"You will have to take your chances when you come to the entrance of the bay," said Colonel Passford, nervously. "This cargo is worth a fortune, and we are in sore need of the supplies which its value will purchase for us." "I think I understand the matter perfectly, colonel," replied Lonley, who did not seem to take kindly to any advice from a landsman. "Do not take any unnecessary risks, Captain Lonley, for more than the value of the cotton is at stake," continued the planter. "I have a plan of my own which I am confident will take me through the blockade all right," added the captain. "You must remember that my brother's steamer is on the blockade, and that she makes over twenty knots an hour." "I shall pretend to be a prize of the Bellevite long enough to distract the attention of the fleet," added Lonley, impatiently. "I don't understand these things, and I shall leave you to manage the affair as you think best; but I beg you will use all proper caution," continued Colonel Passford. "Here are the ship's papers. You will give the one on the top to the officer from the fort, and he will cause you no delay." Lonley took the papers, and thrust them into his pocket without any reply. Christy had taken charge of the hoisting of the mainsail without waiting for any special orders, and Flint was doing his best to assist him. The negroes, though not expert seamen, knew the ropes of a schooner, and they did very well with Flint in their midst. "We are going to have a fresh breeze, Fetters," said Captain Lonley, as the new mate came near him. "It looks like it now," added Christy, changing his voice as much as he could, and as he had done before when he spoke to the captain. "If things are not favorable when you get to the forte, I think you had better anchor inside of the point," suggested the planter, who could not be blamed for being deeply interested in the fate of his cotton, and the fortune which was locked up in it. "Of course, I shall have to do that if necessary; but I don't like to do that, for every blockader will watch her all the time if I do," replied Captain Lonley, still maintaining his respectful demeanor, though it seemed to be hard work. By this time the mainsail was set, and was banging in the lively breeze. The negro sailors seemed to have become weary with wasting the day in the sailing of the schooner, and they worked with a good deal of enthusiasm. "Now set the foresail, Fetters. I don't think we can carry the topsails," said the captain. "Isn't that a white man with the hands?" asked he, as the men went to the foremast. "That's a man I brought along with me," replied Christy. "He is an able seaman, and he is very anxious to get to some port outside where he can obtain a berth as mate." "All right; I thought the work was going on exceedingly well, and his presence explains it," added the captain. "He owns the boat in which we came over here, and I think we had better hoist it on deck," said the mate.