in Scott. I do not
see that I am in any greater peril than the rest of the ship's company,"
added Louis with a very cheerful smile upon his good-looking face.

"I don't forget that you are the sole owner of the Guardian-Mother, and
half-owner of the Maud, with a million and a half of dollars in your
trousers pocket. Though we are all earning our living in your service,
as well as improving our education, I for one do not lose sight of the
fact that we are all dependent upon your bounty for the means of
carrying on this voyage."

"What has all this to do with what we were talking about, Captain
Scott?" asked Louis, very much inclined to laugh out loud at the
rehearsal of the situation.

"It has this to do with it: I am very much afraid of saying something,
or doing something, that will offend you," answered the captain, with
more than usual deference in his tone and manner. "We came very near
getting into a quarrel in Pournea Bay; and if I had forgotten for a
moment what you are and what I am, we might have fallen into a jolly
row."

"I acted then as mildly as I could, however, in a matter which you did
not understand then, but do now; and I apologized for my interference as
soon as I had the opportunity," replied Louis quite seriously. "I cannot
understand why you have found it necessary to remind me that I am a
millionaire on a small scale, as fortunes are measured in our country,
and that I am the owner of the Guardian-Mother. You make it appear as
though I regarded you as my inferior. Have I ever put on airs in my
relations with you, Captain Scott?"

"Never!" replied the captain promptly, and with decided emphasis.

"Have I ever interfered with you in your command, except in the instance
referred to?"

"Never!"

"Have I ever done anything to stultify, degrade you, or impair your
self-respect?"

"Never!"

"Could I have done any different, or been any different, if the
bill-of-sale of the Guardian-Mother had been among your effects, and the
million had been in your trousers pocket instead of mine?" demanded
Louis with some earnestness; for the words of his friend--and they had
been very strong friends--had produced an unpleasant impression upon his
mind.

"You could not, Louis! I have made a donkey of myself; you are the best
friend I ever had in this world," returned the captain with emphasis.
"But let me say that you have taken me on the wrong tack. I had not the
remotest intention of casting the shad