A Millionaire at Sixteen by Oliver Optic

Louis and the captain stopped in the social hall at the head of the stairs, with a door on each side of them. It was provided with divans in every practicable place, and contained quite a library. Passing through one of the doors, they entered what was called the _boudoir_. It was quite a roomy apartment, with an upright piano between the doors, and the after part was a half-circle.

The entire sides and round end were composed of thick plate-glass, so that the _boudoir_ had the appearance of a conservatory, and it had a stand of plants in the centre. It was furnished with arm-chairs and _tête-à-têtes_. The captain explained that the windows were provided with shutters, which could be put on the whole or a part of the openings in very stormy weather, though he thought they would seldom be needed.

"You ought to be able to make yourself comfortable in this _boudoir_," said Captain Ringgold, when the owner had examined the room. "It is the finest apartment I ever saw on board of a vessel, not excepting the steam-yacht of the Queen of England."

"I had no idea of such magnificence before," replied Louis with enthusiasm. "I am sure I can make myself a great deal happier here than I was on that sandbank. You mentioned the name of Mr. Boulong while we were below."

"Formerly of the Blanche," answered the commander with a smile. "I found that the Guardian-Mother had a full crew on board, selected with the greatest care by Colonel Singfield himself, with the exception of a captain and first officer, who had accepted other positions rather than wait for the sale of the steamer. I had decided to take the command myself, if my owner did not object."

"Of course your owner would not object," laughed Louis. "You are the gentleman above all others I should have selected if it had been left to me."

"Then I am all right, and I am sure we shall be friends. I shall follow all your directions as though you were an older person than I am; but I suppose you will allow me to advise you when necessary, especially on nautical subjects."

"On all subjects, Captain Ringgold; and I shall be infinitely obliged to you for your counsels," added the owner warmly.

"Squire Scarburn has unlimited confidence in you, Louis, and he did not even instruct me to look out for you."

"But I hope you will do so all the same."

"I don't intend to treat you as though I were your schoolmaster. I called upon Mr. Woolridge yesterday to thank him for the use of the Blanche; and when I mentioned that I was in need of a mate, he at once suggested Mr. Boulong. He had been captain of a steamer; but his wife was very sick, and he had been forced to resign his place. He deserved a better place than mate of a yacht like the Blanche, and he recommended him so warmly that I took him. He is a thorough sailor, and understands his duties as officer; in fact, he is competent to command the Guardian-Mother."

"I like him very much, and I am glad you took him."

The captain opened one of the doors of the _boudoir_, and they passed out to the main deck, where all the officers except the second engineer were assembled. They were all dressed in yacht uniforms, looked very trim and nice, and Louis was disposed to fall in love with them all in a bunch.

"Mr. Belgrave, you are already acquainted with Mr. Boulong; but I have the pleasure of presenting him to you as the first officer of the Guardian-Mother," said Captain Ringgold, as they confronted the mate.

"I am very glad indeed to meet you in that capacity on board of this steamer, Mr. Boulong," added Louis, as he gave his hand to him. "We have been friends in the past, and I am sure we shall be in the future."

"Thank you, Mr. Belgrave; I shall endeavor to do my duty faithfully. Allow me to congratulate you on being the owner of the finest steam-yacht that ever sailed out of New York," replied the chief officer.

"Mr. Belgrave, allow me to introduce Mr. P. Lord Gaskette, the second officer of the steamer, who is not only a gentleman and a scholar, but a full-fledged sailor," continued the commander very pleasantly. "He is a graduate of Columbia College, speaks French, German, Spanish, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Dutch like an organ-grinder."

"I am very happy to know you, Mr. Gaskette, and I certainly ought to appreciate your linguistic accomplishments," replied Louis, as he shook hands with the second officer. "I have no doubt your seamanship is equal to your skill in the languages."

"Hardly, Mr. Belgrave, for the captain has overdone himself on the languages," added Mr. Gaskette, as he took the offered hand of the owner. "I was a teacher of languages when my health failed. I have been to sea for twelve years now, three of them as first officer of a ship. I shall be happy to do everything in my power to make your life on board of the Guardian-Mother as agreeable as possible."

"Thank you, Mr. Gaskette; I have no doubt we shall be friends," said Louis in French.