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Title: Down the Rhine
Young America in Germany
Author: Oliver Optic
Release Date: January 2, 2008 [EBook #24124]
Language: English
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I believe you are a little deaf in one eye, Raymond, or else you
can't hear in the other.
[Illustration: THE TRAVELLING JOURNEYMEN.--Page 217.]
[Illustration:
Young America Abroad
Down the Rhine
By Oliver Optic.
Boston
Lee & Shepard.]
DOWN THE RHINE;
OR,
YOUNG AMERICA IN GERMANY.
A Story of Travel and Adventure.
BY
OLIVER OPTIC.
BOSTON:
LEE AND SHEPARD.
1870.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, 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 YOUNG FRIEND
_RALPH OAKLEY_,
This Volume
IS AFFECTIONATELY 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.
DOWN THE RHINE, the sixth and last volume of the first series of "YOUNG
AMERICA ABROAD," is the conclusion of the history of the Academy Squadron
on its first voyage to Europe, with the excursion of the students and
their friends into Germany, and down its most beautiful river. As in the
preceding volumes of the series, brief geographical descriptions of the
country visited are given, with a sketch of its history, and of whatever
may be peculiar or interesting in its manners and customs. The travellers
enter Germany by the way of Strasburg, and visit Freiburg, Schaffhausen,
Constance, Friedrichshafen, Ulm, Stuttgart, Carlsruhe, Darmstadt,
Baden-Baden, Heidelberg, Frankfurt, Mayence, Bingen, Bonn, Coblenz,
Cologne, Dusseldorf, and Aix-la-Chapelle; but only the most interesting
features of these places are noticed.
The story part of the volume relates mostly to a trip of the squadron
from Havre to Brest, and the cruise of the Josephine up the Mediterranean,
in which the writer has endeavored to show that even injustice is not to
be redressed by resorting to evil deeds; and he is quite sure that the
sympathies of his readers will always be with the members of the "Order
of the Faithful."
As the author has before had occasion gratefully to acknowledge, the
success of this series has far exceeded his anticipations; and in bringing
the first series to a close, he again returns his thanks to his friends,
young and old, who have so often and so earnestly encouraged him in his
agreeable labors,--all the more agreeable because they are so generously
appreciated. He intends, during the coming year, to make another trip to
Europe, for the purpose of visiting all the countries mentioned in the
titles of the second series; for he is not inclined to write about any
country until he has seen it. If no unforeseen event intervenes to defeat
his plans, the remaining volumes of YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD will soon follow.
HARRISON SQUARE, MASS.,
October 28, 1869.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. CONFUSION IN THE SHIP. 11
II. CLOSE QUARTERS. 27
III. A GATHERING STORM. 42
IV. THE YOUNG AMERICAN MUTINY. 57
V. THE ORDER OF THE FAITHFUL. 73
VI. IN THE STEERAGE. 89
VII. THE VISIT TO THE HOLD. 106
VIII. SHORT OF WATER. 123
IX. THE LAST OF THE MUTINEERS. 140
X. WHAT THE RUNAWAYS WERE GOING TO DO. 158
XI. A SHORT LECTURE ON GERMANY. 174
XII. A MYSTERIOUS MOVEMENT. 191
XIII. FROM STRASBURG TO CONSTANCE. 207
XIV. THE STORM ON LAKE CONSTANCE. 224
XV. LADY FEODORA AND SIR WILLIAM. 241
XVI. UP THE MEDITERRANEAN. 260
XVII. HEIDELBERG AND HOMBURG. 279
XVIII. CASTLES, VINEYARDS, AND MOUNTAINS. 296
XIX. COBLENZ AND COLOGNE. 309
XX. HOMEWARD BOUND. 332
DOWN THE RHINE;
OR,
YOUNG AMERICA IN GERMANY.
CHAPTER I.
CONFUSION IN THE SHIP.
"All hands pipe to muster, ahoy!" screamed the new boatswain of the
Young America, as he walked towards the forecastle of the ship,
occasionally sounding a shrill blast upon his whistle.
At the same time the corresponding officer in the Josephine performed
a similar service; and in a moment every officer and seaman in both
vessels had taken his station. The squadron lay at anchor off the
harbor of Havre. The students had returned the day before from a
delightful tour through France and Switzerland--all except the
thirty-one who had preferred to take a cruise on their own account in
the Josephine; and these had been performing ship's duty, and making up
back lessons, while the vessel lay at anchor in the port of Brest.
Perhaps it was not strictly true that these malcontents were sick of
the game of running away, but it is strictly true that they were
disgusted with the penalty which had been imposed upon them by the
authorities of the Academy. It is to be regretted that they were not
moved to penitence by their punishment, and that they were ripe for any
new rebellion which promised to be even a partial success. They had
been deprived of seeing Paris,--which is France,--and the beautiful
scenery of Switzerland, by their folly; and they had taste enough to
realize that they had sacrificed the best part of a tour in Europe.
Those who had participated in the excursion were enthusiastic in their
belief that they had had a good time; and the frequent discussion of
the pleasures of the trip did not tend to diminish the discontent of
the runaways. It was absolutely intolerable to think they had been
compensating for past deficiencies in their studies, while their
shipmates were gazing upon the magnificent palaces of Paris, the
picturesque cottages, and the sublime mountain scenery of Switzerland.
Perhaps their temper was not improved by the reflection that others had
been permitted to enjoy what they were not allowed to see, for envy is
one of the ugliest and most uncomfortable of human passions. Boys, like
men and women, fret because they cannot have what others possess,
either as the gift of partial Fortune, or as the reward of their own
superior skill and perseverance.
If the runaways had not learned wisdom from their failure, they had
acquired discretion. The leaders in the mad scheme could now see just
why and wherefore they had failed; and they believed--if they were to
have the opportunity to do the deed over again--they could make a
success of it. The machinery of the secret organization was now
disgusting to them, though it had enabled them to make the capture of
the vessel. They were disposed to cast it all aside, and resort to new
methods for future occasions. As a general rule, they were wise enough
to keep still, and only among themselves did they express their chagrin
and disappointment, or suggest that they were not entirely cured of
their tendency to run away. The strict discipline of the squadron could
not be evaded, and they were compelled to perform all their duties.
It was the beginning of a new term in the school. New officers had
succeeded the old ones, or the position of the latter had been
materially changed. The members of the order of the Knights of the
Golden Fleece found themselves scattered by the new arrangement. Not
less than a dozen of them had been transferred to the consort, while
Tom Perth, the leading spirit of the runaways, had attained to the
dignity of second master of the ship, more by his natural abilities
than by any efforts he had made to win a high place. As yet he had
found no opportunity to arrange a plan for further operations with his
confederates, for Mr. Fluxion, the vice-principal, was in the charge of
the schooner, and his eyes and ears were always open. The return of the
tourists from their excursion restored the routine on board of the
vessels.
Everything was changed, and at first hardly an officer knew where he
belonged, or what his duty was. Confusion reigned on board the ship and
her consort, while the students were finding and preparing their new
berths. Happily, the changes were all made before dinner time, and
everything settled down into its wonted order and regularity. After the
midday meal was served, all hands were piped to muster, in order that
the officers and seamen might be exercised in their new situations. The
details of sea duty were well understood by all. Those alone who had
been promoted from the steerage to the after cabin were in the dark in
regard to their duty, though in these instances the parties had a
general idea of what was required of them. But it was necessary to have
the crew ready to work together, for the seaman who had hauled on the
weather-brace in tacking was now an officer, and the stations of many
were new and strange to them.
Shuffles in the ship, and Terrill in the consort, proceeded to execute
all the manoeuvres required in handling the vessel, from getting under
way to coming to anchor again. Nearly all the officers and crew were
zealous to perform their several parts correctly; but there were enough
of the discontented ones, who shirked as much as possible, to create
considerable confusion. The captain of the Young America was not
satisfied with the manner in which the various evolutions were
performed; so he began at the beginning, and went over all the ground
again, to the great disgust of the runaways in his crew, who had been
doing this sort of thing for four weeks, while the others were enjoying
the beauties of the mountain scenery.
"What's the matter, Captain Shuffles?" asked Commodore Kendall, when
the commander finished the routine a second time, and was still
dissatisfied with the result.
"It doesn't work well," replied Shuffles, biting his lip.
"A new broom sweeps clean, they say," laughed the flag officer.
"Perhaps you are more particular than your predecessors were."
"I think not. The ship would have miss-stayed under such handling as we
have to-day, to say nothing of the clumsy look of it," continued the
new captain. "I shouldn't wish to be out in a gale with a crew as slack
as ours is just now."
"What's the trouble?" asked the commodore, rather anxiously. "I saw
that things did not work well."
"There is trouble somewhere, and I think I can see where it is."
"What is it?"
"Certain parties in this ship don't like me very well, just now."
"You mean the runaways," suggested Paul.
"Of course."
"They are making a mistake if they are slack in their duty," added the
commodore, rather indignantly. "They wish to go with us on our next
excursion: but I don't think they can win the privilege in this
manner."
"Wilton and Howe are doing all they can to make things go wrong," said
Captain Shuffles, who was more in sorrow than in anger at the conduct
of these worthies. "If they are doing it to spite me, they are only
spiting themselves. I am going through these manoeuvres until they are
a little more ship-shape, at least."
The new captain ordered all hands to take their stations for getting
under way, and Commodore Kendall went aft, though he still carefully
observed the conduct of the seamen. The clumsiness, and the intentional
blunders of certain of the crew seemed to indicate that there was a
conspiracy to defeat the purposes of the commander. First, Howe tumbled
down while the hands were walking round the capstan; Spencer stumbled
over him, and a dozen boys were thrown in a pile upon them. Then
Richmond and Merrick dropped their handspikes overboard, through an
open port, when the order was given to restore these articles to their
proper places.
Little snarled himself up in the gasket on the fore-topsail yard, and
dropped off, as though he had fallen, though he clung to the rope, and
was brought up with a jerk ten or twelve feet below the spar. Some of
his gang, believing he had really fallen, screamed, and the attention
of the whole crew was drawn off from their duty. When the fore-topmast
staysail and jib were to be set, somebody had fouled the down-hauls, so
that they could not be hoisted. There was a kink in the halyards of the
main-top gallant-sail, so that it would not run through the block.
Clewlines, clew-garnets, leachlines, and buntlines were in a snarl. The
zeal of those who were striving to do their duty faithfully seemed to
make the matter worse, and the officers found it difficult to determine
who really made the mischief; for the malcontents pretended to be as
enthusiastic as their shipmates. Strong expressions and hard words were
freely used by the vexed seamen, and certainly such a scene of
confusion had never before been observed on board of the ship, even
when a large proportion of the crew were green hands.
Captain Shuffles was deeply grieved by the misconduct of the crew; for,
standing on the quarter-deck, he could not distinguish between the
intentional and the unintentional blunders of the crew, and therefore
believed that the disaffection was much more extensive than was really
the case. The zealous efforts of one portion of the crew to rectify the
mistakes of another portion only increased the confusion, and some of
those who were actually doing their best appeared to be the real
authors of the difficulty. The captain was drilling his crew in
simultaneous movements, and it was difficult, if not impossible, to
ascertain exactly the source of the unwonted confusion.
While the routine of evolutions was thus bunglingly performed, the
principal and the professors, who had been discussing an interesting
question of discipline in the main cabin, came on deck. Perhaps the
fact that Mr. Lowington was not on deck had encouraged the conspirators
in creating the confusion which pervaded the decks and rigging. As he
was the last to ascend the companion-way, he paused on the steps, with
his head on a level with the deck, to note the precision of the drill.
He was not noticed by the conspirators, and, unfortunately for them,
they continued in their career of insubordination. The quick eye of the
principal readily detected the nature of the mischief, though it was as
impossible for him as for the officers immediately to indicate the
authors of the confusion which prevailed throughout the ship.
"This does not look much like going down the Rhine this week," said Mr.
Lowington to Commodore Kendall, as he stepped upon the quarter-deck.
"I don't think it does, sir," replied Paul, grieved and indignant at
the miserable exhibition of seamanship which the crew then presented.
"This is a strange sight on board of this ship," added the principal,
biting his lips with vexation, for, as usual, when the young tars
displayed their seamanship, there were plenty of spectators on shore,
and on board of other vessels in the roadstead.
"I certainly never saw anything like it since we first began to learn
ship's duty in Brockway harbor."
"The crew appear to be hazing the new officers," continued Mr.
Lowington, who could not fail to perceive that a large portion of the
apparent blundering was intentional.
"Of course there isn't a seaman on board who does not know his duty."
"They are not familiar yet with their new stations, and a little
confusion is unavoidable," said Mr. Lowington, willing to make all
reasonable allowances.
"But they have already been through the routine two or three times,"
suggested Paul.
"Are the crew dissatisfied with the election?" asked the principal.
"I have not heard any dissatisfaction expressed; but I suppose some of
them don't like Shuffles, especially those who went off in the
Josephine."
"There are not twenty of them left in the ship; and it seems as though
the whole crew were engaged in this frolic."
At this moment a gang of the waist men, who were walking away with the
main-topsail sheets, were suddenly piled up in a pyramid on deck. The
second fellow in the line had fallen down; the next had tripped over
him, and those that followed tumbled into the heap. It is more than
probable that some, whose estimate of the value of good order was not
very high, though they were tolerably good boys in the main, were
tempted by their love of fun to take part in what appeared to them only
a frolic. A scene of violent confusion ensued in this particular part
of the deck. Some, who were near the bottom of the pile, were hurt by
those who fell upon them, and the tempers of others were not improved
by the mishap. Hard words followed, those at the bottom blaming those
at the top, and those at the top growling at those at the bottom. Some
were rubbing their elbows, others their shins, and all appeared to be
anxious to ascertain who had produced the mischief.
"Pipe to muster, Captain Shuffles," said the principal, stepping up to
the bewildered commander. "We have had about enough of this."
Shuffles gave the order to the first lieutenant, and it was duly
transmitted to the boatswain, whose shrill pipe soon assembled the
whole ship's company in the waist.
"We shall catch it now," said Spencer, one of the runaways, to Howe, as
they met near the rail, a little outside of the crowd.
"No matter; he is only going to preach to us," replied Howe through the
corner of his mouth, while he tried to look as innocent as one of the
chaplain's lambs.
"We shall not have a chance to go down the Rhine if we do things in
this way."
"I don't want to go down the Rhine; at least, not till I have been
through Paris and Switzerland."
"But we want to go ashore with the other fellows, or we shall have no
chance to go anywhere."
"Shut up! Don't talk about that here. If we don't go, no one will go.
This is bully! We shall get things mixed so that the officers won't
know a lamb from a goat."
"Bob Shuffles hasn't made much yet as captain," laughed Spencer.
"We'll get even with him yet," added Howe, still talking through the
corner of his mouth, and looking all the time at the principal, who had
taken his place on the hatch.
Mr. Lowington, as the rogue had suggested, only intended to "preach."
He had observed the insubordination of the crew, and he regretted it
exceedingly, for he was as careful of the reputation of the ship as of
his own. There was an evident intention on the part of a large portion
of the ship's company to haze the new officers. Such a purpose was
unworthy of the character of young gentlemen, and he hoped that such
conduct as he had just witnessed would be discontinued. In a day or two
he purposed to start for Germany, but he could not leave the ship
unless he was satisfied that every one on board knew his duty; for on
their return they might be compelled, by some unforeseen event, to go
to sea at once, and the crew did not appear to know how to set and furl
a sail. The officers, from the captain to the lowest rank, appeared to
have performed their duty faithfully; and all the trouble was in the
execution of their orders. In conclusion, he announced that the drill
would be resumed in half an hour, and directed the commander to pipe
down.
"That didn't hurt anybody," said Howe, as he walked forward with
Spencer. "Let us keep it up."
"We may get caught at it."
"No need of that. Accidents will happen."
"Yes; but they don't happen all over the ship at the same time."
"Well, they may, you know," laughed Howe. "In fact, I don't see how
accidents are to be avoided while we have such a fellow as Shuffles for
captain. If there is any one in the ship that I despise, it is
Shuffles."
"So say we all of us!"
"The snivelling, canting, whining puppy! Have you any idea that his
merit-marks made him captain of the ship?" continued Howe.
"I suppose they did."
"Tell that to the marines! Wasn't he acknowledged to be the worst
fellow in the ship when we crossed the Atlantic? Wasn't he the
ringleader in all mischief and scrapes?"
"But he has reformed."
"Reformed!" sneered Howe. "He has turned hypocrite, if that is what you
mean by reformed. I don't believe in that sort of bosh."
"He's the pet of the principal and the instructors."
"Yes; and they have given him marks enough to make him captain, just to
show good fellows, like you and me, what a saint can do. It is all
humbug! Why, he got more marks than Kendall, Gordon, Haven, and the
rest of those cabin nobs, who are fit to enter the senior class in a
college. I am satisfied that his merit-roll was doctored so as to make
it come out as it did."
"I don't believe Lowington would do any such thing as that," suggested
Spencer, shaking his head.
"Don't you? Well, I do. What's the use of talking! Didn't Shuffles jump
from the steerage into the captain's state-room?"
"Any other fellow may do the same thing. Look at Tom Perth, who lost a
heap of marks for running off in the Josephine, as the rest of us did.
He is second master. If it hadn't been for our scrape, very likely he
would have been captain."
"Don't you believe it."
"If Lowington had not been fair, and let every fellow go just where his
marks carried him, Perth would not have had a place in the cabin."
"O, the principal only wanted to break us up by taking our best fellow
away from us. He couldn't drive Tom Perth, and now he's going to lead
him--bait him with sugar and offices."
"Some of the fellows say Shuffles can't handle the ship without the
help of the principal," said Spencer.
"Of course he can't!" exclaimed Howe. "Hasn't he proved that already?
If Paul Kendall had been captain, he would have spotted every fellow
that made any trouble. Let us keep it up, Spencer, and we shall soon
prove that Shuffles can't handle the ship. That will be enough to
satisfy me."
The approach of an officer interrupted the conversation; but Howe
passed from one to another of the malcontents, and instructed them what
to do in the next drill. They were to create all the confusion they
could in the discharge of their duty. They were to misunderstand the
orders, and to blunder in the execution of them, in such a manner as to
conceal their own agency in the mischief, and divide the responsibility
of it among their companions. The runaway crew of the Josephine,
mortified at their failure, were still fretting because they had not
visited Paris and Switzerland. They were ready to listen to evil
counsels, and regarding Howe as their leader since the promotion of
Perth, they promised to follow his instructions to the letter.
"What are we going to make by it?" demanded Sheffield, who doubted the
policy of the proceeding.
"We are going to prove, in the first place, that Shuffles can't handle
the ship," replied Howe.
"Perhaps you may prove it, even if you don't believe what you prove."
"But I do believe he can't handle the ship."
"I don't. I hate Shuffles as bad as any fellow, but I believe he is as
good a sailor as any person on board, man or boy."
"That's all in your eye!" retorted Howe, contemptuously. "He may be
able to get along while we are lying in port, but I should like to see
him work the ship in a gale of wind."
"He can do it," answered Sheffield, confidently. "But he is a flunky,
and spoiled all our fun in the Josephine. I am willing to throw him
over for being a hypocrite, and selling us out as he did. What else are
we to gain?"
"We shall help along our chances of going down the Rhine, and,"
whispered Howe, "of seeing Paris and Switzerland."
"I don't see it."
"Well, I do. If we cave in and pretend to be lambs when we are lions,
we shall have to do duty while the rest of the fellows are having a
good time on shore. If we show that we are still wide awake, Lowington
will take us with him, because he will not dare to leave us on board."
"He will leave Fluxion with us."
"Not much! I heard some of the fellows say that Fluxion was going to
Italy to see his mother, or his sister, or somebody that is sick
there."
"I heard that."
"If it is true, Lowington will not leave us behind, especially if he
finds we are not as gentle as lambs."
"Perhaps not; but as the matter stands, we are already condemned to
stay on board during the rest of the season."
"I know that; but Lowington will let us off."
"He will be more likely to do so if we behave well."
"Not he! Don't you believe it."
"They say Shuffles is teasing him to remit the rest of the penalty."
"Shuffles!"
"That's so; and Lowington promised to consider the matter. Tom Perth
told me this; and he heard Shuffles talking to the principal about it."
"Humph! I don't want to go on those terms," replied Howe, in disgust.
"That's some more of Shuffles's cant! One of his sensations! He
thinks he whipped us out on board of the Josephine, and now he wants to
be magnanimous with his victims. If we go with the crowd, it will be
because Lowington is afraid to leave us behind. We are not a set of
babies, Sheffield, to be whipped and sent to bed when we are naughty.
Neither are we sailors before the mast, to be kicked here and there, at
the pleasure of our masters. What do you suppose the fellows came to
Europe for, if it was not to see the country? Are we to be left on
board just because we went on a little lark? Not much!"
"That's all very good, but it won't go down," laughed Sheffield.
"I'm not going to eat humble pie for any one. Do you mean to tell me I
am not as good a fellow as Bob Shuffles?"
"I didn't say you were not."
"Am I not his equal?" demanded Howe.
"I suppose you are, if you behave as well."
"Behave as well!" sneered the orator. "I behave well enough, and I'm
not going to be put down, nor beg my rights of Bob Shuffles. If I am
left on board, for one, when the fellows go down the Rhine, I intend to
break things."
"Don't break your own head."
"Let me alone for that. If our fellows have any spirit at all, they
will not be left behind. In the next drill, things will be mixed, and
no one can tell who makes the mischief. Our fellows are not the only
ones that don't like Shuffles, and you will find that about half the
crew will help snarl things up. Now, keep your weather eye open,
Sheffield. Take my advice, and don't whimper. Our fellows have a little
business in Paris and Switzerland, and we shall attend to it in a week
or two. There goes the pipe. Mind your eye, Sheffield."
The boatswain's call sounded through the ship, and officers and crew
hastened to their stations.
CHAPTER II.
CLOSE QUARTERS.
The malcontents in the ship were, apparently, the most zealous seamen
on board. Certainly no one would have suspected them of organizing any
mischief, they looked so innocent and so determined to do their duty
promptly. Howe, Wilton, Little, and others had done their work
thoroughly and secretly. They had arranged at least a dozen different
tricks for making confusion among the crew. To each one of the
discontented a part had been assigned, which he was to perform in such
a way as to conceal his own agency.
Captain Shuffles was planking the quarter-deck with the commodore.
Everybody could see that he was not entirely at his ease. His position
was a novel one to him, and he was oppressed by its responsibilities,
especially since the crew had behaved so badly at the first drill. He
could not help knowing that a portion of the crew were opposed to him,
and would do anything they could to annoy him. The situation was a
difficult one; for, at the commencement of his term of office, he did
not wish to have any of the seamen punished for neglect or
disobedience, even if he could discover the guilty ones.
Mr. Lowington was not on deck. He had purposely gone below, for he
wished the new captain to act on his own responsibility, and overcome
the difficulty alone. This was in accordance with his previous course,
when, even in a gale of wind, he permitted the young officers to handle
the ship without any dictation. Though the action adopted by the boys
was not always in accordance with his own judgment, he never interfered
unless an obvious and dangerous blunder was made. His policy had worked
well thus far, and he was disposed to continue it. In the present
instance, he was no better informed than the captain in regard to the
real cause of the difficulty. He believed it was merely the effect of a
fun-loving spirit on the part of the crew; a mere disposition to haze
the new officers a little, and perhaps prove what they were made of. He
hoped the new officers would satisfy them, and, if necessary, send a
dozen or twenty of the mischief-makers to the mainmast for punishment.
"All hands, up anchor, ahoy!" piped the boatswain, after he had
received the order from the captain, through the proper officers.
Those whose stations were at the cable and capstan sprang to their
places with unwonted alacrity.
"Bring to, forward!" added the first lieutenant, giving the order to
attach the messenger. "Ship and swifter the capstan bars!"
As it was not intended to get the ship actually under way, only a
portion of the work indicated by the orders was really executed. The
form of hooking on the messenger was gone through with, as also were
the various preparations for catting and fishing the anchor. The
capstan bars were inserted in the pigeon-holes.
"Heave round!" shouted the first lieutenant; and the order was repeated
by the second lieutenant, whose station is on the forecastle.
Everything appeared to be progressing with proper order and regularity,
and Captain Shuffles hoped the warning words of the principal had
produced an impression upon the minds of the mischief-makers. But
appearances are very deceptive. While the hands were walking around the
capstan, four of the bars suddenly came out of the pigeon-holes at the
same instant, and a dozen of the seamen were thrown, apparently with
great violence, upon the deck. The bars, confined at one end by the
swifter, swung round and cracked the shins of others, and a scene of
confusion ensued, which set at nought all ideas of discipline.
No one was badly hurt, but every one was excited. Those who were not
concerned in the plot caught the spirit of mischief from the others,
and, with but few exceptions, the crew joined in the sport. The seaman
who originated the trouble had simply neglected to insert the pins
which confine the capstan bars within the pigeon-holes, or had left the
bars with the heads against the pins. As nearly all joined in the
frolic, there were none to inform against others, and it was simply
impossible for Leavitt, the second lieutenant, or Ellis, the first
master,--under whose eye this breach of discipline had occurred,--to
determine who the ringleaders were.
Shuffles and the commodore were intensely annoyed at this scene, and
immediately went forward. By this time, those who had been thrown upon
the deck, which included nearly all at the capstan, had picked
themselves up. The Knights looked even more innocent than those whom
they had dragged into the scrape, and the high officers from the
quarter-deck were no wiser than the lieutenant and master. In the midst
of the confusion, Howe and Wilton had removed the pins from the bars,
which still remained in the drumhead of the capstan.
"Mr. Leavitt, how did this happen?" demanded Captain Shuffles.
"Half the bars dropped out of the capstan all at once, and the hands
were thrown down," replied the lieutenant, who was hardly less annoyed
than the captain.
"Were the bars pinned in?"
"I supposed they were, sir."
Captain Shuffles walked up to the capstan. Not a single pin was
inserted.
"Let your midshipman see that the bars are properly pinned and
swiftered next time," said the commander, as he walked aft to resume
his place on the quarter-deck.
"Unship the bars!" said Leavitt; and they were restored to the rack,
leaving everything as it was before the drill began.
The crew were piped to muster, and the order to weigh anchor repeated.
The capstan bars were shipped, and this time, the midshipman whose
station was on the forecastle satisfied himself that they were securely
pinned, and so reported to the second lieutenant. As the rogues had
made no provision for this state of things, they were thrown upon their
own resources for the means of defeating the operation a second time.
Commodore Kendall had placed himself in position to watch the movement,
and the officers in charge had pinned their eyes wide open, fully
resolved that the authors of the trouble should not escape a second
time.
Directly abaft the capstan was the fore-hatch, over which lay the path
of those who walked around at the bars. Ordinarily the hatch was closed
when the capstan was used; but, on the present occasion, a plank had
been placed across the aperture, to avoid the necessity of putting on
the hatch, and thus excluding the air from the kitchen, where the cooks
were baking their daily batch of bread.
"Heave round!" said the first lieutenant.
"Heave round!" repeated the second lieutenant; and the hands at the
capstan began their circular march.
By some means not observed by the vigilant officers, the plank over the
fore-hatch slowly travelled along until one end of it barely caught on
the combing of the hatch. Half a dozen seamen had given it a kick with
their heels as they passed over it, and it was soon in condition to
drop into the steerage below. Little stepped upon it, and down it went.
Releasing his hold of the bar, he dropped upon the steps below, and
disappeared. Sheffield followed him, and then Ibbotson. The hands at
the other side of the capstan took care that the party should keep
moving. A few well-disposed boys, when they came to the hatch,--which
was not more than four feet wide,--leaped across it, as any of them
might have done, if they had not been infected with the spirit of
mischief.
"Avast heaving!" shouted the second lieutenant.
At this instant one of the lambs was on the combing of the hatch, and
he must either go over or hang by the bar; so he pushed along, and his
movement brought another into a similar position. Seeing how the case
was, the rogues kept the capstan going, in spite of the commands of the
officers, until two thirds of the gang had dropped into the steerage.
It was finally suspended by the efforts of the excited officers, who
took hold of the bars with their own hands, and counteracted the
efforts of the rogues.
The young rascals in the steerage pretended to be hurt more seriously
than they were, though some of them had struck the steps or the floor
below with force enough to make them feel a little sore. They began to
limp, and to rub their shins and shoulders, their heads and arms, very
vigorously, as though they believed that friction was a sovereign
remedy for aching bones.
"Why didn't you stop, Hunter, when I ordered you to do so?" demanded
Leavitt, indignantly.
"I couldn't, sir," replied the lamb, speaking only the simple truth.
"Yes, you could! I will report you for disobedience."
"I was right over the hatch, and I had either to go down or jump over:
I couldn't stop there."
"And you did the same thing, Hyde," added the officer.
"I couldn't help it, sir," replied he. "When Hunter got over, he
dragged me so far that I couldn't stop."
"Why didn't you let go, then?" demanded Leavitt, angrily.
"I was afraid the next bar would hit me in the head."
Both of these boys were ordinarily models of propriety, and they had
not, for an instant, intended to do anything out of order. The real
culprits were all at the foot of the stairs, rubbing their limbs and
making the most terrible contortions, as though their legs, arms, and
heads were actually broken. The officers had all seen Hunter and Hyde
pushing along the bars after the order had been given to stop. They
seemed to be guilty, and they were required to report at the mainmast
to the first lieutenant, for discipline. The second lieutenant then
went down the fore-hatch, where the appalling spectacle of a crowd of
sufferers was presented to his view.
"Are you hurt, Little?" he asked, turning to the most prominent victim
of the catastrophe.
"Yes, sir," groaned Little, twisting his back-bone almost into a hard
knot, and trying to reach the seat of his injury with both hands at the
same time.
"How happened you to fall through?" inquired Leavitt, more gently than
he had spoken on deck, for the sight of all this misery evidently
affected him.
"I don't know, sir," answered Little, with one of his most violent
contortions. "I was looking up at the fore-yard arm, and--ugh!--the
first thing I knew, I was--O, dear!--I was down here, with
that--ugh!--with that plank on top of me."
"Are you much hurt?"
"I don't know. It aches first rate," cried Little, with a deep,
explosive sigh.
"Well, go aft, and report to the surgeon."
"I don't want to go to the surgeon. He mauls me about to death. I shall
be better soon."
"On deck, all who are able to do so!" added Leavitt. "Bennington, you
will ask Dr. Winstock to attend to those who are hurt, and report to
the first lieutenant."
But it did not appear that any one was so much injured as to require
the services of the surgeon, for the whole party went on deck at the
order. Little still writhed and twisted. Howe rubbed his knee, and
Spencer nursed his elbow. Commodore Kendall, who had witnessed the
whole affair, did not see how it was possible for them to tumble down
the hatchway without injuring themselves, and he was willing to believe
that the appearance was not deceitful. He had kept his eyes fixed upon
the crew as they walked round the capstan, but he was unable to
determine whether the mishap was the result of accident or intention.
Again the captain came forward; but after consulting with Paul, he
returned to the quarter-deck without making any comments. The two lambs
had reported to the first lieutenant, and the matter had gone to
Captain Shuffles, who directed the culprits to be sent to the
principal. They went into the steerage, and knocking at the door of the
main cabin, Mr. Lowington came out, and heard their statement. They
were ordered to their mess-rooms to await an investigation.
The hatchway was closed, and the order to man the capstan was given a
third time. The injured seamen had in a measure recovered the use of
their limbs, and though they still limped and squirmed, they took their
places in the line. Either their will or their ingenuity to do mischief
failed them, the third time, for the form of heaving up the anchor to a
short stay was regularly accomplished. The commodore and all the
officers in the forward part of the ship watched the operation with the
keenest scrutiny, and when it was successfully finished, they hoped the
end of all the mishaps had come.
"Pawl the capstan! Unship the bars! Stations for loosing sail!"
continued the first lieutenant. "Lay aloft, sail-loosers!"
The nimble young tars, whose places were aloft, sprang up the rigging.
"Man the boom-tricing lines!"
But the boom-tricing lines appeared to be in a snarl, and it was some
time before they were ready for use, being manipulated by some of the
mischief-makers.
"Trice up!" shouted Goodwin, the executive officer.
Up went the inner ends of the studding-sail booms.
"Lay out!" added Goodwin.
"Lay out!" repeated the midshipmen in the tops; and the seamen ran out
on the foot-ropes to their several stations for loosing sail.
At the same time, the forecastle hands were loosing the fore-topmast
staysail, jib, and flying jib, and the after-guard, or quarter-deck
hands, were clearing away the spanker.
"Loose!" said the executive officer; and the hands removed the gaskets,
stoppers, and other ropes, used to confine the sails when furled.
"Stand by--let fall!" was the next order.
At this command all the square sails should have dropped from the yards
at the same instant, but as a matter of fact, not half of them did
drop. Sheets, buntlines, bowlines, lifts, reef-pendants, and halyards
were fearfully snarled up. Some of the seamen on the yards were pulling
one way, and some another; some declared the snarl was in one place,
others in another place. The rogues had realized an undoubted success
in the work they had undertaken. Vainly the midshipmen in the tops
tried to bring order out of confusion. Those who were actually laboring
to untangle the ropes only increased the snarl.
The condition of affairs was duly reported to the captain, who had
become very impatient at the long delay. The masters were then sent
aloft to help the midshipmen unravel the snarl, but they succeeded no
better. It was evident enough to all the officers that this confusion
could not have been created without an intention to do it. An accident
might have happened on the main or the mizzen-mast, but not on every
yard on all three of the masts.
"What are you about?" asked Perth, who had been sent into the main-top,
as he met Howe.
"We have come to the conclusion that Bob Shuffles can't handle this
ship," whispered the ringleader of the mischief, with a significant
wink.
"You are getting us into a scrape."
"Well, we all are in the same boat."
"Don't carry it too far," suggested Master Perth.
"Carry what too far?" demanded Robinson, the midshipman in the top, who
had heard a word or two of the confidential talk--enough to give him an
idea of what was in the wind.
"Dry up, old fellow," said Perth, with some confusion, as Howe, who had
come down from the yard to cast off a line, sprang back to his place.
"What did you mean by that remark of yours?" inquired the midshipman.
"I told Howe not to carry the end of the buntline too far. It was wound
three times around the topsail sheet."
"Was that what you meant?" asked Robinson, suspiciously.
"Don't you see that buntline?" replied Perth. "It is fouled in the
sheet, and he was pulling it through farther, so as to snarl it up
still worse."
"All right," replied the inferior, who, however, was far from being
satisfied with the explanation.
"All right!" retorted Perth, smartly. "Is that the way you address your
superior officer. One would think I was responsible to you for my words
and actions."
"I didn't mean that," added Robinson.
"What did you mean?"
"I only said all right to your explanation."
"You did--did you?" said Perth, severely. "Then you called me to an
account, and now you acquit me!"
"I beg your pardon. Whatever I said, I did not mean anything
disrespectful," pleaded Robinson.
"Is this the kind of discipline among the officers? If it is, I don't
wonder that the crew get snarled up. I don't like to blow on a fellow,
but I'm tempted to send you to the mainmast."
"I didn't mean anything."
Master Perth turned from his abashed inferior, ascended the main
rigging, and with a few sharp orders, compelled the topmen to unsnarl
the ropes. He was afraid the midshipman would report what he had said
to the captain, and he had attempted to intimidate him into silence by
threatening him with a similar fate.
"On deck!" hailed Perth from the top. "All ready in the main-top, sir,"
he added, when the third lieutenant answered his hail from the waist.
After a delay of half an hour, a like report came down from the fore
and mizzen-tops. The masters returned to their stations on deck, and
everything was in readiness to continue the manoeuvre. Captain Shuffles
was in earnest conversation with Commodore Kendall. A more unsatisfactory
state of things could not exist than that which prevailed on board of
the Young America. The conduct of the crew amounted almost to mutiny.
Those who had maliciously made the mischief, and those who had been
engaged in it from a love of fun, had succeeded in confounding those
who meant to do their duty. It was impossible to tell who were guilty
and who were innocent; for three quarters, at least, of the crew seemed
to be concerned in the confusion.
"It is clear enough that they are hazing me," said Captain Shuffles,
sadly. "I don't know that I have done anything to set the fellows
against me."
"Certainly not," replied Paul, warmly. "You have only done your duty. I
have no doubt those fellows who ran away in the Josephine are at the
bottom of it. If I am not very much mistaken, I saw Howe, on the
main-topsail yard, tangling up the buntlines and sheets."
"I have heard that these fellows intended to get even with me," added
Shuffles, with a smile, as though he had not much fear of them.
"I should keep the crew at work until they did their duty. I would keep
them at it night and day, till they can get the ship under way without
any confusion," added Paul, earnestly.
"I intend to do that, but I do not like to be hard upon them."
"There is no danger of your being too hard."
"Whether I am hard or not, I'm going to have the work done in
ship-shape style, if we drill till morning. All hands, furl sails,"
said he to the first lieutenant.
The boatswain's call sounded through the ship. The necessary orders
were given in detail, and after considerable confusion, the sails were
all furled, and the ship restored to its original condition.
"Pipe to muster," continued the captain.
Under this order all the officers assembled on the quarter-deck.
Captain Shuffles addressed them in the mild tones in which he usually
spoke, as though he was not seriously disturbed by the ill conduct of
the crew. Assigning a lieutenant, a master, and a midshipman to each
mast, he directed them to set each sail separately, without regard to
others. They were to set the topsails first, then the other sails up to
the royals. Other officers were directed to drill the seamen stationed
at the head sails and the spanker.
During this conference Howe and his associates were congratulating
themselves upon the success of their vicious schemes, and encouraging
each other to persevere if another drill was ordered. They were curious
to know what the captain was doing with the officers on the
quarter-deck; but they concluded that it was only a meeting to "howl"
over the miserable discipline of the ship. But their wonderings were
soon set at rest by the boatswain's call of "All hands, make sail,
ahoy!"
They sprang to their stations as zealously as though they had no
thought but for the honor of the ship. They soon discovered that a new
order of proceeding had been introduced. The masters and midshipmen
perched themselves in the rigging, where they could see the movements
of every seaman. The adult forward officers--Peaks, the boatswain,
Bitts, the carpenter, and Leech, the sailmaker--also went aloft, and
stationed themselves on the topmast-stays, so that, besides the
lieutenants on deck, the commodore, and the past officers, there were
three pairs of sharp eyes aloft to inspect the operations on each sail.
Howe and his associates were not a little disconcerted at this array of
inspectors, and still more so when the order was given to loose only
the topsails. Peaks, on the main topmast-stay, caught Howe in the very
act of passing the gasket through the bight of the buntline. The
veteran tar came down upon him with such a torrent of sea slang, that
he did not attempt to repeat the act. The topsails were then set as
smartly and as regularly as ever before. After the inspectors had seen
all the sails set and furled in detail, the topsails, top-gallant
sails, and courses, with the jib and spanker, were set as usual, when
the vessel got under way.
By the time the routine in detail had been practised two or three
times, the officers began to know where to look for the
mischief-makers. Peaks had exposed the ringleader, and the conspirators
were finally beaten at their own game. But Captain Shuffles was not
satisfied; and when the crew were dismissed from muster, he hastened to
the main cabin to consult with the principal.
The conspirators, at close quarters, had lost the day, and discipline
was triumphant.
CHAPTER III.
A GATHERING STORM.
"Mr. Lowington, I should like to go to sea for a day or two," said
Captain Shuffles, when he had obtained the ear of the principal.
"Go to sea!" exclaimed Mr. Lowington. "Why, I thought you were all in a
hurry to go down the Rhine."
"I am not at all satisfied with the discipline of the ship," answered
the new captain. "It requires about as many officers as seamen to
execute any manoeuvre, and I think we need more practice in ship's duty
before we make any more tours on shore."
"How did you succeed in your second drill?"
"We went through with it after a while; but it was only with two
officers in each top, and the adult forward officers on the stays, that
we could set a single sail."
"Have you ascertained who is at the root of the mischief?"
"Howe, for one."
"The runaways, probably," added Mr. Lowington, thoughtfully.
"I have no doubt all of them were concerned in it; but at least half
the crew took part in the mischief. We finally went through all the
forms with tolerable precision. Two or three days' service at sea will
enable us to put everything in good working order. The officers also
ought to have a little practice in their new stations."
"When do you wish to go to sea?"
"Immediately, sir," replied Shuffles.
"To-night?"
"Yes, sir. I think any delay would be injurious to discipline. The crew
have been hazing the officers now for two hours, and have had the best
of it most of the time. If we went to sea without any delay, I think it
would be understood."
"You are right, Captain Shuffles. Where is Commodore Kendall?"
"In the after cabin, sir."
"Send for him, if you please."
The commander sent one of the waiters to call Paul, who presently
appeared.
"Captain Shuffles wishes to go to sea to-night," said Mr. Lowington,
with a smile, as the young commodore entered the cabin; "and I think he
takes a correct view of the situation."
"To-night!" exclaimed Paul, whose thought immediately flashed from the
ship to the Hôtel de l'Europe, in Havre, where Mr. and Mrs. Arbuckle
and Grace were domiciled, having come down from Paris by the morning
train, to be in readiness to start with the ship's company for the
Rhine.
"I know what you are thinking about, Paul," laughed the principal. "You
may go on shore, and invite the Arbuckles to join us; or, as we can
work the ship very well without a commodore, you may stay on shore with
them until our return."
"Invite them to go with us," suggested Shuffles. "I think the presence
of our friends will have a good effect upon the crew."
"I should be very glad to have them go with us," replied Paul.
"It is a little doubtful whether we return to Havre again, for Brest
would be a better place for the vessels to lie during our absence in
Germany," said Mr. Lowington.
"We cannot sail at once--can we?" asked Paul.
"We can get off this evening," replied Mr. Lowington. "Let the stewards
of the ship and the consort go on shore, and get a supply of fresh
provisions. The commodore, in the mean time, can wait on the Arbuckles.
I see no difficulty in getting off by sunset."
"It will be rather short notice for the Arbuckles," suggested Paul.
"They are ready to go to Germany at an hour's notice, and it will
require no more preparation for this voyage. You can go on shore at
once, Commodore Kendall. Captain Shuffles, you will hoist the signal
for sailing; send a boat to the Josephine, and I will give you a letter
for Mr. Fluxion."
The arrangement agreed upon, Captain Shuffles went on deck, and
directed the first lieutenant to pipe away the commodore's barge. The
third lieutenant was detailed to serve in this boat. As its crew went
over the side, Captain Shuffles saw that Howe, Spencer, and four others
of the runaways were of its number, under the new station bill. This
fact induced him to send Peaks with the lieutenant in charge, so as to
guard against any mischief. The third cutter was sent to the Josephine,
with the principal's letter. In this boat, Little was the only runaway.
The first cutter soon after left the ship with the steward, to bring
off a load of fresh provisions.
As the third cutter was obliged to wait for Mr. Fluxion to write an
answer to Mr. Lowington's letter, the crew were allowed to go on board
of the Josephine. The sight of the signal for sailing, which had been
hoisted on board of the Young America, caused no little excitement in
the consort, as, in fact, it did on board of the ship. It looked like a
very sudden movement, for all were anticipating their departure for
Germany by the next or the following day. The principal had told them
they would leave in a few days, and not a word had been said about
going to sea in the interim.
"What's up?" asked Greenway, one of the runaways, who had been
transferred to the Josephine, as Little came on deck.
"I don't know--only that we are going to sea," replied Little. "We have
had high times on board of the ship."
"What have you been doing?"
"Hazing Shuffles," said Little, in a whisper.
"And I'll bet that is the reason why we are going to sea, instead of
going to Germany," answered Greenway, with something like disgust in
his looks and in the tones of his voice.
"No matter; we have proved that Shuffles can't handle the ship. He had
to call on old Peaks to help him before he could get the main-topsail
set."
"But if you play these games we shall be left on board while the rest
of the fellows go down the Rhine."
"Not much! Fluxion is going to Marseilles to see his grandmother, or
somebody else, and if we only make mischief enough, Lowington won't
dare to leave us on board."
Little explained the views of Howe, which he had adopted as his own, to
the effect that the more mischief they made, the better would be their
chances of joining the excursion to Germany. Greenway was foolish
enough to take the same view of the question. If the vice-principal was
obliged to go away, Mr. Lowington would not dare to leave the runaways
with any other person.
"But we don't want to go to Germany," added Little.
"Why not?"
"Simply because we have not been to Paris and Switzerland," replied the
little villain, as he led his companion to the forecastle, where no one
could overhear them. "We are going to have the time we bargained for
when we sailed in the Josephine. If we go with the rest of the fellows,
we intend to take French leave of them as soon as we find an
opportunity to do so. On the whole, I had just as lief stay if Fluxion
is not to have the care of us, for we can slip through the hands of any
other man in the squadron."
"There is some money in Paris waiting for me," said Greenway.
"There is some waiting for a lot of our fellows," replied Little. "I
intend to claim mine as soon as the party begin to go down the Rhine."
"What's the plan? How are the fellows to get off?" asked Greenway.
"Every one must manage that to suit himself. We had better go in little
parties of three or four."
"O, no; it's better to keep together," protested Greenway.
"I don't think so. If we attempt to do anything together again, we
shall be watched. We must look out for our chances."
"But our fellows are separated now, and we can't do anything alone."
"Yes, you can. When you see a good opportunity to start for Paris,
start. That's all you have to do."
"I don't like this way."
"It's the best way. Don't you see that when we are missed we can all be
caught in a bunch again. If we go in a dozen different squads, they
will to chase us in as many different directions. If we start with the
fellows for Germany, we shall step out as we have the chance to do so.
I don't believe in more than two or three going together."
"But some of us may not have any money," suggested Greenway.
"Then they must borrow some of those who have it."
"Lowington got hold of two or three drafts, or bills, sent to the
fellows."
"Only two or three," replied Little, lightly. "Those fellows can either
borrow, or go with the lambs."
The Knights of the Red Cross, afterwards of the Golden Fleece, had
written to their fathers, asking them for remittances to be sent to
Paris, where, after sailing around to Marseilles in the Josephine, and
going the rest of the way by railroad, they were to get their letters.
Most of their parents had complied with the request, but two or three
of them had taken the precaution to inform the principal of the fact,
and the bills had been cashed, the proceeds being placed to the credit
of the students in whose favor they had been drawn. As long as the boys
wrote home, the fathers and mothers seldom communicated with the
principal. Most of the rogues had been informed in their letters from
home that the money wanted had been remitted, and awaited their order
in Paris. The runaways, therefore, would be in funds sufficient for
their stolen excursion as soon as they could reach their destination.
The only thing that disturbed them was the difficulty of obtaining
enough in the beginning to pay their railroad fare to Paris.
While Little was instructing Greenway in the programme for the future,
the crew of the third cutter were called away, and the conference was
abruptly closed. The purport of the letter which the officer in charge
of the boat bore to the principal, was, that Mr. Fluxion did not desire
to leave the consort for his visit to Marseilles until the close of the
week. Howe was perhaps nearer the truth than he really believed when he
declared that Mr. Lowington would not dare to leave the runaways on
board of either vessel in charge of any other person than the
vice-principal. He had been strongly inclined to grant the petition of
Shuffles in their favor; but when it was almost proved that the party
were the cause of all the confusion which had occurred on board of the
ship during the afternoon, that they were in a mutinous frame of mind,
he was not willing to encourage their insubordination. He was much
disturbed by the difficult problem thus thrust upon him. Dr. Carboy,
the professor of natural philosophy and chemistry, who had spent
several years in Germany, had volunteered to take charge of the
runaways, and he seemed to be the only person who was available for
this duty. He was no sailor, and only a fair disciplinarian, and Mr.
Lowington had not entire confidence in his ability to manage thirty of
the wildest boys in the squadron--discontented under the punishment to
which they were subjected.
Though everything was orderly on board of the ship, there was a great
deal of suppressed excitement, not to say indignation, for the crew did
not like the idea of keeping watch and reefing topsails, instead of
voyaging down the beautiful Rhine. The movement looked like a
punishment, and many of the crew felt themselves to be entirely
innocent of the blunders and failures made in handling the ship. They
had done their best, and thought it was not fair to punish the innocent
with the guilty. Doubtless it was not fair; but it was a question which
related to the discipline of the crew, as a whole, and not a dozen of
those who had made the mischief could be identified, even by the seamen
who had worked in the rigging with them, much less by the officers.
The mischief-makers themselves did all they could to foment this spirit
of discontent among those who were ordinarily well disposed. They
assumed the responsibility of declaring that the trip into Germany had
been indefinitely postponed. Probably, with the self-conceit incident
to human nature, they really believed they were no worse than the best
of the crew, and they desired to involve all their shipmates in the
odium of the insubordination which had taken place.
"No Rhine, except pork rind," said Little, as he met Raymond in the
waist, after the latter had expressed his dissatisfaction at the new
order of things.
"Do you think so?" asked Raymond, who had read enough of the splendid
scenery of the Rhine to make him very anxious to see it.
"A fellow that isn't blind can see--can't he?--if he opens his eyes,"
demanded Little. "What did the new captain do this afternoon, the very
minute the crew were dismissed from their stations?"
"I don't know. What did he do?" inquired Raymond, curiously.
"Didn't he rush down into the main cabin? Didn't he have a long talk
with Lowington? Then, wasn't the signal for sailing hoisted at once? I
tell you this is all Shuffles's doings."
"Why should Shuffles want to go to sea any more than the rest of us?"
asked Raymond.
"Why should he? Isn't he the captain of the ship now? Doesn't he want
to try on his new authority, and see how it fits? Don't he want to
punish the crew because they didn't drill well this afternoon? I
believe you are a little deaf in one eye, Raymond, or else you can't
hear in the other. It's all as plain as the figure-head on a French
frigate," continued Little, with enthusiasm enough to convince any
dissatisfied seaman.
"Perhaps it is as you say."
"I know it is."
"The drill was very bad. Every fellow knows that."
"What if it was? Whose fault was it?"
"I don't know whose fault it was; but everything went wrong, and I
suppose the new captain is not satisfied with the state of discipline
on board. I should not be, if I were he."
"Two of your little lambs are cooped up in their state-rooms now for
disobedience of orders."
"Who are they?"
"Hunter and Hyde."
"Two of the best fellows in the ship--never got a black mark in their
lives," said Raymond.
"O, well! The new captain will put you pious fellows through a course
of sprouts that will open your eyes. Shuffles is a liar and a
hypocrite. He has his reward, while an honest fellow, like me, will
stick to his bunk in the steerage till the end of the cruise."
"I don't believe Shuffles is a liar, or a hypocrite. You don't like him
because he broke up your cruise in the Josephine."
"That's not the reason. I am willing to obey the orders of all the
officers, but I don't like to see the crowd punished for nothing,"
replied Little, leading the auditor back to the original topic.
Raymond was not yet a good subject for the mischief-maker to work upon,
though, like a majority of the crew, he was dissatisfied with the
change in the programme. Going to sea meant strict discipline; and
after making up their minds to have a good time on shore, it was not
pleasant to think of hard work and hard study for the next week or two.
[Illustration: THE ARRIVAL OF THE ARBUCKLES.--Page 52.]
"There comes the commodore's barge," continued Little, as he pointed to
the boat, which was rapidly approaching the ship. "The Arbuckles are on
board, with all their trunks. What do you think of that, Raymond?"
The mischief-maker looked triumphant. The pile of baggage in the boat
seemed to furnish sufficient testimony to clinch the argument he had
used.
"That looks like a long cruise, certainly. I suppose they are going
with us," replied Raymond, with a sorrowful and disappointed look.
"To be sure they are. In my opinion we are going to sail for Belfast,
to convey the Arbuckles home. You won't see any Rhine, except a pork
rind, on this cruise. If the fellows have any spunk at all, they won't
stand this thing."
"Stand it! What can they do?" asked Raymond, who really believed the
crew to be unfairly treated.
"Don't you know what they can do? Who works the ship?"
"We do, of course."
"Who would work her if we did not?"
"Well, I suppose she would not be worked at all," replied Raymond,
smiling.
"Then, if all the fellows respectfully refuse to man the capstan, or to
unloose a sail, till they have their rights, who will get the ship
under way?"
"We are not going to do anything of that sort," answered Raymond,
rather indignantly. "It would be mutiny."
"You needn't call it by that name, if you don't wish to. Lowington
promised the fellows a trip down the Rhine. Now, because the new
captain could not handle the ship, we are to be sent off to sea. If the
fellows had any grit at all in their bones, they would show Lowington
that they are not slaves to him, or any other man."
"I think we won't talk any more about that," said Raymond, as he moved
off, for the bold speech of the mischief-maker alarmed him, and caused
him to realize that he was listening to one of the ringleaders of the
runaways.
The commodore's barge came up to the gangway. The ladies were assisted
up the steps, and the trunks hoisted on board and stowed away in the
after cabin. The two state-rooms, which had been built for the use of
the commodore and the past officers, were appropriated to their use.
If Raymond, and such as he, were not willing to listen to the mutinous
counsels of the runaways, he was not the less dissatisfied and
discontented. The arrival of the Arbuckles, with their baggage,
indicated that the trip to the Rhine had been abandoned. Perhaps the
well-disposed students could have submitted to this disappointment, if
it had not been inflicted upon them as a punishment. It seemed to them
that they were to suffer for a whim of Shuffles. The runaways had taken
pains to disseminate this idea among the crew, as they had also
succeeded in involving the whole of them in the mischief which induced
the principal to go to sea that night.
All over the deck and throughout the steerage, the boys were grumbling
and growling like regular old salts, whose prerogative it is to find
fault. When Howe and Spencer returned in the barge, they readily
perceived the state of feeling on board. Little told them what he had
said and done, and convinced them that the whole crew were ripe for a
strike. The entire ship's company were discussing their grievances, and
even a large portion of the officers were dissatisfied. Very likely the
sudden elevation of Shuffles had created a feeling of jealousy in the
minds of a portion of them.
The mischief-makers were prompt in taking advantage of this state of
feeling in the crew. They fanned the flame of discontent, and it was
not difficult to convince their shipmates that they were very hardly
used; that the new captain was imposing a heavy burden upon them. Some
of the best disposed of them were in favor of waiting upon the
principal, and representing their view of the case to him; but the more
impetuous ones laughed at this plan. Shuffles was the principal's pet,
and he would support his _protégé_ against everybody else on board. The
students talked as boys talk, and acted as boys act. At that moment
Shuffles was the most unpopular fellow on board, for it was understood
that he had proposed and advocated the obnoxious measure. The ship's
company were willing to believe that Mr. Lowington had yielded his
assent to please the new captain, rather than because he deemed it
necessary to go to sea himself.
By the time the first cutter returned, a large majority of the students
had decided that something should be done. They could not agree upon
the precise step to be taken. Some advocated a protest, others a
respectful refusal to do duty; and a few went in for a square mutiny.
The provisions were transferred from the cutter to the ship, and the
boat was hoisted up before the perplexing question could be settled.
"After supper, let every fellow go to his mess-room. Don't answer the
boatswain's call to weigh anchor," said Raymond, who had made
considerable progress in rebellion since his conversation with Little.
"Ay, ay! That's the talk!" responded half a dozen of the group, who had
been anxiously discussing the question.
"No, no!" added half a dozen others.
"Why not?" demanded Raymond of the opponents of the plan.
"Because the Arbuckles are on board, for one reason, and because it
will be mutiny, for the second," said Tremere, who volunteered to be
spokesman for the opposition. "Mr. Arbuckle has taken us through
Switzerland, and paid all the bills, and has invited us to another
excursion on the same terms. Now, when he comes on board with his
family, to take a little sail with us, we refuse to do duty. It looks
like contempt and ingratitude to him."
"It has nothing to do with him," replied Raymond, warmly. "Here is the
whole matter in a nutshell. Mr. Arbuckle invited us to take a trip into
Germany, and Mr. Lowington promised that we should go. Then, because we
don't drill quite as well as the new captain wishes, he insists upon
going to sea. The cruise down the Rhine is given up, and we are to
carry the Arbuckles to Belfast."
"Who says we are going to Belfast?" demanded Tremere.
"All the fellows say so."
"That doesn't prove that we are going there. I go for obeying orders,
wherever we go."
"No, no!" replied a dozen of the group.
"We don't intend to do anything wicked," said Raymond. "When the
boatswain calls, we don't answer--that's all. Then the officers will
want to know what the matter is, and we shall have a chance to explain
our position. When we get fair play, we shall be all right, and return
to duty."
The group separated, and while the ship's company were waiting for the
supper call, those in favor of the strike used all their influence to
carry their measure, while those who were opposed to it remained
passive.
CHAPTER IV.
THE YOUNG AMERICA MUTINY.
It was impossible for the advocates of the mutiny to determine what
success had attended their efforts, when the crew were piped to supper.
Howe and Little were delighted to find the work in which they were
interested progressing so finely. Nearly the whole crew were arrayed
against the new captain, and in half an hour the grand explosion would
take place. Not more than twenty of the students were expected to
respond to the boatswain's call to get under way, and it would be
impossible to go to sea. The seamen went below at the supper call, but
most of them were too much excited to eat their usual allowance.
The officers, who were to take their supper at a later hour, were all
on deck. Paul Kendall was seated by the side of Grace Arbuckle,
enjoying a pleasant chat, while her father and mother were in
conversation with the principal. Captain Shuffles was planking the
deck, apparently engaged in deep thought. Possibly the events of the
afternoon disturbed him, for he had already received a hint that the
ship's company were much dissatisfied at the idea of going to sea. He
could not see why they should be. If the crew did their duty, and
everything worked well, the squadron would proceed immediately to
Brest, and the cruise need not last more than two days. He knew the
programme himself, but he forgot that it was the policy of the
principal to keep the destination of the ship a secret, as a general
rule, until she was out of sight of land. The Arbuckles had brought
their baggage with them, because the party was to proceed to Brest, and
would not return to Havre.
Popularity is certainly a very insecure possession; for, three weeks
before, Shuffles had been the favorite of the whole ship's company.
Now, he was the most unpopular person on board; partly, it is true,
because he was misunderstood. Both officers and seamen regarded him as
the cause of the present movement. Most of them believed, or at least
feared, that the trip to the Rhine had been abandoned, and that the new
captain was responsible for this change in the programme. They
concluded that he preferred to exercise his new authority, to roaming
on shore, where he was, practically, no more than any other student. It
was true that Shuffles had suggested to the principal the idea of going
to sea, as a measure for perfecting the discipline of the crew. Mr.
Lowington had permitted the captain to fight his own battle with the
crew, and he fully believed that a little sea service was necessary,
after the disorder and insubordination which had prevailed in the ship
during the drill. Some of those who complained the loudest had
permitted their love of fun to get the better of their discretion, and
had joined in the disorder which prevailed during the drill. Many
well-disposed boys had assisted the conspirators against the peace of
the ship by joining in what appeared to them to be but a mere frolic,
while it was, in fact, an organized attempt to make mischief. They had
encouraged the spirit of insubordination, without supposing they were
engaged in anything more than a mere lark, involuntary on their part,
and suggested only by the circumstances of the moment.
From the captain's stand-point, the confusion had a very grave aspect;
while from that of the seamen, it was a matter of trivial consequence.
The commander was mortified to find the discipline so weak; and he
could have no confidence in himself or his crew until his orders were
promptly obeyed. He was thinking only of the welfare of the ship and
her crew. He had no intention of punishing the students, when he
suggested the plan of going to sea,--only of perfecting the discipline.
It seemed to him just as though three weeks on shore had demoralized
the ship's company. Though he was now aware that the runaways had done
what they could to make trouble, the confusion seemed to be too
extensive to be accounted for by their agency. Two of the best boys on
board had been sent to the mainmast for disobedience; and it was clear
that the runaways had not produced all the trouble.
The commodore fully sustained him, and believed that it was best for
the ship to go to sea. If the students had forgotten the ropes, or were
so much embarrassed in their new stations, that they could not set a
sail or get up the anchor without making a mess of it, the ship ought
to go to sea. On the return of the excursionists from Germany, it might
be necessary to put to sea without an hour's delay, as the principal
had suggested. Shipwreck and disaster might follow if the crew were not
in working order. It was a plain case to the captain.
Paul Kendall had explained the situation to the Arbuckles as mildly as
he could. He had told them that the seamen were a little disorderly,
and that it was necessary to have them in perfect discipline before
they went to Germany. Without intending to do so, he had produced the
impression on their minds, that the trip would be given up unless the
boys performed their duty to the entire satisfaction of the principal.
In talking with the officers, they had expressed their fear that the
proposed excursion would not take place. Perhaps the guests were not
far from right; for certainly the students would not be allowed to step
on shore if the discipline of the ship was not satisfactory. Miss Grace
was sadly disturbed at the thought of depriving the students of the
pleasure of seeing the Rhine, its wonders and its beauties.
"Why, I thought your crew were in perfect discipline, Captain--no, I
mean Commodore--Kendall," said she, as they sat upon the quarter-deck,
discussing the great question of the hour.
"They are, generally," replied Paul. "But you know we are a little
world by ourselves, and we have our troubles just like other people. It
will be all right, I hope, in a day or two. The students get a little
wild sometimes."
"Captain Shuffles is such a noble fellow, I should think they would all
wish to do their best. I'm sure I should, if I were a sailor in your
ship."
"Shuffles is a capital fellow," added Paul, who was certainly more
pleased to praise the commander himself, than to have his fair
companion do so.
"I shall never forget his noble conduct on that terrible night when the
steamer was burned," said Grace, warmly.
"Probably none of us will ever forget it. But I am sorry to say that
there is a great deal of dissatisfaction with the new captain, just
now, even among the officers," added Paul.
"I'm very sorry."
"But it is not his fault; really it is not," continued Paul, fearing
that he had said too much.
"I'm sure it is not," protested Grace. "I wonder if I have any
influence with the officers."
"I think you have: indeed, I know you have with one of them," replied
Paul; but he began to choke before he had uttered the last clause of
the sentence.
"With one of them?"
"Yes, with all of them; but perhaps more with one than with others,"
stammered Paul, studying the seams in the quarter-decks.
"Who is he, pray?" asked Grace, rather timidly.
"With the commodore," answered he, desperately.
"Thank you, Commodore Kendall. Then we will both use our influence to
have the captain set right with the officers and the crew."
"Well, it is not exactly the right thing for so dignified a personage
as the commodore to persuade his inferiors that his views are correct.
He issues orders, and others obey them," laughed Paul. "But really I
cannot, in courtesy, meddle with the discipline of the ship."
"I'm going to meddle with it, if I can do anything to set Captain
Shuffles right," said Grace, who was very confident that it was quite
impossible for her noble preserver to do, or even think, anything
wrong.
"The officers will do their duty, whatever they think," added Paul. "In
due time they will be satisfied that the captain is right. I fully
agree with him, and think that the ship ought to go to sea."
"Of course, I expect to find you on the right side, Commodore Kendall,"
said Grace.
"Certainly I'm always on your side," he replied, becoming astonishingly
bold for him.
"Then we are both on Captain Shuffles's side. Who is the officer
standing near us?"
It happened to be Master Perth; and Miss Arbuckle called him, intent
upon finding some one who was not on the captain's side. Paul, however,
did not think it was in accordance with the dignity of the commodore of
the squadron to listen to any criticism of the captain's action, and he
reluctantly left the pleasant seat he occupied by the side of the young
lady. If there was any one on board who hated Shuffles, Perth was he.
"I wanted to get acquainted with you, Mr. Perth; for it seems to me I
have not met you before," she began.
"Probably not, Miss Arbuckle, for I was not one of the party who went
to Paris and Switzerland with you," replied the second master.
"Indeed!" exclaimed she, understanding, without further explanation,
why he was not one of the party, and that he was one of the runaways,
though she could not exactly comprehend how he happened to be an
officer if he had been a rebel.
"I had the honor to command the Josephine during a portion of the time
the ship's company were absent," laughed he, with anything but
penitence for his past offences.
"I am very sorry you were not with the others."
"So am I, for one reason--it deprived me of the pleasure of seeing your
pretty face for three or four weeks," said Perth, lightly.
"Perhaps I shall change my mind if I find your absence saved me from
such annoyance as I feel at the present moment," replied Grace,
blushing, and looking much displeased.
"I beg your pardon! I meant no offence," stammered Perth.
Grace smiled again; for she did not believe he would again venture to
indulge in an impudent compliment.
"I am very sorry to learn from what you say that you were one of the
runaways," she continued.
"I was one of them--I may say that I was the chief of them," replied
Perth, without a blush.
"Of course you are very sorry for it, and very glad that Captain
Shuffles brought you back."
"That's an open question," laughed Perth. "I don't think Shuffles made
much by what he did. I don't believe any fellow makes anything by being
a hypocrite, and selling out his friends."
"I don't think so, either. But you certainly cannot mean to say that
Captain Shuffles is a hypocrite, or that he ever betrayed his friends?"
"I suppose I ought not to say anything to you about it, knowing that he
is a strong friend of yours."
"Whatever you say, Mr. Perth, shall not be repeated. I have been told
that some of the officers are opposed to the new captain; and I do not
see how it can be true, when he is so noble and good."
"Noble and good!" ejaculated Perth.
"Certainly. You know what he did for me on the night the steamer was
burned."
"There isn't a fellow on board that would not have given all he had for
a chance to do the same thing for you," protested Perth.
"But all the students like him."
"I don't believe he has twenty friends in the ship."
"Then they do not know him as I do," replied Grace, indignantly.
"They know him better than you do. He's smart, and a good officer; but
when you have said that, you have said all that can be said," continued
Perth, bluntly.
"I am sorry to hear you say so," added Grace, really grieved, even
while she was incredulous. "I am afraid you are prejudiced against him
because he broke up your plan to run away with the Josephine."
"He didn't break it up. Our fellows disagreed among themselves; that's
the reason why we had to come back," explained Perth, whose pride did
not permit him to acknowledge that he had been beaten by the superior
skill and energy of Shuffles. "Now, all the fellows are on the very
verge of mutiny, because he insists upon taking the ship to sea,
instead of going down the Rhine."
"I'm sure he is doing no more than his duty," persisted Grace, stoutly.
"It appears that Mr. Lowington thinks he is right, or he would not send
the ship to sea. I am really sorry to hear you speak so unkindly of
your captain, for I must say that I cannot believe a word you say about
him."
"Thank you," replied Perth, dryly.
"I think you are sincere in your belief," added she. "Paul Kendall says
that the captain is right."
"Well, he is commodore, you know, and must believe everything the
principal says," laughed Perth. "It is not quite proper for any of us
to have opinions of our own, but you see some of us have them."
Perth was certainly good-natured, whatever else he was, and as Grace
said no more, he touched his cap, and passed on. The devoted admirer of
Shuffles's nobleness and goodness was greatly disconcerted by the blunt
statements of the second master, who had declared that the ship's
company were almost in a state of mutiny against the captain. She
continued her inquiries among other officers; but, though some of them
thought it was quite unnecessary to go to sea, they all spoke very
handsomely of Shuffles. It was plain enough that Perth had injured
himself more than the object of his calumny, by what he had said.
"Are you ready to go to sea, Miss Arbuckle?" asked the captain, as he
came on deck, and touched his cap to her.
"I am quite ready; indeed, I am afraid I am more ready than many others
on board of this ship," she replied. "I am sorry to hear that some of
the officers and seamen are very much displeased at the idea of going
to sea."
"So far as the seamen are concerned, it is their own fault, for they
have not done their duty," added the captain.
"Not the fault of all of them, I hope."
"Not all, certainly; but if they don't know their stations, they must
learn them. If you are all ready to go, I think we will be off," said
Shuffles, as he glanced at his watch. "You will get the ship under way,
if you please, Mr. Goodwin," he added, addressing the first lieutenant,
who was standing near him.
"I really hope there will be no trouble, Captain Shuffles," continued
Grace.
"There can be no trouble. All sailors grumble, you know, Miss Arbuckle,
and our boys imitate their elders in this respect. They will growl for
a while, but just as soon as they work the ship with skill and
promptness, we shall put into Brest, and make our trip down the Rhine.
I think we shall not be at sea beyond a couple of days."
"I hope not, for the sake of the crew."
"All hands, weigh anchor, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain, as his sharp
pipe rang through the ship.
Less than thirty of the seamen answered to the call, and it was
apparent that a very large majority of them had chosen to follow the
evil counsels of the runaways, or the foolish counsels of other
discontented spirits. It was the first time since the ship went into
commission that any considerable number of the crew had failed to
respond to the call. Shuffles was confounded, and the first lieutenant
actually turned pale. It looked like such a mutiny as the Chain League
had planned.
"Pipe again," said Shuffles, as quietly as he could.
Again the boatswain sounded the call, and repeated the order, but with
no better success than before. Not another seaman appeared upon deck.
"What does this mean?" said the commodore to the captain.
"As near as I can interpret it, the greater part of the crew do not
intend to obey orders," replied Shuffles.
"It certainly looks so."
"Mr. Goodwin, will you inquire of those who obeyed the order, whether
their shipmates heard the call?" continued the captain, laboring very
hard to appear cool and collected, as a commander ought to be in every
emergency.
Paul Kendall's curiosity prompted him to follow the executive officer
to the waist, where the seamen who had obeyed the call were waiting for
orders. He was unwilling to believe the evidence of his senses, though
he knew that there was considerable disaffection on board.
"Did the rest of the crew hear the boatswain's pipe?" asked Goodwin of
the faithful few.
"Yes, sir," replied Tremere.
"Where are they now?"
"In the mess-rooms."
"Why don't they obey?"
"They say they don't want to go to sea: they say they haven't done
anything to deserve punishment, and they object to being punished,"
replied the spokesman.
"What do they mean by being punished?" asked the commodore.
"Sent to sea. Mr. Lowington promised us a trip down the Rhine; and now
that excursion is given up. The fellows say the ship is bound to
Belfast, to convey the Arbuckles home. They say they are willing to do
their duty, if they can have fair play."
"What do the seamen intend to do?" asked Paul.
"Nothing, sir. They say they will give their reasons when called upon."
"Probably they will, when called upon," said Paul, who had very high
ideas of discipline.
The executive officer returned, and explained the situation to the
captain. It was impossible to get the ship under way with less than
thirty seamen, and he felt that his powers were exhausted. Fortunately,
Mr. Lowington, who had heard the boatswain's pipe, came on deck at this
critical moment.
"Didn't I hear the boatswain's pipe?" asked the principal, surprised to
find only a few hands in the waist.
"Yes, sir; we have called all hands twice, and only about thirty answer
the call."
"It was a mistake to call more than once," replied Mr. Lowington, who
did not seem to be taken aback by the astounding intelligence. "What's
the matter?"
The captain explained, reporting the statements made by the faithful
ones in the waist.
"A mutiny, then--is it?" added the principal, with a smile. "Well, I am
glad it is no worse."
"The mutineers are willing to explain, when called upon for an
explanation," added Paul, who was indignant at the conduct of the
malcontents.
"We don't usually call for explanations in such cases on board ship,"
said the principal. "It is plain enough that this is only a second
edition of the confusion of this afternoon. The young gentlemen have
been listening to evil advice."
"What shall be done, sir?" inquired the captain, rather nervously, in
spite of his laborious efforts to keep cool.
"Mutiny is mutiny," replied the principal; "but in this case, I think
we need not treat it with the severity which prevails in the navy. The
students below say, and probably believe, that the excursion to the
Rhine has been abandoned, and that the ship is bound to Belfast. Though
they are mistaken, we can only tell them so when they return to their
duty. We will go to sea, as we intended."
"How can we go to sea with a crew of less than thirty?" asked Shuffles.
"Keep perfectly calm, Captain Shuffles. I am willing to grant that, in
a man-of-war, with men in a state of mutiny, the case would be a very
serious one. I do not so regard it in the present instance, but we will
profit by the lesson it may teach. For an officer to permit a sailor to
see that he is disconcerted is yielding too much. Therefore, young
gentlemen, I wish you all to be perfectly composed, whatever happens.
This affair is rather ludicrous than otherwise, since the mutineers
declare that they are ready to explain when called upon to do so, which
is very kind and condescending on their part," the principal proceeded,
addressing the officers who had gathered around him for the solution of
what seemed to them a very difficult and trying problem.
But they were not permitted to hear the solution, for the principal
invited the commodore and the captain into the main cabin, to discuss
the matter, desiring, even in the present embarrassing situation, to
have everything done in accordance with his ideas of discipline. He
meant that the captain should be the apparent, if he could not be the
real, manager of the difficult affair.
"How many hands responded to the boatswain's call?" asked the
principal, when the party were seated.
"Less than thirty," answered Shuffles.
"Twenty-eight. I had the curiosity to count them," interposed Paul.
"Twenty-eight," repeated the principal. "Very well; we can--"
"I hope you will excuse me, sir," said Shuffles, interrupting him. "If
this state of thing is caused by any dislike to me, sir, I am willing
to resign."
"So far as I know, you have done your duty, Shuffles; and to permit you
to resign would be to abandon the plan of the Academy Ship, and
acknowledge that discipline is an impracticable thing. You cannot
resign."
"Many of the fellows dislike me," added the captain.
"That is not your fault, as I understand the matter. That the runaways,
who, I suspect, are at the root of this mischief, should be prejudiced
against you, was to be expected. If others are also, it is because they
are misinformed. You can afford to wait till time justifies your good
intentions."
"I am willing to own that I have no desire to resign. I like the place,
but I am willing to sacrifice my own wishes for the peace of the ship."
"Peace is not to be bought on any such terms. Say nothing more about
resigning. Twenty-eight hands, you say, are ready to obey orders."
"Yes, sir."
"On an emergency, the captain and four lieutenants can officer the
ship. Masters, midshipmen, and pursers must do duty as seamen. They
will gladly consent to do so. Let it be voluntary on their part. How
many will that make?"
"Thirty-eight."
"Peaks, Bitts, and Leach will make forty-one. The Josephine is fully
manned, and can spare us nine more. That will make fifty. If we lay
aside the school work, we can sail the ship round the world with that
number."
Shuffles displayed a smile of satisfaction at this solution.
"But we will procure the services of a tug-boat to tow us to sea, so
that there will be no hard work in getting clear of the harbor," added
the principal. "Send Leavitt in the second cutter to the Josephine for
the extra hands, and let Foster go in the third for one of the
steam-tugs up by the jetties. Above all things, Captain Shuffles, do
not mention your plans to any person."
"I will not, sir," replied Shuffles, as he hastened on deck to put in
force the solution of the problem.
"What is to be the result of this, Mr. Lowington?" asked Paul.
"I don't know--nothing serious, however. The young gentlemen are
waiting very impatiently in their mess-rooms to be called and asked for
the explanation, which I doubt not is a very plausible one. Let them
wait," continued the principal, leading the way to the deck, where he
sat down with the Arbuckles, and was soon busy in conversation with
them, as though nothing had happened.
CHAPTER V.
THE ORDER OF THE FAITHFUL.
The appearance of Captain Shuffles on deck produced a decided sensation
among the officers, some of whom believed that the mutineers would be
dragged from the mess-rooms by the adult forward officers, and tied up
to the rigging. The decided character of the principal certainly
pointed to the most decided measures. Something terrible was to be
expected, and the young gentlemen were astonished when Mr. Lowington
came on deck, immediately after the captain, seated himself with the
Arbuckles, and began to converse with them as pleasantly as though no
mutiny had ever been dreamed of.
The captain called the officers around him, and all of them eagerly
obeyed the summons.
"We are going to sea immediately," said he, with none of the anxiety
which was visible in his face before. "As we are short-handed, I have a
favor to ask. Those below the rank of lieutenant, who are willing to
serve as seamen until the discipline of the ship can be restored, will
signify it by walking over to the starboard side."
All below the grade indicated, with a single exception, promptly
marched over to the other side of the ship. The four lieutenants
stepped out of the way, so that the single dissenter might stand alone.
It is hardly necessary to say that Perth was the person who was so
largely in the minority among the officers.
"You decline to serve with the other masters?" said Shuffles.
"I prefer to be excused. I have had considerable experience as a
seaman, and would like a little more as an officer," replied Perth,
politely.
"We shall dispense with the services of all the officers except the
lieutenants," added the captain. "There will be nothing for you to do,
but you shall not be compelled to serve as a seaman."
"Permit me to take his place," interposed Gordon, the senior past
officer.
"Thank you, Gordon," replied Shuffles.
"Please enroll me also as a seaman," added Haven, good-naturedly.
"And me also," laughed Paul.
"I suggest that the past officers take the places of the second, third,
and fourth lieutenants, who shall do duty as seamen," said Leavitt, the
second officer.
"By all means," added Foster, the third.
"With all my heart," followed Prescott, the fourth.
The captain adopted this suggestion, and Gordon, as second lieutenant,
was sent off to the Josephine in the second cutter, which was pulled by
three masters and the three midshipmen. When it was ready to leave, Mr.
Lowington stepped into the boat, for he desired to satisfy himself that
the crew of the consort were not also demoralized. Haven in the third
cutter, with a volunteer crew, left the ship to procure a tug-steamer.
Peaks, Bitts, Leach, and the head steward had been privately requested
to be on deck, in case any unexpected demonstration was made by the
mutineers.
In the steerage everything was very quiet. The sensation below was
decidedly superior to that on deck. The rebels were patiently waiting
to be called upon for an explanation of their remarkable conduct.
Probably none of them even noticed that the grating had been put upon
the main hatch by the cautious Peaks, to prevent them from leaving the
steerage. The boatswain's call had sounded twice, and they supposed the
faculty of the Academy were consulting upon the proper measures to be
taken. Most of them believed that they would be invited on deck, where
the principal would "preach" to them, as usual, and thus afford them an
opportunity to state their grievances. Perhaps, with the exception of
the runaways, they were willing to return to their duty after they had
recorded their protest. The principal still purposed to let them wait.
The third cutter, all of whose volunteer crew wore shoulder-straps,
came up to the gangway of the Josephine, which, like the ship, was all
ready to weigh anchor.
"You come with a very nobby crew," said Mr. Fluxion, as the principal
stepped upon the deck of the consort.
"The ship is in a state of mutiny," replied Mr. Lowington, with a smile
upon his face, which softened the astounding declaration.
"Mutiny!" exclaimed Mr. Fluxion.
"Precisely so. We called all hands to weigh anchor, and less than
thirty answered to the summons. We learned from them that the rest of
the crew refused to do duty till their grievances were heard. Do you
know of anything of this kind on board of your vessel?"
"We haven't called all hands yet, for we don't begin to get under way
till the ship mans the capstan. It is possible that we shall have the
same difficulty."
"Let your captain get under way at once, for the ship will be towed
out. If your crew is all right, I should like to transfer a few seamen
to the ship, for we are rather short-handed," added the principal.
Mr. Fluxion called Captain Terrill, and the order was given to pipe all
hands. As the boatswain's whistle sounded, the principal and the
vice-principal descended to the cabin. Mr. Lowington had begun to
explain his method of dealing with the difficulty, when a messenger
from the captain reported that twelve seamen refused to answer the
summons.
"Ascertain who they are, and get under way without disturbing them,"
said the principal, after the messenger had retired.
"That's a novel way to deal with a mutiny," added Mr. Fluxion, who was
always in favor of decisive measures.
Mr. Lowington stated his views fully, and explained his plan. Though
the vice-principal did not agree with him in regard to his corrective
measures, he consented to adopt them. When they went on deck, the
captain handed Mr. Fluxion a list of the names of the Josephine's
mutineers. They were the twelve runaways who had been transferred to
the consort. Little had succeeded in inducing them to engage in the
plot, but the rest of the crew would not follow their vicious example,
even with the assurance that the mutiny was general on board of the
ship. Under these circumstances, none of the crew of the Josephine
could be spared for service in the Young America, and the boat returned
without them. The principal decided that the ship could be handled with
the available force, which might include a portion of the cooks and
stewards, some of whom were sailors.
The tug-boat had come alongside when the cutter reached the ship. In
order to give any rebel, who had repented, an opportunity to return to
his duty, the grating was removed from the main hatch, and the
boatswain again called all hands to weigh anchor. Only two of them,
however, answered the call. The capstan was manned by the faithful
thirty, reënforced by the officers and the men on board. A long hawser
had been passed from the bow to the steamer, and as soon as the anchor
was up to the hawse-hole, the signal was given to go ahead. The
Josephine followed as promptly as though every seaman on board
performed his duty, though the sails were not set with the usual
precision. The little squadron went off to the north-west, carrying its
double mutiny with it.
As soon as the ship began to move, after the anchor was secured, the
officers devoted themselves to the duty of stationing the crew. They
were divided into two watches, and their places for making and taking
in sail, reefing and tacking, were assigned to them. As the officers
who had volunteered to serve before the mast were thorough seamen, the
task was speedily accomplished. There were no "green hands" to be
favored, for every one was competent to hand, reef, and steer. By the
time the squadron was well in the offing, the ship's company was in
condition to make sail. About ten miles outside of the harbor, the
steamer was discharged.
"All hands, make sail, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain; and every officer
and seaman sprang to his station.
Lieutenants, masters, midshipmen, and pursers mingled with the seamen,
and the work was done with promptness and precision. Topsails,
top-gallant-sails, and courses were set, and with the wind abeam, the
ship went off to the north-west as comfortably as though no mutiny had
distracted her routine. When everything was made snug for a night at
sea, the roll was called, and the names of the mutineers checked on the
list.
"Young gentleman," said Mr. Lowington, while the faithful were still
assembled in the waist, "I regret that so many of your companions have
resorted to a silly and stupid expedient to redress real or imaginary
grievances. Mutiny is never respectable, under any circumstances; and I
wish to draw a sharp line between those who do their duty and those who
do not. I desire that none of you hold any communication whatever with
the mutineers. Be dignified and gentlemanly, but avoid them. Give them
no information in regard to what transpires on deck. I _request_ you to
do this. I do not give you any order to that effect.
"None of the mutineers will be allowed to come on deck, and I shall
have some means of distinguishing the faithful from the unfaithful."
"Will you allow me to furnish a badge for each of the faithful?" asked
Grace Arbuckle, who stood near the principal, and was deeply interested
in the proceedings.
"Certainly, Miss Arbuckle; and I am sure the young gentlemen will set
an additional value upon the decoration if it is bestowed by you,"
replied Mr. Lowington, as gallantly as though he had been a much
younger man.
"Thank you, sir," answered Grace, blushing at the compliment.
"Miss Arbuckle will give a badge to each of you," continued the
principal to the faithful few.
The crew on deck applauded lustily.
"It will be a white ribbon on the left breast," said Grace.
"A white ribbon on the left breast," repeated Mr. Lowington, as Grace
hastened to the cabin to procure the materials for the decoration. "I
learn that those who refused to answer the boatswain's call, expected
to be asked for an explanation of their conduct. I cannot make terms
with mutineers. I should have proceeded in a different manner if I had
not believed there was a misunderstanding. I am willing to explain for
your benefit, but not for those below. Do you understand?"
"Ay, ay, sir!" shouted the students.
"With a promise on your part to keep your own counsels, I will explain.
Those of you who will agree not to communicate anything I may say to
the mutineers will signify it by going abaft the mizzen-mast on the
quarter-deck. Those who decline to agree to these terms will remain in
the waist."
Every officer, including Perth, and every seaman, promptly marched to
the quarter-deck.
"At the wheel, do you agree to the terms?" said the principal,
addressing the quarter-master and seaman who were steering.
"Yes, sir," replied both.
"Mr. Peaks, you will see that no one is at the ladder of the main
hatch," continued the principal, turning to the adult boatswain.
"Ay, ay, sir," replied Peaks, who soon reported that all the mutineers
were still in the mess-rooms.
"Now, young gentlemen, I am told it is generally believed in the
steerage that the trip down the Rhine has been abandoned; that the ship
is bound to Belfast to convey our good friends to their home. This is a
mistake, and probably the one which made the mischief in part. I have
no idea of going to Belfast, and no idea of abandoning the excursion
into Germany."
The boys applauded with a zeal which indicated how satisfactory the
intelligence was to them.
"Certainly the discipline of the ship needs improving, but I was
satisfied that two or three days' service at sea would restore it to
its former standard. If the squadron remains at Havre during our
absence, both vessels must go into the docks, which involves
considerable expense. I therefore purposed to make a harbor at Brest,
and go from there to the Rhine. For this reason the baggage of our
friends was brought on board. That is really all that need be said. Are
you satisfied?"
"Ay, ay, sir!" shouted the crowd.
"But remember that this explanation is made for your benefit, and not
for that of the students in the steerage. They have chosen their own
remedy, and they must abide the issue. You are now dismissed."
"Not yet, if you please, Mr. Lowington," interposed Grace, who had
stationed herself, with her mother on the port side of the mizzen-mast.
"If the young gentlemen will pass this way, they shall be decorated
with the white ribbon of the Order of the Faithful."
"The Order of the Faithful!" exclaimed Mr. Lowington, laughing, while
all the students applauded. "You will pass forward on the port side of
the mizzen-mast, and be initiated into the Order of the Faithful."
"I shall join that order," said Commodore Kendall, as he placed himself
in the single line formed by the boys.
"Let the flag-officer go first," added some of the students, dragging
Paul to the head of the column.
"Commodore Kendall, you are received into the Order of the Faithful,"
said Grace, as she pinned upon the left breast of his coat the white
ribbon, which was doubled, so that the two ends hung down.
"Thank you, Miss Arbuckle. I will endeavor to be faithful," replied the
flag-officer, as he touched his cap to the fair initiator.
Captain Shuffles followed him, and in half an hour the entire party
were duly initiated and decorated. As fast as Mrs. Arbuckle could cut
off and double the ribbons, Grace adjusted them. She explained that she
had purchased a large quantity of narrow white and blue ribbon in Paris
to make trimmings for a dress; and when the principal had spoken of a
distinguishing mark for those who did their duty, it had suggested to
her the white ribbon of the Order of the Faithful. She was delighted to
have her idea so well received.
"We have had some secret societies on board this ship," laughed Paul
Kendall, after he had received his decoration. "I move you we form
another--the Order of the Faithful."
"We have already taken the obligation," added Shuffles.
"And we have been initiated by Miss Arbuckle," said Gordon.
The suggestion was received with favor, though rather as a pleasantry
than as a serious matter; and, after the faithful had all marched by
the mizzen-mast, the subject was again taken up in the waist.
"I move you that Commodore Kendall be chosen Grand Commander of the
Order of the Faithful," said Shuffles.
"I beg you will excuse me. I couldn't walk if I had to carry around
with me such a magnificent title as that," replied Paul, shrugging his
shoulders like a Frenchman. "I suggest that Miss Grace Arbuckle be the
chief of the order, and that no one be admitted unless initiated by
her. As she is the founder of the order, it is fair that she should be
its head."
"Good!" shouted several of the officers and seamen.
"What shall her title be?" added Shuffles.
"Queen," replied Gordon.
"No; that's too commonplace," answered Haven.
"What shall it be, then?"
"Something outlandish, just for the fun of the thing," said Haven, who
was not a very warm advocate of secret societies.
"The Amazon," suggested one of the seamen.
"O, no! don't call her an Amazon," protested Paul. "It would be a libel
upon her."
"The Queen of the Fairies."
"We are not fairies," objected Haven.
"She is one, at any rate."
"Call her the Empress."
"Simply the President."
"No; the Directress."
The question seemed to be a trying one; and one after another suggested
titles which were satisfactory to no one but the proposers.
"How will the Protectress do?" inquired Shuffles.
"Rather formidable and commonplace," replied Haven. "Make it the Grand
Protectress, and I am with you."
"I like Protectress," added Paul Kendall.
"So do I," said half a dozen others.
"Grand Protectress is better," persisted Haven, who could not help
making a burlesque of the affair.
"Grand Protectress!" shouted a dozen others, who believed in
high-sounding titles.
"Put it to vote," suggested Shuffles.
"Ay, ay! put it to vote."
"Those in favor of Grand Protectress say, ay," continued Haven.
"Ay!" responded a large number.
"Opposed."
"No."
"The ayes have it. Grand Protectress it is."
"I move you that Commodore Kendall and Captain Shuffles be a committee
to wait upon Miss Arbuckle, and inform her that she has been
unanimously chosen Grand Protectress of the Order of the Faithful.
Those in favor say, ay; those opposed, no. It is a vote."
The committee went to the quarter-deck, where Grace and her mother were
conversing with Mr. Lowington. Paul, who was by seniority the
spokesman, touched his cap, and looked as dignified as though he had
been the minister plenipotentiary of one of the great powers.
"Miss Arbuckle, I have the honor--and I should do injustice to my own
feelings if I did not add, the pleasure--to inform you, that you have
been unanimously chosen Grand Protectress of the Order of the
Faithful."
"The what?" asked Grace.
The principal, usually very solemn and dignified, laughed heartily.
"Grand Protectress," replied Paul, gravely. "The order has been duly
established; and, as you have initiated all the members, it is
eminently proper that you should preside over its destinies."
"Please to assure the members of the order, that I accept the high
position, and that I am very grateful to them for the honor they have
done me," answered Grace, when she could restrain her laughter so as to
speak.
"I am happy to be the bearer of such a pleasant message," said Paul, as
he bowed and retired.
"Grand Protectress!" laughed Grace, repeating in measured tones her
magnificent title.
Paul reported the acceptance of the Grand Protectress; and the society
was further organized by the choice of a secretary, whose only duty was
to keep a record of the names of the members.
"Now, we want a motto," said Gordon; "something that will express, in
few words, the objects of the society."
"I don't happen to know what the objects of the society are," replied
Haven; "but I suggest, '_Honi soit qui mal y pense_.'"
"The Queen of England has a mortgage on that motto," said Paul.
"_Semper paratus_ will be better."
"What does it mean?" asked a student.
"Some praties," replied a wag.
"Let us have a motto in plain English, and one that has not been used
by all the engine companies in the United States," added Haven.
"_Semper paratus_ is good, I think," persisted Paul. "_Always ready_ to
answer the boatswain's call, and _always ready_ to do our duty."
"But it is worn out," protested Haven. "I move you we invite the Grand
Protectress to give us a motto."
The motion was carried, and the same committee appointed to make the
request. Paul led the way to Grace again, who was still highly amused
at the grand honor which had been conferred upon her.
"The Order of the Faithful instructs me humbly to petition the Grand
Protectress for a motto suitable to the needs, and expressive of the
objects, of the association," said Paul.
"O, dear me!" exclaimed Grace. "If you ask such things as that of me, I
shall not wish to be Grand Protectress. I think, as your great
philosopher said, it will be paying too dear for the whistle. Must it
be in English, French, Latin, or German?"
"That must be left to the discretion of your Grand Protectresship,"
answered Paul, gravely.
"Please to help me, father," said she, appealing to Mr. Arbuckle.
"Whatever the Grand Protectress vouchsafes to give us shall be
cherished by the order," added Paul.
Mr. Arbuckle wrote a sentence on a slip of paper, and handed it to
Grace.
"Ah, here is your motto!" exclaimed she, laughing heartily.
"Please to repeat it," said Captain Shuffles.
"_Vous ne pouvez pas faire un sifflet de la queue d'un cochon_," added
Grace, reading from the paper, which she handed to Paul, choking with
mirth.
"Thanks, most excellent Grand Protectress," replied the commodore, who
found it very difficult to maintain his gravity.
"It is a literal translation of the English proverb, and perhaps the
idea is not expressed in similar phrase in French," said Mr. Arbuckle;
"but I think it will answer very well for a motto."
Paul smoothed down his face as well as he could, and conveyed the motto
to the assembled order in the waist.
"I have the honor to inform you that the Grand Protectress has provided
a motto," said he.
"What is it?" demanded a dozen.
"It is in French."
"The motto!" called the impatient Faithfuls.
_"Vous ne pouvez pas faire un sifflet de la queue d'un cochon."_
Only two or three laughed, for only a few were as good French scholars
as Paul and Shuffles.
"What's the English of it?" asked several at the same time.
"You must excuse me, for I do not think it is quite proper to translate
the motto," replied Paul.
Those who understood it enjoyed the joke too much to afford the others
any light on the subject. Haven was delighted with the motto, and moved
that it be accepted. As it had been furnished by the Grand Protectress,
it was unanimously adopted. The weak scholars were very curious to know
the meaning of the mystic words. Most of them could make out a part of
the sentence, but not enough to translate it. The business of the
meeting was completed, and the members separated, all of them feeling
that the mutiny of the Young America was more like a merrymaking than
anything else. To be decorated with the white ribbon of the order by a
beautiful young lady was a privilege which they appreciated, and all of
them were thankful that they had not been led astray by the evil
counsels which had prevailed in the steerage.
"If you do not like the motto, I can give you another now," said Grace,
when Paul joined the little party on the quarter-deck.
"The one you gave was unanimously adopted by the order," replied Paul.
"Was it, really?" asked Grace, laughing more heartily than before.
"Certainly it was."
"Did they understand its meaning?"
"Some of them did."
"If you like this one better, it is at your service: 'High aims produce
noble deeds.'"
"While I hope we all believe in the English one, I think the members of
the order prefer the French one."
"If they are suited, I am," replied Grace, cheerfully.
The ship was still going along under easy sail, though the weather
promised to be unfavorable before morning. At eight o'clock, the
starboard watch, with the first and third lieutenants in charge, took
the deck, and the port watch went below. They were to be ready for duty
at twelve. Everything on deck was as pleasant as a merry-making. None
of the passengers were seasick.
Everything was not so lovely in the steerage, and it is necessary to go
back a few hours in order to ascertain what passed among the mutineers.
CHAPTER VI.
IN THE STEERAGE.
After the students finished their supper, those who had decided to
rebel against the authorities of the ship retired to the mess-rooms,
agreeably to the instructions of the leaders. There were forty-four of
them, including the eighteen runaways who still remained in the ship as
seamen, and who were the real mischief-makers, forming a class by
themselves, hardening their hearts in sheer ugliness against the
discipline of the ship. In their exploit with the Josephine, they had
"bucked" against authority, and had suffered the consequences, which
unfortunately had not produced a favorable impression upon them. They
were disposed to do the same thing again.
The rest of the mutineers belonged to a different class. They were
generally well-disposed boys, fond of fun and excitement, not exactly
the "lambs" of the flock, but certainly not the black sheep. If some of
them had assisted in creating the confusion during the drill, they had
not done so with any malicious purpose, as the runaways had, but from a
thoughtless love of sport and excitement. They would never have thought
of such an expedient as rebellion if they had not been cunningly worked
upon by the real mischief-makers. They were not strong-minded young
men, who dare to do right under all circumstances. With good impulses
in the main, their principle was not hardened into that solid element
which constitutes a reliable conscience. They were easily led away, and
believing they had a real grievance, they resorted to doubtful means
for its redress.
Of this class Raymond had been the leading spirit. He would have
resented the appellation of mutineer as an insult. All he expected and
desired to obtain was an explanation; and he was confident that when
two thirds of the crew mildly, and even respectfully, declined to do
duty, the principal, either in person or by deputy, would come below to
ascertain the nature of the difficulty. He had cautioned his party to
be perfectly respectful to the officers, and especially to the
principal and professors. If it was to be a mutiny in any sense of the
word, it was to be a very gentlemanly one. Having reduced the intended
rebellion to this mild form, he had no fear that the rough hand of
Peaks would be laid upon them, or that the party would be driven by
force from the mess-rooms.
"How do you suppose it will come out?" asked Hyde, one of Raymond's
messmates, in a low tone, as a group of the rebels gathered in their
room.
"It will come out all right," replied the leader of the mild mutineers,
confidently.
"I'm not so sure of that," added Hyde, shaking his head. "Mr. Lowington
is a great stickler for discipline; and he is not exactly the man to
come below, and coax us to attend to our duty."
"I don't expect he will coax us to do it. But there are so many of us
in the scrape that he can hardly do anything else."
"How many do you suppose there are?" inquired Hyde.
"I can't tell exactly, but I am satisfied that more than two thirds of
the whole crew will stand out."
"I don't know about that."
"I know that every fellow in the ship is mad because the trip to the
Rhine is given up; and I think that at least two thirds of them are mad
enough to do something about it. I should not be surprised if not a
single fellow answered the boatswain's call."
"I should; for I know half a dozen who have said they should; but they
mean to let the principal know that all the fellows are dissatisfied
with the idea of being cheated out of the run into Germany. I'm not
sure that this wouldn't be the better way."
"O, it wouldn't amount to a row of pins! What does the principal care
whether the fellows are satisfied or not? We must do something to prove
that we are somebody," persisted Raymond.
"That's so," added Lindsley, earnestly. "I don't believe in all Howe's
nonsense, but there is a good deal of truth in what he says. We are not
common sailors, but the sons of wealthy men. We were sent to this ship
because we could have a chance to see the world while we were getting
an education; and it isn't just the thing to deprive us of the
privileges we pay for. Of course we don't mean to make any row. If the
principal don't choose to set us right, why, we must go to our duty,
and make the best of it; but for one, I shall write to my father, and
tell him just how the matter stands."
"That's the idea," responded Raymond. "I shall do the same thing, and I
know my father will send for me immediately. My mother would be glad
enough to have me go home."
"I'll tell you what it is, fellows," added Lindsley, warmly; "if about
fifty of us will only hang together, we can have our own way. If we
write home that we are dissatisfied, that the principal is rough on us,
and won't let us see the country, we can blow up the Academy Ship
higher than a kite."
"I think we have seen the country pretty well," suggested Wilde.
"Yes; but we are not to go into Germany," replied Raymond. "We are to
go to sea, just because the new captain demands it."
"For my own part, I like the ship first rate, and should hate to have
my father send for me," continued Wilde. "I don't believe there are a
dozen fellows on board who wouldn't think it a hard case if they had to
leave."
"Not if we are to be treated in this manner. If we are allowed to see
the country, and have a good time, every fellow will be satisfied,"
replied Raymond. "But I think it will all come round right if we keep a
stiff upper lip, and stand up for our rights. I like Lindsley's idea
first rate. We can talk that up, and it will help us out, if nothing
else will. We can easily get forty or fifty of the fellows to say they
will ask their fathers to take them away from the ship if they don't
have fair play. Then we can mildly suggest the idea to Mr. Lowington;
and, I tell you, he can see that the loss of fifty of us would make an
end of his big idea."
"I'm not ready to say I will ask my father to take me out of the ship,"
protested Wilde.
"I am," said Raymond.
"So am I," added Lindsley.
"And I," chimed in others.
"While we are waiting, suppose we circulate the idea."
At this moment Tremere and Willis, who were the other occupants of the
mess-room, came in, and the proposition was stated to them.
"No!" exclaimed Tremere, very decidedly. "When the boatswain pipes, I
shall go on deck, and do my duty as long as I have two legs to stand
on, and two hands to work with."
"So shall I," added Willis. "I don't believe half the stories that have
been told through the ship. In my opinion, if any of the fellows don't
go down the Rhine this year, it will be because they are rebels or
runaways. I shall take my station when the boatswain pipes, if I am the
only fellow on board that does so."
"If you haven't spunk enough to stand up for your rights, you deserve
to lose them," replied Raymond, disgusted with the answers of those
high-toned students.
"My rights! Humph! I value them too highly to throw them away by any
such stupid conduct as you suggest," answered Willis.
Lindsley, thinking that Tremere and Willis did not understand their
plan, volunteered to explain that they did not intend to use any
violent measures; that they meant to be entirely respectful to the
officers and to the faculty.
"Disobedience is disobedience, whether you are respectful or
disrespectful; whether you say 'no' squarely, or 'excuse me;' only the
former is less cowardly than the latter," said Tremere, in reply. "As I
understand the matter, you are getting up a row, asking fellows to
write to their fathers to take them away from the ship."
"All hands, up anchor, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain, at the main hatch.
Raymond returned to the mess-room, while the two incorruptible fellows
hastened to their stations on deck.
"Now we are in for it!" said Lindsley.
"Let us stick to our text," added Raymond, fearful that some of the
party would back out as the decisive moment had come.
"Ay, ay! Stick to the text!" added Hyde.
"Hold on, and I will see how many fellows answer the call," continued
Raymond, nervously, as he stationed himself at the door of the room,
where he could see the seamen who went up the ladder.
"Count them," said Lindsley.
It was an exciting moment to the rebels, for however real they believed
their grievances to be, probably not many of them were satisfied with
the expediency or the justice of the measure they had adopted to
redress them.
"Only twelve!" exclaimed Raymond, when the last of the faithful had
ascended the ladder.
"That's bully!" said Hyde, rubbing his hands with satisfaction at the
assumed success of the scheme.
"Are you sure that you counted right?" inquired Lindsley.
"I counted ten, and added Tremere and Willis to the number, for they
had gone up before I began. I didn't expect even as many as that would
go."
But the enthusiastic rebel had made a blunder. A portion of those who
intended to obey orders, having no motive for remaining below, had gone
on deck as soon as they finished their suppers. Sixteen of these, added
to the twelve who went up from the steerage, made the twenty-eight who
first answered the call.
"Only twelve!" repeated Hyde.
"If we have nearly the whole crowd, we can do something more than
explain our position," said Lindsley.
"I'm not in favor of doing anything more than that," added Raymond,
shaking his head.
"All hands, up anchor, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain, the second time,
at the main hatch.
"It's all right," said Howe, appearing at the door; "not a fellow
answers it."
"Only a dozen have gone on deck in all," added Raymond.
"Is that all?" asked the runaway.
"That's all; I counted them."
"Good! We shall make a big thing of it," answered Howe, as he left the
room to look into others, in all of which it is safe to say that the
strong-minded rebels were engaged in stiffening the backs of the weaker
ones, for a large portion of them were in a very novel position.
"Some one will be down very soon to know what the matter is," said
Hyde, fidgeting about his berth, where he had stretched himself to
await the time.
"Who shall speak for us?" asked Raymond.
"You shall," replied Lindsley.
"Very well; I will do the best I can," answered Raymond, modestly. "I
am to say, very respectfully, that the fellows are dissatisfied with
the idea of going to sea, and giving up the trip to the Rhine."
"Yes; and we respectfully request that the principal will make good his
promise to take us into Germany," added Hyde.
"Don't you mean to say anything about the letters to our fathers,
asking them to take us away from the ship?" inquired Lindsley.
"That looks a little like a threat," objected Raymond. "Besides, we
don't know how many fellows will agree to send such letters."
"Let us go round and see," suggested Lindsley.
"We will, if there is time."
As the record of the preceding chapter testifies, there was an
abundance of time to carry out this or any other preliminary measure.
Raymond and Lindsley proceeded to canvass the rebels in regard to the
letters. The eighteen runaways were ready to assent to anything, but
only about half of the others were willing to give in their allegiance
to what they regarded as a mean scheme. Some even declared they would
back out if anything of this sort was to be attempted. Raymond was
politic enough not to press the measure very hard, and he returned to
his room with the names of only thirty, instead of fifty, which he had
expected to obtain.
"That's enough to make a show with," said Lindsley.
"But I don't intend to say anything about the letters to the principal,
if he is willing to do the fair thing by us."
"What are they about on deck? It is half an hour since the boatswain
piped all hands," said Hyde, jumping out of his berth.
"I'm sure I don't know," replied Lindsley, uneasily. "I should think
they had found out by this time that something was the matter."
"I know one thing," said Wilde, with a significant shake of the head,
as though he had made an important discovery.
"What's that?" demanded the others, in the same breath.
"They have put the grating on the main hatch, so that we can't go on
deck if we wish to do so," replied Wilde, who had begun to be regarded
as one with a weak back.
"No matter for that," answered Raymond, with an effort to laugh, though
he was far from being satisfied with the situation as indicated by the
closed hatch. "As we don't want to go on deck, it makes no difference
to us."
"That's so," added Lindsley. "They have put on the grating to make a
show. They can't do anything while sixty of the crew are below."
"Are you sure there are sixty?" asked Hyde, doubtfully.
"Take twelve from the whole crew, and it leaves sixty. But count them
for yourself, if you are not satisfied with my figures."
"I will;" and he left the mess-room for this purpose.
He had the curiosity to look up the hatch, and made another
discovery--that the stout boatswain was there, apparently keeping
watch. The faithful had just marched to the quarter-deck, to indicate
that they were willing to "keep their own counsel," as requested by the
principal. Hyde returned to the room to report the fact. It looked like
decided measures to him.
"I think we are caged," said he.
"No matter if we are," replied Raymond, with a sneer. "One thing is
plain enough; they can't go to sea without us."
"No; twelve fellows can't get the anchor up, even with the help of
Peaks," added Lindsley.
"O, we've got them," persisted Raymond. "We are a majority of all
hands, even if you count the officers on the other side; and I happen
to know they are as much dissatisfied as we are."
Hyde left the room again, and succeeded in making a count of all the
seamen in the steerage.
"Humph!" snuffed he, on his return. "You counted the fellows with your
elbows, Raymond. There are only forty-four in the steerage."
"Forty-four!" sneered Raymond. "Does twelve from seventy-two leave
forty-four?"
"No; but twenty-eight from seventy-two leaves forty-four," retorted
Hyde. "I'm sure I'm right."
Raymond was not satisfied, and counted for himself, but with no
different result; and Lindsley suggested that some of the twenty-eight
were on deck when the boatswain's call sounded.
"Well, what's the odds?" demanded the mortified leader of the moderate
party. "They can't get the ship under way with twenty-eight much better
than with twelve. It takes thirty-two to man the capstan. What are they
doing on deck?"
"I don't know," replied Hyde. "I was going up the ladder to ascertain,
but Peaks drove me away. I heard them lowering boats, but I could not
make out what they intend to do."
"O, it's all right. You needn't fret about it," added the leader.
Probably no one was more disturbed than he. The lowering of the boats
was discussed in full, but nothing could be made of it, though Raymond
insisted that the ship could not go to sea while the boats were away.
Half an hour later they heard the faithful on deck hoisting up the
boats. Hyde stood at the door of the mess-room watching the hatchway,
for any chance revelation of the principal's intentions. The same doubt
and uncertainty, as well as curiosity in regard to the movements on
deck, prevailed in all the other mess-rooms. It had been agreed that
all hands should remain in their rooms; but this agreement was now
violated, and most of the mutineers were gathered at the doors, anxious
to obtain intelligence from the deck.
Suddenly the grating was removed from the hatch.
"All hands, up anchor, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain, for the third,
and, as it proved, the last time.
But no one came below to remonstrate, or ask for the explanation which
a majority of the rebels were now exceedingly anxious to give. The
moment the call sounded, Wilde walked towards the ladder.
"Where are you going?" demanded Raymond, angrily.
"I have had enough of this thing," he replied, and, without waiting for
any further parley, went on deck, though the rebels hissed him.
Another seaman from one of the other mess-rooms followed his example,
though Howe seized him by the collar, and attempted to detain him by
force. Fortunately he was a stout fellow, and shook off his assailant.
A storm of hisses and abuse followed him as he went up the ladder.
Doubtless this treatment of the weak-backed, as they were considered,
deterred others from imitating their example, for the faithful had only
these two added to their number.
"I'm glad we are rid of them," said Raymond. "Fellows with weak backs
don't do us any good."
"They add to our number, at any rate," replied Hyde, who, if he could
have escaped the odium of the movement, would have gone on deck
himself.
"No matter for that; we have forty-two left, and the ship can't go to
sea without our help," added Raymond.
"I'm not quite sure of that," answered Hyde.
"No matter if she does go to sea," said Lindsley.
"But she can't go," persisted Raymond. "All we want is a chance to
state our grievances; and the principal is not going to let us stay
down here a great many days without knowing what the matter is."
"Hark!" said Hyde, as the boatswain's whistle sounded on deck.
"Man the capstan!" shouted Goodwin, the first lieutenant.
"Doesn't that look as though the ship was going to sea?" added the
sceptical Hyde. "I tell you what it is, fellows, we are sold!"
"Sold? Not a bit of it! We are in the winning boat."
"Not exactly."
The rebels listened to the merry pipe of those who walked around the
capstan, and heard the grating of the chain cables as they passed
through the tiers into the lockers in the hold. It was plain enough
that thirty-two hands had been found to man the capstan, for the anchor
was certainly coming up from its miry bed. These sounds produced
something like consternation among the mutineers, for they indicated at
least a partial failure of the scheme in which they had trusted for
redress.
"Go ahead!" shouted the executive officer through his trumpet.
"Go ahead?" repeated Raymond, as he went to the sky-light. "Not a sail
has been set."
"But she is moving," said Hyde. "I see how it is. They have taken a
tug-steamer."
"They are not going to tow the ship to Belfast," answered Raymond, as
he went to one of the port gangways from which the mess-rooms opened.
"There goes the Josephine, under sail. In my opinion, they are only
dropping down to another anchorage. The principal will not think of
such a thing as going to sea with only thirty seamen. It isn't safe to
do so."
"When it isn't safe, Peaks will be down here, and you will have to turn
out and do duty," said Hyde.
At that instant, as if to verify the prophecy of the croaker, the
stalwart boatswain, with the assistance of the carpenter, lifted the
grating off the main hatch. Most of the rebels retreated to their
rooms; but it was a false alarm, for the two adult seamen, instead of
coming below themselves, only lifted up the ladder, and drew it on
deck, restoring the grating when it was done.
"That looks like something," said Lindsley.
"I tell you we are sold," added Hyde. "The principal isn't coming down
here to ask us for an explanation. It isn't his style."
"Don't croak any more, Hyde," protested Raymond, in disgust.
"I only say we are sold, and you can't deny it."
"Wait and see."
They did wait, and after a while they heard the order to shake out the
topsails. Looking up through the main skylight, they saw lieutenants,
masters, and midshipmen, on the yards. They listened to the voices of
Paul Kendall, Gordon, and Haven, issuing orders which were usually
given by the lieutenants. From what they saw and what they heard, they
were enabled to arrive at a tolerably correct solution of the means by
which the ship was at present handled. They understood that the larger
portion of the officers were doing duty as seamen, while the past
officers were serving as volunteers under the captain.
"We might as well cave in, and go on deck," said Hyde, after the
movements on deck had been thoroughly discussed.
"Humph! You can't get on deck, to begin with," replied Raymond. "But I
haven't any idea of giving it up so."
"The plan has failed--that's plain enough," added Hyde.
"Not yet."
"I think it has. We are whipped out, and the sooner we make our peace
with Mr. Lowington, the better it will be for us."
"If you mean to back out, say so, Hyde."
"I don't want to back out while the rest of the fellows stick."
"How will it do to send a messenger to the principal, state our
grievances, and have the thing over?" suggested Johnson.
This idea met with considerable favor, but the principal objection to
the measure was, that the messenger could not get on deck, as the
ladder was removed from the main hatch, and the forward one was closed.
The ship careened, the waves dashed against the bow, and it was evident
that she was going to sea in good earnest. A large portion of the
rebels were now studying up a plan to get out of the scrape, rather
than to establish their rights. The boatswain's whistle sounded on
deck, and all hands were piped to muster. Vainly the mutineers tried to
ascertain what was going on, while Mr. Lowington was making his
explanation to the faithful; but the parties were on the quarter-deck
beyond their sight and hearing. Only the applause which followed
Grace's proposition to decorate the members of the Order of the
Faithful reached their ears. The ceremony itself, which took place in
the waist, indicated that those on deck were having an exceedingly
jolly time, though the nature of the performance was not understood.
Then, when the Grand Protectress was elected, the hilarious mirth of
the Faithful was positively sickening to the rebels. Those on deck
appeared to be making fun of those below, for what else could they be
laughing at, since the refusal of the rebels to do duty must be the
all-absorbing topic on board? The situation was very unsatisfactory to
the mild mutineers, and not very hopeful to the runaways.
"Let them laugh," said Raymond, whistling up his courage, so that he
could maintain the dignity and firmness of a leader. "If we hold out,
we shall carry our point. I have looked at the tell-tale, and the ship
is headed to the north-west. If the course means anything, it means
Belfast."
"What's the use of talking?" exclaimed Johnson. "The plan I proposed is
the only one now. I move you we send a messenger to the principal."
"You can't get on deck," retorted Raymond.
"We can hail some one on deck, or knock at the door of the main cabin."
"It looks like backing out," added Lindsley.
"That is what we shall have to do in the end, and we may as well do it
first as last," said Hyde.
"Hold on! Here comes Howe," continued Lindsley. "Let us hear what he
has to say."
"I don't care what he says," muttered Hyde, who, like many other of the
mild rebels, was not willing to join hands with the virulent and
intense ones.
"I say, fellows, we are not making much on this tack," Howe began, as
he joined the group at the door of the mess-room. "We are going to have
a meeting abaft the foremast, to decide what shall be done next. All
hands are invited."
Howe moved on to extend the invitation to others.
CHAPTER VII.
THE VISIT TO THE HOLD.
"I don't attend any meeting with those fellows," said the prudent Hyde,
as the rebels began to gather at the place indicated.
"There is no harm in hearing what they have to say," replied Lindsley.
"I don't care what they have to say. I won't have anything to do with
them. In my opinion they are trying to get us all into a scrape."
"You are in one now, and you may as well be hung for an old sheep as a
lamb."
"I would rather be hung for a lamb," answered Hyde, turning on his
heel, and walking as far from the foremast as the limits of the
steerage would permit.
About a dozen others followed his example, for the meeting was
understood to be called by the runaways, who represented the most
virulent type of rebellion. They had already lost all their privileges
for the season, which could be restored only by the grace of the
principal, and they had nothing to sacrifice. It was not prudent to
enter into their counsels, and the mildest rebels, like Hyde and
Johnson, avoided them.
"We are not making much on this tack," said Howe, when the rebels, who
chose to take part in the meeting, had assembled.
"That's so!" exclaimed Lindsley.
"Well, what's to be done? That's the next question."
"Nothing," added Raymond, who dreaded any extreme measures, and did not
mean that Howe's party should obtain control of the movement. "As I
understand the matter, all is going on right. We have only to hold out,
and everything will end well for us."
"But we are shut up in the steerage. We are prisoners. The tables are
turned upon us," replied Howe.
"Not at all. We have carried our point so far. We refused to do duty,
and we haven't done any. I am in favor of fighting it out in this
manner to the end."
"It is a milk-and-water affair as it is now, and won't amount to
anything."
"What's the reason it won't?" demanded the champion of the mild party.
"Suppose the main hatch were opened, and the boatswain should call all
hands--how many of us do you suppose would be left? There are a dozen
of your chickens that would back down so quick it would make your eyes
smart," added the champion of the intense party, pointing to the group
which had collected around Hyde, who appeared to be forming a party of
his own. "And the next time the call was made, a lot more would slump.
Before long we should be so reduced in numbers that the brig would hold
us all, and a few of us would have to stand the punishment for the sins
of the crowd. You led us into the scrape; now you must help us out of
it."
"Who led you into it?" asked Raymond, indignantly.
"You and your fellows, of course," retorted the heavy champion.
"I don't see it."
"Don't you? Then you are as green as a tame pigeon," continued Howe,
smartly. "Our fellows--of course you know I mean those who ran away in
the Josephine--are under the ban already. Did you suppose we were going
into an affair like this alone? Not much! We went in because you did;
to back up your movement. Now we are in it, you want to back out, and
let your fellows show the white feather."
"I don't mean to back out," protested Raymond.
"But those fellows out there do," added the wily rogue.
"Well, there are thirty of us here, who will stick to the end. What do
you say, fellows?"
"Of course we will," replied several, very mildly.
"Will you agree, upon your word and honor, to stick as long as any one
does?"
"That depends upon circumstances," interposed Lindsley.
"I suppose it does," sneered Howe. "It isn't fair to leave us to bear
the brunt of the whole."
"All we ever proposed to do was simply to refuse to do duty till we had
explained our position to the principal," added Raymond.
"And kiss the rod, whether you get fair play or not," replied Howe.
"We can't do anything more than that. When the principal understands
that over forty of us are dissatisfied, we have gained our point."
"Have you indeed!" flouted Howe. "Then I fancy you have already gained
it, for he has found out that you are dissatisfied by this time."
"Well, what do you want to do?" demanded Raymond.
"It's no use to mince the matter. We have made a failure of it so far.
The lambs on deck are having a good time, laughing, cheering, and
carrying on--making game of us, no doubt, while we are shut up here as
prisoners," replied Howe, rolling up his sleeves, as though he intended
to do something savage. "We ought to make ourselves felt, which we
haven't done yet, for the rest of the ship's company seem to regard our
movement as a good joke, and to think we are having the worst of it.
Well, I think we are; and we must make ourselves felt."
"Do you call it making yourselves felt when you are pounded on the head
with belaying pins, as you were in the Josephine?" inquired Lindsley,
dryly.
"We raised a breeze there, and we are bound to do it here."
"A breeze that first knocks you down yourself. I would rather have the
wind blow another way," added Raymond.
"I don't mean to get up a fight, or anything of that sort."
"Well, what do you mean?" asked Raymond, impatiently.
"We have plans of our own; but we are not going to disclose them till
we have some assurance that the other fellows will stand by us,"
answered the cautious leader of the intense party. "We are going to
make ourselves felt."
"We are not going to agree to anything without knowing what it is,"
said Lindsley.
"And we are not going to let on to fellows that may go to the
principal, and blow the whole thing. I will say this: If your fellows
will pledge themselves, word and honor, to stand by us to the end, I
will agree that the ship shall return to Havre, or some other port in
France, within twenty-four hours, and that the tables shall be turned
in our favor."
"How are you going to do it?" asked Lindsley.
"Leave that to me. I have a plan which cannot fail. Do the fair thing
by us, and we will get you out of the scrape."
"I will agree to this, and nothing more: I will stand out till we have
a chance to be heard," replied Raymond, who began to have some hope of
the mysterious movements of Howe. "I will do nothing but stand out."
"We don't ask you to do anything else. We will do the rest, if you back
us up."
"We don't back you up, for we don't even know what you are going to
do."
"We will tell you what we are going to do."
"Hold on! Perhaps we had better not know anything about it," interposed
Raymond.
"No, you don't!" exclaimed Howe. "We will tell those who will take the
oath."
"The oath!" ejaculated Lindsley. "Are we joining the Knights of the
Golden Fleece?"
"No, no! I mean the promise," answered Howe, impatiently. "Word and
honor--that's all I want."
The runaway portion of the rebels were doubtless already familiar with
the extraordinary means which was to turn the ship back to the ports of
France. The others, who attended the meeting, were largely influenced
by curiosity. They were intensely mortified at the defeat, which they
were unwilling to acknowledge. It would afford them immense
satisfaction to have the tables turned in their favor; but they were
utterly unable to imagine what powerful machinery Howe and his
associates could bring to bear upon the obdurate principal; how they
were to compel him to put the ship about, and return to France.
The mild party retired to consider whether it would be prudent for them
to enter into a compact of this description with such dangerous
characters as the runaways. They were prejudiced against the measure,
but victory in the undertaking, in which they had engaged, was so
earnestly coveted, that they were tempted to join hands even with Howe,
Little, Wilton, and other desperate fellows. When a person has once
gone astray, the inducements to go farther increase. But Raymond and
his friends were not quite willing to pledge themselves in advance to
measures which they were not allowed to understand; and they finally
agreed to bind themselves to secrecy, in regard to the nature of the
scheme, if Howe would explain it on these terms, and then engage in it
if it were not too wicked. The party returned to the foremast, and
Raymond stated their position.
"That won't go down," promptly replied Howe, with his bullying,
self-sufficient air. "We are to tell you what our plan is, and let you
adopt it or not, as you please! No, sir!"
"We pledge ourselves beforehand to keep your secret, whether we join
with you or not."
"We won't trust you."
"Very well," added Raymond, decidedly. "Nothing more need be said.
Come, fellows."
The leader of the mild party turned on his heel, and moved aft,
followed by his adherents.
"What do you suppose they mean to do?" asked Lindsley, as they halted
under the skylight, near the middle of the steerage.
"I don't know; but it must be something desperate to compel the
principal to put back," replied Raymond. "It may be to make a few
auger-holes in the bottom of the ship."
"I wouldn't do anything of that sort," added Lindsley, shaking his
head.
"No matter what it is; we offered to do the fair thing."
"Suppose you had agreed to keep still, and they had proposed to bore
holes in the bottom of the ship; would you have kept your promise, and
said nothing about it?" asked Lindsley.
"I would not have let them do it; and then there would have been
nothing to conceal," answered Raymond.
"Precisely so! That's a good idea. Why not agree to their proposition,
and then, if they mean to do anything which endangers the ship, we can
easily prevent them from doing it," said Lindsley, who was exceedingly
curious to know what the runaways wished to do.
Others were affected with the same desire, and their curiosity was
rapidly overcoming their prudence. While they were discussing the
question, Hyde and his party, seeing that Raymond and his associates
had withdrawn from the runaways, came to the spot, and disturbed the
conference with irrelevant questions. If all the mild mutineers could
be induced to cling together, they could easily overrule Howe and his
party. Just then, there was not that unity which alone insures success.
There were actually three parties in the steerage, and it was necessary
to reconcile them, or the rebellion would end in an ignominious
failure. But this was found to be quite impossible, so far as Hyde and
his party were concerned; for if the boatswain's call had sounded at
that moment, they would have returned to their duty, if permitted to do
so. Raymond would not consent to make terms with Howe, without the
concurrence of all the others, including Hyde.
Howe was quite as much disgusted with the situation as any of the
milder rebels. He had hoped and expected to drag them into any
desperate scheme which might be adopted, and after Raymond and his
party retired, he looked rather blankly at his friends.
"They are nothing but babies--little spoonies!" said he,
contemptuously. "It isn't safe to do anything with them."
"Nor without them," suggested Spencer.
"I don't believe that," added Little. "They are in for it already. They
will be held responsible for anything done below, as well as we. Let's
go on with the job, just as we intended."
After considerable discussion, the suggestion of the little villain was
adopted, with a modification, however, proposed by himself, by which
the whole party were to be implicated in the mischief. No time was to
be lost, for a portion of the faithful, who appeared still to be having
a good time on deck, would soon come below to turn in. Howe and Little
went to the main scuttle, which opened into the hold, and raised it.
"What are you going to do?" asked Raymond.
"We are going to hide in the hold, just for the fun of the thing,"
replied Little. "Won't you come down with us?"
"That's not a bad idea," suggested Lindsley. "When they come down to
look for us, they won't find us. That will make a sensation, at least,
and then we shall not be entirely ignored."
"Are you going to stay there all night?" inquired Raymond.
"Yes--why not?" answered Lindsley. "It is not quite so comfortable a
place to sleep as the mess-rooms; but we can stand it for one night."
Even the mild rebels, Hyde and Johnson, were pleased with the plan, for
it looked like an adventure. The persuasions of Lindsley induced them
to yield whatever scruples they had. It would be a rich thing to have
the principal or the officers come down into the steerage, and find it
empty. There was still a chance to make the principal do something,
even if it were only to call them up for punishment; for anything
seemed better than being entirely ignored.
Little and Howe, each with a lantern in his hand, which he had taken
from the lamp-room forward, led the way into the hold. All the members
of the three parties followed; the mild rebels regarding the movement
rather as a piece of fun than as anything which added to the guilt they
had already incurred. When the last one had descended the ladder, Howe
put on the scuttle, and the steerage was "like some banquet hall
deserted," for the stewards were either on deck or in the kitchen,
where they spent their leisure hours.
As soon as the rebels were all in the hold, they separated into three
parties again, as they had been in the steerage. Little, with his
lantern, went forward, where he was soon joined by the rest of the
runaways; Hyde and his companions went aft; and Raymond's party
remained near the main scuttle. The hold was divided into store-rooms,
forward and aft, while the space amidships was devoted to the stowage
of boxes, barrels, water casks, and other articles. The water tanks
were near the heel of the foremast, where Howe and his party had
located themselves. They contained the entire supply of the ship, while
she was going from port to port, or lying in harbor. They had been
fitted up under the direction of Mr. Lowington. The water was drawn
from them by means of a pump in the kitchen, the pipe of which could be
adjusted to either of them with screw connections.
"We must do the job quick, and get out of this place, or we may be
fastened down here, as we were in the steerage," said Little, in a low
tone, though he need not have troubled himself to use this precaution,
for the dashing of the sea against the side of the vessel made so much
noise, that those who were twenty feet distance could not have heard
him.
"Are you sure we are not burning our own fingers?" asked Ibbotson. "My
experience in the Josephine, when we were short of water, taught me
what it was to be without it, especially when you have to feed on salt
horse and hard bread."
"That's so," added Spencer.
"Can't we save some for ourselves?" inquired Wilton.
"What's the use? We shall return to Havre as soon as the officers find
that the water tanks are empty," added Little.
"But why not save some?" persisted Wilton. "There are lots of bottles
on the ballast, and a tunnel on the vinegar barrel. Hurry up, and fill
a bottle for each fellow."
A dozen of the rebels rushed aft, and procured the bottles, while
Little started the faucets which were used in drawing off the water,
when it was necessary to clean out the tanks, or for use when the pump
above was out of order. This was the precious scheme by which the
intense rebels intended to compel the principal to return to port
immediately. There could be no doubt that it would be an effectual one,
for with no fresh water the ship could not remain a single day at sea
without causing great discomfort, if not actual suffering, to those on
board. This happy expedient had been devised by Little, and it was
diabolical enough to be the invention of his fertile genius.
The bottles were brought up, and with the aid of the tunnel, a dozen
and a half of them were filled--just enough for the Howe party, for
they did not intend to look out for the comfort of those who would not
fully join them in their plans. The water rushed from the tanks, and
flowed away into the ballast underneath. The faucets were large, and in
a short time the tanks were empty. As the ship rolled each way, almost
the last drop in them was poured out.
"Now let us get out of here before we are fastened in," said Little,
after he had adjusted the faucets.
"There will be a sweet row when they find out the tanks are empty,"
added Howe, fully believing that the party had now done something to
make themselves felt.
"It will please me to hear them howl," continued Wilton.
"Keep your bottles out of sight," said Howe. "Don't let those fellows
see them, or they will smell a mice."
"Don't you suppose they know what we have been doing?" inquired Monroe.
"How should they? The swashing of the sea made so much noise they
couldn't hear the water running out," answered Little.
"Don't let on."
The party concealed their bottles under their clothing, and moved
towards the ladder by which they had descended.
"What were you doing with all those bottles?" asked Raymond.
"What bottles?" demanded Little.
"We saw you take a lot of bottles from the ballast there," replied
Raymond, whose party had been discussing the probable use to which they
were to be applied, though they reached no satisfactory conclusion.
"Well, I'll tell you what they were for," answered Little. "We were
going to have some fun, pelting them with stones, just as we used to
play duck on shore, you know; but we concluded not to do so, lest the
stewards in the kitchen should hear the noise, and make a row about
it--that's all."
"Where are you going now?" inquired Lindsley, who was not quite
satisfied with this lucid explanation--as though fellows engaged in a
mutiny would care to amuse themselves pelting bottles!
"We have just made up our minds that it is not quite safe to stay down
here any longer."
"Why not?"
"Suppose they should fasten us in?"
"Suppose they should? I thought you intended to stay down here," said
Raymond, who concluded that the runaways were very fickle in their
purposes.
"We did intend to do so; but we hadn't looked over all the ground. It
has just occurred to us that the thirty lambs, who kiss the rod that
smites them, would not come into the steerage to-night. It will take
about the whole of them to stand watch, and if any of them go below,
they will sleep on the floor of the main and after cabins, where they
cannot be corrupted by such wicked fellows as you and I, Raymond. So,
you see, if we can't get up any sensation by sleeping on the ballast,
what's the use of making yourself uncomfortable for nothing. That's the
idea. Let us go into the steerage, and turn in for the night."
"I don't believe in backing out," said Raymond, not very well pleased
to hear Little class him with himself.
"Don't back out, then, my dear fellow. Stay here all night, and have a
good time," added the little villain, as he ascended the ladder, and
opened the scuttle.
"I'm not going to stay here if the rest don't," interposed Lindsley;
and all the Howe party followed the runaways.
Hyde's party, seeing that all the others were retreating, came to the
ladder, and asked for an explanation. Howe replied that the runaways
were sick of the game, and had returned to the steerage; and the third
squad followed the example of the other two. The hold was left as empty
of human beings as the tanks were of water.
By this time the watch on deck had been stationed, and the rest of the
crew were permitted to retire. As there was no danger that the
mutineers would escape from the ship, the grating was removed from the
main hatch; but a portion of the watch, including Peaks and the head
steward, were posted near it, to prevent any seaman not wearing the
white ribbon of the Order of the Faithful from coming on deck. Fifteen
of the thirty who had done their duty came below to turn in. Their
appearance created a sensation among the disaffected. Now they would
ascertain what had been said on deck about their refusal to answer the
call. Now they could hear, second-handed, the sermon which the
principal had preached, and which they had heard the faithful applaud.
Now, they could learn what terrible fate had been marked out for the
rebels.
When the faithful came into the steerage, the first thing the rebels
noticed was the white ribbons which adorned their breasts. Of course
they wanted to know what it meant; but they felt a little embarrassed
under the circumstances, and did not like to ask direct questions at
first. They wished and expected the faithful to open the subject by
telling them what a mistake they had made in not being "good." But the
lambs did not say a word to them; did not appear to notice them, or to
indicate by their actions that any unusual event was in progress on
board. There was a great deal of silent skirmishing in the steerage.
Raymond, who had always been pretty intimate with Tremere, as they both
berthed in the same mess-room, continually threw himself in the way of
the latter, in order to tempt him to speak of the evening's
occurrences. Tremere was as silent as a marble statue, though he looked
as composed and good-natured as ever; indeed, rather more so than
usual.
"How's the weather on deck, Tremere?" finally asked Raymond, when no
hint would induce the faithful one to speak first.
"It looks like a change. I shouldn't wonder if all hands were called to
furl top-gallant sails and reef topsails before eight bells," answered
Tremere.
"How did you get along working ship?"
"For further particulars, inquire of the principal," replied he.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Speech is silver, silence is golden."
"Humph!" sneered Raymond, puzzled by the singular replies of his
friend.
"Yours truly," laughed Tremere.
"Why don't you speak?"
"I haven't learned my piece."
"You have learned a piece of impudence."
"'He that hath but impudence
To all things has a fair pretence.'"
"Are you mad, Tremere?"
"'Though this be madness, yet there's method in it.'"
"Quit your quotations! What's that on your coat?"
"A coat-ation."
"If you are mad with me, Tremere, say so."
"'I am not mad! no, no, I am not mad!'" shouted the member of the Order
of the Faithful, with appropriate gestures and expression.
"Come, quit fooling! Can't you talk sense?"
"I can and will; for
"'Want of decency is want of sense.'
"'In college halls, in ancient times, there dwelt
A sage called Discipline.'"
"But you didn't go to school to the old fellow, Raymond."
"I believe you have lost your wits! Now, be reasonable, and talk like a
sensible fellow. What is this?" asked Raymond, putting his finger on
the white ribbon.
"A ribbon."
"What is it for?"
"For me."
"Who gave it to you?"
"The person who had it next before I did."
"Humph! How silly you are! Where did you get it?"
"On deck."
"But who gave it to you."
"The donor thereof."
"Who is the donor thereof."
"The one who gave it to me."
"If you won't answer me, say so. Don't try to make a fool of me."
"I usurp not nature's kindly office."
"Do you mean to insult me?"
"No; I mean to turn in, for I may be called before I have had my snooze
out;" and Tremere, yawning as if he were bored and very indifferent,
walked into the mess-room which contained his berth.
Those who had listened to the conversation were very much amused by it,
and the rest of the Faithful took their cue from Tremere. Not one of
them would answer a question or give a particle of information in
regard to what had transpired on deck. All of them appeared to be
astonishingly good-natured, and no one seemed to be disconcerted by the
rebellion, except the rebels.
CHAPTER VIII.
SHORT OF WATER.
"They may play bluff as much as they like; but you had better believe
there will be a sensation in the morning, if not before," said
Howe,--after the fifteen members of the Order of the Faithful had
retired to their rooms,--addressing Raymond, who manifested no little
vexation at the cavalier manner in which he had been treated by his
friend and messmate.
"What will that be?" asked the milder rebel.
"Wait, and you will see," replied Howe, mysteriously. "We didn't go
down into the hold for nothing."
"What did you go down for?"
"You will find out soon."
"Well, I want you to understand that I didn't have anything to do with
your plots and schemes," added Raymond, cautiously.
"You didn't! Who said you didn't? I say, Raymond, you are a good fellow
to kiss the hand that smites you; and I hope you will keep on kissing
it. What did you try to pump Tremere for, after you saw what he was up
to?"
"I wanted to know what he was up to."
"Don't you know? It is a game of bluff. Those fellows pretend to be
indifferent to what we are doing."
"They certainly seem to be very indifferent. Have you any idea what
that white ribbon means?"
"Have I? Certainly I have. Can't you see through the side of the ship,
when there's a port in it? That ribbon is to distinguish the lambs from
the black sheep, like you and me."
"Pooh! What's the use of that?"
"So that the officers can tell them in the dark as well as at noonday.
But Little has given those fellows a name already. He calls them the
White Feathers. We must laugh at them, make game of them, whip them
with their own weapons. Hark!" said Howe, suddenly turning his head
towards the kitchen, near the door of which they stood.
"What's the matter?"
"They are trying the pump," replied Howe, as both of them plainly heard
the sucking, "squilching" noise made by the copper pump, from which the
cook was trying to draw water from the tanks below.
"What of it?" demanded Raymond, who did not see anything remarkable in
the circumstance.
"Never mind; you will find out soon enough," answered the chief
runaway, as he left his companion thoroughly mystified, and not a
little alarmed; for it was evident that some terrible mischief had been
perpetrated.
The pump sucked and groaned under the efforts of the cook, who had been
directed to make a pot of coffee for the use of the watch, and was now
trying to obtain water for that purpose. None would come, and it was
plain to him that the pump was out of order. Taking a bucket and a
lantern, he passed into the steerage, and opened the scuttle. The
runaways observed him with intense interest; for the time had come when
they were to "make themselves felt." The cook went down into the hold,
and was absent about a quarter of an hour. He returned with an empty
bucket in his hand, and hastened on deck with the alarming intelligence
that the water tanks were all empty, which he communicated to the head
steward.
As the tanks had been filled just before the ship left the dock at
Havre, the head steward was not willing to believe the startling
report. He went into the hold himself with the cook. By this time the
runaways thought it prudent to keep out of sight, and all of them
retired to their rooms, and most of them to their berths. The head
steward tried the tanks, and was satisfied with the truth of the
report. When the ship rolled, the faucets on the lee side poured out a
few drops of water. Sounded with a mallet, the tanks gave forth only a
hollow, empty sound. The steward was astonished and mortified at the
discovery, for he was responsible for keeping the ship supplied with
water, as well as with all other necessaries in the culinary
department. He inquired very particularly in regard to the state of the
faucets when the cook had first come below to draw water, and was
assured that they were firmly closed. He lifted up some of the ballast,
and saw that it was wet. He went to the well, where all the leakage of
the ship is collected to be thrown up by the pumps.
The ship was regularly pumped out twice a day, and this duty had been
performed just before the crew were piped to supper. There should have
been but little water in the well; but there was enough to satisfy the
head steward that the contents of the water tanks had flowed into it.
Dipping one of his fingers into the water, he tasted it, and its
freshness was another convincing proof of the fact.
"Has any one but the cooks and stewards been in the hold?" he inquired.
"Not that I know of," replied the cook. "I haven't been out of the
kitchen since supper."
"Over forty of the students have been in the steerage since the ship
sailed."
"The stewards told me that the boys were standing out."
"In my opinion, some of them have been in the hold, and started those
faucets."
"You don't think they'd do that--do you?" exclaimed the cook.
"Some of them would sink the ship, if they dared. I think the principal
did not manage this affair just right. He ought to have seized the
young rascals up to the rigging, and kept them there till they were
ready to do duty without grumbling. Now let us see if there is water in
any of the casks."
"No, sir; the boatswain broke 'em out, and cleaned the casks, while we
were in the dock."
The head steward took the mallet, and sounded upon the head of each
cask. They were all empty; and it was clear enough that there was not a
drop of fresh water in the hold, except that which was already mingled
with the foul bilge-water under the ballast. The ship was going to sea,
and both clouds and barometer indicated heavy weather. The steward was
troubled, and immediately hastened to the principal with the alarming
intelligence. He found Mr. Lowington in the main cabin, and announced
the discovery he had made.
"It is a scheme to drive the ship back to port," added the principal,
after he had satisfied himself, by questioning the steward, that the
tanks had really been filled while the ship was in the dock.
"Well, sir, it seems to me that the plan must be successful," added the
steward, with a grim smile.
"Doubtless it will be; but we will not return to Havre. We shall be off
Cherbourg in the morning, and we will make a harbor there. But there
must be some water on board."
"Only what is in the water-jars, sir. Possibly there are ten or fifteen
gallons in all of them."
There was a large water jar in the steerage, and one in each of the two
cabins, which had been filled just before the ship sailed. The steward
was directed to draw them off, and save the water, to be dealt out as
sparingly as the emergency might require. There were several tons of
ice in the store-room, which had been filled at Havre; and there was no
danger of any suffering for the want of the needed element. The
principal went on deck with the steward, and observed that the wind was
freshening, with a decidedly nasty look to windward. It might not be
possible to go into Cherbourg the next morning with safety; and Mr.
Lowington did not like the idea of being driven into port before the
mutiny had been suppressed. The Josephine was half a mile to windward,
under easy sail; and, in the present state of the sea, it was an easy
matter to communicate with her, as it might not be a few hours later.
He therefore explained the situation to Captain Shuffles,--who was
still on deck with Grace and Paul, too nervous and too anxious to
retire,--and directed him to call all hands.
The boatswain piped the call. Peaks and the head steward at the main
hatch, in accordance with their instructions, would permit none who did
not wear the white ribbon of the Order of the Faithful to come on deck.
Hyde and his party proposed to return to their duty. They had had
mutiny enough, and their leader, speaking for the whole, asked
permission to be reported to the principal. The steward bore the
message to him, while the twelve penitents waited at the ladder. The
runaways remained in their rooms; but Raymond made an ineffectual
effort to induce them to be firm.
"Come up!" said Peaks, when the principal appeared at the hatch, and
gave the order.
"We wish to return to our duty, sir," Hyde began; "we are very sorry
for our disobedience, and are willing to take the consequences."
"How many of you are there?" asked Mr. Lowington.
"Twelve in our party, sir."
"Will you conform, in every respect, to the requirements of the present
occasion?"
"We will, sir."
"But they must join the order," interposed Grace, who had accompanied
Paul to the waist. "They are not entitled to the white ribbon, for they
have come in at the eleventh hour."
Mr. Lowington smiled, and directed the penitents to repair to the
quarter-deck.
"I am so glad they have yielded!" said Grace.
"So am I. You can let them take the second degree to-night," laughed
Paul.
"Yes; and that shall be a blue ribbon. The next ones that come shall
have the yellow ribbon, and be the first degree. That's all the
different colors I have," added Grace, as she hastened to her
state-room to procure the material for the decoration of the penitents,
who were standing before the principal, abaft the mizzen-mast.
"Are you really sorry for what you have done, or do you back out
because your plan does not work well?" asked the principal of the
delinquents.
"I am really sorry for it, sir," answered Hyde; and there is not a
doubt that he spoke the simple truth.
"Have you been into the hold this evening?"
"Yes, sir," replied Hyde, promptly.
"For what purpose?"
"We only went because the others did; but we did not stay there long."
"Have you meddled with the water tanks?"
"No, sir."
"Has any one?"
"I do not know, sir. Down in the steerage, we were divided into three
parties, because we did not agree very well;" and Hyde explained the
views of each party, and the localities which they had occupied during
their visit to the hold.
Mr. Lowington readily comprehended the object of the runaways, when
they induced the other two parties to visit the hold. In fact, he saw
the whole truth just as it was; that the Howe party had made the
mischief from the beginning, and that the others were the victims of
their cunning schemes. He believed that his plan was working well,
since it was eliminating the comparatively innocent from the guilty.
"You may return to your duty, on this condition--that you have no
communication with either the Howe or the Raymond party," added Mr.
Lowington. "You will not inform them in regard to anything which has
transpired, or may transpire, on deck. Do you accept the conditions?"
"I do, certainly, sir," replied Hyde.
Others gave the required pledge, astonished to be restored to their
duty on such mild terms. They took their stations with the crew. But
Grace Arbuckle soon appeared with the blue ribbons, and Hyde was
conducted to her by the commodore.
"I confer upon you the second degree of the Order of the Faithful, and
decorate you with the blue ribbon. When you have proved yourself
faithful to your duty, and worthy of promotion, you will be advanced to
the third degree, the emblem of which is the white ribbon," said Grace,
as she pinned the decoration upon his breast.
"Thank you," replied Hyde, rather bewildered by the ceremony.
The rest of the penitents were brought up, and, in like manner,
initiated into the Order of the Faithful. Of course they wanted to know
more about it, and the new organization was explained to them.
"I'm glad you backed out, Hyde," said Tremere. "When are the rest
coming?"
"I don't know that they are coming at all. I got enough of it."
"What do those fellows want to do?"
"Get their rights."
"Well, they'll get them when they return to their duty, and not before,
unless it is the right to be punished for their disobedience," added
Tremere.
"I still think it was not fair to give up the trip to the Rhine, after
the promise that we should go, though it was a great mistake of mine to
refuse to do duty," added Hyde.
"Who says the trip is given up?"
"All the fellows;" and Hyde rehearsed the arguments which had been used
to sustain the proposition.
"As you are now a member of the Order of the Faithful, you may know its
secrets," laughed Tremere. "Mr. Lowington made an explanation to those
who did not take the law into their own hands;" and he proceeded to
give the substance of this statement.
Hyde was all the more disgusted with the course he and his friends had
adopted, and was fully resolved to do his duty in future, whatever his
personal opinions might be. The mildest of the mutineers were thus
disposed of, and a dozen pair of hands added to the force of the ship.
While this conversation was in progress, the Young America had been
headed towards the Josephine. Peaks had fired one of the guns on the
forecastle, which was the signal, in the night, for the consort to
heave to. Hyde's party had been restored to their several stations,
while the volunteer officers still filled the places of those who did
not answer the boatswain's call. The Josephine promptly obeyed the
signal, and the ship ran up to her, as near as it was prudent to go,
backed her main-topsail, lying to on her quarter. The first cutter was
manned and lowered, vacancies in her crew being filled with the
stoutest hands available. A dozen breakers, or kegs, used for boat
service, were put on board, and with Peaks to assist in the stowage,
the cutter shoved off, and pulled for the schooner.
The officer in charge of the boat explained to Mr. Fluxion what had
occurred on board of the ship, and the twelve breakers, with six more
belonging to the consort, were filled and stowed in the boat, which
returned without delay to the Young America. The cutter was hoisted up,
and again the squadron stood on its course. The new supply of water was
immediately secured under lock and key, in one of the store-rooms. The
quantity was still very meagre, being hardly enough for two days'
consumption on full allowance. The watch below was again dismissed. It
included one half of the penitents, who were beset by Raymond's party
with questions and abuse; but they were true to their pledge, and the
rebels were none the wiser.
The noise of the gun and of the lowering of the cutter had been heard
by the runaways, and the appearance of the eighteen breakers, as they
were passed down into the hold, was the assurance of another failure to
them.
"We are dished," said Monroe, as the forward officer passed down the
kegs.
"Perhaps we are, and perhaps we are not," replied Howe. "The end hasn't
come yet."
"I suppose there is room enough in the run for the contents of all
those breakers," added Little.
"Hyde and the rest of those babies have returned to their duty,"
continued Monroe, who was always the first to despond.
"No matter for that; we will keep on this tack till something happens,"
persisted Howe. "By this time we are pretty sure of being left behind
when the fellows go to Germany; and for my part, as Fluxion is going
away, I think that is the best thing that can happen to us. We shall
find a chance to strike out on our own hook."
But the arrival of the water breakers carried consternation to the
runaways, whatever they said and did. They were tired of the battle,
though, if any of them had a thought of repentance, they subdued it.
Raymond's party were angry at the defection of Hyde and his associates,
and the future looked dark and hopeless, so far as remedial agencies
were concerned, but their pride still prompted them to hold out.
Wearied with anxiety and hope deferred, they turned in as the night
advanced.
At eight bells, all hands were called again. The wind was blowing half
a gale, and the starboard watch had taken in the light sails. It was
deemed advisable still further to shorten sail, and a reef was put in
the topsails. The starboard watch then turned in, the port having the
deck till four in the morning. The wind came in heavy gusts from the
south-west, and shortly after midnight it began to veer to the west,
which brought up a dense fog. At four bells in the mid watch, the wind
came square from the west in heavy squalls. The ship went about, and
stood to the southward, the principal intending to go into Cherbourg if
the weather would permit.
At eight bells, when the morning watch was called, another reef was put
in the topsails. At daylight the fog was too dense to think of making a
port, and the ship tacked again. There was a heavy sea running, but
everything went along very well. Captain Shuffles remained on deck all
night, but no emergency occurred which required the exercise of more
than ordinary skill and energy. The wind was blowing a gale, though not
a very severe one. All the students on board had been in worse weather,
and it produced no excitement whatever.
At seven bells in the morning, the port watch was called to breakfast,
according to the regular routine of the ship. The meal consisted of
coffee, beefsteak, fried potatoes, and the rolls which had been baked
the preceding afternoon. Peaks and the head steward were in the
steerage, and when some of the runaways appeared, and attempted to seat
themselves at the mess tables, they were forbidden to do so. Only those
decorated with white or blue ribbons were allowed to breakfast. At
eight bells the port watch went on deck, and the starboard, relieved
from duty, came down to their morning meal, when the tables had been
reset. A fresh supply of hot steaks and potatoes was brought from the
kitchen, for the breakfast of each watch was cooked separately, and
they fared precisely as the other watch had. The rebels were still
excluded from the mess tables, and violent was the grumbling thereat.
When the regular breakfast was finished, the tables were again cleared,
and the mutineers began to think they were to be starved into
subjection; but they were mistaken, in part, at least, for the tables
were again set. This time there were no hot beefsteaks, no fresh rolls,
no fried potatoes, no coffee--nothing but cold corned beef and hard
tack. None of the cooks or stewards said anything, no one made any
remarks of any kind. There was the breakfast--salt junk and hard
tack--regular sailor's fare. The head steward mildly indicated that
breakfast was ready for those who had not already been served. The two
parties of rebels seated themselves, and turned up their noses at the
fare.
"Steward, bring me a mug of coffee," shouted Howe to the nearest
waiter.
"It takes water to make coffee," replied the man, solemnly, and as he
had doubtless been instructed to answer.
"What if it does? Bring me some coffee," repeated Howe, angrily.
"No coffee for this crowd," interposed the head steward, as solemnly.
"But I'm going to have my coffee," added Wilton, whose temper was not
the sweetest in the world, as he rose from his stool, and rushed
towards the kitchen door.
"Avast, my lad!" said Peaks, taking the rebel by the collar with no
gentle force. "It takes water to make coffee."
Wilton was afraid of the boatswain, for there was a tradition on board
that he had, on one occasion, laid hands upon a refractory boy, and he
was evidently in the steerage for a purpose. He skulked back to his
place at the table.
"Can't I have some coffee?" demanded Raymond, of the head steward, when
that official came near his seat.
"You cannot."
"Why not?"
"Because it takes water to make coffee."
"What of that?"
"Owing to circumstances, the supply of water on board is rather short,"
answered the head steward, as solemnly as before.
"That's nothing to do with me. I didn't start the water tanks."
"I obey orders, and don't argue with any one; but there's an old saying
that a man is known by the company he keeps, and I suppose a boy is,
too."
The steward passed on, and refused to answer any more questions.
"If we can't have coffee, give us some water," said Lindsley.
"Water is water," replied the steward.
The rebels were hungry, and they ate, though very sparingly, of the
unpalatable food which was set before them. Like most other boys
belonging to "the first families," they did not relish corned beef at
any time; and that before them, though of excellent quality, was very
salt, having been a long time in the brine. They partook of the beef
and the hard bread simply because there was nothing else with which to
satisfy their hunger. Some of them wanted to "make a row" about the
fare; but Peaks was a very formidable obstacle in the way of any such
demonstration. They ate what they could, rather than what they wanted,
and retreated to their mess-rooms.
"Well, what do you think now?" said Lindsley, as he threw himself into
his berth.
Raymond only shook his head and grated his teeth.
"I think we are sold, and the sooner we back down, the better," added
Lindsley.
"I won't back down!" snapped Raymond, savagely.
"How long do you think you can eat salt horse, without any water to
wash it down?"
"I can stand it till I die!"
"I don't think it is worth while to stand it quite so long as that."
"I do! What right has the principal to deny us even a drop of water?"
"What right have we to stand out, and refuse to do our duty? Howe's
fellows started the water tanks, and--"
"We didn't do it!" interrupted Raymond, savagely. "I won't stand it."
Rushing out into the steerage, he went to the water jar, in one corner.
It was empty, though there was a breaker of water on deck for the use
of the Faithful, who were thirsty. He was mad, and ready for desperate
steps. He hastened to the mess-room of Howe, and entered just as that
worthy was taking a draught from the bottle he had filled at the tanks
the evening before.
"What's that?" demanded he.
"Water," replied Howe, good-naturedly.
"Give us a drink--will you? I'm almost choked," asked Raymond, glad to
see that there was still an alternative.
"No, I thank you," answered Howe, putting the stopper back into the
bottle. "We don't do the heavy jobs, and then provide for those who are
too cowardly to help us."
"We are in the same boat with you; and it isn't fair to let our fellows
suffer while you have water."
"You wouldn't go in with us. We have only a bottle apiece," pleaded
Howe.
Raymond appealed to others in the room, but all of them were of one
mind. The salt beef had created a tremendous thirst among those who had
eaten it, and all who had water made large draughts upon the supply.
The bottles had contained pickles, olives, ketchup, and other similar
articles, so that the water was not very palatable. In the course of
the forenoon, Raymond and his party stealthily attempted to obtain
possession of these bottles, but the runaways were too vigilant for
them; and before dinner the thirsty ones were exceedingly
uncomfortable, to say the least. They tried to conceal their condition
from the Faithful as much as possible, but they were all very nervous
and disquieted.
At one o'clock, after the regular dinner of roast beef and rice pudding
had been served to the Faithful, the tables were again prepared for the
rebels; but the bill of fare was corned beef and hard bread--not a drop
of water. Peaks and the head steward paced the unsteady floor, as they
had done at breakfast time. Raymond, whose tongue and lips were parched
with thirst, became desperate again, and attempted to force his way
into the kitchen. He was seized by the boatswain, and the more he
struggled, the more he was shaken up. He refused to behave himself, and
Peaks thrust him into the brig.
CHAPTER IX.
THE LAST OF THE MUTINEERS.
The gale continued to blow ugly and gusty during the day, until eight
bells in the afternoon. The fog hung heavy over the ocean, and the bell
was rung every five minutes, in accordance with the English Admiralty
instructions. The ship had been standing close-hauled to the
north-north-west since noon, when she had tacked, at the warning of the
fog signal, made at some light station on the coast of France, in the
vicinity of Cape de La Hague. For four hours she had been on her
present course, and was therefore approaching the coast of England
again. At the beginning of the first dog-watch, there were some signs
of a change of weather. The fog appeared to be lifting, and the wind
came in less violent gusts.
In the steerage, among the rebels, the most unalloyed misery prevailed.
The runaways had exhausted their supply of water under the pressure of
thirst caused by the salt provision, though they had not yet begun to
be very uncomfortable. Certainly they had, as yet, no thought of
yielding, but were rather studying up the means of obtaining a new
supply of water. Raymond's party were only waiting for the boatswain's
call to ask permission to join their shipmates on deck; but, most
provokingly, no call came. Their leader had been discharged from the
brig as soon as he ceased to be violent; for the principal did not wish
to punish any one for the mutiny, preferring to let it work its own
cure on the diet he had prescribed.
With the exception of the rebels, every one seemed to be particularly
jolly. The principal had explained his policy to them, and they were
entirely satisfied. All the evolutions of seamanship were performed
with remarkable precision even in the gale, demonstrating that the crew
had not lost their prestige, when the will was right. In the cabin,
even, the rough sea did not dampen the spirits of the passengers, who
had been, in a measure, accustomed to the rude action of the sea by
their voyage in the steamer and in the Josephine. The Grand Protectress
of the Order of the Faithful was full of life and spirits, and watched
with the deepest interest the progress of the rebellion in the
steerage.
In Raymond's party the suffering from thirst had become intolerable.
Lindsley's back had been broken early in the forenoon, but Raymond
declared that he would never yield--he would die first.
"What's the use?" demanded Lindsley. "We are whipped out, sold out,
played out, and used up. My tongue is as dry as a piece of
wash-leather."
"I don't like to give it up," replied Raymond. "It looks mean to back
out."
"Just look at it a moment. We are suffering for the sins of Howe's
fellows. They let off the water, saving a supply for themselves, and
our fellows are really the only ones who suffer for their deed. We are
sustaining them, even while they won't give us a drop of water to
moisten our lips. For one, I never will get into such a scrape again.
We have been fools, and whenever I see the runaways go one way, I'm
going the other."
"All hands, on deck, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain at the main hatch.
"That means me," said Lindsley, rushing to the ladder. "Come along,
Raymond. Howe and his fellows have been stingy and mean enough to be
left alone."
Most of the crew were on deck when the call was piped. Lindsley led the
way up the ladder, and Raymond followed him. The last argument of his
friend had evidently converted the latter, for, however much he
disliked to yield, it was not so bad as supporting the cause of such
fellows as Howe, who would not even give him a drink of water. And the
idea of enduring positive suffering for the evil deed of the runaways
was not pleasant. They had let the water out of the tanks, but Raymond
and his friends were the only ones who had thus far suffered in
consequence of the act. It was these reflections which absolutely drove
him upon deck, rather than any disposition to undo the wrong he had
done.
A lift of the fog had revealed the Bill of Portland, a narrow neck of
land projecting outside the channel from the English coast. The wind
was hauling to the northward, and the prospect of fair weather was very
good. The order was given to turn out one of the reefs in the topsails.
The appearance of the Raymond party was noticed by Mr. Lowington, and
even the passengers observed those who wore neither the white nor the
blue ribbon. As soon as the rebels reached the deck, they discovered
the water breaker in the waist. They charged upon it with a fury which
required the interference of an officer; but half a pint was served out
to each of them before they were sent aloft.
The reefs were turned out, and the ship came about on the other tack.
Nothing had been seen of the Josephine since the fog settled down upon
the squadron the night before; but the principal had no fears in regard
to her safety. Fog-horns, guns, and bells warn the voyager of his
approach to any of the perils of the shore; and the experienced
navigator can interpret these signals so as to avoid all danger.
"South-west by west, half west," said Paul Kendall, who was the acting
sailing-master on duty, giving out the course to the quarter-master in
charge of the wheel.
"South-west by west, half west," repeated the latter.
"Where will that take us?" asked Grace Arbuckle, who watched everything
that was said and done with deep interest.
"That course will take the ship to a point off Ushant, which is an
island near the coast of France, not far from Brest," replied Paul, who
took especial pleasure in explaining to her the working of the vessel.
"How far is it from here?"
"From the Bill of Portland, which is the land you see astern of us, the
distance to Ushant is one hundred and fifty-seven miles."
"How long will it take us to go there?"
"That will depend entirely upon the wind," laughed Paul. "We are
logging ten knots just now, which would bring us off Ushant about ten
o'clock to-morrow forenoon. But the wind is going down, and we may not
get there till to-morrow night."
"Well, I'm in no hurry; and I rather hope it will not blow very hard,"
added Grace.
"That's just my wish. If the water only holds out, I don't care."
"But there is something more for the Grand Protectress to do," said
Grace.
"A dozen more who are to take the first degree; but I do not know
whether they will be willing to be initiated."
"Why not?"
"Raymond, who is generally a good fellow, has been very ugly. Perhaps
he feels better now he has quenched his thirst."
"May I speak to him?"
"Certainly, if you wish to do so."
Paul conducted the Grand Protectress to the waist, where the head
steward was giving the Raymond party another half pint of water apiece.
They were very thirsty, and, as boys understand the word, they had
doubtless suffered a great deal for the want of water. As they had
returned to their duty, and yielded the point, Mr. Lowington had
directed that they should be frequently supplied, until they were
satisfied. The general opinion was, that they had already been severely
punished, not only by the thirst they had endured, augmented as it was
by their diet of salt beef and hard bread, but in the mortification
they had experienced at the failure of their scheme. The latter
punishment was quite as severe as the former.
"Miss Arbuckle wishes to speak to you, Raymond," said Paul, addressing
the discomfited leader of the mild party.
"What for?" demanded he.
"She will explain for herself."
"Does she want to preach to me?"
"I think not. Of course you are not compelled to see her, if you don't
wish to do so," added Paul, who could not see why any one should not
wish to converse with Grace.
"I will hear what she has to say," said Raymond, with a condescension
which Paul did not like.
The commodore presented the delinquent to the young lady. Raymond
touched his cap, and bowed politely.
"I am very glad to see you on deck, Mr. Raymond, for I have wished to
make your acquaintance since last evening," Grace began.
"Thank you. I was not aware that I had any claims upon your
consideration."
"I see you wear no ribbon. Shall I furnish you with one?"
"I don't know what it is for?" said Raymond, glancing at the white
ribbon on the commodore's breast. "What does it mean?"
"I can't tell you anything about it just yet. I suppose you are very
sorry for what you have done."
"I feel better since I have had a drink of water," replied Raymond,
good-naturedly; and there was no doubt that he spoke the literal truth.
"I regret that it was necessary to deprive you of water."
"It was not my fault. I had nothing to do with emptying the water
tanks," pleaded the culprit. "It was the runaways who did that."
"Then you were in bad company."
"I think so myself," answered Raymond, candidly, for he was still under
the influence of the clinching argument which had induced him to come
on deck.
At this point the conversation was interrupted by the call of the
principal, who summoned the Raymond party into his presence on the
quarter-deck.
"Are you satisfied?" asked Mr. Lowington, with a pleasant smile on his
face, when the rebels had assembled before him.
"No, sir," replied Raymond, promptly, and before any other of the party
could give a different answer.
"Why did you come on deck, then?"
"We couldn't stand it any longer without water."
"Is that the reason why you came on deck?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then you may return to your former diet till you are satisfied," added
the principal, pleasantly.
"We don't wish to do that, sir."
"Didn't I understand you to say that you were not satisfied."
"I am not, sir," continued Raymond, stoutly. "I don't think it was fair
to--"
"Stop!" interposed the principal, rather sharply. "I do not purpose to
listen to your grievances. You have undertaken to redress them
yourselves, and I see no reason why you should not persevere till you
are satisfied."
"We can't live on salt junk and hard bread without any water, sir."
"Can't you, indeed? You should have thought of that before you joined
hands with those who started the water out of the tanks."
"We did not even know that they meant to start the water, or,
afterwards, that they had done it, till the cook said so. We are not
responsible for what they did."
"Perhaps not; yet you were in the hold, in full fellowship with them.
But I do not intend to argue the matter with you."
"We are ready to return to our duty, sir, whether we are satisfied or
not," added Raymond.
"O, you are?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, as long as you are willing to do your duty, I suppose it does
not matter whether you are satisfied or not."
Raymond made no reply, and could not help wondering that he had been so
simple as to believe the principal would ask an explanation of
mutineers.
"Are you willing to obey all orders?" continued Mr. Lowington.
"Yes, sir."
"And the others?"
"Yes, sir," replied Raymond's followers.
"Will you refrain from all communication with those in the steerage who
still refuse to do duty?"
"I will," answered Raymond, who had before made up his mind to do this.
"Especially you will not inform them of anything which takes place on
deck, or give them the benefit of any explanation you may hear," said
the principal. "Those who assent to these terms will walk over to
windward."
The party, who could not help wondering at this singular treatment of
what they regarded as a very difficult matter, walked squarely up to
the weather-rail of the ship, and halted there. The remarks of the
principal, and the pledge he exacted, seemed to explain the strange
conduct of the white and the blue ribbon bands in the steerage. No one
had been able to ascertain definitely what those badges meant.
"Very well. I am satisfied, if you are not," said Mr. Lowington,
mildly. "You deserve punishment, but it shall depend upon your future
conduct whether you receive it or not. You will go forward."
When the party reached the waist, they were confronted by Grace and
Paul.
"You have promised to be faithful--have you not?" asked she.
"Yes; but I'm not satisfied," replied the leader.
"Then I confer upon you the first degree of the Order of the Faithful,"
added Grace. "Its emblem is a yellow ribbon;" and she pinned the
decoration upon Raymond's breast.
"What does it mean?" he asked.
She explained its meaning, and then initiated his companions.
"How happens it that we have yellow ribbon while others have white or
blue ones?" asked Lindsley.
"Because you have taken only the first degree, being the last ones to
come. If you do well, and are faithful, you shall be raised to the
second, and then to the third degree," replied Grace, with a vivacity
which was not at all impaired by the laughter of the initiates, who, as
others before them had, regarded the order as a pleasant joke.
"When you have proved yourselves worthy, you will be advanced to the
second degree by the Grand Protectress," added Paul. "The motto of the
concern is, '_Vous ne pouvez pas faire un sifflet de la queue d'un
cochon_;' and I think you have fully proved the truth of the saying.
The meaning of the sentence is one of the secrets of the order. Do you
promise not to reveal it?"
"I do, for one," laughed Lindsley. "I haven't the least idea myself
what it means."
"Nor I," added all the others."
"Then you will all be discreet. The motto contains a very valuable
moral lesson, which bears on your case, and I hope you will take it to
heart," said Paul.
"I should like to take it to head first," replied Lindsley.
"I hope you are satisfied now, Mr. Raymond," continued Grace.
"Not at all. I am willing to do my duty, rather than be starved on salt
junk, and choked to death for the want of water; but I am not
satisfied."
"Not satisfied!" exclaimed Grace. "Not after you have been initiated
into the noble and magnanimous Circle of the Order of the Faithful!"
"Not much!"
"You should say, '_Nicht viel_,' when you want to use that expression,"
laughed Grace, who did not like American slang, and had already
partially cured Paul, who had a slight tendency in that direction.
"Well, _nicht viel_, then. It was not fair, when we had been promised a
trip into Germany, to send us off to sea, just to please Shuffles."
"Captain Shuffles is a good young man. If you say anything against him,
you shall be expelled from the Order of the Faithful!"
"Well, I won't say anything against him, then, Miss Arbuckle; but they
say the ship is bound for Belfast."
"Do you see that land, Mr. Raymond?" she added, pointing to the light
on the headland.
"I do."
"What land is it?"
"I don't know."
"It is the Bill of Portland. Now, which way is the ship headed?"
"About south-west," replied Raymond, after looking through the skylight
at the tell-tale in the steerage.
"South-west by west, half west," she added.
"Bully for you!"
"Instead of that, you should say, "_Bulle für ihnen_." In other words,
you should utter all your slang in German: it sounds better."
"I only meant to say that you reeled off the course like a regular old
salt," laughed Raymond.
"If the ship were bound to Belfast, its course would be nearer west. We
are not going to Belfast. We are going to Brest. Mr. Lowington said the
ship's company needed a little exercise to perfect the discipline, and
to save the trouble and expense of going into the dock at Havre, the
vessels will be left in the harbor of Brest. He never had a thought of
giving up the trip down the Rhine."
"Is that so?" asked the leader of the mild rebels.
Paul repeated the explanation to the penitents which the principal had
given the day before.
"We understood that we were going to sea just to please Shuffles," said
Lindsley.
"The captain certainly wanted better discipline, and he did propose a
day or two at sea for its improvement," added Paul.
"I don't care for two or three days at sea, if we are to go to the
Rhine," continued Raymond. "I'm satisfied now."
The conversation was continued till the starboard watch was piped to
supper. Raymond was fully satisfied now that he had made a fool of
himself, and, what was even worse, that he and his companions had been
the dupes of the runaways. Those who belonged in the starboard watch
were permitted to go to the table, and they did ample justice to the
cold roast beef, butter toast, and tea which covered the mess tables.
Peaks and the head steward paced the steerage, as before, and no one
without a ribbon was allowed to partake. At six o'clock, after the port
watch had been relieved, the second supper was served, and the rest of
the hungry and thirsty delinquents enjoyed the change in their bill of
fare.
Then the runaways sat down to their supper of salt beef and hard bread,
without tea or water. The food did not suit them, and they turned up
their noses at it. The thirst created by their salt breakfast in the
morning had required large draughts upon their water bottles, and
before dinner they had exhausted the supply. They were very thirsty,
though none of them were actually suffering. The fact that they could
not get any water made them want it all the more. They ate none of the
salt meat, which by this time was loathsome to them. Ship bread was dry
feed, and they could eat very little of it. Doubtless it was a hard
case for them, the sons of rich men; but they had only to obey the
boatswain's pipe, and "eat, drink, and be filled."
"I can't stand this," said Monroe, when a group of them had gathered in
their mess-room after the unpalatable supper.
"Can't you? What's the reason you can't?" growled Howe.
"I'm almost choked."
"So am I," added several others.
"Are you going to back out?" demanded the leader.
"Rather than perish with thirst, I am," answered Herman.
"What's the use? All the rest of the fellows have deserted us," added
Ibbotson. "Even Raymond is sporting a yellow ribbon, and is as jolly as
a lord now."
"We can't make anything by it," said Monroe. "I move you we back out,
and get a drink of water. All hands will be called at eight bells, I
think, to put on more sail."
"No, no! Don't back out," interposed Howe. "We haven't made ourselves
felt yet."
"That's so," groaned Herman. "No one takes any notice of us. Even
those fellows that went up last won't speak to us, not even to answer a
civil question. The principal evidently regards us with perfect
contempt. I go in for doing something, or backing out. As it is, we are
making a milk-and-water affair of it. We are starved and choked. That's
all we have to show for what we have done."
"Why don't you preach, and say, 'The way of the transgressor is hard,'
or something of that sort, which is original," snarled Howe.
"I should judge from your talk that you did not feel very good," added
Herman.
"I don't; I'm as dry as any of you, but I have no idea of backing out."
"What are you going to do? What's to be the end of this?" demanded
Ibbotson. "I've got enough of it."
"That seems to be the general opinion," continued Herman.
"Where's Little?" demanded Howe, who could not help realizing that the
fortunes of the last of the mutineers were becoming desperate, and that
it was not an easy thing to contend against such enemies as hunger and
thirst. "I shall not give it up so. Let us do something. Let us make
ourselves felt, even if we are hanged for it."
"What can we do?" inquired Herman, earnestly. "We are caged here like a
lot of donkeys, and I have had enough of it."
"Will you hold on for a couple of hours longer, fellows?" persisted
Howe.
"I will hold on till the boatswain calls all hands, and not an instant
longer," replied Herman. "My tongue feels as though it were cracking
with thirst."
Howe rushed out of the room to find Little, who was the man of
expedients for the runaways. He found him in an adjoining room, and
stated the case to him. The little villain was as uncomfortable and
unhappy as the rest of the mutineers, and, to the surprise of Howe,
counselled yielding rather than suffering any longer.
"I didn't think that of you, Little," sneered Howe.
"Didn't you? Well, it's only a question as to who can stand it the
longest on a diet of salt horse without water," replied Little. "I can
hold out as long as any fellow; but we shall not make anything by it.
If we could, I would stick."
"Let us do something, at least, to make a sensation before we give in.
I don't like the idea of being conquered just in this way."
"What can we do?"
"Let us set the ship afire, or bore holes in the bottom," whispered
Howe.
"Of course, you don't mean anything of that sort," added Little, with a
grim smile.
"I would rather do it than be whipped out in this manner. I never felt
so cheap and mean in my life," continued Howe, kicking the front of the
berth, and pounding with his fist to indicate the intensity of his
wrath.
"Nor I either; but what are you going to do about it."
"Well, you furnish gumption for the crowd, and I came to ask you what
to do. Our fellows' backs are broken, and they will go on deck when the
boatswain's pipe sounds again."
"I shall go with them," replied Little, quietly.
"Can't we get into the hold, and find some water?"
"No; Bitts put a lock on that scuttle this morning, and the forward
officers are watching all the time. You can set the ship afire if you
like. I don't think of anything else you can do to make yourself felt."
"I'll do it!" exclaimed Howe.
"No, you won't," added Little, mildly.
"What's the reason I won't?"
"You dare not."
"You see!" said the discomfited leader, bolting out of the room.
Some men, and some boys, are the most easily overwhelmed by letting
them severely alone. If Howe could have made a sensation, he would have
been better satisfied, even if he had been committed to the brig. He
was vain and proud, and it hurt him more to be ignored than to be
beaten. It was questionable whether he was desperate enough to put his
savage threat into execution; but he collected a pile of books and
papers in his mess-room, and declared his intention to Herman, Monroe,
and others, who were his messmates. No student was allowed to have
matches, and he lacked the torch to fire the incendiary pile.
"Don't be an idiot, Howe!" said Herman, disgusted with the conduct of
his leader.
"I'm going to do something," persisted he.
"You are not going to do that."
"Yes, I am! As soon as the steward leaves the steerage, I shall borrow
one of the lanterns, and there will be a blaze down here."
"No, there won't!"
"What's the reason there won't?"
"The fellows won't let you do any such thing. A fellow is a fool to
burn his own ship at sea."
"Of course it won't burn up; but it will bring Lowington down here, and
he will find out we are somebody."
"Nonsense!"
"But I mean it."
"No, you don't! It is all buncombe."
"You wait and see if it is. If I can only bring Lowington down here,
and see him scared out of his wits, I shall be satisfied. I shall be
willing to go into the brig, then, and stay there for the rest of the
cruise."
"You are a fool, Howe."
"I'm desperate."
"You shall not kindle any fire here. If you say you mean to do it, I
will call Peaks at once."
"I said it, and I'll do it," said Howe, leaving the room.
His messmates followed him. The steward had left the steerage, and
Howe, in order to take down the lantern, leaped upon a stool. Herman
kicked it from beneath him, and he fell upon the floor.
"What do you mean by that?" demanded Howe, with clinched fists.
"Don't you touch that lantern--that's all!"
"Yes, I will;" and he tried to mount the stool again.
Herman, Ibbotson, and Monroe seized him, and dragged him back into the
room. The noise attracted the attention of the rest of the mutineers,
and some others, who were below.
"Go, and call Peaks, Monroe," said Herman. "I will hold him till you
come back."
"Don't do that," interposed the desperate leader, becoming suddenly
calm, and apparently reasonable. "You are all cowards. Let me alone. I
might as well yield, with such milk-and-water fellows around me. Don't
say anything to Peaks."
"You are a bigger fool than I thought you were," added Herman, taking
no pains to conceal his disgust at the conduct of his leader.
"All hands, on deck, ahoy!" piped the boatswain.
All hands, Howe included, answered the call. The mutiny was ended.
CHAPTER X.
WHAT THE RUNAWAYS WERE GOING TO DO.
It was an astonishingly stupid mutiny, not relieved, even a shade, by
the sensational conduct of Howe, the leader, in its last moments, that
terminated twenty-four hours after its commencement, on board of the
Young America. However, it was hardly more stupid than any other wilful
evil-doing. Captain Shuffles, like the potentates of the old world,
wishing to have his accession to power signalized by an act of
clemency, had pleaded earnestly that the runaways might be forgiven,
and permitted to visit Germany with the rest of the ship's company. Mr.
Lowington had endeavored to reconcile the granting of the request with
his views of discipline. It is not necessary to ask with what success
he considered the matter, for the delinquents had now effectually put
it out of his power to grant them any favor.
The fog had lifted, and from the north-west came up the clearing of the
blue sky, as the sun went down. The wind had moderated, though the sea
still rolled uneasily in the channel. The principal had directed the
head steward to estimate the supply of water on board, and on his
report had decided that the ship should proceed directly to Brest. She
had been under easy sail, but as soon as the course was given to the
captain, he called all hands. For the first time since the departure
from Havre, all hands answered the call. Though it was quite dark, the
presence of the runaways was promptly recognized. The volunteer
officers, who were serving as seamen, were directed to take their
regular stations in working ship.
The water breaker in the waist was in demand, as soon as the last of
the mutineers came on deck; and without a word in regard to the past,
the steward served them out a pint of water apiece. Their prompt
attention to the water ration caused a smile among the Faithful, and
the officers considerately deferred further orders until their pressing
want was supplied.
"Shall we admit them to the Order of the Faithful?" said Grace to the
commodore, when it was announced that the bottom had dropped out of the
mutiny.
"I think not," replied Paul. "They have been the cause of all the
trouble on board, and Mr. Lowington does not wish that anything should
be said to them. They are the ones who emptied the water tanks."
"Really, I don't think they deserve to be admitted to the Order of the
Faithful--at least, not till they have proved their fidelity to duty."
"Raymond, and those who came on deck before, are generally very good
fellows; and we all believe now that they were led away by the
runaways," added Paul. "We shall soon see whether all hands intend to
do their duty."
When the thirsty ones had been supplied with water, the order to set
the courses was given, and the runaways severally took their stations,
and performed their duty without making any confusion. The
top-gallant-sails and royals were then shaken out. The discipline now
seemed to be perfect, and the principal's method of dealing with the
mutiny was fully justified, though he took pains to explain to some of
the professors that he did not consider this treatment practicable in
all cases. The conduct of the rebels, and the facts developed,
indicated that they wished to be noticed; that they believed the ship
could not sail without their permission and assistance. This blunder
was fatal to all their calculations, and they were unable to "make
themselves felt."
But the runaways were no better satisfied than Raymond had been; and
though they performed their duty in setting sail with entire precision,
they were sour and morose. The sting of an overwhelming defeat thorned
them. They were mortified, humiliated, and crest-fallen. They were
enraged at the conduct of their rebellious companions of the milder
stripe, who had deserted them, and they were reaping the general
consequences of evil-doing. They did their work, but when it was done
they avoided their shipmates, and even avoided each other. Howe had
ruined himself as a leader by his silly conduct, and there was not
likely to be any further concerted action among them.
Mr. Lowington had faithfully followed out his plan, and had directed
Mr. Fluxion to adopt the same treatment for those who refused to do
duty in the Josephine--to keep them in the steerage, and feed them on
sailors' fare. The result of the treatment in the consort was yet to be
learned, for she had not been seen since the supply of water had been
procured from her.
At midnight the wind blew fresh from the north-west, and with all sails
set, the ship logged twelve knots. The three lights on the Casquets, at
the western extremity of the Channel Islands were in sight, and the
prospect of seeing Ushant early in the forenoon was good. As all hands
were now on duty, the system of quarter watches was restored, so that
each part could have six hours of uninterrupted sleep. There was
nothing for the watch on deck to do, except to steer, and keep a
lookout; and there was a great deal of discussion about mutiny in
general, and the Young America mutiny in particular. It was generally
conceded even by the rebels, that it "did not pay."
After the runaways had in some measure recovered from the first blush
of defeat, some of them wanted to know about the ribbons; but the
members of the Order of the Faithful did not consider themselves
authorized to impart the secrets of the organization, and declined to
explain them. Doubtless they enjoyed the mystery, and desired to keep
it up for their own amusement. Howe, when he found a tongue, reproached
his companions in mischief for their cowardice, and boasted of what
great things would have been accomplished if they had supported him to
the end; but his most intimate associates were disgusted with him, and
avoided him as much as possible.
At seven bells in the morning, a breakfast of coffee, mutton chops,
potatoes, and hot biscuit put most of the runaways in the port watch in
better humor than before, and another did a similar service for those
in the starboard watch half an hour later. They ate and drank all they
could, rather than all they needed, and probably shuddered when they
thought of the consequences of evil-doing, as embodied in salt beef and
hard bread, without a drop of water.
At one bell in the forenoon watch, the lookout in the foretop shouted,
"Land, ho, on the lee bow." An hour after, the bold rugged shores of
Ushant were plainly in sight, and Dr. Winstock informed Paul and Grace
that they were in the very waters where the English fleet, under
Admiral Sir Edward Hawkes, had won the great naval victory over the
French in 1759.
"Sail, ho!" shouted the lookout.
"Where away?" called the officer forward.
"On the weather bow. It's a topsail schooner, and looks like the
Josephine."
Glasses were in demand, and the officers soon satisfied themselves that
the sail ahead was the consort. It was evident that, hugging the wind
closely, she had gone farther from the coast than the Young America.
She took a pilot off Ushant, and continued on her course, though Mr.
Lowington was anxious to communicate with her, and learn the result of
the mutiny which had also prevailed on board. Off the island, the ship
was boarded by a pilot, and following the Josephine, passed through the
Goulet de Brest, which is the only entrance to the harbor. This passage
is not more than a mile wide, and is defended on each side by strong
forts. The harbor is a land-locked bay, deep enough for vessels of the
largest class, and with space enough to accommodate, at least, five
hundred of them. Brest is the most important naval station of France,
and its fortress and docks were full of interest to the young tourists.
The city, which contains a population of eighty thousand, is built on
the summit and slopes of a hill, some of the streets upon whose sides
are so steep as to be impassable for vehicles.
The Josephine had already come to anchor, and the ship followed her
example, taking position as near to her as it was safe to lie. As
usual, when the vessels came into port, there was a great excitement on
board, for new sights and sounds are peculiarly agreeable after the
voyager comes from the monotony of the swelling ocean; and the students
made the most of them. In coming into port, all hands had been on duty;
and after the sails had all been furled, Captain Shuffles declared that
he was perfectly satisfied with the discipline of his crew. The
runaways, who were generally good seamen, whatever else they were, did
not deem it prudent to "pipe to mischief" again, or to attempt to
create any confusion. All eyes were fixed on them if anything went
amiss, and if they were disposed to do wrong, they made a merit of
necessity. But Brest was an old story to them, and brought up
unpleasant memories. They knew the harbor, and were familiar with the
sights, having served on board of the Josephine in this port for three
weeks after the runaway cruise. Indeed, their knowledge of the harbor
brought them into favor with others, who asked them many questions
about the objects to be seen.
After everything was made snug on board of the ship, the yards squared,
and every rope hauled taut in man-of-war style, the first cutter was
lowered, and the principal visited the Josephine. As he went over the
side, he saw Adler, Phillips, and others of the runaways, who belonged
to the consort, on deck, and he concluded that his plan had worked as
well in her as in the ship.
"Well, Mr. Fluxion," said he, as he grasped the hand of his able
assistant, "I see the Josephine has not yet been taken away from you."
"No, sir. We had but a dozen mutineers on board," replied the
vice-principal, "and they are about the sickest dogs you ever saw. I
kept them in the steerage, and fed them on salt beef and hard bread, as
you suggested to me."
"Did you give them any water?"
"Not a drop. After I learned that your ruffians had stove the water
tanks, I concluded they were all in the same boat, and that my fellows
were as responsible for the deed as yours. I suppose it was all a
contrived plan before we left Havre."
"I don't know whether it was or not. I should have treated it in a
different manner if the young rascals had not dragged in a large number
of the students who seldom give us any trouble."
"The plan worked well, though I did not very strongly approve of it at
first. Last night, the rebels sent for me, and begged, with tears in
their eyes, to be permitted to return to their duty, promising to be
faithful as long as they remained on board. I gave them a pretty severe
lecture, but they declared they had nothing to do with staving the
water tanks in the ship, and did not know anything about it. I'm not
apt to believe what those fellow say."
"It matters little whether they knew it or not; they certainly agreed
together to refuse to do duty. Well, they have come to their senses
now, and both vessels seem to be in good order. Of course, after what
has happened, it is not proper to take these mischief-makers with us
into Germany," added Mr. Lowington.
"Certainly not," replied Mr. Fluxion, promptly.
"Then, as you are going to Italy, what shall be done with them while we
are absent?" asked the principal, anxiously.
"My sister, who intends to spend the winter in Italy with her husband,
desires to see me on a matter of business connected with her private
property. As she is an invalid, I think she wishes to consult me in
regard to the disposition of her estate, so that her children may enjoy
it after her decease; for, as I have told you before, her husband is
not a reliable man. If it were a matter of any less consequence, I
would not think of leaving."
"Undoubtedly it is your duty to go, and you must do so. But I do not
like the idea of leaving thirty such students as Howe, Little, and
Phillips in the sole charge of Dr. Carboy. He is a good man; but he has
not quite tact and energy enough for such a responsibility."
"Suppose I take them with me," suggested Mr. Fluxion, with a smile.
"That is hardly practicable."
"I mean in the Josephine," added the vice-principal.
"It's a long voyage round through the Strait of Gibraltar."
"I am in no hurry to reach Italy. How long shall you be absent in
Germany?"
"About three weeks."
"Say twenty-one days," said Mr. Fluxion, musing. "The Josephine is a
fast vessel. Under the most favorable circumstances, she would make the
run in eight days. A fair passage would be twelve days. If I remain one
day in Genoa, where my sister lives, the cruise would last twenty-five
days."
"A few days' time, or a week, is of no consequence," added Mr.
Lowington.
"But suppose you take the ship to Lisbon, on your return, and I will
meet you there, say about the twenty-seventh or eighth of the month."
"I rather like the plan; but isn't it a little hard on the boys?"
"Not at all. It's giving them plenty of sea-service; but that is what
they need for their complaint. We shall feed them well on fresh
provisions, and it is a pleasant trip up the Mediterranean at this
season of the year. But I only mention the idea to solve the difficulty
you suggest."
"I will consider the matter, and give you an answer before night,"
added Mr. Lowington, thoughtfully.
"If the plan is adopted, I should like to have Peaks and Bitts with me,
to act as watch officers with Cleats and Gage."
"You shall have them," replied Mr. Lowington, as he directed the
officer of the boat to call his crew, who had been permitted to come on
board.
In the first cutter's crew were three of the runaways, who had taken
the opportunity to communicate with Adler, Phillips, and other of the
runaways in the consort. After each party had related to the other its
experience in rebellion, and commented on its unsatisfactory results,
they touched upon the old topic--how to get to Paris, where remittances
from their friends were waiting for most of them.
"Old Carboy is to have charge of us while the crowd are gone," said
Sheffield, irreverently. "We can easily come it over him."
"If we can only get on shore, we are all right," added Phillips.
"Only we have no money to pay our fare to Paris," interposed Adler.
"I can raise some," suggested Sheffield. "My father sent me a letter of
credit on a Paris banker; but any banker will let me have some money on
it, if I draw on Paris in his favor."
"That's the idea!" exclaimed Adler. "I have a letter also."
"But we are not to go together this time," added Little.
"Any way, if we are only to go," said Phillips, as the coxswain of the
first cutter called away his crew, and ended the conversation.
It was renewed as soon as the ship was reached and the boat hauled up.
The runaways had abandoned all thought of joining the excursion to the
Rhine; and "how to get away" was an exciting topic to them. In the
tops, out on the bowsprit, and in other secluded places, small knots of
them gathered to discuss the subject. Promises made to do better were
forgotten, and the bitter experience of the past was wholly ignored. If
they could get away from the ship or the consort,--in whichever one
they were to be confined,--they would make amends for all their
sufferings and all their humiliations. Herman and Little were
especially earnest, though they still avoided their late leader, Howe.
Perth was regarded as lost to them, for he wore a white ribbon on his
breast, and had done his duty as an officer.
"We will all be pious for a day or two, till Carboy closes his eyes,"
said Little. "You, and Ibbotson, and I will look out for ourselves, and
the rest of the fellows must do the same. I have an idea."
"Have you? What is it?" demanded Herman.
"We shall all be sent on board the Josephine as soon as the lambs get
ready to start for Germany."
"Yes, I suppose so," added Herman, eagerly.
"Then it will be an easy matter. But I don't want to talk about it yet.
Too many cooks spoil the soup," continued Little, with his air of
mysterious assurance.
"Tell us what it is. We won't mention it."
"I've got it all arranged; and if the rest of our fellows are smart,
they can take advantage of it. We all know this harbor pretty well,"
added the little villain.
"Why don't you tell us what the idea is?"
Little rose from his seat in the main-top, and looked over to see that
no inquisitive person was concealed on the cat-harpings.
"You are not to mention it to any one, you understand, or hint at it.
We three, I repeat, are to look out for ourselves only. Ibbotson is to
find the money to get to Paris, and I furnish the brains."
"What am I to find?"
"Find your way to Paris, if you can. You are a good fellow, Herman, and
I will take you in because you are some punkins."
"But you haven't told us the plan," said Ibbotson, not particularly
pleased with the self-sufficiency of his little companion.
"I will tell you," whispered Little, throwing an arm around the neck of
each of his friends, and drawing their heads together near his mouth.
"At night, when everything is quiet, one of us will just unbit the
cable, and let it run out. Then another shall sing out that the vessel
is going adrift. That will make a row. Then we will try to do
something. You, Herman, and I, will offer to carry a line to another
vessel--the ship, for instance. Carboy--who don't know any more about a
vessel than a kitten does of the ten commandments--will tell you to do
it. Then we three will jump into a boat, and carry off the line. We can
carry it to the ship, or not, just as we think best; but you may bet
your life we don't return to the Josephine! How does that strike you?"
"Yes; but where are Cleats and Gage all this time? They know all about
a vessel, if Carboy don't," suggested Herman.
"Wherever you please," replied Little, confidently.
"Suppose they happen to be on deck, and are disposed to take the boat
and carry out the line themselves?"
"So much the better! Thanks to the prudence and good management of the
principal, there are four boats belonging to the Josephine," answered
the little villain, who appeared to have provided for every emergency
which could possibly occur. "The moment the boatswain and carpenter are
clear of the vessel, we will suggest that another line ought to be
carried to some other vessel; and Mr. Carboy will see the necessity of
the measure."
"Perhaps he won't see it," interposed Ibbotson.
"Then I'll fall overboard."
"Fall overboard?"
"Precisely so," replied Little.
"I don't see what that has to do with it," said Herman.
"Don't you? Well, I hope you and Ibbotson would have the courage and
the energy to save me from a watery grave, and all that sort of thing."
"What! jump in after you?" inquired Herman.
"No! How heavy your wits are to-day! You need not dampen your trousers.
Just drop the fourth cutter into the water, pick me up, and then we
will find our way to the shore."
"Some other fellows might take it into their heads to rescue you from a
watery grave, and all that sort of thing," added Herman.
"If they do, so much the better for them. You and Ibbotson must make
sure that you get into the boat, whoever else does. There will be no
officers to bother, unless Perth happens to be left on board. If he is,
all right. He will know what to do. If the other fellows don't want to
go to Paris with us, or rather on their own hook, they can return to
the vessel, and mildly break it to the professor, that we were all
drowned. There will not be a particle of trouble about the business.
There are twenty other ways of managing the case. As soon as the lambs
are off, and we are put on board of the Josephine, we will arrange
everything."
"Perhaps we shall remain in the ship," suggested Herman.
"So much the worse for the ship, for her cable can be unbitted, as well
as the schooner's."
"That's so."
"In the dark, with the ship adrift and liable to be thrown on shore, or
to run afoul of another vessel, there will be a big excitement, and we
can do anything we wish. When the rest of the fellows see what is up,
they can take care of themselves," continued Little, who did not
believe in the possibility of a failure.
"Very well; we will suppose we get on shore all right--what then? We
shall be in Brest, which is a fortified city, with gates through which
none can pass without permission," said Ibbotson.
"Never mind the gates. We shall leave by railroad for Paris. As soon as
you raise some money to pay for the tickets, I will take care of the
rest."
"I have no doubt we can raise the money. My father sent me a letter of
credit for five hundred francs. I heard my cousin say he could get
money in any large city on his letter of credit, for the bankers know
each other," added Ibbotson.
"If he had only sent you a circular letter of credit, you could draw
almost anywhere," said Herman.
"Well, if we can't raise any money on the letter, I have a gold watch
that cost about a hundred dollars in New York. I can raise two hundred
francs on it, and redeem it when we come back," continued Ibbotson.
"That's the talk!" exclaimed Little. "I like to see energy in a fellow.
There isn't a ghost of a doubt in my mind but that we shall be in Paris
in two or three days from now."
This interesting conversation was interrupted by the boatswain's call,
piping all hands to muster. The crew were then drilled for an hour in
all the evolutions of getting under way, and making sail. The runaways
dared not repeat the experiments which had been tried with so much
apparent success at Havre, for they feared the squadron would be sent
to sea again if the drill was not perfect. The various movements were
admirably performed, and entirely to the satisfaction of Captain
Shuffles. The ship's company were then piped to dinner. When they came
on deck, the signal, "All hands, attend lecture," was flying on board
the ship. This was a hopeful sign for those who were impatient to visit
the Rhine, and most of the crew were ready to hear Professor Mapps's
description of Germany.
While the ship's company were waiting for the arrival of the
Josephine's, a very interesting ceremony was performed in the waist.
The Grand Protectress of the Order of the Faithful raised the members
of the second degree to the third, adorning them with the white ribbon.
They had been faithful in the discharge of all their duties, and Grace
insisted that all the members should now stand on an equal footing.
Those who wore the yellow ribbon were advanced to the second degree;
but Grace promised them that if they listened attentively to the
lecture, they should receive the white ribbon before night.
With the crew of the Josephine came Mr. Fluxion, who immediately
retired to the main cabin with the principal, where the further details
of the cruise to Genoa were discussed. It was finally agreed that the
vice-principal's plan should be adopted, and that the Josephine should
sail as early the next day as she could be fitted out for the voyage.
The two vessels were to meet at Lisbon, near the end of the month, and
from that port proceed on the homeward voyage. Peaks and Gage were sent
for, and were very willing to be temporarily transferred to the
consort; while Leach was to remain as ship-keeper, in charge of the
Young America, during the absence of the party in Germany.
While the professor was engaged upon his lecture in the steerage, Mr.
Fluxion returned to the consort with the two forward officers, and,
taking in the head steward, proceeded to the shore. In half an hour a
water boat was alongside the Josephine, filling up the water tanks and
casks. Later in the day several shore boats came off to deliver the
provisions and supplies which the steward had purchased. Before night
the Josephine was ready for the long cruise up the Mediterranean,
though none of the students on board of the ship knew that anything
unusual was in progress.
CHAPTER XI.
A SHORT LECTURE ON GERMANY.
In answer to the summons of the boatswain, "All hands, attend lecture,
ahoy!" both ships' companies assembled in the steerage of the Young
America. The Arbuckles had seats near the foremast, on which the
professor displayed his maps, diagrams, and other illustrations of his
teachings. These lectures were received with different degrees of favor
by various students. While such as Paul Kendall, Shuffles, Gordon, and
Tremere regarded them as very valuable privileges, others considered
them as intolerable bores. Some were interested in a portion of the
descriptions and historical details, others closed their ears to the
whole, though all listened to anything that could be considered a
story.
The runaways were among those who regarded the present lecture--since
they did not expect to visit Germany--as an intolerable nuisance. They
were careful to select places where they could listen or not, without
attracting the attention of the professor. Herman and Perth had seated
themselves near one of the gangways before the boatswain sounded the
call. The latter held a very doubtful position on board. Although he
wore the white ribbon of the Order of the Faithful, it was a problem
whether he was in sympathy with the objects of the institution. He had
declined to serve as a seaman in place of the mutineers; but in spite
of his refusal, he took his place at the capstan, and went aloft when
the order was given to shake out the topsails. He did not like the idea
of being alone, and if he did not formally recant in so many words, he
did so by his actions. No fault could be found with him, so far as the
faithful discharge of his duty was concerned; still his position was
not altogether satisfactory.
Not only the faculty and the officers were in doubt in regard to his
standing, but also his former associates. He had done nothing to
indicate his regret for the past, on the one hand, and nothing to
assure his runaway friends that he was still in sympathy with them. The
principal did not know where to put him, and, consequently, was unable
to decide whether or not he should be relieved from the penalty of his
transgressions in the Josephine, and be permitted to accompany the
party to Germany.
"Are you going to the Rhine with the rest of the fellows, Perth?" asked
Herman, as they seated themselves at the opening of Gangway B.
"That's more than I know; but I suppose not, for I am considered too
wicked," replied the master, lightly.
"I thought you had joined the lambs."
_"Nicht viel!"_
"What do you mean by that?"
"Not much!"
"We all thought so. You have hardly spoken a word to one of our fellows
since you went into the cabin," added Herman.
"Well, I've prayed for you all the same. I declined to take a seaman's
place when you fellows in the steerage slopped over, and wouldn't come
to time."
"You didn't, though!"
"I did, though; but I couldn't stand alone, and I sort of backed out,
just as the rest of you did, and went to work at the braces and
buntlines."
"Then you really are not a lamb?"
"Not if I know myself! I didn't do anything to get into the cabin; so
it isn't my fault that I'm there. Whether I go to the Rhine or not, I
suppose it is certain enough that the rest of our fellows will not."
"No; we have spoiled all our chances."
"There's no doubt of that," laughed Perth.
"But we are going to Paris," added Herman, in a whisper. "We have the
wires all laid down."
"Are you, though?" said Perth, deeply interested in the communication.
"I should like to go with you."
"But we are not going in a bunch; only two or three in a squad. Don't
say anything to any of our fellows about it."
"I never says nothing to nobody," laughed Perth. "But I want to know
more about it."
"The arrangements are all made, and I don't think there is any chance
to fail."
"Good!"
But the professor commenced his lecture at this point, and the steerage
was hushed, so that it was not prudent even to whisper. The students
were all required, at these lectures, to be prepared with paper and
pencils, so that they could take notes, especially of dates and
statistics.
"Our party consists of Little, Ibbotson and myself," Herman wrote on
his paper, which he placed so that Perth could read it.
"Have you any stamps?" Perth wrote.
"No; but Ibbotson has a letter of credit on which he can raise some."
"My uncle, in Glasgow, sent me twenty pounds--four five-pound notes--at
the request of my father. I got it at Havre," wrote Perth. "I will join
you in Paris if I go to Germany; if not, I will start with you. Pop. N.
Ger., 28 mill.; S. Ger., 12.5 mill.; total, 40.5 mill.; about equal to
pop. of France."
The sudden change in the style of the second master's notes is
accounted for by the fact that the principal entered the steerage at
the moment indicated by the break in the conversation between the two
runaways. They were in the rear of all the other students, and were
fully exposed to Mr. Lowington's gaze as he passed out of the main
cabin. Perhaps he did not think it was quite natural for such students
as Perth and Herman to be engaged so industriously in taking notes; or
it may be that his practised eye fully comprehended at a glance the
nature of their occupation. The instant the door opened, Herman slyly
slipped off the sheet on which he had been writing, and thrust it into
his pocket. Perth had written over one of his small pages of note
paper, and begun upon a second. He had, when his companion had read
what he wrote upon it, slipped the first sheet into the atlas, which
served as a desk for him.
Mr. Lowington walked to the vicinity of Gangway B, and paused there.
Perth turned down the upper part of the sheet, on which he had written
the last part of his message to Herman, so that nothing objectionable
appeared on it, even if the principal took it into his head to look
over his shoulder. Perth was not at all flurried--he was too old a
rogue to commit himself by any weakness; and when he had written down
the statement of the professor, he paused and looked at the speaker, as
though he was wholly and entirely absorbed in the lecture. The entrance
of Mr. Lowington caused many of the students to look behind them, as
boys will do in school, on the smallest pretence. Mr. Mapps insisted
upon the students' attention, and he paused till his hearers had
gratified their curiosity.
Mr. Lowington did not appear to be quite satisfied with the conduct of
Perth, and, reaching over the shoulder of the second master, he took
the paper from the atlas. Of course this act produced a sensation among
the boys; the most insignificant event creates a sensation in the
school-room. Mr. Mapps lowered the pointer, and intimated by his
actions that he did not intend to proceed till order was restored.
Perth was confounded this time, if he never was before.
"What kind of a lecture are you delivering, Mr. Mapps?" asked the
principal, with a smile.
"A lecture on Germany, such as I have usually given on these
occasions."
"As this young gentleman writes it down, it seems to me rather a
singular lecture. I will read it."
Perth wanted to drop through into the hold.
"'I will join you in Paris if I go to Germany; if not, I will start
with you. Population North Germany, twenty-eight millions; South
Germany, twelve and a half millions; total, forty and a half millions;
about equal to population of France.' The latter part seems to be a
little more germane than the first part. 'I will join you in Paris if I
go to Germany,' is rather paradoxical, and I conclude that the young
gentleman has not correctly reported this part of your lecture."
"I think not, sir," laughed Mr. Mapps. "I do not remember saying
anything about going to Paris."
"Well, Mr. Perth, I recommend that you take a seat nearer to the
professor, so that you can understand him better; for certainly you
make very bad work of taking notes," added Mr. Lowington, as he pointed
to a seat near the foremast.
Perth walked forward, and took the place indicated. Mr. Mapps proceeded
with the lecture; but it is doubtful whether the second master
understood him any better than before, he was so completely absorbed by
the consideration of the little difficulty into which he had so
heedlessly plunged himself. After all, the situation was not so bad as
it might be. The principal could make nothing of the sentence he had
read, and as nothing had been found upon Herman, he could trust to his
ingenuity to explain away the meaning of it. So he used his brain in
trying to devise a solution of the sentence which would satisfy the
principal, instead of attending to the lecture, which he feared would
have no practical value to him.
A large majority of the students were deeply interested in the remarks
of the professor, and as they were to be in Germany in a few days, even
the dry statistics were considerably valued. As it would not be civil
to report the professor's lecture from the middle, where it was
interrupted by the entrance of the principal, it is necessary to return
to the commencement of it.
"What is the German for Germany?" asked the professor, as he picked up
his pointer.
"Deutschland."
"The French?"
"Allemagne."
"Germany can hardly be called a nation, though in some respects it is
similar to the United States. It is a confederation of nations, though
the people speak the same language, and are united by many other common
ties of manners and customs, as well as of contiguity of territory. But
it is peculiar in some respects, as, Prussia is a nation, under its own
king and laws; but only a portion of it belongs to Germany. Austria[1]
is an empire, under its own emperor; but only a part of his dominions
are represented in the Germanic Confederation. Its several states are
united for some specific purposes, such as the collection of certain
taxes, and mutual defence. In other respects its empires, kingdoms,
duchies, &c., are independent nations, making their own laws, and
regulating their own affairs."
[1] Professor Mapps describes Germany as it was before the war of
1866, and the subsequent reconstruction of North Germany. In
"NORTHERN LANDS, OR YOUNG AMERICA IN PRUSSIA AND RUSSIA," the
present status of Germany will be explained.
"I don't exactly understand the relations of Austria and Prussia to the
Germanic Confederation," said Paul Kendall. "How can part of them
belong to the confederation without the whole?"
"Very easily," replied the professor; "though, if you ask me why a
part, and not the whole, of Prussia or Austria should be included in
the Germanic Confederation, I cannot tell you, unless it be to preserve
'ancient landmarks.' The province of Prussia proper was not German; and
that may be a very good reason why it never should be. Germany is a
league of the several sovereignties into which the old German empire
had fallen. The archduchy of Austria was, and Hungary was not, German,
in the reign of the emperors. Holstein-Lauenburg[2] belongs to Denmark,
but belongs, at the same time, to Germany. Of the eight provinces of
Prussia, two are not included in the confederation. Of the twenty-one
states or provinces which constitute the Austrian empire, eleven are
German.
[2] Annexed to Prussia in 1866.
"I can see no good reason why, if the Germanic league is of any
service, the provinces of Prussia and Posen should not be admitted, as
well as the other six divisions of the kingdom of Prussia. We take the
fact as we find it. Germany, then, is simply a union of states for
certain purposes. It is not, in any proper sense, a nation. It does not
send representatives to foreign countries, and it can make laws and
regulations only to cover the purposes of the league.
"In 1863 there were thirty-four states represented in the
confederation. The empire of Austria cast four votes in the general
convention; the kingdoms of Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover, and
Würtemburg, also four each; other states, grand duchies, duchies,
electorates, principalities, landgraviates, and free cities, from one
to three, according to their size and importance. These representatives
meet at Frankfort, which is the capital of Germany. The population of
Northern Germany is about twenty-eight millions; of Southern Germany,
twelve and a half millions; making about forty and a half millions, or
about equal to that of France.
"Of the early history of Germany there is no authentic record. The
ancient Romans had no knowledge of the people north of the Danube and
east of the Rhine, except as the barbarous tribes who made incursions
into their territory. When Gaul came into the possession of the Romans,
they learned more of the barbarians of the north, who were called
Germani--a word which is probably derived from _ger_, a spear,
indicating their warlike character. Among these tribes were the
Teutons, the Saxons, the Franks, the Goths, the Vandals, the Gauls,
whose names are common in history. Clovis, the ancient sovereign of the
Frankish empire, and his successors, conquered these tribes, and
incorporated their territory in the Empire of the West, which reached
the height of its glory under the reign of Charlemagne. His son Louis
was too weak to rule so vast a realm, and in 843 the empire was divided
into three parts, and given to his three sons. France became the
portion of Charles the Bald; Italy, of Lothaire; and Germany, of Louis.
At this time the German kingdom extended from the Rhine to the Elbe,
and from the German Ocean to the Danube.
"During the succeeding century, Germany was partitioned into three
smaller divisions, became a part of France again, and the throne was
subverted by the nobles, who elected the kings. Portions of Italy, and
other territory beyond the Elbe, were conquered. I will not weary you
even by mentioning the line of kings who followed. Their dominions were
torn by dissensions, while they struggled to increase their power. In
1273, Count Rudolph of Hapsburg was elected emperor, and, after a
fierce struggle with the unruly barons, succeeded in establishing his
authority, and in obtaining possession of the dukedom of Austria, and
several other provinces. The house of Hapsburg has to the present time
retained the throne of Austria.
"Jealous of the growing power of the Hapsburgs, the nobles elected
Adolph, Count of Nassau, Emperor of Germany; but Albert, Rudolph's son
and successor, wrested the crown from him. The Hapsburgs had
possessions in Switzerland, when the house obtained its power in
Austria, and they held them as dependencies upon the dukedom. The Swiss
revolted in the reign of Albert, and their long and severe struggle for
independence was commenced at this time.
"During the reign of Sigismund, one of the successors of Albert, John
Huss, the reformer, was burned at the stake at Constance, whither he
had gone with the safe-conduct of the emperor. His martyrdom caused the
Hussite war, in which several severe battles were fought, including one
at Prague. In 1593, Maximilian I. succeeded to the throne; and in his
reign the Reformation by Luther began. Charles V., the grandson of
Maximilian,--of whom I spoke to you in giving the history of Holland
and Belgium,--united the crowns of Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and
Naples, and the empire became the leading power of Europe. The
Reformation produced fierce dissensions and savage contests. Charles
was obliged, sorely against his will, to grant privileges to his
Lutheran subjects. But he was disgusted with power, and resigned his
crown. He was succeeded by his brother, Ferdinand I., as Emperor of
Germany, and by his son, Philip II., as King of Spain; to whom, also,
he gave his possessions in the Netherlands. The dissensions in the
empire enabled France on the west and Turkey on the east to wrest
valuable possessions from it. The successors of Charles V. were unable
to breast the storm of progress successfully, and the imperial
authority was completely shattered. The power of the petty rulers of
small states increased and overshadowed that of the central authority.
"The emperors Ferdinand and Matthias treated the Protestants with so
much severity, committing the most flagrant outrages upon them, that it
brought on the Thirty Years' War. When Matthias died, the insurgents
declared the throne vacant, and chose the Elector Frederick emperor.
The Protestant princes fought for him, while the Catholic powers
sustained Ferdinand II., Archduke of Austria. Peace was established, by
the treaty of Westphalia, in 1648, by which Germany lost a portion of
her territory. After these events, the power of the emperors waned
still more, until their title was little more than a surname of the
rulers of Austria. When Prussia became a great Protestant power, under
Frederick the Great, she was a check upon Austria, and prevented the
latter from reëstablishing the ancient power of the German empire.
"The French revolution practically destroyed the empire. Francis II. of
Austria, overwhelmed by Napoleon, ceded to him the country on the left
bank of the Rhine. When the Rhenish Confederation of Napoleon was
formed, in 1806, Francis resigned the crown of the German empire, which
was thus formally dissolved. Many changes in territorial limits were
made, and the free cities lost their independence. The country was
either actually or virtually subject to Napoleon, who dictated its
policy, and levied heavy contributions upon it.
"As it was not possible for all these small states to maintain their
separate independence unaided, when the Allied Powers had driven
Napoleon from Europe, and restored the nations to their original
condition, it became necessary to regulate the affairs of Germany.
Prussia objected to an independent empire, whose power might endanger
her safety and progress; and a confederation of the states was formed
in 1815, which exists at the present time."[3]
[3] Dissolved in 1866.
The professor continued to describe the country, and to define the
powers and duties of the Federal Diet; but as many changes have been
made in the government and in the states, it is not necessary to
transcribe his remarks to these pages. He promised, as occasion might
offer on their travels, to give the students further explanations of
the nature of the territory, governments, and local peculiarities of
the several states they might visit. The boys were satisfied with this
arrangement, and the session was closed. The boatswain immediately
piped all hands to muster on deck.
"Whom do you purpose to join in Paris, if you go to Germany?" asked Mr.
Lowington, when Perth appeared among the officers.
"My uncle," replied the second master, promptly.
"Your uncle from Glasgow, I suppose you mean."
"Yes, sir. He wrote me that he should be in Paris early this month."
"How happened you to be writing the sentence on your paper?"
"I was writing a letter which I intended to copy with ink, as soon as I
had time."
"Have you the rest of the letter?"
"No, sir; I tore it up just now."
"Will you be kind enough to produce your uncle's letter?" said the
principal, quietly.
"I don't keep my letters, sir; and I destroyed it as soon as I had read
it."
"I suppose you did," replied Mr. Lowington, significantly. "But if you
don't go to Germany, what then? I think you wrote the words, 'I will
start with you.'"
"Yes, sir."
"Start from where?"
"From here."
"I don't understand it."
"I was going to write to uncle Donald, that, if I went to Germany, I
would see him in Paris as we pass through that city. If I did not go, I
wanted him to come here, and take me to Paris with him."
"And you think this explains what you wrote upon your note paper?"
inquired the principal.
"As I understand it, sir, it does."
"Was Herman expected to join your party?"
"No, sir."
"I observed that he seemed to be much interested in what you were
writing, and that you took some pains to let him see your paper. Your
explanation is not satisfactory, and I should not dare to take you to
Germany, lest you should miss your uncle on the way. Perhaps he had
better come to Brest himself. When do you expect him?"
"I don't know when he is coming, sir," replied Perth, rather abashed to
find his explanation had obtained so little consideration.
"Have you any money, Perth?" asked Mr. Lowington, suddenly.
"No, sir."
"Not a few francs, even?"
"Perhaps I have a few English pence."
"Haven't you a few English pounds?"
"No, sir."
"Just think a little, before you answer."
"If I had even a pound, I should be likely to remember it, sir."
"I should say you would; and twenty times as likely to remember it, if
you had twenty pounds," added the principal.
"O, I haven't anything like that, sir."
"You have an astonishingly bad memory, Perth. You received a letter
from your uncle in Glasgow, while you were at Havre. Do you remember
that?"
"Certainly I do, sir," replied Perth, wondering what the principal
could mean by such pointed questions.
Was it possible that Mr. Lowington had read what he wrote on the first
sheet of note paper? He thrust his hand into his pocket, and the sheet
was there as he had taken it from the atlas.
"You do remember the letter?"
"To be sure I do, sir."
"And don't you remember that there were four five-pound notes in it,
numbering from thirty-three thousand eight hundred forty-five to eight,
inclusive? It is very singular, indeed, that you have forgotten this
little circumstance."
Perth was confounded by this revelation. He saw that he was caught, and
that it was useless for him to say anything more; so he wisely held his
peace.
"If your uncle has not changed his mind within three days, he has no
more intention of coming to France than I have of going to Glasgow. I
received a letter from him to-day, since the ship came to anchor,
forwarded from Havre after we left. The writer was confined to the
house with a severe attack of rheumatism. In the quiet of his chamber,
he had an opportunity to consider whether he had done right to send you
twenty pounds, even with the advice of your father, without informing
me of the fact. He thought the sum was a large one for a young man to
have, and he desires me to see that you make a proper use of it. I will
trouble you to hand me the money, which shall be placed to your credit,
and receipted for by the pursers."
"I haven't the money now, sir," replied Perth, who was fully resolved
to run away at the first convenient opportunity, and wanted the money
to pay his expenses.
"Where is it?"
"I sent it to a banker--"
"Silence! Don't blacken your soul with any more falsehoods, Perth,"
interrupted the principal, sternly.
"You may search me, sir," replied the second master, throwing out his
arms, as though he were ready to submit to the operation.
"I may, but I do not choose to do so at present. Keep your eye on him,
Peaks," added the principal, as he walked forward to his usual stand on
the hatch.
"You are foolish, Master Perth," said the old boatswain, shaking his
head; for he had been the only person who had listened to the
interview, and appeared to be present for a purpose.
Perth put his hands in his pockets. He felt the paper on which he had
written during the lecture. It would be a dangerous document in case he
should be searched; for its contents would expose him, and implicate
others. As slyly and as quickly as he could, he took it out, tore it
into small bits, and threw it out the open port into the water.
"What's that?" demanded Peaks, seizing him by the collar.
"You are too late," answered Perth.
"What was it you tore up?"
"The five-pound notes."
"Tell that to the marines!" exclaimed the old sailor.
"They are gone to Davy Jones's locker now," replied Perth, shaking his
head.
Peaks instantly reported the matter to the principal, who, however, did
not deem it necessary to take any immediate action. Probably he did not
believe the young wretch had destroyed the bills; or, if he had, it was
his own loss. Perth stood silent and sullen, while Mr. Lowington spoke
to the students, announcing the arrangements for the excursion to the
Rhine. The delinquent was certain, by this time, that he was not to be
one of the party; but he hoped, if he saved his money, that he should
find an opportunity to escape from the squadron soon after his
shipmates started on their journey.
CHAPTER XII.
A MYSTERIOUS MOVEMENT.
"Young gentlemen," said Mr. Lowington, as he stepped upon the hatch,
after disposing of Perth's case, "we shall commence our tour to the
Rhine to-morrow morning."
A hearty demonstration of applause greeted this announcement, and
doubtless those who had been faithful from the beginning realized a
certain sense of triumph, because they were justified in their hopes.
"We shall leave in the first train for Paris, where we will spend the
night, and proceed to Strasburg the next day. From this point we shall
enter Germany, and after visiting several places of interest, such as
Fribourg, Baden, Schaffhausen, Stuttgart, Carlsruhe, Heidelberg, and
Frankfort, we shall take the steamer at Mayence, and go down the Rhine
as far as Cologne. This excursion will enable you to see all of the
river which is worth seeing. You have already seen the Rhine in
Holland, and at Basle. All its picturesque portions are crowded into
the space of less than a hundred miles, which you can witness from the
deck of a steamer in a single day, if such haste were necessary.
"As we leave at an early hour in the morning, it will be best to make
our arrangements to-night. On our return to Havre, Captain Shuffles
requested me to allow all hands to join in this excursion."
A few half-suppressed hisses from some of the runaways were promptly
drowned in a sea of applause from the Order of the Faithful.
"I had the subject under consideration, and it would have afforded me
very great pleasure to grant the request; but the conduct of those in
whose favor it was made has been such, since we left Havre, that I am
unable to grant it. I shall, therefore, be obliged again to leave
thirty-one of your number on board of the Josephine during the absence
of the others."
The runaways, to the astonishment, if not the horror, of the Faithful,
warmly applauded this announcement. It was equivalent to saying they
did not wish to join the excursion. The principal made no remark,
though the applause was certainly impudent; but doubtless he was fully
reconciled to the little arrangement he had made with Mr. Fluxion.
"Those who are to go will bring their bags on board of the ship, and
sleep here to-night," continued Mr. Lowington. "Those who are not to go
will take their bags on board the Josephine. If there is any doubt as
to who the thirty-one are, their names will be read."
No one called for the reading of the names, for there was no one who
needed to be enlightened. The students were dismissed, and the boats
from the consort returned. In a short time, the runaways, who belonged
to the ship's company, appeared upon deck with their luggage. They
seemed to be rather jubilant than otherwise; and though their manner
was very offensive, the principal took no notice of it, as it was not
openly insolent, consisting only of a real or assumed expression of
pleasure at the sentence pronounced against them. All of them expected
to escape from the consort during the administration of Dr. Carboy, and
they regarded a couple of weeks in Paris and Switzerland, free from
restraint, as ample compensation for the deprivation.
"Let those laugh that win," said Herman, when Horne, one of the
Faithful, ventured to sympathize with him in the misfortune of being
left behind.
"I don't see what you can win doing duty and learning your lessons on
board of the Josephine," added Horne.
"Don't you cry, my hearty. You will hear from us by the time you get
halfway down the Rhine; and if we don't have a better time than you do,
it will be because we don't know how."
"Well, I suppose you do know Howe," answered Horne, with a smile, which
indicated that he enjoyed even a sickly pun. "I should think you had
known him to your sorrow."
"Howe has played out. I expect Lowington will get boozy on this
excursion."
"Why so?"
"Because he's going to take a Horne on the trip."
"Pretty good! I see you know Howe."
"We know how to have a good time, and we can do it without any sheep's
wool."
"Are you going to run away in the Josephine again, Herman?"
"No; that's played out."
But the runaway was reminded, by this question, that he had been
talking rather imprudently, and he left his companion for more genial
associates.
Perth still stood on the quarter-deck, waiting the action of the
principal, who had sent the head steward to overhaul the state-room of
the delinquent. The money could not be found in the cabin, though
several of the officers, who were there, assisted in the search.
"What have you done with the twenty pounds sent you by your uncle,
Perth?" asked Mr. Lowington, when the steward had reported to him.
"Thrown it overboard, sir," replied Perth, with a malignant glance at
the boatswain.
"He threw some bits of paper he had torn up into the water," added
Peaks. "Whether it was the bank bills or not, I don't know, but I don't
think it was."
"Very well," added Mr. Lowington, who never permitted a delinquent
pupil to see that he was disturbed and annoyed, even if he was so. "You
will bring your bag on deck, and go on board of the Josephine."
"I'm ready, sir," replied Perth, with brazen assurance.
"As your conduct is hardly becoming an officer and a gentleman, you
will clothe yourself in a seaman's dress," added the principal, taking
the shoulder-straps from his coat. "When a young man can stand up and
reel off a string of lies without blushing, he is not fit to associate
with those who are competent to be officers of this ship."
"I earned my rank, sir," said Perth, who had an idea that he should
sleep in the cabin of the Josephine during his intended short stay on
board of her.
"And forfeited it by your gross misconduct. You will obey the orders
given you," added the principal, as he turned and walked away.
Peaks did not take his eye off the offender, but attended him to the
cabin, where he was supplied with a seaman's suit. Perth objected to
changing his clothing with a pertinacity which provoked the boatswain.
"If you say you won't change the clothes, I will report to Mr.
Lowington," said Peaks.
"Well, I won't."
"All right, my hearty;" and the old sailor left the state-room.
But he had not reached the deck before Perth hailed him.
"I will put them on, Mr. Peaks. I've thought better of it," said he,
throwing off his frock coat, as the boatswain appeared at the door of
the room.
"All the better for you, my lad. I thought you wanted to spend a week
or two in the brig," replied Peaks.
"I think it is a hard case, after a fellow has earned his rank, to take
it from him," muttered Perth, as he proceeded to put on the sailor's
suit.
"An officer should be a gentleman," growled the old sailor.
But the boatswain had been overreached, after all. The four five-pound
notes had been sewed into the waistband of Perth's trousers; and this
was the particular reason why he objected to losing his rank, if he had
to lose his pants with it. Peaks would not take his eye off him long
enough to allow him to tear out the bills; but when the boatswain went
to report to the principal, the opportunity was obtained, and promptly
used. The money was saved, and he yielded the point. He was conducted
to the deck, and when the boats brought the Josephines, who were to
visit Germany, to the ship, the runaways were sent to their new
quarters, or rather their old ones, for they had spent three weeks in
her before, under the superintendence of Mr. Fluxion. Before supper
time the change was effected. Dr. Carboy, at his own request,--for he
preferred the trip to the Mediterranean to that into Germany,--was
transferred to the consort for the cruise, with Peaks and Bitts.
The "happy family" were now united on board the ship, and all the
active discordant elements of the squadron were collected in the
consort. With only a very few exceptions, both parties were satisfied
with the arrangement. The runaways perhaps experienced a feeling of
relief that they were no longer in danger of being watched and
overheard by the "lambs." They had only to look out for the adult
officers now, and in the steerage they were by themselves.
Yet the appearance of Peaks on board of the consort with his bag was
rather ominous. Bitts was not regarded with the same dread. There were
now four adult forward officers in the Josephine; but the old boatswain
was the only one who inspired any special terror. Little's brilliant
scheme to enable his small party to escape seemed to be endangered by
Peak's coming, for he was an exceedingly prompt, decided and vigilant
man. The four old sailors, on an emergency, could handle the Josephine
alone.
"What do you think now?" said Herman, when everything on board the
consort had settled down into order and quiet.
"I don't like to see old Peaks on board," replied the little villain.
"He is a tough customer, and may bother us."
"That's so."
"But I think we can wax him."
"I hope so. We have Tom Perth now to help us. We must take him into our
squad, and then we shall just make up a crew for the third or fourth
cutter."
"I don't like too many."
"But Perth has the rocks in his pocket now--twenty pounds, or five
hundred francs," suggested Herman.
"That's an inducement."
"Certainly it is. We can cut for Paris the moment we get on shore."
"All right. We will try it on about to-morrow night. But don't say a
word to a single other fellow. We must look out for ourselves this
time, and not attempt to carry all the rest of the fellows on our
backs," added the prudent Little.
"It looks mean to do so."
"No, it don't. I have told them all to look out for themselves."
"But they don't even know how the thing is to be managed."
"No; and they shall not know it. If they don't know enough to go ashore
when the vessel is adrift, let them stay on board."
"Well, Perth is the only fellow to whom I mentioned it."
"That's all right; but don't let him say anything about how the thing
is to be done."
"He don't know. I only told him we had a plan which could not possibly
fail."
"It won't, if Peaks don't make trouble. We must let off the gun when he
is not on deck," continued Little.
"We shall be able to see, after to-night, how things are to be done on
board, and whether any of the men are to keep watch," added Herman. "We
needn't give up if we don't happen to get off to-morrow night, for we
have two or three weeks to do the job in."
Little, seated out on the bowsprit, rehearsed his plan again, and went
into all the minor details. They were presently joined by Perth, and
the whole affair was explained to him. He approved it, and made a
number of suggestions in regard to the boats.
"I am bound to go this time," said Perth, earnestly. "I don't stay
another week in the Academy. I have had my shoulder-straps stripped
off, and am pointed at by the lambs as an example of a naughty boy. I
bluffed them all on board the ship, but with me the die is cast. If
your plan don't work, I shall jump overboard, and swim ashore. I have
been degraded and disgraced, and I can't possibly stand it any longer."
"We are all in the same boat; and if we can't get off any other way, we
will set the vessel afire, and swim ashore by the light of it," added
Little.
"You are the fellow for me!" exclaimed Perth. "I don't want any milk
and water about this scrape. If we can't make it go in one way, we will
try another."
Peaks, who was planking the deck, extended his walk to the forecastle,
and the trio discontinued their conversation. They were satisfied that
setting the vessel adrift, some time in the night, would accomplish
their purpose, and they were willing to wait till the next evening.
They had some difficulty in escaping the observation of their
companions who were not in the secret; but they assured them something
would be done just as soon as Mr. Fluxion started for Italy, which it
was understood, would be on the following day.
Berths were assigned to the temporary crew of the Josephine, and at an
early hour they turned in. None of them were detailed to keep the
anchor watch on deck; but in the night Little crawled out of his berth,
and went up the ladder. All was still on deck, and he could not see
that any one was on watch. Seven bells struck on board a man-of-war at
anchor near the vessel. It was half past eleven. He crept stealthily to
the forecastle, where he found Bitts, who was asleep under the lee of
the capstan. This discovery satisfied him that the forward officers
were to keep the anchor watch. The arrangement was not favorable to the
carrying out of Little's scheme; but if the man on deck would only
sleep, it would not make so much difference.
Little carefully studied the situation, which suggested to his fertile
invention half a dozen expedients, in case he failed at the proper time
to unbit the cable. Four of them could jump into one of the cutters,
lower the boat from the davit, and might reach the shore before a
single man could call assistance, and get another boat into the water.
One of them could pretend to be sick, and, sending the watchman to the
cabin to procure medicine, escape while he was looking for it. And so
the little schemer went on till he had a quiver full of expedients, any
one of which promised to be successful. Having satisfied himself that
he had not been reckoning too fast, he went below again, and turned in.
At daylight in the morning all hands were called on board of the Young
America. An early breakfast was taken, and a steamer came alongside to
convey the happy party to the shore. The hands on board the Josephine
were turned out at the same hour, and they had the satisfaction of
seeing the members of the Order of the Faithful depart on their
pleasant tour to the Rhine. Breakfast was served to them at the usual
hour, and when Herman and Little went on deck, after the meal, they saw
a man in a canoe coming alongside. He looked like a pilot, but neither
of the two runaways who saw him suspected that he had a mission on
board. He came on deck, and was duly welcomed by Mr. Fluxion.
"What does that covey want here?" said Little.
"I don't know," replied Herman.
"He has made his canoe fast astern, as though he meant to stay here
some time."
"O, he's only loafing, and wants to see a Yankee ship and a Yankee
crew," laughed Herman.
Little did not exactly like the coming of the pilot; not that he had
any suspicion of the actual programme, but he was afraid the vessel
might be moored in some less convenient place for the escape than her
present berth. As the runaways finished their breakfast, they came on
deck, and some of them recognized the pilot as the one who had brought
the Josephine into port the day before.
"All hands, on deck, ahoy!" shouted Peaks, blowing a pipe more shrill
than had ever before been heard on board of the consort.
All hands were on deck already; but the call produced a decided
sensation. Something was to be done, and all hands fell to discussing
probabilities with a zeal, which ought to have brought forth correct
conclusions. The general opinion seemed to be, that nothing more than a
sermon was coming off, though the vice-principal was not much given to
preaching. If Mr. Fluxion was going to Italy, it would be necessary for
him formally to transfer his authority to Professor Carboy. On the
whole, therefore, the prospect was rather pleasing than otherwise.
Herman, and some of the others who were deeply concerned in coming
events, advised all the fellows to behave well, and take the preaching
kindly, so that the officers need not "smell a mice."
"All hands, up anchor, ahoy!" roared old Peaks, piping a blast which
seemed to come from the breath of a north-wester, while the leading
spirits were counselling meekness and submission.
"What does that mean?" demanded the astonished Perth.
"O, nothing! Only we are going to have another anchorage," replied
Herman.
"Lively, my hearties," said the boatswain, as he stepped forward into
the waist. "Don't you hear the pipe?"
"I hear it; but we haven't been stationed in this vessel," replied
Herman.
"That's very true, my lad; for once you speak the truth."
"You are a little fast, Peaks," said the vice-principal, coming up from
the cabin with a paper in his hand. "Here is the bill, and we will
station the crew before we do anything."
Every one of the runaways was stationed for each of the various
evolutions of getting under way, making and taking in sail, reefing and
tacking. They were all good seamen, and it was not necessary to drill
them in their duties. The boatswain again piped, "All hands, up anchor,
ahoy!"
The hands took their stations promptly enough, and when the anchor was
hove up to a short stay, the foresail and mainsail were hoisted.
"Clear away the jib and flying-jib!" shouted Mr. Fluxion, who gave all
the orders himself, though they were repeated by Peaks and Cleats, who
acted as first and second officers.
"All ready forward, sir," reported Cleats.
"Man the capstan! Stand by the jib-halyards!"
"Anchor a-weigh, sir!" said Cleats, who was doing duty on the
forecastle.
"Hoist the jib!"
"Up with the jib!" repeated Peaks.
As the anchor came up to the hawse-hole, the jib filled, and the vessel
began to move.
"Cat and fish the anchor!" called the vice-principal; and his order was
passed forward.
"Cat and fish the anchor!" exclaimed Perth. That doesn't look as though
we were going to another anchorage."
"It's all right; we can't go far," added Herman.
While those who were stationed on the top-gallant forecastle were
engaged in catting and fishing the anchor, those who had been assigned
to places on the topsail and top-gallant yards were sent aloft.
"Lay aloft, sail-loosers!" continued Mr. Fluxion, and the top-men and
top-gallant-men ran up the rigging as nimbly as though they had
perfectly comprehended the purpose of the officers. "Lay out and
loose!"
"All ready!" shouted Bitts, who had gone aloft with the top-men.
"Let fall!"
"Let fall," passed from Peaks to Bitts, and from the latter to the
top-men.
"Man the topsail and top-gallant sheets and halyards. Sheet home, and
hoist away!"
The topsails and top-gallant sails were speedily set, the braces were
manned, and the yards trimmed. Gage had the helm, the pilot standing
near him to give out the courses. The main gaff-topsail was next set,
and the Josephine was then under full sail. With the wind fair, and
everything drawing, she flew through the Goulet at the rate of ten
knots an hour. Peaks was as busy as a bee, and in person saw that every
rope was properly coiled up or flemished, that the cable was in order
to run out when needed, and in general, that everything was in
ship-shape order.
As good seamen, the young gentlemen understood that these careful
preparations did not indicate merely a change in the holding-ground of
the vessel. Everything about the Josephine seemed to be shrouded in
profound mystery. Peaks kept all hands at work till the strict order of
a man-of-war prevailed in every part of the deck and rigging. He did
not say anything, or do anything, which afforded the slightest hint in
regard to the destination of the consort. Mr. Fluxion planked the
quarter-deck, and did not manifest the least sign of an intention to go
to Italy. The movement was utterly incomprehensible, and the runaways
began to look very anxious.
After passing through the Goulet into the open sea, the fore and main
sheets were manned, the yards braced up, and the course changed to the
south-west. Off the Chaussée de Sein, the pilot was discharged, and the
Josephine sped on her way, with a fresh breeze a little forward of the
beam. Still the vice-principal planked the quarter-deck, and no one
said anything to solve the mystery. Peaks had caused everything to be
done which he could find to do, and all hands were "sogering" about the
deck.
"Mr. Peaks, pipe down the port watch," said Mr. Fluxion, at last, as
though every word cost him a month's salary, he was so chary of them.
The acting first officer obeyed the order, and the port watch were
dismissed from duty. Like old sailors, they went below, partly from the
force of habit, and partly to discuss the unaccountable movement of the
vessel. Perth and Herman were both in the starboard watch; but Little
and Ibbotson put their heads together as soon as they were in the
steerage.
"I don't understand it," said Ibbotson, shaking his head.
"Nor I either; but I think it will come out all right," replied Little,
who was always disposed to put the best face upon doubtful indications.
"Do you suppose we are homeward bound?"
"Of course not. Look at the tell-tale. We are running about south-west
by south."
"Perhaps that's the course on the great circle."
"Nonsense! We shall fetch up on the coast of South America, if we keep
this course long enough."
"I don't know about the course, but I have made up my mind that this is
about what it means. I'll bet all the bad marks I shall get for the
next quarter, that we are homeward bound."
"No such thing."
"I believe it," persisted Ibbotson. "Lowington did not know what to do
with us, while he is in Germany, and so he has sent us home."
"South-west by west won't take us home. Fluxion is only giving us an
airing for a day or two, just to see how we behave, and to give us a
little wholesome discipline. If we are good, he will return to port,
and start for Italy. What is Dr. Carboy here for, if we are bound
home?"
"What is he here for? Because Mr. Stout is not here. I suppose they
have changed places for a few weeks. The ship goes home next month."
"Don't you cry! In a day or two, if not before night, we shall be back
again in the harbor of Brest. I'm willing to bet all my bad marks
against all yours, that we get ashore in less than forty-eight hours."
"That's heavy betting, but it won't settle anything. There is Peaks;
suppose we ask him," suggested Ibbotson, as the old boatswain came down
the ladder.
"You can call up spirits from the vasty deep, but they won't come. You
can ask him, but you might as well put the question to the
anchor-stock."
"Where are we going, Mr. Peaks?" asked Ibbotson, as gently as though he
were addressing a lady.
"Going to sea," replied Peaks, gruffly, as he went on his way, deigning
no further answer.
"No use," said Little. "If we only wait, we shall know in a day or two.
In the mean time we must be as proper as the parson's lambs."
Still the Josephine sped on her way, and no one was the wiser.
CHAPTER XIII.
FROM STRASBURG TO CONSTANCE.
The party on board of the Young America were in the highest spirits on
the morning of their departure. All of them had now been decorated with
the white ribbon of the Order of the Faithful. Even Raymond and
Lindsley were entirely satisfied with the good faith and fairness of
the principal--better satisfied than they were with their own conduct.
What had before been regarded as defeat was now triumph, for a failure
to achieve success in doing wrong is actually victory, especially if
followed, as in this instance, by real regret, genuine penitence.
Grace Arbuckle, perhaps conscious that she had exerted a salutary
influence upon the students through the pleasantry of the Order of the
Faithful, was as happy as the young gentlemen themselves. She appeared
on deck at an early hour, and when the officers and seamen presented
themselves, in their best uniforms, wearing the white ribbon, she was
so delighted she could not help laughing heartily.
"Commodore Kendall, are you going to wear that ribbon to Paris?" she
asked, as Paul touched his cap to her.
"Certainly I am. I should as soon think of going without my coat as
without that," replied he.
"But how absurd!"
"Absurd? _Vous ne pouvez pas faire un sifflet de la queue d'un cochon_,"
added he, very seriously.
"_C'est vrai_; but what has that to do with the ribbon? Do you mean to
call that a pig's tail?"
"No; on the contrary, it is the wing of an angel--it was bestowed by
you. I only mean to say it would be quite impossible to go to Germany
without this ribbon. It is our talisman to keep us faithful to duty;
and I am afraid we should get into mischief if we went without it.
Every member will wear his decoration. But, Miss Arbuckle, I think you
ought to wear the white ribbon also."
"I!"
"Certainly. You are the Grand Protectress of the order. Do wear it,
Miss Arbuckle, with a rosette, to indicate your superior rank. It would
please all the members very much."
"I will, if you desire it," replied Grace, more seriously.
"We all desire it."
"It shall be done, if you wish it."
"Thanks."
Grace tripped lightly down the stairs to the cabin, but presently
returned, wearing the white ribbon, surmounted by a very tasty rosette,
composed of white, blue, and yellow ribbons, to denote the several
degrees of the order. Paul was in raptures, and when the ship's company
saw the decoration she wore, they saluted her with three rousing
cheers, which she gracefully acknowledged.
"We must perpetuate this order, Shuffles," said Paul, as they stood in
the presence of the Grand Protectress.
"I think we must," replied the captain.
"We will organize more systematically when we have time."
"And have a suitable emblem to distinguish the members."
"The white ribbon must not be discarded," protested Paul, glancing at
Grace.
"Certainly not; but we will have a gold anchor, say, from which the
ribbon shall be suspended," added Shuffles. "On the anchor shall be
engraved the single word FAITHFUL."
"And '_Vous ne pouvez pas faire_,' &c.," laughed Paul. "I think we
must ask the Grand Protectress for a suitable emblem."
"You have great confidence in me, and I will give the subject faithful
consideration," said Grace.
"Our motto is an excellent one, I think," continued Paul. "To us it
will always mean that you cannot redress a wrong by resorting to
dishonorable measures."
The conversation was interrupted by the call to breakfast. Before the
meal was finished, the steamer that was to convey the party on shore
came alongside. By the time she had made fast, and run out her planks,
the boatswain piped, "All hands, on deck with bags, to go ashore." The
stewards conveyed the baggage of the Arbuckles on board, and the ship's
company marched in single file to the deck of the steamer. There were
no turbulent spirits among them, and everything was done in order. In
due time the party reached the railroad station, and seated themselves
in the special cars, which had been provided for their use.
The Arbuckles, Dr. Winstock, Paul, and Shuffles occupied one
compartment of a carriage, and, as usual, the pleasant and
well-informed surgeon of the ship, who had been a very extensive
traveller, was a living encyclopædia for the party. The course of the
train was through Brittany, of which Dr. Winstock had much to say. It
is a poor country, not unlike Scotland, though it has no high
mountains. The lower order of the people wear quaint costumes, and have
hardly changed their manners and customs for three hundred years.
"Do you see that building in the churchyard?" said the doctor, as he
pointed out the window.
"What is it--the hearse-house?" asked Paul.
"No; I think they don't use hearses much here. It is a bone-house."
"A what!" exclaimed Shuffles.
"A bone-house, or _reliquaire_. The poor people in this part of France
are very ignorant and superstitious. _Requiescat in pace_, so far as
the mortal remains of their dead are concerned, has no meaning to them,
for they do not let them rest quietly in their graves, as we do. After
the bodies of the deceased have gone to decay, the skulls and bones are
removed from the coffins, and placed in the bone-house. The names, or
the initials, of the departed are painted upon the forehead of the
skull."
"How horrible!" exclaimed Grace.
"Doubtless it is so to you; but to these people it is an act of
affectionate remembrance," added the doctor; "as sacred and pious as
any tribute we render to our loved and lost ones."
Dr. Winstock continued to describe the various places through which the
train passed, answering the many questions proposed by his interested
auditors. At noon they arrived at Rennes, where the excursionists
lunched, and some of them, perhaps at the expense of the inner man,
were enterprising enough to see a little of the city, which contains
forty thousand inhabitants, and was the ancient capital of the dukedom
of Brittany.
"This is Laval," said the doctor, an hour and a half after the train
left Rennes.
"See there!" exclaimed Grace, pointing to a man clothed in goatskins,
the hair outside. "Is that Robinson Crusoe?"
"No; that is the fashion for the peasants in this part of Brittany.
They don't depend upon Paris for the _mode_. I suppose you have all
heard of the Vendéan war."
"Yes, sir. The people of La Vendée were royalists, and fought against
the republicans as long as there was anything left of them," replied
Paul.
"La Vendée lies south of the Loire; but one of their greatest battles
was fought near Laval, in 1793. They conducted themselves with fearful
desperation, and after the republicans had sent word, as the battle
waned, to the Convention at Paris, that La Vendée was no more, the
wounded leader of the insurgents was carried through their ranks, and
they rallied, gaining the day in a decisive victory, by which the
government troops lost twelve thousand men."
Fifty-six miles farther brought the excursionists to Le Mans, where the
Vendéan army was finally destroyed by the forces of General Marceau.
The carnage was terrible, and extended even to the massacre of many of
the wives and children of the royalists. An obelisk to the memory of
the republican general, who was born at Le Mans, informs the reader
that he was a soldier at sixteen, a general at twenty-three, and died
when he was twenty-seven.
At Chartres, forty-seven miles from Paris, the train stopped half an
hour, and the party had an opportunity to see the cathedral, the most
magnificent in France, and one of the most ancient. It is four hundred
and twenty-five feet long. Henry IV. was crowned in it in 1594, for the
reason that Rheims, where coronations formerly took place, was in
possession of the Leaguers.
At seven o'clock, the train arrived in Paris, and the party hastened to
the lodgings which had been engaged for them. In the evening they
attended the grand opera, at the invitation of Mr. Arbuckle, and the
next morning proceeded to Strasburg. After a short delay, the party
continued the journey, crossing the Rhine into Germany, and halting at
Offenburg, a small town, where hotel accommodations had been bespoken.
After supper, the excursionists were collected in a large room, and
Professor Mapps took a position in front of them.
"Young gentlemen, where are we?" he asked.
"In Germany."
"Very true, but rather indefinite," added the professor.
"In Baden," said Paul Kendall, who, as usual, had taken pains to study
up the situation.
"In the Grand Duchy of Baden."
"What is a Grand Duchy?" inquired one of the students, who was
doubtless bothered, as others have been, by the varying titles of the
German states.
"It is a territory having an independent local government. There is no
reason why it should be called a Grand Duchy, unless it is because it
is larger than a simple Duchy, though this rule does not always hold
good, for the Duchy of Brunswick has double the territory and double
the population of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The titles
of the states seem to be entirely arbitrary, and, according to the
fancy of their rulers, they were called kingdoms, principalities,
electorates, palatinates, margraviates, Grand Duchies, or Duchies. The
Grand Duchy of Baden is larger than the Kingdom of Saxony. These
designations have been occasionally changed, as the states increased in
size, or as their rulers desired a grander title. In 1803 Baden was a
margraviate of one fourth its present extent. Napoleon gave the title
of Elector, and afterwards of Grand Duke, to the Margrave Charles
Frederick, as his territory was increased.
"Baden has about six thousand square miles, or is about equal in size
to Rhode Island and Connecticut united. It has a population of one
million three hundred thousand, which has hardly increased during the
last fifty years, for the reason that so many of its people have
emigrated to the United States. The country is mountainous, and
contains the Schwarzwald. What does that mean?"
"The Black Forest," replied several.
"A mountainous region, which has been the paradise of story-tellers.
The highest peak is the Feldberg, forty-six hundred and fifty feet
high. Its principal river is the Rhine, which forms its western and
southern boundary, and has many branches in this country. The Neckar is
the largest, crossing Baden in the north. The river which you observed
in this place is the Kinzig. The Danube, which the Germans call the
Donau, rises in Baden. In the south-east the country borders on Lake
Constance, or, in German, Boden See. The climate is salubrious, but it
is cold in the mountains, where they have snow during the greater part
of the year.
"Baden is divided into four circles, or provinces, which are again
divided into bailiwicks, or counties, and communes, or towns. Two
thirds of the people are Roman Catholics; the rest are Protestant, with
a sprinkling of Jews, who are found in all parts of Germany. There is a
Catholic university at Freiburg, and a Protestant one at Heidelberg,
which is so celebrated that it has not a few American students. There
are two thousand common schools, and several establishments of higher
grade.
"The government is an hereditary constitutional monarchy, the Grand
Duke being the sovereign. It has a legislative body, composed of two
chambers, the upper of which consists of the nobility and members
appointed by the Grand Duke, and the lower of sixty-eight deputies,
chosen indirectly by the people. But I do not think it is necessary to
describe, at any great length, these small German states, and I give
you Baden as a specimen of what most of them are."
The next morning the company took the train for Freiburg, and in a
couple of hours reached their destination, where they immediately
divided themselves into small parties, in order to see the cathedral,
or minster, and other sights, within the allotted time. Those who
travelled in the same compartment of the railway carriage usually came
together on these occasions for the same reason that united them on the
road. Paul Kendall zealously placed himself at the side of Grace,
though she was as impartial as a just judge between him and the captain
of the ship.
The minster is a Gothic church, and almost the only one in Germany
which is actually finished. It was commenced in the twelfth century,
and one of the princes of Zähringen, from whom the present Grand Duke
is descended, contributed largely to the vast expense; but it would
probably have been unfinished, like many similar grand structures, if
the people of Freiburg had not taxed themselves to the utmost, and made
great sacrifices to insure its completion. The spire is of beautiful
fret-work, nearly four hundred feet high. The interior is grand, and
something about it gives the beholder a peculiar feeling of
solemnity--perhaps the thought that men have worshipped there for six
hundred years. It contains some choice paintings, which are carefully
cherished as the productions of the old masters. A glance at the
university, the Kaufhaus, the statue of Schwarz, the inventor of
gunpowder, and a walk around the _Schlossberg_, or Castle Hill, which
commands a splendid view of the Black Forest Mountains, exhausted the
place, and at the time appointed the party reassembled at the railroad
station, where Mr. Arbuckle had gathered together half a dozen
diligences, in which the company were to proceed to Schaffhausen, in
Switzerland. He knew how much interest the story-readers feel in the
Black Forest, and as the party had already visited Basle, he proposed
to take his charge across the country, which would enable them to see
some of the finest mountain scenery in Germany, and more of the manners
and customs of the people than could be observed in the large towns on
the railroad. He had already sent forward his courier to make
preparations for the accommodation of his party.
Two days were to be occupied in reaching the Rhine. The first part of
the journey was over a level plain highly cultivated. The road soon
begins to ascend; and this locality is called _Himmelreich_, or Heaven,
to distinguish it by contrast from the _Höllenthal_, or Valley of Hell,
a deep and romantic gorge which lies beyond. The students enjoyed the
scenery, and those who were disposed, walked for miles up the long
hills, to the great satisfaction of the driver. The students of the
German language had abundant opportunities to practise their gutturals,
and none but sufferers know what a pleasure it is to have a genuine
native understand their sentences.
The pedestrians made brief halts at the water-mills, houses, and fields
on the way, and were invariably treated with the utmost kindness and
consideration. "_Bitte, geben sie mir ein Glas Wasser_," was repeated
so many times that all understood it. The fact that they were Americans
insured them a warm welcome, and many an inquiry was made for "_meinem
Sohn_ in Amerika." The "walkists" enjoyed this intercourse with the
people so much that they walked till they were unnecessarily fatigued.
"_Bitte, geben sie mir Geld_," said a German, stepping up to the
carriage which contained Dr. Winstock, and those who were so careful to
keep near him.
He was a young man, with a big pipe in his mouth, a big stick in his
hand, and a big knapsack on his back. He was pretty well dressed, and
was in company with three others, who asked for money in like manner of
different persons of the party. The doctor asked him a few questions,
and then gave him two or three kreutzers, which he accepted with many
thanks.
"Those are very respectable beggars," said Paul, as the man left the
diligence.
"They are not beggars, but _handwerksburschen_."
"What are they?"
"Travelling journeymen. No apprentice can obtain his freedom, and be
competent to set up in business for himself, till he has spent several
years in travelling, and in working at his trade in foreign countries.
This is to increase his knowledge and his skill, and you will see
hundreds of them on the roads all over Germany. They become, under this
system, very skilful workmen, for they learn the various methods of
work in different countries. They often understood two or three
languages besides their own. They keep a kind of diary of their travels
in a book furnished to them by the trade-society to which they belong,
in which also their employers write testimonials of their good conduct.
It is often the case that they cannot obtain work, and are compelled to
ask charity on the roads. It is a hard life to lead, but it produces
skilful mechanics."
"What was that man's trade?" asked Grace.
"He is a baker."
At a solitary inn in Steig the party found a dinner ready for them,
consisting mainly of trout, which were very nice. From this point the
road went up a steep hill, which required an extra horse to each
diligence, though most of the boys walked up. At Neustadt, a town of
fifteen hundred inhabitants, vast numbers of wooden clocks are
manufactured, and the raising of singing birds is a common occupation.
Just before sunset the excursionists arrived at Donaueschingen, where
they were to spend the night. The place contains about three thousand
inhabitants, and is the residence of Prince Fürstenberg, who was one of
the mediatized sovereigns--his territory having by treaty been assigned
to Baden.
A walk to his palace was immediately taken by the tourists. It is a
plain modern edifice, with an extensive garden, which the travellers
were permitted to visit. In one corner a circular basin was pointed out
to them by their guide. The water, clear as crystal, bubbled up from a
spring in the bottom, and was conveyed from the basin, by an
underground tunnel, into the Briegach, a stream which flows down from
the mountains.
"This spring is said to be the source of the Danube," said Dr.
Winstock. "From this point the stream takes the name of Danube, though
that into which it flows comes from miles away."
"'Large streams from little fountains flow,'" replied Paul.
"Yes; and from a great many of them," added the surgeon. "The country
in this vicinity is like a sponge, it is so full of springs, which feed
the great river. The Neckar rises a few miles north of us. We are,
therefore, on the summit of the water-shed of Europe; for of two drops
of rain which fall side by side near us, one may find its way into the
Danube, and be carried down to the Black Sea, while the other, by the
Neckar and the Rhine, may reach the North Sea."
The students wandered about the town till it was too dark to see
anything, and most of them were tired enough to sleep, even under the
feather beds which the Germans insist upon using as a coverlet. In the
morning the journey was renewed in the diligences. The scenery was
still very fine, and from the top of a high hill called the Rande, the
students obtained a splendid view of the mountains of Switzerland, of
the broad expanse of Lake Constance, and the towers of the city.
Descending the long hill, the tourists entered Switzerland, and at five
o'clock were set down at the Schweitzer Hof in Schaffhausen, near the
falls.
The students had been riding so long that they were glad to be at
liberty again, and hastened into the hotel gardens, which extend down
to the river. It was rather late to visit the falls, and the company
were piped together around a kind of kiosk, in which Professor Mapps
presented himself.
"Do not be alarmed, young gentlemen," said the instructor, good-naturedly.
"I will not detain you long, but I am reminded that I have not given
you the Rhine in detail. Here on its banks, and in sight of its
grandest cataract, I will say a few words to you about it. The river
rises in two small lakes in the mountains near St. Gothard, seventy-five
hundred feet above the sea. It descends four thousand feet in going
twelve miles. Fifty miles from its source, at Reicherau, it is two
hundred and fifty feet wide, and becomes navigable for river boats. Its
volume of waters is continually increased by the flow from its
branches, till it discharges itself into Lake Constance, which may be
regarded as a widening of the river.
[Illustration: THE ADVENTURE ON LAKE CONSTANCE.--Page 227.]
"The lake is forty-four miles long and nine miles wide. Its greatest
depth is nine hundred and sixty-four feet. Its waters are dark-green in
color, and very clear. Twenty-five different kinds of fish are
mentioned as caught in the lake. It is navigated by steamers, eight or
ten of which ply between the various ports, and carry on considerable
commerce. It is thirteen hundred and forty-four feet above the level of
the sea.
"The Rhine issues from the lake at Constance, and flowing a few miles
westward, again expands into the Unter See, which is thirty feet lower
than the upper lake. It gradually contracts till the stream is about
three hundred feet wide at this point. Steamers formerly ran from
Constance to Schaffhausen; but since the completion of the railroad
they have discontinued their trips. The falls which you see, and will
visit on Monday morning, are seventy feet high. Below the cataract the
river is navigable for boats without obstacles as far as Laufenburg,
where its width is reduced to fifty feet, and its waters rush down a
series of rapids. Here boats ascend and descend by the aid of ropes,
after their cargoes have been discharged. At this place the young Lord
Montague, the last male of his line, was drowned while his boat was
descending the rapids in this manner. On the same day his family
mansion in England was destroyed by fire. From this point to Basle the
fall is only fifty feet.
"From Basle to Mayence, a distance of two hundred miles, the Rhine
flows in a northerly direction. The current is very swift as far as
Strasburg, to which place it is navigable for vessels of one hundred
tons, though they are "tracked" by horses on the upward passage. The
bed of the river is wide in this part, and contains numerous islands.
At Mayence the course of the river changes to west, and again at Bingen
to the north-west, where the mountains again force it into a narrow
channel; and for fifty miles the stream flows through a beautiful
region, where the hills extend to its very banks, and many of their
summits are crowned with old castles. Below Cologne, the Rhine runs
through a low and flat country. The lower part of the river I have
already described in Holland."
The professor finished his brief lecture, and the party spent the rest
of the day in wandering about the garden, and in watching the flow of
the mighty river, as it tumbled over the precipice. The next day was
Sunday, and the excursionists attended church at the town three miles
distant. On Monday morning the tourists crossed the bridge, and
hastened to the garden of the Castle of Laufen, where were platforms,
stagings and kiosks, for the convenience of visitors, which afford the
best views of the cataract. One of these balconies projects out over
the fall, and the party gathered on this, and beclouded with mist and
spray, gazed at the wild rush of waters. Two rocks on the precipice
separate the cataract into three divisions. Below is a semi-circular
basin, whose waters are lashed into a heavy sea by the plunging torrent
which falls into it. Boats ply between the foot of the rock on which
the Castle of Laufen stands and a square tower on the opposite shore.
These light craft make heavy weather of it, but with ordinary caution
they are safe enough.
There was nothing else to see at Schaffhausen, and the excursionists
took the train for Constance. The last portion of the trip was on the
banks of the Unter See, separated from the main body of the lake by a
peninsula. The ride was less than two hours, and the party reached the
"Goldener Adler" in time for dinner. Most of the Swiss hotels serve two
or three dinners, _table d'hôte_, every day, the first being at one,
and the last at five o'clock, the prices of which are from three to
five francs.
"Young gentlemen, in what country is Constance?" asked Professor Mapps,
when the party had assembled to visit the objects of interest in the
town.
"In Switzerland."
"No."
"We certainly crossed the Rhine on an iron bridge, when we came into
the place," replied one of the students.
"That is very true, but Constance belongs to the Grand Duchy of Baden.
It was formerly a free city, but was annexed to Austria in 1549, and
ceded to Baden in 1805. It once had forty thousand inhabitants, but now
has only eight thousand. It is a very old city, as you may judge from
the buildings you have already seen, many of which are just as they
were four hundred years ago. The town is of great historical interest."
"What was the Council of Constance, sir?" asked one of the students.
"I will tell you when we visit the Kaufhaus," replied the professor.
Attended by several guides, the excursionists walked to the minster, a
Gothic structure founded in the eleventh century, but rebuilt in the
sixteenth. The guides indicated the spot where Huss stood when
sentenced to be burned to death. From this church the party went to the
Kaufhaus.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE STORM ON LAKE CONSTANCE.
The Kaufhaus is situated near the border of the lake. It was built for
a warehouse in 1388. The party were conducted immediately to a large
room with wooden pillars.
"This is the Kaufhaus, and this apartment is the one in which the
Council of Constance held its sessions," said Mr. Mapps.
"What's a Kaufhaus?" asked one of the boys who did not study German.
"What does _Kaufen_ mean?"
"To buy."
"Then it is a _buy_-house. It is a company's hall, like Goldsmiths'
Hall, Fishmongers', and others in London. The Council of Constance
assembled in 1414, and continued its sessions for three years and a
half. It was called to regulate the affairs of the Catholic Church,
especially in regard to the schism caused by some of the popes taking
up their abode in Avignon, France. Gregory XI. went from the residence
of his immediate predecessors to Rome in 1377, where he died the next
year. The Romans wanted a native of their own city to be pope. An
Italian--Urban VI.--was elected by the cardinals; but, as he was not a
Roman, there was much dissatisfaction. The French cardinals protested
against the election, and created Robert of Geneva pope, under the
title of Clement VII., who established himself at Avignon. Urban had
three successors, the last of whom was Gregory XII. The Avignon pope
was followed by Benedict XIII., who maintained his claim to the papal
chair till his death in 1424.
"There were two popes: the church was divided, and in doubt as to which
was the rightful successor of St. Peter. Gregory declared, at his
accession, that he would resign if Benedict at Avignon would do the
same. An attempt was made to get rid of both of them, so that they
could agree upon a third. The Council of Pisa deposed both, and elected
Alexander V. Benedict refused to vacate his chair; and Gregory retained
his position because his rival refused to compromise. Instead of
getting rid of one, the church had now three popes who claimed the
chair. Alexander died in 1410; and his successor, John XXIII., called
the Council of Constance. It was not a meeting of bishops merely, but
was attended by cardinals, archbishops, ambassadors of kings, knights,
and delegates from universities. John presided at the first session,
and was invited to resign the pontifical office. He promised to do so
if Gregory and Benedict would do the same; but the next night he fled
secretly to Schaffhausen, and from thence to Freiburg. After much
trouble, negotiations were opened with him, and he resigned his office.
He was afterwards thrown into prison with Huss. Gregory was a good man,
and gave the council no trouble, and for the sake of peace yielded up
his high office. But Benedict was obdurate to the end, claiming to be
pope, even after all his followers had forsaken him. The council
attempted to make terms with him; but when he refused to yield, it
condemned and deposed him, electing Martin V. to the papal chair.
"The council also gave its attention to the heresy of Wycliffe, whose
doctrines it condemned, commanding that his books should be burned, and
decreeing that his remains should be disinterred and burned. Huss was
condemned to the stake; and his disciple, Jerome of Prague, having
retracted his anti-Catholic doctrines, and then relapsed, shared his
fate a year afterwards."
In the hall are the chairs occupied, at the sittings of the council, by
the Emperor Sigismund and by the pope; a model of the dungeon in which
Huss was confined, with the real door and other parts which had been
preserved, and the car on which the reformer was drawn to the place of
execution. The house in which he lodged is pointed out in one of the
streets. The field wherein he suffered, with the spot where the stake
stood, is shown to those who are curious enough to visit it.
The students examined the quaint old buildings in the town with much
interest. In the middle of the afternoon, they embarked in the steamer
for Friedrichshafen. The weather had been warm and oppressive, for the
season, for the last two days; and there were strong indications of a
change. A barometer at the hotel in Constance indicated an unusual
depression. The students dreaded a storm of long continuance, they were
so impatient to see the wonders which were yet in store for them; and
the idea of being shut up in a small hotel, for two or three days, was
not pleasant in the anticipation, whatever it might prove to be in
reality.
By the time the steamer was half way to her destination, the wind began
to come in fitful gusts, increasing in force, till the captain of the
steamer wore a rather anxious expression on his face. The young salts
laughed at the idea of a fresh-water tempest; and if anybody else was
alarmed, they were not. The steamer began to tumble about; but nothing
serious occurred, though some of the lady passengers were sea sick.
Others, who had never seen a storm at sea, were frightened, and
screamed every time the boat gave a heavy lurch.
"Do you think there is any danger, Commodore Kendall," asked Grace,
thrilled by the cries of the females.
"I don't see how there can be. If this boat is good for anything, she
ought to ride out one of these freshwater gales," replied Paul.
"It is going to be a fearful storm."
"I should think it would be, from the indications of the barometer."
"Do you see that boat, Paul?" said Shuffles, pointing to one of the
Swiss small craft, which was laboring heavily in the billows.
"She is making bad weather of it," added Paul, as he examined the
position of the storm-tossed craft.
"The boatman don't seem to know what he is about," continued Shuffles,
who had for some time been studying the movements of the boat. "She
lowered her sail a while ago, and she seems to be rolling at the mercy
of the waves."
The steamer was headed towards her, and the party on board of her soon
discovered that the boatman was trying to put a reef in his sail.
Besides himself, the boat contained a lady.
"I suppose that is a Swiss boatman," said Shuffles. "If he is, he knows
no more about a boat than a mountaineer who never saw one."
"That's so," added Paul, anxiously.
"He has put her before the wind, and is trying to hoist his mainsail."
A fierce gust struck the canvas, as he began to hoist it, carrying out
the boom, and whirling the boat up into the wind. Certainly the person
on board of her had pluck enough; for he stuck to the halyards, though
he was nearly jerked overboard by the sudden pitching and rolling of
the craft. Recovering the sheet which had run out into the water, he
took his place at the helm. He flattened down the sail, when the flaw
had spent its force, and headed his boat towards Friedrichshafen. The
next gust that struck the sail carried her down so that the water
poured in over her lee rail by the barrel. The lady screamed lustily;
and the tones of her voice indicated that she did not belong to the
Swiss peasantry.
"Help! Help!" she shrieked; and her voice thrilled the souls of all on
board the steamer.
"Cannot something be done?" cried Grace.
"I don't see what can be done," replied Paul.
"The boatman is a fool!" said Shuffles, impatiently. "Why don't he let
out his sheet, or luff her up?"
"Can't you do something?" pleaded Grace, earnestly, as she clung to the
railing over the cabin ladder.
"Help! Help!" shouted the boatman, in good English; and it was plain
that he was not a Swiss.
Indeed, the lady and gentleman could now be seen plainly enough to
ascertain that they were English or American. Both of them were well
dressed, and both were quite young.
"We can launch the steamer's boat, if the captain will let us,"
suggested Paul.
The wind threw the boat round at this moment, and the sail shook
violently in the blast. Then it filled again, and drove her directly
into the path of the steamer, which was now close aboard of her.
"Stop her! Stop her!" shouted several persons, in French and German.
The captain gave the order to stop the engine; but it was doubtful
whether it was given in season to save the unfortunate couple in the
boat. Paul and Shuffles rushed to the bow of the steamer, and the
latter climbed upon the rail just as the mast of the boat swayed over
against the stem. He seized it, and nimbly slid down into the craft. As
the steamer was running nearly against the wind, her headway was easily
checked by a turn or two of the wheels backward; though the boat bumped
pretty hard against the steamer once or twice.
Shuffles evidently believed that skilful management alone could save
the sail-boat, and the lives of those who were in her. His mission, as
he understood it, was to supply this needed skill. The steamer had only
a single boat on deck, which was so dried up by the sun, that none of
the salt-water tars believed it would float. She had only a single pair
of oars, and it would be impossible to make any headway against the
gale in it. The captain declared that he could only save the imperilled
voyagers by running alongside their boat, and taking them out of it: he
could do nothing by sending his jolly-boat after them.
By excellent good fortune, the steamer was checked at the right moment;
though Shuffles supposed the boat would be stove, and he only got into
her for the purpose of assisting the young lady. The captain backed his
vessel so that she left the craft alone again. But the bold commander
of the Young America was not dismayed by the situation. He instantly
let go the halyards, and secured the sail as it came down. He glanced
at the trembling lady, who crouched in the stern to save her head from
the threshing of the boom. Grasping one of the oars, he pulled the boat
around till she lay head to the wind. She was almost water-logged, and
he saw that it was necessary to relieve her of some of this extra
weight before she could be manageable.
"Won't they save us?" gasped the lady, glancing at the steamer, which
was drifting rapidly away from them.
"Don't be alarmed, miss," said Shuffles, as he seized a kind of tub
which was filled with fish-lines and other angling gear.
"What shall I do?" asked the young man, whose pluck had by this time
become quite exhausted in his vain battle with the elements.
"Can you pull an oar?" demanded Shuffles, rather sharply, of the clumsy
boatman.
"I can."
"Take this one, then, and keep her head as it is now."
The young man took the oar, and pulled as he was directed; and Shuffles
went to work vigorously with the tub, in throwing out the water. He
labored so diligently and effectually, that in a few moments he had
relieved the boat of the great burden of water within her. While he did
so, he gave the young man such directions as enabled him to keep the
craft poised with her head to the fierce gusts that beat upon her. In
this position she rose and fell on the great billows, and shipped very
little water. The steamer had started her wheels again; but while she
did not venture very near the boat, she lay by to render assistance if
the latter were swamped. The lady, finding that the frail craft, under
her present management, behaved very well, sorely as she was tried by
the tempest, was encouraged.
"Can I do anything?" she asked, in soft notes, though they were still
shaken by her fears.
"No, miss: if you will only keep perfectly still, I can take care of
her."
"Here is a basin," said she, holding up the implement. "Shall I throw
the water out of her?"
"If you please," answered Shuffles, willing to encourage her; for even
the belief that one is doing some good, in an emergency, assists in
quieting one's fears.
She went to work with a zeal which indicated a strong will, and if she
did not accomplish as much as she wished to do, it was only because the
uneasy tossing of the boat defeated her good intentions.
"Steady!" said Shuffles, to the young man at the oar. "You heave her
round so that she will take the wind on the other hand. Now pull away
with all your might!" he added, as the boat began to fall off.
"Are we going to stay here all night?" asked the other, who was nearly
exhausted by the violence of his efforts to keep her head up to the
blast.
"No, no!" replied Shuffles, impatiently, as he put out the other oar,
and assisted his companion, when the boat was in danger of catching the
wind on her beam. "I will get sail on her in a few moments."
In the lull of the blast, the young commander overhauled the sail, and
corrected the non-nautical reefing of his companion.
"Now, mind your eye!" shouted Shuffles, as he grasped the halyards.
"What shall I do?"
"Pull away!"
"I'm losing my wind," gasped the sufferer, who had really struggled
with the oar till his exertions and excitement had nearly disabled him.
"Pull away for half a minute more," replied Shuffles, as he ran up the
main-sail, which beat and thrashed fearfully in the gale.
Having secured the halyards, the new skipper sprang to the helm, and
seized the main sheet. Placing the lady on the weather side, he seated
himself on the rail, with the sheet in his right hand, and the tiller
in his left.
"Now let her go it!" he shouted to the young man. "Jump up to windward,
and keep your weather eye open!"
The weary oarsman was glad to be relieved from his exhausting task, and
promptly obeyed the order. Shuffles had put two reefs in the sail; but
without the most skilful handling, the boat could not carry even this
short canvas in such a fierce tempest. It was not such a sea as rages
in a storm upon the ocean, but it was altogether too rough for any
ordinary boat. It was not a long, bounding, rolling billow, but a
short, angry wave, that tried the timbers of the Swiss boat. As soon as
the rower ceased his occupation, the head of the craft fell off, the
sail filled, and she careened down to the gunwale.
"We shall certainly tip over!" gasped the lady, clinging to the rail.
"Don't be afraid, miss. This boat behaves very handsomely, and is stiff
enough to weather a gale," added Shuffles, confidently, as the little
vessel leaped upon one of the snappy, snarling billows, and then
plunged down into the trough of the sea.
"I never was terrified in a boat before," said she, shaking with alarm.
"It is a heavy storm, and not just the weather for a lady to be out in.
Don't be frightened, miss. The boat is doing very well under her double
reefs, and she will weather it, if you only believe in her."
There came another tremendous gust, which seemed to strike the boat
like a blow from an immense sledgehammer; and she bent down under it
till her rail was buried in the foaming waters. Shuffles "touched her
up" a little, and let out the sheet till the sail shook in the blast.
The boat righted, and for a moment had a partial respite from the
savage pounding of the tempest. The young man, who clung to the weather
rail with a tenacity which indicated that he had not yet recovered his
self-possession, glanced ahead, and then at the steamer, whose course
now diverged from that of the sail-boat, and the two craft were
increasing their distance from each other.
"We wish to go to Friedrichshafen," said he, apparently troubled by the
discovery he had made.
"So do I," replied Shuffles, quietly, without taking his eye from the
sail.
"This will not bring us there," added the ex-skipper.
"Any port in a storm," said the gallant helmsman. "If I let the boat
fall off enough to lay a course for Friedrichshafen, she will fill in
the twinkling of an eye."
"I don't see why she should," added the young man, evidently not
satisfied with the action of the new skipper.
"I think you ought to see it, after you have half filled the boat
yourself on that tack. Don't you understand that it would throw the
boat into the trough of the sea, and make her roll? Look at that
steamer. I am not sure that she will not be obliged to throw her head
up into it, and lay too for a while."
"Pray do just as you think best, sir," interposed the lady.
"That is what I intend to do, miss. Really there is only one thing you
can do when it blows like this--keep her head up to it."
Again it was necessary for Shuffles to use all his skill and strength,
as the heavy gusts were repeated, to prevent the boat from filling.
Easing off the sheet, and crowding her up into the wind, the boat
weathered another shock, and then had another brief respite. The spray
dashed in the fierce blast like hailstones into the face and eyes of
the intrepid captain, and he was nearly blinded by the charge. His
hands were full, holding the tiller and the sheet. Securing the latter
with his knee, he tried to take his handkerchief from his pocket, to
wipe the water from his eyes. But a jerk of the boat compelled him to
grasp the helm suddenly, and the wind carried away the handkerchief
like a feather.
"My eyes are full of spray," said he, without even glancing at the
flight of the lost article.
"You have lost your handkerchief," replied the young lady, tenderly.
"Pray take mine."
"I am obliged to use both hands. May I trouble you to wipe the water
from my eyes? I can hardly see, I am so blinded."
The young lady promptly complied with the request, and holding on to
the rail with her left hand, she wiped the water from the captain's
eyes.
"Thank you," said he, greatly relieved by the act.
"Let me change seats with you, Feodora," interposed the young man.
"Perhaps I may be able to assist in working the boat."
"Sit still! Don't move!" shouted Shuffles, sternly.
"I only wish to help you," replied the other.
"You will help me most by keeping entirely still," answered Shuffles,
as another fierce blast struck the sail, and required the skipper's
whole attention. Again the cutting spray blinded him, though, as any
other skilful boatman can, he was able to comprehend by the feeling the
motion of the boat.
"Shall I wipe your eyes again?" asked the young lady.
"If you please."
Gently, her eyes beaming with interest and sympathy, the lady wiped the
drops of water from his eyes. Though her companion said nothing, he did
not seem to regard the operation with much favor. Very likely he
thought it was quite unnecessary to wipe the skipper's eyes at every
fresh gust. Again he proposed to change places with her; but Shuffles
peremptorily forbade the movement, either because he thought the young
lady could wipe his eyes better than the young man, or because he was
afraid some accident would happen in making the change.
The storm rather increased than diminished in violence, and for an hour
Shuffles held on his course. The steamer had gone into Friedrichshafen,
though she had been obliged, in some of the fiercest blasts, to throw
her head up into the wind, and hold on till its fierceness subsided a
little. After every gust, the young lady wiped the eyes of her gallant
preserver, for as such she regarded him; and such he doubtless was, for
the boat would have gone to the bottom long before without his skilful
assistance. She soon learned to perform the kindly office without a
word, though the captain did not fail to thank her every time.
The boat did not make rapid progress; by keeping her close-hauled,
continually easing off the sheet, and touching her up, she made
considerable lee way. At the end of two hours, and when it was
beginning to grow dark, Shuffles found himself nearing the shore on the
north side of the lake. He must either make a harbor or go about on the
other tack. It was impossible to land on the exposed shore, against
which the waves were beating in the madness of their fury. He was at
least ten miles above the port to which he and his passenger wished to
go. Directly ahead of him was a point of land, which projected out into
the lake. Beyond it there was an indentation in the shore, within which
he might possibly find a partial shelter from the fury of the storm. It
was doubtful whether he could weather the point; but he did not wish to
tack, and stand farther out into the lake. The night was coming on, and
all his skill and courage could not insure the safety of the boat in
the darkness and on unknown waters.
Hauling in the sheet a little, he braced the craft sharp up, and
struggled with the elements to clear the headland. He looked anxiously
into the green waters for any shoals on the lee bow. Fortunately there
was no obstruction in his path, and the boat weathered the headland,
though without the fraction of a point to spare. Easing off the sheet,
he ran the boat into the bay, and in a few moments she was slightly
sheltered by the shore to the eastward. This friendly relief enabled
him to keep her away a little, and run for the head of the bay, where
he perceived an opening, which looked like the mouth of a river.
No longer cramped by the helm and the sheet, the boat flew on her
course, and Shuffles presently satisfied himself that the opening he
saw was really the mouth of a stream. He realized that the battle had
been fought and won, but he said nothing to his fellow voyagers, who
were silent and anxious. On sped the boat, and as the waves became less
furious, he gave her more sheet, and she darted into the still waters
of the river, which was not more than a hundred feet wide, and with
banks high enough to afford perfect protection to the storm-shaken
craft. As she rushed into the quiet stream, Shuffles let go the sheet,
and the boat gradually lost her headway. Putting the helm down, he ran
her gently upon the shore, and the grating of her keel upon the
gravelly bank was sweet music to the ears of the voyagers.
"You are all right now," said Shuffles, as he rose from his seat in the
stern sheets.
Almost for the first time since he boarded the sailboat, he looked into
the face of the young lady. Her clothing was thoroughly drenched by the
spray, and her face was moist as though she were a mermaid just emerged
from the depths of the ocean. But even in her present plight Shuffles
saw that she was a very pretty girl. She was shivering with cold, and
it was necessary to do something for her comfort.
"We are really safe," replied the lady, with a grateful smile. "We owe
our lives to you, sir."
"We are exceedingly grateful to you for your service," added the young
man.
"I am very glad to have had an opportunity to serve you," replied
Shuffles, addressing his words to the young lady.
"I shall remember you, and be grateful to you as long as I live,"
continued the lady, warmly, as she bestowed upon him an earnest look,
which a skilful observer would have interpreted as one of admiration.
"But where are we?" asked the young man.
"I don't know, except that we must be ten or a dozen miles to the
eastward of Friedrichshafen," answered Shuffles.
"What shall we do?" asked his male companion.
"There are probably houses not far distant. You had better go on shore,
and when you see one, let us know it."
"Perhaps you would prefer to go," suggested the young man, glancing at
the lady.
"Having worked hard in the boat, I prefer to rest a little while,"
replied Shuffles.
"Go, Sir William," added the lady, reproachfully.
Sir William! Captain Shuffles was rather taken aback to find he had
been sending a young baronet to look for a house; but then he regarded
himself as the peer of any baronet, and he did not apologize.
Sir William leaped over the bow of the boat to the shore, and climbed
up the bank. He cast a glance back at the companions of his voyage, and
then disappeared.
"I think you must be a sailor, sir," said the young lady, when her
friend had gone.
"I am, miss. I am; at least I ought to be, since I am the captain of a
ship."
"A captain--and so young! O, I know what you are!" exclaimed she. "You
belong to the American Academy Ship."
"I do."
"But I did not see you at the emperor's ball in Paris."
"No. I was absent on duty."
"I had the pleasure of dancing with a captain on that occasion."
"I was appointed on the first of this month," explained Shuffles.
"I know your uniform very well; and I am glad to see you. I am sure you
are worthy of your high position."
"Thank you, miss. You are very kind."
"I should have been at the bottom of Lake Constance at this moment, if
you had been less gallant and skilful."
"Perhaps not," replied Shuffles, wondering all the time who the young
lady was.
The hail of Sir William from the bank above interrupted the
conversation. The boat had grounded a rod from the bank of the stream,
and Shuffles gallantly bore the fair passenger to the shore in his
arms. Assisting her up the bank, the party soon reached a cottage a
short distance from the mouth of the river. The young nobleman
imperiously ordered great fires and refreshments. He spoke German
fluently, and his commands were promptly obeyed. The rain now poured
down in floods, and the party congratulated themselves upon escaping
this added discomfort.
CHAPTER XV.
LADY FEODORA AND SIR WILLIAM.
Hour after hour the storm-beaten party sat before a blazing fire in the
cottage of the German peasant. Their clothing was dry, and they were
quite comfortable. The only thing that disturbed them was the anxiety
of their friends at Friedrichshafen. Possibly something else disturbed
the young baronet, for the lady, ingenuous enough to talk and act as
she felt, seemed to be delighted with her gallant preserver. After they
entered the house, Shuffles heard Sir William call her Lady Feodora.
She also belonged to the nobility, and he soon learned that she was the
youngest daughter of the Earl of Blankville. Sir William's father was
dead, and though only eighteen, he was a baronet. They were travelling
with their friends.
Lady Feodora declared that she adored sailors, and Sir William was
afraid she spoke only the truth. They had been affianced by their
parents; but the young lady did not seem to feel a very deep interest
in the baronet; and on the other hand, she did seem to feel a deep
interest in the commander of the Young America. His courage, skill, and
energy had made a deep impression upon her; and the signal service he
had rendered called forth all her gratitude. She was only sixteen, and
perhaps had not judgment enough to see that it was perilous to cast
pleasant glances at a young American tar, and might disturb the
calculations of her prudent parents.
The wind howled, and the rain poured all night long; but the party were
in comfortable circumstances. They were too thankful to have escaped
the perils of the storm to complain of the rudeness of their quarters.
It was not possible to go to their friends either by water or by land,
till the tempest had abated, and they were disposed to make the best of
their situation.
"I was not aware that they had such heavy storms on these fresh-water
lakes," said Shuffles, after they had partaken of the simple fare set
before them by their host.
"Nor I," replied Lady Feodora. "If I had, I should not have gone so far
in an open boat. We went across the lake to Romanshorn, but Sir William
said he knew all about a boat."
"So I do, under ordinary circumstances," replied the baronet, rather
nettled at the implied censure.
"It was a very savage storm," added Shuffles.
"I never saw anything like it, even in the Channel," said Feodora. "But
you seemed to handle the boat just as easily as though the wind came
only in zephyrs."
She bestowed another glance of admiration upon the modest tar, who
explained that he had always been used to boats from his childhood, and
he felt more at home on the deck of a ship than he did in the parlor of
his father's house. They talked of the perils of the day till midnight.
A bed had been provided for the lady, but the two young gentlemen lay
on the floor before the fire. In the morning the clouds broke away, and
the sun rose bright and clear. The calm that follows the storm
prevailed upon the lake. The party ate their simple breakfast, and Sir
William paid liberally for their accommodations at the cottage.
The manner of reaching Friedrichshafen was thoroughly discussed. They
could go to Lindau, and take the steamer, or proceed in the sail-boat.
Sir William proposed to take Feodora with him, while Shuffles sailed
the boat back alone. The lady protested. She was not afraid to sail
back in the boat, if the captain would manage it; and this arrangement
was finally agreed upon, though the baronet was not at all pleased with
it. They embarked, and a little breeze came to their aid; but it was
eleven o'clock when they reached their destination.
"I do not know at what hotel our ship's company is stopping," said
Shuffles, as they landed.
"My friends are at the Deutschen Haus; and you must come there with
us," replied Lady Feodora. "My father and mother are there, and they
will be delighted to see you."
"Perhaps our people are there," added Shuffles.
They walked to the hotel named, and found that the American party was
there. As they approached the house, an elderly lady and gentleman
rushed down from the veranda, and grasped Feodora in their arms at the
same moment. They were her parents, and wept tears of joy over her safe
return.
"We thought you were lost," said the fond mother.
"I have sent boats in every direction to look for you," added the
father. "Mr. Lowington, the principal of the Marine Academy, who is
here with his students, assured me you were safe."
"I am safe, father, thanks to Captain Shuffles," replied Feodora,
turning to the young commander.
"His Lordship, the Earl of Blankville," interposed Sir William,
introducing the hero of the day.
The gentleman grasped the hand of Shuffles, and expressed his gratitude
in the warmest terms.
"We have heard part of the story, and we watched the boat till it
disappeared in the distance," added his lordship. "It was a terrible
hour for us all."
"Worse than death," sighed the countess, as she pressed her daughter to
her heart again.
"Mr. Lowington assured us that the young man who had so daringly thrown
himself into the boat would certainly take her to the shore. But we
could only hope, rather than believe."
"It was a heavy blow," said Shuffles.
"It was fearful!" exclaimed the earl, with a shudder, as he thought of
the anxiety and terror they had endured. "I owe you an everlasting debt
of gratitude."
"I only did what the occasion seemed to require of me, and I am as
thankful as any one can be, that I succeeded in getting the boat to the
shore," answered Shuffles.
"It was remarkably fortunate that you were at hand, for I don't believe
there is another person on the continent of Europe who could have
managed the matter so cleverly."
"Really, I think your lordship over-estimates my services."
By this time Mr. Lowington and the young America's party came out to
welcome Shuffles. They astonished him by giving three rousing cheers,
and the captain was again on the top of the wave of popularity. Mr.
Lowington said he was satisfied, at the time of it, that he would take
the boat to the shore, and save both of his passengers, so great was
his confidence in Shuffles. The earl acknowledged that his prediction
had been fully verified.
"You had a rough time, Shuffles," said the principal.
"Rather, sir;" and the affair was discussed at length.
"We have seen the town; but we cannot leave by train for Ulm till two
this afternoon. If there is anything here you wish to see, you must
improve your time," added Mr. Lowington.
"What is there to be seen?"
"Nothing but the Château of the King of Würtemberg, and some old
buildings. But Mr. Mapps is about to give a lecture, from which you
shall be excused if you desire it."
"No, sir; I think I will hear the lecture," replied the captain, as he
followed the principal into the coffee-room, where all the students had
collected.
Lord Blankville's party had been informed of the lecture, and desired
to attend. Shuffles had hardly seated himself when they entered the
room. Lady Feodora had hastily made her toilet; but she looked like a
queen, and the captain could hardly believe she was the same person.
Those who had attended the emperor's ball in Paris recognized her, and
paid their respects. Ben Duncan declared she was as "stunning" as when
she wore her white ball-dress. Shuffles gave her a seat, and had the
courage to take one by her side, before Sir William could secure the
enviable position.
"Würtemberg is a kingdom belonging to the Germanic Confederation," the
professor began. "It has an area of about seventy-eight hundred square
miles, varying but a few miles from that of the State of Massachusetts.
It has a population of one million seven hundred thousand, which during
the last ten years has diminished on account of the large emigration to
the United States. The government is an hereditary monarchy, and, like
so many English stock companies, 'limited.' Freedom of person and
property, liberty of speech, and liberty of conscience, are guaranteed
by the constitution; but liberty of the press, like the monarchy and
the stock companies, is also 'limited.' The legislature is composed of
two houses, the higher one being made up of princes and nobles. The
present king is Charles I., whose wife is the daughter of Czar Nicholas
I. of Russia. The royal family is quite numerous in its various
branches, and is connected by marriage with many of the royal houses of
Europe. The former Duchy of Würtemberg was made a kingdom in 1806, by
Napoleon, after having been enlarged by the annexation of several
smaller states. Stuttgart, the capital, is also the largest town,
containing a population of fifty thousand. I close this lecture, which
I think has not been a very tedious one, with this remarkable fact: In
1840 there was not to be found an individual in the kingdom, above the
age of ten years, who could not read and write."
"Is that all?" asked Lady Feodora.
"That's all this time; but sometimes we have to take it for a couple of
hours," laughed Shuffles.
"I'm sure I wish he had said more. What do you do now?"
"We go to Ulm at two this afternoon. After that we go to Stuttgart,
Carlsruhe, Baden, and then down the Rhine."
"We must go with them, pa," added she, turning to the earl.
"We shall be ready to go to Ulm this afternoon in the same train,"
replied her father.
"I am delighted!" exclaimed Feodora. "I hope we shall go with you down
the Rhine."
Sir William, for some reason or other, did not hope so. In fact, he was
rather dumpy and morose.
"Possibly you will," suggested Shuffles.
"What a happy life you must lead, captain!"
"Perhaps you would not think so, if you were at sea with us, when we
have to stand watch in the night and the storm, whether it blows high
or blows low."
"But you are the captain."
"I was a seaman. It is nearly an hour till dinner time; and I think I
shall take a run down to the Château of the king. Of course you have
been there," said the captain, suggestively.
"I have, but I should be delighted to go again."
A carriage was called by the earl. It had seats for only four, and
Feodora's father and mother had decided to go. So had Sir William; but
his lordship hinted that, as the baronet had already visited the
Château, he might stay at the hotel and play with her ladyship's poodle
dog. It would require too much space to narrate all that was said and
done on this little excursion; but the two young people were very much
pleased with the Château, after and very pleased with each other,
probably more pleased with each other than with the Château, though the
latter was a very beautiful place, as it ought to be for the summer
residence of a king. Captain Shuffles handed the noble young lady out
and in the carriage, handed her up various steps, into various grottos;
indeed, he handed her up and down everything that would afford him any
excuse for offering his assistance. Lady Feodora certainly appreciated
his kindness, and rewarded him with many a smile.
They returned to the hotel; and though the noble party were in the
habit of dining at the aristocratic hour of six, they took places at
the _table d'hôte_ with the republicans. The party hastened to the
railroad station after dinner, and at the appointed hour, were on their
way to Ulm. The compartment in which Dr. Winstock, Paul, and the
Arbuckles rode, contained one less than usual, for Captain Shuffles--not
entirely to the satisfaction of Sir William--occupied a place with the
party of the earl. The railway carriages in Germany are generally built
with a first-class compartment at one end, while the rest of the space
is devoted to the second-class passengers. The former is very
luxuriously furnished, the seats having stuffed arms and backs, with a
table between the two rows of seats, while the latter has about the
same arrangement as is found in the ordinary cars in the United States.
"We have lost our good friend Captain Shuffles," said Grace, with a
pleasant smile.
"Perhaps our loss is his gain," added Paul.
"Lady Feodora is very pretty."
"Very; and interesting, too."
"I really pity her every time I look at Sir William."
"Why?" asked Paul, curiously.
"Because she is doomed by her parents to be his wife; and he is a
selfish, supercilious fellow, if he is a baronet."
"Her parents seem to be very fond of her, and I am sure they will not
sacrifice her, if she don't like him."
"There are a great many considerations of policy which influence these
great families," replied Grace. "She seems to like the captain much
better than she likes Sir William."
"And I know that he likes her."
"Let us hope for the best," said Grace, gayly, as she glanced out the
window at the fine mountain scenery.
"How far is it to Ulm, Dr. Winstock?" asked Paul.
"Fourteen miles," replied the surgeon, with a twinkle of the eye which
seemed to mean something.
"Fourteen miles!" exclaimed Paul, glancing at his watch. "Why, we ought
to be nearly there by this time, then."
"The German trains rarely go more than four miles an hour."
"Why, that's no faster than a smart boy can walk."
"Rather, I think."
"You are joking, doctor."
"I never was more serious in my life. This train is not going more than
four miles an hour."
"I should say it was going at the rate of twenty."
"I am afraid you have not read your guide-book since you came into
Germany," laughed the doctor. "Perhaps it has not occurred to you that
a German mile is equal to about four and two thirds English miles."
"I didn't think of that."
"It is sixty-four and a half English miles from the point where we
started to Ulm; and the time is over three hours. We shall arrive there
at half past five," continued Dr. Winstock.
"I thank you for setting me right," replied Paul. "I have been bothered
with the German money."
"I have a copy of the last issue of Harper's Hand Book for Travellers,
which I obtained in Paris. It is a capital work for the tourist, for it
does not compel him to carry a whole library of guide-books, and is
complete enough for ordinary purposes," said Dr. Winstock, taking the
neat little volume from his bag. "In connection with each country, you
will find the value of its money in United States currency, and the
names and value of the several coins in use. In the Prussian states,
values are reckoned in _thalers_ and _silver groschen_. A _thaler_ is
about seventy-three cents. A _silver groschen_, of which thirty make a
_thaler_, is worth two and two fifths cents."
"What's a _florin_?"
"A _florin_ of Baden, Würtemberg, &c, is forty cents; but a _florin_ in
Austria is forty-nine cents. The former has sixty _kreutzers_, of two
thirds of a cent each, the latter one hundred, of about half a cent
each. In Prussian Germany, twelve _pfennings_ make a _silver groschen_.
Five pfennings, therefore, are about equal to a cent. Of course these
values vary with the rates of exchange, and even in the different
countries where the currency is used."
It was dark when the train arrived at Ulm, though the tourists obtained
an obscure view of the Danube, on which the city is located. After
supper, Professor Mapps gave a brief account of the place to the
students. It is a fortress and frontier city of Würtemberg, on the
right bank of the Danube, and has twenty-five thousand inhabitants. It
is largely engaged in linen manufactures, and snails are fattened in
the surrounding region, and sent into Austria and other countries,
where they are highly esteemed as an article of food. For three
centuries the town was an imperial free city, and one of the most
thriving in Germany. It is noted in modern times for the disgraceful
capitulation of General Mack, in 1805, who surrendered thirty thousand
men and sixty guns to the French.
The party slept at the Kronprinz Hôtel, and the next day, after a
glance at the minster,--which is ranked among the six finest Gothic
cathedrals in Germany, and is now a Protestant church,--the
excursionists resumed their journey, arriving at Stuttgart in two hours
and a half. This city is on the Neckar, and is situated in the midst of
a beautiful country, the slopes of whose hills are studded with
vineyards. The party, having no time to spare, immediately devoted
themselves to the business of sight-seeing, hastening first to the
palace of the king, said to contain as many rooms as there are days in
the year, though our arithmeticians did not count them. It is a grand
edifice, with a tremendous gilt crown over the chief entrance, so that
strangers in the city cannot possibly mistake the royal character of
the building.
Only a few of the numerous apartments were visited, which contained
some fine pictures by German artists, and sculpture by Thorwaldsen. The
palace may be said to be in both town and country; for while the front
opens upon the grand square of the city, the rear faces an extensive
park, which reaches far out into the rural region. The king's stables,
containing the finest Arabian horses in Germany, were visited by a
portion of the party. The public library next claimed attention. Its
catalogue of three hundred thousand volumes includes over three
thousand manuscripts, half of which are very rare and valuable. The
collection of Bibles, amounting to eighty-five hundred in number, and
in sixty different languages, is doubtless the most extensive in the
world. The museums of the fine arts and of natural history used up the
rest of the day.
The next place to be visited was Carlsruhe, the capital of the Grand
Duchy of Baden. It was only a three hours' ride from Stuttgart, and, as
the trains connected, the principal decided to proceed at six o'clock
in the evening, for he could not otherwise reach his destination till
noon the next day. The earl's party had taken apartments at the Hôtel
Marquardt for the night, and Shuffles sent word to them that he was
about to leave. He was invited to the elegant parlor occupied by his
lordship, where he proceeded at once to take leave of Lady Feodora.
"Probably we shall never meet again," said he. "If we--"
"Pray, don't say that, Captain Shuffles," interrupted she, with an
expression even more sad than that which the young captain wore. "I
hope we may meet many times yet."
"We may, but it is not probable that we shall," added Shuffles. "After
remaining a week or ten days longer in Germany, we shall go to Brest,
and from there sail for the United States."
"But your ship crosses the ocean again next spring, I think I heard the
principal say," interposed the earl.
"Very true; but I may not come in her--I don't know."
"I will not believe we are not to meet again. You must come to England
and visit us at Blankville. We shall all be delighted to see you."
All except Sir William.
"I hope I shall have the pleasure of meeting you again. If I do not, I
shall remember the hours I have spent with you as the pleasantest of my
life," continued Shuffles.
"But I am not going to think of such a thing as not seeing you again,"
persisted Lady Feodora. "I shudder every time I recall the
circumstances under which we met. But for your daring courage and your
wonderful skill, both Sir William and myself would have been drowned."
The young baronet looked as though the actual situation was not much
improvement upon the possible one suggested by his affianced, if he was
to be "cut out" in this extraordinary manner.
"You over-estimate the value of my services; but however you regard
them, I shall always rejoice that I was able to serve you. I must leave
now."
"But we shall meet again, and very soon, too," said Lady Feodora, as
she extended her hand to the young officer.
The other members of the party each in turn took him by the hand. The
earl and his lady manifested a warm interest in the young hero, and
seconded the wish of their daughter that they might meet again.
"I am really sorry you are going," said Sir William; but it is doubtful
whether he was as sincere as his friends. "Couldn't you contrive it
some way so as to drop in upon us at Blankville? It would really be a
very great pleasure--it would, upon my honor."
"I am afraid it will be impossible," replied Shuffles, as he bowed
himself out of the apartment.
Perhaps Sir William was the only happy person in that group, for there
was no doubt that he was glad to get rid of the troublesome hero.
The ship's company took the train at the appointed time, and by ten
o'clock were in their rooms at the Hôtel Erbprinz, in the capital of
the Grand Duchy of Baden. As soon as it was light in the morning, the
students were scattered through the streets of the town, which, like
those of Washington, radiate from a common centre, where the king's
palace is located. The meals of the party at the hotels were usually
served separate from those of other guests, and at breakfast Professor
Mapps had an opportunity to say a word about the city. He told them,
what many of them had already ascertained, that it was a very pretty,
but very quiet place. It is of modern growth, being unable to boast of
much more than a century's duration. Charles, the Margrave of Baden,
built a hunting-seat on the spot in 1715, which, on account of the
seclusion of the place, he called "Charles's Rest." In the course of
time, his retreat was invaded by others, and a city grew up around him,
which was called Karlsruhe--the German for the name the Margrave had
given his hunting-seat.
The Schloss, or palace, did not essentially differ from a dozen other
similar structures the party had seen. In fact, palaces and cathedrals
were getting rather stale with them, and they coveted a new sensation,
which they were likely to realize at their next stopping-place. Before
noon the tourists reached Baden-Baden, and were pleasantly installed at
the Hôtel de l'Europe. As the season was somewhat advanced, there was
plenty of room, though the glories of the German watering-place were
not seen at their height.
The place is called Baden-Baden to distinguish it from Baden in Austria
and Baden in Switzerland. It is beautifully located in a lovely valley
surrounded by the hills of the Black Forest. Although it has but seven
thousand permanent inhabitants, not less than forty thousand visitors
have made their abode within its precincts in a single season. It is
the most fashionable, and at the same time the most attractive, of the
German watering-places. The nobility and gentry, as well as the
blacklegs and swindlers of all the nations of Europe, gather there. The
country around the town is romantic and pleasing, and with good roads
through the forests and up the hills, there is a great variety of
delightful walks and drives. Everything which nature and art could do
to make the place and its surroundings an attractive abode, has been
done.
On the rocky hills above the town are the old and the new castles of
the Grand Duke of Baden. The former is of Roman origin, and was
occupied by the reigning dukes in the middle ages. The latter is the
summer residence of the present sovereign. At the foot of the rocks on
which the modern structure is located are the hot springs, thirteen in
number, to which the town owes its origin as a health-giving abode.
This part of the place is called "Hell" on account of the heat of the
springs, which does not permit the snow, even in the coldest weather,
to remain upon it. The hottest of these springs has a temperature of
54° Réaumur, equal to 153-1/2° Fahrenheit. Their water is led by pipes
to the "Trinkhalle" and baths in the village, the passage having but
little effect upon its temperature. A kind of temple is built over the
principal spring, which furnishes the hottest and most copious supply
of water. There is sufficient evidence that the Romans used these
fountains for vapor baths, and other medicinal purposes. The water is
perfectly clear, has a saltish taste, and at the spring is not unlike
weak broth, though it has a disagreeable odor. It is beneficial for
dyspepsia, gout, rheumatism, and scrofulous diseases.
After dinner the tourists commenced their explorations by a visit to
_das neue Trinkhalle_, or the New Pump Room, opposite the hotel. The
spring waters are conveyed to it in pipes, and in the season the place
is crowded with visitors, who drink them in the morning.
The _Conversationshaus_ is the grand centre of attraction. It is a
magnificent building, surrounded by splendid gardens. In front of it is
a Chinese pagoda, intended as a music stand for the band, which plays
there twice a day. It contains a large assembly-room, where the company
dance at times, a restaurant, a theatre, and other apartments. There
are also rooms for gambling, which is the staple amusement, not only
for the blacklegs and swindlers, who resort to the establishment, but
for the nobility and gentry. The _Conversationshaus_ is rented by the
government to a company, who pay fifty-five thousand dollars a year for
the monopoly of the gaming tables, and pledge themselves to spend one
hundred thousand dollars annually upon the walks and buildings. Of
course players must lose vast sums of money to enable the keepers of
the establishment to pay these large prices. All classes of people
gamble, and about one fourth of those who engage in the seductive play
are ladies--or rather women, though they include not a few of the
nobility.
Balls, concerts, promenades, and the theatre, as well as the exciting
amusement of the gaming tables, keep the visitors well employed during
the season; and when they weary of the din of gayety, a walk of five
minutes will lead them to the solitudes of the forests and the
mountains. There is a library and reading-room in operation, in the
midst of the scene of the revelry. The students spent the afternoon in
wandering through these brilliant halls; and some of them observed,
with a feeling akin to terror, the operations of rouge-et-noir and
roulette. No one spoke at the tables, and no one but players were
allowed to be seated. If any of the boys, after the exciting sport had
become familiar to them, were tempted to try their hand, they had not
money enough to make it an object, which proved the wisdom of the
principal's policy in managing their finances for them.
The next forenoon was devoted to a visit to the two castles above the
town. Only the ancient one has any special interest, and this is noted
for the curious dungeons in the rock beneath it. The castellan, or
keeper, conducted the party down a winding staircase, to an ancient
Roman bath, by a passage made in modern times; for originally the only
access to the dungeons was by a perpendicular shaft in the centre of
the castle, which is still in existence. Tradition declares that the
prisoners, blindfolded, and lashed to an armchair, were lowered through
this shaft to the gloomy vaults hewn out of the solid rock. The dark
and mysterious dungeons were closed by a stone slab, revolving on a
pivot, and weighing from half a ton to a ton. One room, larger than the
others, was the rack-chamber, which contained the instrument of
torture; and in the wall several iron rings still remain.
In a passage-way there is a deep aperture, now boarded over, but
formerly covered by a trap-door. The victim doomed to the rack was led
to the passage, at the end of which was an image of the Virgin, which
he was required to kiss. In approaching it, he stepped upon the trap,
and was precipitated into the depths below upon a wheel armed with
knives, upon which he was torn in pieces. The story is, that this
horrible pit was discovered in searching for a little dog which had
fallen through the planking, when the wheel was found, with its knives
rusty, the fragments of bones and garments still clinging to them. But
people who go to see sights ought not to be disappointed--and some
allowance should be made before accepting all the stories of guides and
keepers of mysterious dungeons. Doubtless these subterranean apartments
were the meeting-places of some secret tribunals, such as the Vehmic
courts, which existed in the middle ages in Westphalia. Scott and Göthe
have made use of these dungeons in their works, and our students
regarded them as a splendid field for the later writers of sensational
fiction.
The party walked through the upper portion of the castle, and obtained
a fine view of the surrounding country from its openings. The rest of
the day was spent in the gardens, assembly-rooms, and other places of
interest. In the first train, the next morning, the excursionists went
to Heidelberg, fifty-eight miles distant.
CHAPTER XVI.
UP THE MEDITERRANEAN.
The Josephine still sped on her course, southwest by west; and still
the mystery of her destination remained unsolved. Little was hopeful,
while Ibbotson was despondent. Mr. Fluxion planked the quarter-deck as
industriously as though he were walking on a wager, or had the
dyspepsia, which could only be cured by plenty of exercise.
"What do you suppose this means?" said Perth, when the port watch had
gone below.
"I don't know: it's a poser to me," replied Herman, as he seated
himself under the shelter of the top-gallant forecastle. "But I can't
think it is anything more than a short cruise for the sake of the
discipline."
"It can't be a long cruise, for no provisions and water were taken in,"
added Perth. "I think, if we behave first rate, we shall return to
Brest in a day or two."
"We will be as proper as the lambs themselves."
"How is it about Fluxion's going to Italy?" asked Perth.
"I know only what the fellows say. Everybody believes that he has to go
there to see some friend who is sick."
"Where are we going, Mr. Briskett?" inquired Perth, as the head steward
came forward to take a look ahead.
"Going to sea," replied he.
"Where are we bound?"
"Bound to sea."
"But how long are we to be out?" persisted Perth.
"Well, I don't know; but I am fully of the opinion that we shall be out
till we go into port again."
"Won't you tell us, Mr. Briskett?" interposed Herman.
"Tell you what?"
"Where the vessel is going."
"Going to sea," answered the head steward, good-naturedly; for he
rather enjoyed the perplexity of the crew.
"Is there any secret about the ship's destination?"
"You must ask Mr. Fluxion. He is on the quarterdeck, and I dare say he
will be very happy to give you any information he thinks it is proper
for you to have."
Mr. Briskett, having taken his long look ahead, turned on his heel, and
went aft again.
"Where are we going, Mr. Bitts?" said Herman, to the carpenter, who had
been within hearing during the dialogue with the head steward.
"Going to sea."
"Yes; but where are we bound?"
"Bound to sea."
"But how long are we to be out?"
"Well, I've boxed the compass, taken an observation, worked up an
altitude, swung six and cast out nine,--and I've made up my mind that
we shall be out till we return to port again. I may be wrong, but you
can figure it up for yourself."
"O, come! Is there any secret about the vessel's destination?" added
Herman.
"There's Mr. Fluxion, wearing out the planks of the quarter-deck. He's
a good sailor, and a gentleman from his top-lights down to his keelson;
and if you ask him, he'll tell you all he has a mind to."
"If he's a gentleman, I hope the forward officers will take lessons of
him," added Herman, disgusted with the conduct of the carpenter.
"I shall, for one; for we have so many unlicked cubs on board now, that
I am afraid my manners have suffered by being among them," laughed
Bitts. "But do you really want to know where we are going, young
gentlemen?"
"I do, for one," replied Perth, promptly.
"You won't say a word if I tell you--eh?" added Bitts, very seriously.
"Not a word."
"Well, we are bound down to the coast of Africa to get a cargo of
gorillas. Mr. Fluxion is going into the show business."
"You get out!" exclaimed Perth, vexed to find himself "sold."
"I don't know but the plan was changed," continued the carpenter. "Some
of them were afraid we might get things mixed on board; and after we
got the cargo in, we couldn't tell the gorillas from the runaways."
Bitts thought he had said a clever thing; and, chuckling at his own
wit, he turned on his heel, and walked aft to the waist.
"It's no use to ask them anything," said Herman.
"I suppose we may as well keep still, and wait till something turns
up," added Perth.
"I don't see that we can do anything else."
"Unless we start the water in the tanks," suggested Perth.
"And have our own supply cut off. I had enough of that sort of thing in
the ship. If we don't behave well, the first thing Fluxion will do will
be to put us on salt horse and hard bread."
"We won't do anything yet. In my opinion, we shall go into port in a
day or two."
At eight bells the starboard watch were piped to dinner, being relieved
by the port watch. The wind continued fresh and fair; and the Josephine
flew on her course, logging from ten to twelve knots all day. The
portion of the crew off duty were not required to recite any lessons,
or do anything else. The severe course of study to which Mr. Fluxion
had subjected them, during the absence of the rest of the company in
France and Switzerland, had enabled them to make up all deficient
lessons. The principal had requested Mr. Fluxion not to assign any
studies to his charge, unless it became necessary to do so in order to
keep them out of mischief. The crew were to serve in quarter watches,
from eight at night till eight in the forenoon, though the acting watch
officers were to serve full time.
Night came on with the breeze freshening, and the top-gallant-sail was
furled. The Josephine then had all she could carry, for Mr. Fluxion was
not a fair-weather sailor, and always crowded on all the vessel would
stagger under. The wind was more to the eastward than when the schooner
left Brest, which still kept it fair. At eight bells in the evening,
the first part of the starboard watch took the deck; and the night wore
away without any exciting incident to break the monotony. Peaks and
Cleats were thorough seamen, and being in authority, they compelled
every seaman to do his duty.
The sea was rough in the Bay of Biscay, and the Josephine, though she
made good weather of it, was rather wet on deck. But she was making a
splendid voyage so far. On the forenoon of the second day out, Perth
and Herman, having the watch below, had another discussion in regard to
the probable length of the cruise. The vessel was still headed away
from Brest; and even if she put about then, it might take her two or
three days to work back to the port where they had left the ship. The
prospect was decidedly sickening. The Josephine was far out of sight of
land, and still headed south-west by west. The officers were as
taciturn as on the previous day, so far as the destination of the
vessel was concerned, though they were very considerate in every other
respect. There was nothing to do after the decks had been washed down
in the morning. The wind was a little lighter, and, in addition to the
top-gallant-sail, the fore square-sail was set, so that her speed was
at no time less than ten knots, and most of the time it was twelve.
"What do you make of it now, Little?" said Ibbotson, just before noon
on the second day out. "Do you think we shall get back to Brest in a
day or two?"
"Of course we shall."
"Bah! What's the use of talking? We couldn't beat back to Brest now in
three days."
"Perhaps we shall make some other port in France," suggested Little,
with a sickly smile.
"What! steering south-west by west? Not much! I tell you we are
homeward bound."
"Nonsense! Not unless we are going by the way of Cape Horn, Behring's
Straits, and the North-west Passage! Keep cool, Ibbotson; we shall come
out right yet."
"But we are sold. Lowington has the weather-gage of us, and we are
beaten at our own game."
"Not yet."
"Yes, we are. We shall not see the coast of France again this year.
I'll bet you Fluxion's starboard whisker, our cruise for this season is
up."
"Don't croak."
They all croaked when the vessel had been out thirty hours, and was
still persistently headed to the south-west. The day wore wearily away,
crowded with doubt, anxiety, and perplexity to the runaways. At three
in the afternoon, when the starboard watch were on deck, Peaks, by
order of Mr. Fluxion, stationed a lookout in the fore-top. Perth and
Herman were the first to do this duty.
"I suppose our game is all up," said the latter, as they seated
themselves in the top.
"It don't look very hopeful; but I suppose we are going somewhere,"
replied Perth. "When we make a port, I'm off, if I have to swim
ashore."
"I'm with you; but those five-pound notes will suffer in the water."
"I will look out for them," answered Perth, grating his teeth with
anger. "I think we are reduced to common sailors, and I can't stand
it."
"One thing is certain; we can't help ourselves. If Fluxion chooses to
go round the world with us, we can't do anything but submit."
"I'm not so sure of that. When we find out where he is going, we can
figure up what it is best to do. We are not babies, and thirty-one of
us can do something. But we will keep still till we ascertain where we
are going."
"Look ahead!" said Herman, pointing a little over the port bow. "Isn't
that land?"
"It looks like it; but don't say anything yet."
"What can it be?" asked Herman.
"It is Cape Ortegal, if it is anything, on the northwest corner of
Spain. We can tell, in a few hours after we come up with the cape, how
they head her."
They watched the dark, hazy line for half an hour longer, and then
shouted, "Land, ho!" The announcement made a sensation among the
runaways, but it afforded no revelation of the purposes of the
vice-principal. Still the Josephine sped on her way, and in a few hours
was up with Cape Ortegal. She kept on the same course, with the coast
of Spain in sight, till dark. Mr. Fluxion remained on deck; for he
attended to the navigation himself. At twelve o'clock at night, the
first part of the port watch came on deck, and Little and Ibbotson
tried to ascertain where they were. The tell-tale still indicated
southwest by west as the course. A bright light on the shore bore
south-east by south. Mr. Fluxion watched the light and the compass.
"Keep her south-west by south," said he to the hands at the wheel.
"South-west by south," repeated one of the seamen.
"Trim the sails, Mr. Peaks," added the vice-principal.
"Ay, ay! sir. Man the fore-sheet! Now walk away with it! Avast! Belay!"
said the acting first officer; and the manoeuvre was repeated upon
the mainsail.
The yards were trimmed for the new course, and there was nothing more
to be done. The seamen not occupied at the helm, or on the lookout,
stowed themselves away in comfortable places.
"We are going nearly south now," said Ibbotson, as he and Little seated
themselves under the weather rail.
"South-west by south," added Little, gloomily; for even he had almost
lost hope.
"I heard Perth say there were over two points and a half variation; and
that makes the course about south by west. Where do you suppose we are
bound?"
"I can't guess. I suppose we shall fetch up somewhere. When we do, I'm
off as soon as the mud-hook finds bottom. I'm not sure that I shall
wait till we go into port," added Little, desperately.
"Why, what can you do?"
"We are not more than ten or fifteen miles from the coast of Spain. If
we could only drop a boat into the water, I would risk getting ashore."
"You can't do that."
"Fluxion has turned in now. Cleats and Bitts have the next watch,"
continued Little, suggestively.
"They won't let you off."
"Bitts goes to sleep; and Cleats may go below for something," said
Little, dropping his voice to a whisper. "We will talk it over
to-morrow with Perth and Herman."
"But you can't do anything."
"Perhaps we can," answered the little villain; but there was not much
of his usual elasticity of spirits in his tones.
Ibbotson had no faith, and did not even care to talk about what seemed
to him such an impracticable scheme. At four bells they were relieved,
and the night wore away without any incident. All the following day the
Josephine kept in about the same position with regard to the shore,
running rapidly to the southward. Mr. Fluxion "made no sign," and the
acting officers were as reticent as ever.
"Perth, I have an idea," said Little, as they met on deck.
"So have I," replied the disgusted leader of the runaways. "I have an
idea that we are going round the world. This is our third day out, and
no signs of turning back."
"I mean that I have a plan."
"You always have a plan," added Perth, with a sickly grin.
"If you don't want to hear it, all right; but I mean to get out of this
scrape, if I can."
"So do I. If we don't do something we shall be the laughing-stock of
the whole ship's company, if we ever join them again, of which I have
some doubts. Lowington has hauled us up to the bull-ring this time, if
he never did before. He has the weather-gage of us."
"That's so."
"If you have a plan, let's hear it."
"O, I won't trouble you with it. You don't think much of my plans."
"Yes, I do. I regard you as a genius in that line. You gave us the plan
by which we got off in the Josephine."
"This little thing is for our four fellows only," continued Little,
mollified by the credit awarded to him.
"All right; propel."
"We are only ten or fifteen miles from land. This is Portugal off here,
I suppose."
"Yes; we shall be off Cape Roca to-night, if the wind keeps up, and I
think we go within five or six miles of the shore."
"So much the better."
"Well, what's up?" asked Perth, with a yawn which indicated that he had
not much hope of any scheme.
"Cleats and Bitts will be on the mid watch to-night. I notice that
Cleats goes into the cabin once or twice in our quarter watch, and I
suppose he does in yours."
"Yes, after his coffee, I suppose. He always comes back eating a
biscuit."
"Just so; and Bitts goes to sleep."
"Not often."
"I've seen him asleep."
"The officers on duty have to keep on their feet all the time," said
Perth.
"No matter if they do. Bitts leans against the foremast, and goes to
sleep. He isn't used to being on watch lately."
"Well, go ahead."
"When Peaks goes below, we will draw the slide on him, and lock him
into the cabin," added Little.
"Good! Go on," replied Perth, beginning to be interested. "Bitts is
still on deck."
"Pass a line around him, and make him fast to the foremast while he is
asleep."
"It will be apt to wake him."
"No matter; he is fast."
"He will make a noise."
"But the other officers are locked into the cabin."
"It might work. What then?"
"Lower the second cutter, and go ashore."
"They would pick us up as soon as they broke out of the cabin. The
other fellows would work against us if we don't take them with us."
"Well, make a big thing of it, and take all the fellows and all the
boats," said the accommodating little villain.
"That would do better; and there isn't a fellow on board who isn't up
to such a move."
"That's so."
"It will take some time to work up the idea, though we have the
steerage all to ourselves," added Perth, musing.
The conspirators discussed the scheme at every opportunity during the
day, and imparted it to the rest of the crew. Some of them suggested
objections, but all of them were willing to take part in the
enterprise, for they were so utterly disgusted with the course of Mr.
Fluxion, that anything was preferable to submission.
"Suppose we get ashore," said Sheffield. "We shall be in Portugal,
perhaps fifty miles from any large place."
"Cape Roca isn't twenty miles from Lisbon," replied Perth. "We can walk
that distance in a day."
"What are you going to do in Lisbon? Not one of us can speak a word of
Portuguese."
"We can do just the same as we should have done in Brest, and raise
money on our letters of credit, and get to Paris. We can take a steamer
back to Brest. The fare will not be more than ten dollars apiece in the
fore cabin."
"Why not wait till we see where we are going?" suggested Sheffield.
"It may be too late then," answered Perth. "If Fluxion should suddenly
head the vessel to the westward, that would mean home. The cook says we
have fresh provisions enough for thirty days, which they took in while
we were attending lecture."
"Does he know where we are bound?"
"No; or if he does, he won't say anything."
"I don't believe in landing at any such place as Lisbon, or anywhere in
Portugal; though, of course, I will do what the rest of the fellows
wish."
Perth and Little were too impatient to postpone the enterprise, though
they acknowledged the difficulty of landing in Portugal. They worked up
the details of the plan, and a part was assigned to each of the
runaways. Phillips was to secure Bitts, with the assistance of half a
dozen others. Perth was to close the companion way, lock it, and also
drive a nail into the slide to make it sure. Greenway was to cover and
secure the sky-lights. Herman was to fasten the door leading from the
cabin to the steerage with a handspike. Ibbotson was to bar the door of
the forecastle, where the cooks and under stewards slept. Others were
to back the head sails, so as to lay to the vessel; and when all these
things had been done, the boats were to be lowered,--the places of all
the party having been assigned to them,--and they were to pull for the
shore.
The night came on, and the light on Cape Roca was identified by Perth,
at four bells; but a fog set in from seaward, and he decided that it
was not prudent to take to the boats under such circumstances, for the
reason that the boat compasses were in the cabin, and could not be
obtained. At seven bells on Saturday morning the Josephine was off Cape
St. Vincent.
"Keep her south-east," said Mr. Fluxion to the quarter-master at the
wheel, when the headland bore north-east from the vessel.
"South-east!" exclaimed Perth, when the order had been repeated. "That
means the Straits of Gibraltar. Fellows, we are bound up the
Mediterranean."
"What does it mean?" inquired Herman.
"Fluxion is going to Italy," replied the leader, bitterly. "He is
taking us with him!"
Perth's conclusion was passed along till every seaman on board
understood it. The mystery was solved at last. There could be no doubt
of the correctness of the solution, and great were the wrath and
indignation of the runaways. It was abominable to compel them, the sons
of gentlemen, to work the vessel as foremast hands, while she was
employed on Mr. Fluxion's private business. It was an insult to them,
an insult to their parents, and an outrage upon humanity in general. It
was not to be endured, and rebellion was a duty. Little's plan was in
higher favor than ever.
The wind was light, and the vessel, close-hauled, made but five and six
knots during the day. At night she was out of sight of land. All day
Sunday she made but little progress, and lay in a calm for several
hours. Towards night, however, a fresh westerly wind came to her aid,
and on Monday morning the crew saw the mountains of Europe and Africa
vying with each other in sublimity, though they were too sour to
appreciate the grandeur of the scene. The vessel hugged the Spanish
shore, and Perth was on the lookout for an opportunity to spring the
trap; but the sea was so rough and choppy, and the current so swift,
that he was not willing to embark in the boats. It looked altogether
too perilous. Besides, Bitts did not lean against the mast and go to
sleep, and Cleats sent a hand down to bring up his luncheon, and the
vice-principal staid on deck nearly all night.
"I think Fluxion smells a mice," said Perth, the next day.
"Why so?" asked Little.
"Because he stays on deck more than half the night."
"He is anxious about the navigation, perhaps."
"It is plain sailing here," added Perth. "I think he has seen our
fellows talking together a great deal."
That was really the case. The vice-principal understood boys
thoroughly. He had observed the earnest talks among little squads, and
cautioned the acting officers to be very vigilant. It is enough to say
that no opportunity was presented for carrying out the scheme of
Little, and the Josephine came to anchor in the harbor of Genoa, ten
days after she sailed from Brest. If the runaways had been in a proper
frame of mind to enjoy it, there was a great deal to be seen; but they
were too much taken up with their grievances to appreciate strange
sights or beautiful scenery.
As soon as the schooner came to anchor, three of the four boats were
hauled in, and lowered to the deck, where they were turned over to be
painted. Bitts and Gage rowed the vice-principal ashore, while Peaks
and Cleats, laying aside the dignity of their temporary positions, went
to work scraping and painting the bottoms of the boats, which seemed to
have been removed from the davits solely for the purpose of preventing
any of the crew from escaping. Mr. Fluxion was absent only an hour, and
during his absence Dr. Carboy watched the students every moment of the
time.
The next morning a shore boat brought off a pale lady, who was
understood to be the vice-principal's sister. They spent the whole
forenoon in the cabin; but in the afternoon they went on shore
together, to draw up and execute certain papers. Perth, in behalf of
the crew, asked permission of Mr. Fluxion, just as he was departing, to
go on shore.
"Quite impossible, young gentlemen," replied the vice-principal. "They
are painting the boats, which are not in condition to be used. Besides,
there is hardly time, for I hope we shall be able to sail before
night."
Perth was very angry, and so were all the others, though they hardly
expected the desired permission. Mr. Fluxion went on shore with the
pale lady, and Dr. Carboy, Peaks, and Cleats watched the crew with
Argus eyes. It was of no use for Little to fall overboard, for there
was no boat to send after him. Perth was not quite willing to attempt a
swim to the shore, for a fresh south-west wind kept up an ugly swell in
that part of the port where the Josephine was anchored. Shore boats
were driven from alongside by Peaks. In a word, Mr. Fluxion understood
his crew, and knew what he was about. With a ship's company who had
been desperate enough to capture the vessel on a former occasion, he
was wise enough to keep everything taut. So the runaways could only
grumble and growl, and watch the steamers which were constantly
arriving and departing.
Before sundown Mr. Fluxion returned alone. He had finished his business
with his sister, and the order was given to get under way, after the
boats had all been restored to the davits. There was no chance to
execute any of the desperate schemes which had been adopted. Discipline
was triumphant, and the Josephine sped on her way to the Straits of
Gibraltar. Four days out, Cape Antonio, on the coast of Spain, was
sighted, and for the next two days the vessel sailed along the coast,
with the lofty mountains of Spain in full view.
Mr. Fluxion was communicative enough to say that the Josephine would
put into Lisbon, and await the arrival of the Young America. The
intelligence was not pleasant to the runaways. Perth declared that
something must be done at once, or at least before the vessel had
passed Cape de Gata. Alicante and Carthagena were near, and from either
of them steamers frequently departed for Marseilles. They had actually
made the trip in the Josephine which they had contemplated before their
runaway excursion in her, but under different circumstances from those
they desired. If they could get to Marseilles, the rest of the plan
might be realized.
They had kept everything in readiness for the enterprise which Little
had planned, and for a fortnight had been on the lookout for an
opportunity to strike the blow. After the vessel had come up with Cape
Antonio, Perth told the fellows he should make the attempt that night,
though it would be bright moonlight. The signal for those below to
perform the part assigned to them was three raps on the deck, over the
steerage, with the heel of the leader. But Perth was not in Cleats's
watch; so he and Herman hid themselves under the top-gallant
forecastle, when their watch was relieved. About three bells in the mid
watch, Little informed the leader that Cleats had gone below.
"Where's Bitts?" whispered Perth.
"In the waist, planking the deck."
"Call Phillips, quick!" added the leader, as he came out of his
hiding-place.
Phillips promptly appeared. He was a great, stout fellow, as ugly as he
was big. He immediately prepared to do his part. Herman was sent below
to see that every seaman in the steerage was awake and ready to act,
and he succeeded in eluding the sleepy vigilance of Bitts.
Perth gave the signal for those in the steerage, and at the same time
whistled for the information of those on deck. Bitts was not so
obliging as to lean against a mast, or anything else, and the
conspirators were compelled to take him flying. Phillips had prepared,
with a piece of whale line, a kind of lasso, and, stepping up behind
him, threw it over his head, drawing it tight around his neck, before
the astonished carpenter suspected any mischief. The end of the whale
line was then hooked to the clewline of the fore-square-sail, which had
been detached for the purpose. The hands at the clewline walked away
with it, until the rope bore hard on the throat of the carpenter. All
this was done in an instant, for Phillips had carefully adjusted all
the details of his share of the work. Bitts tried to cry out; but when
he did so, Phillips ordered the hands at the buntline to haul taut.
"Keep still, old fellow, or you shall be hung!" said the ruffian in
charge of the deed.
Bitts was obliged to keep still, for when he struggled to release his
neck with his hands the rope was tightened. In the mean time, Perth had
secured the slide, and those below had barred the doors.
"Clear away the boats!" and all but Phillips, who was obliged to watch
Bitts, sprang to their stations for lowering the boats, and in a couple
of minutes all four of them were in the water, with the oars tossed,
ready to pull for the shore. In the cabin there was a tremendous din,
made by Cleats and the other officers, who had been aroused by the
noise. They were trying to batter down the door leading into the
steerage, but as yet with no success.
"All ready!" shouted Perth.
Phillips, who was the only one of the crew remaining on board, hastily
belayed the clewline at the fife-rail, hauling it just taut enough to
hold Bitts, without choking him to death. As the ruffian leaped into
the boat, to which he had been assigned, Perth gave the order to shove
off, and the runaways pulled with all their might for the shore.
CHAPTER XVII.
HEIDELBERG AND HOMBURG.
On the arrival of the excursion party at Heidelberg, they were
conducted, by Mr. Arbuckle's _avant-courrier_, to the Hôtel Prinz Karl,
in the marketplace, and near the castle, which is the principal object
of interest in the town. One of the first persons that Shuffles saw, as
he walked up to the hotel, was Lady Feodora, promenading the veranda
with Sir William. She looked a shade paler than when the captain had
met her last; but her color deepened when she discovered her gallant
friend.
"I am delighted to see you, Captain Shuffles!" exclaimed she, deserting
her titled companion, and rushing towards him, her cheeks suffused with
blushes.
"This is a very unexpected pleasure," replied the commander, his brown
face flushing, "but none the less welcome because unexpected."
"How glad I am to see you again!" said she, taking his offered hand, as
they met.
"Thank you; but not so glad as I am," added he, in a lower tone.
"I hope you are very well, Captain Shuffles," interposed Sir William,
stiffly.
"Quite well, I thank you."
"Lady Feodora has been quite ill," added the baronet, "or we should
have been in Brussels by this time."
"I have not been very ill; but father thought we had better remain here
a few days. Now I am almost glad I was ill, since it gives me the
pleasure of seeing you again," continued the young lady, with a
childish candor which brought a frown to the brow of the little
baronet.
"You are very kind, Lady Feodora."
Sir William thought so too.
"We have been all over the castle, Captain Shuffles; and I am going to
be your guide," continued she, playfully.
"I am afraid your health will not permit you to do so much," suggested
Sir William.
"O, I feel quite strong now."
The conversation was interrupted by the appearance of Feodora's father
and mother, who extended to Shuffles a cordial and hearty greeting. Mr.
Lowington and the party were warmly welcomed by the earl's family. The
business of sight-seeing required immediate attention, and Shuffles was
taken into a carriage with his English friends; for the daughter
insisted upon redeeming her promise. Sir William evidently did not
enjoy the excursion; but he was apparently unwilling to be left at the
hotel.
Heidelberg is beautifully located on a narrow strip of land between the
River Neckar and the vast, high rock on which the castle stands. It has
one principal street, nearly three miles long, and contains a
population of about seventeen thousand. It is situated in the midst of
some of the finest scenery in Germany; and all tourists agree in
calling it one of the most delightful residences in Europe. The
students walked through the principal street and along the banks of the
Neckar until dinner time, when Professor Mapps found an opportunity to
say something about the place.
"Heidelberg was once the capital of the Palatinate established here by
the Emperor Otto of Germany in the tenth century. The Palatines were
sub-rulers, whose duty it was to look after the interests of the
emperor. This palatinate, including the northern portion of Baden and a
part of Bavaria, became the most powerful in the empire, and was
divided into the Upper and Lower Palatinates."
"What does _palatinate_ mean, sir?" asked a student.
"It means merely the territory of a sub-ruler, who was called a
_palatine_, from the Latin word _palatium_, a palace. When the throne
of Germany became elective, these palatines chose the emperor, and for
this reason were called electors-palatine, or simply electors. The
castle here was the residence of the elector of this division. The town
has suffered more from the ravages of war than almost any other in
Europe. It has been bombarded five times, burned twice, and captured
and pillaged three times.
"The university is one of the most noted in the world, as well as one
of the oldest in Germany, having been founded in 1386. It has had at
one time nearly nine hundred students, and generally has seven or eight
hundred. It employs the most celebrated professors in Europe,
especially in the departments of law and medicine. Its library contains
some very rare and valuable works, printed and in manuscript."
"What about the duels, sir?" inquired Haven.
"The students here are noted for the duels which take place among them.
Four or five have occurred in a single day, and perhaps they average a
dozen a week. But I wish to say, in the beginning, that duelling and
other vicious practices charged upon the University of Heidelberg are
confined to about one fifth of the whole number of students. They are
not all duellists, nor all inordinate beer-drinkers. Probably they are
no worse than the residents at other universities, though the duels are
certainly exceptional. Four fifths of the students here are devoted to
their studies, improve their time to the utmost, and never engage in,
or even see, a duel.
"These combats--which they are, rather than duels--take place at the
Hirschgasse, a lonely hotel on the other side of the Neckar. The
fighting and dissipated students form themselves into clubs, called
'chores,' among which a great deal of jealousy and ill feeling
prevails. The fights are to avenge insults, to 'see who is the best
fellow,' or between representatives of different chores, who battle for
the honor of their clubs. The champions fight with blunt swords ground
sharp on the two edges. They slash each other, but do not thrust, so
that the combats seldom result in mortal wounds.
"In a fight for the honor of the clubs, the parties tie up their necks
and right arms in bandages and cushions. When they fight for the
satisfaction of an injury or insult, they have no protection. The
combat, in all cases, is decided in fifteen minutes; and at the end of
this time, the one who has the fewest cuts is declared to be the best
fellow. If one of the champions is severely injured in less than
fifteen minutes, so that he cannot continue the fight, it is finished
up on another occasion. A surgeon is always in attendance to decide
whether a wounded contestant is able to go on. The police are on the
watch for these fights; but the students station sentinels for some
distance from the arena of contest, and the approach of an officer is
communicated to them in season to enable the combatants to escape. I
need not add, that these duels are brutal and disgraceful. It looks as
though the police winked at them.
"In some of these clubs, the ability to drink from a dozen to thirty
glasses of beer at a sitting is a necessary qualification for
admission. But these beastly and brutal tendencies belong, I repeat, to
a minority of the students."
After the lecture, the party started for the castle, Shuffles riding
with the earl's family, and Paul with the Arbuckles, while the rest
walked. Heidelberg Castle has the reputation of being one of the most
imposing and interesting ruins in Europe. The grounds are quite
extensive, and full of curious objects. The students wandered through
the halls and subterranean vaults till they came to the famous _tun_,
which is thirty-six feet long, and twenty-four feet high, having a
capacity of eight hundred hogsheads. It was employed to contain the
wine of the vineyards; but it has not been used during the last hundred
years. A run to the Königstuhl, or King's Seat,--a high hill behind the
castle, which commands a magnificent view of the valleys of the Neckar
and the Rhine, and of the mountains in the vicinity,--finished the work
of the week.
As the next day was Sunday, the party remained at Heidelberg, and
attended church at the English chapel in the forenoon. In the afternoon
they visited the Church of the Holy Ghost, which has a partition
through the entire length of it, dividing it into two equal parts, one
of which is used by the Catholics, and the other by the Protestants.
Services in both take place at the same time.
On Monday morning the excursionists, including the earl's party,
proceeded to Darmstadt. When Lady Feodora had taken a back seat next to
the window, in a compartment of the railway carriage, she insisted that
Shuffles should have the seat opposite, much to the disgust of Sir
William, who usually occupied that position. In fact, he was angry, and
did not take much pains to conceal his ill-will. It is doubtful whether
Shuffles understood the matter, but the young lady was very strongly
interested in him. She did not like the baronet, and she did like the
young commander. As the latter had rendered her a signal service on
Lake Constance, she felt justified in extending unusual attentions to
him. Sir William was jealous, as well he may have been; for his
lady-love hardly condescended to notice him, while all her smiles were
bestowed upon the gallant young seaman.
There was nothing especial to be seen in Darmstadt, and after the party
had walked through the principal street, and glanced at the Grand Ducal
Palace, they were ready to continue their journey to Frankfurt, where
they arrived in less than an hour, and repaired to the _Hôtel de
Russie_ for dinner. Mr. Drexel, one of the landlords, was especially
devoted to the party, and afforded them every facility for seeing the
city in the shortest possible time. The dinner was capital, and when it
had been disposed of by the hungry students, they were in condition to
hear Professor Mapps.
"Darmstadt, where we spent an hour this forenoon," said the professor,
"is the capital of Hesse Darmstadt, which consists of two divisions of
territory, separated by a strip of land belonging to Hesse Cassel and
Frankfurt. It has an area of thirty-two hundred square miles,--being
about two thirds of the size of Connecticut--and a population of about
eight hundred and fifty thousand. It is a constitutional monarchy in
its government, the Grand Duke Ludwig III. being the sovereign. The
word _Hesse_, applied to several of the German states, indicates
that they are parts of the original territory which bore that name. One
of its rulers divided his country into four unequal parts, and gave
them to his sons. Two of the descendants of these sons dying without
children, there remained only Hesse Cassel and Hesse Darmstadt. Hesse
Homburg formerly belonged to Darmstadt, but was ceded to another branch
of the reigning family in 1622. It is composed of two parts; the
smaller, containing forty-three square miles, and eleven thousand five
hundred inhabitants, is about ten miles north of Frankfurt; the other
portion, having eighty-five square miles, and fourteen thousand five
hundred inhabitants, is on the other side of the Rhine.[4]
[4] Hanover, Hesse Cassel, Hesse Homburg, Nassau, the part of
Hesse Darmstadt north of the Maine, Hohenzollern, and Frankfurt
were annexed to Prussia in 1866.
"Frankfurt-on-the-Maine, so called to distinguish it from
Frankfurt-on-the-Oder, is a free city, and the capital of the Germanic
Confederation. It is a little nationality by itself, having the right
to make its own local laws, levy duties, and other powers belonging to
a state. It is represented in the Federal Diet. This territory includes
nine villages, besides the city proper, with a population of about
seventy-five thousand. It is a very old city, and is mentioned in
history in the time of Charlemagne, who had a palace here. This city is
the original home of the Rothschilds, the great bankers, upon whom even
princes wait--when they are short of money. The family are Jews, who
form a considerable part of the population of Frankfurt. The house in
which several, if not all, the prominent sons were born, is shown in
the Judengasse, or Jews Street. The laws were formerly very severe upon
the Israelites. They were compelled to reside in their own quarter,
where the gates were closed upon them at an early hour. A regulation
forbade the celebration of more than thirteen marriages among the race
in the city within a year. All these stringent laws have been
rescinded.
"Göthe, the German poet, was born in Frankfurt; and you will see his
house, which contains some relics of him. Luther, the Reformer, also
resided here for a time. The city is noted for the wealth of its
merchants, and there are many magnificent private residences within its
limits."
The professor finished his lecture, and the party started to see the
sights to which he had alluded. The old cathedral, with its unfinished
tower, was very much like many others they had seen. Within its chapel
all the elected emperors were crowned in front of the high altar. The
Town Hall was the scene of the festivities which followed the election
of an emperor. He was feasted in the banquet hall, where the kings and
princes of his empire waited upon him at table, in token of their
subservience. A whole ox was roasted in the market-place,--into which
the students looked from the windows,--and the emperor ate a slice,
while from a fountain flowing with wine the cup-bearer filled his
flagon. The room is hung with portraits of the emperors, under most of
which are placed the mottoes adopted at their coronation.
Passing across to the Hirschgraben, the tourists visited the house
where Göthe was born. Over the front door is the coat of arms of the
poet's father, which consists of three lyres, as if to prefigure the
destiny of the genius who first saw the light within its walls. Göthe's
room is a garret, wherein his portrait, his autograph, and his
washstand are exhibited. His statue stands near the theatre, and one of
Schiller in front of the guard-house. From the house of the poet, the
party went to the Städel Museum, filled with fine pictures, mostly by
Dutch and German artists, which is named for its founder, a liberal
banker, who gave four hundred thousand dollars to the institution,
besides a collection of artistic works. From the museum, the students,
after a walk of over a mile, reached the Jewish quarter, glanced at the
Rothschild House, the synagogue, and other buildings, returning to the
_Hôtel de Russie_ at dark.
On the following morning the party went to Homburg, nine miles distant,
where they spent the rest of the day. The town is another watering-place,
and has increased in popularity till it outrivals Baden-Baden,
Wiesbaden, or any other fashionable resort in Germany. It has its
medicinal springs, which are beneficial in a variety of diseases. The
_Kurhaus_ is the most magnificent in Europe, containing lofty halls,
elegantly frescoed, for dancing, gambling, for restaurants and
reading-rooms. As in Baden-Baden, the gambling monopoly is in the hands
of French speculators, and the lavish expenditure upon the gardens,
buildings, and other appointments is an instructive commentary on the
chances which favor the visitor disposed to try his fortune.
"Commodore," said Ben Duncan, who was now the second master of the
Josephine, as they met at the _Hôtel Quatre Saisons_ in the evening, "I
have lost two hundred florins."
"What!" exclaimed Paul.
"Certainly, Mr. Duncan, you have not been gambling," added Grace
Arbuckle, looking as sad as though she had lost a dear friend.
"I lost two hundred florins out in that dog-house," replied Ben, who
was the wag of the party, and a general favorite.
"What dog-house?" inquired Paul.
"Why, the big one--_auf dem Platz_."
"Do you mean the Kursaal?" asked Paul.
"Mr. Fetridge calls it a dog-house, in Harper's Hand Book."
"No."
"The cur-house--what's the difference?"
"U in German is pronounced like double o. But you don't mean to say you
have been gambling, Ben?" added Paul.
"I said I had lost two hundred florins," replied Ben, with a most
lugubrious expression.
"Impossible!"
"I was standing near the table, in the grand gambling _hell_,--I
beg pardon, hall,--watching the play, when I saw a Russian czar, king,
grand dook, poly-wog, or something of that sort, win two hundred
florins at one fell swoop. Now, thinks I to myself, if I should put
down two hundred florins, and win, I should make two hundred florins by
the operation. I didn't do it--so I'm two hundred florins out."
Ben dropped his chin, and looked very sad, while Grace and Paul laughed
heartily, perhaps more at the "face" the wag made, than at the joke he
had perpetrated.
"I hope your losses will always be of this description, Ben," added
Paul.
"Probably they will be while each student is allowed only a florin a
day for pocket-money," replied Ben. "There is to be a grand concert in
the dog-house this evening. Of course we shall go!"
"Certainly."
"Suppose we walk down now."
"If you please; but don't call it a dog-house."
"Well, it is a gambling-hole, and I don't know but it is a libel on the
dog to call it so," answered Ben, as they walked towards the Kursaal.
Most of the excursionists were headed in that direction. Shuffles was
with the earl's party, though, strangely enough, Sir William was not at
the side of Lady Feodora. They seated themselves in the grand
apartment, and gazed with interest at the brilliant scene before them.
"Where can Sir William be?" said Lady Blankville.
"I do not know, mother," replied Feodora, languidly, as though she did
not care where he was.
"I haven't seen him these two hours."
"Nor I," added Feodora, in a tone which indicated that she did not wish
to see him for two hours more.
"I will look for him, if you desire," suggested Shuffles.
"O, no! Do not trouble yourself," replied Feodora. "Perhaps he is
looking at the play."
"Pray, do, if you please, Captain Shuffles," interposed the countess.
Lady Feodora was too dutiful a girl to object, and the commander went
to the gambling-rooms. At the roulette table he found the baronet,
playing with a zeal which indicated that this was not the first time he
had indulged in the baneful game. He was not staking large sums, but he
was losing about three out of four times that he put down his money.
"I beg your pardon, Sir William, but Lady Blankville is anxious to see
you," whispered Shuffles in his ear.
"Lady Blankville!" exclaimed the baronet, turning from the table as he
lost his last stake, and walking towards the concert-room.
"Lady Blankville," repeated the captain.
"Lady Feodora is not anxious to see me--is she?" said Sir William,
bitterly.
"She did not say that she was," replied Shuffles.
"No; she did not!" added the baronet, stopping suddenly, and looking
his companion in the face. "Will you do me the favor to walk in the
garden with me?"
"While the ladies are waiting for us, it is hardly proper to be absent
from them," replied Shuffles, troubled by the manner of the young
gentleman.
"Perhaps you are right," mused Sir William. "Will you meet me alone at
the hotel, after the ladies have retired?"
"For what purpose?" inquired Shuffles, nervously.
"I have not time to explain now. Will you meet me?" continued the
baronet, earnestly.
"If possible, I will."
They joined the party in the concert-room. Sir William was cool, and
inclined to be morose. Shuffles was rather disturbed by his manner,
and could not help wondering for what purpose the baronet wished to
meet him alone. He had not failed to see that Lady Feodora regarded her
travelling companion, whose relations to her he could only infer, with
a feeling bordering upon aversion, and that her demeanor towards him
was in marked contrast with her bearing towards himself. He was afraid
the proposed meeting related to this subject. While the party were
listening to the enchanting music of the band, he tried to ascertain
whether he had said or done anything to give offence to the baronet. It
was not his fault that the lady did not like Sir William, and rebelled
against the relation which appeared to exist in form between them. But
the captain was willing to give the baronet any explanation he might
demand, and hoped that all unpleasant feelings would be removed by the
interview.
After the tourists had returned to the hotel, and the ladies had gone
to their rooms, Shuffles walked up and down the hall till the baronet
joined him. Taking his arm, Sir William led him to an unfrequented part
of the garden, and there halted.
"Captain Shuffles, I believe you are a gentleman, and have the
instincts of a gentleman," the young Englishman began.
"I trust I have," replied Shuffles, not a little agitated, for the
manner of his companion was very earnest and serious.
"You have placed me under very great obligations to you. I cheerfully
acknowledge them. I am willing to believe that both Lady Feodora and
myself would have been drowned but for your plucky conduct and generous
efforts in our behalf on Lake Constance."
"I am very glad to have served you, and I assure you I hold you to no
obligations of any kind," replied Shuffles. "I simply did what I
regarded as my duty, which my sea life fitted me to perform."
"Having acknowledged my obligations, you will permit me to add, that I
think you are making a very unfair and ungenerous use of your position.
After your noble conduct on the lake, I expected something like
magnanimity from you. I am sorry to say I have been disappointed,"
continued Sir William, bitterly.
"Really, I do not understand you," replied the captain, amazed at the
sudden turn in the style of his companion.
"Is it possible that you do not comprehend my relations with Lady
Feodora?" demanded the baronet. "Let me explain, then, that we have
been affianced from our childhood."
"Indeed!"
"You could not help seeing that our relations were of this kind."
"I did suppose there was something of this description."
"Then allow me to say again that you have made a very ungenerous use of
your position."
"In what respect?"
"You have extended to Lady Feodora many attentions," said the baronet,
becoming more and more excited.
"Only ordinary courtesies."
"But such courtesies as belong to me rather than to you. I am devotedly
attached to her."
"If any of my attentions were not agreeable to the lady, she had only
to decline them."
"There you presume upon the position which circumstances have given
you."
"If Lady Feodora is attached to you----"
"She is not attached to me."
"Then you make a very ungenerous use of your position," retorted
Shuffles, rather warmly.
"What do you mean, sir?" demanded Sir William.
"If your parents and hers made a bargain for her which she repudiates,
I say it is ungenerous in you to use such an advantage as that bargain
gives you."
"Do you mean to insult me?"
"Certainly not; only to speak as plainly as you have spoken. If my
presence is disagreeable to the lady, I will avoid her."
"Your presence is not disagreeable to her," added Sir William, unable
to conceal his vexation.
"Then you will excuse me if I decline to treat her with the rudeness
you suggest."
"I find I am mistaken in you, and I regret that you compel me to ignore
the obligations under which you have placed me."
"I cheerfully absolve you from any obligations which may weigh heavily
upon you. But I assure you, I have no ill-will towards you, and I shall
continue to treat you with courtesy and kindness. In about a week, our
ship's company will return to Brest, and sail for the United States. It
is not probable that I shall ever see Lady Feodora or you again."
"Will you pledge yourself never to see her again after this week?"
demanded Sir William.
"I will not--certainly not," replied Shuffles. "I do not purpose to
interfere in any way with your relations to her. If she desires to see
me, and it is possible for me to see her, I shall not deny myself that
pleasure."
The baronet suddenly turned upon his heel, and walked rapidly towards
the hotel. Shuffles was amazed. He could not conceal from himself the
truth that he was deeply interested in Lady Feodora, though no thought
of anything beyond friendship occurred to either of them. They might or
might not continue in company for another week, and then part, in all
human probability, forever in this world. Still, the situation was
novel enough to be exciting, and he lay awake, thinking of it, for
several hours that night. But in the morning Sir William appeared as
usual, and probably, on reflection, had decided not to do any desperate
deed.
At seven o'clock the excursionists returned by train to Frankfurt. It
was decided then that, as Wiesbaden, one of the celebrated German
watering-places, was only a repetition of Baden-Baden and Homburg, the
company should proceed direct to Mayence, where they arrived by nine
o'clock.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CASTLES, VINEYARDS, AND MOUNTAINS.
As the students were crossing the bridge to Mayence, they obtained a
full view of one of the great rafts of timber which float down the
Rhine, and of which Professor Mapps had spoken to them at Dort, in
Holland. However, it was much smaller than those of which they had
heard, and they hoped to see another. The students were not disposed to
"do" Mayence, being too impatient to witness the glories of the Rhine.
But most of them, from a sense of duty rather than from an interest in
the place, visited the principal attractions of the city.
"Mayence is the French name of the town," said the professor of
geography and history, as the students collected in the railroad
station, previous to the tramp. "The German name is Mainz, which is
pronounced Mynts--y like long i. If you pronounce it in any other way,
a German will not know what you mean. It was an old Roman town. A
fortress was established here to keep back the barbarians. It was
formerly a larger and more important city than at present, having now a
population of only forty thousand.
"This place has done two grand things for civilization and for Europe.
It was the cradle of the art of printing, and furnished the man who
suppressed the robber knights. As you go down the Rhine, you will see
the ruins of many old castles on the hills by the banks of the river.
The nobles, who occupied them as strongholds, carried on a system of
robbery, levying duties upon all who travelled on its waters or passed
through their territory. Arnold von Walpoden suggested the plan which
led to a confederation of the cities for the driving out of the
knightly highwaymen, and the destruction of their strongholds. They
were feudal lords, and the breaking of their power opened the way for
the progress of civilization.
"Mayence was the birthplace of Gutemberg, who invented movable types
for printing, and reduced the art to practice. You will see the site of
the house where he was born, and the building which contained his first
printing-office."
After this brief explanation the party walked to the cathedral, a very
ancient structure, possessing much historical interest. Opposite the
theatre they saw the statue of Gutemberg, and the guide pointed out the
place where his house stood, and the old building in which he and Faust
took their first proofs from types.
At twelve o'clock the tourists went on board of the steamer Königin von
Preussen, and realized that they had actually embarked for the trip
down the Rhine. They had seen the river at Basle, Constance, and
Schaffhausen, had crossed it at Strasburg, and obtained views of it
from different points on their route. The steamer was unworthy of the
noble river, and if the palatial boats of the Hudson could be run upon
its waters, they would lend a new charm to the scenery. The Rhine
steamers are small, compared with the Hudson river boats, and far from
being elegant. They have no saloon on deck, though a couple of small
apartments, abaft the paddle-boxes, are pretentiously called
"pavilions." They are appropriated to first class passengers, and are
seldom used except by travellers who wish to be very exclusive. The
second class passengers occupy the main cabin and the deck abaft the
wheels. Meals are served below, or, for an extra price, upon little
tables on deck. The third class travellers have the forward deck, with
piles of luggage to lounge upon. The relative fares are as the ratios
four, six, and nine. From Mayence to Bingen the time is about two
hours, and the fares are eight, twelve, and eighteen silver groschen.
The steamers stop at all the principal landings, and passengers are
occasionally brought off in small boats from other places.
The company dined in the cabin before the Königin started, so as not to
lose a single view. The dinner was an excellent one, and cheap, the
ordinary price being seventeen silver groschen, or about forty-one
cents. When served to private parties on deck, the price is one thaler,
or seventy-two cents.
"Are those steamboats?" asked Paul, pointing to a number of boats with
houses on deck, and having immense wheels.
"No," replied Dr. Winstock. "They are mills for grinding grain."
"But what turns the wheels?"
"They are moored as you see them in the river, and the current turns
the wheels, which are very large, so as to gain power."
"That's a new idea to me," added Paul.
"I have seen just such in the Alabama River, in our own country,"
replied the surgeon.
"It is certainly a very good way to obtain the power."
The boat started, and soon made a landing at Biebrich, on the other
side of the river, where passengers from Frankfurt, Homburg, and
Wiesbaden usually take the steamers. As the Königin proceeded on her
way, a feeling of general disappointment pervaded the minds of the
party, who had not seen the river before.
"It does not compare with the Hudson," protested Paul.
"Wait, Paul!" said the doctor, with a smile.
"How long shall I wait?"
"Two hours. You must not be hasty in your judgment."
"What is this town on the right?" asked Grace.
"Eltville. Do you see the white building in the midst of the vineyards,
some distance down the river?" said the doctor, pointing to the shore.
"I see it."
"That is the château of Johannisberg, belonging to Prince Metternich,
formerly a celebrated prime minister of Austria. Those vineyards are
the most noted in the world. The famous Johannisberger wine is made
from these grapes. It sells here for five or six dollars a bottle,
where ordinary kinds can be bought for twenty cents, and even less. The
grapes are very precious, and are kept upon the vines till they are
nearly rotten. Those that fall off are picked up with a kind of fork,
so valuable are they deemed. Of the seventy acres contained in the
vineyard, only a small portion produces the best wine, which is not
found except in the cellars of kings and princes. This is Rüdesheim,
where the boat will make a landing," added Dr. Winstock, as the steamer
stopped her wheels. "A famous wine is also made here. It is said that
Charlemagne, seeing from his castle windows, near Mayence, how early
the snow disappeared from the heights below us, ordered vines from
France to be set out here; and from these vines is produced the noted
Rüdesheimer wine.
"What place is this?" inquired Paul, at a point where the course of the
river seemed to be obstructed by rocks and hills.
"Bingen on the Rhine," said the surgeon. "Here the waters of the river
are crowded in a narrow space. Look upon the hills around you, and see
how every foot of ground is economized for the vineyards. Where the
hill-sides are too steep for cultivation, they are formed into
terraces, as you see them."
The steamer stopped a few moments at Bingen, which contains about
seventy-five hundred inhabitants.
"On our left, now, are the dominions of the King of Prussia--the
Rhenish provinces. On our right, as before, is the Duchy of Nassau.
What do you think of the Rhine now?" asked Dr. Winstock.
"It is improving, certainly," laughed Paul. "The scenery is really very
grand and very fine. I will give it up now. It is finer than the
Hudson. But where are the old castles?"
"There is one of them," answered the doctor, pointing to a ruin which
crowned a hill on the right. "That is the Castle of Ehrenfels. There is
a legend connected with about every one of them. There is the Mouse
Tower."
The doctor pointed to a stone structure rising from the river a short
distance from the shore. It was certainly a very romantic building, and
in a very romantic situation.
"What is the story about this tower?" asked Paul.
"If you take Southey's works when you return to the ship, you will find
in them, 'The Tradition of Bishop Hatto.' He was the Archbishop of
Mayence, and during a famine kept his granaries, well filled with food,
locked, and, by his own profusion and high living, excited his starving
subjects to revolt. The prelate ordered the rebels to be arrested,
confined them in a building, and set it on fire. Not content with this
outrage, he added insult to injury by mocking the wail of the
sufferers, and comparing their cries with the squeaking of mice. In the
night which followed the diabolical deed, a swarm of mice penetrated to
the apartments of the archbishop's palace, attacked him, and tried to
tear the flesh from his bones. Appalled by this poetic justice, the
cruel prelate fled, and, taking to the river, reached this insulated
tower. Suspending his bed in the upper part of the structure, he
struggled to escape from the mice, as merciless as he had himself been.
But the mice followed him, and he could not avoid the doom that was in
store for him. Vainly he resisted. The rats attacked him, and he
suffered a lingering and horrible death. It is but fair to add that
history gives the archbishop a different character. Do you happen to
know the meaning of the German word _mauth_?"
"A duty, or a toll," replied Grace.
"The German for mouse is _maus_, and probably it is in this instance
corrupted from _mauth_; for nothing could have made the tower and its
owners more odious than the collection of duties from voyagers on the
river. There is a sad story connected with the Brömserberg Castle,
which we saw above. Brömser of Rüdesheim went to Palestine with the
crusaders, and, while there, distinguished himself by slaying a dragon
which made itself very annoying to the Christian army. He was
immediately after captured by the Saracen forces, and reduced to
slavery. While in this condition, he made a solemn vow, that if he were
ever permitted to return to his castle again, he would give his only
daughter to the church. Improving an opportunity to kill his guard, he
succeeded in reaching his home, where he was met by his daughter, a
lovely young woman, who was betrothed to a young knight. Her father
told her of the vow he had taken. Tearfully she entreated him to change
his purpose; but his pledge to the church could not be set aside.
Brömser threatened her with his curse if she refused to obey. Life had
no charms apart from the young knight, and she determined to die. In
the midst of a violent storm, she threw herself from the castle
battlements into the river, and her corpse was found the next day, by a
fisherman, near the Mouse Tower. The boatmen and peasants say, to this
day, that they sometimes see the pale form of Gisela hovering above the
castle, mingling her wails with the moanings of the storm."
"That's a very pretty story, and I suppose young ladies in that age
were like those of the present," added Paul. "Perhaps more so, for now
they don't throw themselves from walls into a damp river for such a
cause."
"There's another castle!" exclaimed Grace, pointing to the left.
"That is Rheinstein, a castle which has been restored, and is the
summer residence of a Prussian prince. Below the castle, where the road
runs between the rock and the river, tolls were levied upon Jews who
passed that way. And it is even said that the collectors had little
dogs trained to know a Jew from a Christian, and to seize him with
their teeth."
Castle-crowned heights succeeded each other in rapid succession; and in
this part of the river they are so thick, that our students had to keep
their eyes wide open in order to see them all. Rocky steeps rose from
the verge of the water; and wherever there was any soil, or any earth
could find a resting-place, the spot was made into a vineyard.
Sometimes the vines have to be planted in baskets, while all the steep
hillsides are terraced to the height of a thousand feet above the
river. To reach these plats of ground, the peasants, male and female,
must climb the steeps, and everything used there must be carried up on
the shoulders. The vine-dressers are a very industrious people, and
nothing but the most determined perseverance could induce them to
cultivate these lofty artificial beds.
The towns on the banks of the Rhine are picturesque, and one never
tires of looking at them. Indeed, half a dozen voyages down the Rhine
no more than enable the tourist to see all its wonders and all its
beauties.
"Stahlech Castle," said Dr. Winstock, pointing to a ruin on the left.
"It was the palace of the Elector Palatine. Between the castle and the
hill are the remains of St. Werner's Chapel. In the middle ages, it is
said that the Jews at Oberwesel, farther down the river, crucified a
Christian named Werner, and threw the body into the stream. Instead of
descending with the current, it was carried by a supernatural agency up
the river, from which it was taken at Bacharach, the town we are
approaching, interred, and afterwards canonized. The chapel was built
over the grave. Doubtless the story was invented to afford a pretext to
rob and persecute the Hebrews, though in former ages such excuses seem
to have been hardly needed."
"There is another castle in the river," said Grace, as the boat left
Bacharach. "It is an odd-looking building."
"That is the _Pfalz_, and the town on the right is Caub. A toll was
paid here by all vessels navigating the river. The Duke of Nassau
inherited the right to levy this tax, and exercised the right to
collect it, until three or four years ago. The _Pfalz_ was his
toll-house. In the middle ages, thirty-two tolls were levied at the
different stations on the river. Schönberg Castle is on the left. What
does the word mean?"
"Beautiful hill," replied Grace.
"It is called so because the occupant had seven beautiful daughters,
who were sad flirts. All the young knights in the vicinity were
bewitched by their beauty, but they were so hard-hearted that they
would accept none of them; and, as the penalty of their obduracy, they
were changed into seven rocks, and planted in the middle of the river,
where you will presently see them."
Passing Oberwesel and the Seven Sisters, the water was considerably
agitated where the current had formerly produced a whirlpool, in its
course among the rocks, which have now been removed by blasting. There
was also a rapid just above it, and the place was very perilous for the
long rafts, which were sometimes dashed to pieces upon the sunken
rocks. The bank of the river on the right rises abruptly to a great
height, and the precipice is called the Lurlei. It has an echo which
gives back fifteen repetitions of the original sound. It sometimes
makes intelligent replies; and wicked students put to it the question,
"Who is the burgomaster of Oberwesel?" To which it responds, "Esel,"
which, in English, means an ass. The burgomaster intends to have it
indicted for slander.
This echo, which repeats the sounds from below, and the wild character
of the region, have produced a legend that the place is haunted by a
beautiful but wicked water nymph, who lured the voyager, by her
witching voice, to the rocks and the whirlpool, where his boat was
dashed to pieces.
St. Goar and St. Goarhausen are opposite each other, on little shelves
under the brow of the continuous range of hills which wall in the Rhine
for miles. The railroad extends along the left bank of the river, in
the rear of which is Rheinfels Castle,--the most extensive ruin on the
river,--nearly four hundred feet above the water. The Mouse, on the
other side, is supposed to have some unpleasant relations with the Cat,
farther up the stream. On the right, opposite the small town of Salzig,
are two twin castles, which go by the name of the Brothers. Their
owners, bearing this relation to each other, unfortunately fell in love
with the same beautiful lady, fought for her, and both were killed.
"This is Boppart, a very old place, occupied by the Romans," said Dr.
Winstock, as the steamer made a landing. "You have noticed that the
shelf of land on each side of the river, grows wider and the hills are
farther from the stream. Between this point and Bingen, the Rhine makes
its passage through the mountains. Some suppose the river, at a remote
period, forced its way through the range, and formed the narrow gorge
which we have passed, and that the country as far back as Basle was a
vast lake, for various sea shells and fossils are found there.
Marksburg Castle, on your right, is very much like the one you saw at
Baden-Baden; and a walk through its deep dungeons hewn out of the rock,
its torture-rooms, and its subterranean galleries, is enough to inspire
a sensation novel."
"Dear me!" yawned Grace, "I am almost tired of castles."
"I think Captain Shuffles is also," added Paul. "I notice that he
hardly looks at them. Well, he has something better to look at."
"What?"
"Lady Feodora," laughed Paul.
"The best way to go down the Rhine, if one has the time, is to go from
town to town by railway, and then pass through the region in a steamer,
to put the effects together. I am sorry you are tired of it," said the
surgeon.
"I enjoy the scenery, but I have had about castles enough for one day."
"There are not so many below Coblenz. You have now 'done' the most
beautiful portion of the river, and the trip to-morrow will be hardly
more interesting than the same distance on the Hudson."
The young people devoted some time to conversation with each other; but
the doctor pointed out the Königstuhl, where the seven electors used to
sit, and where emperors were elected, and sometimes dethroned.
"Lahnech Castle has a peculiar interest," he continued, as he called
the attention of the group to a château on the right. "It belonged to
the order of Knights Templars, which was founded, in 1118, for the
protection of pilgrims, and the defence of the Holy Sepulchre at
Jerusalem. The institution became renowned, and extended all over the
world. It was very rich and powerful, and therefore disliked by the
clergy, who finally overthrew it. Those residing here were attacked in
their castle, which was captured only after the last of its brave
defenders had been slain. On the other side is Stotzenfels, or Proud
Rock--a title which it deserves. Upon it is the beautiful château of
the King of Prussia."
A short time after, the steamer reached Coblenz, where the
excursionists were to spend the night.
CHAPTER XIX.
COBLENZ AND COLOGNE.
Apartments had been engaged at the _Riese_, or Giant Hotel, near the
landing. It was too dark to see anything of the town, but the students
wandered about the streets, looking into the beer shops, which they
dared not enter, and observing the evening life of the Germans. To many
of them this occupation was more interesting than visiting old castles,
or even modern palaces, especially after they had become old stories.
Paul, Shuffles, and some others found themselves more pleasantly
entertained at the hotel.
After breakfast the next morning, the tourists made a business of
seeing the place. The town occupies a tongue of land at the junction of
the Moselle with the Rhine. It is strongly fortified, on the land side,
with works which it required twenty years to build, and there are forts
all around the city, which is intended to be a stronghold for the
defence of Prussia against an invading army from France.
The Church of St. Castor, at the confluence of the rivers, is a very
ancient structure, in which the grandchildren of Charlemagne met to
make a division of the empire. Napoleon, on his march to invade Russia,
caused a fountain to be erected in front of this church, bearing an
inscription commemorating the event. The French army was overwhelmed,
and a Russian force, pursuing the remnant of it, arrived at Coblenz.
The general saw the obnoxious record, but instead of erasing it, he
added the sarcastic sentence, "Seen and approved by us, the Russian
commandant of the city of Coblenz," which remains to this day.
The party visited some of the principal edifices in the city, including
the palace, in which the King of Prussia sometimes resides, and then
crossed the Rhine on the bridge of boats to the immense fortress called
Ehrenbreitstein, the meaning of which is "honor's bright stone." It was
a fortress in the middle ages, and was unsuccessfully besieged by the
French in 1688, though it was less fortunate in 1799, when the garrison
was starved into a surrender, and it was blown up. In 1814 the
Prussians commenced the work of restoring it, and since that time they
have been continually strengthening and enlarging it. The series of
military works, of which this fortress is the principal, are capable of
holding one hundred thousand men, but five thousand are sufficient to
garrison them. The magazine will hold provisions enough to supply eight
thousand men ten years. It mounts four hundred pieces of cannon. The
rocks have been hewn out into bomb-proofs and battlements, and art has
done its utmost to strengthen the place.
The parade is on the top of the rock, beneath which vast cisterns have
been constructed, which will contain a three years' supply of water. In
addition to these, a well, four hundred feet deep, cut in the rock,
communicates with the Rhine, which is to be used only on an emergency,
as the river water is unwholesome. The river seen from the parade is
very beautiful, but the company were obliged to hasten back to Coblenz,
in order to dine in season for the afternoon steamer to Cologne.
At one o'clock the voyage down the Rhine was renewed, and the students,
after their long ramble in the forenoon, were glad to use the camp
stools on the deck of the steamer. Village after village was passed,
but the scenery was less grand than that seen the day before. There
were fewer castles to be seen on the heights, though Dr. Winstock could
hardly tell the story of one before another required attention. The
railroads which extend along each side of the river, in several
instances, passed under castles, towers, and ruins, whose foundations
have been tunnelled for the purpose. At Andernach, the mountains on
both sides come close to the river again, and the water flows through a
kind of gorge between them.
"At Brohl, which you see on the left, a peculiar kind of stone is
found, which has the property of hardening under water, and is,
therefore, in great demand for the manufacture of cement," said Dr.
Winstock. "The ancients used it for coffins, because the stone absorbed
the moisture from the bodies. These quarries were worked by the Romans,
who had a road to Cologne on the left bank of the river."
"There are mountains on the right," said Grace, some time afterwards.
"Those are the Siebengebirge, as they are called. Though the name
indicates seven mountains, there are thirty summits. They are very
picturesque, but they are only ten or fifteen hundred feet high,"
continued the doctor.
"There is a beautiful island in the middle of the river," added Paul.
"It has an old building on it, and is covered with trees."
"That is Nonnenwerth, and the building is a convent. Do you see the
castle on the left bank, opposite the island?"
"I see it."
"You must read Herr Bernard's Legends of the Rhine. You will find the
book in Cologne, both in German and in English, though the English of
the latter is execrable. You will find in it the story of Rolandseck,
the castle on the left, and Nonnenwerth. Roland was the nephew of
Charlemagne. He was engaged to a daughter of the Lord of Drachenfels,
whose castle you see on the opposite side of the river. He went away to
the wars, and during his absence, a false report came back that he was
killed at Roncesvalles. His betrothed, in despair, entered the convent
on the island, and took the black veil. Roland returned, but could not
reclaim the bride. He built the castle on the left, where he could
overlook her retreat, and lived the lonely life of a hermit. One
evening, while he was gazing down upon the convent, he heard the bell
toll, and saw a procession of nuns escorting a coffin to the chapel.
His page soon brought him the intelligence that his lady was dead. He
ordered his horse to be saddled immediately, and hastened to Spain,
where, in a battle with the Moors, he was killed."
"Then these are the Drachenfels, on our right," said Grace.
"They are 'The Castled Crags of Drachenfels,' as Byron sings. From the
top of this precipice, Cologne, twenty miles distant, can be seen."
"And that large town is Bonn," said Paul.
"Yes; the electors of Cologne--not the city, but the
electorate--formerly resided here. The vast palace built for them in
1730, which is nearly a quarter of a mile long, is now used by the
University of Bonn, where Prince Albert, Queen Consort, of England, was
a student. The city has about twenty thousand inhabitants, and is a
very beautiful place. When I was here, six years ago, I went out about
a mile and a half to a church, on the top of the Kreuzberg. It formerly
belonged to a convent; and in a chapel behind the high altar are
exhibited what are called the Sacred Stairs, which led up to Pilate's
judgment hall. No one is allowed to ascend them except upon his knees,
and the stains of blood falling from the wounds caused by the Saviour's
crown of thorns are pointed out. Those believe who can and will. There
is a vault under the church, reached by a trap-door in the floor,
which, by some remarkable property, has preserved undecayed the bodies
of twenty-five monks. They lie in open coffins, clothed in cassocks and
cowls. They are dried up, and look like mummies. Some of them were
buried there four hundred years ago."
"What a horrible sight!" exclaimed the sensitive Grace.
"I did not see anything very horrible about it," replied the doctor,
with a smile; "but I am a surgeon by profession. In Italy and Sicily
there are many such exhibitions of the dead."
Below Bonn the banks of the river are level, or gently undulating,
reminding the traveller of the Delaware above Philadelphia. The scenery
is pleasant, but rather tame after the experience of the Drachenfels.
At five o'clock the steamer reached Cologne, and passing under the
great iron bridge, and through the bridge of boats, made her landing at
the quay. The Grand Hotel Royal, in which accommodations had been
engaged for the tourists, is situated on the bank of the river, and
many of the party had rooms which overlooked the noble stream. There is
no pleasanter occupation for a tired person than that of sitting at one
of these windows, watching the flow of the river, and the variety of
scenes which its surface presents.
It was a lively scene at the hotel in the evening. A few of the
students took a walk through the narrow streets; but Cologne is not a
pleasant place to walk in the evening. There are no sidewalks, and some
of the streets are not wide enough to allow two vehicles to pass
abreast, though in the more modern parts of the place this defect has
been remedied. The Hotel Royal has broad halls, though there is no such
thing as a public parlor, where the guests may meet together, as in
American hotels. Captain Shuffles and Lady Feodora were promenading,
while Paul and Grace had seated themselves in the coffee-room.
"I suppose, when we leave Cologne, we shall depart in different
directions," said Shuffles.
"Papa says we shall go direct to Calais," replied Feodora, looking very
sad, as, indeed, she felt when she thought of the separation.
"I believe our company are going by Charleroi to Paris, and from there
to Brest. Probably we shall never meet again."
"O, I hope we shall!" exclaimed Feodora, looking up into his face.
"It is not very probable."
"You may come to England within a few years, perhaps a few months."
"It is possible. If I come out in the ship next spring, we shall sail
up the Baltic, and make our first port at Christiansand, in Norway."
"I am afraid you don't wish to meet me again."
"I would cross the ocean for that alone," protested the gallant young
captain.
"If you wished to meet me, I think you would find a way."
"Perhaps I ought not to meet you again," added Shuffles.
"Not meet me again! Pray why not?"
"Sir William very much prefers that I should not do so."
"Sir William!" repeated she, with an inquiring glance.
"I think he does not like my company very well."
"I do, if he does not."
Shuffles did not mention to her that he had conversed with the baronet
about the matter, and that the latter had used some rather strong
language to him. He was not disposed to make trouble.
"I have some idea of your relations with Sir William," added Shuffles,
with considerable embarrassment.
"I haven't any relations with him, Captain Shuffles," replied she,
fixing her gaze upon the floor, while her face crimsoned with blushes.
"I have been told that you were engaged."
"By our parents--yes. By myself--no. I dislike Sir William very much
indeed; and I know my father will never do anything that will make me
unhappy."
"Pardon me for alluding to the subject," said Shuffles.
"I am very glad you spoke of it."
"I should not have done so, if I had not had some doubts about seeing
you again, even were an opportunity presented."
"Doubts about seeing me?"
"I mean because Sir William dislikes me," stammered the captain.
"He ought not to dislike you, after what you have done for him and me."
"He thinks I am too strong a friend of yours."
"I don't think you are. Why, you saved my life, and I should be very
ungrateful if I did not value your friendship," replied Feodora,
apparently investigating the texture of the wood of which the floor was
composed.
"Then you value it because I rendered you a little service on the
lake," added Shuffles.
"That assured me you were very brave and noble; and I am sure you have
not done anything since which makes me think less of you."
"You are very kind; and it makes me have the blues to think of parting
with you, perhaps never to see or hear from you again."
"Won't you write to me, as Miss Arbuckle does to the commodore, and
tell me about your travels, and about your own country, when you
return?"
"It would be a great satisfaction to me to have the privilege of doing
so," said Shuffles, eagerly.
"I should prize your letters above all others," she replied.
"Will your father allow you to receive them from me?"
"Why should he not?"
"On account of Sir William."
"My father is one of the best and kindest men in the world, and he
loves me with all his great soul. He has even told me that I might
dismiss Sir William, when we return to England, if I found it
impossible to like him," answered Feodora, artlessly; and English girls
speak on such subjects with less reserve than American damsels.
"Here comes Sir William. I shall write to you at the first opportunity
after we separate."
The baronet had been out to smoke; for young as he was, he had already
formed this habit, which was one of Lady Feodora's strong objections to
him,--he gave forth such an odor of tobacco. He frowned and looked
savage when he saw the young couple together; but they continued their
promenade in the hall, though they changed the subject of the
conversation.
"Good evening, Sir William," said Ben Duncan, the inveterate joker, who
saw the effect produced by the coming of the baronet, and wished to
relieve the young couple of his company.
"Good evening, sir," replied the baronet, stiffly; for he was not
disposed to be on very familiar terms with the young republicans.
"A friend of mine at the Gas-house--"
"At the what?" demanded Sir William, with a look of contempt.
"I beg your pardon. I mean the _Gasthaus_. But there were two or three
English nobs there who were so gassy in their style, that I forgot my
Deutsch for the moment. A friend of mine at the Gasthaus, _am
Holländischer Hof_, expressed a strong desire to see you."
"Indeed! What friend of yours could desire to see me?"
"Well, I call him Elfinstone. If I were more polite than I am, I should
say Lord Elfinstone; but he's just as good a fellow as though he were
not a lord."
"Is it possible that Lord Elfinstone is in Cologne?" added the baronet.
"Do you know him?"
"I have not that honor."
"I have. I used to sail him in my father's yacht, when he was in New
York," replied Ben; who, however, under any other circumstances, would
not have troubled himself to make the young nobles better acquainted.
"I will introduce you, if you like."
"Thank you," answered the baronet, with a promptness which indicated
that he appreciated the honor in store for him. "I shall be under great
obligations to you."
Taking the arm of Ben Duncan, who had suddenly risen in the estimation
of Sir William, because he was on familiar terms with so distinguished
a young gentleman as Lord Elfinstone, they left the hotel, very much to
the satisfaction of Shuffles and Feodora.
"Perhaps there is another objection to our meeting again, or at least
to permitting a friendship to grow up between us," said Shuffles,
continuing the subject.
"What can there be?" asked Feodora.
"You belong to the nobility of England, while I am only the son of a
Republican American."
"A fig for the nobility!" exclaimed she. "They are just like other
people."
"I think so myself," replied Shuffles; "but there is some difference of
opinion on that subject."
Sir William was duly presented to Lord Elfinstone, at the Holländischer
Hof, and they did not part till after nine o'clock; so the young couple
had the evening all to themselves. After the ice was broken, they
probably made some progress in establishing a friendship; but as it is
not fair to listen to such conversations, it cannot be reported. The
earl and his lady did not interfere, whatever they thought of the
confidential relations which appeared to be gaining strength between
the captain and their daughter, and they separated only when it was
time to retire.
After breakfast the next morning, Professor Mapps had something to say
about Cologne, and with the consent of Herr Deitzman, the landlord, it
was said in the coffee-room.
"As many of you do not study German, you would not know what was meant
by the name of the city if you saw it printed in that language," the
professor began. "It is written Köln, with the _umlaut_, or diæresis,
over the vowel, which gives it a sound similar to, but not the same as,
the _e_ in the word _met_. It is the third city of Prussia, Berlin and
Breslau alone being larger, and has a population of one hundred and
twenty thousand. On the opposite bank of the Rhine is Deutz, with which
Cologne is connected by an iron bridge and by a bridge of boats. The
former is a grand structure, and worthy of your attention.
"Cologne was originally a colony of Rome, from which comes its name.
Portions of walls built by the Romans will be pointed out to you, and
in the Museum are many relics of the same ancient origin. Agrippina,
the mother of Nero, was born here, her father, the Emperor Germanicus,
being a resident of Cologne at the time. Trajan was here when he was
called to the throne. Clovis was declared king of the Franks at
Cologne. In the fourteenth century it was the most flourishing city of
Northern Europe, and one of the principal depots of the Hanseatic
League, of which I spoke to you on a former occasion. It was called the
Rome of the North, and many Italian customs, such as the carnival, are
still retained in Cologne, though in no other city of this part of
Europe. Several causes--the principal of which was the closing of the
Rhine by the Dutch in the sixteenth century--nearly destroyed the
commercial importance of the place; but the river was opened in 1837
and the city is now growing rapidly.
"One of the principal objects of interest in Cologne is the great
cathedral, called in German the _Domkirche_. It is one of the largest
churches in the world, and if completed on the original plan, it will
rival St. Peter's at Rome. It is five hundred and eleven feet long by
two hundred and thirty-one feet wide. The choir is one hundred and
sixty-one feet high. It has two towers in process of erection, which
will be five hundred feet high, if they are ever completed. It was
commenced in the year 1248, and the work went on, with occasional
interruptions, till about a hundred years ago, when it was suspended by
war. Frederick William, King of Prussia, on his accession to the
throne, caused the work to be resumed; and it required years of labor
and vast sums of money to make the needed repairs, for the structure
was a ruin even while it was unfinished. An association has been formed
to insure its completion, and the present king, as well as his
predecessor, has contributed large sums of money.
"As you came down the river, you saw the huge crane on the summit of
one of the towers, used to hoist up stone and other materials. It has
been there for hundreds of years. When it became insecure by years of
decay it was taken down; but a tremendous thunder-storm, which occurred
soon after, was interpreted by the superstitious citizens as a wrathful
protest of the Deity at its removal, indicating that the people did not
intend to complete the work, and it was repaired and restored to its
original position. Not less than twenty years, with the utmost
diligence, will be required to finish the building, and five millions
of dollars is the estimated expense."
When the professor finished his lecture, the excursionists organized
themselves into little parties to see the sights. As the unruly
elements of the squadron were all in the Josephine, the students were
permitted to go when and where they pleased. The Blankvilles and the
Arbuckles, with Shuffles and Paul, hastened to the cathedral, as it was
but a short distance from the hotel. Sir William was not in attendance,
being engaged with Lord Elfinstone. Dr. Winstock, as usual, did much of
the talking, being entirely familiar with all the localities and
traditions of the city.
The Domhof, or square in which the cathedral stands, is partly filled
with rude sheds, in which the stone for the building is hewn, and much
of the space around the grand structure is covered with stone. Entering
the church, the party walked to the middle of the choir. Its vast
height, its lofty columns, its arches, chapels, and richly-colored
windows filled them with awe and amazement. It was the most magnificent
sight they had ever beheld, and with one consent they were silent as
they gazed upon the architectural glories of the structure. They were
interrupted very soon, however, by the appearance of an official in the
livery of the church, who presented a salver for contributions for the
completion of the building. The earl and Mr. Arbuckle each gave a
napoleon, and other members of the party gave small sums. The gold won
the heart of the official, and he was very polite.
Having observed the effect as a whole, the tourists proceeded to
examine the church in detail. Behind the high altar is the shrine of
the Three Kings of Cologne. They are represented as the Magi, who came
from the east with presents for the infant Saviour. Their bodies are
said to have been brought by the Empress Helena, mother of Constantine
the Great, from the Holy Land to Constantinople, and then sent to
Milan; and when this city was captured by the Emperor Frederick, he
presented them to the Archbishop of Cologne, who placed them in the
principal church. They have always been cherished with the greatest
veneration; were enclosed in costly caskets, and adorned with gold and
silver of immense value, though these have been mostly purloined, or
otherwise appropriated. The skulls of the three kings are inscribed
with their names, in rubies: _Gaspar_, _Melchior_, and _Balthazar_.
Those who show the tomb of the Magi say its treasures are still worth a
million of dollars; but people who go to see sights must see them.
Near the shrine is a slab in the pavement, beneath which is buried the
heart of Marie de Medicis, wife of Henry IV., of France, her body
having been sent to France. In various parts of the church are ancient
and valuable paintings, in several of which the Magi are introduced.
The story of the Three Kings is a cherished tradition in several of the
cities of this part of Europe, and hotels and other public edifices
have been named for them.
Passing out of the church, the party walked around it, in order to
obtain a complete view of the exterior, whose grandeur can hardly be
overrated, even by the enthusiast in architectural beauty. At a
bookstore in the Domhof the party purchased some views of the
cathedral.
"I suppose the ladies will want some cologne, if the gentlemen do not,"
said Dr. Winstock, with a smile.
"I want some," added Paul. "My mother will be delighted with a bottle
of cologne from Cologne itself."
"The reputation of the article is world-wide, and I suppose many
fortunes have been made in the trade. Farina was the original inventor,
and there are not less than twenty-four establishments in this city
which claim to be the rightful owners of the receipt for the pure
article. I see that Murray and Fetridge both award to Jean Marie Farina
the glory of being the right one."
"The original Jacobs," laughed Paul.
"Yes. His place is opposite the Jülich's Platz; and after we have been
to the Churches of St. Cunibert and St. Ursula, we will call upon him.
There is a cologne shop," added the surgeon, as he pointed to the
opposite side of the Domhof. "I bought some there once, and I found it
very good."
There are half a dozen churches in Cologne from six to eight hundred
years old, and our party looked at them with interest. The church of
St. Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins presented to them a very
remarkable display. The saint went from Brittany to Rome with her
virgin band. On their return by way of the Rhine, they were all
massacred at Cologne by the savage Huns. The remains of the saint and
her companions have been gathered together, and enshrined in this
church. The bones are buried under the pavement, displayed in the
walls, or exhibited in glass cases. St. Ursula herself lies in a
coffin, and near her are the skulls of some of her preferred
companions. The chains of St. Peter, and one of the clay vessels which
held the wine of Cana, are also exhibited.
Before dinner time, the party reached the Jülich's Platz, where the
original cologne shop is located. A blast of the vapor of the fragrant
water was blown in each of their faces by the aid of a machine made for
the purpose, and each one bought a supply of the genuine article.
In the afternoon the same party visited the house in the Sternengasse,
in which Rubens was born and Marie de Medicis died. There were objects
of interest enough in the city to occupy the attention of the
excursionists till night.
"Do you find Cologne a very dirty city?" said the doctor, as they were
returning to the hotel.
"Rather so in the old market-place," replied Mr. Arbuckle. "As a whole,
I don't think it is any dirtier than most of the cities of Europe."
"That is just my view. I find that all the guidebooks and all the works
of travel insist upon inserting and indorsing Coleridge's lines on the
subject."
"What are the lines?" asked Paul.
Dr. Winstock took his guide-book and read,--
"Ye nymphs who reign o'er sewers and sinks,
The River Rhine, it is well-known,
Doth wash your city of Cologne;
But tell me, nymphs, what power divine
Shall henceforth wash the River Rhine."
"I protest that it is a slander, whatever it may have been in former
times."
The next morning the tourists took the train for Dusseldorf, where they
spent the forenoon in examining the pictures of the School of Art,
which has its headquarters in this place, and in a walk through the
beautiful Hofgarten. From this place a ride of two hours brought the
party to Aix-la-Chapelle, where they dined at the Hôtel Grand Monarque.
"Aix-la-Chapelle was the birth-place of Charlemagne, who also died
here," said Professor Mapps, after dinner. "The German name of the city
is Aachen, which is derived from _Aachs_, meaning a spring. There are
several warm medicinal springs here, which have a considerable reputation
for their curative properties. The city is called Aix-la-Chapelle from
the chapel which Charlemagne built. From him the place derived its
chief importance. He raised it to the rank of the second city in his
empire, made it the capital of all his dominions north of the Alps, and
decreed that the sovereigns of Germany and of the Romans should be
crowned here. Between 814 and 1531, the coronations of thirty-seven
kings and emperors took place here.
"It has been the scene of many Diets and church councils, and in modern
times several treaties have been signed here."
The excursionists left the hotel and walked to the cathedral, which is
probably the oldest church in Germany. This is the chapel for which the
city is named, and was intended by Charlemagne as his burial-place. It
was consecrated by Pope Leo III., assisted by three hundred and
sixty-five archbishops and bishops. It was partially destroyed by
barbarians, but was rebuilt by the Emperor Otho III., and much of the
primitive structure still remains. Under the centre of the dome is a
marble slab in the floor on which are the words CAROLO MAGNO,
indicating the spot where the tomb of Charlemagne was located. It was
probably a little chapel above ground. It was opened in 1165, and the
body was found sitting on a throne, clothed in imperial robes, a
sceptre in the hand, and a copy of the Gospels on the knee. The crown
was on the bony brow, and his sword and other articles near him. All
these relics were subsequently used at the coronation of the emperors,
but are now kept at Vienna, except the throne, which is still here.
The church has an abundance of relics, including the skull and arm-bone
of Charlemagne, though the latter has, unfortunately, turned out to be
a leg-bone! It is said that the rest of the bones of his body were
found here in a chest in a dark closet; but we are not told by what
means they were identified. If some of the apostles, martyrs, and
worthies of the past had had a dozen skulls each, sight-seers might be
more credulous. There are also in this church a lock of the Virgin's
hair, the leathern girdle of Christ with the seal of Constantine upon
it, a nail of the cross, the sponge which was filled with vinegar for
the Saviour, blood and bones of St. Stephen, and bits of Aaron's rod.
In addition to these precious articles, the cathedral has what are
called the Grand Relics, which are shown only once in seven years, and
then for but two weeks. At the exhibition in 1860, half a million
people resorted to Aix to see them. Charlemagne received them direct
from the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and from Haroun-al-Raschid. They are
enclosed in a shrine of silver-gilt, of the workmanship of the ninth
century. There are four principal articles: The cotton robe, five feet
long, worn by the Virgin at the Nativity; the swaddling clothes, of a
coarse yellow cloth like sacking, in which the infant Saviour was
wrapped; the cloth on which the head of John the Baptist was laid; and
the scarf worn by the Saviour, at the crucifixion, which bears the
stains of blood. Other articles, such as religious emblems, are
doubtless of great antiquity.
The party visited the Hôtel de Ville, on the spot where stood the
palace of the Frankish kings, in which Charlemagne was born. This was
the last sight to be seen in regular course, and the last city in
Germany which the tourists were to visit that season. It had been put
to vote whether the company would remain in Aix over Sunday, or make a
night trip to Paris, and the latter had been almost unanimously
adopted. Captain Shuffles voted against it, because the earl's party
were to remain till Monday; but he gracefully yielded, and the tourists
left at eight o'clock. Lady Feodora was very sad, and so was
Shuffles--Sir William was very glad. His lordship was kind enough to
hope that the acquaintance thus begun would be continued by letter, if
not possible in any other way.
The excursionists were in Paris at eight o'clock the next morning, and
most of them had slept very well in the cars. They were allowed to
attend such churches as they pleased, and while some heard the fine
singing in St. Roch, others listened to Mass in Notre Dame, while not a
few attended at the American Chapel.
On Monday forenoon, after breakfast had been disposed of in the Hôtel
du Louvre, Mr. Arbuckle requested all the students to assemble in the
grand dining-room. When they were all in the apartment, their kind and
liberal friend rose, and was received with hearty applause.
"Young gentlemen, I thank you for this kindly greeting," said he. "I
shall never forget the debt of gratitude I owe you, and I hope, when
your squadron goes up the Baltic, you will put into Belfast on your
way. It has afforded me very great pleasure to contribute something to
your instruction and amusement, and I most sincerely regret that we
must part to-day. For myself and my family I thank you for all you have
done for us."
Mr. Arbuckle paused, and Mr. Lowington, for the ship's company, thanked
him for his liberal hospitality, and assured him that "all hands" would
remember him and his family as long as they lived.
"I thank you, Mr. Lowington; you are very kind," continued Mr.
Arbuckle. "Allow me to speak a word now for my daughter, the Grand
Protectress of the Order of the Faithful. Some of the young gentlemen
were saying something about perpetuating the association formed on our
voyage from Havre to Brest, and Grace desired me to provide a suitable
emblem for that purpose. I took the liberty, when we reached Paris,
nearly three weeks since, to order a sufficient number of badges for
all the members; and this morning I obtained them. They are very neat,
and I hope they will please you."
He held up one of the emblems.
"It is a gold anchor, with a star upon it," continued Mr. Arbuckle.
"The word FAITHFUL is inscribed upon it. Grace will be happy now to
present it to each member of the order."
The students applauded lustily, and one by one they passed before her,
and she attached the badge, which was made like a breastpin, to the
coats of the members, over the white ribbons. They were admonished
always to wear them, and always to be faithful. The Grand Protectress
was warmly cheered by the boys, when the ceremony was concluded. The
hour of parting had come, for the ship's company was to return to
Brest, while the Arbuckles proceeded to London. There was a general
shaking of hands, and a general exchanging of kind words. Paul and
Grace found the occasion a very trying one. What promises they made to
each other need not be repeated.
The Arbuckles attended the party to the station, and when the last
words of farewell had been spoken, the train moved off. The excitement
of the excursion was ended, and the ride to Brest was rather dull. The
buoyant spirit of youth, however, soon furnished a new hope, and they
now looked eagerly forward to the meeting of dear friends at home. The
train arrived at Brest in the evening, and the students slept that
night in their berths on board the ship.
The next morning the Young America sailed for Lisbon. She did not make
so quick a passage as the Josephine had made, and after a three days'
run, dropped anchor in the Tagus; but the consort had not yet arrived.
CHAPTER XX.
HOMEWARD BOUND.
The moon shone brightly on the deserted deck of the Josephine after the
runaways had departed in the four boats,--deserted by all save Bitts,
who was endeavoring to free himself from the rope by which he had been
secured. Before the conspirators had gone a cable's length, he
succeeded. Reaching the rope over his head, he went up, hand over hand,
till he had slack enough to make a bight for one of his feet. Then,
holding on with one hand, he loosed the rope from his neck with the
other, and descended to the deck.
Rogues always overreach themselves. Phillips had intended to secure the
arms of his prisoner by winding a line around his body, but,
considering him safe without it, he had neglected to do so. If he had
done this, the runaways might have reached the shore before any one
could come to the aid of the sufferer. He was free in three minutes
after Phillips left him. The boats were pulling for the shore, and
those below were laboring to release themselves from their
imprisonment. He went to the companion way, and tried to open it; but
the nail held it fast. Descending to the steerage, he removed the
handspike with which the cabin door was fastened.
"What does all this mean?" demanded Mr. Fluxion, as he hastened on
deck.
"The boys have taken all the boats, and left the vessel," replied
Bitts.
"Left the vessel!" exclaimed Mr. Fluxion. "Were you asleep on deck?"
"No, sir. Half a dozen of them hung me by the neck till I was nearly
choked to death," pleaded the carpenter.
"Where was Cleats?"
"I stepped below for half a minute, and they clapped the slide on over
me," answered Cleats, very sheepishly.
"You stepped below! I ordered you not to leave the deck," added the
vice-principal, angrily. "You are responsible for this."
"I did not think the young rascals would do such a thing as this,"
pleaded the culprit.
"I did; and I told you they would do anything. You have disobeyed my
orders. Take the helm, Gage."
Mr. Fluxion glanced at the boats, and gave a few hasty orders, by which
the Josephine was headed towards the shore. The cooks and stewards in
the forecastle were released, and the chase commenced.
"I did not think they were quite so bold as this," said Dr. Carboy.
"They will do anything. Cleats thinks more of his stomach than of his
duty, or it would not have happened," replied Mr. Fluxion. "I have seen
the boys talking together a great deal on this cruise, and I was sure
something was brewing. I charged all the officers not to leave the deck
for a single instant. Probably the young rascals have been watching for
this opportunity during the whole cruise."
"It is a very foolish movement on their part," added Dr. Carboy.
"Yet if they had kept us in the cabin half an hour longer, it might
have succeeded, for the boats would have been out of sight. If they had
tied Bitts's arms behind him, it might have been half an hour before we
could have broken out of the cabin."
Mr. Fluxion questioned the watch officers very closely in regard to the
conduct of the crew on deck, and he soon understood the whole matter.
He was very severe upon Cleats for leaving the deck, declared that he
could not be trusted, and that he should be discharged. The latter was
very humble, acknowledged his error, and made no attempt to palliate
it. He had always been faithful, so far as was known, and probably had
never been guilty of any graver offence than that of leaving the deck
for a few minutes during his watch. But he had been expressly cautioned
not to do this, and had sent a hand below for his lunch, until the
present time.
In the boats the runaways were pulling with all their might to get out
of sight of the Josephine before the officers should set themselves at
liberty. Perth urged the oarsmen in the captain's gig to the most
tremendous exertion. But in less than ten minutes, and before they had
made a single mile, they saw the Josephine fill away, and stand towards
them.
"Did you fasten Bitts?" said Perth, to Phillips, who was in the gig
with him.
"I did. He couldn't get away, I know," replied Phillips.
"They are after us, and I'm afraid the game is up," added Perth. "The
Josephine can make two knots to our one in this breeze."
The leader was very anxious for the result. The plan had really failed
because the officers had released themselves so much sooner than was
expected. But Perth hoped to make it partially successful. Standing up
in the gig, he ordered the other boats to separate, so that the
Josephine could not capture them all at once. He directed the first
cutter to pull to the north-west, while the gig went to the south-west,
and the second and third cutters were to take intermediate points. The
Josephine was headed to the north-west, with the evident intention of
getting between the boats and the shore. The second cutter would
therefore be her first victim; and Perth hoped that, by the time she
had picked up the other three boats, his own would be in shoal water,
where a schooner of her tonnage could not come.
Little was in command of the first cutter. He obeyed the order of
Perth, though he saw it would be a losing game for his boat. In less
than half an hour the Josephine came up with him. The wind was due
east, which gave the vessel every advantage, and she came about under
the lee of the cutter.
"Hold water! Back her!" shouted Little, who had prepared his plan of
operations, and intended to pull dead to windward of her, so that she
would have to go in stays before she could come up with the boat again.
Peaks spoiled his plan by throwing a boat grapnel into the fore-sheets
of the cutter, and hauling her alongside of the Josephine as her sails
shook in the wind. Cleats dropped into the boat, and, leaping aft,
seized Little by the collar. Gage followed him, and ten of the runaways
were captured. Mr. Fluxion ordered them on board the vessel, and the
two men in the boat expedited their movements by some rather rough
usage.
The vice-principal said nothing to the discomfited crew of the first
cutter, but gave his orders to chase the second cutter. As the
Josephine approached her, Peaks and Gage, with two of the stewards,
were sent off in the first cutter as the vessel lay to. They grappled
the boat, and as no one thought of resisting Peaks, they were readily
captured, and driven upon the deck of the schooner. The third cutter
was taken with no more difficulty. A few moments later, the Josephine
luffed up under the lee of the gig, having towed the first cutter, in
which the four men were seated, to this position. The boat pulled
towards the runaways. Perth was desperate when he saw how easily he was
to be captured.
"Bat them over the head with your oars, fellows!" shouted he. "Don't
let them take you!"
The oarsmen attempted to obey this order, and to beat off their
pursuers. A brief struggle ensued, in which Perth and Phillips fought
with desperation; but Peaks succeeded in getting into the gig, and the
strife was ended. With a blow of his fist the stalwart boatswain
justified the traditions of himself, and Perth was knocked senseless in
the bottom of the boat, while Phillips, with a bleeding face, yielded
the day. The runaways in the gig were driven to the deck, as their
companions had been, while Perth was handed up by the grim Peaks, put
in his berth, and attended by Dr. Carboy.
The long-cherished scheme of Little had ended in disaster, and all
hands had been captured. The runaways looked at each other with a sort
of astonishment when they found themselves on board again. Doubtless
they were satisfied that they had not bettered their condition by what
they had done. They obeyed whatever orders were given them, for the
terrible Peaks had verified all the stories told of him. He had knocked
Perth insensible, and badly damaged Phillips. It was not safe to refuse
to do duty, as some of them, in their chagrin, wished to do.
As soon as the boats were hoisted up, and the Josephine headed on her
course again, all hands were piped to muster. By this time Perth was
able to appear, for he had only been stunned by the boatswain's fist. A
savage lecture from the vice-principal was expected; but instead of
that, every one of the crew was searched. Perth's twenty pounds was
discovered and confiscated, as well as numerous bills on Paris, letters
of credit, and similar valuable papers. The conspirators had put them
in their pockets to use on shore. Without any further notice of the
affair of the night, the vice-principal stationed the watch, and
dismissed the rest of the crew.
Mr. Fluxion probably acted on the principle of the celebrated
schoolmaster who charged all the faults of his pupils upon himself. If
Cleats had not left the deck, the conspiracy could not have been even
partially successful, and he charged all the blame upon him. After the
affair he increased his own vigilance, adding Dr. Carboy to one watch,
and the head steward to the other, so that another attempt to escape
must certainly fail.
"I never believed much in that plan," said Herman, the next day, as he
and Perth met on deck.
"I did. I won't go back on it now. If we had had half an hour more, we
should have been safe. Phillips didn't do as he agreed with Bitts,"
answered the leader. "He ought to have put a line a dozen times around
his body, so that he couldn't move his hands."
"He said he was afraid of actually choking him to death."
"Tying his hands would not have choked him."
"Well, whatever the reason was, the plan failed. We are played out for
this cruise."
"Yes, and haven't seen Paris, Switzerland, Germany, or the Rhine,"
growled Perth.
"I suppose it is our own fault."
"Humph!" snuffed the conquered leader.
"I am satisfied, now, that if we had done our duty, we should have had
a better time."
"Repent, then," said Perth, as he turned on his heel.
Possibly there was no other runaway in the crew who confessed as much
as this, but if is doubtful whether there was one who did not realize
the truth of the statement. All of them were satisfied that it was
useless to contend against the discipline of the Academy while it was
administered by such men as the principal and the vice-principal.
The Josephine had a fair passage, and reached Lisbon on the day after
the Young America had anchored in the river. She was loudly cheered
when she luffed up under the quarter of the ship, but not a sound came
from the disappointed and disheartened runaways in response, and more
fully than the sufferers themselves did the members of the Order of the
Faithful believe that the way of the transgressor is hard.
Mr. Fluxion immediately went on board of the ship, and reported to the
principal. For an hour they discussed the events of the cruise of the
Josephine up the Mediterranean; but both were satisfied that the
discipline of the squadron had been triumphant. Mr. Lowington was more
indulgent towards Cleats than the vice-principal was disposed to be,
and he was put on probation.
Before night the original order on board both vessels was restored, and
again the runaways mingled with the faithful ones. Each party had a
story to tell, and the glories of the beautiful Rhine lost nothing in
the description given by the tourists. The narrative of the adventures
of the excursionists was galling to the others, for the latter had
nothing but sea life to speak of, unless it was the harbor of Genoa. It
was painful to be obliged to say that they had been up the
Mediterranean without putting a foot on shore during their absence.
Certainly those who had done their duty could appreciate the pleasures
of their trip, after contrasting it with that of the runaways; and
perhaps they needed this contrast to enable them fully to realize the
satisfaction which follows right doing.
Fresh provisions and water were taken in by both vessels. Only a few of
the students went on shore, and those on duty; and at noon on the day
after the arrival of the Josephine, the squadron got under way,
homeward bound. The usual routine on board was restored, and the
studies of the school-room were mingled with the duties of the ship.
Only one gale disturbed the serenity of the passage, and both vessels
came to anchor in Brockway harbor, after a voyage of thirty days. The
runaways had behaved tolerably well during the trip, for they had
learned that there was no safety or satisfaction in rebellion and
disobedience. They were not reformed, and perhaps never will be; but
they were controlled, and saved from a vicious life on shore during the
period of the cruise.
Others had been reformed, and converted from evil-disposed boys into
well-meaning ones. Shuffles and Pelham were not the only ones who had
been turned aside from the error of their ways, though their individual
experience has not been detailed. The moral results of the voyage were
very good. If the discipline of the ship and her consort had not
reformed all the vicious characters, it had restrained their evil
tendencies, and kept them away from the haunts of vice, though its most
pernicious haunt is within the soul of the evil-doer.
On the other hand, the intellectual results of the cruise were
abundantly satisfactory. The students had made excellent progress in
their studies, and not a few of them were already competent navigators.
There had been hardly a case of sickness on board, and the boys were
all in rugged health. Mr. Lowington, therefore, had every reason to be
satisfied with the success of his great experiment. He intended to make
some changes in the vessels, and return to Europe the following spring,
after spending the winter in various ports of the United States.
The Academy had a vacation during the Christmas holidays, and all the
students went home. Perth and some others declared they should not
return, but their parents thought otherwise, and with hardly an
exception, they did return, and the institution continued to prosper.
Shuffles, it need not be said, kept his promise to Lady Feodora, and
hardly a week passed in which a letter did not cross the ocean from him
to her, and from her to him. One of the latter informed him that Lady
Feodora had not seen Sir William for a month; for, with her father's
consent, she had dismissed him. Paul Kendall spent much of his spare
time in writing letters which went to Belfast. No doubt Lady Feodora
will, in due time, become Mrs. Shuffles, and Grace Arbuckle Mrs.
Kendall. It may even be said that promises to this effect have already
passed between the respective parties. Our readers will wish them joy,
and we heartily join in the hope that life will be as happy to them as
duty faithfully done can make it.
* * * * *
For the present we take our leave of the Academy Squadron, though we
hope in the future to be the chronicler of more of the travel and
adventure in foreign lands of YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD.
LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.
* * * * *
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YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD.
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The stories in the "Woodville" series are hinged together only so far
as the same characters have been retained in each.
Sold by all booksellers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of
price.
* * * * *
LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.
LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.
OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.
ARMY AND NAVY STORIES.
* * * * *
THE SOLDIER BOY; or, Tom Somers in the Army. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.
"This is a story of the rebellion, narrating the adventures of a
patriotic youth, who left the comforts of home to share the dangers of
the field. He is carried through several battles, and for a while
shared the hospitalities of the rebels as a prisoner. The story is true
to history, giving in the form of personal adventure correct accounts
of many stirring scenes of the war."--_Hartford Courant._
THE SAILOR BOY; or, Jack Somers in the Navy. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.
"Jack is the brother of Tom, the Soldier Boy, whose adventures in the
army were so much enjoyed. We have only to repeat that there are few
better stories for boys than these of Mr. Adams'. Always bright and
even sparkling with animation, the story never drags; there are no
stupid tasks or tiresome descriptions; the boys whose characters are
drawn are real boys, impulsive, with superabundant animal life, and the
heroes are manly, generous, healthy creations."--_Hartford Press._
THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT; or, The Adventures of an Army Officer. 16mo.
Illustrated. $1.50.
"The Young Lieutenant" is a sequel to "The Soldier Boy," and carries
the reader through the stormy scenes of the rebellion, creates Thomas
Somers an officer, and as such he performs much difficult work in the
rebellion.
YANKEE MIDDY; or, Adventures of a Naval Officer. 16mo. Illustrated.
$1.50.
"The incidents of the story are those which have occurred on the ocean,
and on the bays, inlets, and rivers of the South, common in the
experience of all our naval officers who have been actively employed
during the war."--_Notices of the Press._
FIGHTING JOE; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer. 16mo. Illustrated.
$1.50.
"The description of battles and sieges, of picket and skirmishing, of
camp life and marching, are wrought out with thrilling detail, making
the story truly fascinating; while, in connection with this, useful and
practical information respecting men and places is conveyed, and a
proper spirit of morality and patriotism inculcated."--_Notices of
the Press._
BRAVE OLD SALT; or, Life on the Quarter-Deck. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.
A book of adventure, of personal experience, describing a living hero,
and exhibiting the great truth that, by fidelity of conscience,
country, and God, earthly and heavenly blessings are secured.
Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid,
on receipt of price.
* * * * *
LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.
LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.
OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.
STARRY FLAG SERIES.
_Each volume handsomely illustrated. In sets or separate._
* * * * *
THE STARRY FLAG; or, the Young Fisherman of Cape Ann. $1.25.
"The early history of Levi Fairfield, the boy hero of this volume, as
it is graphically traced by Oliver Optic, will be apt to hold
boy-readers spell-bound. His manly virtue, his determined character,
his superiority to mean vice, his industry, and his stirring
adventures, will suggest good lessons for imitation."--_Presbyterian._
BREAKING AWAY; or, the Fortunes of a Student. $1.25.
"In this volume Oliver Optic opens the school-room door, and shows the
nature, construction, and workings of the school system; its lights and
shadows; its discipline, and the serious consequences that come from
want of discipline."--_Patriot._
SEEK AND FIND; or, the Adventures of a Smart Boy. $1.25.
Earnest Thornton, the "smart boy" of this story, is a clear headed,
well intentioned, plucky boy, that has a high aim and means right even
where he is wrong, and his adventures will be read with interest.
FREAKS OF FORTUNE; or, Half around the World,--a sequel to "The Starry
Flag." $1.25.
"The adventures of Levi Fairfield, the noble young Captain of the
Starry Flag, excited such an interest among the young folks that the
continuance of his story was called for, with which demand the ever
ready author has complied, with a story equally attractive and
interesting."
MAKE OR BREAK; or, the Rich Man's Daughter. $1.25.
"This is a lively, stirring volume, full of interest and instruction
from one cover to the other. Just the book a smart, wide-awake boy will
enjoy intensely."--_Press._
DOWN THE RIVER; or, Buck Bradford and his Tyrants. $1.25.
"These stories are not only written in a manner well calculated to
enchain the attention of young readers, but teach at the same time such
important lessons of sobriety, industry and cheerfulness, that we
should like to see them in the hands of every boy in the land."--_Galesburg
Free Press._
Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid,
on receipt of price.
* * * * *
LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.
LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.
* * * * *
VACATION STORY BOOKS.
6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents.
WORTH NOT WEALTH.
COUNTRY LIFE.
THE CHARM.
KARL KEIGLER.
WALTER SEYTON.
HOLIDAYS AT CHESTNUT HILL.
* * * * *
ROSY DIAMOND STORY BOOKS.
6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents.
THE GREAT ROSY DIAMOND.
DAISY; or, The Fairy Spectacles.
VIOLET: A Fairy Story.
MINNIE; or, The Little Woman.
THE ANGEL CHILDREN.
LITTLE BLOSSOM'S REWARD.
These volumes are finely and profusely illustrated from designs by
Hoppin and other eminent artists. They are elegantly bound, and neatly
packed in ornamental boxes. As gifts for holidays and birthdays, where
a uniform value and appearance is desired, they are excellent.
* * * * *
_Mrs. Madeline Leslie's Books._
PLAY AND STUDY SERIES.
4 volumes. Each volume illustrated. Price, $1.50.
PLAY AND STUDY.
THE MOTHERLESS CHILDREN.
HOWARD AND HIS TEACHER.
JACK, THE CHIMNEY-SWEEP.
* * * * *
LITTLE AGNES' LIBRARY.
4 volumes. Each volume illustrated. Price, $1.50.
LITTLE AGNES.
TRYING TO BE USEFUL.
I'LL TRY.
ART AND ARTLESSNESS.
For family reading and Sabbath School libraries there are no better
books written than these by Mrs. Leslie. With attractive and interesting
stories are mingled wholesome truths and moral lessons. Of all these
books large editions have been printed, and they may be found largely
circulated in Sabbath Schools.
Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid,
on receipt of price.
* * * * *
LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.
LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.
SOPHIE MAY'S BOOKS.
* * * * *
LITTLE PRUDY STORIES.
_Six volumes. Illustrated. In Sets or separate. Per volume, 75 cents._
LITTLE PRUDY.
LITTLE PRUDY'S Sister Susy.
LITTLE PRUDY'S Captain Horace.
LITTLE PRUDY'S Cousin Grace.
LITTLE PRUDY'S Story Book.
LITTLE PRUDY'S Dotty Dimple.
* * * * *
DOTTY DIMPLE STORIES.
By the author of "Little Prudy Stories."
_Six volumes. Illustrated. In Sets or separate. Per volume, 75 cents._
DOTTY DIMPLE at her Grandmother's.
DOTTY DIMPLE at Home.
DOTTY DIMPLE out West.
DOTTY DIMPLE at Play.
DOTTY DIMPLE at School.
DOTTY DIMPLE'S Flyaway.
Read the high commendation of the _North American Review_, which
places Sophie May's Books at the
Head of Juvenile Literature.
"Genius comes in with 'Little Prudy.' Compared with her, all other
book-children are cold creations of Literature only; she alone is the
real thing. All the quaintness of childhood, its originality, its
tenderness and its teasing,--its infinite, unconscious drollery, the
serious earnestness of its fun, the fun of its seriousness, the natural
religion of its plays, and the delicious oddity of its prayers,--all
these waited for dear Little Prudy to embody them. Sam Weller is not
more piquant; Hans Anderson's nutcrackers and knitting-needles are not
more thoroughly charged with life. There are six little green volumes
in the series, and of course other _dramatis personæ_ must figure; but
one eagerly watches for every reappearance of Prudy, as one watches at
the play for Owens or Warren to re-enter upon the stage. Who is our
benefactress in the authorship of these books, the world knows not.
Sophie May must doubtless be a fancy name, by reason of the spelling,
and we have only to be grateful that the author did not inflict on us
the customary alliteration in her pseudonyme. The rare gift of
delineating childhood is hers, and may the line of 'Little Prudy' go
out to the end of the earth.... To those oversaturated with
transatlantic traditions we recommend 'Little Prudy."
Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid,
on receipt of price.
* * * * *
LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.
The only Original Illustrated Juvenile Magazine published Once a Week.
OLIVER OPTIC'S MAGAZINE,
OUR BOYS AND GIRLS,
EVERY WEEK. EDITED BY OLIVER OPTIC,
Who writes for no other Juvenile Publication, and who contributes
Four Serial Stories Every Year,
The cost of which, in book form, would be $5.00,--double the subscription
price of the Magazine. Every number contains part of a new Story by
Oliver Optic, illustrated by designs from the best artists, headed by
Thomas Nast, the great American Artist. Then follow
Poems and Stories
By other well-known authors, who know how to write for Young Folks.
The Orator,
A department exclusively in charge of Oliver Optic, gives every other
week a selection for Declamation, marked for delivery according to the
most approved rules of elocution; 26 MARKED DECLAMATIONS EACH YEAR.
Original Dialogues.
Some of the best writers find a place under this head every other week,
giving the subscriber 26 ORIGINAL DIALOGUES EVERY YEAR.
Head Work,
Containing Geographical Rebuses, Puzzles, Syncopations, Geographical
Questions, Proverbial Anagrams, Enigmas, Charades, and Numerical
Puzzles, contributed by the subscribers, and rendered unusually
attractive by original features NOT TO BE FOUND IN ANY OTHER MAGAZINE.
In addition to the above-mentioned departments, there are regular
contributions on Natural History, History, the Sciences, Facts and
Figures, from some of the most learned men in the country.
OLIVER OPTIC'S MAGAZINE contains more reading matter than any other
juvenile publication, and is the CHEAPEST and the BEST periodical of
the kind in the United States.
Any boy or girl who will write to the publishers shall receive a
specimen copy by mail, free.
_TERMS, IN ADVANCE_.--Single Subscriptions, One Year, $2.50; One
Volume, Six Months, $1.25; Single copies, 6 cents. Three copies, $6.50;
five copies, $10.00; ten copies (with an extra copy _free_), $20.00.
* * * * *
LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.
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