"You will not be lost as long as I know where you are," added the major with a chuckle.
"Are you coming back to-day, major?"
"I don't know when I shall return. All you have to do is to obey orders, and leave all the rest to me."
"Shall I be all alone on board?"
"That young fellow at the wheel will remain on board; but you are not to mind what he says to you. Do you understand that?"
"I reckon I do," replied Spikeley.
"My brother, who was down here a little while ago, will also remain on board; and Captain Pecklar will be in his room, for he cannot leave it. That is all that will be on board. But no one will bother you, unless it should be the fellow now at the wheel; and he can't do any harm as long as you don't start the engine for him."
"I reckon I won't start the engine for him, or anybody else but you, major. You can bet your commission on that," added the engineer, with more vim in his speech than he had used before.
"All right, Spikeley; and I will see that you don't lose any thing, if you are faithful to your duty. You must keep a sharp lookout for Passford: that's the young fellow at the wheel. He is the only one that can do any mischief, and I would not have him go near that steamer for a thousand dollars."
Christy thought he understood what was in progress; at any rate, he dared not remain any longer away from the wheel, and he returned to the pilot-house. Percy was still interested in his occupation. He was steering the tug very well for a beginner, and his brother was too busy organizing his expedition to notice that the steering was a little wild; for the waves caused the boat to yaw somewhat in the absence of a skilled hand at the helm.