ent to do such a thing,
when the approach to the Bellevite could be made so much more rapidly
and safely in the tug.

There must be a motive for such a singular step. Of course the passage
of the boat had been closely observed, and the starting up of the screw
of the Leopard had been duly noted. As the tug came near the long-boat,
the latter had fired upon it. This must have been seen; and the question
naturally would come up as to why those in the boat fired upon their own
people in the Leopard.

It was not likely that they could answer the question in a satisfactory
manner on board of the Bellevite; but the firing indicated that an
enemy was in possession of the tug. This was enough, in the opinion
of Christy, as it had been in that of Captain Pecklar, to produce the
change in her course.

The firing from both craft since the first demonstration must have
deepened the impression. Those on board of the Leopard must be on the
side of the Union, or the party in the boat would not repeatedly fire
upon them. Christy was satisfied that his father would know what all the
indications meant before he abandoned the investigation.

But the Bellevite did not seem to be making her best speed by a
great deal. With his glass he could see that there was a hand in the
fore-chains heaving the lead; and probably Captain Breaker feared that
the bottom "might be too near the top of the water" for the draught of
his vessel, and he was proceeding with caution.

Christy descended the ladder to the main-deck. He found Captain Pecklar
in the fire-room, shovelling coal into the furnace. He seemed to be
again nearly exhausted by the efforts he had made during the morning;
and Christy took the shovel from him, and did the work himself.

"You must not kill yourself, Captain Pecklar. This is too hard work for
you," said Christy.

"If I can only get out of this scrape, it will not make much difference
what becomes of me," replied the invalid faintly.

"I will do this work myself. Don't you touch that shovel again."

"But things are looking very badly indeed for us, Christy," said the
captain, bracing himself up as if for a renewed effort. "The Belle is
almost up with the boat, and she will take Major Pierson and his party
on board; and she is nearer to us than the Bellevite."

"Is that so? I have not looked astern for some time," replied Christy,
rather startled by the information.

"The Bellevite is not sailing as fast as she has some