Blockade Runner (5 page)

“But—but you’re only a girl.”

Leah’s pride was touched. “I can do it! The only problem is leaving you alone for a little while—but Uncle Silas will be here. You tell him that I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Leah had to convince Mrs. Pollard, but there seemed to be no other way. She went to her room at once, dressed, and decided to write a quick note to her uncle. When she went back to Mrs. Pollard, she gave her the note, saying, “There may be an early train out—I think there is. I need to get to Wilmington as quick as I can.”

Mrs. Pollard held out her arms, and Leah came and took the woman’s kiss. “Be so careful, my dear. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I’ll be fine.” Leah nodded with a bright smile. “After all, it’s just a little trip on a train. I’ll be fine!”

L
eah carried a small reticule containing one change of clothes.
I may have to stay overnight
, she thought,
and those trains are awfully dirty
. She walked all the way to the station and found the ticket agent. He seemed surprised to see her so early in the morning.

“What time does the next train go to Wilmington?” she inquired.

“To Wilmington? Well, there’s one that comes along at six.” He took a watch out of his pocket and stared at it. “Ought to be making up right now. You want a ticket?”

“Yes, I do. How much is it?”

“Three dollars, Confederate.”

“Is that one way?”

“Yep. Round-trip will run you five dollars.”

As she paid the cash in Confederate notes out of her small purse, the agent looked at her carefully, then said, “You all by yourself?”

“Yes, and I’ll be coming back as soon as I can.”

“Well, you be careful of them soldiers. This train’ll be packed with ’em, all headed down to Wilmington. Some of them is pretty rough, I’m afraid. They’ll pester to death a pretty girl like you.”

Leah was a little flustered but held her chin up. “I’ll be all right,” she said. Actually she was rather disturbed but refused to let the agent see that she was troubled.

“Guess you will,” the agent said admiringly. “You can set over there, if you want to. Shouldn’t be over an hour.”

Leah took a seat, and within half an hour the station area was swarming with troops. There must have been at least a hundred of them. By the time the old wood-burning engine pulled its cars up to the depot, she had been the target of many eyes. She was the only young woman in sight; the rest were all officers and enlisted men.

“I guess you can get on now, miss,” the agent told her. He winked at a young sergeant who was standing close by, watching Leah. “Sergeant, why don’t you see this young lady gets on and gets a seat?”

“Why, sure!” the soldier exclaimed. He was a muscular young man with a fine crop of whiskers of which he seemed very proud, for he stroked them continually. “I’m Sergeant Miller, miss. Can I have your name?”

“Leah Carter.”

“Well, now, Miss Leah, you just come with me.”

As Sgt. Miller led her to the train, there were whistles and catcalls. “Hey, Sarge, how come you get all the pretty girls?” a tall, lanky soldier carrying a musket said.

“You get back in that line, Private!” Miller said sternly. “I’ll take care of this young lady.”

Sgt. Miller helped Leah onto the train and carefully escorted her down the aisle, which was already packed with soldiers. She felt terribly embarrassed. Where would she sit?

But Sgt. Miller stopped before two privates. “All right, Cox, you and Rochester just lost your seats.”

The two privates stared, then grinned. “Guess you got the best of the argument, Sarge,” the smaller one said.

“Take a seat right there by the window, miss,” Sgt. Miller said.

When Leah was seated, he said, “Let me have that suitcase. I’ll see that it’s stored for you so you don’t have to hold onto it.” He handed the suitcase to one of the privates who had just been evicted. “Cox, take Miss Leah’s suitcase out to the baggage compartment.” Then he sat down beside her. “I’d better sit here. Not all these fellows are the gentlemen they should be.”

“Oh, I’m sure they are.” Leah smiled. “They’re all soldiers of the Confederacy.”

Laughter went over the car, for the soldiers close by were listening avidly.

Actually, Leah turned out to be very grateful to Sgt. Miller. She realized that if he had not plopped himself down beside her, she would have been pestered to death indeed by the attentions of the troops. Most of them looked very young to her, and she wondered if any of them knew Jeff.

“Where’s your unit from, Sergeant?”

“We’re Third Arkansas. I come from Bald Knob, myself.”

“Bald Knob?” Leah stared at the young fellow. “What an odd name.”

“Well, it’s a nice little town.”

“Where is it in Arkansas?”

“Oh, it’s about five miles south of Wetwash.”

Leah could not help smiling again. “Oh,” she said. “Well, that clears it up, of course.”

A soldier sitting behind them leaned forward and tapped Miller on the shoulder. “Sarge, this lady
will think all of Arkansas’s got crazy names like Bald Knob and Wetwash.”

Leah turned, and he smiled. He was a handsome boy with blond hair and alert blue eyes. “Not all of Arkansas has funny names like that.”

“Where are you from, Private?” Leah asked.

He flushed slightly and said, “Well, actually I’m from Toad Suck Ferry.”

A howl of laughter went up, and then Leah had to listen while odd place names in Arkansas were bandied back and forth.

The soldiers had apparently been on a long march to get to the train. Most of them seemed very tired. Soon all were slumped over or curled up in whatever positions they found comfortable, falling asleep almost instantly.

All but Sgt. Miller, that is. He appeared to be fresh and kept Leah entertained for more than an hour with stories about his hometown and his exploits there. He was quite a boastful young man, but pleasant enough.

“I’m glad you were here to take care of me, Sergeant,” she said as the train finally pulled into Wilmington. It had been a long, hard trip, and he had seen that she had been well cared for.

Pulling off his cap, he ran his hands through his curly hair, “Well, now, Miss Leah, I wish I could get you to wherever you’re going—but I’ve got to take care of these mavericks here. Good luck to you!”

“I’ll think of you, Sergeant Miller.” Leah smiled. She took his handshake and watched him turn with a look of regret and hurry over to where his men were forming a line of sorts.

Leah picked up her bag and found her way into the station. She saw it was beginning to grow dark. She had been on the train for hours.

An older man was just closing up the ticket office, and she asked him about the harbor. He waved vaguely. “Why, it’s down there, miss. You can’t miss it.”

But Leah did miss it. She found out that what was just a short way in the station agent’s opinion was actually a very long walk. Finally she did find the harbor, but by now it was almost completely dark. Ships were bobbing at anchor, and there was some activity around them.

“Please, can you tell me where I can find the
Greyhound?”
she asked a naval officer.

“The
Greyhound?
Why, sure. Right down there.” He hesitated, then said, “It’s getting dark. Maybe I’d better show you, miss. You have a husband on board?”

Leah was startled at the question. But it was almost dark, and she was tall for her age. After the shock passed, she smiled, saying, “No, I just have to find a gentleman and give him a message.”

“Well, come this way.”

The officer led her along the line of waiting ships; then he stopped suddenly and said, “Well, I’ll be. You’ve missed it, miss. There she goes!”

“Oh, I’ve got to get on that ship! Isn’t there any way?”

The officer looked around, then nodded at a small skiff with a single sail. “I’ll see what can be done, miss.” He left for a moment.

“If you can afford to pay,” he said, returning with two men dressed like fishermen, “these fellows can get you aboard, or so they claim.”

“Oh, yes, I’ll pay whatever it costs.”

The officer nodded and turned to the men. “Are you sure you can catch that ship?”

“I reckon we can,” the taller of the two said laconically. “We’ve done it many a time. She’s just creeping around now. Won’t be going out for another hour or two to run the blockade.”

The officer nodded. “I hope that helps you, miss.”

“Thank you so much!” Leah negotiated payment, then said, “I’m ready now.”

The shorter of the two lifted his hand and assisted Leah into the small craft. “I’ll shove off, Ed,” he said. “Set yourself there, miss.”

A fair breeze was blowing, and it caught the single sail of the sloop, puffing it out and making it pop. Instantly the small boat moved out onto the waters. As it glided between the ships at anchor, Leah said, “Are you sure that’s the
Greyhound?”

“Certain sure!” the man named Ed said. “I know it well. I know Captain Bier too. Don’t worry, miss. We’ll get you there.”

The
Greyhound
was moving, though very few of her sails were set. Leah could barely see the vessel in the glowering darkness, but the sailors had no trouble.
They must see in the dark like cats
, she thought. “Is that the
Greyhound
where those lights are bobbing?”

“That’s it!” the shorter man said.

The tall one suddenly said, “She’s picking up speed, Shorty. I guess we’d better get there in a hurry.”

“Right! We’ll never catch her if she gets her mainsail set.”

Leah was terribly nervous, knowing that she had to get the message to Captain Bier and Mr. Pollard. She sat hanging onto her case, and finally the small boat was positioned just behind the large one.

“Ahoy! Passenger for the
Greyhound!”

“Not taking passengers!” the call came back at once.

Leah lifted her voice. “Please! My name is Leah Carter. I’ve got an urgent message for Mr. Pollard and Captain Bier.”

A silence followed, then finally the call came, “Come aboard!”

The skiff bumped into hull, and Leah stood to her feet.

“Careful, miss,” one of the fishermen said.

She did not wait for his helping hand, however, and a sudden gust of wind caught the small skiff. It threw her off balance, and to her horror she felt herself falling. She managed to throw her suitcase backward, but there was no help for it—she hit the water with a splash.

“Man overboard—I mean,
woman
overboard!” the man called Ed cried.

Leah’s dress, instantly soaked, began to drag her down, but she was a good swimmer and came up quickly. Lantern lights began to show on board the
Greyhound
, and men’s voices called out. She swam as well as she could toward the ship, which lay low in the water.

“There she is! Grab her!”

She touched the hull, and instantly a rope ladder plunked down beside her. A sailor scrambled down it, and she felt a strong arm grasp her.

“Can you climb up, miss?” the sailor said.

“Yes,” Leah gasped. “I’m all right. But I need my reticule.”

The skiff had pulled close. “Here it is,” Ed said. Then he laughed. “That ain’t the way folks usually board a ship!”

Leah climbed aboard, feeling like an utter fool. When she was on deck, she pressed the water off her face with her hands. Then suddenly lantern light blinded her.

“What is this?” a voice suddenly demanded.

Then another voice broke in.
“Leah!”

Leah looked to one side and saw Jeff Majors standing there, gaping at her in amazement.

Leah felt more like a fool than ever. “Hello, Jeff,” she whispered. Then she turned and asked, “Are you Captain Bier?”

The captain stared at her, a smile on his face. “Yes, I am.”

“I’ve got a letter for you, but it’s in my reticule. It’s for Mr. Pollard, really.”

“Well, come on down to my cabin,” he said. “You got any extra clothes in this bag?” He picked it up.

She said, “Yes, but the letter’s the most important. I can wait.”

Captain Bier took her arm and led her along the deck. Jeff stood staring, and she could not bear to look at him.

When she was inside the cabin, Bier said, “I’ll send for Mr. Pollard. He’s right around the corner, I think.”

While waiting, Leah took some of the hot tea that the captain had been brewing on his own little stove. He didn’t ask any questions, and they didn’t have long to wait.

Mr. Pollard came bursting in. “Leah! What are you doing here?”

“The young lady says she’s got a letter for you, John. I reckon it must be important.”

Leah pulled the envelope from her bag. “This came for you last night,” she said. “I knew you had to have it, so I came as quickly as I could.”

Pollard opened the envelope at once. He looked alarmed and read its contents to the captain. “We’ve got to find this Union agent,” he said.

Captain Bier took the message and scanned it himself, then said sharply, “We’ll find him, all right—but we’ll have to smoke him out. Come along, Miss Leah. I’ve got a cabin where you can dry out and change clothes.”

“Thank you, Captain, but I need to get back.”

“Well, I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” Bier said regretfully. “You’ll just have to make the trip to Bermuda with us. We can’t go back now.”

“To Bermuda? I can’t go
there!”

She thought Mr. Pollard looked disturbed too, but he said, “I’m afraid you’ll have to, Leah.” He glanced toward shore. “We can’t turn around and go back now.”

“But what will your wife and my uncle think?”

“They’ll just have to wait—or maybe we can send a message through an incoming ship. Anyway, it won’t be a long trip,” he said comfortingly.

Leah accompanied the captain to a small cabin that had one bunk and one table in it. It was so tiny she had trouble moving around. But she toweled herself down and put on her dry clothes, thinking,
I’m glad I brought a dress. I couldn’t wear this wet one all the way to Bermuda
.

Then she remembered Jeff’s eyes, staring at her in astonishment.
I wonder what he thought of me getting fished out of the ocean like that?