“Then they are still roaming over the ocean in that steamer,” said he. “I have no agent or banker in Santa Cruz; and I left no word there as to the destination of the squadron. O’Hara will not be able to obtain any information as to where we are, or are to be.”
“I don’t see that any harm can come to them: they are in a good vessel, and have proved, by their voyage to England and back, that they know how to handle it,” said Mr. Fluxion, laughing. “I suppose Mr. Frisbone is still with them; at any rate, Capt. Fairfield is; and they are attending to their studies, the same as they would if they were on board of the schooners.”
After thinking the matter over, Mr. Lowington was reconciled to the situation. The Ville d’Angers had been gone three days and a half from Madeira. It was time for her to return, even if she followed the fleet to Palma, which had been the last island the squadron had visited. The students were allowed to go on shore in the afternoon, and escort Don Roderigue and his family to their home. A feast was provided for them in the evening, and Dona Maria was as fascinating as ever. But in the evening they bade the family adieu, not expecting to see them again, for they had decided not to go to the Azores in the Marian.
At noon on the following day, as the Ville d’Angers did not appear, the squadron was ordered to sail at once for the Western Islands. The principal left orders with his banker for the steamer to follow him if she put into Madeira again. It was the first day of the month, and the offices were distributed on board of the Prince; but, as one-third of the ship’s company of the other vessels were absent, the award of positions was assigned to an early day after the arrival of the Ville d’Angers’ people.
“But what shall I do?” asked Judge Rodwood, when the principal had issued the order to sail at once.
“You can do as you think best, judge,” answered Mr. Lowington. “If you run over to the Canaries again, you may possibly find this truant steamer.”
“As we have just come from there, I don’t care to go again,” replied the judge. “I think I shall follow you; for I am sure the truants will find you in the end. I am out for a cruise; and I intended to visit all these islands on my way home.”
The Marian followed the squadron; and, after a comfortable run of four days, the fleet anchored off the town of Horta, in the island of Fayal. As the wind was east, the vessels had smooth water; and the students were assembled at once to hear Professor Mapps’s talk about the Azores.
“The Azores are about two thousand miles from Boston, the direction being a little south of east. And the Prince or the Marian would make the voyage in six days, while our schooners, with a smashing breeze all the way, would do it in eight or nine. These islands have received various names; and people now call them indifferently the ‘Western’ and the ‘Azores.’ They are the most western of the four groups of islands lying nearest to the Western Continent; and this explains the first name. The other word comes from the Portuguese açor, a hawk; and I suppose the early settlers found that bird here. The Portuguese word is açores, with a mark like a comma under the c, which makes it sound like an s. They have also been called the Flamingos, or Flemish, the latter being the Portuguese for the former. They were so called from the people of Flanders who settled here.
“It is a little odd that these islands, like those we have lately visited, were discovered by navigators who were driven off their course by heavy weather. In this instance it was one J. Vanderberg, a merchant of the city of Bruges, making a voyage to Lisbon, who had the unfortunate good fortune to discover these islands in the year 1431. When Vanderberg finally reached Lisbon, he was imprudent enough to mention his discovery. At this time Portugal was at the height of the wonderful prosperity I have before described to you; and she was ambitious to acquire all the territory she could. An expedition was immediately fitted out, which first visited the Formigas, near St. Mary, which we saw yesterday morning. In due time the Portuguese obtained full possession of all the islands of the group; and have held it to the present time. The revolutions of the mother country have extended to these islands; and it is said that the women displayed more of the spirit of resistance than the men in some of them.