he matter with your brain, Horatio."

"Nothing at all, so far as I am aware, Homer. You seem to think it is a
great undertaking to take my daughter home," added Horatio.

"But it is war in this country, and all along the coast. You will
certainly be captured, and your daughter sent to a prison, at least till
she can be sent home. You have not more than one chance in ten to get to
New York."

"Do you think so?" asked Horatio, smiling.

"If you don't know it, I do, my dear brother, that the Southern
Confederacy has sent out agents to buy up all the suitable vessels they
can find, to do duty as cruisers and privateers. You are almost sure to
be captured, and think what Florry would suffer in such an event."

"You seem to think that the North is going to hold still, and let you do
all this, Homer," added the owner of the Bellevite.

"I don't see how the North can help itself."

"My information is rather meagre; but I am informed that the Government
of the United States has proclaimed the blockade, and even that it is
enforced farther north, as I am sure it will be on the south."

"That is all nonsense, Horatio, and you know it."

"I don't understand it so."

"How is it possible for the Yankee Government to station ships-of-war on
the coast of the Southern States? It is simply impossible," said Homer,
warming up with the argument. "The business of fitting out vessels is
already begun, I read in the newspapers; and it will be pushed to the
utmost."

"I am confident that every Confederate port in the United States will be
invested by one or more vessels within a reasonable time."

"But your steamer will be captured before you can get home, even if you
get out of Mobile Bay."

"I don't apprehend any difficulty on that account. If the Bellevite
can't keep out of the way of any thing that floats, she deserves to be
captured. She will belong to the Government within a few weeks," added
Horatio quietly.

"The Bellevite!" exclaimed Homer.

"The Bellevite, certainly. I should be ashamed to retain her a month
after I knew that the Union needs her, and the Union shall have her as a
free gift," added Horatio, quite as warmly as his brother had spoken.

"You will give your steamer to the Yankee Government!" gasped Homer,
rising from his chair again, and darting across the room, as though he
was both shocked and disgusted at the conduct of Horatio. "You will
allow her to be used in subduing a free people? I am sorry."