“All right; and we will stay where we are for the present,” said Mr. Frisbone.
“We can rig a whip, and lower the ladies into the cutter without any difficulty,” persisted the young officer, who perhaps thought it would be pleasant to have such a passenger as the younger lady.
“If we are in no danger here, as Mr. Frisbone says we are not, I prefer to stay where I am,” replied Mrs. Frisbone; and her sister was of the same mind.
“All right, lieutenant,” added the Prince. “I thought the women would rather stay where they are; and I think you had better return to your ship, and report to the captain. If he will send as many men as he can spare, I believe we can put this craft into sailing-trim in a few hours.”
“I will do so, sir. But you forget that we have no engineers on board of the Tritonia to run the engine,” suggested O’Hara.
“I will run the engine myself. I never went to sea much, but I have run an engine on a river and bay steamer enough to understand the business,” replied the American Prince. “If you will find firemen, I will look out for the engine.”
“I will report all you say to the captain.”
“Let me see: you have a vice-principal, or something of that sort, in each of the consorts. Of course he will direct in this matter.”
“We have no vice-principal in the Tritonia just now;” and O’Hara explained how they happened to be without one.
“Then I suppose the professors attend to this business.”