"You are very excusable, Boxie; one can't expect to hit every time, and you did very well," replied Christy, who had suddenly passed from painful doubt and uncertainty to exultation and exaltation at the victory achieved. "We are all right now." "But the enemy are not," added Sampson, who had mounted the rail after he had secured the prisoner. "They are all afloat." "They will get ashore in some way, or back to the Vampire," replied Christy, and he descended to the deck, and hastened to the engine-room. CHAPTER XII THE PRISONER OF WAR "What in the world have you been doing, Christy?" asked Mrs. Passford, as her son entered the engine-room; and her anxiety was visible in her tones and looks as she spoke. "We have been repelling boarders, mother," replied the middy, his face wreathed in smiles. "What do you mean by that, my son?" inquired his mother. "Well, mother, you are the daughter of a distinguished naval officer, and it seems to me you must understand what repelling boarders means," answered the young commander, laughing merrily; and no one in the engine-room could fail to see that he was in the highest state of exhilaration, now that the safety of the ship had been assured. "Of course, I know what it means," added the lady. "And I don't mean boarders at the hotel, who are repelled by strong butter and tough steaks," chuckled Christy. "I wish you would explain yourself, my son." "I will, mother mine. The fellows we fired at when we were at anchor have just attempted to board the Bellevite, and thus obtain possession of her, as they failed to do in Mobile Bay, as well as at our anchorage in the Hudson." And he proceeded to explain in detail all that had occurred on board and alongside. "My dear boy, I had no idea that you had been engaged in a battle!" exclaimed the fond mother. "It wasn't much of a battle, though a good many pistol-shots were fired at us; but a sixty-pound shot did the business on our side, and we left the enemy, or a portion of them, paddling in the river, and trying to keep their heads above water. But I must not stay here, for I have to look out for the steering of the ship," continued Christy, as he moved towards the door. "You whipped them out, did you, midshipman?" added the engineer. "We did; and there isn't any doubt of it. I shouldn't wonder if some of them had lost the number of their mess. But I think it is settled for the present that Captain Carboneer don't go to sea in the Bellevite. By the way, I had forgotten that we took a prisoner, and perhaps he will be willing to tell us something more about his enterprise." "Who is the prisoner?" asked Mrs. Passford. "He is an officer, I judge, for he wore a frock-coat." "The party could not have had a great many officers. It was not the captain, was it?"