After walking for half an hour in the direction of the nearest lights, they reached the lower part of the town; and the second master concluded that the railroad station must be in this section. He inquired in the street, and found they were quite near it. He was also told that a train would leave for Alicante and Madrid at thirty-five minutes past eight. It was only eight then; and, seeing a store with “A la Barcelona” on its sign, he knew it was a clothing-store, and the party entered it. Raimundo bought a long cape coat which entirely concealed his uniform. Bark and Bill purchased overcoats, each according to his taste, that covered up their nautical costume in part, though they did not hide their seaman’s trousers. At another shop they obtained caps that replaced their uniform headpieces.
With their appearance thus changed, they repaired to the station, where Raimundo bought tickets to Valencia. This is a seaport town, one hundred and sixty-two miles from Tarragona. Raimundo was going there because the train went there. His plans for the future were not definitely arranged; but he did not wish to dissolve his connection with the academy squadron. He intended to return to his ship as soon as he could safely do so, which he believed would be when the vessels sailed from Lisbon for the “isles of the sea;” but in this connection he was troubled about the change in the programme which the principal had introduced the day before, of which Hugo had informed him. If the American Prince was to convey the Josephines and the Tritonias to Lisbon, and bring back the Princes,—for the several ships’ companies were called by these names,—it was not probable that the squadron would go to Lisbon. All hands would then have visited Portugal and there would be no need of going there again. Raimundo concluded that the fleet would sail on its Atlantic voyage from Cadiz, which would save going three hundred miles to the northward in the middle of winter.
“Do you want first or second class tickets?” asked Raimundo, when they stood before the ticket-office.
“A second class is good enough for me,” replied Bill.
“What class do you take?” asked Bark.
“I shall go first class, because I think it will be safer,” replied Raimundo. “We shall not meet so many people.”
“Then get me a first class,” added Bark.
“Two first class and one second,” repeated the second master.
“I’m not going alone,” snarled Bill. “Get me a first class.”
The tickets were procured; and the party took their places in the proper compartment, which they had all to themselves. Bill Stout was vexed again; for, small as the matter of the tickets was, he had once more been overruled by the second master. He felt as though he had no influence, instead of being the leader of the party as he aspired to be. He was cross and discontented. He was angry with Bark for thinking of such a thing as deserting him. He was in just the mood to make another fuss; and he made one.