He had counted upon the fog to insure his salvation; but it appeared to have been the primary cause of his capture, though he certainly had not been as vigilant as a commander should be.

Christy came on board, and Mr.Baskirk introduced him.
"I am glad to see you, Captain Passford," said the commander as a matter of form.

"I was absolutely sure that you would chase me to the westward, sir; and I had not the slightest expectation of encountering you on this course." "I took my chances of finding you in this direction rather than in the opposite one," replied Christy.

"It appears that I correctly interpreted your strategy, though I dared not even mention my plan to my executive officer." "I have fallen into my own trap, and being captured as I was, is disgraceful to me," added Captain Winnlock, as his name proved to be; and the steamer was the Watauga.
Christy's opinion of the capture did not differ from that of the commander of the prize, but he made no remark upon it.

The Watauga was loaded with cotton, which was to be sent to England from Nassau, while the steamer was to go on a cruise in search of defenceless merchantmen of the United States.
"I have a passenger on board, Captain Passford, who bears the same name that you do, and possibly he may be one of your relatives, though he is by no means a Federalist," said Captain Winnlock.
"Indeed! May I ask his name ?" replied Christy very much surprised.
"Colonel Homer Passford, sir." "My uncle again!" Mr.French, the master, had already been appointed prize-master; and while Mr.Baskirk was making the arrangements for her departure for New York, Christy accompanied the captain to the cabin.