American Boys Afloat by Oliver Optic

The position of honor at the table on the right of the commander was given to Judge Salazar, and Mrs. Belgrave was placed next to him. The consul was on his left, with Mrs. Woolridge beside him. Louis was assigned to the opposite end of the table, with the boys next to him. Mr. Sage and Monsieur Odervie had done their best, and the dinner was praised with great enthusiasm by all the guests.

The judge made himself exceedingly agreeable to Mrs. Belgrave, and gave her a great deal of information in regard to Spain; but the principal subject of conversation was her son, who was "_muy ricos_," and his mother gave him an epitome of the life of the young millionaire, including the recovery of the missing million which had made him so rich.

The commander asked him if any suspicions were attached to the Salihé as concerned in any smuggling ventures. He could only learn that the officers of the customs kept a close watch upon her. Gray said he had engaged her to tow out the Golondrina; but he proved that he was such a liar he could not be believed, or the little steamer would have been seized.

At eleven o'clock in the evening, after the ladies and others had given the distinguished judicial dignitary a specimen of the songs they sang in the churches and evening meetings in America, the judge was sent home in the little steamer, attended by the consul and the commander. He was profuse in his acknowledgments of the pleasure he had derived from his visit, and especially from his dinner, declaring that no hotel in Spain could elaborate such a banquet. The consul had been locked out from his residence in the town at gun-fire, and the invitation to dine had included the tender of a stateroom for his use.

The consul was sent in the Salihé to the Ragged Stairs after breakfast. On her return Louis and Scott found the commander very busy measuring the length and breadth of the little steamer. He was looking her over with the utmost care, and it was evident to the boys that he had some scheme in his head. When he had finished his examination and measurements on board of the boat, he ascended to the deck of the ship, and renewed his employment.

"The Salihé is forty feet long, Captain Ringgold," interposed Louis, with a merry laugh, though he was wondering with all his might what the commander's calculations indicated. "Her standing-room is cushioned with crimson plush, and will seat eight persons comfortably, or twelve with the addition of the tabourets in the cabin."

"Go on, Mr. Belgrave," said the captain, when he was closing the diary from which he had read the description so far, and which he carried in one of his pockets, having written it out while on the trip from Madeira to Tarifa in the little steamer.

"Her cabin is twelve feet long, with four windows on a side, each having a single pane of plate glass, with a table in the middle, and several tabourets. The sides are occupied by broad divans, on which beds may be made, with a full supply of bed-clothes in the lockers under them. She has a miniature pilot-house and a cook-room forward of the engine."

"Excellent, Sir Louis! " exclaimed the commander. "You have written out a very complete description of the craft. Now have you inscribed in your diary whether or not it is practicable to hoist the Salihé upon the promenade deck of the Guardian-Mother?"

"I don't find any opinion expressed on the pages of my diary on that subject, sir," replied Louis, as he put the book in his pocket. "But I should say that it was quite practicable, Captain Ringgold, for I have read that many American men-of-war carry steam-launches."

"But ships of six hundred tons don't carry steam-launches forty feet long; or they did not when I was in the navy," added the commander.

Mr. Boulong and Mr. Shafter, the chief engineer, were sent for, and they appeared at once. The question was put to them. They had their doubts about carrying a steam-launch of the size of the one alongside on the promenade deck; but they considered it possible. She might be blocked up in the middle of the space abaft the smoke-stack, and well secured. The steamer could carry her well enough, though she was a rather large pattern.

While they were talking about the matter, Captain Chickworth came on deck, but he did not join the party, and seated himself out of hearing of what they said. The commander thanked his two officers, bowed to them, and they retired, touching their caps to the captain, for everything on board was done as politely as in a man-of-war, and more so than is sometimes the case.

The commander seated himself in an arm-chair, of which a supply was kept under the awning in pleasant weather, and invited Louis to do the same. Scott walked over and entered into conversation with the owner. It was evident that Captain Ringgold had had some conversation with Chickworth in regard to the subject he appeared to be considering, as indicated by what he had said.

"Sir Louis, you can always see through a millstone when there is a hole through it, and sometimes you can see and read things which are not visible to the naked eye," the commander began. "You can see what I have in my mind."

"With the naked eye, I can," replied Louis. "And the idea is an excellent one, as are all the ideas of the captain of the Guardian-Mother."

"Blarney! But we will be serious now. I have been talking with Chickworth; and I told him, what Judge Salazar informed me, that the customs officers are keeping watch of his steamer. He was startled, and unbosomed himself to me when he found I was not inclined to injure him; but I roundly condemned his permitting smugglers to have the use of the Salihé. He replied that he could not make a living with the boat unless he did so."

"I should think there would be honest visitors enough at the Rock to keep the craft well employed," suggested Louis.