Occasionally there were a few raps with a hammer, but the most of them were the orders of the person in charge.
"I don't believe there are more than a dozen men there," whispered Flint.
"More than that, I should say; but even if there are two dozen, it is all the same.

Take off the mufflers from the oars, Beeks," continued Christy.

"Then give way with a will, and run for whatever may come in sight." Beeks obeyed the order, and in a couple of minutes the boat was driving into the gloom at her ordinary speed.

Something came into view a moment later, and it was a small steamer.
"Boat, ahoy!" shouted some one from the steamer.
"On board of the steamer!" replied Christy.
"Are you the pilot ?" demanded the speaker from the vessel.
"Ay, ay, sir," responded the lieutenant.
"I shall not want you now," continued the man on the steamer.
"How is that ?" demanded Christy, as though this was an entirely unexpected reply.
"I have concluded to make my way out through the sound, Gilder." "Then my name is Gilder," added Christy, in a low tone.
"I have a plan of my own, and I reckon I shall make it go," proceeded the captain of the steamer.

"The Teaser don't draw much water, and I know how to help her over the shoal places." "When do you expect to get through the sound ?" asked Christy.
"I don't know when; but I shall get through." "But you will find a blockader at the east end of the island; and then you will be as badly off as you are now," argued Christy.
"I don't believe there is any blockader there.