"But I must pay half of the cost of the steamer," added the magnate. "Then my load will be so much the heavier," puffed Uncle Moses. "But five or ten thousand dollars, gentlemen!" exclaimed the commander. "Why, I was proposing to buy her out of my own pocket, and not call upon you at all." "Not a red cent!" protested the trustee. "I believe you want to make my burden more than I can bear, Captain." "But the price of the boat is only one hundred pounds, or about five hundred dollars; and that sum would not have ruined me," almost shouted the commander. "That will hardly take a feather's weight from my load," groaned Uncle Moses. "Say no more about it! I should be glad to buy the boat alone, and present her to the ship in token of the high appreciation I have of the boundless kindness with which my family and myself have been treated on board of the Guardian-Mother," interposed the magnate. "It is only a bagatelle, but it must be equitably divided," persisted Uncle Moses; and the question was settled on this basis. "The only doubt I had about the matter was the hoisting of her on deck and carrying here there," added the commander. "You needn't hoist her at all, Captain Ringgold," interposed Louis. "The big four will organize a ship's company, and sail her from port to port." "O ho, Sir Knight!" exclaimed Uncle Moses, shaking his fat sides again. "You want to be all ready for a fresh adventure night and day! If we change the name of the craft, as Mrs. Belgrave will insist, we had better call her the Don Quixote." The question was definitely settled, though not till Mrs. Belgrave had been consulted; but the name was referred to Louis. The Salihé was purchased at once, and paid for on the spot. Chickworth went away a happy man. Later in the day a meeting of the big four was called to organize the ship's company. CHAPTER XVII THE SHIP'S COMPANY OF THE STEAMER MAUD Louis Belgrave did not take kindly to the suggestion of Uncle Moses to call the little steamer, which had now come into the possession of the party, the Don Quixote. He had read Don Quichotte, as the book is called in French, twice with Professor Seveignien, his instructor at Von Blonk Park, in that language. He was therefore quite familiar with the career of the knight of La Mancha, which Cervantes wrote as a sort of burlesque on knight-errantry. The young millionaire's alleged fondness for adventure had been the reason why Uncle Moses had playfully given him the name of "Sir Louis;" but of the four young Americans afloat on the present cruise, he was no more inclined to erratic enterprises than the others. The average boy delights in adventure, at least in the contemplation and narration; and he was no exception to the rule, though he had always been devoted to his studies.