The steamer was painted black, and, as she had been built after plans suggested by her owner, she was peculiar in her construction to some extent, and her appearance baffled the curiosity of the active Confederate patriots and speculators alike; for both classes were represented there, though not yet in large numbers.
Captain Passford had instructed the commander to conceal all the facts in regard to her, and no flag or any thing else which could betray her nationality or character was allowed to be seen.

The business of obtaining the needed stores required many of the officers and men to go on shore, but all of them were instructed to answer no questions.

No one was allowed to come on board.
"Good-morning, my friend," said a young man to Christy, as he landed on the day after the arrival.
"Good-morning," replied the owner's son, civilly enough, as he looked over the person addressing him, who appeared to be a young man not more than eighteen years old.
"What steamer is that ?" continued the stranger, pointing to the steam-yacht.
Christy looked at his interlocutor, who was a pleasant-looking young man, though there was something which did not appear to be quite natural in his expression; and he suspected that he had been placed at the landing to interrogate him or some other person from the steamer, in regard to her character and nationality.

Possibly he derived this idea from the fact that he had himself been employed on a similar duty at St.
George.
"Do you mean that schooner ?" asked Christy carelessly, as he pointed at a vessel much nearer the shore than the Bellevite.
"No, not at all," replied the stranger.

"I mean that steamer, off to the north-east," replied the young man, pointing out into the bay.
"North-east ?" added the owner's son.