low tone, after he had assured
himself that no person was within possible hearing distance. "It looks
as though the case might be settled here, without going to sea to do it."
"We have not sufficient evidence to convict them; and to make arrests
without the means of conviction would be worse than doing nothing.
The Ionian has cleared for Wilmington with a cargo of old iron.
Everything looks regular in regard to her, and I have no doubt there is
some party who would claim the castings if occasion required. The first
thing to be ascertained is whether or not the steamer goes to
Wilmington."
"Then we can make short work of her."
"My information in regard to this treason comes from Warnock--you
know who he is?"
"Captain Barnes," replied Christy promptly, for the names of all the
agents of his father in England and Scotland had been given to him on a
former occasion, when the information received from one of the three
had resulted in the capture of the Scotian and the Arran.
"Barnes is a very shrewd man. He does not inform me yet in what
manner he obtained the information that the Ovidio was to carry this
machinery from Nassau into a rebel port; but I shall get it later in a
letter. He gave me the name of the party who was to furnish the
machinery; and one of his agents obtained this from the direction of a
letter to New York. I placed four skilful detectives around this man,
who stands well in the community. They have worked the case
admirably, and spotted the Ionian. I have aided them in all possible
ways; but the evidence is not complete. If this steamer proceeds beyond
Wilmington, Captain Chantor will be instructed to capture her and send
her back to New York."
"Then this business will soon be settled," added Christy.
"Perhaps not; the government official, with authority to act, is in New
York. I shall see him at once. I have no doubt the detectives have
already reported that the Ionian has moved down the river," said
Captain Passford, as the tug came up to a pier, where father and son
landed.
They went to an office in Battery Place, where the captain was
informed that a special messenger had been sent to Bonnydale to
acquaint him with the fact that the Ionian had moved down the river.
Files of documents, containing reports of detectives and other papers,
were examined and compared, and then the government official
proceeded to finish the filling out of Captain Chantor's orders. The
paper was given to Christy, with an order to deliver it to the
commander of the Chateaugay. The tug had been detained for them,
and they hastened on board of her.
They found the suspected steamer at her moorings still; but it was
evident that she was preparing to weigh her anchor. The tug continued
on her course towards the Navy Yard, and the Chateaugay was
discovered in the berth she had occupied for the last two weeks.
Everything looked lively on board of her, as though she were getting
ready to heave up her anchor.
"Christy, you will find on board of your steamer a man by the name of
Gilfleur," said Captain Passford, as the tug approached the man-of-war.
"That sounds like a French name," interposed Christy.
"It is a French name, and the owner of it is a Frenchman who has been
a detective in Paris. He has accomplished more in this matter than all
the others put together, and he will go with you, for you will find in the
commander's instructions that you have more than one thing to do on
your way to the Gulf. I gave him a letter to you."
"I shall be glad to see him."
"Now, my son, we must part, for I have business on shore, and you may
have to sail at any moment," said Captain Passford, as he took the two
hands of his son. "I have no advice to give you except to be prudent,
and on this duty to be especially discreet. That's all--good-by."
They parted, after wringing each other's hands, as they had parted
several times before. They might never meet again in this world, but
both of them subdued their emotion, for they were obeying the high
and solemn call of duty; both of them were fighting for the right, and
the civilian as well as the naval officer felt that it was his duty to lay
down his life for his suffering country. Christy mounted the gangway,
and was received by Captain Chantor on the quarter-deck. He had been
on board before, and had taken possession of his stateroom.
The passenger took from his pocket the files of papers given
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