WHAT THE STUDENTS FOUND AT THOMPSON’s POINT.
At the scholastic session, in the morning, the scholars had been
forbidden to take any of the boats without special permission, which
would not be granted to those who were not qualified to manage them.
The Goldwing, and a sloop called the Emma, were the only sailboats
belonging to Beech Hill.
Besides the two four-oar quarter-boats belonging to the Sylph, there
were four other rowboats, two pulling four oars, and two pulling two
oars, each. When the boys went on board of the steam-yacht, they
noticed that all the rowboats were made fast to her stern. It was
evident that the present excursion was for the purpose of drilling the
boys in rowing and handling boats.
Captain Gildrock had been away all the afternoon, and returned only in
time to join the school in the steamer. Bates had got up steam, for he
had learned to be a man-of-all-work, from hoeing corn, up to steering
a steamer. Dory was sent to the pilot-house, but no one heard the
instructions given him. Oscar went with him; but, if Dory knew the
programme, he did not speak of it.
The ship’s company all went to their stations, though there was
nothing for the cooks and stewards to do. Oscar steered until the
steamer was near Thompson’s Point, opposite Split Rock, when Dory took
the wheel. The captain had instructed Thad Glovering, the first
officer, to get the anchor ready. Dory ran the steamer into a bay next
to the point; and, when she was within a quarter of a mile of the
shore, he rang to stop her.
“Back her, Dory,” said the captain, who did not wish to go too near
the shore. “That will do: let go the anchor.”
“Now, my lads, we are going to learn to handle boats before we sail
any more,” said Captain Gildrock. “It is often as important to be able
to handle a boat properly, as it is to be able to sail the ship. We
are rather short of instructors in the art of rowing, but we shall do
as well as we can. I will take the port quarter-boat, and Dory will go
in the starboard.”
“The Goldwing Club know how to row,” suggested Dory. “They can do all
that I can, though that isn’t much.”
The captain admitted that they could row very well, for he had seen
them do it; and he appointed the other four members of the club as
coxswains of the remaining boats. In a few minutes they had all
embarked, and, as directed, had assembled around the port
quarter-boat, from which Captain Gildrock told them all that could be
told in regard to the art of rowing.
“You will obey the orders of the coxswains without grumbling, or
asking any questions,” continued the captain, when he had given the
pupils the names of the different parts of an oar, and shown them how
to use it. He was in favor of a man-of-war stroke, especially for
beginners; for it was slow and measured.
The Goldwing Club had practised it a great deal, for the skipper had
learned it of his father. The boats separated, and each coxswain
proceeded to tell what he knew about rowing “man-of-war fashion.” Many
of the boys were disposed to indulge in a little skylarking, and some
of them were not inclined to obey the orders of the several members of
the Goldwing Club. But the captain was too near to permit any thing
like an outbreak.
But the boys were greatly interested in all aquatic sports, and in an
hour’s time they could pull a very fair stroke. They learned all the
man-of-war boat terms, and could “toss” and “let fall” with tolerable
precision.
“Pull to the end of the point,” shouted Captain Gildrock, as his boat
led off in that direction.
The other boats followed him. As they approached the shore, the
coxswains discovered that there were several persons there; though it
was generally an unfrequented spot, without a house within a mile of
the point. The rowers, being back to the shore, could see nothing. The
coxswains wondered what the sensation was to be, for they were
satisfied that there was “something in the wind.”
Even when the boats touched the beach they could see nothing, for the
point was covered with trees. Captain Gildrock landed first, and the
coxswains had hard work to prevent their crews from following him
pell-mell. But the discipline was preserved without breaking any
thing, till orders came for all to go on shore. The boats were all
hauled up so that they should not get adrift, and the several crews
followed the captain up the hill.
“Hurrah!” yelled those who got to the road first.
Doubtless this yell gave expression to their astonishment as well as
their enthusiasm. In the road, which leads down to the end of the
point, they found two long vehicles, the pairs of wheels on which were
twenty feet apart.
Standing by the side of them were two men, who were the teamsters, and
two boys of seventeen, very genteelly dressed. On each vehicle was a
boat, each of which was hardly less than fifty feet long. They were
both broad for rowboats, and were finished in the most elegant style.
The students were delighted, and could hardly find words to express
their enthusiasm.
“Six oars on a side! Twelve oars in one boat! Who ever heard of such a
thing?” exclaimed Will Orwell.
“You would not have believed there was such a boat, to say nothing of
two of them, if you had been told about it,” said Dave Windsor
mischievously.
“I believe in them both now,” replied Will. “Do you suppose they are
for us?”
“I think they must be. I don’t believe there is any other concern in
these parts that would have any use for such boats,” added Dave.
“My lads, here are two new pupils, from the city of New York. I hope
you will give them a cordial welcome, and make things pleasant, for
them,” said the captain, interrupting the comments of the boys on the
boats.
“Hurrah for the New-Yorkers!” shouted Ben Ludlow; and three lusty
cheers were given in response to the captain’s introduction of the new
boys.
“This is Luke Bennington, and his father is a shipbuilder. He knows a
ship from a cooking-stove, and can give you all points in boating. The
other is Matt Randolph, whose father is captain of an ocean-steamer;
and he can do any thing in a yacht except splice the main-brace.”
The two boys began to bow as they were introduced, and kept it up
until the principal ceased. Then they went in among the boys, and
began to shake hands with them, and to make themselves acquainted.
“What about those boats, Captain Gildrock?” called Bob Swanton, after
he had met the new-comers.
“Those are twelve-oar barges such as they use in the navy. They are
single banked, and will accommodate nine persons in the stern-sheet,”
replied the captain. “They were built in New-York City especially for
the Beech-Hill Industrial School. I expected to have had them a week
ago, but they were not finished. Luke Bennington and Matt Randolph
came up in charge of them. Now, if you are ready, we will put them
into the water.”
The barges were unloaded, and conveyed to the lake. As soon as they
were in the water, the students gave the usual three cheers. Of
course, they were not satisfied until they were seated in them; and
there were now just students enough to man them, without any
coxswains. They pulled off to the steamer, towing the other boats. The
boys were sorry to get out of them so soon, but there was no more than
time to reach the school before six o’clock.
The new boats were the subject of much enthusiastic talk that evening,
but they were not to be used until four the next afternoon.
That night two more students arrived, and the complement intended was
exceeded. Dory was moved into the mansion, and also Thad Glovering, so
that the dormitory would accommodate them. Of the new boys it happened
that three of them were qualified for the first class, while the
fourth was admitted to the second class.
The next day the studies, and the work in the shop, went on as before.
It was a new thing to the boys, and the captain did not expect any
difficulty at present; and he had none, beyond the little bits of
mischief which were not at all serious. Dory was superlatively happy
in the snug harbor he had found after the wanderings and trials of the
earlier part of the year.
The deep interest of the principal in the institution induced him to
give his personal attention to every thing that was done. He was in
the school-room most of the forenoon, and in the shop most of the
afternoon. But his teaching was done mostly on board of the Sylph, and
in the boats. When he found an opportunity to improve the minds or
hearts of the boys, he used it, wherever it happened to be. His
instructions were always welcome to the students.
The practice in swimming was kept up every day during the rest of the
season, unless the weather was unfavorable. In a fortnight most of the
boys could swim very well; but half a dozen of them had not yet
obtained the confidence to strike out, without the planks, into the
deep water of the lake. The two New-Yorkers were fine swimmers, and
their example and suggestions were valuable to the others.
On the day after the arrival of the barges, the students gathered at
the lake for the exciting exercise of rowing. They were gathered on
the temporary wharf built for the accommodation of the Sylph.
“We have not got things to rights here yet, my lads,” said Captain
Gildrock. “I was thinking this summer of building a suitable wharf and
boat-house, but I concluded to let you do it. We can have two
boat-clubs now, and we want a hall for them to meet in during the
winter. You are to build this house.”
“Build a house!” exclaimed Bob Swanton.
“That was what I said, and what I meant,” replied the captain. “It
will be a boat-house, large enough for all the boats on the lower
floor, and for a club-room on the second floor.”
“Can we do it?” asked Ben Ludlow.
“If you can’t do it, with Mr. Brookbine’s assistance, I might as well
discontinue this school at once. I find that boys work best, and enjoy
it more, when their labor is to accomplish a result. You will not only
build the house, but you will, I hope, make the plan for it. When you
get a little farther along with your drawing, you will be competent to
do it.
“I shall offer several prizes for the best plan, and build upon it
when it is accepted. We shall also build a wharf of stone at the same
time, and that will be a part of the plan. I want you to think how you
would do it all as you have opportunity.
“For the present,” continued the captain, “the first class will be
machinists; and the second class, carpenters. I think it is better,
therefore, to give one boat to the first class, and the other to the
second. Each of the classes may organize a boat-club at once. I should
like to have each one choose a coxswain now, before you get into the
boats. Don’t do as the American people often do,--select one who don’t
know any thing about the work he is to do. Elect one whose orders you
will be willing to obey.
“This election will be of temporary coxswains. In a week or two, when
you have learned more about boats, you can do it more understandingly
than now.”
The students were delighted with the idea, and a lot of them fell to
electioneering as naturally as the average American citizen. In the
first class, Matt Randolph was elected; in the second class, Dory
Dornwood received very nearly a unanimous vote. The coxswains were
directed to take the command at once, and they proceeded to number
their men. Then they were assigned to their places. Dory was the first
to get his boat off, and he led the way out into Lake Champlain.
Each coxswain exercised his crew for an hour; and, of course, they had
to have a race. As Dory had all the Goldwing Club with him, his boat
won it; though the boys in the first class were older and stronger
than those of the second. Captain Gildrock had told them that each
club might name their own boat, and every student was requested to
propose a good name at the next meeting. They had a great deal of fun
over this subject.
When the name of “Leader” was first suggested, it met with favor; but
Ned Bellows, who had proposed “Winooski,” said he would vote for
“Leader” if the other boat would call their barge “Follower.” The joke
was carried so far that a committee was appointed to wait on the other
club, and suggest the name of “Follower.” Of course, the first class
were indignant; as the suggestion was a reflection upon their position
at the end of the first race. The names finally adopted were
“Gildrock,” in compliment to the captain, and “Winooski,” one of the
rivers of the State.
Perhaps the students enjoyed themselves more in these elegant barges
than even in the Sylph. Before the season closed, they made many
excursions in the Gildrock and the Winooski; and with all the practice
they had, under the best instructors, they could not well avoid
becoming first-class oarsmen.
As they continued their work in the shop, some of the boys developed a
very decided taste for the mechanic arts; some preferred carpentering;
others were fascinated with wood-turning, after the lathes were in
use; not a few desired to be working machinists; and some desired to
learn only enough of the latter trade to enable them to run a
steam-engine to the best advantage.
After finding out what trade best suited each boy’s taste and ability,
the captain intended to allow him to work mainly at that trade, though
not to the neglect of any other essential knowledge. To say that all
the boys were delighted with their occupation, with their work in the
school-room and the shop, as well as their play on land and water,
would not be stating the truth too strongly. Even Pemberton Millweed
was proud of his accomplishments when he could make a bolt, with a
screw and nut: and it is even probable that he forgot the meaning of
the word “genteel;” at any rate, he did not use it any more.
Bolingbroke became a good mechanic as well as a good scholar,--all the
better mechanic for being a good scholar. Both of the farmer’s boys
were glad they failed to find places in stores; for they were
satisfied in less than a month that they could earn more money, be
quite as respectable, and more independent, as mechanics.
Elinora liked her place in the store, where she had fair wages. She
paid her board at home, and was independent of everybody. The captain
found plenty for Fatima to do, and she proved to be a very valuable
clerk to him.
The boys look out of the corners of their eyes when they see Mr.
Darlingby with her, as he is a great deal of the time when they are
not about their work; and even the principal fears that he may lose
his accomplished assistant in the care of the records and his
correspondence.
Farmer Millweed seemed to have become a new man, as well as the new
head of his family. Captain Gildrock took the mortgage on his farm,
and lent him money to pay his interest and the more pressing of his
other debts. His daughters pay their board, and the eight dollars a
week from this source is a godsend to him.
Mrs. Millweed does not say much about the new order of things, but she
cannot help seeing and appreciating the improvement in their
circumstances; for the farmer is certain that he shall be able to pay
all his debts in time, and own his farm free and clear.
Affairs went on very smoothly at the Beech-Hill Industrial School for
several weeks, though in time the institution had its trials and
troubles; and we are content to leave the “Champlain Mechanics” in
their “Snug Harbor,” expecting to present them again when they begin
their promised work with the “Square and Compass,” in the practical
work of “Building the House.”
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Transcriber’s Note:
Words and phrases in italics are surrounded by underscores, _like
this_. Dialect, obsolete and alternative spellings were left unchanged.
The following items were changed:
Commas were deleted at the end of chapter titles in the Table of
Contents.
Missing end quote added to ‘... have a warrant for his arrest.”...’
Missing period added in list, Chapter XVII, after name ‘Phil Gawner’
‘Dont’ to ‘Don’t’ ‘...Don’t hurt him,” added Dory....’
‘yatch’ to ‘yacht’ ‘...interested in the steam-yacht...’