A few minutes later came the bell to stop her, and then two bells to back her.

Dolly managed the machine properly and promptly, and seemed to be at home in the engine room.

The color of his skin was a sufficient guaranty of his loyalty, but Christy remained below long enough to satisfy himself that Dolly knew what he was about, and then went on deck.
By this time the noise on shore had become more pronounced, and he saw the dark forms of several persons on the wharf.

Flint and Amblen were making fast to the nearest schooner, and a couple of seamen had been sent on shore to cast off the fasts which held her to the wharf.

This was the work of but a moment, and the two men returned to the steamer; but they were closely followed by two men, one of whom stepped on the deck of the schooner.
"What are you about here ?" demanded the foremost of the men, in a rude and impertinent manner.
"About our business," replied Christy, with cool indifference.
"Who are you, young man ?" demanded the one on the deck.
"I am yours truly; who are you ?" "None of your business who I am! I asked you a question, and you will answer it if you know when you are well off," blustered the man, who was rather too fat to be dangerous; and by this time, Christy discovered that he wore something like a uniform.
"I will try to find out when I am well off, and then I will answer you," replied Christy.
"All fast, sir," reported Flint.
The commander of the expedition, turning his back to the fat man, went forward to the pilot house..