Major Pierson immediately left the pilot-house, and did not return.

No stipulations of any kind had been made, and no terms had been imposed upon Christy.

All that he desired was that his father should see him, and know where he was.
No one but himself on board could handle the steamer; and he could not be sent out of the pilot-house, or concealed so that he should not be seen.

On the other hand, it did not seem to him that the officer could do any thing towards capturing the Bellevite.

The major desired to ascertain what force she had, and had asked some questions calculated to throw light on the subject.
If the steamer had come into the bay on a peaceful errand, as Christy insisted that she had, the major might easily believe that she was not armed, and that she had only men enough to man her.