"Precisely so!" exclaimed Flint, in an energetic whisper. "That's the way they are going to take the Teaser out, and they are doing something over there to prepare her for the trip in shallow water." The master's mate was not aware that Christy had suggested to the captain this way of escape for the Teaser, and he had abandoned the idea himself. Flint had reached his conclusion from his own premises. They discussed the matter for some time, though it was impossible to arrive at any conclusion for the want of data on which to base their reasoning. "All ready, sir," reported Beeks, coming up to them at this moment. "How far is the entrance to the sound from Fort Pickens, Mr. Passford?" asked Flint. "About four miles." "Then why should they choose such a night as this for their work?" "The Bellevite, floating in four fathoms of water on the other side of the island, could shell them out if they were seen, as they certainly would be from Fort Pickens," replied Christy. "That makes it plain enough," added Flint, as they walked towards the boat. "But I am not quite willing to believe yet that the Teaser will go out through the sound. If she could get through at all, it would only be after getting aground no end of times, and if to-morrow should be a clear day, she could be seen anywhere on her course," persisted Christy. "She cannot expect to make eight or ten knots an hour in that shallow water." The lieutenant ordered the men into the boat, after she was shoved off the beach. They worked with such care that not a sound came from her. The oars were shipped, and the sailors began to row. As instructed, they pulled very slowly, though such work could not be done in perfect silence. "Look out for that binnacle, Beeks," said Christy. "The light from it may betray us." "You have not given me the course, sir," replied the coxswain, as he obeyed the order. "North-northeast," added Christy, as he settled back in the stern sheets. No one was allowed to speak in the boat, and the lieutenant set the example of silence. But he kept his ears wide open, though the little noise made by the oars and the rippling of the water prevented him from hearing anything at first. It was so dark that one could hardly see another in the boat. It was in vain that Christy watched in the gloom for the glow of a light; for all was nearly total darkness in every direction. In about half an hour they began to hear the sounds which had attracted their attention on the island, and they proceeded from directly ahead, indicating that the operations, whatever they were, came from the entrance to the sound. The workmen were not likely to hear the approach of the boat while they were making so much noise themselves. In addition to the sounds they had heard before, they recognized the noise of escaping steam.