Mr. Hamblin was the first person from the Josephine who presented himself to the principal. There was something in the professor's countenance which looked ominous, and Mr. Lowington's fears seemed to be confirmed by the unusual solemnity of the learned gentleman's expression. Mr. Lowington's heart rose up into his throat; for independently of the sorrow which the loss of one or more of the Josephine's crew would cause him, he realized that such a calamity would be the death-blow to his favorite experiment. The entire charge of her had been committed to a boy of sixteen, and he blamed himself severely because he had not placed an experienced officer on board of her, who might at least act in great emergencies. Though Mr. Cleats was an old sailor, he was not a navigator.

The principal was in this state of suffering, bordering upon anguish, when the irate professor of Greek and Latin came on board. Mr. Lowington tried to think that nothing had happened, but it was impossible. If any one had been lost, the Josephine's flag would be at half mast, or some other signal would have been made. Mr. Hamblin's face looked like death itself, only his brow was contracted, and his lips were compressed as though anger and sorrow were combined in his expression.

"What has happened, Mr. Hamblin?" demanded the principal, manifesting more emotion than any one on board had ever before observed in his manner.

"I am sorry to say, Mr. Lowington, that an unpleasant event has occurred on board of the Josephine," the professor began, very solemnly.

"I feared it," gasped Mr. Lowington. "Who was it?"

"The captain—"

"Captain Kendall!" groaned Mr. Lowington, striking his bewildered head with both hands. "Good Heaven! I am responsible for this!"

"What is the matter, Mr. Lowington?" demanded the astonished professor.

"What did you say about Captain Kendall?" asked the principal, catching at the straw which the learned gentleman's question seemed to hold out to him.

"I prefer to speak to you alone about it, Mr. Lowington," added the professor, glancing at the group of officers and instructors that were gathering around him. "I will endeavor to control my emotions in stating this unpleasant business."

Mr. Lowington, apparently happy to have even a moment's respite from the grief and gloom which must follow the sad intelligence of the loss of Captain Kendall, led the way to the professors' cabin.

"Now, sir, what is it? Let me know the worst!" exclaimed the principal, dropping upon the sofa like a man whose strength had all been taken from him. "I have been dreading it for many long and weary hours."

"Dreading it?" repeated the confused professor. "Dreading what, sir?"

"That the Josephine had suffered severely in the storm," replied the principal, impatiently. "You have come to tell me that Captain Kendall was lost overboard?" And Mr. Lowington heaved a long sigh.

"No, sir," protested Mr. Hamblin.

"Didn't you say that a very unpleasant affair had happened on board?" demanded the principal, eagerly.

"I did; but it was not the loss of the captain."

"Who was it?" asked Mr. Lowington, catching his breath, in the heaviness of his anxiety.

"I really don't understand you, sir," said the learned gentleman, astonished and confounded by what he regarded as the singular conduct of the principal.

"Has any one been lost overboard from the Josephine?" demanded Mr. Lowington, in a loud tone, for he was impatient under the shuffling manner of the professor.

"No, sir; no one, that I am aware of."

"That you are aware of!" exclaimed Mr. Lowington, sternly.

"Of course, if any one had been lost, I should have heard of it," answered Mr. Hamblin, who did not quite like the tone of the principal.

"Then the officers and crew are all safe—are they?"

"They are, sir—all safe."

"Thank God!" ejaculated Mr. Lowington, heartily, an awfully heavy load removed from his mind.

"I have come on board, sir, to make a complaint against the captain of the Josephine. This is the unpleasant business which brings me here," added the learned gentleman, decidedly.

"Indeed!"

But even this, disagreeable as it was, came as a relief to the overcharged heart of Paul's best friend, who had received a terrible shock from the confused state-ment of the professor. Yet it was very strange that any one should have a complaint to make against Paul Kendall, who had always been noble and manly, gentle and conciliating.

"Yesterday, just before the storm came on, Mr. Kendall was reciting with the Greek class," continued Mr. Hamblin. "Word came to him that his presence was required on deck. He asked my permission to go on deck. As I could not see the necessity of his leaving the class before the lesson was finished, I refused to give him permission."

"Did he leave then?"

"Not then; but half an hour later another message came to him, and he left, contrary to my orders, and contrary to my protest," added the professor, waxing indignant as he recounted his wrongs.

"What was the message that came the second time?" asked Mr. Lowington, mildly.

"I do not remember precisely what it was—I am not versed in sea terms; but I do remember that Mr. Kendall left the class contrary to my express order. Not contented with this, he called all hands, and broke up the school, when there was no need of it. Such conduct is utterly subversive of school discipline, and—"

"Excuse me, Mr. Hamblin, but as to-day is Sunday, I must defer hearing any more of your complaint until to-morrow," continued Mr. Lowington, rising from his chair.

"I desire to have this question settled before I resume my position in the Josephine," said the professor, cut by the apparent coolness of the principal.

"I will hear what Captain Kendall has to say about it."

"Sir," exclaimed the learned gentleman, "am I to understand that you are not satisfied with the truth of my statement?"

"By no means. I wish to hear from Captain Kendall his excuse for leaving the class. I am not able to determine whether it was satisfactory."

"I have already determined that question myself. I think I observed to you that there was not a sufficient excuse for his leaving the class."

"I will defer the discussion of the matter till to-morrow," replied Mr. Lowington.

"I do not object to the delay, sir; but I do object to having any of the statements of the pupil counterbalance those I have made."

"Do you wish me to condemn him without a hearing?"

"I do not wish you to condemn him at all. I simply ask to be sustained in the discharge of my duty as a teacher."

"I will hear what more you have 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.



CHAPTER V.

CAPTAIN SCHIMMELPENNINK.

At the request of the principal, Mr. Fluxion acted as interpreter in the conversation with the Dutch skipper. The unfortunate man stated his case, and bewailed the heavy loss to which he had been subjected by the tempest.

"Call all hands, if you please, Captain Kendall," said Mr. Lowington, when he had heard the statement as translated by Mr. Fluxion.

Paul gave the required order, and in a few moments the crew were at quarters. The principal took his place on the main hatch, and all the Josephines waited with interest to hear what he had to say.

"Young gentlemen, since we parted company in the squall yesterday, I have suffered a great deal of anxiety on your account. The ship ran off before the gale, while the Josephine lay to. If you had not sailed to the southward after the tempest, we should not have lost sight of you for more than a few hours. I acknowledge that I reproached myself severely for intrusting the vessel to the sole care of students. But I find that she has been as well handled as though she had been under command of an old and experienced man. I wish to say to you that Captain Kendall has acquitted himself remarkably well in the emergency. Though he did not take in his light sails quite as soon as he should, everything else was done with the skill and prudence of a veteran."

At this point the students on board, who knew very well why Paul had not taken in the light sails sooner, looked at one another and smiled significantly. The difficulty between the professor and the captain had been fully discussed among them, and it hardly need be said that Paul was fully justified by his shipmates.

"I want to add," continued the principal, "that the conduct of Captain Kendall—with the exception I have mentioned—is fully and cordially approved. I must say that his behavior, his skill and energy, seem fully to justify the experiment undertaken in the Josephine. Your commander has made a full report of the vessel, and it gives me great pleasure to say that he awards the highest praise to his officers and crew for their zeal and fidelity. He informs me that officers and seamen labored with untiring energy to rescue the unfortunate persons on board of the galiot, and also to save the vessel itself. These efforts have been entirely successful.

"It is at all times the duty of the seaman to save life and property on the high seas. No one knows how soon we may need the kind offices of brother sailors of any nation; and what we expect to receive from others we should at all times be prepared to render to them. You have done nobly. I congratulate you upon your success; and I thank you for the zeal with which you have discharged your several duties. Nothing so much as the dependence of one seaman upon another, in the hour of shipwreck and disaster, unites the seamen of all nations in one fraternity. Young gentlemen, you have done something for your ship, and something for your country; for every true American feels proud and happy when he learns that an American vessel has saved even a single shipwrecked mariner. I am sure your friends will be proud of you when they read your record for the last twenty-four hours.

"According to maritime law, young gentlemen, you are entitled to salvage upon the vessel you have saved. Under ordinary circumstances, you would be justified in claiming from one half to three fourths of the value of this vessel. The galiot, I am informed, was not insured. The value of the vessel and cargo is perhaps four or five thousand dollars. I have no doubt the court would give you what would amount to two or three thousand dollars, at least; for without assistance the vessel would probably have been a total loss.

"Captain Schimmelpennink, I am told, is the sole owner of the 'Wel tevreeden.' He and his family lived on board of her. It was their only home, and she was their only worldly possession. At an expense of a few hundred dollars, he can restore her to her original condition. If sold in her present state, she would not bring half her actual value. Deducting the salvage from this amount, the unfortunate captain would lose at least three fourths of his property, the accumulation of his lifetime."

"We'll no rob the poor mon," interposed McLeish, the Scotch boy, who was now on his good behavior.

"It will be no robbery, McLeish. You would take but your just dues," replied the principal, with a smile.

"We'll no tak it," added McLeish.

"No, sir!" "No, sir!" "No, sir!" responded the students in every direction.

"Not a dollar of it, sir!" said Paul, warmly.

"Thank you, young gentlemen," continued Mr. Lowington, whose face indicated the pleasure he felt. "You have voluntarily suggested what I was about to propose to you. To-day is Sunday, and your conduct is worthy of the day. I should not have mentioned the matter until to-morrow, if I had not desired to relieve the unfortunate captain from his anxiety and suspense. Your conduct will gladden his heart. We will take a vote on this question, that there may be no mistake in regard to your intentions. Those in favor of abandoning the claim for salvage will signify it by raising the right hand."

Every hand was raised, and most of the boys added an emphatic "Ay!" to the hand vote.

"All up!" shouted the students, looking around them to find any one who was behind the others in this benevolent deed.

"Every one," replied Mr. Lowington, smiling. "Mr. Fluxion, I will thank you to communicate to the master of the galiot the action of the ship's company."

The Dutchman stood watching the proceedings of the party with a look of sad bewilderment. His wife and daughter were near him, as sad and confused as himself. The boys looked at him with interest as the professor of mathematics explained to him what had taken place. The expression which lighted up his face, as he comprehended the action of the students, was an ample reward for their generous conduct.

"Tell him he may take possession of his vessel as soon as he pleases," added the principal.

Mr. Fluxion communicated this permission to the skipper; and when he heard it he cast a longing glance at the "Wel tevreeden," which he seemed to regard in the same light as his wife and daughter.

"How much will it cost to repair the galiot?" asked one of the students, stepping forward from a group which had been whispering together for a moment very earnestly.

"I do not know the price of materials in Holland," replied Mr. Lowington. "Perhaps the captain and the pilot may be able to give you some information on this subject."

Mr. Fluxion, the pilot, and the master of the galiot consulted together for some time. The jib and foresail, and a portion of the standing and running rigging, had been saved, and the Belgian and the Dutchman made a computation of the cost of labor and material.

"About twelve hundred guilders," said Mr. Lowington, after Mr. Fluxion had reported the result of the conference.

"How much is that, sir?" asked one of the boys, blankly.

"One hundred pounds, English," said Paul, who had already studied up Dutch currency. "About five hundred dollars."

"I move you, sir, that a subscription paper be opened to raise the money to repair the galiot," said Lynch.

"Second the motion," added Groesbeck.

"Young gentlemen, I think you have done all that could be expected of you," said Mr. Lowington. "I do not mean to represent to you that Captain Schimmelpennink is an object of charity, though I am informed that he has not the means of paying for these repairs. But, since you desire it, I will put the matter to vote."

The motion was carried unanimously, as the one remitting the claim for salvage had been. The principal suggested that it was proper to appoint a committee to attend to the subscriptions; and Terrill, Pelham, and Lynch were appointed to perform this duty. Nothing was said to the skipper of the galiot about this proposition; and Mr. Lowington having warmly commended the students for their generous sympathy with the unfortunate man, the crew were dismissed.

A boat was sent to the "Wel tevreeden" with the captain and his party. The subscription paper was immediately opened. Terrill took the paper to Mr. Lowington first, who headed it with sixty guilders. The principal and the students seemed to make their financial calculations in English money, on the basis of twelve guilders to the pound. Mr. Fluxion put down twenty-four guilders, and the students twelve guilders each; for no one was willing to be behind the others.

Mr. Lowington returned to the ship; and when dinner was over, most of the Josephines turned in, for there was a fearful gaping on board as soon as the excitement had subsided. Hardly any of the crew had closed their eyes during the preceding night, and all of them were very tired.

At five o'clock, the white flag containing a blue cross, which is the signal for divine service, appeared on the Young America. The service had been postponed, to enable the Josephines to obtain a little needed rest: it was never dispensed with except at sea, in very heavy weather. Though the religious exercises were made unusually impressive by Mr. Agneau, after the storm and the wreck, it must be confessed that some of the consort's company went to sleep during the hour; but they were forgiven, even by the chaplain, when their zealous labors to save life and property were considered.

For some reason of his own, Mr. Lowington invited the Dutch skipper and his family to attend the service, and a boat was sent for the party. They came on board, and were regarded with deep interest by the crew, though doubtless they were not much edified by the exercises, as they knew not a word of English.

"Captain Kendall," said the first lieutenant of the schooner, when they returned to their cabin, "I think I have money enough to build a new galiot for Captain Schumblefungus, or whatever his name is. I don't wonder that a man with such a name as that should be cast away, especially if the mate had to speak it before he let go the halyards."

"How much have you?" asked Paul.

"I don't know," replied Terrill, producing a whole bundle of money orders, with which the students had paid their subscriptions. "Mr. Lowington made a speech to the Young Americans after he returned on board. He told them what we had done, and what we intended to do. The fellows in the ship wanted to have a finger in the pie; and I believe every one of them has put down his twelve guilders."

"I am very glad to hear that; for I pitied the Dutch captain from the bottom of my heart," added Paul.

"All the professors gave twelve guilders, except old Hamblin—"

"Professor Hamblin," interposed Paul, gently rebuking his friend for using that disrespectful appellative.

"Professor Hamblin; but I have no respect for him, and I can't always help speaking what I think. He is a solemn old lunatic, as grouty as a crab that has got aground."

"We will not speak of him," said Paul, mildly.

"Well, they all subscribed except him; and I'm sure I've got more than twelve hundred guilders. Why, even the cooks and stewards gave something."

"I'm glad you have been so fortunate."

"Captain Spunkenfungle's eyes will stick out a foot or two when he hears what we have done for him."

"And I'm sure we shall be as happy as he; for such gifts, you know, are twice blessed."

The sums on the subscription papers were added up by Terrill and Pelham.

"Sixteen hundred and fifty-four guilders!" exclaimed the former, when the result had been reached.

"Four hundred and fifty-four guilders more than the sum required," added Paul, delighted by the intelligence.

"Shall we give it all to the skipper?" asked Pelham.

"I don't know. We will leave that to Mr. Lowington," replied Paul.

"I don't think we ought to give him any more than enough to make up his loss. That would tempt him to wreck his galiot again, if there was an American flag in sight," said Terrill.

"I see no reason why he should be left any better off than before the disaster," continued the captain. "We can keep the money as a charity fund; and I have no doubt we shall soon find a chance to make good use of it."

The embarrassment of having a surplus was better than that of a deficiency would have been, and the sleepy officers of the Josephine were not likely to be kept awake by it. All hands turned in at an earlier hour than usual. The anchor watch were as sleepy as the others; but the discipline of the vessel was rigidly adhered to, for the principal did not believe in neglecting any necessary precaution simply because the crew were tired. As seamen, the students were taught to realize that fatigue and want of sleep on shipboard would not justify any disregard of their regular routine duty.

In the morning everything went on as usual. It had not been the intention of Mr. Lowington to put into Flushing, and no one was allowed to go on shore. The wind was fortunately fresh from the westward; the pilots were still on board; and the signal for sailing was hoisted on board of the Young America. Just before the squadron weighed anchor, Mr. Fluxion went on board of the galiot, and informed the skipper that all the expenses of the repairs of his vessel would be paid by the students of the institution. The professor reported that the poor man was beside himself with joy when he received this intelligence. He expressed his gratitude in extravagant terms, which had no English equivalents. Mr. Fluxion gave him eighty pounds in gold, and promised to see him again before the repairs were completed.

Orders to weigh anchor were given, and the two vessels stood out of the port of Flushing into the broad river. At Paul's invitation, Dr. Winstock came on board for the passage up the river. Mr. Hamblin still remained a guest of the ship, and the surgeon volunteered to take his place, though he acknowledged that his Greek roots were little better than decayed stumps in his memory.

There is nothing picturesque on the Scheldt; and it was no great hardship for the students to be compelled to attend to their lessons in the steerage half the time during the trip. The country is very low—some of it below the level of the sea; and there was little to be seen on shore, though the students on deck found enough to interest them.

Mr. Hamblin was the only unhappy person in the squadron, even the Knights of the Red Cross finding enough in this new and strange land to occupy their time without plotting mischief. The learned gentleman did not like the way in which the principal appeared to be "sustaining" him. Mr. Lowington had called the crew together, and told them what the Josephines had done, praising them in what seemed to the professor to be the most extravagant language. He did not like it: it was hardly less than an insult to commend the student against whom he had preferred charges of disobedience and insubordination.

He was vexed that no notice was taken of his complaints—that the matter had been deferred a single hour. In his opinion, Captain Kendall should have been promptly suspended. The moral effect of such a course would have been grand. Mr. Hamblin had spoken; and he felt that he had spoken. If he was not sustained, he could not return to the Josephine. He had spoken; and it was the principal's place to speak next.

Mr. Lowington did not speak. He was busy all the morning; and when the vessels sailed, not a word had been said in allusion to the topic which, in Mr. Hamblin's estimation, overshadowed all others. If the principal did not think of it all the time, he ought to do so; for the academic branch of the institution would be a failure if discipline was not enforced. The ship stood on her way before the fresh westerly breeze, and still Mr. Lowington did not mention the matter. The professor waited till he felt he was utterly ignored, and was sacrificing his dignity every moment that he permitted the question to remain unsettled.

"Mr. Lowington," said he at last, with a mighty effort,—for it was the principal's duty to speak first,—"I made a complaint to you yesterday. Thus far no notice whatever seems to have been taken of it."

"Perhaps the longer we wait the easier it will be to settle the question," replied Mr. Lowington, pleasantly, though he dreaded the discussion that must ensue.

"If I am not to be sustained in the discharge of my duties, it is useless for me to attempt to perform them to your satisfaction or my own."

"You shall be sustained in the discharge of your duties, Mr. Hamblin. But we will discuss this matter in the cabin, if you please," added the principal, as he led the way below.

"Unless an instructor is sustained, of course he can do nothing," said the professor, as he seated himself in the cabin.

"Certainly not. I will hear your complaint now, Mr. Hamblin," replied the principal.

The learned gentleman stated his grievance in about the same terms as on the day before.

"You say that a message was sent down to the captain. Do you know what that message was?" asked the principal.

"I do not remember it precisely. It was something about a squall."

"Very likely it was," answered Mr. Lowington, dryly. "There was a squall coming up at the time—was there not?"

"I knew there was a shower coming up."

"You declined to let him go on deck?"

"I did, sir. The recitation in Greek was not half finished," replied the professor, who deemed this a sufficient reason for declining.

"Captain Kendall did not go on deck when the first message was sent down?"

"No, sir; we continued the recitation for half an hour longer without interruption. Then the messenger came again. I told Mr. Kendall not to leave the class; but, in direct opposition to my order, he went on deck. Not satisfied with this, though he knew that half the students were engaged in the recitations, he ordered all hands to be called. Of course the students were glad enough to get away from their lessons; and all of them stampeded from the steerage, in spite of my protest, and without even a word of apology."

"Did they?" added Mr. Lowington, with difficulty avoiding the disrespect of laughing in the face of the learned gentleman.

"They did; and it must be as clear to you as it is to me, that such conduct is utterly subversive of anything like good discipline."

"May I ask what punishment you propose as suitable for such an offence as that of Captain Kendall?"

"I am perfectly willing to leave that matter to you, sir; but I should think that simple suspension from his office would be sufficient, considering the position of Mr. Kendall."

"Mr. Hamblin, it is your misfortune, not your fault, that you were brought up on shore instead of at sea," added the principal. "You have made a very great mistake, sir."

"I, sir!" exclaimed the learned gentleman, springing up from his seat as though such an event as that indicated by Mr. Lowington had never occurred in his life.

"Captain Kendall also made a mistake," continued the principal.

"He did indeed, sir. It is always a very great mistake to disobey one's teacher."

"I do not mean that."

"May I ask what you do mean, sir?"

"His mistake was in not going on deck when the messenger sent to him by the officer of the deck reported that a squall was coming up."

"But I refused the permission," said the professor, warmly.

"Then he should have gone without your permission," added Mr. Lowington, decidedly.

"Am I to understand, sir, that you counsel disobedience among the boys on the Josephine?"

"No, sir; I counsel obedience to the laws of God and man, and to the orders of one's superior. Mr. Hamblin, is it possible that you could not understand the circumstances of that occasion?" continued the principal. "A squall was coming up, and you desired to detain the captain of your vessel in the steerage!"

"But half the crew were on deck. I am told that Mr. Terrill is a competent seaman. He knew enough to take down the sails, if necessary."

"Such a course would have been without a precedent, and in violation of one of the rules of the ship."

"Did you not tell me that all the students, including the captain,—you mentioned him especially,—were subject to the orders of the professors in school hours?"

"I certainly did; but if I had supposed that there was an instructor in either vessel so utterly wanting in discretion, I should have qualified the statement. Captain Kendall is in command of the Josephine. He is responsible for the safety of the vessel and for the lives of those on board."

"He might have sent up word to take down the sails," growled Mr. Hamblin, disgusted beyond measure at the decision of the principal.

"Did any one ever hear of a captain working his vessel while in the steerage?" retorted Mr. Lowington, impatiently, as he took a pen and wrote a few lines on a sheet of paper. "Was Captain Kendall respectful to you?"

"No, sir."

"What did he say that was disrespectful?"

"Disobedience is always disrespectful. He used no disrespectful words."

"I did not suppose he did. In a word, if Captain Kendall had gone on deck when the first messenger went to him, I should have justified and sustained him. I will go a step farther: he ought to have done so."

"Then I am to understand that I am a mere cipher on board of the Josephine," demanded Mr. Hamblin.

"You are to understand, sir, that the first duty of the captain of a ship is to his vessel and to those on board of her. Why, sir, I thought the young gentleman was insane, and I was intensely anxious, when I saw his vessel with all her light sails on while a squall, so clearly indicated as that of Saturday, was impending. I blamed him very much. The squall was as likely to come half an hour sooner as when it did come. If it had struck her with all sail set, it would have taken the masts out of her—perhaps foundered her. If several of the students had been lost, what satisfaction would it be to me or their friends to know that the disaster occurred because the professor of Greek refused to let the captain go on deck!"

"Perhaps I was wrong, sir."

"Perhaps you were! If you do not know that you were, you are not fit for the position to which I assigned you."

"I see that you fully sustain Mr. Kendall," groaned the professor.

"I only blame him because he did not disobey you the first time instead of the second."

"Was it necessary for him to call all hands?" demanded Mr. Hamblin, triumphantly.

"It was emphatically necessary! If he had gone on deck when the first message reached him, it might not have been necessary, though I should have sustained him in doing so; for the safest side is always the best side. May I ask you to read this order?" added the principal, as he handed the sheet upon which he had written to the learned professor.

Mr. Hamblin read the order aloud.

Captain Kendall is hereby authorized and directed to leave any class in which he may be engaged, whenever, in his own judgment, the management of his vessel requires him to do so. The instructors in the consort are requested to respect this order.

R. LOWINGTON.



Professor Hamblin dropped the paper, took off his spectacles, looked on the floor a moment, and seemed to feel that the nautical academy was not the paradise of schoolmasters.

"Mr. Lowington, I feel obliged to tender my resignation of the position I occupy," said the learned gentleman, haughtily.

"Very well, sir. Though the want of an instructor in your department will be a serious inconvenience to me, I shall accept your resignation if you are not willing to respect this order," replied the principal.

That ended the conference, and Paul was sustained.



CHAPTER VI.

PROFESSOR HAMBLIN CHANGES HIS MIND.

Professor Hamblin went on deck, walked up and down, and made himself as miserable as possible. He was the senior instructor of the Josephine, and was the superintendent of her academic department. He had been a schoolmaster or a professor for forty years, and was fully steeped in the dogmatism of the pedagogue. He was disposed to be overbearing and tyrannical, though perhaps his profession, rather than his nature, had implanted this tendency in his character. Certainly the almost absolute sway of the schoolmaster encourages such an unfortunate development of the lower faculties of human nature.

It is necessary that the parent or the teacher should have this absolute sway. Practically, his will is law, and the child has no alternative but to rebel or obey. The limit to his authority is only placed on the line where tyranny ends and actual abuse begins. It is true that public opinion has its influence upon the teacher or parent; but there is room for much petty oppression before the limit of endurance is reached. A man may be an efficient teacher, and produce splendid intellectual results, while he is a tyrant and an oppressor; indeed, his tyranny and oppression may be the very means by which his success is accomplished.

The rights of the pupil are not recognized by such men. The scholar is regarded as a machine, rather than an immortal soul. Though Mr. Hamblin was a very pious man, in his own way, and was very careful in his observance of all the forms of law and tradition, he was a tyrant at heart. He ruled with an iron will, and willingly suffered no one in the school-room to hold an opinion different from his own. He was not popular in the Josephine; he had never been a popular teacher anywhere, though he had been a successful one, so far as intellectual results were concerned. His success seemed to justify him, and certainly it added to the strength of his tyrannical will.

The good schoolmaster recognizes and respects the rights of the scholar. While he is an unflinching disciplinarian, expecting an unquestioning obedience, he does not believe in his own infallibility. He is kind and considerate, and regards his pupil as an embryo man, "endowed with certain inalienable rights," which none may trample upon with impunity. He is both just and merciful, his heart being filled with love to God and love to man.

Such was not Mr. Hamblin. The greatest sin of a student was to have a will of his own. He had not the power or the inclination to harmonize that will with the requirements of duty, and he broke it down, not by coarse abuse, but by making the pupil so uncomfortable that a total submission was better than a reasonable independence. In mild-tempered boys, like Paul Kendall, the task was an easy one, when no principle was at stake.

The professor walked up and down the deck, brooding over his grievances. He could not afford to abandon his situation on the one hand, and it seemed impossible to acknowledge that he was wholly wrong on the other hand. When he had thoroughly cooled off, he was willing to own that it was necessary for the captain to go on deck, and that if he had comprehended the situation he should have given him permission to do so. But he knew nothing about the management of a vessel. How should a professor of Greek and Latin be expected to understand a matter which even the most ignorant could comprehend, and of which even a boy of sixteen had made himself master? Boys could play base-ball, but he did not know how; and it seemed just as much beneath his dignity to be familiar with practical navigation.

He was sorry now that he had not given Captain Kendall permission to go on deck; for it was impossible to refute the arguments of the principal; but at the same time he had not overstepped the duties of his office. He had been informed that all the students, even to the captain, were subject to his will and pleasure during school hours, and therefore he had a perfect right to detain the captain. It was not his fault that a blunder had been made; he had not made it.

The order which Mr. Lowington had shown him would remedy the difficulty in future, and prevent its repetition; but if that order was promulgated, it would assure the pupils that Captain Kendall had been fully sustained, and that the professor had not been sustained. Mr. Hamblin shuddered at the thought; for justifying a student at the expense of the instructor was an enormity which he could not countenance. The captain's will would remain unbroken, and the professor would occupy a secondary position on board of the Josephine.

The learned gentleman walked the deck hour after hour, endeavoring to devise a plan by which he could return to his position without the sacrifice of any portion of his dignity. Mr. Lowington, in saying that the professor's resignation would be a serious inconvenience to him, had left the door open for him to revise his final action. The squadron was eventually to visit Greece and other classic lands, and he was very anxious to continue his travels, not only without expense to himself, but while in the receipt of a handsome salary. Such an opportunity to see Europe could never again be presented to him, and he was not willing to sacrifice it.

Professor Hamblin was becoming more reasonable; but there was the untamed will of Captain Kendall, an unconquered fortress, in his path. Perhaps Mr. Lowington, now that the excitement of the first interview had subsided, might help him out of the embarrassing dilemma, though his decided manner was not very encouraging. The professor determined to have another interview, and as soon as he saw the principal alone he opened the subject again.

"What you said about my resignation, Mr. Lowington, gives me some uneasiness. It is not my wish to subject you to any inconvenience by leaving you, in a foreign land, where much delay must necessarily ensue before you can obtain a suitable person to fill my place," said he, in a tone of embarrassment.

"It would disturb my plans very much; but I cannot endanger the vessel and the lives of those on board of her. The position of Captain Kendall is anomalous, you will perceive."

"I am quite willing now to say that if I had understood the situation, I should have permitted Mr. Kendall to leave the class."

"And I am quite willing to say that your services as an instructor are entirely satisfactory to me," added the principal, with a smile.

They were more satisfactory to him than they were to the students of the Josephine.

"Then we seem to be in full accord with each other on these points," replied the professor, hopefully. "I trust some arrangement may be made to reconcile the differences of opinion on the question of discipline. You do not sustain me, Mr. Lowington."

"I cannot, sir. If I did, I should expect the Josephine to go to the bottom with all on board, in the first gale of wind she encounters, should Captain Kendall happen to be reciting his Greek at the time."

"I think I understand the matter better now, and in a similar emergency I should permit him to leave the class."

"In matters of seamanship and navigation, I have more confidence in the judgment of Captain Kendall than in yours. He must be absolute in his position as captain of the vessel."

"Of course, sir; and in the composition of a soup doubtless you would have more confidence in the judgment of your cook than in mine," added the professor, cynically; for, intellectually, the cook and the captain appeared to be on the same level to him; and as a professor of Greek, he did not regard it as any more derogatory to his dignity not to know anything of the principles of seamanship than to be ignorant of the art of making a soup.

"The order which I have written, and which I shall transmit to Captain Kendall as soon as the squadron comes to anchor, will set the matter right," said Mr. Lowington.

"Do you insist on issuing that order?" asked Mr. Hamblin.

"I do."

"Let me say that Mr. Stoute did not indorse my course, and that in future I will give Mr. Kendall permission to leave the class whenever he desires to do so."

"That is very well, sir; but, under the circumstances, I cannot permit the captain to be embarrassed even by the necessity of asking permission. If, by any diffidence on his part, he should delay asking leave to go on deck, serious mishaps might occur."

"Then I am to be subject to the will of that boy?" said the professor, disgusted at the thought.

"Not unless you are connected with the sailing department of the vessel. You are simply prevented from exercising your will over him, to the detriment of his duties as a navigator."

"In this light the case looks different to me," added the professor, who was laboring to recede from his position as gracefully as possible. "I am willing to permit the captain to have his own will in all matters pertaining to the management of the vessel, as I am to allow the cook entire freedom in making his soup."

"Then nothing more need be said, and you can resume your position on board of the Josephine at once."

"I am not entirely satisfied about that order, Mr. Lowington," added Mr. Hamblin.

"Why not?"

"Because that sustains Mr. Kendall and condemns me in a public and formal manner."

"That is precisely what I intend to do."

"It amounts to sacrificing me, by placing me in a derogatory position. I have not transcended the power given me, and it is not right that I should be formally condemned."

"The order passes no judgment upon the past; it relates to the future only. Captain Kendall must understand that he has full liberty to go when and where he pleases, in the discharge of his duty. I am confident he will not abuse this liberty."

"But I am to stand before him in this business as a whipped puppy. Couldn't you give him the order verbally, and explain my position to him?"

"What is your position?" demanded the principal, with a smile.

"I mean simply that in detaining him I erred through a want of knowledge of seamanship."

"I can explain that; but I think it would be better for you to do so."

"For me!" gasped the professor. "Why, sir, that would be an apology!"

"It would be merely an explanation, which would come more gracefully from you than from any other person."

"I don't think so, sir. It would be lowering myself before him."

"As you please, Mr. Hamblin. I will explain the matter myself, when I give him the order."

"If you could give him the order verbally, it would be better."

"No; he must have the written order to show to any professor who disputes his authority. But Captain Kendall will never give you any trouble. He is manly and gentle, and he will not take advantage of his position."

"I think he will have abundant ground to manifest his triumph."

"He will not do anything of the kind. If any officer of the Josephine treats you with disrespect, he shall be suspended at once from office."

"That is very proper, sir," added Mr. Hamblin, heartily.

The learned gentleman let himself down as easily as possible. He had consented to remain rather than subject the principal to the great inconvenience and delay of procuring a new instructor. Captain Kendall was to be independent only in the sailing department, in which he had no disposition to interfere, any more than with the cook. He regarded it as a bitter necessity which compelled him to return to the Josephine; for he could not forego the pecuniary advantage and the opportunity of visiting the classic lands which the voyage presented; but, though he yielded with what grace he could command, he was dissatisfied with Mr. Lowington, and more dissatisfied with Paul.

To go back to the consort unsustained was almost like going to a dungeon for a capital crime, to which nothing but personal interest induced him to submit. If the captain did not enjoy his triumph, it would be a degree of forbearance which he could not comprehend. But he was quite certain that the captain would "put on airs," abuse his absolute liberty, and perhaps snub his teacher before the class. Mr. Hamblin expected this, and made up his mind to be on the lookout for it.

After dinner Mr. Lowington suggested that his services must be much needed on board of the Josephine, and proposed to send him to her at once. Mr. Hamblin consented, and as the consort kept astern of the ship, the latter was hove to, and the professor's barge lowered. Mr. Lowington went with the learned gentleman, and agreeably to his promise, made a full explanation to Paul, while the instructor, without a word to any one, hastened to the steerage, and called his class, just as though nothing had occurred. It was observed that he was unusually sour, crabbed, and precise, and all the students were anxious to know how the question of discipline had been settled.

"Read this order, if you please, Captain Kendall," said the principal, when he had conducted him to the cabin, where they were alone.

"I have no desire to leave my class, unless my duty to the vessel requires it," added Paul, after he had read the order.

"I did not suppose you had; but you will keep that order in your pocket, and remember that your first duty is to your ship and crew."

"I suppose you have learned by this time, sir, the reason why we did not take in sail sooner on Saturday," continued Paul, blushing deeply.

"I have. Professor Hamblin feels very badly about this matter. At the time of it, he believed he was right, for he knows less about a vessel than even the chaplain of the ship. He acknowledges now that he was in error. Our rules did not before apply with sufficient distinctness to your particular case, as captain of the vessel, responsible for her proper navigation. Mr. Hamblin did not overstep the letter of his duty in refusing you permission to go on deck, and I only blame him for his want of judgment. By this order, which corrects the ship's rules, you are made independent in all matters relating to the management of the vessel."

"I think there can be no trouble now, sir," replied Paul, delighted to find that his conduct was approved.

"I hope not; and I do not expect any."

Mr. Lowington returned to the ship, satisfied that he had healed the wounds of both the sufferers. Paul was happy, and he determined to treat the professor with the utmost deference and kindness, and thus remove the remembrance of the difficulty. At four o'clock, after the squadron had passed Beveland, and entered the Belgian territory, Paul went down to recite his Greek, as usual. He could not help seeing that Mr. Hamblin's lip quivered, and that he was laboring under strong emotions, when he took his place at the mess table. The captain was hardly less embarrassed, but he hoped an opportunity would soon occur for him to perform some kind act for the irritated gentleman.

When the recitation was nearly finished, and both parties had recovered their self-possession, the vessel gave a sudden "bump," which nearly tipped the professor off his stool; but he righted himself, and was too much absorbed in his favorite study to think of the incident for a moment.

"Mr. Terrill directs me to report to you that the vessel is aground!" said one of the midshipmen, in breathless haste, touching his cap to the captain.

Paul blushed deeply, and was intensely annoyed at this repetition of the circumstances of Saturday; but there was no alternative but for him to go on deck.

"Will you excuse me, Mr. Hamblin?" asked Paul, rising.

The professor bowed, but made no reply in words. He wondered if the vessel had not been run aground on purpose to mortify and annoy him. He was inclined to think that such was the case, and that it had been done to enable the captain to display his absolute authority.

Paul went on deck; but the pilot assured him that the accident would not subject the vessel to half an hour's delay, for the tide was rising very rapidly. He had run her a little too near a shoal, while the Young America, by keeping in mid channel, had gone clear. There was nothing for the captain to do on deck, and he returned to his class. The Josephine came off the ground within the half hour, and by putting on more sail overhauled the ship before she reached Antwerp.

"Here is the city, Paul," said Dr. Winstock, as the Josephine rounded a bend in the river. "You can see the spire of Antwerp Cathedral."

"I see it, sir. I have heard a great deal about it. This is farther than we have been from the sea since we sailed."

"Yes, it is a long pull from the sea for a sailing vessel; but Antwerp is the only convenient port for visiting the greater part of Belgium. We are only a short distance from Brussels, Ghent, Malines, and Liege. I suppose we shall visit no other port in Belgium; indeed, there is no other convenient one, except Ostend."

"There is a whole fleet of British steamers at anchor opposite the town," said Paul, when the Josephine had gone a little farther.

"A great many merchant steamers come up the river. There are regular lines to London and Harwich. By the latter route you may leave Antwerp at four in the afternoon and be in London at nine the next morning, though the Ostend or Calais line is quicker and better."

"Those are large steamers," added Paul, as the squadron approached the fleet at anchor.

"Why, that's the Victoria and Albert!" exclaimed the doctor, pointing to the largest of the ships. "That is the yacht of the Queen of England."

"It is a pretty large yacht," replied Paul. "What are the other steamers?"

"They are the consorts of the yacht. The one that lies nearest to her is the Osborne, which was formerly the queen's state vessel. The others are merely a kind of guard of honor."

"Does it take five steamships to bring the queen over to Antwerp?" asked Paul, laughing.

"She must go in state when she goes," added the doctor. "The Victoria and Albert is a ship of twenty-four hundred tons. I hope we shall have an opportunity to go on board of her."

"I hope we shall; but that is hardly to be expected."

"They do not exhibit her when she is in English waters, but I think they do when she is abroad."

"All ready to moor ship, Mr. Terrill," said Paul, as the Young America gave the signal.

The Josephine ran up to a point near the ship, and within a couple of cables' length of the royal squadron let go her anchor. Port officers came on board, and explained the harbor regulations; among them, one whose duty it was to determine the amount due the pilot. This official "hooked" the vessel, or measured her draught. As the Josephine drew about ten feet of water, the charge was one hundred and ninety-eight francs.

Everything was made snug on board; the ropes were carefully coiled, and all the running rigging hauled taut; for, lying near the queen's yacht, Paul desired to have the vessel present her best appearance. The work of the day was ended, and the students were at liberty to observe the strange scenes around them. There was the city of Antwerp, but it was not much different from any other city. The Scheldt formed a crescent in front of the town, and there was a multitude of vessels lying at the quays, as the space on the shore is called. The river is about fifteen hundred feet wide, and deep enough to float a ship of the line. The city is very strongly fortified, on both sides of the river.

"Here we are, for a week or two," said Pelham to the first lieutenant, after all the ship's duty had been performed.

"I suppose so," replied Terrill. "It seems to me just as though we had been sailing down hill ever since we came into the river. Hark!"

It was just six o'clock, and the chime of bells on the great Cathedral played a silver-toned melody which was almost enchanting.

"I should not object to hearing that every hour," said Pelham, when the tune was finished. "Do they play the same tune over again?"

"I'm sure I don't know," replied Terrill.

"They have a different tune for each hour of the day, and play the entire music of an opera," interposed Dr. Winstock. "They give a short strain at the quarter hour, and a longer one at the half hour."

"That will be music all day long."

"Yes, and all night long," added the surgeon, as he walked away with the captain.

"I wish he were going to stay on board instead of that solemn old lunatic, the Greek and Latin humbug" said Terrill, who had a habit of speaking his mind very plainly.

"Do you know how the row was settled between him and the captain?" asked Pelham.

"I do not; but I am confident Mr. Lowington sustained the captain," answered Terrill. "I was in hopes that we had got rid of him when he went on board of the ship yesterday, and I was mad when I saw him coming back to-day noon."

"There is not a fellow in the Josephine that didn't have the same thought," added Pelham. "I don't see why a man need try to make himself as disagreeable as he does. All the students were willing to treat him with respect, and get their lessons well; but he is as crank as an alderman."

"I wish we could get rid of him," suggested Terrill.

"Of course we can't do that," replied Pelham, who was not disposed to get into any more scrapes.

"We might make the Josephine uncomfortable for him," suggested Terrill.

"We might; but I think we had better not," added the prudent Pelham, made wise by experience, as the bell for the cabin supper rang.

Professor Hamblin looked unusually gloomy and morose, but he labored perseveringly to keep up his dignity. Paul sat at the head of the table, ordinarily with his officers on each side of him in the order of their rank; but on the present occasion, Dr. Winstock occupied the place at his right. At the opposite end of the board was Mr. Hamblin, with the fat professor on his right. Behind the captain's chair stood the head steward, while the second steward was stationed near the instructors.

Mr. Hamblin occasionally cast a furtive glance at the young commander; but Paul seemed to be as composed as though nothing had happened to disturb the friendly relations between them. Though he did not observe it, Terrill persisted that the learned gentleman looked "ugly," and would make another row as soon as he could get a chance.

"I can see through the mainsail when there is a hole in it," said the executive officer to Pelham, when they went on deck again. "If there wasn't mischief in Mr. Hamblin's eye, there never was mischief in any man's eye."

"What do you mean?" asked Pelham.

"You know the old lunatic threatened to have the captain suspended for leaving the class. He failed in that, and if he don't try it again, I'm mistaken in the man."

"Of course he won't make any more complaints till he has something to complain of, and Paul won't give him a chance."

"I don't suppose he will voluntarily; but his conduct will be distorted. I tell you the professor is ugly, and he hates the captain as badly as a Christian can."

"He hasn't improved his popularity on board by what he has done."

"Every fellow on the Josephine is down upon him. There'll be a row on board soon, in my opinion," added Terrill, as Dr. Winstock and Paul came on deck.

A boat was lowered to send the surgeon on board the ship. Paul accompanied him; and on the way they went up to the gangway of the Victoria and Albert, and ascertained that visitors would be admitted to the ship on the following day, from ten till four.



CHAPTER VII.

THE LECTURE ON BELGIUM.

"All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.

Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so. The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium. Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.

Holland is in itself an exceedingly interesting country. The students had seen something of its dikes and ditches, and were anxious to see more. The region seemed to be very much like a ship; for it was necessary to keep the water out as much as possible, and to pump out that which leaked in or rained in. The boys were to go on shore, and they desired to understand something of the history of the country, in order to appreciate the various objects which commemorated mighty events in the past. The citadel of Antwerp was in sight at a bend up the river, and they were curious to know its antecedents.

On both vessels the libraries had been ransacked for information by the more enthusiastic of the pupils, and many interesting facts had been gleaned from the volumes; but those who knew the most about the country were the most anxious to know more. With only a few exceptions, therefore, the "call to lecture," on the present occasion, was a welcome one. The boats were lowered, and all hands in the Josephine, including the professors, went on board of the ship, leaving the vessel in charge of the adult forward officers.

Mr. Mapps had already made his preparations in the steerage, and on the foremast hung a large Dutch map of the Netherlands. The students filed in and took their seats. The professor looked unusually pleasant and enthusiastic, probably because he felt that his wares were in demand.

"Young gentlemen, before you is the map of the Netherlands," he began. "For our present purpose, the term must include both Holland and Belgium; for until 1830 the two were one country, the latter having had, for no long period, a separate political existence till that time.

"The Dutch name of the country is Nederlanden; the French name, Pays-Bas; both of which have the same meaning—'low countries.' By this time you have realized the literal significance of the term; for nearly all the region consists of an immense low plain, intersected by rivers or arms of the sea. A reference to the physical geography of Europe shows you that the great northern plain, containing nine times the area of France, or about one half the area of Europe, extends from the Ural Mountains to the German Ocean.

"Doubtless the whole region now included in the Netherlands was once a mere swamp, a wild and useless morass, unfit for the habitation of man. Three great rivers, you perceive on the map, have their course, in whole or in part, through Holland and Belgium—the Rhine, the Maas, or Meuse, and the Scheldt.

"By a reference to your navigation charts, young gentlemen, you will often find banks and bars thrown up at the mouths of rivers. At the mouth of the Scheldt, several miles from the shore, there are Thornton's Ridge, The Rabs, Schouwen Bank, Steen Banks, and others of similar formation. At the mouth of the Mississippi, in our own country, you are aware that large vessels find great difficulty in getting over the bar. If we take a tumbler full of Mississippi water, after heavy rains in the north-west, and let it stand a few moments, a thick sediment settles at the bottom. This sediment forms the bar at the mouth of the river. The sand and mud are carried down by the current, and when the water has a chance to rest, it deposits its burden upon the bottom."

"But why in that particular place?" asked an interested student.

"Because the current of the river comes to a halt where it meets the inflowing tide of the gulf, or when it has spent its force. These bars are sometimes formed by currents resulting from the combined action of the sea and the flow of the river, or by winds. A heavy gale has been known to change the aspect of a coast, to shut up a harbor, or to open one where there had before been no inlet. Cape Cod presents some remarkable instances of these physical revolutions.

"The great rivers of the Netherlands, in like manner, have brought down their sands and mud, and deposited them on what now forms the shore of the country. The forces of the ocean, against which the Dutchman of to-day has to contend for the preservation of his life and property, assisted in making this country a habitable region. Certain westerly and south-westerly winds drive the waters of the Atlantic into the German Ocean. The coast of the country, you see by the map, is exposed to the longest sweep of the wind from the north-west, and the most violent tempests to which Holland is exposed come from that direction. Now, what is the effect of these storms?"

"They pile up the sand-bars," replied Captain Kendall.

"Precisely so; the dunes and ridges of sand which border the country from the straits of Dover to the Texel are caused by these violent winds from the north-west. The effect of this piling up of the sands was eventually to limit, in a measure, the boundary of the sea. The dunes and ridges formed the foundation for the dikes which the industrious and persevering Dutchman has erected upon them, and by which he has made his country. For the want of time, I shall defer the physical features of Holland, and a more particular description of its dikes and ditches, to a future occasion. In what country are we now?"

"In Belgium, sir," replied McLeish, who always answered when he could, though in general knowledge he was far behind his American classmates.

"What is the French name?"

"La Belgique."

"The German?"

"Belgien."

"What is the French adjective?"

"Belge."

"There is a liberal newspaper published at Brussels, the capital of Belgium, which is often quoted as political authority in the United States, called the Independance Belge. What does the term mean?"

"'The Belgian Independent,' or 'The Independent Belgian,'" laughed Pelham.

"But the first word is a noun."

"'The Belgian Freeman,' or something of that sort."

"Doubtless it will bear that rendering, though it means literally 'Belgian Independence.' Belgium is bounded on the north, and partly on the east, by Holland; mostly on the east by the Rhenish provinces of Prussia, forming a part of Germany; on the south-west by France; and on the north-west by the German Ocean. It has an area of eleven thousand three hundred and thirteen miles; that is, it is about the size of Maryland, or of Massachusetts and Connecticut united.

"Its population in 1863 was about five millions, equal to the aggregate of New York and Massachusetts. In New England, in 1860, there were fifty persons to the square mile; in Massachusetts, which is the most densely peopled of the United States, one hundred and seventy; but Belgium has four hundred and forty souls to the square mile, and is the most thickly-settled country in the world.

"Belgium contains nine provinces, the largest of which, in area, is Luxembourg, though it is one of the smallest in population. The largest in population is East Flanders."

"Flanders!" exclaimed Terrill; "I was hoping you would say something about Flanders, for I had an idea it was Belgium."

"It is a part of it. Flanders has belonged to France, Spain, Austria, and Holland, at times; but it was divided into two provinces by the King of Holland, and became a part of the United Kingdom of Belgium when it was established in 1830. It figures largely in history, and 'our army in Flanders' is a proverb.

"The soil of Belgium is generally sandy and poor; but, by skill and industry, the people obtain large crops from it. In a country so densely peopled there could not be many large farms, and the majority of the farmers cultivate what would not be more than a garden in America; but the system of agriculture is not surpassed by that of any country in the world. Flax-raising is the principal occupation of the farmers; but grasses and roots receive particular attention. Horses, cattle, and sheep are raised in great numbers.

"The manufactures of Belgium are very celebrated. The laces of Brussels and Mechlin (Malines) have the highest reputation. Linen goods, carpets, woollens, cottons, hosiery, are largely produced. The foreign and domestic commerce of Belgium, largely carried on through the port of Antwerp, is extensive.

"Belgium is a flat country, as we have said. There are no mountains, though in the provinces of Liege and Brabant the American traveller will find a variety of scenery similar to that in the eastern part of Massachusetts and Connecticut. This portion of Belgium is a beautiful garden.

"The government, according to the charter of 1831, is a constitutional, representative, and hereditary monarchy; that is, it has a constitution, a parliament, and the oldest son of the king is his successor. The king's person is declared to be sacred, and his ministers, instead of himself, are held responsible for the government acts. The legislative branch consists of a senate and a chamber of representatives; but the king must sign their acts before they can become laws.

"The members of both houses of the legislature are chosen by the people, and are called deputies. Only citizens who pay a certain amount of direct taxes can vote. The deputies who live out of the town in which the session is held are paid sixty-two dollars a month. They are elected for four years, half every two years. The political privileges of the people are only less than those of our own country.

"The present king is Leopold I.[A] He is seventy-four years old, and for the last fifty years has been a man of mark in Europe. He was for some time in the service of the Emperor of Russia, and went to England with the allied sovereigns, in 1814, where he became acquainted with, and afterwards married, the Princess Charlotte, daughter of George IV.; but she died within two years. In 1830 Leopold was elected King of Greece; but he finally refused the crown, because the conditions he made were not complied with. In 1831 he was elected King of the Belgians, and was crowned the same year. The next year he married Louise, the daughter of Louis Philippe, King of France. Leopold, Duke of Brabant, will succeed him. He has several other sons and daughters, among them Marie Charlotte, wife of Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, who has been elected Emperor of Mexico. Leopold is one of the richest men in Europe.

[Footnote A: Leopold I. died Dec. 10, 1865, and was succeeded by his son, Leopold II.]

"Nearly all the people of Belgium are Roman Catholics, there being but about thirteen thousand Protestants and two thousand Jews; but the largest religious liberty is allowed to all sects. A portion of the salary of ministers of all denominations is paid from the national treasury. While the Catholics receive seven hundred thousand dollars from the state, the Protestants obtain eleven thousand, and the Jews two thousand dollars. The salary paid by the state to the archbishop is four thousand two hundred dollars, and to a bishop about three thousand.

"The history of Flanders is substantially the early history of Belgium. Many changes were made in the territorial limit of the country from time to time, in the hands of its different owners. The first mention of this country in history is in the time of Julius Caesar, who conquered the Low Countries, and the Romans held them till the year 400, when they were joined to the empire of the Franks. They formed part of the vast realm of Charlemagne.

"After the Romans had abandoned the territory, several independent nobles established themselves in the southern part of the Netherlands. Among them were the Counts of Flanders, who became very powerful and influential men. They are to be regarded as the founders of the Flemish provinces. Having no male heirs, their possessions went to the house of Burgundy. Philip, Duke of Burgundy, married Margaret, Countess of Flanders, and, upon the death of her father, she brought to him the country of Flanders and other valuable possessions.

"During the succeeding hundred years, Namur, Brabant, Limbourg, Hainault, Holland, Zealand, Friesland, and Luxembourg, all of which now belong to Holland and Belgium, were added to the territories of the Dukes of Burgundy. At this period appears the powerful but rash and cruel Charles the Bold. His life was spent in open or secret strife with Louis XI., king of France, whose suzerain, or nominal vassal, he was. The king was instrumental in stirring up rebellion in several cities of the Low Countries, which the duke put down with his accustomed severity.

"Charles, in revenge, having leagued with some discontented French princes, Louis secretly fomented an insurrection in Liege. When the blow was first struck, the crafty king was paying a visit to his cousin of Burgundy, as he called the duke, who, on hearing the news, retained his sovereign as a prisoner, threatening to kill him for his perfidy. The cunning prince tried to pacify his enraged host. He was but partially successful, and could only obtain his liberty by submitting to the most humiliating terms. The duke compelled his royal guest to march in person with him to the revolted city, and assist his vassal in putting down the rebellion he had himself instigated.

"Charles the Bold was slain in battle, and his death ending his line of dukes, Louis seized upon several of the provinces. Mary, the daughter of Charles, was married to the Archduke of Austria, who claimed the Burgundian provinces in right of his wife. He obtained possession, however, of only Franche-comte and the Low Countries. The conflicting claims for these territories kept Austria and France at war for a long time.

"The Archduke Maximilian, who married Mary of Burgundy, became Emperor of Germany on the death of his father. He had two children by her, Philip and Margaret, the former of whom married Joanna, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. They were the parents of Charles V., Emperor of Germany and King of all Spain. During this period the Low Countries were governed by Maximilian, Philip, and Charles, deriving their right from Charles the Bold.

"Charles V. was succeeded as King of Spain by Philip II., his son, who also inherited the Flemish provinces. Mr. Motley's incomparable History of the Rise of the Dutch Republic, commences at this point, with the abdication of Charles V., and the accession of Philip II. I hope all who have not read this work will do so, as many of you can, here in the midst of the scenes described in its glowing pages.

"Philip was a bigot and a tyrant, and his despotism, which included the establishment of the Inquisition, drove the people to madness, and provoked them to rebellion. During the reign of Charles V. the Reformation had made considerable progress in Germany, and its principles were firmly planted in the Low Countries. Philip imposed upon himself the duty of rooting out the obnoxious doctrines, and of restoring the supremacy of the Catholic church.

"After his accession to the Netherlands, the king remained four years in the country, and then departed for Spain, from which he did not again return. He made his sister regent, and she was to be assisted by Granvelle, Bishop of Arras. William, Prince of Orange, and the Counts Egmont and Horn, were associated with the bishop as councillors, but they had no real power or influence.

"The despotic conduct of Granvelle, and the attempt on his part to introduce the Inquisition, by order of his royal master, excited the most desperate opposition. The people organized under the lead of the Prince of Orange, and Egmont and Horn, and an insurrection broke out in Flanders, in 1566. These Protestant rebels have been styled iconoclasts, or image-breakers, for they broke into the churches, overturned the images, defaced the valuable paintings, and otherwise injured the church property.

"The famous Cathedral of Notre Dame, which you can see from the deck of the ship, was ravaged by the mob. The statues of Christ, the Virgin, and the Saints were hurled from their pedestals; the rich paintings, the choicest works of Flemish art, were cut to pieces; the organs were torn down, the altars overturned, and the gold and silver vessels used in the mass were carried off. For three days these tumultuous proceedings continued, and were suppressed only when the fury of the mob had ceased, by the Knights of the Golden Fleece, of which the Prince of Orange was a member. The career of this remarkable man is closely identified with the history of the Netherlands during this period. He was opposed to the violence of the mob, not only from prudential motives, but because his own religious views were not yet in sympathy with the Protestant reformers, though he afterwards fully embraced their doctrines.

"The patriots of the Low Countries were, in the beginning of these troubles, both Catholic and Protestant; but the sacrilegious conduct of the mob detached the former from the cause, and as the Catholics were more numerous in the southern than in the northern provinces, they finally turned the scale in favor of Philip II. in their own section, while the people of Holland established their independence.

"Philip then sent the savage and relentless Duke of Alva to suppress the new religion in the Netherlands. Egmont and Horn were beheaded at Brussels, and the Prince of Orange retired into Germany, appealing to the Protestant princes for assistance. With an army he had raised in Germany, and with money obtained there and of Queen Elizabeth of England, he marched into the Netherlands, and called his people to arms. A long and terrible war ensued, in which the Dutch suffered up to the limit of human endurance, and displayed a heroism which is without parallel in the history of the nations.

"The Prince of Orange was created Stadtholder; almost unlimited powers were conferred upon him, and for years he struggled against the most stupendous obstacles. The Dutch, being a maritime people, established a navy, which inflicted many heavy blows upon the Spanish power. The severity of Alva so goaded the Netherlanders that the whole country was in arms against him. He failed to reduce them to subjection, and was recalled. His next two eminent successors died of fever, and the Duke of Parma was then sent as regent of Philip. In 1579 the northern provinces declared their independence, and established the Dutch Republic, or the Seven United Provinces, of which the Prince of Orange was stadtholder.

"Philip was so incensed at the success of the Prince of Orange that he offered a large reward to any one who would take his life, and a fanatical Burgundian shot him at Delft, in 1584. With this event Mr. Motley closes his History of the Rise of the Dutch Republic.

"Belgium adhered to Spain, or, rather, the Duke of Parma succeeded in reducing it to subjection after the murder of the stadtholder. In 1598 Philip gave the Flemish provinces to his daughter Isabella. But on her death without children, the country again reverted to Spain. After more than a century of strife, including the Thirty Years' War, the repeated quarrels between England and Spain, and France and Spain, and the War of the Spanish Succession, during which period the Low Countries were often the battle-ground, Belgium passed into the hands of the Austrians.

"In settling up the disastrous strife of the century, the treaty-making powers had given several of the Belgian fortresses to Holland, in order to check the ambition of France, and the Dutch closed the Scheldt. After an interval of peace under Maria Theresa of Austria, her son, Joseph II., attempted to break through portions of the treaties, and obliged the troops of Holland to evacuate his territory, but he could not open the river. He was rash in his proceedings, and a rebellion was organized against him.

"About this time commenced the French Revolution, whose influence extended to the Low Countries, and in 1789 the Austrian garrison at Brussels was forced to surrender. But the people were not united, and their dissensions enabled the Austrians to regain their power. The French Directory sent an army to assist the Belgians, the Austrians were driven from the country, and Belgium was incorporated with France.

"Napoleon, while he controlled the destinies of France, devoted much attention to the Flemish provinces, and especially to the city of Antwerp. When you go on shore you will see immense docks and fortifications built by him. He intended to make it a great naval station, and it would have been of vast importance to him in carrying out his plans for the invasion of England. The works on the opposite side of the river, called 'Tete de Flandre,' were the beginning of an immense military town. During this period England was almost continually at war with France, and several expeditions were sent against Holland and Belgium.

"When Napoleon abdicated, the Flemish Provinces were restored to Austria; but when the allies who had overthrown Napoleon finally disposed of their conquests, Holland and Belgium were united, and given to the Stadtholder, who had adhered to the allies. He was styled William I., King of the Netherlands.

"The two sections could not agree; the Dutch regarded Belgium as a conquered province, and were not at all conciliatory in their treatment of the new acquisition. The Belgians were essentially French in their habits, and disliked the Dutch. In 1830 they revolted against their masters, the insurrection extended to the principal cities, and the king called upon the great powers who had given him the country. A congress assembled in London at his request, which, however, decreed the independence of Belgium.

"The people first elected a son of Louis Philippe king; but he declined, and Leopold was then chosen. King William, of Holland, protested, and in spite of the treaty, held the city of Antwerp. A French army was sent to the assistance of Leopold; Antwerp capitulated, but it was not till 1839 that Holland made a treaty with Belgium, acknowledging her independence. Leopold strengthened his position by marrying a daughter of the King of France; and his son and heir, the Duke of Brabant, was married to Marie, Archduchess of Austria.

"In 1848, when Louis Philippe was overthrown in France, some disturbance occurred, and Leopold offered to abdicate; but his proposition was not accepted, and he wisely and skilfully led his government through all the troubles of that excitable period. He is a wise and prudent statesman, and as such has had a great deal of influence in Europe.

"Now, young gentlemen, I trust you will not be satisfied with this meagre sketch of the interesting country we are now visiting, but will read up the subject so that you will understand it better."

Mr. Mapps left his position, and the studies of the morning were commenced. After dinner the usual shore liberty was given, the allowances paid in French francs, a supply of which had been procured in London, and the students were landed. Instead of going on shore immediately, Dr. Winstock and Paul paid a visit to the Victoria and Albert.

At the gangway they found the steward of the ship, who volunteered to conduct them through the vessel. There was nothing strikingly peculiar in the exterior of the yacht, except that she had large, square windows, composed of a single pane of glass, in her upper saloons and cabins; but the steward informed the visitors that these were replaced in heavy weather by wooden shutters, having only the small, round ports in them.

Between the paddle-boxes was a large open space, covered over by the hurricane deck. On each side, abaft the wheels, was a small apartment, or pavilion, with large glass windows, elegantly cushioned and furnished, where the royal passengers could sit in rough weather, and look out upon the sea. On the hurricane deck was a spacious dining-saloon.

From the open space between the wheels, the steward conducted Dr. Winstock and Paul to a passage-way, at the after end of which was a saloon called the breakfast-room. Its length corresponded with the width of the vessel, and one side was round, being formed at the stern of the vessel, in which were several of the large square windows, so that the apartment was very light and pleasant.

On each side of the passage-way were several apartments, arranged in suits. Returning to the open space amidships, the party entered the forward room on the starboard side.

"This is the room of the first lady in waiting," said the steward, as they went in.

"I should say the first lady in waiting was well accommodated," said Paul, laughing, as he glanced at the spacious apartment.

"But she may be a countess," replied the steward, leading the way to the next room. "This is the queen's bed-chamber."

There was a large bed in this room, which looked just like anybody's bed; but it was by no means so elegant as the young republican had anticipated. The apartment was rich and costly in its furnishings, but there was none of the magnificence which one would have expected to find in the room of a queen.

"This is the dressing-room of Prince Albert," added the steward, entering the next room. "Her majesty allows no one to occupy it since the death of his highness."

Beyond this, on the same side, were shown several rooms appropriated to the use of the princesses. They corresponded in style with those of the queen; but in nothing connected with the yacht was there any gaudy display. The party went to the opposite side, and were shown several rooms like those they had just seen, which were occupied by the princes. The forward room on the port side was the drawing-room. It was larger than any other except the breakfast-room, but did not appear to be extravagantly furnished; everything seemed to be provided for comfort rather than show.

The conductor then led them forward, where, on each side of a passage, were four rooms, each provided with a handsome, narrow bedstead, which the steward said were for the use of the lords and ladies in waiting. Forward of these, in the bow of the vessel, was the kitchen, a three-cornered room like that on the Young America, with a large galley or cooking-range in the middle.

Below the royal apartments, in the after part of the ship, were the cabins for the servants. As the steward led his guests towards the gangway, Dr. Winstock took out his purse.

"Never mind that just now," interposed their conductor, "especially as there is the captain."

Paul wondered if the doctor intended to insult a person of so much consequence as the steward of the queen's yacht must be, by offering him money. He glanced at the captain, who was a fine-looking man, in naval uniform, as the steward led the way to the accommodation steps. The doctor slyly slipped a couple of English shillings into the man's hand, and they went down into their boat.

"What did you give him, sir?" asked Paul.

"Two shillings."

"Well, it seems to me the steward of any American passenger steamer would be angry if you gave him two shillings for his services."

"If I had not met these men before, I should not have dared to do it; but it is expected," replied the doctor.

The boat pulled up to the Quai Vandyck, and Paul for the first time put his foot upon the continent of Europe.



CHAPTER VIII.

ANTWERP AND RUBENS.

"Where shall we go first, Paul?" asked Dr. Winstock, when they landed upon the quay.

"I don't know, sir; I think I shall be interested wherever we go. This is a big city—isn't it?"

"Its population is hardly more than half of what it was in the days of its greatest prosperity. In the days of Charles V. it is said that twenty-five hundred vessels were frequently seen at one time in the river. It had two hundred thousand inhabitants, and was then the richest and most thriving commercial city in Europe. You perceive that this long line of quays affords plenty of wharf room. Indeed the name of the city is said to be derived from a Flemish phrase, 'aen't werf,' which means on the wharf, or on the quay."

"Mr. Motley tells another story about its name. He says the people claim that the city is very old, and that a giant by the name of Antigonus, established himself on the river at this place, and set up a kind of custom-house. He required half the merchandise of those who went up the river. He used to cut off the right hands of those who attempted to smuggle, and throw them into the river. In this way Hand werpen, or hand throwing, came to be the name of the place," said the young commander.

"I suppose that story is as true now as it ever was. But where shall we go?" asked the doctor.

"I want to get a little nearer to that Cathedral," replied Paul.

"That is really the most noted thing in Antwerp, and we will walk up there; and I think we shall be able to see the pictures on the church, which are required to produce an income. The Cathedral used to be open till one o'clock, free to the public, but the curtains were carefully drawn over these great works of art; after this hour visitors were admitted upon the payment of one franc, and the pictures were exhibited. Doubtless the same regulation is in force now."

A walk of a few moments brought them to the Place Verte, a little park enclosed, with a colossal statue of Rubens in the centre.

"Everything in Antwerp is Rubens," said the doctor. "The people believe in him still, and almost worship his memory."

"Why should they? He was only a great painter—was he?" added Paul.

"He was more than that: he was quite distinguished as a statesman and a diplomatist. He was ambassador to England, Holland, and other countries. His celebrity as an artist, and his influence with the crowned heads of several nations, caused him to be regarded with deep interest by the people. He lived in a splendid mansion, for the immense income which he derived from his pencil enabled him to support an elegant establishment. He had a great number of pupils, and at one period in his career they painted no inconsiderable part of his pictures. He had orders from all the crowned heads of Europe, and in many of his works he could only make the designs and give the finishing touches to them. He was very industrious, and painted rapidly, as he must have done to produce so many pictures."

"He humbugged his customers then—didn't he?"

"His assistants did only the heavy work, while Rubens furnished the design, and gave the work its finishing touches. The celebrated sculptors do not perform all the drudgery of chiselling out a statue. Wherever you go in Antwerp, you will hear of Rubens. You will find his works in all the galleries, you will visit his house in the Rue Rubens, his pictures will be shown to you in every church, and you will see his tomb in St. Jacques."

"They have Rubens on the brain, as we should say at home," laughed Paul.

"Yes, and they have it badly. From this point you have a good view of the Cathedral," added the doctor, as they paused near the statue of Rubens, where they could see the building over the tops of the trees.

"The steeple is very handsome. It is of the most beautiful and delicate workmanship you will see."

"I should think it would blow down."

"It is banded together with a framework of iron, and the stones are held together with copper bolts."

"How high is it?" asked Paul, as he gazed up at the lofty spire.

"There you have me, Paul! I don't know. In Murray's Guide-Book it is set down at four hundred and three feet. The man up in the tower there says it is four hundred and sixty-six. Other authorities put it at less than four hundred. My guide assured me it was one hundred and forty-seven French metres in height; but this, reduced to English measure, would give four hundred and eighty-three feet. My own idea is, that Murray is right," replied Dr. Winstock, as they walked over to the church.

"What's this?" asked Paul, pointing to a beautiful iron canopy in Gothic style, near the foot of the church tower.

"That's a draw-well. It is the handiwork of Quentin Matsys."

"I don't know him."

"He was a blacksmith until he was twenty years old, when he fell in love with the fair daughter of a painter. The story goes that the father would not permit his daughter to marry any man that was not an artist, and the blacksmith abandoned his anvil for the easel. He had a genius for art, and soon painted better than his masters. He won his bride, and achieved a great reputation in his new art. The picture of The Misers, which you saw at Windsor Castle, was executed by him."

They bought a couple of tickets and were admitted to the church. The interior was grand and imposing; but the chief attraction was the pictures, which were now unveiled, and a small audience was present examining them. Several artists were making copies of them. In the south transept hangs Reubens's masterpiece, The Descent from the Cross.

Paul did not pretend to be a connoisseur in paintings, and could neither understand nor appreciate the fine writing he read about them in books, or the "hifalutin" which affected men bestowed upon them; but in the presence of the grand old painting, he was awed and silenced. It produced a deep impression upon his mind and heart, and for the first time in his life he realized the sublime in art. The figure of The Dead Christ seemed to be real, so painfully natural were the hanging head of the Savior, and the relaxed muscles of the body. The young student gazed long and earnestly at the picture, studying it as a whole and in detail.

It is said that Rubens paid this picture as the price of the land on which he erected his house in Antwerp. In the north transept of the Cathedral hangs its companion piece, The Elevation of the Cross; but its reputation is far inferior to his masterpiece, grand as it is.

Paul walked about the church, and examined other pictures and works of art; and then, after paying the keeper of the tower a franc, they commenced the long ascent to the spire and chimes.