"That's enough; and you will go back to the army, whether or not you are willing," added the major, as he turned on his heel. Christy followed him to the forecastle of the tug, where a rather heavy gun was mounted, which took up most of the space. "Take a seat, Mr. Passford," said the major, giving him a stool, while he took another himself. "It looks as though your father changed his plans rather suddenly last evening." "I was not aware of it," replied Christy. "The Bellevite was taken from the wharf where you landed some time in the evening, and came out into the bay, where she seems to be waiting for something, I don't know what. As I understand the matter, your father has sold the steamer to the Confederacy." "Where did you learn that, Major Pierson?" asked Christy, who had not heard any such story. "You certainly came from Nassau?" "We did." "And you met my father there?" "I did not meet him, but my father did." "I understood that my father bought this steamer, or that he bargained for her in some manner, for the use of the Confederacy." "I was not present at the interview between your father and mine, and I do not know just what passed between them." "And I understood that he sent Percy to act as a sort of agent for the delivery of the vessel; though it still puzzles me to comprehend how my father should do such a thing, especially when he knew that the boy would be arrested as a deserter if he showed his face anywhere near Mobile." Christy felt that his tongue might be a dangerous member, and he was not disposed to talk about the matter at all. All the information which the major had derived from Captain Passford and others had been accepted from inference; for the owner of the Bellevite certainly had not said that the steamer was for the use of the Confederacy, and he would have blown her up rather than admit any thing of the sort. "It looked to me as though every thing was all right about the steamer, or I would not have let her pass the fort; and the commander at Fort Morgan was as well satisfied as I was, after I had explained the situation to him." Major Pierson looked at Christy as though he expected him to talk on the subject before them; but the latter would not say any thing, for he saw that he was in an extremely delicate position. He made some sort of answers, but they amounted to nothing. "I cannot understand why Captain Passford has moved the Bellevite from the wharf," continued the major. "I am as much in the dark as you are, sir. I spent the afternoon with my sister, and my uncle Homer and my father were in the library together all this time," replied Christy. "I have no idea what they were talking about. Just at dark, I saw Percy pass the window; and I went out for a little walk. I was arrested by your men soon after. Not a word had been said in my hearing about moving the steamer. That is all I know about the matter, and I am as much surprised as you can be at the change which has been made."