Of course Christy could not help realizing that he had been successful, however the circumstances had aided him, and he felt sure of his welcome.
The commander of the Bronx was a man that weighed two hundred pounds, and his fat cheeks were immediately distended with laughter as soon as he saw his executive officer hastening towards him.

He almost doubled himself up in his mirth as he looked into the young man's sober face, for Christy was struggling to appear as dignified as the importance of the occasion seemed to require of him.

But the commander restrained himself as much as he could, and extended his hand to the first lieutenant, which the young man accepted, and received a pressure that was almost enough to crush his feebler paw.

In spite of himself, he could not help laughing in sympathy with his superior.
"I am sorry you did not bring it all off with you, Mr.Passford," said Captain Blowitt, as soon as he was able to speak, for his risibles seemed to have obtained complete control of him.
"I have brought it all off with me, captain," replied Christy, though he had not yet got at the point of the joke, and spoke at a venture.
"What, the whole State of Florida!" exclaimed the commander.
"No, sir; I did not bring it all off with me, for I did not think it would be quite safe to do this, for it might set the Gulf Stream to running in a new course, and derange navigation by making all our charts useless," replied Christy, smoothing down the muscles of his face so that he looked as sober as before.
"I thought from the appearance that you had brought it all off," added Captain Blowitt.

"Did I instruct you to bring it off ?" "No, sir; you were considerate enough to say that you did not expect me to capture the whole State, and therefore I have not done it." "But we heard heavy guns this morning," continued the commander, putting on his sober face, for he could be as serious as a judge, though his adipose structure compelled him to be a great joker at suitable times.
"You had no boat guns." "No, sir; but we picked up four twelve-pounder field pieces, which you see, two of them on carriages, on the forecastle of that steamer.