"Quartermaster, ring four bells," he added, turning to the pilot house.
"Four bells, sir," repeated McSpindle, who was at the wheel.
The Bronx soon began to feel the effect of this order, and the smoke poured out in increased volume from the smokestack, affected by the stronger draught produced by the additional speed.
"On the topsail yard!" called the captain, directing his speaking trumpet aloft.
"On the bridge, sir!" replied the man.
"Can you make out the steamer ?" "No, sir; only her topmasts and fore rigging." "How does she lie from the Bronx ?" "Still on the starboard bow, sir." "Port the helm, quartermaster," added the captain.
"Port, sir," replied McSpindle.
For about five minutes more, the Bronx went ahead at full speed, and Christy was confident that she was again making fifteen knots.
"On the bridge, sir!" called the man on the fore yard.
"Aloft!" "I make her out now; she has the Confederate flag at the peak." "All right!" exclaimed Christy to himself, though he spoke out loud.
The steamer had set her colors, and there was no longer any doubt in regard to her character.

The flag also indicated that she was not a blockade runner in the ordinary sense of the word, but a Confederate man-of-war.

Warnock reported that she had taken her armament on board from another vessel at some point south of England, and the colors also assured Christy that the steamer was one of the pair expected.
Still the Bronx went ahead at full speed, and presently a gun was heard from the direction in which she lay, though the captain was unable to decide what it meant.

It might be a signal of distress, but the man on the yard had not reported the colors as union down; and it might be simply a defiance.

It was probable that the Scotian and Arran had put in at St.George, and it was more than possible that they had shipped a reinforcement to her reported small crew.
"Aloft!" called the captain again.
"On the bridge, sir!" replied the lookout.
"Is the steamer under way ?" "I think not, sir; but I can't make out her wake, it is so low." "Starboard a little, quartermaster." "Starboard, sir." Christy heard, or thought he heard, for he was not sure about it, the sound of a bell.