the Leopard in his boat, and there is
no danger here now: so you can come in and take the helm, if you like."

Percy was glad to have something to do, for he was very nervous; and
he came into the pilot-house. He was not half as airy as he had been
before, and the sound of the muskets and the twelve-pounder on the
forward deck had undoubtedly made an impression upon him. But he was as
glad to take the wheel as Christy was to have him, for he desired to
study the situation after all the changes which had been made in the
position of the several vessels.

"You have had an awful time of it, Christy," said Percy, as he took the
wheel. "I wonder that you have not been killed."

"Not a very awful time of it, and I took good care not to be killed,"
replied Christy. "A fellow isn't good for much after he has been killed,
and it is always best to look out and not get killed; though I suppose
one cannot always help it."

"Did you fire the field-piece on the deck below?"

"No, I did not; that was done by Captain Pecklar."

"My brother will have him hanged when he gets hold of him," added Percy,
shaking his head.

"Very likely he will if he gets hold of him, but we don't intend to let
him get hold of him."

Christy left the pilot-house, and went out on the hurricane deck, where
he could better see all that was to be seen, and be alone with his own
thoughts. His first care was to ascertain the position of his most
active enemy, the long-boat. He could see it a short distance astern of
the tug. It had changed its course, and was following the Leopard, which
was now gaining rapidly upon it.

Directly ahead of the tug was the Bellevite, not more than a quarter
of a mile distant; but while she was going off to the north-west, the
Dauphine had kept more to the southward and was now nearer than the
steamer of Captain Passford.

The remark which Captain Pecklar had made when he came partly upon the
hurricane deck, that the Bellevite had changed her course because Major
Pierson had been fool enough to fire at the tug, came up in Christy's
mind again. He had thought of it at the time it was uttered, and several
times since; but he had not had the time to weigh its meaning.

The owner's son knew very well that every incident connected with the
tug, and with the other vessels in sight, had been carefully observed
and weighed by his father and Captain Breaker. They had seen the boat
leave the Leopard. It looked like a stupid movem