so soon was an event entirely unlooked- for. It was more than likely that the three men seen in the garden by the girl during her father's absence were spies in Captain Powers' employ. The loud knocking still echoed throughout the room when the young gunner stepped forward with drawn revolver. " Ask who is there," said the Unionist calmly, ad- dressing his daughter. The young girl went fearlessly to the door. "Who are you ?" she asked. There was no reply for a moment, but subdued voices told that a number of men were holding a con- sultation outside. " They are not our friends — that is certain," said the Unionist, glancing at the gunner, who stood erect with eyes fastened on the door. " If you will go back to the tunnel, I will admit them. You and Jupe can follow the passage back to the other house. It cannot mislead you." Bentham hesitated. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 197 "Yes, go!" cried the young girl, springing toward him, and laying a white hand on his arm, "For heaven's sake, sir, carr}' out father's instructions. We must let the authorities search the house," "Ain't you going to open the door?" assailed the ears of all before Bentham could reply, " Yes, sir," said the daughter, then adding to Bentham, in a low tone : " To the tunnel — quick ! You have not a moment to lose !" The young gunner was about to obey despite his Inclinations, which were to stay and fight it out with the men on the outside, when a heavy body fell against the door and a loud voice exclaimed : " We can't parley all night. Business is business. The Yankee gunner shall not escape us!" " No !" grated Bentham ; " the Yankee gunner will stay and show his hand. Here, Jupe, stand ready to give these fellows a warm reception when they come in." The giant negro sprung forward with an ejaculation of eagerness, Avhile the cheeks of the Unionist and his daughter grew pale. The next moment the door was heavily thumped the second time, the lock gave way, and, as it flew open, a tall, heavily-bearded and dark-faced man fell headlong into the room. Others promptl}^ succeeded him until, in a moment, six had entered. " We want that infamous Yankee gunner !" cried the head intruder, as he faced the Unionist. " Wo are Confederate sailors, and " " I am here !" interrupted Bentham, presenting his revolver so near the ruffian's face that he started back 198 THE BLOCKADE BUNXEB. with surprise. " If you seek the chief gunner of the United States cruiser Avenger, you need go no further." "Great heavens! Bob Bentham himself 1" The gunner smiled. " Dat's jes' who he am," put in Jupe, who faced the surprised group like a lion about to spring. " Fse heart an' soul wid Massa Bob whatever he does ; so if you men want 'im, hyer he is." " You surrender, of course, Mr. Bentham," said the leader of the hunters, throwing a quick glance through his party as if to call the gunner's attention to its superiority. " Our orders are to secure you." A smile curled Bentham's lips. "Who sent you out ?" he asked. " Captain Powers, of the Destroyer." "I thought so. Tell Captain Powers that 1 do not surrender to his agents." "Then " " Yes, sir, I resist!" was the thrilling interruption; and the revolver was suddenly lifted and thrust into the faces of the group. " Gentlemen, I do not desire bloodshed, but T am not your prisoner. The man who lifts a hand or moves falls dead where he stands !" " Dat's de' talk dat means sumffin'," cried Jupe. " Gemmen, Massa Bentham hab got more shoot in dem eyes of his'n den any oder man in Nassau." Dark looks fell upon the negro from the eyes of the Confederate band, but no one replied to His words. " We were not to shed blood," said the leader, addressing Bentham. " You have the drop on us, and a human life should be valued above all things. About face, boys. We will report to the captain." THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 199 The brawny sailors turned away with growls of mingled disappointment and rage, but the fierce looks that they darted at Bentham told them that the drama had not been played through. "I will not say good-night," said the leader, as he paused on the threshold and turned to the little group that occupied the room. " We may meet again before morning, I may add that Captain Powers is deter- mined to carry out his plans. Your servant's knife, Mr. Bentham, failed to do its work thoroughly." Then, before any one could reply, he turned away, and the sympathizer's daughter shut the door behind the gang. For a moment after this unexpected riddance no- body spoke. The situation seemed to fall like a pall over all. What was to be done ? "Golly! I war itchiu' to gib dat head Confed a thumpin' !" exclaimed Jupe, showing his sable fists. "Didn't I know 'im, de ole rapscallion? He war Jasper Jones, de man what cheated Massa Mowbray outen six niggers befo' de wah. I come mighty near bein' one ob dem coons, an' now I'd like to pulverize 'im fo' dat trick. Dey'U come back — no mistake 'bout dat." " That is true, Jupe," said the girl. " Those men have not gone off for good. Father, Mr. Bentham must not be here when they return." " I will not be," was the gunner's quick response. " As I have said, I do not wish to compromise you. I should have retired to the tunnel at your suggestion, my friend, but those fellows made my blood flow like molten lava through my veins, and " 200 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. "There!" was the quiet interruption, and the sympathizer even smiled as he spoke. " I fear not for myself. You see those men didn't have anything like a search warrant from the English authorities here. We should have been warned in ample time if they had. That is why they took me by surprise. I am convinced that they will come again determined to secure you." " They will subject your daughter and yourself to insult if I am not found." " They dare not go that far ; and nobody knows that better than Captain Dick Powers," was the response. " They will search the house. I shall not resist, for reasons best known to myself. They might even discover the tunnel." " Hark !" said the girl. The Unionist bounded instantly toward the room into which Bentham and Jupe had lately emerged from the subterranean passage. The gunner saw him stoop and listen intently with one ear near the floor. " Captaip Powers has two bands on the lookout for you, Bentham," he said, rising suddenly and facing the anxious gunner. " The other one has discovered the tunnel, I hear them in it now." "There must be a traitor somewhere," said Ben- tham. The Unionist said nothing ; but his brows darkened. "Follow my instructions this time and ask no ques- tions," he said in hurried but serious tones to Bentham. "It is a good thing that you did not take to the tunnel awhile ago." " But you^ " TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 201 " I tell you that Jennie and I are able to take care of ourselves. Follow me — no questions, mind you. I will not let you stay here another moment. Come." He led the way across the room. " Go with father,'*^ said the girl imploringly to the young gunner. " He will direct you to a house which all the Confederates in Nassau dare not enter without authority." In another minute Bentham and Jupe had left the house, and stood in the dark garden behind it. " I am sure that the coast is clear," whispered the Unionist. "Follow this path — you see it?" " Yes." ''It will lead you to a narrow street. Take to the right and count the houses on your left hand. At the tenth one stop, look behind you carefully, then enter the yard and knock thrice at the door. It will be opened by a young woman to whom 3^ou will say : 'We come from Throxton,' as you enter. You will then be safe. Go 1 I will meet you again. Recollect that you have not yet fought Flash Gilmor, and that the Destroyer may sail the high seas under the Stars and Stripes, and not with the new flag at her peak." A pressure of hands followed the last words, and Bentham and his faithful companion soon found them- selves traversing the gloomy street which they found at the foot of the Unionist's garden. We may imagine the eagerness w4th which the fear- less young gunner counted the houses at his left. In front of the tenth one they halted according to the Unionist's instructions, and having made sure that they were not observed, Bentham went forward and gave the three raps. 20)2 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. Almost immediately the door was opened by a young girl of exceeding loveliness, to whom the gunner bowed with his foot on the threshold. " We come from Throxton," he said. There was a low exclamation of assent, and as the door was still held open Jupe went forward. As the door closed behind them Bentham caught sight of a female figure on a sofa, and a minute after- ward a young lady stood before him. " Norah !" cried the young man, starting back.. "Robert !" was the response. " Wal, ef it tain't de young missus may I neber see ole Caroliny any mo' !" ejaculated Jupe. It was a strange, unexpected meeting. For a motnent the lovers stood face to face, then their hands and lips met. The girl who had opened the door looked wonder- ingly on. " This is Mr. Bentham, the Yankee gunner, Dora," said -Norah, turning to Captain Powell's niece. "I am sure he is a hunted man, and " " He is safe here !" she said calmly. THE BLOVKADE ET/NNER. 203 CHAPTER XXY. CAPTAIN powers' NEW SPY. Captain Powers was determined to unearth Bob in Nassau. He had secured a new vessel, which was to more than take the place of the Swiftwing on the seas. This ship, called the Destroyer, as we have already informed the reader, lay at the wharf almost ready for sea. Her sides were plated, her smokestack and decks well protected, and she carried the best guns that money could procure. This was the vessel destined by her captain to be- come mistress of the seas — overcome the Avenger, and sink her beneath the waves that now rolled restlessly over the Swiftwing. Powers had recruited a crew on whom he could depend. It consisted of men who had seen some desperate service, and who were ready to engage in any enter- prise that offered itself. They all knew the man under whom they had enlisted, for Dick Powers had a reputation for daring which lifted him high in the estimation of thousands. A part of this crew were the men who had driven Benthara and Jupe from the Union sympathizer's house, forcing them to take refuge elsewhere. Another portion of the band entered the other housa 304 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. and by diligent searching discovered the tunnel, into which they plunged, hoping to overtake the gunner. " Foiled in their attempts to capture Bentham, the sailors went back to Powers with their report. He listened with flashing eyes and clinched teeth. " So he escaped you, eh ?" he said. " You found him, but he got away. Why didn't you set a watch on the house when you left ? Never raind ! he shall not escape me. I will make Nassau the warmest place he was ever in. I will run him to earth, for I do not intend to leave port until I can carry him with me ironed in the Destroyer's hold." This was a resolve which Captain Powers deter- mined to carry out. He forgot in his rage to send the sailors back to the trail, but descended to his cabin, where a giant negro lay on a pallet on the floor. " Wal, Marse Powers, di«l ye cotch de rascal ?" asked the black, as he turned and looked at the privateer. " Not yet, Tom." " Him got clear off, eh ?" " For awhile — that is all." " An' Jupe de debbil wid 'im ?" • " Yes." The. wounded negro grated his teeth. " I'se gwine to die, Marse Powers, but I wants to feel Jasper's throat first," was hissed from between the darky's teeth. " Jes' let me git my black claws dar, an' Fll cross de riber widout a murmur. Dar's a million knives stickin' in my back dis blessed minute, but it won't be fo' long, Marse Powers — not fo' long. Ole Tom's nigh de riber now, bery nigh ; but him want to clutch Jupe's throat afo' he crosses." THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. -^ 205 It was evident that the spy was near his end, for a strange rattling in his throat followed the last word. Captain Powers bestowed another glance upon him and left the cabin — left the man who had served him faithfully to die alone. Ten minutes later the privateersman Avas in Nassau. He was unattended and hurried down the darkened streets as if eager to reach a certain point within a given time. "Nassau isn't large enough to afford him a hiding place !" he muttered, his thoughts returning to his enemy. "If this city was London, he should not escape me. My men failed, and that when they stood face to face with him, but I will not. I want to pay him back for that sword-thrust on the banks of Cape Fear. By heavens, he shall discover that I pay my debts with the interest of vengeance !" A short distance further on Powers knocked at the door of a house that stood back from the street, with a garden in front of it. There were no lights about the premises to show that they were inhabited ; but this did not deter the captain. His raps had scarcely ceased when the door w^as opened — just wide enough to admit a man — and he sprung inside. " Captain Powers !" exclaimed a voice as the priva- teersman halted beyond the threshold. " It is I, Peter. Where is Mardo «" The man who confronted the visitor in the dimly lighted and almost bare room disappeared for a mo- ment to usher in a dark-skinned, snake-eyed man who had the movements of a serpent. 206 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. He was a Malay — this Mardo — a born spy and devil. He knew every hole and corner of Nassau, and the creese that he carried at his belt had doubtless taken the life of more than one man while he served different masters. He instantly recognized Powers, whom he approached and touched with a thug's smile. " Does the captain want Mardo ?" he inquired. " I do," was the reply, as Powers made a sign for the person who had admitted him to retire, which sign was obeyed. He was alone with the Malay, who had been brought to Nassau five years previous to our story by a sea captain who wanted a rival hunted down. We need not record what passed between the pair in that old house, so dark outside and so dimly lighted within. Suffice to say that half an hour later a crouching figure went through the Union sympathizer's garden like a bloodhound on the trail. Escape a Malay spy if you can ! The man who stood in the old house waiting im- patiently for the spy's return was Captain Dick Powers. He was trusting his sailors no longer ; but had put all his dependence in one man whose eyes seemingly could look through a stone wall The crouching Malay was on the right trail. He knew that two men had crossed the garden and gained the street beyond, but there his trail seemed to end. Still he did not despair ! He had the perseverance of the born sleuth ; there- fore he kept on. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 207 With the noiseless tread of the panther he crept from house to house, listening under the window sills, and among the trees which fronted nearly all the residences. His journey took him to Captain Powell's house. He crouched at one of the windows. Why did he start, and what made his eyes twinkle so maliciously ? Had the crawling Malay spy discovered anything? One thing is certain — that his trail ended here. He listened beneath no more windows, but glided away and soon disappeared. If the Malay had gcod eyes, his ears were also excellent. When close to the old house where Captain Powers awaited him, he stopped and listened. Had he been followed ? At any rate, after listening awhile he drew his creese and stepped behind a tree near by. There he stood waiting for the person approaching to come up. That individual did not seem willing to oblige Mar- do, for all at once the footsteps ceased ; they sounded again a moment later, but going back. "Spy 'fraid to come on!" growled the Malay, dis- appointedly. "Santissima! Mardo will find him if him afraid to meet Mardo." So saying the yellow leopard turned and went back after the person who had evidently been following him. The Malay's feet gave forth no sound as eager bounds sent him swiftly forward. Pie still carried the naked creese in his right hand — ready to bury it in the back of his victim. 208 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. At last his eyes caught sight of the person who had tracked him. The man was moving toward Captain Powell's house, wholly oblivious of the terrible danger that threatened him. All at once with a leap not unlike the airy spring of the jaguar, Mardo went through the air, and alighted on the shoulders of the spy. There was an exclamation of horror uttered in a ' thick voice, and the person attacked whirled while it still sounded. " Look heah, you mean spy, I'se Jupe !" and a black band clutched the Malay's uplifted arm before it could drive the creese home. Mardo uttered an oath of madness ! He attempted to free himself, but the giant negro was too quick for him. If the Malay possessed the agility of a cat, the black had the strength of a lion, and coupled to it was the rage of a wounded king of beasts. How the eyes of the two spies glittered as they glared at one another in the light that came from a window near by ! "You no nigger dis time !" said Jupe, unable to decide his assailant's nationality. "But I know what you'se arter, all de same. Want Massa Bob, eh ? Cap'n Powers sent 3'ou, mebbe." At the mention of the privateer's name the Malay started, and again attempted to use his knife ; but the black prevented. " You go see Massa Bob, dat's sartin," continued Jupe, whose grip could not be shaken loose. " Him anxious to see what kind ob spies Cap'n Dick find in TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 209 Nassau. Heah, no squirmin' fo' dis chile kin hold you fast till Gabrul blow his horn, if him wants to." While the last sentence was falling from the darky's tongue he was walking rapidly away, carrying Mardo with him, despite his struggles, which momentarily grew fainter, for one of the sable hands, which had the pressing power of a vice, was at his throat, almost as delicate as a woman's. A few steps brought Jupe and his prisoner to Cap- tain Powell's house. He sprung toward it — and struck the door three times with his foot. A light cry from the lips of a woman was h«ard, as Jupe strode through the open door. " Heavens ! it is Mardo the Mg,lay !" exclaimed Dora. " Dis yaller dogprowlin' round too promiscuously!" answered Jupe, surveying the startled trio whom he confronted — Bentham and the two women. " Him spring on Jupe like a catamount ; but dis chile toa quick fo' him. I'll fix him now !" At that instant the darky raised Mardo as high above his head as his long sable arras would elevate him. The spy almost touched the ceiling. Fire flashed from Jupe's eyes. " Him no git away like Black Tom did !" he grated. Bentham saw the negro's intention, and bounded forward to prevent the deed about to be committed. '• Hold Jupe !" he exclaimed. " No crime in this house !" " No — no ! Massa Bob. Dis snake shan't crawl after you any mo' !" replied Jupe, retreating from b^ fore the young gunner. 210 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. The next moment the negro seemed to increase several inches in stature, and all at once Mardo the Malay was thrown upon the floor with a force great enough to break ever}^ bone in his body. " Now let de yaller serpint crawl if he kin !" ex- claimed Jupe, casting a look of triumph upon the privateer's spy, who lay on the floor apparently dead, but with his knife, the deadly creese, still clutched in his right hand. The two women started back with blanched faces. " You have killed him, Jupe !" exclaimed Bentham. " Dat seems to be a fact, Massa Bob," was the giant's answer, as he grinned. " Wonder what Cap'n Dick 'd say ef he could look in heah an' see de Malay man on de fio' — dead ?" If Jupe had failed to finish the captain's first spy, Black Tom, he had made sure work of the second. Mardo the Malay was dead, killed by that crushing descent to the floor from the hands of his captor. After years of spying the yellow leopard had met his match, and Jupe had again saved Bentham's life. If Captain Powers would secure his rival, the loyal young gunner, he must first rid the world of Jupe, ■who seemed destined to baflle him on every occasion. Ah ! he may wait in the little old house for his yellovv spy. He would never come again. l-Ua BLOCKABE RUNNER. 2il CHAPTEE XXVI. CAPTAIN POWELL BOBS UP SERENELY. While the events that occupy the two last chapters were transpiring in Nassau, a boat rowed by two men was approaching the cit\^. One of the men was Foulweather Tom, late pilot of the Foxhound ; the other was well dressed, like a ship's master, but his garments had at one time been sat- urated with f.ter, as could easily be seen. He rowed with his companion, and their strokes sent the boat swiftlj'^ through the water. " We're getting in, Tom," the well-dressed man said to his comrade. " A few more strokes will take us to the dock. The Foxhound's at the bottom of the sea. She did not do that accursed Yankee ship any good. They didn't hoist. their flag over her. By Jove! I hated to blow the old ship up ; but I was bound to stick to my word. They think I went to pieces with the bark, no doubt, therefore they didn't hunt for me long. Nobody saw me drop into the sea after I started the fuse that let the hammer fall on the torpedo's cap after it had burned a certain distance. They'll be surprised when they learn that Captain Powell is still engaged in his old business. Pll havea new ship soon, Tom, and over m\' cabin door I'll write the words you used to see on board the Foxhound : ' This ship will never be taken by the enemy.' " The pilot looked in Powell's face. 213 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. " "Will there be a torpedo in the new ship's hold, cap'n ?" he asked. Powell smiled grimly, " I wouldn't go to sea without one," he answered. " But look yonder, Tom — the lights of Nassau !" The blockade runner pointed to the many lights of the island city which were reflected in the water like myriads of stars. The pilot, whose escape from the Foxhound had been more miraculous than Powell's, looked ahead, but said nothing. He was evidently thinking of the terrible torpedo which would be placed in the hold of the new blockade runner. Ralph Powell had clambered over his ship's side after lighting the fuse which was to destroy her. He swam rapidlj'^ away, and was some distance from the bark when the awful explosion took place, and consequently out of harm's way. Spars, timbers, and pieces of iron filled the air every- where for a moment, and then fell like a shovver into the sea. He had survived the destruction of his ship ! By and by he reached shore, where he was subse- quently joined by Foulweather Tom. Mutual congratulations followed over their escape, and fortune sent a boat to take them from the scene. The blockade runner was saved to the Confederac}'^, and he would yet bring it succor time and again from across the seas. The little boat and its occupants were rapidly near- ing Nassau. The master of the Foxhound was eager to set foot an shore again. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 213 His desire increased as the boat shot over the water almost noiselessly. He could hardly restrain himself. The boat was passing under the bows of a vessel that lay at anchor in the bay when loud voices were heard, and a heavy body fell into the water. "That was a man, cap'n," said Tom. "Shiver ray toplights ! if he fell into the sea of his own accord. Didn't you hear a tusslin' on deck jes' before he hit the water?" '* Let us help hira," said Powell, for the person who had fallen into the bay was struggling with the waves a short distance away. The boat was instantly put about, and rapidly ap- proached the unfortunate man. "There he is, cap'n ! He's raakin' for the bark!" exclaimed Jack, whose keen e3^es had caught sight of a human being swimming toward a vessel. " I see him ! Pull away, Tom ! He must be picked up!" The person in the water did not seem very anxious to be rescued, for, instead of waiting for the boat, he was putting forth every effort to gain the vessel over whose sides he had fallen. He was baffled, however, for the strong arms of Powell and his sailor sent the boat between him and the vessel, and he suddenly found himself headed off. " We're here to save you !" said the blockade run- ner, leaning forward and clutching the man's shoulder. " AVe don't belong to j'^our ship — that's a fact — but — Great heavens ! it is Flash Gilraor !" At that selfsame moment a cry of recognition rang from the throat of the man in the water. " Captain Powell I" 214 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. " It^s nobody else," was the response, and the speaker's clutch tightened on Gilmor's shoulder. " I'm willing to lose the Foxhound for the chance of finding you again. Fortune favored you the night you escaped after killing Mowbray; but Nemesis has thrown you into my hands. Here, Jack, help me pull this assas- sin in !" Flash Gilmor would have resisted if strength would have saved him ; but he was completely in the power of the men in the boat. He was pulled in by brute force, for he did not as- sist himself in any way, and as he was placed on the bottom of the boat, Powell and the pilot took up the oars again, and sent the craft lying from the spot. Flash Gilmor thus fell into the hands of the man whom he most dreaded — the man on board whose ship he had committed a most brutal murder. He knew that Mowbray and Powell were old friends at the time of the former's death, and, therefore, he could expect no mercy at the captain's hands. For several minutes he lay silent and sullen in the boat, glaring at his captors, but especially at Powell, with the smothered rage of a thwarted tiger. " I would like to know by what authority you take me to Nassau ?" he said sullenly. The blockade runner smiled. " The authority that vengeance bestows, of course," the captain answered. " Froth at the mouth, and curse Powell and fate as you pleUse, Flash Gilmor. I Avas Mowbray's friend. I have a right to avenge his death. Nobody saw you commit the crime. You would set up the plea of self-defense ; but a court will never hear you." THE BLOCKADE R UNNER. 215 " What do you threaten ?" asked Gilmor. "Death — something vilhiins of your stripe never contemplate without shuddering." Gilmor said nothing, but watched Powell with the glaring eyes of a ruffian. "It was all for the girl — JSTorah," continued Pow. :"'. "The guardian first— the ward next. Having kii!;-' one, you would more than kill the other. But your course is run. This night is your last on earth. I will kill you, unless the devil himself comes to your relief and takes you from my grasp." Flash Gilmor nursed his rage in silence ; and the boat soon lay alongside the dock. "Where are you about to take me?" demanded Gil- mor, when they had disembarked at a secluded wharf. The neighborhood was dark and deserted, and Flash saw that his captor would do pretty much as he pleased without great fear of interruption. " You will see presently," returned Powell, in stern tones. " Do you mean to murder me ?" Gilmor said, in de- pressed accents. " I mean to kill you," was the reply. " That's the same thing." " No ; I shall give you a chance for your life. I will strike no man down in cold blood." "A duel?" said Flash, eagerly catching at the faint hope conveyed b}'^ Powell's words, as a drowning man grasps at a straw. " You have said it ; yes." " You are generous. I accept the issue with pleas- ure," said Gilmor, who was an expert swordsman and a crack shot. 216 THE BLOCKADE B UNNEB. ^ou fancy you may escape, eh ?" 'hile there's life there's hope," replied Flash, " and I wish to live as well as any other man." " I dare say ; but you flatter yourself in this case. You cannot escape me." "At least I shall be able to defend my life. I ask no more than that of any man," said Gilmor defiantly. During this brief conversation they had been rapidly making their way toward one end of the city, not very far removed from the docks. " Here, Tom, we turn down this street," said Powell to his pilot. The party left the deserted thoroughfare through which they had passed from the wharf and entered a narrow street lined with marine junk shops, ship chandlery stores, with here and there a low dram-shop. The place seemed filled with a saline odor quite in keeping with its mercantile character. Many of the stores were still open and the second- hand wares exposed for sale. Ever3'thing, from a needle for sewing canvas to an old iron cannon, seemed to be offered at a price phe- nomenal for its cheapness. Of clothing there was an abundance, and Jack could fill his slop bag without any great loss of time in the choosing. Rough blue jackets, with mother-of-pearl buttons, and oilskin hats seemed to predominate. The windows were filled with a heterogeneous mass of rubbish which had evidently once seen efficient use, and had been parted with by the original owners when they got hard pressed. There were pawnshops also, dark and dingy looking THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 217 ■places, huddled against their neighbors in a deprecating way, as though apologizing for the necessity of their presence. The- street was filled with sailors in all stages of in- ebriety, and the dramshops aforesaid were crowded by blockade runners who had not yet parted with their last coin. Lights flashed through these grimy, smoky dens, and strains of music, such as it was, floated into the purer atmosphere outside. These scenes were familiar to the three men who moved and elbowed their way through the street. Fifty pairs of ^ eyes recognized Captain Powell and his pilot, and their salutations and remarks proved that these two were heroes to the nomadic denizens of sailor town. Had the blockade runner been in the mood and given the word a dozen pair of horny hands would have made an end of Flash Gilmor then and there, without the least ceremony or an inquiry as to the justification of such a lawless act. And Gilmor knew it, too, though he had no fear of such a result. He knew that Powell was incapable of treachery. He had passed his word that the issue was to take the form of a duel, and his word was his bond, as everybody acquainted with the blockade runner knew. From this marine thoroughfare they passed to an- other street of much quieter aspect. Here were shipping oflices and small warehouses, all closed for the^day. After walking for some distance down the street tho trio drew up before a house well fronted with treeSo gib THE BLOCKADE BUNNER. It was a large, two-story building, and the only- light visible inside came from one of the lower windows. The men were admitted in response to a knock from Powell. " We go upstairs, Flash," said the blockade runner, leading the way to a flight of steps almost directly ahead. Gilmor did not appear to be a prisoner any longer. He seemed to know what was upstairs, for he went up the steps with much eagerness Arisible in his eyes. The trio had entered a building in which scores of men then serving in the Confederate navy had taken their first lessons in swordsmanship. The room that awaited them on the second floor ex- tended the entire length of the building. It was dimly lighted, but Powell soon increased the light, revealing a number of sword-racks, well supplied with blades of all kinds. Some revolvers were also visible. '" You know the place, I see — you have been here before," said the blockade runner, noticing the rapid glance of recognition which Flash Gilmor sent round the room. " The old place has a familiar look," was the reply ; " but I believe we came here for a purpose." " Yes — to fight ! Select your weapon." Did a gleam of satisfaction light up Powell's eyes when he saw Gilmor step toward a case containing some revolvers ? If so, it soon disappeared, for, instead of removing a revolver from the case, Gilmor took a splendid sword from the rack. "I am ready," he said, whirling upon Powell with the air of a duellist sure of his man. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 319 Captain Powers seized a weapon similar to that secured by his antagonist, and then the two men stood face to face. " Tom, stand by the door. This is to be a fight to the death. Should I be defeated it is my command that this man may depart unmolested. You under- stand ?" " Ay, ay, captain ; it shall be as you say," said the pilot, taking up his station. " You heard what I said. Flash G-ilmor. You are at liberty to go if you best me in this affair. But I don't think you will have the chance to avail yourself of my offer, for as I have already told you, I have made up my mind to kill you, and4 mean every word of it, be you the devil himself at the sword. Gilmor simply smiled. He felt easy in mind over the result, but he was yet to learn something new at the science he fancied him- self the master of. Flash Gilmor was no coward, and in the present instance did not think he would have to sell his life dearly. He had made up his mind to run Powell through the body. 2^0 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. CHAPTER XXVII. THE DUEL TO THE DEATH. For a breathless moment the duellists stood face to face. The pilot was the only spectator. " Are you ready ?" asked the blockade runner. " I am ready !" " Then at it we go. Look out !" The next instant blade encountered blade. From the first the combat wasjiot. Flash Gilmor fought with the science of an experi- enced swordsman, but Powell's thrusts, blows and strokes came so thick and fast, and were so skillfully managed, that Gilraor was forced to recoil. The blockade runner seemed to be transformed into a veritable devil incarnate with the weapon. ; His blade writhed upon that of his adversary like a squirming snake. No one but such an expert as Gilmor could have withstood !nm five minutes. He would have beaten down their guard and pierced them in the twinkling of an eye. That Gilmor was surprised and discomfited by the discovery that his opponent was a master at the art goes without saying. It was a perfect revelation to him, and the contest assumed a graver aspect than he could have suspected. Powell v/as strong, of great endurance, with nerves THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 221 and muscles of steel, and far more flexible than any one would have supposed in a man of his build ; and furthermore he was desperately in earnest. Mowbray's murderer ground his teeth and parried as best he could the strokes of his antagonist. "I never saw the captain fight that way before," muttered Tom " He must be losing his head." No ; Captain Powell was bound to kill his antago- nist — that was all, Gilmor had all he could do to maintain a successful defense without attempting to take the initiative himself. He was soon wounded on his sword arm, again on his wrist. Then the captain's sword point reached his right cheek, slightly drawing blood. , Gilmor began to lose his coolness by degrees; the contest was too one-sided to suit his views. He felt that he had better make a desperate effort, than to be reduced by slow degrees, even if he paid for it with his life. In a word he thought it was better to be struck, so to speak, by the tiger's paw than to be worried to death piecemeal by jackals. And so steadying himself he began new tactics, and for awhile the contest took on an aspect more favorable to himself. Powell seemed to be less skillful at defense than attack. Gilmor perceived his advantage and smiled that old dangerous smile which had preceded the murder of Gordon Mowbray. Powell slowly retreated, step by step, and the flash 222 THE BLOCKADE BIJNNEB. of the weapons took on the gleam of fire under the flickering gaslights. Foul weather Tom began to have misgivings as to the issue, and his mahogany-hued hands worked nervously as he watched the deadly encounter. A quick cut of Gilraor's wounded Powell in his sword hand. Then like a tiger who has tasted blood he quickly resumed his savage attack, and Flash found the tables turned on himself again. " What! can't I avenge Mowbray ?" The answer was a defiant look. Powell's attack now became actually irresistible. Flash was forced almost to the wall ; he could not withstand such a terrible assault. " You see I have you, assassin !" cried the blockade runner. " Tom and I will be the only persons to leave this room alive." At that instant Gilraor's sword was beaten from his hand. He was at Powell's mercy. Did the victor spare ? No! He leaped at his enemy, raising the heavy sword like a saber, and with two tremendous blows, that would have cloven a casque, cut him down ! Powell would have followed the strokes with others as Gilraor reeled away, cut to the death, if the pilot had not thrown himself between the two men regard- less of the captain's intentions. Not a single cry had been driven from Gilmor's throat bv the brutal blow. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 223 A gasp parted his lips as he struck the floor — Nothing more. He was dead — and Gordon Mowbray was avenged! Powell gazed for a moment at his victim. It was a cold, unpityiug look. '' He's done for, Tom," he said, turning to the sailor. "Flash didn't think I could use a sword — ha ! ha !" And with his triumphant cry echoing in the room the captain and his pilot went down the stair. 224 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. CHAPTER XXYIIL IN WHICH CAPTAIN POWERS COMES TO GRIEF. The blockade runner hastened toward his own house. He was now alone, for he dismissed the pilot with a few gold pieces on the street, and Foulweather Tom had already disappeared. " The two girls don't expect me to-night," he said to himself, " I wonder how the}' get along together. Dora will be shocked to hear that the Foxhound is at the bottom of the sea ; but her eyes will grew bright again when I tell her that I will soon command on the quarter-deck of another ship as swift and as stanch." He was near his residence when these words drop- ped from his lips. "Captain Powell! by my soul!" The blockade runner paused and turned. A few feet away a man stood staring at him as though he were a specter. " Powers ! ah ! we meet again !" said the blockade runner, advancing upon the person who had just spoken his name in accents of astonishment. " Back already, captain V ejaculated Powers, for the man was the captain of the new privateer, De- stroyer. " Have the Yankee cruisers forced you back into port?" Powell's brows darkened. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 225 " Worse than that,'' he grated. " The Foxhound is mine no more." " Surrendered, eh ?" " No ! the torpedo did the work. That Yankee gunner riddled me first. He shoots like a wizard, Powers." Dick Powers laughed more than half triumphantly as he touched the blockade runner's arm. " You have reached Nassau in the nick of time," he said. " Bentham is here. " In Nassau ?" "In Nassau !" " Impossible !" " It is true. He has outwitted me thus far. I even put Mardo on his track, but the Malay never came back to report. He is here for a purpose." "Of course," said Powell signiiicantly. "I know him for a man of nerve, but I did not think he'd venture into Nassau. So he has beaten you ?" " Yes." " He shall not escape me. When do you sail ?" " I can put off at any time." " But you had a time set for departure ?" " Yes ; day after to-morrow." " You can leave then, for by that time I will have found Bentham." " If we put our heads together, he can't elude us long." Powell fixed his eyes on Powers as the latter spoke. The two men had never been the best of friends. The blQckade runner probably recalled their last words on board the Foxhound, spoken shortly after Powers' interview with Norak. 226 THE BLOCKADE BUNNEB. He was not going to ally himself with the priv^ateers- raan in a hunt after the young gunner. If he had a score to settle with Bentham he would if possible unearth the man himself, and in his own way. Powers must conduct his own operations as he had begun, entirely on his own responsibility. Powers seemed to understand that the blockade run- ner did not want his company, and a defiant light at once gleamed in his eyes. " We hunt him separately, then, and may the best man win," he said to Powell. "How is Norah getting along ? You know I take a great interest in the young lady." " I cannot answer you. I have not been home," was the reply. " Yes, I know 3'ou pretend to think a great deal of her. I believe you lately swore in her presence that you would make her your \nMq one of these days," " I did. Ah ! you overheard me. I had forgotten." " And you expect to keep your word ?" « I do." " Well, you'll fail." For a moment Powers did not reply. He seemed to be curbing the rage that was fast get- ting the better of him. " You will try and prevent it then ?" he said. " I will." " We shall see. We serve the same flag ; but I don't think we will ever be friends, Powell." " Never !" " So be it." "Captain Powers, you once told Norah that you THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 227 would avenge Mowbray's death. You will never do that !" " Why not «" " It has been avenged." The captiiin of the Destroyer recoiled. " You have found Flash Gilraor ?" he said, in strange tones, as he stared into Powell's face. "Fate brought us together.'' "And you have killed him ?" , "Yes." " Torn and I escorted him to the sword-room in the naval building on Queen Street. I gave him an even chance for his life." "You did?" " I did, sir." " This is astonishing. Why, Flash Gilnior was an expert with both sword and pistol." "That may be. Indeed, I admit he showed himself a formidable opponent. But I have proved myself his superior with the weapon he chose " " You allowed him the choice also ?" "Assuredly. I stood in the light of the challenging party, for I forced the issue, and therefore he had the right to select the weapons." " You were extremely obliging," said Powers, who seemed amazed at what he heard. " Had I been in your place, with such a man at my mercy, I should have allowed him scant courtesy. He killed Gordon Mowbray in cold blood. The old man had not the ghost of a show that fatal morning, if what you told me is true. By that act Flash Gilmor forfeited every right to consideration. You should have killed him as you would a rat — without the least mercy." 228 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. " It is uot in my nature to do that with any man, be the provocation what it may." "I presume you will kill me, too, if I persist in loving; Norah ?" said Powers with a sneer. " I have nothing to do with your love for the girl. But if 3'^ou persecute her I will defend and protect her against you." " Indeed," said Powers coolly. " Ay, indeed. If you mean the girl well you will conduct your suit on gentle lines. I fancy, however, that you will not succeed." " And why not, pray ?" " Because it is apparent she does not like you." " I will overcome that objection." " There is another obstacle that you will not so easily dispose of." "Bentham?" " Ay ; unless I am blind in such matters, Norah loves the Yankee gunner." " I shall fix him, never fear, unless you perform that pleasing duty for me." " Never mind what I propose to do about Bentham. It is m}'^ own affair. All I have to say is to repeat ray warning in respect to Norah. She is my guest, or rather my niece's. Leave her alone, Captain Powers, or take the consequences." " I intend to. You have no right to act as that girl's guardian. If you are championing her cause for a certain purpose, I am ready to enter the lists and tilt for her heart. Let us begin here. There can never be peace between us. Draw !" Powers stepped back a pace and whipped out the sword he carried at his side. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 229 He did not see that the blockade runner was un- armed ; rage blinded him, Powell's lips met sternly as he executed a rapid stride forward. "I am unarmed, sir, except with nature's weapons," he said, clutching Powers' right arm. " If I had a dozen swords, I would not fight you here!" '' By Jove ! you shall !" " That is your emptiest boast !" was the cool rejoin- der. " I say I will not, so that ends the matter lor the present !" "It does not, I say. You shall fight me. I will lay my sword across your face." He broke awaj'^ from Powell's grasp as he uttered the last words, and raised the s\Yord to accomplish his resolve. The blockade runner leaped at him, knocked the weapon aside and dealt him a stunning blow in the face. The captain of the Destroyer staggered back, lost his footing, and fell against the door of one of the houses. It opened like magic and engulfed him, much to Powell's surprise. "Well, ril be jiggered!" he exclaimed. "That's Throxton's house, and I believe he's a stanch Unionist, so I don't envy Powers' reception." His own house was in the same street and only a few paces distant. He knocked at the door and Dora answered his summons. She greeted him gladly, but with evident surprise. " You have been driven back," she said. 230 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. " Worse," he answered. " Worse ?-' " Yes. The Foxhound is gone." " Captured ?" " No — she lies in sixteen fathoms of water off the island of Eleuthera, in the Providence Channel." "Sunk by Yankee shot?" " No ; disabled, but not sunk by Yankee shot. I destroyed her myself." " Oh !" said Dora, " I'm so sorry." " Never mind. I shall have another vessel soon, for I have a mint of money to draw upon. And if I didn't, I have but to go to the St. George Hotel, or a dozen other places, and ask for a steamer, and I should be overwhelmed with offers." " Yes," she said, " I'm sure of it." "And now where's Norah, your fair guest?" '"Gone." " Gone ? What do you mean ?" "She went away an liour agowith a Mr. Bentham — the man she expects to marry." " Ah, indeed ! I heard he was in Nassau. He might have trusted her here. She was perfectly safe." " He was afraid of Flash Gilmor's persecutions, and Captain Powers also was hot upon his track and hers." " Gilmor will not trouble Norah, or in fact any one, any more." " I am glad of that, for I love Norah dearly." " And I have warned Captain Powers. But I must see Bentham. Do 3'ou know where he went with the girl ?" " I think they went to Mr. Throxton's." " I am almost sure of it. I will follow them shortly^ THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 231 my dear. In the meantime I wish 3'ou would lay the table for me. I am quite famished. I have tasted nothing for twenty-four hours." " You dear old uncle, why didn't you speak at first? You know I am so thoughtless." " I don't know an}'^ such thing, Dora," said Powell tenderly, as his niece ran aw^ay into the next room. A repast was soon spread before him, and while he disposed of the good things he thought out his plans in respect to young Bentham, whom he expected to meet now without much difficulty. What scheme had he in view? At any rate his thoughts could not have been badly tinged with evil, for his fine bronzed countenance never looked more benign or uurufl3.ed than on the present occasion. 232 TEE BLOCKADE R UNNEB. CHAPTER XXIX. AT THE POINT OF THE REVOLVER. When Captain Dick Powers, of tlie new and untried privateer Destroyer, recovered from Powell's stunning blows he found himself in a room which he was aware he had never entered before. His first impulse was to rush out and foUovv- the blockade runner, whom he knew could not be far away. He would pay Powell back for those blows ; he would have his life for them ; he would yet carry out his oath by making Norah his wife! Scrambling to his feet, for he had fallen headlong into the house, he was about to make a dash for the street, when a man stepped suddenly between him and the door, and faced him with determined if not triumphant countenance. " Throxton!" exclaimed Powers, starting back ari he stared at the man, whom he instantly recognized. " I was not aware that I had fallen into your house." The man at the door seemed to smile maliciously. ' " You came in witliout knocking," he ansu'ered. " I was not expecting a visitor — especially an officer in the employ of the Confederac^^" " Which means that I am not welcome." "Ah ! you are mistaken !" was the quick rejoinder. " Of all the men I know, there is not one whom I THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 2::3 woukl rather see here tlian yourself. When do you sail, Captain Powers?" Powers' eyes flashed indignantly. '* I generall}'^ keep my own secrets, Throxton," lie said. " Very well. We will not press the subject." For another moment the privateer eyed the Unii^n- ist, andthen strode toward the door again. Throxton did not stir. "Let me out!" exclaimed Powers, seeing that tlirre was a disposition on Throxton's part to detain hi, a. "You have no right to keep me here against my will. You have already incurred the ill-will of the authori- ties by harboring and hiding Bentham, the Yank<^e gunner, to-night. I have a right to demand i??y liberty." " And as this is my own house I claim the right lo refuse it." "What, sir? This language to an officer who sails under the flag of the Confederate government ?" ex- claimed Powers. "By Jove! I will put an end to your double game. You have been permitted t<> escape too long. This act seals your doom — puts an end to your practices, and cripples the Yankee cause." A light, irritating laugh rippled over Throxton's lips. " Just as you please, captain," he said, with cutting sarcasm ; " but first you must get away from here." " You will not let me out, then ?" " I will not." Powell sprang back with an oath, and his hand darted swiftly toward his belt. " Ho ! none of that," said Throxton quietly, but 234 TEE BLOCKADE BUJSJSJSR. with firmness, anticipating his design. " One more move of that kind on your part, captain, might cause the Confederacy to lose a very valuable officer. My death would but hasten yours. I have other guests to- night. Come into the parlor and let me introduce them." "I decline the honor, sir," said Powers haughtily. "Excuse me if I insist." Powers debated an instant whether to resort to violence or not, and finally decided not to do so. He preceded the master of the house into the room in question. " This way a moment, Robert, with your friend," said Throxton, raising his voice, and addressing some one in another room, the door leading to which stood slightly ajar. Powers removed his eyes from Throxton and fixed them on the door, which opened, and a handsome man stepped forward. " Bentham !" fell from Powers' tongue,"! might have known that you were about to appear — and Norah, too !" The young gunner and beautiful Norah Narcross stood before the Confederate captain. It was an interesting tableau. " You got the Worst of your encounter with Powell, captain, I see," said the gunner, the first to disturb the silence. The privateersman's answer was a growl of anger. " I do not intend to twit you on your defeat," con- tinued Bentham quickly. " You were looking for me awhile ago, and since we have met, let us transact what unfinished business remains." THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 235 The young gunner was evidently thinking of the im- promptu duel on the banks of Cape Fear, the night of his escape from Wilmington, and while he spoke Cap- tain Powers' look told that his thoughts had returned to the same scene. " I am willing to accommodate 3'ou !" he exclaimed. " Your sword gave me a terrible wound, and your ac- cursed balls sent the Swiftwing to the bowels of the deep. Yes, I want revenge. I acknowledge it here. Mr. Throxton, have you swords for us ?" The Union sympathizer was about to reply when Norah threw herself between the two men, who faced each other with flashing eyes. " No ; blood shall not flow here," she said, looking at Powers, who recoiled a step. " You have not for- gotten your vow, captain. It is still fresh in my memory. You shall never fulfill it ; for Norah Nar- cross will never become the wife of a man who serves the new flag." " I believe you said that once before. Beware, girl ! you may recall those words." " At your hands ? never !" " We'll see ! But this is not business," and the speaker looked at the Union gunner again. "The world is too small for both of us, Bentham. I want revenge for ray . wound and the loss of my ship. Coward, you dare not face me ! Having disgraced the man whose money educated you, you stand behind a woman, a branded poltroon, unworthy to serve the flag you own." An exclamation of anger burst from Bentham's throat. This was too much. He strode toward the privateer with clinched hands and fiery eyes. 236 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. Norah looked appealingly to Throxton. She felt that she could do no more. " No !" suddenly exclaimed Benthara, halting almost within reach of his waiting enemy. " I shall not touch you, viper. M}'^ revenge shall not consist of strokes with hand or blade. Get me writing materials, Throx> ton." The Unionist had locked the door and removed the key some time before, so that Powers was safely caged. He now moved forward, and, lifting the lid of a desk, took from within paper, pens and ink, which he placed at the Union gunner's disposal. The Confederate privateer looked wonderingly on. What nQ\^f indignit}^ was he to be subjected to now? His lips met firmly as he took a mental resolve not to barter one of his rights away. He would die rather than sign an oath of allegiance to the United States. Neither would he put the name of Powers to a parole. " I will respect your eagerness, and proceed to busi- ness, captain," said Bentham, turning from the desk. " Come forward and take up the pen." " To sign the rights of a Confederate officer avt^ay ? — never !" was the flashing rejoinder, and Powers seemed to brace himself more firmly where he stood. Bentham and Throxton exchanged rapid glances and a sign. " You will obey Mr. Bentham, captain," said the latter firmly. " Disobedience may cost you more than your rights — life itself !" " We mean business, sir ;" and he was covered by a revolver, which Throxton had drawn, " Go forward, sir, and take up the pen. Bentham will dictate to you 1" TEh BLOCKADE RUNNER. 237 Menaced by the weapon, above which were the cold gray eyes of Throxton — a man who feared nothing — Powers bit his lip and moved forward. He glared savagely at Eentham, and a muttered curse was heard as he laid hold of the pen, " Write to your first officer, Jones, now on board the Destroyer, as follows," said Benthara, and he proceeded: *' Mr. Jones : On receipt of this you will turn the command of the ship over to the bearer, and submit to him in every particular. I have been detailed on a secret mission of immediate importance. I shall leave Nassau for a time, but will join you ere long. The bearer of this, Captain Randolph, is a thorough sailor and a devoted Confederate ; therefore he is a man who can be trusted. He will sail from Nassau immediately. I am sure that you will obey him and fight the ship under him as you would fight it with me on the quarter-deck. Remember that the Destroyer is to avenge the Swiftwing. Powers." While Bentham spoke, the privateer's pen did not touch the paper. He straightened his handsome figure, and glared at the Union gunner with the glittering eyes of a jungle tiger. " This is infamy without a parallel !" he exclaimed, as Bentham concluded. " You would force me to be- come a traitor to the Confederacy. Who is the man designed to play the role of Captain Randolph in this piece of rascality ?" " He stands before you," answered Bentham, bowing. " You ! Then, by the stars of heaven ! I will die before I pen a word of the message I" And the next moment the pen was hurled from the incensed Con- federate's hand and quivered in the floor. 238 TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. Throxton advanced a stride. " Write or die, captain !" he said, in tones not to be mistaken. " We do not intend to trifle in tiiis matter. Repeat the message, Benthara. He will sign !" Powers hesitated for a moment, during which time he glanced from Throxton to the young gunner, who stood ready to carry out the Unionist's command. All at once he stooped and tore the pen from the carpet. " This triumph will not last !" he grated, fixing his eyes for a moment on Beritham. " Carry your infamy through to the end, Robert Bentham, I swear that you shall never tread the Destroyer's quarter-deck as her commander !" With the last word he turned to the paper on the desk, and waited for Bentham's dictatian. " There, you are satisfied now !" he exclaimed, when he had written the last word and turned upon Ben- tham. '' You have triumphed ; but the game has not been played through. I am free now ?" He strode toward the door as he concluded. " Not yet. We must detain you here, captain," said Throxton. The priv^ateer groaned, " I am a prisoner still ?" he said. « Yes." " For how long ?" " Until after the Destroyer, with Captain Randolph, has sailed," smiled Bentham. There was no reply. If Powers' glance could have killed at that moment, Bentham would have fallen dead in his tracks. THE BLOCKADE MUNNEB. ^39 CHAPTER XXX. 'twixt love and duty. " JuPE," exclaimed Benthara. " Here I is, Marse Bob," said the darky, making his appearance. " Take Captain Powers upstairs to the back room, and mount guard outside." " All right, sah. Cap'n Powers, I will take great pleasure, sah, in showin' you'se ter de uppah floor. I is 'ticlar perlite ter a gen'l'raan ob yer rank an' stashun in de Confed'rate service, an' I hope dat you'se won't 'blige me ter 'sist yer locomotion wid any pers'nal 'tention." Powers glared at Jupe, and then concealing his great chagrin under an assumption of dignity, he folded his arms and followed his conductor. "Now, Bentham," said Throxton, "after this affair Nassau will be too hot for me as well as yourself. My daughter and I will pack our things. I think you had better get on board the Destroyer as soon as you can and assume command. Send a boat to the land- ing in an hour for Norah, my^ daughter, Jupe and my- self. We will be ready." " All right, Throxton." " I need not tell you that it would be advisable to have steam up and everything ready for departure." " Certainly. I will now go to your room and dis- guise myself. It is lucky you have taken precautions 240 THE BLOCKADE RUNNEB. in my behalf in this direction. My own face, you know, would never pass master on the privateer, for one of Powers' petty officers and several of the crew have already seen me.' At this moment a loud rap came at the door. Throxton peeped out through the blinds. " Here's a complication," he said. " What do you mean V " Who do you suppose seeks admission here?" " I have no idea." " Captain Powell." " The devil ! He must not suspect our purpose. I will get out of the way, and do you get rid of him as best you can." A second knock, louder and more peremptory than the first, accelerated Bentham's exit from the room. As soon as the young gunner was out of sight Throxton opened the door and confronted the late commander of the Foxhound. "Good-evening, Mr. Throxton," said Powell, "may I ask if Bob Bentham and Norah Mowbray are in your house ?" "Miss Mowbray is here, Captain Powell ; but Ben- tham went away, a short time since. Were he here I should hardly think he would care to see you." Powell was clearly disappointed. " He need not fear me, Throxton. I won't cause him any trouble." "He does not fear for himself. His mission to Nassau was on his sweetheart's account, and now thai, I have taken charge of her, he expects to leave town immediately." "My niece thinks a good deal of Miss Mowbray,'' said Powell. THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 241 " The feeling is reciprocated, captain, I assure you. Miss Mowbray says that your niece Dora is the sweet- est girl she ever met." Captain Powell was evidently gratified at this in- telligence, and after a pause said he would call again perhaps. Powell did not return to his own house but walked down the street. Ten minutes later Bentham, attired as the pseudo Captain Randolph, slipped out of the house and took his way toward the water front. He found one of the steamer's boats at the mole. It was waiting for Captain Dick Powers, according to orders. It had been there some time, and the officer in charge had grown very impatient. " I wish to go on board the Destroyer," said Ben- tham politely. " Who are you, sir ?" asked the officer in surly tones. " Captain Randolph, of the Confederate navy. I am to take charge of the steamer pending Captain Powers' absence." " You are ?" said the petty officer in sarcastic tones. "That's what I said, sir." " You be blowed ! You can tell that to the ma- rines." "Sir!" exclaimed Bentham with dignity. *' You needn't put on airs," said the officer. " I don't know you, sir, and what's more I don't want to. This boat is waiting for Cap'n Powers, and if you wait long enough you'll see him." " Perhaps if you will look at this note, directed ta Mr. Jones, your first officer, you will see that I speak the truth." 242 TEE BLOCKADE B UNNEB. The oflBcer became civil at once as soon as he per- ceived the letter with the superscription. " Captain Powers is not going aboard to-night then ?" he said, without opening the note. " I am to act for the time being in Captain Powers' stead. I wish to go aboard at once." " Very, well, cap'n — what did you say your name is?" " Randolph." " All right, Cap'n Randolph, we'll shove off at once." On their way they passed the blockade runner Sea- bird, on board which the reader will remember Jupe had his short but exciting adventure. She had steam up, a rather portentous indication of an early departure. Captain IN^ugent, however, was ashore looking up his friend Flash Gilmor. In a few minutes Bentham was alongside of the Destroyer, and he had a fair view of the new priva- teer. She was a powerful iron vessel, pierced for a broad- side of six guns, was painted lead color, and her two masts had a decided rake. On deck our hero made out an Armstrong rifled oun on the forecastle, and another and much more formid- able one in the waist, just forward of the funnel, pre- cisely as was located his own Parrott gun on board of the Avenger. Altogether she was an ugly customer — abundantly prepared to beat off a great many of Uncle Sam's cruisers. Indeed, if well manned and handled, was likely to hold her own against the Avenger, which vessel was ac- THE BLOCKADB RUNNER. 343 knowledged to be one of the best American screw war steamers. The counterfeit Captain Randolph presented his letter to Mr. Jones on the quarter-deck. He was politely received, and duly vested with the authority of commander j:?-/'*? tern. " Now, Mr. Jones," said the disguised Bentham. "How long will it take you to get under way." *■' One hour, Cap'n Randolph." "• All hands are aboard, I believe ?" "Yes, sir ; we expected to sail at any moment." " Very well ; get on a head of steam at once. And, by the wa}', send a boat to the mole. There is a gentleman, his servant, and two ladies coming off." Mr. Jones looked his surprise. " I am to deliver them under flag of truce to the first Yankee cruiser we sight." This explanation satisfied the first officer and he gave orders to send the boat. The hour had nearly elapsed and Bentham was watching for the return of the boat when the steamer was hailed from the port side. "Hallo, there, what do you want?" said a petty officer. " Want ter come on board, boss." '" Keep away — you can't board this craft." " Must do it, Massa Ossifer. Got a message from Oap'n Powers ter Cap'n Randolph." " Hand it up, then, quick." " Can't do it, sah ; must see de cap'n myself. Berry 'ticklar." ^ " Qome aboard, then." " All right, sah. Be up in a twist ob a cat's tail." 244 TEE BLOCKADE R UNNER. In a moment who should come over the rail but Jupe. " Berry kind ob you, sab. Whar's de cap'n ?" " Come with me>" " 'Spects I will, sail." The petty oiRcer spoke to Mr. Jones and said the negro had a message from Captain Powers for the new commander, Jupe was brought to Benthara, who was both dis- turbed and astounded by his unexpected appearance. " In heaven's name, Jupe !" he whispered, " what's wrong." " 'Spects eberyting am wrong. You'se better get out ob here quick' rn greased lightnin', Massa Bob, or you'll be gobbled up for suah." " Explain yourself.'" "Gap'n Powers done escaped from dat yer room, sah. I found it out, an' foUered him. I cotched him near de square and fetched him a berry fine crack in de jaw dat knocked him endwise all ob a heap. Den I put fer de mole in a hurry, Marse Bob, feracrowd got 'bout de cap'n, an' it would hab been mighty hotter dis yer chile ter stay in dat yer locality. I reckon dat he won't recubber from dat jawbreaker fer a while, but you'se ain't got a speck ob time ter spare. Start de engine an' get away, sah, or you'll be cotched fer sartin," "And leave Norah, and the others behind, Jupe? Impossible !" " Den de jig'll be up, sah. I reckon dat it's yer duty, Marse Bob, now dat you'se got de chance, to take (lis yer steamer whar de Stars an' Stripes '11 float above her. I reckon dat she's a berry bad customer under TEE BLOCKADE RUNNER. ^45 de Confed'rate flag. If dat Cap'n Powers get aboard she'll do a heap ob damage somewhar ag'in de Yankees. I guess Marse Bob knows his duty, sah." " Yes, Jupe," said Bentham, after an effort. '- It Avas a stuggle between love and duty, but ni}' country Avins. May heaven preserve my Korah from harm, and may Throxton forgive me for deserting him ! I have but one course — and I ivill act on it," He issued his instructions to man the windlass and get under way. " The boat you ordered sent ashore has not returned," said Mr. Jones. "Never mind the boat now. We must leave with- out an instant's delay. My orders are imperative." Mr. Jones said nothing, though he looked his surprise. In a brief time the chain vras ail in, the anchor catted, and the DestJ'oyer was steaming out of the harbor. A few persons on the mole watched her departure, and mentally wished her Godspeed, for their hearts beat for the Confederacy. There was scarcely any commotion on her decks, and before a great while she had left the lights of Nassau far behind. All at once the occupants of the mole were startled by a man who rushed franticallj' to the water's edge, and stared seaward like a madman. " Too late !" he fairly groaned. " They have carried the infamous conspiracy out to the letter. The De- stroyer wmII be sailing under the infernal Yankee flag in less than twenty-four hours." His manner and voice attracted everybody. 246 TBE BLOCKADE RUNNER. They gathered around him. " Captain Powers !'' exclaimed several. " We thought you were on board the Destroyer." " Would I be here if I was ?" was the answer. " I am the victim of one of the most infamous conspi- racies on record, A Yankee sailor commands the De- stroyer. You can guess what his intentions are." " Who is he ?" asked a voice that made Powers start. Captain Powell confronted him. " Who but Bentham," said the baffled privateers- man. " Curse you, Powell ! If it had not been for you this infamous scheme would never have been consummated." The speaker glared fiercely at the blockade runner. " So, Bob Bentham has eloped with the Destroyer, eh ?" laughed Captain Powell sardonically. " By Jove ! This is the hugest joke of the war !" "Joke? It's a lasting stain on the Confederate navy !" " 1 can't see how the scheme was carried out." '' I was secured by Throxton and Bentham after a desperate resistance and compelled to sign an infamous order to my first officer, directing him to turn the com- mand of my steamer over to the bearer," said Captain Powers, the last word ending with a hiss. " Having secured the paper, I was then detained a prisoner in order to give the conspirators the opportunity to put their plot through. I effected my escape a short rime ago and came straight here, only to discover that I ;•:;! too late." " Rather rough on you," said Powell. " Rough ! — but no matter. You can do your country a service, Ralph Powell." THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 247 "How?" "By getting afloat at once, pursuing the Destroyer and recapturing her. "That is impossible, Powers. I have no ship. You have forgotten that the Foxhound is at the bottom of the sea." For a moment longer the two captains looked at one another, then Powers held out his hand. "We need not be foes. I forgive you all your blows, Powell," he said. "Let us combine." The blockade runner drew his form up haughtily, and answered savagely, as he turned away: "Combine with you — with a man who let a Yankee steal a ship — never!" he said. "I have too much respect for the cause I serve. Captain Powers. Fight your own battles, but I would warn you to be careful how you cross Bentham's path. He learned more than gunnery on the continent." Powers' mad look followed the blockade runner until he passed out of his sight, when, almost bursting with rage, he wheeled to leave the mole, when he came face to face with Captain Nugent. After some parleying, the blockade runner agreed to take Captain Powers on the Seabird in pursuit of the Destroyer. It would only be necessary to get within hail and make himself known to his officers and crew. They would then put the impostor in irons and restore their proper commander to his place. CHAPTER XXXI. A STRATAGEM OF WAR. Black and angry-looking clouds hung over the heavens like a pall and a nasty sea was running, through which the Seabird pitched and rolled heavily. She had run along without mishap for several hours through foggy, squally weather, hugging the shore closely. One suspicious vessel, probably a Yankee cruiser, had come in sight, but the fleet Seabird had easily distanced her. "I'm afraid this will prove a dangerous mission for me," said Captain Nugent, as he paced the deck with Captain Powers. "I've got a snug cargo of Enfield rifles and a power of cartridges aboard. I'd make a pretty prize for the Yankees, and I fear there's more chance of falling in with a cruiser than meeting the Destroyer." Before Powers could reply the lookout signaled a steamer was dead ahead. The stranger ahead showed a clear light, and might therefore be reckoned a war vessel without the con- jecture going very wide of its mark. "What do you think of her?" asked Captain Nugent anxiously. "I can't say," replied Powers, v;ho was staring through the night-glass, "but I hope it's the Destroyer. We ought to fetch her about this time." "I fear it's a Yankee." "I hope you'll crawl up and investigate," said THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 249 Powers, who entertained some doubts as to Nugent's intentions since the narrow shave the Seabird had from the cruiser. "I'll go on a bit. We show, no light of any kind and lie low in the water. Since I've gone into this thing I'm willing to take some chances, but you must under- stand I can't afford to lose my vessel, even to assist the Confederacy." "You are the master here and I must bow to what- ever you decide upon; but I believe there is a reason- able chance for judging that yonder craft is my vessel. I can recognize the Destroyer if you will go near enough to afford me a plain vifcw." "I will go as close to her as I dare," said Nugent frankly, and Captain Powers felt that that was all he could reasonably expect of the blockade runner. It was certainly a risky venture, though everything favored the little lead-colored steamer. The vessel ahead was under moderate speed, so that the Seabird crept rapidly up to the windward. Captain Powers was visibly excited. He was more than half -assured that the blot on the water, a couple of points off the starboard bow, w^as the wished-for Destroyer. "What's our course?" he inquired. Nugent consulted the binnacle, which was shaded so that the light could not be seen seaward, and returned to Powers. "East by east-sou'-east," he said. "The weather has thickened so that I can't get a good view of the steamer," said Powers, "but we're coming up very fast. I should like to chance a private signal pretty soon, if you'll allow me. If it's the Destroyer, she'll 250 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. answer it. Bentham couldn't prevent it without raising immediate suspicion." "You may do so," said Nugent, after a moment's reflection. "Thank you," said Captain Powers. Half an hour passed, and during the interval it began to rain heavily. The stranger was almost lost sight of for awhile. At last the rain let up and the weather grew much clearer. The steamer was now within three miles and plainly to be made out by aid of the glass. "I could swear it's the Destroyer," said Powers, after a good look. "Send a man up the fore-rigging with a red lantern, and another at his heels with a blue one, and let off steam three times for half a minute, with two intervals between." The directions given by Captain Powers were car- ried out exactly. After the lapse of a few minutes, three red lights appeared in the stranger's rigging in the form of a tri- angle. "It's the Destroyer!" exclaimed Powers, almost hug- ging Nugent in his glee. "Now, Bob Bentham, this farce will soon end ! Unless you jump overboard before I reach yonder deck I'll hang you higher than Haman of old!" "Steamer on port bow !" sung out the lookout. So engrossed had all hands been with the stranger .-'.head that no one thought of looking for another vesr-el. The watch aloft, whose duty it was to discover any vessel as soon as she hove in sight, had certainly been THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 251 neglectful in his duty, for the second steamer was close aboard off the Seabird's quarter, and had evidently run out of the mist that was slowly clearing away. At that moment a rocket soared upward from the Destroyer's bow and burst into a myriad of sparks. "What the devil can that mean?" exclaimed Powers. "It's very strange." The newcomer, which was heading directly for the Seabird, now altered her course several points and edged down for the privateer ahead. "Great Scott!" cried Powers, after he had examined her dark, heaving hull through his glass. "It's the Avenger. I thought she was leagues away. Put on full steam, Nugent; we must reach the Destroyer first." "It's too risky, Powers. I never could put you aboard your craft in this sea, and get away myself. I'm in range of the Yankee as it is. All that saved us, if we are safe, was that rocket from your own vessel. You'd better give up and trust the rest to chance. Your vessel is not yet lost. Bentham will have to fight his own ship or.be exposed, and I guess that would set- tle his goose." Powers made no reply — ^he was far too excited at the sudden change in the aspect of affairs, and Cap- tain Nugent took advantage of the diversion to change the course of his steamer. He determined to sneak out of harm's way if he could. Powers noticed the variation in the Seabird's course , and remonstrated. "I've taken all the risk I can afford," said Nugent decidedly. "To go further will be to throw away my 252 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. vessel and cargo. I'm off to Charleston in earnest. Take my advice, Powers — trust to luck." Captain Nugent was master of his ow-n steamer, and having decided upon his line of action, nothing that Powers said made the faintest impression on him. The Seabird was now headed N. E, by N. and going ahead at top speed, increasing her distance every mo- ment from the Yankee cruiser, who paid her no further attention, but bore down on the Destroyer, * * * * >(: We will return to Robert Bentham and the faithful Jube. The latter had been turned over to Mr. Jones, who sent him forward to mess with the crew. Jupe had received secret instructions from the soi- disant Captain Randolph as to the part he might be ex- pected to play in the impending drama. He carried on his person a signal rocket which he was to discharge from the privateer's bow at the proper moment. It was an act that bristled with danger, for was his agency in the affair discovered, he might better jump into the sea than face the exasperated crew. Bentham's situation was one of peril and difficulty. He had to so perform his hazardous mission that no suspicion of his true character should be evident to the astute Mr. Jones, or any other quarter-deck officer. He was surrounded by watchful eyes, and an error of judgment might cost him his life on the spot. Meanwhile the Destroyer got fairly to sea, and under half-speed was churning her way through foam and spray. As soon as Great Abaco light was fairly seen on the THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 253 port beam, Bentham went below and coolly took posses- sion of Captain Powers' stateroom. There were several Yankee cruisers on the station, but not one had been sighted up to the instant he had quitted the deck. , The clouds were opaque above, with a heavy sea be- low, and a dense mist around, and the general prospect not encouraging to the young gunner, though quite satisfactory to everybody else, if we except Jupe," in the ship. The negro was very alert and active on the main gun-deck. He glided from gun to gun, pausing at each for a while, and paying great attention to the breech of the weapon. What was he doing? His movements escaped notice, and by and by he went on the upper deck and crawled under the tarpaulin that protected the huge Armstrong rifle amidships. Some time afterward he might have been seen on the rise of the forecastle, where the wicked-looking bow-chaser was snugly wrapped in its canvas over- coat. After that Jupe clung persistently to the waist of the privateer, and sought shelter from the rain and spray under the cover of the pivot rifle, but maintained a position where he could easily command a view of the quarter-deck. Bentham was below when a steamer was reported about five miles dead astern, and he immediately went on deck. This was the Seabird, as already described, but her 254 THE BLOCKADE RUNNSR. identity was unknown to any one on board the priva- teer. The general impression prevailed for a time that the craft, which was rapidly overhauling them, was a Yankee cruiser. Finally, when the mist and rain dissolved and the atmosphere cleared, Powers' signal created a decided sensation. Mr. Jackson, the second officer, had charge of the deck, and he duly reported the signal, the import of which was read to mean: "Lay to till we speak you." Bentham received the intelligence without a quiver, and coolly directed Jackson to return a suitable answer. Directly afterward the second steamer seen from the Seabird's deck shot into view out of the mist bank fast receding to the westward, and Bentham, fully alive to his desperate situation, gave the signal to Jupe, who at once crawled forward to the forecastle, dropped into the chains and sent up the rocket, which, if the stranger was a Yankee war-vessel, as seemed likely, would be understood at once. The sending up of the rocket caused great commotion on board the Destroyer, for it was evidently a signal to the enemy, who was observed to change her course and stand directly for the privateer. Bentham watched her approach with anxiety. As she drew near her appearance grew more and more familiar to him, until finally he felt assured that she was his own ship the Avenger, which he thought was miles and miles away on her regular mission, Bentham now observed that the first steamer — the one THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 255 which had signaled a short time before — had altered her course and was steaming away to the northward. As the Avenger approached, Bentham, to maintain his character, was compelled to clear the steamer for action, and every preparation was made for a desperate fight. At this point in affairs a great outcry arose from the gun-deck. An officer hurriedly appeared on the quarter-deck and announced that the vents of all the guns had been tampered with — not seriously, but enough to cause delay and a feeling of exasperation against the perpetrator. The impression, caused by the discharge of the rocket, that there was a traitor on board, was now confirmed, and the crew were furious. Dire threats of vengeance prevailed. Bentham without hesitation ordered a thorough search "of the vessel, and while this was going on a second rocket went up from the privateer's bows, to the consternation of all on board. The usual signal for name -and number was displayed by the Yankee in her rigging, but merely as a preliminary to the shot which immediately followed from her bow- chaser. While many of the Confederate crew were making things hum on the forecastle, trying to discover the traitor who had done the signaling, a blue light sprang into a flame on the bulwark rail just under the break of the poop. The crew of the Armstrong rifle rushed to the side as one man and extinguished it. While they were doing this a crash came up from the engine-room, the ma- ^ 256 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. chinery stopped, and the privateer rolled slowly from side to side on the heaving sea. Crash ! A shot from the Avenger's heavy Parrott gmi smashed in the weather bulwark and struck the carriage of the Armstrong rifle, jamming the gearing so that the gun could not be worked on its traversing-platform. The greatest excitement prevailed. The Avenger continued to approach rapidly, firing her bow gun and forward battery. The assistant-engineer reported to the pseudo Cap- tain Randolph that the chief engineer had been stunned by some one who had come upon him unawares, and who then threw a heavy steel bar, which was used in the engine-room, among the rods, causing a smash-up that could not be repaired for hours. Bentham's indignation was admirably assumed. He had already dispatched the second and third officers to search the steamer. He now sent Mr. Jones down into the engine-room, and walked to the break of the poop. Jupe was apparently assisting the crew of the Arm- strong gun, who were trying to extricate the can-iage from the difficulty it was in. Bentham called him to the quarter-deck, and sent him with hurried instructions to the wheel. Jupe slipped quickly behind the helmsman, and lift- ing him in his powerful embrace, tore him from his hold on the spokes and tossed him overboard. He then jammed the wheel hard down, bringing the Destroyer up into the wind's eye, so that her broad- side would not bear upon the Avenger, which had ceased THE BLOCKADE RUNNER, 257 firing and was close aboard on the privateer's port quar- ter. "What steamer is that?" roared Captain Graham from the mizzen rigging of the cruiser. "Confederate steamer Destroyer," shoutQ^ Bentham. "Pipe away your boats and take possession — quick!" No doubt Captain Graham was astonished with the general character of the reply, but he lost no time in issuing orders. The Avenger held a raking position. The boatswain's whistle came lustily down on the wind, three boats were lowered and the crews were soon over the side and into the launches in true man-o'-war style. The boats danced over the water quickly, but the Confederate crew, not having understood their quarter- deck reply to the Yankee's hail, were preparing for a desperate resistance. "It's useless, my men," said Bentham, looking down upon such of the crew as were ready to repel boarders. "We have been betrayed and must surrender. Yonder craft can sweep us from stern to stern. Look at his guns run out, and the men hold the lanyards ready. We can't help ourselves." The crew were thunderstruck and their demoraliza- tion was complete. Mr. Jones at that moment rushed up from the engine- room and sprang upon the quarter-deck. "What's the meaning of this, Captain Randolph? Treachery has ruined us. The machinery is wrecked. Our guns have been tampered with, and signal rockets discharged. I believe that infernal nigger is at the bottom of this !" 258 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. He drew his revolver, but Bentham arrested his arm. "Don't be rash, Mr. Jones." "Rash, sir !" exclaimed the Confederate officer, turn- ing upon him in a ' rage, "It's my opinion you're the cause of all this." Bentham made no reply. "In the devil's name who are you?" cried llu officer. "Bob Bentham, of the United States cruiser Ave:r;ci- yonder, and you are my prisoner !" Bentham tore off his false beard. "Then your life shall pay forfeit for your treacher}- '" cried Mr. Jones. "Jupe!" The negro sprang upon the Confederate officer just as Lieutenant Haskins of the Avenger's first cutter sprang over the stern rail, where the negro had thrown ropes to afiford means of ascent to the cutter's crew. At the same moment the Destroyer was boarded rt the waist and at the chains forward. In a twinkling forty jack tars were on deck driving the disorganized Confederate crew below. "Bentham!" exclaimed Lieutenant Haskins, hardly believing his eyes. "Ay, ay, sir," touching his cap. "I take great pleas- ure in turning over to you the possession of the Con- federate privateer Destroyer." "Treacherous hound !" exclaimed Mr. Jones, as he lay upon the deck encircled by Jupe's arms, "you shall hang some day for this !" "Thank you," said Bob Bentham politely. "I'll take the risk." THE BLOCKADE RUNNER, 259 Having seen Bentham, the gallant young gunner, tri- umphant in one of the shrewdest games of the whole war, the story is almost told. But how happened it that the Avenger, which had been bound southward, came to turn up so opportunely at her old cruising ground ? Captain Graham had touched at Havana, where he found an order from the secretary of war calling his attention to the fact that the department had been advised of the fitting out at Nassau of a new and dan- gerous privateer called the Destoyer, which was to be entrusted to Captain Powers, late commander of the Swiftwing. The order directed Graham to return to the Bahamas and head her off, which he did, with the result we have already detailed. Bentham was dispatched home in the captured priva- teer, which was in command of the Avenger's second officer as prize master. He wore a lieutenant's uniform when he rejoined the Avenger, and a commander's at the close of the war; but long before the happy termination of the conflict he was united in marriage to the girl of his heart — Norah Narcross, otherwise Mowbray. The large estate left by Gordon Mowbray was con- fiscated on a technicality by the Confederate govern- ment ; but at the end of the war, Bentham instituted legal proceedings and recovered for his wife a portion of her property. As for Powell, the blockade runner, he served the Confederacy in that capacity to the close of the war, and many was the rich cargo he bore across the seas to the lost cause. Jupe, the faithful black, remained with Bentham to 2G0 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. the close of the terrible conflict, and served the Union bravely in many a desperate encounter afloat and ashore. It seems that the letter which so mysteriously reached Bentham after the great naval fight in Hampton Roads had been intrusted to a slave for delivery, but something frightened the messenger so that, instead of placing it in Bentham's hands, he left it under the bastion where it was found and served its purpose. The loyal Throxton, of course, never returned to Nas- sau after his escape with the gunner in i;he Destroyer. If he had he would have been seized and summarily dealt with. Powers and Powell would have hunted him down. He entered the Union service before the close of the war, serving under Bentham, who commanded the Avenger at the close of hostilities. He was rewarded for his services at Nassau. Dora, Powell's niece, married a Confederate captain, and Jennie Throxton found a lover and husband in the person of a young Union officer. Peace hovers over land and sea, and bestows her laurels upon friend and foe alike — whether they trod the decks of a Union brig, or manned the guns of a Confederate sloop-of-war. [the end.] \. ■m: i W A R I ■ w The real definition of war is : "An armid stiu;;;;U> for Ifl) till' attiiiiiiiiciii of iiiitioiiiil aspinitions." «/ Tlio liisior.v of war is one loiij; story of the attempt of (fl) some powerful nation to dominato'otlv.r natious. W Kvory war prior to tlic prosi'Ut liiinopcaii calamity con- [0] tril)iiii'(l iis slraiid of troidiic to tiie general web, until tbo ^ vvljole ^orld liccame eiitaii;rl< toolc part in wars in ffl] cvi'ry land. You car. make your selection from amonj; the W, following, and your news dealer will f;ejt tlieui for you o.t 1 TEN CENTS THE COPY I WAR STORIES IN THE £A£LE SERIES S2— Tl.e lUockade Runner (Civil War). :{7— Tlie Heart of Viruiuia (I'ivil War). ;!!)— Thr \ nels Wife (Civil War). 47^ — Tlie Colonel by r.rcvet ( Knsso-Turkish War). r.6 — The Dispatch T.earer (Civil War). (!.'> — Won by the Sword (Civil War), 7r>— ITnder Fire (Civil War). S7— Sl)enandoah (Civil War). t»7— The War Ueporler (Civil War). KIS— A Son of Mars ( r.ritish-Afjjlian War). ].">() — A Soldier Lover (Civil War). LMO— Sav(>d 1>.V the Sword (Gr.-eco-Turkish). ■!()(> — Fi'lipe's Pretty Sisti>r (Filipino Insurrection). ^27 — For Love and Glory (Filipino Insurrection). WAR STORIES IN THE MEDAL IJBRARY ^5 — In the Reijjn of Terror (French Revolution). .",» — With Hoer and Britislier in the Transvaal (ISoer War). 84 — The Hutcher of Cawnpore (ISritish-Sepoy Rebellion). n.') — P.y Sheer IMuck ( Uritish-.Xfrican I. 11.*? — The I$nivest of the Uravc (War of Spanish Snceession). 126 — From I'owder Monkey to Admiral (French-English War). 128 — For Name and Fame (I^ritish-Afshnn War). 140 — With Wolfe in Canada (French Canadian War). 104 — The Corn(>t of Horse (War of Spanish Succession). ISO— One of the 'JSth (Last Napoleonic War). 'jr«n — Sword and Pen (Chino-.Tat)anese War). 278 — In Time of Peril (Rritish-Sepoy RehelHon). .■?41 — The Fighting Snuadron (Spanish-American War). t\Tm — A Prisoner of Morro (Spanish-American War). 30J) — Court-Martialed (Spanish-American War). WAR STORIES IN THE SELECT LIBRARY 27 — Fnder Two Flags (French -Algerian War). .'">2 — Macaria (Civil War). 72 — Plain Tales from tlu- Rills (Rritish-Indo War). ® Street & Smtlh Corporation, Pnbllsiiers, New York