there’s a squall coming up,” pleaded Mr. Stoute.
“What if there was a squall coming up. The principal assured me there were hands enough on deck to work the vessel under all ordinary circumstances.”
“But you don’t understand the matter, Mr. Hamblin,” continued the jolly professor.
“Do you mean to insult me too, Mr. Stoute?” demanded the irate fountain-head of Greek literature.
“Certainly not; I beg your pardon, Mr. Hamblin,” replied Mr. Stoute, laughing more heartily than before. “I do not profess to comprehend these nautical affairs; but I presume it was necessary to call all hands, or the captain would not have done so.”
“It was not necessary. I am willing to take the responsibility of that assertion myself, and I shall report this disrespect and disobedience of the captain to Mr. Lowington. If he chooses to sustain the delinquent in such gross misconduct, I will leave the vessel at the first port we enter.”
“Mr. Lowington will certainly do justice to both of you.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Stoute; he must do justice to me. I have been a schoolmaster and a professor in college all my lifetime, and I do not wish to have any one speak of settling a case between me and one of my pupils. There is only one side to such a question,” replied Mr. Hamblin, whose dignity was terribly damaged by the incident of the afternoon.
“Well, Mr. Hamblin, I wish to be respectful; but I also mean to be candid. I feel compelled to say that I believe you are all wrong.”
“All wrong, sir!”
“Yes, sir; all wrong. Look at the question for one moment.”
“I don’t wish to look at it. Between teacher and pupil there can be no issues of any kind. It is my place to command, my scholar’s to obey, in the school-room.”
“Now, really, Mr. Hamblin,” continued the laughing professor, rubbing his hands, as though he enjoyed the controversy, “while I agree with you on the general principle, I must differ from you in its application to this particular case. Your pupil is the commander of the vessel. Our very lives depend upon his prudence and skill. It was necessary to take in sail.”
“Very well. Wasn’t half the crew on deck for that purpose?” interposed Mr. Hamblin.
“But who shall determine whether it is necessary or not to take in sail?”
“The officer who has the care of the vessel for the time being, of course. Then there are Mr. Cleats, and Mr. Gage, and the servants to help them reduce the sails, if needed. There is not the least necessity for disturbing the classes.”
“But no one except the captain can give the order to take in a single sail in the daytime. This vessel is under naval discipline, you are aware; but I think you cannot have read the rules. Here they are,” added Mr. Stoute, taking the printed regulations of the ship from his pocket. “Officer of the Deck. He is not to make or take in sail in the daytime, except in a squall, without directions from the captain; but in the night he may take in sail, acquainting the captain with his reasons, which he must enter on the log.”
“Well, this is a squall—isn’t it?” growled Mr. Hamblin.
“Perhaps it will be; but it seems to me quite proper that the captain should go on deck when there is any danger. For my part, I have some regard for my fat body, and I don’t care about leaving it here at the bottom of the German Ocean,” chuckled Mr. Stoute; and he always laughed with especial gusto when he had said anything which he thought was funny. “The captain can leave any of my classes when he is sent for to look out for the vessel.”
“Mr. Stoute, this is a question of discipline; and higher considerations than those of merely personal comfort and security should be brought to bear upon it. It would be impossible for me to impart to my pupils a knowledge of that noblest language of the historic past, if they are to be permitted to leave the class when they choose to do so. I shall refer this matter to Mr. Lowington for his decision. He must suspend the captain, or he must suspend me. If I cannot control my scholars, I will not attempt to instruct. It would be preposterous to do so. I shall take a boat, and go on board of the ship at once, for this difficulty admits of no delay.”
Professor Hamblin, in high dudgeon, took his hat, and went up the ladder. Mr. Stoute shook his fat sides, laughing at the ire of his distinguished and learned associate. He was desirous of seeing his companion start for the ship in the approaching tempest, and he followed him on deck.
“Captain Kendall,” said Mr. Hamblin, sternly, as he walked up to the young commander, heedless of the rattling thunder and the flashing lightning.
Paul bowed politely, and looked at the professor, intimating that he was ready to hear him. It was noticeable that Mr. Hamblin always called the commander “Mr. Kendall” when he was in the steerage attending to his studies, and “Captain Kendall” on deck, or in the cabin. The professor intended to indicate, by this choice of terms, that he was captain during school hours.
“Captain Kendall, I desire a boat immediately,” added Mr. Hamblin.
“A boat!” exclaimed Paul, astonished at the request at such a time.
“I said a boat, Captain Kendall. I purpose to refer the matter of your disobedience to Mr. Lowington without any unnecessary delay.”
“But, Mr. Hamblin, there is a squall coming up.”
“I am aware of that; but I demand the boat.”
“It would be dangerous, sir. The boat would certainly be swamped.”
“I will take the responsibility of that.”
“I should be very happy to furnish the boat, sir; but I cannot expose a crew to such a storm as will soon break upon us,” replied Paul.
“You refuse—do you?” demanded the professor, angrily.
“I feel compelled to do so, sir.”
“In my hearing, Mr. Lowington instructed you to furnish the professors with a boat at any time when they desired it.”
“I will furnish the boat, sir; but I will not expose the crew to such peril. I will hoist out the third cutter for you, sir, if you wish.”
“I demand a sufficient number of sailors to row the boat.”
“You will pardon me, sir; but I will not send any seamen into a boat until the squall is over. It is unreasonable to ask such a thing.”
“Unreasonable, sir! How dare you tell me I am unreasonable?” stormed the professor, stamping his foot upon the deck.
Paul bowed, but made no reply. He was placed in a very disagreeable and painful position. He knew that it was madness to send a boat off while the squall was impending. Mr. Hamblin was wrathy. The long billows were black and smooth, and the sails hung idly on the gaffs. There was no danger then, and the learned gentleman had been so fortunate as never to see any of the perils of the ocean. His passage to England in the steamer had been a remarkably pleasant one. Nothing like a gale, or even a high wind, had interrupted its serenity, and the professor had imbibed a certain contempt for the perils of the ocean. He had never seen them; and, if mere boys were able to work such a vessel as the Josephine,
