"'E left 'er alongside the Fatimé, and fled like a rat with a cat after 'im. The Grand Mogul was madder'n a bull with a bunch of Chinese fire-crackers tied to 'is tail. 'E couldn't do nothing with the yacht 'ere 'n Gib. 'E offered me ten pounds to sail 'er down to Mogadore; but I wouldn't go to sea in a craft no bigger'n she is. Then 'e sold her 'nd I bought 'er."
"What did you give for her?" inquired Felix.
"A 'undred pounds, which she is worth five 'undred," replied the skipper, whose name, later on, proved to be Giles Chickworth.
"And what do you do with her?" asked Louis.
"I makes 'er pay the interest on what she cost me, and good wages besides. I takes out parties as comes to the Rock," replied Chickworth.
"What do you charge for her?"
"Five shillings an hour, sir; and that's only two pound ten a day, which it is very cheap for a beauty like the Sali'é, sir. Per'aps you young gentlemen would like to take a turn in 'er?" suggested Giles Chickworth.
Louis liked the idea, and the boys had a hasty conference in regard to the matter. The passengers on board had not yet been on shore; for the Viking, whose commander and his wife were their friends, was moored near the Guardian-Mother, and they were having very pleasant times in visiting each other. Three of the young gentlemen had to dine that day with the guests of Mrs. Belgrave; and they thought it would be more agreeable to make the excursion in the evening, when it would be cooler, and the full moon would lend her splendors to the occasion.
"We cannot go now; but we should like to engage the Salihé for this evening at six o'clock," said Louis, at the close of the conference.
"Me and the hengineer is engaged this evening," replied the skipper. "We 'ave to go to a meeting of our society, and I must be there, for I'm the chairman;" and the latter clause seemed to be the idea he particularly wished to convey to his auditors.