American boys afloat : $b or, Cruising in the OrientOptic, Oliver
General
American boys afloat : $b or, Cruising in the Orient
Optic, Oliver
Voyages and travels -- Juvenile fiction
The magistrate did not seem to be impressed by the title or the elegant
costume of the Pacha, perhaps because the latter was dabbled with mud,
and his handsome face was liberally spattered with the same unsightly
element. The commander was lofty in his manner on such an occasion, and
full of dignity; and he did make a decided impression on the court and
the spectators. He said but little. He had been attacked without any
provocation whatever, and he had defended himself.
The Pacha had been educated at the military school of St. Cyr, and he
imbibed his duelling propensity in Paris. He pleaded that he had been
insulted the night before by the captain of the Guardian-Mother, who
had refused to give him satisfaction, and he had treated him as any
gentleman should a poltroon.
"But it does not appear that he was a poltroon when you attacked him,
for he overturned you and your four servants all in a heap," interposed
the Court with a smile.
The Pacha winced at this remark. The magistrate desired to know in
what manner the commander had insulted him, and the whole truth came
out. Captain Ringgold calmly stated his objections to the character of
the Moor, and there was an attempt at applause, in which some British
officers took part; but it was promptly checked. He stated on oath that
the reputation of the Pacha was so bad in Funchal--
"And in Gib," some persons interpolated.
"--that I could not permit the ladies in my charge to associate with
him," added the witness, who repeated all his remarks that had been
offensive to the Pacha.
The Moorish consul promptly paid the fine of his fellow-subject, and
they left the court-room together.
"The fellow is a dirty blackguard!" said a military officer to the
captain. "He has insulted ladies here; and I am very grateful to you,
for one, for chastising him as he deserved."
"I thank you, sir," replied the commander. "I did no more than my duty
to those under my charge."
He took the arm of Uncle Moses, and they walked down the street. They
had gone but a few steps before they discovered that they were followed
by half a dozen officers; but they reached the barge without any
further molestation, where they found the ladies already seated in the
stern-sheets.
"We have kept you in sight, Captain Ringgold; and if the dirty
brute had given you any further trouble, we were ready to throw him
overboard," said one of the officers.
"I thank you, gentlemen; I feel able to defend myself; but I appreciate
your kindness and sympathy as much as though you had manifested it in
the way you have suggested," answered the captain, as he took the hand
of the speaker.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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