THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DECISION  
When Captain Battleton took from the envelope the blank papers, no one seemed to be inquisitive as to the result, for, as the commander had suggested, they all expected to find the commission and other papers regularly and properly made out and signed. Several sheets were unfolded and spread out upon the table, and Christy was hardly more surprised than the others at the table.
 
"Your papers do not seem to be altogether regular, Mr. Passford," said the captain, as he held up one of them so that all could see it.
 
"I see they are not," answered Christy blankly.
 
"But they are enclosed in an official envelope," added the captain, as he held up the cover of the papers. "In this respect they have the advantage of those presented by the other gentleman. 82 You appear to be as much surprised as any of the rest of us, Mr. Passford. Can you explain the fact that you present nothing but blank papers instead of your commission and orders?"
 
"At present I cannot; after I have had an opportunity for reflection I may be able to do so," replied Christy, from whom a more decided demonstration than he made was expected.
 
"It is evident from what we have heard, and from the documents submitted to me that one of these gentlemen is Lieutenant Christopher Passford," said Captain Battleton; "but we have no means of identifying the officer. In what vessels have you served, Mr. Passford?"
 
"My first service was in the Bellevite, and my last in the Bronx, of which I was acting commander on her voyage from New York to the Gulf," answered Christy, to whom the question was addressed.
 
"Is there any officer on board with whom you have served?"
 
"So far as I have seen, there is not."
 
"Any seaman?"
 
"I have not noticed any seaman whose face was familiar to me."
 
83 "If I am correctly informed, you came home as prize master of the Vixen, convoying quite a fleet of steamers and schooners," continued Captain Battleton, looking about the cabin as though the inquiry had become wearisome to him.
 
"I did; you were correctly informed," answered Corny, as the wandering gaze of the commander rested upon him.
 
"Both of you were in command of the Vixen, I suppose," added the captain with a smile.
 
"I was, captain; but I cannot speak for my cousin Corny," replied the possessor of the commission.
 
"I can say with entire confidence that I was in command of the Vixen," added Christy.
 
"A considerable number of officers and seamen must have come with you in the Vixen and the other vessels," said the captain, raising his finger to indicate that the question was addressed to Christy.
 
"Yes, sir; the Vixen was fully armed and manned to protect the fleet of prize vessels she convoyed."
 
"Do you remember the names of the officers who served with you in the Vixen?" asked the captain.
 
84 "I could not very well forget them in so short a time," replied Corny, upon whom the gaze of the commander had again rested as he looked about him.
 
"Very well; perhaps you had better answer the question;" and the captain pointed at Corny. "Who was your first lieutenant?"
 
"Ensign Gordon Fillbrook," replied Corny promptly.
 
This was a correct answer, and Christy saw that his cousin had fully armed himself for his daring scheme, whatever it was.
 
"Your second lieutenant?"
 
"Ensign Frederick Jones," answered Corny, with some hesitation.
 
"Now will you inform me, Mr. Passford, who your officers were?" The commander pointed at Christy. "Your executive officer?"
 
"My cousin gave his name and rank correctly."
 
"And the second lieutenant?"
 
"Ensign Philip Bangs."
 
"Here you differ. Did you make a report of your voyage home, Lieutenant Passford?" continued the captain, pointing at Corny.
 
"I did, sir; for we captured a privateer on the voyage," answered Corny.
 
85 "Did you keep a copy of that report?"
 
"I did, captain; I keep copies of all my reports. I have them in my valise," answered he of the South in a matter-of-fact manner.
 
Christy laughed in spite of the importance of the investigation at the coolness and self-possession of his cousin; but he could not understand how Corny would be able to produce a copy of his report, which was in his valise with several such papers.
 
"I must trouble you to produce it, Lieutenant Passford," added the commander.
 
"Perhaps I ought to say in the beginning that it is not in my own handwriting, for after I had written it, Mr. Jones copied it for me," Corny explained, and, perhaps, thought he might be called upon to give a specimen of his chirography.
 
"That is immaterial," added Captain Battleton, as Corny left the cabin to procure the document. "Have you a copy of your report, Lieutenant Passford?" He pointed to Christy.
 
"I have, captain; and it is in my own handwriting," replied the officer addressed.
 
"Produce it, if you please."
 
He had placed his valise in the gangway, and 86 he had not far to go to procure the report, his first draft of the document, which he had revised and copied at Bonnydale.
 
"I don't think we are getting ahead at all, Mr. Salisbury," said the captain, while the cousins were looking for their reports.
 
"I confess that I am as much in the dark as I ............