"We did."
"And you met my father there?"
"I did not meet him, but my father did."
"I understood that my father bought this steamer, or that he bargained for her in some manner, for the use of the Confederacy."
"I was not present at the interview between your father and mine, and I do not know just what passed between them."
"And I understood that he sent Percy to act as a sort of agent for the delivery of the vessel; though it still puzzles me to comprehend how my father should do such a thing, especially when he knew that the boy would be arrested as a deserter if he showed his face anywhere near Mobile."
Christy felt that his tongue might be a dangerous member, and he was not disposed to talk about the matter at all. All the information which the major had derived from Captain Passford and others had been accepted from inference; for the owner of the Bellevite certainly had not said that the steamer was for the use of the Confederacy, and he would have blown her up rather than admit any thing of the sort.
"It looked to me as though every thing was all right about the steamer, or I would not have let her pass the fort; and the commander at Fort Morgan was as well satisfied as I was, after I had explained the situation to him."
Major Pierson looked at Christy as though he expected him to talk on the subject before them; but the latter would not say any thing, for he saw that he was in an extremely delicate position. He made some sort of answers, but they amounted to nothing.
"I cannot understand why Captain Passford has moved the Bellevite from the wharf," continued the major.