The steamer was hardly in condition to engage an enemy of any considerable force, and Sampson was directed to hurry as much as possible.

Christy had heard of the Bellevite twice since he left her off Pensacola Bay.

She had been sent to other stations on duty, and had captured two schooners loaded with cotton as prizes; but at the last accounts she had returned to the station where the Bronx had left her.
Christy was not so anxious as he had been before the recent captures to fall in with an enemy, for with less than twenty seamen it would not be prudent to attack such a steamer as either of those he had captured, though he would not have objected to chase a blockade runner if he had discovered one pursued by the gunboats.
It was a quiet time on board of the Bronx compared with the excitement of the earlier days of the voyage.

In the very beginning of the trip, he had discovered the deaf mute at the cabin door, and his thought, his inquiries, and his action in defeating the treachery of the second lieutenant had kept him busy night and day.

Now the weather was fine most of the time, and he had little to do beyond his routine duties.