Marcy the Blockade Runner

irection of the mates, were hard at work getting the howitzers ashore. "From this time on he had better be careful how he treats my mother, for he m

ling him just who and what Beardsley is, and then perhaps he will stand a

g to be a war. Although the Newbern people were very jubilant over the great victory at Bull Run, they did not act as though they thought that that was the last battle they would have to fight before their independence would be acknowledged, for Marcy saw infantry companies marching and drilling in almost every street through which he passed, and every other man and boy he met was dressed in uniform. As he drew near to the post-office he ran against a couple of young soldiers about his own age, or, to be more exact, they ran against him; for they were coming alo

alk?" he asked good-naturedly, as the two straightened

u can have as much of it as y

those good clothes of

n the fight

sted a week ago, but we show

led powder or heard the n

und here," said the same speaker, who began to won

the ditch," said Marcy loftily. "I've been in the service ever since President Davis issue

and beg your pardon for it. But you ought to wear something to show who you are, for the folks around here don't think

ch to do; and if you will walk up to the post-office with me, I'll show you over the Osprey, if you would like to take a look at

ruits with enthusiasm. "I wish I knew something about boats

ars for the run to

usual size. They looked hard at him to see if he w

we leave the protection of the forts at Hatteras to the time we get back, we shall be in constant fear of cap

e them a short history of what the schooner had done since she went into commission. When he told how neatl

. "And yet you talk as

brave and skilful act,

he same if you had been

e think they are. How will they feel when they see our President sitting in the White House,

arouse in their minds a suspicion that he was not intensely loyal to the Confederacy, even if he did sail

below. There's a corps of engineers down there laying out a system of fortifications which are to be a mile

onsiderable of the art of war since he put on his gray jacket. "A Yankee army will neve

roops captured them after a four hours' fight, with the loss of only ninety-one men killed, the garrison retreating to Newbern and taking the cars for Goldsborough. W

r meeting, and fully satisfied in their own minds that the Yankees had been so badly whipped at Bull Run that they would nev

vy bales on board. The little vessel was so changed in appearance that a landsman would hardly have recognized her. The treacherous figure "9," which Beardsley had caused to be painted on her sails, in the hope that merchant vessels would take her for a

the mark, won't they?" said Captain Beardsley, who was much pleased with the work the painters had done under his instructions. "There ain't the first thing ab

d when a tug pulled the schooner's head around till it pointed down the river, she set so low in the water that she could not show her usual speed, even with the tide in her favor, and Tierney said in Marcy's hearing that he believed he could hoist a sail in a washing-tub and reach Nassau before the schooner could leave the sand dunes of Hatteras out of sight. But the captain

thout your help, just to see if I could do it, you know. Supposing you was the only one aboard who knew the channel, and something should happen to you, and I should want to come through h

you ever told it would choke you. So he thinks something is g

ashion. If the skipper was willing to pay him five hundred dollars for doing nothing, the boy didn't think he ought to complain. He took his stand close by the captain's side, but he did not touch the wheel, nor did he so much as

"But for some reason or other it doesn't suit him to have me at home with mother; and that makes me think that there'

below that there was nothing in sight. But there was something in sight a few hours later-something that put Beardsley in such a rage that he did not get over it for a day or two. It was a schooner a little larger than his own, and she was standing directly across the Hattie's bows. She did not show any disposition to "dodge" as the brig had done,

don't know that there's such things as privateers afloat, and he

" replied the mate. "It's plai

have went off somewheres, and that the coast below is all clear; don't you think so? Wh

ass almost within hailing distance of each other. Of course the captain of the stranger must have witnessed this manoeuvre, but he did not seem to be surprised or troubled by it; for he kept straight on and in another hour dashed by within les

ly. "Did anybody ever hear of such luck? Why didn't she show up when we had them howitzers aboard? They don't know w

ttle vessels parted company without either one knowing who the other was. But there was an angry lot of men on board the Hattie. Beardsley showed that he was one of them by the hard words he used when he came down from aloft and sent a lookout up to take his place, and Tierney, after sh

et back to their stations. So a bright lookout was kept by all hands, and Beardsley or one of the mates went aloft every few minutes to take a peep through the glass. Marcy thought there was good cause for watchfulness and anxiety. In the first place, the Bahama Islands, of which Nassau, in the Island of New Providence, was the principal port, lay off the

ookout. "Of course a smuggler has to take his chances with the revenue cutters he is liable to meet along the coast, as well as with the Custom House authorities, and I should think th

ch danger of being run down at night by some heavy vessel as there would have been a few months before, but Marcy's nerves thrilled with apprehension when he stood holding fast to the rail during the lonely mid-watch, and the schooner,

f the money there is in it, and what a fule you were for not taking out a venture when I gave you the chance. I b

l clung to the hope that he might some day have an opportunity to return it to the mast

ve anything, but I won't. You don't need it; your folks don't, and I know it. Keep a

rprise was great when he found himself looking out upon the wharves of a thriving, bustling little town. The slave-holders' rebellion, "which brought woe and wretchedness to so many of our States, was the wind that blew prosperity to Nassau." When President Lincoln's proclamation, announcing the blockade of all the Confederate ports was issued, Nassau took on an air of business and importance, and at once became the favorite resort of vessels engaged in contraband trade. There were Northern men there too, and Northern vessels as well; for, to quote from the historian, "The Yankee, in obedience to his instincts of traffic, scented the prey from afar, and went there to turn an honest penny by assisting the Confederat

ardsley, as soon as he found opportunity to

er that our government has sent here to look out for our interests. If a man wants to go from here to our country, he must go to that

et. It must be all of a thousand miles from here to Newbern, and perhaps we'll not have as

romised before you and t

minute this cotton is

oing to do

ould invest it

couldn't make bigger m

spend it as I choose," soliloquized Marcy, as the captain turned away to meet the representative of the English

get off the hatches," s

oner we start back the

ficer looked hard at him he concluded he was. At any rate he was willing to work, if for no other purpo