e and Mrs. Dan, Peggy Gray, "Rip" Van Winkle,
Reginald Vanderpool, Joe Bragdon, Dr. Lotless and his sister Isabel,
Mr. and Mrs. Valentine--the official chaperon--and their daughter Mary,
"Subway" Smith, Paul Pettingill, and some others hardly less
distinguished. As Monty looked over the eager crowd, he recognized with
a peculiar glow that here were represented his best and truest
friendships. The loyalty of these companions had been tested, and he
knew that they would stand by him through everything.
There was no little surprise when it was learned that Dan DeMille was
ready to sail. Many of the idle voyagers ventured the opinion that he
would try to desert the boat in mid-ocean if he saw a chance to get
back to his club on a west-bound steamer. But DeMille, big, indolent,
and indifferent, smiled carelessly, and hoped he wouldn't bother
anybody if he "stuck to the ship" until the end.
For a time the sea and the sky and the talk of the crowd were enough
for the joy of living. But after a few peaceful days there was a lull,
and it was then that Monty gained the nickname of Aladdin, which clung
to him. From somewhere, from the hold or the rigging or from under the
sea, he brought forth four darkies from the south who strummed guitars
and sang ragtime melodies. More than once during the voyage they were
useful.
"Peggy," said Brewster one day, when the sky was particularly clear and
things were quiet on deck, "on the whole I prefer this to crossing the
North River on a ferry. I rather like it, don't you?"
"It seems like a dream," she cried, her eyes, bright, her hair blowing
in the wind.
"And, Peggy, do you know what I tucked away in a chest down in my
cabin? A lot of books that you like--some from the old garret. I've
saved them to read on rainy days."
Peggy did not speak, but the blood began to creep into her face and she
looked wistfully across the water. Then she smiled.
"I didn't know you could save anything," she said, weakly.
"Come now, Peggy, that is too much."
"I didn't mean to hurt you. But you must not forget, Monty, that there
are other years to follow this one. Do you know what I mean?"
"Peggy, dear, please don't lecture me," he begged, so piteously that
she could not be serious.
"The class is dismissed for to-day, Monty," she said, airily. "But the
professor knows his duty and won't let you off so easily next time."
CHAPTER XIX
ONE HERO AND ANOTHER
At Gibraltar, Monty was
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