A Victorious Union | Page 8

but added to them a
gray coat he had obtained on board of a prize. The watch on deck had
been ordered to the forecastle, so that they need not too closely observe
the crew of the whaleboat. The chief of the expedition had quietly
descended to the platform of the after gangway, and when the boat
dropped astern, he stepped into it, selecting his place by the side of the
engineer, who had taken the tiller lines. The boat pulled away at once,
with four hands at the oars, and Mr. Graines headed it to the north-east
by the compass, the side lights of which were covered so that they
should not betray the approach of the boat to the shore, if any one was
there.
On the way Christy gave the men full instructions in regard to their
conduct; and in less than an hour the party landed.
CHAPTER III
A BIVOUAC NEAR FORT MORGAN
The expedition landed about two miles east of Fort Morgan. The sea
was not heavy, as it sometimes is on these sand islands, and the
debarkation was effected without any difficulty. At this distance from
the defences of the bay not a person was to be seen. The fog banks still

swept over the waters of the gulf as during the latter part of the
afternoon, and if any number of persons had been near the shore, they
could hardly have been seen.
"We are all right so far, Mr. Graines," said Christy, as the bowmen
hauled up the boat on the beach.
"It is as quiet as a tomb in this vicinity," replied the engineer, as he led
the way to the shore.
"Now, my men, haul the boat out of the water. I think we need not use
any of our small force as boat-keepers, for we can hardly spare them
for this purpose, Mr. Graines," Christy proceeded very promptly.
"It does not look as though the boat, or anything else, would ever be
molested in this lonely locality," replied Graines, as the men lifted it
from the water.
"Now carry it back about half a cable from the shore," continued the
principal of the party. "If one or two strollers should happen this way,
they would not be able to put it into the water, though four men can
carry it very easily."
The whaleboat was borne to a spot indicated by the lieutenant, and left
as it had been taken from the surf. Everything in it was arranged in
order, so that it could be hastily put into the water if circumstance
demanded a hurried retreat from the scene of operations. Near the spot
was a post set up in the sand, which might have been one of the corners
of a shanty, or have been used years before by fishermen drying their
nets or other gear.
"Do you see that post, my men?" asked Christy, as he pointed to it, not
twenty feet from the spot where the boat had been deposited.
"Ay, ay, sir!" the seamen responded, in low tones, for they had been
warned not to speak out loud.
"That will be your guide in finding the boat if we should get scattered,"

added the officer. "Now, do you see the two stars about half way
between the horizon and the zenith?"
"Ay, ay, sir!" answered Weeks, the oiler. "The Band of Orion."
"Quite right, Weeks," added Christy. "Fort Morgan lies about west of
us; and a course from there in the direction of the two stars will bring
you to the coast and the boat. Every man must act for himself to some
extent, and you are expected to be prudent, and use your own judgment.
It will not be safe for us to keep together, for a dozen men seen all at
once would be likely to awaken suspicion."
"If there is not a crowd of men over by the fort, we can hardly expect to
avoid coming together," suggested Weeks, who proved to be a very
intelligent man, with excellent judgment.
"I cannot tell whether or not we shall find any gathering of men in the
vicinity of the fort," replied Christy. "We shall be obliged to govern
ourselves according to circumstances. If you find any number of people
over there, you can mingle with them. Some of you are very good
scholars; but if any of you are disposed to indulge in fine talk, don't do
it. Make your speech correspond with your dress, and let it be rough
and rude, for that is the fashion among the laboring class in this
region."
"I suppose sea-slang will not be out of order," said Weeks.
"Not at all. Simply consider that you are sailors and laborers, and do
not forget it," answered Christy; and he