"if i don't find her ready to come out to-night, would it not be well to repeat my visit to the shore until we learn something about her?" asked christy.

"that is my purpose," replied the commander.

"i should like to have the scope of my powers as the officer of this expedition a little more definitely defined, captain breaker," continued the first lieutenant.

33 "i thought i had fully instructed you, christy," answered the commander with a smile.

"am i to confine myself solely to the two points assigned to me?"

"i don't understand what you have in your mind, my boy."

"i have nothing in my mind, captain. i have not laid out any plan of operations outside of the instructions you have given me, sir; and i do not purpose to do so. if i had the intention to do anything but the duty assigned to me, i should assuredly inform you of it, and obtain your orders."

"i know you would, my dear boy."

"but if i see an opportunity to do anything for the benefit of my country"—

"such as the capture of a sloop of war," interposed the commander with a suggestive laugh. "when you were sent to look out for a small steamer, simply to obtain information in regard to her, in pensacola bay, you went on your mission, and brought out the teaser, which afterwards became the bronx, and rendered very valuable service to the country under your command."

"i could not very well help doing so when i saw my opportunity," replied christy, in an apologetic 34 tone, as though he had been reproved for exceeding his instructions.

"you did precisely right, christy; and that act did more to make the deservedly high reputation you have won than almost anything else you have done, unless it was your achievements at cedar keys," added captain breaker heartily.

"i am glad you have brought up the teaser matter, captain, for it just illustrates what i have in my mind. if i see an opportunity to do such a thing as that on the present occasion, i simply wish to know whether or not i am to confine my operations to the strict letter of my instructions. of course, if so instructed, i shall obey my orders to the letter."

"'the letter killeth, the spirit giveth life,' my boy. your mission always and everywhere is to serve your country, and you are to do this on the present occasion. what i said about ingenuity in speaking of my officers is covered in this case. if you can capture and send out the trafalgar, do it by all means, for that is the object in view in sending off this expedition. your head is level, christy; and that is the reason why i desired you to command this enterprise rather than either of the other 35 officers. i can trust you, and you have full powers to act on your own judgment."

"i thank you for your abundant confidence, captain; and i shall endeavor not to abuse it," replied christy. "but it is not even remotely possible that i shall capture the trafalgar; yet sometimes unexpected opportunities are presented, and the letter of my orders might prevent me from embracing them. i am very glad to know where i stand."

the night came on, and with it more fog; but it was of that flitting kind which settles down and then blows away. it seemed to come in banks that were continually in motion. the men who were to go to the shore had all been instructed, and at precisely ten o'clock they were seated in the whaleboat, with mr. graines in the stern sheets. they were all armed with two revolvers apiece, and there was a cutlass for each in the boat. the men had not only changed their dress, but they had disguised themselves, smooching their faces with coal dust, and tearing their garments till they were in tatters.

christy had dressed himself in his old garments, but added to them a gray coat he had obtained on 36 board of a prize. the watch on deck had been ordered to the forecastle, so that they need not too closely observe the crew of the whaleboat. the chief of the expedition had quietly descended to the platform of the after gangway, and when the boat dropped astern, he stepped into it, selecting his place by the side of the engineer, who had taken the tiller lines. the boat pulled away at once, with four hands at the oars, and mr. graines headed it to the north-east by the compass, the side lights of which were covered so that they should not betray the approach of the boat to the shore, if any one was there.

on the way christy gave the men full instructions in regard to their conduct; and in less than an hour the party landed.