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.