The rich, powerful, and distinguished Pacha had taken a fancy to Blanche, the beautiful daughter of Mr. Woolridge, and had followed the party to Gibraltar in the Fatimé, his large steam-yacht; but the Guardian-Mother had avoided her, and had actually run away from her.
"I have a little business in the city this afternoon, and we will go ashore in the barge if you wish to visit the place again."
"I don't think much of the place itself, but it is interesting to look at the people of various nations that one meets in the street there; and I want to do a little shopping," added the lady.
Lunch was served at noon that day. The bunkers of the Maud had been filled with coal, and she was all ready to get under way. The big four were very much excited, and they disposed of their mid-day meal very hastily. They would not have thought to take their overcoats if the anxious mothers of two of them had not insisted that they should do so. Felipe had been at work on the engine, with which he was more familiar than with any other, for he had served as engineer when she was in the service of the Pacha.
"The Mah-ood," he began when Louis went on board, pronouncing the name of the steamer as he read it on the sign.
"No, no!" exclaimed Louis, laughing heartily. "You have translated the word into Spanish or Turkish;" and he proceeded to drill the engineer in the pronunciation of the new name of the craft.
"The Maud," he repeated for the twentieth time.
"That will do very well, Felipe."
"The Maud used to make ten knots an hour when I worked for the Pacha," he continued. "I shall make her do so now."
"All right; but always be on the safe side."