"Of course the officers of Fort Pickens are on the lookout for the saucy little craft," added Mr. Blowitt.
"Captain Westover is still on board, and you are to send him to the fort, are you not, Captain Breaker?" asked Christy.
"Yes; as soon as he is ready to go," replied the captain. "He has given all the information he has in regard to the Teaser; but he has not seen her to-day, and he does not believe she is in the lower bay, but that she is somewhere in the vicinity of the Navy Yard."
"If you will excuse me, Captain Breaker, I don't believe she means to come out by the main channel, for her people know that the eyes of the officers of Fort Pickens are wide open," suggested Christy, with a good deal of diffidence.
"How do you think she will come out, Mr. Passford?" asked the captain, with a smile.
"By Santa Rosa Sound, sir," replied the third lieutenant.
"Possibly you are right, Mr. Passford, though I do not think you are," added the commander, thoughtfully. "Santa Rosa Sound is about forty miles long, and there is hardly water enough in it, up and down, to float a raft, to say nothing of a steamer."
But later in the day, the captain called Christy aside, and had a long talk with him, the charts open before them. It certainly did not look like a very hopeful enterprise to take a steamer through such a sound as that described.
"But we have no correct information in regard to the anchorage of the Teaser, and I have decided to obtain it if possible. I propose to send you to look into the matter, Mr. Passford," added the captain, settling the question in that way. "Select your own boat and crew. But if the Teaser gets by Fort Pickens, we may have to chase her to sea, and if on your return you do not find the Bellevite, you and your men will remain at Fort Pickens."
Christy was entirely satisfied with this order.