"Go of herself? Of course not. She is to be driven ahead by her engine as she always is," replied Captain Folkner, suspending the work upon which he was engaged, and trying to see the face of the pilot through the darkness. "How do steamers generally go ahead?"
"If they are screw steamers, they are propelled by the pressure of the blades of the screw," answered Christy.
"And that is just the way the Teaser will be propelled through the sound," replied Captain Folkner. "This steamer is to be a privateer, and I own her. She has cost me about all the money I have in the world, and I don't want to lose her before I get to sea. If I can get into blue water with her, I am not at all concerned but that she will run away from anything afloat."
"How many knots can she do in a smooth sea?"
"Eighteen, and perhaps more."
"Then she is not fast enough for that blockader outside. I saw her at Mobile when she was a big steam-yacht, and they said she had done twenty-two knots more than once."
"I don't believe a word of it; and I am willing to take my chances to run away from her in the Teaser, if I can get out."
"If she is good for eighteen knots, it will not take her more than about two hours to run through the sound," added Christy, very much amused at the talk of the captain and owner.
"I don't expect her to go at full speed in that shallow water," said the enthusiast.
"Do you expect her to go at all when she is hoisted four feet out of water?" asked Christy, hardly able to keep from laughing.