continued Major Pierson. "I find her in charge of
my brother, in the absence of any letter from my father or other
Confederate agent. I humbly apologize for the rudeness of which I was
guilty, though I assure you I have had abundant provocation for it."

"That is a family affair with which we have nothing to do beyond the
proper protection of the young agent in charge of the steamer."

"I wish to say that I am entirely satisfied, Captain Passford, and I am
heartily delighted to learn that you are about to make your residence in
this section of the country," said the major, who seemed to have assured
himself on this point without much assistance from those most deeply
concerned.

The owner looked at him, and tried to ascertain what was passing in
his mind; and it was not a very difficult enterprise to accomplish his
purpose. The hint he had received about the frequent visits of Major
Pierson at Glenfield seemed to explain the present operations of his
mind. Florry Passford was a beautiful young lady of eighteen, and any
young man of twenty-six could easily have been excused for making his
visits very often at the mansion in which she resided.

Though the fond father was not disposed to interfere unnecessarily with
the choice of his daughter, even the hint that she might be entangled
more than a thousand miles from her home had given him a positive shock.
Now that he had seen the young man, and observed his conduct on board of
the Bellevite, he most earnestly hoped that she was not in any degree
committed to him. He had an additional inducement to get her away from
the home of his brother, and the thought of it nerved him to increased
exertion. What he had seen of the commander of Fort Gaines, though he
appeared to be a faithful, patriotic, and energetic young man, as he
understood his duty to his country, assuredly he was not the person he
would have chosen for Florry. But his brother could tell him more about
it, and how far the matter had gone, when he saw him.

By the time Captain Passford had settled his conclusions as far as he
could, the tug came up to the steamer, towing the boat from the fort,
Percy felt that he had won a victory over his brother, and a Bantam
rooster could not have made a wider spread on the deck. He seemed to
feel that he was in command of the steamer, though he did not venture
to interfere with any thing on board.

"I am very sorry to have given you any annoyance, Captain Passford,"
said