in the service
of the forts; and if you don't want to join the army with Percy, perhaps
I can obtain the appointment for you, especially as you are hardly old
enough to go into the ranks. We will see about that."

"We will leave all that open for future action, if you please, Major
Pierson," replied Christy, as he rang the bell for the steamer to go
ahead.

The major watched him with the most intense interest, as though he
feared that the young man would prove to be a failure as a steamboat
captain. But the steamer went ahead at the sound of the bell, and in
a minute or two Christy had her on her course in the direction of the
approaching boat. He examined the chart very carefully, and satisfied
himself that there was water enough for the tug anywhere outside the
headlands which projected into the hay.

The Leopard held her course as steadily as though the sick captain were
still at the wheel; and the major was entirely satisfied with the
qualifications of the new master, after he had watched him for a while.

"Spottswood, how is the captain?" called the major from the pilot-house.

"Just the same: he don't seem to be any better," replied the sergeant.

"He ought to have a doctor; for the poor fellow may die here, away from
any proper attendance," said the major, with more feeling than the new
captain supposed he possessed.

"There is a very skilful surgeon on board of the Bellevite," suggested
Christy. "Dr. Linscott served in the army in Mexico, and had a large
practice in New York."

"Then he shall see Pecklar. Dr. Linscott is just the sort of a surgeon
we want in our army; and I suppose he would not be on board of the
Bellevite if he was not of our way of thinking," added the major.

Christy knew he was nothing but a Union man, and not of the way of
thinking which the soldier suggested: so he said nothing. The Leopard
was a faster tug than the one which had come off from Fort Gaines, and
she came up with the boat which contained Lieutenant Dallberg and his
two men, the latter of whom were nearly exhausted with the long pull
they had taken; for, as they were not sailors, they did not row to the
best advantage.

The new captain rang the bell to stop her, as soon as the boat came
near, and the party came on board. The two men seated themselves on the
rail as though they never intended to do another stroke of work, for
they had been using the oars most of the time since the evening before.

"Come up here, Da