Uninvited he could not gracefully go further.
Walter and I, silent inside, could hear every word that was said.
Bradley spoke first.
"Well, Hen," he said, after the usual exchange of salutations, "reckon I've got here too late."
"For what?" was the natural inquiry.
"Boat. I want to go down to Orleans. The Yazoo City was to have left Vicksburg yesterday evening, and I thought I might catch her at your landing. I suppose I'm too late, as I heard a boat pass, while I was coming through the woods. She was going down; and I reckon it must have been the City."
There was an interval of silence, during which we awaited Henry's response. He made none. The presence of such a guest—under such circumstances—had taken him by surprise; and he was no doubt hesitating as to what he should say.
As Bradley had put no direct interrogatory, he did not stay for an answer; but continued:
"She must have passed here very early—before you were out of your bed. Do you think any of your niggers saw her? They would know if it was the City. They could read the name I reckon?"
"Yes," replied Henry, at length, speaking with evasion. "Some of them did see a boat pass down. It was not the Yazoo City; but an up-river boat from the Ohio, I believe."