Within The Enemys Lines | Page 4

planter as an enemy in spite of the relations subsisting between
them. Both of them placed their duty to their own country above every
other consideration.
Captain Passford was obliged to get his daughter out of his brother's

house by stealth, and to make his escape with the Bellevite as best he
could.
Major Lindley Pierson, in command of Fort Gaines, at the entrance to
Mobile Bay, had permitted the steamer to pass, having been deceived
by his younger brother. He had been a frequent visitor at the mansion
of Homer Passford, attracted there, it appeared, by the lovely daughter
of the planter's brother, remaining there for the winter. Perhaps on her
account, perhaps with the fear that the Bellevite was not what she had
appeared to be, he had gone to the vicinity of Glenfield to inquire into
the mission of the steamer.
Homer Passford, acting upon his convictions, gave information which
resulted in an attempt to capture the Bellevite. Christy, not informed in
regard to the plans of his father to depart at once in the steamer, was
"Taken by the Enemy," and had some very stirring adventures in the
bay. But the steamer escaped from the numerous enemies that awaited
her, and Christy got on board of her at the last minute. The Bellevite
ran the gantlet of the forts in a dense fog, and brought Miss Florry in
safety to her home at Bonnydale.
Corny Passford, whose unexpected arrival at Bonnydale had excited the
astonishment of his uncle, was a year older than Christy, and had
enlisted in the Confederate service at the instance of Major Pierson.
Without knowing anything in particular about the matter, his uncle
believed, at his visit to Glenfield, that Corny was as earnestly devoted
to the Southern cause as his father, judging entirely from the fact that
he had enlisted as a soldier.
Corny had a good appetite, and a good supper was set before him. He
ate like a hungry boy, and the fact that he was within the enemy's lines
did not seem to have any influence upon him. His aunt helped him till
he seemed to be filled to repletion, for she thought he must have been
accustomed of late only to the most indifferent fare. After supper, he
followed his uncle back to the library; but he seemed less embarrassed
than before.
"Where is Christy, Uncle Horatio?" asked Corny, as he seated himself

in the library. "I have not seen him yet; and as I was away at the fort
when you went to Glenfield, I did not see him then."
"I don't know where he is just now, though he is in or about the house
most of the time," replied the captain. "Are you still in the army,
Corny?"
"No, sir, I am here. I did not like the service very well, and I thought I
should like the navy better. The reason why I did not like it as well as
at first was because I was no longer in Major Pierson's battalion,"
replied Corny, looking at his uncle as though he expected a question
from him.
"Then Major Pierson is no longer in the army?" added the captain.
"Oh, yes, he is; but I think he was the maddest man in the army soon
after you left."
"Indeed! Why was he so mad?"
"Because he was removed from command of Fort Gaines for letting
you pass it in your steamer."
"Then he is still in the service?" asked Captain Passford.
"Yes, sir; he is a good officer, and he will make his way, if he was
guilty of a blunder in letting the Bellevite pass the fort."
"Then you intend to be a sailor, Corny?"
"Yes, sir; in fact, I am a sailor now. I had been in your yacht so much
that I knew something about the ropes, and I had no difficulty in getting
transferred, as sailors were wanted more than soldiers," replied Corny,
who seemed to be studying the figures in the carpet.
"But if you went into the navy, how do you happen to be in New
York?" asked Captain Passford.
"I suppose you remember the Dauphine, which was fitting out when

you were in Mobile Bay?" continued Corny.
"I heard the name, and was told that she was one of the vessels that
tried to prevent the escape of the Bellevite."
"I was sent on board of her; but, in coming out of the bay, she was
captured by a Federal vessel, and sent to New York. I hid myself when
the crew were taken off, and came in her here," replied Corny, still
studying the carpet.
Captain Passford had not heard of the capture of the Dauphine. He was
not quite satisfied with the story of his nephew. But he