He suggested to the captain that he had made no arrangement with these officers, and he was not quite sure that they would be willing to do duty now that the steamer was a prize.
"There will be no trouble about them, for they are Englishmen, engaged at Nassau, and they will do duty as long as they are paid for it, as they have no interest in the quarrel between the North and the South," said Captain Stopfoot; and Christy could not help seeing that he was making everything very comfortable for him.
"We are willing to work for whoever will pay us," added the chief engineer, "and without asking any hard questions." "I will see that you are paid," returned Christy.

"You will attend to the bells as usual, will you ?" "Yes, sir; we will do our duty faithfully," answered the chief.
Christy and the captain proceeded to the pilot-house, which appeared to have been recently added to the vessel to suit the taste of her American owners.

The naval officer stationed one of his own men at the wheel, and then took a careful survey of the position of the steamer.

He directed his crew to cast off the fasts.
"Is there a United States flag on board of this craft, Captain Stopfoot ?" asked Christy.
"To be sure there is, Lieutenant," said the captain with a laugh; "but I do not get much chance to get under its folds." "Of course you have Confederate flags in abundance ?" "Enough of them," replied the commander, as he drew forth from a signal-box the flags required.

"What do you intend to do with these ?" "I intend to hoist the United States flag over the Confederate to show that this steamer is a prize, otherwise the Bellevite might put a shot through her as soon as she shows herself outside of the key," replied Christy.
"A wise precaution," added Captain Stopfoot.
The naval officer rang one bell as one of his men reported to him that the fasts had been cast off, and that all was clear.