were engaged had already become quite exciting, especially as it looked as if the final result was to be determined by strategy rather than hard fighting, for Pawcett and Hungerford could hardly expect to capture the Bronx with only a force of eight men. 104 "Mulgrum is to copy this letter," said Flint, suppressing his laughter. "I have written the letter in order to have something for him to copy, and at the same time to give him and his confederate something to think about," replied Christy; and he could hardly help chuckling when he thought of the effect the contents of the letter would produce in the minds of those for whom the missive was really intended. 105 "Do you think they will swallow this fiction, Captain Passford?" asked the first lieutenant. 105 "Why shouldn't they swallow it, hook, bait, and sinker? They are Confederate agents beyond the possibility of a doubt; and they are looking for a ship in which they intend to ravage the commerce of the United States," replied Christy; and the question had done something to stimulate his reasoning powers. "They want a vessel, and the Bronx would suit them very well." "But they will not attempt to capture her under present circumstances, I am very confident. They know that we have about twenty seamen extra on board." "They know that certainly; but possibly they know some things in this connection that we do not know," added Christy, as he put his hand on his forehead, and leaned over the table, as though his mind were strongly exercised by some serious question he was unable to answer satisfactorily to himself. "What can they know that we don't know in regard to this vessel?" demanded Flint, looking quite as serious as the commander. 106 "Whether our extra men are loyal or not," answered Christy, dropping his hand, and looking his companion full in the face. 106 "Do you think there is any doubt in regard to them?" "I confess that I have not had a doubt till this moment," said the captain, wiping the perspiration from his brow, for the terrible possibility that any considerable portion of the extra men were in the employ of the two Confederates had almost overcome him.
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