Isles of the Sea by Oliver Optic

On the last day of the month, the academy squadron sailed into the harbor of Funchal, arriving from the Canaries in advance of the mail-steamer which sailed from Southampton six days before. The vessels anchored off the Loo Rock; for it was intended by the principal to remain only long enough to take on board the ship's company of the Ville d'Angers, when the mail-steamer came in.

She did not appear till afternoon; and no one went on shore till that time, not even Don Roderigue, his wife and daughter; for they had been so hospitably entertained, that they were disposed to prolong their stay on board of the Marian as long as possible. The family were even considering an invitation of Judge Rodwood to visit the Western Islands in the steam-yacht. At two o'clock, when the mail-steamer came into the harbor, Mr. Fluxion and Mr. Pelham, each in the first cutter of the vessel under his charge, went to the packet, to receive his portion of the Ville d'Angers' ship's company.

The two vice-principals went on board of the steamer as soon as it was allowable to do so. Great was their astonishment when the purser informed them that no such passengers as those they described were on board of the packet.

"They went to Portsmouth in the steamer Ville d'Angers, towing the wreck of the Castle William," added Mr. Fluxion.

"Oh, yes! I know all about them! " exclaimed the purser. "They picked up the steamer; and she was sold to settle the salvage. The odd gentleman they called a prince bought her; and the ship's company which brought her there sailed in her for Funchal on the 21st of the month, three days ahead of this packet."

Mr. Pelham was sent to the American Prince to report this news, while Mr. Fluxion hastened up to the city to see the agent of the principal, who was his banker. This gentleman informed the vice-principal that Capt. O'Hara had visited his office three days before; and, when the banker told him the fleet had gone to the Canary Islands, he had departed, leaving no intimation of his intentions. On inquiry later in the day, he learned that the Ville d'Angers had sailed for Santa Cruz, Teneriffe. Mr. Fluxion hastened to the principal with this intelligence. Mr. Lowington was confounded by it.

"Then they are still roaming over the ocean in that steamer," said he. "I have no agent or banker in Santa Cruz; and I left no word there as to the destination of the squadron. O'Hara will not be able to obtain any information as to where we are, or are to be."

"I don't see that any harm can come to them: they are in a good vessel, and have proved, by their voyage to England and back, that they know how to handle it," said Mr. Fluxion, laughing. "I suppose Mr. Frisbone is still with them; at any rate, Capt. Fairfield is; and they are attending to their studies, the same as they would if they were on board of the schooners."

After thinking the matter over, Mr. Lowington was reconciled to the situation. The Ville d'Angers had been gone three days and a half from Madeira. It was time for her to return, even if she followed the fleet to Palma, which had been the last island the squadron had visited. The students were allowed to go on shore in the afternoon, and escort Don Roderigue and his family to their home. A feast was provided for them in the evening, and Dona Maria was as fascinating as ever. But in the evening they bade the family adieu, not expecting to see them again, for they had decided not to go to the Azores in the Marian.

At noon on the following day, as the Ville d'Angers did not appear, the squadron was ordered to sail at once for the Western Islands. The principal left orders with his banker for the steamer to follow him if she put into Madeira again. It was the first day of the month, and the offices were distributed on board of the Prince; but, as one-third of the ship's company of the other vessels were absent, the award of positions was assigned to an early day after the arrival of the Ville d'Angers' people.

"But what shall I do? " asked Judge Rodwood, when the principal had issued the order to sail at once.

"You can do as you think best, judge," answered Mr. Lowington. "If you run over to the Canaries again, you may possibly find this truant steamer."

"As we have just come from there, I don't care to go again," replied the judge. "I think I shall follow you; for I am sure the truants will find you in the end. I am out for a cruise; and I intended to visit all these islands on my way home."

The Marian followed the squadron; and, after a comfortable run of four days, the fleet anchored off the town of Horta, in the island of Fayal. As the wind was east, the vessels had smooth water; and the students were assembled at once to hear Professor Mapps's talk about the Azores.

"The Azores are about two thousand miles from Boston, the direction being a little south of east. And the Prince or the Marian would make the voyage in six days, while our schooners, with a smashing breeze all the way, would do it in eight or nine. These islands have received various names; and people now call them indifferently the ‘Western' and the ‘Azores. ' They are the most western of the four groups of islands lying nearest to the Western Continent; and this explains the first name. The other word comes from the Portuguese _acor_, a hawk; and I suppose the early settlers found that bird here. The Portuguese word is _acores_, with a mark like a comma under the _c_, which makes it sound like an _s_. They have also been called the Flamingos, or Flemish, the latter being the Portuguese for the former. They were so called from the people of Flanders who settled here.