"I can say with entire confidence that I was in command of the Vixen," added Christy. "A considerable number of officers and seamen must have come with you in the Vixen and the other vessels," said the captain, raising his finger to indicate that the question was addressed to Christy. "Yes, sir; the Vixen was fully armed and manned to protect the fleet of prize vessels she convoyed." "Do you remember the names of the officers who served with you in the Vixen?" asked the captain. "I could not very well forget them in so short a time," replied Corny, upon whom the gaze of the commander had again rested as he looked about him. "Very well; perhaps you had better answer the question;" and the captain pointed at Corny. "Who was your first lieutenant?" "Ensign Gordon Fillbrook," replied Corny promptly. This was a correct answer, and Christy saw that his cousin had fully armed himself for his daring scheme, whatever it was. "Your second lieutenant?" "Ensign Frederick Jones," answered Corny, with some hesitation. "Now will you inform me, Mr. Passford, who your officers were?" The commander pointed at Christy. "Your executive officer?" "My cousin gave his name and rank correctly." "And the second lieutenant?" "Ensign Philip Bangs." "Here you differ. Did you make a report of your voyage home, Lieutenant Passford?" continued the captain, pointing at Corny. "I did, sir; for we captured a privateer on the voyage," answered Corny. "Did you keep a copy of that report?" "I did, captain; I keep copies of all my reports. I have them in my valise," answered he of the South in a matter-of-fact manner. Christy laughed in spite of the importance of the investigation at the coolness and self-possession of his cousin; but he could not understand how Corny would be able to produce a copy of his report, which was in his valise with several such papers. "I must trouble you to produce it, Lieutenant Passford," added the commander. "Perhaps I ought to say in the beginning that it is not in my own handwriting, for after I had written it, Mr. Jones copied it for me," Corny explained, and, perhaps, thought he might be called upon to give a specimen of his chirography. "That is immaterial," added Captain Battleton, as Corny left the cabin to procure the document. "Have you a copy of your report, Lieutenant Passford?" He pointed to Christy. "I have, captain; and it is in my own handwriting," replied the officer addressed. "Produce it, if you please." He had placed his valise in the gangway, and he had not far to go to procure the report, his first draft of the document, which he had revised and copied at Bonnydale. "I don't think we are getting ahead at all, Mr. Salisbury," said the captain, while the cousins were looking for their reports. "I confess that I am as much in the dark as I was in the beginning," replied the executive officer.