Chapter 19
“Perhaps you’d better tell us what you have in mind,” said Powers. “This endeavor represents almost two years of undercover work, and we are in no position to relinquish control of it to an outsider.”
“I’m not an outsider, Powers,” Nathan said. “I have a stake in this that is stronger than yours. For starters, we’ll need a steamboat.”
“We thought of that,” said Powers. “We have a government-owned packet. Go on.”
“We’ll approach the Queen of Diamonds after dark,” Nathan said. “When I have freed the women from the lower deck, I’ll send them over the side. You will pick them up. Then you will issue a challenge to Stumberg and crew to surrender.”
“Your plan is acceptable so far,” said Powers. “Without hostages, they will be forced to surrender.”
“No,” Nathan replied. “I believe Stumberg’s playing for high stakes. I expect him to have enough firepower aboard to blow you and your government packet out of the water. I said you will challenge them to surrender. I did not say they’re going to.”
“If they do not,” said Grago, “I presume you have some alternative in mind.”
“I do,” Nathan said, “and aside from getting me close enough to board the Queen of Diamonds, I need only one thing more of you. I want a canister of black powder with a five-minute fuse.”
“My God,” Powers cried, “you’re going to destroy the craft!”
“Do you have a better idea?” Nathan asked.
“Yes,” said Powers. “When they reach the landing here ...”
“They’ll keep on going,” Nathan said. “Whatever Stumberg is, he’s not a fool. Once you challenge him to surrender, he’ll know he’s reached the end of his string. I’m telling you, he’ll head for international waters and safely in Mexico. I can stop him. You can’t, unless you aim to ram his steamboat.”
“That’s out of the question,” said Powers. “Our packet’s half the size of his craft. But my God, man, do you realize the risk you’ll be taking? If you’re successful in freeing those unfortunate women on the lower deck, every man on board will be looking for you.”
“Not if you’re keeping them busy,” Nathan replied. “Once you challenge them to surrender and Stumberg discovers his hostages are gone, I want you to have enough armed men on deck to keep their minds off looking for me. I want enough time to plant the powder, light the fuse, and hit the water. For that reason, I want your packet as close behind them as you can get. I figure, by the time I light that fuse and get over the side, I’ll have maybe three minutes before she blows. Will that be time enough for you to gather me aboard and for Stumberg’s boat to leave us behind?”
“God, no,” said Grago. “You’re cutting it too fine. If this is the only way, then double the length of the fuse. I’d want them at least half a mile ahead of us.”
“Well?” Nathan asked.
“By God, it’s daring enough,” said Powers. “Stumberg deserves to hang, but if he won’t surrender, then your plan is fully justified.”
“I agree,” said Grago.
“We don’t know when Stumberg’s boat will be arriving,” Nathan said, “and we can’t approach them until after dark. Is there any way—maybe by wire—that you can learn when they left St. Louis?”
“We already know that,” said Powers. “We don’t expect them here until after midnight tomorrow. ”But if you’re right and they refuse to surrender, we must intercept them long before they reach New Orleans. An explosion of such a magnitude will scatter debris for a mile. They should reach Natchez well after dark tomorrow. We’ll pursue them from there, making our move when we’re well past the town. Does that meet with your approval, Mr. Stone?”
“Yes,” Nathan said, “but I’ll need a little time in the morning. I have some buryin’ to do.”
“Give me time to get a horse from the livery,” said Grago, “and I’ll ride with you. I’ll need to check on Mr. Silver and make arrangements for his care until he can be moved. How much do these friends of your know ... about this?”
“They’ve known all along Stumberg was into more than just gambling. I’d trust Barnabas and Bess McQueen with my life. It was Barnabas who warned me about Stumberg’s involvement in white slavery before I got involved with him.”
“If we all live through this,” said Powers, “I’d be interested in hearing how you got involved with Stumberg.”
“We shouldn’t be seen leaving the hotel together,” said Grago. “Give me ten minutes, and then meet me at the livery.”
Nathan waited, and by the time he mounted his horse and reached the livery, Grago was waiting. They rode a block north, to a less-traveled street, and from there rode east. Neither spoke until they turned north on Bayou Road.
“You could have saved yourself a trip,” Nathan said. “Silver’s in good hands.”
“I’m not doubting your word,” said Grago. “I have to make an in-depth report on Silver.”
“Is he related to you?” Nathan asked.
“Hell,” said Grago, “it’s worse than that. Remember the little girl who jumped ship in St. Louis? Well, Trinity’s my sister. She volunteered for this Stumberg assignment, and she has more than a passing interest in our Mr. Silver, if you know what I mean.”
“I reckon I know what you mean,” Nathan said, “and was I you, I’d do my damnedest to get the both of ’em into some other kind of work.”
When they rode into McQueen’s place, he greeted them from the darkness, a Winchester in his hands. Once they were in the house, Nathan introduced Grago only as an army officer involved in the Stumberg investigation. When it was all over, before Nathan left New Orleans, he would tell them the whole story. They had earned the right to know. Grago told the McQueens exactly what he had told Nathan, and he was allowed to go into the room where Silver snored noisily. Bess turned back the cover enough to test Silver’s forehead.
“He’s building up to a fever,” said Bess. “The doctor said we should pour whiskey down him. Barnabas has a gallon of it.”
“He’s never been much of a drinking man,” Grago said. “The hangover may hurt him more than the wound. We’re in your debt for taking him in.”
“You’re welcome to stay the night, Mr. Grago,” said Barnabas. “We have the room.”
“Thanks,” Grago said, “but I ought to get back to headquarters. I have to send a telegram to a certain young lady and tell her Silver’s alive. Be at the hotel in the morning at nine, Stone. Wait in the lobby, if you like. One of us will meet you there.”
He rode out and Nathan sat down in a rocking chair. Suddenly he was very tired, and the events of the day seemed like a bad dream.
“About time you was turnin’ in,” McQueen said. “We’ll need to roll out early in the morning. Bess and me will look in on Mr. Silver and load him up with whiskey when he’s in need of it.”
Bess led Nathan to a bedroom adjoining the one where Eulie lay. When she had closed the door, Nathan removed his hat, gunbelt, and boots. He stretched out, and, despite the fact his mind was in turmoil, he slept.
Nathan rose before first light, and when he reached the kitchen, Bess already had breakfast under way. McQueen sat at the table drinking coffee.
“Nathan,” said McQueen, “unless you have another place in mind, I think we should make a place for Eulie at the north end of the horse barn, under the oaks.”
“I can’t think of a better place,” Nathan said. “There’ll always be horses near. She would like that.”
After breakfast, when the eastern sky had begun to gray, Nathan and McQueen dug Eulie’s grave. When they were ready, Nathan and McQueen carried the blanket-wrapped body while Bess brought the family Bible. Saturday night, working by lantern light, McQueen had built a rough wooden coffin. Now they placed Eulie in it and McQueen tightened the lid. Using ropes, they lowered it into the grave. McQueen took the Bible and read passages from it. When he had finished, he said a prayer. Cotton Blossom had remained silent until Nathan and McQueen began shoveling dirt into the grave, and then the finality of it seemed to strike him. He howled long and mournfully.
“God, Cotton Blossom,” Nathan shouted, wiping his eyes, “stop it!”
Cotton Blossom paused, but not for long. Finally, when the grave had been filled, there was nothing to do except return to the house. At first, it seemed Cotton Blossom would follow Nathan, but he changed his mind. He trotted back to the new-made grave and resumed his mournful howling.
“He’s takin’ it mighty hard,” said McQueen.
“Since we came to New Orleans, he spent more time with her than with me,” Nathan said. “I’m not sure when I’ll be returning here. Maybe when I come back ...”
“We’ll see that he don’t starve,” said McQueen. “Just give him time.”
“I forgot all about Silver,” Nathan said. “How is he?”
“As well as can be expected,” said Bess. “I began giving him whiskey at three o’clock this morning, and I’ll continue giving it to him until his fever breaks. That’s all anybody can do.”
A few minutes past eight, Nathan rode to town and left his horse at the livery near the St. Charles. Reaching the hotel lobby well before the appointed time, he took a chair and waited. When Grago entered the lobby, Nathan remained seated. Grago took his time, and without a sign of recognition, left the hotel lobby by another door. Only then did Nathan rise and follow. He didn’t hurry, and he allowed Grago to stay a few yards ahead until they were around a corner and out of sight of the St. Charles. Only then did he catch up, as they walked toward the river.
“How is Silver this morning?” Grago asked by way of greeting.
“Feverish and full of whiskey,” said Nathan. “He’s in good hands.”
“The packet should be ready, with steam up,” Grago said. “Powers should have the canister of powder and the length of fuse. He’s also having a small dinghy brought aboard. Once it’s dark, that will float you down alongside Stumberg’s craft. You’ll have oars, and it’ll be up to you to stay out of the backwash from the paddlewheel.”
“I don’t aim to chase Stumberg’s steamboat in a dinghy with oars,” said Nathan. “Since it will be dark when they reach Natchez, and since they’ll be taking on wood, that’s where I aim to go aboard. After that, I’ll need time to open those cells on the lower deck and get those women over the side. Since I can’t signal you, I’ll want you and Powers to keep your eyes on the water nearest the south bank. Once the women are over the side and you’ve picked them up, the next move is yours. When you’ve laid down your challenge, then I’ll take it from there.”
“You should be confirming all this with Captain Powers,” Grago said. “He’s the ranking officer, and it’s he who will be in the pilot house, directing the pilot.”
“I aim to talk to him,” said Nathan, “just as I’m talking to you. Time is important, once that fuse is lit, and I can’t stop the clock’s ticking.”
As they neared the river, Grago veered away from the landing. A hundred yards downriver was a trio of lesser docks that were seldom used, and it was at one of them the government packet had drawn up. It was a nondescript vessel, devoid of markings, and, compared to the Queen of Diamonds, pathetically small. There was no gangplank. A removable ladder provided entry. Once aboard, it seemed even smaller. There were but two decks, and the lower was devoted to a boiler, a firebox, and the storage of firewood. Its single stack puffed smoke. The pilot house was circular, with glass all around. There seemed barely room for Powers and the pilot. Powers beckoned to Nathan and he managed to get into the cramped glass cubicle.
“I wouldn’t want to be stuck in here facing a good man with a Winchester,” Nathan said.
“Neither would I,” said Powers. “This is Captain Tolliver, and we want you to explain to us, one step at a time, what’s to take place.”
Again Nathan went through the routine he had already covered with Grago. When he was done, Captain Tolliver whistled long and low. Nathan took that as a negative response and his temper rose.
“Damn it,” Nathan said, “I’m the one risking my neck. If you can’t do this, don’t wait till I’m aboard Stumberg’s boat with a lighted keg of powder to tell me.”
“At ease,” said Powers. “Captain Tolliver’s a bit awed by what you are about to do. That doesn’t mean we won’t be with you every step of the way.”
“Just keep two things in mind,” Nathan said. “Once I send those women over the side, their lives are in your hands. Then, when you have them safely aboard, you are to challenge Stumberg. Once he discovers he has no hostages, he’ll ignore your challenge, and here’s the second thing that had better be strong on your mind. I’ll be lighting the fuse to that canister of powder, and by the time I’m over the side, we’re maybe seven minutes away from hell-fire and brimstone. When I hit the water, I want you watching for me.”
“Count on it,” said Powers.
They were soon under way. With no private quarters and no bunks, it was a tiresome voyage at best. Nathan sat with his back against the pilot house and dozed. Besides Grago, Powers, and Captain Tolliver, there were just four more men aboard, and all of them were on the lower deck. If by some miracle Stumberg heeded the challenge and surrendered, this bunch would play hell boarding and capturing the Queen of Diamonds.
“This is typical army,” Grago said, hunkering beside Nathan. “You wait, and wait, and then wait some more.”
“Answer me a question,” said Nathan. “I want Stumberg’s hide, so goin’ after him this way is my kind of justice. But you said, with testimony from Trinity, you could hang Stumberg. Hell, the army’s got jurisdiction everywhere. Why didn’t you just arrest the varmint in St. Louis?”
“I favored that,” Grago said, “but I was outranked. My superiors want him nailed with the goods, but they’ve underestimated him. Captain Tolliver, Captain Powers, and myself are armed with Winchesters, and so are the men on the lower deck, but can you imagine us commandeering Stumberg’s craft, should he actually heed our command to surrender?”
“No,” said Nathan. “I’ve never even considered that, because Stumberg’s never going to surrender. We’ll have to blow the damn boat with him aboard, or allow him to escape to Mexico.”
“Why are you so certain he’s going to Mexico?”
“Some of Stumberg’s conversation was overheard and passed on to Silver and me. There was talk about the dark of the moon and international waters. Before you ever talked to me, you people knew there would be women aboard, bound for Mexico, didn’t you?”
“Perhaps,” said Grago cautiously.
“Perhaps, hell,” Nathan said. “You’ve been watching Stumberg’s activities in St. Louis, and you know he’s not taking his usual load of high rollers back to New Orleans.”
“Proving exactly what?” Grago demanded.
“Proving that you knew Stumberg was about to run for it, that you knew or suspected this would be your last chance to get your hands on him. What I don’t understand is how you aimed to stop him, with all those women locked in cabins on the first deck.”
“That,” said Grago, “is something you will never know. I can tell you this and no more. We knew, after receiving Silver’s telegram, that the Queen of Diamonds was returning to St. Louis after a long absence. It wasn’t all that difficult to learn, from Stumberg’s actions, what he probably planned to do. There was an alternate plan that may or may not have involved Silver, but we scuttled that, after talking to you.”
“I’m flattered,” Nathan said.
“Don’t be,” said Grago, “and don’t waste your time meditating on all the things I haven’t told you.”
“Maybe I’ll just back out,” Nathan said, “and let you resurrect your alternate plan.”
“I don’t believe you will,” said Grago. “There would be some very serious consequences.”
“You’re right,” Nathan said. “I won’t back off, but not because I care a damn for your consequences.”
That ended their conversation. The officer walked away and Nathan tipped his hat over his eyes, not caring if Grago shared their conversation with his superior, Captain Powers. Time dragged. Nathan could almost measure their progress by the westering sun warming him through the glass of the pilot house. He seemed to be dozing when Powers spoke.
“There’s food below, if you’re hungry.”
“Thanks,” said Nathan, but he wasn’t hungry. Occasionally he rose to dip a tin cup of water from the water keg beside the pilot house. Satisfying his thirst, he again settled down, apparently to doze. But his mind was unable to rest, for it drifted back to Barnabas McQueen’s place, to a lonely grave beneath the oaks ...
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With a blast from her whistle, the Queen of Diamonds had just backed away from the landing at Vicksburg, pausing only long enough to take on more wood. French Stumberg reclined in his cabin, his mind racing ahead to his final and most profitable transaction. Within a matter of hours he would rid himself of his human cargo and be on his way to a life of luxury in Mexico. For a moment he regretted leaving his empire behind, but the Federals had the war behind them and were turning their attention to other matters, and French Stumberg had been high on their list of priorities. Of course, they would seize all his gambling emporiums, but they would find little. Stumberg had drained off all but a few hundred dollars to keep the doors open, and in the safe next to his bunk was more than a quarter of a million dollars in gold. Aboard were a dozen trusted men, all heavily armed. Stumberg had hated leaving Drew Shanklin behind, but there was no help for it. Sacrifices had been necessary to create the illusion that French Stumberg was in New Orleans to stay. Even his apparent interest in horse racing had been contrived. Now he wondered where and how his departure would be challenged, for there had been a telegram waiting for him in St. Louis from his contact in Washington. He knew they had been watching him, but he didn’t believe they could stop him before the Queen could reach international waters. The vessel was worth a fortune, but there he must abandon her, for there was no other way ...
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It was still daylight when the government packet reached Natchez, and it was time to take on wood. The craft must keep up steam, for it must be ready for pursuit. While the Queen of Diamonds would stop for fuel, that wouldn’t delay her very long. Captain Powers hunkered down beside Nathan, and finally he spoke.
“How are you feeling, Stone?”
“Sick,” Nathan replied. “Sick of this damn boat.”
Powers laughed. “That makes two of us. The most difficult part of any maneuver is the waiting.”
“There’s somethin’ I’ve been overlooking,” said Nathan. “I’m dead sure Stumberg plans to make a run for Mexico, but where’s he goin’ to get wood for the steamboat?”
“He’ll take on enough wood here at Natchez to reach international water,” Powers said. “There’s a sailing ship—a craft flying Mexican colors—waiting for him. His partner in white slavery, we think.”
“Well, by God,” said Nathan, “you’ve known this all along, and you’ve left me to piece it together as best I could.”
“I saw no reason to involve you to that degree,” Powers said. “If your plan works, it won’t matter if the entire Mexican fleet’s out there.”
“From talkin’ to Grago,” said Nathan, “I get the feeling your whole damn operation depended on Byron Silver, and that you’re taking me as a poor second.”
“If your pride is suffering, put it to rest,” Powers said. “As I am sure Mr. Grago told you, what we might have done is of no consequence. The fact is, your tactics are much like Silver’s. This plan of yours is daring enough and dangerous enough to have been conceived by him. Are you sure it wasn’t?”
“Silver told me almost nothing,” Nathan replied. “Now that I’m neck-deep in this, I wish he had told me what he had in mind.”
“When this is over,” Powers said, “assuming that you survive, you will have earned the right to ask him what he might have done. For the next few hours, however, I’d suggest you free your mind of everything except what lies ahead.”
The packet had drawn up several hundred yards above the Natchez landing, near a series of warehouses. It would appear as a dark hulk by the time the Queen of Diamonds arrived, for there would be no moon. Somewhere in the nearby town—probably in a courthouse tower on the square—was a clock, and a light breeze carried the sound of it each time it struck the hour. When it struck ten, Grago, Powers, and Tolliver joined Nathan for a final briefing.
“The Queen will head in to the landing to take on wood,” Nathan said, “and while she’s at rest, I’m going aboard. Once they’ve passed us, let down the dinghy. While they’re on the move, the undertow from that paddlewheel could swallow me like the whale took Jonah. When they leave Natchez, stay far enough behind so they can’t see you, but close enough for you to see me. Once I free those women and get them over the side, don’t waste any time in getting them aboard. I can’t make my move until you challenge Stumberg, and if I’m discovered before your challenge, the varmint will escape and I’ll be dead. Now is there anything we’ve forgotten?”
“Maybe,” said Captain Tolliver. “Suppose some of those captive women you’ll be shoving over the side can’t swim?”
“My God,” Nathan said, “I don’t know. Suppose I roped the dinghy to the Queen’s rail, and let the captives down into it?”
“For one thing,” said Grago, “if there’s more than a dozen, there won’t be room. But what choice do we have?”
“None,” Powers said. “Stone, you’ll have to secure the dinghy and assist those women in getting aboard it. It’s going to double your risk, because it will require some time. We can’t challenge the vessel until those hostages are clear of it, and we don’t know for sure how many there’ll be.”
“There’s sixteen cabins,” Nathan said, “and there could be two women in each of them. Damn it, Powers, your people had Stumberg watched while he and the Queen were in St. Louis. Why don’t you know how many women are aboard?”
“Because these women were taken aboard against their will,” said Powers, “and they were loaded somewhere south of St. Louis. Stumberg hired attractive women to entertain men in his gambling houses, and these voluntarily left St. Louise aboard the Queen of Diamonds. Those who were victims of the white slavery trade were never taken aboard at the same place, and that’s why it’s been damn near impossible to catch Stumberg with the goods. Are you satisfied?”
“No,” Nathan said, “but there’s nothin’ I can do about it. See that I’ve got plenty of rope to secure the dinghy once I’m aboard the Queen, and I want forty feet of the heaviest line you have. If these poor souls have to climb down a rope, make it heavy enough for them to get a grip on it. I’ll do my best to get them over the side and into the dinghy, if possible. From there on, it’s up to you hombres. I may not hear you after you’ve challenged the Queen of Diamonds. When Stumberg defies your challenge, fire one shot from a Winchester. That will signal me to light the fuse to the powder and get the hell out of there. Are we together on that?”
“Yes,” Powers said. “I will issue the challenge, and Mr. Grago, you will fire the warning shot.”
They seemed capable enough. Nathan felt he should have more confidence in them than he did, but jagged slivers of doubt flickered like lightning on the distant horizons of his mind. Mentally he tried to picture the lower deck of the Queen of Diamonds and the distance from the captive cabins to the trailing dinghy. Would he have a flock of hysterical females on his hands as he sought to elude discovery by the men feeding the fireboxes on the forward deck? His train of thought was derailed by the excited voice of Captain Tolliver.
“Yonder she comes!”
With a blast of her whistle, running lights aglow, the Queen of Diamonds swept in to the landing.
“The dinghy’s in the water,” Captain Powers announced. “When you are ready, Stone, we’ll let you down and lower the canister of powder.”
“I’m ready,” Nathan said. “Let’s go.”
Backwash from the larger craft lapped water against the hull of the packet as Nathan let himself down toward the bobbing dinghy below. He clung to the rope until he gained his balance in the dinghy. Powers then dropped the heavy rope that Nathan had used in his descent, and Nathan coiled it. Next came the canister of powder. The long fuse had been coiled and tied. When Nathan had the canister safely in the dinghy, Powers spoke softly.
“You have heavy rope, powder canister, and fuse. Do you have matches?”
“Yes,” Nathan replied, “and I’m ready with the oars. Release the dinghy.”
The little craft was caught up and pulled away into the darkness ...