"I have not; they are sealed orders, and I am not to open them till nine o'clock this evening," replied Corny. "I believe you have lost all the wits you ever had, Passford," said Mr. Galvinne contemptuously. "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. Galvinne, apparently as much in astonishment as in anger. "Not till you change your tone. I wish you to understand that I am in command of this ship, and I have my commission in my pocket. I intend to be treated with decency at least." "Well, this is pleasant; and it will be my duty to report your conduct to my superior officer. In command of this ship! Why, you don't know enough to lay off the course of the ship, or even to box the compass." "I know enough to understand when I am treated like a gentleman. Change your manners, or I will order you to leave my cabin. You talk to me as though I were a small boy, and had nothing to do with the enterprise in which we are engaged," returned Corny. "Do you expect me to obey your orders?" demanded the executive officer in a sneering tone. "If you don't, I will send for the second lieutenant and a file of men to put you out of my cabin." There was a silence for a few moments. "This will never do, Passford," said the tyrannical officer. "I don't think it will, Galvinne. Behave like a gentleman, and we shall have no difficulty," added Corny. "Will you permit me to see your orders, Mr. Passford?" said the officer. The breach was closed, and Corny produced the sealed envelope. CHAPTER XIII THE OPENING OF THE SECRET ORDERS Christy listened with interest to the conversation in the captain's cabin, though so far it had afforded him no information in regard to the present situation, and it was hardly likely to do so, for he had already been told by Mr. Flint what the next movement of the Bronx was to be. She had already been ordered to proceed to the eastward, and her sealed instructions would reveal the enterprise in which she was to engage. The steamer had been so successful while in command of Captain Blowitt in breaking up the shipping of cotton in a port where a larger vessel could not operate, that Christy promptly concluded that she was to be used in a similar enterprise. The listener was amused rather than impressed by the conversation which was in progress so near him, and especially at the display of dignity and authority on the part of his cousin.