"Do you think you would have kept your promise to have Captain f.l.a.n.g.er land me at Key West, if I had been weak enough to go on board of his steamer?" demanded Christy.

"You are fighting on one side, and I am fighting on the other, Christy; and I suppose either of us is justified in lying and breaking his promises in the service of his country."

"You are fighting on your side at a very convenient distance from the battle-ground, Percy."

"I am fighting here because I can render the best service to my country in this particular place," replied the young Southerner with spirit.

"I am sure I could not do anything better for my country than send you back to the Confederate prison from which you escaped."

"Even if you violate the neutrality of the place," suggested Christy.

"The British government was ready to declare war against the United States when a couple of Confederate commissioners were taken out of an English steamer by a man-of-war. Do you suppose that when this outrage is known, England will not demand reparation, even to the restoring of the victim to his original position on this island? I hope you have considered the consequences of this violation of the neutrality of the place."

"I don't bother my head about matters of that sort. I have talked about it with my father, and I think he understands himself," replied Percy very flippantly.

"I don't think he does. I have the same rights in Na.s.sau that you and your father possess. You are carrying on the war on neutral ground; and no nation would permit that."

"I am no lawyer, Christy. I only know that you have done a great deal of mischief to our cause in the Gulf, as set forth in the letters of your uncle to my father."

"But I have fought my battles in the enemy's country, or on the open sea; and I have not done it while skulking under a neutral flag,"

replied the naval officer, with quite as much spirit as his adversary in the debate. "You and Captain f.l.a.n.g.er, with the co-operation of your father, it appears, are engaged in a flagrant outrage against the sovereignty of England."

"My father has nothing to do with it; I will take back what I said about him," added Percy, evidently alarmed at the strength of the argument against him.

"You told me that you had talked with your father about the case."

"But I withdraw that statement; he knows nothing about it."

"You make two diametrically opposite statements; and I am justified in accepting the one that suits me best as the truth. If Captain f.l.a.n.g.er does not hang me to the yard-arm as soon as he gets me into blue water, I shall make my complaint to the United States government as soon as I have an opportunity to do so; and I have no doubt you and your father will have permission to leave Na.s.sau, never to return."

Percy was silent, and appeared to be in deep thought. Captain f.l.a.n.g.er had returned to the spot from the boat, and had listened to the last part of the discussion.

"Captain f.l.a.n.g.er understands enough of international law to see that I am right," continued Christy, when Percy made no reply.

"The people here treat us very handsomely, my little larky," said Captain f.l.a.n.g.er, with a coa.r.s.e laugh. "I am not to be scared out of my game by any such bugbears as you talk about. But I am willing to say this, my little rooster: I have no intention to hang you to the yard-arm, as you hinted that I might."

"At noon to-day you swore that you would kill me."

"I have altered my mind, as I told you before," growled the commander of the Snapper, with very ill grace, as though he was ashamed because he had abandoned his purpose to commit a murder. "I am not what you call a temperance man; and when I get ash.o.r.e, and in good company, I sometimes take a little more good whiskey than it is prudent; but I don't drink anything on board of my ship. To cut it short, I was a little too much in the wind when I said I was going to kill you. I am sober now."

"I think you must be able to see what the consequences of murdering a person captured on British soil would be, Captain f.l.a.n.g.er," suggested Christy.

"As I have told you twice before, I do not intend to murder you," said the captain angrily. "I am going to put you back in the prison from which you escaped; that's all. No more talk; take him to the boat."

The two men at Christy's side marched him down to the boat, and seated him in the stern. The rest of the party took places, and shoved off. In half an hour the boat was alongside the Snapper.

CHAPTER XXII

ON BOARD OF THE SNAPPER

Christy could not help seeing that a great change had come over the manner of Captain f.l.a.n.g.er, especially in his repeated declarations that he did not intend to kill his prisoner. His thirst for revenge could hardly have abated as the effect of his cups pa.s.sed off, and it was evident to the victim of the outrage that some other influence had been brought to bear upon him. It did not seem possible to him that Percy Pierson could have modified his vindictive nature to this degree.

The young man's father could not fail to see the peril of the step his son was taking, though he appeared not to have been able to resist the temptation to get rid of such an active enemy as Christy had proved himself to be. It looked plain enough to the victim, as he considered the situation, that Colonel Pierson's influence had produced the change in the intentions of Captain f.l.a.n.g.er. If the prisoner were brutally treated, and especially if his life were taken, it would make the breach of neutrality so much the more flagrant.

"Help the young cub on board," said the captain, as he went up the accommodation ladder, followed by Percy.

With his wrists fettered with a pair of handcuffs, Christy needed a.s.sistance to mount the vessel's side. He was handled with more consideration than he expected, and reached the deck without any injury.

By the order of the captain he was conducted to the cabin, where he seated himself on a stool near the companion-way. A few minutes later Percy came down the steps with a valise in his hand, which he deposited in one of the staterooms.

"I am your fellow-pa.s.senger, Christy," said he, when he came out of the room. "I hope we shall be good friends."

"After the treachery which has been practised upon me to-day, there cannot be much love wasted between us, though I am not disposed to be a bear, even under the present unfavorable circ.u.mstances," replied the prisoner. "I suppose this steamer is to run the blockade?"

"Of course she is to run the blockade; how else could she get into Mobile?" replied Percy.

"You can bet your worthless life she is going to run the blockade, and you may be sure that she will get in too," added Captain f.l.a.n.g.er, who came into the cabin at the moment the question was asked.

"By the way, Christy, from what prison in the Confederacy did you make your escape?"

"If you will excuse me, I prefer to answer no questions."

"Just as you please, my boy. We shall know all about it when we get to Mobile," said Percy lightly. "I am going home for a few days to see my mother, who is in feeble health. I don't want to quarrel with you; and if I can be of any service to you after we get into port, I shall be happy to do so. We sail at about five o'clock in the morning, on the high tide."

"Captain Pa.s.sford," began the commander, in a more subdued tone than the prisoner had ever heard him use.

"That t.i.tle does not apply to me now, Captain f.l.a.n.g.er," Christy interposed. "If I ever get back to my duty on shipboard, it will be as second lieutenant of the Bellevite."

"Mr. Pa.s.sford, if that suits you better, I was going to say that I mean to treat you like a gentleman, whether you are one or not, in spite of my shattered and battered nose," added the captain.

"I do not consider myself responsible for the condition of your nose, Captain f.l.a.n.g.er. At the time you received that wound you were engaged in a daring adventure, with two revolvers in your hands, ready to blow my brains out. It was war, and I did nothing but my plain duty; and even in a time of peace I had the natural right to defend myself, and save my own life, even at the sacrifice of yours, as you were the a.s.sailant,"

argued Christy quite warmly. "You would have put a ball through my head or heart if I had not fired at the moment I did."

"Why didn't you shoot me like a gentleman, and not blow my nose off?"

demanded the captain bitterly.

"I had to fire in a hurry; and I did not aim at your nose. I could only discharge my weapon on the instant, and I had no time to aim at any particular part of you. I intended simply to cover your head."

"But you blowed my nose off all the same."

"I had no grudge against your nose. Do you think it would be honorable for a soldier to revenge himself on neutral ground for a wound received in the field?"

"But it was a sneaking Yankee trick to shoot at a man's nose, even in a square battle by sea or by land," protested the captain with a rattling oath.

It was useless to discuss the matter with such a man, though he had probably been charged by Colonel Pierson not to do his prisoner any injury, and Christy relapsed into silence.

"If you propose to treat me like a gentleman, whether I am one or not, may I ask where you propose to berth me, for I am very much fatigued to-night?" asked the prisoner later in the evening.