Both sailed on the same day, the Scotian from Greenock and the Arran from Leith, March 3." Christy opened his pocket diary, and put his finger on the date mentioned, counting up the days that had elapsed from that time to the present.

Captain Passford could not help smiling at the interest his son manifested in the intelligence he had brought to him.

The acting commander of the Bronx went over his calculation again.
"It is fourteen days since these vessels sailed," said he, looking at his father.

"I doubt if your information will be of any value to me, for I suppose the steamers were selected on account of their great speed, as is the case with all blockade runners." "Undoubtedly they were chosen for their speed, for a slow vessel does not amount to much in this sort of service," replied Captain Passford.
"I received my letter day before yesterday, when the two vessels had been out twelve days." "If they are fast steamers, they ought to be approaching the Southern coast by this time," suggested Christy.
"This is a windy month, and a vessel bound to the westward would encounter strong westerly gales, so that she could hardly make a quick passage.

Then these steamers will almost certainly put in at Nassau or the Bermudas, if not for coal and supplies, at least to obtain the latest intelligence from the blockaded coast, and to pick up a pilot for the port to which they are bound.