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"I acknowledge that I was altogether too brusque with you, Mr. Passford, and I beg your pardon for my rudeness," said Mr. Galvinne. "I am entirely satisfied, Mr. Galvinne; and here is my hand," added Corny, who doubtless felt that he had fully vindicated himself. "I have been living on a hot gridiron for the last ten days, and in the first moments of freedom I overstepped the limits of propriety.
"It means that we were alarmed, and could not stay in the house any longer," said Florry, taking it upon herself to answer. "Your father has not come home yet, Christy, and I don't think he will come to-night, for he said he might not be able to return in the last train," added Mrs. Passford. "We came down to the shore with two of the men, and saw Mr. Watts when he arrived on the horse."
"Perhaps you can tell me, then, what that boat in the waist is for," Christy began, in a very pleasant tone, and in his most agreeable manner, perhaps copying to some extent the Parisian suavity, as he had observed it in several visits he had made to the gay capital. "I can tell you all about it, Mr. Passford, though that is my grand secret.
If you will make yourself at home on board of the Bronx, I will read these papers in my cabin," said the captain, as he went below. "I think Mr. Passford and I shall not waste any time while you are engaged, captain," replied Mr. Vapoor.
Blowitt's recovery, Captain Breaker," added Christy. "I am afraid there is not. Dr. Linscott has very little hope that he will live. But we have no time to mourn even for our best friends. You have captured a steamer and brought her out; but I saw that you were coming up from the southward when I first discovered the steamer. What does that mean, Mr. Passford?"
"Undoubtedly they were chosen for their speed, for a slow vessel does not amount to much in this sort of service," replied Captain Passford. "I received my letter day before yesterday, when the two vessels had been out twelve days." "If they are fast steamers, they ought to be approaching the Southern coast by this time," suggested Christy.
"Perhaps it will be of interest to you to know that Private Passford, formerly of my command, was the one who was severely wounded on board of the Vampire." "Corny!" exclaimed Mrs. Passford. "I am sorry to say that he was struck on the shoulder by a fragment of the machinery," replied the major, very politely, as he bowed low to the lady. "Poor Corny!" ejaculated Miss Florry.
"I shall pretend to be a prize of the Bellevite long enough to distract the attention of the fleet," added Lonley, impatiently. "I don't understand these things, and I shall leave you to manage the affair as you think best; but I beg you will use all proper caution," continued Colonel Passford. "Here are the ship's papers.
But he evidently considered just then that he was in the presence of the ladies, and perhaps that the flash of his eagle eye would not kill his tormentor, as the young man seemed to have become. "I am your prisoner, or somebody's prisoner, Captain Passford, and the tables are turned against me. Of course, you don't expect me to give information that will be of use to the enemies of my country."
Certain personal and social matters had to be spoken of, and Paul had to ask about Florry Passford first, and Christy's father and mother afterwards, though there was no news to tell. "What are those vessels off there, Christy?" asked Paul, pointing to the Havana and the schooners. "They are our prizes," replied the first lieutenant. "Did you have to fight for them?" "A little, not much.
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