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Christy had brought down the glass with him; and he directed it towards the steamer aimed at as soon as the smoke began to blow out of the way, though it was some time before he could get a clear view of her. "By the great Constitution!" exclaimed Captain Pecklar, before Christy could cover the Belle with his glass. "I have hit her!" "Where?" asked the other, elated at the intelligence.
"The Dauphine is coming about," added Christy, as he joined the commander and his father on the rail. "The Dauphine?" queried Captain Passford. "That is her name. Captain Pecklar can tell you something about her. He says she is fitting up for the Confederate navy, but he thinks she has no guns on board yet."
He was willing to do any thing he could for the aid of the captain, if he could do it without sacrificing his principles. "It was a part of my purpose to obtain assistance from the surgeon of the steamer for poor Pecklar," continued the major. "But you have moored us all here by refusing to steer the boat, and the captain will die without our being able to do a single thing for him.
"That's a handsome flag, Christy; and it does me good to see it again," said Captain Pecklar, as he took off his hat, and bowed reverently to it. "Percy, hard-a-starboard the helm!" shouted Christy to the helmsman. "Head her for the Belle." "All right." "I think we can increase the distance a little between us and the Dauphine," added Christy.
I am competent to run an engine, and did it once for a couple of years, though the business does not agree with me." "Very well, Captain Pecklar; then you shall run the engine, and I will keep the run of what is going on around us," said Christy, as he walked towards the stern of the tug. "There is a new danger off in the north-west." "What's that?" asked the captain.
"Yes, sir; and a very skilful surgeon he is, Dr. Linscott," replied Christy. "I went in to see Captain Pecklar when I was below, and I found him in a very bad condition. I am afraid he will die before we can get him to the shore; and he is suffering terribly," added the major, looking earnestly into the face of the young man.
"But, Captain Pecklar, as things are now, we are running right into the fire." Christy was more troubled than he had been at any time before; and he realized that it was necessary to make some change in the course of the Leopard, though she had the enemy on each side of her. "It don't look as well as it might," added the captain gloomily.
"How is Captain Pecklar?" "He has come to himself, but he is no better. I am afraid he is going to die." replied Spottswood, coming near the bulkhead, and speaking in a low tone. "That's bad," added the major, shaking his head. "There's the steamer, sir!" called one of the soldiers.
"Why do you think she is in distress, Christy?" asked his father. "She opened fire on the Leopard, after she had picked up the boat containing Major Pierson's party, and Captain Pecklar and I gave her a shot in return, which went through her bow and made a big hole. She stopped her wheels then, and since that she has been out of the fight."
"How do you get on, Captain Pecklar?" asked Christy, as he glanced at the engine, and judged that it was moving more rapidly than at any time before.
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