"Captain Pillgrim, you seem to be more confident on this point than your officers," replied Swayne, in a gentle tone, which more than insinuated that he would like to know more of the commander's plans. Somers was very anxious that he should know more of them, so as to prevent any suspicions which his subsequent course might excite. "From what point did you expect me to come, before my arrival?" asked Somers. "I had no idea. Mr. Langdon seemed to be familiar with all your movements, but he did not say much about them. He did remark, at one time, that you were coming down as second lieutenant of one of the Yankee men-of-war." "Did he, indeed? Well, he was a prudent man, and he will have his reward within a few days. Did he really say that?" "He did." "I was deceived in him; he was not to be trusted. I placed every confidence in him. What else did he tell you?" asked Somers, artfully. "Nothing else, sir. He said more to me than to any other officer, and hardly anything to me." "He has betrayed me." "He told only me that you were to come in a Yankee man-of-war." "Yes, he did; the pilot knew it--spoke to me of it; and very likely every man in the ship has the news. But, Mr. Swayne, the statement was true." "Mr. Langdon afterwards contradicted it, and said you were in Richmond, and were coming down by land." "Probably he thought he had made a blunder. I did come down in the Yankee ship, the Chatauqua. I am third lieutenant of her, not second. I was sent off by the captain, at my own suggestion, of course, to bring out this vessel. I have done it--haven't I?" "You have," laughed Swayne. "Then you are expected by the Yankees?" "Of course I am." The first lieutenant of the Ben Lomond indulged in a laugh highly complimentary to the skill and cleverness of his commander. Somers laughed with him. It was an excellent joke to both parties, though, like the Druid shield, it was seen from different points of view. "Capital!" exclaimed Mr. Swayne, when he had evaporated the foam of his mirth. "If the fog clears off, I shall let up some rockets, which will prevent the Yankees from firing at us. You understand?" "I see, sir: you have the Yankee signals?" chuckled Mr. Swayne. "Every one of them. No doubt they are on the lookout for me in every ship in the squadron." "Excellent, Captain Pillgrim. This is, by all odds, the best joke of the season." "Now, Mr. Swayne, you will hoist the Yankee flag over the Confederate." "I don't like to do that, captain," added Mr. Swayne, with a burst of patriotic enthusiasm. "For a purpose, Mr. Swayne. Of course, when the men-of-war see that flag over the other, they will not fire. We shall run through the squadron, as though we belonged to it; and then--well, you will see what you will see." "Exactly so!" exclaimed Mr. Swayne, who seemed to enjoy the prospect exceedingly, even independent of his desire to flatter and "toady" to his commander.