American Boys Afloat by Oliver Optic

The Fatimé was not more than fifty feet distant from the Maud, and the voice of the Pacha could be very distinctly heard when he hailed the little steamer by her old name. The reply of Scott must have been equally audible on board of the other steamer, but no attention was given to it. The distinguished Moor could not have helped seeing the name "Maud" on the pilot-house, for he had lived in England, and he could speak and write the language.

Scott had been in his employ at least a week, and he knew something about him. The one thing in particular he had learned about the Pacha was that he was obstinately persevering in whatever he undertook. If he took a fancy to obtain anything, or to accomplish anything, he stuck to it till he succeeded. The engineer and the captain of the Fatimé were Englishmen, though both of them spoke the language of Morocco well enough to enable them to discharge their duties.

Scott had been on board of the Fatimé, and had met and talked with these officers. They were paid much better wages than they could obtain at home, and were satisfied with the positions they held. They told him that, if he learned the language and did his duty, he would make his fortune. The Pacha had a respect for Englishmen; and doubtless he had learned that they would not "stand any nonsense," and that it was not prudent to offend them.

It had been far otherwise with Felipe Garcias, who had been the engineer of the Salihé in the Pacha's employ, for he was a Spaniard, and only eighteen years old. He was very religious; and, like the Mohammedans, he was very strict in the observance of his Catholic duties, and had a high moral sense. The distinguished Moor conducted some very questionable enterprises on board of the little steamer, and when the young man objected to obeying some of his orders, he was abused and maltreated. For this reason he had run away from his Mohammedan employer. It was largely a religious matter with him, while the Englishmen on board of the Fatimé did not trouble themselves or the Pacha about such questions.

"That steamer belongs to me! " shouted the mighty Mohammedan.

"We bought her and paid for her," returned the captain of the Maud; but the remark of the owner of the Fatimé seemed to open a new question.

Louis was startled at the claim of ownership made by the Pacha. Captain Chickworth had told a plausible story of the manner in which he had come into possession of the little steamer, and not a doubt had been raised or suggested in regard to his title in the craft. The young millionaire had not seen Chickworth's bill of sale from the Pacha; but he concluded that he had one, and probably Captain Ringgold had required it to be produced when he paid for her.

"Does he own the craft we are sailing in? " asked Felix, taking in the force of the Pacha's claim.

"Decidedly not," replied Louis. "I have not looked into Chickworth's rights in the steamer, and I never thought of the matter before. Captain Ringgold must have seen the Moor's bill of sale to him, and perhaps has it among his papers now."

"I filed the Gibraltar bills and papers early this morning, and I saw no such paper among them," added Felix, who was the captain's clerk.

"But the trade was not closed till the middle of the forenoon, and you did not see the bill of sale Chickworth must have given to the commander."

"That's so; I didn't think of that."

"I see you, Scott! " shouted the Pacha. "You ran away with Felipe, and stole the steam-launch!"

"That is bringing it home to Felipe and me," said the captain, with an attempt to laugh off the charge; but it was not altogether a success. "That's a lie, which you know as well as I do, Louis."

"Assuredly it is not the truth, and I know that you did not run away with Felipe, for we captured you at Funchal in your Moorish uniform."

"Though Felipe worked for the Pacha at the same time I did, I never even saw him till we met on board of this boat on the voyage from Madeira to Tarifa," protested Scott, who was evidently not a little disturbed by the accusation of the distinguished Moor.

"So I have heard you say before."

"And so Felipe will say. At the same time it is an awkward charge to be accused of stealing the steamer," protested the captain.

"That is true; and if you should be arrested and taken to Tangier, the Pacha would have it all his own way, and you would certainly be convicted. I doubt if they would even give you the form of a trial. But there is an American consul here, and he could make a good deal of trouble for the Moroccan."

"But I have no idea of being taken to Tangier or any other port in Morocco," Scott affirmed in the most resolute manner, shaking his head like a boy who is getting decidedly "mad."