She had received no notice of the approach of a powerful blockade-runner, and she had not a full head of steam when she discovered the Tallahatchie.

Besides, she was one of the slowest vessels in the service.
The black smoke was pouring out of her smokestack as though she was using something besides anthracite coal in her furnaces, and she was doing her best to intercept the Confederate.

She was still firing her heaviest gun, though it could be seen that her shots fell far short of the swift steamer.
"They have seen the Bellevite on board of the Tallahatchie, and she has changed her course," said Graines, while Christy was still watching the movements of the blockader in the west.

"Probably Captain Rombold knows all about the Bellevite, and he is not anxious to get too near her." "She has pointed her head to the south-west, and the Bellevite is changing her course.

I hope we shall not miss her," added Christy.
When the fog bank blew over and revealed her presence on board of the West Wind, the Bellevite was not more than half a mile to the southward, but she was at least two miles to the eastward of her.
"Can we get any more sail on this craft, Mr.Graines ?" asked the lieutenant.
"We can set her two gaff-topsails." "Do so as speedily as possible." Christy went to the wheel, and Graines, with three men at each sail, assisting himself, soon had shaken out and set the gaff-topsails.