as the wind holds where it is."

"I have been expecting to be buried in fog," added the captain, as he
took a survey of the deck beneath him. "I see by the log slate that we
are making fifteen knots an hour, and we certainly are not driving her."

"There can be no doubt that this is a very fast vessel," said Mr.
Lillyworth. "Well, she ought to be, for I understand that she was built
for a nobleman's yacht, and such men want speed, and are willing to pay
for it."

"By tomorrow, we shall be in the latitude of the Bermudas, and most of
the blockade runners put in there, or some more southern port, to get
the news, and obtain a pilot, if they don't happen to have one on
board."

"That seems to be the way they do it."

"This fog is favorable to blockade runners if they have a skilful pilot
on board; and they all contrive to have such a one," added the captain,
as he moved towards the steps to the deck.

"I suppose you have opened your sealed orders, Captain Passford," said
the second lieutenant, who seemed to be interested in this subject. "We
have crossed the thirty-eighth parallel."

"Yes; I have opened the envelope, and found the orders very peculiar
and very disappointing," replied the captain as he took a step on the
ladder. "But you will excuse me now from speaking of them, for I have
another matter on my mind."

Christy thought Pink Mulgrum might as well tell him about the orders and
he could at least save his breath if he had no other motive for leaving
the second lieutenant in the dark for the present. He went to the deck,
and then down into the cabin. His breakfast was ready, but Dave was not
there, and he walked forward into the ward room, from which he saw
Mulgrum replenishing the table in the steerage. He had evacuated his
place under the berth in the state room, and the captain went to his
breakfast in his cabin. Dave soon appeared with the hot dishes from the
galley, for he had seen Christy take his place at the table.

"What's the news, Dave?" asked the captain.

"No news, sir, except that I gave Pink a chance to get out of that state
room," replied the steward, spreading out his broadest smile. "I spoke
out loud just like I was calling to some one in the ward room, 'No, sir,
I can't go now; I have to go to the galley for the dishes.' Then I left
the cabin, and went forward; when I came back, I looked under your
berth, sir, and Pink wasn't there then."

"How did you know he was under the berth in