Belle. She means business, and Major
Pierson is certainly directing things on board of her. We can't stand
that any longer. But she wasted her powder that time, and we must do
better than that. What do you intend to do, Christy?"

"I mean to come about, and take a course between the Belle and the
Dauphine: that is the most hopeful thing I can think of," replied
Christy, after another careful survey of the positions of the enemy.

"I think you are right."

"We will come about, then;" and Christy threw over the wheel.

"That will bring our gun where we can use it; and we shall have a better
chance at the Belle than she has at us, for she is larger, and has a
crowd of men on her main deck," added Captain Pecklar, as he went to the
ladder.

"If you are not afraid of those shots, I am not," said Percy, coming
into the pilot-house again; and he was evidently ashamed of himself when
he saw a fellow younger than himself taking no notice of them.

"I don't pretend to like them, or that I am not afraid of them; but I
shall do my duty in spite of them," replied Christy. "I should be
ashamed to meet my father, if I ever see him again, if I gave up the
fight, and allowed myself to be kept as a prisoner."

"I want to get away from here as much as you do; and I will take the
wheel again, if you will let me," continued Percy.

"I don't ask you to expose yourself; but, if you take the helm, you must
stick to it till you are relieved. We have no time to fool with you."

"I will stick to it, Christy."

"Very well, then you shall take it; but if you desert your post again,
I will shoot you the first time I set eyes on you."

"That is rough."

"If you think it is, don't take the helm."

"I will take it, for I had rather be shot by those in the other steamers
than by you."

"I am going below to help Captain Pecklar; but the moment the tug goes
wrong, I shall send a ball from my revolver up into the pilot-house."

"I understand you, and it looks as though we were getting into a hot
place. I will do my duty as well as I know how. Now tell me how I am to
steer."

"Run for that point you see far off to the northward."

Christy went to the main deck forward, where he found Captain Pecklar
getting the field-piece ready for use. The Belle was now quite near on
the one hand, while the Dauphine was hardly farther off on the other
hand. The Bellevite was coming down from the north-east, with the lead
still going in her chains. The