FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162  
>>  
. These two rooms he appropriated to the use of Mr. Pembroke and his daughter, though they were very well provided for on board of the Havana. They were invited on board, and gratefully accepted the accommodations tendered to them. Mr. Amblen was to retain the place assigned to him as prize-master, and two competent men were found to take charge of the schooners. All the arrangements were completed in a couple of hours, and the prizes of the Bronx were started at once. The negroes were employed in transferring the deckload of the Havana to the holds of the schooners, which were not quite full. The engineer of the Bellevite was to return to her in the Bronx, and he shook hands at parting with Christy, giving him a letter to Miss Florry Passford; and even her brother could not help seeing that he was greatly interested in her. Three rousing cheers went up from the Bronx as the screw of the Vixen began to turn, and she started on her voyage. The new commander, though he was very sleepy, gave his first moments to an examination of the vessel. The carpenter and his gang were still engaged in repairing the damage done to her in the engagement with the Bellevite. She was about the size of the two steamers captured by the Bronx, and coming out of the small steamer, she seemed quite large. She carried a midship gun of heavy calibre, and four broadside pieces. She had a crew of sixty men, besides those employed in the engineer's department, selected from the fleet, for the mission of the steamer was regarded as a very important one. "Your machine looks well, Mr. Caulbolt," said Christy, as he went to the engine room in making his round with the executive officer. "I fancy it is as good as can be built on the other side of the water," replied the chief engineer. "Do you know anything in regard to the speed of the Vixen, for that may be a very important matter with us?" asked the commander. "I do not know very much yet, sir, but I think she is a fast steamer. Mr. Vapoor told me that the Bellevite made twenty-two knots in chasing her, and that no other vessel in the navy could have overhauled her. He gave me the figures," added Mr. Caulbolt, taking a paper from his pocket. "I think she is good for eighteen knots when driven hard." "I dare say that will do," replied Christy, finishing his examination and retiring to his cabin. He found Mr. Pembroke and his daughter there. The young lady presented him to her father,
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162  
>>  



Top keywords:
Christy
 

engineer

 

Bellevite

 

steamer

 

replied

 
employed
 
examination
 

vessel

 
started
 

schooners


daughter

 

important

 
Pembroke
 

Havana

 
Caulbolt
 

commander

 
department
 
selected
 

pieces

 

mission


regarded

 

making

 

executive

 

engine

 

machine

 

officer

 

eighteen

 

driven

 

pocket

 

overhauled


figures

 
taking
 

presented

 

father

 

finishing

 
retiring
 

matter

 
regard
 

twenty

 
chasing

Vapoor
 

broadside

 
carpenter
 
prizes
 

negroes

 

transferring

 
couple
 

arrangements

 
completed
 

deckload