AN UNDESIRED PROMOTION As Christy unlocked the cabin door, he discovered a negro lying on the deck, as close as he could get to the threshold.

The man attempted to spring to his feet, but the officer seized him by the hair of the head, and pulled him into the cabin.
"Here, Calwood, put your hand over this fellow's mouth!" said Christy to the quartermaster, who laid violent hands on him, assisted by Norlock.
The latter produced a handkerchief, which he thrust into the mouth of the negro, so that he could not give the alarm.

All the men were alert and eager to wipe out the shame, as they regarded it, of the disaster; and those who had been stationed near the cabin had certainly been wanting in vigilance.

Two of them seized a couple of the lines with which they had been bound, and tied the arms of the negro behind him.
A second look at the negro assured Christy that it was Quimp, and he was more mortified than before at the trick which had been played upon him.
Thrusting his hand into the pocket of the fellow, he drew from it the three sovereigns and the three shillings he had paid him for his boat and his information.

It was evident enough now that he belonged to the Reindeer, and that he had been sent out by Captain Stopfoot to do precisely what he had done, taking advantage of the general good feeling which prevailed between the negroes and the Union forces.
Christy thought that Captain Stopfoot had been over-confident to leave his prisoners without a guard; but it appeared now that Quimp had been employed in this capacity, though it was probable that he had been instructed not to show himself to them, and for that reason had crept to his station and lain down on the deck.
"Now, my men, take your arms from that bale of cotton; but don't make any noise," said Christy in a low tone, as he took his revolvers and cutlass from the heap of weapons; and the seamen promptly obeyed the order.