THE FIRST SHOT OF BLUMENHOFF Captain Breaker watched the Tallahatchie with the most earnest attention; and it was not five minutes after he had given out the new course before she changed her direction, though not to the south, but enough to carry her clear of the Passes of the Mississippi.

Paul Vapoor was still crowding the engine to the utmost that could be done with safety, and he spent no little of his time in the fire room, personally directing the men in the work of feeding the furnaces.
It was evident to the commander that his ship was gaining on the Tallahatchie, at least a knot an hour, as he estimated it, and the chase could not now be more than four miles distant.

This was within the range of her Armstrong gun, if it was of the calibre reported by Bokes, whose information was mere hearsay, and was open to many doubts.
"She is changing her course again, Captain Breaker," said Mr.Ballard, who had been observing the chase with the best glass on board.
"Probably she has discovered a man-of-war in the distance," added the captain.
"I cannot make out anything to the westward of her," said Mr.Ballard, who had directed his glass that way.
"She knows very well that she is liable to encounter a Federal ship on the course she is running.

How does she head now ?" "As nearly south as I can make it out." "Then we have made something on her by going to the south south-west in good season; and I am sorry I did not do it sooner," replied the commander, as he went into a fine calculation, estimating sundry angles, and figuring on the gain he was confident he had already made.
"I think she is headed due south now, Captain," said Mr.Ballard.
"So I should say, and we are headed a little too much to the westward.
Make the course south by west half west, Mr.Ballard." This course was given to the quartermaster conning the wheel.

For another hour the two steamers kept on the course taken, at the end of which time the captain believed they were within three miles of each other; and the appearance, as viewed by skilful and experienced officers, verified his estimate of the relative speed of both--that the Bellevite was gaining about a knot an hour on the chase.
They had hardly agreed upon the situation before a cloud of smoke was seen to rise from the waist of the Tallahatchie, followed by the report of a heavy gun.