ry thing
ready for a hurried movement at once, for there was but little hope of
satisfying a man as unreasonable as the commander of the fort had proved
himself to be in his dealing with his brother.

The captain of the steamer went to Mr. Vapoor, who was standing near the
door of the engine-room, and said something to him, which soon produced
a lively effect among the coal-passers below.

"I will attend to your case in a few minutes, Percy, for I do not allow
any one to be impudent to me," growled the major.

"Nor I either. If you put a finger on me, I will put a bullet through
your head, if you are my brother!" yelled Percy, as he took a small
revolver from his hip-pocket.

This demonstration increased the anger of Lindley; and he ran up the
steps to the rail again, where he called upon two soldiers to come on
deck. At the same moment, Captain Breaker, as instructed by the owner,
rang the bell on the quarter, and the engine began to move again. Before
the men from the boat could leave it, the steamer was moving, and it was
no longer possible for them to obey the order.

"What are you about, sir?" demanded Major Pierson, rushing to the
commander, not a little excited by what had been done.

"I think this thing has gone about far enough, sir," replied Captain
Breaker, as calmly as though there had not been a ripple on the surface
of affairs.

"But I came on board of this steamer to make an examination of the
character of the vessel," protested the major, who evidently did not
like the present aspect of the situation.

"I have waited for you to do so; but I do not care to lose the tide
while you are quarrelling with your brother, sir," added the commander.

"But I order you to stop, sir!" continued the major.

"What am I to do, Mr. Percy?" asked Captain Breaker, addressing the
young man with a revolver in his hand.

There was something on the part of the commander which indicated that
he was playing a part, as were all on board, though he seemed to be
a little amused to find that he was taking his orders from a boy of
eighteen. At the same time he nodded his head slightly, though very
significantly, to the young agent.

"Go ahead just as fast as you can make the steamer travel, Captain
Breaker," said Percy, with as much energy as though he had been in
command of a Confederate fleet.

"Certainly, Mr. Percy; I shall obey your order, as you have charge of
the vessel," added the commander.

This passage bet