officer in the navy,
and she had been fully schooled in the lesson of patriotism for such an
emergency as the present. She was sad, and many a tear dropped from her
still handsome face; but she was brave enough to feel proud that she had
a husband and a son whom she was willing to give to her country.

The ship's company gathered on the forecastle; and every one of them
seemed to be deeply impressed with the solemnity of the occasion, for
not a light word was spoken, not a laugh played on any face. They had
just learned that the country was in a state of war; and the present
occasion indicated that the owner had some serious question in his mind,
which was now to be presented to them.

The Bellevite was heavily manned for a yacht; but every person had been
selected for his position, from the highest to the lowest, with the
utmost care by Captain Breaker, assisted by the owner. Every one of them
had been attached to the steamer for at least a year, and some of them
for a longer period. All of them were personally known to the owner and
the members of the family, who had taken the greatest pleasure in
improving and assisting them and their families, if they had any.

They were all devoted to the owner and the members of his family, who
had taken such a strong personal interest in them and theirs. Many
instances of the kindness of the lady in times of sickness and death,
as well as in the brighter days of prosperity and happiness, could be
related; and in return for all this generous and considerate treatment,
there was not a man on board who would not have laid down his life for
the family.

It was certainly a model ship's company; and if there had ever been
another owner and captain like those of the Bellevite, there might also
have been such another collection of officers and seamen. But every one
of them had been selected for his moral character, not less than for his
nautical skill and knowledge. In fact, the personal history of any one
of them would have been interesting to the general reader.

These men composed the audience of Captain Passford when he took his
place at the bowsprit bitts; and, if the occasion had been less solemn,
they would have cheered him, as they were in the habit of doing on every
suitable opportunity, and even when it was not suitable.

The owner prefaced his remarks with a statement of the events which
had occurred in the country since the last dates they had received, and
then procee