commander had suggested, they all expected to find the commission and other papers regularly and properly made out and signed.

ular, Mr. Passford," said the captain, as he

not," answered

they have the advantage of those presented by the other gentleman. You appear to be as much surprised as any of the rest of

reflection I may be able to do so," replied Christy, from

of these gentlemen is Lieutenant Christopher Passford," said Captain Battleton; "but we

, of which I was acting commander on her voyage from New York to

er on board with wh

have seen,

sea

any seaman whose fac

voying quite a fleet of steamers and schooners," continued Captain Battleton

" answered Corny, as the wandering g

of the Vixen, I suppose," a

eak for my cousin Corny," replie

dence that I was in command

you in the Vixen and the other vessels," said the captain, raising

med and manned to protect the fle

e officers who served with you i

time," replied Corny, upon whom the gaze of the c

the question;" and the captain pointed a

illbrook," repli

aw that his cousin had fully armed himse

cond lie

es," answered Corny,

o your officers were?" The commander poin

his name and r

second li

Philip

f your voyage home, Lieutenant Passford?"

ured a privateer on the

p a copy of

ports. I have them in my valise," answered

self-possession of his cousin; but he could not understand how Corny would be able

oduce it, Lieutenant Pass

for after I had written it, Mr. Jones copied it for me," Corny explained, and,

eft the cabin to procure the document. "Have you a copy o

in my own handwriting," re

it, if yo

far to go to procure the report, his first draft of th

, Mr. Salisbury," said the captain, while

he dark as I was in the beginning

eon. "It looks to me as though the commiss

ficial documents," replied the commande

large, coarse hand, but it was a fair copy, while Christy's contained several corrections and inter-lineations. No one could recognize the writing of either of the claimants, and the docum

y?" asked the captain, bestowing a b

re, Captain

Conne

ng, ca

my decision," continued the commander, and the cousins retired together, and both of them ap

the captain, when the claimants had retired

is claim to be the true Lieutenant Christopher Passford. The other uses some peculiarly Southern phrases, as though he had been 'raised' in the South, and h

f you please,

bury suggests, outweighs all the rest of the evidence. One or the other of the two men is an impostor, and wit

isfied is a genuine document, is the loyal officer, and entitled to be received as the future commander of the Bronx, I must declare that the other is a Confederate; and not only that, but also

escape that conclusion," r

tain glanced at him, "and I will express no opinion as to the st

ctor, and I hope you will express y

and I should think it would be well to keep a close watch upon both of these officers. Why, on the voyage of the Bronx to the Gulf, Ensign Passford, as he was

r the purpose of taking them from their officers," added the captain. "At the same time, I do not see that

ooked upon his cousin as a Confederate who was serving what he called his country, and he had not the slightest disposition to quarrel with him, and especially not to lead him to utter a

n a standing position. "I cannot go behind the commission presented by the officer who came on board last evening, and I consider

eplied Corny, as he took the papers which the captain

you please, Mr. Passfo

his face did not look like that of one who had just won a decided victory. Christy remained standing where h