Rich people -- Fiction; Widows -- Fiction; Yachts -- Fiction
Nothing could be more unprofitable for the shaken and disturbed, spirits
of the people on the _Summer Shelter_ than to stand gazing at the few
pieces of wood and the half-submerged hencoop which floated above the
spot where the _Dunkery Beacon_ had gone down, or to look out at the
three boats which the pirates were vigorously rowing towards the steamer
in the distance, and this fact strongly impressed itself upon the
practical mind of Mrs. Cliff. "Captain Horn," said she, "is there any
reason why we should not go away?"
"None in the world," said he, "and there's every reason why your vessel
and mine should get under headway as soon as possible. Where are you
bound for now?"
"Wherever you say, Captain," she answered. "This is my ship, and Mr.
Burke is my captain, but we want you to take care of us, and you must
tell us where we should go."
"We'll talk it over," said he, and calling Burke and Captain Hagar, a
consultation was immediately held; and it did not take long to come to a
decision when all concerned were of the same mind.
It was decided to set sail immediately for Kingston, for each vessel had
coal enough, with the assistance of her sails, to reach that port. Mrs.
Cliff insisted that Edna should not go back to the _Monterey_, and
Captain Horn agreed to this plan, for he did not at all wish any
womankind on the _Monterey_ in her present condition. The yacht had
been found to be perfectly seaworthy, and although a little water was
coming in, her steam pump kept her easily disposed of it. Edna accepted
Mrs. Cliff's invitation, provided her husband would agree to remain on
the yacht, and, somewhat to her surprise, he was perfectly willing to do
this. The idea had come to him that the best thing for all parties, and
especially for the comfort and relief of the mind of Captain Hagar, was
to put him in command of a ship and give him something to think about
other than the loss of his vessel.
While they were talking over these matters, and making arrangements to
send to the _Monterey_ for Edna's maid and some of her baggage, Captain
Horn sought Burke in his room. "I want to know," said he, "what sort of
a crew you've got on board this yacht? One of them--a very
intelligent-looking man, by the way, with black trousers on--came up to
me just now and shook hands with me, and said he was ever so much
pleased to make my acquaintance and hoped he would soon have some
opportunities of conversation with me. That isn't the kind of seaman I'm
accustomed to."
Burke laughed. "It's the jolliest high-toned, upper-ten crew that ever
swabbed a deck or shoveled coal. They're all ministers."
"Ministers!" ejaculated Captain Horn, absolutely aghast. Then Burke told
the story of the Synod. Captain Horn sank into a chair, leaned back, and
laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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