me to the verge of the channel, and Christy
directed the bowman to stand by with the lead, with which the boat was
provided. The first heaving gave three and a half fathoms, and it
gradually decreased at each report, till only two fathoms and a quarter
was indicated, when the boat was between the two keys, the southern of
which Quimp called the long key, simply because that was the longest in
the bay, and not because it was a proper name.

"Now, Massa Ossifer, look sharp ober on de starboard side," said the
negro.

"I don't see anything," replied Christy.

"No, sar, not yet; but look ober dat way, and you see somet'ing fo' yore
t'ree minutes older, massa."

Christy fixed his gaze on the point of the long key, beyond which Quimp
intimated that the steamer would be seen.

"Now, Massa Ossifer, fo' yore two minutes nearer glory, you'll see de
end ob de bowsprit ob de Reindeer," added Quimp, who was beginning to be
somewhat excited, possibly in expectation of receiving his ten dollars;
and perhaps he was regretting that he had not demanded twenty.

"How big is that steamer, Quimp?" asked the officer of the cutter.

"Fo' hund'ed tons, massa; dat's what Cap'n Stopfoot done say, kase I
never done measure her. He done say she is very flat on her bottom, and
don't draw much water for her size," replied the negro. "Dar's de end ob
de bowsprit, massa!" he exclaimed at this moment.

"Way enough, cockswain!" said Christy sharply. "Stern all!"

The headway of the cutter was promptly checked, and she was set back a
couple of lengths, when the order was given to the crew to lay on their
oars.

"W'at's the matter, Massa Ossifer? Arn't you gwine no furder?" asked
Quimp.

"I have seen enough of the Reindeer to satisfy me that she is there; and
I have stopped the boat to give you a chance to make your escape,"
replied Christy. "I don't want you to lose your head for the service you
have rendered to me."

"Dis nigger can't get away from here, massa," replied the boatman,
looking about him. "A feller can't swim a mile when de water's full ob
alligators. Dem varmints like niggers to eat jus' as well as dey do
white men."

Christy had his doubts about there being alligators of a dangerous size
in the bay, though he had seen small ones in other bays of the coast;
but he was willing to admit that Quimp knew better about the matter than
he did. It was a hard swim to any other key than the long one, to which
the cutter was quite ne