t had been used by the lieutenant and his two
men. It was a large and clumsy affair, big enough to hold a dozen men,
and provided with four oars. But the Leopard was in the trough of the
sea, and it was not an easy matter for the soldiers to handle it; and
just then the major declared that the boat would be smashed against the
side of the tug.

"Major Pierson, this steamer has stopped without any bell from the
pilot-house, and I have been unable to start her again," said Christy,
hailing the commander of the fort.

"All right, Mr. Passford: I told the engineer to stop her," replied
the major, who appeared to be in a hurry, though he could not make the
long-boat work as he desired. "Oblige me by remaining in the pilot-house
for the present, and keep a sharp lookout for the Bellevite."

"Certainly, Major Pierson, if you desire it; but permit me to suggest
that you will not be able to do any thing with that boat while the tug
remains in the trough of the sea," replied Christy, who was more afraid
that the major would not carry out his plan than that he would do so.

"I don't see that it can be helped, though I am no sailor," replied the
commandant, looking up with interest to the acting captain. "For reasons
of my own, which I cannot stop to explain, I don't wish to take this tug
any nearer to the Bellevite; and I am going off in the boat after Dr.
Linscott. But it looks now as though the boat would be smashed in
pieces."

"I should say that it would be," added Christy. "If you will start the
engine again, I think I can help you out of this difficulty."

"How do you expect to do it?" asked the major, who seemed to be
incredulous on the point.

"If you will let me get the tug out of the trough of the sea, you can
easily haul the boat up on the lee side of her," Christy explained. "The
steamer will shelter the water on that side of her."

"Spikeley!" called the major, in a loud voice; and the engineer came out
of his den. "Start her up now."

"Run her at about half speed, major," and the commandant repeated his
direction to the engineer.

Christy retreated to the pilot-house, and threw over the wheel of the
boat; so that, when the screw began to turn, the bow of the tug soon
headed to the southward, which gave her the wind ahead. Then he brought
her so that the water was comparatively smooth on her port quarter,
where the long-boat was.

Without the loss of a moment, the major drove all his men into the boat,
a