neers, and coal-passers of the steamer were gathered in knots,
evidently discussing the situation; for the news brought on board by
the pilot had been spread through the ship.

Captain Passford hardly noticed the announcement made to him by the
commander, that the tug was alongside, for he was not yet ready to make
use of it. Even the wife and the son of the owner wondered what the
mission of the little vessel was to be; but the husband and father had
not yet disclosed his purpose in coming to anchor almost in sight of his
own mansion.

"Why have you come to anchor here, Horatio?" asked Mrs. Passford, taking
advantage of the momentary pause in the interesting, and even exciting,
conversation, to put this leading question.

"I was about to tell you. I have already adopted my plan to recover
Florry, and bring my brother and his family out of the enemy's country,"
replied the owner, looking with some solicitude into the face of his
wife, as though he anticipated some objection to his plan.

"You have adopted it so quick?" inquired the lady. "You have not had
much time to think of it."

"I have had all the time I need to enable me to reach the decision to
rescue my child from peril, and save my brother and his family from
privation and trouble in the enemy's country. But I have only decided
what to do, and I have yet to mature the details of the scheme."

"I hope you are not going into any danger," added the wife anxiously.

"Danger!" exclaimed Captain Passford, straightening up his manly form.
"War with all its perils and hardships is before us. Am I a villain,
a poltroon, who will desert his country in the hour of her greatest
need? I do not so understand myself."

"Of course I meant any needless exposure," added Mrs. Passford,
impressed by the patriotic bearing of her husband.

"You may be assured, Julia, that I will incur no needless peril, and I
think I am even more careful than the average of men. But, when I have
a duty to perform, I feel that I ought to do it without regard to the
danger which may surround it."

"I know you well enough to understand that, Horatio," said the lady.

"I believe there will be danger in my undertaking, though to what extent
I am unable to say."

"But you do not tell me how you intend to recover Florry."

"I intend to go for her and my brother's family in the Bellevite."

"In the Bellevite!" exclaimed the lady.

"Of course; there is no other possible way to reach Glenfiel