the blanche was on the starboard beam of the guardian-mother, or, in shore parlance, she was on the right-hand side of her as both ships sailed to the eastward. she chose her own position, and it varied considerably at different times, though it was generally about half a mile from her consort. at the present time she had come within less than a quarter of a mile, as the sea was quite smooth.
"why, the blanche is all dressed up as though she were going to a ball!" exclaimed mrs. belgrave, as the booming gun attracted the attention of the entire party.
"so she is," added the commander, as he observed her altered appearance for the first time; for he had been giving his whole attention to the lecture. "captain sharp is evidently getting up some sort of a frolic."
the first gun was followed by a second, and then by a third; and they continued till thirty-one of them had been discharged. four pieces were evidently used, and they were fired with considerable rapidity, proving that the british tars who formed her ship's company had seen service in the navy.
"what does all that mean?" queried captain ringgold, as the party gathered about him for an explanation, though he was as much puzzled as any of them. "it is not a national salute, so far as i know, and i am utterly unable to say what it means."
but as soon as the firing ceased a signal number went up to the fore-peak. bangs was the signal officer, and he had his book open as soon as he saw that it was needed.
"what is it, bangs?" asked the commander at the window of the pilot-house.
"'stop; i have something to communicate,'" replied the quartermaster.
"all right; give her one bell," added the commander.
bangs gave the proper signal for the affirmative, after he had struck the gong. the letting off of the steam was enough to inform the captain of the blanche that his request was complied with, and it was seen that he had a boat all ready to drop into the water. the screw of the ship ceased to revolve; and then, to save time, the commander of the guardian-mother ordered the quartermaster to ring to back her, and the blanche followed her example. as soon as the headway was nearly killed, the quarter-boat went into the water, with an officer in uniform in the stern-sheets. the cutter pulled to the american's side, and a ladder was dropped.
the officer was a very trim-looking man of forty, and was promptly conducted to the commander on the promenade deck. he was as polite as a french dancing-master.
"i have not the honor to be acquainted with captain ringgold, but i beg to introduce myself as mr. bland, first officer of the blanche," said the visitor, with all necessary nourishes.
"i am glad to make your acquaintance, mr. bland. my friend captain sharp appears to be engaged in a frolic this afternoon," replied the commander, shaking hands with the officer.
"this is general noury's birthday, sir, and captain sharp is taking proper notice of it," replied mr. bland, as he took from his pocket a note, and delivered it to captain ringgold.
"the general's birthday!" exclaimed the commander. "i wish him many happy returns of it;" and he opened the note.
it took him but a minute to read it, and then he looked extremely good-natured, as though he was more than ordinarily pleased; for he knew that its contents would afford a great deal of satisfaction to his passengers.
"by particular request of general noury, in whose honor the guns were fired and the blanche is dressed as you see her, captain sharp invites all the cabin party of the guardian-mother, including the guests, to dine on board of the blanche on this happy occasion. shall the invitation be accepted? those in favor of accepting it will please raise the right hand, and keep it up till counted," continued the commander, who was in a merry mood for him. "our honored guests are expected and requested to vote; for we could not think of leaving them alone on board of the ship. that would be neither decent nor hospitable, and the invitation specially includes them. please to vote, all."
the hands all went up; and the party seemed to be greatly amused at the operation of voting. the presiding officer declared that it was a unanimous vote, and the invitation was accepted.
"not quite unanimous, mr. commander," interposed louis belgrave. "mr. scott did not vote."
"you wish to vote in the negative, mr. scott?" inquired the captain.
"i do not intend to vote at all, captain," replied the third officer. "it would be a little cheeky for me to vote to leave the ship without the permission of the captain or of the first officer."
"'in colleges and halls in ancient times there dwelt a sage called discipline;' and a very good old fellow he was to have about, and quite as good on board ship as in institutions of learning. do you wish to accept the invitation, mr. scott?" asked the commander.
"i should be exceedingly happy to do so."
"then ask mr. boulong's permission."
"granted!" shouted the first officer, who stood within hearing.
"mr. bland, give my compliments to captain sharp, and inform him that his invitation is unanimously accepted by both passengers and guests, and we will be on board at five o'clock," said captain ringgold, addressing the officer from the blanche; and he went over the side into his boat.
"you don't give us much time to get ready, mr. commander," said mrs. belgrave, as all the ladies hurried away to the cabin to prepare for the grand occasion that had so suddenly dawned upon them.
"elaborate toilets are hardly expected at sea, out of sight of land. claw-hammer coats are not imperative, gentlemen," said the captain.
though the two steamers were not in a hurry, both of them resumed their course as soon as the blanche's boat was hoisted up to the davits; for it is part of the shipmaster's gospel to "keep moving" under all possible circumstances, and to lose no time in arriving at his destined port. all the passengers went below to prepare for the dinner. the blanche had come within fifty yards of her consort, as the sea was quite smooth.
"where is that music, mr. boulong?" asked the captain, opening the door from his cabin to the pilothouse.
"from the blanche, captain."
"but it seems to be a band. is it an orchestrion?"
"not at all; there are eight pieces of music on the promenade deck. it seems that his highness has a small band on board, though i have not heard it before," added the first officer.
the commander thought the music was very fine, and he concluded that captain sharp was running near the guardian-mother for the purpose of giving the band an introduction to the consort. besides the ship's company, there was no one on board of the blanche but the general and mrs. sharp; and the pacha, accustomed as he was to merriment and revelry, must have been rather lonesome. but it was already proved that he was a reformed man, and had entirely changed his manner of life.
the barge, which was a large eight-oar boat, had been made ready to lower into the water, and the gangway had been rigged out. though it was winter, the ship was in 18° north latitude, and the weather was as mild and pleasant as in midsummer. there was no spray, and the ladies could go to the blanche as comfortably as in a carriage on shore.
at quarter before five the gong was sounded in the cabin and on deck to call the party together in the boudoir, where they were to assemble. the ship stopped at the mandate of the captain, and the barge was lowered, and brought to the gangway. the boat was as handsome as anything that ever floated, and the stern-sheets were luxurious enough for a fairy craft. the crew of nine were all dressed in their white uniforms, and sat with their oars tossed, except the cockswain, who stood bolt upright abaft the back-board.
there were sixteen in the party, and the "big four" made their way to the fore-sheets; the ladies were handed into the stern by the three guests, and the barge shoved off. the blanche had taken a position on the beam of the guardian-mother, her band playing for all they were worth. captain sharp was on the platform of the gangway, and took every lady by the hand as he assisted her to disembark. at the head of the gangway on deck stood general noury, who received the ladies, all of whom he had met before; and the distinguished guests were presented to him, after which he shook hands with every other member of the party. he was especially respectful, and even reverential, to the commander of the guardian-mother, who had forgiven so much in his past conduct.
mrs. sharp came in for a large share of the consideration of the visitors. an hour was spent in the drawing-room, as they called the deck cabin, which was as large as the boudoir and music-room of the guardian-mother. the band had laid aside their brass instruments, and organized as an orchestra, stationed in a sort of recess in the forward part of the cabin. the general conversed with every person in the party; and when scott addressed him as "your highness," he protested that he did not wish to hear the expression again.
he talked french with louis, italian with sir modava, and spanish with lord tremlyn; for it was understood that he spoke at least half a dozen languages besides his own, and the guests found he was equally fluent in all they knew. to miss blanche he was very polite; but he did not give a moment more to her than to the other ladies, much to the satisfaction of her parents.
the dinner was fully equal to mr. sage's best efforts, and the occasion was as hilarious and as pleasant as it could be. possibly the english guests missed their wine on such an occasion. lord tremlyn declared that he seldom drank it at all, and dr. ferrolan said the same; and sir modava was the strictest sort of a teetotaler, having been engaged in preaching this doctrine among the sepoys as opportunity offered. the captain of the blanche informed the commander of the guardian-mother that the general had never touched wine since he came on board.
after dinner several of the gentlemen sang songs, and the general gave one in moroccan, which amused the party, though they could not understand a word of it. later in the evening captain ringgold made a speech complimentary to general noury, and wished him many happy returns of the occasion they celebrated. he was followed by dr. hawkes, uncle moses, professor giroud, and then by the three distinguished guests from the travancore.
the general replied to all of them at the close of the entertainment. he was a pleasant speaker, and his handsome face added a great deal to his words. the affair was declared to be a great success for a dinner-party at sea, and the commander of the guardian-mother invited all their hosts to assist him in a similar one on board his ship, the signal for which was to be the american union jack when the weather was suitable.
the party returned to their ocean home; and the commander spent the rest of the evening in telling his guests the story of general noury, and especially of his wonderful reformation.
"then captain sharp really saved his life?" added lord tremlyn.
"no doubt of it. the two ruffians in a street of messina had disabled the general, and would certainly have finished him if the captain had not wounded one with his revolver, and tackled the other. he owes his life to sharp without a doubt. mrs. sharp took care of him for quite a time while he was recovering from his wound, and she made a deep impression upon him. he is a mohammedan, and he sticks to his religion; but even that is capable of making a better man of him than he was before."
"i was much pleased with mrs. sharp, not because she is an english woman, but because she is a very worthy person," added his lordship.
"you are quite right, my lord, and she has had a romantic history;" and before they retired he had told the whole of it.
at the usual time the next day the company were assembled in conference hall; and when the commander announced that lord tremlyn would address them on the general subject, "the people of india," they manifested their interest by a liberal salvo of applause.
