Louis and the commander had a very quiet time in the cabin, and the former detailed everything that had occurred since the little steamer left the ship, occasionally answering the questions put to him.
"I suppose I am a knight-errant, but I cannot for the life of me see in what manner I brought this adventure to pass, or that the rest of the knights-errant did any more than I did," protested Louis, as he finished his narrative.
"I am afraid you are making too much of the pleasantries of your fellow-voyagers, my boy, for every one of them knows that you are not a Don Quixote. Your adventures all come without seeking them."
"I am entirely satisfied with that statement, Captain Ringgold," replied Louis. "As long as you don't really believe that I am not all the time studying up a chance to get into an adventure, I shall be perfectly happy."
"We understand each other perfectly, Sir Louis; and, by the way, it was Uncle Moses, and not I, who gave you that title. But it is getting late; and if we are to take the schooner over to Algeciras to-night, it is time we were about it," added the commander, as he looked at his watch. "But the knights-errant had better go on board of the ship and turn in, for, after the hard-fought battle of the evening, they must be fatigued."
"The biggest job we had on our hands was to overcome the Scotchman, for, as you have seen, he is a powerful man; and it was Sir Scott's ingenuity as well as his skill in the use of the lasso which carried us safely through it. He has behaved excellently well; he remembered the names of most of the places on the bay; and I beg leave to report very favorably of him. He is ten times the fellow I ever before supposed he was," added Louis with a gape, indicating that he was in condition to take the advice of the commander and retire for the night.
"Scott has behaved exceedingly well since he reformed his manners and his life, and your report of him shall be duly considered, Captain Belgrave," replied Captain Ringgold, as they left the cabin.
"Captain Belgrave!" exclaimed Louis. "'Et tu, Brute,'" as Cæsar said when the other fellow asked him how many buckwheat cakes he had eaten for breakfast.
"I only follow Sir Scott's lead. But you can all go on board, and I will attend to the affairs of the smugglers," added the commander.
The big four all went on board of the Guardian-Mother. The second engineer of the ship was sent to the engine-room of the steamer, and Felipe was relieved from further duty. Mr. Gaskette with six seamen was sent over to Algeciras in charge of the party, and the Salihé departed with the Golondrina in tow. The occupants of the cabin of the ship had all retired; and Louis did not find his mother waiting to receive him, which proved that she had not been suffering from any anxiety.