It had looked for several days as though the enemy were preparing for a movement in retaliation for the destruction of the dry-dock, which was a bad set-back for them.
The getting to sea of the Teaser had no connection with this movement, it appeared afterwards, and if Lieutenant Passford's enterprise had been carried out only an hour or two later, he would have found the situation quite different.

He had sent the most of Captain Folkner's force on board ashore, and had it all his own way afterwards.

He was sorry to leave these men, and the rest of the ship's company of the Teaser, to assist in fighting the battles of the Confederacy, and he was filled with the hope that they might yet be captured.
As soon as the Teaser was well to the southward of the island, Christy gave two short and a long blast on the steam whistle, which was the signal he had agreed to make when he approached the Bellevite, though Captain Breaker had laughed at him when he suggested that he might return in the prize.

The same signal was made in reply, and repeated several times to aid him in finding the ship.

The water was comparatively smooth, and the prize came alongside the Bellevite, where it was made fast.
The lieutenant's first duty was to report to the captain of the Bellevite, and taking Dave with him, he hastened on board.