Isles of the sea; or, Young America homeward bound : $b A story of travel and adventureOptic, Oliver
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Isles of the sea; or, Young America homeward bound : $b A story of travel and adventure
Optic, Oliver
Seafaring life -- Juvenile fiction
“We fare better than I ever did at the best hotels in Europe,” said
O’Hara, when they were seated at dinner.
“You deserve good feed,” said the Prince, laughing. “This has been a
big expedition we undertook. I was figuring it up before we sailed; and
I found we had made twenty-eight hundred pounds, besides the value of
the Dangers.”
“Besides what?” demanded Mrs. Frisbone.
“The Dangers. Don’t you know the name of the steamer you sail in, the
Yankee ship with the Yankee crew?” answered the Prince, who pronounced
French as it was written, in spite of the frequent admonitions of his
educated wife.
“The Ville d’Angers,” added the lady, pronouncing correctly the name of
the steamer.
“I should have to have my tongue split like a crow, before I could say
that; and I don’t mean to try. The Dangers suits me better,” retorted
the Prince good-naturedly. “We were in a good many dangers while we
were in her at first; and that’s the best name in the world for her. I
was saying I had twenty-eight hundred pounds, besides the Dangers, all
made out of this cruise to the nor’ard; and, as the young gentlemen
have done all the work, I was determined that they should live like
fighting-cocks while I had any thing to do with them.”
“Thank you, Mr. Frisbone,” added O’Hara. “I think we are all in
condition to appreciate good living. What are you going to do with this
steamer after you have returned us all to the vessels of the squadron?”
“That will be for the principal to say. The steamer belongs to him, and
not to me; for it was one of his squadron that picked her up,” replied
the Prince. “I think he had better use her as one of the vessels of his
fleet, and sell out his sailing-vessels. It won’t be many years before
sails, except with steam, will go out of fashion.”
“She will accommodate as many as the two schooners, after she has been
fitted up for the purpose,” continued the captain. “She is nearly as
fast as the Prince; and, if we had been in her when we left Gibraltar,
we should have sailed with her.”
“Upon my word, I should have liked to be a student in such a vessel
when I was a youngster,” said Sir Philip Grayner, who sat at the table
about opposite the state-room of Gregory.
“You are not much more than a youngster now,” added the Prince,
laughing at the cool way of the baronet.
“I am two and twenty,” replied Sir Philip.
“Then you are not much more than a year older than Mr. Speers, the
second officer; and he is a millionnaire at that.”
“A millionnaire!” exclaimed the baronet.
“Please not mention that, Mr. Frisbone,” interposed Tom, blushing.
“It isn’t your fault, my boy; and I don’t blame you for it,” added the
Prince. “He is more than that, Sir Philip: he is a three-millionnaire.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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