better, which indicated that he had been sick. He was confounded by the situation, for he had not been sick an hour, and he had never seen the

n board, and his denial of his identity, were still in his mind, and he wondered whether or not all these strange circumstances had any connection.

ly new to him. He was quite confident that he had never seen the commander before. There was something rather ludicrous in the situation, and he felt as though

but with the exception of the first signs of a cold in the head, I never was better in m

derfully since last evening

ct, I am not in quite so good condition in a sanitary point of view as I was last evening, for I took my col

into his face as if to ascertain if he was not the victim of a practical joke. But naval officers on duty are not given to pleasantri

rd of the Vernon last evening?" asked the commander, with something

evening," answered Christy, his smile becoming still more decided; and if he had not been on the quarte

evening!" exclaimed Captain Battleton, gazing

tly, though he was amused rather than disq

did

y father's house at Bonnydale last night, took my breakfast there this morning, and was in

aze upon the planks on which he stood, possibly considering

on board of the Vernon not more than an hour ago," continued Christy, willi

f your reply to my question," said the commander, fearing that he had overstat

t at the perplexity in which both of them were involved. "

me on board of the

cally I

ot sick las

I am at this moment," replied

," said Captain Battle

plexes you. I was ordered to be on board of the Vernon at one o'clock, and I found her under way at eleven. I happened to find a boatm

in your stateroom this m

Vernon, and I respectfully suggest that it was quite impossible for you to have called upon me this morni

ed the commander, using a smile to cover any possible doubts or suspicions in his mind. "When I called at the stateroom of the officer who reported on board last evenin

er to this effect?" aske

fficer told me at the yard that it would be safe for me to obey the

. It appears that Lieutenant Passford has already reported to you," s

to be considering what Christy had suggested to him in regard to his orders, and the passenger had a minute or two to think of the situation in which he found himself placed. But what was the use to think of

r he had deliberated a few minutes. "I have stated the facts to you; and the deduction I hav

be a correct deduct

bushel. I have not the honor to be personally acquainted with him, and therefore I am u

isely

e or the other of them must be an impostor,"

ectly justified in calling upon both for all the evidence they are able to present. I suggest that each of them must carry his commission about him, as well as his orders from the departmen

when the evidence should be required of the two claimants of the name. At the same time he felt that h

ssford, and I must say that you seem to

r when he came on board last evening, and you have visited him in his stateroom to-day. Do I look enough like him to

-deck for the first time, I had no doubt you were the officer

fficer in the navy who resembled me so closely," added Christy more bewildered t

reputation of the real Lieutenant Passford is a bold man, and even, i

being some other person. May I ask when it will be convenient for you to settle the questio

ll not brand you even in thought until the evidence warrants me in doing so," replied the commander,

astonished to find his patient was not in his room below. "I left him not five minutes ago, for I have not yet been able to discover what ails him. He complained of a severe head

t," replied Christy, laughing heartily. "I came on board only

tient, and you will excuse me for giving you a headache. B

ssford," interposed Captain Battleton.

and began to consider