One of these was discovered just inside of Palm Key, and the Bellevite opened upon it with her big midship gun.

Two or three such massive balls were enough for the garrison, and they beat a precipitate retreat, abandoning their pieces.
There was water enough to permit the steamer to go into the bay nearly to the town at the head of it.
No other batteries were to be seen, and the Bronx proceeded up the bay, followed by the Bellevite.

When the latter had proceeded as far as the depth of water rendered it prudent for her to go at that time of tide, the Bronx went ahead some ten miles farther.

The boat expedition, consisting of three cutters from the Bellevite and one from the Bronx, moved towards the head of the bay.

Christy, in the second cutter of the Bellevite, was at least two miles from any other boat, when a punt containing a negro put out from the shore near him.
"Are you a frien' ob de colored man ?" demanded the negro as soon as he came within speaking-distance of the cutter.
"Within reasonable limits, I am the friend of the colored man," replied Christy, amused at the form of the question.
"What you gwine to do up dis bay, massa ?" asked the colored man.
"That will depend upon what we find up this bay." "You don't 'spect you find no steamers up dis bay, does you, massa ?" "Do you know of any steamers up this bay, my man ?" asked Christy.