"Nothing is the matter now on our side of the house, but I must put you with the other prisoners," replied Christy. "You may unbuckle the strap, Dave, so that he can get out of the berth." "Who are the other prisoners?" demanded Corny, as though he had a right to know. "They are your confederates in the plot, Corny. Who do you suppose they are? Jeff Davis is not one of them. The most important one, not even excepting yourself, cousin, is Mr. Galvinne, late first lieutenant of the Bronx." "Is he a prisoner?" asked Corny, as he got out of the berth. "Of course he is. Do you think I should let him lie around loose on deck? The next one is the man-servant at Bonnydale by your appointment, formerly Walsh, but now Byron. He is a very good actor, but he has played out his _role_." "He was by profession an actor in Mobile," added Corny. "I should think he might have been. By the way, Corny, where is my commission that you and he stole from my pocket at Bonnydale?" "That is my commission," replied Corny, putting his hand involuntarily on his left breast, where he had carried his papers on board of the Vernon. "You stole it, cousin, and you must give it back to me," added Christy, very decidedly. "I shall not," replied Corny, with quite as much firmness. "Take it from him," said the commander. The hands of the impostor were now free, and he placed himself in a defensive attitude; but Ralph Pennant, who was rather above the average stature, threw his arms around him, and he was pinned as tightly as though he had been put into a strait jacket. Corny was probably stiff in his arms from their confinement, and he was unable to make a very spirited defence. While the seaman held him, Christy took the envelope from his breast pocket, and transferred it to his own. But there was considerable noise made in the brief scuffle, which waked some of the sleepers. From one of the staterooms an officer rushed out, and demanded the cause of the disturbance. The person proved to be the surgeon. "We are putting things to rights on board," replied Christy, who had not seen the doctor before, for he had retired early to his room. "I don't quite understand this matter," said the surgeon. "What are you doing, Mr. Passford?" "Captain Passford, if you please, Dr. Connelly, for I have the honor to be in command of the Bronx at the present moment. This is Mr. Passford," added Christy, pointing to his cousin. "Then you have reversed the decision of Captain Battleton?" "For sufficient reasons, I have; with the assistance of the loyal members of the ship's company, I have taken possession of the vessel, and we are now on our way to carry out the orders of the flag-officer.--Conduct the prisoner to his future quarters," said Christy, in a very business-like manner. During this conversation, Ralph, still holding his prisoner, had sent the steward on deck for a pair of handcuffs, which the seaman proceeded to apply to the wrists of Corny.