which was apparently half a mile wide, had a bend some distance from the
wharf, so that he could not see any farther; but he had no difficulty in
coming to the conclusion that the water was an arm of the bay.

On board of the Leopard, for the name was on the front of the
pilot-house, he could see only two men, one of whom came out of the
engine-room; and he judged that they were the pilot and engineer.
Doubtless the former was also the captain of the craft.

While one of the two men seated himself on the rail, the other came on
shore. He was a man of very small stature, and looked as though his
health was very poor. Indeed, his step was quite feeble, and he seemed
to have hardly strength enough to handle his frame. As the tug had just
come in, doubtless he had been on duty the whole or a portion of the
night, which may have explained his exhausted condition.

"Good-morning, Captain Pecklar," said the sentinel on duty at the wharf.

"Good morning, Tubbs. Where is Major Pierson?" asked the captain of the
Leopard, in a very faint voice.

"He is still asleep, and he has his bed at the foot of that tree
yonder," replied the sentinel, pointing at it. "How do you find yourself
this morning? Any better?"

"About the same; I am about used up for this world," replied Captain
Pecklar, continuing his painful walk towards the tree indicated.

"Is that the captain of the Leopard?" asked Christy.

"Yes, poor fellow! He came down here two years ago from somewhere North,
almost gone in consumption. He got a little better; but he is worse
again, and I don't believe he will last much longer," replied the
sentry.

"Has he been out all night on the steamer?" inquired Christy, who felt
that it was his duty to obtain all the information he could in regard to
this steamer, as it was in the service of the commander of Fort Gaines.

"I don't know where he has been; but I suppose he has been on duty all
night, and that don't agree with him at all. We came up here yesterday
afternoon--Well, never mind what we have been about. I forgot that you
were a prisoner; and you may be a Yankee, for aught I know."

Before Christy had time to make any reply, the sentinel walked away, and
the major was seen coming from his bed with Captain Pecklar. They went
to the wharf together, where they seated themselves on a box which lay
there. The prisoner turned away from them; and the major took no notice
of him, and did not appear to see him, or he would