if he is willing to part with her," added Percy, as his
companion began to move off.

"That is just what the owner of that steamer wants to do: he desires to
part with her, and he is determined to get rid of her. I have the means
of knowing that he will let her go just as soon as he can possibly get
rid of her."

"Then he is the man my father wants to see; that is, if the vessel is
what she appears to be, for no one is allowed to go on board of her."

"I am sorry to tear myself away from you, but positively I must go now;
for the Chinese admiral will get very impatient if I am not on time, and
I have some important business with him before dinner," said Christy, as
he increased his pace and got away from Mr. Percy Pierson, though he was
afraid he would follow him.

But he did not; instead of doing so, he began to talk with a boatman who
had some kind of a craft at the landing. Christy was not in so much of a
hurry as he had appeared to be, and he waited in the vicinity till he
saw his Southern friend embark in a boat which headed for the Bellevite.
He concluded that his communicative friend meant to go on board of her,
thinking the vessel was for sale.

CHAPTER VII

A COMPLICATION AT GLENFIELD

The boat in which Christy had come on shore carried off to the steamer
the last load of supplies, and she sailed in the middle of the
afternoon. Captain Passford and Christy were standing on the quarter
deck together; and, as the latter had not had time to tell his father
his adventure before, he was now relating it.

The captain was amused with the story, and told his son that he had been
approached by a gentleman who said his name was Pierson, and he was
probably the father of the enterprising young man who had been so
zealous to assist in the purchase of a suitable vessel for the service
of the Confederates.

"Let me alone! Take you hands off of me!" shouted a voice that sounded
rather familiar to Christy, as he and his father were still talking on
the deck. "Let me alone! I am a Southern gentleman!"

"I know you are," replied Mr. Dashington, as he appeared on deck, coming
up from the companionway that led to the cabin and ward-room, holding by
the collar a young man who was struggling to escape from his strong
grasp. "Don't make a fuss, my hearty: I want to introduce you to the
captain."

"What have you got there, Mr. Dashington?" asked Captain Breaker, who
was standing near the owner.

"I have got a