BROTHER AT WAR WITH BROTHER Captain Passford was very much annoyed at the absence of Christy at that particular moment, for it seemed to be heavily laden with momentous events to him and his family; though Christy could not possibly know what had transpired in the library between the two brothers.

He waited very uneasily in the hall, after his return from his search.
Homer Passford did not come out of his library, and he sat brooding over the remarkable interview which had taken place between the brothers.

No doubt he would have been glad to believe that he had been wrong; for he had nothing but the kindest feelings in the world towards his brother, and had never had in all his life.

He was five years older than Horatio; and, in their earlier life, he had been to some extent his guardian and protector, and he had never lost the feeling of boyhood.
But he had proved himself to be a patriot of the severest type, and proposed to rob his brother of his steamer, his only means of conveying his daughter to his home, for the benefit of the fraction of the nation which he called his country, and more to prevent her from being transferred to the navy of the Union.
While the captain was waiting in the hall, the library door opened, and Homer presented himself.

He invited his brother to return to the apartment, for he had something to say to him; but Horatio positively declined to do so, fearful that they might come to an open rupture if the exciting discussion was continued.
"But you will hear me a moment or two, will you not, Horatio ?" asked Homer; and his lips quivered under the influence of his active thought.
"I will as long as that," replied Horatio.
"I have been thinking of the subject of our conversation in relation to the Bellevite; and I have something to propose to you, which I hope will satisfy you, and at the same time will not rob our Government of what now belongs to it." "I am listening," added Horatio, as Homer paused to note the effect of his proposal.
"You did not tell me how you got by the forts in your steamer, and perhaps you are ready to do so now." "I am not ready now; and I am not likely to be ready at any future time to do so, Homer.