CHAPTER IX.
A Union Family.
After two days' sail, the Ticonderoga arrived at Phillips's Landing, where she had been ordered to take her station; for the Admiral had received information that the rebel General Marmaduke was preparing to cross the river, with his forces, at that place.
They came to anchor in front of a large plantation, owned by the man after whom the place was named.

In a short time, a boat, rowed by two stout negroes, and which contained two ladies and a gentleman, came alongside.
The captain received them, as they came upon the quarter-deck, and the gentleman, after introducing himself as Mr.Phillips, and apologizing for the liberty they had taken in coming on board, asked if the captain could furnish them with some Northern papers.

They lived in an out-of-the-way place, he said, where boats seldom landed, for fear of the guerrillas, and they were entirely ignorant of what was going on.
The captain seemed much pleased with his visitors.

After complying with their request, he conducted them down into the cabin, where they passed an hour in conversation.

When they were about to take their departure, they invited the captain and his officers to call on them, and assured them that there were no rebels in the vicinity.
The captain was an old sailor, and had been in the service so long that he was inclined to be suspicious of any thing that looked like friendship on the part of a person living in an enemy's country.