to say to-morrow, Mr. Hamblin.”
“Very well, sir; but you must allow me to remain on board of the ship until to-morrow, for I cannot return to the Josephine till this unpleasant matter has been adjusted.”
“As you please,” replied the principal, as he hastened on deck, where a cheer, half suppressed in deference to the day, had a few moments before been heard.
As Paul came down from the rail of the ship, he was greeted with applause; for, without knowing what had occurred after they lost sight of the consort, the students in the ship realized that Paul had taken his vessel safely through the storm. He bowed and blushed at this demonstration, and hastened to meet Mr. Lowington, who was just coming up from his interview with the professor. He had purposely delayed his passage to the ship, in order to afford Mr. Hamblin time to make his charges. It was plain that he had done so now, and Paul was not a little anxious for the result.
“Captain Kendall, I am very glad to see you,” said Mr. Lowington, warmly, as he extended his hand to the young commander.
“Thank you, sir; I am just as glad to see you,” replied Paul, taking the proffered hand, and concluding that the professor had not materially prejudiced the principal against him.
“I have been very anxious about you, Captain Kendall,” added Mr. Lowington. “I have imagined that all sorts of terrible things had happened to you and the Josephine. Is all well on board?”
“Yes, sir; but we are all very tired. We were up all night, and the crew had to work very hard.”
“All night?”
“We went to the assistance of that galiot, sir. We saved four persons, and brought the vessel in, as you see her now. She was knocked down in the squall, and lost two men. We found her on her beam-ends.”
“Indeed, Captain Kendall, you have had your hands full,” replied Mr. Lowington, pleased with the gallant conduct of his young friend.
“The captain of the galiot,—he has a name as long as the main royal-mast backstay, and I can’t remember it,—the captain is on board of the Josephine, and wishes to see you very much. I referred the whole matter to you, sir.”
“I will see him at once.”
“He don’t speak a word of English—only Dutch.”
“Mr. Fluxion speaks Dutch, and he shall go with me. I will return with you in your boat,” added the principal.
The professor of mathematics was called, and they embarked in the Josephine’s gig. On the way Paul briefly detailed the events which had occurred since the squall came on, explaining the means by which the shipwrecked party had been saved, and the vessel righted. He generously bestowed great praise upon his officers and crew for their zealous efforts both in working the Josephine, and in saving the galiot and her crew.
“I have been worried about you, Captain Kendall. You did not seem to be as prudent as usual when the storm was threatening. Ten minutes before the squall came up you had every rag of canvas set, including your fore square-sail. You ought to have reduced sail half an hour sooner, especially as there was no wind, and not a sail was drawing. You should have taken your precautions sooner, for you can’t tell the precise moment when a hurricane will burst upon you. All light sails and all extra ones should be taken in when there is a possibility of a squall.”
“I was attending the Greek class,” replied Paul; but he resolved to make no allusion to the difficulty between Mr. Hamblin and himself.
Paul’s reply gave the principal an idea of the occasion of the unpleasantness, but he refrained from any further remark on the subject.
“The Dutch captain is much troubled about the salvage on his vessel, for the Belgian pilot told him the Josephine would be entitled to two thirds or three fourths of the property saved,” continued Paul.
“Salvage!” said the principal, with a smile. “Well, I suppose you are entitled to it.”
“I hope you will give the Dutchman the vessel and cargo. He feels very badly. He has lost a brother and a brother-in-law, and now he is afraid of losing nearly all that was saved. I hope you will not take any salvage. I am sure the Josephines would all vote to have you make no claim for it.”
“Excellent! I hope they will,” replied the principal, as he ascended to the schooner’s deck, followed by Mr. Fluxion and Paul.
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