THE PROFESSOR'S CHARGE.
"I say, Perth, I've been a good boy for more than a week, and I begin to
be ashamed of myself for my want of activity," said Wilton, who had
seated himself on the bowsprit-cap, while his companion was reclining on
the flying jib. "I shall spoil if there is not something going on soon."
"We'll go on that cruise in the Josephine just as soon as we can bring
things round right," added Perth.
"It's no use to think of that while we are moored fifty or a hundred
miles from the sea," continued Wilton.
"Of course not. Rotterdam is away up the river, with a bar at its mouth
having only seven feet of water on it at low tide. You must go over
that, or by the canal, which runs through an island. Do you know where
we go next?"
"I heard some of the fellows say we were going to the southward soon."
"If that's so I should suppose we shall go into Dieppe or Havre," said
Perth.
"I heard Havre mentioned. How will that suit?"
"First rate!" exclaimed the embryo captain of the proposed prize, for
the Knights depended upon Perth for the navigation of the Josephine,
when their long-cherished plan should be put in execution.
"I suppose we shall not stay in Holland more than a week."
"No, I hope not. Lowington is afraid we shall all get sick if we stay
here long."
"Havre is just the place for us. It has an open harbor, and we can go to
sea from there without any difficulty. Besides, there's another thing
that will favor us."
"What's that?" asked Wilton.
"All the fellows will go to Paris when the ship is there, and we can
have a first-rate chance to operate while they are gone."
"I don't know about that. Our fellows will all want to go to Paris with
the rest. I want to go there myself," suggested Wilton.
"We may as well give it up, then," added Perth.
"We must see Paris, anyhow."
"I'll tell you what we can do. We can run round through the Straits of
Gibraltar, and up the Mediterranean to Marseilles. From there we can all
go to Paris.".
"That will be a long cruise," said Wilton.
"No matter for that. The longer the better."
"How far is it?"
"Not less than two thousand miles. We could go in ten or fifteen days,"
added Perth, warming up as he anticipated the pleasure of the runaway
cruise. "After we get into the Mediterranean, we can run along the coast
of Spain, go into port as often as we like, and have a first-rate time
generally."
"But don't you suppose Lowington will follow us?"
"No matter if he does. We can beat the Young America on a wind from
Monday morning till Saturday night. If we find the ship is overhauling
us, all we have to do is to hug the wind, and we can give her the slip."
"We haven't money enough to pay the expenses of such a trip," said
Wilton.
"There's plenty of money in the Josephine. But we don't need much. The
vessel has a year's provisions in her hold."
"Salt junk and hard tack," suggested Wilton, who was not partial to this
diet.
"That will do very well while we are at sea; and when we get to Spain we
can buy things cheap. Besides, our fellows are going to raise some money
on their own account," said Perth, in a whisper.
"How's that?" asked the other, curiously.
"Every one of the Knights wrote home to have their folks send them some
money at Paris,--or every one but you and Munroe; and the game was
played out with you and him, for you had some sent to you in London."
"Yes; and Lowington got it," replied Wilton in disgust.
"We fixed it all right. We shall find loose change enough on board of
the Josephine to keep us happy till we get to Paris, by the way of
Marseilles, and then we shall be rotten with stamps."
"But don't you expect to be caught some time or other?" inquired Wilton,
whose experience on a former occasion seemed to point in this
direction.
"No matter if we are. We must be ready for that; but we will be jolly
while we have things our own way."
"It's no use to talk about it yet," added Wilton, with a yawn, for the
wild scheme seemed so far off to him that he could not enter into the
spirit of it yet.
"It won't be more than a week or ten days before we shall be ready to
make a strike. You know we must all cut up so as to be left on board."
"Yes, and some one will be left on board with us, just as it happened at
Cowes."
"It won't be Fluxion, anyhow; for he has been transferred to the
Josephine, and we can come it over any other of the professors. However,
we must feel our way, and the first thing we have to do is to get left
on board."
"Humph! That's easy enough," said Wilton, who had never found any
difficulty in being left behind, or in being condemned to the brig.
"We must make a sure thing of it next time; but it won't do to run away
with a boat again. Hush up! There comes that old stick-in-the-mud from
the Josephine," added Perth, lowering his voice to a whisper.
The gentleman thus discourteously alluded to was Mr. Hamblin,who had
climbed upon the topgallant forecastle for the purpose of obtaining a
view of the region through which the vessel was passing. As the two boys
were far out on the bowsprit, over the water, he did not venture to
approach any nearer to them; yet the excessive prudence which the
Knights practised required them to keep silence whenever there was a
possibility that a word might be overheard by the uninitiated.
"I wish he would come up here," whispered Wilton, from the corner of his
mouth.
"Why?"
"I would contrive some way to spill him into the drink," chuckled the
ever-willing conspirator.
Mr. Hamblin was then cool and self-possessed, and he did not venture out
upon the treacherous spar, and the entangling rigging, so that the
wretch on the cap had no opportunity to give him a second bath in the
dirty Scheldt. The learned gentleman was looking for the site of the
Duke of Parma's Bridge, but he couldn't find it, and presently retired.
He was not much interested in the Spanish operations in Flanders, though
he felt it his duty to see a spot so noted in history--it was so
effective, before a class of students, to be able to say he had seen the
place alluded to in the text-book. He was, in fact, more concerned to
know what Mr. Lowington's decision was, and he was waiting impatiently
for an interview with him.
"The old hunks is too mean for the Josephines, and he has been quartered
upon us!" exclaimed Wilton, as the professor descended to the main deck.
"The fellows in the consort say he is as grouty as a mud turtle, and as
crabbed as an owl at noonday. He snubs every one that makes a blunder,
and rips at the class half the time."
"They say Lowington don't like him much better than the fellows do,"
added Perth.
It would be difficult to explain how any of the students had reached
this conclusion; but it is certain that boys understand their guardians
and instructors much better than the latter generally suppose.
"Perth, I think we might as well have our liberty stopped for serving
out Old Crabs, as for anything else," suggested Wilton.
"I'm willing; the Knights will do that job handsomely, you may bet your
life."
"But we musn't get caught too soon."
"We work in the dark, and we can do the thing as well as the Josephines
did."
"Let's study up something at once, and put him through a course of
sprouts. I don't believe in tolerating a professor who was too mean for
the Josephine," replied Wilton, shaking his head, as though a personal
indignity had been put upon him.
"All right; we will be ready as soon as he is. What's the row on deck?"
continued Perth, rising from his seat, as a group of students gathered
in the rigging, and on such elevations as would enable them to see over
the bulwarks.
"Only one of Mapps's long yarns," answered Wilton.
"I'm going down to see what it is."
Perth went down, but Wilton had not the slightest interest in anything
Mr. Mapps had to say; and he stretched himself on the jib, which had
been cast loose ready to hoist, in case it should be required.
"This is the place where the Duke of Parma built his great bridge over
the Scheldt," said the professor of history, as the students gathered
around him.
"What did he build the bridge for?" asked one of them.
"In order to close the navigation of the river, and thus prevent the
people of Antwerp from obtaining provisions, which came to them from
Holland. When the Prince of Orange was assassinated, the Duke of Parma
was making his preparations to subdue the country. By the death of the
prince Holland was left without an effective leader, while in the duke
Spain had one of the most accomplished and energetic generals of his
age. Parma saw that Antwerp was the key to the situation, and he
directed his whole attention to its capture.
"Before this time the Prince of Orange had realized that the loss of
Antwerp would be the loss of the whole of the region which is now called
Belgium; and when it was clear in what direction his skilful antagonist
proposed to operate, he had advised the cutting of the dike on your
right, which would lay the country under water, and open a channel of
communication with Holland and Zealand by water. Unfortunately, his
advice was disregarded till the duke had secured the dikes--a neglect
which caused the loss of Antwerp, and with it the whole of Flanders.
"Though Parma had erected forts all along the banks of the river, the
hardy Dutchmen ran the gantlet of them, and Antwerp was well supplied
with food, the price being four times as much as in Holland. The people
of the city, and even their leaders, ridiculed the idea of constructing
the bridge, and took no steps to prevent it. The death of Orange caused
a panic throughout the Netherlands, of which the shrewd Parma took
advantage, and urged on his preparations. Though crippled in a measure
by the neglect of his sovereign to supply him with men and money, the
bridge was completed in the face of tremendous obstacles. It was
twenty-four hundred feet long, and composed of thirty-two boats, or
vessels, bound together by hawsers, cables, and beams. On each side was
a wall of timbers, and on the structure guns were planted for its
defence. A fort was erected at each end, heavily armed and manned.
"When the bridge was finished, the Antwerpers, who had laughed to scorn
the idea of such a structure, found that their supplies were cut off.
They made two attempts to break through the bridge, but failed in both,
though in one of them they made a breach by exploding a fire-ship, and
destroyed nearly a thousand Spanish soldiers, and Parma himself was
knocked senseless. The attempt was not followed up with sufficient
energy, and the Spaniard had time to repair the work. Antwerp, deprived
of provisions by the skill and determination of the duke, was starved
out and compelled to surrender. The country continued under the Spanish
yoke, while the United Provinces maintained their independence."
The attentive audience which had gathered around the professor separated
when he had finished the story. Some of them went aloft, to look over
the dikes, and with their eyes followed the long lines of ditches and
canals which extended into the interior.
In the mean time, Mr. Hamblin walked the deck very uneasily, waiting for
an opportunity to discuss his position with the principal. The studies
of the classes were to be resumed on the following day, and he was
anxious to know what disposition was to be made of him. The ship was
already provided with an excellent instructor in Greek and Latin; and
only in the department of mathematics was there a vacancy, made by the
transfer of Mr. Fluxion. It would be impossible for Mr. Hamblin to teach
anything but Greek and Latin, though he had had some experience in the
other branches.
Mr. Lowington seemed to be provokingly indifferent on the subject, and
the professor was at last compelled to ask an interview, which, however,
his dignity compelled him to defer till the ship was approaching
Flushing, when the steamer was to leave her. The principal understood
the character of the learned gentleman very well, and knew that any
manifestation of anxiety on his own part would so inflate the vanity of
the professor that he could do nothing with him; but he granted the
interview when it was demanded.
"Mr. Lowington, I am rather desirous of knowing what is to be done,"
said the _savant_, when they were alone in the main cabin. "I find that
Mr. Fluxion has been transferred to the place I filled on the Josephine.
As you are aware, I was employed to teach Latin and Greek."
"I am aware of it," replied the principal, still appearing to be
singularly indifferent in such a momentous crisis, as it seemed to Mr.
Hamblin.
"I presume Mr. Fluxion is competent to teach the classics."
"Entirely competent. He was assigned, in the beginning, to the
department of navigation, on account of his knowledge of practical
seamanship. I don't know that he has any superior as a teacher of the
classics."
Mr. Hamblin did not like this answer. The principal had no business to
think that any one was _his_ equal in the department of Greek and Latin,
especially the former. Mr. Fluxion had never written a Greek Grammar,
compiled a Greek Reader, and edited the Anabasis. The remark of the
principal was very injudicious.
"Having been displaced from my position in the consort, I am rather
desirous of knowing what is to be done with me," added the professor,
choking down his disgust.
"I hope we shall be able to make an arrangement that will be
satisfactory to you, at least for the present," replied the principal.
"I have had some consultation with the instructors; and Mr. Paradyme has
obligingly consented to take the department of mathematics in the ship
for a time, and the Greek and Latin will be assigned to you."
"This arrangement is entirely satisfactory to me, Mr. Lowington,"
answered the professor, who was really delighted to obtain what was
regarded as the senior professorship in the squadron; and it seemed
quite fitting that the place should be given to him.
"This is only a temporary arrangement," added the principal, desirous to
prevent any misunderstanding in the future.
This was not entirely satisfactory to Mr. Hamblin, who thought a thing
so fitly done ought to be permanent.
"It is not pleasant for me to feel unsettled, and to be liable to a
change at any time," said the professor. "I think I should prefer my
place in the Josephine."
"Since you and the captain of the Josephine cannot agree, it does not
appear to be practicable for you to remain there."
"Do you expect me to submit when insulted by a pupil, Mr. Lowington?"
asked Mr. Hamblin, solemnly. "Will you allow a student to insult me?"
"I will neither allow a student to insult you, nor you to insult a
student," replied the principal, with the most refreshing frankness.
"You will not allow _me_ to insult a pupil!" exclaimed Mr. Hamblin.
"Certainly not."
"Do you think me capable of doing such a thing?"
"I am sorry to say you have proved that you are. You called one of them
a puppy."
"But not until--"
"Excuse me, Mr. Hamblin. I do not purpose to discuss this matter again."
"May I ask if you sustain Mr. Kendall in his conduct towards me?"
"I do--fully."
"I am astonished, sir!"
"So am I--astonished that a gentleman of your learning and ability
should so demean himself as to apply offensive epithets to his pupils.
In the first place, you had no right to interfere with the discipline of
the vessel; and when Captain Kendall told you that he commanded the
Josephine, he said no more than the truth, and no more than the
circumstances required him to say. In the second place, after you called
him a puppy, and repeated the epithet, on the quarter-deck, I could not
have blamed him if he had put you in irons. I approve his conduct
fully. As you insulted him before his officers and crew, it was
necessary that he should vindicate himself before them."
"I am afraid this vessel is no place for me," said the professor, with
extreme disgust.
"I am afraid not, if you cannot observe the rules of the ship."
"I think I have observed the rules, sir. Mr. Kendall used every means in
his power to annoy me; and still you sustain him in it. He knows that
you are partial to him."
"I am not aware that Captain Kendall used any means to annoy you."
"I think you do not know that boy as well as I do. A rope was thrown
down upon my head: the offence was suffered to pass unnoticed by Mr.
Kendall. I was wilfully or carelessly thrown into the river; the captain
did not consult me, but made his inquiries in private, and of course the
culprits escaped."
"You were thrown into the river by your own carelessness, Mr. Hamblin. I
saw the whole of it."
"So Mr. Kendall told me, in the most offensive tones. I do not complain
of these things; I only mention them for the sequel. A boy drenched me
with water; he begged my pardon on his knees, and I forgave him; but
this offence the captain punishes in the most severe manner. Why?
Apparently because I--the only sufferer--had forgiven the offender."
"It was necessary for the captain to put a stop to such pranks."
"But he did not use good judgment. McDougal explained the matter, and
was exceedingly sorry."
"But he drenched you on purpose."
"Impossible, sir!"
The principal called one of the stewards, and sent for McDougal, who
presently appeared. He had already confessed that the drenching was not
an accident, and he repeated his statement, to the utter astonishment of
the discomfited pedagogue. During the excursion on shore, some of the
Josephines had told him that the trouble between Paul and the professor
had been on his account; and he had made the confession in order to
justify the captain, at whatever cost to himself. The spirited conduct
of the young commander had filled the boys with admiration, and they
were determined that he should not suffer, whoever else did.
"You did it on purpose--did you?" repeated the _savant_. "May I ask why
you did it?"
"The fellows didn't like you, and were bound to get you out of the
Josephine," replied McDougal, candidly.
"The fellows!" exclaimed Mr. Hamblin. "Were there others concerned in
this iniquitous transaction?"
"More than a dozen of them."
"Did you write the letter to me which purported to come from the Belgian
Minister of Foreign Affairs?"
"No, sir."
"Who did?"
"I don't know, sir."
"You don't know! Don't lie to me," said the professor, sternly.
"I do not."
"I know," added the learned gentleman, turning to the principal.
"McDougal, you say that a dozen boys were concerned in your proceedings.
Who were they?"
"I would rather not tell, sir. I am willing to own up to all I did
myself."
"You hear that, Mr. Lowington?" exclaimed the professor, with horror.
"Of course I hear it, Mr. Hamblin," replied the principal, impatiently.
"You may leave, McDougal."
"Leave, sir!" ejaculated Mr. Hamblin.
"Go, McDougal;" and he went. "You said you knew who wrote the fictitious
letter, sir."
"I do."
"Who was it?"
"Mr. Lowington, if that boy you sent away had told the whole truth, he
would have confessed that Mr. Kendall was at the bottom of all these
infamous proceedings."
"Captain Kendall!"
"Yes, sir; especially the plan to throw me into the water. When I
demanded a boat, I mentioned the gig. It was refused. Why? Because the
crew of the first cutter had been instructed to tip me overboard! It is
very strange that no one but myself has been able to understand the
vicious intentions of the boys."
"The gig is the captain's boat. The regulations require the captain to
give the professors the first cutter," explained Mr. Lowington.
"I was not aware of it at the time; but I am satisfied that the crew of
the first cutter had been instructed to pitch me into the river."
"If they were, you were very obliging to assist them as you did," added
the principal. "But go on. Do you suppose Captain Kendall instructed
McDougal to drench you with water?"
"Very likely."
"And then inflicted the severest punishment upon him for doing it? It is
absurd! That was the third and last offence. The captain put an end to
these tricks by his well-timed energy, and I am sure he had no part or
lot in them. Do you think he got some one to write the letter to you?"
"No, sir; I think he did it himself," replied the professor, more
calmly, as he came to what he considered his stronghold.
"I am not willing to believe it."
"I am prepared to prove it, sir."
"If Kendall has been guilty of such conduct,--if it can be shown that he
wrote the letter, or that he knew of its being written,--I will not only
suspend him, but I will reduce him to a common sailor, and confine him
in the brig," said the principal, with no little agitation.
This strong speech looked like the dawn of reason to Mr. Hamblin, and he
hastened to produce his evidence. The letter and several exercises
written by Paul were first placed on the cabin table, to enable Mr.
Lowington to compare the penmanship.
"There is a strong similarity in them, I grant; but they are all written
in the common school-boy hand of the United States," added the
principal.
"There is a stronger resemblance than that. The capital A's are the
same; the small r's are identical."
"But the small a's are different."
"Doubtless he disguised his hand to some extent."
"Is this all the proof you have?" asked Mr. Lowington, somewhat
relieved.
"No, sir," replied the professor, triumphantly, as he exhibited the
paper he had taken from Paul's state-room, which was different from any
he had been able to find in either vessel. "The paper is identical, you
perceive."
"I see that it is."
"And no other student has such paper."
"The ship has provided paper for the students, but none like this," said
Mr. Lowington, with a sigh.
"I think you will consider the case proved," added Mr. Hamblin,
exultingly.
"By no means. Enough has been shown to warrant an inquiry. I will make
an investigation immediately."
This was all Mr. Hamblin could ask; and, confident that Captain Kendall
would be convicted, he left the cabin, as the captain of the Belgian
steamer came in to settle for the towage.