"For the same reason that I told you the steamer belonged to the Chinese government, and a dozen other things of the same sort." "What is your name, then?" "Christopher Passford; but I am commonly called Christy." "Then, you have been fooling me?" "You knew very well that I had been fooling you." "Then, you are the son of the owner of the Bellevite." "I am." "Then, you can get me a place on board of her." "Perhaps I can. We will see about that." Christy doubted if their political opinions would permit them to serve on the deck of the same vessel, but he did not suggest any thing of this kind. He had been introduced to Major Pierson under his real name, and he was certain to be identified by him as soon as the light permitted him to see his face; and he had made the best of it by telling Percy the truth before he found it out himself. "You haven't told me who the other prisoner is, Spottswood," said the major, when they had ridden some distance in silence. "I don't know who he is," replied the sergeant. "I never saw him before in my life, so far as I know." "Didn't he tell you who he was?" "He did not, and I did not ask him any questions." That was all that was said about it; and the major relapsed into silence, and Christy concluded that he had gone to sleep again. The wagon continued on the journey, though at a very slow pace, for the road could hardly have been any worse. At the end of about two hours more, the vehicle halted near a sheet of water which looked as though it might be a river, or an arm of Mobile Bay. The road appeared to end at a rude sort of wharf; but there was no person in the vicinity, no house, and no craft of any kind in the water, so far as Christy could see when he was helped out of the wagon. Percy was assisted to the ground also; and the two soldiers at the rear of the wagon, who had gone to sleep, were waked, and ordered to get out. "We shall not want the wagon any more," said the major. "You can send Boyce back to the house with it." "It is five miles from here, and he will not get back till nearly morning." "We can wait for him. The Leopard will not be here for some time." "I think we ought to send two men, major," suggested the sergeant. "Why two?" "For company: one of them may get asleep, and two will get back sooner than one." "They might as well all of them go, for they can do nothing here," added the major with a terrific yawn. Two men were sent away with the wagon. The most of the hay in it was taken out; and with it the superior officer made a bed for himself, and was soon asleep again. The sergeant and the remaining soldier took their knapsacks from a tree where they had put them before, and it was decided that one of them might sleep while the other kept guard over the prisoners. Spottswood was the first to take his turn, and his companion stretched himself on the planks of the wharf.