"But the engine would have started just the same if you had rung the gong." "Well, I didn't know it; and if you had only said you had an engineer, I should have understood it." "You will never make a sailor, as I said before," added Christy. "What is the reason I won't?" "Because you don't obey orders, and that is the first and only business of a sailor." "If you had only told me, it would have been all right." "If the captain, in an emergency, should tell you to port the helm, you could not obey the order till he had explained why it was given; and by that time the ship might go to the bottom. I can't trust you with the wheel if you don't do better than you have; for I have no time to explain what I am about, and I should not do it if I had." "It would not have taken over half an hour to tell me there was an engineer in the engine-room," growled Percy. "That is not the way to do things on board of a vessel, and I object to the method. I don't know what there is before us, and I don't mean to give an order which is not likely to be obeyed till I have explained its meaning." "I will do as you say, Christy," said Percy rather doggedly. "Did Spikeley agree to run the engine?" "No, he did not; he is locked up in the forecastle. Captain Pecklar is at the engine; but he is all ready to take the wheel when I say the word." "I can keep the wheel, for I think I understand it very well now." "I did not wish to take you away from the wheel, for I saw that you liked the work; and I said so to Captain Pecklar. If you have learned the first lesson a sailor has to get through his head, all right; if not, Captain Pecklar will take the wheel." "I understand the case better now, and I will do just what you tell me," protested Percy. "And without asking any questions?" "I won't ask a question if the whole thing drops from under me." Percy steered very well, and Christy had enough to do to watch the steamer astern and the boat ahead. CHAPTER XXVI THE POST OF DUTY AND OF DANGER The long-boat, with the increased experience of its crew, was doing very well, and it would soon be within hailing-distance of the Bellevite. But Major Pierson could hardly help discovering that the Leopard was under way, though he seemed to give his whole attention to the boat and the steamer ahead of him. Christy went aft to ascertain the situation of the steamer from the north-west, and with the glass he satisfied himself that she was not exactly a river steamer, such as he had seen on the Alabama; or, if she was, she had been altered to fit her for duty on the bay.