Captain Gordon

“ I directed Captain Gordon to send scouts out till he discovered where the enemy were; and it is time we had a return from them."
"I have a return from my scouts," said Captain Gordon, springing to the roof out of the skylight at this moment.
"Where are the enemy now?" asked the major anxiously.
"They were breaking camp when my men left," replied the captain. "I sent six men, the most intelligent in the company, in charge of Sergeant Knox, who has performed his duty very faithfully."
"He always does. ”

“ The man appeared at once.
"Where is Captain Gordon?"
"He is close by, Major."
"Ask him to come to my tent."
"Sit down, Joseph," said the colonel, giving his stool to his friend and his fellow-soldier, it appeared. "You don't gain anything by blowing yourself out."
"But this is no time to sit down," replied the excited minister, though he took the proffered seat.
Captain Gordon appeared immediately.
"A raid of guerillas on the place, Captain! Have the first company ready to march in three minutes!" said the commander in hurried tones. ”

“ JACOBITE CAPTAINS.
In rebel times and crimes, every captain is not a captain who is called by that title. Thus, Captain Gordon was an adventurer who had killed one man102 in England and another in Bengal. The captain was brought in chains to England, but the chief witness against him died on the voyage, and Gordon was set free. Dorrell had been a hostler at the inn which gave its name to Hart Street, Covent Garden. Early in King William’s reign he had risen through a sea of troubles to the rank of ensign in the army, into which he had enlisted. ”

“ June 19 Captain Gordon considered the ship ready for sea, and wrote to the commodore on shore, [6] "We are unmoored and ready for weighing the first fair wind." Both Captain Gordon and Commodore Barron were aware that the decks were more or less encumbered, and that the crew had not been exercised at the guns; but they were not warranted in detaining her on that account, especially since the guns could be better exercised at sea, and the ship was already four months behind time. ”

“ Just as the boy was about to move out of the thicket, he heard a heavy splash in the river, followed by words of command and entreaty from Case. The splashing continued, and presently the bushes at the edge of the stream were moved by an entering body.
“That’s Captain Joe!” thought Alex. “He’s always ready for a run in the woods. I suppose I ought to send him back.”
But it was not Captain Joe that thrust a wet nose into Alex’s hand. It was Teddy, the bear cub, and his greeting was so friendly and sincere that all thoughts of sending him back to the boat vanished from the boy’s mind. ”

“ In consequence of this intelligence, Captain Gordon deemed it prudent to quit Alexandria without waiting to destroy those remaining stores which he had not the means of bringing away.
Contrary winds again occasioned our countrymen the laborious task of warping the ships down the river, in which a day’s delay took place, owing to the Devastation getting aground. The Americans took advantage of this circumstance to attempt her destruction by means of three fire-vessels, attended by several row-boats ”

“ As I was doing so, he leaned forward, and I saw a dark stain, which looked like a clot of blood, on his fair hair, on the left side of the forehead.
"Annie! what did Captain Gordon die of?" I asked. "He fell from a railway carriage," she replied, "and struck his head upon the line." I then pointed out to her the blood upon his hair. Several other faces appeared, which we could not recognize. At last came one of a gentleman, apparently moulded like a bust in plaster of Paris. ”

“ His practical suggestions had been invaluable to the boys in fitting out the Rambler.
“She looks fit as a fiddle,” the old man declared, cocking his head to one side and running his eyes over the graceful lines of the craft. “When you get out into the ocean just keep her head on, and she’ll sail like a duck. My! It would be a treat to go along with you!”
“We’ll make an extra bunk for you, Captain Joe,” Clay cut in, eagerly. “You know you’d be welcome.”
“I’m too old, lads,” returned the captain, “and besides. I’ve got my own little bread-and-butter shop to look after. ”

“ Everything and everybody is in splendid working order, nothing is out of gear. Rapid and regular as a steam-engine the great host of toilers moves onward daily, with a march promising an early completion. Mr. Gordon is not in high spirits, for so cautious and far-seeing a captain rarely feels himself so independent of circumstances as to indulge in that reckless mood, but much satisfied with the prospect. ”

“ All the forenoon the boys did not intermit their persuasions to induce the captain to proceed on the cruise; but he was as firm as a rock, and declared that, if they all went down on their knees before him, he would not "budge an inch."
After dinner, Captain Gordon, probably to escape the importunities of his crew, announced his [Pg 172] intention to walk up to Portsmouth, and called for volunteers to accompany him. Captain Briskett, Henry, and Edward were all that were disposed to go with him, and he departed, leaving the rest of the crew to amuse themselves in the best way they could. ”

“ CHAPTER IX.—THE MAKING OF A CEDAR CANOE. “Drop down! Drop down stream!” Case yelled, excitedly, as Alex, Captain Joe, and the baby bear swept by on the current. “If they get out of sight they’ll drown!”
“What’s keeping them in view got to do with it?” shouted Gran “They will drown anyway if we don’t hurry and get them out. Let me go in after them. I’m a good swimmer, really I am. Let me go in and get Alex and Captain Joe can save himself. See there! Alex is going under. Let go of me!”
The loyal youngster would indeed have leaped into the river if Clay had not caught him. ”

“ The Ceylon, on quitting Madras, was 47 men short of complement; but she had there embarked 100 soldiers, part of whom were to serve as marines, so that, including Major-General Abercromby and his staff, she had about 295 persons on board at the commencement of the action. Her loss consisted of 10 killed, 5 dangerously, 8 (including Captain Gordon) severely, and 18 slightly wounded. We have already stated that she was retaken in the course of the same day by H.M. sloop Otter, in company with the Boadicea frigate [1] . ”

“ The sailors continued to question the boys, resorting now and then to insulting epithets, but the lads sat dumbly in the cabin until the arrival of Captain Morgan, in charge of the steamer Sybil. To express it mildly, they were all very much elated at the appearance of Captain Morgan, who unlocked the cabin door, called them out on deck and greeted them pleasantly. They all wanted to shake hands with him.
“It seems,” Clay said to the captain, as the latter motioned to the sailors to move up to the prow, “that your men have captured a band of bold, bad men. ”

“ As the old captain spoke, Case laid a hand on his arm and pointed to the projection on the peninsula behind which Captain Joe had listened on the night he had left the Rambler during his watch.
“There’s a blaze over there,” the boy said. “They must have a lot of men here to keep a force over there and another one between the two rivers.”
“Young man,” Captain Joe replied, “the man who is responsible for this whole mix-up is over there on the point, with a band of cutthroats.”
“Why don’t they go up and help the others?” asked Jule. ”

“ We haven’t got any time to waste hunting for you. So you stay on board the boat.”
Alex did not exactly like the idea of going quietly to bed, but he was finally induced to do so.
“Now,” said Captain Joe, as he stood alone on deck with Clay, “suppose we shove over to the other shore. Those fellows are wreckers, there is no doubt of that, and there is no sense in our mixing with them. If we stay here, they’ll prowl around the Rambler all night, and the bulldog will bark and the bear will growl, and it will be like sleeping in a boiler shop. ”

“ The line was sent in a rowboat, attached to the prow of the Rambler and slowly, steadily, so as not to strain the timbers or produce cracks in the hull, the motor boat was drawn from her uncomfortable position, practically uninjured. Clay was soon grasping the captain by the hand. The other boys shouted their greetings and remained on board to tidy up the Rambler.
“Young man,” Captain Morgan said, “if I had a hundred boys, and the whole mess of them, combined and individual, got into as many scrapes as you four kids do, I’d keep them under lock and key!” ”

“ Hope so.”
“Hello, hello!” came the voice again. “Can’t you send down a light or a gun? I’ve got into a mess here. Hurry up!”
“Suppose we send Captain Joe down with a string, and a rope tied to the end of the string,” suggested Gran. “The dog would swim straight to him, wouldn’t he? Then we could pull the boat back and Alex in it.”
“Fine idea!” cried Clay, “especially as the boy doesn’t appear to be very far off. Call the dog and I’ll get a long rope and a string. If the rope and string aren’t long enough to reach Alex we can pull the dog back. Good chance to make Captain Joe earn his food. ”

“ Her cabin lights were ablaze, and her deck was crowded with people. Her appearance at that point effectually blocked the entrance to the creek.
Tommy was doing his best to scold the intruder away, while Captain Joe was exerting himself to get away from Clay, who had him by the scruff of the neck.
“Giving a party?” asked Alex.
“Yes,” Buck replied, “and it’s likely to be a necktie party before it’s over. The Esmeralda looks right pert with all those people on board! I suppose we’ll have to wade in blood to get out of this hole they’ve got us into!” ”

“ Alex whispered, after a time. “We’ve got to do something to place them off their guard!”
While the boys were listening and waiting, Captain Joe sprang out of the boat and waded and swam over to the hard ground on the south of the cut-off. The boys saw only a white flash as the bulldog left the water and disappeared in the darkness of the jungle. Teddy, the bear, seemed inclined to follow him, but the boys held him back by main force.
“Now I wonder,” whispered Jule, “if the pirates are over there, too! If they’ve got us surrounded, we’re likely to open a barrel of trouble in about a minute.” ”

“ Another shot came from farther down, and the barking of the dog became fierce and incessant.
“Captain Joe will be eating up that cabin next,” Jule volunteered. “I wish I could tell him what to say!”
“Why don’t they go into the cabin and let him out?” asked Frank.
“Because neither side can get into the boat,” replied Case, grasping the situation at once. “Anyone showing himself under that prow light would be shot to death in a second. The only way the ruffians can get to the Rambler is to shoot out the light.” ”

“ To some it may possibly seem strange that Gordon, who had distinguished himself as a soldier, and had saved an empire, should again take up the humble avocation of an engineer officer, but so he did. He was in reality only a captain of engineers, though a brevet lieutenant-colonel in the army, when in February 1865 he returned home. He took a few months' leave, which he spent quietly at Southampton with his father and mother, shunning all publicity.
On the expiration of his leave he was sent to Gravesend, to superintend the building of some forts for the protection of the Thames. ”

“ CHAPTER X.—A CAMPFIRE IN THE JUNGLE “What do you mean by something worth while?” demanded Alex, busy with pancakes at the electric stove.
“It probably isn’t a dog!” laughed Jule.
“You let Captain Joe alone,” commanded Alex, “or I’ll instruct him to make a supper of you. He’s some dog!”
“Where can any cargo procured here be disposed of?” asked Clay, hopefully, remembering the empty purse.
“There’s a little town up the river where vessels bound for Europe take on cargoes,” Frank explained, with a knowing smile, “and we may find something we can get rid of if we tell them we need the money.” ”

“ Although the point was fully four miles away, a rocky promontory could be seen standing sharply out against the dark line of the forest.
“Captain,” Alex said, as they sat back of the gunwale on the prow, “I wish you’d take this glass and see what you can discover on that point.”
Captain Joe took the glass into his hand and held it for a long time, swinging it back and forth over the shore to the north, and over the river line of Cartier island. Then he handed it back to Alex.
“I’ll tell you,” he said slowly, “there’s a campfire over on the point, and there are many people around it. ”

“ Alex said, wrinkling his nose. “It seems a pity to lose this fine night. We can give Captain Joe a run on the bank and return before any of the boys wake up. The dog will enjoy the outing.
“The boat will watch itself. We won’t go far, and we won’t be gone long. Come on!”
Clay very reluctantly consented, and Captain Joe was brought from the cabin, much to his delight, and made a member of the party. The instant his feet touched the shore, however, he was off, taking a wide circle. Clay looked at Alex in consternation. ”

“ Captain Joe, in obedience to the command, released his hold on the outlaw and started after the boys. No sooner was the man released from the jaws of the dog than he drew a weapon and fired, the bullet cutting a long furrow in the dog’s side.
“I wish I had a gun with me,” said Alex in a rage. “I’d teach that robber better manners!”
“Come here, Joe!” Jule exclaimed. “I don’t think he is seriously hurt,” he added, as Joe came limping to his side.
“Find out as quick as you can,” advised Alex, “while I see that the men in front keep in the underbrush. They won’t hold the position long.” ”

“ They claim, of course, that with the charter in their possession the Fontenelles would be able to make their own exorbitant terms.”
“I knew it!” Alex cried. “We are in between two hostile interests again! It always happens that way. But we like it!”
“I have been thinking,” Captain Morgan went on, “that the men who attempted to wreck the Rambler are not river pirates at all, but men sent here to obstruct, as far as possible, those in search of the lost channel. It certainly looks that way.” ”