"Your messenger reported that the Trafalgar would sail at three o'clock in the morning, and I judge that she left at about that hour." "Within ten minutes of it, and probably made an arrangement with the commandant of the fort to that effect," added Christy.

"But they do not call her the Trafalgar now; though Weeks was not aware of the fact when I sent him on board.

She is now the Tallahatchie, though I noticed that some in the vicinity of the fort still called her by her old name." "Never mind the name; she will answer our purpose as well under one appellation as another.

When I asked your messenger about you and the other six men of your party, he was unable to give me any information in regard to your movements; and he could not tell me how you had ascertained the hour at which the steamer was to sail," continued the captain.
"Graines and myself separated from the party as soon as we landed on the point; and we had obtained our information before we joined them again on the shore of Mobile Bay, sir.

At the same time we had learned all about the West Wind"-- "The what ?" interposed the commander.
"I mean the schooner West Wind, the one from which we came on board of the Bellevite, which was to be towed out by the Tallahatchie, and which was towed out by her till we on board of her cast off the towline." "Perhaps you had better narrate the events of your expedition _seriatim_, for all you say in this disconnected manner only thickens the mystery," said the commander: and he knew that his officer had an excellent command of the English language, and could make a verbal report in a very attractive and telling style, though perhaps his fatherly interest in the young man had something to do with the matter.
Christy began his narrative with the departure from the ship, passing lightly over the minor details till he came to the meeting with the deserters from the West Wind, bivouacking in the hollow.