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"You will see that the pilot is paid his full fee for taking the vessel to a wharf," continued Captain Passford. The captain bowed, and started towards the companionway; but the owner called him back. "I see what looks like a tug to the westward of us. You will set the signal to bring her alongside," the magnate proceeded.
The vessels of the Eastern Gulf squadron were employed to a considerable extent in destroying salt works on the west coast of Florida; but the commodore was not disposed to order the fleet little gunboat upon such service. "Is the Bronx in condition for immediate service, Captain Passford?" asked the flag-officer.
"Then this business will soon be settled," added Christy. "Perhaps not; the government official, with authority to act, is in New York. I shall see him at once. I have no doubt the detectives have already reported that the Ionian has moved down the river," said Captain Passford, as the tug came up to a pier, where father and son landed.
"I think I have told you the whole story, Major Pierson," said Lieutenant Dallberg with another prodigious yawn. "Then Captain Passford and his daughter are now on board of the steamer," added the major; though he seemed to be musing on the fact, rather than saying it to his companion. "There can be no doubt of that," replied the other.
The captain was not on the quarter-deck, but the first lieutenant was planking the deck for his morning "constitutional." "Good-morning, Mr. Birdwing," said Christy. "Good-morning, Mr. Passford; I hope you are very well this morning," replied the executive officer. "Quite well, I thank you, sir.
"If I did, you did not pick them up." "I am not going to banter with you, Passford. Where are your orders?" demanded the first lieutenant in a tyrannical manner. "They are in my pocket," replied Corny sourly. "Hand them over to me, and let us have no more fooling." "I will take care of the orders myself." "What! Are you not going to give them to me?" demanded Mr.
"Colonel Homer Passford is the name by which he is often called near his residence," Percy explained. "He is the nearest neighbor of my father, Colonel Richard Pierson." "Indeed! then you probably know my brother," said Captain Passford, interested in spite of himself. "As well as I know any gentleman in the State of Alabama," replied Percy.
"Then the expression of my honest opinion, which is also the opinion of every other officer in the ship, is chaffing you," retorted the engineer. "I am satisfied; and I am sorry I said a word," added the subject of all these remarks. "It is a very important and responsible situation to which you are ordered, Mr. Passford," said Captain Blowitt, putting on his dignity again.
"I quite agree with you, Captain Passford. I should have done the same thing myself if the opportunity had been presented to me," the guest hastened to say. "But that does not in the least degree relieve me from the consequences of my own negligence. When you are more at leisure, I hope you will permit me to make an explanation of the situation in which I was placed."
"If the Dornoch cripples you, and then takes her own time to knock the Chateaugay to pieces, it will amount to the sacrifice of many lives," suggested the unattached officer. "I should be very glad to have your opinion, Mr. Passford," added the commander. "I certainly do not desire to thrust my opinion upon you, Captain Chantor; but as you have asked for it, I will express myself freely."
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