THE BEGINNING OF A CHASE Major Pierson still remained on board of the Bellevite, for no officer had been sent on board for him, as expected; and he was under the efficient care of Sampson.

He was subjected to no restraint, and he took his breakfast with the engineer.

But he was not a welcome visitor on board, and Captain Passford would have been very glad to get rid of him.
The owner sought him the next time he came on board, when he was not so busy as he had been before.

But he said nothing to him about his mission at the North, and treated him as a guest rather than a prisoner.

For reasons of his own, though not difficult to conjecture, he was very anxious to make a good appearance before the father of Miss Florry, and he was a gentleman in his manners.
"Major Pierson, I am sorry to do anything that may be unpleasant to you, but I have not the means of holding you as a prisoner," said the captain, after they had been talking of indifferent subjects for a time.
"I realize that I am a prisoner of war, subject to such restraint as my captors impose upon me," replied the major.
"If you will allow yourself to be paroled, it will settle your status for the present," added Captain Passford.
"As a guest at your house ?" asked the major, his face suddenly brightening up.