On Sat.u.r.day afternoon the b.u.t.terfly club had a.s.sembled in their hall, and were talking over the affairs of the a.s.sociation until the time appointed for the excursion to Center Island. Little Paul had not come yet, and the boys began to fear that they should be obliged to make the excursion with only five oars on one side.
"What do you suppose is the reason?" asked d.i.c.k Chester.
"I have no idea; I hope nothing has happened, for Little Paul has not been absent from school before this season," replied Tony.
"I hope not," added Henry Brown. "Suppose we send a committee to inquire after him."
This was deemed an excellent suggestion, and Henry and d.i.c.k were immediately appointed a committee of two, by the "chair," to attend to the matter. They departed upon their mission, and after the boys had wondered a while longer what kept Paul away, another topic was brought up--a matter which was of the deepest interest to the young boatmen, and which had claimed their attention during all their leisure moments for several days.
I say their leisure moments; for the affairs of the club were not permitted to interfere with any of the usual duties of the members. At home and at school, it was required that everything should be done well and done properly. As may be supposed, this was not an easy matter for boys whose heads were full of boats and boating; and about once a week the c.o.xswains found it advisable to read a lecture on the necessity of banishing play during work hours. "Whatsoever thy hands find to do, do it with all thy might," was a text so often repeated that it had virtually become one of the articles of the const.i.tution.
The boys felt the necessity of following this precept. They realized enough of the law of cause and effect to be aware that, if their home and school duties were neglected, or slovenly done, boating would soon obtain a bad reputation; so both parents and teacher found that the clubs were a great help rather than a hindrance in the performance of their several functions.
So strongly were the Zephyrs impressed with the necessity of not permitting the club to interfere with home and school duties, that, at the latter part of their first season, they had established a rule by which any member who wilfully neglected his duties should be, for a certain time, excluded from the club. And this rule was not a dead letter. One Wednesday forenoon Charles Hardy had wasted his time in school, and failed in his lessons. On his slate was found a drawing of a club boat, manned by certain ill-looking caricatures, which explained the cause of the defection. An excursion had been planned for that afternoon, and when Charles presented himself at the boat-house, he was politely informed that he could not go. In vain he pleaded; Fred Harper, who was c.o.xswain at the time, was very civil and very gentle, but he was inflexible. And the culprit had the satisfaction of sitting upon a rock on sh.o.r.e, and seeing what a fine time the fellows were having.
The effect was decidedly salutary, and another case of such discipline did not again occur. The boys, zealous to keep their favorite sport in good repute, adopted the regulation for the present year, in both clubs.
Without such precautions as these it was plain that boating would soon become a nuisance, which neither parents nor teachers would tolerate.
Therefore the members of the clubs made it a point to keep their "voyages," their plans and schemes, out of their minds at times when their heads should be filled with, other matters. It was astonishing to what an extent they succeeded; and boys would often be surprised to see how well they can do, if they would only set about it earnestly and with a determination to succeed.
The notable scheme which just now engrossed the attention of the b.u.t.terflies was no less than the establishment of a "fleet of boats"
upon the lake. The dream of half a dozen boats, under command of Commodore Frank Sedley, maneuvering on the water, performing beautiful evolutions, and doing a hundred things which they could not then define, was so pleasant, so fascinating, that they could not easily give it up.
There would be the commodore in his "flag boat," signalizing the fleet, now bidding them pull in "close order," now ordering a boat out on service, and now sending one to examine a bay or a harbor. And then, if they could only get leave to explore Rippleton River, how the commander of the squadron would send out a small craft to sound ahead of them, and to buoy off the rocks and shoals, and how the people on the banks of the stream would stare when they saw them moving in sections against the sluggish current! Ah, a fleet of boats was such a brilliant ideal, that I will venture to say more than one of the boys lay awake nights to think about it.
I will not attempt to tell my young friends all the queer fancies concerning the squadron in which they indulged. They were essentially air castles, very beautiful structures, it is true, but as yet they rested only on the clouds. But the means of realizing this magnificent ideal was within their grasp. They had the money to buy the boats, and the only question was, whether George Weston, the "director" of the club, would permit the purchase.
"What have you done about the fleet, Tony?" asked Joseph Hooper.
"I have spoken to my brother about it," replied Tony, with a smile.
"What did he say?"
"He had no objection."
"Hurrah! We shall have the fleet then! And Tony, we shall go in for having you commodore part of the time."
"That we will!" echoed half a dozen voices.
"You would make as good a commodore as Frank," added Joseph.
"I guess not," answered Tony, modestly. "Didn"t you see how slick Frank beat us in the race? If I had followed his tactics, we might have stood some chance, at least."
"Some chance! Didn"t we keep ahead of him till we had got almost home?"
"Yes; but that was a part of Frank"s tactics. He let us get tired out, and then beat us. But we haven"t got the fleet yet, fellows, and we are a pack of fools to count the chickens before they are hatched."
"You said George has no objections," replied Joseph, glancing anxiously at Tony.
"He has not, but he wants to consult Captain Sedley before he consents."
The boys looked a little disconcerted at this intelligence, and a momentary silence ensued.
"Do you think he will object, Tony?" asked one.
"I am pretty sure he will not."
"Have you said anything to Frank about it?"
"Yes; and he says the Zephyrs will put their money with ours, if we get the fleet."
"Hurrah! I _know_ his father will consent!"
"I have even got a hint from him that he should not object," added Tony, very quietly.
"That is glorious! We shall certainly have the fleet then!" shouted Joseph Hooper.
"I am pretty sure there will be no trouble about it. Almost everybody is willing to admit now that the clubs are a good thing; that they keep the fellows out of mischief, and stimulate them to do their duty at home and at school. So much for our strict regulations. If we can get more boats, and form more clubs, everybody concerned will be the better for it."
"That"s the idea."
"We can get four small boats for our money--can"t we?" asked one of the boys.
"Frank thought we had better get different sized boats," replied Tony.
"For different kinds of service," added Joseph, demurely.
"Say, one eight-oar boat, one six-oar, and two four-oar," said Tony.
"That would be first rate! Then we could take in twenty-two fellows."
"Twenty-three; the commodore would not be the c.o.xswain of any boat, but command the whole."
The boys grew so nervous and excited during this fine discussion, that they could hardly keep their seats. In imagination the fleet was already afloat, and the broad pennant of Commodore Sedley was flying on board the Zephyr.
"How long before we can get the boats, Tony?" asked a little fellow, his eyes snapping with delight at the glorious antic.i.p.ation.
"Perhaps they can be bought ready made. We need not wait for new ones.
In a few weeks, at least before vacation---- Hallo, Paul! I am glad you have come."
Little Paul looked very sad as he entered b.u.t.terfly Hall. With a faint smile he received the greetings of his friends.
"All aboard!" shouted Tony, as he rose front his chair. "You haven"t got your uniform on, Paul."
"I can"t go with you, Tony," replied Little Paul, in a gloomy tone.
"Not go with us! Why not? What is the matter?"
"I must leave the club too," he added, in a husky voice.