will attend to that matter."

Captain Breaker called Mr. Joel Dashington, the first officer, to him,
and gave him the course of the ship, as indicated by the owner. He was
six feet and one inch in height, and as thin as a rail; but he was a
very wiry man, and it was said that he could stand more hunger, thirst,
exposure, and hardship than any other living man. He was a gentleman in
his manners, and had formerly been in command of a ship in the employ of
Captain Passford. He was not quite fifty years old, and he had seen
service in all parts of the world, and in his younger days had been a
master's mate in the navy.

The second officer was superintending the crew as they put things to
rights for the voyage. His person was in striking contrast with his
superior officer; for he weighed over two hundred pounds, and looked as
though he were better fitted for the occupancy of an alderman's chair
than for a position on the deck of a sea-going vessel. He was under
forty years of age, but he had also been in command of a bark in the
employ of his present owner.

"Of course we cannot undertake the difficult enterprise before us,
Breaker, without an armament of some sort," said Captain Passford, as
they halted at the companionway.

"I should say not, and I was wondering how you intended to manage in
this matter," replied the commander.

"I will tell you, for our first mission renders it necessary to give
some further orders before we go below," continued the owner. "We have
not a day or an hour to waste."

"The sooner we get at the main object of the expedition, the better will
be our chances of success."

"You remember that English brig which was wrecked on Mills Breaker,
while we were at Hamilton?"

"Very well indeed; and she was said to be loaded with a cargo of
improved guns, with the ammunition for them, which some enterprising
Britisher had brought over on speculation, for the use of the
Confederate army and navy,--if they ever have any navy," added Captain
Breaker.

"That is precisely the cargo to which I allude. The brig had a hole in
her bottom, but only a part of her was under water. The officers of the
vessel were confident that the entire cargo would be saved, with not
much of it in a damaged condition," added the owner.

"There has been no violent storm since we left St. George, hardly three
days ago," said the commander.

"I wish to obtain as much of this cargo as will be necessary to arm the
Bellevit