Isles of the Sea by Oliver Optic

When Professor Primback heard the noise of lowering the boats into the water, he wrote a formal order to the captain not to send away any portion of the ship's company, unless it was to bring off the passengers of the steamer. He signed his name in full to this document, and sent it on deck by one of the stewards. Wainwright took the paper, read it attentively, and then put it into his pocket. He took no further notice of it.

The senior professor evidently supposed that no notice would be taken of the order, and he seemed to be aware that he had no means of enforcing his commands; for he went to his state-room, and made no further demonstration. He did not even speak to Dr. Crumples about the matter.

As the crew of the steamer had taken the boats with them when they abandoned her, the second and third cutters of the Tritonia were to be retained by the party. In half an hour they were all on board the steamer, with the boats hoisted up at the davits. O'Hara reported what had been done on board of the Tritonia to Mr. Frisbone, and informed him that he had been appointed captain of the steamer, or, at least, of the party sent to assist in saving her.

"Capt. O'Hara, I greet you! and the captain of the Tritonia could not have selected a better captain, without speaking ill of the other officers; for I know how well you managed some very difficult business in Italy last fall," said Mr. Frisbone. "Now will you introduce me to the rest of your officers?"

O'Hara presented them one at a time, and the American Prince shook hands with each. When he came to Mr. Alexander, he gave one of his loud and hearty laughs.

"I thought I was to be chief engineer," said he, wringing the hand of Alexander; "but I am willing to place myself under your orders, Mr. Chief Engineer."

"He is the chief engineer as far as our party is concerned," O'Hara explained. "Though Capt. Wainwright is the commander of the Tritonia in name and in fact, so far as doing duty is concerned, yet the vice-principal is really the captain. If you please, Mr. Frisbone, we shall all regard you as the principal, on board of the steamer."

"All right, Capt. O'Hara," replied the Prince, who seemed to take great delight in giving the young officers their full titles, and using them often.

"I shall be glad to take my orders from you; and the chief engineer will do the same," added O'Hara.

"Possibly the chief engineer knows more about running an engine than I do; and I know more about building them than I do of running them."

"Of course I shall give in to you, sir," said Alexander.

"Thank you; but do you really know any thing about an engine, Mr. Alexander? " asked Mr. Frisbone, in his teasing tone.

"Two years ago I was assistant engineer on a screw steamer about the size of this one," answered Alexander.

"And how old were you two years ago?"

"I was eighteen, sir. My father received a legacy from an uncle in Scotland, which made him a rich man; and then I was sent to this institution to finish my education. I had worked two years in a machine-shop before I went to sea at all. I think I can run an engine, sir."

"I have no doubt you can; in fact, I believe these young gentlemen can do any thing that anybody can," added Mr. Frisbone, laughing heartily; and sometimes no one could imagine what he was laughing at.

"The second engineer ran a stationary engine when he was twelve years old, in his father's shop," continued O'Hara, when he had presented this officer.

"And I was engineer of a small steam-yacht when I was fourteen," added Richards.

"All right, young gentlemen; and I shall have nothing to do but sleep in the cabin, and take care of the women-folks," chuckled the Prince.

"I think some of our officers will be quite willing to assist you in that part of your duty," said O'Hara lightly. "Upon my loife, the young lady is as beautiful as the lovely Giulia Fabiano; and, by the powers, that's saying a great dale!"