Your ship has been ably and bravely defended; but it was my good fortune to be able to outnumber you both in ships and in men." Captain Richfield was taken to his state room, and assisted into his berth.

A steward was sent for the surgeon, and Christy and his first lieutenant retired from the cabin.

The captured seamen of the Arran were all sent below, and everything was done that the occasion required.
Christy asked Captain Flint to meet him in the cabin of the Bronx for a consultation over the situation, for the sealed orders of the commander had been carried out to the letter so far as the two expected steamers were concerned, and it only remained to report to the flag officer of the Eastern Gulf squadron.

But with two prizes, and a considerable number of prisoners, the situation was not without its difficulties.
"I hope you are quite comfortable, Captain Dinsmore," said Christy as he entered his cabin, and found his guest reading at the table.
"Quite so, Captain Passford.

I have heard a great deal of firing in the last hour, and I am rather surprised to find that you are not a prisoner on board of the Escambia, or perhaps you have come to your cabin for your clothes," replied the guest cheerfully.
"I have not come on any such mission; and I have the pleasure of informing you that the Confederate steamer Escambia is a prize to the Bronx," replied Christy quite as cheerfully.