Doubtless Captain Battleton had reported that he had a prisoner on board, though he had not had time to tell the whole story of the investigation, which had probably been postponed to a more convenient time.

Mr.Flint went forward to receive the seamen as they came on deck, and he ordered them to pipe below and leave their bags there.
"Where is your bag ?" asked Mr.Flint, as Christy, the actual commander of the Bronx, passed him.

"What are you doing with a valise ?" "I have no bag, sir," replied Christy in submissive tones.
"Find a bag, for we shall throw that valise overboard," added Mr.Flint.
"I don't think you will, sir, after the circumstances have been explained." Suddenly the officer started back, and began to look very sharply at the presumed sailor.

But the file pressed behind him, and Christy was too glad to move with it to delay a moment longer.

He went below to the familiar quarters of the crew, and saw many of his old seamen still on board, though many of them had been taken to reinforce other vessels.
Christy deposited his valise in a secure place near the door leading into the steerage.