THE APPROACH OF THE VAMPIRE The Vampire, as the steward had no doubt it was, could not be less than a mile distant from the spot where the two horsemen had halted in the road.

Christy was very familiar with this portion of the river, and after he had listened a few moments, he was satisfied from the direction of the sound he heard, that a mile was very nearly the exact distance.
The approaching steamer had to come around a small bend, the arc of which made just a mile.
"I don't wish to blow up a dozen or twenty loyal citizens, and I must make sure in some way that Captain Carboneer's party is on board of that steamer," said Christy, as he led his horse into a field, and tied him to a tree, the steward following his example.
"That would be a very bad thing to do," added Mr.Watts, as they walked back to the river.

"But I don't see why it is necessary to blow up even any rebels on the present occasion.

If that naval officer has forty men, as you think he has, a shot from that long gun would make terrible havoc among them if you succeeded in hitting her.

You might kill half of them." "If we do they, and not we, will be responsible for it," added Christy, somewhat appalled by the suggestion of his companion.
"If you have steam up on board of the Bellevite, why not get under way and run down the river," continued Mr.Watts.
"Perhaps I am a coward, but I am afraid to do that," replied the midshipman, thoughtfully.
"We all know that you are no coward, Christy, and if you don't send a shot into the Vampire, it will not be because you are afraid." "Although I know the river as well as any pilot in this vicinity, I should not dare to run the Bellevite at full speed around such a bend as the one off this spot," Christy explained.