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diff --git a/25485.txt b/25485.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..961a7d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/25485.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10870 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dikes and Ditches, 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: Dikes and Ditches + Young America in Holland and Belguim + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Release Date: May 16, 2008 [EBook #25485] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DIKES AND DITCHES *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD + + By + + OLIVER OPTIC + + DIKES AND DITCHES + + BOSTON + + Lee & Shepard. + + [Illustration: A SQUALL IN THE GERMAN OCEAN.--Page 36.] + + [Illustration] + + DIKES AND DITCHES; + + OR, + + YOUNG AMERICA IN HOLLAND AND BELGIUM. + + A STORY OF TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE. + + BY + + OLIVER OPTIC. + + BOSTON: + + LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. + + NEW YORK: + + LEE, SHEPARD & DILLINGHAM, 49 GREENE STREET. + + 1874. + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by + WILLIAM T. ADAMS, + In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. + + ELECTROTYPED AT THE + _Boston Stereotype Foundry,_ + No. 19 Spring Lane. + + + + + TO + + My Fellow-Voyager in the Steamship Persia + + DURING A PLEASANT TRIP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, + + IN 1865, + + _STEPHEN S. HOE_, + + WHOSE NAME EVER REMINDS ME OF MY PERSONAL INDEBTEDNESS + FOR MUCH OF THE PLEASURE OF THE VOYAGE; NOT ONLY + TO MY YOUNG FRIEND WHOSE NAME I MENTION HERE, + BUT ALSO TO HIM WHO SAT OPPOSITE TO US AT + TABLE, WHOSE NAME, ASSOCIATED WITH + ONE OF THE PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS + OF AMERICAN INVENTIVE GENIUS, + I NEED NOT MENTION, FOR + NO WORD OF MINE + COULD HONOR + IT, + + _THIS VOLUME_ + + IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. + + + + +YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD. + +BY OLIVER OPTIC. + + + A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. First and + Second Series; six volumes in each Series. 16mo. Illustrated. + + +_First Series._ + + I. _OUTWARD BOUND;_ OR, YOUNG AMERICA AFLOAT. + + II. _SHAMROCK AND THISTLE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA + IN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND. + + III. _RED CROSS_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN ENGLAND AND + WALES. + + IV. _DIKES AND DITCHES_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN + HOLLAND AND BELGIUM. + + V. _PALACE AND COTTAGE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA + IN FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND. + + VI. _DOWN THE RHINE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN + GERMANY. + + +_Second Series._ + + I. _UP THE BALTIC_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN DENMARK + AND SWEDEN. + + II. _NORTHERN LANDS_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN + PRUSSIA AND RUSSIA. + + III. _VINE AND OLIVE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN SPAIN + AND PORTUGAL. + + IV. _SUNNY SHORES_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN ITALY + AND AUSTRIA. + + V. _CROSS AND CRESCENT_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA + IN GREECE AND TURKEY. + + VI. _ISLES OF THE SEA_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA HOMEWARD + BOUND. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +DIKES AND DITCHES, the fourth of the "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD" series, is a +continuation of the history of the Academy Ship and her consort in the +waters of Holland and Belgium. As in its predecessors, those parts of +the book which lie within the domain of history and fact are intended to +be entirely reliable; and great care has been used to make them so. The +author finds his notes so copious, and his recollections of the Low +Countries so full of interest, that he has felt obliged to devote a +considerable portion of the work to the geography and history of the +country, and to the manners and customs of the people; but there is so +much that is novel in the region itself, and so much that is stirring +and even "sensational" in the history of the sturdy patriots of Holland, +that he hopes his young friends will not complain of the proportion in +which he has mingled his material. It would be a very great happiness to +him to have excited a sufficient degree of interest in these countries +to induce the boys and girls to read Mr. Motley's inimitable works, "The +Rise of the Dutch Republic," and "The History of the United +Netherlands." The writer is confident that young people will find these +volumes quite as attractive as the story books of the day. + +DIKES AND DITCHES has its independent story of the adventures of the +students. Though the Academy Squadron has thus far been remarkably +fortunate in the character of its instructors, Professor Hamblin proves +to be an exception, and the crews of the ship and her consort are +unhappily plunged into sundry disciplinary tribulations by his +overstrained dignity, and by his want of discretion. The young +commander of the Josephine suffers from the evils of a divided +authority, which brings him into conflict with the senior instructor +before experience suggests the remedy. While the principal is compelled +to punish the students for their misconduct in "hazing" the obnoxious +professor, he also finds it necessary to abate the nuisance of a +conceited, overbearing, and tyrannical pedagogue. Boys cannot be +expected to be angels in school, until their instructors have soared to +this sublime height. + +The author of the series, more than ever encouraged by the hearty and +generous favor of his readers, submits this volume to their +consideration, trusting that they will at least appreciate his earnest +efforts not only to please, but to instruct them. + + HARRISON SQUARE, MASS., + April 9, 1868. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. THE PROFESSOR AND THE CAPTAIN. 11 + + II. A SQUALL IN THE GERMAN OCEAN. 27 + + III. SOMETHING ABOUT DIKES. 43 + + IV. UP THE SCHELDT TO FLUSHING. 59 + + V. CAPTAIN SCHIMMELPENNINK. 76 + + VI. PROFESSOR HAMBLIN CHANGES HIS MIND. 93 + + VII. THE LECTURE ON BELGIUM. 110 + + VIII. ANTWERP AND RUBENS. 129 + + IX. TROUBLE ON BOARD THE JOSEPHINE. 146 + + X. WHO WAS CAPTAIN OF THE JOSEPHINE. 162 + + XI. ON THE WAY TO GHENT. 179 + + XII. IN BELGIUM'S CAPITAL. 195 + + XIII. THREE CHEERS FOR THE KING OF BELGIUM. 213 + + XIV. THE VICE-PRINCIPAL. 230 + + XV. THE PROFESSOR'S CHARGE. 245 + + XVI. CAPTAIN KENDALL'S DEFENCE. 262 + + XVII. MORE ABOUT THE DIKES AND DITCHES. 278 + + XVIII. AN EXCURSION AMONG THE DIKES. 293 + + XIX. A RUN THROUGH HOLLAND. 310 + + XX. ADIEU TO HOLLAND AND PROFESSOR HAMBLIN. 328 + + + + +DIKES AND DITCHES; + +OR, + +YOUNG AMERICA IN HOLLAND AND BELGIUM. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE PROFESSOR AND THE CAPTAIN. + + +The Young America, with every rag of canvas set, including +studding-sails alow and aloft, rolled and pitched gracefully on the long +swells of the German Ocean. The wind was very light from the north-west, +and there was hardly enough of it to give the ship steerage-way. A mile +off, on her starboard bow, was the Josephine, beclouded in the quantity +of sail she carried, but hardly leaving a wake in the blue waters behind +her. The hummocks and the low land of the shores of Holland and Belgium +were in sight; but, with the present breeze, there was but little hope +of reaching the mouth of the Scheldt that night, though it was hardly +twenty miles distant. + +The regular course of instruction was in progress in both vessels, the +starboard watch of each being in the steerage, attending to their +studies, while the port watch were on deck, in charge of the sailing +department. Mr. Lowington paced the deck of the ship, and, with the +habit of an old sailor, frequently cast his eyes aloft to see what sails +were drawing. Occasionally, from a custom begotten of his solicitude for +his charge, he glanced at the Josephine. + +The squadron did not make even a mile an hour; and when the watch was +changed, at four o'clock, there was not a breath of air to ruffle the +glassy waves. The ship rolled and pitched on the swells, and the sails +slapped against the masts and rigging under the effect of her motion. +The young seamen on deck, without being in a hurry, were annoyed and +vexed, as all sailors are in a calm. They partook of the heaviness of +the scene, and gaped and yawned, from mere inactivity, and the want of +something to occupy their minds. + +The calm was only the prelude of a lively scene. To the westward, beyond +the low coast line dimly seen in the distance, was a dense mass of black +clouds, rising rapidly towards the zenith. Low, muttering, muffled +thunder came over the sea. The sun went into the inky veil; and then the +lightnings flashed, faintly at first, but glaring brighter and brighter +as the darkness increased. + +Mr. Lowington still paced the deck; but, instead of looking aloft now, +he cast frequent glances at the officer of the deck, who was watching +the dense black clouds. The principal said nothing; for, whatever views +he had in regard to the working of the ship, it was his policy never to +interfere until absolutely necessary. The officers were encouraged to do +their own thinking, and were expected to take all necessary precautions +for the safety of the ship at the right time. The second lieutenant was +in charge of the deck, and as yet he had taken no step which indicated +that he was conscious of any peril. + +"Mr. Lavender," said he, at last, when the principal's movements had +begun to be a little nervous. + +The second midshipman, who was the third officer in rank on duty, +stepped up to the lieutenant and touched his cap. + +"Tell the captain there is a shower coming up, and that the clouds look +squally," added Mr. Ellis, the officer of the deck. + +Lavender touched his cap, and went down into the steerage, where the +captain was reciting his French lesson to Professor Badois. + +"Excuse me," said Captain Haven. "I must go on deck, for I suppose Mr. +Lowington wouldn't give an order to take in sail if the masts were blown +out of the ship." + +The commander of the Young America went on deck in a hurry. He and all +below had observed the sudden darkness which pervaded the steerage, and +they were rather glad to have something stirring occur to break up the +monotony of the calm. The captain looked at the black clouds, and +promptly directed the officer of the deck to take in the studding-sails, +which was done by the watch. + +The clouds wore that peculiar appearance which indicates wind--an aspect +which the old sailor readily recognizes. Captain Haven was familiar +enough with the weather signs to understand what was coming; but the +young sailor is almost as much afraid of taking in sail too soon as of +being too tardy in doing so. There is as much vanity in carrying sail as +in wearing fine clothes. The captain did not wish to be too cautious, +for that would cause a smile upon the faces of the ship's crew. + +He looked at Mr. Lowington, who seemed to be perfectly satisfied, or +rather his attention was directed entirely to the Josephine, which had +not yet taken in her huge fore square-sail. Then he studied the +threatening pile of black clouds, which had now nearly reached the +zenith; while the thunder rattled, and the lightnings flashed with +blinding glare. + +"Take in topgallant-sails and royals," said Captain Haven to the officer +of the deck, now satisfied that his reputation for carrying sail could +not suffer in the face of such admonitory indications. + +Mr. Ellis called on the entire starboard watch to obey his orders; for +only a quarter watch was required to handle the ship under ordinary +circumstances, the other portion of the watch being idlers on deck. The +light sails were taken in; and Mr. Lowington made no comment, as he +sometimes did, after an evolution had been performed, in order to +express his approval or otherwise of the action of the captain. + +The Josephine was most strangely deficient in caution on the present +occasion, and the principal was evidently much disturbed by the conduct +of her captain, who was usually very prudent, without being timid. There +she was, with all her extra sail set and flapping in the calm, while a +tempest was brewing before her. + +"Captain Kendall must be asleep," said Mr. Lowington, nervously, to +Peaks, the adult boatswain of the ship. + +"And the officers too," replied the old salt, hitching up his trousers. +"We ought to fire a gun to wake them up." + +"It is not like Captain Kendall to be caught napping when a squall is +gathering," added the principal. + +"I should think the thunder would wake them up. It's heavy for these +parts. That squall will come all at once when it does come. It will take +their sails right out of the bolt-ropes." + +Mr. Lowington walked aft again, and on the quarter-deck met Flag-officer +Gordon, who had also been observing the Josephine, and wondering at her +continued neglect of the most ordinary precautions. + +"Mr. Lavender," said the commander of the squadron. + +The midshipman, ever ready to do the meagre duties assigned to him, +touched his cap to Captain Gordon. + +"Pass the word for the signal-officer," added the flag-officer. + +"That's right, Captain Gordon!" exclaimed the principal. "If the +officers of the Josephine don't do better than this, they must be +broken. I am astonished." + +"So am I, sir. Captain Kendall is usually very careful, and what he +don't see isn't worth seeing." + +"Be as expeditious as possible, for the squall will soon be upon us." + +The signal-officer appeared with the midshipman and quartermaster in +charge of the signals. Captain Gordon ordered the number, "Take in +sail," to be set. + +Paul Kendall was severely criticised on board of the ship; but, before +he has suffered too much in the estimation of his sympathizing friends, +let our readers be transferred to the steerage of the Josephine, in +which, as the consort of the Academy Ship, the same rules and +regulations prevailed. The port watch were at their studies, while the +starboard watch had the deck, in charge of Mr. Terrill, the first +lieutenant. This was the captain's study time, for he was a member of +the several classes, and in school hours was subject to the discipline +of the professors, the same as other students. + +When the squall began to gather, Professor Hamblin was hearing the +recitation in Greek. The learned gentleman did not think a scholar knew +anything unless he possessed a considerable knowledge of Greek. It was +his favorite branch, and the class in this language was his pet. He was +a strict disciplinarian, and never allowed anything to interrupt the +recitation in Greek if he could possibly avoid it. No scholar, not even +the captain, as the regulations then were, could leave the class without +his permission. It is true, the rule had not been made, or even been +considered, with special reference to the commander of the vessel; but +Paul had always quietly submitted to it, even at some inconvenience and +sacrifice to himself. No emergency had arisen, since the Josephine went +into commission, which required the setting aside of the rule, and it +was supposed the professors would have judgment enough to use it with +proper discretion. + +Professor Hamblin, so far as Greek roots were concerned, was not lacking +in judgment; but he knew no more about a ship than Cleats, the +boatswain, did about Greek. He was a very learned man, and lived in a +Greek and Latin atmosphere. The dead languages were the chief end of man +to him. He was cold, stern, and precise, except that, when hearing a +class in Greek, he warmed up a little, and became more human, especially +if the students manifested a becoming interest in his favorite branch. + +Unfortunately for Paul Kendall, he was not an enthusiastic devotee of +the Greek language and literature. He lived too much in the present to +be enamoured of anything so old, and, as it seemed to him, so +comparatively useless. But he was faithful in the discharge of all the +academic requirements of the institution, not excepting even those +branches which he disliked. Though he was always very respectful to +Professor Hamblin, he was candid enough to say that he did not like +Greek. He was, therefore, no favorite of the learned gentleman, who +thought his abilities and his scholarship were over-estimated--because +he did not like the dead languages. + +"Mr. Terrill directs me to inform you that a squall is coming up," said +Ritchie, the third master, as he touched his cap to Captain Kendall. + +"No interruption! No interruption!" interposed Professor Hamblin, very +ill-naturedly. + +The third master touched his cap, as the captain bowed to him in +acknowledgment that he had heard the message, and then retired. The +professor was vexed: perhaps he was a little more ill-natured than +usual, on account of being slightly seasick--an effect produced by the +uneasy roll of the vessel in the calm. + +"Now, Mr. Kendall, go on with the dual of [Greek: admev]," added he, as +Ritchie retired. + +"I must beg you will excuse me, Professor Hamblin," said Paul, with the +utmost deference, as he rose from the bench on which he was seated. + +"Go on with the dual!" replied the professor, sternly. + +Paul looked at the snapping gray eye of the learned gentleman, and was +assured that he had a will of his own. As the captain of the Josephine, +he did not wish to set an example of insubordination, which others might +adopt before they were certain that the emergency required it. He had +not seen the gathering clouds, and he had full confidence in the +judgment and skill of Terrill, who was in charge of the deck. The rule +was that the professors should be obeyed in study hours. This had always +been the regulation on board the ship; but, then, the principal, who was +a sailor himself, was always present to prevent any abuse of power. + +Paul decided to yield the point for a time, at least, and he recited his +lesson as directed by the professor. Half an hour later, Ritchie +appeared again, with another message from the first lieutenant, to the +effect that the squall was almost upon them. This was about the time +that Flag-officer Gordon had sent for the signal-officer, on board of +the ship. + +"You must excuse me now, Professor Hamblin, for I must go on deck," said +Paul, as respectfully as he could speak. + +"I can't spare you; I haven't finished the exercise yet," replied Mr. +Hamblin, sourly. "This is a plan to break up the lesson in Greek, +because some of the young gentlemen don't like to study it." + +"I beg your pardon, sir; but the officer of the deck sends me word that +the squall is upon us. You can hear the thunder and see the lightning," +added Paul. + +"I am not afraid of thunder and lightning," growled the professor. "My +classes are not to be broken up on any frivolous pretences. Mr. +Lowington assured me I had full powers over all during study hours; and +I tell you to be seated, and go on with your recitation." + +"But the vessel is in danger, sir," protested Paul. + +"I'm not afraid, and you need not be. Take your seat, sir, or I will +report you to the principal." + +Paul's face flushed. No officer or professor had before ever threatened +to report him to Mr. Lowington. Mr. Hamblin was as ignorant as a baby +upon nautical matters, and while the Josephine rolled easily on the +waves, and the sails flapped idly against the masts, he could imagine no +peril. + +"I am sorry to disobey your order, sir; but in this instance I must," +said Paul, firmly, though his voice trembled with emotion. + +"Very well, sir," replied the professor, angrily, "I shall report you to +the principal, and if I have any influence with him, you will be removed +from your present position." + +Paul did not wait to hear any more, but hastened on deck. His quick eye +discovered the peril of the moment. The squall was indeed upon them. At +the peak of the Young America hung the signal which had been hoisted; +but it was not necessary to look in the book for its meaning. + +"Mr. Terrill, call all hands--quick!" said Captain Kendall, in sharp +tones. + +"All hands on deck, ahoy!" roared the boatswain's mate, as he piped his +shrill whistle at the main hatch. + +The students flew from their seats at the mess table, deserting the two +professors without an apology. With only two exceptions, the officers +and crew of the Josephine were all old sailors. Most of them had been on +board the ship for two years, and a sudden squall was no new thing to +them. They leaped into their stations, and when the orders were given +they knew exactly what to do. + +"Stand by sheets and halyards!" shouted the first lieutenant. "Man the +jib, and flying jib halyards, and downhauls!" + +"All ready forward, sir," reported the second lieutenant, whose place +was on the forecastle. + +"Man the topgallant clewlines and buntlines!" continued Terrill. + +"All ready, sir!" + +"Ease off the sheets! Settle away the halyards! Clew up! Lay aloft, and +furl topgallant-sail!" + +The topgallant men sprang up the rigging like so many cats, for all +hands had been thoroughly waked up by the impending peril. + +"Let go the flying jib halyard! Haul down! Lay out and stow the flying +jib!" + +"Man the topsail clewlines and buntlines!" + +"All ready, sir," replied the second lieutenant. + +"Let go the topsail sheets! Clew up! Settle away the halyards! Haul taut +the braces!" + +All this was done in half the time it takes to read it; and the light +sails of the Josephine were furled. The main gaff-topsail was taken in, +and then the schooner had only her jib, foresail, and mainsail. It was +not necessary to take these in until the peril became more imminent; but +Paul ordered the foresail to be lowered, and reefed, for the vessel was +supposed to lie to best under this sail. The Young America had furled +everything except her topsails, jib, and spanker. + +Professor Hamblin had not yet recovered from his astonishment, and he +was as indignant as a learned Greek scholar could be. Professor Stoute +and himself were the only persons left in the steerage; but while the +former laughed, the latter stormed. + +"I have been insulted, Mr. Stoute," said the learned gentleman. "That +boy has disobeyed me, as though I were a person of no consequence." + +"Why, he was perfectly respectful to you," laughed the good-natured +professor. "You must remember that he is the captain of the ship, and +that everything depends upon him." + +"He left the class contrary to my orders; and not satisfied with that, +he calls all the rest of the students on deck," added Mr. Hamblin, +wrathfully. "I had not finished the Greek lesson." + +"But there's a squall coming up," pleaded Mr. Stoute. + +"What if there was a squall coming up. The principal assured me there +were hands enough on deck to work the vessel under all ordinary +circumstances." + +"But you don't understand the matter, Mr. Hamblin," continued the jolly +professor. + +"Do you mean to insult me too, Mr. Stoute?" demanded the irate +fountain-head of Greek literature. + +"Certainly not; I beg your pardon, Mr. Hamblin," replied Mr. Stoute, +laughing more heartily than before. "I do not profess to comprehend +these nautical affairs; but I presume it was necessary to call all +hands, or the captain would not have done so." + +"It was not necessary. I am willing to take the responsibility of that +assertion myself, and I shall report this disrespect and disobedience of +the captain to Mr. Lowington. If he chooses to sustain the delinquent in +such gross misconduct, I will leave the vessel at the first port we +enter." + +"Mr. Lowington will certainly do justice to both of you." + +"Excuse me, Mr. Stoute; he must do justice to _me_. I have been a +schoolmaster and a professor in college all my lifetime, and I do not +wish to have any one speak of settling a case between me and one of my +pupils. There is only one side to such a question," replied Mr. Hamblin, +whose dignity was terribly damaged by the incident of the afternoon. + +"Well, Mr. Hamblin, I wish to be respectful; but I also mean to be +candid. I feel compelled to say that I believe you are all wrong." + +"All wrong, sir!" + +"Yes, sir; all wrong. Look at the question for one moment." + +"I don't wish to look at it. Between teacher and pupil there can be no +issues of any kind. It is my place to command, my scholar's to obey, in +the school-room." + +"Now, really, Mr. Hamblin," continued the laughing professor, rubbing +his hands, as though he enjoyed the controversy, "while I agree with you +on the general principle, I must differ from you in its application to +this particular case. Your pupil is the commander of the vessel. Our +very lives depend upon his prudence and skill. It was necessary to take +in sail." + +"Very well. Wasn't half the crew on deck for that purpose?" interposed +Mr. Hamblin. + +"But who shall determine whether it is necessary or not to take in +sail?" + +"The officer who has the care of the vessel for the time being, of +course. Then there are Mr. Cleats, and Mr. Gage, and the servants to +help them reduce the sails, if needed. There is not the least necessity +for disturbing the classes." + +"But no one except the captain can give the order to take in a single +sail in the daytime. This vessel is under naval discipline, you are +aware; but I think you cannot have read the rules. Here they are," added +Mr. Stoute, taking the printed regulations of the ship from his pocket. +"Officer of the Deck. He is not to make or take in sail in the daytime, +except in a squall, without directions from the captain; but in the +night he may take in sail, acquainting the captain with his reasons, +which he must enter on the log." + +"Well, this is a squall--isn't it?" growled Mr. Hamblin. + +"Perhaps it will be; but it seems to me quite proper that the captain +should go on deck when there is any danger. For my part, I have some +regard for my fat body, and I don't care about leaving it here at the +bottom of the German Ocean," chuckled Mr. Stoute; and he always laughed +with especial gusto when he had said anything which he thought was +funny. "The captain can leave any of my classes when he is sent for to +look out for the vessel." + +"Mr. Stoute, this is a question of discipline; and higher considerations +than those of merely personal comfort and security should be brought to +bear upon it. It would be impossible for me to impart to my pupils a +knowledge of that noblest language of the historic past, if they are to +be permitted to leave the class when they choose to do so. I shall refer +this matter to Mr. Lowington for his decision. He must suspend the +captain, or he must suspend me. If I cannot control my scholars, I will +not attempt to instruct. It would be preposterous to do so. I shall take +a boat, and go on board of the ship at once, for this difficulty admits +of no delay." + +Professor Hamblin, in high dudgeon, took his hat, and went up the +ladder. Mr. Stoute shook his fat sides, laughing at the ire of his +distinguished and learned associate. He was desirous of seeing his +companion start for the ship in the approaching tempest, and he followed +him on deck. + +"Captain Kendall," said Mr. Hamblin, sternly, as he walked up to the +young commander, heedless of the rattling thunder and the flashing +lightning. + +Paul bowed politely, and looked at the professor, intimating that he was +ready to hear him. It was noticeable that Mr. Hamblin always called the +commander "Mr. Kendall" when he was in the steerage attending to his +studies, and "Captain Kendall" on deck, or in the cabin. The professor +intended to indicate, by this choice of terms, that he was captain +during school hours. + +"Captain Kendall, I desire a boat immediately," added Mr. Hamblin. + +"A boat!" exclaimed Paul, astonished at the request at such a time. + +"I said a boat, Captain Kendall. I purpose to refer the matter of your +disobedience to Mr. Lowington without any unnecessary delay." + +"But, Mr. Hamblin, there is a squall coming up." + +"I am aware of that; but I demand the boat." + +"It would be dangerous, sir. The boat would certainly be swamped." + +"I will take the responsibility of that." + +"I should be very happy to furnish the boat, sir; but I cannot expose a +crew to such a storm as will soon break upon us," replied Paul. + +"You refuse--do you?" demanded the professor, angrily. + +"I feel compelled to do so, sir." + +"In my hearing, Mr. Lowington instructed you to furnish the professors +with a boat at any time when they desired it." + +"I will furnish the boat, sir; but I will not expose the crew to such +peril. I will hoist out the third cutter for you, sir, if you wish." + +"I demand a sufficient number of sailors to row the boat." + +"You will pardon me, sir; but I will not send any seamen into a boat +until the squall is over. It is unreasonable to ask such a thing." + +"Unreasonable, sir! How dare you tell me I am unreasonable?" stormed the +professor, stamping his foot upon the deck. + +Paul bowed, but made no reply. He was placed in a very disagreeable and +painful position. He knew that it was madness to send a boat off while +the squall was impending. Mr. Hamblin was wrathy. The long billows were +black and smooth, and the sails hung idly on the gaffs. There was no +danger then, and the learned gentleman had been so fortunate as never to +see any of the perils of the ocean. His passage to England in the +steamer had been a remarkably pleasant one. Nothing like a gale, or even +a high wind, had interrupted its serenity, and the professor had imbibed +a certain contempt for the perils of the ocean. He had never seen them; +and, if mere boys were able to work such a vessel as the Josephine, a +learned man like himself need not tremble in their presence. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A SQUALL IN THE GERMAN OCEAN. + + +"Mr. Cleats!" said Professor Hamblin, in the most sternly solemn and +impressive manner, as he rushed up to the adult boatswain of the +Josephine. + +"Here, sir!" responded the old salt, touching his cap as politely as +though the learned gentleman had been an admiral. + +"I want a boat, sir," continued the professor, fiercely. + +"Your honor must apply to the captain," answered Cleats, touching his +cap again. + +"I have applied to him, and he has refused me. I desire you to take a +boat, and row me to the ship. The carpenter can assist you." + +"Bless your honor's heart, I can't go without the captain's orders," +added Cleats, opening his eyes as wide as though he had been invited to +head a mutiny. + +"I will protect you from any harm, Mr. Cleats. I will represent the +matter to Mr. Lowington." + +"I never do anything, your honor, without orders from the captain. It +would be mutiny for me to do so, and I should be hung at the fore +yard-arm." + +"Nonsense, Mr. Cleats! Will you listen to reason?" + +"Sartain, your honor. I always listen to reason; but there isn't any +reason in leaving the ship without the captain's orders." + +"But the captain says I may have the boat; and I only want a couple of +men to row it." + +"I will pull the boat with the greatest pleasure, sir, if the captain +orders me to do so; or the first lieutenant, for that matter, sir. I +always obey orders, sir, if it sinks the ship." + +"I have a complaint to make against the captain for disobedience of my +orders, and he will not permit me to go on board of the ship to prefer +the charge." + +"Whew!" whistled the boatswain, as long and loud as though the sound had +been made with his own shrill pipe. "A complaint against the captain! I +beg your honor's pardon, but that can't be. Nobody can have a complaint +against the captain." + +"I do not wish to argue the matter with you. Will you do what I ask, or +not?" + +"I beg your honor's pardon, but I will not," replied Cleats, who seemed +to have no doubt in regard to his own course, whatever rupture there +might be among the powers above him. + +"That's enough," growled Mr. Hamblin, turning on his heel. + +"There's a big squall coming, your honor," added Cleats, loud enough for +the professor to hear him. "The boat wouldn't live a minute in it." + +"I am not afraid of the squall," replied the learned gentleman, pausing. +"Will you row the boat?" + +"No, sir; I would rather not," answered Cleats, shaking his head. + +At this moment a heavy roaring, rushing sound came over the sea from +the direction of the land. The water was covered with a dense white +mist. The sound increased in volume till it vied with the booming +thunder, and the surface of the sea was lashed into a snowy foam by the +coming tempest. + +"Down with the jib and mainsail!" shouted Captain Kendall, sharply. + +"Stand by the mainsail halyards!" said Terrill, through his speaking +trumpet. "Man the jib halyards and downhaul!" + +"All ready, sir," replied the second lieutenant, forward; for all hands +were still at their stations, in anticipation of the emergency. + +"All ready, sir," added the fourth lieutenant, whose place was on the +quarter-deck. + +"Let go the mainsail halyards!" added the first lieutenant; and the +order was repeated by the fourth lieutenant. "Down with it, lively!" + +The heavy sail, assisted by twenty pairs of willing and eager hands, +rattled down in an instant, and was speedily secured. + +"Let go the jib halyards! Haul down!" said the second lieutenant, on the +forecastle, when the order to take in the jib reached him. + +The hands "walked away" with the downhaul, and the jib was on the +bowsprit in an instant. + +"Lay out and stow the jib!" added the officer. "Mind your eye there! The +squall is upon us!" + +The roar of the squall--heard at first miles away--swept along over the +ocean, carrying a tempest of foam and spray before it, and came down +upon the Josephine. Though she carried no sail, the force of the wind +was enough to heel her down, while the spray leaped over her decks in +the furious blast. The scene was grand and sublime. The thunders roared; +the lightnings seemed to hiss in their fury, as they darted through the +moist atmosphere; and the wind, hardly less than a hurricane, howled in +unison with the booming thunderbolts. + +At first, on the long swells of the ocean, which a moment before had +been as smooth and glassy as a mirror, thousands of little white-capped +waves gathered, throwing up volumes of fine spray, which was borne away +by the tempest; so that the air was laden with moisture. Though the +squall came heavy in the beginning, it did not attain its full power for +several minutes. The effect even of the onslaught of the tempest was +tremendous, and officers and crew clung to the rigging and the wood-work +of the vessel, fearful that the savage blast would take them bodily from +their feet, and bear them away into the angry ocean. + +"Down with the helm!" roared Captain Kendall to the quartermaster, who, +with four of the strongest seamen, had been stationed at the wheel. + +The action of the fierce wind upon the vessel's side was powerful enough +to give her steerage-way without any sail, and her head came up to the +gale, so that she took the blast on her port bow. Thus far, the effect +upon the ocean did not correspond with the violence of the tempest; for +even the severest blow does not immediately create a heavy sea. But, if +the tempest continued even for a few minutes, this result was sure to +follow. There is no especial peril in a squall, if the seaman has had +time to take in sail, unless in a heavy sea; but it does not take long +for a hurricane, in the open ocean, to stir up the water to its maddest +fury. + +Professor Hamblin was walking up and down in the waist,--a very pretty +type of the squall itself,--when the initial stroke of the tempest came +upon the Josephine. His "stove-pipe" hat, as non-nautical as anything +could be, which he persisted in wearing, was tipped from his head, and +borne over the rail into the sea. This accident did not improve his +temper, and he was on the point of asking the captain to send a boat to +pick up his lost tile, when the full force of the squall began to be +expended upon the vessel. He found himself unable to stand up; and he +reeled to the mainmast, where Professor Stoute was already moored to the +fife-rail. + +"Wouldn't you like the boat now, Mr. Hamblin?" chuckled the jolly +professor, hardly able to speak without having his words blown down his +throat. + +"I've lost my hat," growled the learned gentleman, almost choked with +ill-nature within, and the ill-wind without. + +"Ask the captain to send a boat for it," laughed Mr. Stoute. "There he +stands! Upon my word, he is a wonder to me! He handles the vessel like +an old admiral who has been imbedded in salt for forty years!" + +"Any boy could do it!" snarled the irate professor. + +"It is fortunate that Captain Kendall went on deck when he did," added +Mr. Stoute. "We should all have gone to the bottom if they hadn't taken +in sail in season." + +"You distress yourself with mighty bugbears," sneered Mr. Hamblin. "I am +very sorry to see you encouraging insubordination among your pupils, +and--" + +And a blast more savage than any which had before struck the vessel +ended the professor's speech; for, while it drenched him with salt +water, it gave him all he wanted to do to hold on for his life. He +worked himself round under the lee of the mainmast, and held on with +both hands at the fife-rail, his breath blown down into his lungs by the +wind. + +The squall was not one of those which come and go in a few moments; and, +in a short time, the sea had been lashed into a boiling, roaring, +foam-capped maelstrom. The Josephine rolled and pitched most fearfully. +Below there was a fierce crashing of everything movable, while the winds +howled a savage storm-song through the swaying rigging. By the captain's +order, the crew had, with great difficulty, extended several life-lines +across the deck, for the safety of those who were compelled to move +about in executing the various manoeuvres which the emergency +required. + +The angry professor began to cool off under the severe regimen of the +tempest. He was drenched to the skin by the spray, and it required the +utmost activity on his part to enable him to keep his hold upon the +fife-rail. Now the vessel rolled, and pitched him upon his moorings; and +then rolled again, jerking him, at arm's length, away from them, his +muscles cracking under the pressure. Professor Stoute, determined to be +on the safe side, had passed the end of the lee topgallant brace around +his body, and secured himself to one of the belaying pins. Nothing ever +disturbed his equanimity, and though he was doubtless fully impressed by +the sublimity of the storm, he was just as jolly and good-natured as +ever. + +The captain and the executive officer were holding on at one of the +life-lines on the quarter-deck. Paul looked as noble and commanding as +though he had been a foot taller, with a full beard grown upon his face. +He appeared to be master of the situation, and Professor Stoute regarded +him with an admiration strongly in contrast with the disgust of his +fellow-teacher. The competent captain of the ship is always little less +than a miracle of a man to his passengers, especially in a storm, when +he is confident and self-reliant. They feel that everything--their very +lives, and the lives of those they love--are dependent upon him, and +they look up to him as to an oracle of skill and wisdom. + +"It's coming heavier and heavier," said Terrill, as the Josephine gave a +fearful lurch. + +"Ay, ay! It's nothing less than a hurricane," replied Paul. + +"It's the biggest squall I ever was in," added Terrill, blowing the salt +water out of his mouth, after a pint of spray had slapped him in the +face. + +"It is kicking up an awful sea." + +"That's so." + +"Keep your helm hard down, Blair!" shouted Paul to the quartermaster in +charge of the wheel. + +"She don't mind it now, sir!" yelled the quartermaster, at the top of +his lungs. + +"She's falling off, Mr. Terrill," added Paul. + +"I see she is, sir." + +"We must keep her head up to it, or our decks will be washed. Hard down, +Blair!" + +"She don't mind it, sir!" + +"Set the close-reefed foresail, Mr. Terrill," said the captain. "But be +careful of the hands." + +Terrill, with the trumpet in his hand, sprang from the life-line to the +fife-rail, so as to be nearer to the hands who were to execute the +captain's order. The unpleasant plight of Mr. Hamblin attracted his +attention, in spite of the pressure of the emergency. His gyrations, as +he bobbed about under the uneasy motions of the vessel, gave him a +ludicrous appearance, which even the positive expression of suffering on +his face did not essentially mitigate. He had evidently come to a +realizing sense of the perils of the sea, and was a pitiful sight to +behold. + +"Man the foresail outhaul!" shouted Terrill, through his trumpet. "Mr. +Martyn!" + +"Here, sir!" replied the second lieutenant; but his voice sounded like a +whisper in the roar of the hurricane. + +"Double the hands on the outhaul!" added Terrill. "Stand by the brails!" + +"All ready, forward, sir!" reported Martyn. + +"Stand by the fore-sheets!--Mr. Cleats!" continued the executive +officer. + +"Here, sir!" said the old sailor, who, with the carpenter, was holding +on at the weather-rail. + +"Will you and Mr. Gage assist at the sheet?" + +"Ay, ay, sir! This is heavy work. I hope she'll carry that foresail." + +"She must carry it, or carry it away," added Terrill. "We are falling +off badly." + +"So we are; it ought to be done," answered the boatswain, as he began to +overhaul the sheets. + +It was with the greatest difficulty that any one could stand up on deck. +The billows were momentarily increasing, and the Josephine had fallen +off into the trough of the sea, and rolled helplessly in the surging +waves, so that her fore yard appeared almost to dip in the brine. The +outhaul was run out on the deck, and manned by all the hands that could +get hold of it. The lee sheet was extended in like manner, and the whole +after guard, besides the two adult forward officers, were called to walk +away with it. + +"O, dear!" groaned Mr. Hamblin, after the vessel had given an unusually +heavy lee lurch, the jerk of which had nearly knocked the breath out of +his body. + +"What's the matter, your honor?" demanded Cleats, who always pitied a +landlubber in a gale. + +"Do you think there's any danger, Mr. Cleats?" gasped the professor. + +"Danger! Bless your honor's heart! there's never any danger in a good +ship, well manned," replied the veteran tar, as he knocked a kink out of +the sheet. "Look at the captain! When he gets scared, you may." + +"It is really terrible!" puffed the learned professor. + +"Wouldn't your honor like the boat now?" growled the boatswain, with a +hearty chuckle. + +"All ready at the sheets, sir!" screamed Robinson, the fourth +lieutenant, who had charge of the waist at quarters. + +"Hold on, Mr. Terrill!" shouted the captain, as the Josephine rolled on +her lee side till the water bubbled up in her scuppers. "Wait till I +give you the word!" + +Paul was waiting for a favorable moment, when the blast should lull a +little, to set the reefed foresail. + +"You must get out of the way, gentlemen!" said Terrill, roaring out the +words through his trumpet. "The sheet blocks will knock you over!" + +Mr. Stoute unmoored himself, and made a dive at the life-line, where the +captain was holding on; but, being rather clumsy in his obesity, he +missed his aim, and was thrown into the scuppers. Mr. Cleats went to his +assistance, and picked him up while he lay upon his back, with his legs +and arms thrown up like a turtle trying to turn over. Mr. Hamblin was +not encouraged by this experiment of his associate. + +"Why don't you go below, sir?" shouted Terrill, placing his trumpet +close to the professor's head. + +"I can't move," replied he. + +"Mr. Gage will help you," added the lieutenant. + +The carpenter assisted Mr. Hamblin to the companion-way, while the +boatswain had succeeded in rolling Mr. Stoute up to the same point. The +doors were opened, and the head steward helped them down the ladder. + +"All ready!" shouted Captain Kendall, when the favorable moment came for +setting the foresail. + +"Let go the brails!" bellowed the executive officer. "Haul out!" + +The ready seaman promptly obeyed the order, at the instant when the +vessel, having rolled over as far as her centre of gravity would permit +her to go in the trough of the sea, was poised as it were on a balance, +waiting for the recoil of the wave that was to throw her down on the +weather roll. The close-reefed foresail flew out from the brails, and +began to thresh tremendously in the fierce blast. + +"Slack the weather vang!" continued Terrill to the hands who had been +stationed at this rope. "Walk away with the sheet!" + +It required a tremendous pull to haul home the sheet of the foresail, +banging furiously in the tempest; but there was force enough to +accomplish it, though not till the vessel had made her weather roll, +which lifted half the line of seamen from their feet. The close-reefed +foresail was trimmed so as to lay the schooner to with her head up to +the sea. The billows were increasing in volume so fearfully that it was +no longer prudent to permit the vessel to roll in the trough of the sea, +where she was in danger of being overwhelmed by the combing waves. + +"Mind your helm, Blair!" called the first lieutenant, springing aft to +the wheel. "Port a little! Don't let the sail be taken aback!" + +The head of the Josephine came up handsomely to the sea, and it was thus +proved that the double-reefed foresail was just the sail for such an +emergency. It was only to be demonstrated whether the sail would be +blown out of the bolt-ropes or not. If it had been an old one, such +would probably have been its fate; but being nearly new, and of the best +material, it stood the strain to the end. + +"Mind your eye, Blair!" roared Terrill. "Starboard!" + +"Starboard, sir!" replied the quartermaster. + +"Touch her up when it comes so heavy," added the lieutenant. + +The vessel had fallen off, and took the wind so far on the beam that she +buried her scuppers deep in the waves. The order to "touch her up," or +luff her up into the wind, so as partially to spill the sail, was given +to ease off the tremendous pressure. The Josephine minded her helm, and +luffed so that she righted herself. + +"Steady, Blair!" called the lieutenant. "Port! Not too much, or you'll +broach her to!" + +"Sail ho!" suddenly shouted several of the seamen in the forward part of +the vessel. + +"Where away?" + +"Right over the lee bow! She has capsized!" + +Paul and Terrill ran to the rail, and discovered a small vessel, lying +over on her beam ends. + +"That's a Dutch galiot!" exclaimed Cleats, who promptly recognized the +craft. "That's a trick they have of turning bottom upwards." + +"Port!" shouted Terrill, who did not take his eye off the foresail of +the Josephine for more than an instant at a time. + +The attention of the quartermaster and the helmsman had been attracted +by the announcement of the wreck, and they had permitted the Josephine +to luff up until the foresail began to shake. The atmosphere was so +thick that the galiot was seen but for an instant, and it then +disappeared in the dense mists. Captain Kendall trembled with emotion +when he saw the disabled vessel; but it was impossible to do anything +for her until the hurricane subsided. + +Fortunately the worst of it had already passed, and a few moments later +it ceased almost as suddenly as it commenced. The rain began to fall in +torrents, while a fresh breeze and a tremendous sea were all that +remained of the hurricane--for such it was, rather than an ordinary +squall. + +"Set the jib and mainsail, Mr. Terrill," said Captain Kendall. "We must +endeavor to find that wreck." + +These sails were accordingly hoisted, the Josephine came about, and +stood off in the direction towards which the galiot was supposed to have +drifted. The Young America had not been seen since the squall came up; +but Paul conjectured that she had run away before it. He was deeply +interested in the fate of those on board of the wreck, and trusted he +should be able to render them some assistance, if all on board of her +had not already perished. + +The rain poured down furiously; but it did not dampen the enthusiasm of +the young officers and crew, though they were already drenched to the +skin. The reefed foresail was taken in, for it was found that the jib +and mainsail were all the schooner needed. She stood on for an hour or +more, without obtaining a sight of the wreck, though every eye on board +was strained to catch the first glimpse of it. + +"We must have passed her," said the captain. + +"It is so thick we can't see her, even if we should go within half a +mile of her." + +"Come about, and stand a little more to the southward!" added Captain +Kendall. "Let the fog-horns be blown. We may get a signal of some kind +from them." + +"I am afraid they were lost overboard; and that there is no one left to +make a signal," answered Terrill, sadly. + +The vessel was put about, and headed as indicated by the captain. The +fog-horns were blown at intervals, and every one on board listened +eagerly for a reply. These efforts were not unavailing, for a response +was obtained after the Josephine had run half an hour on her present +course. A hoarse shout was heard on the weather beam, which was +unmistakably a cry of distress. + +"Steady as she is!" said Paul to the executive officer, as soon as the +sounds were reported to him, and the direction from which they came. + +"Are you not going about, Captain Kendall?" asked Terrill, with a look +of anxiety on his dripping face. + +"Certainly; but if we go about here, we should fall to leeward of the +wreck," replied Paul. + +The Josephine stood on for a few moments longer, and then tacked. + +"Blow the horns, and keep a sharp lookout forward," added the captain, +who was quite as anxious as any other person on board; but he kept +apparently cool, in deference to the dignity of his high office. + +"I see her!" shouted Wheeler, the boatswain, who had gone out on the +flying jib-boom. + +"Where away is she?" demanded Martyn, from the forecastle. + +"Well on the lee bow, sir." + +"Are we headed for her?" + +"Ay, ay, sir! We shall go clear of her to windward." + +"Wreck on the lee bow, sir," reported the second lieutenant to Terrill, +who in turn reported to the captain. + +"Clear away the first cutter, Mr. Terrill," said Paul. + +"All the first cutters, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain's mate. + +"Mr. Pelham will have charge of the boat," added Captain Kendall, who +had great confidence in the zeal and ability of this officer. + +"The wreck! The wreck!" shouted all hands, as the disabled galiot came +into view. + +On the rail of the vessel, whose starboard half was completely submerged +in the water, were two men, making violent gestures, and shouting to the +crew of the Josephine. Not a word they said could be understood, but it +was easy enough for Yankees to guess the meaning of their words. The +schooner was thrown up into the wind, the jib lowered, and she lay to +under the mainsail. Pelham and the crew of the first cutter took their +places in the boat, and were lowered into the stormy sea. The falls were +cast off the instant she struck the water; the coxswain gave his orders +rapidly, and the cutter went off, rising and falling on the huge waves +like a feather. + +The distance was short; but even this was a hard pull in such a violent +sea. Pelham was cool and steady, and his self-possession encouraged the +crew to their best efforts. The boat ran up under the lee of the wreck, +and made fast to one of the masts. As soon as it was secured, both of +the men on the rail began to jabber in an unintelligible language. + +"_Parlez-vous francais?_" shouted Pelham, who had some knowledge of the +polite language. + +But the men made no response; and it was evident that no long speeches +need be made on the present occasion. Pelham made signs to them to come +down into the boat, which they did. They were not satisfied, but +continued to talk in their own language, and to point earnestly to the +after part of the wreck. One of them repeated a word so many times, that +the officer of the boat was enabled at last to separate it from the +confused jumble of sentences. + +"_Vrow?_" said he. + +The man nodded earnestly, and pointed with redoubled vigor to the after +part of the galiot. + +_Vrow_ means wife; and Pelham concluded that the skipper's lady was in +the cabin, but whether dead or alive he did not know. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +SOMETHING ABOUT DIKES. + + +It was evident to those on board of the Josephine that there was some +reason for the delay of the boat in not bringing off the survivors of +the wreck. The energetic motions of the men on the disabled vessel could +be dimly seen through the mist and rain. + +"Hoist the jib, Terrill," said Captain Kendall. "We will run up to the +wreck, and ascertain what the trouble is." + +"Man the jib halyards! Stand by the jib sheet!" added Terrill. + +"All ready, sir!" + +"Let go the downhaul! Hoist away!" continued the first lieutenant. "Port +the helm!" + +The mainsail was trimmed, the jib sheet hauled down, and the schooner +filled away again. She ran close under the lee of the galiot, just far +enough off to clear her masts. + +"What's the matter, Mr. Pelham?" called Terrill through his trumpet. + +"There's a woman in the cabin," replied Pelham. + +"Clear away the gig!" said Captain Kendall, as the Josephine passed out +of hailing distance of the wreck. "Mr. Martyn will take charge of the +boat." + +The gig's crew were piped away, and the falls were manned. The second +lieutenant stood ready at the gangway to take his place in the boat. The +operation of hoisting out a boat was not so difficult and dangerous as +it had been when the first cutter went off, for the sea was every moment +abating its fury. + +"Mr. Cleats and Mr. Gage will go in the boat with a couple of axes," +added the captain, who had been studying the position of the wreck. + +The first lieutenant gave the order to the adult forward officers, who +presented themselves at the gangway provided with their implements, +ready to do the work assigned to them. By this time the weather had +begun to clear off, and a streak of blue sky appeared in the west. The +low land and the white cliffs and sand hills were seen again; but the +coast was different from that which they had observed before the tempest +burst upon them. + +"Mr. Martyn, you will cut away the masts of the wreck; but first +endeavor to save the woman in the cabin," added the captain, when the +crew of the boat had taken their places, and everything was in readiness +to lower the boat. + +"I will do the best I can," replied Martyn, as he stepped into the gig. + +"If the galiot does not right when the masts are cut away, report to +me." + +The boat went off on her mission of mercy, and those left on board of +the schooner watched her progress with the most intense interest. All +felt that they were not "playing sailor" then, but that the issues of +life and death depended upon the exertions of the two boats' crews. + +"Have you any idea where we are, Captain Kendall?" asked Terrill, gazing +earnestly at the distant shore, which was now revealing itself with +greater clearness. + +Paul took a spy-glass and carefully surveyed the shore. Terrill took +another glass, and both of them went up into the main rigging, so as to +obtain a better view of the shore. + +"There are some church steeples near the coast, and farther back there +is a great number of them," said Terrill. + +"All right," replied Paul, as he returned to the deck, followed by the +first lieutenant. + +"Do you make out the coast?" asked the latter. + +"Yes; we are on Thornton's Ridge. Throw the lead!" replied Paul, with +some anxiety, as he took the glass and pointed it in the direction +opposite the shore. + +"By the mark five!" reported the quartermaster, who was heaving the lead +in the fore chains. + +"That proves it," exclaimed Paul. "We are on Thornton's. The steeples on +the shore are Blankenburg, and those farther off are the Bruges +steeples. We are about twelve miles to the eastward of the North Hinder, +where there is a light-vessel. We have been drifting to the southward. +We will tack now, and stand over to windward of the wreck." + +The Josephine went about again, and stood up to the point indicated by +the captain. The wind had now subsided to a gentle breeze, and the sea +was abating its violence in a corresponding degree. The lead was thrown +continually, but not less than three fathoms was indicated at any time. +Cleats and Gage, with their sharp axes, were dealing heavy blows at the +masts of the galiot, while the crew of the gig and first cutter were +clearing away the standing rigging. By the time the schooner reached the +position to windward of the wreck, the work had been accomplished. The +two boats had backed away from the wreck, and suddenly the hull righted. +A few more strokes of the axes severed the shrouds, which could not be +reached while the vessel lay upon her side. + +Pelham, who was on the deck of the vessel when she righted, rushed to +the companion-way, which had been submerged before. He was closely +followed by the two men. The cabin was half full of water; but he found +there a woman and a young girl of sixteen, who had been clinging for +life to an upper berth. The gallant lieutenant plunged up to his middle +in the water, and bore the girl to the ladder. At the same time, the +older of the men performed a similar service for the woman. He was +evidently the husband of the woman and the father of the girl. When he +returned to the deck, he embraced the woman and the girl, and lavished +upon them the most tender caresses. + +"Mr. Pelham, you will convey these people to the Josephine, and report +what has been done to the captain," said Martyn, who was the superior +officer. + +The first cutter was hauled up to the gangway of the galiot, and Pelham +by signs invited the family to embark. They comprehended his meaning, +and the females were assisted into the boat. The older man, who was +apparently the skipper of the vessel, exhibited some reluctance at +leaving his craft. His heart seemed to be broken by the calamity which +had befallen him, and he wept bitterly, uttering piteous exclamations, +which could not be understood by the Josephines, as Pelham hurried him +into the cutter. + +The party continued their sad wailings till the boat reached the +schooner. The women were assisted to the deck, where they stood staring +with blank amazement at the vessel and her crew. The skipper was +bewildered by the misfortune that overshadowed him. + +"I am glad to see you, sir," said Paul, as the disconsolate captain came +up the accommodation ladder. + +"No use, Captain Kendall," said Pelham, smiling. "They can't speak a +word of English." + +"Do you know anything about the vessel?" asked Paul. + +"I read her name on the stern, as we came back, and wrote it down; for a +Yankee would choke to death in uttering it," replied Pelham, as he +produced a piece of wet paper. "It is the 'Wel tevreeden, Dordrecht.'" + +"That's Dutch. She hails from Dort," added Paul. + +"Where are the professors?" asked Terrill. "Can they speak Dutch?" + +The professors, who had seen enough of rough weather for one day, had +been making themselves as comfortable as possible in the cabin. The +Dutchman and his family were conducted below by the first lieutenant. + +"What have you here?" demanded Mr. Stoute, who had just come from his +berth, in which he had bolstered himself up, in order, as he expressed +it, to know exactly where he was. + +"We have just saved them from the wreck of a Dutch galiot. They can't +speak a word of English, and we wish you to talk to them." + +"In Dutch?" laughed Mr. Stoute. "I cannot do it." + +"What is the matter, Mr. Terrill?" inquired Professor Hamblin, who had +also taken to his berth to save his limbs from being broken. + +"A vessel has been wrecked, and we have saved two men and two women. Can +you talk Dutch?" asked the first lieutenant, going to the door of the +professor's state-room. + +Mr. Hamblin proved to be no wiser than his associate, so far as the +Dutch language was concerned; and it was found to be impossible to hold +any communication with the wrecked persons except by signs. They were +committed to the care of the steward, by whom everything was done to +render them comfortable. The captain's state-room was given to the +women, and they were supplied with hot coffee and other refreshments. + +"What is the condition of the wreck, Mr. Pelham?" asked Captain Kendall, +as soon as the unfortunate persons had been provided for. + +"She is half full of water," replied the second master. "The crew of the +gig were pumping her out when we left." + +"Do you know anything about her cargo?" + +"No, sir. Her hatches were battened down, and we could not see what was +in the hold." + +The first lieutenant was directed to detail a working party for the +wreck, to assist in pumping her out, and the first cutter returned to +the galiot with sixteen hands. Orders were sent to Martyn to use every +exertion to save the vessel and her cargo. It was now nearly dark; but +the weather was favorable, and Paul hoped to get the dismasted galiot +into port on the following day. + +The cutter reached the wreck, and the crew of the gig, who had been +pumping and baling diligently, were relieved by fresh hands. The work +went on with renewed energy. The hatches had been taken off, and the +cargo was found to consist of butter, cheese, and manufactured goods. +The boatswain had explored the hold, and declared that the merchandise +was not badly damaged. The galiot had taken in less water than was +supposed, from her position on the waves. After four hours of severe +toil by the young seamen, the pumps sucked. The hull was tight, and the +working party were greatly encouraged by the success of their efforts. + +The boatswain and carpenter, assisted by the boys, rigged a jury-mast +out of the foremast of the galiot, which had been saved for the purpose. +A jib and foresail were bent upon it, and the "Wel tevreeden" was in +condition to make a harbor. It was midnight when the work was completed, +and the report sent to Captain Kendall. Martyn, Pelham, and a crew of +ten, to be assisted by Cleats and Gage, were detailed to take the galiot +into the Scheldt. + +During the first part of the night it had been a dead calm, which had +greatly assisted the labors of the working party. About four o'clock, on +the morning of Sunday, a light breeze from the westward sprang up, and +the order was given by signal for the galiot to make sail, and to follow +the Josephine. There was hardly a four-knot breeze, with the tide +setting out; and the progress of the galiot, under her short sail, was +very slow. + +Nothing had been seen of the Young America since the storm shut down +upon her and concealed her from the view of those on board of the +Josephine. Paul knew that Mr. Lowington would be exceedingly anxious +about him and his vessel; but he was proud and happy in the reflection +that he had carried the Josephine safely through the perils which had +surrounded her. He had not closed his eyes during the night, as indeed +no one connected with the sailing department of the schooner had done. +The professors and the wrecked party had all turned in as usual, while +Paul kept vigil on deck with the first lieutenant. + +"Sail ho!" cried the lookout forward, about seven o'clock in the +morning. + +A small vessel was discovered approaching the Josephine from the +direction of the shore, or rather of the mouth of the Scheldt, whose +western estuary forms a broad bay about twelve miles in width. As the +small craft came near, it was evident that she was a pilot boat. She +carried a red flag at her mast-head, on which was a number in white +figures. On her principal sail there was a large letter "P," and under +it "ANTWERPEN." When she hove in sight, the jack was hoisted at the +foremast-head of the Josephine, which is the signal for a pilot. As the +little cutter rounded to, the words "_Bateau Pilote_" with her number, +were seen on the stern. + +She was a Belgian pilot-boat. The mouth of the Scheldt, and its course +for forty miles, are in Holland, and off the mouth of the river both +Dutch and Belgian pilots offer their services to inward-bound vessels; +but the sea pilots take vessels only to Flushing, the river pilotage +being a separate charge. Mr. Lowington had instructed Paul, as the +squadron was bound to Antwerp, to prefer a Belgian pilot, who would take +the vessel up to that city, and charge the pilotage in one bill. + +A canoe put off from the "Bateau Pilote," and a weather-beaten Belgian +sailor leaped upon the deck. He opened his eyes very wide when he had +taken a single glance at the vessel and her crew. He seemed to be as +much confounded as the Liverpool pilot had been on a similar occasion. +The professors were at breakfast in the cabin, and not a single man +appeared on deck. + +"_L'Amerique?_" said the pilot, glancing at the flag which floated at +the peak. + +"_Oui_," replied Paul, laughing. + +"_Ou est le capitaine, monsieur?_" added the pilot, looking around him +again. + +"_Je suis capitaine,_" replied Paul. + +"_Est-il possible!_" + +"_C'est possible._ You speak English?--_parlez-vous anglais?_" added +Paul. + +"I speak _un pere_," replied the pilot. "What vessel that is?" he +continued, pointing to the galiot, which was following in the wake of +the Josephine. + +"She is a Dutch vessel, that was upset yesterday. We saved her. The +captain and his family are on board, but none of us have been able to +speak a word to him." + +"Where bound are you?" + +"To Antwerp. We have a crew on board of the galiot. We will not attempt +to take her to Antwerp." + +"She have taken a pilot," said the Belgian, as another man from the +"Bateau Pilote" boarded her. "She shall be taken to Flushing." + +"You will put into Flushing, then, so that I can obtain the men on board +of her." + +"I will--yes." + +"Did a ship--the Young America--go up the river last night?" asked Paul. + +"No; no ship. We see a ship off the Rabs when the storm came. She come +about, and go to sea before the wind." + +This was what Paul supposed the Young America had done. He had no fears +in regard to the safety of the ship as long as she had plenty of sea +room. She would soon return, and the pilot-boat would be able to report +the Josephine to the anxious people on board of her. The Belgian pilot +took charge of the vessel; and after he had headed her towards the +channel by which he intended to enter the river, he began to ask +questions in regard to the juvenile officers and crew. He did not speak +English any more fluently than Paul did French, and they did not get +along very well. Mr. Stoute, having finished his breakfast, came on +deck. He taught the French in the Josephine, and was very happy to find +an opportunity to air his vocabulary. + +The skipper of the galiot came up from the cabin soon after with his +family. As the pilot spoke Dutch, the story of the unfortunate captain +was obtained at last. The vessel had been caught in the squall, and +knocked down. Two men on deck had been washed away and drowned. The +companion-way being open, the water had rushed in and prevented the +vessel from righting. The women, who lived on board all the time, as is +frequently the case with the families of Dutch skippers, had climbed up +and obtained a hold upon the berths on the port side of the cabin. By +these means they were saved from drowning; but the cabin doors, being on +the starboard side, were under water, so that they could not escape +while the vessel lay on her beam-ends. + +The Josephine, followed by the "Wel tevreeden," entered the river. It +was a beautiful day, warm and pleasant; and the officers and crew, in +spite of the hardships of the preceding night, were eager to obtain +their first view of the new country whose waters they were now entering. +It was still over sixty miles, by the course of the Scheldt, to Antwerp; +but the sights on the river and on the shore were novel and interesting. +The vessels which sailed up and down the river were essentially +different from any they had ever seen, with the exception, perhaps, of +the wrecked galiot. They looked more like huge canal-boats than +sea-going vessels. Some of them had wings, or boards, at their sides, +which were let down when the craft was going on the wind, thus serving +the same purpose as a centreboard. Others were rigged so that their +masts could be lowered to the deck in passing bridges. + +Maps, guide-books, and other volumes of reference were in great demand +among the students, and Professor Stoute was continually questioned by +all hands. Mr. Hamblin was too grouty to permit any such familiarity, +and doubtless he was saved from exposing his ignorance of the +interesting country which the voyagers had now entered. + +The West Scheldt, upon whose waters the Josephine was now sailing, is +sometimes called the Hond. On the left, and in plain sight from the +deck, was Walcheren, the most extensive of the nine islands which +constitute the province of Zealand, the most southern and western +division of the kingdom of Holland. Zeeland, or Zealand, means +_sea-land_; and its territory seems to belong to the ocean, since it is +only by the most persevering care that the sea is prevented from making +a conquest of it. These islands are for the most part surrounded and +divided by the several mouths of the Scheldt, all of which are +navigable. + +Our readers who have been on the sea-shore where the coast is washed by +the broad ocean, or any considerable bay, have observed a ridge of sand, +gravel, or stones thrown up from ten to twenty feet higher than the land +behind. This was caused by the action of the sea. The exterior shore of +Holland, that is, the land bordering upon the open ocean, has generally +a ridge of sand of this description. The sand-hills or hummocks which +are observed on the shores of Holland and Belgium are produced by the +ceaseless beating of the stormy waves. + +In Holland, these ridges, or chains of sand-hills, are called "dunes." +They extend, with little interruption, from the Straits of Dover to the +Zuyder Zee. The ridge is from one to three miles wide, and rising from +twenty to fifty feet in height. The sand of which the "dunes" are +composed is generally so fine that it is readily blown by a sharp wind; +and they were as troublesome as the sands of Sahara in a simoom. In a +dry and windy day, the atmosphere would become dim from the sand smoke +of the dunes, and the material was conveyed in this manner far into the +interior of the country, covering up the rich soil, so that it became +necessary to dig up the sand. To overcome this evil, a kind of coarse +reed grass is annually sown on the dunes, which forms a tough sod, and +prevents the sand from being blown away. + +The dunes form a natural barrier to the progress of the sea; but these, +of themselves, are insufficient to accomplish the purpose; for in the +highest tides the waters sweep through the openings or valleys between +the sand-hills. Immense dikes and sea-walls are erected to complete the +security of the country from the invasions of the ocean. The embankments +which protect the islands of Zealand are over three hundred miles in +length in the aggregate, and involve an annual expense of two millions +of guilders--more than eight hundred thousand dollars--in repairs. + +"The great dike of West Kappel is there," said the pilot to Captain +Kendall, as he pointed to the land on the northern shore of the estuary. + +"I don't see anything," replied Paul. + +"There is nothing particular to see on this side of the dike," +interposed Professor Stoute, laughing at the astonishment of the +captain. "What did you expect to see?" + +"I hardly know. I have heard so much about the dikes of Holland, that I +expected to see a big thing when I came across one of them," added Paul. + +"They are a big thing; but really there is very little to see." + +"But what is a dike, sir?" asked Paul, curiously. "I never supposed it +was anything more than a mud wall." + +"It is nothing more than that, only it is on a very large scale, and it +must be constructed with the nicest care; for the lives and property of +the people depend upon its security. When they are going to build a +dike, the first consideration, as in putting up a heavy building, is the +foundation. I suppose you have seen a railroad built through a marsh, or +other soft place." + +"Yes, sir; the railroad at Brockway went over the head of the bay, where +the bottom was very soft. As fast as they put in gravel for the road, +the mud squashed up on each side, making a ridge almost as high as the +road itself. They built a heavy stone wharf at Brockway, the year before +we sailed, and the weight of it lifted up the bottom of the shallow bay +a hundred feet from it, so that boats get aground there now at half +tide." + +"That is the idea exactly: The foundation is not solid; and that is +often the chief difficulty in building a dike. The immense weight of the +material of which it is constructed crowds the earth out from under it, +and it sinks down faster than they can build it. In such places as this +they find it necessary to drive piles, to build the embankment on." + +"They must cost a heap of money, then." + +"The annual expense even for repairs of dikes in Holland is about three +millions of dollars of our money. Speaking of that very dike of West +Kappel," added the professor, pointing to its long, inclined escarpment, +"it is said if it had been originally built of solid copper, the prime +cost would have been less than the amount which has since been expended +upon it in building, rebuilding, restoring, and repairing it. But the +money spent on dikes is the salvation of Holland. The entire country +would be washed away in a few years, if they were suffered to decay." + +"I see there are trees growing on the shore, farther up the river," +added Paul. + +"Those trees are willows; and wherever it is possible for them to +thrive, they encourage their growth for two reasons: first, because the +roots of the trees strengthen the dike; and, secondly, because the +willow twigs are wanted in repairing and securing the embankment. The +foundations of sea-dikes vary from a hundred and twenty to one hundred +and fifty feet in width. The rampart is made of clay, which, as being +impervious to water, forms the entire structure when the material is +available in sufficient quantities. The maximum height of the dikes is +forty feet; but of course they vary in this respect with the elevation +of the land to be protected by them." + +"But I should think the mud and clay would be washed away by the beating +of the sea." + +"So they are sometimes; and to guard against such an event, which is a +calamity in this country, the dike is covered with a kind of thatch-work +of willow twigs, which has to be renewed every three or four years. +Occasionally the outer surface of the embankment is faced with masonry, +the stone for which has to be brought from Norway." + +"A ship there is coming in," interrupted the pilot, pointing to seaward. + +She was several miles distant, standing in under all sail. She was +examined with the spy-glasses, and every one was rejoiced to learn that +it was the Young America. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +UP THE SCHELDT TO FLUSHING. + + +"I am very glad to see the ship again," said Paul to Professor Stoute. + +"I supposed she would get in before us, we were detained so long by the +wreck," replied Mr. Stoute. + +"Probably she stood off and on during the night, seeking for us," added +Paul, as he again looked through the spy-glass at the ship. "She seems +to be sound in all her upper works, so far as I can see." + +"I dare say the ship would be safe enough as long as Mr. Lowington and +Mr. Fluxion are on board of her." + +"Yes, sir; I didn't suppose any harm had come to her; but Mr. Lowington +will naturally be very anxious about us. He has made us out by this +time, and is satisfied that we are still on the top of the water. There +are the steeples of a town," said Paul, pointing to the Walcheren shore. +"That must be Middleburg." + +"This island was inundated in 1808," continued Mr. Stoute, after the +pilot had assured him that the steeples seen in the interior of the +island were those of Middleburg. "Though the sea is as diligently +watched as the advance-guard of an invading army, the great dike of +West Kappel broke through, and a large part of the island was under +water. Middleburg has its own dikes and ditches, the former constituting +the wall of the town, upon the top of which there is a public promenade. +This dike or mound kept the water out of the city after the sea-dike had +given way. The inundation rose as high as the roofs of the houses in the +town, but was fortunately kept at bay by the strength of the walls." + +"Were you ever in Holland, Mr. Stoute?" asked Paul, with a significant +smile. + +"Never," laughed the professor; "but the schoolmaster must not be abroad +when boys ask as many questions as the students on board of this vessel. +As soon as I learned that we were coming to Holland, I read up +everything I could find relating to the country, and I assure you my +interest in the country has been doubled by my studies. We have in our +library quite a collection of works relating more or less directly to +Holland. The New American Encyclopaedia contains very full and reliable +articles on the subject. We have a full list of Murray's Hand-Books, +which form a library in themselves, and which impart the most minute +information. Indeed, half the books of travel which are written are +based upon Murray's invaluable works. Then we have Motley's History of +the Dutch Republic, and the two volumes of his United Netherlands which +have been published. My knowledge of Holland and Belgium comes mainly +from these works." + +"I haven't had time to look up these matters yet. I have given +considerable extra time to my French. As soon as we are moored, I +suppose Mr. Mapps will give us his lecture on the country; and I intend +to make that the basis of my reading." + +"Then I will not say anything more about the dikes," laughed Mr. Stoute. +"You can do the matter up more systematically by your intended course." + +"I am very glad to get all I can without the trouble of hunting it up," +replied Paul, as he glanced again at the Young America. "I may have more +time than I want to study up these subjects." + +"Why so?" + +"I suppose I am to be court-martialed for disobedience as soon as Mr. +Lowington arrives," replied Paul, fixing his eyes upon the deck. "Mr. +Hamblin has not spoken to me since I left the class yesterday +afternoon." + +"It is not proper for me to say anything about that to you, Captain +Kendall," added Mr. Stoute. + +"I feel that I have tried to do my duty; and, whatever happens to me, I +shall endeavor to be satisfied." + +Professor Stoute walked away, apparently to avoid any further +conversation on the disagreeable subject. Paul did not feel quite easy +about the difficulty which had occurred between him and the dignified +professor. He had hoped and expected that the storm would justify his +action in the opinion of the learned gentleman; but Mr. Hamblin +carefully avoided him, and he was confident he intended to prefer +charges against him as soon as the principal arrived. + +The Josephine was now entering the port of Flushing. The pilot was +talking with the Dutch skipper very earnestly, and occasionally glancing +at the "Wel tevreeden." The latter seemed to be very uneasy, and to +manifest a great deal of solicitude in regard to his vessel, +notwithstanding she was safe, though the cargo had been damaged, and she +had lost her masts and part of her standing rigging. + +"Captain Schimmelpennink to you wish to talk," said the pilot, stepping +up to Paul. + +"Who?" exclaimed Paul, almost stunned by the sound of the Dutchman's +name. + +The pilot repeated it, but not much more to the edification of the young +commander than before. + +"I can't talk Dutch," laughed Paul. + +"I for you will speak the English," added the Belgian. + +This was hardly more encouraging than the Dutch of the disconsolate +skipper; but Paul consented to the conference. + +"The galiot to you belongs for the labor you have to save him," +continued the pilot. + +With some difficulty, with the assistance of Mr. Stoute, who, however, +was not familiar with French nautical terms, Paul learned that Captain +Schimmelpennink was much disturbed about the ultimate disposal of the +"Wel tevreeden." According to maritime law, recognized by all countries, +the captain, officers, and crew of the Josephine were entitled to +salvage for saving the vessel. As, without assistance, it was probable +that the galiot would have been totally lost, the salvors would be +entitled to the greater part of the value of the wreck when it should be +sold. One half, two thirds, or even three fourths, is sometimes awarded +to those who save a vessel, the proportion depending upon the condition +of the wreck. + +It appeared that the captain of the galiot was much distressed on this +account. He declared that he was a poor man; that his vessel was all the +property he had in the world; that one of the men lost overboard in the +squall was his own brother, and the other his wife's brother; and misery +had suddenly come upon him in an avalanche. By the exertions of Martyn +and others from the Josephine, a portion of the sails and standing +rigging of the galiot had been saved, so that only about one fourth of +the value of the vessel had been sacrificed by the tempest. But now the +skipper was in great trouble because two thirds or three fourths of the +remaining value of his property was to be decreed to the salvors by a +maritime court. + +Paul did not feel that it would be right for him to settle, or even +discuss, this question, and he referred the skipper to Mr. Lowington, +assuring him that he was a fair man, and would deal kindly with him. But +this did not satisfy the unfortunate man. It was bad enough to lose one +fourth of his property,--for the vessel was not insured,--without having +the greater part of the remainder wrested from him by a court. + +"All hands, moor ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain, when the schooner +was approaching one of the great canals of Flushing, or Vlissingen, as +the Dutch call it. + +The anchor was let go, the sails lowered and stowed, and the Josephine +was once more at rest. The galiot came in, and anchored a cable's length +from her. Communication between the two vessels was immediately opened, +and Lieutenant Martyn made his report of the voyage since he sailed +from Thornton's Ridge. No events of any importance had occurred, and his +story could not be said to be at all sensational. + +In less than an hour the Young America ran into the port, and moored +near the Josephine. The moment her anchor had buried itself in the mud +of the harbor, her officers and crew were in the rigging, gazing +earnestly at the consort. It was possible they had noticed the galiot +under a jury-mast, and in some manner connected her with the Josephine; +but they could have had no other clew to the exciting incidents which +had transpired since the two vessels parted company the day before. + +"I desire to renew my request for a boat, Captain Kendall," said +Professor Hamblin, stiffly, the moment the rattling cable of the ship +was heard. + +"Certainly, sir. I shall be very happy to furnish a boat for you," +replied Paul, politely. "Mr. Terrill, you will pipe away the first +cutters for Mr. Hamblin." + +"Yes, sir," replied the first lieutenant, touching his cap. "Boatswain, +pipe away the first cutters for Mr. Hamblin." + +"Mr. Terrill, you will pipe away the crew of the gig for me. I will go +on board of the ship," added the captain. + +"Yes, sir," answered Terrill. "Boatswain's mate, pipe away the gigsmen +for the captain." + +"All the first cutters, on deck, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain. + +"All the gigsmen, on deck, ahoy!" piped the boatswain's mate. + +Professor Hamblin stamped his foot on deck when he heard these orders, +given almost in the same breath. He did not seem to consider that there +was anything to be done except to attend to his affair. + +"Captain Kendall," said he, walking up to the young commander, with a +brisk, nervous step, "I wish to see Mr. Lowington alone." + +"Certainly, sir; I will not object to your seeing him alone. If I can do +anything to favor your views, I shall be happy to assist." + +"You have ordered your gig, and you said you were going on board the +ship," added the learned gentleman, his wrath not at all appeased by the +conciliatory reply of Paul. + +"I am, sir." + +"Am I to understand that you are going to see the principal in reference +to my communication with him?" demanded Mr. Hamblin. + +"No, sir. It is my duty to report any unusual event which occurs in the +navigation of this vessel," answered Paul, respectfully. + +"It is quite proper for you to regard your own disobedience as an +unusual event," retorted the professor. + +"I was not thinking of that, sir. I am quite willing to leave that +matter with Mr. Lowington, and to abide by his decision. I refer to the +storm, and the wreck of the Dutch galiot. Those were unusual events." + +"It would be more proper, and more respectful to me, for you to defer +your affairs till after I have seen the principal. This is the Sabbath +day," added Mr. Hamblin, solemnly. "I do not desire to have this +controversy opened to-day." + +"Then, sir, I suggest that you defer it until to-morrow," added Paul. + +"This is a question of discipline, and admits of no delay. If the +professors of this vessel are to be disobeyed and insulted, it is not +proper for me to remain in her another hour." + +"Insulted, sir?" exclaimed the young commander, blushing under this +charge. + +"Yes, sir; insulted, sir!" replied Mr. Hamblin, angrily. "Did you not +leave the class? That was disobedience, which, under the circumstances, +perhaps I might have forgiven, if you had not added insult to injury. +Not contented with your own misconduct, you immediately ordered all +hands to be called, and every member of my class was taken away." + +"As to-day is Sunday, sir, I will not attempt to explain my conduct. I +am very sorry that any difficulty has occurred; but I think Mr. +Lowington will understand the matter. Your boat is ready, Mr. Hamblin," +added Paul, pointing to the gangway, where the third lieutenant was +waiting for his passenger. + +"Do I understand that you insist upon going on board of the ship +immediately?" demanded the professor. + +"Yes, sir. It is my duty to report to the principal without delay. There +is a signal at the peak of the ship now," replied Paul. + +"Signal for the captain to report on board of the ship, sir," said the +signal-officer, touching his cap to his commander. + +Mr. Hamblin went over the side into the first cutter, which pulled away +towards the ship. The gig immediately took her place, and the captain +stepped into her. The cutter reached the Young America first, and the +angry professor ran up the ladder with unwonted briskness. The principal +was standing on the quarter, waiting to see the captain of the +Josephine, for he was anxious to learn whether she had sustained any +damage or lost any one overboard in the fierce storm. He knew that +nothing but the most skilful seamanship could have prevented the decks +of the schooner from being washed in the tremendous sea that prevailed +during the hurricane. + +To Mr. Lowington every moment of time since the two vessels of the +squadron parted company the day before had been burdened with the most +intense solicitude for the fate of the consort and her crew. The fact +that she had been dilatory in taking in sail, when no one could know at +what instant the squall would break upon her, had indicated a degree of +recklessness which increased his anxiety. Mr. Fluxion had been sent to +the fore cross-trees with a powerful glass early in the morning, and the +Josephine had been discovered by the ship long before the Young America +was seen by the pilot. + +During the night the ship had cruised off and on in search of her +consort, but the Josephine had drifted to the southward, and had sailed +in that direction, after the fury of the tempest had wasted itself, in +looking for the wreck of the galiot. The report of Mr. Fluxion on the +cross-trees that she was entering the Hond, relieved the principal's +anxiety in part; but he was still fearful that some of her crew had been +washed overboard. As soon as the anchor was let go, he had ordered the +signal for Captain Kendall to be hoisted. + +Mr. Hamblin was the first person from the Josephine who presented +himself to the principal. There was something in the professor's +countenance which looked ominous, and Mr. Lowington's fears seemed to be +confirmed by the unusual solemnity of the learned gentleman's +expression. Mr. Lowington's heart rose up into his throat; for +independently of the sorrow which the loss of one or more of the +Josephine's crew would cause him, he realized that such a calamity would +be the death-blow to his favorite experiment. The entire charge of her +had been committed to a boy of sixteen, and he blamed himself severely +because he had not placed an experienced officer on board of her, who +might at least act in great emergencies. Though Mr. Cleats was an old +sailor, he was not a navigator. + +The principal was in this state of suffering, bordering upon anguish, +when the irate professor of Greek and Latin came on board. Mr. Lowington +tried to think that nothing had happened, but it was impossible. If any +one had been lost, the Josephine's flag would be at half mast, or some +other signal would have been made. Mr. Hamblin's face looked like death +itself, only his brow was contracted, and his lips were compressed as +though anger and sorrow were combined in his expression. + +"What has happened, Mr. Hamblin?" demanded the principal, manifesting +more emotion than any one on board had ever before observed in his +manner. + +"I am sorry to say, Mr. Lowington, that an unpleasant event has occurred +on board of the Josephine," the professor began, very solemnly. + +"I feared it," gasped Mr. Lowington. "Who was it?" + +"The captain--" + +"Captain Kendall!" groaned Mr. Lowington, striking his bewildered head +with both hands. "Good Heaven! I am responsible for this!" + +"What is the matter, Mr. Lowington?" demanded the astonished professor. + +"What did you say about Captain Kendall?" asked the principal, catching +at the straw which the learned gentleman's question seemed to hold out +to him. + +"I prefer to speak to you alone about it, Mr. Lowington," added the +professor, glancing at the group of officers and instructors that were +gathering around him. "I will endeavor to control my emotions in stating +this unpleasant business." + +Mr. Lowington, apparently happy to have even a moment's respite from the +grief and gloom which must follow the sad intelligence of the loss of +Captain Kendall, led the way to the professors' cabin. + +"Now, sir, what is it? Let me know the worst!" exclaimed the principal, +dropping upon the sofa like a man whose strength had all been taken from +him. "I have been dreading it for many long and weary hours." + +"Dreading it?" repeated the confused professor. "Dreading what, sir?" + +"That the Josephine had suffered severely in the storm," replied the +principal, impatiently. "You have come to tell me that Captain Kendall +was lost overboard?" And Mr. Lowington heaved a long sigh. + +"No, sir," protested Mr. Hamblin. + +"Didn't you say that a very unpleasant affair had happened on board?" +demanded the principal, eagerly. + +"I did; but it was not the loss of the captain." + +"Who was it?" asked Mr. Lowington, catching his breath, in the heaviness +of his anxiety. + +"I really don't understand you, sir," said the learned gentleman, +astonished and confounded by what he regarded as the singular conduct of +the principal. + +"Has any one been lost overboard from the Josephine?" demanded Mr. +Lowington, in a loud tone, for he was impatient under the shuffling +manner of the professor. + +"No, sir; no one, that I am aware of." + +"That you are aware of!" exclaimed Mr. Lowington, sternly. + +"Of course, if any one had been lost, I should have heard of it," +answered Mr. Hamblin, who did not quite like the tone of the principal. + +"Then the officers and crew are all safe--are they?" + +"They are, sir--all safe." + +"Thank God!" ejaculated Mr. Lowington, heartily, an awfully heavy load +removed from his mind. + +"I have come on board, sir, to make a complaint against the captain of +the Josephine. This is the unpleasant business which brings me here," +added the learned gentleman, decidedly. + +"Indeed!" + +But even this, disagreeable as it was, came as a relief to the +overcharged heart of Paul's best friend, who had received a terrible +shock from the confused state-ment of the professor. Yet it was very +strange that any one should have a complaint to make against Paul +Kendall, who had always been noble and manly, gentle and conciliating. + +"Yesterday, just before the storm came on, Mr. Kendall was reciting with +the Greek class," continued Mr. Hamblin. "Word came to him that his +presence was required on deck. He asked my permission to go on deck. As +I could not see the necessity of his leaving the class before the lesson +was finished, I refused to give him permission." + +"Did he leave then?" + +"Not then; but half an hour later another message came to him, and he +left, contrary to my orders, and contrary to my protest," added the +professor, waxing indignant as he recounted his wrongs. + +"What was the message that came the second time?" asked Mr. Lowington, +mildly. + +"I do not remember precisely what it was--I am not versed in sea terms; +but I do remember that Mr. Kendall left the class contrary to my express +order. Not contented with this, he called all hands, and broke up the +school, when there was no need of it. Such conduct is utterly subversive +of school discipline, and--" + +"Excuse me, Mr. Hamblin, but as to-day is Sunday, I must defer hearing +any more of your complaint until to-morrow," continued Mr. Lowington, +rising from his chair. + +"I desire to have this question settled before I resume my position in +the Josephine," said the professor, cut by the apparent coolness of the +principal. + +"I will hear what Captain Kendall has to say about it." + +"Sir," exclaimed the learned gentleman, "am I to understand that you are +not satisfied with the truth of my statement?" + +"By no means. I wish to hear from Captain Kendall his excuse for leaving +the class. I am not able to determine whether it was satisfactory." + +"I have already determined that question myself. I think I observed to +you that there was not a sufficient excuse for his leaving the class." + +"I will defer the discussion of the matter till to-morrow," replied Mr. +Lowington. + +"I do not object to the delay, sir; but I do object to having any of the +statements of the pupil counterbalance those I have made." + +"Do you wish me to condemn him without a hearing?" + +"I do not wish you to condemn him at all. I simply ask to be sustained +in the discharge of my duty as a teacher." + +"I will hear what more you have to say to-morrow, Mr. Hamblin." + +"Very well, sir; but you must allow me to remain on board of the ship +until to-morrow, for I cannot return to the Josephine till this +unpleasant matter has been adjusted." + +"As you please," replied the principal, as he hastened on deck, where a +cheer, half suppressed in deference to the day, had a few moments before +been heard. + +As Paul came down from the rail of the ship, he was greeted with +applause; for, without knowing what had occurred after they lost sight +of the consort, the students in the ship realized that Paul had taken +his vessel safely through the storm. He bowed and blushed at this +demonstration, and hastened to meet Mr. Lowington, who was just coming +up from his interview with the professor. He had purposely delayed his +passage to the ship, in order to afford Mr. Hamblin time to make his +charges. It was plain that he had done so now, and Paul was not a little +anxious for the result. + +"Captain Kendall, I am very glad to see you," said Mr. Lowington, +warmly, as he extended his hand to the young commander. + +"Thank you, sir; I am just as glad to see you," replied Paul, taking the +proffered hand, and concluding that the professor had not materially +prejudiced the principal against him. + +"I have been very anxious about you, Captain Kendall," added Mr. +Lowington. "I have imagined that all sorts of terrible things had +happened to you and the Josephine. Is all well on board?" + +"Yes, sir; but we are all very tired. We were up all night, and the crew +had to work very hard." + +"All night?" + +"We went to the assistance of that galiot, sir. We saved four persons, +and brought the vessel in, as you see her now. She was knocked down in +the squall, and lost two men. We found her on her beam-ends." + +"Indeed, Captain Kendall, you have had your hands full," replied Mr. +Lowington, pleased with the gallant conduct of his young friend. + +"The captain of the galiot,--he has a name as long as the main +royal-mast backstay, and I can't remember it,--the captain is on board +of the Josephine, and wishes to see you very much. I referred the whole +matter to you, sir." + +"I will see him at once." + +"He don't speak a word of English--only Dutch." + +"Mr. Fluxion speaks Dutch, and he shall go with me. I will return with +you in your boat," added the principal. + +The professor of mathematics was called, and they embarked in the +Josephine's gig. On the way Paul briefly detailed the events which had +occurred since the squall came on, explaining the means by which the +shipwrecked party had been saved, and the vessel righted. He generously +bestowed great praise upon his officers and crew for their zealous +efforts both in working the Josephine, and in saving the galiot and her +crew. + +"I have been worried about you, Captain Kendall. You did not seem to be +as prudent as usual when the storm was threatening. Ten minutes before +the squall came up you had every rag of canvas set, including your fore +square-sail. You ought to have reduced sail half an hour sooner, +especially as there was no wind, and not a sail was drawing. You should +have taken your precautions sooner, for you can't tell the precise +moment when a hurricane will burst upon you. All light sails and all +extra ones should be taken in when there is a possibility of a squall." + +"I was attending the Greek class," replied Paul; but he resolved to make +no allusion to the difficulty between Mr. Hamblin and himself. + +Paul's reply gave the principal an idea of the occasion of the +unpleasantness, but he refrained from any further remark on the subject. + +"The Dutch captain is much troubled about the salvage on his vessel, for +the Belgian pilot told him the Josephine would be entitled to two thirds +or three fourths of the property saved," continued Paul. + +"Salvage!" said the principal, with a smile. "Well, I suppose you are +entitled to it." + +"I hope you will give the Dutchman the vessel and cargo. He feels very +badly. He has lost a brother and a brother-in-law, and now he is afraid +of losing nearly all that was saved. I hope you will not take any +salvage. I am sure the Josephines would all vote to have you make no +claim for it." + +"Excellent! I hope they will," replied the principal, as he ascended to +the schooner's deck, followed by Mr. Fluxion and Paul. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +CAPTAIN SCHIMMELPENNINK. + + +At the request of the principal, Mr. Fluxion acted as interpreter in the +conversation with the Dutch skipper. The unfortunate man stated his +case, and bewailed the heavy loss to which he had been subjected by the +tempest. + +"Call all hands, if you please, Captain Kendall," said Mr. Lowington, +when he had heard the statement as translated by Mr. Fluxion. + +Paul gave the required order, and in a few moments the crew were at +quarters. The principal took his place on the main hatch, and all the +Josephines waited with interest to hear what he had to say. + +"Young gentlemen, since we parted company in the squall yesterday, I +have suffered a great deal of anxiety on your account. The ship ran off +before the gale, while the Josephine lay to. If you had not sailed to +the southward after the tempest, we should not have lost sight of you +for more than a few hours. I acknowledge that I reproached myself +severely for intrusting the vessel to the sole care of students. But I +find that she has been as well handled as though she had been under +command of an old and experienced man. I wish to say to you that Captain +Kendall has acquitted himself remarkably well in the emergency. Though +he did not take in his light sails quite as soon as he should, +everything else was done with the skill and prudence of a veteran." + +At this point the students on board, who knew very well why Paul had not +taken in the light sails sooner, looked at one another and smiled +significantly. The difficulty between the professor and the captain had +been fully discussed among them, and it hardly need be said that Paul +was fully justified by his shipmates. + +"I want to add," continued the principal, "that the conduct of Captain +Kendall--with the exception I have mentioned--is fully and cordially +approved. I must say that his behavior, his skill and energy, seem fully +to justify the experiment undertaken in the Josephine. Your commander +has made a full report of the vessel, and it gives me great pleasure to +say that he awards the highest praise to his officers and crew for their +zeal and fidelity. He informs me that officers and seamen labored with +untiring energy to rescue the unfortunate persons on board of the +galiot, and also to save the vessel itself. These efforts have been +entirely successful. + +"It is at all times the duty of the seaman to save life and property on +the high seas. No one knows how soon we may need the kind offices of +brother sailors of any nation; and what we expect to receive from others +we should at all times be prepared to render to them. You have done +nobly. I congratulate you upon your success; and I thank you for the +zeal with which you have discharged your several duties. Nothing so much +as the dependence of one seaman upon another, in the hour of shipwreck +and disaster, unites the seamen of all nations in one fraternity. Young +gentlemen, you have done something for your ship, and something for your +country; for every true American feels proud and happy when he learns +that an American vessel has saved even a single shipwrecked mariner. I +am sure your friends will be proud of you when they read your record for +the last twenty-four hours. + +"According to maritime law, young gentlemen, you are entitled to salvage +upon the vessel you have saved. Under ordinary circumstances, you would +be justified in claiming from one half to three fourths of the value of +this vessel. The galiot, I am informed, was not insured. The value of +the vessel and cargo is perhaps four or five thousand dollars. I have no +doubt the court would give you what would amount to two or three +thousand dollars, at least; for without assistance the vessel would +probably have been a total loss. + +"Captain Schimmelpennink, I am told, is the sole owner of the 'Wel +tevreeden.' He and his family lived on board of her. It was their only +home, and she was their only worldly possession. At an expense of a few +hundred dollars, he can restore her to her original condition. If sold +in her present state, she would not bring half her actual value. +Deducting the salvage from this amount, the unfortunate captain would +lose at least three fourths of his property, the accumulation of his +lifetime." + +"We'll no rob the poor mon," interposed McLeish, the Scotch boy, who was +now on his good behavior. + +"It will be no robbery, McLeish. You would take but your just dues," +replied the principal, with a smile. + +"We'll no tak it," added McLeish. + +"No, sir!" "No, sir!" "No, sir!" responded the students in every +direction. + +"Not a dollar of it, sir!" said Paul, warmly. + +"Thank you, young gentlemen," continued Mr. Lowington, whose face +indicated the pleasure he felt. "You have voluntarily suggested what I +was about to propose to you. To-day is Sunday, and your conduct is +worthy of the day. I should not have mentioned the matter until +to-morrow, if I had not desired to relieve the unfortunate captain from +his anxiety and suspense. Your conduct will gladden his heart. We will +take a vote on this question, that there may be no mistake in regard to +your intentions. Those in favor of abandoning the claim for salvage will +signify it by raising the right hand." + +Every hand was raised, and most of the boys added an emphatic "Ay!" to +the hand vote. + +"All up!" shouted the students, looking around them to find any one who +was behind the others in this benevolent deed. + +"Every one," replied Mr. Lowington, smiling. "Mr. Fluxion, I will thank +you to communicate to the master of the galiot the action of the ship's +company." + +The Dutchman stood watching the proceedings of the party with a look of +sad bewilderment. His wife and daughter were near him, as sad and +confused as himself. The boys looked at him with interest as the +professor of mathematics explained to him what had taken place. The +expression which lighted up his face, as he comprehended the action of +the students, was an ample reward for their generous conduct. + +"Tell him he may take possession of his vessel as soon as he pleases," +added the principal. + +Mr. Fluxion communicated this permission to the skipper; and when he +heard it he cast a longing glance at the "Wel tevreeden," which he +seemed to regard in the same light as his wife and daughter. + +"How much will it cost to repair the galiot?" asked one of the students, +stepping forward from a group which had been whispering together for a +moment very earnestly. + +"I do not know the price of materials in Holland," replied Mr. +Lowington. "Perhaps the captain and the pilot may be able to give you +some information on this subject." + +Mr. Fluxion, the pilot, and the master of the galiot consulted together +for some time. The jib and foresail, and a portion of the standing and +running rigging, had been saved, and the Belgian and the Dutchman made a +computation of the cost of labor and material. + +"About twelve hundred guilders," said Mr. Lowington, after Mr. Fluxion +had reported the result of the conference. + +"How much is that, sir?" asked one of the boys, blankly. + +"One hundred pounds, English," said Paul, who had already studied up +Dutch currency. "About five hundred dollars." + +"I move you, sir, that a subscription paper be opened to raise the money +to repair the galiot," said Lynch. + +"Second the motion," added Groesbeck. + +"Young gentlemen, I think you have done all that could be expected of +you," said Mr. Lowington. "I do not mean to represent to you that +Captain Schimmelpennink is an object of charity, though I am informed +that he has not the means of paying for these repairs. But, since you +desire it, I will put the matter to vote." + +The motion was carried unanimously, as the one remitting the claim for +salvage had been. The principal suggested that it was proper to appoint +a committee to attend to the subscriptions; and Terrill, Pelham, and +Lynch were appointed to perform this duty. Nothing was said to the +skipper of the galiot about this proposition; and Mr. Lowington having +warmly commended the students for their generous sympathy with the +unfortunate man, the crew were dismissed. + +A boat was sent to the "Wel tevreeden" with the captain and his party. +The subscription paper was immediately opened. Terrill took the paper to +Mr. Lowington first, who headed it with sixty guilders. The principal +and the students seemed to make their financial calculations in English +money, on the basis of twelve guilders to the pound. Mr. Fluxion put +down twenty-four guilders, and the students twelve guilders each; for no +one was willing to be behind the others. + +Mr. Lowington returned to the ship; and when dinner was over, most of +the Josephines turned in, for there was a fearful gaping on board as +soon as the excitement had subsided. Hardly any of the crew had closed +their eyes during the preceding night, and all of them were very tired. + +At five o'clock, the white flag containing a blue cross, which is the +signal for divine service, appeared on the Young America. The service +had been postponed, to enable the Josephines to obtain a little needed +rest: it was never dispensed with except at sea, in very heavy weather. +Though the religious exercises were made unusually impressive by Mr. +Agneau, after the storm and the wreck, it must be confessed that some of +the consort's company went to sleep during the hour; but they were +forgiven, even by the chaplain, when their zealous labors to save life +and property were considered. + +For some reason of his own, Mr. Lowington invited the Dutch skipper and +his family to attend the service, and a boat was sent for the party. +They came on board, and were regarded with deep interest by the crew, +though doubtless they were not much edified by the exercises, as they +knew not a word of English. + +"Captain Kendall," said the first lieutenant of the schooner, when they +returned to their cabin, "I think I have money enough to build a new +galiot for Captain Schumblefungus, or whatever his name is. I don't +wonder that a man with such a name as that should be cast away, +especially if the mate had to speak it before he let go the halyards." + +"How much have you?" asked Paul. + +"I don't know," replied Terrill, producing a whole bundle of money +orders, with which the students had paid their subscriptions. "Mr. +Lowington made a speech to the Young Americans after he returned on +board. He told them what we had done, and what we intended to do. The +fellows in the ship wanted to have a finger in the pie; and I believe +every one of them has put down his twelve guilders." + +"I am very glad to hear that; for I pitied the Dutch captain from the +bottom of my heart," added Paul. + +"All the professors gave twelve guilders, except old Hamblin--" + +"Professor Hamblin," interposed Paul, gently rebuking his friend for +using that disrespectful appellative. + +"Professor Hamblin; but I have no respect for him, and I can't always +help speaking what I think. He is a solemn old lunatic, as grouty as a +crab that has got aground." + +"We will not speak of him," said Paul, mildly. + +"Well, they all subscribed except him; and I'm sure I've got more than +twelve hundred guilders. Why, even the cooks and stewards gave +something." + +"I'm glad you have been so fortunate." + +"Captain Spunkenfungle's eyes will stick out a foot or two when he hears +what we have done for him." + +"And I'm sure we shall be as happy as he; for such gifts, you know, are +twice blessed." + +The sums on the subscription papers were added up by Terrill and Pelham. + +"Sixteen hundred and fifty-four guilders!" exclaimed the former, when +the result had been reached. + +"Four hundred and fifty-four guilders more than the sum required," added +Paul, delighted by the intelligence. + +"Shall we give it all to the skipper?" asked Pelham. + +"I don't know. We will leave that to Mr. Lowington," replied Paul. + +"I don't think we ought to give him any more than enough to make up his +loss. That would tempt him to wreck his galiot again, if there was an +American flag in sight," said Terrill. + +"I see no reason why he should be left any better off than before the +disaster," continued the captain. "We can keep the money as a charity +fund; and I have no doubt we shall soon find a chance to make good use +of it." + +The embarrassment of having a surplus was better than that of a +deficiency would have been, and the sleepy officers of the Josephine +were not likely to be kept awake by it. All hands turned in at an +earlier hour than usual. The anchor watch were as sleepy as the others; +but the discipline of the vessel was rigidly adhered to, for the +principal did not believe in neglecting any necessary precaution simply +because the crew were tired. As seamen, the students were taught to +realize that fatigue and want of sleep on shipboard would not justify +any disregard of their regular routine duty. + +In the morning everything went on as usual. It had not been the +intention of Mr. Lowington to put into Flushing, and no one was allowed +to go on shore. The wind was fortunately fresh from the westward; the +pilots were still on board; and the signal for sailing was hoisted on +board of the Young America. Just before the squadron weighed anchor, Mr. +Fluxion went on board of the galiot, and informed the skipper that all +the expenses of the repairs of his vessel would be paid by the students +of the institution. The professor reported that the poor man was beside +himself with joy when he received this intelligence. He expressed his +gratitude in extravagant terms, which had no English equivalents. Mr. +Fluxion gave him eighty pounds in gold, and promised to see him again +before the repairs were completed. + +Orders to weigh anchor were given, and the two vessels stood out of the +port of Flushing into the broad river. At Paul's invitation, Dr. +Winstock came on board for the passage up the river. Mr. Hamblin still +remained a guest of the ship, and the surgeon volunteered to take his +place, though he acknowledged that his Greek roots were little better +than decayed stumps in his memory. + +There is nothing picturesque on the Scheldt; and it was no great +hardship for the students to be compelled to attend to their lessons in +the steerage half the time during the trip. The country is very +low--some of it below the level of the sea; and there was little to be +seen on shore, though the students on deck found enough to interest +them. + +Mr. Hamblin was the only unhappy person in the squadron, even the +Knights of the Red Cross finding enough in this new and strange land to +occupy their time without plotting mischief. The learned gentleman did +not like the way in which the principal appeared to be "sustaining" him. +Mr. Lowington had called the crew together, and told them what the +Josephines had done, praising them in what seemed to the professor to be +the most extravagant language. He did not like it: it was hardly less +than an insult to commend the student against whom he had preferred +charges of disobedience and insubordination. + +He was vexed that no notice was taken of his complaints--that the matter +had been deferred a single hour. In his opinion, Captain Kendall should +have been promptly suspended. The moral effect of such a course would +have been grand. Mr. Hamblin had spoken; and he felt that he had spoken. +If he was not sustained, he could not return to the Josephine. He had +spoken; and it was the principal's place to speak next. + +Mr. Lowington did not speak. He was busy all the morning; and when the +vessels sailed, not a word had been said in allusion to the topic which, +in Mr. Hamblin's estimation, overshadowed all others. If the principal +did not think of it all the time, he ought to do so; for the academic +branch of the institution would be a failure if discipline was not +enforced. The ship stood on her way before the fresh westerly breeze, +and still Mr. Lowington did not mention the matter. The professor waited +till he felt he was utterly ignored, and was sacrificing his dignity +every moment that he permitted the question to remain unsettled. + +"Mr. Lowington," said he at last, with a mighty effort,--for it was the +principal's duty to speak first,--"I made a complaint to you yesterday. +Thus far no notice whatever seems to have been taken of it." + +"Perhaps the longer we wait the easier it will be to settle the +question," replied Mr. Lowington, pleasantly, though he dreaded the +discussion that must ensue. + +"If I am not to be sustained in the discharge of my duties, it is +useless for me to attempt to perform them to your satisfaction or my +own." + +"You shall be sustained in the discharge of your duties, Mr. Hamblin. +But we will discuss this matter in the cabin, if you please," added the +principal, as he led the way below. + +"Unless an instructor is sustained, of course he can do nothing," said +the professor, as he seated himself in the cabin. + +"Certainly not. I will hear your complaint now, Mr. Hamblin," replied +the principal. + +The learned gentleman stated his grievance in about the same terms as on +the day before. + +"You say that a message was sent down to the captain. Do you know what +that message was?" asked the principal. + +"I do not remember it precisely. It was something about a squall." + +"Very likely it was," answered Mr. Lowington, dryly. "There was a squall +coming up at the time--was there not?" + +"I knew there was a shower coming up." + +"You declined to let him go on deck?" + +"I did, sir. The recitation in Greek was not half finished," replied the +professor, who deemed this a sufficient reason for declining. + +"Captain Kendall did not go on deck when the first message was sent +down?" + +"No, sir; we continued the recitation for half an hour longer without +interruption. Then the messenger came again. I told Mr. Kendall not to +leave the class; but, in direct opposition to my order, he went on +deck. Not satisfied with this, though he knew that half the students +were engaged in the recitations, he ordered all hands to be called. Of +course the students were glad enough to get away from their lessons; and +all of them stampeded from the steerage, in spite of my protest, and +without even a word of apology." + +"Did they?" added Mr. Lowington, with difficulty avoiding the disrespect +of laughing in the face of the learned gentleman. + +"They did; and it must be as clear to you as it is to me, that such +conduct is utterly subversive of anything like good discipline." + +"May I ask what punishment you propose as suitable for such an offence +as that of Captain Kendall?" + +"I am perfectly willing to leave that matter to you, sir; but I should +think that simple suspension from his office would be sufficient, +considering the position of Mr. Kendall." + +"Mr. Hamblin, it is your misfortune, not your fault, that you were +brought up on shore instead of at sea," added the principal. "You have +made a very great mistake, sir." + +"I, sir!" exclaimed the learned gentleman, springing up from his seat as +though such an event as that indicated by Mr. Lowington had never +occurred in his life. + +"Captain Kendall also made a mistake," continued the principal. + +"He did indeed, sir. It is always a very great mistake to disobey one's +teacher." + +"I do not mean that." + +"May I ask what you do mean, sir?" + +"His mistake was in not going on deck when the messenger sent to him by +the officer of the deck reported that a squall was coming up." + +"But I refused the permission," said the professor, warmly. + +"Then he should have gone without your permission," added Mr. Lowington, +decidedly. + +"Am I to understand, sir, that you counsel disobedience among the boys +on the Josephine?" + +"No, sir; I counsel obedience to the laws of God and man, and to the +orders of one's superior. Mr. Hamblin, is it possible that you could not +understand the circumstances of that occasion?" continued the principal. +"A squall was coming up, and you desired to detain the captain of your +vessel in the steerage!" + +"But half the crew were on deck. I am told that Mr. Terrill is a +competent seaman. He knew enough to take down the sails, if necessary." + +"Such a course would have been without a precedent, and in violation of +one of the rules of the ship." + +"Did you not tell me that all the students, including the captain,--you +mentioned him especially,--were subject to the orders of the professors +in school hours?" + +"I certainly did; but if I had supposed that there was an instructor in +either vessel so utterly wanting in discretion, I should have qualified +the statement. Captain Kendall is in command of the Josephine. He is +responsible for the safety of the vessel and for the lives of those on +board." + +"He might have sent up word to take down the sails," growled Mr. +Hamblin, disgusted beyond measure at the decision of the principal. + +"Did any one ever hear of a captain working his vessel while in the +steerage?" retorted Mr. Lowington, impatiently, as he took a pen and +wrote a few lines on a sheet of paper. "Was Captain Kendall respectful +to you?" + +"No, sir." + +"What did he say that was disrespectful?" + +"Disobedience is always disrespectful. He used no disrespectful words." + +"I did not suppose he did. In a word, if Captain Kendall had gone on +deck when the first messenger went to him, I should have justified and +sustained him. I will go a step farther: he ought to have done so." + +"Then I am to understand that I am a mere cipher on board of the +Josephine," demanded Mr. Hamblin. + +"You are to understand, sir, that the first duty of the captain of a +ship is to his vessel and to those on board of her. Why, sir, I thought +the young gentleman was insane, and I was intensely anxious, when I saw +his vessel with all her light sails on while a squall, so clearly +indicated as that of Saturday, was impending. I blamed him very much. +The squall was as likely to come half an hour sooner as when it did +come. If it had struck her with all sail set, it would have taken the +masts out of her--perhaps foundered her. If several of the students had +been lost, what satisfaction would it be to me or their friends to know +that the disaster occurred because the professor of Greek refused to let +the captain go on deck!" + +"Perhaps I was wrong, sir." + +"_Perhaps_ you were! If you do not know that you were, you are not fit +for the position to which I assigned you." + +"I see that you fully sustain Mr. Kendall," groaned the professor. + +"I only blame him because he did not disobey you the first time instead +of the second." + +"Was it necessary for him to call all hands?" demanded Mr. Hamblin, +triumphantly. + +"It was emphatically necessary! If he had gone on deck when the first +message reached him, it might not have been necessary, though I should +have sustained him in doing so; for the safest side is always the best +side. May I ask you to read this order?" added the principal, as he +handed the sheet upon which he had written to the learned professor. + +Mr. Hamblin read the order aloud. + + Captain Kendall is hereby authorized and directed to leave any + class in which he may be engaged, whenever, in his own judgment, + the management of his vessel requires him to do so. The instructors + in the consort are requested to respect this order. + + R. LOWINGTON. + + + +Professor Hamblin dropped the paper, took off his spectacles, looked on +the floor a moment, and seemed to feel that the nautical academy was not +the paradise of schoolmasters. + +"Mr. Lowington, I feel obliged to tender my resignation of the position +I occupy," said the learned gentleman, haughtily. + +"Very well, sir. Though the want of an instructor in your department +will be a serious inconvenience to me, I shall accept your resignation +if you are not willing to respect this order," replied the principal. + +That ended the conference, and Paul was sustained. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +PROFESSOR HAMBLIN CHANGES HIS MIND. + + +Professor Hamblin went on deck, walked up and down, and made himself as +miserable as possible. He was the senior instructor of the Josephine, +and was the superintendent of her academic department. He had been a +schoolmaster or a professor for forty years, and was fully steeped in +the dogmatism of the pedagogue. He was disposed to be overbearing and +tyrannical, though perhaps his profession, rather than his nature, had +implanted this tendency in his character. Certainly the almost absolute +sway of the schoolmaster encourages such an unfortunate development of +the lower faculties of human nature. + +It is necessary that the parent or the teacher should have this absolute +sway. Practically, his will is law, and the child has no alternative but +to rebel or obey. The limit to his authority is only placed on the line +where tyranny ends and actual abuse begins. It is true that public +opinion has its influence upon the teacher or parent; but there is room +for much petty oppression before the limit of endurance is reached. A +man may be an efficient teacher, and produce splendid intellectual +results, while he is a tyrant and an oppressor; indeed, his tyranny and +oppression may be the very means by which his success is accomplished. + +The rights of the pupil are not recognized by such men. The scholar is +regarded as a machine, rather than an immortal soul. Though Mr. Hamblin +was a very pious man, in his own way, and was very careful in his +observance of all the forms of law and tradition, he was a tyrant at +heart. He ruled with an iron will, and willingly suffered no one in the +school-room to hold an opinion different from his own. He was not +popular in the Josephine; he had never been a popular teacher anywhere, +though he had been a successful one, so far as intellectual results were +concerned. His success seemed to justify him, and certainly it added to +the strength of his tyrannical will. + +The good schoolmaster recognizes and respects the rights of the scholar. +While he is an unflinching disciplinarian, expecting an unquestioning +obedience, he does not believe in his own infallibility. He is kind and +considerate, and regards his pupil as an embryo man, "endowed with +certain inalienable rights," which none may trample upon with impunity. +He is both just and merciful, his heart being filled with love to God +and love to man. + +Such was not Mr. Hamblin. The greatest sin of a student was to have a +will of his own. He had not the power or the inclination to harmonize +that will with the requirements of duty, and he broke it down, not by +coarse abuse, but by making the pupil so uncomfortable that a total +submission was better than a reasonable independence. In mild-tempered +boys, like Paul Kendall, the task was an easy one, when no principle was +at stake. + +The professor walked up and down the deck, brooding over his grievances. +He could not afford to abandon his situation on the one hand, and it +seemed impossible to acknowledge that he was wholly wrong on the other +hand. When he had thoroughly cooled off, he was willing to own that it +was necessary for the captain to go on deck, and that if he had +comprehended the situation he should have given him permission to do so. +But he knew nothing about the management of a vessel. How should a +professor of Greek and Latin be expected to understand a matter which +even the most ignorant could comprehend, and of which even a boy of +sixteen had made himself master? Boys could play base-ball, but he did +not know how; and it seemed just as much beneath his dignity to be +familiar with practical navigation. + +He was sorry now that he had not given Captain Kendall permission to go +on deck; for it was impossible to refute the arguments of the principal; +but at the same time he had not overstepped the duties of his office. He +had been informed that all the students, even to the captain, were +subject to his will and pleasure during school hours, and therefore he +had a perfect right to detain the captain. It was not his fault that a +blunder had been made; he had not made it. + +The order which Mr. Lowington had shown him would remedy the difficulty +in future, and prevent its repetition; but if that order was +promulgated, it would assure the pupils that Captain Kendall had been +fully sustained, and that the professor had not been sustained. Mr. +Hamblin shuddered at the thought; for justifying a student at the +expense of the instructor was an enormity which he could not +countenance. The captain's will would remain unbroken, and the professor +would occupy a secondary position on board of the Josephine. + +The learned gentleman walked the deck hour after hour, endeavoring to +devise a plan by which he could return to his position without the +sacrifice of any portion of his dignity. Mr. Lowington, in saying that +the professor's resignation would be a serious inconvenience to him, had +left the door open for him to revise his final action. The squadron was +eventually to visit Greece and other classic lands, and he was very +anxious to continue his travels, not only without expense to himself, +but while in the receipt of a handsome salary. Such an opportunity to +see Europe could never again be presented to him, and he was not willing +to sacrifice it. + +Professor Hamblin was becoming more reasonable; but there was the +untamed will of Captain Kendall, an unconquered fortress, in his path. +Perhaps Mr. Lowington, now that the excitement of the first interview +had subsided, might help him out of the embarrassing dilemma, though his +decided manner was not very encouraging. The professor determined to +have another interview, and as soon as he saw the principal alone he +opened the subject again. + +"What you said about my resignation, Mr. Lowington, gives me some +uneasiness. It is not my wish to subject you to any inconvenience by +leaving you, in a foreign land, where much delay must necessarily ensue +before you can obtain a suitable person to fill my place," said he, in a +tone of embarrassment. + +"It would disturb my plans very much; but I cannot endanger the vessel +and the lives of those on board of her. The position of Captain Kendall +is anomalous, you will perceive." + +"I am quite willing now to say that if I had understood the situation, I +should have permitted Mr. Kendall to leave the class." + +"And I am quite willing to say that your services as an instructor are +entirely satisfactory to me," added the principal, with a smile. + +They were more satisfactory to him than they were to the students of the +Josephine. + +"Then we seem to be in full accord with each other on these points," +replied the professor, hopefully. "I trust some arrangement may be made +to reconcile the differences of opinion on the question of discipline. +You do not sustain me, Mr. Lowington." + +"I cannot, sir. If I did, I should expect the Josephine to go to the +bottom with all on board, in the first gale of wind she encounters, +should Captain Kendall happen to be reciting his Greek at the time." + +"I think I understand the matter better now, and in a similar emergency +I should permit him to leave the class." + +"In matters of seamanship and navigation, I have more confidence in the +judgment of Captain Kendall than in yours. He must be absolute in his +position as captain of the vessel." + +"Of course, sir; and in the composition of a soup doubtless you would +have more confidence in the judgment of your cook than in mine," added +the professor, cynically; for, intellectually, the cook and the captain +appeared to be on the same level to him; and as a professor of Greek, he +did not regard it as any more derogatory to his dignity not to know +anything of the principles of seamanship than to be ignorant of the art +of making a soup. + +"The order which I have written, and which I shall transmit to Captain +Kendall as soon as the squadron comes to anchor, will set the matter +right," said Mr. Lowington. + +"Do you insist on issuing that order?" asked Mr. Hamblin. + +"I do." + +"Let me say that Mr. Stoute did not indorse my course, and that in +future I will give Mr. Kendall permission to leave the class whenever he +desires to do so." + +"That is very well, sir; but, under the circumstances, I cannot permit +the captain to be embarrassed even by the necessity of asking +permission. If, by any diffidence on his part, he should delay asking +leave to go on deck, serious mishaps might occur." + +"Then I am to be subject to the will of that boy?" said the professor, +disgusted at the thought. + +"Not unless you are connected with the sailing department of the vessel. +You are simply prevented from exercising your will over him, to the +detriment of his duties as a navigator." + +"In this light the case looks different to me," added the professor, who +was laboring to recede from his position as gracefully as possible. "I +am willing to permit the captain to have his own will in all matters +pertaining to the management of the vessel, as I am to allow the cook +entire freedom in making his soup." + +"Then nothing more need be said, and you can resume your position on +board of the Josephine at once." + +"I am not entirely satisfied about that order, Mr. Lowington," added Mr. +Hamblin. + +"Why not?" + +"Because that sustains Mr. Kendall and condemns me in a public and +formal manner." + +"That is precisely what I intend to do." + +"It amounts to sacrificing me, by placing me in a derogatory position. I +have not transcended the power given me, and it is not right that I +should be formally condemned." + +"The order passes no judgment upon the past; it relates to the future +only. Captain Kendall must understand that he has full liberty to go +when and where he pleases, in the discharge of his duty. I am confident +he will not abuse this liberty." + +"But I am to stand before him in this business as a whipped puppy. +Couldn't you give him the order verbally, and explain my position to +him?" + +"What is your position?" demanded the principal, with a smile. + +"I mean simply that in detaining him I erred through a want of knowledge +of seamanship." + +"I can explain that; but I think it would be better for you to do so." + +"For me!" gasped the professor. "Why, sir, that would be an apology!" + +"It would be merely an explanation, which would come more gracefully +from you than from any other person." + +"I don't think so, sir. It would be lowering myself before him." + +"As you please, Mr. Hamblin. I will explain the matter myself, when I +give him the order." + +"If you could give him the order verbally, it would be better." + +"No; he must have the written order to show to any professor who +disputes his authority. But Captain Kendall will never give you any +trouble. He is manly and gentle, and he will not take advantage of his +position." + +"I think he will have abundant ground to manifest his triumph." + +"He will not do anything of the kind. If any officer of the Josephine +treats you with disrespect, he shall be suspended at once from office." + +"That is very proper, sir," added Mr. Hamblin, heartily. + +The learned gentleman let himself down as easily as possible. He had +consented to remain rather than subject the principal to the great +inconvenience and delay of procuring a new instructor. Captain Kendall +was to be independent only in the sailing department, in which he had no +disposition to interfere, any more than with the cook. He regarded it as +a bitter necessity which compelled him to return to the Josephine; for +he could not forego the pecuniary advantage and the opportunity of +visiting the classic lands which the voyage presented; but, though he +yielded with what grace he could command, he was dissatisfied with Mr. +Lowington, and more dissatisfied with Paul. + +To go back to the consort unsustained was almost like going to a dungeon +for a capital crime, to which nothing but personal interest induced him +to submit. If the captain did not enjoy his triumph, it would be a +degree of forbearance which he could not comprehend. But he was quite +certain that the captain would "put on airs," abuse his absolute +liberty, and perhaps snub his teacher before the class. Mr. Hamblin +expected this, and made up his mind to be on the lookout for it. + +After dinner Mr. Lowington suggested that his services must be much +needed on board of the Josephine, and proposed to send him to her at +once. Mr. Hamblin consented, and as the consort kept astern of the ship, +the latter was hove to, and the professor's barge lowered. Mr. Lowington +went with the learned gentleman, and agreeably to his promise, made a +full explanation to Paul, while the instructor, without a word to any +one, hastened to the steerage, and called his class, just as though +nothing had occurred. It was observed that he was unusually sour, +crabbed, and precise, and all the students were anxious to know how the +question of discipline had been settled. + +"Read this order, if you please, Captain Kendall," said the principal, +when he had conducted him to the cabin, where they were alone. + +"I have no desire to leave my class, unless my duty to the vessel +requires it," added Paul, after he had read the order. + +"I did not suppose you had; but you will keep that order in your pocket, +and remember that your first duty is to your ship and crew." + +"I suppose you have learned by this time, sir, the reason why we did not +take in sail sooner on Saturday," continued Paul, blushing deeply. + +"I have. Professor Hamblin feels very badly about this matter. At the +time of it, he believed he was right, for he knows less about a vessel +than even the chaplain of the ship. He acknowledges now that he was in +error. Our rules did not before apply with sufficient distinctness to +your particular case, as captain of the vessel, responsible for her +proper navigation. Mr. Hamblin did not overstep the letter of his duty +in refusing you permission to go on deck, and I only blame him for his +want of judgment. By this order, which corrects the ship's rules, you +are made independent in all matters relating to the management of the +vessel." + +"I think there can be no trouble now, sir," replied Paul, delighted to +find that his conduct was approved. + +"I hope not; and I do not expect any." + +Mr. Lowington returned to the ship, satisfied that he had healed the +wounds of both the sufferers. Paul was happy, and he determined to treat +the professor with the utmost deference and kindness, and thus remove +the remembrance of the difficulty. At four o'clock, after the squadron +had passed Beveland, and entered the Belgian territory, Paul went down +to recite his Greek, as usual. He could not help seeing that Mr. +Hamblin's lip quivered, and that he was laboring under strong emotions, +when he took his place at the mess table. The captain was hardly less +embarrassed, but he hoped an opportunity would soon occur for him to +perform some kind act for the irritated gentleman. + +When the recitation was nearly finished, and both parties had recovered +their self-possession, the vessel gave a sudden "bump," which nearly +tipped the professor off his stool; but he righted himself, and was too +much absorbed in his favorite study to think of the incident for a +moment. + +"Mr. Terrill directs me to report to you that the vessel is aground!" +said one of the midshipmen, in breathless haste, touching his cap to the +captain. + +Paul blushed deeply, and was intensely annoyed at this repetition of the +circumstances of Saturday; but there was no alternative but for him to +go on deck. + +"Will you excuse me, Mr. Hamblin?" asked Paul, rising. + +The professor bowed, but made no reply in words. He wondered if the +vessel had not been run aground on purpose to mortify and annoy him. He +was inclined to think that such was the case, and that it had been done +to enable the captain to display his absolute authority. + +Paul went on deck; but the pilot assured him that the accident would not +subject the vessel to half an hour's delay, for the tide was rising very +rapidly. He had run her a little too near a shoal, while the Young +America, by keeping in mid channel, had gone clear. There was nothing +for the captain to do on deck, and he returned to his class. The +Josephine came off the ground within the half hour, and by putting on +more sail overhauled the ship before she reached Antwerp. + +"Here is the city, Paul," said Dr. Winstock, as the Josephine rounded a +bend in the river. "You can see the spire of Antwerp Cathedral." + +"I see it, sir. I have heard a great deal about it. This is farther than +we have been from the sea since we sailed." + +"Yes, it is a long pull from the sea for a sailing vessel; but Antwerp +is the only convenient port for visiting the greater part of Belgium. We +are only a short distance from Brussels, Ghent, Malines, and Liege. I +suppose we shall visit no other port in Belgium; indeed, there is no +other convenient one, except Ostend." + +"There is a whole fleet of British steamers at anchor opposite the +town," said Paul, when the Josephine had gone a little farther. + +"A great many merchant steamers come up the river. There are regular +lines to London and Harwich. By the latter route you may leave Antwerp +at four in the afternoon and be in London at nine the next morning, +though the Ostend or Calais line is quicker and better." + +"Those are large steamers," added Paul, as the squadron approached the +fleet at anchor. + +"Why, that's the Victoria and Albert!" exclaimed the doctor, pointing to +the largest of the ships. "That is the yacht of the Queen of England." + +"It is a pretty large yacht," replied Paul. "What are the other +steamers?" + +"They are the consorts of the yacht. The one that lies nearest to her is +the Osborne, which was formerly the queen's state vessel. The others are +merely a kind of guard of honor." + +"Does it take five steamships to bring the queen over to Antwerp?" asked +Paul, laughing. + +"She must go in state when she goes," added the doctor. "The Victoria +and Albert is a ship of twenty-four hundred tons. I hope we shall have +an opportunity to go on board of her." + +"I hope we shall; but that is hardly to be expected." + +"They do not exhibit her when she is in English waters, but I think they +do when she is abroad." + +"All ready to moor ship, Mr. Terrill," said Paul, as the Young America +gave the signal. + +The Josephine ran up to a point near the ship, and within a couple of +cables' length of the royal squadron let go her anchor. Port officers +came on board, and explained the harbor regulations; among them, one +whose duty it was to determine the amount due the pilot. This official +"hooked" the vessel, or measured her draught. As the Josephine drew +about ten feet of water, the charge was one hundred and ninety-eight +francs. + +Everything was made snug on board; the ropes were carefully coiled, and +all the running rigging hauled taut; for, lying near the queen's yacht, +Paul desired to have the vessel present her best appearance. The work of +the day was ended, and the students were at liberty to observe the +strange scenes around them. There was the city of Antwerp, but it was +not much different from any other city. The Scheldt formed a crescent in +front of the town, and there was a multitude of vessels lying at the +quays, as the space on the shore is called. The river is about fifteen +hundred feet wide, and deep enough to float a ship of the line. The city +is very strongly fortified, on both sides of the river. + +"Here we are, for a week or two," said Pelham to the first lieutenant, +after all the ship's duty had been performed. + +"I suppose so," replied Terrill. "It seems to me just as though we had +been sailing down hill ever since we came into the river. Hark!" + +It was just six o'clock, and the chime of bells on the great Cathedral +played a silver-toned melody which was almost enchanting. + +"I should not object to hearing that every hour," said Pelham, when the +tune was finished. "Do they play the same tune over again?" + +"I'm sure I don't know," replied Terrill. + +"They have a different tune for each hour of the day, and play the +entire music of an opera," interposed Dr. Winstock. "They give a short +strain at the quarter hour, and a longer one at the half hour." + +"That will be music all day long." + +"Yes, and all night long," added the surgeon, as he walked away with the +captain. + +"I wish he were going to stay on board instead of that solemn old +lunatic, the Greek and Latin humbug" said Terrill, who had a habit of +speaking his mind very plainly. + +"Do you know how the row was settled between him and the captain?" asked +Pelham. + +"I do not; but I am confident Mr. Lowington sustained the captain," +answered Terrill. "I was in hopes that we had got rid of him when he +went on board of the ship yesterday, and I was mad when I saw him coming +back to-day noon." + +"There is not a fellow in the Josephine that didn't have the same +thought," added Pelham. "I don't see why a man need try to make himself +as disagreeable as he does. All the students were willing to treat him +with respect, and get their lessons well; but he is as crank as an +alderman." + +"I wish we could get rid of him," suggested Terrill. + +"Of course we can't do that," replied Pelham, who was not disposed to +get into any more scrapes. + +"We might make the Josephine uncomfortable for him," suggested Terrill. + +"We might; but I think we had better not," added the prudent Pelham, +made wise by experience, as the bell for the cabin supper rang. + +Professor Hamblin looked unusually gloomy and morose, but he labored +perseveringly to keep up his dignity. Paul sat at the head of the table, +ordinarily with his officers on each side of him in the order of their +rank; but on the present occasion, Dr. Winstock occupied the place at +his right. At the opposite end of the board was Mr. Hamblin, with the +fat professor on his right. Behind the captain's chair stood the head +steward, while the second steward was stationed near the instructors. + +Mr. Hamblin occasionally cast a furtive glance at the young commander; +but Paul seemed to be as composed as though nothing had happened to +disturb the friendly relations between them. Though he did not observe +it, Terrill persisted that the learned gentleman looked "ugly," and +would make another row as soon as he could get a chance. + +"I can see through the mainsail when there is a hole in it," said the +executive officer to Pelham, when they went on deck again. "If there +wasn't mischief in Mr. Hamblin's eye, there never was mischief in any +man's eye." + +"What do you mean?" asked Pelham. + +"You know the old lunatic threatened to have the captain suspended for +leaving the class. He failed in that, and if he don't try it again, I'm +mistaken in the man." + +"Of course he won't make any more complaints till he has something to +complain of, and Paul won't give him a chance." + +"I don't suppose he will voluntarily; but his conduct will be distorted. +I tell you the professor is ugly, and he hates the captain as badly as a +Christian can." + +"He hasn't improved his popularity on board by what he has done." + +"Every fellow on the Josephine is down upon him. There'll be a row on +board soon, in my opinion," added Terrill, as Dr. Winstock and Paul came +on deck. + +A boat was lowered to send the surgeon on board the ship. Paul +accompanied him; and on the way they went up to the gangway of the +Victoria and Albert, and ascertained that visitors would be admitted to +the ship on the following day, from ten till four. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE LECTURE ON BELGIUM. + + +"All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain +of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young +America. + +Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had +voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on +geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so. The +information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so +familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the +school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and +Belgium. Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the +bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil +wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were +desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants. + +Holland is in itself an exceedingly interesting country. The students +had seen something of its dikes and ditches, and were anxious to see +more. The region seemed to be very much like a ship; for it was +necessary to keep the water out as much as possible, and to pump out +that which leaked in or rained in. The boys were to go on shore, and +they desired to understand something of the history of the country, in +order to appreciate the various objects which commemorated mighty events +in the past. The citadel of Antwerp was in sight at a bend up the river, +and they were curious to know its antecedents. + +On both vessels the libraries had been ransacked for information by the +more enthusiastic of the pupils, and many interesting facts had been +gleaned from the volumes; but those who knew the most about the country +were the most anxious to know more. With only a few exceptions, +therefore, the "call to lecture," on the present occasion, was a welcome +one. The boats were lowered, and all hands in the Josephine, including +the professors, went on board of the ship, leaving the vessel in charge +of the adult forward officers. + +Mr. Mapps had already made his preparations in the steerage, and on the +foremast hung a large Dutch map of the Netherlands. The students filed +in and took their seats. The professor looked unusually pleasant and +enthusiastic, probably because he felt that his wares were in demand. + +"Young gentlemen, before you is the map of the Netherlands," he began. +"For our present purpose, the term must include both Holland and +Belgium; for until 1830 the two were one country, the latter having had, +for no long period, a separate political existence till that time. + +"The Dutch name of the country is _Nederlanden_; the French name, +_Pays-Bas_; both of which have the same meaning--'low countries.' By +this time you have realized the literal significance of the term; for +nearly all the region consists of an immense low plain, intersected by +rivers or arms of the sea. A reference to the physical geography of +Europe shows you that the great northern plain, containing nine times +the area of France, or about one half the area of Europe, extends from +the Ural Mountains to the German Ocean. + +"Doubtless the whole region now included in the Netherlands was once a +mere swamp, a wild and useless morass, unfit for the habitation of man. +Three great rivers, you perceive on the map, have their course, in whole +or in part, through Holland and Belgium--the Rhine, the Maas, or Meuse, +and the Scheldt. + +"By a reference to your navigation charts, young gentlemen, you will +often find banks and bars thrown up at the mouths of rivers. At the +mouth of the Scheldt, several miles from the shore, there are Thornton's +Ridge, The Rabs, Schouwen Bank, Steen Banks, and others of similar +formation. At the mouth of the Mississippi, in our own country, you are +aware that large vessels find great difficulty in getting over the bar. +If we take a tumbler full of Mississippi water, after heavy rains in the +north-west, and let it stand a few moments, a thick sediment settles at +the bottom. This sediment forms the bar at the mouth of the river. The +sand and mud are carried down by the current, and when the water has a +chance to rest, it deposits its burden upon the bottom." + +"But why in that particular place?" asked an interested student. + +"Because the current of the river comes to a halt where it meets the +inflowing tide of the gulf, or when it has spent its force. These bars +are sometimes formed by currents resulting from the combined action of +the sea and the flow of the river, or by winds. A heavy gale has been +known to change the aspect of a coast, to shut up a harbor, or to open +one where there had before been no inlet. Cape Cod presents some +remarkable instances of these physical revolutions. + +"The great rivers of the Netherlands, in like manner, have brought down +their sands and mud, and deposited them on what now forms the shore of +the country. The forces of the ocean, against which the Dutchman of +to-day has to contend for the preservation of his life and property, +assisted in making this country a habitable region. Certain westerly and +south-westerly winds drive the waters of the Atlantic into the German +Ocean. The coast of the country, you see by the map, is exposed to the +longest sweep of the wind from the north-west, and the most violent +tempests to which Holland is exposed come from that direction. Now, what +is the effect of these storms?" + +"They pile up the sand-bars," replied Captain Kendall. + +"Precisely so; the dunes and ridges of sand which border the country +from the straits of Dover to the Texel are caused by these violent winds +from the north-west. The effect of this piling up of the sands was +eventually to limit, in a measure, the boundary of the sea. The dunes +and ridges formed the foundation for the dikes which the industrious and +persevering Dutchman has erected upon them, and by which he has made +his country. For the want of time, I shall defer the physical features +of Holland, and a more particular description of its dikes and ditches, +to a future occasion. In what country are we now?" + +"In Belgium, sir," replied McLeish, who always answered when he could, +though in general knowledge he was far behind his American classmates. + +"What is the French name?" + +"_La Belgique._" + +"The German?" + +"_Belgien._" + +"What is the French adjective?" + +"_Belge._" + +"There is a liberal newspaper published at Brussels, the capital of +Belgium, which is often quoted as political authority in the United +States, called the _Independance Belge_. What does the term mean?" + +"'The Belgian Independent,' or 'The Independent Belgian,'" laughed +Pelham. + +"But the first word is a noun." + +"'The Belgian Freeman,' or something of that sort." + +"Doubtless it will bear that rendering, though it means literally +'Belgian Independence.' Belgium is bounded on the north, and partly on +the east, by Holland; mostly on the east by the Rhenish provinces of +Prussia, forming a part of Germany; on the south-west by France; and on +the north-west by the German Ocean. It has an area of eleven thousand +three hundred and thirteen miles; that is, it is about the size of +Maryland, or of Massachusetts and Connecticut united. + +"Its population in 1863 was about five millions, equal to the aggregate +of New York and Massachusetts. In New England, in 1860, there were fifty +persons to the square mile; in Massachusetts, which is the most densely +peopled of the United States, one hundred and seventy; but Belgium has +four hundred and forty souls to the square mile, and is the most +thickly-settled country in the world. + +"Belgium contains nine provinces, the largest of which, in area, is +Luxembourg, though it is one of the smallest in population. The largest +in population is East Flanders." + +"Flanders!" exclaimed Terrill; "I was hoping you would say something +about Flanders, for I had an idea it was Belgium." + +"It is a part of it. Flanders has belonged to France, Spain, Austria, +and Holland, at times; but it was divided into two provinces by the King +of Holland, and became a part of the United Kingdom of Belgium when it +was established in 1830. It figures largely in history, and 'our army in +Flanders' is a proverb. + +"The soil of Belgium is generally sandy and poor; but, by skill and +industry, the people obtain large crops from it. In a country so densely +peopled there could not be many large farms, and the majority of the +farmers cultivate what would not be more than a garden in America; but +the system of agriculture is not surpassed by that of any country in the +world. Flax-raising is the principal occupation of the farmers; but +grasses and roots receive particular attention. Horses, cattle, and +sheep are raised in great numbers. + +"The manufactures of Belgium are very celebrated. The laces of Brussels +and Mechlin (Malines) have the highest reputation. Linen goods, carpets, +woollens, cottons, hosiery, are largely produced. The foreign and +domestic commerce of Belgium, largely carried on through the port of +Antwerp, is extensive. + +"Belgium is a flat country, as we have said. There are no mountains, +though in the provinces of Liege and Brabant the American traveller will +find a variety of scenery similar to that in the eastern part of +Massachusetts and Connecticut. This portion of Belgium is a beautiful +garden. + +"The government, according to the charter of 1831, is a constitutional, +representative, and hereditary monarchy; that is, it has a constitution, +a parliament, and the oldest son of the king is his successor. The +king's person is declared to be sacred, and his ministers, instead of +himself, are held responsible for the government acts. The legislative +branch consists of a senate and a chamber of representatives; but the +king must sign their acts before they can become laws. + +"The members of both houses of the legislature are chosen by the people, +and are called deputies. Only citizens who pay a certain amount of +direct taxes can vote. The deputies who live out of the town in which +the session is held are paid sixty-two dollars a month. They are elected +for four years, half every two years. The political privileges of the +people are only less than those of our own country. + +"The present king is Leopold I.[A] He is seventy-four years old, and for +the last fifty years has been a man of mark in Europe. He was for some +time in the service of the Emperor of Russia, and went to England with +the allied sovereigns, in 1814, where he became acquainted with, and +afterwards married, the Princess Charlotte, daughter of George IV.; but +she died within two years. In 1830 Leopold was elected King of Greece; +but he finally refused the crown, because the conditions he made were +not complied with. In 1831 he was elected King of the Belgians, and was +crowned the same year. The next year he married Louise, the daughter of +Louis Philippe, King of France. Leopold, Duke of Brabant, will succeed +him. He has several other sons and daughters, among them Marie +Charlotte, wife of Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, who has been elected +Emperor of Mexico. Leopold is one of the richest men in Europe. + +[Footnote A: Leopold I. died Dec. 10, 1865, and was succeeded by his +son, Leopold II.] + +"Nearly all the people of Belgium are Roman Catholics, there being but +about thirteen thousand Protestants and two thousand Jews; but the +largest religious liberty is allowed to all sects. A portion of the +salary of ministers of all denominations is paid from the national +treasury. While the Catholics receive seven hundred thousand dollars +from the state, the Protestants obtain eleven thousand, and the Jews two +thousand dollars. The salary paid by the state to the archbishop is four +thousand two hundred dollars, and to a bishop about three thousand. + +"The history of Flanders is substantially the early history of Belgium. +Many changes were made in the territorial limit of the country from time +to time, in the hands of its different owners. The first mention of +this country in history is in the time of Julius Caesar, who conquered +the Low Countries, and the Romans held them till the year 400, when they +were joined to the empire of the Franks. They formed part of the vast +realm of Charlemagne. + +"After the Romans had abandoned the territory, several independent +nobles established themselves in the southern part of the Netherlands. +Among them were the Counts of Flanders, who became very powerful and +influential men. They are to be regarded as the founders of the Flemish +provinces. Having no male heirs, their possessions went to the house of +Burgundy. Philip, Duke of Burgundy, married Margaret, Countess of +Flanders, and, upon the death of her father, she brought to him the +country of Flanders and other valuable possessions. + +"During the succeeding hundred years, Namur, Brabant, Limbourg, +Hainault, Holland, Zealand, Friesland, and Luxembourg, all of which now +belong to Holland and Belgium, were added to the territories of the +Dukes of Burgundy. At this period appears the powerful but rash and +cruel Charles the Bold. His life was spent in open or secret strife with +Louis XI., king of France, whose suzerain, or nominal vassal, he was. +The king was instrumental in stirring up rebellion in several cities of +the Low Countries, which the duke put down with his accustomed severity. + +"Charles, in revenge, having leagued with some discontented French +princes, Louis secretly fomented an insurrection in Liege. When the blow +was first struck, the crafty king was paying a visit to his cousin of +Burgundy, as he called the duke, who, on hearing the news, retained his +sovereign as a prisoner, threatening to kill him for his perfidy. The +cunning prince tried to pacify his enraged host. He was but partially +successful, and could only obtain his liberty by submitting to the most +humiliating terms. The duke compelled his royal guest to march in person +with him to the revolted city, and assist his vassal in putting down the +rebellion he had himself instigated. + +"Charles the Bold was slain in battle, and his death ending his line of +dukes, Louis seized upon several of the provinces. Mary, the daughter of +Charles, was married to the Archduke of Austria, who claimed the +Burgundian provinces in right of his wife. He obtained possession, +however, of only Franche-comte and the Low Countries. The conflicting +claims for these territories kept Austria and France at war for a long +time. + +"The Archduke Maximilian, who married Mary of Burgundy, became Emperor +of Germany on the death of his father. He had two children by her, +Philip and Margaret, the former of whom married Joanna, daughter of +Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. They were the parents of Charles V., +Emperor of Germany and King of all Spain. During this period the Low +Countries were governed by Maximilian, Philip, and Charles, deriving +their right from Charles the Bold. + +"Charles V. was succeeded as King of Spain by Philip II., his son, who +also inherited the Flemish provinces. Mr. Motley's incomparable History +of the Rise of the Dutch Republic, commences at this point, with the +abdication of Charles V., and the accession of Philip II. I hope all who +have not read this work will do so, as many of you can, here in the +midst of the scenes described in its glowing pages. + +"Philip was a bigot and a tyrant, and his despotism, which included the +establishment of the Inquisition, drove the people to madness, and +provoked them to rebellion. During the reign of Charles V. the +Reformation had made considerable progress in Germany, and its +principles were firmly planted in the Low Countries. Philip imposed upon +himself the duty of rooting out the obnoxious doctrines, and of +restoring the supremacy of the Catholic church. + +"After his accession to the Netherlands, the king remained four years in +the country, and then departed for Spain, from which he did not again +return. He made his sister regent, and she was to be assisted by +Granvelle, Bishop of Arras. William, Prince of Orange, and the Counts +Egmont and Horn, were associated with the bishop as councillors, but +they had no real power or influence. + +"The despotic conduct of Granvelle, and the attempt on his part to +introduce the Inquisition, by order of his royal master, excited the +most desperate opposition. The people organized under the lead of the +Prince of Orange, and Egmont and Horn, and an insurrection broke out in +Flanders, in 1566. These Protestant rebels have been styled iconoclasts, +or image-breakers, for they broke into the churches, overturned the +images, defaced the valuable paintings, and otherwise injured the church +property. + +"The famous Cathedral of Notre Dame, which you can see from the deck of +the ship, was ravaged by the mob. The statues of Christ, the Virgin, and +the Saints were hurled from their pedestals; the rich paintings, the +choicest works of Flemish art, were cut to pieces; the organs were torn +down, the altars overturned, and the gold and silver vessels used in the +mass were carried off. For three days these tumultuous proceedings +continued, and were suppressed only when the fury of the mob had ceased, +by the Knights of the Golden Fleece, of which the Prince of Orange was a +member. The career of this remarkable man is closely identified with the +history of the Netherlands during this period. He was opposed to the +violence of the mob, not only from prudential motives, but because his +own religious views were not yet in sympathy with the Protestant +reformers, though he afterwards fully embraced their doctrines. + +"The patriots of the Low Countries were, in the beginning of these +troubles, both Catholic and Protestant; but the sacrilegious conduct of +the mob detached the former from the cause, and as the Catholics were +more numerous in the southern than in the northern provinces, they +finally turned the scale in favor of Philip II. in their own section, +while the people of Holland established their independence. + +"Philip then sent the savage and relentless Duke of Alva to suppress the +new religion in the Netherlands. Egmont and Horn were beheaded at +Brussels, and the Prince of Orange retired into Germany, appealing to +the Protestant princes for assistance. With an army he had raised in +Germany, and with money obtained there and of Queen Elizabeth of +England, he marched into the Netherlands, and called his people to arms. +A long and terrible war ensued, in which the Dutch suffered up to the +limit of human endurance, and displayed a heroism which is without +parallel in the history of the nations. + +"The Prince of Orange was created Stadtholder; almost unlimited powers +were conferred upon him, and for years he struggled against the most +stupendous obstacles. The Dutch, being a maritime people, established a +navy, which inflicted many heavy blows upon the Spanish power. The +severity of Alva so goaded the Netherlanders that the whole country was +in arms against him. He failed to reduce them to subjection, and was +recalled. His next two eminent successors died of fever, and the Duke of +Parma was then sent as regent of Philip. In 1579 the northern provinces +declared their independence, and established the Dutch Republic, or the +Seven United Provinces, of which the Prince of Orange was stadtholder. + +"Philip was so incensed at the success of the Prince of Orange that he +offered a large reward to any one who would take his life, and a +fanatical Burgundian shot him at Delft, in 1584. With this event Mr. +Motley closes his History of the Rise of the Dutch Republic. + +"Belgium adhered to Spain, or, rather, the Duke of Parma succeeded in +reducing it to subjection after the murder of the stadtholder. In 1598 +Philip gave the Flemish provinces to his daughter Isabella. But on her +death without children, the country again reverted to Spain. After more +than a century of strife, including the Thirty Years' War, the repeated +quarrels between England and Spain, and France and Spain, and the War of +the Spanish Succession, during which period the Low Countries were +often the battle-ground, Belgium passed into the hands of the Austrians. + +"In settling up the disastrous strife of the century, the treaty-making +powers had given several of the Belgian fortresses to Holland, in order +to check the ambition of France, and the Dutch closed the Scheldt. After +an interval of peace under Maria Theresa of Austria, her son, Joseph +II., attempted to break through portions of the treaties, and obliged +the troops of Holland to evacuate his territory, but he could not open +the river. He was rash in his proceedings, and a rebellion was organized +against him. + +"About this time commenced the French Revolution, whose influence +extended to the Low Countries, and in 1789 the Austrian garrison at +Brussels was forced to surrender. But the people were not united, and +their dissensions enabled the Austrians to regain their power. The +French Directory sent an army to assist the Belgians, the Austrians were +driven from the country, and Belgium was incorporated with France. + +"Napoleon, while he controlled the destinies of France, devoted much +attention to the Flemish provinces, and especially to the city of +Antwerp. When you go on shore you will see immense docks and +fortifications built by him. He intended to make it a great naval +station, and it would have been of vast importance to him in carrying +out his plans for the invasion of England. The works on the opposite +side of the river, called 'Tete de Flandre,' were the beginning of an +immense military town. During this period England was almost continually +at war with France, and several expeditions were sent against Holland +and Belgium. + +"When Napoleon abdicated, the Flemish Provinces were restored to +Austria; but when the allies who had overthrown Napoleon finally +disposed of their conquests, Holland and Belgium were united, and given +to the Stadtholder, who had adhered to the allies. He was styled William +I., King of the Netherlands. + +"The two sections could not agree; the Dutch regarded Belgium as a +conquered province, and were not at all conciliatory in their treatment +of the new acquisition. The Belgians were essentially French in their +habits, and disliked the Dutch. In 1830 they revolted against their +masters, the insurrection extended to the principal cities, and the king +called upon the great powers who had given him the country. A congress +assembled in London at his request, which, however, decreed the +independence of Belgium. + +"The people first elected a son of Louis Philippe king; but he declined, +and Leopold was then chosen. King William, of Holland, protested, and in +spite of the treaty, held the city of Antwerp. A French army was sent to +the assistance of Leopold; Antwerp capitulated, but it was not till 1839 +that Holland made a treaty with Belgium, acknowledging her independence. +Leopold strengthened his position by marrying a daughter of the King of +France; and his son and heir, the Duke of Brabant, was married to Marie, +Archduchess of Austria. + +"In 1848, when Louis Philippe was overthrown in France, some disturbance +occurred, and Leopold offered to abdicate; but his proposition was not +accepted, and he wisely and skilfully led his government through all the +troubles of that excitable period. He is a wise and prudent statesman, +and as such has had a great deal of influence in Europe. + +"Now, young gentlemen, I trust you will not be satisfied with this +meagre sketch of the interesting country we are now visiting, but will +read up the subject so that you will understand it better." + +Mr. Mapps left his position, and the studies of the morning were +commenced. After dinner the usual shore liberty was given, the +allowances paid in French francs, a supply of which had been procured in +London, and the students were landed. Instead of going on shore +immediately, Dr. Winstock and Paul paid a visit to the Victoria and +Albert. + +At the gangway they found the steward of the ship, who volunteered to +conduct them through the vessel. There was nothing strikingly peculiar +in the exterior of the yacht, except that she had large, square windows, +composed of a single pane of glass, in her upper saloons and cabins; but +the steward informed the visitors that these were replaced in heavy +weather by wooden shutters, having only the small, round ports in them. + +Between the paddle-boxes was a large open space, covered over by the +hurricane deck. On each side, abaft the wheels, was a small apartment, +or pavilion, with large glass windows, elegantly cushioned and +furnished, where the royal passengers could sit in rough weather, and +look out upon the sea. On the hurricane deck was a spacious +dining-saloon. + +From the open space between the wheels, the steward conducted Dr. +Winstock and Paul to a passage-way, at the after end of which was a +saloon called the breakfast-room. Its length corresponded with the width +of the vessel, and one side was round, being formed at the stern of the +vessel, in which were several of the large square windows, so that the +apartment was very light and pleasant. + +On each side of the passage-way were several apartments, arranged in +suits. Returning to the open space amidships, the party entered the +forward room on the starboard side. + +"This is the room of the first lady in waiting," said the steward, as +they went in. + +"I should say the first lady in waiting was well accommodated," said +Paul, laughing, as he glanced at the spacious apartment. + +"But she may be a countess," replied the steward, leading the way to the +next room. "This is the queen's bed-chamber." + +There was a large bed in this room, which looked just like anybody's +bed; but it was by no means so elegant as the young republican had +anticipated. The apartment was rich and costly in its furnishings, but +there was none of the magnificence which one would have expected to find +in the room of a queen. + +"This is the dressing-room of Prince Albert," added the steward, +entering the next room. "Her majesty allows no one to occupy it since +the death of his highness." + +Beyond this, on the same side, were shown several rooms appropriated to +the use of the princesses. They corresponded in style with those of the +queen; but in nothing connected with the yacht was there any gaudy +display. The party went to the opposite side, and were shown several +rooms like those they had just seen, which were occupied by the princes. +The forward room on the port side was the drawing-room. It was larger +than any other except the breakfast-room, but did not appear to be +extravagantly furnished; everything seemed to be provided for comfort +rather than show. + +The conductor then led them forward, where, on each side of a passage, +were four rooms, each provided with a handsome, narrow bedstead, which +the steward said were for the use of the lords and ladies in waiting. +Forward of these, in the bow of the vessel, was the kitchen, a +three-cornered room like that on the Young America, with a large galley +or cooking-range in the middle. + +Below the royal apartments, in the after part of the ship, were the +cabins for the servants. As the steward led his guests towards the +gangway, Dr. Winstock took out his purse. + +"Never mind that just now," interposed their conductor, "especially as +there is the captain." + +Paul wondered if the doctor intended to insult a person of so much +consequence as the steward of the queen's yacht must be, by offering him +money. He glanced at the captain, who was a fine-looking man, in naval +uniform, as the steward led the way to the accommodation steps. The +doctor slyly slipped a couple of English shillings into the man's hand, +and they went down into their boat. + +"What did you give him, sir?" asked Paul. + +"Two shillings." + +"Well, it seems to me the steward of any American passenger steamer +would be angry if you gave him two shillings for his services." + +"If I had not met these men before, I should not have dared to do it; +but it is expected," replied the doctor. + +The boat pulled up to the Quai Vandyck, and Paul for the first time put +his foot upon the continent of Europe. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ANTWERP AND RUBENS. + + +"Where shall we go first, Paul?" asked Dr. Winstock, when they landed +upon the quay. + +"I don't know, sir; I think I shall be interested wherever we go. This +is a big city--isn't it?" + +"Its population is hardly more than half of what it was in the days of +its greatest prosperity. In the days of Charles V. it is said that +twenty-five hundred vessels were frequently seen at one time in the +river. It had two hundred thousand inhabitants, and was then the richest +and most thriving commercial city in Europe. You perceive that this long +line of quays affords plenty of wharf room. Indeed the name of the city +is said to be derived from a Flemish phrase, '_aen't werf_,' which means +on the wharf, or on the quay." + +"Mr. Motley tells another story about its name. He says the people claim +that the city is very old, and that a giant by the name of Antigonus, +established himself on the river at this place, and set up a kind of +custom-house. He required half the merchandise of those who went up the +river. He used to cut off the right hands of those who attempted to +smuggle, and throw them into the river. In this way _Hand werpen_, or +hand throwing, came to be the name of the place," said the young +commander. + +"I suppose that story is as true now as it ever was. But where shall we +go?" asked the doctor. + +"I want to get a little nearer to that Cathedral," replied Paul. + +"That is really the most noted thing in Antwerp, and we will walk up +there; and I think we shall be able to see the pictures on the church, +which are required to produce an income. The Cathedral used to be open +till one o'clock, free to the public, but the curtains were carefully +drawn over these great works of art; after this hour visitors were +admitted upon the payment of one franc, and the pictures were exhibited. +Doubtless the same regulation is in force now." + +A walk of a few moments brought them to the Place Verte, a little park +enclosed, with a colossal statue of Rubens in the centre. + +"Everything in Antwerp is Rubens," said the doctor. "The people believe +in him still, and almost worship his memory." + +"Why should they? He was only a great painter--was he?" added Paul. + +"He was more than that: he was quite distinguished as a statesman and a +diplomatist. He was ambassador to England, Holland, and other countries. +His celebrity as an artist, and his influence with the crowned heads of +several nations, caused him to be regarded with deep interest by the +people. He lived in a splendid mansion, for the immense income which he +derived from his pencil enabled him to support an elegant +establishment. He had a great number of pupils, and at one period in his +career they painted no inconsiderable part of his pictures. He had +orders from all the crowned heads of Europe, and in many of his works he +could only make the designs and give the finishing touches to them. He +was very industrious, and painted rapidly, as he must have done to +produce so many pictures." + +"He humbugged his customers then--didn't he?" + +"His assistants did only the heavy work, while Rubens furnished the +design, and gave the work its finishing touches. The celebrated +sculptors do not perform all the drudgery of chiselling out a statue. +Wherever you go in Antwerp, you will hear of Rubens. You will find his +works in all the galleries, you will visit his house in the Rue Rubens, +his pictures will be shown to you in every church, and you will see his +tomb in St. Jacques." + +"They have Rubens on the brain, as we should say at home," laughed Paul. + +"Yes, and they have it badly. From this point you have a good view of +the Cathedral," added the doctor, as they paused near the statue of +Rubens, where they could see the building over the tops of the trees. + +"The steeple is very handsome. It is of the most beautiful and delicate +workmanship you will see." + +"I should think it would blow down." + +"It is banded together with a framework of iron, and the stones are held +together with copper bolts." + +"How high is it?" asked Paul, as he gazed up at the lofty spire. + +"There you have me, Paul! I don't know. In Murray's Guide-Book it is +set down at four hundred and three feet. The man up in the tower there +says it is four hundred and sixty-six. Other authorities put it at less +than four hundred. My guide assured me it was one hundred and +forty-seven French metres in height; but this, reduced to English +measure, would give four hundred and eighty-three feet. My own idea is, +that Murray is right," replied Dr. Winstock, as they walked over to the +church. + +"What's this?" asked Paul, pointing to a beautiful iron canopy in Gothic +style, near the foot of the church tower. + +"That's a draw-well. It is the handiwork of Quentin Matsys." + +"I don't know him." + +"He was a blacksmith until he was twenty years old, when he fell in love +with the fair daughter of a painter. The story goes that the father +would not permit his daughter to marry any man that was not an artist, +and the blacksmith abandoned his anvil for the easel. He had a genius +for art, and soon painted better than his masters. He won his bride, and +achieved a great reputation in his new art. The picture of The Misers, +which you saw at Windsor Castle, was executed by him." + +They bought a couple of tickets and were admitted to the church. The +interior was grand and imposing; but the chief attraction was the +pictures, which were now unveiled, and a small audience was present +examining them. Several artists were making copies of them. In the south +transept hangs Reubens's masterpiece, The Descent from the Cross. + +Paul did not pretend to be a connoisseur in paintings, and could neither +understand nor appreciate the fine writing he read about them in books, +or the "hifalutin" which affected men bestowed upon them; but in the +presence of the grand old painting, he was awed and silenced. It +produced a deep impression upon his mind and heart, and for the first +time in his life he realized the sublime in art. The figure of The Dead +Christ seemed to be real, so painfully natural were the hanging head of +the Savior, and the relaxed muscles of the body. The young student gazed +long and earnestly at the picture, studying it as a whole and in detail. + +It is said that Rubens paid this picture as the price of the land on +which he erected his house in Antwerp. In the north transept of the +Cathedral hangs its companion piece, The Elevation of the Cross; but its +reputation is far inferior to his masterpiece, grand as it is. + +Paul walked about the church, and examined other pictures and works of +art; and then, after paying the keeper of the tower a franc, they +commenced the long ascent to the spire and chimes. + +"These churches and these pictures are certainly very fine," said Paul, +as they stopped at a window to rest. "We don't have them in our country. +There isn't a church there that will compare with any of these +cathedrals, to say nothing of the celebrated pictures, such as we have +just seen." + +"That's very true; and I am thankful that our people make a better use +of their money. Here in Belgium, as in most countries of Europe, poverty +is the curse of the people. They do not receive the reward of their +labor. The government and the church take the lion's share of their +earnings, and thus keep them down. This Cathedral was commenced in 1352, +and finished in 1411, though another spire was to have been built. +Nearly sixty years were employed in its erection, and probably it cost +millions of dollars. Of course the people had to pay for it. The greater +portion of the expense of it lies dormant here, it being merely an +ornamental structure. It gratifies people's tastes, it is true; but God +could be acceptably worshipped in a less costly edifice. If the capital +locked up in this church had been invested in schools, colleges, and +other educational institutions, it would be a blessing to the country. +What is paid in Europe to build these grand structures for worship, and +to support the trappings of royalty, is in our own country appropriated +to public schools; and the nation reaps the benefit of them every year +of its existence." + +"That's so," replied Paul, emphatically; "and when any foreigner says +anything to me again about our want of costly cathedrals, I shall call +his attention to our schools." + +"That's right; you are an American to the core," laughed the doctor. + +"But I don't see any reason why we should not have as great painters in +the United States as in Europe," added Paul. + +"I do see the reason. Probably we have just as much talent for art in +our nation, but the people find that it doesn't pay so well as +developing the resources of a new country. When it is possible in +America for a man to win the wealth and distinction which Rubens won, +we shall be as successful in art as Europe has been; for Washington +Allston, Benjamin West, and others have demonstrated the capacity of our +people in this direction. The encouragement which artists receive makes +the men. There are not many persons in our country who are willing to +pay ten, fifty, or a hundred thousand dollars for a picture. So much +money in a painting is dead capital among an energetic people who need +all they can get to carry on agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing +enterprises." + +"Of course people will follow that calling which pays best, either in +money or in reputation." + +"Certainly, and the number of Dutch and Flemish artists assures us that +painting has been a cherished art in the Low Countries. Vandyck was +another celebrated painter of this country. He was born in Antwerp, and +was a pupil of Rubens. There is a story that The Descent from the Cross +was thrown down by the carelessness of a student, and badly injured by +the fall. Vandyck, who was then a pupil of the great Flemish master, +undertook to repair the mischief with his brush, and did it so well that +Rubens declared the work was superior to his own. This story is current +in the guide-books, and in the mouths of the _commissionaires_, who +point out the places on the face of the Virgin and on the arm of one of +the Marys where the pupil touched it up. But there is no truth in it, +since the picture was hung up in the Cathedral before Vandyck entered +the studio of Rubens." + +"I suppose these people like to tell good stories, whether true or not." + +"Yes; and you will find a man up in this steeple who believes that his +spire is the tallest in the world," added Dr. Winstock. + +They continued on their long ascent till they reached the region of the +bells, where they found the attendant who glories in magnifying the +wonders of the chimes and the spire. He had a small furnished apartment, +which the visitors were invited to enter, and where he dispensed +refreshments, of which no total abstinence man could partake. The +doctor, knowing what the man had to say, skilfully turned his attention +away from his favorite topic, until they were sufficiently +refreshed--not by the _eau de vie_ and _noyau_, but by the rest--to +explore the bell towers. + +The bells composing the chime were fixed in the lofts, which were filled +with wires, cranks, and other machinery, used in operating them. In one +place there was a bank of keys like those of an organ, where a person +could play any tune he pleased upon the bells. The keeper had a history +to relate of each bell, many of which were contributed by kings, +princes, and lords, and bore their names. In another tower there was an +immense bell, at the baptism of which--for church bells are duly +consecrated in Catholic countries--the Emperor Charles V. stood as +godfather. It requires sixteen men to ring it; but its peals rouse the +Antwerpers only on great occasions, such as a visit of the king. + +Dr. Winstock and Paul waited among the chimes till they had played the +hourly tune, and then continued their progress to the heights above. +The custodian of the steeple said there were six hundred and sixteen +steps from the bottom to the top, and a person does not care to make the +journey more than once in his lifetime. The winding stairs passed close +to the Gothic openings of the tower, and they had an opportunity closely +to observe the delicate workmanship of the structure, which Charles V. +said should be kept in a glass case, and Napoleon compared to Mechlin +lace. + +At last, out of breath, they reached the highest point of the spire, and +looked far down upon the lofty roof of the church. The buildings of the +city looked like card houses, and a company of Belgian soldiers, +marching in the streets, appeared like the pygmies who inhabited them. +In the distance could be seen the towers of Ghent, Brussels, Mechlin, +and Flushing, the wandering Scheldt, and the low country for a vast +distance. The magnificent view, and the information it afforded, amply +repaid them for the toil of ascending, and Paul made the Cathedral the +subject of an entire letter to Miss Grace Arbuckle. + +It was easier to go down than to come up, and when they had passed out +into the Place Verte, the doctor declared that he must lunch before he +walked any farther. The Hotel de l'Europe faced the Park, and Paul was +desirous of seeing the interior of it. They entered through an archway, +there being no doors on the street. There was a spacious area, or +court-yard, through which alone the house could be reached. In other +respects the establishment was similar to those in the United States. + +On the continent, as in England, none but working people take breakfast +much before nine o'clock, and the hour varies from this time till noon. +Of late years the practice in American hotels corresponds with that of +European ones. In the dining-room of the Hotel de l'Europe there are +many small tables, and one or two long ones, the latter being used at +table d'hote, which is served at five o'clock. A hotel bill is added, to +give the reader an idea of the prices:-- + + "HOTEL DE L'EUROPE. + + _Place Verte._ + + ANVERS. + + Note a M. Smith, + Chambre No. 40, A. + + + Fr. Cen. + + Aout 4. 1/2 Poulet et Salade, 3.00 + 1 The Complet, 1.50 + Appartement, 2.50 + Bougie, .50 + Service, 1.00 + + 5. 1 Dejeune et Bifstek, 3.00 + 1 Bifstek, Pomme de Terre, 1.50 + ----- + 13.00 + + Pour Acquit, + J. W. BARBER." + +"One The Complet" consists of simply tea and bread and butter, and as a +franc is about twenty cents, its price is thirty cents. A centime is the +hundredth of a franc, and fifty centimes is ten cents. If the guest adds +a beefsteak and potatoes, or any other dish, to his meal, it just +doubles the cost. The "bougie" is a candle, which is charged all over +Europe, at from a quarter of a franc up to a franc. The traveller also +pays for his soap, or provides it himself. When an "old stager" pays a +franc for a candle, or a piece of soap, he rolls the part unused up in a +paper and puts it into his trunk; and, if at his next stopping-place, he +finds a candle in his room, he orders the waiter to remove it, and will +not submit to be charged for it. + +Table d'hote is a more formal meal, and in some large hotels much parade +is made over it. The bill of fare is usually very meagre compared with +that of the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York, and every dish in the +programme is presented to the guest. The charge for this meal, at +first-class houses outside of Paris, is usually four francs, or eighty +cents. + +Dr. Winstock and Paul took a seat in the _Salle a manger_. The student +was principally anxious to know what they had to eat, and in what manner +they served it, for he was of an inquiring mind, and fond of making +comparisons. The most common lunch consists of cold chicken and salad, +the latter being simply lettuce prepared with oil and vinegar. Paul was +disappointed, for the lunch differed hardly a shade from the same thing +at home. Even the gentlemanly Belgian waiter, dressed in seemly black, +spoke good English, and the "demi-poulet" was wasted upon him. + +"Where shall we go now, Paul?" asked the doctor, as they left the +dining-room. + +"I leave that to you, sir. You seem to be quite at home here," replied +Paul. + +"We will take a carriage, and we can do up the city in a few hours." + +A one-horse barouche was called, and a _commissionaire_--a kind of guide +or interpreter, who assists strangers in doing their business, or in +seeing the sights of the city--presented himself to be employed; but Dr. +Winstock, who was familiar with the place, declined his services. + +"What was that man?" asked Paul, as the carriage drove off to the Rue +des Soeurs Noires, where the Dominican Church of St. Paul is located. + +"He is a _commissionaire_, interpreter, or _valet de place_. Many +travellers regard such men as swindlers; but for my own part I have +found them very useful. When I first visited Antwerp I employed one. I +found him intelligent and gentlemanly, and, so far as I could judge, not +disposed to swindle me himself or to let others do so. I paid him five +francs a day, and I am sure he saved me more money than I paid him, +besides taking me in the easiest and most convenient way to the various +points in the city." + +"I should think such men would be very necessary, especially to those +who cannot speak the language." + +"In Amsterdam and Rotterdam I should have been on my beam-ends without +them. I never could imagine where they obtained their bad name, unless +it was from Englishmen, who are generally afraid of being cheated, and +take the alarm before there is any real danger." + +The driver stopped before the Church of St. Paul, and the passengers +alighted. There was nothing worthy of note in the church; but outside of +it, in a kind of garden, one of the most singular and remarkable +exhibitions is open to the visitor. It is called "Calvary," and is a +representation of the "several stages," as they are termed, in the life +of Christ. An artificial mound is raised on the side next to the church +edifice, which is covered with a kind of rock-work, in imitation of +Mount Calvary. In various parts of the area are placed the statues of +saints, angels, patriarchs, and prophets. + +On the summit of the mound is represented the crucifixion, with a figure +of the Savior on the cross. At the foot of it is the sepulchre, which is +claimed to be a perfect copy of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, though +travellers who have seen it say it bears no resemblance whatever to the +original. In the tomb, on a kind of shelf, rests the crucified Christ, +represented by a figure clothed in silk and muslin! + +Near the tomb an ideal of Purgatory is exhibited, consisting of wood +carvings. The making-up of the scene appears to be a kind of cage, like +those one sees in a menagerie, with bars in front of it to prevent the +escape of the unhappy mortals temporarily confined there. Within the den +are carved and painted several figures of men, in the midst of darting, +leaping flames, upon whose faces there is an expression of intense +anguish. Doubtless the intention of those who conceived this astounding +exhibition was to impress upon the mind of the spectator the sufferings +of the unrepentant wicked. It is hardly possible that this effect could +ever have been produced upon the minds of sensible men. The spectacle is +not only in exceedingly bad taste, but it is positively repulsive, not +to say sacrilegious. + +Such was the opinion of Paul Kendall, who could hardly conceal his +disgust; and ten minutes in the place exhausted his patience. He was +silent, so deep was his feeling of dissatisfaction, until he was again +seated in the _voiture_. The next objects of interest were the docks and +basins, which were reached after a short drive from St. Paul's. They +merely passed along the quay, making no stop, as the works could be seen +from the carriage. + +"That is the house of the Hanseatic League," said the doctor, pointing +to a large ancient building. + +"What is the Hanseatic League?" asked Paul, who had never even heard of +it. + +"It was a commercial alliance between some of the cities of Germany for +the protection and development of their trade. It had its origin in the +thirteenth century, for the purpose of preventing piracy and shipwreck, +and to encourage commerce, and, indeed, all branches of industry. It +established great warehouses or factories in different parts of Europe, +and became an exceedingly powerful association, so much so that it +dictated the policy of sovereigns on their thrones, and even declared +and carried on war with several of the powers of Europe. In the +fourteenth century, the League defeated the King of Norway and Sweden. +It unseated the King of Sweden, and gave his crown to another, and +having declared war against Denmark, sent a fleet of two hundred and +fifty ships, and thousands of troops to carry it on. In fact, the +association prepared for war with England, and Edward IV. made important +concessions to avoid it. Of course the crowned heads were jealous of +its power and influence, and it was eventually broken up; but it laid +the foundation of the commercial policy of the nations. The League died +out in 1630; but Hamburg, Lubec, and Bremen formed a new one, under the +name of the Hanse Towns; and Frankfort-on-the-Main afterwards joined +them." + +"I have heard of the Hanse Towns," added Paul; "but I never knew what +the term meant before." + +"The docks and basins here are mainly the work of Napoleon. The great +conqueror intended to make Antwerp the first seaport of the north. The +mouth of the Thames is less than a hundred miles from the mouth of the +Scheldt, and he knew that, with a naval station equal to any in the +possession of England, he could, in time of war, cripple or destroy the +commerce of his great rival. He expended ten millions of dollars on +these docks, basins, and fortifications. The English were alarmed, and +in 1809 sent the Walcheren expedition, which obtained a foothold on that +island, but were defeated by disease and death, for seven thousand +British soldiers perished by marsh fever. By the peace of Paris in 1814, +after the battle of Waterloo, it was stipulated that the dock-yards +should be destroyed, for they were a standing threat to the maritime +powers; but these basins were preserved for commercial purposes. The +largest one will accommodate thirty-four ships of the line." + +The travellers continued on their way through some of the principal +streets till they arrived at the Church of St. Jacques, which is richer +in its ornaments than the Cathedral, containing exquisitely wrought +marbles, carved wood, painted glass. This magnificent church contains +the burial vaults of the noble families of the city, and among them that +of Rubens, which is marked by a white marble tablet with a long +inscription upon it, embedded in the pavement of his private chapel. The +Holy Family, which forms the altar-piece of the church, was painted by +the great master. In 1793, when the mob, incited by the furious spirit +of the French Revolution, broke into the church, pillaging altars and +tombs alike, that of Rubens was spared from desecration by the universal +respect for his memory, though not another tomb in St. Jacques escaped +their impious touch. + +The house of Rubens, situated in a street of the same name, was visited; +an outside view of the Bourse, or Exchange, the Hotel de Ville, or Town +Hall, and of other public buildings, was obtained. The Citadel, built +under the direction of the cruel Duke of Alva, to overawe the rebellious +Antwerpers, was an object of interest. After the expulsion of the +Spaniards in 1577, the people, including those of high and low degree, +men, women, and children, assisted in its demolition; but it was +speedily rebuilt, and has played an important part in subsequent sieges +and insurrections. The city is surrounded by a continuous line of +fortifications and ditches, extending from a point on the river below +the city to a point above it; and outside of this line there are a +number of detached forts to keep a hostile force from approaching near +enough to the city to shell it. + +When the carriage reached the Quai Vandyck, most of the students had +returned, and the boats were in waiting. They chattered like magpies +about the wonders they had seen. When Captain Kendall went on board, the +mail-bag was handed to him, and the boys were eager to obtain their +letters from home and elsewhere. + +"A letter for you, Mr. Hamblin," said the captain, as he handed the +professor a formidable envelope, postmarked "Anvers." + +The learned gentleman seemed to be astonished, and bore the missive to +his state-room. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +TROUBLE ON BOARD THE JOSEPHINE. + + +Almost every one on board of the Josephine had a letter, and some had +two or three. Paul had one from Grace, dated at Paris, in which she +expressed a hope that, as she was to travel a few months with her +father, she might see him in some of her wanderings. The young captain +hoped so too, and he read the letter a second time. Probably he read it +a third time after he went to his state-room, and a fourth before he +retired; for boys of his age are apt to be enthusiastic in this +direction. + +Professor Stoute sat in the cabin. He had been all over Antwerp, and had +walked a larger part of the distance than a man of his obesity could +well endure in a warm day. Though he was very tired, he was very +good-natured; indeed, thus far, nothing had ever occurred to disturb his +equanimity. He was exceedingly popular with the boys, and if he had +fallen overboard, every one of them would have jumped in after him. No +one ever thought of disobeying him, and consequently he never had any +trouble. + +While he sat there fanning himself with a newspaper, Mr. Hamblin came +out of his state-room with the huge envelope he had received in his +hand. The learned gentleman looked perplexed; in fact, he always wore +an anxious expression, as though he were in constant fear that somebody +would infringe upon his dignity, or that some of the boys did not +believe he was the wisest man since the days of Solomon. He always +walked just so; he always sat just so; he always moved just so. He never +was guilty of using a doubtful expression. He was stern, rigid, and +precise, and from the beginning all the boys had disliked him; but since +he had behaved so unreasonably in the squall, they could hardly endure +him. + +The lean professor walked up to the fat professor, and took a stand +before him. He had removed the letter from the formidable envelope, and +held it unfolded in his hand. He looked at the letter, and then at Mr. +Stoute. The fat professor laughed, but the lean professor frowned. The +jolly one knew just what the precise one wanted, but he waited patiently +for the exordium. + +"Mr. Stoute, may I trouble you?" he began, after he had put himself in +proper position. + +"Certainly, sir," replied the fat gentleman. + +"If this letter had been written in Greek or Latin, I could have read +it," continued Mr. Hamblin, glancing at the sheet. + +"Precisely so; if it had been written in Greek or Latin I could not read +it," laughed Mr. Stoute. + +"My French, as I have had occasion to acknowledge to you with deep +humiliation, has been neglected for more important studies. This letter +appears to have been written by some distinguished person, but +unfortunately he has chosen to indite it in French." + +"In a word, you wish me to read it to you." + +"That is what I was about to request of you. May I ask you to retire +with me to our state-room?" continued Professor Hamblin, glancing at the +officers who were reading their letters in the cabin. + +"Excuse me, Mr. Hamblin; you forget that I carry round with me two +hundred and odd pounds of flesh, besides bone and muscle, and that I +have been on my feet three hours. I think, sir, if I knew this vessel +was going to the bottom of the Scheldt this instant, I should go down +with her rather than move. Have me excused, I pray you, and have +compassion on mine infirmities," laughed Mr. Stoute. + +Mr. Hamblin was vexed, but he gave the letter to his associate, who +turned the sheet and glanced at the signature. + +"Ah!" exclaimed he, looking at Mr. Hamblin. + +"What is it? Do me the favor to read it," replied the learned gentleman, +impatiently. + +"It is from Monsieur Charles Rogier, the president of the council, and +minister of foreign affairs," added Professor Stoute. "He is the man who +organized the revolution of 1830, and the greatest man in Belgium, King +Leopold excepted." + +"Is it possible!" ejaculated Mr. Hamblin, struggling to keep down the +smile in which his vanity sought to manifest itself. "What does he say?" + +"He says that just as he was leaving Antwerp for Brussels, he heard that +the very learned and distinguished Professor Hamblin was on board of a +vessel at anchor in the river." + +"Does he say that?" asked the learned gentleman, who, knowing that Mr. +Stoute had a horrid vein of humor running through his fat frame, had, +perhaps, a suspicion that he was making fun at his expense. + +"That is precisely what it says." + +"How should Mr. Rogier know me?" queried Mr. Hamblin. + +"I was about to read his explanation on that point: he says he heard of +you through a friend who was in London a few weeks since. He wished to +see you and extend to you a welcome to the kingdom of Belgium; but the +command of his royal master required him to leave Antwerp by the next +train; and he was deprived of the pleasure of extending to you in person +the expression of his distinguished consideration. He hopes when you +visit Brussels you will do him the honor to call upon him at the Palais +de la Nation, Rue de la Soie." + +"Humph!" ejaculated the learned professor, prolonging the interjection, +and trying to suppress the smile which had a sad tendency to overwhelm +his dignity. + +"You are fortunate, Mr. Hamblin," added Mr. Stoute; "of course he will +present you to King Leopold." + +"Possibly," replied the Greek _savant_, stroking his chin, and frowning, +to counteract the sinister influence of the smile he could not wholly +overcome. + +Mr. Hamblin took the letter and read the signature. It was certainly +"Charles Rogier," with a flourish extensive enough for any great man. +From the letter he glanced at the fat professor, who, being always +good-natured, was so now. He could not get rid of a lingering suspicion +that his undignified associate was imposing upon him. It was a great +misfortune that his own knowledge of French was so limited, and if it +had not been so late, he would have gone on board of the ship to ask +Professor Badois to translate the epistle to him. + +Instead of doing this, he went to the record book of the Josephine, and +ascertained that Duncan was marked among the highest in French. Now +Duncan was a very polite and respectful student, and Mr. Hamblin had a +greater regard for him than for most of his companions. Finding this +promising young man on deck, he invited him to the sacred precincts of +the professor's state-room. Duncan was even more polite and obliging +than usual. At the request of his present host, who did not offer any +explanations, he wrote out a translation of the important letter. Mr. +Hamblin thanked him, and he retired. + +There was no material difference between the translations of Mr. Stoute +and Duncan, and the learned professor congratulated himself upon the +distinction he had attained. His fame as a _savant_ had preceded him +across the ocean. The king's chief minister courted his acquaintance. +This was the homage which greatness paid to learning, and Mr. Hamblin +was willing to believe that it was a deserved tribute. He soon worked +himself into a flutter of excitement, in anticipation of being taken by +the hand by the king's chief minister, and he slept but little during +the night, so absorbed was he in the contemplation of the distinguished +honor which awaited him. + +"Professor Hamblin is going to court," said Duncan to his old friend +the captain, when they met on deck after supper. + +"To court whom?" laughed Paul. + +"He has had an invitation to go to court to see the big bugs. I +translated a letter for him from the minister of foreign affairs; and I +suppose he's about the biggest toad in the Belgian puddle," added +Duncan. "You won't be able to touch him with a ten-foot pole after +that." + +"We shall get along very well with him, if we only do our duty," said +Paul. + +"The fellows are not very fond of him; and if he puts on any more airs, +they won't be able to stand it." + +"Why, what's the matter, Duncan? asked Paul, anxiously, for generally +everything had gone on so well on board of the Josephine, that he +dreaded any trouble. + +"O, nothing, nothing!" laughed Duncan; "only the fellows don't like +him." + +"Ben, there's something up," said Paul, earnestly. "If the fellows think +anything at all of me, they won't make any trouble. If I don't complain +of Mr. Hamblin, they needn't." + +"I don't find any fault with him myself," protested Ben. "I don't like +him, but I have always got along very well with him." + +"What did you mean by mentioning this matter to me, Ben?" asked Paul. + +"Nothing; only I shouldn't be surprised if the fellows were to haze the +venerable patriarch a little in a quiet way. They are all down upon +him." + +"I am sorry for that. I hope all the fellows will do their duty, and +not get into any scrapes, replied Paul, very seriously. + +"I am sorry, but I can't say that I blame them much." + +"I shall blame them if they commit any act of disrespect," said the +captain, decidedly. "I hope you will say what you can forward to keep +the fellows from doing anything that would hurt Mr. Hamblin's feelings." + +"What can I do? The old fossil doesn't treat the students like +gentlemen; and if he behaves so, what can you expect of the fellows? He +is cross, crabbed, and tyrannical." + +"Have they just found it out?" + +"No, but they were willing to bear it rather than make any trouble on +board. After what he did last Saturday, they are not disposed to be so +patient; and I can't blame them much." + +"What happened last Saturday was between Mr. Hamblin and me, and the +students needn't trouble themselves about that." + +"But the fellows all like you first rate, even the worst ones we have on +board; and there are some pretty hard boys here," laughed Duncan. + +"If they like me, they will not get up a row." + +"I will take care that all of them know just how you feel," said Duncan, +concluding to end the conversation at this point, for the subject of +these remarks had just come on deck. + +The learned gentleman appeared to carry his head even higher, and to be +more dignified, stiff, and reserved, than usual. With an invitation in +his pocket to visit the greatest statesman in Belgium, he felt like a +very exalted personage; for not even Mr. Lowington had been so highly +favored. Mr. Hamblin was puffed up and swelled out by the honor the +great man had done him, and as he walked up and down the deck, the +students might have known by his air, if they had not been told of the +fact, that greatness had suddenly been thrust upon him. + +It presently occurred to him that the principal had not been informed of +the distinguished consideration in which the government of Belgium +regarded the Josephine's senior instructor. It was important that he +should know it, for the fact would certainly elevate him in the +estimation of the principal, and cause him to regret that in the recent +difficulty he had not more fully sustained his notable professor. +Besides, he wished to make some arrangements which would permit him to +visit the Palais de la Nation, and to dine with the minister, if he +should be invited, as he had no doubt he should be. + +With as much sternness on his wrinkled face as he could assume, he +walked forward to demand a boat of Captain Kendall. As he was passing in +the waist, a coil of signal line dropped down from the gaff above, +square upon the top of his hat, forcing it far down upon his head. Mr. +Hamblin immediately threw himself into an undignified passion. When he +had with some difficulty extricated his head from the linings of his +hat, he looked up to see who had been guilty of this act of flagrant +disrespect. + +"I beg your pardon, Mr. Hamblin," shouted Grimme, a seaman, whose legs +were twined around the end of the gaff, while he was in the act of +passing a signal halyard through an eye. + +The captain had received orders from the principal to have the Josephine +ready for the visit of a distinguished person on the following day, and +Mr. Cleats was preparing to dress the rigging. + +"You scoundrel!" roared Mr. Hamblin, gazing up at the unfortunate youth +who had been the cause of his misfortune. + +"Did it hurt you, sir?" asked Paul, stepping up to the professor. + +"Was that done by your order, Mr. Kendall?" demanded the irate _savant_. + +"No, sir; it was not," replied Paul, blushing with indignation at such +an insinuation. + +"It is very singular that the rope should fall just at the moment I was +passing," added Mr. Hamblin, sourly, as he straightened out his crumpled +tile. + +"I am sorry it occurred, sir," said Paul, who uttered no more than the +literal truth. + +Mr. Hamblin glanced around the deck at the students who were collected +there. They did not seem to be sorry; on the contrary, there was a look +of diabolical satisfaction in the expression of most of them, and not a +few were actually laughing. + +"I demand the immediate punishment of the offender," said Mr. Hamblin, +irritated by this manifestation on the part of the students. + +By this time Grimme had descended from his perilous perch, having +completed the reeving of the halyard. Without a moment's delay, he +hastened to the spot where the angry man stood, and touched his cap with +the utmost deference. + +"I beg your pardon, Mr. Hamblin. I hope you will excuse me," said +Grimme, who really wore a very troubled look. + +"You did it on purpose, you scoundrel!" growled the professor, savagely; +for he could not fail to see the ill-suppressed chuckling of the +students in the waist. + +"No, sir! I did not, sir!" protested Grimme. "I had the end in my mouth, +and was just going to drop the coil when I saw you." + +"And you did drop it when you saw me." + +"I did not mean to drop it then. I was going to wait till you had +passed; but my foot slipped, and, in catching hold of the gaff with my +hand, I let go the coil. If I hadn't dropped it, I should have fallen +myself," replied Grimme, who seemed determined to make the explanation +strong enough to meet the emergency. + +"I don't believe a word of it! You meant to insult me!" exclaimed Mr. +Hamblin, still goaded on to intemperate speech by the ill-concealed +jeers of the students. "Mr. Kendall, it is your duty to punish that +insolent fellow." + +"I will inquire into the matter, sir. If it appears that he did the act +on purpose, he shall certainly be punished," replied Paul, who, after +his conversation with Duncan, could not help suspecting that this was +the first step in the hazing process to which his friend had alluded. + +"Inquire into it!" sneered Mr. Hamblin, with deep disgust. "I complain +of the boy: that is enough." + +Paul did not think so; but he made no reply to the angry man, though he +ordered the alleged culprit to the mainmast, which is the locality of +the high court on shipboard. + +"Mr. Kendall, I desire to have the gig, for the purpose of visiting the +ship." + +"The gig, sir!" exclaimed Paul, to whom the professors were not in the +habit of designating which boat they would have. + +"I said the gig, sir," repeated Mr. Hamblin, loftily. + +"I beg your pardon, sir; but the gig is the captain's boat," replied +Paul, with deference. + +"The captain's boat!" puffed the professor. + +"Mr. Lowington directed me to use the first cutter for the professors," +added Paul. + +"Am I to understand that you again refuse me a boat?" + +"No, sir; by no means," said the captain, ready to weep with vexation at +these disagreeable incidents. + +He turned from Mr. Hamblin, and directed the first lieutenant to pipe +away the first cutters; and in a few moments the boat was ready. The +fourth lieutenant was sent in charge of the cutter. The professor went +over the side into the boat; and as he made no objections, the officers +concluded that he did not know the difference between the gig and the +first cutter. At certain stages of the tide, there is a three-mile +current in the Scheldt, with strong eddies, formed by the sweep of the +river. By a miscalculation of the coxswain, the cutter fell astern of +the ship, and had to pull up to her, which prolonged the passage +somewhat, thereby increasing the ill nature and impatience of Mr. +Hamblin. + +"In bows!" said the coxswain, as the boat approached the ship; and the +two bowmen tossed their oars and boated them, taking position in the +bow-grating, with the boat-hooks in their hands. + +"Way enough!" added the coxswain; and the rest of the crew tossed their +oars. + +At the gangway of the ship stairs had been rigged, at the foot of which +there was a platform, for the convenience of those boarding or leaving +the ship by the boats. The bowmen fastened their boat-hooks upon the +platform, in readiness to haul the boat alongside, so that the passenger +could step out without inconvenience. But the current was strong, and +some delay ensued. + +"There! let me get out!" exclaimed Mr. Hamblin, rising in the boat, and +walking between the oarsmen to the bow. + +"Steady, sir!" said Humphreys, the officer, as he took the arm of the +professor, to prevent him from falling. + +"Pull the boat up, so I can step out!" said Mr. Hamblin, impatiently, to +the bowmen. + +They were hauling her up closer to the platform, against the strong +current, which, being in a direction contrary to the wind, made +considerable sea, causing the boat to roll and jerk uneasily. When she +was within a couple of feet of the platform, the professor attempted to +step out. + +"Steady, sir!" said Morgan, one of the bowmen, as Mr. Hamblin was about +to take the step; but at that instant the boat receded from the +platform, and the learned gentleman, with one foot on the plank and the +other on the bow of the boat, made a very long straddle, toppled over +into the water, and disappeared in the eddies. + +"My boat-hook broke!" protested Morgan, holding up the implement, from +which the iron had drawn out; and after what had occurred on board of +the consort, he probably deemed it necessary to make an immediate +defence. + +"Man overboard!" shouted several students in the ship; and immediately +there was an immense commotion on board of her. + +Mr. Hamblin rose to the surface an instant later, and shouted for help. +The accident was observed from the Josephine, and the gig piped away in +double quick time. + +"Up oars! Let fall! Give way!" shouted Robinson, in the first cutter, as +she drifted away from the gangway of the ship, without waiting for the +orders to be repeated by the coxswain. + +A few vigorous strokes of the oars brought the cutter to the spot where +the professor was struggling with the dirty current. The bowmen seized +him by the collar, and the crew, after no little labor, owing to the +excitement of the unfortunate gentleman, succeeded in getting him into +the boat. He was placed in the stern sheets, and Robinson afforded him +such assistance as the circumstances would permit. + +The gig, with Paul and Pelham on board, was darting through the current +towards the first cutter. It was too late to be of any service; but it +continued on its way, and the captain manifested his interest and +sympathy as well as he could. Mr. Hamblin pressed the water from his +hair, wiped his face with his wet handkerchief, and otherwise +endeavored to remove the effects of his involuntary bath. He seemed to +be, thus far, no worse for the disaster; but he directed Robinson to +return directly to the Josephine, for obvious reasons. + +The two boats came alongside together; and this time the professor, +notwithstanding the discomfort of his condition, made no undue haste to +leave the cutter before she was properly secured. + +"I am very sorry indeed for your misfortune, sir," said Paul, politely, +when he met Mr. Hamblin on deck. + +"Perhaps you are!" replied he, rushing down the cabin stairs, bestowing +hardly a glance upon the sympathizing commander. + +He went to his state-room, and made an entire change of his clothing. +The weather was warm, and he suffered no serious consequences. + +"You are a very unfortunate person, Mr. Hamblin," said his associate +instructor, when the _savant_, clean and dry, emerged from the +state-room. + +"It was done on purpose, Mr. Stoute," replied he, solemnly, with +compressed lips. + +"O, no! It couldn't be!" protested the fat professor. "You are simply +unfortunate. First, a coil of rope falls on your head, and then you fall +overboard. You should be careful." + +"Has that student been punished for throwing the rope upon me?" + +"No, sir. I stood by during the investigation at the mainmast. It could +not be proved that the act was done on purpose; and, for my part, I did +not believe it was." + +"I am very confident it was. I can read the expression on the faces of +the boys; and I am certain there is a conspiracy among them to knock out +my brains or drown me in the river." + +"Boys will be boys, and they are very prone to look at the ludicrous +aspect of an accident," added the stout professor. "I should not give a +serious interpretation to any little signs of mirth I happened to see." + +"Mr. Stoute, you allow yourself to be hoodwinked, deceived, overwhelmed, +by these artful boys. You should maintain more dignity in your +intercourse with them." + +"There is a true and a false dignity, Mr. Hamblin. I shall endeavor to +avoid the one, and cling to the other," replied Mr. Stoute, warmly, but +good-naturedly. + +"You are aware that I asked for the gig before I started for the ship?" +continued Mr. Hamblin, impressively. + +"I am; and I was also aware that the first cutter had been appropriated +to the use of the instructors." + +"I demanded the gig. It was refused. What did that mean?" + +"It meant just what the captain said--that the principal required him to +furnish the first cutter for our use." + +"That is not what it meant," persisted Mr. Hamblin. "The crew of the +first cutter had been instructed to tip me into the river. When I called +for the gig, it deranged the plan. I am only sorry that I did not refuse +to take the cutter, and insist upon having the gig; but I do not wish to +make trouble." + +"But why did you ask for the gig?" + +"Because I saw Morgan, who, I knew, belonged in the cutter, laughing +when the rope fell on my head. He would as lief drown me as not." + +"I think you misjudge the boys." + +"I am surprised that one who has been a teacher as long as you have does +not understand boys any better," replied Mr. Hamblin, coldly. "I am +satisfied that Kendall is at the bottom of all this mischief." + +"I am very sure he is not," said Mr. Stoute, decidedly. + +"The crew of the cutter had been prepared for their work." + +It was surprising that two men who had been among boys so long took such +opposite views of them; but the difference of opinion was more in the +men than in the boys. + +These events were the staple of conversation on deck and in the steerage +among the crew; and some of the better boys heard certain indefinite +remarks about "the first step" and "the second step," used by "our +fellows;" but no real friend of law and order discovered anything which +threw any new light upon the two misfortunes that had overtaken the +senior professor, though there was a suspicion that these were the first +and second steps hinted at by the doubtful ones. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +WHO WAS CAPTAIN OF THE JOSEPHINE? + + +Mr. Hamblin, as before intimated, did not sleep well on the night in +question. The burden of being called to the state department, and even +to the royal palaces of Belgium, was very trying to his nerves. When he +slept, it was only to dream of the great statesman and revolutionary +leader of the Low Countries, in the act of taking him by the hand or of +presenting him to his majesty Leopold, "Roi de Belge." + +He prepared himself with great care, in his reflections, for the +stupendous occasion. He studied up courtly bows, and imagined just how +he would look when in the act of making one of them. He pictured to +himself various graceful gestures which he intended to use, in order to +impress upon the great man the dignity of his character. He arranged the +little tableau of his presentation to the king, with all the speeches, +interludes, and movements. If the king said certain things, he should +say certain other things in reply; and when the interview ended, he was +with becoming grace to back out of the royal presence. + +Leopold, "Roi de Belge," would probably inform him that he had, either +directly or through his faithful minister, heard of the distinguished +Greek _savant_; that he had seen or heard of the Greek Grammar he had +published, the Greek Reader he had compiled, and the Anabasis he had +edited and annotated. It was more than probable that there were copies +of these learned and valuable works in the Royal Library; for no library +could be complete without them. If they were there, the king would +graciously inform him of the fact, as the highest compliment that could +be paid to his fame as a Greek scholar. To all this, with his left hand +upon his heart, with his right extended, palm prone, at an angle of +forty-five degrees with his perpendicular, his body bent in a courteous +but dignified bow, he was to reply that his majesty did him too much +honor. It would be necessary to deprecate, in some degree, the +distinguished consideration awarded to him, and to declare his own +unworthiness of the king's notice and favor. + +Then, perhaps, the royal Leopold would present him a snuff-box, studded +with pearls, diamonds, and rubies,--monarchs have a habit of presenting +snuffboxes to men who do not take snuff,--in token of his princely +appreciation of the learning of the distinguished American professor. +Or, perhaps, "Le Roi de Belge" would inform him that he desired to +promote the study of the Greek language and literature in his kingdom, +and that he was graciously pleased to appoint him Inspector of Greek, or +Librarian of the Greek portion of the Royal Library, with no active duty +but that of collecting his salary of twenty thousand francs--liberal +princes, as rich as Leopold was reputed to be, often spent their money +more foolishly than this, in rewarding distinguished men of learning. + +The learned gentleman did not feel a very strong confidence that the +king would thus reward his forty years' patient study of the Greek; but +_if_ he should conclude to behave in this rather erratic but highly +honorable manner, it would give him a pleasant opportunity of waiting +upon Mr. Lowington in his cabin, and politely informing him that he +could no longer endure the insults of the Josephines, or countenance +their want of appreciation of the privilege of having such a professor +of Greek as he was; and that he felt compelled to resign his present +position, in order that "Le Roi de Belge" might avail himself of his +valuable services. + +It would be delightful to make such a call upon the principal of the +academy squadron. It would be a grand occasion for a display of dignity. +He did not feel that such a pleasant event was likely to occur; but it +was not impossible. The fame of his Grammar and other works might have +come over the Atlantic while he was transplanting Greek roots in the +hard heads of stupid boys. He felt that he deserved some higher token of +public appreciation than had yet been bestowed upon him. Why should the +Secretary of Foreign Affairs send an autograph letter to him, unless +some especial notice was to be taken of him? + +An audible voice seemed to say, "Go up higher, friend;" but, alas! that +was only the snoring of Professor Stoute, in the berth above him, which +his fancy had incorporated into words. There was no voice--only the +guttural sounds of his obese room-mate, who was so tired that he +breathed with unwonted labor in his sleep. There was no poetry in the +snoring of his companion, and the vision was rudely dissolved by the +reality. But the invitation to go to court was in his pocket: he could +not be cheated out of that, or of his brilliant expectations. Leopold +might do the handsome thing, at least as to the snuff-box. It was rather +awkward, in view of the approaching interview, that he could not speak +French; but the king had lived in London for a time, and doubtless spoke +English fluently. Of course the Minister of Foreign Affairs could speak +English; but even if he did not, they could meet on the same level in +Latin or Greek. + +Professor Hamblin did not sleep very well; and he did not sleep any +better because Mr. Stoute slept so well, and made the state-room +sonorous with the richest base snoring that ever tormented a nervous +man. Indeed, the heavy sleeper made it so lively for the light sleeper +that the latter was two or three times goaded to the alternative of +waking the former, or abandoning the room. + +In the course of the night the learned professor had polished up all his +little speeches to be recited before the minister, and probably before +the king; had nicely adjusted all his bows and gestures, and laid up a +magazine of expedients for possible emergencies, such as the presence of +the Duke of Brabant, Prince Leopold, and even of "La Reine de Belge;" +but the dreamer was glad when the morning came; for the night had been +very long, though he had probably slept three quarters of the time; +gladder still when he heard the water splashing on the deck above him, +as the watch washed down the quarter-deck, for now he could get up. He +did get up, and went out to taste the freshness of the early air. + +The young seamen had finished their labor on the quarters, and were at +work in the waist. A kind of force-pump, or fire-engine, was attached to +the Josephine, to save labor in washing down the decks, and to be used +in case of fire below. It was provided with a sufficient length of hose +to reach all parts of the vessel, and was worked by a single brake, +manned by four hands. With this apparatus the boys were deluging the +decks with water, one of them holding the pipe, and half a dozen +scrubbing the planks with long-handled brushes. + +A fire-engine, or indeed anything that will squirt, is a great luxury to +the boys, with whom "running with the machine" is a constitutional +tendency. The novelty of the Josephine's force-pump had not yet worn +away, and it contributed in no small degree to alleviate the hard and +ungentlemanly labor of washing down decks. + +Mr. Hamblin was not a boy, and he had a constitutional dislike of +fire-engines and all hydraulic apparatus, partly, perhaps, because the +boys liked it. The quarter-deck was still wet with the drenching it had +received, and the professor did not like to dampen his feet on the one +hand, or retreat to the close cabin on the other. He did what Americans +are very apt to do when situated between the two horns of a dilemma--he +compromised between the difficulties by seating himself on the fife-rail +between a couple of belaying-pins. He was careful to place himself +abaft the mainmast, so that the wicked engine would not spatter him. + +He sat on the fife-rail and began to think of the king and the minister +again; but his reflections this time were very brief, and if his fancy +burned again with glowing anticipation, the flame was suddenly quenched +by a stream of water directed at the foot of the mast, which spattered +his lower extremities very badly. + +"What are you about, you rascal?" roared the learned gentleman, +springing from his perch to the deck. + +But it would have been better for him to remain where he was, for the +instant his feet struck the deck, the full force of the stream from the +hose-pipe saluted him squarely in the face, filling his mouth with +water, and well nigh overthrowing him with its violence. This was a sad +accident. McDougal, one of the quartermasters, held the pipe. At the +moment the professor sprang from the fife-rail, the hoseman was looking +behind him, his attention having been called away from his work by a +remark of one of the hands at the brake. + +"What do you mean, you rascal?" sputtered Mr. Hamblin, attempting to +free his mouth of the dirty Scheldt water which had been forced into it. + +"That's number three," whispered one of the brake-men to another. + +"Hush up!" replied the one addressed, from the corner of his mouth. + +McDougal dropped the hose, and rushed aft to the place where the unhappy +_savant_ stood. + +"You impertinent puppy!" cried Mr. Hamblin, soiling his white +handkerchief with the foul water upon his face. + +"O, dear! What have I done!" groaned McDougal, clasping his hands in an +agony of dismay. "I beg your pardon! I didn't see you, sir. O, what have +I done!" And the wretched hoseman actually threw himself on his knees +upon the wet deck, and implored the forgiveness of the injured magnate +of the school-room. + +"You meant to do it!" exclaimed the implacable pedagogue. + +"No, sir! Indeed, I did not! Won't you forgive me?" pleaded McDougal, +still upon his knees. + +"What does all this mean?" demanded Pelham, who was officer of the deck, +as he rushed to the spot from the topgallant forecastle, where he had +gone to keep out of the way of the splashing waters. + +"O, Mr. Pelham," groaned the hoseman, "I am so sorry!" + +"Get up!" said Pelham to the culprit, sternly, for anything like +servility was very disgusting to him, and probably he had his own views +in regard to Mr. Hamblin. + +McDougal obeyed this imperative command, and though, ordinarily, a young +man of nerve and of much self-possession, he appeared to be trembling +with apprehension. His lips quivered, his knees smote against each +other, and he stood wringing his hands, apparently in the most abject +terror. + +"I didn't mean to do it, Mr. Pelham," chattered the miserable hoseman. + +"Mr. Pelham, in my opinion this act was deliberately contrived and +carried out," said Mr. Hamblin, severely, though he was evidently +somewhat moved by the misery of the culprit. + +"I am very sorry for it, sir, whether it was done on purpose or by +accident," replied Pelham. "Where were you, sir, when it happened?" + +"I was sitting on that frame," answered Mr. Hamblin, pointing to the +place. + +"On the fife-rail?" + +"Yes; if that is the name of the frame." + +"Yes, sir; and he was behind the mast, and I didn't see him," pleaded +McDougal. "I saw some dirt on deck at the foot of the mast, and I threw +the stream there. I couldn't see Mr. Hamblin--indeed I couldn't, sir." + +"I would not complain of the act if that had been all, for I was simply +spattered; but when I stepped down, the stream was directed full into my +face." + +"I didn't mean to do it, sir. One of the brake-men hollered to me, and I +turned to see what he wanted, and when I did so, I raised up the hose; +and I suppose that's what made the stream hit Mr. Hamblin in the face," +groaned McDougal. + +"Yes, sir," interposed the brakeman, who had designated the act as +"number three." "I saw Mr. Hamblin, and I sung out to McDougal to turn +the hose. He turned round and asked me what I said, and before I could +answer Mr. Hamblin cried out to him." + +"So far as I can see, it appears to be an accident, sir," added Pelham; +"but I will report it to the captain." + +"O, Mr. Pelham, don't report me to the captain!" begged McDougal. "He +will send me back to the ship. I didn't mean to do it; it was an +accident." + +"It is useless to report it to the captain," said the professor, with a +palpable sneer. + +"Thank you, sir; you will forgive me, sir?" moaned the culprit. + +"I am willing to forgive you if it was an accident," replied the +_savant_, more graciously. + +"It was an accident, sir." + +"It is very singular that so many accidents happen to me," said the +professor, knitting his brow, and looking very savage, when he recalled +the events of the preceding evening. "This is the third time within half +a day that an accident has occurred to me." + +Mr. Hamblin walked off, and descended to the cabin to change his clothes +again. The suit in which he had fallen overboard had been dried at the +cook's galley, and was in condition for use. While changing his +garments, he recited to Mr. Stoute the new misfortune that had overtaken +him. + +Pelham sharply questioned the hands who had been concerned in the +outrage; but McDougal, who appeared to be the only one implicated in the +deed, protested that the circumstances were just as he had stated them; +nothing could be proved, for the boys all agreed in their statements. +The case was therefore dismissed, to be called up again by the captain, +if he thought proper to do so. McDougal walked forward to pick up the +hose-pipe again, and as he met the brakeman who had exhibited some +intelligence before, he gave him a very sly wink. + +The officer of the watch was more than suspicious. He was an old hand at +mischief himself, and not easily hoodwinked by "our fellows." He could +not help thinking that McDougal had overdone his part, for a bold young +man, like him, would not behave so much like a coward under any +circumstances. Just before breakfast time the captain and first +lieutenant came on deck together, and Pelham reported "number three" to +them. + +"It was not an accident," exclaimed Paul, indignantly. + +"I don't think it was myself," replied Pelham. "But at the same time, +what can you do? You can't prove that it was done on purpose." + +"I had a hint from Duncan that the fellows intended to haze Mr. Hamblin, +and if this thing isn't stopped in the beginning, there is no knowing +where it will end," continued Paul, decidedly. "You will pipe to muster +the first thing after breakfast, Mr. Terrill." + +The young commander was entirely satisfied in his own mind that the +unpleasant incident of the morning was a part of the hazing programme, +if the two on the preceding evening were not. He had already decided to +take prompt action, and put a stop to the disgraceful proceedings. + +After breakfast, agreeably to the order, all hands were piped to muster. +The two professors had come on deck to ascertain the cause of this +movement. They had had a long talk together about the second drenching +of the senior, and Mr. Stoute was obliged to conclude that the deed had +been wilfully done. He acknowledged as much as this, and felt, as the +captain did, that prompt action was necessary; but to his surprise, Mr. +Hamblin took opposite ground towards the latter part of the interview, +and declared that McDougal, on his knees, had begged his pardon. The +learned gentleman appeared to be determined to keep his opinion at +variance with that of his associate. + +Mr. Hamblin was one of those old fogies who could not appreciate +manliness in a boy. He demanded abject servility and pusillanimous +crouching on the part of an offender. When he frowned, the boy ought to +wither with fear rather than with the consciousness of guilt. McDougal +had thrown himself into a becoming attitude, in his estimation; had +groaned, trembled, and cringed. He was willing to forgive McDougal, and +had intimated as much as this to him before he left the deck. + +The young commander took his place on the hatch, and made quite a +telling speech in regard to what he termed the disgraceful proceeding +which had occurred on board. He solemnly warned the boys that he would +not tolerate anything irregular and disorderly. + +"Mr. Terrill, you will pipe away the second cutters," he continued, +turning to the first lieutenant. + +The crew of the boat were piped away, the cutter lowered, and they took +their places in her. The second lieutenant was detailed to take charge +of her, and waited near the captain for his orders. + +"Pass the word for McDougal," added the captain, when the second cutter +was ready, as he stepped down from the hatch, and stood at the foot of +the mainmast. + +The culprit came forward, and touched his cap to the captain. + +"For your conduct this morning to Mr. Hamblin I shall send you on board +of the ship," said Paul, in firm and decided tones. + +"I couldn't help it, Captain Kendall," pleaded McDougal; but he +exhibited none of the servility which had characterized his demeanor to +the professor; he knew the captain too well to resort to such an +expedient. + +"_Perhaps_ you could not," replied Paul, pointedly. "_Perhaps_ you could +not; but you were very careless." + +"I didn't mean to do it," added McDougal. + +"I do not say that you did. If the professor cannot walk the deck +without being drenched with water, it is time those who are so careless +should be sent out of the Josephine." + +"Mr. Hamblin was behind the mast, and I thought he had gone below, sir." + +"I have no time nor inclination to argue the matter. If you think any +injustice has been done to you, the principal will hear your complaint, +and I shall be as willing as you are to abide by his decision. Mr. +Martyn, you will report the case as it is to Mr. Lowington. McDougal, +consider yourself under arrest, and take your place in the boat." + +The culprit wanted to say something more, but Paul ordered him into the +boat with an emphasis which he did not deem it prudent to disregard. + +"Captain Kendall," said Professor Hamblin, stepping up to the young +commander, "I request that you will detain that boat for a moment or +two." + +"Certainly, sir, if you desire it," replied Paul, giving the necessary +order. + +"May I ask for a few moments' private conversation with you?" added the +professor, as he led the way aft. + +The learned gentleman seemed to be considerably excited, and conducted +the captain to the taffrail. + +"I protest against your action in this matter," said he, warmly, when +they were out of hearing of others. + +"Indeed, sir! I supposed you would protest if I did not take decided +action." + +"I am sorry to feel obliged to say, that you do not use good judgment in +this case," continued Mr. Hamblin, solemnly. "When that rope was thrown +upon me, you took no notice of it. I do not hear that the crew of the +first cutter have been called to account for their carelessness in +throwing me into the water last night; but, in this instance, where the +guilty party has begged my pardon on his bended knees, and shown a +degree of sorrow which it would be inhuman to disregard, you resort to +the severest punishment known on board." + +"You will excuse me, Mr. Hamblin, but I think my action is fully +justified by the circumstances." + +"I think not. You are extremely severe in this case, while the more +flagrant act of throwing me into the river, whether it was a wilful or a +careless one, was passed over in silence." + +"It was not passed over in silence. I examined the officer of the boat, +and I found that the accident was caused by the breaking of a boat-hook +in the hands of one of the bowmen. If you will pardon me for being +entirely candid with you, Mr. Hamblin, the mishap was caused by your own +carelessness, rather than by that of the boat's crew." + +"Do you mean to insult me?" demand the professor, angrily. + +"Most assuredly not, sir. If you had kept your seat in the stern-sheets +of the boat, as a passenger should, until the cutter was properly +secured, you could not possibly have fallen overboard when the boat-hook +broke," answered Paul, gently and firmly. + +"I do not ask your judgment upon my actions, Mr. Kendall," growled the +professor. + +"Excuse me, sir; but I alluded to your movement only in defence of the +boat's crew. If the bowmen had actually intended to throw you into the +water, they could not have done it if you had kept your seat." + +"It is not proper for you to criticise my action." + +Paul bowed, and made no reply. + +"I protest against your action in punishing McDougal. He apologized to +my satisfaction; and, as this is an affair personal with me, I am +surprised at your taking any step without consulting me." + +"It is a case which affects the discipline of the vessel; and, as such, +it was proper that I should dispose of it." + +"It was a personal matter, I say," repeated the professor, growing more +wrathy when he found his mighty will opposed. + +"I have such information, sir, as leads me to believe that the act of +this morning was intentional." + +"That's a want of judgment on your part, and I protest against your +action. I object to your sending McDougal to the ship, and I demand that +your order be rescinded." + +"I shall send him to the ship, sir!" replied Paul, decidedly, his cheek +coloring. + +"Shall you! Do you mean to insult me?" + +"No, sir; I repeat that I do not mean to insult you." + +"I say that boy ought not to be sent to the ship. Why, such a lack of +judgment--" + +"Mr. Hamblin, I command this vessel!" exclaimed Paul, with native +dignity. + +"Do you, indeed?" + +"I am responsible for all I do to Mr. Lowington. You will oblige me by +not interfering with the discipline of the crew." + +"How dare you use such language to me?" snapped the professor, dancing +about the deck with rage. + +"Mr. Terrill, direct Mr. Martyn to pull to the ship, and execute my +order as I gave it." + +"This is infamous!" stormed Mr. Hamblin. "Am I to be snubbed by a boy, +by one of my own pupils?" + +"I have nothing more to say, Mr. Hamblin," continued Paul, bowing and +moving away. + +"Stop, you puppy!" roared Mr. Hamblin, following him, and speaking loud +enough for all the officers to hear his offensive remark. + +"Come, come, Mr. Hamblin, you are disgracing yourself," interposed Mr. +Stoute. + +"The puppy!" gasped Mr. Hamblin. "He insulted me!" + +"Don't lower yourself in the eyes of your pupils by such undignified +conduct." + +"Am I to be insulted by a boy?" replied Mr. Hamblin, breaking away from +his associate. + +"Mr. Terrill, send Mr. Cleats and Mr. Gage aft," said Captain Kendall, +hardly able to speak, so violent were his emotions. + +"Mr. Kendall--" + +"Captain Kendall, if you please," interposed Paul, as the professor, +boiling over with rage, rushed up to him. + +"_Mister_ Kendall, I will--" + +"One word, Mr. Hamblin, before you proceed any farther," continued Paul, +struggling to be calm. + +"Here, sir," reported the adult carpenter and boatswain. + +"Stand by; I may want you," replied Captain Kendall. "Mr. Hamblin," he +proceeded, turning to the furious professor, "if you venture to call me +a puppy again, or to use any other offensive epithet, I will order the +carpenter and boatswain to arrest you. I will send you in irons on board +the ship. I beg to remind you again that I am the captain of this +vessel." + +Mr. Hamblin glanced at him, and then at the stalwart forward officers, +who, he knew, would obey the captain if the Josephine went down with +them in the act. If he did not feel that he had done wrong, he felt that +he could do nothing more. Professor Stoute again interposed his good +offices, and Mr. Hamblin defeated--by himself rather than the +captain--bolted from the group, and rushed down into the cabin. + +The entire ship's company had crowded aft to witness this exciting +scene. + +"Three cheers for Captain Kendall!" shouted a daring fellow. "One!" + +They were given, in spite of Paul's cry for "silence," and then the crew +scattered. The young commander looked very pale, and went below attended +by Terrill, who had noticed his ghastly expression. He retired to his +state-room, and but for his friend's efforts would have fainted away, so +terribly had he suffered during the painful scene. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +ON THE WAY TO GHENT. + + +"You have made a very great mistake, Mr. Hamblin," said Professor Stoute, +when they reached their state-room. + +"Do you take part with the students, Mr. Stoute?" snapped the angry +_savant_. + +The good-natured instructor concluded that it would be useless for him +to say anything while his associate continued in such an unhappy frame +of mind; and he condemned himself to silence for the present. It was +plain enough to him that the crew of the Josephine were in a state of +mutiny, so far as Mr. Hamblin was concerned, and, that the academic +discipline of the vessel was at an end. If he understood the humor of +the boys, they would refuse to obey the professor of Greek. There must +be a settlement of this serious difficulty before anything more could be +done. + +Mr. Hamblin was silent also for a time. It would have been curious to +know what he thought of himself at that particular moment, though +doubtless he fully justified his conduct and regarded himself as an +injured man. A gentleman so profoundly skilled in Greek as he was, with +an invitation in his pocket to visit the king's chief minister, ought +not to be expected to submit to the snubbing of a mere boy. The two +professors sat in the state-room till the silence became painful, and +till the anger of Mr. Hamblin had in a measure subsided. + +"I did not expect to see you take part with the boys, Mr. Stoute," said +the learned gentleman, in a grieved tone. + +"If I take any part at all, I hope it will be on the right side," +replied Mr. Stoute. + +"Which means, I suppose, that I am on the wrong side," replied Mr. +Hamblin, with a heavy sigh. + +"It means exactly that," added the other, candidly. + +"You think, then, that the boys have done precisely right--do you?" + +"Without saying that, I am compelled to believe you were in the wrong." + +"That boy threatened to arrest me," continued Mr. Hamblin, with +something like a shudder; "and all the crew gave three cheers for +Captain Kendall!" + +"I could hardly resist the temptation to join with them in giving the +cheers," replied Mr. Stoute, consolingly. "The conduct of Captain +Kendall filled me with admiration." + +"Mr. Stoute, do you consider that a proper remark to make to me?" + +"You will not understand anything but the plainest speech, and I intend +to be perfectly candid with you. You interfered with the discipline of +the vessel, and because the captain respectfully declined to recall the +boat, you threw yourself into a passion, and behaved in a most +ungentlemanly and undignified manner. Positively, sir, I am ashamed of +you! You called the captain a puppy, sir!" + +"He's only a boy," answered Mr. Hamblin, in whom this plain talk seemed +to create a doubt in regard to his conduct. + +"Any boy has the right to be treated like a gentleman when he behaves +like one, even if his opinion does not agree with our own; and +especially is this true of the captain." + +"He was utterly lacking in judgment. The conduct of McDougal was a +personal matter, and Mr. Kendall should have consulted me." + +"Allowing that the captain was wrong,--though I do not think that he was +wrong,--it does not improve the aspect of your conduct." + +"You think Mr. Lowington will not sustain me--do you?" + +"Certainly not." + +"I could hardly expect it, since he has a much higher regard for that +boy than for me," sighed Mr. Hamblin. + +"It is eight o'clock, and time for the recitations to commence," said +Mr. Stoute, consulting his watch. "You must decide at once what you +intend to do." + +"What shall I do?" asked Mr. Hamblin, who had become fully conscious +that he had involved himself in another "unpleasantness," and that the +powers that be, unmindful of his claims, would probably decide against +him. + +"Shall we hear the recitations? Are you willing to go into the steerage, +and proceed with your classes?" + +"I am." + +Mr. Stoute had his doubts whether it would be prudent for him to do so; +but he was satisfied that Captain Kendall could control the crew, even +if they attempted a demonstration against the unpopular instructor. + +"If I had made so great a blunder as you have, Mr. Hamblin," added +Professor Stoute, "I should go to the captain, and apologize to him." + +"Apologize to him!" exclaimed the _savant_. + +"Yes, sir." + +"To that boy, who insulted me, who threatened to arrest me, and send me +in irons to the ship, who had the impudence to tell me that _he_ was the +captain of this vessel! No, sir!" + +"Very well, sir; suit yourself; I am going to the steerage to attend to +my classes." + +Without waiting for his associate's final decision as to what he +intended to do, Mr. Stoute left the state-room. By this time Paul had +recovered from the faintness which had oppressed him, and had ordered +the first lieutenant to "pipe to recitations." + +"Are we to go on with the studies as usual, Captain Kendall?" asked Mr. +Stoute, who could not help taking the hand of the young commander and +warmly pressing it, though without any allusion in words to Professor +Hamblin. + +"Certainly, sir; the students will not be allowed to neglect any regular +duty," replied Paul. + +"After the cheers which were given on deck, there is danger of a +disturbance." + +"No, sir; I think not. If any officer or seaman makes a disturbance, he +shall be put under arrest instantly." + +"But suppose they all do it in concert." + +"They will not, sir;" but Paul spoke in hope rather than in faith, and +dreaded the demonstration suggested by the professor. + +Mr. Stoute went into the steerage. The students were all there, +including the crew of the cutter which had conveyed McDougal to the +ship. They were more quiet and orderly than usual; but the calm often +precedes the storm. Captain Kendall passed into the steerage, and his +appearance was the signal for a general clapping of the hands, in which +all the officers joined. That he had won the day in his dispute with the +obnoxious professor; that he had threatened to arrest Mr. Hamblin, and +send him in irons to the ship; that he had actually called the willing +carpenter and boatswain to execute the anticipated order,--were more +than enough to make the captain a hero with the ship's company. Boys +worship pluck, and are not always particular that it should be displayed +in a good cause. + +"Silence, if you please," said Paul, moved by the applause of the +students. + +Silence came instantly, for the captain was a "little god" just then, +and had more influence over the ship's company at that moment than ever +before. It is true they regretted the fate of poor McDougal, but there +was not one of them who did not believe that the captain was right in +his estimate of the culprit's guilt. + +"I wish to ask a favor of you," continued Paul, in a rather embarrassed +tone. + +A clapping of hands assured him that he could ask no favor that would +not be unanimously granted. + +"Whatever happens, I wish you to make no disturbance, and no +demonstrations of approval or dissent. Will you heed my request?" + +"We will!" shouted the students with one voice. + +"Thank you," replied Paul, who did not believe in a display of force +before it was necessary. + +The boys commenced work upon their lessons, and the captain, passing +through the steerage, went on deck to avoid the necessity of meeting Mr. +Hamblin, whose step he heard in the passage-way leading from the cabin. +As Paul disappeared, the obnoxious _savant_ entered the steerage. One of +the students forward hissed, but his companions silenced him instantly; +and it is probable, if the captain had not spoken to them, Mr. Hamblin +would have been greeted with a general demonstration of disapprobation. + +The learned gentleman was evidently much embarrassed; but he was very +quiet and subdued in his manner. He was less impatient and snappish than +usual; said nothing about "stupidity" and "blundering," as was his +habit. He seemed to be abstracted, as well he might; but while he +displayed less enthusiasm in his teaching, he was infinitely more +gentlemanly and kind. As he gave no occasion for any trouble, none came. +Though the captain did not appear at any recitation conducted by him, +the professor made no comment upon the circumstance. + +Paul was troubled, but he had made up his mind what to do. Either Mr. +Hamblin must leave the Josephine, or he would respectfully ask to be +relieved from the command of her. It was simply impossible to live with +such a porcupine on board. It was a mystery to him that Mr. Lowington +had procured the services of such an unsuitable instructor; but the +fact was, that he had been engaged by the principal's agent on the +strength of his classical attainments, rather than his fitness for the +place. He had been so unpopular as a tutor and professor that no +institution could long enjoy his services, valuable as they were in an +intellectual point of view. + +At twelve o'clock orders came from Mr. Lowington to dismiss school, and +to dress the Josephine for visitors. All hands were called, and in a +short time the vessel wore her gayest attire. A line of flags was +extended from the end of the jib-boom over the topmast-heads to the end +of the main boom. The flag of Belgium, which consists of black, yellow, +and red in equal parts, perpendicularly divided, floated at the foremast +head. The Young America was similarly decorated, and the Victoria and +Albert hoisted the royal standard of the United Kingdom, which is a +magnificent affair, consisting of four squares, two, in opposite +corners, being red, one blue and one yellow, with a harp and the lions +and unicorns worked upon the squares. + +At half past twelve, the professors' barge, with the American flag in +the stern, and the Belgian in the bow, put off from the ship and pulled +to the Quai Vandyck. The eminent individual who was to be received by +the squadron was no less a personage than the governor of the Province +of Antwerp, an office once filled by the distinguished Charles Rogier, +the present minister of foreign affairs. + +As the boat containing his excellency put off from the Quay, the yards +of both vessels were manned. All the students were dressed in their best +uniform, and the display was really quite imposing. The governor went +on board of the ship, was duly cheered by the students, and he visited +every part of the vessel. After he had partaken of a collation in the +main cabin, he left the ship, accompanied by Mr. Lowington, and visited +the Josephine. Everything appeared to the best advantage, and his +excellency expressed himself as highly delighted with the naval +institution. + +All the officers and professors were presented to the distinguished +guest, who took a great deal of notice of Paul, and hardly any of Mr. +Hamblin--a muddling of distinctions which sore puzzled and annoyed the +_savant_. Not even Mr. Lowington could have suspected that the +Josephines were in a state of feverish excitement, and had been almost +in a state of mutiny, so fair and pleasant was the outside aspect of the +ship's company. The governor, having completed his inspection of the +vessel, invited all the officers to dine with him, and was then landed +with as much ceremony as he had been received. + +Mr. Lowington accompanied the governor to the quay, and on his return he +went on board of the Josephine to announce his programme for a visit to +several of the cities of Belgium. All hands were called, and were +informed that the next three days would be devoted to sight-seeing, and +that the students would take the train for Ghent at half past two. The +ship's company heard the intelligence with a coolness which did not +escape the notice of the principal; but he soon received an explanation +of this apparent indifference. + +"I am very sorry, Mr. Lowington," said Professor Hamblin, stepping up +to him, as he descended from the hatch, "to be again compelled to +complain to you of the misconduct of Mr. Kendall. This morning he +threatened to arrest me and send me in irons on board of the ship--_me_, +sir! He actually sent for the boatswain and carpenter for this purpose." + +"Captain Kendall!" exclaimed the principal, annoyed beyond measure at +this recital of grievance. "There must have been some strong +provocation." + +"Could anything justify such a threat, or such a course?" + +"We will not speak of this subject here," added the principal, when he +saw that the eyes of every student on board were fixed upon them. + +"Something should be done immediately," replied Mr. Hamblin, decidedly. + +"I have not time to hear the case now. We take the train for Ghent in +less than an hour. I will see you in the railway carriage." + +Mr. Lowington moved towards the gangway, where the barge was waiting for +him; but Paul, his cheeks all aglow, stepped up to him, and touched his +cap. + +"Mr. Lowington," said he, "I wish to make a complaint against Mr. +Hamblin. He interferes with the discipline of the vessel, is very +insulting to me; and I must ask that he be removed from the Josephine, +or that I may be permitted to resign." + +"I am very sorry you are having any trouble here; but I cannot stay now +to hear about it. I will see you on the train." + +"Excuse me, one moment, Mr. Lowington," added the _savant_ of the +Josephine, as the principal was going over the side. "I wish to inquire +if we make any stay in Brussels?" + +"We shall probably remain there one day." + +"I have an invitation to visit Monsieur Rogier, the chief minister of +the King of Belgium, and should like to accept it," added Mr. Hamblin, +who thought it would be well for the principal to know this fact before +he thought much of the difficulty between himself and the captain. + +"You will have ample time," answered Mr. Lowington, as he stepped over +the side into the boat. + +At two o'clock all hands embarked in a ferry-boat, which conveyed them +to the Tete de Flandre, opposite Antwerp, where the Ghent railway +station is located. By the good offices of the governor of Antwerp, a +special train had been procured for their accommodation, and the +carriages were to be at the disposal of the principal for the entire +round of the Belgian cities. By this arrangement, the tourists were +enabled to make the tour in the brief space allotted to it. They were to +spend a day in the capital, but only one or two hours in each of the +other places. + +In Belgium about two thirds of all the railways are owned or leased by +the government, which runs the roads, and even those which are in the +hands of corporations will eventually revert to the state. They are +exceedingly well managed, and very few accidents occur upon them; but +they run at a low rate of speed, compared with the English railways. The +fares are about three cents a mile, which is below the average in +Europe. + +Mr. Lowington selected a compartment in one of the carriages, and +arranged his party so as to transact the disagreeable business on hand +during the trip. Dr. Winstock and Paul sat at one end of the section, +and Mr. Stoute and Terrill at the other, while Mr. Lowington and +Professor Hamblin occupied the middle seats. The two students were +allowed to occupy the places at the windows, so that they could see the +country which they passed through; for the principal deemed this as +important for them as their lessons; in fact, it was a study of +geography. The train moved off, bearing the company through a low +country, not very attractive in itself, though the little farms, +gardens, villages and towns were full of interest to young men like +Paul. + +"Now, Mr. Hamblin, I am ready to hear your complaints," said Mr. +Lowington, after the train had passed out of the station. "Captain +Kendall, you may give your attention to it, though you can look out of +the window at the same time." + +"Am I to be confronted with that boy?" demanded the professor, +indignantly. + +"That boy!" replied Mr. Lowington. "I am to hear what you and Captain +Kendall have to say. Go on, if you please, sir." + +"You will remember that one of the students, McDougal, was sent on board +of the ship, this morning," Mr. Hamblin began, though he was utterly +disgusted because he was obliged to make his complaint in the presence +of Paul. + +"I remember it." + +"The offence which that boy committed was against me personally. As he +explained the case to me, and made a very humble apology, I was willing +to forgive him. I intimated to the officer of the deck that he need not +report the matter to the captain; but it was reported to the captain, +and when I went on deck, after breakfast, I found the students had been +assembled. Mr. Kendall addressed them, with which I had no fault to +find. But you can judge of my astonishment when he called up McDougal, +and ordered a boat to convey him on board of the ship, thus subjecting +him to the severest punishment known to the students of the Josephine. + +"I deemed it my duty to interfere, which I did in the most civil manner. +I respectfully protested against the action of the captain. I say I +deemed it my duty to interfere." + +Mr. Hamblin paused, and looked at the principal. He wished him to say +that he also deemed it his duty to interfere; but Mr. Lowington did not +say that, or anything else, and waited till the professor was ready to +proceed. + +"I remonstrated with Mr, Kendall, and he saw fit to disregard my +protest. I demanded that his order should be rescinded; but he was +haughty and impudent in his manner. He told me that the boy should be +sent to the ship. He appeared to be utterly wanting in judgment, though, +up to this time, I had remonstrated only in the mildest terms. He +informed me, in the most offensive manner, that he was the captain of +the vessel." + +At this point Mr. Lowington bit his lips, to repress a smile which was +involuntarily manifesting itself on his face. + +"Finally, sir, he sent for the boatswain and carpenter, and threatened +to have me conveyed to the ship in irons. It was not enough to say he +would send me to the ship, but he would send me in irons! Did ever a boy +speak to a man like that before? In college, academy, and school, I have +always been master; but here I find myself subject to the will of a +stripling of sixteen or seventeen!" + +Mr. Hamblin finished his narrative, set his teeth tight together, and +threw himself back in his seat to await the decision of the principal. + +"Captain Kendall, I will hear your version of this affair," said Mr. +Lowington, mildly. + +The professor made a movement as if to spring to his feet. The +proceedings seemed to be very irregular. He wanted the decision made +upon his statement; and it appeared like an insult to him to ask a +student for his version of the affair after the instructor had spoken. + +"When I was informed that McDougal had directed the hose-pipe at Mr. +Hamblin," said Paul, "I decided to make an example of him; for I had a +hint that the students intended to annoy the senior professor, and this +was the third time something had happened to him. I was satisfied that +the act was done on purpose, though I could not prove it." + +"It was not done on purpose," interposed Mr. Hamblin, wrathfully. +"McDougal, on his knees--" + +"You will be kind enough not to interrupt Captain Kendall," said Mr. +Lowington, mildly, but firmly. + +"I decided to send him on board of the ship, and directed the second +lieutenant to report the circumstances to you. Before the boat had +shoved off, Mr. Hamblin called me aside, and objected to my action. He +said the affair was personal with him, and he was surprised that I had +interfered with it. I replied that the matter affected the discipline of +the crew, and that I should send McDougal on board of the ship. He was +angry then, spoke of my lack of judgment, and said the boy should not be +sent to the ship. I told him then, as decidedly as I knew how, that I +commanded the vessel." + +"Yes, sir; that _he_ commanded the vessel!" said Mr. Hamblin, with much +excitement. + +"Go on, Captain Kendall," added Mr. Lowington. + +"He used some strong language then, and I told him I had nothing more to +say. As I was walking away, he told me to stop, and called me a puppy. +He repeated the expression, and then I sent for Mr. Cleats and Mr. Gage. +They came, and I informed Mr. Hamblin that if he applied another +offensive epithet to me, I would send him on board the ship in irons." + +"Yes, sir! send _me_ to the ship in irons! Could you have conceived of +such an indignity?" exclaimed the professor. "Am I a common sailor? Am I +a servant? Am I a student? or am I the senior professor of the consort?" + +"Did you speak to Captain Kendall of his lack of judgment, Mr. Hamblin?" +asked the principal. + +"I did, most assuredly; and I am free to say that a child would have +exhibited more judgment than he did," replied the professor, warmly. + +"Did you say that McDougal should not be sent on board of the ship?" + +"I did; it was an outrage upon the boy after he had begged my pardon +with his knees on the wet deck; and it was an outrage upon me, who had +forgiven his offence." + +"Did you call Captain Kendall a puppy on the quarter-deck of the +Josephine?" + +"I don't know whether it was on the quarter-deck or the half-deck." + +"Oblige me by answering my question." + +"Perhaps I did," replied Mr. Hamblin, looking upon the floor of the +carriage; for this, he was conscious, was his weak point. + +"I must ask you either to affirm or deny that portion of Captain +Kendall's complaint." + +"If I did, it was because I had been snubbed and insulted by a pupil." + +"You do not answer me, sir." + +"I did; and I am willing to acknowledge it was highly improper; but I +was--" + +"It is not necessary to explain it," interposed Mr, Lowington. "I desire +now only to obtain the facts. You applied this epithet twice to Captain +Kendall--did you?" + +"Possibly I did. I was much excited." + +"Affirm or deny it, if you please." + +"I will grant that I did, though I do not now distinctly remember. It +was wrong for me to use such language under any circumstances, but I +have not been in the habit of being snubbed by my pupils." + +"Is there any other material fact you wish to add, Mr. Hamblin?" asked +the principal. + +"Nothing more is needed, I think," replied the professor, who really +believed that he had overwhelmed Paul, in spite of the conscious +disadvantage he labored under in having used intemperate language +himself. "It is plain enough that Mr. Kendall and I cannot get along +together in the same vessel." + +"That is plain enough," added Mr. Lowington. "I had requested Professor +Stoute and Mr. Terrill to take seats in this carriage in order to afford +any information we might need; but I find the facts in the case are not +disputed. On the material points, there is no difference of statement +between Mr. Hamblin and Captain Kendall. I shall reserve my decision +till we return to the vessels." + +"It will be impossible for me to do my duty to the students on board of +the Josephine while Mr. Kendall is in command of her," said the +professor, who wanted the decision at once, so confident was he that the +principal could not sustain the young commander this time. + +"I shall arrange it so that you and Captain Kendall will no longer sail +in the same vessels." + +That was very indefinite, but something was to be done; and this was all +the comfort the professor received. Paul was much agitated, and Dr. +Winstock talked to him for half an hour before he could fix his +attention upon the novelties of the country hurried in panorama before +him. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +"IN BELGIUM'S CAPITAL." + + +"Gand!" shouted the guard, as he walked along the step before the doors +of the compartments, just as the train entered the station. + +"I suppose that means Ghent," said Paul. + +"Yes; Gand is the French name of the place," replied Dr. Winstock. +"There are many cities in Europe which you would not recognize by their +foreign appellations." + +As the train stopped the whistle of the Young America's boatswain called +the students together, and Mr. Lowington told them they could stay only +two hours in the place. + +"Ghent is situated at the junction of the River Lys with the Scheldt," +said Professor Mapps, who, to the astonishment of the boys, seemed to be +plumed for a lecture. "The numerous branches of these rivers, either +natural or artificial, form canals which extend in all directions +through the city. The town may be said to be composed of twenty-six +islands, which are connected together by no less than eighty bridges. +The grand canal extends from the lower Scheldt to the town, by means of +which ships drawing eighteen feet can come up to the basin. All these +canals are navigable for boats or vessels. It is surrounded by a wall +seven or eight miles in extent, for its defence. On the grand canal, +half way between the city and the West Scheldt, there are sluices, by +which the whole country could be laid under water in case of invasion by +an enemy. + +"Ghent has been called the Manchester of Belgium, on account of its +being so largely engaged in cotton manufactures. Its factories are +operated by steam power. The population in 1863 was one hundred and +twenty-two thousand. The cultivation of flowers is largely carried on +here, there being about four hundred hot-houses in the immediate +vicinity of the city. + +"Ghent is a very old city, and occupies a prominent place in history. In +the days of Charles the Bold it was the capital of Flanders. Charles V., +Emperor of Germany, was born here. It was formerly a city of vast +importance, and at one time its wealth and power had increased to such +an extent, that it was regarded as the rival of Paris. '_Je mettrais +Paris dans mon Gand_,' Charles V. used to say, as he proudly +contemplated this great city. What does it mean?" + +"I could put Paris into my glove," replied one of the French scholars +near the professor. "But _gant_ is the French word for _glove_." + +"Near enough for a pun, and much nearer than modern punsters often get +it," continued Mr. Mapps. "Ghent, in former days, had the reputation of +being a turbulent city, and its people were bold and warlike. They have +always been forward in asserting and defending their liberties; and you +will find that the burghers of Ghent figure largely in Mr. Motley's +Histories. I will not detain you longer now, but, as we pass through the +city, I shall have something more to say about its historic character." + +A sufficient number of vehicles had been gathered during the professor's +lecture to enable the students to make the most of their limited time in +Ghent. They went first to the _Beffroi_, or Belfry-tower. It is a kind +of watch-tower, two hundred and eighty feet high, built in the twelfth +century. The structure is square, and is surmounted by a gilt dragon. It +contains a chime of bells, and a huge bell weighing five tons. The +records of the city were formerly kept in the lower part of the +building, which is now degraded into a prison. The entrance to the tower +is through a shop, and the view from the top is very fine. + +The Cathedral of St. Bavon, the Church of St. Michael, and the Hotel de +Ville, or Town Hall, were pointed out, and the carriages stopped in the +Marche au Vendredi, a large square, or market-place, which takes its +name from the day on which the sale is held. The phrase means Friday +Market. Mr. Mapps explained the use of the square, and pointed out the +ancient buildings with Flemish gables, which look like a flight of +stairs on each slope, which surrounds it. + +"This was the grand meeting-place of the citizens of Ghent," he +continued; "the counts of Flanders were inaugurated here with great +ceremony and splendor. Here the trades-unions, or societies of weavers, +used to meet. Here the standard of rebellion was planted, and the people +rallied around it to overthrow their oppressors. Here Jacques van +Artevelde, the Brewer of Ghent, encountered a hostile association, and +fought one of the most furious combats known in history. He was called +the Brewer of Ghent, because, though of noble family, he joined the +society of brewers to flatter the vanity of the lower classes. His +partisans were chiefly weavers, and his opponents the fullers. In the +midst of the strife the host--the consecrated bread and wine of the +Catholic mass--was brought into the square, in order to separate the +furious artisans; but it was disregarded, and the bodies of fifteen +hundred citizens were left on this spot. + +"Van Artevelde, whose statue you see before you," added the professor, +pointing to the object, "was a person of great influence. He was the +ally of Edward III. of England, and had raised himself to the position +of _Ruwaert_, or Protector of Flanders, by banishing its hereditary +counts. By his advice, the King of England had added the _fleur de lis_, +or lilies of France, to the British arms, claiming to be King of France. +He courted the aid of the Flemish people, who were very powerful,--for +it was said that Ghent alone could furnish eighty thousand fighting +men,--in order to establish his claim to rule France. + +"Edward obtained the assistance of the Flemings; but he did not conquer +France, though he gained some splendid victories, in which the famous +Black Prince figured. Van Artevelde began to dread the vengeance of the +hereditary counts of Flanders, whose power he had usurped, and in 1344 +he invited Edward to meet him at Sluis. Here the Brewer proposed to make +Edward's son--the Black Prince--sovereign of Flanders, in order to +secure the protection of England. He relied upon his influence with the +citizens to induce them to submit to this arrangement; but the stout +burghers rejected the proposal with contempt and indignation. + +"During Van Arteveldt's absence, a popular insurrection was fomented +against him; and, on his return, as he rode through the streets, he was +made conscious of the storm that was brewing against the Brewer. He went +to his house, and barricaded the doors; but the street was soon filled +by the mob. He addressed them from a window; but they would not hear +him, and he attempted to escape by a back door into an adjoining church. +Failing to accomplish this purpose, the infuriated people broke in upon +him, and he was killed. + +"In this square, also, were kindled the fires of the Inquisition by the +Duke of Alva, at the command of Philip II., and thousands perished in +the barbarous persecution. + +"The rebellious spirit of the people of Ghent was very trying to Charles +V. He demanded of them an enormous sum of money, to enable him to carry +on a war against France. The burghers put the town in a state of +defence, and privately offered their allegiance to Francis I. of France. +He declined the offer, and maliciously informed Charles of it, who +marched an army through France to punish the treason of his subjects in +Ghent. Commanding this army in person, he reached the gates of the city, +and surrounded its walls, before the people were aware of his presence. + +"The utmost consternation prevailed in the town, and messengers were +sent to the emperor to sue for forgiveness. Without granting any terms +to the rebels, he imperiously demanded that the gates should be opened. +His command was obeyed, and the Spanish army marched into the town. The +Duke of Alva suggested that the entire city should be destroyed; but +Charles satisfied himself with beheading fourteen of the ringleaders of +the rebellion, and confiscating their property. The principal officers +of the city were ordered to appear before the emperor barefoot and +bare-headed, clothed in black gowns, and with halters around their +necks. They were compelled to sue for pardon on their knees. As an +additional penalty, the magistrates were forbidden to appear in public +without a halter on their necks, as a badge of their ignominy. The rope +was worn; but, in the lapse of time, it became a silken cord, tied in a +true-lover's knot, and was regarded as an ornament which the magistrate +could not dispense with. + +"In 1570, when the people attempted to shake off the Spanish rule, the +citadel or fortress at the Porte d'Anvers (which has been demolished) +was besieged by the Prince of Orange. It was gallantly defended by the +Spaniards for a long time; but, at last, three thousand of the burghers +of Ghent, clothed in white shirts as a distinguishing mark, assaulted +the citadel. Their scaling-ladders were not long enough, and the attack +failed. On the following day, while preparations were in progress to +renew the attack, the Spaniards capitulated. When suitable terms had +been agreed upon, the garrison, only one hundred and fifty in number, +marched out under the command of a woman. It appeared then that the +governor of the fortress was absent, and that the Spaniards had been +commanded, during the protracted siege, by his wife." + +This was rather a long speech to be made in the public square; but the +boys, interested in the professor's remarks, gathered closely around +him; and it is not probable that many of the Ghenters who had been +attracted to the square by the unwonted scene understood a word that was +said. The carriages next proceeded to the Beguinage, a kind of convent +or nunnery. The establishment is a little town by itself, with streets, +squares, and gates, and is surrounded by a wall and moat. In the centre +there is a church. The houses are occupied by the Beguines, a sisterhood +of nuns in Belgium which has six thousand members. They are bound by no +vows, as ordinary nuns are, and may therefore return to the world at +pleasure, marry, and come back in their widowhood. They act as Sisters +of Charity in the city, and some of them are wealthy; but all wear the +garb of the order. There are about six hundred of them in this colony. +On the door of each house is the name of the patron saint of the +occupant. + +The drive was continued through some of the principal streets of Ghent; +and, within a few moments of the appointed time, the students were again +seated in the railway carriages. The road to Bruges extends along the +side of the canal from Ostend to Ghent, which has high banks, lined +nearly all the way with tall trees. The view from the windows of the +train was interesting rather than picturesque. In an hour the train +stopped at its destination; but it was after six o'clock, and there was +no time for Professor Mapps to make any long speeches, though Bruges +had a history hardly less exciting than that of Ghent. It takes its name +from the great number of _bridges_ which it contains; for the place, +like Ghent, is cut up by canals. + +Bruges was once a rich and powerful city, reputed to contain two hundred +thousand inhabitants; but, like nearly all the Flemish cities, it has +declined from its former grandeur, and now contains only fifty-one +thousand, nearly a third of whom are paupers. In the fifteenth century, +the Dukes of Burgundy held their court here; it had an immense foreign +commerce, and its warehouses were filled with the silks and woollens +manufactured in the vicinity. All this has passed away, the town has the +aspect of a ruined place, and its lofty and elegant public +buildings--the remains of former prosperity--seem to mock its present +desolation. + +Fine houses may be hired in Bruges at a rent of from sixty to a hundred +dollars a year. It is said that a house has not been built in the city +for a century, for the reason that its diminishing inhabitants were more +than supplied by those which had once accommodated four times its +present population. The place is dead and dull. The streets are nearly +empty. A man-servant finds himself upon a hundred dollars a year, and a +French teacher charges twenty cents an hour for his services. + +The Church of Notre Dame contains the tombs of Charles the Bold and of +his daughter Mary. La Chapelle du Saint Sang takes its name from several +drops of the blood of the Savior, which are said to have been brought +from the Holy Land. They were presented to the town, and are kept in a +richly jewelled shrine, which is exhibited to visitors at half a franc a +head. The famous order of the Knights of the Golden Fleece, so often +mentioned by Motley, whose emblems are seen in many of the churches of +Belgium, was established at Bruges, by Philip the Good, Duke of +Burgundy. The weavers of Flanders had carried the manufacture of wool to +a degree of perfection which added greatly to the prosperity of the +country, and the Golden Fleece was a fitting symbol of the industry of +the people, as well as a compliment to their skill. + +The great point of interest in Bruges to the students of the squadron +was "The Belfry of Bruges," which Longfellow has celebrated in his poem +of that name, and in the "Carillon." It is a beautiful Gothic tower, on +an antique building known as _Les Halles_, or The Market, a part of +which was intended for a meat market, and a part for a cloth hall. The +spire, or belfry, is two hundred and ninety feet high. It contains the +finest set of chimes in Europe. They play four times an hour, and their +music is almost incessant. The machinery by which they are operated +consists of an immense metallic cylinder, or drum, covered all over with +cogs and pins, like that in a music-box. As this drum turns by the +action of a huge weight, the pins strike against the levers that +communicate with the bells. For half an hour on Sunday they are played +by hand, as at Antwerp. + +The praise bestowed upon the chimes seemed to the students to be well +merited. There is nothing more touching and beautiful than the music of +these bells. The boys could not help taking in the inspiration they +imparted; and when it transpired that Mr. Modelle, the professor of +elocution, had a copy of Longfellow in his pocket, they almost +unanimously insisted that the poems relating to the scene should be +read. They gathered around him, the circle closely flanked by the men, +women, and children of the dull old town, who had apparently been roused +from their lethargy by the advent of the young Americans. In his deep +bass tones he read the Carillon first. + + "In the ancient town of Bruges, + In the quaint old Flemish city, + As the evening shades descended, + Low and loud, and sweetly blended, + Low at times and loud at times, + And changing like a poet's rhymes, + Rang the beautiful wild chimes + From the belfry in the market + Of the ancient town of Bruges." + +The students listened with almost breathless interest till the last line +of the "Belfry" was read; there was something so grand and beautiful in +the poem itself, as the images of the past are brought up,-- + + "I beheld the pageants, splendid, + That adorned those days of old: + Stately dames like queens attended, + Knights who bore the Fleece of Gold,"-- + +and something in the association of the living lines with the real +belfry of Bruges before them, that the impression was one to be +remembered for years. + +After a hasty walk through a couple of the ancient streets of the city, +the students returned to the railroad station, and the train started for +Brussels, a ride of about two hours from Bruges. It was half past nine +when they arrived at the capital of Belgium. The party were greeted by +Mr. Fluxion, who had been sent direct from Antwerp to make arrangements +for their stay over night. Captain Kendall, his officers and crew, were +sent to the Hotel Royal in the Rue Fosse aux Loups. It was a small +hotel, but very nice and comfortable. Mr. Molenschot, the proprietor, +spoke English, but he appeared to be the only person in the house who +could do so. He was very polite and attentive to the students, and spoke +familiarly and pleasantly to them about "my hotel." + +Mr. Fluxion himself had a faculty for keeping a hotel, and understood +precisely what tired travellers wanted when they came in late in the +evening; and he had ordered, in addition to the _the complet_, the +_bif-stek_ and _pomme de terre_. The boys were as hungry as wolves, and +the solid part of the entertainment was very inviting. Each dish of +beefsteak was covered over with nicely browned fried potatoes. In a few +moments there was hardly a vestige of the feast remaining on the table. + +The Young America's ship's company were quartered at the Hotel de +l'Univers, and the Hotel de Suede, so that the party was separated; and +Paul was rather glad of it, because there were some belonging to the +ship who were not influenced by the motives which prevailed in the +Josephine. He could control his crew, even without the aid of Mr. +Fluxion, who, with several of the professors also lodged at the Royal. + +They were a jolly party at the supper table; and as none of the waiters +spoke a word of English, there was a great deal of fun made in giving +their orders; but everybody was remarkably good-natured, including the +waiters themselves. + +"Waiter," called Lynch, who, as a general rule, was not guilty of +knowing much about any of his studies, "bring me the _bur_." + +The servant took no notice of him. + +"Call him a _garcon_" said Grossbeck. + +"_Garcon!_" shouted Lynch. + +"_Monsieur_," replied the man. + +"Bring me the _bur_." + +"You might as well call for a Canada thistle," laughed Duncan, who was +one of the best French scholars in the Josephine. + +"I want some butter; I have eaten up all the _bif-stek_, and all the +_pomme de terres_, and now I want some bread and butter. These fellows +don't understand their own language." + +"_M'apportez du beurre_," added Duncan. + +"_Oui, oui, oui!_" exclaimed the waiter, producing the required article. + +"That's the idea," replied Lynch; "that man's improving. But this +_beurre_ is so fresh I can't eat it; I want some salt." + +"Call for it, then," laughed Duncan. + +"I will; here's a go. _Garcon_, mapperty sellier!" + +"Good!" roared Duncan. "If we had a saddle of mutton for supper, I +should suppose you would want what you called for." + +"I want the salt." + +"I thought you did; and that's the reason why you called for a saddler." + +"I didn't call for any saddler. I said _sellier_." + +"Precisely so; and that is a saddler." + +"What shall I say?" + +"_Sel._" + +"_Sel_; _sellier_. Well, I knew there was a sell about it somewhere." + +"Precisely; but you were sold. I advise you not to make any long +speeches in French." + +"You may bet your life I shall not," replied Lynch. + +"Just mention the thing you want in one word; then you won't confuse +_garcon's_ intellect by flooding it with ideas." + +"_Garcon--sel_," added Lynch, acting upon this excellent advice. + +The waiter brought the _sel_, and nobody was sold this time. + +"I think I shall pick up the French language in time," added Lynch, +encouraged by his success. + +"Perhaps you will, but the Hotel Royal will have crumbled to dust before +that happy event occurs." + +There was any quantity of blunders made at the table, and some of the +students had nearly choked themselves to death with laughing at them, +and at the blank looks of the waiters when spoken to in a tongue which +Mr. Fluxion declared sounded more like Low Dutch than decent French. Mr. +Molenschot laughed too, and intimated that "my hotel" had never been so +lively before. + +"What now, Captain Kendall?" said Mr. Fluxion, when the supper and the +blunders had ended. + +"My officers and crew wish to take a little walk," replied Paul. + +"What! to-night?. It is after ten o'clock." + +"They wish to see how 'Belgium's capital' looks in the evening." + +"Of course you can do as you think best; but I advise you to be cautious +with them. They may get into trouble in a strange city, or get lost. If +some of them can't speak French any better than they did at supper, they +will have to go to the watch-house, because they can't ask the way +back." + +"They can say _Hotel Royal_. None of my crew have ever got into trouble +since the ship's company was organized," added Paul, who wanted to go +out himself, and could not deny to others what he took himself. + +The permission was given to walk till eleven o'clock, but the boys were +admonished to behave properly, and to return punctually. Lynch and +Grossbeck, who still clung together as fast friends, left the hotel in +company. + +"This is jolly--isn't it?" said Lynch, as they passed out of the Rue +Fosse aux Loups into the Place de la Monnaie, a small square in front of +the Theatre Royal. + +"For less than an hour," added Grossbeck, gloomily. + +"We don't understand French, and so we can't tell what time it is," +laughed Lynch. + +"That won't go down. We were told to be back at eleven." + +"But if we don't know what time it is, we can't be tied to the +bell-rope." + +"No use; the captain knows the boom from the bobstay, and if he isn't a +Knight of the Golden Fleece, you can't pull wool over his eyes. You know +he put McDougal through this morning." + +"Well, come along. We'll have a good time while it does last," replied +Lynch, apparently appalled by recalling the summary treatment of his +shipmate. + +"Everybody seems to be having a good time here," said Grossbeck, as they +passed a _cafe_, in front of which were a great number of small tables, +at which gentlemen were drinking, smoking, and carrying on noisy +conversation. "I don't see any reason why we should not. What are they +drinking there?" + +"Beer, or wine, I suppose," answered Lynch, as he led the way he knew +not whither, turning to the left, because the street in that direction +looked more lively than the others. + +There was nothing to be seen, as most of the shops were closed; but they +continued on their way till they came to a kind of arcade, a building +which contained a broad passage-way, opening from the street, with a +large number of little shops on either side. + +The interior was brilliantly lighted, and most of the small stores were +devoted to fancy goods and other showy articles. The young seamen +entered the arcade, in which many people were promenading. + +"They say this city is a second edition of Paris on a small scale," +continued Lynch. "This is very well got up; but from what I have seen of +the town, it looks like a one-horse city. The streets are not much wider +than a cow-path." + +"But they say it is like Paris," added Grossbeck. + +"My eyes! there's a clock that speaks English! It is half past ten," +exclaimed Lynch. "But I'm not going back to the Hotel Royal till I've +had a little fun. There's a what-you-call-it, where they sell wine. +Let's go in, and see what it's like." + +The place indicated was a wine-shop, and the two boys entered, seating +themselves at one of the little tables. The prompt waiter came to them, +bowed and scraped, and flourished a napkin, and hinted that he would be +happy to take their order. + +"What will you have, Grossbeck?" + +"I'll take a glass of wine." + +"Let's see you take it!" laughed Lynch. "What shall we call for? I don't +remember a word of French, now that I want to use it." + +"Perhaps the _garcon_ can speak English. Ask him." + +"Ask him? What shall I say?" + +"O, I know. _Parlez-vous Angleterre?_" added Grossbeck, turning to the +waiter. + +"_Non, monsieur_," replied the waiter, who did not speak "England." + +"O, confound it! What's the Dutch for wine?" demanded Lynch, +impatiently. + +"I know--_eau de vie_. _Garcon, eau de vie_," replied Grossbeck, +confidently. + +The waiter disappeared, and presently returned with a small decanter and +two minute wine-glasses. + +"I knew _eau de vie_ would bring it," added Grossbeck, as he filled the +little glasses. + +"That's pretty strong wine," said Lynch, when he had swallowed the +contents of the glass with a very wry face. + +"That's so." + +They looked about them till the clock indicated that it was time to +start for the hotel; but they decided to repeat the dose from the +decanter, and did so. + +"That's the strongest wine I ever drank," said Grossbeck. + +"How much is it?" asked Lynch. + +"Let's see--_combien?_" + +"_Un franc cinquante centimes_," replied the waiter, after he had +glanced at a gauge on the decanter which indicated the quantity of the +fiery fluid that had been consumed. + +Neither of them could understand the answer, and Grossbeck handed the +_garcon_ a franc. The man shook his head, and held out his hand for +more. Lynch gave him another franc, and he returned a half franc piece. + +"_Pour boire?_" said the man with a winning smile. + +"Poor bwar! Who's he?" demanded Lynch, in whose head the strong water +was producing its effect. "He means 'poor boy.' I say, Grossbeck, does +he think I'm--I'm sizzled? I feel so myself. Come, let's go." + +They rose, and moved in a serpentine path to the door. + +"_Pour boire?_" repeated the _garcon_, following them. + +"That's what's the matter. I'm a poor boy! I was a fool to drink more'n +one nip of your camphene," hickuped Lynch. "Here, old fellow, here's a +half of one of those francs. Don't say nothing more about it. I'm a poor +boy, but I shall get over it." + +The young tippler handed the half-franc piece to the waiter, who bowed, +scraped, flourished his napkin, and fled. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THREE CHEERS FOR THE KING OF BELGIUM. + + +"I say, Grossbeck, you and I are two bigger fools than Napoleon was when +he went to Russia," said Lynch, as they reached the street again. + +"That's so. 'There was a sound of revelry by night, and Belgium's +capital'--got considerably mixed," replied Grossbeck, whose head was not +quite so full as his companion's. + +"What shall we do, my boy?" stammered Lynch. "That wine was nothing +short of camphene. We shall be seen by the captain, and we shall both be +sent to keep company with poor McDougal. We've lost our mess on the +Josephine." + +"Stiffen up, Lynch. Don't give way to it. What sort of a sailor are you, +that can't bear two thimblefuls of wine?" + +"That wine was camphene, I tell you. It feels just like a whole bunch of +friction matches touched off at once in my stomach--that's so. I'm a +poor boy and no mistake, Grossbeck." + +Lynch suddenly stopped, and grasped his companion by the arm. + +"What's the matter," demanded Grossbeck. + +"It's no use for me to drink wine. The _eau de vie_ carries too many +guns for me. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to get out of +this scrape." + +"So am I; but come along, or we shall be late." + +"I'm going to join the temperance society, and never drink any more +wine--not another drop of _eau de vie_ for me." + +Lynch evidently felt that he had got into trouble for nothing; that the +satisfaction of drinking the firewater was very unsatisfactory in the +end. He had sense enough left to see that disgrace and degradation +awaited him, and he dreaded the prompt action of Captain Kendall, as +exhibited in the case of McDougal. While still suffering from the +effects of the tipple, he resolved to drink no more; but pledges made in +the heat of intoxication are not the most hopeful ones. + +The boosy youngsters worried along the street; but instead of turning to +the right, into the Rue de la Monnaie, they went straight ahead, and +were soon lost in a maze of narrow streets. They were conscious that +they had gone astray, and looked in vain for the square in front of the +Theatre Royal, which they had marked as an objective point. At last they +came across a solitary policeman, who paused on his walk to observe +their unsteady tramp. + +"Hotel Royal?" said Grossbeck, addressing the officer. + +"_Oui_," replied the man, pointing in the direction from which they had +come, and leading the way himself. + +In a few moments they reached the square they had missed, and Grossbeck +recognized the flaming signs of a large clothing store, on the corner +of the street in which the hotel was located. + +"Thank you. I am very much obliged to you," said he to the policeman, as +he pointed to the street. + +"_Oui_," replied the officer, solemnly, though the grateful +acknowledgments of the juvenile tippler were lost upon him, except so +far as he could interpret them by the motions of the speaker. + +"I feel meaner than Napoleon did after the battle of Waterloo," groaned +Lynch. + +"Stiffen up, now. Here's the hotel," added Grossbeck. + +"Well, what shall we do? I can't walk straight, and my head spins round +like a top," pleaded Lynch. + +"Dry up. Starch your back-bone. Here comes a lot of the fellows." + +"Who are they?" asked Lynch, trying to stiffen his back, and get the +bearings of his head. + +The party approaching proved to be half a dozen of "our fellows," who +stopped, and immediately discovered the condition of the two hopefuls. + +"I say, McKeon, can't you help us out?" said Grossbeck. + +"Ay, ay; certainly we can," replied "our fellows," in concert, as they +gathered closely around the inebriates, and, thus encircling them, +marched into the hotel. + +"Keep still, Lynch; don't say a word," whispered Grossbeck, as they +entered the hall, effectually concealed from the observation of the +officers by their companions. + +Mr. Fluxion stood at the door, and checked off the names of the party as +they entered, on the list he held, so as to be sure that all had come +in. It was not an easy thing for Lynch to ascend three flights of +stairs; but his companions supported him, and contrived to screen him +from the officers, till they reached the room where they were to sleep. +The door was closed and fastened, and Grossbeck gratefully acknowledged +the kindness of his friends in getting them out of the scrape. + +"What did you drink?" asked McKeon. + +"Wine," answered the tippler. + +"What kind of wine?" + +"I don't know--_eau de vie_." + +"_Eau de vie!_" exclaimed Blount, whose knowledge of French was above +the average of that of "our fellows." + +"That's what we called for," added Grossbeck. + +"And it was as strong as camphene," said Lynch, as he tumbled into bed. + +"It was brandy!" laughed Blount. + +The boys all laughed at the blunder, and Lynch repeated his pledge not +to drink any strong liquors, wine, or beer again. Grossbeck defended his +conduct by saying that he had heard a great deal about the light wines +of Europe, which people drank like water, and he did not suppose a +couple of thimblefuls of it would hurt them. + +"Call for _vin rouge_ next time," laughed Blount; "that means red wine, +or claret. It isn't much stronger than water." + +"No, sir!" ejaculated Lynch, springing up in bed, though with much +difficulty; "I shall not call for red wine, or anything of the sort. +From this time, henceforth and forevermore, I'm a temperance man. I +won't drink anything but water, and only a little of that. I feel +cheaper than Napoleon when he landed on the Island of St. Helena." + +The party turned in, and in a short time all of them, tired out by the +fatigues of the day, were fast asleep. Mr. Fluxion, before half past +eleven, had reported all the students in the house. At six o'clock in +the morning all hands were turned out, and several squads of them were +exploring the city on their own account. But it was not till after +breakfast that a systematic excursion was organized. A number of +omnibuses and one-horse barouches, or _voitures_, had been engaged by +Mr. Fluxion, and, seated in these, the ship's company proceeded to the +Grande Place, which is a large square, with the Hotel de Ville on one +side, and the old Palace, or Broodhuis, on the other side. + +The Hotel de Ville is one of the most splendid municipal palaces in the +Low Countries, where these structures are always magnificent specimens +of architecture. The spire, of open work, in Gothic style, is three +hundred and sixty-four feet high. The vane, which is a gilded copper +figure of St. Michael, is seventeen feet high. The building was erected +in the fifteenth century. + +By the attention of the governor of Antwerp, several officials were in +readiness to escort the visitors through the city; and at their beck the +doors of public buildings and churches, and the gates of palaces and +gardens, were thrown open. The party entered the Hotel de Ville, and in +one of its large rooms an opportunity was afforded for Mr. Mapps to +expatiate a little on the city of Brussels. + +"Young gentlemen, what is the French name of this city?" asked the +professor, as he took the stand occupied by the chief magistrate of the +city. + +"Bruxelles," responded many of the boys; for they had seen it often +enough upon signs and in newspapers to know it. + +"Unlike many of the cities of Belgium which we have before visited, +Brussels is a growing place. Its population has doubled in twenty years, +and now numbers about three hundred thousand. It is situated on both +sides of the little River Senne, one hundred and fifty miles from +Paris,--which it imitates and resembles in some degree,--and +twenty-seven miles from Antwerp. It is built partly on a hill; and the +city consists of two portions, called the upper and the lower town, the +latter being the older part, and containing all the objects of historic +interest. In the upper town are the Park, the king's palace, and the +public offices. The streets are irregular, narrow, and crooked; but the +city is surrounded by a broad highway, having different names in +different parts, as the _Boulevard de Waterloo_, the _Boulevard de +Flandre_, and the _Boulevard d'Anvers_. + +"The oldest part of the city is in the vicinity of this square--the +_Grande Place_, in which the Counts Egmont and Horn were beheaded by the +Duke of Alva. You saw their statues in the square. In this city, in an +old palace burned in 1733, Charles V. abdicated in favor of his son +Philip II. Here, also, was drawn up that celebrated document called the +Request. It was a petition to Margaret of Parma, in favor of the +Protestants of the Low Countries, of which you read in Motley. It was +presented to her in the Hotel de Cuylembourg, where a prison now stands. +She was somewhat alarmed at the appearance of the petitioners; and one +of her courtiers told her, in a whisper, not to be annoyed by the +'_gueux_,' or beggars. The leader of the confederates, hearing of this, +regarded the epithet bestowed upon those who were defending the +liberties of their country as an honorable appellation, and the +petitioners adopted it as their war-cry. In the evening, some of them +appeared in front of the palace with beggars' wallets on their backs, +and porringers in their hands, and drank as a toast, 'Success to the +_Gueux_!' This trivial incident proved to be one of the leading events +of the revolution which deprived Spain of the Low Countries; for it +kindled the enthusiasm of the people, and urged them on in the +redemption of their country. In Motley you will find a full history of +the 'Beggars.' Alva was so incensed at the turn of this affair, that he +levelled to the ground the building in which the confederates met. + +"Brussels has long been celebrated for its manufactures of lace and +carpets; but while it still retains its prestige in the former, it has +been outdone in the latter. The finest and most valuable lace is made +here and in some of the neighboring cities, and is literally worth its +weight in gold. The most expensive kind costs two hundred francs (or +forty dollars) a yard." + +Mr. Mapps finished his remarks for the present, and the ships' company +returned to the carriages, and were driven to the Place des Martyrs, +where there is a large monument erected to the memory of three hundred +Belgians, who fell in the Revolution of 1830, which made Belgium an +independent kingdom. From this point they passed into the broad +Boulevards to the Botanical Gardens, which, however, they did not enter, +but continued up the hill to the Park, a large enclosure, beautifully +laid out, and ornamented with statues. In one corner of it is the +Theatre du Parc, while in the square which surrounds it are located the +king's palace, the palace of the Prince of Orange, the Chamber of +Representatives, and other public buildings. The students visited the +king's palace;--but his majesty usually resides at Laeken, and the +establishment represents royalty on a small scale--and the Chamber of +Representatives, in which the two branches of the Belgian legislature +convene. In the latter, a woman showed them the Chambers, pointing out +some fine pictures, including portraits of the king and queen, and the +Battle of Waterloo, explaining everything in French. + +"Where shall I find the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Stoute?" asked +Professor Hamblin, nervous and excited at the near prospect of standing +face to face before the great man of Belgium, and of being complimented +upon his great educational works. + +"I don't know; but his office must be somewhere in this vicinity," +replied the fat professor, laughing at the excitement of his associate. + +One of the officials in charge of the party volunteered to conduct them +to the apartment of the distinguished revolutionist. + +"You must come with me, Mr. Stoute," said the professor of Greek. "If it +turns out that Mr. Rogier don't speak English, I should be in an +unfortunate dilemma." + +"I will go with you with pleasure," laughed Mr. Stoute, who was rather +desirous of witnessing the interview. + +They were conducted to the apartments of the distinguished minister, and +formally and ceremoniously ushered into his presence. He bowed, and +regarded his visitors with cool indifference. + +"Whom have I the honor to address?" asked the minister, in good English, +when Mr. Hamblin had made his best bow. + +"I am Professor Hamblin, from the United States, at your service," +replied the learned gentleman, who seemed to believe that this +announcement would bring the Belgian statesman to his feet, if not to +his arms--the professor's. + +"Ah, indeed!" replied the minister, blankly. + +"I had the pleasure of receiving a note from you at Antwerp," added the +American celebrity, annoyed at the coolness of the revolutionist. + +"A note from me!" exclaimed the Belgian celebrity, curtly. "I never saw +you or heard of you before in my life." + +Mr. Hamblin produced the formidable envelope, and drew therefrom the +epistle of sweet savor, which had been such a comfort to him in his +troubles. He presented it to the minister, satisfied that this would +recall the matter to his recollection. + +"This note is not from me. I did not write it," said the Belgian, when +he had glanced hastily at the page. + +"Really, I beg your excellency's pardon; but it is signed with your +name." + +"It is a forgery--what you Americans call a practical joke, probably. I +haven't been in Antwerp for months." + +There was an apparent convulsion in the fat frame of Mr. Stoute, who was +evidently struggling to suppress his mirth, or keep it within decent +limits. + +"I am very sorry, sir," stammered Mr. Hamblin. + +"The letter is an imposition, sir. I never heard of you before in my +life," added the great Belgian, tossing the note back to the professor, +with an impatience which indicated that he never wished to see him +again. + +That vision had exploded--no invitation to dinner, none to visit the +king, none to accept the position of Librarian of the Greek portion of +the Royal Library, whose only duty was to consist in drawing his salary. +Mr. Hamblin bowed, and so far conformed to his original programme as to +back out of the office. Doubtless he came to the conclusion, in his +disgust, that Belgium was a "one-horse" kingdom, and that royalty was a +humbug. + +The vision exploded; so did the mirth of Mr. Stoute, as soon as the door +of the department of foreign affairs had closed behind him. He laughed +till every ounce of his adipose frame quivered. + +"What are you laughing at, Mr. Stoute?" demanded the disappointed suitor +for Belgian honors. + +"You will excuse me, sir; but really I can't help it," choked the fat +professor. + +"I really don't see anything to laugh at," added Mr. Hamblin, +indignantly. + +"I was intensely amused at the shuffling indifference of Monsieur +Rogier. He evidently regards himself as a very great man, not to be +disturbed by insignificant Greek scholars." + +"What do you mean by _insignificant_, Mr. Stoute?" asked the lean +professor, solemnly. + +"Why, the minister had never even heard of you, of your Greek Grammar, +Greek Reader, and Anabasis. Such is fame!" chuckled the good-natured +instructor. + +"'What we Americans call a practical joke,' were the words of the +minister. Do you regard this as a joke, Mr. Stoute?" said the learned +gentleman, very seriously. + +"I suppose it is a joke to all, except the victim." + +"Do you know anything about the author of this senseless piece of +imposition?" + +"Certainly not. I had not the least idea that the ponderous document was +not genuine till his excellency pronounced it a forgery." + +"Who could have done this?" + +"Some of the students, probably." + +"Probably," replied the professor, taking the note from his pocket +again, and carefully scanning the handwriting. "I have no doubt it was +done by one of the students. It is another of their infamous tricks--the +fourth that has been put upon me. Do the other instructors suffer in +this manner?" + +"I have not heard of any other victims, and I am inclined to think you +are the only one." + +"I do not see why I should be selected as the recipient of these silly +and ridiculous, not to say wicked, tricks. A rope falls on _my_ head, +_I_ am pitched into the river, drenched with dirty water, and now sent +on a fool's errand to the king's chief minister! I don't understand why +I am the only sufferer." + +Professor Stoute did understand why Mr. Hamblin had been so frequently +sacrificed, but he had a habit of minding his own business, and did not +venture to give an opinion on the subject, which probably would not have +been well received. What the fat professor knew all the boys in the +Josephine, and most of those in the Young America, knew--that the cold, +stiff, haughty, tyrannical, overbearing manner of the lean professor had +made him exceedingly unpopular; that the students disliked him even to +the degree of hating him; that if he had ever had any influence with +them, he had lost it by his ridiculous sternness and stupid precision. +Mr. Hamblin did not know this, but everybody else did. + +"Don't you know this writing, Mr. Stoute?" demanded the irate man of +Greek roots, after an attentive study of the note. + +"I do not." + +"I do!" added Mr. Hamblin, decidedly. + +"You are fortunate then. If we can unearth the culprit, he will be +severely punished." + +"I am not so clear on that point. This note was written by Captain +Kendall." + +"Impossible!" exclaimed Mr. Stoute, seizing the note, and examining more +attentively than he had done before the writing it contained. + +It did look like Paul's writing. It was his style, and there were not +more than two students in the Josephine who could have composed the +French in the document. Those two were Paul and Duncan. But Mr. Stoute +was unwilling to believe that the captain would resort to such a +proceeding. + +"I shall charge him with it," added Mr. Hamblin. + +"I advise you not to do it without more evidence than you have yet +obtained," said Mr. Stoute, seriously. + +"After we return to the vessel I shall probably be able to obtain some +proof," continued Mr. Hamblin, as he put the letter in his pocket. + +When they went to look for the rest of the party, they found them +forming a line in the square. Present with Mr. Lowington was his +excellency, the governor of Antwerp, who had just invited the company to +visit the palace gardens. In even lines, with the officers in their +proper places, the procession marched across the park and through the +gates, at which a file of Belgian soldiers presented arms to them. In +the garden they formed a line on one of the walks. Near the palace, +walking to and fro, was an old gentleman, but still erect and manly, +with a glittering decoration on his breast. Several other persons, most +of them dressed in uniform, or decked with orders, were standing near +the old gentleman. + +Presently the governor of Antwerp approached the ship's company, +attended by an officer to whom Mr. Lowington was introduced. The three +then walked towards the old gentleman, to whom the principal was +presented. The venerable personage bowed gracefully, but did not offer +to shake hands, or indulge in any republican familiarities. + +"That's the King of Belgium," said Dr. Winstock to Paul, as the +principal and the venerable person approached the line, followed by the +officials. + +"The king!" exclaimed Paul, taken all aback by the announcement; and +this was the first time he had ever looked upon a live monarch. "He +seems just like any other man; what shall we do?" + +"Give him three Yankee cheers," replied the doctor. + +Captain Kendall spoke to the flag-officer and to Captain Haven. + +"Three cheers for his majesty the King of Belgium!" called Flag-officer +Gordon. + +They were given with a will, but the "tiger" was omitted in deference to +royalty. King Leopold gracefully and graciously acknowledged the salute +by touching his hat, and then walked up and down the line, inspecting +the ship's company. Mr. Lowington, hat in hand, walked just behind him. +His majesty then took position in front of the line, and the students +came to the conclusion that he was going to make a speech; but he did +not: he spoke to Mr. Lowington again, who went to the line and called +out the flag-officer and the two captains. + +"You are to be presented to the king; don't speak unless you are asked a +question, and don't turn your back to him," said Mr. Lowington in a low +tone. + +Paul was startled at the idea of being presented to King Leopold, but he +followed his companions, and in due time was with them handed over to +the gentleman who had presented the principal, and who proved to be the +grand chamberlain. + +"Captain Kendall, commander of the Josephine," said the gentleman, when +Paul's turn came. + +Paul bowed, blushing up to the eyes, when he became conscious that the +royal gaze was fixed upon him; but he had self-possession enough not to +overdo the matter, and his salute was as dignified and graceful as that +of majesty itself. The king smiled when he saw the fine form and +handsome face of the junior captain. + +"Do you command a ship?" asked his majesty, surveying the young officer +from head to foot, with a pleasant smile on his face. + +"I command the Josephine, your majesty; she is not a ship, but a topsail +schooner of one hundred and sixty tons," replied Paul, satisfied that +kings speak just like other men. + +"You are very young to command a vessel of that size," added the king. + +Paul bowed, but made no reply, as no question was asked. + +"Can you manage her in a gale?" asked his majesty. + +"I think I can, your majesty; at least I have done so within a week on +the coast of your majesty's dominions." + +The king actually laughed at this confident reply. As he bowed slightly, +Paul, for the first time in his life, backed out, and continued to back +till he reached his station at the head of the Josephines. The king then +bowed to the whole line, and retired. As he did so, Flag-officer Gordon +called for three more cheers. The king turned and bowed again. This +time the snapper, in the form of the tiger, was applied, which so +astonished the royal personage that he turned once more, laughed, and +bowed. + +Professor Hamblin looked very nervous and discontented. "That boy" had +been presented to the king, and he, who had compiled a Greek Grammar, a +Greek Reader, and edited the Anabasis, had been "left out in the cold." +If it was possible for a great mind like that of the _savant_ to harbor +such a vicious feeling as envy, he certainly envied Paul Kendall his +brief interview with the King of the Belgians. + +The party retired from the garden, and returned to the carriages. It +appeared in explanation of this unexpected honor, that the governor of +Antwerp had waited on the king that day, and informed him casually of +the presence of the students of the academy squadron in the capital, and +he had expressed a desire to see them in a very informal manner. Mr. +Lowington was no "flunky," and never sought admission to the presence of +royalty, for himself or his pupils. + +As the procession of omnibuses and fiacres moved down to the lower town, +they were thrown into great excitement by seeing many of the streets and +houses dressed with flags and other devices. On inquiring at the hotel, +Mr. Molenschot informed Paul that it was a saint's day, and that a +religious procession would march through some of the principal streets. + +"Go down into the Boulevard d'Anvers, and you will have a good chance to +see the show," added the landlord. + +"What is it?" + +"O, it is really very fine and very grand; but go at once, or you will +be too late." + +The students were permitted to go to the street indicated, and they had +hardly secured a good place before they heard martial music, playing a +solemn dirge. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE VICE-PRINCIPAL. + + +[Illustration: A RELIGIOUS PROCESSION IN BRUSSELS.--Page 230.] + +A crowd of people preceded the procession, as it came out of the Rue de +Laeken into the Boulevard d'Anvers. At the head of it marched the +military band, and the _cortege_ was flanked by soldiers of the Belgian +army, indicating that the government felt an interest in the display. +The students were on the tiptoe of excitement at the novel spectacle; +and Paul asked his friend, the doctor, a great many questions which he +could not answer. The composition and order of the procession were very +nearly as follows:-- + + A man bearing a cross on a pole. + Banner. + Little girls dressed in white, with flowers in their hands. + Little boys. + Banner. + Image of the Virgin borne by four men. + A lamb, very white and clean, led by a string, and + decorated with red ribbons, with boys on each + side, carrying various emblems. + Young ladies in white. + Another image of the Virgin. + About twenty priests, in white muslin robes, and in + satin robes trimmed with gold. + Two boys with censers. + Silken canopy, borne by four men, under which walked + two ecclesiastics, in full costume one + bearing the Host. + +The canopy was surrounded by men carrying lanterns with silver +framework, and of peculiar construction. The censers, as they were swung +backward and forward by the bearers, emitted a dense smoke, which rose +far above the procession, and marked its progress. + +As the _cortege_ approached the spot where the boys stood, the band +ceased playing, and the priests began to chant the mass to the +accompaniment of a single base horn. The procession moved very slowly, +and the rich voices of the priests, mingling with the heavy notes of the +horn, produced an effect solemn and impressive even on the minds of +those whose religious education did not prepare them to appreciate such +a display. + +As the host approached, hundreds of the crowd in the street knelt +reverently upon the pavement, and bowed their heads before the sacred +emblems. Women and children strewed the path of the procession with +flowers, green branches, or, in the absence of these, with handfuls of +colored paper cut into minute pieces. Indeed, the street, in places, was +literally covered with these votive offerings of the people, who had no +other means of testifying their reverence for the ceremonial. + +The line filed into the Rue Longue Neuve, which was extensively +decorated with flags, streamers, and other national and religious +emblems. In many windows burned a line of candles, in some cases before +a crucifix. In this street the procession halted, and several of the +priests moved up an arch forming the entrance to one of the better +residences. In this recess an altar had been erected, and was covered +with all the emblems of the Catholic faith. The priests knelt before it, +and chanted a portion of the service, and then returned to the +procession, which continued its march up the street; the flowers and +bits of colored paper filling the air before it, and the people still +reverently bowing down to the host. The solemn and impressive chanting +of the priests kindled the pious enthusiasm of the multitude, and as the +line passed the _cafes_ and _estaminets_, or smoking houses, the pipe, +the drink, and the gay jest were abandoned, to pay homage to the faith +of the nation. + +The faces of the little children and the white-robed maidens in the +procession presented an aspect of religious enthusiasm, solemn but not +sad, which young people seldom wear. Everybody seemed to be carried away +by the excitement of the scene; all hats were removed, and the utmost +respect was paid to the representatives and to the emblems of the church +in the line. + +As Paul and his friend followed the spectacle up the street, they saw a +Beguine nun kneeling at the altar in the arch, wringing her hands in an +ecstasy of devotion, while several women were regarding her with an +admiring reverence, which seemed to indicate that they envied her the +enjoyment of the heavenly raptures which thrilled her. + +"It is very solemn--isn't it?" said Paul, when they had passed out of +hearing of the procession. + +"It is really moving, even while you have no sympathy with the church +which makes these displays." + +"I think I was never more moved in my life than I was by the chanting of +those priests. But what is the occasion of all this?" + +"I don't know; except that this is some saint's day--St. James, I +believe; but there is something of this kind in Brussels nearly every +Sunday; and I have seen several minor displays in the streets in the +evening." + +"I am surprised to see how much respect the people pay to their +religion. If they have these displays often, I should think they would +become stale." + +"It appears they do not. I have a great deal more consideration and +respect for these exhibitions in Belgium than in some other parts of +Europe, for the reason that all religions enjoy the utmost toleration +here. The people are almost exclusively Catholic, and yet they permit +Protestants and Jews entire freedom in the exercise of their religion, +and pay them their fair share of the government money." + +At two o'clock dinner was ready at the Hotel Royal; and it need not be +added that the boys also were ready. Half an hour later the whole party +had been loaded into stage-coaches, which, in an hour and a half, set +them down on the battle-field of Waterloo. For two hours they wandered +about the field, or rather up and down the two principal roads which +pass through it. On the highest ground of the field, where there is a +mound two hundred feet high, surmounted by the Belgic Lion, Mr. Mapps +gave a brief account of the great battle, pointing out the spots of the +greatest interest, including the road by which Blucher arrived. The +subject is too vast for these pages; but it will be alluded to in the +summary of French history in a subsequent volume. + +There are several monuments, and columns, and obelisks on the +battle-field, which mark the fall of distinguished men or their +burial-places. Beneath the great mound are buried thousands of all the +armies represented in this historical conflict, which settled, for a +time, the fate of Europe. The field is the harvest-ground of a multitude +of beggars, relic-hunters, and guides, who bore visitors almost to death +with old buttons, musty rags, flattened bullets, bones, and other +articles, which they produce as keepsakes of the battle. The stock of +these things probably failed long ago, and the traveller may well be +suspicious of the genuineness of anything which may be offered to him by +these leeches. + +At six the stages conveyed the tourists to the Groenendael Station, on +the railway to Namur, where they arrived after a ride of an hour, +express time. This place is the "Belgian Sheffield," being largely +engaged in the manufacturing of arms, cutlery, and hardware. Its +vicinity contains rich mines of iron, coal, and marble. Many battles and +sieges have occurred in this place; and Don John of Austria, sent by +Philip II. to subdue the country, was buried here. The city contains a +population of twenty-six thousand, and is beautifully located at the +junction of the Meuse and Sambre Rivers. The train stopped here but an +hour; and the students roamed through some of the principal streets, +which, however, were too much like those of places they had visited +before to excite any especial interest. + +Two hours later, they arrived at Liege, which was to be the eastern +limit of the excursion. As before, Mr. Fluxion had preceded them, and +engaged accommodations at the hotels. The students were very tired, and +not disposed to explore the city of the bishops that night. Before +breakfast on the following morning, Mr. Mapps gave them the history and +other interesting particulars relating to the city, when they had +assembled in the old citadel of St. Walburg, which overlooks the town. + +"Liege, whose Flemish name is _Luik_, contains one hundred and nine +thousand inhabitants, who are principally concerned in the various +manufactures of iron, and especially in the making of cannon and arms," +said the professor. "I observed to you before, that this part of the +country bears some resemblance to New England. As you have an +opportunity to observe for yourselves, the scenery is very fine, but +rather of the pleasant and quiet description. + +"The province of Liege, of which this city is the capital, was formerly +governed by a line of bishops; and those of you who have read Scott's +Quentin Durward will remember William de la Marck, the Wild Boar of +Ardennes, whose adventures are located in this vicinity. In the tenth +century, the bishops of Liege were made sovereigns by the German +emperor, and received the name of Prince-Bishops. But the burghers of +Liege, like those of Ghent, had a will and a way of their own, and +frequently rebelled against the bishops, in support of their rights; and +Charles the Bold took the rulers under his protection. Still they +persisted in revolting, and Charles destroyed the city, as a punishment, +in 1468. Fifteen years later, William de la Marck murdered the +prince-bishop, in order to obtain the mitre-crown for his son. This was +the beginning of the insurrection, in which, as I have related to you +before, Charles the Bold compelled the king of France to march against +the rebels. + +"The place was subsequently captured by the French; the bishops were +expelled at the commencement of the French Revolution, but were restored +by the Austrians two years later. In 1794 it was annexed to France; but +after the battle of Waterloo it was incorporated into the new kingdom of +the Netherlands. In 1830 the old spirit of the burghers of Liege +revived, and they were among the foremost promoters of the Belgian +Revolution." + +The students descended from the heights, whose fortresses command the +city, took an outside view of the Hotel de Ville, several churches, and +other public buildings, and breakfasted at nine. Though they had by no +means exhausted the city, the time would not permit a further +examination. The train was ready for them; and their next stop was at +Louvain, which, like Ghent and Bruges, had dwindled down from a +population of two hundred thousand to thirty-three thousand. It contains +a magnificent town hall, decorated in the most elaborate style. + +From Louvain the party hurried on to Mechlin, or Malines, a picturesque +old city, still famous for its fine lace. It is about the size of +Louvain, and, like that, presents a deserted appearance, being only the +shadow of its former greatness. Its principal object of interest to the +tourist is the Cathedral of St. Romuald, a structure of the fifteenth +century, and, like the great churches at Cologne and Antwerp, still +unfinished. It was built with money obtained by the sale of the pope's +indulgences, which, happily, "gave out" at last. Its spire, which was to +have been six hundred and forty feet high, remains incomplete, at little +more than half this height, which, however, is only eighteen feet less +than the cross on St. Paul's, in London. The church is an immense +structure, said to cover nearly two acres of ground. It is the cathedral +of the Belgian archbishop, or primate. + +"There, Paul, we have finished Belgium," said Dr. Winstock, as the train +started for Antwerp. + +"I am glad of it; for I am tired of sight-seeing. It seems to me now +that I have no desire to see another Cathedral, Hotel de Ville, or +Grande Place," replied Paul, languidly, as he settled himself back in +his seat. + +"A new country will wake you up," laughed the doctor. "I suppose we +shall be in Rotterdam to-morrow." + +"I hope so, though I don't know but I should like blue water better than +being shut up in these rivers and canals." + +"You will get blue water enough before the season is ended." + +In half an hour from Malines, the train reached Antwerp. Mr. Fluxion had +arrived before; and there were two tugs at the Quai Vandyck, which had +been employed to tow the vessels down the river. They conveyed the +students on board, and the orders for sailing were given immediately. + +Mr. Hamblin, who had not yet recovered from his disappointment, hastened +to the cabin. He commenced a diligent search for papers written by the +captain, in order to compare their penmanship with that of the forged +note. As Mr. Stoute had been compelled to acknowledge, there was a +general resemblance between the handwriting of Paul and that of the +unknown scribbler of the note. Though a minute comparison failed to +establish any closer connection between them, the professor wanted to +make out his point; and it was not difficult for him to find a +particular similarity. + +Paul was busy on deck, getting the Josephine under weigh, and Mr. +Hamblin had the cabin to himself for his investigation. The stamp on the +paper of the fictitious note had already excited his attention, and he +took the liberty to enter Paul's state-room, in search of some like it. +He opened the upper drawer of the bureau, which formed a writing-table +when the front was dropped. The first object that attracted his +attention was a package of paper of the size, and apparently of the +quality, he sought. He picked up a quire of it, and a smile of +vindictive satisfaction played upon his wrinkled face, as he discovered +upon it the identical stamp of the forged note. + +His case was made out, and great was his joy. Paul would certainly be +disgraced and removed for such an outrage as a practical joke upon one +of the most dignified instructors in the squadron. We must do Mr. +Hamblin the justice to say, that he did not wish to prove any more than +he believed to be true; but it is very easy for a prejudiced person to +believe a great deal against one who has offended him. A student who was +not fond of Greek could not be a very noble, or even a very upright one; +and he was confident that, when Paul's true character became known, when +he was no longer stimulated to great deeds by his high office, he would +prove to be a very different person from what he now appeared to be. + +Mr. Hamblin confiscated a half quire of the paper, and secured several +French exercises written by Captain Kendall, to be used as evidence +against him. He then searched the vessel for similar paper in the +possession of other students, but found none. He went on deck, to +ascertain what was to be done; for Mr. Lowington had assured him he +would not be any longer obliged to sail in the same vessel with the +obnoxious student. A boat from the ship was alongside, and Mr. Fluxion +had just stepped on board. The boatswain was hoisting his baggage out of +the boat, which indicated that he was to remain. + +Paul was reading an order just handed to him by Mr. Fluxion, which +appeared to settle the difficulty between him and the learned professor. +The order was in these words:-- + + Mr. James E. Fluxion is hereby appointed vice-principal of the + academy squadron, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly. + + Mr. Fluxion is also hereby instructed temporarily to discharge the + duties of Professor of Greek, Latin, and Mathematics, on board of + the Josephine. + + R. LOWINGTON, _Principal_. + +The new vice-principal handed a note to Mr. Hamblin as he came upon +deck, in which he was directed to repair, with his baggage, on board of +the ship. The learned gentleman was not quite satisfied with this +arrangement. It looked a little ominous. + +"Have you no order for Captain Kendall, Mr. Fluxion?" he asked, as the +vice-principal waited for him to read his letter. + +"I have given him an order from the principal." + +"Is he not directed to go on board of the ship?" + +"He is not." + +"I have preferred charges against him, and I was led to believe that he +would be suspended," added Mr. Hamblin, who was not quite sure that he +was not to be suspended himself. + +"No order to that effect was sent by me," replied Mr. Fluxion. "You will +excuse me, but the vessel is about to get under weigh." + +"I am not satisfied with these proceedings. I complained to Mr. +Lowington that it was impossible for me to instruct my classes while +they were under the influence of Captain Kendall. No notice appears to +have been taken of my charges." + +"I think some notice has been taken of them. You are directed to report +to the principal, with your baggage, on board of the ship." + +"Am I to be punished instead of that obstinate and impudent pupil?" +demanded the professor. + +"I have nothing to say about it, Mr. Hamblin," added Mr. Fluxion, +sharply. "If you are not going to the ship, we will weigh anchor and +proceed on our voyage." + +The professor went down into his state-room, and hastily packed his +trunk, which was brought up and put in the boat by one of the stewards. +The students watched these movements with the deepest interest, and they +could hardly conceal their satisfaction when it was clear that the +obnoxious instructor was going to leave the Josephine, "bag and +baggage." There was a great deal of punching each other in the ribs, a +great deal of half-suppressed chuckling, and a very decided inclination +to give three cheers. A few of the more prudent ones checked any noisy +demonstration; but the moment that Mr. Hamblin went over the side was a +very joyous one. + +The Josephine tripped her anchor, and, hugged by the steam-tug, stood +down the river on her way to Rotterdam. Mr. Fluxion went below, and +installed himself in the state-room vacated by Professor Hamblin. Mr. +Stoute gave the vice-principal a hearty welcome; and it was soon evident +that they were men who could cordially agree. Paul was delighted with +the change; for if there was any one in the squadron, besides the +principal and the doctor, for whom he had a high regard and a thorough +respect, it was Mr. Fluxion. He was a sailor from the sole of his foot +to the crown of his head. He had visited all the maritime ports of +Europe, spoke half a dozen modern languages with facility, and was +popular with the boys. He was a sharp disciplinarian, and the students +found it difficult to outwit him. He knew all the tricks of sailors, +and especially of man-of-war's men. He was the right hand man of Mr. +Lowington, and the new arrangement, whereby the professor had been +created vice-principal, and sent on board the consort, was to prevent +the recurrence of such an incident as that which had imperilled her in +the German Ocean during the squall. + +Though Paul felt that his own powers were in some degree abridged by the +presence of the new officer, whose authority, unlike that of the +instructors before, extended to the vessel, and was equal to that of Mr. +Lowington, he was now satisfied. A competent person was present, with +whom he could share the responsibility of the navigation of the vessel +in case of an emergency. He was on the best of terms with Mr. Fluxion, +and he was happier than he had been before since the Josephine sailed +from Hull. Leaving him to the enjoyment of the new order of things, we +will follow Mr. Hamblin on board of the ship. + +The barge ran up alongside, and the professor's trunk was hoisted on +board. As soon as the students saw the barge and the baggage, which +indicated that the obnoxious old gentleman had been transferred to the +Young America, a murmur of disapprobation went through the ship. + +"I say, Wilton, we are to have that old humbug in the ship!" exclaimed +Perth, the chief of the Red Cross Knights, who, however, had changed +their name to the Knights of the Golden Fleece. + +"That's so," replied Wilton, who had contrived to keep out of the brig +nearly a week. "He has his plunder with him." + +"We must do as the Josephines did," added Perth, in a whisper. + +"What's that?" + +"Get rid of him. This shall be the first job of the Knights of the +Golden Fleece. McDougal, who is a capital fellow, told me all about how +the fellows in the Josephine managed it." + +"I heard they had been hazing him." + +"That they did," laughed Perth. "There is fun in the thing. If the old +fossil was a decent fellow, of course we wouldn't disturb him. Just as +soon as he made a row on board, all the fellows took the captain's part. +Morgan dropped him into the river, by drawing out the nail that held the +boat-hook in the wood; Blount dropped a coil of signal halyards on his +head; and McDougal ducked him with the hose-pipe; and the old fellow got +a bogus letter from Antwerp, inviting him to visit some of those kings, +or something of that sort." + +"Who sent the letter?" asked Wilton, greatly interested, as he always +was, in anything of this kind. + +"Nobody knows; at least McDougal says so. When we were at Brussels, the +old Greek went to see some big fellow there,--the king or some +minister,--and the big bug wouldn't look at him. One of our fellows +heard Stoute telling the doctor about it; and Fatty was so tickled that +he shook just like a freshly-baked cup-custard. There goes the +boatswain's whistle. We are off now," added Perth, as he sprang to his +place at the capstan. + +The anchor had before been hove short, and in a few moments the Young +America, also in the warm embrace of a powerful steam-tug, moved down +the river. + +"All hands in the rigging!" shouted the first lieutenant, as the ship +approached the Victoria and Albert. + +The students ran up the shrouds like monkeys, and stationed themselves +in the rigging. + +"Three cheers for the Queen of England," called Goodwin; and they were +given with becoming zeal. + +A lady dressed in black, who was walking the promenade deck, near the +dining saloon, bowed and waved her handkerchief. That lady was Queen +Victoria. The Josephine at this moment came up on the other side, and +delivered her round of cheers. Mr. Fluxion carried the intelligence on +board that the queen had returned, and that the yacht would sail that +evening; and all hands were on the lookout for her majesty. She bowed +and waved her handkerchief to the Josephines, as she had to the students +in the ship. + +She was not very distinctly seen by the curious students in either +vessel, and appeared like a stout "dumpy" little woman, in no respect +different from any other lady. In spite of this fact, it was voted to be +a big thing to have seen the Queen of England; and the king of the +little realm of Belgium sank into insignificance, compared with her. + +"She don't look like a queen," said Captain Haven to Mr. Mapps, who +stood next to him. + +"Did you expect to see her with her crown and coronation robes on, and +with the sceptre in her hand?" laughed the professor. + +"Not exactly; but I was not prepared to see a lady so much like any +well-dressed woman we meet in the street." + +"Let me see," said Mr. Mapps, glancing at the shore, intent upon +renewing his favorite topic, "Fort St. Laurent must have been here; and +this is where Van Speyk went down, or rather went up." + +"Who was Van Speyk?" + +"He was the commander of a Dutch gunboat, in the revolution of 1830. His +vessel wouldn't come about--what do you call it?" + +"Missed stays, sir," replied Captain Haven. + +"Missed stays, and got aground right under the guns of the fort. He was +ordered to surrender, but refused to do so, though there was not the +least chance for him to make a successful resistance. He was determined +that the rebels should not have his vessel, and, rushing down into the +powder-magazine, he said his prayers, and coolly laid his lighted cigar +on an open barrel of powder. An explosion followed which shook the whole +city. Twenty-eight, out of thirty-one on board, including the heroic +captain, were killed--blown up into the air. A monument to his memory +was erected by the side of that of De Ruiter, and the government pledged +itself that a vessel in the Dutch navy should always bear the name of +Van Speyk." + +"He was a good fellow," replied the captain, warmly. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE PROFESSOR'S CHARGE. + + +"I say, Perth, I've been a good boy for more than a week, and I begin to +be ashamed of myself for my want of activity," said Wilton, who had +seated himself on the bowsprit-cap, while his companion was reclining on +the flying jib. "I shall spoil if there is not something going on soon." + +"We'll go on that cruise in the Josephine just as soon as we can bring +things round right," added Perth. + +"It's no use to think of that while we are moored fifty or a hundred +miles from the sea," continued Wilton. + +"Of course not. Rotterdam is away up the river, with a bar at its mouth +having only seven feet of water on it at low tide. You must go over +that, or by the canal, which runs through an island. Do you know where +we go next?" + +"I heard some of the fellows say we were going to the southward soon." + +"If that's so I should suppose we shall go into Dieppe or Havre," said +Perth. + +"I heard Havre mentioned. How will that suit?" + +"First rate!" exclaimed the embryo captain of the proposed prize, for +the Knights depended upon Perth for the navigation of the Josephine, +when their long-cherished plan should be put in execution. + +"I suppose we shall not stay in Holland more than a week." + +"No, I hope not. Lowington is afraid we shall all get sick if we stay +here long." + +"Havre is just the place for us. It has an open harbor, and we can go to +sea from there without any difficulty. Besides, there's another thing +that will favor us." + +"What's that?" asked Wilton. + +"All the fellows will go to Paris when the ship is there, and we can +have a first-rate chance to operate while they are gone." + +"I don't know about that. Our fellows will all want to go to Paris with +the rest. I want to go there myself," suggested Wilton. + +"We may as well give it up, then," added Perth. + +"We must see Paris, anyhow." + +"I'll tell you what we can do. We can run round through the Straits of +Gibraltar, and up the Mediterranean to Marseilles. From there we can all +go to Paris.". + +"That will be a long cruise," said Wilton. + +"No matter for that. The longer the better." + +"How far is it?" + +"Not less than two thousand miles. We could go in ten or fifteen days," +added Perth, warming up as he anticipated the pleasure of the runaway +cruise. "After we get into the Mediterranean, we can run along the coast +of Spain, go into port as often as we like, and have a first-rate time +generally." + +"But don't you suppose Lowington will follow us?" + +"No matter if he does. We can beat the Young America on a wind from +Monday morning till Saturday night. If we find the ship is overhauling +us, all we have to do is to hug the wind, and we can give her the slip." + +"We haven't money enough to pay the expenses of such a trip," said +Wilton. + +"There's plenty of money in the Josephine. But we don't need much. The +vessel has a year's provisions in her hold." + +"Salt junk and hard tack," suggested Wilton, who was not partial to this +diet. + +"That will do very well while we are at sea; and when we get to Spain we +can buy things cheap. Besides, our fellows are going to raise some money +on their own account," said Perth, in a whisper. + +"How's that?" asked the other, curiously. + +"Every one of the Knights wrote home to have their folks send them some +money at Paris,--or every one but you and Munroe; and the game was +played out with you and him, for you had some sent to you in London." + +"Yes; and Lowington got it," replied Wilton in disgust. + +"We fixed it all right. We shall find loose change enough on board of +the Josephine to keep us happy till we get to Paris, by the way of +Marseilles, and then we shall be rotten with stamps." + +"But don't you expect to be caught some time or other?" inquired Wilton, +whose experience on a former occasion seemed to point in this +direction. + +"No matter if we are. We must be ready for that; but we will be jolly +while we have things our own way." + +"It's no use to talk about it yet," added Wilton, with a yawn, for the +wild scheme seemed so far off to him that he could not enter into the +spirit of it yet. + +"It won't be more than a week or ten days before we shall be ready to +make a strike. You know we must all cut up so as to be left on board." + +"Yes, and some one will be left on board with us, just as it happened at +Cowes." + +"It won't be Fluxion, anyhow; for he has been transferred to the +Josephine, and we can come it over any other of the professors. However, +we must feel our way, and the first thing we have to do is to get left +on board." + +"Humph! That's easy enough," said Wilton, who had never found any +difficulty in being left behind, or in being condemned to the brig. + +"We must make a sure thing of it next time; but it won't do to run away +with a boat again. Hush up! There comes that old stick-in-the-mud from +the Josephine," added Perth, lowering his voice to a whisper. + +The gentleman thus discourteously alluded to was Mr. Hamblin,who had +climbed upon the topgallant forecastle for the purpose of obtaining a +view of the region through which the vessel was passing. As the two boys +were far out on the bowsprit, over the water, he did not venture to +approach any nearer to them; yet the excessive prudence which the +Knights practised required them to keep silence whenever there was a +possibility that a word might be overheard by the uninitiated. + +"I wish he would come up here," whispered Wilton, from the corner of his +mouth. + +"Why?" + +"I would contrive some way to spill him into the drink," chuckled the +ever-willing conspirator. + +Mr. Hamblin was then cool and self-possessed, and he did not venture out +upon the treacherous spar, and the entangling rigging, so that the +wretch on the cap had no opportunity to give him a second bath in the +dirty Scheldt. The learned gentleman was looking for the site of the +Duke of Parma's Bridge, but he couldn't find it, and presently retired. +He was not much interested in the Spanish operations in Flanders, though +he felt it his duty to see a spot so noted in history--it was so +effective, before a class of students, to be able to say he had seen the +place alluded to in the text-book. He was, in fact, more concerned to +know what Mr. Lowington's decision was, and he was waiting impatiently +for an interview with him. + +"The old hunks is too mean for the Josephines, and he has been quartered +upon us!" exclaimed Wilton, as the professor descended to the main deck. +"The fellows in the consort say he is as grouty as a mud turtle, and as +crabbed as an owl at noonday. He snubs every one that makes a blunder, +and rips at the class half the time." + +"They say Lowington don't like him much better than the fellows do," +added Perth. + +It would be difficult to explain how any of the students had reached +this conclusion; but it is certain that boys understand their guardians +and instructors much better than the latter generally suppose. + +"Perth, I think we might as well have our liberty stopped for serving +out Old Crabs, as for anything else," suggested Wilton. + +"I'm willing; the Knights will do that job handsomely, you may bet your +life." + +"But we musn't get caught too soon." + +"We work in the dark, and we can do the thing as well as the Josephines +did." + +"Let's study up something at once, and put him through a course of +sprouts. I don't believe in tolerating a professor who was too mean for +the Josephine," replied Wilton, shaking his head, as though a personal +indignity had been put upon him. + +"All right; we will be ready as soon as he is. What's the row on deck?" +continued Perth, rising from his seat, as a group of students gathered +in the rigging, and on such elevations as would enable them to see over +the bulwarks. + +"Only one of Mapps's long yarns," answered Wilton. + +"I'm going down to see what it is." + +Perth went down, but Wilton had not the slightest interest in anything +Mr. Mapps had to say; and he stretched himself on the jib, which had +been cast loose ready to hoist, in case it should be required. + +"This is the place where the Duke of Parma built his great bridge over +the Scheldt," said the professor of history, as the students gathered +around him. + +"What did he build the bridge for?" asked one of them. + +"In order to close the navigation of the river, and thus prevent the +people of Antwerp from obtaining provisions, which came to them from +Holland. When the Prince of Orange was assassinated, the Duke of Parma +was making his preparations to subdue the country. By the death of the +prince Holland was left without an effective leader, while in the duke +Spain had one of the most accomplished and energetic generals of his +age. Parma saw that Antwerp was the key to the situation, and he +directed his whole attention to its capture. + +"Before this time the Prince of Orange had realized that the loss of +Antwerp would be the loss of the whole of the region which is now called +Belgium; and when it was clear in what direction his skilful antagonist +proposed to operate, he had advised the cutting of the dike on your +right, which would lay the country under water, and open a channel of +communication with Holland and Zealand by water. Unfortunately, his +advice was disregarded till the duke had secured the dikes--a neglect +which caused the loss of Antwerp, and with it the whole of Flanders. + +"Though Parma had erected forts all along the banks of the river, the +hardy Dutchmen ran the gantlet of them, and Antwerp was well supplied +with food, the price being four times as much as in Holland. The people +of the city, and even their leaders, ridiculed the idea of constructing +the bridge, and took no steps to prevent it. The death of Orange caused +a panic throughout the Netherlands, of which the shrewd Parma took +advantage, and urged on his preparations. Though crippled in a measure +by the neglect of his sovereign to supply him with men and money, the +bridge was completed in the face of tremendous obstacles. It was +twenty-four hundred feet long, and composed of thirty-two boats, or +vessels, bound together by hawsers, cables, and beams. On each side was +a wall of timbers, and on the structure guns were planted for its +defence. A fort was erected at each end, heavily armed and manned. + +"When the bridge was finished, the Antwerpers, who had laughed to scorn +the idea of such a structure, found that their supplies were cut off. +They made two attempts to break through the bridge, but failed in both, +though in one of them they made a breach by exploding a fire-ship, and +destroyed nearly a thousand Spanish soldiers, and Parma himself was +knocked senseless. The attempt was not followed up with sufficient +energy, and the Spaniard had time to repair the work. Antwerp, deprived +of provisions by the skill and determination of the duke, was starved +out and compelled to surrender. The country continued under the Spanish +yoke, while the United Provinces maintained their independence." + +The attentive audience which had gathered around the professor separated +when he had finished the story. Some of them went aloft, to look over +the dikes, and with their eyes followed the long lines of ditches and +canals which extended into the interior. + +In the mean time, Mr. Hamblin walked the deck very uneasily, waiting for +an opportunity to discuss his position with the principal. The studies +of the classes were to be resumed on the following day, and he was +anxious to know what disposition was to be made of him. The ship was +already provided with an excellent instructor in Greek and Latin; and +only in the department of mathematics was there a vacancy, made by the +transfer of Mr. Fluxion. It would be impossible for Mr. Hamblin to teach +anything but Greek and Latin, though he had had some experience in the +other branches. + +Mr. Lowington seemed to be provokingly indifferent on the subject, and +the professor was at last compelled to ask an interview, which, however, +his dignity compelled him to defer till the ship was approaching +Flushing, when the steamer was to leave her. The principal understood +the character of the learned gentleman very well, and knew that any +manifestation of anxiety on his own part would so inflate the vanity of +the professor that he could do nothing with him; but he granted the +interview when it was demanded. + +"Mr. Lowington, I am rather desirous of knowing what is to be done," +said the _savant_, when they were alone in the main cabin. "I find that +Mr. Fluxion has been transferred to the place I filled on the Josephine. +As you are aware, I was employed to teach Latin and Greek." + +"I am aware of it," replied the principal, still appearing to be +singularly indifferent in such a momentous crisis, as it seemed to Mr. +Hamblin. + +"I presume Mr. Fluxion is competent to teach the classics." + +"Entirely competent. He was assigned, in the beginning, to the +department of navigation, on account of his knowledge of practical +seamanship. I don't know that he has any superior as a teacher of the +classics." + +Mr. Hamblin did not like this answer. The principal had no business to +think that any one was _his_ equal in the department of Greek and Latin, +especially the former. Mr. Fluxion had never written a Greek Grammar, +compiled a Greek Reader, and edited the Anabasis. The remark of the +principal was very injudicious. + +"Having been displaced from my position in the consort, I am rather +desirous of knowing what is to be done with me," added the professor, +choking down his disgust. + +"I hope we shall be able to make an arrangement that will be +satisfactory to you, at least for the present," replied the principal. +"I have had some consultation with the instructors; and Mr. Paradyme has +obligingly consented to take the department of mathematics in the ship +for a time, and the Greek and Latin will be assigned to you." + +"This arrangement is entirely satisfactory to me, Mr. Lowington," +answered the professor, who was really delighted to obtain what was +regarded as the senior professorship in the squadron; and it seemed +quite fitting that the place should be given to him. + +"This is only a temporary arrangement," added the principal, desirous to +prevent any misunderstanding in the future. + +This was not entirely satisfactory to Mr. Hamblin, who thought a thing +so fitly done ought to be permanent. + +"It is not pleasant for me to feel unsettled, and to be liable to a +change at any time," said the professor. "I think I should prefer my +place in the Josephine." + +"Since you and the captain of the Josephine cannot agree, it does not +appear to be practicable for you to remain there." + +"Do you expect me to submit when insulted by a pupil, Mr. Lowington?" +asked Mr. Hamblin, solemnly. "Will you allow a student to insult me?" + +"I will neither allow a student to insult you, nor you to insult a +student," replied the principal, with the most refreshing frankness. + +"You will not allow _me_ to insult a pupil!" exclaimed Mr. Hamblin. + +"Certainly not." + +"Do you think me capable of doing such a thing?" + +"I am sorry to say you have proved that you are. You called one of them +a puppy." + +"But not until--" + +"Excuse me, Mr. Hamblin. I do not purpose to discuss this matter again." + +"May I ask if you sustain Mr. Kendall in his conduct towards me?" + +"I do--fully." + +"I am astonished, sir!" + +"So am I--astonished that a gentleman of your learning and ability +should so demean himself as to apply offensive epithets to his pupils. +In the first place, you had no right to interfere with the discipline of +the vessel; and when Captain Kendall told you that he commanded the +Josephine, he said no more than the truth, and no more than the +circumstances required him to say. In the second place, after you called +him a puppy, and repeated the epithet, on the quarter-deck, I could not +have blamed him if he had put you in irons. I approve his conduct +fully. As you insulted him before his officers and crew, it was +necessary that he should vindicate himself before them." + +"I am afraid this vessel is no place for me," said the professor, with +extreme disgust. + +"I am afraid not, if you cannot observe the rules of the ship." + +"I think I have observed the rules, sir. Mr. Kendall used every means in +his power to annoy me; and still you sustain him in it. He knows that +you are partial to him." + +"I am not aware that Captain Kendall used any means to annoy you." + +"I think you do not know that boy as well as I do. A rope was thrown +down upon my head: the offence was suffered to pass unnoticed by Mr. +Kendall. I was wilfully or carelessly thrown into the river; the captain +did not consult me, but made his inquiries in private, and of course the +culprits escaped." + +"You were thrown into the river by your own carelessness, Mr. Hamblin. I +saw the whole of it." + +"So Mr. Kendall told me, in the most offensive tones. I do not complain +of these things; I only mention them for the sequel. A boy drenched me +with water; he begged my pardon on his knees, and I forgave him; but +this offence the captain punishes in the most severe manner. Why? +Apparently because I--the only sufferer--had forgiven the offender." + +"It was necessary for the captain to put a stop to such pranks." + +"But he did not use good judgment. McDougal explained the matter, and +was exceedingly sorry." + +"But he drenched you on purpose." + +"Impossible, sir!" + +The principal called one of the stewards, and sent for McDougal, who +presently appeared. He had already confessed that the drenching was not +an accident, and he repeated his statement, to the utter astonishment of +the discomfited pedagogue. During the excursion on shore, some of the +Josephines had told him that the trouble between Paul and the professor +had been on his account; and he had made the confession in order to +justify the captain, at whatever cost to himself. The spirited conduct +of the young commander had filled the boys with admiration, and they +were determined that he should not suffer, whoever else did. + +"You did it on purpose--did you?" repeated the _savant_. "May I ask why +you did it?" + +"The fellows didn't like you, and were bound to get you out of the +Josephine," replied McDougal, candidly. + +"The fellows!" exclaimed Mr. Hamblin. "Were there others concerned in +this iniquitous transaction?" + +"More than a dozen of them." + +"Did you write the letter to me which purported to come from the Belgian +Minister of Foreign Affairs?" + +"No, sir." + +"Who did?" + +"I don't know, sir." + +"You don't know! Don't lie to me," said the professor, sternly. + +"I do not." + +"I know," added the learned gentleman, turning to the principal. + +"McDougal, you say that a dozen boys were concerned in your proceedings. +Who were they?" + +"I would rather not tell, sir. I am willing to own up to all I did +myself." + +"You hear that, Mr. Lowington?" exclaimed the professor, with horror. + +"Of course I hear it, Mr. Hamblin," replied the principal, impatiently. +"You may leave, McDougal." + +"Leave, sir!" ejaculated Mr. Hamblin. + +"Go, McDougal;" and he went. "You said you knew who wrote the fictitious +letter, sir." + +"I do." + +"Who was it?" + +"Mr. Lowington, if that boy you sent away had told the whole truth, he +would have confessed that Mr. Kendall was at the bottom of all these +infamous proceedings." + +"Captain Kendall!" + +"Yes, sir; especially the plan to throw me into the water. When I +demanded a boat, I mentioned the gig. It was refused. Why? Because the +crew of the first cutter had been instructed to tip me overboard! It is +very strange that no one but myself has been able to understand the +vicious intentions of the boys." + +"The gig is the captain's boat. The regulations require the captain to +give the professors the first cutter," explained Mr. Lowington. + +"I was not aware of it at the time; but I am satisfied that the crew of +the first cutter had been instructed to pitch me into the river." + +"If they were, you were very obliging to assist them as you did," added +the principal. "But go on. Do you suppose Captain Kendall instructed +McDougal to drench you with water?" + +"Very likely." + +"And then inflicted the severest punishment upon him for doing it? It is +absurd! That was the third and last offence. The captain put an end to +these tricks by his well-timed energy, and I am sure he had no part or +lot in them. Do you think he got some one to write the letter to you?" + +"No, sir; I think he did it himself," replied the professor, more +calmly, as he came to what he considered his stronghold. + +"I am not willing to believe it." + +"I am prepared to prove it, sir." + +"If Kendall has been guilty of such conduct,--if it can be shown that he +wrote the letter, or that he knew of its being written,--I will not only +suspend him, but I will reduce him to a common sailor, and confine him +in the brig," said the principal, with no little agitation. + +This strong speech looked like the dawn of reason to Mr. Hamblin, and he +hastened to produce his evidence. The letter and several exercises +written by Paul were first placed on the cabin table, to enable Mr. +Lowington to compare the penmanship. + +"There is a strong similarity in them, I grant; but they are all written +in the common school-boy hand of the United States," added the +principal. + +"There is a stronger resemblance than that. The capital A's are the +same; the small r's are identical." + +"But the small a's are different." + +"Doubtless he disguised his hand to some extent." + +"Is this all the proof you have?" asked Mr. Lowington, somewhat +relieved. + +"No, sir," replied the professor, triumphantly, as he exhibited the +paper he had taken from Paul's state-room, which was different from any +he had been able to find in either vessel. "The paper is identical, you +perceive." + +"I see that it is." + +"And no other student has such paper." + +"The ship has provided paper for the students, but none like this," said +Mr. Lowington, with a sigh. + +"I think you will consider the case proved," added Mr. Hamblin, +exultingly. + +"By no means. Enough has been shown to warrant an inquiry. I will make +an investigation immediately." + +This was all Mr. Hamblin could ask; and, confident that Captain Kendall +would be convicted, he left the cabin, as the captain of the Belgian +steamer came in to settle for the towage. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +CAPTAIN KENDALL'S DEFENCE. + + +The squadron remained off Flushing long enough for Mr. Fluxion to visit +the shore, and ascertain the condition of the "Wel tevreeden." The +repairs were going on, but were not completed, and the cost of them +could not yet be determined. The vice-principal, however, obtained such +information in regard to the probable expense, as to enable him to make +a final settlement. Captain Schimmelpennink came off to the Josephine +with him on his return. It was certain that eleven hundred guilders +would cover the whole expense of putting the galiot in perfect repair, +and the balance of this sum was handed to the skipper. + +If there ever was a grateful man in the world, that man was the captain +of the "Wel tevreeden." In addition to the energetic speeches he made +through the interpreter, he indulged in some very pretty and significant +gesticulations, which the officers and crew could comprehend. The +students were happy in the good deed they had done--quite as happy as +the the skipper himself. In addition to the sum expended, there was five +hundred and fifty-four guilders in the hands of the treasurer, which was +to be used for some similar object when presented to them. + +While Mr. Fluxion was absent at Flushing, Mr. Lowington had gone on +board of the Josephine, and, taking Paul into his state-room, had +exhibited the fictitious note to him, stating the charge made against +him by Mr. Hamblin. + +"I need not say, Captain Kendall, that this is a very serious charge," +added the principal, solemnly. + +"I think it is, sir," replied Paul, blushing deeply. "If you think I +wrote that letter, sir, I hope you will do your duty." + +"I certainly shall, though it break my heart." + +"Whatever you do, sir, it will not alter my regard for you." + +"I am already accused of partiality towards you, Captain Kendall," added +Mr. Lowington. "I confess that I never had a pupil for whom I cherished +so high an esteem and so warm a regard." + +"Thank you, sir. You are now, as you always have been, very kind to me," +replied Paul, hardly able to restrain the tears in which his emotions +demanded expression. + +"I must say that I deem this charge groundless and absurd; but I cannot +explain it away. The writing in the note resembles yours in some +respects; and the fact that the kind of paper on which the note is +written is found in your possession alone has not been explained. Do you +know anything about this note?" + +"Nothing, sir; only that it came in the mail with the rest of the +Josephine's letters." + +"When did you get the paper which Mr. Hamblin found in your writing +desk?" + +"I bought it in Antwerp on Tuesday afternoon, when we went on shore," +replied Paul, promptly. + +"I shall be obliged to inquire further into this matter. You will have +all hands called." + +They left the state-room together, and the first lieutenant ordered the +ship's company to be piped to quarters. Without any definite +explanation, the principal directed all the students to bring their +stock of stationery on deck, and they passed in review before him, +exhibiting the quality of their paper. At the same time Mr. Stoute +searched the steerage for any which might have been concealed. If any +student had purchased paper in Antwerp, it was not of the kind on which +the forged letter had been written. + +"Young gentlemen," said Mr. Lowington, mounting his rostrum, "a +practical joke is the stupidest thing in the world, when perpetrated at +the expense of the feelings of others. Some one has put such a joke upon +Mr. Hamblin, the very last person in the world to appreciate this +species of humor. One of your number is charged with the act." + +"The old lunatic has laid it to the captain," whispered Terrill, who +thus interpreted the mysterious proceedings of the principal and Paul. + +"The particular kind of paper on which the letter to Mr. Hamblin was +written is found only in the possession of that one student," continued +the principal, with an emotion he could not wholly conceal. "I desire, +if any of you have any information in regard to the note, that you will +communicate it at once." + +Mr. Lowington paused, and the boys looked blankly at each other. Even to +them, at that moment, a practical joke seemed to be the stupidest thing +in the world. There was a tremendous sensation among them; but no one +volunteered to give the desired information. + +"Young gentlemen, although the evidence in my possession is not +sufficient to condemn the student charged with the offence, it is enough +to justify grave suspicions, and I shall be under the painful necessity +of suspending him, and sending him on board of the ship for further +examination." + +Paul was not half so much disturbed by this announcement as he had been +by the trying scene with Mr. Hamblin, a few days before. It is the +guilt, and not the loss of honor, the disgrace, which is hard to bear +when one is charged with misconduct or crime. He stood with folded arms, +submissive to the authority of the principal, and satisfied that the +truth would prevail in the end. + +"Who is he?" asked one of the students in a suppressed tone, when the +silence became painful. + +"Captain Kendall," replied the principal; and this name produced a +tremendous thrill in the hearts of the ship's company. + +"No, sir! No, sir!" shouted some of the students. + +"Silence, young gentlemen! I know how you feel," interposed Mr. +Lowington. "Although it would seem to me impossible that Captain Kendall +should have written this letter, Mr. Hamblin distinctly charges him with +the act, and I am sorry to add that there is some evidence to prove the +charge." + +Mr. Lowington was more grieved than any other person on board, and it is +more than probable that, in his great anxiety to avoid partiality, he +ran into the opposite extreme, and exposed himself to the peril of +doing injustice to his young friend. + +"Captain Kendall, you will consider yourself under arrest, and report on +board of the ship," added the principal, turning to Paul. + +The young commander bowed submissively, and the boys wondered how he was +able to take the matter so coolly. + +"It's a shame!" exclaimed Terrill, in a low tone, to Pelham. + +"Mr. Terrill," continued Mr. Lowington, "the command of the Josephine +devolves upon you until further orders, and you will go to sea as soon +as Mr. Fluxion returns." + +The first lieutenant started when his name was called, and suspected +that he was to be taken to task for the remark he had just made. It was +fortunate for him, perhaps, that the principal did not hear his +energetic words, or the command might have been given to the second +lieutenant, for Terrill's impulsive nature would have led him into some +intemperate speech, so deeply did he feel for the captain. + +"I hope my command will be of very short duration, sir," said he, as the +principal stepped down from the hatch. + +"I hope so, Mr. Terrill," answered Mr. Lowington. "Captain Kendall, you +will repair to the ship in the barge." + +"I will be ready in a moment, sir," replied Paul, as he went below to +obtain a few needed articles. + +"Captain Kendall, I am downright sorry for this," said Terrill, +following him into his state-room. + +"Don't be at all disturbed about it," answered Paul, cheerfully. "I am +glad Mr. Lowington has taken this course. I expect to be able to prove +that I could not have written the letter, and I shall be restored as +soon as we reach Rotterdam. It is a good deal better to be proved +innocent than to be suspected of being guilty. Here is the key of the +safe," he added, as he took it from his pocket and handed it to his +successor. + +"It's lucky for old Hamblin he isn't on board of the Josephine," said +Terrill, with an ominous shake of the head. "I think the fellows would +throw him overboard before the vessel gets to Rotterdam if he were." + +"That isn't the right spirit, Terrill; and as a particular favor to me, +I ask that you will not say a word about Mr. Hamblin. I have my own +opinion in regard to him; and I suppose every fellow has; but the least +said is the soonest mended. I hope you will not let the officers and +crew indulge in any demonstrations of disapproval." + +"Not let them! I can't help it. I believe if old Hamblin was on board, I +would join with the rest of the fellows in making a spread eagle of him +on the fore shrouds," answered the commander _pro tem_. + +"Don't think of such a thing. Two wrongs won't make a right," said Paul, +anxiously. "You and I have been first-rate friends, Terrill, and for my +sake do not encourage or tolerate any demonstrations." + +"I will do the best I can, but I feel just like making the biggest row I +was ever in since I was born." + +"Keep cool; you are going to sea right off, and you will have enough to +do to look out for the vessel." + +"I shall do as you tell me, if I can; but only because you wish it. I +think the fellows ought to give a few hearty groans, so as to be sure no +one mistakes their sentiments." + +"Don't do it, Terrill," said Paul, as he led the way to the deck, with +his bundle in his hand. + +When they went on deck, Mr. Fluxion had just returned in the first +cutter; and great was his astonishment, and that of the boat's crew, +when informed of the exciting event which had just transpired. The +interview with the Dutch skipper changed the current of thought on board +for the moment; but as soon as he departed, nothing was talked of but +the arrest of the captain. + +Paul stepped into the barge with the principal, who was very sad and +silent. As soon as they were on board of the Young America, and the +barge hoisted up, orders were given to fill away again. + +"What does that mean?" asked Perth, when the barge was hoisted up, as he +ran up to Wilton. + +"What?" + +"Why, there is Captain Kendall on the quarter-deck of the ship, and the +Josephine is getting under way without him." + +"There's been a row somewhere; Kendall is one of the flunkies, but he's +a good fellow for all that," added Wilton, who could not help giving +Paul this tribute. + +"I'll tell you what it is," said Howe,--who was one of the barge's crew, +and had heard all the proceedings on board of the Josephine,--as he +joined them, "Kendall has been suspended, broken, turned out of office +for writing that letter to old Hamblin." + +"Is that so?" demanded Perth. + +"That's so; but all the fellows in the Josephine say he didn't do it." + +"It would be a new idea for Kendall to do anything wrong--even to sneeze +in prayer time." + +The order to man the braces interrupted the conversation; but the news +went through the ship even before she had begun to gather headway. The +matter was thoroughly discussed, and it was perfectly understood that +Mr. Hamblin had preferred the charge upon which Paul had been broken or +suspended. The commander of the Josephine was almost as popular in the +ship as he was in the consort; and the indignation against the professor +of Greek was hardly less violent in the one than in the other. + +"Captain Kendall, you will occupy the spare state-room in the after +cabin, next to Flag-officer Gordon's," said Mr. Lowington to Paul, as +they met after the ship was underway. + +"Thank you, sir," replied the young commander, who had seated himself +near the companion-way. + +"As soon as supper is disposed of, I propose to examine into the charge. +You shall have a fair trial." + +"I have no doubt of that." + +Mr. Lowington walked away, and Paul, who was much embarrassed by the +continued expressions of sympathy extended to him by the officers of the +ship, retired to his state-room to consider his line of defence. + +Mr. Hamblin, satisfied before, was delighted now. Justice seemed to be +extending her tardy hand in his favor. The rebel against his mighty +will had been suspended, and was actually under arrest. Of course the +principal had acknowledged the validity of the evidence he had +presented. The motive for such an annoying practical joke was patent to +all in the squadron, while the quality of the paper and the resemblance +of the writing were enough to convict the offender. + +The professor was enjoying his triumph, not vindictively, he persuaded +himself, but in the sense that his own personal action and motives were +on the eve of being justified. As the ship moved majestically down the +river, he walked up and down, athwart ships, in a better mood to enjoy +the scene which presented itself than ever before since he joined the +squadron. He walked from rail to rail because Paul was seated on the +quarter-deck, and he did not care to meet him. When the young commander +went below, he walked fore and aft. + +The deck was crowded with students waiting for the supper bell to ring; +and many an ugly and dissatisfied look was bestowed upon him; but the +learned gentleman, in his triumph, was too well pleased with himself to +notice them. Mr. Hamblin involuntarily extended his walk, from time to +time, until it was continued to the forecastle, where the crew were +collected in large numbers. Hardly had he passed the foremast on his +first round, than he was saluted by a universal groan, so deep and +hearty that he stopped short and looked at the crowd. They were silent +then. + +"Young gentlemen," said the _savant_, sternly, "if that was intended as +an expression of--" + +The remark of censure was brought to an abrupt termination by a very +annoying incident. Mr. Hamblin had halted directly under the weather +fore yard-arm, braced up so as to take the wind on the beam. Before he +had reached this point of his remark, a new fellow by the name of +Little, remarkable for his agility, dropped from the yard directly upon +the top of the learned gentleman's hat, in fact, sitting down upon his +"tile" as fairly and squarely as though the deed had been done on +purpose, bringing with him the slack of the weather clew-garnet. + +The professor was prostrated to the deck by the weight of the little +seaman,--for Little's name precisely described his stature,--while the +unfortunate boy was thrown forward flat upon his face. + +"O, I'm killed, I'm killed!" cried Little, rising with much real or +apparent difficulty, and pressing one hand upon his hip. + +"You rascal, you!" roared Mr. Hamblin from the inside of his hat, as a +dozen boys sprang forward to pick him up. + +The professor was not a fashionable man, and did not wear a hat which +would simply rest upon the top of his head, or which would pinch the +depository of his ancient lore, and the weight of the student had +pressed it far down over his eyes. With some labor he extricated his +learned pate from its imprisonment, and glanced with dismay at the +hat--a new one which he had bought in Antwerp to replace the one he had +lost overboard in the hurricane. + +"You scoundrel!" repeated the _savant_, when he had removed the +mutilated tile. + +"He didn't mean to do it, sir," said Perth, pointing to the bloody face +of Little; "he's almost killed himself." + +"Are you hurt, Little?" demanded Mr. Lowington, rushing forward when he +discovered what had happened. + +"Yes, sir; almost killed," groaned the poor boy, making the wryest face +a boy ever made, and twisting himself into a contortion of body which +none but an India-rubber youth like himself could have accomplished. + +"Pass the word for Dr. Winstock," added the principal, anxiously. "Are +you much injured, Mr. Hamblin?" + +"I believe there is a conspiracy to take my life," growled the +professor, without replying to the direct question. + +"Are you hurt, sir?" + +"Not so much in body as in my feelings," answered Mr. Hamblin, holding +out his damaged hat. "It was done on purpose, sir." + +Dr. Winstock now appeared on the forecastle, and as Little seemed to be +the greater sufferer, he attended to his case first. He examined the +face of the boy, for by the most assiduous rubbing with his right hand +while his left was devoted to the hip, he had contrived to besmear his +face all over with the blood which flowed freely from his nose. The +surgeon could find no wound on the face, and it was plain that there was +nothing more terrible about the head than the nosebleed. + +"Where are you hurt, Little?" asked the doctor. + +"In the hip; it's broke!" replied the sufferer with an explosive groan. + +Dr. Winstock laid the patient down upon the deck, and proceeded to +examine him with the greatest care. He declared that no bones were +broken. + +"He appears to be suffering great pain," said the principal, anxiously. + +"He has probably wrenched a muscle in his fall, and that is almost as +painful as a broken bone. He has received no serious injury," replied +the doctor, as he lifted the patient from the deck. + +"I am glad it is no worse. How did it happen, Little?" + +"I was coming in from the weather yard-arm, sir. I should have gone down +the leech of the foresail if you had not told me not to, sir. O!" gasped +Little, distorting his face, and doubling up his lithe little body. + +"Never mind it now," added the principal, kindly. + +"I feel a little better, sir. Mr. Hamblin began to say something to the +fellows on deck, and I stopped to listen. O!"--and Little doubled up +again. "I caught hold of the clew-garnet, sir--O! I was leaning down to +hear what Mr. Hamblin said, and bore my whole weight on the clew-garnet. +It wasn't belayed, sir,--O!--and it let me down." + +Mr. Lowington desired to know what hands were stationed at the fore +clew-garnets; but when they appeared, they were very confident they had +belayed these ropes as usual. Little was advised to go below and turn +in; but he preferred to remain on deck. As soon as the principal and the +doctor had gone aft, the young reprobate turned to his companions, put +his thumb to his bloody nose, and wiggled his fingers. Indeed, a +remarkable cure seemed suddenly to have been wrought in his particular +case; for he walked as nimbly as ever, until some of the officers came +forward, when, unfortunately, he had a sudden relapse, from which he did +not recover--when the "powers that be" were around--for several days. + +After supper Paul was sent for, and repaired to the main cabin, where he +found the principal, the surgeon, Mr. Hamblin, and several of the +professors. Mr. Lowington stated the charge preferred against Captain +Kendall, mentioning the evidence in support of it. He then inquired of +the professor if he had anything to add to what he had already said on +the subject. + +Mr. Hamblin had something to add, but it was in the nature of an +argument against the accused, rather than a statement of fact. He +reviewed his life on board the Josephine since the troubles had +commenced, enlarging upon the zeal with which he had discharged his +duties. He gave his view of the difficulty between himself and the +captain, as he had given it before; but he adduced no new proofs of the +charges he preferred. + +"The only question before us at the present time, Mr. Hamblin, is in +regard to the authorship of the letter purporting to come from Monsieur +Rogier," interposed Mr. Lowington. "Have you any new evidence to bring +forward?" + +"No, sir; I think the charge has been fully proved," replied Mr. +Hamblin. + +"Captain Kendall, if you have any defence to make, I am ready to hear +it," added the principal, turning to Paul. + +"I did not write the letter, and I had no knowledge whatever of it until +Mr. Hamblin received it. Perhaps the writing resembles mine, but not +very much. Will you let me take the letter, sir?" + +The note was handed to him, and he pointed out several letters which +were different from any in the exercises by which the similarity had +been shown. + +"Of course he would disguise the handwriting," interposed Mr. Hamblin. + +"The writing alone would not prove anything," added Mr. Lowington. + +"So far as the kind of paper is concerned," continued Paul, picking up +the half quire which the professor had taken from his state-room, "I +bought it in Antwerp for a particular purpose." He did not think it +necessary to state that it was for his letters to Miss Grace Arbuckle. + +"Are you quite sure you bought it in Antwerp?" demanded the professor. + +"I shall prove that I did," replied Paul, indignantly. "I wish to say I +had a hint that the officers and crew were very much dissatisfied with +Mr. Hamblin, and--" + +"With me!" exclaimed the _savant_, as though it were quite impossible +for the students to be dissatisfied with him. + +"Allow Captain Kendall to make his statement, if you please," said the +principal. + +"But, Mr. Lowington, his statement is incorrect. I have been on the best +of terms with the majority of my pupils. Only a few of the worst of +them have manifested any ill-will towards me." + +"Go on, Captain Kendall," said the principal. + +"I am prepared to prove all I say. If I had known that this +investigation was to take place to-day, I should have asked for the +attendance of several witnesses. I used all my influence to prevent any +one from playing practical jokes upon Mr. Hamblin. I desire to have the +first lieutenant of the Josephine, and Duncan, examined." + +"What have they to do with it?" asked the professor, impatiently. + +"After doing what I could to prevent others from annoying Mr. Hamblin by +practical jokes, it is not likely that I should indulge in them myself." + +"That is a good point; and to-morrow the witnesses shall be called," +said Mr. Lowington. + +"I will now ask Dr. Winstock to make his statement," added Paul, turning +to the surgeon. + +"The letter is postmarked 'Anvers,'" said the doctor, picking up the +letter from the table. "It is utterly impossible that Captain Kendall +had anything to do with this document." + +"Why so, sir?" demanded Mr. Hamblin, nervously. + +"This letter passed through the Antwerp post-office. If Captain Kendall +had mailed it there, I should have seen him do it. He was not out of my +sight a single moment from the time we left the Josephine till we +returned to her. This paper," added the doctor, taking up the half +quire, "was purchased in Antwerp. I went into the shop with Captain +Kendall, and looked at the quality of it before it was done up." + +"Are you satisfied, Mr. Hamblin?" asked the principal. + +"No, sir, I am not," replied the professor, decidedly. "I am by no means +certain that the paper on which this letter was written was obtained in +Antwerp. It does not follow because Dr. Winstock did not see Mr. Kendall +mail this letter, that it was not mailed by him. I did not see him mail +it; Mr. Lowington did not see him mail it. He could have sent it to the +post-office by a dozen of his confederates." + +"Since Captain Kendall desires that the first lieutenant and Duncan +should be heard, we will continue the examination till to-morrow," added +the principal, rising from his chair. + +The hearing was adjourned, and Paul returned to his room. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +MORE ABOUT THE DIKES AND DITCHES. + + +The pilot of the ship was discharged at eight o'clock in the evening, +and the two vessels stood on their course to the northward, with a fresh +breeze from the south-west. They kept just outside of the continuous +chains of shoals on the coast, but for nearly the whole time within +sight of the numerous lighthouses which mark the various entrances of +the Scheldt and the Maas. The masters on duty were kept very busy in +consulting the charts and the sailing directions; but at one o'clock the +squadron was off the Brielle Gat, which is the deepest entrance to the +river. + +There are two principal passages by which vessels may reach Rotterdam +from the sea. At the mouth of the Maas, or of the river which includes +the Rhine, Waal, and Maas, there is a large island called the Voorne. At +the north of it is the Brielle Gat, which is the most direct sea passage +to the city; but the bar at its mouth has only seven and a half feet of +water at low tide. At the south of the island is the Goeree Gat, by +which the largest ships must enter, passing through the island in a +canal. + +The Dutch pilot who boarded the ship, after learning her draught, +declared that she could go over the bar of the Brielle Gat, and both +vessels went up by this passage. At five o'clock in the morning the +squadron came to anchor in the broad bay before the city of Rotterdam. + +Paul Kendall, free from all care, and not much disturbed by the cloud +which hung over him, had turned out early to see the sights on the +river. He had a splendid prospect of windmills, dikes, and ditches. The +Dutch pilot spoke intelligible English, and the young inquirer laid him +under contribution for his stores of knowledge. Paul asked a great many +questions, which the pilot good-naturedly answered. + +Vlaardingen, the principal port engaged in the herring fishery, was +pointed out to him. Every year this place sends out about a hundred and +fifty vessels, or more than one half of the whole number engaged in this +branch of the fisheries. On the 10th or 11th of June, in each year, the +officers of the herring fleet go to the _Stadhuis_, or town hall, and +take the prescribed oath to observe the laws regulating the fisheries of +Holland. Three days later they hoist their flags on board, and go to +church to pray for a season of success. On the following day, which is +kept as a holiday in the town, the fleet sails. The fishing season ends +on the 1st of November. + +The herring are highly prized by the Dutch, and the first which are +caught by the fleet are sent home in the fastest vessels; and when they +are expected, watchmen are stationed in the Vlaardingen steeple to +announce their approach. The first kegs are sent to the king and his +chief officers of state. One of these first cargoes produces about +three hundred and twenty-five dollars, or eight hundred guilders. + +With a dense cloud of smoke hanging above it stood the town of Schiedam, +which contains nearly two hundred distilleries for the manufacture of +gin. Holland gin and Schiedam schnapps are regarded by those who indulge +in these beverages as the best in the world. The place was surrounded by +windmills, which are a principal feature of the scenery in all parts of +Holland proper. + +After breakfast the signal was hoisted for the Josephines to attend the +lecture on board the ship, and a boat was sent ashore, in charge of the +steward, to procure the mail. The students were perched in the rigging, +observing the strange scenes which presented themselves on every hand. +The river was full of market boats loaded with vegetables, the principal +of which was a coarse plant, with large, straggling leaves, used as +cabbage or greens. There were large and small steamers plying in every +direction, and the scene was quite lively. + +The Josephine's ship's company came on board, and all hands were piped +to lecture. Professor Mapps was at his post, with the map of the +Netherlands hanging on the foremast. His description of the dikes and +ditches of Holland was very full; but such portions of it as have been +given by Mr. Stoute will be omitted. + +"Young gentlemen," he began, "I have already called your attention to +the physical geography of the Netherlands. The Rhine, which in Germany +is the _Rhein_, and in Holland the _Rhyn_, has its mouths in Holland. +Its length is nine hundred and sixty miles, and it is of vast importance +to Europe in a commercial point of view, being navigable for large +vessels to Cologne, and nearly to its source for smaller ones, though +occasionally interrupted by falls and rapids above Basle. Vessels of one +hundred tons go up to Strasbourg. + +"The Rhine enters Holland, and immediately divides into two branches, +the southern being the Waal, and the northern retaining the original +name. The Waal is the larger of the two, and flows west until it unites +with the Maas, or Meuse, in Belgium, on one of whose estuaries our ship +now floats. About ten miles below the Waal branch, the original Rhine +divides again, the northern branch being called the Yssel, which flows +north into the Zuyder Zee. Thirty miles below the Yssel, it divides for +a third time, the southern branch being called the Leek, of which the +arm that flows by Rotterdam is the more direct continuation, though all +these branches are connected by frequent cut-offs. The original Rhine +pursues its way to the German Ocean. The dunes, or sand-hills, formerly +closed up this branch, and for a long period the water did not flow +through it; but at the beginning of the present century a canal was +opened through the old bed. + +"The Yssel formerly flowed into a fresh-water lake, where the Zuyder +Zee, or Southern Sea, now is. Nearly the whole of the space occupied by +this sea was then dry land; but the ocean, in the course of time, swept +away its barriers, and covered the region with water, which is +navigable, however, only for small vessels. Amsterdam is situated on an +arm of this sea, called the Ij, or Eye, as it is pronounced. From the +Helder, a point of land at the southern entrance to the Zuyder Zee, a +ship canal, fifty miles in length, extends to the city. This is the +'great ditch' of Holland. It is eighteen feet deep, and broad enough for +two large ships to pass each other, having a double set of locks at each +end, in order to keep the water of uniform height, as in a dock. + +"You are already familiar with the peculiar conformation of Holland. +There is not a hill, a forest, or a ledge of rocks worth mentioning in +the whole region. A large portion of its territory has been redeemed +from the ocean by the most persevering labor, and by the most +unremitting care and watchfulness is it kept from destruction. The sea +is higher than the land, the lowest ground in the country being from +twenty-four to thirty feet below high-water mark. The keel of the Young +America, floating in some of the waters of Holland, would be higher than +the ridge-pole of the Dutchman's cottage on the other side of the dike. + +"These low grounds, formerly swamps and lagoons, which lie below the sea +level, are called _polders_. These were originally charged with water, +and merely shutting out the sea was only half the battle. As in Ireland, +the principal fuel of the people is peat, or turf, ten million tons of +which are annually used. Immense excavations have been made in the +polders to obtain the peat; and the inhabitants stand an ultimate chance +of being robbed of their country by fire as well as by water. + +"The natural lakes and the peat-holes--the latter from twelve to twenty +feet deep--formed extensive water-basins. Some of you will remember the +turf diggings in the great bog in Ireland, as we passed through it on +our way to Killarney. The peat was not dug out in trenches, but the +entire surface of the land was skimmed off, just as workmen in the city +dig away a hill. It was so in Holland; and you must understand that the +bottom of these peat-beds forms the land now improved as gardens and +farms. + +"These depressions of the surface were filled with water. The first +thing to be done is to shut out the ocean and its tributaries--all those +rivers of which I have been speaking, that form a network of canals all +over the country. For this purpose a dike is built on the border of the +land to be enclosed. Take, for example, the Island of Ysselmonde,--the +land next south of us,--and Holland really consists of nothing but +islands formed by the rivers and the natural and artificial canals. It +will, therefore, be a correct specimen of the system of dikes and +ditches throughout the country, though some of the sections are subject +to greater or less difficulty in the drainage, owing to various causes, +which will be explained. + +"When the dike around Ysselmonde is finished, the country is protected +from inundation from without. Sometimes in winter the river may be +blocked with ice, which stops the passage of the water. All the ice from +the Rhine and Meuse must pass through these rivers on their way to the +sea, and, being stopped in a narrow place, it forms a dam. In 1799 a +large portion of Holland was threatened with total destruction, on +account of one of these blockades. Behind the dam the water rose seven +feet in one hour, overflowing the dikes, and breaking through them. This +danger is incurred every winter; but disaster is generally warded off by +the vigilance of the dike-keepers. + +"We will suppose that the dike we have built around Ysselmonde protects +it from the exterior water; but as the water in the Maas, at high tide, +or even at low tide, is above the surface of the polders, they cannot be +drained by the ordinary ditches; and it is necessary to remove the water +by mechanical means. For this purpose windmills are erected on the +dike,--as you see them in every direction,--many of which work +water-wheels, pumps being but seldom used. The apparatus for removing +the water is of several kinds, including a scoop-wheel, the screw of +Archimedes, and the inclined scoop-wheel. The water is not lifted to any +considerable height by these instruments. + +"When the height to which the water is to be raised is too great to be +accomplished by the agency of one machine, a series of them is +introduced. Supposing the land in the middle of Ysselmonde to be twenty +feet below the level of the Maas, four series of operations would be +required to lift the water. The central portion is enclosed by a dike, +with a _ringsloot_, or canal, outside of it. The windmills raise the +water five feet. Outside of this, as the level of the land rises, +another canal and ditch are made, and the water is lifted another five +feet; and the process is repeated until the water is finally discharged +into the river. The ditches which separate the different tracts of land +are used as highways, for conveying the harvest to market, the +difference of level being overcome by locks. Of course the character of +these works depends upon the formation of the land. + +"The soil of the polders thus drained is remarkably rich and productive. +The two chief exports of Holland are butter and cheese, the low lands +furnishing excellent pasturage for cattle. + +"In the service of the government is a special corps of engineers, +called _Waterstaat_, who are employed in watching the waters and the +dikes, and in guarding against any breaking of the latter. In the winter +time, which is the period of the greatest peril to the dikes, these men, +many of whom are gentlemen of the highest scientific culture, are +stationed near the places where danger is apprehended. Buildings +containing all the necessary materials and tools for repairing the +embankments are provided, and, indeed, all precautions which skill, and +science, and care can bring are at hand; for the safety of the country +depends upon these structures. + +"The coat of arms of one of the Dutch provinces is a lion swimming, +having this motto: _Luctor et emergo_, 'I strive and keep my head above +water,' which seems to be the whole business of the Dutch people, +figuratively and literally. If you visit the great dike of the Helder, +as I hope you will, you may stand on the low land within it, and hear +the thunder of the sea, as it beats against the dike, fifteen feet +higher than your head. + +"The canals of Holland serve a triple purpose. They are the highways of +the country, they drain the land, and they serve as fences. You travel +all over the region in the canals, and all the productions are conveyed +upon them. The roads are for the most part built on the tops of the +dikes, but they are not solid enough to permit their use by +heavily-loaded wagons. Many of them are paved with bricks, on account of +their spongy nature, which answers very well for the passage of light +vehicles. + +"The people seem to have a peculiar affection for these ditches, and you +will often find that the Dutchman has his little private canal, +extending around his house, apparently only to gratify his national +vanity, though perhaps really it is his fence. Even here in Rotterdam, I +have noticed a filthy ditch, from four to ten feet wide, between the +house and the road. It is nearly filled with water, which is covered +with a vile green scum. The wonder is, that this stagnant water does not +breed a pestilence. + +"The principal canals are sixty feet wide, and six feet deep, though of +course many in the cities and elsewhere, intended for the passage of +large vessels, are broader and deeper. + +"With this imperfect statement of the physical characteristics, as a +basis for your observation, I leave the subject to say a few words about +the government and history of the country. + +"William III. is the present king of the Netherlands. He is forty-seven +years old, and is a lineal descendant of William of Orange, and a +grandson, on the mother's side, of Czar Paul I. of Russia. He has a +salary, or civil list, of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year, +which is pretty fair pay for ruling over a kingdom about the size of the +State of Maryland, or of Massachusetts and Connecticut united, and +containing a population about equal to that of the State of New York. + +"The government is a limited monarchy, the whole legislative power being +vested in the two chambers called the States General. The First Chamber +consists of thirty-nine members, elected by provincial councils, from +those inhabitants who pay the highest grade of taxes. The Second Chamber +contains seventy-two members, elected by general ballot; but only those +who pay taxes to the amount of fifty dollars a year are voters. All +measures appropriating money for any purpose must originate in the +Second Chamber, which is the popular body, and become laws only when +assented to by the sovereign and the First Chamber. The king executes +the laws with the aid of seven ministers, who receive a salary of five +thousand dollars a year. + +"Free toleration is allowed to all religious sects. Protestants are +largely in the majority, the proportion being as twenty to twelve. +Education is generally diffused among the people. In 1863 the revenue of +the Netherlands amounted to forty-one millions of dollars. The Dutch +have extensive colonial possessions in the East and West Indies, and on +the west coast of Africa. The regular home army contains fifty-nine +thousand officers and men. Its navy consists of fifty-eight steamers and +eighty-one sailing vessels. + +"I do not think you will be likely to realize the poetic ideal of the +Dutchmen, young gentlemen. Though they drink a great deal of beer and +Schiedam schnapps, you will seldom find them intoxicated; and I have +never been able to see that they smoke any more than the people of our +own country. They are not necessarily fat and clumsy. The men are of +medium stature, in no special degree distinguished from other people in +Europe and America. The women are very domestic, and very cleanly in +their persons and in their dwellings. The Dutch people are prudent, +economical, beforehanded. + +"In the brief sketch I gave you at Antwerp of the history of the +Netherlands, that of Holland was included up to the period of the murder +of the Prince of Orange, which occurred in 1584, while he was +Stadtholder of the Seven United Provinces. At his death, his son, Prince +Maurice, was elected Stadtholder in his father's place. He was then only +seventeen years of age, but he proved to be a young man of great +military ability, and commenced a glorious career, which ended only with +his life, in 1625. With the bright example of Prince Maurice before +them, I think our young captains of his age may be encouraged." + +This remark "brought down the house," and more than fifty of the +students glanced at Paul Kendall, whose "improbable" achievements in the +Josephine were the admiration of everybody in the squadron, except +Professor Hamblin. + +"Philip II. died in 1598, and his successor continued his efforts to +conquer the Dutch, but without success. By this time Holland had created +the most powerful navy in the world, and with her seventy thousand +seamen swept the commerce of the Spaniards from the seas, even in the +remotest waters of the globe. The galleons and treasure ships from the +colonies of Spain were captured, and their rich booty poured into the +exchequer of the Dutch. The monarch of Castile was almost impoverished +by these losses; and, deprived of the means to carry on the war of +subjugation, he agreed, in 1609, to a truce of twelve years. + +"Religious dissensions then broke out in Holland, which soon assumed a +political turn. The Stadtholder, Prince Maurice, was ambitious to become +the hereditary sovereign of Holland, in which he was opposed by +Barneveldt, a venerable judge, aided by De Groot, or Grotius, a noted +Dutch scholar and statesman. The opposition were styled 'remonstrants.' +The judge was charged with a plot to hand his country over to the +tyranny of Spain; and though he was a pure patriot, he was condemned and +executed. Grotius, by an expedient which would have been deemed +improbable in a novel, escaped from the Castle of Loevestein. + +"At the expiration of the truce, Spain renewed her efforts to conquer +Holland; but, after a war of twenty-seven years, the independence of the +country was acknowledged in the peace of Westphalia. During this period +the Dutch maintained their supremacy on the sea, attacking the Spanish +possessions in all parts of the world, and especially in the East +Indies, where they commenced the foundation of their empire in that part +of the globe. + +"The growing naval power of Holland excited the apprehensions of +England, and war was the consequence, in which the Dutch Admirals Van +Tromp De Ruiter, and De Witt, as well as Admiral Blake of the British +navy, won imperishable renown. + +"Prince Maurice was succeeded at his death by his brother Henry; but, in +1650, the office of Stadtholder was abolished, and that of Grand +Pensionary substituted. John De Witt held the position. + +"In 1668, France having seized upon the Spanish Netherlands, Holland +united with England and Sweden to check the power of the French monarch; +but Charles II., subsidized by Louis XIV. of France, deserted his ally. +England and France united, won Sweden over, and formed a league against +Holland. Louis invaded Holland with an army six times as large as the +Dutch could bring into the field, and conquered three provinces. The +quarrel between the house of Orange and the party headed by the Grand +Pensionary still continued to rage. The supreme power was in the hands +of the States General. De Witt proposed to establish the government of +Holland in the East India possessions, as Portugal did in Brazil, rather +than submit. The representative of the house of Orange encouraged the +people to resist at home, and declared that he would 'die in the last +ditch.' As the formation of the country rendered it exceedingly probable +that the 'last ditch' was to be found somewhere in Holland, the advice +of this Prince of Orange was adopted. The popular current turned in his +favor, and against the Grand Pensionary, who was murdered by a mob at +The Hague. + +"The Prince of Orange was elected Stadtholder, and is known as William +III. Instead of seeking the 'last ditch' himself, he opened it for the +benefit of the invaders. The dikes were cut, and the country was so +thoroughly inundated that the French army was forced to retire, after +sustaining very heavy losses. Peace was made with England in 1674, and +three years later, the Stadtholder married Mary, daughter of James, Duke +of York, who became king of England at the death of his brother Charles +II. By the revolution of 1688, William and Mary were declared joint +sovereigns of England. + +"When William III. died, his cousin and next heir was not recognized as +Stadtholder of Holland, the anti-Orange party being in the ascendant. A +republic was again organized under Heinsius; but, in 1747, the prince +again prevailed, and the line of the Stadtholders was resumed under +William IV., who was succeeded by William V. In 1795 the Batavian +Republic was established, under the influence of the French Revolution, +France having conquered the country. + +"In 1806, Napoleon remodelled the government, and placed his brother +Louis, the father of the present French emperor, upon the throne. Louis, +who was a very moderate and sensible man, offended his brother by ruling +his kingdom in the interest of Holland rather than France, and, after a +brief reign of four years, was compelled to abdicate. Napoleon then +annexed Holland to France. + +"At the downfall of Napoleon the Netherlands were erected into a +kingdom, which included Belgium, as I have before stated, and the Prince +of Orange was made king, under the title of William I. The present +sovereign is his grandson. The Belgian Revolution of 1830 deprived +Holland of one half of its territory, and more than half of its people; +but these events I mentioned in my lecture at Antwerp." + +Mr. Mapps retired, and Mr. Lowington took his place. + +"Young gentlemen," said the principal, "this afternoon we shall make a +steamboat excursion to Dort, and through some of the arms of the sea, to +enable you to see Dutch life from the water. On Monday we shall start on +a grand excursion through Holland, visiting the following places in the +order in which they are mentioned: Delft, The Hague, Leyden, Harlem, +Amsterdam, Sardam, Broek, Alkmaar, The Helder, and Utrecht. The +programme will enable you to see all the interesting points of Holland, +including the capital, the drained lake of Harlem, and the great dike of +the Helder. + +"The water of Holland is very bad, and drank in any considerable +quantities would probably make you sick. Spring water, brought from +Utrecht in stone jars, may be obtained in the large towns. Whenever it +is practicable, I shall see that you are supplied with it; but avoid the +common water. You will now resume your studies." + +Mr. Hamblin took his place with the other professors, and the studies of +the ship went on as usual. The mail came on board, and, when school was +dismissed, the letters were distributed. The first lieutenant of the +Josephine and Duncan were invited to the main cabin to give their +evidence in regard to the trouble between Paul and the professor. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AN EXCURSION AMONG THE DIKES. + + +Terrill and Duncan, with the letters in their hands which they had just +received, entered the main cabin. They were called upon, in the presence +of Mr. Lowington and Mr. Hamblin, as well as Captain Kendall, to give +their testimony, which went to show that the commander was thoroughly +and heartily opposed to any demonstration against the obnoxious +instructor. + +"What did Mr. Kendall say to you?" asked Mr. Hamblin. + +"He asked me to use my influence with the fellows to prevent anything +being done, and wished me to let them all know that he would not +tolerate anything irregular," replied Duncan. + +"Did he, indeed!" sneered Mr. Hamblin. + +"He did, indeed," answered Duncan, with a twinkle of the eye. + +"How happened he to say as much as this to you?" demanded the professor. + +"Because, being an old friend and schoolmate of Captain Kendall, I +happened to tell him that the fellows were inclined to haze Mr. +Hamblin." + +"To haze me!" exclaimed Mr. Hamblin. + +"I understand that we are to tell the whole truth here," added Duncan, +who seemed to enjoy the confusion of the learned gentleman. "I didn't +hear of any particular plans; but the fellows kept hinting at +something." + +"Did they, indeed?" + +"They did, indeed." + +"But you don't know what they were?" + +"I do not, sir." + +"Can you tell me who wrote the letter I asked you to translate?" + +"No sir, I cannot." + +Mr. Lowington asked some questions of the witness; and it was evident to +him that the disaffection on board of the Josephine was more general +than he had before suspected. Terrill was called upon to explain still +further the position of the captain; and Duncan opened his letters, +being, as all the boys were, anxious to hear from home. He had two +letters. Besides the one from his mother, there was another postmarked +at Cologne, which he read after he had finished the first. + +As Duncan read this Cologne letter his face became quite red, and he was +not a little agitated. By the time he had finished both of them, the +first lieutenant had told all he knew in regard to the captain's +position. He was very candid in making his statement, and took no pains +to conceal the general disgust felt on board of the consort at the +conduct of Mr. Hamblin; and he took no pains to conceal the fact that he +shared the feelings of his shipmates. + +"I should like to add something to my former statement, if you please, +Mr. Lowington," said Duncan, rising, with the Cologne letter in his +hand. + +"What do you wish to add?" asked the principal. + +"I know now who wrote the letter to Mr. Hamblin." + +"Who?" + +"Richard H. Linggold." + +"Who is he?" + +"He is an old schoolmate of mine, whom I met in Antwerp the afternoon we +first went ashore there," replied Duncan, who now appeared to be +considerably embarrassed. + +"Was he a schoolmate of Mr. Kendall also?" demanded Mr. Hamblin, who was +more anxious to connect the letter with him than to promote the +discipline of the students. + +"No, sir; I don't think Captain Kendall ever saw Linggold." + +"We are to conclude, Duncan, that you put him up to this mischief," +added Mr. Lowington. + +"Yes, sir; I did," answered Duncan, candidly. + +"Why did you virtually deny all knowledge of the letter when I appealed +to the ship's company before the suspension of Captain Kendall," +continued Mr. Lowington, sternly. + +"I will explain. I met Linggold in Antwerp, and spent an hour with him +at the Hotel St. Antoine, where he was staying with his uncle. He wanted +to know about the academy squadron, and I told him all about both +vessels. As the trouble we had had in the Josephine was uppermost in the +minds of all of us, I told him all about that." + +"Did you, indeed?'? said Mr. Hamblin. + +"I did, indeed. I am willing to acknowledge that I intended to join with +the rest of the fellows in hazing Mr. Hamblin." + +"Are you, indeed?" sneered the professor, so wrathy that it was +impossible for him to keep his seat, and he began to stride up and down +the cabin. + +"I am, indeed. About a dozen of us were going to write letters to Mr. +Hamblin from all the big bugs, including Louis Napoleon, the King of +Holland, the King of Belgium, and all the Ministers of State whose names +we could find out." + +"Were you, indeed?" gasped the _savant_, passing before the witness. + +"We were, indeed. I told Linggold what we were going to do, and he +promised to help me, being a first-rate French and German scholar; but I +told him we didn't want any help, and that he would get me into a scrape +if he meddled with the matter. I meant to have the letters mailed in +some place where none of us ever went. I told Linggold I wanted him to +take the letters and mail them at Cologne, and other places he went to +in his travels; and he promised to do so. I didn't think of such a thing +as his writing any letter after what I said. I left him then, and +haven't seen or heard from him since till now. He must have written the +letter right off, and mailed it at once, for it came on board the +Josephine that night." + +"Do you mean to say that you didn't know this letter was to be written?" +demanded Mr. Hamblin, sharply. + +"Yes, sir." + +"When I asked you to give me a translation of it, were you not aware +that it was a forgery?" + +"I supposed it was." + +"You knew it was!" + +"No, sir; I did not. I had no knowledge whatever in regard to the +writer. It did not occur to me, after what had passed between Linggold +and me, that he wrote the letter. I believed it was done by some fellow +on board. When the captain was arrested, all the fellows tried to find +out who had sent the letter, but no one would acknowledge it." + +"Did you write any letters of this description, Duncan?" asked the +principal. + +"No, sir. I had two conversations with the captain; and when he asked me +to do what I could to prevent any tricks being played upon the +professor, I determined not to have anything to do with the letters, or +any practical jokes of any kind. I can bring a dozen fellows to prove +that I said all I could to keep them from playing any tricks." + +"What does your friend say in his letter?" + +"He says the joke was so good he couldn't resist the temptation to send +the first letter to the professor himself, and wants to know why I +didn't send the letters to him that I promised?" + +"Why didn't you?" + +"After what the captain said, I persuaded the fellows not to write the +letters, and I did not write any myself. This letter is on the same kind +of paper as that," added Duncan, pointing to that which Paul had. + +"Are you satisfied, Mr. Hamblin?" asked Mr. Lowington. + +"No, sir, I am not," replied the professor, decidedly. "It appears that +there was an organized conspiracy against me in the consort." + +"But it does not appear that Captain Kendall had anything to do with +it," added the principal, mildly. + +"These boys are deceitful." + +"Some of them are," replied Mr. Lowington, taking his pen and writing a +few lines. "Duncan, I am not satisfied with your conduct." + +"I am not satisfied with it myself, sir," answered Duncan. "Perhaps I +ought to have known where that letter came from when Mr. Hamblin asked +me to translate it; but I supposed some of the fellows on board had done +it." + +"Didn't you recognize the writing of your friend?" + +"No, sir; it is very much like that of half a dozen fellows on board." + +"It is very much like Mr. Kendall's," said Mr. Hamblin. + +"Linggold, Captain Kendall, and myself, all learned to write in the same +school." + +"Then Mr. Kendall knows this Linggold?" + +"No, sir; he didn't go to the school till Captain Kendall left." + +"I suppose not," added the incredulous professor. "I am still of the +opinion that Mr. Kendall wrote that letter." + +"I am entirely satisfied that he did not write it. Duncan, you will +remain on board of the ship. Mr. Terrill, you will return to the +Josephine, pipe to muster, and read this order. Captain Kendall will +return with you." + +"What is the order?" demanded Mr. Hamblin. + +"'All charges against Captain Kendall being disproved, he is hereby +reinstated, and ordered to resume the command of the Josephine,'" +replied the principal, reading the order. + +"Mr. Lowington, I protest--" + +"I have heard you patiently, Mr. Hamblin, and have given my decision," +interposed the principal, directing the students present to retire. + +Paul bowed to Mr. Lowington, and left the cabin. The investigation had +ended as he had supposed from the beginning that it would end. + +"Mr. Lowington, I protest against this decision," repeated Mr. Hamblin, +angrily. "I feel obliged to say that there has been a great lack of +judgment in managing this unpleasant business." + +"And I feel obliged to remind you, Mr. Hamblin, that I am the principal +of this academy squadron. My decision is final," replied Mr. Lowington, +with dignity, as he rose from his chair and left the cabin. + +"Snubbed by the boys, snubbed by the principal!" exclaimed the learned +gentleman. "Dr. Winstock, did you ever witness a more ridiculous farce +in your life?" + +"Never, sir," replied the surgeon. "It seems to me that you insist upon +condemning Captain Kendall, guilty or innocent." + +"I have no doubt whatever of his guilt. Those boys are all in league +with each other, Kendall included. There is a conspiracy to annoy me, +and to get rid of me; but they will find they have mistaken their man +in me, if they haven't in anybody else! Dr. Winstock, I tell you the +letter Duncan held in his hand was a fiction! I have been with students +all my life, and I know them." + +"Why a fiction?" + +"That Duncan, who is a very plausible young man, and a friend of +Kendall, mind, is at the bottom of all this mischief. He wrote the +Cologne letter himself. It was got up, and sent enclosed to the +postmaster at Cologne, who of course forwarded it to Rotterdam. It is a +trick to disprove the charge against Kendall." + +Mr. Hamblin was very much excited, and developed his theory in full to +the surgeon, who quietly pointed out its discrepancies. He insisted that +the students of the Josephine had thorned and irritated him for the sole +purpose of getting rid of him, and that Paul was at the bottom of the +mischief. + +"When Mr. Lowington has been among students as long as I have, he will +understand them better," he added, triumphantly, for he was satisfied +that he had established his position. "The Josephine is an utter +failure! The plan is absurd and ridiculous. The senior professor has no +authority; or it is divided with a boy who hates Greek!" + +Dr. Winstock had heard quite enough on the subject, and it was a great +relief to him when the dinner-bell rang. At this moment three times +three rousing cheers came over the water from the Josephine. It was not +difficult to determine the occasion of this demonstration; but Mr. +Hamblin declared it was another evidence that the students in the +consort were all in league, and that the captain of her, instead of +being cheered, ought to be in the brig. + +Before the dinner was finished, a Dutch steamer, which Mr. Fluxion had +engaged, came alongside the ship, and all hands were piped on board. She +then went to the Josephine, and received her company. + +"This steamer does not seem to be much different from those we saw in +England," said Paul, as he seated himself with Dr. Winstock where they +could see the country on both sides of the river. + +"Not very different, but it is very unlike an American boat," replied +the surgeon. + +"The steering apparatus is not like anything I ever saw before," added +Paul. "The helmsman stands on a raised platform, and his wheel revolves +horizontally." + +"All the Rhine steamers have that arrangement." + +"I think a wheel-house forward is ever so much better. I see the cook is +a woman." + +"Yes; all the Rhine steamers have female cooks. This boat, I believe, +belongs to the Moerdyk line. Passengers from Antwerp come by railroad to +Moerdyk, and there take the steamer to Rotterdam. This country is very +favorable to railroads in being level, but very unfavorable in the +number of rivers and cut-offs to be crossed, which it is impossible to +bridge." + +The steamer stood up the Leck, and turned into the Merwe, which is a +branch five or six miles in length, connecting the Leck and the Waal. On +each side was a dike, of course; but the view from the steamer showed +only an ordinary bank. The top of it was broad, and occasionally there +was a neat cottage or a little inn upon the top of it. The roof or +chimney of a house beyond it was frequently observed, otherwise the +uninformed traveller would not have suspected the character of the +country. The embankment was studded with windmills, placed on the +highest ground, to give the sails the full benefit of the wind. Some of +them were used for grinding grain, some for sawing lumber, and others +for forcing the water up from the low ground into the river. + +The steamer passed from the Merwe into the Waal, and stood up the river. +There was but little variation in the scenery. The wall of dikes on +either side was uninterrupted. Sometimes they were lined with rows of +trees, between which was the common road; at others they were bare and +naked. The captain of the steamer told them that a portion of the +country in the vicinity was lower than the bottom of the river. The +whole region seemed to be saturated with water, and the wonder is that +the people can go to bed at night with any assurance that they will not +be drowned out before morning. + +"There is the Castle of Loevestein," said the captain of the boat, who +spoke good English, "and the fort below has the same name." + +"Did you ever hear of it before?" asked Mr. Mapps, who was on the +lookout for places of historical interest, as he turned to a group of +seamen. + +"You mentioned it this morning," replied one of the students. + +"In what connection?" + +"Some man had a wonderful escape from it," added another. + +"Who was that man?" + +"A Dutchman with a Latin name." + +"Grotius, or De Groot," added Mr. Mapps. "The Stadtholder, Prince +Maurice, the boy general and ruler, wished to make himself hereditary +sovereign of the Netherlands, and was opposed by the judge, Barneveldt, +and Grotius. The prince carried the day; Barneveldt was executed, and +Grotius imprisoned in this castle, where he was kept nearly two years. +He was very strictly guarded at first; but his wife, finding that the +vigilance of the sentinels was relaxed, devised a scheme for effecting +his liberation. The books, papers, and linen of the prisoner were +conveyed to him in a large box, which the guards, having so often +searched in vain for contraband articles, at last neglected to examine. +The box, and the carelessness of the soldiers, suggested to the wife of +Grotius the means of getting her husband out of the castle. + +"She prepared the chest by boring some holes in it, for the admission of +the air, and took her servant-girl into her confidence. The box was +conveyed to the apartment of Grotius, and the project explained to him. +He did not relish the idea of being shut up in a chest, and rolled about +in a boat; but his wife's entreaties prevailed over his scruples. It was +pretended that the box was filled with books which the learned man had +borrowed in Gorcum, the town which you see on the other side of the +river. + +"The chest, containing the philosopher, was conveyed by the soldiers +down to the boat, in charge of the servant-girl. When one of them +complained of its weight, the man said it was the Arminian books which +were so heavy; for Grotius was an Arminian in his theology. The soldier +suggested that it was the Arminian himself; but this was intended as a +joke, and the box was tumbled into the boat. The servant made a signal +with her handkerchief to her mistress, who was looking out of the +window, to indicate that all was right. + +"When the boat reached Gorcum, the box was conveyed to the house of a +friend of Grotius, of whom it was presumed that he had borrowed the +books. The servant-girl told him that her master was in the box, and +begged his assistance; but he was so terrified, in view of the +consequences, that he refused to have anything to do with the matter. +His wife, however, had more pluck in the service of a friend, and, +having sent all her domestics out of the house on various errands, she +opened the box, and released the philosopher from durance vile. + +"Grotius, who had suffered no serious inconvenience from his confinement +in the box, which was only three and a half feet long, was disguised as +a mason, and, with a rule and trowel in his hand, was conducted to a +boat, and sent into Belgium, where he was safe from pursuit. + +"The philosopher's wife remained in the room occupied by her husband in +the castle, and used every means to conceal his escape. She lighted the +lamp in his room at dark, by which the governor of the prison was +deceived. She was arrested and imprisoned for a short time; but when +discharged, she joined her husband in Paris, whither he had gone." + +"There is a frigate in the Dutch navy called the Marie van +Reigersberch, named for the wife of Grotius," added the captain of the +steamer, who had been an attentive listener to the story. + +The steamer went but a short distance farther up the Waal, and then came +about. She soon reached Dort, or Dordrecht, where she made a landing, +and the students wandered for an hour through the streets of this +ancient town. + +"This is a musty old place," said Paul, as he walked up one of the +streets with a canal in the middle of it, in company with Mr. Fluxion +and the surgeon; "I shouldn't feel safe here unless I lived in a boat." + +"Many of the people live in boats, as you perceive," added Mr. Fluxion, +as he pointed to a gayly-painted craft, on the deck of which was a group +of children. + +At the little window in the stern sat a woman, sewing, while another was +knitting near the cabin door. There were white muslin curtains at the +stern ports, and what could be seen of the interior of the apartment +indicated that it was kept extremely neat. + +"I think I should prefer to live in something that would float, in case +of accident," laughed the doctor, "especially in this part of Holland. +The operation of the water is wonderful. The channel in front of Dort +was formed by an inundation which separated the town from the main land, +leaving it deep enough to float the largest Indiaman." + +"The Leck, on which we sailed for a time after leaving Rotterdam, was a +canal dug by the Romans to connect the Rhine and the Waal," added Mr. +Fluxion. "A freshet cleaned it out, and tore away its banks so as to +make the present broad river of it. In an inundation a few years later, +seventy-two villages were swept away, and one hundred thousand people +lost their lives. Thirty-five of these villages were never heard from +afterwards, and not even their ruins could be found." + +"I should emigrate if I lived here," said Paul. + +"The people of Holland are very much attached to their country," replied +Dr. Winstock. + +"Well, they ought to be, on the principle that we like best what has +cost us the most trouble to procure," added Paul. "It seems to me a +great pity that people should struggle here to keep their heads above +water, when we have so much spare land in America. We could take them +all in without feeling it." + +"Dutchmen would not feel at home on high ground." + +"We could plant them down in Louisiana, and even treat them to an +occasional inundation." + +"Certainly we should be very happy to accommodate them with a country. +We have a great many Dutchmen already, and they make thrifty, +industrious, and useful people," continued the doctor. "But I think, if +Holland were blotted out of existence, the world would miss it very +much." + +"This is a great lumber port," said Mr. Fluxion. "Those great rafts +which float down the Rhine from Switzerland are mostly brought to this +place. I hope the boys will have a chance to see one of those rafts, for +they are stupendous affairs. One of them sometimes contains a hundred +and fifty thousand dollars' worth of lumber, and has a crew of four or +five hundred men." + +"I think I heard Mr. Lowington say that we were to go down the Rhine," +replied Paul. + +"That is the Kloveniers Doelen," said Mr. Fluxion, as he led his +companions into a back street and pointed out an old Gothic building. +"It was here that the Protestant divines discussed the doctrines of the +reformed religion, whose 'miraculous labors made hell tremble,' to quote +the words of its presiding officer. The assembly is called in history +the Synod of Dort. The building, as you may see by reading the sign, is +now a low public house and dance-hall." + +"Reading the sign!" exclaimed Paul, laughing; "a fellow would knock all +the teeth out of his head in attempting to speak some of these words." + +"But many of them are very like English words. A dike is a _dijk_." + +"Steamboats are _stoombooten_," said Paul; "and a street is a straat. +What are canals?" + +"_Grachten_; the drawbridge is _ophaalbruggen_." + +"Whew!" whistled Paul. + +"But you can observe something like open-bridge in the sound. You see +that the _spiegels_ are very common here." + +"I see they are; but I haven't the least idea what they are." + +"The little mirrors placed outside the windows." + +"I saw plenty of them in Antwerp." + +"They are not as common there as in Holland, where they are to be seen +attached to almost every house. By this contrivance a Dutch dame can see +every person that passes in the street, without raising the blinds. But +I think the hour is nearly up, and we must return to the steamer," said +Mr. Fluxion. + +The party went on board, and the steamer returned to Rotterdam by a +different route from that by which she had come. The next day was +Sunday. After the second service on board the ship, Mr. Fluxion, having +occasion to go on shore, invited Paul to accompany him. + +"It will not seem much like Sunday to you in Rotterdam," said the +vice-principal, as they landed at the _quai_. + +"I supposed the Dutch were very strict." + +"Some of them are. Look down that street," said Mr. Fluxion, as he +pointed to the broad avenue which bordered the great river. "You observe +that the _quais_ are all lined with ships. In the houses opposite live +the merchants. They occupy the upper stories of the buildings, while the +lower are used as counting-rooms and storehouses. The ship-owner sits at +his parlor window and witnesses the unlading of his vessel." + +They walked up to the Hotel des Pays-Bas, which the traveller is +informed by its card is situated in the _Korte Hoogstraat, wijk No. +287_, where Mr. Fluxion desired to see a gentleman who had engaged to +meet him there. In one of the public rooms a party were playing cards, +drinking, and smoking, and talking Dutch in the most vehement manner. +After a stay of an hour at the hotel, they returned to the _quai_, +passing through _Zandstraat_, which was filled with people, shouting, +singing, and skylarking. About every other shop appeared to be a +drinking saloon, in which a fiddle or a hurdy-gurdy was making wild +music, while the floor was crowded with men and women dancing. + +In another street they encountered a mock procession of girls and boys, +singing in the most stormy manner as they marched along. It was not at +all like Sunday, and Paul was so shocked at the desecration of the day, +that he was glad to regain the silence of his cabin in the Josephine. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +A RUN THROUGH HOLLAND. + + +Like that of all impulsive men, the wrath of Mr. Hamblin was +short-lived, though he still felt that he was greatly abused, greatly +distrusted, and greatly under-estimated; and the last was the greatest +sin of all. After the first blast of his anger at the final decision of +the principal had subsided, he was disposed to be more politic. Mr. +Lowington had snubbed him, which was a great mistake on Mr. Lowington's +part. + +Mr. Hamblin knew that he was an older man than the principal, and he +felt that he was a wiser one, and his employer ought to consult him, +defer to his opinion, and take his advice. He did not do this to the +extent the learned gentleman demanded; and the Academy Ship was the +sufferer thereby, not himself. If Mr. Lowington could stand it, he +could, disagreeable as it was. If Mr. Hamblin had been pecuniarily +independent, he would have thrown up his situation, and visited the +classic lands alone; but as he was not able to do this, he decided to +submit to Mr. Lowington's caprices, and give the institution the benefit +of his valuable services. + +If the students had known of this decision, they would have remonstrated +against it. As it was, they protested in their own way. On Saturday +night, after the return of the students from the excursion, while the +_savant_ was promenading the deck for his needed exercise, not less than +three practical jokes were played off upon him. The crew were squaring +the yards, hauling taut the sheets, lifts, and braces, and putting the +deck in order for Sunday. The professor was tipped over by getting +entangled in a piece of rigging, a bucket of water was dashed upon his +legs, and a portion of the contents of a slush-tub was poured upon him +from the main-top. No one seemed to see him; the students appeared to be +struck with blindness, so far as the learned gentleman was concerned. It +is true that the rogues who pulled the brace, dashed the water, and +upset the slush-tub, were immediately committed to the brig; but this +did not seem to afford much comfort to the victim. + +On Sunday morning it was necessary to commit three more; but the whole +six were released in the evening, because they could not sleep in the +brig. Mr. Lowington was annoyed quite as much as the professor; and when +Mr. Fluxion came on board, he had a long conversation with him on the +subject. + +"I was a boy once, Mr. Lowington," said the vice-principal; "and I am +free to say I would not have tolerated such an instructor as Mr. +Hamblin. He hasn't a particle of sympathy with the students. He is +haughty, stiff, and overbearing. He is imperious, fretful, snarling, and +tyrannical. In a word, I don't blame the boys for disliking him." + +"I am conscious that he is not the right person. In the case of Kendall, +he protested against my decision, and had the impudence to tell me that +I lacked judgment. I have engaged him for a year. What shall I do?" +replied the principal. + +"I hardly know; but we shall be in trouble as long as he is in the +squadron. We must give the boys fair play, if we expect them to do their +duty." + +"I have kept Duncan on board the ship, and I suppose I must punish him," +added Mr. Lowington. "He plotted mischief, but he has really done +nothing." + +"Excuse me," said Dr. Winstock, as he opened the door, but retreated +when he saw that he disturbed a private interview. + +"Come in, doctor; I wish to see you," replied the principal. + +The surgeon was admitted to the conference, and the case stated to him. + +"The pedagogue of the past is rapidly going out of fashion," said the +doctor. "Our educational system is progressive, and it will no longer +tolerate the teacher who is the petty tyrant he was twenty years ago. +Mr. Hamblin is an old-school pedagogue. His will is law, which is all +right to a certain extent. The teacher must be the judge between right +and wrong; but he must be gentle and kind, and raise no false issues +between his pupil and himself. Mr. Hamblin is not gentle and kind. He is +capricious, wilful, and passionate." + +"I agree with you in regard to Mr. Hamblin; but what shall I do?" + +"Discharge him," replied the doctor, promptly. "Any instructor who +cannot get along with Paul Kendall, without quarrelling, is not fit for +his place. The students of the Josephine have hazed Mr. Hamblin out of +pure sympathy for their captain." + +"I have engaged Mr. Hamblin for a year from the 1st of July." + +"I should pay him his salary in full, and let him depart in peace, if he +would." + +"We need his services as an instructor." + +"So far as that is concerned, I will volunteer to take the department of +mathematics. I was a tutor in college in that branch for a couple of +years." + +Mr. Lowington thanked the surgeon for this offer; and the call to divine +service in the steerage terminated the interview. The principal's +advisers spoke his own opinions; and the only thing that embarrassed him +in getting rid of the obnoxious professor was the bad conduct of the +students in regard to him. It was emphatically wrong for them to "haze" +an unpopular professor; and Mr. Lowington was not willing to act under +apparent compulsion. + +The school studies were continued as usual through the forenoon of +Monday. After dinner, dressed in their best uniforms, with bag and +blanket, the students were conveyed to the shore for their trip through +Holland, which was to occupy three or four days. The first afternoon was +to be occupied in exploring Rotterdam, and, as usual, Paul Kendall and +Dr. Winstock kept together. + +"This is the _Hoogstraat_," said the doctor, when they reached the +principal street of the city. + +"Does that mean _Hog Street_?" + +"Not at all," laughed Dr. Winstock. "It means the _High Street_. It is +situated on the top of an old dike or dam, built to keep the Maas from +overflowing the country behind it. One of these canals is formed out of +the River Rotte. This stream and this dam gave the name of _Rotterdam_ +to the place." + +"Whose statue is that?" asked Paul, when they came to a wide bridge over +a broad canal. + +"That is the statue of Erasmus, who was born in Rotterdam." + +"Never heard of him." + +"He was a noted theologian and classical scholar, who made his mark in +the polemical discussions of Germany and Switzerland in the time of the +Reformation. This is the _Groote Markt_, or market-place, of Rotterdam," +added Dr. Winstock, when they had crossed the bridge. + +[Illustration: A DISAGREEMENT AMONG THE DOG TEAMS.--Page 314.] + +It was a great square, in the middle of which the canal widened into a +basin for the accommodation of the market boats, by which the meats and +vegetables are brought from the country. There were plenty of dog teams +passing in and out of this square, and at rest there, which amused the +young Americans hugely. The vehicle--a little cart or wagon, sometimes +large enough to contain four of the great polished brass milk-cans, +holding from ten to twenty gallons, and sometimes no bigger than a baby +carriage--was generally in charge of a woman. In some of them the dog +was regularly harnessed in a pair of shafts; but in the larger ones +there was a division of labor between the driver and the animals. The +woman held the shafts, while the dogs, from two to six in number, were +attached to various parts of the vehicle. If there were but two of them, +they generally trotted under the wagon, being harnessed to the +axletree; if more than two, the others were hitched on ahead of her, and +at each side of her. The dogs were of all sorts and sizes, and seemed to +be patient and well trained in the discharge of their duty. In some +instances, while the woman held the shaft, a stout man walked behind, +with a stick in his hand, officiating as general manager of the team, +including his "_vrow_"! + +"There's a row!" shouted Paul, as they approached the banks of the +canal. + +"That's not an uncommon scene in Holland," replied the doctor, laughing. + +One of the first-class dog teams had incautiously been conducted too +near another team, reposing, after the labors of the day, on the verge +of the canal. Some canine demonstration on the part of the idle dogs, +doubtless, excited the ire of the travelling team, and, without asking +the woman's permission, the latter deserted the ranks, so far as their +harness would permit, and "pitched into" the others, which sprang to +their feet, and met the assailants half way. All the dogs howled, +growled, and barked vehemently, and in a moment the two teams were +rolling upon the ground, entangled in their rigging, snapping, biting, +and kicking, in mad fury. + +The woman seized a stick, and belabored the belligerents with great +vigor; but the fight continued, in spite of her, until several women +interfered, and dragged the cart of the idlers, clogs and all, out of +the reach of the others. The driver, after severely whipping her charge, +unsnarled their rigging, and went on her way. Paul had to stop and laugh +frequently at these dog teams, the animals presented so many different +phases of character. Some of them howled or barked as they trudged +along; and many manifested a desire to make the acquaintance of other +teams on their way, much to the annoyance of the driver, who would storm +at them in Dutch, kick and whip them. + +Many of the men, women, and children wore sabots, or wooden shoes, which +Paul compared to canal boats, and went clumping and clattering along the +streets like champion clog-dancers. The Flemish cap, worn by some of the +peasant women, also amused Paul very much. From each side of the +wearer's head, near the eye, projected a brass ornament, in the shape of +a spiral spring, but each circle diminishing in size till the wire ended +in a point, like a gimlet. + +In the older parts of the city the tourists found brick buildings whose +walls slant outwards, so that the eaves would project eighteen inches +over the base, as farmers in New England sometimes build their +corn-barns. + +Rotterdam contains about as many canals as streets, which are frequently +crossed by draw-bridges. Some of these are handsome iron structures, +revolving on a balance, so as to make a passage on each side when open. +Others were raised by heavy framework overhead; and in some of the +bridges there was only an opening one or two feet wide, to permit the +passing of the vessel's masts. + +After examining the canals and bridges in this part of the city, Paul +and the doctor walked to the church of St. Lawrence, which is noted for +its great organ, ninety feet high, and containing sixty-five hundred +pipes. + +"Now, Paul, we will take a carriage and ride up to the park, and go +from there to the railway station," said the doctor, as they left the +_Groote Kerk_. + +"What is that man eating?" asked Paul, as they passed through one of the +dirtiest parts of the city, where, on the bank of the canal, a woman was +standing behind a table loaded down with a heap of shellfish, just as +they came from the mud. + +The customer was taking them from the shells, drinking at intervals from +a cup. + +"They are a kind of mussel; I never had confidence enough to taste of +them," laughed the doctor. "The condiments are in the cup, I suppose. Do +you wish to try them?" + +"No, I thank you; my stomach is not lined with zinc, and such a vile +mess as that would be too much for it. Those cakes look better," added +Paul, pointing to a stand where a man and woman were cooking waffles, or +flapjacks, which were eaten by the purchasers in a neat little booth. + +"Those are very nice," said the doctor. "We will try some of them. You +never need have any suspicions of the neatness of these Dutch women." + +They went into the booth, and were soon supplied with a couple of the +cakes, hot from the furnace, and covered with powdered white sugar. Paul +agreed that they were very nice. + +"The signs amuse me quite as much as any thing else, and I am studying +Dutch by their aid," said Paul, as they continued on their way. + +"Read this, then," added the doctor, handing him a yellow paper bag he +picked up in the street, on which was a shopkeeper's advertisement. + +"I can read some of it," replied Paul; and the reader may help him. + + In de Mooriaan. + Deze en meer andere soorten van + TABAK, SNUIF, SIGAREN, KOFFIJ, + THEE ENZ + _zijn te bekomen bij_ + D. B. SCHRETLEN, + Zandstraat, Wijk 5, No. 447, + ROTTERDAM. + +"Tobacco, snuff, cigars, coffee--these are plain enough. What does 'Wijk +5' mean?" + +"That is a division or ward of the city, like E. C. and W. C., in +London." + +The carriage was obtained, and they rode to the park, which, however, +had no particular attractions. With the exception of the canals, and the +manners and customs of the people, there is little to see in Rotterdam. +On the way they met a funeral, the carriages of which were peculiar; and +the driver of the hearse wore a black straw hat, with a brim more than a +foot wide, and with great white bands at his neck. + +At five o'clock the students had all collected at the station of the +_Hollandsche Spoorweg_, or Holland Railroad; and in twenty minutes the +train set them down at Delft, the port from which the Speedwell sailed +with a portion of the Pilgrim Fathers of New England. The name of the +town is derived from "_delven_," to dig. It contains twenty thousand +inhabitants, and was formerly noted for its pottery manufacture, which +was called Delft ware, from this place. + +The party went immediately to the _Prinsenhof_, now a barrack, which was +the building in which the Prince of Orange was assassinated. The spot +where the murder took place was pointed out. A descriptive stone in the +wall records the event. From this place they passed on to the Old +Church, nearly opposite, which has a leaning tower, and saw the tomb of +Van Tromp, the great Dutch admiral, the hero of thirty-two sea-fights. +In the New Church is the monument of the Prince of Orange. His statue +rests upon it; and at the feet of the great man is represented a little +dog. The inscription was translated by Mr. Mapps, and the allusion to +the dog afforded the professor an opportunity to tell a story. + +"While the prince was asleep in his camp, near Mechlin, the Spaniards +attempted to murder him," said he, "and would probably have succeeded +had if not been for this little dog. As the assassins approached the +tent, the dog discovered them, and jumped upon his master's bed, barking +furiously, and tugging at the clothing with his feet and teeth. The +prince was awakened, and succeeded in making his escape. When his master +was killed, twelve years later, this dog pined away and died." + +"Perhaps he died of old age," suggested one of the students. + +"The story is, that he refused to eat from grief. I cannot vouch for it; +but he was a good dog, and deserves the mention made of him on the tomb. +This church contains the burial-vaults of the present royal family of +Holland." + +At six o'clock the train was off for The Hague, and arrived there in +fifteen minutes. On the way, the spire of the church at Ryswick, where +the treaty of 1697 mentioned in all the school histories, was framed, +was pointed out to the students. Accommodations had been engaged in the +city for the company and they remained here over night. + +The Hague, or, as the Dutch call it, _S'Gravenhage_, and the French _La +Haye_, is the capital, and has a population of eighty-one thousand. +Though it was the residence of the stadtholders in former times, it was +only a small village, and its notable features are of modern origin. +Barneveldt was executed and the De Witts murdered here. The Picture +Gallery and the Museum were specially opened for the young Americans. +The works of art were hastily viewed, and the students passed into the +Cabinet of Curiosities, of which there is a vast collection, including +an immense number of dresses, implements, and models illustrating life +in Japan and in China. + +Among the historical relics are the armor worn by the admirals De Ruiter +and Van Tromp; the portrait and sword of Van Speyk, who blew up his +vessel on the Scheldt; a part of the bed of Czar Peter the Great, on +which he slept while working at ship-building; the last shirt and +waistcoat worn by William III. of England; the dress in which the Prince +of Orange was murdered; the pistol of the assassin, with two of the +bullets; a model of Peter's cabin at Zaandam, or Sardam, and many other +objects of interest which seemed to bring the distant past before the +eye of the beholders. + +Early the next morning the students were roaming at will through the +city, anxious to see what they could of its handsome streets, the +principal of which is the Voorhout, lined with trees, and flanked with +splendid edifices. After breakfast the train bore them on to Leyden. On +the way, at the suggestion of Mr. Fluxion, the train, which was a +special, was stopped, and the students were allowed half an hour to +explore some beautiful gardens which abounded in this vicinity. Many of +them belonged to the country seats of wealthy gentlemen, and were as +magnificent as fairyland itself. + +But what pleased Paul more than the gardens of rich men, was an +opportunity to visit the house and grounds of a citizen in humbler life. +Mr. Fluxion asked the permission, which was readily granted. + +"You needn't take your shoes off here, as you must in some parts of +Holland, before you enter a house; but you must wipe them very +carefully," said the vice-principal. "The greatest sin against a Dutch +housewife is to carry any dirt into her premises." + +Paul made sure that not a particle of dust clung to his feet, and +entered the cottage. It was plainly furnished; but everything was as +clean, and white, and neat as though the room had been the interior of +the upper bureau drawer. Dr. Winstock ventured the remark, that Dutch +husbands must be the most miserable men in the world, since it could not +but be painful to be so excruciatingly nice. + +The proprietor of the house had about half an acre of land, which +constituted his garden. It was laid out with winding walks and fanciful +plats of ground, filled with the richest-hued flowers. It contained a +pond and a canal, on a small scale; for a Dutchman would not be at home +without a water prospect, even if it were only in miniature. At the end +of the garden, overlooking the pond, there was a grotesque little summer +house, large enough to accommodate the proprietor and his family. Here, +of a summer afternoon, he smoked his pipe, drank his tea, coffee, or +beer, while his wife plied her needle, and the children played at the +door. + +"What is that inscription on the house?" asked Paul, as they approached +the building. + +"_Mijn genegenheid is voldam_," replied Mr. Fluxion. + +"Exactly so! I understand that, and those are my sentiments," laughed +Paul; "but what does it all mean?" + +"'My desire is satisfied,'" replied the vice-principal. + +"He is a happy man if that is so," added the doctor. + +"Many of the Dutch label their garden houses with a sentiment like +that," continued Mr. Fluxion. "I have seen one somewhere which smacks of +Yankee slang--'_Niet zoo kwaalijk_.'" + +"I should say that was slang," interposed Paul. + +"It means, 'Not so bad.'" + +"Well, it isn't so bad, after all," added the doctor, glancing back at +the "_zomerhuis_," as they retired, with many thanks to the proprietor +for the privilege granted to them. + +The hoarse croaking of the locomotive whistle, which appeared to have a +cold in its head, drummed the students together again, and the train +proceeded. + +"This is the Rhine," said the doctor, as they went over a bridge. + +"The Rhine!" exclaimed Paul, jumping out of his seat. "Why, it isn't +anything!" + +"That is true; but you must remember that this is the old Rhine,--the +part which was dug out, robbed of the burden of its waters by the Yssel, +the Leck, and the Waal. The Rhine of Germany is quite another affair. +The mouth of the Rhine is eight miles below Leyden. It was closed for a +thousand years." + +"What became of its waters? They must have gone somewhere," said Paul. + +"They disposed of themselves in various small streams, and worked their +way to the ocean, or soaked into the sands. The mouth of the river was +opened in 1809, by an engineer, under the direction of Louis Napoleon, +King of Holland. But the ocean at high tide was higher than the river, +and to prevent the sea from flowing back into the country and disturbing +the system of dikes, immense gates were made in the sluiceways +constructed for the purpose. When the tide comes in, these gates are +shut. At low tide they are opened to let the water out. Indeed, this is +true of all the canals, which are provided with gates at each end, like +a dock. The dikes at the mouth of the Rhine are stupendous works; and as +the foundation is nothing but sand, they are built on piles, and the +face of them is of stone. This is Leyden." + +"What is there here?" asked Paul, as they got out of the carriage. + +"It has about the same sights as Delft, and also a celebrated +university; but it is more noted for its siege by the Spaniards, in +1574, than for anything else. Doubtless Mr. Mapps will fight the battle +over again." + +Of course the professor of geography and history could not lose such a +glorious opportunity, and in the _Stadhuis_, where the picture of Peter +Vanderwerf, the burgomaster who so bravely defended the place in the +memorable siege, was pointed out, he took advantage of the moment. + +"The city had held out four months," said he, after introducing the +topic, "when the worst came. The Prince of Orange had promised to assist +the people by supplying them with food; but so close was the blockade of +the place by the Spaniards, that it was impossible to do so. They were +reduced to the very verge of starvation. Dogs, cats, rats, horses, were +greedily eaten. Six thousand of the people died of pestilence, which +came with the famine, and there was hardly force enough to bury the +dead. Though pressed and threatened by the citizens, the inflexible +burgomaster refused to surrender the town. At last a couple of carrier +pigeons flew into the city, which brought the intelligence that the +prince had cut the dikes, and sent Admiral Boiset to their relief when +the rising waters should drive the Spaniards away. But the waters did +not rise high enough to enable the admiral to approach, and the people +prayed to Heaven for help. It came. A storm and a gale forced the waters +far up the river to the walls of Leyden. Boiset, with eight hundred +wild Zealanders, fought their way through the Spaniards, perched in the +trees, in boats, or in such places above the water as they could find, +and made his way into the town. A thousand of the enemy were drowned. +Leyden was saved, and the people celebrate the day of their deliverance +up to the present time. + +"As a reward for their bravery and dogged perseverance, the prince gave +them the choice of a university or exemption from a portion of their +taxes. They chose the former, and the University of Leyden was the +result." + +After a hasty walk to a few of the points of interest in the town, the +journey was resumed, and in twenty minutes the party was set down in +Harlem. In the _Groote Kerk_ of St. Bavon, they listened to the playing +of another great organ, including imitations of bells, and the _vox +humana_, or "_nux vomica_," as some of the students persisted in calling +it. Harlem is famous for its hyacinths and tulips, the passion for which +grew out of the great _tulip mania_, two hundred years ago, when single +cuttings of these bulbs were sold for four thousand florins, and even at +higher prices. They are raised not only in gardens, but in fields +hundreds of acres in extent; for they are a very important article of +commerce, the gardens of Europe being supplied from this vicinity. + +Harlem resisted the Spaniards with the same vigor and determination that +distinguished Leyden, though with a less fortunate result; and Mr. Mapps +was too glad to tell the exciting story. The town held out till +starvation was inevitable, when it was decided by the brave defenders to +form in a body around their women and children, and fight their way +through the enemy. The Spaniards, hearing of this scheme, sent in a flag +of truce, offering pardon and freedom, if the town and fifty-seven of +the chief citizens should be given up. This number of the principal men +volunteered to be the sacrifice, and the terms were accepted; but the +bloodthirsty Duke of Alva, having first murdered the fifty-seven +citizens, entered upon an indiscriminate massacre of the people, of whom +two thousand were slain. When the executioners were weary with the +slaughter, the victims were bound together in couples, and thrown into +the Lake of Harlem. Four years later, the town fell into the hands of +the Dutch again. + +After the professor had finished the siege of Harlem, the party walked +along the Spaarne to the machinery used for draining the low land +formerly covered by the lake. This territory, three hundred years ago, +was dry land; but an inundation gave it over to the dominion of the sea. +About twenty-five years ago, the States General of Holland undertook to +drain it, by forming a double dike and canal entirely around the +district, thirty-three miles in circumference, and containing forty-five +thousand acres. Three huge systems of pumps were erected, to be worked +by steam, and the task of discharging an average depth of thirteen feet +of water was begun. After four years' pumping, the lake was dried up, +and the land was sold at the rate of about eighty-five dollars an acre. +The machinery is still required to keep the water down. One engine works +eleven pumps, with a lift of thirteen feet, discharging sixty-three tons +of water at a stroke. + +The travellers took their places in the train, and in a few minutes were +conveyed over the causeways into Amsterdam, in season for the two +o'clock dinner. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +ADIEU TO HOLLAND AND PROFESSOR HAMBLIN. + + +After dinner the party, in charge of a couple of the city officials, who +had given them a welcome, went to the Palace, the noblest building in +Amsterdam. It rests upon nearly fourteen thousand piles, driven seventy +feet through the mud to "hard pan." During the reign of King Louis, it +was his residence, and the other sovereigns of Holland used it when they +visited the city. Its remarkable feature is an imposing hall, one +hundred and twenty feet long, fifty-seven feet wide, and one hundred +feet high. The interior is lined with Italian marble, and adorned with +works of art. + +"Young gentlemen," said Mr. Mapps, taking position in this great hall, +"Amsterdam contains a population of two hundred and sixty-eight +thousand. In shape, it forms rather more than the plane of a half +circle, the circumference being composed of the walls of the city, +outside of which is an immense canal. Inside of the walls there are four +principal canals, extending nearly around the city. Take the transverse +section of the trunk of a chestnut tree, divide it, with the grain of +the wood, into two equal parts, and the top of one of them will give you +the plane of the half circle. The layers of the log, formed by each +year's growth, would indicate the canals and the intervening spaces +covered with buildings. The heart of the city, however, is irregular. + +"Each of these canals is situated in the centre of a broad street. The +Keizers Gracht, or Canal, is one hundred and forty feet wide. They are +not circular, but form the sides of an irregular decagon. Other canals +intersect the principal ones, so that all parts of the city may be +visited in boats or vessels. The River Amstel flows through the town by +a winding course; and Amsterdam is derived from the name of this stream +and the dam built over it, in former days, on the spot where this +edifice is located. + +"The Y, or the Ij, is an arm of the Zuyder Zee, and forms the diameter +of the half circle; but it is bent in the shape of a bow. The water is +admitted to the canals by the Amstel. At low tide the water in the +Zuyder Zee is only six or seven inches below the level of this river, +and great difficulty is experienced in obtaining a circulation of water +in the canals, where it stagnates, and affects the health of the city. +All the canals and openings from the sea are protected by flood-gates +and sluices. The canals which cut up the city divide it into no less +than ninety islands, connected by two hundred and fifty bridges. + +"The entire town, its sluices, and even some of its canals, are built +upon piles; for the soil beneath is nothing but loose sand and bog mud. +In 1822 a vast warehouse sunk down into the mud, on account of the +weight of grain stored in it. Amsterdam is not only in peril from the +sea around it, but there is danger that the bottom may drop out. + +"In the Spanish war, of which I have had so much to say since we entered +Holland, Amsterdam was held by the Duke of Alva, and, with this city as +the base of operations, he intended to conquer the country. The siege of +Harlem was conducted from this direction. + +"A small fleet of Dutch armed vessels was frozen up near this city, and +a force was sent to capture them by the Spanish commander. The crews +opened a wide trench in the ice around their vessels, and, putting on +their skates as the besiegers approached, advanced to give them battle. +The Dutchmen, perfectly at home on skates, out-manoeuvred and beat the +Spaniards, who left several hundred of their dead on the ice. The duke +was astonished; but he was a prudent man, and ordered seven thousand +pairs of skates, upon which his troops were trained to perform military +movements." + +"That was a big thing on ice," said one of the students, as the lecture +closed. + +In the course of the day the party visited the _Oude Kerk_, or Old +Church, containing "a big organ," the _Niewe Kerk_, which has monuments +to De Ruiter, Van Speyk, and others. + +"You will not have an opportunity to go to church in Holland, Paul," +said the doctor. + +"No, sir; I suppose we sail for Havre this week." + +"Most of the people go to church; but they do not observe the Sabbath +very rigidly. Gentlemen sit with their hats on during the service, or +take them off, as they please. Amsterdam is one of the most charitable +cities in the world, and is noted for its almshouses, asylums, +hospitals. In one orphan asylum there are seven or eight hundred boys +and girls, who are kept there till they are twenty years old, and then +sent out with a good trade. They wear a peculiar dress, to prevent them +from being admitted to theatres, rum-shops, and other improper places; +for the keepers of these establishments are severely punished if they +permit any of the children of the public charitable institutions to +enter their places. A contribution for the poor is taken up every Sunday +in the churches by the deacons, who use a thing like a shrimp-net with a +long handle, having a little bell for the benefit of those who wish to +look the other way when it is thrust in their faces." + +"That's a good idea; but, I suppose, the Dutch have invented some small +coin for these occasions," laughed Paul. + +"A stiver, or five Dutch cents, equal to less than two of our cents, is +small enough. There are a great many poor people in Amsterdam who live +entirely in cellars. As you have seen, a great many families live in +vessels, keeping a pig, hens, and ducks on board, and sometimes even +have a little garden on deck. When the Dutchman gets married and sets up +in life, he obtains a small boat of from one to three tons, and goes to +housekeeping on board. If they prosper, they buy a bigger craft; but his +home, his wife, and children are on the water." + +The dike which surrounds Amsterdam has been planted with trees, and +converted into boulevards. There were formerly twenty-six bastions upon +it, constituting the fortifications of the city; but, being no longer +useful for defence, windmills have been erected upon them, to grind the +grain for the city. The four streets bordering the principal canals are +hardly to be surpassed in Europe. The buildings, which are mostly of +brick, are unique, with fantastic gables and projecting eaves. Many of +the streets are lined with trees on the banks of the canals. On the +whole, the students were more interested in Amsterdam than in any other +city they had visited, partly, perhaps, on account of its oddity. As +long as there was light to see, they continued their rambles, and then +retired early, in order to be prepared for a fresh start the next day. + +At five o'clock in the morning the party took a steamer for Zaandam, or +Sardam. Leaving the shore, they had a fine view of the city. The harbor +is enclosed by two rows of piles, with occasional openings to admit the +passage of vessels, which are closed at night with booms armed with iron +spikes. In various parts of the Ij were seen little pavilions, built +upon piers, which are the summer houses of wealthy citizens, who own +pleasure-boats, and repair in them to these cosy little temples, to +drink wine and coffee and smoke their pipes. + +At Sardam the curious students visited the cottage of Peter the Great, +in which he lived while he worked as a shipwright. The shanty is of +rough plank, and cants over on one side; but it was surrounded by +another building by the Queen of Holland, to protect it from further +decay. It contains but two rooms, one above the other, the former +reached only by a ladder. Alexander of Russia placed over the +chimney-piece a marble slab bearing the inscription, "Nothing is too +small for a great man." The walls of both rooms are covered with the +autographs of visitors, including that of the Emperor of Russia. + +From this point the tourists were conveyed by the steamer to Waterland, +from which they were to proceed by _trekschuit_ to Broek. This peculiar +craft is a kind of drag-boat, much used for passengers and light freight +on the canals of Holland. It is a long, narrow barge, nearly the whole +of which is taken up by a low cabin. Above it is the hurricane deck, +provided with a railing and benches to sit upon. At each end is a flight +of stairs, by which the main deck is reached and the cabins entered. The +_ruim_, or forward cabin, occupying the greater part of the space, is +appropriated to the common people, while the _roef_, or after-cabin, is +for the better class; but as genteel people seldom patronize the +_trekschuit_, this apartment is very small. It was drawn by horses, +attached to a long rope made fast to the pole or mast, near the bow. +Like everything Dutch, the boat was fitted up very neatly, and the +students were much interested in exploring it. + +"Here we are, all on the raging canal!" said Terrill to his captain, as +the team started. "If it comes on to blow, we can take a reef in the +forward horse." + +"Or in the _het jagertje_," laughed Paul, who had been talking with Mr. +Fluxion. + +"We'll take a reef in that now. Don't your teeth ache, captain?" + +"No; that's the boy that rides one of the horses." + +The canal was filled with boats loaded with market produce, drawn by men +and women harnessed like mules to the tow-ropes. Woman's rights seemed +to be particularly recognized in this part of Holland, for females are +harnessed to the boats like horses, enjoying the same rights as the +"lords of creation." The houses on the way were mostly cottages, whose +steep roofs were often twice the height of the walls. The stork, which +the people cherish with a kind of superstitious reverence, was +occasionally seen, but not so frequently as in the vicinity of The +Hague, where he has a nest on the roof in a large proportion of the +houses. + +The boys were much interested in the navigation of the _trekschuit_. +Meeting another boat, the steersman shouted "_Huy!_" indicating that the +other craft was to go to the right. When the tow-boy of the approaching +boat reached a certain point, he stopped his team, and the _trekschuit_ +horses passed over it, as the rope slacked. He halted again to loose the +rope for the barge to pass over. Neither boat was stopped by the +operation. At the many bridges the rope was cast off, and made fast +again, without any delay. + +An hour and a half brought them to Broek, the paradise of Dutch +neatness. It is a village of eight hundred people, most of whom have +"made their pile" and retired from business. Neatness is carried to +lunacy here, for no one is permitted to enter a house without taking off +his shoes. The narrow lanes and passages which serve as avenues are +paved with brick, or with tiles of different colors, arranged in +fantastic figures, and some are covered with sand and sea-shells, made +up into patterns. Strangers are warned not to ride through the place; +they must walk, leading the horse. The houses are mostly of wood, +gaudily painted; the roofs are covered with glazed tile of various hues. + +The cow-stables of the dairy farms are better than the houses of most of +the poorer classes of Europe, having tiled floors, with everything +"polished off" and sandpapered as nicely as though they were intended +for drawing-rooms. Over each stall is a hook, by which the cow's tail is +fastened up, so as to keep her neat and clean. + +The students continued on their way from Breck to Alkmar,--which +sustained a siege, and successfully resisted the Spaniards,--and thence +to The Helder, a town of twelve thousand inhabitants, opposite the +Texel. The great ship canal to Amsterdam commences at this point, which +is the only place on the coast of Holland where the deep water extends +up to the shore, the tide rushing through from the Zuyder Zee keeping +the passage open. The party had an opportunity to examine the mighty +sluices and gates, and to observe the stupendous dikes, before described +by Mr. Mapps. They visited the fortress erected by Napoleon with the +intention of making The Helder the Gibraltar of the North. + +On Thursday morning the tourists took the steamer, through the Great +Canal, to Amsterdam. Being obliged to wait an hour for the train to +Utrecht, Paul visited one of the "diamond mills" of the city with Mr. +Fluxion. About five hundred men were employed in the establishment, and, +as the business is exclusively in the hands of the Jews, the mills are +closed on Saturday, and work on Sunday. The art of cutting and polishing +diamonds was for a long period exclusively in the hands of the Jews of +Antwerp and Amsterdam. There are quite a number of these manufactories +in the city at the present time. The machinery is operated by steam, +turning wheels for polishing the precious stones, and propelling the +wire saws for cutting them. + +Diamond dust is the only substance with which an impression can be +produced upon the hard stones, and they are polished by metal plates +covered with this dust, and revolving with inconceivable rapidity. The +saw is a very fine wire, to which the dust is affixed. This process +appears to be the origin of the adage "diamond cut diamond." Before the +fifteenth century, diamonds were worn in their natural state, and the +art of cutting and polishing them was discovered by a native of Bruges. + +The journey of the students was continued by railway to Utrecht. +Approaching this city, the country assumed a different aspect, +presenting occasional undulations, while in the town itself there is +quite a slope down to the River Rhine, on which it is located. The +treaty of Utrecht, which settled the peace of Europe after the war of +the Spanish succession, was signed at the house of the British minister; +but it has since been pulled down. The principal object of interest in +the city is the tower of the Cathedral of St. Martin, which is three +hundred and twenty-one feet high, and commands a view of nearly the +whole of Holland and a portion of Belgium. The sexton has his residence +more than a hundred and fifty feet above _terra firma_, where his family +are domiciled, and where his children were born. Doubtless they will be +regarded as persons of high birth. + +At five o'clock in the afternoon, the weary travellers reached the +vessels of the squadron. Holland "was done," and the excitement was +ended. Many of them were tired out and cross, and it was a relief to +know that the squadron would go to sea the next morning. During the +rapid run through Holland, Wilton and Perth had found abundant +opportunities to discuss their mischievous scheme of running away with +the Josephine. They had so contrived it that eight of the Knights of the +Golden Fleece had occupied a compartment by themselves in the railway +carriages. As the squadron would arrive at Havre on Friday or Saturday, +no time was to be lost in arranging the details of the precious scheme, +which had been fully explained and assented to by the confederates. + +The first point to be gained was to "cut up," so that the whole +twenty-six Knights should be condemned to imprisonment on board the +ship, while the rest of the students, with the instructors, went to +Paris. Mr. Hamblin was still the centre of all their hopes in this +direction; for hazing him would enable them to kill two birds with one +stone. It was a great satisfaction to annoy him, independently of the +result to be gained. Wilton proposed to "keelhaul" him. This was a +barbarous punishment, formerly in use in the English and Dutch navies, +and consisted in dragging the culprit under the keel of the vessel by +ropes attached to the opposite yard-arms. Perth declared that this was +utterly impracticable, and a third suggested that it was only necessary +to "talk" the matter in order to bring down the punishment upon their +anxious heads. Monroe, who always adopted moderate counsels, thought it +would be just as well to frighten the old gentleman out of his wits. +Indeed, all, except Wilton, protested against inflicting any serious +injury upon him. A ducking, or something of that kind, would do him no +harm; but they did not wish to hurt, only to annoy, him. + +After supper the students felt a little brighter. Mr. Hamblin was pacing +the deck, as he always did towards evening, and Perth drummed together +his forces to play the first act in the drama. The names of the +twenty-six Knights had been written down on a sheet of paper, and a +dozen of them took position in the waist, with their backs to the +professor. Scarcely had the actors taken their places before the +Josephine's gig came alongside with Captain Kendall, who visited the +ship to receive his instructions from the principal for the next day. + +Paul stepped upon deck; but, perceiving that Mr. Lowington was engaged +in an earnest conversation with Dr. Winstock, he did not interrupt him, +but paused in the waist. Of course the conspirators suspended +operations, and Paul spent the time he was waiting in conversation with +them about the wonders of Holland. As he stood there, Mr. Hamblin cast +frequent glances at him, and brooded heavily over the indignities which +had been heaped upon his learned head by the young commander, as he +believed. Probably the current of his thoughts would have assumed a +different direction if he had been aware that the principal and the +surgeon were discussing the best means of "letting him down easily." + +Mr. Lowington at last discovered that Paul was waiting for him, and the +difficult subject was deferred. The captain of the Josephine went below +with the principal, and the conspirators began to discuss in a very +unguarded manner the process of keelhauling the obnoxious professor. As +the learned gentleman passed the group, he could not help hearing his +name mentioned. The boys soon became very earnest in their manner. They +had seated themselves under the lee of the hatch, and did not appear to +notice the fact that Mr. Hamblin was passing on the other side of it at +intervals. + +"We'll keelhaul him," said Wilson; and the _savant_ distinctly heard the +remark, though he did not know what it meant; only that it was some +trick to be played off upon him. + +"If he didn't hear that, he's deaf as a post," added Perth, as the +professor passed on. + +"He'll leave the ship as soon as we have keelhauled him," was the next +remark which Mr. Hamblin heard. + +Of course this meant himself; and he paused when he had satisfied +himself that he was not observed. As this was just what the conspirators +wanted, they revealed their wicked scheme fully, though with some +appearance of concealment. + +"Here are the names of all the fellows who are to take part in the +operation," said Perth, flourishing the paper. "The fellows with a cross +against their names are to throw the old fellow down; those with a dash +are to man the reef-pendants; those with a wave line are to make fast to +him--" + +That was all. Mr. Hamblin made a plunge into the midst of the young +rascals, and snatched the paper from the hands of the leader. The +conspirators sprung to their feet, and nothing could exceed the +consternation depicted upon their faces. They stood aghast, horrified, +confounded. + +"It was only a joke, sir," stammered Perth, as the professor, with +trembling hands and quivering lips, gazed at the paper, reading the +names, and noting the signs against them. + +"You villains, you!" gasped he. "Keelhaul me--will you?" + +"It was only in fun, sir. We didn't mean to do it, sir," added Wilton. + +Mr. Hamblin did not wait to hear any more. He rushed aft, rushed down +the companion-way, rushed into the main cabin, where the principal was +just dismissing Paul. + +"They are going to keelhaul me, next, Mr. Lowington!" exclaimed the +learned gentleman, savagely. + +"Pray, what is the trouble, Mr. Hamblin?" asked the principal, mildly. + +The professor explained, exhibiting the list of names in evidence of his +assertion. Mr. Lowington was sceptical. It was not possible that the +boys could entertain such a monstrous proposition as that of keelhauling +a learned professor. + +"But I heard the plan myself, sir," persisted Mr. Hamblin. "I don't know +what keelhauling is, but that is the expression the scoundrels used." + +Mr. Lowington explained what it meant; and the _savant_, without +considering the practicability or the possibility of subjecting him to +such an operation, was filled with rage and horror. The principal went +on deck, and from the paper taken from Perth called the roll of the +conspirators, summoning them to the mainmast. + +"If you have no further instructions for me, sir, I will return to the +Josephine," said Paul, touching his cap to the principal. + +"Mr. Lowington, Kendall is concerned in this affair," interposed the +professor, violently. + +"I, sir!" exclaimed Paul, confounded by the charge. + +"He is, sir; and I can prove it," protested Mr. Hamblin, whose wrath had +almost reached the boiling point. + +"You can return to the Josephine, Captain Kendall," added Mr. Lowington, +in his quiet, decisive tone. + +"Mr. Lowington, I protest--" + +"Mr. Hamblin," interposed the principal, sharply, "I will thank you to +accompany me to the cabin;" and, turning, he walked to the +companion-way, followed by the professor. + +"I wish to say, Mr. Lowington, that I am not mistaken in regard to +Kendall," said the angry instructor, as they entered the main cabin. + +"Without a doubt,you are mistaken, sir." + +"No, sir; I am not. When he came on deck, he went immediately to that +group of bad boys who were plotting to keelhaul me, and had a long +conversation with them. I watched him, sir. My eye was hardly off him a +moment. I was looking for something of this kind." + +"And you found it." + +"Yes, sir; I did." + +"When people are looking for faults and errors in others, they usually +find them," added the principal, significantly. "But I did not invite +you to the cabin to consider that matter." + +"It seems to me this matter is properly the subject for discussion at +the present time," replied the professor, who thought the principal's +ways were past finding out. + +"No; there is a subject of more importance than that, which must be +attended to first. I find it necessary to say that I am ready to accept +your resignation of the situation you fill." + +"My resignation, sir!" exclaimed Mr. Hamblin, taken all aback by this +unexpected announcement. + +"Your resignation, sir." + +"This is very remarkable conduct on your part, sir." + +"On board of the Josephine, in the presence of the officers and crew, +you protested against the action of Captain Kendall. When I have called +a large number of the students to the mainmast for discipline, you +protest against my action. I have to say, sir, that discipline, under +these circumstances, is impossible." + +"Am I to understand that you discharge me, Mr. Lowington?" demanded the +professor. + +"I intimated that I was ready to accept your resignation." + +"Well, sir, I am not ready to offer my resignation." + +"Then you compel me to take the next step. I object to your remaining on +board another day." + +"I was engaged for a year." + +"With the proviso that we were mutually satisfied. A fortnight ago you +tendered your resignation, without regard to the engagement. If I had +understood your relations with the students as well then as I do now, I +should have accepted it." + +Mr. Hamblin began to "subside." He had pretty thoroughly convinced +himself that the institution could not be carried on without him; and, +since the principal had once objected to accepting his resignation, he +had felt that his position was secure. While he was considering the +matter, Mr. Lowington went on deck, and investigated the plot to +keelhaul the professor. The conspirators had talked over the matter +during his absence, and had come to the conclusion that the truth would +serve them best. They were shrewd enough to see that there was a rupture +between the principal and the _savant_. + +Perth, as spokesman for the party, confessed that they knew Mr. Hamblin +was listening to them; that they intended he should hear the plot, which +they had not designed to execute; that it was only a trick to annoy him. + +"Was Captain Kendall concerned in it?" asked Mr. Lowington. + +"No, sir," shouted the whole party. + +"What were you talking about while he was with you?" + +"About Holland, and what we had seen on our trip. You were speaking +with Dr. Winstock, and he was waiting to see you," replied Perth. + +The principal lectured them severely, and in earnest, for their +misconduct; but he did not give them the coveted punishment of dooming +them to remain on board while the rest of the students visited Paris. He +gave them bad marks enough to spoil all their chances, if they had any, +of promotion, and the choice of desirable berths when the crew should be +reorganized at the beginning of the next quarter, which would be in one +month. He added that he should preserve the list of names, and that the +conduct of the party in the future would be closely observed. + +"We were stupid," whispered Perth to Wilton, as the principal retired. +"We have given him a list of all the Knights." + +"And he hasn't stopped our liberty," replied Wilton, in disgust. + +"No matter; we must keep still, and fight for chances." + +When Mr. Lowington returned to the cabin, the professor was as cool as +an iceberg; but the decision had been made, and it could not be +reversed. The principal reviewed Mr. Hamblin's connection with the +squadron from the beginning, and commented on his conduct in the consort +and in the ship. It was plain speech on both sides; but the result +remained unchanged. + +Professor Hamblin is not a myth. He had no sympathy with the students, +and, being arbitrary, tyrannical, and unjust, they "hated him with a +perfect hatred." It was certainly best that he should go; for in +whatever vessel he was, he kept it in a turmoil. Mr. Lowington paid him +his salary for a year, and enough in addition to defray the expenses of +his return to the United States. + +The next morning the signal for sailing was hoisted on board of the +Young America, and the pilots came on board. The students were bright +and fresh, and having seen the dikes and ditches of Holland, they were +rather anxious to escape from its muddy waters and its monotonous +plains. In fact, they sighed for another taste of blue water and the +fresh sea air. + +"All the barge's crew on deck, ahoy!" piped the boatswain, at the order +of the first lieutenant. + +The boat's crew repaired to their stations on the quarter, wondering +what was to be done next. + +The ship's company, who were waiting for the order to weigh anchor, were +vexed at the delay which the trip of the boat to the shore indicated, +and waited impatiently to learn what was going to happen. One of the +stewards brought up Mr. Hamblin's trunk, and presently the professor +himself appeared with his overcoat on his arm, and his cane and umbrella +in his hand. There was a decided sensation among the crew. The barge was +lowered and placed in charge of the third lieutenant. Mr. Hamblin bowed +stiffly and coldly to the other professors, and followed his baggage +into the boat, taking no notice whatever of any of the students. + +The sensation grew upon the boys as the boat pushed off and appeared +beyond the ship's side. It was a delightful picture to them--the +obnoxious professor seated in the stern sheets, with his trunk before +him. It was emblematic of the final separation. The enthusiasm of the +moment could not be repressed; and before the principal could interfere, +it had vented itself in three tremendous and hearty cheers. Mr. +Lowington was vexed, but the deed was done. + +The barge passed within a short distance of the Josephine, and her crew, +seeing the trunk and the professor, understood the cheers, and repeated +them with all the vigor of their lungs. It was impudent, disrespectful, +and naughty; but the same students, in both vessels, would have wept +over the departure of any other of the professors. + +The boat returned, the sails were cast loose, the anchor weighed, and in +due time both vessels were standing down the river. At noon the pilots +were discharged, off the Hock of Holland. + +"South-west by west," said the first master of the ship, giving out the +course to the quartermaster, who was conning the wheel. + +There was only a lazy breeze in the German Ocean, and the squadron +rolled slowly along towards the Straits of Dover. The watch below were +at their studies in the steerages, while the students on deck were +thinking of Paris, and the new scenes which were to be presented to them +in the countries they were next to visit. Their experience during the +following month, on ship and shore, including the runaway cruise of the +Josephine, will be narrated in PALACE AND COTTAGE, OR YOUNG AMERICA IN +FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND. + + + * * * * * + + +NEW AND ATTRACTIVE PUBLICATIONS + +OF + +LEE & SHEPARD, + +_PUBLISHERS AND BOOKSELLERS_, + +BOSTON. + +LEE, SHEPARD & DILLINGHAM, New York. + + * * * * * + +"A Grand Success." + +THE AMERICAN GIRL ABROAD. By MISS ADELINE TRAFTON. Illustrated. $1.75. + +"A bright, merry-hearted girl, 'off on a good time,' and she and her +readers are decidedly of the opinion that the journey was a great +success."--_Liberal Christian._ + +"A delightful Book, original and enjoyable." + + +THE DOCTOR'S DAUGHTER. By SOPHIE MAY. Illustrated. $1.50. + +"So lovable and so genuine that she takes one's heart by storm."--_New +York Republican._ + + +"A Book every Girl will be delighted with." + +SALLY WILLIAMS, THE MOUNTAIN GIRL. By _Mrs. Edna D. Cheney_. +Illustrated. $1.50. + +"Mrs. Cheney's stories have all the charm of romance, and better than +that, a power to do good by their wholesome unobtrusive teachings." + + +"Another of the Girlhood Series." + +ONLY GIRLS. By MISS VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND, Author of "Deering Farm," +"Daryll's Gap," &c. Illustrated. $1.50. + +Miss Townsend is a charming writer, and this one of her very best +productions. + +NEW PUBLICATIONS OF LEE & SHEPARD. + + +"One hundred and twenty Selections." + +MISCELLANEOUS READINGS IN PROSE AND VERSE. By PROF. L. B. MONROE. $1.50. + +"Some of the best things of current literature may be found gathered +here."--_Boston Advertiser._ + + +"For Social Amusements." + +SOCIAL CHARADES AND PARLOR OPERAS. By M. T. CALDER, Author of "College +Ned," &c. 16mo. Cloth, 75c; fancy bound, 60c. + +"These charades and operas, prepared for private representation, have +been received with great favor by those requiring exhibition pieces." + + +Underwood's American Authors. + +HAND-BOOK OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. Intended for the use of High Schools, +as well as a Companion and Guide for Private Students, and for General +Readers. (American Authors.) By F. H. UNDERWOOD, A. M. Crown 8vo. Cloth. +$2.50. + +It is confined to American authors, and includes the most prominent +writers in the three periods which cover our entire national history. + + +Underwood's British Authors. + +HAND-BOOK OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. Intended for the use of High Schools, +as well us a Companion and Guide for Private Students, and for General +Readers. (British Authors.) By FRANCIS H. UNDERWOOD, A. M. Crown 8vo. +Cloth. $2.50. + +Mr. Underwood's Biographical Notices, which precede the selections from +prominent authors, are admirable in construction, gems of literary work, +attractive and valuable. + + +The Young Voyagers again. + +YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD. By OLIVER OPTIC. To be completed in 6 volumes. +Illustrated. Per vol., $1.50. + + 1. UP THE BALTIC. + 2. NORTHERN LANDS. + 3. CROSS AND CRESCENT. + +A library of romantic travel and adventure. + +_NEW PUBLICATIONS OF LEE & SHEPARD._ + + * * * * * + +By Oliver Optic. + + +THE YACHT CLUB SERIES. By OLIVER OPTIC. To be completed in 6 volumes. +Illustrated. Per vol., $1.50. + + 1. LITTLE BOBTAIL. + 2. THE YACHT CLUB. (In press.) + +Each story complete in itself, and all in Oliver Optic's best vein. + + +By B. P. Shillaber. + +PARTINGTONIAN PATCHWORK. + +BLIFKINS THE MARTYR; or, THE DOMESTIC TRIALS OF A MODEL HUSBAND. + +THE MODERN SYNTAX: DR. SPOONER'S EXPERIENCE IN SEARCH OF THE DELECTABLE. + +PARTINGTON PAPERS; STRIPPINGS OF THE WARM MILK OF HUMAN KINDNESS. + +NEW AND OLD THINGS FROM AN UNPRETENDING INKSTAND. Humorous, Sentimental, +Rhythmical. By B. P. Shillaber (_Mrs. Partington_). 12mo. Cloth. +Illustrated. $1.75. + +The genial author of this volume has packed it full of bright and witty +things. + + +By Elijah Kellogg. + +THE WHISPERING PINE SERIES. By ELIJAH KELLOGG. To be completed in 6 +volumes. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.25. + + 1. THE SPARK OF GENIUS. + 2. THE SOPHOMORES OF RADCLIFFE. + 3. WINNING HIS SPURS. + 4. THE TURNING OF THE TIDE. (In press.) + +Mr. Kellogg presents some admirable characters among his college boys, +and every volume of this series is brimful of fun and adventure. + + +"Nothing better ever written." + +THE PLEASANT COVE SERIES. By ELIJAH KELLOGG. To be completed in 6 +volumes. Per vol., $1.25. + + 1. ARTHUR BROWN, THE YOUNG CAPTAIN. + 2. THE YOUNG DELIVERERS. + 3. THE CRUISE OF THE CASCO. + 4. THE CHILD OF THE ISLAND GLEN. + +"The Elm Island Stories," by this author, are deservedly popular. "The +Pleasant Cove Series" deals with many of the same characters. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dikes and Ditches, by Oliver Optic + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DIKES AND DITCHES *** + +***** This file should be named 25485.txt or 25485.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/4/8/25485/ + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +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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