expression of his brother.

"Do I understand that you propose to do this, Homer?" asked Captain
Passford, not a little astonished at the apparent change his brother had
made in his position.

"On a certain condition, which you can easily meet."

"It looks as though you were becoming more reasonable. What is the
condition on which you will do this? For I should certainly prefer to
have no shots fired at the Bellevite while Florry is on board of her."

"As I have said, your word is as good as your bond; and I am willing
to accept the consequences of the step I propose to take, since the
Confederacy will not suffer any loss or detriment on account of it."

"It will not!" exclaimed the captain, beginning to see that he could not
accept the conditions.

"It will not. I could not injure or cheat my country, even to serve my
only brother, greatly as I desire to do all I can for him."

"But what is the condition, Homer?" asked Captain Passford, who had by
this time lost all hope of the plan.

"You shall take Florry to some point,--Bermuda, for instance,--from
which she can obtain passage to New York. Before you go, you shall
give me your simple word that you will return to Mobile Bay with the
Bellevite, and surrender her to the Confederate authorities. I am
entirely willing to accept your promise to do this, without any bond
or other writing."

"Is that all?" asked Horatio, hardly able to contain himself.

"That is all; what more do you desire?"

"Nothing; that is enough. I have already tendered my steamer to the
Government of the United States; do you think me capable of surrendering
my vessel to rebels and traitors, under any possible circumstances?
I would blow her up with all on board of her, before I would do such
a thing. You insult me by proposing such treachery to me. Not another
word about it, if you please!"

Homer returned to his library, and closed the door after him; for the
last remark of the owner of the Bellevite had excited him, and he could
not trust himself to remain any longer in the presence of his Union
brother.

"I am all ready, papa," said Florry, who had opened the door once
before, and found that her father was engaged.

"I cannot find Christy, but I hope he is not far off," added Captain
Passford, as he went into the room, and, to the astonishment of his
daughter, bolted the door after him.

"I did not know the young man he went out to see, but I noticed that he
looked something li