On The Blockade

he was confident that he had some good reason for coming. He conducted him at once to his cabin, w

o my office," said he, opening a cable

thought it was a joke of some sort. "Signed 'Warnock.' It looks as though somebody was going to have a dinner, fathe

rove to be indigestible to those for whom it is provided,"

re of his acquaintance, and I don't see why he has taken the trouble

ortance to me, and especially to

he may be, has spent his money in sending you such a mes

Captain Passford, assuming a very serious expression. "You know Warnock, for he has often been at Bonnydale, though not under the name he signs to this message. My three agents, one in the north, one in the south,

and they are all good frie

tis signs himself Bixwell in his letters and cablegrams, and Mr. Wilso

, father; and I suppose the gove

as these men have to transmit in plain English, for there may be spie

the system very well,

d his father, as he took a

erstand it, it i

western continent that can do so. Now, look at the cablegram, Christy," continued Ca

replied th

south of England, as indicated by the fact that the intelligence comes from Warnock. In about a week

and cruised off the Isle of Wight

o that when necessary.

" replied

d three small," explained his fa

ee ve

ship's compa

s that the Scotian and the Arran have small crews," s

rest of the message,"

ckens,'" the c

ould not obtain exact information. 'C' stands for Confederate, and 'sea' is written instead of the l

He continued to write for a little longer time, amplifying and filling in the wanting parts of the message. Then he read what he had written, as foll

can be known on this side of the Atlantic in regard to the two steamers. The important information is that they are armed, and even with small crews they may b

dress, and saw that it came from the Navy Department. With it was a letter, which he opened. It was an order for the immediate sailing of the Bronx, the sealed orders to be opened

pposed you would have,"

sail immediately on recei

feelings. "Be brave, be watchful; but be prudent under all circumstances. Bravery and Prudence ought to be twin sisters, and I hope you will always have one of

red. When I am about to engage in any important enterprise, I w

and I am confident that you will make the best use of it. Remember that you are fighting for your country and the best government God ever

h him again as he embarked in his boat. His mother and his sister had been on board that day, and the young commander had parted from them with quite as much emotion as on the present occasion. The members of the family

y, after he had watched the receding boat

the first lieutenant, touching h

nd make ready to get under

nt, as he touched his cap and retir

. He was an old sailor, as salt as a barrel of pickled pork, and knew his duty from keel to

e boatswain, reporting to the sec

to the first lieutenant. The steamer was rigged as a topsail schooner; but the wind was contrary, and no sail was set before getting under way. The capstan was manned again, and as soo

onies were duly attended to, and the steamer, as soon as the anchor had been catted and fished, at the stroke of four bells, went ahead at full speed, though, as the fires had been banked in the furnaces, the engine was not work

ond lieutenant, had the deck, and Christy had retired to his cabin to think over the events of the day, especially those relating to the Scotian and the Arran. He had not yet read his orders, and he could not decid

nk of our crew?" asked the captai

on," replied Flint. "I am afraid we have some hard material on bo

n the Bellevite. How do you like Mr. Lillyworth?" asked the

ou and I have been in some tight places togeth

of him another time. I have another mat

first lieutenant somethin