"Is that you, Christy?" asked Paul.
"Of course it is," replied the middy. "We are wasting time."
"He hasn't the word," added the sentinel.
"Pass him, Sampson; he is all right," said the engineer; and Christy rushed up the steps, and leaped down upon the deck of the steamer.
"I gave out a word for all who had to leave the ship for any purpose during the evening," Paul explained.
"Never mind that now," interposed the midshipman in command. "Have you plenty of steam on?"
"Enough to give her fifteen knots," replied the engineer. "The cable is buoyed, and the long gun loaded. I believe everything is in perfect order to carry out your instructions, though we did not point the gun when we loaded it, for I thought you would prefer to do that yourself," the engineer reported.
"All right, Paul," added Christy. "The steamer, whose name is the Vampire, is on her way up the river, and I should say she would reach the bend in about half an hour. Mr. Watts is down there, and I have arranged certain signals with him."
The midshipman made a careful examination for himself of the ship.