But she was not followed by the Bellevite, and things began to look dark and somewhat cheerless to Christy.

The firing came to an end, for the distance was becoming too great for it to be effectual on either side.
"If we had not jumped down from the rail when we boarded, we might have escaped this scrape," said Beeks, who was even more disgusted than his companion.
"It is no use to growl about it," added Christy, laughing.

"Here we are, and we can't help ourselves at present." "I suppose they will let us go, won't they ?" inquired the quartermaster.
"Let us go where ?" "Let us go back where we came from," replied Beeks, who seemed to be quite muddled by his misfortune.
"You don't expect them to put you on board of the Bellevite again, do you ?" "Well, no; not exactly; but this steamer is nothing but a blockade runner, and such craft don't take prisoners." "I hardly know what she is yet; she is a blockade runner, but she appeals to be something more than that.

She hoisted the Confederate flag, and her people stood by their guns like brave men.

I count myself as a prisoner of war," said Christy, to the increased disgust of his companion.
"What do you suppose they will do with us ?" asked Beeks, looking as though he had not a friend in the world, though he had always been a very brave and active fellow when there was anything to do.
"I don't know, but I suppose she will run the blockade into the Cape Fear River, and we may be taken up to Wilmington." While they were talking about it, they saw a group of officers coming to the forward deck, where they had remained since they came on board.