"She is a large steamer, and she is by no means as jaunty as the Vixen." Both steamers were going at full speed, and it required but a short time to bring them near enough together for something to happen.

She was well down in the water, and appeared as though she might be loaded with something besides the appliances of a man-of-war.

She looked as though she might be twice as large as the Vixen, and it was soon evident that her speed was nothing to boast of.

She certainly was not one of the high-flyer yachts which had been bought up for service in the Confederate navy.
When the two vessels were not more than a mile apart, a column of smoke rose from her waist, as she swung around so that her great gun could be brought to bear, and a shot dropped into the water at least an eighth of a mile short of the Vixen.
"Thank you, sir!" exclaimed Christy.

"Half speed, if you please, Mr.
Fillbrook." The commander went to the long English gun in the waist, to which he had already given a great deal of study, and sighted along the heavy piece.
He had not forgotten when he pointed the gun on board of the Bellevite, the shot from which had disabled the Vampire, and he had some confidence in his ability to put a shot where he wished it to go, for he had brought all his mathematics and all his physics to bear on the matter, though the best gunners must sometimes fail.