"I don't see how he could do otherwise than select you, Christy." "You are chaffing me, Paul, as you do sometimes," said Christy with a smile.
"Then the expression of my honest opinion, which is also the opinion of every other officer in the ship, is chaffing you," retorted the engineer.
"I am satisfied; and I am sorry I said a word," added the subject of all these remarks.
"It is a very important and responsible situation to which you are ordered, Mr.Passford," said Captain Blowitt, putting on his dignity again.

"Not a few steamers fitted up in part for service as Confederate men-of-war, in spite of neutrality treaties, are expected on the coast.
You have diminished the number by two, and I hope you will be able to make a still further reduction of that fleet.

We have three vessels to send on for condemnation, and your orders will inform you that there are several others, including another steamer, at Key West; and a Confederate armed steamer could easily recapture the whole of them.

You will have to protect a fleet of at least seven vessels; and this command ought to satisfy your ambition.

You will also have charge of a despatch bag, to be forwarded to Washington at once; and this must not fall into the hands of the enemy.