“This is a very unexpected pleasure, Prince Frisbone,” said Sir Philip. “I was not aware that we were to have the pleasure of ladies’ society on the voyage.”
“Prince Frisbone!” exclaimed the worthy machinist, laughing heartily. “That sounds odd.”
“I beg your pardon; but I think you told me you were an American Prince; and, as you did not dispute my title, I am not disposed to deny your claim,” answered Sir Philip.
“I suppose your title is a little more regular than mine; but we won’t quarrel about these trifles,” added the Prince. “This is now a ‘Yankee ship and a Yankee crew;’ and I have an idea that one man is as good as another on board of her.”
“No doubt of it; but I perceive that there is a great difference between the officers and the seamen,” suggested Lord Fillgrove.
“Not a bit of difference. No. 24 is just as good as the captain,” protested the American nobleman.
“But one commands, and the other obeys.”
“That’s true; but we don’t have any classes of citizens. The day-laborer on town-meeting day is the equal of the man worth a million that hires him; and any fellow before the mast in this vessel may be captain of her the very next month. Here is Capt. O’Hara: when he was at this port last, he was a seaman; and next month he may be a seaman again.”
“I hope not,” said O’Hara, laughing. “But I heard that the principal and the faculty were getting up a new way to fill the offices on board of the vessels of the squadron; and some of us may slip up when it is applied.”
“It’s all very democratic,” added Lord Fillgrove.