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Updated: May 25, 2025
"This is an outrage, Mr. Officer!" exclaimed the discomfited master. "If it is, I am responsible for it," added the executive officer, as he removed the cover from the end of the case. "I protest against this outrage! I will not submit to it!" howled Captain Sawlock, carried away by his wrath. "Perhaps you will," said Mr. Birdwing quietly. "But I will not!"
"The captain's name?" demanded the officer, becoming more imperative as the commander of the Ionian manifested more of his crabbed disposition. "Captain Sawlock," growled the ill-favored master of the steamer, who was a rather short man, thick-set, with a face badly pitted by the small-pox, but nearly covered with a grizzly and tangled beard.
Carlin came to the door, and his superior directed him to examine all hands forward, in order to ascertain whether they were Confederates or otherwise. He gave him the shipping-list to assist him. "Are you an American citizen, Captain Sawlock?" asked Mr. Birdwing, as soon as the third lieutenant had departed on his mission. "I am," replied he stiffly. "Where were you horn?" "In Pensacola."
"You are in command of a steamer, and you cannot be so ignorant as to believe that an officer of a man-of-war has not the right to require you to show your papers," added Mr. Birdwing with a palpable sneer. "This is an American vessel," repeated Captain Sawlock. "Then why did you hoist the British flag?" "That's my business!" "But it is mine also. Do you decline to show your papers?
"Have you ever taken the oath of allegiance to the United States government?" "No; and I never will!" protested the captain with an oath. "I must inform you, Captain Sawlock, that I am directed by the commander of the United States steamer Chateaugay to take possession of the Ionian, on finding sufficient evidence on board that she is engaged in an illegal voyage.
He moved forward, and was going to the side when I jumped upon him. After a struggle I took this tin case from him." The detective stepped forward, and handed the tin case to the executive officer as gracefully as though he had been figuring in a ballroom. Captain Sawlock had followed the officers over from the port side.
"I think we will retire to the cabin to examine these papers, for I see that the case is filled with documents, including some sealed letters," continued Mr. Birdwing, as he moved towards the cabin door. "That cabin is mine! You can't go into it!" howled Captain Sawlock, crazy with anger. "Don't let them go into the cabin, Withers!"
The last one found in the case directed Captain Sawlock to deliver the cannon and ammunition in the bottom of the vessel to the steamer Dornoch, on her arrival at St. George's, or at some convenient place in the Bahama Islands.
Several pairs of handcuffs were sent on board of the Ionian, for the first lieutenant apprehended that they would be needed to keep Captain Sawlock and his mate in proper subjection. The papers which had been contained in the tin case were intrusted to the care of Mr.
Carlin had sent two of his men to the stern at the request of the Frenchman, charged to allow no one to throw anything overboard. The first officer of the Ionian had listened to the conversation between Captain Sawlock and the first lieutenant, and had gone below into the cabin when it began to be a little stormy. "What does all this mean, Mr. Carlin?" inquired Mr. Birdwing.
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