"I don't know where he has been; but I suppose he has been on duty all night, and that don't agree with him at all. We came up here yesterday afternoon--Well, never mind what we have been about. I forgot that you were a prisoner; and you may be a Yankee, for aught I know." Before Christy had time to make any reply, the sentinel walked away, and the major was seen coming from his bed with Captain Pecklar. They went to the wharf together, where they seated themselves on a box which lay there. The prisoner turned away from them; and the major took no notice of him, and did not appear to see him, or he would certainly have identified him. Christy's bed was just behind them, when they had seated themselves; and he dropped down on his blanket, rolled it about him as well as he could, and then pretended to be asleep, as Percy was still, in spite of the noise of the escaping steam on board of the boat. "What have you done with your men, Captain Pecklar?" asked the major. "I have just told you that the steamer had changed her position," replied the captain. "I did not understand you," returned the major. "Do you mean that she has left the wharf?" "I do: she was out at least two miles from the shore," added Captain Pecklar. "Two miles from the shore!" exclaimed Major Pierson. "What does that mean?" "I don't know, sir. Lieutenant Dallberg did not know what to make of it; and he decided to take his two men to the shore, and investigate the matter. He directed me to report this to you." "But when did the Bellevite leave the wharf?" asked the major, evidently very much puzzled at what he regarded as the singular conduct of the owner of the steamer. "I don't know, sir. It was after ten o'clock in the evening when we first saw her out in the bay." "Was she at anchor?" "I think not. I was ordered not to go very near her, and I could not tell." "Do you know whether or not Captain Passford is on board of her?" "Of course I do not. In fact, I know nothing at all about her, except that she has left the wharf and come out into the bay. I think I heard her screw in motion, though I am not sure; and that makes me think that she is not at anchor. Mr. Dallberg thought he ought to go on shore, visit Colonel Passford, and obtain further information if he could." The major ordered the captain to embark the party at once. CHAPTER XVIII THE MORNING TRIP OF THE LEOPARD If Major Pierson had had any curiosity at all in regard to the person captured by the soldiers with his brother, he appeared to have forgotten all about him. He took no notice of him after he left his bed of hay, but then he was evidently very much disturbed by the fact that the Bellevite had left the wharf.