the stores were on board, and the tug, casting loose,
began to steam swiftly down the river.

It being Ralph's first experience afloat, the swift, gliding motion and
the noisy engine interested him greatly. The novelty was, in its way,
as exciting as his first car ride.

"What is it makes things go?" he asked of Bludson, who was sprawled
upon a coil of cable, smoking a short black pipe.

"The ingine and the propeller, ye lubber," replied the latter. "Did 'e
think it was wings?"

"But what is a propeller?"

"Ah! The ign'erance of land folks! It do beat all. The
propeller--why the propeller is a propeller, of course. What else did
'e think it were."

"I know, but----"

"Now look here, youngster. Watching is one thing and always wanting to
know is another. Stow your gaff, as I said afore, and use your
peepers."

After this rebuff Ralph asked no more questions of his superior, but he
faithfully obeyed the injunction as to "keeping a bright lookout."

CHAPTER XI.

Aboard the Curlew.

They steamed along between low marshy banks for an hour or two, then
the river began to widen into an irregularly shaped bay. Sundry low
lying islands, covered with strange semi-tropic vegetation, rose up
seaward, and by and by a sound as of muffled thunder could be heard.

As they passed old Fort Pulaski, Ralph ventured to question the pilot
on the roof. This grizzled boatman was gruff, but obliging.

"It's the roar of the breakers, you hear," said he. "That is an old
fort. Good for a siege once--no good now. And yonder--do you see that
low lying, black schooner under the lee of Tybee light?"

"Where?" inquired Ralph, leaning out of the little pilot house window.

The pilot pointed, but it was quite a minute before the boy could
distinguish the vessel. When he did, all his unaccustomed eye could
make out, was a narrow dark line surmounted by a dim tracery of spars
that were barely relieved by the white beach behind.

Still further beyond rose the towering white lighthouse.

"I believe I do see it," he said at length.

"Well, that's the Curlew. She's a daisy on the wind, or for that
matter sailing free either. There ain't a sweeter looking
fore-an-after on this coast."

"Is that Captain Gary's ship?" asked Ralph, for he had not heard the
name of the vessel mentioned before.

"Well, you are an ignoramus. Don't know the name of the craft you're
shipping on."

The old pilot looked disgusted. "Whe