. . . . . .
What a happy meeting that was! The weird wee captain rubbed his hands in glee as he pointed to his bonnie barque.
“Isn’t she a beauty, boys, fore and aft? Look at her, lads. From stem to stern she’ll bear the scrutiny of the best sailor ashore or afloat.
“And that is your ship too, you know, and soon we’ll sail away to make our fortunes.
“Yes, insured to the full, and may be over. Oh, I know how to do business.
“Now we’ll go to the hotel and have breakfast, for both you boys look hungry.”
. . . . . .
On the very next day, Captain Antonio began to load up the good barque Zingara, for that was her romantic name.
For this purpose the sloop came in handy. All the apparatus he had been working at for more than a year was safely carried beachward, taken off, and shipped and stowed. Nothing was left behind.
To the landlord of the inn was given the key of his castle, as Antonio called the old windmill, with orders to have fires in it frequently, to keep out the damp.