enough to
give her a foot under her keel.

"It don't look very hopeful," said Captain Passford, as he joined the
commander at the door of the engine-room.

"Oh, I think we shall be all right now!" replied Captain Breaker very
cheerfully. "I have found where the shoal is now, and I know where to
find deeper water.--Keep her going astern, Mr. Vapoor."

"A boat from the fort, sir," reported a messenger, who had been sent aft
by the second officer on the forecastle.

"That looks like an inquiry into our business here," added the owner.

"Now we are all right," said the commander, who was watching the
position of the vessel very carefully. "I must go to the wheel, and look
out for the course myself."

Again the Bellevite went ahead; and she soon reached a point half way
between the two forts, and her speed was reduced to not more than three
knots. But the tug was approaching, and the worst part of the channel
was still to be attempted. The two men in the chains reported the depth
as rapidly as they could heave the lead, and it was soon evident that
the steamer could not pass the extensive bar to the westward of the
ship-channel.

"Steamer ahoy!" shouted the captain of the tug, as he stopped his screw
within hailing-distance of the Bellevite.

"Reply to that hail, Mr. Percy," said the commander to the young
gentleman in uniform. "You must do all the talking."

"I shall be very happy to do it, and I think I can do it to your
satisfaction," replied Percy confidently.

"Jump up on the rail nearest to the tug, where you can see and hear."

"I am not much of a sailor, Captain Breaker, and I don't pretend to be
one," added Percy. "What shall I say to the captain of that boat?"

"On board of the tug!" shouted the agent of his father, after the
commander had instructed him in regard to his speech.

"What steamer is that?" demanded the master of the tug.

Captain Breaker instructed him in what manner to make his reply, though
he did not tell him what to say. The young man was to explain the
character of the vessel as he understood it; and neither the commander
nor the owner was disposed to indulge in any unnecessary strategetical
falsehood, though they felt that they could do so in the service of the
Union.

"The Bellevite from Nassau," replied Percy.

"Is she a Federal vessel?" inquired the captain of the tug with the
greatest simplicity.

"A Federal vessel!" exclaimed Percy, evidently expressing by his manner