Mr. Lowell Woolridge was a Fifth Avenue millionaire of New York, whose wife, son, and daughter, as well as himself, had increased the number of the party in the cabin to eleven, making up a dozen with the commander, who spent with them all the time he could spare from his duties. Mr. Woolridge had become acquainted with the Belgrave family through the agency of his yacht, the Blanche.
His daughter, a very beautiful and graceful young lady of sixteen, having some slight symptoms of a pulmonary disease, had been sent to Orotavo, in the island of Teneriffe, by the physicians, and her father had been advised to take her there in his yacht. In a long and violent gale the Blanche had nearly foundered; but the Guardian-Mother had saved the vessel and the family. Dr. Hawkes declared that nothing ailed the fair patient, and the Blanche accompanied the steamer on her voyage as far as Southampton.
On the passage there the commander and the Belgraves decided to invite the Woolridges to join the party on board of the steamer; and the arrangements had been completed at Southampton, so that the expense of the voyage around the world should be equally divided between the two millionaires. While the two parties were travelling in the United Kingdom, some needed alterations were made in the cabin of the steamer, increasing the number of staterooms.
Six of the rooms on board were provided with bathrooms, with all the appendages, and were as luxurious as the suites of a first-class hotel. Mr. Melancthon Sage, the chief steward, was a caterer of established reputation, and Monsieur Odervie, the chief cook, was an artist in his profession of the highest rank. In fact, everything on board of the Guardian-Mother was luxurious. The ship was good for eighteen knots an hour when driven, and was officered by men of skill and long experience. Besides the boatswain and three quartermasters, her crew of sixteen seamen were all picked men, and it would have been difficult to find their equals as a whole in any yacht that sailed the seas.
Felix McGavonty was born of an Irish father and mother, but within the United States; and he claimed to be as much an American as his friends and companions; and his claim was freely allowed by all of them. His mother was dead, and his father had "disappeared." The four young Americans on board of the Guardian-Mother were fast friends at the time of their introduction, though Scott had been heartily received as such at a recent date.
The little steam-yacht, though she was large enough to have a cabin, engine-room, and pilot-house, came up to the gangway of the ship. The boys, as the commander always called them when speaking of them collectively, went over the rail and descended the steps to the Salihé. Individually, Captain Ringgold, as well as all the officers and seamen, called Louis "Mr. Belgrave." Though he never put on airs, some little deference was extended to him by his companions on account of his ownership; but among themselves the boys were equals in every respect.
The man in the pilot-house stepped out, and when he had made fast to the side of the steamer, he invited the party on board. He was evidently an Englishman, for he slaughtered his h's without mercy, and was over fifty years old. He was well dressed, and one might have taken him for the mate of a merchantman. He was polite in his way, and provided his guests with seats.
CHAPTER II
THE BIG FOUR ARRANGE AN EXCURSION
"What steam-yacht is this, sir?" asked Louis, as he seated himself on a stool in front of the pilot-house.