"How many knots can she do in a smooth sea?" "Eighteen, and perhaps more." "Then she is not fast enough for that blockader outside. I saw her at Mobile when she was a big steam-yacht, and they said she had done twenty-two knots more than once." "I don't believe a word of it; and I am willing to take my chances to run away from her in the Teaser, if I can get out." "If she is good for eighteen knots, it will not take her more than about two hours to run through the sound," added Christy, very much amused at the talk of the captain and owner. "I don't expect her to go at full speed in that shallow water," said the enthusiast. "Do you expect her to go at all when she is hoisted four feet out of water?" asked Christy, hardly able to keep from laughing. Captain Folkner was silent for a moment, during which Christy thought he must have obtained a new idea, for it looked as though he had not thought of the working of the screw after all his flotation schemes had been successful. "I reckon the propeller will have hold enough on the water to make her go right along, Gilder. I don't reckon you need make any trouble about that," added the man of mechanical ability, rather sheepishly. Christy had brought his boat's crew on deck, and directed Flint how to post them. He thought he had paid proper respect to the talent of the enthusiast in listening to his theory, and that it was about time to bring the adventure to an issue. "I shall not make any trouble about the screw, Captain Folkner, for I don't think we shall have any difficulty about it. But I believe we had better not hoist it any higher out of water," added Christy. "I mean that I think we had better go out of the bay by the main channel." [Illustration: "He placed one of his men on each side of the Captain."--Page 233.] "That means to run the blockade?" said the captain. "That's the idea." "Gilder, I want you to understand that I command this steamer," continued Captain Folkner, angrily. "Right, with a little correction: You did command her, and I command her now," replied Christy, as he placed one of his men on each side of the captain. CHAPTER XXI ON A DARK AND FOGGY NIGHT "I reckon I don't quite understand you, Gilder," said Captain Folkner, very nervously. "I thought I was still in command of the Teaser." "I shall not blame you for thinking so; but you are utterly mistaken all the same," added Christy. "Did you come here to take the command out of my hands? Is that the reason why you sent all my men to Town Point?" demanded the captain, getting an idea of the situation. "If you had been a magician, you could not have come any nearer to the truth." "Who are you? I thought you were Gilder." "I am not Gilder, though I found it convenient to answer to that name. It is reported that the Teaser is a very fast steamer, and I wanted her."