“What! ambergris? You don’t say so! Yes, of course. Mr. Marlin, stop her at once, and get that queer-looking craft, with its cargo, on deck. Why, young man, if that stuff you’ve got in there is truly ambergris, you are carrying a small fortune about with you.”
Acting under the orders of Mr. Marlin, the sailing-master of the yacht, half a dozen of her active, trimly dressed crew sprang to one of her quarter-boats, unhooked it from the davits, and took it in on deck. Then a couple of lines were passed entirely around the dory, which beside the dainty boats of the yacht looked to be a clumsy, ill-shaped craft, and it was lifted clear of the water, and swung up to the level of the rail.
“There,” said the gentleman; “your boat and its contents will be safe enough for the present. What did you say your name was?”
“I did not say,” replied Breeze, “but it is McCloud--Breeze McCloud.”
“And mine,” said the other, “is Seabright.”
“Thank you,” said Breeze, “and I’m very grateful to you for picking us up, Mr. Seabright.”
The boy could not imagine why Lord Seabright stared at him for a moment, and then burst out laughing, at hearing himself thus addressed, for the first time in his life, as plain mister.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE STEAM-YACHT “SAGA.”
There was something so gentlemanly in the appearance of Breeze McCloud that Lord Seabright at once noticed it; and, in spite of the boy’s rough clothes, and declaration that he was one of the crew of an American fishing schooner, could not regard nor treat him as an ordinary fisher-lad. While Nimbus was sent forward, to be cared for in the forecastle and at the mess-table of the crew, Breeze was shown into the ward-room, or quarters occupied by the sailing-master, mate, and chief engineer of the yacht. Here the cabin steward was sent to him, with orders to make him as comfortable as possible.
The first thing this individual noticed was that Breeze was soaked to the skin, and shivering as though in a chill, and he hurried away to find him some dry clothes. A few minutes later he returned with an old but complete yachting suit, belonging to Lord Seabright, which, as the latter was but a few years older than Breeze, and of about the same build, fitted the boy as though made for him.