The YOUH& Navigators 
 
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ALL-OVER-THE-WORLD LIBRARY 
 
 By OLIVER OPTIC 
 
 Illustrated, Price per Volume $1.25 
 
 FIRST SERIES 
 
 A MISSING MILLION 
 
 Or The Adventures of Louis Belgrave 
 
 A MILLIONAIRE AT SIXTEEN 
 
 Or The Cruise of the Guardian Mother 
 
 A YOUNG KNIGHT-ERRANT 
 
 Or Cruising in the West Indies 
 
 STRANGE SIGHTS ABROAD 
 
 Or A VovAGE in European Waters 
 
 SECOND SERIES 
 AMERICAN BOYS AFLOAT 
 
 Or Cruising in the Orient 
 
 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Or The Foreign Cruise of the Maud 
 
 OTHER VOLUMES IN PREPARATION 
 
 any volume sold separately 
 
 LEE AND SHEPARD Publishers Boston 
 
J 
 
Kkki- okk, Cai-iain Ma/.acjan 1 "' I'a^^c 142. 
 
All- Over- the- IVorld Series 
 
 The Young Navigators 
 
 OR 
 
 THE FOREIGN CRUISE OF THE MAUD 
 
 u. 
 
 OLIVER OPTIC 
 
 AUTHOR OF THE ARMY AND NAVY SERIES YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD " FIRST 
 
 AND SECOND SERIES " THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES " " THE GREAT WESTERN 
 
 series" "the WOODVILLE stories" "the ONWARD AND UPWARD 
 
 series" "the lake shore series" " the yacht-club series" 
 "the riverdale stories" "the poat-builder series" 
 
 " THE blue and the GRAY SERIES " " A MISSING MILLION " 
 " A MILLIONAIRE AT SIXTEEN " " A YOUNG KNIGHT- 
 ERRANT " "strange SIGHTS ABROAD" 
 "young AMERICANS AFLOAT " ETC. 
 
 BOSTON 
 LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS 
 
 ID MILK STREET 
 1894 
 
Copyright, 1893, uv Lee and Siiepard 
 
 All Eights Reserved 
 
 The Young Navigators 
 
 ELKin-ROTVi'iM; r.Y C. J. Pktkrs t Si>n 
 
 I'BKHS OK S J. PaRKUII.L ><! C<). 
 
TO 
 CAPTAIN CHARLES L. CALLOWAY 
 
 Commander of the Steamship Cienfuegos 
 WITH WHOM I MADE TWO VERY PLEASANT VOYAGES 
 
 TO THE 
 
 SOUTH SIDE OF THE ISLAND OF CUBA 
 
 Cfjfs Folume 
 Is Respectfully and Gratefully Dedicated 
 
PREFACE 
 
 "THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS" is the second 
 
 volume of the second series of " The All-Over-the- World 
 Library," and contains not only the continuation of the 
 voyage to foreign lands of the Guardian-Mother, but 
 also has dovetailed into its historical and descriptive 
 matter a stirring story, which might stand alone if 
 it were not likewise illustrative of the manners and 
 customs of far-off countries. 
 
 " Tlie Foreign Cruise of the Maud/' the consort of 
 the Guardian-Mother, sailed by the young navigators, 
 which forms the subsidiary title of the book, begins 
 at Constantinople •, and the greater portion of it is in 
 The Archipelago, describing visits to various islands, 
 with some exciting adventures among them. The voy- 
 age is continued to the Piraeus — from which Athens is 
 explored, — around the Peloponnesus, and to the 
 head of the Gulf of Corinth, where some attention is 
 given to the city in which St. Paul lived for a time, — 
 to Parnassus and Delphi, and then to the Ionian 
 Islands, the story ending at Zante. 
 
VI PREFACE 
 
 While the two steamers are at anchor among the 
 islands, or passing them on their cruise, the com- 
 mander and the professor rehearse the historical 
 events connected with them, the latter relating the 
 mythological stories suggested by the several locali- 
 ties. The story of the Trojan war is told with 
 Mount Ida in sight, and the wonders of Delos are 
 rehearsed while the tourists are gazing at the deserted 
 island. The events of ancient history, and the myths 
 of the age of fable, are narrated " on the spot," which 
 gives to them an additional interest. The writer has 
 sailed through the ^gean Sea, and personally real- 
 ized what it is to be in the midst of the scenes 
 described three thousand years ago in the foundation 
 works of the literature of the whole world. 
 
 Since every island, country, sea, strait, and channel 
 abounds in historical, classical, and mythological in- 
 terest, it was quite impossible to exhaust the fountain; 
 and the narrative could include but a comparatively 
 small portion of the subjects upon which libraries 
 have been written, and this is a work for young 
 people as well as for their elders. 
 
 The writer is somewhat embarrassed by the fact 
 that he has already been over nearly all the ground 
 covered by the present volume in the " Young America 
 Abroad" series; and while it could not be entirely 
 avoided, he has not been inclined to repeat himself. 
 He has, therefore, in the three months' voyage of the 
 
PREFACE Vll 
 
 Giiardiaii-Motlier, during which, she visits many of 
 the southern ports of Europe, attended by the Maud, 
 disposed of this portion of the voyage with a simple 
 mention. In this connection the author can only 
 refer those of his readers who desire a fuller descrip- 
 tion of the countries of Europe to the twelve volumes 
 of the '^ Young America Abroad " series, which con- 
 tains an epitome of the history and a narrative of 
 travel in each and all of these nations. 
 
 The publishers have decided to issue three series 
 of four volumes each, the twelve books forming " The 
 All-Over-the-World Library." The steamers of the 
 little fleet are now waiting at one of the mouths of 
 the Mle to resume the pleasure excursion, as it has 
 proved to be, around the world ; and the next volume 
 of the second series, " Up and Down the Nile, or 
 Young Adventurers in Africa," will present the voy- 
 agers in new lields of information, and in the midst 
 of some stirring events. 
 
 WILLIAM T. ADAMS 
 
 Dorchester Mass. September, 1893 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER I. PAGE 
 
 Something about Greek Pirates and Others . . 1 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 An Epitome of the Guardian-Mother's Cruise . 10 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 A Question on Board of the Maud 21 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 The Voyage through the Sea of Marmora . . 28 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 The Speed of the Samothraki - . 37 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 A Confidential Mission Ashore 46 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 An Evening in a Turkish Cafe 55 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 An Interview with Captain Mazagan .... 64 
 
 ix 
 
X CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER IX. PAGE 
 
 Theough the Dardanelles by Day 73 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 "A Yankee Ship and a Yankee Crew" .... 82 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 The Professor goes through the Trojan War . 91 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 Geography and Mythology on the Spot . . . 100 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 The Commander's Extraordinary Precautions . 109 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 A Situation which is Somewhat Exciting . . . 118 
 
 CHAPTER XY. 
 The Maud nears the Danger Point 127 
 
 CHAPTER XYI. 
 Coming into Close Quarters 136 
 
 CHAPTER XYII. 
 The Samothraki loses a Point 145 
 
 CHAPTER XYIII. 
 The First Shot of the Guardian-Mother ... 154 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 The Battle with the Felucca 1(33 
 
CONTENTS XI 
 
 CHAPTER XX. PAGE 
 
 Revealing the Momentous Secret 172 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 The Examination of Captain Mazagan .... 181 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 At Anchor off the Holy Mountain 190 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 The Monasteries of Mount Athos 199 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 Approaching the Doro Channel 208 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 "Where Burning Sappho Loved and Sung" . . 217 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 A Thousand-Dollar Temptation 226 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 How THE Fugitive was recaptured 235 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 "Place me on Sunium's Marbled Steep" . . . 244 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 Something about Modern Greece 253 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 The Plain Speech of Captain Ringgold .... 262 
 
Xll CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. page 
 
 The Wonders of the Acropolis 271 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 Monsieur Ulbach puts in an Appearance . . . 280 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 A Night Excursion to Port Munychia .... 289 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI Y. 
 At the Head of the Gulf of Corinth .... 298 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 Mount Parnassus and the Oracle 307 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 The Conspiracy becomes Active 31G 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 The Result of the Battle in the Road .... 326 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 The Fate of the Conspirators . 335 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Frontispiece 
 
 53 
 
 117 
 
 "The Captive Seized the Weapon" . 
 
 "A Turkish Cafe Well, Filled with Sailors" 
 
 The Felucca 
 
 "Keep Off, Captain Mazagan ! " 142 
 
 "Good Evening, Captain Mazagan" .... 185 
 "The Noose went over the Head of the Swimmer" 241 
 "They soon Obtained a View of a Couple of Masts" 302 
 " Help ! Help ! he shouted "...... 325 
 
THE YOUNG NAVIGATOES 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 SOMETHING ABOUT GREEK PIRATES AND OTHERS 
 
 *^ I KNEW a fellow ill Von Blonk Park that ate so 
 much turkey on a certain festive occasion that it 
 made him sick; and he never wanted any more 
 turkey after that/' said Louis Belgrave to the rest 
 of the party that were voyaging around the world 
 in the Guardian-Mother. " I am something like that 
 young man, for I don't want any more Turkey." 
 
 "Why, Louis, Constantinople was one of the cities 
 of the world that we were all most anxious to reach ! " 
 replied his mother with a smile at the apparent in- 
 consistency of her son. 
 
 " It was just that way with the fellow that ate the 
 turkey. He looked forward with the most delightful 
 anticipations to a plate piled high with slices of the 
 bird ; but it sickened him all the same. That is just 
 my case," continued Louis. " We have spent two 
 weeks in these waters, and tramped all over the city, 
 looking at dirty streets and dirty Turks, till I am 
 
 1 
 
2 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOKS 
 
 tired of both; and I am glad ^ve are going to some 
 other locality." 
 
 " I did not expect such a remark as that from you, 
 Louis/*^ added Captain Ringgold, the commander of 
 the steam-yacht owned by him wlio had taken Turkey 
 enough. '' I thought you were having a very pleasant 
 time, especially when you were sailing through the 
 Bosporus and the Golden Horn, with an occasional 
 run out into the Sea of Marmora in the Maud." 
 
 " You mention only the part of this visit which I 
 did enjoy very much indeed," answered Louis, who 
 was usually a well-contented young man. ^' But Sordy 
 had to clean my shoes every time I put my foot on 
 shore. It is a nasty place ; and I shall be glad to 
 visit some other, as a corrective, where you can 
 walk without wading through the mud." 
 
 " I believe it has rained liere about every night since 
 we let go the anchor in the Golden Horn," said the 
 commander. " It was the rain which made the mud." 
 
 " I beg your pardon. Captain, but the rain did not 
 make more than half of it ; and a Kilkenny Greek 
 might as well try to make mortar out of water alone, 
 without lime and sand, as the Ottoman mayor and 
 aldermen of this village to make mud without the 
 hlth in tlieir streets. Why, we have been like so 
 many August flies Avading through the contents of 
 a swill-barrel ! " 
 
 ^' The frequent rains, which for our comfort and 
 convenience almost invariably came in the niglit, 
 have made the streets exceptionally dirty." 
 
ABOUT GREEK PIRATES AND OTHERS 6 
 
 " Are they ever exceptionally clean, Captain ? " 
 
 " I have been here twice before, and I found the 
 streets in much better condition than they have been 
 the last two weeks. But I am sorry you have failed 
 to enjoy your visit to Constantinople, my boy," added 
 the commander. 
 
 " I don't say that. Captain E-inggold ; on the con- 
 trary, I have enjoyed it. Do you think the fellow 
 I quoted did not enjoy the eating of his turkey be- 
 cause it made him sick in the end ? In fact, he en- 
 joyed it so much that he overdid the thing. We have 
 certainly seen a great many sights that we could not 
 have found in any other place, and we have learned 
 more about the Ottoman Empire than I ever knew 
 before, though I shall not set up for a Turkeyologist 
 even now." 
 
 "But you ought to be tolerably well posted in 
 Turkeyology by this time, for I noticed that you 
 studied the ancient relics in the place very atten- 
 tively." ■ 
 
 " All that I want to say is that I have had enough 
 of it. I think the Sultan ought to take an occasional 
 walk through the streets of his capital, especially 
 from the landing-place up to the Eue de Pera, so that 
 he might see what is most needed to make the town 
 decent," said Louis, as he rose from his arm-chair and 
 walked over to the side of the ship. 
 
 It was very early in the morning, not yet sunrise ; 
 for the tourists around the world had been called to 
 obtain a better view of the Sea of Marmora than they 
 
4 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 had had in the night when they passed through it 
 before, as well as to take a last look at the great city 
 of the Sultan, beautiful and glorious in the distance, 
 but losing all its charms upon close inspection. Some 
 of Rubens's paintings which appeal to the very soul 
 when studied at a proper distance become dabs of 
 paint when seen within hand-reach. 
 
 The anchor of the Guardian-Mother had been " hove 
 short ; " and she was ready to sail as soon as Mr. ]\Ie- 
 lancthon Sage, the chief steward, returned with some- 
 thing which had been forgotten the day before. He 
 had gone ashore in the Maud, and had already been 
 absent a considerable length of time. The commander 
 was becoming impatient, for he desired to reach a 
 certain place before dark. The steamer and her con- 
 sort were to cruise the next two or three days in the 
 Archipelago, and it was to be done mostly in the day- 
 time so that his passengers could see the islands. 
 
 The captain followed Louis over to the side of the 
 ship to look out for the Maud, as he had done a 
 dozen times before within the last quarter of an hour. 
 He was a man six feet high, with a commanding 
 figure, and of great dignity ; and thougli he was one 
 of the most kind-hearted men in the world, he could 
 discharge a disagreeable duty with stern firmness. 
 
 "I suppose Mr. Sage had to call some dealer in 
 ship-stores out of his bed in order to obtain what he 
 wanted," said the captain. " I hope he Avill make 
 short work of it." 
 
 " He is so precise and methodical that I am sure 
 
ABOUT GREEK PIRATES AND OTHERS 5 
 
 he must have some good reason for his delay," added 
 Louis. " There she goes again ! " exclaimed he, 
 hastening across the deck to the side of the ship 
 nearest to the Bosporus. 
 
 "What is it, my boy ? " asked the commander, join- 
 ing him at the side ; for the exclamation excited his 
 attention. 
 
 " Do you see that felucca, Captain ? " asked Louis, 
 as he pointed to a craft that was passing out of the 
 Golden Horn, headed up the Bosporus. " I suppose 
 she is a felucca, though she is not just like the one in 
 which some of us made a trip off the Canary Islands. 
 She is three times as big as that one." 
 
 " She is a felucca fast enough, for the big lateen 
 sails are the distinguishing feature of that sort of 
 craft. You have seen them all along the Mediter- 
 ranean." 
 
 " That one must be about fifty feet long." 
 
 " All of that. The inshore vessels of this section, 
 and through the Archipelago, are built like that, and 
 they are used to carry cargo." 
 
 " She has a rudder at each end, like a ferry-boat." 
 
 " Some of them are built in that way, for they can 
 head in the opposite direction without coming about. 
 But what made you sing out and rush over to this 
 side of the steamer when you first saw her ? Is there 
 anything very strange about her ? " 
 
 " I have seen her three, if not four, times before 
 this morning," replied Louis. " She seems to keep 
 the Guardian-Mother in sight all the time. She runs 
 
6 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOES 
 
 up the Golden Horn to the pontoon bridge, then starts 
 back without turning her hull, and runs by us up the 
 Bosporus." 
 
 " They may be sailing for the fun of it, or a pur- 
 cliaser may be trying the felucca," suggested the 
 commander. 
 
 " They have come out very early in the morning to 
 sail for the fun of it." 
 
 '^ The people in these parts are not much more 
 than half civilized, and they don't lie abed till break- 
 fast-time in the morning, as our passengers in the 
 cabin do. It is the early bird that catches the worm, 
 and the owner of that felucca may have found some 
 one who wishes to buy him out." 
 
 " When I saw her the last time she passed, I could 
 have thrown a biscuit on her deck," added Louis. 
 
 " That is a very nautical expression, but you should 
 have said you could shy a biscuit on her deck," said 
 the captain, laughing. 
 
 " I stand corrected, though I do not suppose I am 
 yet as salt as a barrel of pickled pork. There she 
 is, getting on the other tack again ! " exclaimed Louis, 
 as he saw the skipper, or whoever was steering the 
 felucca, rush from one end of the craft to the other, 
 while the crew dexterously shifted the two sails over, 
 so that they would draAV on the other tack. 
 
 The wind was rather fresh, the sails filled at once, 
 and she came down the channel with a big bone in 
 her mouth. What was, before, the stern had become 
 the bow ; and the rudder, secured by some means not 
 
ABOUT GREEK PIRATES AND OTHERS 7 
 
 seen by the observers, was now the cutwater. The 
 stem-piece and the stern-post were about perpendic- 
 ular, and the craft was built very sharp at both ends. 
 She carried an immense area of canvas, and she 
 seemed to fly through the water like a swallow skim- 
 ming its surface. 
 
 " She is headed this way again ; and she is a fast 
 boat, for she is making at least eight knots in this 
 breeze, which is not very strong," said the com- 
 mander, as both of them watched the approach of 
 the felucca. " That is the kind of vessel they used 
 in the ancient navies. The Algerine pirates, and 
 those of Italy and adjacent countries in the early days 
 of Columbus, as well as the Greeks, used vessels of 
 just that type, though they were also banked for a 
 great number of oars, for use when the wind failed 
 them. Those are Greeks on board of that felucca. 
 They wear about twice as much trousers as the Turks, 
 and most of them sport the fez." 
 
 ''I have seen plenty of them in the streets of 
 Constantinople." 
 
 " The dahabeehs on the Nile, and the Arabian and 
 Malay dhows, are rigged in the same way." 
 
 ^'The thing has an ugly look, anyhow," added 
 Louis. 
 
 " Perhaps that is because I told you that feluccas 
 on a large or small scale were used by the pirates of 
 these or other seas," suggested the commander with 
 a smile. 
 
 " Ko, sir ; I have seen a picture of a craft like that 
 
8 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 one boarding another vessel, and in my mind piracy 
 and feluccas have been in some way associated/' 
 replied the young man. 
 
 " But they are not pirates in these modern days." 
 
 " When we were made prisoners, and carried off in 
 a felucca from Teneriffe, for a ransom, the villains 
 were no better than pirates.'' 
 
 '' They were not ; but those were not professional 
 pirates, so to speak." 
 
 " Are there no Greek pirates at the present time ? 
 We have read about Greek brigands, who were ter- 
 rible fellows, and sometimes murdered their victims. 
 If they carry on the business on shore, it seems to 
 me they are very likely to do the same sort of jobs 
 on the Archipelago," suggested Louis. 
 
 ^'I have heard of such desperadoes, but not re- 
 cently. The brigands may use boats and feluccas on 
 occasions ; but these gentry have been cleaned out 
 by the Greek Government, who cannot afford to wink 
 at the operations of these banditti ; for many tourists 
 travel in Greece to view the scenes and remains of 
 former grandeur. What is the matter this morning, 
 Louis? You have not had your breakfast yet, and 
 you don't feel all right. Do you think that felucca 
 is a pirate ? " 
 
 " I do not think so ; but she seems to have some 
 interest in the Guardian-Mother. She is close aboard 
 of us now, and that will make the fourth time she 
 has come within hail of the ship," replied Louis as 
 the strange-looking craft passed her. 
 
ABOUT GREEK PIKATES A:ND OTHERS 9 
 
 Both of them gazed at her, taking particular notice 
 of the hull, sails, and rigging of the vessel. She was 
 quite fifty feet long, and she had a cuddy or cabin in 
 each end, while the waist appeared to be used for 
 cargo, though it was open, with rolls of reddish sail- 
 cloth which was probably used to protect the mer- 
 chandise from the rain and the spray. 
 
 "There is her name on each end of her," said 
 Louis, as he spelled out the word " Samothraki." 
 
 " That is the name of an island we are likely to 
 see," added the captain. 
 
 The Samothraki sped on her course up the Golden 
 Horn. 
 
10 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTEE II 
 
 The Samotliraki went but a short distance up 
 the Golden Horn, not so far as before, for she made 
 the return tack before she reached the vicinity of the 
 bridge of boats. The Maud was now approaching 
 the Guardian-Mother, and possibly this was the rea- 
 son why she had come about, so far as her sails were 
 concerned, sooner than before. But this time she 
 did not pass between the ship — as the larger 
 steamer was often called to distinguish her from the 
 smaller one — and Galata, as she had done on the 
 former tack. On the contrary, she stood over to- 
 wards Scutari, on the opposite side of the Bosporus. 
 
 The Maud went alongside the ship, and a consid- 
 erable quantity of ice was hoisted to the main deck ; 
 and some of it was stored in the ice-chest in the run 
 of the little steamer. Louis and Morris W oolridge 
 embraced their mothers, who were on the promenade 
 deck with the rest of the party. The beautiful and 
 graceful Miss Blanche went to Louis with hands 
 extended to bid him adieu for a short time, and the 
 others exchanged their farewells, though they were 
 to meet again the same day. 
 
EPITOME OF guardian-mother's CRUISE 11 
 
 The two young men descended the gangway to the 
 deck of the Maud, in which they were to make the 
 voyage through the Sea of Marmora and the Darda- 
 nelles to the Archipelago, where the Guardian-Mother 
 and her diminutive consort were to cruise for a few 
 days before they visited Athens, and, as Felix McGa- 
 vonty had it, '' put their fingers into the Greece-pot." 
 Both of the young men were members of the ship's 
 company, consisting of seven persons, five of whom 
 were boys from fourteen to eighteen years old^ and 
 two full-grown men. 
 
 All the formalities at the custom-house and the 
 consulate had been attended to the day before, and 
 the anchor of the Guardian-Mother was a-trip a mo- 
 ment after the commander had given the order 
 through Mr. Boulong, the first officer. 
 
 " Strike one bell, Bangs ! " called the captain as 
 soon as the first officer had reported the anchor clear 
 of the bottom. 
 
 The ship shook a little, and then began to go ahead. 
 The pilot was near the wheel, and the steamer came 
 about, till she was headed for Seraglio Point. The 
 Maud had cast off her fasts, and meekly followed her. 
 It was only a mile from the point to the sea where 
 the ship took her departure, and the pilot left in his 
 caique, as the light Bosporus boat is called. 
 
 " Make the course west by south ! " called the cap- 
 tain, coming into the pilot-house from his cabin, 
 where he had drawn it off from the chart. 
 
 "West by south, sir," repeated Bangs the quarter- 
 master, in order to avoid any mistake. 
 
12 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOKS 
 
 Even at this early hour in the morning the Sea of 
 Marmora was clotted with all sort of vessels, from 
 feluccas such as the commander and Louis had 
 been observing, to the larger merchantmen of foreign 
 nations on their way to or from Constantinople. The 
 tourists, comfortably seated in arm-chairs on the prome- 
 nade deck, found enough to engage their attention, 
 and each contributed to the general stock of informa- 
 tion what he knew about the Sea of Marmora. 
 
 While they are thus employed, and while the four 
 boys on board of the Maud are doing their duty as 
 young navigators, though they belong to the cabin 
 party of the ship, it becomes necessary to give the 
 reader a more particular introduction to the two 
 steamers, and to those on board of them, and acquaint 
 him with something of the history of the two vessels, 
 and the personality of the tourists, and how they 
 happen to be cruising in the Orient. 
 
 As this story has already been told at length in the 
 four preceding volumes of this series, it is not possi- 
 ble to condense the whole of it into a fraction, or even 
 the whole of a chapter. Louis Belgrave is the generic 
 hero of these volumes, though there are associated 
 with him three other young men ; and the commander 
 sometimes facetiously calls them the "Big Four," 
 and possibly he is a stockholder in some railroad so 
 designated. 
 
 At the beginning of the series it became necessary 
 to supply the hero with abundant financial resources 
 for the voyage all over the. world. His grandfather;, 
 
EPITOME OF guardian-mother's CRUISE 13 
 
 by the sale of his farm in New Jersey, cut up into 
 house-lots, became the possessor of about two mil- 
 lions of dollars. His son, the father of Louis, was a 
 soldier in the loyal army during the war of the Ee- 
 bellion. The grandfather, believing that the war 
 was to be the end of all things, at least so far as his 
 property was concerned, changed all his investments 
 into gold, sinking one-fourth of it in the early stage 
 of the conflict, and concealed it in a vault he had 
 built for the purpose under his house. 
 
 The father of Louis came home wounded and dis- 
 abled from the war to find that his father had died 
 suddenly, and that no one knew what had become of 
 the missing million he was known to have possessed. 
 The returned soldier searched for years for the treas- 
 ure, but without success. But he inherited the home- 
 stead of his father, with some land, so that he was 
 comfortably well off. He married, and Louis was 
 born. 
 
 When Louis was only eight years old his father 
 died, bequeathing to his son all that he had, and all 
 that might be recovered from the grandfather's estate. 
 At thirty the hero's mother was still a very attractive 
 woman, and she was married again; this time to a 
 fine-looking man of horses, who proved to be a villain, 
 a thief, and robber. He had learned something about 
 the missing million, of which Mrs. Belgrave would be 
 the sole heir in the event of the death of her son. 
 
 This wretch, John Scoble, had married Louis's 
 mother under the assumed name of Wade Farrongate. 
 
14 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 He made it his cliief business to persecute her son, 
 and Louis lived for a time in a worhl of trouble. 
 The scoundrel robbed those who trusted him of a 
 large sum of money, and attempted to escape to Eng- 
 land with his wife and her son, as the boy believed 
 for the purpose of getting rid of him. 
 
 Louis's vicious step-father had arranged his plan to 
 have his wife and her son on board of a steamer which 
 was to sail the next morning for Liverpool. He had 
 been engaged at the races all day, and towards night 
 decamped with the proceeds of his crime, amounting 
 to nearly seventy thousand dollars. But his step- 
 son had watched him, and carried to his mother the 
 news of the theft. 
 
 Producing the proofs of Scoble's guilt, he induced 
 his mother, who was a high-minded, religious woman, 
 to leave the steamer and return to Von Blonk Park, 
 which was the name of the town formed out of the 
 abundant acres of Louis's grandfather. He not only 
 detached his mother from the villain, but he obtained 
 possession of his ill-gotten wealth, so that Scoble Avent 
 to England a poor instead of a rich man. 
 
 The heaviest loser by the robbery was a Fifth 
 Avenue millionaire, Mv. Lowell Woolridge, through 
 whom all the stolen money was restored to its right- 
 ful owners. In this manner an intimacy was estab- 
 lished between the two families. The Belgraves were 
 invited to sail in the tine yacht of Woolridge, in which 
 his beautiful daughter Blanche, and son IVIorris, as 
 well as their jiiotlier, were always passengers. The 
 
EPITOME OF guardian-mother's CRUISE 15 
 
 young lady was a remarkably lovely young lady of 
 sixteen, for whom Louis, now seventeen, had a strong 
 admiration, and to whom he showed a great deal of 
 attention, — though the matter went no farther. 
 
 Scoble returned from England at the expiration of 
 two years, still intent upon obtaining the missing 
 million, first obtaining a reconciliation with his wife, 
 who had repudiated him. By the efforts of Louis 
 himself the missing million was discovered, and the 
 young man became a millionaire at sixteen, with 
 another half million added to it for leeway. He 
 wanted to own a yacht, not a "high-flyer," but a 
 simple schooner, in which he could voyage at his 
 leisure, and be comfortable on board of her with his 
 mother. 
 
 Scoble had returned from England in such a craft, 
 and with the aid of his unscrupulous mate, enticed 
 Louis, his mother, Felix McGavonty, and Captain 
 Eoyal Einggold, a wealthy retired shipmaster, on 
 board of his vessel upon the pretence of selling her. 
 The trustee of Louis's property, was Squire Moses 
 Scarburn, a lawyer on the shady side of fifty. He 
 had taken care of an Irish boy, Eelix McGavonty, 
 almost from his infancy. Felix was a bright boy, and 
 he and the young millionaire had become cronies, 
 when one was as rich as the other. 
 
 Scoble and his mate, by treachery and strategy, 
 succeeded in getting rid of Louis and the shipmaster, 
 and went to the Bermudas with Mrs. Belgrave and 
 Felix. The son and his powerful nautical friend 
 
16 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 made strenuous exertions to find the lady, but without 
 success, though they learned that Scoble had conveyed 
 her to the Bermudas. Thereupon they made a pur- 
 chase of an elegant steam-yacht of over six hundred 
 tons, built for a millionaire who died before he could 
 even go on board of her. They sailed to the Ber- 
 mudas in her ; while Scoble, who was but an indiffer- 
 ent seaman and navigator, wrecked his vessel on the 
 reef that surrounds the islands ; but all on board of 
 her, including Mrs. Belgrave and Felix, were saved by 
 the Guardian-Mother. 
 
 Between Louis and his mother there was a sort of 
 mutual idolatry, and he had given the steam-yacht 
 her name, as a testimonial to the character of his 
 mother, rather than as an idle compliment. The 
 yacht was fitted up and furnished in the most sump- 
 tuous manner, and her cabin contained all the auxilia- 
 ries of a first-class hotel. The steward was an expert, 
 and Monsieur Odervie, the French cook, was an artist 
 in his profession. 
 
 Captain Ringgold had some views of his own in re- 
 gard to education ; and his argument for the purchase 
 of the expensive steam-yacht had been that she would 
 be better than any college for the instruction of the 
 young millionaire. An accident to a yacht in the 
 harbor of New York had introduced the commander 
 to Dr. I^hilip Hawkes and Professor Giroud, whom 
 his men had saved when they were upset in a squall. 
 The former was one of the most noted physicians in the 
 great city, and the latter, a highly educated French- 
 
EPITOME OF fiUARD fan-mother's CRUISE 17 
 
 man, was a lecturer on science and philosophy in 
 various colleges. Both of them were in feeble health, 
 and it Avas for its improvement that they had become 
 surgeon and instructor respectively on board of the 
 ship. 
 
 A voyage all over the world and around it had 
 been planned, and it had begun with the visit to the 
 West Indies, Scoble, having become rich by the 
 death of his brother in Bermuda, had purchased a 
 steam-yacht in England, and continued his persecu- 
 tion of the Belgraves. He was finally arrested in 
 Cuba on a requisition, sent back to the United States, 
 and sentenced to a long term at Sing-Sing. 
 
 Erom the West Indies the Guardian-Mother sailed 
 for the Canary Islands. During a furious gale, which 
 lasted three- days, the steamer discovered a white 
 schooner in distress, which proved to be the yacht of 
 Mr. Woolridge. She had on board the millionaire 
 and his family, the voyage having been recommended 
 by the physicians for the sake of Miss Blanche, who 
 had been in failing health. The yacht and those on 
 board of her were saved, and proceeded on the voy- 
 age with the steamer. 
 
 From the Canaries the two vessels went to Moga- 
 dore in Morocco, and there the Guardian-Mother had 
 been visited by Ali-Noury Pacha, a powerful and influ- 
 ential Moor, with unlimited wealth, who had excited 
 the alarm of the parents of Blanche by his attentions 
 to their beautiful daughter. The steamer and the 
 schooner departed suddenly to avoid this man; but 
 
18 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 he had followed them to Madeira, whence they again 
 fled from him. 
 
 He appeared to be in resolute earnest, and pursued 
 the party to Gibraltar; but the commander again 
 avoided him, and went to England, where the mil- 
 lionaire and his family were received on board of the 
 Guardian-Mother, the accommodations in the cabin 
 being increased for their use. The millionaire paid 
 half the expense of the voyage, and both families 
 were on equal terms. For several months they had 
 visited the western countries of Europe, and arrived 
 at Gibraltar, where they had remained a few days. 
 
 One of the first objects which had excited the at- 
 tention of Louis and his boy companions was a small 
 steam-yacht, with which they had some acquaintance. 
 On a srq^ll island in the Bahamas the Guardian-Mother 
 had picked up a man who proved to be a bank de- 
 faulter. His foster-son had abandoned him, sailing 
 away in the small yacht Seahound. Captain Eing- 
 gold captured the little schooner and her skipper, 
 and found the money of which the father had robbed 
 the bank. Scott Fencelowe was a cmart boy of eigh- 
 teen " on the road to ruin," as the captain viewed it, 
 and he desired to save him. 
 
 Mr. Fencelowe gave the commander the control of 
 the young man in writing, and he took the wild boy 
 on board the steamer. Scott was disposed to be re- 
 bellious, and several times attempted to escape. At 
 Funchal he tried to get away in tlie dingey, but was 
 discovered by Louis and Felix, wlio dr()i)})ed into the 
 
EPITOME OF guardian-mother's CRUISE 19 
 
 boat with him. lUit the steamer continued on her 
 way, and Scott was made a prisoner. The boat was 
 picked up by a steam-yacht, in which a young Spanish 
 engineer, having stolen the craft, was escaping from 
 the service of Ali-iSToury Pacha, who had abused him. 
 
 Failing to find the Guardian-Mother or the yacht of 
 Mr. Woolridge, the party proceeded on the voyage to 
 Gibraltar. The Salihe, as the Pacha's small yacht 
 was called was made fast to the Fatime, the Moor's 
 cruising yacht, and left there. Felipe, the young Span- 
 ish engineer, was taken on board the ship as an oiler. 
 
 On the arrival of the Guardian-Mother at Gibraltar, 
 the boys discovered the Salihe. Scott had fallen in 
 with the rascally mate Avho served under Scoble, at 
 Teneriffe, and they had captured Louis, Felix, and 
 Morris Woolridge in order to obtain a ransom for the 
 restoration of their prisoners. The tables were turned 
 upon the brigands, and with the exception of Scott, 
 they were condemned for the crime. 
 
 Scott reforms his life and character, and becomes 
 the hero of a stirring adventure in Gibraltar on board 
 of the Salihe, engaged for a moonlight excursion. 
 The steam-yacht is purchased as a tender of the 
 Guardian-Mother, and the boys organize a ship's com- 
 pany for her, with Scott, who is the best sailor among 
 them, as captain. Felipe is made engineer, and a cook 
 and steward are sent on board from the ship. 
 
 Then the Pacha's steamer arrives, and Captain 
 Ringgold, when the ]\Ioor assaults him in the street, 
 convinces him that he has "caught a Tartar." An 
 
20 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 oiler runs away from the Fatime and is engaged as 
 second engineer of the Maud, which became her Chris- 
 tian title the day she was bought. The Maud had 
 made the seven days' voyage to Constantinople by her- 
 self, a part of the way alone. The city of the Sultan 
 had been explored very thoroughly, and the Guardian- 
 Mother with her little consort had sailed for a cruise 
 in the Archipelago. 
 
 The Pacha had been met by Captain Ringgold in 
 the city, and his yacht was in the Golden Horn. His 
 Highness was boiling over with passion and the thirst 
 for revenge, for the commander had spoken plainly 
 to him. Trouble was anticipated, but no one knew 
 how it would come. 
 
A QUESTION ON BOARD OF THE MAUD 21 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 A QUESTION ON BOARD OF THE MAUD 
 
 The Guardian-Mother passed from the Bosporus 
 into the Sea of Marmora, closely followed by the Maud. 
 On board of the two steamers, only Captain Ringgold, 
 Louis, and Felix were aware of the presence in Con- 
 stantinople of Ali-Noury Pacha. If Mrs. Woolridge 
 had known that he was anywhere near them, she 
 would have been greatly troubled ; and for this reason 
 the commander had kept the truth from her and the 
 others for the present. His feeling in regard to His 
 Highness was rather of contempt than alarm. 
 
 He felt that he was able to protect Miss Blanche 
 from any annoyance on the part of the Moor, though 
 he was a Mohammedan and in the midst of the 
 Prophet's followers. The party had not seen, or had 
 not recognized, the Pacha's steam-yacht of four hun- 
 dred tons, the Fatime, though she had been seen by one 
 of the officers. 
 
 Louis Belgrave had watched the movements of the 
 Samothraki, the double-ender felucca, which had sailed 
 up and down the Bosporus and Golden Horn several 
 times, and after his conversation with the commander 
 on the subject, had almost concluded that she was a 
 
22 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Greek pirate. Possibly it came into his head that 
 she had some connection Avith His Highness, as the 
 Moor was rather derisively called on board, though 
 he probably had a right to the title. On the waters 
 of the Sea of IMarmora he had kept a vigilant watch 
 for the craft, but so far he had seen nothing of her 
 since the last time she went up the Golden Horn. On 
 board of the ship the commander had been equally 
 watchful, with the same resvdt. 
 
 The ship's company of the Maud, though it con- 
 sisted of only seven persons, was regularly organized 
 in watches, and Captain Scott, on account of the small- 
 ness of the number, was obliged to do his share of the 
 work, taking his trick at the wheel like one of the 
 crew. He was in the starboard watch, which is al- 
 ways the captain's, with Felix. As on board of all 
 ships at sea, each served four hours, two of which 
 were at the helm. 
 
 The port watch was in charge of the first officer, in 
 the person of Morris Wool ridge, who in nautical abil- 
 ity and experience ranked next to the captain, with 
 Louis as his companion. Though the young million- 
 aire was regarded as " the biggest toad in tlie puddle," 
 he did duty as a deck-hand, or common sailor, holding 
 no office, though he might have been captain if he 
 had not declined, and engineered the election of Scott 
 as the best sailor. For the same reason he had re- 
 fused to bo mate, and worked for tlie choice of Morris. 
 
 With only two in a watch, while one steered the 
 steamer, the other kept the lookout, though he might 
 
A QUESTION ON BOARD OF THE MAUD 23 
 
 be an officer. In the engine-room, Felipe was on duty 
 with the starboard watch, and John Donald, the run- 
 away from the Fatime, usually called '^Don," with 
 the port. Pitts, the cook and steward, spent most of 
 his time in the little galley, or kitchen, which he kept 
 in admirable order. The commander insisted that 
 the young men on board of the Maud should have 
 good food, well cooked, and Pitts had proved to be 
 "the right man in the right place." 
 
 The divan which surrounded the cabin was three 
 feet wide, for it had been built for Moors to sit on in 
 tailor fashion, and beds were made up on it as in the 
 cabin of the ship. The '^ Big Four " were as well pro- 
 vided for as they would have been in the cabin of the 
 Guardian-Mother, which was a condition upon which 
 the two mothers on board of her had insisted before 
 permitting their sons to live on board of the little 
 steamer. 
 
 The dinners and other meals on board of the Maud 
 were quite as good as ■ those on board of the ship, 
 though they lacked the elaborate variety of the state 
 cabin, as it was rather magnificently styled on the 
 plan which came with the vessel. If the food was 
 plainer than that evolved by the genius of Monsieur 
 Odervie, it was quite as good, and perhaps more 
 healthy for the young navigators. 
 
 The " Big Four," with the exception of Felix, were 
 students of Professor Giroud, and they had brought 
 their books on board with them. But the principal 
 studies just now were geography and history, the 
 
24 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 regular course iu the library of the ship having been 
 suspended for the present. When the little steamer 
 followed the ship into the Sea of Marmora, Louis and 
 Morris were studying their lessons in the standing- 
 room, the seats of which were cushioned in crimson 
 velvet, with an awning overhead. 
 
 For some reason Louis did not feel like study, as 
 he generally did. He had always been a diligent 
 student, and had graduated at the head of the academy 
 in Yon Blonk Park. He had pursued the study of 
 French with a native professor, so that, with some 
 experience he had had in Paris and other cities of 
 France, he could speak the language fluently. He 
 had learned Spanish after the purchase of his steam- 
 yacht, and could speak it tolerably well, ^' hastante 
 loara hacer mi camino " (enough to make my way), as he 
 used to say. 
 
 He helped out Morris in one of his studies, and 
 then strolled leisurely forward to the forecastle, leav- 
 ing his companion to '^ paddle his own canoe." It 
 was an odd freak for him to leave his studies, and he 
 evidently had something on his mind. He had only 
 just passed into his seventeenth year, with his million 
 and a half loaded upon him. Not only his mother 
 and the commander still looked upon him as a boy, 
 but he took the same view himself of his own social 
 and intellectual dimensions. 
 
 When he reached the bow of the IVIaud lie saw INIrs. 
 Woolridge and r)lauche looking over the taffrail, 
 seated on a platform on Avhich a hawser was laid out 
 
A QUESTION ON BOARD OF THE MAUD 25 
 
 in a Flemish coil. The beautiful maiden waved her 
 handkerchief to him, as did her mother also, and he 
 returned the compliment ; but at this moment they 
 were called away to join the party in the arm-chairs. 
 Possibly it was this lovely creature, beautiful enough 
 to make a Pacha stray from his harem, which was on 
 the mind of the young millionaire. But he was not 
 in the least degree " spooney," and all his relations 
 with the lovely girl were as between children ten 
 years younger than they were. He looked upon her 
 as an artist looks upon a beautiful picture — only 
 this, and nothing more. 
 
 " Did you notice anything strange around the ship 
 just before we came out of the Golden Horn, Felix ? " 
 said Louis in a very low tone to the Milesian. 
 
 " To be sure I did ! " exclaimed Felix. " Do you 
 think I go about with my eyes closed ? Everything 
 was strange, — the mosques, the domes, the minarets, 
 the dogs, and the mud." 
 
 "I didn't mean anything of that sort," added Louis. 
 "I allude to something afloat." 
 
 " I did see something strange afloat. The bridge of 
 boats was afloat, so were the heathen caiques, that" — 
 
 " I was not thinking of them," interposed Louis. 
 " Did you see any craft under sail that attracted your 
 attention ? " 
 
 " Oh, you mean the double-ender ! " exclaimed Felix. 
 " I did see her, and I wondered why she was standing 
 back and forth like a yellow dog with the stomach- 
 ache." 
 
26 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " What did you think of her ? " 
 
 " Think of her ? I thought she was a double-ender, 
 and I never saw the like of her before, except in the 
 United States Navy. I read her name on the bow and 
 on the quarter ; and when I tried to speak it I nearly 
 choked myself to death." 
 
 ^' Samothraki is not a very hard name. Could you 
 form any idea as to why she was standing back and 
 forthj taking care to come near the Guardian-Mother 
 every time she did it ? " 
 
 ^' I didn't form any idea, for I had nothing to form 
 it out of." 
 
 " I did form an idea," added Louis. 
 
 " And what was the idea you formed, my darling ? " 
 asked Felix, looking intently into the face of his crony. 
 
 " I had an idea that she might be a Greek pirate," 
 answered Louis quietly. 
 
 " Murdher ! Is it a poirate ? " demanded the Mi- 
 lesian. 
 
 " Mind your eye ! Don't tell the captain at the 
 wheel what we are talking about ! " said Louis rather 
 sharply. " He does not even know that the Pacha and 
 the Fatime are here." 
 
 " And has the Greek pirate anything to do with the 
 Pacha and the steam-yacht of His Highness ? " in- 
 quired Felix in a whisper. 
 
 " I don't know that she has. I spoke to you about 
 this matter so that you can keep a bright lookout for 
 the double-ender," added Louis. " You know the 
 craft ? " 
 
A QUESTION ON BOARD OF THE MAUD 27 
 
 " I do ; and I should know her if I saw her in Von 
 Blonk Pond." 
 
 " Mum is the word, and two pairs of eyes are better 
 than one pair. Look out for the Samothraki." 
 
 Louis returned to the standing-room, where Morris 
 was in another difficulty over a second problem. It 
 was evident by this time that the double-ended fe- 
 lucca was the subject that was on his mind. He took 
 the spy-glass, and gazed through it up the Bosporus. 
 Possibly he was foolish, but it might be that Miss 
 Blanche Woolridge was in peril, though distant. 
 
28 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 THE VOYAGE THROUGH THE SEA OF MARMORA 
 
 On board of the Guardian-Mother, Captain Ring- 
 gold, as well as the young owner of the ship, evi- 
 dently had something on his mind ; for he was 
 engaged in a sort of heroic pedestrianism, extending 
 his march from the front of the pilot-house to the 
 very taffrail of the vessel, and he was walking as 
 though he did not expect to " get there '' in season. 
 Two or three times he had taken his best glass and 
 looked back over the course he had just come. There 
 was not a person on board who was aware that His 
 Highness the Pacha was within a thousand miles 
 of the steamer except himself, and there was no one 
 to whom he could speak on the subject without the 
 danger of doing mischief. 
 
 Though he felt perfectly competent to deal with 
 his enemy, as by this time he regarded the ^loor, he 
 could not help thinking of the matter, and wondering 
 from what direction and in what manner the avenging 
 hand of the l^acha would come. A\'liih» he had not 
 intended to insult His Highness, lie liad si)()ken the 
 truth very plainly to him. At Funchal, where the 
 commander had obtained most of his information 
 
VOYAGE THROUGH THE SEA OF MARMORA .29 
 
 in regard to tlie Moor, he was regarded with absohite 
 terror in the most respectable families. 
 
 The Pacha considered this plain speech, to the 
 effect that the Mohammedan great man's ^character 
 was so notoriously bad that the captain would not 
 permit his party to associate with him, as a flagrant 
 insult. With four of his servants in attendance upon 
 him he had attempted to chastise the captain in one 
 of the streets of Gibraltar ; but his intended victim 
 " knocked out '^ both him and his followers. The 
 police had arrested the assailant, and he had been 
 heavily fined by a just English judge. 
 
 The result of this attack was another grievance 
 to the Pacha, who seemed to think the doughty ship- 
 master ought to have suffered himself to be chastised 
 instead of knocking him into the gutter, iilled with 
 muddy water. At any rate, it was evident that His 
 Highness had followed the American tourists to Con- 
 stantinople overland, while his steam-yacht had come 
 by the Mediterranean. The Pacha had apologized to 
 the commander in the Eue de Pera, and desired to 
 be received by the party on board of the steamer. 
 His request to this effect had been resolutely refused, 
 and this formed a third grievance to the Moor. 
 
 Captain Ringgold, as the guardian and protector of 
 his passengers, was certainly anxious in regard to the 
 situation, though he did not betray his thoughts and 
 feelings to any person. He had spoken of the matter 
 only with Louis and Felix, who had been the first to 
 discover the presence of the Pacha in the city of the 
 
30 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Sultan ; but as he marched back and forth on the 
 promenade deck, his passengers could not help seemg 
 that he was thinking of something. 
 
 ^' We can't see much of anything of the Sea of 
 Marmora, Captain," said Mrs. Belgrave, as he passed 
 near where she and the rest of the party were seated 
 in the arm-chairs. 
 
 " One good reason why you can see nothing is that 
 there is nothing to see," replied the commander, the 
 lines on his face gathering suddenly into a smile. 
 " You can see the north shore, and that is about all. 
 There is Chekmejeh on our right, about ten miles 
 distant." 
 
 " I don't believe we care much about these small 
 places with such outlandish names," replied the lady, 
 bestowing a smile upon the commander which was 
 quite exhilarating to him, and driving out of his 
 mind for the time all thought of the Pacha and his 
 machinations. 
 
 " I did not suppose you would, and therefore I have 
 not mentioned them," he replied. " Aside from the 
 difficulty of pronouncing the names, there is no in- 
 terest at all attached to them, though some of the 
 great events of ancient history happened in this part 
 of the world." 
 
 " How big a sea is this ? " asked Dr. Hawkes. 
 
 " It is one hundred and seventy-five miles long 
 from east to west, and fifty miles wide. It has an 
 area of forty-five hundred square miles ; in other 
 words, it is not quite as large as the State of Con- 
 necticut," replied the captain. 
 
VOYAGE THROUGH THE SEA OF MAKMOKA 31 
 
 " How does it compare in size with other inland 
 bodies of water ? " inquired the surgeon. 
 
 " I suppose you don't expect me to carry the figures 
 of everything on the globe in my head," added the 
 captain, as he took a paper from his pocket. 
 
 " There is a good deal of room in your head, Cap- 
 tain," chuckled Uncle Moses, and his bulky frame 
 shook under the thrill of his mirth; ''but it is 
 stocked full, for you seem to be able to tell us 
 anything we want to know when our curiosity is 
 excited." 
 
 ^' I gathered the figures on this paper for the boys, 
 for I want them to study geography especially as 
 they go over the world," replied the captain. " The 
 Sea of Marmora is smaller than any of our great 
 lakes, unless we include Lake St. Clair, which *is only 
 a puddle compared with the others, for it has only 
 four hundred and ten square miles. The largest 
 inland body of water on the globe is the Caspian Sea, 
 which has one hundred and forty-five thousand square 
 miles ; and there is no other which approaches it in 
 size. Another authority makes this sea twenty-five 
 thousand miles larger ; enough leeway to form one of 
 our great lakes." 
 
 "Could you get into the Caspian Sea with the 
 Guardian-Mother ? " asked Dr. Hawkes. 
 
 "Not unless we went over about three hundred 
 miles of land, which it would not be convenient to do 
 in a ship, for this is about the distance from the 
 Black Sea or the head of the Persian Gulf." 
 
32 THE YOUNG KAVlGATOllS 
 
 " I think we had better not try it," suggested 
 Uncle Moses. 
 
 " Lake Superior is next in size to the Caspian Sea," 
 continued the commander, " thirty-one thousand, five 
 hundred square miles. Then comes the Sea of Aral, 
 with thirty thousand square miles, though some 
 English authorities give it only twenty-four thousand. 
 This is a rather remarkable body of water, for the 
 space it covers has been dry land twice in the records 
 of history. This is not in our line of travel, and I am 
 slopping over literally." 
 
 "But we don't object," interposed the doctor. 
 
 "I do; for I might wander from my subject all 
 over the world, and the Sea of Aral may be studied 
 as well at home as here. Next to this sea in size 
 comes Lake Michigan, twenty-three thousand one 
 hundred and fifty square miles ; and the fifty miles 
 seems to be added as a snapper, to make it so much 
 bigger than Lake Huron. Lake Erie is only seven 
 thousand, eight hundred square miles in extent, 
 though that is very nearly the size of the State of 
 Massachusetts. I have compared the inland bodies 
 of water as to size. As I said, I wrote down the 
 figures for the boys, and I must send the paper to 
 them." 
 
 " They answer for us just as well, for we are only 
 ^boys of a larger growth,' especially Brother Adi- 
 pose Tissue and myself," chuckled Uncle Moses. 
 
 "Quite right, r>rother Avoirdupois," added Dr. 
 Hawkes, each of them using the names he had 
 
VOYAGE THROUGH THE SEA OF MACMOllA 33 
 
 applied to the other, for either of them weighed two 
 hundred and twenty-six pounds and a fraction. "I 
 am very glad to re-gather the information I had long 
 ago forgotten." 
 
 "But you have something more on that paper, 
 Captain Einggold/' interposed Mrs. Belgrave, as the 
 commander glanced at the Maud, the nautical home 
 of the boys. " Don't cheat us out of anything worth 
 knowing." 
 
 " The boys can chew it afterwards, as ruminating 
 animals do the cud," added the doctor. 
 
 " We must attend to our peanuts, as the small boy 
 said when interrupted," replied the captain. "We 
 will confine ourselves to the Sea of Marmora for the 
 present. It is the ancient Propontis, as the Black 
 Sea was the Euxine, and the Archipelago the Mgeesm 
 Sea. The land to the north of us was Thracia and 
 Macedonia; and no doubt the professor could tell 
 you no end of classical stories and historical events 
 of this region ; and he may do so when I have sent 
 this paper on board of the Maud. 
 
 " Astern of us is the Gulf of Ismid, extending 
 thirty miles into Asia Minor ; but I suppose this 
 distance is reckoned into the length of the sea ; other- 
 wise the figures of the ancients and the. moderns 
 would disagree. The greatest depth I can find on the 
 chart is five hundred and seventy fathoms, or three 
 thousand, four hundred and twenty feet, though some 
 of the books give it eight hundred and thirty feet 
 more." 
 
34 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOIIS 
 
 ^^Are you not apprehensive that we shall get 
 aground here, Captain ? " asked Uncle ]\Ioses. 
 
 " If we do we shall have to throw overboard some 
 of the fat men ; but for the present they are perfectly 
 safe." 
 
 " We need not shrive ourselves yet, Brother Avoir- 
 dupois," added the doctor. 
 
 " You ought to keep yourself shrived at all times, 
 Dr. Hawkes," said Mrs. Belgrave, who Avas a very 
 religious woman. 
 
 " I do, for I am a member and a vestryman of our 
 church." 
 
 " But that will not save you if you have not the 
 sanctified spirit." 
 
 ^' Avast heaving ! " shouted the commander. " No 
 politics or theology on board when there is a differ- 
 ence of opinion ! I suppose you all know why the 
 name of Marmora was given to this sea." 
 
 "Possibly from marmor, which is the Latin for 
 marble, but I don't see any of it lying round loose 
 in this sheet of water," replied Uncle Moses. 
 
 " Quite correct. Squire Scarburn. The sea takes 
 its name from a considerable island about sixty miles 
 ahead of us, called Marmora, which is famous for its 
 quarries of marble and alabaster. I have nothing 
 more to say at present," as he went to the taffrail, 
 and rang the speed bell. 
 
 The ship slowed down immediately, and the captain 
 beckoned to the Maud to come alongside. He 
 wrapped his pai)er around a spike he liad brouglit 
 
VOYAGE THROUGH THE SEA OF MARMORA 35 
 
 from the carpenter's tool-box for the purpose, and 
 then threw it upon the forecastle of the little steamer. 
 
 " Don't neglect your studies when you are off 
 watch ; and here is a paper with some facts and 
 figures about this sea. Pass them around," said the 
 commander, as he ordered the officer of the deck to 
 ring the speed bell again. 
 
 Louis and Morris received the paper from Felix, 
 who was on duty with the captain; and they pro- 
 ceeded to study the comparative size of inland bodies 
 of water, and they were as much interested as their 
 seniors in age had been, and' were interrupted when 
 they were called to breakfast at twenty minutes to 
 eight. They were off watch, and they had to take 
 their meals in season, to relieve the captain and 
 Felix. 
 
 The officers and crew of the ship took their meals 
 at the same hours, with the exception of the captain. 
 He was what is called in the navy an " idler," which 
 does not mean that he has nothing to do, only that he 
 does not keep a watch ; and the same term is applied 
 to all who are not in one of the watches. The cap- 
 tain " messed " in the cabin ; or in other words, he 
 took his meals there. Breakfast was served there at 
 half-past seven ; and the* party on the promenade- 
 deck were more than usually delighted to hear the 
 bell, for they had been on deck three hours and a 
 half. 
 
 They all had excellent appetites, and there was 
 nothing like dyspepsia among them. The salt air and 
 
36 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 the exercise they had on board and on shore had cor- 
 rected all bodily irregularities, and there had hardly 
 been a case of sickness on board since the Guardian- 
 Mother sailed from New York nearly eight months 
 before. Blanche Woolridge, who had been ordered 
 away from home by the doctors there on account 
 of some pulmonary symptoms, was entirely well, and 
 as hearty as a hand before the mast. She had grown 
 more stout, though she was still as graceful as a 
 fawn. 
 
 The big steamer and the little one continued on the 
 voyage without interruption, and at eleven o'clock in 
 the forenoon were off the island of Marmora, whose 
 shores gave the party something to observe, and the 
 professor regaled them with stories of classic times. 
 About five in the afternoon the Guardian-Mother led 
 the way into one of the harbors of Gallipoli, after 
 both had been overhauled by the quarantine officers. 
 
 The ship anchored close to the shore, and the " Big 
 Four " went on board of her at once. 
 
THE SPEED OF THE SAMOTHRAKI 37 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 THE SPEED OF THE SAMOTHRAKI 
 
 " Where are we now, boys ? " asked the com- 
 mander, directing his gaze at the "Big Four," who 
 had taken arm-chairs with the rest of the tourists in 
 the usual place under the awning. 
 
 " Gallipoli," replied Captain Scott, speaking for 
 his ship's company. 
 
 " What sort of a gal is she, anyway ? " asked Felix. 
 
 " She is the ancient Kalliopolis," replied the cap- 
 tain. 
 
 " Thin she must be an ould maid by this toime," 
 added the Milesian. 
 
 " A very ancient maiden. It is on the peninsula of 
 Chersonesus, though this name has been applied to 
 several such portions of land, including the Crimea. 
 Of course you are aware that we are at the entrance 
 to the Dardanelles, the Hellespont of history and the 
 classics, Mr. McGavonty." 
 
 " Av coorse oi'm aware of ut, for I lairned all that 
 when I was in the infant school in Von Blonk Park," 
 replied Felix without an instant's hesitation. 
 
 '' Perhaps, when we are out of sight of land in the 
 Indian or the Pacitic Ocean, it may make an interesting 
 
38 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 discussion for us to determine how far lying is justi- 
 fiable for the purpose of making a joke," said the 
 commander, laughing to remove anything like a 
 censure from his remark. 
 
 " I beg the pairdon of the honorable gintleman who 
 is the counsel for the plaintiff, but the coort is riddy 
 to its daycision widout argumint," replied Felix, ris- 
 ing from his chair, apparently a little excited. 
 
 " Who is the court ? " asked the captain. 
 
 " I am mesel' ; and whether ye's air riddy or not, 
 the coort daycides that ye's don't loie unless ye's mane 
 to daycay ve," added Felix, taking his seat again. " In 
 the case of Polly wog versus Jimcrack, liber xvi., folio 
 427, the coort held that when Jimcrack cracked Polly- 
 wog over the head, it was no assault, because the de- 
 fendant had done the act for the purpose of brushing 
 a fly off the nose of the plaintiff. The coort_ rules in 
 the prisint action that the quality of the act daypinds 
 upon the motive of the actor." 
 
 Dr. Hawkes laughed till he shook all over like a 
 schooner in a gale ; and Uncle Moses, in whose office 
 the Milesian had imbibed his legal learning, followed 
 his example. 
 
 " I move that the cpiestion proposed by the honor- 
 able commander be embodied in an action to be tried 
 before the distinguished justice from whom we have 
 just heard," added the lawyer. 
 
 " I don't object to the form of the discussion. But 
 a nos moutons, which translated into Greek means ' to 
 our peanuts.' I think we were speaking of a seaport 
 
THE SPEED OF THE SAMOTHKAKI 39 
 
 of Turkey; and though there is not much to say about 
 it, we had better finish. There are some ruins of the 
 ancient Kalliopolis to be seen here/' continued the 
 captain. 
 
 " Can't we bottle them up and take them home with 
 us ? " asked Felix. 
 
 " We don't meddle with the bottle ; it is against our 
 principles, most of us. This is still a place of con- 
 siderable trade, and it has extensive bazaars, with 
 some manufactures, such as figs, raisins " — 
 
 "I thought those things grew out of the ground, like 
 cabbages," interrupted Felix. 
 
 " The fruits do, but they have to be manufactured 
 into the articles of commerce which you eat at home," 
 replied the commander, who always liked an opportu- 
 nity to correct a wrong impression. " What would 
 the gentleman from Kilkenny say of flour ? " 
 
 "I should call it an agricultural production if I 
 were going to deliver a learned discourse." 
 
 " You are quite right, Mr. McGavonty ; but the 
 wheat has to be made into flour, and for that reason 
 it is classed with manufactures. The same may be 
 said of lumber, tobacco, rum, whiskey, and molasses." 
 
 " I give it up, your honor," replied Felix, rising to 
 bow to the commander. 
 
 " I accept the apology," added Captain Ringgold, 
 who rarely indulged in humor of any kind, and the 
 Milesian thought he had lately made a wonderful 
 improvement. " Gallipoli is the rendezvous of the 
 Turkish naval fleet ; and you can see some of it over 
 in the other harbor." 
 
40 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " Is it much of a fleet ? " asked the surgeon. 
 
 "It has a very respectable force. A year ago, 
 though the navy had been somewhat reduced by the 
 sale of some of the ships to England, perhaps to dimin- 
 ish her debt to that power, or for political reasons, 
 Turkey had fifteen large armored ships, all steamers 
 of modern build, and a great number of smaller craft, 
 including one monitor. Of course the prevailing 
 religion is Mohammedanism ; but all sects are toler- 
 ated in Turkey, and this city is the seat of a Greek 
 bishop. It contains many mosques, as you can judge 
 by the minarets you see. Such fountains as you saw 
 in Constantinople are to be seen here, and the scenes 
 about the streets are the same. It is a town of fifteen 
 thousand inhabitants. I was here in the Crimean 
 War, for the allies who fought with Turkey against 
 Russia landed their troops here." 
 
 " We are very much obliged to you, Captain Ring- 
 gold, for your interesting and instructive lecture," 
 said Dr. Hawkes. 
 
 "Call it a talk, and I shall like it better," added 
 the captain. " We go through the Dardanelles to- 
 morrow, unless the party wish to remain here to see 
 the city, and then Professor Giraud will give you 
 what you may call a lecture," added the commander 
 as the bell rang for dinner. 
 
 The return of the " Big Four " made things a little 
 more lively at the table than usual since the purchase 
 of the Maud, and Felix was remarkably brilliant. The 
 boys were the first to go on deck, and the first notice- 
 
THE SPEED OF THE SAMOTHRAKI 41 
 
 able thing Louis discovered was the Samothraki, 
 coming into the harbor, though she proceeded to the 
 basin in wliich the ships of war were moored. He im- 
 mediately called the attention of Captain Ringgold 
 to the fact of her arrival. 
 
 "We have made ten knots all day, and that felucca 
 left some time after we did," said the commander, 
 with a look of chagrin in his expression. 
 
 " The wind has been tolerably fresh all day," sug- 
 gested Louis. 
 
 " But she must have made over ten knots an hour." 
 
 "We had been here nearly two hours when she 
 came into the harbor." 
 
 " She came out of the Bosporus some time after we 
 did," reasoned the captain. " When Ave had made ten 
 miles I looked all about for her with the glass without 
 seeing her. Allowing that she sailed one hour after 
 we did, she has made the run in fifteen hours. She 
 has made nine and a third knots an hour all day." 
 
 " Do you think that is very fast, sir ? " asked 
 Louis. 
 
 "Perhaps not for a spurt; but she has done it for 
 fifteen hours. It is not remarkable, but it is faster 
 than I supposed that craft was." 
 
 " She seemed to go like the wind when she was fly- 
 ing about us off Galata," answered Louis. " I thought 
 she was as fast as an ordinary steamer." 
 
 " That was because she was passing something all 
 the time then, and the comparison with other objects 
 at rest made her speed seem to be greater than it 
 
42 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 actually was," added the commander. " She did not 
 look to me like a very able boat, and I fancy she 
 would not fare very well in a heavy sea. I think she 
 will get her best speed in a moderate breeze, such as 
 we have had to-day." 
 
 " It does not seem to me that nine and one-third 
 knots is any great shakes ; for I have heard Morris 
 say that the Blanche has made fourteen knots, and 
 has done it a number of times." 
 
 " Knots or statute miles ? " queried the captain. 
 
 " Morris said knots." 
 
 " Those highflyer yachts like the Blanche generally 
 make the run over known routes where the distances 
 are given in statute miles, as from New York to Sandy 
 Hook or Staten Island. But I have no doubt Mr. 
 Woolridge's schooner has made fourteen knots an 
 hour, — though that is very fast sailing, — under 
 favorable circumstances, with just the breeze for her 
 best points," added Captain Ringgold. 
 
 " Captain Scott," called Louis, as that member of 
 the big four passed near them. 
 
 He presented himself before the commander, touch- 
 ing his cap, and then turned to Louis. 
 
 " How fast could the Seahound sail, Captain Scott ? " 
 asked the owner of the Guardian-Mother. 
 
 '' The best I ever got out of her was ten and a 
 quarter knots," replied Scott promptly, as tliough it 
 was a fact on record in his liistory. 
 
 " Knots or miles ? " asked the captain with a smile 
 at the readiness of the captain of the Maiul. 
 
THE SPEED OF THE SAMOTHRAKI 43 
 
 "Knots, sir, as I measured tliem off from the 
 cliart." 
 
 " She did not often make that ? " 
 
 "Xever but once, sir. If she made six knots an 
 liour on her usual day's work, I was satisfied with 
 her." 
 
 " That's all. Captain Scott ; we were talking about 
 the speed of sailing-craft. Thank you ; " and Scott 
 touched his cap and left them. 
 
 " I think it is evident enough that the Samothraki 
 is a fast boat under favorable circumstances, with just 
 the right breeze for her," continued the captain. 
 "But I am perfectly satisfied from her build and 
 the sail she carries that she would have to make a 
 port if it came on to blow heavily." 
 
 " The speed of this felucca seems to disturb you, 
 Captain Ringgold," added Louis, closely observing the 
 expression of his companion. 
 
 " N'ot at all, my boy," replied the captain, his face 
 suddenly illuminated with a smile which seemed to 
 have a depth to it. " If the Samothraki were a bad 
 character, which has by no means been proved yet, 
 the Guardian-Mother can certainly run away from 
 her, for she is good for sixteen knots an hour when- 
 ever we choose to put her to her trumps." 
 
 " She has often done that ; and when you over- 
 hauled the Viking, then called the Maud, Mr. Shafter 
 thought she did more than that," added Louis. 
 
 " In a case of life and death we could get seventeen 
 out of her ; but I don't believe in driving her above 
 
44 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 sixteen unless it be in an extraordinary emergency. 
 But how is it with the jNIaud ? I have sailed in her 
 only when she was doing duty as a tender at Gibraltar 
 and Constantinople/' said the captain ; and the look, 
 as nearly like one of anxiety as he ever had showed, 
 settled upon his face. 
 
 Louis saw this expression, and he could not help 
 wondering whether or not he had any decided suspi- 
 cions in regard to the character of the felucca. She 
 had sailed back and forth near the steamer at Con- 
 stantinople several times, and he observed that the 
 men on board of her were scrutinizing the ship very 
 closely. It might be only a coincidence that she had 
 come to Gallipoli in the wake of the Guardian-Mother; 
 but it looked to her owner just as though she was 
 there in order to be near her. Without being able to 
 connect them in any manner, the presence of Ali- 
 Noury Pacha in this part of the world appeared to be 
 an element in the situation. 
 
 '' I don't believe that you would run away from a 
 craft like the Samothraki," said Louis, laughing at 
 the idea. 
 
 ^^I don't believe I shall at present," replied the 
 captain, laughing in sympathy with his owner. '• The 
 only question I had was whether there was, or avouUI 
 be, any reason to run away from her. While I have 
 no fear of the craft, I should like to know something 
 more about her." 
 
 "Then we must obtain some further information 
 in regard to her," added Lcuis jiromptly. 
 
THE SPEED OF THE SAMOTHRAKI 45 
 
 " I see ! " exclaimed Captain Ringgold, losing the 
 shadow of anxiety on his face again, and laughing 
 outright. " You scent another adventure, and you 
 are all ready to plunge into it." 
 
 " I was not thinking of an adventure, sir ; but you 
 seem to be just a little troubled about this felucca," 
 continued Louis. 
 
 Mr. Gaskette came to speak to the commander, and 
 no more was said. 
 
46 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 A CONFIDENTIAL MISSION ASHORE 
 
 As soon as the second officer went forward, the 
 expression of jollity returned to the face of the com- 
 mander. Louis Belgrave had been dubbed a knight by 
 his trustee, Uncle Moses, before the purchase of the 
 Guardian-Mother, on account of the young man's sup- 
 posed love of adventure, though he was no more in- 
 clined in that direction than the average boy of his 
 age. He was still called " Sir Louis " at times by the 
 captain. Uncle Moses, and the doctor. 
 
 He had certainly fallen into a great many adven- 
 tures, though he had never sought them ; for he was 
 not a boy who would have gone to the Great West, 
 even if his mother had given him permission to do 
 so, to fight the Indians, or to shoot grizzly bears. 
 He had tumbled very naturally into his scrapes and 
 adventures, most of them resulting from the family 
 quarrels with his step-father, which had disturbed 
 his life for several years. 
 
 '' What about the felucca. Sir Louis ? " asked the 
 commander, giving the young millionaire the title 
 suggested by his former remark. 
 
 " I was saying that you seemed to be disturbed by 
 
A CONFIDENTIAL MISSION ASHORE 47 
 
 the presence near us of the Samothraki," replied the 
 young knight-errant, who had certainly earned his title 
 in the numerous adventures in which he had formerly 
 been engaged ; though it had been a quiet time with 
 him and the rest of the " Big Four " for the last month, 
 the sailing of the Maud through the Mediterranean 
 having furnished sufficient excitement for them, as 
 the wise commander intended it should. 
 
 " I only said I should like to know something more 
 about her, whereupon you were all ready for an ad- 
 venture," laughed the captain. 
 
 " I was not thinking anything about an adventure 
 when I suggested that we could obtain some further 
 information in regard to this felucca," replied Louis 
 in the same vein of hilarity. 
 
 " In other words, you propose to fit out an expedi- 
 tion under the command of Sir Louis Belgrave to 
 visit the Samothraki, and perhaps make prisoners of 
 the whole crowd on board of her," said the commander 
 in a tone of irony. 
 
 Though the adventures of Louis and his compan- 
 ions had been of rather a serious nature, involving 
 some dangerous and difficult movements, the captain 
 and the trustee insisted upon clothing them in a 
 humorous dressing, making fun of and laughing at 
 them. None of the voyagers had ever been hurt to 
 a degree worth mentioning, though they had en- 
 countered smugglers, brigands, and other evil-doers. 
 Some of them were armed with revolvers ; but they 
 had preferred, like prudent generals, to fight their 
 battles by strategy. 
 
48 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Louis was generally the leader, and lie Avas not 
 inclined to shoot any man, even though he was a 
 ruffian. When his own life was at stake, in the wars 
 of the Belgrave family, he had fired upon a fellow- 
 being, but was careful every time not to inflict a fatal 
 wound. 
 
 "I was not proposing to fit out an expedition, 
 unless taking a boat and visiting the felucca in a 
 friendly way deserves such a grandiloquent descrip- 
 tion," replied Louis very quietly. 
 
 " Do you propose to take the Maud for this — trip, 
 since you object to calling it an expedition ? " 
 
 '' Certainly not, sir. I should desire to make the 
 trip in a very quiet and unassuming manner, and get 
 alongside the Samothraki as if by accident." 
 
 "Strategy!" exclaimed Captain Ringgold. 
 
 "You would not expect me to go to the felucca 
 and announce that I was the owner of the Guardian- 
 Mother, though only a small boy of one hundred and 
 forty pounds, and ask to know about the uature of 
 the craft, and the object of her present voyage, would 
 you ? " 
 
 " Well, hardly," replied the captain with a smile. 
 " You are a master of strategy, Sir Louis, and I will 
 leave the whole matter to your wisdom and discretion." 
 
 " But when I proposed this measure, I did not even 
 suggest that I should command in the enterprise," 
 returned Louis more seriously. " Send Mr. Boulong, 
 Mr. Gaskette, Captain Scott, or any one you please, 
 to take charge of the business. I am not ambitious 
 
A CONFIDENTIAL MISSION ASHORE 49 
 
 to lead the party ; and if I were thirsting for an ad- 
 venture, as you often say, it does not look as though 
 this affair would amount to anything of the sort," 
 added Louis. 
 
 " You should not take too seriously the pleasantries 
 directed at you, Sir Louis. I believe, with Squire 
 Scarburn, that you have wisdom and discretion be- 
 yond your years. You have returned from all your 
 adventures with your flag flying. Drop the pleasant- 
 ries now, and be serious," continued Captain Ring- 
 gold. 
 
 Then he proceeded to consider the possible mission 
 of the felucca precisely as Louis had done it in his 
 own mind. 
 
 " Do I understand you, sir, that you intend to leave 
 this matter to me rather than to one of your officers, or 
 to Captain Scott ? " asked the young millionaire. 
 
 ^' The business is private and confidential ; and I am 
 not willing to inform any one who does not know it, 
 that the Pacha is somewhere in these parts, and that 
 we want to know more about this felucca, which we 
 are inclined to connect in some manner with the 
 Moor," the commander explained. "You know all 
 about the situation, and you understand my views 
 and wishes. I leave the whole matter to you. Pro- 
 ceed as you think best." 
 
 " I should like the first cutter, with the five men 
 who form her crew," said Louis, all ready to carry 
 out the indefinite plan he had in his mind. 
 
 " But there is one difficulty we may not be able to 
 
r,(} 
 
 'IHI'; VO(IN(i N A VMJA'I'OltM 
 
 fM',1, «»v<*r," iiii/.;f',«t;il,('(| iJn', (•;i,\)\:.ii\\. '' 'I'ln*, <',v(tw <>i Uk; 
 Icliicc'i, ;i,rc. iiit'cU:'. .'ipjciK'nlJ y, I lioiif,'Ji t.li<*y iii.'i-y l»<! 
 TiirkH; hiil il. i;i rvidnit, l,li;i,l, IIkw f>j)<';i,k 'riiiki;sli, 
 Voii will iiol, Im* :i\>\i'. l-o l,;i,lk vvilJi Uiciii ;i,l, ;dl." 
 
 " I c.'Ui i-Mil, nv«'.r l,li;i,l, <lilliciill,y. I)()ii, Mn* ;;c('(>iiii 
 (MiKiiKMir of I,Im', MimmI, ii|><'.ii,kH Ar;i,l)ic, ;iii<l \vit,li lliiil, 
 lie- ('MJi j.';<',l, ;i,i()ii}^r wiMi TiiikM. I ;;li;ill liikc iiitii wiMi 
 MM*, ;ui<l l*'rlix, ;i,;i li(r kiiovv.i :i,li ;i,l)oiil, llic ;i,ir;ui'." 
 
 Tiic IVI il(';ii:i,ii w;i,;i jii;;l, Mien on ho.ird ol' iJic, jM;um1, 
 :ui(l lioiiiii Weill, l.o liiKJ liiiii. Tin' «'iij',iiM'ciii :i,inl Mnt 
 m1,<iw!U'(I r(fin;uin'(l (»ii Ixcud ol lici- ;i,ll Mic, IJiin*. Diir- 
 iiii', rlic, nl.'iy ill iJic (ioldcii I lorn I Ik- (-:u'|)ciil,cr ol' I, lie, 
 ;ilii|) li.'ul iii:ul(^ itoiix' iiii|ii'()V(;iii(Mil,.s in \.\\i'. i'or<M;:i,sM('. 
 of Mic, lilUc .ilcuiicr, wli(M<^ Mm! Ilircc inrii livccl, the, 
 <*;i,l»iii Im'III!', devoted ex(dii;iively lo iJie •' i'»if-J l^'oiir." 
 Don vv;i;i e;iJled to llie I'oree.'i.iiUe, iiiid ;i,;ike(| il" he could 
 it|i<';ik 'l'iirki;ili. lie ;i,M!Siii<mI I, lie, iiKjiiirer t,li:it he 
 eoiild ; Tor lie IkmI liikeii le.sMoiiMoi' liis I'.'iMm;!' ill Ar.'il)i(t, 
 .'Ui lie Ii;mI expecird lo Ix-eoiiie ;i n eii<;iiieer on I. lie Nile. 
 
 " I e;iii l,;i,lk wilJi Mm-. («r(M'k;i, lor iJie, l,wo l;Ml;.;ll;L^M^s 
 }l,re ;ill mixed I.oj'vIJkm'," .'idded Don. 
 
 "Tlieii yon are jii.il, iJie niiin we w.'uit," replied 
 Loiiiii, :i:i llie lii;)!, eiilier e:iiiie :ilonf;\si(le Mie Maud, 
 loi' Mie eaplain sent, lier Micrr a,l, llie K^picsl, ol" llie 
 I«!a,(lei' ol' Mie expe(|il ion. 
 
 *' lla,ve you llie l\lo(ni;ili (doMie;; yon wore w lien \<tii 
 ejiliK^ on hoard ol' the ship';'" asked liOiiis, al'lcr he 
 had inrorined l\'\\\ and Don Ihal. he inlendcd lo ;;(> 
 on lilioir. 
 
 "I lia\e,;;ir; I washed l,lirni,aiid put I hem in order, 
 
A CDNKIDIONTIAL MISSTOX ASlIOIilO 51 
 
 iov I want, 1,0 kf!('j) 1 Iiciii to iciiicjiihcr my hard expc- 
 ri(;iH;r; on boai'd a MoliainiiKulaii st(;aincr." 
 
 '< Will you j)iit ilicjii <)\\ i'ov this cxcui-sioii, Don ?" 
 
 ^'Certainly, sir, ii' you (hisire it." 
 
 He went down into tlie forecasthi, and vvhiki he was 
 ehan^in^' his dress, Louis <-old VcMx what had passed 
 ]ntt\vcA'Ai tint, eoniinand(;i- and liiniself, and that the 
 ol)jeet of th(} (ixeuision was to oljtain more informa- 
 tion in i'('^;ar(l to the r('lu(;(;a. 
 
 " I am glad you took ma with you, my dai'ling, if 
 you liave an adv(!ntui(; in view, for I will see that tlie 
 heathen don't hai'm you," said Felix. 
 
 "And I will i(;nde)- you tluj same serviee, Felix," 
 r(q)lie<l Ijouis. 
 
 The Milesian always insist(jd u]>on f^'oing with 
 Louis, and h<; s(!emed to b(;lieve that his proteetion 
 was the one thing his erony ncH^ded to keep him out 
 of dang(n-, oi- to r(iseu(; him if \nt shcjuld })e in trouble; 
 t)ut tin; sid)j(;et of his solieitude r(;eogniz(;d ]io su(;h 
 al)ility to save him as Ik; (jlaimtul, though Ik; kn(!W 
 F(;lix was entirely devoted to him, and no doubt 
 would saeriliee even his life in the serviee of his friend. 
 
 Don e;i,ni(; up linui the foif^'iistle fully (!(juipi)ed in 
 his Tuikish uniform, from the M(n-oeeo slippers to 
 the f(!z on his head, and not excepting the long knife 
 in liis belt,. As ;i. matt(;r (jf p)iid(!n(;(;, I^ouis iiidu(;(;d 
 him to hiavc! his we;ipon on board. The party em- 
 l)arke(l, and tin; l>oat shov(;d olf. Louis directed 
 Sto(jdy, th(! cockswain of tin; (Mitter, to steer into the 
 naval haibor. 
 
52 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Not a word was said about the felucca, and prob- 
 ably the four seamen at the oars had not noticed her, 
 and knew nothing about her. It was beginning to be 
 dark, but a piece of the waning moon gave them suffi- 
 cient light to enable the cockswain to find his way. 
 There was no officer in the cutter, as usual, and the 
 young millionaire was in sole command. 
 
 "I want you all to be very quiet, my men," said 
 Louis, as they entered the naval port. " I have a 
 little affair on my hands, though it is not necessary to 
 tell you anything about it ; only be silent." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir ! " responded the crew Avith one voice ; 
 and all the ship's company on board of the Guardian- 
 Mother had an intense admiration for Louis, perhaps 
 for the reason that " he was made of money," though 
 he had always treated them with the greatest con- 
 sideration, for they were all picked hands, and worthy 
 of respect. 
 
 " Now, Stoody, 3'ou will not take it amiss if I ask 
 you to let me steer the cutter, while you take your 
 place in the bow as lookout man." 
 
 ^^ Not at all, your honor," replied the cockswain. 
 " I know you can steer the boat as well as any man 
 in the ship." 
 
 Stoody went forward, and Louis hastened to take 
 his place. 
 
 " If you see anything in the way ahead, Cockswain, 
 I)ass the word through the men, and don't call out," 
 added the leader, as he took the tiller lines. 
 
 ''Ay, ay, sir!" resiK)ndcd Stoody in a low voice. 
 
A Turkish cafe well filled with sailors." Page 53. 
 
A CONFIDENTIAL MISSION ASHORE 53 
 
 " Man-of-war ahead on the starboard bow," was the 
 word immediately passed in a very low tone through 
 the oarsmen. 
 
 Louis had seen her, and stood up in his place to see 
 if he could make out the felucca. Before he had 
 made her out, the word was passed from the bow that 
 such a craft was to be seen on the port bow. He sent 
 Felix forward to take a look at her. He returned 
 with the information that it was the Samothraki. 
 
 " More than that," added Felix, " Stoody says she 
 is the same craft he saw running back and forth in 
 the morning, while they were getting up the anchor." 
 
 She was peculiar enough to be recognized even in 
 the dim light of the evening. She was much larger 
 than other craft of the same model that had been 
 seen in these waters. But Louis was not ready to 
 visit her yet, and he directed the cutter so as to leave 
 the man-of-war on the starboard. He kept on this 
 course till the boat grounded at the city. With Felix 
 and Don, Louis went on shore. 
 
 Near the landing was a Turkish cafe, well filled 
 with sailors and others, who were smoking the nar- 
 ghile, or hookah, and drinking the infinitesimal cups 
 of coffee. Louis decided to enter the place, and he 
 did so, followed by his companions. They seated 
 themselves on a dirty divan, Don taking care to fold 
 up his legs like the others in Turkish fashion, the 
 two Americans seating themselves as usual. The 
 odor from the hookahs was sickening to Louis ; for 
 the room was full of smoke, and the bubbling of the 
 
54 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 water through which the smoke passed was even worse 
 than the smell. 
 
 Don Avas directed to call for coffee for the three ; and 
 he did it, without any trouble with the language, for he 
 was understood the first time he spoke. It was placed 
 on a stand before them. 
 
 "Mind your eye, Louis," said Felix in a whisper. 
 " Over in the corner is His Highness." 
 
 Louis Avas startled, for he did not expect to find the 
 Pacha there. 
 
AN EVENING IN A TURKISH CAF^ 55 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 AN EVENING IN A TURKISH CAFE 
 
 Louis and Felix created no little sensation when 
 they entered the cafe and seated themselves ; Don, 
 none at all, for he was dressed about the same as the 
 regular frequenters of the establishment. It was a 
 very wise inspiration or forethought on the part of 
 Mohammed the Prophet, in the Koran, to forbid the 
 use of intoxicating fluids among his followers. If 
 he had not done so doubtless this cafe would have 
 been what is called a saloon, a drinking-place, in the 
 land of the Christians. 
 
 In this manner he rendered unnecessary in the 
 domains of the Crescent any temperance reformers 
 and prohibitionists ; and as the chief prohibitionist 
 of the world he blessed his followers, and saved them 
 from untold miseries. As a very general rule Mo- 
 hammedans obey the total-abstinence precept of the 
 Koran ; certainly there was no strong drink dispensed 
 in the cafe; the narghiles and the coffee were the 
 only stimulants used. 
 
 Perhaps Ali-Noury Pacha was a good Mohammedan 
 when he was in the midst of the " true believers ; " 
 but Captain Einggold had learned that he did not 
 
56 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 obey all the precepts of the Koran when he was in 
 the company of the '' infidels," for it had been ascer- 
 tained in Funchal that he had not only imbibed intox- 
 icating drinks, but imbibed them too freely, and was 
 sometimes tipsy. On the present occasion he appeared 
 to satisfy himself with the pipe and the coffee. 
 
 He had a single companion, and they were squatted 
 on a divan which was partly screened from the view 
 of less distinguished men than His Highness ; but 
 the quiet corner to which Don had conducted his 
 party was almost the only place in the cafe which 
 commanded a partial view of the interior of the 
 private apartment. The Moor was engaged in a very 
 earnest conversation with his companion, though in a 
 low tone. He was dressed in Oriental costume, though 
 with none of the elegance which usually invested 
 him. 
 
 " It is very singular that a man of his dignity and 
 distinction should be in a place like this with the 
 very commonest of the people of this country," said 
 Louis, after he had looked the Pacha over very 
 cautiously. 
 
 '^ He's here on business," added Felix. " He wanted 
 a quiet place where he could meet the gentleman 
 who is with him, and he came here." 
 
 "He is doing a little Haroun-al-Easchid business 
 here in Gallipoli," added Louis. 
 
 "I don't know Mr. Kaschid," replied Felix. "And 
 I don't know what his business was." 
 
 "He was the caliph of Bagdad who went about 
 
AN EVENING IN A TURKISH CAF^ 57 
 
 among his people at night in disguise, and had many 
 wonderful adventures. But I wonder what they are 
 talking about ? " said Louis. 
 
 "I say, Don, you understand the lingo of these 
 people," continued Felix, turning to the engineer. 
 ^' Do you mind that empty seat close to the entrance 
 of that coop where the Pacha is tippling his coffee ? " 
 
 " I see it," replied Don. 
 
 " Couldn't you walk about the place in an easy sort 
 of way, as though you were seeing what you could 
 see, and squat on that divan near the door, and try if 
 you could hear what they are saying ? " asked Felix, 
 always on the lookout to do what his crony desired. 
 
 "Perhaps I could; but I don't care to have the 
 Pacha see me," replied Don, looking very much as 
 though he did not like the employment suggested to 
 him. " It would be all night and the next day to me 
 if he should happen to see and know me." 
 
 " You need not let him see you at all," argued the 
 Milesian. "I Avould be glad of the job if I could 
 understand the gibberish they are talking." 
 
 " I '11 go, Avhatever the risk," added the engineer, 
 untwisting his legs and rising from the divan. " His 
 Highness did not spend much time in the engine-room 
 when he was on board of his steamer, and I doubt if 
 he would know me if he saw me." 
 
 " That is a good fellow, Don," replied Felix 
 patronizingly. 
 
 The engineer strolled around the room, seeing what 
 there was to be seen, but careful not to look the occu- 
 
58 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 pants of the cafe in the face, fearful that some of 
 them might speak to him. In a few minutes he 
 doubled up his legs on the divan, and made his ears 
 the busiest part of his body. He did not remain 
 there two minutes, but again strolled about the apart- 
 ment, and then rejoined his companions. 
 
 <' I could not understand a word they said," he 
 reported, evidently annoyed at his failure to accom- 
 plish anything. 
 
 " What was the matter ? Didn't they talk Turco- 
 Greekish ? " asked Felix, quite as much annoyed at 
 the failure as the messenger. 
 
 " Not a word of it ; they talked French, and I 
 could not make out a sound of it," answered Don. 
 
 " French ! " exclaimed Felix. " It is mighty 
 strange they should talk that in this uncivilized 
 country. Ah, my darling, your time has come now ; 
 you have been studying French all your lifetime just 
 to fit you for this occasion, and I have been laughing 
 at you for doing so since I was a baby ; but I did not 
 foresee this blessed moment when it comes to be of 
 service to you." 
 
 Louis did not wait to hear all that the Milesian 
 had to say ; and by the time he had finished his long- 
 winded remark, the leader of the expedition was half 
 way over to the vacant divan. He realized that the 
 Pacha was more likely to recognize liim than the oiler 
 on board of the Fatime ; for he had tidked with him 
 on the deck of the Guardian-Mother, and had met 
 him in Gibraltar and Constantinople. 
 
AN EVENING IN A TURKISH CAFE 59 
 
 He avoided every position in the room wliicli was 
 commanded by the entrance to the private room, and 
 reached the vacant place without being discovered by 
 the Moorish magnate, though all in the cafe were 
 staring at him. If any of the parties in the apart- 
 ment talked, they did it in a low tone, for they were 
 excited neither by beer nor whiskey ; and in our fa- 
 vored land, in such a place, there would have been a 
 confusion of tongues that out-babeled Babel itself. 
 
 In the comparative quiet of the place, especially in 
 the corner near the Grand Mogul, Louis could hear 
 what passed between the Pacha and his companion. 
 The divan on which the strategetic visitor seated 
 himself was next to the curtained entrance to the 
 private room at the left of him. He sat back to a 
 partition in which the opening was made. The two 
 conspirators, if they were such, were seated one on 
 each side of a table. 
 
 Louis could not see the Moorish personage, for he 
 was directly behind him ; but, by leaning forward a 
 little, he had a full view of the other person. He 
 was not prepossessing, though he smiled obsequi- 
 ously to the distinguished magnate before him, of 
 whose quality he was evidently fully informed, or at 
 least realized that '^ money was no object to him." 
 
 As Don had reported, they were talking French ; 
 they seemed to have no fear that any one within ear- 
 shot of them could understand what they said, and 
 they spoke in ordinary tones so that Louis could 
 easily hear them. But they had doubtless been 
 
60 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 carrying on the conversation for some time, and the 
 listener did not get hold of anything serviceable to 
 his purpose at once. But the Tacha was doing 
 most of the talking; and it was soon evident that 
 Captain Einggold Avas the gentleman to whom his 
 speech related, though he called no names. 
 
 AVhatever talk there had been before the listener 
 took his place on the divan, His Highness soon began 
 a narrative of his grievances against the commander 
 of the Guardian-Mother. He had visited the ship at 
 Mogadore, and made the acquaintance of the ladies on 
 board of her, saying nothing about the gentlemen, 
 who j)lainly had no interest to him. He had been 
 invited to dine with the ^^assengers, and was delighted 
 with his reception. 
 
 Among the ladies was an " houri," as he called her, 
 one of the nymphs of paradise that people the 
 imagination of all Mohammedan " highflyers," who 
 surpassed all the beauties of Georgia and Circassia. 
 He had treated all the party, especially the captain, 
 with " distinguished consideration.'' He had walked 
 the deck with the houri, who appeared to be very 
 kindly disposed towards him. He had promised to 
 visit the steam-yacht the next morning, and conduct 
 the party to the mosques and palaces of the city, and 
 entertain them at his castle. 
 
 The steamer, which he called ^' La Mere Tutelaire,^^ 
 thus amusing Louis very much in spite of the serious- 
 ness of his mission, had sailed at a very early hour 
 in tlie morning witliout any reply to his invitation. 
 
AN EVENING IN A TURKISH CAFfi 61 
 
 He was very indign.aiit at this cavalier treatment. 
 He had followed the ship to Fuiichal, where she had 
 again evaded him; and he considered the captain's 
 treatment of him as insulting in the highest degree. 
 The steamer had then avoided him for three months, 
 but he found her again at Gibraltar. He had called 
 upon the captain on board of his ship, but he had 
 refused to receive him, — the infidel had refused to 
 receive him, the associate and friend of the Sultan 
 of Morocco ! 
 
 He had demanded an explanation of him while in 
 his barge. The captain had then told him that his, 
 the Pacha's, character w^as so bad that he could not 
 permit the ladies of his party to associate wdth him. 
 At this point the friend of His Highness vented his 
 indignation in a volley of French oaths, which are 
 not as effective as those in English, for it will be re- 
 membered that one of the characters of Dumas pere 
 had to borrow some from the vocabulary of the latter 
 in order fully to express his wrath. 
 
 Then the Pacha dwelt upon his feeling at this 
 gross insult, and said that he had promptly challenged 
 the caitiff infidel to atone for his insolence. But the 
 captain had refused to accept the challenge, for he 
 was opposed to the duel on principle. " With four 
 men I attacked him in the street ; but he struck me 
 over the head with his fist, and knocked me into the 
 gutter." The Pacha passed lightly over this scene ; 
 but he invited the other to imagine his humiliation, 
 his mortification, at this injury added to insult, and 
 
62 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOKS 
 
 said he liacl sworn undying vengeance against the 
 infidel dog. 
 
 The " true believer " who listened to this long nar- 
 rative desired to know in what manner the retribution 
 Avas to be meted out to the offender. If the houri in 
 the cabin of La Mh^e Tutelaire could be captured and 
 put on board of the Fatime, that would satisfy his 
 thirst for revenge, for in no way could he strike a 
 blow that would hit the captain so hard. The '' true 
 believer" thouglit there could be no great difficulty 
 about accomplishing this purpose if the nymph of par- 
 adise ever left the ship, and he would undertake to 
 capture her, even if he had to do it in the streets of 
 Athens or Syra. 
 
 Louis judged from the chuckle which followed that 
 His Highness was delighted with the assurance his 
 companion gave him that his vengeance should be so 
 readily satisfied in the manner prescribed ; but he had 
 " another string to his bow," or another '' bowstring" 
 as it might be called in this locality where the cord 
 is the favorite method of getting rid of a troublesome 
 person, be it an offending houri or the brother of an 
 ambitious aspirant for the throne. Then he told the 
 other something more about the captain's steamer, 
 especially that she was owned by a boy millionaire. 
 If the houri could not be captured, this young fellow 
 was the next prize to be secured. Louis wanted to 
 laugh, for he believed he could throw the Pacha over 
 his head ; though the other man of the pair was an- 
 other matter, for he was lialf as heavy again as the 
 
AN EVENING IN A TURKISH CAFl^] 63 
 
 " Moorish humbug," as Captain Einggokl contemptu- 
 ously called him. 
 
 Louis hoped the gentleman would disclose in what 
 manner and where he intended to carry out the deli- 
 cate programme he had vaguely indicated ; but he 
 seemed to be wise enough to keep his own counsel, 
 even in regard to his employer. He clapped his 
 hands, and the waiter came to him. The Moor paid 
 the bill ; and by a door which the listener had not 
 seen they passed out of the building, for Louis felt 
 the cool draft of air which came in when it was opened. 
 
 Louis paid for the coffee he had twice ordered, and 
 gave the waiter all the change, which stamped him 
 as an Occidental Pacha, and joined his companions 
 after a leisurely stroll through the cafe. 
 
64 THE YOUNG HAyiGATOBS 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 AN INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN MAZAGAN 
 
 When Louis resumed his seat on the divan, Felix 
 and Don looked at him with deep interest visible in 
 their faces. The engineer, who had been sent to listen 
 to the interview between the two men in Turkish 
 costume, had not been told the reason. He had not 
 received a word or a hint in respect to the object of 
 the evening excursion to the shore. Of course he 
 knew the Pacha ; but everything had been concealed 
 from him, as from the rest of those on board the 
 steamer, by the trio in possession of the secret. 
 
 " You have been gone long enough to hear the whole 
 history of the Ottoman Empire," said Felix, as Louis 
 seated himself. 
 
 " Call the waiter and pay the bill, Don," added 
 Louis, without replying to his crony's remark, as he 
 laid a silver coin of fifty millihnes on the table. 
 
 A millieme is worth about half a cent, and the silver 
 piece twenty-five cents. Don clapped his hands, and 
 gave the coin to the attendant, Avho ])r()duced a lot of 
 coppers, which he was invited to put in his pocket. 
 
 The waiter made a servile obeisance at this liberal- 
 ity, and ushered the trio to the door with bows enough 
 
AN INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN MAZAGAN Q5 
 
 to serve a French (lanciiig-master. Louis was very 
 glad to get out of the smoke, the bad air, and the odor, 
 as well as the bubbling of the narghiles, so sickening 
 to him. The writer has sat in a Turkish cafe, drunk 
 the mud they call coffee, out of cups that hold not much 
 more than a thimbleful. He does not smoke, and there- 
 fore had no temptation to try a narghile when one was 
 brought to him ; but he listened to the bubbling in a 
 dozen of them, and it was nauseating to him, so that 
 he would have fled from them if it had not rained 
 furiously at the time. The snap of the narcotic 
 fluid in a clay pipe produces the same effect upon 
 him. 
 
 Louis said nothing about the mission he had accom- 
 plished in the cafe in the presence of Don ; but he 
 had another mission before him which fully occupied 
 his mind, and Felix asked no questions. 
 
 " Did you notice the man that was with the Pacha, 
 Don?" he asked, as he led his companions away 
 from the front of the ca'fe, seeking the rear of the 
 building in which it was the lower story. 
 
 " I did ; for I could see him by turning my head, 
 and with my hand over my face so that he could not 
 see my eyes, I looked him over for a minute or so," 
 replied the engineer. 
 
 " I did the same thing. Do you think you would 
 know him if you saw him again, even if it were not 
 very light ? " asked Louis. 
 
 " I think I should, sir ; for he is a large man, six 
 feet high, and weighs something like thirteen stone," 
 
Q6 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 replied Don. " He must be near tifty years old, and 
 his full beard is rather gray." 
 
 " That's the man/' added Louis in a low tone, as he 
 took the arm of Felix, and suddenly di-agged him 
 away from the spot. " Don't say a word ! " he added 
 impressively. 
 
 Don followed them, and Louis did not stop till he 
 had secured a position in front of the cafe where he 
 could dodge behind it with the other two. He had 
 been to the rear of the building to look for the door 
 by which His Highness and his agent had left the 
 cafe. He had scarcely reached the corner when he 
 discovered the two men standing near the door talk- 
 ing together. Doubtless the employee of the Moor was 
 giving the details of the scheme in which he was to 
 engage. 
 
 Louis would have been extremely glad to listen 
 further if they were still talking French ; but he had 
 not been able to discover any place where he could 
 conceal himself, and the attempt would be full of 
 peril. He was a prudent young man, and he beat 
 a hasty retreat before the trio had been seen. He 
 had looked before he leaped, and only peeped around 
 the corner, the other two being behind him. 
 
 " Well, Avhat is up now, my darling ? " asked Felix, 
 as soon as they had come to a halt, and Louis ex- 
 plained the situation. 
 
 " Hush up ! There goes somebody ! " interposed 
 Don, who had listened to the explanation, and under- 
 stood the situation. "That is the Pacha and the 
 other fellow ! " 
 
AN INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN MAZAGAN 67 
 
 " All right," replied Louis. " I want to know 
 where they go next." 
 
 Very cautiously, the leader in advance, they fol- 
 lowed the two men. At the next corner the Moor 
 mounted a horse, while the big man continued on his 
 way to the shore. A boat was in waiting for him at 
 some distance from the first cutter of the Guardian- 
 Mother, to which the trio hastened as rapidly as 
 possible. Springing into the boat, Louis ordered the 
 bowman to shove off. 
 
 " Do you see that boat putting off from the shore, 
 Stoody ? " asked the leader, pointing to it as it came 
 out into the harbor. 
 
 " I see it, sir," replied the cockswain. 
 
 " Run for it ; and spring your oars, my lads ! " said 
 Louis sharply. " Take your place in the fore-sheets, 
 Don, and keep a bright lookout ahead." 
 
 The engineer obeyed the order, and Louis and Felix 
 seated themselves on the cushioned seats of the stern- 
 sheets. The boat was soon near enough for the trio 
 to see that the big man was in the place of honor in 
 it. Don reported the fact, imssing the word through 
 the men. " The big man is in it." 
 
 "The seamen were no wiser for this remark, for they 
 did not understand it. The cutter followed the boat, 
 though it soon became necessary to reduce its speed, 
 past the man-of-war, and towards the point where the 
 Samothraki had anchored. 
 
 " That man is going on board of the felucca without 
 a shadow of doubt," said Louis. 
 
68 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 ^' Who is the big man ? " asked Felix. 
 
 "I can't tell you now, except that he was talking 
 all the evening to the Pacha, and I heard what they 
 said ; but not a word more now," replied Louis, still 
 watching the course of the boat which contained the 
 big man. In a critical time Felix was discretion 
 itself, and he said not another word in regard to the 
 subject. When the first cutter was between the man- 
 of-war and the felucca, and not half a cable's length 
 from the latter, thei-e was no longer a possible 
 doubt that the other boat was going to the Samo- 
 thraki. 
 
 " Stand by to lay on your oars ! " said Louis in his 
 ordinary tone. " Oars ! " 
 
 At the last command the men placed the oars on a 
 level with the water, with the blades feathered, and 
 everything was at rest. With the dark body of the 
 man-of-war as a background, the men in the other 
 boat and in the felucca could hardly have seen the 
 cutter. Louis stood up in his place and observed 
 the movements of the boat containing the big man, as 
 that was the only designation he could give him. 
 
 There was not much to observe, for the boat went 
 directly to the felucca, and the principal personage 
 was seen to go on board of her. Louis had learned 
 the first thing he wanted to know, that the companion 
 of the Pacha was connected with the rakish craft. 
 There could be no room for a doubt on the part of 
 Captain Kinggold now when he heard the story his 
 messenger had to relate to him. 
 
AN INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN MAZAGAN 69 
 
 Louis was not quite satisfied with Avliat he had 
 learned, and called Don from the fore sheets. 
 
 "That felucca is a very fast craft for a sailing-ves- 
 sel," said he. 
 
 " She is indeed, sir," replied the engineer. 
 
 " To the people in Kew York, most of whom never 
 saw such a boat, she would be a great curiosity," he 
 added. 
 
 " And she would be in Glasgow, where I come from, 
 sir," answered Don. 
 
 "I have taken a Yankee notion that I should like 
 to buy her, and send her to America, where I could 
 exhibit her as an odd craft, and perhaps enter at some 
 of the regattas," continued Louis. "I am going to 
 pay her a visit ; and I want you to ask the captain if 
 he would sell her, and to give you the price of her. 
 You can speak his language, and I cannot." 
 
 Don did not seem to like the duty he was called 
 upon to perform, though he made no objection to do- 
 ing what was required of him, and he suggested that 
 the big man spoke French ; but he did so in so low a 
 tone that no one but Louis could hear what he said. 
 
 " I don't care to have it known on board of the fe- 
 lucca that I speak French," he replied in an equally 
 low tone. 
 
 " I will ask the big man what you wish, sir," added 
 the engineer. 
 
 " Give way ! " called Louis to the men ; and they 
 resumed rowing. " My lads, I Avant to buy that craft, 
 or at least to learn her value ; but you pull so regu- 
 
70 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 larly that I am afraid they will thiiik we come from a 
 man-of-war, and will double the price of the felucca," 
 he continued, as the cutter was approaching the 
 Samothraki. " Just break up your man-of-war stroke, 
 don't feather your oars, and if some one ' catches a 
 crab,' no fault will be found with you," 
 
 ^' Ay, ay, sir ; we will obey orders, and reduce the 
 price of the outlandish tub," answered one of the men 
 at once; and they seemed to enjoy the fun of the 
 idea. 
 
 They certainly rowed badly enough after this in- 
 struction, and the stroke would not indicate that they 
 were man-of-war's men. They kept the time like 
 land lubbers ; and when the cutter was within five 
 fathoms of the felucca, the stroke oarsman went over 
 backwards between the thwarts. The rest of the sea- 
 men rallied him, and laughed heartily at his apparent 
 misfortune. But the man was almost instantly in his 
 place, and the stroke was resumed. Stoody brought 
 the cutter along side the after i)art of the felucca, 
 and Don stood up to discharge the duty assigned to 
 him. 
 
 He spoke in Arabic, and no one from the Guardian- 
 Mother could understand a word he said. The big 
 man was not to be seen, but Louis counted six others 
 in the waist. With the pei-son Avho had been to the 
 cafe the number would be seven. 
 
 "I thought there were eight of tliem when I saw 
 the craft in the Golden Horn,'' said he, speaking in 
 a low tone to Felix. 
 
AN INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN MAZAGAN 71 
 
 "I am sure there were eight of them on board this 
 morning, darling," whispered the Milesian. 
 
 " The other man may be in one of the cuddies," 
 suggested Louis. 
 
 "That may be; but then on the other hand, the 
 Grand Mogul may have been the eighth man, for he 
 was interested in this business," added Felix. " I 
 saw a man I thought was he, but I could not make 
 him out." 
 
 Don continued to talk in an unknown tongue to the 
 man on board, and the others had curiosity enough to 
 listen to the conversation. He had evidently broached 
 the subject of purchasing the felucca; for the Greek 
 seaman, as he appeared to be, went to one of the 
 cuddies which was lighted, and spoke to some person 
 within. A moment later the big man came out. Don 
 parleyed with him a moment, and then, not a little to 
 the astonishment of Louis, he spoke out in English, 
 and his speech was quite correct. Don finished his 
 preliminary remarks, whatever they were, by pointing 
 to the chief of the expedition. 
 
 " Good evening, sir," said he ; and he could be 
 easily understood and his pronunciation was not very 
 bad. " You are a Scotchman ; I have been in your 
 country. What is your name ? " 
 
 The engineer took it upon himself to answer this 
 question by giving his own name. 
 
 " Are you the captain of this felucca, sir ? " asked 
 Louis. 
 
 "I am not, Mr. Donaldi," answered the big man, 
 
72 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 pointing to the one with whom Don had done his 
 talking. " This is captain Polychronopulos ; but I 
 possess the felucca. I have bought her for some 
 pleasure excursives in the ^gean." 
 
 " Will you oblige me with your name ? " asked 
 Louis. 
 
 "I am Captain Mazagan. I sail Morocco ship." 
 
 " I am very much obliged to you, Captain Mazagan ; 
 but as the felucca cannot be bought, I will take my 
 leave of you," said Louis, as he removed his cap, and 
 made his politest bow, telling Stoody to shove off. 
 
 The big man wanted to talk more, perhaps to dis- 
 play or improve his English ; but the cockswain 
 obeyed his orders, and the cutter departed. 
 
THROUGH THE DARDANELLES BY DAY 73 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 THROUGH THE DAKDAXELLES BY DAY 
 
 The crew of the first cutter kept up the farce of 
 rowing badly till they had passed the Turkish man- 
 of-war, and then they fell into their usual stroke. 
 The Guardian-Mother was in the other harbor ; and 
 Louis was confident that nothing had been said which 
 betrayed the connection of the party with her, and 
 he was more than satisfied with the outcome of his 
 mission to the shore and to the Samothraki. 
 
 "Then the big man is not the captain of the fe- 
 lucca," said Felix, as soon as it was prudent to speak 
 out loud. 
 
 " No, Elix ; Captain Polychronopulos is in command 
 of the felucca," replied Louis, who was feeling re- 
 markably " good " over the result of his expedition. 
 
 " Murder ! What a name ! " exclaimed Felix. " It 
 is as long as the coach-whip of a seventy-four, as 
 Knott says. But you seem to speak it out as though 
 you had been there before, my darling." * 
 
 "I was reading Murray's Greece the other day, 
 and I saw that name in it, so that I can handle 
 it as easily as I can my knife and fork," replied 
 Louis. 
 
74 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 "I never heard of Murray's grease before. Is it 
 the same as bear's grease for the hair ? " 
 
 " The kingdom by that name." 
 
 "The kingdom of Greece, Avhich must be a soap- 
 boiler's paradise. ' To Greece Ave give our shining 
 blades ; ' and I suppose it's that kind of grease. 
 Well, the blades ought to be shining if they come 
 out of the grease." 
 
 " Very well, Flix ; I have anticipated what a nest 
 of jokes you would get out of the country we are about 
 to visit ; but I did not expect you would begin quite 
 yet," added Louis. 
 
 " What, not after Captain Chronotype came on the 
 stage ? " 
 
 "You have not made the name much more than 
 half as long as it ought to be," laughed the leader of 
 the expedition. 
 
 " Then I will make it Captain Chrononhotontholo- 
 gos," added Felix' triumphantly. 
 
 " That is better, and more like it ; but the skipper 
 of the felucca is Captain Polychronopulos," added 
 Louis, snapping off the long word as though he had 
 just learned it in a primary school. "Did you know 
 the gentleman whose name you have just mentioned, 
 Flix ? " 
 
 " I never had the pleasure of an introduction to 
 him." 
 
 " Don't you know the word ? " 
 
 " Only as a word which the boys in the academy 
 had as a sort of puzzle in pronunciation, and one of 
 
THROUGH THE DARDANELLES BY DAY 75 
 
 them wrote it out on the blackboard. I don't know 
 that it ever belonged to anybody ; if it did, I don't 
 know to whom." 
 
 "He was a character in a burlesque of the last cen- 
 tury with the same name ; and it was given to General 
 Burgoyne, who ' fit into our Revolution agin us/ as 
 one of our Homespuns had it, on account of a bom- 
 bastic speech he made to the Indians in his American 
 campaign." 
 
 " Way enough ! " said Stoody, as the cutter ap- 
 proached the gangway of the steamer, and every man 
 brought his oars to a perpendicular. 
 
 Louis went on board, followed by Felix, and the 
 crew hoisted the boat up to the davits. Mrs. Bel- 
 grave and Mrs. Woolridge were on deck, and the 
 former wished to know where her son had been. That 
 he had been on shore and visited a cafe was all he 
 thought necessary to inform her ; for he was the con- 
 fidential agent of the captain, and was obliged to keep 
 his own counsel. It was just ten o'clock ; and the 
 ladies retired to the cabin, and then to their berths, 
 for the ship was to sail early in the morning, and the 
 party wished to see the shores of the Dardanelles. 
 
 Felix was gaping, for it was his bedtime ; but Louis 
 required him to go with him to the commander's cabin. 
 The captain was not there ; for with a slight appre- 
 hension of danger of some sort, he had just required a 
 double anchor vfatcli to be stationed on deck, and he 
 was attending to the matter in person. Louis took 
 the opportunity to write the names of the Greek cap- 
 
76 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 tain of the felucca and that of the big man, who an- 
 nounced himself as the commander of a " Morocco 
 ship," for he was afraid that he might forget them. 
 
 Captain Einggold soon appeared in his cabin. His 
 first act was to send Felix to his berth ; for he was 
 gaping like a sleepy boy, and the commander did not 
 care to have his agent's report interrupted by the 
 Milesian's witticisms, however enjoyable they might 
 be at times. He seated himself in the armchair at 
 his desk, after he had carefully closed all the doors. 
 
 ''Well, Sir Louis, you have not brought off the 
 Samothraki with you," the commander began with an 
 encouraging smile on his face. 
 
 '' No, sir ; my orders did not include her capture," 
 replied Louis pleasantly, for he was not sleej^y, and 
 he had become accustomed to the humor of his Cer- 
 vantes. " But I paid a visit to her, and had some 
 talk Avith a Moroccan gentleman who is considerably 
 interested in the movements of the Guardian-Mother 
 at the present time." 
 
 " Indeed ? " 
 
 " But he is not the skipper of the felucca, who is 
 Captain Polychronopulos." 
 
 " Catch your breath quick. Sir Louis " laughed the 
 captain. 
 
 " I have it, for I have got used to the word. The 
 gentleman with whom I had my talk was Captain 
 Mazagan," replied Louis, })assing the paper on which 
 he had written both names to the commander. '' Per- 
 haps I should say in the bc^ginning, Captain Binggold, 
 
THROUGH TKE DARDANELLES BY DAY 77 
 
 that you had better have a sharp h^okout by night as 
 well as (luring the day, for I think we are in danger, 
 and what I report is very important." 
 
 " Then I suppose it was wise to send you on this 
 expedition," added the captain looking more serious 
 than before. 
 
 " I leave you to judge of that for yourself, for I am 
 not inclined to magnify my office." 
 
 The captain lighted a cigar ; smoking appeared to 
 be the only vice to which he was addicted, and that 
 he indulged to a very moderate degree. 
 
 " Make your report in such form as you prefer, and 
 I will listen to you without interruption," he added, 
 when he had placed himself in a comfortable position, 
 with his feet on a camp-stool. 
 
 " I will tell my story just as the events and conver- 
 sations occurred, leaving out all unnecessary matters," 
 replied Louis, as he began at the point where the first 
 cutter had left the steamer. " I don't want to detain 
 you all night to hear me spin the yarn ; and I hope 
 it will not keep you awake after you have heard it." 
 
 " Take your own time, my boy ; and I shall not ob- 
 ject if it takes all night for you to tell your story. It 
 won't keep me awake," added the commander. 
 
 The leader of the expedition to the shore related in 
 full detail all the events of the evening; and it re- 
 quired an hour, for the watch struck six bells, or 
 eleven o'clock, before he had finished. Captain Eing- 
 gold was soon so absorbed in the narrative that he let 
 his cigar go out, and he appeared to be absolutely 
 
78 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOES 
 
 startled when he had located the Pacha and his com- 
 panion in the private room of the cafe. 
 
 " After what you had heard in the cafe, it was a 
 bold step for you to visit the Samothraki/' said Cap- 
 tain Einggold. "You had plenty of pluck for the 
 occasion." 
 
 "It did not occur to me that I was in any danger/' 
 said the narrator. " Of course I took all necessary 
 precautions, and I am confident that no one on board 
 the felucca suspected that we came from the Guardian- 
 Mother. Though I knew that Captain Mazagan spoke 
 French fluently, I did not even drop a word in that 
 language. He spoke English passably well." 
 
 " You managed your affair remarkably well all the 
 way through, my boy. I had no expectation that you 
 would return with such a crop of information ; and 
 the result shows the wisdom of your selection. Why, 
 not another person on board, except Professor Giroud, 
 could have understood what the two villains in the 
 private room were talking about. I used to think 
 that you were foolish to give so much attention to 
 French ; but it may be the means of saving us from a 
 calamity." 
 
 " Now, what do you make of the threads as I liave 
 gathered them up and as you have woven them into a 
 theory ? " asked Louis, as he indulged in a moderate 
 gape, for he had done enough during the day and 
 evening to tire him. 
 
 " It is plain enough tliat the villain, Captain Maza- 
 gan, is the agent of the l*acha, and that he lias been 
 
THROUGH THE DARDANELLES BY DAY 79 
 
 employed to bring about the capture of Miss Blanche 
 or yourself, or both of you ; and His Highness cor- 
 rectly decided where he could hit me in the tenderest 
 jjlace, for the loss of either of you under these circum- 
 stances would be the death of me, I believe,'^ replied 
 the commander, displaying not a little emotion, " But 
 in spite of what we can see of their plan, I do not feel 
 much alarmed at the situation." 
 
 " I had almost come to the conclusion that you 
 would take the Maud on the upper deck of the 
 steamer, and make your way through the Ked Sea to 
 some other part of the world," added Louis, gaping 
 again, for he had made his report, and he had nothing 
 more to stimulate him. 
 
 " I shall do nothing of the kind ; and I am almost 
 ashamed that I ran away from this Mohammedan 
 humbug three times before. Of course Captain Maz- 
 agan expects to accomplish his nefarious object by 
 surprise and strategy ; but you have robbed his enter- 
 prise of its chances of success by bringing to me the 
 information you have gathered this evening. I be- 
 lieve you have saved the young lady and yourself." 
 
 ''If you save her, I shall be satisfied," added Louis. 
 
 " I shall save both of you. But you are sleepy, Sir 
 Louis, as you have reason to be, for there goes eight 
 bells. We will consider this matter again to-morrow." 
 
 " But I shall be on board of the Maud." 
 
 " Captain Scott must release you from duty to-mor- 
 row, and I will send a substitute to take your trick at 
 the wheel. What do you say to Knott ? " said the 
 captain. 
 
80 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " He will suit the other fellows fii'st rate," replied 
 LouiSj rising from Ins chair, and leaving the room. 
 
 The young millionaire was too much fatigued to 
 think over the events of the evening before lie went 
 to sleep, and he dropped off as soon as liis head struck 
 the pillow. 
 
 The next morning when he was awakened by the 
 first bell for breakfast the Guardian-jMother was under 
 way. He hastily dressed himself and went on deck. 
 The ship was in the Dardanelles, with the Maud close 
 astern of her. At breakfast he was called upon to tell 
 about his visit to the shore, and he gave a full descrii> 
 tion of a Turkish cafe as he liad seen it ; but he did 
 not allude even remotely to the mission on which he 
 had been sent to the shore. 
 
 When the party were seated in the armchairs under 
 the awning. Professor Giroud had something to say 
 about the narrow strait through which they were 
 passing. 
 
 "As you have been informed before, this is the 
 ancient Hellespont," he began. " It was named after 
 Helle (pronounce it in two S3dlables, if you please), 
 who was the daughter of Athamas, and sister of 
 Phrixus, who was condemned as a sacrifice to Jupiter. 
 Their mother saved her two children, who rode 
 away on the ram with the gohlen fleece through the 
 air. Helle unfortunately fell overboard near where 
 we spent the night, and was drowned. This strait, 
 called a sea tlien, was named after her, the Latin word 
 for a sea being jiontus. 
 
THROUGH THE DARDANELLES BY DAY 81 
 
 " The strait extends from north-east to south-west 
 about forty miles, and is from one to four miles wide. 
 It gets its present name from Dardanus on the south 
 shore. The narrowest place is near Abydos, where 
 Xerxes and Alexander both crossed; and this was 
 where Leander swam over to visit his lady-love." 
 
 The captain promised to point out the place when 
 they came to it, and the professor related mythological 
 and classical stories during all the rest of the fore- 
 noon, which all may read for themselves, though not 
 on the spot. 
 
82 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 The view from the deck of the steamer was invit- 
 ing enough to engage the attention of the party. 
 Lofty mountains could be seen in the distance on the 
 Asiatic side, some of which were snow-capped, though 
 this was not so strange a sight as it had been formerly 
 to some of the tourists. Several towns were passed, 
 and some commanding spots bristled with strong for- 
 tifications. 
 
 " I should not suppose any nation would want to 
 steal this strait ; yet they have so many forts here, 
 it would seem they have fears," said Mrs. Belgrave. 
 
 " But some of the nations would like to pass their 
 men-of-war through it," added Captain Ringgold, who 
 seemed to be always near her whenever she made a 
 remark. " By a treaty made about fifty years ago no 
 ship of war belonging to any nation except Turkey is 
 permitted to pass through these straits, and all mer- 
 chant vessels are required to show their papers to 
 Turkish officers ; and this treaty was renewed a dozen 
 years ago. It is Turkish territory on both sides, and 
 the control of it is given to its owners." 
 
 " What is all that for ? " asked the lady. 
 
"A YANKEE SHIP AND A YANKEE CREW " 83 
 
 "Of late yecars Turkey has been popularly known as 
 ^the sick man/ and is troubled with several maladies/' 
 replied the commander. "The nation is behind the 
 times, in the first place. Mohammedans and Chris- 
 tians do not agree very well; Russia and Austria would 
 like a slice of Turkey on some Thanksgiving Day 
 of their own appointment, and the Ottoman govern- 
 ment is deeply in debt, and always has a struggle to 
 Xmy its expenses. Its revenues have been practically 
 mortgaged, and the industries of the country are very 
 badly managed. England and France, jealous of any 
 extension of territory on the part of the coveting 
 nations, stood by Turkey in the Crimean war, or she 
 would have been annihilated by the Russians. Any 
 demonstration on the part of the Eastern powers, 
 Russia especially, causes England to bristle up and 
 show fight, and with her immense navy she is a terror 
 to the nations. That is why they permit Turkey to 
 control these waters." 
 
 " The boats of this region are very odd craft," added 
 Dr. Hawkes. 
 
 " They are feluccas ; but we have seen plenty of 
 them in Constantinople and all along the Mediterra- 
 nean. There is Abydos on the hill at the left, ahead 
 of us. The mountains come closer together here, 
 making a narrower pass, about a mile wide." 
 
 " The first bridge that Xerxes built here was carried 
 away by a storm," interposed the professor. "This 
 calamity made him so angry that he flogged the strait 
 with three hundred lashes." 
 
84 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 '' Did it hurt ? " asked the doctor. 
 
 " The strait has never said it did," replied the 
 learned Frenchman. '' But Xerxes built two other 
 bridges ; and as he ap})arently did his work better, 
 they answered his purpose, and, as you Americans 
 say, Mie got there/ It was here also that Leander 
 went across to Sestos, which is the town on the other 
 side; but as his business seems to have been more 
 pressing than that ot the king of Persia, lie did not 
 stop to build a bridge, but swam over, for he wanted 
 to see Hero, who was a priestess of Venus, with 
 whom he was in love. His business admitted of no 
 long delay, though a bridge would have been very 
 convenient for him ; for he swam over every night, 
 and back early in the morning. One stormy night he 
 was drowned. His body was cast ashore at Sestos, 
 and Hero drowned herself for grief." 
 
 ''I think the fellows were more devoted at that 
 time than they are now," added IMrs. lUossom. 
 
 " I don't believe they were, for it was not such a 
 tremendous affair to swim across this strait. Lord 
 l^yron did it for the fun of it; and I could find half a 
 dozen in our ship's company who would do it to please 
 the ladies, and not think much of it either," added the 
 captain. 
 
 There was nothiug more to see in the Dardanelles; 
 and Cai)tain Ivinggold AV(Mit forward, followed by 
 Louis at a look fi-om the commander. They went 
 into the cabin by the i)il()t-hous(\ where tliey were en- 
 tirely secluded from all others, for the ca})tain's cabin 
 
"A YANKEE SHIP AND A YANKEE CREW " 85 
 
 was inviolable to all, and no one presumed to enter it 
 without knocking. 
 
 " Have you seen anything of the Samothraki, Cap- 
 tain Ringgold ? " asked Louis as he took a chair near 
 the occupant of the cabin, for he thought his sum- 
 mons indicated something new in the situation. 
 
 " Nothing at all, Sir Louis," replied the commander, 
 who appeared to be in his usual calm and unmoved 
 frame of mind, though it was evident enough to the 
 young owner of the steamer that he must be anxious 
 about the safety of some of his passengers. " I did 
 not expect that she would show herself to-day." 
 
 " I don't think our party are very curious in regard 
 to this voyage, for I have not heard one of them ask 
 where we were going next; and I suppose no one 
 knows but yourself," added Louis. 
 
 " There is no secret about it, for I should not object 
 to putting up the whole course where all could read 
 it," answered the commander, as he rose from his 
 chair and went to the chart case, the top of which 
 was large enough to spread out upon it one of the sea 
 maps stored in the compartments below ; and the one 
 on it at the time was about five feet long, by three 
 feet wide. '' I have marked out the ^gean voyage, 
 and you may see it for yourself." 
 
 Louis examined that part of the chart Avhich pre- 
 sented the Archipelago. A red line marked the in- 
 tended course ; and he followed it with his finger, till 
 it terminated at the island of Corfu, opposite the 
 south eastern cape of Italy. 
 
86 THE YOUNG NAYIGATOKS 
 
 "It would take a year to explore these islands 
 thoroughly ; and we have not the time to do it, even 
 if it were desirable, which it is not, for we are not a 
 company of classical scholars, archaeologists, and an- 
 tiquarians, who would delight in such an exploration," 
 said the captain. 
 
 "I shouldn't suppose it was advisable to go too 
 deeply into such subjects," added Louis, " especially 
 as Ave know that felucca means mischief. I judged 
 from what I heard the Pacha say in the cafe, that he 
 knew just where we were going, for Captain Mazagan 
 spoke of Athens." 
 
 " He would naturally infer that we were not intend- 
 ing to leave this region without visiting the capital of 
 Greece." 
 
 " But how could he know that we had not already 
 been there ? " 
 
 " The Guardian-Mother is reported all over the 
 civilized world, from every port she visits," replied 
 the commander. " Besides, it had been no secret that 
 we were going to Athens, and Dimitri knew it. I 
 talked with an English officer to whom our consul at 
 Gibraltar introduced me in his office about the Pacha. 
 He believed he was worth a million pounds, which is 
 more than three times your figures, my boy. 
 
 " The Moor is only nominally a Mahommedan, and 
 has all the European vices. Probably he knows the 
 manners and customs of London and Paris quite as 
 well as those of Mogador and Tangier. Tlie scoun- 
 drel is bent on revenge ; and I have no doubt he has 
 
87 
 
 one or more French detectives in his employ, and they 
 are remarkably skilful in their craft. If he has one, 
 he could easily have found out where we were going 
 from Dimitri." 
 
 " I don't see that you can do anything but let things 
 take their course, and keep a sharp lookout for any 
 mischief," said Louis. 
 
 " That is what I shall do, because I can do nothing 
 else. But I am more concerned about the safety of 
 the Maud than anything else ; for it would not be a 
 difficult matter for the Samothraki to capture her, not 
 for her own sake, but as a part of some other combina- 
 tion," added Captain Einggold. 
 
 " I don't know about that, Captain," answered Louis, 
 with an incredulous smile, as he shook his head with 
 a sort of defiant twist. 
 
 "Boys are too confident," interposed the commander, 
 as the young millionaire was about to tell how it 
 could not be done. " There were eight men in all, on 
 board of the felucca when we saw her in the Horn." 
 
 " There were only seven last night ; which suggested 
 to Flix that the Pacha was one of the eight. There 
 are seven on board of the Maud, and Captain Scott is 
 very skilful with the lasso," returned Louis, alluding 
 to the manner in which the principal smuggler had been 
 captured on board the little steamer in Gibraltar 
 Bay. 
 
 " I shall not risk any of my party in a fight with 
 these pirates, for that seems to be what they are," 
 added the captain. '' I shall not permit the Maud to 
 
QQ THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 go any great distance from the ship under present 
 circumstances." 
 
 "I think we can take care of ourselves," replied 
 Louis. "But when we get out among these islands, 
 my mother, Miss Blanche, and Mrs. Blossom will de- 
 sire to sail in the Maud, which they think would take 
 them closer to the islands than the ship could, so that 
 they can see them better. I don't know how you can 
 refuse them without speaking of the danger that 
 menaces them." 
 
 " That must not be done. It would be heaping a 
 load of misery upon the heads of Mr. and ^Irs. AVool- 
 ridge. Your mother would certainly have a sharp 
 return of her nervous malady if she were aware that 
 you were an intended victim of His Highness, who is 
 a more powerful enemy than Scoble." 
 
 " And a bigger villain, if possible ; but somehow I 
 do not feel afraid of him," said Louis, shrugging his 
 shoulders like a Frenchman. 
 
 " If it becomes absolutely necessary I may have to 
 tell them the whole story ; but not as long as it can be 
 avoided. You know the two twelve-pounders, the 
 brass guns we carry on the top-gallant forecastle, 
 which we have never had occasion to use except on 
 the Fourth of July," continued Captain Einggold. 
 
 " Of course I am well acquainted with them," 
 added Louis, looking sharply into the face of his 
 companion, to discover if lie could what was passing 
 in his mind. 
 
 " We are not a man-of-war, or even a fighting ship. 
 
"A YANKEE SHIP AND A YANKEE CREW " 89 
 
 Those guns were a ]3art of your purchase, and of course 
 they are only for ornamental uses, for salutes and cele- 
 bration, and for signals of distress if we should un- 
 happily have to discharge them for that purpose." 
 
 " Why do you mention them, then, sir ? " asked 
 Louis, who could not fathom the thoughts of the com- 
 mander. 
 
 " Because they Avill bite as well as bark ; but I most 
 sincerely hope that we shall not be compelled to make 
 them do anything but bark," replied Captain Ringgold, 
 with a kind of solemnity which impressed his young 
 friend. ''Those who went through years of bloody 
 strife to save the land we love don't want any more 
 of it." 
 
 '' I don't see where these twelve-pounders come in." 
 
 " Neither do I ; and I trust they will not come in at 
 all. At the same time they have a strengthening 
 effect upon the mind of an old naval officer in the 
 presence of such villanous enemies as the Pacha and 
 his pirates." 
 
 "Have you anything but blank cartridges for 
 them ? " asked Louis curiously, for the commander 
 had given a more serious aspect to the situation than 
 had been presented to his mind. 
 
 " Stored away in a safe place in the hold we have 
 not only cannon powder, but solid shot, shells, and 
 canister. As I thought of the matter before we went 
 to sea on this cruise, I realized that we were going 
 around the world; that we should be among the Ma- 
 lays, the Chinese, both of whom indulge in piracy, 
 
90 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 and the savages of the South Sea Islands, who some- 
 times become unfriendly, and attempt to do mischief. 
 I thought it best to be prepared for the worst, though 
 I did not believe the guns would ever be necessary 
 for our protection. The idea was more especially im- 
 pressed upon my mind by reading an account of the 
 operations of a Chinese pirate." 
 
 " Then we are ' a Yankee ship and a Yankee crew,' " 
 added Louis. "But I had no suspicion that the 
 Guardian-Mother was an armed vessel." 
 
 " She is not, in any proper sense of the term. I did 
 not mention to any one that we had dangerous ammu- 
 nition for fear you boys might want to shoot at a 
 mark, or something of that kind. Of course you will 
 be as discreet as you always are. Sir Louis." 
 
 Then they left the captain's cabin, and joined the 
 party on deck. 
 
PKOFESSOR GOES THROUGH TROJAN WAR 91 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 THE PROFESSOR GOES THROUGH THE TROJAN WAR 
 
 Louis Belgrave has been occasionally alluded to 
 as a young man whose wisdom and mental balance 
 far exceeded his years. He had certainly been 
 very much impressed when he realized that the 
 Guardian-Mother was an armed vessel, though on a 
 very small scale ; but he was not terrified at the very 
 remote possibility of a fight, with sharp teeth, with 
 the conspirators on board of the Samothraki. As he 
 came out of the captain's cabin, and met Miss Blanche, 
 who was promenading the deck, he thought he should 
 rather like something of that sort in her defence. 
 
 " We are getting to the mouth of this strait, Mr. 
 Belgrave," as her mother had instructed her to call 
 him, since the commander and some of the passengers 
 so addressed him. 
 
 " Yes, we shall soon be in the ^gean Sea, as the 
 ancients called it," replied Louis. " The Archipelago 
 is the name used at the present time. The w^ord 
 means the ^ chief sea,' as it was to the Greeks ; but 
 now any sea filled with islands is an archipelago. 
 But this one is, par excellence, The Archipelago. I 
 suppose you know the difference between a common 
 
92 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOES 
 
 and a proper noun, Miss Blanche ; " and both of them 
 laughed at the primary-school character of the re- 
 mark. 
 
 " I ought to know it, for I have studied grammar. 
 One is a class and the other is an individual/' added 
 the maiden. 
 
 " John — common or proper ? " laughed Louis. 
 
 " Proper, of course." 
 
 " But there are a million Johns, besides John 
 Smith, who forms a class by himself." 
 
 The young lady looked a little puzzled. 
 
 " You were quite right. Miss Blanche ; of the million, 
 plus, of Johns this particular name was given to him 
 individually as his proper name, and not because 
 there were a million others of that name. He is 
 called John because that name was given to him as 
 his private name, though a couple of other pa's and 
 ma's may have done the same thing by their babies. 
 You are Blanche par excellence because that name 
 was given to you without regard to your father's 
 yacht so called, and the thousands of other young 
 ladies that bear the same name. This is The Archi- 
 pelago for precisely the same reason," argued Louis, 
 as the ship was passing Cape Helles on the north of 
 the entrance to the strait. 
 
 " I thank you for your explanation, Mr. Belgrave ; 
 and I think I know more about proper and common 
 nouns than I ever did before," replied the maiden. 
 
 " The professor is saying something ; and we had 
 better listen to him, for he always says something 
 
PROFESSOR GOES THROUGH TROJAN WAR 93 
 
 that is worth hearing," added Louis, as he gave the 
 young lady a seat near the lecturer. 
 
 '' This is the Plain of Troy on our left, Mr. Bel- 
 grave, I was just saying," said Professor Giroud. 
 " The mountain you see in the distance is Mount Ida. 
 The country here was Mysia, of which Troy was a 
 district, and also the name of the city, called also 
 Ilium, and Troja. The river which comes in here 
 is the Scamander, rising in the mountains and flowing 
 over the plain." 
 
 "I came through the Dardanelles in a French 
 steamer called the Scamandre once, but I never knew 
 where the name came from before/' said the com- 
 mander. 
 
 " That is the way we spell the word in French." 
 
 " Are you going to fight through the Trojan War, 
 Professor ? " asked the captain. ^' We discharge the 
 pilot here, and I must pay him for his services, so 
 you must excuse me. 
 
 " Only very briefly. Captain ; but we will wait for 
 you." 
 
 "Thank you. About eight miles south of us is 
 Besica Bay, somewhat noted as the anchorage of the 
 British fleet while things were in a critical condition 
 in the affairs of the ' sick man.' Don't wait for me. 
 Professor." 
 
 " Is this where Troy weight came from ? " asked 
 Mrs. Blosson, innocently enough, though some of the 
 party laughed. 
 
 " Not at all, madam ; that name is supposed to be 
 
94 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 derived from Troj^es in France, Avhere a great fair 
 used to be held in the Middle Ages. The substance 
 of the Trojan War can soon be told. Most of the 
 story is believed to be fiction, like all the classic tales 
 of mythology, though Schliemann has unearthed 
 enough to show that there was a foundation for it. 
 Priam, king of Troy, had a son whose name was Paris. 
 This has nothing to do with the capital of France," 
 said the professor with a glance at Mrs. Blossom, who 
 was not versed in classic lore, " for the war of which 
 I am speaking took place at least a thousand years 
 before the birth of Christ. Menelaus was the king 
 of Lacedeemon, and married a beautiful woman, Helen. 
 Now Paris, son of the king of Troy, did a very 
 naughty and wicked deed, nothing less than carrying 
 off the lovely Helen. Menelaus was naturally very 
 indignant at the outrage of the Trojan prince ; though 
 he seems to have taken it rather coolly at first, for he 
 sailed for Troy with Ulysses to demand the restora- 
 tion of his wife. 
 
 " Antenor, one of the wisest elders of Troy, received 
 them kindly, and tried to persuade his fellow citizens 
 to return the abducted wife to her husband ; but the 
 mission was unavailing, and the only friend they had 
 was regarded as a traitor to his country because he 
 tried to be just. 
 
 " After their return to Greece, Menelaus and his 
 brother Agamemnon determined to take up arms 
 against Troy with all the army that their country 
 could raise ; and the latter was made commander-in- 
 
PROFESSOR GOES THROUGH TROJAN WAR 95 
 
 chief. It took them ten years to gather this force; 
 and the mighty host, consisting of over one hundred 
 thousand soldiers, sailed in very nearly twelve hun- 
 dred ships, as they called them ; but that was a great 
 many, even if they were only boats. The roster of 
 the army has not come down to us, and we may reason- 
 ably entertain some doubts as to the number of men. 
 
 " The Trojans were driven within their walls, and 
 then the Greeks spent nine years in the reduction of 
 the towns in the vicinity. But the Greek leaders 
 quarrelled among themselves, and they were driven 
 back to their ships. The Trojans under the command 
 of Hector began to change the tide of battle. Achilles 
 and Agamemnon had a dispute, and the great hero 
 of the war sulked until the death of his friend 
 Patroclus quickened him to activity again. He 
 drove the Trojans behind their walls once more ; 
 and Hector, their ablest leader, was killed. 
 
 " The situation had become very bad for the Trojans 
 when Penthesilea, the beautiful queen of the Amazons, 
 went to their assistance ; but as their prospects began 
 to improve, this female leader of female warriors was 
 slain by Achilles. Then Memnon, another good-look- 
 ing leader, but of the masculine gender, re-enforced 
 the Trojans with an army of Ethiopians, and the 
 Greeks were again driven back. A long and indecisive 
 battle followed, but finally ended with the victory on 
 the side of Achilles. The time of the great Greek 
 champion was at hand, and like all the rest of the 
 leaders in the war he was slain. 
 
96 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 ^^ He fell in the battle at tlie Scsean gate before 
 Troy Avas taken, slain, some say, by an arrow sliot of 
 Paris. He was the hero of the war, and was repre- 
 sented as a man of many excellent qualities, though 
 revengeful and remorseless to his enemies. His two 
 sons were then called to the aid of the besieging army, 
 and the war was continued. Finally the city was 
 taken by the stratagem of a big wooden horse, fdled 
 with warriors, which the Trojans dragged into their 
 city as a part of the trick. The city was taken, and 
 all within it except iEneas and Antenor were put to 
 the sword. This is the story of Homer's ' Iliad.' " 
 
 " Did the Greeks thrive on such stories as that ? " 
 asked Mrs. Belgrave. 
 
 " The principal portions of Greek literature are 
 embodied in Homer's ' Iliad ' and ' Odyssey,' the latter 
 being the Greek name of Ulysses (Odysseus), and the 
 young people had to study them then as they do at 
 the present time. There is hardly any portion of this 
 region of which some story, either historical or classic, 
 could not be told. AVe are now out of the Dardanelles, 
 and in the ^gean Sea, as it was called more than two 
 thousand years ago," replied the professor. "The 
 islands are mountainous and bare, with hardly a tree 
 to be seen." 
 
 "But here is land to the north and to the south of 
 us," said the lady. 
 
 " Captain Ilinggold can tell you about the islands • 
 better than I can," added the professor as he resumed 
 his seat. 
 
PROFESSOR GOES THROUGH TROJAN WAR 07 
 
 " As tlie professor says, we are in The Archipelago, 
 headed west by north, magnetic course," said the com- 
 mander, as he stood up before the party to tell them 
 something about the geography of the region. 
 
 " But what do you mean by magnetic course ? " 
 asked Mrs. Blossom. 
 
 '' The magnetic needle, which directs the compass 
 by pointing to the north, varies in different parts of 
 the earth. In this sea the needle points from five to 
 ten degrees to the west of the true north. The dia- 
 grams which I have shown you on the chart are cor- 
 rected so that the black line running up and down 
 through them points to the north and south. We 
 are going west by north now after this correction is 
 made. The nearest land to you on the port side are 
 the Eabbit Islands, which are very small affairs." 
 
 " I suppose all these islands are Greek," suggested 
 Dr. Hawkes, as though he had no doubt of the fact. 
 
 "Not at all, sir," replied the captain. "On the 
 contrary, all that you can see, and vastly more that 
 you cannot see, belong to Turkey. South of the 
 Eabbit Islands, about ten miles distant, you see a 
 hill, which is called a mountain here, though it is only 
 six hundred and twenty five feet high. It is Mount 
 Elias ; and it is almost as useful for navigation as a 
 lighthouse, for it is the most conspicuous object seen 
 in approaching the entrance to the Dardanelles." 
 
 " It does not look like much of an island," said 
 Uncle Moses. 
 
 " It is the island of Tenedos, six miles long and 
 
98 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 three and a lialf wide, and has a population of live 
 thousand. It has a town with the same name as the 
 island. I had occasion to wait several days in this 
 region for orders. The channel between this island 
 and the mainland, which you know is Asia Minor, is 
 about three miles wide. There is a village over there 
 called Eski Stamboul, which is built on the ruins of 
 Alexandria Troas, or New Troy, founded by Alexander 
 the Great ; and a party of ns visited the remains of 
 the ancient city. They w^ere very interesting, for they 
 included the debris of a large theatre, a palace, an 
 aqueduct, and a part of the walls of the city." 
 
 '^ Why can't we go there ? " asked Mrs. AVoolridge. 
 '^ I have seen such remains in Italy, but never in the 
 Orient." 
 
 " They are about the same thing. There is not 
 water enough there for the Guardian-Mother, and I 
 don't think it would be prudent to go in the Maud ; 
 besides, you will be surfeited with ruins before you 
 leave Greece." 
 
 The commander was thinking just then of the 
 danger from the Samothraki, though he did not men- 
 tion why he thought it would not be prudent to go 
 in the little steamer. He and the owner had been 
 on the lookout for the felucca all day ; but they had 
 seen nothing of her. Louis had not " turned out " 
 when the steamer got under way ; but Captain Ring- 
 gold had endeavored to ascertain her whereabouts 
 before he Aveighed anchor. A morning mist covered 
 the two harbors of Gallipoli before sunrise, and the 
 
PROFESSOR GOES THROUGH TROJAN WAR 99 
 
 Samotliraki could not be seen. When the pilot came 
 on board, he assured the commander that the fehicca 
 was still at her anchorage. He was satisfied. 
 
 " We are close to the land on the other side/' said 
 Mrs. Belgrave, for the attention of the party had been 
 directed the other way by the remarks of the captain. 
 
 " You should say on the starboard," added the com- 
 mander, laughing as he looked in the face of the fair 
 woman. 
 
 " I am not a sailor, though by this time I know 
 starboard and port." 
 
 " That is the island of Imbros ; and it is hardly five 
 miles from us. Elias is a favorite name here for 
 mountains, or hills, for my geography used to teach 
 me that mountains must be at least two thousand feet 
 high. Imbros also has a Mount Elias, and it falls 
 only forty feet below the standard." 
 
 The attention of the party was then called to the 
 island of Lemnos. 
 
100 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 GEOGRAPHY AND MYTHOLOGY OX THE SPOT 
 
 The daj was as beautiful as Paradise itself, and the 
 air was deliciously mild, the sky as blue as azure, 
 and the whole scene seemed to be transparent, so 
 clear that they could almost see through the islands, 
 as Mrs. Woolridge expressed it. All the ladies were 
 in ecstasies, and would like to remain among these 
 islands for a month at least. 
 
 '^ Perhaps you would not like it so well if we should 
 happen to fall into a Levanter," suggested Captain 
 Ringgold. 
 
 " What is a Levanter ? " asked Mrs. Belgrave. " I 
 never heard of it, though I have read in the Book of 
 Acts about the Euroclydon." 
 
 " The Levanter is a gale which blows in these 
 regions from the eastward. The gale which Paul 
 describes was nothing of that sort, for that came from 
 the islands, and therefore from the north. He de- 
 scribes it as a sort of typhoon, or whirling storm, 
 specimens of which I am afraid j'ou will become ac- 
 quainted with before this cruise is finished, especially 
 in the Indian Ocean." 
 
 " I have no desire to make its acquaintance," added 
 the lady. 
 
GEOGRAPHY AND MYTHOLOGY ON THE SPOT 101 
 
 " Winds vary in different parts of the world, I mean 
 Avind storms. Here the Levanter is from the east; 
 the sirocco winds come from the sandy deserts of 
 Africa, and are therefore from the south-west in this 
 region. I tokl you something about this wind, though I 
 did not give it this name, when we were at the Canaries, 
 where they get it from the south-east. In some 
 parts of the Mediterranean it comes from the south." 
 
 " As we had it in the Maud when we were off the 
 coast of Algeria," said Louis. 
 
 " Precisely so. Sometimes, ladies and gentlemen, 
 you suggest to me to go here and there, as though we 
 had a couple of years before us, and could go any- 
 where we please ; and so we can if we are willing to 
 take the weather, gales, and tempests as they come. 
 But this is intended to be a pleasure excursion so far 
 as practicable, and I have to make some calculations 
 in regard to the wind and weather. Let me give you 
 an idea or two on this subject. For the four months 
 of the year beginning with November, the winds are 
 variable and sometimes violent. 
 
 " In March it begins to be mild, and becomes so in 
 April. In May and June, everything is clear and 
 serene, as a rule. About the last of June the sirocco 
 winds occasionally prevail, and also through July. 
 In August and September until the middle of the 
 latter month, the weather is usually delightfully 
 pleasant, as it is to-day." 
 
 " Then we are in no danger yet," interposed Mrs. 
 Belgrave, " for this is the twenty-first of August. 
 
102 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " I do not say that you will be in any danger at 
 any time," added the commander, bestowing a pleasant 
 smile upon his owner's mother. " We are not neces- 
 sarily in peril because we encounter a storm." 
 
 '' But we were in peril when we were in that storm 
 on the Atlantic, and you saved the lives of all of us," 
 said Miss Blanche. 
 
 " But your peril was caused by the accident of run- 
 ning into a mass of w^reckage, by which a hole w^as 
 stove in the bottom of the schooner. The weather 
 here is w^hat w^e are to look out for," continued Captain 
 Kinggold. At the equinox, about the twentieth of 
 September, there is likely to be rain, with thunder 
 and lightning ; but these showers do not last long ; 
 and through October the weather is as soft, mild, and 
 calm as the dream of a fairy. But if you remain here 
 till November, you will be in the season of hard gales 
 and tough tempests; and among these islands there 
 is not a good shelter for a vessel in heavy Aveather." 
 
 " But we have sixty days before these tempestuous 
 times arrive," added Mrs. Woolridge. 
 
 "But squalls and thunder and lightning are likely 
 to happen at the approach of the equinox, and that 
 will give you only about thirty days," replied the 
 commander. " I think w^e had better be out of this 
 region by that time. I was speaking to you about 
 the island of Imbi-os, on the starboard, which we are 
 now leaving behind us. I sup})ose there is something 
 classic about it, though I don't know what ; " and the 
 captain glanced at the i)rofessor. 
 
GEOGRAPHY AND MYTHOLOGY ON THE SPOT 103 
 
 "It is a classic island, like most of the rest of 
 them," replied the learned Frenchman. " It is about 
 twenty-five miles in circumference, is hilly, but con- 
 tains many fertile valleys. Eighteen miles to the 
 north-west of it is the island of Samothrace, or Samo- 
 thraki as the Greeks call it." 
 
 Louis glanced at the commander when the professor 
 mentioned the island from which the pestilent felucca 
 appeared to have derived its name ; but the learned 
 gentleman knew nothing about the double-ender of 
 this name. 
 
 "These two islands were the chief seats of the 
 worship of the Cabiri and of Mercury, or Hermes, 
 which is the Greek name of the messenger of the gods. 
 That is all there is worth saying about these two 
 islands." 
 
 "But who were the Cabiri ? We have not been in- 
 troduced to them, for I suppose there was more than 
 one of them," added Louis. 
 
 " The Cabiri were mystic divinities who were wor- 
 shipped in Greece. The celebration of certain mys- 
 teries were momentous occasions in this ancient realm, 
 and the mysteries of the Cabiri were solemnized with 
 great splendor in the island of Samothraki. Not much 
 'is known about them in this day, and various explana- 
 tions have been given in regard to them." 
 
 " Breakers on the port bow, sir," said Mr. Gaskette, 
 the second officer, touching his cap to the commander. 
 
 " All right, Mr. Gaskette ; thank you," replied the 
 captain as he consulted his watch. " It is half past 
 
104 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 five now, and I think we will spend the night in Pour- 
 nea Bay." 
 
 Captain Einggold left the party and went to the 
 pilot-house, after a look at the chart spread out in his 
 cabin. The breakers reported were half a mile from 
 the ship ; but the commander knew where he was, and 
 that the steamer had thirty fathoms of water under 
 her keel. The wind was west, from the shores of 
 Greece on the mainland, and the vessel would be shel- 
 tered from all winds except those from the north. It 
 was still ten miles to the anchorage, and dinner was 
 ordered for half past six. After giving Mr. Gaskette 
 a south-west course, the commander returned to the 
 party. 
 
 ^' This is the island of Lemnos ; but it belongs to 
 the Turks, and they call it Stalimeni. It is half way 
 between the entrance to the Dardanelles and the Gulf 
 of Monte Santo," said he, taking a stand before 
 the party. 
 
 " What is that gulf ? " asked Mrs. Belgrave. 
 
 "A nos peanuts, madam, if you please ; and if you 
 will excuse me, I will postpone the answer to your 
 question till we get there," said the captain, bowing 
 like a French dancing-master to the lady. 
 
 " Certainly, Captain Einggold, if you are going 
 there," replied the lady, laughing at the obsequious- 
 ness of the commander, and the others smiled, for 
 they understood what ailed him. 
 
 ^' This island is very irregular in shape ; for if you 
 could see the whole of it at once you might think it 
 
GEOGKAPHY AND MYTHOLOGY ON THE SPOT 105 
 
 was a lobster spread out before you, with Cape Plaka 
 for the end of one big claw, and Cape Irene for the 
 end of the other. We are just passing the former. 
 It is about sixteen miles long from east to west, and 
 twelve miles the other way. The hills you see are 
 from ten to fifteen hundred feet high, but the highest 
 are called Mounts Skopia and Phako. You notice that 
 K is a very useful letter in these parts, and is hard 
 worked. Anything classical or mythological here. 
 Professor Giroud ? " 
 
 " Vulcan is said to have landed on this island when 
 Jupiter hurled him down from Olympus," the pro- 
 fessor began. 
 
 "What did he do that for ? " asked Mrs. Blossom 
 sharply, as though she thought it was an outrage. 
 
 " He took the part of Mrs. Juno against her hus- 
 band, and made him angry." 
 
 " He ought to have been ashamed of himself ! " 
 protested the lady. 
 
 " He was a whole day falling, and " — 
 
 " I should think it would have killed him," inter- 
 posed Mrs. Blossom. 
 
 " In the evening he came down to this island, where 
 he was kindly cared for by the people," continued the 
 professor, when the laugh had subsided. 
 
 " Didn't they have to take him to the hospital ? " 
 inquired the interested auditor. 
 
 " It is not reported that they did. But you must 
 consider, madame, that Vulcan, or Mulciber as he 
 was sometimes called, was a god, and a fall of a 
 
106 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOKS 
 
 thousand or two miles was not likely to hurt him 
 much. I suppose you have read Milton, Mrs. 
 Blossom ? " 
 
 "Not much of it; I don't read a great deal of 
 poetry, but I like to hear it recited." 
 
 '' Then I will recite a little of it relating to the 
 subject before the meeting," replied the professor, as 
 he took a book from his pocket and read ; 
 
 " Nor was his name unheard or unadored 
 In ancient Greece ; and in Ausonian land 
 Men called him Mulciber; and how he fell 
 From heaven they fabled, thrown by angry Jove 
 Slieer o'er the crystal battlements : from morn 
 To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, 
 A summer's day; and with the setting sun 
 Dropped from the zenith like a falling star 
 On Lemnos, the ^gean isle." 
 
 " That was just the way it happened, madam, if you 
 believe the story." 
 
 " I don't believe a word of it, for don't Milton say 
 they fabled it ! " exclaimed Mrs. Blossom. 
 
 "Certainly, madam, you are entitled to your own 
 opinion," added the professor. " By some, Vulcan is 
 said to have established his workshop in Lemnos ; 
 probably he did not forge any more bolts for Jupiter 
 here, after the matrimonial fracas in Olympus. There 
 used to be a volcano here, now extinct, and perhaps 
 this had something to do with Vulcan's connection 
 with the island. The Argonauts are said to have 
 landed at Lemnos." 
 
GEOGRAPHY AND MYTHOLOGY ON THE SPOT 107 
 
 " Did they jump down from heaven ? " asked Mrs. 
 Blossom, who was well informed so far as the com- 
 mon school taught, yet she had never read any myth- 
 ology. Still, it shoukl he added, she was a pious, 
 good-hearted woman, always ready to sit up all night 
 with any one who was sick, even if it were a coal- 
 heaver ; and she was a favorite with all in spite of her 
 lack of classical culture. 
 
 " The Argonauts were navigators, and they came 
 here as we do, by water. In the traditions of the 
 Greeks, they were heroes and demigods who went 
 with Jason to obtain the golden fleece, guarded by 
 sleepless and horrible dragons. An oracle had warned 
 the King Pelias to beware of a one-sandaled man, 
 who might deprive him of his right to his throne. 
 In some manner the golden fleece was to neutralize 
 the power of the enemy. When the Argonauts 
 landed at this island, they are said to have found 
 it inhabited only by women, who had murdered all 
 of their husbands." 
 
 " Their husbands must have abused them awfully, 
 or they would not have done such a wicked thing," 
 interjected Mrs. Blossom, who was a victim to her 
 feelings. 
 
 " Some of the Argonauts settled on this island, and 
 probably altered the complexion of the history of Lem- 
 nos. But these stories run into one another in such a 
 manner that everyone suggests another, and there is 
 no end to them. I will only add that Jason found 
 and obtained the golden fleece with the assistance of 
 
108 TPIE YOUNG NAVIGATOKS 
 
 Medea, whom he married ; and this seems to be the 
 proper denouement of the tale. Pliny speaks of a 
 remarkable labyrinth in Lemnos, but no one has been 
 able to find it in modern times." 
 
 " I think we have all talked enough, and I am afraid 
 the professor will have a sore throat," said the com- 
 mander. 
 
 " If he has, I can give him something that is the 
 best thing in the world for it," added Mrs. Blossom. 
 
 " I thank you, madam ; and if I need the remedy, I 
 will call upon you." 
 
 When the party went to dinner, the steamer w^as at 
 anchor in a safe bay. 
 
EXTRAORDINARY PRECAUTIONS 109 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THE commander's EXTRAORDINARY PRECAUTIONS 
 
 The dinner in the cabin of the Guardian-Mother, 
 after the steamer had anchored in Pournea Bay, was 
 fully up to the high standard of the chief steward and 
 the cook; but the party seemed to "eat in order to 
 live," not to " live in order to eat," for they were talk- 
 ing all the time of the deliciousness of the climate, 
 rather than of the elaborate dishes which composed 
 the menu. In fact, they were in a great hurry to 
 return to the deck where they could enjoy the soft 
 airs of the closing day, and the beauties of the scenery. 
 
 Captain Scott, Morris, and Felix had come on board 
 of the ship as soon as they had made the Maud fast 
 to the Guardian-Mother. Though her son had been 
 absent from her side only since the early morning, 
 Mrs. Woolridge hugged him as though he had been 
 away a month, and the boy's father took his hand, 
 and gave him a warm welcome. Mrs. Blossom would 
 have given Felix a similar greeting if the Milesian 
 would have submitted to it ; for he was a great favor- 
 ite with her, and he never talked French, Spanish, 
 history, or classics, though he was a graduate of the 
 academy. 
 
110 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 The young captain had not much to report ; for the 
 Maud had followed the ship all day, and it had been 
 an uneventful voyage. Mrs. Blossom, who was the 
 milk of human kindness, deficient as she was in his- 
 torical and classic lore, was inclined to " coddle " him 
 as well as Felix ; but he considered himself too manly 
 to allow a Avoman to soften over him. 
 
 The passengers had observed the shores of the island 
 as they were coming into the bay. The scenery was 
 generally rough, with the hills near the water. The 
 captain had taken the steamer over to the west side 
 of the bay, behind a headland which projected a con- 
 siderable distance from the shore, and anchored where 
 only an east wind could affect the ship if it came on 
 to blow hard in the night; and from the exposed side 
 the north-east peninsula sheltered her to some extent. 
 
 The ladies were by themselves, and were very busy 
 talking about something, which was evidently the 
 surrounding scenery, for one or another of them oc- 
 casionally pointed at some object. When Captain 
 Scott approached them, he touched his cap and po- 
 litely bowed to them, for the intercourse with the 
 ladies had taken out of him all the savagery of his 
 wanderings in the Bahamas. 
 
 " Ca})tain Scott, what is the condition of the Maud 
 at the present time ? " asked Mrs. Belgrave ; and all 
 four of them seemed to be interested in the answer to 
 the question. 
 
 '' She is in prime order and condition, as she always 
 is," replied the young comnuiuder. 
 
EXTRAORDINANY PRECAUTIONS 111 
 
 "Is she washing her face, painting her sides, taking 
 in coal, or anything of that kind ? " continued the 
 hady. 
 
 " She is neither washing, painting, nor taking in 
 coal, for she is washed in the morning, does not need 
 painting, and filled her bunkers with coal at Constan- 
 tinople," replied Captain Scott promptly. 
 
 " How long would it take to get up steam on her ? " 
 
 " It would not take any time at all, for we don't let 
 the fires down when we are going to sail early in the 
 morning ; we bank the fires, and we have only to wake 
 them up, which does not take long." 
 
 "We feel just as though we were wasting time 
 lying here, when we might be sailing about this bay 
 in the Maud," continued Mrs. Belgrave. " Has her 
 ship's company worn themselves out with hard work 
 during the passage from Gallipoli ? " 
 
 " Not at all ; we don't have to work very hard, 
 unless we get caught in a gale, and then it is hard 
 work to keep on one's feet in so small a vessel," re- 
 plied Scott, laughing at the idea, for it was still noth- 
 ing but fun to sail the little steamer. " We can have 
 her ready in ten minutes after the commodore has 
 given the order." 
 
 " The commodore ! " exclaimed the lady. " I wonder 
 who he is, for I never heard of him before." 
 
 "I suppose you know that more than one vessel 
 sailing in company may be called a fleet, and the 
 chief officer is a commodore, as some of us have just 
 begun to call Captain Ringgold," Scott explained. 
 
112 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " Let us have a sail in tlie Maud by all means ! " 
 exclaimed Miss Blanclie. 
 
 "We will appoint you a committee of one, to wait 
 upon the commodore, and inform him that the ladies 
 desire to make a trip in the Maud about this bay, 
 Miss Blanche," added Mrs. Belgrave. 
 
 " I will ask his gracious permission Avith the great- 
 est pleasure," replied the beautiful maiden, as she 
 skipped forward, where the commander and Louis 
 were seated, talking about the conspiracy of the 
 Pacha and his Moorish agent. 
 
 " I am confident I shall have a request to send off 
 the Maud for a trip in the bay this very evening, for 
 the sky is as clear as crystal, and the moon will shine 
 as soon as it is dark enough to see it," the captain 
 said to his owner, as they seated themselves near the 
 pilot-house when they came up from dinner. 
 
 "Such a trip would be very enjoyable," replied 
 Louis. " If we can't use the Maud at such times as 
 this, we might as well not have her; and if you refuse 
 to allow the party to sail in her, you can hardly escape 
 explaining why you refuse." 
 
 " We have seen nothing of the felucca all day, and 
 our pilot told me she was at anchor in the harbor of 
 Gallipoli when we came out," added the commander. 
 " We have made ten knots an hour all day, and it is 
 simply impossible that the Samothraki should be 
 anywhere in this vicinity, for the wind has been 
 light since morning, though it blew fresh in the 
 night." 
 
EXTRAORDINARY PRECAUTIONS 113 
 
 " You had some conversation with Dimitri in Con- 
 stantinople about your voyage," suggested Louis. 
 
 "He is a Greek, and a very intelligent man. I 
 asked him some questions when I was arranging the 
 voyage through The Archipelago, and I think I told 
 him I should anchor Avhere we are now," replied the 
 commander. "Dimitri had been the master of a 
 small vessel, and he warned me particularly to bear 
 well to the northward, so as to keep clear of the 
 Kharos Banks ; but I knew all about them, and my 
 course did not take me within live miles of them." 
 
 " Then Dimitri knew that you would anchor in this 
 bay ? " inquired Louis. 
 
 '' He did not, for I did not know it myself ; but he 
 knew my intended course," replied Captain Einggold 
 rather impatiently. " I did not decide to anchor here 
 till we were up with Cape Plaka. But, my dear boy, 
 as I have told you before, I don't mean to change my 
 course again on account of this Mohammedan humbug. 
 I shall take the utmost precautions ; but if the villain 
 or his agents attempt to meddle with our steamers or 
 their passengers, there will be no boy's play, and they 
 may take the consequences." 
 
 He had hardly uttered this last sentence, before 
 Miss Blanche skipped up to him with the most win- 
 ning smile on her pretty face, and the frown which 
 had emphasized his determination softened into a 
 very gentle expression. 
 
 " You are the dearest commodore in the whole 
 world!" exclaimed the maiden, as she danced grace- 
 fully into his presence, and he rose to receive her. 
 
114 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 ^' You liave promoted me a peg, Miss Woolridge, 
 said lie. 
 
 " I did not do it ; Captain Scott called you by that 
 title/' returned Miss Blanche. " But the ladies all want 
 to take a sail in the Maud this evening, and Mrs. Bd- 
 grave appointed me a committee to wait on you in re- 
 gard to the subject. You won't refuse, that's a dear 
 commodore." 
 
 *' I could not refuse if I tried, after such an appeal," 
 answered the captain. "Pass the word for Captain 
 Scott." 
 
 Mr. Boulong sent the young navigator to the com- 
 mander ; and he received his orders in accordance with 
 the request of the pretty girl, who skipped aft to 
 report on the success of her mission. Captain Scott 
 sent his ship's company on board of the little steamer, 
 and went himself. In a few moments the black smoke 
 was pouring out the smoke-stack of the Maud. 
 
 "One word. Sir Louis, before you leave," said the 
 captain. "When I told you about the two twelve- 
 pounders and the ammunition, 1 did not inform you 
 that I had in store two dozen repeating rifles, and 
 half as many revolvers. Mr. Boulong and ]\Ir. Shafter 
 and six of our seamen have served in the navy. With- 
 out telling Knott and Donald what they were for, I 
 directed them to put six rifles and as many revolvers, 
 with their ammunition, under the transoms in the 
 cabin of the Maud. I shall send Knott and three 
 other old man-of-war's men with you on this excur- 
 
EXTRAORDINARY PRECAUTIONS 115 
 
 *'■ Then you think we shiiU be attacked by Captain 
 Mazagan's crew ? " added Louis, rather appalled at 
 this preparation for trouble. 
 
 "On the contrary, I believe there is nothing more 
 than a remote possibility that the men or the arms 
 will be needed. I send them as an extraordinary pre- 
 caution, such as I told you I should use," replied the 
 captain. "I directed Knott to station himself and his 
 men on the promenade deck so that they will not dis- 
 turb the party."' 
 
 By this time the ladies and the gentlemen were 
 ready to go on board the Maud. The four seamen had 
 found seats on the after part of the hurricane deck; 
 but they looked as harmless as usual, for they had no 
 suspicion of the proximity of trouble or danger, and 
 perhaps there was none. The commander assisted 
 Mrs. Belgrave to descend the gangway steps, and 
 Louis did the same for Miss Blanche, while the twin 
 fat men rendered a like service to the other ladies, 
 Mr. Woolridge taking charge of his wife. 
 
 Captain Scott took the helm himself. He had 
 looked over his chart and " Sailing Directions," and 
 he knew that there were not less than two fathoms in 
 any part of Pournea Bay at a reasonable distance 
 from the bold shore. The ladies and some of the 
 gentlemen began to sing a Gospel hymn with some 
 nautical allusions in it. As soon as they had finished 
 it, they began to wonder why Captain Einggold had 
 not come with them. Mrs. Belgrave could only say 
 that something on board of the ship required his at- 
 tention. 
 
116 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Then tliey talked about the delightful air, and the 
 rough scenery of the shore. Louis had given Miss 
 Blanche a seat on the forecastle, and he was pointing 
 out the objects to be seen on the shore, now a mile 
 distant, though they did not need any pointing out. 
 But he was watching every possible opening in the 
 coast all the time, and he wanted something to say. 
 
 Pournea Bay extends inland about four miles. 
 Captain Scott soon brought the Maud in closer to the 
 shore ; but the cliffs were too high to permit the ex- 
 cursionists to see much of the surface of the island. 
 The little steamer followed the coastline around the 
 bay till she came to an opening which appeared to 
 lead into an inner bay of considerable extent. 
 
 " There is a beautiful sheet of water in there," said 
 Miss Blanche, when the Maud came to a point which 
 commanded a partial view of the enclosure, though 
 she was half a mile from the entrance to the inlet. 
 
 "There is no end of little bays and inlets on this 
 coast," added Louis. '^ Here is one right on our star- 
 board bow." 
 
 '^ But that is a very little one, and we can see the 
 whole of it without going into it. That one ahead of 
 us is ten times as large as this. There ! " exclaimed 
 the lively maiden, " you can see the water of it over 
 the land at the head of the little bay. I hope you 
 will go into the bay you come to next, with the narrow 
 entrance. Captain Scott," she called to him through the 
 window of the pilot-lionse. 
 
 " I am sorry to say T cannot do so," replied the 
 
V. V, 
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
 
 The Felucca. Page 117. 
 
EXTRAORDINARY PRECAUTIONS 117 
 
 captain. ^^ It hurts my feelings to deny your request, 
 Miss Blanche ; but I must do so." 
 
 " Why not go in, Captain Scott ? " asked Louis. 
 
 ^' The bottom is not far enough from the top of the 
 Avater. This cove is called Ekato Kephales, and the 
 water is only ten feet deep in some part of the open- 
 ing. We might sound our Avay in ; but it Avould take 
 too long." 
 
 When the Maud was within a half a mile of the 
 opening, the bow of a felucca was seen coming out of 
 the cove. 
 
118 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOKS 
 
 CHAPTEPv XIV 
 
 A SITUATION WHICH IS SOMEWHAT EXCITING 
 
 In the stancling-room of the Maud neither of the 
 openmgs in the coast had been observed, or, if they 
 had been, nothing was said about them, for the pro- 
 fessor Avas telling the party something more about 
 the island. They did not see the prow of the felucca, 
 and they were not likely to see it from their position 
 on board until the steamer had made another quarter 
 of a mile. 
 
 " This island belongs to Turkey, and its name in 
 Turkish is Stalimeni. It has a population of 30,000, 
 of whom 25,000 are Greeks," said the professor when 
 the Maud was still half a mile from the opening at 
 which the felucca Avas coming out. ^' Corn, Avine, and 
 tobacco are the principal productions ; but in ancient 
 times ' Lemnian earth,' which came from this island, 
 as its name imports, was in great demand as an anti- 
 dote for the bites of poisonous snakes, and was also used 
 for the cure of plague, dysentery, and some other 
 maladies. It had to be dug up and secured on the 
 sixth day of August only; and you are too late to 
 obtain any this year, Mrs. Blossom." 
 
 " I don't know anything about the plague they have 
 
SITUATION IS SOMEWHAT EXCITING 119 
 
 • 
 over here, but I know very well what to do in dysen- 
 tery without any of your Lemnian earth/' replied the 
 universal nurse of the party. 
 
 ^^ This earth was obtained from the soil Avith religi- 
 ous ceremonies near the site of the ancient Hephses- 
 tia, in this part of the island. But, Mrs. Blossom, it 
 is no longer regarded as of any value, and you need 
 not regret that you have not obtained any of it." 
 
 ^'' I don't want any of your heathen cure-alls ; and I 
 knew when you said it must be dug up on one day only 
 of the year, that it was a fraud, fixed up out of some 
 pagan superstition," added the lady. 
 
 " The captain seems to have changed the course," 
 said Uncle Moses as soon as the professor had finished. 
 
 Louis had been the first to notice the prow of the 
 felucca as it was projected from behind a rock out 
 into the bay, half a mile distant. Without being very 
 ceremoniously i^olite, he abandoned the beautiful girl 
 at his side and hastened into the pilot-house, where 
 he seized a spy-glass that was suspended on the 
 brackets. He obtained the focus and directed it at 
 the bow of the felucca. The first thing he discovered 
 was a rudder at the forward end of the craft as she 
 sailed, so secured that it served as a cutwater. 
 
 The two great lateen sails were set to their fullest 
 extent ; and though the breeze was not more than what 
 a sailor Avould call a six-knot one, she was moving at 
 a lively rate. With the aid of the glass he recognized 
 Captain Mazagan on the cuddy, or forecastle, where 
 he had -evidently been waiting to obtain the first sight 
 
120 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 of the little steamer as she approached the inlet to 
 the cove. 
 
 Louis was startled, to say the least, when he recog- 
 nized, as he believed, the bow of the Samothraki, by 
 the rudder at the bow. She was a double-ender with- 
 out doubt, but there might be others built in the same 
 way. He still gazed at her through the glass, and a 
 moment later he read the name of " Samothraki " on 
 her port bow. There was no longer any question in 
 his mind. 
 
 But Louis was not the captain of the Maud, and he 
 had always been very cautious not to interfere with 
 the functions of Captain Scott. He had no authority 
 to order him to change his course. It was evident 
 that something must be done instantly, for the pirati- 
 cal craft might throw her whole force upon the deck 
 of the little steamer, and overawe the entire party by 
 the exhibition of their wicked knives. The four sea- 
 men were on ths hurricane deck, but the arms were 
 still concealed in the cabin. 
 
 Besides, it was contrary to his nature, and certainly 
 to sound policy, to precipitate a fight which would 
 thin the ranks of the pirates, and probably of the 
 Maud. He would not do that until the emergency 
 demanded such a desperate step. 
 
 " Captain Scott, without being called upon to ex- 
 plain my reasons, I desire you to shift the helm so as 
 to avoid that felucca coming out of the cove," said 
 Louis so earnestly that his manner strongly impressed 
 the captain. " I assure you Ca})tain Ringgold will 
 
SITUATION IS SOMEWHAT EXCITING 121 
 
 approve your action, for he would understand the 
 reason why I make this request." 
 
 'i Why don't you sheer off, Captain Scott ? " de- 
 manded. Felix, rushing to the window. 
 
 "I will do what you ask, Louis, for you always 
 know Avhat you are about," replied Captain Scott. 
 " I don't know what it all means 5 but that felucca 
 seems to be the cause of this action." 
 
 " You are right ; but beyond that, I am not per- 
 mitted to say anything," added Louis, as the pilot put 
 the helm hard a-starboard. 
 
 "I don't ask any questions, Louis, and you need 
 not make any explanation to me. It seems to me I 
 have seen that felucca before." 
 
 Louis returned to the forecastle where he had ab- 
 ruptly left Miss Blanche. From this point he could 
 not now see the felucca, and he did not like the posi- 
 tion for present purposes. 
 
 ^' What is the matter, Mr. Belgrave ? " asked the 
 young lady as he seated himself as he had been 
 before. 
 
 " Nothing is the matter. Miss Blanche," he replied, 
 striving to' still the excitement which continued to 
 undulate his chest. 
 
 She looked him in the face, and did not seem to be 
 quite satisfied with the answer. She could not help 
 seeing that he had been moved by something. By 
 his side was the " houri " whom the Samothraki was 
 commissioned to capture ; and if he had not possessed 
 more self-control than boys of his age are expected to 
 
122 THE YOUNG NAYIGATOES 
 
 have, he must have betrayed the secret now in the 
 keeping of only three persons. But he silenced the 
 beating of his heart, and appeared to be cool, whether 
 he Avas so or not. 
 
 " What has become of that vessel I saw coming out 
 of that bay, Mr. Belgrave ? " she inquired. ^' Was it 
 she that made you leave me in such a hurry ? " 
 
 " We have changed our course ; and that is the 
 reason why we cannot see the felucca. I wanted to 
 speak to Cajitain Scott," replied Louis. 
 
 " Why has he changed the course ? I thought 
 he was going to sail around this bay," asked Miss 
 Blanche, who was of course entirely ignorant of the 
 character of the felucca, and seemed to be like an 
 innocent child that persists in asking questions about 
 things it is not proper for it to understand. 
 
 '^ It was absolutely necessary to change the course 
 to avoid the danger of a collision," answered the young 
 man, Avhich was true enough as far as it went ; though 
 a half-truth is sometimes a worse lie than a downright 
 falsehood. 
 
 The young millionaire was not a philosopher in the 
 metaphysical sense of the word ; but he had done a 
 great deal of thinking over questions forced upon him 
 by the family troubles which had for a time environed 
 him, and he had constructed a definition of a lie which 
 suited him, and he had occasionally found it necessary 
 to apply it to his own personal affairs ; and its api»li- 
 cation seemed to be necessary in the present instance. 
 
 Louis was a student, and he made frequent use of 
 
SITUATION IS SOMEWHAT EXCITING 123 
 
 his Stormonth's dictionary, though he did not neglect 
 Worcester and Webster. He had looked up a lie when 
 his conscience pricked him in regard to his own con- 
 duct. Webster defined it as " a criminal falsehood," 
 which he regarded as correct, but rather indefinite ; 
 another definition was " a falsehood, uttered for the 
 purpose of deception ; " but this did not suit him at 
 all. Stormonth gives as : " To state that which is not 
 the truth, and made with the intention to deceive." 
 This did not satisfy him. He added to it ^^ with evil 
 intent." 
 
 . The loving and devoted mother who " states what 
 is not the truth" to her sick and nervous daughter 
 certainly intends to deceive her ; but she does it for 
 the sick one's good. The doctor who tells half-truths 
 or utters downright falsehoods intends to deceive his 
 patient ; but he does so for the benefit of the invalid. 
 ^' If I tell the patient that he is in danger, he will cer- 
 tainly die," he reasons. The best, most conscientious 
 people in being use this sort of falsehood, and nobody 
 of sane mind believes it is wrong. 
 
 Such statements of " what is not the truth " are 
 technical lies, it is true ; but they are not " criminal 
 falsehoods." Commanders in war make a business of 
 deceiving the enemy, and with evil intent so far as 
 the foe is concerned, but from the highest and purest 
 motives of patriotism. " Stonewall Jackson," one of 
 the most pious men that ever wielded a sword, was 
 largely engaged in deceiving his opponents on the 
 battle-field ; and at the same time, both friend and foe 
 
124 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 honor him for his truthfuhiess, as well as for his other 
 virtues. 
 
 Louis's very nature rebelled at the thought of stat- 
 ing what was not true to the pure and innocent maiden 
 at his side ; but he knew, if he told her that the fe- 
 lucca was in that bay for the purpose, before au}^ other, 
 of making a prisoner of her, and handing her over to 
 Ali-jSToury Pacha, it would make her supremely miser- 
 able, imperil her health, and certainly wreck her hap- 
 piness for weeks or months. He sincerely felt that it 
 would be criminal for him to tell her the simple truth. 
 He could not do it ; and he was also acting under the 
 instructions of Captain Ringgold, who was responsible, 
 if anybody, for the well-meant deception. He could 
 not regard whatever he might find it necessary to say 
 to the lovely girl as a lie in the proper sense of the 
 word. 
 
 But the fair maiden appeared to be satisfied with 
 the statement of her good friend, and asked no ques- 
 tions about it. Louis could not see the felucca 
 while he remained on the forecastle ; and he suggested 
 to Miss Blanche that they had better join the rest of 
 the party in the standing-room, for they had seen all 
 there was to see on the west side of the bay, and 
 from the stern they could observe the east side. She 
 assented to the change of position ; and he conducted 
 her to the after part of the steamer, where a place 
 was j)romptly made for her. 
 
 The party had just begun to sing again ; and they 
 did not appear to be at all interested in the felucca, 
 
SITUATION IS SOMEWHAT EXCITING 125 
 
 though they watched her graceful luoveuieuts as she 
 came out of tlie cove. Louis was somewhat uervous ; 
 and it was tlie first time in his experience, now reach- 
 ing over two years, in yachting, when he was disposed 
 to get rid of the beautiful maiden, whom he had 
 begun at the outset to call the " sylph." He desired 
 to observe the movements of the Samothraki, and he 
 went back at once to the forecastle. Felix was there ; 
 and he was the only person on board to whom he 
 could speak about the felucca, for he was the only one 
 who knew anything about her true character. 
 
 " Bad luck to her, but how did that pirate get 
 here ? " asked the Milesian when he met Louis. 
 
 " That is just what bothers me, Felix ; but she is 
 here, and that is all I know about it," replied Louis. 
 " Scott knows nothing about her, and nothing about 
 her mission in these waters. I was afraid he would 
 run into her, for I don't think our captain is afraid of 
 anything that lives in the air above, or the waters 
 below, or on the face of the broad earth." 
 
 " If he had known what we know, scorch my bud- 
 ding moustache if I don't believe he would have run 
 into the felucca with a full steam, and cut her into 
 two pieces," added Felix. 
 
 " But we can't see her from this part of the steamer, 
 and I am somewhat interested in her movements/' 
 said Louis. 
 
 " Somewhat interested is good, my darling. Though 
 you look as cool as iced cucumber, I have an idea that 
 you are boiling over with excitement in the interior, 
 
126 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOPwS 
 
 to mix in a. little hog Latin. Bnt I am with yon, 
 whatever you do and wherever you go ; and I wonder 
 if there is any Davy Jones's locker in these waters," 
 said Felix, looking about. 
 
 " As much as on the broad Atlantic or the broader 
 Pacific. I am a little excited in the interior, and I 
 shall soon boil over if I stay here. I am going on the 
 promenade deck," replied Louis, as he began to ascend 
 the ladder. 
 
 Felix reported to the captain, and then followed 
 him. 
 
THE MAUD NEAKS THE DANGER POINT 127 
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 THE MAUD NEARS THE DANGER POINT 
 
 At the request of Louis Belgrave, made to liim with 
 so much earnestness, Captain Scott changed his 
 course from about north to north-west, which opened 
 the western cove of Pournea Bay to him, and he could 
 see the Guardian-Mother as she lay at her anchorage, 
 about three miles distant. He saw that the black 
 smoke was beginning to pour out of her smokestack, 
 and it set him to wondering what she was about. He 
 called Felix, but he was out of hearing. Morris hax> 
 pened to come forward at this moment, and he gave 
 the wheel to him while he levelled the spy-glass at 
 the ship. 
 
 " What does that mean ? " asked Morris, as he 
 looked ahead from the compass. " The ship appears 
 to be getting up steam." 
 
 "I see that they are shovelling coal into the fur- 
 naces," replied the captain, with his eye still at the 
 glass. " The wind is east, with something more than 
 a capful of it, and she is headed up to it so that I 
 can't very well make out what is going on upon her 
 deck." 
 
 " But she must have stirred up her fires, and put in 
 
128 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 fresh coal, or she woukl not show all that black 
 smoke," reasoned Morris. 
 
 " There goes a squad of seamen to her top-gallant 
 forecastle !" exclaimed Scott, beginning to be a little 
 excited. " What are tliey there for if not to cat and 
 fish the anchor ? " 
 
 '- Something is going on there," added Morris, who 
 divided his vision between the compass and the 
 Guardian-Mother. 
 
 "She must be heaving up her anchor," said the 
 captain. "I don't understand it." 
 
 '^I am sure I don't. Captain Einggold went into 
 that cove with the intention of lying at anchor there 
 till morning," Morris proceeded. " I heard him tell 
 my mother, that he had called up the cabin party at 
 four o'clock two days in succession, and he would not 
 do it again. He would not get under way till after 
 breakfast, so that they could see all there was to 
 be seen. He certainly meant to stay there all night." 
 
 They talked about the signs that appeared on board 
 of the ship for some time, and were satisfied that she 
 was getting under way ; but this was all they could 
 make of them. Captain Scott thought the com- 
 mander must have changed his . mind, and had de- 
 cided to make a niglit run to tlie next point in the 
 voyag ^ ; and they were obliged to let it go at that. 
 
 The wind was tolerably fresh when Louis went on 
 the promenade-deck. His first observation was in the 
 direction of the felucca; and in s])ite of her piratical 
 character, he could not lielp realizing that she was a 
 
THE MAUD NEAllS THE DANGKIl POINT 129 
 
 beautiful sight to look upon. IIci' enormous sails 
 were full and swelling in the breeze, like the wings of 
 the eagle, though they were both on tlie same side. 
 She had a big bone in her mouth, though the head 
 rudder of the double-ender made a very clean cut 
 through the water. Her crew were seated in the waist, 
 and all was very quiet about her. 
 
 The Samothraki was not more than a quarter of a 
 mile astern of the Maud. The latter, for the benefit 
 of her passengers, who wished to see the shores, 
 had been running very slowly. Felipe Garcias, the 
 young Spaniard, was the chief engineer, and he had 
 been ordered to run slowly, for the party had the 
 v/hole evening before them. The regular ship's com- 
 pany of the little steamer had been on duty all day, 
 and the novelty of their aquatic experience on board 
 a steamer had somewhat abated. 
 
 No one had said anything to Felipe about his speed 
 after his first instructions, and he had not kept the 
 furnaces very well supplied with coal. The excur- 
 sion would come to an end when the boat reached the 
 ship, and she was not more than three miles distant. 
 At the time when the Maud had changed her course, 
 she was not making over six knots. 
 
 As the felucca came out farther into the bay, the 
 wind increased, for it was no longer obstructed in its 
 course from the open sea by the hills. But Captain 
 Scott would have treated with contempt any sugges- 
 tion that a sailing-craft in that breeze could overhaul 
 the Maud. The mistake he was making was in not 
 
130 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 looking after the steam ; for, as usual, it was running 
 down as the vessel approached the end of the trip. It 
 was no use to pile in the coal at the furnace when it 
 would have to be drawn out a little later. 
 
 The captain could not see the felucca, and he had 
 no idea just where she was or how fast she was sail- 
 ing. Morris kept the wheel for a time ; and Scott 
 seated himself on the divan, for he was tired, having 
 been on his feet all day. He had no suspicion that 
 there was a conspiracy boiling up all around his craft, 
 and he was perfectly easy and satisfied with himself 
 and everybody else. The passengers were singing 
 and having a good time ; and the caj)tain ought to be 
 perfectly contented if he was tired, and thinking of 
 his nice bed in the cabin. 
 
 " She's a fine boat is that felucca, with two heads, 
 like the snake that bites at both ends," said Felix, as 
 he and Louis gazed at the double-ender, whose vast 
 sails were driving her through the water at a rapid 
 rate for such a breeze. 
 
 " She's a fine siglit, and I think the ladies must be 
 enjoying the view of her movements, as they would 
 not if they understood her mission in these waters," 
 added the young millionaire. 
 
 " By the powers of mud ! " exclaimed Felix, as he 
 walked farther aft, for they had taken a position just 
 abaft the smokestack. 
 
 " What is the matter now, Felix ? " asked Louis, 
 following liim. 
 
 <' As sure as you were born Avith a silver spoon in 
 
THE MAUD NEARS THE DANGER POINT 131 
 
 your inoiitli, a million in the l)o\vl of it, the Saiiiniy 
 Thraker is gaining on us ! " said Felix in a low 
 tone. 
 
 " That can hardly be," added Louis, somewhat 
 appalled at the idea. 
 
 But lie was not alarmed, for even if it were possible 
 for the chaser to overhaul the Maud, he could see that 
 she had only seven men on board of her, and the chased 
 could muster six full grown men besides the " Big Four." 
 The four seamen from the ship, all old man-of-war's 
 men, did not know why they were there, though they 
 might have guessed that they had some connection 
 with the muskets and ammunition some of them had 
 put under the divan in the cabin. 
 
 " Just yon watch the motion of the two craft, and 
 you will see that the Sammy is gaining on us," per- 
 sisted Felix. " This won't do at all, my darling." 
 
 Louis did give his whole attention to this question, 
 and he soon satisfied himself that the Milesian was 
 right. At the same time he noticed the languid 
 steaming of the Maud, and he saw that the fault was 
 in the fire-room. He decided instantly what to do, 
 and he hastened to the ladder forward. 
 
 " I will see Felipe, Felix, and you go to the captain ; 
 but of course you mustn't say anything," said Louis 
 as he slid down the ladder. 
 
 He took the nearest course to the engine-room with- 
 out passing in front of the pilot-house. He found 
 the chief engineer sitting very comfortably on his 
 sofa, the machine working very moderately indeed. 
 
132 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Don was in the fire-rooni, for lie served as fireman on 
 these short excursions. 
 
 " Que hace V? " (What are you doing ?) demanded 
 he, sharply, and he spoke in Spanish so that the en- 
 gineer should understand him more quickly. " You 
 are losing all your speed, and a sailing felucca is get- 
 ting ahead of vis ! '' 
 
 " We are coming to the ship," replied Felipe. 
 
 " We are three miles from her ! " protested Louis. 
 " More steam as quickly as you can ! " 
 
 Louis did not wait for the engineer to attend 
 to the matter, but dropped into the fire-room, and 
 startled Don by the energy of his speech and his 
 movements. He did not pause to explain anything, 
 but peremptorily ordered him to fill up the furnaces, 
 and hurry up the steam by all means in his power. 
 
 Louis was not the captain of the Maud, and the 
 order ought to have come from the commander 
 through the chief engineer, for there was lots of red 
 tape among the boy navigators ; but the excited 3^oung 
 millionaire snapped it off as though it had been a 
 fillet in a spider's web, and eschewed all forms and 
 ceremonies. Don knew who and what he was, and 
 that he was above all commanders in either craft, for 
 even Captain liinggold had said that he would resign 
 his command to him when he so directed, though Louis 
 did not understand him in a literal sense. 
 
 Don stirred up the fire in the furnace, raked out 
 some clinkers, and then re-enforced it with kindlings, 
 so that in a few moments the furnace began to roar 
 
THE MAUD NEARS THE DANGER POINT 133 
 
 under the action of the ready blaze. The coal was 
 shovelled in with a liberal hand, and Louis left the 
 acting fireman to carry out his directions. Felipe 
 was lubricating the machinery ; for he had come to 
 the conclusion that a race, or some unusual event, was 
 at hand. The energetic spring of all this activity has- 
 t3ned back to the promenade deck anxious to learn 
 what further progress had been made by the Samo- 
 thraki. 
 
 Eelix had gone to the pilot-house, where he found 
 Morris still at the wheel, and the captain reclining on 
 the sofa. He had been warned not to say anything ; 
 but though he was a Milesian, he did not make a bull 
 of it by giving a literal construction to the admonition. 
 He was not to betray the commander's mighty secret 
 to the captain of the Maud, but he was to stimulate 
 him to improve the speed of his craft. 
 
 "By all the graysiness of Grayse, Captain Scott, 
 but you are letting that bit of a faylucky bate you 
 out of your boots, y'ur brogans, and y'ur shlippers, 
 to say nothing of y'ur stockin's ! " shouted Felix, as 
 he darkened the door of the pilot-house. 
 
 "What is the matter, Felix?" demanded the cap- 
 tain quietly. 
 
 " The Sammy Thraker's batin' ye's ! " 
 
 " Who's Sammy Thraker ? " asked Scott. 
 
 " Sure, that's the name of the faylucky forninst the 
 Maud ; and she's go'n' past ye's like a shky rockut past 
 the moon ; and the Maud will be disgrayced in the 
 oyes of the Graysers ! " protested Felix, as he went to 
 
134 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 the door, and looked out to see where the felucca 
 was. 
 
 Scott soon followed his example, and he discovered 
 that the Samothraki was not more than a cable's length 
 astern of the little steamer. Then, when his attention 
 was called to the matter, he realized that the Maud 
 was moving very sluggishly through the water. He 
 then placed himself at the mouthpiece of the speaking 
 tube to the engine-room. 
 
 ^' What are you about down there, Felipe ? " he de- 
 manded in a vigorous tone. "Are you all asleep 
 there? We are not making more than six knots.'' 
 
 But the Spanish engineer could not understand 
 these questions as the words came to him, somewhat 
 mixed in their passage through the tube. 
 
 " Que quiere F.^" (What do you want ?) demanded 
 Eelipe. 
 
 Louis was with the engineer at this time, and relieved 
 him of the necessity of understanding what the captain 
 said by going to the mouthpiece himself. Scott re- 
 peated his questions and remarks, and he replied that 
 the engineers were getting up steam, and it would 
 soon be all right. When he went to the upper deck 
 he was not a little startled to see how near the chaser 
 was coming to the Maud. She was not more than 
 half a cable's length distant. He could distinctly 
 make out the face and form of the " big man," as the 
 visitors to the cafe had at first been obliged to call 
 him for the want of a name, and who i)roved to be 
 Captain jMazagan. He was at the helm of the felucca, 
 and the men were still : eated in the Avaist. 
 
THE MAUD NEARS THE DANGER POINT 135 
 
 The observer could see the long knives in the belts 
 of the four on the port side ; but it was not unusual to 
 see Turks and Greeks with these wicked blades and 
 with one or two great horse pistols also. The weap- 
 ons did not prove that the men were pirates or robbers, 
 and Americans were inclined to laugh at the arsenal 
 of arms they carried on their persons. Captain Maza- 
 gan called one of the men, whom Louis took to be 
 Captain Polychronopulos, to him, and appeared to be 
 giving him directions. 
 
 Louis was in doubt what to do. The four men on 
 the upper deck had been directed to obey his orders ; 
 but he hoped the Maud would yet be able to run away 
 from the felucca. He was on the point of sending two 
 of the men to the cabin for the arms when he discov- 
 ered that the Guardian-Mother was under way, though 
 still two miles off. 
 
136 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTEE XYI 
 
 COMING IXTO CLOSE QUARTERS 
 
 The Guardian-Mother liad banked her fires when 
 she came to anchor, and it required a little time for her 
 to attain her ordinary speed ; but with any reasonable 
 power it would not take her over ten minutes to make 
 the two miles that lay between her and the point of 
 danger. But an earthquake can level a city, and de- 
 stroy a thousand lives, in a few seconds, and Avithin 
 the short space of time it would take the ship to cross 
 the bay the felucca might capture the Maud. 
 
 The wind was increasing the farther the chase went 
 out from the shore, and Captain Einggold had observed 
 that it had blown fresher after dark than during the 
 day. The Maud did not yet feel the coal that had 
 been shovelled into her furnace, or the wood that was 
 blazing there. 
 
 " She will be alongside of the steamer in less than 
 five minutes," said Felix, who was measuring every 
 inch gained. 
 
 ''I see that she will soon be in a position to board 
 the Maud in a very few minutes," replied Louis. '' But 
 I believe we have nothing to fear, though it is time 
 that sometliing was done." 
 
COMING INTO CLOSE QUAllTERS 13T 
 
 " ]^othiiig to fear ? " repeated the Milesian, looking 
 his companion full in the face. " What is to prevent 
 those blackguards from leaping on board of us the 
 moment she can get her bow lapped over our stern ? " 
 
 " It will be time enough to prevent them from doing 
 that when the pirates are ready for final action. They 
 seem to be taking it very quietly just now. We have 
 got a little leeway still, Felix." 
 
 " It don't take a nest of hornets long to proceed to 
 business after you get ready to board them." 
 
 " But if we do or say anything we shall scare the 
 ladies out of their wits, and we shall have them scream- 
 ing as though the steamsr were on fire ; and I do not 
 wish to alarm them if it can be avoided," continued 
 Louis. " The pirates must have seen that the Guardian- 
 Mother is under way and coming in this direction." 
 
 " How long will it take the villains when they get a 
 lap over the stern of the Maud to snap up Miss Blanche, 
 who would be but an infant in the hands of the big 
 fellow, put her in his cuddy, and make for the shore. 
 They know the lay of the land, and the ship, according 
 to Captain Scott, could not get into that cove." 
 
 '' It is high time now to do something," replied Louis, 
 appalled by the picture his crony had presented. " Go 
 below, Felix, call Don and Pitts quietly, and tell them 
 to go to the cabin without attracting the attention of 
 the passengers in the standing-room, pass the arms 
 out one of the windows to you, and you will hand 
 them up to me. Which side of us will the felucca 
 come ? " 
 
138 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " She is making for the starboard side. You can 
 see her for yourself ; and the big man has taken his 
 place on the forward cuddy ready to make a swoop 
 down upon his victim," said Felix, who was ten times 
 as much excited as his companion ; and he was always 
 in favor of summary measures. 
 
 "Pass the weapons up on the port side so that 
 the pirates cannot see what we are about. Don and 
 Pitts stowed the guns and ammunition away under 
 the divan, and they will know just where to find 
 them," added Louis, who had entirely recovered his 
 self-possession, and was vastly cooler than when the 
 felucca was first discovered. 
 
 " All right, my darling," replied Felix, quite satis- 
 fied now that something was to be done. 
 
 He did not wait to go to the ladder abreast of the 
 pilot-house, but dropped down to the port side as a 
 boy lets himself down from a liigh wall. He found 
 Don in the engine-room, and Pitts in the galley ; and 
 he called them out into the gangway, where he told 
 them what to do. They were not to disturb the pas- 
 sengers, and Pitts went through the after window into 
 the cabin very much as a fly looking for its dinner 
 would have done it. Don followed him, and the door 
 into the standing-room was closed. Pitts found tlie 
 first musket, and noticed that it was a repeating rifle. 
 He passed it to Felix, and it went to the promenade 
 in the same moment. The next thing produced was a 
 package of ammunition, which was handed to the 
 upper deck in the same manner. 
 
COMING INTO CLOSE QUARTERS 139 
 
 As the doors were closed, the party in the standing- 
 room coiikl not see what they were doing. They were 
 singing the " Canadian Boat-Song " just then ; and all 
 seemed to know it, so it was sung with unusual vim 
 and vigor, though it applied better to the felucca than 
 to the little steamer. They all appeared to enjoy the 
 music even more than usual, and apprehended no 
 danger. Mrs. Belgrave said that the stalwart Captain 
 Mazagan had gone to his forecastle because he wanted 
 to hear the song better. 
 
 In three minutes the arms and ammunition had 
 been all passed to the upper deck, and Louis had 
 already loaded one of the rifles. He had done so for- 
 ward" of the smokestack and in its shadow, so that the 
 pirates should not see him. Four of the men knew 
 all about the weapons, and they were ordered to load 
 them. Knott instructed Pitts and Don how to handle 
 the piece, and the party were ready for action. A 
 revolver and a package of cartridges were given to each 
 man. 
 
 The Maud was now assuredly increasing her speed ; 
 but the freshening breeze assisted the felucca in about 
 the same ratio. The awning over the standing-room 
 prevented any of the passengers from seeing what was 
 going on upon the promenade deck, though Louis had 
 several times looked down at them through an aper- 
 ture he made by raising the edge of the canvas. 
 
 " Faix, Louis, my darling, that blackguard of a 
 Captain Magazine will soon leap into the standing- 
 room," said Felix. " Do you mind that Miss Blanche 
 
140 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 is seated on the starboard side, so that the big pirate 
 could drag her out of her seat, and put her on board 
 of the felucca ? " 
 
 " I saAV that she was ; but the Samothraki must 
 make twenty feet more before he can reach her, and 
 we have plenty of time to clap a stopper on his move- 
 ments before he can do anything," replied Louis very 
 quietly. 
 
 If he had possessed the temperament of Felix, he 
 would have had every man on board of the felucca 
 shot before this time ; but Louis was looking at the 
 consequences of whatever might be done on this occa- 
 sion as well as to the present safety of the party. If 
 any harm were done to the felucca, or the people on 
 board of her, the Turkish government would arrest 
 every man in the Maud, and could make no end of 
 trouble, in spite of the interference of minister or 
 consul of the United States. Louis was prudent, and 
 that was one of the reasons why Captain Hinggold 
 trusted him implicitly as he would not have trusted 
 any other one of the " Big Four." 
 
 " We must have a bit of a parade now," said the ac- 
 tual leader, who had certainly usurped the powers of 
 the captaiu, for he was busy in the pilot-house, calling 
 every other minute to Felipe to put on more steam. 
 " Now, my men, stand by, and we will march aft by 
 twos. Form quick ! " 
 
 The six men placed themselves in military order, 
 with the rifles at " shoulder arms ! " though the leader 
 was not posted in tactics, and could give no orders. 
 
COMING INTO CLOSE QUARTERS 141 
 
 The squad would not have passed nuister ou parade, 
 but all of them knew how to handle a gun, especially 
 when it came to firing it. Knott and Stoody led the 
 procession, and Louis kept alongside the first couple. 
 He had no gun, but his revolver was within reach in 
 his hip pocket. 
 
 They passed the tender, which was set up on skids 
 abaft the smokestack on the port side 5 but when the 
 leader came to the stern of it, he halted, and took 
 an observation of the position of the felucca. The 
 arms had been brought to view at precisely the right 
 moment, for the Samothraki had forged ahead very 
 nearly far enough to enable Captain Mazagan to 
 make the leap he evidently intended. Captain Poly- 
 chronopulos had taken the tiller of the craft some 
 time before ; and he evidently understood her points 
 better than the direct agent of the Pacha, for she had 
 made most of her gain on the Maud while he was at 
 the helm. 
 
 One more movement caused Louis to believe that 
 the crisis was close at hand ; for Mazagan had called 
 two of the men from the waist, placing them behind 
 him on the forecastle. They were doubtless to receive 
 the victim of the outrage when the leader passed her 
 on board, if their services should happen to be neces- 
 sary. The cool leader on the upper deck of the Maud 
 took in the situation at a glance from the point at the 
 stern of the tender where he had halted. 
 
 ^' Now form a line across the deck," said Louis in 
 his low and quiet tones, as he marched over so that 
 
142 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 he could be in front of the parade. " Now, ground 
 your arms, and be ready for action on the instant." 
 
 The ohl man-o'-war's men were rather disposed to 
 laugh at the situation; for they did not understand 
 what was to be done by Captain Mazagan, who had 
 boasted to his villanous employer that he could cap- 
 ture the fair maiden even in the streets of Athens or 
 Syra, as nideed he might if he had not been flanked 
 by the operations of Louis at the cafe and in the 
 harbor of Gallipoli. The old sailors, who had been 
 through many a hard-fought action when they were 
 young men of eighteen or twenty, were disposed to 
 laugh at the insignificance of the foe in front of them. 
 
 The crew of the felucca were evidently startled 
 and awed by the exhibition of force on the hurricane 
 deck of the Maud. The two men who had been 
 called to the forecastle were sent back to the waist, 
 and the leading pirate spoke in Greek to the captain 
 of the boat ; but even Don did not understand what 
 he said. 
 
 " Keep off. Captain Mazagan ! " shouted Louis in 
 plain English, for he knew that worthy understood it. 
 
 But he was not quite satisfied ; and he required Don 
 to repeat it in Arabic, or the mongrel tongue spoken 
 by the common sailors. But the felucca still main- 
 tained her position close aboard of the jMaiid. She 
 was on the starboard tack, going free, and the foot of 
 her huge foresail must soon drag against the stanch- 
 ions that supported the steamer's awning. 
 
 ''Captain Mazagan!" shouted Louis again. ''Tlie 
 
COMING INTO CLOSE QUARTERS 143 
 
 first man that attempts to board this steamer will be 
 the signal for my men to fire upon you ! " 
 
 This remark seemed to be definite enough ; but 
 Louis was not quite satisfied, for the felucca stood her 
 ground, though the men in the waist were evidently 
 thoroughly alarmed, for some of them had crawled 
 into the forward cuddy, and the rest were crouching 
 under the bulwarks of the boat. The singing had 
 ceased ; and it was plain that the party below had 
 taken the alarm, doubtless on account of the savage 
 threat which Louis had hurled at the marauders. 
 
 " Captain Mazagan ! " shouted Louis for the third 
 time, taking care to call the pirate by name so as to 
 assure him that he knew who and what he was, "I 
 know what you are trying to do, and you will be the 
 first man to fall if you attempt to carry out your 
 plan ! " 
 
 The leader of the pirates seemed to look a little 
 crest-fallen, for he could not help realizing that he 
 w^as in an exceedingly perilous position. The passen- 
 gers below could hear and understand all that Louis 
 had said though it was " all Greek " to them ; for they 
 had regarded the felucca as rather pleasant company, 
 and they had sung as much for the pleasure of her 
 people as for their own. 
 
 " What is the matter up there ? " called Uncle 
 Moses. 
 
 "I am afraid these are Greek pirates, and I think 
 we had better keep on the safe side," replied Louis, 
 lifting the edge of the awning as he spoke. 
 
144 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " But this thing is making the ladies ratlier nervous, 
 to say nothing of the gentlemen," added Dr. Hawkes. 
 
 '' Don't be alarmed ; whatever these fellows are, you 
 shall not be harmed, for I have force enough on the 
 upper deck to protect you from all harm," returned 
 the leader of the defence. " Keep quiet, and sing 
 the Canadian Boat-Song again." 
 
 The ladies immediately began to sing the piece in- 
 dicated. Louis saw that Miss Blanche, the only one 
 really in danger if any one was, joined in, and did not 
 seem to be much alarmed. 
 
 Louis thought he had had quite enough of this 
 thing, and wished he were captain for the moment 
 instead of Scott. 
 
THE 8AM0THRAKI LOSES A POINT 145 
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 THE SAMOTHRAKI LOSES A POINT 
 
 Louis Belgrave was a very thorougli believer in 
 discipline, and he admired that which prevailed on 
 board of the Guardian-Mother. For this reason he 
 wished he were the captain of the Maud ; though he 
 considered Scott much better qualified for the com- 
 mand than himself, so far as navigation was concerned, 
 and just as well in other respects. But the difficulty 
 just now was that he was not in possession of the 
 momentous secret of Captain Ringgold; and without 
 a knowledge of this, he could hardly conduct the de- 
 fence in the present emergency. 
 
 But Captain Scott had a very high regard for Louis, 
 and was disposed to yield to any request he made, 
 simply for the reason that he never made an unreason- 
 able demand. The leader on the upper deck, while 
 he felt perfectly able to defend his party, had become 
 rather tired of the situation, and was not disposed to 
 wait for Captain Mazagan to resort to some other tac- 
 tics to accomplish his purpose. He saw what he con- 
 sidered a way out of the present complication, and he 
 was very anxious to relieve the passengers from their 
 terror or nervousness; but his method required the 
 action of the sailing department of the steamer. 
 
146 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 The Samothraki still maintained her position just 
 overlapping the stern of the Maud ; but her speed had 
 been neutralized by the increasing steam of the little 
 steamer, and all she could now do was to hold her 
 own, with the immediate prospect of the Maud get- 
 ting away from her. Louis called Knott aside, and 
 told him to fire into any Greek that attempted to 
 board the steamer, at the same time warning him not 
 to do so unless he was absolutely sure that the man 
 he aimed at was the aggressor. Knott proposed an- 
 other way to meet the case. 
 
 " Let me go down to the rail on the starboard quar- 
 ter, and if any one attempts to lay us aboard, I can 
 crack him over the head with the spare tiller that 
 hangs there," suggested Knott. 
 
 " You had better put a bullet into his shoulder than 
 break in his skull with a club," argued Louis. " I 
 don't want to kill anybody, and we can easily 
 wound the whole of the felucca's crew without 
 doing so." 
 
 " I understand you, sir, and T will obey your orders. 
 A ball in the right shoulder would do the business, 
 and send the boarder back to his vessel," replied 
 Knott. 
 
 "Very well; that is our policy ; be prudent," added 
 Louis. "Felix, you had better go down into the 
 standing-room, and quiet the party. You have heard 
 what I said to them; and the fear of Greek pirates 
 is the idea. Tell them they are as safe as they would 
 be in their own homes; and I believe tliey are." 
 
THE SAMOTHRAKI LOSES A POINT 147 
 
 Louis hastened to the mam deck : his present mis- 
 sion was with Captain Scott, and he hoped he would 
 be as tractable as he had been before. On the way he 
 paused to take another L..'!: at the felucca, and it was 
 plain that she was very gradually dropping astern. 
 Near the pilot-house he found the captain. He had 
 obtained a tardy intimation of the proceedings in the 
 after part of the vessel, and perhaps he felt that he 
 had been ignored by somebody, for he had not taken 
 any part in the defence. 
 
 " What's up, Louis ? " asked he as the real leader 
 approached him. 
 
 " I am afraid the men in that felucca are Greek 
 pirates," replied Louis, who perceived that the cap- 
 tain was somewhat disgruntled. 
 
 " Why didn't you report it to me ? I thought I was 
 the captain of the Maud," added Scott. 
 
 " So you are ; and I went to you, asking you to 
 change the course of the steamer, which you did, to 
 my very great satisfaction," answered Louis, trying 
 to smooth over as well as he could the feelings of the 
 captain. 
 
 "And since that I have been set aside as of no 
 account," mildly protested Scott, for the young mil- 
 lionaire was still a tremendous personage in his esti- 
 mation. 
 
 " You had your hands full since I told you tliat the 
 pirate was gaining upon us. But we have no time 
 now to argue this matter, and I assure you that no one 
 on board is disposed to ignore or slight your authority. 
 
148 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 But I have come to make another request of you," 
 added Louis. 
 
 '^It is granted in advance," replied Scott with a 
 rather sickly laugh. 
 
 " Let me assure you that Captain Ringgold will 
 approve of everything that has been done, Captain 
 Scott." 
 
 ^^ You are the real captain of the IVIaud, Louis, and 
 I will resign when I see the commander of the Guard- 
 ian-Mother," added Scott. 
 
 " You will think better of it when you understand 
 the situation as I do," pleaded Louis. " I was going 
 to ask you to come short round, and head the steamer 
 for the west shore of the bay." 
 
 " I will do just what you wish, Louis, and obey your 
 orders to the letter," replied Scott, as he went into the 
 pilot-house and took the wheel from IVIorris, to whom 
 he had given it when he went aft to intj^uire into the 
 situation. " We are about a mile from the shore, and 
 the ship is not half mile from us. You understand 
 this business, and I do not, Louis. I will obey your 
 orders." 
 
 "I shall give you no orders, Captain Scott. I think 
 we can shake off the felucca by heading to the shore, 
 for that will give her a head wind," said Louis. He 
 was deeply grieved that Scott had taken offence at his 
 action, and he did not blame iiim for it, for he could 
 not deny that the commander had been ignored. "I 
 am very sure," Louis added, "that 3'ou will retain 
 the command of the Maud, and if you will take it 
 
THE SAMOTHRAKI LOSES A POINT 149 
 
 upon yourself to shake off the fehicca in your own 
 way, I will withdraw my request and obey your orders 
 as I have always done." 
 
 " Your plan, for a landsman, is certainly an excel- 
 lent one ; and I see no other way to accomplish your 
 purpose. I shall carry it out ; " and already the Maud 
 had begun to come about. '^We shall not quarrel, 
 Louis, for I submit to the owner." 
 
 " We will make it all right, Captain Scott," replied 
 Louis, as he hastened to the promenade deck to ob- 
 serve the new movement and its effect upon the 
 felucca, while the captain called Morris to the wheel 
 so that he could take a position where he could more 
 intelligently direct the manoeuvres of the steamer. 
 
 Morris had been aft and spoken to his father ; but 
 he was no wiser than Scott in regard to the meaning 
 of what was going on. He could only tell him that 
 Louis feared the men in the felucca were Greek pi- 
 rates. He was not a little alarmed to see that the 
 Samothraki's forward rudder was abreast of the 
 Maud's starboard quarter. 
 
 " I came forward for a hatchet," said Morris, when 
 the captain called him. 
 
 " What do you want of a hatchet ? " asked Scott. 
 
 " 1 am afraid the pirate will heave a line on that 
 cleat outside of the washboard, and hold on to us," 
 replied Morris. " I want the hatchet to chop it off if 
 he does so." 
 
 " That's a good idea ; but I want you at the wheel, 
 for we are coming about, and I must keep the run of 
 both craft," added the captain. 
 
150 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " Felix has come down from the upper deck, and I 
 will ask him to look out for the line," answered 
 Morris, as he shouted for the Milesian. 
 
 The hatchet was given to Felix, Avho promptly 
 answered the call, and the captain instructed him 
 what to do with it if occasion required. The steamer 
 had already thrown her head to port in obedience to 
 the helm, and Captain Mazagan, on the bow of the 
 felucca, saw the movement. He had also discovered 
 that the Maud was outsailing them, though she had 
 gained only two or three feet on him, for it had be- 
 come a neck and neck question of speed between the 
 two vessels. 
 
 Morris had correctly anticipated the action of the 
 leader of the pirates ; for Felix had hardly returned to 
 the standing-room before a small line was heaved so 
 skilfully as to pass it over the large cleat to which 
 the stern fast of the steamer was secured when she 
 lay alongside the ship or a wharf. 
 
 The Milesian rushed farther aft on the narrow gang- 
 way behind the passengers with the hatchet in his 
 hand. Captain Mazagan could not help reading his 
 purpose, and the Maud was swinging around all the 
 time. 
 
 " Stop where you are ! " shouted the pirate, as he 
 made a movement as though he intended to leap to 
 the stern of tlie steamer. 
 
 But Felix did not stop where ho was, for. he liad an 
 effective Aveapon for defence as well as for assault in 
 his hand, and he continued to advance. In his former 
 
THE SAMOTHRAKI LOSES A POINT 151 
 
 trying experience with Louis in perilous places he had 
 abundantly proved that he was not lacking in courage, 
 and he realized that the capture of the Maud was at 
 hand if something was not done on the instant. He 
 was in possession of Captain Einggold's momentous 
 secret, and better than any other person on board 
 except Louis, he knew what the Moorish captain in- 
 tended to accomplish. 
 
 " Stop where you are ! " repeated Mazagan, more 
 savagely than before, as he drew a long knife from 
 his belt, which might have been a yataghan, though 
 its shape could not be seen by Felix. 
 
 Louis was on the upper deck ; but the awning 
 obstructed his view till he heard the shout of Captain 
 Mazagan. Then he cast off the corner of the canvas, 
 and saw the pirate ready to leap upon the stern of 
 the steamer. 
 
 " Forward, my men, all of you ! " he called in the 
 most energetic tones he could command ; and the six 
 men ranged themselves diagonally across the deck. 
 " Now aim at that villain in the bow ; but don't fire 
 till I give the word I " 
 
 The six rifles were pointed at the big Moorish cap- 
 tain, and Louis was ready to order them to fire if the 
 emergency should require. He felt that Felix was in 
 imminent peril, and he would have shot the whole 
 pirate crew to save him. But he felt that he had the 
 ^^w^eather gauge," nautically speaking, and he did not 
 lose his self-possession for a moment. 
 
 " Fire one at a time, Knott first, as I give the word," 
 
152 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 he added, when he saw that Mazagan did not make 
 the expected leap. 
 
 The villain could not help seeing the half dozen 
 rifles pointed at him, and he seemed to be demoralized 
 at the sight ; and the bravest man in the world, to say 
 nothing of a freebooter, could hardly have been willing 
 to stand up against such odds. Captain Polychronop- 
 ulos shouted to him with all his might ; but he spoke 
 in Greek, and no one on the Maud, unless it was Don, 
 could understand him, but doubtless he uttered a 
 vigorous warning. 
 
 Felix could not see what was transpiring on the 
 upper deck, though he judged that a demonstration 
 was in progress from that quarter. Taking advantage 
 of the momentary lull in the movement on the part of 
 the pirate, he leaped nimbly aft, and with one blow 
 of the hatchet, he severed the line which had caught 
 on the cleat, and the end of it dropped into the water. 
 
 Captain Scott had mounted to the forward part of 
 the upper deck where he could see the felucca : he gave 
 his orders in a loud voice to Morris at the wheel. 
 The Maud had swung around until her head pointed 
 at right angles with her former course. 
 
 " Steady, Morris ! " he shouted ; which meant that 
 the helmsman was to keep her as she was at that 
 moment. 
 
 If he had kept her swinging as before she would 
 have come about alongside the felucca, which was not 
 a desirable position. By leaning on tlie starboard 
 stay of the mast he had seen what Felix was about. 
 
THE SAMOTHIIAKI LOSES A POINT 153 
 
 and that he had cut the line made fast to the cleat. 
 The Maud was now headed to the south, and her speed 
 was improving every minute. The action of Felix 
 and that of Louis had upset all the plans of the 
 pirate. 
 
 The captain of the felucca, at a fierce command 
 given by Mazagan, had put the helm to starboard, and 
 the two great lateen sails began to shake in the wind. 
 It was very bad seamanship, for the sheets should have 
 been hauled in first ; but there was confusion on board, 
 with two men in command. With some difficulty the 
 sheets were hauled aft, and the felucca headed to the 
 south ', but she had fallen astern of the Maud. 
 
154 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 THE FIRST SHOT OF THE GUARDIAN-MOTHER 
 
 ^' Starboard, Morris ! " shouted Captain Scott from 
 his position over the front windows of the pilot-house, 
 where he could take in every variation in the course 
 of the felucca. 
 
 " Starboard it is, Captain Scott ! " replied Morris. 
 
 At this time all hands on board of the Samothraki, 
 including Mazagan himself, were hauling aft the 
 sheets of the fore and main sails. She had been run- 
 ning before the wind when the Maud turned her head 
 to the south ; and " Captain Chronotype," as Felix 
 called him, at a sharp order from his employer, had 
 put his helm down. She came more up to the Avind, 
 with the outer leaches of her sails dragging in the 
 water. It was a hard pull to get them inboard, and 
 the captain had to luff her up to enable the crew to 
 do so. 
 
 The Maud could at least make eight knots by this 
 time, and Captain Scott began to feel as though he 
 could have things his own way. He had given the 
 order to put the helm to starboard as soon as the fe- 
 lucca had control of her sails, and was headed to the 
 south, so that the two craft were sailing on parallel 
 
FIRST SHOT OF THE GUARDIAN- MOTHER 155 
 
 courses. The confusion on board the felucca had 
 enabled the Maud to increase her distance to about 
 a hundred feet. 
 
 " Steady ! " called the captain when the steamer was 
 headed about to the south-east. 
 
 ^' Steady/' repeated Morris. 
 
 The standing-room had ceased to be the scene of 
 danger on board, and Louis had given the order to 
 ^' break ranks " in his squad. The men retained their 
 weapons, and wandered about the upper deck at their 
 own pleasure. Louis had gone forward and taken a 
 position near the captain, where he could observe the 
 movements of Captain Scott, though he did not intend 
 to interfere with them. The commander was carrying 
 out the plan he had suggested, and appeared to be 
 doing it well. 
 
 The intention was to get the steamer headed to the 
 east, from which quarter the fresh breeze came, so 
 that the felucca could not follow her except by beat- 
 ing to windward. But the captain saw that if he 
 came about too rapidly, the steamer would be placed 
 directly ahead of the chaser, and a puff of wind might 
 drive her forward so that she could grapple with the 
 Maud again. But the latter had increased her dis- 
 tance so that there no longer any danger of such a 
 mishap. 
 
 " Starboard, Morris ! " called Scott again. " Make 
 the course due east ! " 
 
 " Starboard, sir ! Due east it is ! " repeated Morris. 
 
 " I have no doubt we shall euchre her now, Louis," 
 
156 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 said Captain Scott, walking over to the place where 
 the young millionaire stood watching the course of 
 both vessels. 
 
 " I should say that we were all right now, Captain 
 Scott," replied Louis, taking more pains than usual to 
 apply the title to the disgruntled commander. '' The 
 felucca cannot follow us directly, at any rate." 
 
 " She is getting her port tacks aboard for a run to 
 the southward," added Scott. " But we can't make a 
 long tack in this direction without going ashore ; and 
 it will not do for us to get cornered in one of these 
 coves." 
 
 The jVIaud was now running to the eastward, hardly 
 more than half a mile from the shore of the Bay. 
 The Somothraki had got on the port tack, headed to 
 the south, with the wind on her beam. Of course the 
 two craft were increasing their distance apart. The 
 two captains on board of the felucca could see that 
 they were losing ground, and Scott and Louis watched 
 with intense interest for her next move. 
 
 ^' She is hauling her wind ! " exclaimed the captain 
 a few minutes later. 
 
 " That is a purely nautical expression. Captain 
 Scott," added Louis with a smile. " I am willing to 
 be instructed." 
 
 " I did not mean to bother you to show my seaman- 
 ship," replied Scott. 
 
 " I have always been willing to sit at your feet, 
 Captain Scott, on all nautical questions; and what I 
 said was because I did not know what you meant ; and 
 
FIRST SHOT OF THE GUARDIAN-MOTHER 157 
 
 I did not suppose you used the expression to display 
 your seamanship. I have never claimed to be a sailor, 
 while I know that you are one/' said Louis very 
 gently. 
 
 " Excuse me, Louis ; but I thought you were trying 
 to pick me up/' said Scott, extending his hand to his 
 companion. " Some of my bad blood has come up on 
 top this evening, and I am crusty." 
 
 " I don't blame you, for I have been obliged to act 
 in my own opinion, without your orders ; but I assure 
 you I meant no disrespect," replied Louis, taking the 
 offered hand. " There is not a fellow on board that 
 values you more highly than I do. Captain Scott." 
 
 " That's hearty, Louis ; and I hope you will forgive 
 my crustiness." 
 
 " With all my heart." 
 
 "Whatever happens, we will be friends. I know 
 that I was made captain by you, Louis; and it was 
 mean in me to have any feeling towards you." 
 
 " We shall be all right, my friend. jSTow will you 
 explain that salt expression you used ? " asked Louis. 
 
 " It means that the felucca is simply coming up 
 closer to the wind, or putting her head more to the 
 eastward 5 and you can see that she has already done 
 it," answered Scott. " If she can go within five points 
 of the wind — and very likely she can go within four, 
 or four and a half — her course will be east by south 
 a quarter south." 
 
 " That is all very well for you. Captain Scott ; but 
 my seamanship don't come down to so fine a point as 
 
158 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOUS 
 
 tliatj and I don't undei'stand you," replied Louis, laugh- 
 ing. " ])Ut 1 have i)erfeet conlidence in your ability 
 to handle the Maud, and I don't ask you to explain 
 what you do, or what you are going to do." 
 
 The great sails were trimmed down so they seemed 
 to be almost in a line with the keel ; but Scott declared 
 that she was badly " i)inched," which was perhaps a 
 sea-term of his own invention; but he meant that the 
 felucca was sailing too close; to tlic; wind to nuike good 
 ])rogress tlii'ough the water. JUit the cjiptain did not 
 long hold to his course of due east, and ordered Morris 
 to head her for tlie Guardian-Mother, which was now 
 within a mile of her. It has recpiircd a long story to 
 explain the movements of the two craft; but all of 
 th(;m had o(;curred within the si)ace of a few minutes. 
 
 TIk; party in the standing-room Ix'gan to sing again, 
 and it was evident that they had not been seriously 
 alarmed, or that they had very suddenly recovered 
 from their fright. Tliey could S(Hi the felucca, and 
 knew that it was no longer api)roaching the Maud. 
 They seemed to be happy, and the spirits of their gal- 
 lant defenders rose corres])ondingly. 
 
 ^'What is tlie Samotbraki doing now, (/a])tain 
 Scott?" asked I^ouis as her monstrous sails ceased to 
 draw all of a sudden. 
 
 "She is coming about, I sup])Ose; but 1 sliould tliink 
 she had had about enough of it by this time," an- 
 swered the captain. ''Tliat (h4)tain Mazagan seems 
 to be like a tiger that has sinelled blood, and wants 
 some ol" it. \\\\\: in a stand-up light, we can whip him 
 
FIIIST SHOT OF Til 10 fJUARDIAN-MOTIIEIt 159 
 
 out of liis boots; itiid I ;ini riLtlier sorry wc did not 
 have a cliance to do it." 
 
 " I am very iiuicli n^joiced that we got off as we did, 
 and that nobody has b(^en hurt or kilh*d," replied the 
 peaceful owner of the sliip. 
 
 " It would do that Captain Mazagan good to kill 
 him, for I don't believe the world has any good use 
 for him. What under the (;anopy did th(i fellow mean 
 by his attempt to lay us aboard ? " 
 
 "You will have to judge for yourself," replied Louis 
 evasively, for he knew very well what the villain 
 meant. 
 
 "We are not sailing a treasure shif), and what could 
 the pirate have got if he had captured the Maud? I 
 don't believe the ladies wear their diamonds on an 
 excursion like this. I>ut the felucca is coming on the 
 other tack!" exclaiuKMl Scott; "and that is the way 
 she does it." 
 
 She did not come; about ;is an oi'dinary sailing vessel 
 would have done, but shifted hv.v sails over so tliat 
 they would tak(i tlui wind (m the starboard taek. Tlie 
 captain secured what had bcn^n the aft<'r i'udd<'r, and 
 went to the other end of the craft with his tilh^-, which 
 he inserted in the one that had been at the })ow b(;- 
 fore. Her lateens began to draw as soon as tliey were 
 shoved over; and taking tlu; fresh l)r(M'ze Uta), she 
 began to bound over the wav(\s lik(; a greyhound. 
 
 Captain Mazagan did not aj)])ear to be satished with 
 the present situation, for he could understand tliat 
 the chase was making ten knots now, and tlie black 
 
160 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 smoke was still pouring out of her smokestack. A 
 minute or two later half a dozen long sweeps, or oars, 
 were shipped, and the crew began to pull at them witli 
 all their might. Their employer appeared to be dem- 
 ocratic in his ideas, for he took his place at the bow 
 oar on the starboard side. His shouts could be heard 
 as he urged on the men. It had been estimated that 
 the felucca could make ten knots with a favoring 
 breeze and enough of it ; and if she added another 
 knot with her sweeps, she might outspeed the Maud. 
 
 But the Guardian-Mother must very soon have a 
 finger in the pie, though Captain Mazagan seemed to 
 give none of his attention to her. Louis still retained 
 his force on the upper deck with the exception of Don, 
 whom he had sent to the engine-room to assist Felipe 
 at the fire. As soon as Felix saw what the Samo- 
 thraki was doing, he returned to the promenade deck. 
 
 " How are all the party, Felix ? " asked Louis as 
 soon as he saw him. 
 
 "As happy as a mother-cat with her ten kittens," 
 replied Felix. " Ui)on my word I believe they are 
 enjoying the fracas. Don't you hear them singing ? " 
 
 '' I hear them ; but the school-boy whistles when he 
 goes by the graveyard in the evening to keep his 
 courage up ; and perhaps the passengers are singing 
 for the same purpose," suggested Louis. 
 
 " Not a bit of it, my darling ; they all have a per- 
 fect contempt for Greek pirates.'' 
 
 "How is Miss Pdanche? wasn't she frightened 
 when the pirate made fast to that cleat ? " 
 
FIRST SHOT OF THE (lUAllDIAN-MOTHER 161 
 
 " Not she ; she huighecl at tlie big feHow on the bow 
 of the fehicca, Captain Muzzygreen it was. Upon my 
 word they seemed to look npon the affair as a sort of 
 game, or like a boat race, and some of them got ex- 
 cited over which should beat. Miss Woolridge said 
 she had been in many a boat race, and this was the 
 most exciting one she ever saw, and her father laughed 
 when she said it. There was not a bit of harm done 
 among the passengers." 
 
 " But I am afraid there would have been if Captain 
 Mazagan had got on board in that part of the Maud, 
 for you know as well as I do, and no other fellow on 
 board knows anything about it, what would have hap- 
 pened," added Louis very seriously. 
 
 " Where would I have been all the time, when I had 
 the hatchet in my hand ? " demanded Felix. " He 
 would liave got a crack on the head that would beat 
 Kilkenny out and out, to say nothing of the bit of a 
 revolver I had in my hip pocket." 
 
 " He had a yataghan in his hand, and that meant 
 war." 
 
 ^'Who?" 
 
 " Captain Mazagan." 
 
 " 1^0 ; the other fellow. I knew Jimmie McGann, 
 but I never heard of Yatty." 
 
 " The crooked knife he had in his hand is called a 
 yataghan." 
 
 " Bad luck to him and liis yataghan ! " 
 
 The Guardian-Mother was now within hailing dis- 
 tance of the Maud ; and the voice of Captain Einggold 
 
162 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 was heard througli a speaking-trumpet, ordering Cap- 
 tain Scott to make his course north, which was done at 
 once. The fehicca changed hers at the same time, and 
 her men continued to ply their oars as vigorously as 
 ever. 
 
 Suddenly the loud report of a cannon boomed on 
 the evening air, and some of the ladies in the stand- 
 ing-room screamed. The three of the big four who 
 were on the upper deck were startled by the explosion, 
 and immediately turned their attention to the Samo- 
 thraki. Her sails were fluttering in the wind, and 
 she seemed to be unmanao-eable. 
 
THE BATTLE WITH THE FELUCCA 163 
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 THE BATTLE WITH THE FELUCCA 
 
 After the order from the Guardian-Mother to the 
 Maud to head to the northward, the latter liad made 
 some little distance in that direction, and the felucca 
 had tacked so that she could follow her, the men using 
 the most tremendous efforts at the oars to overtake 
 her. It was evidently the purpose of Captain Maza- 
 gan to take his victim out of the little steamer in the 
 very face of the ship. 
 
 Probably the bold buccaneer who had chartered the 
 Samothraki to carry out his piratical plan had not 
 the remotest suspicion that the ship was armed, or he 
 would not have undertaken such a task within range 
 of her. Her great sails were shaking, for she had 
 suddenly broached to, or come about so that she was 
 headed into the very eye of the wind. 
 
 ^' Her pipe seems to be out," said Captain Scott, 
 who had passed over to windward with Louis so that 
 they could see what effect had been produced by the 
 shot from the ship. 
 
 Scott had no idea that the Guardian-Mother would, 
 or could, fire a shot that would harm the felucca. Of 
 course he had often seen the two twelve-pounders on 
 
164 THE YOUNG KAVIGATOIiS 
 
 her top-gallant forecastle ; but yachts often carried 
 such guns for ornament, and to fire salutes, and when 
 the report of the gun reached his ears, he supposed it 
 was a sort of empty warning of which the chaser 
 would take no notice. 
 
 "What is the matter with her? " asked Louis, who 
 did not yet understand why the Samotliraki had come 
 up into the wdnd. " Has she got tired of the chase ? " 
 
 " That's not what's the matter," replied the cap- 
 tain. " Just look at her stern, and you will see that 
 her rudder has been knocked into splinters." 
 
 " So it has ! " exclaimed Louis, as he discovered the 
 few remaining pieces of the rudder hanging useless at 
 the stern-post, for most of it had been carried away. 
 " That gun could bite as well as bark ; " and he re- 
 called the statement of the commander of the 
 Guardian-Mother. 
 
 " Captain Einggold means business this time," 
 added Scott. 
 
 " He always means business when he makes a dem- 
 onstration ; and he appears to have lost j^atience with 
 this fellow astern of us," replied Louis. " He would 
 make no bones of sinking a Greek })irate if she came 
 in his way." 
 
 " But what is he going to do now ? " asked Scott 
 curiously. " He keeps on his course towards her." 
 
 " Maud, ahoy ! " came across the water from the 
 ship. 
 
 " On board of the Guardian-Mother ! " returned Cap- 
 tain Scott at tlie to}) of his lungs. 
 
THE BATTLE WITH THE FELUCCA 165 
 
 " Come alongside ! " shouted Captain Kinggold. 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir,'' returned Scott, as he gave the order 
 to Morris in the pilot-house. 
 
 The little steamer came about, and headed for the 
 ship. 
 
 " What's up now ? " asked Felix, as he appeared on 
 the upper deck. " That shot must have hit the wind, 
 and knocked it all out of the sails of the felucca." 
 
 " Her rudder was shot away," replied Louis. 
 
 " The passengers want to know what has happened 
 and what is going to happen," added the Milesian. 
 
 " We are going to the ship now," said Scott. '^ Tell 
 them we are going alongside the Guardian-Mother, 
 and that they have nothing to fear." 
 
 " I don't believe they would be scared if there was 
 anything to fear, for they are as full of pluck as an 
 egg is of meat. Upon my word I believe they are 
 enjoying the fun," returned Felix as he descended the 
 ladder to the main deck. 
 
 " The hands on the top-gallant forecastle of the ship 
 look as though they had another gun ready to go off," 
 continued Captain Scott. 
 
 "But the felucca is shifting her sails over so that 
 she can go off on the other tack," added Louis. " Cap- 
 tain Polychronopulos is clearing away the wreck of 
 the rudder, and she evidently intends to go to the 
 southward, using her other rudder." 
 
 " That's her little game," returned the captain, " I 
 suppose, if she wants to get out of the way, Captain 
 Einggold will let her do so." 
 
166 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " I hardly believe lie intends to punish her as she 
 deserves, for there is nothing malicious or revengeful 
 in his composition. He is a Christian, if there ever 
 was one," answered Louis, as Morris rang the speed 
 bell to check the headway of the little steamer. 
 
 Just at that moment another gun from the bow of 
 the ship boomed on the clear air, and was re-eclioed 
 from the cliffs and hills on the shore. A scream came 
 up from the ladies in the standing-room ; but there 
 appeared to be no substance in it, and Louis thought, 
 after what Felix had said, that it was given for the 
 fun of it. 
 
 "I don't believe they hit her this time," said Cap- 
 tain Scott, after he had looked the felucca over. 
 " She has her other rudder in working order, with the 
 tiller shipped." 
 
 '' I don't see that the shot did her any harm, tliough 
 the commander may have sent it into her hull," sug- 
 gested Louis. " Perhaps he means to sink her." 
 
 He had hardly spoken the words before another 
 gun from the bow of the ship called forth another 
 rather derisive scream from the ladies. 
 
 " That's tlie talk ! " exclaimed Captain Scott, rub- 
 bing his hands. " The commander is not tliinking of 
 sinking her; he has shot away her other rudder; and 
 now she is like a bird with a bullet in each wing. She 
 can't even flutter." 
 
 ^' I don't know who points the guns, but he puts the 
 shot where they will do the most good," added Louis. 
 
 " We are nearly alongside," said the captain. " Cue 
 bell, Morris." 
 
THE BATTLE WITH THE FELUCCA 167 
 
 ^^ One bell," repeated the helmsman^ as he struck 
 it. 
 
 Knott had taken a heave-line to the upper deck, and 
 at the word he threw it on the rail of the ship, where 
 it was seized and secured at once. The Maud came 
 alongside the gangway at the stern, and the ladies 
 were assisted on board of her. Captain Ringgold 
 welcomed them on the deck with more than his usual 
 earnestness. 
 
 " We have had lots of fun, Captain Ringgold ! '' 
 exclaimed Miss Blanche, when the commander took 
 her hand; and he thought she would not have en- 
 joyed it quite so much if she had known the inten- 
 tions of Captain Mazagan. 
 
 But he was delighted to find the party in such high 
 spirits, and even Mrs. Belgrave did not appear to have 
 suffered from the adventure. He had but a moment 
 to spare, and he hastened away to attend to the case 
 he had in hand. None of the big four went on board 
 of the ship, for the captain of the Maud had ordered 
 them not to leave her. 
 
 ^' Send the four seamen on board," called the com- 
 mander at the rail as he went forward. " Have them 
 bring their arms with them." 
 
 Scott gave the order for them to return to the ship. 
 They had remained on the upper deck with the rifles 
 within reach of them, and they departed in a hurry, 
 for it looked just as though Captain Ringgold had not 
 yet done with the pirates. From his position on the 
 promenade deck Louis could see that something was 
 
168 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 in progress on the starboard side of the ship, the 
 Maud having come alongside on the port. He soon 
 satisfied himself that the first cutter had been lowered 
 into the water, and that the crew were taking their 
 places in her. 
 
 The escaping steam made a great racket on board 
 the Maud ; for Felipe had opened his safety valve, and 
 the little steamer was then in condition to make her 
 twelve knots an hour. Louis stated what was going 
 on upon the deck of the ship, but the captain could 
 hardly hear him in the din of the escaping steam. 
 They tried to reason out the intentions of the com- 
 mander. The first cutter was putting off ; and that 
 was the boat of Mr. Boulong, the first officer, and it 
 indicated that something of importance was on foot. 
 
 From their position on the upper deck, Captain 
 Scott and Louis could see the felucca very distinctly. 
 She had clewed up her sails, and her crew seemed to 
 be adjusting a long sweep at one end of her as a steer- 
 ing-oar, for at present the Samothraki was as helpless 
 as though her sails had been carried away. Captain 
 Mazagan stood on the forecastle nearest to the ship, 
 and appeared to be studying up what he should do 
 next, when the oar had been rigged. 
 
 " That villain looks as resolute as ever," said Felix 
 when the captain had been called below. '' But the 
 blackguard will get enough of Captain Einggold when 
 he is done with him." 
 
 " I have no idea what the commander intends to do 
 next/' added Louis. " There goes the first cutter ! " 
 
THE BATTLE WITH THE FELUCCA 169 
 
 he exclaimed a moment later, as the boat darted out 
 from the farther side of the Guardian-Mother. 
 
 " That means business," added Felix. ^^ There are 
 twelve men in the boat, besides Mr. Boulong." 
 
 " And six of them are the man-of-war's men," said 
 Louis. " We shall not have long to wait before we 
 know the meaning of this movement, for it is only a 
 short pull to the felucca. I suppose the men are 
 armed, though we can see no rifles." 
 
 '' They are keeping the guns out of sight. Upon 
 my Avord I would like to be in that scrimmage," re- 
 turned Felix, who was rubbing his hands with delight, 
 for he had a good deal of the Kilkenny spirit left in 
 him, and seemed to be in condition to attend a Donny- 
 brook Fair. " Wait till we see what comes of it." 
 
 They had not to wait long, for the first cutter pulled 
 directly up to the felucca, six of whose men, including 
 the captain, were at work at one end, while Captain 
 Mazagan stood like a statue on the forecastle at the 
 other end. The instant the cutter touched the side 
 of the craft, six men sprang on board of her, and took 
 possession of the waist. The stern-sheets of the 
 ship's boat came up abreast of the part where the 
 Moorish captain stood. He shouted something in a 
 very wrathful tone to Mr. Boulong, but those on 
 board could not understand what he said. 
 
 He continued to talk in a loud tone, gesticulating 
 violently, and flourishing his yataghan in a threaten- 
 ing manner at the first officer, who was perfectly 
 calm. He had plainly said something to the pirate 
 
170 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 that intensified his wrath. Suddenly Mazagan made 
 a spring into the stern sheets of the cutter ; but he 
 caught his foot in doing so against the rail of the 
 boat, and fell forward. The officer and Stood}', the 
 cockswain, fell upon him, and the two after oarsmen 
 came to their assistance. The marauder made a des- 
 perate struggle, but his dangerous weapon was wrested 
 from him, and he was held with a firm grip by the 
 four men who had laid hold of him ; and the rest of 
 the crew were trying to follow their example. 
 
 While Louis and Felix were busy watching the pro- 
 ceedings on board of the felucca and cutter. Captain 
 Kinggold had come on board without being seen by 
 them, and presently they heard the stroke of the gong. 
 Pitts had hauled in the fasts, and the boat went 
 ahead. Morris was still at the wheel, and the com- 
 mander came on the upper deck with Captain Scott. 
 The Maud was headed to the scene of action ; and in a 
 few moments she stopped her screw quite near the 
 cutter, and backed till she had lost her headway. 
 
 " We have him, bound foot and leg," reported Mr. 
 Boulong as soon as lie saw the commander. '^ What 
 shall we do with him ? " 
 
 ^'We will take him on board of the ship," replied 
 Captain Ringgold. 
 
 '' No, you won't ! " exclaimed Mazagan. " This is 
 an outrage ! I appeal to the Turkish government ! " 
 
 " All right ; but it can't hear you just now," added 
 the commander. 
 
 " Polychronopulos ! " yelled the prisoner three times, 
 
THE BATTLE WITH THE FELUCCA 171 
 
 adding something the Americans could not un- 
 derstand. 
 
 " He calls the captain of the felucca to come to his 
 assistance, and asks if they are all cowards," said Don, 
 who had come out of the engine-room. 
 
 The men at the stern of the craft made a movement 
 to heed the appeal ; but six rifles were pointed at them, 
 and thej hesitated. 
 
172 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 REVEALING THE MOMEXTOUS SECRET 
 
 The commander ordered the six men who had 
 boarded the felucca in the waist to fall back into 
 the cutter, covering the Greeks with their guns as 
 they did so. They came into the boat one at a time 
 under the direction of Knott ; and as each one reached 
 his place he stood up, with his rifle pointed at the 
 pirates. The retreat was safely effected ; for though 
 the pirates all had knives of one kind or another, they 
 had not the courage to stand up against the rifles. 
 
 ^' Shove off, Mr. Boulong, and return to the ship," 
 said the commander from the upper deck of the Maud. 
 " Go to the gangway, and get your prisoner on deck as 
 soon as possible." 
 
 The first officer obeyed the order ; and while the 
 oarsmen were getting the boat away from the felucca, 
 the seamen armed with the rifles kept the crew at 
 bay. They saw their employer carried off, and Cap- 
 tain Polychronopulos realized that the enterprise in 
 which he had been engaged was an entire failure. He 
 had nothing to do but repair the damages done to his 
 craft, for he could not follow the victors in the 
 battle. 
 
KEVEALING THE MOMENTOUS SECRET 173 
 
 The Maud followed tlie first cutter back to the ship, 
 and then had to wait till the prisoner was conveyed 
 to the deck. Louis and Felix wondered what the 
 commander intended to do with him ; as he was 
 amenable to the Turkish authorities, and not to the 
 Greek, for the outrage had been attempted in the 
 waters of the former. 
 
 " Captain Scott, we shall leave this bay at once ; 
 and perhaps I was not wise to seek an anchorage in 
 such an out-of-the-way place as this," said the com- 
 mander while they were waiting for Mazagan to be 
 taken on board of the ship. " I do not deem it advis- 
 able to remain here over night." 
 
 "We are all ready for duty, sir," replied Scott. 
 
 '' I do not desire to work you nights any more than 
 is necessary ; but this affair here was very unexpected 
 to me, and I cannot avoid doing so," added Captain 
 Einggold. 
 
 "We shall get sleep enough with our regular 
 watches," said the captain of the Maud. 
 
 " You can sleep as much as you like to-morrow, for 
 we have not more than a six hours' run to make to- 
 night to reach our destination, which is Cape Santo, at 
 the entrance to the Gulf of Monte Santo. Your course 
 will be west by north as soon as you are clear of the 
 headland. But you will follow the Guardian-Mother 
 out of the bay." 
 
 " I think I can find my way, sir, even if we should 
 get separated in a fog," replied Scott. 
 
 " You have proved that you are able to do that, and 
 
174 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 I have entire confidence in your ability to navigate 
 your vessel/' added the commander as he moved 
 towards the gangway. 
 
 But Louis intercepted him, and told him all about 
 the clashing of authority on board of the Maud which 
 had occurred during the excursion. 
 
 " I had not the slightest intention to ignore Captain 
 Scott; but he did not understand the situation as I 
 did, and was not even aware for what purpose the four 
 seamen were put on board of the Maud, or even that 
 arms had been stored in the cabin. He said he should 
 resign his position as captain," Louis explained. 
 
 " There is only one remedy for this state of things. 
 As Captain Scott did not know anything at all about 
 the Mazagan conspiracy, I had to instruct you to de- 
 fend the steamer," replied the commander. " But I 
 supposed there was hardly even a remote chance that 
 you would be called upon to use my directions, im- 
 parted to you in confidence, or I should have given 
 the matter more consideration. I charge the trouble 
 upon myself in hardly believing in the possibility of 
 such an event as has happened. It is still a mystery 
 how the Samothraki got into this bay before we did, 
 when we left her at anchor in Gallipoli harbor." 
 
 '^I think the pilot deceived you when he said she 
 was there in the morning, for she must have left some 
 time in the night." 
 
 ^' That is the only reasonable Avay to explain it." 
 
 ^' But what is the remedy for this trouble with Cap- 
 tain Scott ? " asked Louis, deeply interested in this 
 
REVEALING THE MOMENTOUS SECRET 175 
 
 matter, for he felt tliat lie had offended his com 
 mander, who had just cause for complaint. 
 
 '' Captain Scott must be informed of the true situa- 
 tion, and of the conspiracy of Mazagan and his em- 
 ployer," replied the commander. 
 
 "Shall I tell him the story? " asked Louis. 
 
 "I want you to go on board of the Guardian-Mother 
 with me, for I intend to confront Mazagan, and I 
 shall want yon to assist me. Felix is in the Avatch 
 with the captain, and he can tell him the story, for he 
 knows it as well as you and I do ; but he must put 
 him under the seal of secrecy first. I will speak to 
 him about it." 
 
 Felix was called, and the matter explained to him. 
 He did not know about the trouble between his friend 
 and Scott, and this was described to him. He prom- 
 ised to discharge the duty assigned to him faithfully, 
 and neither of them doubted that he would do so. 
 It was getting quite dark by this time, and there was 
 no lighthouse in sight. The captain of the ship passed 
 the word for Knott and the other three seamen who 
 had served on board w4th him to come on board of the 
 Maud for the night. 
 
 When they appeared they were instructed to do 
 duty at the wheel or elsewhere as Captain Scott or- 
 dered them. The little steamer got under way at 
 once, and stood out of the bay. The captain kept the 
 wheel himself till the Maud Avas outside of the head- 
 land at the entrance to the bay, where the Guardian- 
 Mother overhauled and passed her. Then Felix 
 
176 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 wanted to see him in private ; and they went to the 
 standing-room, after Knott had taken the wheeL Mor- 
 ris had lain down in the cabin, and was fast asleep, 
 for the young man was very tired after the duties 
 and excitement of the day. 
 
 "What in the world do you want of me, Felix?" 
 asked Captain Scott when they were seated within 
 reach of the rudder head, away from everybody else 
 on board. 
 
 " Can you keep a secret, Captain Scott ? " demanded 
 Felix with more seriousness than he was in the habit 
 of assuming. 
 
 " That's a queer question for you to put to me," 
 added Scott ; but it was too dark for him to see the 
 earnest expression on the face of his companion. 
 
 "Not so very queer," replied the Milesian. "You 
 had a bit of trouble with Louis this evening, didn't 
 you ? " 
 
 "Did Louis tell you that he had a little disagree- 
 ment with me ? " asked Scott, becoming very serious 
 himself when he found the interview related to this 
 subject. 
 
 " He did not open his mouth to me about it," replied 
 Felix squarely. "I should never have known a thing 
 about it if I had waited for him to tell me ; he is not 
 that sort of a fellow." 
 
 "Who did tell you then?" inquired Scott; for he 
 knew that his companion had not been within hearing 
 when he objected to the manner of Louis in ignoring 
 him. 
 
REVEALING THE MOMENTOUS SECRET 17T 
 
 " Captain Einggold," answered Felix quietly. 
 
 " The commander ! " exclaimed the captain. 
 
 " It was he who told me to speak to you about this 
 matter." 
 
 "Has it gone as far as that? " 
 
 "Louis felt very bad about it." 
 
 "I think I was the one to feel bad about it if any 
 one." 
 
 "He had felt obliged to act as he did without con- 
 sulting you ; and he believes in discipline clear up to 
 the handle : and in acting without your orders he felt 
 that you had good reason to complain." 
 
 " I thought if any one made any complaint to the 
 commander, I was the one to do so," said Scott, not 
 a little disturbed to find the affair had gone to the 
 highest authority. 
 
 " I asked you a question in the beginning which you 
 did not answer. Captain Scott," added Eelix, going 
 back to the point where he had begun. 
 
 " I considered the matter settled when Louis said 
 he was sorry he had ignored me, or something to that 
 effect, and I did not mean to say another word about 
 it," replied Scott, again disregarding his companion's 
 question, and finding that the matter had become 
 more serious than he had supposed, for in the exciting 
 events which had follow^ed he had forgotten all about 
 it. 
 
 " But you don't ansAver my question, Captain," per- 
 sisted Felix. " I am talking to you just now as the 
 representative of the commander and Louis both." 
 
178 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 '' Of course I can keep a secret ! " exclaimed Scott 
 rather petulantly. " But I think all of you are mak- 
 ing a very big thing of a very little affair." 
 
 " Not so little as you suppose, and you will say so 
 when you know more about it. ' Under the seal of 
 secrecy ! ' These are the commander's own words and 
 not mine. Will you put the seal on it, Captain ? " 
 
 " How shall I do it ? Must I borrow Morris's Bible 
 and swear to it ? " 
 
 " Not quite so solemnly as that. Do you promise 
 on your honor that you will not repeat anything I may 
 tell you to any person except the commander or 
 Louis, and that you will not let the secret get out 
 indirectly ? " 
 
 "All this I promise on my honor," replied Scott, 
 giving his hand to Felix. " Shake on it." 
 
 " That's enough," replied the Milesian, taking the 
 hand. " Now do you remember that Louis, Don, and 
 myself went ashore in the evening when we were at 
 Gallipoli ? " 
 
 "I remember all about it," answered Scott with 
 interest. 
 
 Then Felix told the whole story of the interview 
 between Ali-Noury Pacha and Mazagan in the cafe, so 
 that he was as thoroughly informed in regard to the 
 conspiracy of the " Mohammedan humbug " as the 
 others who were in possession of the secret. 
 
 " Though Morris is one of the big four, you are to 
 be particularly careful not to let him get a hint of the 
 plot," added Felix wlien he had tinished the long 
 narrative. 
 
REVEALING THE MOMENTOUS SECRET 179 
 
 " But I don't see the reason for all this secrecy," 
 added Scott. 
 
 "If Miss Woolridge knew about this conspiracy 
 she wonld not be likely to enjoy herself as we proceed 
 on the voyage. She is to be the first victim and Louis 
 the second." 
 
 " I don't think she would, or Mrs. Belgrave, or Mr. 
 and Mrs. Woolridge," replied the captain. 
 
 " They would all be miserable all the time, and per- 
 haps that would break up the voyage. The comman- 
 der would have told you about all this before the 
 excursion party left the ship if he had not believed 
 there Avas not one chance in a thousand that anything 
 he apprehended would come so soon. Lonis wished 
 me to tell you that the next time there was a row, 
 you could command the defence," said Felix, rising 
 from his seat to indicate that he had nothing more 
 to say. 
 
 "I shall apologize to Louis for anything I said," 
 added Scott. 
 
 " Don't you do it ; Louis will apologize to you after 
 he knows that you are posted. You can see now that 
 he ha.d to do as he did." 
 
 " I understand it perfectly now, though I supposed 
 he was only scared by the idea of Greek pirates. He 
 made a good defence," replied Scott. 
 
 " But the beauty of the thing was that no one but 
 Louis and myself knew what we were fighting for," 
 added Felix with a chuckle. 
 
 The breach was healed, and the Maud was proceed- 
 
180 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 ing on her voyage at her usual specie! of ten knots, and 
 the Guardian-Motlier had i)assed" lier. On board of 
 the ship the situation was more exciting, though the 
 action of the scene was confined to the cabin of the 
 commander. Captain Mazagan was conveyed from 
 the first cutter to No. 27, on the main deck forward, 
 which had been fitted up at first as an extra ice-house, 
 though it had never been used as such, and had been 
 turned into a state-room. 
 
 The partitions were very thick, and it answered 
 very well as a " brig," or prison. All the passengers 
 retired to the cabin, and most of them were so tired 
 that they were in their bertlis by nine o'clock. 
 
EXAMINATION OF CAPTAIN MAZAGAN 181 
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE EXAMINATION OF CAPTAIN MAZAGAN 
 
 In spite of the fact that Louis Belgrave was only 
 seventeen years okl, Captain Ringgold treated him 
 as though he were a man who had passed out of his 
 minority. The experience of his life had been, a 
 portion of it, of a severe character ; and he had been 
 compelled to light his way through it, sometimes 
 with no one to lean upon except Uncle Moses, for 
 his mother, though wholly devoted to him, was under 
 the influence of her second husband, whom she re- 
 pudiated when her son revealed his true character 
 to her. 
 
 This experience had contributed largely to mature 
 his mind. He had always been a hard student ; he 
 stood at the head of the academy at the time of his 
 graduation ; and this training had assisted in the 
 development of his mind. The commander had been 
 closely associated with him during the period of some 
 of his severest trials. Perhaps he knew him more 
 thoroughly than any other person did, not excepting 
 even Uncle Moses, his trustee, for he was a student 
 of human nature. The more he saw of him the 
 greater was his appreciation of him. 
 
182 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 As soon as the commander had discharged his 
 duties in getting the ship to sea after the stirring 
 events of the evening, and had given the course to the 
 officer of the deck, he went to his state-room, and sent 
 to the cabin for Louis, who had remained during the 
 evening with his mother. But she was not alarmed 
 at anything Avhich had occurred in the bay, and was 
 as quiet and self-possessed as any other of the passen- 
 gers. The treatment of Dr. Hawkes had produced a 
 wonderful effect upon her, for nervous diseases were 
 one of his specialties. The voyage had cured the 
 doctor, and the doctor had cured his patient, the sea 
 air and change of scene assisting him very materially. 
 
 ^^ Good evening, Sir Louis," said the commander 
 when the owner presented himself at the open door 
 of the cabin. 
 
 " Good evening, Captain Einggold ; though perhaps 
 I ought to call you Sir Eoyal, for you have been hav- 
 ing an adventure this evening," replied Louis, who 
 was never over-familiar with the commander. 
 
 "But I did not seek the adventure," laughed the 
 captain. 
 
 " And I have proved to you more than once that I 
 never sought any of the adventures into Avliich I have 
 fallen. I should have thought I was crazy, and called 
 in the surgeon to doctor my head, if I had sought such 
 an adventure as we have been having this evening. I 
 am not alone, the Big Four are not alone, in this affair, 
 for you had a hand in it," argued Louis. 
 
 " I ordered Mr. Shafter to stir up his fires as soon 
 
EXAMINATION OF CAPTAIN MAZAGAN 183 
 
 as I saw the bow of the felucca creeping out of that 
 cove ; for I was afraid the plot you had detailed to me 
 was about to burst on you like a shell with a five- 
 second fuse. But I must say that you managed the 
 defence with great skill, and with a prudence not to 
 be expected of a Sir Knight of your years ; and I only 
 regret that there should be any friction between you 
 and Captain Scott. That was only because I saw no 
 possible chance of your encountering the felucca in 
 these waters." 
 
 "I hope Captain Scott will be satisfied after he 
 understands the matter better." 
 
 '^ If he is not satisfied then I shall be inclined to 
 revoke his commission as captain." 
 
 " I sincerely trust that nothing of that kind will be 
 necessary, sir. Scott has absolutely amazed me by his 
 knowledge of navigation, and by his skill in handling 
 the Maud. I had much rather serve under him than 
 be captain myself," replied Louis quite warmly. 
 "Besides, Captain Scott did all I asked him to do, 
 and his feelings were hurt because I had acted with- 
 out orders and without his knowledge. I did not 
 blame him in the least for feeling that he had been 
 ignored, for it was true." 
 
 " I was a little afraid that you had started a boys^ 
 quarrel among you. But Felix has made it all right 
 by this time, and we will say no more about it. The 
 question just now is, What is to be done with Captain 
 Mazagan ? " replied the commander. " He is a Moor ; 
 and I understand that he is in command of a ship, and 
 
184 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOllS 
 
 has left her for a time to attend to the business of the 
 Pacha, to whom he must be under great obligations." 
 
 "It looks as though you had an elephant on your 
 hands. If you take the Turkish law to apply to him, 
 you will have to go back to Constantinople, with not 
 one chance in ten that anything will be done to the 
 pirate. Of course the Pacha will stand by him, and 
 doubtless he has influence at court. If Mazagan had 
 been permitted to capture Miss Blanche or myself, 
 you would have had a better chance to accomplish 
 something through the minister or the consul.'^ 
 
 '^ In any case the affair might break up our voyage, 
 or subject us to a long and vexatious delay. But per- 
 haps we can tell better what to do after we have seen 
 the prisoner," said the commander, as he passed the 
 word for Mr. Boulong. 
 
 The first officer was instructed to bring Captain 
 Mazagan to the cabin of the commander, and to place 
 four seaman at the door after he was admitted. 
 
 " The pirate is as plucky as a cat with kittens, and 
 he may get shot yet before we get through with him," 
 added the commander, as he took a revolver from one 
 of the drawers of his desk, and advised Louis to have 
 his own ready for use. 
 
 A seaman was placed at the door of the room in 
 which the prisoner was confined, and Mr. Boulong had 
 reported that he was quiet, and liad made no useless 
 resistance. The cabin of the commander Avas a large 
 apartment for ship-board. It had a door and two 
 windows on each side, and a third door opening into 
 
r 
 
 % 
 
 Good 
 
 EVENING, Captain Mazagan." Page 185. 
 
EXAMINATION OF CAPTAIN MAZAGAN 185 
 
 the pilot-house. In one corner was his great folding 
 desk, and in another his berth, with tapestry draperies 
 in front of it. There were the chart-case and a large 
 lounge on the side. The captain occupied a chair at 
 the desk, and Louis was seated at the side of the door 
 leading to the pilot-house. They were ready for the 
 prisoner. 
 
 Captain Mazagan was introduced in the cabin by 
 Mr. Boulong, and announced by name. He was a 
 good-looking man, with a fine physique ; and Louis 
 thought it was a pity that he was a pirate, either 
 really or constructively. He was cool and self-pos- 
 sessed ; and an observer would not have taken him for 
 a conspirator against the peace of a harmless maiden, 
 or the tool of a villain. 
 
 " Good evening, Captain Mazagan," said the com- 
 mander in a cheerful tone. " Take a chair, if you 
 please ; " and he placed one for him at the left of his 
 desk, and about three feet from it. 
 
 " Thank you. Captain Einggold," rej^lied the pris- 
 oner, as he seated himself rather aAvkwardly, for his 
 arms were still bound behind him. 
 
 "I see you know my name," added the captain, 
 rather puzzled by this circumstance. " May I ask 
 where you learned it ? " 
 
 " And I see that you know my name ; may I ask 
 where you learned it ? " returned the Moor very 
 promptly. 
 
 '^ I learned it in Gallipoli." 
 
 " And I learned yours in Constantinople," added 
 
186 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Captain Mazagan. " It is not everyday that a steam- 
 yacht as large as the Guardian-Mother goes there, and 
 she and your passengers excited a great deal of atten- 
 tion. While you were in the monastery of the Whirling 
 Dervishes, I asked your conductor your name ; and he 
 gave it to me, as well as the name of your steamer. 
 How did you happen to learn my name, Captain ? " 
 
 " One of my people who was on shore at Gallipoli 
 heard another person call you by your name, replied 
 the commander. " Now, Captain Mazagan, what have 
 you to say for yourself ? " 
 
 " I have to say that I have been subjected to a gross 
 outrage ; " and Louis saw his eyes snap, and he looked 
 ugly. ''You have fired three shots into my vessel, 
 and knocked away both of her rudders. Your men 
 committed an unprovoked outrage upon me, and made 
 me a prisoner by force and violence." 
 
 "You speak English exceedingly well. Captain 
 Mazagan, for a Moor," added the commander. 
 
 '' How do you know I am a Moor ? " 
 
 " Because you wear a Moorish costume." 
 
 "I might be dressed like a Frenchman without 
 being one. I am not the captain of that felucca, but 
 I chartered her for a pleasure trip. My ship is a 
 Morrocan steamer, and I left her at Gibraltar. I 
 have been a seaman all my life, and have made many 
 voyages to England, where 1 learned the language, 
 and to Havre and Bordeaux, where I learned French. 
 I suppose you speak French, Captain Einggold ? " 
 
 Louis thought he had led up to this last question 
 
EXAMINATION OF CAPTAIN MAZAGAN 187 
 
 for a purpose, and he possibly conjectured that the 
 commander had overheard him talking French with 
 the Pacha in Gallipoli. 
 
 ii Very little ; I cannot understand it when it is 
 spoken," answered Captain Ringgold. '' In regard to 
 the outrage you complain of. Captain Mazagan, what 
 was your purpose in attempting to board the little 
 steamer belonging to my ship ? " 
 
 " I saw that the Maud, as I read her name in front 
 of the pilot-house, had a very merry party on board," 
 replied the prisoner. "The ladies and gentlemen 
 were singing, and I was delighted with the music. I 
 wished to get nearer to her." 
 
 "Was that the reason why you threw a heave-line 
 over the cleat at her stern ? " demanded the comman- 
 der sternly. 
 
 "Precisely so; and as I can speak English, I was 
 desirous of speaking with the ladies and gentlemen, 
 for one who knows a foreign language is generally 
 proud of it, and wishes to use it when opportunity 
 presents," was the ready answer of the prisoner. 
 
 "The party on the Maud took you all for Greek 
 pirates." 
 
 "Greek pirates!" exclaimed Captain Mazagan. "I 
 doubt if there is a single pirate in The Archipelago." 
 
 "I do not believe you are a Greek pirate, whatever 
 Captain Polychronopulos and his men may be, for you 
 have another mission." 
 
 "I am not a missionary," added the prisoner with a 
 smile. 
 
188 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 "But you have a mission all the same, a very vile, 
 dishonorable, and wicked one. Why did you draw 
 your yataghan Avhen you were near the Maud, and 
 about to leaj) on board of her ? " 
 
 "One of the hands cut my line, and that provoked 
 me." 
 
 Which showed how much you were enjoying the 
 music, and how desirous you were to talk English 
 with the party." 
 
 "I have told you the simple unvarnished truth. 
 Captain Einggold, and I demand that you set me at 
 liberty." 
 
 "Your simple truth is varnished Avith lies enough 
 to keep you out of Paradise," added the commander. 
 
 " This is an insult ! " exclaimed the prisoner, spring- 
 ing out of his chair, which caused Captain Einggold 
 to put his hand on his revolver. " But you can insult 
 your victim as you please." 
 
 " Do you know Ali-Noury Pacha ? " asked the com- 
 mander sharply. 
 
 This question startled the pirate more than any- 
 thing that had been said, and he droi:»ped into his 
 chair again. But he was silent. 
 
 " As you don't answer, I will speak for you. You 
 do know him, and at the present time you are in his 
 emj)loy. You are engaged on the mission upon whicli 
 you were sent by him." 
 
 "It is false!" exclaimed the prisoner; but there was 
 not much vim in his denial. 
 
 " You were trying to take the young lady you are to 
 
EXAMINATION OF CAPTAIN MAZAGAN 189 
 
 secure for the Paclia out of the Maud when you were 
 endeavoring to board the little steamer. You boasted 
 to His Highness that you could capture her in the 
 streets of Athens or Syra. If you fail to obtain her, 
 you are to carry off tlie owner of this steamer. You 
 used the French language in maturing this conspiracy, 
 and I have it from one competent to judge that both 
 you and the Pacha spoke the language very well in- 
 deed." 
 
 The commander then asked him if he had any con- 
 fession to make or any plan to propose. He had 
 none, and was sent back to his prison, confounded by 
 what he had heard. 
 
190 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOBS 
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 AT ANCHOR OFF THE HOLY MOUXTAIN 
 
 If the capture of Captain Mazagan was a victory, 
 the examination of the prisoner was a greater one ; for 
 the former had not subdued him, and the latter had. 
 The revelation to him of the entire conspiracy be- 
 tween himself and the Pacha not only confounded 
 but overwhelmed him. Of course he wondered how 
 his captor had obtained such minute and accurate 
 information of the plot, and the mystery about it 
 rendered it all the more confusing. 
 
 He was too much perplexed by the situation to 
 reason calmly over it. He recalled the visit of a boat 
 to the Samothraki just after he parted with the 
 Pacha on shore at Gallipoli, containing a person who 
 proposed to purchase the felucca ; but this threw no 
 light on the mysterious knowledge of the commander. 
 It could be seen that the prisoner was utterly con- 
 founded by the interview in the cabin, and Mr. 
 Boulong reported to the captain that Mazagan seemed 
 to be a different man from what he had been wlien 
 taken from the brig. 
 
 "The pirate, for so I regard him in si)ite of his 
 resenting the a[)plicati()n of the word to him, is 
 
AT ANCHOR OFF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN 191 
 
 certainly overwhelmed by what lie has heard," said 
 Captain Ringgold, after the prisoner had been con- 
 ducted from his cabin. '^ Well, I think he has good 
 reason to be confounded and upset." 
 
 "Probably he supposed it was quite impossible that 
 any one in the cafe should understand him when he 
 spoke French," added Louis. 
 
 " Your knowledge of that language has proved to 
 be of immense benefit to us. Miss Blanche might 
 have been a captive in the hands of this reprobate by 
 this time if you had not obtained this information ; 
 and she and her parents are indebted to you in a 
 degree they cannot now understand," continued the 
 commander. 
 
 "Of course I am glad to have been of service to 
 them." 
 
 "But what to do with this man is still unset- 
 tled. If it was not for the fear that he would still 
 endeavor to carry out his share of the conspiracy, I 
 would set him ashore on some small island with a 
 breaker of water and something to eat." 
 
 "His Highness the Pacha must be somewhere in 
 this vicinity," suggested Louis, with a heavy gape, for 
 he had been on his feet eighteen hours, and he was 
 very tired. 
 
 " I have no doubt that the Fatime is somewhere in 
 The Archipelago, though the Pacha will not let her be 
 seen. But you are tired, Sir Louis, and you had bet- 
 ter turn in," replied the commander, as he rose from 
 his chair. " I may have an idea what to do with the 
 pirate after I have slept on it." 
 
192 THE YOUNG NAVtGATORS 
 
 In less than five minutes Louis was fast asleep in 
 his berth. Captain Ringgold was somewhat troubled 
 with the same complaint, for he indulged in a gape 
 when he was alone. But he stretched himself, and 
 then went out upon deck, where he observed the wind 
 and the weather, spoke to the officer of the watch, 
 and then returned to his room. He looked at the red 
 line drawn on the chart to mark the course, used his 
 dividers, and then lay down on the sofa with a 
 blanket over him. His conscience was clean, and he 
 was soon fast asleep. 
 
 At eight bells, or midnight, he woke, took another 
 turn on deck, observed the wind and the weather 
 again, and looked ahead for land ; but nothing w^as in 
 sight, and he went back to his couch. The Maud w^as 
 not half a cable's length astern of the ship, and all 
 seemed to be going well with her. The commander 
 had been a sailor the greater portion of his life ; and 
 though he had lived in luxury during the preceding 
 ten years, the habits of his maritime experience still 
 clung to him. One, two, or three bells did not wake 
 him; but at four bells his eyes were wide open 
 again. 
 
 The distance the steamers had to make w^as fifty- 
 nine and three fourths miles, and this was the time at 
 which he expected to make the land. Some people 
 can wake at a fixed hour, and the commander's habits 
 on board ship had taught him to do so. He sprang 
 from his lounge, and hastened out of tlie room to the 
 deck. He could see nothing at first, and he went aft 
 
AT ANCIIUU OFF TUF HOLY MOUNTAIN 198 
 
 to take a look at the Maud, which appeared to be all 
 right. 
 
 " Land, ho ! " shouted the lookout ou the top-gallant 
 forecastle. 
 
 ^' Where away ? " demanded Mr. Gaskette from the 
 window of the pilot-house. " Sharp on the starboard 
 bow, and away up in the air," returned the lookout. 
 
 " Land reported on the starboard bow, sir," said the 
 second officer, as the commander came in. " Away 
 up in the air, the man says." 
 
 " All right, Mr. Gaskette ; that is just where it 
 ought to be," replied Captain Ringgold. 
 
 Half an hour later the land on the shore could be 
 discerned, and the steamer was within less than half 
 a mile of it. She continued on her course, leaving the 
 shore on the starboard hand till she was not more than 
 a couple of cables' length of the laud. 
 
 " Shall I send a man to the fore chains to heave the 
 lead ? " asked the officer of the watch, who thought 
 the commander Avas " cutting it very close." 
 
 " Quite unnecessary, Mr. Gaskette," replied the 
 captain with a smile. "The water is over six hun- 
 dred feet deep along here." 
 
 " Whew ! " whistled the second officer. 
 
 " But you may get ready to let go the anchor in 
 nine fathoms," added the commander. "King the 
 speed bell." 
 
 The ship went another half mile, when the gong 
 was sounded, and the screw stopped. The anchor was 
 let go, and the Maud came alongside. No communi- 
 
194 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 cation was had with her ; for Cai)tain Scott had plenty 
 of help, and he did not care to w^ake his sleeping com- 
 panions. An anchor watch was set on board of the 
 ship. Mr. Gaskette reported to the captain that the 
 prisoner in No. 27 had been qniet, for a seaman was 
 kept at the door all night. Everything was still as 
 the gloomy-looking shore, and very soon all but those 
 on duty were fast asleep. 
 
 In the state cabin no bell was rung till half past 
 eight, for the word had been passed to Mr. Sage to 
 serve breakfast at nine o'clock, so that the wearied 
 passengers could sleep out the morning after the 
 fatigues of the day before. Louis did not show him- 
 self till after the bell had sounded ; but he was well 
 rested, and felt like a new man. The entire party 
 were in excellent spirits, though not one of them had 
 been on deck. On the Maud the same order of things 
 had prevailed, and the three of the Big Four who had 
 slept on board of her came to the great cabin to 
 breakfast. 
 
 Somewhat to the surprise of the commander no 
 one asked any questions about where they w^ere, 
 though they knew that the ship had come to anchor. 
 The affair of the evening before was the exciting 
 topic of conversation, and the ladies and gentlemen 
 manifested more interest in the prisoner who had 
 been captured than in anything else. They asked a 
 great many questions in regard to him, and some of 
 them could not be answered without hinting at the 
 important secret. 
 
AT ANCHOR OFF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN 195 
 
 The commander stated tlie facts in regard to his 
 imprisonment in the state room, which he called the 
 " brig," a term he was asked to explain. He related 
 the story which Mazagan had told to explain his con- 
 duct ; and the ladies were disposed to accept it, and 
 to manifest some sympathy for the prisoner. Captain 
 Ringgold checked this indication by insisting that 
 Mazagan was a pirate, and worse than that. 
 
 But he kept the secret, and no one had the remo- 
 test suspicion that Miss Blanche had been in especial 
 peril. He was confident that if the party had been 
 aware of the truth, the Woolridges and Mrs. Bel- 
 grave would have insisted upon an ocean between 
 them and the peril that menaced the daughter and 
 the son. " Forewarned, forearmed," was the captain's 
 idea; and he was absolutely confident that he could 
 protect all his passengers, though the peril might 
 compel him to abbreviate the voyage in this part of 
 the world. 
 
 As soon as the party rose from the table they pre- 
 pared to go on deck, for the commander had assured 
 them that it was one of the most delightful days 
 they had ever known. Captain Scott called Louis 
 into his state-room and apologized to him for what he 
 called his " crankiness " the evening before, 
 
 " I don't accept your apology, Captain Scott ; for 
 none is due, and I don't think you ought to have 
 made any," replied Louis, taking his hand. " I was 
 apparently, though not really, at fault, and I apolo- 
 gized to you at the time. You understand the matter 
 
196 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 now; and Captain Ringgold takes all the blame for 
 the little breeze upon himstlf. He took the most 
 extraordinary precautions to protect those who were 
 in possible peril; but he believed all the time that 
 his precautions were unnecessary yet awhile." 
 
 " You managed the affair exceedingly well ; and I 
 am afraid if I had been in command of the party for 
 the defence some one would have been shot/' added 
 Scott. 
 
 " Let us say no more about it, Captain Scott. We 
 understand each other now perfectly, and that state 
 of things cannot come about again," said Louis. 
 " Captain Ringgold thought at first it was a boys' ' 
 quarrel ; but we will make sure that notliing of that 
 sort ever comes about among us. Now let us go on 
 deck and see what is to be seen." 
 
 " We will never quarrel," replied Scott as he took 
 the hand of Louis again. 
 
 The passengers were just ascending the grand stair- 
 case, and the Big Four followed them. The air was 
 soft and sweet, for it came off the shore laden with 
 the perfume of flowers and fruits. Passing through 
 the boudoir they ascended to the upper deck, where 
 the whole view broke upon them at once. 
 
 " Why, that is a high mountain ! " exclaimed Mrs. 
 Belgrave, as she and all the others gazed at the white 
 summit of the elevation which seemed to pierce the 
 azure of the clear sky; and none of them had ever 
 seen a clearer. 
 
 " What mountain is that ? " asked eoveral at once. 
 
AT ANCHOR OFF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN 197 
 
 ^^ Mount Atlios," replied the commanderj who ap- 
 peared to be the oidy person who coukl answer the 
 question. 
 
 " I wish I were on the top of it ! " exclaimed Miss 
 Blanche. 
 
 " You would find it pretty cold up there, warm and 
 pleasant as it is here. You perceive that we are close 
 to the shore, and at the end of a peninsula. The 
 mainland to the north of us, though you cannot see it, 
 is Macedonia. Don't be alarmed: I am not going to 
 tell you all about Alexander the Great, for you can 
 read his life in any of the encylopedias in the library. 
 South of that province, for it is subject to Turkey, is 
 the large peninsula of Chalcidice ; and from this, 
 reaching to the south-east, are three other smaller 
 peninsulas." 
 
 " Lots of peninsulas,'^ added Mrs. Belgrave. 
 
 "We are at anchor off the most eastern of them, 
 called Athos, the ancient Acte. The Italians call it 
 Monte Santo, in English, Holy Mountain. We are in 
 the waters of the Gulf of Monte Sante, the name on 
 on the chart and most maps. You can see the land 
 across this gulf, forming the middle peninsula; and 
 beyond that is the Gulf of Cassandra, named after a 
 son of Alexander the Great. Crossing the third neck 
 of land, you would come to the Gulf of Salonica." 
 
 '^ That is a Scripture name," suggested Mrs. Bel- 
 grave. 
 
 " It is ; and the city of Salonica is the second city 
 in commercial importance in the Ottoman Empire. 
 
198 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 It was to the Christians of this city that Paul sent 
 the two epistles to the Thessalonians. Cicero lied 
 to this place when he escaped from the Catiline con- 
 spiracy in Kome." 
 
 ^' This seems to be a region of conspiracies," said 
 Louis significantly. 
 
 '' You are right," said the captain, taking in the 
 allusion. " The mountain you see before you is 
 6349 feet high. This is a very stormy sea just here 
 at times ; but the professor has a word to say about 
 that, and I will give Avay to him." 
 
 The learned gentleman rose from his chair. 
 
THE MONASTERIES OF MOUNT ATHOS 199 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 THE MONASTERIES OF MOUNT ATHOS 
 
 "The commander could tell you better about the 
 stormy weather off Cape Santo than I could, and 
 I shall not say much about that," said the pro- 
 fessor, as he rose from his chair. " It is a very 
 gentle breeze we have here now; but the immense* 
 fleet of Xerxes encountered a terrible storm, as it was 
 to them, but probably the Guardian-Mother would 
 not mind it much. The Persian fleet was nearly 
 destroyed by it ; and to guard against such a disaster 
 in the future, Xerxes, who was still in his own domin- 
 ion, making his j)i'eparations to conquer Greece, or- 
 dered a canal to be dug across this peninsula, near 
 its isthmus, where the land was low and not very 
 wide. 
 
 '^ It was completed in due time ; and though its 
 existence has been doubted by some, the remains of 
 it are still to be seen, but much of it is entirely 
 filled up. It was wide enough for two of the king's 
 galleys, moved by long oars, to pass each other. It 
 was a stupendous work. It was not intended simply 
 for the passage of the fleet, but was to be used in 
 order to supply the army in Greece with provisions, 
 
200 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 and for commercial purposes. Our captain would not 
 have needed any canal ; but the ships of the ancients 
 were small affairs compared with those of modern 
 times ; in fact, they were mere boats." 
 
 ^' When shall we go on shore here, Captain Eing- 
 gold ? " inquired Mrs. Woolridge. 
 
 " Not at all, madam, I am sorry to say," replied the 
 commander, with a smile which seemed to mean 
 something, for all the party looked at him. 
 
 " Not at all ! " exclaimed Mrs. Belgrave. " What 
 did we come here for ? " 
 
 " To see the country. There is only one mountain 
 east of the Eockies in the United States which is as 
 high as Mount Athos, — Mount Mitchell. It is more 
 than a hundred feet higher than Mount Washington." 
 
 " But why can't we go on shore here ? " asked the 
 lady. 
 
 " Because no woman is allowed to land here ; and 
 the gentlemen are too gallant to go on shore without 
 them," replied the commander, to the great astonish- 
 ment of the party. '' The scenery here is decidedly 
 picturesque, and the white summit of the mountain, 
 is peculiar." 
 
 " But why can no woman land here ? " persisted 
 Mrs. Belgrave. 
 
 "We have not touched the point which gives Mount 
 Athos and this peninsula their celebrity. I am 
 going to tell you something about it, and I think what 
 I say will answer your question, madam. There are 
 not less than twenty monasteries, by which is gener- 
 
THE MONASTERIES OF MOUNT ATHOS 201 
 
 ally meant religious houses for men, wliile convents 
 are those devoted to the use of females. Most of 
 them were founded at the date of the Byzantine 
 Empire, which existed from about four hundred years 
 before the birth of Christ. 
 
 " The religion here is that of the Orthodox Greek 
 Church, as it is officially styled ; and each of the coun- 
 tries professing this faith has a monastery here. 
 There were several towns on the peninsula in ancient 
 times, but hardly a vestige of them remains. Helena, 
 the mother of Constantine the Great, is said to have 
 established the tirst convent here, and various nations 
 built churches and monasteries on this spot. Many 
 royal personages have retired to these religious houses 
 to secure repose in solitude away from the turmoil of 
 the world. 
 
 " Mohammed II. protected them, and other sultans 
 have followed his example. The government of the 
 country is vested in the Holy Synod, consisting of 
 one representative from each monastery, or twenty in 
 all. Besides, there are four presidents with Greek 
 names who carry on the government. They are taken 
 from four different houses each year, and the honor is 
 passed around so that each one has a president once 
 in five years. One of the four becomes the chief, and 
 is called ''The First Man of Athos," which the 
 professor will translate into Greek if you insist 
 upon it." 
 
 " He is the biggest toad in the puddle, and that is 
 enough," added Mrs. Blossom. 
 
202 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 "But toads don't live in puddles," argued the 
 commander. 
 
 " That is the way the saying goes, at any rate," 
 replied the lady. 
 
 " Make it frogs, for the poor toads would drown in 
 a puddle. The community pays the Turkish govern- 
 ment a tribute variously stated at from eight to six- 
 teen thousand dollars in place of all taxes. They are 
 permitted to keep a guard of fifty Christian soldiers. 
 The only Mohammedan allowed to reside on the 
 peninsula is a Turkish officer, who is the only medium 
 of communication between the monks and the Turk- 
 ish authorities. This gentleman has no harem, for he 
 is not allowed to have a woman in his house. 
 
 " No female is permitted on this neck of land, and 
 it must be an intolerable place of residence. Even 
 female animals are excluded, for they make no excep- 
 tion to the rule. In ten of the monasteries the 
 inmates live in common on the same fare ; in the 
 other ten the devotees may supplement the bill of fare 
 with what they can buy outside. There is one town, 
 the seat of the monastic government, which has bazaars 
 where food and other articles can be bought. But 
 you cannot buy hens, only roosters ; an inhabitant 
 may keep a cat, a farmer a horse, but neither must be 
 of the feminine gender." 
 
 " What a queer place that must be to live ! " ex- 
 claimed Mrs. Blossom. 
 
 " Who in the world darns the men's stockings for 
 them?" 
 
THE MONASTERIES OE MOUNT ATHOS 203 
 
 ''They must do it themselves, as I have sometimes 
 been obliged to do, being a bachelor," said the cap- 
 tain with a glance at the mother of the owner. 
 
 "The more shame for you !" laughed Mrs. Blossom. 
 
 " The monks are very hospitable after the manner 
 of those of St. Bernard and some others," continued 
 the commander, not deeming it prudent to reply to 
 the lady's last remark. " They entertain you, but 
 expect a present to the institution, and the laymen 
 who wait on you are as exacting for their tips as a New 
 York waiter. They make up the bed for you on the 
 divan where you sat at dinner ; and if you are a guest 
 you would wish the exclusion of females were carried 
 out with even more severity, for certain red-jacketed 
 insects are said to be very annoying to one who tries 
 to sleep within these sacred precincts." 
 
 "And we must not go on shore to see these strange 
 people ? " asked Mrs. Woolridge. 
 
 "Any of the gentlemen can land, and they may 
 have the barge or the Maud for this purpose ; but no 
 feminine creature, not even the cabin cat, can do so," 
 replied the commander. " I heard of some English 
 people with ladies among them, who conveyed two of 
 the latter- to the land, and they put their dainty feet 
 on Mount Athos ; but it appears to have been a mere 
 act of bravado, just as some small boys will do a thing 
 for no earthly reason except that it is forbidden to do 
 it. But there can be no satisfaction in merely put- 
 ting your foot on the shore, ladies ; for you can see 
 nothing not to be viewed from the deck of the ship." 
 
204 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " I'm sure I don't want to go among such barbarous 
 people ! " protested Mrs. Blossom warmly. 
 
 "Tliey are not barbarous, but eminently religious 
 people in their own way of thinking, who separate 
 themselves from the world in order to be away from 
 its temptations, and to devote themselves entirely 
 to the service of God," added the commander. 
 
 "That is not my idea of a religious life," said Mrs. 
 Belgrave. 
 
 " It is not mine ; but T respect people who are will- 
 ing to sacrifice so much for their religion. It is said 
 that some ancient manuscripts of great value have 
 been found in some of these monasteries. How is 
 that, Professor Giroud ? " 
 
 " I think it is true ; but the libraries at the present 
 time amount to nothing of any consequence. One 
 visitor found the books stacked up in the closets," 
 replied the professor. " This is not a seat of learning 
 in modern times, whatever it may have been two 
 thousand years ago." 
 
 '' Are w^e to visit all the islands in The Archipelago, 
 Captain Einggold ? " inquired Mr. Woolridge. 
 
 " Life would be too short for that, though I will go 
 to as many of them as the party desire," answered the 
 commander. " Tliis peninsula, in addition to the 
 twenty monasteries, has chapels, huts, caves, and 
 other places of resort, where hermits and devotees live 
 all by themselves ; for the very air is holy to these peo- 
 ple. As you can see nothing more from this anchorage, 
 I propose to get under way. We will stand up the 
 
THE MONASTERIES OP MOUNT ATHOS 205 
 
 gulf two or three miles before we lay our course to 
 the southward.'' 
 
 " Good ! " ejaculated Mr. Woolridge, who had for- 
 merly been a sporting man ; and he was evidently 
 beginning to be bored with the classics and monas- 
 teries, though Greek history had some interest to him. 
 "Our life on board of the steamer is certainly the 
 pleasantest in the world, and as domestic as home 
 could be ; but I am no scholar, and I can't take in all 
 that interests some of the party." 
 
 " That is frank, Mr. Woolridge, and I am glad to 
 have you express your mind freely," said the com- 
 mander. "We may not all agree in regard to our 
 voyage ; but we can at least agree to disagree." 
 
 The "Big Four," including Louis this time, re- 
 turned to the Maud. The prisoner on the main deck 
 had given no trouble at all, for he had no chance to 
 make any resistance. His breakfast had been served 
 to him in his room, and the cords that bound him had 
 been removed. The commander instructed Captain 
 Scott in regard to the course and for emergencies. 
 The steamers were soon under way, and standing up 
 the Gulf of Monte Santo, which is only fifteen miles 
 wide. 
 
 The scenery was generally rugged, and the party 
 were interested in the little chapels, oratories, and 
 huts, which were sometimes perched on peaks, over- 
 hanging cliffs, and even in the trees. But the voy- 
 agers had soon seen enough of them, and the prows of 
 the steamers were headed out of the bay. They 
 
206 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 passed close to the mountain, for the water is very 
 deep in all parts of this region. 
 
 " South, lialf east," said the commander to the officer 
 of the deck. 
 
 Everything proceeded as usual on board of both 
 steamers. Lunch was served at the accustomed hour ; 
 and as it was an exceedingly quiet time, the party were 
 not annoyed by any such bad weather as scattered 
 and partly destroyed the fleet of King Xerxes. As the 
 Guardian-Mother w^ent away from the land, Captain 
 Mazagan was escorted to the upper deck, wdiere an 
 armchair was given him forward. He w^as silent and 
 subdued; but he w^as attended by a seaman with a 
 repeating rifle in his hands, and there w^as no possible 
 chance to escape. 
 
 Some islands were seen in the distance, and they 
 passed quite near a considerable group of small ones. 
 Late in the afternoon the lookout announced land on 
 the starboard bow. It was the island of Skyro, six- 
 teen miles long, and around it are a number of smaller 
 ones. 
 
 " No end of stories could be told about Skyros," said 
 the professor as soon as the commander had told them 
 the name. 
 
 " But they are all fish stories, I suppose," suggested 
 Mrs. Blossom. 
 
 " They are about all mythological," added the pro- 
 fessor. '^ Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles, was brought 
 up on the large island, and from here Ulysses took him 
 to the Trojan war. You knoAV that Theseus " — 
 
THE MONASTERIES OF MOUNT ATHOS 207 
 
 " I never was introduced to liini," interposed Mr. 
 Woolridge, who had no taste for niythoh)gy. 
 
 " Then I will tell you about him," continued the 
 professor pleasantly. " Theseus was the son of 
 ^geus, the King of Athens. Next to Hercules, 
 he was the most celebrated hero of antiquity. He 
 vanquished Centaurs, killed the Minotaur, and made 
 his way out of the labyrinth of Crete, following a 
 thread given him by Ariadne." 
 
 " Did he swallow his own head ? " asked the ex- 
 sportsman. 
 
 " No ; but he practically swallowed the heads of 
 others." 
 
 " Were the Centaurs cow-boys ? " asked Mrs. 
 Blossom. 
 
 " Eather they were horse-boys ? " answered the pro- 
 fessor quietly. " The Centaurs were not such as your 
 pastoral hero, Davy Crockett, described himself, half 
 horse and half alligator, but half horse and half man." 
 
 " I have seen him in the almanac," said Mrs. 
 Blossom. 
 
 At this moment the party were disturbed by the 
 approach of Captain Mazagan, closely followed by 
 the sentinel. 
 
208 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTEE XXIV 
 
 APPROACHIXG THE DORO CHAXXEL 
 
 Captain Mazagax did not look like a very danger- 
 ous man as he approached the cabin passengers on the 
 after part of the promenade deck ; for though he still 
 wore his depressed and subdued expression, there was 
 something like a smile on his face. The commander 
 hastened to intercept him. 
 
 " Will you permit me to sit at a proper distance 
 from this goodly company, Captain Einggold, and 
 listen to the instruction given to them ? " the prisoner 
 asked. ^^ I heard some of it as I was walking, and I 
 am interested in the conversation. I do not ask to 
 join the party, and I will be perfectly silent." 
 
 The commander hesitated ; but he could not suggest 
 any motive the pirate had, and he asked the party if 
 there was any objection to the request. None was 
 offered, and the permission was granted, but Spinner 
 his guard was ordered to watch him closely. 
 
 " The Centaur you have seen -in the almanac with a 
 bow and arrow is called the archer, and is a sign of 
 the zodiac, Sagittarius. Don't ask me what the zodiac 
 is, madam, for it would take all tlie rest of the day to 
 explain it," laughed the instructor. "A nos nwufons." 
 
APPROACHING THE DOllO CHANNEL 209 
 
 "Which means 'to our peanuts' again," added the 
 commander. " Theseus was the particular peanut you 
 were cracking, Professor." 
 
 " Thank you, Captain. Theseus conquered the 
 Centaurs, who lived in Thessaly, which is the part of 
 Greece you could see to the north-west of us, if you 
 could see any land in that direction. The Minotaur 
 which Theseus sIcav was a monster with the head of a 
 bull and the body of a man. He was a worse cannibal 
 than any South-Sea islanders ; for he fed upon young 
 men and maidens, and Athens had to supply him with 
 his bill of fare. 
 
 "When a fellow undertook to play a trick upon 
 Buffon, the naturalist, putting on hoofs and a pair of 
 horns, pretending to be the satanic gentleman who 
 wears these appendages, the savant objected, as the 
 trickster proposed to eat him, saying : ' Herbivo- 
 rous, not carnivorous.' The Minotaur had a bovine 
 head, and was herbivorous so far, and young men and 
 maidens were not his proper diet. I beg Mrs. Blos- 
 som not to accept this story literally, for there is a 
 scientific objection to it," said Dr. Hawkes. 
 
 " I don't accept it at all," pouted the lady. 
 
 " I tell the story as it is, and it is not for me to rec- 
 oncile it to science. The Minotaur was shut up in the 
 Cretan labyrinth, a maze from which there was no 
 escape, constructed by Daedalus, the most ingenious 
 artist of Athens. The young men and maidens were 
 selected by lot to feed the monster, and sent to Crete, 
 now Candia, the largest island in these parts, as the 
 
210 THE V()UN(J NAVIGATORS 
 
 lood ol" ilic- Minoi.aiir. 'I'Ii('S(mis bc^j^n-d to bo oik* oi" 
 tliciii, ilioii^li liis InUici' pi'otcsU'd, iiiid was jxu-iuiilcd 
 to be one. ol' tli(; victims. 
 
 " Wlicii hc! arrived, Ai*i;i(lii(', the d;i,ii^dit,('r of Minos, 
 tli<; kiii}^- of the isbiixl, fell ill love with liiiii and as- 
 sisted liiiii ill his mission, wliidi was nothing l(;ss than 
 to shiy tlic monster; and lie accom j)lislied liis purposes 
 Ariadne liad ^iveii him a tJirca.d by loHowing wliicth 
 he got out ol the laJiyrintJi, as w(dl as tin; swoi-d with 
 wliieh he killed the Minotajir. 'I'heseiis liad ])i'omis(;d 
 to marry lier, and slu; em])ark(!d with liim in his ves- 
 S(d with the iiitcnded viclims he had saxcd. On tin* 
 way they stopped at Naxos, an island to the s(juth-east 
 of us. The hero was not true to his ]H'omise, but (bv 
 sertcul tilt' devoted maiden while she was asleej». 
 
 " In th(! Vatiean at Konie, tJx're is a, beautiful pie(re 
 of seul])tiire whi(di i-eprcsents iJiis event. The faith- 
 loss swain oxeused liims(dl" on the ])lea that Mincu'va 
 had instructed him t-o do so. The vesscd of T]i(!seus 
 usually had black sails. His father, the king, w.'is 
 iiatui-ally very anxious about his son when he departed 
 on his peiilous mission ; and the young man had j)rom- 
 ise(l to s(!t white sails on his return ii' ho was succesH- 
 ful, ])ut Ik; forgot t,o do so a,s he; approaclied the coast. 
 
 " yi^]gous, failing to see the white; sails, b(dieving his 
 son had ])erislie(l, coumiitteil suicide; and thus tin; re- 
 turned hero be(;aiii(; the king of Athens. In that day as 
 in this there were factions, and 'I'hesus was the intended 
 victim of a, jdot ; but, he escajM'd to this island of Skyro. 
 Lycomeih'S, the king, was treacherous to liim, and 
 
APPROACH IN(; THI<] DOKO (IffANNIOL '^11 
 
 caused liiin U) \)r. hurled IVom one oj' jlic |iio|, (dil'fs 
 you S('(! iulo llic s(!;l, and Ik; ixn-islied. His Ixxly w;is 
 afterwards conveyed to Atliens lor hurial, and the; 
 temple of the Tlieseuni was erectcMl in liis lionoi-. 
 Souk; of it still remains, and you may sec; it. I liojx; 
 Mrs. ]>loss()ni will not he too deeply affe(;ted ovei' tin; 
 fate of the hero, for the story is |)iir(; lietion." 
 
 "Not a bit affected, sir, for Ik; was faithh^ss to the 
 girl who loved him and helped him kill the; — the " — 
 "The (fritter," su<4,<^-est(;(l Uncle Moses. 
 "The critter, wha,t(;ver he was," added the la.dy. 
 " l>ut I hav(; read tlia,t the Minota,ur had a ma,n's 
 head and a hull's body," said tlif' worthy lawyer, 
 chuckling as usual. 
 
 "It is stated both ways," icplicd the; professor. 
 " As you Americans say, ' Vou pays your mon(;y and 
 takes your choice.' " 
 
 "Then wc; cannot deicrmiiK; ac(Mirately whethei' the 
 monster was carnivorofjs or herbivorous," laughed the 
 surgeon. 
 
 "I don't ])eliev(; there ever was any such beast," 
 said Mrs. IJlossom. 
 
 "I think we all share; tin; doubt, ma,dam." 
 "I am sorry to troubh; you, (Japtain Mazagan," saJd 
 Captain llinggold, aj)proaching the prisoner, " for 1 
 fe(;l ojjliged to ask you to retii-e to your stat<;-room, 
 for the conv(;i-sation is linished for the present." 
 
 "(Certainly, Ca})tain, if you so desire," r(;[)lied Ik;; 
 and he went forward followed by S])inncr the 
 sentinel. 
 
212 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " AVhy do you send liim away, Captain ? " asked 
 Mrs. Belgrave. 
 
 " Because we are getting pretty close to the shore. 
 The land ahead of us is Point Lithari ; and beyond 
 this is Trebouki l>ay, where I intend to come to 
 anchor for the night," answered the commander. 
 
 " But can't you sail here in the night? " 
 
 ^' Just as well as in the day ; but you wished to see 
 the shores of the islands as we pass by them ; and we 
 have only about five hours run to the Doro Channel." 
 
 " I don't know what that is." 
 
 " We came through it on our way to Constantinople. 
 Besides, I do not wish to work the boys too hard ; for 
 they are keeping watch all the time, and would have 
 to be up half the night, each of them, if we continued 
 on our course." 
 
 Within an hour the anchor was let go at the bay in 
 the south of the island, and the Maud came alongside 
 as usual. The ''Big Four" ascended the gangway, 
 and the two who had mothers received an affectionate 
 embrace, though they had been separated only eight 
 hours. There was a sing in the evening, and the 
 boys slept in their state-rooms. lU-eakfast was served 
 at the usual hour the next morning, and by eight 
 o'clock the steamers were under way again. 
 
 " No one has expressed a desire to explore the 
 eastern part of The Archipelago, where there are 
 many islands," said tlie captain when the party were 
 seated on the upper deck as usual. 
 
 " I don't believe we want to see them," replied ^Fr. 
 
A.PPROACHING THE DORO CHANNEL 213 
 
 Woolridge, with a bored look. " We have had plenty 
 of good specimens of these islands." 
 
 " I don't think it would pay to visit them," added 
 Captain Ringgold. ^' We have more wonderful sights 
 ahead of us." 
 
 " But what islands are there over there ? " asked 
 Mrs. Belgrave. 
 
 " One of the largest is Mytilene, as it is called now 
 after its principal city, though the proper name is 
 Lesbos. It is close to the shore of Asia Minor. It is 
 mentioned in the twentieth chapter of the Acts, where 
 Paul stopped over night there. This place is still a 
 thriving city. ' And we sailed thence, and came the 
 next day over against Chios,' the record continues. 
 This island is about forty miles south of Mytilene, and 
 its other name is Scio. The next day Paul went to 
 Samos, which is an island near the mainland, about 
 thirty-five miles south-east of Chios. We might fol- 
 low the apostle in his voyaging if we had a map of 
 the locality. 
 
 " The most noted island in this connection is Pat- 
 mos, a very rocky island south-west of Samos, and 
 twenty-five miles from it, about ten miles long and 
 five wide. It was once used as a convict colony by 
 the Romans. It was a place of call for vessels going 
 from Ephesus to Rome. It is said that John wrote 
 the Revelation here while he was a prisoner for 
 preaching the gospel. On a height near the principal 
 town is the Monastery of St. John the Divine. Half 
 way up this hill is a cave where it is said that the 
 Apostle received the Revelation. 
 
214 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 "Ehodes and Crete are also mentioned in the 
 Scripture. The former is of little importance now, 
 for it has fallen into the decay and neglect of the 
 ages. Many of us remember it principally on account 
 of the Colossus, a gigantic statue of Helios, the god of 
 the Khodians, and typified the sun. Most of us have 
 seen jjictures of this figure straddling across the en- 
 trance to the port, with ships under full sail, passing 
 between the legs. This no longer exists there. Crete, 
 or Candia, is the great Turkish island south of all the 
 others, where there has been an attempt at a revolu- 
 tion within a few years, though it was not a success. 
 I believe I have mentioned all the islands you are not 
 to see." 
 
 "That is interesting," added Mrs. Blossom. "You 
 tell us about Gospel heroes instead of those of 
 fiction." 
 
 "But I like the mythological stories ; and I used to 
 be taught in my school that there was a meaning 
 under them," added Mrs. Belgrave. 
 
 " But such beasts as that bull-head, or man-head, 
 whichever it was, look silly to me ; and I would as 
 lief hear about Jack the Giant-Killer, and other fel- 
 lows like him. I wish now we had gone to Patmos, 
 for I should like to be once where St. Paul had been," 
 said Mrs. Blossom. 
 
 " You are just there now, madam," interposed the 
 professor. " He sailed all through these Avaters, and 
 went to Rome and Athens, as you must be aware if 
 you remember your Scripture. The Epistles to the 
 
APPROACHING THE DORO CHANNEL 215 
 
 Thessalonians and to the Corinthians were addressed 
 to his people in Greece." 
 
 " I did not think of it till the captain spoke of 
 him." 
 
 ^' When you go to Rome you will visit the Church 
 of St. Paul without the Walls. It contains the block 
 of marble upon which he is said to have been be- 
 headed, antl the three fountains which sprang from 
 the earth wherever the head struck the ground in the 
 three bounds it made after it had been cut off/' the 
 professor explained. 
 
 " Do you believe that ? " asked the incredulous 
 lady rather sharply. 
 
 " Whether I believe it or not, the story is not myth- 
 ological; and if you think it is any truer than the 
 bull-headed man, or the man-headed bull, you are 
 entitled to your own opinion, and I shall respect your 
 belief." 
 
 ''I think we had better change the subject," said the 
 commander with a laugh, for he thought the argu- 
 ment was becoming slightly warm between the par- 
 ties, " The land on our starboard hand is the island 
 of Euboea. When I was a school-boy it was called 
 Negropont, and is still called so in Italian. It is very 
 nearly one hundred miles long, and varies in width 
 from four to thirty miles. It is separated from the 
 mainland of Greece by the strait of Euripiis, which 
 narrows to a width in one place of one hundred and 
 twenty feet, where it is crossed by a bridge supported 
 by a rock in the middle. You can see Mount Delphi 
 
216 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 now, though it is nearly fifty miles distant, for it is 
 five thousand seven hundred and twenty-five feet high. 
 
 '' This island was once regarded as one of the most 
 important possessions of Venice Avhen it was a power- 
 ful and prosperous republic. Displayed at the present 
 time in the Church of St. Mark in that cit}^ is the 
 standard of the kingdom of ISTegropont. It was con- 
 quered by Mohammed II., and was then under the 
 immediate rule of the Capudan Pacha, or Lord High 
 Admiral of the Turkish navy. A few Mohammedan 
 families now reside in Chalcis, the principal city, and 
 all the mosques but one have been changed into Chris- 
 tian churches. A great deal might be said about this 
 island ; but I have not time to say it, for we have 
 come to the Doro Channel, though Euboea still re- 
 mains on your right." 
 
 The steamers entered the channel off Cape Fassa. 
 
217 
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 
 "where burning SAPPHO LOVED AND SUNG " 
 
 It may be thought that, as the "Big Four" were on 
 board of the Maud during the time the commander 
 and the professor were giving their historical, geo- 
 graphical, and mythological lessons, they were left in 
 ignorance of the information conveyed to the older 
 members of the party. But the captain and the pro- 
 fessor had carefully drawn up the course of instruction 
 for them, and all the requisite books were on board 
 for their use. Scott had the " Sailing Directions " 
 that go with the charts of these waters, containing a 
 description of every island. 
 
 A full set of encyclopaedias, and many other books 
 containing all the information imparted on board of 
 the ship, had been placed in a closet in the cabin. 
 The captain of the Maud had the descriptive part of 
 the lessons in his care ; and perhaps he studied his 
 books more diligently than ever before, and Louis 
 attended to the classical portion. But all these would 
 have been practically useless to them if they had been 
 obliged to steer and keep the lookout; and for this 
 reason Captain Ringgold had put two able seamen 
 on board of the Maud, who steered the little 
 
218 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 steamer while the young men attended to their 
 studies. 
 
 Being ^' on the spot/' they were interested in look- 
 ing up the history of the islands they passed ; and 
 seated in the standing-room, Scott or Louis read from 
 the books of the library what they contained in regard 
 to them. Even Felix became not a little absorbed in 
 these studies ; and Scott was a very diligent student, 
 though he did not neglect his practical navigation. 
 He kept the run of the course, and explained the 
 charts to his companions. Nothing material was lost 
 by their non-attendance at the lectures of the captain 
 and the professor, and something was gained in the 
 added interest of the scholars ; for each was required 
 to contribute his share to the common stock of 
 knowledge, and each of the four was ambitious 
 to have something of interest to say at the study 
 sessions. 
 
 ''This is Cape Doro on the starboard hand," said 
 Captain Scott, as he pointed to the west shore of the 
 channel they were about to enter, and they had just 
 ended the discussion about Euboea from which the 
 headland projected. " The water is very deep here, 
 and where we are it is one hundred and sixty fath- 
 oms ; between the two islands ahead of us it is over 
 two hundred. Where the shore of a sea is mountain- 
 ous, there is sure to be a great deal of deep water near 
 it ; for the bottom of the sea, if it could be laid bare, 
 would show mountains, hills, phiins, and valleys. The 
 little islands we see here are the tops of hills ; and the 
 
''WHERE SAPPHO LOVED AND SUNG" 219 
 
 shoals, like the Kharos Banks, are only the tops ot 
 elevations which do not quite reach the top of the 
 water." 
 
 " There is a cape which looks as though it might 
 have a name," said Morris, pointing to the port 
 side. 
 
 " That is Cape Fassa, with a lighthouse on the hill 
 behind it," added Scott. " The land is the island of 
 Andros, which is twenty-one miles long, and is said 
 to be the most fertile one in The Archipelago. There 
 was a large town in here somewhere near the 
 middle of tlie island, some ruins of which may 
 still be seen. The cape on the port is Cape Nikolo ; 
 and here I must give out a new course. I sup- 
 pose we shall anchor to-night at a place which 
 has not much of a history, and is a modern 
 town." 
 
 " We will go with you, Captain Scott," said Louis ; 
 and they followed him to the forecastle. 
 
 " South by east, three-quarters east, Knott," was 
 the course the captain gave to the wheelman, who 
 repeated it after him. " Wliat's the matter, Morris ? " 
 he asked when the one addressed had struck some- 
 thing like an attitude on the deck. 
 
 " Have ye's got the stomick-ache, me b'y ? " de- 
 manded Felix. 
 
 " Not a bit of it ; but I was thinking of a piece T 
 had to speak in school," replied Morris, who seemed 
 to be in excellent spirits. 
 
 " Give it to us," added Scott. 
 
220 THE I'OUNG NAYIGATOES 
 
 Young Woolridge spread out his hands, and partly 
 in fun^ but rather more in earnest, he began to 
 recite : 
 
 " The Isles of Greece, the Isles of Greece! 
 Where burning Sappho loved and sung, 
 Where grew the arts of war and peace, — 
 
 Where Delos rose, and Phoebus sprung! 
 Eternal summer gilds them yet, 
 
 Though all, except their sun, is set." 
 
 '' Bravo ! Is that all you are going to give us of 
 it?" said Louis. "It just iits the case here, and I 
 should like to hear some more ol it." 
 
 '' I don't remember it well enough to recite it ; but 
 you have Childe Harold's Pilgrimage in the library, 
 and I will read it if you wish," replied Morris, who 
 had given a good deal of attention to elocution for a 
 boy of his age. 
 
 " Get the book, and we will have it here on the 
 forecastle." 
 
 Morris read the portion of the poem from which 
 the stanza he had declaimed was taken, with very 
 good taste ; and the captain had to interrupt him 
 once to tell the wheelman to mind the helm, he was 
 so interested in the reading. 
 
 The studies were resumed with comments on the 
 portions of the shore near them. 
 
 " Behind those islands," said Scott, when the 
 steamer had made a few miles more, " is Cape 
 Oolonna." 
 
 " I think not," interposed Louis. " That cape is 
 on the main shore." 
 
"WHERE SAPPHO LOVED AND SUNG" 221 
 
 " If you will look at this chart, you will see Cape 
 Colonna,'' persisted the captain. 
 
 " I think Louis is right ; there may be a Cape 
 Colonna over there, but it is not the ' original Jacobs.' 
 Two lines more of Byron : — 
 
 ' Save where Tritonia's airy shrine adorns 
 Colonna's cliff, and gleams along the wave.' 
 
 Wait a minute ; " and the elocutionist rushed into the • 
 cabin, returning in a moment with an encyclopaedia in 
 his hand. " Here it is ; and he read from the book : 
 ' Colonna, Cape (ancient Sunium Promontory), a head- 
 land of Greece, forming the southmost point of Attica, 
 and crowned by tlie ruins of a temple of Minerva, 
 thirteen of whose white columns, from which the cape 
 derives its name, are still standing.' " 
 
 " But where is Attica ? " asked Scott, who remein- 
 bered the word Colonna, and believed when he an- 
 nounced the cape that he had something worth 
 telling. 
 
 " It w^as the province of which Athens was the 
 capital ; and, therefore, it cannot be on the island 
 of Andros," added Louis. 
 
 " I give it up," said Scott. 
 
 ''Four lines more of Byron, though it may not 
 be in order here : — 
 
 ' Place me on Sunium' s marbled steep, 
 AVhere nothing save the waves and I 
 May hear our mutual murmurs sweep ; 
 There, swan-like, let me sing and die.' 
 
222 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 I ought not to have got that off till we were in sight 
 of the cliff," said Morris, who appeared to have a good 
 deal of Byron in his memory. 
 
 " Musther Byron had it bad when he wrote that ; 
 but he couldn't sing and die both at the same time. 
 Now, did he want to sing, or die, swan-like ? " asked 
 Felix. 
 
 " You are mixed, Felix," suggested Louis. 
 . " Perhaps I am ; but I don't think the swan belongs to 
 the choir, for I never heard one sing a note in my life." 
 
 " But in mythology the swan is endowed with 
 wonderful musical powers. I don't remember the 
 author, but I do the line, ' And the sweetest song is 
 the last he sings.' In ' The Merchant of A^enice ' we 
 find " — 
 
 "You find, my darling; but I never looked for it, 
 and so I did not find it," interrupted Felix. 
 
 " I find : ' Makes a swan-like end, fading .in music' 
 Poetically speaking the swan is a musical bird." 
 
 "He can't do anything but liiss," persisted Felix, 
 who did not quote poetry. 
 
 " Where are we now ? " asked Scott, laughing. 
 
 " Off Cape Colonna, according to the chart, but not 
 poetically speaking," replied Felix. 
 
 " The people of this island were compelled to join 
 Xerxes with their fleet in the invasion of Greece," 
 said Scott, who had not yet finished what he had 
 looked up for the occasion. " Because they did this 
 when they could not help themselves, Themistocles, 
 who was the political chief in Athens, and com- 
 
*' WHERE SAPPHO LOVED AND SUNG " 223 
 
 manded tlie Grecian fleet, levied a heavy tribute upon 
 the Andrians, which they refused to pay. The Greeks 
 therefore laid siege to their chief city ; but they failed 
 to capture it. Themistocles then thrc^atened them 
 with two powerful gods of the Athenians, Persuasion 
 and Necessity. There is not much mythology about 
 this. The Andrians hit back by saying that they had 
 two churlish deities, Poverty and Inability, who would 
 not permit them to submit to the exactions. But the 
 island afterwards submitted to Greece. It was also 
 taken by the Eomans, after it came into possession of 
 Macedonia. I have no more history for you now," 
 said Captain Scott. 
 
 " HoAV far is it to where Ave are going, Captain 
 Scott ? " asked Morris. 
 
 "About sixteen miles. That little island on the 
 starboard is Jura," replied the captain, as he went 
 forward to look after the navigation. 
 
 On board of the Guardian-Mother about the same 
 story had been told by the captain and the professor ; 
 and some of the party had indulged in quotations 
 from Byron, wliom the instructor regarded as one of 
 the greatest poets of England. The commander in- 
 dorsed the remark, and recited the poet's apostrophe 
 to the ocean and the verses beginning : — 
 
 "Hereditary bondsmen! know ye not 
 
 Who would be free themselves must strike the blow ? " 
 
 " That poem always takes hold of me," added Dr. 
 Hawkes. 
 
224 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " But Byron was a real naughty man, our minister 
 said," added Mrs. Blossom. 
 
 " That does not make his poetry any worse/' re- 
 plied the captain. " Some bad men have lofty and 
 good thought; and while I don't admire the personal 
 character of the man, I think more of his poetry than 
 of any other poet's. " 
 
 At six o'clock the ship came to anchor in Syra Har- 
 bor, the log of the day footing up eighty-six miles, for 
 the steamers kept up their speed to only ten knots. 
 The Maud came alongside as usual ; and Scott re- 
 ported to the commander, though there was nothing 
 special to relate. 
 
 " Have you all attended to your lessons ? " asked 
 Captain Ringgold, who would have hoisted the little 
 steamer on the upper deck, and kept the " Big Four " 
 on board the ship, rather than sacrifice the instruction 
 which he considered one of the principal features of 
 the voyage. 
 
 Captain Scott reported on this important point, and 
 the commander was satisfied. The two seamen were 
 left on board of the Maud, and the engineer was re- 
 quired to keep up his steam. Dinner was attended to 
 as soon as the anchor struck the bottom. 
 
 " This island is rather exceptional in The Archipe- 
 lago," said Captain Einggold. " It is a great busi- 
 ness place, and is the stopping place of very many 
 steamers that pass through the sea. As you came 
 into the harbor you noticed a higli hill back of the 
 town to which the inhabitants retreated for safety 
 
from the Greek })irates, who infested tliese waters in 
 the Middle Ages. There was a city here in ancient 
 times, but there is hardly anything left of it. Old 
 Syra was on the hill you saw. The place around us 
 is Hermopolis, usually called Port Syra, and has 
 sixteen thousand inhabitants. The duties collected 
 here are no small part of the revenues of Greece. It 
 has a quarantine station and lazaretto, and the island 
 is the principal seat of the Protestant missionaries." 
 After dinner the party embarked in the Maud to 
 visit the towm. 
 
226 THE YOUKG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTER XXYI 
 
 A THOUSAND-DOLLAR TEMPTATION 
 
 The Maud took a turn about the harbor, and en- 
 abled the party to see all there was of it. As the 
 captain had said, Hermopolis was entirely of modern 
 growth, and many steamers were anchored off the 
 city. Travellers going to any of the principal ports of 
 Europe, or to Syria and Egypt, could find a vessel to 
 take them on their way. One of the most important 
 lines is the Austrian Lloyd's, which conveys passengers 
 to Italy on the one hand, or up the' Danube, by the 
 Black Sea, on the other, and to most of the interven- 
 ing ports, as well as to Syria and Egypt. 
 
 There was nothing of interest in the town, which is 
 mainly a commercial place ; but much to the delight 
 of Mrs. Belgrave and Mrs. Blossom, they found a 
 couple of missionaries, who told them all about their 
 mission. There were two thousand children in the 
 schools of the city, which was promising for its future 
 development. They spent the evening with these 
 gentlemen and their families ; for there happened to 
 be, at the time, a prayer meeting conducted in Eng- 
 lish, and both of the ladies were speakers and singers. 
 
 On board of the steamer at anchor Captain Ring- 
 
A THOUSAND-DOLLAR TEMPTATION 227 
 
 gold had looked out carefully for the safety of his 
 prisouer, for if he could get the ear of oue of the con- 
 suls residing there, he might make a good deal of 
 trouble ; but the commander had witnesses to prove 
 the conspiracy in which Mazagan was engaged, and 
 the assault he had made upon the party. But he did 
 not care to be arrested for holding his man in confine- 
 ment. He had kept a sentinel at his door all the 
 time while the ship was at anchor, or at any point 
 w^here he could escape. 
 
 Captain Mazagan was very gentlemanly in his man- 
 ners ; and it was plain that he, as well as His High- 
 ness his employer, had passed considerable time in 
 London and Paris. It was just as clear that he was 
 as brave as a lion, and was a person of the most de- 
 termined resolution. Though he would gladly have 
 mingled with the passengers, he was kept at a distance 
 from them. The Maud with all the passengers, in- 
 cluding the commander, had hardly departed from the 
 gangway, before the sentinel at the door of the pris- 
 oner's state-room heard a knock. 
 
 The seaman had been ordered to supply all the 
 wants of Mazagan if reasonable in their nature. There 
 was a blind in the door for the admission of air to the 
 occupant, but it could not be opened. In order to sup- 
 ply the inmate with anything he desired, it was neces- 
 sary to open the door, and tlie captain of the ship 
 kept the key. 
 
 " What do you want ? " asked the sentinel at the 
 outside, who passed his time in marching up and down 
 
228 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 the gangway extending fore and aft along the bul- 
 warks on each side. 
 
 " I want to talk with you/' replied Mazagan. 
 
 "I don't know's I have anything to say," replied 
 the sentinel, who had not been forbidden to talk with 
 the captive. 
 
 '^ What is your name, my good man ? " asked the 
 prisoner in the oiliest of tones ; and Felix would have 
 said that he must have kissed the Blarney stone. 
 
 ^' My name is Tom Bargate." 
 
 " How old a man are you ? " 
 
 " I am forty-seven years old the last fourth of July, 
 for I was born on that day, the most glorious of the 
 whole year," answered the patriotic American. 
 
 " So old as that ? I suppose you are an officer of 
 this steamer," asked the salvy captive. 
 
 " Not even a petty officer, or the cockswain of one 
 of the cutters." 
 
 " Then I suppose you have made your fortune." 
 
 " My fortune ! How could I do that following the 
 seas as a sailor ? " 
 
 " But you are old enough to have laid aside consid- 
 erable money for your old age. Have you a family ? " 
 
 " I have a wife and two children, God bless 
 them ! " 
 
 '^And have you laid up some money for them if 
 you should happen never to come back from some of 
 your voyages ? " 
 
 "I have an acre of ground and a house on it, all 
 paid for, and I don't owe any man a cent. I am bet- 
 
A THOUSAND-DOLLAR TEMPTATION 229 
 
 ter off than some sailors. I send my wages home to 
 Molly every month in a check from the judge." 
 
 " Who is the judge ? " 
 
 " They call him Uncle Moses in the party, but the 
 hands all call luni the judge/' replied Bargate, who 
 was wondering all the time to what this conversation 
 was leading, though he had about concluded that the 
 prisoner was talking to him for the sake of talking, 
 as he had no other person to whom he could speak. 
 
 Mazagan questioned him for some time longer in 
 the same strain, and the seaman told him freely all 
 about himself and his affairs. 
 
 " Where is the captain of the ship now ? " he asked 
 when he appeared to have exhausted the other topics. 
 
 " He has gone ashore, sir, with the party," replied 
 Bar gate. 
 
 ''I am sorry he is not on board, for I wanted to 
 speak to him," added the captive, in a tone, real or 
 assumed, indicating that he was annoyed at the ab- 
 sence of the commander. 
 
 ^' Mr. Boulong is on board, sir ; and I will call him 
 if you wish." 
 
 " Who is Mr. Boulong ? " , 
 
 ^' He is the first officer." 
 
 " It would do no good for me to see him. Don't 
 you make any money except your wages, Tom Bar- 
 gate ? " asked the prisoner with sudden earnestness. 
 
 " Not a cent, sir. I have a boy of twelve at home, 
 in the State of Maine, and he takes care of the cow 
 and two pigs, so that we get along very well." 
 
230 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " But would you not like to add a thousand dollars 
 to your little farm ? I mean to add it honestly." 
 
 " It would be a fortune to me, and I would like to 
 have it," replied Bargate, who was certainly pleased 
 at the idea. 
 
 '' Very well, my good Bargate ; then we understand 
 each other perfectly," said Mazagan. "I have that 
 amount of money about me in Bank of England notes, 
 which are good all over the world, just as good as the 
 gold itself." 
 
 ''Where did you get so much money if you are noth- 
 ing but the skipper of that felucca where we picked you 
 up ? " asked Tom Bargate, who thought the prisoner 
 wanted to talk very badly, or he would not have told 
 him he had so much money on his person, for any 
 sensible man is very likely to keep such a matter to 
 himself. 
 
 " I was not the skipper of the felucca ; and I should 
 not have been picked up as I was if the captain and 
 his men had not been cowards," returned Mazagan 
 with more spirit than he had before displayed in 
 this interview. 
 
 " I thought you was the skipper, for you seemed 
 like the leader in all that business." 
 
 " I chartered the felucca in Cons'ti'ple for a pleas- 
 ure excursion." 
 
 " It was a mighty queer pleasure excursion you 
 were taking, chasing a steamer in her, and trying to 
 lay her abroad," suggested Bargate who Avas one of 
 the old man-of-war's men. 
 
A THOUSAND-DOLLAR TEMPTATION 231 
 
 ■ " We are off the subject, my good Tom Bargate/' to 
 whom the capture of the fehicca did not seem to be a 
 pleasant topic. " I said something to you about a 
 thousand dollars." 
 
 " So you did, sir," replied the old sailor, as though 
 he had forgotten the circumstance, for he did not yet 
 see what the captive was driving at. 
 
 " And I said I had the money about me," added 
 Mazagan, beginning to be rather impatient, and hardly 
 as silky as he had begun. 
 
 " Well, sir, you are lucky to have so much money 
 about you. That is twice as much money as I ever 
 had at once of my own, for you see my wages were 
 sent to Molly as fast as I earned the money," replied 
 Bargate. 
 
 " Don't you want to have that much money in your 
 hand now of your own ? " demanded Mazagan, trying 
 to restore his oily tongue to its former working order, 
 with which his impatience somewhat interfered. 
 
 " I should think I was a rich man if I had a thou- 
 sand dollars in my pocket." 
 
 " Then you can have it there if you only say the 
 word," added the prisoner, coming more to the point. 
 
 " Do you mean to say that you want to give me a 
 thousand dollars ? " asked Bargate, bewildered by the 
 idea. 
 
 " That is just the idea. When you get to Athens, 
 you can buy a draft for a thousand dollars and send it 
 to your wife in America," the captive explained. 
 
 ^' I dont think I quite understand this thing. I 
 
232 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 don't exactly see why you want to give me so mucli 
 money," said the seaman, who was really puzzled ; for 
 he was one of those simple-minded men who do not 
 readily catch an idea, though he was as brave as a 
 lion, and hardly knew anything outside of his duty. 
 
 " I want to give you the money for doing something 
 for me/* answered Mazagan, evidently realizing that 
 he must proceed very slowly with his custodian. 
 
 " And what am I to do, sir ? " demanded Bargate 
 blankly. 
 
 " You do not suppose I stay in this state-room 
 because I want to be here, do you ? " asked the 
 captive. 
 
 " Well, no ; I had the idea that you were stopping 
 there because the door was locked with the key in the 
 captain's pocket," replied the sentinel with a chuckle. 
 
 " I don't mind the door being locked so much as I 
 do the fact that you are standing at it with a loaded 
 gun in your hands. Now come to the point. Will 
 you take the thousand dollars in two one-hundred 
 pound notes of the Bank of England ? " 
 
 " I will ; and I shall be grateful to you as long as I 
 live ! " exclaimed Bargate. 
 
 " Very well ; I thought you were a sensible man. 
 Now can you see a boat near the steamer ? There are 
 always plenty of them at this port looking for passen- 
 gers for the shore Or other vessels. Go to the rail and 
 beckon to one of them to come alongside," said Maza- 
 gan, quite glibly by this time, for he believed he had 
 carried his point. 
 
A THOUSAND-DOLLAR TEMPTATION 233 
 
 " A boat ! " exclaimed the sailor. "What shall I do 
 with it when it comes alongside ? " 
 
 " I want to go on shore in it," replied the captive 
 bluntly. " Can't you understand that ? " 
 
 "But you are locked into your room, and the cap- 
 tain has the key," suggested the sentinel. 
 
 " Call the boat, and I will take care that the door 
 of the room is opened," replied the prisoner, quite im- 
 patiently, though he spoke in a low tone, as both of 
 them had done from the beginning. " What do you 
 suppose I am giving you a thousand dollars for ? " 
 
 " I thought it was because you were a very gener- 
 ous man." 
 
 " I don't believe you are a fool, if you do act like 
 one ! " 
 
 " But you can't go ashore in the boat if I call one. 
 What do you suppose I am here for ? " demanded 
 Bargate. 
 
 "To make two hundred pounds by helping me 
 to get ashore ! " answered Mazagan, in a hoarse 
 whisper. 
 
 " I don't see it ! Do you believe I would sell my 
 soul for a thousand dollars, or a million ? " replied 
 the old sailor, upon whose simple mind the meaning 
 of all this conversation suddenly dawned like a flash- 
 light from a tower. " No, sir ! Molly would not 
 own me if I did such a thing, and my boy would be 
 ashamed of me as long as he lived." 
 
 " Then you won't take the thousand dollars ? " 
 
 "Not if it is Judas-money. Do you suppose I 
 
234 ' THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 would betray my good captain for all the mo^ey in 
 the world ? " added Bargate indignantly. 
 
 Just at that moment, when Mazagan believed his 
 chance, hopeful a few moments before, was lost, the 
 blind of the door was suddenly pulled down and the 
 two men stood face to face. 
 
HOW THE FUGITIVE WAS RECAPTURED 235 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 HOW THE FUGITIVE WAS RECAPTURED 
 
 The blind had occupied at least one-third of the size 
 of the state-room door, and when it was suddenly re- 
 moved, to the intense astonishment of the sentinel, there 
 was abundant space for the passage of a man even as 
 large as Captain Mazagan, through the opening. It 
 had been inserted in the frame of the door after the 
 latter was constructed, and secured with screws, which 
 the prisoner had removed with his pocket knife. 
 
 The moment Bargate realized that an escape was 
 intended he raised his repeating rifle, and was ready 
 to use it if occasion should require. The instant he 
 did so, the captive, rendered desperate by his disap- 
 pointment at the fidelity of his custodian, seized the 
 weapon, which was within his reach. The seaman 
 held on to it, and a struggle ensued in which the size 
 and strength of Mazagan gave him all the advantage. 
 
 For a brief space of time Bargate contested the pos- 
 session of the rifl.e, till his stalwart opponent struck 
 him a heavy blow in the right eye with his fist, and 
 he went over backwards. If he was not stunned by 
 the hard hit, his ideas for the moment were very 
 much confused ; and before he could pick himself up, 
 
236 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOllS 
 
 Mazagan had leaped tliroiigli the aperture in the door, 
 striking partly upon the body of his fallen foe, who 
 still clung to his rifle. 
 
 But the desperate Moor did not stop to trouble his 
 custodian any further, and rushed to the rail of 
 the steamer. It was after nine o'clock in the evening ; 
 but he could see half a dozen boats in the harbor, and 
 one of them was not distant from the ship. The 
 refugee did not hesitate an instant when he reached 
 the rail, but placing his chest on it, threw his legs 
 around, and dropped into the water feet first. 
 
 In spite of the burden of his clothes, and without 
 regard to the hundred-pound notes he claimed to have 
 about him, he swam vigorously towards the nearest 
 boat he had seen. He seemed to be a vigorous swim- 
 mer, and made very good progress through the water. 
 Rising above its surface as far as he could spring, he 
 shouted in Greek to the boatman ; but the man, if he 
 heard his voice, could not see him in the gloom of the 
 night, though it was not very dark, for a small moon 
 was just giving out a feeble light. 
 
 By the time the fugitive had dropped into the 
 water, Tom Bargate had collected his scattered ideas, 
 and risen to his feet. The Moor had put one of his 
 feet rather heavily upon his cliest, and he was feeling 
 quite sore in that region. He saw the escaping pris- 
 oner, and he had raised his rifle to his shoulder to fire 
 at him when he dropped into the water, hardly with 
 a splash. 
 
 " On deck ! On deck ! Help ! Help ! " shouted the 
 
HOW THE FUGITIVE WAS IlECAPTURED 237 
 
 old sailor, vigorously enough to be heard the whole 
 length of the ship. 
 
 " AVhat is the matter, Bargate ? " demanded Mr. 
 Bonlong, who was at that moment coming to his state- 
 room for something, and it was the next one to the 
 brig. 
 
 " The prisoner has got out, sir ! " yelled Tom, stand- 
 ing at the rail, as he caught a glimpse of the head of 
 Mazagan in the water. " There he is, sir, swimming 
 with all his might ! " 
 
 At the same time he raised the rifle to his shoulder, 
 and pointed at the head he saw. 
 
 " Don't shoot him," interposed the first officer, 
 seizing the weapon by the barrel. " Go and call the 
 crew of the first cutter, and tell them to get her into 
 the water in a hurry ! " 
 
 " I am hurt, sir, and " — 
 
 " Stoody ! " shouted Mr. Boulong without waiting 
 to hear any more from the injured sailor. 
 
 " On deck, sir," replied the cockswain of the first 
 cutter, who was on the main deck forward. 
 
 " Call your crew, and stand by to lower the boat 
 into the water ! " added the officer. 
 
 " There comes the Maud, sir," said Bargate, point- 
 ing over to the port side of the ship. 
 
 She was not more than a hundred and fifty feet 
 from the ship, and it was the ringing of her speed 
 bell which had attracted the attention of the seaman. 
 She was slowing down to come up to the gangway. 
 
 " Never mind the cutter, Stoody ! " called Mr. 
 
238 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Boulong, as he hastened to the gangway, where he 
 descended to the platform. " Maud, ahoy ! '' 
 
 " On board the Guardian-Mother ! " returned Cap- 
 tain Scott, the passengers and Captain Einggokl being 
 in the standing-room engaged in singing a tune they 
 had brought off from the meeting at the house of the 
 missionary. 
 
 " Tell Captain Ringgold that the prisoner has es- 
 caped, and is swimming away from the ship at this 
 moment ! " shouted the lirst officer at the top of his 
 lungs. 
 
 " Carry that story to the commander quick, Morris ! " 
 said Captain Scott, looking earnestly out on the water 
 for the captive who was making his escape. 
 
 A minute later Captain Ringgold appeared on the 
 forecastle ; for the intelligence Morris had brought him 
 was really appalling, inasmuch as Mazagan Avas the 
 active conspirator against the peace of his fair young 
 passenger. He had told Louis that he simply in- 
 tended to keep the Moor a prisoner for the present, 
 for then he would be sure that he was not engaged in 
 any attemj^t to abduct Miss Blanche. 
 
 '^ I see his head ! " exclaimed Scott, as the com- 
 mander reached the forecastle ; and he had already 
 shifted the helm so that the little steamer was headed 
 for the fugitive. 
 
 " But we must go to the ship for more force ; he 
 is a desperate villain," replied the commander. 
 
 " Before we can do that, sir, he will get into that 
 boat ahead of him which is pulling for him," replied 
 
HOW THE FUGITIVE WAS RECAPTURED 239 
 
 Scott. " We have the two seamen on board who came 
 down with us from Monte Santo, and we can muster 
 four men besides the rest of us." 
 
 The captain of the Maud evidently believed that 
 " the rest of us " were no unimportant part of the 
 available force, and his spirits appeared to be at fever 
 heat. He called Morris to the wheel, and pointed out 
 the head on the water, which rose and fell as the 
 strong swimmer urged himself forward. Scott had 
 rung the speed bell again ; the Maud was going ahead 
 at her ordinary s^^eed, and the boat was almost up to 
 the fugitive when the steamer came near him. 
 
 " Captain Mazagan is a desperate fellow, for his lib- 
 erty is at stake, and it is not going to be an easy thing 
 to capture him even now," -said the commander, as 
 he carefully surveyed the situation. " I am afraid 
 he will be in that boat before we can get hold of 
 him." 
 
 " If I had only our usual force, sir, I would engage 
 to have him on board the Maud in less than ten 
 minutes," added Scott, who was boiling over with 
 excitement, for now he had an idea what the conse- 
 quences of the prisoner's escape might be to Miss 
 Blanche or Louis, or both of them. 
 
 " Don't be too confident. Captain Scott," replied the 
 commander. 
 
 " I can see just how to do it. Captain ; and if you 
 will let me do it, I will catch your man," continued 
 the captain of the Maud. 
 
 " Very well ; go on in your own way ; but I shall 
 
240 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 interfere if I see that tilings are going wrong," re- 
 plied the commander. 
 
 " Felix, go aft and bring me the heave-line we used 
 at Gibraltar," said the young commander. 
 
 " But don't say a word to the party," interposed 
 the commander of the ship. " Morris had a good deal 
 of discretion," he added, turning to Scott, " for he de- 
 livered his message from you in my ear ; and we will 
 let them sing till they get on board of the steamer. 
 
 Louis had been in the standing-room up to this time ; 
 but when he saw Felix take the heave-line from the 
 rail, he followed him forward, and soon learned what 
 had happened. By this time all on the forecastle 
 knew what Captain Scott proposed to do, and Captain 
 Einggold fully approved. the plan. He knew all about 
 the young captain's adventure of this kind in Gibraltar 
 Bay, and he believed it would be a success in this 
 instance if the movement was skilfully executed. 
 
 " Don't let him get into the boat if you can possibly 
 help it. Captain Scott," said the commander. " That 
 might complicate the matter, for taking the prisoner 
 out of the water and out of a boat may be legally two 
 very different things." 
 
 " We are close aboard of him now, and he shall not 
 get into the boat," replied Scott, who had arranged 
 his lasso ready for use. " If I succeed in making a 
 good throw, we are as sure of him as though he were 
 locked into your brig ; and a little more so, I think, 
 after what has happened." 
 
 Scott had stationed himself at the head of the stem 
 
The noosk went uvek the head of iiik bVviM.\iEK. ' Page 241. 
 
HOW THE FUGITIVE WAS KECAPTURED 241 
 
 of the steamer, and had the folds of the line in his 
 left hand, while he held the noose in his right. He 
 had ordered Morris to ring the speed bell, and the 
 boat had slowed down to half speed. The man who 
 pulled the Greek boat had ceased rowing when it 
 looked as though his craft would be run down by tlie 
 Maud. Mazagan was yelling at him with all the force 
 of his lungs, though they were nearly empty after his 
 vigorous exertions in swimming. Don said he was 
 ordering him to pull the boat nearer to him. 
 
 " Stop and back her ! '^ shouted Scott, when the Maud 
 was within twenty feet of the struggling swimmer. 
 
 " Stop and back her ! '' repeated the helmsman, as he 
 rang one bell and two almost together. 
 
 The headway of the Maud was immediately checked, 
 though she still moved. The two seamen had been 
 called down from the upper deck, and the time for 
 final action was at hand. Since his exploit on the 
 former occasion of this kind, Scott had prided himself 
 a great deal upon it, and he had improved his skill by 
 practice with the same line lie had in his hands at the 
 present time. 
 
 "Now go ahead slowly, Morris ! " called the lassoist, 
 at the moment he was ready to make his great effort. 
 
 Then he cast the line, and the noose went over the 
 head of the swimmer just as he made a prodigious 
 effort to reach the boat, his head rising so that his 
 shoulders could be seen by the interested spectators 
 on the forecastle. The intended victim of the opera- 
 tion seemed to have an idea of the meaning of the 
 
242 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 movement, and lie raised one of his hands to grasp 
 the rope. But Scott manipulated the line so as to 
 prevent him from doing so. He drew it tight, and 
 then Mazagan began a struggle to disengage himself 
 from the lasso ; but the more he resisted his fate the 
 more the young captain pulled upon it. It had gone to 
 the right place, and it choked him so as to impair his 
 remaining strength, exhausted in his determined effort 
 to escape. 
 
 '- Don't choke him to death, Captain Scott," inter- 
 posed the commander. 
 
 " I will not, sir. Stop her, Morris ! Back her ! " 
 
 " Stop her ! Back her ! " repeated the wheebnan. 
 
 The Maud came to a full stop when the stem was 
 within a few feet of the exhausted fugitive. The 
 choking had robbed him of what power he had, and 
 his movements were very feeble. Morris called for a 
 single turn of the propeller through the speaking tube, 
 and the boat advanced till the prisoner was within 
 reach of the men on the forecastle. Don was in- 
 structed to loosen the rope around his neck, and all of 
 them to lift the man to the deck. 
 
 Caj^tain Binggold looked him over, and was glad 
 when he found the man was not dead. In a few min- 
 utes he seemed to be breathing better, and talked, but 
 in his own language. The passengers were still sing- 
 ing, unconscious that anything unusual had transpired 
 on board. Dr. Hawkes was sent for, and asked to 
 examine the fugitive as he lay on the deck. He 
 declared that nothing serious ailed the patient, and he 
 
HOW THE FUGITIVE WAS RECAPTURED 243 
 
 would be all right when he recovered from the fatigue 
 from which alone he was suffering. 
 
 The Maud ran up to the gangway of the ship, and 
 the party went on board. Captain Mazagan was con- 
 ducted to the brig. 
 
244 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTEE XXYIII 
 
 The party at the stern of the Maud had been so 
 much occupied with the singing, and had enjoyed 
 it under such unusual circumstances, that they had 
 heard nothing of what transpired at the other end 
 of the boat. The fugitive was thoroughly exhausted 
 by his struggle in the water to reach the boat, and 
 by the lassoing process. When he was brought on 
 board of the ship he was as tame as an infant dove, 
 and it required no force to handle him. 
 
 Dr. Hawkes went to his room as soon as he had 
 tumbled into his berth, and gave him a stimulant, to 
 which he did not object on account of his Mohamme- 
 dan principles, if he had any, for his religion seemed 
 to be all on the outside. Stevens had gone to work 
 on the door before the party returned. He restored 
 the blind, and then boarded up the space on the out- 
 side with the exception of an opening a foot square. 
 
 Captain Itinggold had wondered how the captive 
 had been able to get away from the shi]) with the key 
 of the room in his own pocket, and an armed sentinel 
 at the door. Mr. Boulong explained how it had been 
 done, and they visited the room togetlier. They found 
 
''PLACE ME ON SUNIUM's MARBLED STEEP " 245 
 
 Tom Bargate had resumed his watch at the door, and 
 the commander listened to his story. The doctor was 
 asked to examine him. Another man was put in his 
 place, and he was sent to the hospital, as No. 19 was 
 called. 
 
 '^ He is not badly hurt, and will be as well as usual 
 in a few days," reported the surgeon. "Physically 
 he was no match for the Moor, and he was plucky in 
 standing up to him. I think Bargate is a very honest 
 man, Captain Kinggold; for he might have made a 
 thousand dollars by letting the fellow go, and prob- 
 ably no one would have been the wiser for it." 
 
 ^' I know he is an honest man, and he told me of 
 the temptation set before him," replied the com- 
 mander. " I have known him for many years, and 
 he has behaved just as I should have expected him to 
 do in such a situation." 
 
 When the story was told of the seaman's pluck and 
 honesty in the cabin the passengers were in full sym- 
 pathy for him, and Mrs. Blossom hastened to the 
 hospital to do what she could for him under the direc- 
 tion of the doctor. It was not necessary for her to 
 remain there, for the patient's shipmates were his 
 nurses. 
 
 " We ought to make up a purse for the poor fel- 
 low," suggested Mrs. Belgrave. ''Tom Bargate has 
 lost a thousand dollars by his honesty." 
 
 " I object to anything of the kind," interposed the 
 commander. " I do not believe in rewarding the men 
 for simply doing their duty, and I have twenty more 
 
246 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 on board who would have done the same thing. 
 AVhen we get to the end of this cruise, I shall not 
 object to your making up a purse to be divided among 
 the men. If it were done now every one who did an 
 unusual thing miglit expect a reward." 
 
 " Virtue is its own reward," added Dr. Hawkes with 
 a smile. 
 
 While the commander was on shore he had attended 
 to the formalities of clearing so that he could sail 
 early in the morning if he should be so disposed. 
 After the event of the evening he thought it would 
 be desirable to get out of the harbor at an early hour, 
 and he gave his orders to this effect. 
 
 " Why didn't you let him go, Captain Einggold ? " 
 asked Louis when they met in the commander's cabin, 
 after the excitement of the event had passed away. 
 " I had the idea that you wanted to get rid of him, as 
 an elephant on your hands." 
 
 " He is an elephant, but he proves to be a very 
 frisky one," replied the captain. '^ Like the Pacha, 
 his veins are full of Moorish blood, and he is as re- 
 vengeful as Othello himself when he believed he had 
 a grievance against his wife. I did think of putting 
 him ashore at some island on our course ; but I real- 
 ized that it was not safe to do so." 
 
 "Don't you think he has had enough of it ? " 
 
 " Not at all. From his talk with Bargate it appears 
 that his pockets are lined with hundred pound notes 
 of the Bank of England, with which his employer no 
 doubt supplied liim. Probably he is to make a for- 
 
"PLACE ME ON SUNIUM'S MARBLED STEEP " 247 
 
 time, large or small, out of this enterprise, and he 
 Avill not abandon it as long as there is anything left 
 of him." 
 
 "But you will have to do something with him," 
 suggested Louis. 
 
 "I shall simply keep him where he is, though of 
 course he is a nuisance to us. Probably by this time 
 that felucca has been repaired, and has two new 
 rudders. I looked all over this harbor when we came 
 in ; she is not here, for she would stow herself away 
 in some cove, as she did in Pournea Bay, and wait 
 till Mazagan gets on board of her. I should be glad 
 to get rid of him, but it would not be prudent to let 
 him escape." 
 
 At four o'clock in the morning all hands were active 
 on board of the Guardian-Mother ; the "Big Four " had 
 been called; and the two steamers were under Avay. 
 The passengers had not been awakened at this early 
 hour ; but they were all on deck at six o'clock of their 
 own volition, expatiating upon the softness of the air, 
 the blueness of the sky, and the general glories of the 
 delightful morning. 
 
 The ship had made about twenty miles on a south- 
 west course, and had stopped her screw off a narrow 
 and rugged island, which did nor appear to be inhab- 
 ited. The Maud was alongside the ship; and the "Big 
 Four" had just come on board of her, for the com- 
 mander had sent Knott and Williams to take charge 
 of the little steamer so that the boys might have the 
 benefit of the instruction that was to be given on the 
 
248 THE YOUNG XAVIGATORS 
 
 upper deck that day. The party were all seated in 
 the usual place when the captain joined them. 
 
 "Where are we now, Captain Ringgold?" asked 
 Mrs. Belgrave impatiently! 
 
 " You can see three islands near us. The one to 
 the west of us, which we passed before you came on 
 deck, is Rhenea ; and the one nearest to us is Delos, 
 the one of which perhaps the professor will have the 
 most to say, for the second oracle of Greece in impor- 
 tance was located here. The one to the eastward is 
 Myconos, on the chart Mykoni, which is not of much 
 consequence ; it was one of the places where Hercules 
 defeated the giants, and the ancients note the fact 
 that many of the people were bald-headed, whether 
 because their wives were quarrelsome or for some 
 other reason is not stated. Now I give way to the 
 classical authority." 
 
 '' I am not the authority, only the humble scholar," 
 said the professor modestly. " This is quite a differ- 
 ent place from the one we left early this morning ; for 
 Hermopolis is all modern, and Delos is all ancient, 
 what there is left of it, for it has no regular inhabit- 
 ants now. This island was the birthplace of Apollo 
 and Artemis." 
 
 "But who were these men? We have not been 
 introduced to them," incpiired Mrs. Blossom, conscious 
 of her ignorance on these subjects. 
 
 " One was a woman," replied Professor Giroud, 
 who was not in the least disposed to be flippant to one 
 who had an inquiring mind. " Apollo, also called 
 
'^PLACE ME ON SUNIU.m's MARBLED STEEP " 249 
 
 Phoebus, was the god of song, music, prophecy, and 
 archery, who punished and destroyed tlie wicked and 
 overbearing, a general helper, and who delighted in 
 founding towns and establishing civil governments." 
 
 " Then he was a very useful man," added Mrs. 
 Blossom. 
 
 "I am glad you are getting a better opinion of 
 mythology and the classics, madam. A writer on 
 this subject of mythology calls it Hhe handmaid of 
 literature, Avhich is one of the best allies of virtue and 
 promoters of happiness.' Without a knowledge of it 
 one can hardly understand the best writers in the 
 modern languages, especially the poets. I could give 
 you a dozen quotations from Milton, Byron, Shake- 
 speare, Cowper, Tennyson, Longfellow, Lowell, to say 
 nothing of those who wrote in my own language, and 
 I can assure you that mythology is worth studying. 
 You will find allusions to classic subjects even in the 
 newspapers." 
 
 " I shall try to find out something more about it," 
 added the lady. 
 
 " Artemis, commonly called Diana, was the goddess 
 of hunting, chastity, marriage. Delos was the holy 
 isle, the sanctuary, the political centre, of the Greek 
 islands, and its oracle was second only to that of Del- 
 phi. Jupiter was the king of heaven, and all the gods 
 were subject to him. Juno was his wife. The ancient 
 story, probably suggested by the fact that it was 
 thrown up by volcanic action, is that Delos was a 
 floating island, called up by Neptune, the god of the 
 
250 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 sea. Jupiter made it fast to the bottom that it might 
 be a safe place for the birth-place of Apollo and 
 Diana. 
 
 " Apollo obtained possession of the island where he 
 was born ; and it became sacred to the worship of this 
 deity, to Avhom a magnificent temple was erected, in 
 which Athens and Sparta both paid homage. The 
 island was reverenced throughout Greece. When the 
 temple was purified the dead were removed to the 
 island of Khenea. There is nothing here now but 
 the ruins of the holy isle's former grandeur, and vast 
 quantities of these relics have been conveyed to other 
 lands as memorials of ancient splendor. 
 
 '^ I suppose most of you have heard of the Arundel 
 Marbles. They were purchased in 1624 by the Earl 
 of Arundel at Smyrna, and were presented forty years 
 later by his grandson to the University of Oxford, 
 England. Its principal piece, the ^ Parian Chronicle,' 
 bears an inscription of the great events of Greece 
 for over thirteen hundred years, ending with the year 
 263 B. c. Some of it is lost, and all of it is much 
 defaced ; but it is still invaluable for its chronological 
 record. 
 
 " I see that the captain has started the ship again, 
 and that is a hint that I have said enough," added the 
 professor. 
 
 " Not at all, my learned friend," protested the com- 
 mander. "You can go on till breakfast time, and 
 begin again after the meal is disposed of." 
 
 " I think I will give my audience a rest," answered 
 the Frenchman, as he resumed his seat. 
 
"PLACE ME ON SUNIUM'S MARBLED STEEP " 251 
 
 The ship went to the north side of Syra, and then 
 laid her course to the westward for the southern point 
 of Zea, where she arrived in the middle of the day, 
 just after lunch. 
 
 <^ The island we are approaching on the starboard 
 side is Ceos, as it was called in ancient times, or Zea, 
 as it is now named," said the captain. " All the is- 
 lands in this part of The Archipelago are called the 
 Cyclades, and they are huddled together pretty closely 
 south-east of Greece proper. You can see some wind- 
 mills, and it is a fertile island, as all of them are not ; 
 but I don't think it was ever the home of gods or 
 heroes. 
 
 " Simonides, a lyric poet, was born here, but lived 
 in Athens," added the professor. 
 
 '^ The island south of us is Cythnus, as it was named 
 of old, but Thermia as it is now called, on account of 
 the warm springs there ; and it is more noted for min- 
 eral water and cheese than for philosophers and gods," 
 said the commander. 
 
 The ship was now headed to the north-west, and the 
 mainland of Greece was in sight. 
 
 " There is your Sunium, and you can quote poetry 
 to your entire satisfaction, especially Byron," said 
 Captain Einggold, when they were within a couple of 
 miles of the headland. 
 
 " That is where Byron wanted to sing and die like 
 a swan," said Captain Scott. " Morris recited to us a 
 verse from ' The Isles of Greece.' " 
 
 The young man was called upon to do it again, 
 
252 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 which he did with additions, to the great delight of 
 the party. 
 
 " And Walter Savage Landor said, 
 
 ' I write as others wrote 
 On Sunium's height,' " 
 
 added the commander. '' In modern times the water 
 ahead of us is called the Gulf of Athens ; but the Bay 
 of Salamis, Avhich the poet means by ' sea-born Sala- 
 mis,' lies to the north of it. On the high cliff are the 
 ruins of the Temple of Minerva, a dozen of the white 
 marble columns of which are still to be seen. For 
 this reason the Italians call this Cape Colonna, but on 
 our maps it is generally put down Sunium." 
 
 The ship went ahead again, and before sundown 
 she was at anchor in the port of the Piraeus. 
 
SOMETHING ABOUT MODERN GREECE 253 
 
 CHAPTEE XXIX 
 
 SOMETHING ABOUT MODERN GREECE 
 
 The Piraeus is the name by wliich tlie seaport of 
 Athens is generally called by Europeans, though the 
 Greek name is Port Drako. The harbor is a small 
 land-locked sheet of water, entered by a very narrow 
 passage between two piers. Near the ship were a 
 couple of English yachts and a Greek man-of-war, 
 with her blue flag and white stripes floating at the 
 peak. 
 
 "This is a hilly country," said Uncle Moses, who 
 was taking in the view from the upper deck. 
 
 " I should say that it was, rather more so than the 
 region about Yon Blonk Park," replied Captain Ring- 
 gold. "There are a number of mountains in the king- 
 dom not much below ten thousand feet. Olympus is 
 nine thousand seven hundred and fifty feet, Parnassus 
 eight thousand and thirty six ; but most of them range 
 among the sevens." 
 
 " The rivers can't amount to much." 
 
 " No ; there is no room for them. The whole coun- 
 try about equals in size Vermont and New Hampshire 
 put together, and is not quite as large as the kingdom 
 of Portugal." 
 
254 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 ^' This seems to be a rather busy place, for there is 
 considerable shipping. It has grown up like one of 
 our Western towns, all at once." 
 
 " I see it ! " shouted Captain Scott iust then. 
 
 '^ What do you see. Captain ? " asked the com- 
 mander. 
 
 " The Acropolis." 
 
 " It is a wonder you did not see it before, though 
 it is a little hazy at times." 
 
 There was not a little excitement on deck when the 
 Acropolis was made out by the party ; but the appear- 
 ance of a Greek custom-house official attracted their 
 attention, especially his costume. A health officer 
 also presented himself, but the certificate brought by 
 each person from Constantinople satisfied this officer. 
 There was not a case of sickness on board, except that 
 of Tom Bargate, and he was hobbling about the deck. 
 But the ship and the Maud were condemned to remain 
 twenty-four hours without any one visiting the shore. 
 
 During the forenoon of the next day Captain King- 
 gold and Professor Giroud told the party all about 
 the country, and all about its stirring history from a 
 thousand years before Christ down to the present; 
 but as the writer " has been there," and has written 
 it out very fully, he is not inclined to repeat himself 
 to that extent.^ 
 
 Nothing could be done that day except to read 
 mythology and Greek history, of which there was a 
 
 1 " Cross and Crescent, or, Young America in Turkey and Greece," 
 Cliapter XIX. 
 
SOMETHING ABOUT MODERN GKEEOE 2b5 
 
 plentiful supply on board. They could not even make 
 a trip in the Maud through the strait that separates 
 the island of Salamis, or Kolouri, from the main land. 
 Scott had learned about this passage ; and he wanted 
 to make an excursion through it, assured that it would 
 enable them to see much of the country. It led into 
 the Bay of Eleusis, and he thought they might cir- 
 cumnavigate the island. But the health officer would 
 not permit any one to leave the ship. 
 
 " Quarantine means literally forty days ; this was 
 the full term for which vessels and the people on 
 board of them were confined to the lazaretto, where 
 they were isolated from the rest of the world ; but 
 this time has been reduced to a week or ten days 
 when there is any ground for detention," said the 
 captain, who was trying to console his passengers 
 while the Acropolis was " so near, and yet so far." 
 ^'You should be very thankful that the time is not 
 even a week, to say nothing of forty days." 
 
 " What is the use of this quarantine ? " asked Mrs. 
 Blossom, who had been reading " The Age of Fable " 
 all the forenoon, and wanted to " see something," as 
 she expressed it, though she was the least likely of 
 the party to enjoy the antiquities of Athens. 
 
 " To keep sickness which is communicated by con- 
 tact out of the country," replied the captain. " I be- 
 lieve it was first applied long ago when the plague 
 prevailed in these Oriental regions, and spread all over 
 Europe. Perhaps Dr. Hawkes will kindly tell us 
 something about it." 
 
256 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 '' The word ' plague ' was formerly a very indefinite 
 term, applied to all sorts of diseases," said the sur- 
 geon. '' But it is now applied solely to a kind of con- 
 tagious fever prevailing only at certain times and 
 places. Its particular features were swelling of the 
 lymphatic glands, with buboes or swellings, and pur- 
 ple or dark red spots on the skin. A very small per- 
 centage of those attacked recovered. Having it once 
 did not prevent the person from having it again. 
 
 "If I remember rightly it first appeared in the 
 sixth century after Christ, and spread all over the 
 Roman empire, taking myriads of lives. ' The Black 
 Death ' was the name applied to it in England, or to 
 the disease that prevailed there in the fourteenth cen- 
 tury, and which is the same as the plague of the East. 
 The malady took its name from the dark spots, and 
 when these were seen the patient appeared to be 
 doomed. It is reported that one hundred thousand 
 died with it in London. 
 
 " Those who have looked into the subject estimate 
 that one-third, if not one-half, of the entire population 
 of England perished. It has not visited the British 
 Isles since 1665. It has prevailed in China Avithiu 
 fifteen years. At one time it was brought into IVIar- 
 seilles from Syria, and destroyed nearly one-half of 
 the population of the city. The last known cases were 
 in the part of the world where we now are, though it 
 is practically extinct, or is at least kept in abeyance, 
 by quarantine precautions. 
 
 " From sixty to ninety per cent of those attacked 
 
SOMETHING ABOUT MODEUN GKEECE 267 
 
 by plague die with it. Medical science has greatly 
 advanced since it prevailed extensively ; and perhaps 
 modern skill would check it to some extent, though it 
 seems to have been powerless two or three hundred 
 years ago. The general symptoms were those of 
 other severe fevers, such as shivering, rise of temper- 
 ature, pain in the head, back, and limbs, with nausea. 
 The patients often died before the real marks of the 
 disease appeared." 
 
 " What a horrible disease ! " exclaimed Mrs. 
 Blossom. 
 
 '^ That is why we have to stay on board twenty-four 
 hours ; and we ought to be very thankful that we are 
 not all sent on shore and confined within narrow lim- 
 its for a week or more," added the surgeon. " Quar- 
 antine is a great nuisance, without a doubt, to the 
 traveller ; but when he considers the millions that 
 have perished from plague, small-pox, cholera, and 
 yellow fever, he ought to make the best of it, at least. 
 There is not much of wdiat is called plague in late 
 years, but the other diseases are prevalent to some 
 extent nearly all the time in some of the divisions of 
 the earth." 
 
 The commander thought it best to change the sub- 
 ject, fearful that some of his passengers would become 
 nervous over the frightful subject, which they could 
 not regard, as the doctor did, from a professional point 
 of view. Thus far the Guardian-Mother had not been 
 greatly annoyed by quarantine restrictions ; but the 
 party were disposed to take a more reasonable view of 
 
258 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 tlie subject after listening to the liorrible details pre- 
 sented by Dr. Hawkes. 
 
 " It really looks as tliougli the Greeks Avere moved 
 by the vigorous appeals of Byron, who spent about 
 two years in the country and the islands of The Archi- 
 pelago/' said the .captain, who had a communicative 
 look on. his face. "It seems as though such words as 
 he put into lines could hardly fail to stir the blood of 
 a people coming from such ancestors as fought at 
 'Thermopylae. 
 
 ' Wlien risetli Lacedsemon's hardihood, 
 When Thebes Epaminondas rears again, 
 When Athens' children are with hearts endued. 
 When Grecian mothers shall give birth to men, 
 Then may'st thou be restored; but not till then.' 
 
 If such lines as these would not wake them up, 
 nothing would. 
 
 " But in 1821 the Greeks resolved to be free, and 
 to drive the Turks from their soil. Byron went to 
 Greece in 1823 to take part in the struggle for its in- 
 dependence ; but he had a fever and died in 1824, 
 without being able to do anything for the cause 
 which had been so near his heart. The war of the 
 revolution continued for eight years, and liberty for 
 the Greeks looked hopeless. The Great PoAvers who 
 were united in the Holy Alliance, as they called it, 
 did not encourage the cause at iirst ; but England, 
 France, and Bussia interfered, and declared that 
 Greece should l)e free. 
 
SOMETHING ABOUT MODEr.N GREECE 259 
 
 " The very names of these three allied powers sug- 
 gest the idea which has underlain the problem of 'the 
 sick man ' in later years. England and France were 
 fearful of the extension of the domains of Austria, 
 and Russia was ready to reduce the territory of Tur- 
 key. In the great naval battle of Navarino, fought 
 in a bay of that name in the south-western part of 
 Greece, the ships of the three powers annihilated the 
 navy of the Turks, and compelled the Moslem to 
 yield. This was in 1827. Greece was made inde- 
 pendent, and it became a republic ; but the Greek 
 statesman who was chosen president was unpopular, 
 and they punished him by assassination in 1831. 
 
 ^' The Great Powers then decided to organize Greece 
 as a kingdom. After Prince Leopold of Belgium had 
 declined the crown, it was bestowed upon Otho, the 
 second son of the King of Bavaria, a young gentleman 
 of seventeen, just your age, Louis Belgrave; but I 
 am sorry he was not such a fellow as you are, for 
 he would have done better if he had been. He 
 reigned for thirty years ; but he was oppressive and 
 tyrannical, and the people revolted in 1862. By this 
 time the king found he had made a mistake, and he 
 abdicated. He could not do anything else, for the 
 people had deposed him. 
 
 " Then the crown went begging for a year ; Prince 
 Alfred of England refused to wear it ; but George, 
 son of the present King of Denmark, thought better 
 of it and accepted it. His title is Georgios L, King of 
 the Hellenes. The country has not progressed as 
 
260 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 rapidly as was hoped. The popiihitioii is now about 
 two millions, or enough smaller than that of the State 
 of Massachusetts to make two cities of the size of 
 Athens ; but it has somewhat diminished within the 
 last two years according to the statistics." 
 
 " How big a place is Athens ? " asked Uncle 
 Moses. 
 
 " I was looking at ^ The Statesman's Year-Book ' 
 this morning, and I found that it was a little over 
 107,000. This place around us, Drako, or Piraeus, 
 comes next to it, with 34,327," replied the commander, 
 taking a card from his pocket. '^ Patras, on a gulf of 
 that name in the west, has 33,529 ; and Hermopolis, 
 where we were yesterday, has 22,000. These are the 
 four largest places in Greece. 
 
 " By the way, you may desire to make some pur- 
 chases to-morrow when you go up to Athens, and you 
 must know something about the money. The drachma 
 is the unit of one hundred Zep^a, so that the system is 
 decimal, like the French and most other European 
 nations at the present time. The drachma in gold is 
 the same in value as a franc, but the forced paper 
 currency has reduced its worth to seventeen cents of 
 our money. Most of you have sovereigns of English 
 money, and those are good everywhere." 
 
 " I am much obliged to you. Captain Ringgold, for 
 your additional lecture," added Dr. Hawkes, and the 
 entire party indorsed him. 
 
 " There is one thing you have not said. Captain," in- 
 terposed the professor with a smile. 
 
SOMETHING ABOUT MODERN GREECE 261 
 
 " Please to say it, Professor," replied the com- 
 mander. 
 
 '' You did not speak of the origin of this port, or 
 harbor," continued the French gentleman. " It is the 
 port of Athens now as it was some hundreds of years 
 before the birth of Christ. This harbor was planned 
 by Themistocles, and the cape near the entrance to it 
 is named after him. It was built in the prosperous 
 days of Pericles. It is five miles from Athens ; and he 
 and his predecessor built three walls to that city, so 
 that they made a protected road all the way. If Peri- 
 cles could come out of his tomb to-day, and see the 
 two cities connected by a railroad seven miles long, he 
 would open his eyes very wide." 
 
 The day, which in its earlier hours had been long 
 and dull, proved instructive to the entire party. 
 
262 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTEK XXX 
 
 THE PLAIN SPEECH OF CAPTAIN RINGGOLD 
 
 Early the next morning Captain Ringgold paid a 
 visit to the prisoner in No. 27. He had carefully ex- 
 amined the work the carpenter had done to make the 
 brig secure. There was no possible exit except by 
 the door and the window, the latter being nothing but 
 a round port, too small to permit the passage of the 
 prisoner through it. During the day, Stevens had 
 made a hard-wood door, with only an opening a foot 
 square in it, which could be covered with a slide, and 
 hung it outside of the other. 
 
 If the captive succeeded in removing the interior 
 door entirely, the exterior one was of many times its 
 strength ; and the commander was satisfied that escape 
 was impossible unless the two doors were opened from 
 the outside, and he intended to keep the sentinel in the 
 gangway as long as he retained the prisoner. At 
 the same time the room was sufficiently lighted from 
 the port ; and the ventilation from the gangway by the 
 aperture in the door, through the blinds, whicli had 
 been restored, was as good as that of any apartment 
 in the ship. 
 
 " Well, Lanark, how is our friend in the brig this 
 
THE PLAIN SPEECH OF CAPTAIN lUNGGOLD 263 
 
 morning ? " asked the captain, after he had looked 
 over the changes made in the door. 
 
 ^'He is qniet enough, sir. I have not heard him 
 moving since I came on watch at eight bells this morn- 
 ing," replied the seaman. " I have looked through 
 the port several times, but he was still in his berth." 
 
 The outside door was secured by two locks and a 
 padlock, the keys of which had been carried to the 
 commander by Stevens the carpenter. He unlocked 
 the outer one, and then the inner. As the sentinel 
 said, Captain Mazagan was still in his berth ; but he 
 sat up in it as soon as the doors were opened. 
 
 " Good-morning, Captain Mazagan," said the com- 
 mander cheerfully, as he entered the room. 
 
 " Good-morning, Captain Kinggold. I hope you are 
 very well this morning," replied the prisoner, in tones 
 which indicated that he was not greatly depressed by 
 his failure to escape at Hermopolis. 
 
 *^ I am quite well, I thank you. How do you find 
 yourself ? " 
 
 " As well as usual, — better than I was yesterday. 
 I am glad you have called upon me, for I should like 
 a few minutes' conversation with you." 
 
 " I am at your service till breakfast-time," answered 
 the captain, as he seated himself on a stool in the 
 corner of the room where he could see the face of 
 the prisoner. 
 
 " You kept your carpenter and all his gang very 
 busy yesterday, and you seem to have made my prison 
 strong enough to hold me ; at least, you are of that 
 opinion." 
 
264 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " I am quite satisfied that the carpenter has done 
 his work well ; and as long as the sentinel is faithful 
 to his duty, I feel tolerably sure that I can keep you 
 where you are," replied the commander. 
 
 " I don't know that I care to consider that matter 
 with you, as you will have your own way whatever I 
 may think." 
 
 " Don't you think yourself that the room is secure ? " 
 asked the captain in rather a tantalizing tone. 
 
 '^ I must decline to give an opinion, if you will ex- 
 cuse me," added Mazagan with a smile. " But these 
 preparations on your part indicate an intention to hold 
 me as a prisoner for a long time. You would do me a 
 great favor if you will inform me how long you mean 
 to retain me." 
 
 ^^ That will depend upon circumstances. Will you 
 tell me where the Samothraki is at the present time ? " 
 asked the commander. 
 
 " I don't know," replied Mazagan promptly. 
 
 " But you believe she has slunk away into some 
 cove where she will be ready when you want her 
 again." 
 
 " I don't know where she is ; and if she is in any 
 cove it is not on account of any order from me." 
 
 " But you expect to find her ready for business when 
 you desire to use her again. You have chartered her, 
 felucca, and crew of six men." 
 
 " You seem to know more about it than I do, Cap- 
 tain." 
 
 " I don't know in what manner you are to connect 
 
THE PLAIN SPEECH OF CAPTAIN RINGGOLD 265 
 
 with her again; and very likely you do not know 
 yourself, as your capture was a surprise to you and 
 Captain Polychronopulos ; but I have no doubt you 
 would have found her before this time if you had 
 succeeded in making your escape Thursday night." 
 
 " I should not have known where to look for her ; 
 but she may come here when she has made her re- 
 pairs," sug.sjested the prisoner. 
 
 Captain Einggold was not a little startled at this 
 idea, and he was silent wliile he considered the situa- 
 tion. He had fired three shots at the felucca with 
 his twelve-pounders, and had disabled her; and it 
 occurred to him tliat a diplomatic question might 
 grow out of it if Captain Polychronopulos, who was a 
 Greek, chose to complain to his government. But 
 a few moments' reflection assured him that he had 
 nothing to fear from this quarter, for the felucca was 
 certainly engaged in a piratical operation at the time. 
 
 " She will not come here," he declared. 
 
 "You think not ? " queried Mazagan. 
 
 "I am confident she will not," insisted the com- 
 ma^nder. " If she does I shall call upon the American 
 minister or consul, and charge her with piracy, and I 
 can amply prove the charge." 
 
 " That is very absurd ! " exclaimed Mazagan with a 
 sickly smile. 
 
 " For reasons of my own I do not wish to make the 
 complaint, for all the particulars of the conspiracy 
 arranged between you and Ali-Noury Pacha would 
 have to be revealed." 
 
266 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " What nonsense ! " exclaimed tlie prisoner ; but 
 there was no heart in his protest against its truth. 
 ^' What conspiracy ? " 
 
 ^'The one arranged between you and His Highness 
 in the private room at the cafe in Gallipoli. Can you 
 deny that you were tliere ? " 
 
 " I do deny it ! " 
 
 '' Good ! I can prove by three good witnesses that 
 you and he both were there. Every man on board 
 the ship knows the Pacha." 
 
 ''If you have so good a case, why do you wish to 
 keep this affair secret?" asked the captive quite 
 faintly. 
 
 'The conspiracy is against two of my passengers, 
 my owner being one of them, though he knows all 
 about it ; the other is the young lady whom the Pacha 
 desires you to capture ; and the knowledge of the 
 infamous plot would worry her parents half to death. 
 I am abundantly able to protect the young lady, and I 
 will sink, the Samothraki if she attempts to come near- 
 my ship again!" said the commander Avith no little 
 spirit, though he had taken the precaution to close 
 both the doors before he delivered himself in tliis 
 decided manner. 
 
 " There is no conspiracy. Captain Einggold I " pro- 
 tested Mazagan. 
 
 " If I called you by your right name, I sliould say 
 you were a liar ! " 
 
 " Sir ! " 
 
 "You needn't 'sir' me; I know Avhat you are. I 
 
THE PLAIN SPEECH OF CAPTAIN PINGGOLD 267 
 
 could bring a witness here wlio lieard every word of 
 the arrangement between you and His Highness. He 
 can speak French as fluently as either you or tlie 
 Pacha. You were so confident of your ability to 
 carry out your agreement, that you boasted you 
 would capture the young lady in the streets of Athens 
 or Syra." 
 
 " I am your prisoner, and you can insult me as you 
 please," whined Mazagan. 
 
 "Perhaps you will be willing to inform me where 
 the Fatime is just now, for I know that she is waiting 
 in these waters for you to perform your share of the 
 conspiracy. I have spoken very freely to. you, and 
 told you the whole story from my side of the question. 
 I shall regard you as a pirate ; and I believe the Greek 
 government would hang you and the skipper of the 
 Samothraki if it understood the matter, and had you 
 in its power." 
 
 " I don't know where the Fatime is, though I know 
 the steamer. But I think we had better drop the 
 matter, for you are too unreasonable to enable us to 
 reach any conclusion," added the prisoner. 
 
 " There can be no agreement or compromise be- 
 tween me and a pirate," replied the commander, as he 
 went to the door. " I warn you that, if you attempt 
 to escape, the sentinel will fire upon you, and save 
 the Greek government the trouble of hanging you." 
 
 " If I am shot, my fate Avill be properly avenged," 
 muttered Mazagan, who was much depressed by his 
 situation, though he had vainly struggled to conceal 
 the fact from the commander. 
 
268 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 '^We are going to Athens to-day, and if you wish 
 to capture the young lady in the streets, now is your 
 time ; but you will find her surrounded by a band of 
 strong defenders." 
 
 The ringing of the breakfast bell announced to the 
 commander that his presence was needed in the cabin. 
 He was somewhat agitated for him, but he soon 
 calmed himself down so that he bore his usual quiet 
 expression when he seated himself at the table. 
 
 The barge was at the gangway when the party 
 went on deck, and they were at once landed at the 
 Pirseus. There were a baker's dozen of them, and 
 they were soon seated in one of the carriages of the 
 train. 
 
 '^ This is not exactly classical, Professor," said Dr. 
 Hawkes, as he seated himself with Mrs. Blossom 
 opposite the French gentleman. " I can't help being 
 astonished when I think of being dragged by a loco- 
 motive over the ground trodden by Pericles and 
 Themistocles, to say nothing of hundreds of others 
 whose names live in history after tAVO thousand years 
 from their time." 
 - " It does feel strange," laughed the professor. 
 
 " ' Ye men of Athens ' " said Mrs. Blossom. 
 
 "Plenty of men here still, I dare say," added the 
 surgeon. 
 
 "But wasn't that what St. Paul said to the Athe- 
 nians ? " asked the lady, who knew her Scripture if she 
 did not the classics. " ' Ye men of Athens, I perceive 
 that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I 
 
THE PLAIN SPEECH OF CAPTAIN RINGGOLD 269 
 
 passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an 
 altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN 
 GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him 
 declare I unto you.' I read the whole chapter yester- 
 day." 
 
 " And very good reading it is too, madam," replied 
 the physician. " What you repeat so well is the 
 beginning of Paul's discourse on the Areopagus, or 
 Mars Hill. He founded a Christian church here ; and 
 Dionysius, whom Paul converted, was the first bishop. 
 You can see, madam, that I have been looking into 
 the Dictionary of the Bible." 
 
 The train stopped at the station, after a ride of 
 seven miles, which is the distance by rail, where 
 carriages were taken to the Hotel d' Angleterre ; for 
 some of them were to remain there several days, the 
 commander going back and forth every day, for he 
 still had his important prisoner on his mind. At the 
 hotel, Miltiades Yidis was at once engaged as the best 
 recommended guide. 
 
 " This city has changed somewhat since I was here 
 in 1870; though I feel quite at home here, for things 
 that have lasted for two or three thousand years are 
 not disturbed much by a lapse of twenty," said Cap- 
 tain E-inggold, as the party stood looking at what 
 could be seen from the front of the hotel. 
 
 " Can we go shopping here ? " asked Mrs. Belgrave. 
 
 ^^ Certainly : you will find stores, though they gen- 
 erally call them shops here, as they do in England, in 
 Eolus and Hermes streets ; and you can talk English 
 
270 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 ill most of them. Miltiades will go witli you if you 
 wish/' replied the captain, amused at the high-sound- 
 ing name of the man. 
 
 " I don't want any guides with me when I go shop- 
 ping," added the lady. 
 
 " You may save the commission by going alone ; 
 and you will have no difficulty at all in making your 
 way. I will go with you, if you wish." 
 
 " I shall be glad to go with you ; and Mrs. Wool- 
 ridge and Miss Blanche will join us." 
 
 The commander w^as satisfied, for he intended to 
 keep the young ]ady in sight all the time. They 
 went to the Acropolis in the afternoon. 
 
THE WONDEES OP THE ACIIOPOLIS 271 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI 
 
 THE WOXDERS OF THE ACROPOLIS 
 
 During the forenoon of the first day in Athens 
 the party wandered about the city, which lies between 
 Mount Lycabettus, a hill on the north, and the Acrop- 
 olis. They ascended this elevation, and obtained a 
 general view of the situation of the town. 
 
 "This city takes its name from Athena, a female 
 divinity of Greece identical with Minerva. We get 
 some of these names from the Greek and some 
 from the Latin, and that is the reason why so many 
 of them have different designations. Jupiter is the 
 Latin name for the king of the gods, and Zeus is 
 the Greek," said the professor. "The first name of 
 Athens was Cecropia, after Cecrops. 
 
 " The Acropolis, which you see across the town, 
 is about five hundred feet high, and is the first 
 sight one obtains from the bay in coming from sea, 
 though it is not a very high hill. Doubtless this 
 elevation was the reason why it was chosen as a 
 location for a city; for in the earliest days it was 
 not only a place of residence, but the fortress, and 
 the location of the sacred buildings." 
 
 "This city enjoys one of the most delightful 
 
272 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 climates in the world/' added Captain Kinggold. "It 
 is nuicli resorted to as a sanitarium, though most of 
 its visitors come here to study archaeology, ancient 
 history, and mythology. The modern Greeks call 
 this hill St. George, after the church on our right. 
 
 <And still his honied wealth Ilyinettus yields,' 
 
 Byron sang. This is the name of the mountain range 
 at the east of us which bounds the Attic plain, as the 
 region is called. Its highest peak is three thousand 
 three hundred and sixty-eight feet high, and is famous 
 for its purple tints. You can see Mount Pentelicus, 
 or Mendeli as the Italians call it, three thousand six 
 hundred feet, ten miles distant, noted for the ancient 
 quarries there, from which came the marble for the 
 temples whose ruins you will see. 
 
 'Age shakes Athena's towers, but spares gray Marathon.' " 
 
 " Where is Marathon ? " asked Louis. 
 
 " That is on the east coast, twenty-two miles east of 
 us. It is a plain two or three miles wide, between the 
 mountains and the channel which separates Euboea 
 from the main land. 
 
 ' The mountains look on Marathon, and Marathon looks on 
 the sea,' 
 
 says Byron ; and the channel must pass poetically for 
 the sea. On this small jdain was fought what is 
 called one of the decisive battles of the world, in 
 
THE WONDERS OF THE ACKOFOLIS 273 
 
 wliich Milticades defeated the Persian army under 
 King Darius." 
 
 " ' In bleak Thermopylse's sepulchral strait,' " 
 
 said Morris. " I have recited this poem many times, 
 but don't know where it is." 
 
 "The word means Hiot gates/ and is the famous 
 pass leading from Thessaly into Locris ; and it was 
 the only road by which an army could get from the 
 northern part of Greece into the southern part. It 
 contains some hot springs, from whicli it gets its 
 name. Every schoolboy knows about the battle in 
 which Leonidas was killed in his attempt to defeat 
 the Persians, and we will not fight it over again,'' 
 replied the captain. 
 
 The carriages were waiting, and the party rode back 
 to the city. They visited the old cathedral of the 
 thirteenth century, and the new one. The Royal 
 Palace is the most prominent building in Athens, 
 near Mount Lycabettus, and is nearly three hundred 
 feet square, covered with a coat of plaster. An 
 American school for females was established many 
 years ago by the Rev. Mr. Hill and his wife, sent 
 out by the Episcopalians of the United States ; and it 
 has always attracted a great deal of attention. 
 
 After lunch the company proceeded to the Acropolis. 
 Louis found a use for all the historical knowledge he 
 possessed in answering Miss Blanche's questions, for 
 as usual he was at her side most of the time ; and he 
 was sometimes obliged to appeal to the professor to 
 
274 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 supplement liis information. Tliey first ascended the 
 Areopagus, or Mars Hill. Mrs. Blossom went into 
 ecstasies when she found she was on the spot where 
 St. Paul had preached, and Mrs. Belgrave was not 
 unmoved. The former had brought her Bible with 
 her, and she read the chapter in the Acts. 
 
 ''The twelve gods of Olympus held their court 
 here," said Miltiades, as all called him, for his sur- 
 name sounded less Grecian to them. "The highest 
 court of the city also met here to try murder cases, 
 and uphold the old laws and traditions, especially 
 such as related to religion. Some say that the 
 Apostle Paul defended Christianity before this court ; 
 but all agree that he preached here." 
 
 "Do you have any rivers here, Mr. Miltiades?" 
 asked Scott. " It seems to me I have read of some." 
 
 " We have two ; but they are dry just now," replied 
 the guide. "That is the Ilissus to the south of us, 
 and the Cephissus over to the north. They are dry, or 
 nearly so, every summer ; but there is plenty of water 
 in them in the winter, and they water the vineyards 
 and olive groves of the Attic plain. About a mile 
 north-west of the city is the grove of Academe, where 
 Plato taught his philosophy, and founded his school." 
 
 " Which was the first academy in the world, as the 
 one you and Felix attended at Von Blonk Park was 
 not," laughed the professor. 
 
 " But what does the word mean ? " inquired Felix. 
 
 "In ancient times there was an Athenian here 
 whose name was Academus. Helen, the lady who 
 
THE WONDERS OP THE ACROPOLIS 275 
 
 caused the Trojan War of wliicli you have heard so 
 much, was the sister of Castor and Pollux. Theseus 
 and his friend carried off Helen, and her twin brothers 
 went to search for and rescue her. Academus told 
 them where to find her ; and he was a hero besides. 
 He was also known as Hecademus ; and it is fortunate 
 that they took the other name, or you might have 
 gone to a Hecademy, instead of to an Academy," 
 replied the professor in a jovial mood. " How would 
 you have liked that, Felix ? " 
 
 "I should have preferred a Shecademy," replied 
 the Milesian. "But you did not tell us, Professor, 
 whether the twins found their sister ; because, if they 
 did not, I shall look in some Shecademy for her." 
 
 " They found Helen, and you will be saved all trou- 
 ble on her account," answered the professor. " I 
 suppose the knoll near us is Colonus" — the guide 
 nodded assent — "where Sophocles, the tragic poet, 
 was born." 
 
 " He was the Greek professor in Harvard College," 
 added Morris. 
 
 " Hardly the one who was born on Col onus, for he 
 was born about five hundred years before Christ," 
 laughed the professor. " Professor Sophocles is a 
 very learned man, but he is not the poet sj^oken of." 
 
 From this hill the party passed over to the Acropo- 
 lis. There were some among them who could under- 
 stand and appreciate the magnificent monuments of 
 antiquity, the representatives of Greek art which this 
 hill has brought down to the present age. Any ade- 
 
276 THE YOUKG NAVIGATORS 
 
 quate clescrij)tion of the temples and monuments is 
 simply impossible in less than an entire volume, and 
 lovers of art spend months and years in the study and 
 contemplation of them. 
 
 ^^ This is the Propylaea," said Captain Einggold. 
 " But I shall turn this subject over to the professor." 
 
 " Here it is before us," added the learned French- 
 man, as he pointed to a double flight of stairs. " Here 
 you notice an inclined plane, grooved so that horses 
 would not slip, for this was the entrance of the chari- 
 ots of the magnates of old. This structure, though 
 not the most important, is regarded by artists as one 
 of the most beautiful in this locality. It probably 
 cost about two and a half millions of our money, 
 though people devoted to the fine arts do not figure 
 on the cost, only on the beauty of a work." 
 
 The party passed on, and the " Temple of Victory 
 without Wings " was described to them. It has been 
 restored from the piles of ruins around it to its former 
 proportions and symmetry. One of the two wings of 
 the building is called the Pinacotheca because it 
 contains paintings, and the other is nothing but a 
 gallery. 
 
 " This is the Parthenon," said the professor, as they 
 proceeded on tlieir way. 
 
 The surgeon and Uncle Moses were properly enrap- 
 tured at the siglit of the structure which had had a 
 place in their thoughts from their college days ; the 
 commander had exhausted the subject ; and the rest 
 of the party took the announcement very coolly, or 
 
THE WONDERS OF THE ACROPOLIS 277 
 
 at least concealed their feelings if they were at all 
 moved. 
 
 ^' Parthenos means literally a maiden or virgin, and 
 is the temple of Athena, who has been spoken of 
 before to-day. It is sometimes called the Temple of 
 the Virgin," continued the jn-ofessor. '^*It is the finest 
 edifice on the finest site in the world, hallowed by the 
 noblest recollections that can stimulate the human 
 heart/ is what the poet Wordsworth says of it. It 
 was built of Pentelic marble under the administration 
 of Pericles; and it stood in very nearly its perfect 
 form till 1687, when it was used by the invading 
 Turks as a powder magazine. A bomb from a Vene- 
 tian mortar burst in the structure, fired the powder, 
 and the explosion reduced the magnificent edifice to 
 its present ruinous condition. 
 
 " It is 228 feet long, and 64 feet high at the ped- 
 iment, with a width of 101 feet. The columns, which 
 entirely surround the building, are thirty-five feet 
 high. It is the perfect symmetry of the temple which 
 excites the wonder and admiration of the whole world. 
 The Church of the Madelaine, the most noted in Paris, 
 is correctly modelled after it; and no end of public 
 buildings have been erected in the same style. 
 
 " Inside of these columns, on the four sides, is a 
 solid wall, which encloses the principal apartment 
 of the temple. Now we will walk around the edifice 
 by this wall. You perceive out on the plain," said 
 the speaker, as he pointed in that direction, "the 
 grove of olives where Plato taught his disciples. 
 
278 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Through it extended the Via Sacra, or Sacred Way, 
 over which passed the religious processions on their 
 way to the temple. Now look above you on the wall, 
 and you see the frieze which represents one of these 
 j)rocessions attending the Pan-Athenaic festival. 
 
 '^ Some of the slabs of this bas-relief remain ; but 
 many of them were carried to England by the Earl of 
 Elgin, which were purchased by the government, and 
 placed in the British Museum where you saw them. 
 Phidias, the most eminent of the ancient Greek 
 sculptors, superintended the erection of the Parthe- 
 non, though he was not the architect. We will go 
 into the body of the temple. In the centre stood the 
 statue of the goddess, forty feet high, which was es- 
 teemed one of the greatest works of art. The parts 
 of the figure exposed to vieiv, including the face, were 
 of ivory, and the vestments and ornaments were of 
 pure gold, Avortli fifty thousand dollars ; but the state 
 could remove the solid metal if there should be 
 need." 
 
 " It would have been a capital resource when the 
 banks were exporting too much of the precious metal, 
 and the specie payment reserve ran down to danger- 
 ous limits, though the sum named would have been 
 a mere bagatelle in modern times," added the com- 
 mander jocosely. 
 
 They left the Parthenon tlien, taking a long view 
 of its proportions from a spot the captain selected. 
 All of them were impressed with the sight, and some 
 walked about to obtain different standpoints from 
 
THE WONDERS OF THE ACROrOLTS 279 
 
 which to regard it. But they were soon gathered to- 
 gether again at the next object of interest. 
 
 "This is the Erechtheum, erected in honor of one 
 of the protecting deities of the city, after whom it is 
 named," said the professor. 
 
 " What is his name ? " asked Felix. 
 
 "I don't think he is about here now, though the 
 gods were regarded as immortal. His name was 
 Erechtheus, young man." 
 
 " Why didn't he have a name that a fellow could 
 pronounce without breaking his jaw ? " 
 
 " Do you think this temple's name would sound any 
 better, Elix, if it were called the Jim Smith-eus ? " 
 asked Louis. 
 
 " Perhaps not ; but a fellow could pronounce it. It 
 is not Kilkenny Greek." 
 
 " This was the most revered of all the sacred places 
 of Athens," continued the professor. " It is also one 
 of the finest specimens of ancient architecture." 
 
 But the afternoon had passed, and they returned to 
 the hotel. 
 
280 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTEE XXXII 
 
 MONSIEUR ULBACH PUTS IN AN APPEARANCE 
 
 ^' Well^ wliat do you think of it ? " asked Louis, as 
 he and Felix walked to the hotel, while most of the 
 others took carriages. 
 
 " It is more of a town than I supposed," replied the 
 Milesian. ''But they have such jaw-breaking names 
 on that hill that a fellow like me has to hold his 
 tongue, or he would bite it off." 
 
 " That's all affectation on your part, Elix ; for I 
 have heard you declaim a piece from these very 
 poems of Byron, and you pronounced the names well 
 enough, when we went to the academy," replied Louis. 
 " I remember one extract in particular, where you 
 spread out both your hands, and held them up as 
 though you were addressing some spirit in the air or 
 on a hill." 
 
 " That must have been after the principal had been 
 drilling me," laughed Felix. " How did it begin ? " 
 
 *' ' Spirit of Freedom ! when on Pliyle's brow 
 
 Thou sat'st with Tlirasybulus and his train,' " — 
 
 " Hold on, Louis ! Don't rake up my sins," inter- 
 posed Felix. "I was introduced to Thrasy by 
 
MONSIEUK ULBACH PUTS IN APPEARANCE 281 
 
 the principal, so tliat the name did not choke 
 me then. 
 
 ' Could' St thou forebode the dismal hour that now 
 Dims the green beauties of thine Attic plain ? ' 
 
 That's all I remember of it ; but I had an idea that 
 the Attic plain had something to do with the room at 
 the top of the house." 
 
 " No, yon didn't ! " protested Louis. " What is the 
 use of affecting to be a fool when you are not one ! 
 You spoke the piece exceedingly Avell, and got the 
 highest mark for it. If you spoke out what is in you, 
 this Attic plain has interested you as much as it has 
 me. I wonder what this building is," added Louis. 
 
 " That is the Polytechnicutumup," replied the Mile- 
 sian seriously. 
 
 " It is the Polytechnicum," added Louis. 
 
 " You wouldn't have named it if I hadn't told you." 
 
 " You burlesque the name ; but you gave me the 
 idea. There come the carriages," said Louis as the 
 party drove by them. "This city contains a good 
 many fine buildings erected by donations from na- 
 tives living in other countries, for many Greeks find 
 they can make more money abroad than they can at 
 home." 
 
 "That's just the case with the Kilkenny Greeks, 
 and more of them live in America than in Ireland. 
 Whist ! " exclaimed Felix, suddenly changing his 
 manner. "There is a blackguard following those 
 carriages, and what is he driving at ? " 
 
282 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 ^' I suppose he is looking for a chance to make a 
 drachma/' replied Louis lightly. 
 
 " Not a bit of it ! I have seen that fellow before," 
 replied the Milesian ; and without saying any more 
 he bolted into a run in the direction of the hotel. 
 
 Louis was left to wonder what had so suddenly 
 taken possession of his friend. He had not particu- 
 larly noticed the person who was following the car- 
 riages, and it did not seem very strange to him. He 
 was not inclined to run ; and he called a passing cab, 
 in which he seated himself, and told the driver to fol- 
 low the two carriages he pointed out. Most of the 
 cabmen spoke English, though this one did not ; but 
 he understood him in French. The vehicle overtook 
 Felix first, and Louis took him in. 
 
 ^^What is the matter with you, Felix? Have you 
 gone crazy all at once ? " demanded Louis. 
 
 ^^ Not at all," replied Felix, as well as his want of 
 breath permitted him to speak. " Didn't I tell you I 
 had seen that fellow before ? " asked Felix, annoyed 
 at the manner of his companion. 
 
 '' You did ; but you did not tell me who he was." 
 
 " I don't kuoAV now, and that is what I want to find 
 out." 
 
 ^' Who did you suppose he was ? " 
 
 ^' Not Mazagan, but the captain of the felucca," 
 answered the Milesian very quietly. 
 
 " You don't mean so ! " 
 
 ^' I only got a glimpse at him, for I didn't see him 
 till he had passed me. I had a good chance to look 
 
MONSIEUR ULBACH PUTS IN APPEiVllANCE 283 
 
 liim over when I was in the standing-room of the 
 Mand." 
 
 Felix stood up in the vehicle, looking ahead to see 
 the pursuer of the party. Felix hurried the driver; 
 but his horse was not a mythological beast, and had 
 no wings, real or figurative. 
 
 " What would Captain " but Louis had lost his 
 
 name. 
 
 " Polychronotype ; that is the nearest I can come to 
 it." 
 
 " That suggests it — Captain Polychronopulos," 
 added Louis. " What could he be doing here ? " 
 
 " He is looking for the Mazagan ; or perhaps he has 
 seen the Pacha, and taken the contract off the hands 
 of his former employer/' suggested Felix. 
 
 " We shall find out what he is after/' added Louis, 
 as he stopped the carriage and got out in sight of the 
 hotel. 
 
 " Don't let him see you, Louis, if you can help 
 it," said Felix. " He will know us both, and he 
 will change his plans if he notices us. We will 
 separate." 
 
 Louis thought his friend's advice was good, and he 
 followed it. The party had come very slowly, and 
 when they approached the hotel the pursuer went to 
 the side of the street. The company alighted in front 
 of the hotel and went in. Captain Ringgold and Mr. 
 Giroud were not with them. Keeping his eyes wide 
 open, he assisted Miss Blanche to descend. 
 
 " Where is the commander ? " he asked her. 
 
284 THE YOUNG XAVIGATOKS 
 
 " He and the professor Avislied to go to some place, 
 and they walked," replied Miss Woolridge. 
 
 Louis escorted her into the house, and all the ladies 
 went to their rooms. The follower of the carriages 
 did not come into the hotel ; but from a window he 
 obtained a full view of him, and was sure he was the 
 captain of the felucca, though he had put on a better 
 suit of clothes than he had worn in his boat. He had 
 discovered the party of Avhom his employer was in 
 pursuit, and had seen the beautiful young lady ; but 
 he had not yet found Captain Mazagan. 
 
 Felix remained outside, and had posted himself 
 beliind a carriage where he could observe the move- 
 ments of Polychronopulos ; but he kept at a consid- 
 erable distance from him. TiOuis also kept his eye on 
 the Greek, and a little later he saw a Avell-dressed man 
 a2:)proach him from the hotel. He had seen this per- 
 son in the corridor of the hotel, and noticed that he 
 observed the ladies of the party very attentively ; but 
 this Avas not very strange, for all the guests did the 
 same. 
 
 The stranger spoke to the Greek captain, who 
 pointed several times at the hotel, as though the 
 conversation related to some of the j^ersons who were 
 staying there; and Louis had no difficulty in deter- 
 mining who they were. He wondered who the man 
 in European dress was ; but he concluded he must 
 have some connection witli the conspiracy, for it was 
 indicated by his interview with the captain of tlie 
 felucca. 
 
MONSIEUn ULBACH PUTS IN APPEARANCE 285 
 
 The conversation between them was of brief dura- 
 tion, and the stranger returned to the hotel. Felix 
 decided to watch the Greek, to learn more about his 
 purpose. Louis went to the office of tlie porter, who 
 is one of the most important personages in a European 
 hotel ; and when the object of his present inquiry 
 passed into the reading-room, he asked Avho he was. 
 The porter did not recall his name, but looked in liis 
 book. 
 
 " Monsieur Ulbach," replied he, showing the in- 
 quirer the name. 
 
 " Is he a Frenchman ? " 
 
 " I don't know ; but he speaks French.^' 
 
 This was all Louis could learn of him, and he went 
 into the reading-room to wait for the arrival of 
 Captain Einggold. But he had hardly seated himself 
 before the stranger approached and very politely 
 spoke to him in French, wishing to know if he was 
 going to Thermopylae. 
 
 " Don't you speak English, sir ? " asked Louis, 
 wishing to learn all he could of the stranger. 
 
 " Not a word of it," replied Monsieur Ulbach, shrug- 
 ging his shoulders like a Frenchman, whether he was 
 one or not. "1 wish to go to Thermopylae, and I 
 desire to make up a party so that the expense will not 
 be so large." 
 
 " I don't know yet, for I am here with a party," 
 replied Louis. 
 
 "Then your party can join. You can take your 
 ladies, if you have any, your sisters and your wives," 
 suggested the stranger. 
 
286 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOllS 
 
 '' Are you a Frenclimaii ? " asked the inquirer, 
 tliougii they did their talking in French. 
 
 "I am Belgian from Antwerp, where we speak 
 French and Flemish." 
 
 Louis had his doubts about the truth of this state- 
 ment; but he encouraged his new acquaintance for 
 the purpose of learning more about him. He inti- 
 mated that some of his party might join the excursion 
 to the famous pass. It looked a little as though the 
 pirates of the Samothraki intended to take to the 
 shore, and capture their victims there instead of on 
 the sea. In the reading-room it was somewhat doubt- 
 ful which of the two was the greater dupe. The 
 entrance of Captain Einggold and the professor broke 
 up the conversation; and Louis retired with them, 
 without taking the trouble to introduce his friends to 
 Monsieur Ulbach. 
 
 While Mr. Giroud went up-stairs, Louis took the 
 commander out into the street, and related to him all 
 that he liad discovered. The latter was considerably 
 startled by the intelligence, for it indicated that the 
 conspiracy had come home to them again. 
 
 '' Who is this Ulbach ? ■' he asked. 
 
 " Of course I don't know, but I believe he is the 
 Pacha's French detective whose existence we sus- 
 pected before," replied Louis, when he had assured 
 himself that no one was within hearing. 
 
 ''I see! I see!" exclaimed the captain. "This 
 fellow is the key to the wliole riddle, and Ave don't 
 need any QMipus to guess it." 
 
MONSIEUR ULBACH PUTS IN APPEARANCE 287 
 
 " But how did lie and the cai)taiii of the felucca get 
 here ? " asked Louis, puzzled at the situation. 
 
 '^ That is easy enough to solve," replied the com- 
 mander. "We know enough to enable us to see 
 through that millstone. Mr. Bouloug saw the Pacha's 
 steam-yacht, so that we are sure she is in these waters. 
 Of course she followed the felucca, with this Ulbach 
 on board of her. It was not a difficult matter for her 
 to find out every day where the G-uardian-Mother 
 was. The Pacha ascertained at Pournea Bay what 
 had happened to the Samothraki. Very likely she 
 was repaired by their ship's carpenter, and they have 
 followed us everywhere we have been. In my judg- 
 ment the Fatime and the felucca are concealed in some 
 of the numerous bays on the coast." 
 
 " Taking that as the theory, what is to be done ? " 
 asked Louis anxiously. 
 
 " Where is Felix ? " inquired Captain Ringgold, 
 looking about him, for Louis had told him that he 
 was watching the Greek captain. 
 
 "1 don't know. The last I saw of him he was 
 behind some carriages on the other side of the street 5 " 
 and they proceeded to search for him. 
 
 They patrolled the streets near the hotel in every 
 direction, but they saw neither Milesian nor Greek. 
 But both of them were sure that Felix would give a 
 good account of himself. They went back to the 
 hotel, and dined with the party. Monsieur Ulbach, 
 who so far as they could see seemed to be alone, made 
 several attempts to continue his acquaintance with 
 
288 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Louis; but the prudent young man dodged him, or 
 excused himself as the case required. 
 
 Felix did not appear, and after dinner the com- 
 mander went to the Piraeus to look out for his pris- 
 oner on board. No one had been near the ship ; but 
 while he was studying the situation in his room, the 
 absentee knocked at his door and was admitted about 
 ten o'clock. Captain Einggold was very glad to see 
 him ; and it was evident that Felix, as he dropped into 
 an armchair tired out, had a story to tell. 
 
A NIGHT EXCURSION TO TOUT MUNYCHIA 289 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII 
 
 A NIGHT EXCURSION TO TORT MUNYCHIA 
 
 " What is the matter, Felix ? " asked the captain, 
 as the wanderer dropped into his chair. 
 
 " jSTothing, Captain Einggokl, only I am as tired as 
 a dog, or as tired as two dogs," replied Felix. "' I 
 have had a long jaunt, and after the tramp in Athens 
 it tells upon me." 
 
 "We missed you at the hotel. Where did you 
 dine ? " 
 
 " I didn't dine at all, sir ; I had no time to attend 
 to that part of my daily duty." 
 
 The commander rang a bell, and a lunch was brought 
 to the cabin for the Milesian, and he soon improved 
 his condition very greatly. 
 
 " Now, sir, Avill you let me look at the map of this 
 coast ? " he added, when he had finished the lunch. 
 
 " The chart is spread out on the case there, and you 
 can see that, if it is what you want," replied the com- 
 mander, as he went to it, and pointed out on it one of 
 the small plans of Salamis Bay, which he studied very 
 attentively for a few minutes. 
 
 "Now I know where I am, Captain ; for I was mixed 
 in the darkness, though I had a pretty good idea of 
 
290 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 where I was going. Wliat is the name of this bit of 
 a hole in the coast, sir ? " he asked, pointing to a bay 
 east of the harbor Avhere the ship lay. 
 
 '^ That is Port Munychia, one of the three harbors 
 of Athens, strongly fortified by Themistocles." 
 
 *^ Never mind the antiquities, if you please. Cap- 
 tain," added Felix, as he went back to his armchair, 
 which seemed to feel very good to him. 
 
 ''Louis told me he left you outside of the hotel 
 watching the captain of the felucca, who had chased 
 the carriages," said the commander ; and he told him 
 something about Monsieur Ulbach and the theory in 
 regard to him. 
 
 " I did not hear of that man before," added Felix. 
 " I kept both of my eyes fixed on Captain Pollycrow, 
 for I thought he was the fellow that was going to pull 
 uj) the corn. He did not stay there long, and I fol- 
 lowed him to the railroad station. When he got into 
 a car I did the same, but I took care that he did not 
 get his crow peepers on me. He got out before we got 
 to the Piraeus, and I followed his example. It was 
 dark enough by tliis time so that I could keep out of 
 sight of him, and I went after him through the back 
 part of the town here till we struck into a field. 
 
 " Then he came to a little bay, not as big as this 
 one, where he hailed a craft out from the shore ; and a 
 boat came for him, in which he went off. Then I got 
 close to the shore, and saw him go on board of a 
 felucca. I walked up and down the beach till I got 
 a good view of the craft. Then a Greek came up to the 
 
A NIGHT EXCURSION TO PORT MUNYCHIA 291 
 
 shore and spoke to me. I could not understand a 
 word he said ; but I concluded that he asked me if I 
 wanted a boat, as these fellows ashore here do. 
 
 " This bay was the one you showed me on the chart. 
 I pointed to the east shore of it, and took two drach- 
 mas from my pocket. I pointed several times to the 
 place where I wanted to go, for I saw that the course 
 would take me close to the felucca. He bowed every 
 time, and talked Greek at me ; and he pulled me close 
 to the Sammy Thraker. I pointed to her, and re- 
 peated her name, as near as I could make it out. He 
 said it over in his own way." 
 
 " He called her Samothraki," added the captain. 
 
 " That was the color of it ; and then he made signs 
 to ask if I wanted to go on board. I didn't do it, and 
 he put me ashore at the place I had pointed out. But 
 I saw the two new rudders of the Sammy, and I know 
 it was she. I had a big walk, and got lost twice in 
 getting here ; but I am here all the same, and came 
 off to the ship in a shore boat." 
 
 "Then we know where the Samothraki is," added 
 the commander thoughtfully. "You have done ex- 
 ceedingly well, Felix ; you have rendered good service, 
 and I am greatly obliged to you. Did you see or hear 
 anything of the Fatime ? " 
 
 "Not a sight or a sound. How is Captain Mana- 
 gang, sir ? " asked Felix with a heavy gape. 
 
 "He is safe, and is likely to remain so. But you 
 are sleepy, Felix, and you had better turn in, for we 
 shall go up to Athens again early in the morniug," 
 added the captain. 
 
292 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Felix took this advice, and tlien tlie captain called 
 in Mr. Boulong. He told liim tliat the felucca was at 
 Port Munycliia, pointing it out to him on the chart, 
 and directed him to keep a sharp lookout all the time 
 for the craft. 
 
 The knowledge of the actual conspiracy was still 
 confined to the four persons before indicated, and the 
 first officer was permitted to believe that the Samo- 
 thraki had a gang of Greek 23irates on board of her 
 who had designs upon the ship or her passengers. 
 Doubtless some points looked very strange to him, 
 especially that Captain Einggold did not call for the 
 arrest of the supposed freebooters. He was instructed 
 to use the Maud in exploring the bay. 
 
 After an early breakfast the commander and Felix 
 returned to Athens. The first person they encoun- 
 tered in the vestibule of the hotel was Captain Scott. 
 
 " You are up early, Captain," said the commander 
 with a cheerful smile. 
 
 " Since two o'clock," replied Scott in a very low 
 tone. 
 
 "Why were you up at that hour?" inquired 
 Captain Ringgold anxiously. " Have you had any 
 trouble ? " 
 
 '^No sir; we took good care tliat there should be 
 none. Louis spoke to me last night, and told me all 
 the news." 
 
 The reading-room was empty at this hour, and 
 they decided to hold their conference there. Tliey 
 had hardly seated themselves before Louis joined 
 
A NIGHT EXCURSION TO POUT MUNYCHIA 293 
 
 them, for lie had been too anxious in mind to have 
 had much sleep. 
 
 " Explain yourself, Captain Scott," said tlie com- 
 mander. 
 
 " Perhaps Louis could do it better than I can," re- 
 plied Scott. "He told me what he had discovered, 
 and declared that he could not sleep while Miss 
 lUanche was in danger. We agreed to keep watch 
 in the hall near her room, and he was on duty from 
 ten to two, and I from two to six." 
 
 " I have seen Ulbach poking about the house, and I 
 thought there was danger," added Louis ; " but noth- 
 ing has happened ; and I don't believe any of them 
 will try to capture Miss Woolridge in the hotel or 
 the streets. I think it is best to keep a good look- 
 out." 
 
 " It is certainly wise to keep on the safe side," said 
 the commander. The information obtained by Felix 
 was given to the two young men, who then went 
 to the drawing-room, where the rest of the party had 
 gathered. They all agreed that they liked the hotel* 
 very well, but felt more at home on board the 
 Guardian-Mother. 
 
 " Very well ; you shall all return to the ship after 
 dinner this evening," added the commander, who was 
 pleased with this arrangement, for it enabled him to 
 look after his passengers better than on shore. 
 
 That day the sight-seeing was resumed, and another 
 visit was made to the Parthenon. Miltiades con- 
 ducted them to the Lantern of Demosthenes, which 
 
294 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 is now called the Clioragic Monument, a small cir- 
 cular building, the first of the Corinthian order, of 
 white marble. 
 
 " But what's Choragic, Mr. Miltiades ? " asked 
 Eelix. 
 
 " Eelates to singing," replied the guide rather 
 indefinitely. 
 
 " This is the monument to Lysicrates, who was the 
 leader of the chorus on great occasions," added the 
 professor. 
 
 " This is the Temple of Jupiter Olympus," said 
 Miltiades. "It was begun by Pisistratus 530 years 
 B. c. The work was suspended for hundreds of 
 years, so that it was not finished till 138 a.d. It is 
 354 fifty feet long and 170 feet wide. Only sixteen 
 of the Corinthian columns are left, and most of the 
 big temple is in ruins." 
 
 The guide recited his lesson very formally ; and the 
 party liked the professor's talks a great deal better, 
 for they were in an easy, conversational tone. Mil- 
 tiades pointed out some holes in a steep rock, and 
 called one of them the dungeon of Socrates, declaring 
 that it was where the philosopher was imprisoned, 
 and where he drunk his hemlock ; but there was no 
 evidence of the truth of the claim, and the commander 
 laughed at it. 
 
 " This is the Temple of Theseus," said the guide 
 when they came to it. 
 
 " It is in a better state of preservation than any 
 of the temples of Athens, or of all Greece, or even of 
 
A l^IGHT EXCURSION TO POUT MUNYCHIA 295 
 
 those in Italy or Sicily. It was built by Cymoii, son 
 of Miltiades." 
 
 " Was he your grandfather, Mr. Miltiades ? " asked 
 Felix. 
 
 " No ; but he was one of my ancestors " replied the 
 guide proudly. 
 
 " I suppose you had about a million of these an- 
 cestors, and the family record must be a little mixed 
 on account of the wars of the Greeks with the Persians 
 and Turks," added the Milesian ; but the guide looked 
 cold and haughty. 
 
 " This temple was built to receive the remains of 
 Theseus, whose story you heard when we were at the 
 island of Skyros, where he is said to have been pushed 
 into the sea," said the professor. " During the dark 
 ages it was converted into the Church of St. George ; 
 and to this fact it owes something of its wonderful 
 state of preservation, for it was built over twenty- 
 three hundred years ago." 
 
 They next looked over the Theatre of Bacchus, but 
 by this time some of tlie party were quite fatigued. 
 After dinner the sight-seeing was renewed, but the 
 company of tourists were already tired of it. The 
 fact was that they had worked too hard at it. Dr. 
 Hawkes declared that he had rather see less, and see 
 it better ; and most of them indorsed his view. 
 
 " I am of the same opinion," added Captain Ring- 
 gold. "When I was here more than twenty years 
 ago, I remained a month, and I met some who stayed 
 here by the year. But we are going around the world ; 
 
296 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 and if we should make a stay of a month in every 
 place that interests you, it would take us a quarter of 
 a century to get home." 
 
 The bills were paid, and the tourists went on board 
 of the steamer after dinner. They were tired enough 
 to sleep well, and there were new 'developments to the 
 initiated in regard to the conspiracy. Mr. Boulong 
 reported the felucca as still at anchor at Port 
 Munychia. 
 
 As much to give the passengers a rest as for any 
 other reason, Captain Ringgold planned an excursion 
 around the island of Salamis, in part through the 
 strait of the same name. By eight o'clock the 
 party had embarked, for the run was about forty 
 miles. Four sailors were placed on the promenade 
 deck of the little steamer, and the arms and ammuni- 
 tion were still kept concealed in the cabin. But there 
 seemed to be no occasion for them, for everything was 
 extremely peaceful on the classic shores. 
 
 " Didn't I read about the murder of some English 
 people in Greece about twenty or twenty-five years 
 ago ? " asked Uncle Moses, as the Maud was passing 
 out of the port into the Bay of Salamis. 
 
 " I remember it very well," replied the commander, 
 though he had silenced the doctor once when he began 
 to mention the matter, for he did not care to terrify 
 the ladies. " They were a party of eight persons, two 
 of Avhom were ladies, and a child was with them. On 
 their return from IMaratlion they were attacked by 
 Greek brigands. Their escort were mostly in the rear, 
 
A NIGHT EXCURSION TO POUT MUNYCHIA 297 
 
 but two of the soldiers with the party were shot down, 
 and all of the tourists were captured. The gentleman 
 at the head of the party was sent by the robbers to 
 obtain a ransom of one hundred thousand dollars 
 which was demanded for setting them at liberty. 
 
 " But instead of sending the money, and deferring 
 the attempt to capture the villains, the government 
 sent soldiers. The brigands were driven into the 
 mountains, where they murdered all their captives, 
 either for revenge or to secure their safety. The in- 
 dignation of all civilized nations was excited; the gov- 
 ernment sent out five hundred soldiers to capture the 
 robbers, and all of them were either killed, or captured 
 and afterwards executed. Since that stern lesson it is 
 safer to travel in this country, but not altogether safe 
 now." 
 
 The story excited a good deal of horror, and some 
 of the tourists declared they would not have come 
 there if they had known there were such perils in 
 Greece. But the captain insisted that he had taken 
 them into no peril whatever, and had avoided going to 
 any inland cities. 
 
298 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV 
 
 AT THE HEAD OF THE GULF OF CORIXTH 
 
 The commander liad told the story of only a 
 single operation of Greek banditti, though the one 
 related was the most horrible -that had been per- 
 petrated on this classic soil. If these ruffians vexed 
 the land, they were quite as likely to vex the sea ; 
 and piracy was the principal business of the early 
 Greeks. But Captain Ringgold had no fear of free- 
 booters on sea or shore simply as such ; the conspiracy 
 which had been specially plotted against his passengers 
 was all that troubled him ; and he felt abundantly 
 able to protect all those who were dependent upon 
 him for their safety. 
 
 ^' That is Lipso Island Avhich you see on the port 
 side," said the captain when he had finished his story. 
 ^^The lighthouse on it gives it about all the impor- 
 tance it has. Xow we are going to be in shore for the 
 next two hours, and I think you had better sing." 
 
 Mrs. IJelgrave struck a tune, and all the others who 
 could sing joined; and, with the delightful air and 
 sunshine of the morning, the melody was very inspir- 
 ing. Captain Scott had his plan of the bay before him, 
 and announced tlie names of various localities to those 
 
AT THE HEAD OF THE GULF OF CORINTH 299 
 
 wiio had taken seats on the forecastle, thongli the 
 standing-room was a more comfortable place to sit. 
 All the young people, including IVIiss Blanche, were 
 there. The country was rugged and uneven. 
 
 Scott gave the name of a range directly in front of 
 them called Skaramanga ; and farther off was Mount 
 Daphne, though neither of them was as much as two 
 thousand feet high. Then he pointed out another 
 Mount St. Elias on the island of Salamis ; and about 
 every island they had visited in The Archipelago con- 
 tained one with this name, which is the same as Elijah 
 in the Bible. 
 
 The Maud passed through some broad bays, and 
 some narrow passes, and the excursion was very rest- 
 ful as well as very pleasant. The only difficult navi- 
 gation the young captain had was a channel with a 
 ferry village on each side ; but he handled his craft 
 well, and kept the lead going all the time, so he went 
 through without getting aground. Soon after the little 
 steamer passed out of Trupica Bay, and was then 
 practically at sea again. 
 
 " This opening of about two miles wide, on the port, 
 is Kolouri Bay, with a village of the same name about 
 four miles back in the island, and not more than a 
 mile and a half from the channel which ive passed 
 through two hours ago," said Scott. " The point of 
 land ahead of us, with the cliff, is Cape Petrite. 
 There is a little cove just behind it where the water is 
 sixty feet deep close to the rocks." 
 
 "Don't say anything more about it. Captain Scott," 
 
300 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 said Louis in a low voice as lie went inco tne pilot- 
 house. " I tliink you liad better stand off farther 
 from the shore.'^ 
 
 " What's the matter ? " asked Scott, as he complied 
 with the suggestion, and headed the steamer away 
 from the land. 
 
 " When we were coming out of Trupica Bay, I ob- 
 tained a single glance in behind that rock ; and be- 
 tAveen you and me, for no one else saw it, there is a 
 steamer there ; and it is not a Greek tub either," re- 
 plied Louis with his back to the front windows. 
 
 " Of course you mean to say that it is the Moorish 
 steamer of four hundred tons, more or less ? " added 
 the captain. 
 
 " I don't know ; she was head on, and I could not 
 identify her ; but what should a steamer be doing in 
 such a hole as that if she does not want to keep out 
 of sight ? " 
 
 ''Very likely it is the Pacha's steam-yacht, for Cap- 
 tain Einggold's theory places her somewhere in these 
 waters," said Scott. '' Are you sure no one saw her 
 but yourself ? " 
 
 " Felix was looking the other way, and it was not 
 more than half a minute that she was to be seen. 
 One would not be likely to notice her under the 
 shadow of the rocks, which are higher than the tops 
 of her masts." 
 
 The steamer continued on her course, rounded the 
 island, and went into the port. As soon as the ladies 
 were handed on board of the ship, Louis told the com- 
 
AT THE HEAD OF THE GULF OF CORINTH 301 
 
 maiider what he had seen, lie desired to make sure 
 that the steamer was tlie Fatime, and the captain 
 directed him to do so in any manner he pleased. 
 Morris had gone into the cabin with his mother, for 
 he had a headache. As soon as the luncli liad been 
 served, the three young navigators who were in the 
 secret of the conspiracy went on board of the Maud, 
 and very quietly she cast off her fasts, and stood out 
 of the harbor. 
 
 In an hour and a half, for the distance was nearly 
 fifteen miles, the little steamer was approaching the 
 entrance to Kolouri Bay ; but Louis had decided not 
 to let the Fatime's people see her, or suppose they 
 were watched, and she was not to go into the bay. 
 Half a mile south of the cape they found a little cove 
 leading in among the rocks, which they entered. 
 Soundings gave no bottom, and Scott said the water 
 was two hundred feet deep at its entrance. 
 
 Witliout any difficulty they reached the head of 
 this cove. Louis and Felix landed from the steamer, 
 and climbed up the rocks. Scott had given them 
 " the lay of the land " from the chart, and they had 
 examined it for themselves. A walk of a quarter of a 
 mile over the uneven hill brought them to a stream 
 laid down on the chart. There was a considerable 
 hill near the end of Cape Petrite which screened tlie 
 Moorish craft from observation. 
 
 Louis led the way, following the stream, which 
 was a mountain torrent below them. They proceeded 
 with great caution ; for they thought some of the 
 
302 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Moors might be ashore, and make trouble for them. 
 They soon obtained a view of a couple of masts. 
 They heard no sounds indicating that any of the crew 
 were on shore. Creeping on their way, they at last 
 obtained a position where they could command a full 
 view of the deck of the craft. Beyond the possibility 
 of a doubt, the steamer was the Fatime. Louis wanted 
 no more, and he led the way back, though Felix 
 wanted to stir up an adventure. He even proposed 
 to drop some heavy rocks on the deck of the vessel, 
 which lay directly under them, made fast to the 
 precipice. One was so poised that with a little en- 
 gineering they could have rolled it off the cliff ; and 
 as it seemed to weigh a ton, it would have crushed 
 the deck, and probably the bottom, out of the steamer. 
 But Louis would not listen to the proposition, and 
 they went back to the Maud as they had come. 
 
 Louis reported to the commander on their return ; 
 and he declared that he had the men of the other side 
 on the chess-board, and he was ready to play the 
 game. He wondered whether or not His Highness 
 was living on board of his steamer, for he would 
 hardly dare to show himself in Athens. His principal 
 care was to prevent his passengers from knowing of 
 the near presence of the Samothraki and the Fatime ; 
 and both of these vessels, for their own purposes, 
 assisted in the concealment very effectually. 
 
 Both Monsieur Ulbach and Captain Polychronopulos 
 must have reached the conclusion that Mazagan was 
 contincd on ])()ard of the Guardian-Mother, and liad 
 
AT THE HEAD OF THE GULF OP CORINTH 303 
 
 probably informed the lAutlia of their belief. Ikit 
 they must have used much of their time since the 
 affair at Pournea Bay in searching for him ; and even 
 now they could have obtained no positive information. 
 All the conspirators understood now that the steamer 
 was armed to some extent, and was able to defend 
 herself ; and they had learned that her commander 
 was willing and able to do so. 
 
 Captain Ringgold took the entire party to Athens 
 to attend church on Sunday, and gave two days more 
 to the city. On Wednesday the Guardian-Mother 
 steamed out of the port, followed by the Maud. 
 West by south was the course given out ; for though 
 the Maud accompanied the ship, the young navigators 
 on board of her actually sailed the little steamer, 
 took their own observations, and kept their own log, 
 as instructed to do by the commander. The professor 
 gave a talk on ^gina, the largest island in the Gulf 
 of Athens, as they passed ; but the voyage around the 
 world would never be completed if everything that 
 was seen and heard should be reported. 
 
 The ship and her consort rounded the Peloponnesus, 
 and passing between the large island of Zante and the 
 main shore, entered the Gulf of Patras. On the 
 charts, and also on some maps, this gulf and that of 
 Lepanto, east of it, are called the Gulf of Corinth, 
 which is the better name for it. It extends about 
 seventy-five miles inland, and one of its arms reaches 
 within three or four miles of the Bay of Salamis. 
 The city of Corinth is on this arm, and the land 
 
304 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 journey from Athens is quite sliort. The steamer 
 stood over to the north side of the entrance to the bay. 
 " We cannot visit the town, but Missolonghi lies on 
 a little bay in here," said Captain Kinggold, as he 
 pointed to the location of the town. " Nothing larger 
 than a fishing-boat can go in there. This was the 
 centre of the Greek Ee volution in 1822; and they 
 defended themselves with the most determined bravery. 
 Here Avas fought the terrible battle in which Marco 
 Bozzaris, as we generally call him, fell. You remem- 
 ber the poem, 
 
 * At midnight in his guarded tent 
 
 The Turk was dreaming of the hour, 
 
 When Greece, her knee in suppliance bent, 
 Should tremble at his power.' 
 
 It was written by an American poet, Fitz-Greene Hal- 
 leck, and every boy in the nation used to declaim it 
 when I was a boy. But the Turks were defeated, 
 though Bozzaris was killed, and there is a statue over 
 his grave in this place. 
 
 " Missolonghi is also noted as the place where Lord 
 Byron died in 1824 of rheumatic fever ; and it is said 
 that his heart, which had been in the Greek cause, 
 was buried here." 
 
 On the afternoon of the day after they left the 
 Piraeus, the steamers arrived at Corinth. As they 
 brought a clean bill of heiiltli no quarantine was re- 
 quired, coming from another Greek port. After din- 
 ner, when the whole party, including the " Big Four," 
 
A.b.w^uTr-.- 
 
 "They soon obtained a view of a couple of masts." Page 302. 
 
AT THE HEAD OF THE GULF OF COEINTll 305 
 
 were gathered on the promenade deck enjoying the 
 beautiful weather and the novel sights, the commander 
 and the professor had something to say. 
 
 " This city is noted for its geographical position on 
 this gulf, and in the midst of what is grand and glorious 
 in Greece," the captain began. " It is really on the 
 isthmus of the Peloponnesus with the rest of Greece. 
 The mountain you see in the rear of the town is one 
 of the strongest natural fortificaticais in the world, 
 nearly two thousand feet high, with room enough up 
 there to build a city. It is called the Acrocorinthus." 
 
 " What is the matter, Felix ? " 
 
 " If it had been my jaw it would have broken it," 
 replied the Milesian, holding on at the side of his face 
 with all his might. 
 
 " It did not distress me ; ^ corinthus ' is not a hard 
 word, and if you join the prefix ^ Aero ' (a peak) to 
 it, you have the word. This was a great place for 
 trade ; for it was on the way, partly by land, from The 
 Archipelago to the Adriatic Sea, leading to Venice 
 and the West. It was founded 1350 b.c. We will 
 not follow it down from that time. It has been held 
 by the Greeks and the Eomans in turn. The latter 
 destroyed and rebuilt it, and it was in their reign that 
 St. Paul lived here a year and a half ; and there was 
 need enough of him, for the city was debased with the 
 rites of their pagan religion, and was perhaps the 
 worst and wickedest place on the face of the earth. 
 The two epistles to the Corinthians were addressed to 
 the church which Paul gathered here. 
 
306 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " Long before the Christian era people in these 
 parts were enterprising enongh to think of building 
 a canal to connect this gulf with that of Athens, and 
 I believe it is completed. It was begun by Nero." 
 
 The next three days, the last being Sunday, the 
 party visited the city and attended church. On Mon- 
 day morning the steamers got under way again and 
 proceeded to Salona Bay, about forty miles distant, 
 where they anchored for another twenty-four hours. 
 The party wondered why they were stopping in such 
 a place, for there was nothing but mountains and hills 
 to be seen ; and the commander was inclined to keep 
 his own counsels in regard to his movements, for he 
 did not like to promise what he could not perform. 
 
MOUNT PARNASSUS AND THE ORACLE 307 
 
 CHAPTEK XXXV 
 
 MOUNT PARNASSUS AND THE ORACLE 
 
 After breakfast at Salona, the party, including the 
 " Big Four," continued to wonder why they were in 
 this obscure place, with nothing like a town of any con- 
 sequence in sight. The professor soon solved the mys- 
 tery by taking his place in front of them, with a small 
 piece of paper in his hands, from which he evidently 
 intended to refresh his memory. 
 
 '^ This is about the last of Greece, though we may 
 visit some of the Ionian Islands," said the commander. 
 " You must make the best of it ; and as this near you 
 is classic soil, I shall resign my place to Professor 
 Giroud." 
 
 " I suppose you know what an oracle is," the learned 
 gentleman began. 
 
 " Oh, yes ! " exclaimed Mrs. Blossom. " We had 
 one in Von Blonk Park, and he knew more than all 
 the rest of the people put together." 
 
 " The oracle I am to speak of is not of just that 
 sort, though yours got his name from this one," re- 
 plied the professor, laughing at the lady's speech. 
 "People ask a great many questions in this day as 
 well as two thousand years ago ; and some of them go 
 
308 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOES 
 
 to astrologers, fortune tellers, mediums, in order to 
 obtain replies to such as they consider of great impor- 
 tance. The most ancient Greek oracle was at Dodona, 
 in Epirus, in the west of Greece. A couple of doves 
 flew from Thebes in Egypt to this place, lighted in a 
 grove of oaks, and began to use human speech. They 
 commanded the people to establish an oracle to Jupi- 
 ter, which was done. The doves were doubtless on 
 duty still ; for the answers to the questions came from 
 the trees, and were interpreted by the priests, which 
 is the usual thing. 
 
 " This is only a specimen. You are now almost within 
 hail of the most celebrated of these oracles, for there 
 were about half a dozen of them. Besides that, you 
 are quite near to other classic localities, as Parnassus, 
 Helicon, and Delphi, which is the noted one, and the 
 fountain of Castalia. It was noticed that the goats 
 feeding on Mount Parnassus were thrown into convul- 
 sions when they went near a deep cleft in the side of 
 the hill. One of the goat-keepers wondered at this 
 effect upon his animals, and then tried it on himself. 
 He was affected in the same manner, and the people 
 ascribed it to divine inspiration. Persons under this 
 influence were said to be inspired by the S})irit of 
 prophecy, and a temple was erected on the spot. 
 
 ''This power was attributed to various gods and 
 goddesses, and finally to Apollo alone. Pythia was 
 appointed priestess to inhale the sacred air, we should 
 call it gas now, and dispense it abroad. She was 
 washed in the fountain of Castalia, crowned with a 
 
MOUNT PARNASSUS AND THE ORACLE 309 
 
 laurel, and set upon a tripod. As in all sucli cases, the 
 priests interpreted the sayings she delivered in answer 
 to the questions proposed to her. 
 
 "Kastri was the city formerly here, but now it 
 takes the names of the oracle again. You can see 
 Mount Parnassus, eight thousand feet high ; and the 
 city, ancient and modern, was built on its lower slope. 
 It was sacred to Apollo and the Muses, as is Helicon. 
 The fountain of Castalia flows down a precipice, and 
 was said to inspire poetry, and perhaps some of you 
 will take a drink from its waters. The same virtue 
 was ascribed to other springs, especially those near 
 Helicon." 
 
 " 'And the Nine shall new-hallow her Helicon spring/ " 
 
 Morris broke out. 
 
 "It will not affect you unless you drink some 
 of it." 
 
 " Who are the Muses, Professor ? " asked Mrs. 
 Blossom. 
 
 " They were the nine daughters of Jupiter and 
 Mnemosyne ; and this last word comes from the same 
 as mnemonics, or memory. They presided over song, 
 which includes poetry, and also attended to the mem- 
 ory, as the mother's name would indicate. Each had 
 her own department ; as Calliope had epic poetry in 
 charge, Clio history, Euterpe lyric poetry, Melpomene 
 tragedy, Terpsichore choral song and dance, Erato 
 love poetry, Urania astronomy, Thalia comedy, and 
 Polyhymnia sacred poetry ; and I think the last must 
 be your favorite, madam." 
 
310 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " Polyhymnia is mine also, Professor," added Mrs. 
 Blossom. 
 
 " I tliink that is all you can digest at present," said 
 the professor. " As Ave shall soon be out of classic 
 regions, this is about my last speech ; " and he took 
 his chair. 
 
 '^ Not by a great deal. There will be something for 
 you to say in Egypt and India, and I shall want your 
 assistance," replied the commander. 
 
 After lunch tlie party went on shore, and visited 
 some of the scenes which had been described ; but it 
 was too hard work for some of them, though the " Big 
 Four" did a full day's work in four hours. They 
 were tired enough to sleep well, and no one was 
 called till breakfast time. The steamers got under 
 way in the forenoon, and before night Avere at anchor 
 in the harbor of Zante, the largest town in the Ionian 
 Islands. 
 
 " Have you seen anything of the felucca or the 
 Patime, Louis ? " asked Captain Kinggold, when they 
 were alone in the cabin of the latter. 
 
 " I have seen nothing of either, though I have been 
 on the lookout for them since we came out of the Gulf 
 of Corinth," replied Louis. " There are so many craft 
 like the Samothraki that I should not know her if I 
 saw her." 
 
 " But I have little doubt that both of them followed 
 us, keeping as near as it was safe for them to do," 
 added the commander. " There is nothing particular 
 to see here ; but I think we had better have an excur- 
 
MOUNT PARNASSUS AND THE ORACLE 311 
 
 sion about the harbor in the Maud, and that will en- 
 able us to find the enemy if they are here." 
 
 ^*But would the felucca stop here ? " asked Louis. 
 
 " I did not expect her to follow us up the Gulf of 
 Corinth. If either of the two got near enough to see 
 that we had gone in there, they would be more likely 
 to make a port here and wait for us to come out ; and 
 I suppose they get reports here of the movements of 
 vessels, as we do in New York. Let us have the 
 excursion." 
 
 Louis called Scott ; and in a short time the passen- 
 gers were all on board the Maud, standing up the har- 
 bor, the initiated looking on all sides for either the 
 felucca or the steam-yacht of the Pacha. For this 
 purpose the little steamer sailed all around the harbor, 
 and looked over every craft that could be seen. Noth- 
 ing was discovered of either of them. Either the calcu- 
 lations made by the commander were incorrect, or the 
 Pacha had abandoned the enterprise which ought to 
 have looked hopeless to him. Mazagan had certainly 
 been his most efficient and determined agent, and he 
 had lost him. 
 
 The party landed at the town, Zante, which is 
 extended around the semicircular bay. They wan- 
 dered about the place without knowing much of it; 
 for the commander had not yet given his usual lec- 
 ture, for the reason that his mind had been too much 
 occupied m the search for the two troublesome craft. 
 It is about a mile and a half in extent along the shore ; 
 but it is not over a thousand feet the other way ex- 
 
ol2 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 cept ill one locality, where it reaches back to a hill 
 Avith a castle on it. 
 
 Some of the streets have colonnades, such as the 
 traveller sees in Paris and Bologna ; and the party 
 had also observed them in the French section of Al- 
 giers. The houses are built of stone, with nothing 
 Oriental about them. Formerly the best dwellings 
 were fitted with heavy lattices to conceal the Avomen 
 from the gaze of strangers in the streets, as the Turks 
 protect their harems. 
 
 The young girls were practically prisoners, and 
 were secluded almost as much as in Mohammedan 
 countries ; but the contact with English people has 
 generally done away with this custom, though it still 
 prevails in some of tlie Ionian Islands. For an hour 
 the tourists wandered about the town, and then it was 
 time to go on board for dinner. The commander felt 
 no little relief at not finding the " enemy," as he 
 sometimes called his present tormentors, and he 
 hoped he had got rid of the Pacha and his train. 
 
 After breakfast the next morning, when the party 
 
 .were assembled in the usual place, Captain Ringgold, 
 
 after a long talk Avitli Louis as to the advisability of 
 
 releasing Captain Mazagan, proceeded to give some 
 
 particulars relating to the islands. 
 
 "I suppose you all know where you are, for my 
 charts have been open to you," he began. ^'The 
 Ionian Islands are about forty in number, on the Avest 
 coast of Greece and Albania, which latter country is 
 still a part of the Turkish Empire ; but not more than 
 
MOU^^T PAllNASSUS AND THE ORACLE 313 
 
 live or six of them are large enough to be mentioned. 
 Corfu, the hirgest, is nearly opposite the 'heel of the 
 boot ' of Italy. They belonged to Greece in the past, 
 as they do at the present time. They once belonged 
 to Kome, and afterward to Venice, the whole or a 
 part of them ; and they have a very checkered his- 
 tory. England has temporarily held Zante, where we 
 are, though the natives call it Zacynthus. 
 
 " This island Avas first settled by the Greeks ; and 
 they still predominate, somewhat changed in their 
 mannei's and customs by distance from their origin, 
 and by contact and mixture with the people of the 
 western nations. The Orthodox Greek is the prevail- 
 ing religion, though all sects have entire freedom of 
 worship. Only a few columns and inscriptions have 
 been found here, and there is not much to exercise 
 the professor in his specialty. But Herodotus and 
 Pliny mention the pitch wells of this island, so that 
 they are antiquated, at least." 
 
 " Wells ! " exclaimed Mrs. Blossom. '^ Do they 
 drink the pitch ? " 
 
 " I never saw them do so, and I don't believe they 
 drink it. There is a certain part of a staircase called 
 a well. Do you drink from that ? " 
 
 " What nonsense ! " laughed the lady. 
 
 '' If these pitch wells were called springs the word 
 would fit the case better ; but some Englishmen called 
 them wells, and the name clings to them. Don't be 
 too literal, Mrs. Blossom. The springs are about 
 twelve miles from the town, and I do not believe it 
 
314 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOKS 
 
 will pay to visit them. I suppose that in their for- 
 mation they are something like the sulphur springs 
 we see in Florida. 
 
 " They are pools about twenty feet across, and ten 
 or twelve feet deep ; and so far they are just like the 
 Florida springs. A twig fixed on the end of a pole, 
 and thrust down to the bottom, brings up pitch. They 
 are half a mile from the seashore, and anything 
 dropped into one of them comes up in the domain of 
 Neptune. In another spring the pitch is seen bub- 
 bling up to the top of the water, and looks like a 
 black bottle when it rises. It is collected in jars used 
 for the purpose, yielding about three barrels a day. 
 It is of little value, though it can be used Avhen 
 mixed with pine pitch, for of course this is mineral. 
 
 "In 1564, Andreas Vesalius, a Belgian, and the 
 greatest anatomist of his time, was cast away on the 
 shore of this island, and perished. He lived for some 
 years in Spain as the physician of Charles V. and 
 Philip II. This was in the days of the Inquisition, 
 and this institution regarded with horror the dissec- 
 tion of the human body for scientific purposes. 
 Vesalius was charged with dissecting a Spanish gen- 
 tleman before he was dead, a very absurd accusation 
 it was known to be, but he was condemned to be exe- 
 cuted. Philip mitigated his sentence by condemning 
 him to make a pilgrimage to Palestine ; and on his 
 voyage he was shipwrecked here. 
 
 " The principal industry of these islands is the rais- 
 ing of currants, — not the red Dutch article found in our 
 
MOUNT PARNASSUS AND THE ORACLE 315 
 
 gardens, but black ones. When dried tliey become an 
 important article of commerce. Currants, grapes, and 
 olives are raised here ; but the first is by far the most 
 important production, and the crop of all Greece 
 exported is valued at about thirteen millions of dol- 
 lars, four times as much as any other one thing. 
 England takes a large share of them for her plum- 
 puddings at Christmas. 
 
 ^' This island has a beautiful climate, as you can 
 judge from this delightful ninth day of September ; 
 but it is not always as nice as it is just now. It is so 
 fine that every currant field and vineyard has to be 
 provided with a private watchman to guard its trea- 
 sures. But we will go on shore noAv, if you are 
 ready." 
 
 Half an hour later they were all on the top of 
 Castle Hill. 
 
316 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTEE XXXyi 
 
 THE CONSPIRACY BECOMES ACTIVE 
 
 The view from the castle was very fine, and the 
 party enjoyed it very much. A number of vehicles 
 were procured ; and they visited the country outside of 
 the town, where they found some very pleasant rural 
 residences, for many of the wealthier inhabitants live 
 out of the city a portion of the year. At one of them 
 they met a gentleman who spoke English very flu- 
 ently, who invited them to enter his mansion. They 
 conversed for an hoar or more, the Zantiot giving 
 them all the information they desired. When he 
 asked how they had come to Zante, the commander 
 told him something about the Guardian-Mother and 
 the party who sailed in her. 
 
 It was nearly lunch time on board of the ship ; and 
 when the captain made a movement to leave, the Zan- 
 tiot invited them to another apartment, where they 
 found a very elaborate luncheon served for them. The 
 commander recalled the fact that the wealthier people 
 of the island are exceedingly hospitable. The colla- 
 tion was most excellent ; and the excursion they had 
 made gave them an appetite, so that they enjoyed it 
 as it deserved to be. 
 
THE CONSPIRACY BECOMES ACTIVE 317 
 
 " I have a very great favor to ask of you, Captain 
 Ringgold," said Mr. Ceplialia, the host, for the two 
 gentleman had already exchanged cards. 
 
 '' I should be most happy to serve you in any man- 
 ner I may," replied the commander. 
 
 "What you have told me about your steam-yaclit 
 has interested me very much, and I wish to go on 
 board of her. ^Vill you permit me to do so ? " added 
 the Zantiot. 
 
 '' My dear sir, I had it at my tongue's end to invite 
 you to dine on board of her with the present party ; 
 and I should certainly have asked you before we 
 left." 
 
 " You are very kind. Captain Einggold. I have 
 been on board of most of the English yachts, sailing 
 and steam, that have come here in recent years, but I 
 have not seen an American steam-yacht." 
 
 " I shall be most happy to see you on board of her. 
 Is there a Mrs. Cephalia ? " asked the commander. 
 
 " There is ; but she is in Paris, and my two daugh- 
 ters are away at school. I am alone in the house, 
 though I have a great deal of company," replied Mr. 
 Cephalia. 
 
 "If you are not otherwise occupied, you might 
 return w^ith us, for I have a small steam-yacht at the 
 landing," suggested the commander. 
 
 "I should be very happy to do so," replied the 
 Zantiot. 
 
 .He called his carriage, and invited the captain to 
 ride with him. The guest was greatly pleased with 
 
818 THE YOUNG KAVIGATOKS 
 
 the Maucl when he went on board of her, and he was 
 informed that she was sailed in all weather by the 
 " Big Fonr." He talked with all of them, and Cap- 
 tain Scott took him to the pilot-honse where Morris 
 had the wheel. Each of the party was introduced to 
 him individually, and he was as much struck as 
 others always were when he was presented to Miss 
 Blanche. 
 
 " Lunch was all ready when they came on board, 
 and they all took places at the table, though they were 
 not in condition to do justice to the viands. Then the 
 commander showed his guest all over the ship. Mr. 
 Cephalia declared that the cabins were more luxurious 
 than anything he had ever seen before. While they 
 were thus engaged the steamer weighed her anchor, 
 and was soon under way. 
 
 " What does this mean ? " demanded the Zantiot, 
 apparently somewhat alarmed. 
 
 " While we are waiting for dinner, we will take a 
 turn around the island," replied Captain Einggold. 
 "I thought you had better see how she works at sea." 
 
 " I am very much obliged to you ; you are extremely 
 kind," added the gentleman, grasping the captain's 
 hand. 
 
 When they reached the boudoir, they found Miss 
 lUanche playing on tlie piano there ; and the polite 
 Zantiot was inclined to remain, but a message came 
 from her mother asking her to join the party under 
 the awning. Before the commander and the guest 
 had come to tlie u})per deck, the party were singing. 
 
THE CONSPIRACY BECOMES ACTIVE 319 
 
 Mr. Ceplialia was very fond of music, and lie was 
 delighted with the Gospel Hymns, though he knew 
 none of them. They were a novelty to him. 
 
 It was a delightful afternoon, and the guest declared 
 that he had never enjoyed an excursion so much 
 before in all his life ; and perhaps a little exaggera- 
 tion was allowable on such an occasion. The steamer 
 was now approaching the harbor from the north, 
 having gone around the south end of the island, which 
 is Cape Kieri, first. Louis and Felix were at the 
 extreme stern of the deck, watching the ocean very 
 industriously. 
 
 " I am sure that I saw both the Fatime and the 
 felucca,-' Felix insisted in a low tone. 
 
 " I can see two vessels coming this way ; but I 
 can't make out at this distance what they are," 
 replied Louis. " Why didn't you tell me before ? " 
 
 " How could I call you out when you were talking 
 to Mr. Cephalia ? " demanded Felix. " But I kept 
 the run of them myself." 
 
 Louis went to the pilot-house for a glass ; and when 
 he had examined the two sails, he was satisfied that 
 the forward one was the Pacha's steam-yacht. 
 
 " There isn't a breath of wind this afternoon," 
 added Louis ; " and I don't understand how the Smao- 
 thraki can make any headway." 
 
 " Don't you see that the Fatty is towing her ? " 
 demanded Felix, calling the steamer by the name he 
 often applied to her. 
 
 " How can I see when they are end on ? " 
 
320 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 '^ Well, I saw her wlien she was on the beam of the 
 ship, and that was what she was doing," replied the 
 Milesian, as he saw the commander approaching them. 
 
 He had noticed Louis when he went aft ; for he had 
 to bring Miss Blanche to the front to detach himself 
 from the guest, after he had seen his crony beckon 
 to him. The spy -glass had excited the attention of 
 the captain, and it was evident that something at- 
 tracted the notice of the two young men. 
 
 " What is it ? " asked Captain Einggold. 
 
 " The Fatime is coming down from the north with 
 the felucca in tow," replied Louis, as he passed the 
 glass to the commander, who looked through it in the 
 direction indicated. 
 
 ^' Do you make them out, sir ? " 
 
 " Plainly enough. I hoped we had got rid of them ; 
 but the Pacha appears to have transferred Mazagan's 
 contract to the captain of the Samothraki," replied 
 the captain. 
 
 " But what have they been doing up in that direc- 
 tion ? " asked Louis. 
 
 ^' Doubtless they have been in search of the Guar- 
 dian-Mother. But our guest is still on board, and we 
 have no time to attend to them." 
 
 The commander returned to the party, and the ship 
 proceeded to the anchorage where slie liad left the 
 Maud. Louis rejoined the company under the awn- 
 ing, but it was arranged that Felix should observe the 
 movements of the enemy. Mr. Cephalia had become 
 interested in the young millionaire, no doubt for the 
 
THE CONSriRACY BECOMES ACTIVE 321 
 
 same reason that others were so, and he was inclined 
 to talk more with him than with the other yonng 
 men ; but he was even more disposed to converse with 
 Miss Blanche. He was sorry his daughters were not 
 at home, for the younger was about her age. 
 
 Mr. Sage, the steward, and Monsieur Odervie had 
 been instructed to prepare an elegant dinner, and they 
 had done so. The party sat two hours at the table ; 
 and it was a very merry occasion, for the guest had a 
 bit of humor in his composition, which had expanded 
 as he became better acquainted. When it was fin- 
 ished and the cabins were brilliantly lighted, they 
 adjourned to the boudoir, where the guest delighted 
 the Americans with some Greek songs. Some of the 
 popular airs of home were given by them, including a 
 few of the war melodies ; but the strength of the voy- 
 agers was in the Gospel Hymns. 
 
 The guest was invited to remain on board rather 
 than return to his home at that late hour, and he 
 accepted the invitation. He was shown to one of the 
 spare state-rooms, and Sparks was directed to give 
 him special attention. 
 
 Felix had reported before dinner that the Fatime 
 and her tow had passed the entrance of the harbor, 
 and gone to the southward. The commander could 
 make nothing of this movement on their part. The 
 Maud had come alongside the ship as soon as the 
 latter anchored. An anchor watch was set on board 
 of both vessels ; and though the officers could not un- 
 derstand it, extra vigilance had been urged upon them. 
 
822 THE YOUNG navigatohs 
 
 It was not expected by the commander that any 
 attempt would be made by the enemy to board his 
 vessel in the night, and nothing occurred to disturb 
 the repose of any one. After breakfast the next 
 morning the Maud conveyed Mr. Cephalia to the 
 shore ; and he had insisted that the party should 
 spend the afternoon at his residence, in the suburbs, 
 dining with him at an early hour. He was so per- 
 sistent that it was. impossible to refuse. The only 
 proviso was that the party should be permitted to 
 take their leave as early as seven o'clock. 
 
 The commander had accompanied him to the shore, 
 and took leave of him till afternoon at the landing- 
 place. The Maud started on her return to the ship ; 
 but Captain Einggold was not quite satisfied with 
 the situation so far as the Pacha's yacht and the 
 felucca were concerned. They had gone to the south- 
 ward, but this did not prove anything to him. Maza- 
 gan was still kept a close prisoner, with a sentinel at 
 the door of the brig. 
 
 There were quite a number of vessels in the harbor 
 of Zante, and it was possible that the Fatime and her 
 tow had crept in during the night. The commander 
 was still using extraordinary precautions, which he 
 had found to be justified by the events at Lemnos, 
 and he was not inclined to relax them. Before the 
 return to the ship the little steamer made the circuit 
 of the bay, and looked over every craft in port, in- 
 cluding a score of feluccas like the Samothraki ; but 
 neither of the enemy's vessels could be discovered. 
 
tup: conspiracy becomes active 323 
 
 After lunch the party embarked again in tlie Maud, 
 and early in the afternoon they reached the elegant 
 home of the Zantiot. An orchestra was playing on 
 the veranda, and the visitors soon discovered that 
 the most elaborate preparations had been made for 
 them. They were received in the draAving-room, and 
 presented to half a dozen of the most distinguished 
 people of the island, who were there with their wives, 
 sons, and daughters. They soon became acquainted. 
 
 Light refreshments were served in the middle of 
 the afternoon, after some of the Zantiot ladies had 
 played and sung ; and then the guests went out to see 
 the plantation and gardens which lay in the rear of 
 the house. Not a breath of air appeared to be stirring 
 on the island; and the older members of the party, 
 especially Brothers Adipose Tissue and Avoirdupois, 
 were not disposed to extend their walk to any great 
 distance from the mansion, near which all found de- 
 lightfully shady retreats. 
 
 But the young people were more active and less 
 affected by the heat. Morris l;ad a headache and 
 remained with his mother, but the other three of the 
 ''Big Four" strayed farther away. There was a 
 currant plantation at a distance from the house, and 
 the Americans were greatly interested in their culture. 
 Two young ladies and two young men of the island 
 were with them, and told them what they knew about 
 the fruit. 
 
 When they had walked to the rear of the estate, 
 where they found a road, they were tired enough to take 
 
324 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 seats in a sliady arbor. When tliey were somewhat 
 rested, Miss Blanche saw a cottage not far away. 
 She was thirsty, and wished to get some water. Lonis 
 attended her, as he was very likely to do at every 
 opportunity that was presented to him ; and they 
 walked along the fence towards the dwelling. It was 
 on the border of the estate, and the house was de- 
 serted ; but a spring was found, and the thirsty 
 maiden obtained a drink. 
 
 " I suppose they call this fruit currants, but the 
 plants are vines just like those of grapes," said Miss 
 Blanche, as she stopped to look at them. " I have 
 been wondering if they were really currants or 
 grapes." 
 
 " They certainly grow in the same manner that 
 grapes do," replied Louis. ''If we were not going 
 around the world I would get a plant or two and set 
 them out at home." 
 
 "I certainly never saw anything like them at home," 
 added the young lady. 
 
 " They are the chief production of these islands ; 
 and I suppose Mr. Cephalia made his fortune out of 
 them though he may have inherited " — 
 
 He did not finish the sentence ; for at that moment 
 a solid door in the wall which surrounded the estate 
 in this part, suddenly dropped in, falling flat upon the 
 ground, and four men rushed upon Louis and his fair 
 companion. Before the young man could get his hand 
 on the revolver he always carried in his pocket, he 
 was in the embrace of two men, one on eacli side of 
 
"Help! Help! he shouted." Page 325. 
 
THE CONSPIRACY BECOMES ACTIVE 825 
 
 him. Two others laid violent hands on the young 
 lady, and hurried her out at the open gateway. 
 
 Louis had been taken by surprise, for hardly an in- 
 stant elapsed between the fall of the door in the wall 
 before he was in the clutches of the ruffians. But he 
 was not disposed to yield himself up tamely as a 
 prisoner. The four men wore Greek clothes, and it 
 flashed upon him that they were the crew of the 
 felucca. His arms were in a human vise, and he 
 could do nothing. 
 
 " Help ! Help ! " he shouted at the top of his lungs. 
 
 The villains thrust a handkerchief into his mouth 
 and hurried him off. 
 
326 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII 
 
 THE RESULT OF THE BATTLE IN THE ROAD 
 
 The ruffians liad resorted to the gag too late, though 
 the time of the event was to be counted in seconds. 
 Louis had uttered his appeal for assistance, and the 
 party in the shady nook had heard it. Captain Scott 
 and Felix were there with the young people who were 
 natives of the island. The two Americans sprang to 
 their feet, and the two Zantiots were about to follow 
 them. 
 
 " Go back to the house and tell Captain Ringgold 
 there is trouble here ! " shouted Felix to them, as he 
 ran with all his might after Scott. 
 
 " What does it mean. Captain Scott ? " he demanded 
 when he had overtaken him. 
 
 " I don't know ; but Louis don't call for help unless 
 he needs it," replied the other ; but both of them were 
 running at the top of their speed, and there was no 
 time to talk about it. 
 
 At a short distance from the door, or gate, there 
 were two vehicles, each with two horses, with a 
 driver seated on the box of each. They were some- 
 tliiiig like coaches, but unlike anything to be seen at 
 home, tliough perhaps they were built in Engand. 
 
RESULT OF THE BATTLE IN THE ROAD 327 
 
 Into one of them her captors hurried the young lady, 
 who was so completely paralyzed with terror that she 
 could utter no cry. 
 
 Louis did not yield so readily, hut struggled with 
 all his might to shake off the rufiians. The two men 
 dragged him to the other carriage, and were attempt- 
 ing to crowd him into it. But to do so they had 
 to embrace him, and he succeeded in getting his hand 
 on his revolver. One of the ruffians, with his hand 
 still holding the collar of the prisoner, got into the 
 vehicle, and tried to drag him after him. The other 
 had grasped Louis by the hips to shove him into the 
 carriage. 
 
 The young millionaire struck the villain in front of 
 him with his hst between his eyes as he leaned over 
 him, which caused him to draw back. This enabled 
 the intended victim to turn upon his assailant. He 
 had drawn his weapon, and he fired it instantly. The 
 man who had been behind him dropped his hold, and 
 retreated a step or two. He was not killed ; but the 
 blood was flowing from the ends of his fingers, 
 showing that he had been wounded in the arm or 
 shoulder. 
 
 He had let go his hold of the victim, and Louis 
 turned his attention to the one who was in the car- 
 riage. He pointed his revolver at him ; but the fellow 
 slid down upon the ground, crawled under the vehicle, 
 and ran away on the other side of it. Having released 
 himself, Louis rushed to the other carriage, the driver 
 of which was just starting his horses. 
 
328 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 The sight of the revolver produced the same effect 
 upon the coachman as upon the ruffian that had fled, 
 and he leaped from his box. It was evident by this 
 time that revolvers had not been counted in as a part 
 of the programme. 
 
 ^^ Don't be alarmed, Miss Blanche ! " called Louis to 
 the fair prisoner in the carriage. 
 
 At the same time he went to the door, or rather the 
 entrance to the vehicle, in which the ruffians had 
 seated their prisoner in the rear, while they occupied 
 the front seat themselves. Louis raised his revolver 
 and pointed it at the man nearest to him. He made a 
 sign with his left hand that he was to get out; which 
 he did very promptly. 
 
 Covering the other villain with the weapon, he 
 reached out his hand -to the maiden. She sprang to 
 him, and he helped her to the ground with the un- 
 employed hand. 
 
 " Don't be alarmed, Miss Blanche. No harm shall 
 come to you," said he in soothing tones. 
 
 But at this moment another factor of the conspiracy 
 presented himself in the person of Monsieur Ulbach, 
 who had evidently been watching the carrying out 
 of the plot. Of course he could not help seeing 
 that it was resulting in an ignominious failure. As 
 he came out from behind the wall on the other side 
 of the road he encountered the three men who were 
 running away, unAvilling to face the barrel of a re- 
 volver; and he drove them back before him^ for he 
 carried a revolver iu each liand, and appeared, to 
 
RESULT OF THE BATTLE IN THE IIOAD 329 
 
 be willing to use them on the faint-hearted actors 
 in the drama. 
 
 Louis had Miss Blanche on his arm ; and she was 
 trembling like an aspen, in spite of all his efforts 
 to reassure her. Ulbach compelled the drivers to 
 mount the boxes again, and drove the other three 
 before him towards the spot Avhere the victims 
 stood. 
 
 " This must be a duel between you and me," said 
 Ulbach, halting a few feet from Louis. "If you will 
 get into the carriages, one in each, you may save 
 your life." 
 
 The detective, as the commander had taken him to 
 be, spoke in English good enough to be understood, 
 though in Athens he declared that he could not do so. 
 
 " I should scorn to save my life on any such terms ! " 
 replied Louis. 
 
 But he had hardly spoken the words before Mon- 
 sieur Ulbach dropped on the ground like a clod, as 
 the report of a pistol was heard near the wall. In 
 another second both Captain Scott and Felix rushed 
 up to the scene. 
 
 " Which is the next one ? " demanded Felix, who 
 was always more ready than his friend to use his 
 revolver. 
 
 " No more at present ; don't fire again, Flix," re- 
 plied Louis. 
 
 " What is all this business about, Louis ? " asked 
 Scott, revolver in hand. 
 
 "I can't stop to tell you now," replied Louis. 
 
330 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 ^^ We p^re all right now, Miss Blanche," he added 
 to the fair girl he was supporting. 
 
 " I never was so frightened in all my life," replied 
 she in quivering tones. 
 
 ^' We will return to the mansion now," said Louis. 
 
 But it was soon evident to him that she could 
 not walk, and the distance to the house through the 
 estate was considerable. He conducted her to the 
 carriage in which she had been seated before, and 
 induced her to enter it with the assurance that she 
 should be driven to the house, and he would go 
 with her. He placed Scott by the side of the horses, 
 and sent Pelix for a cup of water from the spring. 
 
 In a short time she was partially restored, and 
 she declared that she should not faint. Then he had 
 time to look over the field which had been fought 
 and won by a revolver ; for the dread the ruffians 
 had for this weapon had been the cause of their 
 defeat. Louis explained to Scott and Felix how he 
 and Miss Blanche had been captured, and how a 
 single shot from his revolver had turned the tide 
 of battle. 
 
 Then he went to look at Ulbach. He was getting 
 on his feet by this time. The side of his head was 
 bloody, and the path of the ball could be seen over 
 his right eye. He had been stunned by it, but it 
 was not a very severe wound. The man whom Louis 
 had disabled had seated himself on the ground, trying 
 to find his wound, or to get at it. Then for the first 
 time it was ascertained that he was Captain Poly- 
 
RESULT OF THE BATTLE IN THE ROAD 331 
 
 cliroiiopiilos. He and Ulbacli appeared to liave 
 brought the conspiracy into action again in the 
 absence of Captain Mazagan. 
 
 The vehicles were generally used in conveying 
 visitors to the pitch-wells. Neither the drivers nor 
 any of the ruffians could speak English. lUit Louis 
 proceeded to form a procession, with the carriage 
 containing Miss Blanche at the head. Ulbach and 
 the captain of the felucca were put into the next one, 
 and the other brigands or pirates were driven out 
 ahead of the procession at the point of three revolvers. 
 The column moved down the road, and presently 
 turned into the street on which was located the 
 mansion of Mr. Cephalia. At the corner Felix noticed 
 a Greek, who looked as though he might be a pirate, 
 skulking in the vicinity. 
 
 As they marched into the grounds of the estate 
 they were discovered by the party, who rushed for- 
 ward to ascertain the cause of this unusual demonstra- 
 tion. Miss Blanche was assisted into the house, but 
 she was now nearly restored to her usual condition. 
 The host was shocked and confounded when he 
 learned that the young lady and Louis had been at- 
 tacked on his own premises. He had never heard of 
 such an outrage on the island before, and he was 
 greatly distressed by it. 
 
 Captain Einggold, when informed by the young 
 Zantiots, that there was trouble, had hastened in the 
 direction indicated, but had arrived only soon enough 
 to see the procession marching down the street, and 
 
332 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOES 
 
 he had followed it. He came into the courtyard 
 where the victors in the affair were still keeping 
 guard over their prisoners. Louis had returned from 
 the house, where he had committed Miss Blanche to 
 the care of her mother, and informed the commander 
 what had occurred. 
 
 " That this should happen to my guests on my 
 estate ! " exclaimed Mr. Cephalia. ^^ I am mortified, 
 humiliated, disgusted ! " 
 
 " You need not be, my dear sir, for if it had not 
 happened here, it would have occurred in some other 
 place,'' protested the captain ; and he gave some ac- 
 count of the felucca and the battle that had been 
 fought in Pournea Bay. 
 
 '' The pirates try to capture the young people for 
 the ransom they will get for them. They are too 
 rich for their own safety," replied the host. ''We 
 have fruit thieves here ; but I have not heard of 
 pirates and brigands such as they had in Greece, and 
 perhaps still have, on this island. I have sent for the 
 police." 
 
 " The felucca we encountered at Lemnos was seen 
 off the island yesterday, and one of the wounded men 
 is her captain," added the commander; but he did not 
 deem it wise to bring the Pacha and his steam-yacht 
 into the narrative, for that would only increase the 
 alarm of the young lady's parents. 
 
 " The cottage was where my watchman lived ; the 
 thieves came to my estate by that back street, for it 
 is away from any other dwellings ; but the watchman 
 
KESULT OF THE BATTLE IN THE ROAD 333 
 
 died, and the liousc has not been occupied lately," Mr. 
 Cephalia explained. 
 
 The arrival of the police interrupted the conversa- 
 tion. The officer in charge of these men declared that 
 the prisoners were all strangers to them ; but the cap- 
 tain's explanation made everything plain. The felucca 
 had followed the Guardian-Mother for the purpose of 
 capturing the young millionaire and the daughter of 
 the wealthy New Yorker for the purpose of obtaining 
 the ransom. The two wounded men were conveyed 
 to the hospital, and the others to the prison. 
 
 It goes without saying that Louis, Felix, and Scott 
 were the heroes of the affair. The shot which the 
 Milesian had fired without considering the conse- 
 quences had undoubtedly saved the day, for Ulbach 
 was armed and on an equality with Louis. He was 
 bringing victory out of defeat when Eelix fired his 
 revolver. Felix and Louis had practised in a shoot- 
 ing gallery, and were both skilled in the use of the 
 weapon. 
 
 As soon as those " awful men " had been taken 
 away, Miss Blanche came out of the mansion. She 
 rushed impulsively to Louis, and grasped both his 
 hands, thanking him with all her might for "saving 
 her," as she called it; and she was not far from right. 
 None of the young men had been injured, and the 
 company were soon as lively as though nothing had 
 hapx^ened. The orchestra played, the Zantiots sang 
 more songs, and the dinner was an occasion to be 
 remembered. 
 
334 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Even the disagreeable incident of the afternoon did 
 not prevent the occasion from being a decided snccess, 
 and those from the Guardian-Mother enjoyed them- 
 selves to the utmost. Promptly at the hour specified 
 the Americans departed from the mansion ; but the 
 hospitable Zantiots would not allow them to leave 
 alone, and attended them to the landing, conveying 
 the party in their own private carriages. 
 
 Tired out with the excitement of the day, the party, 
 feeling perfectly secure on board of the ship, retired 
 early. Captain Ringgold had a conference with the 
 three of the " Big Four" who were in possession of the 
 secret of the conspiracy ; but there was nothing to be 
 done then, for the commander declared that "the 
 enemy had been routed, horse, foot, and dragoons," 
 and they had no further use even for Captain 
 Mazasran. 
 
THE FATE OF THE CONSPIRATORS 335 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII 
 
 THE FATE OF THE CONSPIRATORS 
 
 Before breakfast time officers came on board of 
 the ship to summon all who had taken part in the 
 affair of the day before, to appear as witnesses at the 
 court. The whole town was excited over the occur- 
 rence, and the principal citizens regarded it as an im- 
 putation upon the hospitality of the island ; but they 
 were somewhat comforted by the reflection that the 
 outrage had not been perpetrated by Zantiots. 
 
 The whole party in the cabin of the ship were inter- 
 ested, and they decided to attend the trial in a body. 
 When they landed from the Maud, they found Mr. 
 Cephalia and his guests of the day before waiting to 
 receive them, and escort them in their carriage to the 
 court. The boys found that they were treated like 
 victorious soldiers from a bloody field. 
 
 The authorities made short work of the brigands, 
 and gave them all severe sentences, the two wounded 
 men more than the others as the evident leaders in 
 the outrage. The party were treated with " distin- 
 guished consideration " by the authorities and citizens, 
 amounting almost to an ovation. They were invited 
 to a dozen different houses, and urged to remain 
 
336 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 longer ; but the commander liad announced his inten- 
 tion to sail that day, and all importunities were re- 
 sisted. 
 
 There was an immense round of hand-shaking at 
 the landing, and cheers followed the Maud as she 
 steamed slowly away from the shore. Even many of 
 the craft in the harbor saluted her, and she kept her 
 whistle going half the time returning these cour- 
 tesies. 
 
 '•' That has been a great frolic instead of the most 
 serious thing in the world to us,*' said the commander 
 when they were on board. " Decidedl}', that affair of 
 yesterday was an adventure. Sir Louis." 
 
 " But you will not pretend that it was of my seek- 
 ing," laughed Louis. 
 
 " Not at all. But I wish to know where we are," 
 added the commander, becoming serious all at once. 
 " The crew of the felucca, or four of them, have been 
 disposed of so that they will not trouble us any more. 
 But how has this thing been brought about ? Neither 
 the Fatime nor the felucca came into this harbor last 
 evening, and they are not here this morning." 
 
 '^ I don't believe the pirates would have attempted 
 to carry off their prisoners through the town," replied 
 Louis, as he went to the chart of the captain, spread 
 out in the room where they were. " How far is it 
 from the head of this harbor over to the west shore of 
 the island ? " 
 
 " The west shore is not the nearest point from the 
 town," rei»lied the commander, as he applied his 
 
THE FATE OF THE CONSPIRATORS 337 
 
 dividers to the chart. " The south of the island is 
 in precisely the same form as the southern part of 
 Italy, in the shape of a boot. The nearest water to 
 the town is up a bay between the heel and the toe, 
 and the distance is not over two miles and a half.'' 
 
 "That's it!" exclaimed Louis. "The Fatime and 
 the felucca are, or have been, over there. The car- 
 riages were to convey their prisoners over to that 
 place." 
 
 "That is the most reasonable way to explain it," 
 added the commander. " I instructed both of the 
 watch officers to keep a sharp lookout for both of 
 these craft, but nothing has been seen of them in the 
 harbor. No doubt the captain of the felucca knows 
 all about this island, and all the others in these 
 waters, and he arranged the plan. We shall get 
 under way after luncheon, Louis ; and I shall send 
 Captain Scott in the Maud to look into that south 
 bay, and ascertain if the felucca is still there." 
 
 Scott was called, and his instructions given to him. 
 The little steamer had been coaled and provisioned 
 for a cruise, for both vessels were to proceed to the 
 northward at once. He was directed to get under 
 way as soon as the lunch was over. The " Big Four " 
 took leave of their friends on board, and the Maud 
 sailed upon her mission. Off Cape leraka, the south- 
 eastern point of the island, she fell in with a fisher- 
 man, who hailed her in Greek. Don was on duty in 
 the engine-room while Felipe was at his dinner, 
 and understood the Zantiot, who asked if a pilot was 
 wanted. 
 
338 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 It was found that the man spoke English enough to 
 be understood, and Scott asked if there were any 
 vessels up the bay. A steamer had anchored there 
 the day before towards night, but had gone to sea 
 at daylight in the morning. She towed in a felucca, 
 which had sailed a couple of hours before, and had 
 gone to the south-east. This was no doubt the 
 Samothraki, and it was not necessary to explore the 
 bay. Louis gave the fisherman six drachmas for his 
 information, and he was very grateful for the gift. 
 
 " Well, what are we to do now ? '' asked Captain 
 Scott. 
 
 "We must wait for the ship, and report what we 
 have learned,'' replied Louis. " The felucca has been 
 gone but two hours, and she has not made any 
 great distance, if the commander wants anything 
 of her. Look out for her with your glass. Captain 
 Scott." 
 
 " No need of any glass," interposed Felix. " I can 
 see her, and she is not five miles off." 
 
 As the fisherman had reported, she was headed to 
 the south-east, and it looked as though she had given 
 up her enterprise in connection with the Guardian- 
 Mother. 
 
 " They had to leave four of tlieir hands, including 
 the captain, in Zante," said Louis, as the Maud stood 
 out of the south bay. 
 
 " They had but six in all on board, and there are 
 only two left ; and I suppose that is enough to sail . 
 her," added Scott. ''But they must have learned 
 
THE FATE OF THE CONSPIRATORS 339 
 
 what had hai)peiied to the captain and his com- 
 panions, or they woukl not have left." 
 
 " I saw a Greek hanging around the place where 
 we had the row/' said Felix. "I saw him again in 
 the street when we marched the prisoners down to the 
 house. 1 am sure he was a Greek sailor, though I 
 thought nothing of it at the time." 
 
 "That fellow must have been stationed near the 
 street to warn the others if any one approached," 
 replied Scott. " He went back to the felucca to tell 
 his only remaining shipmate what had happened. 
 For aught we know he may have been present at 
 the trial, and ascertained the fate of the pirates, and 
 that there was no further use for the Samothraki here." 
 
 Off the cape the Maud lay in wait for the Guardian- 
 Mother, and made a signal to her as she approached. 
 She stopped her screw, and the little steamer went 
 alongside. The information obtained was reported 
 to the commander by Louis, who was sent on board 
 for the purpose. 
 
 When Captain Kinggold had heard the report, 
 including the action of the spy who had probably, 
 almost certainly, carried the news of the failure back 
 to the felucca, he said, — 
 
 " I think the conspiracy may be said to have ended 
 in failure; though it might have been successful if 
 you had not made use of your revolver, which seems 
 to be equal here to a squad of policemen, — and if 
 you had not been so well seconded by Felix and' 
 Captain Scott." 
 
840 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 " I should say that the Pacha had had enough of it 
 by this time, though he takes care to keep out of 
 harm's way," returned Louis. 
 
 " I shall set Mazagan at liberty now ; and we will 
 use the Maud to put him on board of the felucca, 
 which we can easily overhaul," continued the com- 
 mander. 
 
 The prisoner was put in charge of two men, who 
 conveyed him on board of the Maud, followed by 
 Captain Einggold, who desired to see the business 
 finished himself. Mr. Boulong was ordered to follow 
 her consort, and Louis took leave of his mother over 
 again. He informed her what was to be done, and 
 soon all the party were aware that the dangerous 
 prisoner was to be finally disposed of. 
 
 Captain Mazagan was quite cheerful when he found 
 himself on board of the Maud, for it was a change 
 from the confinement in the brig. He was not tied 
 in any manner, though the tAVO seamen were required 
 to keep their eyes on him. 
 
 "I suppose you are taking me out for a pleasure 
 excursion. Captain Ringgold," said he, Avhen the 
 steamer was under way, and he was seated in the 
 standing-room with his guards, though they Avere out 
 of hearing. 
 
 "No, sir; 1 shall set you at liberty as soon as we 
 can overhaul the Samothraki, which is about six 
 miles ahead of us, bound to the south-east ; and I 
 suppose she is going back to the island where she 
 belongs." 
 
THE FATE OF THE CONSPIRATORS 341 
 
 " Bound to the south-east ! " repeated Mazagan, 
 apparently greatly astonished at the intelligence. 
 
 " You have not been in the way to hear the latest 
 news, Captain Mazagan, and I can give it to you in 
 very few words," added the commander. " Your 
 mission is done, and you have made a failure of it ; " 
 and he repeated the details of the affair of the day 
 before. " The Fatime went to sea early this morning. 
 Four of the crew of the felucca were sentenced to a 
 long imprisonment, including Captain Polychronopulos 
 and Monsieur Ulbach." 
 
 ^^ Where has the Fatime gone ? " asked the late 
 prisoner. 
 
 " I have not the remotest idea -, but if the Pacha is 
 wise he will go back to Mogadore and stay there." 
 
 "He owes me money," added Captain Mazagan 
 with a look of discouragement. 
 
 " Hardly," laughed the commander ; and he could 
 afford to laugh at the failure of the conspiracy. 
 " You did not deliver either our young millionaire or 
 the beautiful houri, as your employer called her, to 
 His Highness." 
 
 The Moor bit his lips in silence. What private 
 grief he had beyond the loss of a promised reward he 
 did not state, and he did not wish to talk any more. 
 The commander left him to his guards and went 
 forward. 
 
 Within an hour he was put on board of the felucca. 
 Don had some talk with the mate of the craft, and he 
 acknowledged that he had seen the affair at the road, 
 
342 THE YOUNG NAVIGATOKS 
 
 and had leaamed the fate of the captain and his ship- 
 mates ; but he knew nothing about the Fatime, though 
 he had reported the failure of the expedition to Zante 
 to the Pacha in person. There was no love lost at 
 the parting. Captain Ringgold returned to his ship, 
 and she was headed to the north, whither the Maud 
 followed her. 
 
 The story, begun at Constantinople, is finished at 
 Zante. The Guardian-Mother put in at the island of 
 Ithaca, and remained two days there, the professor 
 rehearsing the story of Ulysses, and telling the pas- 
 sengers about Homer and his poems. A call was 
 made at Corfu, and then the steamer proceeded to 
 Trieste. During the next three months the tourists 
 followed the southern coast of Europe, visiting Venice, 
 Messina, Palermo, Naples, Rome, Leghorn, Genoa, 
 Nice, Marseilles, Barcelona, Valencia, and Malaga. 
 From these ports excursions were made to the interior 
 cities of importance. 
 
 , From Malaga they were absent from the ship a 
 week on a visit to Granada and the Alhambra, where 
 they were greatly interested. In the royal chapel in 
 the former, they looked upon the beautiful marble 
 monument to Ferdinand and Isabella, and then de- 
 scended into the vault under the pavement of the 
 cliapel, where they looked with wonder and astonish- 
 ment upon the veritable coffins of tlie monarchs, 
 placed on a dais in the middle of the dark apartment. 
 
 This sight they considered the most interesting of 
 anything they had yet seen, for it made the sovereigns 
 
THE FATE OF THE CONSPIRATORS 343 
 
 and all the events relating to the discovery of Amer- 
 ica more real than they had ever seemed to be 
 before. 
 
 The weather at this season was delightful, and 
 added greatly to their enjoyment. 
 
 From Malaga the Guardian-Mother, still followed 
 by the Maud, made a long voyage of nearly the whole 
 length of the Mediterranean Sea, and early in Decem- 
 ber they were off the mouths of the Nile, where 
 necessity compels the writer to leave them. The 
 "Big Four" had navigated the Maud, and had im- 
 proved their knowledge of seamanship and navigation 
 enough to entitle them to the name, sometimes applied 
 to them, of the young navigators. 
 
 They had pursued their studies as closely as the 
 business of sight-seeing would permit. The tourists 
 had been a year on their voyage, and some of them 
 were rather fatigued with this occupation; but the 
 long voyage from Malaga had rested them. Perhaps 
 it was because there was a certain similarity in look- 
 ing upon so many European cities, one after another, 
 that wearied them. Off the mouths of the Nile the 
 prospect was entirely different. They were to enter 
 upon scenes entirely new and strange to them, and 
 their appetite for sight-seeing under conditions radi- 
 cally changed was renewed and increased. 
 
 Nothing had been seen or heard of the Pacha 
 during the last three months, and the commander 
 hoped he was finally rid of him. But the secret of 
 the conspiracy was not told to any one outside of the 
 
344 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 four persons who had come in possession of it at 
 Pournea Bay, or earlier. 
 
 The Nile, the Ked Sea, and the Indian Ocean were 
 before the young navigators, though they did not 
 expect to go up the river in the Maud. What they 
 did, what they saw^ what adventures they fell into, 
 for they were not seeking such, however w^elcome they 
 were when they came in a natural way, Avill be duly 
 presented in succeeding volumes, the next of which 
 will be " Up and Down the Nile, or Young Adven- 
 turers in Africa." 
 
OLIVER OPTICS BOOKS 
 
 All-Oyer-The-World Library 
 
 Illustrated Per Volume $1.35 
 
 MISSING MILLION 
 
 A MILLIONAIRE AT SIXTEEN 
 
 A YOUNG KNIGHT ERRANT 
 
 STRANGE SIGHTS ABROAD 
 
 SECOIVD SEHIES 
 
 AMERICAN BOYS AFLOAT 
 
 Or Cruising in European Waters 
 
 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS 
 
 Or The Foreign Cruise of the Maud 
 (Others in Preparation) 
 
 " The bare announcement of a new series of books by Oliver 
 Optic will delight boys all over the country. When they farthe? 
 learn that their favorite author proposes to * personally conduct ' 
 his army of readers on a grand tour of the world, there will be a 
 terrible scrambling for excursion tickets — that is, the opening 
 volume of the ' Globe Trotting Series ' Of one thing the boys 
 may be dead sure, it will be no tame, humdrum journey, for 
 Oliver Optic does not believe that fun and excitement are 
 injurious to boys, but, on the contrary, if of the right kind, he 
 thinks it does them good. Louis Belgrave is a fortunate lad, 
 because, at sixteen, he was the possessor of a cool million of 
 dollars. No one, not even a young boy, can travel without money, 
 as our author well knows, therefore he at onc-e provided a liberal 
 supply. Louis is a fine young fellow with good principles and. 
 honor, so he can be trusted to spend his million wisely. But he 
 does not have entirely smooth sailing. In the first place he has 
 a rascally step-father whom he had to subjugate, a dear mother 
 to protect and care for, and the missing million to find before he 
 could commence his delightful travels. They are all accom- 
 plished at last, and" there was plenty of excitement and brave 
 exploits in the doing of them, as the boy readers will find. The 
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 Mr. W. T. Adams, who, under his well-known pseudonym, is known and admired 
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 the unexpected, by entering into a synopsis of the story. A word, however, 
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 collecting postage-stamps, and before his legs are long enougii for a bicyck', when 
 he has the Oliver Optic fever. lie cnfches it by reading a few stray pages «ome- 
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 is told in a captivating style. " Oliver Optic" will continue 
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 hmnan nature, take up one of Oliver Optic's books and re.'iii 
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 tion of the pages. When a mature and exceedingly well- 
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 find pleasure in a book for boys, no additional words of reC' 
 ommcndation are needed. — Sunday Times. 
 
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 also, for they are wholesome, true to nature and human 
 nature, and full of good sentiment. His stories are 
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