The several adventures in which some or all of the young men had been engaged, especially Louis Belgrave, who had really become a man all at once, as it were, when his troubles with his rascally step-father began, had contributed to the kind of development the commander had in mind. The trip to Tangier had assured him that the boys were competent to handle the Maud skilfully and with a fair measure of science. Captain Ringgold was absolutely proud of his success in reforming the life and manners of Scott Fencelowe, and he had talked with Uncle Moses and Dr. Hawkes a great deal about the improvement which had been made in his character. He had really lived much of his time on board of a yacht, and had made an accomplished boatman of himself. When he boasted of the races he had won with the Seahound and other boats, the commander was incredulous; but he had no difficulty in believing all the stories he had told at the present time. On the cruise of the Maud to Tangier he had proved that he had pluck and skill; for he had sailed the little steamer exceedingly well, and shown that he possessed ingenuity of a high order, or the Pacha would certainly have captured the party, and thrown the two alleged culprits into a prison. The Guardian-Mother was not ready to sail from Gibraltar. She had to take in coal in the early morning, and attend to certain custom-house formalities. Ali-Noury Pacha, judging from what he had casually dropped in his stormy interview with the commander, had evidently expected to be received as a "distinguished Moor" on board of the Guardian-Mother, and even seemed to think he had made an impression upon the susceptibilities of Mr. Woolridge's lovely daughter. His eyes had certainly been opened by the plain speech of the captain, and he could not conceal the disappointment he felt. He did not seem to be aware that the Guardian-Mother had three times run away from him and his steamer; or to be able to deduce the simple truth from the hurried departure of the ship on these occasions. He was filled with wrath and the desire for revenge. The commander had "spoken out" to him only when it had become absolutely necessary to do so. He was capable of making a great deal of trouble, and he appeared to have influence enough to do almost anything he pleased. Captain Ringgold believed it would save him and the people on board the ship a great deal of annoyance if the two alleged culprits were out of the way, and he promptly decided to put them in a safe place. He had spoken to Uncle Moses and Mrs. Belgrave and with Mr. and Mrs. Woolridge about the matter, and none of them raised any objection. All of them had so much confidence in the wisdom and discretion of the commander that they were ready to follow his advice in almost everything.