"You can"t handle the boys in Europe with money in their pockets. A regiment of soldiers could not keep them straight."
"I think you are right, doctor. I am tempted to take their money from them."
"Do it, by all means!" exclaimed Dr. Winstock.
The chaplain regarded the measure as rather high-handed. He thought it would belittle the boys, and deprive them of some portion of their self-respect. The instructors came into the cabin at seven bells, and their opinions were taken. Four of the six were in favor of taking all money from the boys. Mr. Lowington had already reached this view of the case, and it was resolved to take the important step at once, as the best means of effectually putting a stop to the practice of gambling.
Mr. Fluxion had been unable to attend this conference for more than a few moments, for he was the instructor in mathematics, which included navigation, and he was compelled to superintend the observations, which were made with separate instruments by himself and by the two masters of the forenoon watch. The position of the ship was found, and marked on the chart, and the "dead reckoning" compared with the result obtained by calculation.
At one bell in the afternoon watch, all hands were piped to muster, and the gamblers readily understood that this call was for their especial benefit.
"Wilton," said Mr. Lowington, from his usual position.
The culprit came forward.
"With whom were you gambling in mess room No. 8, this forenoon?" asked the princ.i.p.al.
Wilton looked up at the stern dispenser of discipline. If he did not know, it was not his business to tell.
"Answer me."
"I don"t know."
"You are telling a falsehood."
"I don"t remember their names now," said Wilton.
"You do remember them; and for each falsehood you utter you shall suffer an additional penalty."
"I"m not a tell-tale, sir," answered Wilton, doggedly. "I don"t want to tell who they were."
"Very well; why didn"t you say that at first? I have some respect for the student who dislikes to betray even his companions in error; none at all for a liar. Adler and Sanborn," added the princ.i.p.al; and the two gamblers stepped up to the hatch. "Young gentlemen, you are charged with gambling. Have you anything to say?"
"Nothing sir," they all replied.
"Wilton, how much money have you lost at play?"
"None, sir."
"How much have you made?"
"Ten shillings--half a sovereign."
"From whom did you win it?"
"From Sanborn."
"Return it to him."
Wilton obeyed. Adler had won about a dollar from Sanborn, which he was also compelled to restore. Mr. Lowington was satisfied that others had gained or lost by gambling, but as he did not know who the other gamblers were, he did not attempt to have the ill-gotten money restored; for he never made himself ridiculous to the students by endeavoring to do what could not be done.
Mr. Lowington then made a very judicious address upon the evil of gambling, pointing out its dangerous fascination, and the terrible consequences which sooner or later overtook its victims. He ill.u.s.trated his remarks by examples drawn from real life. The chaplain followed him, detailing the career of a young man whom he had attended in prison, and who had been utterly ruined by the habit of gaming, contracted before he was of age.
These addresses seemed to produce a deep impression on the boys, and one would have judged by their looks that they all regarded the dangerous practice with well-grounded horror. Mr. Lowington took the stand again, and followed with another address upon "the root of all evil;" adding that, having money in their possession, they would be tempted to gamble.
"Now, young gentlemen, I propose that you all deliver your funds to me, taking my receipt for whatever amount you deliver to me. When you have any real need of money, apply to me, and I will restore it," added Mr.
Lowington.
"Take our money from us!" exclaimed several; and it was evident that the proposition was creating a tremendous sensation among the students.
CHAPTER XIII.
PIPING TO MISCHIEF.
After the offensive announcement that the students were to deliver up their money to the princ.i.p.al, and take his receipt for it, the crew were dismissed from muster, after being informed that the business of receiving the funds would be immediately commenced in the steerage. The three gamblers were not punished, except by the mortification of the exposure, even by the loss of their marks, though Wilton was confined in the brig one hour for each falsehood he had uttered. Mr. Lowington knew that at least a dozen of the boys were guilty of gambling; and as the matter now came up for the first time, he did not deem it expedient to punish those who had been discovered hoping that the preventive measures he had adopted would effectually suppress the evil.
Many of the students regarded the taking of their money as an indignity.
Only a few of them, comparatively, had engaged in gambling, though many of the occupants of the steerage knew of the existence of the practice on board the ship. They were willing to believe, and did believe, after the impressive addresses to which they had listened, that games of chance were a perilous amus.e.m.e.nt, but they were not quite willing to acknowledge the justice of Mr. Lowington"s measures.
Most of the officers, and many of the crew, cheerfully complied with the new regulation. They handed their money to the pursers, and received a receipt for the amount, signed by the princ.i.p.al. Others emptied the contents of their exchequer sullenly, and under protest; while not a few openly grumbled in the presence of Mr. Lowington. Some of "our fellows"
attempted to keep back a portion of their funds, and perhaps a few succeeded, though the tact of the princ.i.p.al exposed the deceit in several instances. Whatever may be thought of the justice or the expediency of depriving the students of their money, it was evidently an exceedingly unpopular step.
In the second dog watch, when Shuffles and Paul Kendall were off duty, they happened to meet in the waist; and the exciting topic of the day came up for discussion, as it had in every little group that collected that afternoon. Shuffles had accomplished his purpose; he had accomplished far more than he intended. He had expected nothing more than a general onslaught upon gambling, followed by increased stringency in the regulations, and a closer watch over the students in their rooms, which would produce sufficient irritation among the boys to suit his purposes. Now the crew, and even some of the officers, were in a ferment of indignation, and ripe for a demonstration of any kind.
"The business is done," said Paul Kendall, as he met the conspirator.
"I"m afraid it"s overdone," answered Shuffles, seriously, though he was actually in a state of exultation over the effect which had been produced by the new regulation.
"I hope not. I did not mention your name to the princ.i.p.al in connection with the matter," added Paul.
"Didn"t he ask you?"
"He did? but when I stated the case to him, and told him the person who had given me the information had let it out accidentally, and did not wish to be known, he asked no more questions."
"Thank you, Mr. Kendall. This last measure is so unpopular that I should have been cast out like an unclean bird, if it were known that I gave the hint."
"No one shall know anything about it from me, Shuffles. You did a good thing for the ship, and for every fellow in it."
"They wouldn"t be willing to believe that just now," said Shuffles, laughing.
"Perhaps not? but it is a fact, none the less."
"I didn"t think Mr. Lowington would go it quite so strong. If I had, I shouldn"t have told you what I did."