American Boys Afloat by Oliver Optic

Louis was willing to pay for the use of the Salihé; but the customs officers on the other side of the bay had some suspicions in regard to her, and the commander would not permit him to pay anything; besides, the little steamer was wanted to convey the witnesses to Algeciras. Chickworth received the report that Gray and his associates had actually captured the boat with consternation. He was invited to go over with the witnesses in the afternoon; but he declined to do so. The captain thought it more than probable that he had been concerned in contraband operation with Gray.

Chickworth departed with something worse than a flea in his ear, and the commander and Louis went down to breakfast. The moonlight excursion and the conflict with the outlaws were the subjects of conversation at the table. Louis took a great deal of pains to set forth that Sir Scott, as he called him in retaliation for the application of the title to himself, was the hero of the occasion. The process of lassoing the stout smuggler excited a great deal of interest, and was unanimously regarded as a brilliant operation, both in its conception and execution.

"I am confident that we should have been utterly defeated if Sir Scott had not solved the difficult problem of how to overcome Gray," said Louis with enthusiasm.

"His achievement with the hand-saw was not altogether lacking in brilliancy," added Dr. Hawkes.

"That was not original, like the lasso," replied Louis.

"It was original in its application to this particular case, and he is entitled to none the less credit," suggested Uncle Moses.

"I wish to do something for Sir Scott in response to the high commendation of Captain Belgrave," said the commander.

Uncle Moses threw himself back in his chair, and shook his two hundred and twenty-six and a half of avoirdupois with laughter when he heard his ward dubbed as a captain. His mother laughed too, and so did most of the party.

"Has my son become the commander of the Guardian-Mother? " asked Mrs. Belgrave.

"He has not formally taken the command of her; but as the owner of the steamer, he has an undoubted right to do so when he pleases," replied Captain Ringgold. "I wish to do something for Sir Scott: what shall it be, Louis?"

"Call him Captain Scott, and never again call me Captain Belgrave," replied Louis.

"You were in command of the Salihé, Sir Scott says, and I have no command to give him, so it is hardly proper to call him captain. What can I do for him?"

"He is now a diligent student, and behaves himself like a gentleman on all occasions; and I think he can be promoted to the cabin very properly, so that the big four may be all together here," suggested Louis.

"I must put that to vote, for all may not approve of this addition to the cabin party," replied Captain Ringgold, asking those in favor to manifest it by raising the right hand.

All the hands came up very promptly, and Scott was formally admitted to the family circle. Sparks was sent to procure his attendance; and when he appeared, the commander made a speech at him, commending him for his gallantry in the action of the previous evening, and informing him that henceforth he was to occupy stateroom No. 14, and the corresponding place opposite Morris Woolridge at the table.

Scott blushed, as he had recently learned to do, and made a little speech in reply, expressive of his thanks for the "distinguished honor" conferred upon him. It was discovered then that he could manage his tongue as well as his hands with the lasso, and he was vigorously applauded when he took his place at the table. After the party rose, Sparks showed him to his stateroom, and he was delighted with the elegant apartment.

Louis gave him a seat with the cabin party under the awning of the promenade deck aft, where they assembled at the request of the commander. Scott now felt that he was the equal of the other fellows, and this had been the only thing which touched his pride, of which he had his full share. He was relieved from duty as a quartermaster, for he had had little or nothing to do in this capacity, unless Bangs or Twist happened to be sick, which was a very rare thing.

Captain Ringgold soon joined the party with a paper in his hand; and Dr. Hawkes initiated a round of applause as he seated himself, for the paper indicated that he was about to give what the surgeon called a lecture, but which the captain insisted was only a talk.

"I suppose you know all about Gibraltar, or Gib as many English people abbreviate it, ladies and gentlemen," the commander began.

"I know next to nothing about it, Captain Ringgold," added Mrs. Belgrave.