But he was the youngest child of his father and mother; and he had evidently been spoiled by indulgence, so that he was not fit for the stern duties of the present emergency.
The steamer seemed to be very short handed, and doubtless part of the work on board was done by the soldiers, for the tug seemed to be in the employ of the fort.

There was no crew, so far as Christy could judge, except the captain and engineer; and both of these seemed to be invalids, for the latter was so lame he could hardly go.

The soldiers hauled in the fasts, and seemed to be at home with this sort of work.
The Leopard backed out from the wharf, came about, and headed down the inlet, or whatever it was.

She had hardly left the pier before Major Pierson appeared on the quarter-deck, which had been assigned for the use of the prisoners.

His gaze was first fixed on Percy; for the other prisoner was looking astern, in order to obtain some idea of where he was, if he could, for he thought such information might be of some use to him in the future.
"Well, Percy, how goes it now ?" asked the major.
Christy heard the voice, which was the first he knew of the presence of a third person, and he turned about.