steamer was for the use of the Confederacy, and he would have
blown her up rather than admit any thing of the sort.

"It looked to me as though every thing was all right about the steamer,
or I would not have let her pass the fort; and the commander at Fort
Morgan was as well satisfied as I was, after I had explained the
situation to him."

Major Pierson looked at Christy as though he expected him to talk on the
subject before them; but the latter would not say any thing, for he saw
that he was in an extremely delicate position. He made some sort of
answers, but they amounted to nothing.

"I cannot understand why Captain Passford has moved the Bellevite from
the wharf," continued the major.

"I am as much in the dark as you are, sir. I spent the afternoon with my
sister, and my uncle Homer and my father were in the library together
all this time," replied Christy. "I have no idea what they were talking
about. Just at dark, I saw Percy pass the window; and I went out for a
little walk. I was arrested by your men soon after. Not a word had been
said in my hearing about moving the steamer. That is all I know about
the matter, and I am as much surprised as you can be at the change which
has been made."

"I have no doubt that every thing connected with the steamer is all
right. I know that your father is a Northern man, but I am confident
that he will be on the right side in this conflict," added the major.

"He will certainly be on the right side," said Christy; but he had gone
far enough to know that there were two right sides to the question, and
one seemed to him to be as honest, earnest, and resolute as the other.

"We shall soon know something more about it," added the major, evidently
disappointed at not being able to obtain any information from the
owner's son.

The tug went out into the bay, and then changed her course to the
eastward. One of the soldiers went to the galley, and breakfast was
served to the major and his guest in the captain's room; and Percy was
released long enough to take the meal with them. But he was sullen, and
even morose, in view of the fate that awaited him.

"Boat just come round that point," said the captain from the
pilot-house, when the party had returned to the forecastle.

Captain Pecklar seemed to be hardly able to speak; he was so exhausted
by his night watch, and by constant fits of coughing, that he could
hardly make himself heard.

"What boat is it, Pecklar?" asked th