On the sofa abaft the wheel was Lieutenant Dallberg, where he had dropped asleep as he finished his report of what he had learned on shore.
"Mr.Dallberg!" shouted Percy; but the lieutenant did not show any signs of life till the messenger had shaken him smartly.

"Major Pierson wants you down below." The officer rubbed his eyes for a moment, and then rose from the sofa, and left the apartment.

The summons for the lieutenant made it look to Christy as though something was in progress below.

There was only one thing which the major could think of doing; and that was to capture the Bellevite, either by force or by strategy.

He would have given a good deal to know what the plan was, but it seemed to him to be quite impossible to leave the wheel.
"How is the sick man, Percy ?" asked Christy, when he found that the messenger was not disposed to leave the pilot-house.
"He is a good deal better: they have just given him another glass of brandy," replied Percy.
This statement did not agree with that of the major, who had told him the captain was likely to die, and that there was not a drop of brandy on board of the boat.