If the captain of the steamer was a fool, the mate was not, for he saw the folly of resisting a United States force.
"Mr.Carlin, you will remain on deck with the men; Mr.Passford and Mr.
Gilfleur, may I trouble you to come into the cabin with me ?" continued Mr.Birdwing, as he led the way.
The executive officer seated himself at the table in the middle of the cabin, and his companions took places on each side of him.

The first paper drawn from the case was the clearance of the Ionian for Wilmington, with a cargo of old iron.

The manifest had clearly been trumped up for the occasion.

The old iron was specified, and a list of other articles of merchandise.
At this point the executive officer sent for Mr.Carlin, and directed him to take off the hatches and examine the cargo, especially what was under the pieces of machinery.

There were several letters to unknown persons, and one in particular to the captain himself, in which he was directed to deliver the machinery to a gentleman with the title of "Captain," who was doubtless a Confederate agent, in St.George's, Bermuda.