as it was
headed towards her. Christy had examined her with the glass, but he
could see nothing which gave him any idea of what was going on upon her
decks. As Florry was now on board of her, he was satisfied that his
father could only be waiting for him; and he intended to do his best to
report on board some time during the day.

Major Pierson and his little force were gathered under the
hurricane-deck, in the space from which opened the door of the captain's
little cabin. Christy could not see a single one of them from the upper
deck; but he had gone but a few steps aft before he heard the voice of
the major who seemed to be "laying down the law" in a forcible manner to
his men.

"Do you understand me, Spikeley?" demanded the major slowly and loudly,
as though he were talking to a deaf man.

Christy had not heard the name of Spikeley before; but he concluded that
he must be one of the soldiers, probably one of the two who had come on
board with Lieutenant Dallberg.

"I don't think I do," replied the man addressed, in a tone quite as loud
as that of the military officer.

"You are not to start the engine under any circumstances," continued the
major, in a louder tone than before, as if the man had failed to hear
him.

The man addressed as Spikeley must be the engineer then, and not a
soldier, Christy realized at once.

"Don't I mind the bells, Major Pierson?" asked the engineer, whose tones
indicated that he was not a little astonished at the positive order he
had received.

"You will not mind the bells. You will take no notice of them after this
present moment. When I tell you to stop the engine, you will stop it,
not without, no matter how many times the bells ring," said the major
with emphasis.

"I hear you, and I understand now what I am to do," replied Spikeley.

"All right, so far; but do you understand what you are not to do?"
demanded the officer sharply, as though he fully comprehended the
obtuseness of the engineer.

"I reckon I do: I am not to start the engine till you tell me to start
it," answered the dull engineer.

"Not if you don't start it for a month!" added the major sternly.

"But you are going off, Major Pierson," suggested Spikeley. "If that
steamer over yonder looks like she was going to run over the Leopard,
I am not to start the engine to keep her from being sent to the bottom
of the bay?"

"No!" exclaimed the officer.

"All right, major; then you may find me on the bottom