ON BOARD OF THE BELLEVITE The crisis was at hand; for the Dauphine was darting in between the Leopard and the Bellevite, between father and son.

On the port rail of the former, as if ready to leap upon the deck of the tug, were at least twenty men; and, for the first time, the plan of the enemy became apparent to Christy Passford.
He hastened to the hurricane deck of the Leopard, where he could see more clearly; and it was evident to him that the question before them would be settled within a very few minutes.

If he and his companions fell into the hands of the enemy, nothing less than a severe fight with the Dauphine, perhaps aided by the Belle, on the part of the Bellevite could undo the mischief.
Christy was disposed to leave nothing to be undone.

Rushing into the pilot-house, he seized the wheel, and threw it over, determined to redeem the fate of the tug while he could.

Captain Pecklar had crowded on all the steam he could, and doubtless the boat was doing her very best.