The "Dolphin" proved a trim little craft, beautifully finished and
furnished, a schooner-rigged sailing-yacht, gracefully modelled and
nearly new; but her former owner had died, and the yacht was to be sold
as a necessary measure for the settling of the estate.
Max went into raptures over her; and the Captain was evidently pleased,
though he said very little as he went about examining every part of her
with keen scrutiny.
"Isn't she all right, Papa?" Max at length ventured to ask.
"I think she is, my son," was the prompt, pleasant-toned reply. "What
is your opinion, Keith?"
"It exactly coincides with yours, Raymond; and if I wanted, and could
afford so expensive a luxury, I think I shouldn't hesitate to make an
offer for her."
"We seem to be quite agreed in our estimate of her," said Captain
Raymond; "and I shall take your advice."
"You are quite sure of her speed?" queried Keith.
"Yes; I have seen accounts of her in the papers, showing that she is a
fine sailer, as I should feel confident she would be, judging merely
from her appearance. She is a beautifully modelled, well-built little
craft."
"Looks rather small to you after the naval vessels you were wont to
command?" queried Donald Keith, with a good-humoured laugh.
"Yes; but quite captivating to a lover of the sea, nevertheless, and
as I see she is such to Max, and have no doubt that she will be to the
rest of my family, I am about decided to make the purchase."
Max drew a long breath, while his eyes sparkled with pleasure.
They at once sought the agent whose business it was to attend to the
sale of the vessel. It did not take long for him and the Captain to
come to an agreement; and the "Dolphin" quickly changed owners.
Max was enraptured, his cheeks glowing, his eyes fairly dancing with
delight. He managed, with some difficulty, to keep quiet till they were
in the carriage again on the way home, then burst out, "Papa, I think
it's just splendid that you're the owner of such a beautiful vessel!
And I hope to learn a great deal about the proper management of one
while we're sailing round in her."
"I shall try to teach you all I can, my boy," was his father's smiling
reply; "and your pleasure in the purchase doubles my own."
"Thank you, sir," said Max. "I intend to pay good heed to your
instructions, and learn as much as possible, so that I may pass a good
examination at Annapolis, and do my father credit."
"But, Max, you might do him as much credit in the army as in the navy;
and how you could resist the fascinations of West Point, I don't see,"
remarked Donald Keith, with a twinkle of fun in his eye.
"Well, sir, I suppose it's because I am the son of a seaman; love for
the sea runs in the blood,--isn't that so, Papa?"
"Altogether likely," laughed the Captain. "I have been supposed to
inherit it from my father, and he from his."
Violet, and the other members of the family, with some of the relatives
from the adjacent cottages, were all on the porch as the carriage drew
up in front of the house, and its occupants alighted.
"Papa! Papa!" shouted little Elsie and the baby boy, running to meet
him.
"Papa's darlings!" the Captain said, stooping to caress and fondle
them; then, taking them in his arms, he followed Donald up the
porch-steps, Max close in his rear.
"Take a seat, Cousin Donald," said Violet. "We are glad to see you all
back again. I have been wondering, my dear, what important business
you had to keep you so long away from me and your children."
"It was rather important," returned the Captain, pleasantly. "Max,"
with an indulgent smile into the lad's eager face, "you may have the
pleasure of telling where we have been and what we have done."
"Oh, thank you, sir!" cried Max, and proceeded to avail himself of the
permission, going into an enthusiastic description of the beautiful
"Dolphin," and winding up with the news that Papa had bought her, and
expected to take their whole party--or, at least, as many of them as
would like to go--coasting along the shores of all the Atlantic States
of New England, and for some distance out to sea.
Lulu was dancing with delight, hugging and kissing her father in a
transport of joy, before Max's story came to an end.
"Oh, Papa, how good,--how good and kind you are!" she exclaimed. "I
don't think anything could be pleasanter than such a trip as that.
It'll be the greatest fun that ever was. And you'll command the vessel
yourself, won't you? I do hope so; for I am sure nobody else could do
it half so well."
"What a flatterer my eldest daughter can show herself to be!" he
said, with a good-humoured laugh. "Yes, I do expect to take command
of the dainty little craft,--a small affair, indeed, compared with a
man-of-war. My dear," turning to Violet, "we have yet to hear from you
on this subject. I hope you approve of your husband's purchase."
"Entirely, Levis. In fact, I am quite as much delighted as Lulu seems
to be," she answered, smiling up into his face. "What could be more
enjoyable than sailing about in such a vessel, with a retired naval
officer in command? When am I to see your 'Dolphin'?"
"Yours quite as much as mine, my dear," he replied. "You have only to
say the word at any time, and I will take you over to look at her."
"Oh, will you?" she exclaimed. "Then suppose we all go over this
afternoon, and see what she is like."
"Agreed!" the Captain said; then glancing round at the eager faces,
"How many of you would like to go with us?" he asked.
He was answered by a prompt and unanimous acceptance of his invitation.
They all wanted to see that beautiful "Dolphin;" and after a little
discussion of the matter, it was decided that they would give up the
bath for that day, and start for Newport harbour immediately upon
leaving the dinner-table.
They made a very jovial party, and were delighted with the vessel and
the prospect of sailing in her under the command of one so kind and
competent as her new owner.
For the next few days Captain Raymond was busy with his preparations
for the voyage,--engaging a crew and getting everything on board that
would add to the comfort and enjoyment of his family and guests; the
ladies also were occupied with theirs, which were not sufficiently
great to interfere with the usual pleasures of a sojourn by the
sea-side; then one bright morning saw them all on board,--a merry,
happy party.
"Where are we going first, Papa?" asked Lulu, when they were fairly
under way.
"On a little trial trip along the coast," he answered.
"And then coming back to Newport?" questioned Gracie.
"Possibly," he said, with a smile into the bright, eager face.
"I think I know, though I'm not right sure," Max said, looking at his
father with a rather mischievous twinkle in his eyes, "what Papa is
thinking about."
"Do you, indeed?" laughed his father. "Well, what is it?"
"Well, sir, I overheard Captain Wade telling you he expected the
rest of the squadron would be in soon,--in a day or two, I think he
said,--and I have a notion it would be a fine sight for us all, and
that my father kindly means to give it to us."
"Ah, indeed! you seem to have a great deal of confidence in your
father's desire to give pleasure to you all," laughed the Captain.
"Well, my boy, events may perhaps show whether you are right."
The three had followed their father to a portion of the deck at some
little distance from the rest of the party, so that their talk was not
overheard by them.
"A squadron?" repeated Grace. "What is that? Oh, it's a good many ships
belonging together,--isn't it, Papa?"
"That will answer very well for a definition, or description," he
replied.
"Oh, how glad I am!" exclaimed Lulu, clapping her hands in delight.
"And will they go through all their manoeuvres, Papa?"
"As I am not the admiral whose orders are to be obeyed, I cannot say
exactly what will be done, my child," the Captain replied. "I can only
say I intend to have you in the vicinity in season to see all that may
be done. Does that satisfy you?"
"Oh, yes, sir! and I thank you very, very much!" she said, taking his
hand in both of hers and squeezing it affectionately.
"I too, Papa," said Grace. "I'm sure we'll enjoy it ever so much."
"I hope so," he answered. "And now can you three keep the secret from
the others, that they may have a pleasant surprise?"
"If we can't, or don't, I think we ought never to be told a secret
again," exclaimed Lulu, in her vehement way.
"Perhaps you would not be intrusted with one very soon again," her
father said; "but," he added, with a look from one to the other of
mingled pride and affection, "I feel quite safe in trusting a secret to
the keeping of the eldest three of my children. I am quite sure no one
of you would tell anything you knew your father wished kept secret."
"No, indeed, Papa!" said Max. "We would certainly deserve to be
severely punished, and never trusted by you again, if we should ever so
abuse your confidence."
"Just what I think," said Lulu.
"I too," added Grace. "And, Papa, it's so nice and kind in you to trust
us!" looking up into his face with a loving smile as she spoke.
"Is it?" he asked, smoothing her hair with fond, caressing hand. "Well,
my pet, it is a very great pleasure to me to be able to do so."
At that moment they were joined by Mr. Keith. The two gentlemen entered
into conversation; the two little girls ran down into the cabin to see
that the maid was making such disposition of their effects as they
desired; while Max, joined by Walter Travilla, made the tour of the
vessel for perhaps the fiftieth time,--for ever since the purchase,
he had spent at least half of every week-day there, learning from
his father and others all he could of her different parts and of her
management.
Walter, too, had been there again and again, spending hours at a time
in climbing about with Max, who took much pleasure in handing over to
him the lessons just learned by himself.
The rest of the party were seated on deck enjoying the breeze and the
beauties of sea and land,--for the latter was not yet out of sight,
though fast receding.
The weather was lovely, every one in the best of spirits, the younger
ones full of fun and frolic, and the day passed most enjoyably to all.
The evening was enlivened by music from a very sweet-toned piano in
the cabin, by singing, conversation, promenading the deck, and gazing
out over the water, watching the rise and fall of the waves, and the
passing of ships and steamers.
But the day had been an exciting one, especially to the children, and
they were willing enough to retire at an early hour. They gathered on
deck, each repeated a verse of Scripture, after which they united in
singing a hymn, and Mr. Dinsmore led in prayer. Then the good-nights
were said, and all the young people, with some of the older ones,
retired to their pretty, cosey state-rooms and their berths.
Great was the surprise of nearly everybody when, coming on deck the
next morning, they discovered that they were again in Narragansett Bay.
There were many exclamations and questions, "How did it happen?" "Whose
mistake was it that instead of being away out at sea, we are back at
our starting-point again?" These and other like queries were propounded
to the owner and commander of the yacht.
He pointed, with a good-humoured smile, to a number of war-vessels
lying quietly at anchor at no very great distance.
"The squadron is in, you see; and I thought my passengers would not
like to miss the sight of its evolutions, so brought them back to view
them. There will be time afterward for a pleasant little voyage along
the coast, or where you will."
The explanation was entirely satisfactory to every one, and there was
great rejoicing among the lads and lasses.
"What is it they're going to do, Papa?" asked Gracie.
"I have not been let into that secret, daughter," he answered; "but
we may find out after awhile by keeping a close watch upon their
movements."
"Oh, Papa, you can read their signals, and tell us what's coming,
can't you? Won't you?" exclaimed Lulu.
"Yes, my child, I can and will," he replied. "But there is the call to
breakfast, and you needn't hurry through your meal; for they are not
likely, for some hours yet, to begin anything you would want to see."
Encouraged by that assurance, no one cared to make undue haste in
eating all that appetite called for of the excellent breakfast
presently set before them. But an hour later found them all on deck,
young and old keeping a sharp watch on every movement of the vessels
composing the squadron, several spy-glasses being constantly turned in
their direction.
"Ah!" exclaimed the Captain, at length, while at the same instant Max
asked eagerly, "Papa, what is it they are doing there on the 'Wanita'?"
"Getting ready for inspection by the Admiral," was the reply. "See, the
men have donned their uniforms and are taking their places on the deck.
And yonder--do you see?--the Admiral and his staff are pushing off from
the flag-ship."
The boatswain's whistle and the roll of a drum were now heard coming
from the "Wanita."
"Oh, and is that the executive officer on the bridge of the 'Wanita,'
Papa?" asked Max, excitedly. "And what is he doing?"
"Giving an order to the gunner, doubtless to fire a salute in honour of
the Admiral."
Before the words had fairly left the Captain's lips, the loud boom of
the first gun burst upon the ear.
"Oh, Max, wouldn't you like to be in that Admiral's place?" queried
Walter Travilla; "I would."
"Oh, our Maxie means to be an admiral one of these days; and I'm sure I
hope he will," said Rosie.
"Very good in you, Rosie," returned Max, smiling and blushing; "but I'm
afraid I'll be an old man before that happens, if it ever does."
"But you may comfort yourself that you can be very useful in
maintaining your country's honour without waiting to be made an
admiral," remarked Evelyn Leland, smiling pleasantly at Max.
"Yes," he said, returning the smile, "and it _is_ a comfort. We'd any
of us feel it an honour to be useful to our country."
"I'd like to be," remarked Gracie, "if little girls could do anything."
"Little girls are sometimes a very great blessing and comfort to
their fathers," the Captain said, smiling down into her eyes while he
laid his right hand tenderly on her pretty head, with its sunny curls
streaming in the wind.
In the mean while the firing of the salute had gone on, the Admiral and
his staff had reached the deck of the "Wanita," the marines presenting
arms, and--
"There, what is he going to do now, Papa?" queried Lulu,--"the Admiral,
I mean."
"Inspect the ship," replied her father.
"What for, Papa?" asked Grace.
"To see that every part of it is in perfect order."
"I'm sure he will find it so," said Lulu; "for when we were there and
were taken all over it, every part was as clean and neat as any lady's
parlour."
Captain Raymond now turned away and began talking with Mr. Keith on
some subject that did not interest the children, but they continued a
close watch of the "Wanita."
The Admiral presently disappeared from the deck, but at length they saw
him there again, talking with Captain Wade and his officers; then, in a
few moments he and his staff re-embarked and returned to the flag-ship.
"What's going to be done now?" asked one and another.
"Watch, and you will see presently," said Captain Raymond. "If you do
not wish to miss something, I advise you to keep both eyes and ears
open."
The advice seemed to be promptly followed. All eyes gazed intently in
the direction of the "Wanita" and the flag-ship.
Presently a signal was shown by the flag-ship which Captain
Raymond promptly interpreted for the enlightenment of those about
him,--"Abandon ship."
"What does that mean, Papa?" asked Grace.
"Look and see if you can't find out for yourself," he answered in a
pleasant tone.
The signal seemed to have caused a commotion on the deck of each vessel
belonging to the squadron. Then there was a great splashing of boats
into the water, and of other craft which the Captain explained were
life-rafts and catamarans; while at the same time men and boys were
scampering about with various articles which he said were provisions,
nautical instruments, etc., such as would be needed if the ships were
really abandoned out at sea.
"But why would they ever do that, Papa?" Grace asked wonderingly. "I
should think it would always be better to stay in their ships, wouldn't
it?"
"Not always, daughter. The ship might be on fire, or leaking so badly
that she would be in danger of sinking."
"Oh, yes, sir! I didn't think of that," she responded.
"Oh, see!" said Rosie; "they've all pushed off away from their ships,
and the 'Wanita's' boats are ahead of all the others."
"Now what are they going to do, Papa?" asked Lulu.
"I can tell that only when I see the flag-ship's next signal," he
replied. "Ah, there it is, and tells them to go round the harbour under
sail."
The children watched with interest and delight as the order was obeyed.
It was a very pretty sight, but soon came another signal from the
flag-ship, which the Captain told them was one of recall; and the boats
returned to their ships.