"She is either a blockade runner, or a steamer fitted out to prey upon the commerce of the United States." "That seems to be plain enough; and from the position in which we find her, she has come out of the Bermudas, or is bound there," added the commander.

"Bring my glass from my state room," he continued to his cabin steward, who was sunning himself on the deck.
When it was brought, the captain and the executive officer went forward and mounted the top-gallant forecastle.

Mr.Fillbrook procured a glass from the pilot house, and both of them looked long and earnestly at the speck in the distance.

The steamer was hull down, and they soon agreed that she was bound to the eastward.
"We have no business with her at present," said Christy, as he shut up his glass.
"But I have no doubt she has already run the blockade, and came out of Wilmington or Savannah.

If that is the case, she must be loaded with cotton, which contains a fortune at the present time within a small compass," replied Mr.Fillbrook, who had not been as fortunate as some others in the matter of prizes.
"Very likely," replied Christy, rather coldly, his companion thought.
"I do not think I should be justified in giving chase to her, which could only be done by abandoning the convoy." "Could we not pick up the convoy after we had captured the steamer ?" asked the first lieutenant.
"Yes, if some Confederate cruiser does not pick it up in our absence," replied Christy, with a significant smile.
Mr.Fillbrook was evidently very much disappointed, not to say disgusted, with the decision of Captain Passford; but he was too good an officer to make a complaint, or utter a comment.