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"I want to ship in the Yankee navy as a pilot, for I know this coast from the Mississippi to Key West." "Are you a sailor?" asked Christy. "I went to sea for eleven years, and Captain Flanger, father and son, put my wages in their pockets." "You cannot ship as a pilot, only as an able seaman, if you know how to hand, reef, and steer, and how to make knots and splices."
"All right; she looks like a pretty large vessel, and the bigger the better. I hope you won't get up a disappointment for yourself by expecting that you are going to get out of this scrape," said Captain Flanger, and there was a great deal of bitterness in his tones. "I am taking things as they come, Captain." "The Snapper is not a man-of-war, and she is engaged in a peaceful voyage.
"Don't you know me, Uncle Job?" "'Pears like I do; I reckon you's Massa Cap'n Flanger." "Not exactly; but I'm his man, Mike Bornhoff." "Jes' so; you was born ob de debbil," replied the old negro, rising in his bed, and showing all his remaining teeth in an expansive smile. "He remembers me," said Mike turning to the lieutenant. "We have struck the right man.
"Do you know, Captain Flanger, that I believe we are getting into a very bad scrape?" said Percy Pierson in a subdued tone. "What are you afraid of?" demanded the captain, in a voice hardly above a whisper. "My father refused at first to permit the capture of Passford," added Percy. "He would consent to it only after you had promised to treat him well."
At this point Christy discovered a three-masted steamer, which had also excited the attention of Captain Flanger. It looked like the Chateaugay; and the prisoner's heart bounded with emotion. The steamer which Christy had discovered was a long distance from the Snapper.
The commander saw the imminent peril of Dave; he took a hasty aim and fired before the intruder had time to do so. He was a good shot with the navy revolver, for he had taken lessons and practised a good deal with the weapon. He had aimed at the head of Flanger, and he saw that he had hit him, for his face was instantly covered with blood.
Captain Flanger was a man of stalwart proportions, and Christy realized that he was no match for him in a hand to hand encounter, even with the aid of the steward, for the ruffian would not fail to use his revolvers.
"But I am speaking the truth now," protested the frightened Southerner. "No, you are not; the truth is not in you! Did you mean me no harm when you attempted to entice me on board of the Snapper? Did you mean me no harm when you engaged Flanger and his ruffians to make me a prisoner, and put me on board of his steamer?
"Count them for yourself!" exclaimed Captain Flanger in brutal tones. "All right: I will count you first," added Mr. Pennant, as he reached over and seized the leader of the party by the collar with his right hand. Flanger attempted to shake off his grasp, but the lieutenant was a very powerful man, and he dragged him into the boat in the twinkling of an eye.
Of course this decision did not suit Captain Flanger; and Percy Pierson appeared to be intensely alarmed at the prospect before him. Captain Chantor, after consulting with his naval passenger, determined to send the Snapper to Key West, from which she could readily be despatched to New York if occasion should require. Mr.
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