CHAPTER XIII
THE FIRST SHOT OF BLUMENHOFF
Captain Breaker watched the Tallahatchie with the most earnest
attention; and it was not five minutes after he had given out the new
course before she changed her direction, though not to the south, but
enough to carry her clear of the Passes of the Mississippi. Paul Vapoor
was still crowding the engine to the utmost that could be done with
safety, and he spent no little of his time in the fire room, personally
directing the men in the work of feeding the furnaces.
It was evident to the commander that his ship was gaining on the
Tallahatchie, at least a knot an hour, as he estimated it, and the chase
could not now be more than four miles distant. This was within the range
of her Armstrong gun, if it was of the calibre reported by Bokes, whose
information was mere hearsay, and was open to many doubts.
"She is changing her course again, Captain Breaker," said Mr. Ballard,
who had been observing the chase with the best glass on board.
"Probably she has discovered a man-of-war in the distance," added the
captain.
"I cannot make out anything to the westward of her," said Mr. Ballard,
who had directed his glass that way.
"She knows very well that she is liable to encounter a Federal ship on
the course she is running. How does she head now?"
"As nearly south as I can make it out.
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