"Mrs. Belgrave and Mrs. Woolridge were somewhat worried about you during the gale; but Mr. Boulong will take you to the ship, Louis and Morris, while I am arranging things with the captain for the future," said the commander. "You will return in an hour." The first officer of the Guardian-Mother took the hands of the young gentlemen as he received them in the cutter, and listened with interest to a brief account of their voyage. In return he told them the news from the steamer, and told them what had passed between Captain Ringgold and the Pacha. But the time was too short to say much, and in a few minutes both of them were in the arms of their mothers, after which there was a general shaking of hands with the other passengers. "I don't see that we have any occasion to go to Malta," said the commander to the captain of the Maud, after the departure of the cutter. "We can take that in at another time. Have you had any trouble of any kind on board?" "None whatever, sir," replied Scott, hardly understanding the meaning of the question. "Boys will sometimes get up ill-feeling and even quarrels among themselves when they are off on their own hook," added Captain Ringgold with a smile. "There has not been a particle of trouble of any kind, or anything like ill-feeling," protested Scott very warmly. "Every one has obeyed orders, and when I bent on the foresail in the gale all were ready to work, whether they were on watch or not. It was a hard job on the promenade deck, which would not hold still a moment, and where we were wet to the skin with every spray that flopped over her. I have not heard a growl or a grumble since we sailed from Gib. Pitts and Don have done all kinds of work, and done it cheerfully." "Your report is excellent, Captain Scott. I have been considering whether or not I should hoist the Maud on the upper deck of the ship," replied the commander. "Of course I haven't anything to say about that sir; but I believe I could go around the world in the Maud. Our casks leaked all the water out, and we had to get a fresh supply off Alboran;" and Scott detailed the meeting with the felucca. "You have done so well, and got along so pleasantly, that I will not take the Maud on board of the ship, and you shall proceed on the voyage." Captain Ringgold marked the course for the Maud on the chart to Constantinople. Louis and Morris returned to the little steamer at the end of the hour, and both vessels proceeded on the voyage. CHAPTER XXXIII THE PROFESSOR'S LECTURE ON ALGERIA