ady seated at the table, waiting for the owner;
and Captain Passford and Christy took places near him. The cabin was as
elegant and luxurious as money and taste could make it. In the large
state-room of the owner there was every thing to make a sea-voyage
comfortable and pleasant to one who had a liking for the ocean.

Leading from the main cabin were the state-rooms of Florence and
Christy. One of the four others was occupied by Dr. Linscott, the
surgeon of the ship, who had had abundant experience in his profession,
who had been an army surgeon in the Mexican war, though his health did
not permit him to practise on shore.

Another was occupied by the chief steward, who was a person of no little
consequence on board; while the others were appropriated to guests when
there were any, as was often the case when the Bellevite made short
voyages.

The trio at the table began the discussion of the subject before them
without delay; but it is not necessary to enter into its details, since,
whatever plans were made, they must still be subject to whatever
contingencies were presented when the time for action came.

Forward of the main cabin was what is called in naval parlance the
ward-room, and it was called by this name on board of the Bellevite. In
this apartment the officers next in rank below the commander took their
meals; and from it opened the state-rooms of the first and second
officers on the starboard-side, with one for the chief engineer on the
port-side, and another for his two assistants next abaft it.

The commander was an old friend of the owner, and messed with him in
the main cabin, though his state-room was a large apartment between the
cabin and the ward-room; the space on the opposite side of the ship
being used for the pantries and the bath-room.

Before the conference in the cabin had proceeded far, the motion of the
steamer, and the creaking of the timbers within her, indicated that
Mr. Vapoor was doing all that could be required of him in the matter of
speed, though the pressure of canvas steadied the vessel in the heavy
sea which the increasing breeze had suddenly produced. Before night, the
wind was blowing a full gale, and some reduction of sail became
necessary.

The Bellevite had the wind fair, and the most that was possible was made
of this accessory to her speed. At one time she actually logged the
twenty-two knots which the chief engineer had suggested as her limit,
and inside of two day