by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER II
HARMONY DISTURBED, BUT HAPPILY RESTORED
Morris Woolridge was the first officer of the Maud, and as such he hadcharge of the port watch. The captain had been two hours at the wheel,and it was Morris's turn to take his trick; and the change was made. Atthe same time Felix McGavonty relieved Louis. Although the helmsman wasalways in position to see out ahead of the steamer, the other member ofthe watch was required to serve as lookout on the forecastle.
Except in heavy weather, when all hands were required to be on duty, thewatch not employed had nothing to do, and the members of it could usethe time as they pleased. Sometimes they had lost sleep to make up; butmost of the leisure hours during the day were given to study, for thecommander had stimulated the ambition of the boys so that they wereanxious to be prepared to speak on all subjects that were considered atthe conferences, or lectures, on board the Guardian-Mother.
Regular subjects for special study were given out, always with referenceto the topics of the country that was next to be visited, or was to beseen from the deck of the vessels. After the business of outwitting theenemy on board of the Fatime, which was an episode in the voyage forcedupon the commander and his confidants, the steamers would pass throughthe Suez Canal, and proceed by the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean.
A written list of about a dozen subjects had been given out to thestudents on the wing, as Dr. Hawkes called the class of five whoprofited systematically by the instructions of Professor Giroud, thoughall on both steamers were more or less engaged in study. The first ofthese were the Land of Goshen and Mount Sinai. As the little squadronwas to pass near the territory of the ancient kingdoms of Assyria,Babylon, and Syria, and the more modern realm of Mohammed and theCaliphate of Bagdad, these subjects were to follow later. At any rate,the peripatetic students had enough to prevent their active minds frombecoming rusty.
It was not for two hours that Captain Scott and Louis Belgrave foundanother opportunity to consider the alleged mistake, as the formerregarded it; for the latter belonged to the port watch, and served withMorris. But when the Maud had made twenty miles more, they were togetheragain, with Felix on the lookout; for he was one of the triumvirate onboard in charge of the secret.
Louis took a seat in the pilot-house on one side of the wheel, whileScott was on the other. The Guardian-Mother was not a mile ahead of theMaud. The young captain had already studied up the chart, and thedetails of the manoeuvre contemplated had been already arranged, sofar as it was possible to do so.
"The ship does not seem to be letting herself out yet according to theprogramme," said Captain Scott, when Louis took his place near him, andFelix was using his glass, which had become his constant companion inobserving the movements of the Moorish steamer.
"Captain Ringgold knows what he is about," suggested the other.
"Of course he does; but I supposed he would give his cue by this time,and begin the business of overhauling the pirate," added Scott. "Felix,is the ship stirring up her screw?"
"I think she is, Captain," replied the lookoutman; "but she does notgive the signal yet."
"Keep your ears wide open tight, Flix, for it will come soon. Where isthe pirate now?"
"She is directly in range with the Guardian-Mother."
If the Fatime had not herself been engaged in piratical proceedings, herowner was responsible for the employment of her present commander onboard the felucca Samothraki, in the Archipelago, in an attempt to takeLouis and Miss Blanche, or both of them, out of the Maud; and he mighthave succeeded if Captain Ringgold had not decided to make use of thetwo twelve-pounders on the top-gallant forecastle of the Guardian-Motherat the critical moment.
The commander regarded Captain Mazagan as really a pirate; and he wouldhave proceeded against him as such, if it had not been that doing sowould have broken up his own voyage. With this excellent authority Scottnever called the Moorish steam-yacht anything but a pirate, unless itwas to save too frequent repetition of the ugly word. If CaptainRinggold had been less politic and prudent, his action would have suitedhis junior commander better.
"You don't think I am afraid, though one great mistake has been made inpermitting me to be on board of the Maud at the present time?" saidLouis, while they were waiting for the signal from the ship.
"With no reflection or disparagement upon you of any kind, Louis, I saidjust what I thought, and spoke just what I felt," replied the captain.
"But I don't understand your position at all, Captain Scott. I do notsee that I am in any greater peril than the rest of the ship's company,"added Louis with a very cheerful smile upon his good-looking face.
"I don't forget that you are the sole owner of the Guardian-Mother, andhalf-owner of the Maud, with a million and a half of dollars in yourtrousers pocket. Though we are all earning our living in your service,as well as improving our education, I for one do not lose sight of thefact that we are all dependent upon your bounty for the means ofcarrying on this voyage."
"What has all this to do with what we were talking about, CaptainScott?" asked Louis, very much inclined to laugh out loud at therehearsal of the situation.
"It has this to do with it: I am very much afraid of saying something,or doing something, that will offend you," answered the captain, withmore than usual deference in his tone and manner. "We came very neargetting into a quarrel in Pournea Bay; and if I had forgotten for amoment what you are and what I am, we might have fallen into a jollyrow."
"I acted then as mildly as I could, however, in a matter which you didnot understand then, but do now; and I apologized for my interference assoon as I had the opportunity," replied Louis quite seriously. "I cannotunderstand why you have found it necessary to remind me that I am amillionaire on a small scale, as fortunes are measured in our country,and that I am the owner of the Guardian-Mother. You make it appear asthough I regarded you as my inferior. Have I ever put on airs in myrelations with you, Captain Scott?"
"Never!" replied the captain promptly, and with decided emphasis.
"Have I ever interfered with you in your command, except in the instancereferred to?"
"Never!"
"Have I ever done anything to stultify, degrade you, or impair yourself-respect?"
"Never!"
"Could I have done any different, or been any different, if thebill-of-sale of the Guardian-Mother had been among your effects, and themillion had been in your trousers pocket instead of mine?" demandedLouis with some earnestness; for the words of his friend--and they hadbeen very strong friends--had produced an unpleasant impression upon hismind.
"You could not, Louis! I have made a donkey of myself; you are the bestfriend I ever had in this world," returned the captain with emphasis."But let me say that you have taken me on the wrong tack. I had not theremotest intention of casting the shadow of a reflection upon yourdemeanor towards me. You have entirely mistaken my meaning."
"Then I think you had better explain yourself."
"Since that little affair in Pournea Bay, I have been mortally afraid Ishould say or do something to offend you, or hurt your feelings,"continued Scott. "We are going on what may prove to be a delicatebusiness."
"I don't see how there can be anything delicate about it," added Louis.
"Perhaps that was not the right word for it. But I want to have itunderstood, first and foremost, that I did not remind you of thedifference in our situations because I felt that I had any cause ofcomplaint," said the captain, so earnestly that he was almost eloquent."Without reminding you again that you are a millionaire while I am abeggar, you are the most modest fellow on board, and have always beenwithout any let-up. By your action I am in command of the Maud. On yourpetition I was admitted to the cabin of the Guardian-Mother, where Ihave a stateroom at this moment, and a place at the table when on boardof her, on an entire equality with everybody there."
"Why do you mention these matters, Captain Scott?"
"Only to show that I am not ungrateful for the many favors extended tome," answered th
e young man heartily. "More than all this, I was a badegg when I came on board of the steamer. It was your influence and yourexample, Louis Belgrave, more than even the treatment of CaptainRinggold, which caused me to turn over a new leaf, and try to make a manof myself."
Scott turned away his head, and looked out at the starboard window, andLouis saw a gush of tears fall on the rim of the wheel as he did so. Hehad been about all that is bad which a young man could be when he wascommitted to the care of the commander by his foster-father; but sincehe had been "born again," as he expressed it, he had been thoroughlyfaithful and exemplary, and morally he stood as high as the othermembers of the "Big Four." His reformation had made a new being of him,and when he reverted to it, his feelings overcame him.
"I have said too much, my dear fellow, and I am very sorry that I havehurt your feelings," interposed Louis, after he waited a few minutesfor his emotion to subside. "Only don't remind me that I am a biggerfellow than the rest of you, and we shall never quarrel."
"You have never spoken an unkind word to me since I was born over again,and it was mean in me to say anything which would cut you to the quick.I did not know what I was saying, and I hope you will forgive me."
"With all my heart; for I realize now that you did not mean what Isupposed you did, and you must forgive me for picking you up sosuddenly," added Louis. "Now we will not say another word about thematter. We can't get up a quarrel if we try, and you cannot do or sayanything now that will make me think less of you. There is my hand, mydear fellow."
Louis extended his hand across the wheel, and it was warmly pressed bythe captain. It is possible that Scott had some ideas in his mind inconnection with the present mission of the Maud that would more clearlyhave explained why he had uttered words which seemed to be a reproach onhim whom he regarded as his best friend. He was a young man of eighteen,and had some of the weaknesses that belong to immaturity of age. Thoughhe did not say so, he thought Captain Ringgold was what he considered as"rather slow" in his treatment of the pirate. It would not have beenunlike many very good boys if he had believed he could manage the matterbetter.
"Now, Captain, let us come back to the question that was before us, themistake that was made when I was permitted to remain on board the Maudas she came out on her present mission," said Louis, after harmony hadbeen entirely restored.
"In order to understand why I entertain this opinion, let us overhaul myinstructions from the commander," replied the captain.
"That will be the best way to get at the subject."
"In the first place, we are to engage in an attempt to shake off thepirate; for she is not only a nuisance, but a constant menace to certainmembers of the party," added Scott.
"All that has been admitted by the commander; though, as I happen to beone of the individuals, I may say I have not the slightest fear ofanything the pirate can do."
"You have been through quite a number of perilous adventures, Louis, andyou have got used to such."
"I don't throw myself into such adventures, but I can't deny that theyhave afforded me not a little of exhilarating excitement," replied theyoung millionaire. "It was you who proposed the plan to the commanderwhich was adopted, and we are now to carry out."
"And I hope no weakness in either the ship or the Maud will cause it tobe a failure. At the signal from the Guardian-Mother the Maud is to runfor the island of Cyprus, distance a trifle less than two hundred knots,while the ship is to continue on her course. Then it will remain to beproved what the pirate will do. I think she will follow the Maud, thoughCaptain Ringgold is in doubt about it; and of course I don't feelsure."
"Our machinery was overhauled by the chief engineer of the ship while wewere in Egypt, and it is yet to be shown what speed she can make."
"But the pirate is not good for more than thirteen knots at the most,for we have tried it on with her. In my judgment Captain Mazagan willboard us if he can, and take one of our number out of the Maud; and thatis the reason why I think it was a mistake that you remained with us."
Louis could not yet see the mistake, and did not believe it wasnecessary that the Maud should be boarded; for that would be an act ofdownright piracy.