"I don"t believe I shall stay here a great while longer," said Shuffles, with evident disgust. "There"s no fun lying here."
"You can"t help yourself," added Wilton.
"Perhaps I can"t, but I can try," said Shuffles, as he glanced towards the sh.o.r.e.
"All hands ahoy!" shouted Peaks, the boatswain, as his shrill whistle rang through the ship.
The boys had been taught the meaning of this call, and they gathered in the waist, eager to know what was to be required of them.
Mr. Lowington stood on the raised hatch over the main scuttle, where all the students could see him. It was evident that he had some announcement to make, especially as the following day had been a.s.signed for organizing the ship"s company. The boys were silent, and their faces betrayed the curiosity which they felt.
"Young gentleman," the princ.i.p.al began, "this ship will go into commission to-morrow."
"Don"t know what you mean, sir," said Paul Kendall as Mr. Lowington paused to observe the effect of his announcement.
"I did not suppose that many of you would understand the expression. In the navy, a ship is said to go into commission when the captain takes his place on board, and the crew are organized for duty. When this takes place, the ensign is hoisted. To-morrow, at twelve o"clock, we shall display the colors at the peak. With us, going into commission will only mean the organization of our school. From that time, we shall observe the discipline of a man-of-war, so far as the ship and crew are concerned."
"Shall we go to sea then?" asked Wilton.
"I think not," replied Mr. Lowington, laughing. "We shall not leave the harbor till every officer and seaman knows his duty. You shall have enough to do to-morrow, young gentlemen."
"When shall we be able to go to sea?"
"I don"t know. There are many ropes in the ship, and you have a great deal to learn before I shall be willing to trust you with the anchor at the cat-head."
"What is the cat-head, sir?" asked Kendall
"Do you wish to go to sea without knowing what the cat-head is?" replied the princ.i.p.al. "You shall know in due time. To-morrow we shall select the officers, fifteen in number, who are to occupy the after cabin."
This announcement created a decided sensation among the eighty-seven boys gathered in the waist, for the subject had been full of interest to them. The after cabin had thus far been a sealed book; the door was locked, and they had not even seen the inside of the apartment. They were curious to visit this cabin, and to know who were to occupy it.
"After the organization of the school, it is my intention to give these offices to those who obtain the highest number of merit marks, which will be given for good conduct, good lessons, and progress in seamanship. The best boy, who is at the same time the best scholar and the best seaman, shall be captain. We have no marks now by which to make the selection, and I intend to have you elect him the first time, reserving to myself the right to veto your choice if it is obviously an improper one."
As Mr. Lowington uttered this last remark, he glanced, perhaps unconsciously, at Shuffles, who stood directly in front of him.
"Young gentlemen, the ballot will take place to-morrow morning, at nine o"clock. I have given you this notice, that you may be able to consider the matter and, if you choose, to make nominations for the several offices," continued the princ.i.p.al.
"What are the offices, sir?"
"The first and most important one, of course, is the captain. The others are four lieutenants, four masters, two pursers, and four midshipmen."
"What are they to do?" asked Kendall.
"I will not explain their duties now; it would require too much time. I mentioned them in the order of their importance. Now, young gentlemen, you should select your candidates for these offices by merit, not by favor. I am aware that a few of you have been to sea, but probably none of you are competent to handle a ship; and your choice should be based mainly on good character and good conduct. I hope I shall be able to approve the choice you may make. You are dismissed now."
"Three cheers for the princ.i.p.al!" shouted one of the boys.
"Silence, young gentleman! Let me say now, that no expressions of approbation or disapprobation are to be allowed."
The boys separated into groups, and immediately gave their attention to the important subject suggested to them by Mr. Lowington. It must be acknowledged that violent symptoms of "log-rolling" began to be exhibited. There were fifty, if not eighty-seven young men who wished to be captain, and sit at the head of the table in the after cabin. Some of them went down into the steerage, and in five minutes there was a confused jabbering in every part of the ship.
"For whom shall you vote, Wilton?" asked Shuffles in a group of half a dozen which had gathered around one of the mess tables.
"I don"t know? whom do you go for?" replied Wilton.
"I rather think I shall go for Bob Shuffles. In my opinion, he is the best fellow on board," replied the owner of that name.
"That"s modest," laughed Wilton.
"Do you know of any fellow that would make a better captain than I should?"
"You don"t know the first thing about a ship."
"What odds does that make? I can learn as fast as anybody else."
"Do you expect every fellow to vote for himself?" asked Howe, another of the group.
"Of course I don"t; I expect them to vote for me," answered Shuffles, with great good-nature.
"You are rather cheeky, Shuffles."
"What"s the use of mincing the matter? Here we are, half a dozen of the best fellows in the ship. We can"t all be captain; but one of us can be just as well as not."
"That"s so," added Howe, approvingly. "But who shall that one be?"
"I am the one, without a doubt," said Shuffles.
"I don"t see it," interposed Monroe, shaking his head; and he was the young gentleman who had a.s.sisted the aspirant for the captaincy to rob Mr. Lowington"s favorite peach tree.
"What have you got to say about it, Ike Monroe? Do you expect us to go for you?"
"I didn"t say so."
"That"s what you meant."
"I"ve just as much right to the place as you have, Bob Shuffles."
"Do you think you could make the fellows stand round as I can? But hold on; fellows, don"t let us fight about it. We are just the best six fellows on board, and if we have a mind to do so, we can have this thing all our own way," continued Shuffles.
"I don"t see how," said Philip Sanborn.
"Don"t you know how the politicians manage these things?"
"I don"t."
"I"ll tell you, then."
"But the princ.i.p.al said we must go according to merit, and elect the fellows who were the best fitted for the offices," interposed Howe.