The volunteer agent of the Confederate cause was not able to answer any questions in this direction, and the commander did not tell him what more to say.
"Can you tell me who is in command of Fort Gaines at the present time?" demanded Percy, branching out on his own account.
"I can; but I want you to tell me something more about the steamer, before I answer any questions. Is the steamer armed?"
"She is armed; and she could blow your tug into ten thousand pieces in four minutes if she should open upon you," added Percy; and the listeners were of the opinion that he was beginning to use strong speech.
"That may be; but with a fort on each side of you, I don't think you will get into the bay in broad daylight," said the captain of the tug. "The commander of Fort Gaines is in that boat, and I suppose he is coming off to examine the steamer. As you are not disposed to answer my questions, you can wait for him; but if you try to get into the bay, you will find that a shot from both forts can reach you."
"I am an agent of the Confederate government, and my father has been sent to Nassau to obtain vessels for our navy," continued Percy, as he saw that the boat from the fort was still some distance from the vessel.
"Why didn't you say so before?" demanded the captain of the tug rather impatiently. "Of course you have some papers from the agent at Nassau, to show what the vessel is."
"Not a single paper; he had no time to give me any."
"Who is the agent?"
The question was evidently put as a test; for if the young agent, as the captain could see that he was, gave a known name, it would be some evidence that he told the truth.