CAPTAIN SCHIMMELPENNINK.
At the request of the principal, Mr. Fluxion acted as interpreter in the
conversation with the Dutch skipper. The unfortunate man stated his
case, and bewailed the heavy loss to which he had been subjected by the
tempest.
"Call all hands, if you please, Captain Kendall," said Mr. Lowington,
when he had heard the statement as translated by Mr. Fluxion.
Paul gave the required order, and in a few moments the crew were at
quarters. The principal took his place on the main hatch, and all the
Josephines waited with interest to hear what he had to say.
"Young gentlemen, since we parted company in the squall yesterday, I
have suffered a great deal of anxiety on your account. The ship ran off
before the gale, while the Josephine lay to. If you had not sailed to
the southward after the tempest, we should not have lost sight of you
for more than a few hours. I acknowledge that I reproached myself
severely for intrusting the vessel to the sole care of students. But I
find that she has been as well handled as though she had been under
command of an old and experienced man. I wish to say to you that Captain
Kendall has acquitted himself remarkably well in the emergency. Though
he did not take in his light sails quite as soon as he should,
everything else was done with the skill and prudence of a veteran."
At this point the students on board, who knew very well why Paul had not
taken in the light sails sooner, looked at one another and smiled
significantly. The difficulty between the professor and the captain had
been fully discussed among them, and it hardly need be said that Paul
was fully justified by his shipmates.
"I want to add," continued the principal, "that the conduct of Captain
Kendall--with the exception I have mentioned--is fully and cordially
approved. I must say that his behavior, his skill and energy, seem fully
to justify the experiment undertaken in the Josephine. Your commander
has made a full report of the vessel, and it gives me great pleasure to
say that he awards the highest praise to his officers and crew for their
zeal and fidelity. He informs me that officers and seamen labored with
untiring energy to rescue the unfortunate persons on board of the
galiot, and also to save the vessel itself. These efforts have been
entirely successful.
"It is at all times the duty of the seaman to save life and property on
the high seas. No one knows how soon we may need the kind offices of
brother sailors of any nation; and what we expect to receive from others
we should at all times be prepared to render to them. You have done
nobly. I congratulate you upon your success; and I thank you for the
zeal with which you have discharged your several duties. Nothing so much
as the dependence of one seaman upon another, in the hour of shipwreck
and disaster, unites the seamen of all nations in one fraternity. Young
gentlemen, you have done something for your ship, and something for your
country; for every true American feels proud and happy when he learns
that an American vessel has saved even a single shipwrecked mariner. I
am sure your friends will be proud of you when they read your record for
the last twenty-four hours.
"According to maritime law, young gentlemen, you are entitled to salvage
upon the vessel you have saved. Under ordinary circumstances, you would
be justified in claiming from one half to three fourths of the value of
this vessel. The galiot, I am informed, was not insured. The value of
the vessel and cargo is perhaps four or five thousand dollars. I have no
doubt the court would give you what would amount to two or three
thousand dollars, at least; for without assistance the vessel would
probably have been a total loss.
"Captain Schimmelpennink, I am told, is the sole owner of the 'Wel
tevreeden.' He and his family lived on board of her. It was their only
home, and she was their only worldly possession. At an expense of a few
hundred dollars, he can restore her to her original condition. If sold
in her present state, she would not bring half her actual value.
Deducting the salvage from this amount, the unfortunate captain would
lose at least three fourths of his property, the accumulation of his
lifetime."
"We'll no rob the poor mon," interposed McLeish, the Scotch boy, who was
now on his good behavior.
"It will be no robbery, McLeish. You would take but your just dues,"
replied the principal, with a smile.
"We'll no tak it," added McLeish.
"No, sir!" "No, sir!" "No, sir!" responded the students in every
direction.
"Not a dollar of it, sir!" said Paul, warmly.
"Thank you, young gentlemen," continued Mr. Lowington, whose face
indicated the pleasure he felt. "You have voluntarily suggested what I
was about to propose to you. To-day is Sunday, and your conduct is
worthy of the day. I should not have mentioned the matter until
to-morrow, if I had not desired to relieve the unfortunate captain from
his anxiety and suspense. Your conduct will gladden his heart. We will
take a vote on this question, that there may be no mistake in regard to
your intentions. Those in favor of abandoning the claim for salvage will
signify it by raising the right hand."
Every hand was raised, and most of the boys added an emphatic "Ay!" to
the hand vote.
"All up!" shouted the students, looking around them to find any one who
was behind the others in this benevolent deed.
"Every one," replied Mr. Lowington, smiling. "Mr. Fluxion, I will thank
you to communicate to the master of the galiot the action of the ship's
company."
The Dutchman stood watching the proceedings of the party with a look of
sad bewilderment. His wife and daughter were near him, as sad and
confused as himself. The boys looked at him with interest as the
professor of mathematics explained to him what had taken place. The
expression which lighted up his face, as he comprehended the action of
the students, was an ample reward for their generous conduct.
"Tell him he may take possession of his vessel as soon as he pleases,"
added the principal.
Mr. Fluxion communicated this permission to the skipper; and when he
heard it he cast a longing glance at the "Wel tevreeden," which he
seemed to regard in the same light as his wife and daughter.
"How much will it cost to repair the galiot?" asked one of the students,
stepping forward from a group which had been whispering together for a
moment very earnestly.
"I do not know the price of materials in Holland," replied Mr.
Lowington. "Perhaps the captain and the pilot may be able to give you
some information on this subject."
Mr. Fluxion, the pilot, and the master of the galiot consulted together
for some time. The jib and foresail, and a portion of the standing and
running rigging, had been saved, and the Belgian and the Dutchman made a
computation of the cost of labor and material.
"About twelve hundred guilders," said Mr. Lowington, after Mr. Fluxion
had reported the result of the conference.
"How much is that, sir?" asked one of the boys, blankly.
"One hundred pounds, English," said Paul, who had already studied up
Dutch currency. "About five hundred dollars."
"I move you, sir, that a subscription paper be opened to raise the money
to repair the galiot," said Lynch.
"Second the motion," added Groesbeck.
"Young gentlemen, I think you have done all that could be expected of
you," said Mr. Lowington. "I do not mean to represent to you that
Captain Schimmelpennink is an object of charity, though I am informed
that he has not the means of paying for these repairs. But, since you
desire it, I will put the matter to vote."
The motion was carried unanimously, as the one remitting the claim for
salvage had been. The principal suggested that it was proper to appoint
a committee to attend to the subscriptions; and Terrill, Pelham, and
Lynch were appointed to perform this duty. Nothing was said to the
skipper of the galiot about this proposition; and Mr. Lowington having
warmly commended the students for their generous sympathy with the
unfortunate man, the crew were dismissed.
A boat was sent to the "Wel tevreeden" with the captain and his party.
The subscription paper was immediately opened. Terrill took the paper to
Mr. Lowington first, who headed it with sixty guilders. The principal
and the students seemed to make their financial calculations in English
money, on the basis of twelve guilders to the pound. Mr. Fluxion put
down twenty-four guilders, and the students twelve guilders each; for no
one was willing to be behind the others.
Mr. Lowington returned to the ship; and when dinner was over, most of
the Josephines turned in, for there was a fearful gaping on board as
soon as the excitement had subsided. Hardly any of the crew had closed
their eyes during the preceding night, and all of them were very tired.
At five o'clock, the white flag containing a blue cross, which is the
signal for divine service, appeared on the Young America. The service
had been postponed, to enable the Josephines to obtain a little needed
rest: it was never dispensed with except at sea, in very heavy weather.
Though the religious exercises were made unusually impressive by Mr.
Agneau, after the storm and the wreck, it must be confessed that some of
the consort's company went to sleep during the hour; but they were
forgiven, even by the chaplain, when their zealous labors to save life
and property were considered.
For some reason of his own, Mr. Lowington invited the Dutch skipper and
his family to attend the service, and a boat was sent for the party.
They came on board, and were regarded with deep interest by the crew,
though doubtless they were not much edified by the exercises, as they
knew not a word of English.
"Captain Kendall," said the first lieutenant of the schooner, when they
returned to their cabin, "I think I have money enough to build a new
galiot for Captain Schumblefungus, or whatever his name is. I don't
wonder that a man with such a name as that should be cast away,
especially if the mate had to speak it before he let go the halyards."
"How much have you?" asked Paul.
"I don't know," replied Terrill, producing a whole bundle of money
orders, with which the students had paid their subscriptions. "Mr.
Lowington made a speech to the Young Americans after he returned on
board. He told them what we had done, and what we intended to do. The
fellows in the ship wanted to have a finger in the pie; and I believe
every one of them has put down his twelve guilders."
"I am very glad to hear that; for I pitied the Dutch captain from the
bottom of my heart," added Paul.
"All the professors gave twelve guilders, except old Hamblin--"
"Professor Hamblin," interposed Paul, gently rebuking his friend for
using that disrespectful appellative.
"Professor Hamblin; but I have no respect for him, and I can't always
help speaking what I think. He is a solemn old lunatic, as grouty as a
crab that has got aground."
"We will not speak of him," said Paul, mildly.
"Well, they all subscribed except him; and I'm sure I've got more than
twelve hundred guilders. Why, even the cooks and stewards gave
something."
"I'm glad you have been so fortunate."
"Captain Spunkenfungle's eyes will stick out a foot or two when he hears
what we have done for him."
"And I'm sure we shall be as happy as he; for such gifts, you know, are
twice blessed."
The sums on the subscription papers were added up by Terrill and Pelham.
"Sixteen hundred and fifty-four guilders!" exclaimed the former, when
the result had been reached.
"Four hundred and fifty-four guilders more than the sum required," added
Paul, delighted by the intelligence.
"Shall we give it all to the skipper?" asked Pelham.
"I don't know. We will leave that to Mr. Lowington," replied Paul.
"I don't think we ought to give him any more than enough to make up his
loss. That would tempt him to wreck his galiot again, if there was an
American flag in sight," said Terrill.
"I see no reason why he should be left any better off than before the
disaster," continued the captain. "We can keep the money as a charity
fund; and I have no doubt we shall soon find a chance to make good use
of it."
The embarrassment of having a surplus was better than that of a
deficiency would have been, and the sleepy officers of the Josephine
were not likely to be kept awake by it. All hands turned in at an
earlier hour than usual. The anchor watch were as sleepy as the others;
but the discipline of the vessel was rigidly adhered to, for the
principal did not believe in neglecting any necessary precaution simply
because the crew were tired. As seamen, the students were taught to
realize that fatigue and want of sleep on shipboard would not justify
any disregard of their regular routine duty.
In the morning everything went on as usual. It had not been the
intention of Mr. Lowington to put into Flushing, and no one was allowed
to go on shore. The wind was fortunately fresh from the westward; the
pilots were still on board; and the signal for sailing was hoisted on
board of the Young America. Just before the squadron weighed anchor, Mr.
Fluxion went on board of the galiot, and informed the skipper that all
the expenses of the repairs of his vessel would be paid by the students
of the institution. The professor reported that the poor man was beside
himself with joy when he received this intelligence. He expressed his
gratitude in extravagant terms, which had no English equivalents. Mr.
Fluxion gave him eighty pounds in gold, and promised to see him again
before the repairs were completed.
Orders to weigh anchor were given, and the two vessels stood out of the
port of Flushing into the broad river. At Paul's invitation, Dr.
Winstock came on board for the passage up the river. Mr. Hamblin still
remained a guest of the ship, and the surgeon volunteered to take his
place, though he acknowledged that his Greek roots were little better
than decayed stumps in his memory.
There is nothing picturesque on the Scheldt; and it was no great
hardship for the students to be compelled to attend to their lessons in
the steerage half the time during the trip. The country is very
low--some of it below the level of the sea; and there was little to be
seen on shore, though the students on deck found enough to interest
them.
Mr. Hamblin was the only unhappy person in the squadron, even the
Knights of the Red Cross finding enough in this new and strange land to
occupy their time without plotting mischief. The learned gentleman did
not like the way in which the principal appeared to be "sustaining" him.
Mr. Lowington had called the crew together, and told them what the
Josephines had done, praising them in what seemed to the professor to be
the most extravagant language. He did not like it: it was hardly less
than an insult to commend the student against whom he had preferred
charges of disobedience and insubordination.
He was vexed that no notice was taken of his complaints--that the matter
had been deferred a single hour. In his opinion, Captain Kendall should
have been promptly suspended. The moral effect of such a course would
have been grand. Mr. Hamblin had spoken; and he felt that he had spoken.
If he was not sustained, he could not return to the Josephine. He had
spoken; and it was the principal's place to speak next.
Mr. Lowington did not speak. He was busy all the morning; and when the
vessels sailed, not a word had been said in allusion to the topic which,
in Mr. Hamblin's estimation, overshadowed all others. If the principal
did not think of it all the time, he ought to do so; for the academic
branch of the institution would be a failure if discipline was not
enforced. The ship stood on her way before the fresh westerly breeze,
and still Mr. Lowington did not mention the matter. The professor waited
till he felt he was utterly ignored, and was sacrificing his dignity
every moment that he permitted the question to remain unsettled.
"Mr. Lowington," said he at last, with a mighty effort,--for it was the
principal's duty to speak first,--"I made a complaint to you yesterday.
Thus far no notice whatever seems to have been taken of it."
"Perhaps the longer we wait the easier it will be to settle the
question," replied Mr. Lowington, pleasantly, though he dreaded the
discussion that must ensue.
"If I am not to be sustained in the discharge of my duties, it is
useless for me to attempt to perform them to your satisfaction or my
own."
"You shall be sustained in the discharge of your duties, Mr. Hamblin.
But we will discuss this matter in the cabin, if you please," added the
principal, as he led the way below.
"Unless an instructor is sustained, of course he can do nothing," said
the professor, as he seated himself in the cabin.
"Certainly not. I will hear your complaint now, Mr. Hamblin," replied
the principal.
The learned gentleman stated his grievance in about the same terms as on
the day before.
"You say that a message was sent down to the captain. Do you know what
that message was?" asked the principal.
"I do not remember it precisely. It was something about a squall."
"Very likely it was," answered Mr. Lowington, dryly. "There was a squall
coming up at the time--was there not?"
"I knew there was a shower coming up."
"You declined to let him go on deck?"
"I did, sir. The recitation in Greek was not half finished," replied the
professor, who deemed this a sufficient reason for declining.
"Captain Kendall did not go on deck when the first message was sent
down?"
"No, sir; we continued the recitation for half an hour longer without
interruption. Then the messenger came again. I told Mr. Kendall not to
leave the class; but, in direct opposition to my order, he went on
deck. Not satisfied with this, though he knew that half the students
were engaged in the recitations, he ordered all hands to be called. Of
course the students were glad enough to get away from their lessons; and
all of them stampeded from the steerage, in spite of my protest, and
without even a word of apology."
"Did they?" added Mr. Lowington, with difficulty avoiding the disrespect
of laughing in the face of the learned gentleman.
"They did; and it must be as clear to you as it is to me, that such
conduct is utterly subversive of anything like good discipline."
"May I ask what punishment you propose as suitable for such an offence
as that of Captain Kendall?"
"I am perfectly willing to leave that matter to you, sir; but I should
think that simple suspension from his office would be sufficient,
considering the position of Mr. Kendall."
"Mr. Hamblin, it is your misfortune, not your fault, that you were
brought up on shore instead of at sea," added the principal. "You have
made a very great mistake, sir."
"I, sir!" exclaimed the learned gentleman, springing up from his seat as
though such an event as that indicated by Mr. Lowington had never
occurred in his life.
"Captain Kendall also made a mistake," continued the principal.
"He did indeed, sir. It is always a very great mistake to disobey one's
teacher."
"I do not mean that."
"May I ask what you do mean, sir?"
"His mistake was in not going on deck when the messenger sent to him by
the officer of the deck reported that a squall was coming up."
"But I refused the permission," said the professor, warmly.
"Then he should have gone without your permission," added Mr. Lowington,
decidedly.
"Am I to understand, sir, that you counsel disobedience among the boys
on the Josephine?"
"No, sir; I counsel obedience to the laws of God and man, and to the
orders of one's superior. Mr. Hamblin, is it possible that you could not
understand the circumstances of that occasion?" continued the principal.
"A squall was coming up, and you desired to detain the captain of your
vessel in the steerage!"
"But half the crew were on deck. I am told that Mr. Terrill is a
competent seaman. He knew enough to take down the sails, if necessary."
"Such a course would have been without a precedent, and in violation of
one of the rules of the ship."
"Did you not tell me that all the students, including the captain,--you
mentioned him especially,--were subject to the orders of the professors
in school hours?"
"I certainly did; but if I had supposed that there was an instructor in
either vessel so utterly wanting in discretion, I should have qualified
the statement. Captain Kendall is in command of the Josephine. He is
responsible for the safety of the vessel and for the lives of those on
board."
"He might have sent up word to take down the sails," growled Mr.
Hamblin, disgusted beyond measure at the decision of the principal.
"Did any one ever hear of a captain working his vessel while in the
steerage?" retorted Mr. Lowington, impatiently, as he took a pen and
wrote a few lines on a sheet of paper. "Was Captain Kendall respectful
to you?"
"No, sir."
"What did he say that was disrespectful?"
"Disobedience is always disrespectful. He used no disrespectful words."
"I did not suppose he did. In a word, if Captain Kendall had gone on
deck when the first messenger went to him, I should have justified and
sustained him. I will go a step farther: he ought to have done so."
"Then I am to understand that I am a mere cipher on board of the
Josephine," demanded Mr. Hamblin.
"You are to understand, sir, that the first duty of the captain of a
ship is to his vessel and to those on board of her. Why, sir, I thought
the young gentleman was insane, and I was intensely anxious, when I saw
his vessel with all her light sails on while a squall, so clearly
indicated as that of Saturday, was impending. I blamed him very much.
The squall was as likely to come half an hour sooner as when it did
come. If it had struck her with all sail set, it would have taken the
masts out of her--perhaps foundered her. If several of the students had
been lost, what satisfaction would it be to me or their friends to know
that the disaster occurred because the professor of Greek refused to let
the captain go on deck!"
"Perhaps I was wrong, sir."
"_Perhaps_ you were! If you do not know that you were, you are not fit
for the position to which I assigned you."
"I see that you fully sustain Mr. Kendall," groaned the professor.
"I only blame him because he did not disobey you the first time instead
of the second."
"Was it necessary for him to call all hands?" demanded Mr. Hamblin,
triumphantly.
"It was emphatically necessary! If he had gone on deck when the first
message reached him, it might not have been necessary, though I should
have sustained him in doing so; for the safest side is always the best
side. May I ask you to read this order?" added the principal, as he
handed the sheet upon which he had written to the learned professor.
Mr. Hamblin read the order aloud.
Captain Kendall is hereby authorized and directed to leave any
class in which he may be engaged, whenever, in his own judgment,
the management of his vessel requires him to do so. The instructors
in the consort are requested to respect this order.
R. LOWINGTON.
Professor Hamblin dropped the paper, took off his spectacles, looked on
the floor a moment, and seemed to feel that the nautical academy was not
the paradise of schoolmasters.
"Mr. Lowington, I feel obliged to tender my resignation of the position
I occupy," said the learned gentleman, haughtily.
"Very well, sir. Though the want of an instructor in your department
will be a serious inconvenience to me, I shall accept your resignation
if you are not willing to respect this order," replied the principal.
That ended the conference, and Paul was sustained.