"What do you
make of her, Mr. Baskirk?"
The executive officer had been observing the steamer astern with his
glass; and she was not more than four miles distant by this time.
"She is a large vessel, I judge, not less than a thousand tons. She has
all sail set and drawing, and she seems to be making very rapid progress
through the water," replied the first lieutenant. "But there are not
less than three steamers pursuing her, though they are a long way astern
of her."
"I make out the chasers, and I should judge that she is getting away
from them," added Christy.
"The leading steamer is turning her head to the south!" exclaimed Mr.
Baskirk, with no little excitement in his manner.
"I only wonder she has not done so before," added the commander,
rejoining the officers of the other steamers. "I believe Captain Wright
of the Muskegon outranks Captain Boyden of the St. Croix," he continued.
"He does, Captain Passford," replied Mr. Amblen.
"If you will excuse me a moment, I will write an order for him;" and
Christy retired to his cabin for this purpose.
His communication directed Captain Wright to take possession of the
Raven, and treat her precisely as though she were the prize of the
Muskegon and her consort; and constructively she was concerned in
the capture of the vessel, especially in the distribution of the
prize-money.
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