American Boys Afloat by Oliver Optic

Felipe Garcia, as the engineer of the Maud, had now a tremendous stimulant in the discharge of his duty, and Louis was only afraid he would overdo it. When the boat seemed to be in danger of shaking herself to pieces under the pressure applied to her, he went to the engine-room to inspect the steam-gage.

"No danger," said Felipe confidently; and the visitor could find none in the gage.

He cautioned the engineer to be very careful, assuring him that it would be worse to be scalded to death with the steam than to be captured by the Pacha. Felipe shook his head, and seemed to have some doubts about the truth of the proposition. Louis went back to the pilot-house. He informed the captain that the engineer was driving the engine "for all it was worth."

"I have been running for that tower on Point Malabata," said the captain, as Louis placed himself at the window.

"You are going very close to the shore, and you can see for yourself that the tide is getting low," said Louis, after he had taken an observation ahead.

"So much the better," added Scott. "I suppose the soundings on this chart are given at mean low water, as on all the others I have used."

"Low water would be very mean if we should get aground here," suggested Louis, who could not help being a little nervous about the boiler and about the close proximity of the shore.

"We shall not get aground, for I have my eyes wide open, Louis, and I know what I am about as well as I do when I take my grub on an empty stomach. Don't you be alarmed, my boy, and that non-eater of pork will go back to Tangier beaten out of his boots, or rather his Morocco slippers, for he don't wear boots."

"I hope you will be a true prophet in this instance, Captain Scott."

"A truer one than Mohammed ever was in spite of his reputation in Tangier and Mogadore as such."

"But you are really running her on the shore, Scott! " exclaimed Louis; and it looked to him as though the Maud was actually going over the point ahead.

"Not a bit of it, my hearty," replied the captain, who appeared to be in most excellent spirits in spite of the peril that menaced the little Maud.

He was in some such a mood as a gambler in an exciting game, or a number at base-ball, who are working for victory. Scott was the principal player in the present stirring game; and he was not only playing for victory, but to save himself and the engineer from the clutches of the Pacha.

"It looks as though we should be high and dry on the shore in five minutes more," added Louis.

"You are looking at the point around a corner, Louis. The flag-pole on the stem is your range. Just oblige me by stepping over to the other window, and take an observation from that position," said the captain, as confident as ever.

"That makes it look different," added Louis, after he had complied with the captain's request. "But you are running exceedingly close to the shore, any way."

"That is just what I mean to do," protested the captain warmly. "Now will you just keep watch of the Fatimé, if you please, for we have come to an exciting point in the game."

"A very exciting point, I should say; but with me the point is whether or not you are going to run the Maud on shore," replied Louis, as he changed his position for one at the rail, where he could obtain a full view of the chaser. "I beg to remind you, Captain Scott, that if we get aground, as I am afraid we shall, the Pacha can send off his boats with an overwhelming force, and make prisoners of the whole of the Maud's ship's company."

"I am well aware of it without any prompting," added the commander.

"You will excuse me, Captain Scott, for saying as much as I have, for I know that it isn't regular or proper to criticise the commanding officer; but I am really nervous about this business," Louis explained.