pirate craft, and I rang to stop and back her. I gave the
speed bell as soon as she began to go astern, and the Maud went clear,
as I was afraid she would not."

The picking up of Mazagan after the Fatime had gone down, and the visit
of the boat from the shore, were given in detail, and the narrative was
completed.

As soon as the story was finished, the commander took the hand of
Captain Scott again, and pressed it in silence for a moment. He had
listened attentively to the report, interrupting it but once, and had
carefully followed the speaker as he pointed out his movements on the
diagram.

"I approved your conduct, Captain Scott, when I had only a partial
knowledge of what you had done," said he. "I can now approve it with a
full knowledge of the whole affair even more heartily and decidedly than
before. You have been resolute and unflinching from the beginning, and
you have not only fought your ship as bravely and skilfully as any
naval officer could have done it, but you have done your best to avoid a
conflict. I commend you with all my heart and mind."

"I thank you, Captain Ringgold, for all the kind words you have spoken,
and I am rejoiced to be informed on such authority as you are that I
have done my duty faithfully," replied the young commander.

"I suppose the mothers in the boudoir are wondering what has become of
their boys," added the commander. "I give you an hour to pass with them,
and then we must sail for Port Said."

The conference was ended, and the boys all went to the boudoir.

CHAPTER XVII

THE INSIDE HISTORY OF THE VOYAGE

While the Guardian-Mother lay aground, the mothers in the cabin had
become very anxious about their boys, and both of them had spent wakeful
nights in thinking of them. In a comparison of notes it was evident that
the wind had blown harder on the coast of Egypt than farther to the
north. But the ship had escaped from the dilemma in the morning at an
early hour, and had made a quick run to Cape Arnauti.

There was therefore great rejoicing in the cabin when it was ascertained
that the Maud was safe, with all on board of her. Dr. Hawkes operated
upon Mazagan in the hospital, and readily removed the bullet from his
shoulder. Ball, one of the old man-of-war's-men of the crew, who had
seen some service as a nurse, was appointed to take care of him.

The fact that the surgeon had a patient soon became known in the
boudoir, and curiosity ran to the highest pitc