"She is made fast to the buoy." "So much the better.

I suppose Captain Folkner did not trouble himself about the forts, Dave, did he ?" Christy inquired.
"Yes, sir, he did; Captain Folkner never slept a wink when he did not have Fort Pickens on his stomach for a nightmare," replied Dave, with a chuckle.
"But Fort Pickens is all of four miles from the entrance to the channel of the sound." "He was in mortal terror of the guns, all the same." "How was it in regard to Fort Barrancas and Fort McRae ?" "Of course they would not fire on his vessel; if he went out in a fog or dark night, he was to burn a blue light; and I reckon you can do the same thing, though I don't believe it could be seen to-night from the forts," replied Dave, who appeared to be willing to make a good use of his knowledge.
"Then I don't think we shall have much trouble in getting out of the bay," added Christy, as he went to the pilot-house, attended by Dave.
Since the lieutenant had declared as unequivocally as he desired who and what he was, the steward did all he could to assist his new master.

He had served Captain Folkner for two months, for he said the commander had lived on board all this time, and he had heard everything that passed between him and his officers and others with whom he had relations.
He was about as well informed as though he had been an officer of the vessel in whom the captain confided all his affairs.

He did not wait to have his knowledge dragged out of him, but he volunteered such information as he saw that the occasion required.
He was a mulatto, and had plenty of good blood in his veins, though it was corrupted with that of the hated race.

He appeared to be about forty years of age, and his knowledge of the affairs of the locality could hardly have been better if he had been a white man, with a quick perception, a reasoning intellect, and a retentive memory.