THE OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE SYLPH.
“Who is first pilot, sir?” asked Oscar Chester while the captain was
writing his name against his position.
“Dory Dornwood,” replied Captain Gildrock.
Oscar made no reply; but, taking his card, he went to the main deck
without a word of comment. It was not at all likely that the rebel
would agree with the first pilot.
Captain Gildrock’s book, when all had drawn their cards, and Dory had
drawn one each for the two Plattsburgh pupils, gave the places as
follows:--
_First officer_ THAD GLOVERING.
_Second officer_ WILL ORWELL.
_First pilot_ DORY DORNWOOD.
_Second pilot_ OSCAR CHESTER.
_Engineer_ GEORGE JEPSON.
_First assistant-engineer_ CORNY MINKFIELD.
_Second assistant-engineer_ JOHN BRATTLE.
_First fireman_ NAT LONG.
_Second fireman_ DAVE WINDSOR.
_Third fireman_ BOLLY MILLWEED.
_Fourth fireman_ TOM RIDLEY.
_First cook_ PEMBERTON MILLWEED.
_Second cook_ JIM ALBURGH.
_First steward_ BOB SWANTON.
_Second steward_ STEVE BAXTER.
_Third steward_ GEORGE DUANE.
_Fourth steward_ LICK MILTON.
_Starboard watch_ DICK SHORT.
_Starboard watch_ PHIL GAWNER.
_Starboard watch_ BEN LUDLOW.
_Port watch_ HARRY FRANKLIN.
_Port watch_ NED BELLOWS.
_Port watch_ LEW SHOREHAM.
“First and second officers, pilots, and engineers will return to the
hurricane deck; the others will remain on the forecastle,” said
Captain Gildrock, when the cards had all been drawn.
The wheel had been given to Bates, and Dory had gone to the main deck
with the others. The boys seemed to be in good humor, and those who
had drawn inferior positions were apparently the jolliest of the
crowd. Very likely they were disappointed: if they were, they did not
complain.
The principal brought from the pilot-house a pile of coats and half a
dozen badges, which he laid on a bench. As soon as the half-dozen he
had called up had assembled near him, he spoke again.
“I told you there would be some changes in the uniform after we left
Burlington,” said he. “Those whom I have called up are to be regarded
as officers. Instead of wearing the short jackets you have on, you
will put on sack-coats. On his cap each of you will wear one of these
badges, which indicates the position the wearer holds.”
The officers put on the badges, and exchanged the short jackets for
the more dignified garments handed to them by the captain. Certainly
they looked more like officers than before. There was some
good-natured chaffing among them, for they could not well help making
fun of each other. As there was no appearance of ill-feeling among
them, the principal did not object.
“What are we to do now, Captain Gildrock?” John Brattle asked.
“The first thing to do is to learn your duties,” replied the captain.
“You and Minkfield will go to the engine-room, and Mr. Jepson will
instruct you.”
The two engineers hastened below, full of enthusiasm, and very anxious
to learn the duties of their new positions. The captain proceeded to
instruct the first and second officers in regard to their offices, but
all the time he was thinking about the second pilot. He was not
prepared to send Oscar Chester into the pilot-house with Dory. But
Bates knew how to steer, and knew the way to Plattsburgh; though he
was not a pilot for the lake. Finally he concluded to send the second
pilot to learn how to handle the wheel, while he kept Dory with him to
assist in organizing the crew.
Captain Gildrock then went down to the main deck. The four firemen
were immediately sent to the engineer. It happened that the two cooks
had had some experience in their new department; and they were ordered
to the galley, with instructions to learn all they could about the
cooking arrangements, so that they could find any thing they wanted.
Pemberton Millweed had learned to cook a little, while with parties on
the lake; and Jim Alburgh had spent one winter in a logging-camp in
the woods, where he had learned the rudiments of the art. Both of
them had a taste for this sort of thing; and, as soon as they had
installed themselves in the galley, they were as happy as though they
had drawn the cards bearing the titles of first and second officer.
The galley, or kitchen, was in the house on deck, with a glazed door
on each side. The galley, or stove, from which the apartment takes its
name, was forward of the doors. The after-end of the room was fitted
up with a table, and a great number of lockers to contain every
article needed in the art of cooking, except the meats and vegetables,
which were in the ice-house, next to the galley. The two cooks, though
strangers to each other until they met on board, were soon on
excellent terms, and proceeded to make an examination of their new
quarters.
Captain Gildrock next called out the three stewards, and conducted
them to the forward cabin. The general duties of the stewards were to
take care of the cabins, set the table, wait upon it at meals. One had
not yet come on board.
“Then, we are to be sort of servants, are we?” said Lick Milton.
“We are all equal on board of the Sylph,” replied the captain with a
smile. “You are no more servants than all the others on the steamer.
The first duty of officers and seamen is to obey orders; and the first
officer is as much bound to do this as the stewards and deck-hands. It
is as necessary to have our food good and well served as it is to
navigate the vessel. You have as fair an opportunity to distinguish
yourselves in this department as in any other. The officers may be
waiters or stewards next month. In the course of time all the pupils
will be required to discharge the duties of every department.”
“How long do we have to serve as stewards?” asked Bob Swanton.
“I am not fully decided as to that: it will depend somewhat upon what
progress you make. Probably we shall make some changes in a month. But
this yacht is not the principal thing in the Beech-Hill Industrial
School. We shall not go out in her every day in the week, perhaps not
more than once a week after you have learned your duties.”
“We are not to sail in her every day!” exclaimed Steve Baxter.
“Certainly not: after you have obtained a few lessons in discipline on
board of her, she will be a sort of plaything. But we shall make a
trip every Saturday in her. On Monday morning we shall begin to put
the shop in order, and go to work there as soon as we are ready.”
“Then, we are not to have much fun,” added Lick Milton.
“I hope you will all be pleased with your work in the shop and in the
schoolroom,” replied the captain. “On board of large vessels the chief
steward is a person of no little consequence. He purchases the
provisions and stores, and, in consultation with the first cook, makes
out the bill of fare for each meal. All the other stewards obey his
orders, and he is responsible for the condition of the cabin and the
table. But I intended to put a sack-coat on you, Swanton, and give you
a badge.”
The chief steward went to the pilot-house with the captain, where he
was provided with the sack and badge. He was directed to return to the
cabin, and see that his department was in order, and all the stewards
familiar with their work. Swanton was required to arrange with the
cooks for a dinner for all on board, and to set the table for twelve
persons. The principal gave them no minute instructions, preferring
first to see what the chief steward would do without them.
Repairing to the forward deck with Dory, the captain found the six
seamen, or deck-hands, waiting to be informed in regard to their
duties. The first and second officers were called, for the work of the
crew was to be supervised by them. They were to wash down the decks,
and keep every thing outside of the cabins and engine and fire rooms
in order. They were to learn to row the boats, heave the lead, to
attend to the fasts in making a landing, to hoist and lower the boats,
and to take their trick at the wheel.
They were divided into two watches, each being distinguished by a star
on the right or left arm. Captain Gildrock was a practical man; and,
as soon as he had explained the general duties of the crew, he
required the decks to be washed down for the sake of the practice. By
the aid of the steam-pump the planks were soon covered with water.
They were scrubbed with brooms, and dried with swabs, the first and
second officers superintending the work.
The boys worked as though they enjoyed it. The sun soon dried the deck,
and it looked as white as though it had been holystoned. The next
lesson was in heaving the lead; and one by one the boys were mounted
on the rail, and exercised till they could do it to the satisfaction
of the principal.
It was now eleven o’clock, and the Sylph was half-way to Plattsburgh.
It was necessary to see what had been done about dinner, and the
captain went into the forward cabin. He found the three stewards on
board very busy setting the table. They had found every thing they
needed, and the table looked well. The principal encouraged the boys
with some words of praise, and then went to the galley. There was a
good fire in the range, and Pemberton Millweed was frying “chips.”
The principal tasted the potatoes, and pronounced them excellent. The
second cook was busy at the table preparing the vegetables. As both of
them appeared to know what they were about, the captain asked no
questions, and allowed the cooks and stewards to proceed with the
dinner in their own way.
A visit to the engine-room revealed the fact that Corny Minkfield, the
first assistant-engineer, was in charge there, the chief-engineer
being engaged in instructing the firemen in their duties. But Corny
had been on steamers a great deal, and had some ideas in regard to
machinery. He sat upon the sofa abaft the engine, and looked as
dignified as though he had served in this department a dozen years.
In the fire-room Mr. Jepson was doing his duty faithfully. The firemen
asked a great many questions, all of which were carefully answered.
The second engineer was one of the party, for it was necessary that
the engineers should fully understand the duties of the firemen. There
was nothing for the principal to do, and he returned to the deck.
Dory was directed to take the wheel. When he went to the pilot-house,
he found that Oscar Chester was steering the steamer. He was doing
very well for a beginner, and the first pilot did not interfere.