s she reached her destination. Christy had suddenly
become the active agent of his father, and he was the first to be sent
on shore to obtain information in regard to the guns and ammunition, for
it was thought that he would excite less suspicion than any other on
board.

CHAPTER VI

MR. PERCY PIERSON INTRODUCES HIMSELF

Christy procured the desired information on shore; and being but a boy,
he obtained no credit for the head he carried on his shoulders, so that
no attention was given to him when he made his investigation. At the
proper time Captain Passford appeared; but, as the guns and other war
material were intended for the other side in the conflict, he was
obliged to resort to a little strategy to obtain them.

But they were obtained, and the Bellevite was as fully armed and
prepared for an emergency as though she had been in the employ of the
Government, as it was intended that she should be when her present
mission was accomplished. During her stay at St. George, such changes
as were necessary to adapt the vessel to her enterprise--such as the
fitting up of a magazine--were completed, and the steamer sailed.

After a quick passage, the Bellevite arrived at New Providence, Nassau,
where she put in to obtain some needed supplies, as it was directly on
her course. Already there was not a little activity at the principal
foreign ports nearest to the Southern States, created by the hurried
operations of speculators anxious to profit by the war that was to come;
and later these harbors were the refuge of the blockade-runners.

The arrival of the Bellevite at New Providence created not a little
excitement among the Confederate sympathizers who had hastened there to
take advantage of the maritime situation, and to procure vessels for the
use of the South in the struggle. The steamer was painted black, and, as
she had been built after plans suggested by her owner, she was peculiar
in her construction to some extent, and her appearance baffled the
curiosity of the active Confederate patriots and speculators alike; for
both classes were represented there, though not yet in large numbers.

Captain Passford had instructed the commander to conceal all the facts
in regard to her, and no flag or any thing else which could betray her
nationality or character was allowed to be seen. The business of
obtaining the needed stores required many of the officers and men to go
on shore, but all of them were instructed to