Christy was quite as happy as Captain Stopfoot had been when he had taken possession of the steamer.
The man at the wheel had been the last to be secured, and Calwood was put in his place, with directions to come about and steer for Egmont Key.
Christy determined not to make the mistake Captain Stopfoot had committed in leaving his prisoners insufficiently guarded.

He selected four of his best men, ordered them to hold the cutlass in the right hand and the revolver in the left, and to keep their eyes on the prisoners all the time.

He then went to those who had been gagged, and removed the handkerchiefs from their mouths.
"I am as grateful to you, Captain Stopfoot, as you were to me less than an hour ago," said Christy, and he removed the gag from his mouth.

"I am happy to be able to reciprocate your complimentary speeches." "I am not aware that I have done anything to merit your gratitude, Mr.
Passford," said the chief prisoner.
"You are not?
Why, my dear Captain, you could not have arranged everything better than you did for the recapture of the Reindeer," replied Christy.
"I did not think that ten men with their hands tied behind them could do anything to help themselves; but you Yankees are very ingenious, and it seems that you found a way to liberate yourselves.

Besides, I had a hand here to watch you, with instructions to call me if there was any trouble," added the captain, in an apologetic tone.
"When the trouble came he was not in condition to call you," the lieutenant explained.
"No, sar! Dem beggars gagged me, and den robbed me of all my money!" howled Quimp, whose greatest grievance was the loss of his fifteen dollars.
"That was hardly justifiable, Mr.Passford," added the captain shaking his head.
"It would not have been justifiable if the rogue had not first swindled me out of the money," replied the naval officer.
"How was that ?" asked the chief prisoner.
Christy explained the manner in which he had encountered Quimp, saying that he had paid him five dollars for the loss of his boat, and ten for the information that a steamer was loaded with cotton and ready to sail behind the long key.
"Quimp is as smart as a Yankee," said Captain Stopfoot, laughing in spite of his misfortune.