They might never meet again in this world, but both of them subdued their emotion, for they were obeying the high and solemn call of duty; both of them were fighting for the right, and the civilian as well as the naval officer felt that it was his duty to lay down his life for his suffering country.

Christy mounted the gangway, and was received by Captain Chantor on the quarter-deck.

He had been on board before, and had taken possession of his stateroom.
The passenger took from his pocket the files of papers given him by the official on shore; and then he noticed for the first time an envelope addressed to him.

The commander retired to his cabin to read his instructions, and Christy went to his stateroom in the ward room to open the envelope directed to him.

As soon as he broke the seal he realized that his father had done a great deal of writing, and he had no doubt the paper contained full instructions for him, as well as a history of the difficult case in which he was to take a part.