ing to start the boat now; and if I
can do nothing more, I can show myself to my father on board of the
Bellevite."

"I am glad to hear it. I intended to do something, though I hardly knew
what, as soon as I was sure that the major and his men had gone," added
Captain Pecklar. "I can take the wheel now."

"Percy Pierson takes a great deal of interest in his new occupation,
and I think it will be best to let him occupy his mind in that way. He
steered the tug for some time, while I was ascertaining what was going
on in this part of the boat."

"Just as you think best, Mr. Passford."

"Call me Christy, for that will sound more natural to me."

"As you please, Christy. I am competent to run an engine, and did it
once for a couple of years, though the business does not agree with me."

"Very well, Captain Pecklar; then you shall run the engine, and I will
keep the run of what is going on around us," said Christy, as he walked
towards the stern of the tug. "There is a new danger off in the
north-west."

"What's that?" asked the captain.

"There is another steamer coming in this direction, and I suppose she
hails from Mobile. There she is."

Christy was somewhat disturbed to find that the approaching steamer was
overhauling the tug very rapidly. It looked as though she would prove to
be a more important factor in the immediate future than he had supposed.
If he could only get on board of the Bellevite, he was sure that she
could run away from any thing that floated. But there was not another
moment to be lost, and he hastened on deck to have the Leopard started.
He found Percy still engaged with his problems in steering, going
through all the forms as though the boat were actually under way.

"Now you may do it in earnest, Percy," said he. "We are all ready to go
ahead. Strike your gong."

"It will be no use to strike it while you are up here," replied the
pilot, looking at Christy with interest.

"We have not a second to spare; strike your gong, and we will talk about
it afterwards," continued Christy impatiently.

"But I am not a fool, Christy, and I don't"--

"But I do!" interposed the acting captain sharply, as he reached over
and pulled the bell.

"I don't like to have a fellow fool with me when I am in earnest. What
good will it do to ring the bell while you are in the pilot-house,
Christy?"

But before the captain could answer the question, if he intended to do
so, the boat began to shake under the