Surveying all these things, he was about to ask information concerning their use, when Lieutenant Sibley, the officer in command, made his appearance, and was introduced to him.
“I am sorry I was not aboard to welcome your arrival, last evening, Mr. Cobb,” he began, in a courteous and pleasing tone of voice, “but I was detained in Central City, across the river, until early this morning. I hope you slept well, and are ready for the trip to Pittsburgh?”
“Not only ready, but anxious for it,” was the reply.
In a few moments more, by order of the Lieutenant, the anchor was raised, and the Tracer moved up the stream, headed E. ¼ N.
As the vessel moved through the shipping, the national colors, which were displayed from its mast, were saluted by the dipping of flags and sounding of whistles.
A hoarse-toned marine whistle, almost at Cobb’s feet, answered these salutations, and also caused that gentleman to jump back with a startled expression.
Drawing his hand from the whistle button, Lieutenant Sibley apologized for frightening him, saying:
“It did not occur to me that I had others aboard than those who are accustomed to these vessels.”
The Tracer was a cigar-shaped vessel of two hundred feet in length by twenty beam, or middle diameter, and of nearly 1,000 tons displacement when submerged.