She was built by two rich brothers of Torre Annunziata, who wished much good to their papa when he was old and no longer went to sea.

Therefore, to honour him, they called the vessel the _Papa_.

This is the truth." Lest this should seem extravagantly unlikely to the readers of this tale, I shall interrupt the conversation to say that I knew the _Papa_ well, that "she" was built and christened as the sailor said, and that her name still stood on the register of Italian shipping a few years ago.

She was not a brigantine, however, but a larger vessel, and she was bark-rigged; and she was ultimately lost in port, during a hurricane.
"We have learned something to-day," observed Ercole, when the man had finished speaking.
"It is true," the man said.

"And the name of the captain was Don Antonino Maresca.