The ripple of oars was presently heard, and a boat came out of the gloom, rowed by two soldiers, with an officer in the stern. It came up to the forward gangway, and the person in the stern climbed on board. The boat did not wait for him, but pulled directly back to the island. "I am glad to see you, Captain Westover," said Christy, as the officer came into the pilot-house. "And I am equally glad to see you, lieutenant," replied the captain. "You seem to have been successful in your undertaking?" "Successful so far, and I think the worst of it is over now." As soon as Beeks heard the name of Captain Westover, he understood all that had been dark before. Even the Chinese lingo must have been agreed upon. The army and the navy officer had been very busy in talking over something when they came in the boat from the Bellevite, and after they landed on the island. What they had been talking about was plain enough now. Captain Westover had not much confidence in the expectations of the young naval officer when he expressed a hope that he might capture the Teaser; but he had promised to render all the assistance in his power. He had agreed to be on the shore of the island if the Teaser presented herself, and thus assure the lieutenant of his position on the bay. He had done more than this, for he had brought out a couple of guns and a section of artillerists to beat off the guard-boat if it interfered with the operations of the navy. Christy had taken a course from the entrance of the sound, half way between the island and Town Point, west-southwest. He knew that the distance was about four miles; but he could not know, except by sounding, when he came to the island, and he had bargained with the army officer to be on the lookout for him. Captain Westover had heard the noise of the Teaser, and had hailed her, thus assuring the lieutenant that his calculation had been correct, and that he was in the vicinity of Fort Pickens. "I had no idea that you would accomplish anything, lieutenant," said Captain Westover. "I found everything laid out just as I should have wished it to be," replied Christy. "We had plenty of information that the steamer would run out the first favorable night; and nothing could have been more favorable for blockade running than this fog and darkness." "But nothing has been seen of this steamer from the fort." "Where was she fitted out, Dave?" asked Christy, turning to the steward. "Up by Emanuel Point, sir, about a mile above the town," replied Dave. "Then she has not shown herself in the lower bay." The conversation was interrupted by the roll of a drum on the shore. "There you are, lieutenant," said the captain with a smile. "When you are ready to go ahead, don't wait on my account, for I will go on board of the ship." "But what is the drum for?" asked the lieutenant, who was in the dark in his turn.