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diff --git a/15920.txt b/15920.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..167721c --- /dev/null +++ b/15920.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11156 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Outward Bound, by Oliver Optic + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Outward Bound + Or, Young America Afloat + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Release Date: May 27, 2005 [EBook #15920] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUTWARD BOUND *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Norma Elliott and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. (www.pgdp.net) + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD + +By +OLIVER OPTIC + + +OUTWARD BOUND + + + +BOSTON +LEE & SHEPARD.] + + * * * * * + +OUTWARD BOUND; + +OR, + +YOUNG AMERICA AFLOAT. + +A STORY OF TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE. + +BY + +WILLIAM T. ADAMS + +(_OLIVER OPTIC_). + +BOSTON: +LEE AND SHEPARD. + +1869. + + + * * * * * + + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by +WILLIAM T. ADAMS, +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court +of the District of Massachusetts. + + + * * * * * + + +TO GEORGE WEBSTER TERRILL + +_This Volume_ + +IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. + + + * * * * * + + +YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD. + +BY OLIVER OPTIC. + + +A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. First and Second +Series; six volumes in each Series. 16mo. Illustrated. + + +_First Series_. + +I. _OUTWARD BOUND,_ OR, YOUNG AMERICA AFLOAT. + +II. _SHAMROCK AND THISTLE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND. + +III _RED CROSS_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN ENGLAND AND WALES. + +IV. _DIKES AND DITCHES_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN HOLLAND AND BELGIUM. + +V. _PALACE AND COTTAGE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND. + +VI. _DOWN THE RHINE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN GERMANY. + + +_Second Series_. + +I. _UP THE BALTIC_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN DENMARK AND SWEDEN. + +II. _NORTHERN LANDS_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN PRUSSIA AND RUSSIA. + +III. _VINE AND OLIVE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. + +IV. _SUNNY SHORES_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN ITALY AND AUSTRIA. + +V. _CROSS AND CRESCENT_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN GREECE AND TURKEY. + +VI. _ISLES OF THE SEA_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA HOMEWARD BOUND. + + + * * * * * + + + +PREFACE. + + +Outward Bound is the first volume of "A Library of Travel and Adventure +in Foreign Lands," and contains the voyage of the Academy Ship "Young +America" across the Atlantic. The origin and progress of this aquatic +institution are incidentally developed, and the plan is respectfully +submitted to the consideration of those who are interested in the +education and moral training of the class of young men who are the +characters in the scenes described in this work. Besides a full +description of the routine and discipline of the ship, as an educational +and reformatory institution, the volume contains a rather free _expose_ +of the follies and frailties of youth, but their vices are revealed to +suggest the remedy. + +The story includes the experience of the officers and crew of the Young +America, eighty-seven in number, though, of course, only a few of them +can appear as prominent actors. As the ship has a little world, with all +the elements of good and evil, within her wooden walls, the story of the +individual will necessarily be interwoven with that of the mass; and the +history of "The Chain League," in the present volume, of which Shuffles +is the hero, will, it is hoped, convey an instructive lesson to young +men who are disposed to rebel against reasonable discipline and +authority. In the succeeding volumes of this series, the adventures, +travels, and "sight-seeing," as well as the individual and collective +experience of the juvenile crew of the Academy Ship, will be narrated. +They will visit the principal ports of Europe, as well as penetrate to +the interior; but they will always be American boys, wherever they are. + +The author hopes that the volumes of the series will not only be +instructive as a description of foreign lands, and interesting as a +record of juvenile exploits, but that they will convey correct views of +moral and social duties, and stimulate the young reader to their +faithful performance. + +HARRISON SQUARE, MASS., +November 2, 1866. + + + * * * * * + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER PAGE + +I. THE IDEA SUGGESTED 11 + +II. THE YOUNG AMERICA 27 + +III. THE ENSIGN AT THE PEAK. 43 + +IV. OFFICERS AND SEAMEN. 59 + +V. OUR FELLOWS. 75 + +VI. THE FOURTH OF JULY. 91 + +VII. HEAVING THE LOG. 106 + +VIII. OUTWARD BOUND. 122 + +IX. THE WATCH BILL. 138 + +X. MAKING A CHAIN. 154 + +XI. THE GAMBLERS IN NO. 8. 170 + +XII. THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. 186 + +XIII. PIPING TO MISCHIEF. 202 + +XIV. ALL HANDS, REEF TOPSAILS! 218 + +XV. AFTER THE GALE. 233 + +XVI. THE WRECK OF THE SYLVIA 248 + +XVII. PEAS AND BEANS 263 + +XVIII. THE RESULT OF THE BALLOT 280 + +XIX. MAN OVERBOARD! 299 + +XX. THE END OF THE CHAIN LEAGUE 318 + + + * * * * * + + +OUTWARD BOUND. + + + + +OUTWARD BOUND; + +OR, + +YOUNG AMERICA AFLOAT + + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE IDEA SUGGESTED. + + +"There are no such peaches this side of New Jersey; and you can't get +them, for love or money, at the stores. All we have to do is, to fill +our pockets, and keep our mouths closed--till the peaches are ripe +enough to eat," said Robert Shuffles, the older and the larger of two +boys, who had just climbed over the high fence that surrounded the fine +garden of Mr. Lowington. + +"What will Baird say if he finds it out?" replied Isaac Monroe, his +companion. + +"Baird," the gentleman thus irreverently alluded to, was the principal +of the Brockway Academy, of which Shuffles and Monroe were pupils in the +boarding department. + +"What will he say when he finds out that the King of the Tonga Islands +picks his teeth with a pitchfork?" added Shuffles, contemptuously. "I +don't intend that he shall find it out? and he won't, unless you tell +him." + +"Of course, I shall not tell him." + +"Come along, then? it is nearly dark, and no one will see us." + +Shuffles led the way down the gravelled walk, till he came to a brook, +on the bank of which stood the peach tree whose rich fruit had tempted +the young gentlemen to invade the territory of Mr. Lowington with intent +to plunder. + +"There they are," said the chief of the young marauders, as he paused +behind a clump of quince bushes, and pointed at the coveted fruit. +"There's no discount on them, and they are worth coming after." + +"Hark!" whispered Monroe. "I heard a noise." + +"What was it?" + +"I don't know. I'm afraid we shall be caught." + +"No danger; no one can see us from the house." + +"But I'm sure there's some one near. I heard something." + +"Nonsense! It was only a dagger of the mind, such as Baird talks about," +answered Shuffles, as he crawled towards the peach tree. "Come, Monroe, +be quick, and fill your pockets." + +This peach tree was a choice variety, in whose cultivation the owner had +been making an elaborate experiment. Mr. Lowington had watched it and +nursed it with the most assiduous care, and now it bore about a dozen +remarkably large and beautiful peaches. They were not quite ripe enough +to be gathered, but Shuffles was confident that they would "mellow" in +his trunk as well as on the tree. The experiment of the cultivator had +been a success, and he had already prepared, with much care and labor, a +paper explanatory of the process, which he intended to read before the +Pomological Society, exhibiting the fruit as the evidence of the +practicability of his method. To Mr. Lowington, therefore, the peaches +had a value far beyond their intrinsic worth. + +Shuffles gathered a couple of the peaches, and urged his companion to +use all possible haste in stripping the tree of its rich burden. + +"Hallo, there! What are you about?" shouted some one, who hastened to +make his presence known to the plunderers. + +Monroe began to retreat. + +"Hold on!" interposed Shuffles. "It's no one but Harry Martyn." + +"He can tell of us just as well as anybody else." + +"If he does, he will catch it." + +"What are you doing?" demanded Harry Martyn,--who was a nephew of Mr. +Lowington, and lived with him,--as he crossed the rustic bridge that +spanned the brook. + +"Don't you see what I'm doing?" replied Shuffles, with an impudent +coolness which confounded Harry. + +"Stop that, Shuffles!" cried Harry, indignantly. "My uncle wouldn't take +ten dollars apiece for those peaches." + +"That's more than he'll get for them," added Shuffles, as he reached up +and gathered another peach. + +"Stop that, I tell you!" said Harry, angrily, as he stepped up, in a +menacing attitude, before the reckless marauder. + +"Shut up, Harry! You know me, and when I get all these peaches, I've got +something to say to you." + +Shuffles was about to gather another of the peaches, when Harry, his +indignation overcoming his prudence, grasped his arm, and pulled him +away from the tree. + +"What do you mean, Harry Martyn?" exclaimed Shuffles, apparently +astonished at the temerity of the youth. "I can't stop to lick you now; +but I'll do it within twenty-four hours." + +"Well, don't you touch those peaches, then." + +"Yes, I will touch them. I intend to have the whole of them; and if you +say a word to your uncle or any one else about it, I'll pulverize that +head of yours." + +"No, you won't! You shall not have those peaches, anyhow," replied the +resolute little fellow, who was no match, physically, for Shuffles. + +"If you open your mouth----" + +"Hallo! Uncle Robert! Help, help! Thieves in the garden!" shouted Harry, +who certainly had no defect of the lungs. + +"Take that, you little monkey!" said Shuffles, angrily, as he struck the +little fellow a heavy blow on the side of the head with his fist, which +knocked him down. "I'll fix you the next, time I see you." + +Shuffles consulted his discretion rather than his valor, now that the +alarm had been given, and retreated towards the place where he had +entered garden. + +"What's the matter, Harry?" asked Mr. Lowington, as he rushed over the +bridge, followed by the gardener and his assistants, just as Harry was +picking himself up and rubbing his head. + +"They were stealing your peaches, and I tried to stop them," replied +Harry. "They have taken some of them now." + +Mr. Lowington glanced at the favorite tree, and his brow lowered with +anger and vexation. His paper before the "Pomological" could be +illustrated by only nine peaches, instead of thirteen. + +"Who stole them, Harry?" demanded the disappointed fruit-grower. + +The nephew hesitated a moment, and the question was repeated with more +sternness. + +"Robert Shuffles; Isaac Monroe was with him, but he didn't take any of +the peaches." + +"What is the matter with your head, Harry?" asked his uncle, when he +observed him rubbing the place where the blow had fallen. + +"Shuffles struck me and knocked me down, when I called out for you." + +"Did he? Where is he now?" + +"He and Monroe ran up the walk to the back of the garden." + +"That boy shall be taken care of," continued Mr. Lowington, as he walked +up the path towards the point where the marauders had entered. "The +Academy is fast becoming a nuisance to the neighborhood, because there +is neither order nor discipline among the students." + +The thieves had escaped, and as it would be useless to follow them, Mr. +Lowington went back to the house; but he was too much annoyed at the +loss of his splendid peaches, which were to figure so prominently before +the "Pomological," to permit the matter to drop without further notice. + +"Did he hurt you much, Harry?" asked Mr. Lowington as they entered the +house. + +"Not much, sir, though he gave me a pretty hard crack," answered Harry. + +"Did you see them when they came into the garden?" + +"No, sir? I was fixing my water-wheel in the brook, when I heard them at +the tree. I went up, and tried to prevent Shuffles from taking the +peaches. I caught hold of him, and pulled him away. He said he couldn't +stop to lick me then, but he'd do it within twenty-four hours. Then he +hit me when I called for help." + +"The young scoundrel! That boy is worse than a pestilence in any +neighborhood. Mr. Baird seems to have no control over him." + +Suddenly, and without any apparent reason, Mr. Lowington's compressed +lips and contracted brow relaxed, and his face wore its usual expression +of dignified serenity. Harry could not understand the cause of this +sudden change; but his uncle's anger had passed away. The fact was, that +Mr. Lowington happened to think, while his indignation prompted him to +resort to the severest punishment for Shuffles, that he himself had been +just such a boy as the plunderer of his cherished fruit. At the age of +fifteen he had been the pest of the town in which he resided. His father +was a very wealthy man, and resorted to many expedients to cure the boy +of his vicious propensities. + +Young Lowington had a taste for the sea, and his father finally procured +a midshipman's warrant for him to enter the navy. The strict discipline +of a ship of war proved to be the "one thing needful" for the +reformation of the wild youth; and he not only became a steady young +man, but a hard student and an accomplished officer. The navy made a man +of him, as it has of hundreds of the sons of rich men, demoralized by +idleness and the absence of a reasonable ambition. + +When Mr. Lowington was thirty years old, his father died, leaving to +each of his three children a quarter of a million; and he had resigned +his position in the navy, in order to take care of his property, and to +lead a more domestic life with his wife and daughter than the discipline +of the service would permit. + +He had taken up his residence in Brockway, the early home of his wife. +It was a large town on the sea shore, only a few miles from the +metropolis of New England, thus combining all the advantages of a home +in the city and in the country. For several years he had been happy in +his peaceful retirement. But not wealth, nor even integrity and piety, +can bar the door of the lofty mansion against the Destroyer of the race. +His wife died of an hereditary disease, which gave no indication of its +presence till she had passed her thirtieth year. Two years later, his +daughter, just blooming into maturity, followed her mother down to the +silent tomb, stricken in her freshness and beauty by the same insidious +malady. + +The husband and father was left desolate. His purest and fondest hopes +were blighted; but, while he was submissive to the will of the Father, +who doeth all things well, he became gloomy and sad. He was not seen to +smile for a year after the death of his daughter, and it was three years +before he had recovered even the outward semblance of his former +cheerfulness. He was rich, but alone in the world. He continued to +reside in the home which was endeared to him by the memories of his +loved and lost ones. + +When his wife's sister died in poverty, leaving two children, he had +taken them to his home, and had become a father to them. Harry Martyn +was a good boy, and Josephine Martyn was a good girl; but they were not +his own children. There was something wanting--an aching void which they +could not fill, though Mr. Lowington was to them all that could be asked +or expected of a parent. + +Mr. Lowington busied himself in various studies and experiments; but +life had ceased to be what it was before the death of his wife and +daughter. He wanted more mental occupation; he felt the need of greater +activity, and he was tempted to return to the navy, even after his +absence of ten years from the service; but this step, for many reasons, +was not practicable. At the time when his garden was invaded by the +vandal students from the Brockway Academy, he was still thinking what he +could do to save himself from the inglorious life of ease he was +leading, and, at the same time, serve his country and his race. + +Shuffles had robbed his garden of some of his choicest fruit; had struck +his nephew a severe blow on the head, and threatened to inflict still +greater chastisement upon him in the future. Mr. Lowington was justly +indignant; and his own peace and the peace of the neighborhood demanded +that the author of the mischief should be punished, especially as he was +an old transgressor. It was absolutely necessary that something should +be done, and the retired naval officer was in the right frame of mind to +do it. Just then, when he was wrought up to the highest pitch of +indignation, his anger vanished. Shuffles at sixteen was the counterpart +of himself at fifteen. + +This was certainly no reason why the hand of justice should be stayed. +Mr. Lowington did not intend to stay it, though the thought of his own +juvenile depravity modified his view, and appeased his wrath. He put on +his hat and left the house. He walked over to the Academy, and being +shown to the office of the principal, he informed him of the +depredations committed in his garden. + +"Who did it, Mr. Lowington?" demanded the principal, with proper +indignation in his tones and his looks. + +"Shuffles." + +"I need not have asked. That boy gives me more trouble than all the +others put together," added Mr. Baird, with an anxious expression. "And +yet what can I do with him?" + +"Expel him," replied Mr. Lowington, laconically. + +"I don't like to do that." + +"Why not?" + +"It would be an injury to me." + +"Why so?" + +"It would offend his father, who is a person of wealth and influence. +When Shuffles came to Brockway ten other boys came with him. He was +expelled from another institution, which so incensed his father that he +induced the parents of ten others to take their sons out, and send them +to me. If I expel Shuffles, I shall lose about a dozen of my students, +and I can't afford to do that." + +"But must the neighborhood suffer from his depredations?" + +"I will talk with the boy; I will keep him in his room for a week." + +"I'm afraid the boy needs severer measures. If this were the first, or +even the third time, I would, not say so much." + +"My dear sir, what can I do?" + +"The boy needs strict discipline. If I were still in the navy, and had +him aboard my ship, I could make a man of him." + +"I don't think anything can be done." + +"Something must be done, Mr. Baird. My garden shall not be robbed with +impunity." + +"I will do what I can, Mr. Lowington." + +But the owner of the stolen fruit was by this time satisfied that +nothing would be done. The principal of the Brockway Academy had not +force nor influence enough to control such a boy as Shuffles. Mr. +Lowington took his leave, determined to apply to another tribunal for +the correction of the evil. That night the peach thieves were arrested, +and put in the lock-up. The next day they were tried, found guilty, and +sentenced to pay a fine and costs, which Mr. Baird promptly paid. Within +a week Mr. Lowington's stable was burned to the ground. Shuffles was +seen near the building just before the fire broke out; but it could not +be proved that he was the incendiary, though no one doubted the fact. He +was arrested, but discharged on the examination. + +"You see how it is, Mr. Lowington," said the principal of the Academy, +as the two gentlemen met after the examination. "It would have been +better for you if you had not prosecuted the boy for stealing the +peaches." + +"I don't think so," replied Mr. Lowington. "I must do my duty, without +regard to consequences; and you will pardon me if I say you ought to do +the same." + +"If I expel the boy he would burn the house over my head." + +"Then you think he burned my stable?" + +"I don't know; it cannot be proved that he did." + +"I have no doubt of the fact. I have no ill will against the boy. I only +desire to protect myself and my neighbors from his depredations." + +"I think you were very unfortunate in the method you adopted, Mr. +Lowington," replied the principal of the Academy. "It has reacted upon +yourself." + +"Shall this boy steal my fruit and burn my buildings with impunity?" +added Mr. Lowington, with considerable warmth. + +"Certainly not." + +"I applied to you for redress, Mr. Baird." + +"I told you I would talk with the boy." + +"Such a reprobate as that needs something more than talk." + +"What would you do with him, sir?" demanded Mr. Baird, earnestly. + +"I hardly know. I should certainly have expelled him; but that, while it +protects the Academy, does not benefit the boy." + +"It would only harden the boy." + +"Very likely; and his remaining will harden a dozen more by his +influence. Mr. Baird, I shall be obliged to take my nephew out of your +institution," added Mr. Lowington, seriously. + +"Take him out?" + +"I must, indeed." + +"Why so?" asked Mr. Baird, who was touched in a very tender place. + +"Because I am not willing to keep him under the influence of such an +example as this Shuffles sets for his companions. As the matter now +stands, the young rascal has more influence in the Academy than you +have. You cannot manage him, and you dare not expel him. The boy knows +this, and he will not leave his advantage unused." + +"I hope you won't take Harry out of the school," said Mr. Baird. + +"I must." + +"Others may do the same." + +"I cannot help it; with my view of the matter, they can hardly do +otherwise." + +"But you see, sir, what the effect of this step must be." + +"Mr. Baird, I must be frank with you. You have declined to expel +Shuffles, while you know that his influence is bad. You asked me what +you should do? and I told you. Now, you prefer to retain Shuffles, but +you must lose others. Permit me to say that you should do your duty +without regard to consequences." + +"I cannot afford to lose my scholars." + +"Your position is a difficult one. I grant, Mr. Baird; but without +discipline you can do nothing for yourself or the boys." + +Mr. Lowington went home, Harry was taken from the Academy, and a dozen +parents and guardians followed the example of the advocate for +discipline. Mr. Baird was in despair. The institution was falling to +pieces for the want of discipline. The principal had not the nerve to +enforce order, even with the limited means within his reach. He went to +see Mr. Lowington and begged him to assist in stemming the tide which +was setting against the Brockway Academy. The retired naval officer +became deeply interested in the subject of school discipline in general, +especially in its connection with the education of rich men's sons given +to insubordination. He pitied poor Mr. Baird in his perplexities, for he +was a good man and an excellent teacher. + +In the mean time Shuffles grew worse instead of better. Finding that he +could have his own way, that the principal was no match for him, his +influence for evil was stronger than Mr. Baird's for good. The worthy +schoolmaster had finally resolved to expel his troublesome student, +when Mr. Lowington one day surprised him by offering to buy out the +Academy at a price far exceeding its value. He gladly accepted the offer +as the best solution of the problem, and the naval officer became +principal of the Brockway Academy. + +Mr. Lowington did not expel the refractory pupil at once. He waited for +an overt act; but Shuffles found the anaconda of authority tightening +upon him. He attempted to vindicate himself before his fellow-students +by setting fire to a haystack on the marsh, belonging to the new +principal. A searching investigation followed, and Shuffles was +convicted. Mr. Lowington wrote to the boy's father, announcing his +expulsion. Mr. Shuffles went to Brockway full of wrath, and threatened +the new head of the institution with the loss of a large number of his +scholars if he disgraced his son by expelling him. If the boy had done +wrong,--and he supposed he had,--let him be talked to; let him be +confined to his room for a day or two; but he must not be expelled; it +was a disgrace to the boy. + +The principal was as firm as a rock, and Mr. Shuffles was calm when he +found that threats were unavailing. Mr. Lowington pointed out to his +visitor the perils which lay in the path of his son. Mr. Shuffles began +to be reasonable, and dined with the principal. A long and earnest +consideration of the whole matter took place over the dessert. The fiat +of expulsion was revoked, and young Shuffles was turned over to the +ex-naval officer, with full power to discipline him as he thought best. +Mr. Lowington had converted the father, and he hoped he should be able +to convert the son. + +After dinner, Mr. Shuffles went down the bay with his host in the yacht. +On the way they passed the school ship Massachusetts, to which boys are +sentenced by the courts for crime and vagrancy, and on board of which +they are disciplined and educated. Mr. Lowington explained the +institution to his guest. + +"An excellent idea," said Mr. Shuffles. + +"It is just the place for your son," replied Mr. Lowington. + +"But it is for criminals." + +"Very true." + +"Robert is not a criminal." + +"If he is not now, he soon will be, if he continues in his present +course. If I had him on shipboard, I could make a man of him." + +"Then I wish you had him on shipboard." + +"Perhaps I may yet," replied the principal, with a smile. "I did not +purchase the Academy with the intention of becoming a pedagogue, in the +ordinary sense of the word. I have no intention of remaining in it." + +"I hope you will." + +"I have been thinking of fitting up a vessel like the school ship, that +rich men's sons may have the benefit of such an institution without the +necessity of committing a crime. I could do more for the boys in a month +on board ship than I could in a year at Brockway." + +This was the first mention which Mr. Lowington made of his plan, though +he had been considering it for several weeks. Mr. Shuffles hoped that +this idea of a nautical academy would be reduced to practice; for he now +felt that it was just what his son needed. The project was discussed +during the rest of the trip. + +The history of the scheme, from its inception, need not be followed in +detail. Many persons were consulted in regard to it; there were plenty +to approve, and plenty to disapprove; but in October the keel of a four +hundred ton ship was laid down. The object of this marine institution +was thoroughly explained, and before the ship was ready for launching +there were applications for every berth on board of her. + +The idea was exceedingly popular among the boys, all of whom were +anxious to be students on board, especially as it was already hinted +that the ship would visit Europe. To parents it held out for their sons +all the benefits of a sea voyage, with few of its disadvantages. It +would furnish healthy exercise and a vigorous constitution to its +pupils. + +In March of the following year the ship was at anchor in Brockway +harbor, ready to receive her juvenile crew. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE YOUNG AMERICA. + + +With Mr. Lowington, the Academy Ship, which was the name he usually +applied to the idea he had matured, and thus far carried into effect, +was not a speculation; he did not intend to see how much money could be +made by the scheme. It was an experiment in the education of rich men's +sons, for only rich men could pay for scholarships in such an expensive +institution. + +The Brockway Academy was to be continued, under the management of a +board of trustees. An accomplished teacher had been selected by Mr. +Lowington, and the school, under its present administration, was in a +highly prosperous condition. Only ten of its pupils had been transferred +to the Academy Ship, for it required no little nerve on the part of +parents to send their sons to school on the broad ocean, to battle with +the elements, to endure the storms of the Atlantic, and to undergo the +hardships which tender mothers supposed to be inseparably connected with +a life on shipboard. + +For six months Mr. Lowington had studied upon his plan, and it was +hardly matured when the new ship came to anchor in Brockway harbor. +During this period he had visited the principal cities of the Northern +States, those of the southern section being closed against his +operations by the war of the rebellion then raging at the height of its +fury. He had interested his friends in his bold enterprise, and boys +with, whom the experiment was to be inaugurated were gathered from all +parts of the country. + +The securing of the requisite number of pupils was the first success, +and what he had regarded as the most difficult part of the enterprise. +More than half of them had been obtained before it was deemed prudent to +lay the keel of the ship. The details of the plan had been carefully +considered during the winter, and when the ship was moored at Brockway, +the organization of the school, its rules and regulations had all been +written out. The boys began to arrive about the first of March, and by +the first of April all of them, eighty-seven in number, were on board. + +Mr. Lowington was naturally very anxious for the success of his +experiment, and for months he had labored with unceasing diligence in +perfecting his plan, and carrying it into operation. In this occupation +he had found the activity he needed; and he may not be blamed for +believing, all the time, that he was laboring for his country and his +race. + +If it has been inferred from what has been said of Mr. Lowington, of his +domestic afflictions, and of his views on the subject of discipline, +that he was an austere, cold, and unsympathizing man, a wrong impression +has been conveyed. The boys of the Brockway Academy, when they came to +know him, loved him as much as they respected him. He was not the man +needlessly to abridge the harmless enjoyment of youth, or to repress its +innocent hilarity. He watched the sports of the students with interest +and pleasure, and encouraged them by all the means in his power. He was +fond of humor, enjoyed a harmless joke, and had a keen appreciation of +juvenile wit. He was a good companion for the boys, and when they +understood him, he was always welcome to the play-ground. + +The new ship had been duly christened Young America at the launching, by +Miss Josey Martyn--a name which was rapturously applauded by the boys. +She was one hundred and eighteen feet in length, and of about four +hundred tons burden. She had been built as strong as wood, iron, and +copper could make her. For a ship, she was small, which permitted her to +be light sparred, so that her juvenile crew could handle her with the +more ease. She had a flush deck; that is, it was unbroken from stem to +stern. There was no cabin, poop, camboose, or other house on deck, and +the eye had a clean range over the whole length of her. There was a +skylight between the fore and the main mast, and another between the +main and mizzen masts, to afford light and air to the apartments below. +There were three openings in the deck by which entrance could be +obtained to the interior of the ship: the fore hatch, the main hatch, +and the companion-way, the two former being used by the crew, and the +latter by the officers. + +The between-decks, which is the space included between the upper and the +lower deck, was fitted up for the accommodation of the officers and +crew. Descending by the companion-way--which in the Young America +extended athwartships--on the right, at the foot of the stairs, was the +officers' cabin, occupying the part of the ship nearest to the stern. +This apartment was twenty-eight feet long, by fifteen in breadth at the +widest part, with four state rooms on each side. The mizzen mast passed +up through the middle of it. This cabin was richly but plainly fitted +up, and was furnished well enough for a drawing-room on shore. It was +for the use of the juvenile officers of the ship, fifteen in number, who +were to hold their positions as rewards of merit. The captain had a room +to himself, while each of the other apartments was to accommodate two +officers. + +On the left of the companion-way, descending the stairs, was the "old +folks' cabin," as it was called by the students. It was in the locality +corresponding to that occupied by the ward room of a man-of-war. Though +the after cabin is the place of honor on board a ship, Mr. Lowington had +selected the ward room for himself and the teachers, in preference to +the after cabin, because it was next to the steerage, which was occupied +by the larger portion of the pupils, and because the form of the ship +did not contract the dimensions of the state rooms. This cabin was +twenty-two feet long and fifteen feet wide, with no waste room, as in +the after cabin, caused by the rounding in of the ship's counter. On the +sides were five state rooms, besides a pantry for the steward, and a +dispensary for the surgeon. + +The forward room on the starboard side was occupied by Mr. Lowington +alone; the next on the same side by the chaplain and doctor; and each of +the three on the port side by two of the teachers. This cabin was +elegantly finished and furnished, and the professors were delighted with +its cheerful and pleasant aspect. + +From the main cabin, as that of the "faculty" was called, were two +doors, opening into the steerage, fifty-two feet in length by fifteen +feet in width of clear space between the berths, which diminished to +nine feet abreast of the foremast. This apartment was eight feet high, +and was lighted in part by a large skylight midway between the fore and +main mast, and partly by bull's eyes in the side of the ship. There were +seventy-two berths, placed in twelve rooms, opening from passage-ways, +which extended athwartships from the main steerage, and were lighted by +the bull's eyes. There were no doors to these dormitories, each of which +contained six berths, in two tiers of three each. It was intended that +the six boys occupying one of these rooms should form a mess. Between +the gangways, or passages, were mess tables, which could be swung up +against the partition when not in use. + +The steerage was neatly and tastefully fitted up, and furnished, though +not so elegantly as the cabins. It was to be the school room, as well as +the parlor and dining room of the boys, and it would compare favorably +with such apartments in well-ordered academies on shore. There was +plenty of shelves, pouches, and lockers, under the lower berths, and +beneath the bull's eyes at the head of the main gangways, for clothing +and books, and each boy had a place for every article which regulations +allowed him to possess. + +Forward of the foremast there were two large state rooms; that on the +starboard side having four berths, for the boatswain, carpenter, +sailmaker, and head steward; and the one on the port side with six, for +the two cooks and the four under stewards, all of whom were men skilful +and experienced in their several departments. Forward of these was the +kitchen, from which opened the lamp room, a triangular closet in the bow +of the ship. Mr. Lowington had taken the idea of locating the cooking +apartment in the extreme forward part of the vessel from the Victoria +and Albert, the steam yacht of the Queen of England. + +The hold beneath the berth deck contained the water tanks, bread room, +chain lockers, and a multitude of store rooms for provisions, clothing, +and supplies of every description needed on board during a long voyage. + +The Young America was to be officered and manned by the students. They +were to work the ship, to make and take in sail, to reef, steer, and +wash down decks, as well as study and recite their lessons. They were to +go aloft, stand watch, man the capstan, pull the boats; in short, to do +everything required of seamen on board a ship. Mr. Lowington was to lure +them into the belief, while they were hauling tacks and sheets, halyards +and braces, that they were not at work, but at play. The labor required +of them was an essential element in the plan, by which the boys were to +obtain, the necessary physical exercise, and the discipline they so much +needed. + +By the first of April the last of the students had reported to the +principal on board, and the professors, as the boys insisted upon +calling them, had taken possession of their state rooms. Though some of +the pupils had been on board nearly a month, the organization of the +ship had not been commenced; but classes had been formed in some of the +studies, by the teachers, and the pupils recited every day. The +boatswain had instructed the boys in rowing, and some temporary +regulations had been adopted for the eating and sleeping departments. +But not a boy had been allowed to go aloft, and nothing more than +ordinary school discipline had been attempted. + +The boys, as boys always are, were impatient at this delay. They wanted +to be bounding over the ocean--to be on their way to some foreign port. +They were anxious to work, to climb the rigging, and stand at the wheel. +As yet they knew very little of the purposes of the principal, and had +but a faint perception of the life they were to lead in the Academy +Ship. It was understood that the officers were to be selected for their +merit, and that the ship, some time or other, was to cross the ocean; +but beyond this, all was darkness and uncertainty. + +"To-morrow will be the first day of April," said George Wilton, as he +walked the deck of the Young America with Richard Carnes, a dignified +young gentleman of seventeen. "Mr. Lowington said we should go to work +on that day." + +"If he said so, then of course we shall go to work," replied Carnes. + +"I'm tired of waiting," added Wilton. "I think this is a stupid kind of +life. We are not even tied to a bell rope here." + +"You will get discipline enough as soon as the crew are organized." + +"I suppose we shall. Do you think we shall go to sea to-morrow?" + +"Go to sea to-morrow!" exclaimed Carnes. + +"Shuffles said so." + +"How can we go to sea to-morrow? The crew don't know the mainmast from a +handspike. They couldn't do anything with the ship now; they don't know +the ropes." + +"You do, Carnes." + +"Well, I know something about a ship," replied the dignified young +gentleman, who had made one voyage up the Mediterranean with his uncle. + +"I was pretty sure we should get out into blue water by to-morrow." + +"Nonsense!" + +"Shuffles said so." + +"He is mistaken." + +"What are we going to do?" + +"I don't know? I'm content to wait till orders come." + +"I don't want to wait any longer," added Wilton. + +"What are you talking about, fellows?" asked Shuffles, joining them, as +they walked forward. + +"Didn't you say we were going to sea to-morrow, Shuffles?" asked Wilton. + +"Of course we are." + +"Who says so?" demanded Carnes. + +"All the fellows say so." + +"It can't be true." + +"Why not? We are not going to stay here forever." + +"In my opinion, we shall stay here some weeks, if not some months," +added Carnes. + +"What for?" + +"To pursue our studies, in the first place, and to learn our duty as +seamen, in the second." + +"I don't believe I shall stay here a great while longer," said Shuffles, +with evident disgust. "There's no fun lying here." + +"You can't help yourself," added Wilton. + +"Perhaps I can't, but I can try," said Shuffles, as he glanced towards +the shore. + +"All hands ahoy!" shouted Peaks, the boatswain, as his shrill whistle +rang through the ship. + +The boys had been taught the meaning of this call, and they gathered in +the waist, eager to know what was to be required of them. + +Mr. Lowington stood on the raised hatch over the main scuttle, where all +the students could see him. It was evident that he had some announcement +to make, especially as the following day had been assigned for +organizing the ship's company. The boys were silent, and their faces +betrayed the curiosity which they felt. + +"Young gentleman," the principal began, "this ship will go into +commission to-morrow." + +"Don't know what you mean, sir," said Paul Kendall as Mr. Lowington +paused to observe the effect of his announcement. + +"I did not suppose that many of you would understand the expression. In +the navy, a ship is said to go into commission when the captain takes +his place on board, and the crew are organized for duty. When this +takes place, the ensign is hoisted. To-morrow, at twelve o'clock, we +shall display the colors at the peak. With us, going into commission +will only mean the organization of our school. From that time, we shall +observe the discipline of a man-of-war, so far as the ship and crew are +concerned." + +"Shall we go to sea then?" asked Wilton. + +"I think not," replied Mr. Lowington, laughing. "We shall not leave the +harbor till every officer and seaman knows his duty. You shall have +enough to do to-morrow, young gentlemen." + +"When shall we be able to go to sea?" + +"I don't know. There are many ropes in the ship, and you have a great +deal to learn before I shall be willing to trust you with the anchor at +the cat-head." + +"What is the cat-head, sir?" asked Kendall + +"Do you wish to go to sea without knowing what the cat-head is?" replied +the principal. "You shall know in due time. To-morrow we shall select +the officers, fifteen in number, who are to occupy the after cabin." + +This announcement created a decided sensation among the eighty-seven +boys gathered in the waist, for the subject had been full of interest to +them. The after cabin had thus far been a sealed book; the door was +locked, and they had not even seen the inside of the apartment. They +were curious to visit this cabin, and to know who were to occupy it. + +"After the organization of the school, it is my intention to give these +offices to those who obtain the highest number of merit marks, which +will be given for good conduct, good lessons, and progress in +seamanship. The best boy, who is at the same time the best scholar and +the best seaman, shall be captain. We have no marks now by which to make +the selection, and I intend to have you elect him the first time, +reserving to myself the right to veto your choice if it is obviously an +improper one." + +As Mr. Lowington uttered this last remark, he glanced, perhaps +unconsciously, at Shuffles, who stood directly in front of him. + +"Young gentlemen, the ballot will take place to-morrow morning, at nine +o'clock. I have given you this notice, that you may be able to consider +the matter and, if you choose, to make nominations for the several +offices," continued the principal. + +"What are the offices, sir?" + +"The first and most important one, of course, is the captain. The others +are four lieutenants, four masters, two pursers, and four midshipmen." + +"What are they to do?" asked Kendall. + +"I will not explain their duties now; it would require too much time. I +mentioned them in the order of their importance. Now, young gentlemen, +you should select your candidates for these offices by merit, not by +favor. I am aware that a few of you have been to sea, but probably none +of you are competent to handle a ship; and your choice should be based +mainly on good character and good conduct. I hope I shall be able to +approve the choice you may make. You are dismissed now." + +"Three cheers for the principal!" shouted one of the boys. + +"Silence, young gentleman! Let me say now, that no expressions of +approbation or disapprobation are to be allowed." + +The boys separated into groups, and immediately gave their attention to +the important subject suggested to them by Mr. Lowington. It must be +acknowledged that violent symptoms of "log-rolling" began to be +exhibited. There were fifty, if not eighty-seven young men who wished to +be captain, and sit at the head of the table in the after cabin. Some of +them went down into the steerage, and in five minutes there was a +confused jabbering in every part of the ship. + +"For whom shall you vote, Wilton?" asked Shuffles in a group of half a +dozen which had gathered around one of the mess tables. + +"I don't know? whom do you go for?" replied Wilton. + +"I rather think I shall go for Bob Shuffles. In my opinion, he is the +best fellow on board," replied the owner of that name. + +"That's modest," laughed Wilton. + +"Do you know of any fellow that would make a better captain than I +should?" + +"You don't know the first thing about a ship." + +"What odds does that make? I can learn as fast as anybody else." + +"Do you expect every fellow to vote for himself?" asked Howe, another of +the group. + +"Of course I don't; I expect them to vote for me," answered Shuffles, +with great good-nature. + +"You are rather cheeky, Shuffles." + +"What's the use of mincing the matter? Here we are, half a dozen of the +best fellows in the ship. We can't all be captain; but one of us can be +just as well as not." + +"That's so," added Howe, approvingly. "But who shall that one be?" + +"I am the one, without a doubt," said Shuffles. + +"I don't see it," interposed Monroe, shaking his head; and he was the +young gentleman who had assisted the aspirant for the captaincy to rob +Mr. Lowington's favorite peach tree. + +"What have you got to say about it, Ike Monroe? Do you expect us to go +for you?" + +"I didn't say so." + +"That's what you meant." + +"I've just as much right to the place as you have, Bob Shuffles." + +"Do you think you could make the fellows stand round as I can? But hold +on; fellows, don't let us fight about it. We are just the best six +fellows on board, and if we have a mind to do so, we can have this thing +all our own way," continued Shuffles. + +"I don't see how," said Philip Sanborn. + +"Don't you know how the politicians manage these things?" + +"I don't." + +"I'll tell you, then." + +"But the principal said we must go according to merit, and elect the +fellows who were the best fitted for the offices," interposed Howe. + +"Exactly so; that's just what we are going to do. I'm going to be +captain; can you tell me of any better fellow for the place?" demanded +Shuffles, who, putting aside the jesting manner in which he had +commenced the discussion, now assumed an earnest and impudent tone. + +"Didn't you hear what Lowington said when he wound up his speech?" asked +Wilton. + +"What?" + +"About vetoing our choice if it was not a proper one." + +"What of it?" asked Shuffles, innocently. + +"Don't you think he would veto you?" + +"Me! Not he! Lowington knows that I'm smart; I was too smart for him +once, and he knows it. He won't veto me. We have been the best of +friends lately." + +"I don't believe he'll have a chance to veto you," said Wilton. + +"What do you mean?" + +"I don't believe you will be elected." + +"I know I shall, if we manage it right. Let us look at it," continued +Shuffles, as he took a pencil from his pocket. "Got a piece of paper?" + +Monroe gave him a piece of paper, and the wire-puller began to make his +calculations. + +"Eighty-seven votes," said he, writing the number on the paper. +"Necessary to a choice, forty-four. Here are six votes to start with." + +"For whom?" asked Monroe. + +"For me, for captain, first, and for each of the others for whatever +place he wants; say for Wilton for first lieutenant; Howe for second, +Sanborn for third, Monroe for fourth, and Adler for first master. What +do you say to that, fellows?" + +As with the political "slate," there was some difference of opinion in +regard to the minor officers, even after Shuffles' claim to the +captaincy had been conceded But this disposition of the spoils was +finally agreed to. + +"Now we want thirty-eight more votes," Shuffles proceeded. + +"Just so; and you might as well attempt to jump over the main royal yard +as to get them," added Adler, who, having been assigned to the office +lowest in rank, was least satisfied with the "slate." + +"Hold on; we haven't done yet. There are nine more offices. Now we will +pick out some good fellow that will work for us, for each of these +places; then we will promise him six votes if he will go our ticket, and +do what he can for us." + +"That will give us only fifteen votes," said Adler. + +"I think that will be doing very well to start with. Then you five +fellows can electioneer for me, and I'll do the same for you." + +"I think we have made one mistake," added Sanborn. "Most of the fellows +will go for Carnes for captain. He is an old salt, and has more +influence than any other student in the ship. We ought to offer him some +place." + +"Make him purser, if you like," said Shuffles, contemptuously. + +"That won't go down. Make him first lieutenant." + +"And shove me out?" demanded Wilton, indignantly. "I don't see it!" + +"Nor I," added Shuffles. "I won't vote for Carnes, any how. He's a snob +and a flunky." + +It was useless to resist the fiat of the chief wire-puller; the ticket +remained as it had been originally prepared; and the young gentlemen +proceeded to distribute the rest of the offices. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE ENSIGN AT THE PEAK. + + +The students on board of the Young America were between the ages of +fourteen and seventeen. By the regulations, no boy under fourteen or +over seventeen could be admitted, and they averaged about fifteen. They +had, therefore, reached the years of discretion. Among them were a great +many who were disposed to be wild boys, and not a few who had found it +difficult to remain in similar institutions on shore. They were not +criminal or depraved, but simply wild; with a tendency to break through +reasonable restraint; with a taste for mad pranks, and a contempt for +authority. + +Of this class, who were a trial and a torment to the teachers of the +ordinary high schools and academies, the larger proportion would have +scorned to steal, or commit any wanton outrage upon the persons or +property of others. There were many high-minded, noble-hearted young +men, who could not tamely submit to authority, and were prone to +insubordination, and who only needed the right kind of discipline to +make them earnest and faithful men and useful citizens. There were few, +if any, dunces or blockheads among them, for a life on shipboard had no +attractions for such boys. They were, almost without an exception, +wide-awake, bold, daring fellows, who had a taste for stirring events; +fellows who wanted to climb the Rocky Mountains, visit the North Pole, +and explore the Mammoth Cave. They were full of fun and mischief and it +would have been easy at any time to get up a party among them to march +the principal's cow into the parlor of the Academy; to climb to the +belfry on a winter's night, and fill the inverted bell with water, where +it would freeze solid before morning; or to convey the occupants of the +hen-coop to the recitation room. + +It was Mr. Lowington's task to repress the mischief in these boys, to +keep them occupied with work and play, and to develop their moral and +mental capacities. He had doubtless taken a heavy load upon himself but +he felt that he was to labor for his race and his country. At least one +half of his students were too wild to attend the ordinary public or +private schools, or to profit by them if admitted. With such material, +his work could not be a sinecure. But he had a taste for it, and he gave +his whole heart and soul to the performance of his duties. + +When the students were gathered on board the Young America, they were +mostly strangers to him, though he had communicated personally or by +letter with the parents of all of them. He had read and listened to the +stories of their pranks and peccadilloes, but when they came together, +he hardly knew one from another, and was not prejudiced against any +individual by the terrible accounts of him related by parents, +guardians, or teachers. He purposed to give them the opportunity to +select their own officers at first, in order to win a more cheerful +obedience from them, and because the students knew each other better +than he knew them. + +After the announcement of the principal that the voting would commence +on the following morning, nothing else was talked of on board. The +qualifications of various members of the school were discussed by groups +of excited voters; and we must do them the justice to say that most of +them considered the matter unselfishly and with a single eye to the +public good. Perhaps it is a little remarkable that not a single +student, outside of the little group of wire-pullers that gathered in +the steerage, thought of Shuffles for the position of captain; and the +"log-rollers" were likely to have up-hill work in electing themselves to +the six principal offices. But they went to work, and labored very +diligently till bed-time in carrying their point. + +While none thought of Shuffles in connection with the highest position, +many mentioned the dignified young gentleman, who had made one voyage up +the Mediterranean--Richard Carnes. He had been on board a fortnight, and +had won and retained the respect of all his companions. + +Before the little band of wire-pullers in the steerage had made up the +"slate" to suit their minds, the crowd on deck had agreed upon Richard +Carnes for captain, and were busy in discussing the qualifications of +others for the subordinate offices, when the log-rollers separated, and +went to work upon their mission. + +"How are you going to vote for captain, Kendall?" said Wilton, stopping +up to the young gentleman who had proposed so many questions to the +principal, and who had been so honest in confessing his ignorance of +nautical matters. + +"For Carnes, of course." + +"Humph! I wouldn't vote for him," sneered the wire-puller. + +"Why not?" + +"He's too stiff; he'll put on airs, and be a tyrant over us." + +"No, he won't." + +"You see if he don't. I say, Kendall, are you up for any office?" +continued Wilton, with a certain appearance of slyness which the +straightforward young gentleman did not exactly like. + +"Am I?" + +"Yes, you. Wouldn't you like a room in the after cabin?" + +"Perhaps I would," answered Kendall, thoughtfully; and the place was +certainly very inviting to him. + +"They say the after cabin is a perfect little palace." + +"I dare say it is." + +"You can just as well go in there, if you like." + +"I don't see how that can be. I don't think I'm fit to be an officer. I +am from Cincinnati, and I never saw a ship till I came east three weeks +ago." + +"None of the fellows know anything about a ship. All of us will have to +learn." + +"Carnes knows all about one." + +"No, he don't. He made one voyage, and knows just enough to talk salt. +He's a good fellow enough, but he isn't fit for captain. If you want to +be an officer, Kendall, and have a berth in the after cabin, you can, +just as well as not." + +"Well, I would like such a place; I can't deny it; but I don't think the +fellows will go for me." + +"They will, if you say so." + +"If I say so! I'm not going to ask them to vote for me," replied +Kendall, warmly; for he was no politician and had a vein of modesty in +his composition. + +"You needn't say a word to any one. If you will go for our ticket, it +will be all right. Half a dozen of us have talked this matter over, and +we have concluded that you would be the best fellow for second master." + +"Have you?" asked Kendall, who could not help being gratified to learn +that even half a dozen of his companions had thought him worthy to be an +officer of so high a rank as second master. "I'm very much obliged to +you." + +"All you have to do, is to go for our ticket." + +"What do you mean by your ticket?" demanded Kendall, who was rather +confused by the technical terms of the wire-puller. + +Wilton explained that his little party had selected a candidate for each +of the offices; and if all the fellows agreed to it, there would be +fifteen votes for their ticket, to begin with. + +"Well, what is your ticket?" demanded Kendall, impatiently. "If they are +all good fellows, I will go for them. Of course you mean to vote for +Carnes for captain." + +"Not exactly," replied Wilton, with evident disgust. "We shall put up a +better fellow than he is for captain." + +"Why, all the boys are going for him," added Kendall, astonished to find +there were any who did not believe in Carnes. + +"No, they are not." + +"I thought they were." + +"He will not be elected, and you need not throw your vote away upon him, +because, if you don't want a place in the after cabin, there are plenty +of fellows who do," added the wire-puller, with apparent indifference. + +"But I do want it." + +"Then all you have to do, is to go for our ticket." + +"I think Carnes will make the best captain." + +"Very well; if you think so, you have a right to your own opinion. I +haven't any mortgage on it." + +"Whom are you going to run for captain?" + +"It's no use to talk any more about it, if you are going for Carnes," +replied Wilton, as he turned to move away. + +The wire-puller was playing a part. Paul Kendall was a noble little +fellow, and was already a great favorite on board, not only with the +boys, but with the principal and the professors. Wilton knew that he had +a great deal of influence, and it was important to secure him for their +ticket. If he could tell others that Kendall was going for their men, it +would induce many to join their party. The "favorite," though he was an +honest, noble-hearted fellow, was still human, and a berth in the after +cabin was a strong temptation to him. + +"I'm not going to say I'll vote for a fellow till I know who he is," +added Kendall. "If he's the right person, perhaps I'll go for him, +though I wanted to see Carnes captain." + +"Carnes can't be elected, I tell you. We are going against him." + +"Whom are you going for, then?" + +"For Bob Shuffles," replied Wilton, desperately, for he did not wish to +mention his candidate till he had won the assent of his companion. + +"Shuffles!" exclaimed Kendall, with something like horror mingled with +his astonishment; "I shall not go for him, anyhow." + +"Why not?" + +"I don't think he is the right person for the place." + +"I do; he's a first-rate fellow--none of your milk and water chaps, that +swallow camels and strain at gnats." + +Kendall had some decided objections to Shuffles, and he positively +refused to vote for him, even to obtain the coveted position in the +after cabin. Wilton argued the matter with much skill and cunning; but +his logic and his eloquence were both wasted. + +"Well, if you won't go for Shuffles, you must be content with your place +in the steerage," added Wilton. + +"I won't go for him, any how," said Kendall, firmly. + +"You are making a mistake." + +"I don't think so. I'm bound to vote for the best fellow, and I'm sure +Shuffles isn't the right one." + +"See here, Kendall; don't say a word to the others that I spoke to you +of this little matter. I thought you would go with us, or I shouldn't +have said anything to you." + +"Not say anything? Why not?" + +"Because it will be better to keep still." + +"I shall not do anything of the kind. You have got up a plan to defeat +Carnes, by giving the offices to fellows who will vote against him. You +wish me to keep still, while you carry out your plan. I can see through +a cord of wood, when there's a hole big enough." + +"I mentioned this thing to you in confidence." + +"You didn't say a word about confidence; and I didn't promise to keep +still. I won't keep still. I think it is a mean trick to buy up the +votes of the fellows, and I'll blow the whole thing higher than a kite." + +"You'll catch it if you do," said Wilton, in a threatening tone. + +"Catch what?" demanded Kendall, with a very pretty exhibition of +dignity. + +"Bob Shuffles will give it to you." + +"Give what to me?" + +"Give you the biggest licking you ever had in your life," answered +Wilton, angrily, "You are so stupid, you can't understand anything." + +"I think I can understand the licking, when if comes. That's a game that +two can play at." + +"What do you mean, you little bantam? Do you think you can whip Bob +Shuffles?" + +"I had no idea of whipping him; and I have no idea of his whipping me, +either." + +Kendall was spunky. Wilton could make nothing of him by threats or +persuasion; and he turned away from him to seek a more promising field +of labor. Kendall took off his cap, scratched his head as he reflected +upon the event which had just transpired, and made up his mind that it +was an insult to an independent elector to attempt to buy his vote with +the paltry consideration of an office. He was sorry that he had been +even tempted by the proposition of the wire-pullers, and thankful that +his sense of honor and decency had prompted him to decline it when asked +to vote for an improper person. True to his promise, he made all haste +to expose the conspiracy, as he regarded it, against Carnes. + +When the students turned in that night, the wire-pullers had found a +sufficient number of candidates for all the offices on the terms set +forth in the compact, each of whom had promised to use his influence for +the entire ticket. Shuffles had made a very pretty calculation, to the +effect that each of the fifteen candidates could influence at least two +votes besides his own for the ticket, which would inevitably elect it. +But during all this time Paul Kendall had been laboring like a Trojan +for Carnes, and had induced his friends to do the same. + +At nine-o'clock in the morning, the polls were opened for the election +of officers. A box was placed on the fife-rail, at the mainmast, in +which the ballots were deposited, under the inspection of Professor +Mapps. + +"Have all the students voted?" called the professor, when the voting +was suspended. "If so, I declare the poll closed." + +It was a moment of intense excitement on the spar deck of the Young +America when Mr. Lowington stood up on the hatch to announce the vote. +There was a pleasant smile upon his face, which indicated that it would +not be his painful duty to veto the choice of the independent electors. + +"Young gentlemen, your balloting appears to have been conducted with +entire fairness," said he, "and I will proceed to declare the result. +Whole number of votes, eighty-seven; necessary to a choice, forty-four. +Paul Kendall has five; Charles Gordon has seven; Robert Shuffles has +twenty-two; Richard Carnes has fifty-three, and is elected captain of +the Young America for the succeeding three months." + +The party who had worked and voted for Carnes applauded the result most +lustily, and gave three cheers for the new captain, which, on this +exciting occasion, were not objected to by the principal. Shuffles's jaw +dropped down, and his lip quivered with angry emotion. + +"That little whipper-snapper of a Kendall did that," said Wilton, in a +low tone, to the disappointed candidate. "I was afraid of this when I +saw him blowing about the deck." + +"I'll settle it with him when I get a good chance," growled Shuffles, as +he went to the rail and looked over into the water, in order to conceal +his disappointment and chagrin. + +"Young gentlemen will bring in their votes for first lieutenant," said +Professor Mapps, as he placed the box on the fife-rail again. + +The boys marched around the mainmast, and deposited their ballots for +the second officer, as they had done before. The friends of Shuffles +rallied again, hoping that something might yet come of the compact they +had made with him, and gave him their votes for first lieutenant, +though, in his chagrin, he declared that he would not accept the +position. Fortunately for him, he was not called upon to do so; for +Charles Gordon was elected by a very large majority. As the election +proceeded, it became evident that there was no office for Shuffles. Paul +Kendall was elected fourth lieutenant and the announcement of the vote +was greeted by even more hearty applause than had been bestowed upon the +captain. + +At the conclusion of the balloting, Shuffles found that not a single one +of the wire-pullers, or of the candidates nominated by them, had been +elected. The attempt to bribe the independent voters, by giving them +office, had been a signal failure; and it is to be hoped that Young +America, when fully developed, will stick to his principles. + +"Captain Richard Carnes," said Mr. Lowington, as he stepped upon the +hatch, after the voting had been concluded. + +The young gentleman thus addressed came forward, blushing beneath the +honors which had been bestowed upon him. The principal took his hand. + +"Captain Carnes, I congratulate you upon your election to the highest +office in the gift of your companions; and I congratulate your +fellow-students also upon having so good a young man to handle the ship. +You have been modest, and they have been wise. I congratulate you both. +Young gentlemen, I am satisfied that your captain will be just, +courteous, and gentlemanly, in his relations with you; and I hope you +will yield a willing and cheerful obedience to his orders, and to those +of all your superiors. Let me say that this business is not a farce; it +is not mere boys' play; for as soon as the officers and crew are fully +trained and instructed, all ship duty will be carried on without +assistance from me or others. When necessary, I shall advise the captain +what to do, but I shall not do it myself; neither shall I needlessly +interfere with the discipline of the ship. + +"This is the last time an election of officers will be permitted, for it +is liable to many objections, not the least of which are the bribery and +corruption by which some have attempted to obtain office." + +Mr. Lowington looked at Shuffles, as though he knew all about the method +to which he had resorted to secure an election; but we are quite sure +that Paul Kendall had never lisped a word of it to him, or to any of the +instructors. + +"On the first day of July, young gentlemen, all the offices will be +vacant; and they will be awarded strictly in accordance with the marks +you may obtain. There will be no veto upon the result of the merit roll. +These places, therefore, are open to all. We have no aristocracy on +board. Every student in the ship is a candidate for the captaincy. Now, +if the officers elect will follow me to the after cabin, I will install +them into their new positions; after which I will proceed to organize +the crew." + +The door of the after cabin, which had hitherto been a mystery to all +the boys, was unlocked by the head steward, and Mr. Lowington, followed +by the officers, entered. The students on deck were ordered forward, and +were not even permitted to look down the companion-way, for the +principal intended to keep the after cabin exclusively for the officers; +and no one not entitled to admission was to be allowed to cross its +threshold. He believed that this mystery, and this rigid adherence to +the division line between officers and crew, would promote the +discipline of the ship, and enhance the value of the offices--the prizes +for good conduct, and general fidelity to duty. + +"Captain Carnes, this is your state room," continued Mr. Lowington, +opening the door of the room farthest forward on the starboard side. "As +the commander of the ship you are entitled to an apartment by yourself." + +"Thank you, sir," replied the captain, as he stepped into the room. + +"You will find on the hooks your uniform as captain. There are three +suits, from which you will select one that fits you." + +Captain Carnes entered and closed the door. If he did not feel like a +king, he ought to have felt so. + +Mr. Lowington then gave the next room to the first and second +lieutenants, who were to occupy it together; and they were also directed +to clothe themselves in the uniforms deposited there for their use. The +third state room was given to the third and fourth lieutenants, and the +fourth to the first and second midshipmen. The forward room of the port +side was assigned to the first and second masters; the next to the third +and fourth; the third to the two pursers, and the last to the third and +fourth midshipmen. + +In a short time the officers came out of their rooms clothed in their +uniforms, which consisted of a blue frock coat, with brass buttons, and +blue pants. The cap was of the same material, with a gold band around +it. Thus far the uniforms were all alike; but there were distinguishing +insignia to indicate the rank of each. All the officers had +shoulder-straps, by which their positions were designated. The captain +had two anchors; the first lieutenant had one anchor, with four stars, +one above, one below, and one on each side; the second lieutenant had +the anchor with three stars--none above; the third lieutenant, one star +on each side of the anchor; and the fourth lieutenant one star below the +anchor. The captain also wore five narrow gold bands on each of his coat +sleeves; the first lieutenant four, and so on, the fourth wearing but +one band. + +The shoulder-straps of the masters contained no anchor; only the stars, +one for each grade, the first master having four stars; the fourth only +one. The rank of the pursers was indicated by the outline of a +parallelogram for the second, and two of the same figure, one within the +other, for the first. The straps of the midshipmen contained gilt +numbers, from one to four, designating their grade. + +The officers presented a very elegant and dashing appearance in their +new uniform; and if some of them did not feel a little vain, it was +because they were less human than boys usually are. + +"What are we to do, sir?" asked Kendall of the principal, after the +uniforms had been duly criticised. + +"Nothing, at present." + +"Nothing! Why, I feel like a counterfeit gold dollar, in this rig, when +I know no more about a ship than I do about the inside of the moon." + +"You will learn in due time. You will go on deck now, young gentlemen; +and remember that, as officers, you are not to be familiar with the crew +while you are on duty." + +"Can't we speak to them?" asked Kendall, who was not disposed to be so +exclusive as naval discipline required him to be. + +"Not while you are on duty, except when it is necessary to do so. We +will now assign the berths in the steerage to the crew." + +As the boys came on board, they had taken the berths as they pleased. +Shuffles had selected a room, and invited his "cronies" to occupy the +bunks it contained with him. The berths were now to be distributed by +lot. Professor Mapps had provided seventy-two slips of paper, on each of +which he had written a number. The boys were mustered into line, and +drew out these numbers from the package. As each student drew his slip, +the purser wrote down his name in a book, with the number he had drawn. + +In the steerage, each berth had its own number, which was also applied +to a locker, and a seat at one of the mess tables. When the drawing was +completed each student had his berth, his clothes locker, and his seat +at meals. Many of them were extremely dissatisfied when they found that +they had been separated from their "cronies;" but the principal was +firm, and would not allow a single change to be made. + +By this time it was twelve o'clock, and Boatswain Peaks piped all hands +to muster. The ensign was hoisted, and saluted with three cheers, in +which all hands, young and old, joined. When this ceremony was finished, +the crew were piped to dinner, and the officers went to their cabin, +where the steward had set the table for them for the first time. They +dined like lords, though upon the same fare as their companions in the +steerage. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OFFICERS AND SEAMEN. + + +After dinner the organization of the crew was continued. All hands were +"piped to muster," and by this time most of those who had been +disaffected at the drawing of berths had recovered their natural +equanimity, and all were intensely interested in the arrangement of the +details. None of the boys knew what was coming, and their curiosity kept +them in a continuous state of excitement. + +"All who have drawn even numbers will take the starboard side of the +ship," said Mr. Lowington from his perch on the hatch. "All who have +drawn odd numbers will take the port side." + +"This is the starboard side, my lads," added Mr. Fluxion, the instructor +in mathematics--who, like the principal, had been a naval officer,--as +he pointed to the right, looking forward. + +Some had already forgotten their numbers, and there was considerable +confusion before the order could be obeyed. + +"Young gentlemen, the books will be opened to-day; and a student who +forgets his number again will lose a mark," said Mr. Lowington. "Are +they all in their places, Mr. Fluxion?" + +"They are, sir," replied the instructor, who had just counted them. + +"Young gentlemen, you are thus divided into two equal parts--the +starboard and the port watches. Now form a straight line, toe the crack, +and call your numbers in order, beginning with the starboard watch." + +The boys eagerly followed this direction, though some assistance was +required from the instructors in repressing their superfluous +enthusiasm. + +"Very well," continued Mr. Lowington, when the students were formed in +two lines. "Every boy in the starboard watch whose number is divisible +by four, step forward one pace. Number three in the port watch, do the +same. Mr. Mapps, oblige me by seeing that every alternate boy in the +line steps forward." + +"The line is formed, sir," replied the instructor, when he had carried +out the direction of the principal. + +"Each watch is now divided into two parts--the first and second parts, +as they will be called. Now, young gentlemen, the clothing will be +distributed, and each student will put on his uniform at once." + +The four lines were then marched down into the steerage, each under the +charge of an instructor, to a particular locality, where the head +steward and his assistants had deposited the clothing for each watch and +quarter watch. The uniform consisted of blue seaman's pants and a heavy +flannel shirt or frock, such as is worn in the United States navy. To +each student the following articles were served out:-- + +1 pea-jacket. +1 blue cloth jacket. +1 pair blue cloth pants. +1 pair blue satinet pants. +1 blue cap. +1 straw hat, of coarse, sewed straw. +1 Panama hat, bound. +2 knit woollen shirts. +2 pair knit woollen drawers. +2 white frocks. +2 pair white duck pants. +4 pair socks. +2 pair shoes. +2 black silk neck-handkerchiefs. + +These articles were given to the boys, and they were required to put on +the every-day uniform; after which they were directed to arrange the +rest of the clothing in the lockers belonging to them. The contractor +who had furnished the goods was present with four tailors, to attend to +the fitting of the clothes, which were all numbered according to the +size. In a short time the students began to come out of their rooms, +clothed in their new rig. They looked intensely "salt," and there was no +end to the jokes and smart things that were said on this interesting +occasion. Even Shuffles hardly knew himself in his new dress. + +The frock had a broad rolling collar, in each corner of which was worked +an anchor in white. The black silk neck-handkerchief was worn under the +collar, and not many of the boys had acquired the art of tying the +regular sailor's knot. Boatswain Peaks not only stood up as a model for +them, but he adjusted the "neck gear" for many of them. Bitts, the +carpenter, and Leech, the sailmaker, who were also old sailors, +cheerfully rendered a valet's assistance to such as needed help. + +Agreeably to the directions of Mr. Lowington, the shore suits of the +students were done up in bundles, each marked with the owner's name, and +the head steward took them to Mr. Lowington's house for storage. + +Rigged out in their "sea togs," the students began to feel salt, as well +as to look salt. Some of them tried to imitate the rolling gait of the +boatswain when they walked, and some of them began to exhibit an +alarming tendency to indulge in sea slang. + +"There, my hearty, you look like a sailor now," said Peaks, when he had +rolled over the collar and tied the square knot in the handkerchief of +Wilton. + +"Shiver my timbers, but I feel like one," laughed the embryo seaman. + +"What's that, young gentleman?" demanded Mr. Lowington, who happened to +be within hearing; "what did you say?" + +"I said I felt like a sailor, sir." + +"What was the expression you used?" + +"I only said shiver my timbers, sir." + +"You stole that expression from a yellow-covered novel. Did you ever +hear Mr. Peaks, who has been a sailor all his lifetime, use such +language?" + +"I'll be bound he never did," added Peaks. + +"No, sir. I don't know that I ever did." + +"Some sailors do use such expressions; but it is gross affectation for +these young gentlemen, who never saw a blue wave, to indulge in them. If +you please, Wilton, you will not use such language. It is simply +ridiculous. Mr. Peaks, you will pipe all hands to muster again." + +The shrill whistle of the boatswain sounded through the ship, and the +boys tumbled up the ladders, eager to learn what was to be done next. As +they formed in lines, they presented a novel and picturesque appearance +in their jaunty uniform. Most of them had already learned to wear their +caps canted over on one side, and not a few of them, perhaps as much +from necessity as because it was a sailor's habit, hitched up their +trousers, and thrust their hands deep down into the side pockets. + +The students were again formed in watches and quarter watches, each of +which classes and sub-classes was indicated on the uniforms. All the +starboard watch wore a small silver star on the right arm, above the +elbow, and the port watch the same emblem on the left arm. The first +part of each watch had a figure 1, under the star, and the second part a +figure 2 in the same position. + +The rest of the day was spent in the organization for ship's duty, which +was far from completed when the sun went down. The next day every boy +was kept so busy that he had no time to grumble. The instructors +attended to the lessons in the steerage with one watch, while the other +was on deck acquiring seamanship. In the course of the month, as the +boys learned their duties, and the capabilities of each were +ascertained, they were assigned to their stations in the various +evolutions required in working the vessel. + +Boatswain Peaks had taught the boys, a few at a time, how to set a +sail, reef and furl it. They had been gradually accustomed to going +aloft, until the giddy height of the main royal did not appall them, and +they could lay out on the yards without thinking of the empty space +beneath them. By the first of June, all the petty officers had been +appointed, and every student had his station billet. When the order was +given to unmoor ship, to make sail, or to furl the sails, every one knew +where to go and what to do. The station billets were cards on which the +various evolutions of the ship had been printed in a column on the left, +while the particular duty of the owner of the card was written against +it. The card was kept by the student, and he was expected to learn its +contents so that he could take his place without stopping to consult it, +when an order was given. Here is a specimen of the cards:-- + ++---------------------------------------------------------+ +|PORT WATCH, NO 21, WILLIAM FOSTER, | +|Second Part. _Captain of the Forecastle._ | ++----------------------+----------------------------------+ +|REEFING. |Head Bowlines. | +|TACKING OR WEARING. |Forecastle. Let go head bowlines. | +| | Let go and shorten in foretack | +| | and belay it. | +|GETTING UNDER WAY. |Head Bowlines. Downhauls and | +| | head-sheets. | +|ANCHORING. |Head Bowlines, Sheets and Tacks. | +| | Downhauls. | +|LOOSING SAILS. |Foretopmast Staysail. | +|FURLING. |Head Bowlines and Downhauls, | +| | Staysail. | +|MOORING AND UNMOORING.|Forecastle. | +|BOAT. |Professor's Barge, stroke-oar. | +|MESS. |No. 11. | ++----------------------+----------------------------------+ + +The crew had been in training a month before an attempt was made to set +more than one sail at once; but by this time the officers knew the +orders, having practised every day since the organization. The petty +officers had been appointed, and had, to some extent, become familiar +with their duties. + +The boys still continued to wonder when the Young America would go on a +cruise, for they were very anxious to see the blue water, and to roll on +the great waves of the Atlantic; but they were so constantly occupied +with ship's duty and their studies, that the time did not hang heavily +on their hands. Two months of constant practice had made tolerable +seamen of them, and the discipline of the ship went on regularly. The +young officers, as Mr. Lowington had promised, began to conduct the +evolutions and give the orders. + +On the 1st day of June, after breakfast, the students were thrown into a +fever of excitement by an unusual order, and they ventured to hope that +the ship was to leave her moorings. + +"Mr. Gordon, you will pipe all hands to muster," said Captain Carnes to +the first lieutenant. + +"Pass the word for the boatswain," added Gordon to one of the +midshipmen, who stood near him. + +This call was answered, not by Peaks, who no longer performed the duties +of boatswain, but by one of the students, who had been appointed to this +position. + +"Pipe all hands to muster, boatswain," said the first lieutenant, as the +petty officer touched his cap to him. + +"All hands on deck, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain, as he piped the call. + +This was an unusual order for that time of day, the forenoon being +appropriated to study for each watch in turn; and those who were below +hastened on deck to ascertain what was to be done. + +"All hands, stations for loosing sail!" piped the boatswain, when +ordered to do so by Gordon. + +The first lieutenant was in charge of the ship, under the direction of +the captain. The second lieutenant stood on the forecastle, where he was +attended by the boatswain. The third lieutenant was in the waist, and +the fourth on the quarter deck, near the mizzenmast. These were the +stations of the officers whenever all hands were called. Mr. Lowington +and the instructors stood near the companion-way, watching with interest +this first attempt to make sail all over the ship. + +"Lay aloft, sail-loosers!" shouted Gordon; and his order was repeated by +the officers at their several stations. + +The little tars who belonged on the topsail and top-gallant yards sprang +up the rigging like so many cats, excited beyond measure by the scene of +activity around them. + +"Lower yardmen in the chains!" continued Gordon and his order was +passed, along by the officers. "Aloft, lower yardmen!" + +In a moment the crew were in their places; the studding-sail booms were +triced up with the usual system, so that the sails could be reached. + +"Lay out!" continued the first lieutenant; and the boys walked out on +the foot-ropes to their stations on the yards. "Loose!" + +The ropes by which the sails were secured to the yards were removed at +this order, and the topmen held the sails in their places. + +"All ready on the forecastle, sir," reported Foster, who was captain of +that part of the ship. + +"All ready in the foretop." + +"All ready in the maintop." + +"All ready in the mizzentop," reported the several captains of the tops, +in their proper order. + +These reports were passed to the first lieutenant in charge of the deck, +by his subordinates. + +"Let fall!" shouted Gordon, highly excited; and the sails dropped from +the yard. "Overhaul your rigging aloft! Man sheets and halyards! Sheets +home, and hoist away!" + +These orders were passed from mouth to mouth among the officers, and +return reports made, according to the strict discipline of the navy. +They were promptly executed by the crew, though of course not without +some blunders; and the Young America was covered with her cloud of +canvas. Mr. Lowington commended the officers and crew for the promptness +and skill they had displayed in their first concerted attempt at making +sail. He then directed Captain Carnes to furl. Both evolutions were then +repeated, until a proficiency satisfactory for one day was attained. + +"Not going to sea, after all," said Shuffles, when the crew were +dismissed from muster. + +"No," replied Wilton. "I'm tired of lying here, and if we don't go to +sea soon, I shall take myself off." + +"I'm with you." + +"I thought we were going to have some fun on board, but we don't do +anything but study and shake out topsails." + +"Do you know how you stand on marks, Wilton?" asked Shuffles. + +"No; not very high, though." + +"Don't you think you shall get into the cabin next term?" + +"I know I shall not. I haven't tried for anything." + +"On the first of next month, you know, new officers will be appointed, +and I suppose the crew will be messed over again." + +"I don't care, I'm getting tired of this thing, I had a better time at +the Academy before we came on board." + +"There isn't much chance for any sport. Hardly a fellow has been allowed +to go on shore since we joined the ship." + +"Well get up a mutiny, if things don't improve." + +"I was thinking of that very thing myself," said Shuffles, in a low +tone. + +"A mutiny!" exclaimed Wilton, who had used the word in jest. + +"Just for fum, you know," laughed Shuffles. + +"You don't mean any such thing?" + +"Not yet, of course." + +"Do you at any time?" + +"We want something more exciting than this kind of a life. Here we are, +kept down and treated like common sailors. We have to touch our caps and +make our manners to Dick Carnes and the rest of the flunkies in the +after cabin. My father pays as much for me as Dick Carnes' father does +for him, and I don't think it is fair that he should live in the cabin +and I in the steerage." + +"If you get marks enough, you can have a berth in the cabin," replied +Wilton. + +"Marks! Confound the marks! I'm not a baby. Do you think a fellow +seventeen years old is going to be put up or put down by marks?" said +Shuffles. + +"I thought you had been working for a place in the cabin." + +"So I have, but I don't expect to get it. I never studied so hard in my +life, and I believe I haven't had a bad mark since I came on board, +Lowington thinks I have reformed," laughed Shuffles. "And so I have." + +"What do you want to get up a mutiny for, then?" + +"I shall not, if I get a decent position; if I don't, I'm going in for +some fun." + +"But do you really think of getting up a mutiny?" asked Wilton, +curiously. + +"I was thinking the other day what a fine thing it would be if our +fellows had the ship all to themselves." + +"What could we do with her?" + +"Go on a cruise in her." + +"We couldn't handle her; there is hardly a fellow on board that knows +anything about navigation." + +"Of course, I don't mean to do anything yet a while; not this year, +perhaps. One of these days, if we stay on board, we shall know all about +a ship. Fifteen or twenty of the fellows are studying navigation. We are +going to Europe some time or other. When we do, we can take the ship, +and go it on our own hook." + +"I don't believe you mean anything of the kind, Bob Shuffles." + +"I've been thinking about it, anyhow. We can lock Lowington and the rest +of the old folks into their cabin while they are at dinner; and there +are enough of us to handle Peaks and Bitts." + +"I think you are crazy, Shuffles." + +"We should have a high old time if we could get possession of the ship. +We wont say a word about it yet." + +"I think you had better not." + +"We might go round Cape Horn into the Pacific, and have a splendid time +among the beautiful islands of the South Sea." + +"Of course all the fellows wouldn't join you." + +"We could put those ashore somewhere who did not agree with us." + +"You know the penalty of mutiny on the high seas." + +"Bah!" said Shuffles, contemptuously. "It would be nothing but it lark. +No one would think of hanging us, or even sending us to prison for it. +My father is rich enough to get me out of any scrape." + +"So is mine; but I don't think it would be quite safe to go into a +mutiny." + +"Not yet, my dear fellow. You can think it over." + +"But I'm tired of this kind of a life. I liked it first rate in the +beginning. Do you think Lowington really intends to go to sea with the +ship?" + +"I know he does." + +"If he don't go pretty soon, I shall run away, and go to sea in +earnest." + +"Don't say a word about the mutiny at present, Wilton. By and by, if +things go right, or if they don't go right, we may want to take some +stock in such an enterprise." + +"I don't see it yet, but of course I shall keep still." + +It is doubtful whether even so daring a young man as Shuffles, who had +the temerity to do almost anything, seriously contemplated getting up a +mutiny. Very likely his untamed and vicious imagination had revelled in +such an enterprise; had pictured the delights of the rover's life at +sea; but a boy of ordinary common sense could hardly think of engaging +in such a mad scheme. + +The last week of June, with which month ended the first school term on +board of the Young America, was devoted to examinations and reviews in +all the studies for which extra marks were given. On the last day the +instructors made up the merit lists, and on the morning of the 1st of +July all hands were mustered, and the result declared. Most of the +officers, all of whom had studied with unremitting diligence in order to +retain their positions, were reinstated in their offices. The third +lieutenant, however, fell out, having failed in his reviews, and to the +astonishment of all, Robert Shuffles was found to be entitled to the +place. The first and second lieutenants exchanged ranks, and Paul +Kendall fell to the position of second master. Three of the tenants of +the after cabin were compelled to move into the steerage, and three of +the crew were transferred to the officers' quarters. + +Many were disappointed, and perhaps some were disheartened, for the +competition had been a severe struggle; and as much depended upon +natural ability as upon energy and perseverance. But the Young America +was a world by herself. She had all the elements of society within her +wooden walls, and success and failure there followed the same rules as +in the great world of which she was an epitome. + +After the officers had been duly installed in their positions, the petty +offices were given to those having the highest number of marks among the +crew. It was certainly democratic for the late third lieutenant to +become captain of the foretop, and for a second master to become +coxswain of the professors' barge; but these young gentlemen, though +disappointed, submitted with a good grace to their misfortune. + +The student having the highest number of marks among the crew was +allowed to have the first choice of berths in the steerage; the one +having the next highest number had the second choice, and so on, until +all the numbers had been appropriated. At the conclusion of the +reorganization, Mr. Lowington made a speech, "comforting the mourners," +and reminding all the students that, on the 1st of October, there would +be another distribution of the places of honor. He hoped those who had +failed to attain what they aspired to reach would not be discouraged, +for, after all, they had been gaining knowledge, and thus the real end +of the school had been reached. + +"How about the mutiny?" said Wilton to the new third lieutenant, when +both were off duty in the evening. + +"It won't pay just now," replied Shuffles, with great good humor. + +"I suppose not," sneered Wilton, who had not even won a petty office. +"What would Lowington say if he knew the third lieutenant talked of +getting up a mutiny on board?" + +"What would he say?" repeated Shuffles, who was as much surprised at the +high rank he had gained as his companion had been. + +"Yes; what would he say if I should tell him of it?" + +"He would say you were a mean pup for telling tales out of school; at +least, he ought to say so, and I think he would. Lowington is a pretty +good fellow, after all." + +"No doubt he is, now you are third lieutenant." + +"You needn't snuff at it, Wilton. If you want a place, why don't you +sail in, and get one. Just look out for your marks; that's all you have +to do." + +"Marks! I thought a fellow seventeen years old was not to be put up or +put down by marks," said Wilton, bitterly. + +"That depends somewhat upon whether you get in or out," laughed +Shuffles. + +"I suppose you and Paul Kendall will be fast friends now," added the +discontented student. + +"Kendall behaves very well, and has treated me first rate since I went +into the cabin." + +"I suppose if I want to run away, you will stop me now." + +"If you are going to do that, you musn't tell me of it, now I'm an +officer," replied Shuffles, as he turned on his heel, and walked aft. + +Wilton was disgusted, and felt that he had lost his best friend, now +that Shuffles had worked his way into the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +OUR FELLOWS. + + +"I would like leave of absence for to-morrow, Mr. Pelham," said Wilton, +as he touched his cap to the first lieutenant of the Young America, on +the day before the Fourth of July. + +"I am sorry to inform you, Wilton, that no leave of absence will be +granted to-morrow," replied Pelham in accordance with the instructions +given him by the captain, who, in turn, had received his orders from the +principal. + +"No leave!" exclaimed Wilton, his jaw dropping down. + +"Such are the orders." + +"I have always been in the habit of celebrating the Fourth of July," +replied Wilton. "Are we to stay on board the ship, and mope all day?" + +"I presume the day will be celebrated on board in a proper manner," +added the first lieutenant. + +"On board! What can a fellow do here? We might as well go to bed, and +sleep off the day." + +"No words are necessary, Wilton," replied Pelham as he turned and walked +away. + +"That's a good one!" added Wilton, to the group of boys who had come +with him to the mainmast, to request the same favor, if the spokesman +was permitted to go on shore and celebrate the day. + +"Not to celebrate!" exclaimed Monroe, with something like horror in his +tones and looks. + +"Work on the Fourth of July!" chimed in Adler. + +"I won't stand it, for one!" said Wilton. + +"Nor I, for another," added Monroe. + +So said half a dozen others. + +"Well, what are you going to do about it?" demanded Adler. "Here we are, +and we can't get ashore." + +"Perhaps we can," said Wilton, as he led the way to a retired part of +the deck, where they could talk without being overheard. "Did any one +ever hear of such a thing as keeping the fellows on board on the Fourth +of July? Why, every little Greek in the city yonder has his liberty on +that day; and we are to be cooped up here like a parcel of sick +chickens! I suppose we shall have to recite history and French, and +shake out topsails, as usual." + +"It's outrageous. I don't believe the fellows will stand it," added +Adler, who did not know how bad the case was, until it had been +rehearsed by Wilton, who, in the absence of Shuffles, had become the +leader of a certain clique on board, given to taking opposite views. + +"But I don't see what we can do," said Monroe. + +"We will do something. I won't stand it. If I stay on board the ship +to-morrow, it will be as a prisoner," answered Wilton. + +"It's a hard case; but what can we do about it?" asked Sanborn. + +"Suppose we go to Lowington, and state the case to him," suggested +Adler. + +"What's the use of that? Of course the first lieutenant spoke by the +card. He had his orders to say what he did, and I'm sure they came from +Lowington." + +"There can be no doubt of that; but it would be better to have it from +him." + +"I'm willing to ask Lowington for the day, if the fellows want me to do +so; but it won't do any more good than it would to bark at the +mainmast," continued Wilton. "I have an idea in my head, if the fellows +will stand by me," he added, in a lower tone, as he looked over the rail +at the swinging boom, to which the boats in constant use were made fast. + +"What is it?" asked Monroe, eagerly. + +"Keep shady, for a while. How many fellows can we muster?" + +"I don't know." + +"Well, don't stir the matter yet. Here comes Lowington and we will talk +to him first. Come, fellows, let's make a dive at him." + +Wilton, attended by his companions, walked up to the principal, as he +was going forward. Touching his cap respectfully, as the discipline of +the ship required, he opened the case. + +"Mr. Lowington, some of the students would like to go on shore +to-morrow, to celebrate the Fourth. Can't we have liberty?" + +"You know the rule; you should apply to the first lieutenant for leave +of absence," replied Mr. Lowington. + +"We have, sir, and been refused." + +"Then there is nothing more to be said. The first lieutenant speaks with +authority." + +"I beg your pardon, sir, but are we to stay on board all day to-morrow?" + +"That is certainly the arrangement, Wilton." + +"Some of us would like to celebrate the day, sir, and we think it is +rather hard to be obliged to do duty on the Fourth of July." + +"I intend to have the day celebrated in a proper manner. I have made +preparations for a gala day on board." + +"If you please, sir, we would rather go on shore." + +"I am very sorry, for your sake, that I shall be unable to reverse the +answer of the first lieutenant. If I permit one or a dozen to go ashore, +I cannot refuse any, and all must go. I think the boys will be satisfied +with the arrangements I have made for the day." + +"I never was kept in school on the Fourth of July before, sir," growled +Wilton. + +"Then this will be a new event in your experience," answered Mr. +Lowington, coldly, as he turned from the petitioners, and went forward. + +There were a great many wild boys on board of the Young America, and it +was morally impossible for the whole crew to attend the celebration in +the city, without more or less of them getting into a scrape. They had +been kept on board for two months, and not allowed to go on shore, +except under the supervision of one of the instructors; and to let any +considerable number of them loose on such a day as the Fourth of July, +would only be courting trouble, for they would be all the more +disorderly after the long period of restraint. + +Mr. Lowington did not willingly deprive the boys of any innocent +gratification. He had faithfully considered the matter of celebrating +the day, and taken the advice of the instructors on the subject. It had +been proposed to procure a band of music, and visit the city in a body, +under the usual discipline; but there were many difficulties attending +such a plan. The boys were all the sons of rich men, and most of them +were abundantly supplied with pocket money. As it would be impossible to +prevent the escape of some of them from the procession, in the crowded +streets, it was feared that their money would prove to be "the root of +all evil." The project had finally been abandoned; and, as a substitute, +a programme for a celebration on board had been arranged, for there the +students would be entirely under the control of the instructors, who +would check all excesses. It was anticipated that a few discontented +spirits would grumble, but no rebellion was expected. + +Wilton and his companions were dissatisfied, and disposed to be rash. +They felt that they had been harshly and cruelly denied a reasonable +privilege. The subject of celebrating the Fourth had been under +consideration for a long time among the boys, and it had been generally +believed that all hands would be permitted to go on shore, with perfect +liberty, on that day; and many of them had already arranged their plans +for the occasion. + +"Well, what do you think now?" said Wilton, as Mr. Lowington walked +forward. + +"I think it's too bad," replied Adler. "It is meaner than dirt to make +us stay on board on the Fourth of July." + +"But I don't see how we are going to help ourselves," added Monroe, +looking at Wilton for a solution of this difficult problem. + +"I do." + +"How?" + +"Keep still; don't say a word here," continued Wilton. "Scatter, now, +and I will be on the top-gallant forecastle in a few minutes." + +Wilton strolled about the deck a short time, and then went to the place +of meeting, where he was soon joined by the rest of the discontented +pupils. + +"How many fellows can we muster?" asked he, when his associates in +mischief had again gathered around him. + +"I know at least a dozen, who are up to anything," replied Monroe; "but +some of them are in the other watch. What are you going to do?" + +"I'll tell you: There are the professors' barge and the third cutter at +the swinging boom. We will drop into them when the instructors go down +to supper, and make for the shore. All the rest of the boats are at the +davits; and before they can get them into the water, we shall be out of +their reach. What do you think of that for a plan!" + +"I think it is a first-rate one. But hadn't we better wait till the +instructors turn in?" suggested Adler. + +"No; the boats will all be hoisted up to the davits at sunset. We must +do it while the professors are at supper, or not at all. We want eight +oars for the barge, and six for the third cutter; that makes fourteen +fellows. Can we raise as many as that?" + +"Yes, I think we can; we will try, at any rate." + +"But you must look out, or some fellow will blow the whole thing," added +Wilton. "Mind whom you speak to." + +The trustworthiness of the various students was canvassed, and it was +decided what ones should be invited to join the enterprise. The +discontented boys separated, and went to work with great caution to +obtain the needed recruits. Unfortunately, in such a crowd of young men, +there are always enough to engage in any mischievous plot, and it is +quite likely that twice as many as were wanted could have been obtained +to man the boats in the runaway expedition. + +Wilton missed Shuffles very much in arranging the details of the present +enterprise. While at the Brockway Academy, they had plotted mischief so +often that each seemed to be necessary to the other. But Shuffles had +reformed; he was now third lieutenant of the ship, and it was not safe +to suggest a conspiracy to him, for he would attempt to gain favor with +the principal by exposing or defeating it. + +Yet Shuffles was so bold in thought, and so daring in execution, that +Wilton could hardly abandon the hope of obtaining his assistance; +besides, the third lieutenant would be officer of the deck when the +professors went to supper, and might wink at their departure in the +boats, if he did not actually help them off. + +"Would you say anything to Shuffles?" asked Wilton, still in doubt, of +Monroe, as they happened to meet again in the waist. + +"To Shuffles!" exclaimed Monroe, in an energetic whisper. + +"I mean so." + +"Certainly not. I should as soon think of speaking to Lowington +himself." + +"But Shuffles may join us. He is always in for a good time." + +"Why, you ninny, he is third lieutenant of the ship." + +"No matter if he is. I think Shuffles would like to join us." + +"Nonsense! He has been in office only three days, and it would break +him. He would be degraded to the steerage," replied Monroe, who could +not help thinking that Wilton was beside himself in proposing such a +thing, and that the enterprise was doomed to failure in such incompetent +hands. + +"If he won't join us, perhaps he will help us off. He is officer of the +deck, you know, in the second dog watch." + +"I know he is; but don't you open your mouth to him. If you do, I'll +back out at once." + +"Back out?" + +"Yes, back out. I believe you are crazy. Why don't you go to Captain +Carnes, and done with it?" said Monroe, with energy. + +"I haven't any hold on Carnes, and I have on Shuffles." + +"What do you mean?" asked the prudent conspirator, curiously. + +"If Shuffles won't join us, he won't blow on us, you may depend upon +that. He wouldn't dare to do it. I could break him before sundown, if I +chose," said Wilton, with conscious power. + +"That alters the case." + +"Of course, I shouldn't think of saying anything to him, if I did not +know what I was talking about. I have him where the hair is short, and +he knows it, as well as I do." + +"What is it, Wilton?" + +"No matter what it is. When a thing is told me in confidence, I keep it +to myself; but if he turns traitor to his cronies, he must look out for +breakers. He knows what it is." + +"Well, if you can get him, he will be a first-rate fellow to have." + +"I think I can get him. Here he comes; you keep out of the way, and I +will see how deep the water is." + +Monroe went forward to find a student to whom he had been deputed to +speak in the interest of the enterprise leaving Wilton to grapple with +the old lion of mischief, whose teeth, however, seemed to have been worn +out in the cause. + +"What's up, Wilton?" demanded the third lieutenant who was now off duty, +and therefore allowed to speak to the crew, though it was a privilege of +which the officers seldom availed themselves. + +"Who said anything was up?" asked Wilton. + +"You look as though you meant something. What were you and Ike Monroe +talking about just now?" continued Shuffles. "About me, I'll be bound, +for you kept looking at me, as though you meant something." + +"What makes you think so? Have you heard anything?" asked Wilton, +fearful that the plot had leaked out. + +"Not a word? I only judged by your looks." + +"I suppose if anything was up, you wouldn't have anything to do with it +now." + +"Most decidedly, I should not. I like my present position too well to +fall out of it. I'm going to be captain next term, if I can fetch it any +way in the world." + +"You mean to be a flunky, just like the rest of them. You are not the +same fellow you used to be." + +"Yes, I am." + +"You are getting too big for your boots." + +"You wrong me, Wilton. I'm just as good a fellow as I ever was. I think +I'm the best fellow in the ship, and for that reason I want to be +captain. I'm ahead of Carnes so far on marks this month." + +"Well, if you want to be the head flunky, I hope you'll get it. We are +not going ashore to-morrow, they say," added Wilton, changing the topic +to get nearer to the business of the hour. + +"So Pelham told me." + +"Are you willing to stay on board and study, and do ship's duty, on the +Fourth of July?" + +"We are going to celebrate." + +"How?" + +"I'm sure I don't know." + +"We shall celebrate to-morrow just as we do every day--as close +prisoners on board the ship. I, for one, don't like it, and I won't +stand it." + +"Won't you?" laughed Shuffles. + +"When I say I won't, I mean so." + +"O, you do--do you?" + +"You better believe I do," added Wilton, shaking his head resolutely. + +"What are you going to do?" + +"I'm going ashore, by hook or by crook." + +"Better not get into any scrape." + +"You say that as one of the flunkies." + +"Well, you had better not say anything to me, for I shall have to do my +duty as an officer. Don't say anything to me, and then I shall not know +anything about it." + +"Humph!" sneered Wilton, not pleased with this non-committal policy. + +"I don't want to do anything mean with any of our fellows; so don't say +a word to me. I shall do my duty as an officer, as I promised to do when +I was made third lieutenant." + +"Do you mean to say you will stop me, Shuffles, if you see me going?" +demanded Wilton. + +"I do mean so; I promised faithfully to do my duty as an officer, and I +shall do it." + +"See here, Bob Shuffles; you needn't talk to me in that manner. I knew +the ship's cable from a pint of milk, and you can't come the flunky over +me." + +"I'm going to do just as you would do if you were in my place. I won't +hear a word about any of your plans." + +"But will you interfere with them?" + +"If it is my duty to do so, I shall. I intend to obey orders; and if I +have the deck, I shall keep things straight, whatever happens." + +"Lowington don't know you as well as I do." + +"No matter if he don't; he shall have no fault to find with me this +term, if I can help it." + +"It's no use for me to mince the matter with you, Bob Shuffles. We +understand each other too well for that. Something's up." + +Shuffles turned on his heel, and was about to walk away. + +"Hold on a minute, Shuffles," continued Wilton. "I won't tell you what's +up, but I'll tell you this; if you interfere with what I do, or with +what the fellows with me do, I'll tell Lowington about the mutiny--I +will, as sure as your name is Bob Shuffles. Do you understand me?" + +"Well, I do; and it seems to me that sounds very much like a threat." + +"Call it what you like. If you turn traitor to our fellows, you must +stand the racket of it. You are not a saint just yet, and those that +live in glass houses musn't throw stones." + +"I believe I haven't played false to any of our fellows. If I don't +choose to get into any scrape with them, I have a right to keep out. +That's all I've got to say." + +"But what are you going to do, Shuffles? Our fellows will want to know." + +"I'm going to do my duty," replied the third lieutenant as he walked +away, regardless of the efforts of his companion to detain him. + +Shuffles was experiencing the truth of the old maxim, that honesty is +the best policy. It is to be regretted that his present devotion to duty +had no higher incentive than mere policy; but it may be hoped of those +who do their duty from low motives, that they may gather inspiration +even from their politic fidelity to obey its behests from higher +motives. The third lieutenant of the Young America intended to keep the +promise he had made in accepting his office, simply because it would pay +best. + +Wilton and his confederates had no difficulty in making up the required +number of discontents and malcontents before six o'clock, which was the +time fixed for carrying out the enterprise they had planned. Some of the +recruits joined because they anticipated a good time in the city in +celebrating the Fourth, and others from a mere love of mischief and +excitement. The details of the scheme had been carefully elaborated by +Monroe and Wilton, after the ranks of the conspirators were full. Having +learned a valuable lesson from the daily discipline of the ship, the +mischief was certainly well planned. Each boy was assigned to a +particular position in the boats, and knew on what thwart he was to sit, +and which oar he was to pull. + +Wilton and Monroe, as the master spirits of the enterprise were to run +out first on the swinging boom, and slide down the painters, each into +the boat he was to command. The others were to follow in the same way, +descending from the boom, for it was not considered prudent to run the +boats up to the gangway, where some enthusiastic officer might easily +interfere with the plan, which was to depend for its success upon the +celerity of its execution. + +When four bells struck, the professors went down to their evening meal, +as usual, and the boatswain piped the port watch to supper, the +starboard watch having taken theirs at three bells, or half past five. +Wilton gave a low whistle, when Shuffles, officer of the deck, was abaft +the mizzenmast, with his back to the runaways who had gathered in the +waist, and were waiting for the signal. + +"Be lively, fellows," said the leader of the enterprise, as he sprang +over the rail, and ran out on the boom, followed by Monroe. + +The others, in the order in which they had been instructed, did the +same. About half of them were on the boom, when the movement was +reported to the officer of the deck by the midshipman on duty in the +waist. Shuffles rushed forward, now understanding, for the first time, +the intentions of Wilton; and true to the inspiration of fidelity, he +set about defeating the object of "our fellows." + +The studding-sail boom, to which the boats were fastened, was supported +by a topping-lift from above, and kept in position, at right angles with +the side of the ship, by guys extending forward and aft. + +"Stand by that fore guy!" shouted Shuffles, as he sprang upon the rail. +"Cast off!" + +"Lively, fellows!" said Wilton, when he saw that the third lieutenant +intended to swing in the boom to the ship's side. + +"Stand by the after guy of the studding-sail boom!" continued Shuffles, +with becoming energy. + +Both his orders were promptly obeyed; but seeing that his movement would +be too late, he rushed to the topping-lift, and cast it off, causing the +swinging boom to drop into the water, just as the last boy was about to +slide down into the professors' boat. Of course the luckless fellow went +into the water; but he was promptly picked up by his companions in +mischief. + +"If I'm caught, Bob Shuffles, you look out for breakers!" cried Wilton, +as the third lieutenant appeared at the gangway again. + +The tide was coming in, and the boats swung so far abaft the boom that +it had fallen clear of them when it dropped into the water. Wilton and +Monroe were prompt to avail themselves of their present success, and the +boys sat in the boats, with their oars up, ready to pull as soon as the +order was given. + +"Let fall!" said Wilton; and the eight oars of the professors' barge +dropped into the water, and the rowers placed them in readiness for the +first stroke. + +Monroe, in the third cutter, followed the example of his principal, and +was hardly a second behind him. + +"Give way!" added Wilton. + +"Give way!" repeated Monroe; and the two boats gathered way and darted +off towards the nearest point of the shore. + +Thus far the enterprise of "our fellows" was entirely successful, and +Shuffles stood on the gangway, chagrined at the defeat which had +attended his efforts to prevent the escape of the runaways. + +"Stand by to clear away the first cutter!" shouted he, suddenly and with +energy, as he made his way to the davits, where the boat indicated was +suspended. + +"Cast off the gripes, and man the falls!" he continued when the watch +were collected at the scene of action. "Mr. Kendall, you will inform +the captain what has happened." + +Within three minutes, the first cutter was in the water, for the crew +had been frequently exercised in the evolution of lowering boats, and +performed it with remarkable facility for boys. Before the first cutter +touched the water, the captain, the principal, and all the professors, +came on deck. + +Mr. Lowington was entirely cool, though everybody else appeared to be +intensely excited. The crew of the first cutter were piped away, and at +the principal's suggestion, the third lieutenant was sent off in the +boat to prevent the landing of the rebellious pupils. + +"Up oars! Let fall! Give way!" said Shuffles, in the boat, delivering +his orders in rapid succession; and the first cutter darted off in chase +of the runaways. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE FOURTH OF JULY. + + +The first cutter was manned by her regular crew, who had been trained +with the utmost care to pull together, while Wilton, in the professors' +barge, which was of the same size, had some very indifferent oarsmen. +The runaways had made up their force of such material as they could +obtain, and though all were somewhat accustomed to rowing, they had not +been drilled to work together; they were not the unit of power in +pulling a boat. Shuffles, therefore, had a manifest advantage, and he +was determined to bring back the fugitives. + +The second cutter, in charge of Paul Kendall, was cleared away, and, +with Mr. Lowington and Mr. Fluxion on board, left the ship to take part +in the pursuit. The chase promised to be an exciting one, for Wilton and +Monroe were straining every nerve to reach the shore before they were +overtaken. They were making for the nearest land, and having just the +number of hands required to pull the boat, each of them was obliged to +use an oar himself. They had no coxswains, and Wilton, at the bow oar of +the professors' barge, could not see what was ahead, though he kept the +pursuing boats in full view. + +The nearest land, not more than half a mile from the ship, was a point +covered with salt marsh, above which was a cove, whose opening was about +ten rods in width. Wilton was making for the point below the cove, but +his calculations were made without judgment or discretion. If he reached +the land, his party would be obliged to walk a mile in order to get +round the cove, on a narrow strip of marsh, where they might be +intercepted. But the fatal defect in his plan of operations was a +failure to consider the depth of water between the ship and the point. +The flow of the tide from the cove, while it kept a clear channel +through the entrance, had formed a bar off the tongue of land on the +seaward side of it, which was bare at half tide, and was now just +covered. Wilton was pulling for this bar, with all the strength of his +crew. + +Shuffles was prompt to observe the mistake of his late crony, and just +as prompt to profit by it. The first cutter was gaining rapidly on the +chase; but Shuffles, as she reached the border of the main channel, +ordered his coxswain to keep the boat's head towards the entrance of the +cove. + +"We shall never catch them on this tack," said the coxswain of the +cutter, who knew nothing about the bar. + +"I think we shall," replied the third lieutenant, confidently. + +"We are not going towards the point." + +"That's very true, and the professors' barge will not go much farther in +that direction. Pull steady, my lads; don't hurry yourselves. There is +plenty of time." + +The coxswain thought his superior officer was taking the matter very +coolly, and knowing of the intimacy which had formerly subsisted between +Shuffles and Wilton, he was ready to conclude that the third lieutenant +was willing to permit the escape of "our fellows." While he was putting +this construction on the conduct of his superior, the professors' barge +"took the ground," and stuck fast. + +"They're aground, Mr. Shuffles," said the coxswain. + +"There's just where I expected them to be," answered Shuffles, quietly. + +"Shall I run towards them?" + +"No; keep her as she is. There isn't more than a foot of water anywhere +between them and the point." + +The third cutter, being a smaller boat than the professors' barge, did +not touch the bar as soon as her consort; but Monroe saw that his craft +could not land her party on the point at that stage of the tide, and he +ordered his crew first to lay on their oars, and then to back water. +Wilton's boat was aground at the bow, and when he had sent part of his +crew aft, she was easily pushed off the bar. By this delay he had lost +the chance of landing at the point, and his only alternative was to pull +up to the cove; but in doing so, it would be impossible to avoid the +first cutter, which had now secured a position off the mouth of the +little bay. + +"Stand by to lay on your oars," said the coxswain of the first cutter, +as directed by the lieutenant in command. "Oars!" + +The crew ceased rowing, and laying on their oars, waited the next +movement of the runaways. In the mean time the second cutter was well +away from the ship, and Mr. Lowington, promptly comprehending the +intentions of the third lieutenant, directed the officer in command to +pull towards the boats on the bar, keeping well to seaward, in order to +prevent them from escaping in that direction. + +Wilton realized that he was cornered, and hoping that Shuffles would not +be over-zealous in the discharge of his duty, directed his course +towards the opening of the cove. A few strokes brought him within +hailing distance of the first cutter. + +"No use, Wilton," said Shuffles, laughing. "You may as well pull for the +ship. It's all up with you." + +But the leader of the runaways, instead of heeding this good advice, +attempted to push by astern of the first cutter. + +"Stern, all! Give way!" shouted Shuffles, sharply. "Coxswain, stand by +with your stern line!" + +It was generally understood that the third lieutenant of the Young +America was a fighting character, and that he could whip any officer or +seaman in the ship, though his prowess had not been practically +demonstrated. Shuffles took the stern line himself, instead of +intrusting the duty to the coxswain. He intended to grapple the bow of +the professors' barge, and make fast to it with the rope; but the cutter +did not gather way enough in season to do this. As she backed, she +fouled the oars of the barge, and Shuffles secured a firm hold of her +stern. + +"What are you doing, Bob Shuffles?" demanded Wilton, angry, when he saw +that his late crony was fully in earnest. + +The third lieutenant made no reply; but passing his rope through a ring +in the stern of the barge, he made it fast, and then pushed the cutter +off from her. When the line had run out about a fathom, he secured the +end he held in his hand to the after thwart of his own boat. Thus the +first cutter and the barge were lashed together, stern to stern. + +"Cast off that rope!" shouted Wilton to the stroke oarsman in the barge. + +"Don't you touch it, my lad," interposed Shuffles, when the boy +attempted to obey the order of his leader. "If you attempt it, you will +purchase a sore head." + +[Illustration: THE ESCAPE FROM THE SHIP. Page 95.] + +The third lieutenant had picked up a boat-hook, and stood ready to rap +any of the barge's crew who might attempt to cast off the line by which +the boats were fastened together. No one was disposed to cross the +purposes of so formidable a person as Shuffles, and the stroke oarsman +did not obey the order of Wilton. It would not be safe to do so. + +"Now, Wilton, what do you say?" demanded Shuffles, a smile of triumph +playing upon his face, which was very aggravating to the leader of the +runaways. "Will you go back to the ship, or not?" + +"No, of course I won't," replied the discomfited chief of the +malcontents. + +"You had better, my dear fellow. There comes Mr. Lowington." + +"I didn't think this of you, Bob Shuffles," said Wilton, reproachfully. + +"I told you I should do my duty; and I shall, to the end. If you will +return, all right; if not, I shall take you back." + +"No, you won't." + +"I think I will," added the third lieutenant, quietly. "Stand by to give +way!" he continued, to the coxswain. + +"Two can play at that game," said Wilton, as he gave the same order to +his crew. + +"Give way!" shouted the coxswain of the first cutter, with energy. + +"Give way!" repeated Wilton, in the barge. + +The rope straightened, Shuffles stood up in the stern-sheets of the +cutter, to prevent the line from being cast off, and the contest began, +to ascertain which should drag the other. It was rather ludicrous, in +spite of the serious question of discipline involved in the affair, and +the boys in the cutter were intensely amused, as well as excited. Both +crews struggled with all their might, and each leader urged his +followers to renewed exertions. + +The discipline of the first cutter was on the point of carrying the +contest in favor of law and order, when Monroe, seeing that his friend +was nearly worsted, backed the third cutter up to the bow of the barge, +and took her painter on board, which he made fast at the stern. Resuming +his oar, he ordered his crew to give way together. Then law and order +appealed to be at a discount, for the eight oarsmen in the first cutter +were not a match, even in the cause of discipline, against the fourteen +in the barge and third cutter. + +Shuffles did not give it up, notwithstanding the great odds against +him. Letting out the stern line far enough to allow space for a new +manoeuvre, he directed the starboard oarsmen to lay on their oars, while +those on the port side pulled the boat round. Then all gave way +together, and the barge was dragged round sideways, until her oars +fouled with those of Monroe's boat. At this stage of the exciting +proceedings the second cutter came up with the principal. + +Mr. Fluxion sat in the stern-sheets, shaking his sides with laughter at +the singular contest which was going on; but Mr. Lowington, though +evidently amused, maintained his gravity, and was as dignified as usual. +The appearance of the principal ended the struggle. A glance from him +was quite sufficient to take all the stiffening out of the runaways, and +even Wilton, though he talked valiantly behind Mr. Lowington's back, and +neglected even to give him the simple title of "mister," had not the +courage to resist the strong arm of his authority. As the second cutter +backed up to the barge, the principal stepped on board of her, and took +a seat in the stern-sheets. + +"Young gentlemen, you will return to the ship," said Mr. Lowington, +sternly, as he took the tiller-ropes in his hands. "Give way!" + +The malcontents had no thought of further resistance. The presence of +the principal was sufficient to overcome all insubordination; they did +not dare to disobey him. Mechanically they bent to their oars, and +without a word pulled back to the ship. + +Mr. Fluxion, by direction of Mr. Lowington, had taken his place in +Monroe's boat, and followed the barge, the two cutters bringing up the +rear. This was the first instance of flagrant insubordination which had +occurred since the organization of the ship's company, and the students +were not a little anxious to learn how it would be treated. It was +singular that Shuffles, who on shore had always been the ringleader in +enterprises of mischief, had been the means of defeating the scheme of +the runaways. + +The boats were hoisted up at the davits, and the boatswain was ordered +to pipe all hands on deck. The principal looked calm, but stern, as he +took the position on the hatch which he usually occupied when he +addressed the students. + +"Wilton and Monroe," said he. + +The culprits came forward, hanging their heads with shame. + +"I learn that you are the ringleaders in this movement. Is it so?" + +"I suppose we are," replied Wilton. + +"Who proposed the plan?" + +"Wilton first spoke to me about it," answered Monroe. + +"And you induced the others to join you?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"As the ringleaders, Wilton and Monroe will lose twenty marks each, and +remain in their mess rooms to-morrow. The other twelve lose ten marks +each," continued Mr. Lowington. "Young gentlemen, those who have engaged +in this scheme are not to be trusted. I have nothing further to say." + +The crew were dismissed, and all the students were disposed to laugh at +the mildness of the punishment, compared with the enormity of the +offence. + +"Mr. Shuffles," said the principal, as he stepped down from the hatch, +"I am very much obliged to you for the zeal and energy which you have +exhibited in the discharge of your duty. Not only was your disposition +to do your duty highly commendable, but your plans displayed skill and +forethought." + +"Thank you, sir," replied the third lieutenant; "I am very glad to have +pleased you." + +Mr. Lowington bowed, and descended to the cabin to finish his supper, +which had been interrupted by the event described. What the professors +said about the affair was not known to the boys; but Shuffles was warmly +praised for the moderate but skilful measures he had used in the capture +of the rebels. + +At sundown, a shore boat came alongside with an abundant supply of +fireworks, which had been ordered by Mr. Lowington. They were hoisted on +board, and deposited in a safe place. At the usual hour, the boys turned +in to dream of the good time which these squibs and crackers suggested +to them--all but Monroe and Wilton, who had something else to think +about. The latter was disappointed and surly, while the former +congratulated himself upon getting out of the scrape so easily. Wilton +was very angry with Shuffles, who might have permitted him to land, if +he had been so disposed; and he determined to take what he considered an +ample vengeance upon the traitor. As soon as he had an opportunity to +speak to Mr. Lowington, he intended to tell him all about the plan for a +mutiny, and he was fully satisfied that Shuffles would be sent in +disgrace from his pleasant position in the after cabin, to take up his +abode in the steerage again. + +On the morning of the ever-glorious Fourth, all hands were mustered on +the deck of the Young America at four o'clock. Crackers were served out, +and for two hours there was a tremendous racket from stern to stern, +among the younger boys. At six o'clock, the port watch were piped to +breakfast, and all the crackers having been burned, the decks were +swept, and everything put in perfect order, by the starboard watch. A +band of music, engaged for the day, came off, and the enlivening strains +of the national airs sounded through the ship. + +At seven o'clock, when all hands had breakfasted, an hour earlier than +usual, the crew were piped to muster, wondering, as they always did, +what was going to be done. + +"All hands, up anchor ahoy!" shouted the boatswain prompted by the first +lieutenant; but this order was so common in the every-day practice of +the crew, that no one supposed it had any unusual significance; and some +of the boys even began to grumble at being compelled to go through the +routine of ship's work on the Fourth of July. + +"Bring to on the cable, and unbitt!" continued the officer in command. +"Ship the capstan bars, and swifter them! Heave in the cable to a short +stay!" + +These orders were duly executed, under the direction of the various +officers at their stations. + +"Avast heaving!" called the first master. "Anchor apeak, sir," he +reported to the first lieutenant. + +"Pawl the capstan, stopper the cable, and unship the bars!" added the +executive officers, all of which was done, and duly reported. + +"Stations for loosing topsails!" which were shaken out by the ordinary +routine, sheeted home, and hoisted up. + +"Forecastlemen, loose the head sails! After-guard, clear away the +spanker! Man the capstan bars, ship and swifter them! Heave around!" + +This last was a manoeuvre which the crew had never before been called +upon to perform; and the order sent a thrill of delight to all hearts. +The cable had often been heaved to a short stay, that is, so that it run +nearly up and down; but that was as far as they had ever before been +permitted to proceed. Now, with the anchor apeak, they were ordered to +the capstan again, and they realized that the Young America was actually +going to sea. The command kindled an enthusiasm which glowed on every +face. The ship was going out of the harbor, and the evil doers in the +mess rooms below were to be pitied. + +"Anchor aweigh, sir," reported the excited boatswain who, however, had +to be prompted in this instance by Peaks, for it had never been in that +position before since it first hooked the mud in Brockway harbor. + +"Anchor aweigh, sir," repeated the second lieutenant. + +"Man the jib and flying-jib halyards!" said the first lieutenant. + +"Anchor's at the bow, sir," said the boatswain, which report went +through the same channels as before, till it reached the executive +officer. + +"Hoist away on the jib and flying-jib halyards! Avast heaving! Pawl the +capstan! Stopper the cable! Cat and fish the anchor!" shouted the first +lieutenant. "Port the helm!" + +The Young America was clear of the ground. The fore topsail, which had +been trimmed to the fresh breeze, was full, and the ship began to gather +headway. Two seamen had been placed at the wheel, under the charge of +the quartermaster. The boys had often "made believe" do these things, +but now they were real. The vessel was actually moving through the +water, and they could hardly contain themselves, so exhilarating was the +scene. + +"Steady!" said the first lieutenant, when the ship had come up to her +intended course. + +"Steady, sir," repeated the quartermaster in charge of the helm. + +"Stand by to set the spanker," added the first lieutenant. "Man the +outhaul! Cast off the brails, and loose the vangs!" + +The after-guard, which is the portion of the ship's company stationed on +the quarter-deck, or abaft the mizzenmast, obeyed this order, and stood +ready to set the spanker, which is the aftermost sail. + +"Walk away with the outhaul!" and the after-guard ran off with the rope, +which drew the sail out into its place on the gaff. "Stand by the +spanker sheet--let it out!" + +"You must attend to your main and mizzen topsails Mr. Pelham," said the +principal, in a low tone. + +"Man the fore and main braces!" said the executive officer; and the +young seamen sprang to their stations. "Let go and haul!" + +The main and the mizzen topsails were thus trimmed, so that they took +the wind. + +"That was very well done, Captain Carnes, though your crew need more +practice. They are very much excited," said Mr. Lowington. + +"I don't wonder, sir; I think none of them knew we were going out of the +harbor," replied the captain. + +"I am glad they enjoy it," added the principal, "though I should not +have left the anchorage, except as a substitute for the Fourth of July +celebration." + +"They will like this much better than going to the city." + +"I have no doubt on that point; and last evening, when those students +wished to run away, I was tempted to punish their disobedience by +letting them go. The wind is pretty fresh, Captain Carnes, but I think +you may set the top-gallant sails." + +The captain gave the order to the first lieutenant. + +"Aloft, sail-loosers of the top-gallant sails!" shouted Mr. Pelham; and +the eager young salts dashed up the rigging. "Lay out! Loose! Let fall! +Man your sheets and halyards! Sheets home, and hoist away!" + +The addition of the top-gallant sails was sensibly felt by the Young +America; and, "taking a bone in her teeth," she careened over, and +dashed away merrily on her course. + +The band played Hail, Columbia, and as the ship passed the fort, the +crew mounted the rigging and gave three cheers. The excitement on board +was immense, and never was Independence Day more thoroughly and +enthusiastically enjoyed. The officers and crew were at the height of +felicity, as the gallant little ship bowled over the waves, threading +her way through the channels between the numerous islands of the bay. + +"Can't we put on any more sail, Mr. Lowington?" asked Captain Carnes, as +he met the principal on the quarter-deck. + +"Not at present. We are making very good progress now." + +"The boys want to see all sail on her." + +"The wind is blowing half a gale now," added Mr. Lowington, with a +smile. "I think we shall be able to give them quite enough of it when we +get out into blue water. I'm afraid you will lose half your crew before +noon!" + +"Lose them?" + +"By seasickness, I mean." + +"Do you think they will be sick, sir?" + +"I have no doubt of it. Many of them never saw the ocean before, and +never looked upon a ship till they came on board of the Young America. I +don't think it would be prudent to put on all sail, until we know what +force we are to have to handle the ship." + +"They don't look like being seasick at present." + +"Wait till we get out into the heavy sea," laughed the principal, as he +went forward. + +At eight bells the ship was abreast of the last island, and she began to +pitch and roll a little, though the motion was hardly perceptible, until +she was well off from the land. Professor Paradyme was the first victim +of seasickness, and the boys all laughed when they saw the woe-begone +expression on the face of the learned man; but some of those who laughed +the loudest were the first to be taken by the ridiculous malady. + +The Young America pitched and rolled heavily as she receded from the +land, and nothing more was said by the students about putting on more +sail. The spray broke over the bow, and washed the decks; but most of +the boys enjoyed the scene as they had never enjoyed anything before. + +"What are you doing here, sir?" demanded Mr. Lowington, as he went +forward, and discovered Wilton skulking under the lee of the foremast. +"You were told to stay in your mess room, sir!" + +"I couldn't, sir," whined the culprit. + +"You could, and you will." + +"I was seasick, sir." + +"I can't help it; you must stay in your mess room," added the principal, +sternly. + +"If you please, sir, I will obey orders if you will let me stay on +deck," said Wilton, humbly. + +"No; return to your room?" and Wilton was compelled to obey. + +It was a very severe punishment to him and Monroe to be obliged to stay +in the steerage during the first trip of the Young America. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +HEAVING THE LOG. + + +The Young America, under topsails and top-gallant sails, was making +about ten knots an hour. After passing the last island in the bay, she +was headed to the south-east, which brought the wind over the starboard +quarter. The ship was of the clipper class, though not as sharp as many +of this model. It was found that her sailing ability was excellent, and +Mr. Lowington and Mr. Fluxion expressed much satisfaction at her +performance, both in respect of speed and weatherly qualities. + +When the ship left her moorings, the principal had not decided where to +go, or how long to remain at sea, intending to be governed by the +circumstances of the hour. It had never been his purpose to keep her at +one anchorage, but to go from port to port, remaining a few days or a +few weeks at each, as the discipline of the ship and the progress of the +boys in their studies suggested. There were many elements of seamanship +which could not be effectively practised while the ship lay at anchor, +such as heaving the log, sounding and steering, though the boys had been +carefully instructed in the theory of these operations. + +The instructor in mathematics, the boatswain, the carpenter, and the +sailmaker, all of whom were good seamen, were in great demand as soon as +the ship was under way; but when she had sea-room enough, the helm was +handed over to the boys, under the charge of a juvenile quartermaster. +Peaks stood by, and gave the necessary directions, till the students +were able to do the work themselves. + +"Now, my lads, we will heave the log," said the boatswain, when the ship +was well out from the land. + +"We know how to do that," replied Smith, one of the quartermasters. + +"I dare say you do, young gentlemen; but in my opinion, you can't do it. +You know how to write a psalm, but I don't believe you could write one," +added Peaks. "You have to learn how to do these things by the feeling, +so that they will do themselves, so to speak. After-guard, stand by to +haul in the log-line. Here, quartermaster, you will hold the glass, and +the officer of the deck will throw the chip." + +"We know all about it, Mr. Peaks," repeated Smith. + +"I know you do; but you can't tell within five knots how fast the ship +is going," laughed the boatswain. "Let's do it right a few times, and +then you can be trusted." + +The quartermaster took the glass, and Gordon, then officer of the watch, +the chip, which he cast into the water over the stern of the ship. + +"Turn!" said he, when the stray line had run out. + +Now, Smith, at this particular moment, was watching a vessel over the +quarter, and he did not instantly turn the glass, as he should have +done; but Peaks said nothing. + +"Up!" cried the quartermaster, when the sand had all run through the +glass. + +Gordon stopped the reel from which the line was running out, and noted +the mark. + +"Seven knots," said he. + +"Not right," replied the boatswain, sharply. "This ship is going nine or +ten knots an hour, and any man who has snuffed salt water for six months +could guess nearer than you make it. Now try it once again, and if you +don't hit nearer than that next time, you may as well throw the reel +overboard, and hire a Yankee to guess the rate of sailing." + +"I thought we knew all about it," added Smith. + +"I think you do, young gentlemen; but you were star-gazing when you +ought to have been all attention. The line ran out two or three knots +before you turned the glass." + +Gordon took the chip again. It was a thin piece of board, in the form of +a quarter circle. The round side was loaded with just lead enough to +make it float upright in the water. The log-line was fastened to the +chip, just us a boy loops a kite, two strings being attached at each end +of the circular side, while the one at the angle is tied to a peg, which +is inserted in a hole, just hard enough to keep it in place, while there +is no extra strain on the board, but which can be drawn out with a smart +pull. When the log-line has run out as far as desired, there would be +some difficulty in hauling in the chip while it was upright in the +water; but a sudden jerk draws the peg at the angle, and permits the +board to lie flat, in which position the water offers the least +resistance to its passage. + +The half-minute glass used on board the Young America, held by the +quartermaster, was like an hour glass, and contained just sand enough to +pass through the hole in the neck in thirty seconds. The log-line was +one hundred and fifty fathoms in length, and was wound on a reel, which +turned very easily, so that the resistance of the chip to the water +would unwind it. The log-line is divided into certain spaces called +knots, the length of each of which is the same fractional part of a mile +that a half minute is of an hour. If there be sixty-one hundred and +twenty feet in a nautical mile, or the sixtieth part of a degree of a +great circle, which is not far from accurate, and the ship be going ten +knots an hour, she will run sixty-one thousand two hundred feet in an +hour. If the chip were thrown overboard at eight o'clock, and the line +were long enough, the ship would have run out sixty-one thousand two +hundred feet, or ten miles, at nine o'clock, or in one hour. In one +minute she would run one sixtieth of sixty-one thousand two hundred +feet, which is ten hundred and twenty feet; in half a minute, five +hundred and ten feet. + +The half-minute glass is the measure of time generally used in heaving +the log. While the sand is dropping through, the line runs out five +hundred and ten feet, the ship going ten knots an hour being the basis +of the calculation. One knot, therefore, will be fifty-one feet. If the +line pays out five hundred and ten feet in thirty seconds, by the glass, +the ship is going ten knots an hour. If it pays out four hundred and +eight feet in half a minute, or eight hundred and sixteen feet in a +minute, she will pay out a mile in as many minutes as eight hundred and +sixteen feet is contained in sixty-one hundred and twenty feet, which is +seven and a half minutes. Then the ship goes a mile in seven and a half +minutes, or eight miles an hour. + +A knot on the log-line is therefore invariably fifty-one feet; and the +number of knots of the line run out in half a minute indicates also the +ship's speed per hour, for fifty-one feet is the same part of a nautical +mile that half a minute is of an hour. The calculations are given +without allowances, merely to show the principle; and both the glass and +the line are modified in practice. + +On board the Young America, ten fathoms were allowed for "stray line;" +this length of line being permitted to run out before the measuring +commenced, in order to get the chip clear of thee eddies in the wake of +the ship. The ten fathoms were indicated by a white rag, drawn through +the line; and when the officer paying out comes to this mark, he orders +the quartermaster to turn the glass, and the operation actually begins. +At every fifty-one feet (or forty-seven and six tenths, making the +allowances) there is a mark--a bit of leather, or two or more knots. The +instant the sands have all run through the glass, the quartermaster +says, "Up," and the officer notes the mark to which the line has run +out. Half and quarter knots are indicated on the line. + +"Now, quartermaster, mind your eye. When the officer of the deck says, +'Turn,' you repeat the word after him, to show that you are alive," +continued Peaks. + +"Ready!" said Gordon. + +"Ready!" replied Smith. + +The lieutenant threw the chip into the water, and when the stray line +had run off, he gave the word to turn the glass. + +"Turn!" repeated Smith. + +Gordon eased off the log-line, so that nothing should prevent it from +running easily. + +"Up!" shouted Smith; and Gordon stopped the line. + +"Very well," added Peaks. "What's the mark?" + +"Ten and a quarter," replied the officer. + +"That sounds more like it. I knew this ship was going more than seven +knots. You see, young gentlemen, you can't catch flies and tend the +log-line at the same time. Now, you may try it over again." + +The experiment was repeated, with the same result. Other officers and +seamen were called to the quarter-deck, and the training in heaving the +log continued, until a reasonable degree of proficiency was attained. + +"Land ho!" cried the lookout on the top-gallant forecastle, at about +eleven o'clock in the forenoon. + +"Where away?" called the officer of the deck. + +"Dead ahead, sir." + +"What is that land, Mr. Lowington?" asked Paul Kendall. + +"Don't you know?" + +"I'm sure I don't." + +"Then you should study your map more. Look at the compass, and tell me +how she heads." + +"South-east, sir," replied Paul, after looking into the binnacle. + +"Now, what land lies south-east of Brockway Harbor?" asked the +principal. + +"Cape Cod, I think." + +"You are right; then that must be Cape Cod." + +"Is it, really?" + +"Certainly it is," laughed Mr. Lowington. "Have you no faith in your +map?" + +"I didn't think we could be anywhere near Cape Cod. I thought it was +farther off," added Paul, who seemed to be amazed to think they had +actually crossed Massachusetts Bay. + +"The land you see is Race Point, which is about forty miles from the +entrance to the bay, at the head of which Brockway is located. We have +been making about ten knots an hour, and our calculations seem to be +very accurate. By one o'clock we shall come to anchor in Provincetown +Harbor." + +This prediction was fully verified, and the Young America was moored off +the town. Those who had been seasick recovered as soon as the motion of +the ship ceased; and when everything aloft and on deck had been made +snug, the crew were piped to dinner. + +In the afternoon, part of the students were permitted to go on shore; +the band played, and several boat-races took place, very much to the +delight of the people on shore, as well as those on board. At six +o'clock the ship was opened for the reception of visitors, who came off +in large numbers to inspect the vessel. After dark there was a +brilliant display of fireworks, and the Young America blazed with +blue-lights and Roman candles, set off by boys on the cross-trees, and +at the yard-arms. At ten the festivities closed, and all was still in +the steerage and on deck. + +The next morning, the ship got under way, and stood out of the harbor, +bound for Brockway again. She had a light breeze, and a smooth time, and +the boys had the satisfaction of seeing every rag of canvas spread, +including studding-sails alow and aloft; but it was not till after dark +that the ship came to anchor at her former moorings. + +Wilton and Monroe were released from confinement in the morning, and +permitted to go on deck. Whatever their shipmates might have said, they +felt that they had been severely punished, especially as they had failed +in their runaway expedition. Wilton did not feel any more kindly towards +Shuffles when he was released than when he had been ordered to his room. +He felt that his late crony had been a traitor, and he was unable to +take any higher view of the circumstances. + +"Wilton," said Mr. Lowington, when he met the runaway on deck, the day +after the Fourth, "I told you that you had made a mistake. Do you +believe it yet?" + +"I suppose I do, sir." + +"You suppose you do! Don't you know?" + +"Yes, sir, I think I did make a mistake," replied Wilton, who found it +very hard to acknowledge the fact. + +"I do not refer to your punishment, when I allude to the consequences of +your misdeed, for that was very light. You have fallen very low in the +estimation of your superiors." + +"Do you mean Mr. Shuffles, sir?" + +"I did not mean the officers exclusively, though I believe they have a +proper respect for the discipline of the ship." + +"I don't think Shuffles need to say anything." + +"He hasn't said anything." + +"He is worse than I am." + +"Shuffles has done very well, and merits the approbation of the +principal and the instructors." + +"They don't know him as well as I do," growled Wilton. + +"They probably know him better. Your remarks do not exhibit a proper +spirit towards an officer. He defeated your plan to escape, but he did +no more than his duty. He would have been blamed, perhaps punished, if +he had done any less." + +"I don't find any fault with him for doing his duty, but I don't like to +be snubbed by one who is worse than I am. If you knew what I know, sir, +you would turn him out of the after cabin." + +"Then it is fortunate for him that I don't know what you know," replied +Mr. Lowington, sternly. "If you wish to injure him in my estimation, you +will not succeed." + +"He is going to get up a mutiny one of these days. He told me all about +it," continued Wilton, desperately, when he found that the principal was +in no mood to listen to his backbiting. + +"That will do, Wilton? I don't wish to hear anything more about that +matter. Your testimony against Shuffles, under present circumstances, is +not worth the breath you use in uttering it." + +"I thought it was my duty to tell you, if any one was trying to get up a +mutiny." + +"You did not think so; you are telling me this story to revenge yourself +against the third lieutenant for his fidelity. Whether there is, or is +not, any truth in what you say, I shall take no notice of it." + +"It is all true, sir. He did speak to me about getting up a mutiny, +locking up the professors, taking the ship, and going round Cape Horn; +and he will not deny it." + +"He will have no opportunity to deny it to me, for I shall not mention +the subject to him. Go to your duty, and remember that you have injured +yourself more than Shuffles by this course." + +Wilton hung his head, and went forward, cheated of his revenge, and +disconcerted by the rebuke he had received. + +Mr. Lowington was quite willing to believe that Shuffles had talked +about a mutiny, while he was in the steerage, but there was at least no +present danger of an extravagant scheme being put into operation. He +understood Shuffles perfectly; he knew that his high office and his +ambition were his only incentives to fidelity in the discharge of his +duty; but he had fairly won his position, and he was willing to let him +stand or fall by his own merits. He was not a young man of high moral +principle, as Paul Kendall, and Gordon, and Carnes were; but the +discipline of the ship was certainly doing wonders for him, though it +might ultimately fail of its ends. + +The ship came to anchor, the band was sent on shore, and the Fourth of +July holidays were ended. On the following morning the studies were +resumed, and everything on board went on as usual. A few days later, the +ship went on a cruise to the eastward, spending a week in each of the +principal ports on the coast. The students soon became so accustomed to +the motion of the ship, that none of them were seasick and the +recitations were regularly heard, whether the Young America was in port +or at sea. + +When the cold weather came, stoves were put up in the cabins and in the +steerage, and the routine of the ship was not disturbed; but Mr. +Lowington dreaded the ice and snow, and the severe weather of +mid-winter, and in November, the Young America started on a cruise to +the southward, and in the latter part of December she was in Chesapeake +Bay. In March she returned to Brockway. By this time the crew were all +thorough seamen, and had made excellent progress in their studies. Mr. +Lowington was entirely satisfied with the success of his experiment, and +was resolved to persevere in it. + +The boys were in splendid discipline, and there had not been a case of +serious illness on board during the year. Besides the six hours of study +and recitation required of the pupils per day, they were all trained in +gymnastics by Dr. Winstock, the surgeon, who had a system of his own, +and was an enthusiast on the subject. This exercise, with the ordinary +ship's duty, kept them in excellent physical condition; and while their +brown faces and rosy cheeks indicated a healthy state of the body, their +forms were finely developed, and their muscles scientifically trained. + +Greek and Latin, German and French, with the ordinary English branches +pursued in high schools and academies, were taught on board, and the +instructors were satisfied that the boys accomplished twice as much as +was ordinarily done in similar institutions on shore, and without injury +to the students. Everything was done by rule, and nothing was left to +the whims and caprices of teachers and scholars. Just so much study was +done every day, and no more. There was no sitting up nights; there were +no balls and parties, theatres and concerts, to interfere with the work; +no late suppers of escalloped oysters and lobster salads to be eaten. +Boys who had bad habits were watched, and injurious tendencies +corrected. + +But the students enjoyed their life on shipboard. As the vessel went +from port to port, new scenes were opened to them. Those who could be +trusted were allowed to go on shore in their off-time; and as all their +privileges depended upon their good conduct, they were very careful to +do their duty, both as students and as seamen, cheerfully and +faithfully. + +The Young America dropped her anchor in Brockway Harbor on the 5th of +March, on her return from her southern cruise. The first term of the +second year was to commence on the 1st of April, and it was understood +that the ship would sail for Europe on the last day of March. The vessel +needed some repairs, and all the students were allowed a furlough of +twenty days to visit their homes. + +Several of the larger boys, including Carnes, had obtained places in the +navy, and were not to return. Two or three were to enter college in the +summer, and a few were to go into mercantile houses; but these vacancies +would be more than filled by the applicants who had been waiting months +for an opportunity to join the ship. + +After the departure of the students, the Young America was docked, and +the necessary repairs made upon her. She was thoroughly cleansed and +painted, and came out as good as new. Before the return of the boys, her +provisions, water, and stores, were taken on board, and all the +preparations made for a foreign voyage. On the 25th of the month she was +anchored again at her old moorings, and in the course of the next two +days all the instructors and pupils were in their places. There were +eleven new boys. + +"Young gentlemen," said Mr. Lowington, as he mounted his usual rostrum, +"I am happy to see you again, and to welcome you on board. Our +experience during the coming season will be much more interesting and +exciting than that of the last year. We shall proceed immediately to +Europe, and all who are worthy of the privilege will have an opportunity +to visit the principal cities of Europe--London, Paris, Naples, St. +Petersburg. We shall go up the Baltic and up the Mediterranean, in this +or a subsequent cruise, and I can safely promise you, not only an +interesting, but a profitable trip. In a circular I have informed your +parents and guardians of my purposes, and you are shipped this time for +a foreign voyage, with their consent and approval." + +This speech caused no little excitement among the boys, who anticipated +a great deal from the summer voyage. It was no small thing to visit +London, Paris, and St. Petersburg, and not many boys obtain such an +opportunity. + +"But, young gentlemen, I believe in discipline and progress, as most of +you know. I expect every student to do his whole duty; and I wish to +tell you now, that misconduct, and failures at recitation, will bring +heavy disappointments upon you. If you do nothing for yourselves, you +need expect nothing from me. For example, when the ship is going up the +Thames, if any one of you, or any number of you, should be guilty of +flagrant misconduct, or gross neglect of your studies, you will see no +more of the city of London than you can see from the cross-trees, for +you shall not put a foot on shore." + +"Rather steep," whispered one of the new comers. + +"That's so, but he means it," replied an old student. + +"We shall be at sea, out of sight of land, for twenty or thirty days," +continued Mr. Lowington. "We shall encounter storms and bad weather, +such as none of you have ever seen; for in going from port to port, last +season, we were enabled to avoid all severe weather. We shall go to sea +now with no harbor before us till we reach the other side of the +Atlantic, and we must take whatever comes. But the ship is as strong as +a ship can be built, and with good management she would stand any gale +that ever blew. Good management includes good discipline, and every +officer and seaman must be faithful in the discharge of his duty, for +the safety of the ship and all on board of her will depend upon the +fidelity of each individual. + +"Young gentlemen, there are eleven new scholars: they must take the +vacant berths after the ship's company is organized on the old plan. The +offices will be given out and the berths drawn by the merit roll for +January, February, and a portion of March--only about nine weeks of term +time." + +Shuffles, who stood near the principal, looked very much disconcerted +when this announcement was made, and whispered to Paul Kendall that it +was not fair to distribute the offices by last year's record. While the +Young America was lying at anchor in Chesapeake Bay, in December, +Shuffles, then second lieutenant, had received a letter from his mother, +in which she had informed him that his family would visit Europe in the +following spring, and that he would leave the ship, and form one of the +party. This information had caused him to relax his efforts as a +student, and he had fallen very low in rank. This was the reason why the +proposed distribution of offices was not fair. + +When Shuffles went home on his furlough of twenty days, he had behaved +so badly that his father refused to have him form one of the party in +the trip abroad, and compelled him to return to the ship for another +year of wholesome discipline under Mr. Lowington. Angry and indignant, +Shuffles did return and the announcement that the offices were to be +distributed by the merit roll did not add to his equanimity. + +"I will now read the record of marks," said the principal, "and announce +the officers for the next term." + +The boys were silent and anxious; for places in the after cabin were +more highly valued than ever, now that the Young America was going to +Europe. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +OUTWARD BOUND. + + +Mr. Lowington read the merit roll, announcing the officers as he +proceeded. The occupants of the after cabin, who were appointed for the +succeeding three months, during which time the ship crossed the +Atlantic, and visited various European ports, were as follows:-- + + +CHARLES GORDON, _Captain._ + +Joseph Haven, _First Lieutenant._ +Paul Kendall, _Second "_ +Samuel Goodwin, _Third "_ +Augustus Pelham, _Fourth "_ + +William Foster, _First Master._ +Henry Martyn, _Second "_ +Thomas Ellis, _Third "_ +Joseph Leavitt, _Fourth "_ + +Joseph O. Rogers, _First Purser._ +Edward Murray, _Second "_ + +George W. Terrill, _First Midshipman._ +John Humphreys, _Second "_ +Mark Robinson, _Third "_ +Andrew Groom, _Fourth "_ + +The students mentioned in the list made the required promise to behave +themselves like gentlemen, and faithfully discharge the duties of their +several offices, and were duly installed in their new positions in the +after cabin. Most of them had been officers before, but all of them were +higher in rank than at any former period. Richard Carnes had been +captain four terms, for no one could get ahead of him. + +The new captain had been first lieutenant, during the preceding year, +three terms out of four, and was certainly the best qualified student on +board for the command. He was a young man of high moral aims, with much +dignity of character and energy of purpose. + +The officers went to the after cabin, put on their uniforms, and assumed +their proper places. The choice of berths in the steerage proceeded as +usual, according to the merit roll, and the petty offices were given to +the highest in rank. The new boys took the unoccupied berths by lot. The +organization of the ship was now completed, and the students were +directed to put their berths and lockers in order. The remainder of the +day was fully occupied in preparing for the voyage. Great quantities of +ice and fresh provisions were taken on board, and packed away in the +store rooms of the hold, and all was bustle and confusion. + +On Thursday morning the ship was put in order again. The vessel had been +duly cleared at the custom house, and every article required for the +voyage had been received. The boys were ordered to put on their best +suits, and at nine o'clock a steamer came off, having on board a large +number of the parents and friends of the students. The forenoon was +given up to this interesting occasion. It was a beautiful day, with a +gentle breeze from the westward, and at twelve o'clock, all hands were +mustered on deck for religious services, to be performed by the +chaplain, in the presence of the friends of the pupils. + +Mr. Lowington was a religious man, and the position of the Rev. Mr. +Agneau, as chaplain on board, was by no means a sinecure. Services had +always been held twice a day on Sunday. At five minutes before eight in +the morning, and at the same time in the evening, prayers were said on +deck, or in the steerage, in the presence of the entire ship's company. +On the point of leaving the shores of the United States, it seemed +highly appropriate to invoke the blessing of God on the voyage and the +voyagers, and the principal had directed that the service should be +conducted in the presence of the parents and friends. + +The prayer and the remarks of the chaplain were very solemn and +impressive, and even the roughest of the students were moved by them. At +the conclusion of the religious service, Mr. Lowington addressed the +visitors, explaining the details of his plan more fully than he had done +in his circulars, and saying what he could to inspire the parents with +confidence in regard to the safety of their sons. It need not be said +that there were many tears shed on this occasion. + +At the close of the speech a collation was served to the visitors, in +the cabins and steerage, after which another hour was allowed for social +intercourse; and then the ship was cleared, the visitors going on board +the steamer again, which was to accompany the Young America below the +lighthouse. The boys were sent below to change their clothes again. + +"All hands, up anchor, ahoy!" piped the boatswain; and the crew sprang +to their stations with more than usual alacrity. + +This was a greater event than they had ever known before. The anchor, +which was now to be hauled up, was not to be dropped again for about a +month, and then in foreign waters. They were going out upon the waste of +the ocean, to be driven and tossed by the storms of the Atlantic. They +were bidding farewell to their native land, not again to look upon its +shores for many months. They were boys, and they were deeply impressed +by the fact. + +The capstan was manned, and the cable hove up to a short stay. The +topsails and top-gallant sails were set; then the anchor was hauled up +to the hawse-hole, catted and fished. The Young America moved; she wore +round, and her long voyage was commenced. The courses and the royals +were set, and she moved majestically down the bay. The steamer kept +close by her, and salutations by shouts, cheers, and the waving of +handkerchiefs, were continually interchanged, till the ship was several +miles outside of the lower light. + +The steamer whistled several times, to indicate that she was about to +return. All hands were then ordered into the rigging of the ship; and +cheer after cheer was given by the boys, and acknowledged by cheers on +the part of the gentlemen, and the waving of handkerchiefs by the +ladies. The steamer came about; the moment of parting had come, and she +was headed towards the city. Some of the students wept then; for, +whatever charms there were in the voyage before them, the ties of home +and friends were still strong. As long as the steamer could be seen, +signals continued to pass between her and the ship. + +"Captain Gordon, has the first master given the quartermaster the course +yet?" asked Mr. Lowington, when the steamer had disappeared among the +islands of the bay. + +"No, sir; but Mr. Fluxion told him to make it east-north-east." + +"Very well; but the masters should do this duty," added Mr. Lowington, +as he directed the instructor in mathematics to require the masters, to +whom belonged the navigation of the ship, to indicate the course. + +William Foster was called, and sent into the after cabin with his +associates, to obtain the necessary sailing directions. The masters had +been furnished with a supply of charts, which they had studied daily, as +they were instructed in the theory of laying down the ship's course. +Foster unrolled the large chart of the North Atlantic Ocean upon the +dinner table, and with parallel ruler, pencil, and compasses, proceeded +to perform his duty. + +"We want to go just south of Cape Sable," said he, placing his pencil +point on that part of the chart. + +"How far south of it?" asked Harry Martyn. + +"Say twenty nautical miles." + +The first master dotted the point twenty miles south of Cape Sable, +which is the southern point of Nova Scotia, and also the ship's +position, with his pencil. He then placed one edge of the parallel +ruler on both of these points, thus connecting them with a straight +line. + +A parallel ruler consists of two smaller rulers, each an inch in width +and a foot in length, connected together by two flat pieces of brass, +riveted into each ruler, acting as a kind of hinge. The parts, when +separated, are always parallel to each other. + +Foster placed the edge of the ruler on the two points made with the +pencil, one indicating the ship's present position, the other the +position she was to obtain after sailing two or three days. Putting the +fingers of his left hand on the brass knob of the ruler, by which the +parts are moved, he pressed down and held its upper half, joining the +two points, firmly in its place. With the fingers of the right hand he +moved the lower half down, which, in its turn, he kept firmly in place, +while he slipped the upper half over the paper, thus preserving the +direction between the points. By this process the parallel ruler could +be moved all over the chart without losing the course from one point to +the other. + +On every chart there are one or more diagrams of the compass, with lines +diverging from a centre, representing all the points. The parallel ruler +is worked over the chart to one of these diagrams, where the direction +to which it has been set nearly or exactly coincides with one of the +lines representing a point of the compass. + +The first master of the Young America worked the ruler down to a +diagram, and found that it coincided with the line indicating east by +north; or one point north of east. + +"That's the course," said Thomas Ellis, the third master--"east by +north." + +"I think not," added Foster. "If we steer that course, we should go +forty or fifty miles south of Cape Sable, and thus run much farther than +we need. What is the variation?" + +"About twelve degrees west," replied Martyn. + +The compass does not indicate the true north in all parts of the earth, +the needle varying in the North Atlantic Ocean from thirty degrees east +to nearly thirty degrees west. There is an imaginary line, extending in +a north-westerly direction, through a point in the vicinity of Cape +Lookout, called the magnetic meridian, on which there is no variation. +East of this line the needle varies to the westward; and west of the +line, to the eastward. These variations of the compass are marked on the +chart, in different latitudes and longitudes, though they need to be +occasionally corrected by observations, for they change slightly from +year to year. + +"Variation of twelve degrees,"[1] repeated Foster, verifying the +statement by an examination of the chart. That is equal to about one +point, which, carried to the westward from east by north, will give the +course east-north-east. + +[Footnote 1: These calculations are merely approximate, being intended +only to illustrate the principle.] + +The process was repeated, and the same result being obtained, the first +master reported the course to Mr. Fluxion, who had made the calculation +himself, in the professors' cabin. + +"Quartermaster, make the course east-north-east," said the first master, +when his work had been duly approved by the instructor. + +"East-north-east, sir!" replied the quartermaster, who was conning the +wheel--that is, he was watching the compass, and seeing that the two +wheelmen kept the ship on her course. + +There were two other compasses on deck, one on the quarter-deck, and +another forward of the mainmast which the officers on duty were required +frequently to consult, in order that any negligence in one place might +be discovered in another. The after cabin and the professors' cabin were +also provided with "tell-tales," which are inverted compasses, suspended +under the skylights, by which the officers and instructors below could +observe the ship's course. + +The log indicated that the ship was making six knots an hour, the rate +being ascertained every two hours, and entered on the log-slate, to be +used in making up the "dead reckoning." The Young America had taken her +"departure," that is, left the last land to be seen, at half past three +o'clock. At four, when the log was heaved, she had made three miles; at +six, fifteen miles; at eight, the wind diminishing and the log +indicating but four knots, only eight miles were to be added for the two +hours' run, making twenty-three miles in all. The first sea day would +end at twelve o'clock on the morrow, when the log-slate would indicate +the total of nautical miles the ship had run after taking her departure. +This is called her dead reckoning, which may be measured off on the +chart, and should carry the vessel to the point indicated by the +observations for latitude and longitude. + +The wind was very light, and studding-sails were set alow and aloft. The +ship only made her six knots as she pitched gently in the long swell of +the ocean. The boys were still nominally under the order of "all hands +on deck," but there was nothing for them to do, with the exception of +the wheelmen, and they were gazing at the receding land behind them. +They were taking their last view of the shores of their native land. +Doubtless some of them were inclined to be sentimental, but most of them +were thinking of the pleasant sights they were to see, and the exciting +scenes in which they were to engage on the other side of the rolling +ocean, and were as jolly as though earth had no sorrows for them. + +The principal and the professors were pacing the quarter-deck, and +doubtless some of them were wondering whether boys like the crew of the +Young America could be induced to study and recite their lessons amid +the excitement of crossing the Atlantic, and the din of the great +commercial cities of the old world. The teachers were energetic men, and +they were hopeful, at least, especially as study and discipline were the +principal elements of the voyage, and each pupil's privileges were to +depend upon his diligence and his good behavior. It would be almost +impossible for a boy who wanted to go to Paris while the ship was lying +at Havre, so far to neglect his duties as to forfeit the privilege of +going. As these gentlemen have not been formally introduced, the +"faculty" of the ship is here presented:-- + +Robert Lowington, _Principal_. +Rev. Thomas Agneau, _Chaplain_. +Dr. Edward B. Winstock, _Surgeon_. + +INSTRUCTORS. + +John Paradyme, A.M., _Greek and Latin_. +Richard Modelle, _Reading and Grammar_. +Charles C. Mapps, A.M., _Geography and History_. +James E. Fluxion, _Mathematics_. +Abraham Carboy, M.D., _Chemistry and Nat. Phil._ +Adolph Badois, _French and German_. + +These gentlemen were all highly accomplished teachers in their several +departments, as the progress of the students during the preceding year +fully proved. They were interested in their work, and in sympathy with +the boys, as well as with the principal. + +It was a very quiet time on board, and the crew were collected in little +groups, generally talking of the sights they were to see. In the waist +were Shuffles, Monroe, and Wilton, all feuds among them having been +healed. They appeared to be the best of friends, and it looked ominous +for the discipline of the ship to see them reunited. Shuffles was +powerful for good or evil, as he chose, and Mr. Lowington regretted that +he had fallen from his high position, fearing that the self-respect +which had sustained him as an officer would desert him as a seaman, and +permit him to fall into excesses. + +Shuffles was more dissatisfied and discontented than he had ever been +before. He had desired to make the tour of Europe with his father, and +he was sorely disappointed when denied this privilege; for with the +family he would be free from restraint, and free from hard study. When +he lost his rank as an officer, he became desperate and reckless. To +live in the steerage and do seaman's duty for three months, after he had +enjoyed the luxuries of authority, and of a state-room in the after +cabin, were intolerable. After the cabin offices had been distributed, +he told Monroe that he intended to run away that night; but he had found +no opportunity to do so; and it was unfortunate for his shipmates that +he did not. + +"This isn't bad--is it, Shuffles?" said Wilton, as the ship slowly +ploughed her way through the billows. + +"I think it is. I had made up my mouth to cross the ocean in a steamer, +and live high in London and Paris," replied Shuffles. "I don't relish +this thing, now." + +"Why not?" asked Wilton. + +"I don't feel at home here." + +"I do." + +"Because you never were anywhere else. I ought to be captain of this +ship." + +"Well, you can be, if you have a mind to work for it," added Monroe. + +"Work for it! That's played out. I must stay in the steerage three +months, at any rate; and that while the burden of the fun is going on. +If we were going to lie in harbor, or cruise along the coast, I would go +in for my old place." + +"But Carnes is out of the way now, and your chance is better this year +than it was last," suggested Monroe. + +"I know that, but I can't think of straining every nerve for three +months, two of them while we are going from port to port in Europe. When +we go ashore at Queenstown, I shall have to wear a short jacket, instead +of the frock coat of an officer; and I think the jacket would look +better on some younger fellow." + +"What are you going to do, Shuffles?" asked Wilton. + +"I'd rather be a king among hogs, than a hog among kings." + +"What do you mean by that?" + +"No matter; there's time enough to talk over these things." + +"Do you mean a mutiny?" laughed Wilton. + +"Haven't you forgotten that?" + +"No." + +"I wonder what Lowington would say, if he knew I had proposed such a +thing," added Shuffles, thoughtfully. + +"He did know it, at the time you captured the runaways, for I told him." + +"Did you?" demanded Shuffles, his brow contracting with anger. + +"I told you I would tell him, and I did," answered Wilton. "You were a +traitor to our fellows, and got us into a scrape." + +"I was an officer then." + +"No matter for that. Do you suppose, if I were an officer, I would +throw myself in your way when you were up to anything?" + +"I don't know whether you would or not; but I wouldn't blow on you, if +you had told me anything in confidence. What did Lowington say?" + +"Nothing; he wouldn't take any notice of what I said." + +"That was sensible on his part. One thing is certain, Wilton: you can't +be trusted." + +"You mustn't make me mad, then." + +"I will keep things to myself hereafter," growled Shuffles. + +"Don't be savage. You served me a mean trick, and I paid you off for it; +so we are square." + +"We will keep square then, and not open any new accounts." + +"But you will want me when anything is up," laughed Wilton. "What would +you do without me in getting up a mutiny?" + +"Who said anything about a mutiny?" + +"I know you are thinking over something, and you don't mean to submit to +the discipline of the ship, if you can help it." + +"Well, I can't help it." + +"There goes the boatswain's whistle, piping to muster," said Monroe. + +"Confound the boatswain's whistle!" growled Shuffles. "I don't like the +idea of running every time he pipes." + +Very much to the surprise of his companions, Shuffles, his irritation +increased by the conduct of Wilton, took no notice of the call, and went +forward, instead of aft. His companions, more wise and prudent, walked +up to the hatch, which Mr. Lowington had just mounted. + +"Groom, tell Shuffles to come aft," said the principal to one of the +midshipmen. + +The officer obeyed the order; Shuffles flatly refused to go aft. Mr. +Lowington descended from his rostrum and went forward to enforce +obedience. This event created a profound sensation among the students. + +"Shuffles," said Mr Lowington, sternly. + +"Sir," replied the malcontent, in a surly tone. + +"The boatswain piped the crew to muster." + +"I heard him." + +"You did not obey the call. I sent for you, and you refused to come." + +"I don't think I ought to obey the boatswain's call." + +"May I ask why not?" + +"I've been an officer three terms, and I should be now if we had had +fair play," growled Shuffles. + +"I am not disposed to argue this point in your present frame of mind. I +order you to go aft." + +"And I won't go!" replied Shuffles, impudently. + +"Mr. Peaks," said the principal, calling the senior boatswain. + +"Here, sir," replied Peaks, touching his hat to the principal. + +"Mr. Leech," added Mr. Lowington. + +"Here, sir." + +"Walk this young gentleman aft." + +"Let me alone!" cried Shuffles, as Peaks placed his hand upon him. + +"Gently, my sweet lamb," said the boatswain, with affected tenderness. + +"Take your hands off me!" roared the mutinous pupil, as he struggled to +release himself from the grasp of the stalwart seaman. + +Peaks took him by the collar with one hand, and held his wrist with the +other, on one side, while Leech did the same on the other side. + +"Walk him aft," repeated the principal. + +"Mr. Fluxion, may I trouble you to bring up the irons?" continued Mr. +Lowington, when the boatswain and carpenter had "walked" the rebel aft, +in spite of his struggling and kicking. + +"Irons!" gasped Shuffles, as he heard the request of the principal. + +He trembled with rage as he uttered the word. The irons seemed to pierce +his soul. Probably he did not think that the son of a wealthy gentleman +would be compelled to submit to such an indignity as being put in irons. + +Mr. Fluxion came on deck with a pair of handcuffs. It was the first time +they had been seen, and no student even knew there were any on board. +The discipline of the ship had been as gentle as it was firm, and this +was the first time such instruments were necessary. + +"Mr. Peaks, put the irons on him!" said Mr. Lowington, his usual dignity +unruffled by angry emotions. + +"Don't put them on me!" cried Shuffles, making an effort to disengage +himself from the grasp of his captors. + +"Put them on at once!" added the principal. + +"You shall not put them on me! I will die first!" roared the rebel. + +It was easier to talk than to do, in the hands of two sturdy sailors, +one of whom had used the cat in the navy, when its use was tolerated. +Shuffles did not die, and he was ironed, in spite of his struggles and +his protest. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE WATCH-BILL. + + +Shuffles struggled with the irons and with the stout men who held him +until he had exhausted himself; and then, because his frame, rather than +his spirit, was worn down, he was quiet. It was the first case of severe +discipline that had occurred on board, and it created a tremendous +sensation among the students. + +Mr. Lowington stood with folded arms, watching the vain struggles of the +culprit, until he was reduced to a state of comparative calmness. He +looked sad, rather than angry, and his dignity was not impaired by the +assault upon his authority. + +"Shuffles, I am sorry to see one who has been an officer of the ship +reduced to your condition; but discipline must and shall be maintained," +said the principal. "We are on the high seas now, and disobedience is +dangerous. You led me to believe that you had reformed your life and +conduct." + +"It isn't my fault," replied Shuffles, angrily. + +"You had better not reply to me in that tone," added Mr. Lowington, +mildly. + +"Yes, I will!" + +"Mr. Topliffe," continued the principal. + +"Here, sir," replied the head steward. + +"You will have the brig cleared out for use." + +"Yes, sir;" and the head steward went below to obey the order. + +There was not a boy on board who knew what the "brig" was, though the +establishment had existed in the steerage from the time when the boys +first went on board the ship. It had never before been required for use, +and Mr. Lowington had carefully veiled every disagreeable feature of +discipline, until it was necessary to exhibit it. The brig was the +prison of the ship--the lock-up. It was located under and abaft the main +ladder, in the steerage, being an apartment five feet in length by three +feet in width. The partitions which enclosed it were composed of upright +planks, eight inches in width, with spaces between them for the +admission of light and air. + +The brig had been used as a store room for bedding by the stewards, and +the students never suspected, till Shuffles' case came up, that it was +not built for a closet. Mr. Topliffe and his assistants removed the +blankets and comforters from this lock-up, and prepared it for the +reception of the refractory pupil. When the room was ready he went on +deck, and reported the fact to the principal. + +"Shuffles, our discipline has always been of the mildest character," +said Mr. Lowington, breaking the impressive silence which reigned on +deck. "I regret to be compelled to resort to force in any form; even now +I would avoid it." + +"You needn't, on my account," replied Shuffles, shaking his head. "You +have done your worst already." + +"Mr. Peaks, take him below, lock him up in the brig, and bring the key +to me." + +The manacled rebel made another effort to resist, but the stout sailors +easily handled him, and bore him down into the steerage. He was thrust +into the brig, ironed as he was, and the door locked upon him. Shuffles +glanced at the interior of the prison, and broke out into a contemptuous +laugh. He then commenced kicking the pales of the partition? but he +might as well have attempted to break through the deck beneath. + +"Shuffles," said Peaks, in a low tone, when he had locked the door, "be +a man. You act like a spoiled child now." + +"I have been insulted, and abused," replied Shuffles, fiercely. + +"No, you haven't. Aboard almost any ship, you would have got a knock on +the head with a handspike before this time. Don't make a fool of +yourself. You are only making yourself ridiculous now--'pon my word as +an old sailor, you are." + +"I'll have satisfaction." + +"No, you won't, unless you break your own head. I want to advise you, as +a friend, not to make a fool of yourself. I'm sorry for you, my lad." + +"Don't talk to me." + +"I can forgive you for disobeying orders, but I can't forgive you for +being a fool. Now, keep quiet, and be a man." + +The well-meant effort of the boatswain to pacify the culprit was a +failure, and Peaks, going on deck, delivered the key of the brig to Mr. +Lowington. Shuffles kicked against the partition till he was tired of +the exercise. + +"Young gentlemen, to-day we enter upon a new experience on shipboard," +said the principal, without making any further allusion to Shuffles. +"Our short trips last season were so timed that we kept no regular night +watches, and, with two or three exceptions, the ship was at anchor when +you slept. Of course that is not practicable on a long voyage, and you +must all do duty by night as well as by day. + +"This has been a difficult matter to arrange, for you are all too young +to be deprived of your regular sleep, though in heavy weather I am +afraid you will lose your rest to some extent. At eight o'clock this +evening the starboard watch will be on duty. We have four times as many +hands on board the Young America as are usually employed in merchant +ships, so that a quarter watch will be able to handle the ship on all +ordinary occasions. We shall, therefore, keep a quarter watch on ship's +duty at all times through the twenty-four hours. + +"During the night, including the time from eight in the evening until +eight in the morning, each quarter watch will be on duty two hours, and +then off six hours; and each hand will obtain six consecutive hours' +sleep every night. At eight this evening, the first part of the +starboard watch will have the ship in charge, and all others may turn in +and sleep. At ten, the second part of the starboard watch will be +called, without disturbing any others. At twelve, the first part of the +port watch will be summoned; at two, the second part; and so on till +eight in the morning. + +"The first part of the starboard watch, which turned in at ten, will +sleep till four, giving them six hours of rest all together, and they +may turn in again at six o'clock, when relieved by the second part, and +sleep till half past seven, which is breakfast time for those off duty. + +"During the daytime, from eight in the morning till eight in the +evening, the same routine will be observed To-morrow, at eight in the +morning, the first part of the port watch will take charge of the ship +till ten; the second part will be off duty, and the time will be their +own, to use as they think proper. At ten, the second part will be in +charge, and the first will have their own time till twelve. All the +starboard watch, during these four hours, will study and recite. In the +afternoon the same course will be pursued with the other watch. Do you +understand it?" + +"Yes, sir," replied the boys. + +"By this arrangement you will average three hours of duty every night. +To-night the port watch will be on deck two hours, and the starboard +watch, whose turn will come twice, four hours; but to-morrow night the +operation will be reversed, and the port will have the deck four hours, +and the starboard but two. Two copies of the watch bill will be posted +in the steerage, and one in the after cabin. Young gentlemen, I +recommend you to study it, until you are perfectly familiar with its +requirements." + +"How is it with the officers, Mr. Lowington?" asked Paul Kendall, who +was generally the spokesman for his companions. + +"The officers are divided into watches in precisely the same manner as +the crew. To the starboard watch belong the first and third lieutenant, +the second and fourth master, and the first and third midshipman, which +makes one officer of each grade for each quarter watch," replied Mr. +Lowington. "Their off-time and study-time correspond with those of the +crew." + +It is quite possible that the officers and crew of the Young America +understood the complicated arrangement of the principal. If they did +not, they could refer to the posted document; and, as we cannot deprive +our readers of this privilege, we insert in full, the + + WATCH BILL. FIRST DAY. + + _First Watch, from 8 till 12 P.M._ + + From 8 till 10. 1st Lieut., 2d Master, 1st Mid. First Part of the + Starboard Watch. + + From 10 till 12. 3d Lieut., 4th Master, 3d Mid. Second Part of the + Starboard Watch. + + + _Mid Watch, from 12 till 4 A.M._ + + From 12 till 2. 2d Lieut., 1st Master, 2d Mid. First Part of the + Port Watch. + + From 2 till 4. 4th Lieut., 3d Master, 4th Mid. Second Part of the + Port Watch. + + + _Morning Watch, from 4 till 8 A.M._ + + From 4 till 6. 1st Lieut., 2d Master, 1st Mid. First Part of the + Starboard Watch. + + From 6 till 8. 3d Lieut., 4th Master, 3d Mid. Second Part of the + Starboard Watch. + + + _Forenoon Watch, from 8 till 12 A.M._ + + From 8 till 10. 2d Lieut., 1st Master, 2d Mid. First Part of the + Port Watch. Second Part of Port Watch off Duty. All the Starboard + Watch study and recite till 12. + + From 10 till 12. 4th Lieut., 3d Master, 4th Mid. Second Part of + Port Watch. First Part of Port Watch off Duty. + + + _Afternoon Watch, from 12 till 4 P.M._ + + From 12 till 2. 1st Lieut., 2d Master, 1st Mid. First Part of + Starboard Watch. Second Part of the Starboard Watch off Duty. All + the Port Watch study and recite till 4. + + From 2 till 4. 3d Lieut., 4th Master, 3d Mid. Second Part of the + Starboard Watch. First Part of the Starboard Watch off Duty. + + + _First Dog Watch, from 4 till 6 P.M._ + + From 4 till 5. 2d Lieut., 1st Master, 2d Mid. First Part of the + Port Watch. Second Part of the Port Watch off Duty. All the + Starboard Watch study and recite till 6. + + From 5 till 6. 4th Lieut., 3d Master, 4th Mid. Second Part of the + Port Watch. First Part of the Port Watch off Duty. + + + _Second Dog Watch, from 6 till 8 P.M._ + + From 6 till 7. 1st Lieut., 2d Master, 1st Mid. First Part of the + Starboard Watch. Second Part of the Starboard Watch off Duty. All + the Port Watch study and recite till 8. + + From 7 till 8. 3d Lieut., 4th Master, 3d Mid. Second Part of the + Starboard Watch. First Part of the Starboard Watch off Duty. + + + _Breakfast._ + + Port Watch, 7-1/2 o'clock. Starboard Watch, 8 o'clock. + + + _Dinner._ + + Starboard Watch, 11-1/2 o'clock. Port Watch, 12 o'clock. + + + _Supper._ + + Starboard Watch, 5-1/2 o'clock. Port Watch, 6 o'clock. + +The watch bill for the second day was the same, with the exception of +the names of the watches and quarter watches. The entire programme was +reversed by the operation of the dog watches, which substituted "port" +for "starboard," and "starboard" for "port," in the next day's routine. + +When the boys were permitted to go below, they rushed to the watch +bills, and studied them faithfully, till they fully understood the +programme. Each student ascertained his duty for the night, and his +off-time and study-hours for the next day, which were included in the +first day's bill. + +"I go on at twelve o'clock," said Paul Kendall, in the after cabin, when +he had examined the bill. + +"And I go on deck at eight o'clock," added Joseph Haven, the first +lieutenant. "I shall have a chance to sleep from ten till four in the +morning, and an hour and a half, from six till half past seven." + +"I shall have my watch below from two till breakfast time. I don't think +we need wear ourselves out under this arrangement." + +"No; I thought we should be obliged to take four hours of duty at a time +on deck." + +"How will it be when we have rough weather?" asked Paul. + +"I don't know; I suppose we must take our chances then." + +"What do you think of Shuffles' case?" added Paul. + +"He will get the worst of it." + +"I'm sorry for him. He behaved first rate last year, though they say he +used to be a hard fellow." + +"What's the use of a fellow doing as he has done?" said Haven, with +palpable disgust. "He can't make anything by it." + +"Of course he can't." + +"I would rather have him in the cabin than in the steerage, for he will +not obey orders; and when he is ugly, he is a perfect tiger. I wonder +what Mr. Lowington is going to do with him. There is no such thing as +expelling a fellow in this institution now. If he means to be +cross-grained, he can keep us in hot water all the time." + +The officers were too much excited by the fact that the ship was outward +bound to remain long in the cabin, and they returned to the deck to +watch the progress of the vessel. At eight o'clock the Young America was +out of sight of land, though it would have been too dark to see it ten +miles distant. The quartermaster, at the helm, struck eight bells, which +were repeated on the forecastle. + +"All the first part of the starboard watch, ahoy!" shouted the +boatswain, for it was now time to commence the programme of regular sea +duty. + +The first lieutenant took his place, as officer of the deck, near the +helm; the second master on the forecastle and the third midshipman in +the waist. The first part of the starboard watch were stationed in +various parts of the deck. Of the four quartermasters, one was attached +to each quarter watch. The wheel was given to two hands for the first +hour, and two were placed on the top-gallant forecastle, to act as the +lookout men, to be relieved after one hour's service. The rest of the +boys were required to keep awake, but no special duty was assigned to +them. There were hands enough on deck to "tack ship," or to take in the +sails, one or two at a time. + +Though the ship was nominally in the hands and under the direction of +her juvenile officers, who performed all the duties required in working +her, yet they were closely watched by the principal, who, if there was +anything wrong, informed the captain of the fact. The commander kept no +watch, but he was responsible for every manoeuvre, and for the regular +routine of duty. Mr. Lowington seldom spoke to any other officer in +regard to ship's duty or the navigation. + +When the watch was set, at eight bells, most of the boys who were off +duty went into the steerage. Some of them turned in; but the novelty of +the occasion was too great to permit them to sleep. They collected in +groups, to talk over the prospects of the voyage, and the duties +required of them, as indicated by the watch bill. + +Shuffles sat on a stool in the brig, still nursing his wrath. When his +supper was carried to him by the steward, his irons had been taken off. +He refused to eat, and the food was removed. As he was now quiet, the +irons were not replaced. The prisoner was far from penitent for his +offence. + +Mr. Agneau, the chaplain, was very much concerned about the prisoner. He +was shocked by his disobedience, and pained to find that one who had +done so well could do so ill. The case had been fully considered in the +professors' cabin; and Mr. Lowington declared that Shuffles should stay +in the brig till he had repented of his folly, and promised obedience +for the future. The chaplain was a tender-hearted man, and he thought +that some gentle words might touch the feelings of the prisoner, and +bring him to a sense of duty. With the principal's permission, +therefore, he paid a visit to Shuffles in the evening. + +"I am very sorry to find you here, Shuffles," said Mr. Agneau, when he +had locked the door behind him. + +"Has Lowington sent you to torment me?" demanded the prisoner. + +"Mr. Lowington, you mean," added the chaplain, gently. + +"No, I mean Lowington. When a man has abused and insulted me, I can't +stop to put a handle to his name." + +"I regret to find you in such an unhappy frame of mind, my young friend. +I came here of my own accord, to do what I might to help you." + +"Did you, indeed!" sneered Shuffles. + +"That was my only object." + +"Was it? Well, if you want to help me, you will induce Lowington to let +me out of this crib, apologize for what he has done, and give me my +place in the after cabin." + +"That is plainly impossible," replied the astonished chaplain. + +"Then you can't do anything for me; and I think I can take care of +myself." + +"I entreat you, my young friend, to consider the error of your ways." + +"There is no error in my ways, Mr. Agneau." + +"You are unreasonable." + +"No, I'm not. I only want what is fair and right." + +"Was it right for you, Shuffles, to refuse obedience to the principal, +when he told you to go aft?" + +"I have always obeyed all proper orders; and under the circumstances, I +think it was right for me to refuse." + +"You fill me with amazement!" exclaimed the chaplain. + +"You know it was not fair to give out the offices by last year's marks," +protested Shuffles. + +"On the contrary, I think it was entirely fair." + +"I haven't anything more to say if it was," replied Shuffles, in surly +tones. + +The chaplain, finding the prisoner was not in a proper frame of mind for +edifying conversation, left him, and returned to the professors' cabin. +The boys had been forbidden to go near the brig, or to speak to the +prisoner; and thus far no one had exhibited any disposition to disregard +the order. Many of them, as they passed near the brig, glanced curiously +at him. After the departure of the chaplain, Wilton sat down on a stool +near the lock-up. + +"How are you. Shuffles?" said he, in a low tone. + +"Come here, Wilton--will you?" replied the prisoner. + +"I can't; we are not allowed to speak to you." + +"What do you care for that? No one can see you." + +"What do you want?" + +"I want to talk with you." + +"I shall be punished if I'm caught." + +"You won't be caught. How are our fellows now?" + +"First rate," replied Wilton, walking up and down the berth deck, rising +and looking as though nothing was going on. + +"You know what we were talking about just before the row," added +Shuffles, drawing his stool up to the palings. + +"You said you wouldn't trust me," answered Wilton, still pacing the deck +in front of the brig. + +"You told Lowington about something he had no business to know; but I +forgive you, Wilton." + +"You are very willing to forgive me, now you are in a tight place." + +"It was mean of you to do it, Wilton; you can't deny that. Lowington was +on the best of terms with me when I was in the after cabin, and I might +have told him a hundred things about you." + +"Didn't you tell him anything?" + +"Not a word." + +"Well, you are a good fellow, and I always thought you were. I couldn't +see why you turned traitor to us when we intended to spend the Fourth of +July on shore." + +"I was obliged to do what I did. If I hadn't, I should have been turned +out of my office." + +"Perhaps you were right, Shuffles, and we won't say anything more about +the past," replied Wilton, who was too willing to be on good terms with +the powerful malcontent, even while he was a prisoner and in disgrace. + +"Wilton, I am going to be captain of this ship within ten days," said +Shuffles, in a whisper. "Now you may go and tell Lowington of that." + +"Of course I shall not tell him," added Wilton, indignantly. + +"I told you merely to show you that I had full confidence in you--that's +all. You can betray me if you wish to do so." + +"I don't wish to do anything of the kind. Of course we shall always go +together, as we did before you were an officer." + +"I shall be an officer again soon." + +"What's the use of talking about such a thing?" + +"I shall." + +"Do you mean to get up the mutiny?" + +"I do. I feel more like it now than I ever did before," replied +Shuffles; and his low tones came from between his closed teeth. + +"It's no use to think of such a thing. It's too wild." + +"No matter if it is; it shall be carried out." + +"The fellows won't go in for it; they won't dare to do it." + +"Yes, they will. I know them better than you do, Wilton. It isn't quite +time yet; but in three or four days they will be ready for anything." + +"You can't bring them up to what you mean." + +"Yes, I can." + +"What do you expect to do, locked up in that place?" demanded Wilton, +incredulously. + +"When I get ready to go out of this place, I shall go. I needn't stay +here any longer than I please." + +"Do you really mean to get up a mutiny?" + +"Hush! Don't call it by that name." + +"What shall I call it?" + +"Call it making a chain." + +"I don't understand you," answered Wilton, puzzled by the expression. + +"I know what I'm about, and I have got more friends in the ship than +Lowington has. And I know exactly how to manage the whole thing," added +Shuffles, confidently. + +"But the fellows are all perfectly satisfied with their condition. They +wish to go to Europe, and are pleased with the prospect before them." + +"Perhaps they are; and they shall all go to Europe, and travel about +without being tied to Lowington's coat-tails. I shall come out of this +place to-morrow, and we will work the thing up." + +"I'm in for a time with any good fellow; but I don't think we can make +this thing go," said Wilton. "Hush! Don't say another word. There comes +an officer." + +One bell, indicating half past eight in the evening, struck on deck. It +was the duty of the master and midshipman on deck, alternately, to pass +through the steerage every half hour during the watch, to see that there +was no disorder, and that the lights were all secure, so as to avoid any +danger from fire. Henry Martyn, the second master, performed this office +on the present occasion. He descended the main ladder, and Wilton, who +expected the visit when he heard the stroke of the bell, retreated to +his mess room, and threw himself into his berth. Harry walked around the +steerage, and glanced into the gangways, from which the rooms opened. + +"Harry," said Shuffles, in a low tone, as the master was about to return +to the deck. + +"Did you speak to me?" asked Harry, stepping up to the bars of the cage. + +"I did. Will you oblige me by telling the chaplain that I would like to +see him?" added the prisoner. + +"I will;" and Harry knocked at the door of the professors' cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +MAKING A CHAIN. + + +The chaplain was too glad of an opportunity to converse with the +prisoner to refuse his request, and he hastened to the brig, hoping to +find Shuffles in a better state of mind than when he had visited him +before. Mr. Agneau entered the lock-up, and was securing the door behind +him, when the prisoner spoke. + +"You needn't lock it, sir; I will not attempt to escape," said he. "I +sent for you to apologize for my rudeness." + +"Indeed! Then I am very glad to see you," replied the delighted +chaplain. "I have been sorely grieved at your misconduct, and I would +fain have brought you to see the error of your ways." + +"I see it now, sir," replied Shuffles, with apparent penitence. "I'm +afraid I am a great deal worse than you think I am, sir." + +"It is of no consequence what I think, Shuffles, if you are conscious of +the wrong you have done," added the worthy chaplain. "You behaved +exceedingly well last year, and it almost broke my heart to see you +relapsing into your former evil habits." + +"I am grateful to you for the interest you have taken in me, and I +assure you I have often been encouraged to do well by your kind words," +continued the penitent, with due humility. "I have done wrong, and I +don't deserve to be forgiven." + +"'He that humbleth himself shall be exalted,'" said Mr. Agneau, +gratified at the great change which had apparently been wrought in the +prisoner. "If you are really sorry for your offence, Mr. Lowington, I +doubt not, will pardon you, and restore you to favor again." + +"I don't deserve it, sir. Since you left me, I have been thinking of my +past life. I dare not tell you how bad I have been." + +"You need not tell me. It is not necessary that you should confess your +errors to me. There is One who knows them, and if you are sincerely +repentant He will pity and forgive you." + +"I think I should feel better if I told some one of my misdeeds." + +"Perhaps you would; that is for you to judge. I will speak to Mr. +Lowington about you to-night. What shall I say to him?" + +"I hardly know. I deserve to be punished. I have done wrong, and am +willing to suffer for it." + +The tender-hearted chaplain thought that Shuffles was in a beautiful +state of mind, and he desired to have him released at once, that he +might converse with him on great themes under more favorable +circumstances; but Shuffles still detained him. + +"I'm afraid I have ruined myself on board this ship," continued +Shuffles, persisting in his self-humiliation. + +"If you manfully acknowledge your fault, you will be freely and +generously forgiven." + +"Mr. Lowington hates me now, after what I have done." + +"O, far from it!" exclaimed the chaplain. "It will be a greater +satisfaction to him than to you to forgive you. You are no longer of the +opinion that you were unfairly used in the distribution of the offices, +I suppose." + +"Mr. Agneau, I was beside myself when I resisted the principal. I should +not have done it if I had been in my right mind." + +"You were very angry." + +"I was--I was not myself." + +"Anger often makes men crazy." + +"You don't understand me, Mr. Agneau." + +"Indeed, I do. You mean that you deluded yourself into the belief that +you had been wronged, and that you ought not to obey the orders of your +officers, and of the principal. The force that was used made you so +angry that you did not know what you were about," added the sympathizing +chaplain. + +"In one word, Mr. Agneau, I had been drinking," said Shuffles, with +something like desperation in his manner, as he bent his head, and +covered his face with his hands. + +"Drinking!" gasped the chaplain, filled with horror at the confession. + +"I told you I was worse than you thought I was," moaned Shuffles. + +"Is it possible!" + +"It is true, sir; I say it with shame." + +"Are you in the habit of taking intoxicating drinks?" asked the +chaplain, confounded beyond measure at this complication of the +difficulty. + +"I am not in the habit of it, because I can't get liquor all the time. +My father has wine on his table, and I always was allowed to drink one +glass." + +"Can it be!" ejaculated the chaplain. "A youth of seventeen----" + +"I'm eighteen now, sir." + +"A youth of eighteen in the habit of taking wine!" groaned Mr. Agneau. + +"I drank a great deal more than my father knew of while I was at home." + +"I am amazed!" + +"I knew you would be, sir; but I have told you the truth now." + +"But where did you get your liquor to-day?" + +"It was wine, sir." + +"Where did you get it?" + +"I brought two bottles on board with me when I reported for duty +yesterday." + +"This is terrible, Shuffles! Do you know what an awful habit you are +contracting, my dear young friend?" + +"I never thought much about it till to-night. It has got me into such a +scrape this time, that I don't believe I shall ever drink any more." + +"As you respect yourself, as you hope for peace in this world, and peace +in the next, never put the cup to your lips again. 'Wine is a mocker; +strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.' +Did you drink the two bottles?" + +"No, sir; only part of one bottle," replied Shuffles, with commendable +promptness. + +"Where is the rest of it?" + +"Under my berth-sack." + +"Are you willing I should take possession of it, and hand it to Mr. +Lowington?" + +"I will agree to anything which you think is right." + +"Then I will take the wine and throw it overboard." + +"Just as you think best, sir. You will find the two bottles in my berth, +No. 43, Gangway D,--the forward one on the starboard side." + +"I hope you will never touch the wine-cup again." + +"I will not--till next time," added Shuffles, as the chaplain moved +towards the door of the brig. + +"'Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color +in the cup, at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an +adder,'" continued the chaplain, as he passed out of the lock-up. + +Mr. Agneau went to the prisoner's berth, and found the two bottles of +wine. They were a sufficient explanation of the remarkable conduct of +Shuffles. The youth had "drank wine, and was drunken," otherwise he +would not have been guilty of such flagrant disobedience. Though in his +own estimation the excuse was worse than the original fault, yet it was +an explanation; and if the root of the evil could be removed, the evil +itself would cease to exist. The wine could be thrown overboard, and as +no more could be obtained during the voyage, the good conduct of the +young tippler would be insured, at least till the ship reached +Queenstown, which was the port to which she was bound. + +With the two bottles in his hands, the chaplain returned to the +professors' cabin. Mr. Lowington was on deck. He did not deem it prudent +to leave the ship in the hands of the students, at first, without any +supervision, and it was arranged that the principal, Mr. Fluxion, and +Mr. Peake, the boatswain, should take turns in observing the course and +management of the vessel. Mr. Agneau carried the prize he had captured +on deck, and informed Mr. Lowington what had just transpired in the +brig. + +"I knew the boy drank wine when he was at home," replied the principal; +"and if he is ruined, his father must blame himself." + +"But it is really shocking!" exclaimed the chaplain as he tossed one of +the bottles of wine over the rail. "How can a parent permit his son to +drink wine, when he knows that more men are killed by intemperance than +by war and pestilence? I am amazed!" + +"So am I, Mr. Agneau." + +"The boy is hardly to blame for his conduct, since he contracted this +vicious habit under the eye of his father." + +"The discipline of the ship must be preserved." + +"Certainly, Mr. Lowington." + +"And the boy is just as much to blame for his act of disobedience as +though it had been done in his sober senses." + +"But you can afford to pardon him, under the circumstances." + +"I will do that when he is willing to make a proper acknowledgment of +his offence in the presence of the ship's company, before whom the act +was committed." + +"He is quite ready to do so now." + +"If he will say as much as that to me, he shall be released at once." + +"He will, sir." + +"It is very strange to me that I noticed nothing peculiar in the boy's +speech or manner at the time," added the principal. "He certainly did +not seem to be intoxicated." + +"Probably he had taken just enough to inflame his evil passions, without +affecting his manner," suggested the chaplain. + +"I did not even discover the odor of wine upon him." + +"Perhaps you did not go near enough to him. If you please, Mr. +Lowington, we will go down and see him; and you can judge for yourself +whether or not it is prudent to release him." + +"I will." + +"Thank you, sir. I feel a deep interest in the young man, and I hope he +may yet be saved." + +When Mr. Agneau left the brig, after his second visit, Wilton, who was +very anxious to know what Shuffles meant by "making a chain," came out +of his mess room. He had been watching the chaplain, and wondering what +the prisoner could have to say to him. + +"What's up, Shuffles?" asked Wilton, when Mr. Agneau had left the +steerage. + +"I've been smoothing him down," laughed Shuffles, with an audible +chuckle. "I have concluded not to stay in here any longer." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I'm coming out pretty soon, though it has cost me a bottle and a half +of old sherry to get out," laughed Shuffles. + +"I don't know what you mean." + +"I told the parson that I was drunk when I disobeyed orders, and that I +was very sorry for it, and wouldn't get drunk any more." + +"Did you tell him that?" + +"I did; I assured him I was the worst fellow in the whole world, and +ought to be hung, drawn, and quartered for my wickedness; and he +swallowed it as a codfish does a clam." + +"And you gave him all the wine?" + +"No, I didn't; I gave him one full bottle, and what was left in the one +from which we drank this afternoon. I have two more." + +"We were going to have a good time with that wine." + +"I have enough left." + +"Where is it?" + +"In my locker." + +"They may find it." + +"No, they won't; I will put it in some other place before inspection +day. There is plenty of wine in the medical stores. It was a good joke +for the parson to suppose I was drunk." + +"Perhaps you were," suggested Wilton. + +"I felt good; but I was as sober as I am now." + +"The drink I took went into my head, and I felt as though I was going up +in a ballon." + +"That was because you are not used to the article. It waked me up a +little, but I knew what I was about." + +"I think you were a confounded fool to do what you did." + +"Wilton, I'm not going to live in the steerage--you may take my word for +it. I've been an officer too long to come down to that. If we don't +succeed in making a chain, I shall quit the concern the first time I put +my foot on shore in Ireland." + +"What do you mean by making a chain?" asked Wilton, eagerly. + +"A chain is strong." + +"Well; what of it?" + +"It is composed of many links. Can't you understand that?" + +"Hush up! Some one is coming," said Wilton, as he walked away from the +brig. + +"Here! who is that?" demanded Mr. Lowington, as he saw Wilton moving +away from the lock-up. + +"No. 59, sir--Wilton," replied he. "I was just going on deck to find +you, sir." + +"To find me?" asked the principal. + +"Yes, sir. Shuffles called me when I was passing, and wished me to tell +you he wanted to see you very much. I was just going after you, sir." + +"If there is any blame, sir, it rests on me," interposed Shuffles, +through the bars of his prison. + +Mr. Lowington unlocked the door of the brig, and entered, followed by +Mr. Agneau, leaving Wilton to congratulate himself on the result of the +lies he had uttered. + +"I am told you wish to see me, Shuffles," said the principal. + +"Yes, sir; I wish to say that I am extremely sorry for what I have +done." + +"I thought you were crazy when you refused to obey; and now I find you +were." + +"I had been drinking, sir, I confess." + +"Mr. Agneau has told me your story; it is not necessary to repeat it +now. To-morrow I shall require you to acknowledge your error at muster, +and promise obedience in the future. Are you willing to do so?" + +"I am, sir." + +"You are discharged from confinement then, and will at once return to +your duty," replied Mr. Lowington, upon whom Shuffles did not venture to +intrude his extremely penitential story. "To which watch do you belong?" + +"To the port watch, first part, sir." + +"It will be on deck during the first half of the mid watch, from twelve +till two," added the principal, as he came out of the brig. + +Mr. Lowington made no parade of what he had done. He never subjected any +student to unnecessary humiliation. He indulged in no reproaches, and +preached no sermons. He went on deck, intending to leave the culprit to +the influence of the better thoughts which he hoped and believed had +been kindled in his mind by the events of the day. Mr. Agneau remained a +moment to give a final admonition to the penitent, as he regarded him, +and then went to his cabin. + +"Are you going to turn in, Shuffles?" asked Wilton. + +"Not yet. Are there any of our fellows below?" + +"Plenty of them." + +"Our fellows" was a term applied to that portion of the crew who were +understood to be ready for any scrape which might be suggested. Shuffles +had coined the expression himself, while at the Brockway Academy, and +introduced it on board the ship. Without concealment or palliation, they +were bad boys. By the discipline of the ship they were kept in good +order, and compelled to perform their duties. + +As in every community of men or boys, where persons of kindred tastes +find each other out, the bad boys in the Young America had discovered +those of like tendencies, and a bond of sympathy and association had +been established among them. They knew and were known of each other. + +On the other hand, it is equally true, that there was a bond of sympathy +and association among the good boys, as there is among good men. If a +good man wishes to establish a daily prayer meeting, he does not apply +to the intemperate, the profane swearers, and the Sabbath breakers of +his neighborhood for help; there is a magnetism among men which leads +him to the right persons. If a bad man intends to get up a mob, a +raffle, or a carousal, he does not seek assistance among those who go to +church every Sunday, and refrain from evil practices, either from +principle or policy. He makes no mistakes of this kind. + +In every community, perhaps one fourth of the whole number are +positively good, and one fourth positively bad, while the remaining two +fourths are more or less good or more or less bad, floating undecided +between the two poles of the moral magnet, sometimes drawn one way, and +sometimes the other. + +The Young America was a world in herself, and the moral composition of +her people was similar to that of communities on a larger scale. She had +all the elements of good and evil on board. One fourth of the students +were doubtless high-minded, moral young men, having fixed principles, +and being willing to make great sacrifices rather than do wrong. As good +behavior, as well as proficiency in the studies, was an element of +success in the ship, a large proportion of the positively good boys were +in the after cabin. + +Another fourth of the students were reckless and unprincipled, with no +respect for authority, except so far as it was purchased by fear of +punishment or hope of reward. Occasionally one of this class worked his +way into the cabin by superior natural ability, and a spasmodic attempt +to better his condition on board. + +The rest of the ship's company belonged to the indefinite, undecided +class, floating more or less distant from the positive elements of good +or evil. They were not bad boys, for, with proper influences, they could +be, and were, kept from evil ways. They were not good boys on principle, +for they could be led away in paths of error. + +"Our fellows" were the positively bad boys of the floating academy; and +they existed in no greater proportion in the ship's company than in the +communities of the great world. To this class belonged Shuffles, Wilton, +Monroe, and others. To the positively good boys belonged Gordon, +Kendall, Martyn, and others--not all of them in the after cabin, by any +means. + +Shuffles and Wilton walked forward to find some of these kindred +spirits. They seemed to know just where to look for them, for they +turned in at Gangway D. Over each of the six passages from which the +mess rooms opened, a lantern was suspended, besides four more in the +middle of the steerage. It was light enough, therefore, in the rooms for +their occupants to read coarse print. + +In the lower berths of mess room No. 8 lay two students, while another +sat on a stool between them. Their occupation was sufficient evidence +that they belonged to "our fellows," for they were shaking props for +money, on a stool between the bunks. As Shuffles and Wilton approached, +they picked up the props and the stakes, and drew back into their beds. + +"It's Shuffles," said Philip Sanborn. "How did you get out?" + +"Worked out," replied Shuffles, gayly. + +"You don't mean to say you broke jail?" + +"No; that would have been too much trouble. There was an easier way, and +I took that." + +"How was it?" + +"Why, I soft-sawdered the parson, and he soft-sawdered Lowington." + +"It's all right; go ahead with the game," said Lynch, as he produced the +props again. + +Sanborn placed the money on the stool, consisting of two quarters in +fractional currency. Lynch shook the props, and dropped them on the +stool. + +"A nick!" exclaimed he, snatching the money. "I'll go you a half now." + +"Half it is," replied Sanborn, as he placed the requisite sum on the +money the other laid down. + +Lynch rattled the props, and threw them down again. + +"A browner!" cried he, intensely excited, as he seized the money with +eager hand. + +"Don't talk so loud, you fool!" added Sanborn. "The fellows are asleep +above us, and you will wake them up. I'll go you a half again." + +"Half it is!" replied Lynch, in a whisper, as he shook again. + +"An out!" said Sanborn, picking up the money. + +"Three bells! Dry up!" interposed Wilton. "One of the officers of the +deck will be down in a minute." + +The young gamblers put away the implements, and drew back into their +berths until the inspecting officer had looked into the room. When the +master had gone on deck again, the play was resumed, and Shuffles and +Wilton watched it with deep interest. + +Gambling was a new thing on board the Young America. It had not been +practised at all in the preceding year, having been introduced by +Shuffles and Monroe, who had visited a prop saloon in the city where +they resided, during their late furlough. Each of them had brought a set +of props on board, with which they intended to amuse themselves during +the voyage. As yet, the practice was confined to a few of "our +fellows;" but the crew in the steerage were certainly in very great +danger of being carried away by the passion for gaming, for it was +spreading rapidly. + +The prop-shaking was carried on in the mess rooms, while the students +were off duty. Shuffles had played with half a dozen boys the night +before; Sanborn and Lynch had been engaged in the game since the first +watch was set, and another party had been employed in the same manner in +another room. All of the boys were supplied with money in considerable +sums, generally in sovereigns and half sovereigns, for use when they +reached Europe. It was changing hands now, though no one had as yet been +particularly lucky. + +"Have a game, Shuffles?" said Lynch, when Sanborn declared that he had +no money left but gold. + +"No," replied Shuffles, "I shall not play any more." + +"Why not?" + +"I haven't time; and I don't want to become too fond of it." + +"Haven't time!" exclaimed Lynch. + +"No; I've got a big job on my hands." + +"What's that?" + +"Making a chain." + +"Making a what?" + +"Making a chain." + +"A watch chain?" + +"I think it will be a watch chain; but I'll tell you about it when we +are alone. Do you understand?" + +"No, I don't." + +"Keep still then." + +Shuffles turned in, and the others followed his example. He did not +sleep, if they did, for his soul was full of rage and malice. He was +studying up the means of revenge; and he had matured a project, so +foolhardy that it was ridiculous, and his mind was fully occupied with +it. + +At twelve o'clock he was called to take his place with the first part of +the port watch on deck. Belonging to each quarter watch, there were five +petty officers, four of whom were to call the portion of the crew who +were to relieve those on duty. Shuffles was called by one of these. + +The wind was freshening when he went on deck, and the ship was going +rapidly through the water. At the last heaving of the log she was making +eleven knots, with her studding sails still set. Mr. Fluxion came on +deck at eight bells. + +Wilton, Sanborn, and Adler were in the watch with Shuffles, and the +malcontent lost not a moment in pushing forward the scheme he had +matured. Fortunately or unfortunately, he was placed on the lookout with +Wilton, and the solitude of the top-gallant forecastle afforded them a +good opportunity for the conference. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE GAMBLERS IN NO. 8. + + +"It's coming on to blow," said Wilton, as the lookouts took their +stations on the top-gallant forecastle. + +"I don't think it will blow much; it is only freshening a little," +replied Shuffles. + +"Now, what about the mutiny?" demanded Wilton, impatiently, after he had +become more accustomed to the dash of the sea under the bows of the +ship. + +"Don't call it by that name," replied Shuffles, earnestly. "Never use +that word again." + +"That's what you mean--isn't it? You might as well call things by their +right names." + +"It's an ugly word, and if any one should happen to hear it, their +attention would be attracted at once. We musn't get in the habit of +using it." + +"I don't know what you are going to do yet," added Wilton. + +"It's a big job; but I mean to put it through, even if I am sure of +failure." + +"What's the use of doing that? Do you want to get the fellows into a +scrape for nothing?" + +"There will be no failure, Wilton; you may depend upon that. There will +be a row on board within a day or two, and, if I mistake not, nearly +all the fellows will be so mad that they will want to join us." + +"What row?" + +"Do you know the reason why I wouldn't shake props this evening?" + +"I'm sure I don't." + +"Lowington has found out what is going on in the rooms." + +"He hasn't, though!" + +"Yes, he has." + +"How do you know?" + +"What odds does it make how I know?" answered Shuffles, impatiently, for +Wilton was much too inquisitive to suit his purposes. "I talked with the +chaplain half an hour to-night. When he went to my berth after the wine, +I rather think he heard the rattle of the props. At any rate the whole +thing will be broken up to-morrow or next day." + +"I don't see how that will make a row. Not more than a dozen fellows +have played any; and they won't think of making a row about that." + +"You see!" added Shuffles, confidently. + +"Ugh!" exclaimed Wilton, as a cloud of spray dashed over the bow, and +drenched the lookout; but they wore their pea-jackets, and such an +occurrence was to be expected at sea. + +"Stand by to take in studding sails!" shouted Paul Kendall, who was the +officer of the deck; and the order was repeated by his subordinates in +the waist and on the forecastle. + +"We must go," said Wilton; and they descended from their position. + +The wind had continued to freshen, until the ship labored somewhat under +her heavy press of canvas. It was the policy of the principal to go as +easily and comfortably as possible, and he had directed Mr. Fluxion, if +the wind continued to increase, to have the sail reduced, though neither +the safety of the ship nor of the spars absolutely required such a step. +The quarter watch on deck was sufficient to perform this labor. + +"Lay aloft, foretopmen!" said the second lieutenant; and those of the +watch who had their stations in the fore rigging sprang up the shrouds. +"Stand by the halyard of the top-gallant studding sails! Man the tacks +and sheets!" + +"All ready, sir," reported the second midshipman, who was in the +foretop, superintending the operation. + +"Lower on the halyards! Ease off the tacks, and haul on the sheet!" + +The two top-gallant studding-sails were thus brought into the top, where +they were made up. The fore-topmast and the lower studding sails were +taken in by a similar routine, and the Young America then moved along +less furiously through the water. + +"Now about the chain," said Wilton, when the lookouts had returned +to their stations. + +"Let me see; where did I leave off?" replied Shuffles. + +"You said there was to be a row; which I don't believe." + +"I may be mistaken about that; if I am, the job will be all the more +difficult. Lowington has got us out to sea now, and, in my opinion, he +means to shake us up. He is a tyrant at heart, and he will carry it +with a high hand. I hate the man!" added Shuffles, with savage +earnestness. + +"You may, but the fellows don't generally." + +"They will as soon as he begins to put the twisters on them. You won't +hear him say, 'If you please, young gentlemen,' now that we are in blue +water. You know how savage he was with me." + +"Well, but you were disobedient. You told him, up and down, you wouldn't +do what he ordered you to do." + +"No matter for that. You had a chance to see the spirit of the man. He +was a perfect demon. He put me in irons!" exclaimed Shuffles, still +groaning under this indignity. "I have been insulted and outraged, and I +will teach him that Bob Shuffles is not to be treated in that manner! I +will be revenged upon him, if it costs me my life." + +"The fellows won't go into any such desperate game as that," replied +Wilton, cautiously. + +"But there will be fun in the thing," added the malcontent, softening +his tone. "We shall have the ship all to ourselves. We needn't trouble +ourselves anything about Latin and Greek, and trigonometry and algebra. +We shall go in for a good time generally." + +"It is all moonshine; it can't be done. What's the use of talking about +such a thing?" said Wilton. + +"It can be done, and it shall be," replied Shuffles, stamping his foot +on the deck. + +"How?" + +"I am not quite ready to tell you yet." + +"Very well; I don't want to know anything more about it," answered the +timid conspirator, who was almost disgusted at the foolhardiness of the +plan. + +"I can get along without you," added Shuffles, with assumed +indifference. + +"I would rather have you do so." + +"All right; but you will want to come in when we have got along a little +farther." + +"Perhaps I shall; if I do, I suppose the door will be open to me." + +"It may be open; but perhaps you can't walk into the cabin then." + +"Why not?" + +"Do you suppose the fellows who do the burden of the work are going to +be shut out of the cabin? If you join at the eleventh hour, you will +have to be what you are now--a foremast hand." + +"What can I be if I join now?" + +"Second or third officer." + +"Who will be first." + +"I can't mention his name yet. He belongs in the cabin now." + +"You don't mean so!" said Wilton, astonished to learn that his bold +companion expected to find friends among the present officers of the +ship. + +"I know what I'm about," replied Shuffles, confidently. + +With this information Wilton thought more favorably of the mad +enterprise. If it was to be a winning game, he wished to have a part in +it; if a losing one, he desired to avoid it. There was something in the +decided manner of the chief conspirator which made an impression upon +this doubting mind. + + +"I don't want to go in till I know more about it," said he, after +walking two or three times across the top-gallant forecastle. + +"You can't know anything more about it until you have been toggled," +replied Shuffles. + +"Toggled?" repeated the sceptic, curiously. + +"This thing is to be well managed, Wilton. We shall not use any hard +words, that outsiders can understand; and if any of them happen to hear +anything that don't concern them, they will not know what it means. Will +you join, or not?" + +"I will," replied Wilton, desperately. + +The strange words which Shuffles used, and the confidence he manifested +in the success of his project, carried the hesitating lookout man. He +was fascinated by the "clap-trap" which the leader of "our fellows" had +adopted to help along his scheme, for it promised to afford no little +excitement during the voyage. + +"Now you talk like a man, Wilton," replied Shuffles. "You shall be a +member of the league at once." + +"What's the league?" + +"The Chain League." + +"Upon my word, Shuffles, you have been reading yellow-covered novels to +some purpose." + +"I didn't get this idea from a novel. I invented it myself." + +"The Chain League!" repeated Wilton, who was pleased with the title of +the conspirators. + +"It will be called simply 'The Chain.' I am the first member, and you +are the second; or you will be when you have been toggled." + +"Toggled again!" laughed Wilton. "What do you mean?" + +"Initiated." + +"Go ahead, then." + +"Repeat after me." + +"Go on," replied Wilton, deeply interested in the proceeding, even while +he was amused at its formality. + +"_I am a link of the chain_." + +"I am a link of the chain," repeated Wilton. + +"_I will obey my superior officers_." + +"I will obey my superior officers." + +"_And I will reveal none of its secrets_." + +"And I will reveal none of its secrets." + +"_This I promise_----" + +"This I promise----" + +"_On penalty of falling overboard accidentally_." + +"On penalty of what?" demanded Wilton, both puzzled and terrified by the +mysterious words. + +"Repeat the words after me. On penalty," said Shuffles, sternly. + +"I know what the words are, but I'll be hanged if I will repeat them. +'Falling overboard accidentally!' What does that mean?" + +"It means that, if you betray the secrets of The Chain, you might fall +overboard accidentally, some day." + +"That is, you would push me over when no one was looking," added Wilton, +involuntarily retreating from the conspirator, whom, for the moment, he +regarded as a very dangerous companion. + +"That's what the words mean," replied Shuffles, coolly. + +"Have I been toggled?" demanded Wilton. + +"No; you didn't repeat all the words." + +"Then you needn't toggle me any more. I've got enough of this thing." + +"All right; just as you say. But I can tell you this, my dear fellow? if +you should whisper the first word of what has passed between us +to-night, you might fall overboard," continued Shuffles, sharply, as he +laid his hand on his companion's shoulder. + +Wilton grasped the sheet of the fore-topmast staysail which was the +nearest rope to him, and held on as though he was then in imminent +danger of "falling overboard accidentally." + +"I won't say a word," protested he, vehemently; for he did not know but +that Shuffles was wicked enough to push him into the sea. + +"Wilton, you are a fool!" added the disappointed conspirator, with deep +disgust. "Why didn't you say what I told you?" + +"I don't want to be bound in any such way as that," replied the +terrified student. + +"Don't you see it is only a form?" + +"No, I don't; or if it is, I don't want anything to do with such forms. +You won't get any fellows to be toggled in that way." + +"Yes, I shall? I shall get plenty of them. They are not babies, like +you." + +"I'm not a baby." + +"Yes, you are--a great calf! What are you afraid of?" + +"I'm not afraid; I didn't think you meant to have any murder in your +Chain." + +"I don't; no fellow will think of such a thing as betraying one of the +secrets." + +"Then what's the use of having such a penalty?" + +"It will prevent any fellow from opening his mouth when he ought to keep +it shut." + +"I don't want anything to do with a concern that means murder. I'm not +any better than I should be, but I'm too good for that." + +"Suit yourself; but remember, if you should happen to say a word, you +will fall overboard accidentally, some night when you are on the +lookout, or out on the yard-arm." + +"Two bells," said Wilton, greatly relieved to hear them, for he did not +like to stand any longer on the top-gallant forecastle, where there was +no railing, with such a dangerous fellow as Shuffles proved to be. + +Two other members of the watch were sent forward to take their places. +Wilton and Shuffles went down and mingled with their shipmates, who were +talking about what they should do and what they should see in Ireland, +where the ship would first make a harbor. Wilton breathed easier, and +the topic was a more agreeable one than the dark and terrible matter +which had been under discussion on the top-gallant forecastle. + +Shuffles was disappointed by the scruples of his generally unscrupulous +companion. He regarded the machinery of the plot, the clap-trap of the +secret league, as decidedly attractive; and he depended largely upon it +to influence his companions. Though he claimed that his plan was +original, it was suggested by a secret political organization in +Europe, of which he had read in a pamphlet; and the idea had doubtless +been modified by his more extensive readings in the department of +fiction, in which midnight juntos laid out robbery, treason, and murder; +Venetian tales in which bravos, assassins, and decayed princes in +disguise largely figured; in which mysterious passwords opened +mysterious dungeons beneath ruined castles; in which bravo met bravo, +and knew him by some mysterious sign, or cabalistic word. + +Shuffles had a taste for these things, and out of his lively imagination +he had coined a similar association to be recruited from the crew of the +Young America, which was to redress fancied wrongs, and even take the +ship out of the hands of the principal. He could think of nothing but +this brilliant enterprise; and while his shipmates were talking of the +future, and indulging in the old salts' vocation of "spinning yarns," he +was busy maturing the details of "The Chain League." He did not, for +reasons best known to himself attempt to make any more proselytes that +night. + +The ship continued to go along easily on her course till morning. It was +a clear night, and though the wind was fresh, the sea was not rough, and +the Young America behaved very handsomely. The programme for the watches +was carried out to the letter, but on the first night out, the boys were +too much excited by the novelty of the situation to be able to sleep +much. + +At eight bells in the morning, after the port watch had breakfasted, all +the students off duty attended prayers. Then the starboard watch had +their morning meal, after which all hands were piped to muster. + +Mr. Lowington mounted the hatch, and it was understood that the case of +discipline which had come up the day before was to be settled now. + +"Shuffles!" called the principal. + +The culprit came forward. + +"Are you still of the same mind as when I saw you last evening?" +continued Mr. Lowington. + +"I am, sir," replied Shuffles, with a becoming exhibition of meekness. + +"You will step upon the hatch, then." + +Shuffles took position by the side of the principal. + +"You will repeat after me," added Mr. Lowington. + +The culprit was startled at these words, and began to suspect that +Wilton had betrayed him in spite of his fear of falling overboard +accidentally. It looked just then as though the principal intended to +"toggle" him. + +"I acknowledge that I have done wrong," Mr. Lowington continued. + +Shuffles repeated the words, happy to find that he was not to take the +obligation of "The Chain League." + +"And I will hereafter endeavor to do my duty faithfully." + +The promise was repeated with the lips, but of course it had no meaning, +and did not reach the heart. + +"That is all, Shuffles," added the principal.--"Young gentlemen, you are +dismissed from muster." + +This was certainly a very mild atonement for the grave offence which +Shuffles had committed, and the lenity of the principal was generally +commented upon by the boys. The starboard watch was piped below to +study and recite, while the port watch were to be off and on during the +forenoon. The first part now had the deck, while the second was off +duty, and the boys belonging to it were permitted to remain on deck or +to spend their time in the mess rooms. They were not allowed to linger +in the steerage where the recitations were going on, but might pass +directly through on their way to their apartments. + +At ten o'clock the first part of the port watch was relieved, and the +second part went on duty. Shuffles and Wilton were at liberty now, but +there appeared to be a coldness between them, and Wilton sought another +companion for his leisure hours. Sanborn and Adler belonged to his part +of the watch, and he soon joined them. + +"There isn't much difference between being off duty and being on," said +Adler, as they seated themselves on the main hatch. + +"There will be a difference when we have to make and take in sail every +half hour. We had a big job taking in the studding sails last night." + +"They don't drive the ship," added Sanborn. "I suppose if we were a +merchantman, they would crack on all the sail she would carry." + +"She goes along beautifully," said Wilton. + +"She was only making five knots the last time the log was heaved." + +"And the sea is as smooth as a mill-pond. We shall not get to Queenstown +for two months at this rate." + +"Stand by to set studding sails!" shouted Pelham, the officer of the +deck. + +"I wondered why they didn't do that before," said Sanborn. + +The fore and main studding sails were set, two at a time, by the part of +the watch on duty, the wind still being well aft. + +"What shall we do?" asked Wilton, with a long yawn, after they had +watched the operation of setting the studding sails for a time. "This is +stupid business, and I'm getting sleepy." + +"Let us go below," suggested Sanborn. + +"What for? The professors won't let you speak out loud while the +recitations are going on," added Adler. + +"We don't want to speak out loud. What do you say to shaking a little?" +continued Wilton. + +"I'm with you," replied Wilton. "Can either of you change me a half +sovereign?" + +Neither of them could, but they were willing to take Wilton's due bills, +till his indebtedness amounted to ten shillings. The boys had already +begun to talk the language of sterling currency, and many of them were +supplied with English silver coins as well as gold. The three boys went +down at the fore hatch, and removing their caps as they entered the +steerage, walked silently to Gangway D, from which they went into mess +room No. 8, which had thus far been the headquarters of the gamblers. +Seating themselves on the stools, they used one of the beds as a table, +and in a few moments were deeply absorbed in the exciting game. They +spoke in whispers, and were careful not to rattle the props too loudly. + +After they had played a few moments, Shuffles came in. They invited him +to join them in the play, but he declined, and soon left the mess room, +returning to the deck. In the waist he met Paul Kendall, who was the +officer of his watch, and, like him, was off duty. They had generally +been on good terms while in the after cabin together, for then Shuffles +was on his best behavior. + +"How do things go on in the after cabin now, Kendall--I beg your +pardon--Mr. Kendall?" said Shuffles, in his most gentlemanly tones. + +"About as usual, Mr. Shuffles," replied Paul. + +"I am not a 'mister' now," laughed Shuffles. + +"Well, it's all the same to me. I am sorry you are not with us now." + +"So am I," added Shuffles. "I did not expect to be on board this year, +or I should have been there now." + +"You can be, next term, if you like." + +"This thing yesterday has ruined all my prospects." + +"That was rather bad. I never was so sorry for anything in my life +before," answered Paul, warmly. "You and I were always good friends +after we got well acquainted, though I did vote for another at the +election a year ago." + +"You did what you thought was right, and I don't blame you for that. I +always did my duty when I was an officer." + +"That you did, Shuffles; and we always agreed first rate. Isn't it a +little strange that I have not lived in the steerage since the ship's +company were organized?" + +"That's because you were always a good boy, and a smart scholar. I think +you would not like it." + +"If it wasn't for losing my rank, I should like to try it," replied +Paul. "I should like to get better acquainted with the fellows." + +"You wouldn't like them in the steerage. You would see a great many +things there which you never see in the cabin; a great many things which +Mr. Lowington and the professors know nothing about." + +"Why, what do you mean, Shuffles?" demanded Paul, astonished at this +revelation. + +"I ought not to say anything about it; but I believe these things will +break up the Academy Ship one of these days, for the boys are growing +worse instead of better in her, and their folks will find it out sooner +or later." + +"You surprise me!" exclaimed Paul, sadly, for he held the honor of the +ship and her crew as the apple of his eye. "If there is anything wrong +there, you ought to make it known." + +"I suppose I ought; but you know I'm not a tell-tale." + +"You have told me, and I'm an officer." + +"Well, I blundered into saying what I have. What you said about going +into the steerage made me let it out. I am sorry I said anything." + +"You have raised my curiosity." + +"I will tell you; or rather I will put you in the way of seeing for +yourself, if you will not mention my name in connection with the +matter, even to Mr. Lowington, and certainly not to any one else." + +"I will not, Shuffles." + +"The fellows are gambling in the steerage at this very moment," added +Shuffles, in a low tone. "Don't betray me." + +"I will not. Gambling!" exclaimed Paul, with natural horror. + +"You will find them in No. 8," continued Shuffles, walking away, and +leaving the astonished officer to wonder how boys could gamble. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. + + +Paul Kendall, who had not occupied a berth in the steerage since the +first organization of the ship, was greatly surprised and grieved to +learn that some of the crew were addicted to vicious practices. Gambling +was an enormous offence, and he was not quite willing to believe that +such a terrible evil had obtained a foothold in the ship. He could +hardly conceive of such a thing as boys engaging in games of chance; +only the vilest of men, in his estimation, would do so. Shuffles had +told him so, apparently without malice or design, and there was no +reason to doubt the truth of his statement, especially as he had given +the particulars by which it could be verified. + +The second lieutenant went down into the steerage. Classes were reciting +to the professors, and studying their lessons at the mess tables. There +was certainly no appearance of evil, for the place was still, and no +sound of angry altercation or ribald jest, which his fancy connected +with the vice of gambling, saluted his ears. He cautiously entered +Gangway D, and paused where he could hear what was said in mess room No. +8. + +"I'm five shillings into your half sovereign," said one of the +gamblers; and then Paul distinctly heard the rattling of the props. + +"There's the half sovereign," added another, whose voice the officer +recognized as that of Wilton. "You own five shillings in it, and I own +five shillings." + +"That's so," replied Sanborn, who appeared to be the lucky one. + +"Let us shake for the coin," added Wilton. "It's my throw." + +"That's rather steep." + +"We get along faster--that's all. If I throw a nick, or a browner, it's +mine; if an out, it's yours." + +"I am agreed--throw away," replied Sanborn, without perceiving that the +one who held the props had two chances to his one. + +The props rattled, and dropped on the bed. + +"A browner!" exclaimed Wilton, thereby winning all he had lost at one +throw. + +"Hush! don't talk so loud," interposed Adler. "You'll have the profs +down upon us." + +"I'll go you another five shillings on one throw," said Sanborn, +chagrined at his loss. + +"Put down your money." + +The reckless young gambler put two half crowns, or five shillings, upon +the bed, and Wilton shook again. + +"A nick!" said he, seizing the two half crowns. + +"Try it again," demanded Sanborn. + +Paul Kendall was filled with horror as he listened to this conversation. +When he had heard enough to satisfy him that the speakers were actually +gambling, he hastened to inform Mr. Lowington of the fact. Paul was an +officer of the ship, and this was so plainly his duty that he could not +avoid it, disagreeable as it was to give testimony against his +shipmates. It seemed to him that the ship could not float much longer if +such iniquity were carried on within her walls of wood; she must be +purged of such enormities, or some fearful retribution would overtake +her. There was no malice or revenge in the bosom of the second +lieutenant; he was acting solely and unselfishly for the good of the +institution and the students. + +He went on deck again. Shuffles was still there, and they met in the +waist. + +"You told me the truth," said Paul. + +"You did not think I was joking about so serious a matter--did you?" +replied Shuffles. + +"No; but I hoped you might be mistaken." + +"How could I be mistaken, when I have seen, at one time and another, a +dozen fellows engaged in gambling? Of course such things as these will +ruin the boys, and bring the ship into disrepute." + +"You are right. My father, for one, wouldn't let me stay on board a +single day, if he knew any of the boys were gamblers." + +"It can be easily stopped, now you know about it," added Shuffles. + +"Perhaps it can. I will inform Mr. Lowington at once." + +"Remember, if you please, what I said, Mr. Kendall. I am willing to do a +good thing for the ship; but you know how much I should have to suffer, +if it were known that I gave the information. I didn't mean to blow on +my shipmates; but you and I have been so intimate in the after cabin, +that I spoke before I was aware what I was about," continued Shuffles. + +"I shall not willingly betray you." + +"Willingly! What do you mean by that?" demanded the conspirator, +startled by the words of the officer. + +"Suppose Mr. Lowington should ask me where I obtained my information," +suggested Paul. + +"Didn't you see for yourself in No. 8?" + +"He might ask what led me to examine the matter so particularly. But, +Shuffles, I will tell him honestly that I do not wish to inform him who +gave me the hint; and I am quite sure he will not press the matter, when +he finds that the facts are correct." + +"Don't mention my name on any account," added Shuffles. "It was mean of +me to say anything; but the ship was going to ruin, and I'm rather glad +I spoke, though I didn't intend to do so." + +"I will make it all right, Shuffles," replied Paul, as he descended the +cabin steps. + +Mr. Lowington was in the main cabin, and the second lieutenant knocked +at the door. He was readily admitted, and invited to take a seat, for +the principal was as polite to the young gentlemen as though they had +been his equals in age and rank. + +"I would like to speak with you alone, if you please, sir," Paul began, +glancing at the cabin steward, who was at work in the pantry. + +"Come into my state room," said the principal, leading the way. + +"I hope your business does not relate to the discipline of the ship," +continued Mr. Lowington, when they were seated, and the door of the +room was closed. "If it does, you should have applied to the captain." + +"This is a peculiar case, sir, and I obtained my information while off +duty," replied Paul, with some embarrassment; for he had thought of +communicating his startling discovery to Captain Gordon, and had only +been deterred from doing so by the fear of betraying Shuffles. + +"I will hear what you have to say." + +"There is something very bad going on in the steerage," said Paul, +seriously. + +"Indeed! What is it?" asked the principal, full of interest and anxiety. + +"Gambling, sir." + +"Gambling!" repeated Mr. Lowington, his brow contracting. + +Paul made no reply; and he expected to be asked how he had obtained the +startling information. + +"Are you quite sure of what you say, Mr. Kendall?" + +"Yes, sir, I am. In mess room No. 8, there are three or four students +now engaged in gambling. I stood at the door long enough to find out +what they were doing." + +"This is serious, Mr. Kendall." + +"If you have any doubt about the fact, sir, I hope you will take +measures to satisfy yourself at once, for I think the students are still +there." + +"I will, Mr. Kendall; remain in this cabin, if you please, until my +return," added the principal, as he moved towards the door. + +"You must be careful when you approach them, sir, for the gamblers are +very sly." + +Mr. Lowington passed from the professors' cabin into the steerage, and +proceeding to the entrance of No. 8, he paused to listen. He heard the +whispered conversation about the stakes, and "nicks," "browners" and +"outs." The gamblers were by this time highly excited by the game, and +had not only become imprudent, but absolutely reckless, so intense was +the fascination of their employment. Suddenly, but with a light step, he +entered the mess room. Wilton sat in the berth, while his companions +occupied stools outside and their heads were close together. + +Mr. Lowington took Adler by the collar of his frock with one hand, and +Sanborn with the other, just as Wilton had thrown the props upon the +bed. With a vigorous jerk, he tossed them back upon the floor, so as to +obtain a full view of the stakes and the gambling implements. The +culprits were astounded at this sudden descent upon them; but before +they could comprehend the situation fully, the principal turned upon his +heel, and left the room without a word of astonishment or censure. + +"We're in for it now," said Wilton, as his companions picked themselves +up from the floor, and gazed at each other with a sheepish look. + +"That's so," replied Sanborn. + +"We shall catch it," added Adler. + +"We shall find out how the inside of the brig looks, in my opinion," +continued Wilton. "I was a fool to play here, right in the steerage. +Shuffles told me that Lowington smelt a mice, and would make a row +about this thing." + +"Shuffles told you so!" exclaimed Adler. "How did he know?" + +"I don't know? I believe the parson told him last night, when he was in +the brig." + +"Why didn't you say so then?" demanded Sanborn. "You have got us into a +pretty scrape! That is the reason why Shuffles wouldn't play himself." + +"Yes, he said it was; but I didn't believe Lowington knew anything about +it; I don't see how he could. He walked in here as straight as though he +had been sent for, and knew just where to go," said Wilton. + +"Of course he did: you say Shuffles told you Lowington knew all about +it; and I suppose he has been on the watch to find some fellows at it so +as to make an example of them." + +"That's the whole of it. We might as well throw the props overboard +now." + +Mr. Lowington returned to the cabin, where he had left Paul Kendall. He +was sadly disturbed by the discovery he had made, for he had no +suspicion before that any of his pupils had made so much progress in +vice. He knew what a terrible evil gambling was among men; that it was +the forerunner of dissipation and crime; and he felt the responsibility +which rested upon him as a guardian and instructor of youth. + +"Mr. Kendall, your information was correct; and I commend the zeal you +have displayed in bringing this fearful evil to light. How happened you +to discover it?" + +"I had a hint from a source which I would rather not mention," replied +the second lieutenant, with some embarrassment. + +"Indeed!" + +"Yes, sir; one of the students, who berths in the steerage, happened +accidentally to let it out." + +Paul said "accidentally," because he believed that Shuffles had been +betrayed into the revelation by their former intimacy. + +"And he does not wish to be regarded as an informer," added the +principal. + +"No, sir; after he had excited my curiosity, he told me where I could +find the gamblers at play." + +"I understand his position, precisely," said Mr. Lowington; "and I will +not ask his name. The information proves to be painfully correct, and +there appears to have been no malice in giving it." + +"No, sir; I don't think there was: indeed, I know there was not," added +Paul, when he considered that Wilton and the other gamblers were +Shuffles' intimate companions. + +"This is a very serious matter, Mr. Kendall," repeated the principal, +thoughtfully. + +"I think it is, sir; that is the reason why I came to you, instead of +going to the captain." + +"Perhaps it is better that you did so, on the whole," replied Mr. +Lowington. "It has enabled me to see the evil for myself. Have you any +views in regard to what should be done, Mr. Kendall?" + +The principal often asked the opinion of the officers concerning similar +matters under discussion, perhaps in order to teach them self-respect, +rather than with the expectation of obtaining valuable suggestions from +them. + +"I think there should be stricter discipline in the mess rooms, sir," +replied Paul, blushing to have his opinion asked. "The fellows----" + +"The students, you mean," interposed the principal. + +"Excuse me, sir," added Paul, blushing deeper than before at this gentle +rebuke. + +The boys had a language of their own, which was not tolerated by the +faculty when it ran into coarseness and slang. + +"What were you about to say, Mr. Kendall?" continued the principal, +smiling at the confusion of the young officer. + +"The students can now do anything they like in the mess rooms. They have +plenty of money, and if they want to gamble, they can. They were playing +last night when the first part of the starboard watch were on duty." + +"You are right, Mr. Kendall," said Mr. Lowington "The students must be +looked after in their rooms. Has there ever been any gambling among the +officers in the after cabin?" + +"I never saw any, or heard of any. I don't think there has been." + +"I hope not; but we must grapple with this question in earnest," added +the principal, as he led the way out of the state room into the main +cabin. + +The chaplain and the doctor were there, and Mr. Lowington wished to take +their advice upon the serious matter before him; and before he permitted +the second lieutenant to retire, he stated the case to them. + +"Gambling!" groaned the chaplain. + +"I detected them in the act myself," added Mr. Lowington. "You may +retire, Mr. Kendall." + +"Why, this is awful!" + +"Boys will do almost anything that men will," said Dr. Winstock, the +surgeon. + +"Drinking and gambling!" ejaculated the chaplain. "What are we coming +to?" + +"I fear there are other vices of which we know nothing yet," added the +doctor. + +"Why, I'm afraid the Academy Ship will prove to be a failure, after +all," sighed Mr. Agneau. + +"Not at all," argued Dr. Winstock. "We are in position here to treat +these evils properly. There are no fond mothers and indulgent fathers to +spoil the boys, when the discipline becomes sharp." + +"What can we do?" demanded the chaplain. "Moral and religious influences +seem to have no effect." + +"Have faith in your own medicines, Mr. Agneau," said the doctor. + +"I have full faith in the medicine, Dr. Winstock; but I fear I have not +done my duty faithfully." + +"You need not reproach yourself, Mr. Agneau. You have been earnest in +your work," interposed the principal. "In a large community of young +men, all these vices and evils will appear. It was to meet them that the +keel of this ship was laid, and our institution organized. I expect to +find vice, and even crime, among the boys. They that be sick need a +physician, not they that be whole. These boys certainly behave better +on board the ship than they did on shore at the various academies they +attended. Pelham, who is now fourth lieutenant, and has been first, was +one of the hardest boys in the school to which he belonged in New York. +He has given us no trouble here, though he has been a little sulky since +he fell from his former rank. Shuffles, who, in the Brockway Academy, +was the worst boy I ever knew, without exception, behaved himself +astonishingly well for a whole year. I am sorry to see that he has begun +the second year badly." + +"O, his is a very hopeful case!" said Mr. Agneau. "He is penitent for +his folly, and I never saw so great a change in an individual as he +exhibited on my second visit to him last evening." + +"I hope he will not disappoint you. I only mentioned him to show what a +benefit the ship had been to him; for if it keeps him out of trouble +even a single year, it is so far a blessing to him, to say nothing of +his intellectual progress, which has been more than satisfactory. The +fact that there are gambling, and drinking and other vices on board, +does not diminish my faith in the institution." + +"It certainly ought not to do so," added Dr. Winstock, who was not so +sanguine a reformer as the chaplain and was willing to wait till the +medicine had time to produce an effect. "Here is an evil: we must meet +it, and we needn't stop to groan over it. What's to be done? that's the +question." + +"The officer of the watch must be required to visit every room during +the first watch at least," said the principal. + +"But those who are disposed to gamble will find abundant opportunities +to do so," suggested the doctor. "A couple of them up in the maintop, or +even in the cross-trees, could shake props, 'odd or even,' and play +other games of chance, without being seen. I don't think you have hit +the nail on the head yet, Mr. Lowington." + +"The utmost vigilance we can use will not entirely prevent evil. We +depend upon moral influences, as well as discipline, for the prevention +and cure of vice and error," added the principal. + +"I'm afraid a lecture on gambling wouldn't do much, good while the means +of play were still in the hands of the students. It would influence +some; but others are not to be influenced in any way: a strong arm alone +will meet their case." + +"We can take the props from them," said Mr. Lowington. + +"You must go a step farther than that; you must search the berths and +lockers for cards, dice, or other gambling implements. Even then you +will not have struck at the root of the evil." + +"What is the root of the evil?" asked the principal. + +"Money, sir!" replied the doctor, with unusual energy. + +"That is said to be the root of all evil," added Mr. Lowington, with a +smile. + +"Among boys, money does more injury than we can comprehend. A college +friend of mine was wholly spoiled by his allowance of money. His purse +was always full, which made him the prey of dissolute persons. He always +had the means of gratifying his appetites, and is now a sot, if he is +living. He began to drink, gamble, and dissipate generally, before he +entered college: he was expelled in a year. Without money, as a boy, he +would have been saved from a score of temptations. Every boy on board +this ship has a pocket full of sovereigns for his European expenses. +They are all young nabobs, and if you ever let them go ashore, you will +have your hands full, Mr. Lowington. They will drink beer and wine, +visit bad places, gamble and carouse. While they have plenty of money, +you can hardly prevent them from being a nuisance to you and to +themselves." + +"There is a great deal of force in what you say, Dr. Winstock." + +"Money will be the root of all evil to these boys, most emphatically. +Those who are disposed to gamble will do so while they have money." + +"The inference to be drawn from your remarks is, that the students +should not have pocket money." + +"Most decidedly that is my opinion. If I had a son, I wouldn't allow him +a penny of pocket money." + +"That would be rather hard," said the chaplain. + +"I know it, but it would be the best thing in the world for the boy. I +don't mean to say that I would never permit him to have money; but he +should have no stated allowance; and when he had a dollar, I should want +to know how it was to be expended." + +"This question of money allowances has been under serious consideration +with me." + +"You can't handle the boys in Europe with money in their pockets. A +regiment of soldiers could not keep them straight." + +"I think you are right, doctor. I am tempted to take their money from +them." + +"Do it, by all means!" exclaimed Dr. Winstock. + +The chaplain regarded the measure as rather high-handed. He thought it +would belittle the boys, and deprive them of some portion of their +self-respect. The instructors came into the cabin at seven bells, and +their opinions were taken. Four of the six were in favor of taking all +money from the boys. Mr. Lowington had already reached this view of the +case, and it was resolved to take the important step at once, as the +best means of effectually putting a stop to the practice of gambling. + +Mr. Fluxion had been unable to attend this conference for more than a +few moments, for he was the instructor in mathematics, which included +navigation, and he was compelled to superintend the observations, which +were made with separate instruments by himself and by the two masters of +the forenoon watch. The position of the ship was found, and marked on +the chart, and the "dead reckoning" compared with the result obtained by +calculation. + +At one bell in the afternoon watch, all hands were piped to muster, and +the gamblers readily understood that this call was for their especial +benefit. + +"Wilton," said Mr. Lowington, from his usual position. + +The culprit came forward. + +"With whom were you gambling in mess room No. 8, this forenoon?" asked +the principal. + +Wilton looked up at the stern dispenser of discipline. If he did not +know, it was not his business to tell. + +"Answer me." + +"I don't know." + +"You are telling a falsehood." + +"I don't remember their names now," said Wilton. + +"You do remember them; and for each falsehood you utter you shall suffer +an additional penalty." + +"I'm not a tell-tale, sir," answered Wilton, doggedly. "I don't want to +tell who they were." + +"Very well; why didn't you say that at first? I have some respect for +the student who dislikes to betray even his companions in error; none at +all for a liar. Adler and Sanborn," added the principal; and the two +gamblers stepped up to the hatch. "Young gentlemen, you are charged with +gambling. Have you anything to say?" + +"Nothing sir," they all replied. + +"Wilton, how much money have you lost at play?" + +"None, sir." + +"How much have you made?" + +"Ten shillings--half a sovereign." + +"From whom did you win it?" + +"From Sanborn." + +"Return it to him." + +Wilton obeyed. Adler had won about a dollar from Sanborn, which he was +also compelled to restore. Mr. Lowington was satisfied that others had +gained or lost by gambling, but as he did not know who the other +gamblers were, he did not attempt to have the ill-gotten money restored; +for he never made himself ridiculous to the students by endeavoring to +do what could not be done. + +Mr. Lowington then made a very judicious address upon the evil of +gambling, pointing out its dangerous fascination, and the terrible +consequences which sooner or later overtook its victims. He illustrated +his remarks by examples drawn from real life. The chaplain followed him, +detailing the career of a young man whom he had attended in prison, and +who had been utterly ruined by the habit of gaming, contracted before he +was of age. + +These addresses seemed to produce a deep impression on the boys, and one +would have judged by their looks that they all regarded the dangerous +practice with well-grounded horror. Mr. Lowington took the stand again, +and followed with another address upon "the root of all evil;" adding +that, having money in their possession, they would be tempted to gamble. + +"Now, young gentlemen, I propose that you all deliver your funds to me, +taking my receipt for whatever amount you deliver to me. When you have +any real need of money, apply to me, and I will restore it," added Mr. +Lowington. + +"Take our money from us!" exclaimed several; and it was evident that the +proposition was creating a tremendous sensation among the students. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PIPING TO MISCHIEF. + + +After the offensive announcement that the students were to deliver up +their money to the principal, and take his receipt for it, the crew were +dismissed from muster, after being informed that the business of +receiving the funds would be immediately commenced in the steerage. The +three gamblers were not punished, except by the mortification of the +exposure, even by the loss of their marks, though Wilton was confined in +the brig one hour for each falsehood he had uttered. Mr. Lowington knew +that at least a dozen of the boys were guilty of gambling; and as the +matter now came up for the first time, he did not deem it expedient to +punish those who had been discovered hoping that the preventive measures +he had adopted would effectually suppress the evil. + +Many of the students regarded the taking of their money as an indignity. +Only a few of them, comparatively, had engaged in gambling, though many +of the occupants of the steerage knew of the existence of the practice +on board the ship. They were willing to believe, and did believe, after +the impressive addresses to which they had listened, that games of +chance were a perilous amusement, but they were not quite willing to +acknowledge the justice of Mr. Lowington's measures. + +Most of the officers, and many of the crew, cheerfully complied with the +new regulation. They handed their money to the pursers, and received a +receipt for the amount, signed by the principal. Others emptied the +contents of their exchequer sullenly, and under protest; while not a few +openly grumbled in the presence of Mr. Lowington. Some of "our fellows" +attempted to keep back a portion of their funds, and perhaps a few +succeeded, though the tact of the principal exposed the deceit in +several instances. Whatever may be thought of the justice or the +expediency of depriving the students of their money, it was evidently an +exceedingly unpopular step. + +In the second dog watch, when Shuffles and Paul Kendall were off duty, +they happened to meet in the waist; and the exciting topic of the day +came up for discussion, as it had in every little group that collected +that afternoon. Shuffles had accomplished his purpose; he had +accomplished far more than he intended. He had expected nothing more +than a general onslaught upon gambling, followed by increased stringency +in the regulations, and a closer watch over the students in their rooms, +which would produce sufficient irritation among the boys to suit his +purposes. Now the crew, and even some of the officers, were in a ferment +of indignation, and ripe for a demonstration of any kind. + +"The business is done," said Paul Kendall, as he met the conspirator. + +"I'm afraid it's overdone," answered Shuffles, seriously, though he was +actually in a state of exultation over the effect which had been +produced by the new regulation. + +"I hope not. I did not mention your name to the principal in connection +with the matter," added Paul. + +"Didn't he ask you?" + +"He did? but when I stated the case to him, and told him the person who +had given me the information had let it out accidentally, and did not +wish to be known, he asked no more questions." + +"Thank you, Mr. Kendall. This last measure is so unpopular that I should +have been cast out like an unclean bird, if it were known that I gave +the hint." + +"No one shall know anything about it from me, Shuffles. You did a good +thing for the ship, and for every fellow in it." + +"They wouldn't be willing to believe that just now," said Shuffles, +laughing. + +"Perhaps not? but it is a fact, none the less." + +"I didn't think Mr. Lowington would go it quite so strong. If I had, I +shouldn't have told you what I did." + +"Why, are you not satisfied with what has been done?" asked Kendall, +with some astonishment. + +"No, I am not. I am glad enough to see the gambling stopped, but I don't +think the principal had any more right to take my money away from me +than he had to take my head off," replied Shuffles, earnestly. + +"Don't you think it will be better for the fellows to be without money +than with it?" + +"Perhaps it will; I don't know about that. Your neighbor might be a +better man if he were poor than if he were rich: does that make it that +you have any right to take his property from him?" + +"I don't think it does," replied Paul. + +"The State of Massachusetts, for instance, or the State of Ohio, makes +laws against games of chance. Why not make a law, if a man gambles, that +all his money shall be taken from him?" + +"The state has no right to make such a law, I suppose." + +"But the principal goes a long reach beyond that. He takes every man's +money away from him, whether he is accused of gambling or not. Do you +think he had any right to do that?" + +"He hasn't made any law; but if you want law, I'll give you some!" +laughed Paul, who was disposed to treat the subject very good-naturedly, +especially as there was so much loose indignation floating about the +decks. + +"I don't mean law alone, but justice," added Shuffles. "I call it +high-handed injustice to take the fellows' money away from them." + +"Let me give you a little law, then," persisted Paul. "How old are you, +Shuffles?" + +"Eighteen." + +"Good! You are an infant." + +"In law, I am." + +"Suppose your uncle, or somebody else, should die to-day, and leave you +fifty thousand dollars: wouldn't you have a good time with it?" + +"I should, as soon as I got hold of it, you had better believe," replied +Shuffles. + +"As soon as you got hold of it!" exclaimed Paul. + +"I suppose I should have a guardian till I became of age." + +"Who would appoint your guardian?" + +"The court, I believe." + +"Exactly so! The law! What, take your money away from you, or not let +you touch it!" + +"That's law, certainly." + +"Well, wouldn't the law have just as much right to take off a fellow's +head, as to take his money?" demanded Paul, triumphantly. + +"Mr. Lowington is not our guardian." + +"Yes, he is, for the time being; and I hold that he has just as much +right to take your money from you as your father would have." + +"I don't see it; I don't believe it. The money was given us by our +fathers to spend in Europe when we get there." + +"Mr. Lowington is to pay all our expenses on shore, by the terms of the +contract. Besides, the regulations of the Academy Ship, to which all the +parents assented, require that the control of the boys shall be wholly +given up to the principal. It's a plain case, Shuffles." + +Mr. Lowington and his policy had an able and zealous defender in the +person of Paul Kendall, who, by his arguments, as well as his influence, +had already reconciled several of the students to the new regulation. + +"If I were willing to grant the right of the principal to take the +fellows' money from them--which I am not--I think it is treating them +like babies to do so. It is punishing the innocent with the guilty." + +"Mr. Lowington said, in so many words, that the measure was not +intended as a punishment; that it was purely a matter of discipline, +intended to meet certain evils which must appear when we landed in +Europe, as well as to prevent gambling." + +Paul certainly had the best of the argument; but Shuffles was not +convinced, because he did not wish to be convinced. + +At eight bells, when the first part of the port watch went on duty, the +wind had shifted from west to north; the studding-sails had been taken +in, the spanker, main spencer, and all the staysails had been set, and +the ship, close-hauled, was barely laying her course. The wind was +fresh, and she was heeled over on the starboard side, so that her decks +formed a pretty steep inclined plane. Under these circumstances, it +required a great deal of skill and watchfulness on the part of the +wheelmen to keep the sails full, and at the same time to lay the course. +As the ship's head met the heavy seas, a great deal of spray was dashed +on deck, and the position of the lookout-men on the top-gallant +forecastle was not as comfortable as if the weather had been warmer. +There was no dodging; every student was obliged to stand at his post, +wet or dry, blow high or blow low. + +Wilton had been discharged from confinement in the brig, where Mr. +Agneau had visited him, giving him good advice and religious +instruction, as he did to all who were punished in any manner, and was +now with his watch on deck. The new regulation was particularly odious +to "our fellows," and Wilton regarded himself as a martyr to the popular +cause, forgetting that he had been punished for the lies he had told. +He and twenty others were forward to say they "wouldn't stand it;" and +the indignation seemed to be increasing rather than subsiding. + +"Well, Wilton, how do you like the inside of the brig?" asked Shuffles, +when they met in the maintop, having been sent aloft to clear away the +bowline bridle on the main-topsail. + +"I like it well enough," replied Wilton. "I wasn't going to blow on the +fellows; I would stay in there a month first." + +"Did you give up your money?" + +"Of course I did; I couldn't help myself." + +"How do you like the new regulation?" + +"I don't like it any better than the rest of the fellows do," answered +Wilton, in surly tones. "I won't stand it, either." + +"O, I guess you will," laughed Shuffles. "I told you Lowington was a +tyrant, but you wouldn't believe me." + +"Yes, I would; and I did." + +"The fellows will find out what he is before they are many days older." + +"I think they have found out now, I say, Shuffles, was this the row you +spoke about last night?" + +"Yes; only there's more of it than I expected." + +"How did you know anything about it beforehand?" + +"I have a way of finding out these things," replied the artful +conspirator, mysteriously. "I have one or two friends at court." + +"Is Paul Kendall one of them?" + +"No; he is a simpleton. He don't know which side his bread is buttered. +If Lowington takes snuff, Kendall sneezes." + +"I have seen you talking with him two or three times to-day." + +"I was only pumping him." + +"Well, there is a jolly row on board now, anyhow," added Wilton, as he +prepared to descend over the cat-harpings. + +"Hold on; don't let's go on deck yet," interposed Shuffles. "I want to +know what our fellows are going to do." + +"They will call us down, if we stop here." + +"When they do, we will go down, then," replied Shuffles, as he seated +himself in the top, with his legs through the lubber's-hole. "What are +our fellows going to do? Do they mean to stand this thing?" + +"They can't help themselves; they are mad enough to do anything; but +what's the use?" added Wilton, as he seated himself by the side of his +companion. + +"Don't you think they will join the League now?" + +"They would join anything that would give them their rights. I'll join +now; but I don't want to be toggled in such a way as you said last +night." + +"Then you can't be toggled at all." + +"I haven't any idea of falling overboard accidentally. I'd rather lose +my money than do that." + +"It's nothing but a form, Wilton. Between you and me, it's only a +bugbear, intended to work upon the nerves and the imagination. Of course +we shouldn't help any fellow overboard; no one would dare to do any such +thing." + +"I don't like the sound of the thing." + +"If you really mean to expose the secrets which are intrusted to you, I +advise you not to join." + +"I don't mean any such thing," added Wilton, indignantly. + +"If you didn't, you wouldn't be afraid of the penalty." + +"Toggle me, then; and see what I mean." + +"I don't want you to go in if you don't believe in it." + +"But I do believe in it; so go ahead." + +Shuffles pronounced the ridiculous obligation again, and Wilton repeated +it after him. + +"Now you are toggled," said the leader. + +"What are we going to do?" + +"Bring in the rest of our fellows; that is the first job. In my opinion +we can get over fifty of them now." + +"I don't know about that," answered Wilton, doubtfully. + +"I'm very sure we can. If we get enough to take the ship, we can have +all the rest as soon as we have done the job." + +"Take the ship!" exclaimed Wilton, appalled at the idea. + +"That's what we mean." + +"I don't believe you can do it," replied the doubtful "link in the +Chain." + +"It's the easiest thing in the world. The affair will come off at supper +time, when the professors are all in their cabin. All we have to do is +to clap the hatch on the after companion-way, and secure the doors +leading from the main cabin into the steerage. Then we have them, and +they can't help themselves." + +"But the boatswain, carpenter, and sailmaker will be loose." + +"No, they won't. At the right time, we will pass the word for them, and +say that Lowington wants to see them in the main cabin. As soon as they +go below we will put the hatch on." + +"The cooks and stewards will still be at large." + +"We can lock them up in the kitchen. If they make trouble, I have a +revolver," whispered Shuffles. + +"A revolver! I won't have anything to do with it if you are going to use +pistols," said the alarmed confederate. + +"It's only to look at; there will be no occasion to use it," answered +Shuffles, soothingly. + +"There will be twelve men, besides the stewards, locked up in the main +cabin." + +"That's so." + +"How long do you suppose it would take them to break down the bulkhead +between the cabin and the steerage, or to climb up through the +skylight?" + +"If they attempt anything of that kind, we can show them the revolver; +that will quiet them." + +"You might frighten the parson in that way; but do you suppose men like +Mr. Lowington, Mr. Fluxion, and Peaks, who have been in the navy so +long, will be afraid of a pistol?" + +"They won't want to be shot, if they have been in the navy all their +lives." + +"Then you mean to shoot them?" + +"They will think we do, and it will be all the same." + +"I don't know about this business. I'm afraid the pistol might go off, +and hurt somebody." + +"I suppose you could raise objections all night," added Shuffles, +contemptuously. "I'm not going to have any man tyrannize over me, +Wilton. I suppose if Lowington wants to pull every fellow's teeth out, +you won't object." + +"I'm as much opposed to his tyranny as you are, and I will do anything +that is reasonable; but I want to know whether the water is hot or cold +before I put my fingers into it. What's the use of blundering into an +enterprise, and making a failure of it?" + +"I have no idea of making a failure of it. Did you ever know me to make +a failure of anything that I attempted?" + +"Yes, I have." + +"What?" + +"You failed to get elected captain when we first came aboard of the +ship." + +"That was only because we had just come on board? the fellows didn't +know me, and I didn't know them. We are better acquainted now, and I am +just as sure of success as though we had already won it," added +Shuffles, confidently. "I don't believe in making failures." + +"I don't believe there is more than one chance in ten for you to +succeed," continued the sceptic. + +"There isn't more than one chance in ten for us to fail. You are a bird +of evil omen. You have no faith in anything; and if you are going to +croak like this, I don't want you in the Chain," added Shuffles, +petulantly. + +"I'm in for it, already; and when I can see my way clearly, I shall be +as strong as you are." + +"Then don't croak any more. We must go to work while the fever is on the +fellows, and make up----" + +"In the maintop, ahoy!" shouted the master, from the waist. + +"On deck!" replied Shuffles. + +"Lay down from aloft!" + +"Yes, sir." + +The conspirators descended, after Shuffles had admonished his shaky +companion to be discreet. + +"What are you doing in the top so long?" demanded Foster, the first +master, as the truants reached the sheer-pole. + +"Watching the sea, sir," replied Shuffles. "It looks fine from the top." + +"When you have done what you are sent aloft for, it is your duty to come +down and report it," added the officer. + +Shuffles made no reply, as he probably would have done if he had not had +a heavy operation on his hands, which prevented him from indulging in +any side quarrels. + +Except the wheelmen and the lookout, the watch on deck was divided into +little groups, who were quartered in the most comfortable places they +could find, telling stones, or discussing the exciting topic of the day. + +"Shuffles, some of our fellows want to see you and Wilton," said Adler, +as the first master went below, to inspect the steerage, at two bells. + +"What's up?" demanded the conspirator. + +"Don't say anything," added the messenger, as he led the way to the +steerage skylight, under the lee of which Sanborn and Grimme had stowed +themselves away, out of the reach of the stream that was flowing along +the water-ways, and of the spray which was dashing over the weather +bows. + +The party from aloft, with the messenger, increased the group to five, +which was the total number of "our fellows" that could be mustered in +the first part of the port watch. + +"What's up?" demanded Shuffles, when he had seated himself by the +skylight. + +"We intend to pipe to mischief, to-night, Shuffles and we want some help +from you," said Sanborn, in reply. + +"We have been robbed of our money, and we are going to have +satisfaction, somehow or other," added Grimme, in explanation. "We are +not going to stand this sort of thing. We must teach Lowington and the +professors that they can't put our noses to the grindstone." + +"Exactly so!" exclaimed Shuffles. "And you intend to put them there +yourselves. In other words, you mean to get into some scrape, and be +punished for it, as I was." + +"No, we don't. We are going to work man-of-war style. Old Peaks told us +how to do it, when we were on watch last night," replied Grimme. + +"Peaks?" + +"Yes, he spun us a yarn about man-of-war life, and told us how the men +serve out the officers when they don't behave themselves." + +"Peaks told you this--did he?" demanded Shuffles. + +"Of course he didn't mean to have us do anything of the kind." + +"Well, how did he tell you to serve out the officers?" + +"Make them uncomfortable; keep them in a hornet's nest all the time." + +"How? How?" asked Shuffles, impatiently. + +"Why, if the unpopular officer went forward, a belaying pin was sure to +drop on his head or his feet; a tar can or a paint pot would be upset on +his back; or, if he went below, a cannon ball was liable to roll out of +a shot case upon him. Of course no one ever knew the author of this +mischief." + +"Do you propose to play off any of these tricks on Lowington?" demanded +Shuffles. + +"We have got a rod in pickle for him," replied Grimme, chuckling. + +"What is it?" + +"We intend to give him a dose of kerosene oil, to begin with," laughed +Sanborn. + +"One of the stewards left his oil can on the fore scuttle ladder, after +the hatch was put on to keep the spray out, and I took possession of +it," added Grimme, hardly able to keep his mirth within the limits of +prudence. + +"What are you going to do with it?" asked Shuffles. + +"We are going to give Lowington the contents of the can, and then throw +it overboard." + +"Indeed! Who is the fellow that has boldness enough to do this thing?" + +"I have; and I have volunteered to do the job," answered Grimme, with a +degree of assurance which astonished even Shuffles. + +"You dare not do it!" + +"I dare, and I will, if the fellows will stand by me. Lowington is +sitting at the table in the professors' cabin, right under the skylight, +reading. One section of the skylight is open, and you can see him, as +plain as day. It's as dark as a pocket on deck, and the officers can't +see you twenty feet off. All I have to do is to pop the oil through the +opening, and get out of the way." + +"What then?" + +"Why, he will come on deck, and try to find out who did it; but he +can't." + +"Perhaps he can." + +"No, he can't; only half a dozen of the fellows will know anything about +it, and of course they won't let on." + +"Suppose he don't find out. What good will this trick do?" + +"The second part of the port watch must follow up the game. Lowington +will come on deck at eight bells, and Monroe, in the starboard watch, +will give him another dose." + +"What will that be?" + +"Slush the first step of the ladder at the after companion-way, and let +him tumble down stairs," chuckled Grimme. + +"Then Lynch will give him some more," said Adler. + +"Well, you may break his neck when he tumbles down the ladder. I'll have +nothing to do with any of those tricks," added Shuffles, decidedly. "If +you want to pipe to mischief, I'm with you, but in no such way as that. +Those are little, mean, dirty tricks." + +"But they will keep him in hot water all the time, and he will get sick +of being a tyrant over the fellows in less than a week. There are twenty +things we might do to annoy him, which would help to bring him to his +senses. For instance, when the steward carries the coffee into the +professors' cabin, one fellow might engage his attention, while another +drops a lump of salt, a handful of pepper, or a piece of tobacco into +the urn." + +"I don't want to hear any more of such low-lived tricks," interposed the +magnificent conspirator. "If you want to pipe to mischief, let us do it +like men." + +"What would you do? Fifty of the fellows, at least, will go into +anything to punish Lowington for his tyranny." + +"Join the Chain, then," said Shuffles, in a whisper, and with a suitable +parade of mystery. + +"The what?" + +"The Chain." + +The object of the League was duly explained; and before the second part +of the port watch came on deck, three new members had been "toggled." +Greatly to the satisfaction of Shuffles, and to the astonishment of +Wilton, they did not hesitate at the penalty of the obligation, and +seemed to be entirely willing to "fall overboard accidentally" if they +failed to make strong and faithful "links in the Chain." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ALL HANDS, REEF TOPSAILS! + + +Augustus Pelham, the fourth lieutenant of the Young America, was almost +the only malcontent among the officers; the only one who persistently +declined to be reconciled to the new regulation. Others objected to it; +others criticised it, and even regarded the act as tyrannical; but the +good offices of Paul Kendall, who argued the question with them, as he +did with Shuffles, had in a measure conciliated them, and they were at +least disposed to submit gracefully to the order. But Pelham was not of +this number He was above the average age, and, like the chief +conspirator on board, expecting to leave the ship at the end of the +first year, had not exerted himself to the extent of his ability. He had +been first lieutenant and had now fallen to fourth. He was older than +the captain, and it galled him to be subject to one younger than +himself. + +He was dissatisfied with his rank, and this had a tendency to make him a +grumbler. It needed only an appearance of tyranny or injustice to array +him in spirit against the authorities of the ship. Shuffles knew his +state of mind, and was prepared to take advantage of it, hoping through +him to gain other discontented spirits in the cabin. + +When the first part of the port watch was relieved, the "Chain" +consisted of five links, and the conspirators were well satisfied with +the present success of the enterprise. Each of the new members of the +League was commissioned to obtain a recruit, whose name was given to +him, and he was required to report upon the case, to Shuffles, before +eight bells in the afternoon watch. As a measure of precaution, it was +required that no meetings should be held; that not more than three +members should assemble for business at any one time. The utmost care +and circumspection were urged, and it was agreed that not a word should +be said in the steerage, where it was possible for any of the professors +to overhear it. + +The second part of the port watch, with Pelham as officer of the deck, +went on duty at ten o'clock. The wind had been freshening for the last +two hours, and it was now necessary to reduce sail. The royals were +first taken in, and then the top-gallant sails. + +"We can't lay this course, sir," said Burchmore, the quartermaster, who +was conning the helm. "The wind is hauling to the eastward." + +"Make the course east by north then," replied Pelham, without taking the +trouble to consult the captain or Mr. Fluxion, both of whom were on +deck. + +"The wind is north-north-east, sir," reported the quartermaster, a short +time afterwards. + +"Keep her east then." + +At six bells the wind was north-east, and coming heavier and heavier +every moment. The ship was headed east-south-east, and it was evident +that she still had on more sail than she could easily carry. + +"What's the course, Mr. Pelham?" asked Captain Gordon. + +"East-south-east, sir," replied Pelham. + +"The course given out was east-north-east." + +"I have changed it three times within the last hour," answered the +fourth lieutenant, in rather surly tones. + +"By whose order?" demanded the captain. + +"By no one's order, sir." + +"You know the regulation for the officer of the deck. He is not +permitted to alter the course of the ship, unless to avoid some sudden +danger, without informing the captain." + +"I had to alter the course, or have the topsails thrown aback," replied +Pelham. + +"Very likely it was proper to alter the course; but it was also proper +to inform me, especially when I was on deck." + +"Very well, Captain Gordon. I will not alter the course again without +your order," added the fourth lieutenant, stiffly. + +"The regulation is not mine, Mr. Pelham," continued the captain, +sternly. + +As the wind increased, sail was reduced to topsails and courses, jib and +spanker; but at seven bells even these were found to be too much for +her. + +"Captain Gordon, it is coming heavier," said Mr. Fluxion. "I think it +will be necessary to reef." + +"I was thinking of that, sir. The wind is north-east, and blowing a +gale." + +"You had better call all hands, and do it at once." + +"Mr. Pelham, you will call all hands to reef topsails!" + +"All hands, sir?" + +"Certainly, Mr. Pelham; that was my order," replied the captain, more +sharply than usual, for there was something in the manner of the officer +of the deck which he did not like, and he found it necessary to maintain +the dignity of his position. + +Pelham touched his cap; he felt the weight of authority upon him heavier +than ever before. Until recently he had always performed his duty +cheerfully, and was considered a first-rate officer. Since the new +regulation had been put in force, and he had been compelled to deliver +up ten sovereigns in his possession he had been rather disagreeable. In +the cabin he had used some language reflecting upon the principal, and +he was now regarded as a malcontent by the captain, and by those who +still sustained the discipline of the ship. + +"Morrison," called he, as he went forward to the waist. + +"Here, sir," replied the boatswain, who belonged in this quarter watch; +and there was a boatswain's mate in each of the others. + +"Call all hands to reef topsails." + +The shrill pipe of the boatswain's whistle soon rang above the howling +winds, which now sounded gloomily through the rigging. The call was +repeated in the steerage, and at the door of the after cabin, where it +could be heard by the officers, for no one on board is exempted when all +hands are called. This was the first taste of the hardships of a +seaman's life to which the students had been invited. It is not +pleasant, to say the least, to be turned out of a warm bed in a gale, +when the wind comes cold and furious, laden with the spray of the ocean, +and be sent aloft in the rigging of the ship, when she is rolling and +pitching, jumping and jerking, in the mad waves. But there is no excuse +at such a time, and nothing but positive physical disability can exempt +officer or seaman from duty. + +It was the first time the boys had seen a gale at sea, and though it was +not yet what would be called a strong gale, it was sufficiently terrific +to produce a deep impression upon them. The ship was still close-hauled, +under topsails and courses, with jib and spanker. The wind came in heavy +blasts, and when they struck the sails, the Young America heeled over, +until her lee yard-arm seemed to be dipping the waves. Huge billows came +roaring down from the windward, crowned with white foam, and presenting +an awful aspect in the night, striking the ship, lifting her bow high in +the air, and breaking over the rail, pouring tons of water on the deck. + +Before the whole crew had been called, every opening in the deck had +been secured, and the plank guards placed over the glass in the +skylights. Life lines had been stretched along the decks, and the +swinging ports, through which the water that came over the rail escaped, +were crossed with whale line by Peaks, to prevent any unlucky boy from +being washed through, if he happened to be thrown off his feet by a rush +of water to the scuppers. + +The scene was wild and startling; it was even terrible to those who had +never seen anything of the kind before, though the old sailors regarded +it quite as a matter of course. Peaks had never been known to be so +jolly and excited since he came on board. He was full of jokes and witty +sayings; he seemed to be in his element now, and all his powers of body +and mind were in the keenest state of excitement. + +The students were disposed to look upon it as a rough time, and +doubtless some of them thought the ship was in great peril. Not a few of +them pretended to enjoy the scene, and talked amazingly salt, as though +they had been used to this kind of thing all their lives. Mr. Lowington +came on deck, when all hands were called; and though, to his experienced +eye, there was no danger while the ship was well managed, he was +exceedingly anxious, for it was a time when accidents were prone to +happen, and the loss of a boy at such an hour, would endanger the +success of his great experiment. On deck, the students could not get +overboard without the grossest carelessness; but it was perilous to send +them aloft in the gloom of the howling tempest. He had hoped that he +might be permitted to meet the onslaught of the first gale the ship +encountered in the daytime; but as the "clerk of the weather" otherwise +ordained it, he was compelled to make the best of the circumstances. + +Before the manoeuvre of reefing, in the gale, was begun, Mr. Fluxion was +sent forward. Bitts was placed in the fore rigging, Peaks in the main, +and Leach in the mizzen, to see that the young tars did not needlessly +expose themselves, and that they used all proper precautions to avoid +an accident. All the officers were at their stations. + +"Man the topsail clewlines, and buntlines, and the weather topsail +braces," shouted Haven, the first lieutenant who always handled the ship +when all hands were called. "Stand by the lee braces, bowlines, and +halyards." + +The clewlines are ropes fastened to the corners of the topsail, passing +through blocks on the topsail yard, and leading down to the deck through +the lubber's hole. They are used in hauling the corners of the sail up +when they are to be reefed or furled. + +The buntlines are two ropes attached to cringles, or eyes, in the bottom +of the sail, which are used for hauling up the middle, or bunt, of the +topsail. + +The braces are the ropes secured to the ends of the yards, leading down +to the deck, directly, or to a mast first, and thence below, by which +the yards and the sails attached to them are hauled round so as to take +the wind. They are distinguished by the terms "weather" and "lee," the +former being those on the side from which the wind comes, the latter on +the opposite side. They also have their specific names, as the "weather +fore-top-gallant brace," the "lee main brace." + +The bowlines are ropes attached to the leeches of square sails to draw +the edge forward, so that they may take the wind better. They are +fastened to the bridles, which are loops like those of a kite, two or +three of them extending from the side of the sail. + +The halyards are the ropes by which any sail is hoisted. For square +sails they are secured to the yards, which, with the exception of the +lower one on each mast slide up and down. + +"Clear away the bowlines," said the first lieutenant when all hands were +reported ready for the manoeuvre which had been ordered. + +At this command the bowlines on the topsails and courses were +unfastened. + +"All clear, sir," reported the officers from their stations. + +"Round in the weather braces, ease off the lee braces!" was the next +order. "Settle away the topsail halyards! Clew down!" + +To round in the weather braces was simply to haul them up as the lee +braces were slacked, so that the yard was squared. As the command was +executed, the sail was "spilled," or the wind thrown out of it. + +"Haul out the reef tackles! Haul up the buntlines!" continued the +executive officer. + +To reef a sail is to tie up a portion of it, so as to present less +surface of canvas to the force of the wind. Topsails are reefed in the +upper part; a portion of the sail nearest to the yard from which it is +suspended being rolled up and secured by strings to the yard. Fore and +aft sails, like the spanker, the fore and main spencers, or the mainsail +of a schooner, are reefed at the foot, the lower part being tied down to +the boom. + +The topsails of the Young America had three reef bands, or strips of +canvas sewed crosswise over them, in which were the reef points, or +strings by which the sail is tied up when reefed. When the first or +highest row of reef points was used, the sail was single reefed; when +the second was used, it was double reefed; and when the third row was +used, it was close reefed. On each side of the sail, at the end of each +reef band, was a cringle, or eye, in which the reef pendent was +fastened. The reef tackle consists of a rope passing from the eye, at +the end of the reef band, through a block at the extremity of the yard, +thence to the mast, and down to the deck. Hauling on this rope draws the +required portion of the sail up to the yard in readiness to be reefed. + +The reef tackles were hauled out, and the buntlines hauled up to bring +the sail where it could be easily handled. When the sail is to be +reefed, the seamen have to a "lay out" on the yards, and tie up the +sail. To enable them to do this with safety, there are horses, or +foot-ropes, extending from the slings, or middle of the spar, to the +yard-arms. This rope hangs below the yard, the middle parts being +supported by stirrups. When a man is to "lay out," he throws his breast +across the yard with his feet on the horse. The man at the "weather +earing," or eye for the reef pendent, has to sit astride the yard, and +pull the sail towards him. + +The foot-rope sometimes slips through the eyes in the stirrups when only +one hand goes out upon it, which does, or may, place him in a dangerous +position. During the preceding day, when the barometer indicated a +change of weather, Mr. Lowington had sent the old boatswain aloft to +"mouse the horses," in anticipation of the manoeuvre which the boys were +now compelled to perform at midnight, in a gale of wind. Mousing the +horses was merely fastening the foot-ropes to the eyes of the stirrups, +so that they could not slip through, and thus throw the entire slack of +the horse under one boy, by which he sank down so low that his neck was +even with the spar. + +At the foot of each mast there is a contrivance for securing ropes, +called the fife-rail. It is full of belaying pins, to which are secured +the sheets, halyards, buntlines, clewlines, lifts, braces, reef tackle, +and other ropes leading down from aloft. Looking at the mast, it seems +to be surrounded by a perfect wilderness of ropes, without order or +arrangement, whose uses no ordinary mortal could comprehend. There were +other ropes leading down from aloft, which were fastened at the +sheer-poles and under the rail. Now, it is necessary that every sailor +should be able to put his hand on the right rope in the darkest night; +and when the order to haul out the buntlines was given in the gloom and +the gale, those to whom this duty was assigned could have closed their +eyes and found the right lines. + +"Aloft, topman!" continued the first lieutenant, when the topsails were +in readiness for reefing. + +At this order thirty of the young tars ran up the shrouds, over the +cat-harpings, and up the rigging, till they reached the fore, main, and +mizzen topsail yards. Twelve of them were stationed on the main, ten on +the fore, and eight on the mizzen topsail yard. The first, second, and +third midshipmen were aloft to superintend the work, and when the +studding-sail booms had been triced up, they gave the order to lay out, +and take two reefs. + +When the hands were at their stations on the yard, the first lieutenant +ordered the quartermaster to "luff up;" that is, to put the helm down +so as to throw the ship up into the wind and spill the sail, or get the +wind out of it, that the young tars might handle it with the more ease. + +The boys had been frequently trained in the manoeuvre which they were +now executing under trying circumstances, and all of them knew their +duty. If any one trembled as the mast swayed over when the ship rolled, +he was afraid to mention the fact, or to exhibit any signs of alarm. +Perhaps most of them would have been willing to acknowledge that it was +rather "ticklish" business to lay out on a topsail yard at midnight in a +gale of wind; and if their anxious mothers could have seen the boys at +that moment, some of them might have fainted, and all wished them in a +safer place. + +The boom tricing-lines were manned again, and the studding-sail booms +restored to their places. + +"Lay down from aloft!" shouted Haven, when the midshipman in charge +aloft had reported the work done; and he was obliged to roar at the top +of his lungs through the speaking trumpet, in order to be heard above +the piping of the gale and the dashing of the sea. "Man the topsail +halyards! stand by the braces." + +"All ready, sir," reported the fourth lieutenant, after the others. + +"Hoist away the topsails!" + +The hands on deck walked away with the halyards, until the topsails were +hauled up to a taut leech. + +The same operation was repeated on the fore and main course; the yards +were trimmed; the bowlines attached and hauled out, and then the ship +was under double-reefed topsails and courses. + +"Boatswain, pipe down!" said the executive officer when the work was +done. + +But the crew did not care to pipe down, just then. This was the first +time they had ever seen a gale at sea, and there was something grand and +sublime in the heaving ocean, and the wild winds that danced madly over +the white-crested waves. It was now after midnight, eight bells having +struck before the courses were reefed, and the first part of the +starboard watch were to have the deck. Mr. Lowington insisted that all +others should go below and turn in, assuring them that they would see +enough of the gale in the morning, or as soon as their quarter watches +were called. + +The principal and Mr. Fluxion were earnest in their commendation of the +behavior of the Young America. She was not only a stiff and weatherly +ship, but she behaved most admirably, keeping well up to the wind, and +minding her helm. The four boys at the wheel handled it with perfect +ease. + +The ship did not labor in the gale as she had before the sails were +reefed; and though she jumped, plunged, and rolled, making a terrific +roar as she went along, everything was ship-shape about her, and the +boys soon became accustomed to the exciting scene. She was making but +little headway, but she still kept within three points of her general +course. Mr. Lowington remained on deck the rest of the night, anxiously +watching the ship and her crew in the trying experience of the hour. + +Augustus Pelham, the discontented lieutenant, went below when his +quarter watch was relieved. The little incident, before all hands were +called, between himself and the captain, had disturbed him more than he +would have been willing to acknowledge. He thought it was harsh of the +captain to say anything to him, though he had broken one of the rules of +the ship; and he regarded the gentle reproof he had received as a very +great indignity. + +He went to his state room. The ship was rolling fearfully, and he could +not stand up without holding on at the front of his berth. Goodwin, the +third lieutenant who was his room-mate, had already turned in; but it +was impossible for him to sleep. Pelham took a match from his pocket and +lighted the lamp, which swung on gimbals in the room. + +"What are you doing, Pelham?" demanded Goodwin "It is against the rule +to light a lamp after ten o'clock." + +"I know it; but I'm not going to blunder round here, and have my brains +knocked out in the dark," growled Pelham. + +"Put the light out; you will get into trouble," remonstrated his +room-mate. + +"I won't do it." + +"What are you going to do?" + +"Go to sleep, Goodwin, and don't bother me." + +"What's the matter, Pelham? What ails you? I never knew you to think of +breaking one of the rules before." + +"I should like to break them all, as Moses did the ten commandments. I +have been insulted." + +"Who insulted you?" + +"The captain." + +"Gordon?" asked Goodwin, in astonishment + +"Yes." + +"I never knew him to do such a thing as that. I think you didn't +understand him; or he must have been excited by the gale." + +"It was before it came on to blow very hard," replied Pelham, seating +himself on a stool, and bracing his feet against the front of the berth +to prevent being thrown down. + +"What did he do?" + +"He snubbed me, told me I knew the rule, and was as overbearing as +though I had been his servant, instead of an officer of the ship." + +"But what did you do? He wouldn't have done anything of the kind if you +hadn't given him some provocation." + +"I told the quartermaster, when the wind was heading off the ship, to +alter the course." + +"Didn't you tell the captain beforehand?" + +"Not I." + +"Then I don't blame him for snubbing you. What's the use of being +captain if the officers don't obey you?" + +"If he had anything to say to me, he might have been a little more +gentle about it." + +Pelham neglected to say that he was not particularly gentle himself. + +"Put that light out, Pelham, for my sake, if not for your own," said +Goodwin, when he found that his companion was too much out of sorts to +be reasonable. + +"Neither for yours nor my own will I put it out," replied Pelham, as he +took a cigar from its hiding-place, under the lower berth. + +"What are you going to do, Pelham?" demanded Goodwin, filled with +astonishment, as he observed the conduct of his fellow-officer. + +"I'm going to have a smoke." + +"But you know that smoking is positively prohibited either on ship or +shore." + +"I haven't had a smoke since vacation," replied Pelham, as he lighted +the cigar. + +"See here, Pelham; I won't stand this!" exclaimed the third lieutenant, +rising up in his bed, in which act he was nearly pitched out of his +berth by a heavy roll of the ship. "The companion-way is closed." + +"That's the very reason why I'm going to smoke," replied the malcontent, +coolly. + +"But I shall be stifled here." + +"Can't help it." + +"I can," retorted Goodwin, as he leaped out on the floor. + +"What are you going to do?" + +"I am going to inform Mr. Lowington what you are doing." + +"Are you such a fellow as that?" asked Pelham, indignantly. + +"I am, if you are such a fellow as to attempt to stifle me with cigar +smoke in my own room. It would make me as sick as a horse in five +minutes." + +"Seasick, you mean," sneered Pelham. "I'm going to have my smoke, if +there is a row about it." + +Goodwin put on his pea-jacket, and left the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +AFTER THE GALE. + + +One of the most singular traits observable in the character of some boys +is the willingness, and even the desire, under certain circumstances, to +get into trouble. A young gentleman, feeling that he has been slighted, +or his merit overlooked, permits himself to fall into a mental condition +in which he feels no responsibility for his conduct; in which he +recklessly breaks through all regulations, places himself in an attitude +of opposition to constituted authority, and seems to court the heaviest +penalty which can be inflicted upon him for disobedience, impudence, and +rebellion. + +The fourth lieutenant of the Young America had worked himself up to this +disagreeable pitch. He was not only disposed to assume an attitude of +opposition to the principal, who had made the obnoxious regulation which +was the immediate cause of his rebellious condition, but to all who +supported his authority, or willingly submitted to it. + +Smoking was a high crime on board the Young America--not in the relation +of the practice to the ship, but to the student. It was condemned, not +simply because it would be offensive in the cabins and steerage, and on +deck, but because it was a bad habit for a boy to acquire. The adult +forward officers, the cooks and the stewards, were allowed to smoke on +the forecastle at certain prescribed hours; but it was a punishable +offence for a student to smoke at any time or in any place, whether on +board or on shore. + +Goodwin was indignant at the conduct of his room-mate, for the third +lieutenant was not only opposed to smoking on principle, but the fumes +of tobacco were intensely offensive to him; and there was no doubt that, +in the confined space of the state room, insufficiently ventilated, +while all the openings in the deck were closed during the gale, the +smoke would make him "as sick as a horse." He was a noble-minded, manly +youth, and had all a boy's detestation for tattling and tale-bearing. He +did not like to go on deck and inform the principal of the conduct of +Pelham, but he could not submit to the indignity cast upon him. He went +out into the cabin, and threw himself upon the cushioned divan, under +the stern ports of the ship. + +This would have been a very satisfactory place to sleep under ordinary +circumstances; but Goodwin had hardly secured a comfortable position, +before the heavy rolling and pitching of the vessel tumbled him off, and +he measured his length on the cabin floor--a very undignified situation +for a third lieutenant. He picked himself up in the darkness, and tried +it again, but with no better success than before. He had fully intended +to go on deck and inform the principal of the misconduct of Pelham, +which had driven him from his room; but he shrank from the task. + +What Goodwin was attempting to do on the divan many of the officers were +striving to do in their berths, though with better success than attended +his efforts. It was not an easy matter to stay in the berths; and this +done, the situation was far from comfortable. Avoiding the rude fall on +the one side, the occupant was rolled over against the partition on the +other side. Sleep, in anything more than "cat naps," was utterly +impracticable, for as soon as the tired officer began to lose himself in +slumber, he was thumped violently against the pine boards, or was roused +by the fear of being tumbled out of his berth. + +Mr. Lowington comprehended the situation of the students, and when the +topsails and courses had been reefed, he called up all the stewards, and +sent them through the after cabin and steerage, to ascertain the +condition of the boys, and to give them the benefit of certain +expedients known to old voyagers for such occasions. Jacobs, the steward +of the after cabin, entered to perform his duty. He had no light, not +even a lantern; for fire is so terrible a calamity at sea, that every +lamp was extinguished by the stewards at ten o'clock, and no light was +allowed, except in the binnacle, without the special permission of the +principal Even the captain could not allow a lamp to be lighted after +hours. + +Jacobs went to all the state rooms on the port side first, and pulled up +the berth sacks above the front of the bunks, so as to form a kind of +wall, to keep the occupant from rolling out. A bundle of clothing was +placed on the inside of the berth, and the body was thus wedged in, so +as to afford some relief to the unstable form. Pelham's room was the +second one on the starboard side, and Jacobs came to it at last, in his +humane mission. He opened the door, and started back with unfeigned +astonishment to see the lamp lighted, and the fourth lieutenant puffing +his cigar as leisurely as the violent motion of the ship would permit. + +"Contrary to regulation, sir," said Jacobs, respectfully as he touched +his cap to the reckless officer. + +"Take yourself off, Jacobs," replied Pelham, coarsely and rudely. + +"Yes, sir." + +Jacobs did take himself off, and hastened on deck to inform Mr. +Lowington of the conduct of the infatuated officer. + +The principal immediately presented himself. Pelham had fully believed, +in his self-willed obstinacy, that he could look Mr. Lowington full in +the face, and impudently defy him. He found that he was mistaken. The +experience of Shuffles in the hands of the boatswain and carpenter would +intrude itself upon him, and he quailed when the principal opened the +door and gazed sternly into his face. + +"Smoking, Mr. Pelham?" + +"Yes, sir," replied the rebel, with an attempt to be cool and impudent, +which, however, was a signal failure. + +"You will put out that cigar, and throw it away." + +"I will; I've smoked enough," answered Pelham. + +"Your light is burning, contrary to regulation." + +"The ship rolls so, I should break my neck without one," replied Pelham, +sourly. + +"That is a weak plea for a sailor to make. Mr. Pelham, I confess my +surprise to find one who has done so well engaged in acts of +disobedience." + +The reckless officer could make no reply; if the reproof had been given +in presence of others, he would probably have retorted, prompted by a +false, foolish pride to "keep even" with the principal. + +"For smoking, you will lose ten marks; for lighting your lamp, ten +more," added the principal. + +"You might as well send me into the steerage at once," answered Pelham. + +"If either offence is repeated, that will be done. You will put out your +light at once." + +The fourth lieutenant obeyed the order because he did not dare to +disobey it; the fear of the muscular boatswain, the irons, and the brig, +rather than that of immediate degradation to the steerage, operating +upon his mind. The principal went on deck; Pelham turned in, and was +soon followed, without a word of comment on the events which had just +transpired, by Goodwin. + +The night wore away, the gale increasing in fury, and the rain pouring +in torrents. It was a true taste of a seaman's life to those who were on +deck. At daybreak all hands were called again, to put the third reef in +the topsails. At eight bells the courses were furled. The gale continued +to increase in power during the forenoon, and by noon a tremendous sea +had been stirred up. The ship rolled almost down to her beam ends, and +the crests of the waves seemed to be above the level of the main yard. + +In the popular exaggerated language, "the waves ran mountain high," +which means from twenty to forty feet; perhaps, on this occasion, +twenty-five feet from the trough of the sea to the crest of the billow. +Even this is a great height to be tossed up and down on the water; and +to the boys of the Young America the effect was grand, if not terrific. +The deck was constantly flooded with water; additional life-lines had +been stretched across from rail to rail, and every precaution taken to +insure the safety of the crew. + +Study and recitation were impossible, and nothing was attempted of this +kind. The storm was now what could justly be called a heavy gale, and it +was no longer practicable to lay a course. Before eight bells in the +forenoon watch, the royal and top-gallant yards had been sent down, and +the ship was laid to under a close-reefed main-topsail, which the +nautical gentlemen on board regarded as the best for the peculiar +conditions which the Young America presented. + +When a ship is laying to, no attention is paid to anything but the +safety of the vessel, the only object being to keep her head up to the +sea. In the gale, the Young America lay with her port bow to the wind, +her hull being at an angle of forty-five degrees, with a line indicating +the direction of the wind. Her topsail yard was braced so that it +pointed directly to the north-east--the quarter from which the gale +blew. The helm was put a-lee just enough to keep her in the position +indicated. She made little or no headway, but rather drifted with the +waves. + +The young tars had a hard forenoon's work; and what was done was +accomplished with triple the labor required in an ordinary sea. All +hands were on duty during the first part of the day, though there were +intervals of rest, such as they were, while the boys had to hold on with +both hands, and there was no stable abiding-place for the body. The ship +rolled so fiercely that no cooking could be done, and the only +refreshments were coffee and "hard tack." + +"This is a regular muzzler, Pelham," said Shuffles, in the afternoon, as +they were holding on at the life-lines in the waist. + +"That's a fact; and I've got about enough of this thing." + +"There isn't much fun in it," replied Shuffles, who had been watching +for this opportunity to advance the interests of the "Chain." + +"No, not a bit." + +"It's better for you officers, who don't have to lay out on the yards +when they jump under you like a mad horse, than for us." + +"I suppose I shall have a chance to try it next term." + +"Why so?" + +"I lost twenty marks last night. I got mad, lighted the lamp, and smoked +a cigar in my state room." + +"Will the loss of the twenty marks throw you over?" + +"Yes? I'm a goner!" added Pelham, with a smile. + +"What made you mad?" + +"The captain snubbed me; then Lowington came the magnificent over me. A +single slip throws a fellow here." + +A single slip in the great world throws a man or woman; and young men +and young women should be taught that "single slips" are not to be +tolerated. More children are spoiled by weak indulgence than by +over-severe discipline. But a boy had a better chance to recover from +the effects of his errors in the Young America, than men and women have +in the community. + +By gradual approaches, Shuffles informed the fourth lieutenant of the +object of the "Chain," which Pelham promptly agreed to join, declaring +that it was just the thing to suit his case. He was in a rebellious +frame of mind; and though he could not feel that the enterprise would be +a complete success, it would afford him an opportunity to annoy and +punish the principal for his degrading and tyrannical regulation, as the +recreant officer chose to regard it. + +By the exercise of some tact, the conspirators found a convenient place +under the top-gallant forecastle to consider the project. Pelham was +duly "toggled," and offered no objection to the penalty; indeed, he only +laughed at it. + +"Suppose we get possession of the ship--what then?" asked Pelham. + +"We will go on a cruise. I understand that she has provisions for a six +months' voyage on board. I'm in favor of going round Cape Horn, and +having a good time among the islands of the South Sea." + +Pelham laughed outright at this splendid scheme. + +"Round Cape Horn!" exclaimed he. + +"Yes? why not? We should be up with the cape by the first of June; +rather a bad time, I know, but this ship would make good weather of it, +and I don't believe we should see anything worse than this." + +"What will you do with the principal and the professors?" asked Pelham, +lightly. + +"We can run up within ten or fifteen miles of Cape Sable, give them one +of the boats, and let them go on shore." + +"Perhaps they won't go." + +"We have ten fellows already in the Chain, who are seventeen years old. +If we get half the crew, we can handle the other half, and the +professors with them." + +"All right! I'm with you, whether you succeed or not. I'm not going to +be ground under Lowington's feet, and be snubbed by such fellows as +Gordon. If I want to smoke a cigar, I'm going to do it." + +"Or take a glass of wine," suggested Shuffles. + +"If there is any on board." + +"There is, plenty of it. I'll make you a present of a bottle, if you +wish it." + +"Thank you. Suppose we get the ship, Shuffles, who are to be the +officers?" asked Pelham. + +"We shall have good fellows for officers. You will be one, of course." + +"I suppose I am higher in rank now than any fellow who has joined the +Chain." + +"Yes, that's a fact; but we are not going to mind who are officers now, +or who have been before. We intend to take the best fellows--those who +have done the most work in making the Chain." + +"Whether they are competent or not," added Pelham. + +"All the fellows know how to work a ship now, except the green hands +that came aboard this year." + +"This is rather an important matter. Shuffles, for everything depends +upon the officers. For instance, who will be captain?" asked Pelham, +with assumed indifference. + +"I shall, of course," replied Shuffles, with becoming modesty. + +"That's a settled matter, I suppose." + +"Yes; without a doubt it is." + +"I may not agree to that," suggested the new convert. + +"You have already agreed to it. You have promised to obey your +superiors." + +"But who are my superiors?" + +"I am one of them." + +"Who appointed you?" + +"I appointed myself. I got up the Chain." + +"I think I have just as much right to that place as you have. Shuffles." + +"I don't see it! Do you expect me to get up this thing, and then take a +subordinate position?" demanded Shuffles, indignantly. + +"Let the members choose the captain; that's the proper way." + +"Perhaps they will choose neither one of us." + +"Very well; I will agree to serve under any fellow who is fairly +elected." + +"When shall he be chosen?" asked Shuffles, who was so sure of a majority +that he was disposed to adopt the suggestion. + +"When we have thirty links, say." + +"I will agree to it." + +The conspirators separated, each to obtain recruits as fast as he could. +During the latter part of the day, the gale began to subside, and at +sunset its force was broken, but the sea still ran fearfully high. The +fore course was shaken out, and the ship filled away again, plunging +madly into the savage waves. + +On Sunday morning, the gale had entirely subsided; but the wind still +came from the same quarter, and the weather was cloudy. The sea had +abated its fury, though the billows still rolled high, and the ship had +an ugly motion. During the night, the reefs had been turned out of the +topsails; the jib, flying-jib, and spanker had been set, and the Young +America was making a course east-south-east. + +"Sail ho!" shouted one of the crew on the top-gallant forecastle, after +the forenoon watch was set. + +"Where away?" demanded the officer of the deck. + +"Over the lee bow, sir," was the report which came through the officers +on duty. + +The report created a sensation, as it always does When a sail is seen; +for one who has not spent days and weeks on the broad expanse of waters, +can form only an inadequate idea of the companionship which those in one +ship feel for those in another, even while they are miles apart. Though +the crew of the Young America had been shut out from society only about +three days, they had already begun to realize this craving for +association--this desire to see other people and be conscious of their +existence. + +After the severe gale through which they had just passed, this sentiment +was stronger than it would have been under other circumstances. The +ocean had been lashed into unwonted fury by the mad winds. A fierce gale +had been raging for full twenty-four hours, and the tempest was +suggestive of what the sailor dreads most--shipwreck, with its long +train of disaster--suffering, privation, and death. It was hardly +possible that such a terrible storm had swept the sea without carrying +down some vessels with precious freights of human life. + +The Young America had safely ridden out the gale, for all that human art +could do to make her safe and strong had been done without regard to +expense. No niggardly owners had built her of poor and insufficient +material, or sent her to sea weakly manned and with incompetent +officers. The ship was heavily manned; eighteen or twenty men would have +been deemed a sufficient crew to work her; and though her force +consisted of boys, they would average more than two thirds of the muscle +and skill of able-bodied seamen. + +There were other ships abroad on the vast ocean, which could not compare +with her in strength and appointments, and which had not one third of +her working power on board. No ship can absolutely defy the elements, +and there is no such thing as absolute safety in a voyage across the +ocean; but there is far less peril than people who have had no +experience generally suppose. The Cunard steamers have been running more +than a quarter of a century, with the loss of only one ship, and no +lives in that one--a triumphant result achieved by strong ships, with +competent men to manage them. Poorly built ships, short manned, with +officers unfit for their positions, constitute the harvest of +destruction on the ocean. + +Mr. Lowington believed that the students of the Academy Ship would be as +safe on board the Young America as they would on shore. He had taken a +great deal of pains to demonstrate his theory to parents, and though he +often failed, he often succeeded. The Young America had just passed +through one of the severest gales of the year, and in cruising for the +next three years, she would hardly encounter a more terrific storm. She +had safely weathered it; the boys had behaved splendidly, and not one of +them had been lost, or even injured, by the trying exposure. The +principal's theory was thus far vindicated. + +The starboard watch piped to breakfast, when the sail was discovered, +too far off to make her out. The boys all manifested a deep interest in +the distant wanderer on the tempestuous sea, mingled with a desire to +know how the stranger had weathered the gale. Many of them went up the +shrouds into the tops, and the spy-glasses were in great demand. + +"Do you make her out, Captain Gordon?" asked Mr. Fluxion, as he came up +from his breakfast, and discovered the commander watching the stranger +through the glass. + +"Yes, sir; I can just make her out now. Her foremast and mainmast have +gone by the board, and she has the ensign, union down, hoisted at her +mizzen," replied the captain, with no little excitement in his manner. + +"Indeed!" exclaimed the teacher of mathematics, as he took the glass. +"You are right, Captain Gordon, and you had better keep her away." + +"Shall I speak to Mr. Lowington first, sir?" asked the captain. + +"I think there is no need of it in the present instance. There can be +no doubt what he will do when a ship is in distress." + +"Mr. Kendall, keep her away two points," said the captain to the officer +of the deck. "What is the ship's course now?" + +"East-south-east, sir," replied the second lieutenant, who had the deck. + +"Make it south-east." + +"South-east, sir," repeated Kendall. "Quartermaster keep her away two +points," he added to the petty officer conning the wheel. + +"Two points, sir," said Bennington, the quartermaster + +"Make the course south-east." + +"South-east, sir." + +After all these repetitions it was not likely that any mistake would +occur; and the discipline of the ship required every officer and seaman +who received a material order, especially in regard to the helm or the +course, to repeat it, and thus make sure that it was not misunderstood. + +It was Sunday; and no study was required, or work performed, except the +necessary ship's duty. Morning prayers had been said, as usual, and +there was to be divine service in the steerage, forenoon and afternoon, +for all who could possibly attend; and this rule excepted none but the +watch on deck. By this system, the quarter watch on duty in the +forenoon, attended in the afternoon; those who were absent at morning +prayers were always present at the evening devotions; and blow high or +blow low, the brief matin and vesper service were never omitted, for +young men in the midst of the sublimity and the terrors of the ocean +could least afford to be without the daily thought of God, "who plants +his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm." + +Every man and boy in the ship was watching the speck on the watery +waste, which the glass had revealed to be a dismasted, and perhaps +sinking ship. The incident created an intense interest, and was +calculated to bring out the finer feelings of the students. They were +full of sympathy for her people, and the cultivation of noble and +unselfish sentiments, which the occasion had already called forth, and +was likely to call forth in a still greater degree, was worth the voyage +over the ocean; for there are impressions to be awakened by such a scene +which can be garnered in no other field. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE WRECK OF THE SYLVIA. + + +The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it +appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention. The +booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too +far off to be distinctly seen. + +On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, +four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals. They had never +been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not +encourage their use among the boys. On the present occasion he ordered +Peaks, the boatswain, to fire twice, to assure the ship in distress that +her signals were heard. + +The top-gallant sails were set, and the speed of the ship increased as +much as possible; but the heavy sea was not favorable to rapid progress +through the water. At four bells, when all hands but the second part of +the port watch were piped to attend divine service in the steerage, the +Young America was about four miles distant from the dismasted vessel. +She was rolling and pitching heavily, and not making more than two or +three knots an hour. + +Notwithstanding the impatience of the crew, and their desire to be on +deck, where they could see the wreck, the service on that Sunday +forenoon was especially impressive. Mr. Agneau prayed earnestly for +those who were suffering by the perils of the sea, and that those who +should draw near unto them in the hour of their danger, might be filled +with the love of God and of man, which would inspire them to be faithful +to the duties of the occasion. + +When the service was ended the students went on deck again. The wreck +could now be distinctly seen. It was a ship of five or six hundred tons, +rolling helplessly in the trough of the sea. She was apparently +water-logged, if not just ready to go down. As the Young America +approached her, her people were seen to be laboring at the pumps, and to +be baling her out with buckets. It was evident from the appearance of +the wreck, that it had been kept afloat only by the severest exertion on +the part of the crew. + +"Mr. Peaks, you will see that the boats are in order for use," said Mr. +Lowington. "We shall lower the barge and the gig." + +"The barge and the gig, sir," replied the boatswain. + +"Captain Gordon," continued the principal, "two of your best officers +must be detailed for the boats." + +"I will send Mr. Kendall in the barge, sir." + +"Very well; he is entirely reliable. Whom will you send in the gig?" + +"I am sorry Shuffles is not an officer now, for he was one of the best +we had for such service," added the captain. + +"Shuffles is out of the question," replied Mr. Lowington. + +"Mr. Haven, then, in the gig." + +"The sea is very heavy, and the boats must be handled with skill and +prudence." + +"The crews have been practised in heavy seas, though in nothing like +this." + +The barge and the gig--called so by courtesy--were the two largest boats +belonging to the ship, and pulled eight oars each. They were light and +strong, and had been built with especial reference to the use for which +they were intended. They were life-boats, and before the ship sailed, +they had been rigged with life-lines and floats. If they were upset in a +heavy sea, the crews could save themselves by clinging to the rope, +buoyed up by the floats. + +The Young America stood up towards the wreck, intending to pass under +her stern as near as it was prudent to lay, the head of the dismasted +ship being to the north-west. + +"Boatswain, pipe all hands to muster," said the captain, prompted by Mr. +Lowington, as the ship approached the wreck. + +"All hands on deck, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain, piping the call. + +The first lieutenant took the trumpet from the officer of the deck, and +the crew, all of whom were on deck when the call was sounded, sprang to +their muster stations. + +"All hands, take in courses," said the executive officer; and those who +were stationed at the tacks and sheets, clew-garnets and buntlines, +prepared to do their duty when the boatswain piped the call. + +"Man the fore and main clew-garnets and buntlines!" shouted the first +lieutenant. "Stand by tacks and sheets!" + +The fore and main sail, being the lowest square sails, are called the +courses. There is no corresponding sail on the mizzenmast. The ropes by +which the lower corners of these sails are hauled up for furling are the +clew-garnets--the same that are designated clewlines on the topsails. + +The tacks and sheets are the ropes by which the courses are hauled down, +and kept in place, the tack being on the windward side, and the sheet on +the leeward. + +"All ready, sir," reported the lieutenants forward. + +"Haul taut! Let go tacks and sheets! Haul up!" + +These orders being promptly obeyed, the courses were hauled up, and the +ship was under topsails and top-gallant sails, jib, flying-jib, and +spanker. + +"Ship, ahoy!" shouted the first lieutenant through his trumpet, as the +Young America rolled slowly along under the stern of the wreck. + +"Ship, ahoy!" replied a voice from the deck of the wreck. "We are in a +sinking condition! Will you take us off?" + +"Ay, ay!" cried Haven, with right good will. + +"You will heave to the ship, Mr. Haven," said the captain, when she had +passed a short distance beyond the wreck. + +"Man the jib and flying-jib halyards and down-hauls," said the first +lieutenant. + +"All ready forward, sir," replied the second lieutenant, on the +forecastle. + +"Stand by the maintop bowline! Cast off! Man the main braces!" + +"Let go the jib and flying-jib halyards! Haul down!" And the jibs were +taken in. + +"Slack off the lee braces! Haul on the weather braces!" + +The main-topsail and top-gallant were thus thrown aback, and the Young +America was hove to, in order to enable her people to perform their +humane mission. + +"Stand by to lower the barge and gig!" continued Haven. + +"Mr. Haven, you will board the wreck in the gig," said Captain Gordon. + +"Yes, sir," replied he, touching his cap, and handing the trumpet to the +second lieutenant. + +"Mr. Kendall, you will take charge of the barge," added the captain. + +"The barge, sir," answered Kendall, passing the trumpet to Goodwin, the +third lieutenant, who, during the absence of his superiors, was to +discharge the duty of the executive officer. + +The boats were cleared away, and every preparation made for lowering +them into the water. This was a difficult and dangerous manoeuvre in the +heavy sea which was running at the time. The professors' barge, which +was secured at the davits on the weather side of the ship, was to be +lowered with her crew on board, and they took their places on the +thwarts, with their hands to the oars in readiness for action. The +principal had requested Mr. Fluxion to go in the barge and Mr. Peaks in +the gig, not to command the boats, but to give the officers such +suggestions as the emergency of the occasion might require. + +"All ready, sir," reported Ward, the coxswain of the barge, when the +oarsmen were in their places. + +"Stand by the after tackle, Ward," said Haven. "Bowman, attend to the +fore tackle." + +At a favorable moment, when a great wave was sinking down by the ship's +side, the order was given to lower away, and in an instant the barge +struck the water. Ward cast off the after tackle, and the bowman did the +same with the forward tackle. At the moment the order to lower was +given, as the wave sank down, the ship rolled to windward, and the boat +struck the water some eight feet from the vessel's side. + +"Up oars!" said the coxswain, with energy. + +"Lively, Ward," added the first lieutenant. + +"Let fall!" continued the coxswain, as a billow lifted the boat, so that +those on board could see the ship's deck. "Give way together!" + +The barge, tossed like a feather on the high seas, gathered headway, and +moved off towards the wreck. + +The lowering of the barge had been so successful that the same method +was adopted with the gig; but as she was under the lee of the ship, +there was less difficulty in getting her off. She pulled round the +ship's bow, and having made less stern way in starting both boats came +up under the counter of the wreck at about the same time. When the barge +and gig reached the ship, a line was thrown to each of them over the +quarter, which the bowman caught, and made fast to the ring. + +"Where is the captain of the ship?" demanded Mr. Haven. + +"Here," shouted that officer. + +"How many have you aboard?" + +"Eighteen!" + +"You must slide down on a rope over the stern; we can't go alongside," +continued the first lieutenant. + +"Ay, ay, sir!" responded the captain of the ship. "I have two women and +two children on board." + +"You must lower them in slings," added Haven, prompted by Mr. Fluxion. + +[Illustration: THE WRECK OF THE SYLVIA. page 254.] + +The people on board the wreck went to work, and one of the women was +lowered into each boat at the same time. A long loop was made in the end +of the rope, and the woman sat down in the bight of it, holding on to +the line with her hands. At a moment when the sea favored the movement, +the boats were hauled up close to the ship's stern, the passenger caught +by two of the crew, and hauled on board. A boy and a girl were let down +in the same manner. The captain, mates, and seamen came down the rope +hand over hand. + +Each boat now had nine passengers, who were stowed in the stern sheets +and on the bottom. The ropes from the ship were cast off, and the +oarsmen were ordered to give way. The barge and the gig rose and fell, +now leaping up on the huge billows, and then plunging down deep into the +trough of the sea; but they had been well trimmed, and though the comb +of the sea occasionally broke into them, drenching the boys with spray, +the return to the Young America was safely effected. + +"How happens it that you are all boys?" asked the captain of the wrecked +ship, who was in Paul Kendall's boat. + +"That's the Academy Ship," replied the second lieutenant. + +"The what?" exclaimed the captain. + +"It is the Young America. She is a school ship." + +"O, ay!" + +There was no disposition to talk much in the boats. The officers and +crews were fully employed in keeping the barge and gig right side up in +the tremendous sea, and though all hands were filled with curiosity to +know the particulars of the wreck, all questions were wisely deferred +until they were on the deck of the ship. + +When the gig came up under the counter of the Young America, a line was +thrown down to the bowman who made it fast to the ring. The passengers +were then taken aboard in slings rigged on the spanker-boom, which was +swung over the lee quarter for the purpose. Part of the boat's crew were +taken on board in the same way, and then the gig was hoisted up to the +davits with the rest in her. + +Before the barge was allowed to come up under the counter, the officer +of the deck wore ship, so as to bring the port quarter, on which the +boat was to be suspended, on the lee side. Her passengers were taken on +deck as those from the gig had been, and she was hoisted up. + +"Mr. Kendall, I congratulate you upon the success of your labors," said +Mr. Lowington, when the second lieutenant reached the deck. "You have +handled your boat exceedingly well, and you deserve a great deal of +credit." + +"That's a fact, sir," added Boatswain Peaks, touching his cap. "I hardly +spoke a word to him, and I've seen many a boat worse handled in a sea." + +Paul blushed at the praise bestowed upon him, but he was proud and happy +to have done his duty faithfully on this important occasion. The same +commendation was given to the first lieutenant, after the barge had been +hauled up to the davits, and the order given for the ship to fill away +again. + +The women and children were conducted to the professors' cabin as soon +as they came on board, and the seamen were taken into the steerage. All +of them were exhausted by the anxiety and the hardships they had +endured, and as soon as their safety was insured, they sank almost +helpless under the pressure of their physical weakness. + +"This is a school ship, I'm told," said Captain Greely, the master of +the shipwrecked vessel, who had also been invited to the main cabin. + +"Yes, sir; we call it the Academy Ship, and we have eighty-seven young +gentlemen on board," replied Mr. Lowington. + +"They are smart boys, sir. I never saw boats better handled than those +which brought us off from the ship," added Captain Greely, warmly. + +"Your voyage has come to an unfortunate conclusion," said Mr. Lowington. + +"Yes, sir; I have lost my ship, but I thank God my wife and children are +safe," answered the weather-beaten seaman, as he glanced at one of the +women while the great tears flowed down his sun-browned cheeks. + +"Poor children!" sighed Mr. Agneau, as he patted the little girl on the +head; and his own eyes were dim with the tears he shed for others' woes. + +Captain Greely told his story very briefly. His ship was the Sylvia, +thirty days out of Liverpool, bound to New York. She had encountered a +heavy gale a week before, in which she had badly sprung her mainmast. +Finding it impossible to lay her to under the foresail, they had been +compelled to set the main-topsail, reefed; but even this was too much +for the weak mast, and it had gone by the board, carrying the second +mate and five men with it. The Sylvia was old, and the captain +acknowledged that she was hardly sea-worthy. She became unmanageable, +and the foremast had been cut away to ease off the strain upon her. Her +seams opened, and she was making more water than could be controlled +with the pumps. For eighteen hours, all hands, even including the two +women, had labored incessantly at the pumps and the buckets, to keep the +ship afloat. They were utterly worn out when they discovered the Young +America, were on the point of abandoning their efforts in despair, and +taking to the boats, in which most of them would probably have perished. + +After the boats started from the Young America, Mr. Lowington had +ordered the cooks to prepare a meal for the people from the wreck; and +as soon as they came on board, coffee and tea, beefsteaks, fried +potatoes, and hot biscuit were in readiness for them. Tables were spread +in the main cabin and in the steerage, and the exhausted guests, +providentially sent to this bountiful board, were cordially invited to +partake. They had eaten nothing but hard bread since the gale came on, +and they were in condition to appreciate the substantial fare set before +them. + +By the forethought of Captain Greely, the clothing of the women and +children had been thrown into one of the boats. The bundle was opened, +and its contents dried at the galley fire. The doctor and the chaplain +gave up their state room to the captain, his wife and children, while +Mr. Lowington extended a similar courtesy to the other woman, who was +Mrs. Greely's sister. Mr. Fluxion was the first to offer his berth to +the mate of the Sylvia, which was reluctantly accepted; and all the +professors were zealous to sacrifice their own comfort to the wants of +the wrecked visitors. + +In the steerage, every boy, without an exception, wanted to give up his +berth to one of the seamen from the Sylvia; but the privilege was +claimed by the adult forward officers, the cooks, and stewards. The +principal was finally obliged to decide between them: and for obvious +reasons, he directed that the guests should occupy the quarters of the +men, rather than of the boys. The people from the Sylvia needed rest and +nourishment more than anything else. They were warmed, and fed, and +dried, and then permitted to sleep off the fatigues of their severe +exertion. + +At three o'clock, though they had slept but an hour or two, most of the +shipwrecked people appeared at divine service, for this was a privilege +which they had long been denied, and it would be strange, at such a +time, if the hearts of those who had been saved from the angry flood +were not overflowing with gratitude to God for his mercy to them. Mr. +Agneau, whose sensitive nature had been keenly touched by the events of +the day, made a proper use of the occasion, delivering a very effective +address to the students and to the shipwrecked voyagers, who formed his +little congregation. + +The next morning the wind came up fresh and warm from the southward, +knocking down the heavy sea, and giving a delightful day to those on +board the ship. The passengers appeared on deck, and were greatly +interested in the Young America and her juvenile crew. Captain Greely's +son and daughter were little lions, of the first class, among the boys. +All hands vied with each other in their efforts to do something for the +guests of the ship, and it really seemed as though the era of good +feeling had dawned upon them. Even Shuffles and Pelham forgot, for a +time, the interests of the Chain League, and joined with others in +petting the children of the wreck, and in laboring for the happiness of +the involuntary guests. + +On this day, observations for latitude and longitude were obtained, and +at noon the ship was found to be in latitude 42 deg., 37', 5" N.; longitude +64 deg., 39', 52" W. The position of the ship was marked on the chart by the +masters, in council assembled, and the calculations made for the course. +Bowditch's Navigator, an indispensable work to the seaman, was consulted +frequently both for the rules and the nautical tables it contains. The +course, after allowing for the variation of the compass, was found to +be north-east by east, which, agreeing with the calculations of Mr. +Fluxion, was given out to the quartermaster conning the wheel. + +The wind continued to blow fresh from the south and south-west during +the rest of the day and the succeeding night; and the log-slate showed +ten and eleven knots until midnight, when the wind hauled round to the +westward, and soon came strong from that quarter. At noon on Tuesday, +April 5, the Young America had made two hundred and forty-four miles +during the preceding twenty-four hours, which was the best run she had +had during the voyage. + +On the afternoon of this day, a ship, bound to the westward, was seen, +and Captain Greely expressed a desire to be put on board of her, with +his family, as he did not wish to return to the point from which he had +just come. The Young America bore down upon the sail, and spoke her at +sundown. Her captain was willing to take the shipwrecked voyagers on +board his ship, which was bound to New York, and they were transferred +in the barge and gig. Captain Greely and his party were very grateful +for the attentions they had received; and the little boy and girl almost +rebelled at the idea of leaving their new and partial friends. + +As the two ships were filling away, after the transfer of the +passengers, the seamen of the New York ship, having learned what the +Young America was, gave three cheers, and dipped her ensign in +compliment to her. All the young tars were immediately ordered into the +rigging by Captain Gordon, and "three times three" were most lustily +given. The American flag at her peak was lowered three times, in reply +to the salute of the stranger. As the Academy Ship stood off on her +course, the two children of Captain Greely were seen, on the poop-deck +of the other vessel, waving their handkerchiefs; and they continued to +do so as long as they could be seen. + +The departure of the guests had a saddening effect upon the crew of the +Young America, as they missed the children and the ladies very much; +for, during their presence on board, the ship had assumed quite a +domestic aspect, and all the idlers on deck found pleasing companions in +the little boy and girl. + +The limits of this volume do not permit a full detail of the entire +voyage across the ocean. Enough has been given to show the discipline of +the ship, and the daily life of the boys on board of her. For the next +ten days the weather was generally favorable, and she laid her course +all the time. Some days she made two hundred miles, and others less than +one hundred. + +On the sixteenth day from her departure, she was in latitude 51 deg., 4', +28" N.; longitude 31 deg., 10', 2" W.; course, E. by N. In going from Cape +Race, the southern point of Newfoundland, to Cape Clear, the southern +point of Ireland, the Young America did not lay a straight course, as it +would appear when drawn on a map or chart. La Rochelle, on the western +coast of France, and Cape Race are nearly on the same parallel of +latitude, and the former is exactly east of the latter. But the parallel +on which both points lie would not be the shortest line between them. A +great circle, extending entirely around the earth in the broadest part, +going through both, would not coincide with the parallel, but would run +to the north of it a considerable distance at a point half way between +the two places, the separation diminishing each way till the great +circle crosses the parallel at Cape Race and La Rochelle. The shortest +course between the two points, therefore, would be the arc of the great +circle lying between them. A skilful navigator would find and follow +this track. This is called great circle sailing. + +The Young America followed a great circle from Cape Race to Cape Clear. +Off the former point, her course was two points north of east; off the +latter, it was half a point south of east. On her twentieth day out she +sailed due east. + +After the excitement of the wreck and the departure of the passengers, +Shuffles and his confederates resumed their operations in the Chain +League, assisted somewhat by a case of discipline which occurred at this +time. When the ship was sixteen days out the Chain consisted of +thirty-one links, in the cabalistic language of the conspirators, and +Shuffles was in favor of striking the blow. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +PEAS AND BEANS. + + +The business of the Chain had been managed with extreme caution by the +conspirators, and more than one third of the crew had been initiated +without the knowledge of the principal and professors, or of the +officers and seamen who were not members. Pelham and Shuffles ordered +the affairs of the League, and no "link" was allowed to approach an +outsider for the purpose of inducing him to join without the consent of +one of these worthies. + +As the scheme progressed, various modifications had been made in the +plan to adapt it to circumstances, the principal of which was the choice +of two "shackles," who should be deemed the officers of the League until +a regular election had taken place. By this invention, Shuffles and +Pelham had been enabled to compromise their differences, for they +assumed the newly-created offices, and labored as equals in the bad +cause. Each endeavored to make as many new "links" as possible, for +already the conspirators consisted of two factions, one of which favored +the election of Shuffles, and the other that of Pelham, to the +captaincy. Each, in a measure, controlled his own recruits, and was +reasonably sure of their votes when the election should be ordered. + +These young gentlemen were not only plotting to take the ship, but to +"take in" each other. While both worked for the League as a whole, each +worked for himself as an individual. Shuffles was much more thorough +than his rival in the making of his converts. He told them the whole +story, and taught them to look full in the face the extreme peril of the +undertaking. He did not conceal anything from them. On the other hand, +Pelham merely represented the project as a means of redressing the +grievances of the officers and crew; of having their money restored to +them, and abolishing certain portions of the regulations which pressed +hard upon those who were disposed to be unruly. + +Though the number of "links" in the "Chain" has been mentioned, it was +not known to either of the rivals. Each knew his own peculiar followers, +but he did not know how many the other could muster. Though there were +signs and passwords by which the members could know each other, there +were no means by which any one could precisely sum up the whole number +of "links." Shuffles could count thirteen including his rival, while +Pelham could number nineteen without his coequal in authority. The +former believed the list to consist of about twenty four, while the +latter estimated it above thirty. With them it was a struggle for an +office, as well as to redress their fancied wrongs, and they mutually +deceived each other in order to obtain the advantage. + +"How many do you suppose we can muster now?" asked Shuffles, on the +evening of the eighteenth day out, as they met in the waist, when both +were off duty. + +"About twenty," replied Pelham. + +"There are more than that." + +"Perhaps there are." + +"But it is time to stretch the Chain," added Shuffles, in a whisper. + +"Not yet." + +"If we are ever going to do anything, we must begin soon. We have so +many members now that the danger of exposure increases every day." + +"We can't do anything here. Besides, I am not in favor of having the +time or the manner of accomplishing the work talked about among the +members. I believe in one-man power in an affair of this sort. There +should be one head, who should plan and command; all the rest should +obey. If every step in the thing must be discussed and agreed upon, we +shall never do anything. One fellow will want it done in one way, and +another in some other way." + +"I think you are more than half right," replied Shuffles, who was +confident that he should be the person chosen to arrange the plans and +issue the commands. + +"I know I am wholly right," added Pelham, who was equally confident that +he should enjoy the undivided sway of the League. "If you are chosen +captain I will cheerfully obey your orders. I go a step farther: whoever +is elected captain should appoint his own officers." + +"I will agree to that also," replied the complaisant Shuffles. + +"Very well, then; the understanding is, that when one of us is elected +captain, he shall appoint his own officers, and do all the planning and +all the commanding," answered Pelham. + +"Exactly so; we are now in about longitude thirty-one, and Cork Harbor +is in longitude eight, according to Bowditch, for I was looking the +matter up in the steerage to-day. We have to make about twenty-three +degrees more. A degree of longitude, in latitude fifty-one, is +thirty-seven and three quarters miles, which would make it eight hundred +and sixty-eight miles more to run in order to reach Queenstown. You see +I am posted," said Shuffles. + +"I see you are. By the way, had you noticed that Queenstown is not in +the Navigator, or on the older maps?" added Pelham. + +"Yes; the place was called the Cove of Cork until 1849, when, in honor +of her majesty's visit to the town, the name was changed to Queenstown." + +"All right," said Pelham. + +It need not be supposed that the distance to Queenstown and the change +in the name of that place had anything to do with the League. The fact +was, that Mr. Fluxion had passed near the conspirators, and had paused a +moment in the waist to glance up at the fore-top-gallant sail, which was +not in good trim; and the conversation had been changed to suit the +occasion. In talking of the affairs of the "Chain," it was required that +one of the party should look forward, and the other aft, if there were +two of them; and that the third, if there were three, should stand back +to the nearest rail. It was further required that the conversation +should not take place in a situation where it would be possible for any +one to overhear them. The lee side of the waist,--the midshipman of the +watch always being on the weather side,--the top-gallant forecastle, and +the tops were the favorite resorts of the conspirators. If any one +approached, the parties in conversation were instantly to change the +topic, as Shuffles had done. + +"I think it is about time for the election to take place," continued +Shuffles, when Mr. Fluxion had gone aft. + +"Whenever you are ready, I am," replied Pelham. + +"I am ready now." + +"So am I." + +"Very well; it shall come off to-morrow, say." + +"To-morrow it is, then." + +"But how shall it be conducted?" asked Shuffles. + +"That will not be an easy matter. I think, however we can hit upon some +plan for having it fairly done." + +"Of course the matter lies between you and me," added Shuffles. + +"To be sure." + +"I suppose both of us are ready to abide the issue, whatever it may be," +said Shuffles, who was not a little fearful that his powerful rival +would refuse to acknowledge him when he was chosen, as he confidently +expected to be. + +"I pledge you my word and honor, that I will obey you in all things if +you are fairly elected captain," replied Pelham, who was equally sure of +being chosen himself. + +"Fairly? Who is to decide whether it is fairly done or not?" demanded +Shuffles, unwilling to leave a loop-hole through which his companion +could crawl out of the bargain. + +"When we have agreed upon the means of electing the captain, the choice +shall be final." + +"Good! You and I shall have no difficulty!" exclaimed Shuffles, rather +astonished to find his rival so easily managed, as he regarded it. + +"We will make it a little more binding, if you choose," suggested +Pelham, who, the reader has already been assured by the figures given, +was completely outwitting the author and inventor of the Chain League. + +"With all my heart!" + +"We will toggle each other on this special question if you like." + +"The stronger we make the bond the better," said Shuffles. "Repeat after +me." + +"Not here, Shuffles. There is a steamer on our weather bow. Let's go up +into the mizzentop, and have a look at her with a night glass." + +Mr. Haven, the first lieutenant, who was in charge of the deck, +permitted them to go aloft with the glass, for the officers were +empowered to grant small favors. On reaching the top, they glanced at +the steamer, and then resumed the conversation which had been suspended +on deck, it being too dark for the officers below to see what they were +doing. + +"Now go ahead," said Pelham. + +"Repeat after me." + +"All right." + +"I promise, without any reservation, to acknowledge Shuffles as captain, +if he is chosen, and faithfully to obey his orders, on penalty of +falling overboard accidentally." + +Pelham repeated these words, and then "toggled" his rival in the same +manner. + +"Now we understand each other perfectly, and there will be no chance of +dragging the anchor," said Shuffles, satisfied that his sway would be +undisputed. "Let me say, in addition to this, that if I should happen to +be chosen, I shall make you my first officer, Pelham." + +"And I will make you my first officer, if I should happen to be chosen," +replied the obliging Pelham. "Of course I don't expect to be chosen; you +have had the swing of this affair, and you will have all the advantage." + +"No, I think not; you are an officer now, and you have more influence +than I have," added the modest Shuffles. + +If both had been laboring for the organization of the League on the same +terms, Shuffles would certainly have the better chance of an election; +but Pelham had been taking in members on false pretences, merely +representing to those whom he approached that the League was an +association having for its object the redress of their grievances. To +only a few had he mentioned the fact that a regular mutiny was +contemplated; that the ship was to be taken out of the hands of the +principal, and an independent cruise commenced. He was afraid the whole +truth would be more than some of them could bear; and perhaps he had so +little faith in the extreme measures to be carried out by the League, +that he was unwilling even to mention them. + +Those who serve the evil one can neither trust each other nor trust +their master. + +The only real confidence in each other which can exist among men or boys +must be based on moral and religious principle. + +The man who pays his debts, or who performs his obligations to his +fellow-men, for his reputation's sake, rather than from devotion to pure +principle, will fail of his duty when he can conceal his infidelity, or +when his reputation will not suffer from his acts. + +A man or a boy without principle is not to be trusted out of the line of +his own interest. + +While Shuffles and Pelham were pledging themselves to a kind of romantic +fidelity, they were plotting each against the other, each being +satisfied that he had the advantage of the other. + +"Now, I'm afraid the election will give us some trouble," continued +Shuffles. "It will not be an easy matter to conduct it fairly--not that +any fellow means to cheat, but it must be conducted with so much secrecy +that we can't superintend the ballot properly." + +"I know there is all that difficulty, but I have thought of a method +which I believe will give us a fair election," replied Pelham. + +"Have you? So have I." + +"Well, what is your plan? If it is better than mine, I am willing to +adopt it." + +"I was thinking, as you and I are the only candidates that each of us +might be represented by one side of the ship. You shall be port, and I +will be starboard Then every link in the Chain shall hand his vote, on +which shall be written the single word port or starboard either to you +or me; and if there are more port than starboard, you will be captain; +if more starboard than port, I shall be captain! How does that idea +strike you?" + +"Pretty well; but the fellows have all got to write their votes, and +others will want to know what it means. It will set outsiders to +thinking, and I don't believe the plan is quite safe." + +"Well, what is your method?" asked Shuffles, who was willing to +acknowledge the force of his rival's objections. + +"Perhaps my plan is as open to objection as yours," answered Pelham; +"but it will require no writing. Each of us shall get a handful of beans +and a handful of peas. We can easily obtain them when the store rooms +are opened. You shall be beans, and I will be peas." + +"How are you, Peas?" said Shuffles, laughing at the idea. + +"How are you, Beans?" added Pelham. + +"Go on with your soup." + +"We will give to every fellow belonging to the Chain one pea and one +bean." + +"I understand the plan now; but where are the fellows to deposit their +vegetable ballots?" + +"We can have a receiver; appoint some good fellow for the purpose--say, +Greenway, the captain of the forecastle; or Tom Ellis, the third +master." + +"Tom Ellis! Does he belong?" + +"Of course he does," laughed Pelham, who realized that he had been a +little too fast in betraying the strength of his faction. + +"I wouldn't appoint an officer." + +"Well, you mention some fellow," said the politic Pelham. + +"Say Wilton." + +"Mention another." + +"Lynch." + +"No; try again." + +"Grossbeck." + +"Very well; I will agree to him." + +"But he might make some mistake." + +"If he does, it will be in your favor, I suppose; for you nominated him, +and, of course, he will give you the benefit of any doubt," replied +Pelham. + +"I want a fellow who will do it fairly. I don't wish to get in by any +mistake," said Shuffles, magnanimously. + +"Neither do I? and I don't think there will be any mistakes." + +"There is a chance for a great many. The fellows may get mixed between +beans and peas. When they come to vote, there will be some who don't +know beans," laughed Shuffles. + +"Well, if they don't, they will know peas, which will do just as well," +replied Pelham. + +"It would not be pleasant for me to have them know peas, when they ought +to know beans." + +"We will give them P.P. as a clew to the whole thing." + +"P.P.? That means P's, I suppose." + +"It means that, and more. P. for Pelham, and P. for peas. If they get +one right, they can't very well get the other wrong." + +"That's true," answered Shuffles, silenced, rather than convinced, by +the tactics of his fellow-conspirator. + +It was settled that he who knew peas must certainly "know beans." + +"When shall the fellows vote?" asked Shuffles. + +"After dinner to-morrow afternoon. Every fellow will be off duty an hour +in the first or second dog watch," replied Pelham, who seemed to have an +answer ready for every question. "The polls shall be kept open till +eight o'clock. The peas and beans shall be distributed before eight +bells in the forenoon watch, so that every fellow will be ready to +vote." + +"Where will Grossbeck stand when he receives the ballots?" + +"He won't stand anywhere in particular. We will see him together, and +give him his instructions. I think it will be better for him to walk +about the ship, and let the fellows hand him the votes on the sly, which +he must put in his pocket. He shall count them in the presence of both +of us." + +"Suppose he should lose some of them?" suggested Shuffles. + +"If he does, he is as likely to lose peas as beans." + +"I don't want to be chosen in any such manner as by the loss of the +votes." + +"I can't see that there is any more danger of his losing them than there +is of his losing his head. I see you are not entirely satisfied with the +plan." + +"To tell you the truth, Pelham, I am not. There is, at least, a chance +for mistakes." + +"I'm willing to do anything you like, that will make the election a +fairer one." + +"I have it!" exclaimed Shuffles. "We can give each fellow two peas and +two beans, and let him vote twice." + +"What good will that do?" + +"I'll tell you. We want another receiver; then let each fellow vote +twice, giving a pea or a bean to both of the receivers. If the two +results don't agree, it shall not be an election." + +"That's a first-rate idea, Shuffles, and I go in for it with all my +might," replied Pelham, with so much warmth that his companion was put +in the best of humor. "Who shall be the other receiver?" + +"Name some one," said Shuffles, generously conceding the nomination to +his confederate. + +"Perth." + +"No." + +Shuffles objected because Pelham had done so when he had mentioned two +names. + +"Richton." + +"Once more." + +"McKeon." + +"Right. McKeon is an honest, careful fellow," added Shuffles. "Now I +think there can be no mistake." + +The minor details of the election were carefully arranged, and the boys +went below again. They gave satisfactory replies to the first +lieutenant, who questioned them in regard to the steamer they had gone +aloft to examine. Pelham thought she was a "Cunarder," but Shuffles was +confident she belonged to the Inman line; and it is quite certain +neither of them had any opinion whatever in regard to her, except that +she was going west; for the red light on her port side was visible. + +On the following day, Grossbeck and McKeon, the receivers who had been +appointed, were waited upon, separately, by the two "Shackles." They +accepted the important trust which was confided to them, and each was +duly and solemnly admonished of the necessity of entire fairness. They +were informed that any discrepancy in the number of ballots in the hands +of the two receivers would cause the vote to be rejected; and they +individually promised to be both faithful and careful. + +The beans and the peas were readily obtained, and were distributed among +the members of the League, with the necessary secrecy. Some of the +independent voters needed a little persuasion to induce them to vote, +when informed that the choice was between the "Shackles" only; but they +yielded the point, and entered heartily into the excitement of the +event; for, secret as were the proceedings, they were attended with no +little exhilaration of feeling. + +The voting commenced in the afternoon watch. The second part of the +starboard watch, being off duty, gave in their peas and beans first. The +receivers, without even knowing all the members of the League, took +whatever was handed to them "on the sly," and looked as careless and +indifferent as though nothing was going on. The only responsibility that +rested upon them, besides the general duty of carefulness and fidelity, +was to see that no one voted twice. "Vote early and vote often" was not +countenanced; and one receiver acted as a check upon the other. + +The election progressed so secretly that no occasion for suspicion was +given; and though the ballots were deposited under the eyes of the +principal and the professors they saw nothing, and had not the remotest +idea that anything wrong was in progress. + +In the last half of the first dog watch, Shuffles began to be excited. +He was too much of a politician to be idle while any voting was going +on? and so far as his duty would permit, he had watched the receivers +since the balloting commenced. He had seen seven or eight vote of whose +membership in the Chain he had no previous knowledge. He saw that Pelham +had made more initiates than he had been willing to acknowledge, +apparently concealing the facts for the purpose of favoring his own +election. He observed that all the officers of his rival's quarter watch +voted, and he was almost certain that he had been defeated. + +Shuffles was angry and indignant when he discovered the treacherous +shrewdness of his fellow-conspirator; but he had solemnly promised to +abide the result of the election, and he could not recede from his +position without a violation of the "honor among thieves" which is said +to exist. The poll would not be closed for half an hour; and as he had +been cheated he deemed it quite right to restore the equilibrium by a +resort to the same policy. + +"Wilton, I have been cheated," said he, angrily, as he met his old crony +in the waist. + +"How do you know you have?" + +"I know it. I will explain by and by. Something must be done. I am +beaten as sure as you live." + +"Well, I can't help it if you are. You and Pelham have fixed things to +suit yourselves, and now you must fight it out between you," replied +Wilton, as he turned on his heel, and left the mighty mischief-maker +alone and disconcerted. + +"Where do all these beans come from?" said Paul Kendall, as he noticed +the rejected ballots of the Pelhamites, which they had not even taken +the trouble to throw over the rail. + +"It's a new game the fellows are playing," replied Shuffles, with +apparent indifference, as he walked aft with the second lieutenant. + +"What's that?" asked Paul, curiously. + +"It's called 'Don't know Beans,'" answered Shuffles in deep thought. +"The fellows have a good deal of sport out of it in the off-time." + +"'Don't know Beans!' I never heard of such a game before. Tell me about +it." + +"You see Grossbeck and McKeon?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, they are the _butts,_ as we call them. All the fellows in our +watch have some beans," added Shuffles, taking a handful of them from +his pocket. + +"What do they do with them?" + +"You try it yourself. Take two of these beans." + +Paul took them. + +"Now you must give one to Grossbeck, and the other to McKeon, without +letting any fellow see you do it. If any fellow does see you give it to +either of them, he will say, in a low tone, 'Don't know Beans,' and then +the butt must drop it on deck. When the even bell strikes, Grossbeck and +McKeon must count their beans. The one who has the most must appoint the +next two bean-pots, or butts; and the one who has the smaller number +must pick up all the beans that have been dropped on the deck. There is +fun in it; though, perhaps, you wouldn't think so." + +"I will try it, at any rate." + +Paul did try it, and succeeded, as all others did, in giving the beans +to the receivers without any one uttering the warning words. He was +rather pleased with the game, so suddenly invented, and the two officers +of his watch were induced to try the experiment. Then Blackburn, +Endicott, and Bennington were supplied with beans by Shuffles, who +instructed his auditors that not a word must be said about the matter to +the "butts," or to any one in the waist. The last three were as +successful as the first three. Then Thompson and Cartwright were equally +fortunate. Finally, Captain Gordon's attention was attracted, and he +descended so far from his dignity as to deposit the beans. + +Shuffles was satisfied. He had procured nine votes, and he was confident +that he had thus defeated his rival. As a matter of precaution, he +directed McKeon to pick up the beans scattered in the waist; and the +"outsiders" who had cast the nine votes believed that he was the unlucky +butt, who had been beaten in the game. + +"The captain and half the officers voted," whispered Grossbeck at four +bells. + +"Certainly; that's all right. You and McKeon will meet Pelham and me in +the waist at eight bells," replied Shuffles, as he went below. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE RESULT OF THE BALLOT. + + +The first part of the port watch went on duty at eight o'clock, when the +secret poll for the choice of a captain, under the new order of events, +was closed. Shuffles was in this watch, but as neither his "trick at the +wheel" nor his turn on the lookout came within the first hour, he had an +opportunity to attend to the important business of the League. Pelham +and the two receivers of votes belonged in the second part of the port +watch, and there was nothing to prevent them from attending the +conference which Shuffles had appointed. + +While Shuffles had been teaching the "outsiders" the game of "Don't know +Beans," Pelham, as officer of the deck, remained abaft the mizzenmast, +and had failed to notice what was taking place in the waist. The +officers who were off duty, and who had unconsciously voted for +Shuffles, said nothing to those in charge of the ship. In accordance +with the requirements of man-of-war discipline, the weather side of the +deck was given up to the captain and the officers on duty, while all the +idlers were required to keep on the lee side. Captain Gordon was a +privileged person. On the weather side, even the denizens of the after +cabin did not presume to address him on any question not connected with +the discipline of the ship. When he went over to the lee side, it was +understood that he was simply a student, and even an ordinary seaman +might speak to him when he walked forward. + +Shuffles had explained the game to the outsiders on the lee side, out of +the hearing of the officer of the deck; and Pelham, entirely satisfied +that he was already elected, did not trouble himself about the matter. + +If "Don't know Beans" was not much of a game, it was better than +nothing, and Shuffles soon found that there was danger of his little +scheme being exposed. During the second dog watch, at supper time, and +as other opportunities were presented, he told Wilton, Monroe, Adler, +and others, that the second lieutenant, seeing so many beans on the +deck, wished to know where they came from, and that, to deceive him and +the rest of the officers, he had invented the game which he described, +and wished them to play while off duty on deck. "Our fellows" thought +this was a good joke, and the new pastime was soon understood throughout +the ship, and "butts" were appointed in each quarter watch to play it +the next day. + +"The fellows have all voted, I suppose," said Pelham when the party had +obtained a good position for the conference. + +"The time is out, whether they have or not," replied Grossbeck. + +"All we have to do now is to count the votes," added Shuffles, +impatiently, for he was afraid his little trick would be exposed before +the result of the ballot was obtained. + +"Well, let us have it counted at once," said Pelham, who, having no +doubt of the result, had no thought of offering any objection to the +fairness of the election. + +"We can't count the votes here," suggested McKeon. "Some one would see +us, and want to know what we were doing." + +"I can't leave the deck; I'm on duty," replied Shuffles. + +"Let the receivers count it themselves." + +"We ought to see them do it." + +"That is not necessary. They don't know how many votes they have." + +"I'm sure I don't," said Grossbeck. + +"Neither do I," added McKeon. + +"I'll tell you how we can manage it, without exciting the attention of +any one." + +"I will agree to anything that is fair," replied Shuffles. + +"Grossbeck shall go forward, and McKeon aft as far as the mainmast, so +that each cannot know what the other is about. They can count the votes +separately without being seen." + +"I don't see how we can," said McKeon. + +"Can you tell a pea from a bean by the feeling?" + +"Of course we can." + +"Where did you put the votes, Grossbeck?" asked Pelham. + +"In my trousers' pocket." + +"So did I," added McKeon. + +"Both of you have on your pea-jackets now, and there is a pocket on +each side of them. Take out all the peas first, and put them in the +right-hand pocket of your pea-jacket; then all the beans, and put them +in the left-hand pocket; then count each." + +"Some fellow may see us counting them," said Grossbeck. + +"You must take care of that," answered Pelham. + +"If they do, it will not make much difference. Some of the fellows were +careless, and threw their beans on the deck." + +"Did they?" laughed Pelham? "I suppose they had no use for them." + +"The second lieutenant saw them, and wanted to know what they meant," +added Shuffles. + +"Whew!" exclaimed Pelham. + +"I made it all right, though I was obliged to invent a new game to throw +him off the track." + +"Good!" said Pelham. "But we must go on with the counting. When you have +found the number of peas and of beans, you will write the result on a +piece of paper, each of you. McKeon, you will hand your paper to +Shuffles, and, Grossbeck, you will hand yours to me. That's fair--isn't +it?" + +"Certainly," replied Shuffles. + +"Then we will put the two papers together; if they agree, the election +is made; if they do not agree, we must do it all over again," continued +Pelham. + +"All right," added Shuffles. + +The two receivers were sent away to count the votes. As one went +forward, and the other aft, and the two "Shackles" stood between, no +communication whatever could pass from one to the other. It was now +quite dark, and most of those off duty had turned in, for the students +had become so well accustomed to sea life that they could sleep whenever +their presence was not required on deck. + +"I hope this thing will be settled now once for all," said Pelham, who +feared that some mistake might defeat his hopes. + +"So do I," replied Shuffles, who was disturbed by the same dread. + +"Have you any idea what the result will be?" asked Pelham, who, in spite +of the mutual "toggling," and the mutual assurances of good faith, had +some doubts whether his rival would be willing to accept the result. + +"Well, I don't know," replied Shuffles, cautiously, and with the same +want of confidence which disturbed his companion. "There is no knowing +who will be governor till after election." + +"Of course not, but you might have some idea of the way the thing is +going?" + +"I might, but what's the use of talking when we shall know all about it +in ten or fifteen minutes?" + +"Of course you have some hopes." + +"To be sure I have; and I suppose you have, too." + +"Certainly I have; if I hadn't, I should have given the thing up without +the trouble and risk of a ballot," replied Pelham. + +"We both expect it, and it follows that one of us must be disappointed." + +"You know the bond." + +"I do." + +"Here is my hand, Shuffles. I pledge myself over again to abide the +result of the vote, whether it is for me or against me," continued +Pelham, extending his hand. + +"And here is my hand, Pelham, with the same pledge, honor bright," +replied Shuffles, as he took the offered hand. + +"I am tolerably confident of the result," added Pelham. + +"I am quite confident that I shall be chosen," replied Shuffles. + +"Don't be too certain, my dear fellow," laughed the fourth lieutenant. +"I have taken in a great many recruits." + +"I'm glad you have--the more the better. I have also taken in a good +many. Pelham, do you know this is very shaky business?" + +"Shaky?" + +"Yes--between you and me, I mean. If either of us should back down, the +whole thing would fall to the ground." + +"Back down!" exclaimed Pelham. "Why, after what has passed between us, I +consider it impossible that either of us should back down. I am pledged; +so are you; and if either of us should back down, I hope he will--fall +overboard accidentally." + +"So do I," replied Shuffles, heartily. + +"My dear fellow, if you should back out, I should be mad enough to help +you over the rail, some dark evening, if I had a good chance." + +"I don't believe I should feel any better-natured if you should break +your agreement. One of us is doomed to disappointment. We have tried to +make this thing as fair as possible." + +"Certainly we have, and it will be as fair as anything can be. I am +entirely satisfied with the voting." + +"Are you?" + +"Of course I am." + +Shuffles was very glad of this acknowledgment in advance of the +reception of the result. + +"But, after all, Pelham," said he, "there may be an appearance of +unfairness in the voting, after the result is declared." + +"There may be; but each of us is pledged not to claim anything on +account of such an appearance. If the figures of the two receivers +agree, that is the end of the whole thing, and you or I will be the +captain." + +"That's so; but here comes McKeon," replied Shuffles, as the receiver +gave him the paper on which the result of the votes he had received was +written. + +It was too dark to see it, and the rivals waited, in great excitement of +mind, for the appearance of Grossbeck. He came, and his paper was handed +to Pelham. The conditions of the agreement had now all been complied +with, and the two papers were to be placed side by side, where both of +the candidates could see them at the same instant. It was necessary, in +the darkness, to obtain the use of a light for a moment and they decided +to wait till the midshipman on duty in the waist went into the steerage +to make the half-hourly inspection. + +When one bell struck, the officer left his post, and the conspirators +walked up to the binnacle in the waist. By raising one of the slides in +the side of the machine, the lamp which threw its light on the face of +the compass would enable them to examine the papers. + +"Hold your paper by the side of mine," said Pelham as he placed the +important document in a position to receive the light from the binnacle +when the slide should be moved. + +"Open it," replied Shuffles, nervously, as he complied with the +direction of his rival. + +Pelham raised the slide, and the contents of the papers were read by +both. + +Peas,........19 + +Beans,........22 + +The results given in by the two receivers were the same, and by the +terms of the bond, it was an election. + +"Shut the slide," said Shuffles. + +"Who opened that binnacle?" demanded the first master, walking aft from +his station on the forecastle. + +"I did, sir," replied Shuffles, unwilling to permit the fourth +lieutenant to answer the question. "We were looking at some figures I +had made." + +The master, finding that the fourth lieutenant was one of the party +gathered around the binnacle, said no more, and returned to his place. + +"Are you satisfied, Pelham?" asked Shuffles, in the softest of tones. + +"I don't understand it," answered the disappointed candidate. + +"Don't you? Well, you will remember that neither of us was to raise any +question about the fairness of the ballot." + +"I don't say a word about its fairness; I only said I did not +understand it," answered Pelham, in surly tones. + +"I don't understand it any better than you do; but the point just now +is, whether you acknowledge me as captain, or not." + +"Of course I do. When I pledge myself to do a thing, I always do it, I +hail you as captain." + +"All right," added Shuffles. "Then nothing more need be said. You have +kept your bond like a gentleman and I now appoint you my first officer, +as I promised to do." + +"Thank you," replied Pelham, in a sneering tone. + +"What's the matter, my dear fellow? Are you not satisfied?" demanded +Shuffles. + +"Entirely satisfied with the result;" but he talked like one who was +anything but satisfied. + +"It was a fair thing--wasn't it?" + +"I suppose it was; I don't know." + +"You speak as though you were not satisfied, Pelham." + +"I am not disposed to grumble. I only say that I don't understand it." + +"What don't you understand?" asked Shuffles, sharply. "The election was +conducted on a plan furnished by yourself; the receivers were of your +own choice; the results agree; and I can't see, for the life of me, that +there is any chance to find fault." + +"I don't find fault. The result perplexes me, because I can't see +through it." + +"What do you mean by that?" + +"I don't see where your twenty-two votes came from." + +"And I don't see where your nineteen came from," retorted the successful +candidate. + +"The whole number of votes was forty-one," added Pelham, who was quite +sure there was something wrong. + +"The long and short of it is, that there are more fellows on board that +'know beans,' than you thought there were," laughed Shuffles. + +"Can you tell me where the forty-one votes came from, Shuffles?" +demanded Pelham. + +"Came from the fellows, of course." + +"It's no use to snuff at it, my dear fellow. I do not purpose to set +aside the election. I acknowledge you as captain. Can I do any more?" + +"You can't; but you seem disposed to do something more." + +"I merely wish to inquire into this thing, and find out how we stand. +Had you any idea that forty-one fellows belonged to the Chain?" + +"I had not," replied Shuffles, honestly. "I was never more surprised in +my life, than when I saw Tom Ellis and Andy Groom vote." + +"That was all right. Both of them joined." + +"I can tell you what took me all aback," interposed McKeon, who, with +Grossbeck, had been walking back and forth in the waist. + +"No matter what took you all aback," added Shuffles sharply. "The +question is settled; what's the use of raking up every thing that may +seem to be strange?" + +"What was it that took you aback, McKeon?" demanded Pelham. + +"It was when the captain voted," replied the receiver. + +"The captain!" exclaimed Pelham. + +"Yes." + +"Do you mean Captain Gordon, McKeon?" asked Pelham, with intense +surprise. + +"Of course I do."' + +"All the officers of the first part of the port watch voted," added +Grossbeck. + +"They did!" exclaimed Pelham. + +"Well, was it any stranger that the officers of the first part of the +port watch voted, than it was that those of the second part did so?" +inquired Shuffles, with earnestness. + +"I think it was," replied Pelham, decidedly. + +"Paul Kendall was one of them," said McKeon. + +"Paul Kendall! Does any fellow suppose he has joined the Chain?" +demanded the defeated candidate. + +"Why not?" + +"And Captain Gordon?" + +"Why not?" + +"How did the captain vote?" asked Pelham. + +"No matter how he voted," said Shuffles, indignantly "I protest against +this raking up of matters which are already settled." + +"He voted beans," replied McKeon, who, it is hardly necessary to add, +was a Pelham man. + +"Then he is one of your friends, Shuffles," continued Pelham, who was +beginning to understand how his rival had been elected. + +"I don't claim him." + +"Did you take the captain into the Chain, Shuffles?" + +"I won't answer," replied the captain elect. + +"If Captain Gordon and Paul Kendall are members, I would like to know +it. I am first officer of the ship under the new order of things, and if +I command Gordon to do anything, I mean that he shall obey me." + +"Of course you will give him no orders till we are in possession of the +ship," added Shuffles, not a little alarmed. + +"Well, as Gordon and Kendall are members of the Chain--of course they +are, or they wouldn't have voted--we can talk over the matter freely +with them," said Pelham, chuckling. + +"If you make the signs, and they make them, of course you can," replied +Shuffles. "No member can speak to another about the business of the +Chain until both of them have proved that they belong, by giving the +required signals." + +"Shuffles, do you suppose Captain Gordon knows the signs?" + +"How should I know? I never tried him. I don't know why he shouldn't +make them as well as Tom Ellis." + +"Tom Ellis is all right. I vouch for him, for I admitted him myself. Who +will vouch for the captain? Who took him in?" + +"I don't know." + +"I don't; but if anybody has admitted him, and not given him the signs, +he ought to be instructed in them. Of course he must have been admitted, +or he would not have voted," added Pelham, sarcastically. + +"I have nothing more to say about this matter," replied Shuffles, +disgusted with the cavils of his first officer. + +"Nor I; but I shall satisfy myself whether the captain is a member or +not," said Pelham, decidedly. + +"Well, you must be very cautious what you do." + +"Certainly I shall. I will give him the first sign; if he don't answer +it, I shall conclude he is not a member; or, if he is, that he has not +been properly instructed." + +"Better not say anything to him," said Shuffles. + +"Why not? He voted, and it must be all right." + +"Don't you say a word to him, unless he proves that he is a member." + +"I think he has proved that already by voting." + +"You know our rule." + +"I do; it requires me to satisfy myself that the person to whom I speak +is a member. I am entirely satisfied now that the captain and Paul +Kendall belong; they would not have voted if they had not belonged." + +This was a "clincher," and even Shuffles had not wit enough to escape +the conclusion of the dogmatic reasoner. The captain elect of the League +knew very well that nine persons who were not members had voted--that he +had secured his election by a gross fraud. He was afraid that Pelham, +disappointed by his defeat, would do something to compromise the +enterprise; but his own treachery had placed him in such a position that +he could say nothing without exposing himself. + +"Of course it's all right," added Pelham, "I find we have plenty of +friends in the after cabin. As soon as you have any orders to give, +Captain Shuffles, I am in a position to execute them to the best +advantage." + +"When I am ready, I will give them to you." + +"It will be an easy matter now to obtain possession of the ship; in +fact, all you have to do is to order Captain Gordon to turn the command +over to you. He has been 'toggled,' and must obey his superiors--of +course he has been toggled; he couldn't have voted if he hadn't been." + +Shuffles was terribly exercised by the repeated flings of his +disconcerted rival. He was already satisfied that the enterprise had +come to an end, unless Pelham could be quieted; and he was about to +propose a new ballot, when he was ordered by the quartermaster on duty +to take his trick at the wheel. + +"What does all this mean?" demanded Pelham of the receivers, when the +captain-elect had gone to his duty. + +"I only know that the captain and all the officers of the first part of +the port watch voted, and other fellows who would no more join this +thing than they would jump overboard," replied McKeon. + +"How could they vote--how could the captain vote--without understanding +the whole thing?" demanded Pelham, perplexed at the inconsistency of the +facts. + +"I think I know something about it," added Grossbeck. + +"What do you know?" + +"Haven't you heard of the new game?" + +"What new game?" + +"'Don't know Beans.'" + +"Shuffles said something about it, but I did not comprehend his +meaning." + +Grossbeck explained the game, whose history had been circulated among +"our fellows." + +"And this game was played while the voting was going on?" said Pelham, +who began to see the trick which his rival had put upon him. + +"I didn't know anything about it till supper time," answered Grossbeck. + +"I see it all," continued Pelham. "The receivers were the 'butts,' and +about a dozen fellows voted for Shuffles, including Gordon and Kendall, +supposing they were simply playing 'Don't know Beans.'" + +It did not require a great deal of penetration on the part of the fourth +lieutenant to comprehend the trick of his rival. He was indignant and +angry, and all the more so because he had been outwitted, even while he +was attempting to outwit his unscrupulous competitor. + +The next day, the quarter watches off duty played "Don't know Beans" to +their satisfaction. It was found, when everybody was watching the +"butts," that very few could deposit their beans without detection. A +few hours' trial of the new pastime convinced all except "our fellows" +that it was a senseless game, and it was speedily abandoned. + +On the nineteenth day of the voyage, the Young America encountered +another gale, but it was not nearly so severe as the one through which +she had passed when off Cape Sable. The ship ran for twelve hours under +close-reefed topsails; but as the gale came from the south-west, she +laid her course during the whole of it, and behaved herself to the +entire satisfaction of all on board. On the following day, the wind had +hauled round to the north-west, and the sea subsided, so that the ship +went along very comfortably. + +Notwithstanding his doubts of the good faith of Pelham, who, however, +nominally adhered to the terms of the compact, Shuffles arranged his +plans for the capture of the ship. He had decided to defer the grand +strike until the ship had come up with Cape Clear, so that the faculty, +and all the students who would not take a part in the enterprise, might +be put on shore immediately. In the course of three days, the land would +probably be sighted. The rising was to take place in Pelham's watch, the +officers of which were members of the League. All the details had been +carefully arranged, and trusty "links" appointed to perform the heavy +work. As soon as the "old folks" had been locked up in the cabin, and +the new captain had taken the command, the ship was to be headed for the +shore. The great event was to come off at six o'clock in the afternoon +of the twenty-third or twenty-fifth day. The ship would be near the +coast for at least a part of two days. If she was within six hours' sail +of the land on the twenty-third day out, when Pelham would have the +second part of the first dog watch, the rising was to take place then; +if not, it was to be deferred till the twenty-fifth day, when the +watches were again favorable. + +Shuffles communicated with his discontented first officer as often as he +could, and unfolded his plans without reserve. Pelham listened, and, +still professing his willingness to obey his superior officer, promised +to do all that was required of him. + +"In your watch, Pelham, you will see that the helm is in the hands of +some of our fellows," said Shuffles. + +"Certainly," replied Pelham, with more indifference than suited the +enthusiastic chief of the enterprise "By the way, Captain Shuffles, have +you laid out any work for Captain Gordon to do?" + +"What's the use of talking to me about him now that we are on the very +point of accomplishing our purpose?" demanded Shuffles, with deep +disgust. + +"You can't deny that Gordon is an able fellow, and, as a good commander, +of course you intend to give him some important position," chuckled +Pelham. "Have you appointed the rest of your officers yet?" + +"To be sure I have." + +"Have you given Gordon anything?" + +"No!" growled Shuffles. + +"No? Why, do you think the present captain of the ship will be content +to go into the steerage under the new arrangement?" + +"He may go into the steerage or go overboard," answered the chief, +angrily. + +"Accidentally, you mean." + +"Pelham, if you intend to be a traitor, say so." + +"I! My dear fellow, I don't mean anything of the kind. I am as true as +the pole star." + +"Have you spoken to the captain about our affairs?" + +"Not a word." + +"Have you tried him by the signs?" + +"I have, and he made no sign," laughed Pelham, who was not much +enamoured of the cabalistic clap-trap of the Chain. + +"Then, of course, he is not a member." + +"He must be; he voted," replied Pelham, maliciously. + +"How many more times will you say that?" + +"Perhaps fifty; perhaps a hundred," answered the fourth lieutenant, +coolly. "I shall say it until you are willing to acknowledge the trick +you put upon me." + +"What trick?" + +"O, I know all about it! Didn't you tell Kendall, the captain, and seven +or eight others, how to play 'Don't know Beans'?" + +"If I did, it was to cheat them when they wanted to know what the beans +meant." + +"You saw that the fellows threw away the beans, instead of voting for +you with them, and you invented your game to make the thing come out +right. No matter, Shuffles; I am bound by the compact we made, but I +shall persist in regarding Gordon, Kendall Foster, and others as +members. As you made them vote, you are responsible for them. That's +all." + +"Don't let us quarrel about it, my dear fellow," said Shuffles, in soft, +insinuating tones. + +"By no means." + +"We will have a new election," suggested the chief. + +"If we should, I'm afraid all the fellows would want to play 'Don't know +Beans.'" + +"You shall conduct it any way you please." + +"If I did, you would say I cheated you. I agreed to abide by the +election, and I shall do so. The fact is, Shuffles, you and I are too +smart to play in the same game. I shall stick to the bond. When you +order me to do anything, I shall do it," replied Pelham as he turned on +his heel and walked off. + +He retreated into the after cabin, where Shuffles could not follow him. +At the cabin table, studying his French lesson, sat Paul Kendall. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +MAN OVERBOARD! + + +"Do you know how to play 'Don't know Beans'?" asked Pelham, as he seated +himself by the side of the second lieutenant. + +"Yes; I know how to play it, but it's a stupid game. Shuffles told me +how." + +"Did he, indeed?" + +"There was some fun in it the first time I tried it; but the second time +was enough to satisfy me. I don't think there is any sense in it." + +"Of course there isn't, Kendall," laughed Pelham. "It was no game at +all." + +"What are you laughing at?" + +"You were sold on that game," added the conspirator indulging in more +laughter than the occasion seemed to require. + +"How was I sold? I don't see anything so very funny about it." + +"I do." + +"Tell me about it; if there is any joke I think I shall enjoy it. You +say I was sold." + +"You were; and so was I." + +"Well, what was it?" asked Paul, impatiently. + +"When you gave those fellows the beans that day, you were voting!" + +"Voting! Voting for what, or whom?" exclaimed the second lieutenant. + +"For Shuffles." + +"Did my vote count?" + +"To be sure it did; and he was elected to a certain position by your +vote and those of seven or eight others who did not understand the +trick," replied Pelham laughing all the time. + +"What was the position? I don't understand what you are talking about, +and therefore I can't appreciate the joke." + +"I'll tell you, Kendall; but you must keep still about it for the +present." + +"It looks to me, on the face of it, like a dishonest trick. It seems +that Shuffles lied to us when he made us believe that we were playing a +game. I like a joke well enough, but I don't believe in a fellow's lying +for the sake of any fun." + +"You are right, Kendall. It was not only a dishonest trick, but it was a +mean one." + +"What was the position?" repeated Paul. + +"Some of the fellows are going to make Mr. Lowington a present of a +silver pitcher as soon as we get to some port where we can obtain one." + +"Why didn't you tell of it?" demanded Paul. "I should like to join in +the presentation, for I don't think there is a fellow on board who likes +Mr. Lowington better than I do." + +"Yes; but, you see, there's something peculiar about this thing. The +contribution is to be confined to those fellows who have been +disciplined in one way or another. A good many of us, you know, were mad +when Mr. Lowington took our money away; we are satisfied now that he was +right. We made him feel rather uncomfortable by our looks and actions, +and some of us were positively impudent to him. We purpose to show that +our feelings are all right." + +"Precisely so!" replied Paul, with enthusiasm. "That's splendid! Mr. +Lowington will appreciate the gift when he sees the names of the +subscribers." + +"Certainly he will." + +"But you have no money," laughed the second lieutenant. + +"We have put our names down for ten shillings apiece--about thirty of +us. When we get into port, we shall tell Mr. Lowington that we wish to +present a silver pitcher to a gentleman on board, in token of our +appreciation of his kindness, &c., and ask him for half a sovereign each +from our funds." + +"He will wish to know who the gentleman is." + +"We can ask to be excused from telling him." + +"I can manage that part of the business for you. Each of the fellows +shall give me an order on the principal for ten shillings, to be paid to +Dr. Winstock, who will buy the pitcher for you, if you like. He is +acquainted in Cork. I will give all the orders to the doctor, and he +will get the present without saying a word to Mr. Lowington until after +the presentation. Then he will have no chance to object, on the +suspicion that the gift is intended for him--don't you see?" + +Paul Kendall entered into the project with a degree of enthusiasm which +was rather embarrassing to the conspirator. + +"The fellows have been very secret about the thing," added Pelham. + +"They must have been, or I should have heard something about it," +replied Paul, innocently. + +"No one but ourselves has known a thing about it till now. They have +formed a kind of secret society, and know each other by certain signs." + +"But what was the voting for?" + +"For orator of the day." + +"For the fellow who is to present the pitcher and make the speech?" +added Paul. + +"Yes." + +"And Shuffles was chosen?" + +"Yes, by a trick." + +"You mean that no one but subscribers ought to have voted?" + +"Precisely so." + +"It was a mean trick." + +"It was a sort of practical joke upon me, I suppose" + +"I don't believe in practical jokes which need a lie to carry them +through." + +"Well, Shuffles has the position, unless some of you fellows will help +me out. I wanted to make the speech, and without the nine votes which +you and other outsiders put in, I should have been chosen." + +"What can we do?" + +"I have a right to consider all the fellows that voted as members of the +society. The fact of their voting makes them members." + +"I don't know anything about that." + +"It's clear enough to me, and in a talk I had with Shuffles just now, he +didn't pretend to deny the correctness of my position." + +"If he agrees, it must be all right," laughed Paul. + +"If you had understood the matter, for whom should you have voted?" + +"I don't know? but after the trick Shuffles played off upon you, I +should not vote for him." + +"Very well; then you can change your vote." + +"How shall I change it?" + +"Go to Shuffles; and the other eight fellows who voted in the dark must +do the same." + +"What shall I say to him?" + +"You must go to him as a member of the society, and salute him as such." + +"I don't know how." + +"I'll tell you. When you meet him, scratch the tip end of your nose with +the nail of your second finger on the right hand; in this manner," +continued Pelham giving the first sign. + +"That's it--is it?" said Paul, as he imitated the action of Pelham. + +"Yes; that's right He will reply by taking the lower part of his left +ear between the thumb and first finger of the left hand--so," added +Pelham. + +"I have it," answered Paul, as he made the motions. + +"Then you will scratch your chin with the thumb nail of the left hand, +and he will reply by blowing his nose." + +"Let's see if I can do all that," laughed Paul, very much amused at the +mystic indications of membership In the secret association. + +He made the signs to Pelham, who replied to them, several times, until +he was perfect in his part. + +"All right. I will remember them," said Paul. + +"But you haven't got the whole of it yet. When you have made the signs, +and he has answered them, he will say, '_Is_ that so?' with strong +emphasis on the first word." + +"_Is_ that so?" repeated Paul. + +"Then you will reply, '_That_ is so,' with the stress on _that_." + +"_That_ is so," added Paul. + +"Then you must place yourself so as to look directly forward or aft. If +you look forward, he must look aft." + +"I understand you." + +"Now I want to know who the other fellows were that played 'Don't know +Beans' that day." + +"Captain Gordon was one." + +"Will you post him up in what I have told you?" + +"I will, and the other fellows who voted for Shuffles, if you say so." + +"Thank you. I wish you would. Let them all tell him they desire to +change their votes; but have them do it one at a time." + +Paul Kendall promised to do what was required of him; and in the course +of the following forenoon he initiated "the outsiders who had voted for +Shuffles" in the secret machinery of the supposed society, but in fact +of the Chain League. Being off duty during the second part of the +afternoon watch, he encountered Shuffles in the lee side of the waist. + +"Well, Shuffles, we are almost up with the coast of Ireland," said Paul, +as he scratched the tip of his nose with the second finger of his right +hand, agreeably to the instructions given him by Pelham. + +"Yes; and I suppose by Saturday, if the wind holds fair, we shall be off +Cape Clear," replied the captain-elect, as he took the lower part of his +left ear between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand. + +Shuffles did not suppose that the second lieutenant was a member of the +league, and pledged to assist in the capture of the ship; but as he had +made the sign, probably accidentally, he replied to it. + +"There is a prospect of fair weather for some days to come," continued +Paul, as he scratched his chin with his left hand, which was the second +step towards a recognition in the "Chain." + +Shuffles was duly and properly astonished at this exhibition of +intelligence on the part of the officer; and it was now quite certain +that Paul had joined the league, or that he had obtained its tremendous +secrets. + +"I hope it will be good weather now during the rest of the passage," +added the captain-elect, as he took his handkerchief from his breast +pocket and blew his nose, for he was determined to satisfy himself +whether or not the second lieutenant was a member of the League. + +"_Is_ that so?" demanded Shuffles. + +"_That_ is so," answered Paul. + +Shuffles was almost overwhelmed with astonishment to find that one who +was a model of fidelity and propriety had actually joined the Chain. + +"Shuffles, I voted for you the other day," added Paul. + +"I know you did." + +"I wish to change my vote." + +"Change it!" exclaimed Shuffles. + +"Yes? I voted in the dark. I wish now to vote for the other candidate." + +"For whom?" + +"For Pelham, of course." + +"You are too late." + +"I think, under the circumstances, that my vote ought to be counted on +the other side, even if it reverses the result," said Paul, earnestly. + +"Why do you wish to vote for Pelham?" demanded Shuffles, rather because +he had nothing else to say than because he was interested in the +anticipated reply. + +"I don't think it was quite fair for you to obtain my vote as you did." + +"No matter for that. Do you think Pelham would make a better captain +than I should?" + +"A better what?" + +"Do you think he will command the ship any better than I shall." + +"Command the ship!" repeated Paul, bewildered by this extraordinary +question. "I wasn't aware that either of you were to command the ship." + +Shuffles, in his turn, was confounded when he found that the second +lieutenant was a member of the "Chain" without any knowledge of its +objects. Though he had used all the precautions required by the League, +a hint had unwittingly been given to Paul, whose simple integrity +rendered him the most dangerous person on board to the interests of such +an institution as the Chain. + +"Mr. Kendall, may I ask what you now suppose you were voting for?" asked +Shuffles, with easy assurance. + +"For the orator of the day, of course," replied Paul, who was too free +from wiles or arts to make any use of the advantage gained. + +Indeed, he was so true himself that he was not suspicious of others; and +he did not even perceive that he had obtained an advantage. + +"Exactly so," added Shuffles; "for orator of the day? but we don't speak +the idea out loud, or call it by its proper name." + +"What did you mean by commanding the ship, Shuffles?" laughed Kendall. + +"I meant orator of the day. We keep this thing to ourselves," added +Shuffles, who had no idea what was meant by his companion. + +"Of course; I understand all about that," said Paul, knowingly. "I don't +think I had any right to vote; and in my opinion the trick you played on +Pelham was decidedly wrong." + +"It was merely a joke," answered Shuffles. + +"But do you intend to use the advantage you gained by this trick?" + +"Certainly not." + +"I'm very glad of that." + +"It was only for the fun of the thing," added Shuffles at a venture. + +"It may have been funny; but I don't think it was honest." + +"I didn't intend to make any use of it," continued Shuffles. "What did +Mr. Pelham say to you, Mr. Kendall?" + +"He told me all about it," replied Paul. + +"Did he, indeed?" + +"He said that you, by causing me to vote, had made me a member." + +"Just so." + +Shuffles did not dare to say much, though it was evident, from the words +and the manner of the second lieutenant, that Pelham had not yet +betrayed the real object of the Chain. If he had, the captain elect was +satisfied he would have been in irons, confined in the brig, before that +time. + +"I told Mr. Pelham I fully approved the purpose, and would help him out +with it." + +"What purpose?" asked Shuffles, anxious to know what Paul meant. + +"Why, don't you know?" + +"Of course I do; but I wish to know precisely what Mr. Pelham told you." + +"He will tell you himself," laughed Paul, as he walked aft, in order to +afford the other "outsiders" who had voted an opportunity to communicate +with Shuffles, for he perceived that they were waiting their turns. + +As the second lieutenant went aft, the captain went forward on the lee +side of the deck. + +"Shuffles!" called Captain Gordon, as the chief conspirator was going +forward. + +The captain elect turned and walked towards the commander, and touched +his cap with becoming respect. + +"What do you think of the weather?" demanded Captain Gordon, scratching +the tip of his nose. + +Paul had instructed the "outsiders" to talk about the weather while they +went through with the mystic routine of the signs. + +"I think we shall have good weather," replied Shuffles, who, though he +was confounded and amazed to be saluted from this quarter with the +language of the "Chain," dared not refuse to give the signs, after he +had done so with the second lieutenant. + +"I wish to change my vote? for I don't think it was fairly given +before," said the captain, when he had gone through all the forms of the +recognition. + +"Certainly, Captain Gordon, if you desire to do so." + +Fortunately for Shuffles, the captain did not prolong the conversation; +for others were waiting an opportunity to make themselves known to the +conspirator. One after another, they saluted Shuffles in the waist, +inquiring about the weather, and making the requisite signs. The captain +elect was filled with indignation and rage against Pelham, who had +played off this trick upon him; but he was compelled to meet all who +came, and go through the signs with them, while the "outsiders," +scattered about the deck, stood watching the motions with intense +delight. He would fain have fled, but he could not leave the deck; and +he was afraid that any impatience, or a refusal to answer the signs, +would involve him in a worse difficulty. + +At last the nine illegal voters had "made themselves known," and having +requested that their votes might be changed, Shuffles was released from +torture. He was both alarmed and indignant. He had not been able to +ascertain what was meant by "the orator of the day;" and he began to +fear that Pelham had exposed the whole, or a part, of the real purposes +of the League. He was enraged that he had revealed anything. Even the +captain and the second lieutenant had made all the signs, and they could +not have done so without the assistance of a traitor. + +"It's all up with us, Wilton," said Shuffles, as they met near the +foremast. + +"What is?" + +"Pelham has blowed the whole thing." + +"No!" exclaimed Wilton, almost paralyzed by the information. + +"He has. The captain and several of the officers made all the signs to +me just now. We shall spend our time in the brig for the next month." + +"Did Pelham do it?" + +"Yes." + +"That was mean," added Wilton, his face pale with terror. + +"He will fall overboard accidentally some day," added Shuffles, shaking +his head. + +"Don't do that, Shuffles," protested the frightened confederate. + +"I will, if I get a chance." + +"You will only make the matter ten times worse than it is." + +Monroe joined them, and was informed of the desperate situation of the +League. + +"It's all your fault, Shuffles," said Monroe, indignantly "I don't blame +Pelham." + +"You don't! He has told a dozen outsiders how to make the signs, and let +them into the secrets of the Chain, for all I know." + +"If he has, we may thank you for it, Shuffles. You cheated him, and +played a mean trick upon him," replied Monroe. "I wouldn't have stood it +if I had been he." + +"Pelham is a traitor, and you are another." + +"No matter what he is, or what I am. You got all those fellows to vote +for you, and cheated him out of the place that belonged to him." + +"Did you think I was going to have him captain, after I had got up the +Chain, and done all the work?" + +"You agreed to leave it out to the fellows who should be captain. They +voted, and you cheated," added Monroe. "I've had enough of the Chain; +and if any fellow makes the signs again, I shall not notice them." + +"Humph! It's a pretty time to talk so, after the whole thing is let +out." + +"Well, I will face the music, and get out of it the best way I can. I +was a fool to join the Chain." + +"So was I," said Wilton. + +There was no difficulty in arriving at such a conclusion after the +affair had been exposed; and the sentiments of Wilton and Monroe were, +or would soon be, the sentiments of all the members of the League. +Shuffles realized the truth of the old adage, that rats desert a sinking +ship, and he began to feel lonely in his guilt and his fear of exposure. +But he could not forgive Pelham for his perfidy, forgetting that each +had been treacherous to the other. + +In the first dog watch on that day, while Shuffles' heart was still +rankling with hatred towards the alleged traitor, the rivals met in the +waist, which was common ground to officers off duty and seamen. + +"I want to see you, Pelham," said Shuffles, in a low tone. + +"Well, you do see me--don't you?" laughed Pelham who, feeling that he +was now even with his rival, was in excellent humor. + +"Things are going wrong with us." + +"O, no; I think not." + +"Will you meet me on the top-gallant forecastle, where we shall not be +disturbed?" asked Shuffles. + +"That is not exactly the place for an officer." + +"You are off duty, and you can go where you please." + +"What do you want of me?" + +"I want to have an understanding." + +"I suppose you think we have too many members--don't you?" asked Pelham, +lightly. + +"The more the better." + +"I'll meet you there." + +Shuffles went to the place designated at once, where he was soon +followed by the fourth lieutenant. + +"Well, Shuffles, what is it?" demanded Pelham, as, with one hand on the +sheet of the fore-topmast staysail, he looked over the bow at the bone +in the teeth of the ship. + +"What is it? Don't you know what it is?" replied Shuffles, angrily. + +"Upon my life, I don't know." + +"You have been a traitor," exclaimed Shuffles, with savage earnestness. + +"O! have I?" + +"You know you have." + +"Perhaps you would be willing to tell me wherein I have been a traitor," +added Pelham, laughing; for he was enjoying the scene he had witnessed +in the waist, when, one after another, the "outsiders" had made the +signs to his rival. + +"You have betrayed the secrets of the Chain." + +"Have I?" + +"Didn't you give the signs to Paul Kendall, the captain, and half a +dozen others?" + +"But, my dear fellow, they are members," replied Pelham, chuckling. + +"They are not? and you know they are not." + +"But, Shuffles, just consider that all of them voted for you." + +"I don't care for that." + +"I do. You recognized them as members first, and I couldn't do less than +you did." + +"You are a traitor!" said Shuffles, red in the face with passion; and +the word hissed through his closed teeth. + +"Well, just as you like: we won't quarrel about the meaning of words," +replied Pelham, gayly; for he enjoyed the discomfiture of his rival, and +felt that Shuffles deserved all he got, for the foul play of which he +had been guilty on the ballot. + +"You pledged yourself to be honest, and stand by the vote, fair or +foul." + +"Very true, my dear fellow? and I do so. Give me your orders, and I will +obey them." + +"But you have exposed the whole thing," retorted Shuffles. "What can we +do now, when Kendall and the captain know all about it?" + +"They don't know any more than the law allows. Besides, they are +members. Didn't they vote for you? Didn't they know beans?" continued +Pelham, in the most tantalizing of tones. + +"Do you mean to insult me?" demanded Shuffles, unable to control his +rage. + +"Not I. I respect you too much. You are the captain--that is to be--of +the ship," laughed Pelham. "The captain, the second lieutenant, and all +the flunkies, voted for you? and, of course, I couldn't be so deficient +in politeness as to insult one who----" + +At that moment Pelham removed his hand from the sheet, and Shuffles, +irritated beyond control at the badinage of his companion, gave him a +sudden push, and the fourth lieutenant went down into the surges, under +the bow of the ship. + +As Pelham disappeared beneath the waves, Shuffles was appalled at his +own act; for even he had not sunk so low as to contemplate murder. The +deed was not premeditated. It was done on the spur of angry excitement, +which dethroned his reason. The chief conspirator had so often and so +lightly used the language of the League, about "falling overboard +accidentally," that he had become familiar with the idea; and, perhaps, +the deed seemed less terrible to him than it really was. When the act +was done, on the impulse of the moment, he realized his own situation, +and that of his victim. He would have given anything at that instant, as +he looked down upon the dark waves, to have recalled the deed; but it +was too late. Self-reproach and terror overwhelmed him. + +"Man overboard!" he shouted with desperation, as he threw off his +pea-jacket, and dived, head foremost, from the forecastle into the sea. + +His first impulse had been to do a foul deed; his next, to undo it. +Shuffles was a powerful swimmer. The ocean was his element. He struck +the water hardly an instant after Pelham; and the ship, which was under +all sail, making nine knots, hurried on her course, leaving the rivals +to buffet the waves unaided. + +"Man overboard!" cried officers and seamen, on all parts of the ship's +deck. + +"Hard down the helm, quartermaster! Let go the life-buoys!" shouted +Kendall, who was the officer of the deck. + +"Hard down, sir. Buoy overboard," replied Bennington the quartermaster +at the helm. + +"Clear away the third cutter!" added Kendall. + +The orders were rapidly given for backing the main-topsail, while the +courses were clewed up; but the ship went on a considerable distance +before her headway could be arrested. + +When Pelham went down into the water, he had been injured by the fall; +and though he struck out to save himself, it was not with his usual +skill and vigor; for, like his companion in the water, he was a good +swimmer. Shuffles had struck the waves in proper attitude, and was in +condition to exert all his powers when he came to the surface. He swam +towards Pelham, intent upon rendering him the assistance he might +require. + +"Do you mean to drown me?" gasped Pelham, who supposed his rival had +followed him overboard for the purpose of completing his work. + +"I mean to save you, Pelham," replied Shuffles. "Can you swim?" + +"I'm hurt." + +"Give me your hand, and I will support you." + +Shuffles took the offered hand of Pelham, who was able to swim a little, +and supported him till they could reach the life-buoy, which had been +dropped from the stern of the ship when the alarming cry was given. + +"Where are you hurt?" asked Shuffles, as soon as they had grasped the +buoy. + +"My stomach struck the water," replied Pelham, faintly. + +The third cutter had been lowered into the water as soon as the ship's +headway was stopped, and was now within a few yards of the buoy. + +"Will you forgive me, Pelham? I was beside myself," said Shuffles, when +his companion had recovered breath after his exertions. + +"You have saved me, Shuffles. I should have gone down without you." + +"Will you forgive me?" pleaded the penitent. "I did not mean to injure +you." + +"Never mind it; we won't say a word about it," answered Pelham, as the +boat came up. + +They were assisted into the cutter, and the oarsmen pulled back to the +ship. When the party reached the deck, a cheer burst from a portion of +the crew; but Wilton, Monroe, and a few others, believing that Pelham +had "fallen overboard accidentally," were appalled at the probable +consequences of the event. + +Pelham was assisted to the after cabin, where Dr. Winstock immediately +attended him. He was not seriously injured; and the next day he was able +to be on deck, and do duty. + +"How was that?" asked Wilton, when Shuffles had changed his clothes, and +warmed himself at the stove, as they met in the waist. + +Shuffles looked sad and solemn. He made no reply. + +"Did he fall overboard accidentally?" demanded Wilton. + +"Don't ask me." + +"You jumped in after him, and saved him, they say," added Wilton; "so, I +suppose, it was really an accident." + +Shuffles still made no reply. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE END OF THE CHAIN LEAGUE. + + +The fact that Shuffles had plunged into the sea, and labored so +effectively for the rescue of the fourth lieutenant, blinded the eyes of +"our fellows," who, knowing the penalty of treachery to the "Chain," +might otherwise have suspected that he had "fallen overboard +accidentally," or, in other words, that he had been pushed into the +water by his unscrupulous rival. Wilton, Monroe, and Adler, had +discussed the matter, and reached the conclusion that Pelham had been +knocked over by the shaking of the staysail sheet, or that he had +really fallen accidentally. They had been appalled and horrified by the +event; and those who were disgusted with the League were not disposed to +betray its secrets; for it was possible, though not probable, that the +mishap which had befallen Pelham was an incident in the history of the +"Chain." + +When a wicked man or a wicked boy exceeds his average wickedness, the +excess sometimes produces a moral reaction. A person who tipples +moderately may have the drunkard's fate vividly foreshadowed to him by +getting absolutely drunk himself, and thus be induced to abandon a +dangerous practice. That loathsome disease, small pox, sometimes leaves +the patient better than it finds him; and through, and on account of, +the vilest sin may come the sinner's reformation. + +Shuffles had exceeded himself in wickedness; and the fact that his foul +design was not even suspected by any other person than his intended +victim did not diminish his self-reproaches. He shuddered when he +thought of the remorse which must have gnawed his soul during the rest +of his lifetime if Pelham had been drowned. He would have been a +murderer; and while so many knew the penalty of treachery to the League, +he could hardly have escaped suspicion and detection. + +A reaction had been produced in his mind; but it was not a healthy +movement of the moral nature. It was not so much the awful crime he had +impulsively committed, as the terrible consequences which would have +followed, that caused him to shrink from it. It was an awful crime, and +his nature revolted at it. He could not have done it without the impulse +of an insane passion; but it was dreadful because it would have shut him +out from society; because it would have placed the mark of Cain upon +him; because the dungeon and the gallows were beyond it,--rather than +because it was the sacrifice of a human life, of one created in the +image of God. + +Shuffles was in a state of terror, as one who has just escaped from an +awful gulf that yawned before him. He was not sincerely penitent, as one +who feels the enormity of his offence. He was not prepared to +acknowledge his sin before God, whose law he had outraged. + +When Pelham came on deck, on the day after the exciting event, he +greeted Shuffles with his accustomed suavity, and seemed not to bear any +malice in his heart against the author of his misfortune. Officers and +seamen as well as the principal and the professors, congratulated him +upon his escape from the peril which had menaced him; and all commended +Shuffles for his prompt and noble efforts in rescuing him. Pelham +dissented from none of their conclusions, and was as generous in his +praise of the deliverer as the occasion required. + +Shuffles was rather astonished to find himself a lion on board, and at +being specially thanked by Mr. Lowington for his humane exertions in +saving a shipmate. He was so warmly and so generously commended that he +almost reached the conclusion himself that he had done a good thing. He +was not satisfied with himself. He was in the power of Pelham, who, by a +word, could change the current of popular sentiment and arraign him for +the gravest of crimes. If the fourth lieutenant spoke, Shuffles realized +that he should be shunned and despised, as well as hated and feared, by +all on board the ship. It was quite natural, therefore, for him to +desire a better understanding with Pelham. + +The League had fallen into contempt, at least for the present. Even "our +fellows" would not have spirit enough to strike the blow; besides, the +terrible gulf from which Shuffles had just escaped was too vivid in his +mind to permit him to place himself on the brink of another. So far the +reaction was salutary. + +"When may I see you, Mr. Pelham?" said Shuffles as they came together in +the waist. + +"We will visit the top-gallant forecastle again, and see if we can +understand how I happened to fall overboard for really I'm not in the +habit of doing such things," replied Pelham, with a smile. + +They walked forward together, and mounted the ladder to the place +indicated. + +"Shuffles, I never paid much attention to the snapper of the toggle +before, and never supposed it meant anything in particular," continued +Pelham, as he placed himself in the position he had occupied before he +went over the bow. "Am I in any danger now?" + +"No, Pelham, no!" replied Shuffles, earnestly. "You provoked me so by +your cool taunts that I pushed you over before I thought what I was +about." + +"Did you really mean to drown me?" + +"Upon my soul, I did not. If you knew how I felt when I saw you strike +the water, and realized what I had done, you would forgive me." + +"I have done that already, Shuffles." + +"I would have given my own life for yours at that instant, Pelham." + +"You saved me, after all, Shuffles. When I went over, I either hit the +side of the ship, or struck my stomach on the water, for all the breath +seemed to be knocked out of me. I hardly knew what I was about in the +water till I saw you. At first I supposed you had jumped overboard to +finish your job." + +"You wronged me; I would have saved you, if I had been sure of perishing +myself." + +"You did save me, and I am willing to let that act offset the other." + +"I'm grateful to you for this, Pelham. You treat me better than I +deserve." + +"Never mind it now; we will call it square," replied Pelham, lightly. +"How about the Chain, Shuffles? We shall be in sight of land by +to-morrow." + +"We can't do anything now." + +"Why not?" + +"How can we? After what has happened, I will not reproach you for what +you did. You know how you provoked me. You have exposed the whole affair +to the officers." + +"Not a bit of it." + +"No." + +"Certainly not. Did you ever know Augustus Pelham to violate his +obligations?" demanded Pelham with dignity. + +"Never before; but the captain, the second lieutenant and seven others, +who would no more join the League than they would steal your +pocket-book, went through all the signs with me." + +"They all voted too," laughed Pelham. + +"I am willing to confess that I played off a mean trick upon you." + +"And I have only made myself even with you. I have not betrayed a single +secret of the Chain to any one not posted--except the signs. If I had, +of course you and I would both have been in the brig before this time." + +"I was puzzled to find nothing was said," added Shuffles. + +"No one knows anything. The Chain is as perfect as ever. Give me your +orders, and I will carry them out." + +"The fellows have backed out now." + +"Then, of course, we must do the same. I doubt whether we could have +carried the thing out." + +"No matter whether we could or not; we must drop it for the present. The +fellows all suppose they are caught now, and expect every moment to be +hauled up to the mast for an investigation." + +"They are all safe; at least we can purchase their safety for ten +shillings apiece," laughed Pelham. + +"Purchase it!" exclaimed Shuffles, mystified by the language of his +companion. + +"Just so--purchase it," added Pelham; and he proceeded to inform his +late rival of the trick he had invented in retaliation for the one +Shuffles had put upon him. + +"It was tit for tat," said Shuffles. + +"I told nothing which would harm either of us, for I am just as deep in +the mud as you are in the mire." + +"That's true. We must hang together." + +"I hope not," replied Pelham, laughing. "We have got into this scrape, +and we must get out of it." + +"Suppose the captain or the second lieutenant should make the signs to +one of our fellows, and he should tell what we were going to do." + +"I told all my recruits not to answer any signs now, whoever made +them." + +"I did the same, when I found the captain knew them." + +"Then we are safe; but the silver pitcher must be forthcoming." + +"The fellows will all be glad enough to get out of this scrape by paying +ten shillings." + +"Very well; then every one of them must sign an order on Mr. Lowington +for ten shillings, payable to Dr. Winstock," added Pelham. + +"They will do it. Are you sure nothing has leaked out?" + +"Very sure; there would have been a tremendous commotion before this +time, if our real object had been even suspected." + +"No doubt of that." + +"After all, Shuffles, do you really think we intended to take the ship?" + +"I did; I know that." + +"I don't believe I did," said the fourth lieutenant. "Nothing seemed +exactly real to me, until I went overboard." + +"It was more real to me then than ever before," replied Shuffles. "What +shall we do with the Chain now?" + +"Nothing; we may want to use it again, some time. Let every fellow keep +still. When the principal gets his silver pitcher, which the doctor will +procure as soon as he can go up to Cork, he will think the members of +the Chain are the best fellows on board." + +"I think you have sold the whole of us, Pelham," continued Shuffles, +with a sheepish smile. "Here's the end of the Chain----" + +"Yes, and we may be thankful that it isn't the end of a rope instead of +a chain," laughed Pelham. "The penalty of mutiny is death." + +"I have had no fear of that; it would have been regarded only as a lark. +But it is really amusing to think where we have come out," added +Shuffles. "We formed the 'Chain' because Lowington was tyrannical; most +of the fellows joined it because he took their money from them." + +"Precisely so." + +"And we are going to end it by giving Lowington a silver pitcher, in +token of our respect and esteem!" + +"In other words, Shuffles, we have played this game, and whipped out +each other, without any help from the principal. It was mean business--I +really think so; and while we were trying to overreach each other, the +game slipped through our fingers. I am really grateful when I think what +an awful scrape we have avoided." + +"Perhaps you are right," replied Shuffles, thoughtfully; "but there was +fun in the scheme." + +"There might have been, if we had succeeded; but it would have been +anything but fun if we had failed. Some of us would have found quarters +in the brig, and we should not have been allowed to go on shore when we +reached Queenstown." + +"A fellow won't want to go on shore without any money," growled +Shuffles, who was not wholly cured of his discontent. + +"Since I went overboard I have been thinking a great deal of this +matter. I have come to the conclusion that Mr. Lowington is not the +worst man in the world." + +"He is harsh and tyrannical." + +"I don't think he ought to have taken our money from us; but I judge him +from all his acts, not by one alone." + +Pelham seemed to have turned over a new leaf, and to be sincerely sorry +for his attitude of rebellion. Shuffles was not to be convinced; he was +to be overwhelmed in another manner. + +The rivals separated, with their differences removed and with full +confidence in each other. Pelham wrote thirty-one orders on the +principal for ten shillings each, in favor of the surgeon, during his +off-time on that day, which were to be signed and handed to Paul +Kendall. As opportunity occurred, the "situation" was explained to the +members of the League; and though many of them growled at the idea of +giving a present to Mr. Lowington for taking their money from them, not +one of them refused to sign the orders; none of them dared to refuse. + +In due time Dr. Winstock had possession of all these little drafts, +amounting in the aggregate to fifteen pounds, ten shillings, which would +purchase quite a respectable piece of plate. Paul Kendall was the +happiest student on board, for the presentation heralded the era of good +feeling. The League was virtually dead for the present, if not forever. +The inherent evil of the organization, with the bickerings and bad +passions of its members, had killed it--the turtle had swallowed his own +head. + +The weather continued fine; the routine of ship's duty and the studies +went on without interruption. On the twenty-fourth day out, at three +bells in the afternoon watch, a tremendous excitement was created on +board. + +"Land on the port bow!" shouted one of the crew, who had been stationed +on the fore yard-arm as a lookout. + +All on deck sprang into the rigging, to get a sight of the welcome +shore. It looked like a fog bank in the distance; there was really +nothing to be seen, but the fact that the ship was in sight of land was +enough to create an excitement among the boys. + +At three bells, in the first dog watch, the land was distinctly visible. +It was the Island of Dursey, and was now seen on the beam, while other +land appeared in sight ahead. It was Sunday, and all hands were at +liberty to enjoy this first view of the new continent. The boys thought +the land looked just like that they had last seen on the shore of the +western continent, and perhaps some of them were disappointed because +everything looked so natural. + +The officers and crew were impatient to make their destined port; but +the wind subsided as the sun went down on that quiet Sabbath day on the +ocean. The ship hardly made twenty miles before daylight in the morning. + +At eight o'clock, on Monday, when Paul Kendall had the deck, the Young +America was off Fastnet Rock, and not more than half a mile from it. It +is about ten miles from Cape Clear, and is a solitary rock rising out of +the sea, on which a lighthouse is located. The water around it was +covered with small boats engaged in fishing. The port watch were all on +deck, and the scene was full of interest to them. The people whom they +saw belonged to another continent than that in which they lived. All was +new and strange to them, and all were interested in observing the +distant shore, and the objects near the ship. + +At one bell in the afternoon watch, when the Young America was off Gally +Head, all hands were piped to muster. Mr. Lowington, on taking the +rostrum, said that he had received a petition signed by a majority of +the officers and crew. + +"A petition to go ashore, I suppose," said Shuffles to Pelham. + +"I think not," laughed the fourth lieutenant, who appeared to know what +was coming. + +"Young gentlemen," continued the principal, whose face wore an unusually +pleasant smile, "a few days since you were all filled with admiration at +the noble conduct of one of your number, who saved the life of another +at the peril of his own." + +"Want to go ashore, Shuffles?" whispered Pelham. + +Shuffles was too much confused to make any reply; he did not know +whether he was to be praised or blamed. + +"I have received a petition, requesting me to appoint Robert Shuffles +second lieutenant of the ship, in place of Paul Kendall, resigned," +added Mr. Lowington. + +Shuffles was overwhelmed with astonishment, and a large proportion of +the students received the announcement with hearty applause. + +"Young gentlemen, I have only to say that the petition is granted. I +ought to add, however, that no officer will lose his rank, except Mr. +Kendall, who, at his own desire, will take the vacant number in the +steerage, now belonging to Robert Shuffles, promoted. I take great +pleasure in granting this petition, because the request is honorable to +you, and shows a proper appreciation of the noble conduct of your +shipmate. But let me add, that you should divide your admiration between +the one who rescued his friend from death, and him who voluntarily +resigned his honorable position in the after cabin, in order to make a +place in which merit could be acknowledged and rewarded. Nothing but a +matter of life and death could have induced me to vary the discipline of +the ship. Young gentlemen, you are dismissed from muster." + +"Three cheers for Paul Kendall!" shouted one of the boys. + +They were given. + +"Three cheers for Robert Shuffles!" added Paul; and they were given. + +"Mr. Shuffles will repair to the after cabin, where he will be +qualified, and take his position at once." + +"Mr. Lowington, I must decline Mr. Kendall's generous offer," interposed +Shuffles, who was actually choking with emotion. + +"This matter has been well considered, Shuffles," replied the principal; +"and as it is the desire of a large majority of your shipmates that you +should accept the position, I think you had better do so." + +"There isn't a student in the ship who desires it so much as I do," +added Paul, with generous enthusiasm "You know I told you I would like +to be in the steerage, for I have always been an officer." + +"Allow me till to-night, if you please, to consider it, Mr. Lowington," +replied Shuffles, as he grasped the hand of Paul. + +"Certainly, if you desire it." + +Shuffles was overwhelmed by the magnanimity of Paul and the kindness of +the principal. At that moment he would have given everything to be such +a young man as the second lieutenant; to be as good and true, as free +from evil thoughts and evil purposes, as he was. A light had dawned upon +the rebel and the plotter which he had never seen before. Goodness and +truth had vindicated themselves, and overwhelmed the guilty one. + +"Mr. Shuffles, I congratulate you on your promotion," said the chaplain, +extending his hand. + +"I cannot accept it, sir," replied the repentant malcontent "I would +like to speak with you alone, Mr. Agneau." + +The chaplain took him to his state room in the main cabin? and there, +Shuffles, conquered and subdued by the kindness of his friends, +confessed the terrible crime he had committed--that he had pushed Pelham +overboard. + +The chaplain was confounded at this confession, but still more so when +the self-convicted conspirator revealed all the secrets of "The Chain." +Shuffles mentioned no names; he took all the guilt upon himself. + +"I am astonished, my dear young friend," said the chaplain. "Is it +possible the life you saved was imperilled by your own violent +passions?" + +"It is true, sir," replied Shuffles, hardly able to control his +feelings. + +"Then I think you had better not accept the promotion that has been +offered to you." + +"I will not; I would jump overboard first. I am willing to be punished; +I deserve it." + +"Shuffles, you have almost atoned for your errors by confessing them; +and your courageous conduct, after you had pushed Pelham into the sea, +proves that you sincerely repented that act. Shall I tell Mr. Lowington +what you have said?" + +"Yes, sir; let him know me as I am; let him despise me as I deserve," +replied Shuffles, wiping away a genuine tear of repentance. + +Mr. Agneau talked to the penitent for two hours; and finally he prayed +with him and for him. If never before, the moral condition of the +culprit was now hopeful, and the chaplain labored earnestly and +faithfully to give him right views of his relations to God and his +fellow-beings. + +"Paul," said Shuffles, when he met his generous and self-sacrificing +friend in the waist, after the conference in the state room, "I am the +meanest and vilest fellow on board." + +"No, you are not!" exclaimed Paul. + +"I would give the world to be like you." + +"No, no! You wrong yourself, and overdo me." + +"I have confessed all to the chaplain, and you will soon know me as I +am, Paul. I will not take your place in the cabin. Your kindness and +generosity have overcome me. You have convinced me that doing right is +always the best way." + +Paul did not know what to make of this remarkable confession; but, after +supper, all hands were piped to muster again, the ship being off Kinsale +Head, nearly becalmed. The chaplain had informed the principal of the +substance of Shuffles' confession. Mr. Lowington laughed at "The Chain +League," the signs and the passwords, and regarded the mutiny as a +matter of little consequence. He did not believe that Shuffles or his +followers, had really intended to take the ship. The project was too +monstrous to be credible. The fact that the conspirator had attempted +the life of his companion was a grave matter, and it was treated as +such. Mr. Agneau was entirely confident of the sincerity of the +culprit's repentance. Shuffles had refused to take the proffered +promotion, which was abundant evidence that he was in earnest. + +The penitent was sent for, and repeated his confession to the principal. +He did not ask to be exempted from punishment; but he did ask to be +forgiven. He was forgiven; but when the crew were piped to muster all +the particulars of the intended mutiny were exposed to the astonished +"outsiders." Paul understood it now. Mr. Lowington ridiculed the mutiny; +but he spoke very seriously of the consequences of insubordination. + +"Young gentlemen, Shuffles has not mentioned the name of a single +student in connection with this silly conspiracy; he has asked to be +excused from doing so. I grant his request, and I hope that all who have +engaged in the affair are as sincerely sorry for their connection with +it as he is. Under the circumstances, Shuffles will not be promoted. +Young gentlemen, you are dismissed." + +"Shuffles was a good fellow to keep us in the dark," whispered Sanborn +to Wilton. + +"Keep still," replied Wilton. "We are lucky to get out of the scrape on +any terms." + +So thought all of them; and it was certainly magnanimous on the part of +the chief conspirator to be willing to assume all the guilt, and suffer +all the punishment. There was enough of good in Shuffles to save him +from the evil of his nature. + +"Paul, there is one more thing I must tell you," said Shuffles, that +evening, while the ship lay becalmed off Kinsale. "You remember when I +told you about the gambling in the steerage?" + +"I do." + +"I was deceiving you then. I only exposed the fellows in order to make +trouble. I knew that the students would be closely watched, and the +rules more strictly enforced, which would make them mad." + +"What did you want to make them mad for?" + +"So that they would join the League." + +"Well, you did a good thing for the ship and for the fellows, if your +motives were not good," replied Paul. "It was good out of evil, any +way." + +"I don't think half so many fellows would have joined if Mr. Lowington +hadn't taken their money from them." + +"Have you seen any gambling since?" + +"Not a bit of it, Paul." + +"I am glad to know that." + +"One thing more; you know all the members of the League, Paul." + +"I?" + +"Yes? you have their names on the orders, for ten shillings each." + +"So I have; but we will make a general affair of the presentation, and +that will cover up the whole of them." + +"Thank you, Paul. You despise me as much as I like and respect you." + +"I don't despise you, Shuffles. You have done wrong, but I respect you +for undoing the evil you had meditated. We are all weak and erring, and +we can't afford to despise any one. On the contrary I like you," replied +Paul, giving Shuffles his hand. + +"You treat me better than I deserve, Paul; but if you are my friend, I +shall be all the better for it; and I hope you will not be worse." + +The end of the conspiracy had been reached. Before the ship came to +anchor in the Cove, every boy on board had drawn his order on the +principal for ten shillings, and the members of the League were veiled +beneath the mass of names. + +At sunrise, on Tuesday morning, the ship had a gentle breeze; and at +three bells in the forenoon watch, she was off Roches Point, with the +Union Jack at the foremast-head, as a signal for a pilot. On this +exciting occasion, the studies and recitations were suspended to enable +all the students to see the shores, and enjoy the scene. The pilot made +his appearance, gave Mr. Lowington the latest Cork papers, and took +charge of the ship. The honest Irishman was not a little surprised to +find the vessel manned "wid nothing in the wide wurld but by's;" but he +found they were good seamen. + +The Young America ran into the beautiful bay through the narrow opening, +with Carlisle Fort on the starboard and Camden Fort on the port hand. +The students were intensely excited by the near view of the land, of the +odd little steamers that: went whisking about, and the distant view of +Queenstown, on the slope of the hill at the head of the bay. They were +in Europe now. + +"All hands to bring ship to anchor!" said the first lieutenant, when the +ship was approaching the town. + +The light sails were furled, the port anchor cleared away, and every +preparation made for the mooring Then the orders to let go the topsail +sheets, clew up the topsails, and haul down the jib, were given. + +"Port the helm! Stand clear of the cable! Let go the port anchor!" + +The cable rattled through the hawse-hole, the anchor went to the bottom, +the Young America swung round, and her voyage across the ocean was +happily terminated. Three rousing cheers were given in honor of the +auspicious event, and when the sails had been furled, the crew were +piped to dinner. + +And here, at the close of the voyage, we leave the Young America, with +her officers and crew wiser and better, we trust, than when they sailed +from the shores of their native country. They were now to enter upon a +new life in foreign lands; and what they saw and what they did, on sea +and shore, during the following weeks, will be related in "SHAMROCK AND +THISTLE, or _Young America in Ireland and Scotland_!" + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Outward Bound, by Oliver Optic + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUTWARD BOUND *** + +***** This file should be named 15920.txt or 15920.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/9/2/15920/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Norma Elliott and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. 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