American Boys Afloat by Oliver Optic

Captain Ringgold was a powerful man, fully six feet high, and weighing one hundred and eighty pounds, while his assailant, though nearly as tall, was slender in form, and not a strong man. Doubtless he was brave, for he held high rank in the army of Morocco, though he was usually absent on furlough. It was very rash and injudicious for him to attack the commander. He had "caught a Tartar," and he had found it out.

The magistrate did not seem to be impressed by the title or the elegant costume of the Pacha, perhaps because the latter was dabbled with mud, and his handsome face was liberally spattered with the same unsightly element. The commander was lofty in his manner on such an occasion, and full of dignity; and he did make a decided impression on the court and the spectators. He said but little. He had been attacked without any provocation whatever, and he had defended himself.

The Pacha had been educated at the military school of St. Cyr, and he imbibed his duelling propensity in Paris. He pleaded that he had been insulted the night before by the captain of the Guardian-Mother, who had refused to give him satisfaction, and he had treated him as any gentleman should a poltroon.

"But it does not appear that he was a poltroon when you attacked him, for he overturned you and your four servants all in a heap," interposed the Court with a smile.

The Pacha winced at this remark. The magistrate desired to know in what manner the commander had insulted him, and the whole truth came out. Captain Ringgold calmly stated his objections to the character of the Moor, and there was an attempt at applause, in which some British officers took part; but it was promptly checked. He stated on oath that the reputation of the Pacha was so bad in Funchal --

"And in Gib," some persons interpolated.

" -- that I could not permit the ladies in my charge to associate with him," added the witness, who repeated all his remarks that had been offensive to the Pacha.

The Moorish consul promptly paid the fine of his fellow-subject, and they left the court-room together.

"The fellow is a dirty blackguard! " said a military officer to the captain. "He has insulted ladies here; and I am very grateful to you, for one, for chastising him as he deserved."

"I thank you, sir," replied the commander. "I did no more than my duty to those under my charge."

He took the arm of Uncle Moses, and they walked down the street. They had gone but a few steps before they discovered that they were followed by half a dozen officers; but they reached the barge without any further molestation, where they found the ladies already seated in the stern-sheets.

"We have kept you in sight, Captain Ringgold; and if the dirty brute had given you any further trouble, we were ready to throw him overboard," said one of the officers.

"I thank you, gentlemen; I feel able to defend myself; but I appreciate your kindness and sympathy as much as though you had manifested it in the way you have suggested," answered the captain, as he took the hand of the speaker.

While they were waiting for Dr. Hawkes and Professor Giroud, the party were presented to the four ladies in the barge, each giving his name and rank. They were all struck with the beauty of Miss Blanche; and as they retired from the boat, the captain told them that for her sake he had run away from the Fatimé three times. They declared that Gib would soon become too hot for His Highness.

The missing members arrived, and the boat shoved off, the military gentlemen raising their caps, and bowing very politely, while they cried "_Bon Voyage! _"

It was noon when they reached the deck of the ship, for the affair with the Pacha had delayed them a full hour. The steam was up and the steamer immediately tripped her anchor, for it had been "hove short" before, and she began her voyage. In a few minutes she had rounded Europa Point, and the course east by south had been given to the quartermaster at the wheel. The Viking had sailed for Malaga the day before.

"Where do you suppose the Maud is just now, Captain Ringgold? " asked Mrs. Belgrave, the party being seated on the officers' promenade.

"She is just fifteen miles north-west of Alboran Light," replied the commander with a smile.

"I am just as wise now as I was before, and no more so! " added the lady. "I have not the least idea where Alboran is."

"I did not suppose you had. It is a little island half a mile long and a quarter of a mile wide, belonging to Spain, inhabited only by a few fishermen, for there is not room for a great many of them. It is about half-way between Europe and Africa, and one hundred and thirty nautical miles from Europa Point, according to Captain Scott's figures."