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diff --git a/22433-h/22433-h.htm b/22433-h/22433-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c20c68 --- /dev/null +++ b/22433-h/22433-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8425 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Breaking Away, by Oliver Optic. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Breaking Away, 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: Breaking Away + or The Fortunes of a Student + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Illustrator: Kilburn + +Release Date: August 29, 2007 [EBook #22433] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BREAKING AWAY *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from scans of public domain material produced by +Microsoft for their Live Search Books site.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Cover and booklists"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="255" height="400" alt="Cover: BREAKING AWAY" title="" /> +</td><td align='left'><h2>THE STARRY FLAG SERIES,</h2> + +<h3>BY OLIVER OPTIC.</h3> + + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Starry Flag Series"> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>I.</td><td align='left'>THE STARRY FLAG; <span class="smcap">or, The Young Fisherman of Cape Ann</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>II.</td><td align='left'>FREAKS OF FORTUNE; <span class="smcap">or, Half round the World</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>III.</td><td align='left'>BREAKING AWAY; <span class="smcap">or, The Fortunes of a Student</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>IV.</td><td align='left'>SEEK AND FIND; <span class="smcap">or, The Adventures of a Smart Boy</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>V.</td><td align='left'>MAKE OR BREAK; <span class="smcap">or, The Rich Man's Daughter</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>VI.</td><td align='left'>DOWN THE RIVER; <span class="smcap">or, Buck Bradford and his Tyrants</span>.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" width="600" height="465" alt="THE REBELLION IN THE PARKVILLE LITERARY INSTITUTE.—Page 30." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE REBELLION IN THE PARKVILLE LITERARY INSTITUTE.—<a href="#Page_30">Page 30</a>.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>BREAKING AWAY;</h1> + +<h3>OR,</h3> + +<h2>THE FORTUNES OF A STUDENT.</h2> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>OLIVER OPTIC,</h2> + +<div class='center'> +AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES,"<br /> +"THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES,"<br /> +"THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.<br /><br /><br /><br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +BOSTON:<br /> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<div class='center'> +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867, by<br /> +<span class="smcap">William T. Adams</span>,<br /> +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.<br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<span class="smcap">Copyright, 1895, by William T. Adams.</span><br /> +<i>All rights reserved.</i><br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +BREAKING AWAY.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='center'> +TO<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">My Young Friend,</span><br /> +<br /> +<i>HARLAN H. BALLARD</i>,<br /> +<br /> +This Book<br /> +<br /> +IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> + +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Breaking Away</span>" is the second of the series of stories published in "<span class="smcap">Our +Boys and Girls</span>," and the author had no reason to complain of the +reception accorded to it by his young friends, as it appeared in the +weekly issues of the Magazine; but, on the contrary, he finds renewed +occasion cordially to thank them for their continued appreciation of his +earnest efforts to please them.</p> + +<p>After an experience of more than twenty years as a teacher, the writer +did not expect his young friends to sympathize with the schoolmaster of +this story, for doubtless many of them have known and despised a similar +creature in real life. Mr. Parasyte is not a myth; but we are grateful +that an enlightened public sentiment is every year rendering more and +more odious the petty tyrant of the school-room, and we are too happy to +give this retreating personage a parting blow as he retires from the +scene of his fading glories.</p> + +<p>Rebellions, either in the school or in the state, are always dangerous +and demoralizing; but while we unequivocally condemn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> the tyrant in our +story, we cannot always approve the conduct of his pupils. One evil +gives birth to another; but even a righteous end cannot justify immoral +means, and we beg to remind our young and enthusiastic readers that +Ernest Thornton and his friends were compelled to acknowledge that they +had done wrong in many things, and that "Breaking Away" was deemed a +very doubtful expedient for the redress even of a real wrong.</p> + +<p>As it was impossible for Ernest to relate the whole of his eventful +history in one volume, Breaking Away will be immediately followed by a +sequel,—"Seek and Find,"—in which the hero will narrate his adventures +in seeking and finding his mother, of whose tender care he was deprived +from his earliest childhood.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Harrison Square, Mass.</span>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">September 23, 1867.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='center'> </td><td align='center'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER I.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest Thornton introduces Himself.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER II.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which there is Trouble in the Parkville Liberal Institute.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER III.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest is expelled from the Parkville Liberal Institute.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER IV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest sails the Splash, and Takes a Bath.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER V.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest declines a Proposition.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER VI.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest finds his Fellow-Students in open Rebellion.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER VII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span><span class="smcap">In which Ernest attends the Trial of Bill Poodles and Dick Pearl.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_78">78</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER VIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest vanquishes the Schoolmaster.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER IX.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest strikes a heavy Blow, and wins another Victory.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_100">100</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER X.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest has an Interview with his Uncle.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XI.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest is disowned and cast out.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest raises the Splash, and there is a general Breaking Away among the Students.</span> </td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest is chosen Commodore of the Fleet.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XIV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest is waited upon by a Deputy Sheriff.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest and the Commissary visit Cannondale.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XVI.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span><span class="smcap">In which Ernest conveys the Students to Pine Island.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XVII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest finds there is Treason in the Camp.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_188">188</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XVIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest and his Companions land at Cannondale.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XIX.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest and his Friends are disgusted with Mr. Parasyte's Ingratitude.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_211">211</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XX.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest takes the Wheel of the Adieno.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_222">222</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XXI.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest continues to act as Pilot of the Steamer.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_233">233</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XXII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest pilots the Adieno to "The Sisters."</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XXIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest takes Command of the Expedition.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_255">255</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XXIV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest engages in an Exciting Steamboat Race.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_266">266</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XXV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest pilots the Adieno to Parkville.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_277">277</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XXVI.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In which Ernest finds a Change in the Management of the Institute.</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_287">287</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<h2>BREAKING AWAY;</h2> + +<h4>OR,</h4> + +<h3>THE FORTUNES OF A STUDENT.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST THORNTON INTRODUCES HIMSELF.</h3> + + +<p>"Ernest Thornton!" called Mr. Parasyte, the principal of the Parkville +Liberal Institute, in a tone so stern and severe that it was impossible +to mistake his meaning, or not to understand that a tempest was brewing. +"Ernest Thornton!"</p> + +<p>As that was my name, I replied to the summons by rising, and exhibiting +my full length to all the boys assembled in the school-room—about one +hundred in number.</p> + +<p>"Ernest Thornton!" repeated Mr. Parasyte, not satisfied with the +demonstration I had made.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sir!" I replied, in a round, full, square tone, which was intended to +convince the principal that I was ready to "face the music."</p> + +<p>"Ernest Thornton, I am informed that you have been engaged in a fight," +he continued, in a tone a little less sharp than that with which he had +pronounced my name; and I had the vanity to believe that the square tone +in which I had uttered the single word I had been called upon to speak +had produced a salutary impression upon him.</p> + +<p>"I haven't been engaged in any fight, sir," I replied, with all the +dignity becoming a boy of fourteen.</p> + +<p>"Sir! what do you mean by denying it?" added Mr. Parasyte, working +himself up into a magnificent mood, which was intended to crush me by +its very majesty—but it didn't.</p> + +<p>"I have not engaged in any fight, sir," I repeated, with as much +decision as the case seemed to require.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you strike William Poodles?" demanded he, fiercely.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I did. Bill Poodles hit me in the head,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> and I knocked him +over in self-defence—that was all, sir."</p> + +<p>"Don't you call that a fight, sir?" said Mr. Parasyte, knitting his +brows, and looking savage enough to swallow me.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I do not. I couldn't stand still and let him pound me."</p> + +<p>"You irritated him in the beginning, and provoked him to strike the +blow. I hold you responsible for the fight."</p> + +<p>"I had no intention to irritate him, and I did not wish to provoke him."</p> + +<p>"I hold you responsible for the fight, Thornton," said the principal +again.</p> + +<p>I supposed he would, for Poodles was the son of a very wealthy and +aristocratic merchant in the city of New York, while I belonged to what +the principal regarded as an inferior order of society. At least twenty +boys in the Parkville Liberal Institute came upon the recommendation of +Poodle's father, while not a single one had been lured into these +classic shades by the influence of my family—if I could be said to +belong to any family.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> Besides, I was but a day scholar, and my uncle +paid only tuition bills for me, while most of the pupils were boarders +at the Institute.</p> + +<p>I am writing of events which took place years ago, but I have seen no +reason to change the opinion then formed, that Mr. Parasyte, the +principal, was a "toady" of the first water; that he was a +narrow-minded, partial man, in whom the principle of justice had never +been developed. He was a good teacher, an excellent teacher; by which I +mean only to say that he had a rare skill and tact for imparting +knowledge, the mere dry bones of art, science, and philosophy. He was a +capital scholar himself, and a capital teacher; but that is the most +that can be said of him.</p> + +<p>I have no hesitation in saying that his influence upon the boys was bad, +as that of every narrow-minded, partial, and unjust man must be; and if +I had any boys to send away to a boarding school, they should go to a +good and true man, even if I knew him to be, intellectually, an inferior +teacher, rather than to such a person as Mr. Parasyte. He "toadied" to +the rich boys, and oppressed the poorer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> ones. Poodles was the most +important boy in the school, and he was never punished for his faults, +which were not few, nor compelled to learn his lessons, as other boys +were. But I think Poodles hated the magnate of the Parkville Liberal +Institute as much as any other boy.</p> + +<p>Parkville is situated on Lake Adieno, a beautiful sheet of water, twenty +miles in length, in the very heart of the State of New York. The town +was a thriving place of four thousand inhabitants, at which a steamboat +stopped twice every day in her trip around the lake. The academy was +located at the western verge of the town, while my home was about a mile +beyond the eastern line of the village.</p> + +<p>I lived with my uncle, Amos Thornton. His residence was a vine-clad +cottage, built in the Swiss style, on the border of the lake, the lawn +in front of it extending down to the water's edge. My uncle was a +strange man. He had erected this cottage ten years before the time at +which my story opens, when I was a mere child. He had employed in the +beginning, before the house was completed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> a man and his wife as +gardener and housekeeper, and they had been residents in the cottage +ever since.</p> + +<p>I said that my uncle was a strange man; and so he was. He hardly ever +spoke a word to any one, and never unless it was absolutely necessary to +do so. He was not one of the talking kind; and old Jerry, the gardener, +and old Betsey, the housekeeper, seemed to have been cast in the same +mould. I never heard them talking to each other, and they certainly +never spoke to me unless I asked them a question, and then only in the +briefest manner.</p> + +<p>I never knew what to make of my uncle Amos. He had a little room, which +he called his library, in one corner of the house, which could be +entered only by passing through his bedroom. In this apartment he spent +most of his time, though he went out to walk every day, while I was at +school; but, if he saw me coming, he always retreated to the house. He +was gloomy and misanthropic; he never went to church himself, though he +always compelled me to go, and also to attend the Sunday school. He did +not go into society, and had little or noth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>ing to do with, or to say +to, the people of Parkville. He never troubled them, and they were +content to let him alone.</p> + +<p>As may well be supposed, my life at the cottage was not the pleasantest +that could be imagined. It was hardly a home, only a stopping-place to +me. It was gloom and silence there, and my uncle was the lord of the +silent land. Such a life was not to my taste, and I envied the boys and +girls of my acquaintance in Parkville, as I saw them talking and +laughing with their fathers and mothers, their brothers and sisters, or +gathered in the social circle around the winter fire. It seemed to me +that their cup of joy was full, while mine was empty. I longed for +friends and companions to share with me the cares and the pleasures of +life.</p> + +<p>Of myself I knew little or nothing. My memory hardly reached farther +back than the advent of my uncle at Lake Adieno, and all my early +associations were connected with the cottage and its surroundings. I had +a glimmering and indistinct idea of something before our coming to +Parkville. It seemed to me that I had once known a motherly lady<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> with a +sweet and lovely expression on her face; and I had a faint recollection +of looking out upon a dreary waste of waters; but I could not fix the +idea distinctly in my mind. I supposed that the lady was my mother. I +made several vain efforts to induce my uncle to tell me something about +her; if he knew anything, he would not tell me.</p> + +<p>Old Jerry and his wife evidently had no knowledge whatever in regard to +me before my uncle brought me to Parkville. They could not tell me +anything, and my uncle would not. Though I was a boy of only fourteen, +this concealment of my birth and parentage troubled me. I was told that +my father was dead; and this was all the information I could obtain. +Where he had lived, when and where he died, I was not permitted to know. +If I asked a question, my uncle turned on his heel and left me, with no +reply.</p> + +<p>The vision of the motherly lady, distant and indistinct as it was, +haunted me like a familiar melody. If the person was my mother, why +should her very name be kept from me? If she was still living, why could +I not go to her? If she was dead,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> why might I not water the green sod +above her grave with my tears, and plant the sweetest flowers by her +tombstone? I was dissatisfied with my lot, and I was determined, at no +distant day, to wring from my silent uncle the particulars of my early +history. I was so eager to get this knowledge that I was almost ready to +take him by the throat, if need be, and force out the truth from between +his closed lips.</p> + +<p>I never had an opportunity to speak with him; but I could make the +opportunity. He took no notice of me; he avoided me; he seemed hardly to +be conscious of my existence. Yet he was not a hard man, in the common +sense of the word. He clothed me as well as the best boys in the +Institute. If I wanted anything for the table, old Jerry was ordered to +procure it. When I was ten years old a little row-boat was furnished for +me; but before I was fourteen I wanted something better, and told my +uncle so. He made me no reply; but on my next birthday a splendid +sail-boat floated on the lake before the house, which Jerry said had +been built for me. I told my silent lord that I was much obliged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> to him +for his very acceptable present, when I happened to catch him on the +lawn. He turned on his heel, and fled as though I had stung him with the +sting of ingratitude.</p> + +<p>If I wanted anything, I had only to mention it; and no one criticised my +conduct, whatever I did. I was free to go and come when I pleased; and +though in vacation I was absent three days at once in my boat, no one +asked me where I had been, or what I had done. Neither my uncle nor his +silent satellites ever expressed a fear that I might be drowned in my +voyages in night and storm on the lake; and I came to the conclusion +that no one would care if I were lost.</p> + +<p>I do not know how, under such a home government, I ever became a decent +fellow. I do not know why I am not now a pirate, a freebooter, a +pickpocket, or a nuisance to myself and the world in some other +capacity. I have come to believe since that my inherited good qualities +saved me under such an utter neglect of all home influences. It is a +marvel to me that I was not ruined before I was twenty-one; and from the +deepest depths of my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> heart I thank God for his mercy in sparing me from +the fate which generally and naturally overtakes such a neglected child.</p> + +<p>At the age of twelve, after I had passed through the common school of +the town, I was admitted to the Parkville Liberal Institute, which I +wished to attend because a friend of mine in the town was there. My +uncle did not object—he never objected to anything. Without pride or +vanity I may say that I was a good scholar, and I took the highest rank +at the academy. When I was about twelve years old, some instructions +which I received in the Sunday school produced a strong impression on my +mind, and led me to take my stand for life. I tried to be true to God +and myself, to be just and manly in all things. Whatever the world may +sneeringly say of goodness and truth, I am sure that I owe my popularity +among the boys of the Parkville Liberal Institute to these +endeavors—not always successful—to do right.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH THERE IS TROUBLE IN THE PARKVILLE LIBERAL INSTITUTE.</h3> + + +<p>I wish to say in the beginning, and once for all, that I did not set +myself up as a saint, or even as a model boy. I made no pretensions, but +I did try to be good and true. I felt that I had no one in this world to +rely upon for my future; everything depended upon myself alone, and I +realized the responsibility of building up my own character. I do not +mean to assert that I had all these ideas and purposes clearly defined +in my own mind; only that I had a simple abstract desire to be good, and +to do good, without knowing precisely in what the being and the doing +consisted. My notions, many of them, I am now aware, were crude and +undefined.</p> + +<p>I have observed that I was a favorite among the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> boys of the Institute, +a kind of leader and oracle among them, though I was not fully conscious +of the fact at the time. While I now think I owe the greater portion of +the esteem and regard in which I was held by my companions to my desire +to be good and true, I must acknowledge that other circumstances had +their influence upon them. I was the owner of the best boat on Lake +Adieno, and to the boys this was a matter of no small consequence. There +were half a dozen row-boats belonging to the academy, but nothing that +carried a sail.</p> + +<p>I always had money. I had only to ask my uncle for any sum I wanted, and +it was given me, without a question as to its intended use. I mention +the fact to his discredit, and it would have been a luxury to me to have +had him manifest interest enough in my welfare to refuse my request.</p> + +<p>I was naturally enterprising and fearless, and was therefore foremost in +all feats of daring, in all trials of skill in athletic games. Indeed, +to sum up the estimate which was made of me by my associates in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> school +and the people of Parkville, I was "a smart boy." Perhaps my vanity was +tickled once or twice by hearing this appellation applied to me; but I +am sure I was not spoiled by the favor with which I was regarded.</p> + +<p>Though I was not an unhappy boy, there was an aching void in my heart +which I could not fill, a longing for such a home as hundreds of my +young friends enjoyed; and I would gladly have exchanged the freedom +from restraint for which others envied me for the poorest home in the +town, where I could have been welcomed by a fond mother, where I could +have had a kind father to feel an interest in me.</p> + +<p>During the spring, summer, and autumn months, when the wind and weather +would permit, I went to school in my sail-boat. My course lay along the +shore, and if I was becalmed and likely to be tardy, I had only to moor +my craft, and take to the road. At the noon intermission, therefore, my +boat was available for use, and I always had a party.</p> + +<p>On the day that I was called up charged with fighting, the Splash—for +that was the suggestive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> name I had chosen for my trim little craft—was +lying at the boat pier on the lake in front of the Institute building. +The forenoon session of the school had just closed, and I had gone to +the boat to eat my dinner, which I always carried in the stern locker.</p> + +<p>Before I had finished, Bill Poodles came down with an Arithmetic in his +hand. It was the dinner hour of the boarding students, and I wondered +that Bill was not in the refectory. Our class had a difficult lesson in +arithmetic that day, which I had worked out in the solitude of my +chamber at the cottage the preceding evening. The students had been +prohibited, under the most severe penalty, from assisting each other; +and it appeared that Bill had vainly applied to half a dozen of his +classmates for help: none of them dared to afford it.</p> + +<p>Bill Poodles was a disagreeable fellow, arrogant and "airy" as he was +lazy and stupid. I doubt whether he ever learned a difficult task alone. +The arithmetic lesson was a review of the principles which the class had +gone over, and consisted of a dozen examples, printed on a slip of +paper, to test the knowl<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>edge of the students; and it was intimated that +those who failed would be sent down into a lower class. Bill dreaded +anything like a degradation. He was proud, if he was lazy. He knew that +I had performed the examples, and while his fellow-boarders were at +dinner, he had stolen the opportunity to appeal to me for the assistance +he so much needed.</p> + +<p>Though Bill was a disagreeable fellow, and though, in common with a +majority of the students, I disliked him, I would willingly have +assisted him if the prohibition to do so had not been so emphatic. Mr. +Parasyte was so particular in the present instance, that the following +declaration had been printed on the examination paper, and each boy was +required to sign it:—</p> + +<p><i>"I declare upon my honor, that I have had no assistance whatever in +solving these examples, and that I have given none to others."</i></p> + +<p>Bill begged me to assist him. I reasoned with him, and told him he had +better fail in the review than forfeit his honor by subscribing to a +falsehood. He made light of my scruples; and then I told him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> I had +already signed my own paper, and would not falsify my statement.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" exclaimed he, with a sneer. "You hadn't given any one +assistance when you signed, but you can do it now, and it will be no +lie."</p> + +<p>I was indignant at the proposition, it was so mean and base; and I +expressed myself squarely in regard to it. I had finished my dinner, +and, closing the locker, stepped out of the boat upon the pier. Bill +followed me, begging and pleading till I was disgusted with him. I told +him then that I would not do what he asked if he teased me for a month. +He was angry, and used insulting language. I turned on my heel to leave +him. He interpreted this movement on my part as an act of cowardice, +and, coming up behind me, struck me a heavy blow on the back of the head +with his fist. He was on the point of following it up with another, +when, though he was eighteen years old, and half a foot taller than I +was, I hit him fairly in the eye, and knocked him over backwards, off +the pier, and into the lake.</p> + +<p>A madder fellow than Bill Poodles never floun<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>dered in shallow water. +The lake where he fell was not more than two or three feet deep, and +doubtless its soft bosom saved him from severe injury. He picked himself +up, and, dripping from his bath, rushed to the shore. He was insane with +passion. Seizing a large stone, he hurled it at me. I moved towards him, +with the intention of checking his demonstration, when his valor was +swallowed up in discretion, and he rushed towards the school building.</p> + +<p>For this offence I was brought to the bar of Mr. Parasyte's uneven +justice. Poodles had told his own story after changing his drabbled +garments. It was unfortunate that there were no witnesses of the affray, +for the principal would sooner have doubted the evidence of his own +senses than the word of Bill Poodles, simply because it was not politic +for him to do so. My accuser declared that he had spoken civilly and +properly to me, and that I had insulted him. He had walked up to me, and +placed his hand upon my shoulder, simply to attract my attention, when I +had struck him a severe blow in the face, which had knocked him over +backwards into the lake.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>In answer to this charge, I told the truth exactly as it was. Bill +acknowledged that he had asked me some questions about the review +lesson, which I had declined to answer. He was sorry he had offended so +far, but was not angry at my refusal. He had determined to sacrifice his +dinner, and his play during the intermission, to enable him to perform +the examples. I persisted in the statement I had already made, and +refused to modify it in any manner. It was the simple truth.</p> + +<p>"Ernest Thornton," said Mr. Parasyte, solemnly, "hitherto I have +regarded you with favor. I have looked upon you as a worthy and +deserving boy, and I confess my surprise and grief at the event of +to-day. Not content with the dastardly assault committed upon William +Poodles,—whose devotion to his duty and his studies has been manifested +by the sacrifice of his dinner,—you utter the most barefaced falsehood +which it was ever my misfortune to hear a boy tell."</p> + +<p>"I have told the truth, sir!" I exclaimed, my cheek burning with +indignation.</p> + +<p>"Silence, sir! Such conduct and such a boy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> cannot be tolerated at the +Parkville Liberal Institute. But in consideration of your former good +conduct, I purpose to give you an opportunity to redeem your character."</p> + +<p>"My character don't need any redeeming," I declared, stoutly.</p> + +<p>"I see you are in a very unhappy frame of mind, and I fear you are +incorrigible. But I must do my duty, and I proceed to pronounce your +sentence, which is, that you be expelled from the Parkville Liberal +Institute."</p> + +<p>"Bill Poodles is the biggest liar in the school!" shouted a daring +little fellow among my friends, who were astounded at the result of the +examination, and at the sentence.</p> + +<p>"That's so!" said another.</p> + +<p>"Yes!" "Yes!" "Yes!" shouted a dozen more. "Throw him over! Bill Poodles +is the liar!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte was appalled at this demonstration—a demonstration which +never could have occurred without the provocation of the grossest +injustice. The boys were well disciplined, and the order of the +Institute was generally unexceptionable. Such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> a flurry had never before +been known, and it was evident that the students intended to take the +law into their own hands. They acted upon the impulse of the moment, and +I judged that at least one half of them were engaged in the +demonstration.</p> + +<p>Poodles was a boy of no principle; he was notorious as a liar; and the +boys regarded it as an outrage upon themselves and upon me that he +should be believed, while my story appeared to have no weight whatever.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte trembled, not alone with rage, but with fear. The startling +event then transpiring threatened the peace, if not the very existence, +of the Parkville Liberal Institute. I folded my arms,—for I felt my +dignity,—and endeavored to be calm, though my bosom heaved and bounded +with emotion.</p> + +<p>"Boys—young gentlemen, I—" the principal began.</p> + +<p>"Throw him over! Put him out!" yelled the students, excited beyond +measure.</p> + +<p>"Young gentlemen!" shouted Mr. Parasyte.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Three cheers for Ernest Thornton!" hoarsely screamed Bob Hale, my +intimate friend and longtime "crony."</p> + +<p>They were given with an enthusiasm which bordered on infatuation.</p> + +<p>"Will you hear me, students?" cried Mr. Parasyte.</p> + +<p>"No!" "No!" "No!" "Throw him over!" "Put him out!"</p> + +<p>The scene was almost as unpleasant to me as to the principal, proud as I +was of the devotion of my friends. I did not wish to be vindicated in +such a way, and I was anxious to put a stop to such disorderly +proceedings. I raised my hand in an appealing gesture.</p> + +<p>"Fellow-students," said I; and the school-room was quiet.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST IS EXPELLED FROM THE PARKVILLE LIBERAL INSTITUTE.</h3> + + +<p>"Fellow-students," I continued, when the school-room was still enough +for me to be heard, "I am willing to submit to the rules of the +Institute, and even to the injustice of the principal. For my sake, as +well as for your own, behave like men."</p> + +<p>I folded my arms, and was silent again. I felt that it was better to +suffer than to resist, and such an exhibition of rowdyism was not to my +taste. I glanced at Mr. Parasyte, to intimate to him that he could say +what he pleased; and he took the hint.</p> + +<p>"Young gentlemen, this is a new experience to me. In twenty years as a +teacher, I have never been thus insulted."</p> + +<p>This was an imprudent remark.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Be fair, then!" shouted Bob Hale; and the cry was repeated by others, +until the scene of disorder promised to be renewed.</p> + +<p>I raised my hand, and shook my head, deprecating the conduct of the +boys. Once more they heeded, though it was evidently as a particular +favor to me, rather than because it was in keeping with their ideas of +right and justice.</p> + +<p>"I intend to be fair, young gentlemen," continued Mr. Parasyte; "that is +the whole study of my life. I am astonished and mortified at this +unlooked-for demonstration. I was about to make a further statement in +regard to Thornton, when you interrupted me. I told you that I purposed +to give him an opportunity to redeem his character. I intend to do my +duty on this painful occasion, though the walls of the Parkville Liberal +Institute should crumble above my head, and crush me in the dust."</p> + +<p>"Let her crumble!" said a reckless youth, as Mr. Parasyte waxed +eloquent.</p> + +<p>"Will you be silent, or will you compel me to resort to that which I +abhor—to physical force?"</p> + +<p>Some of the boys glanced at each other with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> meaning smile when this +remark was uttered; but I shook my head, to signify my disapprobation of +anything like resistance or tumult.</p> + +<p>"Thornton," added Mr. Parasyte, turning to me, "I have fairly and +impartially heard your story, and carefully weighed all your statements. +I have come to the conclusion, deliberately and without prejudice, that +you were the aggressor."</p> + +<p>"I was not, sir," I replied, as gently as I could speak, and yet as +firmly.</p> + +<p>"It appears that Poodles placed his hand upon your arm merely to attract +your attention; whereupon you struck him a severe blow in the face, +which caused him to reel and fall over backward into the lake," said Mr. +Parasyte, so pompously that I could not tell whether he intended to +"back out" of his position or not.</p> + +<p>"Poodles hit me in the head, and was on the point of repeating the blow, +when I knocked him over in self-defence."</p> + +<p>"It does not appear to me that Poodles, who is a remarkably gentlemanly +student, would have struck you for simply refusing to assist him about +his exam<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>ples. Such a course would not be consistent with the character +of Poodles."</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I did not strike him at any time," protested Poodles.</p> + +<p>"I find it impossible to change my opinion of the merits of this case; +and for the good of the Parkville Liberal Institute, I must adhere to +the sentence I have already—with regret and sorrow—pronounced upon +you. But—"</p> + +<p>There were again strong signs of another outbreak among the pupils, and +I begged them to be silent.</p> + +<p>"The conduct of Thornton in this painful emergency merits and receives +my approbation. His love of order and his efforts to preserve proper +decorum in the school-room are worthy of the highest commendation," +continued Mr. Parasyte; "and I would gladly remit the penalty I have +imposed upon him without any conditions whatever; but I feel that such a +course, after the extraordinary events of this day, would be subversive +of the discipline and good order which have ever characterized the +Parkville Liberal Institute. I shall, however, impose a merely nominal +condition upon Thornton, his compliance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> with which shall immediately +restore him to the full enjoyment of his rights and privileges as a +member of this academy. I wish to be as lenient as possible, and, as I +observed, the penalty will be merely nominal.</p> + +<p>"As the quarrel occurred when the parties were alone, so also may the +reparation be made in private; for after Thornton's magnanimous behavior +to-day, under these trying circumstances, I do not wish to humiliate or +mortify him. I wish that it were consistent with my ideas of stern duty +to impose no penalty."</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte had certainly retreated a long way from his original +position. I did not wish to be expelled, and I hailed with satisfaction +his manifestation of leniency; and rather than lose the advantages of +the school, I was willing to submit to the nominal penalty at which he +hinted, supposing it would be a deprivation of some privilege.</p> + +<p>"I have not resisted your authority, sir; and I do not mean to do so +now," I replied, submissively; for, as the popular sentiment of the +students sustained me, I could afford to yield.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Your conduct since the quarrel is entirely satisfactory; I may say that +it merits my admiration." This was toadying to the boys, whom he feared. +"I have sentenced you to expulsion, the severest penalty known in the +discipline of the Parkville Liberal Institute; but, Thornton, I propose +to remit this penalty altogether on condition that, in private, and at +your own convenience, but within one week, you apologize to Poodles for +your conduct. I could not make the condition any milder, I think."</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte smiled as though he had entirely forgiven me; as though he +had, in some mysterious manner, wiped out the stains of falsehood upon +my character. I bowed, but made no reply. I was sentenced to expulsion; +but the penalty was to be remitted on condition that I would apologize +to Poodles.</p> + +<p>Apologize to Poodles! For what? For his attack upon me, or for the lies +he had told about me? It was no more possible for me to apologize for +knocking him over when he assailed me than it would have been for me to +leap across Lake Adieno in the widest place. I did not wish to deprive +myself of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> the advantages of attending the Parkville Liberal Institute; +but if my remaining depended upon my humiliating myself before Poodles, +upon my declaring that what I had done was wrong, when I believed it was +right, I was no longer to be a student in the academy.</p> + +<p>The exercises of the school proceeded as usual for a couple of hours, +and there were no further signs of insubordination among the boys. At +recess I purposely kept away from my more intimate friends, for I did +not wish to tell them what course I intended to pursue, fearful that it +would renew the disturbance.</p> + +<p>An hour before the close of the session, the boys were required to bring +in their examination papers in arithmetic. Every student, even to +Poodles, handed in solutions to all the problems, and Mr. Parasyte and +his assistants at once devoted themselves to the marking of them. In +half an hour the principal was ready to report the result.</p> + +<p>Half a dozen of the class had all the examples right, and I was one of +the number. Very much to my astonishment, Poodles also was announced as +one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> of the six; and when his name was mentioned, a score of the +students glanced at me.</p> + +<p>I did not understand it. I was quite satisfied that Poodles could not do +the problems himself, and it was certain that he had obtained assistance +from some one, though the declaration on the paper was duly signed. He +had found a friend less scrupulous than I had been. Some one must have +performed the examples for him; and as he had them all correct, it was +evident that one of the six, who alone had presented perfect papers, +must have afforded the assistance. After throwing out Poodles and +myself, there were but four left; and two of these, to my certain +knowledge, had joined in the demonstration in my favor: indeed, they +were my friends beyond the possibility of a doubt. Between the other two +I had no means of forming an opinion.</p> + +<p>During the afternoon Mr. Parasyte had been very uneasy and nervous. It +was plain to him that he ruled the boys by their free will, rather than +by his own power; and this was not a pleasant thing for a man like him +to know. Doubtless he felt that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> had dropped the reins of his team, +which, though going very well just then, might take it into its head to +run away with him whenever it was convenient. Probably he felt the +necessity of doing something to reëstablish his authority, and to obtain +a stronger position than that he now occupied. If, with the experience I +have since acquired, I could have spoken to him, I should have told him +that justice and fairness alone would make him strong as a +disciplinarian.</p> + +<p>"Poodles," said Mr. Parasyte, just before the close of the session, "I +see that all your examples were correctly performed, and that you signed +the declaration on the paper."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Poodles.</p> + +<p>"When did you perform them?"</p> + +<p>"I did all but two of them last night."</p> + +<p>"And when did you do those two?" continued the principal, mildly, but +with the air of a man who expects soon to make a triumphant point.</p> + +<p>"Between schools, at noon, while the students were at dinner and at +play."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Very well. You had them all done but two when you met Thornton to-day +noon?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Thornton," added Mr. Parasyte, turning to me, "I have no disposition to +hurry you in the unsettled case of to-day, though the result of +Poodles's examination shows that he had no need of the assistance you +say he asked of you; but perhaps it would be better that you should +state distinctly whether or not you intend to apologize. It is quite +possible that there was a misunderstanding between you and Poodles, +which a mutual explanation might remove."</p> + +<p>"I do not think there was any misunderstanding," I replied.</p> + +<p>"If you wish to meet Poodles after school, I offer my services as a +friend to assist in the adjustment of the dispute."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to meet him," said Poodles.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte actually rebuked him for this illiberal sentiment; and +while he was doing so, I added that I had no desire to meet Poodles, as +proposed. I now think I was wrong; but I had a feeling that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> the +principal intended to browbeat me into an acknowledgment.</p> + +<p>"Very well, Thornton; if you refuse to make peace, you must take the +consequences. Do you intend to apologize to Poodles, or not?"</p> + +<p>"I do not, sir," I replied, decidedly.</p> + +<p>"Then you are expelled from the Parkville Liberal Institute."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST SAILS THE SPLASH, AND TAKES A BATH.</h3> + + +<p>Difficult as the task was, I had thus far kept cool; but my sentence +fell heavily upon me, and I could not help being angry, for I felt that +I had been treated unfairly and unjustly. Poodles's statement had been +accepted, and mine rejected; his word had been taken, while mine, which +ought at least to have passed for as much as his, was utterly +disregarded.</p> + +<p>I turned upon my heel and went to my seat. My movement was sharp and +abrupt, but I did not say anything.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" said Mr. Parasyte, who evidently believed that the moment had +come for him to vindicate his authority.</p> + +<p>I did not stop.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Stop, I say!" repeated the principal.</p> + +<p>I proceeded to pick up my books and papers, to enable me to comply +literally with my sentence.</p> + +<p>"Come here, Thornton."</p> + +<p>I took no notice of the order, but continued to pack up my things.</p> + +<p>"Do you hear me?" demanded Mr. Parasyte, in a loud and angry tone.</p> + +<p>"I do hear you, sir. I have been expelled, and I don't care about +listening to any more speeches."</p> + +<p>"If you don't come here, I'll bring you here," added the principal, with +emphasis.</p> + +<p>Somewhat to my surprise, but greatly to my satisfaction, the boys made +no demonstration in my favor. They seemed to think I was now in a mood +to fight my own battle, though they were doubtless ready to aid me if I +needed any help. Mr. Parasyte appeared to have begun in a way which +indicated that he intended to maintain his authority, even at the risk +of a personal encounter with me and the boys who had voluntarily +espoused my cause.</p> + +<p>Having packed up my books and papers, I took the bundle under my arm, +and deliberately walked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> out of the school-room. The principal ordered +me to stop; but as he had already sentenced me to expulsion, I could see +no reason why I should yield any further allegiance to the magnate of +the institution. He was very angry, which was certainly an undignified +frame of mind for a gentleman in his position; and I was smarting under +the wrong and injustice done to me. Mr. Parasyte stopped to procure his +hat, which gave me the advantage in point of time, and I reached the +little pier at which my boat was moored before he overtook me.</p> + +<p>I hauled in the painter, and pushed off, hoisting the mainsail as the +boat receded from the wharf. Mr. Parasyte reached the pier while I was +thus engaged.</p> + +<p>"Stop, Thornton!" shouted he.</p> + +<p>"I would rather not stop any longer," I replied, running up the +foresail.</p> + +<p>"Will you come back, or I shall bring you back?" demanded he, fiercely.</p> + +<p>"Neither, if you please."</p> + +<p>"If you wish to save trouble, you will come back," said he.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm not particular about saving trouble. If you have any business with +me, I will return."</p> + +<p>"I have business with you."</p> + +<p>"Will you please to tell me what it is?"</p> + +<p>"No, I will not."</p> + +<p>"Then you will excuse me if I go home," I added, as I hoisted the jib.</p> + +<p>There was only a very light breeze, and the Splash went off very slowly. +I took my seat at the helm, trying to keep as cool as possible, though +my bosom bounded with emotion. I was playing a strange part, and I was +not at home in it. I could not help feeling that I was riding "a high +horse;" but the injustice done me seemed to warrant it.</p> + +<p>"Poodles, call the men," I heard Mr. Parasyte say to his flunky, and saw +him run off to execute the command.</p> + +<p>"Once more, Thornton, I ask you to come back," said the principal, still +standing on the pier, from which the Splash had receded not more than a +couple of rods.</p> + +<p>"If you have any business with me, sir, I will do so," I replied. "You +have expelled me from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> school, and I don't think you have anything +more to do with me."</p> + +<p>"I want no words or arguments. It will be better for you to come back."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it will; but I shall not come."</p> + +<p>There was not breeze enough to enable me to make a mile an hour, and I +had some doubts in regard to the result, if Mr. Parasyte persisted. He +did persist, and presently Poodles returned with two men, who were +employed upon the school estate, and whose services were so often +required in the boats that they were good oarsmen. I comprehended the +principal's plan at once. He intended to chase me in the boat, and bring +me back by force. I was rather amused at the idea, and should have been +more so if there had been a fair sailing breeze.</p> + +<p>The Splash was the fastest boat on the lake, or, at least, faster than +any with which I had had an opportunity to measure paces. But it made +but little difference how fast she was, as long as there was hardly wind +enough to stiffen the mainsail. Mr. Parasyte ordered the men to take +their places on the thwarts, and ship their oars. I saw that a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> little +farther out from the shore there was a ripple on the water, and putting +one of my oars out at the stern, I sculled till I caught the breeze, and +the Splash went off at a little livelier pace.</p> + +<p>By this time all the boys had gathered on the bank of the lake to see +the fun, and it <i>was</i> fun to them. I knew that their sympathies were +with me, and I only wished for a better breeze, that I might do justice +to myself and to my boat. But the chances for me were improving as the +Splash receded from the shore. Mr. Parasyte had taken his place in the +stern sheets of the row-boat, and was urging forward the men at the +oars, who were now pulling with all their might. I could not conceal +from myself the fact that they were gaining rapidly upon me. Unless the +wind increased, I should certainly be captured; for the two men with the +principal would ask no better sport than to overhaul and roughly handle +an unruly boy.</p> + +<p>But the wind continued to increase as I went farther out upon the lake, +and I soon had all that was necessary to enable me to keep a "respectful +distance" between the Splash and the row-boat. By<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> this time my anger +had abated, and I had begun to enjoy the affair. With a six-knot breeze +I could have it all my own way. I could still see the boys on the shore, +watching the chase with the liveliest interest and satisfaction. They +were not silent observers, for an occasional cheer or shout was borne to +my ears over the lake, and I could see the waving of hats, and the +swinging of arms, with which my friends encouraged me to persevere.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte was resolute. He felt, doubtless, that the reputation of +the Parkville Liberal Institute, and his own reputation as a +disciplinarian, were at stake. The tumult in the school-room early in +the afternoon would weaken his power and influence over the boys, unless +its effects were counteracted by a triumph over me. Right or wrong, he +probably felt that he must put me down, or be sacrificed himself; and he +continued to urge his oarsmen forward, intent upon capturing and +subduing me.</p> + +<p>While I had the breeze I felt perfectly easy. I had stood out from the +shore with the wind on the beam, and there was nothing to prevent my +running before it directly to the cottage of my uncle. I was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> disposed +to tantalize my pursuer, and wear out his men. I knew that my silent +guardian would not thank me for leading Mr. Parasyte into his presence, +and I was willing to gratify him in this instance. Besides, the students +on the shore seemed to derive too much enjoyment from the scene to have +the sport cut short. Hauling aft the sheets, I stood down the lake, +close to the wind, until I had brought my pursuer astern of me. I then +brought the Splash up into the wind, and coolly waited for the row-boat +to come up within hailing distance.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte, deceived by my position, thought his time had come. He was +much excited, and with renewed zeal pressed his oarsmen to increase +their efforts. When he had approached within a few rods of me, I put up +the helm, and dashed away again towards the pier. Again I distanced him, +and ran as near to the pier as I dared to go, fearful that I might lose +the wind under the lee of a bluff below the school grounds. The boys +hailed me with a cheer, which must have been anything but soothing to +the feelings of Mr. Parasyte. Then, "wing and wing," I ran off before +the wind; and, still unwilling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> to deprive my friends of the excitement +of witnessing the race, I again stood out towards the middle of the +lake.</p> + +<p>The principal could not give up the pursuit without abandoning the high +position he had taken, and subjecting himself to the derision of the +students. He followed me, therefore, and I led him over the same course +he had gone before. On my return I unfortunately ran in a little too +near the shore, and got under the lee of the bluff, which nearly +becalmed me. I realized that I had made a fatal blunder, and I wished I +had disappointed the boys, and continued on my course across the lake, +where the wind favored me. I tried to scull the Splash out of the still +water before Mr. Parasyte came up.</p> + +<p>"Pull with all your might, men!" said the principal, excitedly; and they +certainly did so.</p> + +<p>Seeing that he was upon me, I attempted to come about, and run off +before the wind; but I had lost my steerage-way. I suppose I was +somewhat "flurried" by the danger of my situation, and did not do as +well as I might have done.</p> + +<p>"Pull! Pull!" shouted Mr. Parasyte, nervously, as he steered the +row-boat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thus urged, the men did pull better than I had ever known them to do +before. The principal of the Parkville Liberal Institute was no boatman +himself, and his calculations were miserably deficient, or else his +intentions were more vicious than I had given him credit for. He was +angry and excited; and as I looked at him, it seemed to me that he did +not know what he was about. The Splash lay broadside to him. She was a +beautiful craft, built light and graceful, rather than strong and +substantial. On the other hand, the row-boat was a solid, sharp, +ram-nosed craft, setting low in the water; and on it came at the highest +speed to which it could be urged by the powerful muscles of the strong +men at the oars.</p> + +<p>"Pull! Pull!" repeated Mr. Parasyte, fiercely, under the madness of the +excitement and the resentment caused by the hard chase I had led him.</p> + +<p>"Down with your helm, or you will smash me!" I shouted, seeing that a +collision was inevitable.</p> + +<p>If Mr. Parasyte did not intend to run me down, my warning was too late. +The row-boat came upon me like a whirlwind, striking the Splash on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +beam, below her water-line, and staving in her side as though she had +been a card box. I do not know whether this was a part of the +principal's programme or not; but my boat was most effectually smashed, +and, being heavily ballasted, she went down like a rock. It was hardly +an instant after the shock before I felt her sinking beneath me. The two +men at the oars of the principal's boat, without any order from Mr. +Parasyte,—for he knew not what to do,—backed water. I could swim like +a fish; and as the Splash sank beneath me, I struck out from the wreck, +and was left like a waif floating upon the glassy surface of the lake.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i001.jpg" width="500" height="384" alt="Ernest sails the Splash and takes a Bath. Page 54." title="Ernest sails the Splash and takes a Bath. Page 54." /> +<span class="caption">Ernest sails the Splash and takes a Bath. Page 54.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST DECLINES A PROPOSITION.</h3> + + +<p>The battle had been fought and lost to me. Mr. Parasyte, roused to the +highest pitch of anger and excitement, seemed to be determined to +overwhelm me. He was reckless and desperate. He had smashed my boat +apparently with as little compunction as he would snap a dead stick in +his fingers. He was thoroughly in earnest now; and it was fully +demonstrated that he intended to protect the discipline of the Parkville +Liberal Institute, even if it cost a human life for him to do so.</p> + +<p>I was then "lying round loose" in the lake. I had no idea that I was in +any personal peril from the water; all that disturbed me was the fact +that I could not swim fast enough to keep out of the principal's way. +The treacherous breeze had deserted me in the midst of my triumph, and +consigned me to the tender mercies of my persecutor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>I swam away from the boat which had been pursuing me, as though from an +instinct which prompted me to escape my oppressor; but Mr. Parasyte, +without giving any attention to my sinking craft, ordered his men to +pull again; and he steered towards me. Of course a few strokes enabled +him to overtake me. If I had had the means, I would have resisted even +then, and avoided capture; for I could easily have swum ashore. But it +would have been childish for me to hold out any longer; and when one of +the men held out his oar to me, I grasped it, and was assisted into the +boat.</p> + +<p>"Are you satisfied, Thornton?" said Mr. Parasyte, with a sneer, as I +shook myself like a water dog, and took my seat in the boat.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I am not satisfied," I replied.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do about it?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that; I will see in due time."</p> + +<p>"You will see in due time, I trust, that the discipline of the Parkville +Liberal Institute is not to be set at defiance with impunity."</p> + +<p>"I have not set the discipline at defiance. I sub<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>mitted myself, and did +what I could to make others do so. You can't say that I did anything +wrong while I was a member of the academy. You turned me out, and I was +going quietly and in order, when you began to browbeat me."</p> + +<p>"I ordered you to come to me, and you did not come. That was downright +disobedience."</p> + +<p>"It was after you had turned me out; and all I had to do was to go."</p> + +<p>"You were still on my premises, and were subject to my orders."</p> + +<p>"I don't think I was."</p> + +<p>"I shall not argue the matter with you. I am going to teach you the duty +of obedience."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you will; but I don't believe you will," I replied, in a tone +of defiance.</p> + +<p>"We'll see."</p> + +<p>"There's another thing we'll see, while we are about it; and that is, +you will pay for smashing my boat."</p> + +<p>"Pay for it!" exclaimed he.</p> + +<p>"I think so."</p> + +<p>"I think not."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You will, if there is any law in the land."</p> + +<p>"Law!" ejaculated he; but his lips actually quivered with anger at the +idea of such an outrage upon his magnificent dignity, as being sued, and +compelled in a court of justice to pay for the boat he had destroyed.</p> + +<p>"You had no right to run into my boat—no more right than I had to set +your house on fire."</p> + +<p>"We will see."</p> + +<p>He relapsed into a dignified silence; but he was thinking, I fancy, how +very pleasant it would be for him to pay three or four hundred dollars +for the Splash; not that he would care much for the money, but it would +make him appear so ridiculous in the eyes of the students.</p> + +<p>The men were pulling for the shore; but I observed that Mr. Parasyte did +not head the boat towards the pier, where the boys were waiting our +return. Probably he feared that they would attempt to resist his mighty +will, and deliver me from his hands. He intended, therefore, to land +farther down the lake, and convey me to the Institute buildings by some +unfrequented way.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>For my own part, I was not much disturbed by Mr. Parasyte's intentions +or movements. The only thing that really distressed me was the loss of +my boat; for the Splash had been one of my best and dearest friends. I +was a little sentimental in regard to her; and her destruction gave me a +pang of keen regret akin to anguish. I had cruised all over the lake in +her; had eaten and slept in her for a week at a time, and I actually +loved her. She was worthy to be loved, for she had served me faithfully +in storm and sunshine. It is quite likely that I had some feelings of +revenge towards the tyrant who had crushed her, and I was thinking how +he could be compelled to pay for the damage he had done.</p> + +<p>As soon as I had, in a measure, recovered my equanimity, I tried to +obtain the bearings of the spot where the Splash had disappeared beneath +the waters, so that, if I failed to obtain justice, I might possibly +recover my boat. If raised, she was in very bad condition; for her side +was stove in, and I feared she could not be repaired so as to be as good +as she was before.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>As the row-boat neared the shore, I made my preparations to escape from +my captor; for it was not my intention to be borne back in triumph to +the Institute, as a sacrifice to the violated discipline of the +establishment. When the boat touched the beach, I meant to jump into the +water, and thus pass the men, who were too powerful for me. I changed my +position so as to favor my purpose; but Mr. Parasyte had been a +schoolmaster too many years not to comprehend the thought which was +passing through my mind. He picked up the boat-hook, and it was clear to +me that he intended with this instrument to prevent my escape.</p> + +<p>The boat was beached; but I saw no good chance to execute my purpose, +and was forced to wait till circumstances favored me. The spot where we +had put in was over two miles distant from the Institute by the road, +though not more than one by water. Mr. Parasyte directed one of the men +to go to a stable, near the shore, and procure a covered carriage, +compelling me to keep my seat in the stern of the boat near him, while +the messenger was absent. He still held the boat-hook in his hand,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> with +which he could fasten to me if I made any movement.</p> + +<p>When the vehicle came, the principal placed me on the back seat, and +took position himself at my side. One of the men was to drive, while the +other was directed to await his return, and then pull the boat back. I +was forced to acknowledge to myself that Mr. Parasyte's strategy was +excellent, and that I was completely baffled by it; but as I was +satisfied that my time would soon come, I was content to submit, with +what patience I could command, to the captivity from which I could not +escape.</p> + +<p>The vehicle was driven to the front door of the Institute; and the boys, +who were still on the shore of the lake, watching for the return of the +boat, did not have any notice of the arrival of the prisoner. I was +conducted to the hall of the principal's apartments first, and then to a +vacant chamber on the third floor. Mr. Parasyte performed this duty +himself, being unwilling to intrust my person to the care of one his +subordinate teachers. A suit of clothes belonging to a boy of my own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +size was sent to me, and I was directed to put it on, while my own dress +was dried at the laundry fire. This was proper and humane, and I did not +object.</p> + +<p>When I had changed my clothing, Mr. Parasyte presented himself. By this +time he had thoroughly cooled off. He looked solemn and dignified as he +entered the little room, and seated himself in one of the two chairs, +which, with the bed, formed the furniture of the apartment. He had +probably considered the whole subject of his relations with me, and was +now prepared to give his final decision, to which I was also prepared to +listen.</p> + +<p>"Thornton," said he, with a kind of jerk in his voice.</p> + +<p>"Sir."</p> + +<p>"You have made more trouble in the Parkville Liberal Institute to-day +than all the other boys together have made since the establishment was +founded."</p> + +<p>"I didn't make it," I replied, promptly, intending to give him an early +assurance that I would not recede from the position I had taken.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, you did. You provoked a quarrel, and refused to apologize—a very +mild penalty for the offence you had committed."</p> + +<p>"I deny that I provoked a quarrel, sir."</p> + +<p>"That question has been settled, and we will not open it again. I have +shown the students, by my prompt pursuit of you when you set my +authority at defiance, that I intended to maintain the discipline of +this institution. I have taken you and brought you back. So far I am +satisfied, Thornton."</p> + +<p>"I am not. You have smashed my boat, and you must pay for her," I added, +calmly, but in the most uncompromising manner.</p> + +<p>"This is not a matter of dollars and cents with me. I would rather have +given a thousand dollars than had this trouble occur; and I would give +half that sum now to have it satisfactorily settled."</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte wiped his brow, for he was thrown into a violent +perspiration by the mental effort which this acknowledgment caused him. +It looked like "backing out."</p> + +<p>"Thornton, you are a very popular young man among the students; it would +be useless to deny<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> it, if I were disposed to do so. You have the +sympathies of your companions, because Poodles is not popular."</p> + +<p>"The boys don't like Poodles simply because he is not a good fellow. He +is a liar and a cheat, and—"</p> + +<p>"Nothing more of that kind need be said. What I have done cannot be +undone."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir; I have been expelled. Let me go; that's all I ask."</p> + +<p>"In due time you will have permission to go. I think I am, technically, +legally liable for the destruction of your boat," he added, wiping his +brow again; for it was hard work for him to say so much. "But you have +defied me, and the well-being of this institution required that I should +act promptly. I wish to make a proposition to you."</p> + +<p>He paused and looked at me. I intimated that I was ready to hear him.</p> + +<p>"In about an hour the boys will assemble for evening prayers," he +continued, after rising from his chair and consulting his watch. "If at +that time you will apologize to me for your conduct, in their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> presence, +and before that time to Poodles, privately, I will restore you to your +rank and privileges in the Parkville Liberal Institute, and—and pay you +for your boat."</p> + +<p>"I will not do it, sir," I replied, without an instant's hesitation.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte gave me a glance of mingled anger and mortification, and +turning on his heel, left the room, locking the door upon me.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST FINDS HIS FELLOW-STUDENTS IN OPEN REBELLION.</h3> + + +<p>To apologize to Poodles was to acknowledge that I had done wrong. Had I +done wrong so far as my fellow-student was concerned? Seriously and +earnestly I asked myself this question. No; I had told the truth in +regard to the affair exactly as it was, and it would be a lie for me to +apologize to Poodles. I could not and would not do it. I would be cut to +pieces, and have my limbs torn piecemeal from my body before I would do +it.</p> + +<p>As far as the principal was concerned, I felt that, provoked and +irritated by his tyranny and injustice, I had exhibited a proud and +defiant spirit, which was dangerous to the discipline of the school. I +was sorry that, when he called me back, I had not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> obeyed. While I was +in the school-room, or on the premises of the academy, I should have +yielded obedience, both in fact and in spirit; and I could not excuse my +defiant bearing by the plea that I had been expelled. I was willing, +after reflection, to apologize to Mr. Parasyte.</p> + +<p>He proposed to pay for my boat. This was a great concession on his part, +though it was called forth by the belief that he was legally liable for +its destruction. He was willing to do me justice in that respect, if I +would humiliate myself before Poodles, and publicly heal the wound which +the discipline of the Institute had received at my hands. Even at that +time it seemed to me to be noble and honorable to acknowledge an error +and atone for it; and I am quite sure, if I could have felt that I had +done wrong, I should have been glad to own it, and to make the +confession in the presence of the students. There was a principle at +stake, and something more than mere personal feeling.</p> + +<p>While I was debating with myself what I should do, Mr. Parasyte appeared +again. It was a matter of infinite importance to him. The prosperity, if +not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> the very existence, of his school depended upon the issue of this +affair; and he was naturally nervous and excited. The students were in a +state of incipient rebellion, as their conduct in the afternoon +indicated, and it was of the highest moment to the Institute to have the +matter amicably adjusted.</p> + +<p>On the one hand, if I apologized to Poodles and the principal, the +"powers that be" would be vindicated, and the authority of the master +fully established. On the other hand, if I declined to do so, and the +sentence of expulsion was carried out, the boys were in sympathy with +me, and the rebellion might break out afresh, and end in the total +dissolution of the establishment. Under these circumstances, it was not +strange that Mr. Parasyte desired to see me again.</p> + +<p>"I hope you have carefully considered your position, Thornton," said he.</p> + +<p>"I have," I replied; "and I am willing to apologize to you, but not to +Poodles."</p> + +<p>"That is something gained," added he; and I could see his face brighten +up under the influence of a hope.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My manner was defiant, and my conduct disobedient. I am willing to +apologize to you for this, and to submit to such punishment as you think +proper to inflict."</p> + +<p>"That is very well; but it does not fully meet the difficulty. You must +also apologize to Poodles, which you are aware may be done in private."</p> + +<p>"I cannot do it, sir, either in public or in private. Poodles was wholly +and entirely to blame."</p> + +<p>"I think not; when I settled the case it was closed up, and it must not +be opened again; at least not till some new testimony is obtained. I +cannot eat my own words."</p> + +<p>"You may obtain new testimony, if you desire," I suggested.</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Poodles signed the declaration that he had performed the examples on +the papers without assistance."</p> + +<p>"He did. Have you any doubt that such is the case?" asked Mr. Parasyte, +though he must have been satisfied that Poodles did not work out the +examples.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am entirely confident that he did not perform them. Mr. Parasyte," I +continued, earnestly, "I desire to stay at the Institute. It would be +very bad for me to be turned out, and I am willing to confess I have +done wrong. If you give Poodles the paper with the examination on it, +and he can perform one half of the examples, even now, without help, I +will apologize to him in public or in private."</p> + +<p>"That looks very fair, but it is not," replied the principal, rubbing +his head, as if to stimulate his ideas.</p> + +<p>"If Poodles can do the problems, I shall be willing to believe that I am +mistaken. In my opinion, he cannot perform a single one of them, let +alone the whole of them."</p> + +<p>"I object to this proceeding," said he, impatiently. "It will be +equivalent to my making a confession."</p> + +<p>The bell rang for the boys to assemble for the evening devotions. It +gave Mr. Parasyte a shock, for the business was still unsettled. I had +submitted to him a method by which he could ascertain the truth or +falsehood of Poodle's statements; but it involved an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> acknowledgment +that he, Mr. Parasyte, was in the wrong. He seemed to be afraid it would +be proved that he had made a blunder; that he had given an unjust +judgment. I was fully aware that the principal's position was a +difficult and painful one, and I was even disposed to sympathize with +him to a certain extent, though I was the victim of his partiality and +injustice. The perils and discomforts of his situation, however, had +been produced by his own hasty and unfair judgment; and it would have +been far better for him even to apologize to me. He would have lost +nothing with the boys by such a course; for never in my life did I have +so exalted an opinion of a schoolmaster, as when, conscious that he had +done wrong, he nobly and magnanimously acknowledged his error, and +begged the forgiveness of the boy whom he had unintentionally misjudged.</p> + +<p>I feel bound to say, in this connection, and after a longer experience +of the world, that many schoolmasters, "armed with a little brief +authority," are the most contemptible of petty tyrants. Their arrogance +and oppression are intolerable; and I have often<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> wondered, that where +such men have been planted, they have not produced more of the evil +fruit of strife and rebellion. Mr. Parasyte was one of this class; and +the fact that he was a splendid teacher did not help his influence in +the slightest degree.</p> + +<p>"There is the bell for evening prayers, Thornton, and it is necessary +for me to know instantly what you intend to do," said the principal.</p> + +<p>"I shall not apologize to Poodles; I will to you."</p> + +<p>"Think well of it."</p> + +<p>"I have done so. If Poodles can do one half the examples on the paper, I +will apologize."</p> + +<p>"I have decided that question, and shall not open it again."</p> + +<p>"I have nothing more to say, Mr. Parasyte," I replied, with becoming +dignity, as I braced myself for the consequences of the decision I had +made.</p> + +<p>"You are an obstinate and self-willed fellow!" exclaimed the principal, +irritated by the result.</p> + +<p>I made no reply.</p> + +<p>"The consequences be upon your own head."</p> + +<p>I bowed in silence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You have lost your good character and your boat."</p> + +<p>I glanced out of the window, and saw the boys filing into the +school-room.</p> + +<p>"I shall explain this matter to your fellow-students, and tell them what +I proposed."</p> + +<p>"Do so," I answered.</p> + +<p>He could not help seeing that I was thoroughly in earnest, and that I +did not intend to yield any more than I had indicated. He was vexed, +annoyed, angry, and bolted out of the room, at last, in no proper frame +of mind to conduct the religious exercises of the hour. It was quite +dark now; and I lay down upon the bed, to think of what had passed, and +to conjecture the result of my conduct. How I sighed then for some kind +friend to advise me! How I wished that I had a father who would tell me +what to do, and fight my battle for me! How I longed for a tender +mother, into whose loving face I could gaze as I related the sad +experience of that eventful day! Perhaps she would bid me apologize to +Poodles, for the sake of saving my good name, and retaining my +con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>nection with the school. If so, though it would be weak and +unworthy, I could humble myself for her sake.</p> + +<p>I felt that I had done right. I had made all the concession which truth +and justice required of me, and I was quite calm. I hardly inquired why +Mr. Parasyte was keeping me a prisoner in the Institute after he had +expelled me, or what he intended to do with me. About nine o'clock my +own clothes were brought back to me by one of the servants; but the door +was securely locked when he retired.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later, and before the sound of the servant's retreating +footsteps had ceased, I heard some one thrust a key into the door. It +did not fit, and a dozen others were tried in like manner, but with no +better success. I heard a whispered consultation; and then the door +began to strain, and crack, until the bolt yielded, and it flew open. My +sympathizing friends, the students, headed by Bob Hale, had broken it +down.</p> + +<p>"Come, Ernest," said Bob. "You needn't stay in here any longer. We want +you down stairs."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" I asked, quietly, of my excited deliverers.</p> + +<p>"There is no law or justice in this concern; and we are going to put +things to rights," replied Tom Rush, a good fellow, who had spent a +week's vacation with me circumnavigating Lake Adieno in the Splash.</p> + +<p>"You know I don't approve of any rows or riots," I added.</p> + +<p>"No row nor riot about it. We have taken possession of this +establishment, and we are going to straighten things out,—you can bet +your life on that."</p> + +<p>"Where is Mr. Parasyte?"</p> + +<p>"He has gone up to see your uncle. He told us, at evening prayers, what +an obstinate boy you were; how kind, and tender, and forgiving he had +been to you, and how he had exhausted good nature in trying to bring you +to a proper sense of duty."</p> + +<p>"Did he say that?"</p> + +<p>"He did, and much more. But come with us. The fellows have captured the +citadel, and we hold the school-room now, waiting for you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will go with you; but I don't want the fellows to make a +disturbance."</p> + +<p>"No disturbance at all, Ernest; but we have turned the assistant +teachers out, and mean to ascertain who is right and who is wrong in +this matter."</p> + +<p>The rebellion had actually broken out again; and the students, in the +most high-handed manner, had established a tribunal in the school-room, +to try the issue of my affair with the principal. I followed Bob Hale, +Tom Rush, and half a dozen others, who constituted the committee to wait +on me. They conducted me to the main school-room, which was a large +hall. At every door and window were stationed two or three of the larger +boys, with their hockies, bats, and rulers as weapons, to defend the +court, as they called it, from any interruption.</p> + +<p>About two thirds of the students were there assembled; and though the +gathering was a riotous proceeding, the boys were in as good order as +during the sessions of the school. In an arm-chair, on the platform, sat +Henry Vallington, one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> of the oldest and most dignified students of the +Institute, who, it appeared, was to act as judge. Before him were Bill +Poodles and Dick Pearl,—the latter being one of the six whose examples +were all right,—arraigned for trial, and guarded by four stout +students.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST ATTENDS THE TRIAL OF BILL POODLES AND DICK PEARL.</h3> + + +<p>I confess that I was appalled at the boldness and daring of my +fellow-students, who had actually taken possession of the Parkville +Liberal Institute, and purposed to mete out justice to me and to Bill +Poodles. There was a certain kind of solemnity in the proceedings, which +was not without its effect upon me. My companions were thoroughly in +earnest, and the affair was not to be a farce.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte, after prayer, had made a statement to the students in +regard to the unpleasant event of the day, in which he represented me as +a contumacious offender, one who desired to make all the trouble he +could; an obstinate, self-willed fellow, whose example was dangerous to +the general<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> peace, and who had refused to be guided by reason and +common sense. He told the students that he had even offered to pay for +my boat—a concession on his part which had had no effect in softening +my obdurate nature. He appealed to them to sustain the discipline of the +Parkville Liberal Institute, which had always been celebrated as a +remarkably orderly and quiet establishment. He then added that he should +consult my uncle in regard to me, and be guided in some measure by his +judgment.</p> + +<p>The students heard him in silence; but Bob Hale assured me that it was +with compressed lips, and a fixed determination to carry out the plan +which had been agreed upon while the boys were watching the chase on the +lake, and which had not been modified by the wilful destruction of the +Splash.</p> + +<p>I glanced around at my fellow-students as I entered the hall; and though +they smiled as their gaze met mine, there was a look of earnestness and +determination which could not be mistaken. Henry Vallington, the +chairman, judge, or whatever the name of his office was, had the +reputation of being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> the steadiest boy in the school. It was understood +that he intended to become a minister. He was about eighteen, and was +nearly fitted to enter college. He never joined in what were called the +"scrapes" of the Institute, but devoted himself with the closest +attention to his studies. He was esteemed and respected by all who knew +him; and when I saw him presiding over this irregular assemblage, I +could not help regarding the affair as much more serious than it had +before seemed, even to me, the chief actor therein.</p> + +<p>Poodles and Pearl, I learned, had been captured in their rooms, and +dragged by sheer force into the school-room, to be examined on the +charges to be preferred against them. Poodles looked timid and +terrified, while Pearl was dogged and resolute.</p> + +<p>"Thornton," said Henry Vallington, as my conductors paused before the +judge, "I have sent for you in order that we may ascertain the truth of +the charges brought against you by Mr. Parasyte. If you provoked the +quarrel to-day noon with Poodles, it is no more than fair and right that +you should make the apology required of you. If<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> you did not, we intend +to stand by you. Have you anything to say?"</p> + +<p>"I wish to say, in the first place, that, guilty or innocent, I am +willing to submit to whatever penalty the principal imposes upon me."</p> + +<p>"That is very well for you, but it won't do for us," interposed the +judge. "If such gross injustice is done to one, it may be to another. We +act in self-defence."</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you intend to do; but I am opposed to any disorderly +conduct, and to any violation of the rules of the Institute."</p> + +<p>"We know you are, Thornton; and you shall not be held responsible for +what we do to-night. If you are willing to tell us what you know about +this affair, all right. If not, we shall go on without you."</p> + +<p>"I am willing to tell the truth here, as I have done to-day. As there +seems to be some mistake in regard to what transpired between Mr. +Parasyte and myself, up stairs, I will state the facts as they occurred. +He agreed to pay for my boat on condition that I would apologize, +privately, to Poodles,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> and publicly to the principal. I offered to +apologize to Mr. Parasyte, but not to Poodles, who was the aggressor in +the beginning. I told him, if Poodles would perform half the examples +now, I would make the apology to him."</p> + +<p>"That's it!" shouted half a dozen boys.</p> + +<p>"Order!" interposed the judge, sternly.</p> + +<p>"I think that would be a good way to prove that Poodles did or did not +tell the truth, when he said he had performed the examples," interposed +Bob Hale.</p> + +<p>"Capital!" added Tom Rush.</p> + +<p>"I approve the method; but let us have no disorder," replied Vallington. +"Conduct Poodles to the blackboard."</p> + +<p>The custodians of the culprit promptly obeyed this order, and led him to +the blackboard, which was cleaned for immediate use. The school-room was +well lighted, and the expression on the faces of all could be distinctly +seen.</p> + +<p>"Poodles, we desire to have justice done to all," said Vallington, when +the culprit had taken his place at the blackboard. "You shall have fair +play<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> in every respect. You shall have a chance to prove that you were +right, and Thornton wrong."</p> + +<p>"Well, I was right," replied Poodles.</p> + +<p>"Did you perform all the examples on your paper without any help?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I did."</p> + +<p>"Then of course you know how to perform them. Here is an examination +paper. If you can perform five of the ten examples you shall be +acquitted."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I don't choose to do them," said Poodles, looking around for +some way to escape his fate.</p> + +<p>"Are you not willing that the truth should come out?"</p> + +<p>"I told the truth to-day."</p> + +<p>"All right, if you did. You surely will not object to <i>prove</i> that you +did. You shall have fair play, I repeat."</p> + +<p>"Suppose I don't choose to do them?" asked Poodles, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Then we shall take it for granted that you did not do them, as you +declared on your paper."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You can take it for granted, then, if you like," answered Poodles, as +he dropped the chalk.</p> + +<p>"You refuse to perform the examples—do you?" demanded Vallington, +sternly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do."</p> + +<p>"Then you may take the consequences. Either you shall be expelled from +the Institute, or at least fifty of us will petition our parents to take +us from this school. We have done with you."</p> + +<p>Bill Poodles smiled, and was pleased to get off so easily; but I noticed +that Dick Pearl turned pale, and looked very much troubled. He was a +relative of Mr. Parasyte, and it was generally understood that he was a +free scholar, his parents being too poor to pay his board and tuition. +While he expected to be ducked in the lake, or subjected to some +personal indignity, after the manner in which boys usually treat such +cases, his courage was good. Now, it appeared that the boys simply +intended to have Poodles expelled, or to ask their parents and guardians +to remove them; and as most of the students were from fourteen to +eighteen years of age, they would probably have influence enough to +effect their design.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Pearl," said the judge, while the other culprit was apparently still +attempting to figure out the result of the trial.</p> + +<p>"I'm here," replied Pearl.</p> + +<p>"We are entirely satisfied that Poodles had some assistance in +performing his examples. It is believed that you gave him that +assistance. If you did, own up."</p> + +<p>"Who says I helped Poodles?"</p> + +<p>"I say so, for one," added the judge, sharply.</p> + +<p>"Can you prove it?"</p> + +<p>"I will answer that question after you have confessed or refused to +confess. You shall have fair play, as well as Poodles. If you wish to +put yourself right on the record, you can do so; if not, you shall +leave, or we will."</p> + +<p>Pearl looked troubled. He was under very great obligations to Mr. +Parasyte. If he denied that he had helped Poodles, and it was then +proved against him, the boys would insist that he should be expelled. If +he stood out, he must either be expelled or the Institute be broken up. +He did not appear willing to take such a responsibility.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You can do as you please, Pearl; but tell the truth, if you say +anything," continued Vallington.</p> + +<p>"I did help Poodles," said he, looking down at the floor.</p> + +<p>"How much did you help him?"</p> + +<p>"I lent him my examination paper, and he copied all the solutions upon +his own."</p> + +<p>"And after that you were willing to declare that you had not assisted +any one?" demanded the judge, with a look of supreme contempt on his +fine features.</p> + +<p>"I had not helped any one <i>when</i> I signed my paper."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" exclaimed Vallington, with a withering sneer. "That is the +meanest kind of a lie."</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to assist him; he teased me till I couldn't help myself," +pleaded Pearl.</p> + +<p>A further examination showed that Poodles had browbeaten and threatened +him; and we were disposed to palliate Pearl's offence, in consideration +of his poverty and his dependent position, after he had confessed his +error.</p> + +<p>"Are you willing to make this acknowledgment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> to Mr. Parasyte?" asked +the judge, in a tone of compassion.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to; but I will. I suppose he will send me home then," +replied the culprit.</p> + +<p>"We will do what we can for you," added the judge.</p> + +<p>Pearl had been a pretty good fellow among the boys, was generally +popular, and all were sorry for him. But his confession in a manner +absolved him, and the students heartily declared that they would stand +by him.</p> + +<p>"Our business is finished," said Vallington, "unless Poodles has +something more to say."</p> + +<p>Poodles had listened with consternation to the confession of Pearl, and +he now appeared to be dissatisfied with himself rather than with the +court.</p> + +<p>"I didn't think Dick Pearl would let on in that way," said he, casting a +reproachful glance at his fellow-culprit.</p> + +<p>"He has told the truth. If he had not confessed, we could have proved +that he helped you," added Vallington. "I have seen the six papers that +were all right myself. Pearl performed the third exam<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>ple in a very +peculiar and roundabout way; and Poodles had it in the same way, while +the other did it by the most direct method."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it's of no use to stand out now," said Poodles, timidly.</p> + +<p>"Will you confess now?"</p> + +<p>"I will, if it will do any good."</p> + +<p>"If you will tell the truth to Mr. Parasyte, that is all we want. The +fellows haven't anything against you. Will you do so?"</p> + +<p>"I will if you say I shall not be expelled," whined Poodles.</p> + +<p>"I can only say that we will not ask for your expulsion. I suppose there +is no danger of Mr. Parasyte expelling <i>you</i>," added the judge, with a +dry humor, appreciated by all the students.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Parasyte!" exclaimed one of the sentinels at the door.</p> + +<p>There was an attempt on the part of the principal to pull the door open, +but it was well secured upon the inside.</p> + +<p>"Let him in," said the judge.</p> + +<p>The door opened, and Mr. Parasyte entered the school-room.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST VANQUISHES THE SCHOOLMASTER.</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Parasyte had evidently obtained some information in regard to the +great rebellion before he entered the school-room; for though he looked +extremely troubled, he did not seem to be so much astonished as might +have been expected. He was admitted by order of the judge, and took off +his hat as he walked up the aisle to the platform, wiping away the +perspiration which gathered on his heated brow under the severe mental +struggles his position induced.</p> + +<p>"What does all this mean?" he demanded, with a sternness which we could +not help seeing was assumed.</p> + +<p>The boys were all orderly and quiet; the school room was as still as +during the regular sessions of the Institute. The sentinels, with their +bats and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> clubs, stood immovable at their stations, and the scene +produced its full impression upon the mind of the principal. As he did +not seem to be prepared to receive an answer to his question, none was +given; and Mr. Parasyte glanced uneasily around the room, apparently +seeking to obtain a better understanding of the scene.</p> + +<p>"What does all this <i>mean?</i>" demanded he, a second time.</p> + +<p>"It means, sir," replied Henry Vallington, "that the boys are +dissatisfied, and intend to have things set right."</p> + +<p>"Is this a proper way to express their dissatisfaction—to take +advantage of my absence to get up a riotous assembly?"</p> + +<p>"We have been perfectly orderly, sir," added the judge, in respectful +tones.</p> + +<p>"How came you here, Thornton?" continued the principal, as his gaze +rested on me.</p> + +<p>"We brought him here, sir," promptly interposed Vallington, anxious to +relieve me of any responsibility for my escape from my prison-chamber.</p> + +<p>"Vallington, I confess my astonishment at seeing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> you engaged in an +affair of this kind," said Mr. Parasyte, reproachfully; and he fixed his +gaze upon the judge, and again wiped the perspiration from his forehead. +"I have always regarded you as an orderly and well-behaved boy."</p> + +<p>"I do not expect to forfeit my reputation as such by what I have done. +Mr. Parasyte, the boys are dissatisfied. We are not little children. We +have all reached the years of discretion, and we know the difference +between right and wrong, between justice and injustice."</p> + +<p>"Do you intend to read me a lecture?" demanded the principal, angrily.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I had no such intention—only to state the facts."</p> + +<p>"But you are arraigning me, the principal of the Parkville Liberal +Institute," added Mr. Parasyte, measuring the judge from head to foot.</p> + +<p>"You may call it what you please, sir."</p> + +<p>"May I ask what you purpose to do?" continued the principal, in a +sneering tone, not unmingled with timidity.</p> + +<p>"Poodles," said the judge, turning to the lank toady, "stand up."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>He obeyed; and being now with the majority of the boys, I think he was +mean enough to enjoy the discomfiture of Mr. Parasyte, for there can be +no real respect or true sympathy in the relation of one flunky with +another.</p> + +<p>"Are you ready to tell the whole truth?" demanded Vallington.</p> + +<p>"I am," replied Poodles.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you will be willing to inform Mr. Parasyte, in the beginning, +whether you do so of your own free will and accord, or not."</p> + +<p>"I do so of my own free will and accord."</p> + +<p>"Did you perform the examples on the examination paper without any +assistance?"</p> + +<p>"I did not."</p> + +<p>"How many did you do yourself?"</p> + +<p>"None of them."</p> + +<p>"Who struck the first blow in the affray on the pier with Thornton?"</p> + +<p>"I did," answered Poodles, with a silly leer. "Thornton told the facts +just exactly as they were."</p> + +<p>"You may sit down."</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte wiped his brow again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Pearl," continued Vallington.</p> + +<p>This culprit, unlike his companion in guilt, looked sheepish and +crestfallen, as he slowly rose from his seat. He was not so base and +low-minded as Poodles, and he felt a genuine shame for the mean conduct +of which he had been guilty.</p> + +<p>"Have you anything to say, Pearl?" asked the judge.</p> + +<p>"I lent my paper to Poodles, who copied the solutions from it," replied +Pearl, with his glance fixed upon the floor.</p> + +<p>"That's all; you may sit down."</p> + +<p>Pearl seated himself; and if a pin had fallen to the floor then, it +might have been heard in the anxious silence that followed. Mr. +Parasyte's chest heaved with emotion. He wanted to storm, and scold, and +threaten, but seemed to be afraid to do so.</p> + +<p>"I have nothing more to say at present, Mr. Parasyte. In the name and in +behalf of the students, I have brought the facts to your notice," said +Vallington, breaking the impressive stillness, as the principal did not +seem disposed to do so.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"After the riotous proceedings of this afternoon, I might have expected +this; but I did not," the principal began. "You appear to have +intimidated Poodles to such an extent that he has entirely modified and +reversed the statements he made this afternoon. He is a weak-minded boy, +and it was not difficult to do so."</p> + +<p>This remark roused the ire of Poodles, and it required a sharp reprimand +from the judge to repress his impertinence.</p> + +<p>"Pearl is a poor boy, upon whose fears you seem to have successfully +wrought. A confession from either of them, under the circumstances, is +not reliable. I do not countenance this meeting, or these proceedings. I +am not to be intimidated by your action. In regard to what you have +done, I have nothing to say; but I require you to separate, and go at +once to your rooms."</p> + +<p>"Will you be kind enough to inform us what you intend to do, Mr. +Parasyte?" said Vallington.</p> + +<p>"I am not to be taken to task by my pupils."</p> + +<p>"We do not intend to resort to any disorderly proceedings," added the +judge. "Poodles and Pearl,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> without compulsion, have acknowledged their +errors, and it has been fully proved that Thornton was not to blame for +the affair on the pier. We ask, therefore, that Thornton be restored to +his rank and privileges as a member of the Institute. If this is not +done, at least fifty of us will sign a paper urging our parents and +guardians to take us away from this school."</p> + +<p>"I will grant nothing under these circumstances—promise nothing," +replied the principal, doggedly.</p> + +<p>"We are in no haste. We leave the matter for your consideration, Mr. +Parasyte. We will all go to our rooms now."</p> + +<p>Vallington left the chair, and walked out of the school-room, followed +in good order by all the students who had taken part in these irregular +proceedings. I was going out with the rest, when Mr. Parasyte intimated +that he had something to say to me, and I remained. When the boys had +all gone, he invited me to accompany him to his private office—a small +apartment, opening from the main hall, near the front door, in which he +received callers, and sat in state when not employed in the +school-room.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>There is an old saying that "you must summer and winter" a man before +you know him. Mr. Parasyte was considered a tyrant; not a coarse and +brutal tyrant, but a refined and gentlemanly one, who cows you by his +polite impertinence. He seldom indulged in harsh speech, never in +personal violence—at least no instance of it was known to the students. +He indulged in sneers and polished browbeating. A boy was never +stupid—he lacked common intelligence; never a blockhead—his +perceptions were very dull. His polite epithets were more cutting than +good round invectives would have been.</p> + +<p>He had a will of his own; and he was obstinate, mulish, pig-headed. If +he had been surprised into declaring that black was white, then black +would continue to be white, in spite of positive demonstration to the +contrary. He was dogmatic to the last degree; and this is a fault to +which the schoolmaster is peculiarly liable. It required the event of +the day whereof I speak to enable us fully to comprehend Mr. Parasyte. +We had summered him before; now we were to winter him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>What he had said in the school-room indicated that he intended to regard +the confessions of Poodles and Pearl as extorted from them by +intimidation, and that he purposed to persist in persecuting me. I had +no desire to be a martyr; but I did not see how I could help myself.</p> + +<p>"Thornton, I see you intend, if possible, to break up the Parkville +Liberal Institute," said he.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I do not. I hadn't anything to do with what took place in the +school-room," I replied.</p> + +<p>"You did not seem to be a martyr there," sneered he. "The boys have made +a mistake; so have you. They don't know me; you don't. You got up a +quarrel this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I did not."</p> + +<p>"Don't contradict me," said he, sharply. "I say you got up a quarrel +this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"And I say I did not."</p> + +<p>"I am in no humor to trifle with you," said he, opening a desk, and +taking out a cowhide.</p> + +<p>I was willing to confess, when I saw that implement, that I had not +known him before. He was about to step down from refined to brutal +tyranny.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Poodles himself has confessed that he lied," I added, taking no further +notice of the cowhide.</p> + +<p>"Confessed!" exclaimed Mr. Parasyte, savagely. "The boys have either +bribed or frightened him into this confession. It will have no effect +upon me."</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to say, then," I answered, with dignity. "If you will +look into the case again, and require Poodles to do the examples, you +will see that you, and not the boys, have made a mistake."</p> + +<p>"Silence, sir! I don't intend to be addressed in that impudent way by +any student. I have attempted to suppress this rebellion by mild means; +but they have failed. I have been to see your uncle. As I supposed he +would, he has taken a proper view of the case. He does not wish to have +you expelled, and I revoke my sentence; but he desires to have you +reduced to subjection."</p> + +<p>My uncle had actually spoken, and taken sides with the tyrant. I was +astonished, but not intimidated.</p> + +<p>"I have drawn up a paper for you to sign, which shall be read to the +boys to-morrow morning. There it is."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i002.jpg" width="500" height="396" alt="RESISTANCE TO TYRANNY.—Page 99." title="RESISTANCE TO TYRANNY.—Page 99." /> +<span class="caption">RESISTANCE TO TYRANNY.—Page 99.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>I glanced at the document. It was an acknowledgment of all Mr. Parasyte +charged me with, and a promise to behave myself properly. I refused to +sign it. The principal rolled up his sleeves, and took the cowhide in +his hand. He looked cool and malignant.</p> + +<p>"Then I shall do as your uncle wishes me to do—reduce you to +subjection," said he. "Consider well what you are doing."</p> + +<p>"I have considered, sir. If you strike me with that cowhide, I shall do +the best I can to defend myself."</p> + +<p>"Do you threaten me?" demanded Mr. Parasyte, stepping towards me with a +jerk.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; but I will not submit to a blow, if it costs me my life."</p> + +<p>"Won't you? We'll see."</p> + +<p>He did see. He struck me. The blow cut my soul. I sprang upon him with +all the tiger in my nature let loose. I kicked, bit, scratched. I clawed +at his throat like a vampire, and, though severely belabored, I finally +wrenched the cowhide from his grasp, and hurled him back so that he fell +full length upon the floor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST STRIKES A HEAVY BLOW, AND WINS ANOTHER VICTORY.</h3> + + +<p>I was astonished at my own prowess, as I stood, with heaving breast, +gazing at the prostrate form of the vanquished tyrant. I was a stout +young fellow, heavy enough and strong enough for a boy of fifteen; but I +did not regard myself as a match for a full-grown man. I suppose the +fury and impetuosity of the onslaught I made had given me the victory +before Mr. Parasyte was able to bring all his power to bear upon me.</p> + +<p>I was satisfied with what I had done, and did not care to do any more. I +wished to leave; but the principal had locked the door, and put the key +into his pocket. I glanced at the window, hoping to find a means of +egress in that direction, though it was at least ten feet above the +ground. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> ten feet are nothing to a boy of spirit; and I was moving +towards the window, intending to take the leap, when Mr. Parasyte sprang +to his feet, and confronted me again. If ever a man wore the expression +of a demon, the principal of the Parkville Liberal Institute did at that +moment; and it was patent to me that, unless I could effect my escape, +my trials and troubles had but just commenced.</p> + +<p>I was more disposed to use strategy than force; for, in spite of the +victory I had won, I was fearful that the tyrant "carried too many guns" +for me. The malignity of his aspect was accompanied by an expression of +pain, as though he had been injured by his fall. This was in my favor, +if I was to be again compelled to break a lance with him.</p> + +<p>"You villain!" gasped Mr. Parasyte, with one hand upon his side. "How +dare you resist?"</p> + +<p>"I have no fancy for being cut to pieces with a cowhide," I replied, as +coolly as I could, which, however, was not saying much.</p> + +<p>"Your uncle wished me to reduce you to subjection, and to flog you till +you came to your senses."</p> + +<p>"I am not very grateful to my uncle for his re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>quest; and I have to say, +that I will not be tamely flogged either by you or by him."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean to do?" demanded he, apparently astonished to find me +so resolute.</p> + +<p>"I mean to resist as long as I am flogged," I replied, twisting the +cowhide I still held in my hand.</p> + +<p>Saying this, I jumped upon the window-seat, and unfastened the sash.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" said he, moving towards me.</p> + +<p>"I know what you mean now; and if you come near me, I will hit you over +the head with the butt-end of this cowhide," I replied, raising the +sash.</p> + +<p>"I intend to reduce you to subjection at any hazard," he added.</p> + +<p>Without making reply, I attempted to get out of the window in such a way +that I could drop to the ground, or "hang off" with my hands. In doing +this, I laid myself open to the assault of the enemy, who was prompt in +perceiving his advantage, and in availing himself of it. Seizing me by +the collar with both hands, he dragged me back into the office, and +hurled me heavily upon the floor, at the same time wrenching the cowhide +from my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> grasp. I sprang to my feet with the celerity of a wounded +tiger; but the principal began to beat me with a zeal corresponding to +his malignity.</p> + +<p>A heavy round ruler on the desk, which had before attracted my +attention, was available as a weapon, and in the fury of my passion I +grasped it. Without thought or consideration except in my own defence, I +sprang upon the tyrant again, and dealt him several heavy blows with the +implement, until one was planted in such a place on his head that it +knocked him insensible upon the floor. Panting like a hunted deer from +the rage which filled my soul, and from the violence of my exertions, I +gazed upon the work I had done. Mr. Parasyte lay motionless upon the +floor. I took the key from his vest pocket, and unlocked the door.</p> + +<p>In the hall I found several persons, including Mrs. Parasyte, and Mr. +Hardy, one of the assistant teachers. They had been sitting in the +parlor opposite the office, and had heard the noise of the desperate +struggle between the principal and myself.</p> + +<p>"What have you done!" exclaimed Mrs. Parasyte, greatly alarmed when she +saw her husband lying senseless upon the floor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This is bad business," added Mr. Hardy, as he hastened to the +assistance of the principal.</p> + +<p>"Is he dead?" asked the wife, in tremulous tones.</p> + +<p>"No—O, no! But he has had a heavy blow on the temple," replied the +teacher.</p> + +<p>I assisted Mrs. Parasyte and Mr. Hardy in carrying my foe to his +chamber. I was alarmed myself. I feared that I had done more than I +intended to do. I went for the doctor at the lady's request; but before +my return Mr. Parasyte had come to his senses, and complained of a +severe sickness at his stomach. The physician carefully examined him, +and declared that his patient was not seriously injured. I need not say +that I was greatly relieved by this opinion. I left the room, intending +to depart from the house, though it was now nearly eleven o'clock at +night. Mr. Hardy followed me out into the hall, and wished to know where +I was going.</p> + +<p>"Home," I replied.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid you have got into difficulty, Thornton," added he.</p> + +<p>"I can't help it if I have. I didn't mean to hurt him so badly; but it +was his own fault."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How did it happen?"</p> + +<p>I told him how it happened; but Mr. Hardy expressed no opinion on the +merits of the case. He knew, as well as I did, that Mr. Parasyte had +been wrong from the beginning; but being in a subordinate position, it +was not proper for him to condemn his principal.</p> + +<p>"The boys are in a riotous condition, and it is fortunate they do not +know of this affair. I hope you do not intend to inform them—at least +not to-night," he added.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I do not. I have tried from the first to keep the peace. +Poodles confessed to Mr. Parasyte that he had lied about the affair on +the pier, but he refused to believe him. I am sorry there has been any +trouble; but I couldn't help it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hardy was really troubled; but he could not say anything, and he did +not. He was a poor man, trying to earn the means to study a profession +by teaching, and a word or a look of sympathy to a rebel like me would +have cost him his situation. He was a just and a fair man, and as such +was loved and respected by all the students. Many of the boys<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> had often +wished that he might be the principal of the academy, instead of Mr. +Parasyte, who had established and who still owned the institution.</p> + +<p>There was nothing more to be said or done, and I left the academy for +home. I was sincerely sorry for what had happened. Even a quarrel in +which I had been the victor had no pleasant reflections for me. I would +have submitted to any punishment except the flogging, and borne the +injustice of it without a complaint; but I had been required to confess +that of which I was not guilty, and I could not do that. I hated a lie +of any kind, and I could not tell one to save myself from the +consequences of the tyrant's rage and injustice.</p> + +<p>I considered all the events of the day as I walked home, and came to the +conclusion that I was not to blame for the mischief that had been done. +If I had been haughty and disobedient, it was because I had been treated +badly. I certainly did not deserve flogging, and it would have been +impossible for me to submit to it. If I had been guilty, I could have +borne even that.</p> + +<p>My uncle had counselled Mr. Parasyte to reduce<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> me to subjection; and +much I marvelled that he had found words to say so much. It was an +evidence of interest in me which he had never before manifested. It was +plain that, in the settlement of the difficulty, I must count upon the +opposition of my uncle, who had already espoused the principal's side of +the quarrel. But I did not make any rash resolves, preferring to act as +my sense of right and justice should dictate when the time for action +came.</p> + +<p>As I approached the cottage by the lake, I saw a light in my uncle's +library. My guardian sat up late at night, and rose early in the +morning. He did not sleep well, and he always looked pale and haggard. +He was a misanthrope in the worst sense of the word. He seemed to have +no friends, and to care for no one in the world—not even for himself. +Certainly he had no regard for me.</p> + +<p>Of his past history I knew nothing; but I had already concluded that he +had been subjected to some terrible disappointment or injustice. He +appeared to suffer all the time; and if he would have permitted it, how +gladly would I have as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>suaged his woe by my sympathy! He was cold and +forbidding, and would not permit me to speak a word to him. I had once +tried to make him tell me something about my father and mother; but, +with an expression of angry impatience upon his face, he had turned and +fled in disgust from me.</p> + +<p>I longed to know who and what my mother was; but my questions brought no +answer. One day, when my uncle was away, I had crept into his library, +and tried vainly to obtain some information from his books and papers. +He caught me in the room, and drove me out with a curse upon his lips. +After that a spring lock was put upon the door, the key of which he +carried in his pocket.</p> + +<p>On the present occasion I had nothing to expect from my uncle; but I +wished to see him, and tell him my story. I knew that he could talk; +for, during the preceding year, a man of thirty, elegantly dressed, came +to the cottage one afternoon, and walked with my uncle into the grove by +the lake. They had business together, and it was not of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> pleasant +nature; for, prompted by curiosity, I rowed my skiff up to the shore, to +learn what I might of the stranger's purpose. I could not understand a +word that was said; but my uncle talked rapidly and fiercely, and a +violent altercation ensued, which I feared would end in blows. The +stranger did not come back to the cottage, and the supper which Betsey +had prepared for the guest was not needed.</p> + +<p>Learning from this that my uncle had a tongue, I asked him who the +stranger was. The answer was only a savage frown. He had no tongue for +me. Neither old Jerry nor his wife was any better informed than I was, +for both assured me they did not know the stranger. Satisfied, +therefore, that my uncle could talk, I was determined to see him before +I went to bed, though it was nearly midnight. Perhaps, also, I was +disposed to adopt this course, because my guardian had given such bad +advice to Mr. Parasyte. I was not insensible to the indulgence with +which I had ever been treated; and seeing that my silent uncle wished to +avoid me, I had generally favored him in doing so. It was different now. +He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> had given an order or a permission to have me brutally punished, and +I was determined to make him "face the music."</p> + +<p>I entered the house, and passing through my uncle's chamber, stood at +the door of the library, which was fastened by the spring lock.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH HIS UNCLE.</h3> + + +<p>With my resolution still at the highest pitch of firmness, I knocked at +the library door. I expected a storm; it was hardly possible to avoid +one; but I hoped, if I could induce my stern and silent guardian to +speak or to listen, that I might make an impression upon him. There was +no answer to my knock, and I repeated it. Then I heard a stir in the +library, and my uncle opened the door. When he saw me, he was about to +close the door in my face, doubtless regarding my conduct in knocking at +his door as impudent in the highest degree. I was not disposed to be +shut out, and anticipating his purpose, I stepped nimbly into the room.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Amos, I wish to speak with you for a few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> moments, if you will be +kind enough to hear me," I began, in tones as humble as the veriest +tyrant could have required.</p> + +<p>He sat down in his arm-chair, leaned his head upon his hand in such a +way as to cover his face, but made me no reply, either by word or by +sign.</p> + +<p>"I would not trouble you if it were not necessary to do so," I +continued. "Will you permit me to tell my story?"</p> + +<p>He removed his hand, and gave me an affirmative nod; but it was evident +to me that my presence was the occasion of positive suffering to him. I +knew of no reason why I should be personally disagreeable to him, and it +seemed to me that his aversion was caused wholly by a kind of obstinacy, +which I could not understand.</p> + +<p>"I have had a difficulty with Mr. Parasyte; but I was not to blame, as I +can prove by more than half the students in the academy," I proceeded; +and then I rehearsed all the particulars of my affray with Poodles, on +the pier, including the rebellion of the students, and the confession of +the guilty ones.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>My uncle may have heard me, and he may not; but he took not the least +notice of me, appearing to be absorbed in his own meditations during the +recital of my wrongs.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Parasyte called me into his private office, and informed me that he +had been to see you," I added.</p> + +<p>My uncle removed his hand from his face, glanced at me, nodded his head, +which was the first indication he had given that he was conscious of my +presence, after I began to relate my story. The look that accompanied +the nod was anything but a pleasant one. There was something like +malignant satisfaction in the glance that he bestowed upon me.</p> + +<p>"Then you did request Mr. Parasyte to reduce me to subjection, as he +expressed it?"</p> + +<p>"I did," replied he, decidedly, as he again uncovered his face, and +nodded to emphasize his reply.</p> + +<p>This was hopeful, for I had at least got an answer out of him, though +the reply was cold-blooded and cruel.</p> + +<p>"Did you request him to flog me?" I demanded,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> a little excited by the +fact that my uncle was likely to prove as malignant as the schoolmaster.</p> + +<p>"I did," he added; and his eyes seemed to glow like two coals of fire.</p> + +<p>It was not difficult now for me to understand the situation. My uncle +hated me,—why I knew not. I could not reconcile such a feeling with the +indulgence he had always extended to me. I could not see why, if he +hated me, as that fierce glare of his eyes indicated, he had always +allowed me to have my own way, had always given me money without stint, +and had permitted me to go and come when and as I pleased, and rove at +will over the broad and dangerous lake.</p> + +<p>I have since learned that this indulgence was perfectly consistent with +hatred, and that the judicious parent, who truly loves his son, would +deprive him of such unhealthy and dangerous indulgences. As he hated me, +so he let me have my own way. Had he loved me, he would have restrained +me; he would have inquired into my conduct when away from home; and +above all, he would not have allowed me to risk my life upon the stormy +lake as I did.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You <i>did</i> request him to flog me, and without understanding the merits +of the case!" I replied, indignantly.</p> + +<p>He nodded again.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Amos, I have tried to do my duty faithfully at school, and to be +respectful and obedient to my teachers. This is the first time I have +had any trouble. I say, most solemnly, I was not to blame."</p> + +<p>"You were," said my uncle.</p> + +<p>"Will you hear the evidence in my favor?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"You will not?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"What would you have me do?"</p> + +<p>"Obey your teacher."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Parasyte ordered me to apologize to Poodles."</p> + +<p>"Do it then."</p> + +<p>"But Poodles confesses that I was not to blame."</p> + +<p>"No matter."</p> + +<p>"I cannot do it, uncle."</p> + +<p>"The master must make you do it," added my uncle, with a sneer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He attempted to do so. He began to flog me, and I knocked him down," I +replied, quietly, but sullenly.</p> + +<p>My uncle sprang to his feet, and stared at me with an intensity which +would have made me quail if I had been guilty.</p> + +<p>"You struck him!" exclaimed he, trembling with emotion.</p> + +<p>"When he attempted a second time to flog me, I hit him on the head with +a heavy ruler, and he fell insensible upon the floor."</p> + +<p>My stern guardian rushed furiously across the room, foaming with +passion.</p> + +<p>"You villain!" gasped he, pausing before me. "You struck the master?"</p> + +<p>"I knocked him down, as I would any other man who insulted me with a +blow," I replied, firmly; for I intended to have my uncle understand +exactly how I felt.</p> + +<p>"You are an obstinate whelp!" ejaculated my guardian, who had certainly +found a tongue now.</p> + +<p>"All the students think I am right."</p> + +<p>"The students! What do I care what they think?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They understand the case."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" sneered my uncle.</p> + +<p>"I see, sir, that I have nothing to expect from you," I continued.</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>"I have only to say that Mr. Parasyte can't flog me. If I were guilty, I +would not resist; but I will fight as long as I have a breath left +against such injustice."</p> + +<p>"Very pretty! May I ask what you are going to do with yourself?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know yet; only, if I am not wanted here, I won't stay here. I +think I can take care of myself."</p> + +<p>"Do you consider this a proper return for all I have done for you?" +asked he, more calmly.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you have done for me. I asked you once something +about my father and mother, and you did not answer me."</p> + +<p>"You have no father and mother," he replied, with visible emotion. "You +need not ask any questions, for I will not answer them."</p> + +<p>"Did they leave any property for me?" I asked,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> mildly; and I had +already concluded that they did, or my uncle would not have been so +lavish of his money upon me.</p> + +<p>"Property! What put that idea into your head?" demanded he; and he was +more agitated than the circumstances seemed to warrant.</p> + +<p>"I have no idea anything about it. I only asked the question."</p> + +<p>"It is enough for you to know that I am willing to take care of you, and +pay your expenses, however extravagant they may be, as long as you +behave properly."</p> + +<p>"I have always done so."</p> + +<p>"No, you haven't! You have resisted your teacher, knocked him down, +killed him for aught I know. You are a bad boy."</p> + +<p>It seemed just as though my uncle intended to drive me to desperation, +and compel me to commit some rash act. I could not see why he should +refuse to tell me anything about my father and mother.</p> + +<p>"I asked you whether my parents left any property for me. You did not +answer me," I continued.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will answer no questions," replied he.</p> + +<p>"If they did, it is right that I should know it," I persisted.</p> + +<p>"If they did, you will know it when you are of age to receive it."</p> + +<p>"I would like to know whether you are supporting me out of your own +property or with my own."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't concern you to know, so long as you are supported."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it does, and I insist upon knowing."</p> + +<p>"I shall answer no questions," replied he, more troubled now than angry.</p> + +<p>"If there is nothing belonging to me, I am very willing to go to work +and support myself. I don't wish to be a burden upon one who cares so +little for me as you do."</p> + +<p>"I did not say you were a burden. I have given you all you asked for, +and am willing to do so still."</p> + +<p>"I don't wish to have you do so, if what you give me does not belong to +me."</p> + +<p>"You are a foolish boy!" said he, impatiently.</p> + +<p>"You have hardly spoken to me before for a year; and you never said as +much to me as you have to-night before in all my lifetime."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It was not necessary to do so."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Amos, I am old enough now to be able to think for myself," I +continued, earnestly. "It is time for me to know who and what I am, and +I am going to find out if it is possible for me to do so."</p> + +<p>"It is not possible," said he, greatly agitated, though he struggled to +be calm. "What do you wish to know?"</p> + +<p>"About my parents."</p> + +<p>He walked the room for a moment with compressed lips, as if considering +whether he should tell me what I wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"If I have concealed anything from you, it was for your own good," +replied he, with a desperate effort. "Your father is dead; he died +eleven years ago."</p> + +<p>"And my mother?" I asked, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"She is a raving maniac in an insane asylum."</p> + +<p>This information came like a shock upon me, and I wept great tears of +grief.</p> + +<p>"I thank you, uncle Amos, for telling me so much, sad as it is. One more +question and I am satisfied. Did my father leave any property?"</p> + +<p>"No," said he.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>I fancied that this single word cost him a mightier effort than all he +had said before, though I could not see why it should.</p> + +<p>"Where is my mother now?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"You were to ask no more questions; and it is not best for you to know +where she is," he answered. "Now, Ernest, I wish you to make your peace +with Mr. Parasyte."</p> + +<p>"How make my peace with him?"</p> + +<p>"Do what he requires of you."</p> + +<p>"I cannot do that; and I will not."</p> + +<p>"If you persist you will ruin me," said my uncle, bitterly.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you, uncle Amos."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Parasyte owes me a large sum of money."</p> + +<p>Here was the hole in that millstone!</p> + +<p>"His Institute is mortgaged to me. If there is trouble there, the +property will depreciate in value, and I shall be the loser."</p> + +<p>My uncle seemed to be ashamed of himself for having said so much, and +told me to go to bed. I retired from his presence with the feeling that +I must sacrifice myself or my guardian.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST IS DISOWNED AND CAST OUT.</h3> + + +<p>I was so nervous and excited after the stirring events of the day, that +I could not sleep when I went to bed, tired and almost exhausted as I +was. I had enough to think of, and that night has always seemed to me +like a new era in my existence. My father was dead; and my mother, +somewhere in the wide world, was an occupant of an insane asylum. My +uncle had told me I had no property, which was equivalent to informing +me that I must soon begin to earn my daily bread, unless he chose to +support me.</p> + +<p>I would not even then have objected to earning my own living; indeed, +there was something pleasurable and exciting in the idea of depending +upon myself for my food and raiment; but I was not satisfied with my +uncle's statements. I could see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> no reason why he should not tell me +where my father had lived and died, and where my mother was confined as +a lunatic. I meant to know all about these things in due time, for it +was my right to know.</p> + +<p>I could not help weeping when I thought of my mother, with her darkened +mind, shut out from the world and from me. What a joy she would have +been to me! What a comfort I might have been to her! My father was dead, +and she had no one to care for her. Was she in a proper place? Was she +kindly treated while overshadowed by her terrible infirmity? I shuddered +when I thought of her, for fear that she might be in the hands of cruel +persons.</p> + +<p>It seemed very strange to me that my uncle should spend money so freely +upon me if I had no expectations. Why should he wish to conceal anything +that related to my father and mother from me? Who was the person that +came to the cottage and quarrelled with him? I had reached the years of +discretion, and was able to think for myself. What my uncle told me, and +what he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> refused to tell me, taken in connection with his conduct, his +mode of life, and his misanthropic habits, convinced me that there was +something wrong. I intended to ascertain what it was; and I was fully +resolved, whether it was right or wrong, to explore the library in +search of any letters, legal documents, or other papers which would +throw some light on the mystery, now becoming painfully oppressive to +me. It was my duty, as a son, to assure myself that my mother, in her +helplessness, was kindly cared for.</p> + +<p>I went to sleep at last; and I did not wake the next morning till nine +o'clock, which was my uncle's usual breakfast hour. I took my morning +meal with him; but he did not speak a single word. After breakfast I +went down to the boat-house. I missed the Splash very much indeed; for I +wanted to take her, and sail away to some remote part of the lake, and +consider what I should do. Then it occurred to me that my sail-boat +might be raised and repaired; and I was getting into the row-boat, with +the intention of pulling out and finding the place where the Splash had +gone down, when my uncle made his appearance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ernest, have you considered what you mean to do?" said he. "Do you +intend to go to school?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I do not," I replied, promptly and decidedly.</p> + +<p>"Then I disown you, and cast you out," he added, turning on his heel and +walking back to the house.</p> + +<p>Was I becoming obstinate and self-willed? Was I refusing a reasonable +service? I sat down in the boat to think over it. It was not right that +I should apologize to Poodles, after he had confessed that the evidence +on which I had been condemned was a lie; and it was of no use for me to +return to the academy unless I could do so.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte owed my uncle a large sum of money, secured by the estate +and good-will of the Institute. If I was driven from the school, a +majority of the boys would petition their parents to be taken from it +also, and the establishment would be seriously injured. There was +plainly an understanding between Mr. Parasyte and my uncle, or the +tyrant would not have made war upon me as he did. Should I sacrifice +myself in order to save my uncle's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> money, or to prevent the debt from +being imperilled?</p> + +<p>No! I could not; but I hoped my uncle would not lose his money, though +it would not be my fault if he did. I had just been "disowned and cast +out." The sentence hardly produced an impression upon me. I was not +banished from a happy home, where I had been folded in a mother's love, +and had lived in the light of a father's smile; only from the home of +coldness and silence; only from shelter and food, which I could easily +find elsewhere.</p> + +<p>I took the oars and pulled towards the bluff off which the Splash had +sunk. It seemed to me just then that I was breaking away from all my +early associations, from my home and my school, and pushing out on the +great ocean of life, as my boat was upon the lake. I must go out into +the world, and make for myself a name and a fortune. There was something +solemn and impressive in the thought, and I rested upon my oars to +follow out the idea. Breaking away! To me it was not going away, it was +<i>breaking</i> away. There was no near and dear friend to bid me God speed +on my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> journey of life. As for my uncle, he would not have cared if I +had, at that moment, been forever buried beneath the deep waters of the +lake.</p> + +<p>I was awed and solemnized by the thought that I was alone in the world. +And looking up to the clear blue sky, I prayed that God would help me to +keep in the path of truth and duty. I really hoped that, if I had done +wrong, or was then doing wrong, I might be convicted of my error. I +prayed for light. I was afraid that I had been wilful and wayward; but +as I knew that I was right so far as Poodles was concerned, I could not +accuse myself of obstinacy in refusing to apologize. On the whole, I was +satisfied with myself, though willing to acknowledge that in some things +I had rather overdone the matter.</p> + +<p>Resuming the oars, I pulled towards the bluff. My course lay near the +shore until I had passed the northerly point of Parkville, where the +steamboat wharf extends a hundred feet out to the deep water of the +lake. Continuing beyond this long pier, I came in sight of the Parkville +Liberal Institute. As it was then the middle of the forenoon, I did not +expect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> to see any of the students; but, to my surprise, I discovered +large numbers of them on the grounds between the buildings and the lake. +They did not seem to be engaged in the usual sports, but were gathered +in groups on various parts of the premises. Everything looked as though +some important event had transpired, which the boys were busily engaged +in discussing.</p> + +<p>I was tempted to pull up towards the Institute, and ascertain what had +occurred, and why the students were not in the school-room, attending to +their studies; but I was fearful that my presence might do mischief, and +I reluctantly continued on my way to the bluff. As nearly as I could +interpret the signs, the boys were in a state of rebellion, though it +was possible that Mr. Parasyte was too ill to attend to his duties, and +in the present excited state of the school, had deemed it best to give +the boys a holiday.</p> + +<p>The bearings of the spot where the Splash sank had been carefully noted, +after my capture, by the principal and his men, and without much +difficulty I found the place. The bed of this part of the lake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> was +composed of gravel, washed down by the continual wearing away of the +bluff; and as the water was clear, I could see the bottom. The Splash +lay in about twenty-five feet of water—as I found by measuring with a +fish-line. She sat nearly upright on her keel, and the tops of her masts +were not more than a foot below the surface.</p> + +<p>How could I coax her to the top of the water? The Splash had been father +and mother to me, and I loved her. In my loneliness I wanted her +companionship. It did not look like an easy task to raise her; and yet +the most difficult things become easy when we hit upon the right method +of doing them. The Splash was ballasted with ten fifty-sixes, each with +a ring for lifting it. They were deposited on the bottom of the boat, +where I could remove a portion of them when I had a large party to take +out. I made up my mind, that with a long pole, having a hook on the end +of it, I could fasten to the rings of the fifty-sixes, and raise them, +one by one, to the surface; and when the ballast was removed, the boat +would rise of herself.</p> + +<p>Satisfied that this idea was a practical one, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> started for Parkville +to procure the pole. As I took the oars, I discovered that one of the +Institute boats, which I had not before noticed, was pulling towards me. +At first I was startled, fearful that it might contain some of my +tyrant's minions, sent out to capture me, and carry me back to the +school. As the boat came nearer, however, I saw that it was filled with +my friends, prominent among whom were Bob Hale and Tom Rush; and I lay +upon my oars to await her coming.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Ernest; I'm glad to see you," said Bob, as the Institute +boat ranged up alongside of mine.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter at the Institute? Don't school keep to-day?" I +asked, when I had returned the salutations of my friend.</p> + +<p>"There's big news there, Ernest, you'd better believe," replied Bob, in +an excited tone.</p> + +<p>"What is it? What has happened?"</p> + +<p>"There has been an awful row between Mr. Parasyte and Mr. Hardy, and Mr. +Hardy has been discharged—that's the first thing; and the fellows won't +stand it, anyhow."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What was it about?"</p> + +<p>"We don't know. Mr. Hardy opened the school as usual at nine o'clock; +but he didn't say a word to us about the troubles. A little after nine, +Mr. Parasyte came in, with a black eye and a broken head. He and Mr. +Hardy talked together a little while, and we saw that Parasyte was as +mad as a hop. They went into the recitation-room to have it out; but in +two or three minutes they returned, and Mr. Hardy said he was going to +leave; but he didn't tell the reason—just bade us good by. If we had +only known what the trouble was, we would have pitched Parasyte out of +the window."</p> + +<p>"Then Mr. Hardy has gone," I added.</p> + +<p>"Left, and at once. Then Mr. Parasyte made a speech, in which he told us +the school was in a state of rebellion; that Thornton had assaulted him, +and struck him on the head with a heavy ruler, and that he intended to +flog him till he apologized to Poodles, as his uncle wished him to do. +We didn't wait to hear any more. We gave a yell, and rushed out of the +school-room."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST RAISES THE SPLASH, AND THERE IS A GENERAL BREAKING AWAY +AMONG THE STUDENTS.</h3> + + +<p>I listened, with astonishment and dismay, to the tale which Bob Hale +told me. I could not help asking myself to what extent I was responsible +for the troubles which overwhelmed the Parkville Liberal Institute. I +told Bob how I felt, and he ridiculed the idea of my shouldering any +portion of the blame.</p> + +<p>"Even the parson says you are not to blame, and that you have behaved +like a gentleman from the beginning," said he, alluding to Henry +Vallington, who, on account of his intended profession, often went by +the name of the "parson."</p> + +<p>"Can you imagine why Mr. Hardy was discharged?" I asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We don't know; but it is easy enough to see that he blamed Mr. +Parasyte, though he never said a word to the fellows. The idea of +staying at the Institute after Mr. Hardy goes is not to be thought of," +replied Bob, who, like myself, was a day scholar at the school. "What +did Parasyte mean when he said your uncle wished him to flog you into +subjection?"</p> + +<p>"He meant that; my uncle told him to do so," I replied, with shame and +mortification, not for myself, but for him who should have been my +guardian and protector.</p> + +<p>"Did he, though? Well, that was amiable of him," added Tom Rush. "He and +Parasyte will do to go together."</p> + +<p>"They do go together. I find that Mr. Parasyte owes my uncle a large sum +of money. I had no idea that they were even acquainted with each other +before," I continued.</p> + +<p>"Then I wonder that Parasyte made a row with you, if he owed your uncle +so much money."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand it; but I think Mr. Parasyte didn't expect any +trouble. He judged hastily be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span>tween Poodles and me, and when he had +given his decision, he was too proud and too obstinate to alter it. I +suppose he was a little afraid after what he had done, and went to see +my uncle and ask for instructions."</p> + +<p>"But it was cold-blooded for your uncle to say what he did."</p> + +<p>"Probably Parasyte told his own story," I replied, willing to shield my +uncle as much as possible.</p> + +<p>"What did your uncle say to you when you went home?" asked Bob Hale, +full of interest and sympathy.</p> + +<p>"We had some words, and he disowned and cast me out—to use his own +expression."</p> + +<p>"Turned you out of house and home!" exclaimed Tom Rush.</p> + +<p>"That was what he meant."</p> + +<p>"Don't mind it, Ernest," interposed Bob. "You shall come to my house."</p> + +<p>"I can take care of myself, I think," was my reply, rather proudly +spoken.</p> + +<p>"Of course you can; but you shall have half my bed and half my dinner as +long as I have any."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Bob."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We will talk that over another time, Ernest; for at present we have a +big job on our hands."</p> + +<p>"What is that?"</p> + +<p>"We'll tell you by and by. Parasyte says you assaulted him, and hit him +over the head with a big ruler. How was that, Ernest?"</p> + +<p>I told them what had occurred after we left the school-room, and gave +them all the particulars of my battle with the principal.</p> + +<p>"Served him right," was the verdict of the boys. "He didn't tell us that +he attempted to flog you; only that you pitched into him, apparently +without any cause or reason," added Tom Rush.</p> + +<p>"You all ran out of school," said I. "What is Mr. Parasyte going to do +about it?"</p> + +<p>"We don't know, and we don't care. He is a tyrant, and a toady; and all +but about a dozen of the fellows are going to quit the school."</p> + +<p>"But where are you going?" I asked, surprised at this decided step.</p> + +<p>"We have it all arranged, and are going to break away in a bunch. We are +getting things ready; but we want you, Ernest."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why me?"</p> + +<p>"Because you are a good sailor, and know all about boats?"</p> + +<p>That was highly complimentary in a direction where I was peculiarly +weak—my love of boats and boating. Bob Hale then informed me that the +students were going into camp on their own hook this year. This was an +annual institution at the academy. Belonging to the Institute were seven +tents, large enough to accommodate all the boys and all the teachers; +and in the month of July the whole school camped out for one or two +weeks. This custom did more for the popularity of the Institute than +anything else, and without it, it was doubtful if the school could have +been kept together; for it was an offset to the dislike with which a +large majority of the boys regarded the principal.</p> + +<p>The students had begun to talk about camping out as soon as the spring +opened, and when the rebellion broke out, it immediately ran into this +channel. The camp during the preceding year had been in a piece of woods +ten miles east of Parkville; but the rebels had already decided to +establish it, at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> the present time, on Cleaver Island, two miles +north-west of the steamboat pier, and including an area of about twenty +acres, well covered with wood.</p> + +<p>I could not say that I approved of this scheme; but Bob Hale and Tom +Rush said the students had unanimously agreed to it. I was not in favor +of insubordination and rebellion. But the moral sense of the boys had +been outraged; Mr. Parasyte had resorted to the grossest injustice, and +they were determined to "break away" from him. Rather reluctantly I +consented to join the insurrection. I ought not to have done so; but +smarting as I then was under the injustice of my uncle and the +principal, I found an argument to satisfy myself with my conduct.</p> + +<p>The Splash seemed to be necessary, in my estimation, for the success of +the enterprise, and my friends volunteered to assist me in raising her. +I went to Parkville, and procured a long spruce pole, to which the +blacksmith attached a hook. Without much difficulty the ballast was +hoisted out of the sunken craft, and obedient to the law of gravitation, +she came to the surface. We towed her to a bank of the lake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> in the +town, near the shop of a wheelwright, who promised to have her repaired +in a few hours. One of the ribs was snapped off, and six of the +"streaks" stove in. We hauled her up on the shore, and got the water out +of her; and the wheelwright went to work upon her at once, assisted by +his journeyman.</p> + +<p>I had regarded the Splash as a lost boat; and I was delighted with my +success in raising her, and with the prospect of having her again as +good as new; for the wheelwright assured me she was not materially +injured in her timbers. The result of this enterprise rather inflated my +spirits, and not without good reason; for, as I was now to take care of +myself, it had already occurred to me that I could make money enough to +support me by boating—for there were always residents and strangers +enough in the town who wanted to sail to afford me a good business for +at least three months in the year.</p> + +<p>"Now, Ernest," said Bob Hale, who had embarked with me in my row-boat, +"how shall we get the crowd, the tents, and the provisions over to +Cleaver Island?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think it is a very big job," I replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I do. Of course Parasyte will prevent us from going if he can," said +he.</p> + +<p>"Too many cooks will spoil the broth," I added. "You want a leader, or +captain, who shall manage the affair."</p> + +<p>"We will choose you."</p> + +<p>"No; I decline at the outset. I don't want the credit of being the +ringleader in this scrape after what has happened."</p> + +<p>"What do you say to the parson?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"Capital!"</p> + +<p>We consulted the students in the other boat, and they agreed to this +selection. Both boats then pulled to the pier at the Institute. As we +approached, all the rebels gathered around us. Bob Hale immediately +called them to order, and made a brief statement of the necessity of the +hour, and then nominated Henry Vallington as leader of the enterprise. +He was unanimously elected, and somewhat to my surprise he accepted.</p> + +<p>"Fellow-students," said the parson, in accepting the position, "if I +didn't feel that every decent fellow in the Institute had been outraged +and in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>sulted by the conduct of the principal, I wouldn't have anything +to do with such an affair as this. I want you all to understand that I, +for one, am going into this thing for a purpose, and on principle."</p> + +<p>"So say we all of us!" shouted the boys.</p> + +<p>"Now, you must obey orders, and have no rioting or rows. We shall do +this thing in order."</p> + +<p>The boys were excited; but the parson told them to keep cool, and, when +the orders came, to execute them promptly, which they promised with one +voice to do. By this time I had a scheme arranged in my mind for the +conveyance of the forces to Cleaver Island, and the leader did me the +honor to appoint me master of transportation. I stated my plan to +Vallington and two or three of the more influential of the boys. It was +cordially approved.</p> + +<p>At half past twelve the dinner bell of the Institute rang, as usual; and +the boys, who had no idea of being deprived of their rations, marched in +to dinner in order; and I went home with Bob Hale, who had invited me to +dine with him. On our return, we learned that Mr. Parasyte had made a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +stirring appeal to the students, in the dining-room, to support the +discipline of the school, and had intimated that he intended to +prosecute Thornton in the courts for the assault upon him. I was rather +startled at this intelligence, for a court was an appalling affair to +me.</p> + +<p>The boys heard in silence what the principal had to say, and left the +dining-room in as good order as usual. At quarter before two the +school-bell rang; but only about twenty obeyed the summons. I was on the +pier at this time, and shortly after I saw Mr. Parasyte coming down to +see the students. Deeming it best to keep out of his way, I pulled over +to the wheelwright's, to look after the Splash. An hour later, Bob Hale, +Henry Vallington, and Tom Rush joined me, saying that Mr. Parasyte had +been very gentle with the boys, and had used only mild persuasions. +Having failed in all, he had taken his horse and gone away. This was +favorable to our operations, and I advised the parson to hasten back, +and do the job at once.</p> + +<p>At four o'clock the Splash was finished, and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> coat of paint put on the +new streaks. I got under way at once in her, taking my tender in tow. +Near the Institute lived a man who owned a large flat-boat, or scow, +used for bringing wood down the lake. Tom Rush had hired this clumsy +craft for a week. The three row-boats belonging to the Institute had +been manned by the boys, and were towing this scow down to the pier, +according to the plan I had suggested to the parson. When the flat was +near the pier, a signal was given, and the boys on shore all rushed to +the building in which the tents were stored. There were enough of them +to carry all the canvas, poles, and other materials at one load, and the +students rushed down to the pier with them at a rapid pace, so that the +work was accomplished before any of the assistant teachers or laborers +could interfere.</p> + +<p>The tents were tumbled into the scow, and all the boys not needed in the +row-boats embarked with the camp material.</p> + +<p>"All ready!" shouted Henry Vallington.</p> + +<p>"Give way!" I added to the oarsmen.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i003.jpg" width="500" height="381" alt="OFF FOR THE ISLAND.—Page 143." title="OFF FOR THE ISLAND.—Page 143." /> +<span class="caption">OFF FOR THE ISLAND.—Page 143.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>The long painter of the scow had been extended over, and fastened to, +the three boats. As the wind was fresh, I went to the head of this line, +attached a rope to the painter, and the procession of boats straightened +out and moved off, dragging the scow after them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST IS CHOSEN COMMODORE OF THE FLEET.</h3> + + +<p>The procession of boats went off in good style, after the line was +straightened; but the flat-boat was large and heavy, and it required a +hard pull to put her in motion. The boys rowed well, and the wind was +fresh enough to enable the Splash to do her full share of the work. The +distance from the Institute to the island was two miles and a half, and +at the rate we moved, I calculated that it would take nearly two hours +to accomplish the voyage.</p> + +<p>The movements of the students had been so sudden and so well arranged, +that if any one saw them, there was not time to interfere before the +boats were off. When the scow was fairly in motion, I saw Mr. Gaule, one +of the teachers, and the two laborers on the estate, rushing down to the +pier, apparently intent upon doing something.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come back, boys!" shouted Mr. Gaule.</p> + +<p>No one made any reply, or took any notice of him.</p> + +<p>"Come back, I say!" he cried again, but with no better result than +before.</p> + +<p>I was very glad that none of the boys made any insulting replies. They +were as silent and dignified as so many judges. We all knew very well +that Mr. Gaule had not force enough to attempt anything, and we did not +expect to be molested until the return of Mr. Parasyte.</p> + +<p>In something less than the two hours I had allowed for the passage, the +procession of boats reached Cleaver Island. I was perfectly familiar +with every foot of the shore, and I decided that the landing should be +effected on the western side, at a point of land which extended out a +short distance into the lake. The rowers landed and carried the painter +of the scow on shore, by which they pulled the clumsy craft up to the +bank.</p> + +<p>The tents, cooking utensils, and other camp furniture, were landed and +conveyed to the high ground in the southerly portion of the island. As +soon as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> this work was done, Henry Vallington intimated that he wished +all the boys to assemble near the point, for a "powwow," to consult upon +the state of affairs. The word was passed from mouth to mouth, till all +the rebels had gathered at the appointed place.</p> + +<p>"Now, fellows, we want to make arrangements for doing this business in +good order. When Mr. Parasyte gets back to the Institute, and finds that +we are gone, he will not be likely to take it as quietly as he has all +day. Our breaking away has really broken up the Parkville Liberal +Institute, and I shouldn't be surprised if its principal took some +decided steps. I haven't any idea what he will do, but in my opinion he +will do something."</p> + +<p>"What can he do?" asked Tom Rush.</p> + +<p>"He can do a great many things, and especially a great many foolish +things. I suppose, when we come down to the niceties of the matter, we +hadn't any right to take the boats or the tents. In fact, Mr. Parasyte +stands <i>in loco parentis</i> to us."</p> + +<p>"In what?" asked one of the boys who did not study Latin.</p> + +<p>"In the place of our parents; and therefore has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> authority to do +anything which parents might do. I can't help saying that I have no +respect for Mr. Parasyte; that I despise him from the bottom of my +heart. He knows, just as well as we do, that Bill Poodles made the +trouble yesterday, and he persists in punishing Thornton for it. For +such a man I can have no respect."</p> + +<p>"So say we all!" shouted the boys.</p> + +<p>"There is no safety for any of us, if we permit such injustice. He may +take a miff at any of us any time. I hope that something good will come +out of this scrape; and I think that something will."</p> + +<p>I learned then, for the first time, that Vallington had drawn up a +paper, setting forth the grievances of the students, in which several +instances of Mr. Parasyte's injustice and partiality were related, and +concluding with a full history of the affair between Poodles and myself. +This paper had been signed by eighty-one of the students, and the +publisher of the Parkville Standard had engaged to print it on a letter +sheet, to be sent to the parents of the rebel scholars.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hardy has been discharged. He was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> best man in the +Institute—just and fair. I don't know anything about it; but I am +satisfied that he was sent away because he condemned Mr. Parasyte's +treatment of Thornton."</p> + +<p>"That was the reason," added Bob Hale. "Mr. Hardy saw Ernest last night, +after the row in the office."</p> + +<p>"I think we have the right of the case," continued Vallington, "though I +suppose we are wrong in breaking away; but, for one, I won't see a +fellow like Ernest Thornton browbeaten, and flogged, and ground down. If +Mr. Parasyte wants to grind down one, he must grind down the whole."</p> + +<p>"I am very much obliged to you," I interposed; "but I want you to +understand that I don't ask any one to get himself into a scrape for +me."</p> + +<p>"When we protect you, Thornton, we protect ourselves. Your cause is our +own. We won't say anything more about that matter. We are here now in a +state of rebellion, and we must make the best of our situation. When Mr. +Parasyte will give us fair play, we will return to the Institute."</p> + +<p>"We will," replied some of the boys; but I am<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> free to say that they +hoped he would not give them fair play until they had spent a week or +more in camp.</p> + +<p>"Now, fellows, we will see how we stand, and make arrangements for the +future. We have boats and tents, and these are about all we have. We +have provisions enough for supper and breakfast. We must get a supply of +eatables to-night or in the morning. It will require money, but I +suppose all of you have some; at any rate, I told you to bring your +money with you, if you had any."</p> + +<p>Most of the boys had some funds, which had been saved from their pocket +money for a Fourth of July Celebration, planned months before.</p> + +<p>"We need some officers, and as I don't believe in one-man power, I shall +ask you to elect them. Please to nominate a treasurer."</p> + +<p>"George Weston!" shouted one of the students.</p> + +<p>"George Weston is nominated. All in favor of his election will manifest +it by raising the right hand."</p> + +<p>It was a unanimous vote, and the nominee was declared elected.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now we want to raise the money, we need to buy provisions, fairly. If +any one will make a motion, it will be in order," added the chairman.</p> + +<p>The Parkville Debating Society, an association connected with the +Institute, had fully educated the students in parliamentary forms, and +they were entirely "at home" in the business before them.</p> + +<p>"I move you, Mr. Chairman, that each fellow be assessed fifty cents for +expenses," said one of the students.</p> + +<p>The motion was put and carried; and after Fred Mason had been elected +clerk, the treasurer was instructed to collect the assessments +forthwith. The next business was the selection of a commissary, and Tom +Rush was chosen to this important office.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Chairman, I nominate Ernest Thornton for commodore of our +squadron," said Bob Hale; and, though the nomination created some +merriment, on account of the high-sounding title of the officer, the +vote was unanimous.</p> + +<p>"I accept, Mr. Chairman; but I should prefer to be called simply the +boatman," I replied.</p> + +<p>"That won't do!" exclaimed Bob. "Ernest is to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> have charge of all the +boats, including the scow, and I am in favor of calling him commodore."</p> + +<p>"We won't dispute about titles," laughed Vallington; "but the boats are +all under Thornton's charge. I advise the commissary to consult with the +commodore, immediately, in regard to procuring a supply of provisions +for the company."</p> + +<p>The rest of the business was soon completed. As an indication of the +spirit of the boys, it was voted that the place should be called "Camp +Fair Play." Vallington announced that six boys should be chosen each day +to do the cooking and serve out the provision; that a watch should be +kept around the camp night and day, to prevent a surprise from Mr. +Parasyte and his forces; and that all work should be fairly divided +among the students, with the exception of those who had been elected to +offices. The boys then separated; and those who had been detailed to +pitch the tents commenced their work.</p> + +<p>"Commodore," said Tom Rush, laughing at the title.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Commissary," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Good! We are even, except that you are a bigger officer than I am."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What can I do for you?"</p> + +<p>"About the provisions—how shall we get them?"</p> + +<p>"In the boats, of course," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it will be quite safe for us to go back to Parkville?"</p> + +<p>"We won't go there. It is only about six miles to Cannondale, on the +other side of the lake. I think we had better go to-night, for we don't +know what will happen to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"That's a capital idea! I was thinking how awkward it would be to answer +the questions that would be asked of us in Parkville. To-night it is. +How many of us shall go?"</p> + +<p>"Only you and I. The Splash will carry a good load. What are you going +to buy?"</p> + +<p>"We must live cheap," replied the commissary.</p> + +<p>"I think we will bring off hams, potatoes, and bread or crackers."</p> + +<p>"Those will be good feed. I advise you to make out a list of what you +will want."</p> + +<p>"I will do so."</p> + +<p>"But we need not buy everything we want. The lake is full of fish, and I +know just where to catch them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's first rate," added Tom, with enthusiasm. "But it will take a +heap of fish to feed all the fellows."</p> + +<p>"I have caught a boat-load of lake bass and salmon trout in a day. I +will agree to catch fish enough to feed the crowd for a week. But the +fellows will want something besides fish to eat. Potatoes are cheap, and +so are pork and bacon."</p> + +<p>"When shall we start?"</p> + +<p>"The sooner we go the better. We have no time to spare. There is a good +wind now, and we may not have it much longer. I will land you at +Cannondale in an hour; and if the breeze holds, we shall return by nine +o'clock."</p> + +<p>Tom Rush went to the treasurer to procure the funds he had collected, +and hastened down to the Splash; but before the commissary joined me, a +messenger came from Vallington to inform me that the lookouts on the +bluff at the southerly end of the island had discovered a boat pulling +towards the camp. I had a small spy-glass in one of the lockers of the +Splash, with which I repaired to the bluff, to ascertain who the +intended visitors could be.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I suppose that boat bodes trouble to the camp," said the leader.</p> + +<p>"I think it does, for it contains Mr. Parasyte and Deputy Sheriff +Greene," I replied, after examining the boat through the glass.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.</h3> + + +<p>We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp +Fair Play—whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to +declare and carry on the war. The boat in which he was approaching was a +hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him. His force was +sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to +what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us. Four +men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that +Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the +visitation.</p> + +<p>"What can they do?" asked Vallington. "We can at least prepare for +possibilities."</p> + +<p>"They can take the boats from us," answered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> Bob Hale, "and leave us +here to be starved into submission."</p> + +<p>"It would be awkward to be obliged to return to the academy like whipped +puppies; but I suppose we could be starved into it."</p> + +<p>"We will look out for that," I added.</p> + +<p>"How can you help it?"</p> + +<p>"Leave that to me," I replied, as I hastened down to the landing-place, +where I summoned my boatmen for service.</p> + +<p>We took the three row-boats out of the water, and carried them some +distance from the shore, hiding them in the bushes. The Splash was too +large to be carried far; but we took her out of the water, and put her +high and dry on the island. A force of twenty students had been placed +under my command, and with a little engineering we made easy work even +of these heavy jobs. The rudder of the sail-boat was unshipped, and +concealed, so that she would be useless to the invaders, if they +attempted to carry her off. There was no fear that they would try to tow +the scow back to Parkville; for in doing this their punishment would be +too severe.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>Having accomplished my work, I returned to the headland where Vallington +had his headquarters, just as Mr. Parasyte's boat touched the shore +below.</p> + +<p>"We are all right now," I remarked to the leader.</p> + +<p>"The boats are secure—are they?"</p> + +<p>"They are."</p> + +<p>"Very well; then we are ready to receive our visitors. I will appoint a +committee of three to wait upon them and invite them to our +headquarters."</p> + +<p>Three students were detailed for this duty, and they descended the +bluff. Mr. Parasyte and the deputy sheriff followed them up the bank, +where Vallington was ready to receive them in state, supported by his +officers. The parson had instructed the rebels to treat our visitors +with the utmost politeness, and enjoined them not to insult or annoy Mr. +Parasyte. This was good advice, for some of the boys would have been +glad to duck him in the lake, or to subject him to other indignities, +now that they had the power to do so.</p> + +<p>The principal of the Parkville Liberal Institute had doubtless been very +angry when he returned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> to the school, and found that a "breaking away" +had taken place; but he had cooled off during his passage over the lake, +and now he looked troubled and anxious, rather than angry. As he walked +towards the spot where the officers of the camp stood, he gazed +curiously around him; but he said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Vallington, I am very much surprised to find you with this party," were +the first words he spoke, as he discovered our leader, standing on his +dignity, a little in advance of his supporters.</p> + +<p>"Considering the circumstances, Mr. Parasyte, I am not at all surprised +to find myself here," replied the parson. "If it were a mere frolic for +the love of mischief, I should not be here. I presume you come on +business, sir."</p> + +<p>"On business!" exclaimed the principal, apparently taken aback by the +remarks of Vallington. "I <i>did</i> come on business."</p> + +<p>"You will oblige me by stating it, sir. I have been chosen the leader of +this company, and I represent the students here assembled."</p> + +<p>"My business is to order you back to the Insti<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>tute," continued Mr. +Parasyte, becoming a little excited by the independent manner of our +leader.</p> + +<p>"In behalf of those whom I represent, I must decline to obey the +order—at least for the present."</p> + +<p>The eye of the deputy sheriff twinkled as he listened to these speeches. +He seemed to regard the affair as a big joke, and to appreciate it +accordingly. Though none of us had ever had any official relations with +him, we knew him as what all the people called "a good fellow," witty, +jovial, and never severe even in the discharge of his duties. It is more +than probable that he knew Mr. Parasyte as the boys knew him, and +despised him accordingly. At any rate, we judged from the expression on +his round face, that he was at heart on our side, however his official +position might compel him to act.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry, boys, that you have engaged in this rebellion, for it will +not be pleasant for me to compel obedience," continued Mr. Parasyte, +struggling to repress his anger.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry, also, that we have been compelled to take this unpleasant +stand," replied Vallington, with dignity. "If you are willing to hear +it, sir, I should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> like to state the position of the boys in this +matter. Perhaps the difficulty can be arranged; if it can, we will at +once return to the Institute."</p> + +<p>"If there are any real abuses, I am willing to correct them. I will hear +what you have to say."</p> + +<p>Vallington briefly rehearsed the grievances of the boys, and demanded +that Thornton should be restored to all his privileges, without +punishment, and that Mr. Hardy should be reëngaged.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte turned red in the face, and bit his lips with anger and +vexation.</p> + +<p>"Are you the principal of the Parkville Liberal Institute, or am I?" +said he, when the parson had finished.</p> + +<p>"Neither of us, I think, as the matter now stands, sir."</p> + +<p>"I see that you are determined to defy me," added Mr. Parasyte. "You ask +me to restore Thornton without punishment of any kind. Are you aware +that he assaulted me with a deadly weapon?"</p> + +<p>"We are aware that he defended himself when assaulted."</p> + +<p>"Assaulted!" gasped Mr. Parasyte, astounded to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> hear his own act called +by such a name. "Are you aware of the powers which the law lodges in the +hands of the teacher?"</p> + +<p>"I am."</p> + +<p>"Thornton refused to obey me; and, at his uncle's request, I intended to +enforce obedience. It was my duty to do so."</p> + +<p>"May I inquire, Mr. Parasyte, in what Thornton refused to obey you?" +asked Vallington, in the gentlest of tones.</p> + +<p>"I required him to apologize to Poodles privately, and to me publicly. +He refused to do so."</p> + +<p>"I told Mr. Parasyte that I would apologize to him," I interposed, +addressing our leader.</p> + +<p>"That wasn't enough," replied the principal.</p> + +<p>"At the time, sir, you knew Poodles had confessed that he alone was to +blame for the affair on the pier. Thornton was innocent; and it had been +fairly proved to you that he was innocent. Poodles himself assured you +of the fact, and his evidence was fully confirmed by Pearl. In the face +of this overwhelming proof, you attempted to flog Thornton into +apologizing for that of which you knew he was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> guilty. No boy with a +soul would submit to be flogged under such circumstances. I would not, +and I have no respect for any fellow that would. No boy was ever yet +flogged in the Institute, and it was an outrage to attempt such a +thing."</p> + +<p>Vallington was quite eloquent, and Mr. Parasyte actually quailed as he +poured out his feelings in well-chosen words, and with an emphasis which +forced their meaning home to the heart. The tyrant had gone too far to +recede. He did what weak, low-minded men always do under such +circumstances—he got furiously angry, and delivered himself in abusive +terms. He declared that Poodles and Pearl had been frightened into their +confession, and persisted in saying that I had caused the quarrel on the +pier.</p> + +<p>"But it is no use to reason with you. I am going to compel obedience +now. If you will not mind, I shall make you mind," foamed he, stamping +the ground in his rage.</p> + +<p>"We have nothing to say, sir, except that we shall defend ourselves from +assaults of all kinds," added Vallington.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Assaults! How dare you use that word to me! I am in the lawful exercise +of my authority as the principal of the Parkville Liberal Institute. You +were committed to my care by your parents, and I shall do my duty by +you. As to Thornton, his case shall be settled by the court. Mr. Greene, +you have a warrant for his arrest."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have," replied the deputy sheriff, with a broad grin.</p> + +<p>"That's the boy," continued Mr. Parasyte, furiously, as he pointed to +me.</p> + +<p>My companions were evidently disconcerted, as I certainly was, by this +action of Mr. Parasyte. They had got up the rebellion on my account +directly, though indirectly on their own, and it would be a sad defeat +to have me carried off by an officer of the law. Mr. Greene walked up to +me, still wearing his smiling face.</p> + +<p>"Well, Ernest, I am sorry for you; but I suppose I must do my duty. I +have a warrant for your arrest."</p> + +<p>"I shall not resist," I replied.</p> + +<p>"You shall have fair play."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's all I want."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to take you away," he added, in a low tone; "for, between +you and me, I think the boys have the rights of the matter; but I can't +help serving the warrant."</p> + +<p>"Put him in irons, Mr. Greene. He is a violent fellow," said Mr. +Parasyte, savagely.</p> + +<p>"I shall not do that," replied the sheriff. "I can handle him without +any irons."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Greene," interposed Vallington, "will you allow me to look at your +warrant?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, if you want to."</p> + +<p>"Don't do it, Mr. Greene!" shouted Mr. Parasyte.</p> + +<p>"Don't be so grouty, sir. The young gentleman may see it, if he wants to +do so," replied the sheriff, with a broad grin on his fat face, as he +handed the warrant to the parson. "I don't belong to your school, Mr. +Parasyte, and I suppose I can do as I please."</p> + +<p>The principal bit his lip again; and Vallington glanced at the legal +document.</p> + +<p>"This warrant speaks about 'our county of Adie<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span>no,'" said the leader. +"Are you aware, Mr. Greene, that this island is not in the county of +Adieno?"</p> + +<p>"No! Isn't it though?" laughed the sheriff.</p> + +<p>"It certainly is not," added Vallington, returning the warrant to the +sheriff.</p> + +<p>"What odds does that make?" demanded Mr. Parasyte, angrily. "The offence +was committed in Adieno county."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know," said the sheriff. "I don't want to do anything +that isn't lawful. It may be right to take him here; but I'm not sure, +you see."</p> + +<p>"That is absurd, Mr. Greene."</p> + +<p>"I haven't been a deputy sheriff but about six months, and I'm not fully +posted yet. We'll go back to Parkville, and if I find it's all right, +I'll come over and arrest Ernest to-morrow. That will be soon enough."</p> + +<p>Mr. Greene seemed to be the happiest person on the island; and Mr. +Parasyte was so angry he could hardly contain himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST AND THE COMMISSARY VISIT CANNONDALE.</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Parasyte, angry as he was, had sense enough left to see that he +could accomplish nothing by remaining longer at Camp Fair Play. The +spirit of freedom that prevailed there was unsuitable to his +constitution.</p> + +<p>"'I go, but I return,'" said he, in the language of Catiline to the +Roman senate.</p> + +<p>"When you return we shall receive you with all due respect, Mr. +Parasyte," said Harry Vallington.</p> + +<p>Mr. Greene chuckled, and shook his fat sides with suppressed mirth; and +it was plain the principal had a very doubtful ally in the person of the +deputy sheriff. And the ill-mated pair walked towards the landing, where +we saw them embark, and leave the shore.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mr. Parasyte has more pluck than I gave him credit for," said Bob Hale, +after we had silently watched the departure of the boat. "Isn't it a +pity a man who knows so much, and is such a good teacher, should be a +tyrant?"</p> + +<p>"He is intellectually great and morally little," added the parson, with +a savor of the cloth he was destined to wear. "He has always been +politic, and we have felt his tyranny only in little things, which are +all the more mean because they are small. He is now fully roused; he is +too obstinate to back out, even when he knows and feels that he is in +the wrong; and now he will lay policy aside. I tell you, fellows, you +must make up your minds for a hard battle, for Mr. Parasyte is in +earnest. He will leave no stone unturned to reduce us to subjection; and +if I mistake not, 'breaking away' will prove to be no joke. If any of +the students feel like giving up, now is the best time to take the back +track, for the farther we go the deeper in the mire we shall be. If +there are any who are sick of their bargain, they had better say so +now."</p> + +<p>"No!" "No!" "No!" shouted the boys, till the sound became a unanimous +voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I see you are all of one mind," continued Vallington. "I deem it right +to tell you now that, in my opinion, Mr. Parasyte is no contemptible foe +to deal with. He will make a good deal of trouble, if he does not cause +much anxiety, perhaps suffering, in our ranks."</p> + +<p>"What can he do?" asked one of the boys.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. He hasn't told me what he intends to do, and probably he +will not," replied our chief, facetiously.</p> + +<p>"Can't you guess?" asked another boy; and there seemed to be a general +desire to anticipate the terrible things the principal would attempt in +order to reduce the rebellious pupils to subjection.</p> + +<p>"I am no Yankee, and I can't guess. I can mention several things he +might do."</p> + +<p>"Tell us, if you please!" called out one of the more timid of the boys.</p> + +<p>"Very likely he will attempt to starve us out by surrounding the island +with boats, and preventing us from obtaining provisions. He must know +that we have a very small stock of eatables on hand."</p> + +<p>"We will trust to our commodore to break his lines, if he blockades our +camp," laughed Tom Rush.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He may come with a force of men in the night, and take away the boats."</p> + +<p>"You said we should keep a watch at night," suggested Fred Mason.</p> + +<p>"We hope the commodore will be able to protect his squadron," said Bob +Hale.</p> + +<p>"I shall do my best to insure the safety of the boats, or to run the +blockade, if one is established," I replied, with becoming modesty; and +in fact I was getting so excited over the prospect, that I rather hoped +there would be an attempt to blockade us, or to carry off the boats, +that I might have an opportunity to exercise my talent for navigation +and strategy.</p> + +<p>"And Mr. Parasyte may collect a force, and come over to capture the +whole of us. He can charge us with stealing his boats, or something of +that sort. He has already obtained a warrant for the arrest of Thornton, +and to have him taken away from us would be about the worst thing that +could happen," said Vallington.</p> + +<p>"We will not let them take him," interposed a belligerent student.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What will you do?"</p> + +<p>"Pitch the sheriff overboard," replied the spunky speaker.</p> + +<p>"That will not do," I added. "I hope no fellow will think of such a +thing as resisting an officer of the law."</p> + +<p>"No, that wouldn't do," continued Vallington. "If Mr. Greene could not +arrest Thornton because he was out of his county, Mr. Parasyte will get +a sheriff from the proper county to do the job."</p> + +<p>"That's so," said Bob Hale. "He will do his worst, you may depend upon +that."</p> + +<p>"I have an idea!" I shouted, under the inspiration of my new thought; +and it really seemed to me like a brilliant suggestion.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" demanded our leader.</p> + +<p>"Suppose we change our quarters?"</p> + +<p>"Where shall we go?"</p> + +<p>"To Pine Island. It is about seven miles from here, or nine miles and a +half from Parkville," I answered.</p> + +<p>"What shall we gain by moving?" asked Vallington, deeply interested in +my proposition.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Several things. We are now six miles from Cannondale, where we must +procure our provisions, while Pine Island is less than three."</p> + +<p>"That's a decided advantage, if we are to be starved out," added the +commissary.</p> + +<p>"It is so far from Parkville that our movements could not be observed +from the shore," I continued. "And Pine Island is at least four times as +large as Cleaver Island, which would make it four times as difficult to +blockade."</p> + +<p>"Pine Island! Pine Island!" shouted the rebels, in concert, as they +began to perceive the advantages of the proposed location.</p> + +<p>"If the fellows don't object to working a part or the whole of the +night, we might be in our new quarters before morning; and if we keep a +good lookout, we may stay there two or three days before Mr. Parasyte +finds out where we are."</p> + +<p>"Pine Island! Pine Island!" was the chorus which came from the throng of +boys, all of whom had gathered near the bluff.</p> + +<p>"Those in favor of moving to-night, say ay," continued Vallington.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ay!" shouted the students, with one voice.</p> + +<p>"Those opposed, say no."</p> + +<p>There was not a dissenting voice.</p> + +<p>"It is a unanimous vote," added the leader. "Commodore Thornton, you are +charged with the execution of this order, and you will make your +preparations accordingly."</p> + +<p>"But what shall we do for provisions?" asked the commissary, troubled +about the proper administration of the affairs of his department. "We +must have something to eat before dinner-time to-morrow; and if we are +to keep out of sight, I don't see how we are to get anything."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Commodore Thornton can afford us some information on that +subject," said Vallington. "Our safety and success depend mainly upon +the vulgar things which the stomach requires."</p> + +<p>"There is a good breeze now, General Vallington, and—"</p> + +<p>The students interrupted me with a hearty laugh at the new title I had +given to the parson.</p> + +<p>"A truce to titles," laughed our leader.</p> + +<p>"You call me commodore, and I think it is no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> more than fair that I +should give you your proper title."</p> + +<p>"But you were duly elected commodore of our squadron."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Chairman, I move that Henry Vallington be created general-in-chief +of all our forces, by sea and by land," I continued.</p> + +<p>"Second the motion," added Bob Hale. "I call upon the secretary to put +the question."</p> + +<p>The question was put by Fred Mason, and carried, unanimously.</p> + +<p>"I am very much obliged to you for the honor you have conferred upon me; +but we can hardly afford the time now to talk about titles. You were +going to say something about the breeze, Commodore Thornton."</p> + +<p>"I say that there is a good breeze now, General Vallington; and I think, +if the commissary is ready, we can reach Cannondale in the Splash by +nine o'clock. It is half past seven now," I replied, looking at my +watch.</p> + +<p>"The commissary is all ready," said Tom Rush.</p> + +<p>"What time shall you return?" asked the general.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>"By eleven or twelve. I think the fellows had better turn in, and sleep +till we return," I suggested. "There will be time enough then to load +the scow, and reach the island by daylight."</p> + +<p>The general approved of this idea, but was afraid the boys were too much +excited to sleep. I called those who had been detailed to serve as +boatmen to assist in putting the Splash into the water, and, with Tom +Rush alone, started for Cannondale. The breeze was fresh, and before the +time I had mentioned we landed at our destination.</p> + +<p>Since I had owned the Splash, I had spent all my vacations and holidays, +and indeed all my spare time every week day when boating was +practicable, on the lake. A spirit of adventure had prompted me to make +long trips, and I had sometimes spent half the night in my lonely +cruises. The darkness, therefore, was not an obstacle with me to the +navigation of those familiar waters. I knew every point, headland, bay, +and inlet, at midnight as well as noonday.</p> + +<p>Lake Adieno, though a fresh-water lake, was not always the smoothest of +navigation. Its shores were nearly level land, and there was nothing to +shelter it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> from the blasts when the wind blew; and, with an +uninterrupted reach of twenty miles from east to west, old Boreas had +room enough to kick up quite a heavy sea. In a strong north-west or +south-west wind, boating on the lake was no child's play.</p> + +<p>We landed at Cannondale, and secured the Splash at the steamboat pier. +For several years I had purchased the groceries for the cottage of my +uncle; and since I had owned the sail-boat, I had as often procured them +at Cannondale as at Parkville, and I was nearly as familiar with the +streets of the former as with those of the latter.</p> + +<p>We found a grocer and a provision-dealer, of whom Tom Rush purchased the +supplies we needed. Of the former the commissary purchased ten kegs of +crackers, and a variety of small stores, and of the latter sixteen hams, +twenty pounds of salt pork, and twelve bushels of potatoes. At the +baker's we obtained all the soft bread on hand—about a hundred loaves. +These articles amounted to more than the assessments levied on the +members, but Tom and I made up the balance. The provision-dealer +harnessed his horse and carted the stores down to the pier;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> and, +grateful for the patronage we had given him, and the cash paid him, he +asked no troublesome questions; and we simply told him that the goods +were for the school, which was then camping out.</p> + +<p>The Splash was loaded to her utmost capacity, and we decided to land the +stores at Pine Island before we returned to our companions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST CONVEYS THE STUDENTS TO PINE ISLAND.</h3> + + +<p>We landed the provisions at Pine Island, and being still favored with a +fresh breeze, made a quick run over to Cleaver Island. It was bright +moonlight now, and very pleasant sailing on the lake. As we approached +the landing-place, I discovered a row-boat pulling round the point +below. My first thought was, that Mr. Parasyte was paying a second visit +to the camp, intent upon carrying out the threats he had uttered.</p> + +<p>"Can you make her out, Ernest?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"It is a boat full of men or boys—I don't know which," I replied. "We +will run down to her, and see what she is."</p> + +<p>"It may be Parasyte."</p> + +<p>"Very likely it is," I added, heading the Splash towards the intruder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What shall we do if it is?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know that we can do anything but keep an eye upon him. I have a +great mind to serve him as he did me yesterday—run him down, and sink +his boat; but I won't do it."</p> + +<p>I decided, however, to give him a scare; and with all sail drawing well, +the Splash going through the water at a rapid rate, I ran directly for +the row-boat. When we came within a few feet of the intruders, the fate +that stared them in the face was too much for their nerves. They sprang +to their feet, and begged me not to run them down. It was a startling +scene for them; but at that moment I put the helm up, and ran astern of +the row-boat, just grazing her as we went by.</p> + +<p>"Boat ahoy!" I shouted as I put the helm down, and the Splash came up +into the wind on the other side of the row-boat.</p> + +<p>"Don't run into us," said one of the boys in the boat, whose voice I +recognized as that of Bill Poodles; and by this time I had found that +Mr. Parasyte was not one of the party.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" demanded Tom Rush.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i004.jpg" width="400" height="308" alt="ARRIVAL OF THE RECRUITS.—Page 178." title="" /> +<span class="caption">ARRIVAL OF THE RECRUITS.—Page 178.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's me," replied Poodles.</p> + +<p>"Who's <i>me?</i>"</p> + +<p>It was a disgrace to the Parkville Liberal Institute that any member of +the school should use such execrable grammar, and we were not quite +willing to believe that the party were fellow-students, with the +exception of Poodles, from whom nothing better in the shape of correct +speech was to be expected.</p> + +<p>"I'm Bill Poodles—don't you know me?"</p> + +<p>"Bill Poodles!" exclaimed Tom, in disgust. "What do you want here?"</p> + +<p>"We have come over to see you," said another in the boat, whose voice +was that of Dick Pearl.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you want?"</p> + +<p>"We want to join you," answered Pearl.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that we want you. Have you any news from the shore?" added +Tom.</p> + +<p>"We can tell you all that has happened since you left. We ran away after +supper to join you," said Pearl. "If you will let us in, we will do all +we can to help you."</p> + +<p>"I don't know; I will speak to the general, and if he is willing, you +may join; but you can't go ashore till he gives you leave."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + +<p>Pearl, who seemed to be the leading spirit of the recruits, promised to +wait off the shore till Vallington had been informed of his request, and +his answer returned. The Splash filled away, and we landed at the point +where the scow lay. We found that our enterprising general had not been +idle during our absence. The tents had been struck, and the materials +put on board the flat-boat. Everything was ready for the departure to +Pine Island.</p> + +<p>The approach of the row-boat had been noticed by the vigilant sentinels +on the bluff, and the whole company had watched our interview with the +new comers. Tom Rush reported on the case to our general, and it was +necessary to act upon the request of the party for admission to the +camp. In this matter there was less unanimity than had before been +manifested, and several of the students were opposed to granting the +request. Bob Hale was the most earnest among them, and declared that +Bill Poodles, Dick Pearl, and the rest of the party could not be +trusted; they were mean fellows, and we should be better off without +them than with them. They were the "creatures" of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> Mr. Parasyte, and +they would make trouble if we admitted them.</p> + +<p>It would have been well for us if this advice had been heeded, as the +sequel will show; but it was not. Some of our best declaimers urged that +there was power in mere numbers; and the strength of an harmonious union +was yielded to this idea. The vote was in favor of permitting the +recruits to be received; but a very respectable minority voted against +it. Bob cheerfully surrendered the point, and Poodles and his companions +were invited to land. When they came on shore, Vallington questioned +them in regard to their intentions. They all made fair promises, and +assured the general they would be good and faithful subjects.</p> + +<p>Tom Rush had reported on the provision question, and gladdened the +hearts of all the fellows when he stated what bountiful supplies of ham, +bread, potatoes, and coffee had been deposited on Pine Island for the +use of the party.</p> + +<p>"Now, we are all ready to move," said Vallington. "The boats are all +loaded, and we submit the rest of the job to the skill of Commodore +Thornton."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Move!" exclaimed Dick Pearl, and in the bright moonlight I saw him +glance anxiously at Poodles.</p> + +<p>"We have decided to break up our camp here and move to Pine Island."</p> + +<p>"Be you?" said Poodles.</p> + +<p>"We <i>be</i>," answered Vallington.</p> + +<p>"If we had known it, I don't know that we should have come," added +Pearl.</p> + +<p>"What possible difference can it make to you whether we camp at Pine +Island or at Cleaver Island?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"It is too late to back out now; you have found out where we are going, +and you must go with us, to help keep the secret," said our general, +decidedly.</p> + +<p>Pearl and Poodles looked at each other, and evidently wished to consult +together; but there was no opportunity.</p> + +<p>For my own part, I was not satisfied with their conduct, and I +determined to keep a close watch upon them; for it seemed to me, from +their appearance, that they intended to make mischief. I whispered my +suspicions to Vallington, who thought it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> was well enough to keep an eye +upon them; but he did not believe ten such fellows as they were would +attempt to interfere with the plans of the company. I assured him Pearl +was a smart fellow, and under his lead the party might make trouble.</p> + +<p>As the wind was not only fresh, but fair for our passage to Pine Island, +I rigged one of the tent poles as a mast for the flat-boat, intending to +save the boys the hard labor of towing her seven miles. I secured +another pole across the mast for a yard, to which I bent on the canvas +of one of the tents for a sail. There was a heavy steering oar in the +boat, which answered the purpose of a rudder. Having adjusted all this +gear to my satisfaction, we pushed off, and I took my station at the +helm of the flat-boat, which was crowded with boys.</p> + +<p>I appointed Bob Hale, who had some experience as a boatman, to the +charge of the Splash, though, as a matter of prudence, I directed him to +set only the jib and mainsail. The row-boats were towed alongside the +scow. The sail fully answered all my expectations, and the old +"gundalow" actually made about three knots an hour under her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> new rig. +The students stretched themselves on the tents, and very likely some of +them went to sleep, for it was now two o'clock in the morning, and most +of them were tired out, and gaped fearfully.</p> + +<p>It was daylight when we ran into the little sheltered bay where we had +landed the goods from the Splash. It was quite chilly in the morning +air, and the fellows were glad of the exercise required to unload the +scow and pitch the tents. But in a couple of hours the work was done, +and the weary laborers were glad enough to stretch themselves on the +beds of pine foliage in the tents. All the boats were hauled into an +inlet, where they could not be seen by any passing craft on the lake, +and I felt that everything was safe.</p> + +<p>Everybody was worn out, and I think everybody went to sleep, even to the +sentinels, who were stationed where they could give notice of the +approach of any intruders. I was so exhausted myself that I should have +slept if I had known all the deputy sheriffs in the state had been after +me. And there we all lay till noon, buried in slumber. And when we awoke +there appeared to be no life anywhere<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> but on the island. The lake was +calm and silent, and from the distant shores not a sound came to disturb +us.</p> + +<p>When the boys did wake they were wide awake, and immediately voted that +"breaking away" was a capital idea. It was then unanimously resolved +that it was time to have something to eat. The boys had had some +experience in the culinary art in previous campaigns, and we had all the +pots, kettles, and pans provided for such occasions. A fire was made in +the woods, near the centre of the island, where it was hoped the smoke +would not betray us, and potatoes and ham were soon hissing in the pans. +About twenty of the students were employed in this work,—peeling +potatoes, and preparing the pork and bacon,—while only four of the most +experienced were intrusted with the care of the actual cooking. We had a +big meal, though we had no knives and forks, or plates. The company was +divided into messes of ten each, there being one large tin pan for each, +from which the boys took the "grub" with sharp<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>ened sticks or +jackknives. We enjoyed it quite as much as we did our dinners at the +Institute.</p> + +<p>We passed a quiet day, without interruption from within or without. We +neither saw nor heard anything from Mr. Parasyte, and the Poodles party +behaved better than we had expected, so that we had learned to trust +them. The necessary work of the camp was all we could do, and when night +came we were glad to turn in at an early hour, for we had not yet fully +recovered from the fatigues of the previous day and night.</p> + +<p>It was ordered by the general-in-chief that the watch during the night +should be relieved every two hours, and that three should be on duty at +once. A sufficient number of the company were detailed for this purpose, +and a tent apart from the rest assigned to them, that others might not +be disturbed when the watch was changed. How faithfully this watch +performed their duty we learned from the developments of the next day.</p> + +<p>I turned out about five o'clock in the morning, intending to try my hand +at fishing with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> Bob Hale and Tom Rush. We went down to the inlet where +the squadron had been secured, to obtain one of the row-boats.</p> + +<p>There was not a boat there!</p> + +<p>Even the old scow had disappeared, and the Splash was nowhere to be +seen!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST FINDS THERE IS TREASON IN THE CAMP.</h3> + + +<p>What had become of the boats? I was a commodore without a squadron, and +I felt so cheap that I would have sold out my commission for sixpence, +and thrown myself in. The boats had been carefully secured, under my own +direction, in the little inlet, and they could not have drifted away, I +looked at Bob Hale, and Bob Hale looked at me; but neither of us could +explain the disappearance of the fleet.</p> + +<p>"An enemy hath done this," I began, in Scripture phrase.</p> + +<p>"Of course it couldn't have been done by a friend," added Tom Rush. +"It's lucky we have a good stock of provisions on hand."</p> + +<p>"But the stock won't last forever," suggested Bob.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We are not going to be starved out in a week, or a year, for that +matter," I interposed. "We are not to be broken up by any such accident +as this."</p> + +<p>"The commodore is spunky," laughed Bob, who was always good-natured, +whatever happened.</p> + +<p>"I am not to be put down by any such expedient as this taking away the +boats. When I want to visit the main shore, I shall do so, boat or no +boat," I replied; for I already saw how I could counteract the +misfortune of the loss of our squadron.</p> + +<p>"Parasyte has snuffed us out, I suppose, and sent a party up here in the +night to take the boats," continued Bob Hale. "He means to starve us +out."</p> + +<p>"He will discover his mistake. But let us take a look round the island; +perhaps we may find out what has become of the boats;" and I led the way +to the nearest point, at which a sentinel had been stationed.</p> + +<p>The student on watch there knew nothing of the absence of the boats. +There had been no alarm given at the guard tent. We walked around the +island without obtaining any information of the lost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> squadron. We +reported the mishap to Vallington, who was both surprised and indignant.</p> + +<p>The occupants of the guard tent were all turned out, and those who had +been on watch during the night were examined; but none of them knew +anything about the boats. They had not heard any noise during the night, +or seen anything on the lake. The general then mustered the company, and +after stating what had occurred, called for any information; but no one +had any to give.</p> + +<p>"Where is Bill Poodles?" suddenly demanded Bob Hale, as he glanced +around among the students.</p> + +<p>"He is not here," replied Tom Rush, after he had scrutinized all the +faces.</p> + +<p>"And Dick Pearl?"</p> + +<p>"Not here."</p> + +<p>"Is any of the party that came off that night present?" demanded the +general.</p> + +<p>"No," answered several, after each fellow had looked his neighbor full +in the face.</p> + +<p>"That's what's the matter!" exclaimed Bob Hale. "Bill Poodles and the +rest of them have run away with the boats; and in my opinion that's what +they joined us for."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> + +<p>A further examination convinced all present that this was the fact. It +looked as though Mr. Parasyte had sent off the ten boys who joined us on +the first night, to rob us of the boats. We remembered the dismay with +which Pearl and Poodles had listened to the announcement of our intended +removal from Cleaver Island, and were fully confirmed in our view of the +traitors' purpose.</p> + +<p>We found that the conspirators had all occupied the same tent, and one +of the fellows who slept with them now remembered that he had half waked +up, and heard Dick Pearl talking in a low tone to some one. Vallington +called up the sentinels again, and spoke pretty sharply to them of their +neglect of duty.</p> + +<p>"It would have been impossible for them to carry off the boats if you +had been awake; and now you have got us into a pretty scrape. We shall +have to back out, and march back to the Institute like whipped puppies," +said he, with becoming indignation.</p> + +<p>But the sentinels protested that they had kept awake all the time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tell that to a dead mule, and he would kick your brains out," replied +the general. "Who stood at the south station?"</p> + +<p>"I did from ten till twelve," answered Joe Slivers; "and I am sure no +boat went out of the cove during that time."</p> + +<p>"And who from twelve till two?" continued the general.</p> + +<p>No one answered.</p> + +<p>"Who was it—don't you know?" demanded Vallington, sternly.</p> + +<p>"I know," replied Ben Lyons. "It was Carl Dorner, for I had the north +station at the same time."</p> + +<p>"Carl Dorner!" exclaimed Bob Hale. "He was one of the Poodles party."</p> + +<p>"That accounts for it," added Vallington. "Who had the east station from +twelve till two?"</p> + +<p>"Mat Murray," replied Slivers.</p> + +<p>"He's another of the Poodles tribe," added Bob. "It's as clear as mud +now. We put traitors on guard, and we are sold out."</p> + +<p>"Ben Lyons, you had the north station from twelve till two," continued +the general.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I did; but I was nearly half a mile from the cove," replied the +sentinel.</p> + +<p>"And Carl Dorner and Mat Murray had the east and south stations at the +same time."</p> + +<p>"They did."</p> + +<p>"Who called the fellows that were to relieve you?"</p> + +<p>"I did," answered Lyons.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you miss Dorner and Murray?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't notice them; but I did see the three fellows who went on guard +at two o'clock. They started for their stations, and I turned in, +without thinking anything about Dorner and Murray."</p> + +<p>It further appeared that the two traitors had used some "shuffling" to +obtain the east and south stations. It was evident now that the +conspirators had executed their plan shortly after midnight, while their +associates were on guard at the two posts where their operations could +be seen or heard. The south station was on a point of land which +commanded a full view of the cove where the boats lay. From the east +station the lake in the direction of Parkville and Cannondale could be +seen. From the north<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> station, which was considerably farther west than +either of the other posts, nothing could be seen on the south side of +the island.</p> + +<p>If the conspirators had gone to the eastward with the boats, they could +easily have kept out of sight of the sentinel at the north station—the +only true one on duty when the mischief was done—by hugging the main +south shore of the lake. If they had gone to the westward, or farther +away from Parkville,—which was not likely,—they could not have been +seen by Ben Lyons till they had gone at least a mile.</p> + +<p>In the mud at the bottom of the cove we found a pole sticking up, which +the traitors had probably used in pushing the scow out into the lake. +This showed us in what manner they had gone to work; but I was satisfied +that they had not attempted to tow the scow any distance; it would not +have been possible for them to do so. It was comparatively easy to move +her with setting-poles, but they could have done nothing with the +unwieldy craft in the deep water. I therefore concluded that they had +merely pushed her out into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> lake, and then turned her adrift. It was +probable that she had been driven ashore by the north-west wind +somewhere in the vicinity of Cannondale.</p> + +<p>What the conspirators had done with the Splash was not so clear to me, +for not one of them knew anything about the management of a sail-boat. +She had a pair of oars on board, and it was probable they had rowed her, +as they had the other boats. All the sentinels agreed in their +statements that the wind had blown pretty fresh in the night, and I was +not quite willing to believe that the ten faithless ones had pulled the +four boats the whole distance to Parkville, which was nine miles, in the +heavy sea that must have been caused by a brisk north-west wind. They +were not boatmen enough to undertake such a job, or to carry it through +if they did attempt it.</p> + +<p>Cannondale lay to the south-east of Pine Island, and with the prevailing +wind of the night, it was an easy matter to accomplish the two miles +which lay between them. After a great deal of thinking, reasoning, and +studying, I came to the conclusion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> that the Splash, and perhaps two or +three of the four row-boats,—for the conspirators had added one to our +original number,—were not farther off than Cannondale. The wind was +still fresh from the north-west, and the traitors would hardly care to +pull even a single boat eight miles. The steamer, on her way to +Parkville, would touch at Cannondale about one o'clock, and I surmised +that the deserters would return in her.</p> + +<p>I made up my mind, in view of these facts and suppositions, that it +would be advisable for some of our party to visit Cannondale before one +o'clock. Pine Island had sometimes been used as a picnic ground, and the +people had been conveyed thither in a steamer. Near the south station, +in the deepest water, there was a rude pier of logs built out, for the +convenience of landing the parties. This loose structure suggested to me +the means of reaching the main shore; and, without waiting for +breakfast, I "piped" away my boatmen, and proceeded to build a raft.</p> + +<p>Placing three large logs in the water, we lashed them together, and +covered them with short pieces<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> of board, from the ruins of an old +cook-house on the island. The job was finished when breakfast was ready, +about seven o'clock, including a mast and sail, the latter made of the +curtain of a tent. The preparations I had been making had a wonderful +effect in warming up the spirits of the boys, considerably depressed by +the prospective calamities which were supposed to lie in the wake of the +loss of our boats; and at least three quarters of them applied to me for +permission to join my expedition to the main shore. I determined, +however, to take but four with me, among whom were Bob Hale and Tom +Rush.</p> + +<p>As soon as we had eaten a hearty breakfast, we embarked, and hoisted the +sail on our clumsy craft. When she had passed out of the cove, she took +the breeze, and went off at a very satisfactory pace towards Cannondale, +plunging and rolling in the heavy sea like a ship in a gale. With us as +navigators, "the die was cast," for it would be impossible to return to +the island unless the wind changed, for the raft would only go before +it.</p> + +<p>The craft dived down and jumped up, and every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> wave swept completely +over it; but we had taken off our shoes and stockings, and rolled up our +trousers' legs, so that we suffered no inconvenience. The fresh breeze +carried us over in about half an hour, and the raft was thrown high and +dry on the beach, a quarter of a mile below the town.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST AND HIS COMPANIONS LAND AT CANNONDALE.</h3> + + +<p>We landed on the beach, put on our shoes and stockings, and walked +towards the village of Cannondale. It was still early in the +morning,—as people who lie abed till breakfast measure time,—and I was +quite confident that I should find the boats, if not the deserters from +our camp, at the town. The fact that none of the party were boatmen +assured me they could not have gone on to Parkville. The wind must have +brought them to Cannondale, and must have prevented them from leaving +it.</p> + +<p>We followed the beach from the point where we had landed until we came +to the steamboat pier, which was the usual landing-place for all boats.</p> + +<p>On the further side of the wharf, sheltered from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> the wind and the sea, +was our entire squadron, with the exception of the flat-boat.</p> + +<p>"We are all right now," said Bob Hale; and we broke into a run, and +hastened over to the point where the boats were secured.</p> + +<p>"Where do you suppose the deserters are?" asked Tom Rush.</p> + +<p>"Probably, as they didn't sleep any last night, they have gone to bed at +the hotel," I replied. "It will be a good joke for them, when they wake +up, to find they have had their labor for their pains."</p> + +<p>On the steamboat wharf there was a building used for the storage of +goods. Just as I was about to go down the steps at the foot of which the +Splash lay, with the row-boats made fast to her, a lame man came out of +the warehouse, and hailed us.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" he demanded, in no conciliatory tones.</p> + +<p>"I want this boat," I replied.</p> + +<p>"You can't have her," he added, decidedly.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because you can't."</p> + +<p>"That doesn't seem to be a very good reason," I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> answered, descending +the steps, and jumping into the Splash.</p> + +<p>"Do you hear what I say?" demanded he, in savage tones.</p> + +<p>"I do; I am not deaf, and you speak loud enough to be heard," I added, +as I proceeded to remove the stops from the mainsail, preparatory to +hoisting the sail.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to mind what I say, or not?" he shouted, in loud tones.</p> + +<p>"I am not."</p> + +<p>"That boat's in my charge, and you can't have her."</p> + +<p>"I don't care whose charge she is in. The boat belongs to me, and I +intend to have her."</p> + +<p>"Who are you?"</p> + +<p>"It doesn't matter who I am; but I take it any one has a right to his +own property, wherever he finds it."</p> + +<p>"Can you prove that the boat is your property?" asked he, in a milder +tone.</p> + +<p>"I can, but I shall not take the trouble to do so," I replied, with more +impudence than discretion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All I've got to say is, that you can't have that boat," added he, +angrily; and he came down the steps, and took position by my side in the +Splash.</p> + +<p>"Come aboard, fellows!" I called to my companions.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you claim these row-boats too—don't you?" said the lame man, +with a sneer.</p> + +<p>"I do not," I answered, concluding, under the circumstances, to go no +farther than the facts would warrant. "Those boats belong to the +Parkville Liberal Institute."</p> + +<p>"I know they do," growled the man, who seemed to be in doubt what to do.</p> + +<p>"Hoist the jib, Tom. If you wish to land, sir, now is your time," I +suggested to the intruder, as I picked up the heavy oak tiller of the +Splash.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with that tiller?" continued he, fixing his +eye fiercely upon me.</p> + +<p>"I am going to steer the boat with it," I replied. "If you wish to go +with us, I shall not object to your company."</p> + +<p>I saw that the man only wished me to bully and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> threaten him a little, +to induce him to pitch into me, though it was plain he did not like the +looks of the heavy tiller in my hand. I refrained from provoking him any +further than to persist in claiming possession of my boat.</p> + +<p>"You say this boat is yours," said he, after a moment of deliberation.</p> + +<p>"I do; if you need any proof, I will now refer to Mr. Leman, the grocer, +and Mr. Irwin, the provision-dealer; and if you belong on this wharf, +you must have seen me land from her more than once."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to quarrel with you," he added. "I know the boat very +well, and very likely I've seen you in her; but I don't remember. I live +close to the shore beyond the village, and I was waked up in the +night—it was about one o'clock, I guess—by a lot of boys hollering. I +got up, and found all these boats heaved up on the beach, and the boys +trying to get 'em off. I helped 'em a while, and then brought the boats +round here, for they would all got stove to pieces there."</p> + +<p>The man talked very well now, and I met him in the same spirit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The boys who got into the scrape ought to pay you for helping them +out," I replied.</p> + +<p>"I don't like to be turned out of my bed in the night to do such a job +for nothing."</p> + +<p>"You must make them pay you."</p> + +<p>"They said they would, or that the schoolmaster over to Parkville would, +for he sent them to look out for some boys who had run away."</p> + +<p>"Did they?" I replied, glancing significantly at Bob Hale, for this +acknowledgment implied that Mr. Parasyte had sent the deserters to do +the work they had accomplished. "But I don't see that we have anything +to do with the matter. If I were you, I would hold the other boats till +they paid me for my trouble."</p> + +<p>"I'll do that."</p> + +<p>"How much do they owe you?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know; they ought to give me a couple of dollars, I +think," replied the man.</p> + +<p>We passed a few words among ourselves, and Tom handed the man two +dollars.</p> + +<p>"That's to pay for saving this boat," said Tom. "We ought not to pay it, +for our boat was stolen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> from us; but you must collect as much more +before you let the other boats go."</p> + +<p>"Thank ye," replied the man, with a broad grin, indicative of his +satisfaction, as he took the money. "I spoke rather sharp to you at +first, because I thought you were going to take the boats without paying +for the job I did. I didn't mean nothing by it, and I hope you'll excuse +it."</p> + +<p>"It is all right."</p> + +<p>"You can take the other boats too, if you like," continued the man, +magnanimously.</p> + +<p>We concluded that we did not want them. They were of no service to us, +for with a south-west wind, I could work the scow over to Parkville; and +I intended to go in search of her in the Splash.</p> + +<p>"Did the fellows that came in these boats say anything to you about +where they came from?" asked Bob Hale of the man.</p> + +<p>"They told me all about it; but I knew something about it yesterday, for +the schoolmaster came over here in the steamer, inquiring after you. He +said you went to the Cleaver first, and then left—he didn't know where +you was now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mr. Parasyte here!" exclaimed Tom Rush.</p> + +<p>"He's at the hotel, and he's going to find you and bring you back +to-day," added the man, with a laugh. "You have done the handsome thing +by me, and I don't mind telling you all about it."</p> + +<p>We could scarcely believe that this was the man who had been so intent +upon quarrelling with us; but it seemed he supposed we were the same +boys who had come in the boats, and intended to cheat him out of his +money for the job he had done.</p> + +<p>"What is he going to do?" asked Bob Hale, rather excited.</p> + +<p>"He has engaged the Adieno, and is going to look for you."</p> + +<p>"The Adieno!" ejaculated Tom Rush.</p> + +<p>The Adieno was a small steamer, owned in Parkville and Cannondale, +employed in towing, conveying pleasure parties, and other uses on the +lake. She was lying at the other side of the steamboat pier, and the +smoke was already rolling out of her smokestack. Our informant did not +precisely know in what manner Mr. Parasyte intended to proceed;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> and we +could not ascertain whether he intended to bring off our party by force, +or to resort to some milder means to break up the camp; but we were very +grateful for the information we had obtained. By this time Mr. Parasyte +had learned from the deserters where we were.</p> + +<p>Our new-made friend, who, I think, had learned to respect me for the +decision with which I had answered him, went up the steps. As he did so, +he repeated his offer to allow us to take the other boats, which we +again declined.</p> + +<p>"He's coming!" said our new ally, as he reached the cap-sill of the +wharf.</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"The schoolmaster, and all them boys. Be in a hurry! He's close by."</p> + +<p>I ran the mainsail up, and cast off the fasts which secured the Splash; +but just as I had pushed off from the steps, Mr. Parasyte, attended by +the deserters, appeared on the wharf. The eyes of the latter opened wide +when they saw our party in the Splash, and it appeared to be a great +mys<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span>tery to them how we happened to be on the main shore, when they had +left us on the island without a boat or craft of any kind. We were +behind the wharf and building, so that the sails of the Splash did not +get the wind, and I told a couple of my companions to take the oars.</p> + +<p>"Stop, Thornton!" shouted Mr. Parasyte.</p> + +<p>"Hold on a minute, and let us hear what he has to say," said Bob Hale.</p> + +<p>We waited, looking up at the principal of the Parkville Liberal +Institute to hear what he had to communicate. Mr. Parasyte went down the +steps with the deserters, and they got into a couple of the row-boats.</p> + +<p>"We are ready to hear anything you have to say," called Tom Rush.</p> + +<p>"I simply wish to know whether you intend to compel me to use extreme +measures," said Mr. Parasyte, as, by his direction, Dick Pearl pushed +the boat in which they stood towards the Splash.</p> + +<p>"We will return to the Institute when you comply with the terms stated +by Henry Vallington," re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span>plied Bob Hale, as the bow of the row-boat came +up to the stern of our craft.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I did not clearly understand what that proposition was," said +Mr. Parasyte, as he turned and said something to Pearl which we could +not hear.</p> + +<p>Bob was going to restate the terms, when Pearl suddenly made fast the +painter of his boat to a ring in the stern of the Splash.</p> + +<p>"Only to hold her for a moment," said the principal, as he stepped into +the bow of the row-boat.</p> + +<p>We watched him closely. The other row-boat, in which six of the +deserters had taken their places, was also working up to the Splash. I +decided that we were getting into a scrape, and told my companions with +the oars to pull. They obeyed, and in a moment we caught the stiff +breeze; the Splash forged ahead, twitching the row-boat after it.</p> + +<p>"Hold on tight, Pearl!" said Mr. Parasyte, savagely, now indicating that +he meant war, and not peace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> + +<p>I dragged the boat half a mile from the shore, and then, in tacking, +gave it such a sudden twitch as to throw Mr. Parasyte, who was still +standing, off his balance, and he went over the side into the angry +waters.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST AND HIS FRIENDS ARE DISGUSTED WITH MR. PARASYTE'S +INGRATITUDE.</h3> + + +<p>It was very imprudent in Mr. Parasyte to stand up in a boat, while being +dragged through the water at such a rapid rate as the Splash was going. +I tried my best, before the accident, to detach the painter of his boat; +but Pearl had passed the rope through the ring, hauled it back, and made +it fast on the stem of his own craft. It was my intention to cut it as +soon as I came about, and I had taken out my knife for the purpose.</p> + +<p>When the Splash tacked, the row-boat ran up to her stern, slacking the +painter. As this was a favorable moment for Mr. Parasyte, who was +determined to "board" us, he was on the point of stepping forward. As +soon as the sails of our craft caught the breeze, she darted off again, +straightening the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> painter, and giving the principal's boat such a +fierce jerk, that it not only upset Mr. Parasyte, but heeled his boat +over so that she half filled with water.</p> + +<p>"Help! Help!" shouted Mr. Parasyte, in tones which convinced us that he +fully appreciated the perils of his position.</p> + +<p>"Let go your painter, Dick Pearl!" I shouted.</p> + +<p>"I can't; we are half full of water," replied he.</p> + +<p>It was useless to argue the point, and with the knife I had open in my +hand, I severed the half-inch rope, and permitted the row-boat to go +adrift. There was a heavy sea for an inland lake, and the row-boat made +very bad weather of it, in her water-logged condition.</p> + +<p>"Don't leave us, Thornton," said Dick, with what self-command he had, +while Bill Poodles, who was with him, actually blubbered with terror.</p> + +<p>"Sit down and bale out your boat!" I called to them, as I put the Splash +about to save Mr. Parasyte. "Keep cool and you are all right. Bale out +your boat!"</p> + +<p>"We have no dipper."</p> + +<p>When my boat had come about, I ran her close<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> to them, and tossed a +small bucket to Pearl, with which he went to work to free his boat from +water. The circumstances were by no means desperate, though Pearl was +the only fellow among them who appeared to have any self-possession.</p> + +<p>"Help! Help!" shouted Mr. Parasyte, more feebly than before.</p> + +<p>"Go forward, Bob, with the boat-hook; and stand by, Tom, to help him. +Let him get hold of the boat-hook."</p> + +<p>I swept round in the Splash, till I threw her up into the wind with Mr. +Parasyte under the bow. Bob Hale extended the boat-hook to him, which he +promptly grasped, and with some difficulty we hauled him on board. It +was a warm day in June, and I did not think him any the worse for the +bath he had taken; but I was perfectly satisfied that he would have been +drowned if we had left him to be rescued by Pearl and his party. We felt +that we had done a good thing—that we had rendered good for evil.</p> + +<p>For my own part, judging by what I should have felt in his situation, I +expected some conciliatory<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> proposition from him; and we waited, with no +little interest and anxiety, till he had wiped his face and neck, and +adjusted his damp linen as well as he could. He had the satisfaction of +knowing that I, the rebel, who had resisted him, and whom he regarded as +the author of all the mischief, had saved his life; and I am sure that +it was a greater satisfaction to me than it was to him. I ran the Splash +up towards the deserters, who were still employed in baling out their +boat.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte spoke at last. Though I knew he was a tyrant, though I knew +there was nothing that could be called noble in his nature, I did not +expect what followed. I supposed there was some impressible spot in his +heart which might have been reached through the act we had just done.</p> + +<p>"So you meant to drown me—did you?" were the first words he said, and +in a tone so uncompromising that we saw at once there was nothing to +hope.</p> + +<p>I looked at Bob Hale, and Bob looked at me. Our surprise was mutual; and +as there was nothing that could be said, we said nothing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You meant to drown me—did you?" repeated Mr. Parasyte, with more +emphasis than before.</p> + +<p>Bob and I looked at each other again. Grave as was the charge he +indirectly preferred against us, there was something so ludicrous in the +making of it by one whom we had just pulled out of the water, that I +could not help smiling. Mr. Parasyte saw that smile, and as he always +put the worst construction upon what was done by those not in favor, he +misinterpreted it, and tortured it into a sneer.</p> + +<p>"I say you meant to drown me; and you sneer at me."</p> + +<p>"We did not mean to drown you, sir," replied Tom Rush, respectfully.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you did! And now you are laughing at your wicked deed," he +replied, looking fiercely at me.</p> + +<p>"I was laughing, Mr. Parasyte, to think that one whom we have just +pulled out of the water should accuse us of attempting to drown him," I +replied.</p> + +<p>"That's what you meant to do; but you didn't dare to do it. You were +afraid of the consequences."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are mistaken, sir; we had no such intentions," added Bob Hale, with +due deference.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you, or didn't Thornton, throw me over into the lake?" demanded +he, as if surprised that we should attempt to deny the charge.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I did not," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you turn your boat, and jerk the painter so as to throw me into +the water?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly changed the course of my boat, and that jerked the rope; +but I did not intend to throw you into the water."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you did! It is worse than folly for you to deny it!" replied he, +angrily.</p> + +<p>"If you had not been very careless, you could not have been thrown out!" +I added.</p> + +<p>"Don't tell me I was careless!"</p> + +<p>"People acquainted with boats don't often stand up in them in such a sea +as this, when they are towed."</p> + +<p>"Let me hear no more of your impudence."</p> + +<p>Discretion lay in silence, and we said no more. I ran the Splash up +alongside the boat, from which Pearl and his companions had by this time +dipped out all the water.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Here is your boat, Mr. Parasyte," said Bob Hale. "Will you get into +her, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No, I will not," he replied.</p> + +<p>"May I ask what you intend to do, sir?" I demanded, out of patience with +him, in his unreasoning malice.</p> + +<p>"You will take me to the shore."</p> + +<p>"I will not," I replied, bluntly.</p> + +<p>"You won't!"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"We'll see," said he, rising to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Better sit down, sir, or you will be overboard again," interposed Bob, +as I drew the heavy tiller from its socket, intending to defend myself +from assault.</p> + +<p>The Splash lay with her sails shaking, and her position was a very +uneasy one. Mr. Parasyte concluded to sit down, simply because he could +not stand up, and I restored the tiller to the rudder.</p> + +<p>"If you don't choose to get into that boat, Mr. Parasyte, I will land +you at Cleaver Island," I added, as I filled away again, and headed the +Splash towards the point indicated.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thornton, I want you to understand, that for all you have done you +shall be brought to a strict account," said the principal, sternly, but +vexed that he had failed to have his own way.</p> + +<p>"I am ready to face the music, sir."</p> + +<p>"No slang to me!"</p> + +<p>"Will you land on Cleaver Island, or will you get into that boat?"</p> + +<p>"I will get into the boat, but only that I may the sooner bring you to +justice," said he, desperately.</p> + +<p>I came about again, and ran alongside of Pearl's boat. Mr. Parasyte, +still dripping from his bath, embarked with his toadies.</p> + +<p>"The end is not yet," said he, shaking his head, as the Splash filled +away once more. "You will soon hear from me again."</p> + +<p>We made no reply; and I was profoundly grateful that his life had been +saved. My high hopes that what we had done for him might enable him to +yield with better grace, and thus end the "breaking away," were dashed +to the ground. With the wind on the beam, we ran by Cannondale, and +stood down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> the lake near the shore, in search of the flat-boat, though +it would be impossible for us to work her over to the island with the +wind from the north-west.</p> + +<p>"It is no use of talking any more," said Bob Hale, after a silence of +several minutes. "I can never go back to the Parkville Institute while +Mr. Parasyte is the principal of it. He is too mean a man for me to sit +under."</p> + +<p>"My sentiments exactly," replied Tom Rush.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I shall not go back, whoever is principal," I added.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"I must take care of myself after this; and I can't afford to go to +school."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps your uncle will think better about it," suggested Tom.</p> + +<p>"He may, but I don't believe he will."</p> + +<p>"There's the flat-boat!" exclaimed one of our party forward.</p> + +<p>"I see her; when the wind hauls round to the southward or eastward, we +will come over, and work her back to the island," I replied. "She looks +com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span>fortable where she is, and we will return to our party."</p> + +<p>In a short time the Splash reached the cove, where we found all our +company assembled to learn the news, for they had observed our movements +on the water. Vallington was much surprised when he learned that Mr. +Parasyte was the person who had fallen overboard, and been rescued by +the Splash. We told him what our persecutor intended to do with the +steamer, and a council was immediately called to decide upon our proper +course.</p> + +<p>"What shall we do?" asked our general. "That's the question."</p> + +<p>"I don't see that we can do anything," answered Bob Hale.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it will be best for us to keep still, and let things take their +course," added Vallington.</p> + +<p>"But Mr. Parasyte will carry off our tents and provisions," I +interposed. "Can't we conceal our hams and other eatables."</p> + +<p>"There comes the steamer!" shouted one of the boys.</p> + +<p>"There isn't time now to do anything," continued<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> Vallington. "I will do +the best I can for you, fellows."</p> + +<p>Some proposed one thing, and some another; but it was plain that, in the +multitude of advisers, nothing could be adopted which promised to help +our prospects; and it was finally voted to leave the course of action +entirely to our general, who had thus far proved himself worthy of +confidence. He was to be guided entirely by circumstances; and he +assured us he would be prompt to take advantage of any favorable event.</p> + +<p>"Now, fellows, I want you all to keep together," said Vallington. "Don't +one of you wander away from the rest. Leave all the talking to me—don't +say a word to any one who comes in the steamer."</p> + +<p>Our whole company promised to obey these instructions to the letter, and +to be in readiness for any movement which might be ordered. The steamer +ran up to the rude pier, and made fast her bow-line to a tree.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST TAKES THE WHEEL OF THE ADIENO.</h3> + + +<p>We watched with intense interest the proceedings of the men who came off +in the steamer. After the exhibition of meanness on the part of Mr. +Parasyte, it seemed that the rebellion was more serious than any of us +had supposed. We made up our minds, with Bob Hale, that it would be +impossible for us ever to be reconciled to him again. We felt as though +the Rubicon had been passed, and what had commenced as a mere frolic was +likely to end as a very grave affair. Though the boys talked solemnly at +first about their rights, and had "struck" to vindicate a principle, +they had no idea of the seriousness of their proceedings.</p> + +<p>I shall not pretend to justify all that was done by our boys, or even to +acknowledge that "breaking away," under any circumstances, is +justifiable; but I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> do say, that such a man as the principal of the +Parkville Liberal Institute was not a fit person to instruct and +discipline young men. He was grossly unjust and partial; he was a tyrant +at heart, though for policy's sake he veiled his purposes; he was +low-minded and narrow in his views; and I am happy to say that he was +not a fair specimen of the teachers of our land.</p> + +<p>If the boys were wrong, he was so to a much greater degree, and his +position and his influence made him responsible for the mischief he had +driven the boys to perpetrate. It would have been better for them, as a +body, to submit until redress could be obtained in a better way—as by +the circular addressed to their parents, which was even then in the +hands of the printer. I palliate, I do not justify, the conduct of the +students.</p> + +<p>Matters had begun to assume a graver aspect. Mr. Parasyte had come with +a steamer, and with about a dozen men, as nearly as we could judge, to +accomplish some purpose not yet apparent to us. We were curious to know +whether we were to be driven like sheep on board of the Adieno, or +whether our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> persecutor intended to resort to strategy. He had sent off +his toadies to take our boats away; but he had started them while we +were upon Cleaver Island, and before we had laid in our stock of +provisions. This plan had failed. We were not long left in doubt.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte stepped on shore, followed by nine men, and then by the ten +deserters from our camp. The men had sticks, bits of rope, and other +articles in their hands. This looked like force, and we could not help +glancing anxiously at Vallington, to ascertain, if we might, whether he +intended to fight or to run away. We had no clubs or other weapons, but +the pile of sticks which we had gathered for fuel was near. I saw the +general glance at it; but I concluded that he did not intend to give +battle, unless it was in self-defence.</p> + +<p>As soon as the party under the lead of Mr. Parasyte had landed, the man +who was left on board as boat-keeper hauled in the plank, by Mr. +Parasyte's order, apparently to prevent the students from going on her +deck. I could not but smile at this precaution, for the Adieno lay in +such a position that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> removal of the plank was no hinderance to +agile boys like the students, and we could go on board when we chose.</p> + +<p>Vallington stood on a stump near the path leading from the pier to the +interior of the island, and his forces were gathered behind him, leaving +the road open for the passage of the invaders.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte marched solemnly up the path, closely followed by the men +and boys of his party. He looked uglier than I had ever seen him look +before. By this time he must have been convinced that the Institute was +ruined; that such a host of rebels could never be reduced to subjection; +and he appeared to be acting out of the malice of his heart. But even +then something was due to appearances, and he halted opposite the stump +on which our general stood.</p> + +<p>"Vallington!" said he, sharply and crustily.</p> + +<p>"Sir."</p> + +<p>"If you choose to go on board of that steamer, return to the Institute, +and submit to the punishment you deserve, it is not too late for you to +do so," continued Mr. Parasyte.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you allude to me alone?"</p> + +<p>"To all of you. I understand you to speak for the whole party."</p> + +<p>"We shall be happy to do so," replied our general; and I am sure he +spoke the sentiment of all the students.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see you are returning to reason," added the principal; but +there was a look upon his face which showed how much pleasure he +expected to derive from the proposed punishment.</p> + +<p>"May I ask whether we are to be punished equally?" asked Vallington.</p> + +<p>"You are to be punished in proportion to your offences—the ringleaders +more, of course, than those who were simply led away by the influence of +their leaders."</p> + +<p>"And we are to be punished only for this breaking away?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte bit his lips. It is possible he had a hope of restoring the +Institute to its former condition.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you," said he.</p> + +<p>"Is Thornton to be regarded as guilty only of breaking away, with the +rest of us?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thornton's affair is to be settled by itself," replied Mr. Parasyte.</p> + +<p>"Then I have nothing more to say, sir," added Vallington, with becoming +dignity.</p> + +<p>I interposed, and begged him not to consider me, but to make terms if he +could, and permit me to settle my own affair. Bob Hale and Tom Rush +protested; but no protest was needed to keep Vallington true to his +purpose.</p> + +<p>"You reject my terms, Vallington," said Mr. Parasyte.</p> + +<p>"I do, sir."</p> + +<p>"I wish to do what I can to end this unhappy disturbance, and I am +willing to say that the punishment shall be very mild—if you will +return to your duty."</p> + +<p>"You have treated one of our number with shameful injustice, Mr. +Parasyte. We can prove, and have proved, that he was not guilty of the +charge brought against him. If you will do him justice, and through him +all the rest of us, we will submit to such punishment as you think +proper for breaking away."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thornton!" exclaimed Mr. Parasyte, with a malignant sneer. "Do you +expect me to receive the forced confession of Poodles and Pearl?"</p> + +<p>"The confession was not forced, sir."</p> + +<p>"Come here, Poodles," said the principal, sharply.</p> + +<p>Poodles stepped forward.</p> + +<p>"Did you make this confession?" demanded Mr. Parasyte, sternly.</p> + +<p>"I did—but I was afraid the fellows would kill me if I didn't do it," +whined the toady.</p> + +<p>"Do you hear that?"</p> + +<p>"I hear it, and do not wonder at anything he says," replied Vallington.</p> + +<p>Pearl told the same story; but our general protested that no compulsion +had been used by the students; that two boys who were charged with +deception were not to be believed in preference to eighty others. +Vallington proposed that the case should be heard over again, and +Poodles required to perform the examples. The principal was indignant, +and refused all compromise.</p> + +<p>"Thornton is not only guilty, but this very day he attempted to drown me +in the lake," said he. "Do you think I can forgive him, without—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We don't ask you to forgive him, and he does not ask it. We only wish +you to give him a fair trial."</p> + +<p>"I will hear no more about it!" replied Mr. Parasyte, impatiently. "Will +you return or not?"</p> + +<p>"We will not."</p> + +<p>"Very well. I wish every one here to understand that I have given you an +opportunity to return to your duty. You will not, and the consequences +be upon yourselves."</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte walked up the path, followed by his party. As Pearl and +Poodles passed us, a suggestion was made that we seize upon them, and +punish them for the falsehoods they had uttered, and the meanness of +which they had been guilty; but this proposition was promptly negatived +by Vallington. We wondered what the invaders intended to do, and whether +our general purposed to let them proceed without opposition. He stood +calm and apparently unmoved on the stump, watching the enemy.</p> + +<p>The principal halted his forces at the point where our provisions and +cooking utensils were kept. Every eatable, and every utensil, even to +the wooden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> forks and spoons we had made, were seized and conveyed to +the steamer. It was now clear that the enemy did not mean to use force, +unless we attacked them. Mr. Parasyte intended to deprive us of our +food, and starve us into subjection. But he was not satisfied yet; and +when his party had deposited their burden on the deck of the steamer, +and the plank had again been hauled in, he marched them by us once more.</p> + +<p>"We shall soon see how long you will be willing to stay here," said our +tyrant, as he walked by the stump. "As Thornton said to the man in +charge of the boats at Cannondale, this morning, I suppose I have a +right to my own property, wherever I find it."</p> + +<p>"We paid for the provisions with our own money," replied Vallington.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte made no reply, but continued on his way up the hill towards +the tents. These also he meant to take from us; and then, or in the +course of the day, he probably expected us to surrender, without +conditions. The prospect did not look pleasant, for we were to be +without food or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original text obscurred over this word">shelter</ins> on the island. I was thinking how to save the +Splash from capture, and I was about to suggest to Vallington that it +would be better for me to put off in her, when our general spoke for +himself.</p> + +<p>The invaders were busily employed in striking the tents, and rolling up +the canvas, about forty rods from where we stood. In a few moments they +would be ready to put them on board of the steamer.</p> + +<p>"Fellows," said Vallington, in a low and decided tone, "our time has +come! We will take possession of that steamer. I have no idea of being +starved into subjection. When I give the word, rush on board the best +way you can."</p> + +<p>"There's a man on her deck," said one of the boys; and we were all +appalled at the boldness of the venture.</p> + +<p>"Never mind him. Commodore Thornton, you will go to the wheel-house at +once, and take the helm."</p> + +<p>"Who will be engineer?" asked Tom Rush.</p> + +<p>"I will be that myself. Bob Hale, you will run<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> the Splash out from the +shore, and come on board when we are clear of the pier; take two good +fellows with you. Are you all ready?"</p> + +<p>"All ready!" replied the boys; and the voices of some trembled.</p> + +<p>"Forward then!" shouted Vallington; and he leaped from the stump, and +ran down to the wharf, followed by the whole company.</p> + +<p>Bob Hale got into the Splash with two boys, and pushed her off. The rest +of us leaped over the bulwarks, scrambled up to the hurricane deck, or +rushed in at the gangway. Vallington cast off the bow-line himself, just +as I reached the wheel-house.</p> + +<p>"Back her!" I shouted; and the word was passed through the boys to +Vallington, who had now gone to the engine-room.</p> + +<p>We were not a moment too quick, for just as the steamer began to back +from the pier, the invaders, laden with canvas and poles, appeared on +the wharf.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i005.jpg" width="500" height="384" alt="THE CAPTURE OF THE ADIENO.—Page 232." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE CAPTURE OF THE ADIENO.—Page 232.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST CONTINUES TO ACT AS PILOT OF THE STEAMER.</h3> + + +<p>When I reached the deck of the Adieno I met the person who was in charge +of the steamer. It was the lame man who had disputed my right to the +Splash in the morning, and to whom we had given two dollars. He looked +astonished at the sudden movement of the students, but he offered no +resistance; and, without waiting to hear what he had to say, I ran up +the ladder to the wheel-house, leaving Tom Rush to settle all questions +in dispute with him.</p> + +<p>My heart bounded with excitement as we carried out our desperate +enterprise, and I gave Henry Vallington credit for more daring and +courage than I had ever supposed him to possess. He seemed to me just +then to be a general indeed, and to be bet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span>ter fitted to fight his way +through an enemy's country than to become a parson.</p> + +<p>"Back her!" I shouted, almost beside myself with excitement, as I saw +Mr. Parasyte and his heavily-laden followers rushing down to the pier.</p> + +<p>My words were repeated by the boys on the forward deck, and Vallington +hastened to the engine-room. I heard the hissing steam as it rushed +through the cylinders, and without knowing what was going to happen +next,—whether or not the boiler would explode, and the deck be torn up +beneath me,—I waited in feverish anxiety for the result. Then I heard +the splash of the wheels; the crank turned, rumbled, and jarred on its +centre, but went over, and continued to turn. The Adieno moved, and the +motion sent a thrill through my whole being. It was fortunate for us +that she lay at the pier in such a position as to require no special +skill in handling her. The open lake was astern of her, with clear +sailing for two miles.</p> + +<p>I was not a steamboat man; I had never even steered any craft with a +wheel, and I did not feel at all at home. But I had often been up and +down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> the lake in this very steamer, and being of an inquiring mind, I +had carefully watched the steersman. It had always looked easy enough to +me, and I always believed I could do it as well as anybody else. I tried +to keep cool, and I think I looked cool to others; but I was extremely +nervous. I did not exactly know which way to turn the wheel.</p> + +<p>When I found there were no obstructions astern of the steamer, I brought +the flagstaff on the bow into range with the end of the pier,—or rather +I found them in range,—and with these to guide me, I soon learned by +experience which way to turn the wheel; and the moment I got the hang of +the thing, I had confidence enough to offer my services to pilot any +steamer all over the lake. The paddles kept slapping the water, and the +boat continued to back until she was a quarter of a mile from the land, +when I thought it was time to come about, and go forward instead of +backward. There were two bell-pulls on the wheel-frame, and at a venture +I pulled one of them. I did not know whether Vallington understood the +bells or not; but there was only one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> thing to be done in this instance, +and he did it—he stopped the machinery.</p> + +<p>After pausing a moment for the steamer to lose her sternway, I rang the +other bell, intending to have her go ahead; but the engineer did not +heed my summons. A moment afterwards Vallington appeared on the forward +deck, wiping from his brow the perspiration, which indicated that the +engine-room was a hot place, or that his mental struggles were very +severe.</p> + +<p>"What was that last bell for?" he asked, hailing me in the wheel-house.</p> + +<p>"To go ahead," I replied.</p> + +<p>"You haven't got the hang of the bells, commodore," said he, with a +smile; "but come down, and we will talk the matter over, and find out +what we are going to do."</p> + +<p>I went down to the forward deck, quite as anxious as any one else to +know what was to be done, for it seemed to me that we had "drawn an +elephant" as a prize. When I reached the deck, Vallington was writing +with his pencil, and handed me the paper as I joined him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Here are your directions, Mr. Pilot," said he.</p> + +<p>"I know the lake, but I never had any experience in a steamer," I +replied, in self-defence, as I read the paper, on which was written:—</p> + +<p><i>"One bell—ahead, slowly.</i></p> + +<p><i>Two bells—stop.</i></p> + +<p><i>Three bells—back.</i></p> + +<p><i>Four bells—ahead, full speed."</i></p> + +<p>"There are two bell-pulls in the wheel-house," I added.</p> + +<p>"You pulled the right one the first time; the other is for the men to +shift the chain-box," he replied. "Now, fellows, what shall we do? is +the next question."</p> + +<p>Nobody seemed to know what we were to do; and all were quite willing to +leave the question with our bold general.</p> + +<p>"Where is the lame man who had charge of the steamer?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I have fixed him," answered Tom Rush, with a significant smile.</p> + +<p>"How have you fixed him?"</p> + +<p>"I told him we should throw him overboard if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> he didn't keep quiet, and +gave him three dollars I picked up among the fellows."</p> + +<p>Tom was fit to be a member of the diplomatic corps—bully and bribe in +the same breath! Probably the lame man, who was only a deck hand, +employed but for that day, was not disposed to make any very active +opposition to our plans. At any rate, he sat on the chain-box as +contented as though everything was going on regularly on board of the +boat. Mr. Parasyte had pressed all hands into his service, even to the +captain and engineer, in bringing off the provisions and tents. I +suppose that it never occurred to the principal, or to the officers of +the boat, that a crowd of boys would attempt such a desperate enterprise +as the capture of the Adieno, or they would have taken some precautions +to avoid such an event. It is not strange that they did not think of +such a thing, for if it had been proposed to me beforehand, I should as +soon have thought of carrying off the island as the steamer.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte, the captain, and engineer stood on the edge of the pier. +The principal looked astonished and overwhelmed; the captain was +gesticu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span>lating violently to us; and the rest of the party looked like so +many statues. There was no remedy for their misfortune; they had no +boat, and could do nothing. Mr. Parasyte now had the same pleasant +prospect which he had spread out before us—that of staying on Pine +Island without food till some one came to his assistance. We hoped he +enjoyed it; and in the mean time we turned our attention to our own +immediate future.</p> + +<p>"Fellows, I am afraid we have got into a bad scrape," said Vallington, +again wiping his heated brow; and we could not help seeing that he did +not feel just right in view of what he had done.</p> + +<p>"All right; we will take our chances," replied one of the students; and +this was the prevailing sentiment.</p> + +<p>"Although I think we were right in the beginning, I am afraid we are +overdoing the matter. But what could we do?" continued our general, with +energy. "We couldn't stay on that island and be starved out. We paid for +the provisions with our own money, and they had no right to take them +from us."</p> + +<p>"No!" shouted the boys, indignantly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now we have the steamer; what shall we do with her?"</p> + +<p>"Let us go on a cruise," suggested Fred Mason.</p> + +<p>"I did not take possession of the boat with the intention of making any +use of her only to get away from the island while it was possible to do +so," replied Vallington.</p> + +<p>"O, let's have some fun in her, now we have got her," added Mason.</p> + +<p>"We are drifting over to Cannondale pretty rapidly, general," I +interposed. "We must go ahead, or we shall run ashore."</p> + +<p>"I don't exactly know what to do, or where to go," continued our +perplexed leader.</p> + +<p>"We must go ahead now, and settle that question by and by," I added.</p> + +<p>"Can you steer her, commodore?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Certainly I can. I understand the wheel now, and I know all about the +lake. If you can manage the engine, I can take care of the steering."</p> + +<p>"My brother is an engineer on a Hudson River boat, and I have spent many +a day with him in the engine-room. I think I understand the engine +pretty well," he replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let us go ahead then," said one of the impatient fellows.</p> + +<p>"We will start her again, commodore; and I wish you would take her to +some place where we can lie to, and decide upon our future course."</p> + +<p>"I will do so, general; but I don't think it will hurt those on the +island to wait a while," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Very well; we will go where you pilot us, commodore," added Vallington, +as he returned to the engine-room.</p> + +<p>Three of the students were sent down into the fire-room, after being +instructed in their duty by the general, who was careful to tell them +not to put too much wood in the furnaces. By this time the Splash had +come alongside, and was made fast to the stern. I invited Bob Hale and +Tom Rush to occupy the wheel-house with me, and I took my place at the +spokes.</p> + +<p>"What are we going to do?" asked Bob, who had not been present at the +conference on the forward deck.</p> + +<p>"That is not decided," replied Tom. "We are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> going to lie to somewhere, +and talk the matter over."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about this steaming it on the lake," added Bob, shaking +his head. "Suppose the boat should burst her boiler—where should we +be?"</p> + +<p>"No danger of that; Vallington knows all about engines, and the +commodore knows how to steer," said Tom, lightly.</p> + +<p>I struck one bell, after looking at the paper which Vallington had given +me, to make sure that I was right. In response to my signal, the wheels +began to turn, and the Adieno went "ahead slowly." I soon brought her to +bear on the helm, and finding I had the boat under perfect control, I +ventured to strike the four bells, which indicated that she was to "go +ahead, full speed."</p> + +<p>The steam was rather low in the boilers, and "full speed" I found was +not very rapid. The boat steered easily, and minded her helm so +promptly, that I soon became quite fascinated with my occupation. There +was something very exhilarating in the fact that I was directing the +course of what to me was an immense craft; and every time I moved the +wheel, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> saw the bow veer in obedience to her helm, it afforded me a +thrill of delight, and I wholly forgot the enormity of the enterprise in +which our party were engaged. I was so pleased with my employment that I +came very near devoting my life to the business of piloting a steamboat.</p> + +<p>I steered the Adieno to the northward, until she had passed clear of +Pine Island, when I put her head to the west, intending to run for a +couple of islands six miles down the lake, called "The Sisters."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST PILOTS THE ADIENO TO "THE SISTERS."</h3> + + +<p>"There comes the Champion!" exclaimed Bob Hale, pointing to the steamer +that regularly made her trip round the lake every day, as she came out +from behind a point of land on the north shore, beyond which she made a +landing.</p> + +<p>"We must give her a wide berth," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Why so? Her people will not know that it isn't all right with the +Adieno."</p> + +<p>"We are in no immediate danger; but suppose the captain of this boat +should find means to get to Cannondale before the Champion does, he +might engage her to go in pursuit of us."</p> + +<p>"That would be jolly!" said Tom Rush. "We should have a glorious race!"</p> + +<p>"But the chances are against us in a race," I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> replied, confounded by +the temerity of Tom in thinking of such a thing as contending with the +steamboat men on their own ground.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it, Ernest. The Adieno is the faster boat of the two—that +has been tried a dozen times," added Tom, as much excited as though the +race had actually commenced.</p> + +<p>"We must not attempt to beard the lion in his den."</p> + +<p>"Why not? We might as well be hung for an old sheep as a lamb. We are in +a scrape, and even Vallington thinks it is a bad one by this time. The +more advantage we gain, the better terms we can make."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about it, Tom. I feel as though we had carried this thing +about far enough, and the sooner we get out of the scrape, the better it +will be for us."</p> + +<p>"Those are my sentiments. My father is part owner in this boat, and I +think he will not enjoy the idea of our going off on a cruise in her," +added Bob Hale.</p> + +<p>"Pooh! we won't hurt her," replied Tom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We don't intend to hurt her; but we are following a business just now +that we don't know much about."</p> + +<p>"Don't you know the lake, and don't Vallington know all about the +engine?"</p> + +<p>"Neither of us has had any experience."</p> + +<p>"That's so," added Bob. "In my opinion breaking away is about played +out. We have made up our minds that we can't have anything more to do +with Mr. Parasyte, and we may as well return to Parkville, and go to +work in a more reasonable way. We can send the circulars to our parents, +and dig out of the difficulty the best way we can."</p> + +<p>"I agree to that," I answered. Not that I cared for myself, for my +"breaking away" was a much more serious matter than that of my +fellow-students; but I thought it better for them to get out of the mud +before they sank any deeper into the mire.</p> + +<p>"I am willing to do as the rest of the fellows do; but I don't want to +be whipped round a stump when there is no need of it," continued<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> Tom. +"If the Champion chases us, I go for keeping out of the way till we can +retire from the field without any broken heads."</p> + +<p>"So far I shall agree with you, Tom," I replied. "I am not in favor of +surrendering, to be kicked and cuffed by these steamboat men, who are +not exactly lambs in their dispositions."</p> + +<p>"What's the use of talking?" interposed Bob Hale. "The Champion is not +after us, and it does not appear that she will be."</p> + +<p>"It appears so to me," I answered. "I have no idea that the captain of +the Adieno will stay on Pine Island all day. I found a way to get ashore +this morning, and I think he will be able to do so."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he will."</p> + +<p>"I am perfectly satisfied that he will reach the shore by one o'clock, +if he has not already done so. No doubt he thinks his boat will be +smashed to pieces, or blown up, if he does not recover her soon. He +isn't going to sit down and bite his finger nails."</p> + +<p>"He may not be able to get the Champion," replied Bob Hale, who +evidently did not wish to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> believe that there would be a contest for +superiority between the two steamers.</p> + +<p>"I don't profess to be a prophet, Bob, but I can see through a millstone +when the hole is big enough. I will tell you just how I <i>think</i> it will +be. The captain of the Adieno will make a raft, and get to Cannondale. +Then he will take the Champion for Parkville, arriving about half past +one. The boat does not start on her trip down the lake till five +o'clock, and that will give her three hours and a half to spare. You may +take my word for it, that time will be used in chasing us."</p> + +<p>"Very likely you are right, Ernest; we shall see. It is twelve o'clock +now, and we haven't much time to consider what we shall do," said Bob +Hale, looking very serious; and it was evident now, if it had not been +before, that he had strong objections to any steamboat enterprises.</p> + +<p>"It's nearly dinner time," added Tom; "and I must go and see about the +provender."</p> + +<p>Bob Hale went below to have a talk with Vallington, and the commissary +left for the kitchen, to provide our noon rations. I was left alone in +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> wheel-house. I enjoyed my occupation very much; but the talk of my +friends had filled me with doubts and fears, so that my situation was +not so delightful as before. I could not help asking myself what was to +come out of this scrape, and it seemed to me that it could result in +nothing but defeat and disaster.</p> + +<p>The Adieno was approaching The Sisters, at one of which there was a +pier, like that at Pine Island, which had been erected for the use of +the scows employed in the transportation of the wood cut on the island. +I knew that the water around it was deep enough for the steamer, for I +had seen her land there. Between the two islands there was a channel not +more than twenty rods wide, by which alone the wood pier could be +reached.</p> + +<p>The channel had barely depth enough in the middle to permit the passage +of the Adieno; but as it was perfectly straight, and the water high in +the lake, I considered myself competent to take her through. The boat +minded her helm very prettily, and there was no current in the channel +to interfere with my calculations, so that I did not regard the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> place +as very difficult navigation. I had been through the channel twenty +times in the Splash. The pier ran out from the island to the deep water, +so that I had only to run the bow up to it, and make fast to the ring. +The steamer would be safe here, and, being concealed between the +islands, could only be seen from one point above and one below; and here +we could have our dinner, and hold our important consultation without +the danger of interruption.</p> + +<p>I had another and stronger motive for entering this channel, and without +which, perhaps, I might not have had the confidence to run even the +slight risk which the navigation of the passage involved. It was so +fully ground into my bones that the Champion would be after us about +three o'clock, or as soon as she had landed her passengers at Parkville, +that I wished to be fully prepared for any emergency. To the north of +the "North Sister," and to the south of the "South Sister," the water +was shoal for a mile in each direction, while the channel between the +islands seemed to have been kept open by the strong south-west and +north-east winds, as they forced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> the waters through. At any rate, there +was a channel with five feet of water in it, though I was not entirely +certain in regard to the explanation of the fact.</p> + +<p>The Champion was a larger boat, drawing one foot more water aft than the +Adieno, and therefore could not pass through the channel, or come within +half a mile of the wood pier. My idea was, that in this position we +could not be approached by our anticipated pursuer, as we lay moored at +the wharf. If chased, I might be able to gain on the Champion by running +through The Sisters Channel, which would enable me to come out two or +three miles ahead of her on the opposite side, as she would be obliged +to go a mile, north or south, to get round the shoal water.</p> + +<p>I was so pleased with the calculation I had made, that I could not help +wishing I was employed in a better cause than in fighting the battle of +a parcel of runaway students,—it would have been so exciting to play +the game of strategy in real earnest, and in a good cause. I plumed +myself just then on being a great navigator, and a shrewd calcula<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span>tor, +and I wished to test my plans. It so happened, however, that they were +tested, as the sequel will show.</p> + +<p>The Adieno approached the narrow channel, which was just as clearly +defined in my mind as though the bottom of the lake had been laid bare +to me; for I had always been obliged to keep in the deep water even when +I went through in the Splash. As the wind, though not so strong as it +had been in the morning, still came fresh from the north-west, I hugged +the weather side of the channel, and, with the boat at full speed, went +on my course. I was just on the point of ringing one bell to slow down, +when the steamer's wheels suddenly stopped.</p> + +<p>"What are you about, Thornton?" shouted Vallington, rushing out of the +engine-room to the forward deck, both excited and angry.</p> + +<p>"I'm all right!" I replied, provoked at his singular conduct in stopping +the boat at such a critical point.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going? Do you want to run us all ashore?"</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> don't, but I think <i>you</i> do. Go ahead, or we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> shall be aground in a +moment," I added, as the Adieno was losing her headway, and we were not +yet sheltered by the North Sister from the force of the wind.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going any farther into this hole," replied he, sternly. "I +think you are crazy, Thornton, to take the boat into such a place."</p> + +<p>"I know what I am about," I answered, rather sharply; "and if you will +take care of the engine, I will look out for the helm."</p> + +<p>"You'll smash the boat all to pieces—going into a little, narrow, dirty +channel at full speed."</p> + +<p>"I know the channel as well as I know my own name. If you will go ahead, +we shall be all right!" I shouted.</p> + +<p>"I won't go ahead any farther into this hole," said he, decidedly.</p> + +<p>"O, yes, go ahead," interposed Bob Hale. "Ernest knows what he is +about."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he does; but I want to know what he is about too. I don't want +the steamer smashed or injured."</p> + +<p>It was of no use for me to say anything more,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> and I held my tongue. The +Adieno had now entirely lost her headway, and as the strong wind began +to act on her top works, she drifted over to the lee side of the +channel. She grated a moment on the bottom, and then stuck fast, hard +aground, so far as I could judge.</p> + +<p>"There! now do you see what you have done?" shouted Vallington, stamping +his foot angrily upon the deck.</p> + +<p>"I see what <i>you</i> have done," I replied, as calmly as I could; and that +was not saying much, for I was very indignant at being charged with what +was plainly his doing.</p> + +<p>And there we were, hard and fast aground, with a tempest brewing between +the general and the commodore.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST TAKES COMMAND OF THE EXPEDITION.</h3> + + +<p>It was useless for me to remain any longer in the wheel-house, and I +descended by the forward ladder to the deck. I was indignant, but I was +determined to "face the music." The best of friends are liable to "fall +out" at times, and no better than Vallington and myself had ever +existed. He was burdened by the responsibility of the position he had +assumed, and perhaps did not feel just right about the course he had +taken. These things may have made him irritable. Though I had never +before known him to be unkind or uncourteous, he had certainly "pitched +into me," on the present occasion, in a manner which my self-respect +would not permit me to endure.</p> + +<p>I had been acting, in charge of the wheel, to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> best of my ability; +and I was perfectly confident that nothing would have gone wrong with +the steamer if the engineer had not stopped the wheels. However I felt +on the general question of duty, I was quite satisfied that I had been +faithful to the interests of the expedition upon which we had embarked; +and I could not bear to be "snapped up," and treated like an inferior in +knowledge and skill, even by my chosen leader. I was "chief of +navigation," at least; and I felt that the general had interfered with +my part of the work. He accused me of causing the mischief, when he had +been the author of it himself; and this was so plain to me that I could +not help resenting it.</p> + +<p>Very likely my face was flushed with anger and excitement when I +confronted Vallington on the forward deck. If it was, his was not less +so, and there was a lively prospect of a "family quarrel." With my +strong consciousness that I had done right, or, at least, intended to do +right, so far as our expedition was concerned, I could have afforded to +refrain from heated expressions; and it would have been better if I had +done so. It is no reason, because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> one person gets mad, that another +should. It is more dignified, manly, and Christian for one always to +control his temper. Let the truth be spoken forcibly, if need be, but +kindly.</p> + +<p>"We are in for a pretty scrape now," said Vallington, sternly and +angrily, as I walked up to him.</p> + +<p>"It isn't my fault if we are," I answered, sharply.</p> + +<p>"Why do you say it isn't your fault, Thornton? Didn't you pilot the +steamer into this hole?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't pilot her aground. When you stopped her there were two or +three feet of water under her keel."</p> + +<p>"What did you bring her in here for? If I hadn't stopped her when I did, +you would have smashed her up."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I should," I answered with a sneer, when I found it was +impossible to make any headway against the general's unreasonable +speech.</p> + +<p>"You were going at full speed; and it is lucky I happened to see the +shore and stop her when I did."</p> + +<p>"I have nothing more to say," I replied, seating myself on the rail of +the steamer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't think there is much more to be said. Here we are, hard aground; +and anybody that has a mind to come after us can take us."</p> + +<p>I made no reply. Vallington went to the gangway and looked over into the +shallow water. Then he walked over to the other side, and I had no doubt +our situation looked hopeless to him. After he had walked about a while, +his anger abated; and perhaps he was conscious that he had been too fast +in expressing himself.</p> + +<p>"What's to be done? That's the next question," said he.</p> + +<p>"I suppose nothing can be done," replied Tom Rush, who was more +disappointed than any other fellow on board. "They say the Champion will +be down after us this afternoon. Perhaps she will drag us off, and then +our tyrants will treat us as they think proper."</p> + +<p>"You needn't disturb yourselves about the Champion," I interposed. "She +can't come within half a mile of us at least."</p> + +<p>"Is that so?"</p> + +<p>"That is so."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It doesn't make much difference whether she can or not. We must stay +here till some one helps us out of the scrape," added Vallington. "It +was stupid to come in here."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so," said Bob Hale, decidedly.</p> + +<p>"Here we are aground, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Harry," continued Bob, gently and kindly, "I think Ernest was right in +what he said. If you hadn't stopped the engine, we should have gone +through well enough."</p> + +<p>Vallington bit his lips, and he and Bob walked aft together. They were +absent a few moments; and when he returned, the general's face wore a +different expression.</p> + +<p>"Thornton, I acknowledge that I was wrong," said he, extending his hand +to me.</p> + +<p>The boys standing around us immediately began to clap their hands in +token of their satisfaction. In matters of navigation they were more +willing to believe in me than in Vallington; and probably most of them +were satisfied that I had been in the right.</p> + +<p>"Don't say another word," I replied, jumping down from my seat, and +grasping his offered hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You will excuse my hasty language," he continued.</p> + +<p>"Certainly; and I ask the same favor of you," I replied.</p> + +<p>"I irritated you, commodore, by my unreasonable words, and I am willing +to bear all the blame."</p> + +<p>"You don't deserve it all."</p> + +<p>If Vallington had been less noble and manly, we might have had a bad +quarrel; as it was, our differences were promptly healed.</p> + +<p>"Now, what's to be done, commodore?" the general proceeded. "I have got +you into the scrape; but I hope you will be able to get out of it."</p> + +<p>"I think I shall," I replied, confidently.</p> + +<p>"They say we are to be chased by the Champion this afternoon; but just +now we don't seem to be in condition to be chased even by a scow."</p> + +<p>"We are not very hard aground; we only drifted on the shoal bottom; and +if I mistake not, we can work her off. So far as the Champion is +concerned, I am satisfied she will be after us as soon as she has landed +her passengers at Parkville; but that will not be for a couple of hours +yet."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then you really expect her."</p> + +<p>"I certainly do; and when we float again, I don't care how soon she +comes. I came into this place, which you call a hole, general, simply to +get ready for the Champion; for she draws too much water to pass through +this channel."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's a double proof that I have wronged you, and I am all the +more sorry for my unkindness."</p> + +<p>"Don't mention that again, Vallington," I replied, touched by his +magnanimity.</p> + +<p>"Fellows," said Vallington, turning to the boys, "I resign my commission +as general-in-chief of this expedition."</p> + +<p>"No, no!" shouted the students.</p> + +<p>"We are on the water now, and it is more proper that the commodore +should have the entire command. When we are on shore again, I will +resume my office. I will obey all the commodore's orders now, and the +rest of you will do the same."</p> + +<p>I protested, but the general insisted. We finally agreed to the +proposition, and for the time I became the commander of the expedition. +Our first business was to float the steamer. Vallington went back to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +the engine-room, and I resumed my place at the wheel. I rang to back +her, and the paddles slapped the water furiously for a time, but without +producing any effect. The steamer had taken the ground harder than I +supposed. She had run her bow upon the gradual slope of the bottom till +the wheels were powerless to move her.</p> + +<p>The boys looked at one another in blank dismay, and seemed to feel just +as though the enemy were to "bag" them, as a sportsman does the game he +has brought down. I did not despair yet. From the wheel-house I had +surveyed the surroundings, and a plan had occurred to me by which I +hoped to work the Adieno out of her uncomfortable position.</p> + +<p>"No go," said Vallington, as we met together on the main deck.</p> + +<p>"Not yet; but we won't give it up. The bow had dug into the bottom more +than I supposed. We must carry a line ashore, and make fast to one of +those trees; then I think we can pull her off."</p> + +<p>Bob Hale, with two others, was sent ashore on the North Sister in the +Splash, carrying the end of a long rope. When he had secured it to a +large<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> tree on the shore, I took the other end, the line passing through +a round hawse-hole forward, and conveyed it aft to the shaft. After +winding it four or five times round the shaft, I told the boys to haul +it taut; and about twenty of them laid hold of the rope to "take in the +slack," if we were fortunate enough to obtain any.</p> + +<p>"Bully for you," said Vallington, as he comprehended my arrangement.</p> + +<p>"If the rope don't break, something will come," I replied.</p> + +<p>I had been obliged to join several ropes, in order to form one long +enough; but having carefully avoided "granny knots," I hoped it would +hold. The bearing of the line was at the hawse-hole, near the bow of the +boat; and as the power was applied to the rope by turning the wheel and +shaft, the tendency was to haul the forward end of the boat off the +ground into the deeper water.</p> + +<p>"All ready now, Vallington," I continued, when the preparations were +completed. "Back her slowly."</p> + +<p>He started the engine, as I directed.</p> + +<p>"Haul taut on that rope!" I shouted to the boys at the line.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span></p> + +<p>The wheels turned, and the shaft revolved. The rope groaned and +strained.</p> + +<p>"Stop her!" I added to the engineer, afraid to risk the strain. "Run aft +the chain-box."</p> + +<p>My orders were obeyed; and as the boat floated at her stern, the weight +of the chain-box was sensibly felt.</p> + +<p>"Back her slowly again," I continued.</p> + +<p>Again the rope groaned and strained as though too much was expected of +it.</p> + +<p>"She starts!" cried the boys forward. "She is coming off!"</p> + +<p>I heard the keel scraping upon the bottom; and as the rope wound up, the +Adieno slid off into the deep water.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" shouted the boys.</p> + +<p>"Let go the rope!" I called to the boys aft. "Stop her, Vallington."</p> + +<p>I hastened up to the wheel-house, the better to work her. I found she +lay in good position to go ahead, and I shouted to Bob Hale to cast off +the rope from the tree, directing the boys on the forward deck to haul +it on board. I rang one bell,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> and the boat moved ahead slowly towards +the wood pier. The boys cheered lustily, and were overjoyed at our good +fortune in getting out of the scrape. In a few moments I ran the bow of +the steamer up to the pier, and she was made fast to the ring.</p> + +<p>"Now we are all hunky-dory," said Tom Rush, who was rather given to +"expressions," and who was overjoyed to find there was still a chance +for an excitement.</p> + +<p>"Not quite," I added.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter now?"</p> + +<p>"We want some dinner."</p> + +<p>"You shall have it in half an hour."</p> + +<p>And while Tom was superintending the cooking, Vallington, Bob Hale, and +myself had a consultation in the wheel-house.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST ENGAGES IN AN EXCITING STEAMBOAT RACE.</h3> + + +<p>"If you ask for my opinion," said Bob Hale, "I say we had better return +to Parkville at once, and not wait to be driven back."</p> + +<p>"It is easy enough for you to say that," replied Tom Rush, who had +joined us. "You live there, and all you have to do is to go home; but +what are the fellows who reside a hundred miles from there to do?"</p> + +<p>"They will not be any worse off there than they will be here. The +question is only between going back and being driven back," added Bob.</p> + +<p>"I suppose that we are to acknowledge that breaking away has been a +failure," said Vallington.</p> + +<p>"Not at all; I, for one, won't have any more to do with Mr. Parasyte," +answered Bob. "What do you say, Ernest?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I probably shall not go back to the Institute, whatever happens," I +replied. "My breaking away is not from school only, but from all the +home I ever knew. I have been thrown out upon the world, to take care of +myself."</p> + +<p>For a moment my friends seemed to forget that we were in council to +determine what should be done for the rebels in their sympathy for me; +but I assured them I was not at all concerned about myself, and felt +abundantly able to make my way without any help.</p> + +<p>"But what an old humbug your uncle is!" said Tom.</p> + +<p>"He is a strange man. He seemed to have turned me out because I +displeased him in resisting Mr. Parasyte's injustice. He is afraid my +conduct will lessen the value of his mortgage on the Parkville Liberal +Institute."</p> + +<p>"I think Mr. Parasyte's conduct has lessened it," said Vallington. "But +all this is neither here nor there. What shall we do with this steamer?"</p> + +<p>"Take her back to Parkville, and leave her there," answered Bob.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What are the fellows to do?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Let them go back to the Institute, and lie back till something +happens."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe anything will happen this year," laughed Tom, who was +always light-hearted in any emergency.</p> + +<p>"Now, I think something will happen within a few days. I know that +certain persons in Parkville, who have long been dissatisfied with Mr. +Parasyte, intended to have a change months ago; and if I mistake not, +this affair of ours will bring matters to a head," said Bob.</p> + +<p>"What can they do? Mr. Parasyte is as obstinate as a mule, and owns the +Institute himself," added Vallington.</p> + +<p>"Not quite; my uncle will own the most of it if his note isn't paid," I +interposed.</p> + +<p>"I am not at liberty to tell even what I know, which is not much; but I +believe something will turn up which will put things right at the +Institute. All we have to do is to go back to Parkville and make our +peace with the steamboat folks the best way we can," continued Bob.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span></p> + +<p>We all agreed that the steamboat enterprise was a bad affair for us; but +we were just as unanimous in the opinion that we could not have done +otherwise than take her as we did. It was mean of her captain to lend +himself and his boat to such a man as Mr. Parasyte. We could not stay on +Pine Island without food and without shelter. But we hoped to return the +Adieno uninjured, and, through the powerful influence of Bob Hale's +father, who was the wealthiest man in the county, to escape without any +serious consequences. It was decided, therefore, to return to Parkville +just as soon as we had eaten our dinner.</p> + +<p>Tom Rush's cooks were either very dilatory, or they had not got the hang +of the steamer's kitchen, for we had to wait an hour for the meal. We +dined in the cabin, where we found everything we needed to set the +table; and in spite of the desperate condition of our affairs, we +enjoyed ourselves very much. Some one ventured to inquire if we could +not charter the Adieno for a week, and finish our breaking away in her, +it would be so pleasant to live on board, and cruise up and down the +beau<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span>tiful lake. But it was satisfactorily shown that our finances, +however they might be improved by letters from home, would not warrant +such a piece of extravagance.</p> + +<p>This was the last day of the breaking away, at least on the lake and in +camp, and we were disposed to make the most of it. As soon as it was +announced that we were to return to Parkville, though some of the +students murmured, and wished to make a trip down the lake before we +went back, the plan was accepted, and the boys were disposed to improve +the remainder of the cruise. They persisted in enjoying it; and before +the boat left the wood pier, they were skylarking and training as though +the future would require no account to be rendered of their past +conduct.</p> + +<p>Vallington went to the engine-room, and directed the boys below to start +up the fires. With Bob Hale I went to the wheel-house; while Tom Rush, +as he had been directed by our chief, had all the dishes washed, and +everything put in order in the cabin and kitchen, for we wished to leave +the boat in as good condition in every respect as we found her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Cast off the fasts!" I called to the boys on the forward deck, when +Vallington informed me that he had steam enough.</p> + +<p>"All clear!" replied those who were doing duty as deck hands.</p> + +<p>I rang to back her; and when the bow of the Adieno was clear of the +wharf, I started her forward slowly; and keeping her in the middle of +the channel, she passed in safety out into the broad lake.</p> + +<p>"We are too late; we ought to have gone before," said Bob, impatiently. +"There comes the Champion. I was certain she would be after us—as +certain as you were. What shall we do?"</p> + +<p>I headed the Adieno down the lake when I saw the Champion—that is, away +from Parkville.</p> + +<p>"We must take our chances; we can't do anything else," I replied to Bob, +as I threw the wheel over.</p> + +<p>"But you are not headed for Parkville."</p> + +<p>"Not yet; for I don't mean to be captured."</p> + +<p>"How can you help it?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I can't help it; but I can try."</p> + +<p>I notified Vallington through the speaking-tube that the Champion was in +sight, and headed towards us.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We mustn't let her overtake us, if we can help it. I will put on the +steam," he replied.</p> + +<p>"All right; I can keep out of her way," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Why not surrender?" said Bob, who stood at my side watching the +Champion.</p> + +<p>"Surrender!" I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Why not? What harm will it do?"</p> + +<p>"I have no idea of throwing myself into the hands of those steamboat +men. Don't you see the Champion is full of men?"</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose they would harm us?"</p> + +<p>"I do. No doubt Mr. Parasyte is on board, and he will give them liberty +to maul us as much as they please."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right; I didn't think of Mr. Parasyte's being with +them."</p> + +<p>"Of course he is; and I think we can make better terms by fighting it +out. For my own part, I would run the steamer ashore and take to the +woods, rather than give myself up to Mr. Parasyte and such a gang as he +has now."</p> + +<p>Bob did not fully agree with me, though he thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> we had better get +back to Parkville, if we could. This was not an easy matter, for the +Champion lay between us and our destination, and could cut us off if we +attempted to pass her. She could run up alongside of the Adieno, if we +attempted to dodge her, and throw her men on our decks.</p> + +<p>The Sisters lay near the middle of the lake, and the Champion must go to +the north or to the south of them. I made a blunder; I ought to have +waited at the end of the channel until our pursuer had reached his most +southern or most northern point in coming round the shoal, and then gone +off in the opposite direction; but even then he might have put about, +and headed us off. It was hard to decide what to do, and I continued to +go to the westward until the Champion, which had chosen the southern +passage, was due south of The Sisters, when I stood away to the +northward.</p> + +<p>But the pursuer "had me;" and finding it was useless to attempt to get +by her, I headed the boat down the lake again. The Champion then crowded +on all steam and chased us. This was exactly what I wished her to do, +and I led her five miles down the lake.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know about it, Ernest," said Bob, shaking his head. "I think +she will catch us. This boat is the fastest, but we don't understand her +well enough to make her do her best."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid of that; but don't talk to me, if you please, now," I +replied.</p> + +<p>I led the Champion to the northward of an island at this point; and here +her captain made a blunder, which restored to me the advantage I had +lost before. When the Champion was well by the island, I turned the +Adieno to the southward, and went round the island, which prevented our +pursuer from cutting us off, and saving any of the distance, as he might +have done, in the open lake.</p> + +<p>"There, Bob, I have done it now, and I am satisfied," I said. "She can't +cut us off, and it will be a square race up the lake."</p> + +<p>"The Champion is gaining on us every moment," replied Bob.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i006.jpg" width="500" height="396" alt="THE RACE BETWEEN THE ADIENO AND THE CHAMPION.—Page 275." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE RACE BETWEEN THE ADIENO AND THE CHAMPION.—Page 275.</span> +</div> + +<p>The other steamer was certainly overhauling us. The superior skill of +the men in charge of her gave them the advantage. I told Vallington of +the fact, and soon the roaring of the furnaces and the creak<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span>ing of +the boat assured me he was in earnest. But in spite of his renewed +exertions, the Champion was gaining a little, and I was sure that she +would overtake us long before we could reach Parkville. I headed her for +The Sisters, therefore, determined to put in force the plan I had +devised before dinner. I ran directly for the channel, and the Champion +followed.</p> + +<p>The pursuer was almost upon us when we came within a quarter of a mile +of the end of the channel. Both boats were shaking and trembling under +the high pressure of steam, and every fellow on board the Adieno was in +a fever of excitement.</p> + +<p>"Crowd her, Vallington!" I shouted through the tube.</p> + +<p>"The Champion's bow is within ten feet of us!" exclaimed Bob.</p> + +<p>"Stop her, you villains!" cried the captain of the boat from the bow of +the Champion.</p> + +<p>"Give it to her, Vallington! In two minutes more we are safe!" I yelled +through the tube.</p> + +<p>"She is almost upon us!" said Bob, tremulously.</p> + +<p>At that moment we heard the engine bell of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> Champion ring, as the +Adieno approached the narrow channel. Her wheels stopped, and she began +to back vigorously.</p> + +<p>"Give them three cheers!" I called to the students, as the pursuer +backed out; and they were given with a will.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST PILOTS THE ADIENO TO PARKVILLE.</h3> + + +<p>The Champion could not pass through the narrow and shoal channel between +The Sisters, and my calculation had been correct. I was so elated at the +victory that I could not refrain from calling for the cheers, though it +was bad policy for us to crow over such rivals. A moment before, the +nerves of all on board of the Adieno had been strained to their utmost +tension by the exciting peril of the moment. The bow of our pursuer had +actually lapped over the stern of our steamer, and we expected the +captain of the Adieno, who stood on the rail, holding on to an awning +stanchion, would leap on board of us, after he had bawled himself hoarse +in ordering us to stop.</p> + +<p>The pilot of the Champion was evidently the coolest man in the steamer, +and he had run her to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> very mouth of The Sisters Channel; but he +knew that she could not go through, and at the last practicable instant, +he had "stopped" and "backed," leaving the victory with us. It was a +tremendous relief when the pressure was removed from our overstrained +nerves; and never were cheers given more enthusiastically, even madly, +than those which saluted the people of the Champion at the dawn of our +triumph.</p> + +<p>The Adieno had entered the narrow channel, and I doubt not her appalled +captain on the deck of the other boat expected to see her "take the +ground" and be smashed to pieces. The moment I saw the pursuer was +backing out, I rang to stop her, and then to go ahead slowly; for I had +no more idea of smashing her than I had of smashing my own head.</p> + +<p>"Silence, now!" I shouted to the boys on deck, who were still yelling to +the utmost capacity of their lungs; for I was afraid the noise might +drown the sound of the bell in the engine-room, in case I had occasion +to ring it.</p> + +<p>The students hushed up instantly. They had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> climbed upon the rails, and +secured other positions where they could obtain a view of our +discomfited pursuer; and a more excited and delighted set of fellows +never gathered on the deck of a steamer.</p> + +<p>"Have your eye on the Champion, Bob, and tell me what she does," said I +to my companion in the wheel-house; for I needed both of my own eyes to +keep the Adieno in the channel, where a slight mistake on my part would +have ruined all my plans, and perhaps the steamer in which we sailed.</p> + +<p>"I will," replied he.</p> + +<p>"What is she doing?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing."</p> + +<p>"Don't she move?"</p> + +<p>"No—she hasn't started yet. They probably expect us to go ashore before +we get through the channel."</p> + +<p>"Well, the longer she waits there, the better for us, for she can't come +through," I added.</p> + +<p>The Adieno passed safely through the channel, and came out into the +broad lake beyond The Sisters. I rang to go ahead at full speed again, +for we had now a clear run to Parkville before us.</p> + +<p>"The Champion has started her wheels again, Er<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span>nest," said Bob Hale, as +I rang the bell; "she is backing out of the inlet into the open lake."</p> + +<p>"All right—let her back. We have a good three miles the start of her, +and she can't catch us before we get to Parkville," I replied.</p> + +<p>I informed Vallington through the speaking tube in regard to the +situation, with which he was entirely satisfied. I asked him to keep the +boat moving at her best pace, assuring him, if he did so, that we were +perfectly safe from capture. In half an hour we passed Pine Island, with +the Champion, which did not appear to be straining herself, fully three +miles astern. I was afterwards told that the captain of the Adieno held +her back, fearing that if she crowded us again, we should run ashore, +burst the boiler, or otherwise damage his steamer.</p> + +<p>In an hour and a half after the passage of The Sisters Channel, we were +off the bluff, within half a mile of the steamboat pier, which we saw +crowded with people. It was plain that we had succeeded in creating an +excitement, and not a few of us had some <i>delicacy</i> about landing in the +presence of the multitude. The Champion still kept her relative distance +from us, and was now more than a mile beyond Cleaver Island.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Where shall we land?" I asked of Vallington through the tube, after Bob +and I had considered the matter a little.</p> + +<p>"Wherever you please, commodore," replied our chief.</p> + +<p>"What do you say, Bob?" I added, turning to my companion.</p> + +<p>"Can't we land at the boat pier, in front of the Institute?"</p> + +<p>"No; there isn't water enough to float the Adieno. In fact the only safe +place is the regular steamboat pier."</p> + +<p>"I suppose my father is there, and I don't like to meet him just yet," +replied Bob, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"We can anchor within a few rods of the Institute pier, and land in the +Splash," I suggested.</p> + +<p>"I like that better."</p> + +<p>"But the Splash would have to go three or four times to land the +fellows, and the Champion would be upon us before we could all get +ashore," I added.</p> + +<p>I stated the plan and the objections to Vallington.</p> + +<p>"Let us face the music like men," said he, decidedly.</p> + +<p>"I think that is the better way," I continued to Bob. "So far as we have +done wrong, let us acknowledge the corn, and take the consequences."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bob Hale assented, overcoming his modesty with an effort, and I headed +the Adieno for the steamboat pier. I think we all felt a little bashful +about landing in the presence of so many people. The students were +directed to make no noisy demonstrations of any kind, and to repair +directly to the school-room of the Institute, where Mr. Parasyte would +soon find us, and where we hoped to make a final adjustment of all the +difficulties.</p> + +<p>As we approached the pier, the boat was "slowed down," and the fasts got +ready for landing; and other work was done as regularly and properly as +though we were all old steamboat men. At the regular time, I stopped her +wheels, and she ran her bow up gently to the wharf, and the line was +thrown ashore. A couple of turns of the wheels backward brought the +Adieno to a stand-still, and our cruise was ended. Vallington let off +steam, and we formed in a body, intending to march ashore as compactly +as possible, in order to feel the full force of the bond of association.</p> + +<p>With Vallington at the head of the procession, we landed. Some of the +crowd hooted at us, others laughed, and a few steamboat owners berated +us<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> roundly. We heeded none of them, but made our way through the mob, +up the pier. Before we reached the street, it suddenly occurred to me +that I had left the Splash made fast to the stern of the steamer. I had +forgotten her in the exciting whirl of events. When I told Bob Hale and +Tom Rush that I must return for my boat, they volunteered to accompany +me.</p> + +<p>"Robert," said a stern voice, as we moved down the wharf.</p> + +<p>We halted, and Bob's father confronted him.</p> + +<p>"What does all this mean?" demanded Mr. Hale. "Are you one of those who +ran away with the steamer?"</p> + +<p>"I am, sir," replied Bob, squarely, but with due humility.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hale bit his lips with chagrin. Probably he had hoped that his son +was not one of the reckless fellows who had taken possession of the +Adieno. But Bob was a noble fellow, and seldom gave his father any cause +to complain of his conduct,—so seldom that he appeared to be appalled +at the magnitude of the present offence.</p> + +<p>"Robert was opposed to taking the steamer from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> the first," I +interposed, hoping to save him from some portion of his father's +displeasure.</p> + +<p>"I went with the rest of the fellows, and I am willing to bear my share +of the blame."</p> + +<p>"What does all this mean? What possessed you to do such a thing?" asked +Mr. Hale.</p> + +<p>"We could not endure the injustice of Mr. Parasyte any longer; that was +the beginning of it. And when he came in the steamer to Pine Island, and +took away our provisions, we ran off with the steamer rather than be +starved out," answered Bob.</p> + +<p>"What business had you on Pine Island?"</p> + +<p>"We have been breaking away."</p> + +<p>"Breaking away! I should think you had! Were you concerned in these +disgraceful proceedings, Robert?"</p> + +<p>"I was, sir. I am willing to own that I have done wrong."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hale's stern look softened down, and I ventured to ask him to take a +seat in my boat, and go over to the Institute, where he would have an +opportunity to hear the whole story of the "breaking away," and judge +for himself. During this conversation, a crowd had gathered around us, +curious to know what had happened; and the charge we made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> against Mr. +Parasyte was publicly proclaimed. Mr. Hale accepted my invitation, and +we shoved off from the Adieno just as the Champion came up to the pier.</p> + +<p>"Stop them! Stop them!" shouted the captain of the Adieno, as I was +hoisting the jib.</p> + +<p>No one ventured to stop a boat in which Mr. Hale, the most important +person in the county, was seated.</p> + +<p>"We want those boys!" called the angry captain again. "They are the ones +who ran off with the boat."</p> + +<p>"Captain Woelkers," said Mr. Hale, mildly.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Mr. Hale!" exclaimed the captain, as he recognized the principal +owner of the steamer he commanded.</p> + +<p>"By whose authority did you take the Adieno to Pine Island to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Parasyte wanted her, and I let him have her," stammered the +captain.</p> + +<p>"Did you consult the agent?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; he was not at home."</p> + +<p>"Do you generally leave your boat with steam up without an engineer?"</p> + +<p>"I never did before, but we needed every man to bring off the things on +the island," replied Captain Woelkers, his confusion crimsoning his +face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It appears that you have used the boat without authority, and permitted +her to be taken from you by a parcel of boys. I will see you at my house +this evening. You may fill away, Ernest, if you are ready."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hale did not say another word, and I ran the Splash over to the +Institute pier. I landed my passengers, and we all walked up to the +school-room, where the rebels had by this time assembled.</p> + +<p>"Henry Vallington, I am sorry to see you engaged in such a disgraceful +affair as this," said Mr. Hale, when he met our leader.</p> + +<p>"I am very glad you have come, sir, for I feel that we need counsel," +replied Vallington. "Perhaps you will not consider the affair so +disgraceful, after you have heard the whole truth."</p> + +<p>"Nothing can justify your conduct in running away with the steamer. It +is a miracle that you were not blown up, or sunk in the lake."</p> + +<p>Vallington handed our distinguished guest one of the circulars he had +procured at the printer's on his way up to the Institute, the "copy" of +which had been given out before the "breaking away."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH ERNEST FINDS A CHANGE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE INSTITUTE.</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Hale put on his spectacles and read the circular, which had been +carefully prepared by several of the best scholars in the school; but he +was already familiar with the facts it contained. He knew that Mr. +Parasyte was a tyrant, and that he was very unpopular with the boys. It +was a fact that only a few of the students remained at the Institute for +any considerable length of time, and that its numbers had never equalled +its capacity.</p> + +<p>He had hardly finished reading the circular before Mr. Parasyte, +followed by Poodles, Pearl, and the rest of the deserters, entered the +hall. All of them had been passengers on the Champion, and of course +they didn't feel very good after being beaten by the Adieno. Mr. Hale +was evidently glad to see the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> principal of the academy, for he did not +seem to know what to do after he had finished the circular.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you have come, Mr. Parasyte," said he; "it seems these boys +have been running away with one of our steamers."</p> + +<p>"They have; and I hope you will punish the ringleaders as they deserve," +replied Mr. Parasyte, wiping his brow, as he was wont to do when +excited.</p> + +<p>"My son is one of them," added Mr. Hale, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Not one of the ringleaders, sir—by no means. Thornton, Rush, and +Vallington are the leaders in this enterprise."</p> + +<p>"No more than myself, father. I have done as much as they have, and I am +willing to bear my share of the blame," said Bob.</p> + +<p>The boys clapped their hands at this interposition. Bob was not a fellow +to shirk when the time of settlement came.</p> + +<p>"My boy behaves like a man, and I honor him for that," replied Mr. Hale, +proudly; "but he shall be punished if the others are. Mr. Parasyte, +things seem to be at rather loose ends in the Institute just now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I am sorry to say they are. One bad boy can stir up a +whirlwind of mischief," answered Mr. Parasyte, looking at me.</p> + +<p>"These boys seem to be pretty well agreed in this matter."</p> + +<p>"But this trouble has all been made by one boy—and that one is Ernest +Thornton. I expelled him once; but out of regard for his uncle, to whom +I am under great obligations, I reversed my sentence, and endeavored to +reduce him to proper subjection."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen this paper, Mr. Parasyte?" continued the visitor, handing +him the circular. "It seems to be signed by nearly all the students in +the Institute."</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte took the printed document, and proceeded to read it. When +he had gone far enough to comprehend the nature of the paper, he turned +red; and when he came to the long array of signatures, he became very +pale.</p> + +<p>"May I inquire the object of this paper?" demanded the principal, with +quivering lips.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know. I never saw or heard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> of it till I entered this +room," replied Mr. Hale "I see that it is addressed to the parents of +the students."</p> + +<p>"I need not say that the statements contained in this circular are, +without a single exception, infamous falsehoods and slanders. I think +you know me well enough, Mr. Hale, to understand that justice and +fairness have always characterized my dealings with my pupils."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hale did not so understand it. He knew that the reverse of this +statement was the truth. Mr. Parasyte then insisted on relating the +facts connected with the "breaking away." He told the story of my +misconduct, as he termed it, and embellished it with sundry flourishes +about his own impartiality and magnanimity. He said that after it had +been fairly proved that I had assaulted my schoolmate, in consideration +of my previous good conduct, he had only required that I should +apologize in private to the one I had injured. Forbearance could extend +no farther than this; but I had even refused to make this slight +reparation for the offence I had committed. Then I had openly dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span>obeyed +and insulted him in the presence of the whole school.</p> + +<p>"Of course, after this," continued Mr. Parasyte, "I could do nothing +more for him. My gentleness was not appreciated; my leniency was +despised. My mistake was in treating him too kindly—in not resorting to +the strong arm in the beginning. Then, as I might have expected of such +an obdurate boy, I was subjected to a personal assault."</p> + +<p>"But all the boys seemed to be on his side," said the matter-of-fact Mr. +Hale.</p> + +<p>"Very true. Thornton keeps a boat, and almost any boy may be bought or +sold with a boat. He has sailed them on the lake, and won them by his +arts."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it possible that there was some mistake in the matter of the +quarrel between Thornton and Poodles?"</p> + +<p>"It is quite impossible that there should have been any mistake," +replied Mr. Parasyte, with a look of injured innocence. "I investigated +the matter very carefully and impartially."</p> + +<p>"I should really like to hear what the boys have to say about it," added +Mr. Hale.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It would be useless for you to talk with them, and it would be an +insult to me for you to do so. Do you doubt my word, Mr. Hale? Do you +think I have not told you the truth?" said the principal, rather warmly.</p> + +<p>"But there may be some mistake."</p> + +<p>"I have said that it was quite impossible there should be any mistake."</p> + +<p>"Have you any objections to my asking the boys a few questions, Mr. +Parasyte?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I have. I am not willing to be arraigned and tried before my +own school."</p> + +<p>"O, very well!" exclaimed Mr. Hale, nodding his head significantly; and +without saying anything more, he left the school-room.</p> + +<p>The students felt that they had a friend in Mr. Hale, and even did not +fear a prosecution for running away with the steamer. We judged that the +captain of the Adieno would have to bear all the blame of that +occurrence.</p> + +<p>"What are these circulars for?" demanded Mr. Parasyte, when the visitor +had departed. "Vallington, as the ringleader in this conspiracy, I call +upon you for an answer."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Those whose names are signed to the paper intend to send them to their +parents."</p> + +<p>"They do—do they?" exclaimed the principal, with compressed lips. "Are +you aware that published slanders of this kind subject those who utter +them to a severe penalty?"</p> + +<p>"We can prove all we assert, and should be glad of an opportunity to do +so," replied Vallington, firmly.</p> + +<p>"There is not a word of truth in the paper," added Mr. Parasyte, wiping +his brow.</p> + +<p>He walked up and down the platform two or three times in silence. With +him the case was desperate. He knew not what to do. He had learned that +the students would not be browbeaten or bullied.</p> + +<p>"Scholars," said he, at last, "I think we are all too much fatigued and +excited to consider this difficult problem this afternoon. In spite of +the ill treatment I have received at your hands, I am still your friend, +as I have always been. By and by you will see that you have done wrong. +To-morrow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> morning, if you will meet at the usual hour in the +school-room, I shall have a proposition to make, which I am confident +will restore peace to the Parkville Liberal Institute. You are dismissed +now, for the day."</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte left the hall, and we held a meeting there on our own +account. If the principal did not know what to do, we were no better +off, and we finally separated without any fixed plans. We agreed to meet +in the school-room in the morning, though we all doubted whether Mr. +Parasyte would have any proposition to submit. The students decided not +to send the circulars to their parents until the next day.</p> + +<p>We wanted advice, and our hope was with Mr. Hale. At Vallington's +suggestion, half a dozen of us were appointed a committee to wait upon +him. He had expressed a desire to hear "the other side" of the case. We +went to Mr. Hale's house, and found there Mr. Hardy, the assistant +teacher, who had been discharged. We told our story, and related the +facts as they occurred. Mr. Hardy said nothing in our presence, and we +left him with Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> Hale, who, we afterwards learned, had sent for him.</p> + +<p>Bob invited me to spend the night with him, and having no home now, I +was glad to accept. After supper, I was called into the library, and +questioned at great length by Mr. Hale and Mr. Hardy in regard to the +affairs of the Institute. While we were thus engaged, Bob was sent to +deliver several notes to prominent and wealthy men in the place. At +seven o'clock there were not less than half a dozen of the "heavy men" +of Parkville in the library.</p> + +<p>Of course Bob and I did not know what was going on, but we were +confident that the affairs of the Institute were under discussion. At a +later hour, Mr. Hale and another gentleman drove off, in a buggy, +towards the cottage of my uncle, where I heard one of them say they were +going. Bob and I went to bed, tired out, and did not ascertain what had +been done by the gentlemen who assembled that evening.</p> + +<p>At nine o'clock in the forenoon of the next day, the students were all +in their seats, in the school<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span>-room; but Mr. Parasyte did not appear. It +was reported that there were half a dozen gentlemen with him in his +office, and that my uncle Amos was one of them. I was astonished at this +intelligence. I subsequently heard that he was there on business, and +hardly spoke a word during a long and stormy interview between Mr. +Parasyte and his visitors.</p> + +<p>The clock on the school-house struck ten, and still Mr. Parasyte did not +come. It was deeply impressed upon our minds that something was about to +happen, and we waited with intense anxiety for the event. At half past +eleven o'clock, Mr. Parasyte entered the school-room. He looked sad and +subdued, and his coming was the signal for a breathless silence among +the boys. It was evident that he had a proposition to make.</p> + +<p>"Young gentlemen, I appear before you now for the last time," said he.</p> + +<p>He paused, and his words made a tremendous sensation, though, I am happy +to say, there was no demonstration of any kind. We looked upon him as a +fallen man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have sold the Parkville Liberal Institute to a company composed of +the citizens of this town, who have made me an offer for the property, +so liberal that I could not afford to refuse it. Until about a week ago, +my relations with the students have been exceedingly pleasant. I shall +not allude to recent events. I take my leave with many regrets, and I +sincerely desire that prosperity and happiness may attend you in the +future. Good by."</p> + +<p>"Good by," replied a large number of the boys, and Mr. Parasyte bowed +and left the room.</p> + +<p>As he went out at one door, the "company" entered at another. Mr. Hale +went upon the platform, and repeated what Mr. Parasyte had told us, that +the Institute had been purchased by a number of the citizens of +Parkville, and in future its affairs would be managed by a board of +trustees, of which he had the honor to be chairman. The trustees had +just appointed Mr. Hardy as principal,—here he was interrupted by a +spontaneous burst of cheers,—and the school would be reorganized by him +in the afternoon. The "boarders" were requested to write to their +parents and guardians, informing them of the change.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Hale dismissed the students, after he had assured them that the +domestic part of the establishment would remain as before. The boys went +out upon the play ground, and gave three rousing cheers for the new +company, trustees, and principal. I went home to dinner with Bob, and +learned that the purchase of the Institute had been contemplated for +some months, by prominent citizens, who were aware that the school was +badly managed. They acted, many of them, simply as business men, for the +interests of the town. The Institute was "running down," and they had +taken this step to build it up. They knew that Mr. Hardy was a true man +and a good teacher, and as he was popular among the boys, he was +promptly elected principal.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hale told Bob and me that the conduct of the students in "breaking +away" was strongly condemned by the gentlemen who had discussed the +affair, and he by no means approved of it himself; but the injustice of +Mr. Parasyte had provoked them to such a degree that the misdemeanor was +palliated, if not excused, and it was deemed best to say nothing about +it. The mortgage which my un<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span>cle held was paid, and he had fled the +instant the business was finished.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parasyte had long and obstinately refused to sell the property, even +for a third more than its actual value; but finally, convinced that the +Institute would not succeed under his administration, he had yielded the +point. The next day he left Parkville, with his family, "bag and +baggage;" and so disagreeable was he to me, that I hoped I never should +see his face again.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon we went to school, and Mr. Hardy appeared upon the +platform. We attempted to cheer him, but he silenced us. He made quite a +speech, in which, however, he did not allude to recent events, and in +half an hour the students were all at work on the old track. While I was +in school that afternoon for the last time, as I believed, I received a +note from my uncle. It was as brief as his speech. "If you wish to +return to your home, you may." This, with the signature, was all it +contained. I went home that night, but my uncle did not see me—would +not see me.</p> + +<p>I went to school as usual for several months, until<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> the following +spring, when an event occurred which made me a wanderer on the earth; +which sent me to "<span class="smcap">seek and find</span>" the mother, for whom I longed and +prayed in my loneliness, and which shall be related in another story.</p> + +<p>Our rebellion at the Institute had been successful. We had driven the +tyrant from his throne, and seated another person in his place, who was +fit to teach and to rule. Mr. Hardy was, perhaps, more severe than his +predecessor, but he was just and fair. He had no favorites—at least +none who did not win their high place in his esteem by being faithful +and earnest in all things. Certainly he never gave the students occasion +even to think of such a doubtful expedient as "<span class="smcap">Breaking Away</span>."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><span class="u">OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS</span></h2> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>The Blue and the Gray—Afloat.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. Six volumes. +Illustrated. Beautiful binding in blue and gray, with emblematic dies. +Cloth. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.50.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Blue and the Gray—Afloat."> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. Taken by the Enemy.</b></td><td align='left'><b>4. Stand by the Union.</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. Within the Enemy's Lines.</b> </td><td align='left'><b>5. Fighting for the Right.</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. On the Blockade.</b></td><td align='left'><b>6. A Victorious Union.</b></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p> </p> + +<div class='hang1'><b>The Blue and the Gray—on Land.</b></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Blue and the Gray—on Land"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. Brother against Brother.</b></td><td align='left'><b>4. On the Staff.</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. In the Saddle.</b></td><td align='left'><b>5. At the Front.</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. A Lieutenant at Eighteen.</b> </td><td align='left'><b>6. An Undivided Union.</b></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"There never has been a more interesting writer in +the field of juvenile literature than Mr. <span class="smcap">W. T. +Adams</span>, who, under his well-known pseudonym, is +known and admired by every boy and girl in the +country, and by thousands who have long since +passed the boundaries of youth, yet who remember +with pleasure the genial, interesting pen that did +so much to interest, instruct, and entertain their +younger years. 'The Blue and the Gray' is a title +that is sufficiently indicative of the nature and +spirit of the latest series, while the name of +<span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span> is sufficient warrant of the absorbing +style of narrative. This series is as bright and +entertaining as any work that Mr. <span class="smcap">Adams</span> has yet put +forth, and will be as eagerly perused as any that +has borne his name. It would not be fair to the +prospective reader to deprive him of the zest which +comes from the unexpected by entering into a +synopsis of the story. A word, however, should be +said in regard to the beauty and appropriateness of +the binding, which makes it a most attractive +volume."—<i>Boston Budget.</i></p></div> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>Woodville Stories.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. Six volumes. Illustrated. Any volume +sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Woodville Stories."> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. Rich and Humble;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Mission of Bertha Grant</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. In School and Out;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Conquest of Richard Grant</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. Watch and Wait;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Young Fugitives</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>4. Work and Win;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>5. Hope and Have;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Fanny Grant among the Indians</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>6. Haste and Waste;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Young Pilot of Lake Champlain</span>.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Though we are not so young as we once were, we +relished these stories almost as much as the boys +and girls for whom they were written. They were +really refreshing, even to us. There is much in +them which is calculated to inspire a generous, +healthy ambition, and to make distasteful all +reading tending to stimulate base +desires."—<i>Fitchburg Reveille.</i></p></div> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>The Starry Flag Series.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. In six volumes. Illustrated. +Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Starry Flag Series"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. The Starry Flag;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Young Fisherman of Cape Ann.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. Breaking Away;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Fortunes of a Student</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. Seek and Find;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Adventures of a Smart Boy</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>4. Freaks of Fortune;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Half round the World</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>5. Make or Break;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Rich Man's Daughter</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>6. Down the River;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Buck Bradford and the Tyrants</span>.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Mr. <span class="smcap">Adams</span>, the celebrated and popular writer, +familiarly known as <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>, seems to have +inexhaustible funds for weaving together the +virtues of life; and, notwithstanding he has +written scores of books, the same freshness and +novelty run through them all. Some people think the +sensational element predominates. Perhaps it does. +But a book for young people needs this, and so long +as good sentiments are inculcated such books ought +to be read."</p></div> + +<h3> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., Boston<br /> +</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="u">OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS</span></h2> + +<div class='hang1'><b>The Great Western Series.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. In six volumes. Illustrated. +Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Great Western Series"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. Going West;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Perils of a Poor Boy</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. Out West;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Roughing it on the Great Lakes</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. Lake Breezes;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Cruise of the Sylvania</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>4. Going South;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Yachting on the Atlantic Coast</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>5. Down South;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Yacht Adventures in Florida</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>6. Up the River;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Yachting on the Mississippi</span>.</td></tr> +</table></div> +<div class="blockquot"><p>"This is the latest series of books issued by this +popular writer, and deals with life on the Great +Lakes, for which a careful study was made by the +author in a summer tour of the immense water +sources of America. The story, which carries the +same hero through the six books of the series, is +always entertaining, novel scenes and varied +incidents giving a constantly changing yet always +attractive aspect to the narrative. <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span> +has written nothing better."</p></div> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>The Yacht Club Series.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. In six volumes. Illustrated. Any +volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Yacht Club Series"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. Little Bobtail;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Wreck of the Penobscot</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. The Yacht Club;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Young Boat Builders</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. Money-Maker;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Victory of the Basilisk</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>4. The Coming Wave;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Treasure of High Rock</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>5. The Dorcas Club;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Our Girls Afloat</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>6. Ocean Born;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Cruise of the Clubs</span>.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The series has this peculiarity, that all of its +constituent volumes are independent of one another, +and therefore each story is complete in itself. +<span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span> is, perhaps, the favorite author of +the boys and girls of this country, and he seems +destined to enjoy an endless popularity. He +deserves his success, for he makes very interesting +stories, and inculcates none but the best +sentiments, and the 'Yacht Club' is no exception to +this rule."—<i>New Haven Journal and Courier.</i></p></div> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>Onward and Upward Series.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. In six volumes. Illustrated. +Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Onward and Upward Series"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. Field and Forest;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Fortunes of a Farmer</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. Plane and Plank;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Mishaps of a Mechanic</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. Desk and Debit;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Catastrophes of a Clerk</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>4. Cringle and Crosstree;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Sea Swashes of a Sailor</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>5. Bivouac and Battle;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Struggles of a Soldier</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>6. Sea and Shore;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Tramps of a Traveller</span>.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Paul Farringford, the hero of these tales, is, +like most of this author's heroes, a young man of +high spirit, and of high aims and correct +principles, appearing in the different volumes as a +farmer, a captain, a bookkeeper, a soldier, a +sailor, and a traveller. In all of them the hero +meets with very exciting adventures, told in the +graphic style for which the author is famous."</p></div> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>The Lake Shore Series.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. In six volumes. Illustrated. Any +volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Lake Shore Series"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. Through by Daylight;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Young Engineer of the Lake Shore Railroad</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. Lightning Express;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Rival Academies</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. On Time;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>4. Switch Off;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the War of the Students</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>5. Brake Up;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Young Peacemakers</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>6. Bear and Forbear;</b> <span class="smcap">or, the Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga</span>.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span> is one of the most fascinating +writers for youth, and within one of the best to be +found in this or any past age. Troops of young +people hang over his vivid pages; and not one of +them ever learned to be mean, ignoble, cowardly, +selfish, or to yield to any vice from anything they +ever read from his pen."—<i>Providence Press.</i></p></div> + +<h3> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., Boston</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span><br /> +</p> + + + +<h2><span class="u">OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS</span></h2> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>Army and Navy Stories.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. Six volumes. Illustrated. Any +volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Army and Navy Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. The Soldier Boy;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Tom Somers in the Army</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. The Sailor Boy;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Jack Somers in the Navy</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. The Young Lieutenant;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Adventures of an Army Officer</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>4. The Yankee Middy;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Adventures of a Navy Officer</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>5. Fighting Joe;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>6. Brave Old Salt;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Life on the Quarter Deck</span>.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"This series of six volumes recounts the adventures +of two brothers, Tom and Jack Somers, one in the +army, the other in the navy, in the great Civil +War. The romantic narratives of the fortunes and +exploits of the brothers are thrilling in the +extreme. Historical accuracy in the recital of the +great events of that period is strictly followed, +and the result is, not only a library of +entertaining volumes, but also the best history of +the Civil War for young people ever written."</p></div> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>Boat Builders Series.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. In six volumes. Illustrated. Any +volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Boat Builders Series"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. All Adrift;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Goldwing Club</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. Snug Harbor;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Champlain Mechanics</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. Square and Compasses;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Building the House</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>4. Stem to Stern;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Building the Boat</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>5. All Taut;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Rigging the Boat</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>6. Ready About;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Sailing the Boat</span>.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The series includes in six successive volumes the +whole art of boat building, boat rigging, boat +managing, and practical hints to make the ownership +of a boat pay. A great deal of useful information +is given in this <b>Boat Builders Series,</b> and in each +book a very interesting story is interwoven with +the information. Every reader will be interested at +once in Dory, the hero of 'All Adrift,' and one of +the characters retained in the subsequent volumes +of the series. His friends will not want to lose +sight of him, and every boy who makes his +acquaintance in 'All Adrift' will become his +friend."</p></div> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>Riverdale Story Books.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. Twelve volumes. Illustrated. +Illuminated covers. Price: cloth, per set, $3.60; per volume, 30 cents.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Riverdale Story Books"> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><b>1. Little Merchant.</b></span></td><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><b>7. Proud and Lazy.</b></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><b>2. Young Voyagers.</b> </span></td><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><b>8. Careless Kate.</b></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><b>3. Christmas Gift.</b></span></td><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><b>9. Robinson Crusoe, Jr.</b></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><b>4. Dolly and I.</b></span></td><td align='left'><b>10. The Picnic Party.</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><b>5. Uncle Ben.</b></span></td><td align='left'><b>11. The Gold Thimble.</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><b>6. Birthday Party.</b></span></td><td align='left'><b>12. The Do-Somethings.</b></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>Riverdale Story Books.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. Six volumes. Illustrated. Fancy +cloth and colors. Price per volume, 30 cents.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Riverdale Story Books, less expensive"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. Little Merchant.</b> </td><td align='left'><b>4. Careless Kate.</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. Proud and Lazy.</b></td><td align='left'><b>5. Dolly and I.</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. Young Voyagers.</b></td><td align='left'><b>6. Robinson Crusoe, Jr.</b></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>Laura Lee Library.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. Six volumes. Illustrated. Fancy +cloth and colors. Price per volume, 30 cents.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Laura Lee Library"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. The Picnic Party.</b></td><td align='left'><b>4. Christmas Gift.</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. The Gold Thimble.</b></td><td align='left'><b>5. Uncle Ben.</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. The Do-Somethings.</b> </td><td align='left'><b>6. Birthday Party.</b></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>These are bright short stories for younger children +who are unable to comprehend the <b>Starry Flag Series</b> +or the <b>Army and Navy Series</b>. But they all display +the author's talent for pleasing and interesting +the little folks. They are all fresh and original, +preaching no sermons, but inculcating good lessons.</p></div> + +<h3> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., Boston</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span><br /> +</p> +<h2><span class="u">OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS</span></h2> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>The Famous Boat Club Series.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. Six volumes. Illustrated. +Any volume sold separately. Price per volume $1.25.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Famous Boat Club Series"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. The Boat Club;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Bunkers of Rippleton.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. All Aboard;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Life on the Lake.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. Now or Never;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Adventures of Robby Bright..</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>4. Try Again;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Trials and Triumphs of Harry West.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>5. Poor and Proud;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Fortunes of Katy Redburn.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>6. Little by Little;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Cruise of the Flyaway.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"This is the first series of books written for the +young by <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. It laid the foundation for +his fame as the first of authors in which the young +delight, and gained for him the title of the Prince +of Story Tellers. The six books are varied in +incident and plot, but all are entertaining and +original."</p></div> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>Young America Abroad:</b> <span class="smcap">A Library of Travel And Adventure in Foreign +Lands</span>. By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Nast</span> and others. First Series. +Six volumes. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Young America Abroad"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. Outward Bound;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Young America Afloat.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. Shamrock and Thistle;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Young America in Ireland and Scotland.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. Red Cross;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Young America in England and Wales.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>4. Dikes and Ditches;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Young America in Holland and Belgium.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>5. Palace and Cottage;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Young America in France and Switzerland.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>6. Down the Rhine;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Young America in Germany.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The story from its inception, and through the +twelve volumes (see Second Series), is a bewitching +one, while the information imparted concerning the +countries of Europe and the isles of the sea is not +only correct in every particular, but is told in a +captivating style. <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span> will continue to be +the boys' friend, and his pleasant books will +continue to be read by thousands of American boys. +What a fine holiday present either or both series +of 'Young America Abroad' would be for a young +friend! It would make a little library highly +prized by the recipient, and would not be an +expensive one."—<i>Providence Press.</i></p></div> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>Young America Abroad.</b> By <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>. Second Series. Six volumes. +Illustrated. Any volume sold separately. Price per volume, $1.25.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Young America Abroad 2"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. Up the Baltic;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. Northern Lands;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Young America in Russia and Prussia.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. Cross and Crescent;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Young America in Turkey and Greece.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>4. Sunny Shores;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Young America in Italy and Austria.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>5. Vine and Olive;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Young America in Spain and Portugal.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>6. Isles of the Sea;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Young America Homeward Bound.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span> is a <i>nom de plume</i> that is known and +loved by almost every boy of intelligence in the +land. We have seen a highly intellectual and +world-weary man, a cynic whose heart was somewhat +embittered by its large experience of human nature, +take up one of <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic's</span> books, and read it at +a sitting, neglecting his work in yielding to the +fascination of the pages. When a mature and +exceedingly well-informed mind, long despoiled of +all its freshness, can thus find pleasure in a book +for boys, no additional words of recommendation are +needed."—<i>Sunday Times.</i></p></div> + +<h3> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., Boston</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span><br /> +</p> +<h2>THE START IN LIFE SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By J. T. TROWBRIDGE</h3> + +<div class='center'>Cloth Illustrated Price per volume, <b>$1.00</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 113px;"> +<img src="images/1startinlife.jpg" width="113" height="150" alt="A Start in Life" title="" /> +</div> + + +<div class='unindent'><big><i><b>A Start in Life:</b></i> <span class="smcap">A Story of the Genesee Country.</span></big></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In this story the author recounts the hardships of +a young lad in his first endeavor to start out for +himself. It is a tale that is full of enthusiasm +and budding hopes.</p></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><big><i><b>Biding His Time.</b></i></big></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"It is full of spirit and adventure, and presents a +plucky hero who was willing to 'bide his time,' no +matter how great the expectations that he indulged +in from his uncle's vast wealth, which he did not +in the least covet."—<i>Boston Home Journal.</i></p></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><big><i><b>The Kelp-Gatherers:</b></i> <span class="smcap">A Story of the Maine Coast.</span></big></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A bright and readable story, with all the hints of +character and the vicissitudes of human life, in +depicting which the author is an acknowledged +master.</p></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><big><b><i>The Scarlet Tanager</i>,</b> <span class="smcap">and Other Bipeds.</span></big></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Every new story which Mr. Trowbridge begins is +followed through successive chapters by thousands +who have read and re-read many times his preceding +tales. One of his greatest charms is his absolute +truthfulness. He does not depict little saints, or +incorrigible rascals, but just <i>boys</i>.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'><big><b><i>The Lottery Ticket.</i></b></big></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"This is one of the many popular stories written by +this well-known author, whose name on the +title-page of a book makes it a welcome arrival to +most of the young people who read. The moral is +always good, the influence in the right direction, +and the characters so portrayed that the right is +always rewarded and the wrong fails to +prosper."—<i>Dubuque, Iowa, Herald.</i></p></div> + +<div class='unindent'><big><b><i>The Adventures of David Vane and David Crane.</i></b></big></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A strong, homely, humorous story of the everyday +life of American country-bred boys, by one who is +acknowledged to be the best living storyteller in +his peculiar vein.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<i><b>For sale by all booksellers, or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price, by</b></i></div> +<h3>LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.</h3> +<div class='center'><b>BOSTON</b></div> + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span><br /> +</p> +<h2>The Tide-Mill Stories</h2> + +<h3>By J. T. TROWBRIDGE</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h4><i>Six Volumes. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.25</i></h4> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>Phil and His Friends.</b></div> +<div class="blockquot"><p>The hero is the son of a man who from drink got +into debt, and, after having given a paper to a +creditor authorizing him to keep the son as a +security for his claim, ran away, leaving poor Phil +a bond slave. The story involves a great many +unexpected incidents, some of which are painful and +some comic. Phil manfully works for a year +cancelling his father's debt, and then escapes. The +characters are strongly drawn, and the story is +absorbingly interesting.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>The Tinkham Brothers' Tide-Mill.</b></div> +<div class="blockquot"><p>"'The Tinkham Brothers' were the devoted sons of an +invalid mother. The story tells how they purchased +a tide-mill, which afterwards, by the ill-will and +obstinacy of neighbors, became a source of much +trouble to them. It tells also how, by discretion +and the exercise of a peaceable spirit, they at +last overcame all difficulties."—<i>Christian +Observer, Louisville, Ky.</i></p></div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>The Satin-wood Box.</b></div> +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Mr. Trowbridge has always a purpose in his +writings, and this time he has undertaken to show +how very near an innocent boy can come to the +guilty edge and yet be able by fortunate +circumstances to rid himself of all suspicion of +evil. There is something winsome about the hero; +but he has a singular way of falling into bad luck, +although the careful reader will never feel the +least disposed to doubt his honesty."—<i>Syracuse +Standard.</i></p></div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>The Little Master.</b></div> +<div class="blockquot"><p>This is the story of a schoolmaster, his trials, +disappointments, and final victory. It will recall +to many a man his experience in teaching pupils, +and in managing their opinionated and self-willed +parents. The story has the charm which is always +found in Mr. Trowbridge's works.</p> + +<p>"Many a teacher could profit by reading of this +plucky little schoolmaster."—<i>Journal of +Education.</i></p></div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>His One Fault.</b></div> +<div class="blockquot"><p>"As for the hero of this story 'His One Fault' was +absent-mindedness. He forgot to lock his uncle's +stable door, and the horse was stolen. In seeking +to recover the stolen horse, he unintentionally +stole another. In trying to restore the wrong horse +to his rightful owner, he was himself arrested. +After no end of comic and dolorous adventures, he +surmounted all his misfortunes by downright pluck +and genuine good feeling. It is a noble +contribution to juvenile literature."—<i>Woman's +Journal.</i></p></div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>Peter Budstone.</b></div> +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Mr. J. T. Trowbridge's 'Peter Budstone' is another +of those altogether good and wholesome books for +boys of which it is hardly possible to speak too +highly. This author shows us convincingly how +juvenile reading may be made vivacious and +interesting, and yet teach sound and clean lessons. +'Peter Budstone' shows forcibly the folly and crime +of 'hazing.' It is the story of a noble young +fellow whose reason is irreparably overthrown by +the savage treatment he received from some of his +associates at college. It is a powerful little +book, and we wish every schoolboy and college youth +could read it."—<i>Philadelphia American.</i></p></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><i><b>Illustrated Catalogue sent free on application.</b></i></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3> +Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., Boston</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span><br /> +</p> +<h2>The Silver Medal Stories</h2> + +<h3>By J. T. TROWBRIDGE</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><i><b>Six Volumes. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.25</b></i></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='unindent'><b>The Silver Medal,</b> <span class="smcap">and other Stories.</span></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>There were some schoolboys who had turned +housebreakers, and among their plunder was a silver +medal that had been given to one John Harris by the +Humane Society for rescuing from drowning a certain +Benton Barry. Now Benton Barry was one of the +wretched housebreakers. This is the summary of the +opening chapter. The story is intensely interesting +in its serious as well as its humorous parts.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>His Own Master.</b></div> +<div class="blockquot"><p>"This is a book after the typical boy's own heart. +Its hero is a plucky young fellow, who, seeing no +chance for himself at home, determines to make his +own way in the world. . . . He sets out accordingly, +trudges to the far West, and finds the road to +fortune an unpleasantly rough one."—<i>Philadelphia +Inquirer.</i></p></div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>Bound in Honor.</b></div> +<div class="blockquot"><p>This story is of a lad, who, though not guilty of +any bad action, has been an eye-witness of the +conduct of his comrades, and felt "Bound in Honor" +not to tell.</p> + +<p>"A capital book in all respects, overflowing with +all sorts of fun and adventure; just the sort of +book, in short, that the young folks will be +anxious to read and re-read with as much continuous +interest as the most favored of their +storybooks."—<i>Philadelphia Leader.</i></p></div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>The Pocket Rifle.</b></div> +<div class="blockquot"><p>"A boy's story which will be read with avidity, as +it ought to be, it is so brightly and frankly +written, and with such evident knowledge of the +temperaments and habits, the friendships and +enmities of schoolboys."—<i>New York Mail.</i></p> + +<p>"This is a capital story for boys. It teaches +honesty, integrity, and friendship, and how best +they can be promoted. It shows the danger of hasty +judgment and circumstantial evidence; that +right-doing pays, and dishonesty never."—<i>Chicago +Inter-Ocean.</i></p></div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>The Jolly Rover.</b></div> +<div class="blockquot"><p>"This book will help to neutralize the ill effects +of any poison which children may have swallowed in +the way of sham-adventurous stories and wildly +fictitious tales. 'The Jolly Rover' runs away from +home, and meets life as it is, till he is glad +enough to seek again his father's house. Mr. +Trowbridge has the power of making an instructive +story absorbing in its interest, and of covering a +moral so that it is easy to take."—<i>Christian +Intelligencer.</i></p></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>Young Joe,</b> <span class="smcap">and other Boys.</span></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Young Joe," who lived at Bass Cove, where he shot +wild ducks, took some to town for sale, and +attracted the attention of a portly gentleman fond +of shooting. This gentleman went duck shooting with +Joe, and their adventures were more amusing to the +boy than to the amateur sportsman.</p> + +<p>There are thirteen other short stories in the book +which will be sure to please the young folks.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><i><b>Illustrated Catalogue sent free on application.</b></i></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3> +Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., Boston</h3> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span><br /> +</p> +<h2><i>PHILLIPS EXETER SERIES</i></h2> + +<h3>By A. T. DUDLEY</h3> + +<div class='center'> +Cloth, 12mo Illustrated by Charles Copeland Price per volume, <b>$1.25</b><br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<h3>FOLLOWING THE BALL</h3> +<div class='unindent'><big>H</big>ERE is an up-to-date story presenting American boarding-school life and +modern athletics. Football is an important feature, but it is a story of +character formation in which athletics play an important part.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Mingled with the story of football is another and +higher endeavor, giving the book the best of moral +tone."—<i>Chicago Record-Herald.</i></p></div> + +<h3>MAKING THE NINE</h3> +<div class='unindent'><big>T</big>HE life presented is that of a real school, interesting, diversified, +and full of striking incidents. The athletics are technically correct, +while the characters are true and consistent types of American boyhood +and youth.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The story is healthful, for, while it exalts +athletics, it does not overlook the fact that +studious habits and noble character are imperative +needs for those who would win success in +life."—<i>Herald and Presbyter, Cincinnati.</i></p></div> + +<h3>IN THE LINE</h3> +<div class='unindent'><big>T</big>ELLS how a stalwart young student won his position as guard, and made +equally marked progress in the formation of character.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The book gives boys an interesting story, much +football information, and many lessons in true +manliness."—<i>Watchman, Boston.</i></p></div> + +<h3>WITH MASK AND MITT</h3> +<div class='unindent'><big>W</big>HILE appealing to the natural normal tastes of boys for fun and +interest in the baseball, the book, without preaching, lays emphasis on +the building up of character.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"No normal boy who is interested in our great +national game can fail to find interest and profit, +too, in this lively boarding-school +story."—<i>Interior, Chicago.</i></p></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="The Great Year Ad"> +<tr><td align='left'><h3>THE GREAT YEAR</h3> +<div class='unindent'><big>T</big>HREE manly comrades, captains respectively of the baseball, football, +and track teams, help each other to achieve a "great year" of triple +victory over their traditional rival.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"It is a fine, inspiring story for manly +boys."—<i>N. Y. Christian Advocate.</i></p></div></td><td align='left'><img src="images/2greatyear.jpg" width="108" height="150" alt="THE GREAT YEAR" title="" /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<b>For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price<br /> +by the Publishers,<br /> +<br /> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON</b></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span><br /> +</p> +<h2>THE BOY CRAFTSMAN</h2> +<div><b><span style="margin-left: 8em;">Practical and Profitable Ideas for a Boy's</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 8em;">Leisure Hours</span></b></div> +<h3>By A. NEELY HALL</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 109px;"> +<img src="images/3boycrafstman.jpg" width="109" height="150" alt="The Boy Craftsman" title="" /> +</div> +<div class='center'>Illustrated with over 400 diagrams and working drawings 8vo Price, $2.00</div> + + + +<div class='unindent'><big>E</big>VERY real boy wishes to design and make things, but the questions of +materials and tools are often hard to pet around. Nearly all books on +the subject call for a greater outlay of money than is within the means +of many boys, or their parents wish to expend in such ways. In this book +a number of chapters give suggestions for carrying on a small business +that will bring a boy in money with which to buy tools and materials +necessary for making apparatus and articles described in other chapters, +while the ideas are so practical that many an industrious boy can learn +what he is best fitted for in his life work. No work of its class is so +completely up-to-date or so worthy in point of thoroughness and +avoidance of danger. The drawings are profuse and excellent, and every +feature of the book is first-class. It tells how to make a boy's +workshop, how to handle tools, and what can be made with them; how to +start a printing shop and conduct an amateur newspaper, how to make +photographs, build a log cabin, a canvas canoe, a gymnasium, a miniature +theatre, and many other things dear to the soul of youth.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We cannot imagine a more delightful present for a +boy than this book.—<i>Churchman, N. Y.</i></p> + +<p>Every boy should have this book. It's a practical +book—it gets right next to the boy's heart and +stays there. He will have it near him all the time, +and on every page there is a lesson or something +that will stand the boy in good need. Beyond a +doubt in its line this is one of the cleverest +books on the market.—<i>Providence News.</i></p> + +<p>If a boy has any sort of a mechanical turn of mind, +his parents should see that he has this +book.—<i>Boston Journal.</i></p> + +<p>This is a book that will do boys good.—<i>Buffalo +Express.</i></p> + +<p>The boy who will not find this book a mine of joy +and profit must be queerly +constituted.—<i>Pittsburgh Gazette.</i></p> + +<p>Will be a delight to the boy mechanic.—<i>Watchman, +Boston.</i></p> + +<p>An admirable book to give a boy.—<i>Newark News.</i></p> + +<p>This book is the best yet offered for its large +number of practical and profitable +ideas.—<i>Milwaukee Free Press.</i></p> + +<p>Parents ought to know of this book.—<i>New York +Globe.</i></p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<div class='center'> +<b>For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price<br /> +by the publishers,<br /> +<br /> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON</b></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span><br /> +</p> +<h2><i>Making of Our Nation Series</i></h2> + +<h3><i>By WILLIAM C. SPRAGUE</i></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Large 12mo, Cloth Illustrated by A. B. Shute<br /> +Price per volume, $1.50<br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<h3>The Boy Courier of Napoleon</h3> +<div class='center'><b>A Story of the Louisiana Purchase</b></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 107px;"> +<img src="images/4couriernapoleon.jpg" width="107" height="150" alt="THE BOY COURIER OF NAPOLEON" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><big>W</big>ILLIAM C. SPRAGUE, the notably successful editor of "The American Boy," +has given for the first time the history of the Louisiana Purchase in +entertaining story form. The hero is introduced as a French drummer boy +in the great battle of Hohenlinden. He serves as a valet to Napoleon and +later is sent with secret messages to the French in San Domingo and in +Louisiana. After exciting adventures he accomplishes his mission and is +present at the lowering of the Spanish flag, and later at that of the +French and the raising of the Stars and Stripes.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"All boys and girls of our country who read this +book will be delighted with it, as well as +benefited by the historical knowledge contained in +its pages."—<i>Louisville, Ky., Times.</i></p> + +<p>"An excellent book for boys, containing just enough +history to make them hunger for more. No praise of +this book can be too high."—<i>Town Topics, +Cleveland, O.</i></p> + +<p>"This book is one to fascinate every intelligent +American boy."—<i>Buffalo Times.</i></p></div> + +<h3>The Boy Pathfinder</h3> +<div class='center'><b>A Story of the Oregon Trail</b></div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 108px;"> +<img src="images/5pathfinder.jpg" width="108" height="150" alt="THE BOY PATHFINDER" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><big>T</big>HIS book has as its hero an actual character, George Shannon, a +Pennsylvania lad, who at seventeen left school to become one of the +Lewis and Clark expedition. He had narrow escapes, but persevered, and +the story of his wanderings, interwoven with excellent historical +information, makes the highest type of general reading for the young.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"It is a thoroughly good story, full of action and +adventure and at the same time carrying a bit of +real history accurately recorded."—<i>Universalist +Leader, Boston.</i></p> + +<p>"It is an excellent book for a boy to +read."—<i>Newark, N. J., Advertiser.</i></p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<b><i>For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price<br /> +by the publishers,</i><br /> +<br /> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON</b></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span><br /> +</p> +<h2><i>Raymond Benson Series</i></h2> + +<h3><i>By CLARENCE B. BURLEIGH</i></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Illustrated by L. J. Bridgman Large 12mo, Cloth<br /> +$1.50 per volume<br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<h3>The Camp on Letter K</h3> +<div class='unindent'><big>T</big>HE story deals with two active boys in Aroostook County close to the +northeastern boundary of our country, and where smuggling across the +Canadian line has been prevalent. Equally ready in athletics, hunting, +or helping their families on the rich farms of that section, these good +chums have many exciting adventures, the most important of which +directly concerns the leading smugglers of the district, and an +important public service is rendered by the boys.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"There is an atmosphere about the whole book that +is attractive to boys, and it will be read by them +with enthusiastic delight."—<i>Democrat and +Chronicle, Rochester, N. Y.</i></p></div> + +<h3>Raymond Benson at Krampton</h3> +<div class='unindent'><big>R</big>AYMOND BENSON and his friend, Ned Grover, go to Krampton Academy, which +is no other than the noted school at New Hampton, N. H., where Mr. +Burleigh was fitted for college. We have had good books telling of the +larger and more aristocratic preparatory schools, but never before one +that so well told of life at a typical country academy of the sort that +have furnished the inspiration for so many successful men.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"It is interesting from start to finish, and while +rousing and full of enthusiasm, is wholesome in +spirit, and teaches lessons of purity and justice +and manliness in real life."—<i>Herald & Presbyter.</i></p></div> + +<h3>The Kenton Pines</h3> +<div class="figright" style="width: 108px;"> +<img src="images/6kentonpines.jpg" width="108" height="150" alt="THE KENTON PINES" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><big>"K</big>ENTON COLLEGE" is Bowdoin College, beautiful in its location and +famous in its history. Raymond's athletic abilities insure him immediate +and enduring prominence as a student, and the accounts of athletic +contests will stir the blood of any one. But the book is far more than a +tale of these things; it is a wonderful picture of life at a smaller +college, with all its fine hard work, "grinds," and triumphs. It is a +book that rings true on every manly question.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"This book, like the other of the series, is of a +very high character, and should be an inspiration +to all boys contemplating a college +career."—<i>Interior.</i></p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<b><i>For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price<br /> +by the publishers,</i><br /> +<br /> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span><br /> +</p> + + + +<h2>BOOKS BY EVERETT T. TOMLINSON.</h2> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<h3>THE WAR OF 1812 SERIES</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 106px;"> +<img src="images/7tecumsah.jpg" width="106" height="150" alt="TECUMSEH'S YOUNG BRAVES" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +Six volumes Cloth Illustrated by A. E.<br /> +Shute Price per volume reduced to $1.25<br /> +</div> + +<p>No American writer for boys has ever occupied a higher position than Dr. +Tomlinson, and the "War of 1812 Series" covers a field attempted by no +other juvenile literature in a manner that has secured continued +popularity.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="THE WAR OF 1812 SERIES"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>The Search for Andrew Field</b><br /> <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><b>The Boy Soldiers of 1812</b></span> <br /><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><b>The Boy Officers of 1812</b></span><br /> <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><b>Tecumseh's Young Braves</b></span> <br /><span style="margin-left: 4em;"><b>Guarding the Border</b></span> <br /><span style="margin-left: 5em;"><b>The Boys with Old Hickory</b></span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<h3>ST. LAWRENCE SERIES</h3> +<div class='unindent'><b>CRUISING IN THE ST. LAWRENCE</b></div> + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Being the third volume of the "St. Lawrence Series" Cloth<br /></span> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Illustrated Price $1.50</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>Our old friends, "Bob," "Ben," "Jock," and "Bert," having completed +their sophomore year at college, plan to spend the summer vacation +cruising on the noble St. Lawrence. Here they not only visit places of +historic interest, but also the Indian tribes encamped on the banks of +the river, and learn from them their customs, habits, and quaint +legends.</p> + + +<div class='center'><i><b>PREVIOUS VOLUMES</b></i></div> + +<div class='unindent'> +<b>CAMPING ON THE ST. LAWRENCE</b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"><b>Or, On the Trail of the Early Discoverers</b></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cloth Illustrated $1.50</span><br /> +<br /> +<b>THE HOUSE-BOAT ON THE ST. LAWRENCE</b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"><b>Or, Following Frontenac</b></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cloth Illustrated $1.50</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='center'><i><b>BY THE SAME AUTHOR</b></i></div> + +<div class='unindent'> +<b>STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION</b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">First and Second Series Cloth Illustrated $1.00 each</span><br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h3>Lothrop, Lee & Shepherd and Co., Boston</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span><br /> +</p> +<h2>PIGEON CAMP SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By MARTHA JAMES</h3> + +<div class='center'> +Illustrated Cloth Large 12mo <b>$1.25</b><br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<h3>JIMMIE SUTER</h3> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 143px;"> +<img src="images/8suter.jpg" width="143" height="200" alt="JIMMIE SUTER" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><big>J</big>IMMIE SUTER is a sturdy, active, honest boy, whose father and mother +are very worthy people in moderate circumstances. What Jimmie lacks in +pocket money, however, he more than makes up in mechanical ingenuity and +other good qualities, and his best boy friend is the son of a rich man, +but not spoiled by the fact. They have royal times making and sailing an +ice-boat and doing many other things, and best of all they organize the +"S. F. B.," or Society for Feeding Birds, which spreads far and wide and +is productive of most enjoyable acquaintances besides doing good service +in the cause for which it was intended. Deeds of kindness to a queer old +neighbor bring an unexpected reward, and the bright, wholesome book ends +in a most pleasing manner.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Martha James seems to have a good kind of insight +for this juvenile literature, and in the course of +an interesting story drops many valuable +suggestions about the employment of a boy's time +and his habits of life outside of +school."—<i>Syracuse Herald.</i></p> + +<p>"In his kindness and thoughtfulness for both men +and animals, Jimmie is an ideal boy."—<i>The +Watchman, Boston.</i></p> + +<p>"The happy, wholesome book closes in a thoroughly +satisfactory way."—<i>Chicago Inter-Ocean.</i></p> + +<p>"The tone is simple and healthy, and the book will +no doubt find many young readers."—<i>The Churchman, +Milwaukee.</i></p></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<b>For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price<br /> +by the publishers,<br /> +<br /> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON</b></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span><br /> +</p> +<h2>W. O. STODDARD'S BOOKS</h2> + +<div class='center'> +12mo Cloth Price per volume, <b>$1.25</b><br /> +<br /><br /></div> + +<div class='hang1'><b>DAN MONROE: A Story of Bunker Bill</b> Illustrated by W. F. Kennedy</div> + +<p>In this volume the hero is one whose name is found in several +trustworthy records as the drummer boy of the Lexington militia, his +closest friend, Nat Harrington, being the fifer. The Concord fight, the +Battle of Bunker Hill, and the arrival of Washington are introduced as +parts of a carefully preserved historical outline.<br /><br /></p> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>LONG BRIDGE BOYS</b> Illustrated by I. B. Hazelton</div> + +<p>It tells the story of an actual attempt made by the Confederates of +Virginia, just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, to seize the city +of Washington by force of arms, and make prisoners of President Lincoln +and other high government officials.<br /><br /></p> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>AHEAD OF THE ARMY</b> Illustrated by C. Chase Emerson</div> + +<p>This is a lively narrative of the experiences of an American boy who +arrives in Mexico as the war with the United States is beginning.<br /><br /></p> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>THE ERRAND BOY OF ANDREW JACKSON: A War Story of 1812</b> Illustrated by +Will Crawford</div> + +<p>This tale is of the War of 1812, and describes the events of the only +land campaign of 1812-1814 in which the Americans were entirely +successful.<br /><br /></p> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>JACK MORGAN: A Boy of 1812</b> Illustrated by Will Crawford</div> + +<p>It is the adventures of a boy of the frontier during the great fight +that Harrison made on land, and Perry on the lakes for the security of +the border.<br /><br /></p> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>THE NOANK'S LOG: A Privateer of the Revolution</b> Illustrated by Will +Crawford</div> + +<p>The further adventures of the plucky Guert Ten Eyck, as he fought King +George on land and sea.<br /><br /></p> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>THE DESPATCH BOAT OF THE WHISTLE: A Story of Santiago</b> Illustrated by +Frank T. Merrill</div> + +<p>A breezy story of a newspaper despatch boat, in the war with Spain.<br /><br /></p> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>GUERT TEN EYCK</b> Illustrated by Frank T. Merrill</div> + +<p>A hero story of real American girls and boys, in the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'America'">American</ins> +Revolution.<br /><br /></p> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>THE PARTNERS</b> Illustrated by Albert Scott Cox</div> + +<p>A capital story of a bright, go-ahead country girl and two boys who +helped her keep store.<br /><br /></p> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>CHUCK PURDY: A New York Boy</b> Illustrated</div> + +<p>A delightful story of boy life in New York City.<br /><br /></p> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>GID GRANGER: A Country Boy</b> Illustrated</div> + +<p>A capital story of American life.</p> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<b>For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers,<br /> +<br /> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON</b></div> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span><br /> +</p><div class='bbox'> +<h2>George Cary Eggleston's Juveniles</h2> + + +<h3>The Bale Marked Circle X</h3> + +<div class='center'><big>A Blockade Running Adventure</big><br /> + +<b>Illustrated by C. Chase Emerson. 12mo, red cloth, illustrated cover, +$1.50.</b></div> + +<p>Another of Mr. Eggleston's stirring books for youth. In it are told the +adventures of three boy soldiers in the Confederate Service who are sent +in a sloop on a secret voyage from Charleston to the Bahamas, conveying +a strange bale of cotton which holds important documents. The boys pass +through startling adventures: they run the blockade, suffer shipwreck, +and finally reach their destination after the pluckiest kind of effort.</p> + + +<h3>Camp Venture</h3> + +<div class='center'><big>A Story of the Virginia Mountains</big><br /> + +<b>Illustrated by W. A. McCullough. 12mo, dark red cloth, illustrated +cover, $1.50.</b></div> + +<p>The <i>Louisville Courier Journal</i> says: "George Cary Eggleston has +written a decidedly good tale of pluck and adventure in 'Camp Venture.' +It will be of interest to young and old who enjoy an exciting story, but +there is also a great deal of instruction and information in the book."</p> + + +<h3>The Last of the Flatboats</h3> + +<div class='center'><big>A Story of the Mississippi</big><br /> + +<b>Illustrated by Charlotte Harding. 12mo, green cloth, illustrated cover, +$1.50.</b></div> + +<p>The <i>Brooklyn Eagle</i> says: "Mr. George Cary Eggleston, the veteran +editor and author, has scored a double success in his new book, 'The +Last of the Flatboats,' which has just been published. Written primarily +as a story for young readers, it contains many things that are of +interest to older people. Altogether, it is a mighty good story, and +well worth reading."</p> + +<h3> +Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., Boston</h3> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span><br /></p> +<p><br /><br /> </p> + +<div class='bbox'> +<h2><i>By Chaplain H. H. CLARK, U.S.N.</i></h2> +</div> +<div class='bbox'> +<h2>THE ADMIRAL'S AID</h2> + +<div class='center'><i>A Story of Life in the New Navy</i><br /><br /> + +12mo, blue cloth, illustrated by I. B. HAZELTON <b>$1.25</b></div> + +<p>In this favorite author's two earlier books we learned somewhat of the +old navy. In this story it is the new navy, with all of its progress and +development, which engages our attention. But the hope of the new navy +is built upon the same qualities that have distinguished officers and +men from its beginning. These Chaplain Clark portrays, to the delight of +every reader, in this thrilling story.</p> + +</div><div class='bbox'> + +<h2>JOE BENTLY, Naval Cadet</h2> + +<div class='center'>12mo, blue cloth, illustrated by F. O. SMALL. <b>$1.25</b></div> + +<p>In this story Joe Bently meets with many new and intensely interesting +adventures.</p> + +</div><div class='bbox'> + +<h2>BOY LIFE IN THE UNITED<br />STATES NAVY</h2> + +<div class='center'>12mo, blue cloth, illustrated. <b>$1.25</b></div> + +<p>The book is a true picture of a healthy, attractive life of the navy +that is little known to the general public, and full enough of +adventures to please all classes of readers.</p> + +</div><div class='bbox'> + +<h3> +Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., Boston<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span><br /> +</h3></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><i>YOUNG DEFENDER SERIES</i></h2> + +<h3>By ELBRIDGE S. BROOKS</h3> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="In Defense of the Flag ad"> +<tr><td align='left'> +<h3>IN DEFENCE OF THE FLAG</h3> +<div class='unindent'><b>A Boy's Adventures in Spain and Cuba in the War of 1898</b><br /> +Illustrated by W. F. <span class="smcap">Stecher</span> 12mo Cloth $1.25<br /> + +<br /> +<big>A</big> STORY of action and adventure such as all healthy boys like, telling +of a plucky young American who defended his country's flag against mobs +in Spain and foemen in Cuba, and had many thrilling experiences.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Suffice it to say that he will be a lucky boy, +with many a thrill before him, who finds this book +in his Christmas stocking. Don is a hero after +every boy's heart."—<i>Boston Herald.</i></p></div> +</td><td align='left'><img src="images/9defenceflag.jpg" width="116" height="150" alt="IN DEFENCE OF THE FLAG" title="" /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<h3>WITH LAWTON AND ROBERTS</h3> +<div class='unindent'><b>A Boy's Adventures in the Philippines and the Transvaal</b><br /> + +Illustrated by C. <span class="smcap">Chase Emerson</span> 12mo Cloth $1.25<br /> +<br /> + +<big>T</big>HE stirring adventures of a manly American boy who follows Lawton in +his last campaigns, and by a singular train of circumstances has "moving +accidents by flood and field," in two wars, with American soldiers, +Filipino insurrectos, Malay pirates, English troopers, and Boer +burghers.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Mr. Brooks presents vivid pictures of both wars, +so widely separated. His pages are full of the +swift moving incidents which boys love. Dull indeed +must be the young reader whose interest +flags."—<i>Boston Journal.</i></p></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="UNDER THE ALLIED FLAGS ad"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/10underflag.jpg" width="87" height="150" alt="UNDER THE ALLIED FLAGS" title="" /> +</td><td align='left'><h3>UNDER THE ALLIED FLAGS</h3> +<div class='unindent'><b>A Boy's Adventures in China During the Boxer Revolt</b> +<br /> +Illustrated by W. F. <span class="smcap">Stecher</span> 12mo Cloth $1.25<br /> +<br /> + +<big>T</big>HE stirring story of an American boy's adventures in Tien Tsin and +Pekin, in the ranks of the International troops and as one of the +defenders of the beleaguered legations. Up-to-date, absorbing, and full +of healthy excitement. Characters who are in the stories "With Lawton +and Roberts" and "In Defence of the Flag" reappear in this story.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Men and women, boys and girls, of all the mingled +nationalities that made this war in China so +picturesque, appear in the story and give it vigor, +variety, and unflagging interest."—<i>Cleveland +World.</i></p></div></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<b>For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price<br /> +by the publishers,<br /> +<br /> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON</b></div> + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> +<p>Page 139, text missing was presumed. <br /></p> +<div class='blockquot'>Original read: +<br />the position, if I f + every dec <br /> +fellow in the Institute had outraged nd <br />[Page Break] +<br />sulted</div> + +<p>Page 172, paragraph break inserted between the lines:</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>"Ay!" shouted the students, with one voice.</p> + +<p>"Those opposed, say no."</p></div> +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Breaking Away, by Oliver Optic + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BREAKING AWAY *** + +***** This file should be named 22433-h.htm or 22433-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/4/3/22433/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from scans of public domain material produced by +Microsoft for their Live Search Books site.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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