“I am perfectly at home here, and I wish you to be as much at home on board of this steamer as I am,” replied the owner with a cheerful smile; and for the first time in a week the millionaire at sixteen felt perfectly happy, for he had his mother with him on board of the magnificent steam-yacht. “He ought to be entirely at home, Mrs. Belgrave, for your son is the sole owner of the steamer,” interposed Captain Ringgold, who came into the cabin in season to hear the last remarks. “Louis the owner of the steamer!” exclaimed Mrs. Belgrave. “How can that be possible?” “When the mate of the Maud played us that trick, and thus got rid of us, he had won the fight for which he crossed the Atlantic, and had you in his possession,” the captain explained. “I need not try to tell you how terribly alarmed Louis was when he realized that Scoble had sailed away with you on board of his vessel. Mr. Woolridge’s yacht, the Blanche, happened to be at the port where we landed, and Captain Alcorn kindly got under way to assist us in finding you. We cruised all night, but accomplished nothing.” “I was not aware that you or Louis had done anything to find me,” added Mrs. Belgrave. “You did not suppose that I could keep quiet while that man was carrying you off, did you, mother?” asked her son. “I did not suppose you could do anything.” Louis related all the incidents of the trip on the Phantom, the burning of this steamer, and the escape of Kimptom to the Maud, which had made her way out of the inlet while he was unable to lift a finger to prevent her departure. Captain Ringgold gave the history of the steam-yacht, and explained the theory which induced him to urge upon Uncle Moses the purchase of the vessel. “But the one thing in my mind was to chase the Maud all over the world if necessary, to get you away from Scoble,” said Louis. “I suppose you have noticed the name of this steamer, Mrs. Belgrave?” added the commander. “I have neither seen nor heard it,” she replied. “The Guardian-Mother; and I need hardly add that she is named after you, madam.” “I could not call her the Maud after that schooner had had the name;” and Louis explained in what manner he had fallen upon the rather singular name. “You have always been my guardian-mother, and I have always looked up to you as such.” The motion of the steamer was too violent to permit the lady to look over the vessel. The captain had to go on deck, and for another hour Louis talked about the name, and what it meant to him. Then he rehearsed the theory of the commander that the steamer was to be used in promoting his education. “I suppose Scoble’s plans are broken up by the loss of his vessel; but he has doubtless saved all the money he had on board of the schooner.”