WYBORG AND THE SECOND DEGREE.
"I should like to know what the name of this place is," said Lincoln
to Dr. Winstock, who was seated near him in the commodore's barge,
which was leading the line to the shore. "In one book it is Viborg; in
another, Wiborg; in a third, Wyborg." "The different spellings of the
same word simply indicate the attempts of authors to render the foreign
sounds into English," replied the surgeon. "We have the same variety
in many other words. On the English maps of Russia, you will find the
names of rivers, provinces, and towns given in many different ways;
as, Kief, Kiev, and Kiew, the latter being the German rendering of the
word; Nyzni, Nysni, Nezhnii, and a dozen other forms. Of course you can
take your choice. As for Wyborg, I think it will hardly pay to land,
for there is really nothing to be seen here. Like Constantinople, the
best view of the town is from the outside."
"It certainly looks well from the bay."
The students landed at the town, which is built on uneven ground. Most
of the streets are narrow and crooked, and the travellers soon realized
the truth of the surgeon's view. At the east side of the place is an
old castle in ruins. On a rock, rising from an arm of the sea, is a
lofty old tower, which has played its part in many a battle and siege,
for Wyborg was long a bone of contention between Sweden and Russia,
before the latter obtained possession, of it. Looking to the eastward
of the town, vast sheets of water may be seen, on which small steamers
ply, as at Stockholm, and a few miles distant are a garden and summer
resort for the people. A series of rivers and lakes connects Lakes
Ladoga and Saima, and a canal at Wyborg joins both of these great
sheets of water to the Gulf of Finland. Lakes Onega and Ladoga are
united by the River Svir, upon which plies a small steamer. The waters
of Lake Onega also mingle with those of the Volga. The Volkof River
flows from Lake Ilmen into Ladoga, and is navigable for barges; and
Lake Ilmen, by the help of a canal, is also connected with the Volga. A
boat may, therefore, start from the upper waters of the Finnish lakes,
and go through to the Caspian Sea.
A couple of hours in Wyborg fully satisfied the party, and they
returned to the boats for an excursion by water around the town. The
scenery in the vicinity is very pleasant, and at seven o'clock the
students landed at a green island.
"Now, fellows, we can attend to the second degree," said Scott, when he
had gathered some of the Bangwhangers around him, and found a retired
place.
The members of the fraternity knew each other so well, that there was
no difficulty in separating themselves from the rest of the ship's
company. The eight officers assembled near the shore, on a point of
land where there was a wooden shanty, that had evidently been used for
cleaning and curing fish, for a villainous smell came from it, which
was very trying to the olfactories of the members.
"How will this do?" asked Jones, as he opened the door of the shanty.
"First rate. We shall initiate the candidates into the mysteries of a
horrible odor at the same time," replied Scott, as the officers entered
the rude building.
"A fellow that has been to sea three months needn't mind this," laughed
Jones.
"All right; place the O. L. M. outside of the building, the I. L. M.
inside, near the door," said Scott, as he turned over a fish-tub for
his own throne as C. B., and placed it at one end of the building,
while Wainwright, the D. C. B., located himself at the other end.
"Officers, to your stations; proceed to open a lodge of Bangwhangers.
Y. D. K., on my right; Q. D., on my left; R. P. F. and L. P. F., on my
left. Brother D. C. B., are you a Bangwhanger?"
"Of course I am."
"Bang!"
"Whang!"
"Who knows?"
"Eye, nose."
"Who knows?"
"Eighty-six noes."
"Right; come to my arms. How many officers in a lodge of Bangwhangers?"
"Eight; and nothing can be done with a less number," replied the D. C.
B., who answered all these questions, and named all the officers.
"Brother O. L. M., what are you?"
"I am the Outside Lookout Man," replied Hall, who had been called in to
answer.
"What do you do?"
"Keep a sharp lookout on the outside of the lodge."
"If any outsider approaches, what do you do?"
"Give him fits."
"Right; keep your weather eye open. Brother I. L. M., what are you?"
"The Inside Lookout Man."
"What do you do?"
"Keep a sharp lookout inside."
"If any outsider comes in, what do you do?"
"Kick him out."
"Suppose he is bigger than you are?"
"Give him a stick of candy, and tell him his grandmother is waiting for
him round the corner."
"Right; keep a stiff upper lip. Brother R. P. F., what are you?"
"The Right Pilot Fish."
"What do you do?"
"Stand on the starboard side of the candidate, and tow him round."
"Right; heave ahead, my hearty. Brother L. P. F., what are you?"
"The Left Pilot Fish."
"What do you do?"
"Stand on the port side of the candidate, and help tow him around."
"Right; stand by the hawser. Brother Q. D., what are you?"
"The Quill Driver."
"What do you do?"
"When anything is done, make a note of it."
"Right; mind your eye, my hearty. Brother Y. D. K., what are you?"
"The Yellow Dirt Keeper."
"What do you do?"
"Keep the money."
"Will you keep it?"
"I'll bet I will."
"Right; stand by the locker. Brother D. C. B., what are you?"
"The Deputy Chief Bangwhanger."
"What do you do?"
"Make faces at the C. B. when he is present, and take his place when he
is absent."
"Your duties are important--where do you sit?"
"Opposite the C. B."
"What for?"
"To help him keep up his dignity."
"How?"
"By making faces at him."
"What is the C. B.?"
"The Chief Bangwhanger."
"What does he do?"
"Bosses the job, and is the biggest toad in the puddle."
"Why is he like strong drink?"
"Because he goes to the head," replied the D. C. B., with a hideous
grimace, which made all the officers laugh.
"Right; you have said enough; clap a stopper on your jaw tackle," said
Scott. "The ship is under way, and the officers are at their stations."
Scott added that they had no time to spare, and the business must
proceed at once.
"Sail ho!" shouted the lookout, outside of the door.
"Sail ho!" repeated the one on the inside.
"Where away?" asked the C. B.
"Alongside now," replied the I. L. M.
"The name?"
"Clyde Blacklock; and he wants to come on board."
"Has he been instructed in the Rule of Three?" which meant the three
clauses of the obligation.
"Ay, ay, sir."
"Let him in."
The R. P. F. and the L. P. F. went out, and soon returned with Clyde
Blacklock between them. On his head, and drawn entirely over it, was a
white cap. A yard of cotton cloth had been purchased at Helsingfors,
which had been sewed up like a meal bag. This was pulled down over the
candidate's face, and the square end of it hung down in front of him,
having upon it, in letters cut out of black cloth, and sewed upon the
cotton, the mysterious device AT-VI., which, however, did not relate to
"Plantation Bitters."
"Hah! You have caught him!" exclaimed the C. B., in the most savage of
tones.
"Ay, ay, sir! We captured him outside, and in spite of his frantic
struggles, have brought him before you to be examined," replied the R.
P. F.
"What is he?" demanded Scott, in gruff notes.
"A vile Indian."
"Hah!"
"A 'ticklarly vile Indian."
"When was he caught?"
"At six."
"Has he been searched?"
"Not yet."
"Does he confess?"
"Not yet."
"Clyde Blacklock, answer me truly," said Scott, solemnly. "Did you
steal it?"
"Answer him," said the candidate's conductor, in a low voice.
"Steal what?" asked Clyde.
"The bag out of which a faithless Brother of the Most Respectable Order
of Bangwhangers let the cat," added the C. B., tragically.
"No, I didn't."
"Let him be searched!" continued Scott, in a sepulchral tone.
Whereupon the officers, who had silently gathered around the candidate,
began to punch him in the ribs, and under the ears, not to hurt, but
only to tickle him. As Clyde was sensitive in this direction, as almost
anybody would be when taken by surprise, the effect was very decided,
and the candidate wriggled, and squirmed, and roared.
"He has it I We have found it upon him!" said the R. P. F., suddenly.
"Hah!" cried Scott. "The vile Indian is guilty."
"Guilty!" responded all the other officers.
"Does he see it?" demanded the C. B.
"He don't see it."
"Let him see it!"
Then the R. P. F. and the L. P. F. seized the white cap by the corners,
and jerked it violently from Clyde's head, and laid it on the floor
before him, with the letters right side up to him. All the officers
pointed at the cap, with the most extravagant expressions of surprise
and indignation upon their faces.
"Behold the bag!" exclaimed the group, in concert.
"And it has our mark upon it," replied Scott, with indignation in
his looks and tones. Then suddenly changing his voice and manner,
he continued, very gently, "Brother Blacklock, this degree is
founded upon the story of a vile Indian in the wilds of America.
Some emigrants were travelling over the prairies of the great west,
intending to settle in Nevada. One of them had a favorite Maltese cat,
of which the whole party were very fond. They were very much afraid
of losing the creature, and for greater security they carried her in
a bag,--precisely like that just found upon you,--bearing upon it
the initials of the owner's name, which was, in full, Andrew Thomas
Vincent Iverson. For a guide they had a vile Indian, who, like all
vile Indians, was very fond of whiskey. One night this vile Indian was
particularly 'dry.' and wanted to 'wet his whistle' with fire-water.
After the emigrants had gone to sleep, he searched the camp for some
of his favorite beverage. He came across the bag containing the
Maltese cat. As the contents thereof seemed to be lively, he thought
it contained a bottle of whiskey. He opened the bag, and the cat
leaped out, not whiskey; in other words, he let the cat out of the
bag--at all times a very grave and terrible offence. When he saw what
he had done, he was alarmed, and concealed the bag within his clothes,
intending to make the emigrants believe that the cat had run away,
carrying the bag with her. But, vile Indian that he was, his employers
suspected him, and punching him in the ribs, they discovered the bag.
Then they knew that he had let the cat out of the bag, and as the
penalty of his crime, they compelled him to eat Bologna sausage until
he couldn't help barking. Brother Blacklock, this solemn ceremony is
intended to convince you that, should you ever let the cat out of the
bag, you will be subjected to the same penalty as the vile Indian, who
was A 'Ticklarly Vile Indian. This bag bears our mark,--AT-VI.,--which
relates to the hour you were caught--at six. It also means A 'Ticklarly
Vile Indian, and alludes, besides, to the rallying number of our
order--AT., eighty; VI., six. Brother Blacklock, it is your next move.
Take a seat where you find one."
"This will never do," interposed the D. C. B. "Some of the members will
die of old age before we can give them the second degree at this rate."
"I was thinking of that myself," replied Scott; "and I have the remedy.
We will go through the first part with the candidates singly, and
explain the meaning of it to the crowd all together. Then it won't take
two minutes apiece."
"Right, Most Respectable C. B.," replied the D. C. B.
Another "vile Indian" was easily captured outside of the fish-house,
and was passed through the same ceremony. He was duly tickled till he
rolled on the ground, pronounced guilty of stealing the bag, allowed
to see it; and when the mark upon it was indignantly identified, the
candidate was sent to a seat. About twenty went through this part of
the performance, and then, when all of them were placed in front of
the C. B., he told them the story of "A 'Ticklarly Vile Indian." All
of them were solemnly warned not to let the cat out of the bag; and in
closing the lodge, those who had just been "elevated" to the second
degree, were permitted to learn the meaning of the mysterious initials.
All who had participated in the ceremonies, either as active or passive
agents, were delighted with the fun, and those who were patiently
waiting their turn to be elevated, were very much disappointed
when obliged to go on board their respective vessels without their
second degree, especially as those who had taken it looked wise and
mysterious, and would not even hint at anything which had transpired in
the lodge.
"How's that for high?" asked Scott, as they left the fish-house.
"Tip-top," replied Wainwright, the D. C. B., who was now the second
purser of the ship; "but we may not get a chance to do anything more
for weeks."
"I think we can find some place to do it in the ship. The mess-rooms
are rather small, but we can make one of them answer on a pinch,"
replied Scott. "By the way, Wainwright, I don't know that you want to
belong any longer."
"Why not?"
"Because you are an officer now."
"That won't make any difference. The seamen can't go into the cabin;
but the officers can go into the steerage. I think the lodge makes rare
fun, and I, for one, enjoy it hugely. I would rather go back into the
steerage than lose the sport."
"You'll do," laughed Scott. "I was thinking it was about time for you
to begin to put on airs."
"You will begin about the time I do. You are my superior officer in the
Bangwhangers."
"But I will give up my office to a bigger fellow."
"No fellow that belongs would be willing to have you give it up."
"You are very kind."
"Now, can't we get up another degree?" asked the second purser.
"When we have given all the fellows the second degree, it will be time
enough to talk about the third. How does Cantwell get along in the
cabin?"
"First rate. What you said to him did him a heap of good, for he don't
put on airs, and don't exhibit so much selfishness as the officers say
he did. I suppose you know that the De Forresters are sick of their
bargain?"
"I concluded that they were. It was a hard nut to have Cantwell elected
over them."
"De Forrest has already got up a petition to the principal to restore
the old way of electing the officers; but the fellows in the cabin
don't like the idea of signing it yet. It looks too much like backing
down."
"I rather like the present plan," laughed Scott; "and I want it to have
a fair trial."
"That's just what the principal says," added Wainwright.
The students embarked, and were soon on board of their vessels.
"What were you fellows up to in that old shanty?" said De Forrest to
Wainwright, as they met in the cabin.
"That's telling," replied the second purser.
"It was that secret society."
"Well, what if it was?"
"What are you up to now? Are you getting ready for the next election."
"That's our affair."
"I don't believe in a secret society to control the elections."
"You are entitled to your own belief."
"It isn't right."
"But it's just what you fellows in the cabin did before Cantwell was
elected," answered Wainwright.
"We hadn't any secret society: we only met in the cabin to talk over
the matter."
"In the cabin, where no one but yourselves could come."
"We are going to do away with this thing, anyhow, and go back to the
old plan," added De Forrest.
"And confess that your famous plan was good for nothing?"
"The plan was a good one, but the fellows won't be fair."
"Which means that they wouldn't make you first lieutenant."
"It don't mean that. It means that a majority of the fellows--all of
them in the steerage--voted for a fellow for captain whom they did
not like, and who, they knew, was not fit for the place, out of spite
to the officers. If they had voted on their own judgment, instead of
following Scott's lead--"
"They would have elected you," laughed Wainwright.
"No; they would have chosen Lincoln captain."
"But they did choose him commodore."
"And shoved Cumberland down to first lieutenant."
"And you down to first purser--the ship's chief clerk."
"I think I ought to have had a better position than the one I got."
"But you have your merit-rank; and it looks now as though your plan was
intended to save yourself from a bad fall, rather than to keep Cantwell
from being captain."
"I wasn't thinking of myself at all."
"All the fellows say that you nominated yourself for first lieutenant."
"I suppose all the officers wanted to get as good places as they could."
"If that was what they were driving at, they needn't blame the fellows
in the steerage for taking things into their own hands."
"I say, Wainwright, can't a fellow join the secret society?"
"That depends upon who the fellow is."
"One about my size."
"Yes, if the society will take him in."
"Will they take me in?"
"I don't know."
"I want to join."
"Because you want to be captain, or something of that sort," laughed
the second purser. "I don't believe it would do you any good. Are you
willing to vote for Cantwell for commodore next month?"
"No! I am not. Is that your game?"
"I didn't say it was."
"If it is, I won't join."
"No one has asked you to do so."
"Cantwell for commodore!" exclaimed De Forrest, in disgust, as he
walked away from his companion.
In ten minutes he had told half of the officers that the secret society
intended to make Cantwell commodore next month, and when his duties
as first purser required him to visit the main cabin soon after, he
revealed the momentous secret to Mr. Lowington.
"If this is a secret society, how do you know?" asked the principal.
"Wainwright, who is a member, said as much to me," replied the purser.
The second purser was called.
"I have heard a great deal about your secret society, Wainwright,"
continued the principal. "You have just had a meeting on the island?"
"Yes, sir."
"I do not believe in secret societies for political purposes. Do you
intend to make Cantwell commodore next month?"
"We have no such plan at present."
"Didn't you ask me, when I spoke of joining, if I would vote for
Cantwell for commodore?" asked De Forrest.
"I did."
"I think that's enough, sir," added the first purser.
"If Cantwell is using this society to make himself commodore, it is
time to suppress the society."
"Cantwell is not a member of it, sir," replied Wainwright. "It was got
up simply to defeat the plan of the officers to control the election.
At the meeting on the island to-day, not a word was said about the
elections in any way. If the nominations are fairly made next time, I
don't believe the society will meddle with them."
"I hope not," added Mr. Lowington.
"If the officers nominate in the cabin, without consulting the seamen,
very likely the society will do something."
"In that case, I should not object; for a secret society in the
steerage is no worse than one in the cabin."
"But what is the society for?" asked De Forrest, dissatisfied with the
situation.
"Simply for fun, for amusement--nothing else." replied Wainwright.
"Where do you meet?" asked the principal, curiously.
"We met in that old fish-house on the island. We have no place in the
ship. I was going to ask you, sir, if we might fit up a place in the
hold," added Wainwright.
"The hold is not a fit place for any meeting. I can do better, if
assured that your society is a proper one."
"I think it is, sir. There is nothing in it contrary to the rules of
the ship. In all the colleges there are secret societies, such as the
Φ. Β. Κ."
"You may have the main cabin one evening in a week."
"Thank you, sir. We shall be very grateful to you," replied Wainwright,
utterly confounded by the generosity of the principal.
De Forrest was disgusted, and went away with "a flea in his ear." Of
course the action of the principal was immediately known among all
the officers. Cumberland only laughed, while others looked grave, and
proposed that they should get up a society among the officers. The
proposition was hailed with a shout of satisfaction, and a committee
appointed to prepare a plan. Wainwright hastened to Scott with the
pleasant news he had to tell, and the main cabin was obtained for
that evening. As the instructors spent most of their unoccupied time
on deck, this was no hardship to them. The lodge opened again, with
those present who had taken the second degree. In older to make the
thing more ludicrous than before, the officers enveloped themselves in
blankets, sheets, and such other fantastic apparel as they could lay
hands upon, and each one placed his small tin wash-bowl on his head,
the handle of which stuck out like a queue behind. The curtain over the
skylight was drawn so that no one on deck could see into the cabin.
The pantry was built out from the bulkhead, which separated it from
the main cabin, into the steerage, forming a space, or gangway, four
feet wide, between the pantry and the mess-rooms, from winch one of the
doors opened into the cabin. A blanket was extended across from the
front of the pantry, before the starboard door, making an apartment
four feet square, in which the O. L. M. was stationed. The candidate
was admitted to this place, and when the bag was drawn over his head,
he was conducted into the lodge. The ceremonies were performed with
even more spirit than in the old fish-house, and the roars of laughter
that went up from the main cabin assured those within hearing that the
members were having a good time. All the rest in the ship who had taken
their first degree were "elevated" to the second on this occasion. At
the close of the initiation, a vote of thanks to the principal was
unanimously passed, for his kindness in granting the society the use
of the cabin; and after some debate, he was also elected an honorary
member of the order, with the privilege of attending any and all its
meetings--a privilege of which, however, he magnanimously declined to
avail himself.
The next morning the squadron sailed for Cronstadt, and, as the weather
was beautiful, the trip was a very pleasant one. The gulf was lively
with steamers, and sailing vessels of all kinds, from the smallest
Russian fishing shallop up to the largest man-of-war. There were
iron-clads and steamers of all sizes belonging to the Russian navy, and
the students gazed with interest at half a dozen monitors. These war
vessels were all engaged in various manœuvres and evolutions for
practice.
"What flag is that, Mr. Lowington?" asked Captain Cantwell, as a vessel
passed them.
"The Russian flag," replied the principal, surprised that the captain
of the ship should ask such a question.
"But I thought that on the men-of-war was the Russian flag."
"Both of them."
"I saw this white flag, crossed with a stripe of blue from the corners,
on the Russian fleet which came to America several years ago, and I
supposed that was the Russian flag."
"It is the Russian man-of-war flag. The Russian merchant flag consists,
as you see, of three equal strips of bunting, extending lengthwise--the
top one white, the bottom red, and the middle one blue. The Russian
royal standard is a yellow flag, with the double eagle in the middle.
Most of the European nations have several flags. You will find diagrams
of all these flags, standards, and jacks, in several volumes in the
library."
"Thank you, sir. I will study them," replied Cantwell, touching his cap.
In the afternoon, as seven bells struck, the squadron was approaching
Cronstadt. The channel was indicated by a light-house on the port
side, and a light-ship on the starboard. The water in the vicinity was
covered with fishing boats, from which men were engaged with lines,
seines, and hoop-nets. Around the town are several islands, all of them
fortified, some of them having three-story forts, and others extensive
earthworks. In 1854 the Baltic squadron, under Sir Charles Napier,
visited this locality, but made no attack, though the British vessels
found a channel by which it was possible to pass the fortifications;
but it has since been closed. The town, which contains a population of
thirty-seven thousand (two thirds of it constituting the garrison), is
built on an island, and is cut up by two canals, one leading to the
"Merchants Harbor," and the other to the naval repairing dock South of
the town is an immense harbor, capable of holding thousands of vessels.
Cronstadt is Russia's principal naval station, and contains vast
manufactories and storehouses belonging to the government. Scores of
old seventy-four gun ships, built of wood, and now practically useless
for modern warfare, are laid up here. The town is the port of St.
Petersburg, seventeen miles distant and all large vessels are obliged
to discharge and load here, though most of the steamers from foreign
countries run up to the city. The bar of the River Neva has only from
eight to ten feet of water.
The squadron ran into Merchants' Harbor, and came to anchor there.
Within it, vessels were loading and unloading at the very doors of the
warehouses. The students were allowed to land at once, but there was
little to be seen in the town, which is simply a commercial place,
though the government buildings are lofty and substantial structures.
A better idea of the fortifications was, however, obtained, and the
boys realized that St. Petersburg was safe from capture by sea, until
something even more terrible than iron-clads should be invented.