They appeared to be examining the steamer to ascertain what damage she had sustained.

Her bulwarks had been torn off, and she had suffered not a little from shot; but she did not appear to be very seriously damaged.
At the head of the party was one who had a uniform, and dignity enough to be the commander of the ship.
"Who are those two men forward ?" asked this gentleman, as he called the attention of the others to the two strangers.
No one knew who they were, and the captain continued to advance, looking very sharply at Christy, or at his uniform.

The lieutenant thought he had seen the gentleman before, for it was quite impossible entirely to forget one with so much character in his face.
"I am afraid I shall be obliged to call upon you, sir, to explain how you and your companion happen to be here, for I was not before aware of your presence." "I shall cheerfully explain, Captain Carboneer," replied Christy, recognizing the captain, and bowing politely.
"Ah, you know me?
But I have not the pleasure of your acquaintance, so far as I can remember," added the captain.
"We met under some disadvantages so far as you are concerned, for I had the satisfaction of seeing you, though you did not see me," replied the lieutenant, looking very good-natured in spite of his situation as a prospective prisoner.
"I must beg you to explain still further, Mr .-- I have not the pleasure of knowing your name." "Passford, sir, Christopher Passford, midshipman in the United States Navy, and at present third lieutenant of the steamer Bellevite, which you can hardly make out at this moment, though I remember that you have seen her before," answered Christy, telling the whole story, as indeed his uniform had already done, so far as his rank was concerned.
"I am very happy to meet you under present circumstances, Mr.Passford, though I am not yet informed where I met you before." "Perhaps you did not exactly meet me, Captain Carboneer; but, at any rate, we were in the same boat together." "I suppose we met, if at all, on the Hudson, in connection with the Bellevite.

Your people have not been as fortunate to-day with their gunnery practice as on that occasion," suggested the captain.
"Now, Captain Carboneer, will you kindly inform me in regard to the status of this vessel?
Is she a naval vessel, or simply a blockade runner ?" "She is both; and I am sorry for your sake to inform you that you are a prisoner of war." "I supposed I was." "Perhaps you will be willing to inform me what became of Major Pierson and Corny Passford--the latter a cousin of yours, I believe ?" "Like myself, the major is a prisoner of war.

Corny was injured in the disaster to the Vampire, as you are aware; he is also a prisoner, but on parole, remaining at my father's house to be healed." "I have to regret to-day more than ever before that we failed to capture the Bellevite, for I find that she is even faster than the Yazoo," added the captain.
"The Yazoo ?" "Formerly the Killbright, but now the Yazoo." At this moment an officer came up and spoke to Captain Carboneer.